Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yubo Cao, Xuan Wang, Xinyuan Zhang, Tom Misselbrook, Zhaohai Bai, Lin Ma
Summary: This study explored a novel method to immobilize heavy metals in composting by increasing their combination with humic substances using an electric-field assistant technique. The results showed that the application of an electric field enriched bacterial abundance, enhanced bacterial metabolism, and significantly increased humic substance and humic acid contents in compost product. The findings support the future development of electric field implementation as an intrinsic bioremediation technique for heavy metal immobilization.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yanrong Chen, Yaoning Chen, Yuanping Li, Yihuan Liu, Hui Li, Hongjuan Jiang, Xinli Luo, Ping Tang, Li Chen, Haoqin Yan
Summary: The Fenton-like process utilizing Fe3O4 nanomaterials and Phanerochaete chrysosporium or oxalate was applied in composting to study its effects on humic substance formation and the bioavailability of Cd, Cu, and Pb. Results showed that it significantly promoted the passivation of Cd and Cu, while not showing obvious enhancement for Pb. This research offers a new perspective and method for composting to remediate heavy metal pollution.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Pengfei Xu, Xiaoling Zhu, Huashang Tian, Guangxu Zhao, Yuxia Chi, Baolei Jia, Jie Zhang
Summary: In this study, bibliometric analysis was used to assess the applications of humic acids (HAs) in the environmental field. The results showed that HAs play important roles in environmental remediation, particularly in the treatment of organic pollutants and heavy metals. However, the molecular structure of HAs remains unclear, limiting their further applications.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Thilomi Samarakoon, Takeshi Fujino
Summary: Investigating the effects of natural compounds and xenobiotics on aquatic ecosystems is crucial for ecological risk assessments. This study focused on the effects of sublethal cadmium concentrations and humic acid concentrations on various characteristics of Moina macrocopa. Results showed that cadmium had negative effects on swimming velocity and reproduction, while humic acid had positive effects on growth, reproduction, and lifespan. When combined, the positive effects of humic acid on life-history characteristics were still observed at low Cd concentration, but not at higher concentration. These findings suggest energy tradeoffs in M. macrocopa when exposed to stressors.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Thilomi Samarakoon, Takeshi Fujino
Summary: The modulation of Cd toxicity by humic acid (HA) was investigated using the Allium cepa test system. The results showed that co-exposure to HA and Cd significantly increased the mitotic index (MI) and reduced nuclear and chromosomal abnormalities (NAs and CAs) compared to Cd-only treatments. HA plays a significant protective role in Cd toxicity in A. cepa.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Luana Maria Tavares Rosa, Wander Gustavo Botero, Janaina Braga do Carmo, Gabriele V. M. Gabriel, Walter Ruggeri Waldman, Alexandre D. M. Cavagis, Danielle Goveia, Luciana Camargo de Oliveira
Summary: This study evaluated the implications of different extraction methods on the physical-chemical and structural properties of natural organic residues (NOR) and their capacity to retain copper ions. The results showed that a milder non-exhaustive extraction method led to NOR with better copper adsorption, indicating the potential application of this material in environmental remediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dorota Kulikowska, Katarzyna Bernat, Magdalena Zaborowska, Magdalena Zielinska
Summary: This study assessed the effect of different lignocellulosic amendments and bulking agents on compost stability and maturity. The results showed that the length of composting time and the stability and maturity of compost can be controlled by choosing different feedstock compositions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Dorota Kulikowska, Katarzyna Bernat
Summary: This study assessed the characteristics of compost from municipal sewage sludge, including the kinetics of organic matter and nitrogen transformations. The study found that the concentrations of humic substances in the compost were higher than in the feedstock, and the levels of heavy metals met the Polish requirements.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Raquel Martinez, Maria Olga Ruiz, Ana Garcia, Cipriano Ramos, Victorino Diez
Summary: The study presented the characterization of anaerobic sludge-derived extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under different extraction conditions and their impact on fouling in submerged hollow fibre membranes. Ultrasonication proved to be more effective in achieving higher EPS extraction yields in a shorter time compared to vortex agitation, with temperature increase and NaCl concentration decrease favoring EPS diffusion. The combination of ultrasonication time and solvent salinity showed statistically significant effects on ultrasonication-assisted EPS extraction.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kyle J. Chardi, Walter D. C. Schenkeveld, Naresh Kumar, Daniel E. Giammar, Stephan M. Kraemer
Summary: Anthropogenic and biogenic ligands can mobilize uranium from noncrystalline U-(IV) phases, and the rate and extent of mobilization are influenced by geochemical processes. Competing metals and humic substances play a crucial role in the mobilization of uranium by these ligands.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hugo G. Lemos, Rodrigo Almeria Ragio, Ana Carolina Santana Conceicao, Everaldo C. Venancio, Jose Carlos Mierzwa, Eduardo Lucas Subtil
Summary: Membrane bioreactors have shown potential for co-treatment of landfill leachate and wastewater, but the high fouling potential of membranes remains a challenge. Incorporating hydrophilic nanostructures like graphene oxide in polymeric membranes can help mitigate fouling. While PES-GO membranes exhibited superior rejection and antifouling properties in lab tests, they showed similar organic removal performance to PES membranes during actual operation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Beata Janowska, Kazimierz Szymanski, Robert Sidelko, Bartosz Walendzik
Summary: This paper presents the research results on the transformation of Cu and Zn chemical forms bound with humic acids during sewage sludge composting process. The addition of structural material influenced the transformation direction. The humification process had a reducing effect on the bioavailability of Cu, but had no significant effect on the immobilization of Zn.
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Changning Li, Haiyun Li, Tuo Yao, Ming Su, Fu Ran, Jianhong Li, Li He, Xin Chen, Chen Zhang, Huizhen Qiu
Summary: The addition of microbial inoculation in swine manure composting can reduce the toxicity of heavy metals, increase the content of humic acid and fulvic acid, and promote the propagation of specific bacteria. In addition, MI can enhance amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, as well as metabolism of enzyme families and glycan biosynthesis.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Qiuguo Zhang, Dongsheng Zou, Xinyi Zeng, Longcheng Li, Andong Wang, Fen Liu, Hua Wang, Qingru Zeng, Zhihua Xiao
Summary: In recent years, biomass has been widely used in agriculture due to its low cost and convenience. However, the increasing soil pollution of heavy metals poses threats to human health. Direct addition of biomass to soil can affect the bioavailability and content of heavy metals, with potential to both activate and immobilize heavy metals in the soil. Future research should focus on controlling heavy metal levels when using biomass in agriculture.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mariusz Z. Gusiatin, Sylwia Pasieczna-Patkowska, Magdalena Balintova, Marcin Kusmierz
Summary: Energy can be obtained through pyrolysis of organic wastes, and the resulting biochar can be used for wastewater treatment. This study investigated the effectiveness of different biochars and activated carbon in treating soil washing wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. Willow biochar and Norit SX2 activated carbon were found to have better structural properties and showed the most effective treatment of the wastewater.