Article
Environmental Sciences
Na Lv, Xiufen Li
Summary: The study investigated the adsorption of phosphorus in low-concentration phosphorus wastewater using a modified calcium-modified attapulgite (Ca-GAT). The study explored the effects of various parameters on dynamic phosphorus adsorption and found that the adsorption ability improved with increased bed height and flow rate, and decreased initial phosphorus concentration. Breakthrough curves were fitted using four models, with the Thomas model determining a maximum adsorption amount of 13.477 mg/g. The study also found that NaOH regeneration had the best effect, and the breakthrough point was achieved after 177 hours in treating actual MBR effluent. These findings suggest that Ca-GAT has potential for the treatment of low-concentration phosphorus wastewater.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marcela Levio-Raiman, Gabriela Briceno, Heidi Schalchli, Cristian Bornhardt, M. Cristina Diez
Summary: This study confirmed the efficiency of an organic biomixture in adsorbing metal ions from acid mine drainage, providing valuable information for designing low-cost treatments in the future. The biomixture showed fast and high adsorption rates for Fe3+, Zn2+, Cu2+ and Mn2+ metal ions, fitting well with the Freundlich model. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the biomixture's ability to remove metal ions, and the Thomas model described the adsorption process well.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Patricia Trevisani Juchen, Marcia Teresinha Veit, Gilberto da Cunha Goncalves, Soraya Moreno Palacio, Jacqueline Ferandin Honorio, Pedro Yahico Ramos Suzaki
Summary: The fixed-bed column biosorption process using malt bagasse was studied to evaluate dye biosorption capacity and obtain mass transfer parameters. The Langmuir isotherm was used to represent equilibrium data, and a mathematical model considering internal diffusion resistance accurately predicted the dynamic behavior of the biosorption column operation.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Usha Kumari, Asmita Mishra, Hammad Siddiqi, B. C. Meikap
Summary: The defluoridation performance of a simple and efficient adsorbent (SAA), developed by H2SO4 treatment of alumina, was explored in fixed-bed adsorption column (FBAC). The SAA demonstrated superior performance compared to unmodified alumina, especially in conditions of increased bed depth, reduced flow rate, and lower fluoride concentration. Furthermore, the SAA showed successful treatment of industrial effluent and reusability for up to four cycles, indicating its suitability for continuous operation in treating fluoride contaminated industrial wastewater or groundwater.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Caio Cesar Antonieti, Yovanka Perez Ginoris
Summary: Climate change and nutrient increase in aquatic environments have led to an increase in cyanobacterial blooms, which produce cyanotoxins. A carbon with high adsorption capacity for cyanotoxins was identified in this study and its operating time in a full-scale column was estimated. Wood carbon showed the best performance in removing cyanotoxins.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Khim Hoong Chu, Mohd Ali Hashim
Summary: This study compared four breakthrough curve models and found that the log-Gompertz and Chu-Hashim models performed well in predicting antibiotic breakthrough data, showing strong correlations and accurate breakthrough time predictions.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunli Zheng, Yingying Yong, Qiaorui Wang, Zishen Lin, Yujie Wang, Youwen Zhang, Chi He
Summary: In this study, an adsorbent (Hydrogel-I) derived from sodium alginate and modified alkaline lignin (MAL) was evaluated for its adsorption performance of Pb(II)-loaded wastewater. The adsorbent was further assessed by packing it into a fixed-bed column and establishing breakthrough curves under different conditions. The results showed that slower inflow rate, down-inflow mode, lower initial concentration, and higher bed depth favored prolonged breakthrough times and saturation times. The adsorption capacity and removal efficiency were higher under the down-inflow mode compared to the top-inflow mode. Hydrogel-I beads exhibited better adsorption performance than other adsorbents based on rate constant and adsorption capacity. The study also demonstrated the regeneration ability of Hydrogel-I beads and identified the adsorption sites through FT-IR analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maryam Jafari, Mahmood Reza Rahimi, Arash Asfaram, Mehrorang Ghaedi, Hamedreza Javadian
Summary: This study investigated the removal of paraquat from wastewater using a fixed-bed column packed with an activated carbon material, PES-AC. The effects of bed height, initial concentration, contact time, and flow rate were studied using response surface methodology. The optimum experimental conditions for achieving 94.65% removal of paraquat were determined. The results showed that PES-AC had a high efficiency in adsorbing paraquat, with an electrostatic attraction mechanism playing a significant role.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Pummarin Khamdahsag, Dickson Y. S. Yan, Pongnapa Poompang, Nichapa Supannafai, Visanu Tanboonchuy
Summary: Arsenite was effectively removed via oxidation and adsorption in fixed-bed columns using K-OMS2 and Fe-BTC. K-OMS2 showed high efficiency in oxidizing As(III) to As(V) with leached Mn and K concentrations below the groundwater standard. Fe-BTC exhibited good adsorption capacity for As(V) with low Fe leaching and more than 75% removal efficiency. In the combined use of the two columns, over 62% of total As was removed under optimal conditions.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Betul Gulcek, Ozlem Tepe
Summary: Atrazine, a commonly used herbicide, poses serious risks to human and environmental health due to its high concentrations in aquatic environments. In this study, dried biogenic manganese oxide (BMO) was used as an adsorbent material to control atrazine pollution, showing high removal efficiency and capacity. The adsorption process was found to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics and the thermodynamic analysis indicated that the process was spontaneous and endothermic.
GEOMICROBIOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alaa El Din Mahmoud, Marcus Franke, Patrick Braeutigam
Summary: In this study, the removal of phenol and bisphenol A by cost-effective graphite oxide in continuous column experiments was investigated. The findings showed that the phenolic-compounds removal was optimized in the column with a high bed height and a low flow rate. The experimental data were well fitted to the Thomas and El Naas kinetic models.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qili Hu, Dan Wang, Shuyue Pang, Li Xu
Summary: This work proposes two empirical models based on the logistic and Gompertz functions to predict multicomponent breakthrough curves. The equilibrium loading of each component can be calculated by integrating the measured breakthrough curves, and the effects of model parameters on the curves are investigated. The applicability of the models is validated through experiments, and the fitting quality is evaluated using residual plots and coefficient of determination.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Farzaneh Feizi, Ajit K. Sarmah, Ropru Rangsivek, Kapish Gobindlal
Summary: This study investigated the competitive effects of different fractions of wastewater treatment plant effluent organic matter on the adsorption of an organic micro pollutant in a fixed bed column. The results showed that the presence of effluent organic matter inhibited the adsorption of the pollutant, resulting in decreased adsorption capacity and extended breakthrough time.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ratnamala Gadigayya Mavinkattimath, Vidya Shetty Kodialbail, Govindan Srinikethan
Summary: The continuous adsorption of RBB dye onto CATRM in a fixed bed column was investigated. Different experimental conditions were tested, and the results showed that lower dye concentration, higher bed height, and lower influent flow rate favored the adsorption efficiency. The maximum adsorption capacity of the CATRM bed was 106 mg/g, and important parameters such as MTZ and LUB were evaluated from the breakthrough curves.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ye Li, Fuxin Gong, Wu Yang, Bingxin Liu
Summary: In this study, NPVMo@iPAF-1 with a specific surface area of 665 m2/g was successfully prepared and exhibited a high adsorption capacity for TCS removal. The mechanism of TCS adsorption onto NPVMo@iPAF-1 was investigated, and the material showed excellent regeneration performance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
G. R. Tortella, J. C. Pieretti, O. Rubilar, M. Fernandez-Baldo, A. Benavides-Mendoza, M. C. Diez, A. B. Seabra
Summary: The rapid development of nanomedicine has led to a high demand for silver, copper, and copper oxide nanoparticles due to their potent antimicrobial activity. The recent pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for effective alternatives for treating and preventing viral infections. This review discusses the antiviral activity of silver and copper-based nanoparticles, along with the challenges and limitations in their biomedical applications.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. Calderon, M. Levio-Raiman, M. C. Diez
Summary: The study identified resin and fish bone as effective alternatives for removing cadmium from giant squid hydrolyzed, with standard cadmium solution showing better removal efficiency compared to the giant squid hydrolyzed. The study also found resin to be reusable in cadmium adsorption without detectable losses in initial adsorption capacities.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carolina Calderon, Marcela Levio-Raiman, M. Cristina Diez
Summary: The study evaluated the effectiveness of giant squid hydrolysate (GSH) in removing cadmium. The fixed-bed column experiment showed that metal removal was faster at higher cadmium concentrations, and the saturation point was reached quickly. The maximum adsorption capacity, calculated using the Thomas model, was positively correlated with GSH concentration. The cyclic desorption and regeneration experiments showed that the adsorption performance remained stable. The results suggest that the configuration with consecutive columns is an effective alternative for removing cadmium from GSH, without affecting its chemical composition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Nicolas Hoffmann, Gonzalo Tortella, Edward Hermosilla, Paola Fincheira, M. Cristina Diez, Isabella M. Lourenco, Amedea B. Seabra, Olga Rubilar
Summary: This study compares the toxicity of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized by biogenic and chemical routes. The experimental results demonstrate the different effects of these nanoparticles on aquatic organisms and plants.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Carla Cisternas Novoa, Gonzalo Tortella, Amedea B. Seabra, Maria Cristina Diez, Olga Rubilar
Summary: In this study, L-cysteine-capped silver nanoparticles were successfully linked to cotton textiles, producing antibacterial fabrics with enhanced durability. The fabric showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Edward Hermosilla, Marcela Diaz, Joelis Vera, Amedea B. Seabra, Gonzalo Tortella, Javiera Parada, Olga Rubilar
Summary: In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized using molecular weight fractions of mycelia-free aqueous extract produced by the white-rot fungus Stereum hirsutum. The antimicrobial activity and photocatalytic decolorization ability of these nanoparticles were evaluated. The results showed that the synthesized nanoparticles had different sizes and activities depending on the molecular weight fractions used.
Article
Microbiology
M. Cristina Diez, Cesar Llafquen, Paola Fincheira, Claudio Lamilla, Gabriela Briceno, Heidi Schalchli
Summary: Biosurfactant-producing bacteria were found in contaminated environments, and two strains were selected for their ability to produce biosurfactants. Both strains had good emulsification activities, and their biosurfactant production was independent of biomass.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward Hermosilla, Marcela Diaz, Joelis Vera, Maria Jose Contreras, Karla Leal, Rodrigo Salazar, Leticia Barrientos, Gonzalo Tortella, Olga Rubilar
Summary: In this study, chitosan was used to encapsulate the mycelia of the white-rot fungus and form chitosan fungal beads for multiple extractions and nanoparticle synthesis. The resulting nanoparticles were composed of chitosan-silver nanoparticles with a size of 25 nm. The chitosan fungal beads lost their ability to produce chitosan-silver nanoparticles after three extractions and nanoparticle synthesis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marcela Levio-Raiman, Cristian Bornhardt, M. Cristina Diez
Summary: This study establishes the foundation for implementing a continuous treatment system for wastewater containing a pesticide mixture of IPR and CHL using a bacterial consortium. Two bacterial strains were found to efficiently remove IPR and CHL at different concentrations as individual strains and in a free consortium. An immobilized bacterial consortium was formulated and evaluated for pesticide removal in batch experiments, with the highest removal efficiency observed at an inoculum concentration of 15% w/v. The packed-bed bioreactor with the immobilized consortium successfully removed IPR and CHL in continuous mode, achieving removal efficiencies of 96% and 82% respectively after 60 days of operation.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Gonzalo Tortella, Olga Rubilar, Joana C. Pieretti, Paola Fincheira, Bianca de Melo Santana, Martin A. Fernandez-Baldo, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza, Amedea B. Seabra
Summary: Nanoparticles are recognized for their unique physical and chemical properties due to their nanometer size. They have various applications in different industries, including agriculture, where they can be used as nanofertilizers and biostimulants to improve crop productivity and control abiotic stress. Additionally, nanoparticles have exceptional antimicrobial properties. This review focuses on different nanoparticles, such as metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, and silica nanoparticles, that have shown the capacity to control biotic stress in plants. The uptake and translocation of nanoparticles are also discussed. Future studies and the beneficial role of nanoparticles in biotic stress management are considered.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Alvaro Astudillo, Olga Rubilar, Gabriela Briceno, Maria Cristina Diez, Heidi Schalchli
Summary: Recycled agroindustrial waste has gained significant attention as a cost-effective and sustainable substrate for fermentation processes. The composition of the waste, including proteins, carbohydrates, and/or polyphenolic compounds, determines the types of products and their potential applications. This review explores recent reports on the utilization of different types of agroindustrial waste for the production of microbial products, and discusses the current scenario and future prospects of using these wastes as substrates for fermentation processes. The review offers insights for future research on sustainable microbial products and their market potential.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joelis Vera, Wence Herrera, Edward Hermosilla, Marcela Diaz, Javiera Parada, Amedea B. Seabra, Gonzalo Tortella, Hector Pesenti, Gustavo Ciudad, Olga Rubilar
Summary: The antioxidant activity of plant extracts affects the physicochemical characteristics of zinc oxide nanoparticles, such as production yield, chemical composition, polydispersity index, surface charge, and average particle size. Plant extracts with lower antioxidant activity result in a decrease in the yield of zinc oxide nanoparticles and an increase in the amount of residual organic extract, leading to particle agglomeration and coarsening.
Article
Microbiology
Camila Aranda, Isabel Mendez, Patricio Javier Barra, Luis Hernandez-Montiel, Ana Fallard, Gonzalo Tortella, Evelyn Briones, Paola Duran
Summary: One of the challenges in long-term research on microorganisms is the maintenance of isolates and their characteristics. We have studied Gaumannomyces graminis var. tritici (Ggt), the main biotic factor affecting wheat, for over 10 years. To preserve the microorganisms, we used oil overlaid, but some strains lost their pathogenicity over time, possibly due to low melanin content. Therefore, understanding the role of melanin in Ggt pathogenicity is crucial for laboratory studies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Paola Fincheira, Javier Espinoza, Joelis Vera, Daniela Berrios, Javiera Nahuelcura, Antonieta Ruiz, Andres Quiroz, Luis Bustamante, Pablo Cornejo, Gonzalo Tortella, Maria Cristina Diez, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza, Olga Rubilar
Summary: It has been found that solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), as a nanocarrier, can modulate the growth and antioxidant system of L. sativa seedlings through the controlled release of 2-ketones. The effect depends on the dose of the released compound.
Article
Microbiology
Paola Fincheira, Ignacio Jofre, Javier Espinoza, Marcela Levio-Raiman, Gonzalo Tortella, Halley Caixeta Oliveira, Maria Cristina Diez, Andres Quiroz, Olga Rubilar
Summary: This study found that essential oils from Thymus vulgaris and Origanum vulgare have inhibitory effects on the growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum. This is attributed to changes in the cell wall structure, breakdown of the cell membrane, and alteration of mitochondrial activity.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)