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Effects of Bio-Processes to Remediate Contaminated Soil, Clean Wastewater and Treat Solid Waste on Environmental Safety, Public Health, Social Acceptance and Economic Growth

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2022) | Viewed by 16211

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alberto Ferraro

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Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy
Interests: contaminated soil remediation; soil washing; chelating agents; potential toxic metals; bioremediation; biogas production; anaerobic digestion
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Prof. Dr. Antonio Panico

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Telematic University Pegaso, Piazza Trieste e Trento 48, 80132 Naples, Italy
Interests: anaerobic digestion; dark fementation; bio-refinery; biological processes; wastewater and water treatement; solid waste treatment; soil remediation; microalgae biotechnology; mathematical modelling
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Dr. Marco Race

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Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Via di Biasio 43, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Interests: soil remediation; contaminants of emerging concern (CEC); wastewater treatment; soil management; hazardous waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is well known that the environment pollution level and the alteration of ecosystems are increasing rapidly worldwide in pace with industrialization growth and the fulfillment of human needs.

It is also well known that it is vital to conceive, develop, and test new technologies that (without prejudging the global search for well-being as well as lowering the global economic growth rate) are not only focused on preserving the environment but also capable of finding solutions for damages done in the past and creating new opportunities for social and economic development. From this perspective, bioremediation processes can be of great acclaim.

Bioremediation is a natural process responsible for the removal and/or decomposition of pollutants through the action of microorganisms from different matrices—natural ones like water, soil, and air, as well as anthropogenically produced ones like wastewater and solid and gaseous waste.

Biological treatment processes are superior to other physicochemical processes, because they have comparable pollutant removal efficiency while having a lower energy demand and milder operating conditions for the mineralization and/or detoxification of pollutants since bioremediation is conducted by biotic components. The further benefits of bioremediation extend from the environment to human health, societal acceptance, social awareness, and global economy.

This Special Issue seeks research papers where biological processes are used to face modern issues related to the deterioration of the natural environment caused by human activities and where the effects of such processes are proved to lead to benefits in any of the following aspects:
(i) environmental safety; (ii) public health; (iii) social acceptance; and (iv) economic growth.

This Special Issue welcomes the submission of original research papers using different study designs at different operational scales, as well as systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

Dr. Alberto Ferraro
Prof. Dr. Antonio Panico
Dr. Marco Race
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

environmental sustainability
ecotoxicity
contaminants fate
biological processes
ecological risk
potential ecological risk assessment
environmental pollution
environmental safety
bioremediation

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 869 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Salicylic Acid Manipulates Ion Accumulation and Distribution in Favor of Salinity Tolerance in Chenopodium quinoa

by Hamid Mohammadi, Bahareh Rahimpour, Hadi Pirasteh-Anosheh and Marco Race

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1576; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19031576 - 29 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2354

Abstract

Although the effects of salicylic acid (SA) on increasing plant growth in saline conditions have been well known, the mechanisms of induction of salinity tolerance, especially in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), are not fully understood. In the present work, two quinoa genotypes (Titicaca and Giza1) were treated with different SA concentrations (0, 0.75, and 1.5 mM) under varied irrigation water salinities (0, 7, 14, and 21 dS m⁻¹). Salinity decreased shoot and root growth, potassium (K⁺) concentration, and potassium to sodium ratio (K/Na) and increased sodium (Na⁺) and chlorine (Cl⁻) concentrations in both cultivars. Calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) concentrations increased in 7 dS m⁻¹ but decreased in higher salinities. The growth and salinity tolerance of Giza1 were higher, while the growth of Giza1 increased and of Titicaca decreased in high salinity. Salicylic acid at 0.75-mM concentration increased shoot and root growth and improved the ions concentration in favor of the plant, while the 1.5-mM concentration either had no significant effect or had a negative impact. The ions distribution estimated by K/Na selectivity and storage factor (SF) indicated quinoa accumulated more ions in roots under saline conditions. Salicylic acid increased NaSF, ClSF, and MgSF and decreased KSF and CaSF, meaning less Na⁺, Cl⁻, and Mg²⁺ and more K⁺ and Ca²⁺ transferred to shoots in SA-treated plants. Importantly, Giza1, as the more tolerant cultivar, had higher NaSF and ClSF and lower KSF, CaSF, and MgSF. In general, the concentrations of ions in roots were higher than in shoots. The results indicated more ions accumulation in the root could be one of the most important mechanisms of salinity tolerance in quinoa, and the more tolerant cultivar (Giza1) transferred less Na⁺ and Cl⁻ and more K⁺ and Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ to the shoot. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Bio-Processes to Remediate Contaminated Soil, Clean Wastewater and Treat Solid Waste on Environmental Safety, Public Health, Social Acceptance and Economic Growth)

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19 pages, 8037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Basin-Scale Pollution Loads Analyzed Based on Coupled Empirical Models and Numerical Models

by Man Zhang, Xiaolong Chen, Shuihua Yang, Zhen Song, Yonggui Wang and Qing Yu

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12481; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182312481 - 26 Nov 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

Pollutant source apportionment is of great significance for water environmental protection. However, it is still challenging to accurately quantify pollutant loads at basin-scale. Refined analytical methods combined the pollution discharge coefficient method (PDCM), field observation, and numerical model (Soil & Water Assessment Tool, SWAT) to make quantitative source appointment in the Tuojiang River, a key tributary of the upper Yangtze River. The chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4⁺) were analyzed. Results showed that the urban sewage treatment plant point source has the largest contribution to COD, TN, and N-NH4⁺, while TP is mostly from the agricultural sources throughout the year. The total inflowing loads of pollution sources are significantly affected by rainfall. The overall pollution characteristics showed that pollutant loads present in different seasons are as follows: wet season > normal season > dry season. The month with the highest levels of pollutants is July in the wet season. Among the nine cities, the city that contributes the most COD, TN and N-NH4⁺, is Neijiang, accounting for about 25%, and the city that contributes the most TP is Deyang, accounting for 23%. Among the sub-basins, the Fuxi River subbasin and Qiuxihe River subbasin contribute the most pollutant loads. The technical framework adopted in this paper can be used to accurately identify the types, administrative regions and sub-basins of the main pollution sources in the watershed, which is conducive to management and governance of the environment. Full article

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16 pages, 1823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cultivation of the Acidophilic Microalgae Galdieria phlegrea with Wastewater: Process Yields

by Maria Rosa di Cicco, Maria Palmieri, Simona Altieri, Claudia Ciniglia and Carmine Lubritto

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2291; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18052291 - 26 Feb 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2797

Abstract

Algal based wastewater treatment offers the opportunity to recover, in the form of biomass, the nutrients and internal chemical energy of wastewater. Recently, there has been a growing interest in the use of extremophilic microalgae, as they can easily adapt to difficult and often pollutant-rich environments. The thermo-acidophilic microalga Galdieria phlegrea is a species of recent discovery and great metabolic versatility, but it has still been poorly studied. Here, G. phlegrea was cultivated using raw municipal wastewater in 1 L Erlenmeyer flasks with 700 mL working volume at 37 °C for up to nine days. During the cultivation phase, biomass growth, phycocyanin content, ammonium and phosphate removal from the wastewater, lipid fraction, total carbon and nitrogen in the biomass, and variation in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N isotopic ratios (a novel analytical contribution in these experiments) were monitored. Results indicated that G. phlegrea was able to grow in raw effluent, where it removed more than 50% ammonium and 20% phosphate in 24 h; total lipid content was in the range of 11–22%, while average C-N content was of 45% and 6%, respectively; isotopic analyses proved to be a useful support in identifying C and N metabolic pathways from effluent to biomass. Overall, G. phlegrea showed consistent performance with similar Cyanidiophyceae and is a potentially viable candidate for municipal wastewater valorization from a circular economy perspective. Full article

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15 pages, 2210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Removal of 1,4-Naphthoquinone by Birnessite-Catalyzed Oxidation: Effect of Phenolic Mediators and the Reaction Pathway

by Han-Saem Lee, Jin Hur, Doo-Hee Lee, Mark A. Schlautman and Hyun-Sang Shin

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(13), 4853; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17134853 - 06 Jul 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

This study investigated the birnessite (δ-MnO₂) catalyzed oxidative removal of 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NPQ) in the presence of phenolic mediators; specifically, the kinetics of 1,4-NPQ removal under various conditions was examined, and the reaction pathway of 1,4-NPQ was verified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The removal rate of 1,4-NPQ by birnessite-catalyzed oxidation (pH = 5) was faster in the presence of phenolic mediators with electron-donating substituents (pseudo-first-order initial stage rate constant (k₁) = 0.380–0.733 h⁻¹) than with electron-withdrawing substituents (k₁ = 0.071–0.244 h⁻¹), and the effect on the substituents showed a positive correlation with the Hammett constant (Σσ) (r² = 0.85, p < 0.001). The rate constants obtained using variable birnessite loadings (0.1–1.0 g L⁻¹), catechol concentrations (0.1–1.0 mM), and reaction sequences indicate that phenolic mediators are the major limiting factor for the cross-coupling reaction of 1,4-NPQ in the initial reaction stages, whereas the birnessite-catalyzed surface reaction acts as the major limiting factor in the later reaction stages. This was explained by the operation of two different reaction mechanisms and reaction products identified by LC-MS/MS. Full article

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20 pages, 8224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sorption Mechanism and Optimization Study for the Bioremediation of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Contamination by Two Novel Isolated Strains Q3 and Q5 of Bacillus sp.

by Parviz Heidari and Antonio Panico

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(11), 4059; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17114059 - 06 Jun 2020

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 2902

Abstract

The use of bacterial strains as agents in bioremediation processes could reduce the harmfulness of potential toxic elements (PTEs) from water and soil with low or even no impact on the natural ecosystems. In this study, two new metal resistant-bacterial strains (Q3 and Q5) of Bacillus sp. were isolated from a sulfurous spring and their potential (as pure cultures or mixed) to remove Pb(II) and Cd(II) from an aqueous matrix was evaluated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions for Cd(II) removal from all tested strains combinations were observed at an initial pH 5, a temperature of 38 °C, and an initial Cd(II) concentration of 50 mg L⁻¹, while the performance of bacterial strains on Pb(II) removal was strongly correlated to initial pH and temperature conditions. Moreover, the efficiency of bacterial strains in removing both PTEs, Pb(II) and Cd(II), from an aqueous matrix was considerably higher when they were used as a mixed culture rather than pure. According to field emission SEM (FESEM) and EDS analysis, the two bacterial strains showed different mechanisms in removing Cd(II): Bacillus sp. Q5 bio-accumulated Cd(II) in its periplasmic space, whereas Bacillus sp. Q3 bio-accumulated Cd(II) on its cell surface. On the other hand, Pb(II) is removed by chemical precipitation (lead sulfide) induced by both Bacillus sp. Q3 and Q5. This study discloses new aspects of Pb(II) and Cd(II) bioremediation mechanisms in Bacillus species that can be extremely useful for designing and operating novel PTEs bioremediation processes. Full article

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14 pages, 3284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Competitive Growth of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria with Bioleaching Acidophiles for Bioremediation of Heap Bioleaching Residue

by Aung Kyaw Phyo, Yan Jia, Qiaoyi Tan, Heyun Sun, Yunfeng Liu, Bingxu Dong and Renman Ruan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(8), 2715; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17082715 - 15 Apr 2020

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3269

Abstract

Mining waste rocks containing sulfide minerals naturally provide the habitat for iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, and they accelerate the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) by promoting the oxidation of sulfide minerals. Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are sometimes employed to treat the AMD solution by microbial-induced metal sulfide precipitation. It was attempted for the first time to grow SRB directly in the pyritic heap bioleaching residue to compete with the local iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes. The acidic SRB and iron-reducing microbes were cultured at pH 2.0 and 3.0. After it was applied to the acidic heap bioleaching residue, it showed that the elevated pH and the organic matter was important for them to compete with the local bioleaching acidophiles. The incubation with the addition of organic matter promoted the growth of SRB and iron-reducing microbes to inhibit the iron- and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, especially organic matter together with some lime. Under the growth of the SRB and iron-reducing microbes, pH increased from acidic to nearly neutral, the Eh also decreased, and the metal, precipitated together with the microbial-generated sulfide, resulted in very low Cu in the residue pore solution. These results prove the inhibition of acid mine drainage directly in situ of the pyritic waste rocks by the promotion of the growth of SRB and iron-reducing microbes to compete with local iron and sulfur-oxidizing microbes, which can be used for the source control of AMD from the sulfidic waste rocks and the final remediation. Full article

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Effects of Bio-Processes to Remediate Contaminated Soil, Clean Wastewater and Treat Solid Waste on Environmental Safety, Public Health, Social Acceptance and Economic Growth

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