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Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Analytical Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022) | Viewed by 34854

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Dr. Cristian Gomez-Canela

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Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, Via Agusta 390, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: environmental chemistry; emerging contaminants; analytical chemistry; environmental omics; mass spectrometry
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Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution is an environmental concern related to the emission and dispersion of various chemical compounds from largely human activities that decrease the ecological function of aquatic habitats; also in some cases, producing disease and mortality. In the last few years, a new class of contaminants has appeared. Called “Emerging Organic Contaminants” (EOCs), they are defined as natural or synthetically occurring substances that are not commonly monitored in the environment but can induce known or suspected undesirable effects on humans and ecosystems. EOCs are not necessarily newly developed compounds; they may have been present in the environment for long time but their presence and implication for the environment’s integrity are only recently recognized. The advances in the sensibility of the analytical techniques has played an important role in the detection of EOCs at very low concentrations in environmental matrix. EOCs include different chemical classes of pollutants such as disinfectants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), detergents, endocrines disruptors, among others. All researchers working in these emerging and promising fields of research are strongly encouraged to submit their original works for publication in this Special Issue of Molecules.

Dr. Cristian Gomez-Canela
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Environmental pollution
emerging organic contaminants
chromatography
mass spectrometry
environmental samples
water pollution
aquatic toxicity
environmental risk assessment
emissaries

Related Special Issue

Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples, 2nd Edition in Molecules (1 article)

Published Papers (14 papers)

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13 pages, 15766 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmaceutical Transformation Products Formed by Ozonation—Does Degradation Occur?

by Adi Zilberman, Igal Gozlan and Dror Avisar

Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1227; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28031227 - 26 Jan 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1529

Abstract

The efficiency of an advanced oxidation process (AOP) using direct and indirect ozonation for the removal of pharmaceutical residues from deliberately spiked deionized water was examined. Both direct and indirect ozonation demonstrated 34% to 100% removal of the parent compounds. However, based on the products’ chemical structure and toxicity, we suggest that despite using accepted and affordable ozone and radical concentrations, the six parent compounds were not fully degraded, but merely transformed into 25 new intermediate products. The transformation products (TPs) differed slightly in structure but were mostly similar to their parent compounds in their persistence, stability and toxicity; a few of the TPs were found to be even more toxic than their parent compounds. Therefore, an additional treatment is required to improve and upgrade the traditional AOP toward degradation and removal of both parent compounds and their TPs for safer release into the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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17 pages, 1229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Toxicity Evaluation of Lindane-Waste Contaminated Soils Treated by Surfactant-Enhanced ISCO

by Aurora Santos, Raúl García-Cervilla, Alicia Checa-Fernández, Carmen M. Domínguez and David Lorenzo

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8965; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27248965 - 16 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1089

Abstract

The discharge of lindane wastes in unlined landfills causes groundwater and soil pollution worldwide. The liquid waste generated (a mixture of 28 chlorinated organic compounds, COCs) constitutes a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) that is highly persistent. Although in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) is effective for degrading organic pollutants, the low COCs solubility requires high reaction times. Simultaneous injection of surfactants and oxidants (S-ISCO) is a promising technology to solve the limitation of ISCO treatment. The current work studies the remediation of highly polluted soil (COCs = 3682 mg/kg) obtained at the Sardas landfill (Sabiñáñigo, Spain) by ISCO and S-ISCO treatments. Special attention is paid to acute soil toxicity before and after the soil treatment. Microtox^®, modified Basic Solid-Phase Test (mBSPT) and adapted Organic Solvent Sample Solubilization Test (aOSSST) were used for this scope. Persulfate (PS, 210 mM) activated by alkali (NaOH, 210 mM) was used in both ISCO and S-ISCO runs. A non-ionic and biodegradable surfactant selected in previous work, Emulse^®3 (E3, 5, and 10 g/L), was applied in S-ISCO experiments. Runs were performed in soil columns filled with 50 g of polluted soil, with eight pore volumes (Pvs) of the reagents injected and 96 h between successive Pv injections. The total treatment time was 32 days. The results were compared with those corresponding without surfactant (ISCO). After remediation treatments, soils were water-washed, simulating the conditions of groundwater flux in the subsoil. The treatments applied highly reduced soil toxicity (final soil toxicity equivalent to that obtained for non-contaminated soil, mBSPT) and organic extract toxicity (reduction > 95%, aOSSST). Surfactant application did not cause an increase in the toxicity of the treated soil, highlighting its suitability for full-scale applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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13 pages, 2380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Organophosphate Ester Metabolites in Seafood Species by QuEChERS-SPE Followed by LC-HRMS

by Míriam Hidalgo-Serrano, Francesc Borrull, Eva Pocurull and Rosa Maria Marcé

Molecules 2022, 27(23), 8635; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27238635 - 06 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1351

Abstract

Organophosphate triesters are compounds widely used in industries and are ubiquitous in the environment, where they can be transformed into organophosphate diesters. Some organophosphate diesters are also used by industry. Several studies suggest organophosphate diesters can have toxic effects for reproduction, and hazardous and mutagenic properties. Due to the impact these compounds can have on marine biota and human beings through the consumption of fish and shellfish, it is necessary to study their presence in widely consumed seafood species. We therefore developed an analytical method for determining six of the most common organophosphate diesters in seafood. The procedure is based on the Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe extraction method and a solid phase extraction clean-up, followed by liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry. The method was optimised and validated for seafood with different lipid content, providing satisfactory relative recoveries (from 89 to 138%) and limits of detection (1.0–50 ng g⁻¹ dry weight), as well as repeatability values (RSD% (n = 5, 100 ng g⁻¹ (dry weight)) lower than 15%. Eight seafood species were analysed using this method and two organophosphate diesters were detected and quantified in all the samples, demonstrating the suitability of the method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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13 pages, 650 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Long-Term Calculation of Predicted Environmental Concentrations to Assess the Risk of Anticancer Drugs in Environmental Waters

by Pol Dominguez-García, Marta Gibert, Sílvia Lacorte and Cristian Gómez-Canela

Molecules 2022, 27(10), 3203; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27103203 - 17 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1402

Abstract

This study reports the consumption data for 132 anticancer drugs in Catalonia (NE Spain) during the period of 2013–2017 and calculates the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) in wastewater effluents and rivers. This long-term analysis can determine the evolution of drugs present in the environment according to prescriptions and serve as an adequate tool to determine their presence and impact. Data showed that out of 132 compounds prescribed, 77 reached wastewater effluents, which accounted for the most consumed, those excreted in the highest doses, and the least biodegradable. Once diluted in receiving river waters, only mycophenolic acid and hydroxycarbamide had PEC values higher than 10 ng L⁻¹, which is the value set by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to carry out further risk assessment. It was also observed that compounds present in river water are those that can pose a high risk, given their persistence and capability to bioaccumulate. Therefore, this study shows that the estimation of PEC, together with physico-chemical properties of detected compounds, is a useful tool to determine the long-term presence and fate of this new class of emerging contaminants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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16 pages, 3030 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Desorption of Coffee Pulp Used as an Adsorbent Material for Cr(III and VI) Ions in Synthetic Wastewater: A Preliminary Study

by Dora Luz Gómez-Aguilar, Javier Andrés Esteban-Muñoz, Juan Pablo Rodríguez-Miranda, Deisy Baracaldo-Guzmán and Octavio José Salcedo-Parra

Molecules 2022, 27(7), 2170; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27072170 - 27 Mar 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1695

Abstract

Some of the diverse agro-industrial waste generated in primary or secondary stages have proved to be promising biomaterials for treating aqueous effluents contaminated, in this case, with heavy metals. Therefore, it is necessary to know their optimal operating conditions and the regeneration or reusability of the solid by-product, an aspect related to desorption. Considering the above, this article presents the findings of a preliminary study related to the desorption process of coffee pulp without physicochemical modification (Castilla variety), an agricultural waste used as a sorbent of Cr(III and VI) ions in synthetic wastewater. The desorption efficiency of four eluting agents at defined concentrations (0.10M)—HC1, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, and EDTA—was evaluated in a time interval of 1 to 9 days. Likewise, the proposals for the sorption and/or desorption mechanisms proposed and reported in the literature with respect to the use of biosorbents derived from the coffee crop are presented. With respect to the results, the coffee pulp used in previous studies of the adsorption of chromium species mentioned (optimal conditions in synthetic water of particle size 180 μm, dose 20 g·L⁻¹, agitation 100 RPM, room temperature, time of 90 to 105 min) showed efficiencies in the removal of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) of 93.26% and 74.80%, respectively. Regarding the extracting substances used, H₂SO₄ 0.10 M was the one that presented the highest desorption percentage in both chromic species, with a desorption of 45.75% Cr(VI) and 66.84% Cr(III) in periods of 5 and 9 days, respectively, with agitation of 100 RPM and room temperature. Finally, the dissemination of preliminary results on the desorption of coffee pulp contaminated with chromic species without physicochemical modification is novel in this study, as similar work with this specific material has not yet been reported in the literature. On the other hand, the limitations of the study and future research are related to the evaluation at different concentrations and of other extractor solutions that allow improving the efficiency of desorption of these chemical species in a shorter time from the coffee pulp (with and without modification) as well as the reuse cycles. As a result, the desorption of coffee pulp used as an adsorbent material in real water could help researchers identify the possible interfering factors that affect the process (foreign anions and cations, organic matter, environmental conditions, among others). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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11 pages, 882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In-Situ Formation of Modified Nickel–Zinc-Layered Double Hydroxide Followed by HPLC Determination of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Residues

by Jitlada Vichapong, Rawikan Kachangoon, Rodjana Burakham, Yanawath Santaladchaiyakit and Supalax Srijaranai

Molecules 2022, 27(1), 43; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27010043 - 22 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2241

Abstract

A single-step preconcentration procedure using the in-situ formation of modified nickel–zinc-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) prior to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is investigated for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in honey samples. The LDHs could be prepared by the sequential addition of sodium hydroxide, sodium dodecyl sulfate, nickel nitrate 6-hydrate and zinc nitrate 6-hydrate, which were added to the sample solution. The co-precipitate phase and phase separation were obtained by centrifugation, and then the precipitate phase was dissolved in formic acid (concentrate) prior to HPLC analysis. Various analytical parameters affecting extraction efficiency were studied, and the characterization of the LDHs phase was performed using Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection of the studied neonicotinoids, in real samples, were 30 μg L⁻¹, for all analytes, lower than the maximum residue limits established by the European Union (EU). The developed method provided high enrichment, by a factor of 35. The proposed method was utilized to determine the target insecticides in honey samples, and acceptable recoveries were obtained. Full article

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11 pages, 819 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Application of Active Biomonitoring with the Use of Mosses to Identify Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in an Atmospheric Aerosol

by Paweł Świsłowski, Pavel Hrabák, Stanisław Wacławek, Klára Liskova, Vojtěch Antos, Małgorzata Rajfur and Maria Ząbkowska-Wacławek

Molecules 2021, 26(23), 7258; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26237258 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1939

Abstract

The use of biological indicators of environmental quality is an alternative method of monitoring ecosystem pollution. Various groups of contaminants, including organic ones, can be measured in environmental samples. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have not yet been determined by the moss bag technique. This technique uses several moss species simultaneously in urban areas to select the best biomonitoring of these compounds, which are dangerous to humans and the environment. In this research, a gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used for the determination of selected PAHs in three species of mosses: Pleurozium schreberi, Sphagnum fallax and Dicranum polysetum (active biomonitoring) and for comparison using an air filter reference method for atmospheric aerosol monitoring. The chlorophyll fluorescence of photosystem II (PSII) was also measured to assess changes in moss viability during the study. As a result of the study, the selective accumulation of selected PAHs by mosses was found, with Pleurozium schreberi being the best bioindicator—9 out of 13 PAHs compounds were determined in this species. The photosynthetic yield of photosystem (II) decreased by 81% during the exposure time. The relationship between PAHs concentrations in mosses and the total suspended particles (TSP) on the filter indicated the possibility of using this bioindicator to trace PAHs in urban areas and to apply the moss bag technique as a method supporting classical instrumental air monitoring. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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15 pages, 2127 KiB

Open AccessArticle

3,5-Dinitrosalicylic Acid Adsorption Using Granulated and Powdered Activated Carbons

by José A. Hernández, Laura Patiño-Saldivar, Alba Ardila, Mercedes Salazar-Hernández, Alfonso Talavera and Rosa Hernández-Soto

Molecules 2021, 26(22), 6918; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26226918 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1683

Abstract

Some nitroaromatic compounds are found in wastewater from industries such as the weapons industry or the wine industry. One of these compounds is 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS), widely used in various tests and frequently found as an emerging pollutant in wastewater and to which the required attention has not been given, even though it may cause serious diseases due to its high toxicity. This study investigated the adsorption of DNS using granulated activated carbon (GAC) and powdered activated carbon (PAC) at different temperatures. The results show that in equilibrium, the adsorption takes place in more than one layer and is favorable for the removal of DNS in both GAC and PAC; The maximum adsorption capacity was obtained at 45 °C, with values of 6.97 mg/g and 11.57 mg/g, respectively. The process is spontaneous and exothermic. In addition, there was a greater disorder in the solid-liquid interface during the desorption process. The predominant kinetics using GAC (7.14 mg/g) as an adsorbent is Elovich, indicating that there are heterogeneous active sites, and when PAC (10.72 mg/g) is used, Pseudo-second order kinetics predominate, requiring two active sites for DNS removal. External mass transfer limitations are only significant in GAC, and ATR-FTIR studies in PAC demonstrated the participation of functional groups present on the adsorbent surface for DNS adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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17 pages, 9041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Determination and Environmental Risk Assessment of 102 Chemicals of Emerging Concern in Wastewater-Impacted Rivers Using Rapid Direct-Injection Liquid Chromatography—Tandem Mass Spectrometry

by Melanie Egli, Alicia Hartmann, Helena Rapp Wright, Keng Tiong Ng, Frédéric B. Piel and Leon P. Barron

Molecules 2021, 26(18), 5431; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26185431 - 07 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3379

Abstract

The rapid source identification and environmental risk assessment (ERA) of hundreds of chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in river water represent a significant analytical challenge. Herein, a potential solution involving a rapid direct-injection liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitative determination of 102 CECs (151 qualitatively) in river water is presented and applied across six rivers in Germany and Switzerland at high spatial resolution. The method required an injection volume of only 10 µL of filtered sample, with a runtime of 5.5 min including re-equilibration with >10 datapoints per peak per transition (mostly 2 per compound), and 36 stable isotope-labelled standards. Performance was excellent from the low ng/L to µg/L concentration level, with 260 injections possible in any 24 h period. The method was applied in three separate campaigns focusing on the ERA of rivers impacted by wastewater effluent discharges (1 urban area in the Basel city region with 4 rivers, as well as 1 semi-rural and 1 rural area, each focusing on 1 river). Between 25 and 40 compounds were quantified directly in each campaign, and in all cases small tributary rivers showed higher CEC concentrations (e.g., up to ~4000 ng/L in total in the R. Schwarzach, Bavaria, Germany). The source of selected CECs could also be identified and differentiated from other sources at pre- and post- wastewater treatment plant effluent discharge points, as well as the effect of dilution downstream, which occurred over very short distances in all cases. Lastly, ERA for 41 CECs was performed at specific impacted sites, with risk quotients (RQs) at 1 or more sites estimated as high risk (RQ > 10) for 1 pharmaceutical (diclofenac), medium risk (RQ of 1–10) for 3 CECs (carbamazepine, venlafaxine, and sulfamethoxazole), and low risk (RQ = 0.1–1.0) for 7 CECs (i.e., RQ > 0.1 for 11 CECs in total). The application of high-throughput methods like this could enable a better understanding of the risks of CECs, especially in low flow/volume tributary rivers at scale and with high resolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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18 pages, 2177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pharmaceutical Residues in Senior Residences Wastewaters: High Loads, Emerging Risks

by Silvia Lacorte, Cristian Gómez-Canela and Carole Calas-Blanchard

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 5047; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26165047 - 20 Aug 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1965

Abstract

Senior residences are health-care facilities that are socially-accepted for the assistance of elderly people. Since the elderly account for the foremost pharmaceutical-consuming age-group, senior residences become a hot-spot for pharmaceuticals discharge to the sewage grid. The objectives of the present study were to identify the bioactive pharmaceuticals in sewage waters from senior residences and to propose an on-site monitoring strategy for their control. In this study, we have studied the presence of 43 pharmaceuticals highly consumed by the elderly population in six senior residences located in Spain, France and Portugal. Wastewater was sampled directly from the water-chest in each residence during different times of the day throughout one week. Main compounds detected at the high µg L⁻¹ level were analgesic and antipyretic drugs such as acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, ibuprofen; antibiotics such as amoxicillin and sulfamethoxazole; compounds for the treatment of neuropathies as gabapentin, trazodone and valsartan; pharmaceuticals for the treatment of diabetes (vildagliptin) and anticancer drugs. The daily loads discharged were estimated and their fate was evaluated. The final objective of this study is to highlight the need to implement at-source waste water treatment procedures in senior residences, which have been identified as a point source pollution of pharmaceuticals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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16 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Energy Properties and Biomass Yield of Miscanthus x Giganteus Fertilized by Municipal Sewage Sludge

by Neven Voća, Josip Leto, Tomislav Karažija, Nikola Bilandžija, Anamarija Peter, Hrvoje Kutnjak, Jona Šurić and Milan Poljak

Molecules 2021, 26(14), 4371; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26144371 - 20 Jul 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2618

Abstract

The application of municipal sewage sludge as fertilizer in the production of non-food energy crops is an environmentally and economically sustainable approach to sewage sludge management. In addition, the application of municipal sewage sludge to energy crops such as Miscanthus x giganteus is an alternative form of recycling nutrients and organic material from waste. Municipal sewage sludge is a potential source of heavy metals in the soil, some of which can be removed by growing energy crops that are also remediation agents. Therefore, the objective of the research was to investigate the effect of municipal sewage sludge applied at three different rates of 1.66, 3.22 and 6.44 t/ha on the production of Miscanthus. Based on the analyses conducted on the biomass of Miscanthus fertilized with sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in three fertilization treatments, it can be concluded that the biomass of Miscanthus is a good feedstock for the process of direct combustion. Moreover, the application of the largest amount of municipal sewage sludge during cultivation had no negative effect on the properties of Miscanthus biomass. Moreover, the cellulose and hemicellulose content of Miscanthus is ideal for the production of second-generation liquid biofuels. Fertilizer treatments had no effect on the content of cellulose and lignin, while a significant statistical difference was found for hemicellulose. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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18 pages, 4007 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study of the Photodegradation of PBDEs in Water by UV-LED Technology

by Meritxell Valentí-Quiroga, Rafael Gonzalez-Olmos, Maria Auset and Jordi Díaz-Ferrero

Molecules 2021, 26(14), 4229; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules26144229 - 12 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1687

Abstract

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants that can arrive to water bodies from their use as flame retardants in a wide range of applications, such as electric and electronic devices or textiles. In this study, the photodegradation of PBDEs in water samples when applying UV-LED radiation was studied. Irradiation was applied at three different wavelengths (255 nm, 265 nm and 285 nm) and different exposure times. The best degradation conditions for spiked purified water samples were at 285 nm and 240 min, resulting in degradations between 67% and 86%. The optimized methodology was applied to real water samples from different sources: river, marine, wastewater (effluent and influent of treatment plants) and greywater samples. Real water samples were spiked and exposed to 4 hours of irradiation at 285 nm. Successful photodegradation of PBDEs ranging from 51% to 97% was achieved for all PBDE congeners in the different water samples with the exception of the marine one, in which only a 31% of degradation was achieved. Full article

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44 pages, 2148 KiB

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Impact of Antibiotics as Waste, Physical, Chemical, and Enzymatical Degradation: Use of Laccases

by María P. C. Mora-Gamboa, Sandra M. Rincón-Gamboa, Leidy D. Ardila-Leal, Raúl A. Poutou-Piñales, Aura M. Pedroza-Rodríguez and Balkys E. Quevedo-Hidalgo

Molecules 2022, 27(14), 4436; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27144436 - 11 Jul 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5254

Abstract

The first traces of Tetracycline (TE) were detected in human skeletons from Sudan and Egypt, finding that it may be related to the diet of the time, the use of some dyes, and the use of soils loaded with microorganisms, such as Streptomyces spp., among other microorganisms capable of producing antibiotics. However, most people only recognise authors dating between 1904 and 1940, such as Ehrlich, Domagk, and Fleming. Antibiotics are the therapeutic option for countless infections treatment; unfortunately, they are the second most common group of drugs in wastewaters worldwide due to failures in industrial waste treatments (pharmaceutics, hospitals, senior residences) and their irrational use in humans and animals. The main antibiotics problem lies in delivered and non-prescribed human use, use in livestock as growth promoters, and crop cultivation as biocides (regulated activities that have not complied in some places). This practice has led to the toxicity of the environment as antibiotics generate eutrophication, water pollution, nutrient imbalance, and press antibiotic resistance. In addition, the removal of antibiotics is not a required process in global wastewater treatment standards. This review aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of antibiotics as residues and physical, chemical, and biological treatments for their degradation. We discuss the high cost of physical and chemical treatments, the risk of using chemicals that worsen the situation, and the fact that each antibiotic class can be transformed differently with each of these treatments and generate new compounds that could be more toxic than the original ones; also, we discuss the use of enzymes for antibiotic degradation, with emphasis on laccases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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24 pages, 10922 KiB

Open AccessReview

Fruit Peels as a Sustainable Waste for the Biosorption of Heavy Metals in Wastewater: A Review

by Dora Luz Gómez-Aguilar, Juan Pablo Rodríguez-Miranda and Octavio José Salcedo-Parra

Molecules 2022, 27(7), 2124; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27072124 - 25 Mar 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5555

Abstract

One of the environmental challenges that is currently negatively affecting the ecosystem is the continuous discharge of untreated industrial waste into both water sources and soils. For this reason, one of the objectives of this qualitative study of exploratory-descriptive scope was the review of scientific articles in different databases—Scopus, Web of Science, and Science Direct—published from 2010 to 2021 on the use of fruit peels as a sustainable waste in the removal of heavy metals present in industrial wastewater. For the selection of articles, the authors used the PRISMA guide as a basis, with which 210 publications were found and 93 were compiled. Considering the reported work, a content analysis was carried out using NVivo 12 Plus and VOSviewer 1.6.17 software. The results show that the fruits mentioned in these publications are lemon, banana, mango, tree tomato, pineapple, passion fruit, orange, coconut, avocado, apple, lulo, and tangerine. However, no studies were found with lulo and tree tomato peels. On the other hand, the heavy metals removed with the selected fruit peels were Pb⁺², Cr⁺³, Cr⁺⁶, Ni⁺², Cd⁺², As⁺⁵, Cu⁺², and Zn⁺². Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Residues of Organic Pollutants in Environmental Samples)

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