Insight into the adsorptive removal of ibuprofen using porous carbonaceous materials: A review.

Over the last decade, the removal of pharmaceuticals from aquatic bodies has garnered substantial attention from the scientific community. Ibuprofen (IBP), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, is released into the environment in pharmaceutical waste as well as medical, hospital, and household effluents. Adsorption technology is a highly efficient approach to reduce the IBP in the aquatic environment, particularly at low IBP concentrations. Due to the exceptional surface properties of carbonaceous materials, they are considered ideal adsorbents for the IBP removal of, with high binding capacity. Given the importance of the topic, the adsorptive removal of IBP from effluent using various carbonaceous adsorbents, including activated carbon, biochar, graphene-based materials, and carbon nanostructures, has been compiled and critically reviewed. Furthermore, the adsorption behavior, binding mechanisms, the most effective parameters, thermodynamics, and regeneration methods as well as the cost analysis were comprehensively reviewed for modified and unmodified carbonaceous adsorbents. The compiled studies on the IBP adsorption shows that the IBP uptake of some carbon-based adsorbents is significantly than that of commercial activated carbons. In the future, much attention is needed for practical utilization and upscaling of the research findings to aid the management and sustainability of water resource.

Multiobjective location-routing problem of relief commodities with reliability.

The applicability and efficiency of location-routing problems for relief commodities motivate several researchers to develop optimization models and algorithms with regards to real-world cases. This study by presenting a multiobjective mixed integer mathematical model for the location-routing of the medical relief problem at the time of a disaster, proposes a new extension to this applicable model with reliability considerations. The proposed model focuses on the location of temporary relief centers and delivers the pharmaceutical commodities to centers at the shortest possible time with reliability assurance. The model includes three simultaneous objectives of minimizing response time, minimizing operational costs, and maximizing the reliability of the transportation network. As far as we know, this study firstly optimizes these three objectives simultaneously. Another novelty is to add the uncertainty of the problem. In this regard, the inherent uncertainty is formulated by a scenario-based approach. Considering the multiobjectiveness of the proposed model, the Epsilon constraint method as a solution algorithm has been used to solve the model. Results are tested for numerical examples via different scenarios. The results represent the excellent performance of the model to minimize the costs and to increase the reliability for the proposed location-routing problem of relief commodities.

Improvement of Methane Production from Sugar Beet Wastes Using TiO2 and Fe3O4 Nanoparticles and Chitosan Micropowder Additives.

An experimental study was performed to measure biogas production from sugar beet waste, which is, in fact, the chopped parts of the sugar beet not going through the sugar extraction process, at different additive concentrations. Medium molecular weight chitosan in microsize and TiO2 and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were added to ten experimental reactors to investigate their effect on the anaerobic digestion process. Three different concentrations of 0.01, 0.04, and 0.12% w/w were used for each additive. Biogas production and methane content were compared with a control sample containing no additive. Adding chitosan in powder form did not help the process nor improved methanogenic activities. The results showed no effect on anaerobic digestion by the addition of TiO2 nanoparticles in the mentioned concentrations, whereas adding Fe3O4 nanoparticles led to a slight increase in methane production and in volatile solid and total solid reduction. The maximum enhancement in methane and biogas production in the sample containing 0.04% Fe3O4, as compared with the control sample, reached 19.77% and 15.09%, respectively.

Anterior Chamber Depth Change Following Cataract Surgery in Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome; a Preliminary Study.

PURPOSE: To assess the pseudophakic anterior chamber depth (PP-ACD) or effective lens position (ELP) change after cataract surgery in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX). METHODS: Consecutive eyes with PEX and cataract underwent standard phacoemulsification and were implanted with single-piece acrylic posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs). Eyes with severe PEX and with axial length (AL) greater than 24 mm or less than 22 mm were not included. Eyes with capsular complication or unstable bags that needed capsular tension ring insertion were excluded. The SRK-II formula was applied to calculate IOL power for postoperative emmetropia. PP-ACD or ELP was measured using anterior segment optical coherence tomography. Data obtained at one and six months post operation were evaluated during analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-six eyes of 26 subjects (mean age: 72 years; range: 60-84 years) were studied. PP-ACD was deepened (mean change: 0.08 mm) and a concurrent hyperopic shift (0.3 D) was observed postoperatively between month 1 and month 6 (P values ≤0.002). PP-ACD and postoperative refraction changes were correlated with age and AL (P values < 0.025), respectively. Increased hyperopic shift and PP-ACD deepening in eyes with posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was noted postoperatively at six months, but the difference was not statistically significant (P values = 0.15 and 0.2, respectively). CONCLUSION: After cataract surgery in eyes with PEX syndrome, a significant backward movement of the IOL occurs postoperatively in the first six months, which is associated with a concurrent small hyperopic shift.