Effective degradation of tetracycline and real pharmaceutical wastewater using novel nanocomposites of biosynthesized ZnO and carbonized toner powder.

In this study, novel nanohybrids of biosynthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) and magnetite-nanocarbon (Fe3O4-NC) obtained from the carbonization of toner powder waste were fabricated and investigated for persulfate (PS) activation for the efficient degradation of tetracycline (TCN). The chemical and physical properties of the synthesized catalysts were analyzed using advanced techniques. ZnO/Fe3O4-NC nanohybrid with mass ratio 1:2, respectively in the presence of PS showed the highest TCN removal efficiency compared to the individual components (ZnO and Fe3O4-NC) and other nanohybrids with mass ratios of 1:1 and 2:1. The results indicated that efficient degradation of TCN could be attained at pH 3-7. The optimum operating parameters were TCN concentration of 12.8 mg/L, PS concentration of 7 Mm, and catalyst dose of 0.55 g/L. The high stability of ZnO/Fe3O4-NC (1:2) nanocomposite was assured by the slight drop in TCN degradation percentage from 97.27% to 85.45% after five successive runs under the optimum conditions and the concentrations of leached iron and zinc into the solution were monitored. The quenching experiments explored that the prevailing reactive entities were sulfate radicals. Additionally, the degradation of TCN in various water matrices was investigated, and a degradation pathway was suggested. Further, degradation of real pharmaceutical waste was conducted showing that the removal efficiencies of TCN, total organic carbon (TOC), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 89.79, 80.65, and 78.64% after 2 h under the optimum conditions. The effectiveness of the proposed system (ZnO/Fe3O4-NC (1:2) @ PS) for the degradation of real samples compiled from industrial effluents as well as its inexpensiveness and green nature qualify this system for the full-scale application.

Effective degradation of atrazine by spinach-derived biochar via persulfate activation system: Process optimization, mechanism, degradation pathway and application in real wastewater.

Herein, biochar derived from spinach remnants was prepared for the first-time for the utilization in persulfate (PS) activation to effectively degrade atrazine. Characteristics of the prepared biochar were explored using advanced analyses. Control experiments implied the efficient activation of PS in the presence of the synthesized biochar. The highest degradation of atrazine (99.8%) could be attained at atrazine concentration of 7.2 mg/L, PS concentration of 7.7 mM, biochar dose of 1.88 g/L and reaction time of 120 min. The prepared biochar displayed a high recyclability performance attaining degradation ratios of 98.2, 96.53, 96.4, 92.8 and 88% in five sequential cycles under the optimum conditions. The degradation mechanism was explored showing that sulfate radicals were the prime reactive species in the degradation system. The degradation intermediates were specified, and the degradation pathways were propositioned. The highest REs in agrochemical industrial wastewater reached 80.21 and 83.43% of atrazine and TOC after 2 h. NH3 (348.4 mg/L) was reduced to 168.3 mg/L (RE: 51.7%) while level of NO3 (94.7 mg/L) was increased by 98.8% (188.3 mg/L) in the treated effluent due to oxidation of NH3 to nitrite and then nitrate. Extension of reaction time could contribute to achieving full mineralization of the real wastewater due to the residual PS after 120 min. The effectiveness and low-cost of biochar@PS system as well as its high performance in degrading real wastewater support the efficiency of the prepared biochar to be applied on an industrial scale.

Microbiological analysis and bioremediation bioassay for characterization of industrial effluent.

This study aims to investigate bacteria for biodegradation of oil pollutants from oily industrial wastewater to be used as bioremediation tools and to determine the characterization of bioremediation bioassays. A screening bioassay was carried out using six exogenous environmental bacterial strains to degrade oily pollution, which indicated promising clearance of the oily wastewater. Two strains, namely Enterobacter cloacae 279-56 (R4) and Pseudomonas otitis MCC10330 (R19), could successfully eliminate oil content and reasonable removal of the organic load. Results showed that the two promising bacterial candidates (R4 and R19) were selected according to the preliminary screening of the six tested bacteria considered the most efficient for all the tested parameters. The highest Removal Efficiency (Removal Efficiency resulted in Residual levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and Oil content in the treated oily wastewater effluents are 1940, 171, 131, and 84 mg/l respectively where these results are not within safe discharge limits, except for TDS. Hence, the bioremediation assays were carried out using the mixed culture since it was the most efficient strain for degrading all tested parameters.