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Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2021) | Viewed by 40384

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Prof. Dr. Elza Bontempi

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INSTM and Chemistry for Technologies Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: spent lithium-ion batteries, raw materials recovery
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Dr. Margarida Quina

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Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima - Polo II, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: solid waste management; leaching; metal and phosphorus recovery; composting; wastewater depuration; circular economy

Dr. Anna Bogush

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Guest Editor

Centre for Agroecology, Water and Resilience, Coventry University, Wolston Ln, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry CV8 3LG, UK
Interests: environmental science; geochemistry; environmental engineering; material science; analytical chemistry and biogeochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The global challenges of climate and the environment require the development of new technologies which are able to meet change targets. One of the most exciting challenges is to find options to recycle, reuse, and repurpose (3Rs) waste, which should be injected back into the economy as secondary raw materials. Wastes and byproducts can be used as a source of materials with the aim of also avoiding the use of natural resources. Then, to obtain suitable and safe reusable materials and develop sustainable 3Rs, processing technologies for waste management are necessary.

For the readers, this Special Issue will give an attractive opportunity to obtain information about research activities that are connected with the production of high-value materials derived from waste, and related technologies, able to reduce the environmental impact of some industrial sectors. Moreover, review articles by experts in the field will also be welcome.

Prof. Dr. Elza Bontempi
Dr. Margarida Quina
Dr. Anna Bogush
Guest Editors

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Keywords

Waste-derived materials
Sustainable technology for waste management
Recycle, reuse, and repurpose (3Rs) waste
Circular economy

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 4593 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Highly Efficient Environmental-Friendly Adsorbent Based on Schiff Base for Removal of Cu(II) from Aqueous Solutions: A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study

by Said Tighadouini, Othmane Roby, Smaail Radi, Zouhair Lakbaibi, Rafik Saddik, Yahia N. Mabkhot, Zainab M. Almarhoon and Yann Garcia

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5164; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175164 - 26 Aug 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3085

Abstract

Removal of heavy metals from drinking water sources and rivers is of strategic health importance and is essential for sustainable ecosystem development, in particular in polluted areas around the globe. In this work, new hybrid inorganic-organic material adsorbents made of ortho- (Si-o-OR) or para-Schiff base silica (Si-p-OR) were synthesized and characterized in depth. These hybrid adsorbents show a high selectivity to Cu(II), even in the presence of competing heavy metals (Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II)), and also demonstrate great reusability after five adsorption-desorption cycles. Maximum sorption capacity for Cu(II) was found for Si-o-OR (79.36 mg g⁻¹) and Si-p-OR (36.20 mg g⁻¹) in no less than 25 min. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy studies demonstrate that this uptake occurs due to a chelating effect, which allows these adsorbents to trap Cu(II) ions on their surfaces; this result is supported by a theoretical study for Si-o-OR. The new adsorbents were tested against real water samples extracted from two rivers from the Oriental region of Morocco. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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28 pages, 14370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficiency of Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticles with Different Pretreatments for Enhancing Biogas Yield of Macroalgae Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus

by Ahmed El Nemr, Mohamed A. Hassaan, Marwa R. Elkatory, Safaa Ragab and Antonio Pantaleo

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 5105; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26165105 - 23 Aug 2021

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 3024

Abstract

In this work, different pretreatment methods for algae proved to be very effective in improving cell wall dissociation for biogas production. In this study, the Ulva intestinalis Linnaeus (U. intestinalis) has been exposed to individual pretreatments of (ultrasonic, ozone, microwave, and green synthesized Fe₃O₄) and in a combination of the first three mentioned pretreatments methods with magnetite (Fe₃O₄) NPs, (ultrasonic-Fe₃O₄, ozone-Fe₃O₄ and microwave-Fe₃O₄) in different treatment times. Moreover, the green synthesized Fe₃O₄ NPs has been confirmed by FTIR, TEM, XRD, SEM, EDEX, PSA and BET. The maximum biogas production of 179 and 206 mL/g VS have been attained when U. intestinalis has been treated with ultrasonic only and when combined microwave with Fe₃O₄ respectively, where sediment were used as inoculum in all pretreatments. From the obtained results, green Fe₃O₄ NPs enhanced the microwave (MW) treatment to produce a higher biogas yield (206 mL/g VS) when compared with individual MW (84 mL/g VS). The modified Gompertz model (R² = 0.996 was appropriate model to match the calculated biogas production and could be used more practically to distinguish the kinetics of the anaerobic digestion (AD) period. The assessment of XRD, SEM and FTIR discovered the influence of different treatment techniques on the cell wall structure of U. intestinalis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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12 pages, 812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Photodegradation of Ciprofloxacin, Clarithromycin and Trimethoprim: Influence of pH and Humic Acids

by Lucía Rodríguez-López, Raquel Cela-Dablanca, Avelino Núñez-Delgado, Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez, David Fernández-Calviño and Manuel Arias-Estévez

Molecules 2021, 26(11), 3080; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113080 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3052

Abstract

In view of the rising relevance of emerging pollutants in the environment, this work studies the photodegradation of three antibiotics, evaluating the effects of the pH of the medium and the concentration of dissolved organic matter. Simulated light (with a spectrum similar to that of natural sunlight) was applied to the antibiotics Ciprofloxacin (Cip), Clarithromycin (Cla) and Trimethoprim (Tri), at three different pH, and in the presence of different concentrations of humic acids. The sensitivity to light followed the sequence: Cip > Cla > Tri, which was inverse for the half-life (Tri > Cla > Cip). As the pH increased, the half-life generally decreased, except for Cla. Regarding the kinetic constant k, in the case of Cip and Tri it increased with the rise of pH, while decreased for Cla. The results corresponding to total organic carbon (TOC) indicate that the complete mineralization of the antibiotics was not achieved. The effect of humic acids was not marked, slightly increasing the degradation of Cip, and slightly decreasing it for Tri, while no effect was detected for Cla. These results may be relevant in terms of understanding the evolution of these antibiotics, especially when they reach different environmental compartments and receive sunlight radiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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16 pages, 4729 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthetic Iowaite Can Effectively Remove Inorganic Arsenic from Marine Extract

by Jing Ji, Wenwen Huang, Lingchong Wang, Lu Chen, Yuanqing Wei, Rui Liu, Jianming Cheng and Hao Wu

Molecules 2021, 26(10), 3052; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26103052 - 20 May 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2051

Abstract

For the removal of arsenic from marine products, iowaite was prepared and investigated to determine the optimal adsorption process of arsenic. Different chemical forms of arsenic (As(III), As(V)) with varying concentrations (0.15, 1.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L) under various conditions including pH (3, 5, 7, 9, 11) and contact time (1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 min) were exposed to iowaite. Adsorption isotherms and metal ions kinetic modeling onto the adsorbent were determined based on Langmuir, Freundlich, first- and second-order kinetic models. The adsorption onto iowaite varied depending on the conditions. The adsorption rates of standard solution, As(III) and As(V) exceeded 95% under proper conditions, while high complexity was noted with marine samples. As(III) and As(V) from Mactra veneriformis extraction all decreased when exposed to iowaite. The inclusion morphology and interconversion of organic arsenic limit adsorption. Iowaite can be efficiently used for inorganic arsenic removal from wastewater and different marine food products, which maybe other adsorbent or further performance of iowaite needs to be investigated for organic arsenic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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20 pages, 5114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Cellulose Nanofibres Production Routes from Virgin and Recycled Raw Materials

by Paola Gallo Stampino, Laura Riva, Carlo Punta, Graziano Elegir, Daniele Bussini and Giovanni Dotelli

Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2558; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092558 - 28 Apr 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4352

Abstract

Nanocellulose-based materials are attracting an increasing interest for the positive role they could play in sustainable development; being originated from renewable resources. Moreover, cellulose has a high potential of recycling from both post-consumer waste and industrial waste. Both factors, i.e., recyclability and renewable resources; results are also extremely favourable in the perspective of circular economy. Despite all these positive aspects, an industrial production has yet to start. At the lab scale, many preparation methods of cellulose nanofibres (CNF) are available; here, the three most common are analysed: (1) enzymatic pre-treatment followed by homogenisation (ENZHO), (2) oxidative pre-treatment combined with homogenisation (TOHO) or (3) oxidative pre-treatment followed by sonication (TOSO). All three processes have been experimentally carried out starting from both virgin and recycled cellulose from industrial waste sludge. The environmental sustainability of these three routes is estimated by the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using experimental lab scale data. In this scenario, the comparative LCA has pointed out a superior performance of the ENZHO process, followed by TOHO and, lastly, by TOSO. The influence of energy consumption on the final results has been further investigated by a sensitivity analysis, showing that the TOHO and TOSO routes could reach similar performances by scaling-up the process from the laboratory. The different typology of CNF obtained by conducting the ENZHO process with respect to the TEMPO-mediated oxidation approach is also outlined as an additional element to be considered for the final selection of a suitable process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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17 pages, 2197 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Assessing Green Methods for Pectin Extraction from Waste Orange Peels

by Laura Benassi, Ivano Alessandri and Irene Vassalini

Molecules 2021, 26(6), 1766; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061766 - 21 Mar 2021

Cited by 50 | Viewed by 7337

Abstract

In this work, we assess three different methods for the extraction of pectin from waste orange peels, using water as extracting solvent. “Hot-water”, Rapid Solid Liquid Dynamic (RSLD) and microwave-assisted extractions have been compared and evaluated in terms of amount and quality of extracted pectin, as well as embodied energy. This analysis provides useful guidelines for pectin production from food waste according to green procedures, enabling the identification of acidic “hot-water” as the most sustainable extraction route. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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Review

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27 pages, 1153 KiB

Open AccessReview

Supported TiO₂ in Ceramic Materials for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Liquid Effluents: A Review

by Sadjo Danfá, Rui C. Martins, Margarida J. Quina and João Gomes

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5363; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175363 - 3 Sep 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 4187

Abstract

The application of TiO₂ as a slurry catalyst for the degradation of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in liquid effluents has some drawbacks due to the difficulties in the catalyst reutilization. Thus, sophisticated and expensive separation methods are required after the reaction step. Alternatively, several types of materials have been used to support powder catalysts, so that fixed or fluidized bed reactors may be used. In this context, the objective of this work is to systematize and analyze the results of research inherent to the application of ceramic materials as support of TiO₂ in the photocatalytic CEC removal from liquid effluents. Firstly, an overview is given about the treatment processes able to degrade CEC. In particular, the photocatalysts supported in ceramic materials are analyzed, namely the immobilization techniques applied to support TiO₂ in these materials. Finally, a critical review of the literature dedicated to photocatalysis with supported TiO₂ is presented, where the performance of the catalyst is considered as well as the main drivers and barriers for implementing this process. A focal point in the future is to investigate the possibility of depurating effluents and promote water reuse in safe conditions, and the supported TiO₂ in ceramic materials may play a role in this scope. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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26 pages, 1597 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainable Materials and their Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Critical Review Based on an Italian Example

by Elza Bontempi, Giampiero P. Sorrentino, Alessandra Zanoletti, Ivano Alessandri, Laura E. Depero and Andrea Caneschi

Molecules 2021, 26(5), 1407; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26051407 - 5 Mar 2021

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 6365

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been proposed to give a possible future to humankind. Due to the multidimensional characteristic of sustainability, SDGs need research activities with a multidisciplinary approach. This work aims to provide a critical review of the results concerning sustainable materials obtained by Italian researchers affiliated to the National Interuniversity Consortium of Materials Science and Technology (INSTM) and their contribution to reaching specific indicators of the 17 SDGs. Data were exposed by using the Web of Science (WoS) database. In the investigated period (from 2016 to 2020), 333 works about sustainable materials are found and grouped in one of the following categories: chemicals (33%), composites (11%), novel materials for pollutants sequestration (8%), bio-based and food-based materials (10%), materials for green building (8%), and materials for energy (29%). This review contributes to increasing the awareness of several of the issues concerning sustainable materials but also to encouraging the researchers to focus on SDGs’ interconnections. Indeed, the mapping of the achievements can be relevant to the decision-makers to identify the opportunities that materials can offer to achieve the final goals. In this frame, a “Sustainable Materials Partnership for SDGs” is envisaged for more suitable resource management in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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25 pages, 1804 KiB

Open AccessReview

Multifunctional Magnetic Oxide Nanoparticle (MNP) Core-Shell: Review of Synthesis, Structural Studies and Application for Wastewater Treatment

by Ebenezer C. Nnadozie and Peter A. Ajibade

Molecules 2020, 25(18), 4110; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25184110 - 9 Sep 2020

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4829

Abstract

The demand for water is predicted to increase significantly over the coming decades; thus, there is a need to develop an inclusive wastewater decontaminator for the effective management and conservation of water. Magnetic oxide nanocomposites have great potentials as global and novel remediators for wastewater treatment, with robust environmental and economic gains. Environment-responsive nanocomposites would offer wide flexibility to harvest and utilize massive untapped natural energy sources to drive a green economy in tandem with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Recent attempts to engineer smart magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment has been reported by several researchers. However, the magnetic properties of superparamagnetic nanocomposite materials and their adsorption properties nexus as fundamental to the design of recyclable nanomaterials are desirable for industrial application. The potentials of facile magnetic recovery, ease of functionalization, reusability, solar responsiveness, biocompatibility and ergonomic design promote the application of magnetic oxide nanocomposites in wastewater treatment. The review makes a holistic attempt to explore magnetic oxide nanocomposites for wastewater treatment; futuristic smart magnetic oxides as an elixir to global water scarcity is expounded. Desirable adsorption parameters and properties of magnetic oxides nanocomposites are explored while considering their fate in biological and environmental media. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials in Environmental Chemistry)

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