Techniques and Methods for Toxic Agent Analysis and Removal

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Toxicity Reduction and Environmental Remediation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 13 December 2024 | Viewed by 4601

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Industrial Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Politehnica University Timisoara, Victoriei Square no. 2, 300006 Timisora, Romania
Interests: chemical engineering; pollution; rare earth; heavy metals; metal recovery; applied chemistry; chemical analyses; materials; adsorption; drinking water quality; waste water expertise
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Guest Editor Assistant
Research Institute for Renewable Energies—ICER, Politehnica University Timisoara, Gavril Musicescu no. 138, 300501 Timisoara, Romania
Interests: civil engineering; water treatment; waste water expertise; antimicrobial activity; material characteristics; biomaterials; scanning electron microscopy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inorganic and organic compounds are an essential part of our daily life. However, the careless use of chemicals can be dangerous, generating toxic agents that have a negative impact on health and the environment.

An increasing number of toxic agents (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, xenobiotics) provided by industrial activities, waste storage, agricultural activities and traffic from large urban centres cause air pollution or enter into the aquatic environment and are absorbed into aquatic organisms. In recent years, the interest and attention of the scientific community for the development of improved analytical methods and techniques for the analysis and removal of pollutants have increased.

At the same time, a major concern of the current scientific community is the monitoring of traces of these pollutants, including organic, inorganic, radioactive, and biomolecules. Consequently, innovative methods for the determination of trace amounts of heavy metals, anions, and organic compounds are needed, including methods that do not generate toxic by-products or poisonous residues.

An important role in human health and toxicology studies is the balance between environmental pollutants and antioxidant defences in biological systems. Therefore, the toxic effect of pollutants can be assessed under stressful environmental conditions, especially due to the oxidative damage induced by different classes of chemical pollutants.

Based on these considerations, this Special Issue aims to attract high-level research in the field of removing toxic agents from water, air, soil, with the aim of protecting the environment and human health.

Prof. Dr. Petru Negrea
Guest Editor

Dr. Nicoleta Sorina Nemeş
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • toxic agents
  • human health
  • environmental protection
  • heavy metals
  • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • pesticides
  • xenobiotics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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24 pages, 6232 KiB  
Article
Advanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Cytarabine from Pharmaceutical Wastewaters
by Alexandra Berbentea, Mihaela Ciopec, Narcis Duteanu, Adina Negrea, Petru Negrea, Nicoleta Sorina Nemeş, Bogdan Pascu, Paula Svera (m. Ianasi), Cătălin Ianăşi, Daniel Marius Duda Seiman, Delia Muntean and Estera Boeriu
Toxics 2024, 12(6), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12060405 - 31 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 995
Abstract
The need to develop advanced wastewater treatment techniques and their use has become a priority, the main goal being the efficient removal of pollutants, especially those of organic origin. This study presents the photo-degradation of a pharmaceutical wastewater containing Kabi cytarabine, using ultraviolet [...] Read more.
The need to develop advanced wastewater treatment techniques and their use has become a priority, the main goal being the efficient removal of pollutants, especially those of organic origin. This study presents the photo-degradation of a pharmaceutical wastewater containing Kabi cytarabine, using ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and a synthesized catalyst, a composite based on bismuth and iron oxides (BFO). The size of the bandgap was determined by UV spectroscopy, having a value of 2.27 eV. The specific surface was determined using the BET method, having a value of 0.7 m2 g−1. The material studied for the photo-degradation of cytarabine presents a remarkable photo-degradation efficiency of 97.9% for an initial concentration 0f 10 mg/L cytarabine Kabi when 0.15 g of material was used, during 120 min of interaction with UV radiation at 3 cm from the irradiation source. The material withstands five photo-degradation cycles with good results. At the same time, through this study, it was possible to establish that pyrimidine derivatives could be able to combat infections caused by Escherichia coli and Candida parapsilosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Methods for Toxic Agent Analysis and Removal)
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19 pages, 4059 KiB  
Article
Adsorption of Cadmium and Lead Capacity and Environmental Stability of Magnesium-Modified High-Sulfur Hydrochar: Greenly Utilizing Chicken Feather
by Weiqi Deng, Xubin Kuang, Zhaoxin Xu, Deyun Li, Yongtao Li and Yulong Zhang
Toxics 2024, 12(5), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050356 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1347
Abstract
Chicken feathers represent a viable material for producing biochar adsorbents. Traditional slow pyrolysis methods often result in sulfur element losses from chicken feathers, whereas hydrothermal reactions generate substantial amounts of nutrient-rich hydrothermal liquor. Magnesium-modified high-sulfur hydrochar MWF was synthesized through magnesium modification, achieving [...] Read more.
Chicken feathers represent a viable material for producing biochar adsorbents. Traditional slow pyrolysis methods often result in sulfur element losses from chicken feathers, whereas hydrothermal reactions generate substantial amounts of nutrient-rich hydrothermal liquor. Magnesium-modified high-sulfur hydrochar MWF was synthesized through magnesium modification, achieving a S content of 3.68%. The maximum equilibrium adsorption amounts of MWF for Cd2+ and Pb2+ were 25.12 mg·g−1 and 70.41 mg·g−1, respectively, representing 4.00 times and 2.75 times of WF. Magnesium modification elevated the sulfur content, pH, ash content, and electronegativity of MWF. The primary mechanisms behind MWF’s adsorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ involve magnesium ion exchange and complexation with C=O/O=C–O, quaternary N, and S functional groups. MWF maintains robust stability and antioxidative properties, even with low aromaticity levels. Given the lower energy consumption during hydrochar production, MWF offers notable carbon sequestration benefits. The hydrothermal solution derived from MWF is nutrient-rich. Following supplementation with inorganic fertilizer, the hydrothermal solution of MWF significantly enhanced bok choy growth compared to the control group. In general, adopting magnesium-modified hydrothermal reactions to produce hydrochar and converting the resultant hydrothermal solution into water-soluble fertilizer proves a viable strategy for the eco-friendly utilization of chicken feathers. This approach carries substantial value for heavy metal remediation and agricultural practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Methods for Toxic Agent Analysis and Removal)
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16 pages, 2491 KiB  
Article
Influence of Phosphate on Arsenic Adsorption Behavior of Si-Fe-Mg Mixed Hydrous Oxide
by Marjjuk Ahmed and Tomoyuki Kuwabara
Toxics 2024, 12(4), 280; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12040280 - 11 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1165
Abstract
The arsenic adsorption performance of silicon (Si), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) mixed hydrous oxide containing a Si: Fe: Mg metal composition ratio of 0.05:0.9:0.05 (SFM05905) was investigated. SFM05905 was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Batch experiments on arsenic adsorption were conducted at [...] Read more.
The arsenic adsorption performance of silicon (Si), iron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) mixed hydrous oxide containing a Si: Fe: Mg metal composition ratio of 0.05:0.9:0.05 (SFM05905) was investigated. SFM05905 was synthesized by the co-precipitation method. Batch experiments on arsenic adsorption were conducted at various temperatures and concentrations. Adsorption isotherms models were represented by a linearized equations and were insensitive to temperature change. The anion selectivity of SFM05905 at single component was high for arsenite (III), arsenate (V), and phosphate (PO4), indicating that PO4 inhibits arsenic adsorption. The adsorption amount of As (III), As (V), and PO4 were compared using a column packed with granular SFM05905, and an aqueous solution was passed by a combination of several anions that are single, binary, and ternary adsorbate systems. As (III) had the highest adsorption amount; however, As (III) and PO4 were affected by each other under the ternary mixing condition. Although the adsorption amount of As (V) was smaller than that of As (III), it was not affected by other adsorbates in the column experiments. Finally, although the adsorption of both arsenic continued, the adsorbed PO4 gradually desorbed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Methods for Toxic Agent Analysis and Removal)
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Review

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18 pages, 1117 KiB  
Review
Enhancing Analytical Potential for Ultratrace Analysis of Inorganic Oxyanions Using Extraction Procedures with Layered Double Hydroxides
by Ingrid Hagarová and Vasil Andruch
Toxics 2024, 12(11), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12110780 - 26 Oct 2024
Viewed by 530
Abstract
This article provides an overview of the use of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as effective sorbents in various extraction methods, including column-based solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE), and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), for the separation and preconcentration of inorganic oxyanions of [...] Read more.
This article provides an overview of the use of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as effective sorbents in various extraction methods, including column-based solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE), and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), for the separation and preconcentration of inorganic oxyanions of chromium, arsenic, and selenium. The primary focus is on enhancing the analytical performance of spectrometric detection techniques, particularly in terms of sensitivity and selectivity when analyzing low concentrations of target analytes in complex matrices. LDHs, which can be readily prepared and structurally modified with various substances, offer promising potential for the development of novel analytical methods. When used in analytical extraction procedures and following careful optimization of experimental conditions, the developed methods have yielded satisfactory results, as documented by studies reviewed in this paper. This review is intended to assist analytical chemists in scientific laboratories involved in developing new extraction procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Techniques and Methods for Toxic Agent Analysis and Removal)
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