Improved methodology to survey veterinary antibiotics in environmental samples using µSPEed microextraction followed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography.

A μSPEed microextraction combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with UV detection was developed for analysing six veterinary antibiotics (tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole, and trimethoprim) in environmental samples. To optimise extraction, 12 sorbent cartridges, sample loading cycles, volumes, and pH were assayed. The PS/DVB-RP cartridge, three 250 μL sample loading cycles, and two 50-µL elutions with acidified methanol yielded maximum efficiency.

Tetracyclines contamination in European aquatic environments: A comprehensive review of occurrence, fate, and removal techniques.

Tetracyclines are among the most commonly used antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections and the improvement of agricultural growth and feed efficiency. All compounds in the group of tetracyclines (tetracycline, chlorotetracycline, doxycycline, and oxytetracycline) are excreted in an unchanged form in urine at a rate of more than 70%. They enter the aquatic environment in altered and unaltered forms which affect aquatic micro- and macroorganisms.

Efficiency of Diclofenac Removal Using Activated Sludge in a Dynamic System (SBR Reactor) with Variable Parameters of pH, Concentration, and Sludge Oxygenation.

Recently, traditional wastewater treatment systems have not been adapted to remove micropollutants, including pharmaceutical substances, which, even at low concentrations, cause adverse changes in aquatic and terrestrial living organisms. The problem of drug residues in the environment has been noticed; however, no universal legal regulations have been established for concentrations of these compounds in treated wastewater. Hence, the aim of the article was to determine the possibility of increasing the efficiency of diclofenac removal from activated sludge using the designed SBR reactor.

Spent Coffee as a Composite Filler for Wastewater Treatment.

Currently composites play an important role in all aspects of engineering and technology, with constantly growing applications. Recently, more attention was focused on natural fillers due to their suitability as reinforcement materials in thermo-plastic matrices which improve the mechanical properties of these polymers. Biofillers are used due to their low cost, high strength rigidity, non-toxicity, biodegradability, and availability.

Advances in the Removal of Cr(III) from Spent Industrial Effluents-A Review.

The review presents advances in the removal of Cr(III) from the industrial effluents published in the last ten years. Although Cr(III) has low solubility and is less dangerous for the aquatic environment than Cr(VI), it cannot be released into the aquatic environment without limitations and its content in water should be restricted. The development of efficient techniques for the removal of Cr(III) is also a response to the problem of chromium wastewater containing Cr(VI) ions.

Estrogen pollution of the European aquatic environment: A critical review.

Among the plethora of chemicals released into the environment, much attention is paid to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). Natural estrogens, such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3) are excreted by humans as well as animals, and can enter the environment as a result of discharging domestic sewage and animal waste. These compounds can cause deleterious effects such as feminization, infertility and hermaphroditism in organisms that inhabit water bodies.

Catalytic Hydrogen Evolution from HS Cracking over CrZnS Catalyst in a Cylindrical Single-Layered Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor.

The use of non-thermal plasma technology in producing green fuels is a much-appreciated environmentally friendly approach. In this study, an AlO-supported CrZnS semiconductor catalyst was tested for hydrogen evolution from hydrogen sulfide (HS) gas by using a single-layered dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system. The AlO-supported CrZnS catalyst (x = 0.

Chromium(III) Removal from Nickel(II)-Containing Waste Solutions as a Pretreatment Step in a Hydrometallurgical Process.

This paper presents Cr(III) removal from nickel sulfate waste solutions as a pretreatment step for the modification of hydrogen storage alloys. Adsorption with two cation exchange resins, Dowex G26 (strongly acidic) and MAC-3 (weakly acidic), and precipitation with various solutions were chosen as simple operations for Cr(III) removal from waste solutions. The adsorption of Cr(III) was investigated for both model and real waste nickel solutions.

Analysis of Statistically Predicted Rate Constants for Pyrolysis of High-Density Plastic Using R Software.

The surge in plastic waste production has forced researchers to work on practically feasible recovery processes. Pyrolysis is a promising and intriguing option for the recycling of plastic waste. Developing a model that simulates the pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as the most common polymer is important in determining the impact of operational parameters on system behavior.

Kinetics and Adsorption Isotherms of Amine-Functionalized Magnesium Ferrite Produced Using Sol-Gel Method for Treatment of Heavy Metals in Wastewater.

This study is focused on the kinetics and adsorption isotherms of amine-functionalized magnesium ferrite (MgFeO) for treating the heavy metals in wastewater. A sol-gel route was adopted to produce MgFeO nanoparticles. The surfaces of the MgFeO nanoparticles were functionalized using primary amine (ethanolamine).

Influence of Temperature on the Quantity of Bisphenol A in Bottled Drinking Water.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component used in the production of polycarbonate plastics (PC) and epoxy resins, which are currently widely used in food and beverage packaging. Although BPA is not used in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) manufacturing, a recent study reported its presence in PET water bottles. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of storage conditions on the release of BPA from PET bottles as well as to assess health risks associated with the consumption of bottled water.

Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network Modelling of Membrane Rotating Biological Contactors for Wastewater Treatment.

Membrane fouling is a major hindrance to widespread wastewater treatment applications. This study optimizes operating parameters in membrane rotating biological contactors (MRBC) for maximized membrane fouling through Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). MRBC is an integrated system, embracing membrane filtration and conventional rotating biological contactor in one individual bioreactor.

Problems of infection (CDI) in Polish healthcare units.

The issue of patient safety during the provision of health services poses a key challenge in health policy. The number of hospital-acquired infections (also known as HAI - Healthcare Associated Infection) determines the level of quality of health services provided in a given health facility. Effective management reinforced by the awareness of a team of medical professionals allows not only reduction in the hospital's finances, but also the frequency of adverse events, which undoubtedly include hospital-acquired infections.

Biofilm on the polymer composites - qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis.

Background: Modern technology, which has been getting more and more recognition in the world for the last several years, is the moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) technology. Currently, movable biofilters made of basic polymeric materials, polyethylene and polypropylene.

Methods: An innovative solution in the field, mainly because of the large active surface area for biological membrane can be wood polymer composites (WPC).

Evaluation of surfactant removal efficiency in selected domestic wastewater treatment plants in Poland.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the work of a two types of household sewage treatment plant: wetland wastewater treatment plant (ORS type) and treatment plant of SBR type (SBR-K-6 type). Physicochemical analyses of selected pollution indices (BOD, COD, total suspension, total phosphorus) and surfactants were carried out and compared with currently applicable values of such indexes according to the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment in Poland on the conditions to be met when discharging sewage into water or soil, and on the substances particularly harmful to the aquatic environment. The removal efficiency of organic compounds, expressed as COD and BOD, reached the threshold of 90%, which is required in regulations.

Is water in dental units microbiologically safe?

Background: Water supplied to the dental units must be of sufficient quality. The article presents the results of the microbiological analysis of cold municipal water which flows into a patient's disposable mouthwash cup, and demineralized water which flows through a waterline into the tool panel of a dental unit from the tank placed in the water group.

Material And Methods: In order to assess the degree of purity (impurities) of water used in dental units, 2 series of microbiological tests were carried out in 6 dental surgeries from April to June, 2013.

Biodegradation of Triton X-100 and its primary metabolites by a bacterial community isolated from activated sludge.

A set of studies was carried using a continuous flow biodegradation unit in order to isolate a microbial community capable of efficient and complete utilization of octylphenol ethoxylates from activated sludge. Increasing concentrations of Triton X-100 (in the range of 1-1000 mg/l) were applied over a time period of 35 days in order to select microorganisms, which exhibit high tolerance towards this surfactant. The fate of the surfactant and its primary degradation products was assessed by HPLC/MS.

Biodegradation of oxyethylated fatty alcohols by bacteria Microbacterium strain E19.

The Microbacterium sp. E19 (E19) has been isolated from soil contaminated with crude oil and is a candidate for surfactant enhanced remediation of hydrocarbon polluted soil. Oxyethylated alcohols (OA) are candidates for this process enhancement.