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This study investigates the mercury (Hg) levels distribution in fish and fish products and their relationships with fish types, weights, protein, and lipid contents in Qatar. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to analyze the influence of lipids and protein content on Hg accumulation in the fish tissues. Additionally, the impact of Hg concentration and fish consumption on the estimated weekly intake (EWI). The PCA results showed that Hg contamination levels are primarily affected by protein-lipid content in predatory species. The results showed that high lipid content reflected lower Hg levels and that high Hg levels in fish with high lipid content indicated a polluted environment. The finding of the PCA of EWI, consumption, and Mercury concentration indicate that EWI is highly correlated to Mercury concentration except in the case of low Mercury concentration. 2023 Elsevier Ltd This publication was made possible by Qatar University grant # [QUST-1-CAS-2022-312]. The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the author[s]. Special thanks to the Central Food Laboratories, Public Health Department, Qatar. Scopus

The study aims to prepare a novel low-cost and environmentally friendly adsorbent by using date pits (DP) impregnated with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and ionic liquid (IL), named IL-CNC@DP. The batch adsorption of lithium onto IL-CNC@DP and DP were studied at different pH values, initial lithium concentrations, and temperatures. The thermodynamics constants of the adsorption process showed that the IL-CNC@DP was exothermic, did not favor a high level of disorder, and spontaneous in nature. At pH 6, there is a significant increase in the removal efficiency where it increased to 90%. This also could be explained by the fact that electrostatic attraction forces and hydrogen bonding existed between the protonated Li+ and the less protonated IL-CNC@DP adsorbent surface, which enhanced the percentage of Li+ removal. A strong inter- and intra-hydrogen bonding (O-H) stretching absorption is seen at 3311 cm−1 that occurs in cellulose components. In conclusion, the IL-CNC@DP in comparison to the DP confirmed exceptional results proving that the modification enhanced the remediation of the Li+ from water. Furthermore, the selectivity of IL-CNC@DP towards real groundwater samples isolated in Qatar depends upon the physicochemical characteristics of each element. This publication was made possible by NPRP grant # [12S-0307-190250] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The findings achieved herein are solely the responsibility of the author[s].

Heavy metals constitute some of the most significant environmental contaminants today. The abundance of naturally growing Tetraena qataranse around Ras Laffan oil and gas facilities in the state of Qatar reflects its toxitolerant character. This study examined the desert plant’s tolerance to Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb relative to soil concentration. Analysis by inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) showed that the plant biomass accumulates higher Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni concentration than the soil, particularly in the root. The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of all metals in the root and shoot indicates the plant’s capacity to accumulate these metals. Cd had a translocation factor (TF) greater than one; however, it is less than one for all other metals, suggesting that the plant remediate Cd by phytoextraction, where it accumulates in the shoot and Cr, Cu and Ni through phytostabilization, concentrating the metals in the root. Metals phytostabilization restrict transport, shield animals from toxic species ingestion, and consequently prevent transmission across the food chain. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis further corroborates ICP-OES quantitative data. Our results suggest that T. qataranse is tolerant of Cd, Cr, Cu, and Ni. Potentially, these metals can accumulate at higher concentration than shown here; hence, T. qataranse is a suitable candidate for toxic metals phytostabilization.Other Information Published in: Scientific Reports License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42029-9

Purpose of Review The concern of mercury pollution and the impact that it poses on the marine environment were studied heavily since the case of the poison from Minamata bay in the 1960s. The present study provides an insight into the cycle of mercury and methylmercury in the marine environment and the bioindicators that reflect the exposure levels. The paper also used the driving forces, pressures, states, impacts, and responses (DPSIR) analysis to evaluate the global mercury and methylmercury contamination problem. Recent Findings The high global budgets of atmospheric total mercury influence the ocean surface water. Therefore, the aquatic environment contamination level is in turn affected by the surrounding emission sources such as industrial and petroleum activities in addition to the transport and fate of mercury across the environmental compartments. This will increase the mercury levels in fish species and will cause an adverse risk to human health through biomagnification. Summary This review presents a thorough description of mercury sources and emissions and their fate and transport across the different environmental compartments, despite the fact that serious mitigation measures were taken and guidelines were applied. The risk from fish consumption is still a serious concern as a result of the current mercury emissions and stability and persistent characteristics.

The adsorption of humic substances on three different adsorbents was investigated and adsorption isotherms were applied in this research. The three adsorbents studied include granular activated carbon (GAC), ferric oxihydroxide in its beta form (β-FeOOH) and iron-coated activated alumina (AAFS). Physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbents were also fully investigated. Calcium was added to the HS solution in order to represent water with a hardness equivalent to water hardness typically found in London (UK). The examination of the GAC indicated a large microporous area with lower surface area associated with meso- and macropores. The AAFS and β-FeOOH did not present any microporous area. The overall surface area was high for GAC (980 m2 g−1) but lower for AAFS (286 m2 g−1) and β-FeOOH (360 m2 g−1). The Freundlich isotherm model was fitted to all adsorbent–adsorbate systems. It was shown that GAC offered a large adsorption capacity for removal of low molecular weight humics F1 (MW 0–5 kDa) but not for substances with molecular weight larger than 10 kDa (F3). The β-FeOOH adsorption capacity was only 0.43 mg g−1, compared with 9.11 and 2.55 mg g−1 on GAC and AAFS, respectively. On the contrary, F1 is not well adsorbed and only F2 (5–10 kDa) can be efficiently removed by AAFS and β-FeOOH. It was strongly suggested that precipitation/condensation occurred on the adsorbent surface.Other Information Published in: Emergent Materials License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0See article on publisher's website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s42247-020-00083-4

60 Years of the Loeb-Sourirajan Membrane: Principles, New Materials, Modelling, Characterization and Applications bring forth theoretical advances, novel characterization techniques, materials development, advanced treatment processes, and emerging applications of membrane-based technologies. The trigger for writing this book is the 2020, 60th anniversary of the first asymmetric polymeric membrane invented by Dr. Sidney Loeb and Dr. Srinivasa Sourirajan (University of California, Los Angeles, USA) on the breakthrough discovery of the semipermeable membrane for seawater desalination. The book places emphasis on the advances of organic and inorganic membranes in different fields, covering not only the primary application of membranes for water and wastewater treatment but also other applications dealing with energy conversion and storage, organic solvent purification, gas separation, and biomedical processes. 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Scopus

This paper discusses the nanoadsorption mechanisms of crystal violet (CV) using a nano-hazelnut shell (nano-HS) from an aqueous solution. The effect of various factors such as pH, temperature, and initial CV concentration on the adsorption process was also evaluated. The physical and chemical characterizations of hazelnut shells (HS) and nano-HS were studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Various functional groups including OH, CO, CH, and CO were identified that are facilitated the CV sorption onto the adsorbents. Additionally, the SEM revealed the adsorbents as a heterogeneous structure with deep cavities and high porosity, which is thought to play a vital role in capturing and binding the CV ions onto the surface of the adsorbent. The optimum pH in this study was reported to be 10. While Langmuir isotherm was identified as the best-suited model to describe the adsorption process, with a 93% and 96% correlation coefficient for HS and nano-HS, respectively. 181.82 mg/g was the maximum adsorption capacity for HS and 294.12 mg/g for nano-HS at 45 °C. Additionally, the positive value of changes in enthalpy for HS (21.912 kJ/mol) indicated the reaction was endothermic while the negative value (−47.541 kJ/mol) for nano-HS signifies that the CV adsorption onto was an exothermic reaction. The Gibbs free energy was found to increase with smaller nanoparticle sizes. On the other hand, the effects of particle size on the enthalpy and the entropy were increased. The authors would like to thank the lab technician Mr. Abdul-Ali Moghaddasi for his effort and help. We greatly appreciate the assistance from the Central Laboratory Unit, Qatar University for their help in performing the SEM. Special thanks to Mrs. Mariam Khan and Mrs. Dana Da'na for their assistance in editing the drafts of the manuscript. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library