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HiSorb and solid-phase microextraction (SPME), two environmentally friendly micro-extraction techniques based on the same fundamental principles, were evaluated for their extraction efficiency of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from goat cheese whey wastewater. For this purpose, a sample preparation method based on the headspace-HiSorb technique was developed and evaluated for its efficiency in terms of the amount of extracted compounds and reproducibility of results. Thermal desorption-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD-GC/MS) and GC/MS analytical methods were used to perform the wastewater analysis, respectively. The experimental parameters of HiSorb were evaluated in terms of probe coating, extraction time, stirring speed, sample volume, extraction temperature and salt addition. Under optimal extraction conditions, it was observed that the use of the divinylbenzene/carbon wide range/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CWR/PDMS) triple coating for HiSorb and DVB/Carboxen (CAR)/PDMS for SPME, was best suited to extract a broader range of VOCs with higher peak intensities. A total of 34 VOCs were extracted and determined with the DVB/CWR/PDMS HiSorb probe, while only 23 VOCs were determined with the conventional DVB/CAR/PDMS SPME fiber. The DVB/CWR/PDMS HiSorb probe has a higher adsorbent capacity which results in a higher sensitivity for VOCs compared to the DVB/CAR/PDMS SPME fiber. Furthermore, the HiSorb technique exhibits better reproducibility, as indicated by the lower relative standard deviation (RSD) of 3.7% compared to 7.1% for SPME. Therefore, the HiSorb technique is an effective method for detecting VOCs in complex matrices, such as wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study presents a novel treatment system using a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAnMBR) followed by adsorption onto thermally treated biowaste, and ending with a final treatment using powdered activated carbon (PAC). Despite limited phosphate and ammonium ion removal during SAnMBR operation, thermally treated eggshell (EGSL) and seagrass (SG) received SAnMBR effluent and enhanced phosphate recovery, achieving removal rates of 71.8-99.9% and 60.5-78.0%, respectively. The SAnMBR achieved an 85% COD removal, which was slightly reduced further by biowaste treatment. However, significant further reductions in COD to 20.2 ± 5.2 mg/L for EGSL effluent and 57.0 ± 13.3 mg/L for SG effluent were achieved with PAC. Phytotoxicity tests showed the SAnMBR effluent after PAC treatment notably improved seed growth compared to untreated wastewater. In addition, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were significantly reduced in the system, including common wastewater contaminants such as dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, phenol, p-cresol, nonanal, and decanal. Fractionation analysis of the solid fraction, post-adsorption from both synthetic and domestic wastewater, indicated that for SG, 77.3%-94% of the total phosphorus (TP) was inorganically bound, while for EGSL, it ranged from 94% to 95.3%. This study represents the first attempt at a proof-of-concept for simultaneous treatment of domestic wastewater and phosphorus recovery using this integrated system., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Brassica napus L. (oilseed rape) was grown with daikon and white lupin in a polyvinyl chloride split pot experiment (with no barrier between the compartments or by a nylon mesh barrier (37 μm) to license partial root interaction, or a solid barrier to stop any root interactions) to examine the effect of rhizosphere interaction on the cadmium uptake. The results showed that shoot and root biomasses of oilseed rape were 40.66% and 26.94% less than that of the monocropped treatment (solid barrier) when intercropping with daikon under the rhizosphere complete interaction. However, the intermingling of roots between oilseed rape and white lupin notably enhanced the dry biomass of oilseed rape by 40.23% and decreased with the reduction of root contact. Oilseed rape intercropping with daikon enhanced the shoot Cd concentration of oilseed rape. The shoot Cd concentration (44.8 mg/kg) of oilseed rape when intercropped white lupin under complete rhizosphere interaction were greater than those of other treatments. Additionally, the intermingling of roots played a positive role in the content of citric and malic acids when intercropping with white lupin. In all systems, the BCF values of oilseed rape >5. Therefore, intercropping with white lupin may contribute to higher biomass and increased uptake Cd by oilseed rape. We can toward sustainable positive effects on phytoremediation that based on a better understanding of rhizosphere processes., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mining in Cyprus resulted in a significant number of abandoned sulphide mines without any rehabilitation measures. The present study aims to describe and compare the environmental parameters in three such mines with respect to water chemistry, waste dumps geochemistry, slope-topography and plant growth. The mines under study are that of Kokkinopezoula, North and South Mathiatis located at the northeast of the Troodos massif. A synopsis of the previous studies conducted for the above-mentioned mines is presented, which includes water and soil samples analyses. Although, in these areas environmental degradation is reported, there are some plants which grow naturally. Therefore, a preliminary attempt to report these plants is conducted, while remediation options presented in the literature including technosols, revegetation, phytoremediation and phytostabilization are proposed. Potential use of native plants such as Phragmites australis, Tamarix smyrnensis, Poaceae, Pinus brutia and Schoenus nigricans Poaceace could be applied for phytoremediation of the sulphide mines in Cyprus. These plants seem to have great strength at low pH values and high metal content in contaminated soils and water. The three mines under study are also compared with three other old mines located in the broader area of Cyprus; that of Xeros, Limni and Skouriotissa, which operated under similar climatic conditions. By improving abandoned mines environment with technosols, the action of native plants will be enhanced and thus work towards a successful phytoremediation treatment, resulting in the minimization of future pollutants generated by the solid waste dumps., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The formation of highly concentrated and stable graphene derivatives dispersions remains a challenge towards their exploitation in various applications, including flexible optoelectronics, photovoltaics, 3D-printing, and biomedicine. Here, we demonstrate our extensive investigation on the dispersibility of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) in 25 different solvents, without the use of any surfactant or stabilizer. Although there is a significant amount of work covering the general field, this is the first report on the dispersibility of: a) RGO prepared by a HI/AcOH assisted reduction process, the method which yields RGO of higher graphitization degree than the other well-known reductants met in the literature, b) both GO and RGO, explored in such a great range of solvents, with some of them not previously reported. In addition, through calculation of their Hansen Solubility Parameters (HSP), we confirmed their dispersibility behavior in each solvent, while we indirectly validated the most advanced graphitization degree of the studied RGO compared to other reported RGOs, since its HSPs exhibit the highest similarity with the respective ones of pure graphene. Finally, high concentrations of up to 189 μg mL -1 for GO and ~ 87.5 μg mL -1 for RGO were achieved, in deionized water and o-Dichlorobenzene respectively, followed by flakes size distribution and polydispersity indices estimation, through dynamic light scattering as a quality control of the effect of a solvent's nature on the dispersion behavior of these graphene-based materials., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Virtual Special Issue (VSI) "New Research on Soil Degradation and Restoration" was proposed by the Guest-Editors (the authors of this editorial piece) to Journal of Environmental Management taking into account the following aspects: (a) Firstly, soil degradation is a main issue all over the world; (b) Secondly, physical, chemical and biological degradation of soil environments need detailed research, also going deeper in some new aspects poorly covered up to now; and (c) Similarly, new quality research on restoration of degraded soils, dumping sites, different areas affected by mining activities, and so on, would be clearly useful in order to prevent and/or solve critical environmental hazards. As a result, 110 manuscripts were submitted to the VSI by authors from around the world, and near 50 high quality works were finally published. The Guest-Editors of the VSI consider that the papers published will be of great interest for researchers working in this field, as well as for the overall community, as they include aspects clearly relevant at a global level., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Structural variations of a mineral dictate its adsorption capacity which affects the mobility and toxicity of contaminants in natural and engineered systems. Present batch study evaluates the adsorption of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) onto three magnetites having nanometric (M1-30 nm and M2-60 nm) and micrometric particle sizes (M3-1.5 μm). Obtained data revealed that particle size of tested magnetites strongly affected the extent and kinetics of metal adsorption and desorption. Observed order of adsorption efficiency was M1 > M2 > M3 with optimum monolayer adsorption of 408.14, 331.40, 178.47 mg/g (for Pb) and 228.05, 170.86, 83.49 mg/g (for Cd), respectively. Adsorption data were well fitted to the Freundlich (R 2  = 0.99), Langmuir (R 2  = 0.99) and pseudo-first order models (R 2  = 0.98). Electrostatic attraction and surface precipitation interaction via external mass transfer between bulk liquid-solid interfaces were the potential adsorption pathways. Pb showed higher affinity than Cd in multi-metal system. Desorption efficiency was higher in acidic environment (92%) than in distilled water (44%). Moreover, regenerated magnetite samples retained good adsorption capacity for six cycles. As soils are characterized by large variability of iron minerals, these findings have important implications regarding the transport and immobilization of contaminants particularly in the management of contaminated soils., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest ☒ The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The fast growth in the anthropogenic activities, that involve a wide use of pharmaceuticals, has led to the appearance of new toxic and hazardous chemical compounds, called "emerging pollutants", which could cause unpredictable consequences to the ecosystems. The current review is focused on emerging pollutants occurring in food or air and include caffeine and nicotine, as well as on pharmaceuticals, in particular amoxicillin, and the concerns caused by its wide usage for medical purposes. This review, for the first time, analyzes and discusses the potential risks and implications of caffeine, nicotine and amoxicillin as emerging environmental pollutants, a field that remains underrepresented to date. Both caffeine and nicotine belong to life style compounds, while pharmaceutical amoxicillin is one of the very popular β-lactam antibiotics used to take care of human and animal infections. The review covers the toxic effect caused by caffeine, nicotine and amoxicillin on humans and animals and describes some of the main adsorbents utilized for their removal (e.g., grape stalk, tea waste, wheat grains, bentonite, activated carbon, acid and base modified grape slurry wastes, graphene oxides, modified graphene oxides, zeolites, etc.). The isotherm and kinetic models for the analysis of caffeine, nicotine and amoxicillin adsorption by different adsorbents are presented. The impact of pH, temperature, adsorbent dosage and thermodynamic studies were deeply analyzed. The review also discusses the mechanism of adsorption for the above-mentioned emerging pollutants, which includes π-π interaction, cation-π bonding, electron-donor and electron-acceptor forces, van der Waals forces, electrostatic interactions, etc. The present review has a potential value for chemists, ecologists, toxicologists, environmental engineers, and other professionals that are involved in environmental protection., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This work investigates the fabrication of magnetic biochar (pncm) and Fe 3 O 4 -loaded oxidized biochar (pncom) obtained from pine needles for uranium removal. Adsorbent properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. Using batch-type experiments the effect of the uranium concentration, solution pH, contact time, temperature and ionic strength on the uranium adsorption was investigated. The results showed better adsorptive properties for pncom, particularly in the acidic pH range. The experimental adsorption data were found to be well fitted with the Langmuir isotherm and the pseudo-second order kinetic model. For pncom, the maximum adsorption capacity obtained applying the Langmuir isotherm model was found to amount 2.6 mol/kg at pH 6 and 25 °C. Spectroscopic data indicated that the U(VI) adsorption was associated with the formation of inner-sphere complexes. Regeneration and reusability studies were performed with 0.1 M Na 2 CO 3 . After four cycles, the % relative adsorption and the desorption for pncom decreased from 99.5% to 87.2% and 99.6%-62.6%, respectively. The present results show that magnetization of oxidized pine needle biochar improves significantly the adsorption characteristics regarding the uranium removal from aqueous solutions., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

As the use of lanthanide salts in biophysical systems increases and the separation of lanthanides from nuclear and other wastes with extraction processes has become an important technological challenge, a deeper understanding of the behavior of lanthanides at lipid interfaces is urgently needed. In this work the interaction of lanthanide salts with zwitterionic phospholipids is probed using aqueous micelles of the surfactant dodecyl phosphocholine (DPC), which are useful membrane-mimetic model systems, widely used for the solubilization of membrane proteins in aqueous solutions. Because more than one species exists in lanthanide salt solutions, even at the pH value of 4 used in this experiment, the major goal of this investigation is to examine which species are actually binding to the micelles. Using static and time-dependent europium fluorescence, strong indications are obtained that both the Eu 3+ cation and its 1:1 chloride, nitrate, or sulfate complexes bind to the micelles, whereas the europium species do not appear to interact strongly with DPC molecules below the cmc. From isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements it is found that the lanthanide interaction with DPC micelles increases to the right of the lanthanide series and is - surprisingly - endothermic, underlying the important role of hydration effects in the interaction. The anion of the lanthanide salt strongly influences the thermodynamics: perchlorate and sulfate salts give extraordinary results, switching the interaction to exothermic. A multi-level phenomenological electrostatic model of the europium fluorescence lifetimes strongly suggests that in the case of nitrate salts both Ln 3+ and LnNO 3 ions bind to the micelles. Overall a detailed molecular picture of the complexity of lanthanide-lipid interactions at interfaces is emerging from these experiments and the associated modelling effort.2+ ions bind to the micelles. Overall a detailed molecular picture of the complexity of lanthanide-lipid interactions at interfaces is emerging from these experiments and the associated modelling effort., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

It is imperative for sustainable agriculture to explore practices and inputs creating low N 2 O emission capacity without reducing the productivity of the agricultural system. To evaluate different nutrient management schemes, a microcosm study was conducted to assess the direct N 2 O emission from soil. Four different treatments were used to provide a preliminary assessment of N 2 O emissions, as well as the concentrations of nitrates (NO 3 - ) produced in soil: compost (derived from green plant residues), chickpea residues (green manure) in two different N concentrations (2.6% and 5.5%, respectively) and ammonium nitrate (fertilizer). The soil was thoroughly mixed with the organic amendments and ammonium nitrate and incubated for 31 days. The emissions of N 4 O were higher in green manure with high-N content, as a source of nitrogen in the soil, and were similar to the emissions measured from the chemically fertilized soil. In particular, chickpea residues, with high-N content, exhibited cumulative N + ) produced in soil: compost (derived from green plant residues), chickpea residues (green manure) in two different N concentrations (2.6% and 5.5%, respectively) and ammonium nitrate (fertilizer). The soil was thoroughly mixed with the organic amendments and ammonium nitrate and incubated for 31 days. The emissions of N 2 O were higher in green manure with high-N content, as a source of nitrogen in the soil, and were similar to the emissions measured from the chemically fertilized soil. In particular, chickpea residues, with high-N content, exhibited cumulative N 2 . On the contrary, the incorporation of chickpea plant residues with low-N content can be an efficient way to minimize the N 2 , whereas in fertilized soil the emissions were 267.10 μg N/m 2 . The emissions of N 2 O emissions at 21.63 μg N/m 2 . The emissions of N 2 O when compost was applied, remained relatively low, equal to 5.47 μg N/m 2 , and in comparison to soil without any treatment. Overall, a positive association between NH 4 + , NO 3 - in soil and N 2 O emissions were observed. However, this response was treatment depended, and the significant positive correlation between NH 4 + and N 2 O emissions were noticed in soils treated with ammonium nitrate, chickpea residues with low N content, as well as untreated controls. On the contrary, the positive correlation observed between NO 3 - and N 2 O emissions in soils receiving compost and high N chickpea residues, suggest that the different treatments are differentially affecting the processes that are contributing to N 2 O emissions in agricultural soils. These findings, emphasize that the different nutrient management schemes are differentially affecting the main process contributing to N 2 O emissions in agricultural soils., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Adsorption layers at the air-water interface formed from the soluble zwitterionic surfactant dodecylphosphorylcholine (DPC) serving as a soluble model substance for phospho-lipids were characterized with respect to their equilibrium and dynamic surface properties. To clarify the effect of ionic interactions with electrolyte present in the bulk phase, surface rheological properties upon addition of Ce(NO 3 ) 3 and Yb(NO 3 ) 3 were determined. In order to account for the surface activity of the nitrate ion, comparative measurements using NaNO 3 were carried out additionally. Further experimental information on the bulk hydration characteristics of the aqueous solutions was obtained using dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). A possible mechanism causing the deviating surface dilatational modulus E in terms of ion specificity is suggested., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Over the last decade there has been a significant boost towards the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), especially among youth. Different concentrations of propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerin (VG), flavors and nicotine are mixed in plastic cartridges and commercially offered or privately produced by the vapers. During vaping, a mixture of air and vapors is inhaled to the lungs. Since the ingredients of the e-cigarettes are not burned but vaporized (heated), fewer chemicals are emitted. The levels of potentially toxic compounds (e.g. volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM), metals, radicals, nitrosamines, etc.) emitted from vaping appear to be lower compared to that of tobacco smoking (from combustible cigarettes). Nevertheless, measurable toxic elements and VOCs are still released (e.g. acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, acrolein, benzene, etc.) along with other volatiles associated with e-liquid flavoring and device variability with PG and VG. The wide range of available flavors at various purities along with the heating temperature are important parameters affecting the evolution of VOCs and aerosols. There is lack of standardized short- and long-term epidemiological medical data (chronic exposure) on e-cigarettes effects to users, non-users and the human micro-environment (second- or third-hand exposure). Therefore, the potential health, safety and environmental effects of vaping are reviewed, examined and discussed., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Surface-active metalorganic complexes can be used to construct organic thin films with excellent electronic and catalytic properties. We have recently introduced a new versatile surface-active ligand, which can efficiently coordinate a wide range of transition metals. In the present work we report an investigation of Langmuir monolayers of V V, Mo VI and Ti IV complexes of this ligand, using surface pressure-area isotherms, Brewster-angle microscopy, and Grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The monolayers of these complexes are stable enough over broad temperature ranges to allow efficient transfer to solid substrates.

The controlled production of ZnO nanoparticles within an amorphous silica matrix is achieved using a new methodology consisting of four stages. First, precursor zinc glycerolate nanoparticles are produced within reversed micelles of glycerol in heptane stabilized by the surfactant Aerosol-OT (bis-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate, AOT). The surface of these nanoparticles is then modified by exchanging AOT with bis-trimethoxysilyl-ethane (BTME). The surface-modified nanoparticles are copolymerized with tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) to provide a composite silica material, in which the nanoparticles are apparently dissolved, producing a uniform distribution of zinc in the silica matrix. Finally, the conversion of zinc to ZnO is achieved by heating the material at 700 degrees C, leading to a uniform dispersion of very small (<10 nm) ZnO particles within the amorphous matrix. The fluorescence spectrum of the ZnO particles within the matrix is blue-shifted, as expected from the strong quantum confinement achieved. The properties of the system at all stages in this synthetic process are monitored using TEM, XRD, fluorescence and FT-IR spectroscopy. Glycerol forms complexes with many metal ions, so the present procedure may be generalized to provide uniform distributions of metal ions and subsequently metal oxide nanoparticles in amorphous silica.

The crystallization of PbS in aqueous solutions containing the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and hydrophilic polymers resulted in a novel type of metastable nanotubes, the walls of which consist of layers of ordered PbS nanoparticles, apparently separated by layers of surfactant molecules. Information on the mechanism of formation of these structures was obtained by focusing on the roles of the polymer, and of the insoluble lead dodecyl sulfate (Pb(DS)2) present in the system. TEM investigations of the early stages of crystallization revealed the coexistence of PbS and Pb(DS)2 precipitates, the latter being surprisingly important for nanotube formation, and allowed to follow the evolution of layered structures from combination of the two types of crystals. Six different hydrophilic polymers have been used, which interact with SDS with varying strengths. Surprisingly, and in contrast to previous hypotheses, layered nanostructures were observed in all polymer solutions, regardless of the strength of polymer-surfactant interactions. This indicates that, although the presence of a polymer is necessary, polymer-SDS interactions are not a driving force for the formation of the layered structures and nanotubes. On the contrary, the interactions between the polymer chains and the growing particles appear to be of the utmost importance. Results presented here can be interpreted in terms of two alternative mechanisms for layered nanostructure and nanotube formation.