ICCRAM Medioambiente, sostenibilidad y toxicología (ICCRAM-EST)

Integration of physio-biological methods for remediation of dyes and toxic metals from textile wastewater

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Integration of physio-biological methods for remediation of dyes and toxic metals from textile wastewater Ayaz, Muhammad; Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali; Song, Kang; Ali, Asmat; Yousaf, Sohail; Kazmi, Abeer; Rashid, Abdur Textile wastewater, a heterogeneous mixture of contaminants, major source of dyes and heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. This study integrated physical adsorbents, biological species, and electro-kinesis as post-treatment for textile effluents. Pond experiments were conducted to determine the removal efficiency of dyes and toxic metals (Cadmium and Chromium) in a batch system. The setup consists of four treatment lines: AD-P (Adsorption Pond), DW-P (Duckweed Pond), MA-P (Algae Pond), and FG-P (Fungus Pond), each with three transparent plastic aquaria in line. Two runs were conducted: the first using a mixture with 250 mg/L of dyes and 15 mg/L each of cadmium and chromium, and the second with an additional 500 mg/L of dyes and 25 mg/L of cadmium and chromium. Samples were collected on every fourth day for 12 days. The highest dye decolorization (74.3 %) was observed with fungi, followed by duckweed (65 %), algae (57.5 %), and dolomite (39 %). Maximum chromium removal (78.3 %) occurred in the algal pond, and the highest cadmium removal was achieved by fungi (73.8 %). Electro-kinesis further enhanced the extraction of chromium and cadmium, with algae showing the highest extraction rates. The integrated system proved effective for removing dyes, chromium, and cadmium from textile wastewater and supported the broader application of physio-biological methods, recommending the use of biological species and electro-kinetic remediation.

Interactive effect of biochar and compost with Poaceae and Fabaceae plants on remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in crude oil contaminated soil

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 00:00:00 GMT

Interactive effect of biochar and compost with Poaceae and Fabaceae plants on remediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons in crude oil contaminated soil Yousaf, Uzma; Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali; Farooqi, Asifa; Muhammad, Yousaf Shad; Barros García, Rocío; Tamayo Ramos, Juan Antonio; Iqbal, Mazhar; Yousaf, Sohail The current study was dedicated to finding the effect of soil amendments (biochar and compost) on plants belonging to Poaceae and Fabaceae families. Plants selected for the phytoremediation experiment included wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays), white clover (Trifolium repens), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), and ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum). The physiological and microbial parameters of plants and soil were affected negatively by the 4 % TPHs soil contamination. The studied physiological parameters were fresh and dried biomass, root and shoot length, and chlorophyll content. Microbial parameters included root and shoot endophytic count. Soil parameters included rhizospheric CFUs and residual TPHs. Biochar with wheat, maize, and ryegrass (Fabaceae family) and compost with white clover and alfalfa (Poaceae family) improved plant growth parameters and showed better phytoremediation of TPHs. Among different plants, the highest TPH removal (68.5 %) was demonstrated by ryegrass with compost, followed by white clover with biochar (68 %). Without any soil amendment, ryegrass and alfalfa showed 59.55 and 35.21 % degradation of TPHs, respectively. Biochar and compost alone removed 27.24 % and 6.01 % TPHs, respectively. The interactive effect of soil amendment and plant type was also noted for studied parameters and TPHs degradation

Biosurfactant-producing Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida Performed Higher Biodegradation of Diesel Oil than a Non-producing Fungal Strain

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Biosurfactant-producing Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida Performed Higher Biodegradation of Diesel Oil than a Non-producing Fungal Strain Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali; Tanveer, S.; Kiyani, A; Barros García, Rocío; Iqbal, M.; Yousaf, Sohail The biosurfactant production can enhance the hydrocarbon biodegradation, as the hydrophobicity of these compounds reduces the degradation rates. Much of the attention was given to microbial hydrocarbon biodegradation, while limited work is present regarding the capacity of fungal biosurfactants for enhancing the remediation process. This research work identified the potential of biosurfactant production and hydrocarbon degradation of selected fungal strains belonging to Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Candida genera in contrast to a hydrocarbon-degrading and biosurfactant non-producing fungal strain. The highest biodegradation was noted for Aspergillus niger FA5 (90.7%), followed by Penicillium chrysogenum FP4 and Aspergillus terreus FP6 (87.4 and 85.0%, respectively), and lastly, Candida sp. FG2 (80.1%). Biosurfactant-producing hydrocarbon degrading fungal strains A. niger FA5, P. chrysogenum FP4, A. terreus FP6, and Candida sp. FG2 degraded hydrocarbons 1.32-, 1.27-, 1.24-, and 1.18-fold higher than non-producing A. flavus FP10 (68.6%). When the data were analyzed for correlation, hydrocarbon degradation was found negatively corelated to surface tension (r = –0.747, p = 0.005), while positively correlated with emulsification index (r = 0.964, p < 0.001), and cell hydrophobicity (r = 0.835, p < 0.001). The results indicate that fungi capable of attaching hydrocarbons at high concentration to the cell surface and effectively reducing surface tension were able to exhibit significant improvements in the rate of hydrocarbon degradation. Hence, it is concluded that if a fungus can produce biosurfactant that can improve hydrocarbon emulsification and reduce surface tension, the hydrocarbon breakdown can be accelerated from 12 to 22% compared to non-producers

A novel assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in water and sediment samples from the Indus River, Pakistan: An ecological risk assessment approach

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

A novel assessment of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in water and sediment samples from the Indus River, Pakistan: An ecological risk assessment approach Gul, Nida; Khan, Bushra; Khan, Aqib Hassan Ali; Nawaz, Taufiq; Wahid, Fazli; Toloza, Carlos A.T.; Alzahrani, Eman; Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann; Khan, Sarzamin Pakistan, a country with limited water resources and highly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, faces numerous challenges in managing its water supply. In this sense, this study assessed potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the surface water and sediments of Pakistan's Indus River and its tributaries. Key water quality parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were determined, with respective average values of 7.1, 40 μS/cm, and 208 mg L−1. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn in surface water samples averaged 26 μg L−1, 0.9 μg L−1, 1.4 μg L−1, 22 μg L−1, and 2.1 μg L−1, respectively. The general sediment PTE profile was Ni > Cd > Zn > Cu > Cr. Certain PTE levels exceeded recommended thresholds, indicating the establishment of environmental pollution. Calculated geo-accumulation index values suggested moderate to heavy pollution levels in sediment, with PERI (404) values reinforcing the ecological risk posed by elevated PTE concentrations. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between specific PTE pairs in both water and sediment samples. This study contributes with novel insights into the distribution and ecological implications of PTE contamination in the Indus River and its tributaries, paving the way for ecological risk management efforts