Search Results (158)

Background: Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as emerging contaminants in food products, including edible salt. Their presence raises concerns due to potential health impacts and the lack of regulatory frameworks in many countries, including Ecuador. This study represents the first systematic assessment of the occurrence of MPs in commercial salts marketed in Guayaquil and assesses public awareness and willingness to pay for contaminant-free salt. Methods: A total of 45 salt samples covering marine, table, rock, pink, and blue salt, were collected from supermarkets and local stores in Guayaquil. Microplastics were extracted through filtration and oxidative digestion and characterized morphologically under a stereomicroscope. Polymer composition was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, a digital survey was administered to 435 residents to gauge consumer awareness and perceptions. Results: Microplastics were detected in 100% of the salt samples analyzed. Rock and marine salts showed the highest concentrations (>900 items/Kg). Fibers, particularly blue ones, were the predominant morphology, and FTIR analysis identified polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyamides, and natural fibers. Survey results indicated that only 51.5% of respondents had prior knowledge of microplastic contamination, but 85.7% expressed willingness to pay more for safer salt, and 95.4% supported regulatory measures. Full article

Disposable plastic production may be an understudied source of indoor microplastics (MPs) with implications for occupational exposure. These studies provide a preliminary baseline characterization of MP contamination and potential exposure within a disposable plasticware production administrative environment from Morbi district, Gujarat, India. As the dataset is derived from a single composite dust sample collected over a seven-day period, the results should be interpreted as indicative of site-specific conditions rather than broadly generalizable estimates. Sample processed using a contamination-controlled workflow (H₂O₂ digestion, ZnCl₂ density separation, stereomicroscopy) and micro-Raman confirmation. The dust contained 2112 MPs/g, was overwhelmingly fragment-dominated (98.5%), and enriched in the 100–200 µm size class (42.4%); color profiling showed predominance of white (60.6%) and red (32.4%) particles. Polymer identification indicated a polystyrene (PS)-dominated signature (55%) with PET as a secondary contributor (25%). Ingestion is the primary pathway (~77% of intake). Results demonstrate that non-production indoor spaces adjacent to plastic manufacturing can act as MP hotspots, carrying polymer-specific fingerprints and measurable exposure burdens for administrative staff. Findings support targeted mitigation (source containment, enhanced filtration, cleaning) and recommend broader, multi-site airborne plus settled sampling to refine exposure and health-risk assessments. Full article

Background/Objectives: The genus Tristerix comprises at least ten species, found from southern Chile to Colombia in South America. In Chile, several species of these hemiparasitic plants are known as quitral or quintral. Quitral, mainly T. corymbosus (syn. T. tetrandus), is used in alternative medicine for its anti-inflammatory, digestive, hemostatic, hypocholesterolemic, and wound-healing properties. This study investigates the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of T. corymbosus. Methods: A hydroalcoholic extract of T. corymbosus was prepared from leaves and small branches. The addition of methanol, on the extract, produced precipitation allowing us to isolate a methanol-soluble fraction, a brown powder obtained after filtration, and a tar-like residue remaining in the flask. These fractions were resuspended and tested for antimicrobial activity. Results: All fractions showed activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, but not E. coli. The brown powder exhibits the strongest potency against Gram-positive bacteria, some Gram-negative and C. albicans. HPLC-MS analysis revealed presence of lipidic compounds with surfactant properties. Conclusions: The abundant lipidic molecules present in the analyzed fraction likely account for the antimicrobial effects through affecting membrane structure of microorganisms supporting the traditional wound-healing uses of T. corymbosus in ancestral medicine. Full article

Microplastic quantification in marine vegetated ecosystems remains analytically demanding, yet little is known about the environmental footprint of the laboratory procedures required to isolate and measure these particles. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to laboratory analytical workflows for microplastics quantification, focusing exclusively on sample preparation and analytical procedures rather than natural environmental absorption or fate processes, in two ecologically relevant matrices: (i) pelagic algae (Sargassum) and (ii) seagrass biomass. Using the openLCA 2.5 and the ReCiPe Midpoint (H) v1.13 methods, the analysis integrates foreground inventories of digestion, filtration, drying, and spectroscopic identification, combined with background datasets from OzLCI2019, ELCD 3.2 and USDA. Results show substantially higher impacts for the algae scenario, particularly for climate change, human toxicity, ionising radiation and particulate matter formation, largely driven by longer digestion times, increased reagent use and higher energy demand during sample pre-treatment. Conversely, the seagrass scenario exhibited lower burdens per functional unit due to reduced organic complexity and shorter laboratory processing requirements. These findings highlight the importance of matrix-specific methodological choices and the influence of background datasets on impact profiles. This study provides the first benchmark for the environmental performance of microplastic analytical workflows and underscores the need for harmonised, low-impact laboratory protocols to support sustainable monitoring of microplastic pollution in marine ecosystems. Full article

The compositional heterogeneity of food waste greatly influences its bioconversion in microbial electrolysis cell (MEC)-assisted anaerobic digestion (AD), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, this study assessed two typical food wastes, i.e., starch-rich rice and cellulose-rich vegetables, on methane production, microbial constituents, and digestate dewaterability in single-chamber MECs. The results demonstrated that, while the rice-fed MEC (258.56 mL/g VS) achieved a higher methane yield compared to the vegetable-fed MEC (161.79 mL/g VS), the latter achieved higher methane purity. Temporal profiles of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) revealed rapid acidification and consumption in rice-fed systems, whereas vegetable-fed MEC exhibited delayed degradation. Additionally, the substrate type greatly influenced digestate dewaterability, since digestate from the vegetable-fed MEC exhibited lower specific resistance to filtration (3.25 × 10¹² m/kg vs. 12.46 × 10¹² m/kg) and capillary suction time (8.16 s·L/g vs. 19.14 s·L/g) compared to that from the rice-fed MEC. This improvement was likely attributed to high polysaccharides in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and cellulose’s structural properties, which promoted the formation of a porous, less compressible sludge cake that facilitated sludge dewaterability. Microbial community analysis revealed a substrate-driven specialization, as the rice-fed MECs enriched exoelectrogens (e.g., Geobacter, Trichococcus) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (i.e., Methanobacterium), while the vegetables enriched Bacteroides and Methanosarcina. Collectively, these results suggest substrate composition profoundly influences methane yield, metabolic pathways, microbial ecology, and digestate properties in MEC-assisted AD. This work provides key insights into the role of feedstock characteristics in shaping MEC-assisted AD systems. Full article

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are promising therapeutic agents due to their role in intercellular communication. This study examined the protective effects of milk-derived EVs (mEVs) on bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOECs) under cobalt chloride (CoCl₂)-induced oxidative stress (OS), comparing EVs stored at −80 °C or lyophilized. mEVs and algae-derived EVs (aEVs; negative control) were isolated via tangential flow filtration and applied at 10⁷, 10⁹, and 10¹¹ particles/mL in three treatment strategies: pre-treatment, co-incubation, and post-treatment. mEVs specifically enhanced cell viability in all protocols except for post-treatment, where only 10⁷ particles/mL was effective; meanwhile, storage method did not affect EV activity. Enzyme digestion suggested that internal EV cargos are potentially the dominant contributors to the protective response compared to surface-associated molecules. mEVs reduced the expression of the OS markers DDIT4 and HIF1A while promoting cell migration more effectively than aEVs. Pathway enrichment analysis of previously reported mEV miRNAs indicated regulation of cytokine production and glucocorticoid responses, potentially contributing to OS defense. mEV protein cargo analysis showed pathways primarily linked to peptidase and vesicle-related functions, suggesting that protein cargo may also contribute to the observed protective effects. Overall, mEVs protect BOECs against CoCl₂-induced OS and maintain bioactivity after lyophilization. Full article

The juice industry generates substantial quantities of solid waste and wastewater. Consequently, efforts have focused on their treatment and valorization to obtain high-value-added products. Traditionally, these wastes are managed through landfill disposal and treatment in municipal wastewater facilities, respectively. In the present work, two alternative scenarios for the valorization of orange juice waste were developed and assessed in comparison to the conventional approach by performing a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Scenario 1 involved hydro-distillation of solid waste for essential oil recovery, followed by anaerobic digestion for biogas and fertilizer production, with wastewater treated via membrane filtration and chlorination. In Scenario 2, solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME) was employed for essential oil recovery, followed by anaerobic digestion. Wastewater was treated in a membrane bioreactor followed by ultraviolet treatment. According to the results, Scenario 1 achieved a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions due to the beneficial effects of biogas and fertilizer production, despite its high energy demands. Scenario 2 exhibited the best environmental performance due to lower energy demands and higher extraction efficiency compared to Scenario 1, with reductions of 46% in greenhouse gas emissions and 48% in resource depletion. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of integrating innovative, energy-efficient technologies for the sustainable valorization of juice industry waste, offering measurable environmental advantages for industrial-scale implementation. Full article

Landfill leachate is highly concentrated wastewater containing non-biodegradable organic compounds and toxic substances. For this reason, advanced treatment methods are necessary for its treatment. The article discusses the possibility of treating leachate in a hybrid system combining ultrasonic pretreatment and anaerobic co-digestion with dairy wastewater in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor. Two laboratory-scale submerged anaerobic membrane reactors with a capillary module with membranes with a pore size of 0.1 μm and an effective filtration area of 0.35 m² were used in this study. An ultrasound disintegrator at 22 kHz (amplitude 14 µm) was used for leachate pretreatment. It was found that, as a result of leachate sonification (time > 10 min), the BOD₅/COD ratio in the wastewater increased from 0.1 to 0.4, and the content of dissolved organic compounds accounted for more than 40% of the total COD. Preliminary sonication of the leachate resulted in improved co-digestion efficiency in a reactor fed with conditioned leachate. A 92% reduction in organic pollutants was achieved, as well as a biogas production rate of 0.5 L biogas/g COD removed. Full article

Galactooligosaccharides (GOS) typically consist of 2-8 D-galactose units linked together, terminating in a D-glucose unit. GOS are commonly used in dairy products, infant formulas, and functional foods. GOS offer beneficial properties for food processing, such as low caloric value, mild clean taste, and excellent solubility in water. Additionally, GOS function as non-digestible prebiotics, supporting microbiota balance and offering benefits such as promoting infant health, immune modulation, laxative effects, and potential metabolic advantages. β-galactosidase plays a key role in GOS production, catalyzing both hydrolysis and transglycosylation reactions. In this study, a putative GH2 family β-galactosidase from Kosakonia oryzendophytica (Koor β-gal) was identified. The enzyme exhibited optimal activity at pH 7.0 and 45–50 °C with the addition of 1 mM Mg²⁺, showing a specific activity of approximately 288.6 U/mg towards o-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG). After optimizing the reaction conditions, Koor β-gal successfully produced 124.7 g/L of GOS from 300 g/L D-lactose, achieving a GOS yield of 41.6%. LC-MS analysis revealed that the primary products consisted of GOS with degrees of polymerization (DP) ranging from 2 to 4. Additionally, Koor β-gal was heterologously expressed in Bacillus subtilis following comprehensive optimization of the promoter and 5′-UTR, resulting in an enzyme activity in culture filtrate of 106.2 U/mL after 60 h. Full article

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that requires its emissions to be mitigated. A significant source for methane emissions is in the form of the biogas that is produced from anaerobic digestion in wastewater reclamation and landfill facilities. Biogas has a high valorization potential in the form of its bioconversion into ectoines, an active ingredient in skin care products, by halotolerant alkaliphilic methanotrophs. Cultures of Methylotuvimicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z were grown in bench scale stirred-tank reactors to determine factors to improve methane uptake and removal. Tangential flow filtration was also implemented for a bio-milking method to recover ectoine from culture media. Methane uptake and reactor productivity increased, with a temperature of 28 °C compared with 21 °C. Decreasing the methane gas bubble diameter by decreasing the sparger pore size from 1 mm to 0.5 µm significantly improved methane removal and reactor productivity by increasing mass transfer. Premixing methane and air before sparging into the reactor saw a higher removal of methane, while sparging methane and air separately created an increase in reactor productivity. Maximum methane removal efficiency was observed to be 70.56% ± 0.54 which translated to a CH₄-EC of 93.82 ± 3.36 g CH₄ m⁻³ h⁻¹. Maximum ectoine yields was observed to be 0.579 mg ectoine L⁻¹ h⁻¹. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging airborne pollutants that can migrate through various environmental pathways, with air representing one of the most critical exposure routes. Their occurrence within suspended particulate matter (PM)—a major atmospheric pollutant associated with respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases—further amplifies the risks posed by air pollution. The main sources of airborne MPs include tire and road wear, degradation of larger plastic debris, and wind-driven resuspension from soil and landfills. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of current knowledge on airborne MPs, integrating methodological and toxicological perspectives. It summarizes sampling and separation procedures (filtration, chemical digestion, density separation) and analytical techniques for qualitative and quantitative identification. Particular emphasis is placed on the toxicological implications of MPs, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and potential carcinogenicity, as revealed by in vitro and mechanistic studies. In light of the absence of standardized methodologies, this work highlights the urgent need for harmonized protocols linking environmental monitoring with biological toxicity assessment. By combining information on analytical workflows and cellular responses, this review serves as a key reference for developing environmentally relevant experimental designs and evaluating health risks associated with airborne microplastics. It therefore bridges the gap between environmental analysis and toxicological research, outlining future priorities for methodological standardization and risk assessment. Full article

Microplastics, pervasive environmental pollutants with significant health risks, present formidable challenges in wastewater treatment due to their persistence and resistance to conventional removal methods. This study investigates the efficacy of hybrid ceramic membrane filtration for the systematic removal of micro- and nanoplastics from wastewater, while evaluating the role of anaerobic digestion as a pretreatment to enhance membrane performance. This study systematically assesses the performance of the 1.4 μm pore-sized flat sheet ceramic membrane and the 1 kDa pore-sized tubular ceramic membrane, respectively, for microplastic and nanoplastic removal in wastewater. Also, the effect of anaerobic digestion was assessed in microplastic separation and quantification. Anaerobic digestion reduced suspended solids by 57–67%. The average microplastic concentration was ~1782 MP L⁻¹. However, anaerobic digestion reduced the average concentration to ~913 MP L⁻¹. The opposite trend was observed in nanoplastic concentrations, which were ~4268 and ~10,066 NP L⁻¹, respectively, for the samples without and with anaerobic digestion. The ceramic membrane flux decreased from ~106.5 to ~25 L m⁻² h⁻¹ at a flow rate of 0.4 L min⁻¹ during the collection of 2 L of filtrate. However, anaerobic digestion improved the flux approximately 3 times. The tubular ceramic membrane flux was ~6.1 L m⁻² h⁻¹ at a flow rate of 2.0 L min⁻¹, which was reduced by 50% after the ceramic membrane treatment. By overcoming the limitations of conventional microplastic removal methods, such as the inefficiency of residual chemicals or byproducts, hybrid ceramic membrane filtration is a viable option for a scalable, efficient, and sustainable method in controlling microplastic and nanoplastic pollution. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as widespread environmental contaminants, with confirmed presence in human tissues and biological fluids through ingestion, inhalation, and direct systemic exposure. Their potential impacts on human health have become an important subject of scientific investigation. The detection and quantification of MPs, particularly nanoplastics, in complex biological matrices remain challenging because of their low concentrations, diverse physicochemical properties, and interference from organic and inorganic matter. This review presents a critical assessment of current methods for the separation and detection of MPs from human-relevant samples. It examines pre-treatment, separation, and analytical approaches including physical filtration, density-based separation, chemical and enzymatic digestion, vibrational spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy, highlighting their principles, advantages, and limitations. Key challenges such as low sample throughput, absence of standardized procedures, and the difficulty of nanoplastic detection are identified as major barriers to accurate exposure assessment and risk evaluation. Recent advances, including functionalized adsorbents, improved anti-fouling membranes, integrated microfluidic systems, and artificial intelligence-assisted spectral analysis, are discussed for their potential to provide sensitive, scalable, and standardized analytical workflows. By integrating current challenges with recent innovations, this review aims to guide multidisciplinary research toward the development of reliable and reproducible detection strategies that can support MPs exposure assessment and inform evidence-based health policies. Full article

Filtrate from dewatering anaerobically digested biosolids is a side-stream of wastewater treatment that contains high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds that can serve as nutrients for cultivating microalgae biomass as biofilms for bioproduct production at Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs). One system used to cultivate attached microalgae biofilms is the rotating algal biofilm reactor (RABR). A pilot RABR with 72 m² growth surface area, 11.5 m² footprint area, and a liquid volume of 11,500 L was operated in an outdoor environment at the largest WRRF in Utah, U.S.A, the Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (CVWRF). The configuration of the RABR was altered from the previous configuration with regard to temperature and duty cycle with the goal to maximize biomass productivity. Results included an increase in dry biomass productivity on a footprint basis from 8.8 g/m²/day to 26.8 g/m²/day (205%) while power requirements changed from 28.3 W to 91 W. The increase in biomass productivity has direct benefits for bioproducts including bioplastic, biofertilizer, and the extraction of lipids for conversion to biofuels. Full article

Microplastics (MPs) pollution has become a global environmental issue. Soil, as a key environmental medium, serves as an important sink and carrier of MPs. Accurate and efficient extraction of MPs from soil matrices is essential for understanding their distribution, composition, and environmental behavior. This study presents a refined extraction method that combines two-step density separation with sodium chloride (NaCl, 1.20 g/cm³), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) digestion for organic matter removal and a Fractionated Filtration Method (FFM) to capture MPs across multiple particle size ranges. Polymer identification and size characterization were performed using the high-throughput Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared (LDIR) imaging system. Method validation demonstrated a recovery rate of 85% based on 100 μm MPs standards spiked into soil and minimal background contamination of 5–8 particles in blank controls, confirming the reliability of the workflow. Applying this method to agricultural soils from the Hetao Irrigation District revealed widespread MP contamination, with concentrations ranging from 5778 to 31,489 particles/kg and an average of 16,461 ± 8097 particles/kg. More than 99% of MPs were smaller than 500 μm, with the 10–30 μm fraction dominating the distribution. Polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), and polyethylene (PE) accounted for over 90% of detected MPs. This refined method enables reproducible extraction and accurate characterization of fine MPs in complex soil environments and provides a practical foundation for advancing standardized soil MP monitoring protocols. Full article