Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution

Challenges and Future Prospects of Using Biochar for Soil Remediation

Audrey Primus — 2025-05-05

Biochar gained significant attention as an eco-friendly and effective solution for remediating contaminated soils, particularly those impacted by pharmaceutical persistent pollutants (PPPs). These pollutants, known for their resistance to natural degradation and tendency to accumulate in soil, posed serious risks to both human health and ecosystems. To address this issue, researchers proposed the use of biochar as a remediation technology to remove PPPs through adsorption. As an efficient sorbent, biochar demonstrated the ability to immobilize pharmaceuticals in contaminated soils, thereby reducing their bioavailability and mobility, and ultimately mitigating their environmental impact. This review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of PPPs contamination and the potential of biochar for remediation. It first summarized the occurrence of pharmaceutical pollutants in various countries and identified their primary sources. It then examined the environmental fate of these pollutants and outlined the key challenges associated with their management. The mechanisms by which biochar adsorbed pharmaceutical compounds were discussed in detail, followed by a case study that illustrated the effectiveness of this technology in practical applications. This review also evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of using biochar for remediation, along with the practical challenges encountered during its implementation. Future directions highlighted included developing methods for extracting toxic residues and enhancing the performance of biochar through chemical or structural modifications.

The Role of Microorganisms in the Degradation of Pesticides: A Sustainable Approach to Soil Remediation

Diya Merlin Varghese — 2025-05-09

The widespread use of pesticides in agriculture, aquaculture, and public health has led to severe environmental and public health concerns due to their overapplication and persistence in ecosystems. Pesticide residues accumulate in soil, degrade its fertility, pollute groundwater, and harm non-target organisms, including beneficial insects and aquatic life. This persistent contamination poses a significant threat to biodiversity, food safety, and ecosystem resilience. The aim of this review is to examine microbial bioremediation as a sustainable and effective strategy for remediating pesticide-contaminated soils. The paper evaluates the mechanisms by which microorganisms degrade or transform hazardous pesticide compounds into less toxic or non-toxic forms and assesses the advantages and limitations of bioremediation technologies. Notably, bioremediation is recognized for its environmental compatibility, cost-effectiveness, and potential to restore soil health without undermining agricultural productivity. Recent studies highlight promising microbial strains capable of degrading diverse classes of pesticides under varying environmental conditions. However, challenges remain, including the scalability of microbial technologies, the complexity of mixed-contaminant sites, and the influence of abiotic factors on microbial efficacy. Future research should focus on optimizing microbial consortia, integrating genetic and metabolic engineering approaches, and developing field-scale applications tailored to specific agroecosystems. Advancing these areas will be critical for establishing bioremediation as a central pillar in sustainable pesticide management and environmental restoration strategies.

Fabrication and Characterization of Modified PVDF Membrane Using TiO2 for Wastewater Containing Paracetamol

Isti Faizati Zainiyah — 2025-02-14

Modified membranes have gained significant attention due to their ability to enhance performance. Although membranes modified with TiO₂ nanoparticles have been studied, no research has specifically addressed their effectiveness in removing paracetamol contaminants, despite the widespread use of paracetamol and its potential contribution to increased waste production. Therefore, in this study, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes were modified with TiO₂ nanoparticles, providing new insights into the use of PVDF-TiO₂ specifically for paracetamol wastewater treatment. The results showed that TiO₂ nanoparticle-modified membranes exhibited better performance than unmodified membranes. The unmodified membrane had a lower performance rate (69.18%) compared to membranes modified with titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) at concentrations of 1 M (93.35%) and 0.5 M (90.05%). These results were supported by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, which revealed that the unmodified membrane had an average pore size of 0.998 μm, whereas the membranes modified with TTIP at 1 M and 0.5 M had average pore sizes of 0.615 μm and 0.791 μm, respectively. The larger pores in the unmodified membrane allowed larger particles to pass through, reducing its filtration efficiency. These findings underscore the potential of TiO₂ nanoparticle-modified membranes for significantly enhancing water purification processes, particularly in the removal of pharmaceutical contaminants like paracetamol. Ultimately, this research could contribute to the development of more effective strategies for managing pharmaceutical waste in water sources, leading to improved environmental protection and public health.