Tropical Aquatic and Soil Pollution

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.

Biodegradation of Microplastics: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Future Prospects for Environmental Remediation

Novlina Finayeva — 2025-06-10

Microplastics are widespread environmental pollutants detected in aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric ecosystems. Their persistence, coupled with their potential to bioaccumulate and release toxic additives, raised serious concerns for both environmental and human health. This study aimed to assess microbial biodegradation as a viable strategy for reducing microplastic pollution. The research focused on the mechanisms through which microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, degraded plastic polymers under various environmental conditions. Several microbial strains demonstrated the ability to degrade polymers such as polyethylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride, albeit at varying efficiencies. Environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, oxygen availability, and nutrient concentration, were found to significantly influence the rate and extent of microbial degradation. Despite these promising findings, the overall degradation rates observed in natural environments remained low. Moreover, challenges related to microbial specificity, metabolic limitations, and the scalability of degradation processes hindered the practical application of microbial treatments on a large scale. The complexity of polymer structures and the additives used in plastic manufacturing further complicated microbial breakdown. To overcome these barriers, future research should prioritize genetic engineering of microbial strains and the optimization of bioprocesses to improve degradation efficiency. Such advancements could pave the way for sustainable and effective biotechnological solutions to mitigate microplastic 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.

Microbial Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil: A Sustainable Approach

Ahmad Rizal Roslan Nordin — 2025-06-13

Petroleum-contaminated soil is a significant environmental concern caused by oil spills, leakage from storage tanks, industrial discharges, and improper disposal of petroleum products during extraction, refining, and transportation processes. Globally, approximately 6 million tonnes of petroleum are released into the environment each year, leading to soil contamination that poses toxic risks to groundwater, ecosystems, plant life, and human health. The primary aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness and potential of microbial bioremediation for treating petroleum-contaminated soils, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. Traditional remediation approaches such as soil excavation, washing, chemical oxidation, and incineration are often expensive and environmentally disruptive. In contrast, bioremediation using microbes is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. Several microbial strategies are discussed, including natural attenuation, bioaugmentation, and biostimulation. Natural attenuation relies on indigenous microbes, whereas bioaugmentation involves adding hydrocarbon-degrading microbes, and biostimulation enhances microbial activity by supplying nutrients. Among these, bioaugmentation and biostimulation are generally more effective than natural attenuation in degrading petroleum hydrocarbons. However, microbial bioremediation faces challenges such as long treatment durations, incomplete degradation with free microbes, and the need for site-specific optimal conditions. Future research should focus on enhancing microbial efficacy through genetic engineering or microbial consortia, developing faster, site-specific solutions, assessing long-term ecological impacts, and integrating bioremediation with other green technologies. Overall, microbial bioremediation presents a promising strategy for the sustainable management of petroleum-contaminated soils due to its low cost, minimal environmental impact, and adaptability. Key topics addressed include the environmental impact of petroleum pollution, conventional and biological remediation techniques, comparative effectiveness, and future development needs. The relevant keywords are: bioremediation, petroleum hydrocarbons, bioaugmentation, soil contamination, and microbial degradation.

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.