Global NEST Journal

The development of magnetic sorbent for dispersive solid-phase micro-extraction (DmSPE) often requires lengthy multi-step reactions. This research revealed a simplified method for preparing magnetic sorbent for the DmSPE using poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVP). The magnetic sorbent (PVP@MNP) was prepared by coating PVP on magnetic particles (MNP). The characterization and formation of PVP@MNP were confirmed using infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The primary goal of this study is to develop a sensitive DmSPE method to analyze Hg2+ in water using PVP@MNP as a magnetic sorbent. The preparation of PVP@MNP was performed in a simple coating method at room temperature. Briefly, the PVP@MNP was prepared by sonicating the mixture of MNP and PVP. This sorbent was then used as a magnetic sorbent for the extraction of Hg2+ from water. The developed PVP@MNP based DmSPE reached a low method of detection limit (0.01 μg L-1) and limit of quantification (0.04 μg L-1). This method also showed a wide linearity range (100 - 2000 µg L-1) with a good correlation factor under optimized conditions. The developed method showed good recovery (72-90%) with good intraday and interday precision. This study also showed that the developed DmSPE method was effectively used to determine Hg2+ in drinking water, mineral water, and surface water. The result also demonstrated that PVP@MNP is reusable.

Nowadays, breast cancer is considered to be one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide, this initiated interest and growing demand for taxol production in large quantities. The limited availability of traditional taxol production from the Pacific yew trees has encouraged research into the development of taxol production from alternative sources. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate the chemopreventive effect of paclitaxel derived from endophytic fungus Neopestalotiopsis clavispora ASU1. The endophytic fungus Neopestalotiopsis clavispora ASU1(KY624416) showed potent productivity of paclitaxel recording 100.6 µg/l which confirmed by HPLC, LC/Ms-Ms and FTIR analyses. In vitro, the extracted fungal taxol exerted a significant cytotoxic effect (P< 0.05) at 300 nM, revealed that the increase in paclitaxel concentration induces increased cell death. Furthermore, the present study provides a promising approach for coupling paclitaxel production technology by endophytic fungus N. clavispora with chitosan production from residual fungal biomass resulting from taxol extraction and therefore improve the feasibility and commercialization of taxol production. The chitosan yield represented 5.94% of residual fungal dry biomass. Also, fungal chitosan was characterized for the degree of deacetylation (DD) (54.60%), FTIR spectroscopy, reducing power activity (0.263±0.051 mg/ml) may be attributed to hydroxyl groups (OH), and amine groups. These results confirmed that fungi are promising alternative sources for chitosan with superior physiochemical characteristics for food and medical prospective applications.

Chromium is a common heavy metal pollutant found in industrial wastewaters which may pollute agricultural soils through groundwater and watering. Phytoremediation is an economical and highly applicable method for removal of pollutants from agricultural soils. This research was carried out for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) contamination from the soil with the phytoremediation method. For this purpose, only 30 mg kg-1 hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI) as Chromium CrO3, only 10 mL bacteria Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM1710 and chromium plus bacteria applied to the pots and Malabar spinach (Basella alba L.) grown in the pots. At the end of experiment the results showed that side branching, leaf width, plant dry weights were the highest agro-morphological traits when bacteria were applied to chromium polluted soil. Some macro and micro nutrient elements which are essential for plant nutrition were analyzed (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn). Among them, N, P, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn were found to be statistically significant at the level of 5%. The Cr content of Malabar spinach in control soil was 0.31mgkg-1, but it was 2.33mgkg-1 when the soil was contaminated with Cr at the end of experiment. Moreover, when bacteria were additionally applied the Cr content increased to 4.02 mgkg-1 of Malabar spinach. Chromium pollution antagonistically affected both some nutrient element (P, K, Ca; Mg) and some heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn) in the soil. This study shows that phytoremediation can be used to remove the soil pollution caused by containing high hexavalent chromium. For this reason, the nitrogen fixing bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus and the hyperaccumulator Malabar spinach plant can be used. It is the first study where Malabar spinach was used a hyperaccumulator plant for chromium pollution in the soils.

Urbanization, industrialization and economic growth have considerable challenged the orientation of waste management policies and practices. Intrinsically, major concerns appear in urban environments, as they receive increased volumes of waste, which in turn pose threats for the environment and public health. Prioritization of waste prevention is proven to be the optimal solution in preserving resources and coincide with international sublime strategies for sustainable waste management. However, the citizens’ awareness and active involvement, in decision making for sustainable waste management policies practices, are preconditions for their implementation. The study examined the citizens’ views on the local waste management policies and strategies in the urban environment of Neapolis-Sykies Greece. The application of factor analysis, hierarchical log-linear analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis provided important correlations regarding the citizens’ demographic characteristics, littering behavior, sources of information on waste management issues, perceptions about quality of life and provided cleanliness services. In particular, collection points and collection system are positively assessed, while the value of recycling is widely acknowledged. Albeit, the citizens are not properly informed about local policies and practices related to existing waste management issues in their municipality. Unfortunately, this is deemed to be a barrier in promoting public participation in decision making processes.