Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of widely used flame retardants that are incorporated into a wide range of consumer products such as household appliances, plastics, textiles and computers, to prevent fire. They were first introduced in the environment in the 1970s and their...

Activated carbon (AC) amendment for reduction of contaminant exposure in polluted soils and sediments has recently emerged as a promising remediation technique. Here, we provide a short overview of the state-of-the-art in activated carbon (AC) amendment to such sites. Most studies not only in...

Anaerobic digestion of olive-mill wastewater (OMW) was carried out in a continuously fed mode bioreactor. The bioreactor was operated at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs), using OMW, either raw or pre-treated with white-rot fungi. Two different kinds of feed were tested in this process, one...

Plastic pellets (small granules, 1-5 millimeters in diameter) are widely distributed in the ocean and coastal zones all over the world. They are an industrial raw material for the plastic industry and are unintentionally released to the environment both during manufacturing and transport. These...

Biological treatment (aerobic and anaerobic) of industrial landfill leachate is limited by the presence of toxic contaminants (e.g., heavy metals) and recalcitrant (biopersistent) organics (e.g., polyphenols, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, etc.,), hindering viable conditions for biomass proliferation...

The toxicity of a chemical substance in a workplace depends on both its physical and chemical properties, the level of concentration in the breathing air, as well as, the duration of the exposure. In order to ensure healthy conditions at workplace, international organizations, such as the World...

The capacity of cyclodextrins in trapping VOCs is studied. Cyclodextrins (CDs) are a family of cyclic oligosaccharides that are composed of α-1,4-linked glucopyranose subunits. The most notable feature of cyclodextrins is their ability to form inclusion complexes (host–guest complexes) in solution...

Atrazine, a chlorinated s-triazine group of herbicide is one of the most widely used pesticides in the World. Due to its extensive use, long half-life and various toxic properties, it has very high environmental significance. Up to 22 mg l-1 of atrazine was found in ground water whereas permissible...

The wastewater of leather industry which is one of the most widespread industries having large amount of water consumption and very high pollution loads, may be characterized by several key parameters including toxic pollutants exhibiting toxicity. Therefore the effluent of leather tanning industry...

Coals contain elements which, although usually found in concentrations lower than 1% (trace elements), can give rise to environmental or technological problems. After gasification most of these elements may occur in gas phase in different proportions. In order to avoid the problems that the presence...

In this work, pre-ozonation for degradation, decolourization and detoxicifying of a raw textile wastewater collected in a textile fininshing industry, Istanbul (Turkey) is investigated. Differing from the previous studies, a low ozone (O3) flow rate (9.6 mg min-1) was applied at original pH of the...

The methylation of mercury has been investigated and documented mainly in sediments, fish and microorganisms, while limited number of relevant studies is available for wastewater. The procedure of mercury methylation can occur via biological pathway (by microorganisms) and via chemical or...

The present paper deals with water quality modification during its stagnation in copper distribution pipes caused by electrochemical corrosion processes. Copper is chosen as plumbing material because of its wide use in drinking water distribution systems all around the world, and because of its...

This paper discusses current issues with drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs), which include emerging (unregulated) DBPs that can be formed at greater levels with alternative disinfectants (as compared to chlorine) and routes of human exposure (which include inhalation and dermal exposure...

In this study two bench scale activated sludge systems were used, a CSTR and an SBR for the treatment of coke – oven wastewater. Both reactors were inoculated with activated sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. At the first stages of operation, reactors were feed by a mixture of...

Organophoshorous pesticides are widely used in agriculture, because most of them are high effective and low persistent. Yet their increased usage has elicited extensive research into pesticide effects on non-target organisms, such as algae. Algae are of vital importance in the primary production of...

Major environmental problems in metallic mining areas come from the hazard of metal pollution of surrounding areas. Therefore, an appropriated management of these soils is necessary for minimizing the associated risks. Some properties of mining soils, such as elevated metal concentrations, pH and...