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It is imperative to eliminate heavy metals and pharmaceutical residual pollutants from wastewater to reduce their detrimental effects on the environment. In this work, natural zeolite and a 2-amino terephthalic acid-based multi-metallic organic framework were used to create a new composite that can be utilized as an adsorbent for cadmium and safinamide. The adsorption study was examined in a variety of settings (pH, adsorbent dosage, pollutant concentration, and time). Moreover, Zeta potential, BET, SEM, FTIR, XRD, and SEM measurements were used to characterize the adsorbents. The adsorption process was confirmed using FTIR, XRD, and SEM analysis. Various nonlinear adsorption isotherm models were applied to adsorption results. The results showed a significantly better adsorption ability for safinamide and cadmium using zeolite/MOF compared to zeolite. Adsorption kinetics were represented by five models: pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, intraparticle diffusion, mixed first- and second-order, and the Avrami model. Regarding both adsorbent substances, safinamide adsorption was best represented by the intraparticle diffusion model. In contrast, the pseudo second-order and intraparticle diffusion models for zeolite and zeolite/MOF, respectively, better fit the experimental results in the case of cadmium adsorption. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG° were investigated through temperature tests carried out at 25, 35, 45, and 55 °C. Exothermic and spontaneous adsorption processes were demonstrated by the computed values. The study of adsorbent regeneration involved the use of several chemical solvents. The DMSO solvent was shown to have the highest adsorbent regeneration method efficiency at 63%. Safinamide elimination was lessened by organic interfering species like cefixime and humic acid compared to inorganic species like chloride, sulphate, and nitrate, most likely as a result of intense competition for the few available active sites. Using zeolite/MOF nanocomposite, the percentage of safinamide removed from spiked real water samples (tap water, Nile River water, and groundwater samples) was 48.80%, 64.30%, and 44.44%, respectively. Based on cytotoxicity results, the highest percentages of cell viability for zeolite and zeolite/MOF at 24 h were 83% and 81%, respectively, in comparison to untreated controls. According to these results, zeolite and zeolite/MOF composites can be used as effective adsorbents for these pollutants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid transformation of urban neighborhoods, alongside changing lifestyles, has prompted cities to prioritize not only mitigating climate stress but also improving the well-being of their residents. According to a study reported in the 2022 World Urbanization Prospects, cities emit greenhouse gases ranging from 40% to 70%. There is a possibility that these proportions could increase to 60% and 70% if the shrinkage of open and green spaces continues significantly, and public places become the available alternatives for people to interact socially away from their overcrowded homes. Therefore, research is focusing on studying the implementation of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) in cities and the resulting social benefits. The research aims to propose a set of requirements that must be met to achieve the social benefits of urban green infrastructure. This will serve as a reference for urban planners and any institution involved in creating open public spaces to enhance the capabilities of workers before and after the implementation of urban green infrastructure projects. The research addresses the concept and evolution of Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI), including its components, planning methodologies, obstacles, and strategies. The research also presents an analytical study of global projects in this field. The research concludes that integrating central green areas, corridors, and steppingstones with urban green infrastructure strategies helps to achieve social benefits for and with the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste valorization is necessary in today's society to achieve a sustainable economy and prosperity. In this work, a novel approach to the waste valorization of cuttlebone was investigated. This material was ground and calcined at 900 °C for 5 h in an inert atmosphere. The resulting calcined cuttlebone (CCB) was characterized using XRD, SEM, FTIR, BET, TGA, Zetasizer, and potential methods. The main phases in the CCB were determined to be CaO, MgO, Ca3(PO4)2, and residual carbon. CCB was investigated as an adsorbent for the removal of dye from simulated wastewater streams. The maximum adsorption capacities for rhodamine B and crystal violet dyes were estimated to be 519 and 921 mg/g, respectively. For both dyes, the Avrami model was the best-fit model for representing adsorption kinetics. The study of adsorbent regeneration for CV as a representative example involved the use of several chemical solvents. Ethanol solvent was shown to have the highest adsorbent regeneration method efficiency, reaching 65.20%. In addition, CCB was investigated for methanol electro-oxidation for energy generation. As the methanol concentration increased, the maximum current density produced by the CCB increased, reaching approximately 50 mA/cm2. This work paves the way toward waste valorization of natural matter for sustainable production and consumption of material, as per the requirements of the circular economy principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Layered double hydroxide (LDH)/conductive polymer nanocomposites combine the promising adsorption capabilities of 2D layered nanomaterials and the electric properties of conductive polymers, resulting in multifunctional adsorbents for wastewater treatment. In this work, a simple in situ polymerization of aniline was conducted in the presence of Zn-Fe LDH to synthesize a Zn-Fe LDH/PANI nanocomposite, which was characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, and BET. The composite showed a particle-like morphology with a size of 30–60 nm and a BET surface area of 23.27 m2/g and was used as an adsorbent for carbamazepine (CBZ). Zn-Fe LDH/PANI removed 98% of CBZ at pH 7, 0.2 g/L, and 40 mg/L CBZ. For biocompatibility, acute toxicity was assessed in vivo for ten days using male albino rats, and probit analysis (after 2, 6, and 24 hours) was used to determine the LD0, LD20, LD50, LD90, and LD100 values, which were calculated to be 890, 1051, 3188, 6371, and 11,300, respectively. During this time, the rats were weighed, and other observations were made, including mortality, behavior, injuries, and any symptoms of toxicity or side effects. Histopathological examination of organs such as the liver, kidney, brain, skin, intestine, and cecum for any pathological alterations was performed. Two green metrics were applied, the Analytical Eco-scale and the Analytical GREEness Calculator (AGREE). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]