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The application of iron nanoparticles biosynthesized using citrus peel extracts for immobilization of metal-contaminated river sediment

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Abstract

Citrus peels, as inevitable waste product of the citrus processing industry, cause major pollution problems in the environment. These waste products have the potential to produce zero-valent iron nanoparticles, which have been successful in treating different groups of pollutants. Sediment contamination with metals is very challenging in finding effective solution for reducing the contribution of toxicity to the environment. Thus, it is crucial to involve remediation technique as stabilization which includes the addition of inorganic amendments in order to immobilize metals from the sediment. The study demonstrates the issue with Begej sediment that has been contaminated with toxic metals and the possibility of its immobilization using biosynthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles from citrus peel extracts. Leaching tests are used to demonstrate the benefits and drawbacks of applied treatment for forecasting the behavior of contaminants. The toxicity test, using Vibrio fisheri bacteria, is used to evaluate whether the sediment samples show inhibitory effects. The obtained treated mixtures of sediment and biosynthesized zero-valent iron nanoparticles are determined to be non-hazardous wastes because the concentrations of leached metals (Cu, Cr, Ni and Cd) have fallen below the established maximum values prescribed by German Standard Procedure for Water, Wastewater and Sediment Testing and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure. Additionally, toxicity test using Vibrio fisheri bacteria has shown that treated sediment is nontoxic. These findings represent promising results in application of zero-valent iron nanoparticles biosynthesized using citrus peel extracts for removal of inorganic pollutants and also create treated sediment for potential further beneficial sustainable use.

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Abbreviations

AAS:

Atomic absorption spectroscopy

CDI:

Chronic daily intake

CR:

Carcinogenic risk

DO:

Dry orange peel

DO-nZVIs:

Dry orange peel zero-valent iron nanoparticles

ERL:

Effects range-low

ERM:

Effect range-median

FO:

Fresh orange peel

FO-nZVIs:

Fresh orange peel zero-valent iron nanoparticles

FRAP:

Ferric reducing antioxidant power

FTIR:

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy

GCF:

Global contamination factor

HI:

Hazard index

HQ:

Hazard quotient

HQderm :

Hazard quotient for dermal contact

HQing :

Hazard quotient for exposure by ingestion

HQinh :

Hazard quotient for exposure by inhalation

ICF:

Individual contamination factor

nZVIs:

Zero-valent iron nanoparticles

O:

Orange

PEL:

Probable effect level

PO:

Pomelo peel

PO-nZVIs:

Pomelo peel zero-valent iron nanoparticles

RfD:

Reference doses

SEM/EDS:

Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive spectroscopy

SKGs:

Sediment quality guidelines

TEL:

Threshold effect level

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Acknowledgements

The research has been financed by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, #7753609, BEuSED.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Protection, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 3, 21000, Novi Sad, Serbia

    N. Slijepčević, D. Tomašević Pilipović, D. Rađenović, E. Svirčev, A. Kulić Mandić, Đ. Kerkez & A. Leovac Maćerak

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  1. N. Slijepčević
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  2. D. Tomašević Pilipović
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Contributions

NS helped in investigation, writing—original Draft, conceptualization; DR helped in methodology, visualization, writing—review & editing; AKM contributed to methodology, formal analysis; ES performed data curation, formal analysis; ĐK contributed to data curation, formal analysis, writing—review & editing; ALM helped in methodology; writing—review & editing; DTP done writing—review & editing, resources, project administration, funding acquisition.

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Correspondence to N. Slijepčević.

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Editorial responsibility: Maryam Shabani.

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Slijepčević, N., Tomašević Pilipović, D., Rađenović, D. et al. The application of iron nanoparticles biosynthesized using citrus peel extracts for immobilization of metal-contaminated river sediment. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 21, 3999–4012 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-05241-9

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