1. In situ evaluation of an active-passive sampling (APS) technique for monitoring psychoactive compounds in effluent wastewaterAllen Jun Anies, Maria Laimou-Geraniou, Maarten Quireyns, Taja Verovšek, David John Heath, Ester Heath, Raewyn M. Town, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Monitoring of psychoactive drugs and their metabolites in wastewater is critical to understanding their environmental fate and potential impacts. Passive sampling offers a complementary approach to conventional composite sampling, providing time-integrated monitoring, while offering insights into bioavailable fractions of compounds. This study evaluates the applicability of an active-passive sampling (APS) approach for monitoring eight psychoactive compounds in effluent wastewater, integrating field deployments with predictive modelling of sorbent-to-water partition coefficients (K[sw]). APS and diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) samplers, equipped with hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced (HLB) and mixed-mode cation exchange (MCX) sorbents were deployed alongside daily composite sampling during 2023-2024 monitoring campaigns in Belgium and Slovenia. APS exhibited non-linear uptake kinetics indicative of non-ideal sink behaviour and additional mass-transfer limitations, including interfacial effects, while DGT uptake remained predominantly diffusion-controlled over the deployment periods. K[SW] values were predicted using tree-based machine-learning models (Random Forest and XGBoost), enabling robust interpretation of APS data under near-equilibrium conditions. APS and DGT measurements generally showed good agreement, though APS concentrations were systematically higher for most compounds, with differences influenced by sorbent type and environmental factors. The controlled laminar flow of APS enhanced sorption consistency under variable wastewater conditions. Comparisons with composite sampling highlighted the complementary nature of these approaches, with APS providing additional insights on bioavailable and particle-bound fractions. Overall, APS presents a robust and versatile tool for monitoring psychoactive compounds, supporting quantitative assessment of contaminant dynamics, bioavailability, and fate in aquatic systems.
Keywords: wastewater monitoring, diffusive gradients in thin films, psychoactive compounds, uptake kinetics, predictice modelling
Published in DiRROS: 16.03.2026; Views: 196; Downloads: 129
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2. Critical evaluation of enzymatic extraction for quantification of europium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics in tomato tissues by single particle ICP-MSHarshit Sahai, Pia Leban, Ester Heath, Nina Kacjan-Maršić, Špela Železnikar, Matejka Podlogar, Tina Radošević, María Jesús Martinez Bueno, Janja Vidmar, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: This study critically evaluates an analytical approach combining enzymatic extraction and single particle ICP-MS (spICP-MS) for quantifying europium-doped polystyrene nanoplastics (Eu-PS-NPs) bioaccumulated in tomato tissues. Optimization of extraction parameters identified citrate buffer at pH 6.5 and a digestion temperature of 37 °C as the most effective extraction conditions, while maintaining particle stability. Experiments with spiked tomato tissues demonstrated that extraction efficiency is highly tissue-specific, with optimal digestion of 24 h for stem, leaf, and fruit, and 36 h for root tissues, and enzyme concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 mg per sample. Under optimized conditions, good extraction recoveries (85 – 116 %) were achieved for particle number and mass concentrations, particle size and mass, and total Eu mass, with the majority of extracted Eu associated with NPs and around 10 % as ionic Eu. In contrast, analysis of tomato samples exposed to Eu-PS-NPs during their growth revealed substantially lower and tissue-dependent extraction recoveries. Root and stem tissues yielded only 18 – 32 % of total Eu mass concentration, while leaves showed recoveries ≤ 21 % under most extraction conditions. Fruit samples exhibited higher apparent recoveries (66 – 80 % after 24 h digestion), likely due to the acidic environment promoting Eu leaching from NPs. Across all exposed tissues, ionic Eu fraction dominates (reaching up to 97 % in fruits), indicating extensive leaching from Eu-PS-NPs in the tomato plants. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for matrix effects, metal leaching, and the limitation of extrapolating recoveries from spiked controls to exposed samples when interpreting spICP-MS data from plant exposure studies with metal-doped NPs.
Keywords: nanoplastics, europium
Published in DiRROS: 18.02.2026; Views: 418; Downloads: 195
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3. Use of hydrodynamic cavitation in (waste)water treatmentMatevž Dular, Tjaša Griessler Bulc, Ion Gutiérrez-Aguirre, Ester Heath, Tina Kosjek, Aleksandra Krivograd-Klemenčič, Martina Oder, Martin Petkovšek, Nejc Rački, Maja Ravnikar, Andrej Šarc, Brane Širok, Mojca Zupanc, Miha Žitnik, Boris Kompare, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: The use of acoustic cavitation for water and wastewater treatment (cleaning) is a well known procedure. Yet, the use of hydrodynamic cavitation as a sole technique or in combination with other techniques such as ultrasound has only recently been suggested and employed.
In the first part of this paper a general overview of techniques that employ hydrodynamic cavitation for cleaning of water and wastewater is presented.
In the second part of the paper the focus is on our own most recent work using hydrodynamic cavitation for removal of pharmaceuticals (clofibric acid, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, carbamazepine), toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa), green microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris), bacteria (Legionella pneumophila) and viruses (Rotavirus) from water and wastewater.
As will be shown, hydrodynamic cavitation, like acoustic, can manifest itself in many different forms each having its own distinctive properties and mechanisms. This was until now neglected, which eventually led to poor performance of the technique. We will show that a different type of hydrodynamic cavitation (different removal mechanism) is required for successful removal of different pollutants.
The path to use hydrodynamic cavitation as a routine water cleaning method is still long, but recent results have already shown great potential for optimisation, which could lead to a low energy tool for water and wastewater cleaning.
Keywords: wastewater, cleaning, hydrodynamic cavitation, pharmaceuticals, cyanobacteria, microalgae, viruses, Legionella bacteria
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 1135; Downloads: 674
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