Deep eutectic solvents (DES) using magnesium chloride hexahydrate [MgCl₂·6H₂O] and urea [U] proportions (1:1) and (2:1), were prepared for their use as extracting and stabilizer agents for red and violet betalains from beetroot (Beta vulgaris) waste. The synthetized DES [MgCl₂·6H₂O] [U] showed similar properties to eutectic mixtures, such as, liquid phase, low melting points and conductivity, thermal stability, and variable viscosity. In turn, betalain DES extracts (2:1) exhibited compatibility in the extraction and recovery of betalains from beetroot wastes, showing a betalain content comparable to that of betalain extracts. Betalain stability was determined by degradation tests; the exposure conditions were visible light (12 h), molecular oxygen from atmospheric air and environmental temperature (20–27 °C) for 40 days. The kinetic curves of the betalain degradation of water samples depicted a first-order model, indicating the alteration of a violet colouration of betalains from beetroot waste for 5–7 days. However, betalains from DES extracts were kept under visible light for 150 days, and for 340 days in storage (amber vessels), achieving a stability of 75% in comparison with initial beet extracts.

This work aims to present the modification of polypropylene (PP) membranes using three different biopolymers, chitosan (CHI), potato starch (PS), and cellulose (CEL), in order to obtain three new materials. The modified membranes may be degraded easier than polypropylene ones and could be used as selective membranes for metal ions removal, among other applications. For this purpose, the UV energy induced graft copolymerization reaction among polypropylene membrane, acrylic acid, benzophenone (as photoinitiator), and the biopolymer (CHI, PS, or CEL) was conducted. The results of FT-IR-ATR, XRD, TGA, DSC, SEM, BET, and AFM analyses and mechanical properties clearly indicate the successful modification of the membrane surface. The change of surface wettability was monitored by contact angle. The grafting reaction depends on natural polymer, reaction time, and concentration. In order to prove the potential application of the modified membranes, a preliminary study of sorption of metal ion was carried out. For this purpose, the PP-CHI membrane was chosen because of the high hydrophilicity, proportionate to -OH and NH₂; these groups could act as ligands of metal ions, provoking the interaction between PP-CHI and M+ (PP-CHI-M⁺) and therefore the metal ion removal from water.

Polysulfone (PSU) film and N-vinylimidazole (VIM) were used to obtain grafted membranes with high hydrophilic capacity. The grafting process was performed by gamma irradiation under two experiments: (1) different irradiation doses (100–400 kGy) and VIM 50% solution; (2) different concentration of grafted VIM (30–70%) and 300 kGy of irradiation dose. Characteristics of the grafted membranes were determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, swelling degree, desalination test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Both experiments indicated that the absorbed dose 300 kGy and the VIM concentration, at 50% v/v, were effective to obtain PSU grafted membranes with 14.3% of grafting yield. Nevertheless, experimental conditions, 400 kGy, VIM 50% and 300 kGy, VIM 60–70% promoted possible membrane degradation and VIM homopolymerization on the membrane surface, which was observed by SEM images; meanwhile, 100–200 kGy and VIM 30–50% produced minimal grafting (2 ± 0.5%). Hydrophilic surface of the grafted PSU membranes by 300 kGy and VIM 50% v/v were corroborated by the water contact angle, swelling degree and desalination test, showing a decrease from 90.7° ± 0.3 (PSU film) to 64.3° ± 0.5; an increment of swelling degree of 25 ± 1%, and a rejection-permeation capacity of 75 ± 2%. In addition, the thermal behavior of grafted PSU membranes registered an increment in the degradation of 20%, due to the presence of VIM. However, the normal temperature of the membrane operation did not affect this result; meanwhile, the glass transition temperature (T_g) of the grafted PSU membrane was found at 185.4 ± 0.5 °C, which indicated an increment of 15 ± 1%.

Background: Water pollution has regained critical relevance in recent years due to increasing human, industrial, and agricultural activities, which have significantly increased environmental pollution rates. In particular, agriculture is one of the sectors that most negatively impacts water bodies, mainly due to the excessive use of pesticides. These chemical compounds, especially organophosphates such as malathion, are widely used on avocado crops and represent a severe risk to the ecosystem's health. Objective: This study aimed to isolate microorganisms capable of producing enzymes to degrade organophosphorus contaminants. Methodology: Different concentrations of malathion were used to isolate microorganisms capable of growing in the presence of organophosphorus compounds. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were performed to evaluate their degradation capacity by determining the phosphatase activity produced by the enzymes from the isolated microorganisms. Result: Seven fungal strains that could proliferate in organophosphate-contaminated media were isolated. The observed phosphatase activities ranged from 99.2 U/L to 1160.5 U/L, suggesting a wide range of potential for degradation of these compounds. Microculture techniques identified the strains, revealing that most shared morphological characteristics with species of the genus Aspergillus. Conclusions: This finding highlights the potential of these phosphatase-producing fungi as bioremediation agents, offering an ecological solution for the degradation of organophosphorus compounds in contaminated water bodies.