The modified tannin by Mannich reaction was investigated for wastewater treatment. The removal of heavy metals, such as copper, chromium and mercury, in industrial wastewater was evaluated through the coagulation–flocculation technique, using modified Acacia tannin (MAT) as a coagulant agent. The successful tannin modification was evaluated by infrared spectopometry (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR); monitoring the removal of heavy metals was performed by atomic absorption (AA) and a direct mercury analyzer (DMA). Additionally, the parameters of water quality, total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were assessed. Different doses of MAT were evaluated (375 ppm, 750 ppm, 1250 ppm and 1625 ppm) and three different levels of pH (4, 7 and 10). The highest percentages of removal obtained were copper 60%, chromium 87%, mercury 50%–80%, COD 88%, TSS 86% and turbidity 94%, which were achieved with the dose of 375 ppm of MAT at pH 10. The coagulation–flocculation process with the modified Acacia tannin is efficient for the removal of conventional parameters and for a significant removal of the metals studied.

The utility of low-resolution ¹H-NMR analysis for the identification of biomarkers provided evidence for rapid biochemical diagnoses of organic acidemia and aminoacidopathy. ¹H-NMR, with a sensitivity expected for a field strength of 400 MHz at 64 scans was used to establish the metabolomic urine sample profiles of an infant population diagnosed with small molecule Inborn Errors of Metabolism (smIEM) compared to unaffected individuals. A qualitative differentiation of the ¹H-NMR spectral profiles of urine samples obtained from individuals affected by different organic acidemias and aminoacidopathies was achieved in combination with GC–MS. The smIEM disorders investigated in this study included phenylalanine metabolism; isovaleric, propionic, 3-methylglutaconicm and glutaric type I acidemia; and deficiencies in medium chain acyl-coenzyme and holocarboxylase synthase. The observed metabolites were comparable and similar to those reported in the literature, as well as to those detected with higher-resolution NMR. In this study, diagnostic marker metabolites were identified for the smIEM disorders. In some cases, changes in metabolite profiles differentiated post-treatments and follow-ups while allowing for the establishment of different clinical states of a biochemical disorder. In addition, for the first time, a ¹H-NMR-based biomarker profile was established for holocarboxylase synthase deficiency spectrum.