The mining activity in open-pit coal sites exerts a high pressure over the surrounding environment and on the health of people working and living nearby. Using data form a total of six field campaigns, this study aimed to capture the level of exploitation activities in the residential area close to the coal open-mine in terms of mass concentrations and total carbon fractions (TC) of ambient PM10, PM2.5 samples. Sampling campaigns were performed between spring of 2018 and spring of 2020, covered both working (full time, part-time) and non-working days at the coal exploitation, and captured also the seasonal variations of different fractions of PM and of their carbonaceous fraction. Fine fraction was also analyzed based on the aerosol Angstrom exponent, determined from measurements of the aerosol scattering coefficient at 450 nm, 550 nm and 700 nm by a nephelometer. The mass concentrations of PM and TC showed significant variations from full time working days to non-working days. The air quality (AQ) level is determined by the air quality index (AQI) specific for PM10. In situ measurements clearly indicated that AQIlocal gives better image on the level of air pollution than the AQIestim from AQ monitoring stations in the region, closest to the Matasari site. Insights into the morphology and composition of particles were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX/EDS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Major elements that were identified C, O, Si, Ca, K, S, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mg, Ti have both crustal and anthropogenic origin, in various proportions.

Catalytic ozonation is an important water treatment method among advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Since the first development, catalytic ozonation has been consistently improved in terms of catalysts used and the optimization of operational parameters. The aim of this work is to compare the catalytic activity of polyaniline (PANI) and thermally treated polyaniline (PANI 900) in the catalytic ozonation of ibuprofen solutions at different pH values (4, 7, and 10). Catalysts were thoroughly characterized through multiple techniques (SEM, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, pHPZC, and so on), while the oxidation process of ibuprofen solutions (100 mgL⁻¹) was assessed by several analytical methods (HPLC, UV254, TOC, COD, and BOD5). The experimental data demonstrate a significant improvement in ibuprofen removal in the presence of prepared solids (20 min for PANI 900 at pH10) compared with non-catalytic processes (56 min at pH 10). Moreover, the influence of solution pH was emphasized, showing that, in the basic region, the removal rate of organic substrate is higher than in acidic or neutral range. Ozone consumption mgO₃/mg ibuprofen was considerably reduced for catalytic processes (17.55—PANI, 11.18—PANI 900) compared with the absence of catalysts (29.64). Hence, beside the ibuprofen degradation, the catalysts used are very active in the mineralization of organic substrate and/or formation of biodegradable compounds. The best removal rate of target pollutants and oxidation by-products was achieved by PANI 900, although raw polyaniline also presents important activity in the oxidation process. Therefore, it can be stated that polyaniline-based catalysts are effective in the oxidation processes.

Analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen are frequently encountered in surface and ground water, thereby posing a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems. Our study reports the catalytic performances of nanosystems TiO₂-Me_xO_y (Me = Ce, Sn) prepared by the sol-gel method and deposited onto glass slides by a dip-coating approach in the removal of paracetamol from aqueous solutions by catalytic ozonation. The effect of catalyst type and operation parameters on oxidation efficiency was assessed. In addition to improving this process, the present work simplifies it by avoiding the difficult step of catalyst separation. It was found that the thin films were capable of removing all pollutants from target compounds to the oxidation products.

We face significant environmental pollution problems due to various industries, such as the aluminum industry, which generates large amounts of red mud (RM) waste, or agriculture, in which case the use of pesticides creates huge water pollution problems. In this context, the present study offers a better perspective to originally solve both environmental issues. Thus, the main target of the study referred to using RM waste as a filler for preparing composite copolymer beads. Thereafter, this can achieve significant removal of water pollutants due to their adsorption/oxidation characteristics. As evidenced by the changes in chemical structure and composition, thermal stability, morphology, and porosity, RM was homogenously incorporated in poly(acrylonitrile-co-acrylic acid) beads prepared by wet phase inversion. The final assessment for the removal of pesticides by adsorption and oxidation processes was proven successful. In this regard, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid was chosen as a model pollutant, for which an adsorption capacity of 16.08 mg/g composite beads was achieved.