Diesel contamination in water bodies poses a significant environmental challenge due to the toxic effects of its water-soluble fraction (WSF) on aquatic ecosystems and human health. The aim of this work was the design of a new technological procedure for the purification of water contaminated with the WSF of diesel. The procedure is based on the adsorption of organic pollution on an organozeolite, after which the biodegradation of the adsorbed pollutant takes place. The material for obtaining organozeolite was a natural zeolite from the Zlatokop deposit (Vranje, Serbia). The zeolitic surface was modified with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMA-Br), a cationic quaternary ammonium salt. The adsorption experiments, with initial WSF concentrations of 2.5–25 mg/L, at pH 6 and at 20 °C, were performed in a batch system using organozeolite, and the results showed that more than 90% of the WSF of diesel was removed, reaching equilibrium after 1 h. The maximum adsorbed capacity of organozeolite for the removal of the WSF of diesel fuel from water under the tested conditions was 22.2 mg/g. Equilibrium data were well fitted by a linear isotherm model, while a pseudo-second-order equation well fitted the kinetic data. After adsorption, a 15-day biodegradation experiment was carried out under batch conditions. The results showed that the examined consortium of microorganisms degraded 80% of the adsorbed contaminant. Additional respirometric analyses showed that, in parallel with the degradation of the contaminant, the degradation of the long-chain HDTMA ions at the surface of the organozeolite also occurred. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study combining adsorption and biodegradation to remove the WSF of diesel from water.

The purpose of this study is optimization of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) performance through variation in design and construction of the cell. This paper presents comparison of performance of two identical MFCs, differing only in material used for construction of electrodes. One MFC contains inox electrodes, while the other one has electrodes made of carbon cloth. This is part of continuous research activities, performed by our team, in the field of MFCs. Biostimulated sediment, collected at the confluence of rivers Sava and Danube in Belgrade, described in previous work is used.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic, constant and bioaccumulative toxic compounds. In general, they are considered resistant to biological, photolytic, and chemical degradation with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belonging to these chemicals. PCBs were never produced in Serbia, but they were imported and mainly used in electrical equipment, transformers, and capacitors. Our study aimed to analyse sequential multi-stage aerobic/anaerobic microbial biodegradation of PCBs present in the river sediment from the area known for long-term pollution with these chemicals. The study with an autochthonous natural microbial community (NMC model system) and NMC augmented with allochthonous hydrocarbon-degrading (AHD) microorganisms (isolated from location contaminated with petroleum products) (NMC-AHD model system) was performed in order to estimate the potential of these microorganisms for possible use in future bioremediation treatment of these sites. The laboratory biodegradation study lasted 70 days, after which an overall >33 % reduction in the concentration of total PCBs was observed. This study confirmed the strong potential of the NMC for the reduction of the level of PCBs in the river sediment under alternating multi-stage aerobic/anaerobic conditions.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly persistent environmental pollutants with widespread contamination in soil and water. Phytoremediation, a sustainable and cost-effective approach using plants to mitigate PFAS contamination, has emerged as a promising treatment option. Phytoremediation mechanisms that might be involved include but are not limited to phytofiltration, phytoaccumulation or phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytovolatilization, and phytodegradation. PFAS uptake in plants occurs primarily through root absorption from contaminated soil or water, influenced by the physicochemical properties of the PFAS molecules, plant species, and soil conditions. Long-chain PFAS exhibit lower mobility due to stronger interactions with soil organic matter, whereas plant roots more readily absorb short-chain PFAS. Once inside the plant, PFAS translocation to aerial tissues is driven by transpiration, with translocation factors varying significantly across plant species. Plants with high transpiration rates and developed vascular systems tend to accumulate more PFAS in their aerial biomass. The transformation of PFAS in plants remains an area of ongoing research. Omics-based approaches, including transcriptomics and proteomics, have provided insights into molecular responses to PFAS exposure, revealing oxidative stress responses, alterations in metabolic pathways, and potential enzymatic degradation mechanisms. While evidence suggests limited biotransformation of PFAS in plant tissues, the role of microbial communities in the rhizosphere may enhance PFAS degradation. To optimize phytoremediation strategies, future research should focus on identifying hyperaccumulator species, engineering plant-microbe interactions, and evaluating biomass disposal methods to prevent secondary contamination. This paper highlights the potential of phytoremediation as an environmentally friendly solution for PFAS-contaminated sites while addressing critical challenges in its implementation.