In the present study the biosorption characteristics of Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions from monocomponent aqueous solutions by Agaricus bisporus macrofungus were investigated. The initial metal ion concentrations, contact time, initial pH and temperature were parameters that influence the biosorption. Maximum removal efficiencies up to 76.10% and 70.09% (318K) for Cd (II) and Zn (II), respectively and adsorption capacities up to 3.49 and 2.39mg/g for Cd (II) and Zn (II), respectively at the highest concentration, were calculated. The experimental data were analyzed using pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, various isotherm models in linear and nonlinear (CMA-ES optimization algorithm) regression and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. The results showed that the biosorption process of both studied metal ions, followed pseudo second-order kinetics, while equilibrium is best described by Sips isotherm. The changes in morphological structure after heavy metal-biomass interactions were evaluated by SEM analysis. Our results confirmed that macrofungus A. bisporus could be used as a cost effective, efficient biosorbent for the removal of Cd (II) and Zn (II) from aqueous synthetic solutions

Biofuels, as a renewable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective energy source, can reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. The researchers considered different approaches for obtaining high biodiesel yields from microalgae biomass. This work aims to present an overview of the feasibility of microalgae use in biodiesel production. Therefore, biodiesel production from microalgae oil via the transesterification process was explained in detail. The application of non-catalytic transesterification and catalytic transesterification was reviewed. The achievements in the application of homogenous catalysts, heterogeneous catalysts, and enzymatic catalysts for microalgae oil transesterification were discussed. The present technologies for biodiesel production from microalgae need more improvements to increase their efficiencies and reduce costs. Therefore, future research should focus on the development of effective catalysts for biodiesel production from microalgae biomass.

A bentonite sample from the Petreş ti deposit, Cluj County (Romania), was used to remove heavy-metal ions (Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cr³⁺) from wastewaters. A representative sample of bentonite (P) was characterized using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) method, wet chemical analyses, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The bentonite deposit from Petreş ti is present at the contact between Upper Jurassic limestones and basaltic andesites with subordinate basalt bodies. These rocks are composed of clay minerals (mainly smectite), with opal, quartz, feldspar and mica/illite as minor phases. The bentonite sample was used in powdered form (d< 0.2 mm) without any chemical treatment. The influence of the working regime, static and dynamic, on the process efficiency was studied using monocomponent synthetic wastewaters containing Cd, Pb and Cr ions. The bentonite sample proved to be efficient for the removal of these heavy-metal ions; removal efficiencies up to 100% (lead removal) were achieved.