In recent years, the interest in waste water treatment increased to preserve the environment. The objective of this study is the removal of lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solution by treated Phragmites biomass (TPB). TPB was characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS) which indicates the presence of functional groups that may be responsible of metal adsorption such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, sulfonate and carboxylate. Characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface area analysis using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method (BET) illustrated that TPB is nonporous with a small surface area. The influences of various experimental factors were investigated; the proposed method recommended the extraction of Pb⁺² and Cd⁺² metal ions by TPB at pH 5.0. A contact time of 60 and 45 min was required for the adsorption 50 mL (50 ppm) Pb⁺² and Cd⁺² respectively to reach equilibrium when 0.10 g TPB was used. The optimum TPB dosage was 0.20 g for adsorption both metal ions when adsorbate solution was 50 mL (50 ppm). Particle sizes of 0.125–0.212 mm showed the best metal ion removal of both metal ions. Thermodynamic study illustrated that both metal ions correlate more with Langmuir isotherm. Furthermore, chemisorption of Pb⁺² and Cd⁺² on TPB was more likely according to kinetic study data.

In this study, an easy, efficient, economical, and eco-friendly green bio-synthesis method was utilized to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using the extracts of four plants: Ginkgo biloba, Cichorium Intybus, Adiantum Capillus-Veneris, and Rosmarinus Officinalis. The synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by using a uv-vis spectrometer, which showed distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) bands. The surface of AgNPs was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The anti-inflammatory activity of Tenoxicam/Meloxicam-loaded AgNPs has been studied using the inhibition of albumin denaturation method. Tenoxicam-loaded AgNPs showed higher % Inhibition, but Meloxicam-loaded AgNPs showed lower % Inhibition. Furthermore, the AgNPs showed excellent antimicrobial activity on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

A composite of chitosan-supported ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO/CS) was green-synthesized via an easy and cost-effective method using Chicory (Cichorium intybus) plant extract. The synthesis was confirmed using uv-vis spectrometry at a λ_max of 380 nm, and the surface of the material was characterized via FT−IR spectroscopy, and finally via SEM, which confirmed the distribution of ZnO nanoparticles on the surface of chitosan biopolymer (CS). The synthesized material was applied in the adsorptive removal of residues of the pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6) pharmaceutical drug from aqueous media using the batch technique. The material’s removal capacity was studied through several adjustable parameters including pH, contact time, the dose of the adsorbent, and the capacity for drug adsorption under the optimal conditions. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms were applied to describe the adsorption process. The removal was found to obey the Freundlich model, which refers to a chemisorption process. Different kinetic models were also studied for the removal process and showed that the pseudo-second-order model was more fitted, which indicates that the removal was a chemisorption process. Thermodynamic studies were also carried out. The maximum removal of vitamin B6 by the nano-ZnO/CS composite was found to be 75% at optimal conditions. The results were compared to other reported adsorbents. Reusability tests showed that the nano-ZnO/CS composite can be efficiently reused up to seven times for the removal of PDX drugs from aqueous media.

Amprolium is one of the veterinary pharmaceuticals that has been widely used as antibacterial agents and as a growth promoter in livestock, it can produce chronic adverse actions that could affect many organisms and humans. In this study, Salvadora persica stem ash and roots were used as biosorbent for the removal of Amprolium hydrochloride (AMP) from aqueous systems. The effect of different parameters such as the initial concentration of AMP, pH, contact time, and adsorbent dosage were investigated. Maximum removal efficiency reached 98% and 96% for S. persica roots and seeds ash, respectively at pH = 7 and contact time of 40 min. Isothermal studies indicated that the AMP removal correlates more with the Freundlich isotherm model. S. persica roots exhibit better removal efficiency than S. persica seeds ash under all the studied parameters. This study shows that S. persica is efficient in removing AMP from water. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT