Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Maria João"
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- Assessment of 83 pharmaceuticals in WWTP influent and effluent samples by UHPLC-MS/MS: Hourly variationPublication . Paíga, Paula; Correia, Manuela; Fernandes, Maria João; Silva, Ana Margarida; Martins de Carvalho, Maria Manuela; Vieira, Joana; Jorge, Sandra; Silva, Jaime Gabriel; Freire, Cristina; Delerue-Matos, CristinaThe removal efficiency of pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is variable and some of these compounds pass these plants almost intact and others presenting a removal efficiency close to 100%. Their incomplete removal results in a continuous discharge of pharmaceuticals into the environment. To assess the profile of contamination of influents and effluents over a day, a set of 83 pharmaceuticals were evaluated hourly in a WWTP in Leiria, Portugal. The composite samples of the influent and effluent were also collected. Concentrations varied from 1 in WWTP influents, and carbamazepine, fluoxetine, sertraline the pharmaceuticals with an RQ > 1 in WWTP effluents.
- Evaluation of the adsorption potential of biochars prepared from forest and agri-food wastes for the removal of fluoxetinePublication . Fernandes, Maria João; Moreira, Manuela M.; Paíga, Paula; Dias, Diogo; Bernardo, Maria; Carvalho, Maria Manuela; Lapa, Nuno; Fonseca, Isabel; Morais, Simone; Figueiredo, Sónia; Delerue-Matos, CristinaTwelve biochars from forest and agri-food wastes (pruning of Quercus ilex, Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus pinaster, Quercus suber, Malus pumila, Prunus spinosa, Cydonia oblonga, Eriobotrya japonica, Juglans regia, Actinidia deliciosa, Citrus sinensis and Vitis vinifera) were investigated as potential low-cost and renewable adsorbents for removal of a commonly used pharmaceutical, fluoxetine. Preliminary adsorption experiments allowed to select the most promising adsorbents, Quercus ilex, Cydonia oblonga, Eucalyptus, Juglans regia and Vitis vinifera pruning material. They were characterized by proximate, elemental and mineral analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, determination of specific surface area and pH at the point of zero charge. Batch and equilibrium studies were performed, and the influence of pH was evaluated. The equilibrium was reached in less than 15 min in all systems. The maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 6.41 mg/g for the Eucalyptus biochar, which also demonstrated a good behavior in continuous mode (packed column).