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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as priority pollutants because of their high risk to human health. In this paper, we addressed the issue of using hydrotalcite-based nanocomposites as adsorbents of six low molecular weight PAHs (acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene) to reduce their negative effects on the environment. A nanocomposite (HT-DDS) was prepared by intercalating the organic anion dodecylsulfate (DDS) in a Mg-Al hydrotalcite (HT), and then characterized using several analytical techniques. A Mediterranean soil was selected for being a high-risk scenario of groundwater contamination by leaching of pollutants. The nanocomposite displayed enhanced affinity for the PAHs in water as compared to carbonate-hydrotalcite (HTCO(3)) and its calcined product (HT500), and showed a high irreversibility of the adsorption process (hysteresis coefficient, H<0.15). The results revealed an increase of the pollutants retention in the soil by the addition of the nanocomposite that depended on the nanocomposite application rate and also on the hydrophobicity of each PAH. Accordingly, the use of HT-DDS as an amendment or barrier in contaminated soil is proposed for reducing the mobility of PAHs and, consequently, the adverse effect derived from rapid transport losses of the pollutants to the adjoining environmental compartments.

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This review highlights the current research on the interactions between biological cells and Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH). The as-prepared biohybrid materials appear extremely attractive in diverse fields of application relating to health care, environment and energy production. We describe how thanks to the main features of biological cells and LDH layers, various strategies of assemblies can be carried out for constructing smart biofunctional materials. The interactions between the two components are described with a peculiar attention to the adsorption, biocompatibilization, LDH layer internalization, antifouling and antimicrobial properties. The most significant achievements including authors' results, involving biological cells and LDH assemblies in waste water treatment, bioremediation and bioenergy generation are specifically addressed.