The development of low-cost adsorbent coal FA (Kosovo A) for pesticide removal is an important area of scientific research. With this study, we show the potential of adsorption of coal FA (Kosovo A) for the removal of benalaxyl and atrazine from water. We have found that the amount of adsorbed benalaxyl and atrazine increases with an increasing amount of coal FA (Kosovo A) in solution. The maximum capacity coal FA (Kosovo A) to adsorb benalaxyl and atrazine was found to be 0.46 and 0.45 mg/g according to the Freundlich equation and 3.48 and 3.33 mg/g according to the Langmuir equation. The Freundlich adsorption equation better explains the adsorption results of pesticides (benalaxyl and atrazine) in coal FA (Kosovo A), as the values of the recovery coefficient (R2) were higher in Freundlich equation than the Langmuir equation. The adsorption isotherms were of type L and show that the adsorption efficiency of the coal FA (Kosovo A) depends on the initial concentration of benalaxyl and atrazine in solution and the maximum removal of benalaxyl and atrazine was achieved at concentrations less than 10 µg/ml. This study’s results are expected to have implications for the use of coal FA (Kosovo A) for the removal of pesticides from water.

The aim of this research was to study the adsorption progress of Benalaxyl from natural and activated clays of Brari and Dardha, so that these clays can be used for practical purposes fof soil and water purification. The natural clay materials originated from the regions of Brari (Tirana) 41 ° 21′14.49 ″ N; 19 ° 50′17.74.E and Dardha (Korça) 40 ° 31′16.59 ″ N; 20 ° 49′33.69 ″ E. SEM images of Dardha clay show a finer dispersity than Brari clay. Powder XRD analysis of reveal remarkable differences in their composition. Dardha clay shows a higher content of SiO2, Al2O3 and CaO than Brari clay. The adsorption dependence of Benalaxyl on Brari and Dardha clays was studied at t = 20ºC and contact time: 12h; 24h; 48h; 72h, considering Benalaxyl concentrations of 0.1 g/l and 0.3 g/l. Based on the time of contact clay-aqueous solution of benalaxyl, 48h to 72h showed significant adsorption of Benalaxyl onto clays, therefore this time interval is presented and oriented further studies in this time interval. Time intervals longer than 72h showed no interest because the rate of hydrolysis increased. Most of Benalaxyl is desorbed from both clays within the first 2 hours. Dardha clay desorbs better than Brari clay.

Article InfoThe dairy industry has undergone an increasing pressure to improve its environmental performance because of wastewater discharges characterized by high chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nutrients, organic and inorganic matter. The pressures for change have resulted from ongoing changes in environmental legislation. The government of Albania has started to impose very strict rules and regulations for the effluent discharge to protect the environment. This paper presents the data obtained from the physical chemical analysis performed in wastewater effluents generated from dairy processing plants in Albania. Analysis of raw and pretreated wastewater have been carried out. Frequent wastewater samplings have been made according to peak plant production. The composite samplings have been made to the effluent flow before mixture with the stream water body. We collected 12 samples from a big dairy plant (with continuous production process) that discharges wastewaters into a water stream flowing into the Adriatic Sea shore. The samples were analyzed for pH, conductivity, COD, BOD 5 , suspended solid content, organic nitrogen, phosphorus as orthophosphate and chloride. Analyses were done according to methods outlined in Metodi Analitici per le Acque (APAT).The analytical data obtained even after preliminary treatment were still higher than Albanian Standards permissive norms respectively 3800 (mg/L), 7700 (mg/L), 2850 (mg/L), 90 (mg/L), 28 (mg/L), 70 mg/l. It is necessary for dairy companies to be forced by legal or economic pressures to reduce the amount and concentration of pollutants in their effluent streams. The problem is more serious for the companies that discharge their wastewater directly into rivers, which is the case for some dairy plants located in the northern region of Albania. Basing on the results we recommend that dairy industry should seek other options to improve environmental performance. Some proper alternatives are mentioned and recommended in this paper as well.

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The purpose of this study is to compare the theoretical results which are calculated according to the DFT model, DFT calculations were performed using the code DMol3. To optimize the geometry, the triple numerical set plus the polarization base (TNP) was used. It was also used in combination with the M11L function within the generalized meta gradient (GGA) approximation. The solvent effect (H2O) was incorporated through the conductor-like display model (COSMO). To visualize the adsorption geometry of the two selected adsorbents, namely: benalaxyl and atrazine on the surface of the clay material components, Monte Carlo (MC) simulation was performed, which was performed through the Adsorption Locator module as implemented in the Materials Studio software. 2017. Three types of clay minerals were selected for the simulation: