María Luciana Montes

• National University of La Plata

While emerging pollutants are being detected in water bodies globally, a significant amount of solid waste that could be used for effluent remediation is being discarded. This not only reduces the half-life of landfills but also contributes to environmental pollution. Of these, eggshells (ES) are one of the most discarded food waste items worldwide...

In recent years, the solid wastes from the coal industry have been widely used as soil amendments. Nevertheless, the impact of utilizing coal slime for copper tailing restoration in terms of plant growth, physicochemical characteristics of the tailing soil, and microbial succession remains uncertain. Herein, the coal slime was employed as a modifie...

Buenos Aires Province coastline is a populated area visited yearly by millions of tourists. However, the radioactivity baseline data of the sand has not been reported yet, and, therefore, the external dose rate received by tourists and inhabitants is also unknown. This work is a study of the natural (²³⁸U, ²³²Th and ⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) r...

Where atmospheric processing is weak due to low anthropogenic emissions, fertilization of iron-limited oceans by non-volcanic mineral dust aerosols strongly depends on iron solubility at the sources. Southern South America (SSA) is a pristine environment and the main dust supplier to the southern oceans, the most sensitive to iron fertilization. Th...

Emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, have been detected in surface and groundwaters. The adsorption of paracetamol and ibuprofen, two widespread drugs, has been studied in aqueous medium, using a ceramic-derived carbon (CeDC) and a commercial activated carbon (CoAC). CeDC yielded a BET surface area of 895 m 2 g...

In this study, living Chlorella sorokiniana FK with an elevated concentration of cell envelop sulfur sites, induced by adding excess sulfate to the medium, was used as biosorbents for the removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solution. The cellular surface sulfur-based sites density of the obtained biosorbents was determined through selective sulfhydryl s...

Co²⁺ and Sr²⁺ sorption capacity of an argentine montmorillonite (MMT) and two biomass-clay complexes (BMMTs) was determined, evaluating the available sorption sites and the coagulation/flocculation properties in the absence and presence of Co²⁺ and Sr²⁺. BMMTs presented higher Co²⁺ sorption capacity than MMT (0.25 mmol/g vs. 0.17 mmol/g). No signif...

Montmorillonite is a clay mineral widely used to remove pollutants from wastewater. The Sr sorption on montmorillonite was analyzed combining an experimental - theoretical approach. Sr sorption on natural and synthetic Na-montmorillonite was studied, characterizing the materials before and after Sr incorporation by X-ray diffraction and Zeta potent...

Low-cost, eco-friendly and efficient charcoal-based composites have been developed to remove arsenic from two Argentine naturally contaminated groundwater samples. Iron compounds have been added to the charcoals both to enhance the composites’ sorption capacities and to provide permanent magnetization to the materials. The raw charcoals, one made f...

This work presents the synthesis and characterization of montmorillonite-Fe oxides (Mt-Mag) and Mt-Fe oxides-carbon (Mt-Mag-C) systems as adsorbent materials, prepared by efficient and low-cost procedures. Fe oxides were synthesized by alkaline oxidation in the presence of nitrates while carbonization was hydrothermally synthesized. The adsorption...

This work aims to contribute to the interpretation of soil colors; mainly to identify the pigments that generate the greenish colors in hydromorphic conditions (gley colors) in vertisols of the coastal plain of the Río de la Plata estuary. These colors are of cold hues, generally greenish (olive-gray), and occur in poorly drained soils with prolong...

La utilización de arcillas del tipo montmorillonita como material adsorbente para la remoción de contaminantes es un tópico que ha sido ampliamente desarrollado a nivel científico y tecnológico, la misma ha mostrado poseer propiedades como su carga superficial negativa, su capacidad de intercambio catiónico y su gran área superficial que son benefi...

Magnetic-clay (MtMag) and magnetic-organoclay (O100MtMag) nanocomposites were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for arsenic adsorption. Batch arsenic adsorption experiments were performed varying pH conditions and initial As(V) concentration, while successive adsorption cycles were made in order to evaluate the materials reuse. The highest A...

Organomagnetic clays have been designed and synthesized from montmorillonite loaded with hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium ions (HDTMA+), to be used in water treatment systems to minimize the direct manipulation of effluent sludge dyes. The structural, magnetic, and hyperfine properties have been determined using thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffra...

Two raw bentonites, from Argentina (Mt-A) and Turkey (Mt-T), rich in montmorillonite, were loaded with different concentrations of cetylpyridinium chloride (CP), ranging from 50% to 150% of their respective cation exchange capacity (CEC). Their antifungal activity was tested against Alternaria alternata and Chaetomium globosum. Thermal analysis was...

To design more efficient and versatile sorbent materials for wastewater treatment three magnetic beidellite composites with different cation exchange capacity and total specific surface area have been synthetized, characterized and used as Cs⁺ and Sr²⁺ sorbents. Total loaded Fe concentration and its distribution on the magnetic composites seems to...

To improve hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) retention of montmorillonite (Mt) at pH 3, Mt sample was subjected to different treatments: thermal ones at 600 °C or 950 °C, 2 h, or mechanical grinding for 300 s. Then, the obtained products were loaded with different octadecyl trimethyl ammonium loading and 50% and 100% of Mt cation exchange capacity (CEC)...

Montmorillonites with cetylpyridinium (CP) adsorbed were evaluated against 2 fungi. � The CP adsorption on montmorillonites occurred by three different interactions. � DTGA allowed quantifying the % of adsorbed CP in the processes involved. � The inhibition diameters for both fungi were related to their susceptibility to CP. � Materials with antifu...

Montmorillonite (M) was modified by addition of hydrothermal carbon (HC) in order to obtain pesticide adsorbent materials. Carbohydrates were used as carbon source, and in some cases, also phosphoric acid was applied as activation agent. The M-HC hybrids maintain the negative electrical surface charge of their precursors (between −35 mV and −15 mV)...

To help understand the dynamics of peatlands forming on the Southern Serra do Espinhaço, Brazil, the occurring natural (²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ⁴⁰K) and anthropogenic (¹³⁷Cs) activity of gamma-ray emitters located at three sites, namely the localities of São João da Chapada (CH), Pinheiro (PIN) and Pau de Fruta (PDF), was studied. The iron compounds were cha...

Unsupported 210Pb (Pbexc) is generated in air and is subsequently deposited on soil surface. The Pbexc can be used for sediment dating, soil erosion/sedimentation and air mass studies. In many cases, 210Pb activity determination (gamma ray 46.5 keV) cannot be performed due to the lack of efficiency calibration curve, especially when radioactive pat...

Se estudian los agentes cromógenos (pigmentos) que originan los colores gley de los suelos. Estos colores son de matices fríos, generalmente verdosos (gris oliva). Se dan en suelos con drenaje deficiente, con acumulación prolongada de agua. Para este fin, se analizaron muestras de horizontes Bssg de vertisoles hidromórficos de la llanura costera de...

Organomontmorillonite Fungicidal activity Silver Motscl es: Montmorillonite Organomontmorillonite Activit e fongicide Argent a b s t r a c t A raw montmorillonite (MMT) and three organomontmorillonites (OMMTs) with different amounts of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (HDTMABr), and further silver loading (MMTeAg or OMMTeAg) were used to study th...

En pedología, los llamados colores gley son aquellos de apariencia verdosa que se dan en niveles con drenaje deiciente. Tradicionalmente este color es atribuido a sustancias cromógenas que contienen Fe 2+. No obstante, los resultados de este estudio ponen en entredicho tal afirmación, pues en los suelos y paleosuelos analizados no es el contenido d...

Laser–induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques were applied for quantitative analysis of the remaining Pb content in water samples after treatment with a raw montmorillonite (MMT) and an organic derivative (MMO) clays for heavy metal removal, an issue of crucial importance for decontamination of wate...

Montmorillonite magnetic-clay nanoparticles (MtMag) and its exchanged product with hexadecyltrimethylammonium (O100MtMag) were synthetized by alkaline oxidation of ferrous sulfate, characterized by diverse techniques (XRD, Mössbauer spectroscopy, VSM, SEM, Zeta Potential, total specific surface area, TOC) and used as Co²⁺ sorbents. The magnetic cha...

Montmorillonite (MMT) clays are 2:1 layered structures which in natural state may allocate different hydrated cations such as M-nH2O (M =Na, Ca, Fe, etc) in its interlayer space. Depending on the capability for ion sorption, these materials are interesting for environmental remediation. In this work we experimentally study the Co sorption in a natu...

Iron in sediments can be part of a wide variety of minerals which characteristics are heavily dependent upon the environmental conditions. Hence, their knowledge is useful for paleoenvironmental interpretations. The aim of this work is to contribute to the understanding of iron-bearing minerals in clay deposits associated whit the Holocene hypsther...

Pearson correlation coefficients between 40K, 226Ra and 232Th activities and the total Fe phase fractions yielded by Mössbauer spectroscopy have been calculated for soils of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Total fractions of Fe phases have been obtained from the relative fractions reported in previous works weighted by the Fe soil content...

In the frame of establishing the radiological baseline of the Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, this work assesses the total outdoor external dose and the activity values of 40K, 226Ra, 232Th and 137Cs in superficial soils of La Plata and Lima cities. In the latter, the most important nuclear emplacement of the country is located. At La Plata, 49 s...

Patagonia, due to its geographic position and the dominance of westerly winds, is a key area that contributes to the supply of nutrients to the Southern Ocean, both through mineral dust as well as the periodic deposits of volcanic ash. Here we evaluate the characteristics of Fe dissolved (into soluble and colloidal species) from volcanic ash for th...

Patagonia, due to its geographic position and the dominance of westerly winds, is a key area that contributes to the supply of nutrients to the Southern Ocean, both through mineral dust and through the periodic deposits of volcanic ash. Here we evaluate the characteristics of Fe dissolved (into soluble and colloidal species) from volcanic ash for t...

A peatland (geographical coordinates of the sampling site, 18° 05′ 43.6″ S, 43° 47′ 6.4″ W; altitude 1,330 m asl) in São João da Chapada, municipality of Diamantina, state of Minas Gerais, was sampled at different depths of two profiles with different vegetation coverings (namely, field grassland and bush) in order to collect materials that might r...

Natural radionuclides contained in groundwater have radiobiological significance because they are a direct route for population internal exposure due to water intake. Thus, the determination of the natural activity concentration levels is important to evaluate activity concentration abnormalities and exposition doses. Therefore, the buildup of base...

Inventories and vertical distribution of (137)Cs were determined in La Plata region undisturbed soils, Argentina. A mean inventory value of 891 ± 220 Bq/m(2) was established, which is compatible with the values expected from atmospheric weapon tests fallout. The study was complemented with pH, organic carbon fraction, texture and mineralogical soil...

Surface and depth profile concentrations (down to 50 cm) of ²³²Th chain, ²²⁶Ra, and ⁴⁰K radionuclides were determined in undisturbed coastal and inland soils of La Plata city region, Argentina, through their gamma-ray activity using a high-purity Ge detector spectrometer. These results were compared with superficial activities determined in soils f...

The activity concentrations of both natural (238U and 232Th chains and 40K) and anthropogenic (137Cs) radionuclides down along the soil profile have been determined in soil samples collected from inland and coastal areas of the La Plata River, located in the Northeastern region of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina. These studies were compleme...

The depth profile concentration of both natural and anthropogenic gamma-ray-emitter nuclides were determined in soil samples collected in an area located at 34° 54.452' S, 58° 8.365' W, down to 50 cm in depth, using an hyper-pure Ge spectrometer. The soil samples were also characterized by means of Mössbauer spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The...