The presence of lead compounds in the environment is an issue. In particular, supply water consumption has been reported to be a significant source of human exposure to lead compounds, which can pose an elevated risk to humans. Due to its toxicity, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) have classified lead (Pb) and its compounds as probable human carcinogens. The European Community Directive and World Health Organization have set the maximum acceptable lead limits in tap water as 10 µg/L. The USEPA has a guideline value of 15 µg/L in drinking water. Removal of lead ions from water and wastewater is of great importance from regulatory and health perspectives. To date, several hundred publications have been reported on the removal of lead ions from an aqueous solution. This study reviewed the research findings on the low-cost removal of lead ions using different types of adsorbents. The research achievements to date and the limitations were investigated. Different types of adsorbents were compared with respect to adsorption capacity, removal performances, sorbent dose, optimum pH, temperature, initial concentration, and contact time. The best adsorbents and the scopes of improvements were identified. The adsorption capacity of natural materials, industrial byproducts, agricultural waste, forest waste, and biotechnology-based adsorbents were in the ranges of 0.8-333.3 mg/g, 2.5-524.0 mg/g, 0.7-2079 mg/g, 0.4-769.2 mg/g, and 7.6-526.0 mg/g, respectively. The removal efficiency for these adsorbents was in the range of 13.6-100%. Future research to improve these adsorbents might assist in developing low-cost adsorbents for mass-scale applications.

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This article is the 13th contribution in the Fungal Diversity Notes series, wherein 125 taxa from four phyla, ten classes, 31 orders, 69 families, 92 genera and three genera incertae sedis are treated, demonstrating worldwide and geographic distribution. Fungal taxa described and illustrated in the present study include three new genera, 69 new species, one new combination, one reference specimen and 51 new records on new hosts and new geographical distributions. Three new genera, Cylindrotorula ( Torulaceae ), Scolecoleotia ( Leotiales genus incertae sedis ) and Xenovaginatispora ( Lindomycetaceae ) are introduced based on distinct phylogenetic lineages and unique morphologies. Newly described species are Aspergillus lannaensis , Cercophora dulciaquae , Cladophialophora aquatica , Coprinellus punjabensis , Cortinarius alutarius , C. mammillatus , C. quercoflocculosus , Coryneum fagi , Cruentomycena uttarakhandina , Cryptocoryneum rosae , Cyathus uniperidiolus , Cylindrotorula indica , Diaporthe chamaeropicola , Didymella azollae , Diplodia alanphillipsii , Dothiora coronicola , Efibula rodriguezarmasiae , Erysiphe salicicola , Fusarium queenslandicum , Geastrum gorgonicum , G. hansagiense , Helicosporium sexualis , Helminthosporium chiangraiensis , Hongkongmyces kokensis , Hydrophilomyces hydraenae , Hygrocybe boertmannii , Hyphoderma australosetigerum , Hyphodontia yunnanensis , Khaleijomyces umikazeana , Laboulbenia divisa , Laboulbenia triarthronis , Laccaria populina , Lactarius pallidozonarius , Lepidosphaeria strobelii , Longipedicellata megafusiformis , Lophiotrema lincangensis , Marasmius benghalensis , M. jinfoshanensis , M. subtropicus , Mariannaea camelliae , Melanographium smilaxii , Microbotryum polycnemoides , Mimeomyces digitatus , Minutisphaera thailandensis , Mortierella solitaria , Mucor harpali , Nigrograna jinghongensis , Odontia huanrenensis , O. parvispina , Paraconiothyrium ajrekarii , Parafuscosporella niloticus , Phaeocytostroma yomensis , Phaeoisaria synnematicus , Phanerochaete hainanensis , Pleopunctum thailandicum , Pleurotheciella dimorphospora , Pseudochaetosphaeronema chiangraiense , Pseudodactylaria albicolonia , Rhexoacrodictys nigrospora , Russula paravioleipes , Scolecoleotia eriocamporesi , Seriascoma honghense , Synandromyces makranczyi , Thyridaria aureobrunnea , Torula lancangjiangensis , Tubeufia longihelicospora , Wicklowia fusiformispora , Xenovaginatispora phichaiensis and Xylaria apiospora . One new combination, Pseudobactrodesmium stilboideus is proposed. A reference specimen of Comoclathris permunda is designated. New host or distribution records are provided for Acrocalymma fici , Aliquandostipite khaoyaiensis , Camarosporidiella laburni , Canalisporium caribense , Chaetoscutula juniperi , Chlorophyllum demangei , C. globosum , C. hortense , Cladophialophora abundans , Dendryphion hydei , Diaporthe foeniculina , D. pseudophoenicicola , D. pyracanthae , Dictyosporium pandanicola , Dyfrolomyces distoseptatus , Ernakulamia tanakae , Eutypa flavovirens , E. lata , Favolus septatus , Fusarium atrovinosum , F. clavum , Helicosporium luteosporum , Hermatomyces nabanheensis , Hermatomyces sphaericoides , Longipedicellata aquatica , Lophiostoma caudata , L. clematidis-vitalbae , Lophiotrema hydei , L. neoarundinaria , Marasmiellus palmivorus , Megacapitula villosa , Micropsalliota globocystis , M. gracilis , Montagnula thailandica , Neohelicosporium irregulare , N. parisporum , Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum , Phaeoisaria aquatica , Poaceascoma taiwanense , Saproamanita manicata , Spegazzinia camelliae , Submersispora variabilis , Thyronectria caudata , T. mackenziei , Tubeufia chiangmaiensis , T. roseohelicospora , Vaginatispora nypae , Wicklowia submersa , Xanthagaricus necopinatus and Xylaria haemorrhoidalis . The data presented herein are based on morphological examination of fresh specimens, coupled with analysis of phylogenetic sequence data to better integrate taxa into appropriate taxonomic ranks and infer their evolutionary relationships.

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Natural fiber such as bamboo fiber, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber, kenaf fiber, and sugar palm fiber-reinforced polymer composites are being increasingly developed for lightweight structures with high specific strength in the automotive, marine, aerospace, and construction industries with significant economic benefits, sustainability, and environmental benefits. The plant-based natural fibers are hydrophilic, which is incompatible with hydrophobic polymer matrices. This leads to a reduction of their interfacial bonding and to the poor thermal stability performance of the resulting fiber-reinforced polymer composite. Based on the literature, the effect of chemical treatment of natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites had significantly influenced the thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) together with the thermal stability performance of the composite structure. In this review, the effect of chemical treatments used on cellulose natural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and thermosetting polymer composites has been reviewed. From the present review, the TGA data are useful as guidance in determining the purity and composition of the composites' structures, drying, and the ignition temperatures of materials. Knowing the stability temperatures of compounds based on their weight, changes in the temperature dependence is another factor to consider regarding the effectiveness of chemical treatments for the purpose of synergizing the chemical bonding between the natural fiber with polymer matrix or with the synthetic fibers.

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Background Antimicrobial activity of 18 ethnomedicinal plant extracts were evaluated against nine bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ervinia sp, Proteus vulgaris) and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). The collected ethnomedicinal plants were used in folk medicine in the treatment of skin diseases, venereal diseases, respiratory problems and nervous disorders. Methods Plants were collected from Palni hills of Southern Western Ghats and the ethnobotanical data were gathered from traditional healers who inhabit the study area. The hexane and methanol extracts were obtained by cold percolation method and the antimicrobial activity was found using paper disc diffusion method. All microorganisms were obtained from Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. Results The results indicated that out of 18 plants, 10 plants exhibited antimicrobial activity against one or more of the tested microorganisms at three different concentrations of 1.25, 2.5 and 5 mg/disc. Among the plants tested, Acalypha fruticosa, Peltophorum pterocarpum, Toddalia asiatica,Cassia auriculata, Punica granatum and Syzygium lineare were most active. The highest antifungal activity was exhibited by methanol extract of Peltophorum pterocarpum and Punica granatum against Candida albicans. Conclusion This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the some ethnomedicinal plants used in folkloric medicine. Compared to hexane extract, methanol extract showed significant activity against tested organisms. This study also showed that Toddalia asiatica, Syzygium lineare, Acalypha fruticosa and Peltophorum pterocarpum could be potential sources of new antimicrobial agents.

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