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Geochemical Characteristics and Geological Significance of Cassiterite in the Dalong Tin Deposit, Baoshan Block, SW China

"The Dalong tin deposit, located in the Luziyuan polymetallic ore field of the southern Baoshan block, Southwest China, is composed of lenticular and bedded orebodies hosted in a Cambrian slate-marble sequence. As the only tin deposit in the orefield, the genesis of the Dalong deposit is of great significance to the understanding of regional metallogenic regularity. Based on a systematic field survey and petrographic observation, EPMA and LA-ICP-MS major/trace element analyses of cassiterite were carried out in this study. The enrichment of Fe, W, and Ti in cassiterite, as well as the depletion of Nb, Ta, and Mn, reveal cassiterite’s features in granitic magmatic-hydrothermal deposits. The Dalong deposit can be categorized as a magmatic-hydrothermal vein-type deposit because of its sulfur isotopic properties, and the main sources of ore-forming fluid and minerals are thought to be buried intermediate-acid intrusions in the mining area’s depths."

Chuanyu Zhang, Wanting Li, Haijun Yu, Yingxiang Lu, Jianze Sha and Shusheng Yang

Estimating the Water Quality Class of a Major Irrigation Canal in Odisha, India: A Supervised Machine Learning Approach

"Contamination of surface water by rapid industrialization, natural and anthropogenic activities is of great concern over the last few decades. Nowadays, canal water systems are no exception to this form of contamination, which results in water quality degradation. To classify the canal water based on the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), it was thought to develop a quick and inexpensive approach as an alternative to the time-consuming analysis approach. With this motivation, the present study explores building a machine learning model for water quality classification of a major canal namely the Talaldanda canal operating in the state of Odisha, India. The water quality class is predicted using supervised machine learning (ML) prediction models for the new canal water input parameters. The water quality parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total coliform (TC) at six strategic locations of the canal from the year 2013-2020 were collected from Odisha State Pollution Control Board for the training phase. The supervised ML models used in the study are Decision Tree (DT), Neural Network (NN), k-NN (k-Nearest Neighbor), Naïve Bayes (NV), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF). The predictions of the models are evaluated using the Orange-3.29.3 data analytics tool. When analyzing the performance parameters by sampling the training data into training and testing using cross-validation, the results show that DT has a higher classification accuracy (CA) of 96.6 percent than other ML models. In addition, the likelihood of DT correctly predicting water quality class for the testing dataset is higher than that of other prediction models."

S. K. Bhoi, C. Mallick and C. R. Mohanty

Analysis of Carbon Emission and Its Temporal and Spatial Distribution in County-Level: A Case Study of Henan Province, China

"Estimating carbon emissions and assessing their contribution are critical steps toward China’s objective of reaching a “carbon peak” in 2030 and “carbon neutrality” in 2060. This paper selects relevant statistical data on carbon emissions from 2000 to 2018, combines the emission coefficient method and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index model (LMDI) to calculate carbon emissions, and analyses the driving force of carbon emission growth using Henan Province as a case study. Based on the partial least squares regression analysis model (PLS), the contributions of inter-provincial factors of carbon emission are analyzed. Finally, a county-level downscaling estimation model of carbon emission is further formulated to analyze the temporal and spatial distribution of carbon emissions and their evolution. The research results show that: 1) The effect of energy intensity is responsible for 82 percent of the increase in carbon emissions, whereas the effect of industrial structure is responsible for -8 percent of the increase in carbon emissions. 2) The proportion of secondary industry and energy intensity, which are 1.64 and 0.82, respectively, have the most evident explanatory effect on total carbon emissions; 3). Carbon emissions vary widely among counties, with high emissions in the central and northern regions and low emissions in the southern. However, their carbon emissions have constantly decreased over time. 4) The number of high-emission counties, their carbon emissions, and the degree of their discrepancies are gradually reduced. The findings serve as a foundation for relevant agencies to gain a macro-level understanding of the industrial landscape and to investigate the feasibility of carbon emission reduction programs."

Sen Li, Yanwen Lan and Lijun Guo

Traffic Noise Pollution Assessment in Major Road Junctions of Imphal City, Manipur (India)

Noise pollution assessment was carried out in selected traffic junctions of Imphal city of Manipur, India, using noise parameters and indices such as L10, L50, L90, Leq for the different periods of the day, i.e., morning, noon, and evening hours. The study of equivalent noise level (Leq), noise parameters, and various noise indices have enabled the evaluation of the overall traffic noise environment of the city. The noise indices such as traffic noise index (TNI), noise climate (NC), traffic noise pollution level (LNP), noise exposure index (NEI) along with day time (LD), night time (LN) average, and day-night (Ldn) noise levels were assessed for the selected traffic junctions. Moreover, spatial noise mapping was carried out using the geostatistical interpolation technique to evaluate the changes of traffic noise scenarios during the different time zones of the day. The Leq values in a few traffic junctions exceeded the required noise standards. The study shows equivalent noise levels ranging between 52.2-69.9 dB(A) during the morning (7-10 am), 52.4 -69.3 dB(A) during noon (12 noon-2 pm), and 54.6-71.1 dB(A) during the evening (4-7 pm) hours, respectively.

Ramtharmawi Nungate and Wazir Alam

Tuning of Carbon Microspheres and Graphene Structures with Hetero Atoms for Organic Dye Degradation and Heavy Metal Remediation - Influence of Fructose as a Precursor

In today’s context, there is a tremendous potential for the design of smart nanomaterials of carbon origin for multi-dimensional applications. The role-play of precursor is significant in the design of nanometric carbon materials apart from other experimental parameters. Correlation of the synthetic methodology, the microstructure of the product helps to tune and widen the applications aspect. The present study aimed to tune the simple ketose (reducing monosaccharide) of fructose to functionalize (with O, N, and S atoms) carbon layers, microspheres of carbon, to optimize the experimental conditions, and to establish the mechanism involved in the process. The study further explored the catalytic ability of the carbon samples in the degradation of thiazine and xanthene-based textile dyes and the sensing of heavy metal ions of chromium and copper. A simple hydrothermal process, fructose as a precursor, alkaline pH, and appropriate calcination temperature provided micro and nanostructures of carbon viz. carbon microspheres (CMs), graphene oxide (GO), sulfur doped graphene oxide (S-GO), and nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO). In this study a simple mechanism for the conversion process is suggested. Further, the results of the preliminary screening study on the catalytic ability of the sulfur and nitrogen-doped graphene samples in the presence of UV and Visible light upon the degradation of methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), Rhodamine-B (Rh-B) dyes were satisfactory. The adsorbent and the ion exchange capacity of the carbon microspheres were found to be excellent. The results of the study will contribute positively to the treatment and management of industrial wastewater.

S. Sudhaparimala and R. Usha

Study on the Construction of Residual Plaque Landscape Ecological Restoration Model in the Process of Rapid Urbanization

The current rapid urbanization, industrialization, and expansion of urban construction patterns have resulted in a large number of residual plaques in the urban area, including both the original plaques that are extremely fragmented and the new plaques that are metabolized by urban production, especially natural habitat patches are more pronounced. Ecological restoration of residual plaques plays an important role in maintaining biodiversity, protecting native species, providing ecological services, revitalizing land resources, inheriting regional characteristics, shaping urban image, and improving the ecological environment. Therefore, research on the subject is necessary and urgent. The topic is based on the ecological survey of urban residual patches and the study of the characteristic attributes of current urbanization, defining the connotation, extension, type, characteristics, and influencing factors of urban residual patches, and analyzing the process of fragmentation of residual plaques in cities and their artificial interference relationship. From the macro, meso, and micro scales, from the top level of ecological planning, the whole process of life cycle management, and the moderately disturbed bottom layer of ecological engineering nodes, three levels are restored, theoretical integration guidance and technical restoration. Based on the three dimensions of the continuous symbiosis of nature, cost control of the economy, and public participation of the society, repair and activate the remaining plaques of the city to provide technical support for the construction and sustainable development of urban ecological civilization.

Huang Leichang, Yang Li, Bi Shanhua, Gong Yilu, Zhang Yu, Jia Xiaoyu and Feng Xu

Hydraulic Performance and Energy Loss Effect of Pit Structure Optimized Drip Irrigation Emitter

The pit structure optimized drip irrigation emitter (PODE) is a novel type of irrigation emitter that may provide shunts, quick diversion, and mixed flow to maximize energy loss. To study the influence of the geometric parameters of the flow channel on the hydraulic characteristics and energy loss effect, twenty-five sets of orthogonal test schemes were established. Using numerical simulation and verification tests, the flow index and energy loss coefficient were obtained. The results showed that the flow index of the PODE was 0.4632-0.5265, and its hydraulic performance was good. The energy loss coefficient under the pressure head of 5-15 m was 510-2221, which showed that the energy loss effect was obvious. The influence order of the geometric parameters on the flow index was B>P>C>D>A, the optimal solution was P0.6D1.4A85B0.25C0.12. The determination coefficient of the regression model based on geometric parameters and flow index was 0.85. In addition, the verification test showed that the relative error among the test value, simulated value, and estimated value were less than 5%, and the flow index can be estimated reliably. The research can provide a reference for the pre-research and evaluation of the hydraulic performance and energy loss effect of the PODE.

Tianyu Xu, Shuteng Zhi, Qiuyue Yu and Ennan Zheng

Use of Gram-Positive Grass Bacillus as Autonomous Repair Agent in Concrete

Due to various reasons, crack formation may occur in the concrete structure. Crack formation increases the permeability of concrete to detrimental substances including different types of chemicals, glasses, and water, which upon contact with concrete leads to significant impairment in various properties of concrete including strength, durability, etc. In the present investigation, special microbiological growth having the ability to precipitate calcite through the process of biomineralization is induced in the concrete to evaluate the performance of the concrete. The bacteria were directly added to the concrete mix instead of encapsulating them into clay pellets. Bacteria were classified into two groups i.e. A & B. i. e. 50 & 100 g of bacteria powder were added into 1 L of water respectively. Out of the two groups A and B, 4 samples each were taken of 10 mL, 20 mL, 30 mL and 40 mL, and mixed in the concrete. The results showed that compressive strength and flexural strength increased up to 23.57% and 35% respectively more than the control specimen and the optimum capacity achieved at 30 mL bacterial concentration.

Nishant Kumar and Sunil Saharan

Effective Utilization of Stabilized Spent Wash Bio-Compost for Tomato Crop and Comparison of its Yield with Commercial Composts

India is an agro-based country and in the year 2020, about 1082 lakh hectares of agricultural land have been planted, in turn, consuming 3161 lakh tonnes of fertilizer annually. However, excessive fertilizer usage has a negative impact on the soil quality and is evident by the fact that the crop response ratio has decreased from 12.1 in the 1960s to 5.0 in the 2010s. Hence, organic compost can be used as an alternative to fertilizer, reducing its negative impact on soil quality. The present study is a part of a larger investigation and its scope is confined to the utilization of bio-composts for the growth of tomato crops. Additionally, a comparison of these bio-composts was carried out with commercial composts through assessment of yield and number of fruits. Seeds were sown on prepared land, germination was observed on the 7th day, and saplings were produced on the 30th day. The dosage of each compost was fixed at 60ml per plant and was applied on the 31st and 51st days of the study period. Commercial composts produced yields of 673 ± 32.01, 830 ± 32.19 and 1560 ± 77.62 g respectively, with 54 ± 4.16, 81 ± 11.50, and 104 ± 13.50 fruits. All the bio-composts outperformed control and commercial composts in terms of yield. With 140 ± 11.50 fruits, BC5 produced a maximum yield of 2938 ± 93.72 g, which is 723 % higher than the control. Hence, it is concluded that the use of bio-compost is more effective than commercial composts and provides a much higher yield. Further studies need to be conducted to evaluate the quality of yield obtained by various bioassay tests.

A. S. Byakodi and B. T. Suresh Babu

Study on the Effect of Shrubs on Wind Erosion Control in Desert Regions

The wind velocity reduces by encountering vegetation; thus, a shelter zone is generated at downstream of vegetation. Hence, planting vegetation, mainly shrubs, has widely been used to control sand transportation. However, plant shrubs in a large area of the desert are practically unsustainable and uneconomical. In this study, Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) and wind tunnel experiments were carried out to optimize the planting method of shrubs that could decrease the number of shrubs and increase wind erosion controlling efficiency in desert regions. The effects of shrub height, porosity, the number of shrub rows, and space between shrub rows on wind erosion control were studied. Based on the present study results, the downstream of shrubs was divided into three different zones: first erosion zone, sedimentation zone, and second erosion zone. Moreover, with the increase of shrub porosity, the first erosion zone’s length increased. In contrast, the sedimentation zone’s length decreased, whereas the length of the first erosion and sedimentation zones increased with shrub height. Hence, to make a better shelter zone, it is recommended to plant denser shrubs rows at the upstream and sparsely shrub rows at the far downstream.

Naqi Lessani, Hanfeng Wang and Ahmad Hamed Nikmal

Comparison of Two Versions of SWAT Models in Predicting the Streamflow in the Xuanmiaoguan Reservoir Catchment

Correct streamflow prediction is critical for determining the availability and efficiency of watershed spatial plans and water resource management. In the Xuanmiaoguan (XMG) Reservoir Catchment, two different versions of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model are compared to discharge predictions. One version is the Topo-SWAT, in which the overland flow is generated by saturation excess (Dunne) runoff mechanism, while the other is driven by infiltration excess runoff mechanism, i.e., the Regular-SWAT. These SWAT models were calibrated and validated with discharge at daily and monthly steps, and then, the annual runoff volume and spatial distribution of runoff generation areas were also discussed. At the monthly scale, the un-calibrated Topo-SWAT model outperformed the un-calibrated Regular-SWAT model throughout the whole time (2010-2016). The Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients (NSE) using Topo-SWAT and Regular-SWAT were 0.59, 0.58 for calibration and 0.69, 0.72 for validation for daily streamflow, and 0.69, 0.65 for calibration and 0.73, 0.88 for validation for monthly streamflow, respectively, based on the parameter sensitivity analysis results. There was a 5-year understatement for yearly runoff volume using Regular-SWAT, but a 4-year underestimation using Topo-SWAT, which had a different year in 2015. Regular-SWAT and Topo-SWAT have significantly different geographical distributions of runoff generating locations within the watershed for one occurrence (greater rainfall). The findings reveal the most accurate contributing regions for runoff generation in the research catchment, allowing for more effective implementation of best management techniques (BMPs).

Huijuan Bo, Xiaohua Dong, Zhonghua Li, Gebrehiwet Reta, Lu li and Chong Wei

Research on Influencing Factors of Provincial Energy Efficiency in China Based on the Spatial Panel Model

The Super-SBM model was used first to assess the energy efficiency of 30 Chinese provinces from 2012 to 2017. After that, an energy efficiency spatial correlation test was conducted, and finally, the influencing elements of energy efficiency were analyzed using a geographic panel model. The findings show that the amount of regional economic development has a substantial positive impact on energy efficiency, whereas the level of regional urbanization and the severity of environmental restrictions have a considerable negative impact on energy efficiency in China’s provinces. Other regions’ energy structure and technical innovation have a substantial positive spillover effect on the region’s energy efficiency, whereas other regions’ economic development and foreign direct investment have a significant negative spillover effect on the region’s energy efficiency.

Guozhu Li and Tingyu Zhang

Impressions of Coastal Communities on Climate Change and Livelihood: A Case Study of Coastal Maharashtra, India

The socio-economic and institutional systems of a developing country like India have a big role in the effects of perception on the choice of adapting capability. The study uses exploratory factor analysis to better understand these implications in a regional context (EFA). Therefore, survey research is carried out in Sindhudurg district of coastal Maharashtra, with 410 respondents, assessing perception. EFA leads to the unpacking of latent constructs evaluating the perception of climate change, which in turn affects adaptive capacity and livelihood resilience. These constructs are biophysical impact cognition, motivation to change, economic diversification, and adaptive skills, which together account for 50% of coastal fishermen’s perception of climate change. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed differences in the interpretation of these factors among coastal fishermen from various backgrounds (MANOVA). Overall, the research emphasizes the importance of perception in determining adaptive choices and resilience. According to the findings, developing adaptation-friendly infrastructural areas is recommended for society’s resilient functioning.

Ravi Sharma, Shrishti Jagtap and Prakash Rao

Check List of Species Richness and Abundance of Orthoptera Fauna in Bharathi Park, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Order Orthoptera is one of the largest and most important invertebrate groups for environmental monitoring and assessment. Orthoptera faunal composition was carried out at Bharathi Park, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India to evaluate the present status of various species. PAST software was used to perform various statistical analyses to estimate the Orthoptera composition. Overall, 334 individuals belonging to 22 species, 19 genera, 17 tribes under 10 subfamilies, and four families of Orthoptera were recorded. Species richness (59.09%) and species abundance (70.06%) were recorded highest in the Acrididae family followed by Pyrgomorphidae, Tettigoniidae, and Gryllidae. Oedipodinae was the most species-rich (27.27%) and the most abundant subfamily, accounting for 30.24% of the total collected individuals. During the study period, 10 dominant, five intermediate dominance, four incidental, and three rare species were observed. Among these, Spathosternum prasiniferum was found to be the most dominant species (D=18.26) and the least dominant (D = 0.6) species was Euconocephalus pallidus. Based on the principal component analysis, the distribution of species along with the first two PCs (PC1= 33.87% and PC2=28.68%) accounted for the highest variance of the total variances. Cluster analysis showed that Acrotylus humbertianus and Teleogryllus mitratus, Conocephalus maculates and Gryllus bimaculatus Orthopterans were similar to each other. The value of the Shannon diversity index (2.27), Simpson index (0.87), Margalef index (2.2), and ?-diversity (5.75) were higher in Acrididae when compared with other families. Value of Evenness (0.93) was highest in Gryllidae. Statistical analysis infers that the richness and abundance percentage of Orthopterans significantly varied between species to species and family to family.

M. Suganya and K. Manimegalai

Application of PCA-RSR Model in Reservoir Water Quality Evaluation

Water quality evaluation is a critical component of water environmental quality management, and conducting water quality assessments for reservoirs is quite practical. The inaccuracy induced by information overlap of several water quality measures is rarely taken into account in current water quality assessment systems. To solve this problem, the Principal component analysis-Rank sum ratio (PCA-RSR) water quality evaluation model was used to quantitatively evaluate the water quality of the Daheiting reservoir based on the monitoring data of different water layers in 2019. The results show that the water quality of Daheiting reservoir in 2019 is slightly better than that of the end of the reservoir, due to the influence of human factors downstream of the Upper Panjiakou Dam and the topography of the Luan River System, and the water quality from the dam head to the reservoir tail shows a decreasing trend. The PCA-RSR model has a good correlation with the traditional water quality indexes (WQI) system, which can avoid errors caused by overlapping information among the indexes while also taking into account the weight of the environmental factors of the study area. It is feasible and has some practical value in reservoir water quality evaluation..

Fangxing Zhao, Changjun Zhu, Budong Li, Shiyan Wang, Wenlong Hao and Xiaobo Liu

Effects of Regulated Deficit Irrigation on Soil Nutrients, Growth and Morbidity of Panax notoginseng in Yunnan High Altitude Areas, China

This study investigated the responses of Panax notoginseng in a high-altitude area to regulated deficit irrigation at different growth stages (seedling stage, vegetative growth stage, flowering stage, and root weight gain stage) by observing indicators such as plant growth, soil nutrients, and morbidity. Conventional irrigation (70%-80?) was applied at the seedling stage and the root weight gain stage. Three regulated deficit irrigation levels (50%-60?, 40%-50?, and 30%-40?) were applied during the vegetative growth period, and three regulated deficit irrigation levels (70%-80?, 50%-60?, and 40%-50?) were used in the flowering period. Conventional irrigation was also applied throughout the growth stage as a control (CK). The results showed that the content of available phosphorus, available potassium, and nitrate-nitrogen in the soil was the lowest under the T4 treatment, and the cutting+main root length, rib length, root surface area, root volume, and main root diameter all reached their maximum values under this treatment. Under the T4 treatment, the total saponin content and total dry weight were the highest, the irrigation water use efficiency was the highest, and the P. notoginseng morbidity rate was the lowest. Morbidity was reduced by 53.42 percent in individuals who received the CK therapy, whereas total saponin content increased by 8.65 percent. The T4 therapy had the highest score of all the treatments in principal component analysis. As a result, planting P. notoginseng under the T4 treatment can effectively reduce irrigation water usage, enhance production and quality, and minimize the incidence of sickness in P. notoginseng.

Tianyu Xu, Shuteng Zhi, Songyi Zhao and Qiliang Yang

Seasonal Variation of Ultrafine Particulate Matter (PM1) and Its Correlation with Meteorological Factors and Planetary Boundary Layer in A Semi-Arid Region

The present study critically investigated the effect of meteorological parameters on the mass concentration of Ultrafine Particulate Matter (PM1) between October 2018 and September 2019 (n=102) in a semiarid region of Rajasthan, India. The concentration of PM1 ranged between 72-110.85 ?g.m-3 with distinct seasonal variation. Higher PM1 concentrations are closely linked to decreased wind speeds and colder temperatures, according to the findings. The winter season showed the highest concentration followed by post monsoon and pre monsoon season. The cumulative effect of environmental variables such as temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed, as well as the height of the planetary boundary layer, was investigated using multiple regression analysis (HPBL). A significant negative correlation (p < 0>0.001) relationship. Relative humidity showed a negative relationship during withers and pre-monsoon season. The multiple regression model indicated a significant negative (p<0.001) relationship with HPBL in winters (R2=0.70) explaining the 70?fect of HPBL on mass concentration of PM1.During the post-monsoon (R2 = 0.69) and pre-monsoon (R2= 0.91) explains 69% and 91?fect of HPBL on mass concentrations of PM1.The results indicate that the concentration of PM1 cannot be explained by a single meteorological parameter but all the parameters show a cumulative effect.

Jaspreet Kaur, Charu Jhamaria, Suresh Tiwari and Deewan Singh Bisht

Bioleaching of Metals from Printed Circuit Boards

Electronic waste or E-waste refers to the discarded electrical or electronic devices which have neared their useful life. Because of the toxicity and carcinogenicity of some compounds, the proper management and safe disposal of these electronic wastes have become serious challenges in recent years. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) are found almost in every other electronics these days, hence the present study focuses on bioleaching of metals from Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) using bacterial and yeast strains (Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillus sp. and Candida tropicalis) isolated from heavily contaminated soil samples. A two-step bioleaching procedure was followed for maximum mobilization of metals. The isolated strains were able to mobilize metals from PCBs with different efficiencies depending on their ability to utilize the E-waste a carbon source when cultivated in minimal media. Bioleaching potential of isolated microbes on eight heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Mn, Pb, Fe, Cr, Zn & Co) in the sample were studied using AAS and SEM analysis before and after the two-step bioleaching process and found to be efficient. The study concludes that isolated bacterial and fungal species from the study can be further standardized with regard to the growth parameters and used on large scale to carry out the efficient recovery of metals that can help in recycling E-waste in the digital world.

Pavithira V., Anchana Devi C. and Pushpa N.

Study on Spatiotemporal Characteristics of the Impacting Factors of Agricultural Carbon Emissions Based on the GTWR Model: Evidence from the Yellow River Basin, China

Scholars have turned their attention to the ecological protection and high-quality development of China’s Yellow River Basin in recent years. The basin is a major agricultural production area in China, hence investigating agricultural carbon emission reduction strategies in the basin is crucial. The research object in this article is the agricultural departmen.ts of China’s nine provinces in the Yellow River Basin from 2005 to 2018. Agricultural carbon emissions are measured using agricultural land usage, rice planting, crop planting, straw burning, and livestock breeding as agricultural carbon sources. In addition, the GTWR model is used to examine the spatiotemporal aspects of the impact of five factors on agricultural carbon emissions in this paper. The findings reveal that the five factors have varying degrees and directions of influence.

Haifeng Huang and Ni Zhu

Handling the Sludge When Using Polyaluminum Chloride as a Coagulant in the Potable Water Treatment Process

The sludge produced in the treatment process depends on the type of coagulant and other chemicals used and the suspended particles present in raw water. Discarding this sludge in the landfills poses pollution of both ground and surface water, disturbing the lives in the water and the water quality. The primary potable water provider in Sri Lanka is the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. It focuses on finding ways of disposal, sustainable practices, and possible applications of the water treatment sludge. This research aims to identify the aluminum level in the potable water treatment sludge of the Konduwattuvana water treatment plant in Ampara and to utilize that sludge as an alternative raw material in burnt clay brick manufacturing. The national standards and limitations of the sludge content and the standard brick manufacturing process were followed. To reach the aim, a sequence of tests was conducted, and the brick characteristics are subjected to test for different sludge ratios according to the Sri Lankan Standard of 36:1978 for burnt clay bricks. Experimental results show that the aluminum content in liquid sludge and sludge cake was found to be 231.6 mg.L-1 and 54.9 mg.L-1, respectively, which implies that the sludge contains aluminum. The optimum sludge ratio to produce burnt clay bricks was found to be 10% of the total weight of the brick.

S. H. M. Sajath, A. R. Nihmiya and U. S. P. R. Arachchige

Leaching of Metal Ions and Suspended Solids from Slag Corroded by Acid-base Solutions: An Experimental Study

This study focused on the ion release and microstructure of slag during its degradation following erosion by different pH solutions. It focused on controlling factors such as slag particle size range, pH value of the solution, and soaking time. The surface microstructure and particle size distribution of slag with the particle size of 0.075–5.0 mm, the mineral composition of suspended pollutants larger than 0.45 ?m, and the phenomenon of nano-scale ion release were examined. When slag was soaked in solutions with different pH values for 30 days, the pH value of leachate tended to be neutral, the release amount of Ca, Mg, Fe, and Cd ions increased and the release rate gradually decreased. The dissolution process of slag in the alkaline solution was slower than that in acid, but suspension and gels formed more easily in an alkaline environment. Nitric acid accelerated the chemical reaction of akermanite, gehlenite, and hawleyite, and released Ca, Mg, and Cd ions. There were clear damage cracks and various irregular pores on the slag surface. Under the attack of alkali solution, the weight of akermanite in slag increased, the Mg ion content in solution decreased, and the suspended solids of calcite and portlandite increased. At pH 12, unlike at pH 3, there were no large surface cracks in the slag and the interface damage was small. Compared with pH 7, there were more irregular substances, such as flakes and spheres. The particle size of slag was mainly 0.1–0.5 mm, the content before and after leaching was 52.80%–55.87% and 55.00%–58.27%, and the slag was in a poor grading state. The findings of this study act as an important reference for understanding the influence of slag leaching on water and soil pollution.

Jiayu Ma, Haijun Lu, Yuchen Wei and Chaofeng Wang

Abrasion and Accretion Analysis in Demak, Indonesia Coastal for Mitigation and Environmental Adaptation

The purpose of this study was to analyze abrasion at the border of Sayung, Demak, Indonesia. Coastal abrasion data were obtained from high-resolution images from 2005-to 2017 by using ArcGIS 10.3, while data on environmental factors that affected abrasion, including tides from 2013-to 2017, was obtained from BMKG. Based on the analysis and calculations, the area of abrasion at the coast of Sayung, Demak was 262.74 hectares spread over four villages, namely Sri Wulan, Bedono, Timbulsloko, and Surodadi. Avifauna in the mangroves will be severely harmed by abrasion. As a result, abrasion prevention and evaluation, as well as the factors that cause abrasion, are required to reduce the impact of abrasion on the specified shore.

A. Irsadi, N. K. T. Martuti, M. Abdullah and L. N. Hadiyanti

Toxicity and Challenges of Nanomaterials and Their Impact on the Environment

Nanomaterials (NMs) are those tiny materials that range from 1-100 nm. These materials show different characteristics in their physical and chemical forms in comparison to their bulk form. The use of nanomaterials is increasing day by day because of their enormous capabilities in the health sector as well as in other industries. There are currently few, if any, actual protocols for the disposal and characterization of these nanomaterials, which results in environmental toxicity. Heavy use of chemicals in the testing of nanomaterials has resulted in polluting our entire ecosystem. Inconsistent results of nanomaterial show that it is challenging to reduce the toxicity generated by it. In this review, we discuss the administration and use of nanomaterials in the agribusiness sector, in food, and, most importantly, in the environment, for purposes of protecting our plants and crops, dealing with incurable diseases, developing new tastes and textures in the food sector, sensations, identifying pathogenic organisms, and distribution systems where these minute particles can wreak havoc. Despite the potential benefits of nanomaterials, their unintentional harm to the environment and, in some cases, our health is making further development difficult. This article discusses the toxicity of nanomaterials and how they damage our environment, as well as the obstacles that come with overcoming them.

Sakshi Awasthi and Jai Gopal Sharma

Pectin Production from Biowaste (Fruits & Vegetables) by Crosscurrent Solid-Liquid Extraction Technique

The impact of fruit and vegetable waste is becoming a significant concern for the environment. The biomaterial waste generated from fruit processing industries is very high. When discharged as processed waste, it also increases water pollution. 45% of the total industrial organic pollution originates from food processing industries. These generated wastes are suitable for the production of biochemicals. Pectin is one such biochemical that plays a vital role in reducing the burden on the environment. Pectin helps in the manufacturing of confectionaries. Vegetable waste like beetroot, carrot, beans can also act as a source for pectin production. This study depicts extracting Pectin from mixed fruit pomace waste. Mixed fruit (Orange, Pomegranate, Banana & grapes) pomace waste reacts with 0.1N HCl. This reaction uses a 2-stage crosscurrent solid-liquid extraction technique. For its nature, obtained pectin was tested as calcium pectate using methylated spirit. The filtrate from 2-stage crosscurrent leaching was further dried in an oven. RSM technique helps in optimizing parameters like drying time, temperature, pH, and concentration. The experimental setup generated Pectin gave an efficiency of 11.52% for 22.4g of dried mixed fruit pomace waste.

Akshi Kunwar Singh and S. S. Kumar

Preparation of Silver and Copper Co-impregnated Nano-ZnO Immobilized on Mesoporous SiO2 and its Photocatalytic Performance

To improve light usage, Ag and Cu were co-impregnated with nano-ZnO, and the mesoporous silica gel (meso-SiO2) was chosen as the carrier. The sol-gel method was used to successfully construct a composite photocatalyst with 3 percent Ag/0.1 percent Cu/nano-ZnO/meso-SiO2. For the evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalysts, Reactive Black 5 was used as a simulated organic pollutant in aqueous. The results revealed that uniform spherical nano-ZnO particles with a diameter of 10 nm were attached to the surface and mesopore of meso-SiO2. The average pore width and specific surface area of this composite were 7.06 nm and 305 m2.g-1, respectively. The optimal amount of loaded Ag and Cu were 3% and 0.1%, respectively, which resulted in around 100% removal of Reactive Black 5 after 280 min UV-light irradiation. The degradation process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Ag and Cu-loaded nano-ZnO/SiO2 could be advantageous for suppressing the recombination of photo-generated holes and electrons, thus improving the degradation efficiency. The constant of degradation rate and adsorption equilibrium of 3%Ag/0.1%Cu/nano-ZnO/meso-SiO2 were 0.049 min–1 and 2.14 L.g-1, respectively. After three reuses, the Ag/Cu/ZnO/meso-SiO2 photocatalyst remained very stable during the photocatalytic process with no loss of photocatalytic activity. According to the GC-MS results, a probable degradation mechanism was estimated.

Qinlin Yuan, Hang Xu, Shaokang Wang, Zhewen Yang, Wenke Zhang and Qinggao Ma

The Measurement of Radon Concentration in the Buildings of the College of Education, Al-Qadisiyah University, Iraq Using CR-39 Detector

This research aims to evaluate the concentration of radon gas and the risks involved as a result of exposure to it. The nuclear track detector CR-39 was used to measure radon gas in the buildings of Al-Qadisiyah University’s College of Education. For a month, 11 buildings in the college of Education at Al-Qadisiyah University were chosen to measure the radon concentration, with CR-39 reagent placed inside the sponge by two detectors for each building. The highest value of radon concentration was recorded in the CH1 model (270.5±32.9 Bq.m-3), at the building of the Department of Chemistry, and the lowest value was recorded in the Li1 model (96.9±27.7 Bq.m-3), which is the college library building with a concentration rate equal to (168). It is below the acceptable and recommended limit by the International Committee for Radiation Protection (200-300 Bq.m-3).

Kawthar Hassan Obayes and Osamah Nawfal Oudah

A Comparative Study on Color Removal From Textile Industry Effluent Using Shrimp and Crab Shell Chitosan

Effluent from the textile industry is a major source of water pollution. Textile effluents contain a high amount of color, turbidity, BOD, and COD, which are highly toxic and affect aquatic organisms as well as human beings. Physical and chemical treatments of these effluents are difficult and costly. Adsorption is an effective method to treat textile industry effluent. In the present study, chitosan is selected as an adsorbent, derived from the exoskeleton of marine crustaceans like shrimp and crab by chemical processing. The color was removed using chitosan from shrimp and crab shells separately. On the sixth day of treatment, shrimp shell chitosan removed 100% of color from textile industry effluent and proved to be a better adsorbent.

C. Angel Mary and R. Leena

Distinguished Ni(II) Capture with Rapid and Superior Capability Using Biochar: Behavior and Mechanism

Batch experiments were used to study the interaction mechanism of Ni(II) with biochar as a function of solution pH, contact time, initial concentrations, reaction temperature, and the addition of humic compounds. The results indicate that Ni(II) can be interacted with biochar by a compound mechanism under different environmental conditions. It is suggested that outer-sphere surface complexes at low pH are transformed into inner-sphere surface complexes and surface precipitates are formed at pH 8.89 or 10.18. The combined macroscopic and microscopic insights provide additional details regarding the mobility, fate, and risk of Ni(II) in a practical aquatic environment, as well as the natural purification of metals in ecological environments.

Y. Wang, S. Zhang and Y. Zheng

Prediction of PM2.5 Over Hyderabad Using Deep Learning Technique

Urbanization and Industrialization during the last few decades have increased air pollution causing harm to human health. Air pollution in metro cities turns out to be a serious environmental problem, especially in developing countries like India. The major environmental challenge is, to predict accurate air quality from pollutants. Envisaging air quality from pollutants like PM2.5, using the latest deep learning technique (LSTM timer series) has turned out to be a significant research area. The primary goal of this research paper is to forecast near-time pollution using the LSTM time series multivariate regression technique. The air quality data from Central Pollution Control Board over Hyderabad station has been used for the present study. All the processing is done in real-time and the system is found to be functionally very stable and works under all conditions. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and R2 have been used as evaluation criteria for this regression technique. Further, the time series regression has been used to find the best fit model in terms of processing time to get the lowest error rate. The statistical model based on machine learning established a relevant prediction of PM2.5 concentrations from meteorological data.

P. Vinay Kumar, M. C. Ajay Kumar, B. Anil Kumar and P. Venkateswara Rao

Waste Generation and Characteristics in Sri Lankan Textile and Apparel Sector: Case Study of the Biyagama Industrial Export Processing Zone, Sri Lanka

The main goal of the study was to look at the properties of waste, treatment options, and disposal techniques. Furthermore, waste circulation variables in the textile and apparel sectors in Sri Lanka’s Biyagama Industrial Processing Zone were calculated. The types, volumes, and per capita waste generation of ten industries were analyzed, as well as waste management activities such as trash minimization, handling, storing, recirculation, and disposal. The information was gathered using questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. According to the findings, the total industrial waste generation rate was 13792.5 tonnes per year, with 5926 tonnes per year designated as hazardous waste materials (42.9%). Furthermore, the waste generation rate per capita was 0.93 kg. The waste circulation factor was 0.38, according to the findings. The findings of the study highlight the necessity for integrated waste management methods in the textile and apparel industries.

L.G.L.M. Edirisinghe, M. Wijayasundara and A.A.P. De Alwis

Effects of Chelating Surfactants on Competitive Adsorption of Lead and Zinc on Loess Soil

The study of competitive adsorption of heavy metals on soil is important for heavy metals contaminated soil remediation. However, there have been few studies on the impact of desorption reagents on heavy metal adsorption in soil. Batch adsorption studies were used to investigate the competitive adsorption mechanism of two heavy metals, Pb and Zn, on a loess soil in the presence of a new chelating surfactant, sodium N-lauroyl ethylenediamine triacetate (LED3A). Results showed that competitive adsorption equilibria of Pb and Zn were reached at 3 and 10 h, respectively. The maximum equilibrium adsorption capacities were 19.55 and 18.35 g.kg-1, respectively. LED3A affected the competitive adsorption kinetics of Pb and Zn by increasing the change in external mass transfer and reducing the change in internal mass transfer. LED3A reduced Pb and Zn adsorption capacities onto the soil through competitive chelation of the heavy metals. The heavy metal chelating ability of LED3A was higher for Zn than for Pb. When its concentration was larger than 5 g.L-1, LED3A showed a significant effect on the competitive adsorption of Pb and Zn. In the competitive system, the effect of Pb concentration on the Zn adsorption capacity was greater than the effect of Zn concentration on the Pb adsorption capacity. LED3A weakened the effect of Pb concentration and enhanced the effect of Zn concentration. LED3A showed a significant potential for efficiently leaching remediation of Pb and Zn co-contaminated soil.

H. T. Qiao, B. W. Zhao and X. S. Yu

Water Quality Evaluation and Spatiotemporal Variation Characteristics of Wenyu River Based on Comprehensive Water Quality Identification Index Method

In recent years, the water environment management of the Wenyu River has yielded positive outcomes. In comparison to earlier, the general water quality has substantially improved. However, some areas’ water quality has not improved as a result of the overall trend of improvement, which has implications for the surrounding areas and the entire water environment. To further explore the water environmental quality of specific river sections, this paper adopts the five monitoring sections of Shahe Gate, Mafang, Lutuan Gate, Xinbao Gate, and the additional sewage outlet in 2019, and the three main water quality indicators of COD, DO, and NH3-N. The water quality of the Wenyu River was evaluated using the comprehensive water quality identification index method, and the characteristics of its temporal and spatial changes were studied using correlation analysis and spatial clustering. The results have shown that the Wenyu River is generally Grade V water during the flood season, and is inferior to Grade V water during the non-flood season. All indicators have a regular time and space distribution and are highly influenced by environmental and human factors. Overall, the water quality of the Wenyu River may essentially reach the water environment function zoning target value. Improvements to the river portions below the Xinbao sluice, as well as the use of rainwater resources, must be prioritized.

Wang Keke, Men Baohui and Xing Yanling

Experimental Investigation of Geopolymer Flexible Pavement with Waste Plastics Aggregates

The world is facing a greater issue in the disposal of waste plastics and there is an intense need for research on alternate and sustainable solutions for environmental issues. Waste plastic can be used as aggregates or as a protective layer over aggregates to increase their strength. The aggregate used in flexible pavements was investigated in this study, as well as the use of Geo-Polymer to improve the pavement’s strength and durability. The design of the pavement is done according to the Indian standard codes IRC. Dense bituminous macadam and base courses are taken into account as per the design criteria. The geo-polymer flexible pavement was tested for properties such as the wearing test. Other fundamental tests for aggregate and bitumen used in pavements include specific gravity, flash point, fire point, ductility, softening point, penetration test, water absorption test, bonding strength, durability, and temperature resistance. When geo-polymer plastic bitumen is heated and put as a coating over the base course, it allows the user the air gaps with additional plastic and binds over the aggregate, resulting in increased road stability, smoothness, and vehicle braking effects. It is concluded that with 5?dition of the geo-polymer with bitumen has performed well in all aspects of the bitumen characteristics.

P. S. Aravind Raj, R. Divahar, R. Lilly, R. Porselvan R. and K. Ganesan

Use of Recycled Construction and Demolition (C&D) Wastes in Soil Stabilization

With the growing construction sector, there is a constant rise in wastes generated by both construction and demolition activities. According to an estimate by Building Material Promotion Council (BMPTC), 150 million tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) wastes are generated in India annually. However, the official recycling capacity is a meagre6, 500 tonnes per day (TPD) - just about 1 percent. This paper examines the properties of Black cotton soil and investigates the use of recycled C&D wastes in soil stabilization of black cotton soil. This research focuses on the inexpensive and eco-friendly nature of C&D wastes as an admixture for soil stabilization. The tests were performed using different proportions of recycled C&D wastes in the proportions: 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%, to increase the strength of black cotton soil. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) showed an increase from 2% to 18.09%, Maximum Dry Density (MDD) showed a decrease from 2.107 g.cc-1 to 1.69 g.cc-1, and Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) showed a variation and increased from 15% to 18.09% with the addition of 25% C&D wastes.

S. P. Sangeetha, Zhimoholi T. Chophi, Pooja Venkatesh and Muhammad Fahad

Analyzing the Efficacy of Salvinia molesta Mitchell as Phytoremediation Agent for Lead (Pb)

Heavy metals, especially Pb (lead), are generally toxic to living things. Pb can contaminate organisms in the water through the food chain. The purpose of this study is to enhance water quality by using Salvinia molesta to phytoremediate Pb-polluted water. This study aims to evaluate the ability of S. molesta as a Pb phytoremediator. We evaluated total protein, free amino acids produced by the plant, and plant growth (dry biomass). S. molesta was grown in a hydroponic system exposed to Pb at dosages of 0, 5, 10, and 15 ppm for 7 and 14 days. Pb level was analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and amino acids were analyzed using High-Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test (? < 0.05). Results showed a significant change in Pb content in the roots and leaves of Pb-exposed S. molesta Mitch compared to control. In Pb-exposed plants, total protein and amino acids, especially cysteine, were lowered. S. molesta could be used as a Pb phytoremediator due to its high potential to survive Pb exposure and its ability to absorb Pb.

F. Rachmadiarti, G. Trimulyono and W. H. Utomo

Elimination of Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Utilization of Industrial Wastes in High Strength Concrete for Environmental Protection

Greenhouse gases prevalence in the atmosphere is a primary reason for global warming. The cement manufacturing sectors are a significant producer of greenhouse gases, contributing one metric tonne of carbon dioxide into the environment for every metric tonne of cement produced. The heat of concrete is increased by several degrees during the pozzolanic reaction, and CO2 is released. The development of binary and ternary cementitious systems has minimized the unfavorable reactions of conventional cementitious materials. Metakaolin and alccofine, two mineral admixtures derived as waste products from industries, were used as cement substitutes in this study. The compressive strength of alccofine was compared to a metakaolin-based high strength eco-friendly concrete mix of grade M50 in an experimental investigation. In the case of binary and ternary blended cementitious systems with alccofine and metakaolin, twelve alternative mix proportions were tested, ranging from 0 to 20% in 5% increments. Based on the observed mechanical characteristics of concrete, it was discovered that the optimum replacement of alccofine was 15% and metakaolin was 5% by volume of cement in the binary cementitious system. Similarly, in the ternary cementitious system, replacing 15% alccofine with 5% metakaolin in the cement mixture results in the greatest increase in compressive strength when compared to the other experiments. As a result, it is concluded that using extra cementitious materials in concrete with mineral admixtures such as alccofine and metakaolin results in significant cost and energy savings, as well as a notable reduction in environmental pollution.

R. Divahar, K. Naveen Kumar, P. S. Aravind Raj and S. P. Sangeetha

Numerical Simulation of Soil Temperature With Sand Mulching During the Growing Season of Spring Wheat

The thermal conditions of soil are important in practical agricultural production. The characteristics of heat flux, moisture content, thermal conductivity, and other soil parameters vary with temperature. This study uses VADOSE/W to create a model of heat transmission between soil and atmosphere, simulating daily changes in soil temperature using sand mulching. By using the published data to verify the model, the results show that the fitting effect is good and the reliability of the model is verified. We also used this model to determine the temporal and spatial distributions of soil temperature, temperature differences, and a temperature gradient for sand mulching and bare soil during the growing season of spring wheat. These results indicated that the sand mulching preserved heat at night. The difference in temperature at each depth and the temperature gradient became negative with the gradual increase in solar altitude. The difference in soil temperature at each depth and the temperature gradient tended to become positive by 22:00. These results indicated that the sand mulch effectively maintained the soil temperature in the morning and night during the growing season and impeded the transfer of heat at mid-day. This study provides a new method for determining the transfer of heat in sand-mulched soil, which can guide the effective regulation of soil temperature.

Wenju Zhao, Yuhang Liu, Zongli Li and Yu Su

Quality and Yield of Rice Grain: Effects of Humic Acid and Bean Cake Fertilizers Under Water-Saving Conditions

Rice quality and yield traits response to fertilizers under varying field conditions were obtained in our previous study. A better understanding of the intrinsic mechanism of fertilization in regulating rice quality and yield supports field operations and recommendations. This study investigated the potential role of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers as opposed to traditional nitrogen fertilizer (urea) in regulating rice quality and yield traits under water-saving conditions by identifying the quality and yield indicators. Results demonstrated that the application of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers affected the quality and yield compared with the traditional nitrogen fertilizer (urea), which alleviated the deterioration of rice quality and yield caused by excessive fertilizer amounts. The conclusions are that the addition of humic acid and bean cake fertilizers can improve grain quality.

Zheng Ennan, Yinhao Zhu and Tianyu Xu

Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) of Enablers Affecting Green Accounting in Indian Manufacturing Sector: A Conceptual Model

Green accounting is vital for every economy in the world. Indian manufacturing sectors are regarded as one of the most significant contributors to environmental and socioeconomic problems, and as a result, the country lacks global sustainability and progress. This paper focuses on how these industries can contribute to the sustainability of the environment. The paper aims to analyze how these industries can promote ecopreneurial behavior. Also, the researchers and expert opinions lead to a theoretical framework and conceptual model using a well-defined and explained literature review and the derived model to understand, observe, and analyze various environment awareness concerns. To gather the expert opinions, various calls and surveys were scheduled with chartered accountants, academicians, environmental experts, commerce people, to understand how the identified variables are influenced by each other. Environmental management accounting and green accounting came out as the most significant and vital factors. All the identified variables were complementing. Three levels came out for the model. The authors created an ISM on factors affecting green accounting in the Indian manufacturing sector, emphasizing the context and concept related to the discovered variables that have been tested in the real world.

Anjali Singh, Archana Singh and Biju G. Pillai

Assessment of Growth Promoting Ability of Three Cyanobacterial Isolates Under Sewage Water Irrigation

Heavy metal pollution from the increased use of sewage effluent for irrigation is posing a hazard to agricultural ecosystems. Thus, a reliable and simple method of reducing the impact of heavy metals on plant growth is required. In the present study, cyanobacterial species were isolated from the sewage water irrigated soil of Rohtak city, Haryana, India, and characterized by various biochemical parameters. The cyanobacterial filtrates were then used to analyze their effects on the growth performance of rice seedlings under various concentrations of sewage wastewater. The results revealed a statistically significant increase in biomass, photosynthetic pigments, nitrate reductase activity, plumule, and radical length of rice seedlings by application of cyanobacterial filtrates. The antioxidant system (peroxidase enzyme and catalase enzyme activity) was also found to be stimulated. As compared to introduced species, the extracts of isolated species had a more favorable, statistically significant effect on rice seedlings. Our study indicated that these isolates have a high tolerance against heavy metals and are potentially useful as biofertilizers for the crops in sewage water irrigated agroecosystems.

Lalita Rana and Rajesh Dhankhar

Photosynthetic Microorganisms Consortium as Bioindicators for Heavy Metals

Heavy metals that are discharged through industrial and agricultural activities cause contamination, especially to the water sources, and bring about negative impacts on the flora and fauna in the ecosystem. The monitoring of heavy metals in the environment requires high technical skills with sophisticated equipment and is also time-consuming. In this study, the potential of using natural photosynthetic microorganism consortiums collected from natural water bodies as bioindicators for the screening of heavy metals was explored. The photosynthetic microorganism consortiums were first cultured in lab, immobilized, and then exposed to different heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni and Co) at different concentrations (0.01 mg.L-1, 0.05 mg.L-1, 0.10 mg.L-1, 0.50 mg.L-1, 1.00 mg.L-1 and 5.00 mg.L-1). The fluorometric responses before and after the exposure to heavy metals were measured. The results revealed that consortium cells responded to a wide range of heavy metals within a short period of exposure. The responses showed that the consortium cells can detect the presence of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Co within the range of 0.05-5.00 mg.L-1. The study confirmed that the photosynthetic microorganism consortiums collected from natural water bodies could be used as bioindicators for the screening of heavy metals.

N. A. Khishamuddin, L. S. Wong, M. K. Chai and G. Subramaniam

Towards a Framework for Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management: The Case of Swakopmund Municipality, Namibia

If municipal solid waste (MSW) is not properly managed, harmful environmental consequences are imminent. MSW materials are rarely wasted in many affluent countries, but rather are kept in the economic cycle through circular economy models. While in many developing countries, MSW materials are discarded with little to no effort of repairing or recycling. Moving to a circular economy will drastically reduce the amount of waste currently disposed of. This study examines how the Swakopmund Municipality in Namibia’s present municipal solid waste management techniques could be adjusted toward sustainability to reap environmental and socioeconomic benefits from the trash. Source reduction, separation at source, and recycling are some of the most effective strategies in the circular economy models that will help achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Swakopmund Municipality should invest in infrastructure, techniques, and programs that are within the circular economy model as an emerging system for sustainability.

Timoteus Kadhila and Martin P. de Wit

Study on the Effects of Organophosphate Insecticide Triazophos, Biopesticide Spinosad and a Pyrethroid Insecticide Cypermethrin on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers of Branchiura sowerbyi (Beddard, 1892)

This study aims to evaluate the toxic effects of organophosphate insecticide triazophos, biopesticide spinosad, and a pyrethroid insecticide cypermethrin on benthic Oligochaete worm, Branchiura sowerbyi during 96 h acute exposure. B. sowerbyi were exposed to two different sub-lethal concentrations (10% and 50% of 96h LC50) of triazophos, spinosad, and cypermethrin for 96 h in laboratory conditions. Catalase (CAT) activity of the control and treated worms were evaluated after 24 and 96 h of exposure. Integrated biomarker response (IBR) was applied for comparison between these three toxicants. For all sub-lethal doses i.e. 2.25 mg.L-1 and 0.5 mg.L-1 of test chemical triazophos, 3.07 mg.L-1 and 0.6 mg.L-1 of test chemical spinosad, and 0.38 mg.L-1 and 0.08 mg.L-1 of test chemical cypermethrin, catalase (CAT) activity raised significantly (p<0> Triazophos > Spinosad.

Chandan Sarkar, Arnab Chatterjee, Anandamay Barik and Nimai Chandra Saha

Treatment of Saline Water Using Electrocoagulation Process with Monopolar Connection of Electrodes

For the availability of drinking water, saline water treatment has become exceedingly necessary. The purpose of this research was to determine how efficient electrocoagulation (EC) with monopolar iron electrodes was for desalinating water from Iraq’s Sawa Lake. Absolute dissolved solids (TDS), chloride (Cl), bromine (Br), and sulfate (SO4) are some of the salty water forms that are being targeted. The impacts of five considerations on treatment efficiency were studied, including current (I), detention time (RT), pH, speed of mixing stirring (Mrpm), and inter-electrode distance (IED). I=0.8A, RT=80 minutes, pH=8, IED=1cm, and Mrpm=500 were found to be the best values. TDS, Cl, Br and SO4 removal efficiencies were 91 percent, 93 percent, 92 percent, and 90 percent, respectively, under ideal conditions. It can be inferred that the EC system used in this research was operative in removing salts from the water of Sawa lake.

Isra’a Sadi Samaka, Ahmed Samir Naje and Hussein A. M. Al-Zubaidi

Delineation of Groundwater Salinity Zones in Shefa and Malampa Provinces, Vanuatu

A preliminary assessment was carried out in identifying the salinity zones due to considerable concern over salty groundwater resources in Vanuatu’s Shefa and Malampa regions. Electrical conductivity (EC) and pH were measured on the islands of Efate, Lamen, and Nguna in Shefa province, as well as the islands of Ambrym and Paama in Malampa province. Thirty-four percent of the samples exceeded Vanuatu’s National Drinking Water Standards with an average of 3123 ?S/Cm indicating possible salinity zones. Whereas the average pH of 7.21 was in the range of acceptable levels. EC values as high as 18,520 ?S/cm indicate groundwater in some locations are unfit for drinking. The average Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) of 1717 mg.L-1 is also indicating non-compliance with standards. Salinity zone maps were developed based on the observations. Further detailed studies need to be conducted to ascertain the factors that influence groundwater salinity, such as geology, island type, and seasonality.

K. K. Kotra, S. Bathula and E. Sami

Delineation of Groundwater, Drought and Flood Potential Zone Using Weighted Index Overlay Analysis and GIS for District Patna, Bihar, India

For groundwater evaluation, delineation, discovery, and resource management in drought and flood zones, the geographical information system (GIS) has a wide range of uses. For the study area, various thematic layers were prepared, such as a digital elevation map (DEM), geomorphology, LULC, soil, drainage density, precipitation, and slope. The thematic layers were combined using the WIOA technique. The possible areas for groundwater have been demarcated into four zones: 1-poor, 2-moderate, 3-good, and 4-very good. In the eastern parts of the district, very strong (GWPZs) were found, while in the west and mid regions, moderate and bad categories were found. Drought and flood potential danger areas were divided into four zones: 1-no risk, 2-low risk, 3-moderate risk, and 4-high risk. In the middle part of the region, there was a higher risk of drought and a reduced risk of flooding in the eastern part of the area, an elevated risk of flooding in the eastern part of the area, and a lower to no risk of flooding in the western and central regions. The groundwater, drought, and flood potential zonation map built in the present study will be useful for scholars, and implementers in exploring appropriate water exploration locations and implementing resource utilization.

Nikhilesh Gaurav and Geeta Singh

The Drawing Characteristics and Critical Length of Single Polypropylene Fiber in Vegetation Concrete

Fiber-reinforced technology is an important method to improve the stability and durability of growing basis material. To evaluate the factors affecting the interfacial strength properties of polypropylene fiber reinforced vegetation concrete, single polypropylene fiber drawing tests were conducted by using a modified apparatus. The mechanical interaction behavior between vegetation concrete and polypropylene fiber was discussed by using a polarizing microscope. The results indicate that the drawing curves between polypropylene fiber and vegetation concrete show a typical multi-peak characteristic. And the interfacial shear strength is the minimum at the optimum water content (20%) in the 1d sample. It should be noted that both interfacial peak strength (IPS) and interfacial residual strength (IRS) increase with the increase of dry density and curing time for vegetation concrete. Then through multiple linear regression analysis, the empirical formula of critical fiber length in reinforced vegetation concrete is obtained, which can improve the engineering durability of vegetation concrete in harsh conditions.

Daxiang Liu, Deyu Liu, Baohua Zhang, Bin Zhong, Yueshu Yang, Jiangang Chen, Yu Ding, Zhenyao Xia and Wennian Xu

Environmental Changes in a Mediterranean River (Upper Sebou, Morocco) Between 1981 and 2017

The functioning and sustainability of lotic ecosystems depend to a large extent on their thermal and hydrological regimes. In the Mediterranean region, these factors are very sensitive to climate and anthropization which have undergone deep changes over the last four decades. Having noted the drying up of many permanent streams in Morocco, we conducted in 2015-2017 a new study with the aim of analyzing and assessing abiotic changes in the Upper Sebou (Middle Atlas, Morocco). A former study was carried out in 1981-1985. Indeed, over the last four decades, this river has been exposed to multiple disturbances, due to both recurrent droughts and human pressures. To describe and assess these changes, we used 16 abiotic variables that were measured in 11 ecosystems along the central course of the river. The comparison was mainly carried out using the multiple factorial correspondence analysis (MFCA), through a ternary matrix “variables × stations × time”, gathering old and new data in the same mesological structure. The analysis revealed the classical upstream-downstream ordering of the studied ecosystems, where most of the ecosystems recorded a downstream migration from their 1981 position. In this evolutionary perspective, the study involves hydrological and thermal factors, which show mainly a reduction in flow and a slight increase in temperature and water mineralization, both in summer and winter. It is assumed that water withdrawals, especially for irrigation, together with climatic droughts in the region, are responsible for these long-term evolutionary trends.

Mariam Zerrouk, Mohamed Dakki, Mohammed Aziz El Agbani and Oumnia Himmi

Assessment of Diesel Engine Performance, Combustion and Emission Characteristics with Supplementation of Neem Oil Methyl Ester Along With EGR

Biodiesel generated from a variety of non-edible feedstocks has gained widespread acceptance as a limited diesel fuel alternative in compression ignition engines. For the reliable implementation of biodiesel in commercial sectors, its effect on engine combustion, emission, and performance needs to be examined experimentally. In this study, 10% (N10) and 20 % (N20) Neem oil methyl ester (NME) blends were tested in a direct injection 4-stroke single-cylinder diesel engine incorporated with 5% and 10% exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). At maximum load conditions, Brake thermal efficiency (BTE) was found highest for N20 by 7.2%, and also Brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) was reduced by 11.4% for N20 as compared to diesel. Meanwhile, the incorporation of EGR deteriorates the performance parameters for the N20 blend. The results of emission analysis showed that oxides of nitrogen (NOx) increased with the addition of biodiesel whereas the addition of EGR diminished the NOx value for both biodiesel blends at all loading conditions. Unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC), Carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke emissions decreased by 40.6%, 31.2%, and 29.6% for the N20 blend respectively at full load when compared to diesel. Interestingly, when EGR was provided, CO, UHC, and smoke density values are increased for both N10 and N20 blends at all loading conditions, however lower than diesel operation.

Ravi Kathirvel and Vijayabalan Palanimuthu

Adopting Gram-Schmidt and Brovey Methods for Estimating Land Use and Land Cover Using Remote Sensing and Satellite Images

The production of Land Use and Land Cover thematic maps using remote sensing data is one of the things that must be dealt with carefully to obtain accurate results, data is obtained from sensors of different characteristics. It is not possible to obtain high spatial and spectral accuracy in one image, so we used a fusion image (multispectral image with a low spatial resolution with a panchromatic image with high spatial resolution), which achieved high efficiency in improving the methods of producing Land Use and Land Cover maps. In this study, we used Landsat-8 multispectral and panchromatic images. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of panchromatic images in improving the methods of producing Land Use and Land Cover maps for the city of Karbala, Iraq. The Support Vector Machine was used to classify the fusion images using the Brovey method and Gram-Schmidt sharpening algorithms. The appropriate methodology for producing Land Use and Land Cover maps was suggested by comparing classifying results and the classification accuracy was evaluated through the confusion matrix. Where the results showed that the method of classifying the fused image by Gram-Schmidt and classified by Support Vector Machine is the best way to produce Land use and Land cover maps for the study area and achieved the highest results for overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of 97.81% and 0.95, respectively.

Fatima Hashim, Hayder Dibs and Hussein Sabah Jaber

Predicting the Thermal Regime of the Sebou River Estuary (Morocco) Using a One-Dimensional Model (HEC-RAS 5.0)

Temperature is regarded as one of the most important variables for aquatic life, as well as a key physical criterion of water quality, due to its role in a variety of chemical, physical, and biological processes. We chose the HEC-RAS tool to model the thermal regime of the Sebou-Kenitra river estuary because it is impossible to determine the spatiotemporal evolution of temperature in watercourses using traditional methods such as single measurements or interpolation due to the influence of several factors, including hydraulic, tidal rhythm, upstream contributions, and intrusion. The main goal of this research is to develop and test the “HEC-RAS” model with the aim of better understanding thermal dynamics and predicting the spatiotemporal variation of the Sebou river estuary temperature, using the energy transport equation and a variety of input data such as initial temperature, air temperature, wind speed, and dispersion coefficient. The HEC-RAS model, which takes into account many meteorological and geophysical elements and provides an overview of the thermal situation at our study site “the Sebou river estuary,” has also been acknowledged for its deterministic role. We illustrated the impact of meteorological and tidal data on spatiotemporal temperature change at numerous places in the Sebou river estuary by using this model.

Y. Nizar, A. Touazit and M. Igouzal

Optimization of Fenton Oxidation Process for Degradation of 1-Butyl-3 Methyl Imidazolium Chloride (BMIMCL) Using Response Surface Methodology

The degradation of 1-butyl 3-methyl imidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) ionic liquid (IL) by Fenton oxidation has been studied. The optimization of operating parameters for maximum degradation of BMIMCl has been carried out using the Central Composite Design (CCD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The three independent input parameters selected were the dosage of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2), the dosage of iron (Fe2+), and the pH of the output or response selected was Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removal efficiency. Experiments were carried out according to the experimental design provided by CCD. For TOC Degradation, the model’s R2 and R2adj correlation coefficients between experimental and model-predicted values were 0.9769 and 0.9561, respectively. This indicates a satisfactory correlation of experimental results with model-predicted values. The optimum values of operating parameters for maximum degradation were found to be H2O2=307 mM (X1), Fe2+=1.1 mM (X2), and (pH)=3.3 (X3), for a reaction time of 120 min. For these operating parameters, the experimental result for TOC removal efficiency was found to be 72.89% as compared to the model-predicted value of 73.67%. These results indicate that the values were closely correlated with each other and thus the model was validated satisfactorily. Overall, the results indicate that the BMIMCl ionic liquid can be effectively degraded by the Fenton oxidation process.

S. R. Nadaf and P. B. Kalburgi

An Improved Convolutional Neural Network for Plant Disease Detection Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images

Accurate and fast locating of diseased plants is critical for the sustainability of forest management. Recent developments in computer vision made by deep learning provide a new way for diseased plant detection from images captured by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). In this paper, we developed an anchor-free detector, an enhanced CenterNet named as Enhanced CenterNet (ECenterNet) model, which significantly improved the overall accuracy over the original CenterNet model without any increase in the running speed or number of parameters. Compared with the original model, in the newly proposed model improvements had been made in the training stage to increase the accuracy of the detector, while procedures in the test stage remained unchanged. Under the hold-out dataset, the proposed model is trained on 5,281 tiles and tested on 3,842 images, the results showed that the overall detection accuracy of ECenterNet reached 54.7% by COCO Challenge metrics (mean average precision (mAP) @[0.5, 0.95]), while mAP accuracy of the original CenterNet was 49.8%. This research indicates that the proposed deep learning detection model provides a better solution for detecting diseased plants from UAV images with high accuracy and real-time speed.

Dashuang Liang, Wenping Liu, Lei Zhao, Shixiang Zong and Youqing Luo

Numerical Simulations of Soil Salt Transport in the Irrigation Area of Lower Reaches of Yellow River

This paper presents numerical simulations regarding the transport characteristics of soil salt. It has been recognized in recent years that the growth and output of crops in the irrigation area of the lower reaches of the Yellow River are affected by the decreased fertility of soil as a result of the transport of soil salt, due to the long-term farming, fertilization of farmland which contains a high proportion of sands. Accordingly, numerical simulations by Hydrus are carried out, in which, based on the similarity principle, two-dimensional convection-diffusion partial-differential governing equations of unsteady flow in saturated-unsaturated porous media are applied to depict the motion parameters’ spatial variability of soil water in the irrigation area. And the van Genuchten equation is adopted to express the relationship between volumetric water content and soil hydraulic conductivity and negative soil water pressure. The irrigation basin of the People’s Victory Canal, which is downstream of the Yellow River, is investigated in detail as an example. The findings revealed that soil salt in the irrigation region is transferred by water diffusion, with irrigation and fertilization being the primary causes of downward migration and salt accumulation. It benefits the soil in irrigation areas and protects groundwater.

Xianqi Zhang and Peng Chen

Atmospheric Particle Distribution on Tree Leaves in Different Urban Areas of Aksu City, Northwest China

Residents in arid regions of northwest China, where dust storms are more common, are continually exposed to air pollution particularly fine particles of PM2.5 and PM10, causing health hazards to residents. Urban greening species have a strong dust retention capacity which is also available in arid conditions and should be chosen to reduce the impact of air pollution on people and the urban environment. In this paper, three common tree species in four different functional areas: Transportation area (TA), Residential area (RA), Industrial area (IA), and Clean area (CA) of Aksu City were selected to measure their foliar dust to select the matching trees for appropriate sites. The dust particle size distribution for PM2.5 and PM10 was analyzed to explore the particle size difference between foliar dust and natural landing dust. The largest particle size was recorded in IA (168.56 ?m), while the smallest was found in CA (43.25 ?m). Furthermore, Salix babylonica (S. babylonica) absorbed the highest PM2.5 and PM10, 0.15% and 1.39% respectively; while Ulmus densa (U. densa) absorbed the least PM2.5 and PM10, 0.08% and 0.37%. Platanus acerifolia (P. acerifolia) foliar dust particle density was the highest, and has stable dust retention capacity, while, S. babylonica foliar dust particulate density is the lowest under the same conditions (height/location, pollution exposition, weather). Our findings concluded that the average values of dust diameters in the four areas differed significantly. It is concluded that P. acerifolia is the best performer in removing dust in different functional urban areas and S. babylonica was more suitable for CA because of having the capacity to remove fine particle matter.

Kalbinur Nurmamat, Ümüt Halik, Aliya Baidourela and Tayierjiang Aishan

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