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Risk Assessment of Chemical Pollution of Industrial Effluents from a Soap Production Plant

The MEWOU river, which crosses the town of Bafoussam, is one of the main sources of drinking water and irrigation for the populations who live there. It is subject to intense agricultural and industrial activity all along its banks. Soap and refined oil factories generate pollution in the form of liquid effluents which are discharged without any form of treatment. The objective of this study is to assess the impact of soap factory effluent discharges on the quality of the surrounding water. In total, seven samples were analyzed during March, April, and May of the year 2021. The results we obtained were analyzed according to the regulatory requirements recommended by the Directives for the quality of drinking water and the Algerian standard relating to the limit values of the physico-chemical parameters. The results we obtained showed signs of significant pollution in particular: chemical oxygen demand (COD: 125.32-959 mg.L-1), 5 days-biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5: 23-99 mg.L-1 ), turbidity (2-520 NTU), TDS (130-13430 mg.L-1), Nitrite (4.96-21327.44 mg.L-1) and many other parameters greatly exceed those required by the international standard, we also noted strong pollution with heavy metals: chromium (35.76-1381.08 mg.L-1), lead (0.21 - 2.49 mg.L-1), iron (0.28- 17.82 mg.L-1), and cadmium (0.03-0.19 mg.L-1) which are above the values prescribed by the WHO. These highly polluted effluents released into the natural environment are harmful to the environment, biodiversity, and human health. This state of affairs requires urgent intervention to preserve the ecological balance. Otherwise, it can constitute a risk for public health in the short term by deteriorating the quality of the underground reservoir known as the main source of water supply for neighboring populations.

Zoyem Gouafo Mathurin, Talla Pierre Kisito, Ngapgue Francois and Médard Fogue

The Study of Air Quality and Risk Assessment at the Location of the Planned Railroad Between Makassar-Parepare, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

The National Railway Master Plan, it is stated that the target of developing the railway network in South Sulawesi Province is to connect areas that have the potential for transporting passengers and goods to support the development of integration between districts. The construction of the railway line has the potential to reduce air quality and health risks to the community around the location. This study aims to assess air quality and its risks during the construction of the railway line from Makassar to Parepare as a reference for environmental management and monitoring plan documents. Air sampling was made using multiple impinger and dust with a hi-volt dust sampler and then analyzed in the laboratory and compared with the Air Pollution Standard Index. Analysis of potential pollutants on health was carried out using the Environmental Health Risk Assessment method. The results showed that the air quality at the time of the study was still below the threshold value, and the environmental health risk assessment was still below the value with RQ > 0.1 except for SO2 in adults. The conclusion of the study shows that the air quality at the time of the construction of the railway line is still relatively good, and environmental management and monitoring have been carried out quite well based on the direction of the environmental management and monitoring plan including implementing a green open space management program.

S. Isworo, S. Febrianto, T. Aji, P. S. Oetari and E. Jasmiene

Pork Lard Derived Biodiesel Production: Characterization, Engine Performance and Emission Analysis

The present work introduces a new methodology in the production of biodiesel from pork-lard waste having high cholesterol content and discusses its improved performance and emissions in a diesel engine. The traditional method of transesterification does not work with cholesterol due to the absence of triglycerides, therefore, the new improved method oxidizes cholesterol to fatty acids and then converts it to biodiesel ester. The procedure includes an acid reagent to break cholesterol and a renewable basic catalyst from seashells, for catalyzing the production. The acid-base system maintains the overall pH while yielding 95.6% conversion at the optimized conditions. The morphology of the produced catalyst was analyzed through FESEM and confirmed through XRD and EDX analyses. The physicochemical and ASTM properties were determined and the calorific value of the 20% biodiesel blend was found to be comparable with that of diesel. From the engine performance analysis, the thermal efficiency of the engine was observed to be higher and the exhaust emissions showed a maximum of 75% reduction in CO and 42.2% reduction in CO2 emissions, proving it to be an environment-friendly fuel. Additionally, a 32.7% reduction in smoke opacity was also observed, thus decreasing the concentration of particulate matter in the atmosphere.

Rohan Jeffry Robert and C. R. Girish

Sustainable Utilization of Textile Dyeing Sludge and Coal Fly Ash by Brick Production Through Traditional Kilns

The fundamental purpose of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility of incorporating fly ash (FA) and dyeing sludge (DS) in the production of brick. An attempt was taken to replace 10% to 100% clay by DS and FA in brick-making by volume. A brick firing kiln was used to burn the uniform-shaped bricks after replacing clay with DS and FA. Size and shape, hardness, soundness, water absorption, efflorescence, dry density, loss of ignition, firing shrinkage, specific gravity, compressive strength, and leaching tests were carried out to study the properties of these bricks. The compressive strength of the brink ranged from 6.25 MPa to 0.33 MPa and indicates a decreasing pattern in strength with the increase in the volume of DS and FA. Only 18.8% water absorption capacity was found in control bricks without DS and FA, while a maximum absorption of 40.19% was found for a particular combination of DS and FA. Similarly, dry density decreased with the increase in the volume of DS and FA. Besides, efflorescence in bricks was found within the allowable limits for certain combinations of DS and FA, which exceeded the allowable limits for other combinations. The presence of heavy metals (Ni, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Pb) in the extraction solution was insignificant. Based on the results of this study, we recommend that up to 10% clay can be substituted with DS and FA without substantially affecting the quality of bricks.

G. C. Saha, M. A. Hasanath, M. N. Uddin and M. Hasan

Evaluation of Source Emissions Dispersion Potential Near a Coastal Village of Maharashtra, India

Industrial emissions are a serious environmental problem worldwide due to particulates and toxic gases. This study aims to generate an activity-specific emission inventory and estimate emissions dispersion extent in the vicinity of the coastal industrial village by simulating the existing coke oven and pellet plant emissions using the steady-state plume model. Continuous air quality monitoring results were compared with the predicted consequential emissions for the year 2018-19. The maximum ground-level concentrations of particulate and gases within the modeling simulation domain were observed at 9005 m away from the center. They were predicted to be 116.39 ?g.m-3, 79.14 ?g.m-3, 52.97 ?g.m-3, and 211.86 ?g.m-3. Data analysis showed that air mass transport from the project to the receptor sites resulted in ambient air concentrations higher than those observed in the other sites. Overall predicted results obtained from AERMOD Cloud simulations were shown to have less bias than the measured results. They recommended considering it as appropriate for the prediction of annual average concentration.

P. P. Nandusekar, U. S. Mukkannawar, R. G. Jaybhaye, U. D. Kulkarni and P. N. Kamble

Modeling of Leachate Generation from Landfill Sites

With rapid urbanization and industrialization, Bhutan is developing at a fast pace due to which solid waste generation is increasing day by day and hence its management has become a great issue. One of the management issues that are faced in the management of landfills is the generation of toxic soup from landfills known as leachate which is one of the causes of water and soil pollution. The landfills in Bhutan lack a proper leachate management system and those that have leachate collection tanks are very uneconomical due to unreliable methods being used to determine the leachate generated amount. Leachate generation from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills by various methods such as Standard, Rational, and Mass balance methods was determined, analyzed the results and ultimately developed a reliable method for determining the amount of leachate generated by a landfill known as “Fusion method”. The quantified leachate volume from the study area was 4565.98 m3 with the annual precipitation amount being 15156.09 m3 with the developed (fusion) method. Validation of the model was performed on data from Deir Al Balah landfill, Gaza strip, Palestine. The validated amount of leachate generation is about 123,833.08 m3 by the fusion method, while the actual amount of leachate generated was about 114,351 m3 from which the percentage difference between the fusion method and the actual amount of leachate generated was found to be only 8.29%, compared to other methods with % error ranged from 10-55 %.

Yeshi Choden, Kinley Pelzang, Abeshik Dev Raj Basnet and Krishna Bdr Dahal

Use of Agricultural Waste-Based Biosorbents for the Removal of Heavy Metals from Aqueous Solution: A Review

Agriculture is the immemorial benefaction of man for the existence and welfare of the human race. Being an agricultural country, it is the prime source of livelihood in India. This review focused on the present scenario of Indian Agriculture with respect to crop production, factors affecting productivity, and agricultural waste-related issues in India. Agrowaste can be helpful to farmers but economic costs are less than the cost of collection, transportation, and processing for profitable use. In this consequence, the review has presented considerable information on the alternative use of agrowaste to control water pollution. The review focused the light on the replacement of conventional chemicals with agro-based waste to develop fully green and sustainable biosorbents. It also highlighted the potential of biosorbents and biosorption technology in terms of their adsorption capacities, cost-effectiveness, binding mechanisms, and interfering factors such as pH, temperature, initial concentration, dose, and pre-treatments. Biosorption isotherms and sorption kinetics models were used for the characterization of agrowaste and developed biosorbent, and recovery of sorbent was also reviewed. The review concluded that further research is required to investigate novel biosorbents that may be a good option for bioremediation for the removal of a large range of toxic heavy metals. The utilization of plant waste as biosorbent will also open a new window of agricultural waste management.

K. Harshala and N. D. Wagh

Spatial Differentiation and Dynamic Evolution of Agricultural Carbon Emissions in Fujian Province of China

The previous literatures have insufficient content on spatial dependence and heterogeneity of agricultural carbon emissions (ACEs), which is inconsistent with the actual situation, weakening the practical significance of research conclusions. To fill this knowledge gap, this study attempts to explore the spatial evolution pattern of ACEs at the city-scale in the Fujian Province of China from spatio-temporal latitudes and adopts the exploratory spatial data analysis method (ESDA) to analyze the spatial correlation effects of ACEs. The findings revealed that ACEs in Fujian show a downtrend as a whole. From the perspective of carbon sources of ACEs, agricultural materials and livestock breeding caused the largest emissions, accounting for 73.82% of the total ACEs, while rice growth led to the smallest carbon emissions, accounting for 26.18% of the total ACEs. We also found that there is obvious non-equilibrium in the spatial distribution of ACEs and their intensity, showing a strong spatial correlation; and although a relatively obvious clustering area has been formed, the spatial autocorrelation of most regions is not significant. Accordingly, we suggest that exploring the “carbon compensation mechanism”, is conducive to stimulating the low-carbon agricultural production behavior with positive externalities, to reduce agricultural carbon emissions.

Kai Su , Hongyun Chen and Cuili Gan

Dynamic Changes and Precision Governance of Soil Erosion in Chengde City Using the GIS Techniques and RUSLE Model

Soil erosion is one of the major environmental problems facing the world. The multi-scale characteristics of soil erosion and the complexity of its influencing factors put forward higher requirements for soil erosion prevention and control. Based on GIS technology and the RUSLE model, this paper quantitatively studies the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of soil erosion intensity in Chengde City(CC) from 2003 to 2018 and analyzes the temporal and spatial characteristics of R, K, LS, C, P factors according to the model calculation results, and analyzes the formation mechanism of key units of soil erosion in CC. The results show that: The area of tolerable erosion in CC in 2018 was 35152.19 km2 (accounting for 90.22% of the total area), which was at the level of tolerable erosion on the whole. The average soil erosion modulus of CC in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018 were 41.38, 45.06, 46.58, 83.66, 27.67, and 73.34 t.km-2.y-1, reaching the maximum value of 83.66 t.km-2.y-1 in 2012, showing a rising trend and then declining trend in the research period. Soil erosion deteriorated in some areas of CC and regional differences increased, which caused serious environmental problems. Fitting results showed that the R factor was one of the important factors for the increase of regional differences and average erosion modulus. According to the characteristics of the problem, a precise governance model of soil erosion prevention based on the intensity and causes of soil erosion was put forward, and a “landing” scheme of soil erosion prevention and control measures was put forward. Furthermore, the control of soil and water loss in key areas should be strengthened in the future.

Xiaoping Yan, Leixiang Wu, Jun Xie, Yongqian Wang, Chencheng Wang and Bing Ling

Biodegradation of Natural Rubber by Fungi and Bacteria

Environmental pollution is currently one of the major problems that are threatening biodiversity, ecosystems, and human health around the world. Natural rubber, which is one of the most significant polymers due to its variety of uses, has now become a serious environmental concern. Rubber waste management poses one of the greatest problems because it is extremely resilient and persists in the environment despite several mitigation efforts. Biodegradation is an eco-friendly alternative to conventional disposal methods and has gained tremendous interest in recent years. Several studies on rubber biodegradation utilizing fungi and bacteria have been reported. However, except for a few studies on technical applications, the majority of research on these microbes has focused on the fundamentals of rubber biodegradation. The challenge with biodegradation as a potential solution for rubber waste management is that we have limited mechanistic insight into rubber biodegradation, and the complicated composition of rubber products inhibits cell growth and activity of microbes. Thus it becomes important to fully comprehend the mechanism of rubber biodegradation and continue the search for new microbial strains so that the acquired knowledge can be utilized to develop a biodegradation process suitable for scale-up. In this short review, rubber degradation using fungi and bacteria is highlighted.

Abhinav Joseph, Pawan Gupta, Gahin De, Manohar Lal, Mukesh Kumar Meena, Laliteshwar Pratap Singh and Jyotsna Rattan

Effects of Submerged Macrophyte Decomposition on Water Quality

Submerged macrophytes play an important role in aquatic ecosystems and are widely used in aquatic ecological restoration. However, when submerged macrophytes fade, litter, or even decompose, they may cause adverse effects on water quality. In this article, indoor experiments were carried out to study the quantitative influence of submerged plant decomposition on water quality. Six submerged macrophytes commonly used in aquatic ecological restoration in Sichuan Province, including Elodea canadensis Michx., Potamogeton wrightii Morong, Potamogeton crispus L., Vallisneria spinulosa, Ceratophyllum demersum L., and Potamogeton pectinatus L., were selected to measure the change processes of nutrients during macrophyte decomposition at 10°C, 20°C and 30°C. The results showed that the decomposition of submerged plants released nutrients into the water body, causing water pollution. At 10°C, the total phosphorus (TP) concentration of water bodies containing submerged plant litter increased by 1.97 to 5.97 times on the 50th day compared to the 5th day, while the TP concentration of the blank control group without hydrophytes decreased from 0.39 mg.L-1 to 0.22 mg.L-1 due to self-purification. The ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration increased by 3.82-9.58 times on the 50th day compared with the 5th day, while the value in the blank control group decreased from 1.42 mg.L-1 to 0.78 mg.L-1. This result indicated that the water body had a certain self-purification ability, but the decomposition of aquatic macrophytes had a negative impact on this progress. Increasing temperatures could accelerate plant decay processes. Initially, the concentrations of NH3-N and TP were high with high temperatures. After 45 days of reaction, the NH3-N and TP concentration in the water bodies appeared to be 30°C<20°C<10°C, indicating that decomposition was further advanced when the temperature was higher. This study provides a theoretical basis for water ecological management and water quality protection.

Fangbo Zhang, Zhiqin Li, Lei Tang, Jingting Wang, Chao Shen, Xiaojia He, Ran Li, Jingjie Feng and Naiwen Li

Assessment of Drinking Water Accessibility and Quality in the Indo-Bhutan Himalayan Foothill Region of Assam, India

Despite fairly heavy rainfall, the Bhutan Himalayan foothill region of Assam has been facing serious water scarcity problems mainly due to the subsurface structure and soil condition. The local people of the region with their community efforts and traditional knowledge have developed a water management system locally known as Dong-bandh. This traditional canal water system provides the most reliable source of water to the people residing in the area. Besides the canals, they also collect water from the streams, natural springs, and wells. The quality of water is getting deteriorated over time under the influence of the growing population and their activities in the upstream areas. The present study is an attempt to investigate the status of water accessibility in the area and the quality of the drinking water used by the people. For this study, data and information have collected through field investigation, GPS survey, focus group discussion, and interviews with some key informants. A total of 14 drinking water samples were collected randomly from 14 foothill villages (both from the ground and surface) and tested to determine various physiochemical characteristics. The results were compared with the WHO and BIS/ ICMR water quality standards. Finally, the status of water quality was analyzed in terms of the Water Quality Index (WQI). The WQI values were found to lie between 21.75 to 502.38.

S. Saha, A. K. Bhagabati and R. Thakur

The Influence of Floodplain Vegetation Patches on Hydrodynamic Characteristics: A Case Study in the Old Course of Fuhe River

As an important part of the river ecosystem, vegetation has a significant influence on hydrodynamic characteristics, water quality, river morphology, and ecological habitat. Combining vegetation survey with the verified numerical model, this study aims to analyze the impact of floodplain vegetation patches on hydrodynamic characteristics in the old course of Fuhe River under various combinations of incoming flow discharges, and flood diversion discharges, and changes in the land use type. The equivalent Manning coefficient was adopted to quantify the additional resistance induced by plants in the vegetation module of the numerical model. According to simulating results, vegetation patches would cause the water level to rise and velocity to decrease, which mainly affects the upstream of the old course of Fuhe River. And with the increase in incoming discharge, water level difference and velocity difference have an upward trend. It is also found that the resistance of Zizania latifolia to river flow is strongest followed by sugarcane, crops, and weeds because of the differences in vegetation characteristics. Furthermore, compared with existing vegetation conditions, converting farmland to Zizania latifolia and expanding farmland induce a moderate rise in water level upstream while the decreasing velocity happens in the area where land use type is changed. And there are areas where velocity increases located opposite to the velocity decreasing area because of the adjustment of cross-section velocity distribution caused by plants.

Da Li, Zhonghua Yang, Junjie Zheng, Fangping Liu and Gang Ge

Studies on the Isolation of Lipids from Mangrove Isolated Cyanobacterial Species

Cyanobacteria are an important source of food and a primary producer of the aquatic food chains. Cyanobacteria are universally photosynthetic, with a higher plant type of photosynthesis, a large number of those also have the pivotal character of nitrogen fixation. Phytoplankton is made up of mostly cyanobacteria and microalgae. The microalgae store food in the form of lipids and serve as the source of energy as well as lipids for the fish. The lipid content of the fish depends on the diet that they take, and some of the lipids like the omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are derived from specific microalgae, like the marine protists and dinoflagellates including Thraustochytrium, Schizochytrium, and Phaeodactylum. Cyanobacteria being nutritionally more independent with nitrogen and carbon fixing ability, are more economical to grow in bulk. Hence the present work was aimed to screen the high lipid-containing cyanobacteria for use as fish feed. Five different cyanobacterial isolates, originally obtained from the mangroves were used as the sample cyanobacteria. The mangroves are a unique and at the same time stressful ecosystem. The significance of choosing cyanobacteria from this area is to allow for the isolation of cyanobacteria with unique characteristics. It is known that microorganisms from harsh or unique environments have even more potential for developing special survival strategies and for the production of more secondary metabolites. These cyanobacteria from stress environments can grow in conditions where other cyanobacteria or microalgae do not survive well. The isolation of lipids was performed by different extraction methods and separation using different solvent compositions was performed. The standard growth and biochemical studies of the cyanobacteria were conducted, followed by the assessment of their lipid content and variability. Out of the five isolates, a higher number of lipids were observed in AS1-(1) and AS2-(2). Lipids were isolated in chloroform-methanol and three variations of TLC were used to separate the lipids. The three are the single mobile phase, two mobile phase systems, and 2D development solvent system. The separation of the lipids gave the best results with the two mobile phase system, in which two different mobile solvent mixtures were used sequentially. The isolates AS1-(1) and AS2-(2) exhibited higher lipids, hence they could be a potentially suitable candidate as a fish feed.

P. Devesh, B. Aishwarya and R. Gyana Prasuna

An Investigation of a Hybrid Plasma Gasification System for Various Waste Plastics Thermochemical Degradation in the Fuel Extraction Process

Organic junk contamination is one of the serious environmental concerns throughout today’s world. Heavy usage of throwaway plastics devastates nature by obstructing rainwater drainage. From constant exposure to sunlight and warmth, plastics release hazardous gasses into the atmosphere. To reflect the vastly increased amount of various waste plastics, a scaled hybrid plasma gasification reactor is being introduced, which uses an advanced pyrolysis process to break down the plastic waste. The design is simple, transportable, easy to handle, and required very little repair work on long-period usage. Thermochemical investigations are carried out at temperatures ranging from 400 to 600 degrees Celsius, with heating rates ranging from 15 to 22 degrees Celsius per minute, yielding 76-88 percent pyrolysis oil, 10-23 percent syngas, and 4-15 percent chars as besides. It occurs when the molecular architecture of polymers is separated, resulting in the creation of Synthesis gas, which is then condensed into synthesis petroleum fuel. The highest yielding of oil utilizes gas and solid char is determined at 550oC, 600oC, and 450oC respectively, according to the computed pyrolysis kinetic parameter on oil recovery from various waste plastics. The mono-graphic analysis is also used to classify different waste residual char. The model reduces the volume of waste plastic by 89.2%, lowering the detrimental impacts on all living things while simultaneously producing a synthesis of petroleum fuel as a by-product that may be utilized as a replacement or addition to traditional fuel.

Akhilesh Kumar Dewangan, Isham Panigrahi and R. K. Paramguru

Assessing the Capacities of Different Remote Sensors in Estimating Forest Stock Volume Based on High Precision Sample Plot Positioning and Random Forest Method

Forest stock volume (FSV) is an important forest resource indicator. Satellite images from various sensors have been used to estimate FSV. However, there is still a lack of comparative studies on the estimation of FSV with remote sensing data obtained by different sensors. In addition, there is a lack of high-precision ground sample positioning methods, which can improve the matching of ground data and remote sensing data to a certain extent, and improve the estimation accuracy. In this research, a new ground sample plot positioning method was proposed, which could achieve sub-meter positioning accuracy in forest areas, greatly improving the matching accuracy of ground sample plot data and remote sensing data. Based on this high-precision positioning method and the random forest algorithm, we compared and quantified the ability of different sensors to estimate the FSV. The results by random forest modeling showed that the images from a single sensor, Sentinel-2, performed best in the test dataset (R2 = 0.57, RMSE = 70.12 m3 ha-1). For the data from two sensors, the best performance was achieved by the combined Sentinel-2 and PALSAR2/PALSAR data, which had an R2 of 0.62 with RMSE of 65.51 m3 ha-1 in the validation data. The images from the three sensors, Sentinel-2, Landsat-8, and PALSAR2/PALSAR, achieved a modeling accuracy of R2 (0.62) and RMSE (65.40 m3 ha-1). The results clearly showed the capacity of the different sensor data to estimate FSV based on the high precision sample plot positioning method, and it will help forest researchers investigate and estimate the FSV in the future.

Yang Hu and Zhongqiu Sun

Efficient Adsorptive Performance of Graphene Oxide by Nano Clay

Research regarding the use of Nano clay to remove toxic GO (Graphene oxide) from wastewater was limited. Through a variety of characterization techniques and methods, the adsorption performance and mechanism of Nano clay for GO were systematically studied. The related effects of solution pH, temperature, adsorbent dose, and GO concentration were studied in detail. The results show that the aggregation and deposition of GO on Nano clay depends on the pH value of the solution and the type and concentration of the electrolyte, and the isotherm data fits well with the Langmuir equation. Under the best conditions (pH=3.0), the maximum removal rate is 97.8% (C0=60 mg·L-1), and the adsorption capacity is 245.8 mg.g-1 (C0=80 mg.L-1, T=303K, equilibrium time=24 h, m=10 mg). Specifically, the dissolution of Nano clay at a relatively low pH or a high pH value helps the aggregation of GO. The results of this study provide key information for predicting the fate of GO in the land-water transition zone where Nano clay exists.

Wenjie Yu, Biao Qian, Beifeng Lv, Haibo Kang, Ping Jiang, Wei Wang and Na Li

Time Series Simulation and Forecasting of Air Quality Using In-situ and Satellite-Based Observations Over an Urban Region

Air quality is directly associated with the health of society. So, it becomes essential to forecast air pollution, which assumes an imperative part in air pollution warnings and control. A time-series simulation approach was adapted for the forecasting of monthly mean ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, O3, NO2) concentration and Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) at an urban traffic site (Mathura Road, CSIR-CRRI) in New Delhi, India. Satellite-based aerosol loading (AOD550) retrieved from the Terra MODIS (Collection 6) enhanced Deep Blue (DB) algorithm was used for further analysis. The analysis considered the average monthly mean concentration of air pollutants and AOD between 2012-2017 and, simulates the concentrations of PM2.5, O3, NO2, and AOD for the same period and then forecasts air quality for the years 2020-2023. The forecasted results were validated with 24 months of in-situ and satellite data from 2018-to and 2019. In the year 2020, observed and simulated results are in lower agreement due to the shutdown of anthropogenic activities to combat pandemic situations. Otherwise, modeled and forecasted results are in good harmony with the in-situ and satellite observations. The results also signify that the time series Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modeling approach can be an effective and simple tool for air pollution simulation and future forecast. The results are evocative concerning the forecast of near future aerosol loading information and will also be profound to address the problems.

A. Choudhary, P. Kumar, S. K. Sahu, C. Pradhan, S. K. Singh, M. Gašparovi?, A. Shukla and A. K. Singh

Biodegradation and Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Marine Ecosystems by Microorganisms: A Review

Concern about increasing incidents of petroleum hydrocarbon spills and spillage into different marine environments is rising day by day due to enhanced human activities in marine water. The toxic compounds of spilled petroleum hydrocarbon in marine water lead to the immediate death of numerous marine organisms as well as initiate various vicious biogeochemical cycles in the marine environment resulting in prolonged toxic impacts on the marine environment. Recently, many sophisticated techniques, including physical methods, chemical methods, and biological methods, have been developed and adopted for the treatment of marine environments polluted with petroleum compounds. However, biological treatment is one of the most promising methods in this field by which microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, and algae are used for biodegradation of pollutants such as the spilled petroleum hydrocarbon into neutralized or eco-friendly compounds. This review has been focused on different aspects of the pollution of the marine ecosystem by oil, mainly Petroleum hydrocarbons, the fate of spilled oil in marine environments and the role of microbial communities in it, as well as various techniques, especially the bioremediation and biodegradation of spilled oil including the factors affecting the capacity of techniques. Moreover, some future aspects of research in the field of biodegradation and bioremediation of spilled oil have been proposed.

Ramzi H. Amran, Mamdoh T. Jamal, Arulazhagan Pugazhendi, Mamdouh Al-Harbi, Mohammed Ghandourah, Ahmed Al-Otaibi and Md Fazlul Haque

Palaeoclimatic Studies of the Late Quaternary Sediments from Chirakkara, Kollam District, Kerala, India

The Quaternary period is considered one of the most eventful periods of all geologic periods. The present study intends to understand the paleo-environmental conditions that prevailed in the southern part of the Kerala State, India, during the Late Quaternary period. The present study aims to understand the climatic variability of the Holocene epoch in the Chirakkara region, the easternmost part of Polachira wetland, Kollam district, South Kerala, by using granulometric data and geochemical proxies. A core of 2.5 m in length has been collected from the study area, and both textural and TOC/TN analyses were carried out. The variation in grain size is attributed to the variations in the energy level of the transporting medium and turn to the climatic conditions, especially rainfall. The sediments encountered in the core are dominated by sand-sized particles indicating dynamic high energy conditions and high precipitation events. The ternary plot of the sediment samples also suggests violent environmental conditions during the deposition of the sediments. The predominance of low values of TOC/TN ratio found at both ends of the core indicates an autochthonous source for organic carbon, possibly due to the aggravated aquatic phytoplankton activity, and increased lake bioproduction, and/or decline in the delivery of organic matter from the terrestrial environment. High values of the TOC/TN ratio noted at the middle portion of the core at depths from 120 cm to 210 cm indicate the allochthonous source for the organic carbon. Among allochthonous sources, the C3-type plant is dominant, indicating a cool and wet climate. At the same time, the extremely high TOC/TN values at 170 cm core depth indicate a short period of hot and sunny climatic conditions. The analysis of the granulometric data and organic matter proxies suggest that the study area has experienced wet climatic conditions with occasional dry spells during the Late Quaternary Period.

R. Megha, Divya Murali, S. Amblikuttan, Rajesh Reghunath and K. Anoop Krishnan

Primary Sewage Sludge Treatment Using A Spiral Support System

Sewage sludge (wastewater treatment solids) is an organic and nutrient resource that is generated during wastewater treatment and is utilized as biosolids in landfills, fertilizer, or compost it requires treatment to reduce the microbial load and the concentration of organic matter and pollutants such as metals. Aerobic digestion has been used for the stabilization of sewage sludge, and the use of biodiscs has been limited to primary sewage rather than sewage sludge. Therefore, this paper shows that the primary sewage sludge from a previously sonicated municipal sewage treatment plant can be stabilized using a spiral support biodisc, which is shown to be an effective mechanism with which to reduce the concentration of pathogenic microorganisms in residual sludge and also reduce the concentration of organic carbon, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), and soluble phosphorus. The experimental results using the spiral support biodisc are better compared to those using the conventional biodisc.

C. P. Del Río-Galván, R.C. Hernández-León, M.O. Franco-Hernández and J. Meléndez-Estrada

Isolation, Identification and Characterization of Novel Azo Dye Degrading Bacteria from the Industrial Effluents of Raipur City, Chhattisgarh

Various chromophores are used to make our day-to-day life colorful. Dyes that are used at a large scale are made using these chromophores. The dyes, especially azo dyes are recalcitrant to the degradation due to the presence of aromatic rings in their structure. Several methods have been developed to reduce the harmful impacts of these dyes on the environment. However, none of the processes is safe and fully effective. In this study, we used bacteria as a bioremediation agent and optimized the various parameters for the bacteria to degrade the dye at its maximum ability. It was found that the isolated bacteria were Aneurinibacillus sp. and it completely decolorized methyl orange at a concentration of 20 mg.L-1 after 4 days of incubation. The optimum pH for the functioning of bacteria was 5 and the activity decreased as the pH increased. It was also observed that the addition of glucose and yeast extract increased the dye degradation significantly.

Deepali Rajwade, Sadhana Jaiswal, Vinit Singh Baghel and Hemant Kumar

Marine Debris Management in the Parangtritis Beach Tourism Area, Yogyakarta During Covid-19 Pandemic

Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, is one of the most visited tourist destinations for domestic and international tourists. These tourists are required to carry out health protocols by wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic. The high number of visits is linear with the generation of waste in tourist areas. Marine debris is defined as any solid material that settles, dumps, or is dumped, dumped, or disposed of in the marine and coastal environment. Efficient management of marine debris is a coordinated strategic approach to dealing with problems and inefficient law enforcement to improve the preservation of the marine environment. This study aimed to analyze the composition, characteristics, and management of marine debris in the Parangtritis Beach area during the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of waste generated during the pandemic was recorded at 0.9 kg/m2.day. Sampling is carried out using the line transect method. The composition of waste consists of PET, PE, other plastics, biodegradable organics, and masks, each of which is 17.86%, 32.54%, 6.85%, 37.61% and 5.14%. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mask waste has become waste that has a new category, namely infectious. The characteristics of marine debris other than organic biodegradable tend to have a high calorific value so that it is possible to be processed by thermal processes. Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), (Polyethylene) PE, and mask waste can be decomposed at a temperature of 260-550°C. Organic waste has been managed by processing Black Soldier Fly (BSF), while plastic waste can be processed into handicraft products. In contrast, the remaining plastic waste and masks are processed by a thermal process to allow waste to energy.

M. M. Sari, I. W. K. Suryawan, B. S. Ramadan, I. Y. Septiariva and S. Notodarmojo

Applications of Microbial Fuel Cell Technology and Strategies to Boost Bioreactor Performance

Renewable energy technologies are developing day by day. One of the novel renewable energy technologies is microbial fuel cells (MFC). MFCs are eco-friendly as it uses electroactive bacteria (exoelectrogens) to generate electricity by using organic and inorganic waste from the wastewater. Electricity generation and wastewater treatment are its primary applications. The construction of MFC consists of the electrodes which may be modified by using nanoparticles (gold and iron oxide) or pre-treatment methods (sonication and autoclave sterilization). This technology is further studied for the detection and reduction of toxic heavy metals in wastewater. The MFCs are also modified into microbial electrolysis cells to make biofuel such as hydrogen. The present review is based on the applications of the MFC, key challenges, and modification strategies.

Quratulain Maqsood, Esha Ameen, Muhammada Mahnoor, Aleena Sumrin, Muhammad Waseem Akhtar, Riya Bhattacharya and Debajyoti Bose

Landslide Assessment Using Sentinel-I SAR-C Interferometry Technique

Landslides might remain unknown or unnoticed for a long time in various remote areas due to the unavailability of optical images caused by cloud persistence, which creates difficulties for civil protection rescue operations, and disaster management as well. Rapid crisis response for humanitarian and reconstruction operations in the affected area after such dangerous landslides is necessary. Thus, a rapid detection map is necessary to detect the affected area with damage grade and level for further investigation and human safety protocols. To detect landslide incidents, the unprecedented availability of Sentinel-1 SAR-C band images provides new solutions and better safety reports. In this study, we performed an efficient evaluation of Sentinel-1 SAR C band images before and after landslide incidents. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation based on the advanced space-borne remote sensing technology aiming at SAR products for rapid damage detection and analysis with respect to the interferometric coherence and intensity correlation. We presented the results of a pilot study on the Rudraprayag Uttarakhand massive landslide incident, which includes the different types, sizes, slope expositions, and human safety aspects. Our study and outcomes represent an updated method, which provides a solution for critical terrain rescue operations and an upgraded geomatics map that provides subsidence data with historical data with topographical statistics. Finally, an outlook into the Sentinel-1 SAR-C analysis demonstrates probable solutions to certain constraints, enabling global applicability of the proposed damage assessment methods with the improved accuracy from 50 to 60 % for the obtained temporal resolution datasets.

Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi

A Study on the Diversity of Pesticide-Resistant Bacterial Population from Different Agricultural Fields of Manjoor

The regular usage of pesticides in agricultural fields results in the development of a pesticide-resistant microbial population. Vegetable cultivation is a common practice in the agricultural growing areas of Manjoor, Kerala. The present study was envisaged to understand the resistance of microorganisms to different types and doses of pesticides. The study revealed that heterotrophic bacteria are capable of resisting lower concentrations (0.01 and 0.001%) of the pesticides lindane and methyl parathion while a higher concentration of carbaryl (0.1%) could also be tolerated. In the soil sample where there was no prior addition of pesticides, the heterotrophic bacteria could only tolerate very low concentrations of pesticides The results of mean pesticide-resistant bacterial load when compared to normal Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) of soils indicate that pesticides exhibited an inhibitory effect on the heterotrophic bacteria of soils collected from different agricultural fields and the pesticide-resistant bacterial load was lower than normal THB.

T. R. Shanthi, Mohammed Hatha and T. R. Satyakeerthy

Study on the Establishment of the Gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis (Linné, 1758) as a Bio-sentinel to Monitor the Water Quality of North Algerian Rivers: Case of the El-Malah River

Biomonitoring is a key solution for assessing the effects and risks of pollutants to preserve the most vulnerable ecosystems, including aquatic ecosystems. This study aims in establishing the gastropod Lymnaea stagnalis, as a sentinel species to assess the water quality of the El-Malah river in the Algerian North-West. Three sites were chosen along the river: upstream (US), midstream (MS), and downstream (DS). The responsiveness of the aquatic snails has been compared using physiological and biological markers: condition index (CI), volumetric condition index (VCI), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutathione s-transferase (GST), and catalase (CAT). Additionally, the occurrence of changes in biometric parameters of the specimens has also been treated: shell height (SH), shell thickness (ST) total weight (TW), and the ratio ST/SH. Snails from the site MS reacted in front to the water deterioration with low biometric values (ST 1.28 ± 0.17 cm; SH 1.83 ± 0.20 cm; TW 2.95 ± 0.69 cm), and condition indices values (CI 31.19 ± 3.58; VCI 2.09 ± 0.53 g.cm-3), thereby signaling smaller individuals compared to the population of site US. Whereas, no specimen was recorded in the site submitted to wastewaters discharge (DS). This indicates that the degradation of the water quality affected the growth and the viability of the snails. Furthermore, a significant induction in the GST activity (88.98 ± 10.72 nmol min-1mg-1), and a significant inhibition in the CAT activity (82.85 ± 9.49 ?mol min-1mg-1) were recorded in the site MS, whereas no statistically significant variation was observed in AChE activity. L. stagnalis demonstrated biological and physiological variability between the studied contrasting sites of the El-Malah River. These results allow us to propose this species as a model in the ecotoxicology of western Algerian freshwaters.

I. Benali, M. Bouderbala and N. Chèvre

Financial Incentives for Promotion of Electric Vehicles in India- An Analysis Using the Environmental Policy Framework

India has seen some of the most damaging social and environmental effects of air pollution in recent times. It has also committed at the COP 21 in Paris to help reduce global warming. Following this voluntary agreement, India plans to increase the share of electric vehicles to 30% of total vehicles sold by 2030 to reduce air pollution. This paper studies the major financial incentives and policy measures undertaken since 2015 as part of the EV policy and views it through the lens of the Environmental Policy Framework, which considers five major types of instruments: Regulations and Standards, Green Taxes, Incentives, and Subsidies, Carbon Credits and Voluntary Negotiations. Another instrument called ‘Information Dissemination Measures’ is added to this framework to help evaluate the current EV policy. We find that while there are good financial incentives, to begin with, charging infrastructure and research in battery technology needs to be increased in India. There is also an urgent need to improve communication and awareness about EVs and their role in the reduction of pollution to help overcome the hesitancy in adopting this new technology.

Rajiv V. Shah

Comparative Analysis of Compost Quality Produced from Fungal Consortia and Rice Straw by Varying C/N Ratio and its Effect on Germination of Vigna radiata

Composting is considered to be one of the best methods for handling organic waste. It is a natural process and takes months to give quality mature compost. Characteristics of initial wastes and process conditions are the compost maturity deciding factors. Some biological inoculants, e.g., bacteria and fungi, can reduce the compost time and improve its quality. This research is based on the hypothesis that using fungus consortia on rice straw will boost the activities of microbes and, as a result, the rate of composting. The hypothesis was tested by preparing compost using rice straw residue with and without the applications of fungal consortia. Fungal consortia of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus terreus cellulose-degrading strains along with Pusa-1121 rice variety were used for the study. Different C/N ratios were achieved by varying rice straw, green leaves, poultry droppings, and fungal inoculant proportions. During various stages of composting, changes in total nitrogen, organic carbon, C/N ratios, and other parameters were calculated. The germination index of Mung beans (Vigna radiata) was used to measure the quality of the completed compost extract. Statistical analysis with the help of a two-tailed independent t-test at the confidence level of 95% was applied to determine the statistical difference between the treatments and control. It has been found that the Seed Germination index of treatment C/N 30 was 91.5% and that of C/N 26 was 79.1% which were significantly (p<0.01) different from the 54% GI of control.

Pradeep Khyalia, Jyoti Dangi, Sheetal Barapatre, Geeta Dhania, J.S.Laura and Meenakshi Nandal

Effects of Humic Acid Organic Fertilizer on Soil Environment in Black Soil for Paddy Field Under Water Saving Irrigation

In the past decades, the application of organ fertilizer in agricultural soils has attracted wide attention. However, few studies have carefully explored the effects of humic acid organic fertilizer on soil microbial colonies, soil enzyme activities, and soil fertility. To provide a better growing environment for crops, we explore the best regulation mode of humic acid organic fertilizer in the farmland in the Songnen Plain Heilongjiang province. Through field experiment, we selected paddy as the test objective and applied humic acid organic fertilizer. Under the condition of water-saving irrigation, five fertilization levels were set up, which were NPK (local nitrogen level, 110 kg.hm-2 pure nitrogen), NPKH1 (450 kg.hm-2 humic acid organic fertilizer + 77 kg.hm-2 nitrogen), NPKH2 (750 kg.hm-2 humic acid organic fertilizer + 55 kg.hm-2 nitrogen), NPKH3 (1050 kg.hm-2 humic acid organic fertilizer + 33 kg.hm-2 nitrogen) and PKH (1500 kg.hm-2 humic acid organic fertilizer). The effects of different humic acid organic fertilizers on soil microbial colonies, soil enzyme activities, and soil fertility were discussed. The results showed that humic acid organic fertilizer could effectively change the structure of soil microbial colonies, soil enzyme activities, and soil fertility. Compared with NPK treatment, the bacteria, fungi, and actinomycete, urease, and catalase in PKH, NPKH3, NPKH2, and NPKH1 treatments increased, and significantly different under 0-10 cm layer conditions (P<0>NPKH3>NPKH2>NPKH1>NPK. Therefore, the application of humic acid organic fertilizer was an effective measure to improve soil fertility and increase the amount of soil colony structure and enzyme activities.

Zheng Ennan, Yinhao Zhu, Jianyu Hu and Tianyu Xu

Main Characteristics of Trails on Yarmouk Forest Reserve, A Quantitative Approach to Trails Assessment

The necessity to pay attention to the tourism sector and protect natural resources has sparked a growing interest in scientific studies on the international value of ecotourism. Furthermore, eco-friendly tourist attractions should be developed and expanded to achieve long-term tourism growth. To achieve this aim, however, it is important to recognize the adverse effects of visitor activity on the natural environment and the experience of tourism to direct management activities and, thus, to maintain the resources on which ecotourism ultimately depends. This study aimed to assess the environmental impact of the four trails in the Yarmouk Forest Reserve in the Irbid governorate in northern Jordan. Field trips were used to determine the trail’s characteristics. The findings revealed a basic description of the reserve’s four routes in terms of path width, trail surface type, kind of vegetation, landscapes, and tourist attractions.

Loay Alzriqat, Sana’a Odat and Ismaiel Abuamoud

Survival Study on Different Water Quality Prediction Methods Using Machine Learning

Water quality analysis is an emergency approach in today’s world because people cannot survive without it. As a result of urbanization, industrialization, agricultural practices, and human behavior, water quality analysis have numerous issues in today’s world. Manually visiting the water collection station, collecting water samples, analyzing in the lab, feeding data into a database, and so on are all challenges in the water quality analysis processing. Artificial learning model technologies will be used to tackle these challenges. The variety of machine learning approaches to water quality analysis has resulted in a diversity of creation and implementation methods. The study examines artificial intelligence’s advancement in water quality prediction from different angles ANN, FUZZY, SVM, and other AI models. The review investigated 40 articles between 2008 and 2020. Groundwater, ponds, lakes, and rivers all water resources were all included in the survey method. The findings of the survey will be used to guide the future study.

K. Kalaivanan and J. Vellingiri

Comprehensive Modeling of Seasonal Variation of Surface Ozone Over Southern Tropical City, Bengaluru, India

Surface ozone (O3) is an important pollutant. In this study we investigated the effects of precursor gases on the difference in ozone concentration utilizing various statistical methods like Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Principal Component Regression (PCR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), and Principal Component and Artificial Neural Network (PC-ANN) in conjunction with meteorological parameters for forecasting. The pollutants ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and the meteorological parameters temperature (temp), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), wind speed (WS) and wind direction (WD) observed during 2019 are taken as inputs for MLR, PCR, ANN, and PCANN. The mathematical models obtained from the numerical analysis showed that O3 concentration was significantly affected by the CO, NO, NO2, NOX, temp, RH, SR, WS, and WD factors. PCR model’s regression coefficient was lower than the MLR model, but the same for ANN and PCANN models was much better in all the seasons than the linear models such as MLR and PCR. The efficiency of all methods is inspected using several performance metrics.

G. Dhanya, T. S. Pranesha, Kamsali Nagaraja, D. M. Chate and G. Beig

Application of Geo-electrical Methods for Estimating Water Infiltration in Soils

In this study, an alternative approach was applied for the characterization of the subsurface geological conditions to estimate the hydrological parameters in the absence of subsurface soil data. The study revealed that the hydrological parameters, estimated from the Transient Electromagnetic (TEM) and Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT), were significantly correlated with in situ data. Overall estimated infiltration rate (below 20 inches/h) predicted fine-grained soil was also associated with in situ data. A high correlation among the bulk electrical resistivity, porosity, and the resistivity of the pore fluid thereby confirmed the relevance of Archie’s law used in this study. Furthermore, results showed that both TEM and ERT are vital tools for hydrological parameter estimation.

Kaizar Hossain, Mohd Talha Anees, Ahmad Farid Bin Abu Baker, Mohammad Muqtada Ali Khan, Amin E. Khalil, K. S. Ishola, Abdullah K., Mohd Nawawi M. N. and Mohd. Omar A. K.

Variation in the Alcohol Components of Coffea arabica L. Wastewater Distillate Fermented Under Different Conditions

Coffee is the second-most consumed beverage in the world, and its high demand is covered by countries such as Peru, where the waste generated in production causes environmental pollution. We sought to determine the concentration of alcohol components and other volatiles compounds present in the distillate, after fermenting wastewater from the first wash in the wet processing of Coffea arabica var. catimor under five conditions: C1 (pasteurized + 0.325 g sucrose + 8.000 g S. cerevisiae), C2 = (pasteurized + 8.000 g S. cerevisiae), C3 (0.325 g sucrose + 8.000 g S. cerevisiae), C4 = (8.000 g S. cerevisiae), and C5 = (natural state). The solid-phase microextraction technique was used to determine the composition of the distillates by gas chromatography (GC). 35 components were detected, 11 of them under all conditions. Ethanol was the most abundant element in all five fermentation conditions. Condition 1 shows the highest value at 97.29 ?g.mL-1, though all five concentrations can be considered high. This study shows that wastewater from the wet processing of coffee can have agro-industrial use as a value-added product. Postharvest Peruvian coffee is amenable to strategies aligned with the sustainable development goal of reducing food losses along production and supply chains.

E. Morales, S. Chávez, L. García, A. C. Caetano, J. Veneros, M. Á. Barrena and M. Oliva

Investigation on the Treatment of Slaughterhouse Wastewater in a Sequential Batch Reactor

In the present study, the treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater was carried out in a sequential batch reactor. A lab-scale column type reactor was fabricated with Perspex material having dimensions of 10 cm diameter, 100 cm height, and an effective volume of 7 liters provided with ports at different levels. The reactor performance was evaluated in terms of COD, BOD, TSS, TKN, and phosphorus removal. The reactor was operated for 432 days; the effectiveness of the reactor is the temperature of wastewater in the reactor. The removal efficiencies of COD and BOD were84% and 80% in the reactor. The maximum TSS removal was around 87% and TKN’s maximum removal efficiency was 61% in aerobic treatment. Phosphorus maximum removal efficiency was around 68%, in the meantime pH and alkalinity were also monitored, and no change in the pH was reported throughout the experiment. On the other hand, an aerobic SBR is also operated using wastewater after the DAF unit. In the same manner, the reactor was operated with initially diluted wastewater (05 times) and kept HRT 8 h. The reactor performance was studied in terms of COD, BOD, TSS, TKN, and phosphorus. The maximum removal efficiencies of COD and BOD were 80% and 81% respectively. The maximum removal efficiencies of TSS, TKN, and Phosphorus were 73%, 81%, and 69% respectively. It is concluded that the removal efficiency of COD was better in the anaerobic process as compared with the aerobic process in addition the generation of methane gas during the degradation of organic matter can be used for operating the aerobic unit by making some necessary arrangements. Besides this, it is also concluded that the removal efficiency of TKN was better in the aerobic process as compared with the anaerobic process. There was a buildup of VSS from 4500 mg.L-1 to 6500 mg.L-1 in the study.

Asad Ashraf and Izharul Haq Farooqi

Biomass Fired Thermal Power Generation Technology- A Route to Meet Growing Energy Demand and Sustainable Development

Energy derived from biomass is a very promising energy alternative especially when we compare the same with fossil fuels (coal, liquid fossil fuels, etc.) as the plants can absorb the carbon dioxide during the photosynthesis process and therefore can reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated from fossil fuels. Further, the utilization of biomass in various biomass-based thermochemical conversion technologies could help to convert waste bio-resources into bio-energy. This review paper provides an overview of various types of available biomass resources along with their chemical composition and physical properties and their utilization for the generation of power (electricity) as an alternative to coal for power generation from a Thermal Power Plant or useful form of heat or fuels/chemicals for various other industrial processes. It includes the merits and demerits of biomass-fired thermal power plants with reference to efficiency, environmental emissions, and logistics, supply chain and storage for biomass. These review papers attempt to bring forward the effective methods which could be adopted for the efficient utilization of biomass for the purpose of power generation from biomass-based thermal power plants. Further, this could also help to substantially reduce green house gas emissions and carbon footprint and help to achieve sustainable development goals.

Amarnath Bose and Devender Kumar Saini

Applications of Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Review of Methodologies

A wide range of Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) methods for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has been introduced in various academic literature in the last decade to address various issues, to use different calculable logic, producing different results and implications. A detailed review has not been carried out on the application of MACC in terms of types of emissions, country/sector, and methodology used. This study is aimed at identifying, interpreting, and clarifying currently available literature on MACCs development from 2010-2020 by reviewing the previous applicability of three analytic dimensions including Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission type, research objects, and modeling methodologies from top-down and bottom-up methods, providing researchers with information of past developments and future trends in this area. The result shows that CO2 is one of the most studied GHG emissions in calculating marginal abatement costs and some countries/regions have not received much attention from researchers in assessing emission reductions. Finally, the MACC bottom-up methodology focuses on the application of the engineering model method and the distance function method is a favorite in the application of the top-down method. Furthermore, this study also highlights possible research opportunities, which may lead to more successful and impactful results in future MACC studies.

A. S. Nur Chairat, L. Abdullah, M. N. Maslan and H. Batih

Immobilization of Humic Acid on Bentonite and Its Application for Adsorption of Cs137 and Am241

In the present work, immobilization of humic acid on bentonite and its application as an adsorbent of Cs137 (Cesium) and Am241 (Americium) is performed. The parameters studied are rate constant, adsorption capacity, and adsorption energy. This research started with the immobilization of humic acid on a bentonite surface followed by a stability test for immobilization of humic acid at various acidities. Adsorption of Cs 137 and AM 241 ions was conducted by first examining the optimum pH giving minimum complexed ions by the soluble fraction of humic acid and maximum adsorbed ions on the adsorbent. While adsorption energy and capacity were determined by the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. The result shows that the amount of immobilization of humic acid on bentonite is 39.75 % (w/w) at optimum conditions. Immobilization of humic acid was stable up to pH 12.0. For both ions, optimum adsorption occurred at pH 5. At this optimum condition, the adsorption energies of 21.481 kJ.mol-1 and 22.276 kJ.mol-1 for Cs173 and Am241 are obtained, respectively. The result also shows that adsorption capacity and energy for Am241 were higher than that for Cs137 which indicates the affinity of Am241 for both adsorbents was higher than that of Cs137.

H. P. Suseno and A. D. Warisaura

Bio-medical Waste Remediation by Environmental Safe Gelatin Coated Blood Sample Paper and its Effective Utilization

Sustainability in human development sets exact standards for the management of natural resources, including their extraction, use, and the introduction of waste products into a complex, inventive circuit as a consequence of exploitation. Because of the negative influence that medical waste has on the environment and people, it needs specific handling. Medical waste is increasing in amount all the time and has a wide range of consequences across a wide range of activity domains. This paper discusses various issues of the sustainable management of blood sample bio-medical waste and evaluates the properties of alternative samples which are made of gelatin-coated sample paper. A unique bar-coded paper-based blood sample method has prevented complications during blood tests and is much more environmentally friendly.

P. Jayakumar, S. Padmanabhan, R. Lilly and K. Suthendran

Evaluation of Phenotypic Responses of Selected Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars to Hexavalent Chromium Stress in Soil

The current work is designed to search for suitable rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars capable of growing on Cr(VI), hexavalent chromium contaminated soils. The study of tolerance and phenotypical changes of three selected rice cultivars like Bina Dhan 11, Kalachampa, and Pratikshya, at the seedling stages, was done under soil Cr(VI) concentrations up to 300 mg.kg-1 of soil. The 7-day seedlings of these rice cultivars growing on Cr(VI) treated soils were found to exhibit a significant reduction in shoot and root growth at p ? 0.05. The experimental results support that 7-day seedlings of Bina Dhan 11 were found to be the best among the three cultivars under soil Cr(VI) stress conditions. The present work may help in selecting suitable rice cultivar for paddy cultivation on Cr(VI) contaminated crop lands present in mining and industrial belts. Further work on this aspect may be useful in increasing rice productivity, catering to the increase in demand for food.

B. K. Das, P. K. Das and P. Dash

A Mini-Review on the Use of Constructed Wetland Systems for Water Treatment in Developing Countries

The predominant scarcity of water globally has necessitated the invention of non-conventional resources to bridge the clean freshwater demand gap. Even in areas where there is access to water, inadequate quality and sanitation are pervasive problems, especially in developing countries. Resolving these intricate water-related problems, which emanate from population increase, the rise of urbanization and industrialization has not been realized using modern cost-, energy- and water-intensive technologies. In light of these challenges, wastewater treatment is a viable solution to supplement limited water resources. Of the available eco-technologies used in wastewater treatment for reuse, constructed wetlands (CWs) have proved to be the most effective. In this review, CWs are confirmed as reliable and low-cost green technologies with high effectiveness in wastewater treatment compared to conventional technologies. Therefore, their application among rural communities of developing countries is practical and highly advisable.

J. M Nyika and M. O Dinka

Study on Adsorption Properties and Mechanism of Graphene Oxide (GO) by Kaolin

Kaolin was used as an adsorbent to remove toxic graphene oxide (GO) from an aqueous solution. The adsorption properties and mechanism of GO by Kaolin were systematically studied by various characterization techniques and methods. The effects of pH, amount of absorbent, and initial concentration of GO on the adsorption of GO by Kaolin were studied in detail. The results show that the interaction between GO and Kaolin is realized by the O-C=O bond, and the adsorption of GO by Kaolin is a chemical adsorption process. Under the optimized conditions (pH=3, T=303 K, equilibrium time = 6 h, C0 = 60 mg·L-1), the removal rate of GO reached 97.1% (Kaolin=70 mg), and the adsorption capacity reached 45.3 mg·g-1 (Kaolin=50 mg). According to the experimental results, Kaolin may be a promising material, which can effectively eliminate GO from an aqueous solution. The results of this study provide key information about the migration and potential fate of GO in the natural environment.

Xingjiang Song, Lin Zhou, Haibo Kang, Na Li, Wei Wang and Ping Jiang

A Study of Nutrient Removal Efficiency from Simulated Agriculture Run-off (SAR) Using Constructed Wetland Technology

In this study, a vertical flow constructed wetland in batch mode was examined for the removal efficiency of simulated agricultural run-off (SAR) using gravel and soil as substrates, planted with Canna, Typha and Eichhornia plant species in single and mixed culture conditions. From this study, it was found that the constructed wetland (CW) planted with Canna + Eichhornia plant species (mixed) showed maximum removal efficiency of the studied parameters, i.e. phosphates, nitrates and ammonical nitrogen to the tune of 99%, 96% and 98%, respectively of simulated agricultural run-off as compared to other studied CWs. Canna and Typha macrophytes showed higher biomass and chlorophyll content, indicating better tolerance in the mixed culture CW system. Treatment efficiency improved when longer hydraulic retention times (HRTs) were used. Maximum treatment efficiency was shown by hybrid CW, which included the properties of the horizontal flow (HF) and vertical flow (VF) type CWs.

Simranjeet Singh, Anubha Kaushik and Bhoopesh Kumar Sharma

Evaluation of Biodegradation Efficiency of Xylene Pretreated Polyethylene Wastes by Isolated Lysinibacillus fusiformis

The ability of the bacterial degradation of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) waste by Lysinibacillus fusiformis isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil was investigated in the present study. The potential of the bacterial isolate to utilize LDPE waste bags of two different thicknesses in a month as a sole carbon source in mineral salt media was assessed. Further, the effect of pretreatment by xylene on the bacterial degradation of LDPE waste bags (0.5 percent w/v) in 30 days was investigated. The isolated Lysinibacillus fusiformis was able to degrade 9.51 percent of LDPE with 30 ?m thickness but able to degrade only 1.45 percent of LDPE having 50 ?m thickness. The bacterial biomass was 1.77 times higher on LDPE- 30 ?m containing media in comparison to LDPE- 50 ?m. The xylene pretreatment of LDPE wastes enhanced the biodegradation efficiency of isolated Lysinibacillus fusiformis to 12.09 and 1.97 percent respectively in 30 ?m and 50 ?m thick LDPE bags. The xylene pre-treatment improved the bacterial growth on media with LDPE of both thicknesses. The adherence of bacterium on the surface of LDPE was found more on 50 ?m thick xylene treated LDPE compared to its untreated LDPE than 30 ?m thick LDPE films. The xylene pre-treatment of polyethylene waste had an additive effect on the biodegradation of waste LDPE films with a significant effect on thickness.

Arun Kalia and M. S. Dhanya

Approaches in Bioremediation of Dioxins and Dioxin-Like Compounds – A Review on Current and Future Prospects

Waste generation is becoming increasingly prominent in the environmental arena due to the increase in population and living standards of life. Dioxin and Dioxin-related compounds are a set of hazardous chemicals that are ubiquitously distributed. Polychlorinated dioxins are introduced into our surroundings by both spontaneous and induced activities like combustion, incineration of waste, recycling of e-waste, and paper and pesticide manufacturing. They are chloroaromatic compounds that are found to be lethal and possess carcinogenic properties and are one of the primary examples of persistent environmental pollutants (POP). Removal of these compounds from the environment is very challenging due to their recalcitrant nature. An alternative technique is the use of microbial technology which includes the use of bacteria and fungi to detoxify the dioxins that are considered to be a more effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable alternative. Different microbial interactions were studied for their degradation potential. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and furans (PCDD/F) are found to be degraded by bacteria by adopting either aerobic or anaerobic pathways and the details regarding the diversity, distribution, bioremediation potential, metabolic pathway have been analyzed. This review provides an overview of the source of contamination, its potential toxicity assessment, and various bioremediation techniques that are employed are discussed in detail. It also highlights the nanoremediation technique - a promising tool in which nanoparticles are used in the treatment of toxic organic pollutants.

Priyanka Mary Sebastian and K. V. Bhaskara Rao

Effects of Cadmium on Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Reed Leaves

Industrial polluted water has become an important water source for irrigation in the majority of constructed wetlands or even natural wetlands in China. The shortage of clean water resources has raised concerns about the potential accumulation of heavy metals, such as cadmium. Plants stressed by high levels of cadmium can increase the activity of superoxide dismutase. We have identified a positive correlation between the superoxide dismutase activity and the cadmium content of reed leaves in the wetland. Regression analysis confirmed that the superoxide dismutase activities fit a logistic curve. The logistic model was then applied to describe the superoxide dismutase activity, estimating parameters under different levels of cadmium stress. According to the findings, higher cadmium concentrations would cause the superoxide dismutase activity to increase at a higher intrinsic rate, have a lower environmental capacity k, and have lower inflection points. The dynamic model predicted an acceptable cadmium concentration of less than 3mg.kg-1. At this concentration, reeds could develop and grow satisfactorily in the presence of cadmium. Therefore, the concentration of cadmium in the irrigated water of polluted water in mine sites, papermaking wastewater, or other industrial wastewater should be less than or equal to 3mg.kg-1 to ensure the normal growth of reeds in related wetlands.

Haifu Li, Chengjiu Guo, Fangli Su and Lifeng Li

Estimation of Water Balance Components for the Watershed of Ghataprabha Sub-Basin

Evaluation of hydrological components in the water balance study is important in planning and maintaining a sustainable watershed to understand the hydrology of the river sub-basin/watershed. This study was carried out to estimate the water balance components in the watershed of the Ghataprabha sub-basin using the hydrological model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool). The river watershed was further delineated into 35 sub-basins comprising 542 hydrological response units (HRUs). A monthly calibration and validation study has been performed. Statistical model performance indicators, coefficient of determination (R2), and Nash & Sutcliffe (1970) efficiency (NSE) were used to correlate the monthly observed discharge data and monthly simulated discharge data. R2 of 0.75 and NSE of 0.63 for calibration and 0.7 and 0.65 for validation respectively, indicated the satisfactory performance of the model simulation on monthly simulation of flow. Monthly average water balance components (Precipitation, Evapotranspiration, Stream flow, Water yield) were estimated for the watershed.

Akshata Bandi H. and Nagraj S. Patil

Changes in Carbon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus Stoichiometry of Leaf-Litter-Soil in Differently Stands Under ‘Plain Afforestation Program’ in China

Changes in land use might affect the combined C, N, and P stoichiometry in soil. The Plain Afforestation Program, which converts low-yield croplands or abandoned lands into forest, shrub, and/or grassland, was a famous land reforestation project in Beijing. To clarify the spatial distribution, stoichiometric characteristics, and controlling factors of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), four typical Plain Afforestation forests including Robinia pseudoacacia, Pinus tabuliformis, Ailanthus altissima, and Salix matsudana plantations were selected in Yongding River plain afforestation area, Beijing. Leaf, litter, and soil C, N, and P concentrations and their stoichiometric relationships were analyzed. The results showed that the concentrations of N and P in the four plantations were in order of R. pseudoacacia>A. altissima>S. matsudana >P. tabuliformis in leaf and litter. Compared with leaves, the concentrations of C for P. tabuliformis were highest. The concentrations of N and P, as well as N:P for R. pseudoacacia plantation, were significantly higher than those for the other plantations. C and N concentrations were the highest in surface soil (0-10 cm), and C:N and C:P both demonstrated the trend of litter>soil in the plantations with the exception of S. matsudana. The total N concentration of leaf was positively correlated with that of litter in the four plantations. Overall, our findings suggested the growth of R. pseudoacacia, P. tabuliformis, and S. matsudana was mainly restricted by P, while that of A. altissima was constrained by N. In addition, it is a feasible method that uses nitrogen fertilizer when tending the artificial forest in the plain area.

Jie Li, Da Yao, Zhongyu Shi and Kaiyue Song

Application of Material Flow Analysis to Municipal Solid Waste in Urban Areas in Developing Countries and Possible Solutions Under Circular Economic Framework

"The understanding waste flow of a country is important to identify the main problems associated with waste management and identify opportunities in material flow management. A tool such as material flow analysis (MFA) is a widely used method in waste management studies, to provide a comprehensive analysis of material movements, support for material characterization analysis to identify the severity of a problem, identify the real root cause, and propose suitable management methods. This paper presents an application of MFA for municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Western provinces in Sri Lanka. The outcome includes the identification, and quantification of the main input and output flows of the system in the present context, from waste generation, collection, unaccounted and unidentified flows, material recovery, and final disposal of MSW. Results are evaluated under treatment mechanisms of Recycling, Reusing, and repurposing the materials. Overall results show per capita per day of waste generation in Sri Lanka stood at 0.43 kg, whereas, the Western province represents that 0.56 kg due to the high population area with the highest rate of urbanization. However, the global average per capita per day of waste generation stood at 2.22 kg. The material and energy recovery represent 31% and 33% respectively in the study area from total collected waste. 36% of the material finally ended up in open dumpsites even after collection. Further research needs to be done on material and energy recovery potential identification in dumping waste, as this can convert to valuable results with proper management practices with available resources."

N. A. Hemali and A. A. P. De Alwis

The Impact of Textile and Clothing Export on Environmental Quality in Bangladesh: An ARDL Bound Test Approach

The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of Textile and clothing (T&C) exports on environmental quality in Bangladesh’s economy. The fact that Bangladesh’s clothing industry is one of the biggest T & C exporters in the world, justifies the importance of environmental evaluation in the case of Bangladesh’s T&C. In this regard, this study has used the yearly time series data of T&C sector exports, CO2 per capita, and ecological footprint per capita (EF) as a measure of environmental quality measurement from 1983 to 2019. The empirical investigation is carried out by applying the Autoregressive distribution lag model (ARDL) method. The findings of the study have identified the significant impact of the T&C industry on the environment of Bangladesh. The empirical findings demonstrate that T&C exports have made a significant positive contribution to environmental degradation in Bangladesh (both CO2 and EF). The study recommended that policymakers can introduce environmentally friendly ways of production. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, one should start a cleaner production while taking energy consumption and economic growth into account. Hence, the policy focuses on improving various aspects of production, especially green manufacturing to mitigate the adverse effect of the industry on the environment.

Mahmuda Akter Khuky, Law Siong Hook, Lee Chin and Mohd Yusof Bin Saari

Salinity Prediction at the Bhairab River in the South-Western Part of Bangladesh Using Artificial Neural Network

Salinity is a significant ecological element that influences the kind of creatures that reside in a water body. Salinity also determines the types of plants that will grow in a water body or on land that is fed by a water body. Three models were generated using an artificial neural network to estimate the salinity concentrations in the Bhairab River. Different combinations of variables were used to train the model using sample values of temperature, pH, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), color, total dissolved solids (TDS), total solids (TS), and suspended solids (SS). The performance of the models was determined using the statistical mechanism root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of correlation (R), and determination coefficient (DC). ANN-2 model had the best performance which had the input variables electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and total solids (TS). These three input variables were highly correlated with salinity. The correlation between the observed and the predicted values was also very high, the coefficient of correlation is 0.98 in validation. The RMSE value was very low for the model training and the value reduced even more after validation to 0.58.

Khan Md. Rabbani Rasha

Perspectives for the Use of Hydrogen Energy in European Countries

The most actual environmental problems in the XXI century are the following: global warming due to greenhouse gas emissions, energy production at coal, oil and power plants, air pollution, water pollution and waste recycling. Other environmental problems can be added to this short list, but the authors solve a specific task of promoting the idea of a promising “green” energy that will help humanity in conservation and development. European Union (EU) countries are planning to solve the main environmental challenges for the transition to low-carbon electricity by 2050. In many countries in the world every year there are more and more supporters of reducing emissions of carbon dioxide CO2, nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. In recent years, EU has been consistently pursuing its own policy in the field of environmental protection, carrying out large-scale environmental measures. In Germany, United Kingdom (UK) and other European countries, a number of environmental initiatives are already gaining the status of state policy, which is being formalized in laws and regulations. Russian Federation acts on the world market as a leading country that produces and supplies significant energy resources not only to Europe, but also to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It is clear that the competitive stability of Russian energy companies significantly depends on the situation on the world energy market, but with the right strategy, Russia can actively influence the state of the entire energy market. With a confident leadership position, provided with significant natural, technological and human resources, Russian Federation has undeniable advantages over other energy-producing countries. It is Russia that can become the main supplier of clean energy for all other countries of the world, where tougher environmental requirements for energy generation are being cultivated. The authors of the study are considering the possibility of producing environmentally friendly hydrogen in Russia based on renewable energy sources (RES). The performed analysis shows the undeniable advantages of Russia in the export of hydrogen to other European countries.

Vyacheslav M. Krayev, Alexey I. Tikhonov and Irina Kuzmina-Merlino

How Livestock and Industrial Energy Affect Indonesia’s Surface Temperature

As part of the agricultural sector, livestock is a source of food for Indonesia and consumers abroad. Therefore, the demand for livestock commodities tends to increase, aligning with the positive growth of the population. Additionally, as part of their efforts to promote higher consumption, one of the attempts made by producers and the government as policymakers is to encourage an increase in the livestock population from time to time. On the other hand, the industrial sector that engages in processing likewise continues to expand to improve products downstream. However, the increase in the number of livestock and industries can contribute to the rise in emissions that impact environmental conditions. In this study, the environmental situation referred to is temperature variations. Moreover, this research aims to determine the impact of livestock population and energy consumption in the industrial sector on temperature changes. The method used in this research is explanatory. The data sources used for multiple linear regression analysis came from the World Bank, Indonesia’s Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), and the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The analysis reveals that large and small livestock, as well as energy use in the industrial sector are factors that have an impact on Indonesia’s temperature. Large and small livestock cause an increase in temperature due to the large number of emissions produced by enteric fermentation and excretion. Meanwhile, the rise in energy consumption is inversely proportional to changes in temperature. This condition occurred because of the higher proportion of renewable energy in total energy consumption.

N. P. A. Widjanarko and A. P. Siregar

Response and Environmental Adaptation of Plant Community to Periodic Flooding in the Riparian Zone of Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The plant is an important component of the riparian ecosystem, which could reflect both the environmental and functional characteristics of the riparian zone. Studies on species composition, diversity, community structure, distribution pattern, and adaptation strategies of plant communities in the riparian zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) will help to explore the maintaining mechanism of the plant communities’ ecological function under severe water-level fluctuation. The paper reviewed the plant community characteristics, functional traits as well as their eco-physiological responses and environmental adaptations in this special ecological zone. Based on this, future research orientations in this field were also prospected, which may focus on the maintenance mechanism of the plant community, suitable plants selection and their adaptation mechanism, the relationship between plant functional traits and ecosystem functions, plant niche in the riparian zone, and the connectivity of riparian zone to the surrounding environment. The results can promote the correlational research on plant communities in the riparian zone and deepen the understanding of ecosystem services the riparian ecotone provides.

Guanhua Zhang, Baoyang Sun, Feipeng Ren and Hao Li

Strength Characteristics of Cement-Modified Iron Tailings and Their Adsorption on Graphene Oxide

To explore the mechanical properties of cement-modified iron tailings (CIT) and its adsorption on graphene oxide (GO), the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests of CIT with 10?ment were carried out for 7 and 28 days. CIT adsorption of GO was carried out under the conditions of different pH, CIT dosage, and GO initial concentration. The micro characterization of CIT adsorption of GO was carried out by SEM, TEM, AFM, EDS, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS. The results show that: (1) the CIT strength of 28 d curing age is 1202 kPa is twice of 7 d. (2) At the same pH, the GO adsorption effect of CIT at 7 days curing age was better than that at 28 days. When pH is 6, CIT content is 50 mg, and GO initial concentration is 100 mg.L-1, CIT has the best adsorption effect on the GO, and the removal rate reached 93.5%. (3) Through microscopic characterization, it can be concluded that the bound water in the CIT structure and the asymmetric stretching vibration of the O-H bond in hydrated calcium silicate (C-S-H) are the main factors affecting the adsorption of GO. The above research results show that CIT not only has good strength properties but also has good adsorption properties for GO. CIT is a potential environmental treatment material.

Ping Jiang, Xuhui Zhou, Jiandong Yang and Lin Zhou

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