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Topographic Gradient Differentiation and Ecological Function Zoning Based on Ecosystem Services: A Case Study of Fuping County

Scientifically delineating ecological function zones is essential for national territory spatial planning and comprehensive management. In this study, we evaluated five ecosystem services, habitat quality, water yield, carbon sequestration, soil conservation, and food production, in Fuping County, China, and introduced the application of the topographic position index in exploring the topographic gradient effect of each service. We next applied the K-means clustering algorithm to identify the ecosystem services bundles and analyze the dominant type of ecosystem service in these bundles. A particle swarm optimization-support vector machine model was also constructed to identify the boundaries of ecological function zones and complete the ecological function zoning. The results are as follows: (1) In Fuping County, the high-value areas of habitat quality are distributed in the west, north, and southeast; those of soil conservation are in the northwest, northeast, and southwest; those of water yield are in the east and south; those of carbon sequestration are in the west, and those of food production is in the east. (2) The habitat quality first decreases and then increases with an increasing topographic gradient; food production and water yield decline with increasing topographic gradient; carbon sequestration and soil conservation increase with increasing topographic gradient. (3) Four types of ecosystem services bundles were identified. The dominant ecosystem functions of Type I, II, and III bundles are food production and water yield, carbon sequestration, and soil conservation, respectively. Type IV bundles generally have low levels of ecosystem services in the study area. (4) Four ecological function zones were delineated: food production zone, ecological conservation zone, potential restoration zone, and critical restoration zone. The research findings can provide a theoretical and practical basis for formulating and implementing ecological spatial management policies in the Taihang Mountains of China.

Ling He, Zhe Du, Jiabo Tian and Shuqi Chen

RFID and IoT Enabled Framework to Make Pune City an Eco-friendly Smart City

The increasing volume and complexity of waste associated with the modern economy pose a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. Due to the intensive increase in computation, Machine learning is popular. Intelligent solid waste management motivates the Swachh Bharat mission to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of astrapita Mahatma Gandhi. In the context of smart city development, an innovative means of implementing smart solid waste collection is to improve daily solid waste collection at the household level. An intelligent solid waste collection system will be implemented in the Smart City to improve solid waste collection. It is required to educate households about solid waste handling. Municipal Corporation can implement an innovative PPP model as part of an independent India campaign to motivate startup ntrepreneurs, which will generate jobs in India. The city of Pune is in a phase of intelligent urban mobility development to improve citizens’ living standards. Ensure safe traffic management, adequate water supply, smart amenities, and services such as the intelligent collection, transport, and processing of solid waste. RFID and IoT base IT solutions have the potential to develop sustainable, innovative technology to achieve 100% household collections and transportation and treatment of waste so that to minimize waste to send landfill side.

Sangram C. Patil and Milind R. Gidde

Strategic Monitoring of Groundwater Quality Around Olusosun Landfill in Lagos State for Pollution Reduction and Environmental Sustainability

As urbanization and population increase in the megacity, there is a need for engineering intervention and strategic monitoring of groundwater around landfills for environmental sustainability, pollution reduction and public health. This study evaluated water’s physical and chemical parameters in wells and boreholes near the Olusosun landfill in Lagos State to determine how they impact groundwater quality. An Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS) was used to evaluate groundwater samples obtained from five locations within the dump site. Some water parameters, such as dissolved oxygen (DO), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), and magnesium (Mg), had concentrations that were higher than the WHO, NESREA, and Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) standard limits in some sampling sites, with mean concentrations of 0.33 mg.L-1, 0.04 mg.L-1, 0.74 mg.L-1, and 0.74 mg.L-1, respectively. A small amount of lead was identified in the groundwater of the study area. A major source of air and groundwater pollution, the Olusosun landfill has a detrimental impact on the health of those who live there. Solid waste, groundwater interactions, and contaminated migration into the nearby neighbourhood were studied. It was observed that the degradation of waste products in dump sites releases harmful leachate into the groundwater. Even though some heavy metal concentrations in the study area are still within WHO, NESREA, and NSDWQ standard limits, investigations and further monitoring should be conducted regularly to assess the concentrations of heavy metals in groundwater.

O.J. Oyebode, F.O. Jimoh, S.M. Ajibade, S.A. Afolaluand F.A. Oyebode

A Survey on Deep Learning Based Crop Yield Prediction

Agriculture is the most important sector and the backbone of a developing country’s economy. Accurate crop yield prediction models can provide decision-making tools for farmers to make better decisions. Crop yield prediction has challenged researchers due to dynamic, noisy, non-stationary, non-linear features and complex data. The factors that influence crop yield are changes in temperature and rainfall, plant disease, pests, fertilizer, and soil quality. The paper discusses the factors affecting crop yield, explores the features utilized, and analysis deep learning methodologies and performance metrics utilized in crop yield prediction.

S. Archana and P. Senthil Kumar

Biomimetic Synthesis of Nanoparticles: State-of-the-Art

A state-of-the-art review of biomimetic nanoparticle synthesis is presented. The technique’s origin has been traced to the studies, started over 150 years ago, on the hyperaccumulation of certain metals by different species of plants. How the initial intracellular method of nanoparticle synthesis evolved into the now widely used extracellular route has been described. The review then covers the gist of all the studies reported on the biomimetic synthesis of nanoparticles of different metals using extracts of different botanical species (plants). The synthesis mechanism is discussed, and the factors influencing the nanoparticles’ extent, shapes, and sizes are identified.

Tabassum-Abbasi, S. A. Abbasi, R. Rajalakshmi, Pratiksha Patnaik and Tasneem Abbasi

Review of Outdoor Air Pollution in Sri Lanka Compared to the South Asian Region

Air pollution is a significant issue that affects almost all the countries in the world while predominating in South Asian Regional countries due to poverty, less attention, and less awareness towards the implementation and obeying of air quality guidelines in public. As a developing country, Sri Lanka stands at an optimum state of national air quality compared to other SARC because it is an island with a minor population compared to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. Maldives and Bhutan lie straightforwardly in owing mild air quality in SARC. However, SARC is far behind the world in maintaining optimistic air quality nationwide. Ambient air pollution-attributable deaths have become interim in past decades, a severe burden to the sustainable existence of SARC. A well-established systematic epidemiological, empirical studies and revisions regarding air pollution, strategic planning for mitigating air pollution, and frequent Spatio-temporal pollution monitoring nodes are necessary for Sri Lanka to achieve the sustainable goal. Other South Asian countries: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Maldives, also should pay attention to minimizing outdoor air pollution nationwide for the betterment of future existence.

L.R.S.D. Rathnayake, G.B. Sakura and N.A. Weerasekara

Boron Isotopic Systematics and Its Significance in Natural Processes: An Overview

In recent years, interest in boron has expanded from microscopic to macroscopic levels, and several studies have contributed to understanding the role of boron in earth and natural processes. The boron isotopic composition provides a unique perspective into the crystallization process in granites, pegmatites, and temperature variations. Boron isotopic studies have been used as a tracer to understand geothermal systems, rivers, rock processes, reconstruction of pH and pCO2, groundwater pollution, and further help in understanding the changes which have occurred in oceans through geological time. Furthermore, boron isotopes have also been utilized to understand the genesis of ores and understanding subduction processes and as a tracer in groundwater pollution. In plants, it acts as a micronutrient. However, its deficiency and the excessive amount may inhibit the growth of plants, bacteria, and fungi and may also affect the soil and aquatic microflora. Boron maintains and regulates several metabolic pathways, and its quantity above a certain level may prove detrimental to the environment. This overview explains boron isotope variations and their implications in earth sciences and natural processes.

Tanya Srivastava and Nishchal Wanjari

Removal of H2S from Biogas Using Thiobacillus sp.: Batch and Continuous Studies

Anaerobic digestion produces biogas which usually contains 60-70% of methane (CH4), 30-40% of carbon-di-oxide (CO2), and 10-2,000 ppm hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The concentration of H2S depends upon the type of substrate. H2S tends to corrode pipes and machines carrying them. The high concentrations of H2S present in biogas may adversely affect electricity generation. Hence, the removal of H2S and enrichment of biogas with CH4 is an essential step towards higher energy production. In the present study, the biological method of removing H2S using Thiobacillus sp. was demonstrated for a one cu.m anaerobic co-digestion (ACD) unit running on an organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) and septage sludge. Initial lab scale studies were conducted by collecting the biogas generated from 1 cu.m digesters, and continuous experiments were optimized for the process parameters such as flow rate, the volume of medium with culture, time, the height of the column, column composition, etc. The raw biogas was purged in a liquid medium (LM) with a culture containing Thiobacillus sp. The studies with the LM containing Thiobacillus sp. culture showed a 68% removal of H2S in the first 8 min, and the saturation occurred at 75 min when the time-dependent experiment was studied. The smaller flow rate (0.48 L.min-1) and highest volume of culture (500 mL) showed better results than other parameters. The highest and average oxidation rates of sulfate were recorded as 39 and 40.3 ppm.sec-1, respectively, for 0.48 L.min-1 flow rate and 500 mL of the culture volume. In the column studies, a column containing cocopeat (CP) was studied for its efficiency in removing H2S. At a flow rate of 0.9 L.min-1, 25?sorption was encountered and reached saturation at 90 min. The bed height of 9 inches with CP and plastic support (PS) showed a 20% H2S removal. The filling ratio of CP and PS (1:1) was the best ratio for proper gas passage with optimal time for adsorption/absorption. The kinetic, isotherm, and continuous models helped to understand the capacity of the adsorbent. Freundlich, Yoon-Nelson, and BDST model were best fit for the present study. A pilot scale setup for one cu.m biogas reactor showed an average of 50% removal of H2S for LM with culture, and an additional 20% removal was possible by the introduction of a column along with the liquid bed in series. An overall efficiency of 70-75% of H2S removal was achieved. No significant CH4 loss was encountered during the study.

R. Shet and S. Mutnuri

Comparative Assessment of Medical Waste Management in Multi-System and Selected Teaching Hospitals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Medical facilities, such as hospitals, clinics, and locations where diagnosis and treatment are administered, create dangerous waste that predisposes individuals to deadly infections. Medical waste management aims to improve health and prevent public health and environmental threats. Questionnaires, interviews, site visitations, and observations were utilized to determine the management strategies implemented in the three hospitals and evaluate the efficacy of waste management. The hospitals under review are Afe Babalola University Multi-system Hospital (AMSH), Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), and Federal Teaching Hospital Ido-Ekiti (FETHI). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized for the statistical analysis of the questionnaires, and the mean assessment was utilized to compute the waste per bed each day. The results revealed that the three hospitals’ sharp, infectious, and pharmaceutical waste is the most sorted. All hospitals burn their medical waste in incinerators but dispose of the ashes in dumpsites. The mean evaluation of all hospitals’ medical waste was weighed to establish the overall amount generated. The total amount of medical waste created at AMSH, EKSUTH, and FETHI is 31.5 kg, 53.6 kg, and 135.1 kg, respectively. The medical waste generated per bed per day in AMSH, EKSUTH, and FETHI is 0.61 kg, 0.74 kg, and 0.73 kg, respectively. It was determined that the proper management and disposal of waste is a critical obligation of healthcare facilities. There should be a provision for educating personnel about the consequences of inappropriately disposing of medical waste.

O.J. Oyebode, C.C. Okpala, S.M. Ajibade,, N.M. Ogarekpe, S.A. Afolalu, A.O. Coker, S.G. Udeagbara and A.T. Adeniyi

An Inappropriate Rise in NO2 During the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Urban Area of Chhattisgarh, India

The COVID-19 first case was reported in India on January 30, 2020, and in Chhattisgarh on March 19, 2020, and since then a sharp surge has been noticed. The government of India imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 25, 2020, a complete suspension of human activities, viz., industry, construction, transport, academic institutions, etc., which resulted in an improvement in air quality (a decrease in PM2.5 and PM10, alteration in NO2 and an increase in O3). But the rate of cases of COVID-19 has increased sharply, and eventually, under economic pressure, the lockdown was withdrawn on June 1, 2020, which further accelerated the exponential growth of COVID-19 cases. We noticed that in the Chhattisgarh State of India, the alteration in the air quality index during the lockdown period is continuing even after the restoration of anthropogenic activities. Among PM2.5, PM10, NO2, and O3, the behavior of NO2 was found to be different than others; it was found to increase during the lockdown period but further decreased with the resumption of anthropogenic activities. We conclude that the air quality index has an insignificant impact on COVID-19 infection.

A. Zeb, I. U. Khan, S. Tripathi, M. R. Sahu and A. Kumar

Adsorption and Kinetic Studies on Sequestering Effect of Porous Biodegradable Biochar Obtained from Pig-Bone on Hexavalent chromium from Aqueous Solution

In the current research work, the authors proposed a list of tactics to eliminate Cr (VI) with the help of pig bone biochar. The Cr (VI) was adsorbed in batches onto pig bone biochar to scrutinize the adsorption data. The studies determine the impact of adsorption dose, pH, and concentration. From the results, it was inferred that the optimum pH level was 7 for the removal of metal. The study calculated the adsorption isotherms in terms of affinity and adsorption capacity by leveraging Temkin, Langmuir, and Freundlich equations. According to the reports, the Langmuir model is suitable for the adsorption data, followed by Temkin and Freundlich equations. In this model, rapid adsorption kinetic rates were observed, whereas the equilibrium state was achieved after two hours. There seems to be a perfect collation between the kinetic adsorption data and the pseudo-second-order equation. The researchers determined both Lagergren and Ho’sconstants. When biochar was characterized with SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope), EDX (Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometer), and FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer), it was revealed that the Cr (VI) ions interacted with the isolated aggregates formed on the biosorbent surface. From the results, it can be understood that the pig bone biochar can be effectively used to eliminate chromium ions from an aqueous solution.

L. Vidhya, S. Vinodha, S. J. Pradeeba, B. Jeyagowri, V. Nirmaladevi and N. Nithiya

Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil and Crops in Rural Gujarat, Next to an Industrial Area: A Correlation Study

Heavy metal contamination is one of the significant concerns of environmental pollution. The present study was conducted to find out the correlation between soil and crop/food matrices grown at the exact location for Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, Na, P, Zn, and Pb elements near the industrial areas of Narol, Changodar, Vatva, Makarpura, Nandesari, and Ankleshwar in Gujarat, India. Soil samples were collected from 64 sampling sites in an industrial area. Twenty of these sites contained crop/food matrices used for the correlation study. The ranges of concentration of Cr (17-74.4 mg.kg-1), Cu (9.6-82.4 mg.kg-1), Ni (10.6-55.9 mg.kg-1), Pb (4.5- 20.7 mg.kg-1), Zn (21.5-112.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (7075-44557.5 mg.kg-1) for Soil and for crop Cr (0.3-0.6 mg.kg-1), Cu (0.3-8.6 mg.kg-1), Zn (1.1-43.5 mg.kg-1), Fe (12.6-69.4 mg.kg-1), and Al (5.8-102.2 mg.kg-1). According to the study, there is a strong correlation between the soil and crop/food matrices at the different locations, like 0.97 for Fe and Ni, 0.94 for Mg, 0.95 for Mn, and 0.55 for Pb and Zn, and very little correlation between K, P, and Ca, while a negative correlation between Al, Cr, Cu, and Na. The DTPA extractable method was used for the elemental analysis, and analysis was done using the ICP-OES instrument following microwave-assisted digestion. The results show that metal contamination transforms from soil to crop/food matrices, which represents a serious concern and requires action to address the metal contamination by industrialization.

A. Salauddin and C. Sandesh

Moringa Oleifera Coagulation Characteristics in Wastewater Treatment in a University Dormitory

Wastewater treatment necessitates the use of an appropriate method to achieve satisfactory results. The conventional method of Alum addition has been widely used for years, but it is prohibitively expensive. This study uses Moringa oleifera, an inexpensive and readily available plant, as a natural coagulant to treat wastewater collected from university dormitories. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, Turbidity, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) were examined based on appropriate standards. Wastewater treatment with varied coagulant dosages of 50, 100, and 150 mg.L-1) was monitored using a standard jar test device with an initial wastewater perturbation at 100 rpm for 5 min was reduced to 50 rpm in 10 minutes with a rest time of 30 min. The results showed that the quality of the physicochemical properties of the water improved. The percentage increase in the water quality is; BOD (92%), COD (92%), and TDS (52-64%), with an increase in Moringa coagulant achieving a reduction of 96% of Turbidity. While the DO improved (79%), the pH remained below acceptable limits (6.73-7.56) for effluent disposal. The treated water showed clarity (colorless) and no odor compared to the wastewater. Hence, Moringa oleifera seeds cake residue can be an effective coagulant for wastewater treatment.

M. S. Ogunshina, O. M. Abioye, K. A. Adeniran and D. A. Olasehinde

Nesting Site Preferences of Ratufa indica indica in the Umblebyle Range Forest, Bhadravathi Division, Shimoga, Karnataka

Malabar Giant Squirrel (Ratufa indica indica) is one of the four subspecies endemic to India (Abdulali 1952), common to northern and central Western Ghats among species Ratufa indica belonging to Subfamily Ratufinae. The study was designed to analyze the nest tree preferences of animals in the dry deciduous forests of the Umblebyle range, Shimoga, Karnataka (South India) during February, March, and April 2021, surveying 20 transects covering a distance of 47.7 km. Nest tree preferences were assessed by observing 406 dreys (nests) on 385 trees covering an area of 8350.89 ha. The nest trees came from 20 families and 41 species, with 12 tree species in the Family Fabaceae and 84 trees in the Terminalia paniculata having the highest preference. The Squirrels showed the highest preference for deciduous trees over semi-evergreen and evergreen trees. The most preferred tree height and nest height ranged between 11-20m, including 87.53% of nesting trees and 83.89% of nests, respectively. The average nest height was estimated to be 14.73 (±3.311) m, with a minimum and maximum height of 7 m and 28 m, respectively. The difference between average tree height and average nest height was 1.512m.

V. Hamsa Rekha and A. Shwetha

Investigating the Implications of Transit-Oriented Land Use Development for a Potential Node in an Urban Metro for Sustainability

Urbanization is intrinsically connected to economic progress. India’s rapid economic and population growth has increased its carbon footprint and traffic congestion. A long-term strategy is essential to preserve the balance and alleviate the issues arising from the expansion. Integrating land use and transportation planning has been acknowledged as a means to achieve sustainable urban development worldwide. Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is one such strategy. TOD is a planning and design strategy for promoting urban development by clustering jobs, housing, services, and amenities around public transport stations. This strategy can help achieve sustainable communities and improve the quality of life. This research paper assessed the land use characteristics of an urban fringe area in Trivandrum city and completed a land suitability analysis using GIS software tools. A potential node for re-development was identified by looking at various traffic, demographic, and land use parameters. Detailed TOD recommendations for the area surrounding the transit node were proposed based on its development potential.

Sobha. P. and J. Prakash Arul Jose

Environmental Efficiency Evaluation in Vietnam Textile and Garment Industry: Super-SBM Model with Undesirable Output Approach

The purpose of the paper is to estimate the environmental efficiency of the Vietnamese textile and garment industry and evaluate the impact of the factors on environmental efficiency. The study uses firm-level panel data from the Vietnam annual enterprise survey data for the 2012–2018 period in the Vietnam textile and garment industry to evaluate the environmental efficiency by using the Super-SBM DEA model with undesirable output and applies the Tobit regression model to measure the impact of the factors on the environmental efficiency. This study evaluates environmental efficiency and assesses the impact of some core factors, including the origin of imported machinery and equipment, the origin of imported materials, the management of industrial zones, and the presence of FDI firms, on environmental efficiency at the firm level. The results indicate that the average score for environmental efficiency is 0.233. Some factors, such as income per employee, machined goods imported from developed countries, industrial zones, firm improvement processes, and the presence of FDI, have a positive impact on a firm’s environmental efficiency, whereas materials made in Vietnam have a negative impact.

Phung Mai Lan and Nguyen Khac Minh

Measurement of Black Carbon Absorption Coefficients Using an Aethalometer and Their Association with Visibility

Black carbon (BC) is a pollutant aerosol affecting climate and human health. Light absorption coefficients of black carbon (Babs) were measured using an aethalometer model AE33 at wavelengths 370, 470,520,660,880, and 950 nm. Babs for the seven wavelengths at seven sites in Jordan fluctuated with time and peaked at rush hours. The daily average values for all sites were inversely proportional to the wavelength. The average daily visibility values in the seven Jordan sites varied between 72 km and 211km. In the Irbid site, the daily average visibility values for 7-13 Nov. 2021 varied between 43 km and 107 km. BC varied from hour to hour and from day to day. The daily average values of BC in Irbid for the period of 7 -13 Nov. 2021 varied between 2.24 ?g.m-3 and 4.66 ?g.m-3. BC peaked at the rush hour and had the lowest values on Friday. About 90% of the measured BC was from fossil fuel sources and 10% from biomass-burning sources.

Khadeejeh M. Hamasha

Hydrogeochemical Characteristics and Suitability of Groundwater for Drinking and Irrigation from Shallow Aquifers of PG1 Watershed in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra

An endeavor has been made to understand the hydrogeochemical characteristics of groundwater from shallow aquifers of the PG1 watershed (latitudes 19°38’30” to 19°50’30” N and longitudes 79°04’00” to 79°11’00” E). The appropriateness of groundwater has also been checked for various purposes. The groundwater from the study area is alkaline and slightly saline. The Ca2+ ? Mg2+ ? Na+ ? K+ and HCO3- ? SO42- ? Cl- ? NO3- was the ascendancy of cations and anions. The earth metals (Ca + Mg) exceeded the alkali metals (Na + K). The positive correlation interpreted from the interrelationship of Na+ vs Cl- exhibited a silicate weathering process for the liberation of ions in groundwater at the rock-water interface. In addition to the non-lithological source, anthropogenic inputs were inferred, indicating the agricultural fertilizers and domestic wastewater. All the groundwater samples from the study area are suitable for drinking and domestic use. The groundwater from the study area is also suitable for irrigation with negligible exceptions.

S. S. Deshpande and Y. A. Murkute

Efficacy of Nanofertilizers Over Chemical Fertilizers in Boosting Agronomic Production

Global agricultural production cannot catch the increasing population’s exigency. At different times, the world has faced food crises of varying intensity. Many steps have been taken after that to encounter the rising concerns. Nowadays, nanofertilizers are being experimented with as an alternative to conventional fertilizers. Nanofertilizers can be classified as macronutrients and micronutrients nanofertilizers. Synthesis of macronutrient nanofertilizers (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, etc.) and micronutrient nanofertilizers (iron, boron, zinc, copper, silicon, etc.) can be done using chemical and green synthesis methods, which involves reducing agents, capping agents, dendrimers, microbial synthesis, solvents, and others. Composition of the nanofertilizers can be done using top-down and bottom-up approaches incorporating hydrocarbon polymer, dendrimers, microbes, etc., which decides their usage in various crops depending upon the requirement of the plant. Engineered nanofertilizers can improve crop yield by mitigating environmental pollution, environmental stress, and plant diseases. However, the unsystematic use of nanofertilizers can be a hurdle in its utilization. This article discusses various types of nanofertilizers with their unique properties and applications. Each category of nanofertilizers is explained considering their composition, particle size, concentrations applied, benefited plant species, and plant-growth enhancement aspects.

A. Khatri and R. Bhateria

Analysis of Shoreline Change of North Central Timor Regency, Indonesia

Shoreline change is a process that occurs due to the impact of natural factors and human activities. Geographically, the coastal area of North Central Timor Regency (NCT) is in the northern part of the island of Timor, East Nusa Tenggara Province (ENT). Physically, the area is affected by the oceanographic dynamics of the Sawu Sea waters and aquaculture activities, which impact the damage to coastal ecosystems. This study aims to analyze shoreline change in the northern coastal area of NCT Regency. The data used are Landsat 8 images from 2015-20221 to describe current conditions. Meanwhile, Landsat 5 imagery data from 1990 - 2000 was used to describe the initial conditions. The satellite imagery is analyzed to map shoreline changes that experience accretion or abrasion. The results show that the shoreline of the study area has experienced changes in accretion and abrasion. Based on the area of change in the northern coastal area of NCT Regency, the dominant accretion area was 1108.07 m2 with a rate of change of 20.19 m.year-1, as long as 1021 meters, while the abrasion was 845.43 m2 at a rate of 12.65 m.year-1 as long as 36520 meters. The average shoreline change distance in accretion conditions was 11.3 meters, while the abrasion was 7.93 meters. The shoreline shift due to the highest abrasion in Ponu was -16.08, while accretion in North Oepuah was 35.63 meters. The results of this research will contribute to planning the management of the coastal area of NCT Regency.

L. Ledheng and E. M. Y. Hano’e

Flood Mitigation and Pollution Abatement in Kaduna Metropolis Through Engineering Assessment and Analytical Hierarchy Process Design

Pollution abatement and flood control activities require effective water resource planning, engineering assessment, sophisticated technology, and appropriate hydraulic structure designs. This paper x-rays flood mitigation and pollution abatement strategies that can be adopted in the Kaduna metropolis in Nigeria. Analytical hierarchy process of design, questionnaires, engineering assessment approach, and standard method for estimation of the runoff discharge was adopted for this research. Estimating water balance components and QSWAT Hydrological Model can be used with the QGIS interface for a greener environment. Suitable hydraulic systems were designed for long-term flood control in the River Kaduna catchment area through an analytic hierarchy Process. Statistical analysis, manning equations, and rational methods were utilized for adequate assessment and planning. The hydraulic discharge capacity of culverts, open channels, and other hydraulic structures was carefully checked. Flooding greatly impacts infrastructural development, and inadequate drainage systems contribute to it. Mitigation strategies, adequate water resource planning, and management will greatly benefit from addressing flood-related issues in the study area. This research provides information on the flood vulnerability of infrastructures and mitigation strategies that can be adopted in the study area. Viable policies and management strategies can be utilized to avert losses traceable to floods in developing and developed countries.

O. J. Oyebode and F. Paul

Comparative Advanced Oxidation Decolorization of the Triphenylmethane Dye with Dimethyl Dioxirane and Hydrogen Peroxide

Methyl Violet (MV), a triphenylmethane dye, has been subjected to comparative studies with hydrogen peroxide and dimethyl dioxirane under optimum situations. When employing hydrogen peroxide, the photolysis process becomes slower, but the dye solutions are entirely decolored and mineralized. The decolorization rate exhibits pseudo-first-order kinetics. The effect of pH, oxidant dosage, and methyl violet concentration on the degradation is also examined. Generated o-leucoaniline,1,3-diphenylurea,2-hydroxy benzoic acid, phenol, acetone, water, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide are identified and measured by GC-MS analysis. These substances remain in the dye solution along with dimethyl dioxirane, which is released faster during the last stages of degradation. The degradation rates of methyl violet reached 97.9% and 65.8% within 30 mins and 180 min of reaction time using dimethyl dioxirane and hydrogen peroxide.

S. Vinotha and A. Leema Rose

The Impact of High-Concentration Salt Solution on Morphological Changes in a Geosynthetic Clay Liner

Microscopic examination was used to begin investigating the changes in geosynthetic clay liner (GCL) specimens that had been hydrated with two separate solutions: pure water and a 50 percent concentration NaCl solution. After already being hydrated with NaCl aqueous solution, the GCL samples were examined under an electron microscope. Even though the treated GCL samples’ surfaces mirrored those of the untreated GCL, a crystal deposit was found there. It was found that the bentonite particles in the GCL sample appeared more solid after being hydrated with distilled water as opposed to the NaCl solution using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). It seems that wetting the salt solution decreases the bentonite particles’ tendency to swell. Additionally, it was demonstrated by the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) data that distilled water hydration had no impact on the distribution of the elements identified in the GCL samples. On the other hand, the presence of bound chlorine demonstrated that the bentonite particles had absorbed the NaCl solution. The hydrated GCL sample’s hydraulic conductivity showed some variation as well.

N. P. Nisha and J. Prakash Arul Jose

Protection of the Environment Under Trade and Investment Agreements: An Analysis Based on Existing Legal Frameworks

Free trade causes damage to the environment substantially as it puts pressure on natural resources in its venture to expand economic activities. On the other hand, there is also an argument that free trade has the potential to improve environmental quality by contributing to growth. Such growth enhancement may help individuals, organizations, or governments raise funds and spend more on environmental protection. This paper highlights the links between trade and the environment. Besides, it also shows how international trade and environmental protection are both essential to the well-being of humanity and, conversely, how they are mutually supportive. This paper also scrutinizes how the WTO plays a role in balancing trade and the environment, as many WTO agreements have environmental exceptions.

Kudrat-E-Khuda (Babu), Nazia Afroz Ananna and Arghyadeep Chakraborty

Types and Distribution of Macroinvertebrates Stressed by Heavy Metals in Mangrove Forests

Heavy metals can decrease the number of species in nature. This research aims to determine the relationship between the type of macroinvertebrates stressed by heavy metals in the Wonorejo Mangrove Area, Surabaya, East Java. This type of research is observational. The determination of stations was done using the purposive random sampling method. Tests for Pb and Cd content were carried out using the AAS method. Nutrient content testing was carried out using the AAS and Kjeldahl methods. Data analysis was presented descriptively, and multivariate analysis was done using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Based on the present research, it can be concluded that there are variations in the type and distribution of macroinvertebrates stressed by heavy metals in the mangrove area of Surabaya. Station 1 is dominated by Ocypode ryderi, Station 2 by Assiminea sp., Station 3 by Scylla paramamosain, and Station 4 by Cerithidea sp. with the high presence of metals (Cd, Pb), and soil and water nutrients (Org-C, N) at Stations 1, 3, and 4. The Station 2 has only Pb. Assiminea sp. (Phylum Mollusca) can be the best candidate for metal bioindicators because it appears in all locations where soil and water have been contaminated with Pb and Cd metals without affecting their life.

W. Budijastuti, R. Ambarwati, N. Ducha, F. Rachmadiarti, L. Lisdiana and K. Sahani

Assessment of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) Induced Salinity on the Growth and Yield Parameters of Cichorium intybus L.

The present study was done on the hypothesis that excess sodium chloride (NaCl) in the soil decreases the growth and yield of Cichorium intybus L. To investigate this hypothesis, a pot experiment was conducted in which chicory seeds were sown in garden soil-filled earthen pots and treated with three different doses of sodium chloride (45, 75, and 105 mM kg-1 soil) except the control, and each treatment was replicated three times. The results revealed that all the saline treatments significantly (p?0.05) reduced the vegetative (including root and shoot length, dry weight, number of leaves, leaf area, number of branches, and photosynthetic pigments) and reproductive (mean fruit number/plant, mean seed number/fruit, and total seed yield/plant) growth parameters of Cichorium intybus. On increasing NaCl concentration in the soil, chlorophyll content significantly (p?0.05) decreased while proline content in the fresh leaves increased significantly (p?0.05). From the results, it is concluded that Cichorium intybus L. can tolerate a moderate level of sodium chloride stress (45-75 mM NaCl kg-1 soil) but is sensitive to high doses of sodium chloride stress (105 mM NaCl kg-1 soil).

A. Khan, A. A. Khan, S. Samreen and M. Irfan

Comparison of Machine Learning Models in the Prediction of Accumulation of Heavy Metals in the Tree Species in Kanchipuram, Tamilnadu

Arsenic, aluminum, iron, lead, chromium, copper, zinc, manganese, and cadmium are some of the heavy metal pollutants in the air that cause severe impacts on the biotic and abiotic environment. This study intended to find the accumulation capacity of the heavy metals on the leaves of tree species such as Terminalia catappa, Syzygium cumini, Saraca asoca, Pongamia glabra, and Ficus religiosa and predict their accuracy by comparing different machine learning (ML) models. The samples were collected at six different locations (likely Vellagate, Cancer Institute, CSI hospital area, Moongilmandapam, Collectorate, and Pallavarmedu) and distributed in a manner within Kanchipuram town, Tamil Nadu, in February and March of 2018 and 2019, respectively. Six ML methods were selected, such as KStar (K*), Lazy IKB, Logistic Regression Algorithm (LR), LogitBoost Classifier (LB), Meta Randomizable Filtered Classifier (MRFC), and Random Tree (RT), for prediction and to compare the efficiency of their predictions. Out of six models, Logistic functions perform well in terms of TP rate when compared to other classifiers (93.21%-99.81% TPR– 0.93–0.99) and Logitboost attained a low TP rate that ranged from 0.76 to 0.82. This study indicates the feasibility of different ML methods in the prediction of species capabilities toward the accumulation of heavy metals.

R. Sumathi and G. Sriram

Isolation and Screening of Probiotic Bacteria from the Gut of Polychaetes as a Probiotic Potential for Fish Aquaculture

In the present study, a total of 17 morphologically different gut-associated bacteria were isolated from four species of estuarine polychaetes: polychaetes Capitella capitata, Scalibregma inflatum, Dendronereis aesturiana, and Namalycastis abiuma. The isolated strains were evaluated for their probiotic activities, such as digestive enzymes including protease, amylase, and lipase, and antimicrobial activities by the agar well diffusion method against fish pathogens. Based on their better enzymatic and antibacterial activities, two bacterial strains, CMST Poly1 and CMST Poly2, were selected for further probiotic studies. Based on the biochemical and morphological characterization, both probiotic strains were characterized as Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, homofermentative, absence of catalyzing enzymes and notable proteolytic activity, and susceptibility to various antibiotics. Further, these two strains were confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Bacillus subtilis CMST Poly1 and Priestia megaterium CMST Poly2. Our results revealed that strains Bacillus subtilis CMST Poly1 and Priestia megaterium CMST Poly2 can potentially be used as probiotic strains in aquaculture applications.

S. Balasubramanian, T. Bettin Thomas, D. Mathavan, R. Sathish Kumar, G. Uma, R. D. Stevens Jones and T. Citarasu

Analyses of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Ganga River Water in Uttar Pradesh, India

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the Ganga River water samples collected from three cities. Jajmau (Kanpur), Dala Khera (Fatehpur), and Kara Kachar (Kaushambi) of Uttar Pradesh, India. At Jajmau (Kanpur), out of sixteen PAHs, eight were found in the Ganga river water in concentration (?g.L-1) order: acenaphthylene (3.8356) > pyrene (0.5878) > fluorene (0.5752) > anthracene (0.2806) > benzo(b)fluoranthene (0.1960) > phenanthrene (0.0526) > benzo(a)pyrene (0.0234) > naphthalene (0.006). In contrast, in Dala Khera (Fatehpur), two PAHs: anthracene (0.2806) and fluorene (0.07894), were observed. In Kara Kachar (Kaushambi), only single phenanthrene (0.04507) was detected. It was noticed that the three-ring types of PAHs occur commonly in all three sites. It is concerning because the river water sampled had PAH concentrations, namely Acy, Flu, Phe, and Pyr, that were relatively higher than those recommended (0.05 ?g.L-1) by WHO (1998) in surface water. In contrast, the amounts of Nap, Ant, BbF, and Bap were recorded within the safe levels in Kanpur, while in the other two cities (Fatehpur and Kaushambi), Phe and Ant were detected lower than their permissible limit. Flu was measured as higher than its recommended value by WHO (1998). Similarly, the concentration of Acy, Ant, Pyr, BbF and BaP in river water samples at Jajmau, Kanpur were higher than their safe limits suggested by RIVM report 607711007/2012 for inland surface water while Nap, Flu, and Phe were lower than their recommended values. However, at, Dala Khera and Kara Kachar (Fatehpur and Kaushambi respectively), the concentrations of Ant, Flu and Phe were lower than their prescribed limits given by RIVM 607711007/2012.

Poonam Sonwani and Sandhya Bharti

Effects of Flex Fuel in Light Duty Power Generators on the Environment and Circular Bio-Economy

Environmental sustainability encompasses various problems, including clean air, renewable energy, climate change, safe environments, and the capacity to live in a healthy community. One possible strategy for addressing these global problems is the circular bio-economy. Cleaner and lower-carbon environments may be fostered via the production of bioenergy and biomaterials, which can also help to maintain the energy-environment connection. To improve sustainability and the state of the planet, scientists are looking at renewable energy sources like ethanol. Compared to gasoline, ethanol has a reduced carbon footprint and a greater energy density, making it a viable alternative fuel. This study gives an overview of ethanol as a possible alternative fuel for flex-powered power generators in India to meet the goals of the circular bio-economy. This paper details the results of flex-fuel testing conducted on a light-duty power generator using an ethanol-gasoline mix. The findings reveal improved thermal efficiency and lower fuel consumption rates than basic fuel. The emissions of both carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons were shown to be reduced.

S. Padmanabhan, C. Joel, S. Mahalingam, J. R. Deepak, S. Baskar and M. Ruban

Effects of Traffic on Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Different Built Environments

Globally, vehicular pollution is one of the greatest concerns in urban areas. Several studies on air pollution have been conducted using deterministic, statistical, and soft computing methods. However, there has been little research on how soft-computing methods like Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) can help us comprehend vehicular pollution’s non-linear and highly complex dispersion. This study uses an ANN-based vehicular pollution model to investigate the effect of vehicular traffic on PM2.5 concentrations in built-up and open terrain-surrounding environments. Five distinct pollution models were developed for two locations in Delhi, considering PM2.5 pollutants, meteorological variables, traffic flow, and traffic composition into account. The results concluded that under open terrain conditions, the significance of the traffic variable in its association with PM2.5 is almost half the significance observed under built-up conditions. Also, in terms of PM2.5 reductions, the maximum reduction observed at Location-1 (built-up environment), and Location-2 (open terrain environment) is 1.85 and 2.44 times the percent reduction in traffic during peak hours, respectively. The study’s findings have significant ramifications for the current practices of ignoring the contribution of traffic and the built environment to pollution and adopting measures like an odd-even rule and high fuel and parking prices to combat pollution.

Naina Gupta and Sewa Ram

Effects of Corn Straw Biochar, Soil Bulk Density and Soil Water Content on Thermal Properties of a Light Sierozem Soil

This research aimed to quantify the effects of biochar derived from corn straw on soil thermal conductivity, capacity, and diffusivity. Firstly, the amount of biochar application (w/w) added to light sierozem soil was 0% to 5%, and the mixtures were packed into soil columns at a consistent bulk density (1.20 g.cm-3). Secondly, soil columns with a consistent biochar addition rate (5%) were packed to different bulk densities of 1.30, 1.25, 1.20, 1.15, and 1.10 g.cm-3. Soil thermal characteristics were measured under the control of soil moisture content from 0% to 40%. Under consistent bulk-density conditions, biochar could significantly reduce soil thermal conductivity and diffusivity. Still, there wasn’t a significant influence on soil heat capacity in most soil moisture content levels. With the decrease of soil bulk density, soil thermal conductivity, capacity, and diffusion coefficient reduced significantly. As soil water content increased, all the indexes of thermal properties largely improved, and the effects were much more significant than those of biochar amendment and bulk density change on soil thermal performances. This research could supply an implication to evaluate the influence of biochar amendment on soil thermal performances.

Y. Q. Li, L. J. Li, B. W. Zhao, Y. Zhao, X. Zhang and X. Dong

Efficient Copper Adsorption from Aqueous Solution by Dictyuchus sterile Pellets

A common heavy metal pollutant of water resources, copper (II), can cause serious health problems or even death. Over the past few years, several filamentous fungi strains have been isolated, identified, and tested for their ability to bio-adsorb heavy metals for potential use in the bio-remediation of copper from wastewater. In this study, variables, including the dosage of fungal pellets, temperature, pH, time, initial copper concentration, and agitation rate, were assessed to select the best conditions for the adsorption of copper by Dictyuchus sterile pellets. To identify the active groups responsible for metal adsorption, microscopic observations were made using a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The copper adsorbent was then analyzed before and after adsorption using an atomic adsorption spectrophotometer and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The ideal adsorption conditions were: fungal pellets with a wet weight of 1 g.L-1 at a temperature of 25°C, pH 5.5, the initial copper concentration of 100 ppm, and shaking at a speed of about 250 rpm for 72 h to achieve a removal efficiency rate of 95%. Copper adsorbed with the biomass of the fungal pellets was 57 mg.g-1. The use of fungal pellets would be a method that can be used to increase the surface area of adsorption and also is thought to be one of the most cost-effective ways to remove trace metals from polluted water.

Rana Hadi Hameed Al-Shammari, Shaimaa Satae M. Ali and Moayad Salih Hussin

Comparative Assessment and Monitoring Changes in NDVI of Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR) and its Buffer Zone, India

Achanakmar Tiger Reserve (ATR), endowed with rich biological diversity and lush green vegetation in and around, makes it more unique. It is also an integral part of the Achanakmar Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) and has been identified as one of the important tiger reserves of the Central Indian landscape due to its connectivity with other protected areas and tiger reserves in neighboring landscapes. Vegetation mapping and monitoring are important to understand changes in ecosystem processes and associated temporal and spatial impacts. Pre- and post-monsoon IRS, LISS III, and AWiFS satellite data from 2000, 2004, 2008, 2010, and 2013 were used for the present study. This paper is an attempt to examine the variation in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of ATR and its buffer zone on a seasonal and temporal basis. Climate conditions such as temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, etc. play an important role in the growth and development of healthy vegetation. The NDVI value of ATR has shown fluctuation and recorded positive growth over the past 14 years with few exceptions. The post-monsoon season recorded a higher NDVI value as compared to the pre-monsoon months. The maximum NDVI value was recorded in 2004 (+0.539) for the entire ATR and its buffer zone.

Anupama Mahato

Comparative Study on the Indoor Air Quality in Critical Areas of Hospitals in Malaysia

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the air quality within and around buildings and structures, particularly regarding building occupants’ health and comfort. IAQ assessments were performed using an objective measurement of molecular gaseous pollutants to determine the IAQ profile in the hospital’s critical areas. It also analyses the effects on patients in different environments and the sources that result in deviations from approved criteria. This comparative study is aimed to investigate the concentration of different compounds in different critical departments in the hospital and propose solutions to the related problem as an improvement in indoor air quality. The data was compared with the standards and regulations. It was found that the TVOC level in the CCU department, specifically in the fluoroscopy room, has exceeded the allowable limit. A few suggestions have been raised to lower the exceeded value. The risks and symptoms held by the occupants in the hospital buildings if they face poor indoor air quality were discussed. Further study can be conducted to relate the short and long-term health issues among medical staff to poor indoor air quality.

Kerk Teck Seng, Lee Chia Shen, Ngo Sin Ling, Sim Pei Chin, Tan Jia Xin, Tan Kai En, Adnaan Ahmed Jama, Azian Hariri and Nurul Fitriah Nasir

Visitors Perceptions of the Climate Comfort at the Padang Coastal Tourism Area, Indonesia

This study explains visitors’ perceptions of climate comfort in the Padang coastal tourism area, including Air Manis Beach, Padang Beach, Nirwana Beach, and Pasir Jambak Beach. Climate comfort index calculation using the Holiday Climate Index (HCI) and survey methods are used to take data. The survey is conducted to collect data on climate comfort perception and the role of weather on that comfort. There are 409 respondents in this study. Most visitors state that weather affects climate comfort during their trip (99%) and need weather information for outdoor tourism (98.5%). However, only 27.1% are looking for weather information before traveling outdoors. This coastal tourism area’s perceived level of climate comfort is comfortable (64%). The thermal sensation is neutral (66%). Meanwhile, the average score of the comfort index in Padang is neutral throughout the year. The temperature interval indicates the comfortable category is between 26ºC-28ºC.

N. Y. Sudiar and M. I. Gautama

Anaerobic Biodegradability Potential of RCF-Based Kraft Paper Mill Effluent

The present study collected anaerobic sludge from a paper mill operating a UASB reactor on agro-based raw material (wheat straw) washings for biogas production. After determining the sludge profile and methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge, it was further used to determine the anaerobic biodegradability of RCF-based kraft paper mill effluent. The sludge profile of collected anaerobic sludge was found w.r.t. Suspended Solids (SS) 60 g.L-1, Volatile Suspended Solids (VSS) 23 g.L-1, Inorganic content 62% & Organic content 38%. The presence of effective microbes in anaerobic sludge was confirmed by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope). Degradation of organic matter present in effluent by anaerobic digestion leads to the production of biogas (methane & CO2), a renewable energy source. The sludge profile and methanogenic activity findings supported the anaerobic treatment of kraft paper mill effluent and were positive. The methanogenic activity of anaerobic sludge was determined as 0.832 gCOD.gVSS-1×Day, and the average anaerobic biodegradability of RCF-based kraft paper mill effluent was found to be 71.5%.

Abhishek Tyagi, Amitabh Raj Tripathi, Pratibha Naithani and M. K. Gupta

Tests for Evaluating the Efficacy of Phosphoric Acid Activated Charcoals from Two Biomasses

Good quality activated charcoals were prepared from areca nutshell and coconut shell using phosphoric acid as a chemical activating agent at 400oC. Physico-chemical properties like iodine number, methylene blue number, and surface area of two activated charcoals were measured to assess the porous nature. A special test called acetic acid number was devised to understand the quality of functional groups on charcoal surfaces. Proximate analysis and physical properties of the two activated charcoals closely matched those of a commercial sample, confirming the good quality of samples prepared in the laboratory. Adsorption of isolated caramel from waste stream obeyed Freundlich isotherm, and the data could be explained based on the physisorption of large size molecules on the walls of mesoporous solid surface. Adsorption of methylene blue involving Coulombic attraction towards the areca nut shell-derived activated charcoal could be predicted and confirmed based on the acetic acid number for the first time.

Abhijit S. Jadhav and Ravindra Nalawade

Purification Efficiency of Eutrophic Water by Three Submerged Plants

The increase of nitrogen and phosphorus causes eutrophication in water bodies. Using submerged plants to decrease the pollution from water bodies is an effective way. In this research, three common submerged plants (Vallisneria natans, Hydrilla verticillata, and Ceratophyllum demersum) and their combinations were used to purify eutrophic water. The control treatment did not contain any plants. The removal effects and dynamic regulations of the three plants with their combinations of nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) in water were analyzed. All three species and their combinations above could grow in the eutrophic water and efficiently remove aquatic nutrients. All the treatment groups had a higher pollutant removal rate for total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) than that of the blank control. In these treatment groups, treatment F (50 g Vallisneria natans plus 50 g Ceratophyllum demersum) had the highest removal rate of TP at 57.53%; treatment B (100 g Vallisneria natans) had the best removal rate of TN at 92.04 %. Among these plants and their combinations, Vallisneria natans and Ceratophyllum demersum showed better purification ability; the combination of these two submerged plants and the combination of three submerged plants were more applicable for the restoration of eutrophic water.

Y. Hu, D. X. Qian, H. Zhu, L. F. Wang, B. Wang, Q. F. Ling and X. D. Xiao

Experimental Aeration Investigations on Supersaturated Total Dissolved Gas Dissipation

Supersaturation of total dissolved gas (TDG) is mainly produced by high dam discharge, excess oxygen production by plant photosynthesis, and a sharp increase in water temperature, which may directly lead to fish and aquatic organisms suffering from “gas bubble disease” (GBD) or death. Aeration was one of the methods used to solve the dissipation of supersaturated TDG. In this paper, aeration had an obvious promotion effect on the dissipation of supersaturated TDG. For the calculation and analysis of supersaturated TDG dissipation coefficient, the aeration rate was proportional to TDG dissipation coefficient and had a promoting effect on it, while the aeration depth and aeration aperture were inversely proportional to TDG dissipation coefficient and played an inhibitory effect on it. The supersaturated TDG dissipation coefficient was affected by a factor of KTDG,Q> KTDG,D> KTDG,H. A quantitative relationship between the supersaturated TDG dissipation coefficient and aeration rate, aeration depth, and aeration aperture was obtained, respectively, as well as important expressions with comprehensive effect factors; their margins of error average within 10%. This research method has an important guiding significance for improving the living environment of fish and other aquatic organisms, alleviating the adverse effects of supersaturated TDG.

Yuanbo Yao, Huixia Yang, Yunyun Wang, Jiajia Liang and Ling Yang

The Potential of Phytoremediation to Treat Different Types of Wastewater - A Review

Globally, with an increase in population, water demand is also increasing, but on the other hand, water availability is continuously decreasing due to various factors. Contamination of existing water bodies is the main factor for the freshwater shortage. Conventional methods are there to treat polluted water, but their construction and operational cost are very high. Phytoremediation is an economical, solar-driven, green plants (macrophytes) based, environment-friendly technology being researched worldwide. Many researchers contributed to identifying the potential of phytoremediation to treat different types of wastewater. Along the same line, an attempt has been made with this literature survey to contribute to technological advancement. The study results showed that water hyacinth plants could potentially treat almost all types of wastewater. Still, their use with other plants like Phragmites australis, Azolla filiculoides, Lemna minor, Typha latifolia, etc., as polyculture (mixed culture) could perform way better than the individual. It not only improves the efficiency of phytoremediation but also helps some plants to grow and perform for a long duration when used in mixed culture.

Vijayant Panday and Ananda Babu K.

Extreme Flood Calibration and Simulation Using a 2D Hydrodynamic Model Under a Multipurpose Reservoir

Extreme floods have become common in Asian cities, with recent increases in urbanization and extreme rainfall driving increasingly severe and frequent events. Understanding the flood dynamic is essential for developing strategies to reduce risk and damage, thus ensuring the city’s protection. Channel roughness is a sensitive parameter in developing a hydraulic model for flood forecasting and flood inundation mapping. A High-resolution 2D HEC-RAS model was used to simulate the flood events of 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2015. The calibrated model, in terms of channel roughness, has been used to simulate the flood for the year 2006 in the river. The performance of the calibrated HEC-RAS-based model has been accessed by capturing the flood peaks of observed and simulated floods and computation of root mean squared error (RMSE) for the intermediated gauging stations on the lower Tapi River. Results revealed that there is good agreement between simulated and observed floods.

Chinar Garg and Ananda Babu K.

Study on the Temporal and Spatial Distribution of Air Pollutants in Typical Cities of China

The present study selects cities such as Zhengzhou, Kaifeng, Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Jiaozuo, and Puyang along the Yellow River Basin in Henan Province. The data of six pollutants, such as PM2.5, PM10, SO2, CO, NO2, and O3, in various cities from 2019 to 2021, and the monthly primary pollutant data of seven cities in the past five years were collected through various channels. The air quality of the above seven cities was analyzed with the spatial-temporal distribution of pollutants as the research objective and geographic information system as the research tool. The results show that affected by the distribution of key pollution sources and meteorological conditions in the urban area, the PM2.5 concentration generally shows a zonal feature of decreasing from northwest to Southeast. The high-value area is located in the north and west of the integrated area of the seven cities, and the low-value area is located in the Southeast of the seven cities.

He Tao and Tihao Hou

Investigation of Adsorption of Nd(III) on Boron Nitride Nanosheets in Water

In this paper, boron nitride materials were prepared by a two-step synthesis method, and this material’s adsorption property for neodymium ions was explored. The experimental results show that the adsorption capacity of boron nitride is closely related to pH. When the pH is 6.0, the adsorption performance of the material is the best; the kinetic data show that the adsorption equilibrium can be reached in about 150 min, and the adsorption capacity at equilibrium is 207.3 mg.g-1. In addition, the Freundlich and Langmuir models were used to fitting the thermodynamic results. It was found that the adsorption process of boron nitride on Nd(III) involved both monolayer adsorption and multi-layer adsorption. These data indicate that boron nitride has a good adsorption effect on Nd(III) in water and is a promising material for environmental remediation.

C. Fu, Y. He, C. Yang, J. He, L. Sun, K. Du, X. Zhang, G. Sheng, L. Li, L. Wang and W. Linghu

Microbial Consortia Preparation for Amylase, Protease, Gelatinase and Lipase Production from Isolates Obtained from Organic Kitchen Waste

Households, restaurants, canteens, and hotel wastes constitute kitchen waste. Every day our growing cities generate more and more waste, which is overloading our municipal systems. The main aim of the present work was to prepare a microbial consortium that can effectively and rapidly bring about the degradation of kitchen wastes that can be used in agricultural soils. More than 100 different bacterial isolates were obtained from various kitchen waste dumping areas. The bacterial isolates were studied to produce enzymes like amylase, gelatinase, lipase, and protease on respective media plates. The best 20 isolates were subjected to enzyme quantification. The isolates showing maximum production for all four enzymes were selected for consortia preparation. The consortia of isolates were prepared by permutation combinations. Amongst all consortia prepared consortium No. 7 showed maximum enzymatic potential. The bacterial isolates in the best consortium (No. 7) were further characterized and identified as KW104 Serratia marcescens, KW37 Micrococcus luteus, KW128 Brevindimonas mediterranea, KW91 Bacillus tequilensis, and KW97 Exiguobacterium mexicanum. This consortium showed rapid degradation of waste as compared to others in 15 days duration of time showing good potential for compost formation when applied to plant growth.

Snehal Masurkar and Girish R. Pathade

Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) Analysis Indicating Increased Microbial Diversity in Landfill Area Near Conserved Wetland

The ecological balance of an ecosystem has a relation to its biodiversity. Although it has been established that biodiversity and ecological stability are related, generalization about the exact nature of this relation remains elusive and more so in microbial diversity. A growing volume of studies has indicated that anthropogenic activities impact biodiversity, but it is difficult to generalize the impact of anthropogenic activities on microbial diversity. Landfilling by municipal solid waste is one such activity where microbes play a major role, and leachates are released from the landfill, altering the soil’s physical and chemical nature. Change in factors like carbon source, pH, and toxicity of the soil is most likely to affect the indigenous microflora of the soil. The present study was undertaken to compare the microbial diversity of soil receiving landfill leachate with that of the soil not receiving any landfill leachate to assess the impact of the landfilling activity on microbial diversity. The landfill site selected for the study was that of Kamrup Metro District of Assam, located at Boragaon, near the Ramsar wetland called Deeporbeel. By using the Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) method, it has been found that the microbial diversity of the soil receiving leachate was higher than that of the soil not receiving any leachate from the landfill.

M. B. Chakraborty, S. R. Patgiri, A. S. Rahman, A. Dasgupta and G. Pegu

Biodegradation and Kinetic Study of Hazardous Metribuzin Herbicide Using a Novel Soil Bacterial Isolate Olivibacter oleidegradans Strain SP01 in Aqueous Solution

In the present work, degradation of the herbicide metribuzin (C8H14N4OS) has been performed. A novel metribuzin-degrading bacterium, Olivibacter oleidegradans strain SP01, was isolated from the metribuzin-contaminated soil by an enrichment technique. To investigate the effect of various parameters on metribuzin degradation, various experiments were performed at an initial concentration in the range of 20-100 mg.L-1, a pH of 5-9, and a temperature of 25-40°C. Around 85% of the highest percentage degradation of metribuzin was obtained at a concentration of 20 mg.L-1 in 120 h under optimized conditions. The current work for the Metribuzin degradation study fits well with first-order reactions. Also, at higher concentrations, i.e., 100 mg.L-1, only 40.3?gradation of metribuzin was observed. The Olivibacter oleidegradans strain SP01 has the potential to be extremely beneficial in the removal of Metribuzin from the environment.

Sulbha R. Kadam and Madhuri K. Pejaver

The Impact of Climate Change, Economic Growth, and Population Growth on Food Security in Central Java Indonesia

As climate change continues to cause more frequent weather shocks such as droughts and floods and increasingly erratic rainfall, people in developing regions are threatened by crop failures and hunger. In this study, the researchers describe how climate change influences food security in Central Java, seen from the frequency of floods, rainfall, and rainy days. This study also added another variable, i.e., economic growth, reviewed through GRDP and the amount of rice production. Using the Common effect model, the study results revealed that rainy days and population were the variables significantly influencing food security in cities/regencies in Central Java Province. Meanwhile, two other variables, i.e., rainfall and GRDP, had no significant effect on food security in cities/regencies in Central Java Province.

Suryanto Suryanto, Irwan Trinugroho, Fitri Susilowati, Jean Baptiste Aboyitungiye, and Yuaninda Hapsari

Molecular Docking Analysis of Embelia ribes for Selected Constituents as Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm) Beta Glycosidase and Caspase-1 Inhibitors

Insect pest control is one of the major issues facing the agriculture sector because of the need for new agrochemicals and biocontrol agents that are environmentally friendly, economically affordable, and safe for human health. Spodoptera frugiperda (fall armyworm) is one of the insect pests that causes huge damage to various crops around the globe due to its generalist nature. In the present study, three selected Embelia ribes Burm F (Myrsinaceae) constituents, which include embelin, 5-O-methylembelin, and vilangin; one semi-synthetic compound (potassium embelate); three synthetic compounds, namely coenzyme Q10, dopaquinone, and idebenone; and two reference compounds (azadirachtin and amitraz) were assessed on the docking behavior of S. frugiperda (beta glycosidase and caspase-1. The docking studies showed that coenzyme Q10 exhibited the highest binding energies (-130.61 and -434.56 kcal.mol-1) for the target enzymes S. frugiperda (beta glycosidase and caspase-1, respectively). Thus, the present investigation provides new knowledge in understanding Embelia ribes Burm F (Myrsinaceae) constituents as possible inhibitors against S. frugiperda (beta glycosidase and caspase-1) enzyme activities. Furthermore, the present work can help to develop new insecticides and pesticides against S. frugiperda and other related insect pests.

Srinivasan Kumaraswamy, Vasantha-Srinivasan Prabhakaran and Radhakrishnan Narayanaswamy

Effect of Compliance with Environmental Regulations in the Construction of Public Civil Works, Cajamarca, Peru

Construction activities produce considerable environmental effects and have resulted in a growing demand to implement favorable environmental practices. In this sense, this research aimed to evaluate the effect of the level of compliance with environmental regulations in public civil works in the San Ignacio, Cajamarca, Peru district. Data were obtained through direct observation and structured interviews in 7 selected construction sites. The deductive and analytical method was used. As a result, the level of compliance was obtained. Work 4 had the highest rank, and works 2 and 5 had the lowest. Currently, all the works are in a similar range of compliance. The degree of association between the level of compliance with environmental regulations and the current state of the civil works indicates a probability of 0.0190, which shows that the low level of compliance with environmental regulations in the construction of public civil works in the district of San Ignacio generates a deterioration in the quality of the environment and increases the possibility of administrative sanctions.

D. Quinto, D. Sanchez, M. Milla, M. Torres, B. Cayatopa, D. Jara and E. Morales

Large Scale Cultivation and Pretreatment Optimization of Freshwater Microalgae Biomass for Bioethanol Production by Yeast Fermentation

The rapid depletion of the world’s fossil fuel reserves and global warming issues have promoted the search for sustainable alternative energy resources. In the present investigation, large-scale cultivation of naturally isolated freshwater microalgae Asterarcys quadricellulare strain was carried out using tertiary treated municipal wastewater as a growth medium in an open HRP pond for bioethanol production. A total of 12.091 kg of dry biomass was obtained at the end of the study. The lipid extracted carbohydrate rich spent microalgae biomass was converted to bioethanol by ethanolic fermentation. The biomass was first pre-treated with different concentrations of H2SO4 and HCL hydrolysis with different temperatures and reaction times. The biomass treated with a 2.0% concentration of H2SO4, showed maximum yields of glucose 308.38 mg.g-1 at 100°C with 180 min reaction time. The hydrolysates derived from the hydrolysis of microalgae biomass were used as a substrate for fermentation by using S. cerevisiae. The obtained bioethanol was analyzed using HPLC and the purity of ethanol was 90%.

S. Karthikeyan

Stabilisation of Spent Wash by Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) Producing Microorganisms Isolated from Karad Region, Maharashtra

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the needs of the overgrowing population. Naturally, industrial belts increased worldwide to satisfy the variety and quantity of needs. While producing the products, a huge quantity of waste is generated and added continuously to the environment, causing hazardous effects on the flora and fauna. Spent wash is one of the most important types of industrial waste since it is the liquid waste that is left over after making alcohol and it pollutes the environment. Despite effluent quality standards, untreated or partially treated sewage frequently enters water courses or soils. It is always overloaded with organic and inorganic substances. The stabilization of the effluent by microorganisms is reflected in the form of COD reduction. The present study attempted to isolate the PHB-producing organisms and use them to stabilize the spent wash. The locally isolated, characterized, and identified 11 PHB-producing microorganisms from the Karad region of Maharashtra were used to stabilize spent wash. They include Candida orthopsilosis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus megaterium, Klebsiella grimontii, Citrobacter fruendii, and members of Staphylococcus and Rhodococcus. All potential organisms were reported to stabilize the spent wash. The degree of stabilization was measured in terms of the percent reduction of COD and BOD. The % reduction was reported at 95.31% and 81.39% of COD and BOD, respectively, by Klebsiella grimontii, followed by 92.18% and 80.46% reductions of COD and BOD, respectively, by Staphylococcus. These organisms are promising in the treatment of spent wash.

G. V. Patil and G. R. Pathade

A Review of Research on Materials for the Separation of Oil/water Mixtures

Water pollution caused by oil spills at sea and industrial and daily wastewater discharges are causing serious damage to the ecological environment, not only in terms of economic losses but also in terms of human health and survival, a problem that needs to be addressed urgently. Oil/water separation is a global challenge, and while these problems are frequent, various oil/water separation strategies have been extensively investigated in recent years. The efficiency of the materials prepared is a key factor, as are the environmental friendliness and low cost of the methods and raw materials used in the experiments. This work reviews methods and materials applied in oil/water separation in recent years, including natural textile materials, metal meshes, synthetic membranes, particulate adsorbent materials, foams, sponges, aerogels, smart controllable special wettable separation materials.

Xu Meng , Chengzhi Song, Junfeng Yan, Yanyan Dong, Aiqin Hou, Kongliang Xie and Liping Liang

Environmental Flow Assessment (EFA) of Tawi River Discharge at the Jammu Location Using the Global Environmental Flow Calculator (GEFC)

The water, food, and energy demands are the basic requirements of society. These demands are increasing daily due to an increase in population or lifestyle changes. To fulfill these ever-increasing demands, several water resource projects have come up which require the storage or diversion of river water. These interventions have caused widespread degradation of aquatic ecosystems. Due to the degradation of the aquatic ecosystem, several programs all around the globe began. In this series, Brisbane Declaration (2007) provided a more holistic definition of Environmental Flows (EFs) as the quantity, timing, duration, frequency, and quality of flows required to sustain freshwater, estuarine and near-shore ecosystems and the human livelihoods and well-being that depend on them. The present study was envisaged to assess for environmental flows of the Tawi river with a major objective of assessing the environmental flows of the Tawi river using the Global Environmental Flow Calculator developed by IWMI. The method provides E-Flows for different Environmental Management Classes. For the western Himalayan region, the river stretches in Environmental Management Class ‘B’ and ‘C’. The assessment provides E-Flows in two ways: (i) the percentage of Mean Annual Runoff and (ii) average monthly environmental flows. E-Flows were estimated as 42.34% to 56.96% of Mean Annual Runoff and varied from 5.73 cumecs during November to 68.23 during August.

Maharshi Yadav, Govind Pandey and Pradeep Kumar

Identification and Characterization of Microplastics on the Surface Water in Laguna de Bay, Philippines

Laguna de Bay is the largest lake in the Philippines. It is surrounded by developing cities that pollute the lake with plastics from different industrial and domestic activities. In the study, microplastics were collected from the lake’s surface water through three (3) collection points within the lake. The collection of microplastics was conducted from August 2018 to October 2018. About eight-hundred ninety (890) microplastics were collected and cataloged. Among the collection sites, ‘Brgy. Sampiruhan’ has the most microplastics, with a median of 15 ranging from 11-24 microplastics per 1000 L of lake water. On the other hand, ‘Brgy. Napindan’ has a median of 4 which ranges from 2-6 microplastics per 1000 L, and ‘Brgy. San Isidro’ has a median of 6 which ranges from 4-24 microplastics per 1000 L. Image analysis revealed that microplastics from this site were larger and angular. The color analysis shows signs of whitening and yellowing of the plastic materials, which suggests that the microplastics undergo photodegradation. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) found that most of the microplastics in the lake are made of polyethylene and its derivatives. Microplastics in Laguna de Bay show the continuous plastic pollution in the Philippines’ largest lake.

C. C. Deocaris, M. C. Fernandez, A. R. Lee, S. L. A. Miao and J. B. P. Padolina

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