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Negative Effects of the Urban River Pollution on the Environment and Human Health in Bangladesh

Based on research findings, Bangladesh’s river water, crucial for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use, has long been in a terrible situation. There have been numerous instances of significant contamination in the waterways surrounding Dhaka city, including the Buriganga River, and in Chattogram city, including the Karnaphuli River, over the past 40 years. The existing data demonstrate that other urban rivers, particularly Karatoa, Teesta, Rupsa, Pasur, and Padma, are also in severe condition due to the disposition of huge pollutants. Contaminants flowing with the water have severely polluted the downstream areas of the rivers. High metal concentrations are frequently observed in river water during the dry season. In the Buriganga River and at certain locations in the Turag, Balu, Sitalakhya, and Karnaphuli Rivers, the presence of dissolvable oxygen (DO) is nearly zero. NO3, NO2, and PO4-3 pollution has also occurred in many rivers. Most rivers have Cr, Zn, Fe, Pb, Cu, Cd, Mn, As, and Ni concentrations beyond the legal limit for drinking water. In contrast, some rivers have metal concentrations above the legal irrigation water limit. The majority of the rivers, particularly the peri-urban rivers in Dhaka city, Teesta, Korotoa, Rupsha, Karnaphuli, and Meghna Rivers, have significantly higher metal concentrations, according to sediment data. Metal concentrations in sediment are generally higher than USEPA standards in most rivers. Metal concentrations in fish and crops demonstrate metal bioaccumulation. The trend in metal concentration follows the order of water, fish, and sediment. It has been shown that crops irrigated with tainted water contain dangerous metals. The analysis of daily intake data on carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances reveals that consuming contaminated food can seriously impact human health.

Kudrat-E-Khuda (Babu), Md. Riaduzzaman, Tahmina Akter and Sumaia Akther

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Thai and Myanmar Rice: Concentrations, Distribution and Health Concerns

In the present study, we studied the concentrations and proportions. We identified the potential sources and health risks of 12 probably carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in rice grain from 31 sites in Thailand and Myanmar. The findings showed that PAH concentrations in rice grain samples from Thailand and Myanmar were in the range of 0.09 to 37.15 ng.g-1 with an average value of 18.22 ± 11.76 ng.g-1 and 0.07 to 150.73 ng.g-1 with an average value of 34.70 ± 40.57 ng.g-1, respectively. The majority group of PAHs in the rice grain samples from Thailand were the five-ring PAHs (78%), followed by four-rings (12%) and three-ring PAHs (9.5%), respectively, while for Myanmar was the five-ring PAHs were the majority (64.02%), followed by six-rings (15.22%) and four-ring PAHs (13.58%), respectively. The diagnostic ratio analysis suggested that pyrogenic origin is a major source of PAHs, and principal component analysis (PCA) identifies the incomplete combustion of fuel as likely the primary source of emissions source of PAHs contamination in rice grain samples. The total values of incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of PAH content of rice grain for children and adults were 1.95 × 10-8 and 1.44 × 10-8, respectively, for Thailand and 1.83×10-7 and 1.35×10-7 for Myanmar, which showed that the incremental lifetime cancer risk from rice grain was lower than the baseline set is considered to be safe levels.

C. Choochuay, W. Deelaman and S. Pongpiachan

Petroleum-Based Plastics Versus Bio-Based Plastics: A Review

Plastic needs have expanded along with population growth, industrialization, and urbanization. Plastic is unrivaled due to its useful properties and is used to prepare numerous important goods daily. This paper encloses the different kinds and applications of petroleum-based plastic and the drawbacks related to their use, i.e., its nonbiodegradability which leads to their stay in the environment for a very long time. Additionally, there are not enough effective disposal techniques for the large volume of plastic waste produced; thus, plastic garbage builds up in the environment and endangers it. Limiting the usage of plastic is necessary to protect the environment. This can be done with the help of bioplastic, which is an excellent substitute for plastic. The different kinds of bioplastic and their biodegradability in different mediums, viz., soil compost and aquatic systems, are addressed in this paper. Along this, the different areas of application of bioplastic have been explored. The present study also addresses the underlying mechanism of plastic polymerization and biodegradation and the current status of bioplastics in the global market.

Shikha Kumari, Alka Rao, Manjeet Kaur and Geeta Dhania

Process for the Reduction of High Water Content from Oily Sludge and Scum by Hot Washing

The reduction of oily sludge and scum with high water content by hot washing and analysis of the main factors that affect the reduction and oil recovery rate of oily sludge and scum in hot washing were investigated. Best process conditions for the reduction of tank bottom sludge, refining sludge, and oily scum were carried out, which can make the oil recovery rate and reduction rate of tank bottom sludge after reduction reach 96.30% and 93.00%, respectively, the oil recovery rate and reduction rate of refining sludge after reduction reach 95.36% and 92.60% respectively, and the oil recovery rate and reduction rate of oily scum after reduction reach 95.92% and 93.60% respectively. After treatment, the oil content of the residue is reduced to below 5.1%, and the water content is reduced to below 59.0%. Oil content in the separated water is lower than 200 mg.L-1, and the water content in the separated oil is lower than 0.2%, far below the requirement of 0.5% in the oilfield’s crude oil gathering and transportation standard.

Le Zhang, Longlong Yan, Huan Zhang, Zhe Shen, Si Chen, Tao Yu, Chengtun Qu

Assessment of Noise Pollution and Health Impacts of the Exposed Population in an Urban Area of Chhattisgarh, India

The present study aimed to evaluate the possible impact of noise pollution. This study was conducted in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh state, India, to analyze the relationship between noise pollution and health complaints. A total of 18 locations were selected for monitoring noise pollution levels in the morning (9:00-10:30 AM) and evening (7:00-8:30 PM). Noise maps were prepared for both the time interval, and it was found that the highest equivalent noise level (Leq)of 81.31 dBA was observed at location L3 whereas the lowest Leq of 63.25 dBA was observed at L16 in the morning and in the evening 77.33 dBA at L3 and 60.14 dBA at L16 were observed. A questionnaire survey was performed on the population (n = 400) exposed to noise and analyzed through a variance-based partial least square (PLS) structural equation model (SEM). From the survey, it was found that most of the respondents are exposed to higher noise levels and are facing health issues of “pain in the ear,” “rise in blood pressure,” “loss of sleep,” “whistling and buzzing” in their ear, “headache,” “heaviness” and “efficiency problem.” A total of 109 hypotheses were proposed and analyzed through bootstrapping with a subsample size of 5000 in SmartPLS software. 18 hypotheses were found to be significant in the proposed model. SEM analysis revealed an interrelation between noise pollution and health effects. It is recommended that strict regulation in nearby sensitive areas must be imposed and an awareness drive on a large scale shall be conducted to enlighten the city’s population regarding noise effects as well as various measures for controlling.

Vishal Kumar, Ajay Vikram Ahirwar and A. D. Prasad

Environmental Toxicity, Human Hazards and Bacterial Degradation of Polyethylene

Plastics are the most rapidly growing materials in terms of production and consumption. The durability, inertness, light weight, flexibility, and low cost are the key characteristics that make plastic suitable for application in various fields, including the construction, automotive, electronics, and packaging industries. Due to widespread usage in daily life and many industrial processes and operations, more than 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced globally annually. Indiscriminate use of plastics such as polyethylene causes environmental pollution and impacts human health due to irreversible changes in the ecological cycle. Due to its low biodegradability, polyethylene accumulation has recently emerged as a momentous environmental concern. The conventional methods, such as recycling or disposing of polyethylene, are exorbitant, and incineration results in the emission of toxic chemical compounds. Therefore, the most recent research progressively focused on the biodegradation of polyethylene with the application of bacteria as novel approaches to counteract plastic waste. This review summarizes the type of polyethylene and the environmental issues. It also briefly discussed the genes and enzymes of bacteria involved in the degradation of polyethylene. In addition, it attempts to address factors influencing degradation and techniques used for monitoring degradation.

N. Yoezer, D. B. Gurung and K. Wangchuk

Recycling Practices of E-Waste and Associated Challenges: A Research Trends Analysis

In this fast-moving world, we use many electronic items daily to fulfill our daily work. Also, in the fast-growing economy, electronic items play key roles. India’s e-waste is projected to be around 18 lakh metric tons. According to industry sources, electronic trash will climb to almost 50 lakh metric tons in the next three years. According to government sources, only ten percent of electronic waste is gathered. These electronic items and batteries contain many heavy metals that are hazardous to humanity’s and the environment’s health. These heavy metals should be retrieved from the disposed of e-waste, so the resource can be reused or recycled, rather than continuously extracting heavy metals from the earth’s crust. In 2015, The “Initiative on Environmental Threats of Electronic Waste” was introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). This project is part of the Indian government’s ‘Digital India’ strategy. There is an immediate need to implement green supply chain management and resource recovery from electronics waste so that circular material management (SDG 12) & sustainability can be achieved. This article demonstrates the problems and presents E-Waste recycling procedures, Life cycle assessment of E-waste, and EPR practices, along with potential areas for improvement. The bibliometric analysis was performed using R-studio biblioshiny tools for the last 53 years and 1243 published articles to understand the research trends.

Jit Das and Arpita Ghosh

Spatial Model of Post-Earthquake Spring Performance in the Watershed Areas

The 7.4 Mw of tectonic earthquake caused liquefaction in Pasigala on September 28, 2018, happened due to the fault movement of Palu-Koro. It affected the water availability every spring. The research aim is to determine the spatial model of water production every spring after the natural tectonic disaster, especially in Palu and Poboya watersheds-a model built based on the integration between the spatial data overlaying and the statistical regression correlation. The sites are purposively selected at six springs spots and divided into four clusters (Poboya, Uemanje, Ranjuri Beka, Mantikole). The model assessment was generated based on the springs’ performance from x variables (catchment area, land cover, aquifer, free-ground water depth, fault, number of springs users) and the y variable (water discharge). The result shows that Poboya’s performance is bad-disturbed, while Uemanje, Ranjuri, Beka, and the performance of Mantikole are disturbed. The bad performance of springs requires conserving watershed areas through forest and land conservation, tree enrichment planting, wise land management, and good water use.

Akhbar Akhbar, Naharuddin Naharuddin, Adam Malik, Rahmat Kurniadi Akhbar and Sudirman Daeng Massiri

Chemical Pretreatment of Rice and Wheat Straws to Reduce the Recalcitrant Structure: Comparative and Kinetic Studies with Different Chemicals for Biogas Production

In this study, a comprehensive comparison of two different chemical pretreatments of wheat straw (WS) and rice straw (RS) was made. The pretreatment was performed using piranha solution and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) to dissolve the biomass’s complex lignin and hemicellulose matrix to enhance its methane production. Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopes (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, were used to analyze the characteristics of untreated and pretreated feedstock. WS and RS treated with piranha solution showed maximum methane yield (1234 mL and 1196 mL, respectively). The piranha pretreatment increased the methane yield of wheat straw by 2.37 folds and rice straws by 2.31 folds. The maximum VFA concentration was observed in WS on the 14th day in the piranha-treated sample, 1553.33 ± 2.8 mg.L-1, while in RS on the 21st day in the untreated sample, 676 ± 5.77 mg.L-1. SEM analysis of piranha-treated WS indicated a reduction in recalcitrant structure. Deformation of C-O, C=C, C-C-O, and C-H bonds in cellulose, hemicellulosic, and lignin as a result of chemical pretreatment in WS and RS was also indicated by FTIR analysis. The modified Gompertz model (MGM) and logistic function model (LFM) appropriately defined the degradation process and explained cumulative biogas’ kinetic. Pretreatment with piranha solution reduces the complexity of WS and RS, thus increasing methane production by reducing the retention time.

Nikita Kanaujia, Shalu Rawat and Jiwan Singh

Landslide Potential Analysis Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in South Leato Village, Gorontalo City, Indonesia

Spatial data technology using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is one of the aerial imaging technologies used to produce detailed data. However, its utilization for mapping, especially disaster mapping needs an in-depth study. The research site is located within 00-”00’29°51’31°00” N and 12327’5°-123”00’3°” E that covers an area of 2,531 Ha, which consists of 1,745 Ha land and 786 Ha water areas. Administratively, the research site is in South Leato Village of Dumbo Raya sub-district of Gorontalo city with a total area of 41,9 Ha. This study is aimed at assessing the landslide by creating a landslide zonation map and finding out the landslide potential area by using the UAV. This research employs field surveys by using drones and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis. It is found that the parameters that influence landslides are lithology, rainfall, slope inclination, lineament density, and land use. The landslide vulnerability analysis reveals three levels of vulnerability in this site; low, medium, and high vulnerability, in which, 19 Ha is classified as low vulnerability area, 9.5 Ha is classified as medium vulnerable, and 13.5 Ha is classified as highly vulnerable area.

S. S. Eraku, A. P. Permana and M. N. Baruadi

Effect of Elevated Ozone on Soybean (Glycine max L.) Cultivar: Role of Orange Juice and Synthetic Ascorbic Acid

Ozone is a hazardous gas for the environment and negatively affects plant and human health. These days, phytoextracts are commonly used as a source of bioactive compounds for reducing the detrimental environmental effects on plants. In the presented study, soybean cultivar JS-335 was used to assess the protective role of synthetic ascorbic acid (SAA) and orange juice (25% orange juice, enriched ascorbic acid) under ozone stress conditions. The results showed that under ozone stress, soybean cultivar JS-335 reduced growth and biomass and negatively affected the biochemical properties of plants due to these changes, finally causing yield losses. Foliar-applied OJ >and SAA improved plant growth and development and increased crop yield. It was discovered that a 25% OJ coupled with ascorbic acid and other essential nutrients and biomolecules was almost as effective as a 100 ppm SAA in reducing the harmful effects of ozone stress on soybean plants. As a result, it was determined that OJ, a less expensive source of ascorbic acid, can improve ozone resistance in plants in ozone-prone areas.

Indra Jeet Chaudhary, Bhavna Nigam and Dheeraj Rathore

Analysis of Solid Waste in Hospitals of Lahan and Rajbiraj Municipalities, Madhesh Province, Nepal

Hospital waste is a burning issue that severely impacts public health. This study in three big hospitals in Lahan and Rajbiraj, Nepal, for one year (2019 March-2020 February) aims to analyze some parameters that directly help waste management properly. Field study, questionnaire, and interview methods were followed. The average moisture content of wastes of all three hospitals was 55.79%. There was no variance in the three hospitals’ moisture content values of wastes (F = 1.89 P-value = 0.165 F crit = 3.284917651). The average temperature of dumped waste was 23.23°C, and the temperature of all three hospitals was closely associated (F = 0.998, P-value 0.379, Fcrit = 3.28). The average pH value of wastes from the three hospitals was 4.44, and it from all three sites was strongly associated (F = 0.0668, P-value 0.935, Fcrit = 3.284). There was no relation between income and types of waste production (?2 = 0.8, df = 4, significance level = 0.05), but there was a high association between the level of income and amount of waste production. There was a high association between the nature of hospitals and types and the amount of waste (?2 = 77.09, df = 4, Significance level = 0.05). In Sagarmatha Choudhary eye hospital Lahan, there was no significant correlation between the number of patients and the amount of waste (Correlation = -0.187889 at 0.05% significance level). Unique Hospital Rajbiraj showed a correlation between the number of patients and the amount of waste (correlation = 0.1183 at 0.05% significance level). In Gajendra Narayan Singh Hospital, there was a correlation between the number of patients and the amount of waste (Correlation = 0.3453, at 0.05% significance level). There was no association between the qualification of respondents and their responsibilities regarding the services provided by hospitals (?2 = 1.43, df = 6, Significance level = 0.05). It is recommended for better management and installment of modern technologies for waste management.

R. S. Mehta, R. C. Adhikari and B. B. Bist

Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Dynamics by CA-ANN and CA-Markov Model Approaches: A Case Study of Ranipet Town, India

The present study analyzed the spatio-temporal variations in the Land Use Land Cover types within Ranipet Municipal town in Ranipet District, Tamil Nadu State, India, using two different platforms (QGIS and IDRISI Selva v.17.0). The possible parameters driven the net changes in the Land Use Land Cover (LULC) types were also incorporated for the analysis. Results revealed the positive net changes in the built-up area are about 26.8%, and combined other classes like vegetation, barren land, and water bodies have net negative changes during 1997-2019. Particularly barren land was found to have a reduction of 17.4% due to the massive industrialization in the study area. Further, the LULC maps were used for future prediction (2029) using the dynamic models of CA-ANN (Cellular Automata and Artificial Neural Network) and CA-Markov. Predicted maps yielded a kappa index of 81.6% and 82.6% for CA-ANN and CA-Markov, representing their respective accuracy levels. The CA-Markov model is extended for determining the probable long-term changes for 2080 in LULC with a kappa index of 76.2%. Compared to the CA-ANN model using the QGIS platform, CA-Markov provided better analysis, particularly from one cell to the other. According to the survey and the ground truth in the locality, industrialization and occupational shift were the most influential drivers of LULC dynamics. Moreover, the results of this study assist the stakeholders in the decision-making process for future sustainable land use management.

Malathy Jayabaskaran and Bhaskar Das

Characteristics of Nickel Laterite Mine Waste in Caraga Region, Philippines and Its Potential Utilization

Nickel laterite mining is one of the sources of nickel-iron material used for producing steel and various materials. This mining activity leaves waste in the mine, including rocks, overburden, silt, and dust. Characterization is an important primary step in understanding waste for proper management, utilization, and disposal. The pH, organic matter, and elemental composition are analyzed in this study. The pH of nickel laterite mine waste is neutral to moderately alkaline, which makes it unlikely to cause acid mine drainage, which is one of the most prevailing environmental problems of mines. The organic matter content also showed favorable results for plant growth. However, the macronutrients necessary for the plant are too high, making it less favorable for agricultural utilization. Elemental composition shows the presence of nickel and other elements lower than the economically acceptable level. However, processing the lower grade can be the best option when all higher-grade resources are exhausted. The nickel laterite mine waste can be reused to further extract the metals when sources of higher grades are depleted, repurposed such as in the production of bricks and ceramics, or mined-out mines can be repurposed for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind farms.

Abigael Balbin, Jobelle Capilitan, Evelyn Taboada and Ian Dominic Tabañag

An Attempt to Reduce the Electrocoagulation Costs and to Ensure the Reuse of Treated Aqueous Dye Solution

In most of the research works, similar metal electrodes were used, resulting in high operating costs, and the reuse of the treated water was not explored. The major goal of this research is to lower the cost of the electrocoagulation (EC) process by employing electrodes made of different metals and to investigate whether it is possible to reuse the water that has been treated by doing so. It was done to optimize the operational parameters such as pH, voltage, time, electrolyte, and dye concentrations. The energy and electrode consumption was calculated as 0.29 kWh.m-3 and 3.5×10-2 kg.m-3, respectively. The HPLC and LC-MS studies shows the degradation of dye and the formation of intermediary compounds, which were less toxic. The sludge obtained from the EC process was subjected to EDX and XPS analysis to know the composition of metals and the formation of metal hydroxide coagulants. The phytotoxicity of the treated water after EC was examined using Trigonella foenum-graecum seeds. The results showed an utmost color removal efficiency (CRE%) and COD removal of 99.78% and 92.86% with an operating cost of US$ 0.028, which is comparatively 98.12% lower than the other conventional electrodes. The treated toxicity test of water was comparable to the toxicity test of tap water.

D. Jovitha Jane, M. S. Asath Murphy, Riju S Robin, S Sahaya Leenus, Jegathambal Palanichamy and Parameswari Kalivel

Occurrence of Heavy Metals in Soil and Selected Edible Plants in the Vicinity of Major Lead-Zinc Mining Sites in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The occurrence of heavy metals in soil and selected edible plants (Manihot esculenta, Dioscorea rotundata, Ipomoea batatas, Telfairia occidentalis, and Chromolaena odorata) in the vicinity of major Lead-Zinc mining sites in Ebonyi State, Nigeria was investigated. The concentrations of the detected heavy metals in soil from the study sites ranged from 0.38-77830.99 (mg.kg-1). The limit values for all detected metals in soil from the mining sites were exceeded in most instances. The results showed that the plant species accumulated heavy metals near the mining sites to varying levels in their shoots and roots. The limit values for all detected heavy metals in the edible plants were not exceeded except in a few instances. The plant species demonstrated varying effectiveness for phytoextraction, indicating their appropriateness in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil. Therefore, examining the environmental consequences of uncontrolled mining activity in the vicinity of the mining sites with a scientific approach has helped to increase our knowledge of the pollution problem in the mining sites, reveal the ferocity of the situation, and contribute to the techniques presently in use for monitoring chemical pollution in a mining-impacted ecosystem.

E.B. Ogbuene, O.G. Aloh, C.T. Eze, O.O. Eze, T.E. Ugochukwu, A.M. Oroke, C.E. Izueke-Okolo, A.V. Ozorme, C.J. Ibekwe and C.A. Eze

Role of Eco-Enzymes in Sustainable Development

Globally organic wastes are generated from fruits, vegetables, and their peels. It is mostly decomposed in landfills or by composting methods. Food processing industries, vegetable markets, and restaurants produce a huge amount of organic waste daily, generally disposed of in the environment or composted. Producing an eco-enzyme from organic kitchen waste was an innovative solution for domestic waste pollution. It is an enzyme solution obtained from an organic waste substance that contains organic acids, enzymes, and mineral salts. It is produced by performing a simple batch fermentation that involves a mixture of brown sugar, fruit or vegetable waste, and water in the ratio of 1:3:10. Two types of the eco-enzyme were produced by a fermentation process using vegetable and fruit peels for about 90 days involving Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The ultimate liquid or enzyme obtained was brown. Eco-enzyme 1 from (Cucurbita maxima) contained hydrolytic enzymes like amylase and lipase. The microbial diversity was observed, and bacteria like Yersinia sp., Bacillus sp., and fungi like Trichoderma sp. and Penicillium sp. No enzymes and microorganisms were observed in Eco-enzyme 2 (Citron). Eco-enzyme 1 with 50% dilution effectively reduced various parameters like BOD, COD, TDS, Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonium in the effluent. Also, it promoted plant growth within 10 days compared to the control. Therefore, the present study outlines how the eco-enzyme could be used to treat industrial effluent cost-effectively and environmentally friendly.

B. Varshini and V. Gayathri

Preparation and Characterization of Slow-Release Zinc and Iron Fertilizer Encapsulated by Palm Stearin

Using granular form application in the pisciponic system, this study investigates the effects of supplementation in the pisciponic system on plant growth performance. This study was conducted at the Aquaculture Experimental Station in Puchong, Selangor. The experiment was set up in a greenhouse with a plastic liner at the bottom. The coated fertilizers were immersed in 500 mL of distilled water in the beakers. The immersion times were analyzed for each 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66, and 72 hours. Insoluble solids and water were then filtered using filter paper and dried in the oven, followed by the drying process to obtain a constant weight before being put in the desiccators. During the release test, the distilled water was taken at every 48-hour interval, and the concentration of nutrients was determined from the atomic absorption spectrometer. The findings indicate that the weights of release fertilizers, specifically Zn and Fe, significantly decreased over time. At the lowest concentration, the coated zinc and iron weights decreased as time increased. Referring to the curve results, the Zn fertilizer started drastically decreasing its weight at hour 24, which decreased approximately to 0.002 for every subsequent hour. Meanwhile, Fe fertilizer decreased drastically at hour 66, where the weight dropped from 0.10467 to 0.039. However, the final weights for both fertilizers at hour 72 were about the same.

Maizatiey Farizza Mohd Nasir, Md. Kamal Uddin(), Mohd Salleh Kamarudin, Muhammad Fadhil Syukri Ismail, Arina Shairah Bt Abdul Sukor and A. Abubakar

Evaluation of Lipase from an Indigenous Isolated Bacillus Strain for Biodiesel Production

Lipases are utilized in biodiesel production utilizing various types of substrates. The use of lipase in bioenergy production aims to reduce energy crises and environmental pollution. Lipase-producing indigenous bacteria Bacillus licheniformis (Accession no. OP56979) and Bacillus rugosus (Accession no. OP56980) were isolated from various oil-contaminated sites. The isolated potential lipolytic bacteria were screened for maximum lipase production. Then, the bacteria showing the highest lipolytic activity were subjected to identification using the 16s rRNA technique while other isolated were identified biochemically. Lipase [LipBL-WII(c)] from Bacillus licheniformis having the highest lipolytic activity expressed various characteristics. Characterization of crude LipBL-WII(c) expressed that it showed stability in a wide range of pH (4 to 10) with optimum lipolytic activity observed at pH 8. It was then found to be active at a temperature range from 20°C to 80°C with optimal at 50°C. Lipase activity was also stimulated in metal ions such as Ca+1, Mg2+, and Zn2+ the most. Furthermore, LipBL-WII(c) retained lipolytic activity in the presence of various organic solvents and surfactants. The kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) for LipBL-WII(c) were ascertained using Lineweaver- Burk plot. LipBL-WII(c) showed a potential for biodiesel production using olive oil as a source. Lipase gave 84% yield of biodiesel production from olive oil. Thus, it could be employed as a potential candidate for green biodiesel production using oil sources.

Neha, Nisha Sethi, Sangita Yadav, Subhash Chander, Sweta Kumari, Ankur and Asha Gupta

Efficacy of Tree Leaves as Bioindicator to Assess Air Pollution Based on Using Composite Proxy Measure

Air pollution has become a major issue in cities due to urbanization, population growth, industrial development, and increasing number of vehicles. The study used Gmelina arborea tree leaves as a bioindicator to determine the Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) as a simple and effective compositional index of environmental health in three cities in the Caraga Region, Philippines. To calculate the APTI, four biochemical parameters of tree leaves were calculated: relative water content, total chlorophyll content, leaf-extract pH, and ascorbic acid content. In terms of the APTI category, results showed that all G. arborea species collected in all sample sites are classified as sensitive to air pollution, with the sample collected in Bayugan City being the most sensitive, with an APTI value of 7.66, and the samples collected in Butuan and Cabadbaran City being the least sensitive, with APTI values of 9.54 and 9.11, respectively. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed a significant difference between the APTI values of G. arborea trees in the three sampling areas in the Caraga region. Based on the APTI computed values of the tree leaves determined in all sites, it is concluded that G. arborea species can be used as a bioindicator of air pollution, classified as sensitive.

J. S. Berame, J. E. Josue, M. L. Bulay, J. J. Delizo, M. L. A. Acantilado, J. B. Arradaza and D. W. M. G. Dohinog

Plant Growth Promoting Efficacy of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from the Terrestrial Plants of North India

Enhanced crop health, which is crucial for sustainable agriculture, is facilitated by a unique endophyte or endophytic community that is frequently linked to a variety of crops. Plant growth-promoting (PGP) characteristics of endophytes can directly or indirectly boost crop growth. Endophytic fungi have been proven to create a high percentage of new compounds, making them a particularly potential source of physiologically active chemicals. In this study, we have isolated two endophytic isolates, i.e., Paecilomyces sp. (Isolate AT1) and Aspergillus flavus (Isolate AT3), from different host plants, namely Melaleuca citrine and Carica papaya. These endophytes have shown significant plant growth-promoting potential toward different assays such as IAA production, phosphate solubilization, amylase production, cellulose-degrading assay, and ammonia production. These endophytic fungi also exhibit visible antimicrobial action towards selected crop pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp.). Additionally, these fungal strains are reported for the first time from these plants, as we have found no reports in the literature. The research aims to explore the growth-promoting efficacy of endophytic fungi to boost plant growth.

Urvasha Patyal, Vikas Kumar, Manoj Singh and Kulbir Singh

New Frontiers in the Bio-inspired Green Synthesis of NiO NPs and Their Applications: An Overview

Nanoparticles are an important tool for new updations and advancements in diverse sectors. The inorganic metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have enormous research interest because of their great relevance in medicine, wastewater treatment, catalysis, biotechnology, and in the formation of energy storage devices. The NiO NPs can be synthesized using different physical and chemical methods and exploring all their possible applications. Green synthesis is the easy, safe, and effective nanoparticle synthesis route. Green metal and metal oxide nanoparticle syntheses provide the most affordable, convenient, and biocompatible approach for fabricating NiO NPs. This way is a good alternative to the conventional methods of synthesis. Green synthesis, being more constructive, is widely used in research and gives promising outcomes. This review highlighted the unique feature of the NiO nanoparticles. This paper brings forth the usage of green synthesis for synthesizing NiO nanoparticles. It also provides readers with a collective review of the recent development in the green synthesis of NiO NPs and their potential application in different fields.

Waseem Ahmad and Ankita Rawat

Radiation Tolerant Life Forms and Methods Used to Remediate Radioactive Wastes from Soil

The expanding nuclear industry has led to increasing radioactive waste in the environment. Exposure to these wastes causes considerable irreversible damage to the organisms, some of them being even lethal. Conventional methods like incineration, wet oxidation, and acid digestion have been used for radwaste treatment to control this. Apart from them, other organic methods like bioremediation are being widely applied by scientists. Many bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants are observed to possess remediating properties. Hence, these are now used on a large scale to treat the radioactive matter as quickly and effectively as possible. Techniques like bioaccumulation, enzymatic reduction, bioprecipitation, or phytoremediation methods such as phytoextraction and phytostabilization involving such organisms with remedial abilities have successfully removed the radioactive matter to an extent from the contaminated site. Further research is needed to increase the efficiency of the techniques and help remove radionuclides in an environment-friendly manner.

Richa Verma and Anamika Shrivastava

Process Intensification in Gas-Liquid Mass Transfer by the Introduction of Additives: A Review

To overcome the challenges of the increasing global energy and to solve the global energy & environment problems, process intensification is one way to develop new efficient production pathways for the chemical industry. Process intensification plays an important role in the gas-liquid mass transfer processes. This review provides an overview of the developments in gas-liquid mass transfer enhancement. A major enhancement method, namely introducing additives (including nanoparticles, oil, electrolyte, and surfactant) summarized and discussed here, includes the most recent accomplishments in gas-liquid mass transfer engineering. This review is expected to inspire new research for future developments and potential applications in scientific research and industry regarding gas-liquid mass transfer engineering. Finally, it presents conclusions and perspectives on enhancing gas-liquid mass transfer.

Huan Zhang, Bo Zheng, Ping Chang, Tao Yu and Chengtun Qu

Computer Vision Based Machine Learning and Deep Learning Approaches for Identification of Nutrient Deficiency in Crops: A Survey

Agriculture is a significant industry that plays a major role in a country’s sustainable environment and economic development. The global population demands increased food production with minimal losses. Nutrient deficiency is one of the major and crucial factors influencing crop production significantly. Common techniques for determining crop nutrition status are the diagnosis of plant morphology, Enzymology, chemical effects, fertilization, etc. However, the above techniques are invasive and time-consuming or infeasible while considering varied production practices in different locations, environments and climatic conditions. Computer Vision is an area of Computer Science that deals with creating Artificial Intelligence based vision systems that can use image data, process, and analyze as humans perform. Early Detection of Crop Nutrient deficiencies favors the farmers to monitor the affected crops and plan for the manure or fertilizer application, which supports to regain of the crop’s efficiency for attaining its maximum yield. Modern computer vision systems rely on Machine Learning (ML), Remote sensing, Satellite imagery, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), Internet of things (IoT) based sensor devices, and Deep Learning (DL) models that use algorithms to extract required features from data. The objective of this work is to provide an overview of recent research and identify the scope of computer vision-based technologies used for identifying crop nutrient content and deficiency, find research challenges in predicting nutrient imbalance in comparison with plant diseases that show certain similar characteristics, thereby to improve crop health and production.

M. Sudhakar and R. M. Swarna Priya

The Principles of International Environmental Protection and Global Obligations: An Analysis Based on the Legal Context

There is now a worldwide collective obligation, a reality, to acknowledge environmental challenges. The paper discusses and analyses the principles of international environmental laws and how those are applied in international conventions and treaties, and the effectiveness and weaknesses of those laws. This discussion mainly focuses on the principles’ backdrop, what they mean, and how they have been adopted in international environmental law. Furthermore, the paper focuses on the outcomes of formulating the principles and enforcement of the legal framework. It analyses their prospect to strengthen the legal framework to achieve the objective of these principles. Besides, some recommendations have been made to strengthen these legal frameworks. It shows why it is essential to form efficient environmental platforms in present climate issues and how all nations can be brought under a common platform where they can take decisions regarding the safeguard amid the evolving environmental situations.

Kudrat-E-Khuda Babu, Akanda Muhammad Jahid, Nazia Afroz Ananna, Arghyadeep Chakraborty and Moriom Akter Mou

Environmental Sustainability: Can Artificial Intelligence be an Enabler for SDGs?

Environmental issues have continued to spur discussions, debates, public outrages, and awareness campaigns, inciting interest in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. Its usage is spread across many environmental industries, including wildlife protection, natural resource conservation, clean energy, agriculture, energy management, pollution control, and waste management. In 2017, at the United Nations Artificial Intelligence Summit in Geneva, the UN acknowledged that AI could be an enabler in the sustainable development process towards peace, prosperity, and dignified life for humankind and proposed to refocus on the application of AI in assisting global efforts on sustainable development to eradicate poverty, hunger and to protect the environment as well as to conserve natural resources. It is vital to address environmental sustainability concerns; however, with the advent of AI, most common environmental issues are now solvable by prioritizing human interests. Sustainability encompasses the interrelated areas of the environment, society, and economy. According to the United Nations’ “Our Common Future,” also known as the “Brundtland Report,” it is defined as “development that satisfies current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Unfortunately, the Earth is currently facing serious consequences from global warming and climate change, and immediate action is required to encourage the use of environmentally friendly and sustainable products to address these issues. Environmental degradation and climate change are numerous environmental concerns requiring novel and intelligent artificial intelligence solutions. The literature on AI and environmental sustainability encompasses various domains. Notably, AI is being used to address the bulk of regional and global environmental concerns, including energy, water, biodiversity, and transportation, even though many of these sectors have permeated and evolved. However, there is a need to combine current literature on the application of AI, particularly in relation to environmental sustainability in areas such as energy, water, biodiversity, and transportation. There is a significant lack of research on how AI can promote environmental sustainability. This research aims to explore how AI can be applied to address environmental issues in various sectors to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Gyandeep Chaudhary

Variance-Based Fusion of VCI and TCI for Efficient Classification of Agriculture Drought Using Landsat Data in the High Atlas (Morocco, North Africa)

Drought assessment using drought indices has been widely carried out for drought monitoring. Remote sensing-based indices use remotely sensed data to map drought conditions in a particular area or region. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to make a study on drought risk based on the calculation of an indicator from biophysical parameters extracted from NOAA/AVHRR satellite data, namely TCI and VCI, to obtain a better understanding of the differentiation between each index, and their application for drought monitoring in the High Atlas of Marrakech on the Chchaoua Morocco watershed during 1980-2020. Landsat oli7 and8 data were used to construct the indices. The result showed that each index proved to be a useful, fast, sufficient, and inexpensive tool for drought monitoring. However, each index has its differences. The TCI was found to be drought sensitive during the dry season or in months when high temperatures occurred. While VCI detected drought more sensitively in the rainy season as well (December-January-February to May) than TCI and VCI. Meanwhile, VCI, including the improved TCI, combined two indicators to better understand drought occurrence. These indices were calculated using GIS, QGis, ArcGis satellite imagery scenes, and Landsat. After a comparative study of these years, from 1984 to 2020, the evolution of the VCI and TCI was highlighted.

Fathallah Fatima Ezzahra, Algouti Ahmed and Algouti Abdellah

Systemic Economic Viability of Informal Sectors: E-Waste Management

The informal sector has been at India’s core of recycling WEEE for the last few decades. They do not have the scientific knowledge of processing e-waste and use acid baths and heat treatment to extract precious metals. The existing processes used by informal actors lead to a serious impact on their health as well as the environment. The introduction of advanced recycling technology for mitigating the hazardous effects on the environment and human health is as important as the development of technology for new-age electronic products. The social, economic, and environmental benefits to the informal sector can ensure formalized livelihoods in e-waste recycling by ensuring access to technology. The paper highlights how setting up a recycling facility and capacity building of the informal sector solves the problem of informality and its associated social, economic, and environmental evils, which will benefit the sector as a whole.

Dharna Tiwari, Gautam Mehra and Nidhi Gauba Dhawan

Determination of the Dynamics of Thunderstorms Through the Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate and Environmental Lapse Rate

This research aims to determine the types of thunderstorms formed in the thickness of the cloud (determine the Dry adiabatic lapse rate (DALR) and Environmental lapse rate (ELR)) in the case of precipitation during the day. Data were taken by Temperature, Dew point, Atmospheric Pressure, and Height from re-analysis by the (ECMWF) for the heights (0-18000) m, the levels of pressure (1000-100) mbar, low cloud cover data, and the characteristic days ((18, 24, 27) February, 28 April, and 25 November) of the year 2018 for Baghdad station were chosen to obtain the largest possible number of clouds and their diversity to use them in calculating the cloud cover and weather stability in terms of calculating the daily change, temperature, dew point in addition to calculating the low cloud cover with altitude and atmospheric instability. The Sigma Plot program was used in this research to determine the base of clouds and thunderstorms. The change in temperature, Dew point, clouds base, and altitude was determined, then the cloud thickness, types, and classification were calculated. The clouds found are strong thunderstorm clouds characterized by thickness and height, such as the clouds of Nimbostratus (Ns) and Cumulonimbus (Cb).

Shiemaa A. Hashim, Jasim H. Kadhum, Zainab M. Abbood, Osama T. Al-Taai and Wedyan G. Nassif

Identification of Surface and Groundwater Interaction by Isotopic Hydrological Study - A Critical Review for Kelambakkam Region, Chennai, India

Due to the increase in population and urbanization, the availability of freshwater with standard quality to the human population is of great challenge. Recently there has been a demand for fresh water in surface and groundwater, so it is necessary to go for advanced isotopic techniques for identifying surface and groundwater resources. Isotopes are atoms of elements having the same atomic and different mass numbers. The isotopes found their wider application in water resources-related problems. The isotopes in water resources proved to be an effective tool in solving many critical hydrologic problems where conventional methods cannot be used due to their limitations. This research article discusses isotope application in water resources and focuses on different types of stable and unstable isotopes and their applications at Global and National levels. The methodology and research steps are proposed based on research gaps identified through various literature studies. The study will be conducted in the Kelambakkam zone, south of Chennai sub-urban. This research paper will discuss the sequential steps in identifying recharge and discharge mechanisms in study zones through stable isotopic techniques. The hydro-chemical analysis will also be done by measuring water quality in the Kelambakkam zone. The electrical resistivity survey for aquifer mapping will also be developed to identify the groundwater recharge zones. The proposed study will give complete information about recharge and discharge in the study area and recommend suitable groundwater harvesting structures.

Surendar Natarajan

A Master Plan Realization for an Integrated and Sustainable Management System for Household and Similar Wastes in Morocco’s Landfills by Sizing a Methanation and Composting Unit

This work is a decision support contribution in Morocco’s household and similar waste management. This management based on total waste landfilling leads to several environmental impacts, such as the use of large land areas, also the gaseous pollutants released, such as methane. Our first action was to collect reference data on the composition of this waste through a physicochemical characterization in the landfill in the city of Mohammadia. We sorted the waste generated by four types of populations with different living standards. A quantity of 500 to 2315 kg was treated, which allowed us to classify the household waste studied into nine main components. The sorting results are (organic matter 54.94%, plastic 15,18%, paper and cardboard 9,72%, textiles 7,46%, sanitary textiles 5,82%, metals 2,20%, glass 1, 89%, Wood 1,82% and Other 1,28%). Thus, these results revealed organic matter dominance and an increase in the plastic rate, which did not exceed 8% in the past. Added to this, the physicochemical parameters results are (volatile matter 60,26%, Humidity rate 59,05%, a total organic carbon (TOC) 33,47%, and a lower heating value (LHV) 1840,3 kcal.kg-1). From these data, we can easily deduce that installing a sorting platform with a methanation and composting unit is the most suitable choice for recovering our waste. Therefore, we have chosen the methanation technology that meets the results obtained (dry batch and mesophilic) and sized this unit to assess its electricity production capacity that can be produced in our landfills. We carried out a scenario with a load factor of 0,9 and an electrical efficiency of 39%. The study results are 9 digesters to be built, 6.700 MW.y-1 of electrical energy produced, 14.523 tons.y-1 of refined compost, and 2.128.680 m3.y-1 of biomethane produced. By offering our own integrated and sustainable management system for household and similar waste, we have connected the landfill bins and the digesters to the same motor to avoid biogas leaks from the bins to the atmosphere and increase electrical efficiency by controlling the gas flow.

Akram Farhat, Ayoub Aziz, Kaoutar Lagliti and Mohammed Fekhaoui

Artificial Neural Network Modeling for Adsorption Efficiency of Cr(VI) Ion from Aqueous Solution Using Waste Tire Activated Carbon

In this study, waste tires were used to develop activated carbon for the adsorption of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions, and an artificial neural network (ANN) model was applied to predict the adsorption efficiency of waste-tire activated carbon (WTAC). SEM and FTIR were used to characterize the developed WTAC. A three-layer ANN with different training algorithms and hidden layers with different numbers of neurons was developed using 79 data sets gathered from batch adsorption experiments with different initial Cr(VI) ion concentrations, contact periods, temperatures, and doses. Conjugate gradient backpropagation of Powell-Beale restarts (traincgb) was found to be the best training algorithm among all the training algorithms, with an RMSE of 5.894 and an R2 of 0.985. The ANN topology had 4, 8, and 4 neurons in the input, hidden, and output layers. The correlation coefficient of the ANN models of Cr(VI) ion adsorption efficiency is 0.977.

Gaurav Meena and Nekram Rawal

Effectiveness of the River Chief System in China: A Study Based on Grassroots River Chief’s Behavior

The River Chief System is an administrative model of water environment governance currently adopted in China. Under this system, the chief CPC and government leaders at various levels serve as “river chiefs” and are responsible for organizing and directing the management and protection of the rivers and lakes within their remit. This paper tries to reveal the actual effectiveness of the River Chief System based on the behaviors of grassroots river chiefs (GRCs). First-hand data about GRCs is obtained through a questionnaire survey. Whether the water environment governance target is achieved and the water quality change of the river sections in the charge of GRCs is quantitatively assessed It has been found that, except for implementing “one policy for one river” and making river patrols, the behaviors of GRCs have no positive effect on river pollution prevention and control, implying the ineffectiveness of the River Chief System. The framework design of the River Chief System should be optimized, and a system with professionals to support GRCs in performing their duties should be established. Moreover, the tendency to use environmental regulation as a mandatory policy tool should be weakened. These measures are of great practical significance to the implementation of the green development concept and the furthering of the River Chief System overall.

Wenjie Yao and Ming Cheng

Perception Versus Actual Value of Quality of Drinking Water: A Case Study of Iron and Steel Industry in West Bengal, India

The study aims to understand employees’ knowledge, awareness, and overall perception of drinking water quality in the Iron and Steel Industry in Burnpur, India. Further, this study evaluated drinking water’s physicochemical and bacteriological properties collected from different company sites. This study uses a mixed-method approach with individual interviews of selected employees (n=342) and the laboratory test of eight selected drinking water sites. The results show that most employees considered drinking water acceptable to be excellent. However, only 30% of employees in Site 1 (Coke Oven By-Product department) have reported organoleptic properties of water under the excellent category. The result explained that other physicochemical and bacteriological properties are in good status in all sites except for a colony count, expressing their suitability for drinking purposes. In summary, employees’ perception of water quality aligns with their drinking water’s physicochemical and bacteriological properties.

Rahul Rajak, Arup Jana, Aparajita Chattopadhyay, Sushmita Singh and Jitender Prasad

Synthesis and Characterization of Cellulose Acetate Membrane from Cassava Peel for Microfiltration

Cassava peel is a waste product from cassava starch or modified cassava flour (mocaf) production. It is currently not utilized optimally. Cassava peel is a lignocellulosic material that can be used as a source of cellulose. Acetylation of cassava peel cellulose was successfully done using acetic anhydride with glacial acetic acid and sulfuric acid as catalysts. The content of acetyl is 49.54%, and the degree of substitution (DS) is 3.69. The percentage of acetyl of more than 43% and the DS of 3.69 show that the cellulose acetate obtained is categorized as cellulose triacetate. The CA–PEG membrane has a pore range of 1- 4 ?m depending on the molecular weight of PEG. The coefficients of rejection of the CA-PEG membrane range from 95.99% to 98.88%. The CA-PEG membrane is effective as a microfiltration membrane.

A. Ma’ruf, E. Puspawiningtiyas, D. N. Afifah and E. Diaz

Extended Producer Responsibility and Enforcement of Single-Use Plastic Ban in Pune City of India

India has experienced tremendous production, use, and discarding of plastic waste. The municipal and solid wastes proliferation of municipal waste, especially plastic waste, paved the way for the regulatory framework to implement the plastic ban in 18 states and Union Territories of India. In contrast, they have implemented a partial ban on plastic bags respectively. It addressed the phasing out of multi-layered plastics (MLP) and incorporated Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) within the circular economy of plastic waste generation and recycling. It is generally believed that the plastic ban in India has feeble administrative support and effective implementation. Therefore, the government has passed the Draft Plastic Rules, 2009; Plastic Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2011; Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Draft Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2021. It made vital changes in recycled plastic manufacture and usage at national and state levels. Since the net outcome of the failure is environmental degradation beyond reparable limits, the most vociferous articulation of the banning of the single-use came through the Notification on Plastic and Thermocol Products, 2018, by the Government of Maharashtra. Although the new legal framework carried high deterrent value, the implementation has been heavily flawed. The paper deals with the plastic laws and performance in the context of EPR in Pune city of India. It suggests viable recommendations and strategies from a multi-stakeholder perspective.

M.Z.M. Nomani, Md. Mostak Alfarhad, Faizan Mustafa and Merwais Niazy

Assessment of the Environmental Impact of Discharges from Fishmeal Factories Located in Levrier Bay, Nouadhibou-Mauritania

Levrier Bay, located in the western part of Mauritanian Cost, has a strategic position in Mauritania’s fish economy and reproduction environment. Recently, fishmeal factories have multiplied in the bay. This study was carried out in Levrier Bay. It is the first one in this area which is interested in assessing the environmental impact of fishmeal factory discharges by measuring several parameters such as suspended matter, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), conductivity, turbidity, and salinity. A total of 27 samples were collected at 9 sites distributed on the link between effluents from factories and the Atlantic Ocean (discharge site). Results show that some parameters are over permissible values, like suspended matter content (SS), which reached 2020 mg. L.-1 level. The turbidity measure shows excessively high values (50 to 961 mg.L.-1); impacted by effluents at the reject point, the seawater conductivity and salinity are particularly low (4.53 to 188.2 and 13 to 56.4, respectively). The total organic carbon (TOC) values ranged from 200 to 780 mg/L, whereas the highest measured level of chemical oxygen demand was 4010 mg.L.-1 Biochemical oxygen demand content ranged from 685 to 961 mg/L. The biodegradability index (COD/BOD) shows that these effluents are not easily biodegradable because the index > 3.

M. E. Moulay Ely(), M. Sakho, S. Santana-Viera, J. J. Santana-Rodríguez, B. Elemine, M. Zamel, M. V. Deida, D. Froelich and I. Babah

Katowice Climate Package: Analysis, Assessment and Outlook

Climate change is a widely debated topic in the 21st century, with various perspectives and opinions on its causes and potential remedies. Climate change risks have perplexed authorities and made protecting human life and health difficult. The elements that cause climate change, such as the combustion of fossil fuels, air pollutants, short-lived climatic pollutants, etc., have affected both the climate and human health. The Paris Agreement established several commitment periods that each nation was obligated to follow in accordance with their own individual capacities. This will assist in achieving greater human health and environmental benefits. To develop a robust climate change framework, WHO and other UN organizations have moved up to resolve these challenges. From the first international conference in 1988 to the current Conference of Parties, it has been concluded that “humanity is conducting an unintended, uncontrolled, globally pervasive experiment, the ultimate consequences of which could be second only to a global nuclear war.” The recent Katowice Agreement and the climate change package that was put in place demonstrate the seriousness required to resolve the issues of finance, loss and damage, and differentiation mechanisms, which were thoroughly discussed. The paper will focus on the existing legal solutions for providing climate justice to nations. The study will also look at the effectiveness of COP24 in executing adaptation and mitigation plans and adhering to the Paris Agreement in both text and spirit.

Aditi Nidhi

Study on the Experimental Conditions of Adsorption of Lanthanum (III) on Boron Nitride Nanosheets

This paper investigated the adsorption properties of boron nitride materials for La(III), and the possible action mechanism was put forward based on experiments. Then the boron nitride materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, and FT-IR before and after adsorption. In addition, the effects of pH, the amount of adsorbent, the concentration of La(III) solution, and adsorption time on the adsorption efficiency were also investigated. It is found that under a certain amount of adsorbent when the pH is 7.0 and the concentration of La(III) is 40 mg.L-1, the adsorption ability of La(III) is the best. The maximum adsorption capacity is 201.45 mg.g-1. The adsorption kinetic data are in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. These results show that boron nitride has a good application prospect for removing and recovering La(III) in water and has a certain practical application value.

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

Influence of Vermicomposted Coal Fly Ash on Morphological and Cytological Attributes of Ricinus communis L.

In view of the environmental problems generated by the large-scale production of fly ash, increasing attention is now being paid to the recycling of fly ash as a good source of nutrients. To reduce the cost of fly ash disposal and best utilization, it aimed to convert the fly ash into valuable vermicompost. Stated throughout the experiment, we opted for a soil sample and fly ash and pressed with different concentrations (control, 20%, 50%, 80% and 100%). Subsequently, all the mixtures were vermicomposted for 60 days by adding 100 Earthworms (Eisenia foetida) in each pile. The X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy measured the composition of the metal in fly ash as well as the nutritional content in the soil. This is followed by examining the morphological characteristics and cytogenetic study of Ricinus communis L. The present study indicated that E. foetida mitigates the toxicity of fly ash and is hence used as valuable vermicompost.

R. U. Raval, D. B. Kapdi, N. H. Bhavsar, V. V. Surati, J. D. Solanki, S. R. Panjabi, P. M. Patel, Y. H. Vaidya, D. N. Verma and K. P. Patel

Study on the Adsorption Properties of Cr(VI) by Biochar with Different Treatments

The paper investigated the adsorption of Cr(VI) on biochar in simulated wastewater by static adsorption method, Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) characterization analysis. The results show that biochar can effectively remove Cr(VI) in wastewater, and the adsorption equilibrium can be quickly reached within 100 min. The kinetic analysis shows that the quasi-second-order kinetic model can better fit the kinetic process of Cr(VI) adsorption by biochar, which shows that the main mechanism of the adsorption is the chemical bonding cooperation between Cr(VI) and the functional groups on the surface of biochar. Fit analysis of the isotherm at different temperatures shows that temperature increase promotes the adsorption of Cr(VI) on biochar, and thermodynamic analysis reveals that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on biochar is a spontaneous endothermic process. The Freundlich model effectively fits the adsorption isotherm of Cr(VI), indicating that the surface of biochar is uneven and Cr(VI) has undergone multilayer adsorption. The adsorption isotherm of Cr(VI) under the influence of HA and FA can be effectively fitted by the Freundlich model, and the adsorption efficiency is the highest when FA is added. The national analysis of Fourier Transform Infrared spectra (FTIR), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) further reveals the bond cooperation between Cr(VI) and the surface functional groups of biochar. The results show that biochar has potential application value in treating chrome-containing wastewater.

X. Zhang

Integrated Method of Ozonation and Anaerobic Process for Treatment of Atrazine bearing Wastewater

The paper presents the treatment of atrazine-contaminated wastewater by ozonation followed by an anaerobic process using Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor. The experiment was performed with 100 ppb synthetic solutions of atrazine prepared in ultra-pure water. The corresponding initial Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is 226 mg.L-1. The initial pH was adjusted to 9.5. The atrazine-bearing synthetic wastewater was ozonated with an ozone dose of 9.4mg/l for 40 minutes of optimum ozonation time, resulting in a 35% reduction in the initial concentration of atrazine. Along with atrazine reduction, there was a COD removal of 54.42%. Further, it was degraded with an anaerobic process, resulting in the final reduction in atrazine concentration of 81% and the corresponding removal in COD of 86.7%. The process of ozonation led to the mineralization of atrazine and enhancement in the biodegradability of the wastewater. Using ion chromatography, the ozonated wastewater sample was analyzed for ionic by-products before and after ozonation. The ion chromatography results showed the breaking of the atrazine compound and the formation of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, and F- as intermediate products. Further, the BOD5/COD ratio increased, reflecting the increased biodegradability. This ozonated wastewater was treated in a UASB reactor where the pesticide was degraded to 19 ppb, and COs degraded to 30 mg.L-1. The overall removal of atrazine pesticide and COD were 81% and 86.7%, respectively, in the integrated system of ozonation followed by anaerobic degradation.

Saba Khurshid, Abdur Rahman Quaff and Ramakar Jha

Locating the Contours of Sustainability and Environmental Protection Within Competition Law in India: Swinging in Tandem or Isolation?

Environmental policy plays a major role in integrating environmental protection goals into economic policy areas. Environmental deterioration will proceed rapidly until this intersection is successfully achieved. The paper uses European Green Deal as a reference for fostering sustainable development goals through competition laws. This paper discusses sustainability in the context of the competition laws of various jurisdictions such as the European Union (EU), the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), and India. While highlighting conflicts around the intersection of competition law and environmental policies, this paper also provides their solution for making competition law environment-friendly. It suggests implementing such laws to promote sustainability and progress toward climate neutrality.

Pallavi Mishra

Postnatal Exposure to A Low Dose of Imidacloprid: Oxidative Stress in Brain Without Affecting Learning and Behavior in Swiss Albino Mice

The neurotoxic effects of exposure to low levels of the pesticide imidacloprid (IMI) and the effect of curcumin are of current interest when exposure occurs during early development. Male weanlings of Swiss albino mice (21 days old) were given 1 mg.kg-1 body weight (1/130 of LD50 and 2 mg.kg-1 body weight (1/65 of LD50) of imidacloprid and Curcumin (100 mg/kg body wt.) by oral gavage from postnatal day 21 to postnatal day 60. Young adult offspring were studied for behavioral parameters and learning ability using open field and Morris water maze. After completing the behavioral test, brains were processed for acetylcholine esterase activity and antioxidant enzyme estimation. The level of lipid peroxidation and activity of catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione were assayed. In the present study, parameters such as locomotor activities and cognitive skills were not affected compared to lower doses of imidacloprid in the open field and Morris water test. However, activities and levels of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and lipid peroxidation were found to be altered. In contrast, superoxide dismutase, acetylcholine esterase activity, and glutathione remained unchanged compared to the control. This suggests that subchronic exposure to low doses of IMI can lead to significant alterations in the enzymes of antioxidant protective systems such as catalase and lipid peroxidation. Co-treatment with curcumin was able to restore the activities of the affected enzymes in comparison with the control.

A. Sharma, S. Gupta and M. Kaur

Screening and Isolation of Polypropylene Degrading Fungi from Waste Dumping Site, Kolhapur, India

Polypropylene (PP) and other plastic wastes are found to accumulate in the environment, creating significant ecological issues. They are determined to be considered non-biodegradable, It has been established that once it enters the environment, it stays there permanently. The present investigation aims to biodegrade PP without physical treatment and exposing it to UV light and sunlight exposed to potential fungi isolated from the soil of solid waste dumping site based on 18SrRNA analysis and the isolated strains were identified as 98.54% similar to Cladosporium sp. The fungal strain was submitted with Gene Bank accession number ON024632 and registered as a Cladosporium halotolerans strain SUK PRAKASH. The degradation was performed for 8 months of incubation in the aqueous medium. The biodegradation of polypropylene FTIR spectroscopy was performed to further examine the sheets, and the results indicated that perhaps the bonds between the sheets were weakening and breaking. The biodegraded samples of without treated PP sheets, UV-exposed PP sheets, and sunlight-exposed PP sheets exhibit weight loss of 4.2%, 6.1%, and 8.6% respectively.

A.A. Parit, A. S. Jadhav and P. D. Raut

An Approach for Biodiesel Production from Blends of Azadirachta indica and Simarouba glauca Triglycerides by Graphene-Doped Calcium Oxide Catalyst and Its Comparative Studies

Over the past several decades, people from many nations have adopted and supported using biodiesel energy sources due to their accessibility and advantages in reducing CO2 and H.C. emissions to the environment. Today, biodiesel is recognized as a sustainable alternative energy source. Commercially, biodiesel was produced by converting homogenous oil treated with a catalyst like NaOH or KOH in Alcohol. These homogeneous catalysts are hazardous to the environment and cannot be recycled. As an alternative, this research article focuses on biodiesel production from a 1:1 blend of Simarubha glauca (Laxmitharu in Kannada) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) triglyceride via acid-base catalyzed transesterification reaction. The heterogeneous-based graphene-doped CaO was used as a catalyst obtained through the calcination method by doping it with graphene oxide by the hummers’ method. SEM, FTIR, and XRD were used to characterize the GaO-CaO catalyst. The results predict that the prepared catalyst yielded a high percentage of ASFAME (94.0%) and meets the quality as per ASTM standards 6751D.

S. G. Chethan, M. H. Moinuddin Khan and L. K. Sreepathi

Environmental Protection Measures for Unplanned Land Use and Land Cover Changes in a Subbasin of the Ganga River System

In the Ganga river system, unplanned land use land cover (LULC) changes have serious threat to the environment. Protective measures are essential at local, regional, and global scales to save human life and the environment. In the present work, the land use and land cover (LULC) changes have been studied from 2002 to 2021 in a basin area between river Gandak and river Burhi Gandak in India. For the analysis, Landsat 5, 7, and 8 satellite data have been used to analyze the changes in vegetation, urban land, open land, water body, and wet soil in the last two decades. The result shows that from 2002 to 2021 the agricultural area and open land have decreased by 16.12% (158,676 ha) and 11.85% (116794.8 ha), respectively. The urban and the waterlogged area have increased by 24.32% (240,070 ha) and 4.75% (46937.3 ha), respectively. The environmental protection measures, namely conjunctive use, multiple cropping practices, land reclamation, and decentralized urban development to reduce floating population, have been studied and recommended in the study region for better land use/land cover.

Zeenat Ara, Ramakar Jha and A. R. Quaff

Synthesis of Persea Americana Bio-Oil and Its Spectroscopic Characterization Studies

The present investigation aims to evaluate the feasibility of using Persea americana (Avocado) biodiesel in compression ignition engines. Persea americana bio-oil was extracted through a soxhlet extraction process using n-hexane solvent after careful pre-processing of the feedstocks. Since the Free Fatty Acid content was 1.78% estimated through titration, single stage base-catalyzed transesterification technique was adopted using methanol and sodium hydroxide as catalysts in the molar ratio of 1:6. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of Oleic acid in major proportions. The Fourier transform Infra-Red analysis confirmed the presence of carbonyl group ester ions between 722.19 cm-1 and 1460 cm-1. The 13C NMR and 1H NMR studies supported the successful transformation of triglycerides into Fatty Acid Methyl Esters with distinct peaks at 3.369 ppm and 48.147 ppm, respectively.

V. Hariram, Pavan Kumar Reddy, B. Gajalakshmi, S. K. Siraj Basha, A. Saravanan, S. K. Khamruddin and B. Ravikumar Reddy

Microplastic Pollution in Seawater: A Review Study

Due to its detrimental effects, notably on the well-being and biota of the ocean, microplastic contamination is becoming a bigger concern. Because of this, the issue of microplastics in the marine ecosystem is currently a major concern. The purpose of the study is to objectively evaluate the most recent data supporting the impact of microplastic contamination in seawater. When creating the standards for assessing the literature, P.I.C.O. was taken into account. For this inquiry, databases were selected and used throughout the data-collecting process. We checked PubMed, CINAHL, Google, Hinari, and the Cochrane Library. Boolean operators (AND, OR) and keywords were employed in the search to avoid oversaturating the data. Keywords used as per MeSH: Microplastic, plastics, seawater, ocean, pollution, microplastic exposure. The last five years (Since 2017) worth of studies were incorporated. Boolean search for relevant terms used. This limited my query to 188 records through various database searches. Several things were removed because they were unrelated to the study’s subject. Due to its detrimental impact on marine biota, the issue of microplastic contamination in the marine ecosystem is a current concern. Microplastics, which serve as a vector, become stuck with harmful pollutants. It is necessary to implement conservation management strategies and assistance for different educational programs to protect the environment from these hazardous microplastics. Humans are exposed to plastic waste when eating fish tainted with plastic. As a result, there are various outbreaks of chronic diseases, and people suffer the effects. The public’s education on the harmful effects of microplastics is a crucial need in this field. As a result, many inventions would be promoted to decrease the use and consumption of plastic and its products.

Sheela Upendra and Jasneet Kaur

Recent Advances and Sustainable Approaches Towards Efficient Wastewater Treatment Using Natural Waste Derived Nanocomposites: A Review

Pollutants like arsenic, chromium, or other toxic heavy metals have the most dreadful impact on humans or animals and also become a threat worldwide. Introducing these contaminants into the environment is not just due to the chemical industry but also coexists in combined form in underground rocks, contaminating groundwater during breakdown. Epidemics are now largely blamed on toxic pollution in many different nations worldwide. The issue has gotten worse in underdeveloped nations, where metal contamination of the groundwater affects more than a million people. Different techniques are used to remove toxic pollutants from water, but most are expensive and energy intensive. Adsorption is preferable for removing contaminants such as heavy metals or chemical dyes. As nanomaterials have been demonstrated to be more effective as nanocomposites, we used an adsorbent of nanomaterial to use the adsorption approach. These materials have become more well-liked because of their useful applications and improved characteristics. Magnetic synthesized nanocomposites have magnetic properties, which become beneficial for adsorption as it enhances adsorption capacity. The insertion of the plant or aggregate waste material for nanocomposite synthesis inhibits the growth of bacteria or other microorganisms, preventing the material from getting infected if it is in the environment. In this review paper, we have focused on the green synthesis of nanomaterials used for water treatment.

K. Haroon, J. Kherb, C. Jeyaseelan and M. Sen

Analysis of Laboratory Experimental Tests on Mixed Oil Disposal (Bilge) from Ships Based on Marpol Annex I: A Case Study of Port of Tanjung Mas Semarang and Port of Tegal

Management of marine pollution is a difficult condition to realize, especially the pollution of mixed oil disposal (bilge) resulting from the operation of ships. The oil component has different characteristics compared to the essence of other substances; namely, oil can float on the surface of the water because it has an extra weight the type/density of the essence. The parameters tested in this research are oil/fat content parameters and their extraction according to National Certification Institution 6989.59:2008. Bilge water samples were taken from five commercial ships that leaned on the port and then carried out pre-treatment and post-treatment tests with the liquid separation process in the Oil Water Separator (OWS) device on the ship and then tested in the laboratory to determine the infrared spectrum in the absorption of oil content emissions in water samples, which may not exceed the standard threshold for port water quality, i.e., 5 mg.L-1. The sampling tests were carried out for the variables temperature, pH, Total Dissolved Solid (TDS), and oil content obtained values were below the threshold for water quality. To find out the relationship between Group I and Group II, linear regression was used showing the Ho result in reject (0.000<0.05), which means there is a significant relationship between Group I and II.

S. Awel and A. R. Fuad

Sustainable Alternative Materials to Concrete Masonry Partition Walls: Light-Weight Wall Panel Using Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) and Shredded Waste Metalized Film Packaging

The amount of plastic waste produced yearly is significantly increasing. Approximately 300-400 million metric tons of plastic waste are produced yearly. One of the dominant plastic wastes is a metalized film, a shiny, non-homogeneous polymer used in packaging that is considered the least recycled. Meanwhile, partition walls in buildings are traditionally made of concrete masonry, one of the most utilized materials in the construction industry globally, consumed yearly by about 11 billion metric tons. Because of the excessive use of concrete, the necessary raw materials are undeniably depleting, therefore demanding some alternatives. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is one option that can be utilized as an alternative because of its remarkable characteristics better than that of the traditional. This paper proposed the utilization of PMMA in fabricating the hollow panel filled with shredded waste metalized film packaging resulting in the lightweight wall panel being used as an alternative to concrete masonry for constructing partition walls. After the experiment, PMMA produced compressive strength of 75.30-84.30MPa, a tensile strength of 52.00-59.10MPa, a flexural strength of 102.00-107.00MPa, and water absorption of 0.80-0.90%. Also, shredded waste metalized films add aesthetic to the panel and are complemented by the remarkable transparency of PMMA. In conclusion, using this lightweight wall panel instead of traditional concrete masonry partition walls will reduce plastic waste in landfills and the raw materials necessary to produce concrete.

R. C. G. Prado and T. A. Amatosa Jr.

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