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Study of Some Indicators of Environmental Pollution of Surface Soil for the City of Touggourt (Southeast Algeria)

Soil is contaminated with various potentially harmful metals (PTMs). Therefore, the adequate protection of soil from contamination is imperative, as the soil is regarded as the primary cradle for living and environmental balance. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to assess the contamination level by PTMs in Touggourt city, where soil samples have been collected randomly from 18 sites. These sites included manufacturing companies and institutions belonging to the industrial region of Touggourt city. The concentrations of six PTMs - zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) were assessed using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) instrument as well as the application of the modern pollution indices such as CF (Contamination Factor), PLI (Pollution Load Index) and EF (Enrichment Factor). The highest values of contamination factor (CF) for Zn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Pb were 0.605, 1.605, 0.277, 0.05, 0.438, and 0.01, respectively, and the highest value of pollution load index (PLI) was 0.139, while the results of enrichment factor (EF) for the Zn, Mn, Co, Cu and Pb metals were 2.608, 0.060, 0.740, 0.122, and 2.358, respectively. According to these pollution indices, the results of this study have indicated that human effects or industrial wastes and traffic, in particular, were the sources of heavy metal contaminating the studied region.

A. Benarabi, M. S. Nili and A. Douadi

Spatial Variation of Trace Metals between Industrial and Rural Dwelling Birds of India

A large quantity of trace metals has been continuously polluting the environment as a result of increasing urbanization and industrial processes. In 2016-2017, the metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) at Bais Godam (industrial location) in Jaipur and Chittora (rural location) in Rajasthan, India. Fecal pellets in industrial regions which are under higher anthropogenic influence exhibited higher metal concentrations when compared with the fecal pellets of the same species in rural area which have minimal anthropogenic input, with statistically significant industrial-rural differences in the metal concentrations except for Ni. Results obtained in this study, as well as the comparison with literature data, indicated that concentrations of Cr and Cu were high in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon in the industrial region of the present study. Furthermore, many significant correlations were also observed between metal levels in the industrial region which could be attributed to a similar source. Moreover, contamination levels of pigeon excrement serve as one of the most compelling indicators in terrestrial systems for the monitoring of metal pollution levels.

M. Bala, A. Sharma and G. Sharma

Biomimetically Generated Nanoparticles in Boosting the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

Studies are presented in the context of the past attempts at finding nanocatalysts that can boost the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) ? in terms of waste treatment and energy generation. Given the great potential of biomimetically synthesized nanoparticles (BMNPs) in providing less expensive and more environmentally friendly alternatives to NPs synthesized by physical and chemical methods, as well as a near-total lack of previous work in this area, the current research was undertaken. Effect of gold and silver nanoparticles (NPs), synthesized biomimetically using five freely available weeds, was assessed as catalysts in the MFCs. In all cases, the nanoparticles were seen to enhance the coulombic efficiency (reflective of the reduction in the waste’s organic carbon load), maximum attainable power density, and overall energy yield of the MFCs by >200% relative to the uncatalyzed MFCs. Gold nanoparticles were more effective than silver nanoparticles by ? 20%. The results reveal that biomimetically synthesized NPs can be highly effective in reducing the operational costs as well as ecological footprints of MFCs and further work should be focused on NPs of non-precious metals.

S. A. Abbasi, Tabassum-Abbasi and Pratiksha Patnaik

Biogas Production and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Reduction due to Use of Biogas Digesters in Small Farms in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam

This research aims to assess the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions due to the use of biogas technology in Quang Tri Province. With a total of over 354,000 cattle in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, waste from livestock becomes large. The GHG emitted from the livestock industry is not small, affecting the environment. Currently, there is little concern or documentation about the reduction of GHG emissions in small farms using biogas digesters in central Vietnam. This province has applied technological solutions, typically biogas digesters, but the amount of biogas production is not calculated accurately. Our survey was conducted in Vinh Linh District and Cam Lo District in March 2019 and involved 50 farms equipped with biogas digesters and 20 farms without it. The respondents were selected based on the information provided by local authorities, satisfying two conditions: livestock households and biogas users. The former group was asked 25 questions and the latter was asked 10 questions needed to calculate GHG emissions such as the number of animals and petroleum gas/ firewood consumption. This study uses formulas described in the 2006 guideline issued by IPCC to estimate reduced GHG emissions. The results showed that the average biogas production is 5.52 m³.household-1.day-1. Only 2% of the farms made the best use of the biogas digester. The surveyed households have not really used the most optimal amount of biogas production. In this scenario, this study recommends some solutions for solving the problem. In addition, the average annual emissions before having a biogas digester are estimated to be 20.53 tons CO2e/household/year. After using the biogas, the GHG emissions are reduced to 4.52 tCO2e.household-1.day-1. Thus, the replacement of daily cooking energies with biogas helps reduce 16.01 tCO2e of greenhouse gas for each farm per year.

H.T. Hoang and T. Kato

Healthcare Waste, Pandemic Covid-19: A Case of India

The present pandemic, while causing economic slowdown and global panic, also generated healthcare waste in unprecedented amounts across the globe, due to mass screenings/diagnosing/treatment. This paper aims to explore the prospects of the current and future challenges with respect to the risk to human health due to environmental contamination with the healthcare waste generated as a result of and caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in the Indian context. Peer-reviewed literature with respect to healthcare waste generation during the pandemic, its burden, challenges, and policies promulgated during the pandemic and their implications for the future was searched on various databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct and reviewed. Many research studies and international reports have demonstrated that the quantity of biomedical waste has increased in the times of the Covid-19 pandemic across the globe. Additionally, the danger of general waste getting contaminated has also multiplied, in part due to increased quarantine facilities and home quarantines, along with hospitals managing Covid-19 patients and also due to inadequate segregation at the point of generation of such waste, which is a major concern in itself. The occupational exposure of this increased waste to hospital and municipal waste collection workers has also increased, though World Health Organization (WHO) declines having any evidence of transmission of coronavirus while handling healthcare waste. Enough policies existed before the pandemic and few newer guidelines are also issued to address various additional aspects, which are to be implemented to manage the healthcare waste, minimize threats to the environment and human health. Cleaner, greener waste management facilities, the inclusion of bio-disaster in disaster management, the social impact of waste management policies, and waste reduction are to be prioritized.

Dinesh Kumar, Sukesh Trikha and Ranju Anthony

Characterization and Assessment of Stormwater Runoff Quality from Automobile Workshops in Nigeria Using Multivariate Linear Regression

An investigation into the pollution of stormwater runoff from automobile workshops in Nigeria was performed. Also, multivariate regression was used to predict the pH, oil, and grease (O&G) as well as the electrical conductivity (EC) in relation to the characteristics of the solids and metals pollutants of the untreated automobile workshop stormwater. The results indicated that automobile workshops contributed notable amounts of pollutants to stormwater runoff. Results were compared with Nigerian and USEPA standards. It was found that most of the parameters had mean value ranges far greater than standard limits. The multivariate regression showed variations in the results obtained from different automobile workshops. These variations could be due to the influence of factors such as the volume of automobile servicing activities and the waste generated from these activities that flow in the stormwater runoff. However, the bulk of the EC and pH of the stormwater were associated with the concentrations of the total dissolved solids and copper while the bulk of the O&G concentration was associated with the concentrations of lead and cadmium. It is recommended to treat automobile workshop stormwater to prevent detrimental effects in aquatic systems. Future research is aimed at modeling such treatment using multivariate regression techniques is warranted.

C.O. Ataguba and I. C. Brink

Current Approach to Develop TiO2 Thin Film as Photocatalysts for Low-Density Plastic Degradation

Low-density plastic bags waste disposal is a big issue in the current scenario which gives rise to grave threats to human beings and environmental health also. Amid the various approaches applied for dealing with the problem, photocatalytic biodegradation in visible light irradiation is an advanced prospect that has received attention nowadays. The present review paper is to provide an outline of the current progress on the synthesis of titania (TiO2) thin-film photocatalysts for solid waste removal. The Photocatalysis method contains the photoinduced redox reactions in the photocatalyst which facilitates the degrading of almost organic compounds like polyethylene into carbon dioxide (CO2), water, and other substance. One of the most excellent photocatalysts which has grabbed attention in an application is titania because of its high photocatalytic activity and chemical stability. The synthesis of the photocatalyst as a thin film is a result of the unfeasible application of conventional powder photocatalyst which may cause a certain environmental hazard. The photocatalyst-coated thin film along with some environmental applications have also been reviewed. Likewise, various approaches for modifying thin-film property, film deposition techniques, and deposition on various substrates are used for the enhanced photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 thin film.

D. P. Dave and K. V. Chauhan

Assessment of the Potential Use of Shallow Geothermal Energy Source for Air Heating and Cooling in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

A large part of the total energy consumption in buildings in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A.), is devoted to air cooling. This leads to high electricity costs for residents and a high amount of equivalent CO2 emissions. The work presented in this paper aims at evaluating and applying shallow geothermal energy for cooling and heating to reduce cost and environmental issues in the Kingdom. The system is based on the earth-air heat exchanger (EAHE) equipped with an air circulation fan. In this study, six cities have been selected; Madinah city, where our university is located, and five other cities representing five different climatic zones. A new parameter called “geothermal percentage” is proposed to calculate the ratio of geothermal energy to the cooling/heating total load. It has been shown that the proposed system covers part of the cooling load and the total heating needs for almost all the country’s territory. However, both heating and cooling needs can be fulfilled by the EAHE for few cities such as Guriiat and Khamis, characterized by a moderate climate.

M. Ouzzane, M. T. Naqash and O. Harireche

Microplastics in Landfills: A Comprehensive Review on Occurrence, Characteristics and Pathways to the Aquatic Environment

Microplastics, a multi-dimensional environmental stressor group, capable of transboundary migration, are a threat to the global ecosystem. Transboundary migration of microplastics across all environmental matrices is known to originate from a multitude of sources and acts in conjugation with each other. This inter-dependence of sources calls for a detailed scientific analysis of all the sources that are in play. Waste management facilities have already been established as a significant contributor of microplastics to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. A systematic overview of the scientific literature reveals that the existing body of scientific knowledge is mainly focused on wastewater treatment facilities as a source/pathway of microplastics in the environment. Recently the focus shifted towards solid waste management facilities through landfills. Poor plastic waste management practices made discarded plastics the most dominant component of solid wastes. This review elucidates the occurrence and distribution of microplastics, characteristics of microplastics, including size, shapes, colors, and polymer types, in leachate and refuse of landfills. Furthermore, we discussed the transport mechanisms and pathways used by microplastic present in landfills to migrate to subsurface or groundwater and adjacent aquatic bodies. Last, based on the findings, we summarized the gaps in existing studies and suggested future perspectives to be focused on the future. The abundance of microplastics is attributed to the volume of plastic waste in landfills, management of leachate originating from landfills, application of leachate, and age of landfills. Microplastics abundance and characteristics vary in leachate and refuse. Smaller microplastics are predominant in leachate while larger microplastics are predominant in refuse. Landfills are capable of generating secondary microplastics from fragmentation and degradation. Further studies on microplastics in landfills are necessary to tackle this ever-growing menace.

Kshitij Upadhyay and Samir Bajpai

A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Gasoline Blending with Different Oxygenates in India

This paper includes a cradle-to-gate life cycle impact evaluation of gasoline blends in India. The potential environmental impacts of gasoline blends with three major components, i.e., methanol, ethanol, and n-butanol are assessed. The production of methanol from the natural gas reforming process, ethanol from hydrogenation with nitric acid, and n-butanol from the oxo process are considered in the current study. The results show that the gasoline blending with methanol has the lowest impact (11 categories) and is nearly constant from 5 to 15%. For gasoline with ethanol as an additive, the global warming potential, ozone depletion potential, and abiotic depletion potential rise with increasing ethanol addition. Meanwhile, increasing ethanol addition reduces the acidification potential and terrestric ecotoxicity potential impact of gasoline blends. Similarly, gasoline with n-butanol as an additive has higher acidification potential, eutrophication potential, human toxicity potential, terrestric ecotoxicity potential, marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential, and photochemical ozone creation potential compared to methanol and ethanol.

Sushil M. Chaudhari and Rohit B. Meshram

Effect of Sludge Residence Time over Anaerobic Biodegradation of High Saline Biomass

Halophytes are unique in that they can thrive in a wide range of soil conditions, from normal to extremely saline. This has recently prompted researchers to consider using halophytes as a phytoremediation end-product as a source for biogas generation. Therefore, applying the anaerobic digestion process for halophytes may have the potential advantage in terms of efficient land utilization, soil remediation, and biogas production. Based on this, the anaerobic digestion efficiency of high saline biomass was investigated in continuous laboratory-scale anaerobic reactors at two different sludge residence times (SRT) of 40 and 80 days. Under mesophilic atmosphere, two reactors were operated, one reactor used organic substrate with 30 g-Na+.L-1 originating from sodium chloride whereas the other was operated with the presence of sodium bicarbonate and sodium sulfate. The salt-tolerant microorganism was gradually developed and the salt concentrations were selected based on the elemental analyses results of 30 species of wild halophyte plants taken from the saline-affected area of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan during the early phase of the operation. For 40 and 80 days of SRT, respectively, 65.56 percent and 60.42 percent of the feed COD were converted into methane gas by the chloride system. However, only about 60% of the feed COD was converted into methane for bicarbonate, and the remaining fraction of gas was assigned to sulfide as a final product of increased sulfate reduction bacteria activity. These findings showed that the salt-tolerant microorganism could be incubated and the anaerobic digestion process could be adapted for a high-saline substrate, implying that the biodegradability of phytoremediation end-products may be used for methane production.

Tareq W. M. Amen, Meng Sun, Mitsuharu Terashima and Hidenari Yasui

A Reliable Cyclic Voltammetry Technique for the Degradation of Salicylaldehyde: Electrode Kinetics

Salicylaldehyde (SA) is used in numerous biological, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications. Releasing effluents from these industries contaminates water. So the degradation of salicylaldehyde is necessitated. The electrochemical degradation of salicylaldehyde in buffered media was studied using the eco-friendly cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique on a platinum electrode at different scan rates. Kinetic and electrochemical parameters were evaluated for the reaction such as standard heterogeneous rate constant (k0,2.468×103 s-1 ), anodic electron transfer rate constant (kox,2.507×103 s-1), electron transfer coefficient of reaction (?,0.673), and formal potential (E0, 1.0937) under the influence of scan rate. The nature of the reaction is found to be diffusion controlled. The concentration study in the range of 1 mM to 4 mM was calibrated. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification were calculated to be 0.0031 mM and 0.0103 mM respectively.

Jasvinder Kaur, Rajdeep Malik and Dushyant Gangwar

Biodiesel-Alkaline Transesterification Process for Methyl Ester Production

The world needs to increase renewable and alternative fuel sources such as Biomass, Bioethanol, and Biodiesel to compete with fossil fuels. Biodiesel is an important renewable fuel source since it can be used in regular diesel vehicles without requiring engine modifications. Conventional biodiesel production takes around 90 min of reaction time. A longer reaction time is not suitable for commercial production. Furthermore, traditional products such as oil react with biodiesel methoxide to produce a maximum of 90% biodiesel yield. As the catalyst is not involved with the reaction, pure methanol and methoxide (methanol with KOH catalyst) are separately added to the system to enhance the pre-reaction step. By changing the methanol to methoxide ratio, biodiesel is produced, and yield is calculated. The highest yield, which is 95%, is obtained with a 5:15% methanol to methoxide ratio. The total reaction time with the new experimental procedure is only 20 min. That is a significant reduction by saving operating costs such as energy consumption. Produced biodiesel show similar properties to that of standard biodiesel.

U.S.P.R. Arachchige, K.A. Viraj Miyuranga, D. Thilakarathne, R. A. Jayasinghe and N. A. Weerasekara

Groundwater Recharge Planning Using Field Survey for Talupula Mandal in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Groundwater is essential to the sustainability of India’s environment, economy, and living conditions because it isn’t just the primary source of domestic supply of water in rural areas, but it is also the major and most productive origin of the water. The increased demand for groundwater as a result of reduced rainfall has put a strain on groundwater resources in areas where groundwater is the primary supply of water. The main aim of this study is to identify and explore the groundwater potential zones in Talupula Mandal of 280.3 km2 in Ananthapur district in Andhra Pradesh, India with semi-arid climatic conditions. Based on the field survey approach, groundwater availability is found out in the villages. Schlumberger Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) survey technique was used to discover the resistivity and thickness of the unmistakable layers. It was carried out in 18 randomly selected sites where groundwater plays an important role in agricultural and domestic use. The thickness and resistivity of first- and second-layer crack sites of the various layers were separated from ground data using IPI2WIN programming. Using software, graphs were plotted and groundwater potential zones were identified for recharging the groundwater. Based on the results, different models of recharge structures for the study area are identified and recommended. Hence the management of groundwater paves the way for sustainable groundwater levels.

K. Nagamani, Prabhu Dass Batvari, S. Packialakshmi, C. Sai Kumar Reddy and B. Anuradha

Consideration and Application of Evaluation Indicators of Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere (CES) for the Utilization of Woody Biomass

The “Regional Circular and Ecological Sphere” takes advantage of the SDGs’ concept of integrated solutions to numerous concerns, complementing and supporting resources based on the region’s features while maximizing the utilization of local resources. This research makes a comprehensive evaluation of the three aspects of the environment, economy, and society. First, formulate the evaluation indicators of the regional circulation symbiosis zone. Then, choose the cutting conditions of trees according to geographical factors, use the thinning forecasting system and forest GIS data to evaluate the supply potential of thinned wood in the area, and calculate the heat and power generation of wood biomass. According to the above analysis and calculation, 12,000 tons of unused wood chips can be supplied per year for 36 years from 2016 to 2051. From the economic point of view, the purchase of wood chips of 146 million yen due to the local circulation of wood fuel is expected to save about 50 million yen in intermediate input. And it is estimated that if 12,000 tons of unused wood chips can be supplied in the city per year, and about 98.4 million yen can be saved annually. Finally, from a social perspective point of view, biomass power generation of unused thinned timber using materials worth about 146 million yen is expected to create about 20 jobs.

Yajuan Li, Toru Matsumoto and Atsushi Fujiyama

Toxicity, Monitoring, and Biodegradation of Cypermethrin Insecticide: A Review

Cypermethrin insecticide is widely used to prevent and control pest and crop diseases though, its residues have caused significant damage to the environment and living organisms. Microbial remediation becomes a popular approach to counter the toxicity of cypermethrin in both aquatic as well as terrestrial life. Cypermethrin can be effectively degraded to nontoxic compounds by bacterial and fungal strains. Various bacterial and fungal strains such as Ochrobactrum lupini DG-S-01, Bacillus sp. strain SG2, Azoarcus indigens strain HZ5, Streptomyces aureus strain HP-S-01, and Aspergillus oryzae M-4 are used for the cypermethrin degradation. Extensive usage of cypermethrin has caused problems such as surface water contamination, reduced fertility of the soil, detrimental effects on soil microbiota and non-targeted species. Due to environmental concerns associated with the cypermethrin in groundwater and food products, there is a crucial need to develop economical, rapid, and reliable techniques that can be used for field applications. An in-depth understanding of cypermethrin is explored in this review paper and possible solutions to mitigate its environmental toxicity are suggested.

Ramandeep Kaur and Joginder Singh

Coal Mining Energy Utilization and Environmental Impact Management Strategy Using the LCA Method

Coal mining processing and the clearing of land require that materials which have been removed be carefully inspected before it is reused. In this study, the boundary of our model starts with excavation and ends with material recovery. Therefore, further processing of the material to be recovered (recycling, reprocessing) is excluded from the model. In this study, the topsoil layer was collected in three pits numbered one, two, and three, from January to December 2020. The use of the LCA method gives results after the inventory data is carried out, which results in global warming. The results showed material removal unit process generated a total CO2 value of 32.44 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal, and the coal mining unit process generated a total CO2 value of 255.99 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal, for the impact of global warming. When compared to the material removal process, the results of the coal mining unit process show the highest global warming impact. Coal processing gives a yield of 25.61 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal. So that the resulting impact as a whole is 314 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal. The total emissions resulting from B30 fuel (314 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal) are smaller than B20 fuel (320 kg CO2- eq.tonne-1 of coal), 6 kg CO2-eq.tonne-1 of coal. The coal mining process includes fuel used in coal extraction, coal hauling, coal stockpiling, blasting, water pumps, and water tracks.

Frances Roi Seston Tampubolon, Arief Sabdo Yuwono, Armansyah Halomoan Tambunan and Noer Azam Achsani

Biosynthesis of Xanthan Gum by Xanthomonas campestris Using Cane Molasses as a Carbon Source

The objective of the present study was to study the optimization conditions for the production of xanthan by Xanthomonas campestris from pre-treated sugarcane molasses. In the study, the optimization was carried out for different parameters including pH, temperature, and incubation time for the pre-treated sugarcane molasses. The age of inoculums and time of culture growth (6, 12, 18 and 24 hrs), size of inoculums (2%, 5%, 7.5% and 10%), pH (6.6, 6.8, 7.0 and 7.2) and temperature (25°C, 28°C, 30°C, 32°C and 37°C) were studied. It was observed that the xanthan production was maximal with 7.5% (v/v) inoculums, pH. 7 at 30°C for 48 hrs. The study suggested that cane molasses is an appropriate agro-industrial substrate for xanthan gum fermentations, and further scale-up study is needed for gum production in the stirred fermenter.

Bhumi Rajyaguru, Ajit Varma, Amit Kharkwal and Jasvir Singh

Evaluation of Fluoride Contamination Using GIS in Thirukkazhukundram Block, Tamil Nadu, India

The presence of fluoride in the groundwater in the Thirukkazhukundram Block in south India is now becoming an increasingly alarming issue. With the semi-arid climatic conditions, charnockite and gneiss rocks form the basement, contributing to the geology of the study area. The pre-monsoon (August 2016) and post-monsoon (February 2017) fluoride concentrations have an average output of 1.3 mg.L-1 and 0.72 mg.L-1 respectively. As of date, only in Neikuppi, the fluoride contamination is found to be 2 mg.L-1 in pre-monsoon which is beyond the accepted limit as per the WHO standards. Other 29 locations taken up for study have fluoride value fluctuation from 1 mg.L-1 to 2 mg.L-1 in the pre-monsoon and from 0 to 1.5 mg.L-1 in the post-monsoon. The main factor responsible for this fluoride contamination lies in the study area’s hydro-geological condition which must be attended to immediately to prevent a public health problem in the future.

A. Amuthini Sambhavi, K. Nagamani and B. Gowtham

Implementation of Eco-Industrial Park for Effectual Establishment of Circular Economy in Russia

In recent years, waste management has become a major concern in Russian cities. This can be addressed through the circular economy. Developing Eco-Industrial Parks (EIP) can be considered an innovative infrastructure of a circular economy. EIP is based upon the principles of industrial symbiosis involving the exchange of material and energy flows, sharing of infrastructural facilities, and provision of municipal utility and other services. Researchers have found that most industrial symbiotic interconnections originated spontaneously, the main driver being the increasing commercial benefits of such interchange. Still, the authors were able to identify pre-designed EIP through their examination of global practices. This paper proposes a five-stage methodological approach to EIP organization. This methodology was applied to create a model of an EIP in the Voronezh Region, one of the fastest developing regions in Russia. Implementation of this model is intended to help solve a set of environmental, economic, and social problems of a region. The approach to creating EIPs described in this study can be used in other places to improve resource efficiency and reduce waste disposal. Because Russia’s garbage disposal rate currently exceeds 90% per year, this is one of the country’s top sustainable development priorities.

Ipsita Saha, Tatiana S. Smirnova and Vladimir A. Maryev

Development of Eco-friendly Adsorbent Pellets from Low Fire Clay and Potato Starch for Potential Use in Methylene Blue Removal in Aquaculture

Mesoporous clay-starch ceramic pellets have been prepared using silica-rich low fire clay and potato starch as a pore-forming agent. The ceramic pellets prepared using 30% starch, showed the highest porosity and lowest compressive strength among all the different pellets. Batch mode studies using the pellets showed higher methylene blue adsorption capacity with an increase in time and increased initial dye concentration. The adsorption capacity was found to decrease with increasing pellet dose, while pH had a negligible effect on methylene blue removal which makes them a suitable adsorbent in both acidic and basic mediums. Adsorption isotherm analysis of the process was followed by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm whereas the kinetics analysis fitted well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. A low-cost, simple device was made from a stainless-steel wire mesh with mesoporous ceramic pellets enclosed in it, which can easily be dipped and taken out of an aquarium and can remove methylene blue from water.

Priyanka Sharma and Kushal Qanungo

Application of Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques for the Analysis of Lake Water Fluctuations: A Case Study of Ugii Lake, Mongolia

Ugii Lake is a freshwater lake located in the steppe region of Mongolia and is an important breeding and staging area for a wide variety of waterfowl. Remote sensing and geographic information system techniques were used to estimate fluctuations in the surface area and water balance of Ugii Lake. To estimate the changes in lake water balance, lake water fluctuations should be analyzed using the most accurate methods. A different water extraction technique was applied, and the results were compared with field surveys conducted in May, July, and September 2020. The lake surface area using both NDWI and MNDWI-1 showed a strong, positive correlation (R=0.93, R=0.94, p < 0.01) with the water level of Ugii Lake. A topographic map of Ugii Lake was provided by the project (P2018-3568) conducted in August 2019 and used to estimate the volume of Ugii Lake in ArcGIS 10.1. This result was consistent with that of a previous study by JICA in 2005. Finally, the water balance of Ugii Lake was estimated, and the results proved that the influence of both surface and groundwater on Ugii Lake are valuable parameters, which are completely dependent on hydrological regime changes mostly due to local climate change in steppe regions. This study provides valuable insight into the most suitable water extraction methods for lakes in semi-arid steppe regions in Mongolia.

Amgalan Magsar, Toru Matsumoto, Altanbold Enkhbold and Nandintsetseg Nyam-Osor

Removal of Mefenamic Acid from Aqueous Solution by Fenton Process: Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology with Central Composite Design

In the present study, the three main process parameters in the Fenton process for the removal of pharmaceutical compound Mefenamic acid from an aqueous solution were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Central composite design (CCD) was used for process optimization. The primary and secondary interaction effects of the selected parameters such as H2O2, Fe2+ and pH on the removal of mefenamic acid were examined. A mathematical model for the removal process based on the selected variables was developed. The interaction effect between the chosen parameters shows that the removal of mefenamic acid was enhanced in the acidic pH range at a high concentration of H2O2 and in a medium concentration level of the catalyst Fe2+. The removal efficiency of 81.24% was obtained for mefenamic acid at the optimized condition of variables such as 9.36 mM H2O2, 0.058 mM Fe2+and at a pH value of 2.1.

R. Deepa, G. Madhu, Roy M Thomas and V. Sivanandan Achari

Hydrochemistry and Application of GIS in Groundwater Quality in Nagalapura Taluk, Bellary District, Karnataka, India

The assessment of groundwater quality is essential for the conservation of natural resources. Hence, this study aims to assess the hydrochemistry of groundwater in and around the Nagalapura Taluk in Bellary district, Karnataka, India. The groundwater quality variables are mapped using a Geographic Information System (GIS). For the hypothesis, the mean value of ten groundwater quality variables was obtained from 50 bore well samples (2016-2018). To assess the lead ions and type of water, the USSL, SAR, and Na% were measured. Ionic ratio and Gibbs graphs were used to demonstrate the chemical reactions in the water samples. ArcGIS was used for spatial analysis of the quality variables. The results showed the order of Cl- > SO42- > HCO3- with water types Na+-Cl- and Cl-, and the order of Na+ > Mg++ > Ca++ > K+ with Na+ and Mg++ as the dominant anion and cation, respectively. The hydrochemistry of groundwater is determined by the geological structure in 64 percent of the water samples examined. The Wilcox diagram shows that no-alkali exposure to the crops is expected. Forty one samples (82%) fit within the C3-S1 group; this category is fit for irrigational needs. Only 01 and 03 samples showed maximum SAR during two seasons like pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. The maps showed that groundwater in the selected sites is usually of higher quality, whereas the presence of dolomite indicates a reduction in water quality.

Maradi Sangrama Nayaka, T. Suresh, S. Manjappa and B. Suresh

Evaluation of Waste Plastic Pyrolysis Oil Performance with Diethyl Ether Additive on Insulated Piston Diesel Engine

"Considering the amount of waste plastics has risen significantly, energy may be extracted from it. Not only is it possible to dispose of waste plastics by converting them to fuel, but it is also possible to extract energy from them. Our research is motivated by the prospect of using waste plastics as a source of energy through waste plastic pyrolysis oil (WPPO). The innovation of this research is that it will assess the efficiency of plastic pyrolysis oil derived from Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) on a Thermal Barrier Coated (TBC) piston engine. The incremental ratio of WPPO to pure diesel with the addition of diethyl ether (DEE) was determined and its output and exhaust emission standards were evaluated using a direct injection single cylinder low heat rejection diesel engine. The results for the WPPO blends were promising as with TBCW20DEE10 demonstrating a 5 to 15% increase in carbon monoxide under different load conditions. TBCW20DEE10 confirmed a greater reduction of hydrocarbons varying from 5 to 12 %. At half load condition, TBCW20DEE10 emits approximately 3.5 % less unit of smoke."

S. Padmanabhan, C. Joel, Linda Joel, Obulareddy Yuvatejeswar Reddy, K.G.D. Sri Harsha and S. Ganesan

Estimating the Potential of Carbon Sequestration in Tree Species of Chintapalle Forest Range, Narsipatnam Division, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

The potential of carbon sequestration of tree species in the Chintapalle forest range, of Narsipatnam Division, was estimated by using a non-destructive method. The sequestration of 6033 trees belonging to 22 species was investigated; the approximate height of tree species and the diameter at breast height (DBH) were measured for the estimation of CO2 sequestration. The maximum weight of carbon was observed in Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre species i.e (37987.06 kg) and the minimum weight of carbon was noted in Phyllanthus emblica L. species i.e is (61.8kg). The total carbon sequestrated by the entire tree species was (2370614.0 kg), The average carbon sequestered was (39865.81 kg). The highest sequestration was noted in the species P. pinnata (L.) Pierre i.e. (139271.95 kg) and the lowest (226.79 kg) was noted in the species P. emblica L. The maximum average DBH with maximum carbon sequestration potential was observed in Ficus benghalensis L. species, with higher total green (AGW) observed in all sites, whereas minimum average DBH with minimum carbon sequestration potential was noted in Bambusa vulgaris species. The regression analysis tests the relationship between two variables. The height of trees has no significant impact on the amount of CO2 sequestered F (32085087175.84, 12946607900) = 2.478262; P ? 0.05, which indicates that the tree height plays an insignificant role in CO2 sequestration (? = 2713.28 P ? 0.05). The dependent variable CO2 sequestered was also regressed on the predictor variable soil organic carbon (SOC) to test the relationship. SOC insignificantly predicted CO2 sequestrated F (5.83, 2.62) = 0.2236; P ? 0.25, indicating that the SOC has an insignificant role in CO2 sequestration (? = 102780.3 P ? 0.05). Insignificant relation was observed between the parameters SOC and height of tree species to the rate of carbon dioxide sequestered, and gave a regression equation of y = 10278x + 50863 with R2 = 0.100; y=2713.285803x-209800.8762 with R2 = 0.553 respectively.

Korra Simhadri, Syam Kumar Bariki and A.V.V.S. Swamy

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of Sewage Sludge Recycling Systems in China

With the acceleration of economic development and urbanization in China, sewage sludge generation has sharply increased. To maximize energy regeneration and resource recovery, it is crucial to analyze the environmental impact and sustainability of different sewage sludge recycling systems based on life cycle assessment. This study analyzed four sewage sludge recycling systems in China through life cycle assessment using the ReCipe method, namely aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion and biomass utilization, incineration, and heat utilization and using for building materials. In particular, the key pollution processes and pollutants in sewage sludge recycling systems were analyzed. The results demonstrated that aerobic composting is the most environmentally optimal scenario for reducing emissions and energy consumption. The lowest environmental impact and operating costs were achieved by making bricks and using them as building materials; this was the optimal scenario for sludge treatment and recycling. In contrast, incineration and heat utilization had the highest impact on health and marine toxicity. Anaerobic digestion and biomass utilization had the highest impact on climate change, terrestrial acidification, photochemical oxidant formation, and particulate matter formation. In the future, policy designers should prioritize building material creation for sludge treatment and recycling.

Jiawen Zhang and Toru Matsumoto

Optimization of Chlorella Culture Conditions with Response Surface Methodology to Increase Biomass

Microalgae is gaining popularity as a major ingredient in nutrition supplements. To mass cultivate, it is imperative to improve the biomass yield hence optimization of cultures conditions becomes paramount. In this work, an attempt has been made to optimize the microalgal production using response surface methodology (RSM) and validate further the optimized parameters. The optimum conditions for the cultivation of Chlorella sp. KPU016 under optimized nutrient conditions were pH 8.2, the light intensity of 3100 lx, glycerol 1.44 g.L-1 (under pre-set conditions of 12 h lighting, the temperature at 27±1°C. With these RSM-driven optimum conditions, the yield of microalgal biomass achieved was 282.50 mg.L-1. For larger-scale microalgal harvesting, the validated optimal conditions can be inferred as the best for enhanced microalgal production. The isolate was partially sequenced and submitted to the NCBI database and the GenBank accession number is MZ348364.

R. Kanimozhi, D. Arvind Prasath, R. Dhandapani and Santhosh Sigamani

GIS-Based Surface Runoff Modeling Using Empirical Technique For A River Basin In South India

Precipitation is the primary source of fresh water in the world. Surface runoff will happen when the amount of rainfall is greater than the soil’s infiltration capacity. In most water resource applications, runoff is the most important hydrological variable. Aside from these rainfall characteristics, there are a number of catchment-specific elements that have a direct impact on runoff amount and volume. This research focuses on estimating surface runoff over the lower Vellar basin, a river basin in the southern part of India, by integrating Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) method with GIS. This technique is one of the most common methods used by hydrologists for estimating surface runoff. Curve Number (CN) is an index established by the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) to denote the potential for stormwater runoff. The nature of the watershed is explored first by creating land use and land cover pattern followed by the preparation of slope, drainage, and location maps. The area taken for this study is the lower Vellar basin situated in the Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, India. The curve number is analyzed using the rainfall data of 15 years (2001-2015) and the runoff is being calculated. The watershed pattern of the study area is also explored being analyzed and executed. Preservation of the runoff water is also discussed.

B. Prabhu Dass Batvari and K. Nagamani

Disaster Management: Tsunami and Remote Sensing Technology

Remote sensing technology has changed the way disasters like earthquakes and tsunamis are detected, monitored, and mapped in recent years. This paper summarizes the general theoretical study of Tsunami generation, propagation, and its inundation for deep, intermediate, and coastal waters. Tsunami is a Japanese word, which is made up of two words: “tsu” means harbor, and “nami” means waves. It means that Tsunami is the coastal gravity waves, which propagate close to the coastline. This analysis presents a novel method to explore the effects of tsunami waves on coastal areas. The methodology includes remote sensing nearness examinations and alteration identification strategies in remote sensing to outline a number of support routes along the coast and divide them into four homogenous sub-regions. The adjustments in the land spread are then measured in these sub-regions when the tidal wave occurs. The proposed paper gives a more solid and exact method than ordinary strategies to assess spatial examples of harmful territories through various land qualities along the coastline. The generative phase of tsunami development comprises the creation of an early disruption at the surface of the ocean due to the earthquake-generated distortion on the seafloor. Various comparative studies are also carried out using spatial technology to examine tsunami routes around the globe, taking into account the most recent tsunami occurrences.

Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi

Recognition of Image-Based Plant Leaf Diseases Using Deep Learning Classification Models

Plant diseases are spread by a variety of pests, weeds, and pathogens and may have a devastating effect on agriculture, if not handled in a timely manner. Farmers face umpteen challenges from a proper water supply, untimely rain, storage facilities, and several plant diseases. Crops disease is the primary threat and it causes enormous loss to farmers in terms of production and finance. Identifying the disease from several hectares of agricultural land is a very difficult practice even with the presence of modern technology. Accurate and rapid illness prediction for early illness treatment to crops minimizes economical loss to the individual and further proves to be productive for healthy crops. Many studies use modern deep learning approaches to improve the accuracy and performance of object detection and identification systems. The suggested method notifies farmers of different agricultural illnesses, prompting them to take further essential precautions before the disease spreads to the whole agricultural field. The primary objective of this study is to detect the illnesses as soon as they begin to spread on the leaves of the plants. Super-Resolution Convolutional Neural Network (SRCNN) and Bicubic models are employed in the system to identify healthy and diseased leaves with an accuracy of 99.175 % and 99.156 % respectively.

Sakshi Takkar, Anuj Kakran, Veerpal Kaur, Manik Rakhra, Manish Sharma, Pargin Bangotra and Neha Verma

Statistical Modelling of a Comparative Phytotoxicity Study of Treated Yellow 10Gw Dye Solution With Copper and Aluminum in Electrocoagulation Process

This work was carried to compare the efficiency of Cu and Al electrodes in the elimination of Yellow 10 gw dye solution with the optimization of operative factors such as pH, NaCl, contact time, and current density in the electrocoagulation method. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the impact of these variables, with significance set at P<0.05. The data was statistically examined with Origin2021 and SPSS software, and significant differences between mean values were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA). For each experiment, duplicates were kept, and the efficiency of Yellow 10 gw dye solution for those parameters was derived using analysis at a 5% level of significance. The utility of treated dye solutions using both the electrodes was tested on V.radiata in terms of germination percentage, root, and shoot length with distilled water as control. For all of the qualities examined, significant disparities were found among entries. The dye solution used with Al resulted in much higher germination (100%), root length (9.72 cm), and shoot length (24.5 cm).

Kalivel Parameswari, M. Vijila and P. Jegathambal

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