Environmental Science And Technology - Research Publications

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Bioremediation for Sustainable Environmental Cleanup
(CRC Press, 2023-10-19T00:00:00) Malik, Anju; Garg, Vinod Kumar
The present book, Bioremediation for Sustainable Environmental Cleanup, has a compilation of seventeen chapters comprehensively describing the state-of-the-art on emerging bioremediation approaches employed for sustainable environmental clean-up of diverse environmental pollutants such as metal(loid)s, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, dyes, pesticides, petroleum hydrocarbons, etc., by using bacteria, fungi, algae, higher plants, and novel materials like biohybrids, nano-biomaterials, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4). Different bioremediation strategies such as biosorption, bioprecipitation, bioaccumulation, biodegradation, biotransformation etc. have been described in detail. The emphasis throughout, however, is on sustainable environmental clean-up. Eminent researchers from various countries located in diverse geographical areas, including Argentina, Canada, Germany, India, Pakistan, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America, have contributed towards the chapters of this book. � 2024 Anju Malik and Vinod Kumar Garg.
Bioremediation: A Sustainable Approach for Environmental Cleanup
(CRC Press, 2023-10-19T00:00:00) Singh, Bharti; Malik, Anju; Garg, Vinod Kumar
As the world�s population is increasing by the day, the daily basis demands supplied through industries and agriculture have led to the release of contaminants into the environment resulting in a serious threat to human health and the environment. There are so many technologies for the removal of contaminants from the environment including physical, chemical and sophisticated oxidation procedures. These procedures and technologies, however, have their limitations and the end products are also harmful. As a result, there is a need to identify and investigate sustainable and eco-friendly processes that use less chemicals, are economically viable and provide non-toxic final products. One of the such attractive, stable, sustainable and eco-friendly cleaning technique to deal with this issue is Bioremediation. It is an interdisciplinary approach which includes various living organisms from the surroundings to remediate contaminated ecosystems. Toxic compounds are metabolized by many microbes to release CO2 or CH4, water and biomass. These contaminants may be metabolized enzymatically into less toxic or harmless metabolites. Furthermore, the solid waste produced by this technique has been shown to have a potential influence on soil macro- and micronutrients, indicating its use as organic manure. However, bioremediation requires further research before it could be used on a wider scale, with a focus on the environmental implications of the final products. This chapter provides a brief overview of various bioremediation approaches to remediate the polluted environment. � 2024 Anju Malik and Vinod Kumar Garg.
Temporal profile of ionic species and n-alkanes composition of PM10 in a rural environment of Western Himalaya
(Elsevier B.V., 2023-10-13T00:00:00) Kumar, Ajay; Attri, Arun K.
The temporal profile of PM10 and its composition comprising water-soluble ionic species and n-alkanes studied over the 14 months was segregated into three seasons: winter, summer, and monsoon. The average PM10 concentration exceeds the prescribed National PM10 limits in summer and winter. The PM10 concentration was highest in summer, followed by winter, and lowest in monsoon. Water-soluble inorganic ionic species� major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, and NH4+) and anions (F?, Cl?, NO3? and SO42?) contributed an average 30.7% to PM10. The ionic species displayed significant variation, with the highest concentration in winter and the lowest in the monsoon. The secondary inorganic ions, SO42?, NO3?, and NH4+, contributed 84% to the total ionic mass. The ion balance study revealed a strong correlation between anion and cation charge equivalents, suggesting their main contribution to PM10. The neutralization of NO3? + SO42? with NH4+ suggested, NH4+ being the main neutralizing species. n-alkanes concentration in PM10 was significant and showed seasonal variation, highest in the winters and lowest in monsoon. The source profiling of PM10 components, using statistical correlation, regression, and principal component analysis (PCA), revealed solid-fuel biomass, soil dust, and brick kilns and transported materials as major sources. � 2023 Turkish National Committee for Air Pollution Research and Control
Introduction to environmental and green chemistry
(Elsevier, 2023-09-29T00:00:00) Yadav, Sushma; Yadav, Anoop; Mohan, Chandra; Garg, Vinod Kumar; Kumari, Neeraj
Both environmental chemistry and green chemistry are important and have a crucial role in the ecosystem; however environmental chemistry discusses about the environmental problems, while green chemistry provides the solution. Green chemistry is new emerging area that strives to achieve the sustainability at the molecular level. Green chemistry generally deals with reduction or minimizing the harmful and toxic chemical products with eco-friendly one. From the past few decades, green chemistry has received a remarkable attention of the researchers due to its ability to achieve environmental and economic goals by doing chemical invention. Through different major modification of green chemistry including renewable feedstocks, biocatalysts, green solvents, dual aims of environmental protection and economic benefits could be achieved. This chapter generally covers the concept of origin of environmental and green chemistry with a cohesive set of 12 principles. � 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Utilization of vermi-incorporated feed for the seed production of two freshwater ornamental fish, Xiphophorus helleri and Poecilia sphenops
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023-10-18T00:00:00) Sharma, Kavita; Garg, Vinod Kumar
Integrated ornamental pisciculture and vermiculture is an eco-friendly cleaner technology of resource utilization contributing to the circular economy of a country. The present investigation studied the effect of earthworms, Eisenia fetida, on the seed production of ornamental fishes. Earthworms have a high crude protein and lipid content and are hence utilized as one ingredient for making fish feed, i.e., vermi-incorporated feed. Vermincorporated feed was prepared using different percentages of earthworm powder. Earthworms used for making fish feed were obtained from various vermicomposting experiments. Reproduction of swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri, and black molly, Poecilia sphenops, was assessed at different percentages of vermi-incorporated feed. The results revealed that maximum fry production was at 3% vermi-incorporated feed application in Xiphophorus helleri(293.7�22.7) as well as in Poecilia sphenops�(312.3�4.7). Minimum fry production was when fishes were fed with 1% vermi-incorporated feed. Female biomass was positively correlated (R 2=0.95-0.97) with the mean fry production in different treatments for both species. No mortality or deformities were observed during the experiment. Water quality parameters were in the optimal range for ornamental fish breeding. Results revealed that earthworm protein can be successfully used for the seed production of ornamental fish � 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Co-occurrence of geogenic uranium and fluoride in a semiarid belt of the Punjab plains, India
(Elsevier B.V., 2023-10-05T00:00:00) Chaudhari, Umakant; Mehta, Madhu; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, Sunil; Tiwari, Raghavendra P.
The inordinate presence of uranium (U) and fluoride (F?) in shallow aquifers of arid/semi-arid regions in northern India has raised a serious health concern; the Muktsar district of Punjab is one such example. In the present study, a total of 38 groundwater samples (17 from <100 ft (very shallow; VSL), 21 from >100 to 180 ft (shallow; SL)) were collected from this district to understand the current health risk associated with U and F? and the major factors/processes influencing these contaminants. Groundwater in the study area is mostly alkaline and oxic in nature. The concentration of U ranged from 18.5 ?g/L to 456 ?g/L exceeding the WHO permissible limit (>30 ?g/L) in 93 and 100% samples from VSL and SL respectively, while F? concentration (ranged from 0.3 to 14.4 mg/L) above the limit (>1.5 mg/L) were found in 75 and 57% samples from VSL and SL respectively. As per the depth-wise distribution of U and F?, there is no significant difference between VSL and SL samples, with a few exceptions. Spearman rank correlation (?) shows a significant positive correlation (p-value < 0.05) between U and F? (? = 0.5), and U with total dissolved solid (TDS) (? = 0.5), salinity (? = 0.6), and bicarbonate (HCO3?) (? = 0.7) and a positive association of F? with TDS (? = 0.3), salinity (? = 0.3), and HCO3? (? = 0.3), indicating these parameters are responsible for the co-occurrence of U and F?. Moreover, this geochemical signature is attributed to their geogenic origin. Uranium speciation data show that UO2(CO3)22? and UO2(CO3)34? are dominant species, while F? predominantly occurs as F? species. The regions with high concentration of U and F? in groundwater primarily have mixed type species (Na�HCO3 and NaCl type). Geochemical modelling revealed that the precipitation of calcite, dolomite, and aragonite is favourable for mobility of F? in groundwater. The hazard quotient (HQ) of F? for adults and children exceeds 1 in 57.8% and 65.7% of samples, respectively, while in case of U, 94.7% and 100% samples exceed 1, respectively, indicating the latter is having greater health impact on local people. The current data indicated an urgent demand to develop low-cost and effective remedial techniques to manage groundwater contamination in this region. � 2023
Uranium and Fluoride Accumulation in Vegetable and Cereal Crops: A Review on Current Status and Crop-Wise Differences
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-09-19T00:00:00) Sachdeva, Saloni; Powell, Mike A.; Nandini, Girish; Kumar, Hemant; Kumar, Rakesh; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar
Uranium (U) and fluoride (F?) contamination in agricultural products, especially vegetable and cereal crops, has raised serious concerns about food safety and human health on a global scale. To date, numerous studies have reported U and F? contamination in vegetable and cereal crops at local scales, but the available information is dispersed, and crop-wise differences are lacking. This paper reviews the current status of knowledge on this subject by compiling relevant published literatures between 1983 and 2023 using databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Medline, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Based on the median values, F? levels ranged from 0.5 to 177 mg/kg, with higher concentrations in non-leafy vegetables, such as Indian squash �Praecitrullus fistulosus� (177 mg/kg) and cucumber �Cucumis sativus� (96.25 mg/kg). For leafy vegetables, the maximum levels were recorded in bathua �Chenopodium album� (72.01 mg/kg) and mint �Mentha arvensis� (44.34 mg/kg), where more than 50% of the vegetable varieties had concentrations of >4 mg/kg. The concentration of U ranged from 0.01 to 17.28 mg/kg; tubers and peels of non-leafy vegetables, particularly radishes �Raphanus sativus� (1.15 mg/kg) and cucumber �Cucumis sativus� (0.42 mg/kg), contained higher levels. These crops have the potential to form organometallic complexes with U, resulting in more severe threats to human health. For cereal crops (based on median values), the maximum F? level was found in bajra �Pennisetum glaucum� (15.18 mg/kg), followed by chana �Cicer arietinum� (7.8 mg/kg) and split green gram �Vigna mungo� (4.14 mg/kg), while the maximum accumulation of U was recorded for barley �Hordeum vulgare� (2.89 mg/kg), followed by split green gram �Vigna mungo� (0.45 mg/kg). There are significant differences in U and F? concentrations in either crop type based on individual studies or countries. These differences can be explained mainly due to changes in geogenic and anthropogenic factors, thereby making policy decisions related to health and intake difficult at even small spatial scales. Methodologies for comprehensive regional�or larger�policy scales will require further research and should include strategies to restrict crop intake in specified �hot spots�. � 2023 by the authors.
Pharmaceutical Contamination in Water and Wastewater: Remediation Technology and Future Challenges
(CRC Press, 2023-09-12T00:00:00) Kataria, Navish; Yadav, Sangita; Rose, Pawan Kumar; Garg, Vinod Kumar
Water is an essential natural resource available on the earth for the use of human beings. Numerous new toxins build up in aquatic habitats due to industrial, agricultural, hospital, and residential discharges. Nowadays, several nations consider pharmaceutical pollution of the aquatic environment a severe environmental issue. Therefore, research focusing on the chemical identification and measurement of these substances, assessing potential biological impacts, and developing and applying state-of-the-art treatment techniques for their removal and/or mineralisation has gained tremendous attention. Conventional treatment techniques generally result in inadequate removal, toxic by-products, and sludge production and are usually ineffective in eliminating new contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals. Additionally, the concentration of these contaminants has not been routinely evaluated since there are no precise discharge regulations. Advanced water treatment techniques are needed to treat pharmaceutical waste effectively. The present chapter discusses the potential methods for remediating pharmaceuticals from water bodies and wastewater streams, as well as advancements in remediation strategies, green chemistry, circular economy, and associated future challenges. � 2024 selection and editorial matter, Vinod Kumar Garg, Ashok Pandey, Navish Kataria and Caterina Faggio; individual chapters, the contributors.
Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Environments: Remediation Technologies and Future Challenges
(CRC Press, 2023-09-12T00:00:00) Garg, Vinod Kumar; Pandey, Ashok; Kataria, Navish; Faggio, Caterina
This book covers pharmaceutical residue dispersion in the aquatic environment and its toxic effect on living organisms. It discusses conventional and advanced remediation technologies such as the use of biomaterials for the sequestration of contaminants, nanotechnology, and phytoremediation. The book includes topics such as the removal of pharmaceutical and personal care product residues from water bodies, green chemistry, and legal regimens for pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment. It also covers the application of modified biochar in pharmaceutical removal. FEATURES � Explores the management of the environment through green chemistry � Describes phytoremediation technology for decontamination of pharmaceutical-laden water and wastewater � Covers the detection methods and quantification of pharmaceutical residues in various contaminated sources � Discusses ecotoxicological aspects and risk assessment of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment � Reviews degradation and treatment technologies including nanotechnology, biomaterials, and biochar This book is meant for pharmaceutical, toxicology, and environmental science industry experts and researchers. � 2024 selection and editorial matter, Vinod Kumar Garg, Ashok Pandey, Navish Kataria and Caterina Faggio; individual chapters, the contributors.
Effect of Compost and Vermicompost Amendments on Biochemical and Physiological Responses of Lady�s Finger (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) Grown under Different Salinity Gradients
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-07-28T00:00:00) Suhani, Ibha; Srivastava, Vaibhav; Megharaj, Mallavarapu; Suthar, Surindra; Garg, Vinod Kumar; Singh, Rajeev Pratap
In the coming decades, the pressure to use saline water will increase as most of the natural resources with good water quality are being depleted. In order to avoid more stress on the soil plant system, a better understanding of the type of amendments and their integration with the irrigational water quality of any location-specific region is essential. Utilizing salt-affected lands in the best way possible will facilitate food security for the growing human population. An experiment was conducted with the Abelmoschus esculentus L. plant, irrigated with saline water having different NaCl gradients (0, 50, 100 and 150 mM), to evaluate the biochemical and physiological responses under different salinity gradients. Additionally, the effect of compost and vermicompost amendments in soil on plant responses to the changing salinity of irrigated water was observed. The results suggested that the addition of compost and vermicompost in soil not only suppressed the adverse impact of salinity in plants but also increased soil nutrients (TKN, OC, avail. P, avail. K and avail. Ca contents). Moreover, some biochemical parameters and plant growth parameters showed better traits in such manure-amended setups. The enhancement of proline, phenol, ascorbic acid and lipid peroxidation contents in the leaves of Abelmoschus esculentus L. under high salinity levels suggests some secondary metabolite-mediated response possibly due to stress caused by soil salt accumulations. In summary, crop production could be efficiently maintained in saline water-irrigated areas after amending the soils with appropriate organic manure. � 2023 by the authors.
Green Chemistry Approaches to Environmental Sustainability: Status, Challenges and Prospective
(Elsevier, 2023-09-29T00:00:00) Garg, Vinod Kumar; Yadav, Anoop; Mohan, Chandra; Yadav, Sushma; Kumari, Neeraj
Green Chemistry Approaches to Environmental Sustainability: Status, Challenges and Prospective provides a comprehensive and complete overview of the emerging discipline of green chemistry and fundamental chemical principles. The book bridges the gap between research and industry by offering a systematic overview of current available sustainable materials and related information on new materials' suitability and potential for given projects. Along the way, the book examines natural and biodegradable materials while also presenting materials with multifunctional properties. Topics addressed in this book will be major accomplishments for sustainable developments in biofuels, renewable energies, and in the remediation of pollutants in water, air and soil. � 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Temporal Variation of Water Quality Parameters during COVID-19: A Case Study of River Yamuna
(2023-07-20T00:00:00) Singh, Bhupendra Pratap; Pandey, Puneeta; Koul, Monika; Bhatia, Bela; Singh, Amit Kumar; Mehra, Kriti; Chowdhary, Khyati; Kumar, Ranjeet; Goel, Vanshika
Abstract: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in Wuhan city of China in late December 2019 and affected the (atmosphere and hydrosphere) and also impacted economic activities due to the lockdown. Several studies have reported the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on significant changes in the air quality index, but only a few studies have reported the relationship between water quality parameters and COVID-19. The findings of the current study revealed that the mean values of pH in the Yamuna river were reported to be 7.77 � 0.31, 7.55 � 0.40, and 7.31 � 0.44 for pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. The changes in the pH values indicated that Yamuna water quality became less alkaline due to restricted industrial activities along the river during the lockdown period. Further, the mean values of COD were observed to be 60.57 � 16.79, 62.99 � 23.17, and 129.06 � 36.96; the BOD values were 18.20 � 8.42, 20.16 � 5.22, and 33.35 � 10.35, and DO values were 3.30 � 1.15, 3.20 � 0.96, and 3.49 � 1.56 respectively for pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. The results of these parameters indicated that agriculture, including local source discharges, was a major factor affecting water quality parameters during the pandemic period. According to the study, there is a significant positive association between the BOD and COD with values 0.99, 0.98, and 0.94, respectively, whereas a strong negative correlation was calculated between DO, COD, BOD for pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. This study would be enlightening among the scientists, researchers, and government to address the water issues along with policy formulation. � 2023, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.
Sustainable utilization and treatment of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) weed biomass using vermitechnology
(Springer, 2023-07-18T00:00:00) Gupta, Renuka; Mago, Monika; Garg, Vinod Kumar
The present research is an attempt to manage Barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli), a common rice weed, sustainably by vermicomposting technology. Echinochloa crus-galli (EC) biomass blended with cow dung in combination: 20:80, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, and 80:20 with two controls 100% CD and 100% EC were vermicomposted�for 63�days. Earthworms could not grow well in feedstocks having higher percentage of EC. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total available phosphorus and total potassium in final vermicomposts were in the range of 13.6�21.5�g�kg?1, 11.8�15.9�g�kg?1, and 20.1�27.6�g�kg?1, respectively. Respiration rate (42�98 mgCO2 kg?1 VC 48�h?1) confirms vermicompost maturity and falls within the recommended limits (< 120 mgCO2 kg?1 VC 48�h?1). Vermicomposting process reduced the weed mass by 2.20�3.03 folds depicting its�effective decomposition. It was inferred from the results�that this weed can be converted into nutrient-rich manure employing vermicomposting and�this process facilitating the management of E. crus-galli in a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable manner. � 2023, International Society for Tropical Ecology.
Pharmaceuticals in the Aquatic Environment Introduction
(CRC Press, 2023-06-29T00:00:00) Dhillayan, Divya; Sabherwal, Himani; Kataria, Navish; Garg, Vinod Kumar
Pharmaceuticals have unquestionably contributed to the health sector, well-being, and quality of life. These have made a mark in the advancement of human science. In recent years, pharmaceutical production, transportation, and usage have expanded enormously. But often pharmaceuticals are considered as emerging contaminants that require immediate intervention as there could be adverse impacts on humans and as well as non-human flora and fauna. This chapter summarises various sources, occurrences, pathways, and toxicity on humans, animals, and plant life. Different analytic techniques which are used for their detection have also been discussed in this chapter. � 2024 selection and editorial matter, Vinod Kumar Garg, Ashok Pandey, Navish Kataria, and Caterina Faggio; individual chapters, the contributors.
Synthesis of nanocellulose for the removal of naphthalene from simulated wastewater
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2023-06-29T00:00:00) Ranwala, Pooja; Pal, Jitender; Garg, Vinod Kumar; Rani, Shakuntala
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are one among the strenuous problems of indemnity of hydrosphere brought on by the unintended release of refractory chemicals into the environment. Naphthalene has been removed from aqueous solution using various adsorbents, such as activated carbon, graphene oxide, etc�in yesteryears. This study describes the synthesis of nanocellulose from rice husk and its application for the removal of naphthalene from simulated wastewater. To characterize the synthesized nanocellulose, SEM, TEM, BET, FTIR, XRD, zeta potential, AFM, TGA, DSC, and EDX techniques were used. The nanocellulose surface area was 1.152�m2�g?1. The experiments were conducted in batch mode to investigate the impact of various operating conditions on naphthalene adsorption. Maximum removal of naphthalene was at pH 2 within 150�min. The experimental data were subjected to various models, viz.,�thermodynamic, kinetic, and isotherm models. Error analysis confirmed that the pseudo second-order equation�and Langmuir model fitted well to the experimental data. The maximum removal of the naphthalene was ~80%. The desorption and reusability efficiency of nanocellulose was also evaluated. According to this study, nanocellulose has a higher potential for naphthalene removal due to the presence of active sites. � 2023, Institute of Chemistry, Slovak Academy of Sciences.
Novel Zinc ferrite composite with starch and carboxy methyl starch from biowaste precursor for the removal of Ni (II) ion from aqueous solutions
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2023-06-19T00:00:00) Sharma, Dimple; Jasrotia, Rimzim; Singh, Jandeep; Mittal, Sunil; Singh, Harminder
In the present work, Zinc ferrite composites with Mango starch (MS) and carboxymethyl mango starch (CMMS) were synthesized for the removal of Ni (II) ions from aqueous solutions. Composites prepared were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, pH of point zero charge (pHzpc), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and BET. Batch adsorption technique was used to study effect of various parameters such as pH, adsorbent dose, contact time, concentration, and temperature for removal of Ni (II) ions from aqueous solutions. The optimum time, pH, adsorbent dose and temperature required for ZFN@ MS and ZFN@ CMMS in this study was 110 min., 7 & 8, 0.1 g and 308 K, respectively. Out of various adsorption isotherms, Freundlich isotherm model fitted best with adsorption data. Maximum adsorption capacity for removal of Ni (II) were found to be 65.3 and 208.3 mg/g, respectively by using Zinc ferrite@ MS and Zinc ferrite@ CMMS adsorbents. Lagergren Pseudo second order model best fitted with results which indicated that the process of adsorption was chemical in nature. The value of adsorption energy for ZFN@ MS was 50 kJ/mol and for ZFN@ CMMS, it was 31.62 kJ/mol. Thermodynamic study revealed that process was endothermic and non-spontaneous in nature. Regeneration studies were conducted for five cycles where Zinc ferrite@ MS showed 71% regeneration efficiency and Zinc ferrite@ CMMS showed 78% regeneration efficiency for nickel ion removal from aqueous solution. � 2023 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Agricultural Wastes: A Feedstock for Citric Acid Production Through Microbial Pathway
(CRC Press, 2023-06-02T00:00:00) Sachdeva, Saloni; Banu, Rajesh; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi Kadapakkam
Citric acid holds a dominant position in industrial manufacturing due to its widespread application. It can be extricated as natural products through microbial pathways. A greater part of citric acid production is currently achieved by fermentation techniques where molasses/starch-based media are used. Microbial strains such as Penicillium spp, Aspergillus spp, Acremonium spp, and many others excrete variable amounts of citric acid as a primary metabolite. So far, Aspergillus niger has been recognized to produce a higher yield of around 112 g of citric acid /100 g of sucrose. However, the increasing demands has necessiated the need for more efficient procedures to enhance the yield. Several studies have been documented where agri-wastes such as rice straw, coconut husk, corn stalk, apple pomace, sugarcane bagasse, and many others were subjected to varied microorganisms (mainly fungal species) to increase the productivity of citric acid. Substantial citric acids have been produced using genetically modifying organisms (fungi Aspergillus and yeast Candida) and divergent combinations of microbe-substrate, but large-scale production has not yet been established. Also, the utilization of these fossil carbon sources has caused environmental deterioration, which instigates interest in agricultural waste as a potential substrate. Agricultural wastes are considered an economically feasible option and a renewable source that can be consumed by plenty of microorganisms. This chapter covers a detailed description of agri-waste bioconversion to citric acid which can further help in this fast-moving domain. � 2023 selection and editorial matter Gustavo Molina, Minaxi Sharma, Vipin Chandra Kalia, Franciele Maria Pelissari, Vijai Kumar Gupta, individual chapters, the contributors.
Rice husk biochar - A novel engineered bio-based material for transforming groundwater-mediated fluoride cycling in natural environments
(Academic Press, 2023-05-24T00:00:00) Kumar, Rakesh; Sharma, Prabhakar; Sharma, Pushpa Kumari; Rose, Pawan Kumar; Singh, Rakesh Kumar; Kumar, Nishant; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Maity, Jyoti Prakash; Ghosh, Ashok; Kumar, Manish; Bhattacharya, Prosun; Pandey, Ashok
Biochar, a promising carbon-rich and carbon-negative material, can control water pollution, harness the synergy of sustainable development goals, and achieve circular economy. This study examined the performance feasibility of treating fluoride-contaminated surface and groundwater using raw and modified biochar synthesized from agricultural waste rice husk as problem-fixing renewable carbon-neutral material. Physicochemical characterizations of raw/modified biochars were investigated using FESEM-EDAX, FTIR, XRD, BET, CHSN, VSM, pHpzc, Zeta potential, and particle size analysis were analyzed to identify the surface morphology, functional groups, structural, and electrokinetic behavior. In fluoride (F?) cycling, performance feasibility was tested at various governing factors, contact time (0�120 min), initial F? levels (10�50 mg L?1), biochar dose (0.1�0.5 g L?1), pH (2�9), salt strengths (0�50 mM), temperatures (301�328 K), and various co-occurring ions. Results revealed that activated magnetic biochar (AMB) possessed higher adsorption capacity than raw biochar (RB) and activated biochar (AB) at pH 7. The results indicated that maximum F? removal (98.13%) was achieved using AMB at pH 7 for 10 mg L?1. Electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, pore fillings, and surface complexation govern F? removal mechanisms. Pseudo-second-order and Freundlich were the best fit kinetic and isotherm for F? sorption, respectively. Increased biochar dose drives an increase in active sites due to F? level gradient and mass transfer between biochar-fluoride interactions, which reported maximum mass transfer for AMB than RB and AB. Fluoride adsorption using AMB could be described through chemisorption processes at room temperature (301 K), though endothermic sorption follows the physisorption process. Fluoride removal efficiency reduced, from 67.70% to 53.23%, with increased salt concentrations from 0 to 50 mM NaCl solutions, respectively, due to increased hydrodynamic diameter. Biochar was used to treat natural fluoride-contaminated surface and groundwater in real-world problem-solving measures, showed removal efficiency of 91.20% and 95.61%, respectively, for 10 mg L?1 F? contamination, and has been performed multiple times after systematic adsorption-desorption experiments. Lastly, techno-economic analysis was analyzed for biochar synthesis and F? treatment performance costs. Overall, our results revealed worth output and concluded with recommendations for future research on F? adsorption using biochar. � 2023 Elsevier Ltd
Distribution and concentration pathway of particulate pollution during pandemic-induced lockdown in metropolitan cities in India
(Institute for Ionics, 2023-06-12T00:00:00) Anand, A.; Garg, V.K.; Agrawal, A.; Mangla, S.; Pathak, A.
To characterize the pollutant dispersal across major metropolitan cities in India, daily particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) data for the study areas were collected from the National Air Quality Monitoring stations database provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India. The data were analysed for three temporal ranges, i.e. before the pandemic-induced lockdown, during the lockdown, and after the upliftment of lockdown restrictions. For the purpose, the time scale ranged from 1st April to 31st May for the years 2019 (pre), 2020, and 2021 (post). Statistical distributions (lognormal, Weibull, and Gamma), aerosol optical thickness, and back trajectories were assessed for all three time periods. Most cities followed the lognormal distribution for PM2.5 during the lockdown period except Mumbai and Hyderabad. For PM10, all the regions followed the lognormal distribution. Delhi and Kolkata observed a maximum decline in particulate pollution of 41% and 52% for PM2.5 and 49% and 53% for PM10, respectively. Air mass back trajectory suggests local transmission of air mass during the lockdown period, and an undeniable decline in aerosol optical thickness was observed from the MODIS sensor. It can be concluded that statistical distribution analysis coupled with pollution models can be a counterpart in studying the dispersal and developing pollution abatement policies for specific sites. Moreover, incorporating remote sensing in pollution study can enhance the knowledge about the origin and movement of air parcels and can be helpful in taking decisions beforehand. � 2023, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Iranian Society of Environmentalists (IRSEN) and Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University.
Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Environments: Toxicity, Monitoring, and Remediation Technologies
(CRC Press, 2023-06-29T00:00:00) Garg, Vinod Kumar; Pandey, Ashok; Kataria, Navish; Faggio, Caterina
This reference book compiles up-to-date research about the threat and management of pharmaceutical residue dispersion in the aquatic environment. It explores the risk analysis and short- and long-term health issues created due to the ingestion of pharmaceutical-contaminated food products and drinking water. The book focuses on the methods of removal and degradation processes of pharmaceutical residues from contaminated sources. It emphasizes the importance of eco-friendly and advanced treatment technology for the sustainable management of wastewater and drinking water supply. The book is meant for industry experts and researchers in pharmaceutical science, toxicology, and environmental sciences. � 2024 selection and editorial matter, Vinod Kumar Garg, Ashok Pandey, Navish Kataria, and Caterina Faggio; individual chapters, the contributors.

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