Graphene oxide (GO) and acrylamide (AM) were polymerized and cross-linked to form a composite aerogel. The microscopic properties and thermal stability of the composite aerogel were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric instrument and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption properties of the composite aerogel were tested. The effects of temperature, GO/AM ratios, pH values, feed amounts, dye liquor concentrations and times on the adsorption properties of composite aerogels were investigated. The results showed that under the same experimental conditions, the more the aerogel dosage and the longer the adsorption time, the better the adsorption performance of the composite aerogel on the active yellow dye liquor; the temperature had little effect on the adsorption of the dye liquor. The gel had the greatest adsorption effect under acidic conditions. The pH was 0.99, the dosage was 0.25g, the concentration of the dye solution was 40mg/L, and the adsorption rate reached 65.51?ter adsorption for 24 hours.

Pond water quality was evaluated by identifying and estimating zooplankton during monsoon in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Three wild ponds were chosen for monitoring zooplankton distribution which are not used for fish culture or any other commercial purposes. In this study, the Wetland Zooplankton Index (WZI) was employed to engage the zooplankton genera according to their specific WZI values. Two of the sampling ponds were found to have moderate water quality. Additionally, another pond was found with nearly good water quality. Total zooplankton was observed as 5541.67±176.77 ind/L, 9608.34±271 ind/L and 9541.67±176 ind/L in three different sampling ponds. There were four groups of zooplankton as Rotifera (6 genera), Copepoda (4 genera) and Cladocera (6 genera) identified in all the sampling ponds. The physicochemical water parameters as water temperature, water pH, total alkalinity, free CO2, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were also evaluated in sampling ponds.

To reveal the effects of different tillage measures on soil microbes, enzyme activities and nutrients, eight different treatments were combined with different tillage methods to study the effects of different tillage measures on soil microbes, enzyme activities and nutrients. The results showed that in the flowering stage, the number of bacteria in the soil was higher than that in PT1 (ploughing + early ridging), RT1 (rotary tillage + early ridge) decreased by 22.6%. PT2 (ploughing + early subsoiling) was more than RT2 (rotary tillage + early subsoiling), PT3 (ploughing + conventional subsoiling) than RT3 (rotary tillage + conventional subsoiling), PCK (rotary tillage + conventional ridging) than RCK (rotary tillage + conventional ridging) increased by 13%, 22.9%, and 3.5%, respectively. The bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in the whole rotary tillage treatment (rotary tillage) were higher than the tillage treatment (ploughing). Except for the invertase, the urease, phosphatase and catalase activities of the ploughing treatment were higher than those of the rotary tillage. When entering the pod-forming period, the number of soil bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes in rotary tillage were higher than tillage, the soil sucrase activity in rotary tillage was higher than that in ploughing. RT1 was significantly higher than PT1 and PT2 by 11.1% and 11.7%, but the soil urease, phosphatase and catalase activities were higher in ploughing than rotary tillage. The available nitrogen and the available potassium were opposite. At the stage of tillage, the number of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, urease activities and sucrase activities in the rotary tillage were higher than ploughing, while the activities of phosphatase and catalase were higher under ploughing. In the mature stage, the soil urease and catalase activities were higher in the tillage treatment, while the phosphatase and sucrase activities were opposite. On the whole, advance inter-tillage improved the soil environment to some extent on both tillage measures, especially T2 (subsoiling).

Obesity is a rapidly growing problem in South Africa, with 70% of women reported as being obese. Studies have reported that high levels of trace metals may impair the production of reproductive hormones, which may, in turn, interfere with normal oocyte development in females. This study investigated the concentrations of trace metals in blood samples of obese individuals living around a mining industry and examined the overall effect on reproductive hormones of these obese females. A mixed-method research approach consisting of qualitative and quantitative (cross-sectional descriptive survey) was used in the study. Only females with BMI ? 30 were allowed to participate in the study. Blood samples were collected in two 5 mL tubes from each of the participants. Concentrations of trace metals in the blood samples were determined by the use of ICP-MS. Hormonal level measurement was also carried out. The results showed that the trace metal concentrations in the blood samples of participants were in the order Mn > Cr > Co > As > Pb > Cd. The mean concentrations of Mn, Cr, Co and As were above the WHO standards. The hormonal analysis showed that there was a positive correlation between estradiol and progesterone levels with Mn concentration. Cr and As concentrations showed a negative correlation between estradiol and progesterone levels. Also, a negative correlation was established between estradiol levels with Pb and Cd concentrations. The study showed that exposure to trace metals as pollutants may have an impact on the general and reproductive health of obese females living around mining activities.

Natural waters vary in chemical composition and the factors controlling the composition include physical, chemical and biological processes. Water is one of the most important natural resources for all the living organisms because it is required for various metabolic activities. In addition, water is required for various domestic purposes, irrigation and power generation and the industries. Amongst various organic components, the iron and manganese are an important trace metal required for all the biological systems. The occurrence of iron and manganese, in the present study, was reported from Ramgarh Lake in Gorakhpur, India. Two sampling stations were selected for the present study. The iron and manganese have several effects due to their high concentration. The study was carried out for one year (January 2017 to December 2017). The significance of iron and manganese is discussed in the present investigation.

The use of Leucaena leucocephala leaf powder treated with urea (treated-ULLP) as an alternative adsorbent for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions has been investigated. The adsorption studies were performed under batch mode and focused on the effects of pH, adsorbent dosage and initial Pb(II) concentrations. The pseudo-second order kinetics model fitted well the adsorption data with the values of correlation coefficient (R2) > 0.97. Large amounts of hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amine as detected by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer suggested that these functional groups were responsible for the adsorption of Pb(II) ions. Treated-ULLP demonstrated a good potential for Pb(II) ions removal with the maximum adsorption capacity of 90.09 mg/g, calculated from the Langmuir isotherm model.

This study was conducted on the oldest water treatment plant in the city of Basra, which is the Al-Buradieiah Water Treatment Plant (BWTP) during the period from December 2017 to March 2018. The study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the plant by calculating the efficiency of sedimentation, filtration and sterilization basins, as well as to examine the water quality by examining the physical and chemical characteristics of raw water and treated water in this plant and then compare it with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Iraqi standards. The results of this study showed that the efficiency of sedimentation basins is 54%, while the efficiency of filtration basins is 24% and sterilization efficiency ranging from 37 to 65%. As well as, laboratory results of treated water quality have also shown that the turbidity equal to (7.24 NTU), electrical conductivity (EC) equal to 5040 µS/cm, the total dissolved solids (TDS) equal to 3380 mg/L and the total suspended solids (TSS) equal to 190 mg/L of the water outside from the BWTP. All these water quality results are higher than the WHO and Iraqi standard limitations except the value of pH, which is 6.9 and within the permissible limits.

A prominent issue associated with the handling of municipal solid waste is the generation of a highly toxic semi-solid matter namely, leachate. The consequences of mishandling the aforementioned are widespread. Hence, the present study tried to take an initiative to remediate the same in an eco-friendly way. The research included a detailed investigation of the existing conditions in terms of quality, quantity, climatic condition, etc. The entire study primarily focused on the biodegradability of the toxic pollutants with the help of EM.1 solution procured from Pragati Enterprises and bringing down the pollution level during the treatment tenure. The major three parameters of interest include chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and total dissolved solids (TDS). A pilot pond of 7.5 kL capacity was prepared at the east corner of Hyderabad Integrated MSW facility to facilitate the practical studies. Four major remediates, i.e. coir pith powder, Bokashi balls, EM culture, and Bokashi powder were added weighing 34 MT, 560 kg, 10.5 kL, and 75 kg respectively, over the due course of 4 months and successive reduction in pollution levels were noted. Depletion in the level of all the prior-mentioned parameters was observed ranging 42.6%, 45.4%, and 37.8% respectively for COD, BOD and TDS. Furthermore, a notable reduction in obnoxious odour was observed around the pilot plant after the 15th day of the initiation of the operation. It signifies the feasibility of the experimented technology towards the treatment of municipal solid waste leachate (MSWL), and hence the study recommends the usage of the same as a potential pre-treatment before the tertiary purification units.

Pressure over the destruction of the ecological environment by the tourism industry from the blind development of tourism areas, tourism projects that destroy the ecological environment, tourist overloading during holidays, and poor environmental protection awareness among tourists is increasing. Seeking a balance point between ecological environmental protection and tourism industrial development is key in the sustainable development of the tourism industry. The Complicated Adaptation System (CAS) theory is an important theory in the current system, which focuses on the interaction of the internal elements of a system. Analyzing the interactive development between the tourism industry and the ecological environment based on CAS theory is one way to achieve the harmonious coexistence of the tourism industry and the ecological environment. A case study on Henan Province, China, is conducted, the literature on the interaction between the tourism industry and ecological environment is reviewed, and the environmental pollution status of Henan Province caused by the tourism industry is summarized. Moreover, the complex adaptation of the tourism industry and ecological environment is analyzed. Research results show that most studies support the belief that the tourism industry generates substantial environmental pollution. Environmental pollution from the tourism industry in Henan Province is reflected in tourist overloading, the direct effects of pollution from tourism consumption, damage to cultural relics in star-level tourism areas, and in dwindling habitats for plant and animal survival. Analyzing the interactive relationship between the tourism industry and ecological environment has scientific value and is worth promoting. This relationship is established based on CAS theory from four characteristics, namely, clustering, nonlinearity, flow, and diversity, and three mechanisms, that is, labelling, an internal model, and building blocks. The research conclusions can serve as a reference to better facilitate tourism industry development, estimate the relationship between the tourism economy and ecological environment, and combine ecological tourism and green technological innovation effectively.

To solve the problem of the low anaerobic digestion efficiency of the minimal organic matter sludge, the study proposes the synchronous alkali-ultrasonic pretreatment technology of the low organic sludge. The research results show that the collaboration between alkali and ultrasonic has significant effects on pretreatment efficiency. The pretreatment efficiency of the sorts is as follows: synchronous alkaliultrasonic treatment > alkali-ultrasonic stepwise treatment > ultrasonic-alkali stepwise treatment > ultrasonic treatment > alkali treatment. The synchronous alkali-ultrasonic treatment system has strong processing effectiveness. Compared with the control group (the raw sludge), the concentrations of the supernatant SCOD and VFAs of the low organic matter sludge after the pretreatment increases by 15.4 times and 59.64 times respectively, and the supernatant that is easily biodegradable organic matter increases by 19.1%. The gas production after alkali-ultrasonic synchronous pretreatment of the anaerobic digestion system of the sludge increases 58% higher than the control group (without pretreatment ). The results of the high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA in the anaerobic digestion system of the sludge, at the genus level, show that the dominant functional bacteria in the system mainly includes vadinHA17, Peptoclostridium, Peptostreptococcaceae, Tissierella, Syntrophomonas, Synergistaceae and Aminobacterium. The dominant functional bacteria genera in the systematic archaea group mainly include Methanosaeta (70.33%), Unclassified (2.74%), Methanosarcina (15.49%), Methanobacterium (5.31%), Methanospirillum (2.18%), ARC26 (1.04%), Methanobrevibacter (1.62%). The abundance of functional bacteria at the genus level was higher than that in the control group.