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Research Progress on in-situ Remediation of Typical Heavy Metals in Petroleum Hydrocarbon-contaminated Soil Enrichment by Plants
2024
B. Yang, Q. H. Xue, C. T. Qu, C. Lu, F. F. Liu, H. Zhang, L. T. Ma, L. Qi and Y. T. Wang
Petroleum hydrocarbon is one of the dangerous substances in the process of petroleum development, refining, processing, transportation, and production. In the related activities of the petroleum industry, the output is large, and improper treatment will cause pollution to the surrounding environment. It is an urgent problem to conduct harmless and resource treatment of petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soil. Plant enrichment, as an environmentally friendly and pollution-free technical means, has the advantages of low cost and small change to the soil environment and effectively solves the problems of excessive heavy metals in petroleum hydrocarbons through plant enrichment. In this paper, the development process of plant enrichment, remediation methods, and plant enrichment of typical heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Zn) in petroleum hydrocarbon-polluted soil were systematically introduced. Through investigation, the mechanism and influencing factors of plant enrichment of heavy metals in the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons were summarized and analyzed, and the possible development direction of plant enrichment technology in the future was prospected.
Show more [+] Less [-]Effects of Glyphosate on the Environment and Human Health
2024
L. A. García-Villanueva, V. H. Cuapio-Ortega, I. Y. Henández-Paniagua, G. Fernández-Villagómez, J. Rodrigo-Ilarri, M. E. Rodrigo-Clavero, G. L. Andraca-Ayala, G.B. Hernández-Cruz and S. Banda-Santamaría
Glyphosate is a herbicide of a wide spectrum that alters the production of amino acids in plants, leading to their death. Due to its properties, it is used to eliminate weeds that interfere with human activity. The intensive use of this herbicide in the past decades has led to its frequent encounter in the environment as it has been detected in water, animals, and food destined for human consumption. Its impact on human health and the rest of living organisms has not been fully explored, given that many authors enter into contradictions with one another, specifically surrounding the role of surfactants in the commercial presentation of herbicides. The use of pesticides can have significant impacts on ecosystems, threatening bio-cultural diversity due to genetic contamination from transgenic crops. The effectiveness of Glyphosate-based herbicides in weed control is diminishing due to weed tolerance. However, the use of herbicides remains prevalent in large-scale crops due to the challenges of organic food production. In addition, the probable conflict of interest by the agrochemical industry does not bring a full picture with respect to the actions that world governments should take. Banning GLP-based herbicides may lead to the use of other pesticides, in which the long-term impacts will require further studies. The motivation for this research is the review of the latest advances of glyphosate in the world, considering the use and prohibitions of this herbicide, its interaction with water and soil, as well as the effects on both the environment and health. The search for information for this paper was carried out in the Mendeley, Elsevier, and Springer databases by filtering by the suitable keywords.
Show more [+] Less [-]Study On Spatial Variations of Surface Water Quality Vulnerable Zones in Baitarani River Basin, Odisha, India
2024
Abhijeet Das, J. Jerlin Regin, A. Suhasini and K. Baby Lisa
The stated goal of the research is to investigate the surface water quality of the Baitarani River in Odisha to ascertain its compatibility for various uses. Large, complex datasets generated during the one-year (2021-2022) monitoring program were collected from 13 locations and encompassed 22 parameters. To examine temporal and spatial fluctuations in and to interpret these datasets, MCDMs like TOPSIS and the Entropy-based Water Quality Index (EWQI) were utilized. The physical and chemical outcomes of the current experiment were compared to WHO standards. According to the analysis’s results, turbidity and total coliform (TC) are indicators that have a greater impact on water quality in all locations during both seasons and are directly linked to home and agricultural non-point source pollution. As per EWQI interpretation, 30.77 % of the observations in PRM and POM fall under the poor category. The findings showed how anthropogenic activities have harmed St. 8, 11, 12, and 13 and require effective management. A quantifiable approach was also carried out to decide the efficacy of TOPSIS. Farming attributes, including SAR, % Na, RSC, MR, KI, and PI, were estimated to delineate the agriculturally practicable zones. This work can offer a reference database for the betterment of water quality.
Show more [+] Less [-]Wetland Ecosystem: Plant Species Diversity, Services, Degradation Drivers, and Community Perception in Sinana District, Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia
2024
Kemalo Abdulmalik Boru, Lalit Tukaram Ingale and Kassahun Mulatu Lemt
Wetlands are a vital source of biodiversity and ecosystem services. The study investigated the plant species diversity and assessed the perception of the ecosystem services of the area and drivers of wetland degradation in Sinana district, Southeast Ethiopia. Vegetation inventory, household surveys, focused group discussions, and key informant interviews were employed to gather information. A total of 45 sample plots laid along transacts were inventoried. A plot size of 5 m × 5 m (25 m2) and 1 m × 1 m (1 m2) nested within the major plot was used for shrubs and herbs, respectively. A total of 137 households were surveyed to collect socioeconomic data. The study identified 20 plant species belonging to 14 families. Family Cyperaceae was dominant within the studied wetland. The Shannon diversity (H=1.15) indicates that the wetland has low vegetation diversity with an uneven distribution (E=0.385) of vegetation. A total of 20 ecosystem services thought to be underprovisioning, regulating, and cultural services were identified. According to plaintiffs, major provision services are grazing livestock (77.4%), irrigation (76.6%), and harvesting of grass for fodder (68.6%). Important drivers of wetland degradation are a shortage of cropland (70.8%), lack of awareness (69.3%), upland land degradation (65.7%), and increasing population (62%). The main driver, a shortage of cropland, was the key driver, followed by a lack of awareness and upland land degradation. Therefore, the result heightened that the studied wetland is under serious degradation due to high human pressure associated with population growth and climate change. Thus, an appropriate wetland management strategy must be designed.
Show more [+] Less [-]Need for an Evolved Groundwater Justice in Rural Areas of Uttar Pradesh, India
2024
V. S. Tari, N. Siddiqui, D. Rathi, N. N. Siddiqui and D. K. Wahyuni
As groundwater is the primary element of life, countries all over the world are experimenting with legal reforms. The degree to which law reforms combine justice and sustainability is a crucial question. In response to this question, the present article focuses on a case study of Uttar Pradesh, India. Our response is based on a content analysis of the Uttar Pradesh Groundwater (Management and Regulation) Act, 2019, and the Uttar Pradesh Groundwater (Management and Regulation) Rules, 2020. Three conclusions emerged from our investigation. First, the 2019 Groundwater Act and the 2020 Draft Groundwater Rules are primarily motivated by concerns about resource sustainability, particularly in areas where the water table is steadily declining. Still, neither the 2019 Groundwater Act nor the 2020 Draft Groundwater Rules propose any proactive groundwater justice measures. Second, we suggest that some locally defined basic elements are critical in supporting sustainability and – to a lesser extent – groundwater justice. These characteristics include a community’s ability to (1) recognize a crisis and show a willingness to address it; (2) establish a rule-bound community groundwater resource; (3) demonstrate leadership and a sense of community; and (4) make use of awareness, information, and knowledge. Our third conclusion is that there is a need for community practices and state-led groundwater law to co-evolve; this co-evolution has the potential to create groundwater arrangements that support both groundwater justice and sustainability.
Show more [+] Less [-]An Eco-friendly Mangifera indica Leaves Extract Corrosion Inhibitor for Stainless Steel in Acidic Medium
2024
Dharampal Bajaj and Pratiksha D. Khurpade
Corrosion of metals and alloys is one of the most frequent problems encountered in chemical and process industries. Inefficient corrosion control measures typically lead to an increased risk of unplanned downtime, huge economic loss, environmental damage, and health and safety hazards. Hence, it is essential to develop environment-friendly and cost-effective corrosion inhibitors over existing toxic anticorrosive agents. The main objective of this work is to examine the efficacy of eco-friendly ethanolic extract of Mangifera indica leaves (MIL) in different concentrations as a green corrosion inhibitor for stainless steel (SS-316L) under an acidic environment. The inhibition efficiency of Mangifera indica leaves extract in 1 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) was evaluated by conventional weight loss method along with adsorption isotherm analysis. Chemical compounds present in leaf extract and changes in surface morphology of SS-316L samples were assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) provided with elemental analysis. The results of the weight loss method revealed that the inhibition efficiency increases with increasing MIL extract concentration due to higher surface coverage. The highest inhibition efficiency of almost 63.43% in 14 days and minimum corrosion rate of 0.433 mm per year was obtained for SS-316 L in 1.0 M HCl with 1000 ppm concentration. The adsorption of MIL extract on SS-316L surface followed Freundlich adsorption isotherm, and the obtained value of free Energy of adsorption (ΔG˚ads = – 9.20 kJ.mol-1) indicates the physical adsorption mechanism. The developed regression-based models can predict the corrosion rate as a function of inhibitor concentration and exposure time with good accuracy (>80%). Thus, the present findings demonstrate that Mangifera indica L. leaves extract can suitably be applied as an inexpensive, non-toxic, biodegradable, efficient green corrosion inhibitor for the protection of stainless steel in acidic media.
Show more [+] Less [-]Recent Progress of Novel Porous Materials in Wastewater Treatment
2024
Deqi Kong, Hua Chen, Zhen Xiang and Bin Wang
Unavoidably, the expansion of industry causes the release of numerous heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic pollutants into the environment. Due to these pollutants, the extremely toxic, highly carcinogenic chemicals provide a serious risk to people and aquatic life. Wastewater pollutants must be removed to safeguard the ecology. A huge specific surface area, multiple binding sites, a plethora of functional groups, variable pore size, and simplicity of surface modification are just a few advantages of porous materials. They are considered viable candidate materials for the efficient and selective removal of contaminants from aqueous solutions in a range of difficult circumstances due to their benefits. This work reviews the characteristics, methods of functionalization, and ways of modification of many novel porous materials in recent years. The use of these porous materials in the treatment of wastewater was examined. The development potential of porous materials is finally summed up.
Show more [+] Less [-]An Overview of the Need for Circular Economy on Electric Vehicle Batteries
2024
S. Padmanabhan, C. Joel, S. Mahalingam, J. R. Deepak, T. Vinod Kumar and Deborah Raj
Batteries are a widely utilized and simple method for powering electronic devices, particularly given the prevalence of individuals traveling to all gadgets. The escalating adoption of electric vehicles and portable electronic devices has led to a surge in the demand for lithium-ion batteries. Consequently, this has given rise to supply uncertainties in acquiring essential minerals such as lithium and cobalt, along with concerns about the proper disposal of dead batteries. The existing methods for battery recycling exhibit variations based on the individual chemistries of the batteries, hence influencing both cost factors and greenhouse gas emissions. Simultaneously, there exists a possibility for repurposing depleted batteries for low-tier energy storage applications. The absence of legislation pertaining to the secure storage and handling of waste streams contributes to the accumulation of refuse in exposed environments and the release of hazardous substances from landfills. In addition, contemporary battery manufacturing methods necessitate the utilization of innovative substances, such as ionic liquids for electrolytes and nanostructures for cathodes, to enhance the energy characteristics and longevity of batteries. The presence of uncertainties regarding the accurate assessment of the environmental consequences associated with novel battery chemicals has the potential to impede efforts aimed at recycling and containment. The objective of this analysis is to consolidate the existing knowledge regarding battery pollutants, both those that are recognized and those that remain uncertain, and to assess their potential environmental impacts. Additionally, this research aims to examine the current strategies and methods employed for the recycling of batteries in the circular economy.
Show more [+] Less [-]An Overview of Anaerobic Digestion of Cow Dung
2024
V. M. Nekhubvi
In the past decade, governments and development agencies have contributed significantly to society through anaerobic digestion technology (ADT). Anaerobic digestion technology (ADT) has become an important tool in the fight against global poverty and environmental issues, leading to positive change in communities around the world. The technology works as a wet or dry process, depending on its classification. The process is complex and yields multiple benefits, such as creating a natural fertilizer that can be used to help crops grow, as well as generating renewable energy sources. It is common knowledge that many household-sized digesters installed in different areas are one-stage digesters. One-stage digesters do not require a separate pre-treatment stage before the digestion process. This makes them simpler and more cost-effective to install and operate than traditional two-stage digesters. Thus, some drawbacks are associated with these systems since they feed on just one type of feedstock. Many researchers fail to adequately address interactions critical to ADT’s operation, including interactions among growth factors and operating parameters. In a single-stage and one-substrate digester, researchers commonly neglect to study the digester feeding and operational conditions. Anaerobic digestion was the subject of this review, covering research conducted between 2001 and 2022. The study identified a significant drawback associated with mono-digestion and single-stage digestion. The findings illustrate that mono-substrate and single-stage digestion are worthwhile approaches, even though they have their challenges. However, adding a further digestion stage can significantly improve biogas production.
Show more [+] Less [-]Analysis and Characterization of Municipal Solid Wastes Generated in Ifugao State University Potia Campus: A Basis For Planning of Waste Management
2024
P. Latugan, J. J. Carabacan, G. Bonicillo, J. Cayog, M. Q. Eyawa, M. T. Cairel and J. M. Ngohayon
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the total return of students and employees in Ifugao State University Potia Campus, a higher education institution located in Potia, Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, Philippines. However, the return of the pre-pandemic operations on campus caused problems in managing the generated municipal solid wastes. Hence, an analysis and characterization of the generated municipal solid wastes was conducted to determine important data that can be used for future waste management planning. The generated municipal solid wastes were gathered from the various waste generators within the campus for five consecutive days. The total generated municipal solid waste on the campus was about 140.10 kg.day-1, most of which was contributed by the canteens (20.86%). The generated municipal solid wastes were dominated by biodegradable waste (48.65%) and recyclable waste (37.26%). In addition, most of the generated municipal solid wastes were related to people’s food and beverage consumption behavior. The total volume of the MSW generated daily was about 5.647 m3. It is recommended that the campus create and enforce its waste management plan to specifically address the aforementioned characteristics of the generated municipal solid wastes.
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