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.

World across, there is an increasing concern about river health. In India, Ganga River Basin Management Plan (GRBMP) 2015 considered River Ganga as an ecological entity. This paper attempts to present a framework for river health assessment in India and discusses its applicability for River Ganga near Varanasi. In the proposed framework, the River Health Condition (RHC) is assessed through the calculation of River Health Index (RHI) on a 0-100 scale and categorized as Acceptable or Poor. RHI is calculated by using selected parameters/indices normalized on the 0-5 scale based on their critical and target values. River Health is presented through a coloured circumscribed pentagon each of whose side represents one of five indicator groups: i. Organo-electrolytic-bacterial qualities. ii. Nutrients, iii. Algae, iv. Macroinvertebrates, and v. Fish. Application of the proposed framework has been tested and explained using observed data for four seasons per year for two years from five locations of River Ganga near Varanasi. The colour of circumscribing pentagon reflects overall river health condition at a given location and each side of pentagon reflects health score concerningto one indicator group. The analyses indicate that the health of River Ganga near Varanasi is improving with time. The river health is found at its best level during Spring season and unstable during Post Monsoon period at most of the locations. The severely reduced RHI indicate “Overstressed” condition of River Ganga at the confluence points of River Assi and Varuna, which are evidenced by the presence of pollution tolerant biotic species. There are clear stretches of the river near outfall points which are nutrients rich and organically polluted causing poor health of river showing a disturbed balance of biotic species. Indicator group score based RHI gives a clear identification of critical parameters which may be used in strategic planning for river health restoration.

Industrial economic development, which is characterized by high input, high pollution, high consumption, and low benefits, causes environmental pollution problems to be prominent due to the increase of industrial pollutants every year. Blind expansion of investment scale regardless of governance efficiency of industrial pollution can lead to a certain amount of resource wastage. Thus, improving the governance efficiency of industrial pollution is an important method to solve industrial pollution. In particular, applying big data on environmental protection for environmental pollution management can improve the efficiency and quality of pollution control, and ensure comprehensive examination and governance of environmental pollution. In this study, research on industrial pollution governance efficiency in foreign developed countries was reviewed. Furthermore, industrial pollution governance efficiency in Jiangsu Province, China was calculated and certain measures were proposed to prevent and control industrial pollution by applying big data on environmental protection. Results demonstrate that the trend in which industrial pollution governance of emerging technologies, such as big data, penetrate into environmental protection and human capital input can significantly decrease industrial wastewater and industrial solid wastes. Technological innovation makes remarkable contributions to industrial waste gas control. To increase industrial pollution governance efficiency, this study proposes certain measures, such as establishing a scientific and highly efficient big-data monitoring network system for ecological environment, fully utilizing block-chain technological advantages in industrial pollution control, constructing a perfect big-data sharing and processing platform for environmental protection, and increasing sharing and application values of big data on environmental protection. Research conclusions can provide important references to reduce industrial pollutant emissions, increase the efficiency of industrial pollution governance, increase applications of big-data on environmental protection, and construct and perfect a big-data sharing platform for environmental protection.

Biochar was prepared from the peanut shell. Then, it was mixed with the clay mineral kaolinite and stirred under the magnetic stirrer. The biochar derived from peanut shell supported with clay mineral kaolinite (B@K) was obtained. Adsorption experiments of dye Acid Orange 7 by B@K were conducted. The characteristics of B@K were determined by the elemental analyzer, specific surface area meter, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectrometer and the model axis-HS. The experimental results showed that a large number of oxygen-containing functional groups appear on the surface of B@K, which is beneficial for binding dye ions. The adsorption process fits well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. It indicated that the adsorption process was both physical adsorption and chemical adsorption. Chemical adsorption is the main adsorption process. Langmuir isotherm model can better describe the adsorption isothermal process of B@K on dye Acid Orange 7. The adsorption process is monolayer adsorption process.

Brain affection is a common symptom of liver insufficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the role of low-dose γ irradiation (LDR) as a potential therapeutic agent in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in rats. Effects of local and whole-body irradiation (0.5 Gy) on rat brain/liver were evaluated following the induction of HE by TAA (200 mg/kg/day/for 3 successive days). Serum activities of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) and ammonia level were assessed. The effect of HE on brain was evaluated through the determination of brain contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. Moreover, apoptotic and inflammatory changes in brain and liver tissues were assessed together with alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA); fibrosis marker. Results showed correction of the biochemical parameters which was supported by the results of the immunohistochemical examinations. LDR is a promising hepato- and neurotherapy against HE.

The main objective of this study is to lower the greenhouse gases by developing and optimizing a solar flat plate collector. The rifled tube is integrated into the collector to increase the thermal heat transfer thereby improving its performance. Two flat plate collectors, one with in-housed longitudinal fins and another without fins of 0.5 m² collector area, have been intended and fabricated with provisions for K-type thermocouples to examine the temperature variations inside the collector for different working fluids. This current study reveals using CuO and Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in varying weight fractions in incremental order to study the effect of weight fractions on the efficiency of the collector. The simulation was done using computational fluid dynamics both for the finned and without finned tube collectors separately and the outcome of the results for the collector outlet temperatures is compared with the experimental one and results show a valuable outcome for the intended collectors. Initially, the test was conducted with pure distilled water as working fluid and further nanoparticles were opted and doped inside the collector side for varying weight fractions of 0.2% and 0.4% and their results are compared. The experimental results showed an improved heat transfer was pragmatic in the collector side for using nanoparticles. Mixing the nanofluids exhibited superior efficiency on the collector side. The results showed after successful trials of experimentation, doping of CuO nanoparticles by varying weight fractions of 0.2% and 0.4%, augmentation of the collector (unfinned) efficiency is 2.1% and 4.05%, and similarly for finned tube collector, it is 3.02% and 5.5% for same weight fractions. In order to improve the thermal efficiency of collector, CuO is replaced by Al₂O₃ nanoparticles; for dissimilar weight fractions, the efficiency is enhanced nearly by 3.7% and 6.54% for unfinned tube collector, and for the finned tube, the collector is 4.8% and 7.8% respectively, compared with the base working fluid (water). Experimentation of the collectors with finned tube type achieved a superior efficiency compared with that of unfinned tube collectors which is proved to be higher when used for nanofluids to that of the base working fluid water.