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Concentration of Toxic Heavy Metals and Phytochemicals in a Medicinal Plant (Asclepias fruticosa) Collected Around Mining Areas in Brits, Pretoria
2023
L. L. Mugivhisa, D. Mzimba and J. O. Olowoyo
The use of African traditional medicine in rural and peri-urban areas is common due to its affordability and accessibility. The study aimed to determine the levels of toxic heavy metals in the medicinal plant (Asclepias fruticosa) samples collected around three mining areas in Brits using ICP-OES. The phytochemical screening analysis was done to indicate the absence or presence of different phytochemicals in the medicinal plant. The results of the qualitative phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, proteins, and carbohydrates in Asclepias fruticosa collected from all the mining areas. The results of the heavy metals showed that the mean highest concentration for all the heavy metals was recorded for Mn from the leaves of the medicinal plants. The trend in the heavy metals accumulation was roots > leaves > stems from all the sites, and the differences were significant (p < 0.05). The range of heavy metals in the plant was in the range Mn (12.33 ± 2.31-85.33 ± 51.07 μg.g-1), Zn (10.67 ± 0.58-60.33 ± 0.56 μg.g-1), Cr (3.43 ± 0.06 -34.90 ± 0.10 μg.g-1), Cu (8.67 ± 0.12-18.8 ± 1.57 μg.g-1), Ni (5.67 ± 0.12-23.23 ± 1.7 μg.g-1) and Pb (0.53 ± 0.013-1.59 ± 0.15 μg.g-1). The values of the heavy metals Cr, Zn, and Ni in the plant exceeded the recommended limits set by WHO for human consumption. Heavy metals in the medicinal plant were accumulated in the roots and not translocated to the stems and leaves. It is therefore recommended that communities staying around the mines should be discouraged from picking and using medicinal plants growing around the mines and should be educated on the safety of medicinal plants growing around the mines.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Feasibility of Waste-to-Energy Plants for STT-PLN Campus Canteen
2023
Pawenary, Amelia Dwita Larasati, Suhdi and Rulyanti Susi Wardhani
The pellets of waste produced by Society Electric [Listrik Kerakyatan (LK) 2] at the STT-PLN have not been efficiently utilized in terms of energy. The STT-PLN canteen consists of 14 stalls with an installed electricity capacity of 1300 VA, each with 12h of use/day. This study aimed to convert LK 2 waste pellets into electrical energy to supply electricity to the STT-PLN canteen. This research method uses quantitative methods, i.e., by calculating the amount of energy produced adjusted to the needs of the canteen. Gasification technology was chosen due to its high efficiency and lower emission impacts in the waste combustion technique. Based on the analysis, the gasifier engine that complies with this requirement was TG30-1 with a maximum capacity of 25 kVA and requires a flow rate of 10 kg.h-1 of waste pellets. The amount of waste pellets used for this plan was 120 kg.day-1. The assessment results of this plan indicated a net present value of IDR 302,218,609.33, an internal rate of return of 25.7983%, and a PBP of 5.66 years. Based on the economic analysis, the establishment of plants for the conversion of waste to power was declared feasible to operate.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Study on Effectiveness of Intervention of a Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland in between Septic Tank and Soak Pit for the Treatment of Septic Tank Effluent
2023
S. Suresh, P. Sharma, R. R. Yaragal and S. Mutnuri
Septage comprises the solid and liquid constituents of any primary treatment system, including a Septic Tank. In this study, the wastewater collected from a septic tank is passed through a partially converted anaerobic filter, and a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) before being sent to a soak pit. The main objective of this case study was to check the effectiveness of incorporating a VFCW between a septic tank and a soak pit to bring down the consequences created due to effluent seepage from soak pits to the groundwater. Conventionally, the effluent gets directly passed to soak pits after primary onsite treatment in the septic tank. The soak pit walls made of porous materials allow the gradual seepage of final effluent into the ground, polluting the groundwater reserves. We analyzed the septic tank effluent from 60 households wherein the effluent was let off into the soak pits. The various parameters analyzed with their averages were 393.83 ± 293.41 mg.L-1 for COD, 151.48 ± 94.37 mg.L-1 for BOD, 30.81 ± 13.05 mg.L-1 for NO3-, 23.35 ± 13.54 mg.L-1 for PO43-, 7.35 ± 0.31 for pH, 184.05 ± 163.20 mg.L-1 for TSS, 3.05 x 107± 2.04 x 108 CFU.100mL-1 for TC. Therefore, it is certain that the final effluent being sent into soak pits after primary treatment does not meet the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) discharge standards. In this case study, we were able to obtain final effluent values after VFCW treatment as 55.72 mg.L-1 for COD, 12.12 mg.L-1 for BOD, 10.2 mg.L-1 for NO3-, 3.74 mg.L-1 for PO43-, 7.41 for pH, 8.37 mg.L-1 for TSS, 379.27 mg.L-1 for TS and 51.9 CFU.100mL-1 for TC. With this case study, we were able to resolve this impediment by bringing down the values of all the parameters considered while analyzing under the limits of discharge standards set by CPCB. The removal efficiency of COD, BOD, NO3-, PO43-, pH, TSS, and TC after wetland was found to be 89.46%, 88.051, 63.484, 44.37%, 3.41%, 98.47%, 97.71%, 97.19% respectively. The study has proven that with the introduction of another decentralized treatment system between a septic tank and soak pit, it is safe to dispose of the effluent into soak pits, thereby reducing the chances of groundwater pollution considerably.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]The Study of Filamentous Fungi in Potable Water and Its Biofilm Formation in Water Pipeline System
2023
S. Asha and G. Sangeetha Vani
Water is essential for life and it is an inorganic constituent of living matter. Water pipeline systems are sighted as problematic in aquatic habitats in which multiple pathogens are occupied including fungi. They have rigid cell walls containing glucans and chitin. The bodies of fungi comprise filaments called hyphae. These hyphae are split into a mat of interwoven single cells made of mycelium. Fungi can pollute the drinking water system and are responsible for biofilm formation. Biofilms are complex polymers containing many times their dry weight in water. Moisture is essential for biofilm formation. The occurrence of biofilms affects the quality of drinking water. Hence, the present study is aimed at recovering the fungi from drinking water samples and their biofilm formation in the water pipeline system. Drinking water samples such as mineral water, tap water, and RO-purified water are collected from different places. Fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor were recovered from these samples and most species belong to Aspergillus and Penicillium. Further, the biofilm formation of fungi from cast iron in the pipeline system was detected using fluorescence microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Sustainable Campus Policy Strategy in Estimating CO2 Emissions at the Universitas Negeri Semarang, Indonesia
2023
Said Sunardiyo, P. Purwanto and H. Hermawan
In the fight against global warming, various options for reducing CO2 emissions are being implemented on campus. Furthermore, the management of campus sustainability at the Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Central Java, Indonesia, should be supported by accurate forecasts of electrical energy consumption. Therefore, this research aims to develop a predictive model to forecast the consumption of electrical energy in reducing CO2 emissions and to determine the factors triggering the increase. The prediction model is developed using Back Propagation Neural Network Artificial (BP-ANN) architecture. Furthermore, the data on the occupancy of lecturers and education staff as well as on students was obtained from the University's staffing and student affairs bureau. Climatic data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, the duration of irradiation, and the average intensity of solar radiation were obtained per month from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency of Semarang, Central Java for the 2013-2019 period as input data. The results of the empirical analysis showed an increase in electrical energy consumption from 2020 to 2025. In March, the consumption decreased but increased from April to June and decreased in July. It then increased until November and December, and it decreased every year. The results of CO2 emissions calculated by considering the emission factors from Indonesia's RUPTL-PLN in 2020-2025 showed an increase in electrical energy consumption and the ecological consequences affecting the campus area. Furthermore, the main factors causing the high consumption of electrical energy are the occupancy rate, lecturers, students, and campus employees, as well as local climate influences such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, duration of solar radiation, and intensity of solar radiation. Therefore, developing guidelines to reduce power consumption on campus should be a priority
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Turbidity Reduction and Eco-friendly Sludge Disposal in Water Treatment Plants
2023
Roop Singh Sinsinwar and Munna Verma
Plankton and other microscopic colloids are tiny particles that are suspended in water and cause turbidity, which causes the water to seem murky or opaque. These particles are too unstable and light to settle or be naturally eliminated. These details contribute to water turbidity and pose some stability. During the process of purifying raw water, all water treatment Plants (WTPs) produce waste/residue known as water treatment sludge (WTS). The majority of the sludge’s chemical components include silica, alumina, ferric oxide, lime, and many heavy metals. The surface water treatment technique included coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration to remove colloidal and suspended particles from raw water. The sludge obtained from the WTP located at Kekri (Rajasthan), India is being investigated for its physical and chemical properties. About 60% of the sand contained in the sludge is found in the 155-60 grain size range. Additionally, nutrient reduction of soil due to contamination and runoff can be minimized or rounded out by wastewater treatment or the removal of heavy metals from water solutions. To develop water-safe and appealing sludge management solutions, the efficiency of aluminum sulfate and poly aluminum chloride was assessed at different coagulant doses in the study. To make water safe and appealing for human consumption, numerous purification procedures are employed from a variety of sources. Sludge bricks are acceptable to high temperatures in the furnace and have better compressive strength than clay bricks.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Exemplarity of the State for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings Institutional - Case of Morocco
2023
Y. Kasseh, A. Touzani and S. EL Majaty
Engaged for many years in a strategy to control climate change, Morocco is committed to leverage on sustainable development as a new development model and as a true project for society. This commitment resulted in implementing several reforms targeting the consolidation of a developed economy, improving social conditions, and accelerating positive environmental changes. The public administration developed the Administration Exemplarity Pact (AEP) as a concrete action to lead by example in implementing the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. Developed in accordance with the main stake of the National Strategy of Sustainable Development, its goal is to promote sustainable development governance in our country through several strategic focus areas. This document presents the experience of a Moroccan administration that has implemented the guidelines described in the AEP. The approach and results are detailed and could be used as an example for other Moroccan companies. The first step of the methodology consists of a diagnostic phase to establish the current situation. The second step is related to the strategy to define the approach’s main orientations and the action plan. These key steps allow us to identify areas of improvement and build a roadmap adapted to the current context and constraints. One of the best practices for this approach is to define the main orientations to act by positive contagion on the ecosystem. In conclusion, the AEP axes deployed in a dynamic improvement logic give convincing results. By acting with partners (subcontractors and suppliers), the Moroccan administration can act on the whole value chain and induce an essential change in the Moroccan economic fabric.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Forecasting Particulate Matter Emissions Using Time Series Models
2023
S. Suresh, M. R. Sindhumol, M. Ramadurai, D. Kalvinithi and M. Sangeetha
Environmental pollution is a serious concern nowadays with its disastrous impact on living organisms. In several types of pollution, Air pollution takes on a crucial role by directly affecting the respiratory system and causing fatal diseases in humans. Air pollution is a mixture of gaseous and particulate matter interweaved by different sources and emanating into the atmosphere. In particular, particle pollutants are critical in growing air pollution in India’s main cities. Forecasting the particulate matter could mitigate the complications caused by it. The employment of a model to predict future values based on previously observed values is known as time series forecasting. In this paper, the PM2.5 pollutant emission data recorded at the Kodungaiyur region of Chennai city were forecasted using three-time series models. The standard ARIMA model is compared with the deep learning-based LSTM model and Facebook’s developed Prophet algorithm. This comparison helps to identify an appropriate forecasting model for PM2.5 pollutant emission. The Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) acquired from experimental findings is used to compare model performances.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]Characterization of Wastewater and Evaluation of Recycling Technologies Using Analytical Hierarchical Process for a University Community
2023
O. J. Oyebode and O. Waterway
Characterization and treatment of greywater are major environmental issues in most nations of the world. The research aims to characterize and evaluate recycling technologies using an analytical hierarchical process for Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) community. A survey was conducted around ABUAD to determine the number of functioning boreholes and active water systems in the area, the total population of students was derived from the total head count of each room and student in each hostel, and a population projection for the next 3 years was conducted to determine the rate at which the student body will grow in terms of future water demands, and daily water volume and questionnaires were used to collect data. Before developing the small-scale model of the greywater filter system (consisting of activated carbon, shaft sand, pebbles, cotton fiber, and gravel), water grey samples were gathered from several ABUAD locations to evaluate the pollution level of each greywater source. A total of 88 students (43 males and 45 females) replied to the survey, revealing their high need for clean water and their dissatisfaction with the water supply in their respective hostels. The water quality tests conducted in the various locations of ABUAD reveal high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS) and turbidity, particularly in the girl’s hostels, and the water was discovered to be predominantly alkaline. After passing a sample of greywater through the small-scale greywater filtering device, it was determined to be effective, since it produced clear, reusable water and a greywater filtration system in ABUAD will yield favorable outcomes.
Mostrar más [+] Menos [-]The Influence of Geographical Factors on Polyploidy in Angiosperms with Cartographic Evidence from the Northwestern Himalayas: A Review
2023
Anupreet Singh Tiwana, Siva PrathapThummalakunta, Saurabh Gupta, Vijay Singh and Ramesh Chand Kataria
The review paper comprised the impact of geographical and environmental factors on polyploidy and vice versa. The review covers different effects of geographical factors, like spatial isolation, altitude, and local climate on polyploidy, and the behavior of polyploid(s) in abiotic factors, such as temperature and light with a few examples of northwest Himalayas. The paper concludes that polyploid plants behave differently in environmental conditions, as polyploids are more prominent in higher altitudes, colder environments, and nutrient-rich soil than diploid progenitors, but have a mixed distribution in different geographical conditions. Further, polyploidy is more common among perennials than annuals, while niche differentiation depends more on the local environment. The virtual case study results from North and North Western India have been shown with the help of ArcGIS online software. The scrutiny of spatial distribution on maps highlights the fact that polyploidy is still a complex research puzzle with interesting perspectives.
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