A study on the biodiversity and isolation of freshwater algae from some reservoirs of Mae Rim Campus, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Chiang Mai Province, collected algal samples and assessed the water quality at four reservoirs, including Wiang Bua Reservoir, Ma Lang Por Reservoir, Education Auditorium reservoir, and Kru Noi Garden Reservoir. One hundred and six species of algae belonging to 8 phyla were found. The most prominent species were Cylindrospermopsis philippinensis, Trachelomonas volvocina, Peridiniopsis sp., and Coelastrum astroideum, respectively. The overall water quality was categorized as clean according to some physical and chemical parameters by the National Environmental Board of Thailand. However, high BOD values were detected at some sampling points. The algae isolation included 8 isolates, which could be utilized for various purposes in the future, such as biomass, protein, polysaccharide energy, bioactive compounds, antioxidant substances, wastewater treatment, environmental indicators, algal toxins, and phylogenetic studies. All strains were stored at the Centre of Excellence of Biodiversity Research and Implementation for Community, Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, for conservation and future development purposes.

Sandy soils are not suitable for agriculture because they do not retain nutrients, and water drains quickly. The biochar applied to these soils provides nutrients, improves their fertility, and favors crop yields. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of pine biochar and the pruning of green areas obtained by slow pyrolysis on the physicochemical attributes of sandy soil. For this purpose, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in fifteen pots randomly divided into three groups (five replicas) of treatment depending on the dose of biochar: 0% (0 g/pot, T1 control treatment), 10% (100 g/pot, T2), and 25% (250 g/pot, T3) calculated according to the volume of the soil. Likewise, 05 seeds of turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) were placed in each pot, where their germination and growth were monitored. Application of biochar reported an increase in organic matter, porosity, pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, NO3-, K, and Mg (without significant differences) and a reduction in bulk density, P, and Ca (without significant differences). These behaviors were higher in T3, followed by T2, compared to T1. Similarly, T3 (68%, 7.5 ± 0.9 cm) showed a higher number of turnip germinations and growth compared to T2 (48%, 7 ± 0.6 cm) and T1 (28% 6 ± 0.4 cm). The biochar applied improved the attributes of the sandy soil, strengthening it against possible erosion and promoting the preservation of terrestrial ecosystems.

The study assessed the efficiency of immobilized algae (Scenedesmus quadricauda (Turpin) Brébisson) in treating copper toxicity in common carp fish. Acute toxicity of copper towards carp fish was determined. Fish were exposed in aqueous tanks to different heavy metal concentrations (10, 15, 25, and 35 ppm) for 96 h to examine their response. The lethal concentration (LC50) of copper for common carp over 96 h was found to be 1.4 ppm, with fish mortality increasing gradually with higher metal concentrations. Subsequently, half of the LC50 concentration (0.7 ppm) was used as a chronic toxicity concentration, and fish were treated for 21 days to assess copper accumulation in their gills and muscles. Copper concentration in gills on day 5 of the experiment was 16.89 ± 2.2 mg.kg-1 (Mean ± S.D), a significant increase from in muscles, which recorded 10.72 ± 1.1 mg.kg-1 (Mean ± S.D). On day 21, the copper concentration decreased significantly in both gills (4.73 ± 0.5 mg.kg-1) and muscles (8.4 ± 4.5 mg.kg-1) compared to the control group (significant LSD 0.05). But the copper and algae group recorded on day 21 of the experiment (a significant decrease LSD 0.05) in both the gills (mg.kg-1) Mean± S.D) (4.73±0.5) and the muscles (mg.kg-1) Mean± S.D) (8.4±4.5) compared to the copper group. The removal rate in the gills was 75.57%, and in the muscles was 21.17%. Therefore, treatment with immobilized algae is an efficient and promising method for treating copper toxicity in aquatic environments.

The impact of water organic pollution from leftover fish feed and metabolic waste in floating net cages (FNC) aquaculture can lead to detrimental effects on coastal marine biota. This underscores the necessity for continuous monitoring of water quality in areas surrounding FNCs to mitigate the environmental impacts of aquaculture. One method of evaluating water quality is through the Saprobic Index, which quantitatively analyzes pollution status based on the presence and composition of various organisms, including plankton. This study aims to evaluate the organic pollution potential derived from fish feed in the vicinity of the FNCs at Sendang Biru waters by employing the Saprobic Index. The research identified five classes of phytoplankton in the FNC area: Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Cyanophyceae, and Globothalamea. Analysis of the phytoplankton composition indicated that the waters surrounding Sendang Biru FNC can be classified as ranging from Oligosaprobic to β-Meso/Oligosaprobic. These findings suggest that the aquaculture practices utilizing the FNC system contribute to a light level of organic pollution in the water. This emphasizes the importance of effective management and monitoring strategies to minimize the environmental impact and ensure the sustainability of aquaculture in coastal marine ecosystems.

This study investigates the use of thermal indexes, specifically Physiologically Equivalent Temperature (PET) and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI), to determine outdoor comfort in the Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB). This park is centrally located in Bogor city, with elevations ranging from 215-260 m above sea level. The thermal sensation was determined using seven references: PET in Europe, Taiwan, Tianjin, Tel Aviv, and UTCI in the Mediterranean, Tianjin, and general contexts. The study involved 284 visitors surveyed for their thermal comfort perceptions. Findings indicate that, based on thermal sensation criteria from the seven references, KRB is generally not within the comfort zone throughout the year, except for the PET in Taiwan, which is comfortable year-round. In-situ measurements show an average daily PET of 33.8°C and UTCI of 34.4°C. According to the Taiwan PET range, the thermal sensation is categorized as somewhat warm to warm (uncomfortable). However, 69.4% of visitors reported feeling comfortable, likely due to the environmental conditions, with 70.3% tree coverage in the 54.7 ha park area.

Bioremediation is an important technique to remove heavy metals from wastewater. The current research aimed to use Azospirillum bacteria in removing cadmium ions from wastewater. The source of Azospirillum bacteria was the soil of Al-Mishkhab in Al-Najaf province, Iraq (rice fields), while the source of wastewater was taken from the Al-Rustamia wastewater treatment plant, in Baghdad in October 2020. All the experiments were carried out in Soil and Water Research Center, Ministry of Science and Technology. After collecting the soil, the microorganisms were isolated through the Immunomagnetic beads (IMB) process and were incubated on a certain synthesized medium. The concentration of cadmium ion was determined through the Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) technique. The Azospirillum colonies were identified and characterized as white colonies while the concentration of cadmium ion ranged from 0.03-1.6 mg/L and applying the microorganism on the wastewater will decrease the concentration up to 99.9% in a process called biosorption. Treatment time was also studied for 24, 48, 72, and 168 hours. The statistical analysis shows that increasing time will enhance the removal of cadmium. Cadmium is one of the heavy metals responsible for soil contamination; bacteria play a crucial role in bioremediation, demonstrating stability in decomposing various compounds and materials. Azospirillum is employed for soil decontamination purposes; increasing incubation time will enhance the removal of the trace element; also further investigate the effect of other factors such as temperature, pH, and the effect of using other microorganisms.

Food banks play a crucial role in reducing food waste and addressing food vulnerability. Their operations involve an efficient supply chain that collects surplus food, processes it, and distributes it to those in need. This aligns with the goals of a circular economy, aiming to minimize food crises. This research aims to understand the supply chain of the Food Bank Bandung and analyze the implementation of circular economy principles within its supply chain. The study employs qualitative methods, with data gathered through interviews conducted with representatives from the Food Bank located in Bandung City. The collected information was used to design a comprehensive supply chain model, which was then meticulously analyzed. The analysis reveals that the Food Bank in Bandung effectively implements a circular economy by transforming surplus food, which would otherwise go to waste, into consumable items. Furthermore, the food bank adopts circular economy concepts by providing inedible food to Black Soldier Fly (BSF) cultivation for maggot consumption, which then can be used as an alternative source of protein for animal feed. The findings of the study show how circular economy practices can be integrated into food bank operations. By analyzing the circular economy approach in the Food Bank of Bandung, this research contributes to the existing body of knowledge and provides a foundation for future studies, offering a more extensive dataset for researchers and practitioners in the field.

Plastic pollution is a global concern affecting water, soil, and air quality. Urgent action is needed to address this issue. This study aims to identify factors influencing the use of biodegradable plastic to reduce its negative impacts. Data were collected from 269 households-129 in Punggawan and 140 in Mojosongo, Surakarta, and analyzed using multiple regression analysis to study the determinants of WTP (Willingness to Pay) for biodegradable plastic with STATA software. The results show that the average WTP for biodegradable plastic is IDR 2,214. Most people in Surakarta are already environmentally conscious. Age, knowledge, occupation, interaction of sex and location, education, and marital status influence WTP for biodegradable plastic. It is hoped that the implications of the research will be used as a recommendation for government policies to reduce the amount of plastic waste generation, which is a danger to human beings and the environment.

The key observations on the study concerning the geostatistical appraisal, hydrogeochemical environment of major ions (cations and anions) as well as groundwater suitability from the part of Balaghat District (MP) latitude 21°31ʹ42ʺ: 21°43ʹ11ʺ N and longitude 79°50ʹ30ʺ:80°11ʹ30ʺ E., Central India are presented here. The pH (7.3 to 8.6) of the groundwater samples and range of EC values (50-5080 μS.cm-1) typically clarify the alkaline nature and the involvement of diverse processes (geogenic as well as anthropogenic) deciding the hydrogeochemical environment of groundwater. This prominent behavior is the result of the conductivity in groundwater, which is the consequence of ion exchange along with the solubilization processes during the rock-water interaction and also represents anthropogenic activity. The abundance succession of cations is Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+, while the profusion sequence of anions is HCO3- > Cl- > NO3- > SO42- > F-. The positive correlation among the pair of Ca2+ with Mg2+ (r = 0.657), Na+(r = 0.691), and HCO3- (r = 0.842) as well as the high positive association between K+ and SO42- (r = 0.856), plus K+ and NO3- (r = 0.779) unravels the derivation of ions from the geogenic origin and the agro-chemical derivation of ions respectively. The three factors (1:6.350, 2:2.732, and 3:2.697), having a total variance of 87.923%, correspond with the geogenic factor, anthropogenic factor, and alkalinity factor, respectively. The groundwater from the study area is suitable for drinking and irrigation purposes with a slight threat of exchangeable sodium.

Because of the superior qualities of biosurfactants over their equivalents derived from fossil fuels, they have recently attracted more attention. Although production costs are still a major barrier to biosurfactants’ superiority over synthetic surfactants, biosurfactants are expected to grow in market share over the next several decades. Glycolipids, a class of low-molecular-weight biosurfactants, are particularly sought-after for a variety of surfactant-related applications due to their effective reduction of surface and interfacial tension. Rhamnolipids, trehalose lipids, sophorolipids, and mannosyl erythritol lipids are the primary types of glycolipids. Glycolipids are made of hydrophilic carbohydrate moieties joined to hydrophobic fatty acid chains by ester bonds. This review addresses the unique glycolipid production and the wide range of goods available in the global market, as well as the present state of the glycolipid industry. Applications include food processing, petroleum refining, biomedical usage, bioremediation, and boosting agricultural productivity. With biosurfactants, their beneficial Ness in releasing oil encased in rock, a need for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Another crucial biotechnological component in anti-corrosion procedures is biosurfactants, which stop Crude oil transportation in pipelines and are made easier by incrustations and the growth of biofilms on metallic surfaces. They are also employed in the production of emulsifiers and demulsifies and have other cutting-edge uses in the oil sector. Natural surfactants can be used to lessen pollution produced by chemical solvents or synthetic detergents without compromising the oil industry’s financial gains. Consequently, it is imperative to invest in biotechnological processes. It is anticipated that natural surfactants will take over the global market in the not-too-distant future and prove to be economically feasible. It is likely possible to substitute synthetic surfactants used in agricultural product composition with biosurfactants. Because biosurfactants can benefit crops without harming the environment, they hold great potential as a useful tool in the fight against pesticide use. Furthermore, by making hazardous and leftover pesticides more soluble and thus accessible for biodegradation by other microbes, their potential as bioremediation agents can help to improve the health of soil systems. This article is based on the explanation of various applications of Biosurfactants.