The paper presents a multi-directional inclined compartmental basin solar desalination system with a unique design aimed at enhancing water purification through solar energy. The system consists of a central basin surrounded by four inclined compartmental basins, each equipped with a thick glass cover of 4 mm tilted at a 30° angle to facilitate condensation. Techniques such as one-step azimuth tracking are employed, where the entire setup is rotated 15° daily to optimize solar exposure, improving distillate productivity. The methodology includes the construction of basins with pyramid-like structures to concentrate solar energy, increase water temperature rapidly, and maintain it for prolonged periods. Experimental tests were conducted at different orientations (0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°), measuring yields across basins and analyzing the effects of solar radiation and temperature. This innovative system, leveraging azimuth tracking and optimized basin configurations, offers a supportable solution for potable water production in solar-rich areas. The study’s results show that the multi-directional solar desalination system achieved its highest yield of 20.305 liters/day at a 0° orientation, with Basin 1 (south-facing) producing 5.780 liters/day. Rotating the setup to different angles (e.g., 15°, 30°) yielded minor increases (up to 0.90%) in overall productivity due to optimized solar exposure. The findings confirm that one-step azimuth tracking enhances daily distillate production in solar-rich environments.

A useful technique for forecasting a watershed’s hydrological response and creating effective management plans for its water resources is hydrological modeling. Due to the ongoing rapid urbanization since the formation of the Telangana State, the primary goal of this investigation is to use geospatial techniques to simulate rainfall-runoff processes in the Saroor Nagar urban watershed, Telangana, for the years 2008, 2014, and 2020. The rainfall-runoff process is simulated using the Hydrologic Engineering Centre’s Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) model. Three distinct techniques are utilized to simulate the infiltration loss, the transformation of surplus rainfall into surface runoff, and the flow routing of the channel reach: the Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) approach, the SCS unit hydrograph technique, and the Muskingum routing approach. The discharge data from the Hussain Sagar catchment is taken into consideration during the calibration and validation of the proposed model using the regionalization method due to the lack of gauging in the watershed. The model’s performance is evaluated by employing the coefficient of determination (R2 ) as well as the Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE). The HEC-HMS model analysis indicates that between 2008 and 2020, the simulated peak discharge increased from 44.4m3 /s to 57.1m3 /s. During calibration, R2 and NSE are 0.88 and 0.75, correspondingly; during validation, they are 0.83 and 0.89. The study’s conclusions unequivocally show that the suggested model can faithfully replicate basin stream flow and that it can be used as a guide for wise water resource management in the watershed.

The electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) based carbon credit potential in the present study was evaluated for the Shell Recharge Charging Station at Pimple Nilakh, Pune, Maharashtra. The objective was to determine whether carbon credits could provide an incentive for the establishment of EVCSs. The calculations were carried out with the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Methodology VM0038 for Electric Vehicle Charging Systems, Version 1.0. We show that the system can produce about 191 carbon credits per year. These credits are worth a potential monetary value of up to ₹ 7,96,947.50 in the Indian voluntary market, and up to ₹ 9,92,372.74 in the international compliance market, depending on the prevailing carbon credit values. This is at a maximum of approximately 31% more value than the annual profit generated from the charging station in the Indian voluntary market. Therefore, these carbon credits have the potential to be a useful way to speed up the adoption of green mobility by rewarding the creation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The results of this assessment showed the potential of EVCSs to provide sustainable transportation support and generate economic benefits through carbon credit monetization. The present work highlighted the need to standardize the validation and trading of carbon credits generated from green mobility

The processes of liquid fuel production from organic wastes by hydrothermal liquefaction lead to the formation of wastewater characterized by a high content of organic compounds, including lignosulfonates and their derivatives. The paper presents the results of a study designed to assess the possibility and feasibility of using such wastewater as concrete modifiers. The study confirmed the hypothesis that the use of HTL-AP slows down concrete curing processes (curing time increased 1.9 times compared to the control sample). It was found that the modifying properties of HTL-AP are higher than those of the commercial concrete modifier because even at higher curing retardation rates (curing time is 12.2% higher compared to concrete modified with the commercial solution), the use of HTL-AP results in minimal reduction in the strength properties of the concrete. The application of HTL-AP and commercial modifier results in a 7.1% and 14.5% reduction in compressive strength, respectively, and a 6.2% and 12.2% reduction in tensile strength, respectively. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that the use of HTL-AP as a retarder in concrete curing processes is well justified, as the positive effect has been experimentally confirmed. Using HTL-AP as a concrete modifier will improve the environmental efficiency of HTL processes and reduce the cost of frost-resistant concrete by eliminating the use of traditional expensive modifiers.

This study explores the development and performance evaluation of modified double-slope solar still (MDSS) configurations using recyclable materials. The objectives include improving water yield, thermal efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Experimental data were collected hourly under typical climatic conditions, focusing on parameters such as material type and operational modes. Results indicate significant improvements in water productivity, with the MDSS-Al-S700 achieving a daily yield of 7,527 mL.m- ² and a thermal efficiency of 45.7%. The cost per liter was reduced to ₹0.014, demonstrating remarkable economic viability. The findings highlight MDSS systems as sustainable and scalable solutions for addressing water scarcity, with enhanced environmental payback times and reduced carbon emissions. These advancements underline the potential of MDSS systems to align with global sustainability goals while ensuring affordability and efficiency.

Rice growing is widely practiced in the northern Indian region known as the Indo-Gangetic Plain. A significant amount of rice straw is burned in the field due to the absence of a waste management system. To boost its economic value, Rice straw is converted into activated charcoal, which can subsequently be used for wastewater treatment, metal extraction, air purification, and other applications. The purpose of this work was to produce porous activated carbon particles from RS waste using a chemical activation procedure that included 40% orthophosphoric acid. The process of synthesizing porous carbon particles involves three steps: (i) carbonization, (ii) chemical impregnation, and (iii) activation treatment. Variations were made to the activation temperature, residence time, and activating agent concentration to attain the best possible approach for the activation treatment. Activated carbon was characterized using different techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, FESEM, and EDX. Experimental results showed that this approach is effective at producing porous carbon particles. ACs synthesized were carbonaceous and amorphous in form, as determined by X-ray diffraction studies. FTIR revealed the presence of functional groups that are good for adsorption, such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, amines, aromatic, and others. Scanning electron micrographs showed that activated carbon has a compact and porous structure. When comparing the activated carbon to the original rice straw, EDX demonstrates the increased carbon content. The optimal conditions determined are 700°C, a ratio of 1:3, and a duration of 90 min. The results of the investigation show that the agricultural wastes used in the evaluation may serve as low-cost sources of material for the production of local ACs, thereby addressing the issue of disposing of agricultural wastes.

The water quality of the River Mahananda has continuously deteriorated due to increased exposure of untreated wastewater from the urban areas, increasing the concentration of anthropogenic toxicants in aquatic environments that might enhance the cellular oxidative stress-induced physiological imbalance on the aquatic biota. In the present study, we have assessed the water quality of the River Mahananda and evaluated its detrimental effects on the oxidative stress parameters and neurotoxic biomarker of Cirrhinus reba. The principal component analysis revealed a significant impact of zinc, copper, fluoride, and ammonia on the pollution status of the River Mahananda. A significant decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase was observed in the liver, while significantly increased (p<0.001) concentrations of TBARS in the liver, kidney, brain, and gill of C. reba were found at the polluted sites. An organ-specific significant decrease (p<0.001) in the acetylcholinesterase activity was noted in the brain tissue of C. reba at the polluted sites (S2<S3<S4) compared to the control. The result of our study indicates the noxious impact of anthropogenic pollutants on the physiological metabolisms of Cirrhinus reba, an alternative model for ecotoxicological study.

Urbanization and economic development have led to an increase in the production of plastics. The increased production of plastics has resulted in the accumulation of plastics in the environment, leading to plastic pollution. The plastics are exposed to various weathering processes and undergo decomposition, which leads to the formation of microplastics. Polyethylene is one of the microplastics which contributes to the maximum share of pollution and is very hazardous. The safe degradation of polyethylene can be done by microbial degradation. This study examined the extent of plastic degradation through the use of microbes. The species of bacterium were isolated from Plastic dumping grounds in Karad. The isolated and screened microbes were assessed further in terms of their degradation potential. The evaluation of polyethylene degradation potential was conducted using the weight loss method, FTIR analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. One bacterial isolate showed positive results, and the screening results showed growth, which measured 7mm around the inoculated well. The screened-out isolate degraded 40% of the polyethylene, which was evaluated by weight loss method. Scanning electron microscopy showed the pits and holes which were formed by degradation. The promising isolate was later identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing as Lysinibacillus macroides

Wastewater can be used in hydroponic systems to grow crop plants, offering a sustainable solution to water scarcity and nutrient recycling. However, contaminants like Cu and Zn can affect crop yield. This study aimed to assess the effects of Cu- and Zn-induced toxicity on growth, physiology, photosynthesis, biochemical characteristics, element concentrations, and leaf distribution patterns in buckwheat. The experiment consisted of nine treatments (0, Cu5, Cu10, Zn50, Zn100, Cu5Zn50, Cu5Zn100, Cu10Zn50 and Cu10Zn100 mg L−1) with four replications in a completely randomized design. The obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's HSD tests. A two-way clustering based on Euclidian distance was performed to understand the relationships between the measured parameters better. The results showed that Cu and Zn at higher and combined levels notably decreased fresh and dry weight, nitrogen balance index, chlorophylls, photosystem II (PSII) efficiency, and PSII quantum yield compared to the control. Conversely, the anthocyanin and flavonoids contents were increased compared to the control. Shoot Cu and Zn concentrations and uptake were dose-dependent; however, Cu and Zn interactions at higher levels were antagonistic. Micro-XRF element distribution analysis of leaves showed that Cu and/or Zn treatment affected element partitioning between mesophyll and vascular tissue. Mesophyll to vein metal concentration ratios (MeVeR) showed that at higher Cu levels (Cu10), more Cu was transported into the mesophyll, making Cu more toxic due to interference with photosynthesis, while at high Zn levels (Zn100), Zn was more efficiently sequestered in veins.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of industrial wastewater has drawn researchers’ attention due to biofuel’s recovery in the form of biomethane. This study introduced two anaerobic semi-continuous reactors (ASCR)- R1 and R2 for bioremediation of the rice mill wastewater (RMWW). The alkali treatment of the substrate in reactors R1 and R2 was done by dry NaOH and Ca(OH)2, respectively. Both reactors were loaded with 80% of the RMWW and 20% of the cow-dung-fed biogas plant sludge (BGPS) for 16 days of stabilization at mesophilic temperatures (18℃ to 42℃). A small amount of jaggery and white rot fungi (Phanerochaete chrysosporium) were also added into both reactors for the bacterial growth and removal of the biorefractory organics (lignin and phenol) present in RMWW, respectively. The impact of variations in the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) upon the anaerobic biodegradation of RMWW was studied in three operating phases (OP) I, II, and III. The highest BOD, COD, lignin, and phenol removal achieved in reactors R1 and R2 were 94%, 92%, 84%, and 82%, as well as 93%, 91%, 82%, and 80%, respectively, in OP I. The highest biomethane yield in both reactors was 0.005 L.g-1 COD in OP II. The results of the three operating phases reveal that a high HRT and low OLR give the maximum pollutant removal efficiency and the highest biomethane yield. The novelty of this research paper is the significant removal of the biorefractory organics lignin and phenol from the RMWW with the help of white rot fungi and specific bacterial strains Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Enterobacter sp., Actinomycetes sp. and Streptomycetes sp. present in the inoculum. The digestates from reactors were rich in macro and micronutrients viz., N, P, K, Cu, Zn, Fe, etc., essential for plant growth.