In the face of the pressing global issue of waste management and the diminishing availability of natural resources, the management of non-biodegradable waste materials, including brick waste, poses significant challenges. Ineffective disposal practices not only create logistical obstacles but also pose health hazards. This study explores the potential of utilizing waste refractory bricks (RB) as a sustainable substitute for natural fine aggregates in concrete production. Various experimental investigations were conducted to evaluate the feasibility and performance of RB sand in concrete mixtures. Tests included assessments of fresh and hardened properties, such as slump values, compressive strength, tensile strength, flexural strength, and resistance to elevated temperatures. The research revealed that RB sand, when used as a partial replacement for fine aggregates, can significantly enhance the compressive strength of concrete, with optimal results observed at a 30% replacement level. Moreover, RB-based concrete exhibited improved split tensile strength compared to traditional concrete, particularly at replacement levels of 10% to 30%. Flexural strength also showed notable improvements, with the 40% replacement level demonstrating optimal performance. Additionally, the study investigated the effects of elevated temperatures on concrete specimens and found that RB-based sustainable concrete showed higher compressive strength retention compared to conventional concrete at a 30% replacement level. Furthermore, weight variation analysis indicated that RB-based concrete had a lower density compared to traditional concrete. Overall, the findings suggest that incorporating RB sand in concrete mixtures could offer a promising solution for sustainable construction practices, contributing to environmental conservation and human health preservation by reducing reliance on natural aggregates and minimizing adverse environmental impacts.

Monitoring water quality changes in any body of water is crucial as it directly relates to climate change. Evaluating the quality and quantity of fresh water for various uses is essential to maintaining safe water sources now and in the future. This study examined the water quality of the Main Outfall Drain River (MOD) in the eastern part of Al-Qadisiya Governorate at three sites over four seasons in 2023, using the Iraqi Water Quality Index (IQ-WQI). In most cases, the concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and total dissolved solids (TDS) exceeded allowable limits for freshwater and aquatic life protection. The major contributing parameters to the river’s low water quality were TDS, BOD5, turbidity, and DO. The use of the MOD for discharging agricultural effluents led to increased levels of TDS, BOD5, and turbidity. Temporal variation indicated that the summer season had the highest values compared to other seasons due to increased evaporation and low water discharge. Spatial variation showed the IQ-WQI of the sites in descending order from very poor water to unsuitable, with Site 3 having double the TDS concentrations compared to other sites. This increase may be attributed to the impact of the Al-Dalmag Marsh discharge canal, which comes into contact with the MOD at this site. Sensitivity analysis using backward linear regression was applied to predict the IQ-WQI and determine the most influential parameters on the IQ-WQI score. The test was conducted for two sets of water parameters (from the IQ-WQI calculation) and included 7 parameters for each freshwater and aquatic life use, obtaining different models.

Exploration of microbial flora in red mud ponds is a topic of economic importance. In this study, we report two bacterial strains isolated from red mud ponds of Utkal Alumina, Odisha India. These strains were identified to be Brevundimonas sp. and Pseudomonas sp. through 16S rDNA analysis which showed more than 99% similarities with their respective clades. The LD50 values showed metal resistance to As, Cr, Cu, and Pb in a range of 2-8 mM. Both the strains showed a high tolerance towards arsenic and lead but a low tolerance towards chromium and copper salts. The bioaccumulation of copper was found to be the maximum and that of arsenic was the minimum. To find out the underlying genetic mechanism of the metal tolerance, a degenerate PCR approach was made to find out the genes responsible for the metal efflux or transformation. Two putative arsB genes could be identified from these two strains. Phylogenetic analysis of deduced amino acid sequences showed similarities with the amino acid sequences of arsB genes of Pseudomonas strains and formed monophyletic clades with their arsB proteins. These strains thus harbor potential genetic mechanisms for metal tolerance. Determination of whole operons and their cloning is the future aspect of the study. Moreover, these bacterial strains have a high potential to accumulate copper and can be used in studies related to biomining of copper.

Water conservation and management are significant features of ancient Indian Vedic culture. However, India’s rapid industrialization, globalization, and urbanization have posed a serious threat to this practice. Many metropolitan cities and other cities will likely have groundwater depletion in the near future. As per the ‘United Nations University - Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)’ report titled “The 2023 Interconnected Disaster Risks Report”, India is close to reaching its tipping point of groundwater depletion. It also highlighted that 27 of 31 major global aquifers are depleting faster than they can be replenished. A combination of factors, including climate change, private land ownership, mechanical pumping, etc., led to the depletion of groundwater and water scarcity for farming and other purposes. Additionally, NITI Aayog and the Central Water Commission have released several reports that highlighted the plight of the country’s aquifers. India’s groundwater resources are not only a potential source for agricultural, domestic, and industrial needs in the country but also a threat to its sustainable development and equitable distribution. At present, there is no central law on the groundwater regulation. Although the Model Groundwater (Sustainable Management) Bill 2017 is an affirmative step, its effectiveness depends on implementation by state governments, the establishment of robust local institutions, and removing political incentives from groundwater management. Until now, landowners have enjoyed monopolistic access to groundwater due to common laws that recognize uncontrolled rights over the resources. These restrictions have perpetuated gross inequities in accessing groundwater, which makes a remarkable shift from previous laws. This paper evaluates India’s existing groundwater laws to achieve sustainability, equity, and the effective execution of water rights. It also delves into the lacunae in the existing laws and suggestive measures to control the challenges of groundwater in India.

Mycoremediation is classified as an inexpensive, environmentally friendly, and effective technique to reduce wastewater. Leiotrametes menziesii BRB 73 was one of the White Rot Fungi (WRF) that has the potential to degrade dyes. Suitable environmental conditions can optimize dye decolorization results. This study aims to investigate optimal environmental conditions such as time incubation, concentration of dyes, pH, CuSO4, and glucose concentration against decolorization of a mixture of direct dyes and enzyme activity (laccase and MnP). The mixture of commercial direct dyes used contains direct turquoise (DT), direct orange (DO), and direct yellow (DY) dyes. Decolorization was measured using a spectrophotometer at 400-700 nm. Laccase and MnP assay using ABTS and 2.6 DMP as substrate, respectively. The highest decolorization by Leiotrametes menziesii BRB 73 was produced at 54.3% at 96 hours and increased to 67% at a dye concentration of 500 mg.L-1. Meanwhile, the highest laccase and MnP activities were 215 U.L-1 and 39 U.L-1, respectively. pH range was quite wide, ranging from pH 5.5-9, supported by stable MnP activity from pH 3-7. CuSO4 inducers were not required for the decolorization of these dyes. Decolorization was optimal at the addition of 1% glucose, while enzyme activities were 0.5% glucose. Decolorization of dyes by Leiotrametes menziesii BRB 73 was indicated through degradation pathways involving laccase and MnP enzymes. This isolate has a high tolerance to dye concentrations, a wide pH range, and low carbon requirements. Thus, it was recommended as a mycoremediation agent.

The objective of this research was to determine an environmental management model that integrates social, economic, geographic, and community aspects to promote the growth of social capital among residents in the periphery area of Banjarmasin City. The analysis was conducted with 150 respondents selected through purposive sampling based on specific criteria. A quantitative descriptive method was adopted, and the structural model analysis was conducted using SmartPLS 3.0 software. The structural model analysis consisted of (a) formulation of the structural model theory, (b) analysis of the outer model, (c) analysis of the inner model, and (d) hypothesis testing. The field data analysis and calculations using SmartPLS 3.0 software showed an R² value of 0.855. The value showed that the economic, social, geographic, and community indicators could indeed contribute to the development of social capital, including norms, culture, perceptions, and behaviors among residents in the periphery area. Approximately 85.5% of the variation could be explained, while the remaining 14.5% might be influenced by other factors. In terms of the development of social capital, environmental management model was shown by (1) economic, with a T-statistic value of 2.627 and a P-value of 0.009, (2) geographic, with a T-statistic value of 1.982 and a P-value of 0.048, (3) community, with a T-statistic value of 4.211 and a P-value of 0.000, and (4) social with a T-statistic value of 2.057 and a P-value of 0.040. Since the T-statistic values exceeded the T-table threshold of 1.96, and the P-values were less than the significance level of 0.05, it could be concluded that economic, geographic, community, and social, environmental management in the periphery area served as valuable indicators for fostering the sustainable development of social capital among residents of Banjarmasin City.

This study was performed to determine the effect of synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles on the consortium of isolated bacterial strains from the crude oil-contaminated site. The iron oxide nanoparticle (FeNPs) was synthesized by chemical co-precipitation method and confirmed with its characterization results such as UV-spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Scanning Electron Microscopy (HR-SEM), Zeta potential and Particle Size Analyser studies. The isolates were cultured in LBBH (Luria-Bertani and Bushnell Haas) medium containing crude oil as a carbon source with incubation for 7 days. This study was performed using FeNPs with four different concentrations (10, 50, 100 and 150mg) incorporated with the isolated microbes clubbed as a consortium. The rate of biodegradation was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. By comparing the control sample (crude oil) there was a better degradation in FeNPs added bacterial culture than consortium degradation. The obtained results conclude that studying different concentrations of FeNPs with the consortium of isolated microbes showed degradation differences, whereas 150mg concentration has a better degradation effect compared to other variations. It should be carried out to avoid agglomeration of nanoparticles by improving their biocompatibility and quality to influence the biodegradation of crude oil.

The uncontrolled production of waste is a daily phenomenon that is experienced by most global communities, and the situation worsens due to the lack of effective waste management procedures. Solid waste such as sawdust is primarily produced by the forestry industry and although it is utilized by certain countries as briquettes to make fire or as an absorbent to clean fluid spillage as well as a component of ceilings, most of the sawdust along the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria is left unattended as waste, contributing to environmental pollution. Cellulose, composed of glucose units is a structural component of sawdust and when saccharified the resulting glucose can be fermented into renewable substances such as bio-ethanol. The cellulose degradation process can be performed with a cellulase enzyme such as available in the fungus Aspergillus niger and during the current investigation, this enzyme system was used to bio-convert the cellulose component of sawdust from ten different trees along the Lagoon into glucose. To increase the cellulase action all sawdust materials were delignified before cellulase action with the main aim of determining the optimum pH value for maximum degradation of the various sawdust materials. The pH-related saccharification profile of each type of sawdust was constructed as well as the relative percentage of saccharification and it was concluded that all the materials were optimum degraded at acidic pH-values which varied between pH 5.0 and pH 6.0 that are like optimum pH-values reported for the other types of cellulose materials.

The present study aimed to investigate the bio-oil from the blended citrus fruit peel by hydrothermal liquefaction process. Huge amounts of fruit peel waste are disposed of in the open environment without any proper management. Such fruit peels are considered a potential bio-resource to be converted into economically valuable products like bio-oil. Since the citrus fruit peel is a rich source of moisture content, a hydrothermal liquefaction process was introduced to produce bio-oil from cellulose, and lignocellulose. The experimental design against temperature, time, and biomass concentration optimization was carried out which was confirmed by the ANOVA f and p test that reveals time and temperature influenced the bio-oil yield drastically. As the time and temperature rise more than 60 min and 280°C, the volatile substance present in the biomass converts itself into solid residue which has a negative impact on bio-oil production, compared with biomass concentration. The maximum yield of bio-oil was recorded as 29.4% at 280°C at 60min reaction time and 80g/200mL concentration as optimized parameters. The GCMS reveals the presence of hydrocarbons and alkanethiol which are flammable and hold the standards of commercial transportation fuel but hold nitrogen and oxygen-containing compounds to pull down the fuel standards. Thus, the produced bio-oil can be blended with the transportation fuel after the upgradation process for efficient results.

The global construction industry faces significant challenges related to environmental sustainability and resource scarcity. Researchers are increasingly exploring innovative approaches to repurpose waste materials, aiming to mitigate environmental pollution while producing value-added construction materials. This paper reviews the sustainability of current methodologies for synthesizing construction materials from pollutants, considering industrial by-products, post-consumer waste, and pollutants as potential feedstocks. The evaluation focuses on various recycling, upcycling, and bioconversion techniques, assessing their environmental and technical feasibility. The paper also discusses case studies of successful implementations and emerging trends in the field to highlight practical applications and future research directions. Ultimately, the paper advocates for sustainable practices in the construction sector by promoting a circular economy model, where waste is transformed into valuable resources, fostering wealth development.