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

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.

Landslides are significant natural hazards that cause damage to the environment, life, and properties, mainly in hilly terrain. This research was mostly focused on generating a landslide susceptibility zone map of Papumpare District, Arunachal Pradesh, and classifying the region from high susceptibility to least susceptibility using AHP modeling techniques considering the landslide causative factors. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a multicriteria decision-making model (MCDM) in which each parameter is compared based on its role in triggering a landslide. A total of eight parameters were selected based on the factors that could affect the most, like Slope, Rainfall, Drainage Density, Lineament Density, Geomorphology, Soil, Geology, and Land use/Land cover. These layers were prepared using ArcGIS 10.8 software and ERDAS IMAGINE 2014. Based on the output, the region was classified into five zones of landslide susceptibility classes. Of these, the high-very-high landslides are mostly amassed near the steep and disturbed slopes due to earth-cutting, especially for building or construction of roads. Validation was done using the ROC curve (73.2%) suggesting good performance of the model. The outcome of this work will provide information for proper landslide hazard management and will help in formulating suitable mitigation strategies in the future.

The monsoon system in India plays a pivotal role in shaping the country’s climate. Recent studies have indicated that the increasing variability of monsoons is attributable to climate change, resulting in prolonged periods of drought and excessive rainfall. Understanding, analyzing, and forecasting monsoons is crucial for socioeconomic sustainability and communities’ overall well-being. Climate forecasts, which project future Earth climates typically up to 2100, rely on models such as the Couple Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP). However, confidence in these forecasts remains low due to the limitations of global climate models, particularly in terms of capturing the intricacies of monsoon dynamics, notably from June to September. To address this issue, researchers have examined precipitation simulations under various future scenarios using both CMIP5 and the latest CMIP6 models. Evaluating the performance of these models from 1979 to 2014, particularly in simulating mean precipitation and temperature, has revealed improvements in multi-model ensembles (MME), highlighting advancements in monsoon characteristics. By comparing the CMIP5 and CMIP6 models, researchers have identified the most reliable models for climate downscaling research, which can provide more accurate predictions of regional climate changes, thereby offering valuable insights for enhancing climate modeling in the Indian subcontinent.

Improper disposal of landfill leachate, a highly polluted wastewater, can harm living beings and the ecosystem. Of all the treatment technologies available, electrochemical techniques have the most advantages in terms of ease of use, affordability, and the ability to degrade various contaminants found in landfill leachate effectively. Though there are a sufficient number of research articles regarding the electrochemical treatment of leachate, it has many research gaps, such as a study on the mechanism of radicle generation, pollutant degradation, study on different electrodes with various pollutants concentrations, application of green catalysts, byproduct formation assessment, energy recovery, etc. This review article explores the applications of electrooxidation techniques for the treatment of landfill leachate. Key aspects discussed include the (i) fundamental concepts in electrochemical treatment and its mechanism, (ii) factors affecting the electrochemical treatment efficiency, (iii) the applicability of leachate treatment with different electrochemical methods, (iv) recent advances, (v) merits, and demerits and (vi) proposal of future scope and the studies needed. The integration of electrooxidation with other treatment processes and the challenges hindering widespread adoption are also addressed. Overall, electrooxidation demonstrates promise as an effective and sustainable method for managing landfill leachate. Consequently, this article directs chacurrent and future research efforts toward optimizing the leachate treatment through electrooxidation techniques.

High phosphate content in water causes eutrophication, leading to many risks to the aquatic environment and human health. This study used biochar derived from macadamia husks at the pyrolysis temperatures (300, 450, and 600℃) to remove P from water. Adsorption parameters such as initial pH, biochar dosage, initial P concentration, and adsorption time when biochar was exposed to the P solution were determined. The results show that pH 4 is optimal for P removal with biochar pyrolyzed at 300 and 450°C, while pH 6 gives biochar 600°C, biochar dosage 10 g.L−1, concentration Initial P 25-200 mg.L−1 and adsorption time 40 minutes for 3 types of biochar. The maximum P adsorption capacity is 20.07, 20.03, and 20.03 mg.L−1 corresponding to 3 forms of biochar 300, 450, and 600°C. P adsorption data were consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model for all three biochar forms. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was suitable for all three types of biochar, showing that the main adsorption mechanism is a surface chemical reaction. The study suggested that hydrogen bonding plays an important role in the adsorption of P onto biochar derived from macadamia husks. This study indicates that biochar derived from macadamia husks pyrolyzed at temperatures of 300, 450, and 600°C are all potentially effective and low-cost adsorbents for phosphate removal from water.

With traditional knowledge passing through generations and habits of indigenous people, the local communities perform a crucial role in managing the environment and development. It should be the Local communities who should be involved in the conservation and management of the wetland resources, however, increasing government controls and prohibitions are harming wetland conservation, which potentially promotes responsible use habits in the region. This literature review investigates the role of traditional knowledge systems (TKS) in wetland conservation, focusing on four key domains: agriculture, fishing practices, stormwater management, and traditional knowledge of wetland plants and produce harvesting. This review methodologically synthesizes current research to provide a thorough understanding of the contribution of traditional knowledge to wetland conservation efforts. It does this by using a total selection of 68 papers within a range of five to ten articles per category. Using the PRISMA(Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) methods of literature review as a guide, this study identifies, evaluates, and synthesizes peer-reviewed and localized publications that examine the application of Traditional knowledge systems to various wetland management contexts, drawing from scholarly databases and pertinent literature sources. By delving into diverse disciplines such as environmental engineering, ecology, and environmental science, the review elucidates the multifaceted ways in which indigenous wisdom informs conservation practices, fosters sustainable resource utilization, and enhances community resilience in wetland ecosystems. Moreover, it examines the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating traditional and scientific knowledge paradigms, emphasizing the need for inclusive and participatory approaches to conservation that respect cultural diversity and local knowledge systems. The results of the literature study have been compiled to highlight several traditional systems for wetland conservation. These include traditional stormwater management in wetland watersheds, resource management by local communities, the use of wetland plants in conservation, traditional fishing practices, traditional agricultural practices, and religious and cultural practices. The findings of this review contribute valuable insights to academia, policy development, and on-the-ground conservation efforts, serving as a foundation for future research and practice aimed at promoting the holistic and equitable stewardship of wetland ecosystems. This paper concludes with suggestions on using traditional knowledge systems in the conservation of wetlands in India, along with the different traditional methods that could be part and parcel of the decision-making system in this field. The results of this paper are highly significant, as they demonstrate the integration of traditional knowledge systems as a method for environmental conservation and management, specifically targeting wetland ecosystems and their biota.