Evaluation of antioxidant enzymes activities and identification of intermediate products during phytoremediation of an anionic dye (C. I. Acid Blue 92) by pennywort (Hydrocotyle vulgaris)

The potential of pennywort(Hydrocotyle vulgaris)for phytoremediation of C.I.Acid Blue 92(AB92)was evaluated.The efects of various experimental parameters including pH,temperature,dye concentration and plant weight on dye removal efciency were investigated.The results showed that the optimal condition for dye removal were pH 3.5 and temperature 25°C.Moreover,the absolute dye removal enhanced with increase in the initial dye concentration and plant weight.Pennywort showed the same removal efciency in repeated experiments(four runs)as that obtained from the first run(a 6-day period).Therefore,the ability of the plant in consecutive removal of AB92 confirmed the biodegradation process.Accordingly,a number of produced intermediate compounds were identified.The efect of treatment on photosynthesis and antioxidant defense system including superoxide dismutase,peroxidase and catalase in plant roots and leaves were evaluated.The results revealed a reduction in photosynthetic pigments content under dye treatments.Antioxidant enzyme responses showed marked variations with respect to the plant organ and dye concentration in the liquid medium.Overall,the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity under AB92 stress in the roots was much higher than that in the leaves.Nevertheless,no significant increase in malondialdehyde content was detected in roots or leaves,implying that the high efciency of antioxidant system in the elimination of reactive oxygen species.Based on these results,pennywort was founded to be a capable species for phytoremediation of AB92-contaminated water,may be efective for phytoremediation dye-contaminated polluted aquatic ecosystems.     

A comprehensive systematic review of photocatalytic degradation of pesticides using nano TiO2

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study has systematically reviewed all of the research articles about the photocatalytic degradation of pesticides using titanium dioxide (TiO2)...     

Propagation and extinction of dust flames in narrow channels

This article has investigated the propagation and extinction of aluminum dust cloud flame in a narrow channel. The burned and burning dust particles act as heat sources and the channel walls act as heat sinks. In this method, discrete heat source has been used to analyze dust combustion in a narrow channel. Using the superposition of sources and sinks, the preheat zone temperature is predicted as an indicator of flame propagation or extinction. Dust concentration and channel width are two major parameters which affect the quenching distance and flame propagating speed. Wall temperature affects the heat loss; and by preheating the walls, quenching distance is reduced and flame propagation speed is increased.     

Technical and economical assessment of a multipurpose electric vehicle for farmers

The RAMseS project, under the European Commission's 6th Framework Program, is dedicated to the construction and test of low-power operations based on photovoltaic power and a multipurpose electric vehicle. In the present study, the life-cycle costs and economical indices for the vehicle during its life span were assessed, compared to those of a standard internal combustion engine vehicle (ICEV). The results indicated that the life-cycle costs for the RAMseS vehicle and the ICEV are the same for a fuel unit price of 1.8 €/L. Also, the levelized cost of energy (LCE) for the RAMseS vehicle, was found to be 2.13 €/kWh, while RAMseS LCE, without EV taken into account, was shown to be 0.62 €/kWh. The RAMseS payback period (PBP) without EV taken into account was calculated to be 9 years if the value of the produced energy becomes at least 0.35 €/kWh. Vehicles that use PV systems as their power source, such as RAMseS, will be economically effective for fuel costs higher than 1.8 €/L, but considering the environmental benefits that are provided in terms of external costs, they can be considered profitable even at lower fuel costs.     

Cold plasma can alleviate cadmium stress by optimizing growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through changes in physio-biochemical properties and fatty acid profile

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cold plasma (CP) application has increasing interest due to its environmental-friendly, high efficient, and low cost aspects to mitigate deletion...     

Integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) as an environmentally friendly system for sustainable aquaculture: functionality,species, and application of biofloc technology (BFT)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and its prominent role has been proven in supplying food for the growing world...     

Study of non-revenue water status and enforcement measures to reduce water loss: case study in villages of Kermanshah Province of Iran

In this study, the volume and the cash value of water loss, and reduction of water loss as a result of enforcement action during 2011–2013 in the drinking water network of villages in Kermanshah Province, Iran, have been investigated. Date collected by referring to the different parts of rural water and waste water company of Kermanshah Province and checklist were completed. The study showed the volume of produced water and sold water has increased and the water loss percentage has decreased. High cost of water production compared to revenue of sold water and water loss resulted in significant detriments in terms of the water production costs. Water loss level decreased from 33% to 30% as result of measures taken to reduce water loss but, it is still 15% higher than the world average level. Also the reduction in number of water resources and increase in the number and volume of reservoirs indicates a lack of water and a growing need. As result of high water loss, waste of costs in the contrast of water production cost and also because physical water loss accounts for most of the water loss of villages, necessary measures can be effective in reducing loss and have economic justification.     

Habitat suitability for the Caucasian frog <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rana macrocnemis</Emphasis> Boulenger, 1885 (Amphibia:Anura: Ranidae)

Modeling the distribution patterns of species is a generally efficient tool to assess their ecological characteristics. In this study, we compared ecological niche factor analysis (ENFA) and maximum entropy (Maxent) techniques to predict the most suitable distribution range of Rana macrocnemis. The Maxent model predicted potential suitable habitats for R. macrocnemis with high success rates (AUC Training data = 0.877 ± 0.039). According to the map constructed, three important variables had high contribution to species presence: temperature (50.4%), land cover (24.6%) and elevation (14.4%) variables. The ENFA results were relatively similar to Maxent jackknife analysis. The results implied that R. macrocnemis prefers grassland and needle leaf deciduous forest with high elevations, and low temperature.     

Abundance,spatial distribution,and physical characteristics of microplastics in stormwater detention ponds

Despite extensive research on microplastics (MP) in marine environments, little is known about MP abundance and transport in terrestrial systems. There is, therefore, still little understanding of the main mechanisms driving the substantial transport of MP across different environmental compartments. Storm events can transport MP beyond boundaries, such as from the land to groundwater or the ocean, as has already been discovered for organic carbon transport. Urban stormwater detention ponds are suitable environments to study the impact of stormwater on the environmental fate and transport of MP. Herein, we investigate the longitudinal and vertical distribution of MP within two detention ponds with different physical characteristics. Soil samples were collected at various locations and from multiple depths (surface and subsurface layers) for measuring MP concentrations using fluorescence microscopy. Our findings show that MP are retained more near the inlet of the ponds, and MP of larger sizes were found more abundantly near inlets than outlets. We also found that MP mass and sizes decrease from surface soil to subsurface soil. In the pond, where vegetation (grass root network) was more considerable, MP were found more evenly distributed along the depth. In terms of shape, the fragments were the most abundant MP shape.