Emerging applications of green coconut: A promising lignocellulosic biomass

Waste accumulation is a grave concern and becoming a transboundary challenge for environment. During Covid-19 pandemic, diverse type of waste were collected due to different practices employed in order to fight back the transmission rate of the virus. Covid-19 was proved to be capricious catastrophe of this 20th century and even not completely eradicated from the world. The havoc created by this imperceptible quick witted, pleomorphic deadly virus can't be ignored. Though a number of vaccines have been developed by the scientists but there is a fear of getting this virus again in our life. Medical studies prove that immunity drinks will help to reduce its reoccurrences. Coconut water is widely used among all drinks available globally. Its massive consumption created an incalculable pile of green coconut shells around the different corners of the world. This practice generating enormous problem of space acquisition for the environment. Both the environment and public health will benefit from an evaluation of quantity of coconut waste that is being thrown and its potential to generate value added products. With this context, present article has been planned to study different aspects like, coconut waste generation, its biological properties and environmental hazards associated with its accumulation. Additionally, this review illustrates, green technologies for production of different value added products from coconut waste.     

Promoting e-mobility in India: challenges,framework, and future roadmap

The purpose of the research is to identify the critical challenges that are impeding the adoption of e-mobility in India. It also aims to give a roadmap how to address these challenges while taking into considerations concerns of all the relevant stakeholders. Based on an in-depth literature review, an exploratory research design is employed to delve deep into various aspects of e-mobility. This is followed by a three-phase Delphi technique to identify and rate the e-mobility challenges in the Indian context. The study successfully identifies four different categories of challenges and proposes integrative framework for e-mobility. Further, the research goes on to lay out the future roadmap for mass adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in India. The research is novel in terms of presenting a holistic viewpoint on e-mobility in India. Its originality lies in identifying the major inhibitors obstructing EVs adoption in India and then suggesting the roadmap how to overcome these impediments for mass adoption of e-mobility.     

Current scenario of CNG vehicular pollution and their possible abatement technologies: an overview

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Compressed natural gas is an alternative green fuel for automobile industry. Recently, the Indian government is targeting to replace all the...     

Facile fabrication of green nano pure CeO2 and Mn-decorated CeO2 with Cassia angustifolia seed extract in water refinement by optimal photodegradation kinetics of malachite green

To eradicate the aquatic pollution caused by dyes, trendily the global researchers provide dedication to dye degradation using nanostructured photocatalyst. This research work is dedicated to explore an advanced, facile, bio-compact green fabricated nanostructure for water refinement. In this regard, plant-mediated syntheses of pure CeO₂ and Mn-decorated CeO₂ nano-powders have been inspected using seed extract of Cassia angustifolia. Investigations through UV-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy explored the significantly tuned band gap of Mn:CeO₂. FT-IR spectroscopy shows the existing functional groups of high-potential phenolic compounds, proteins, and amino acids in Cassia angustifolia act as reducing and capping agents involved in the green fabricated nanostructured samples. X-ray diffraction pattern has been exposed to crystalline cubic fluorite morphology in a single phase and it leads to a regulated optimized amount of Mn on CeO₂ nanostructure. The FESEM analysis predicts the morphology of CeO₂ in spherical and Mn:CeO₂ in flower-like structure. The HRTEM analysis has portrayed particle size of CeO₂ is 11 nm and tuned Mn:CeO₂ nanostructure is 9 nm. The HRTEM images revealed the average particle size in the range 10–12 nm in CeO₂ and 8–9 nm in 5 mol% Mn:CeO₂ nanoparticles. It showed a decrease in average particle size with an increase in Mn concentration and the reduction in size may be due to the replacement of Ce(IV) with Mn(II) ions. The elemental composition in nanostructure was predicted using energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The rapid photocatalytic degradation efficiency of malachite green was effectually performed and compared with the kinetics model of Mn:CeO₂ and pure CeO₂ nanostructures. From the augmented results, tuned Mn:CeO₂ was found to act as the finest green fabricated photocatalyst in the amputation of lethal and carcinogenic dye.

     

Protection from metal toxicity by Hsp40-like protein isolated from contaminated soil using functional metagenomic approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Pollution in the environment due to accumulation of potentially toxic metals results in deterioration of soil and water quality, thus impacting health...     

Role of UPP pathway in amelioration of diabetes-associated complications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most widely spread metabolic disorder also called as “life style” disease. Due to the alarming number...     

Fluoride, boron and nitrate toxicity in ground water of northwest Rajasthan, India

The study was carried out to access the fluoride, boron, and nitrate concentrations in ground water samples of different villages in Indira Gandhi, Bhakra, and Gang canal catchment area of northwest Rajasthan, India. Rural population, in the study site, is using groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes, without any quality test of water. All water samples (including canal water) were contaminated with fluoride. Fluoride, boron, and nitrate were observed in the ranges of 0.50–8.50, 0.0–7.73, and 0.0–278.68 mg/l, respectively. Most of the water samples were in the categories of fluoride 1.50 mg/l, of boron 2.0–4.0 mg/l, and of nitrate <?45 mg/l. There was no industrial pollution in the study site; hence, availability of these compounds in groundwater was due to natural reasons and by the use of chemical fertilizers.     

Effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes on UASB microbial consortium

The continuous rise in production and applications of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has grown a concern about their fate and toxicity in the environment. After use, these nanomaterials pass through sewage and accumulate in wastewater treatment plants. Since, such plants rely on biological degradation of wastes; their activity may decrease due to the presence of CNTs. This study investigated the effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) microbial activity. The toxic effect on microbial viability, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), volatile fatty acids (VFA), and biogas generation was determined. The reduction in a colony-forming unit (CFU) was 29 and 58 % in 1 and 100 mg/L test samples, respectively, as compared to control. The volatile fatty acids and biogas production was also found reduced. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescent microscopy images confirmed that the MWCNT mediated microbial cell damage. This damage caused the increase in EPS carbohydrate, protein, and DNA concentration. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results supported the alterations in sludge EPS due to MWCNT. Our observations offer a new insight to understand the nanotoxic effect of MWCNTs on UASB microflora in a complex environment system.     

Ra–Po–Pb isotope systematics in waters of Sambhar Salt Lake,Rajasthan (India): geochemical characterization and particulate reactivity

The Sambhar Salt Lake hydrological system, including river waters, groundwaters, evaporating pans and sub-surface brines, has been analyzed for the salt content (TDS) and naturally occurring radionuclides (²¹⁰Po, ²¹⁰Pb and ^226,228Ra). The abundance of these radionuclides and their activity ratios show a wide variation in different hydrological regimes, which helps to geochemically characterize the lake system. A significantly lower Ra to total dissolved solids (TDS) ratio in the brines (by two to three orders of magnitude), when compared to the groundwaters and river waters, suggests removal of dissolved Ra by co-precipitation with Ca–Mg minerals at an early stage of the brine evolution. The concentration of Ra in evaporating lake/pan waters saturates at a value of about 35 Bq L⁻¹ over the salinity range of 100–370 g L⁻¹; attributable to its equilibration with the clay minerals. The two distinct regimes, saline lake system (lake water, evaporating pans and sub-surface brines) and groundwaters have been identified based on their differences in the distribution of ^226,228Ra isotopes. This observation points to the conclusion that the groundwaters and the lake brines are not intimately coupled in terms of their origin and evolution. The abundances of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb along with their activity ratios (²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb) are markedly different among the surface lake waters/evaporating pans, sub-surface lake brines and groundwaters. These differences are explained in terms of different geochemical behaviour of these nuclides in presence of algae and organic matter present in these water regimes.     

Statistical approaches for hydrogeochemical characterization of groundwater in West Delhi, India

Parametric statistical approaches, correlations and multiple linear regressions were used to develop models for the interpretation of hydrogeochemical parameters in the Western part of Delhi state, India. The hydrogeochemical parameters indicated that the groundwater quality is not safe for consumption. The water is moderately saline and the salinity level is increasing over time. There is also the problem of nitrate pollution. The correlation between electrical conductivity (EC) and other water quality parameters except potassium (K(+)), nitrate (NO(3)(-)) and bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)) is significantly positive and Ca(++)+ Mg(++)/Na(+)+ K(+) is significantly negative. In predicting EC, the multiple R(2) values of 0.996 and 0.985 indicate that 99.6% and 98.5% variability in the observed EC could be ascribed to the combined effect of Na(+), HCO(3)(-), Cl(-), SO(4)(--), NO(3)(-) and Ca(++)+ Mg(++) for the year of 2005 and 2006 respectively. Out of 99.6% of the variability in EC in 2005, 51.2% was due to Cl(-) alone, and 8.5%, 12.5%, 6.1%, 14.7% and 6.7% were due to Na(+), HCO(3)(-), SO(4)(--), NO(3)(-) and Ca(++) + Mg(++). Similarly in 2006, out of 98.5% of the variability in EC, 48.5% was due to Cl(-) alone, and 10.4%, 12.7%, 5.3%, 17.2% and 4.4% were due to Na(+), HCO(3)(-), SO(4)(--), NO(3)(-) and Ca(++)+ Mg(++). The analysis shows that a good correlation exists between EC, Cl(-) and SO(4)(--) either individually or in combination with other ions and the multiple regression models can predict EC at 5% level of significance.