Leather Insole with Acupressure Effect: New Perspectives

Some wastes contain many reusable substances of high value. Solid leather waste is one such potential waste which can be converted into value added products. This study attempts to prepare leather insoles with acupressure effect from finished leather wastes and used leather wastes. Leather with acupressure effect (LAE) was fabricated using regenerated leather. LAE was characterized physico-chemically using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermo gravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. Foot pressure measurements were done using LAE insoles on healthy individuals. Results proved that LAE insoles were able to increase the foot pressure of the wearer and thereby created an acupressure effect in them. Wearing of footwear with LAE insoles were beneficial compared to regular insoles. LAE possessed the required mechanical properties for insole production and it was also biodegradable in nature. The study proves that these composites could be successfully used for the production of cost-effective leather goods and therapeutic footwear. Production of useful byproducts from wastes is income generating and at the same time reduces environmental pollution and a feasible technology for waste recycling has been proved in this study.     

Microbial pullulan for food,biomedicine, cosmetic,and water treatment: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Most fossil fuel-derived polymers used for food packaging are non-biodegradable and induce pollution by microplastic, calling for safer material. Here we review...     

Green technology for sustainable surface protection of steel from corrosion: a review

Plants contain substances that inhibit corrosion. Here we review biomass-based corrosion inhibitors from plant leaves, nuts, and fruit peels, after treatment with acids, bases or saline solutions. The mechanism of corrosion inhibition involves a monolayer coverage, according to isotherm and Langmuir models. Plant extract-based corrosion inhibitors contain heteroatoms whose electrons pair in the p-electron level in multiple bonds and the vacant d-orbitals of iron. Corrosion inhibition under marine conditions involves various chemical interactions between metals and dissolved ionic components.

     

Invasive plants as biosorbents for environmental remediation: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Water contamination is an environmental burden for the next generations, calling for advanced methods such as adsorption to remove pollutants. For instance,...     

Effects of air pollution on monumental buildings in India: An overview

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Recent advancements in environmental monitoring and analysis have created public and institutional awareness on the social and health impacts of air...     

Behavioural responses and changes in biology of rice leaffolder following treatment with a combination of bacterial toxins and botanical insecticides

Ingestion of the bacterial toxins Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) sub sp kurstaki, neem seed kernel extract and Vitex negundo L. (Lamiales:Verbenaceae) leaf extract to the rice leaffolder (RLF), Cnaphalocrocis medinalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), resulted in altered leaf-folding behaviour and biology. In laboratory experiments, treatment with plant extracts and bacterial toxins suppressed leaf folding behaviour of C. medinalis. Larvae fed lower doses moulted into progressive instars, but in the late fourth to early fifth instars, spinning behaviour completely stopped, feeding was reduced and larvae regurgitated a sticky, semisolid substance that occluded the tunnel in which the pupae were formed. With the combination of Btk and botanicals, average leaf consumption was decreased by a factor of two even at reduced concentrations when compared with controls. Duration of larval and pupal stages, adult longevity and fecundity were more affected by treatment with the combination of bacterial toxins and both botanicals than by the treatment with the bacterial toxins or botanicals individually. All larvae died in the treatment of bacterial toxins and both botanicals combined.     

Treatment of fluoride-contaminated water. A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Delivering the right amount of fluoride to drinking water protects the teeth from decay and reduces the risk of cavities. Nonetheless, fluorosis has been...     

Assessment of source water contamination by estrogenic disrupting compounds in China

Detection of estrogenic disrupting compounds (EDCs) in drinking waters around China has led to rising concerns about health risks associated with these compounds. There is, however, a paucity of studies on the occurrence and identification of the main compounds responsible for this pollution in the source waters. To fill this void, we screened estrogenic activities of 23 source water samples from six main river systems in China, using a recombinant two-hybrid yeast assay. All sample extracts induced significant estrogenic activity, with E2 equivalents (EEQ) of raw water ranging from 0.08 to 2.40 ng/L. Additionally, 16 samples were selected for chemical analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The EDCs of most concern, including estrone (E1), 17βup-estradiol (E2), 17αup-ethinylestradiol (EE2), estriol (E3), diethylstilbestrol (DES), estradiol valerate (EV), 4-t-octylphenol (4-t-OP), 4-nonylphenols (4-NP) and bisphenol A (BPA), were determined at concentrations of up to 2.98, 1.07, 2.67, 4.37, 2.52, 1.96, 89.52, 280.19 and 710.65 ng/L, respectively. Causality analysis, involving comparison of EEQ values from yeast assay and chemical analysis identified E2, EE2 and 4-NP as the main responsible compounds, accounting for the whole estrogenic activities (39.74% to 96.68%). The proposed approach using both chemical analysis and yeast assay could be used for the identification and evaluation of EDCs in source waters of China.     

Biocatalytic polymeric membranes to decrease biofilm fouling and remove organic contaminants in wastewater: a review

The presence of recalcitrant contaminants in wastewater is major challenge to decrease pollution and associated health issues. As a consequence, membrane technologies have recently attracted industrial attention, yet a major setback of membrane employment is membrane fouling which leads to frequent discarding of membrane modules. More than 45% of all membrane fouling cases are caused by biofilms that are resistant to antimicrobial agents. Here we review polymeric membranes with antifouling properties, with focus on surface properties, fabrication, characterization, biocatalysis using enzymes and application towards the removal of dyes, phenol, pesticides and fertilizers. Nano-engineered fabrication of polymeric membranes allow to decrease fouling by 80–90%. Immobilized oxidoreductases in polymeric membranes allow 65–98% removal contaminants in wastewater.