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...     

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.     

Post-irrigation impact of domestic sewage effluent on composition of soils,crops and ground water--a case study

Long-term irrigation with sewage water adds large amounts of carbon, major and micro- nutrients to the soil. We compared the spatial distribution of N, P, K and other micronutrients and toxic elements in the top 0.6 m of an alluvial soil along with their associated effects on the composition of crops and ground waters after about three decades of irrigation with domestic sewage effluent as a function of distance from the disposal point. Use of sewage for irrigation in various proportions improved the organic matter to 1.24-1.78% and fertility status of soils especially down to a distance of 1 km along the disposal channel. Build up in total N was up to 2908 kg ha(-1), available P (58 kg ha(-1)), total P (2115 kg ha(-1)), available K (305 kg ha(-1)) and total K (4712 kg ha(-1)) in surface 0.15 m soil. Vertical distribution of these parameters also varied, with most accumulations occurring in surface 0.3 m. Traces of NO3-N (up to 2.8 mg l(-1)), Pb (up to 0.35 mg l(-1)) and Mn (up to 0.23 mg l(-1)) could also be observed in well waters near the disposal point thus indicating initiation of ground water contamination. However, the contents of heavy metals in crops sampled from the area were below the permissible critical levels. Though the study confirms that the domestic sewage can effectively increase water resource for irrigation but there is a need for continuous monitoring of the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in soil, plants and ground water.