Rural energy transitions in developing countries: a case of the Uttam Urja initiative in India

In most developing countries, at the household level, traditional burning of biomass or use of inefficient technologies for domestic applications like lighting is common, triggering concerns related to fuel or technology switching. The paper focuses on opportunities to promote cleaner energy options through development of value chains delivering improved energy efficiency and access in developing countries. We discuss the example of Uttam Urja, a field project involving the dissemination of photovoltaic lighting technologies in rural areas of India. We focus on the challenges of introducing radical innovations into the residential energy sector in developing countries. For the purpose of this paper the Uttam Urja project is conceptualized as an ‘experiment’ and analysed using the Strategic Niche Management (SNM) framework. The paper emphasizes that to effect socio-technical transitions to clean energy options on the ground, it is desirable to focus on technology customization and innovative financing to cater to the needs and concerns of end users.     

Assessment of antimicrobial activity of Catechu and its dyed substrate

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of catechu in solution and % microbial reduction of dyed wool samples against Escherichia coli MTCC 443, Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 902, Candida albicans ATCC 10261 and Candida tropicalis ATCC 750, by using micro-broth dilution method, disc diffusion assay and growth curve studies. The dye showed the maximum antimicrobial activity at 20% w/v, inhibiting the microbial growth by more than 90%. In the next set of the experiments the antimicrobial activity of the dye was compared on woollen yarn alone and on pre-mordanted samples. The reduction in antimicrobial activity was observed when mordanted samples were examined. K/S, CIELab values and fastness properties of the dyed samples were assessed. The structural morphology of woollen yarn was also evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Haemolytic activity on human erythrocytes was studied to exclude possibility of further associated cytotoxicity. The observed antimicrobial characteristics and negligible cytoxicity of catechu indicate that the dye might be a promising antimicrobial agent for developing bioactive textile materials and clothing.     

Recent trends in treatment technologies of emerging contaminants

In the recent years a group of contaminants, known collectively as emerging contaminants (ECs), have attracted considerable attention due to their widespread in the environment, and lack of knowledge on their impacts on ecosystem and human health. This review gives an overview on the sources, impacts, and conventional treatment technologies of ECs and an in-depth review of the literature on the state-of-the-art treatment technologies and their performance in the removal of ECs from water sources and drinking water. A careful statistical analysis of the number of publications on the different treatment technologies of ECs was performed to identify the hot spots in this research area. Conventional treatment technologies are not able to remove ECs sufficiently. The discharge of raw or partially treated wastewater is the main source of ECs in the environment. The research in recent years is focusing on using advanced treatment process (AOPs), followed by adsorption and membrane technologies. From a technical point of view, AOPs surpass other treatment technologies as they can completely eradicate ECs without the generation of side products. Developing efficient, green, and cost-effective materials to be used as adsorbents, photocatalysts, membranes, or membrane fillers, is one of the main research trends nowadays. Combined AOPs based on exploiting solar light, ultrasound and electrochemistry are gaining growing interest and show high potential for the treatment of ECs.     

The ameliorative effects of ceftriaxone and vitamin E against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Nephrotoxicity is a common adverse effect of treatment with cisplatin (CDDP). This study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant and...     

Utilization of Modified Attapulgite for the Removal of Sr(II), Co(II), and Ni(II) Ions from Multicomponent System,Part I: Kinetic Studies

Radionuclide sorption by natural and modified clays is extensively accepted to be an important process from the radioactive waste point of view. This work focused on modification of natural attapulgite with a layered double hydroxide to produce a novel chemisorbent for Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ removal from multicomponent solution. The structural and surface characteristics of both attapulgite (ATP) and modified attapulgite (LDH-ATP) were investigated using XRD, FTIR, SEM, and thermal analysis. Comparison of sorption features of Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ onto ATP and LDH-ATP was achieved; the results indicated that LDH-ATP was the most efficient sorbent for Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+. Kinetic studies established that the sorption is fast and reaching >90% within 30 min. The sorption of Sr2+, Ni2+, and Co2+ are well defined by non-linear pseudo-second-order model and controlled by an intra-particle diffusion mechanism. The diffusivity was determined using homogeneous surface diffusion (HSDM) model and found in the order 10−13 m2/min; this confirmed that the sorption of the three ions is chemisorption process. LDH-ATP can be employed as a candidate chemisorbent for the removal of some metal ions from waste solution.     

Optimization and in line potentiometric monitoring of enhanced photocatalytic degradation kinetics of gemifloxacin using TiO2 nanoparticles/H2O2

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Gemifloxacin (GEM) is a broad-spectrum quinolone antibiotic. The presence of GEM residuals in industrial and hospital wastewater has been associated...     

Quality of wastewater reuse in agricultural irrigation and its impact on public health

This study is planned to perform a sanitary survey of the largest sewage treatment plant in Riyadh, KSA, fortnightly for 6 months to examine its effluent quality as an example for the growing dependence on reuse of treated municipal wastewater in agricultural irrigation purposes to cope with increasing water shortage. The biological and physico-chemical parameters of 12 wastewater samples from the plant were examined using standard methods. The physico-chemical analysis indicated that the surveyed municipal wastewater treatment plant contained some of the studied parameters, such as turbidity, total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and residual chlorine above the maximum permissible wastewater limits set by the Saudi Standards. However, heavy metal concentrations in all samples were lower than the recommended standards. Total and faecal coliform counts were above the permissible limits indicating poor sanitation level. Fifty percent of all wastewater samples were contaminated with faecal coliforms but, surprisingly, Escherichia coli were only detected in 8.3 % of the samples. Regular monitoring and enhancement of microbial and physico-chemical parameters of the wastewater quality served by different wastewater treatment plants for reuse in agricultural irrigation is recommended to preserve the environment and public health.     

Trace metal levels and some chemical parameters in herby cheese collected from south eastern Anatolia-Turkey

Due to the consumption of the herby cheese in south eastern Anatolia-Turkey is at high ratio, chemical parameters such as dry matter, pH, acidity, aCl, protein, fat and trace metal contents in 50 different herby cheeses produced at this region have been determined in the presented study. The content of lead, copper, cobalt, nickel, chromium, cadmium, and iron have been analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometer in air/acetylene flame after combination ash digestion method and wet digestion method. The mean concentration of lead, copper, cobalt, nickel, chromium and cadmium in our samples are higher than literature values except iron.     

Biodegradation of 4-aminobenzenesulfonate by Ralstonia sp. PBA and Hydrogenophaga sp. PBC isolated from textile wastewater treatment plant

A co-culture consisting of Hydrogenophaga sp. PBC and Ralstonia sp. PBA, isolated from textile wastewater treatment plant could tolerate up to 100 mM 4-aminobenzenesulfonate (4-ABS) and utilize it as sole carbon, nitrogen and sulfur source under aerobic condition. The biodegradation of 4-ABS resulted in the release of nitrogen and sulfur in the form of ammonium and sulfate respectively. Ninety-eight percent removal of chemical oxygen demand attributed to 20 mM of 4-ABS in cell-free supernatant could be achieved after 118 h. Effective biodegradation of 4-ABS occurred at pH ranging from 6 to 8. During batch culture with 4-ABS as sole carbon and nitrogen source, the ratio of strain PBA to PBC was dynamic and a critical concentration of strain PBA has to be reached in order to enable effective biodegradation of 4-ABS. Haldane inhibition model was used to fit the degradation rate at different initial concentrations and the parameters μ_max, K_s and K_i were determined to be 0.13 h⁻¹, 1.3 mM and 42 mM respectively. HPLC analyses revealed traced accumulation of 4-sulfocatechol and at least four unidentified metabolites during biodegradation. This is the first study to report on the characterization of 4-ABS-degrading bacterial consortium that was isolated from textile wastewater treatment plant.     

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) leaves as biomonitors of atmospheric metal pollution in arid and semi-arid environments

The leaves of date palms were evaluated as a possible biomonitor of heavy metal contamination in Ma’an city, Jordan. Concentrations of (Fe), (Pb), (Zn), (Cu), (Ni), and (Cr) were determined in washed and unwashed leaves and soil samples collected from different sites with different degrees of metal contamination (urban, suburban, industrial, highway and rural sites); separate leaves were taken from outside the city to be used as a control sample. Samples collected from industrial sites were found to have high concentrations of all metals except those of Cu, Ni and Pb, which were found at high levels in the highway site samples which is associated with the road traffic. The difference between unwashed and washed samples showed that metal pollutants exist as contaminants, particularly Pb, Zn and Ni, which varied in concentration, depending on the source of the metal.