Allelopathic response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vetiveria zizanioides</Emphasis> (L.) Nash on members of the family Enterobacteriaceae and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas</Emphasis> spp.

The biological removal of phosphates was carried as a part of treatment strategy. Vetiveria zizanioides (L.) Nash belonging to the family Poaceae was used for biological removal of biostimulants. Vetiver reportedly has mycorrhizal association; besides having potential for removal of PO₄ ⁻³ also showed allelopathic affect on the microorganisms present in the water. In fact after a period of 96 h old roots of this plant have been found to have killing effects on the E. coli, Enterobacter spp. Pseudomonas spp. belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae. The paper is opening a new face of study.     

Macro kinetic studies for photocatalytic degradation of benzoic acid in immobilized systems

Semiconductor photocatalytic process has been studied extensively in recent years due to its intriguing advantages in environmental remediation. In this study, a two-phase swirl-flow monolithic-type reactor is used to study the kinetics of photocatalytic degradation of benzoic acid in immobilized systems. Transport contributions into the observed degradation rates were determined when catalyst is immobilized. Intrinsic kinetic rate constants and its dependence on light intensity and catalyst layer thickness, values of adsorption equilibrium constant, internal as well as external mass transfer parameters were determined. The simultaneous effect of catalyst loading and light intensity and optimum catalyst layer thickness were also determined experimentally. Reaction rate constants and overall observed degradation rates were compared with slurry systems.     

Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid waste management in Lucknow, India

The present investigation is a case study of Lucknow, the main metropolis in Northern India, which succumbs to a major problem of municipal solid waste and its management. A qualitative investigation using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis (SWOT) has been successfully implemented through this community participation study. This qualitative investigation emphasizes the limited capabilities of the municipal corporation's resources to provide proper facilitation of the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) services without community participation in Lucknow city. The SWOT analysis was performed to formulate strategic action plans for MSWM in order to mobilize and utilize the community resources on the one hand and municipal corporation's resources on the other. It has allowed the introduction of a participatory approach for better collaboration between the community and municipal corporation in Lucknow (India). With this stakeholder-based SWOT analysis, efforts were made to explore the ways and means of converting the possible "threats" into "opportunities" and changing the "weaknesses" into "strengths" regarding a community-based MSWM programme. By this investigation, concrete strategic action plans were developed for both the community and municipal corporation to improve MSWM in Lucknow.     

Systematic and ecological studies on Chlorophyceae of North India and their relationship with water quality

In the course of systematic and ecological studies on algal flora of fresh water environment of three different agroclimatic zone of Uttar Pradesh revealed one hundred eighty two species represented by fifty-two genera inhabiting fresh water bodies having different physico-chemical properties. In both the regions members of order Conjugales were dominant and represented by ninety nine species belonging to fourteen genera. This is followed by Chlorococcales having fifty two species represented by nineteen genera and Chaetophorales with nine species of four genera only. In the central Uttar Pradesh a positive correlation was found between hydrogen ions concentration with temperature and species diversity, while in western Uttar Pradesh a highly positive correlation was found in electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids.     

Simultaneous control of Hg0, SO2, and NOx by novel oxidized calcium-based sorbents

Efforts to develop multipollutant control strategies have demonstrated that adding certain oxidants to different classes of Ca-based sorbents leads to a significant improvement in elemental Hg vapor (Hg0), SO2, and NOx removal from simulated flue gases. In the study presented here, two classes of Ca-based sorbents (hydrated limes and silicate compounds) were investigated. A number of oxidizing additives at different concentrations were used in the Ca-based sorbent production process. The Hg0, SO2, and NOx capture capacities of these oxidant-enriched sorbents were evaluated and compared to those of a commercially available activated carbon in bench-scale, fixed-bed, and fluid-bed systems. Calcium-based sorbents prepared with two oxidants, designated C and M, exhibited Hg0 sorption capacities (approximately 100 microg/g) comparable to that of the activated carbon; they showed far superior SO2 and NOx sorption capacities. Preliminary cost estimates for the process utilizing these novel sorbents indicate potential for substantial lowering of control costs, as compared with other processes currently used or considered for control of Hg0, SO2, and NOx emissions from coal-fired boilers. The implications of these findings toward development of multipollutant control technologies and planned pilot and field evaluations of more promising multipollutant sorbents are summarily discussed.     

Hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19: therapeutic promises,current status,and environmental implications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The outbreak of novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has affected the entire world with its infectious spread and...     

Understanding the dynamics of heavy metals in a freshwater ecosystem through their toxicity and bioavailability assay

The current study investigates on correlating the heavy metal contamination, its distribution, and the human health risk associated with all three components of an aquatic ecosystem. For this purpose, water, sediment, and fish samples (three species, notably Notopterus notopterus, Clarias batrachus, and Channa striata) from Deepor Beel were considered, and their heavy metal contamination and distribution were determined. The corresponding health risks were then evaluated for six different heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Pb. Pb and Mn were found to significantly impact the non-carcinogenic human health risks for the water column. Simultaneously, Cd was considered to possess the highest potential for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects in the sediment column. Cd also played a critical role in the fish samples' bioaccumulation factor, with the liver showing the maximum bioaccumulation potential. Furthermore, children were found to have considerably higher effects (both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) than adults. Finally, the sediment column was found to substantially contribute to the bioaccumulation factor in the fish biota, compared to the water column. The results of this investigation will thus prove consequential in designing, monitoring and restoring aquatic ecosystems.