Carbon and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites for oil-spill remediation—a comprehensive review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Oil spills are a major contributor to water contamination, which sets off a significant impact on the environment, biodiversity, and economy....     

Magnetic nanocomposites for sustainable water purification—a comprehensive review

Numerous contaminants in huge amounts are discharged to the environment from various anthropogenic activities. Waterbodies are one of the major receivers of these contaminants. The contaminated water can pose serious threats to humans and animals, by distrubing the ecosystem. In treating the contaminated water, adsorption processes have attained significant maturity due to lower cost, easy operation and environmental friendliness. The adsorption process uses various adsorbent materials and some of emerging adsorbent materials include carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites. These hybrid magnetic nanocomposites have attained extensive applications in water treatment technologies due to their magnetic properties as well as combination of unique characteristics of organic and inorganic elements. Carbon- and polymer-related magnetic nanocomposites are more adapted materials for the removal of various kinds of contaminants from waterbodies. These nanocomposites can be produced via different approaches such as filling, pulse-laser irradiation, ball milling, and electro-spinning. This comprehensive review is compiled by reviewing published work of last the latest recent 3 years. The review article extensively focuses on different approaches for producing various carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites, their merits and demerits and applications for sustainable water purification. More specifically, use of carbon- and polymer-based magnetic nanocomposites for removal of heavy metal ions and dyes is discussed in detail, critically analyzed and compared with other technologies. In addition, commercial viability in terms of regeneration of adsorbents is also reviewed. Furthermore, the future challenges and prospects in employing magnetic nanocomposites for contaminant removal from various water sources are presented.

     

环境混合物的联合毒性研究方法

人类和其他生物通过多重途径暴露于大量的环境污染物中。单一化合物由于其在环境中非常低的浓度使得人们忽视其可能的健康危害,然而,多种化合物在环境中同时存在,就意味着更加复杂的联合作用的可能性。Something from nothing现象引起了科学界对于环境混合物加和作用和潜在协同作用的关注,致使许多研究联合毒性的数学和生物模型的提出和应用。本文综述了这些研究方法,以及未来化学混合物研究和管理面临的挑战。     

Assessing the P fractionation in a tropical river-estuarine system of South India

Seasonal variations in dissolved and particulate P forms were assessed in the estuarine system of Chalakudy River, Kerala, South India – a tropical river having substantial relics of riparian vegetation. The contribution of the reactive P form extended to 84–96% compared with the residual fraction. Geographical and human activities have had effects on the phosphorus-loading capacity at various locations, which reveal pronounced variability in P distribution. Not all forms of phosphate in suspended particulate matter are likely to be released, and thus the nature of the P forms within the stock is a sensitive factor that can be utilised. Ca-bound P in suspensates increases to a highly significant level in the estuarine area, whereas Fe/Al-bound P predominates at the riverine and catchment areas during both the monsoon and non-monsoon seasons. Thus, calcium compounds determine the availability of P in the alkaline estuarine environment, whereas in the riverine environment, Al and Fe control P solubility. The comparatively low P load in upstream waters indicates that, under ambient situations, vegetative riparian zones can be very important P filters.     

Acute toxicity bioassay using Paramecium caudatum,a key member to study the effects of monocrotophos on swimming behaviour,morphology and reproduction

The toxic effects of an organophosphorous insecticide, monochrotophos (MCP) were investigated on Paramecium caudatum in static acute toxicity tests (10?min and 2?h). The lethal concentrations (50%) were determined by probit method, for technical monocrotophos as 60 and 40.6?mg?L^?1, respectively. We have combined conventional light microscopy and a computerized video tracking system to determine behavioural and morphological changes in paramecium on exposure to MCP. Paramecia exposed to highest concentrations (90–100?mg?L^?1) used for 10?min exposure, exhibited initial increase with subsequent decrease in mobility with enormous blebbing, leading to lysis of cells. In the second set of experiments, the cells exposed to lethal concentration (40.6?mg?L^?1) for 2?h were under stress, and reduced their locomotor behaviour, i.e. distance travelled per unit time (mm in 6?min) and swimming speed (mm?s^?1) with increased time of exposure. In the third set of experiments, the number of generations and generation time in 24?h was evaluated with respect to the different sub lethal concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20?mg?L^?1) of toxicant. The number of generations decreased and generation time extended significantly in a concentration dependent manner. The results indicate that the Paramecium toxicity assay could be used as a complimentary system to rapidly elucidate the cytotoxic potential of insecticides.     

An overview of the impacts of changes in common property resources management in the context of globalisation: A case study of India

Socio-economic development of mankind and well-being depend on the environment and the way in which development influences the environment. Thus, environment and development are interdependent. In fact, economic development is closely linked with the development of resources. These resources can be classified into three categories: public goods, semi-public goods (also known as common property resources) and private goods. In poor countries common property resources make a valuable contribution to the sustainable livelihoods of rural populations. The impact of globalisation on the commons shows various patterns of ownership, control, use and misuse. The commons were subjected to degradation as well as conservation in the process of centralized management in India. After the reform period, the administration of natural resources was given significant attention by specialized departments such as the Forest Department and the Revenue Department. All the land, apart from private land, was regarded as state property and controlled by the state. This paper highlights the need to examine the common property resources sector in the context of wider economic policy reform processes in the Indian economy.     

Assessment of traditional rights,local interference and natural resource management in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary

An assessment of human interference in Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS) showed huge dependence of local communities on forest fringes. KWLS is under active consideration as a national park because of its unique flora and fauna. Studies have evidenced habitat destruction and successional changes in the area because of ongoing unsustainable harvesting and logging. The present study provides an integrated approach towards evaluating resource extraction and management of the sanctuary. The study was based on in-depth semi-structured interviews and group discussions with local inhabitants of six villages and with forest officials. In addition, regeneration patterns and vegetation analysis was conducted in three land tenurial systems: community forest (CF), reserve forest (RF) and protected forest (PF). Key issues identified were wildlife offences, encroachment, pressure from unsustainable harvesting of resources and lack of livelihood opportunities. Ecological studies showed continuous change in regeneration patterns in forest patches/stands. The local survey stressed managing sanctuary fringes considering the village economy, social issues and resource requirements, and enhancing on-farm resource production to reduce pressure on forests. Forest personnel demanded more training on encroachment and poaching, these being major threats to biodiversity and bio-resources. Supporting and providing better livelihood opportunities is a viable option for minimizing pressure and managing biodiversity of the area through active community participation. This study generated useful outcomes and strategies for advancing policies to reduce pressure and overcome management constraints in the sanctuary.     

有机磷酸酯对青海弧菌Q67毒性的构效关系

以淡水发光菌Q67为受试生物,结合微孔板高通量检测技术,测定了15种常见有机磷酸酯的毒性,同时选用极化率(P)、分子表面积(TSA)、正辛醇/水分配系数(logD)和芳香环个数(N Ar)等有机磷酸酯的7种分子结构描述符,采用偏最小二乘回归分析方法建立了15种有机磷酸酯对Q67发光菌毒性的定量结构活性相关(quantitative structure-activity relationships,QSAR)模型。结果表明,15种有机磷酸酯的EC50在1.13×10-5~3.27×10-3mol·L-1之间。在7个结构变量中,4个变量发挥主要作用。其中分子极化率(P)在有机磷酸酯类污染物对发光菌的急性毒性中发挥重要作用,推断发光菌中的荧光素酶及其辅酶是其主要作用位点;脂溶性(logD)越大的化合物越较易穿过细胞膜,进而使Q67发光菌的毒性效应增大;芳香环数(N Ar)越多,有机磷酸酯对发光菌的急性毒性越大;对分子结构类似的有机磷酸酯,其Q67发光菌的毒性效应随TSA值的增大而增强。利用所构建的构效关系模型,其稳定性(Q2CUM=0.544)和预测能力(Q2EXT=0.808,RMSE=0.195)较好,可用来预测有机磷酸酯对Q67发光菌的急性效应。     

Enhanced disinfection of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> and bacteriophage MS2 in water using a copper and silver loaded titanium dioxide nanowire membrane

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is a widely used photocatalyst that has been demonstrated for microorganism disinfection in drinking water. In this study, a new material with a novel structure, silver and copper loaded TiO₂ nanowire membrane (Cu-Ag-TiO₂) was prepared and evaluated for its efficiency to inactivate E. coli and bacteriophage MS2. Enhanced photo-activated bactericidal and virucidal activities were obtained by the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane than by the TiO₂, Ag-TiO₂ and Cu-TiO₂ membranes under both dark and UV light illumination. The better performance was attributed to the synergies of enhanced membrane photoactivity by loading silver and copper on the membrane and the synergistic effect between the free silver and copper ions in water. At the end of a 30 min test of deadend filtration under 254 nm UV irradiation, the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane was able to obtain an E. coli removal of 7.68 log and bacteriophage MS2 removal of 4.02 log, which have met the US EPA standard. The free metal ions coming off the membrane have concentrations of less than 10 ppb in the water effluent, far below the US EPA maximum contaminant level for silver and copper ions in drinking water. Therefore, the photo-activated disinfection by the Cu-Ag-TiO₂ membrane is a viable technique for meeting drinking water treatment standards of microbiological water purifiers.

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