Controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) for climate-smart agriculture practices: a comprehensive review on release mechanism,materials, methods of preparation,and effect on environmental parameters

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Fertilizers play an essential role in increasing crop yield, maintaining soil fertility, and provide a steady supply of nutrients for plant...     

Remediation of sulfidic wastewater by catalytic oxidation with hydrogen peroxide

Oxidation of sulfide in aqueous solution by hydrogen peroxide was investigated in the presence of hydrated ferric oxide catalyst. The ferric oxide catalyst was synthesized by sol gel technique from ferric chloride and ammonia. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-Ray di raction analysis, scanning electrom microscope and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The catalyst was quite e ective in oxidizing the sulfide by hydrogen peroxide. The e ects of sulfide concentration, catalyst loading, H2O2 dosing and temperature on the kinetics of sulfide oxidation were investigated. Kinetic equations and activation energies for the catalytic oxidation reaction were calculated based on the experimental results.     

pH-conditioning for simultaneous removal of arsenic and iron ions from groundwater

The effects of some commonly used pH conditioners, viz., lime, banana ash, the carbonate and the bicarbonate of sodium and potassium and their binary mixture, on simultaneous removal of arsenic and iron ions from water have been studied. KHCO₃ has been found to be the most suitable pH conditioner for the purpose. About 80 mg/L KHCO₃ can remove both arsenate and iron ions from initial 250 μg/L and 20 mg/L to below their respective guideline values of the WHO for drinking water, retaining the final pH in the acceptable range for drinking. The simultaneous removal of arsenate and iron by the pH-conditioners decreases in the order: Lime > KHCO₃ > NaHCO₃ > K₂CO₃ > Na₂CO₃ > ash. However, lime requires post-treatment correction of highly alkaline pH. The arsenate ion is removed predominantly through goethite or ferrihydrite in the presence of the bicarbonates and through ferric hydroxide in the presence of the more alkaline pH-conditioners. KHCO₃ is more advantageous over the more basic substances including NaHCO₃, because with it, one not only needs the smallest dose but also can avoid careful adjustment of the dose for regulating the initial and the final pH. The paper clearly demonstrates the potential of KHCO₃ to substitute the currently used pH-conditioners, viz., ash, lime and NaHCO₃ for simultaneous removal of arsenate and iron ions.     

Reduction of DNA mismatch repair protein expression in airway epithelial cells of premenopausal women chronically exposed to biomass smoke

Biomass burning is a major source of indoor air pollution in rural India. This study examined whether chronic inhalation of biomass smoke causes change in the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway in the airway cells. For this, airway cells exfoliated in sputum were collected from 72 premenopausal nonsmoking rural women (median age 34 years) who cooked with biomass (wood, dung, crop residues) and 68 control women who cooked with cleaner fuel liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for the past 5 years or more. The levels of particulate matters with diameters less than 10 and 2.5 μm (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) in indoor air were measured by real-time aerosol monitor. Benzene exposure was monitored by measuring trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector. Generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in airway cells were measured by flow cytometry and spectrophotometry, respectively. Immunocytochemical assay revealed lower percentage of airway epithelial cells expressing MMR proteins mutL homolog 1 (MLH1) and mutS homolog 2 (MSH2) in biomass-using women compared to LPG-using controls. Women who cooked with biomass had 6.7 times higher level of urinary t,t-MA, twofold increase in ROS generation, and 31 % depletion of SOD. Indoor air of biomass-using households had three times more particulate matters than that of controls. ROS, urinary t,t-MA, and particulate pollution in biomass-using kitchen had negative correlation, while SOD showed positive correlation with MSH2 and MLH1 expression. It appears that chronic exposure to biomass smoke reduces MMR response in airway epithelial cells, and oxidative stress plays an important role in the process.     

Assessment of thermal stress adaptation by monitoring Hsp70 and MnSOD in the freshwater gastropod,Bellamya bengalensis (Lamark 1882)

Expression of the stress biomarkers 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was measured as the molecular basis of adaptive response against increased experimental temperatures (32–40 °C for a span of 24–72 h) on the fresh water molluscan species, Bellamya bengalensis (Lamark 1882). The experimental snail specimens were collected during summer and winter seasons from two contrasting wetlands: an ecorestored (free from human interference) site (SI) and other experiencing anthropogenic stresses (SII). The mortality rate of the B. bengalensis and the immunoblotting of MnSOD and Hsp70 of their digestive glands were performed at regular intervals during the period of heat stress. The SI provided a lower stress environment based on physicochemical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and alkalinity for the survival of test species, although both sites experienced mortality due to thermal stresses. The parity in protein expressions displayed a uniform mode of adaptive impact to temperature elevations in both field and laboratory exposure. The Hsp70 expression was minimal at lower thermal stress, but increased with a rise in temperature. It is very likely that higher Hsp70 levels are not directly related to survival or adaptation. In contrast, MnSOD levels appeared to be an indicator of adaptive responses vis-a-vis survival of the animals. So, the expression levels of a universal free radical scavenger like MnSOD are recognized as a potential biomarker in a bioindicator species like Bellamya.     

Study of transient behaviour of modified Soxhlet apparatus for extraction of a bio-fuel oil from Crotalaria juncea seed

Extraction of Crotalaria juncea (Sunn hemp) oil from its seeds is important to study because of its proven promising clean fuel characteristics. Soxhlet-based solvent extraction with some modification has been tried to extract the oil. In a fluid-solid mass transfer system, where, solids are present as packed bed, dynamic behavior of bed can be described in terms of concentration of solute in solids/solvent-time profile. Some of the well-known semi-empirical models of adsorption dynamics are modified and applied since leaching of oil is just the reverse of the phenomenon of adsorption in porous media. Modified Bohart-Adams model (non-linear), modified Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) (linear), and modified Thomas model (non-linear forms) are applied. It is found that these models fit to the experimental result reasonably well. Results suggest that higher bed height, with proper shape (annular) of the bed, having a higher solvent velocity will work best. Comparing the error values (SSE, SAE, and ARE) in the four cases, it is very clear that the modified BDST model is the most suitable. In the light of transient study it is established that the modified Soxhlet apparatus with cylindrical and annular beds, performs best while leaching Crotalaria juncea oil from their seeds.     

Complete degradation of butyl benzyl phthalate by a defined bacterial consortium: role of individual isolates in the assimilation pathway

Two bacterial strains, in consortium, were isolated by enrichment techniques from municipal waste-contaminated soil, which utilized butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) as the sole carbon source. One of the isolates was identified as Arthrobacter sp. strain WY and the other one as Acinetobacter sp. strain FW based on the morphological, nutritional and biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Various metabolites of BBP engendered by Arthrobacter sp. strain WY were isolated and identified by a combination of chromatographic and spectrophotometric analyses, which revealed a pathway involving monobutylphthalate (MBuP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), phthalic acid and protocatechuic acid. The protocatechuic acid in turn was processed by ortho-cleavage dioxygenase to form beta-carboxy-cis,cis-muconate, ultimately leading to the TCA cycle. The Arthrobacter sp. strain WY could not utilize the hydrolyzed alcohols of BBP. On the other hand, the Acinetobacter sp. strain FW, which by itself could not utilize BBP as the sole carbon source, is capable of utilizing the hydrolyzed alcohols of BBP. Benzyl alcohol was found to be metabolized by the Acinetobacter sp. strain FW via benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and catechol. Catechol was further degraded by ortho-cleavage dioxygenase to cis,cis-muconic acid and subsequently to muconolactone leading to beta-ketoadipate pathway. Moreover, the Acinetobacter sp. strain FW metabolized 1-butanol through butyraldehyde and butyric acid leading to the tricarboxylic acid cycle via beta-oxidation pathway. This is the first report on the complete degradation of BBP by a defined consortium describing the role of its individual constituents in the BBP assimilation pathway.     

Municipal wastewater treatment using novel constructed soil filter system

The study gives a new approach for contaminant removal from municipal wastewater using constructed soil filter (CSF) and presents performance of two CSF units located in Mumbai, India. In this system, natural weathered rock is formulated which combines sedimentation, infiltration and biochemical processes to remove suspended solids and oxidisable organics and inorganics of the wastewater. Results show elevated dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, removal of COD (136-205 to 38-40 mg l(-1)) and BOD (80-125 to less than 12 mg l(-1)) suspended solids from 135-203 to 13-18 mg l(-1) and turbidity from 84-124 to 8-11 NTU, bacterial removal of 2.4-3.1 log order for Total coliform and Fecal coliform from site I which is almost 8 years old facility, and site II which is 3 years old. Estimated hydraulic retention time of 0.5-1.0 h, hydraulic loading of 0.036-0.047 m(3)m(-2)h(-1), no pretreatment, high DO levels in the effluent, no bio-sludge production, no mechanical aeration, low energy requirement (0.04 kW h m(-3)) and green aesthetic ambience are its unique features.     

An investigation into the energy use in relation to yield of rice (Oryza sativa) in Assam, India

Energy use scenario and resulting rice yield of 576 farms belonging to six agroclimatic zones of Assam, India were investigated. Input energy from eight distinct sources, viz., human, animal, diesel, commercial chemical fertilizer, farm yard manure (FYM), seed, pesticide chemical and machinery were determined on the basis of collected data and using standard procedure. Based on the power sources used and application of commercial chemical fertilizer, four categories of farms were delineated: (i) animal power without commercial fertilizer (APNF), (ii) animal power with commercial fertilizer (APF), (iii) mechanical power without commercial fertilizer (MPNF) and (iv) mechanical power with commercial fertilizer (MPF). The best-fit curve of energy versus yield indicated that use of commercial chemical fertilizer and mechanical power resulted in higher rice yield at higher level of input energy. Moreover, as the use of energy increased the yield increased up to maxima and then declined at higher levels of energy. This was observed in all four categories of farms with variation in yield–energy values. The average values of energy input (MJ ha⁻¹) and corresponding yield (kg ha⁻¹) for the APNF, APF, MPNF and MPF type of farms were (5220, 1980); (9050, 3170); (5100, 2360) and (8320, 3800), respectively. Renewable energy dominated the rice cultivation in Assam contributing more than 50% of the total input energy with the exception of MPF category of farm where share of renewable and non-renewable were found to be almost equal. Among the farm operations, tillage was the highest energy consuming operation followed by threshing, harvesting and transplanting for all four categories of farms. However, it was observed that rice yield was not positively correlated with tillage energy.     

Chemical oxidation of C. I. Reactive Red 2 using Fenton-like reactions

A detailed investigation on the kinetics of the oxidative degradation of a reactive dye, C. I. Reactive Red 2 by hydroxyl radicals generated by H202 and Fe2+ has been carried out in aqueous acidic media. Effects of different parameters like initial concentration of dye, H2O2, Fe2+, pH of the solution, reaction temperature and added electrolytes on the oxidation process have been studied. The results indicate that 1.63 x 10(-4) mol dm(-3) dye can be most effectively degraded at a dye: Fe2+: H2O2 molar ratio of 1:0.22: 8.13 at pH approximately 2.7 and at 299 K. The addition of excess 2-propanol or t-butyl alcohol, well known scavengers of hydroxyl radicals, almost stopped the degradation of the dye indicating the absence of any possible reductive pathways in the degradation. The results may be useful for designing the treatment systems of wastewater containing various reactive dyes.