Spatio-temporal assessment of land use dynamics and urbanization: linking with environmental aspects and DPSIR framework approach

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Urbanization is the main force of the global environmental as well as land use land cover changes (LULC). Urbanization is caused by prompt increase in...     

Effect of Thermo-Mechanical Degradation of Polypropylene on Hygroscopic Characteristics of Wood Flour-Polypropylene Composites

In this research, the influence of thermo-mechanical degradation of polypropylene (PP) on water absorption and thickness swelling of beech wood flour–PP composites were studied. For this purpose, a virgin PP was thermo-mechanically degraded by two times extrusion under controlled conditions. The results showed that the melt flow index, water absorption and thickness swelling of PP significantly increase by extrusion and re-extrusion. The virgin PP and degraded polypropylene were compounded with wood flour (at 60% by weight wood flour loading) in a counter-rotating twin-screw extruder in presence or absence of MAPP to produce wood flour–PP composites. From the results, the composites containing recycled PP exhibited higher water absorption and thickness swelling. The use of MAPP decreased water absorption and thickness swelling in composites made of virgin or recycled PP.     

Competitive role of nitrogen functionalities of N doped GO and sensitizing effect of Bi2O3 QDs on TiO2 for water remediation

The promising solar irradiated photocatalyst by pairing of bismuth oxide quantum dots (BQDs) doped TiO₂ with nitrogen doped graphene oxide (NGO) nanocomposite (NGO/BQDs-TiO₂) was fabricated. It was used for degradation of organic pollutants like 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and stable dyes, i.e. Rhodamine B and Congo Red. X-ray diffraction (XRD) profile of NGO showed reduction in oxygenic functional groups and restoring of graphitic crystal structure. The characteristic diffraction peaks of TiO₂ and its composites showed crystalline anatase TiO₂. Morphological images represent spherical shaped TiO₂ evenly covered with BQDs spread on NGO sheet. The surface linkages of $\text{NO}?\mathrm{O}?\text{Ti}$, $\mathrm{C}?\mathrm{O}?\text{Ti}$, $\mathrm{B}\mathrm{i}?\mathrm{O}?\text{Ti}$ and vibrational modes are observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman studies. BQDs and NGO modified TiO₂ results into red shifting in visible region as studied in diffused reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). NGO and BQDs in TiO₂ are linked with defect centers which reduced the recombination of free charge carriers by quenching of photoluminescence (PL) intensities. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows that no peak related to $\mathrm{C}?\mathrm{O}$ in NGO/BQDs-TiO₂ is observed. This indicated that doping of nitrogen into GO has reduced some oxygen functional groups. Nitrogen functionalities in NGO and photosensitizing effect of BQDs in ternary composite have improved photocatalytic activity against organic pollutants. Intermediate byproducts during photo degradation process of 2,4-DCP were studied through high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Study of radical scavengers indicated that ${\mathrm{O}}_2^{·?}$ has significant role for degradation of 2,4-DCP. Our investigations propose that fabricated nanohybrid architecture has potential for degradation of environmental pollutions.     

IRRIGATION PLANNING BASED ON WATER DEFICITS1

ABSTRACT: The deliberate underwatering of a larger land area, as practiced in Southern Asia, has provided impetus for a systematic investigation into the effects of designing projects for crop water deficits on Benefit-Cost performance. The study began with the derivation, from published experimental results, of functions relating ultimate crop yield to the magnitude and timing of water deficits, i.e., of the productivity of irrigation water. To obtain the net benefit of the project, the relation between the harvested area and output and the on-farm production costs was then suggested. The cost of supplying the irrigation water to the proposed area and of distributing and applying it to the field was determined, thus completing the Benefit-Cost equation. A computer simulation model was then established to search for the irrigation project design capacity and area to maximize the net present value in the Benefit-Cost analysis for the development proposed.     

Biosorption characteristics of unicellular green alga Chlorella sorokiniana immobilized in loofa sponge for removal of Cr(Ⅲ)

Loofa sponge (LS) immobilized biomass of Chlorella sorokiniana (LSIBCS), isolated from industrial wastewater, was investigated as a new biosorbent for the removal of Cr(Ⅲ) from aqueous solution. A comparison of the biosorption of Cr(Ⅲ) by LSIBCS and free biomass of C. sorokiniana (FBCS) from 10-300 mg Cr(Ⅲ)/L aqueous solutions showed an increase in uptake of 17.79% when the microalgal biomass was immobilized onto loofa sponge. Maximum biosorption capacity for LSIBCS and FBCS was found to be 69.26 and 58.80 mg Cr(Ⅲ)/g biosorbent, respectively, whereas the amount of Cr(Ⅲ) ions adsorbed onto naked LS was 4.97 mg/g. The kinetics of Cr(Ⅲ) biosorption was extremely rapid and equilibrium was established in about 15 and 20 min by LSIBCS and FBCS,respectively. The biosorption equilibrium was well defined by Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. The biosorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order kinetic model. The biosorption was found to be pH dependent and the maximum sorption occurred at the solution pH 4.0. Desorption studies showed that 98% of the adsorbed Cr(Ⅲ) could be desorbed with 0.1 mol/L HNO3, while other desorbing agents were less effective in the order: EDTA ＞ H2SO4 ＞ CH3COOH ＞ HCl. The regenerated LSIBCS retained 92.68% of the initial Cr(Ⅲ) binding capacity up to five cycles of reuse in continuous flow-fixed bed columns. The study revealed that LSIBCS could be used as an effective biosorbent for the removal of Cr(Ⅲ) from wastewater.     

Antiaflatoxigenic activity of Carum copticum essential oil

Plants are unique sources of useful metabolites. Plant essential oils display a wide range of antimicrobial effects against various pathogens. Here, we studied the essential oil from the seeds of Carum copticum. We monitored aflatoxin by high-performance liquid chromatography. Results show that Carum copticum essential oil inhibits Asergillus parasiticus growth and prevents aflatoxin production. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) is 127.5 μg mL^?1 for aflatoxin B₁ and 23.22 μg mL^?1 for aflatoxin G₁. Our findings show that Carum copticum essential oil is a potential candidate for the protection of foodstuff and feeds from toxigenic fungus growth and their subsequent aflatoxin contamination.     

Phragmites australis as a heavy metal bioindicator in the Anzali wetland of Iran

In this study, levels of Fe, Cu, Cd, and Ni in the sediments and organs of Phragmites australis from three different sites in the Anzali wetland were measured. Heavy metal accumulation was higher in the roots of P. australis than in the shoots and leaves. There was a significant correlation between metal concentrations in roots and sediment. This result showed that the root of P. australis can be used as bioindicator for Fe, Cu, Cd, and Ni. Metal levels in sediment were recorded higher than the interim sediment quality guideline values, and the Cd and Ni content in P. australis were higher than the unpolluted levels in plants. This indicates the necessity for continuous monitoring of the metal levels and also evaluating the hazard risk of heavy metals in aquatic organisms in the Anzali wetland.