Biochar for ameliorating soil fertility and microbial diversity: From production to action of the black gold.

This article evaluated different production strategies, characteristics, and applications of biochar for ameliorating soil fertility and microbial diversity. The biochar production techniques are evolving, indicating that newer methods (including hydrothermal and retort carbonization) operate with minimum temperatures, yet resulting in high yields with significant improvements in different properties, including heating value, oxygen functionality, and carbon content, compared to the traditional methods. It has been found that the temperature, feedstock type, and moisture content play critical roles in the fabrication process.

Sustainable soil management under drought stress through biochar application: Immobilizing arsenic, ameliorating soil quality, and augmenting plant growth.

Rise in climate change-induced drought occurrences have amplified pollution of metal(loid)s, deteriorated soil quality, and deterred growth of crops. Rice straw-derived biochars (RSB) and cow manure-enriched biochars (CEB) were used in the investigation (at doses of 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.

Adsorptive removal of anthracene from water by biochar derived amphiphilic carbon dots decorated with chitosan.

Anthracene belongs to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of benzene rings, unusually highly stable through more π-electrons and localized π-bond in entire rings. Aqueous-phase anthracene adsorption using carbon-based materials such as biochar is ineffective. In this paper, carbon dots (CDs) derived from the acid treatment of coconut shell biochar (CDs/MCSB) decorated with chitosan (CS) are successfully synthesized and applied for anthracene removal from aqueous solutions.

Potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through microplastics in sewage: A wastewater-based epidemiological review.

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, there is an urgent need to identify and investigate the various pathways of transmission. In addition to contact and aerosol transmission of the virus, this review investigated the possibility of its transmission via microplastics found in sewage. Wastewater-based epidemiological studies on the virus have confirmed its presence and persistence in both influent sewage as well as treated ones.

Removal of toxic dye from dye-laden wastewater using a new nanocomposite material: Isotherm, kinetics and adsorption mechanism.

In this study, (hemi)cellulosic biochar-based environment-friendly non-toxic nanocomposite (nAg-AC) was fabricated for an inordinate overlook of toxic dye-laden wastewater depollution. This hybrid nanocomposite grafted with silver nanoparticles, numerous hydroxyl and π-bond containing functional groups exhibited outstanding physicochemical properties. FESEM images indicated the heterogeneous porous structure of nAg-AC, while BET analysis revealed mesoporous property with a significant increment of overall surface area (132%).

Valorization of fruit waste-based biochar for arsenic removal in soils.

Fruit waste disposal is a serious global problem with only 20% of such waste being routinely treated prior to discharge. Two of the most polluting fruit wastes are orange peel and walnut shell and new methods are urgently required to valorize such waste. In the present study, they where valorized via conversion into biochars at 500 °C (OPB500 for orange peel-based biochar produced at 500 °C and WaSB500 for walnut shell-based biochar produced at 500 °C), and evaluated for arsenic adsorption.

Fabrication of biochar-based hybrid Ag nanocomposite from algal biomass waste for toxic dye-laden wastewater treatment.

Dual functional innovative approaches were developed to tackle the algal scum problem in water by utilizing the algal (Spirogyra sp.) biomass waste for organic dye-laden industrial wastewater treatment, a global problem, and challenge. Therefore, an algal biochar-based nanocomposite (nAgBC) was synthesized and employed as a low-cost adsorbent for Congo red (CR) removal.

A review of the phytochemical mediated synthesis of AgNP (silver nanoparticle): the wonder particle of the past decade.

Unlabelled: Silver nanoparticle (AgNP) has been one of the most commonly used nanoparticles since the past decade for a wide range of applications, including environmental, agricultural, and medical fields, due to their unique physicochemical properties and ease of synthesis. Though chemical and physical methods of fabricating AgNPs have been quite popular, they posed various environmental problems. As a result, the bioinspired route of AgNP synthesis emerged as the preferred pathway for synthesis.

Biochar-based nanocomposite from waste tea leaf for toxic dye removal: From facile fabrication to functional fitness.

The present study utilized discarded tea leaf waste to produce 'Tea leaf biochar' (TLB) as the functional matrix for the fabrication of hybrid nanocomposite (nAg-TC), with colloidal deposition of silver nanoparticles (nAg) via modified chemical co-precipitation, for treatment of dye-laden wastewater. The chemical composition, physicochemical properties, and morphology of nAg-TC, and active surface functional groups involved in adsorption were identified using BET, FESEM-EDX, FTIR, TGA, XPS, and XRD. The nAg-TC matrix was found to be heterogeneous, mesoporous, thermostable, with rich in active surface functional groups (-OH, =NH, =CH, CC, CO, CN, and CC), and nAg as a dopant material.

Performance evaluation of crop residue and kitchen waste-derived biochar for eco-efficient removal of arsenic from soils of the Indo-Gangetic plain: A step towards sustainable pollution management.

Biochar was produced from wheat straw (Triticum aestivum), rice straw (Oryza sativa), and kitchen waste at varying pyrolysis temperatures (300°C-700 °C). The biochars were screened depending on their production and physicochemical properties for the adsorptive removal of arsenic (As). The morphological analysis by Field emission scanning electron microscope revealed a porous biochar surface.

Arterial blood pressure is inversely associated with vascular sympathetic reactivity (isometric handgrip exercise) in Gujarati Indian adolescents.

Studies conducted earlier have found that vascular sympathetic reactivity to isometric handgrip exercise is either low or high in adolescents with higher blood pressure (Hypertensives) as compared to adolescents with relatively lower blood pressure (Normotensive). The current study was conducted to determine the correlation of vascular sympathetic reactivity to isometric handgrip exercise with blood pressure in Gujarati Indian adolescents so as to understand the pathogenesis and/consequences of Hypertension in this population. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 651 Gujarati Indian adolescents (285 girls, 366 boys) of age group 13-19 years.

Association of sleep duration with blood glucose level of Gujarati Indian adolescents.

Recently studies conducted in various parts of the world indicate short sleep duration as a novel risk factor for development of type 2 diabetes. However, ethnic differences exist in the etiopathogenesis of diseases, the current study was undertaken to study the effect of sleep duration on the blood glucose level of Gujarati Indian adolescents. A randomized, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was done on the voluntary participants n = 332 Gujarati adolescent boys and girls of age group 13-20 years studying at the schools and colleges in the Anand district.

Effect of gender on the association of adiposity with cardiovascular reactivity in Gujarati Indian adolescents.

Studies have reported that both gender and adiposity influence cardiovascular reactivity amongst adolescents. However, not much is known about the effect of gender on the association of adiposity with cardiovascular reactivity. The current study was conducted to learn how gender affects the association of adiposity with cardiovascular reactivity in the Gujarati Indian adolescents so as to develop preventive strategies for the local population.

Association of physical activity and physical fitness with blood pressure profile in Gujarati Indian adolescents.

The current study was conducted to determine how physical activity level and physical fitness affects the blood pressure profile of Gujarati Indian adolescents so as to help in developing preventive strategies for the local population as ethnic differences exist in the aetiopathogenesis of hypertension. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 485 Gujarati Indian adolescent boys and girls of age group 16-19 years. Physical activity level was assessed using Johnson Space Center/NASA Physical Activity Rating Scale and VO2 max was used to assess the physical fitness.

Association of adiposity with pulse pressure amongst gujarati Indian adolescents.

Background And Aim: The current study was conducted to determine the effect of adiposity on vascular distensibility in Gujarati Indian adolescents as research indicating the pathogenesis of hypertension among overweight and/or obese Indian adolescents is scant and ethnic differences exist in the pathogenesis of hypertension

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 488 Gujarati Indian adolescents of 16-19 years age group. Adiposity was assessed in terms of BMI, Body Fat %, Fat Mass, Fat Mass Index and Waist Circumference. Arterial blood pressure was recorded and pulse pressure (PP) was calculated using the standard equation based on the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Association of sleep duration with arterial blood pressure profile of gujarati Indian adolescents.

Background And Aim: Recently, National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey-1 data analysis found short sleep duration as a risk factor for hypertension in the U.S. population.

Sleep deprivation predisposes gujarati Indian adolescents to obesity.

Background And Aim: Recent studies on various populations indicate that lack of sleep is one of the potential risk factors predisposing the youth to obesity. Since there is a significant rise in obesity among Indian youth and because research indicating the role of sleep in development of obesity among Indian population is scant, the current study was undertaken to assess the effect of sleep duration on adiposity among Gujarati Indian adolescents.

Materials And Methods: A randomized cross-sectional study was done on 489 voluntarily participating Indian adolescents in the age group of 16-19 years.