Designing Knowledge-Based Bioremediation Strategies Using Metagenomics.

Functional capacities for bioremediation are governed by metabolic mechanisms of inhabiting microbial communities at polluted niches. Process fluctuations lead to stress scenarios where microbes evolve continuously to adapt to sustain the harsh conditions. The biological wastewater treatment (WWT) process harbors the potential of these catabolic microbes for the degradation of organic molecules.

Detection and extinguishment approaches for municipal solid waste landfill fires: A mini review.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is getting more attention in the present scenario. Even though various technologies like incineration, gasification, pyrolysis and waste-to-energy plants have been developed, landfills are still the major disposal option for MSW management. MSW at landfill creates issues that are highlighted at a global level like the fire at Deonar dumping site in Mumbai, India was visible and captured by the space satellites, leading to environmental pollution.

Insights into the ubiquity, persistence and microbial intervention of imidacloprid.

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid pesticide, is employed to increase crop productivity. Meanwhile, its indiscriminate application severely affects the non-target organisms and the environment. As an eco-friendly and economically workable option, the microbial intervention has garnered much attention.

A critical insight into occurrence and fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their green remediation approaches.

Over the last century, the tremendous growth in industrial activities particularly in the sectors of pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and the reckless application of fertilizers and insecticides has raised the contamination of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) tremendously. For more than a decade, the main focus of environmental experts is to come up with management approaches for the clean-up of sites polluted with PAHs. These are ubiquitous in nature i.

Comparative assessment of soil microbial community in crude oil contaminated sites.

Petroleum refineries generate oily sludge that contains hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and hence, its proper disposal is of foremost concern. Analysis of the physicochemical properties and functions of indigenous microbes of the contaminated sites are essential in deciding the strategy for bioremediation. This study analyses both parameters at two geographically distant sites, with different crude oil sources, and compares the metabolic capability of soil bacteria with reference to different contamination sources and the age of the contaminated site.

Impact of municipal solid waste landfill leachate on biogas production rate.

Landfills/open dump sites are the final disposal facilities for municipal solid waste (MSW). These sites undergo continuous process of biochemical reactions and anaerobic degradation, which make them prone to generation of landfill gas (LFG) and leachate. Worldwide, the quantitative and qualitative assessment for leachate treatment and management has been a growing concern.

Community kitchen tandoors (CKT)-a potential candidate for air pollution mitigation strategies?

Community kitchen tandoor (CKT) is a clay-based hollow cylindrical device commonly used in South Asian and Middle Eastern countries for baking flatbreads and cooking meat. These CKTs, generally fuelled by charcoal or wood, contribute significantly to the pollution loads in ambient air along with occupational exposure hazards. CKTs, being a part of the informal sector, lack emissions and safety guidelines.

Screening, identification, and characterization of lipase-producing halotolerant Bacillus altitudinis Ant19 from Antarctic soil.

Potent lipase-producing and halotolerant Bacillus altitudinis Ant19 strain was screened and isolated from Antarctic soil. The isolate showed broad-range lipase activity against different lipid substrates. Presence of lipase activity was confirmed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the lipase gene from Ant19.

Review on distribution, fate, and management of potentially toxic elements in incinerated medical wastes.

Medical wastes include all solid and liquid wastes that are produced during the treatment, diagnosis, and immunisation of animals and humans. A significant proportion of medical waste is infectious, hazardous, radioactive, and contains potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (i.e.

Molecular advances in mycoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Exploring fungal bacterial interactions.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous high global concern environmental pollutants and tend to bioaccumulate due to hydrophobic properties. These xenobiotics, having variable concentrations along different matrices, gradually undergo various physical, chemical, and biological transformation processes. Myco-remediation aids accelerated degradation by effectively transforming complex ring structures to oxidized/hydroxylated intermediates, which can further funnel to bacterial degradation pathways.

Spatial distribution and temporal variation of biomass burning and surface black carbon concentrations during summer (2015‒2021) in India.

Historical biomass burning in summer season (April‒June, during 2015‒2021) was assessed by studying active fire spot data recorded by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) aboard NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite and mapping the same over Indian landmass. The fire spots often formed regional clusters and most profusely covered the states of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Telengana, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Manipur, Nagaland, and Mizoram during April but their number decreased conspicuously in May and further in June. Forward movements of air masses potentially carrying fire-induced air pollutants from five principal fire cluster regions (northern, south eastern, western, north-eastern, and central) of India during April and May in 2021 were traced by 6-day forward airtrajectory modelling.

Magnetically engineered sulfurized peat-based activated carbon for remediation of emerging pharmaceutical contaminants.

Activated carbon derived from peat-based biomass was sulfurized and magnetized forming magnetically-engineered sulfurized peat-based activated carbon (MEPBAC) and used for adsorption of caffeine (CFN) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) from aqueous media. Modification increased the surface area (724 m/g) and introduced sulphur-groups and Fe-based nano-structures in MEPBAC. Sulphur-groups enhanced adsorption efficiency, whereas Fe-based nano-structures facilitated easy magnetic separation of MEPBAC after intended use leading to high reusability with consistent removal efficiency (∼95 %).

A review on recovery processes of metals from E-waste: A green perspective.

E-waste management has become a global concern because of the enormous rise in the rate of end-of-life electrical and electronic equipment's (EEEs). Disposal of waste EEE directly into the environment leads to adverse effects on the environment as well as on human health. For the management of E-waste, numerous studies have been carried out for extracting metals (base, precious, and rare earth) following pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and biometallurgy.

Binder-free NiO/MnO coated carbon based anodes for simultaneous norfloxacin removal, wastewater treatment and power generation in dual-chamber microbial fuel cell.

Norfloxacin (NFX) is a commonly consumed synthetic antibiotic drug to cure many adverse infectious diseases of humans worldwide, but their presence in almost all aquatic environments has grown into severe global health concerns. In this study, the power performance of dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with two different types of base anodes (graphite felt and activated carbon cloth) were tested with a coating of NiO/MnO for removal of NFX in wastewater. As transition metal oxides have excellent electrochemical stability and a higher specific capacitance, their application in MFC for antibiotic removal and wastewater treatment would be an interesting study.

Circular economy approach for sustainable solid waste management: A developing economy perspective.

The notion of circular economy (CE) strengthens the approach to sustainable development (SD). It is perceived that the adoption of CE can unlock half a trillion dollars of economic value in India by the year 2030. However, embracing the CE concept can be considered a panacea to the existing issues associated with solid waste management (SWM).

Microbial strategies for degradation of microplastics generated from COVID-19 healthcare waste.

COVID-19 pandemic has led to the generation of massive plastic wastes, comprising of onetime useable gloves, masks, tissues, and other personal protective equipment (PPE). Recommendations for the employ of single-use disposable masks made up of various polymeric materials like polyethylene, polyurethane, polyacrylonitrile, and polypropylene, polystyrene, can have significant aftermath on environmental, human as well as animal health. Improper disposal and handling of healthcare wastes and lack of proper management practices are creating serious health hazards and an extra challenge for the local authorities designated for management of solid waste.

A review on generation, characterization, containment, transport and treatment of fecal sludge and septage with resource recovery-oriented sanitation.

Fecal sludge and septage (FSS) are more concentrated than domestic wastewater which makes it difficult to treat and requires immediate attention otherwise, it leads towards serious environmental problems. In this review, an attempt has been made to highlight and discuss the various aspects of fecal sludge and septage management (FSSM) like its generation, characterization, containment, transportation, treatment, reuse and disposal. A comparison of existing fecal sludge treatment plants and technologies has been reviewed considering land requirement, capital cost, operation and maintenance cost, advantages and disadvantages.

Biochar application for greenhouse gas mitigation, contaminants immobilization and soil fertility enhancement: A state-of-the-art review.

Rising global temperature, pollution load, and energy crises are serious problems, recently facing the world. Scientists around the world are ambitious to find eco-friendly and cost-effective routes for resolving these problems. Biochar has emerged as an agent for environmental remediation and has proven to be the effective sorbent to inorganic and organic pollutants in water and soil.

Effect of levulinic acid on production of polyhydroxyalkanoates from food waste by Haloferax mediterranei.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), especially poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is considered as the most suitable candidate to replace petrochemical plastics. However, the high production cost and the composition of the monomers in the copolymer are the major constraints in production. The 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) rich copolymers are ideal for various applications due to their lower melting points, improved elasticity, and ductility.

Food waste and soybean curd residue composting by black soldier fly.

This study attempted to manage the food waste and soybean curd residue generated in Taiwan's National Ilan University by black soldier fly-aided co-composting. The food waste and soybean curd residue were co-composted with rice husk as a bulking agent in 4:1 ratio and 0.42 mg BSF/g waste.