Bhawana Pathak

Environment and sustainable development

Preface.- Contributors.- 1.Emergence of Green Technologies towards Sustainable Growth.- 2.Sustainable Development: An Earnest Hope.- 3.Soil Seed Bank Dynamics: History and Ecological Significance in Sustainability of Different Ecosystems.- 4.Challenges and Prospects in Exploring Marine Microbial Diversity.- 5.Bioprospecting of Plant Essential Oils for Medicinal Uses.- 6.Air Pollution Scenario over Delhi City.- 7.Nanotechnology: Perspectives for Environmental Sustainability.- 8. An Overview of Environmental Remediation using Photocatalyst.- 9.Role of Biopolymers in Industries: their prospective future applications.- 10.Green Federalism: A Historical leap towards Sustainable Human Development.- 11.Economic sustainability in light of consumer behavior: Social Perspectives.- 12.Global warming and agriculture: Industrial Arrangement for sustainable Development.- 13.Green Buildings - Opportunities and Challenges.- 14. Mathematical models in sustainable development.- Index.

Molecular approaches for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds: a review

The waste generated from industrial processes and operations including domestic wastes when treated partially and disposed in soil–water environment enter to lakes, streams, rivers, oceans and other water bodies. The pollutants get dissolved or lie suspended in water or get deposited on soil sediment beds. This results on aquatic and terrestrial pollution which ultimately impact ecosystems causing toxicity to biota and human beings. Industries such as petrochemical, pharmaceutical, insecticides and fertilizers generates the hazardous waste comprising of inorganic and organic compounds. Organic compounds mainly composed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are one of the toxic environmental pollutant. This paper highlights the physicochemical properties, bioremediation treatment and its mechanism for the waste containing PAH. The process of biological remediation depends upon the metabolic action of microbe toward the contaminant which can be achieved by optimum water and nutrient supply and some other limiting factors. The enzymatic degradation gives the molecular approaches for bioremediation. The study also highlighted the molecular approaches which are helpful in revealing functional, structural and communal information about microbial diversity for exploring the routes of degradation pathway of bioremediation process and future scope to bioremediation of PAHs.

Nanotechnology: Perspective for Environmental Sustainability

“Environmental nanotechnology” is considered to play a key role in the shaping of current environmental engineering and science. The conventional environmental remedial techniques seem to be relatively ineffectual in the face of currently extensively expanding load of pollutants that permeate the air, water, and soil environment. Nanotechnology can provide a way to purify the air and water resources by utilizing nanoparticles as a catalyst and/or sensing systems. In the present research chapter, the potential of nanotechnological products and processes and their application to clean up the environment contaminants have been discussed. Water treatment and purification techniques based on nanotechnology have been highlighted. These also include the environmental and energy application of nanotechnology which focuses on clean technology, reducing global warming, eco-friendly and efficient energy-generating techniques, eco-friendly surface coating, remediation techniques, and environmental monitoring. Environmental nanoscience products, devices, and processes have an impact on socioeconomic aspects for maintaining a clean environment for sustainable development.

Bioremediation of Organic Pollutants Using Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Phanerochaete chrysosporium—white rot fungus—has been reported as an effective for bioremediation of different hazardous compounds. In this chapter, the life cycle of white rot fungus and the conditions required for its growth so as to make effective bioremediation of compounds have been cited. The research study carried out by the scientists for the bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), contaminated soils, and other compounds has been highlighted as research case studies. The mechanism of bioremediation of different compounds with respect to use of white rot fungus has also been cited. Therefore, the use of white rot fungus for the biodegradation of the hazardous compounds will benefit to decontaminate the environment, and this technology can be adapted as a remedial measure for treatment of hazardous wastes.

Photocatalytic degradation of organophosphate pesticides (Chlorpyrifos) using synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticle by membrane filtration reactor under UV irradiation

NanomaterialZinc oxide (ZnO) has been synthesized using Zinc Nitrate Hexahydrate as precursor by Sonochemical Method. The as-synthesized ZnO was characterized to study their optical, morphological and physical properties. Fourier Transform-Infra Red Spectroscopy analysis was done for identification of functional group, Scanning Electron MicroscopyEnergy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis for Morphology and Size and elemental confirmation, Transmission Electron Microscopy for determination of particle size and shape and X-Ray Diffraction for the identification of crystal structure. The material developed was used in a membrane filtration technology for degradation of selected pesticide. Pesticides(Chlorpyrifos) taken at fixed concentration (5 ppm) in a solvent and then stimulated effluents were subjected to photocatalytic degradation and allow to pass through the membrane filtration assembly under low pressure using cellulose acetate mixed polymeric membrane discs. Samples were analyzed by UV-VIS spectroscopy for the assessment of degradation of Chlorpyrifos. Results shows that ZnO alone show low degradation efficiency as compared to membrane filtration. When combined both the approaches (ZnO + Membrane filtration) there is steep decline in the absorption peak. Nanobased membrane filtration technology design and developed were found effective and efficient for the degradation of pesticides as compared to photocatalytic degradation carried out using ZnO.

Biotechnological Strategies for Enhancing Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation to clean up soil or sediments contaminated with metals and other pollutant compound has gained increasing attention as environmental friendly and cost effective. Achievements of the last decade suggest that genetic engineering of plants can be instrumental in improving phytoremediation. Members of the Cruciferae plant family have a key role in phytoremediation technology. Many wild crucifer species are known to hyperaccumulate heavy metals and possess genes for resistance or tolerance to the toxic effects of a wide range of metals. Many of these species are well adapted to a range of environmental conditions. Some species are tolerant to high levels of heavy metals, and there is the potential to select superior genotypes for phytoremediation. They are well suited to genetic manipulation and in vitro culture techniques and are attractive candidates for the introduction of genes aimed at phytoremediation. The use of genetic engineering to modify plants for metal uptake, transport and sequestration may open up new avenues for enhancing efficiency of phytoremediation. Metal chelator, metallothionein, phytochelatin and metal transporter genes have been transferred to plants for improved metal uptake and sequestration in crucifers. The purpose of this article is to review different biotechnological approaches to enhance phytoremediation in crucifers.

Development of zinc oxide nanoparticle by sonochemical method and study of their physical and optical properties

With the miniaturization of crystal size, the fraction of under-coordinated surface atoms becomes dominant, and hence, materials in the nano-regime behave very differently from the similar material in a bulk. Zinc oxide (ZnO), particularly, exhibits extraordinary properties such as a wide direct band gap (3.37 eV), large excitation binding energy (60 meV), low refractive index (1.9), stability to intense ultraviolet (UV) illumination, resistance to high-energy irradiation, and lower toxicity as compared to other semiconductors. This very property makes Zinc Oxide a potential candidate in many application fields, particularly as a prominent semiconductor. Zinc Oxide plays a significant role in many technological advances with its application in semiconductor mediated photocatalytic processes and sensor, solar cells and others. In present study, Zinc Oxide (ZnO) has been synthesized using three different precursors by sonochemical method. Zinc Acetate Dihydrate, Zinc Nitrate Hexahydrate and Zinc Sulphate He...

Biosorption and Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by Microalgae

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous organic pollutants, primarily generated during the process of incomplete combustion, extraction, exploitation and transportation of fossil fuel. PAHs are environmental and human health hazards due to recalcitrance, toxicity, carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. Therefore, a sustainable cleanup approach is required for the removal of PAHs from contaminated sites. Efficiency of biosorption process for the removal of toxic pollutants has been thoroughly studied in the past. This chapter focuses on the application of microalgae green biosorbents for the removal of PAHs. Characteristics, environmental fate of PAHs and algal biochemistry are summarized. Algae cell structural constituents act as specific binding sites for removal of pollutant, and share enzymatic systems similar to bacteria. Major enzymes responsible for biodegradation of PAHs are described. Immobilization and co-culture technique for enhance biosorption are discussed.

Biodegradation of Benzene Under Anaerobic Condition

Global industrialization has largely expanded the edges of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) exploration. A large amount of various hydrocarbons are introduced into the environment during the stages of oil extraction, refinement, storage, transportation and disposal. Benzene is the parent hydrocarbon among the aromatic organic compounds which naturally occurs in petroleum products. It is a well-known carcinogenic organic compound. Its contamination is a widespread problem in soil as well as groundwater due to lack of oxygen in subsurface soils. Various physical and chemical methods are known to clean up aromatic hydrocarbons but they are too expensive and lead to adverse effects. Bioremediation technology has gained a great attention for the cleanup of hazardous aromatic compounds. There are advantages to rely on indigenous microorganisms rather than adding microbes to degrade waste. Emerging technologies have been developed in the field of environmental biotechnology for enhance degradation and complete removal of organic contaminant. This chapter reviews on recent progress in anaerobic degradation of benzene along with its sources, environmental fate and anaerobic mineralization pathways in the presence of different electron acceptors and also focuses on enhanced benzene degradation by enrichment and immobilization-based culture technique, factors affecting the rate of anaerobic degradation, role of enzymes and molecular tools to assess bioremediation.

EFFECT OF UNDER CONVENTIONAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION ON POLYPHENOL CONCENTRATIONS AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES IN Thespesia lampas.

Sunayana Nath and * Bhawana Pathak. School of Environment and Sustainable Development, Central University of Gujarat, Sector -30, Gandhinagar, 382030, Gujarat, India. ...................................................................................................................... Manuscript Info Abstract ......................... ........................................................................ Manuscript History