Comparative evaluation between Taguchi method and response surface method for optimization of electrocoagulation process in the context of treatment of dairy industry wastewater.

The presence of a large amount of organic and inorganic pollutants in dairy effluent is a substantial environmental issue. This study investigated electrocoagulation (EC) as a potential treatment method for dairy wastewater under different operating conditions, such as applied voltage (5-25 V), electrolysis time (30-90 min), and inter-electrode distance (1-2 cm) by using aluminum electrodes. This study focuses on achieving the maximum removal of BOD, COD, and nitrate in dairy effluents with the aforementioned operating conditions. The process was optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM) and Taguchi method. RSM method optimized the electrocoagulation operating conditions such as the voltage at 23.75 V, time of 90 min, and inter-electrode distance at 1.07 cm. This optimization achieved the maximum removal percentage of BOD, COD, and nitrate at 79.06%, 84.35%, and 79.64%, respectively, in dairy effluent. Taguchi method optimized the electrocoagulation parameters such as the voltage at 25 V, time duration of 90 min, and inter-electrode distance of 1.00 cm, showcasing improved removal percentages of BOD, COD, and nitrate as 90.54%, 89.28%, and 82.74% respectively. The current study attempts to understand the optimization efficiencies between Taguchi method and response surface method for diary wastewater treatment.

Emerging concern of nano-pollution in agro-ecosystem: Flip side of nanotechnology.

Nanomaterials (NMs) have proven to be a game-changer in agriculture, showcasing their potential to boost plant growth and safeguarding crops. The agricultural sector has widely adopted NMs, benefiting from their small size, high surface area, and optical properties to augment crop productivity and provide protection against various stressors. This is attributed to their unique characteristics, contributing to their widespread use in agriculture. Human exposure from various components of agro-environmental sectors (soil, crops) NMs residues are likely to upsurge with exposure paths may stimulates bioaccumulation in food chain. With the aim to achieve sustainability, nanotechnology (NTs) do exhibit its potentials in various domains of agriculture also have its flip side too. In this review article we have opted a fusion approach using bibliometric based analysis of global research trend followed by a holistic assessment of pros and cons i.e. toxicological aspect too. Moreover, we have also tried to analyse the current scenario of policy associated with the application of NMs in agro-environment.

An In Vitro and In Silico Perspective Study of Seed Priming with Zinc on the Phytotoxicity and Accumulation Pattern of Arsenic in Rice Seedlings.

Arsenic (As) contamination of the rice agro-ecosystem is a major concern for rice farmers of South East Asia as it imposes a serious threat to human and animal life; thus, there is an unrelenting need to explore the ways by which arsenic stress mitigation could be achieved. In the present investigation, we explore the effect of zinc (Zn2+) supplementation using the seed priming technique for the mitigation of As-induced stress responses in developing rice seedlings. In addition to the physiological and biochemical attributes, we also studied the interactive effect of Zn2+ in regulating As-induced changes by targeting antioxidant enzymes using a computational approach. Our findings suggest that Zn2+ and As can effectively modulate redox homeostasis by limiting ROS production and thereby confer protection against oxidative stress. The results also show that As had a significant impact on seedling growth, which was restored by Zn2+ and also minimized the As uptake. A remarkable outcome of the present investigation is that the varietal difference was significant in determining the efficacy of the Zn2+ priming. Further, based on the findings of computational studies, we observed differences in the surface overlap of the antioxidant target enzymes of rice, indicating that the Zn2+ might have foiled the interaction of As with the enzymes. This is undoubtedly a fascinating approach that interprets the mode of action of the antioxidative enzymes under the metal/metalloid-tempted stress condition in rice by pointing at designated targets. The results of the current investigation are rationally significant and may be the pioneering beginning of an exciting and useful method of integrating physiological and biochemical analysis together with a computational modelling approach for evaluating the stress modulating effects of Zn2+ seed priming on As-induced responses in developing rice seedlings.

Arsenic contamination, impact and mitigation strategies in rice agro-environment: An inclusive insight.

Arsenic (As) contamination and its adverse consequences on rice agroecosystem are well known. Rice has the credit to feed more than 50% of the world population but concurrently, rice accumulates a substantial amount of As, thereby compromising food security. The gravity of the situation lays in the fact that the population in theAs uncontaminated areas may be accidentally exposed to toxic levels of As from rice consumption. In this review, we are trying to summarize the documents on the impact of As contamination and phytotoxicity in past two decades. The unique feature of this attempt is wide spectrum coverages of topics, and that makes it truly an interdisciplinary review. Aprat from the behaviour of As in rice field soil, we have documented the cellular and molecular response of rice plant upon exposure to As. The potential of various mitigation strategies with particular emphasis on using biochar, seed priming technology, irrigation management, transgenic variety development and other agronomic methods have been critically explored. The review attempts to give a comprehensive and multidiciplinary insight into the behaviour of As in Paddy -Water - Soil - Plate prospective from molecular to post-harvest phase. From the comprehensive literature review, we may conclude that considerable emphasis on rice grain, nutritional and anti-nutritional components, and grain quality traits under arsenic stress condition is yet to be given. Besides these, some emerging mitigation options like seed priming technology, adoption of nanotechnological strategies, applications of biochar should be fortified in large scale without interfering with the proper use of biodiversity.

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediment at Sukinda ultramafic complex using HAADF-STEM analysis.

The Sukinda ultramafic complex in Odisha has the largest chromite reserve in India. Sediment derived from ultramafic rocks has been enriched with various metals. Further, mining activities enhance the influx of metals into sediment by dumping mine overburden and tailings in the open area. Metal concentration in sediment is found in order of CrTotal(Cr) > Mn > Ni > Co > Zn > Cu with average concentration 26,778 mg/kg, 3098 mg/kg, 1813 mg/kg, 184 mg/kg, 116 mg/kg and 44 mg/kg respectively. Concentration of Cr(VI) varies from 5.25 to 26.47 mg/L with an average of 12.27 mg/L. Based on various pollution indices, it is confirmed that the area is severely contaminated. Nano-scale goethite, kaolinite, clinochlore and chromite have been identified and have high concentration of Cr, Co and Ni. Goethite has shown maximum metal retention potential as deciphered by high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). The HAADF-STEM mapping and principal component analysis indicate that Cr and Co mostly derived from chromite whereas Ni and Zn are derived from serpentine. Later, these metals co-precipitate and/or adsorbed onto the goethite and clay minerals. Fractionation study of metals confirms that Cu is the most mobile element followed by Zn. However, at low pH condition Ni is mobilized and likely to be bioavailable. Though Cr mostly occurs in residual fraction but as its concentration is very high, a small proportion of exchangeable fraction contributes significantly in terms of its bioavailability. Thus bioavailable Cr can pose severe threat to the environment in the Sukinda ultramafic complex.