One-pot synthesis of bismuth yttrium tungstate nanosheet decorated 3D-BiOBr nanoflower heterostructure with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity.

A visible light driven BiOBr/BixY1-xWO6 nanocomposite photocatalyst of various compositions are prepared by the addition of different amounts of KBr (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 mmol) in BixY1-xWO6 by a one-pot hydrothermal method. Furthermore, the photocatalytic properties of the as-prepared materials are analyzed by the decomposition of methylene blue under visible light illumination. In particular, the BiOBr/BixY1-xWO6 nanocomposite prepared by taking 1.5 mmol of KBr present a superior photocatalytic ability (78.3%) with the rate constant value 0.016 min-1, a low bandgap (Eg = 2.51 eV) as well as photoluminescence emission intensity than other photocatalysts prepared in this study. The radical scavenging studies revealed that OH and h+ performed an imperative role in the decomposition of methylene blue. Furthermore, the optimized photocatalyst is stable even after four cycles, which exposes the excellent photostability and reusability properties of the photocatalyst. In addition, a plausible mechanism of decomposition of methylene blue under visible light irradiation is also proposed.

Biosurfactant mediated bioelectrokinetic remediation of diesel contaminated environment.

The present study integrated the electrokinetic (EK) with bioremediation (Bioelectrokinetic -BEK) of diesel hydrocarbon by Staphylococcus epidermidis EVR4. It was identified as efficient biosurfactant producing bacteria and growth parameters was optimized using response surface methodology. Upon degradation, there is a complete disappearance of peaks from nonane (C9) to tricosane (C23) and 85%, 47% of degradation of pentacosane and octacosane respectively. Marine bacterial strain, EVR4 was found to be potential to degrade the diesel with a maximum degradation efficiency of 96% within 4 d, which was due to its synergistic role of biosurfactant and catabolic enzymes (dehydrogenase, catalase and cytochrome C). The application of integrated BEK was an effective insitu method for the remediation of diesel contaminated soil by BEK (84%) than EK (67%). EVR4 as an effective strain can be employed for BIO-EK method to clean the diesel hydrocarbon polluted environment.

Lichen Parmelia sulcata mediated synthesis of gold nanoparticles: an eco-friendly tool against Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti.

The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using the lichen Parmelia sulcata extract (PSE) and characterized. The peaks of ultraviolet spectrophotometer and Fourier transmission infrared confirmed the formation of nanoparticles and the bioactive compounds of the lichen being responsible for reducing and capping of the particles. The face-centered cubic particles were determined by XRD peaks at 111, 200, 220, and 311. The elemental composition and spherical shape of AuNPs were confirmed by energy-dispersive spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The average particle size is 54 nm, and the zeta potential - 18 was ascertained by dynamic light scattering. The potential effect of synthesized nanoparticles and lichen extracts was evaluated for antioxidant bioassays like DPPH and H2O2 and tested for mosquitocidal activity against Anopheles stephensi. Results showed that the lichen extract and AuNPs have the capability to scavenge the free radicals with the IC50 values of DPPH being 1020 and 815 µg/ml and the IC50 values of H2O2 being 694 and 510 µg/ml, respectively. The mosquitocidal experimental results in this study showed the inhibition of A. stephensi and A. aegypti against the larvae (I-IV instar), pupae, adult, and egg hatching. On comparison, A. stephensi showed effective inhibition than A. aegypti even at low concentration. Based on the obtained results, gold nanoparticles synthesized using PSE showed an excellent mosquitocidal effect against Anopheles stephensi.

An overview of cephalosporin antibiotics as emerging contaminants: a serious environmental concern.

Antibiotics have been categorized as emerging pollutants due to their indiscriminate usage, continuous input and persistence in various environmental matrices even at lower concentrations. Cephalosporins are the broad-spectrum antibiotics of ß-lactam family. Owing to its enormous production and consumption, it is reported as the second most prescribed antibiotic classes in Europe. The cephalosporin wastewater contains toxic organic compounds, inorganic salts, and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) which pose a potential threat to the organisms in the environment. Therefore, removal of cephalosporin antibiotics from the environment has become mandatory as it contributes to increase in the level of chemical oxygen demand (COD), causing toxicity of the effluent and production of cephalosporin-resistant microbes. So far, several processes have been reported for degradation/removal of cephalosporins from the environment. A number of individual studies have been published within the last decade covering the various aspects of antibiotics. However, a detailed compilation on cephalosporin antibiotics as an emerging environmental contaminant is still lacking. Hence, the present review intends to highlight the current ecological scenario with respect to distribution, toxicity, degradation, various remediation technologies, and the regulatory aspects concerning cephalosporins. The latest successful technologies for cephalosporin degradation/removal discussed in this review will help researchers for a better understanding of the nature and persistence of cephalosporins in the environment along with the risks associated with their existence. The research thrust discussed in this review will also evoke new technologies to be attempted by the future researchers to develop sustainable options to remediate cephalosporin-contaminated environments.

A statistical approach of zinc remediation using acidophilic bacterium via an integrated approach of bioleaching enhanced electrokinetic remediation (BEER) technology.

The aim of the present study was to isolate an indigenous acidophilic bacterium from tannery effluent contaminated sludge (TECS) sample and evaluate its potentiality towards the removal of zinc using an integrated approach of bioleaching enhanced electrokinetic remediation (BEER) technology in zinc spiked soil at an initial concentration of 1000 mg/kg. The isolated acidophilic bacterium was characterized by biochemical and 16S rRNA molecular identification and was named as Serratia marcescens SMAR1 bearing an accession no. MG742410 in NCBI database. The effect of pH and inoculum dosage of SMAR 1 strain showed an optimal growth at pH 5.0 and 4% (v/v) respectively. Based on these experimental data, a statistical analysis was done using Design Expert computer software, v11 to study the interaction between the process parameters with respect to zinc reduction as an output response. Electrokinetic experiments were conducted in a customised EK cell under optimised process conditions, employing titanium electrodes. Experiments for zinc removal were demonstrated for bioleaching, electrokinetic (EK) and BEER technology. On comparing, the integrated process was found to evidence as an excellent metal remediation option with a maximum zinc removal of 93.08% in 72 h than plain bioleaching (72.86%) and EK (56.67%) in 96 h. This is the first report of zinc removal in a short period of time using Serratia marcescens. It is therefore concluded that the BEER approach can be regarded as an effective technology in cleaning up the metal contaminated environment with an easy recovery and reuse option within short period of time.

Treatment of soak liquor and bioelectricity generation in dual chamber microbial fuel cell.

The discharge of untreated soak liquor from tannery industry causes severe environmental pollution. This study is characterizing the soak liquor as a substrate in the microbial fuel cell (MFC) for remediation along with electricity generation. The dual chamber MFC was constructed and operated. Potassium permanganate was used as cathode solution and carbon felt electrode as anodic and cathodic material, respectively. The soak liquor was characterized by electrochemical studies viz., cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and polarization studies, respectively. The removal percentage of protein, lipid, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured before and after treatment with MFC. The results of MFC showed a highest current density of 300 mA/cm2 and a power density of 92 mW/m2. The removal of COD, protein, and lipid were noted as 96, 81, and 97% respectively during MFC process. This MFC can be used in tannery industries for treating soak liquor and simultaneous electricity generation.

Role of calcium-depositing bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens and its influence on corrosion of different engineering metals used in cooling water system.

The present investigation deals with the role of calcium-depositing bacterial community on corrosion of various engineering metals, namely, brass alloy (BS), copper (Cu), stainless steel (SS) and mild steel (MS). Based on the corrosion behavior, Agrobacterium tumefaciens EN13, an aerobic bacterium is identified as calcium-depositing bacteria on engineering metals. The results of the study are supported with biochemical characterization, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, calcium quantification, weight loss, electrochemical (impedance and polarization) and surface analysis (XRD and FTIR) studies. The calcium quantification study showed carbonate precipitation in abiotic system/biotic system as 50 and 700 ppm, respectively. FTIR results too confirmed the accumulation of calcium deposits from the environment on the metal surface by EN13. Electrochemical studies too supported the corrosion mechanism by showing a significant increase in the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of abiotic system (44, 33.6, 45, 29.6 Ω cm2) than compared to biotic system (41, 10.1 29 and 25 Ω cm2). Hence, the outcome of the present study confirmed the enhanced bioaccumulation behavior of calcium by the strain, EN13.