Enhancing somatic embryogenesis of Malaysian rice cultivar MR219 using adjuvant materials in a high-efficiency protocol

Enhancing of the efficient tissue culture protocol for somatic embryos would facilitate the engineered breeding plants program. In this report, we describe the reproducible protocol of Malaysian rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivar MR219 through somatic embryogenesis. Effect of a wide spectrum of exogenesis materials was assessed in three phases, namely callogenesis, proliferation and regeneration. Initially, rice seeds were subjected under various auxin treatments. Secondly, the effect of different concentrations of 2,4-D on callus induction was evaluated. In the next step, the efficiency of different explants was identified. Subsequently, the effects of different auxins, cytokinins, l-proline, casein hydrolysate and potassium metasilicate concentrations on the callus proliferation and regeneration were considered. For the callogenesis phase, 2 mg L^?1of 2,4-D and roots were chosen as the best auxin and explant. In the callus proliferation stage, the highest efficiency was observed at week eight in the MS media supplemented with 2 mg L^?1 of 2,4-D, 2 mg L^?1 of kinetin, 50 mg L^?1 of l-proline, 100 mg L^?1 of casein hydrolysate and 30 mg L^?1 of potassium metasilicate. In the last phase of the research, the MS media added with 3 mg L^?1 of kinetin, 30 mg L^?1of potassium metasilicate and 2 mg L^?1 of NAA were selected. Meanwhile, to promote the roots of regenerated explants, 0.4 mg L^?1 of IBA has shown potential as an appropriate activator.     

Evaluation of petroleum hydrocarbon biodegradation in shallow groundwater by hydrogeochemical indicators and C, S-isotopes

Biodegradation is one of the main natural attenuation processes in groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. In this work, preliminary studies have been carried out by analyzing the concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dominant terminal electron accepters or donors, as well as δ ¹³C_DIC and δ ³⁴S_SO4, to reveal the biodegradation mechanism of petroleum hydrocarbons in a contaminated site. The results show that along groundwater flow in the central line of the plume, the concentrations of electron acceptors, pH, and E _h increased but TPH and DIC decreased. The δ ¹³C_DIC values of the contaminated groundwater were in the range of ?14.02 to ?22.28 ‰_PDB and ?7.71 to 8.36 ‰_PDB, which reflected a significant depletion and enrichment of ¹³C, respectively. The increase of DIC is believed to result from the non-methanogenic and methanogenic biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbon in groundwater. Meanwhile, from the contaminated source to the downgradient of the plume, the ³⁴S in the contaminated groundwater became more depleted. The Rayleigh model calculation confirmed the occurrence of bacterial sulfate reduction as a biodegradation pathway of the petroleum hydrocarbon in the contaminated aquifers. It was concluded that stable isotope measurements, combined with other biogeochemical measurements, can be a useful tool to prove the occurrence of the biodegradation process and to identify the dominant terminal electron-accepting process in contaminated aquifers.     

Mapping groundwater quality for irrigation in Punjab, North-West India, using geographical information system

The state of Punjab—a part of the Indus basin of the Indian subcontinent has an excellent net work of irrigation facilities. However, due to intensive cultivation it is facing a major problem with respect to quality of groundwater for irrigation. In the present investigation, geo-referenced groundwater samples were analysed to map water quality using geographical information system. Electrical conductivity varied from 0.418 to 5.754 dS m^?1 with an average of 1.365 dS m^?1. The carbonate ranged between 0 and 120 mg L^?1, whereas bicarbonate ranged from 5 to 1,000 mg L^?1. Chloride varied from 7 to 2,347 mg L^?1. Calcium plus magnesium ranged from 12 to 1,216 mg L^?1 with a mean value of 169 mg L^?1. Sodium adsorption ratio ranged between 0.0 and 34.78 with an average of 2.66 meq L^?1/2. Residual sodium carbonate varied from 0 to 21.30 meq L^?1 with a standard deviation of 2.24. The Geographic Information System (GIS)-based mapping indicated that water in suitable category spatially covered 45.7 % of the state which is located mostly in the sub-mountain (Siwalik Hills), north-eastern undulating and piedmont and alluvial plain agro-eco-subregions. Marginally suitable groundwater spatially covered 46.1 % in the central alluvial plain and south-western alluvial plain agro-eco-subregions. Unsuitable groundwater covered 8.2 % of the state, mostly in the erstwhile sodic soils areas in the central alluvial plain and south-western alluvial plain agro-eco-subregions. GIS-based maps are effective in identifying hot spots which need immediate attention and call for strategic planning for sustainable management.     

Induced degradation of crude oil mediated by microbial augmentation and bulking agents

Different bacterial and fungal strains, isolated from petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, were tested, in isolation as well as in combination, for their ability to degrade total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil samples spiked with crude oil (2, 5 or 10 %, w/w) for 30 days. The selected combination of bacterial and fungal isolates, i.e., Pseudomonas stutzeri BP10 and Aspergillus niger PS9, exhibited the highest efficiency of TPH degradation (46.7 %) in soil spiked with 2 % crude oil under control condition. Further, when this combination was applied under natural condition in soil spiked with 2 % (w/w) crude oil along with inorganic fertilizers (NPK) and different bulking agents such as rice husk, sugarcane, vermicompost or coconut coir, the percent degradation of TPH was found to be maximum (82.3 %) due to the presence of inorganic fertilizers and rice husk as bulking agent. Further, results showed that the presence of NPK and bulking agents induced the activity of degradative enzymes, such as catalase (0.718 m mol H₂O₂ g^?1), laccase (0.77 µmol g^?1), dehydrogenase (37.5 µg g^?1 h^?1), catechol 1, 2 dioxygenase (276.11 µ mol g^?1) and catechol 2, 3 dioxygenase (15.15 µ mol g^?1) as compared to control (without bioaugmentation). It was inferred that the selected combination microbes along with biostimulants could accentuate the crude oil degradation as evident from the biostimulant-induced enhanced activity of degradative enzymes.     

Groundwater recharge and evolution of water quality in China’s Jilantai Basin based on hydrogeochemical and isotopic evidence

We investigated major ions, stable isotopes, and radiocarbon dates in a Quaternary aquifer in semi-arid northwestern China to gain insights into groundwater recharge and evolution. Most deep and shallow groundwater in the Helan Mountains was fresh, with total dissolved solids <1,000 mg L^?1 and Cl^? <250 mg L^?1. The relationships of major ions with Cl^? suggest strong dissolution of evaporites. However, dissolution of carbonates, albite weathering, and ion exchange are also the major groundwater process in Jilantai basin. The shallow desert groundwater is enriched in δ¹⁸O and intercepts the local meteoric water line at δ¹⁸O = ?13.4 ‰, indicating that direct infiltration is a minor recharge source. The isotope compositions in intermediate confined aquifers resemble those of shallow unconfined groundwater, revealing that upward recharge from intermediate formations is a major source of shallow groundwater in the plains and desert. The estimated residence time of 10.0 kyr at one desert site, indicating that some replenishment of desert aquifers occurred in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene with a wetter and colder climate than at present.     

Immobilization of copper under an acid leach of colloidal pyrite waste rocks by a fixed-bed column

Colloidal pyrite waste rocks (CPWR) which are mainly composed of colloidal pyrite and siderite widely deposit in sulfide mines in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River belt, China, especially in Tongling City, Anhui Province, China. In this paper, a fixed-bed column was used to investigate the weathering and oxidation of CPWR and its role in immobilizing low-concentration Cu (10 mg L^?1) under weakly acidic leach (pH = 5.0). The experimental results indicated that the breakthrough capacity was around 14.0 mg Cu g^?1 CPWR when Cu²⁺ breakthrough concentration was 0.5 mg L^?1. Sequential extraction of Cu and dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate extraction of free iron in the used CPWR after the column breakthrough indicated that Cu removal by CPWR consisted of the following processes: oxidation of pyrite and dissolution of siderite in CPWR, ferrous oxidation, and adsorption of Cu on ferric (hydr)oxides. This study shows the potential application of CPWR as an effective sorbent for the removal of low-concentration Cu from acid mine drainage.     

Dynamics of diesel fuel degradation in contaminated soil using organic wastes

Bioremediation is an effective measure in dealing with such contamination, particularly those from petroleum hydrocarbon sources. The effect of soil amendments on diesel fuel degradation in soil was studied. Diesel fuel was introduced into the soil at the concentration of 5 % (w/w) and mixed with three different organic wastes tea leaf, soy cake, and potato skin, for a period of 3 months. Within 84 days, 35 % oil loss was recorded in the unamended polluted soil while 88, 81 and 75 % oil loss were recorded in the soil amended with soy cake, potato skin and tea leaf, respectively. Diesel fuel utilizing bacteria counts were significantly high in all organic wastes amended treatments, ranging from 111 × 106 to 152 × 106 colony forming unit/gram of soil, as compared to the unamended control soil which gave 31 × 106 CFU/g. The diesel fuel utilizing bacteria isolated from the oil-contaminated soil belongs to Bacillus licheniformis, Ochrobactrum tritici and Staphylococcus sp. Oil-polluted soil amended with soy cake recorded the highest oil biodegradation with a net loss of 53 %, as compared to the other treatments. Dehydrogenase enzyme activity, which was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride technique, correlated significantly with the total petroleum hydrocarbons degradation and accumulation of CO₂. First-order kinetic model revealed that soy cake was the best of the three organic wastes used, with biodegradation rate constant of 0.148 day^?1 and half life of 4.68 days. The results showed there is potential for soy cake, potato skin and tea leaf to enhance biodegradation of diesel in oil-contaminated soil.     

Energy generation from domestic wastewater using sandwich dual-chamber microbial fuel cell with mesh current collector cathode

A sandwich domestic wastewater-fed dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was designed for energy generation and wastewater treatment. The generated power density by the MFC was observed to increase with increasing chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the domestic wastewater. The maximum power density was 251 mW m^?2 when the COD was 3400 mg L^?1 at a current density of 0.054 mA cm^?2 and external resistance of 200 Ω. These values dropped to 60 mW m^?2 (76 % lower) and 0.003 mA cm^?2 using wastewater 91 % diluted to 300 mg L^?1 COD. Maximum removals were: COD, 89 %; nitrite, 60 %; nitrate, 77 %; total nitrogen, 36 %; and phosphate, 26 %. Coulombic efficiency ranged from 5 to 7 %. The use of full-strength domestic wastewater reduces cost, and with improved reactor design, the ultimate goal of large-scale operation could be achieved.     

Efficiency assessment of aerobic biological effluent treatment plant treating pharmaceutical effluents

The present paper undertakes a study of the physico-chemical properties and toxic heavy metals content in the untreated and treated pharmaceutical effluents in order to evaluate the working efficiency of industrial effluent treatment plants. The treatment efficiency achieved for various parameters was conductivity (79.94%), alkalinity (93.91%), hardness (87.70%), chloride (89.24%), cyanide (79.66%), phosphate (99.19%), total dissolved solids (85.89%), total suspended solids (96.87%), salinity (52.41%), dissolved oxygen (27.32%), biochemical oxygen demand (83.39%) and chemical oxygen demand (72.21%). The removal efficiency achieved for different heavy metals was Cu²⁺ (79.66%), Ni²⁺ (69.22%), Cr⁶⁺ (80.15%), Pb²⁺ (72.14%), Fe³⁺ (92.59%) and Zn²⁺ (90.61%). The level of biochemical oxygen demand (64 mg L^?1) in the treated effluents was above the limit of 30.0 mg L^?1, chemical oxygen demand level (208 mg L^?1) was close to a limit of 250 mg L^?1, while average Pb²⁺ concentration (0.10 mg L^?1) was on the borderline of maximum permissible limit of 0.10 mg L^?1 set by Central Pollution Control Board for safe discharge of industrial effluent in inland surface water. The average concentration of cyanide (0.01 mg L^?1) in the treated industrial effluent of our study is of great concern to the fisheries of freshwater ecosystem in which the effluents finally get discharged. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that the pollution level in the discharged pharmaceutical effluent is of the great concern requiring proper treatment and regular scientific monitoring so as to protect the environmental degradation of water resources and facilitate the propagation of the aquatic life.     

Effects of micro-plastic particles on paraquat toxicity to common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>): biochemical changes

In this study, we investigated the possible effects of paraquat and micro-plastics on blood biochemical parameters in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). We exposed C. carpio for 21 days to sublethal concentrations of paraquat (0.2 and 0.4 mg L^?1) and micro-plastics (1 and 2 mg L^?1), alone or in combination. Blood biochemical analysis indicated that exposure to 0.4 mg L^?1 paraquat and mixture of paraquat and micro-plastics was followed by an increase in aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activities and glucose levels. The activity of ALP and CPK showed a significant increase in fish treated with 2 mg L^?1 micro-plastics. No significant changes were observed in glucose level, AST, ALT, and LDH activities in fish exposed to micro-plastics. Exposure to paraquat and/or micro-plastics resulted in a significant decrease in total protein, globulin, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels and γ-glutamyl transferase activity. When fish were exposed to paraquat or paraquat and micro-plastics, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities increased significantly compared to the control group. Treating fishes with a mixture of paraquat and 2 mg L^?1 micro-plastics caused a significant increase in albumin levels. However, a significant decrease in the albumin level was observed after exposure to paraquat or micro-plastics. Creatinine levels increased after exposure to paraquat and/or micro-plastics. The results indicate that increased doses of micro-plastics in water significantly increased toxic effects of paraquat in fish. Finally, these data support the hypothesis that changes in blood biochemical parameters were induced by exposure to paraquat and/or micro-plastics.     

Toxicity of the organophosphate pesticide diazinon to crayfish of differing age

Diazinon is a widely applied agricultural pesticide whose effect importantly on the environment and the possible contamination of surface waters has led to increased interest in toxicological studies. Crayfish, as an ecologically important benthic macroinvertebrate, seems to be an appropriate model organism for such assessments. Acute toxicity tests were carried out on three crayfish age groups: young-of-the-year (total length = 25.0 ± 4.9 mm), juvenile (total length = 56.5 ± 3.8 mm) and adult (total length = 83.5 ± 5.7 mm). Young-of-the-year crayfish were found to be the most sensitive to diazinon (96 h LC50 = 0.15 mg L^?1), followed by juvenile crayfish (96 h LC50 = 0.27 mg L^?1), and adults (96 h LC50 = 0.51 mg L^?1). Crayfish were highly sensitive to diazinon. A delayed effect of Diazinon 60EC on adults was detected (144 h LC50 = 0.44 mg L^?1) suggests functional damage from the use of sublethal concentrations.     

Spectrophotometric determination of hydrogen sulfide in environmental samples using sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate and response surface methodology

A simple spectrophotometric method for determination of hydrogen sulfide in wastewater and hot spring samples was developed. The method is based on the reaction between hydrogen sulfide and sodium 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonate (NQS). The effect of various experimental factors on the reaction between hydrogen sulfide and NQS was investigated and optimized using central composite design. The optimal values of the factors were 5.00 × 10^?4 mol L^?1 for concentration of NQS and 1.00 × 10^?2 mol L^?1 for concentration of hydrochloric acid. The wavelength of the maximum absorption of the reaction product was 320 nm. Constructed calibration curve for hydrogen sulfide determination was linear in the range of 0.5–20.0 mg L^?1 with the detection limit of 0.16 mg L^?1. The method was free from interferences. Percent relative errors below 2 % were obtained for determination of hydrogen sulfide in environmental samples.     

Salt and nitrate exports from the sprinkler-irrigated Malfarás creek watershed (Ebro river valley,Spain) during 2010

Irrigated agriculture is a clear source of non-point pollution by salts and nitrogen species. The impact of such pollution should be quantified according to specific cases. The case of the Malfarás creek basin, a sprinkler irrigation district located in the semiarid Ebro valley in northeast Spain, has been evaluated. The main crops in the district were corn, barley and alfalfa, occupying 93 % of the irrigated area. The fate of water, salts and nutrients was evaluated by a daily water balance developed at a field scale for the natural year 2010. The yearly data of the whole set of 101 irrigated fields plus the non-irrigated area compared to the measured drainage produced a basin water balance with a low degree of error. The basin consumed 90 % of the total water input of which 68 % was used for crop evapotranspiration and the rest was lost due to non-productive uses. 16 % of the incoming water left the irrigation area as drainage water. The irrigated area was responsible for 87 % of the drainage. The average volume of drained water was 152 mm year^?1 for the whole basin area. The irrigated area drained 183 mm year^?1. The basin exported 473 kg of salt per hectare during 2010. This value was the lowest of the sprinkler irrigation areas in the Ebro valley, mainly due to the lower soil salinity. All the crops except barley received a nitrogen surplus of 10–50 % above their needs. The extra nitrogen entered the water cycle increasing the nitrate concentration in the aquifer water (150 mg L^?1) and drainage water (98 mg L^?1). In 2010 the mass of nitrogen exported by drainage was 49 kg per irrigated hectare. This value is too high for this type of irrigation system and implies that 17 % of nitrogen applied as a fertilizer was lost to drainage water. The key to decreasing the nitrogen leaching and pollution that it causes could be appropriate time-controlled fertigation along with better irrigation scheduling.     

Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Radon in the Choptank River and Its Tributaries: Implications for Groundwater Discharge and Nitrate Inputs

The Choptank River, Chesapeake Bay’s largest eastern-shore tributary, is experiencing increasing nutrient loading and eutrophication. Productivity in the Choptank is predominantly nitrogen-limited, and most nitrogen inputs occur via discharge of high-nitrate groundwater into the river system’s surface waters. However, spatial patterns in the magnitude and quality of groundwater discharge are not well understood. In this study, we surveyed the activity of ²²²Rn, a natural groundwater tracer, in the Choptank’s main tidal channel, the large tidal tributary Tuckahoe Creek, smaller tidal and non-tidal tributaries around the basin, and groundwater discharging into those tributaries, measuring nitrate and salinity concurrently. ²²²Rn activities were <100 Bq m^?3 in the main tidal channel and 100–700 Bq m^?3 in the upper Choptank River and Tuckahoe Creek, while the median Rn activities of fresh tributaries and discharging groundwater were 1,000 and 7,000 Bq m^?3, respectively. Nitrate-N concentrations were <0.01 mg L^?1 throughout most of the tidal channel, 1.5–3 mg L^?1 in the upper reaches, up to 13 mg L^?1 in tributary samples, and up to 19.6 mg L^?1 in groundwater. Nitrate concentrations in tributary surface water were correlated with Rn activity in three of five sub-watersheds, indicating a groundwater nitrate source. ²²²Rn and salinity mass balances indicated that Rn-enriched groundwater discharges directly into the Choptank’s tidal waters and suggested that it consists of a mixture of fresh groundwater and brackish re-circulated estuarine water. Further sampling is necessary to constrain the Rn activity and nitrate concentration of discharging groundwater and quantify direct discharge and associated nitrogen inputs.     

Chromium uptake by giant reed under rhizobacterial inhibition

The role of rhizospheric microbes of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in Cr uptake from hydroponic culture was investigated. The control group was exposed to Cr in range of 25–100 mg L^?1 containing a control itself (with no metal addition). The experimental group received same Cr treatments, but in addition was exposed to antibiotic treatment in order to inhibit rhizospheric bacteria. The range of Cr accumulated in the roots was 3–7.65 mg L^?1; in stem it ranged 2.15–42.4 mg kg^?1; while in leaves, the range of Cr content was 13.7–15 mg kg^?1. Overall, Cr uptake in A. donax (without rhizobacterial inhibition) was root < leaf < stem. However, the amount of Cr uptake in plants with rhizobacterial inhibition was significantly less (~4.6-folds in 100 mg L^?1 Cr treatment) than those without such inhibition clearly highlighting that rhizobacterial inhibition decreased the Cr uptake. The experimental results clearly demonstrated that the inhibition of the rhizobacterial populations had great influence on the Cr uptake. However, Cr uptake could not be completely inhibited as some metal uptake was observed after the rhizobacterial inhibition although it was significantly less than the Cr uptake of plants without such inhibition.     

Isolation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Virgibacillus</Emphasis> sp. strain KU4 from agricultural soil as a potential degrader of endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A

Bisphenol-A is one of the highest volumes of chemicals produced worldwide and released into the atmosphere each year. Recent extensive literature has raised concerns about its possible endocrine-disrupting effect in animals and humans. A bacterium having high tolerance of bisphenol-A (1000 mg L^?1) was isolated from agriculture soil of Coimbatore District, Tamil Nadu, India, and identified as Virgibacillus sp. KU4 by 16S ribosomal RNA sequence analysis. Bisphenol-A removal efficiency of this strain was measured as greater than 92% at seventh day of incubation in a basal mineral medium supplemented with 1000 mg L^?1 at seventh day. Gas chromatography analysis showed that 1000 mg L^?1 BPA in distilled water was degraded by the Virgibacillus sp. KU4 in an efficient way. A 70 ± 3% bisphenol-A degradation was observed in the suspended cell pellet-mediated degradation study, where distilled water supplemented with 1000 mg L^?1 bisphenol-A was sole carbon and energy source for bacterial growth. Further, Virgibacillus sp. KU4 is expected to be a candidate as a biological cleaner of BPA in the environment.     

Ameliorating nitrite inhibition in a low-temperature nitritation–anammox MBBR using bacterial intermediate nitric oxide

The long-term sustainability of an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treating highly concentrated (mean of 740 mg NH₄ ⁺-N L^?1) wastewater was demonstrated by 1600 days of efficient operation. A high maximum total nitrogen removal rate (TNRR) of 1.5 g N m^?2 d^?1 was achieved at the low temperature of 20 °C. For nitrogen removal recovery in cases of nitrite inhibition, anammox intermediate nitric oxide (NO) was tested in batch experiments as an N-removal accelerating agent. The effect of the addition of various NO dosages (8–72 mg NO-N L^?1) was studied under inhibitory nitrite concentrations (>100 mg NO₂ ^?-N L^?1) for anammox bacteria. Optimal maintained NO concentration was 58 mg NO-N L^?1 and brought about the highest biofilm-specific anammox activity (SAA). Compared to a blank test, the minimum concentration of added NO of 40 mg NO-N L^?1 showed a statistically significant (p < 0.05) accelerating effect on SAA. No inhibition of SAA by NO was observed, although at NO concentrations exceeding 72 mg NO-N L^?1, the acceleratory effect upon SAA was decreased by 8%. Changes in the bacterial consortia involved in nitrogen conversion were determined concurrently for the different nitrogen removal rates and operational conditions. Quantities of Planctomycetales clone P4 strains, which are the closest (99% similarity) relative to Candidatus Brocadia fulgida, increased from 1 × 10³ to 1 × 10⁶ anammox gene copies per g total suspended solids during reactor operation days 568–1600, which was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. During the operation of the MBBR, the abundance of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) increased proportionally (up to 30%). The abundance of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) did not increase (remaining below 10%) during days 232–860. AOB became predominant over NOBs owing to the inhibition of free ammonia spiking on NOBs.     

Emissions of greenhouse and non-greenhouse air pollutants from fuel combustion in restaurant industry

Information on emissions from restaurant industry is limited in scientific literature. Emission inventory of greenhouse and non-greenhouse air pollutants from restaurant industry was prepared for two Class 1 Indian cities, viz. Nagpur and Raipur for 2010. Emissions were estimated from a primary database on type and amount of cooking fuel combusted in restaurant industry in the selected cities. Liquefied petroleum gas, charcoal, wood, coal, diesel and candy coal are used in this industry, first three being the major ones. Carbon dioxide emission was highest in both cities and liquefied petroleum gas, charcoal and wood were the major contributors to emissions. Total annual emissions of greenhouse gases, viz. carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were estimated to be 19,251, 27 and 1 Mg year^?1 in Nagpur and 21,207, 34 and 1 Mg year^?1 in Raipur, whereas total annual emissions of non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC), carbon monoxide, total suspended particulate (TSP), sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and black carbon (BC) were 96, 959, 31, 12, 19, 3 Mg year^?1 and 87, 1141, 78, 37, 28, 6 Mg year^?1 in Nagpur and Raipur, respectively, from all the fuels used in restaurant industry. Considering the huge growth of Indian restaurant industry in the last decade and the predicted growth in future, emissions from this industry is assumed to grow and will play a major role in governing regional and national emissions in India.     

Simulation on forecast and control for groundwater contamination of hazardous waste landfill

The groundwater flow and solute transport models were established by Visual Modflow, which was used to forecast the transport process of Cr⁶⁺ in groundwater and simulate the effects of three control measures of contaminants transport after percolation solution leakage happened in the impermeable layer of the landfill. The results showed that the contamination plume of Cr⁶⁺ would reach the pool’s boundary in 10 years, and the distance of contamination transport was 1,450 m. However, the contamination plume will not be obviously expanded between 10 and 20 years. While the ground was covered by hardened concrete, the contamination plume would not reach the pool’s boundary in 20 years. When the leakage-proof barrier was set in the bottom of an unconfined aquifer, the concentration of Cr⁶⁺ was higher than that of the leakage-proof barrier unset, but the result was opposite when setting the leakage-proof barrier in the bottom of confined aquifer. The range of the contamination plume was effectively controlled by setting drainage ditches in which water discharge was 2,298.05 m³ d^?1, which produced monitoring wells which are not contaminated in 20 years. In sum, combining ground hardening with drainage ditches could produce the best effect in controlling contaminants diffusion, and meanwhile, the drainage ditches daily discharge was reduced to 1,710.19 m³ d^?1.     

Effects of organic acids on dissolution of Fe and Mn from weathering coal gangue

Understanding the effects of organic acids (OA) on the transformation of Fe and Mn to surface water from the weathering coal gangue is of great benefit to risk assessment and remediation strategies for contaminated water and soil. Based on the investigation on surface water in the central coal districts of the Guizhou Province, 18 water samples were collected for heavy metal analysis. The results indicated that the pH value of surface water is low (3.11–4.92), and Fe concentration (1.31–5.55 mg L^?1) and Mn concentration (1.90–5.71 mg L^?1) were, on average, 10.86 and 34.33 times the limit of Surface Water Quality Standards, respectively. In order to evaluate the effects of the OA on the dissolution of Fe and Mn from the weathering coal gangue, column elution and batch leaching experiments were conducted. The results show that the low molecular weight of organic acids (LMWOAs, i.e., oxalic, tartaric, malic and citric acids) and fulvic acids significantly accelerated the dissolution of Fe and Mn; in addition, when the concentration of OA reached 25 mmol L^?1, the concentrations of Fe, and Mn were 1.14–67.08 and 1.11–2.32 times as high as those in 0.5 mmol L^?1 OA, respectively. Furthermore, the migration of Fe and Mn was significantly influenced by the pH and Eh, especially for Fe; the ion Mn was dissolved from the gangue more easily than the ion Fe in the column leaching, which was contrary to the results of batch leaching.