Evaluating climate change impacts on reef environments via multibeam echosounder and Acoustic Doppler Current profiler technology

Crucial to the Earth's oceans, ocean currents dynamically react to various factors, including rotation, wind patterns, temperature fluctuations, alterations in salinity and the gravitational pull of the moon. Climate change impacts coastal ecosystems, emphasizing the need for understanding these currents. This study explores multibeam echosounder (MBES), specifically R2-Sonic 2020 instrument, offering detailed seabed information. Investigating coral reefs, rocky reefs and artificial reefs aimed to map seafloor currents movement and their climate change responses. MBES data viz. Bathymetry and backscatter were classified and acoustic doppler current profiler (ADCP) ground data were validated using random forest regression. Results indicated high precision in currents speed measurement i.e. coral reefs with 0.96, artificial reefs with 0.94 and rocky reefs with 0.97. Currents direction accuracy was notable in coral reefs with 0.85, slightly lower in rocky reefs with 0.72 and artificial reefs with 0.60. Random forest identified sediment and backscatter as key for speed prediction while direction relies on bathymetry, slope and aspect. The study emphasizes integrating sediment size, backscatter, bathymetry and ADCP data for seafloor current analysis. This multibeam data on sediments and currents support better marine spatial planning and determine biodiversity patterns planning in the reef area.

Evaluation on microalgae for the production of bio-chemicals and electricity

Recent advancement in biophotovoltaic systems using microalgae, coupled with biorefinery approach, would improve economy-feasibility in production. The major concern is its commercial strength in terms of scalability, strain selection and extraction procedure cost. It must compete with conventional feedstocks such as fossil fuels. This project proposes to enhance the economic feasibility of microalgae-based biorefinery by evaluating their performance for bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoids production in a single cycle. The first part of the study was to construct and select a Bio-bottle Voltaic (BBV) device that would allow microalgae to grow and produce bioproducts, as well as generate the maximum current output reading derived from the microalgae's photosynthesis process. The second phase consisted of a 25-day investigation into the biorefinery performance of six different microalgal species in producing bio-electricity, bio-diesel and carotenoid in a prototype BBV device. The prototype BBV device with aluminium foil and pencil lead as its anode and cathode produced the highest carotenoid and biodiesel component production from the two microalgae tested, according to the results of the first phase of the experiment. In the second portion of the study, Scenedesmus dimorphus and Chlorella vulgaris were identified as the two microalgae most capable of maintaining their growth throughout the experiment. The maximum current reading observed for C. vulgaris was 653 mV. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis showed four major carotenoid compounds found which were Neoxanthin, Cantaxanthin, Astaxanthin and 9-cis antheraxanthin, and the highest carotenoid producer was C. vulgaris which recorded at 1.73 μg/mL. C. vulgaris recorded as the most alkanes producer with 22 compounds detected and Heptacosane and Heneicosane as the two major biodiesel compounds found in the extracts. Evaluation of C. vulgaris data showed that it has enormous potential for microalgal biorefinery candidates. Further ongoing research and development efforts for C. vulgaris will improve the economic viability of microalgae-based industries and reduce reliance on depleted fossil fuels.

Decarbonising ASEAN coastal shipping: Addressing climate change and coastal ecosystem issues through sustainable carbon neutrality strategies

This study analyzes the impact of ASEAN's goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 on climate change and coastal ecosystems by examining carbon emissions and energy usage from 2019 to 2050 using different scenarios to reduce emissions and meet global temperature goals. This research proposes strategies to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change effects on coastal ecosystems, focusing on evaluating CO2 emissions from ASEAN's coastal shipping sector. Geospatial data was used to analyze ship activity and develop carbon neutrality strategies. Various sources are used to gather data, including the Maritime Portal, exact Earth AIS, FASA and GFW. This study finds that container ships emitted 13.7 × 106 t of CO2 in 2019, with the transportation sector contributing 3.8% of the total greenhouse gas in 2020. Without regulations, CO2 emissions could increase fourfold by 2050. The study recommends implementing policies such as adopting clean fuels, energy efficiency standards and fuel-related regulations to reduce CO2 emissions by 65-80% by 2050. It also emphasizes the importance of cleaner technologies, regulatory considerations and collaboration, which would have positive implications for coastal ecosystems. This study is beneficial to professionals in the maritime and shipping industries, policy makers, environmental consultants, sustainability specialists, and international organizations.

Assessing coastal bathymetry and climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems using Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery

Coastal ecosystems are facing heightened risks due to human-induced climate change, including rising water levels and intensified storm events. Accurate bathymetry data is crucial for assessing the impacts of these threats. Traditional data collection methods can be cost-prohibitive. This study investigates the feasibility of using freely accessible Landsat and Sentinel satellite imagery to estimate bathymetry and its correlation with hydrographic chart soundings in Port Klang, Malaysia. Through analysis of the blue and green spectral bands from the Landsat 8 and Sentinel 2 datasets, a bathymetry map of Port Klang's seabed is generated. The precision of this derived bathymetry is evaluated using statistical metrics like Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the coefficient of determination. The results reveal a strong statistical connection (R2 = 0.9411) and correlation (R2 = 0.7958) between bathymetry data derived from hydrographic chart soundings and satellite imagery. This research not only advances our understanding of employing Landsat imagery for bathymetry assessment but also underscores the significance of such assessments in the context of climate change's impact on coastal ecosystems. The primary goal of this research is to contribute to the comprehension of Landsat imagery's utility in bathymetry evaluation, with the potential to enhance safety protocols in seaport terminals and provide valuable insights for decision-making concerning the management of coastal ecosystems amidst climate-related challenges. The findings of this research have practical implications for a wide range of stakeholders involved in coastal management, environmental protection, climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.

Enhancing coastal ecosystem resilience: Investigating the interplay between safety criteria and ferry employee's perceptions to address climate change impacts

Coastal ecosystems play an important part in mitigating the effects of climate change. Coastal ecosystems are becoming more susceptible to climate change impacts due to human activities and maritime accidents. The global shipping industry, especially in Southeast Asia, has witnessed numerous accidents, particularly involving passenger ferries, resulting in injuries and fatalities in recent years. In order to mitigate the impact of climate change on coastal ecosystems, this study aimed to evaluate the relationship between employees' perceptions of safety criteria and their own safety behaviour on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. A straightforward random sampling technique was employed to collect data from 112 ferry employees aboard Malaysian-registered passenger boats by administering questionnaires. The findings shed light on the strong connection between providing safety instructions for passengers and safety behaviour among ferry workers. Safety instructions should contain climate-related information to successfully address the effects of climate change. The instructions might include guidance on responding to extreme weather events and understanding the potential consequences of sea-level rise on coastal communities. The ferry company staff should also expand their safe behaviour concept to include training and preparation for climate-related incidents. The need to recognise the interconnectedness between climate change, ferry safety and the protection of coastal ecosystems is emphasised in this study. The findings can be utilised by policymakers, regulatory agencies and ferry operators to design holistic policies that improve safety behaviour, minimise maritime mishaps and preserve the long-term sustainability of coastal ecosystems in the face of difficulties posed by climate change.

Physicochemical and thermal characteristics of choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvents

It is essential to investigate the physicochemical and thermal properties of choline chloride (ChCl)-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) with various hydrogen bond donor (HBD) functional groups, such as α-hydroxy acid (lactic acid) or polyol (glycerol). It is important to consider how molar ratios impact these properties, as they may be altered for particular applications. This study aimed to examine the physicochemical and thermal properties of ChCl-based DESs with lactic acid (LA) or glycerol (Gly) at different molar ratios (1:2-1:10). The pH of ChCl:LA (0-1.0) is lower than that of ChCl:Gly (4.0-5.0) because of the hydrogen bonds between ChCl and LA. A higher amount of LA/Gly resulted in higher densities of ChCl:Gly (1.20-1.22 g cm-3) and ChCl:LA (1.16-1.19 g cm-3) due to the stronger hydrogen bonds and tighter packing of the molecules. The refractive index of ChCl:Gly (1.47-1.48) was higher than ChCl:LA (1.44-1.46), with a trend similar to density. The viscosities of ChCl:Gly (0.235-0.453 Pa s) and ChCl:LA (0.04-0.06 Pa s) increased with increasing LA/Gly molar ratio but decreased with temperature due to the high kinetic energy from heating, lowering the attractive forces between molecules. The activation energy for ChCl:LA (15.29-15.55 kJ mol-1) is greater than for ChCl:Gly (7.77-8.78 kJ mol-1), indicating that ChCl:LA has a greater viscosity-temperature dependence than ChCl:Gly. The DESs decomposition temperatures are 179.73-192.14 °C for ChCl:LA and 189.69-197.41 °C for ChCl:Gly. Freezing temperatures are correlated with the molecular weight of HBDs, with lower values causing a larger decrease in freezing temperatures. The interactions of polyols with anions were stronger than those of α-hydroxy acids with anions. The variations in HBA to HBD molar ratios affected DESs properties, providing a fundamental understanding of the properties critical for their diverse applications.

Nanoparticle-laden contact lens for controlled release of vancomycin with enhanced antibiotic efficacy

Vancomycin is the last resort antibiotic for the treatment of severe bacterial keratitis. Its clinical application is limited due to its hydrophilicity and high molecular weight. To overcome this, this study aims to develop nanoparticles-laden contact lens for controlled ocular delivery of vancomycin. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as encapsulant material. The nanoparticles had a negative surface charge and an average size of 147.6 nm. A satisfactory encapsulation efficiency (61.24%) was obtained. The release profile was observed to be slow and sustained, with a release rate of 1.29 μL mg-1 h-1 for 48 h. Five out of 6 test bacteria were suppressed by vancomycin nanoparticles-laden contact lens. Vancomycin is generally ineffective against Gram-negative bacteria and unable to pass through the outer membrane barrier. In this study, vancomycin inhibited Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Nano-encapsulation enables vancomycin to penetrate the Gram-negative cell wall and further destroy the bacterial cells. On Hohenstein challenge test, all test bacteria exhibited significant reduction in growth when exposed to vancomycin nanoparticles-laden contact lens. This study created an effective and long-lasting vancomycin delivery system via silicone hydrogel contact lenses, by using PVA as encapsulant. The antibiotic efficacy and vancomycin release should be further studied using ocular in vivo models.

Investigating the crude oil biodegradation performance in membrane bioreactor by using a consortium of symbiotic bacteria

Crude oil pollution is one of the most serious environmental issues today, and the clean-up procedure is perhaps the most difficult. Within one to three weeks, the vast majority of oil bacteria may degrade approximately 60% of the crude oil, leaving approximately 40% intact. The by-product metabolites produced during the breakdown of oil are essentially organic molecules in nature. These metabolites inhibit its enzymes, preventing the oil bacteria from further degrading the oil. By combining a variety of different oils with heterotrophic bacteria in a bioreactor, the rate of crude oil biodegradation was accelerated. In this study, two strains of oil-resistant, heterotrophic bacteria (OG1 and OG2-Erythrobacter citreus) and a bacterium that uses hydrocarbons (AR3-Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) were used. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy was used to investigate the effectiveness of this consortium of symbiotic bacteria in the biodegradation of crude oil. According to gravimetric and gas chromatography analyses, the consortium bacteria digested 69.6% of the crude oil in the bioreactor, while the AR3 single strain was only able to destroy 61.9% of it. Under the same experimental conditions, consortium bacteria degraded approximately 84550.851 ppb (96.3%) of 16 aliphatic hydrocarbons and 9333.178 ppb (70.5%) of 16 aromatic hydrocarbons in the bioreactor. It may be inferred that the novel consortium of symbiotic bacteria accelerated the biodegradation process and had great potential for use in increasing the bioremediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated locations.

Development of sodium alginate-pectin biodegradable active food packaging film containing cinnamic acid

Plastics are still the most popular food packaging material, and many of them end up in the environment for a long period. Besides, due to packaging material's inability to inhibit microbial growth, beef often contains microorganisms that affect its aroma, colour, and texture. Cinnamic acid is categorized as generally recognised as safe and is permitted for use in food, however, the development of biodegradable food packaging film with cinnamic acid has never been conducted before. Thus, this present study was aimed to develop a biodegradable active packaging material for fresh beef using sodium alginate and pectin. The film was successfully developed with solution casting method. The films' thickness, colour, moisture level, dissolution, water vapour permeability, bending strength, and elongation at break were comparable to those of polyethylene plastic film in terms of these attributes. The developed film also showed the degradability in soil of 43.26% in a duration of 15 days. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectra showed that cinnamic acid was successfully incorporated with the film. The developed film showed significant inhibitory activity on all test foodborne bacteria. On Hohenstein Challenge Test, a 51.28-70.45% reduction on bacterial growth was also observed. The antibacterial efficacy of the established film by using fresh beef as food model. The meats wrapped with the film showed significant reduction in bacterial load throughout the experimental period by 84.09%. The colour of the beef also showed significant different between control film and edible film during 5 days test. Beef with control film turned into dark brownish and beef with cinnamic acid turn into light brownish. In conclusion, sodium alginate and pectin film with cinnamic acid showed good biodegradability and antibacterial activity. Further studies can be conducted to investigate the scalability and commercial viability of this environmental-friendly food packaging materials.

Methanol production and purification via membrane-based technology: Recent advancements, challenges, and the way forward

Industrail revolution on the back of fossil fuels has costed humanity higher temperatures on the planet due to ever-growing concentration of CO₂ emissions in Earth's atmosphere. To tackle global warming demand for renewable energy sources continues to increase. Along renewables, there has been a growing interest in converting carbon dioxide to methanol, which can be used as a fuel or a feedstock for producing chemicals. The current review study provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements, challenges, and future prospects of methanol production and purification via membrane-based technology. Traditional downstream processes for methanol production, such as distillation and absorption, have several drawbacks, including high energy consumption and environmental concerns. In comparison to conventional technologies, membrane-based separation techniques have emerged as a promising alternative for producing and purifying methanol. The review highlights recent developments in membrane-based methanol production and purification technology, including using novel membrane materials such as ceramic, polymeric, and mixed matrix membranes. Additionally, integrating photocatalytic processes with membrane separation has been investigated to improve the conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol. Despite the potential benefits of membrane-based systems, several challenges need to be addressed. Membrane fouling and scaling are significant issues that can reduce the efficiency and lifespan of the membranes. Furthermore, the cost-effectiveness of membrane-based systems compared to traditional methods is a critical consideration that must be evaluated. In conclusion, the review provides insights into the current state of membrane-based technology for methanol production and purification and identifies areas for future research. The development of high-performance membranes and the optimization of membrane-based processes are crucial for improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of this technology and for advancing the goal of sustainable energy production.

Challenges associated with cellulose composite material: Facet engineering and prospective

Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide on earth. It has a large number of desirable properties. Its low toxicity makes it more useful for a variety of applications. Nowadays, its composites are used in most engineering fields. Composite consists of a polymer matrix and use as a reinforcing material. By reducing the cost of traditional fibers, it has an increasing demand for environment-friendly purposes. The use of these types of composites is inherent in moisture absorption with hindered natural fibers. This determines the reduction of polymer composite material. By appropriate chemical surface treatment of cellulose composite materials, the effect could be diminished. The most modern and advanced techniques and methods for the preparation of cellulose and polymer composites are discussed here. Cellulosic composites show a reinforcing effect on the polymer matrix as pointed out by mechanical characterization. Researchers tried their hard work to study different ways of converting various agricultural by-products into useful eco-friendly polymer composites for sustainable production. Cellulose plays building blocks, that are critical for polymer products and their engineering applications. The most common method used to prepare composites is in-situ polymerization. This help to increase the yields of cellulosic composites with a significant enhancement in thermal stability and mechanical properties. Recently, cellulose composites used as enhancing the incorporation of inorganic materials in multi-functional properties. Furthermore, we have summarized in this review the potential applications of cellulose composites in different fields like packaging, aerogels, hydrogels, and fibers.

Unleashing the potential of xanthan: a comprehensive exploration of biosynthesis, production, and diverse applications

Employing aerobic fermentation, Gram-negative bacteria belonging to the genus Xanthomonas produce the high molecular weight natural heteropolysaccharide known as xanthan. It has various amounts of O-acetyl and pyruvyl residues together with D-glucosyl, D-mannosyl, and D-glucuronyl acid residues in a molar ratio of 2:2:1. The unique structure of xanthan allowed its various applications in a wide range of industries such as the food industry, pharmacology, cosmetics and enhanced oil recovery primarily in petroleum. The cultivation medium used in the manufacture of this biopolymer is critical. Many attempts have been undertaken to generate xanthan gum from agro-based and food industry wastes since producing xanthan gum from synthetic media is expensive. Optimal composition and processing parameters must also be considered to achieve an economically viable manufacturing process. There have been several attempts to adjust the nutrient content and feeding method, temperature, pH, agitation and the use of antifoam in xanthan fermentations. Various modifications in technological approaches have been applied to enhance its physicochemical properties which showed significant improvement in the area studied. This review describes the biosynthesis production of xanthan with an emphasis on the importance of the upstream processes involving medium, processing parameters, and other factors that significantly contributed to the final application of this precious polysaccharide.

Implementation of the energy efficiency existing ship index and carbon intensity indicator on domestic ship for marine environmental protection

The International Maritime Organization has set a goal to achieve a 50% reduction of total annual greenhouse gas emission related to the international shipping by 2050 compared to the 2008 baseline emissions. Malaysia government has taken an initiative to investigate the assessment (cost-effectiveness) of this International Maritime Organization's short-term measure on Malaysian-registered domestic ships although this measure is only for international merchant ship. To achieve this, this paper collected the ship's data from the shipowners from 25 sample ships. Engine power limitation is the most cost-effective option, but low power limits can lead to substantially increased sailing times. Based on cost-efficiency analysis, it creates for the purpose of compliance with the operational carbon intensity indicator. It found that even if it is possible to bring an asset back into service, it may not be possible to do so in a manner that generates a profit or complies with applicable regulations. In these situations, it may be more prudent to scrap the asset rather than run the risk of having it become a stranded asset. This is especially true for older tankers. Alternatives with lengthy payback periods are not desirable for the domestic tanker fleet that is already in operation.

Role of silica-based porous cellulose nanocrystals in improving water absorption and mechanical properties

Epoxy resins are important thermosetting polymers. They are widely used in many applications i.e., adhesives, plastics, coatings and sealers. Epoxy molding compounds have attained dominance among common materials due to their excellent mechanical properties. The sol-gel simple method was applied to distinguish the impact on the colloidal time. The properties were obtained with silica-based fillers to enable their mechanical and thermal improvement. The work which we have done here on epoxy-based nanocomposites was successfully modified. The purpose of this research was to look into the effects of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) on various properties and applications. CNCs have recently attracted a lot of interest in a variety of industries due to their high aspect ratio, and low density which makes them perfect candidates. Adding different amounts of silica-based nanocomposites to the epoxy system. Analyzed with different techniques such as Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscope (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electronic microscopic (SEM) to investigate the morphological properties of modified composites. The various %-age of silica composite was prepared in the epoxy system. The 20% of silica was shown greater enhancement and improvement. They show a better result than D-400 epoxy. Increasing the silica, the transparency of the films decreased, because clustering appears. This shows that the broad use of CNCs in environmental engineering applications is possible, particularly for surface modification, which was evaluated for qualities such as absorption and chemical resistant behavior.

Performance evaluation of phosphonium based deep eutectic solvents coated cerium oxide nanoparticles for CO2 capture

The critical challenge being faced by our current modern society on a global scale is to reduce the surging effects of climate change and global warming, being caused by anthropogenic emissions of CO₂ in the environment. Present study reports the surface driven adsorption potential of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) surface functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeNPs) for low pressure CO₂ separation. The phosphonium based DESs were prepared using tetra butyl phosphoniumbromide as hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) and 6 acids as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs). The as-developed DESs were characterized and employed for the surface functionalization of CeNPs with their subsequent utilization in adsorption-based CO₂ adsorption. The synthesis of as-prepared DESs was confirmed through FTIR measurements and absence of precipitates, revealed through visual observations. It was found that DES6 surface functionalized CeNPs demonstrated 27% higher adsorption performance for CO₂ capturing. On the contrary, DES3 coated CeNPs exhibited the least adsorption progress for CO₂ separation. The higher adsorption performance associated with DES6 coated CeNPs was due to enhanced surface affinity with CO₂ molecules that must have facilitated the mass transport characteristics and resulted an enhancement in CO₂ adsorption performance. Carboxylic groups could have generated an electric field inside the pores to attract more polarizable adsorbates including CO₂, are responsible for the relatively high values of CO2 adsorption. The quadruple movement of the CO₂ molecules with the electron-deficient and pluralizable nature led to the enhancement of the interactive forces between the CO₂ molecules and the CeNPs decorated with the carboxylic group hydrogen bond donor rich DES. The current findings may disclose the new research horizons and theoretical guidance for reduction in the environmental effects associated with uncontrolled CO₂ emission via employing DES surface coated potential CeNPs.

Plant-soil-microbe interactions in maintaining ecosystem stability and coordinated turnover under changing environmental conditions

Ecosystem functions directly depend upon biophysical as well as biogeochemical reactions occurring at the soil-microbe-plant interface. Environment is considered as a major driver of any ecosystem and for the distributions of living organisms. Any changes in climate may potentially alter the composition of communities i.e., plants, soil microbes and the interactions between them. Since the impacts of global climate change are not short-term, it is indispensable to appraise its effects on different life forms including soil-microbe-plant interactions. This article highlights the crucial role that microbial communities play in interacting with plants under environmental disturbances, especially thermal and water stress. We reviewed that in response to the environmental changes, actions and reactions of plants and microbes vary markedly within an ecosystem. Changes in environment and climate like warming, CO₂ elevation, and moisture deficiency impact plant and microbial performance, their diversity and ultimately community structure. Plant and soil feedbacks also affect interacting species and modify community composition. The interactive relationship between plants and soil microbes is critically important for structuring terrestrial ecosystems. The anticipated climate change is aggravating the living conditions for soil microbes and plants. The environmental insecurity and complications are not short-term and limited to any particular type of organism. We have appraised effects of climate change on the soil inhabiting microbes and plants in a broader prospect. This article highlights the unique qualities of tripartite interaction between plant-soil-microbe under climate change.

A study on the uptake of methylene blue by biodegradable and eco-friendly carboxylated starch grafted polyvinyl pyrrolidone

This study is based on the removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution by cost effective and biodegradable adsorbent carboxymethyl starch grafted polyvinyl pyrolidone (Car-St-g-PVP). The Car-St-g-PVP was synthesized by grafting vinyl pyrolidone onto carboxymethyl starch by free radical polymerization reaction. The structure and different properties of Car-St-g-PVP were determined by ¹H NMR, FT-IR, XRD, TGA and SEM. A series of batch experiments were conducted for the removal of MB, The adsorption affecting factors such as temperature, contact time, initial concentration of MB dye, dose of Car-St-g-PVP and pH were studied in detail. The other parameters like the thermodynamic study, kinetics and isothermal models were fitted to the experimental data. The results showed that pseudo 2^nd order kinetics and Langmuir's adsorption isotherms were best fitted to experimental data with regression coefficient R² viz. 0.99 and 0.97. The kinetic study showed that the adsorption mechanism favored chemisorption. The Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) for the adsorption process was found to be -7.31 kJ/mol, -8.23 kJ/mol, -9.00 kJ/mol and -10.10 kJ/mol at 25 °C, 35 °C, 45 °C and 55 °C respectively. The negative values of ΔG° suggested the spontaneous nature of the adsorption process. Similarly, the positive values of entropy (ΔS°) and enthalpy (ΔH°) 91.27 J/k.mol and 19.90 kJ/mol showed the increasing randomness and endothermic nature of the adsorption process. The value of separation factor (R_L) was found to be less than one (RL < 1), which supported the feasibility of the adsorption process. The maximum MB removal percentage (% R) was found to be 98.6%. So, these findings show that Car-St-g-PVP can be meritoriously used for the treatment of MB from wastewater.

Biomedical waste management associated with infectious diseases among health care professionals in apex hospitals of a typical south asian city

Biomedical waste from healthcare activities poses a higher hazard of infection and damage than other types of trash. The main objective of the study was to assess the awareness knowledge and practices of biomedical waste management (BMWM) among health care professionals in the health care units. The cross-sectional study was carried out to access the awareness, knowledge and practices of health care professionals for BMWM. Using a qualitative approach, the study was escorted in two Apex hospitals i.e. the Allied Hospital and the District Head Quarter Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan from August 5, 2019 to October 15, 2019. More than 90% of respondents knew the phrase BMWM, but just 35.4% had awareness about biomedical waste regulations. About 71.6% of the respondents were familiar with biomedical waste's color-coding segregation. The study concludes gap in the awareness, knowledge and practices for BMWM. The sanitary workers of the hospitals had no knowledge about BMWM and the BMWM/healthcare waste management rule 2005 established in Pakistan due to the lack of training regarding waste management and the segregation process. Some of the staff members were aware of the BMWM practices under the rules and regulations of Pakistan but were unable to implement at their work place. It is necessary to dispose of the biomedical waste according to the established terms and conditions of BMWM rules (2005) of Pakistan. Weak structure of BMWM was observed at the study sites due to the lack of training, liabilities and absence of penalties against improper biomedical waste disposal as violation of the rules and regulations. It's a dire need of the time to consider the biomedical waste as hazardous waste and make policies for its safe disposal and ensure the implementation of the policies in all the medical centers of Pakistan.

Model analysis on effect of temperature on the solubility of recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) plastic

The massive increase in the use of PET plastic bottles has raised the challenge of accumulated waste plastics disposal and its related environmental concerns. Reusing this plastic waste through a solvent-based recycling process seems to be an eco-friendly solution for eliminating waste plastic and converting them into high quality products. The selection of solvent with its temperature requirement for the dissolution of polymeric materials is crucial in the solvent-based recycling process. Therefore, an innovative MATLAB program named HSPs-TPT was designed and constructed in this work to evaluate the dissolving power of solvents. Through this program, the solubility of the waste PET polymer was examined in thirteen (13) different solvents at different temperatures. As a results, the degree of waste PET polymer dissolution in the solvents was presented as the polymer-solvent solubility diagram, which provided the information about the relative energy difference (RED) change with the temperature rise. The program also provided the temperature range effective for the dissolution of PET by indicating the minimum and maximum solubility point for each solvent, which was further validated by the experimental data found in the literature. The proposed MATLAB program can numerically analyse the solubility of a polymer in different solvents in a short time for the recycling process and fabrication of different value-added plastic products such as polymer monoliths and membrane filters.

Effective adsorption of cadmium and lead using SO3H-functionalized Zr-MOFs in aqueous medium

Cadmium (Cd) and Lead (Pb) from industrial wastewater can bioaccumulate in the living organisms of water bodies, posing serious threats to human health. Therefore, efficient remediation of heavy metal ions of Cd (II) and Pb (II) in aqueous media is necessary for public health and environmental sustainability. In the present study, water stable Zirconium (Zr) based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with SO3H functionalization were synthesized by solvothermal method and used first time for the adsorption of Cd (II) and Pb (II). Synthesis of UiO-66-SO3H, nano-sized (<100 nm) MOFs, was confirmed by FTIR, XRD, FESEM and BET. Effects of contact time, pH and temperature were investigated for adsorption of Cd (II) and Pb (II) onto SO3H-functionalized Zr-MOFs. The UiO-66-SO3H displayed notable rejections of 97% and 88% towards Cd (II) and Pb (II), respectively, after 160 min at 25 °C and pH (6) with an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L. Adsorption capacities of Cd (II) and Pb (II) were achieved as 194.9154 (mg/g) and 176.6879 (mg/g), respectively, at an initial concentration of 1000 mg/L. The Pseudo second-order kinetic model fitted well with linear regression (R2) of value 1. The mechanism was confirmed mainly as a chemisorption and coordination interaction between sulfone group (-SO3H) and metal ions Cd (IIa) and Pb (II). These results may support effective adsorption and can be studied further to enrich and recycle other heavy metals from wastewater.

Investigation on the evolution of hydrothermal biochar

The objective of this study was to visualize trends and current research status of hydrothermal biochar research through a bibliometric analysis by using CiteSpace software. The original article data were collected from the Web of Science core database published between 2009 and 2020. A visual analysis network of national co-authored, institutional co-authored and author co-authored articles was created, countries, institutions and authors were classified accordingly. By visualizing the cited literature and journal co-citation networks, the main subject distribution and core journals were identified respectively. By visualizing journal co-citations, the main research content was identified. Further the cluster analysis revealed the key research directions of knowledge structure. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and key occurrence analysis demonstrate current research hotspots and new research frontiers. Through the above analysis, the cooperation and contributions of hydrothermal biochar research at different levels, from researchers to institutions to countries to macro levels, were explored, the disciplinary areas of knowledge and major knowledge sources of hydrothermal biochar were discovered, and the development lineage, current status, hotspots and trends of hydrothermal biochar were clarified. The results obtained from the study can provide a reference for scholars to gain a deeper understanding of hydrothermal biochar.

Biodegradation of crude oil in seawater by using a consortium of symbiotic bacteria

This work presents the enhancement of oil biodegradation in seawater using a mixture of oil and microorganisms. Retardation of crude oil biodegradation in seawater is hypothetically due to the inhibiting of metabolites produced by the oil bacterium which inhibit its enzymes. For this purpose, the bacteria consortium consisting of an active oil-oxidizing bacterium (AR3-Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes) and two oil-resistant and active heterotrophic bacteria (OG1 and OG2-Erythrobacter citreus) were formed. The heterotrophic bacteria, OG1 and OG2 were able to remove metabolites produced during oil degradation. It was found that AR3 was retarded by metabolites, while OG1 and OG2 were able to grow in the metabolites. OG1 and OG2 were applied together to enhance growth and removal of the metabolites. About 59.9% of crude oil degradation was degraded by AR3 pure culture, while 68.6% was degraded by the bacteria consortium. About 31.4% of the crude oil was found to remain in seawater due to the presence of asphaltenes and resin hydrocarbons. The bacteria consortium was able to degrade 84.1% of total hydrocarbons while 67.0% was degraded by AR3. A total of 99.8% of the aliphatic content and 38.4% of the total aromatic hydrocarbons were degraded by the bacteria consortium, while a lower 79.4% of total aliphatic and 31.0% of total aromatic were degraded by AR3 under the same experimental conditions. The results which were obtained from this study support the hypothesis that the retardation of oil degradation by AR3 is due to the inhibition of metabolites on the growth.

Marine environment and maritime safety assessment using Port State Control database

Port State Control (PSC) is the inspection of foreign ships in national ports assists in the removal of substandard ship commerce from the global sea and ensures that no ship poses a threat to maritime safety and the marine environment. When a clear ground is discovered during an inspection, the inspector has the authority to detain the ship until the flaws are corrected in order to assure safety and reduce pollution hazards. This paper adopted a traditional literature review method using the selected six (6) years data from the inspections conducted by maritime authorities from 2016 to 2021 and incorporate with qualitative and quantitative analysis to ascertain the influence of each risk factor on the number of arrests, including the relationship between risk factors and the type of detain deficiency, which is a critical part of the study. This study's findings provide important insights into how to facilitate an effective way in selecting the ship to be inspected, followed by identifying the ship's risk profile and designing the inspection area, which plays a critical role in assisting the inspector in terms of time efficient and effective inspection (especially for the ships, which have a short duration at berth) during inspection to further strengthen maritime safety, ship's safety, seafarers' health and marine environmental protection.

Pilot scale intensification of rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil via chemical interesterification using hydrodynamic cavitation technology

Chemical interesterification of rubber seed oil has been investigated for four different designed orifice devices in a pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) system. Upstream pressure within 1-3.5bar induced cavities to intensify the process. An optimal orifice plate geometry was considered as plate with 1mm dia hole having 21 holes at 3bar inlet pressure. The optimisation results of interesterification were revealed by response surface methodology; methyl acetate to oil molar ratio of 14:1, catalyst amount of 0.75wt.% and reaction time of 20min at 50°C. HC is compared to mechanical stirring (MS) at optimised values. The reaction rate constant and the frequency factor of HC were 3.4-fold shorter and 3.2-fold higher than MS. The interesterified product was characterised by following EN 14214 and ASTM D 6751 international standards.

Optimisation on pretreatment of rubber seed (Hevea brasiliensis) oil via esterification reaction in a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor

Pretreatment of the high free fatty acid rubber seed oil (RSO) via esterification reaction has been investigated by using a pilot scale hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) reactor. Four newly designed orifice plate geometries are studied. Cavities are induced by assisted double diaphragm pump in the range of 1-3.5 bar inlet pressure. An optimised plate with 21 holes of 1mm diameter and inlet pressure of 3 bar resulted in RSO acid value reduction from 72.36 to 2.64 mg KOH/g within 30 min of reaction time. Reaction parameters have been optimised by using response surface methodology and found as methanol to oil ratio of 6:1, catalyst concentration of 8 wt%, reaction time of 30 min and reaction temperature of 55°C. The reaction time and esterified efficiency of HC was three fold shorter and four fold higher than mechanical stirring. This makes the HC process more environmental friendly.