Thermochemical Conversion of Algal Based Biorefinery for Biofuel

Algae being the photosynthetic organism, currently considered as underexplored species for biofuel production in the entire global region and yet need to be explored more. In presence of algal based theory regarding the thermochemical process, though many researchers have been proceeding with the experiment but have got to stretch it further. This process aims to produce energy and bioactive compounds using algal biomass as a raw material. The current study relates with the thermochemical conversion process and mainly reflects about the algal biomass conversion into biorefinery production, in a short time with easier and economically viable points, unlike other biochemical and chemical conversion processes. In thermochemical process, high temperatures used during the process produces different biofuels including solid, liquid, gaseous biofuels. This thermal decomposition process of algal biomass can be categorized into Gasification, Pyrolysis, Direct combustion, Hydrothermal process, and Torrefaction. Hence, in this study, it briefs on different type of processes for better production of biofuel as well as its significant merit and demerit comparisons of each process

Suitability of vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) for removal of Cr (III) from tannery effluent using floating bed and rhizofiltration systems

Various physico-chemical methods have been employed in remediating heavy metals from wastewater, but most of them are expensive. While phytoremediation, is one cost-effective and eco-friendly technology, proves to be an alternate amongst which Vetiver, a unique tropical plant, is recognized for its large biomass and dense root system and has been proven for various remediation studies. The current research was conducted to assess the potential for Vetiver rhizofiltration of chromium. A pilot study was conducted in rhizobox wherein Vetiver was grown using sand as a medium and samples were collected from rhizobox port 1 and rhizobox port 2. Subsequently, the study was upscaled to a floating bed experiment. In both studies, Vetiver were grown under 500 mg L-1 Cr (III) solution and tannery effluent had a chromium concentration of 379 mg L-1 and the results were compared to control. Between the samples collected from port 1 and 2, the removal of chromium in port 1 was recorded to be higher than that of port 2. Moreover, the removal of chromium ions from the tannery effluent was relatively higher than the spiked solution. In both the ports, the highest removal of chromium concentration was recorded in T5 (Sand + Vetiver + Cr (III) @ 500 mg kg-1) with a removal percent of 12.59 and 10.38% in port 1 and 2, respectively. Hence, Vetiver grass has a great potential in removing pollutants like chromium from the wastewater.

Influence of Microplastics on Seedling Growth of Blackgram under Different Soil Types

The prevalence of microplastics in soil has recently attracted substantial interest as they pose a major threat to agricultural system. A pot experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) on seedling development of blackgram (Vigna mungo L.) in two different types of soil during April, 2022 under controlled conditions in the Department of Environmental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India. The treatments included four different concentrations of PE-MPs (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.00%) along with a control which had no microplastics. All the treatments were replicated thrice. In loamy soil type, germination rate declined from 87.1±0.57 (control) to 73.1±0.33 (1.00% PE-MPs) and in clay loam soil, from 83.3±3.08 (control) to 79.8±0.03 (1.00% PE-MPs). Similarly root and shoot characteristics also showed distinct reduction along with increasing microplastics concentrations. Hence, the results of the study reveal that soil type has influence over the magnitude of variations in blackgram growth parameters in the presence of polyethylene microplastics