This paper examines the concept of human vulnerability within the context of the current environmental crisis, with particular attention to older adults as one of the population groups most exposed to the differentiated effects of climate change and extreme events. The study adopts a multidimensional understanding of vulnerability, in which natural and social phenomena are closely interconnected, so that environmental risks cannot be separated from socioeconomic, political, cultural, and institutional factors that shape the unequal distribution of impacts across society. From a qualitative and documentary perspective, the analysis is based on the systematization and interpretation of normative frameworks applicable to the human rights of older persons, incorporating dogmatic and systemic-structural methods of legal analysis. In this context, vulnerability is understood as being configured through dimensions such as exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, which acquire particular relevance in aging processes marked by inequality, poverty, exclusion, and limitations in support networks. Furthermore, the environmental crisis is highlighted as a central challenge to the effective guarantee of fundamental rights, including the right to a healthy environment, health, adequate housing, accessibility, and non-discrimination. Consequently, the study emphasizes the need to strengthen comprehensive public policies, differentiated civil protection protocols, and accessible mechanisms for rights enforcement, guided by principles of dignity, social justice, and inclusion. The paper concludes that reducing the vulnerability of older adults in the face of environmental crisis requires structural transformations that articulate sustainability, human rights, and intersectional approaches to protection.

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a potent carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, is a critical food contaminant originating from environmental deposition and thermal processing, posing a significant threat to public health and driving stringent global regulations. This review critically examines recent advancements in analytical methodologies for BaP determination, giving particular emphasis to sample preparation and detection techniques. The discussion covers the evolution from conventional methods, such as solid-phase extraction, towards more efficient and sustainable approaches, including magnetic, dispersive, and molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction, as well as microextraction techniques and gel permeation chromatography. For detection, the performance of established chromatographic methods, such as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (HPLC-FLD), is evaluated against emerging rapid techniques such as sensors, immunoassays, and spectroscopic methods. The analysis reveals that while significant progress has been made in improving sensitivity, selectivity, and throughput, challenges remain in balancing speed with accuracy, managing matrix effects, and translating novel materials from research to routine application. The review concludes by underscoring the necessity for future development to focus on the integration of smart materials, automation, and advanced data science to achieve robust, on-site, and holistic monitoring solutions for ensuring food safety against BaP contamination.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination by cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and other toxic elements in the environment poses substantial threat to public health and different ecosystems. Originating from diverse anthropogenic and natural sources, these elements can induce several ecological disturbances and multi-organ toxicity in humans and wildlife. Conventional biological and physicochemical methods for the removal of HMs, though effective in some contexts, often have limitations such as being energy intensive, costly, and generation of secondary waste. As a result, there is growing interest in exploring cleaner, efficient, and more sustainable approaches like bioremediation. Bioremediation is progressively acknowledged as one of the cost effective and sustainable strategy for pollution abatement by employing plants, bacteria, and other microorganisms capable of eliminating, transforming, or immobilizing HMs. This work aims to provide an overview of the conventional and advanced methods for the remediation of HMs, weighing up their benefits and limitations. Various methods for detection of HMs are also reviewed highlighting suitability, sensitivity, cost, portability, and field applicability. Further, we have discussed about the synergistic advantages of combining biological and physicochemical methods over standalone approaches, highlighting the need of hybrid methods like integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology in bioremediation. Overall, this review highlights bioremediation as a pivotal strategy for achieving cleaner ecosystems and sustainability, while underscoring the need for further research to optimize bioremediation technologies for broader real-world environmental management applications.

Purpose For the purpose of preventing corrosion in metals and alloys, coating techniques are given priority. The prevention of copper corrosion in NaCl solutions by various inhibitor compounds using the spin coating process has recently undergone substantial research. The development of eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors is crucial to replacing toxic conventional coatings. This study introduces a novel zinc–curcumin (Zn-CU) complex coating for enhancing copper corrosion resistance. The synergistic effect of zinc ions and curcumin’s antioxidant properties provides a sustainable, nontoxic protective layer. This research bridges the gap in green corrosion inhibitors by proposing a biodegradable, metal–organic hybrid coating with industrial potential for marine and electronic applications. The purpose of this study is to synthesize Zinc -Curcumin metal complex and to evaluate its corrosion resistance characteristics. Design/methodology/approach In a solution of 3.5% NaCl for three days, a Zn-CU metal complex was produced, and its resistance to copper corrosion was examined. A Zn-CU metal complex was prepared and its corrosion resistance towards copper corrosion in 3.5% NaCl solution for three days was studied. The corrosion resistance property of the synthesized compound was examined by potentiodynamic polarization, SEM and EDX. Metal complex coating on copper substrate was performed by spin coating technique using a nontoxic binder polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Findings Experimental investigations showed that Zn–CU/PVP reduces copper corrosion and attains 85% inhibition efficiency. Utilizing organic inhibitor coatings is one contemporary method for defending metals against corrosion caused by acids, bases or neutrals. They serve as a barrier or protective layer depending on the construction either as an insoluble chelate barrier created by chemisorption or produced by physisorption in the metal/electrolyte interphase. The morphology (shape, branching or conformation), aromaticity and conjugation, bonding strength to the metal substrate, the presence of heteroatomic nitrogen, oxygen and/or sulphur and the type and number of bonding atoms or groups are some of the factors that affect an organic molecule’s ability to inhibit metal corrosion. Research limitations/implications Synthesis of less toxic green anticorrosive coatings by incorporating plant and natural extracts are not only eco-friendly but also provide excellent corrosion prevention. This work mainly focussed on the synthesize of an eco-friendly metal complex of zinc by incorporating curcumin (Zn-CU). The synthesized compound was coated on copper surface using a binder PVP by spin coating method. Corrosion inhibition efficiency of Zn-CU increased with the concentration of metal complex. The corrosion resistance was up to 85% with 300 mg/L−1 Zn-CU/PVP at 30°C. The corrosion resistance property of Zn-CU metal complex in corrosive environment of 3.5% NaCl for copper has been tested by polarization analysis, SEM and EDX. Electrochemical tests confirmed that Zn-CU complex showed better corrosion inhibition property. SEM supported by EDX confirmed the stability and elemental composition of coating on the copper surface. Practical implications The practical implications include: development of a green chemistry approach in corrosion resistance; showcase of ways that metal protection can be augmented by bioactive compounds such as curcumin; and provision of alternatives to toxic corrosion inhibitors. Social implications Zinc and its compounds are widely used for corrosion protection due to their ability to act as sacrificial anodes. Zinc-based coatings provide effective corrosion resistance by forming passive layers that inhibit metal oxidation. Recent studies have explored the potential of zinc–organic complexes in corrosion inhibition, but their full potential remains under investigation. Recent research has focused on the synergistic effect of combining curcumin with zinc to enhance corrosion resistance (Rajendran et al., 2025; Xue et al., 2023). Zn-CU complexes offer multiple advantages, including improved stability, better adhesion to the metal surface and enhanced antioxidant properties (Mourya et al., 2019; Ashwini et al., 2023). However, there is limited literature on their application as protective coatings for copper surfaces, presenting a research gap that this study aims to address. The goal of this work is to investigate the ability of a Zn-CU complex coating to inhibit corrosion on copper in 3.5% NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarisation and SEM/EDX. Originality/value This coating provides excellent corrosion inhibition owing to the synergistic effects of Zn²+ ions, released from sacrificial anode and curcumin, which facilitates the protection of metals from corrosion. Zinc gives sacrificial protection that minimizes metal oxidation, while curcumin is the organic inhibitor that results in a stable protective layer that hinders the initiation of corrosion. Curcumin can reduce the oxidative stress on metal surfaces due to its antioxidant properties and also inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause corrosion. In contrast to conventional chemical inhibitors (e.g. chromates), curcumin is biodegradable and nontoxic; thus, it is considered as a sustainable approach.

Acknowledging recent breakthroughs in the context of deep bio-inspired neural networks, several architectural deep network options have been deployed to create intelligent systems. The foundations of convolutional neural networks are influenced by hierarchical processing in the visual cortex. The graph neural networks mimic the communication of biological neurons. Considering these two computation methods, a novel deep ensemble network is used to propose a bio-inspired deep graph network for creating an intelligent supply chain model. An automated smart supply chain helps to create a more agile, resilient and sustainable system. Improving the sustainability of the network plays a key role in the efficiency of the supply chain’s performance. The proposed bio-inspired Chebyshev ensemble graph network (Ch-EGN) is hybrid learning for creating an intelligent supply chain. The functionality of the proposed deep network is assessed on two different databases including SupplyGraph and DataCo for risk administration, enhancing supply chain sustainability, identifying hidden risks and increasing the supply chain’s transparency. An average accuracy of 98.95% is obtained using the proposed network for automatic delivery status prediction. The performance metrics regarding multi-class categorization scenarios of the intelligent supply chain confirm the efficiency of the proposed bio-inspired approach for sustainability and risk management.

Globally, nearly one million species are currently threatened with extinction, highlighting the need for more efficient solutions to biological conservation. Genome editing, which allows for faster and more precise changes in genomes, is a promising technique for boosting populations through facilitated adaptation, management of invasive or pathogenic populations, and potentially even facilitating the revival of extinct species. These approaches belong to a new field of research termed conservation biotechnology, which places a great responsibility on researchers and decision makers to ensure sustainability. In this paper, we have mapped the emerging trends in genome editing of wild animals. Current projects primarily focus on population control and de-extinction, with fewer initiatives aimed at preserving threatened species. We then explore four critical dimensions of conservation biotechnology: the technology itself, new perspectives on conservation practices, research organization, and governanceand policy. Despite its potential, key questions remain-particularly whether genome editing can increase genetic diversity without causing unintended non-target impacts. Genome editing also provokes new perspectives on conservation practices where ecosystem-wide impact assessment, case-by-case evaluations, and post-release monitoring needs to be prioritized. Furthermore, conservation biotechnology is heavily funded through private funding showing varying stakeholder interest, which can lead to untraditional and less transparent research processes. Stakeholders, including local and indigenous people, are only to a certain degree involved, which may weaken inclusion of local knowledge and monitoring efforts. Finally, concerning governance and policy, there is an urgent need to develop more adequate regulation of conservation biotechnology, as environmental release of genome-edited animals challenges definitions and guidelines in current nature protection laws and GMO regulations. Based on our analysis, we outline key points forfurther investigation toward a more sustainable approach to conservation biotechnology.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) represent a major source of prebiotic compounds. They are widely used in functional foods for their ability to modify intestinal microbiota in animals and humans. To address the significant issue of fructooligosaccharide production being influenced by glucose concentration, this study designed a dual-enzymatic co-catalysis system for glucose isomerase (GI) and a mutant FTase (FTase142P-242K). This system successfully increased the FOS synthesis rate (42.31 to 55.51%, w/w). Glucose isomerase catalyzes the isomerization of glucose to fructose, and the subsequent release of fructose from the active site permits the enzyme to re-enter its catalytic cycle. The optimal conditions for catalysis were found at 45 °C, pH 5.5, and 1 mM Ba2+. In contrast, the optimal fermentation process was established at 25 °C and induction with 1 mM IPTG. Finally, the efficient production of FOS using low-cost byproduct molasses was achieved. Fermentation optimization of the dual-enzyme system resulted in FOS yield of 53.92% (w/w), a significant increase (44.54%, w/w) from the yield obtained using single-enzyme catalysis. Based on the research, a novel and sustainable approach for high-yield synthesis of Fructooligosaccharides involves minimizing the inhibitory effect of glucose produced during sucrose transformation.

As global value chains integrate firms operating under varied institutional contexts and distinct technological capabilities, the uniform adoption of green standards becomes challenging. A “one-size-fits-all” sustainability approach often fails to account for the voids faced by firms in different contexts participating in one value chain, particularly in developing economies an area where academic research remains limited and fragmented. This research gap is the motivation for the present study. Through a systematic review of 56 articles, this paper examines how technological gaps and institutional voids in global value chains (GVCs) affect firms’ capacity to leverage environmental performance across different national and organizational contexts. Building on this synthesis, we develop an integrative conceptual framework that elucidates these dynamics and offers actionable insights for managers seeking to navigate environmental performance in heterogeneous institutional and technological settings. Our findings contribute to the literature on sustainable GVCs and guide practitioners aiming to foster effective cross-border collaborations that enhance environmental performance.

The pure Ca2V2O7 nanomaterial was successfully synthesized via a coprecipitation technique followed by annealing at 550°C. Comprehensive characterization using XRD, UV-vis DRS, FTIR, BET, HRTEM, and XPS confirmed its crystalline phase, optical properties, surface morphology, and elemental composition. Photocatalytic evaluations under visible light irradiation (250 W metal halide lamp) revealed remarkable activity in the degradation of organic pollutants, achieving 79.5% removal of safranine O dye and 80.6% removal of tetracycline hydrochloride antibiotics within 180min. These pollutants are of global environmental concern due to their persistence and harmful impacts on aquatic ecosystems. In addition to environmental remediation, the Ca2V2O7 nanomaterial was employed for photocatalytic hydrogen generation as a sustainable energy approach to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Using Na2S and Na2SO3 as sacrificial electron donors, bare Ca2V2O7 exhibited a significantly higher hydrogen evolution rate compared to TiO2 and pure water, producing a total of 1474μmol H2 over 26h with only 0.05g catalyst. Electrochemical analysis and band structure evaluations indicated that its superior performance arises from efficient charge separation and favorable band edge positions. Furthermore, XRD analysis after prolonged photocatalysis confirmed the structural stability of Ca2V2O7, underscoring its potential for long-term practical applications in both clean energy production and environmental remediation.

ABSTRACT The necessity to create new and alternative technologies for power generation has increased due to the reduction of fossil fuels and rising environmental concerns. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable and green approach by decomposing organic matter using microorganisms to provide bioenergy. In this study, a double‐chambered MFC with a Nafion membrane was used to treat tannery effluent. Cow dung was used as the bacterial inoculum and sonication was employed as a pretreatment to enhance the biodegradability of the substrate. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize both the inoculum and the sonication duration. The novelty of this work lies in the combined optimization of the inoculum loading and the pretreatment which has not been previously reported for tannery effluent‐based MFC systems. Under optimized conditions (63 g of inoculum load and sonication of 20 min), the system achieved 84% COD removal and a power density of 156 mW/m 2 , along with improved coulombic efficiency (CE), and normalized energy recovery (NER v ). The NER v results of the optimized value are almost 23.43 times higher than those of the control MFC system, proving that the MFC generates more current under optimized operating conditions with pretreatment. These findings demonstrate that synergistic biological enrichment and substrate conditioning significantly enhance electron transfer, and energy recovery.

Recently, there has been a worldwide call to explore nature-friendly metabolites, which could enhance plant growth and substitute for chemically synthesized products. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is one of the versatile metabolites that has a potential role for plant growth, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, IAA is commonly synthesized chemically; the majority of reagents used pose environmental pollution. In contrast, biosynthesis through controlled cultivation of endophytes from medicinal plants offers an environmentally sustainable approach. The current study investigates the endophytic bacterium Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 isolated from the leaves of Humulus lupulus for IAA production. The identification and characterization of endophytic bacterium was carried out using biochemical and molecular methods. Furthermore, LC-MS analysis of the dried extract of Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 identified multiple bioactive compounds, including IAA, with potential therapeutic and agricultural applications. Additionally, the IAA quantification was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) across different media. UPLC analysis reveals that Bacillus licheniformis SKAM1 produces IAA in Luria broth medium; the extracellular IAA concentration was determined to be 1.16 mg/mL, whereas the intracellular level reached 1.11 mg/mL. Similarly, culture in minimal medium with extracellular IAA produced at 0.11 mg/mL and intracellular IAA at 0.06 mg/mL. The current study paves the way for exploring the role of abiotic conditions for cost-effective IAA production.

This study demonstrates the valorization of bone waste from different animal sources as a sustainable approach to produce high-value hydroxyapatite (HA) powders, supporting circular economy principles. The findings provide a scientific basis for selecting bone waste sources depending on desired material properties, promoting resource-efficient recovery and reuse of biowaste. Three different types of bone-bovine, ostrich, and porcine-were selected for this research to compare species-dependent differences in HA derived from animal sources. Bovine bone served as a common reference, ostrich bone represented a non-mammalian source, and porcine bone was chosen for its close structural similarity to human bone. The HA powders were characterized in terms of particle size, specific surface area, crystallite size, phase composition, and porosity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed variations in crystallite size with calcination temperature. Mechanical testing revealed that bovine-derived HA exhibited the highest compressive strength (17MPa) and porcine-derived HA showed the highest hardness (0.5 GPa). These findings highlight the significant influence of the bone source on the microstructural and physicochemical properties of HA, providing a foundation for selecting optimal HA sources for targeted applications. With the results obtained in this paper, it is possible to select the animal of origin of the bones to be used based on the desired characteristics of the powder to be developed.

Lignocellulosic jute-based nanofiber composite as biomimetic tissue scaffold.

Multidrug resistance in foodborne pathogens poses a critical threat to food safety and public health. Enterobacter hormaechei is an emerging pathogen with wide environmental prevalence and is capable of causing severe infections. Bacteriophage-based intervention has gained significant recognition as a sustainable approach to combat foodborne pathogens and address antimicrobial resistance in food production systems. Despite this, research on E. hormaechei-specific phages is facing substantial challenges, primarily due to insufficient phage collections and inadequate genomic characterization of existing isolates. In this work, two novel virulent phages (Ehp-YZU-L3 and Ehp-YZU-L4) were isolated from wastewater samples in Yangzhou. Their morphological, biological, and genomic features were characterized. The two phages belonged to the Myoviridae family, with a latency period (10 and 40 min) and high burst size (192 and 292 plaque-forming unit [PFU]/host cell), and an optimal multiplicity of infection of 0.01. The complete genomic sequences of phages ranged from 163,779 to 170,652 bp and GC content of 39.8 - 40.2%, which consisted of 296 and 275 open reading frames of phage Ehp-YZU-L3 and Ehp-YZU-L4. The absence of both virulence-related genetic elements, antimicrobial resistance, and lysogeny-related genes in two genomes was confirmed. Two phages exhibited strong inhibitory effects against E. hormaechei in pork by a phage-dosage-dependent way, with a reduction range of bacterial counts by 1.73-2.87 Log CFU/g for Ehp-YZU-L3 and 1.96-3.20 log CFU/g for Ehp-YZU-L4 at 37°C for 4 h. These findings demonstrate considerable potential of these two phages for the biocontrol of E. hormaechei contamination in food production systems.

Heat stress is a major abiotic constraint that severely limits maize (Zea mays L.) productivity under changing climate conditions. This study explored a novel integrative strategy to enhance thermotolerance in maize through the combined application of methyl jasmonate-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (MJNPs) and eucalyptus-derived biochar (EBB). Methyl jasmonate was nano-encapsulated using the ionic gelation method and characterized by SEM, TEM, and FTIR analyses, which confirmed uniform spherical nanoparticles and effective surface functionalization. A greenhouse experiment was conducted under controlled heat stress (40°C) to evaluate physiological, biochemical, nutrient uptake, yield, and gene expression responses across eight treatments. Relative to non-stressed control plants, heat stress alone reduced plant height by 37%, photosynthetic rate (PN) by 46%, relative water content (RWC) by 25%, and grain number and grain weight by 25% and 6%, respectively. However, the combined MJNPs + biochar treatment under heat stress (HEMN) markedly alleviated these adverse effects. Compared with heat-stressed plants without amendments, HEMN increased plant height by 39%, RWC by 8%, membrane stability index (MSI) by 14%, and PN by 21%. In addition, grain number and seed weight increased by 10% and 6%, respectively, relative to heat-stressed plants, while water-use efficiency (WUE) improved by 13% under the same comparison. Nutrient uptake of phosphorus, magnesium, and iron increased by 15-22% in HEMN-treated plants compared with heat-stressed controls. Gene expression analysis revealed pronounced upregulation of stress-responsive genes, including HSP70, DHN3, and LEA-1, as well as auxin biosynthesis-related genes (TAA1, ZmYUC1, CYP79B2) and aquaporins in HEMN-treated plants relative to heat stress alone, indicating activation of coordinated molecular defense mechanisms. Furthermore, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering of gene-expression heatmaps confirmed strong multivariate associations between enhanced physiological performance and transcriptional activation, supporting the integrated nature of thermotolerance regulation. These findings demonstrate that the synergistic application of MJNPs and biochar significantly enhances maize thermotolerance relative to heat stress alone by improving water relations, nutrient homeostasis, photosynthetic performance, and molecular stress responses. This integrated nano-biochar strategy represents a scalable and environmentally sustainable approach for mitigating climate-induced heat stress and improving crop resilience in future agricultural systems.

Solar-driven water evaporation is a sustainable approach to addressing freshwater scarcity and environmental pollution. However, the broader application is hindered by low photothermal conversion efficiency, and poor salt-rejecting properties. Herein, we designed a novel open-shell organic radical photothermal material, PSSe-Se, based on a novel acceptor unit derived from the structural modification of benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole (BBT). The ultrastrong electron-withdrawing ability, induced by a selenium-tailoring strategy and the use of thiophene as the π-bridge, facilitates significant intramolecular charge transfer, enabling near full-spectral-range absorption. The alkyl chains grafted onto thiophene provide more intramolecular rotation space, thereby enhancing the non-radiative transition. The substitution of Se in BBT receptors and their polymerization with electron-donating selenophene groups increase the diradical character, leading to enhanced paramagnetic activity, and consequently an extremely low fluorescence quantum yield. Therefore, PSSe-Se powder achieves an impressive photothermal conversion efficiency of 32.04% under 1 sun irradiation. We developed a laser-induced 3D arch-bridged solar evaporator (LIBA-Se) for continuous solar-powered desalination. The evaporator, featuring uniformly distributed surface grooves, induces Marangoni flow, thereby effectively alleviating salt accumulation and achieving a remarkable water evaporation rate of 2.65kg/m2·h (3.5 wt% NaCl) and 2.5kg/m2·h (20 wt% NaCl) under 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the evaporator exhibits excellent metal chelation, outstanding acid-base resistance, and remarkable stability. Our study provides new insights into the rational design of efficient photothermal conversion materials and the development of efficient seawater desalination.

<p>Bioremediation of oil contaminated sites common in oil-producing regions needs novel solutions such as suggested here: combining fungal and biochar treatments. Fungal strains were isolated from metal and oil polluted soils and evaluated for their resistance to zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd).  Two strains, <em>Aspergillus niveus </em>(<em>GenBank</em> accession: <em>PQ463633</em>) and <em>Alternaria chlamydosporigena (PQ463634</em>), exhibited exceptional growth under metal stress, demonstrating considerable metal resistance. These strains were chosen for further bioremediation experiments. A substantial decrease of Zn and Cd concentrations were observed after fungal incubation.  The incorporation of biochar significantly improved the effectiveness of the heavy metal removal, indicating a synergistic interaction between fungal biosorption and biochar-facilitated immobilization. Fourier-transform infrared <em>(FTIR</em>) spectroscopy demonstrated notable morphological and biochemical changes in the fungal biomass following exposure to Zn and Cd, signifying active metal-binding interactions and uptake processes. The equilibrium behavior of metal uptake was demonstrated with three isotherm models. The Langmuir model showed the greatest fit (R² > 0.98), followed by the Freundlich model (R² = 0.92-0.95) and the Temkin model (R² = 0.85-0.89). A homogenous, monolayer-driven biosorption of the metals is supported by the best fit of the Langmuir isotherm. Kinetic models were utilized to examine the rate and mechanism of the biosorption process. A high correlation coefficient (R² = 0.98) for the pseudo-second-order model suggests that chemisorption is the primary mechanism for the uptake of Zn and Cd by biochar and fungi. It is concluded that the combination of biochar and the fungi <em>A. niveus</em> and <em>A. chlamydosporigena</em> offer an economical and environmentally sustainable remediation technique for soils contaminated with oil and heavy metals. The discovery is significant advancing the creation of sustainable biotechnological approaches for environmental restoration in oil contaminated material, providing a feasible alternative to traditional physicochemical procedures.</p>

Upcycling of waste Ni-MH battery casing into Binder-Free electrode for efficient ethanol Electro-Oxidation.

Conservation of Medicinal plants by sustainable aquaponics approach for novel drug development

The manufacturing process of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is highly resource-intensive and significantly contributes to global CO2 emissions, thereby exacerbating global warming. In this context, researchers are progressively adopting geopolymer concrete owing to its environmentally friendly production process. However, cracks in OPC and geopolymer concrete structures can substantially reduce their lifespan by exposing reinforcement to the external environment, resulting in concrete deterioration. To mitigate these issues, the self-healing capability of concrete presents an innovative solution to restore structural integrity and minimise maintenance costs. This research delineates various healing techniques and their efficacy for geopolymer concrete, including crystalline admixture, fibres, bacteria, and enzymes. This study primarily examines geopolymer compositions to assess the self-healing efficiency of different healing agents. As many healing agents, including crystalline admixtures and enzyme-based systems, were originally developed for OPC-based concrete and remain underexplored in geopolymers, parallel investigations on OPC systems are also conducted to enable a comparative understanding of the underlying healing mechanisms. The current state of research indicates that crystalline admixture was unable to facilitate crack healing within the geopolymer matrix unless an additional 10% Ca(OH)2 was incorporated into the binder. The inclusion of fibres embedded with healing agents markedly improved the healing efficiency, achieving a crack width of up to 800 µm when utilised with natural fibres and bacteria. The integration of an optimal quantity of various healing agents enhances the compressive, split tensile, and flexural strength of the concrete. The optimal dosages for the crystalline admixture ranged from 1% to 1.5% by weight of the binder, while the concentration of bacteria ranged from 105 to 107 cells/mL. Furthermore, this review delineates the practical applications and limitations of various healing agents. By integrating appropriate healing agents into geopolymer concrete, this research aims to advance a sustainable approach to durable infrastructure.