Remediation Techniques Research Articles

Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis

A critical meta-analysis of the past decade’s investigations was carried out with the aim of assessing the use of plant-based techniques for soil remediation. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soils were selected since these contaminants are considered hazardous and have long-term effects. Furthermore, energy, aromatic, and medicinal plants were studied as their high-value products seem to be affected by PTEs’ existence. Lead (Pb), Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, and As accumulation in different parts of plant species has been investigated using proper indices. Aromatic plants seem to provide high phytoremediation yields. Increasing toxicity levels and the coexistence of many metals enhance the accumulation capacity of aromatic plants, even of toxic Cd. In plants usable as energy sources, antagonistic effects were observed, as the simultaneous presence of Cu and Cd resulted in lower thermic capacity. Finally, in most of the plants studied, it was observed that the phytostabilization technique, i.e., the accumulation of metals mainly in the roots of the plants, was often used, allowing for the aboveground part to be almost completely free of metallic pollutants. Using plants for remediation was proven to be advantageous within a circular economy model. Such a process is a promising solution, both economically and environmentally, since it provides a useful tool for keeping environmental balance and producing safe goods.

Pathology of reinforced concrete constructions seismic rehabilitation assistance

In severe stress, reinforced concrete structures are generally classified into three categories: red, where significant damage has occurred to the load-bearing structure; orange, where damage to the structural part is considered slight; and yellow, where the structural part is sound. The last two classes are necessarily exposed to several remedial techniques such as rehabilitation, repair, reinforcement, etc. Unfortunately, these techniques are not well detailed in all seismic building codes and regulations. Classroom buildings must be upgraded to increase their lifespan, make them more functional, and comply with new seismic building regulations. In an earthquake, structural elements are damaged (cracks, concrete bursts, steel plasticization, breakage, etc.) due to faulty execution and architectural design, which are highly detrimental to the building's response to an earthquake. For this reason, the present work aims to test a set of cases under severe loading and compare them with the healthy state to get an idea of the remediation operation. The remediation operation will be based on the diagnosis and reporting of the results.

Morphological and physiological responses of Momordica charantia to heavy metals and nutrient toxicity in contaminated water

This study investigates the impact of industrial wastewater from leather, household, and marble sources on the growth, physiological traits, and biochemical responses of Momordica charantia (bitter melon). Industrial activities often lead to the release of contaminated effluents, which can significantly affect plant health and agricultural productivity. Water analysis revealed that leather effluent contained high concentrations of heavy metals, including cadmium (2.67 mg/L), lead (1.95 mg/L), and nickel (1.02 mg/L), all of which exceeded the recommended safety limits for irrigation. Seed germination was significantly reduced, with only 45% germination in seeds irrigated with leather effluent, compared to 90% in the control group. Similarly, in plants treated with leather wastewater, shoot length, and root length were reduced by 38% and 42%. Chlorophyll content showed a marked decline, with chlorophyll “a” reduced by 25% and chlorophyll “b” by 30% in wastewater-treated plants, indicating impaired photosynthetic activity. Antioxidant enzyme activity, including catalase and superoxide dismutase, increased by up to 40%, reflecting a stress response to heavy metal toxicity. These findings highlight that industrial wastewater severely disrupts plant metabolic processes, leading to stunted growth and physiological stress. To safeguard crop productivity and food security, stringent wastewater treatment protocols must be implemented to mitigate environmental contamination. Future research should focus on developing advanced remediation techniques and sustainable wastewater management practices to reduce heavy metal toxicity and enhance soil health.

Bridging knowledge gaps: impact of remedial classes on first-year medical students in biochemistry – a cross-sectional study

BackgroundRemedial teaching is a tailored educational approach dedicated to enhancing the academic performance of students facing challenges within the curriculum. By identifying and addressing specific learning difficulties, it provides essential support and guidance to bring students closer to expected standards while preventing future setbacks. We hypothesize that underperforming medical students who receive daily, tailored remediation will demonstrate significant improvement in their formative and summative assessment scores in biochemistry.MethodsA cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted on 56 underperforming first-year medical undergraduates to assess the effect of targeted remediation on formative and summative assessments in Biochemistry. Training sessions included various remediation techniques over six months. Post-remediation feedback was collected to gather insights into students’ attitudes, perceptions, and the effectiveness of the methods in improving their understanding of the subject. Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the most effective remediation for student performance. Benefits and weaknesses of remedial training approaches for future application as perceived by the students were derived through deductive thematic analysis of their feedback.ResultsThe mean marks, evaluated out of a maximum of 100, showed improvement from 29.86 ± 7.71 to 71.48 ± 10.19, with statistical significance (p < 0.001). From the students’ perspective, the most effective remediation method was grade incentives in formative assessments (odds ratio 6.19). Five major themes were identified: perceived barriers prior to remediation, positive outcomes and behavioral changes observed after remediation, and strengths and areas for improvement in remediation.ConclusionsThe study concludes that identifying underperformers in the early stages of the medical curriculum and providing them with tailored remediation can enhance their performance in exams. Grade incentives in formative assessments, mind maps, quizzes, quick revisions, and assignments were beneficial remedial tools. Targeted remediation proved advantageous for students in improving their academic skills, exam preparation, time management, and attitudes towards the subject.

Seismic performance of inclined discontinuous broken-back block-type gravity quay walls: Numerical investigation and GEP-based modeling

This study explores the seismic performance of discontinuous broken-back block-type gravity quay walls with varying configurations using the finite element method (FEM). For this purpose, plane strain FE meshes are constructed by integrating adaptive meshing and error-based adaptivity techniques. To simulate discontinuities along the wall height and the interaction between the wall and the neighboring medium, interface elements are comprehensively applied between the concrete blocks and between the wall and the surrounding soils. The developed FE models are initially validated against observations from corresponding 1g shaking table tests available in the literature. The primary objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of different inclination angles of the wall body, its base block, and the underlying seabed soil layer in mitigating seismic deformations and lateral earth pressures. FE results reveal that simultaneously inclining the wall body, base block, and seabed layer by 9° significantly reduces permanent horizontal displacement, base sliding, and settlement of the wall. Under a worst-case seismic scenario with a PGA of 0.9g and a frequency of 3 Hz, these deformation parameters decrease by 37.26%, 14.47%, and 48.88%, respectively, compared to the non-inclined quay wall. The suggested mitigation approach improves the overall stability and serviceability of ports and their inland infrastructures during seismic and post-seismic events. This study also develops a predictive polynomial model utilizing Gene Expression Programming (GEP) based on 630 data points derived from validated FE models. The GEP model aims to predict the horizontal displacement of both inclined and non-inclined broken-back block-type quay walls. The novelty of the current research lies in the investigation of inclined configurations as a remediation technique to mitigate deformations and enhance the seismic resilience and performance of broken-back block-type quay walls, utilizing an advanced FE modeling approach. Additionally, a practical machine learning-based model is proposed to estimate the wall's seismic deformations.

Experimental investigation on heat and moisture transfer of propylene glycol-mixed steam in porous media

Propylene glycol (PG)-mixed steam enhanced extraction is a promising remediation technique for removing semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) from the unsaturated zone. However, the mechanisms of heat and moisture transfer during PG-mixed steam injection remain unclear. In this study, a 2D experimental system was developed to enable non-invasive monitoring of the spatio-temporal distribution of temperature and degree of saturation during steam injection into porous media. Experiments were conducted to observe the migration of PG-mixed steam in horizontal and vertical planes across three varying particle sizes, while pure superheated steam injection experiments serving as a comparison. Temperature field results show that the addition of PG decreases the zone of influence during steam migration, while significantly enhancing the emergence of the superheated steam zone. The influence of particle size on the area variance of the saturated steam zone is greater than that of the superheated steam zone. The downward migration of the superheated steam front due to density different between PG vapor and air is impeded with decreasing permeability. Furthermore, saturation field results reveal that the condensed liquid within the superheated zone is a PG solution. The downward migration of condensates with high PG concentration might increase the potential risk of beneath groundwater pollution, highlighting the significance of understanding PG migration during PG-mixed steam injection.

Integrating irrigation management and soil remediation practices for sustainable agricultural production: advances, challenges, and future directions

ABSTRACT Agriculture’s important role in human survival and its significant impact on the Earth’s ecosystem imply the need for sustainable practices. This study focuses on the critical components of irrigation management and soil remediation, essential for maintaining soil health and productivity. By integrating these components, the study assessed feasible soil remediation practices and explored various irrigation strategies in different contexts. It was observed that integrating soil remediation practices with suitable irrigation techniques and scheduling can improve crop yield, conserve water, and enhance the long-term health of marginal soils, addressing the challenges of climate change, hunger, and environmental sustainability. The study also advocates for incorporating indigenous knowledge with physical, chemical, and biological soil remediation techniques, integrated with irrigation practices. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, offering insights and paving the way for future research and development in sustainable agriculture. By making the link between irrigation management and soil remediation explicit, this study illustrates practical cases that address the complex challenges faced by marginal lands, global food security, and environmental sustainability.

Mobilization of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from heterogeneous soils: Desorption by ethanol/xanthan gum mixture

Remediating soils contaminated by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a challenging task due to the unique properties of these compounds, such as variable solubility and resistance to degradation. In-situ soil flushing with solvents has been considered as a remediation technique for PFAS-contaminated soils. The use of non-Newtonian fluids, displaying variable viscosity depending on the applied shear rate, can offer certain advantages in improving the efficiency of the process, particularly in heterogeneous porous media. In this work, the efficacy of ethanol/xanthan mixture (XE) in the recovery of a mixture of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) from soil has been tested at lab-scale. XE’s non-Newtonian behavior was examined through rheological measurements, confirming that ethanol did not affect xanthan gum’s (XG) shear-thinning behavior. The recovery of PFAS in batch-desorption exceeded 95 % in ethanol, and 99 % in XE, except for PFBS which reached 94 %. 1D-column experiments revealed overshoots in PFAS breakthrough curves during ethanol and XE injection, due to over-solubilization. XE, (XG 0.05 % w/w) could recover 99 % PFOA, 98 % PFBS, 97 % PFHxS, and 92 % PFOS. Numerical modeling successfully reproduces breakthrough curves for PFOA, PFHxS, and PFBS with the convection-dispersion-sorption equation and Langmuir sorption isotherm.

Microbial Bioremediation of Petroleum Contaminated Soil: Structural Complexity, Degradation Dynamics and Advanced Remediation Techniques

Soil contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating effective remediation strategies to mitigate ecological risks. This review paper systematically examines the current state of knowledge regarding soil contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons, focusing on diverse sources and the extent of contamination. The investigation encompasses a range of hydrocarbon compounds, including aliphatic and aromatic fractions, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the contamination scenarios. A thorough review of bioremediation techniques, which have shown promise and sustainability as methods for cleaning up soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons are also involved in order to solve these issues. Each of the three microbial processes, biodegradation, bioaugmentation, and biostimulation, is covered in detail in the paper, along with the complex mechanics underlying each technique. The report also emphasises new developments in genetics and molecular biology that add to our understanding of the metabolic pathways and microbial interactions involved in hydrocarbon breakdown. The effectiveness of plant-assisted bioremediation coupled with bioaugmentation and stimulation, specifically phytoremediation, is also explored, emphasizing the potential of certain plant species to enhance the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soils through rhizosphere interactions and plant-associated microbial activities. Furthermore, the paper evaluates the influence of environmental variables including soil composition, temperature, and moisture content on the effectiveness of bioremediation techniques, offering valuable perspectives on enhancing remediation efficiency through optimal conditions. The possibility for enhancing conventional bioremediation techniques through the incorporation of cutting-edge technology like nano-remediation is also explored.

Pesticide pollution: toxicity, sources and advanced remediation approaches.

The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) estimates that food production must rise by 70% to meet the demands of an additional 2.3 billion people by 2050. This forecast underscores the persistent reliance on pesticides, making it essential to assess their toxicity and develop effective remediation strategies. Given the widespread utilisation of pesticides, it requires an urgent need to evaluate their toxicity and explore feasible remediation approaches for their removal. Hence, this review provides an overview of the latest information on the presence, distribution, sources, fate, and trends of pesticides in global environmental matrices, emphasizing the ecological and health risks posed by pesticide pollution. Currently, the dominant remediation techniques encompass physical, chemical, and biological methods, yet studies focusing on advanced remediation techniques remain limited. This review critically evaluates both newer and traditional approaches to pesticide removal, offering a descriptive and analytical comparison of various methods. The selection of the appropriate treatment method depends largely on the nature of the pesticide and the effectiveness of the chosen technique. In many cases, technologies such as membrane bioreactors and the fenton process could be integrated with biological technologies to enhance performance and overcome limitations. The study concludes that a hybrid approach combining various remediation strategies offers the most effective and sustainable solution for pesticide removal. Finally, the review underscores the need for further scientific investigation into the most viable technologies while discussing the challenges and prospects of developing safe, reliable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly methods for removing pesticides from the environment.

Impact of hydrochar in stabilization/solidification of heavy metal-contaminated soil with Portland cement.

Stabilization/Solidification (S/S) using Portland cement is a common soil remediation technique for heavy metal-contaminated sites. However, due to the hindrance of cement hydration by heavy metals (HMs) and the high CO2 emissions from cement production, efforts have been made to reduce cement consumption. Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) present an efficient alternative for this purpose. This study investigates the impact of hydrochar and modified hydrochar as SCMs for remediating soils contaminated with Zn, Pb, and Cd. Forty treated soil samples were evaluated using unconfined compressive strength (UCS), pH, Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP), and sequential extraction procedure (SEP) tests, and statistical analysis was conducted to assess the effects of binder content, hydrochar dosage, and hydrochar type. Results show that substituting cement with hydrochar or modified hydrochar reduces UCS by 10-40%, with hydrochar having a greater negative impact than modified hydrochar. pH values ranged from 6.98 to 12.64, facilitating HMs precipitation. In heavily contaminated samples, hydrochar or modified hydrochars significantly decreased the Zn, Pb, and Cd TCLP values by 55%, 63%, and 50%, respectively. In moderately contaminated samples, the reduction was slight for Zn and Pb, with no significant change for Cd. SEP test results indicated that hydrochar or modified hydrochar in cement improves the transformation of the acid-soluble fraction to the residual fraction of Zn and Pb, but not for Cd-contaminated soil samples. Overall, these findings suggest that incorporating hydrochar or modified hydrochar as SCMs in cement contributes to reducing cement usage and CO2 emissions while enhancing the stabilization efficiency of certain heavy metals in contaminated soils.

Impacts of Remedial Techniques on Contamination Transport in Groundwater

Impacts of Remedial Techniques on Contamination Transport in Groundwater

Zero Valent Iron/Ni (FeNi) bimetallic heterostructure for scalable fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride/FeNi films and efficient organic contaminant removal under UV/persulfate system

Surface heterogeneity on nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) with an additional metal is expected to enhance the catalytic performance and stability by inhibiting metal corrosion and leaching. The influence of passivation by Ni/NiO on the stability of nZVI is examined through degradation performance of uniformly aged nZVI and nZVI/Ni (FeNi) samples via photo-Fenton like reactions under UV/potassium persulfate (PS) system. FeNi bimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs) exhibits enhanced degradation than bare nZVI as thin layers of Fe3O4 and NiO which contribute towards photocatalytic degradation and anticorrosive effects by nickel inclusion. FeNi BNPs achieve 98 % degradation for pharmaceutical antibiotic levofloxacin (LEVO) within 120 min and 93 % degradation for Methylene Blue dye (MB) within 60 min, outperforming nZVI. To overcome secondary pollution, a stable polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/FeNi film was fabricated to treat the contaminated water. The free-floating PVDF/FeNi film achieved 95 % degradation of MB and 98.3 % degradation of LEVO, maintaining a degradation efficiency of 95.9 % after five successive cycles. FeNi BNPs are also immobilized in the dialysis membrane resulting in 99.9 % and 99 % removal of MB and LEVO respectively. MB degradation using PVDF/FeNi film is validated through the micro reactor model developed in COMSOL Multiphysics. The parameters determined from the Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetic model include an intrinsic rate constant of 2.18 ×10−6 mol m−3 min−1 and an adsorption constant of 1.43 ×1019 m3 mol−1. This work introduces a cost-effective and scalable technique for the efficient remediation of contaminants in wastewater.

A targeted review on occurrence, remediation, and risk assessments of bisphenol A in Africa.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a vital raw material used to manufacture various household and commercial goods. However, BPA is a contaminant of emerging concern (CEC) and an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) capable of migrating and bio-accumulating in environmental and biological compartments. At threshold levels, they become toxic causing adverse health and environmental issues. BPA's occurrence in food, food contact materials (FCMs), beverages, water, cosmetics, consumer goods, soil, sediments, and human/biological fluids across Africa was outlined. Unlike most reviews, it further collated data on BPA remediation techniques, including the human and ecological risk assessment studies conducted across Africa. A systematic scrutiny of the major indexing databases was employed extracting relevant data for this study. Results reveal that only 10 out of 54 countries have researched BPA in Africa. BPA levels in water were the most investigated, whereas levels in cosmetics and consumer goods were the least studied. Maximum BPA concentrations found in Africa were 3,590,000ng/g (cosmetic and consumer goods), 154,820,000ng/g (soils), 189ng/mL (water), 1139ng/g (food), and 208.55ng/mL (biological fluids). The optimum percentage removal/degradation of BPA was within 70-100%. The potential health and ecological risk levels were assessed by comparing them with recommended limits and were found to fall within safe/low risks to unsafe/high risks. In conclusion, this study revealed that there is still little research on BPA in Africa. Levels detected in some matrices call for increased research, stricter health and environmental regulations, and surveillance.

Nano-resolutions for Environmental Salvation: Leaping to Sustainability

Abstract: Nanoparticles have emerged as a transformative technology in environmental remediation, addressing the pressing challenges of pollution across air, water, and soil. Nanoparticles, particularly metal oxides, carbon-based materials, and polymers, demonstrate remarkable capabilities in addressing water, air, and soil contamination. Their high surface area to volume ratio enhances their efficiency in pollutant removal while minimizing toxicity, making them suitable alternatives to conventional methods. As traditional remediation methods often carry their environmental risks, there is a pressing need for innovative and sustainable solutions. This review delves into the mechanisms and applications of nanoparticles in various remediation techniques, including photocatalysis, Nanoadsorption, and nanomembranes for water treatment, as well as their effectiveness in soil and air purification. The findings underscore the potential of nanomaterials to enhance remediation efficiency while reducing environmental toxicity. By integrating these innovative solutions into existing environmental management frameworks, nanoparticles can play a crucial role in achieving sustainable environmental practices and mitigating contamination. This review advocates for continued research, development, and application of nanotechnology as a promising avenue for fostering a cleaner, healthier environment and contributing to global sustainability goals.

Cold Plasma Techniques for Sustainable Material Synthesis and Climate Change Mitigation: A Review

In recent years, the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) has increased significantly, contributing to global warming. Among these GHGs, CH4, CO2, and CO are particularly potent contributors. Remediation techniques primarily rely on materials capable of capturing, storing, and converting these gases. Catalytic processes, particularly heterogeneous catalysis, are essential to chemical and petrochemical industries as well as environmental remediation. Due to the growing demand for catalysts, efforts are being made to reduce energy consumption and make technologies more environmentally friendly. Green chemistry emphasizes minimizing the use of hazardous reactants and harmful solvents in chemical processes. Achieving these principles should be paired with processes that reduce time and costs in catalyst preparation while improving their efficiency. Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has been widely used for the preparation of supported metal catalysts. NTP has attracted significant attention for its ability to improve the physicochemical properties of catalysts, enhancing process efficiency through low-temperature operation and shorter processing times. NTP has been applied to various catalyst synthesis techniques, including reduction, oxidation, metal oxide doping, surface etching, coating, alloy formation, surface treatment, and surface cleaning. Plasma-prepared transition-metal catalysts offer advantages over conventionally prepared catalysts due to their unique material properties. These properties enhance catalytic activity by lowering the activation energy barrier, improving stability, and increasing conversion and selectivity compared to untreated samples. This review demonstrates how plasma activation modifies material properties and, based on extensive literature, illustrates its potential to combat climate change by converting CO2, CH4, CO, and other gases, showcasing the benefits of plasma-treated materials and catalysts. A succinct introduction to this review outlines the advantages of plasma-based synthesis and modification over traditional synthesis techniques. The introduction also highlights the various types of plasma and their physical characteristics across different factors. Additionally, this review addresses methods by which materials are synthesized and modified using plasma. The latter section of this review discusses the use of non-thermal plasma for greenhouse gas mitigation, covering applications such as the dry reforming of CH4, CO and CH4 oxidation, CO2 reduction, and other uses of plasma-modified catalysts.

Preparation and characterization of a novel active sediment capping material (geopolymer) for inhibiting phosphate releasing from sediment

In situ remediation of sediment can effectively control the release of phosphate in sediment and improve water eutrophication. The essential question of this remediation techniques lies in the development of stable, high-efficiency, low-cost and easily available active sediment capping materials. This study synthesised a novel sediment capping material using bulk solid waste, and phosphate inhibition mechanism of the materials was explored. Results indicated that GSCM was prepared under the conditions of NaOH concentration of 3 M, hydrothermal temperature of 160℃, hydrothermal time of 36 h and the mass ratio of 40 wt% SS to 60 wt% FA. The result of batch adsorption and compressive strength test suggested that phosphate adsorption capacity and compressive strength of GSCM were 2.15 mg/g and 24.20 MPa, respectively. The characterization result showed that GSCM was composed of sodium zeolite, riversideite, grossular and fayalite, exhibiting a uniformly distributed slit mesoporous structure. The in-situ inhibition efficiency of GSCM to P ranged from 76.65 % to 86.72 %, exceeding that of commercial zeolite. The in-situ inhibition mechanism was controlled by sodium zeolite and riversideite, and concluded by the following:1) Substitution between [SiO4] tetrahedra (within the sodium zeolite structure), -OH (on the surface of materials) and [PO4], 2) Coordination of [PO4] tetrahedra with Al active site within the sodium zeolite structure, 3) Precipitation reaction between phosphate and slow-release of Ca2+ from the riversideite.

Kinetic studies on the sulfathiazole degradation by activated persulfate with ascorbic acid and cysteine

AbstractIn this study, ascorbic acid (AA) and cysteine (Cys) were used as homogeneous potassium persulfate (S2O82−) activators. The efficiency of the S2O82−/AA and S2O82−/Cys systems was investigated to generate sulfate radicals (SO4−•) for the oxidation of sulfathiazole (STZ). The presence of AA and Cys displayed a promoting effect on the activation of S2O82−. The results indicated that the STZ/S2O82− redox reaction followed pseudo‐first order kinetics with respect to STZ concentrations. The oxidative degradation of STZ is accelerated by temperature, dose of S2O82−, AA, Cys, and pH with S2O82−/AA and/or S2O82−/Cys systems. The degradation rates of STZ followed the order S2O82−/AA &gt; S2O82−/Cys &gt; S2O82− under similar experimental conditions. The presence of SO4−• and HO• were tested with two radical scavengers, tertiary butanol (TBA) and ethanol, in which HO• was mainly responsible for STZ degradation at higher pH. In summary, S2O82−/AA and S2O82−/Cys systems might provide a potentially useful technique for remediation of water contaminants.

Microbe-plant-nanoparticle interactions: role in bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.

Petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) are organic substances that occur naturally on earth. PHCs have emerged as one of the most prevalent and detrimental contaminants in regions comprising soil and water resources. The limitations of conventional physicochemical and biological remediation solutions could be solved by combining remediation techniques. An effective, affordable, and environmentally benign method of reducing petroleum toxins is provided by the advanced idea of bioremediation, which has evolved into nanobioremediation. Environments contaminated with PHCs have been restored through microbe-plant-nanoparticle (NP)-mediated remediation, this review emphasizes how various metallic NPs interact with microbes and plants changing both their activity and that of enzymes, therefore accelerating the remediation process. This work further examines the challenges and possible uses of nanobioremediation, as well as the application of novel technologies in the interactions between bacteria, plants, and NPs for the bioremediation of PHCs. Furthermore, it has been shown that the use of plant-based, microbe-based, microbe-plant-based, and microbe-plant-NP-based techniques to remediate contaminated soils or water bodies is economical and environmentally beneficial. Microbial consortia have been reported as the treasure houses for the cleaning and recovery of hydrocarbon-contaminated environments, and the development of technologies for bioremediation requires an understanding of hydrocarbon degradation mechanisms.

Groundwater remediation techniques around Kodungaiyur dump yard

Abstract The groundwater around the Kodungaiyur dump yard, in Tamil Nadu, India, is polluted due to the percolation of leachate from the dumpsite. This paper proposes three remedial techniques to make the groundwater drinkable for the people living near the Kodungaiyur trash yard. Twelve bore wells around the Kodungaiyur dumpsite provided water samples for which the physicochemical parameters were measured. Moderately high concentrations of Total Hardness (TH), Total Alkalinity (TA), Chloride, Sulphate, Nitrate, Sodium, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are present in the groundwater around the dump yard. The Physicochemical parameters of the samples tend to deviate from the standards prescribed by WHO and BIS. Therefore, remedial measures such as solar distillation, Activated Charcoal, and the Phytoremediation process are suggested to reduce the contaminants in the groundwater. The activated charcoal removes the unpleasant color of the water completely and makes the water clear and transparent through filtration. The solar distillation process does not affect the pH value and is reduced by 4.5% in the phytoremediation technique. Similarly, the level of chlorides is reduced by 99% in solar distillation and by 56% in the phytoremediation technique. Total hardness is reduced by 89.88% in the solar still process and 56.65% in the phytoremediation technique. Sodium is reduced by 99.88% in solar still and 57.03% in the phytoremediation technique. The economical and eco-friendly nature of the suggested techniques makes it sustainable for future generations.