Chemical Usage Research Articles

Seaweed on Productivity and Profitability of Major Crops in India

This article explores the transformative potential of seaweed in enhancing the productivity and profitability of major crops in India. Indian agriculture, a cornerstone of the nation's economy, faces numerous challenges, including declining soil fertility, water scarcity, and the pressing need for sustainable farming practices. Seaweed emerges as a promising solution, thanks to its rich nutritional profile, including essential minerals and growth hormones beneficial for crops. The article delves into various case studies and research findings that demonstrate significant improvements in crop yields and quality when seaweed-based products are employed. It also assesses the economic implications, highlighting the cost-effectiveness and increased profitability for farmers due to higher yields and improved crop quality. Additionally, the environmental benefits of seaweed, such as enhancing soil health, promoting sustainability, and reducing chemical usage, are discussed. Despite its potential, the article acknowledges challenges in scaling seaweed production and the need for further research and policy support. The conclusion emphasizes seaweed's role in revolutionizing Indian agriculture by offering a sustainable, profitable, and environmentally friendly approach to enhancing crop productivity.

Acidophilic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria mediated Fenton facilitates anaerobically digested sludge dewatering and chemicals usage reduction by initiating diverse free radical reactions

Due to the high alkalinity, fine particle size, and the relative abundance of refractory and adhesive biopolymers in anaerobically digested sludge (ADS), the application of traditional Fenton oxidation to improve ADS dewatering faces significant technical and economic challenges, e.g., high doses of chemicals (acid/Fe(II)/H2O2) consumption. Herein, we proposed an acidophilic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (aAOB) mediated Fenton to address these challenges. Compared with the traditional Fenton, the modified Fenton with aAOB improved the rate and extent of ADS dewatering, leading to a three-fold decrease in Fe(II)/H2O2 consumption while avoiding the need to add acid for pH adjustment. Treated sludge specific resistance to filtration and normalized capillary suction time decreased by 98.9 % and 89.9 %, respectively, and the filtration-compression time was reduced by ∼ 86.5 %. Mechanistically, oxidation of NH4+ inherently present in the sludge by aAOB into NO2–/free nitrous acid (FNA)/NO3– reduced the pH from 7.8 to ∼4.0 within 2 days. This not only created the desired pH for sludge Fenton oxidation, but also facilitated the generation of more diverse and abundant active radicals (OH, O2–, NO, and NO2) in the sludge because of the additional reaction of H2O2 with biogenic FNA in addition peroxide’s reaction with Fe(II). Radical oxidation decomposed CHONS, CHONSP, and CHOP-containing biopolymers in TB-EPS and especially proteins and lipids into relatively hydrophobic small molecules with low unsaturation, and disintegrated bioflocs into disperse structure with lowered surface roughness, increased cell lysis, and looser proteins secondary structure. These changes, together with coagulation by Fe(III), helped release mechanically bound water from the ADS. These results suggested that the synergistic effects between microbial ammonia oxidation and Fenton oxidation have the potential to facilitate cost-effective dewatering of ADS.

Bioproduction and characterization of melanin pigment produced by the fungal strain Gliocephalotrichum sp. DSGB2

Introduction and Aim: The biosynthetic method of naturally occurring pigment melanin production has become a predominant technique in recent years owing to its cost-effectiveness, low chemical usage, and reduced purification procedure. This study aimed to investigate the significant production, characterization, and biological applications of fungal melanin pigment. Materials and Methods: Melanin production in Gliocephalotrichum sp. DSGB2 strain was carried out by submerged fermentation in tyrosine broth and further purified by acidification and precipitation methods. The purified melanin was characterized by analytical methods such as ultraviolet-visible absorbance, TLC, FTIR spectroscopy, and LC-MS. The DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging analysis was performed to evaluate antioxidant properties of melanin. Results: Pigment was confirmed as melanin based on tyrosinase enzyme assay, UV-visible spectroscopy absorbance, TLC, FTIR, and LC-MS analysis. The biosynthesis of melanin was optimized by varying the culture conditions, and the highest yield was obtained under pH 6 at 30ºC. The strain produced about 3.82 gL-1 of melanin in 5 days under optimum conditions and exhibited antioxidant activity. Conclusion: The study provides new ideas into the biosynthesis of water-soluble melanin by the fungal strain Gliocephalotrichum sp. DSGB2 has broad potential applications as an efficient biomaterial in the biopolymer, pharmaceutical sectors, cosmetic, and environmental.

A rapid, inexpensive and effective method for the efficient isolation of genomic DNA from Gram-negative bacteria.

Currently, there are several protocols to extract bacterial DNA based on different principles. However, the quantity and the quality of the DNA obtained by each method are highly variable and microorganism dependent. In most of these classical crude methods, highly toxic and hazardous organic solvents such as phenol and chloroform are used for deproteinization, whereas in certain protocols, expensive enzymes including RNases and Proteinases are used. This study was designed to introduce a simple, rapid, inexpensive and effective genomic DNA isolation procedure for Gram-negative bacteria, without the usage of toxic chemicals and costly enzymes. This novel method was compared with another classical method known as the salting-out method, which uses proteinase-K. Concentration and yield of the extracted DNA were determined by gel electrophoresis by comparing the gel band intensity of the sample DNA to that of a DNA quantitation standard and by the Quantus™ fluorometer. According to the results, the yield of extracted DNA was higher in the novel method compared to the salting-out method. Moreover, the entire process was accomplished in less than 2h with the novel method. Purity and integrity of extracted genomic DNA by both methods were similar. In addition, the quality of DNA was determined using Multicopy Associated Filamentation (MAF) gene amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thus, the described technique is non-toxic, less time and fund consuming, efficient and a well-suited method for routine DNA isolation from Gram negative bacteria.

Parthenium hysterophorus derived nanostructures as an efficient carbocatalyst for the electrochemical sensing of mercury(II) ions

The sustainable utilization of resources motivate us to create eco-friendly processes for synthesizing novel carbon nanomaterials from waste biomass by minimizing chemical usage and reducing energy demands. By keeping sustainability as a prime focus in the present work, we have made the effective management of Parthenium weeds by converting them into carbon-based nanomaterial through hydrothermal treatment followed by heating in a tube furnace under the nitrogen atmosphere. The XPS studies confirm the natural presence of nitrogen and oxygen-containing functional groups in the biomass-derived carbon. The nanostructure has adopted a layered two-dimensional structure, clearly indicated through HRTEM images. Further, the nanomaterials are analyzed for their ability towards the electrochemical detection of mercury, with a detection limit of 6.17 μM, while the limit of quantification and sensitivity was found to be 18.7 μM and 0.4723 μM μA−1 cm−2, respectively. The obtained two-dimensional architecture has increased the surface area, while the nitrogen and oxygen functional groups act as an active site for sensing the mercury ions. This study will open a new door for developing metal-free catalysts through a green and sustainable approach by recycling and utilization of waste biomass.

Enhanced bio-extraction of medicinally important plants using xylano-pectinolytic enzymes produced concurrently by Bacillus pumilus AJK

Medicinal plant extracts obtained by chemical methods have drawbacks such as high chemical, time and energy consumption, byproduct formation, lower quality and efficiency, high toxicity and lead to degradation of thermo-sensitive bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of crude xylano-pectinolytic enzymes concoction in bio-extraction of medicinally important plant extracts, in order to reduce the use of chemical solvents for extraction. In this regard, various conditions including material to liquid ratio (MLR), enzyme dose, treatment time and stirring speed were optimized and several physico-chemical parameters including pH, total soluble solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), clarity, reducing sugar, polyphenolic content, viscosity and filterability were studied. The bio-extraction efficiency was found to be best at material-to-liquid ratio (MLR) 1:5-1:6 (g/mL), enzyme dose range between 15:60 to 20:80 (IU/g), treatment time range between 180- 240 min and stirring speed range between 50-60 rpm. Enzymatic extraction of medicinal plants resulted in 7-17% increase in clarity, 27-50% increase in TSS, 3-42% increase in reducing sugars, 20-42% increase in polyphenolic content, 13-53% increase in TDS, 15-22% increase in filterability along with decrease of 3-5% in pH and 18-43% in viscosity. Hence, this eco-friendly bio-extraction strategy could reduce the chemical usage, along with improvement of the physico-chemical properties of medicinally important extracts. The technique also enables the application of greener chemistry in the pharmaceuticals to optimize cleaner methods of extraction. This is the first report manifesting bio-extraction of medicinally important plant extracts using crude xylano-pectinolytic enzymatic concoction produced by a single bacterial isolate.

A Facile Method for Synthesis of α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles and Assessment of Their Characterization

Recently, magnetic nanomaterials have gained much attention from researchers because of their various unique physical and chemical properties and usage in a wide range of technological aspects. In this study, the synthesis of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was performed by a simple co-precipitation method. The synthesis of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was carried out by mixing ferric nitrate and oxalic acid in an aqueous solution followed by evaporation, resulting in the solution’s dried form. The synthesized nanoparticles were analyzed by XRD, FTIR, Raman spectra, SEM-EDX, DSC, BET, and Zeta potential for detailed examination of the morphology, structure, and other physicochemical characteristics. The XRD results confirmed that the nanoparticles formed were Hematite (α-Fe2O3) after the evaluation of obtained spectra compared to the Joint Committee on Powder Diffraction Standards Database (JCPDS). The FTIR spectra showed various bonds among functional groups, O-H bending, Fe-O group, and within-vibration bonds. The phase study of the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles was performed by using Raman spectroscopy. SEM depicted a sphere-like or rhombohedral (hexagonal) structure, and the EDX spectrum confirmed the peaks of iron and oxygen.

Comparison of Blast, Bacterial Leaf Blight and Brown Plant Hopper Introgressed Lines for Yield and Morphological Traits Over Original Line

Rice as a staple food for very large population suffers from various biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses, Blast, Bacterial leaf blight and Brown plant hopper (BPH) are considered to most potential threats that significantly affect the rice productivity. The use of chemical usage for controlling these diseases and pest attacks is not environmentally friendly and is expensive. Using Molecular Marker assisted backcross breeding program we have improved one of our hybrid parental line with 5 genes (xa13, Xa21, Pi54, Bph20 and Bph21). We have developed 15 near isogenic lines having similar agronomical characters as of recipient parent, they are promising for their direct induction in breeding program. Our results indicated that out of fifteen lines, Six lines i.e. GK 101-12, GK 101-15, GK 101-9, GK 101-5 and GK 101-2 out-performed in all the three locations tested, they had not only have very high level of resistance to BLB, Blast and BPH but also showed significantly higher yield compared to susceptible check as well as recipient parent. These lines may be used for improvement of our existing hybrid and also for developing of new hybrids with other CMS lines. These lines are also useful for developing new set of restorer lines through (R x R) and also useful for introgression of wide spectrum of resistance to the varieties/hybrid.

Experimental support for a sustainable treatment strategy of acrylic fiber dyeing wastewater

AbstractThe study intended to devise a sustainable treatment scheme for acrylic fiber dyeing process effluents, which significantly differ from other textile plant wastewaters. The necessary experimental support was generated from a set of tests conducted on the wastewater of a plant operation, focused solely on acrylic fiber dyeing. Related experiments involved effluent characterization, biological treatability, and chemical settling/oxidation performed on raw and bio‐treated effluent, as pre‐treatment and/or polishing steps. A total COD level of 910 mg/L with a 70% soluble ratio, low total N and P contents below 10 mg/L, a detergent content of 50 mg/L and a dark/black color of 1150 Pt‐Co unit defined the average properties of the raw plant effluent. Experimental support indicated that activated sludge operation at a sludge age level above 25 d, remained insufficient as it could only provide an effluent with a soluble COD level above 150 mg/L, a biomass escape in the range of 40 to 100 mg/L and with an intense dark color. A similar experimental template, including chemical settling, chemical oxidation by NaOCl and combination of the two processes, was tested as pre‐treatment and a polishing step after biological treatment. Pre‐treatment, although with some benefit to remove toxic and inhibitory compounds, proved to be highly costly, due to excessive chemical usage and sludge generation for a sustainable, cost‐effective approach. The sequence of chemical oxidation and settling steps implemented as a polishing stage was quite effective as it secured complete color removal, a major source of concern for the selected wastewater and also, it reduced COD down to 60 mg/L, a level significantly below the residual COD threshold for biological treatment. This approach, although case‐specific for this study, provided a scientific and general perspective for similar work.

A Critical Review of Green Approach on Wastewater Treatment Strategies

Green approach on wastewater treatment strategies aims to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly methods for treating wastewater while also reducing the environmental impact of traditional wastewater treatment processes. Hence, the objective of this paper was to undertake a critical review of green approach on wastewater treatment strategies using standard techniques of harvesting data from secondary sources from 2015 to 2023. Information obtained reveals that energy-efficient treatment technologies, such as anaerobic digestion and membrane bioreactors, use less energy than traditional treatment technologies. Treating wastewater for reuse can reduce the demand for freshwater resources and the energy required for water treatment. Onsite wastewater treatment systems, such as septic systems and composting toilets, can reduce the amount of wastewater that needs to be transported and treated at centralized facilities. Incorporating green infrastructure, such as rain gardens and permeable pavement, into urban areas can help reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that enters the wastewater treatment system. Extracting nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, from wastewater can be used as a fertilizer for crops, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Overall, these green wastewater treatment strategies aim to reduce the energy consumption, chemical usage, and environmental impact of traditional wastewater treatment processes, while promoting sustainable and efficient use of resources.

Feasibility of phenolic contaminant removal from high-saline wastewater by chloride-mediated activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peracetic acid (PAA)

Phenolic pollutants are highly toxic and can affect the growth and reproduction of aquatic organisms, as well as contaminate drinking water resources, posing a significant threat to both ecological and human health. However, conventional biological treatment processes are constrained in treating high salinity organic wastewaters due to the potentially lethal effects of high concentrations of dissolved salts on microorganisms. While advanced oxidation processes have shown promise in removing phenolic contaminants from high-saline wastewater, their widespread application is always limited by the high costs associated with energy and chemical usage. In this study, we explored the potential application of directly introducing peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and peracetic acid (PAA) to high-salinity water for the removal of nine phenolic contaminants. By establishing a correlation between the degradation rate constants in the PMS/Cl– (kPMS) and PAA/Cl– (kPAA) systems and various molecule descriptors, two multiple linear regression models were developed to predict the degradation rate constants under investigation. Additionally, we selected bisphenol A (BPA) as the target contaminant and investigated the impact of common ions found in natural water, such as HCO3–, NO3–, and humic acid, on the removal of BPA using two systems. Finally, we conducted experiments using tap water and sewage water to demonstrate the practical application and performance of the two systems. These experiments aimed to provide valuable insights into the influence of background chloride on PMS and PAA activation, as well as the potential of direct PMS/PAA introduction for eliminating phenolic micropollutants from high-saline wastewaters.

Farmers Perspectives on Negative Impacts of Chemical Pesticide Usage in Vegetable Cultivations: Case Study from the Periyaneelavanai Area, Ampara District

Indiscriminate use of pesticides causes health hazards to humans and long-lasting negative impacts to the environment. The major objectives of this study are to evaluate the current status of pesticide usage in the Periyaneelavani area, to evaluate farmers‘ perception on health, environmental effects due to usage, of pesticides, to identify the awareness level of farmers about proper usage of chemical pesticides and alternatives. This study was carried out in two GN divisions of Periyaneelavanai area, Ampara district. To represent 20% respondents, 50 farmers from each GN devisions which upto total 100 were randomly surveyed using a structured questionnaire. In order to gather the necessary data on vegetable cultivation, a preliminary study involving interviews with the Agricultural Instructor-Officer in Charge and affiliated farmers in Periyaneelavanai area were conducted before the actual survey. Discriptive analysis, P test, T test, anova were performed using minitab 14.0 version to conduct data analysis. The present study revealed that Chili, Brinjal, Okra, Tomato, Long beans, Cucurbites, Onion and Leafy vegetables were primarily grown in this area. Abamactin, Coragan, Applaud and Virtako were used as insecticides and Abamactin was the most popular (42%) among farmers. Mancozeb, Propineb and Canazole were used as fungicides and the highest usage was Mancozeb (45%). Mortin rat kill was used as a rodenticide by all the respondent farmers, and they have not used herbicides for their vegetable cultivation; instead, they manually remove the weeds. Skin irritation was the most prominent (60%), acute disease, and Asthma was the most common chronic disease (31%), that can be seen among farmers. The most common adverse environmental impact in this area was the empty pesticide containers piling up along roadsides (95%). All the farmers use at least one PPE while applying pesticide though the frequency of wearing PPE is different among each other. The majority of respondents use gloves, eye protection, and foot ware but lack of awareness towards face, head and body protection. The highest number of farmers selected indoor places (51%) for pesticide storage which cause to have a high risk of exposure among farmers. Most of the farmers selected the option of burying or burning pesticide bottles after using it. Majority of respondents preferred to use chemical pesticides (76%), rather than alternative methods due to the reliability of those methods. It is proposed to educate farmers on application, storage, cleaning and carrying the pesticides, the methods of effectiveness of different individual protection facilities, and utilizing the behavior to reduce the exposure to poisons should be developed and be available to farmers. This will help to reduce negative health and environmental consequences. Moreover, it is recommended to introduce reliable and effective alternative methods for chemical pesticides.
 Keywords: Periyaneelavanai area, Vegetable cultivation, Pesticides, Environmental impacts, Disease

Preparation and Characterization of NPK Nutrient Loaded Electrospun Cellulose Acetate Nanofiber Mat to be used as a Slow-release Fertilizer


 
 
 A major unsolved issue with chemical fertilizers is the low nutrient use efficiency. It has been reported that an excessive amount of up to 70% of the nitrogen applied to plants with traditional fertilizers is lost to the surrounding. Hence, the drastic pollution effects of chemical fertilizer usage. Slow-release fertilizers aim to reduce such losses via slow and sustained release of nutrients to the plant. In this study, we report the successful fabrication and characterization of a novel and biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA) electrospun nanofiber (NF) mat loaded with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plant nutrients of urea, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (HANPs) and MOP respectively to be used as a slow-release fertilizer (SRF). It was envisaged that the unique properties of the electrospun NFs could overcome the shortcomings of traditional slow-release fertilizers (SRFs). The fabrication of the NFs was done with 8.5% w/v CA polymer dissolved in a 6 mL solvent system of acetone to dimethylformamide in a 2:1 volume ratio along with the addition of the aforementioned nutrients at 10% of the polymer weight. Electrospinning parameters were set after parameter optimization. The high-voltage supply was set at 16 kV, the spinneret to collector distance was 13cm and the flow rate was 1.5 ml/h. The solutions were electrospun only when the relative humidity was approximately between 65 to 70%. The HANPs incorporated were synthesized by the wet chemical precipitation method. The successful synthesis of the HANPs was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The successful loading of the nutrients onto the electrospun NF mat was evident from FTIR, Raman and EDX analysis. Furthermore, the scanning electron microscopy images of the nutrient loaded NFs depicted a reduced average diameter with respect to those of the neat NF mat. The total nitrogen percentage of the nutrient loaded NF mat was determined to be 2.60% from Kjeldahl analysis. The initial nutrient release studies in water depicted a biphasic release model for orthophosphate and potassium nutrients while only a burst release profile was observed for nitrogen. It can be concluded that the electrospun NF mats display a potential application with regards to SRFs. However, several modifications to the NF mat fabrication such as the usage of coaxial electrospinning will have to be made in order to better optimize the nutrient loading and enhance its slow-release properties.
 Keywords: Electrospinning, Nanofiber mat, Slow-release, Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles
 
 

Effect of Biofertilizers and Nutrients on Mustard (Brassica juncea): A Review

This review explores the impact of biofertilizers and nutrients on mustard (Brassica juncea) cultivation. Mustard, a vital oilseed crop in India, faces challenges such as low productivity and environmental concerns due to excessive chemical fertilizer usage. The paper emphasizes the significance of integrated nutrient management, combining chemical and organic sources, including biofertilizers. The study evaluates the effects on various growth parameters, yield attributes, economic aspects, soil nutrients, and microbial properties. Biofertilizers applications, particularly Azotobacter, PSB and SSB, show promising results in enhancing growth metrics, yield, and nutrient uptake. The judicious combination of chemical fertilizers and biofertilizers demonstrates the potential for improving mustard crop productivity while maintaining environmental sustainability.

Operando investigation of the synergistic effect of electric field treatment and copper for bacteria inactivation

As the overuse of chemicals in our disinfection processes becomes an ever-growing concern, alternative approaches to reduce and replace the usage of chemicals is warranted. Electric field treatment has shown promising potential to have synergistic effects with standard chemical-based methods as they both target the cell membrane specifically. In this study, we use a lab-on-a-chip device to understand, observe, and quantify the synergistic effect between electric field treatment and copper inactivation. Observations in situ, and at a single cell level, ensure us that the combined approach has an enhancement effect leading more bacteria to be weakened by electric field treatment and susceptible to inactivation by copper ion permeation. The synergistic effects of electric field treatment and copper can be visually concluded here, enabling the further study of this technology to optimally develop, mature, and scale for its various applications in the future.

The Language Barrier: Can the ICC Prosecute Chemical Warfare?

ABSTRACT: International law has come a long way in outlawing chemical weapon usage during warfare. From the 1907 Hague Convention to the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, there exists a comprehensive and mostly successful prohibition and verification regime for chemical weapons. However, the advent of modern warfare in recent conflicts in Syria and in Ukraine demonstrates compliance control is severely lacking for this form of weaponry. Consequently, there is no comprehensive accountability framework for international humanitarian law violations in the form of chemical weapon usage. Without explicit language criminalizing it, this heinous form of war crime ends up slipping under the radar. This article explores these jurisdictional gaps in both international and non-international armed conflicts and recommends ways the international community should cement its commitment to penalizing chemical weapon utilization.

Exploring disparities in employment location and structure: The influence of off-farm employment on reducing chemical fertilizer usage

There has been a discrepancy in opinions regarding the correlation between off-farm employment and the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers. This study considers the locational and structural attributes of non-agricultural employment within the labor force and employs the IV-Probit model to examine the causal factors behind farmers' decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers, using survey data from Sichuan Province. The findings suggest that: (1) Farmers in the plain area (Qionglai) tend to have an equal proportion of local and non-local employment; while farmers in the hilly area (Luxian) tend to have more local employment; farmers in the mountainous area (Nanjiang) tend to have more non-local employment. (2) Local employment has a negative significant effect on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers, while non-local employment has a positive significant effect on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers. (3) Economic differentiation and ecological cognition play a part in mediating effects on farmers' decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers behavior. (4) Further analysis shows that the negative effect of local employment on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers is stronger for women than for men, and the positive effect of non-local employment on the decrease in usage of chemical fertilizers is stronger for women than for men. In addition, the new generation of local employment had a significant negative effect on the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers. The new generation of non-local employment has a significant positive effect on the decrease in the usage of chemical fertilizers.

A Model for Detecting the Presence of Pesticide Residues in Edible Parts of Tomatoes, Cabbages, Carrots, and Green Pepper Vegetables

With increased resistant pests and low crop yields, farmers especially in sub-Saharan Africa have greatly embraced usage of chemicals. These chemicals include pesticides used in gardens for better yields and also in the stalls for longer shelf life by sellers of farm products especially fresh perishables like tomatoes, cabbages, carrots, and green pepper vegetables. This, if not checked, may expose humans and animals to pesticide residues. In this research, a model for detecting the presence of pesticide residues in edible parts of vegetables (tomatoes, cabbages, carrots, and green pepper) was developed. A dataset consisting of 1094 images of both contaminated and uncontaminated vegetables including tomatoes, cabbages, carrots, and green pepper with a scale magnification of 800 × 1276 pixels taken using InfiRay P2 pro Night Vision Go Mini Infrared Thermal camera with a thermal module was taken from different daily markets in Mbarara city, South Western Uganda. Image preprocessing was done by noise removal and grayscale conversion. Both the neural network and median filter were applied on the images. A python script was used to cluster the dataset based on chemical concentrations rates of 0.1–0.8 mg/kg, 0.9–1.3 mg/kg, and 1.4–1.7 mg/kg, and this was done for both training and testing dataset. Feature extraction was done to detect the presence of mancozeb, dioxacarb, and methidathion residues from the cleaned images. To test the developed model, convolutional neural networks transfer learning models, Inception V3, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, and the scratch model were used. From the results obtained, Inception V3 achieved better performance compared to other transfer learning models with 96.77% followed by VGG16 at 86.98%, VGG19 at 87.56%, and ResNet50 at 82.11%, whereas the developed scratch model achieved 89.13% classification accuracy.

Emerging technologies: analytical lab vs. clinical lab perspective. Common goals and gaps to be filled in the pursuit of green and sustainable solutions.

Analytical chemistry is a broad area of science comprised of many sub-disciplines. Although each sub-discipline has its own dominant trends, one trend is common to all of them: greenness and sustainability. Efforts to develop more ecological and environmentally friendly methods have been ongoing for over a decade with initial attempts largely focusing on limiting the necessary volume of solvents required and eliminating the use of toxic solvents. Over time, the miniaturization of analytical devices gained popularity as a way of not only reducing chemical usage, but also enabling analyses using smaller sample volumes and more "remote" applications (e.g., on-site sampling and analysis). Of course, miniaturization poses numerous challenges for researchers, for instance, in relation to the method's sensitivity and reproducibility. Developments in the design of detection systems have largely helped to mitigate these issues, but they also often restrict the potential for on-site analysis. Therefore, attempts have been made to improve analysis throughout the entire analytical process, from sampling through sample preparation and instrumental analysis to data handling. Furthermore, clinical chemistry labs must adhere to certain regulations and use certified protocols and materials, which precludes the rapid implementation of solutions developed in research labs. What are the obstacles in translating such innovations to practical applications, and what inventions can make a difference in the future? The answers to these two questions define the trends in analytical chemistry in the field of medical analysis.

Innovations in textile wastewater management: a review of zero liquid discharge technology.

Zero liquid discharge (ZLD) technology emerges as a transformative solution for sustainable wastewater management in the textile industry, emphasizing water recycling and discharge minimization. This review comprehensively explores ZLD's pivotal role in reshaping wastewater management practices within the textile sector. With a primary focus on water recycling and minimized discharge, the review thoroughly examines the economic and environmental dimensions of ZLD. Additionally, it includes a comparative cost analysis against conventional wastewater treatment methods and offers a comprehensive outlook on the global ZLD market. Presently valued at US $0.71 billion, the market is anticipated to reach US $1.76 billion by 2026, reflecting a robust annual growth rate of 12.6%. Despite ZLD's efficiency in wastewater recovery, environmental challenges, such as heightened greenhouse gas emissions, increased carbon footprint, elevated energy consumption, and chemical usage, are discussed. Methodologies employed in this review involve an extensive analysis of existing literature, empirical data, and case studies on ZLD implementation in the textile industry worldwide. While acknowledging existing adoption barriers, the review underscores ZLD's potential to guide the textile industry toward a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future.