Papita Das

60 percent of toilets in India are constructed with an onsite sanitation system (OSS). In the West Bengal (WB) State of India, 78 percent of the urban population is covered with unsewered and OSS systems. There is no detailed study that compares the economic benefits of FSTP in India with those of a Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP). This study is done to derive the anticipated outcome and benefits which may be achieved from independent Faecal Sludge Treatment Plants (FSTP) concerning economic aspects and control of environmental pollution caused by untreated discharge of Faecal Sludge (FS) and Septage into open ground and water bodies. The study was conducted in an indigenous and unique manner, following rigorous literature reviews and data collection. The study emphasises the immediate implementation of FSTP in each city where an unserved sanitation system exists. To establish an independent FSTP with 100 KLD capacity, it is concluded that the average capital cost (CapEx) for construction and its operation and maintenance cost (OpEx) for 15 years are around INR 106.5 million and INR 330 million, respectively. Considering this, the total CapEx plus OpEx (15 years) incurs around INR 985 per capita for using FSTP. On the other hand, the same approach, using STP, amounts to approximately INR 18,000 per capita, comprising capital expenditure (INR 9,000) and Operational Expenditure (INR 9,000 for 15 years). The economic benefits of adopting FSTP over STP are expected to reach INR 251 billion within the first 15 years. Moreover, end products of FSTPs add resource recovery, control environmental pollution, ensure sustainable development goals and promote a circular economy.

Human health and ecosystems are facing significant challenges from environmental contamination imposed by industrialization and urbanization. Bioremediation is a sustainable method to combat pollution that focuses on microorganisms’ capacity to degrade toxic compounds. Bacillus cereus has proved itself as a promising candidate for bioremediation due to its diverse metabolic pathways as well as its capacity to adapt to various extreme conditions. This review paper mainly focuses on the bioremediation capability of different strains of Bacillus cereus for a wide range of pollutants, their possible mechanisms, kinetics study, limitations, and future prospects. Applications in different industrial fields have been highlighted. The impact of various biotic and abiotic factors on the effectiveness of bioremediation is well discussed. Research findings and case studies illustrated both the challenges and advantages of using Bacillus cereus to protect the environment. Prospects, including advancements in genetic engineering and large-scale applications, can amplify the potential of the bacterium to transform environmental remediation technologies. This review compiles the information on Bacillus cereus and its essential role in combating pollution for a sustainable future.

Cyanobacterial algal blooms (CABs) are recognized as an emergent concern globally due to their undesirable impacts on water quality, agricultural ecosystems, and human health. These blooms, fueled by nutrient pollution and climate change, lead to the excessive growth of cyanobacteria, which can release harmful toxins known as cyanotoxins. The current review bestows a comprehensive overview of CABs, their environmental drivers, and the types of cyanotoxins produced. It explores the implications of these toxins for agricultural productivity, ecosystem sustainability, and public health. Furthermore, emerging mitigation approaches are discussed, including physical, chemical, and biological methods aimed at controlling bloom formation and reducing toxin release. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have appeared as powerful tools for environmental monitoring and prediction. Keeping this in mind, the present article highlights for the very first time the integration of AI/ML techniques for enhancing early detection of CABs, predicting the bloom dynamics, and optimizing the mitigation strategies. By combining traditional mitigation strategies with AI-driven insights, this paper provides a roadmap for addressing the challenges posed by CABs in a rapidly changing global environment, offering solutions that balance agricultural productivity with environmental and human safety.

The focus of this study is the modification of (3-Aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and its utilisation as a filler in Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) aerogel preparation along with normal APTES and extracted silica (Si) to understand its effect on the removal of naphthalene from water solution. An increase in the peak of the –OH group was observed along with the presence of other groups, viz., C–O–C, Si–O, and CH₂. Along with the difference in characterization, a different adsorption efficiency was also found for all the adsorbents. In all the scenarios the PVA-modified APTES aerogel showed a higher removal compared to PVA-APTES and PVA-Si aerogel. The effect of different parameters, viz., pH, temperature, pollutant concentration, and aerogel dose on removal percentage were investigated. The highest removal of naphthalene was found to be 99.74% at 180 min at aerogel dose 1 g/L, pH 7, temperature 35 °C, and naphthalene concentration 5 mg/L. From the adsorption modelling it was observed that the adsorption process best fitted with Langmuir isotherm in the case of PVA-modified APTES and Freundlich isotherm for the rest of the adsorbents respectively. The kinetic analysis showed that all the adsorbents followed a pseudo- 2nd order reaction. In the pH_pzc analysis of PVA-modified APTES, it was observed that the point of zero charge was detected at 7.16. It was found that the main controlling mechanism of this process was dipole-induced dipole interaction and hydrogen bonding. The effect of naphthalene on Lysinibacillus sp. before and after adsorption was observed. A significant suppression in the growth curve occurred because of the contamination of naphthalene. Graphical Abstract