Synthetic polymers, which account for over 400 million tons of global production annually, are primarily composed of harmful chemicals that persist in the environment, leading to significant ecological and health issues. The global market for synthetic polymers is valued at approximately $31.46 billion in 2023, yet their environmental footprint is becoming increasingly untenable due to rising contamination levels and bioaccumulation. These synthetic polymers are recognized as major contributors to environmental degradation and pose severe risks to human health, with over 93% of Americans testing positive for plastic-related chemicals in their bodies. To mitigate these impacts, the industry is shifting towards biopolymers, which are projected to reach a market value of USD 38.5 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 15.2%. Biopolymers derived from plants and microbes present a sustainable alternative due to their biodegradable and biocompatible nature. Plant-based biopolymers, such as those derived from agricultural residues, promote a zero-waste economy and have a lower environmental impact. Microbial production of biopolymers, using strains like Agrobacterium, Erwinia, Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp., and Xanthomonas campestris, is recognized for its efficiency and scalability. These biopolymers are increasingly used in high-priority markets, including the food industry, where they are valued for their safety and unique properties, and the medical and pharmaceutical sectors, where they serve as biocompatible materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering. The present review mainly focuses on the various plants- and microbes-based biopolymers and their applications in different industries.

Ferrites are important magnetic materials used in electronic devices. Nanocomposites of ferrites with TiO₂, SiO₂ and carbon quantum dots have gained recent interest due to their unique advantages, such as high chemical stability, surface-active sites, high specific surface area, non-toxicity, excellent optical properties, and tunable porosity. In the present review, general and adaptable coprecipitation, sol–gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, and Stöber methods for the fabrication of nanocomposites are discussed. These materials offer the advantage of magnetic recovery and superior photocatalytic performance. The potential of nanocomposites to act as photocatalysts to eliminate organic pollutants and microbes from water is discussed. Mechanisms involved in these applications are also elaborated upon. The review provides a detailed study of recent applications and future perspectives of nanocomposites in sustainable water treatment.

In the present study, a liquid formulation(s) containing two phosphate-solubilizing Bacillus licheniformis PRPSB ₁₀ and Pseudomonas putida PRPSB ₃₈ has been developed and tested for its efficacy to improve growth, yield, and nutrient content of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) under integrated nutrient management system. These two phosphate-solubilizing strains, isolated from potato rhizosphere showed high phosphate-solubilizing efficiency, with solubilization index of 6.1 and 5.8, respectively, on modified Pikovskaya agar. The strain PRPSB ₁₀ solubilized 659.9, 202.0, and 113.7 μg ml ⁻¹ of tricalcium phosphate, rock phosphate, and iron phosphate, respectively, while the strain PRPSB ₃₈ solubilized 457.4, 187.9, and 80.0 μg ml ⁻¹ of the same substrates, respectively, after 5 days of incubation in NBRIP broth. Among the different cell protectants tested, 0.1% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was found to be the best for B. licheniformis PRPSB ₁₀ while 5 mM trehalose was best suited for P. putida PRPSB ₃₈ maintaining the cell viability ~10 ⁸ CFU ml ⁻¹ up to 1 year under ambient storage conditions. Two-year field evaluations of the liquid formulation in potato variety Kufri Pukhraj with different P dosages revealed a significant improvement in plant growth, phosphorus content, tuber yield and soil fertility over the respective control treatment with an average increase of 16.2% in yield over control. Economic analysis further indicated mean net returns of ₹44,876 ha ⁻¹ and an improved benefit-cost ratio of 2.52 compared with the uninoculated control. The results indicated that the developed liquid PSB formulation exhibited excellent stability, effectively enhanced yield and phosphorus availability highlighting its potential to be used as a liquid biofertilizer for improving potato productivity and maintaining soil health.