The first-ever use of halloysite nanotube (HNT), a relatively low-cost nanomaterial abundantly available with minor toxicity for removing brilliant green dye from aqueous media, is reported. The factors affecting adsorption were studied by assessing the adsorption capacity, kinetics, and equilibrium thermodynamic properties. All the experiments were designed at a pH level of around 7. The Redlich-Peterson isotherm model fits best amongst the nine isotherm models studied. The kinetic studies data confirmed a pseudo model of the second order. Robotic investigations propose a rate-controlling advance being overwhelmed by intraparticle dispersion. The adsorbent features were interpreted using infrared spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Process optimization was carried out using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) through a dual section Fractional Factorial Experimental Design to contemplate the impact of boundaries on the course of adsorption. The examination of fluctuation (ANOVA) was utilized to consider the joined impact of the boundaries. The possibilities of the use of dye adsorbing HNT (“sludge”) for the fabrication of the composites using plastic waste are suggested.

A set of lab-scale experiments were designed and conducted to remedy Direct Blue 15 (DB15) dye using nontoxic halloysite nanotubes (HNT) with the view to be utilized in a textile industrial effluent (TIE). The DB15 adsorbed-HNT “sludge” was used as a reinforcing agent and plastic waste to fabricate the composite. To advance the knowledge and further understand the chemical phenomena associated with DB15 adsorption on HNT, different factors like pH value, adsorbate initial concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the composite were affected experimentally tested. To estimate the adsorption capacity of HNT, nine isotherm models were applied, and it was identified that the Brouers–Sotolongo adsorption isotherm model represented the best accuracy for predicting the adsorption behavior of the HNT. Likewise, the pseudo-second-order reaction was the predominant mechanism for the overall rate of the multi-step dye adsorption process. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the mass transfer during the process is diffusion-controlled, and thermodynamic assessments showed that the process is physisorption.

We used Nutraceutical Industrial Coriander Seed Spent (NICSS), a readily available, cheap, eco-friendly, and ready-to-use material, as an innovative adsorbent for the bioremediation of a bisazo Acid Red 119 (AR 119) dye, which is likely a mutagen from textile industrial effluents (TIE). A laboratory-scale experiment was tailored to demonstrate the framework of the circular economy (CE) in the remediation of textile dyes using Nutraceutical Industrial Spent to align with the principles of sustainability and valorization. An experimental q_e value of 97.00 mg g⁻¹ was obtained. For the practicality and effectiveness of the method, a two-level fractional factorial experimental design (FFED) was employed to determine variables that influence the adsorption capacity of NICSS. At optimal settings (pH of 1.4, adsorbent dosage of 6.000 g L⁻¹, adsorbent particle size of 96 μm, initial dye concentration of 599 mg L⁻¹, adsorption duration of 173 min, orbital shaking speed of 165 rpm, and temperature of 35 °C), the maximum adsorption efficiency achieved through statistical optimization was 614 mg g⁻¹. Six factors influencing the adsorption process were examined experimentally and were considered important for commercialization. Three orders of magnitude were applied to the identified variables in scaling experiments. Adsorption-equilibrium data were analyzed using nine isotherm models. The best fit was discovered to be the Vieth–Sladek adsorption isotherm model. The suitable mechanism for the overall rate of the adsorption process was a pseudo-second-order reaction: mass-transfer mechanistic studies were predicted to predominate over the diffusion process. NICSS was characterized using SEM and FTIR spectroscopy. Utilizing plastic trash, the dye-adsorbed NICSS that was recovered as “sludge” was utilized as a reinforcing material to create composites. Dye-adsorbed NICSS thermoplastic and thermoset composites were studied and compared with NICSS composites in terms of their physicomechanical and chemical properties.

This research aims to identify the areas under encroachment and its causes and consequences in the Kehmil forest division of the district of Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir. The survey was conducted for two consecutive years during September 2020 to November 2020 and September 2021 to November 2021. The study area is dominated by (Himalayan dry-temperate to subalpine forest types). Cedrus deodar, Pinus excelsa, and Abies pindrow are the species in the Kupwara region with the highest importance value (IV). For data collection, direct observations of the encroached site, interviews and opinion of the locals, literature studies and analysis were done. The study area of 546.89 hectare land was encroached by 2178 encroachers. It was determined that the encroached area's agricultural system is a dry land one with horticultural crops as its primary plant types. The main reason for forest encroachment by the population is relatively huge such as rise in population and unemployment, restrictions on agricultural land and forest guard forces. Due to forest encroachment, the abolition of forest plant species in study area has altered the expected ranking of tree species identified in the undisturbed forest. Based on the present study, it is concluded that there is a need of extensive land-use regulations at the national and municipal levels to stop future deforestation by well-built protections for the remaining forest land in the Kehmil forest division.

Biodiversity underpins ecosystem resilience and the constant provision of facilities vital to maintaining human well-being. It examines the interface between biodiversity conservation, ecosystem service provision, and human well-being based on integrating field-based biodiversity measurement, ecosystem service valuation, and socio-economic analysis in six varied ecosystems, for instance, primary forests, secondary forests, wetlands, agroforestry, and cultivated lands. The findings show that ecosystems rich in biodiversity supplied significantly more provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services compared to degraded ecosystems. Species-rich ecosystems offered more access to primary resources like fuelwood, medicinal plants, water, and wild edible species and supported significant ecological processes like carbon sequestration, soil quality, and pollination. Socio-economic impacts reflected a reliance of societies on biodiversity-related resources for livelihood, food security, and identity, with the majority of families being willing to pay for conservation since there is increased appreciation of the significance of biodiversity. Statistical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation of biodiversity, availability of ecosystem services, and human well-being, reaffirming that, in fact biodiversity is a major driver of sustainable development. The research finds that there is a critical need for cross-scale, community-led conservation efforts that strike a balance between ecological interest and human development imperatives. Conservation of biodiversity is essential to preserve ecosystem resilience, safeguard natural resources, and ensure long-term socio-economic and environmental sustainability.

Feeding the exponentially growing populations around the globe under changing climatic conditions is going to be a cumbersome task. The enhancement in food production is seriously and urgently needed to meet this huge demand as the world’s population is expected to be 9 billion by 2050. One of the most effective tools to enhance food production by creating useful genetic variations in plants, i.e., induced mutagenesis, has been widely used to generate genetic diversity and identify the essential genetic variants for economically significant features for crop development. Numerous methods, including insertional, chemical, and physical mutagen treatments, can be utilized to cause mutations in crop plants. Induced mutagenesis has come a long way since the epoch-making discoveries by Muller (1928) and Stadler (1928) in Drosophila and maize by using X-rays. More than 3000 mutant varieties, with one or more improved characteristics, of different crop plants, such as grain crops, oil crops, horticultural and ornamental crops, have been developed and released in different parts of the world. In the 21st century, induced mutagenesis, coupled with ultramodern biological techniques, plays 158a pivotal role in creating useful genetic variation and its subsequent utilization in crop improvement programmes.