Growing concerns regarding the presence of pharmaceuticals in wastewater necessitate their removal. Membrane filtration offers a promising approach. This study explores the development of biochar incorporated mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) for ciprofloxacin removal from water. Biochar, derived from the pyrolysis of agricultural waste, was blended with polyether sulfone (PES) and polyvinylpyrrolidone in varying ratios. The resulting MMMs exhibited progressively improved properties with increasing biochar content. Notably, membrane M₁₁, comprising equal parts PES and biochar, displayed the highest porosity, lowest surface roughness (12.0), and lowest contact angle (31.05°), indicating enhanced hydrophilicity (increased by 58.19% compared to the biochar-free membrane). M₁₁ effectively removed ciprofloxacin along with three additional antibiotics from different classes. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses corroborated the removal of ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, M₁₁ demonstrated excellent regenerability, retaining over 57% removal efficiency after four cycles. These findings highlight the potential of M₁₁ as a sustainable and cost-effective membrane for pharmaceutical removal from wastewater.

Due to increased number of herbicide resistant weeds, it is needed to explore the allelopathic potential of plants as an alternative. The research was conducted to investigate allelopathic effects of Carica papaya L. leaf powder and aqueous extract on seeds as well as pre-germinated seeds of Avena fatua L., Helianthus annuus L., Rumex dentatus L., Zea mays L. and Triticum aestivum L. on filter paper and soil in Weed Management Program Laboratory, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection at PARC Institute of Advanced Studies in Agriculture, National Agriculture Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan. Germination percentage (%), radicle length (cm) and plumule length (cm) were parameters observed for ‘Plant leaf powder bioassay’ and ‘Aqueous extract method’. Most significant growth inhibition was observed in A. fatua seedlings in filter paper method. A. fatua radicle length was reduced by C. papaya aqueous extract (80%) and leaf powder (89%) bioassays. Plumule length was reduced under the influence of aqueous extract (57-73%) and powdered material (59-77%). The inhibitory effects on other test species were in sequence of H. annuus followed by Z. mays and R. dentatus. The aqueous extract showed non-significant effect on wheat seed germination, radicle and plumule growth. It is suggested that C. papaya aqueous extract can be used as source of weed management in wheat crop.

Unprocessed waste is dumped in lakes and rivers which possess a severe environmental risk through heavy metal’s contamination within the food chain, especially chromium Cr6+. It applies for sustainable development goals by using green solid waste as a precursor. This research mainly focuses upon the analysis of time effect for Cr6+ removal by FeCl3 modified biochar using sugarcane bagasse and peanut shell powder as biomass. Adsorbent preparation was done using Bench-Scale Fixed Bed Reactor (B-SFBR) and Cr6+ was found using the calorimetric method. Characterization was done by BET, SEM-EDX, and FTIR. The highest Cr6+ percentage removal was achieved by Modified Peanut shell Powder with 99.97% removal upon pH 2, shaking time 180 mints, speed = 150 rpm, dosage 0.3 g, Cr6+ conc 20 mg/L. Percentage Removal by Modified SB was 98.96% with Cr6+ conc 20 mg/L, dosage 0.3 g, pH 2, shaking speed 150 rpm, time 180 mints. Hence, the present experimental research concludes that FeCl3 modified peanut shell powder shows greater Cr6+ removal efficiency up to 99.97 %.