Faculty Publications
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Item Soil toxicity and remediation techniques(Elsevier, 2022) Manikandan, S.K.; Shilli, A.; Noronha, F.R.; Nair, N.Soil is a major component required for the growth of plant, and its studies have been carried out intensively for enhanced agricultural production. The need to fulfill the food demands of the increasing human population and the requirement to safeguard food crops has resulted in the heavy usage of pesticides. However, the continuous usage of pesticides and their ability to persist in soil for a longer period has become a threat to society. The pesticide residue in the soil can cause severe environmental problems due to their high accumulative and persistent existence, that are biomagnified through the food chain of various life forms. Different disposal techniques classified as physicochemical technologies, biological technologies, and thermal technologies have been reported to be effective in pesticide removal from soil. Similarly, the application of green chemistry and nanotechnology have been stated to be effective for the removal of pesticides from the soil. This chapter provides detailed information on the various remediation involved in pesticide removal from soil. In addition, it also provides insights on the new technologies for treating contaminated soil and the economic aspect involved in the disposal of pesticides. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Item Effective Usage of Biochar and Microorganisms for the Removal of Heavy Metal Ions and Pesticides(MDPI, 2023) Manikandan, S.K.; Pallavi, P.; Shetty K, V.; Bhattacharjee, D.; Giannakoudakis, D.A.; Katsoyiannis, I.A.; Nair, V.The bioremediation of heavy metal ions and pesticides is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Microbial remediation is considered superior to conventional abiotic remediation processes, due to its cost-effectiveness, decrement of biological and chemical sludge, selectivity toward specific metal ions, and high removal efficiency in dilute effluents. Immobilization technology using biochar as a carrier is one important approach for advancing microbial remediation. This article provides an overview of biochar-based materials, including their design and production strategies, physicochemical properties, and applications as adsorbents and support for microorganisms. Microorganisms that can cope with the various heavy metal ions and/or pesticides that enter the environment are also outlined in this review. Pesticide and heavy metal bioremediation can be influenced by microbial activity, pollutant bioavailability, and environmental factors, such as pH and temperature. Furthermore, by elucidating the interaction mechanisms, this paper summarizes the microbe-mediated remediation of heavy metals and pesticides. In this review, we also compile and discuss those works focusing on the study of various bioremediation strategies utilizing biochar and microorganisms and how the immobilized bacteria on biochar contribute to the improvement of bioremediation strategies. There is also a summary of the sources and harmful effects of pesticides and heavy metals. Finally, based on the research described above, this study outlines the future scope of this field. © 2023 by the authors.Item Role of coconut shell biochar and earthworm (Eudrilus euginea) in bioremediation and palak spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) growth in cadmium-contaminated soil(Academic Press, 2022) Noronha, F.R.; Manikandan, S.K.; Nair, N.The contamination of soil with heavy metals is known to affect the yield the soil fertility, which in turn affects the growth of agricultural crops. This study investigates the role of coconut shell biochar (CSB) and earthworms (Eudrilus euginea) in the bioremediation and growth of Palak spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) in cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil. The soils were amended with different combinations of CSB and earthworms and incubated for 35 days. Later, the soil samples were analyzed for the changes in the soil properties, soil enzyme activity, and heavy metal contents. It is observed that the treatments with both CSB and earthworms resulted in the improvement of soil properties and soil enzyme activity which was directly related to soil fertility. Meanwhile, the maximum removal of 94.38% of total Cd content in the soil was obtained for the soil sample contain both CSB and earthworms. The improved soil properties resulted in a higher germination percentage of Spinacia oleracea L. seeds in the Cd contaminated soil. © 2021 Elsevier LtdItem Pseudomonas stutzeri Immobilized Sawdust Biochar for Nickel Ion Removal(MDPI, 2022) Manikandan, S.K.; Nair, V.Nickel ions generated from the electroplating industry and stainless steel and battery manufacturing industries contribute to water pollution, harm human health, and pose environmental risks. A long-term, sustainable, and efficient treatment method should be developed to address this issue. Bioremediation in the presence of biochar and microorganisms is a potential approach for metal ion abatement. This study evaluates the feasibility of Pseudomonas stutzeri immobilized sawdust biochar (PSDB) for Ni2+ removal. Sawdust biochar was prepared by pyrolyzing in a muffle furnace and was characterized using SEM, FTIR, and BET. The influence of biochar preparation parameters such as pyrolysis temperature, time on biochar yield, and impact on cell immobilization was investigated. The effect of various parameters, such as incubation time, pH, temperature, and biocatalyst dosage, was studied. The total Ni2+ in solution was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. PSDB showed an 83% Ni2+ removal efficiency and reusability up to three cycles. FT-IR analysis revealed that the mechanism of Ni2+ removal by PSDB was the synergistic effect of adsorption by biochar and bioaccumulation by P. stutzeri. This study presents a novel approach for environmental application by utilizing waste biomass-derived biochar as a carrier support for bacteria and an adsorbent for pollutants. © 2022 by the authors.Item Mechanistic studies on bioremediation of dye using Aeromonas veronii immobilized peanut shell biochar(Academic Press Inc., 2024) Singh, A.; Manikandan, S.K.; Nair, V.Recalcitrant chemicals in the environment not only present obstacles to living organisms but also contribute to the degradation of natural resources. One contribution to environmental pollution is the discharge of synthetic dyes from the textile sector. This study investigates the combined effect of microbial cells and biochar on eliminating methyl orange (MO) dye. The immobilization of Aeromonas veronii on peanut shell biochar (APSB) was conducted to investigate its efficacy in removing MO dye from water. PSB synthesized by pyrolysis at 300 °C for 120 min showed maximum bacterial immobilization potential. The highest degradation rate of 96.19 % was achieved in APSB within 96 h using MO dye concentration of 100 mg L?1, incubation temperature of 37 °C, pH 7, and biocatalyst dosage of 1g L?1. In comparison, free cells achieved degradation rates of 72.53 % and 61.56 % for PSB. Moreover, the adsorption process was primarily controlled by PSB, with subsequent dye mineralization by A. veronii, as supported by FTIR and LC-MS studies. Moreover, this innovative approach exhibited the reusability of the biocatalyst, giving 76.23 % removal after fifth cycle, suggesting sustainable alternative in dye remediation and potential option for real-time applications. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.