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In the present investigation, an attempt for the reduction of six hazardous air Pollutants (HAPs) from diesel exhaust by different blends of diesel and biodiesel has been made. The synthesis of biodiesel has been done from Jetrofa, Linseed Castor and Karanja oils which are commonly used in the Indian market. Blending of diesel with biodiesel was done in different ratios (20 to 40 %) for the estimation of carcinogenic HAPs from the exhaust of a Honda engine (EBK 2010AC Model). The order of HAPs emission from engine exhaust by using diverse blends were Diesel>Jatropha-diesel>Linseed-diesel>Castor-diesel> Karanja-diesel. The maximum reduction of HAPs was established in the following ratio 40% (Biodiesel):60% (Diesel). B(a)P and Chrysene were the two individual aromatic hydrocarbons (AHCs) found in higher concentration in almost all blending fuels, ranging between 50 ng/µl to 101.1 ng/µl. The emission of almost all AHCs reduces by Blending of Diesel with Biodiesel. This was the first comprehensive information which showed the reduction of carcinogenic pollutants from diesel exhaust.

The purpose of this paper is the presentation of the results compiled from self weighing of household food waste and self filling of waste collection diaries that took place in Greece. A diary was compiled and given to 101 urban households in various areas of the country. The participants were asked to weigh and write down in the diary every food item wasted in their households for two full weeks (i.e., 14 days). The total per capita food waste generation in Greece is estimated to be 76.1 (±68.3) kg/inh.y. This figure is divided into the avoided food waste fraction which equals to 25.9 (±34.9) kg/inh.y, and the unavoidable fraction which is estimated to be 50.2 (±47.1) kg/inh.y. The use of diaries for recording food that is thrown away from households is a methodology that underestimates the food wasted in households because households tend to be cautious when they know that they have to weigh and report the amount of food that they throw away. The current research is the first of its kind, presenting actual field data for food waste generation by households in Greece.

This paper analysis the contents and variation of heavy metals in wet and dry deposition in Changji (Xinjiang, China) revealed their reducing regularity for heavy metals in atmosphere in arid area. Samples (including 84 dry deposition samples and 16 wet deposition samples) were collected from January 2016 to December 2016, and the contents of heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb) were analyzed by AA-7000 atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The dry deposition fluxes of Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb are 3.70 mg/( m2.a), 4.81 mg/( m2. a), 0.53 mg/( m2•a) and 22.74 mg/( m2•a), respectively; the wet deposition fluxes of Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb are 0.77mg/( m2•a), 3.25mg/( m2•a), 0.04mg/( m2•a) and 0.11mg/( m2•a), respectively. Each of the four heavy metals deposition fluxes during heating period was higher than non-heating period, especially for Pb and Cd, which is mainly due to the emission of coal combustion for heating. During sampling periods, the ratio of wet deposition flux to total for Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb are 17.21%, 40.33%, 7.67% and 0.48%, respectively; the wet deposition flux is far less than dry deposition, especially for Pb. The rate of dry deposition is lower than wet deposition, however dry deposition plays an important role in scavenging heavy metals in arid region. Arid region has a low intensity and frequency of rain event, heavy metals were mainly scavenging by dry deposition attribute to its continuous and dependable process. Dry deposition has much more environmental effect on heavy metal in arid region.

Microspheres (MSs) of paramagnetic iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) embedded with palladium nanocubes (PdNCs) were biosynthesized using Myrtus cumini L. leaf extract. The synthesized PdNCs embedded α-Fe2O3 microspheres were characterized using FTIR, XRD and SEM/EDX. The FTIR spectrum of the Myrtus cumini L. leaf extract confirmed the presence of phenol, ester and amine groups that were involved in the bio-reduction of PdCl2 to PdNCs. SEM/EDX revealed that the PdNCs with size range of 15–250 nm were present on the surface of the synthesized microspheres. Box-Behnken Design (BBD) was employed for optimization of Methyl Orange (MO) decolorization using α-Fe2O3MSs and PdNCs embedded α-Fe2O3MSs at pH (1, 2 and 3), catalyst dosage (1, 3 and 5 g L-1) and reaction irradiation time (30, 60 and 90 min). It was found that PdNCs embedded α-Fe2O3MSs had maximum decolorization of 96.56 % at pH 1.72, catalyst dosage 2.69 g L-1 and irradiation time 68.34 min.