wastemanagement Waste Management

Understanding waste and its possible ways of management

  • December 2, 2022December 2, 2022
  • by everflow

Waste and Its Management

What is Waste?

Waste is any material that is discarded or left unused after its initial purpose has been served. It is a major problem in the world today, with large amounts of waste created by human activities. Waste can be found in many forms, including solid, liquid, and gaseous. It can be hazardous or non-hazardous and can come from a variety of sources, such as industrial processes, agriculture, and domestic activities. The improper disposal of waste can have serious environmental and health consequences. Solid waste can contaminate groundwater and soil, while liquid waste can pollute rivers and other bodies of water. In addition, some forms of waste can release toxic substances into the atmosphere, causing air pollution. Waste can also lead to the spread of disease, as some types of waste can be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

The most effective way to address the issue of waste is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reducing waste means using less of the resources available and cutting down on the amount of waste produced. Reusing materials instead of buying new products can help reduce the amount of waste produced. Finally, recycling waste can help to reduce the amount of waste that needs to be disposed of, as materials can be processed and reused. Waste is an ever-growing problem that needs to be addressed urgently. By reducing, reusing, and recycling, we can all do our part to help reduce the amount of waste produced.

Classification of Waste

Classification Depending upon the Waste Types:

Solid Waste:

Solid waste is any type of waste material that is discarded after use and cannot be reused or recycled. This type of waste is usually composed of common items such as food scraps, packaging materials, paper and cardboard, and other items that are no longer needed. Solid waste is the most common form of waste and accounts for over two-thirds of all waste produced. Solid waste is a major threat to the environment, as it can contaminate soil and water, pollute the air, and create health risks.

Liquid Waste:

Liquid waste refers to waste materials in liquid forms, such as wastewater, sewage, and industrial effluents. this type of waste can come from a variety of sources, including homes, businesses, and industries. It is generally composed of a mixture of organic and inorganic substances, including oils, grease, detergents, suspended solids, and other contaminants. Liquid waste is considered hazardous when it contains any type of pollutant that can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.

Classification Depending upon the Source:

  • Industrial waste is generated by commercial and industrial processes, such as manufacturing, mining, and energy production.

  • Municipal waste is generated by households and businesses, including packaging, food waste, and other household items.

  • Construction and demolition waste is generated from the construction and demolition of buildings and other structures.

  • Agricultural waste is generated during agricultural practices of growing, harvesting, and recovering food grains. This waste is mostly organic and manageable at the source of its production in many conventional ways. 

Depending upon its Management:

  • Recyclable waste is any material that can be reused or repurposed for another purpose.

  • Compostable waste is any material that can be broken down into organic matter and used as fertilizer or soil conditioner.

  • Landfill waste is any material that cannot be recycled or composted and must be disposed of in a landfill.

Classification by the Categories:

Furthermore, all types of waste can be divided into two main categories: hazardous and non-hazardous.

  1. Hazardous waste is any material that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, radioactive, or otherwise dangerous to human health or the environment. Examples of hazardous waste include industrial chemicals, medical waste, electronic waste, etc.

  2. Non-hazardous waste is any material that is not hazardous and poses no risk to human health or the environment. Examples of non-hazardous waste include paper and cardboard, food waste, yard waste, etc.

Waste Management

wastemanagement

Waste management is the collection, transport, processing, recycling, or disposal of waste materials, in an effort to reduce their impact on human health and the environment. This includes the management of hazardous or toxic substances, as well as the management of non-hazardous solid and liquid materials. There are different methods and techniques used in waste management, depending on the type of waste and the location where it is generated. For example, in urban areas, municipal waste management programs may involve curbside collection, waste disposal facilities, and recycling centers.

In industrial areas, waste management may involve the use of special containers, incineration, and other types of waste treatment. Waste management in a rural area may involve the use of composting, landfills, and other methods of disposal. In order to reduce the amount of waste that is generated, it is important to develop strategies for reducing, reusing, and recycling materials. This includes encouraging the use of durable goods that can be reused, such as furniture and appliances, and encouraging people to purchase items that are made from recycled materials. It is also important to educate the public about the importance of proper waste disposal, such as avoiding the disposal of hazardous materials and properly disposing of non-hazardous materials.

Finally, it is important to develop and implement effective waste management systems that are tailored to the specific needs of the locality. This may include the development of regulations and laws that govern the disposal of waste, as well as the enforcement of these laws. It is also important to ensure that waste management practices are properly monitored and enforced, in order to ensure that they are effective and safe.

Solid Waste Management:

Solid waste management is the collection, transportation, processing, and disposal of solid waste materials. It is essential to ensure proper waste management to reduce health risks, conserve resources, and protect the environment. The most common methods of solid waste management include recycling, composting, incineration, and landfilling. Each of these methods has its own benefits and drawbacks. Recycling involves reprocessing and reusing discarded materials while composting is the process of breaking down organic materials into a soil-like material. Incineration is a method of burning waste materials to reduce their volume while landfilling involves burying the materials in a designated area.

solidwastemanagememt

In addition to these methods, there are several other strategies for managing solid waste. These include source reduction, reuse, and energy recovery. Source reduction involves reducing the amount of waste produced in the first place, while reuse involves finding new uses for existing materials. Energy recovery involves burning waste to create energy. Regardless of the strategy used, it is important to ensure proper solid waste management. This includes establishing regulations and policies that promote proper waste management, as well as educating the public on the importance of waste reduction and recycling. Proper waste management can help to reduce air and water pollution, conserve resources, and reduce the amount of landfill waste. Additionally, proper disposal of solid waste is essential to ensure that it does not end up in landfills or waterways.

Liquid Waste Management:

The management of liquid waste is important in order to protect public health and the environment. Liquid waste must be properly collected, treated, and disposed of in order to reduce potential risks to human health and the environment. Treatment options vary depending on the type and composition of the liquid waste. Common methods of treatment include physical, chemical, and biological processes. The disposal of liquid waste is regulated by local and state laws, which specify the types of waste that must be disposed of in a certain manner and the methods that must be used to do so. In most cases, liquid waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal and state regulations and must be managed in a manner that does not pollute the environment or pose a threat to public health.

Impact of hazardous waste:

The most immediate effect of hazardous waste is the contamination of land, air, and water. Hazardous waste can contain a variety of harmful chemicals that can be released into the environment and can cause a wide range of health problems. Long-term exposure to hazardous waste can lead to cancer, birth defects, and other serious health problems. Hazardous waste can also contaminate nearby groundwater and surface water, creating a risk of contamination for drinking water sources. This can lead to a host of health problems, such as poisoning, gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, and even death.

The presence of hazardous waste can also impact the local ecology. It can contaminate soil, killing off beneficial organisms and disrupting the natural balance of the ecosystem. Hazardous waste can leach into rivers and streams, killing off fish and other aquatic life. Additionally, improper handling of hazardous waste can lead to accidental spills, which can have a devastating effect on the environment. Spills can contaminate the soil, water, and air, leading to long-term damage. Overall, hazardous waste can have a devastating effect on human health and the environment. It is important to take steps to ensure that hazardous waste is properly managed and disposed of in order to minimize its potential impacts.

How to Manage Hazardous waste:

hazardouswaste

  • Identify Hazards: Identify the type of hazardous waste you are dealing with and its associated risks. This information should be documented and kept on file.

  • Contain and Label: Contain the hazardous waste in a secure area and use appropriate labels. The labels should specify the type of waste, the quantity, and any safety precautions.

  • Develop a Management Plan: Develop a plan for the safe storage, transport, and disposal of hazardous waste. Make sure the plan is in compliance with any applicable regulations.

  • Monitor and Document: Monitor the hazardous waste to ensure it is stored safely and that it is not released into the environment. Document any changes in the hazardous waste and its storage.

  • Train Employees: Train all employees on the safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste. Make sure they are aware of any safety precautions and regulations.

  • Dispose of Properly: Dispose of hazardous waste in a way that is safe and compliant with all regulations. This could include recycling, incineration, or other means.

  • Audit and Review: Perform regular audits and reviews to ensure the hazardous waste is being managed properly. Document any changes or improvements that need to be implemented.

Impact of Non-Hazardous Waste:

Non-hazardous waste, such as plastics, can have a devastating effect on the environment. Plastic consumption has skyrocketed over the past few decades and continues to be a major contributor to pollution. One of the main ways that non-hazardous waste is bad for the environment is through the release of toxins and chemicals. When plastic is not disposed of properly, it can leach toxins into the environment. This can cause soil contamination, air pollution, and water contamination, leading to serious health and environmental issues. Non-hazardous waste can also be bad for the environment when it is not properly recycled or disposed of. When plastic waste is not recycled, it often ends up in landfills or in the ocean, where it can take hundreds of years to decompose. This can cause serious damage to the surrounding environment, leading to water and air pollution, as well as the release of dangerous toxins.

Non-hazardous waste also contributes to global warming. As plastic breaks down, it releases greenhouse gases, which can contribute to the warming of the planet. It can also cause significant damage to local wildlife, as animals can become trapped in the plastic or ingest it, leading to serious health issues. Overall, non-hazardous waste can lead to serious environmental damage if it is not disposed of properly. It can cause air and water pollution, contribute to global warming, and lead to serious health issues for animals and humans alike. To help protect the environment, it is important to make sure that non-hazardous waste is properly recycled or disposed of.

How to manage Non- hazardous Waste:

resuserecycle

  • Reuse: Reuse of non-hazardous waste should be encouraged whenever possible. Items such as paper, cardboard, plastic, aluminum, glass, and other materials can be recycled or reused in new products.

  • Reduce: Minimizing the amount of non-hazardous waste generated is one of the best strategies for managing it. This can be done by reducing the number of products purchased, reusing items, and avoiding single-use items.

  • Recycle: Recycling non-hazardous waste is one of the best ways to manage it. Recycling not only helps reduce waste but also conserves resources and energy.

  • Compost: Composting non-hazardous waste helps create a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used in gardens and landscaping.

  • Donate: Donating non-hazardous waste to organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army can help reduce waste and provide a valuable service to the community.

  • Dispose of: When non-hazardous waste cannot be recycled or reused, it should be disposed of properly. This can include taking it to a landfill or hazardous waste facility.

Future of waste management:

With technological advancements in waste collection, sorting, and disposal, all the processes can be managed with advanced instruments and robotics. Some of the futuristic solutions for waste management are smart waste bins, plasma gasification, pneumatic waste collection, fleet management systems, al waste sorting. These all options can help to make waste management sustainable and environmentally friendly but, the infrastructure required to produce and implement these technologies need to be developed.

featured-heme-chloro Algal Products

Chlorophyll Rich Diet for Good health – Reality or…

  • November 25, 2022December 12, 2022
  • by everflow

There is a piece of scientific evidence to support the claim that chlorophyll improves hemoglobin. Chlorophyll has a very similar structure to hemoglobin, which is an essential functional part of red blood cells that carries oxygen. Because of this similarity, chlorophyll is thought to contribute to hemoglobin production and increases RBC count in the blood. There are many different ways to get chlorophyll into the body, i.e. through nutritional supplements, vegetable juice, and eating green leafy vegetables.

The research behind chlorophyll improving hemoglobin dates back to the 1930s. Dr. Ann Wigmore, from Boston, was one of the first to suggest that chlorophyll could help improve hemoglobin levels. She noticed that people who ate a lot of dark green leafy vegetables had higher hemoglobin levels. Some laboratory experiments and animal trials also suggest the same. Many other researchers all over the world are trying to find out exactly what triggers hemoglobin production on the consumption of a chlorophyll-rich diet.

source: PharmaTutor.org

Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in plants that is essential to the process of photosynthesis. It absorbs light from the sun and uses it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Plants use glucose for energy and release oxygen as a by-product. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. It is also found in algae and cyanobacteria for the same function as that of plants. Apart from photosynthesis chlorophyll also helps to protect plant cells from damage by ultraviolet light called photoinhibition of the cells.

Molecular Structure: The chlorophyll molecule is a large, complex molecule composed of a porphyrin ring. The porphyrin ring of chlorophyll is what gives the molecule its distinctive green color. Its structure includes a long carbon-based “tail” and a large “head” group. The head group contains a magnesium atom at its center.

hemoglobin-and-chlorophyll

How Chlorophyll is similar to hemoglobin?

  • Chlorophyll and hemoglobin both have four pyrrole rings.
  • Both chlorophyll and hemoglobin have a central metal ion (Mg2+ for chlorophyll, Fe2+ for hemoglobin) that is essential for their function.
  • The structure of chlorophyll is very similar to that of hemoglobin, with the only major difference being the type of atom that is bonded to the central metal ion.
  • The chlorophyll molecule is distinctly planar, while hemoglobin is more three–dimensional in structure.
  • Due to these significant structural similarities, it is considered that chlorophyll must be having a direct contribution to hemoglobin synthesis.
  • But there are iron-rich plastids (chloroplast) that must be helpful in providing the required iron to the human body on the consumption of green leafy vegetables. Iron is the essential metal ion that actively contributes to hemoglobin production by supplying hemoglobin’s structural component.
featured-heme-chloro

Apart from these important health contribution by chlorophyll it also has many other health benefits

Health Benefits of Chlorophyll

ROS (reactive oxygen species) in the human body: Chlorophyll is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize the damaging effects of ROS. ROS (reactive oxygen species) are a group of chemically reactive molecules that contain oxygen. They have been shown to play a role in a number of human diseases, including cancer and heart disease. They can damage cells and contribute to the development of chronic inflammation.

Cancer Treatment:  Chlorophyll has been shown to have some cancer-fighting properties. Researchers found that Chlorophyll can form a close bond to carcinogenic chemicals called Aflatoxins. When they bind, the Chlorophyll helps to block the absorption of the Aflatoxins (cancer-causing agents) in the intestines.
It is not yet known if chlorophyll can help treat cancer in people. More research is needed to learn more about this possible treatment. Chlorophyll may also help to protect healthy cells from damage caused by radiation therapy.

Improved digestion: Chlorophyll can help stimulate the production of enzymes that aid in digestion and absorption of nutrients.

Detoxification: Chlorophyll may help to remove toxins and heavy metals from the body. It is often used as a natural detoxifier in supplements and juices.

Boosted immunity:  Chlorophyll may help to fight infection and diseases, and boost the immune system. It can also help to reduce inflammation.

Industrial Application of Chlorophyll

In Pharmaceutical
  • Chlorophyll along with many other medicinal components from Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and silkworm excrement are typically used in medicines.
  • Application of chlorophyll in foul odor removal: When chlorophyll is applied to foul odors, it acts as a natural deodorizer. This magnesium atom is surrounded by four nitrogen atoms. These nitrogen atoms have a strong affinity for sulfur-containing compounds, which are the main cause of foul odors. When the chlorophyll molecule comes in contact with these sulfur-containing compounds, the nitrogen atoms bind to the sulfur atoms, effectively neutralizing the odor.
  • Also, Chlorophyll can be used as a natural dye in the pharmaceutical industry. It can be used in color capsules, tablets, and other pharmaceutical products.
Food and Cosmetics
  • Chlorophyll is a natural colorant that also can be used to add color to food and cosmetics. It is safe and non-toxic and it can be used to create a wide range of colors.
  • Anti-aging remedy: A gel containing chlorophyll to the skin reduced signs of photoaging, which is aging that results from sun exposure. 
  • Acne treatment: A gel containing chlorophyll helped reduce facial acne and large, visible pores.

In the end, we learned that chlorophyll is basically a photosynthetic color pigment that has some structural similarities with hemoglobin. But, it may not be directly contributing to producing hemoglobin after dietary consumption. Rather, the chloroplast which is a photosynthetic plastid contains a high amount of iron, magnesium, zinc, etc. that must be having a significant role in providing metal ions to animals. Chloroplast is the essential iron-rich plant cell organelle and is important for treating iron deficiency and increasing hemoglobin production. Chlorophyll has always been thought to be the essential component of plants that might have a role in hemoglobin production due to its structural similarities, but scientific evidence is not enough to prove it. Therefore, it can be concluded that not chlorophyll as such but chloroplast whole along with chlorophyll, which helps to treat iron deficiency and improves the production of hemoglobin and red blood cells. 

Clean technology

Algae-based Carbon Capture – A Savior Technology from Global…

  • November 19, 2022November 22, 2022
  • by everflow

Climate change is the long-term shift of weather patterns triggered by changes in atmospheric temperature. Human interference over the last two centuries had accelerated this slow natural process. Which led to increasing atmospheric temperature termed ‘Global Warming‘. To this, the major contributors are increased anthropogenic Carbon dioxide (CO2) and other Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels during industrial development and transportation. To stop the climate change scenario, reducing air pollution, controlling CO2 emissions, and environmental Carbon capture are the only solutions.

Naturally, photosynthetic species of microorganisms and plants are major CO2 fixers on the Earth. But, only a natural process won’t be enough and requires positive human intervention. Novel approaches for CO2 scrubbing include chemical and physical techniques of CO2 absorption along with novel membrane-based adsorption technologies. Nevertheless, Ecological solutions also have a potential way out and algae-based carbon capture could be a significant alternative approach. 

What are Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)?

The gases that trap heat energy and increase the atmospheric temperature are called Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). Moreover, different GHGs have a varying capacity for heat entrapment, which is generally referred to as Global Warming Potential (GWP). GWP measures relative heat absorption by 1-ton emission of any GHGs in comparison with 1-ton emission of CO2. CO2, Methane (CH4), and Nitrous oxide (N2O) are major GHG but Fluorinated-gases, especially Hydrofluorocarbons (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons) are high-GWP gases even in the least concentrations.

Source: IPCC (2014)  based on global emissions from 2010. Details about the sources included in these estimates can be found in the Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Major CO2 contributors

Industrialization and population growth demanded a forever-increasing need for energy, natural resources, and transportation. This has led to the miss managed exploitation of fossil fuels and natural resources. No doubt, the major industrial sector that contributed to a large amount of CO2 release were energy and transportation. Moreover, manufacturing & construction, agriculture, urbanization and its waste, aviation & shipping, etc. have also contributed to this. Within the last 30 years, CO2 emissions have doubled in the sector of energy to generate electricity and heat. Country-wise, the major CO2-emitting countries are either manufacturers, producers, or consumers of the world’s resources. The countries like China (35.4%), the United States (19%), India (8.9%), Russia (6.3%), and Japan (3.8%) contribute to almost 3/4th of CO2 emissions in comparison with the rest of the world (26.6%).

Source: Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser, and Pablo Rosado (2020) – “CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emissions’ [Online Resource]
Reference: Net0-Percentage of Carbon Dioxide Emissions by Country

The trend of World CO2 rise in the last 200 Years

In the pre-industrialization era, the atmospheric CO2 was 278ppm which has increased in the last 200 years to 417ppm. Which is almost a 50% increase in the CO2 level from the original. Additionally, in the last 70 years, it has rapidly risen from 5,000 million metric tons to more than 30,000 million metric tons. This significant rise in atmospheric CO2 level has disturbed the Earth’s global temperature balance and led to an increase in the atmospheric temperature almost by 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit). And it is increasing at a rate of more than 0.2 degrees Celsius (0.36 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade.

Source: Global Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 1850–2040 posted by Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Data Source – Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2017) & World Energy Outlook (International Energy Agency, 2020).

Global Warming

At a rate of 0.2 degree Celsius per decade, the world’s temperature would attain one degree Celsius more raise in the coming 50 years. This will make a total of 2-degree Celsius increase in the preindustrial era. A sudden increase in temperature will significantly impact Earth’s atmosphere affecting the ocean’s cyclical pattern to volcanic activities. All these changes will lead to devastation on Earth that never happened in human history. Reducing CO2 emission, and capturing to sequester the environmental CO2 are the only viable solutions to reduce the global warming impact.

Ways of CO2 Sequestration and Associated Challenges

With current ongoing applications of fossil fuels and the lack of prominent alternative renewable energy, the release of CO2 will be unavoidable. Keeping CO2 below the level of the specified limit of GHGs to avoid global warming is known as a carbon budget and only that much CO2 release could be permissible. Major fundamental optimizations in industrial operations are required to attain net-zero environmental CO2 release. For CO2 sequestration, Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU), and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) are the two considerable options.

Along with CO2 reduction, CCU offers consumption of CO2 as a raw material for various industrial, research, and commercial prospect and reduce the need of generating new CO2. Under CCS, captured CO2 can be stored under earth-crest-depleted oil and gas reservoirs, and under the oceanic bed, making sure that it will never be released back into the environment. But the risk associated with CCS needs critical evaluation before implementation.

Source: Carbon Sequestration by Wikipedia, Image Title- Schematic showing both terrestrial and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide emissions from heavy industry, such as a chemical plant

Algae show opportunities in both CCU and CCS. Algae sequester and utilize CO2 as a carbon source and store it in the form of algal biomass.

Carbon sequestration by Algae

Oceans are major sinks for global anthropogenic carbon and algae plays a major role in it. Algae photoautotrophically utilizes CO2 and Water in presence of Sunlight to produce Glucose and O2. Photosynthesis reaction has light-dependent and light-independent Phases, both happening inside the chloroplast’s thylakoid and stroma respectively. In the light-dependent phase, light photons donate energy to produce chemical energy ATP and NADPH, using water and releasing O2. This chemical energy (ATP) is utilized in the light-independent phase to produce glucose from CO2.

Image credit: modified from “Overview of photosynthesis: Figure 6” by OpenStax College, Biology, CC BY 3.0

Microalgae can fix > 45 % of the total CO2 and contribute to 40% of total oceanic productivity. They carry massive amounts of organic carbon into the ocean contributing to carbon biological pumps (Reference: Marella et al. 2020, Tréguer et al. 2018). Microalgae production sequesters ~1.8Kg of CO2 /Kg of dried algal biomass. And 2.7 tons/day of CO₂ /Acre. Carbon capture by microalgae is 10 to 50 times higher in amounts than by terrestrial plants. Algae-based CO2 sequestration on an industrial scale has proven to be one of the promising ways to deal with climate change.

Carbon capture by algae in wastewater

Large-scale cultivation of microalgae either in freshwater or marine water with additional nutrients is depending upon their growth requirements and intended final use. Certainly, algae cultivation for CO2 sequestration demands a lot of water. Domestic and industrial wastewater contains lot many contaminants and nutrients that support algal growth. The ratio of C: N: P calculated for wastewater is around 20:8:1 and algae require this ratio at 50:8:1. So, instead of releasing inefficiently treated wastewater into natural water bodies this water could be fortified with additional CO2 and then utilized for algae cultivation along with CO2 sequestration.

Various microalgal species are potential CO2 scavengers and copious growing diatoms are one example. Diatoms basically grow in highly polluted water bodies to neutralize eutrophication. Diatoms fix 20% of the total anthropogenic CO2, which makes them a potential candidate for wastewater bioremediation along with CO2 sequestration.  

Apart from CO2 sequestration potentials, microalgal biomass has many commercial applications including in biofuels and nutritional products.

Limitations of the Algae-based carbon sequestration technology

Light, water, and nutrients are the basic requirement of algae for their growth. Sunlight is available for half day period and using freshwater & pure nutrients for algae cultivation would lead to an unsustainability issue. Facilitating algae cultivation with specialized light sources for nighttime could resolve the issue at an increased cost for light energy, but this will help to keep the process continuous. For fresh water and nutrient sources as mentioned earlier, wastewater could be the potential source and other water resources like marine water can also play an important role.  

Conclusion and future prospects

Algae are the best know environmental agents in carbon capture. Along with their various industrial application, they have proven to create a pavement for the global carbon issue. Finding robust microalgae strains or consortiums for effective CO2 sequestration is the key component in the reduction of GHGs and water pollutants.  Algae biotechnology promises the development of circular economy and biorefinery concepts. Profound research and an effective transition from laboratory studies to industrial scale will be critical steps in this process. Already established comprehensive scientific knowledge on algae-based CO2 sequestration, wastewater treatment, biofuels, and various commercial applications of algae has started taking a shape for sustainable development. And the progress made in this field will definitely lead to carbon neutrality in near future.

Reference

  1. Hannah Ritchie, Max Roser and Pablo Rosado (2020) – “CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions”. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emissions’ [Online Resource]
  2. Marella, T. K., López-Pacheco, I. Y., Parra-Saldívar, R., Dixit, S., & Tiwari, A. (2020). Wealth from waste: Diatoms as tools for phycoremediation of wastewater and for obtaining value from the biomass. Science of the Total Environment, 724, 137960.
  3. Tréguer, P., Bowler, C., Moriceau, B. et al. Influence of diatom diversity on the ocean biological carbon pump. Nature Geosci11, 27–37 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0028-x
Uncategorized

Algae- Potential Revolutionizer Of The World

  • November 4, 2022November 22, 2022
  • by everflow

Water bodies, swamps, slippery footpaths, sewers, etc. all are generally laden with green, slimy growth of algae. Such sites usually remain ignored, and perhaps most of the time algae are eradicated to clean the habitats. Why algae are important? How they evolved? What is their role in nature and why even existed throughout billions of evolutionary years? Many questions are there in curious minds. However, algae had played a significant role in developing the earth’s environment to make it suitable for all living creatures. Nevertheless, they are still doing it.

Algae evolved around 3.5 billion years ago as single-cell autotropic creatures, with the ability to synthesize organic food from inorganic resources. Then it colonized all over the earth and even evolved into the varieties of terrestrial plants we see today. During their colonization, they produced a lot of oxygen that paved the way for the evolution of higher organisms. The oxygen produced was the key component that gave the earth its Ozon layer. Further, it protected all the creatures that evolved after it from lethal sunrays.

What are algae and their types?

Algae originated as a single-cell photosynthetic organism, furthermore evolved to form diverse groups of micro and macro species. Their varieties flourished all over the globe in diversified geographical locations. That includes deep sea, hot water springs, soil, deserted locations, ice glaciers to mountain tops. They thrive in marine as well as freshwater in numerous morphological forms. They are classified as Macroalgae and Microalgae. Macro forms include all the seaweed species that grow very large from a few centimeters to several meters and which are eukaryotic. While microalgae are unicellular or multicellular and prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic. The Department of Botany, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, has given the following divisions of algae classifications.

Bacillariophyta (diatoms),

Charophyta (stoneworts),

Chlorophyta (green),

Chrysophyta (golden),

Cyanobacteria (blue-green),

Dinophyta (dinoflagellates),

Phaeophyta (brown),

and Rhodophyta (red),

Credit: Macroalgae Illustration by Fiona Osbaldstone/ Country Life

Human interference in nature’s course

Algae play a major role in sequestering environmental pollutants and maintains the balance in global ecosystems. However, their importance was never recognized until this era of global warming. In the last four centuries, industrialization led to the haphazard utilization of natural resources along with fossil fuels. This liberated tremendous anthropogenic carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases into the environment, which is now a consequence of global warming. The human population failed to limit their desires and never participated significantly to play their role in environmental conservation. Moreover, this has given rise to more complex issues including climate change. Global crises related to freshwater scarcity, food and nutritional security, and breaking the deadliest pandemics are some of those.

Multiple options are put forward to deal with this scenario and comprehensive research is being undertaken to tackle the issues. But, none of it has provided the potential permeant solution. World environmentalists, researchers, public leaders, and economists are working on finding alternative options for sustainable development. Sustainability solutions promise to bring some balance to the above-mentioned world scenario.          

How algae will help?

Algal Exploitation has been made for many centuries for a variety of applications for mankind. Oceans are primary in carbon sequestration and algae play a key role in it. Algae-based CO2 sequestration on an industrial scale has proven to be one of the promising ways to deal with climate change. Apart from this, algae are known for their potential applications in wastewater treatment, food, feed and fodder, biofuels, nutraceuticals, biofertilizers, and pharmaceuticals. This has led to the development of the algal biorefinery concept for biofuel and bio-commodity. Successful implementation of this technology will be a remarkable milestone in the process of overcoming many current global issues. Natural selection always defines the fate of any era. Algae thrived in all, supporting another life form all the way. Hence, algae are nature’s potential key players. Man has an opportunity to sustain and revolutionize his future with the help of algae.

content-microalgae Algal Products

Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment

  • November 4, 2022December 9, 2022
  • by everflow

What is Wastewater?

Any water that has been contaminated by human interventions is considered wastewater. Wastewater basically originates from domestic, industrial, commercial, or agricultural applications. It also includes surface runoff or stormwater and any sewer input or sewer infiltration is also referred to as wastewater.

Types of Wastewaters

Sewage: sewage is wastewater that develops and comes from domestically produced wastes like toilets, food, laundry, and other wastes. The contaminants that originated in sewage water are from domestic sewage and suspended and dissolved pollutants.

Non-sewage: Non-sewage refers to all other varieties of wastewater other than sewage. It contains wastewater originating from industrial washing applications, rainwater, stormwater, and industrial effluent. It doesn’t have any additional dangerous pathogens like sewage.

Water Pollutants and their Origin

Pollutants are materials, present in concentrations that could harm creatures (including people, plants, and animals) or exceed environmental quality standards.

pollutant
Types of Pollutants:
  • Organic and biological Pollutants: Organic pollution is a type of chemical pollution caused by persistent organic pollutants as they are difficult to remove or degrade once released into the environment, such as Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Other than organic pollutants biological pollutants originate from biological material that includes liquid manure, sewage treatment sludge, etc.
  • Inorganic Pollutants: Inorganic pollutants are the compounds of inorganic by-products arising from various industrial applications that include, chemical, pharmaceutical, textiles and dyeing industries, paints, etc. Examples of inorganic metal pollutants are arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium, aluminum, etc.

The major water pollutants are biological matter like feces, and human and animal body fluids containing bacteria, viruses, and parasites. And industrial pollutants include insecticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, toxic chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides.

Depending upon the application of industrial products their origin of water contamination can be categorized into centralized and distributed sources. Whereas a point-source contaminant, like a sewage discharge or outfall pipe, enters the water from a single conduit or channel.

So, whatever the source, all type of wastewater requires treatment before releasing it into the natural water body. Most commercial and industrial manufacturing plants strictly need to process their wastewater and recycle it, despite it many continuing to produce untreated wastewater. This leads to an issue of a rise in synthetic compounds in wastewater that is harmful to nature. To remove pollutants from wastewater, effective wastewater treatment solutions are mandatory.

What is Wastewater treatment?

The process of transforming wastewater or used water into water that may be safely released back into the environment is known as wastewater treatment. The methods and procedures utilized to clean up contaminated water are referred to as industrial wastewater treatment.

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Conventional Ways of Wastewater Treatment
  1. Primary (or Physical) Treatment: To remove any suspended sand particles from wastewater, a physical procedure (Sedimentation, Aeration, and Filtration) is used. Wastewater’s velocity is decreased to allow all of the suspended particles to fall to the ground as a result of gravity. The settling substance is referred to as sludge or bio soil.
  2. Secondary (or Biological) Treatment: It is a biological process (Aerobic, Anaerobic, and Composing) that uses bacteria, algae, and microorganisms to take up the organic material in the wastewater. All of the organic contaminants are consumed by microbes, who then transform them into carbon dioxide, water, or energy for their further development or as byproducts.
  3. Tertiary (or Chemical) Treatment: The pollutants or biological agents mostly pathogens that remain after secondary treatment are treated in tertiary treatment. Use of oxidizing agents like Chlorine liquid, Ozon gas, and UV rays, that kill most of the pathogen and make water free of pathogenic contamination. Through the employment of stronger and more sophisticated treatment systems, wastewater effluent is made even cleaner during this treatment process.

Conventional wastewater treatments eliminated major pollutants but they are unable to remove dissolved nutrients and toxic metals. This wastewater also contains nitrogen, phosphorus, ammonia, and bacteria. This often acts as a source of NPK contamination in a local water body. These pollutants lead to the eutrophication of waterbody once released into the environment which deteriorates the local water ecosystem.

Additionally, the traditional wastewater treatment method now has many drawbacks. Including increased chemical needs, high maintenance costs, sludge disposal issues, higher space and energy needs, and degradability issues. Therefore finding additional or even alternative options with conventional methods is very essential. 

Why Microalgae for Wastewater Treatment?

Credit: Euronews Next

In order to handle wastewater treatment ponds naturally and economically, natural methods like employing microalgae cultures are now being studied. In terms of its capacity to remove NPK nutrients, coliform bacteria, and heavy metals, the microalgal approach competes favorably with conventional treatments. Microalgae are so effective at absorbing pollutants that other bacterial species can’t do.  Microalgal species like Chlorella, Scenedesmus, Nannochloropsis, Phormedium, Botryococcus, Synechocystis, Spirogyra, etc., are well known for their effective wastewater treatment abilities.

Microalgae, serve as an indicator of water quality, with some strains proliferating in polluted water while others thrive in unpolluted water. Also, Algae can be used in wastewater treatment for a range of purposes. Some of these are used for the removal of coliform bacteria, reduction of both chemical and biochemical oxygen demand, and also removal of heavy metals.

Bio-treatment with microalgae is particularly attractive because of their photosynthetic capabilities, converting solar energy into useful biomasses and incorporating polluting NPK nutrients.   Wastewater treatment by microalgae generates biomass. It could be utilized for developing various other products, such as fertilizers and biofuels. 

Microalgae Uncategorized

Microalgae – Secret to Strong Immunity by Celebrities

  • October 31, 2022November 1, 2022
  • by everflow

The trend towards microalgae-based foods has been spreading since the last decade. The reason is that such products are loved and promoted by many celebrities worldwide. In 2018, frontiers published a mini-review on “Trends in Microalgae Incorporation Into Innovative Food Products With Potential Health Benefits.” In this report, Martin P. Caporgno and Alexander Mathys discussed the importance of microalgae for food and nutrition security. They also highlighted their potential health benefits.

To discuss from the immunity perspective, understanding the human immune system is essential. Immunity is the inner strength of a person’s body to fight against disease or disease-developing conditions. Scientifically various immunity-specific (inner cellular) and nonspecific (physical) components plan and execute resistance power. They help the biological system recognize, avoid, and fight against a foreign entity. These immunity-specific and nonspecific components are essential to determine how strong is the immune power of that person.

How immunity is developed?

The origin of immunity development determines two basic types of immunities – Innate and Adaptive immunity. Innate immunity – the primary type employed by the genetic makeup and lifestyle of the person. This affects internal and external, specific and nonspecific components. Adaptive immunity – By natural as well as artificial means the person’s body acquires this immunity. This helps to develop more strength in passive or active mode.

The actual physical strength of the person lies in his/her innate immunity, which is the first line of defense. This keeps his/her body strong in all kinds of disease-causing conditions. Good nourishment, good habits, and regular exercise help to develop good innate immunity. Above mentioned components are quite essential for the natural development of the body and to maintain good health. The one component which exerts a major impact on all of them is a healthy and nutritious diet.

Importance of a healthy diet and how microalgae can boost immunity?

One’s diet nourishes with all the nutritional components required for good immunity. Whatever any person eats ultimately plays an important role in developing a good immune system. On average, a person’s whole-day meal contains grains, fruits, meat, dairy products, green leafy vegetables, dry fruits, pulses, etc. This all may provide a sufficient amount of carbs, proteins, fibers and vitamins, minerals, etc. The question is, is it what all require to develop good immunity?

To maintain overall health, the body requires some essential nutritional components. Such components include bioactive, growth factors, essential amino acids, and essential fatty acids. Nutritional health supplements and a special diet provide with necessary additional nutrients. Commercial health supplements add an individual or combination of these nutrients to their formulation. There are essential nutrients in extracts from plants, vegetables, or other natural sources. A regular diet can’t provide these nutrients.

Microalgae

It is possible to obtain many of these essential dietary supplements by consuming whole microalgal biomass. The bioactive compounds present in microalgal biomass promote antioxidative, antihypertensive, immunomodulatory, anticancerogenic, hepato-protective, and anticoagulant activities.

Essential Microalgal Nutrients

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are known for their importance in the early stages of embryonic and child development, lactating maternal health, and cardiovascular function. Being an integral part of cell membranes, omega -3 fats affect the function of the cell receptors in cell membranes throughout the body tissues. This leads to the cascade reaction of proteins for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction, and relaxation of artery walls, inflammation, and even gene regulation. Fishes are the major source of these components. But in reality, microalgae and phytoplankton are the original sources from where fishes also obtain these nutrients.

Beta Glucan extracted from Euglena gracilis, boosts immunity by training the immunity cells for quick response against pathogens. Natural pigments extracted from microalgae are other essential supplements. They serve as the best source of antioxidant proteins (Like, Astaxanthin, Phycobiliprotein), Chlorophyll, iron, and minerals. These components take part in the direct and indirect improvement of the immune system. Currently marketed microalgae products are Spirulina and Chlorella dried whole biomass powder and tablets as protein and bioactive-rich superfoods. The extracted pure single component also has multiple applications in the food industry and nutraceuticals to improve the human diet. Hence microalgae are explored for various nutritional applications proving that this is going to be the food of the future.

Read More at https://everflowglobal.com/spirulina-powder/: Microalgae – Secret to Strong Immunity by Celebrities
Uncategorized

Spirulina The Future Food For Nutritional Security

  • October 22, 2022November 1, 2022
  • by everflow

Producing enough food for the whole population of the world would be a great task to handle in the coming years. And the pavement through it would be in non-conventional ways, as that of alternative energy sources. In recent years microalgal biomass has received great importance to be an alternative food source. And Spirulina has proven to be the best nutritional supplement even for astronauts.

Spirulina (scientifically known as Arthrospira platensis) is a spiral filamentous microalgal/cyanobacterial species. Its biomass has been utilized as food for many years due to its high protein content. Traditionally known by some African communities as a food source. But, now exploited as the food of the future. It contains vitamins (B, E, and C), proteins, fatty acids, lots of minerals, and some fiber. Furthermore, antioxidants like phycocyanin comprise a major part of its 50-60% protein content. This nutritionally rich nature makes it a complete food. It could provide all the essential nutrients if consumed on a regular basis.

A boon for a healthy life

Changing world climate has an adverse effect on annual food crops and their yield. Hence, having potent alternative food source for the growing society is imperative for food security. Apart from this changing lifestyle, increasing pollution and less nutritive food has reduced our resistance power against diseases. So, the issue of nutritional security is also an important threat to mankind in near future. In such a situation, spirulina can offer an enormous health benefit.

Curative Properties of Spirulina

  • Rich chlorophyll and ion, make it an effective blood-cleansing agent and promotes Hb production.
  • Polysaccharides and pigments boost immunity by increasing the production of WBCs to the desired level.
  • Anti-diabetic and anti-cholesterol components help to fight against diabetes and reduce elevated cholesterol levels.
  • Fibers and minerals help to improve intestinal health by promoting the formation of healthy gut microflora.
  • High protein content helps to reduce fat accumulation and increases muscle strength.
  • Gamma linolenic acid (GLA) improves brain function, skeletal health, and reproductive health. It also stimulates skin and hair growth by improving overall metabolism.
  • Vitamins regulate multiple growth factors in the body and improve physical and mental health.

Production and Socio-economic Impacts

Natural water bodies blooming with spirulina were conventionally the major sources of spirulina biomass. Many biotechnological inventions were made in the last decade to improve production. Laboratory, as well as industrial scale trails, attempted to produce high quality and quantity of biomass. Basic spirulina cultivation systems are raceway ponds that are quite economic to construct as well as to operate. They utilize inorganic chemicals and agricultural fertilizers as a nutrient source for spirulina cultivation.

Various establishments worldwide from smaller to large scale are producing spirulina biomass, but market demand is exponentially increasing every year. In the year 2019, the spirulina global market was $393.6 million. This would reach $897.61 million by 2027, with a CAGR of 10.5% from 2020 to 2027. Widely proven applications of spirulina are in nutraceuticals, food and beverages, cosmetics, and animal feed. It has been implicated with many positive impacts on social as well as economic aspects. Its demand is growing year by year as awareness and importance are spreading.

Due to tremendous potential, spirulina biomass has been recognized as the food of the future by (WHO) and many others. We at Everflow Global believe that spirulina is nature’s marvelous gift to mankind. And therefore, the production of the best quality product is our responsibility. Are you looking to revolutionize your health? Then turn your regular diet with additional benefits of pure and organic spirulina source. Reach out to our experts and let us assist you to understand how spirulina will benefit you.

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