Environmental Sustainability: Role of Green TechnologieS

Environmental

Sustainability

P. Thangavel · G. Sridevi Editors

Role of Green Technologies

Environmental Sustainability

P. Thangavel • G. Sridevi

Editors

Environmental

Sustainability

Role of Green Technologies

ISBN 978-81-322-2055-8 ISBN 978-81-322-2056-5 (eBook)

DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-2056-5

Springer New Delhi Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London

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Editors

P. Thangavel

Environmental Science

Periyar University

Salem , TN , India

G. Sridevi

Plant Biotechnology, SBT

Madurai Kamaraj University

Madurai , TN , India

v

The implementation of the principles of sustainability is a world’s challenge

in managing a life-sustaining and environmentally sound global ecosystem.

Sustainability has become the foundation for developing modern environ￾mental management strategies for safely consuming and protecting natural

resources that meet needs of today’s and future generations.

In comparing with conventional agriculture, sustainable agricultural sys￾tems include many farming practices that can both maintain crop production

and improve soil environment health, such as uses of organic fertilizers, no￾till or minimum tillage, polyculture, and biological pest management.

Agriculture sustainability considers the utilization of more renewable energies

including solar, wind, and biofuels and thereby reduces our dependence on

non-sustainable energies (i.e., fossil fuel), inorganic fertilizers, and pesticides

or herbicides. Importantly, sustainable agriculture also contributes signifi -

cantly to global environmental conservation by the reduction of greenhouse

gas emission, as well as evaluates carbon sequestration in agricultural soils.

Indeed, exploring potential effects of sustainable farming practices on crop

production and environmental protection will help us better understand the

development and management of long-term agricultural sustainability, which

also provides insight into developing other sustainable green technologies.

It has been well demonstrated that reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint in

sustainable agricultural production systems can also be effectively achieved

from within the framework of green technology . Green plants and associated

microbes can be used for environmental cleanup, a biotechnology called phy￾toremediation . This green technology includes several remediation processes,

such as phytoextraction , phytovolatilization , phytostabilization , and phytodeg￾redation. Phytoremediation technologies have been successfully applied for

cleanup of inorganic- and organic-contaminated water and soils. Plant-based

remediation processes have been well defi ned for many environmentally impor￾tant contaminants, including heavy metals, metalloids, macronutrients, and

persistent organic compounds (POPs). However, great effort is still needed to

develop an effective phytomanagement system based upon the principles of

agricultural sustainability. Using plants or trees successfully for fi eld phyto￾management will be a long-term endeavor that requires multidisciplinary

knowledge regarding plant selection, crop management practices, contami￾nant properties, and soil environmental conditions. Importantly, the produc￾tion of viable plant products and the development of economically feasible

Foreword

vi

remediation systems will encourage more widespread implementation of

an integrated phytomanagement strategy. In this regard, oleaginous plants

( Brassica ) planted at phytoremediation fi eld sites produced seed that has been

successfully used to produce biodiesel fuels, while the residual seed meal can

be used for animal feed or soil organic amendment.

To assess the appropriateness of sustainable environmental management

strategies, suitable environmental indicators need to be developed and are

applied for long-term monitoring with the determination of ecological func￾tions, such as biological productivity, diversity, autonomy, and resilience, just

to name a few. In regard to green or plant-based sustainable technologies, it

is important to elucidate and better understand those limiting processes or

parameters that are critical for effective management and long-term sustain￾ability. To this end, more worldwide research will be needed for actively

developing and implementing novel sustainable technologies and strategies

in agricultural production and environmental management, such as biofuels

and green economy. At present time, research continues in developing genetic

engineering technology and its application that could result in economically

effi cient and environmentally sustainable biotechnologies, such as hyperac￾cumulating metals or nutrients or increasing plant’s resistance to pests or

chemicals. However, genetically modifi ed plants will be subjected to special

environmental regulations if they are applied for public or commercial reme￾diation for the sake of protecting human and environmental health. Needless

to say, a global effort will be needed to conduct research in different disci￾plines for developing long-term sustainability of the global ecosystem.

The different chapters contributed by experienced specialists provide a

unique compilation of the dispersed literature on each topic. By sure, the

readers of the book will benefi t from this joint vision of different green

technologies which is currently deployed for sustainable environmental man￾agement. Therefore, we believe that this book targets a potentially broad

spectrum of audience at different hierarchical levels ranging from the graduate

students/researchers to policy makers in this fi eld of increasing importance.

US Department of Agriculture Gary S. Bañuelos, Ph.D

Agricultural Research Service

Parlier , CA , USA

Environmental Sciences Program Zhi-Qing Lin, Ph.D

Southern Illinois University

Edwardsville , IL , USA

Foreword

vii

Sustainable environment is a paradigm for the future in which the four dimen￾sions such as environment, society, culture, and economy are balanced to

improve the quality of life. According to the Brundtland Report, sustainable

development means the development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations. At the end of 2012,

there were about 7.06 billion people in the world (US Census Bureau 2013)

and it is expected to be more than 10 billion by 2100 (UN 2011). As a result,

there is a need for clean water, food, and environment for all of them, and it

is diffi cult to take care of everyone with depleted soil and chemical-laden

drinking water. The only solution will be green technology, an eco-friendly

technology which will conserve natural resources and ecosystems. According

to the UNDP report in 2012, over 30 % of the food production goes waste

every year (Gustavsson et al. 2011), but 40 % of the children in Africa who

are below 5 years are malnourished (UNDP 2012). In the United Nations

Conference on Sustainable Development, the “Zero Hunger Challenge” was

launched by the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon where all the countries

will work for the future in which every individual would have adequate nutri￾tion (UNCSD 2012). Sustainable consumption is a better way to reduce the

resource use, degradation, and pollution and increase the quality of human

life. The organizations like UNEP, WHO, and others focus on food waste

reduction and launched the global campaign, “Think.Eat.Save: Reduce Your

Foodprint,” the theme of World Environment Day 2013. In addition, the

World Food Day 2013 also focuses on sustainable food systems for food

security and nutrition.

Renewable energy could account for 77 % of total primary energy supply

by 2050. The past few years have seen a rise in green innovation, and increas￾ing amounts of venture capital are fl owing in, with India being rated as the

third most attractive country for renewable energy investment. Green build￾ing concept have attracted both the building promoters and end users in terms

of the cost-effective as well as healthy and comfortable living conditions such

as minimum utilization of energy and water, conservation of natural resources

and generates less wastes. According to UNEP (2010), green economy

encompasses all the economic opportunities arising from actions that pro￾mote sustainability, improving “human well-being and social equity, while

signifi cantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” On the

other hand, the contribution of environmental technologies to growing

Pref ace

viii

economy is known as “green growth” (OECD 2011). The green economy is

expanding in the European Union and at the global level through clean tech￾nologies with green energy produced especially for wind turbines and biofuels.

In addition, the green economy is also used in agricultural sectors such as

different types of plant and animal breeds with high genetic performances,

bioconversion of plant biomass, and green products obtained from bioreactors.

The agricultural wastes and its by-products are mainly used in the production

of heat and power, animal feed, or biogas by anaerobic digestion. Further, it

is known that these materials may also contain high-value compounds such as

antioxidants, pigments, and other molecules of interest. For example, quercetin

extracted from onion waste is a potent antioxidant that has a positive effect

against cancer (Murakami et al. 2008) and cardiovascular (Cook and Samman

1996) and neurodegenerative diseases (Ono et al. 2006).

Recently, most of the research on phyto-/bioremediation aspects have

mainly focused on remediation of contaminated environments at different

levels without affecting soil benefi cial fl ora and fauna. Sustainable agricul￾tural practices such as vermitechniques, biofertilizers, biopesticides, role of

plant growth-promoting bacteria, and AM fungal in phytoremediation will

also enhance the soil quality or soil health status. Suitable hyperaccumulator

plants have also been used for dual benefi t purposes such as phytoextraction

and biofortifi cation to solve the nutrient defi ciencies especially in staple food

crops. The UN’s fourth World Water Development Report recommended

broader collaborative and integrative water management approaches to avoid

future confl icts over water among nations and, within nations, among farmers,

urbanites, energy producers, environmentalists, and industries.

Green technologies mainly focus on renewable energy sources, sustainable

agricultural practices, phyto-/bioremediation of contaminants, biofuels, sus￾tainable utilization of resources, green buildings, green chemistry, and green

economy. All of these eco-friendly technologies will help to reduce the

amount of waste and pollution and enhance the nation’s economic growth in

a sustainable manner. We hope this book will bring out the recent advance￾ment and application of different green technologies and strategies imple￾mented worldwide and this will pave the way for sustainable environment.

The contents of the book is aimed to provide an integrated approach to sus￾tainable environment, and it will be of interest not only to environmentalists

but also to agriculturists and forest and soil scientists and in bridging the gap

between the scholars/scientists and policymakers.

We personally thank all the contributors of this book who have spent their

valuable time and shared knowledge and enthusiasm. We express our sincere

thanks to all our well-wishers, teachers, research students, and family.

Without their unending support, motivation, and encouragement, the present

grueling task would have never been accomplished. Exceptional kind support

provided by Dr. Mamta Kapila, Raman Shukla, and their team at Springer

deserves praises which made our efforts successful.

Salem , India P. Thangavel

Madurai , India G. Sridevi

Preface

ix

References

Cook NC, Samman S (1996) Flavonoids – chemistry, metabolism, cardioprotective effects,

and dietary sources. J Nutr Biochem 7:66–76

Gustavsson J, Cederberg C, Sonesson U, van Otterdijk R, Meybeck A (2011) Global food

losses and food waste – extent, causes and prevention. FAO, Rome

Murakami A, Ashida H, Terao J (2008) Multitargeted cancer prevention by quercetin.

Cancer Lett 269:315–325

OECD (2011) Towards green growth. Organization for Economic Cooperation and

Development, Paris

Ono K, Hamaguchi T, Naiki H, Yamada M (2006) Anti-amyloidogenic effects of antioxi￾dants: implications for the prevention and therapeutics of Alzheimer’s disease. Biochim

Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 1762:575–586

UN (2011) U.N. Forecasts 10.1 Billion people by century’s end. The New York Times, 3

May 2011

UNCSD (2012) Rio+20: Secretary-General challenges nations to achieve “zero hunger.”

Media release, 22 June

UNDP (2012) Africa Human Development Report 2012: towards a food secure future.

United Nations Development Programme, New York

UNEP (2010) Green economy developing countries success stories. United Nations

Environment Programme, Geneva

US Census Bureau (2013) Current population clock. United States Department of

Commerce, Washington, DC

Preface

xi

Part I Sustainable Agriculture

Insight into the Role of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal

Fungi in Sustainable Agriculture ......................................................... 3

P. Priyadharsini and T. Muthukumar

Recycled Water Irrigation in Australia ............................................... 39

Balaji Seshadri , Nanthi S. Bolan , Anitha Kunhikrishnan ,

Saikat Chowdhury , Ramya Thangarajan ,

and Thammared Chuasavathi

A Review of Biopesticides and Their Mode

of Action Against Insect Pests .............................................................. 49

Sengottayan Senthil-Nathan

Seaweeds: A Promising Source for Sustainable Development .......... 65

T. Nedumaran and D. Arulbalachandran

Part II Renewable Energy

A Comprehensive Overview of Renewable

Energy Status in India .......................................................................... 91

Atul Sharma , Jaya Srivastava , and Anil Kumar

The Sahara Solar Breeder (SSB) Project Contributes

to Global Sustainable Energy Production

and Resource Conservation: An Overview ......................................... 107

A. Boudghene Stambouli and H. Koinuma

Clean Development Mechanism:

A Key to Sustainable Development ..................................................... 121

Himanshu Nautiyal and Varun

Microalgae as an Attractive Source for Biofuel Production.............. 129

S. Ramaraj , S. Hemaiswarya , Rathinam Raja , V. Ganesan ,

C. Anbazhagan , Isabel S. Carvalho , and Niran Juntawong

Advancement and Challenges in Harvesting

Techniques for Recovery of Microalgae Biomass ............................... 159

Amrita Difusa , K. Mohanty , and V. V. Goud

Contents

xii

Part III Remediation Technologies

Characterization of Bacillus Strains Producing Biosurfactants ....... 173

Anna Płaza Grażyna , Magdalena Pacwa-Płociniczak ,

Zofi a Piotrowska-Seget , Robin Brigmon , and Ewa Król

Production of Biosurfactants Using

Eco-friendly Microorganisms .............................................................. 185

Chibuzo Uzoigwe , Christopher J. Ennis ,

and Pattanathu K. S. M. Rahman

Eco-Friendly Technologies for Heavy Metal

Remediation: Pragmatic Approaches .................................................. 205

Hemambika Balakrishnan and Rajeshkannan Velu

Phytoextraction of Trace Metals: Principles and Applications ......... 217

Tiziana Centofanti

Integrated Management of Mine Waste

Using Biogeotechnologies Focusing Thai Mines ................................. 229

M. N. V. Prasad and Woranan Nakbanpote

Constructed Wetland: An Ecotechnology

for Wastewater Treatment and Conservation

of Ganga Water Quality ....................................................................... 251

U. N. Rai , A. K. Upadhyay , and N. K. Singh

Mycorrhizal Plants’ Accelerated Revegetation on Coal

Mine Overburden in the Dry Steppes of Kazakhstan ....................... 265

D. V. Veselkin , A. N. Kupriynanov , Ju. A. Manakov ,

A. A. Betekhtina , and M. N. V. Prasad

Part IV Green Economy and Green Nanotechnology

Drivers of Green Economy: An Indian Perspective ........................... 283

Sanjay Kumar Kar , Saroj Kumar Mishra , and Rohit Bansal

Green Nanotechnology: The Solution

to Sustainable Development of Environment ..................................... 311

Rajeshwari Sivaraj , Hasna Abdul Salam ,

P. Rajiv , and Venckatesh Rajendran

Contents

xiii

C. Anbazhagan Department of Botany , Annamalai University , Chidambaram ,

India

D. Arulbalachandran Department of Botany , Periyar University , Salem ,

Tamil Nadu , India

Hemambika Balakrishnan Department of Microbiology, Rhizosphere

Biology Laboratory, School of Life Sciences , Bharathidasan University ,

Tiruchirappalli , Tamil Nadu , India

Rohit Bansal Department of Management Studies, NOIDA , Rajiv Gandhi

Institute of Petroleum Technology , Rae Bareli , Uttar Pradesh , India

A. A. Betekhtina Department of Ecology , Ural Federal University (UrFU) ,

Yekaterinburg , Russia

Nanthi S. Bolan Centre for Environmental Risk Assessment and

Remediation (CERAR) , University of South Australia , Adelaide , SA ,

Australia

Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation

of the Environment (CRC CARE) , University of South Australia , Adelaide ,

SA , Australia

Robin Brigmon Savannah River National Laboratory , Aiken , SC , USA

Isabel S. Carvalho Food Science Laboratory, IBB/CGB , University of

Algarve , Gambelas, Faro , Portugal

Tiziana Centofanti Department of Plant Science , California State

University-Fresno , Fresno , CA , USA

Saikat Chowdhury Department of Soil Science , Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural

University , Dhaka , Bangladesh

Thammared Chuasavathi Division of Land Resources and Environment

Section, Department of Plant Sciences and Agricultural Resources, Faculty of

Agriculture , KhonKaen University , KhonKaen , Thailand

Amrita Difusa Centre for Energy , Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati ,

Guwahati , Assam , India

Contributors

xiv

Christopher J. Ennis School of Science and Engineering , Teesside

University , Middlesbrough , UK

V. Ganesan ACME Progen Biotech (India) Pvt. Ltd. , Salem , India

V. V. Goud Centre for Energy , Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati ,

Guwahati , Assam , India

Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology

Guwahati , Guwahati , Assam , India

S. Hemaiswarya Food Science Laboratory, IBB/CGB , University of

Algarve , Gambelas, Faro , Portugal

Niran Juntawong Bioscience Program, Faculty of Science , Kasetsart

University , Bangkok , Thailand

Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University , Bangkok ,

Thailand

Center for Advanced Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National

Research University-Kasetsart University (CASTNAR, NRU-KU),

Kasetsart University , Bangkok , Thailand

Sanjay Kumar Kar Department of Management Studies, NOIDA , Rajiv

Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology , Rae Bareli , Uttar Pradesh , India

H. Koinuma Graduate School of Frontier Sciences , Tokyo University,

National Institute for Materials Science , Ibaraki , Japan

Ewa Król Department of Phytopathology and Mycology , University of Life

Sciences , Lublin , Poland

Anil Kumar Department of Energy , Maulana Azad National Institute of

Technology , Bhopal , Madhya Pradesh , India

Anitha Kunhikrishnan Chemical Safety Division, Department of Agro￾Food Safety , National Academy of Agricultural Science , Wanju-gun , Republic

of Korea

A. N. Kupriynanov Siberian Division, Institute of Human Ecology , Russian

Academy of Sciences , Kemerovo , Russia

Ju. A. Manakov Siberian Division, Institute of Human Ecology , Russian

Academy of Sciences , Kemerovo , Russia

Saroj Kumar Mishra Department of Management Studies, NOIDA , Rajiv

Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology , Rae Bareli , Uttar Pradesh , India

K. Mohanty Centre for Energy , Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati ,

Guwahati , Assam , India

Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology

Guwahati , Guwahati , Assam , India

T. Muthukumar Root and Soil Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany ,

Bharathiar University , Coimbatore , Tamil Nadu , India

Contributors