Chapters authored
Bioremediation of Hazardous Wastes
The remediation of the contaminated environment using the physical, thermal, or chemical methods has been criticized due to their high-cost implication, non-eco-friendly and inability to meet remediation objectives. Bioremediation offers the application of environmentally benign and cost-effective biological techniques for the remediation of contaminated sites. This chapter provides an overview of bioremediation technologies for the remediation of hazardous substances in the environment while highlighting the application of bioturbation as a promising bioremediation tool for the effective treatment of organic and inorganic contaminants. Given the success of bioremediation, most of these technologies are yet to be applied on a large scale which presents a drawback to this technique. Challenges and prospects for the effective application of bioremediation technologies were discussed.
Part of the book: Hazardous Waste Management
Bioenergy Production: Emerging Technologies
Bioenergy, when compared to traditional fossil fuels, offers clear benefits due to its renewable nature and enormous supply, and so plays a critical role in ensuring energy stability while minimizing net greenhouse gas emission. However, the advancement of bioenergy can produce major environmental changes, the extent of which is unknown. This chapter highlights the overview of bioenergy, available technologies for bioenergy production, environmental implications, challenges, prospects and future work consideration for the successful transition to bioenergy economy. Consequently, a global bioenergy sector producing substantial amount of energy would be required for the transition to a low-carbon energy economy while meeting rising future energy demands.
Part of the book: Biomass, Biorefineries and Bioeconomy
Available Technologies for Wastewater Treatment
During the last three decades, environmental challenges related to the chemical and biological pollution of water have become significant as a subject of major concern for society, public agencies, and the industrial sector. Most home and industrial operations generate wastewater that contains harmful and undesirable pollutants. In this context, it is necessary to make continuous efforts to protect water supplies to ensure the availability of potable water. To eliminate insoluble particles and soluble pollutants from wastewaters, treatment technologies can be employed including physical, chemical, biological (bioremediation and anaerobic digestion), and membrane technologies. This chapter focuses on current and emerging technologies that demonstrate outstanding efficacy in removing contaminants from wastewater. The challenges of strengthening treatment procedures for effective wastewater treatment are identified, and future perspectives are presented.
Part of the book: Wastewater Treatment
Biochar Development as a Catalyst and Its Application
Biochar is a carbon-rich pyrogenic material that is made from carbon-neutral sources (i.e., biomass). It offers key strategies for carbon capture and storage (CCS) as well as being an environmentally friendly means of soil amendment. The recent recognition of biochar as a versatile media for catalytic applications has prompted preliminary research into biochar’s catalytic capacity and mechanistic practices via various routes. This chapter provides a review of biochar production technologies, biochar’s catalyst development, and its application in various catalytic processes as well as descriptions of the benefits and drawbacks of the various applications currently available. The characteristics of biochar-based catalysts, challenges of effective application of this catalyst system, emerging application, prospects, and future work consideration for effective utilization of biochar-based catalysts were presented.
Part of the book: Biochar