Extensive aeration is required for constructed wetlands (CWs) since dissolved oxygen is essential in nutrients and pathogen removal. On the other hand, plants typically used in CWs can release oxygen into the system, lowering the need for external aeration. Hence, this study tried to uncover the oxygenation rate of three species of plants in the CWs system with limited oxygen and their capability to treat wastewater. Canna sp., Heliconia sp., and Typha sp. were used and compared to uptake nutrients and reduce coliform numbers in domestic wastewater using sub-surface CWs in low levels of initial oxygen. In the meantime, oxygen release from the plant root was monitored in real-time using an IoT-based module. On the detention time of 24 hours, CWs planted with Typha sp. were able to reduce 61% NH₄⁺ and 71% PO₄^3-. The system was also able to remove coliform with a magnitude of 1.39 log units. In addition, Typha sp. was observed to generate a higher oxygenation rate to the CWs system compared to the other two plants at 0.175 %/h, on average. These observations suggested that Typha sp. had the best prospect to be used in a sub-surface CWs system with the least external aeration needed.

Mycotoxins contaminations in feedstuffs are one of the principal concerns worldwide nowadays, related to the fact that they may evoke health problems in animals and consequently in humans. Biodetoxification of mycotoxins by application of beneficial microorganisms (lactic acid bacteria or yeasts) is one of the well-known, relatively low-cost, easy, efficient, safe, and green approaches for the reduction of mycotoxins presence in feeds. The use of beneficial microorganisms as feed additives to remove mycotoxins is widely practiced in the industrial production of animal feed. In this overview, we aim to summarize the great potential of beneficial microorganisms as bio-detoxificant, including a summary of various reported detoxification activities of lactic acid bacteria or yeasts against mycotoxins with relevance for feedstuff. The principal focus is the detoxification of mycotoxins in livestock, poultry, and aquatic feed using beneficial microorganisms. The mechanisms of the detoxification process and effective factors in this process are also covered. This review article could be useful for biotechnologists, investigators, and animal feed manufacturers who have challenges regarding the existence of mycotoxins in feed, and help them to find the best method for feed bio-decontamination.

In the context of advancing "green" development and global environmental standards, there is a pressing need to focus on biological methods of wastewater treatment in Kazakhstan, particularly concerning oil pollution. This study aims to develop an optimal technological model to minimise destructive pollution of wastewater by oil products using algae and aquatic plants on the example of artificial bioponds within the Ozen field owned by "Ozenmunaigas" JSC in the Mangistau region. Through a comprehensive set of scientific methods including induction and deduction, abstraction, system analysis, synthesis, concretisation, formalisation, and generalisation, the study assesses the ecological state of water resources, identifies pollution dynamics, and evaluates the impact of algae and aquatic plants on oil-contaminated effluents. The research culminates in the development of an effective biotreatment technology to mitigate the negative effects of wastewater on water quality and enhance Kazakhstan's overall environmental landscape. Furthermore, the study explores innovative technological and management approaches to reduce pollutant concentrations, emphasizing the importance of ecosystem-based solutions and modern bio-treatment technologies. The findings hold practical significance for modernizing water treatment system, informing future preventive measures for water resource protection, and promoting the adoption of biological treatment as a viable alternative to traditional methods.

Organic inputs to tillage-pulverised soils could, by facilitating soil structure reformation with time, enhance environmental quality. This study examined the aggregate stability responses of three texture-contrasting soils from the derived savannah of southeastern Nigeria to poultry-droppings (PD) manure over time. The soils from Nsukka, Ukehe and Adani with clay contents of 53, 100 and 260 g/kg had antecent organic matter concentrations of 18.77, 29.73 and 16.23 g/kg, respectively, with sandy Nsukka/Ukehe being more stable than loamy Adani. Pulverised soils were amended with PD at rates equivalent to 0, 10, 20, 40 and 70 t/ha, watered and open-incubated under glasshouse conditions. They were augmented to field capacity at three-day intervals and sub-sampled at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 20 weeks after incubation (WAI). Treatment effects were highly soil-dependent. For all three soils, water-stable aggregates, mean-weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates and sand-corrected water-stable aggregates were highest with 70 t/ha at 20 WAI which showed similar MWD of aggregates as 0 t/ha at 20 WAI. Also, 70 and 20 t/ha each at 20 WAI consistently had similar effects (Adani only). Treatment effects on soil bulk density were irregular, with the highest values mostly at 20 WAI across rates. Thus, soil bulk density related inversely with aggregate stability only during 2-12 WAI, owing to their concurrent increases with soil pH beyond 12 WAI. These soil structure indices were not influenced by PD-induced fluctuations in electrical condutivity which always peaked 4 WAI. Heavy and modest PD addition, respectively, to tillage-pulverised sandy and loamy tropical soils promote their re-aggregation after 20 weeks; however, such soils even without manuring could re-structure into aggregates of sizes as though PD-amended over this long interval. Rather than PD-induced salinisation, it is soil pH that influences macro-aggregation up till the 20th week, when soil pH should be ≤ 6.65 to avoid soil densification above 1.71 Mg/m³.

Growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable enzyme solutions drives markets for alkaline proteases across various industries. Alkaline proteases produced by different Bacillus strains exhibit unique properties and versatility. Production of alkaline proteases from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TBRC 2902, B. siamensis TBRC 1180, B. subtilis TBRC 6663, and B. velezensis TBRC 7773 was optimized by adjusting production media, considering carbon and nitrogen sources to enhance extracellular enzyme activities. Optimized extracellular protease activity was achieved using tapioca starch for TBRC 2902 and TBRC 1180, and soluble starch for TBRC 7773, while both carbon sources were optimal for TBRC 6663. Skim milk was an equally effective nitrogen source for TBRC 2902, TBRC 1180, and TBRC 7773, whereas soytone was as effective as yeast extract for TBRC 6663. Inorganic nitrogen sources, such as diammonium hydrogen phosphate for TBRC 2902 and potassium nitrate for TBRC 1180, enhanced alkaline protease activity by 10-20%. The protease from B. siamensis TBRC 1180 exhibited optimal pH and temperature values of 9.0 and 60°C, respectively, while the others had optimal values of 8.0 and 50°C. All enzymes tolerated non-ionic surfactants, retaining over 40% activity after 24 hours exposure to Triton X-100, Tween-20, and Tween-80, indicating their potential as detergent additives.

Currently green nanotechnology presents a smart solution to produce novel nanostructured materials that are highly safe and environmental friendly. In this work, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were prepared by employing aqueous mint (M. piperita) seeds extract at 60 ^oC, as a green synthesis method. Mint seeds extract was chosen among the 6 plant seeds that were the subject of this study due to it represents the highest content of polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant activity. High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) showed that syringic acid (16%), rutin (22%), and apigenin-7-O-glucoside (29%) were the main component of ethanol mint seeds extract.  The produced ZnO NPs were examined using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The UV spectrum revealed maximum absorption value at 376 nm, related to green synthesized ZnO NPs. The XRD study demonstrated the creation of ZnO NPs. ZnO NPs were spherical in shape with average particles size of 80±36 nm. The antibacterial activity of aqueous mint seeds extract and green synthesized ZnO NPs were investigated on E. coli and S. aureus and antioxidant activity as well. Our findings demonstrate a facile approach to improve the antibacterial potential of the ZnO NPs, and therefore could be a promising multifunctional bioactive material for wound healing and other related applications.

Bioremediation as a cleaning up technology is less predictable and efficient for application on site. An apparent gap is still evident between the laboratory results with pure culture or mixed culture of microorganisms and their biochemical capability including genes and enzymes involved, and the effectiveness at cleaning up the pollutants in soil and sediment on site. Associated issues include the characteristics of the site, ageing of the chemical pollutants and sequestration into soil as one, and activity and competitive of the degradative microorganisms under the actual contaminated conditions of natural environment. Because of these, the favorable conditions for the active growth of degradative microorganisms have not been investigated well enough with the available technology, so a simple inoculation of the pure culture effective under laboratory conditions cannot guarantee an expected efficiency and positive results at on site testing. In addition, the soil or sediment physical and chemical conditions under the natural environment play an important role in the removal or mineralization of organic pollutants, but inadequate attention has been given to these factors involved from ecology. It is the objectives here to bring the attention to the bioavailable concentration of the pollutants and also the active metabolism of the organisms in situ to advance and demonstrate the effective cleaning up of contaminated sites.

The “Sistema Arrecifal Veracruzano” (SAV) is a vital marine ecosystem; its resources are continually perturbed due to contamination by anthropogenic activities, with multiple contaminants such as plastics. In aquatic ecosystems, plastics are almost immediately coated by inorganic and organic matter, which is then colonized by microbes to form a biofilm on plastic surfaces. This work aimed to isolate and identify plastic-degrading microorganisms isolated mainly from plastic residues of the SAV biosphere reserve. Eight bacteria and three fungi were isolated from a biofilm in plastic residues from islands of SAV. All the bacteria and one fungus showed evidence of degrading PET, over 10% for two bacteria and 17% for the fungus. All fungi belong to the genus Aspergillus, and bacteria belong to the genera Aneurinibacillus, Bordetella, Bacillus, and Lysinibacillus. Aneurinibacillus migulanus and Aspergillus flavus showed the highest values for PET degradation. Carboxylic ester hydrolase (CEH) activity was detected in all crude extracts from fungi and bacteria growing with PET triturates as a carbon source; the maximum CEH in bacteria was 255 U mg^-1 and 780 U mg^-1 for fungi.