Low-temperature synthesis of oxygen-rich fish-scale-like porous boron nitride for effective water cleaning

Effective removal of the organic pollutants from aqueous solution is significative and challenging for environmental sustainability. The high-performance adsorbent materials need to be developed. In this study, oxygen-rich fish-scale-like porous boron nitride (O-PBN) was facilely synthesized only at 900[Formula: see text]C (about 400[Formula: see text]C lower than that of the conventional process) through the molten salt method. The adsorption capacity of the as-prepared O-PBN for Methylene Blue (MB) from water was 422.6 mg/g, resulting from oxidizing groups and B–O bonds induced by oxygen doping as well as fish-scale-like structure composed of the BN nanoflakes. Moreover, the initial removal capacity of O-PBN only lost 7.6% even after 10 adsorption–regeneration cycles due to their strong resistance to oxidation. The unique B–O polar covalent bond, fish-scale-like two-dimensional nanostructure exposing the active adsorption sites to the surface ((002) crystal plane) and high specific surface area of O-PBN are confirmed to be the key factors in significantly enhancing water purification and regeneration performance. Overall, the synthetic method should help to a low-temperature and facile fabrication of O-PBN for effective water cleaning.

Comparison of Meteorological Drought using SPI and SPEI

Drought assessment is crucial for effective water resources management in a river basin. Drought frequency has increased worldwide in recent years due to global warming. In this paper, an attempt is made to assess the meteorological drought in the Punpun river basin, India using two globally accepted drought indices namely, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). The SPI and SPEI at 1-, 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month timescale were obtained to analyze the temporal variability of different drought levels. Correlation analysis of available observed data and gridded data has been carried out and the correlation coefficient was found to be 0.956. Hence gridded rainfall data from the year 1991 to 2020 is used for further analysis. Potential evapotranspiration (PET) used in the calculation of SPEI was computed by the Thornthwaite method. Water deficit was observed throughout as there is a decrease in rainfall and an increase in PET during the selected period. The results show that the period 2004 to 2006 and 2009 to 2010 years are observed as drought periods by both indices for almost all timescale. The intensity and duration of drought have increased after 2004. A negative trend of both the indices have been observed in all seasons on all timescale, which clearly shows a transition from near normal to moderately dry during the selected time period. The highest correlation between both the indices is for the 12-month scale with R² value 0.92 and the RMSE value 0.28. The main outcome of this study is that both SPI and SPEI show a strong correlation on same time scales adopted in this study. The dependency of SPEI on temperature is also observed in this study. Doi: 10.28991/cej-2021-03091783 Full Text: PDF

Water resources management in Kazakhstan in conditions of their shortage

The current situation in the water sector of Kazakhstan is one of the important problems in the country’s environmental protection system. One of the priorities of the sustainable development policy is to ensure the well-being of the population, the introduction of environmental technologies, the creation of environmentally friendly water resources, providing the regions of the country with clean water, and much more. Important changes have taken place in the country’s water sector, and positive dynamics are beginning to be determined not only by intentions, but also by real actions aimed at improving the quality of fresh water and the entire water fund. The purpose of this article is to identify the problems of effective water use and renewal of water resources and the features of the transition to sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s economies in the context of globalization. In the context of globalization, the nature of the correlation between water management and the strategic directions of water resources management in the country is radically changing.

Stakeholder Consultation and Implementation Water Projects: A Case of Machakos County, Kenya.

For projects to be successfully implemented, consultation between the implementing agencies should be factored in as a project planning and management process. This paper looks at the influence of stakeholder consultation on the implementation of water projects in Machakos County, Kenya. The study targeted 172 water projects under implementation in the County of Machakos with respondents being seven members of project management committees. A simple random sampling technique was used in selecting 17 water projects. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 120 respondents managing 17 water projects. Quantitative collected data was analysed using descriptive (means, standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages) inferential statistics (correlation statistics). The study established a strong positive correlation (r = 0.652) between the strategy of consulting stakeholders and the implementation of water projects. The study concluded that increased stakeholders’ consultation would result in effective water projects implementation in the county. The study recommends that there is a need for the identification of link persons or officials who will always represent them during the implementation process.

Water Budget Estimation in Water Resources Management in Drought Prone Areas in Rayalaseema Region, South India

Water is a valuable natural resource, fresh water is vital for health and to the economy, and reliable access to it is becoming increasingly important as the India’s population rises. Yet its availability is limited, per capita accessibility of useable water is depleting, but with increasing living standard of people, all around fast industrial development and expansion, necessity of fresh water is raising high continuously. Water audit is a successful tool for minimizing losses, working on different utilizations and in this way empowering water conservation in irrigation, domestic, power and industrial as well. Water audit controls the measure of water lost from a distribution system because of spillage and different reasons like burglary, unapproved withdrawals from the organizations and the cost of such misfortunes to the utility. Water budget is a bookkeeping of all the water that streams into and out of an undertaking region of project area. Water budget gives the financial aspects on the distribution of quantity of water in Rayalaseema region. The study area this paper to calculate the water budget in the study area of 51 Mandal of Rayalaseema region and based on the water quantity analysis to prepare water, soil conservation structures in study area, for effective water management