September 2024 VOLUME:10, ISSUE-3

ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY JOURNAL

Biotechnological Enhancement of Agricultural Waste into Valuable Bio Resources

Khushi Farhat, Samakshi Verma

  • Pages: 1-7
    • <p>The swift growth of the food processing and agricultural sectors has resulted in the production of large amounts of agro-industrial waste, creating significant environmental and economic issues. The improper disposal of waste from industries like sugar, dairy, fruit and vegetable processing, and oil extraction leads to pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and the inefficient use of valuable biomass. Recently, there has been a growing focus on the sustainable management of these wastes by transforming them into value-added bio-products. Agro-industrial residues are abundant in lignocellulosic materials, proteins, and carbohydrates, making them ideal substrates for microbial fermentation and enzymatic processes. Bioconversion technologies enable the transformation of these wastes into a variety of valuable products, such as biofuels, organic acids, enzymes, bioplastics, and animal feed. This method not only alleviates environmental impact but also aligns with circular economy principles by encouraging resource recovery and minimizing waste. Consequently, the valorization of agro-industrial waste offers a promising and environmentally friendly approach for sustainable development and the advancement of industrial biotechnology.</p>

Biogenic Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Psidium guajava Leaves: Antimicrobial and Photocatalytic Application

Srishty Rana and 1Shraddha Sahu

  • Pages: 1-15
    • <p>The growing global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance alongside the continuous pollution of aquatic ecosystems by industrial effluents and synthetic dyes constitutes a critical challenge for modern healthcare and environmental management (Lebaka et al., 2025; Singh et al., 2018). Current therapeutic options are increasingly ineffective against resistant bacterial strains, while traditional chemical methods for treating wastewater often create secondary pollution and require significant energy, highlighting an urgent need for multifunctional, sustainable nanomaterials (Sirelkhatim et al., 2015). Biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) offer a sophisticated, dual-purpose solution, providing both robust broadspectrum antimicrobial properties and effective photocatalytic activity within a single, ecologically sound platform (Lebaka et al., 2025; Uikey &amp; Vishwakarma, 2016). As a wide-bandgap semiconductor (Eg = 3.37 eV) featuring a high exciton binding energy of 60 meV, ZnO possesses exceptional photostability and UV-absorption qualities, which allow it to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) when exposed to light (Vaseem et al., 2010). Traditional fabrication methods&mdash;including sol-gel, coprecipitation, chemical vapor deposition, and hydrothermal techniques&mdash;are hindered by their dependence on harmful reducing agents, high energy usage, and the production of toxic waste (Iravani, 2011; Dahl et al., 2007). Green synthesis using plants provides a sustainable alternative by utilizing naturally occurring phytochemicals as dual-purpose capping and reducing agents (Singh et al., 2018). This review provides a critical evaluation of ZnO NP production through aqueous Psidium guajava L. (guava) leaf extracts, a medicinally important tropical species with leaves notably rich in triterpenoids, flavonoids (e.g., quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol), ellagitannins, and Intl. J. Engg. Sci. Adv. Research 2024 September; 10(3): 1-15 ISSN NO: 2395-0730 2 ascorbic acid, all of which act as highly effective stabilizing and reducing components (Kareem &amp; Kadhim, 2024). The plant-based colloidal synthesis process facilitates the regulated growth and nucleation of crystalline, hexagonal wurtzite ZnO NPs, where a protective phytochemical layer remains on the surface to provide both colloidal stability and biological functionality (Fiveable, 2025; Ramya et al., 2022). We examine the mechanistic role of guava-sourced tannins, flavonoids, and polyphenols in forming the wurtzite-phase structure, and we summarize analytical characterizations conducted via dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) (Ramya et al., 2022; Vaseem et al., 2010). Furthermore, this paper analyzes antimicrobial pathways&mdash;specifically cell membrane damage, ROS production, and Zn&sup2;? ion toxicity&mdash;in parallel with photocatalytic dye degradation for textile wastewater treatment (Lebaka et al., 2025; Sirelkhatim et al., 2015; Tarek, 2014). The synergistic benefits of the retained phytochemical coating on both catalytic and biological performance are critically examined (Singh et al., 2018; Kareem &amp; Kadhim, 2024). Ultimately, this review highlights existing knowledge gaps, discusses obstacles to reproducibility and scalability, and suggests future research directions for the application of guavaderived ZnO NPs in textile, biomedical, and water-treatment industries (Lebaka et al., 2025; Iravani, 2011).</p>

A Comprehensive Review of Cervical Cancer, Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Prevention, and Multidisciplinary Management

Shivangi Pandey and Avantika Dwivedi

  • Pages: 1-16
    • <p>Cervical cancer is a common yet preventable malignancy that predominantly affects women in lowresource settings. Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major cause of cervical cancer and leads to molecular and cellular alterations involved in carcinogenesis (Doorbar et al., 2022). Despite advances in healthcare, cervical cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality due to inadequate awareness, limited screening, and delayed diagnosis (Brisson et al., 2022). Modern treatment strategies involve surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy based on disease stage and patient condition (Ciavattini et al., 2023). Preventive measures such as HPV vaccination and regular cervical screening remain essential for reducing disease incidence and mortality. Recent research focusing on molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, and innovative therapeutic approaches has further improved cervical cancer management (Stanciu et al., 2023). This review summarizes recent advances in cervical cancer epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary care and global preventive strategies.</p>

Comparative Evaluation of Pollen Viability and Germination under Heat Stress in Major Field Crops: Chickpea, Wheat, and Mustard

Nidhi Saroj & Abhilasha Gautam

  • Pages: 1-11
    • <p>The rising temperatures are becoming an important threat for the crop yield. The developmental phase is especially sensitive to changes in temperature. Among several physiological factors that may be considered, pollen fertility and germination are reliable indicators of heat-stress, due to their role in fertilization. Aim of present research includes a comparative study of pollen viability and pollen germination concerning heat stress in three crop plants grown in the field including Chickpea, Wheat, and Mustard. The effect of heat stress in plant flowering stages is negatively related to the development of anthers, pollen sterility, and pollen germination, thereby leading to a reduction in seed production. From the comparative analysis that was carried out for the crops undergoing heat stress condition, it can be observed that the Chickpea crop is less resistant to heat stress than the Wheat and Mustard crops. On the whole, viability of pollen grains and pollen germination can be highly beneficial and efficient approaches in the selection of heat stress-resistant crops from diverse crops. The utilization of such reproductive characteristics in breeding programs may result in crops resistant to the effects of elevated temperatures. The negative effect of heat stress on reproduction in the case of the Wheat leads to a reduction in the viability and germination of pollen grains, which has a direct relation to the decrease in grain production in high temperatures. The Chickpea is also sensitive to heat stress resulting in decreased pollen fertility and germination of pollen grains caused by disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism in plants and, consequently, a lower content of sucrose in anthers. As for the Mustard, heat stress causes negative effects on pollen viability and fertilization, yet the sensitivity is genotypic.</p>

WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF PONDS IN KANPUR NAGAR

Dheerendra Kamal and 1Shraddha Sahu

  • Pages: 1-6
    • <p>Water quality data paints a grim picture of this degradation. Researchers consistently find high levels of total dissolved solids and electrical conductivity within these stagnant pools. Low dissolved oxygen levels prevent aquatic life from thriving. Oxygen depletion stems directly from the massive organic load constantly flowing into the systems. Higher readings of biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand confirm that the water is actively suffocating. Beyond mere oxygen starvation, nutrient loading creates a different kind of disaster. Nitrates and phosphates surge into the ponds through runoff, triggering rapid, suffocating algal blooms. People often add to the problem through cultural practices or dumping trash during religious festivals. While algae look harmless on the surface, their decay strips every remaining bit of oxygen from the water beneath. Fish die off, foul odours fill the air, and the entire pond ecosystem collapses into a state of total imbalance.</p>
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