"Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth's Critical Zone" presents contributions from the 1st International Symposium of Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth's Critical Zone held in Hangzhou, China. It introduces new ideas, findings, methods, and experience on above new and emerging subject areas. A broad range of topics are covered: the role of mineral colloids in carbon turnover and sequestration and the impact on climate change, biogeochemical interfacial reactions and dynamics of vital and toxic elements, ecotoxicology of anthropogenic organics, environmental nanoparticles and their impacts, and ecosystem health. The book will be a valuable reference for researchers in soil chemistry, environmental chemistry, mineralogy, microbiology, ecology, ecotoxicology, and physics. Jianming Xu is a Professor at the Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, China. Pan Ming Huang is a Professor at the Department of Soil Science, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.

Based on the “International Symposium of Molecular Environmental Soil Science at the Interfaces in the Earth’s Critical Zone,” this book focuses on the Critical Zone supporting life at the Earth’s surface with emphasis on the new and emerging subject area of molecular environmental soil science. Advances in research methodology, the use of synchrotron radiation in particular, are extensively reviewed. Roles of microbes, biomolecules, and environmental nanoparticles in mineral transformations, metal cycling, degradation of natural and anthropogenic organic compounds are also extensively reviewed. It is unique in terms of facilitating the integration of contributions from traditionally separate disciplines and adding a molecular and nanoparticle (therefore chemical) dimension to a field of endeavour that has traditionally been viewed on a different scale (dimension). It will also contribute to identifying knowledge gaps, providing future research directions and promoting research and education at the molecular level in this extremely important and challenging area of science for years to come. The IUPAC Project Committee noted that the Conference identifies, and builds on, the need to view and understand the Critical Zone at the molecular level. The book will be an invaluable reference for research and education.

In the field of waste disposal, recovery, and recycling, industrial residues from ceramic and mining activities are just an assemblage of minerals. So is municipal waste, after removing the organic part in incinerators or after long-time disposal. In almost every case, a natural counterpart is present. Applying what is known from natural systems on waste assemblages is the key to predicting their fate, at a short and long time, and suggesting the best for high-temperature recycling. This book aims to bring the Earth Science community to the edge of waste management, offering background information, the basics of high and low-temperature geochemistry involved, and an overview of waste investigation connected to minerals. This book also addresses mineral tailings, incinerator bottom, fly ashes, metal slags, ceramic industry residue, and eventually sanitary issues. The primary readership will be graduate students and professionals in geological and environmental fields.

This text details the plant-assisted remediation method, “phytoremediation”, which involves the interaction of plant roots and associated rhizospheric microorganisms for the remediation of soil contaminated with high levels of metals, metalloids, fuel and oil hydrocarbons, nano particles, pesticides, solvents, organic compounds and various other contaminants. Many chapters highlight and compare the efficiency and economic advantages of phytoremediation and nano-phytoremediation to currently practiced soil and water treatment practices. Volume 6 of Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants continues the series. Taken together, the six volumes provide a broad–based global synopsis of the current applications of phytoremediation using plants and the microbial communities associated with their roots to decontaminate terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

The protection of clean water, air, and land for the habitation of humans and other organisms has become a pressing concern amid the intensification of industrial activities and the rapidly growing world population. The integration of environmental science with engineering principles has been introduced as a means of long-term sustainable development. The Handbook of Research on Advancements in Environmental Engineering creates awareness of the role engineering plays in protecting and improving the natural environment. Providing the latest empirical research findings, this book is an essential reference source for executives, educators, and other experts who seek to improve their project's environmental costs.

Learn the various microbiological aspects one deals with in environment management and the remediation of toxic contaminants in the environment In recent years, the accumulation of hazardous contaminants has caused a broad-based deterioration in global environmental quality. These have had wide-ranging negative social impacts, affecting climate, soil and water ecosystems, and more. As traditional methods of contaminant mitigation have proven inadequate to the task, microbial-based remediation offers the clearest, most environmentally friendly path forward for this crucial aspect of global environmental stewardship. Microbes Based Approaches for the Management of Hazardous Contaminants offers comprehensive coverage of novel and indigenous microbes and their applications in contaminant mitigation. Surveying all the major microbial products and methods for degrading and remediating hazardous pollutants, it offers a key tool in the fight against global environmental degradation. The result is a cutting-edge introduction to an essential subject. Microbes Based Approaches for the Management of Hazardous Contaminants will also find: Current and future approaches to microbial degradation Detailed discussion of biofilms, exopolysaccharides, enzymes, metabolites, and many more Coverage of metabolic engineering as an alternative strategy Microbes Based Approaches for the Management of Hazardous Contaminants is ideal for those working in the field for the application of microbes in the remediation of hazardous pollutants and environment management, particularly those interested in environmental sciences, microbiology and microbial technology, environmental biotechnology, and molecular biology.

Handbook of Nanomaterials for Wastewater Treatment: Fundamentals and Scale up Issues provides coverage of the nanomaterials used for wastewater treatment, covering photocatalytic nanocomposite materials, nanomaterials used as adsorbents, water remediation processes, and their current status and challenges. The book explores the major applications of nanomaterials for effective catalysis and adsorption, also providing in-depth information on the properties and application of new advanced nanomaterials for wastewater treatment processes. This is an important reference source for researchers who need to solve basic and advanced problems relating to the use of nanomaterials for the development of wastewater treatment processes and technologies. As nanotechnology has the potential to substantially improve current water and wastewater treatment processes, the synthesis methods and physiochemical properties of nanomaterials and noble metal nanoparticles make their performance and mechanisms efficient for the treatment of various pollutants. - Explains the properties of the most commonly used nanomaterials used for wastewater treatment - Describes the major nanoscale synthesis and processing techniques for wastewater treatment - Assesses the major challenges for using nanomaterials on a mass scale for wastewater treatment

This book presents an important discussion on the implementation of sustainable soil management in Africa from a range of governance perspectives. It addresses aspects such as the general challenges in Africa with regard to soil management; the structural deficiencies in legal, organizational and institutional terms; and specific policies at the national level, including land cover policies and persistent organic pollutants. This fourth volume of the International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy is divided into four parts, the first of which deals with several aspects of the theme “sustainable soil management in Africa.” In turn, the second part covers recent international developments, the third part presents regional and national reports (i.a. Mexico, USA and Germany), and the fourth discusses cross-cutting issues(i.a. on rural-urban interfaces). Given the range of key topics covered, the book offers an indispensible tool for all academics, legislators and policymakers working in this field. The “International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy” is a book series that discusses central questions in law and politics with regard to the protection and sustainable management of soil and land – at the international, national and regional level.

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a highly reactive constituent of the soil matrix because of its large surface area, high ion exchange capacity, enormous affinity for water due to hygroscopicity, and capacity to form organo-mineral complexes. It is an important source and sink of atmospheric CO2 and other greenhouse gases depending on climate, land use, soil and crop management, and a wide range of abiotic and biotic factors, including the human dimensions of socioeconomic and political factors. Agroecosystems are among important controls of the global carbon cycle with a strong impact on anthropogenic or abrupt climate change. This volume of Advances in Soil Sciences explains pedological processes set-in-motion by increases in SOM content of depleted and degraded soils. It discusses the relationship between SOM content and critical soil quality parameters including aggregation, water retention and transport, aeration and gaseous exchange, and chemical composition of soil air. The book identifies policy options needed to translate science into action for making sustainable management of SOM as a strategy for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. Features: Relates soil organic matter stock to soil processes, climate parameters, vegetation, landscape attributes Establishes relationships between soil organic matter and land use, species, and climate Identifies land use systems for protecting and restoring soil organic matter stock Links soil organic matter stock with the global carbon cycle for mitigation of climate change Part of the Advances in Soil Sciences series, this volume will appeal to agricultural, environmental, and soil scientists demonstrating the link between soil organic matter stock and provisioning of critical ecosystem services for nature and humans.