Journal of Environmental Engineering and Studies

Study and Field Assessment of PM2.5 Air Quality in Palghar, Maharashtra

Avinash Chavan — 2026-05-15

Field data on fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in semi-urban regions in India are limited owing to the lack of 24-hour air quality monitoring systems. This study measured PM2.5 concentrations at thirteen monitoring sites in Palghar, Maharashtra, using a portable PM2.5 optical sensor. The selected locations have different land-use categories, including transportation areas, commercial sectors, healthcare facilities, residential areas, open grounds, and a semi-rural site. Measurements were conducted over three non-consecutive days to capture the short-term variations. The recorded PM2.5 concentrations showed significant variations, with values exceeding both the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (15µg/m³) and Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit (60µg/m³). The highest concentrations were observed at locations with high traffic, such as Palghar Railway Station and Palghar Rickshaw Stand, because of vehicular emissions and human activity. Relatively lower concentrations were recorded in semi-rural areas such as Devkhope, although occasional increases in PM2.5 levels were caused by the dispersion of regional pollutants. The findings indicate that vehicular emissions, road dust resuspension, and localized commercial activities are the primary contributors to PM2.5 pollution in this area. This study provides a basic idea of the AQI (PM2.5) for Palghar, indicating the urgent need for 24-hours AQI monitoring systems and targeted mitigation strategies, including traffic management and dust control measures, to improve air quality in developing semi-urban regions.

Kinetic and Isotherm Evaluation of Oil Water Treatment Using Adsorbent Materials: Implications for Niger Delta Environmental Remediation

Umah Matthew Kingdom — 2026-05-02

Adsorption offers a promising approach for the remediation of petroleum-polluted aquatic environments. This study evaluates the rate of adsorption and equilibrium behavior of a formulated adsorbent applied to crude-oil-contaminated fresh and saltwater systems under varying mix ratios. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were employed to determine adsorption capacity, surface saturation, and heterogeneity of interaction between crude oil molecules and the developed adsorbent. Regression analysis of the Langmuir plots revealed strong linearity and high reliability values, indicating significant applicability of the Langmuir adsorption model. For a 1:9 mix ratio in saltwater conditions, the regression equation was Y = 0.0065X + 44.398 with R² = 0.9984, indicating 98.94% predictive reliability. Similarly, for 6:4 mix ratio, the regression obtained was Y = 0.0056X + 116.22 (R² = 0.8924), while the 1:8 ratio showed Y = 0.0239X + 51.194 with R² = 0.9799. The 5:5 ratio exhibited Y = 0.0307X + 614.01 with 98.94% model reliability. The results confirm that adsorption follows Langmuir’s monolayer theory, validated by high regression fits and consistent slope-intercept relationships, suggesting strong adsorbent affinity and effective pollutant removal potential. Collectively, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models confirmed the viability of the developed adsorbent for oil-pollution treatment. This work supports low-cost bioremediation techniques and provides essential rate-determination data useful for scale-up designs of petroleum-polluted water treatment systems.

Renewable Energy Systems as a Sustainable Strategy for Environmental Protection, Resource Conservation, and Pollution Control

Pankaj Patil — 2026-05-13

Fossil fuel dependence has caused severe environmental damage, resource depletion, and pollution worldwide. Renewable energy systems provide sustainable solutions by significantly reducing carbon emissions while conserving natural resources. This review examines key technologies, including solar photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, biomass energy, hydropower, and hydrogen fuel cells, which demonstrate lifecycle emissions that are 70–85% lower than those of conventional fossil fuels. The study discusses essential assessment tools: life cycle assessment (LCA) for comprehensive impact analysis, environmental impact assessment (EIA) for project risk evaluation, and carbon accounting for emission measurement. Distributed renewable systems, particularly rooftop solar installations, extend electricity access to remote villages while improving grid resilience and energy security. India’s solar capacity grew dramatically from 39 MW in 2009 to 39,211 MW by 2020, demonstrating the successful adoption of renewable energy. Findings from a multi-criteria decision analysis confirm that solar energy excels in decentralized applications, while wind energy leads utility-scale pollution control. This transition to renewables creates a balanced pathway for sustainable development, effectively addressing both environmental protection and energy security challenges.