Remediation of wastewater, sludge and removal of objectionable substances from our environment using radiation technology is neglected. Hardly, a couple of decades ago, application of electron beam (EB) technology has gained attention for waste management. When wastewater is irradiated with electron beam, the beam can alter the physico-chemical properties of irradiated aqueous material and also transform wastewater chemicals due to the excitation or ionization of chemical molecules. Thus, chemical reactions may be capable of producing new compounds. The beam of electrons initiates primary reactions to induce the excitation or ionization of molecules at varied rates. This review paper will help to a budding researcher how to optimize the irradiation process to achieve high efficiency with low electron beam energy which is economically viable/ feasible. Application of E-beam radiation for wastewater treatment may ensure future smart cities with sustainable water resources management.

Objective: The objective of this study was to formulate and evaluate the drug release studies using locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) and cross-linked with glutaraldehyde for the controlled release (CR) of Nimesulide, an anti-inflammatory drug.Methods: Locust bean gum (LBG) and sodium alginate (NaAlg) blend hydrogel beads were prepared by an extrusion method using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinker. Nimesulide an anti-inflammatory drug was encapsulation within LBG/NaAlg blend hydrogel beads. Morphology, size, encapsulation efficiency and drug release from these hydrogel beads were evaluated by different characterization techniques such as fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (X-RD) studies.Results: Drug-loaded hydrogel beads were analyzed by FTIR, which indicates the interaction between drug and polymers. DSC thermograms on drug-loaded microbeads confirmed the polymorphism of Nimesulide and indicated a molecular level dispersion of the drug in the hydrogel beads. SEM confirmed the spherical nature and rough surface of the hydrogel beads produced. X-RD study was performed to understand the crystalline nature of drug after encapsulated into the hydrogel beads and confirmed the complete dispersion of the drug in the polymer matrix. In vitro release studies conducted in pH-7.4 which indicated a dependence of release rate on the amount of drug loading and the amount of LBG/NaAlg, but slow release rates were extended up to 48 h. The cumulative release data were fitted to an empirical equation to compute diffusion exponent (n) which indicated the non-fickian trend for drug release. Conclusion:These results clearly demonstrated that the ability of these newly developed hydrogel beads containing Nimesulide for its sustained release could possibly be advantageous to patient compliance with reduced dosing interval.

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The miscibility of hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) blends in aqueous solutions was studied using viscosity, ultrasonic velocity, and refractive index techniques at 30°C. The interaction parameters ΔB, μ, and α calculated from viscosity using Sun and Chee methods indicated the miscibility of this blend. This was further confirmed by ultrasonic and refractive index results. The HPC/PVP blend films are prepared by solution casting method and are analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopic techniques that confirmed the complete miscibility. This miscibility is due to the strong intermolecular H‐bonding interactions between OH groups of HPC and CO groups of PVP. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012

The efficacy of electron beam radiation for the disinfection and reduction of organic load of sewage water was assessed with ILU-6 Accelerator at Radiation Technology Development Division of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai India. The current problem on environmental health in relation to water pollution insists for the safe disposal of sewage water. In general, sewage water comprises heterogeneous organic based chemicals as well as pathogens. EB treatment of the wastewater has found to be very effective in reducing the pathogens as well as organic load. EB dose of 1.5 kGy was sufficient for complete elimination of total coli forms. The experimental results elucidated the reduction of biological oxygen demand-BOD (35 and 51.7%) in both inlet and outlet sewage samples. Similarly reduction of chemical oxygen demand-COD was observed (37.54 and 52.32%) in both sewage samples with respect to increase in irradiation doses (0.45-6 kGy). The present study demonstrated the potential of ionizing radiation for disinfection of sewage and to increase the water quality of the wastewater by decreasing BOD and COD. So, the irradiation sewage water can find its application either in agriculture for irrigation, in industry for cooling purpose and some selected domestic purposes.