Review processing, properties and applications of agricultural solid waste: Effect of an Open Burning in Environmental Toxicology

Abstract

India is the one among the major country in agricultural production and second largest producer after China and Brazil in rice and sugarcane production respectively. The cultivation of rice and plantation of sugarcane results in various types of residues: rice straw, rice husk and for sugarcane: bagasse, press mud or filter cake and molasses. During the harvesting of rice crop, the top portion grains are harvested and transported to the mill, while the stem (straw), rice husk, leaf and sugarcane residues are left on the field. It could be an appropriate to reuse and utilize a portion of crop residue for liquid fuels or combusted/gasified to produce electricity and heat. This chapter provides an overview of solid waste residues for energy production and also their toxic effects in the environment an open burning process. This chapter reviews the process for the production of ethanol, charcoal, paper and building materials (concrete, cement, bricks) from biomass. Additionally, a significant role of rice husk in silica production and then synthesized silicon nanoparticle use in biomedical research (i.e. drug delivery, cancer treatment etc.) has been introduced. Interestingly, the role of bio-computational approach of silica nanoparticle for drug designing also discussed. Comprehensive review processing of vermicomposting is discussed as a potential tool to bio-convert rice or sugarcane residues into enabling recycling of organic matter or organic fertilizer. After harvesting of rice or sugarcane, these residues remain on agriculture land and processed further for open burning by farmers. This open burning has hazardous effects on human health and the environment, is also discussed in this article. This article provides the possible pathway of mechanism and future recommendations for the use of agriculture waste as a bio-resource.