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Bioenergy is a versatile energy system. A multitude of feedstock, technology pathways, and end products encompass biomass-energy conversion. Amongst the renewable energy options, bioenergy has the unique potential to deliver significant benefits to society and the environment. Considering its prominence in the overall energy mix, the bioenergy sector has not received the desired attention. Its impacts on economic, social, environmental and greener energy factors are numerous. Due to the informal and local nature of most of the feedstock and technology used for biofuel production, it is very challenging to gather, analyze and report accurate and updated information on bioenergy developments. Moreso, it is important to note that there is a lack of reliable and updated data on bioenergy globally and locally. This paper, therefore explored available information on different biomass sources; current statistics on global and national bioenergy demand and utilization, its benefits and challenges; technologies for improving bioenergy production and yield from biomass; current climate challenges, and emerging biotechnology techniques relevant for sustainable biofuel production to meet energy demand and climate challenge.

Soils produce 95 percent of the food we consume, healthy soil provides crucial ecosystem services for life, such as water storage, purification and flood regulation, carbon sequestration and consequently climate change mitigation, or nutrient cycling e.t.c. The dangers posed to the environment due to anthropogenic activities necessitate the need for novel strategies for decontamination and clean up. It is challenging to realize and discover the interplay between the biodiversity in polluted environments. The process of clean-up can be done in aerobic or anaerobic systems depending on the microorganisms and the electron acceptors available in the media. This review has examined the sources of pollutants into the environment, mechanism for clean-up, contribution of molecular techniques and how utilization of biodiversity can be an effective technique available for clean-up of polluted sites. Though the idea has a long history, however other relatively new applications are emerging or being developed for optimization of the existing biodiversity - based techniques for clean-up of polluted environments.

The effect of spent lubricating oil (SLO) on the growth of Amaranthushybridus, a staple leafy vegetable; and on the population build-up of earthworm were investigated. The treatment consisted of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60ml of spent lubricating oil per kilogram of soil in 3 replicates. Two seedlings, each of A. hybridus were planted in perforated pots containing soil rich in earthworm in each replicate. Baseline analysis of SLO and soil was carried out. Stem, soil, and earthworm were analyzed for copper, lead, cadmium, zinc, and nickel at 6 weeks post treatment. There was significant growth retardation with corresponding increase in level of SLO. There was no significant difference in the plant parameters among the treatments. There was no population build-up of earthworm in all the treatments except in the soil with lowest contamination of 10ml/kg and control. The A. hybridus stem had significantly higher levels of Zn, Cd and Cu than controls; but cadmium was not detected. For soil Zn, Pd and Cd were higher in all treatments; Ni was significantly higher only at the 60ml/kg concentrations with a value of 0.14±0.014mg/kg while Cu was significant in all treatments except in the 10ml/kg and control with values of 0.097±0.002 and 0.087±0.002 respectively. For earthworm, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cd were detected with the highest concentrations in the 10ml/kg. The level of heavy metals in treated soil exceeded WHO MPL. The bioaccumulation of metals intreatments may lead to biomagnification along the food chain leading to hazardous effects on humans.