Rapid synthesis of mono/bimetallic (Zn/Co/Zn–Co) zeolitic imidazolate frameworks at room temperature and evolution of their CO2 uptake capacity

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels cause air pollution and lead to adverse impact on environment. To achieve low-carbon economy, capturing CO2 in the...     

Experimental investigations on a forced convection solar air heater using packed bed absorber plates with phase change materials

In this work, the performance of a forced convection solar air heater was evaluated using using three packed bed absorber plate configurations and compared with flat absorber plate. The phase change material (paraffin wax) was packed in the pin-fin, trianglular and circular absorber plate configurations. The performance parameters such as, outlet air temperature, thermo-hydraulic efficiency, exergy efficiency and pressure drop were predicted and compared. The results showed that the packed bed absorber plate configurations using paraffin wax have higher outler air temperature in the range of 2–5°C with 3–40% higher thermo-hydraulic efficiency and 2–20% higher exergy efficiency when compared to flat absorber plate. However, the packed bed absorver plates have higher pressure drop when compared to flat absorber plate.     

A field test of processed oil shale reclamation strategies designed for minimal use of limited resources

Reclamation of processed oil shale disposal areas in the arid and semi-arid regions of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming faces several challenging problems. Shallow topsoil, harsh climate and limited water supply and low suitability of processed oil shale as a plant growth medium must be addressed if any reclamation plan is to be successful.A prototype reclamation plan that addressed the harsh environmental conditions was proposed early in the development of oil shale in eastern Utah. Studies to validate the reclamation plan were initiated in 1978 on a simulated oil shale disposal area at Anvil Points, Colorado.Four native shrubs, one forb and a grass, were successfully established by planting container-grown transplants into a topsoil-filled V-shaped trench. Supplemental water was provided from an adjacent water harvesting slope. The roots of the transplanted species grew into the adjacent shale from the soil trench, thus indicating their adaptability to the adverse oil shale conditions.Support for this research was provided by the White River Shale Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah.     

Observations on the embryonic development and energy source in the crab Xantho bidentatus

During development of Xantho bidentatus, ten stages of the eggs have been recognised. In this period the colour of the egg changes from black to pale white at the X stage of development. Total carbohydrate, glycogen, soluble protein, insoluble protein, total lipid, ash and water content have been determined in all ten stages of developing eggs. The utilisation of these compounds at various stages of development is discussed. The habitat of the crabs and its significance during development is also discussed. A constant decrease in the organic material as well as the dry weight of the egg was noticed with increased stage of development. Along with this a steady increase in the water and ash content was also observed. Glycogen was reduced during early days of development, whereas lipid was reduced during the latter stages of development. Both soluble and insoluble proteins exhibit conspicuous variations depending upon the stage of development.     

Experimental investigations on direct injection diesel engines using grape seed oil methyl ester with different bowl geometries

In this paper, the performance of direct injection diesel engine was experimentally investigated under the influence of two different pistons’s geometry deep bowl combustion chamber (DBCC) and toroidal combustion chamber (TCC) compared with standard piston combustion chamber (SPCC) geometry. The experiments were carried out standard atmospheric conditions of 1.01325 bar and 30 ± 2 °C. The piston bowl was designed and developed without modifying the compression ratio of the engine. The investigations were carried out with B25 (25% GOME + 75% diesel), B50 (50% GOME + 50% diesel), B75 (75% GOME +25% diesel) and B100 (100% GOME) by volume blends for three different bowl geometries. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was given the importance of higher in-cylinder temperature for the mass change of GOME leads to a more premixed phase of combustion. The results showed that DBCC has better combustion characteristics when compared with SPCC and TCC for all the blends. The B25 and B50 blends showed good combustion characteristics with DBCC and SPCC individually. While TCC showed average engine characteristics for all the blends categorically, the brake thermal efficiency for B25 blend confirmed a 4.7% higher than SPCC-diesel with DBCC piston, and the smoke, CO (Carbon monoxide), and HC (Hydrocarbon) are reduced by 9.2%, 30.7%, and 4.6%, respectively. Thus, the B25 blend in a DBCC piston engine was observed to be the distinction than other configurations. The results confirmed that the DBCC is a good option for B25 blend.     

Scanning electron microscopy study of the gills,scales and erythrocytes of Anabas testudineus upon exposure to chlorpyrifos

The present study was undertaken to assess the toxicity of sublethal concentrations (125, 250, and 375 µg L^?1) of chlorpyrifos on Anabas testudineus for 21 days. The morphological changes on the gills, scales, and erythrocytes of A. testudineus were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Gill alterations included highly active mucous cells, epithelial hyperplasia, and fusion of secondary lamellae. The scales showed damaged lepidonts. Oozed out cytoplasmic content and lobopodial projections were observed in the erythrocytes after exposure to chlorpyrifos.     

Parametric study of MSW landfill settlement model

A newly developed and validated constitutive model that accounts for primary compression and time-dependent mechanical creep and biodegradation is used for parametric study to investigate the effects of model parameters on the predicted settlement of municipal solid waste (MSW) with time. The model enables the prediction of stress strain response and yield surfaces for three components of settlement: primary compression, mechanical creep, and biodegradation. The MSW parameters investigated include compression index, coefficient of earth pressure at-rest, overconsolidation ratio, and biodegradation parameters of MSW. A comparison of the predicted settlements for typical MSW landfill conditions showed significant differences in time-settlement response depending on the selected model input parameters. The effect of lift thickness of MSW on predicted settlement is also investigated. Overall, the study shows that the variation in the model parameters can lead to significantly different results; therefore, the model parameter values should be carefully selected to predict landfill settlements accurately. It is shown that the proposed model captures the time settlement response which is in general agreement with the results obtained from the other two reported models having similar features.     

Comparative investigation of coal- and oil-fired boilers based on emission factors, ozone and secondary organic aerosol formation potentials of VOCs

Volatile organic compounds(VOCs) are the important precursors of the tropospheric ozone(O_3) and secondary organic aerosols(SOA),both of which are known to harm human health and disrupt the earth's climate system.In this study,VOC emission factors,O_3 and SOA formation potentials were estimated for two types of industrial boilers:coal-fired boilers(n=3) and oil-fired boilers(n=3).Results showed that EVOCs concentrations were more than nine times higher for oil-fire d boilers compared to those for coal-fired boilers.Emission factors of ΣVOCs were found to be higher for oil-fired boilers(9.26-32.83 mg-VOC/kg) than for coal-fired boilers(1.57-4.13 mg-VOC/kg).Alkanes and aromatics were obtained as the most abundant groups in coal-fired boilers,while oxygenated organics and aromatics were the most contributing groups in oil-fired boilers.Benzene,n-hexane and o-ethyl toluene were the abundant VOC species in coal-fired boiler emissions,whereas toluene was the most abundant VOC species emitted from oil-fired boilers.O_3 and SOA formation potentials were found 12 and 18 times,respectively,higher for oil-fired than for coal-fired boilers.Total OFP ranged from 3.99 to 11.39 mg-O_3/kg for coal-fired boilers.For oil-fired boilers,total OFP ranged from 36.16 to 131.93 mg-O_3/kg.Moreover,total secondary organic aerosol potential(SOAP) ranged from 65.4 to 122.5 mg-SOA/kg and 779.9 to 2252.5 mg-SOA/kg for the coal-fired and oil-fired boilers,respectively.     

Assessment of the effects of municipal sewage,immersed idols and boating on the heavy metal and other elemental pollution of surface water of the eutrophic Hussainsagar Lake (Hyderabad,India)

The surface water qualities of Hussainsagar, an eutrophic urban lake in the midst of twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad (India) receiving large quantities of external inputs—both untreated municipal sewage containing industrial effluents, and treated sewage, a large number of annually immersed idols of God and Goddess, and intense boating activities were assessed in relation to the concentration of elements including heavy metals of the water along the necklace road of the lake. Elemental analyses of water using ICP-MS revealed 26 elements including heavy metals—As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Ba, Zn, Mo, V, Co, Ag, Sr, Rb, Mg, K, Ca, Al, Si, Sb, Na, Li, and B, in the surface water of the lake. Of these, the first 15 elements were found in elevated concentrations in the water at the outfall point of the untreated municipal sewage (site 3), which was the main dominating source of contamination of the lake water while Cu and Sb were recorded in higher concentrations at the outfall of treated effluent from Sewage Treatment Plant, and three elements (Ba, Si, and B) were in higher concentration at the sites of outfall of sewage flowing from an oxygenated pond (site 4), Ca, Zn, and Sr, at the site immersed with idols (site 1), and Pb, Ag, and Al at the center of the lake (site 5) with intense boating activities. Concentrations of most of these elements exceeded the maximum permissible limits of national (Indian Council Medical Research) standards for drinking water. The concentrations of most of the elemental contaminants showed significant positive correlations between them.     

Trajectory of an oil spill off Goa, eastern Arabian Sea: field observations and simulations

An oil spill occurred off Goa, west coast of India, on 23 March 2005 due to collision of two vessels. In general, fair weather with weak winds prevails along the west coast of India during March. In that case, the spill would have moved slowly and reached the coast. However, in 2005 when this event occurred, relatively stronger winds prevailed, and these winds forced the spill to move away from the coast. The spill trajectory was dominated by winds rather than currents. The MIKE21 Spill Analysis model was used to simulate the spill trajectory. The observed spill trajectory and the slick area were in agreement with the model simulations. The present study illustrates the importance of having pre-validated trajectories of spill scenarios for selecting eco-sensitive regions for preparedness and planning suitable response strategies whenever spill episodes occur.