Approach for the use of MSW settlement predictions in the assessment of landfill capacity based on reliability analysis

In the analysis and design of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, there are many uncertainties associated with the properties of MSW during and after MSW placement. Several studies are performed involving different laboratory and field tests to understand the complex behavior and properties of MSW, and based on these studies, different models are proposed for the analysis of time dependent settlement response of MSW. For the analysis of MSW settlement, it is very important to account for the variability of model parameters that reflect different processes such as primary compression under loading, mechanical creep and biodegradation. In this paper, regression equations based on response surface method (RSM) are used to represent the complex behavior of MSW using a newly developed constitutive model. An approach to assess landfill capacities and develop landfill closure plans based on prediction of landfill settlements is proposed. The variability associated with model parameters relating to primary compression, mechanical creep and biodegradation are used to examine their influence on MSW settlement using reliability analysis framework and influence of various parameters on the settlement of MSW are estimated through sensitivity analysis.     

Biotechnology to convert carbon dioxide into biogas,bioethanol, bioplastic and succinic acid using algae,bacteria and yeast: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Global warming is partly due to excessive carbon dioxide emissions, calling for methods to capture carbon dioxide for conversion into value-added...     

Copper Availability and Accumulation by Portulaca Oleracea Linn. Stem Cutting

The Cu accumulation capacity of stem cuttings of Portulaca oleracea was assessed in two different soils, alfisol and vertisol, which differ from each other mainly due to their clay content~— several fold lower in the former than in the latter. The DTPA extractable concentration of Cu in soil and the level of its accumulation in stem cuttings were, therefore, greater in alfisol than in vertisol. In the mixed soils, the DTPA extractable as well as plant accumulated levels of Cu decreased with an increase in the proportion of vertisol. With an increase in the soil available and plant accumulated Cu, a decrease has been observed in the ability of stem cuttings to regenerate leaves and roots. As a consequence biomass reduction has been observed with an increase in the concentration of Cu in the soil and plant body. In view of comparatively low availability of Cu in vertisol, regeneration of stem cuttings occurred up to a concentration of 1600 $μ gofCu/gofsoil, whereasinalfisolitoccurredonlyupto200μ g of Cu/g of soil. The results of the present study showed that P. oleracea stem cutting is an accumulator of Cu and the availability of Cu in soils could be manipulated through addition of clay since the plant available concentration of Cu is less in the soil (vertisol) with high clay content.     

Experimental investigation of high alcohol low viscous renewable fuel in DI diesel engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study offered a comprehensive investigation on engine performance and emission characteristics of Kirloskar make tangentially vertical (TV1)...     

Construction of ternary (1D/2D/3D) Fe2O3-supported micro pillared Cu-based MOF on chitosan with improved photocatalytic behavior on removal of paraquat

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A hetero-structured metal organic framework of Cu-BTC and Fe2O3 nano-photocatalyst were tethered over chitosan using the hydrothermal method and...     

Causes of heavy metal contamination in groundwater of Tuticorin industrial block,Tamil Nadu,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Groundwater is the major freshwater resource in urban and rural areas of India that provides potable water. The quality evaluation of existing...     

Towards cleaner degreasing method in industries: ultrasound-assisted aqueous degreasing process in leather making

Studies on ultrasound-assisted processes are gaining importance due to its effectiveness and facilitating green method in processing. Degreasing of skin/hide prior to tanning process is an important unit operation. Presence of large amounts of natural fat at the interior of skin/hide matrix makes degreasing process a challenging one. Conventionally, organic solvent and/or detergent based degreasing process are employed leading to environmental problems. In the present paper, the use of power ultrasound in aqueous degreasing process has been studied and compared with different degreasing systems. Glutaraldehyde pre-tanning has also been employed for carrying out the degreasing process at ultrasonic bath temperature. The results indicate that there is a significant increase in the degreasing efficiency due to the application of ultrasound. About 2-fold increase in fat removal has been observed due to the use of ultrasound as compared to control under the given process conditions. Comparing the degreasing efficiencies of the solvent with aqueous based ultrasonic processes, about 80% of the solvent degreasing efficiency could be obtained for aqueous degreasing process. This novel ultrasonic process helps in making aqueous degreasing process a viable option, which is eco-friendly even dispensing with temperature control measures.     

Prosopis juliflora--a green solution to decontaminate heavy metal (Cu and Cd) contaminated soils

Soil and plant samples (root and shoot) of Prosopis juliflora were collected in the vicinity of metal based foundry units in Coimbatore and assessed for their heavy metal content (Cu and Cd) to ascertain the use of P. juliflora as a green solution to decontaminate soils contaminated with Cu and Cd. The results showed that Cu and Cd content was much higher in plant components compared to their extractable level in the soil. Furthermore, there exist a strong correlation between the distance of the sources of industrial units and accumulation of heavy metals in plants. Accumulation of Cd in roots is comparatively higher than that of shoots. However, in case of Cu no such clear trend is seen. Considering the accumulation efficiency and tolerance of P. juliflora to Cd and Cu, this plant can be explored further for the decontamination of metal polluted soils. On the other hand, in view of heavy metal accumulate the practice of providing foliage and pods as fodder for live stock should be avoided.     

Effects of Copper Sulfate and Copper Nitrate in Aquatic Medium on the Restoration Potential and Accumulation of Copper in Stem Cuttings of the Terrestrial Medicinal Plant, Portulaca Oleracea Linn

The stem cuttings of the terrestrial, ornamental plant, Portulaca oleracea, grew well in distilled water by producing adventitious roots and leaves. However, when exposed to various concentrations of sulfate and nitrate salts of copper resulted in a suppression of root growth, increase in initiation time of roots and sprouts and decay of stem cuttings from the cut open end, decrease in number of leaves with an increase in concentration of copper in the growth medium. Accumulation of copper increased with increasing concentrations of both copper sulfate and copper nitrate. However, copper accumulation was greater in copper nitrate than in copper sulfate treatment. Hence, copper in the presence of nitrate is more toxic than in the presence of sulfate. The accumulation factors in all treatment concentrations were greater than 1, hence P. oleracea is a copper accumulator.