Influence of transient porosity in a coupled fracture-skin-matrix system at the scale of a single fracture

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The subsurface leaching of soluble chemicals in a fractured porous medium poses long-term risk of groundwater contamination. Tracing the occurrence,...     

Role of nutrients in the utilization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by halotolerant bacterial strain

A halotolerant bacterial strain VA1 isolated from marine environment was studied for its ability to utilize polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) under saline condition. Anthracene and pyrene were used as representatives for the utilization of PAH by the bacterial strain. Glucose and sodium citrate were used as additional carbon sources to enhance the PAH utilization. The strain VA1 was able to utilize anthracene (73%) and pyrene (66%) without any additional substrate. In the presence of additional carbon sources (glucose/sodium citrate) the utilization of PAH was faster. PAH was utilized faster by VA1 in the presence of glucose than sodium citrate. The stain utilized 87% and 83% of anthracene and pyrene with glucose as carbon source and with sodium citrate the strain utilized 81% and 76% respectively in 4 days. Urea as an alternative source of nitrogen also enhanced the utilization of PAHs (anthracene and pyrene) by the bacterial strain up to 88% and 84% in 4 days. Sodium nitrate as nitrogen source was not able to enhance the PAH utilization rate. Phenotypic and phlyogenetic analysis proved that the PAHs utilizing halotolerant strain VA1 belongs to Ochrobactrum sp.     

A mathematical model for metal ions uptake by aquatic plants for waste water treatment

A mathematical model is developed for metal ions uptake by aquatic plants. The model is based on a mechanism which assumes that the complex biological substances present in the plant react with the metal ions to form complexes of these ions at the solution–plant interface, and then the metal complexes diffuse through a membrane towards the bulk phase of the plant because of the concentration gradients present in the membrane. The model predicts the decreasing capacity of the plants for metal ions uptake as the contact time between the solution and the plant is increased. Experiments are conducted in the laboratory for the removal of chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc by measuring metal ions uptake by two aquatic plants, Salvinia and Spirodela, in the solution of these metal ions of concentration ranging from 1 to 8 ppm. After estimating the parameters of the model, it is used for predicting the metal ions concentration in the solution as a function of time and the metal ions concentration inside the plants after 14 days of contact time. The comparison of the model predictions with the experimental results shows excellent agreement. The above model may be used for design and analysis of an aquatic‐plant‐based waste water treatment system. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Numerical modelling of nitrate transport in fractured porous media under non-isothermal conditions

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Subsurface contamination is a frequent occurrence in fractured porous systems, posing a potential threat for the groundwater contamination. Tracking...     

Evaluation of suitability of wind speed probability distribution models: a case study from Tamil Nadu,India

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The optimal design and performance monitoring of wind farms depend on the precise assessment of spatial and temporal distribution of wind speed. The...