Cloning and expression of α-amylase in E. coli: genesis of a superior biocatalyst for substrate-specific MFC

One of the most practical approaches for establishing a successful microbial fuel cell (MFC) is to fasten the oxidation rate of the substrate by the microorganisms to get quick paced electron transfer between microbes and electrode. A genetically modified Escherichiacoli, overexpressing α-amylase, is constructed and applied as biocatalyst in MFC using starch as substrate. The results are compared with nonrecombinant, native E.coli. The results show better performance for the MFC containing the recombinant strain demonstrated by higher power density (PD), lower resistance, and significant electrochemical activity. Maximum PD has been recorded as 279.04 mW m^?2 compared to 120.33 Mw m^?2 for the MFC operated with nonrecombinant E.coli. The impedance results also suggest the effectiveness of the recombinant strain by lowering the internal resistance by more than half order as compared to the nonrecombinant one. These results affirm that the engineered strain can be used as a superior biocatalyst in contrast to the native strain and by using the technique of genetic alteration; gene of interest can be inserted based on the substrate to be treated. So, this work gives a useful insight for accomplishing successful MFC operation with the use of bacterial stains engineered at the molecular level.     

Experimental investigation of solar still with opaque north triangular face

Developing a compact, simple, and productive solar still is a main challenge. This paper describes a simple modification of the solar still that significantly enhances its productivity. A laboratory scale of modified single effect double slope glass solar still with the opaque triangular north wall has been developed and tested for enhancement of productivity in sunny days of the summer season in the month of April. The experiments on still have been carried out under three levels of water depths from 1 to 3 cm and compared it with the performance of conventional still of double slope single effect solar still of the same size. It is clear from the observations that opaque type still gave maximum distillate of 1793 ml at 1 cm depth of water while conventional still could produce only 1519 ml for the same depth of water. Also, for 2 and 3 cm depth of water, the opaque type still found to be more productive than conventional double slope solar still. As the former produced 1532 and 1464 ml while the latter produced 1328 and 1235 ml, for 2 and 3 cm depth of water, respectively.     

Effect of different design aspects of pipe for earth air tunnel heat exchanger system: A state of art

Earth air tunnel heat exchanger (EATHE) is a promising passive technique to provide thermal comfort condition in buildings. EATHE system uses undisturbed temperature of the ground for heating/cooling of air. Despite the several advantages, this technique has not become much popular owing to its high capital cost (mainly pipe cost and trench excavation cost) and large land area requirements. The primary objective of this study is to present a comprehensive review of different EATHE pipe layouts, pipe properties and positioning of the pipe with their advantages and limitations. It is observed that the ring pipe layout is the most cost-effective pipe-layout for small size EATHE system because it saves excavation cost by using a trench of the existing foundation of the building. However, Grid pipe-layout is an ideal layout for a large size EATHE system. Multi-layer pipe layouts should be used to reduce the land area requirement significantly. Moreover, EATHE system can be installed beneath the building (under building foot-print) to eliminate extra land area requirement for the installation of EATHE system. This review article shows that the Initial capital cost and land area requirement for the EATHE system can be substantially reduced by using appropriate pipe layout. It can be concluded that if EATHE system is installed with proper design strategies, it will be a clean and cost-effective method for building heating/cooling with significant power savings.     

Production,engine performance,combustion, emission characteristics and economic feasibility of biodiesel from waste cooking oil: A review

The depletion of fossil fuel reserves and increasing demands for diesel are considered to be important triggers for many of the initiatives that have been taken to search for possible sources for the production of biodiesel from materials available within the country. It is possible to produce biodiesel from waste/used cooking oils (WCO) that is comparable in quality to that of fresh vegetable oil. Not only does reuse of WCO, which can otherwise harm human health, reduce the burden on the government of treating oily wastewater, disposing of the waste, and maintaining public sewers, it also significantly lowers the production cost of biodiesel. In the process of frying, oil undergoes many reactions, leading to the formation of a number of undesirable compounds, such as polymers, free fatty acids, and many other chemicals. This poses challenges in the transesterification of WCO. This article covers different techniques in the production of biodiesel from WCO. It also compares combustion, emissions, and engine performance characteristics of biodiesel from WCO as well as factors affecting biodiesel production from WCO and its economic feasibility.     

Co-benefits of a carbon tax in Nepal

This paper analyzes the co-benefits of introducing a time variant carbon (C) tax scheme in Nepal, a hydropower resourceful country, by using a bottom up integrated energy system model based on the MARKet ALlocation (MARKAL) framework with time horizon of 2005–2050. It discusses the effects of C tax on energy mix, environmental emissions, energy supply security, energy efficiency, energy system cost, and employment benefit. The study shows that the C tax (that gradually increases from US13/tCO < sub > 2 < /sub > e in 2015 to US 13/tCO₂e in 2015 to US 200/tCO₂e by 2050) results in a reduction of the cumulative emission of greenhouse gases by 83.9 million tons CO₂e (12%) as compared to that in the base case. With the introduction of the C tax, there would be a need for additional hydropower capacity of 945 MW by 2050 as compared to the capacity in the base case. The emission of local pollutants consisting of sulphur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and non-methane volatile organic compound (NMVOC) in 2050 would be reduced by 12%, 7% and 1% respectively under the C tax scenario. Total amount of imported energy would decrease by 13%, which corresponds to a reduction in discounted net fuel import cost by 5% during the study period. Furthermore, the C tax would result in new employment generation of 151 thousand man-years associated with the additional hydropower capacity requirement.     

Investigation on microstructural and mechanical properties of microwave processed dissimilar joints

In the present work, microwave joining of stainless steel (SS-316) to mild steel (MS) in bulk form has been successfully carried out using a multimode applicator at 2.45 GHz and 900 W. Principles of hybrid heating were employed using a susceptor medium so as to initiate coupling of microwave with the metals. A nickel based metallic powder was used as a sandwich layer between the bulk pieces. Samples were exposed to microwave radiation in atmospheric conditions. Resulting joints were characterized using field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), X-ray diffractometer, microhardness tester and universal testing machine. Microstructure study showed the faying surfaces were well fused and got bonded on either side of the base material. Formation of cementite and metallic carbides were evidenced. The average observed Vickers’ microhardness of core of the joint area was observed to be 133 H_v with 0.58% porosity. The ultimate tensile strength of the joint was found to be 346.6 MPa with percentage elongation of 13.58%. Fractography reveals that the joints failed due to both shearing of the brittle carbides and oxides as well as due to plastic flow of the ductile matrix under tensile loading.     

Climate change impact and potential adaptation strategies under alternate climate scenarios for yam production in the sub-humid savannah zone of West Africa

Globally, yam (Dioscorea spp.) is the fifth most important root crop after sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas L.) and the second most important crop in Africa in terms of production after cassava (Manihot esculenta L.) and has long been vital to food security in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Climate change is expected to have its most severe impact on crops in food insecure regions, yet very little is known about impact of climate change on yam productivity. Therefore, we try estimating the effect of climate change on the yam (variety: Florido) yield and evaluating different adaptation strategies to mitigate its effect. Three regional climate models REgional MOdel (REMO), Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute Regional Climate Model (SMHIRCA), and Hadley Regional Model (HADRM3P) were coupled to a crop growth simulation model namely Environmental Policy Integrated Climate (EPIC) version 3060 to simulate current and future yam yields in the Upper Ouémé basin (Benin Republic). For the future, substantial yield decreases were estimated varying according to the climate scenario. We explored the advantages of specific adaptation strategies suggesting that changing sowing date may be ineffective in counteracting adverse climatic effects. Late maturing cultivars could be effective in offsetting the adverse impacts. Whereas, by coupling irrigation and fertilizer application with late maturing cultivars, highest increase in the yam productivity could be realized which accounted up to 49 % depending upon the projection of the scenarios analyzed.     

Effect of chelating agents in phytoremediation of heavy metals

Chelate‐assisted metal uptake by plants has only recently been discovered in the remediation industry. The simultaneous accumulation of lead, arsenic, copper, and cadmium in plants after application of chelating agents to soil is a promising technology enhancement for phytoremediation. One of the most powerful and commonly used chelating agents is ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), which forms complexes with many of the metal contaminants within the natural environment. This study was conducted to determine the efficiency of an emergent wetland plant species Typha sp. and floating wetland macrophytes such as Pistia sp., Azolla sp., Lemna sp., Salvinia sp., and Eichhornia sp. in phytoremediation of various heavy metals with addition of a chelating agent such as EDTA. EDTA addition to the treatment systems increased the uptake of heavy metals by plants, which was much pronounced with lead and copper. However, the pattern of uptake by plants was similar as that of heavy metals without EDTA amendments. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Leaching studies for tin recovery from waste e-scrap

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the most essential components of all electrical and electronic equipments, which contain noteworthy quantity of metals, some of which are toxic to life and all of which are valuable resources. Therefore, recycling of PCBs is necessary for the safe disposal/utilization of these metals. Present paper is a part of developing Indo-Korean recycling technique consists of organic swelling pre-treatment technique for the liberation of thin layer of metallic sheet and the treatment of epoxy resin to remove/recover toxic soldering material. To optimize the parameters required for recovery of tin from waste PCBs, initially the bench scale studies were carried out using fresh solder (containing 52.6% Sn and 47.3% Pb) varying the acid concentration, temperature, mixing time and pulp density. The experimental data indicate that 95.79% of tin was leached out from solder material using 5.5M HCl at fixed pulp density 50g/L and temperature 90°C in mixing time 165min. Kinetic studies followed the chemical reaction controlled dense constant size cylindrical particles with activation energy of 117.68kJ/mol. However, 97.79% of tin was found to be leached out from solder materials of liberated swelled epoxy resin using 4.5M HCl at 90°C, mixing time 60min and pulp density 50g/L. From the leach liquor of solder materials of epoxy resin, the precipitate of sodium stannate as value added product was obtained at pH 1.9. The Pb from the leach residue was removed by using 0.1M nitric acid at 90°C in mixing time 45min and pulp density 10g/L. The metal free epoxy resin could be disposed-of safely/used as filling material without affecting the environment.