Biodegradability of PMMA Blends with Some Cellulose Derivatives

High polymer blends of Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with cellulose acetate (CA) and Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) of varying blend compositions have been prepared to study their biodegradation behavior and blend miscibility. Films of PMMA–CA, and PMMA–CAP blends have been prepared by solution casting using Acetone and Dimethyl formamide(DMF) as solvents respectively. Biodegradability of these blends has been studied by four different methods namely, soil burial test, enzymatic degradation, and degradation in phosphate buffer and activated sludge degradation followed by water absorption tests to support the degradation studies. Degradation analysis was done by weight loss method. The results of all the tests showed sufficient biodegradability of these blends. Degradability increased with the increase in CA and CAP content in the blend compositions. The miscibility of PMMA–CA and PMMA–CAP blends have been studied by solution viscometric and ultrasonic methods. The results obtained reveal that PMMA forms miscible blends with either CA or CAP in the entire composition range. Miscibility of the blends may be due to the formation of hydrogen bond between the carbonyl group of PMMA and the free hydroxyl group of CA and CAP.     

Trends and Perspectives of Biosensors for Food and Environmental Virology

Food and environmental virology has become a very important and interesting area of research because of food safety and public health concerns. During the last few decades, increasing foodborne diseases and environmental generated illnesses are considered to be highly challenging issues. Biosensor technology holds great promise for the healthcare market, and the security sector. Similar to clinical diagnostic tools, biosensors are being developed for the rapid, reliable, yet inexpensive identification and enumeration of pathogenic viruses which are adulterating environment, food and feed commodities. In this modern era, bio-and nano-technologies play a pivotal role in virological diagnostics of food industry, environmental and veterinary samples. This review covers the recent advances and future prospects of nanotechnology-based bioanalytical microsystems for food and environmental virology.     

Studies on the distribution of 210Po and 210Pb in the ecosystem of Point Calimere Coast (Palk Strait), India

A systematic study on the natural radionuclides such as 210Po and 210Pb in the environmental matrices of Point Calimere ecosystem has been undertaken to establish a baseline data on the radiation profile of Point Calimere environment. The environmental samples such as water, sediment and biota (seaweeds, crustaceans, molluscs and fish) have been subjected to analyses. It has been observed that the concentration of 210Po and 210Pb in the water samples of Point Calimere to be 0.5 mBq/l and 1.3 mBq/l, respectively. The soft tissues of the organisms accumulated higher 210Po content while shells and bones contained more 210Pb. The bivalve molluscs Meretrix casta have been identified to accumulate higher concentration of 210Po suggesting that they could serve as bio-indicator of radionuclides like 210Po in the Point Calimere ecosystem. The concentration factor of 210Po for the biotic components ranged from approximately 10(3) to 10(6) while for 210Pb it ranged from approximately 10(3) to 10(5).     

Soil carbon sequestration in tropical agroforestry systems: a feasibility appraisal

Agroforestry is recognized as a strategy for soil carbon sequestration (SCS) under the afforestation/reforestation activities, but our understanding of soil carbon (C) dynamics under agroforestry systems (AFS) is not adequate. Although some SCS estimates are available, many of them lack scientific rigor. Several interrelated and site-specific factors ranging from agroecological conditions to system management practices influence the rate and extent of SCS under AFS, so that generalizations tend to become unrealistic. Furthermore, widely and easily adoptable methodologies are not available for estimating the SCS potential under different conditions. In spite of these, there is an increasing demand for developing “best-bet estimates” based on the current level of knowledge and experience. This document presents an attempt in that direction. The appraisal validates the conjecture that AFS can contribute to SCS, and presents indicative ranges of SCS under different AFS in the major agroecological regions of the tropics. The suggested values range from 5 to 10 kg C ha^?1 in about 25 years in extensive tree-intercropping systems of arid and semiarid lands to 100–250 kg C ha^?1 in about 10 years in species-intensive multistrata shaded perennial systems and homegardens of humid tropics.     

Effects of heavy metal pollution of highway origin on soil nematode guilds in North Shenyang, China

Soil samples were collected with distance at 5, 20, 40, 80, 160 and 320 m from the Shen-Ha Highway, Northeast China, to investigate the effect of heavy metals of highway origin on soil nematode guilds. The contents of soil Pb, Cu and Zn and the nematode community structure in this investigation were analyzed. The results showed that the contents of total and available Pb, Cu and Zn varied significantly with the different distances from the highway. Pb was the main pollutant in the soils in the vicinity of Shen-Ha Highway and the zone from 20 to 40 m away from the highway was the most polluted area. The highest abundance of soil nematodes was found at 5 m while the lowest at 20 m away from the highway. Thirty six genera of nematodes belonging to 23 families were identified. Nematode guilds having different responses to soil heavy metals were classified into four types. Soil nematode guilds may act as a prominent indicator to heavy metal pollution of highway origin.     

Effect of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emission from rice soil in north India

Physiological changes in crop plants in response to the elevated tropospheric ozone (O₃) may alter N and C cycles in soil. This may also affect the atmosphere-biosphere exchange of radiatively important greenhouse gases (GHGs), e.g. methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil. A study was carried out during July to November of 2007 and 2008 in the experimental farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the effects of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice (Oryza sativa L.) soil. Rice crop was grown in open top chambers (OTC) under elevated ozone (EO), non-filtered air (NF), charcoal filtered air (CF) and ambient air (AA). Seasonal mean concentrations of O₃ were 4.3 ± 0.9, 26.2 ± 1.9, 59.1 ± 4.2 and 27.5 ± 2.3 ppb during year 2007 and 5.9 ± 1.1, 37.2 ± 2.5, 69.7 ± 3.9 and 39.2 ± 1.8 ppb during year 2008 for treatments CF, NF, EO and AA, respectively. Cumulative seasonal CH₄ emission reduced by 29.7% and 40.4% under the elevated ozone (EO) compared to the non-filtered air (NF), whereas the emission increased by 21.5% and 16.7% in the charcoal filtered air (CF) in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Cumulative seasonal emission of N₂O ranged from 47.8 mg m⁻² in elevated ozone to 54.6 mg m⁻² in charcoal filtered air in 2007 and from 46.4 to 62.1 mg m⁻² in 2008. Elevated ozone reduced grain yield by 11.3% and 12.4% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Global warming potential (GWP) per unit of rice yield was the least under elevated ozone levels. Dissolved organic C content of soil was lowest under the elevated ozone treatment. Decrease in availability of substrate i.e., dissolved organic C under elevated ozone resulted in a decline in GHG emissions. Filtration of ozone from ambient air increased grain yield and growth parameters of rice and emission of GHGs.     

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.     

N-doped mesoporous alumina for adsorption of carbon dioxide

N-doped mesoporous alumina has been synthesized using chitosan as the biopolymer template. The adsorbent has been thoroughly investigated for the adsorption of CO₂ from a simulated flue gas stream (15% CO₂ balanced with N₂) and compared with commercially available mesoporous alumina procured from SASOL, Germany. CO₂ adsorption was studied under different conditions of pre-treatment and adsorption temperature, inlet CO₂ concentration and in the presence of oxygen and moisture. The adsorption capacity was determined to be 29.4 mg CO₂/g of adsorbent at 55℃. This value was observed to be 4 times higher in comparison to that of commercial mesoporous alumina at a temperature of 55℃. Basicity of alumina surface coupled with the presence of nitrogen in template in synthesized sample is responsible for this enhanced CO₂ adsorption. Adsorption capacity for CO₂ was retained in the presence of oxygen; however moisture had a deteriorating effect on the adsorption capacity reducing it to nearly half the value.     

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.