Optimization and modeling of coagulation-flocculation to remove algae and organic matter from surface water by response surface methodology

Charge neutralization and sweep flocculation were the major mechanisms. Effect of process parameters was investigated. Optimal coagulation conditions were studied by response surface methodology. ANN models presented more robust and accurate prediction than RSM. Seasonal algal blooms of Lake Yangcheng highlight the necessity to develop an effective and optimal water treatment process to enhance the removal of algae and dissolved organic matter (DOM). In the present study, the coagulation performance for the removal of algae, turbidity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (UV₂₅₄) was investigated systematically by central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM). The regression models were developed to illustrate the relationships between coagulation performance and experimental variables. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to test the significance of the response surface models. It can be concluded that the major mechanisms of coagulation to remove algae and DOM were charge neutralization and sweep flocculation at a pH range of 4.66–6.34. The optimal coagulation conditions with coagulant dosage of 7.57 mg Al/L, pH of 5.42 and initial algal cell density of 3.83 × 10⁶ cell/mL led to removal of 96.76%, 97.64%, 40.23% and 30.12% in term of cell density, turbidity, DOC and UV₂₅₄ absorbance, respectively, which were in good agreement with the validation experimental results. A comparison between the modeling results derived through both ANOVA and artificial neural networks (ANN) based on experimental data showed a high correlation coefficient, which indicated that the models were significant and fitted well with experimental results. The results proposed a valuable reference for the treatment of algae-laden surface water in practical application by the optimal coagulation-flocculation process.     

Utilizing of Sugar Refinery Waste (Cane Molasses) for Production of Bio-Plastic Under Submerged Fermentation Process

In the present study, depending upon the availability and cheaper cost, different carbon source were tested for the production of PHAs (Polyhydroxyalkonoates) by soil bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and it was found that sugar refinery waste (cane molasses) produced the maximum PHA (biodegradable polymer) which is precursor for bio-plastic development. Urea served as potent nitrogen source over other inorganic nitrogen sources in bio-plastic synthesis. Effect of different physical parameters viz; pH, temperature and agitation speed were also studied on PHA production. Batch cultivation kinetics under optimized cultural and physical condition showed maximum cell mass and PHA concentration of 7.32?±?0.2 and 5.60?±?0.3?g/L, respectively after 54.0?h of cultivation. Sugar refinery waste (Total sugar 4%) and urea (0.8%) improved the economics of the process which exhibited a yield (Y_P/X) of 0.70 with productivity of 0.11?g/L/h. PHA was further characterized as PHB by using Fourier Transform Infra-red Spectroscopy (FT-IR).     

The social identity and social networks of ethnic minority groups in organizations: a crucial test of distinctiveness theory

Distinctiveness theory posits that patterns of social identity and friendship are based on numeric rarity within specific contexts. In ethnically diverse organizations, the theory predicts that members of the smaller ethnic group (relative to members of the larger ethnic group) will: (a) tend to identify and form friendships within their own ethnic group, and (b) lack access to well‐connected individuals in the network of friendship relations. Prior tests have supported these predictions, but they have been unable to rule out the possibility that it was chronic differences in social status and numeric representation in society at large (rather than numeric distinctiveness within specific contexts) that explained the observed patterns of social identity and friendship. In this field‐based study, we examined an organization whose social composition effectively controlled for these confounds. We found that members of the smaller ethnic group tended to identify and form friendships within group, as predicted by distinctiveness theory. However, in contrast to previous work, we found that members of the smaller ethnic group were equally well connected to the center of the friendship network as were the members of the larger ethnic group. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Contamination of vegetables of different seasons with organophosphorous pesticides and related health risk assessment in northern India

India is an agrarian country. The use of pesticides, herbicides and fungicides were introduced in India during the mid-sixties, which are now being used on a large scale and is a common feature of Indian agriculture. The main intention of the introduction of pesticides was to prevent and control insects, pests and diseases in the field crops. Initially the use of pesticides reduced pest attack and paved way for increasing the crop yield as expected. Simultaneously, increased use of chemical pesticides has resulted in contamination of environment and also caused many long-term affect on the society. In the present study an effort has been made to evaluate the residual concentration of selected organophosphorous pesticides (methyl parathion, chlorpyriphos and malathion) in vegetables grown in different seasons (summer, rainy and winter). Data obtained was then used for estimating the potential health risk associated with the exposure to these pesticides. The pesticides residue concentrations in vegetables of different season shows that the winter vegetables are the most contaminated followed by summer and rainy vegetables. The concentration of the various pesticides were well below the established tolerances but continuous consumption of such vegetables even with moderate contamination level can accumulate in the receptor's body and may prove fatal for human population in the long term. The analysis of health risk estimates indicated that chlorpyriphos and malathion did not poses a direct hazard, however, exposure to methyl parathion has been found to pose some risk to human health.     

Influence of real and synthetic municipal solid waste leachates on consolidation and shear strength behaviour of bentonites

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - For safe disposal of wastes in landfills, compacted bentonite is recommended as bottom liners due to their significant cation exchange (CEC) and...     

Densification of waste biomass for manufacturing solid biofuel pellets: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The demand for bioenergy is increasing due to the diminishing popularity of fossil fuels and rising greenhouse gas emissions. However, according to recent reports,...     

Surface ozone scenario and air quality in the north-central part of India

Tropospheric pollutants including surface ozone(O_3), nitrogen dioxide(NO_2), carbon monoxide(CO) and meteorological parameters were measured at a traffic junction(78°2′ E and 27°11′ N) in Agra, India from January 2012 to December 2012. Temporal analysis of pollutants suggests that annual average mixing ratios of tropospheric pollutants were: O_3— 22.97 ± 23.36 ppbV,NO_2— 19.84 ± 16.71 ppb V and CO — 0.91 ± 0.86 ppm V, with seasonal variations of O_3 having maximum mixing ratio during summer season(32.41 ± 19.31 ppbV), whereas lowest was found in post-monsoon season(8.74 ± 3.8 ppbV). O_3 precursors: NO_2 and CO, showed inverse relationship with O_3. Seasonal variation and high O_3 episodes during summer are associated with meteorological parameters such as high solar radiation, atmospheric temperature and transboundary transport. The interdependence of these variables showed a link between the daytime mixing ratios of O_3 with the nighttime level of NO_2. The mixing ratios of CO and NO_2 showed tight correlations, which confirms the influence of vehicular emissions combined with other anthropogenic activities due to office/working hours, shallowing, and widening of boundary layer. FLEXTRA backward trajectories for the O_3 episode days clearly indicate the transport from the NW and W to S/SE and SW direction at Agra in different seasons.     

Control of common freshwater predatory fish, Channa punctatus, through Nerium indicum leaf extracts

The diethyl ether, chloroform, acetone and methanol extract of Nerium indicum leaf were evaluated for their piscicidal activity against common freshwater air breathing predatory fish Channa punctatus. The rank of order of toxicity (LC50) of the leaf extract was, diethyl ether extract (17.34 mg/l)>acetone (40.01 mg/l)>chloroform (40.61 mg/l)>and methanol (106.37 mg/l). There was a significant negative correlation between LC50 values and exposure periods. Thus increase in exposure period, LC50 decreases from 17.34 mg/l (24 h) to >13.58 mg/l (96 h) in the diethyl ether extract. Similar trends were also observed in acetone, chloroform and methanol extracts. Exposure of sub-lethal doses (40% and 80% of LC50) of the diethyl ether extract of N. indicum leaf (which has maximum piscicidal activity) for 24 or 96 h caused significant alteration in the level of total protein, total free amino acid, nucleic acid, glycogen, pyruvate, lactate and activity of enzyme protease, phosphatases, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and acetylcholinesterase in liver and muscle tissue. The alterations in all the above biochemical parameters were significantly (P<0.05) time and dose dependent. There was a significant recovery in all the above biochemical parameters, in both liver and muscle tissues of fish after the seventh day of the withdrawal of treatment. Thus, the leaf extracts of N. indicum have potent piscicidal activity against fish C. punctatus and also significantly affect both aerobic and anaerobic pathway of respiration in fish.     

Breakthrough CO2 adsorption in bio-based activated carbons

In this work, the effects of different methods of activation on CO₂ adsorption performance of activated carbon were studied. Activated carbons were prepared from biochar, obtained from fast pyrolysis of white wood, using three different activation methods of steam activation, CO₂ activation and Potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation. CO₂ adsorption behavior of the produced activated carbons was studied in a fixed-bed reactor set-up at atmospheric pressure, temperature range of 25–65°C and inlet CO₂ concentration range of 10–30 mol% in He to determine the effects of the surface area, porosity and surface chemistry on adsorption capacity of the samples. Characterization of the micropore and mesopore texture was carried out using N₂ and CO₂ adsorption at 77 and 273 K, respectively. Central composite design was used to evaluate the combined effects of temperature and concentration of CO₂ on the adsorption behavior of the adsorbents. The KOH activated carbon with a total micropore volume of 0.62 cm³/g and surface area of 1400 m²/g had the highest CO₂ adsorption capacity of 1.8 mol/kg due to its microporous structure and high surface area under the optimized experimental conditions of 30 mol% CO₂ and 25°C. The performance of the adsorbents in multi-cyclic adsorption process was also assessed and the adsorption capacity of KOH and CO₂ activated carbons remained remarkably stable after 50 cycles with low temperature (160°C) regeneration.