Numerical and artificial intelligence models for predicting the water advance in border irrigation

Environment, Development and Sustainability - The water advance time (Ta) is needed for designing and evaluating surface irrigation systems. This study employed artificial neural networks (ANNs)...     

Biochemical profiling of lead-intoxicated impaired lipid metabolism and its amelioration using plant-based bioactive compound

The aim of this study was to investigate the lead (Pb)-induced lipid metabolism impairment and its amelioration using plant-based therapeutic interventions. Pb-induced hepatotoxicity can disturb the normal levels of natural antioxidant enzymes including glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) exerting a crucial impact on membrane unsaturated fatty acids (FA), hence leading to lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, Pb toxicity can also alter the regulation of various hormones involved in the synthesis of 3-hydroxy-methyl glutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA reductase), leading to an impairment in normal levels of serum cholesterol and other associated conjugated lipid molecules such HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol. In this study, the lipoprotein fractions, cholesterol, triglyceride (TGs) and biomarkers of liver functions were estimated by employing respective assay kits. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, FFAs and HMG-CoA reductase were determined by employing sandwich ELISA method. The administration of PbAc in experimental rats induced a significant disturbance in lipid profile (P < 0.05) accompanying a significant reduction in natural antioxidant defence system (P < 0.05). The significant alteration in the levels of serum antioxidant enzymes can lead to membrane lipid peroxidation that is reflected by a significantly (P < 0.05) high level of serum MDA in PbAc-induced experimental rats. However, the administration of resveratrol proved therapeutically effective in the treatment of Pb toxicity. Overall, the results of this study accompanying histopathological examination had proved the ameliorating effect of resveratrol in Pb-induced lipid metabolism impairment by adopting vitamin C as a standard therapeutic intervention.

     

Sustainability and mechanical property assessment of concrete incorporating eggshell powder and silica fume as binary and ternary cementitious materials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Cement production emits a significant carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, dramatically influencing the environment. Furthermore, a large amount of energy is...     

Enhancement of biomethane production from cattle manure with codigestion of dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass

It is well known that dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment of the lignicellulosisc biomass is an effective approach used for the production of the ethanol. However, there are less studies on the biogas production from the pretreated lignocellulosics and hardly data available on the codigestion of cattle manure with the pretreated lignocellulosisc material. The aim of this study was to evaluate biomethane production potential of codigestion of cattle manure with dilute acid pretreated lignocellulosic biomass. Sugarcane bagasse and rice husk was pretreated with dilute sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid at 121°C for 20 minutes and subsequently subjected to anaerobic digestion alone or codigested with cattle manure.

The results showed that codigestion of 1% phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk with cattle manure led to the highest methane production of 115 Nmlg^?1VS while monodigestion of cattle manure and phosphoric acid pretreated rice husk produced 98 and 87 Nmlg^?1VS, respectively. An inhibition was observed in anaerobic digestion of sulfuric acid pretreated rice husk and sugarcane bagasse during monodigestion and codigestion with cattle manure.

The study concludes that dilute phosphoric acid pretreated lignocellulosics like sugarcane bagasse and rice husk can be used as a cosubstrate with cattle manure in anaerobic digestion for enhanced methane production. Dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment, which is effective method for the bioethanol production, causes inhibition during anaerobic digestion of the pretreated lignocellulosics.     

Pollution control technologies for the treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) through end-of-pipe processes

Palm oil production is one of the major industries in Malaysia and this country ranks one of the largest productions in the world. In Malaysia, the total production of crude palm oil in 2008 was 17,734,441 tonnes. However, the production of this amount of crude palm oil results in even larger amounts of palm oil mill effluent (POME). In the year 2008 alone, at least 44 million tonnes of POME was generated in Malaysia. Currently, the ponding system is the most common treatment method for POME but other processes such as aerobic and anaerobic digestion, physicochemical treatment and membrane filtration may also provide the palm oil industries with possible insights into the improvement of POME treatment processes. Generally, open ponding offers low capital and operating costs but this conventional method is becoming less attractive because the methane produced is wasted to the atmosphere and the system can not be certified for Carbon Emission Reduction trading. On the other hand, anaerobic digestion of POME provides the fastest payback of investment because the treatment enables biogas recovery for heat generation and treated effluent for land application. Lastly, it is proposed herewith that wastewater management based on the promotion of cleaner production and environmentally sound biotechnologies should be prioritized and included as a part of the POME management in Malaysia for attaining sustainable development. This paper thus discusses and compares state-of-the-art POME treatment methods as well as their individual performances.     

Combustion in porous media and its applications – A comprehensive survey

The rapid advances in technology and improved living standard of the society necessitate abundant use of fossil fuels which poses two major challenges to any nation. One is fast depletion of fossil fuel resources; the other is environmental pollution. The porous medium combustion (PMC) has proved to be one of the technically and economically feasible options to tackle the aforesaid problems to a remarkable extent. PMC has interesting advantages compared with free flame combustion due to the higher burning rates, the increased power dynamic range, the extension of the lean flammability limits, and the low emissions of pollutants. This article provides a comprehensive picture of the global scenario of research and developments in PMC and its applications that enable a researcher to decide the direction of further investigation. The works published so far in this area are reviewed, classified according to their objectives and presented in an organized manner with general conclusions. A separate section is devoted for the numerical modeling of PMC.     

Use of constructed wetland for the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater

This study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of a continuous free surface flow wetland for removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater, in Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate (GAIE), Swabi, Pakistan. Industrial wastewater samples were collected from the in-let, out-let and all cells of the constructed wetland (CW) and analyzed for heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) using standard methods. Similarly, samples of aquatic macrophytes and sediments were also analyzed for selected heavy metals. Results indicate that the removal efficiencies of the CW for Pb, Cd, Fe, Ni, Cr, and Cu were 50%, 91.9%, 74.1%, 40.9%, 89%, and 48.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the performance of the CW was efficient enough to remove the heavy metals, particularly Cd, Fe, and Cu, from the industrial wastewater fed to it. However, it is suggested that the metal removal efficiency of the CW can be further enhanced by using proper management of vegetation and area expansion of the present CW.     

Possible options to slow down the advancement rate of Tarbela delta

The pivot point of delta in Tarbela dam has reached at about 10.6 km from the dam face which may result in blocking of tunnels. Tarbela delta was modeled from 1979 to 2060 using hec-6 model. Initially, the model was calibrated for year 1999 and validated for years 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2006 by involving the data of sediment concentration, reservoir cross sections (73 range lines), elevation-area capacity curves, and inflows and outflows from the reservoir. Then, the model was used to generate future scenarios, i.e., run-1, run-2, and run-3 with pool levels; 428, 442, and 457 m, respectively, till 2060. Results of run-1 and run-2 showed advancement to choke the tunnels by 2010 and 2030, respectively. Finally, in run-3, the advancement was further delayed showing that tunnels 1 and 2 will be choked by year 2050 and pivot point will reach at 6.4 km from the dam face.     

Lead Content of Petrol and Diesel and its Assessment in an Urban Environment

Pakistan is one of the few countries in Asia thatcontinues to use only leaded-petrol as vehicular fuel. Theconcentration of Pb in its petrol reported in 1991 was thehighest (1.5 – 2.0 g Pb L^-1) of all produced by the various Asiancountries and far exceeded the WHOs guideline of 0.15 g Pb L^-1. We have undertaken a study to trace and quantify this toxicelement in the environs of Karachi, Pakistans major metropolis,having more than 30% of the nations total number of vehicles.In this article we report the Pb contents of petrol and dieselcurrently manufactured and marketed in the city. Samples of`Regular petrol collected in 1999 was found to contain 0.363 gPb L^-1 (range: 0.335 – 0.390 g Pb L^-1), a factor of 5 lower than thatmarketed prior to 1991. Its concentration in diesel fuel was muchlower (0.017 g Pb L^-1). Based on the available statistical data onthe type and volume of vehicular traffic, we assessed that thecurrent lead emission from vehicular traffic into the atmosphereis 391 metric tons a year, which is a factor of 2.7 lower thanthat estimated for 1989.