Performance improvement and advancement studies of mixed-mode solar thermal dryers: a review

Solar thermal dryers are solar-operated gadgets utilized to dehumidify various products, especially food items and rubber sheets. This article provides detailed design, parametric studies, and an in-depth review of mixed-mode solar dryers (MMSD) with a case study of fish drying near coastal lines. Due to several advantages compared to open sun drying and prominent performance index compared to indirect and direct type solar dryers, mixed-mode solar dryers have large adaptability on the field. Moreover, mixed-mode solar thermal dryers with different augmentations are reviewed, for instance, mixed-mode solar dryers with evacuated tube collectors, phase change materials, ultraviolet rays stabilized housing, and dehumidifiers. The case study of fish drying near the coastal line of Gujarat, India has been carried out to study the present scenario of the drying activities. Hence, the objective of this review is to identify the capable mixed-mode solar dryer with heat recovery systems. Substantial reviews within the article suggest an essential need to implement the hybrid mixed-mode solar dryer cum distiller technology for small-scale enterprises that can simultaneously provide potable water near coastal lines along with drying of fishes from the solar dryer. Furthermore, future research demands such hybrid mixed-mode solar drying systems that strongly fulfill the requirements of local communities near coastal lines involved in fish drying activities.

     

Targeting natural products against SARS-CoV-2

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The human coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is caused by a novel coronavirus; the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)....     

Quantitative Response of Vegetation in Glacial Moraine of Central Himalaya

The snowline in Himalaya is rising ceaselessly due to regional and global climatic change. Upward rising of snowline leads to the formation of moraines. Due to extreme environmental conditions the existing vegetation of the moraine is scanty, rigorous and possesses different ecological adaptation. Ablation zone of the glacier is covered by a thick pile of supra glacial moraines and is characterized by several serrac ice sections, melting into pools of supra glacial lakes because of subsidence and fast degenerating nature of the glacier. Anaphalis triplinervis was observed to have highest importance value in ablation moraine zone. Here the species richness increased remarkably partially due to the invasion of plant species from lower alpine belt. The fresh lateral moraine displays distressed soil features with mosaic type of vegetation. Gaultheria trichophylla is a dominant plant species here and is associated with other stunted and cold resisting species. The old lateral moraine is dominated by Potentilla atrosanguinea with co-dominant species Iris kemaonensis and Danthonia cachemyriana.     

Avian species distribution in different elevation zone forest (Sal, Pine Mixed And Oak) in nainital district of uttarakhand, India

The present study were made to estimate the avian fauna in terms of species richness and diversity and guild structure in forest habitats of Nainital district of Uttarakhand (350–2.450 m asl; 29° N). Field studies were conducted during January 2007 to December 2008. Total 43, 62 and 42 species were recorded from, Haldwani, Bhowali and Nainital forest habitats. Results indicate the species relationship between Bird species richness (BSR) and elevation sections (forest habitats) was not decline simultaneously along elevation; it shows hump shaped. BSR varied considerably along elevational gradient (43 to 62 species), was highest (62 species) at mid elevation (Mixed pine forest, 1.350–1.700 m asl) and decreased (20 species) at high elevation (Conifer forest, 1900–2450 m asl). It seems that mid altitude bulge is not caused by the presence of a group of mid altitude specialists but rather that there is an overlap in the distribution of low land and high elevation specialists at this altitude. A checklist of 79 avian species has also produced of Nainital district forest habitats. It is suggested that this study provide a base line structure for further study on species distribution in different forest habitats and along different elevation section in Western Himalayas (India).     

Use of fungal technology in soil remediation: A Case Study

Two white rot fungi Irpex lacteus and Pleurotus ostreatus and a PAH-degrading bacterial strain of Pseudomonas putida were used as inoculum for bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from a manufactured-gas-plant-area. Also two cocultures comprising a fungus with Pseudomonas putida were applied. After 10-week treatment out of 12 different PAHs, concentration of phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene decreased up to 66%. The ecotoxicity of the soil after bioremediation did not reveal any effect on the survival of Daphnia magna, a crustacian. However, the toxic effect on seed germination of plant Brassica alba and oxidoreductase activity of bacterium Bacillus cereus decreased after 5 and 10 weeks of treatment.     

Vegetation structure, niche width, niche overlap and types of competition in temperate grazingland of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Temperate grazing lands in Garhwal Himalaya are rich in herbaceous vegetation and extensively used for grazing by locally owned livestock. Capillipedium parviflorum is a frequently occurring and dominant grass species under Pine canopy in associate with several herbs. Beside, grazing and extensive fire, interactions among associated species is a determining factor of community structure. In this article the dominant diversity pattern of vegetation in temperate grazing land along two different altitudes and having different slope aspects is described. Interaction between dominant and co-dominant species with their niche appearance and niche overlap measurement was also observed and presented here. South and west facing slopes had maximum species and diversity values while east north facing slopes had higher species dominant. Capillipedium parviflorum and other grasses had maximum niche values and were dominant and co dominant species. Three types of interspecific interaction were observed between species and grasses were observed as succeeding species in all sites of different topographic conditions. Dominant diversity pattern along with resource partitioning and interspecific competition is discussed and presented here.     

Distribution of Metals in the Edible Plants Grown at Jajmau, Kanpur (India) Receiving Treated Tannery Wastewater: Relation with Physico-Chemical Properties of the Soil

The implications of metal contamination of agricultural soils due to long term irrigation with treated industrial wastewater and their subsequent accumulation in the vegetables/crops growing on such soils has been assessed in an area of industrial complex, Jajmau, Kanpur (India). Physico-chemical properties of the soil were also studied. The soil and vegetables/crops were sampled from an area of 2100 acre agricultural land and analyzed for physico-chemical properties and metal accumulation in different parts of the plants. The comparison of the data of physico-chemical properties of control and contaminated soil showed that salinity, electrical conductivity, available phosphorous, sodium and potassium content (both water soluble and exchangeable) were found high in contaminated soil. The analysis of plant available metal content in the soil showed the highest level of Fe, which ranged from 529.02 to 2615 μg g⁻¹ dw and lowest level of Ni (3.12 to 10.51 μg g⁻¹ dw). The analysis of the results revealed that accumulation of toxic metal Cr in leafy vegetables was found more than fruit bearing vegetables/crops. Thus, it is recommended that the leafy vegetables are unsuitable to grow in such contaminated sites. It is important to note that toxic metal, Ni was not detected in all the plants. The edible part of the vegetables (under ground) such as, garlic (19.27 μg g⁻¹ dw), potato (11.81 μg g⁻¹ dw) and turmeric (20.86 μg g⁻¹ dw) has accumulated lowest level of toxic metal, Cr than leafy and fruit bearing vegetables. In some fruit part of vegetables such as, bitter gourd, egg plant, jack tree, maize and okra, the accumulation of Cr was not detected and may be grown in this area.