Identification and thermomechanical characterization of polymers recovered from mobile phone waste

The plastic components from waste mobile phones were sorted and characterized using visual, spectroscopic and thermal methods. The sustainable strength of the recovered plastics was investigated by comparing their mechanical and thermal properties with commercially used reference materials. The results revealed that the recovered polymers have significant potential to be reused. However, some properties, such as impact strength and tensile modulus, are significantly low compared to virgin materials and need further improvement. The samples were also tested for brominated flame retardants (BFRs) using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique, and the results indicated the absence of BFR in recovered plastics; hence, these can be processed without any risk of BFR toxicity.     

Alternative soil quality indices for evaluating the effect of intensive cropping, fertilisation and manuring for 31 years in the semi-arid soils of India

Soil quality assessment provides a tool for evaluating the sustainability of alternative soil management practices. Our objective was to develop the most sensitive soil quality index for evaluating fertilizer, farm yard manure (FYM), and crop management practices on a semiarid Inceptisol in India. Soil indicators and crop yield data from a long-term (31 years) fertilizer, manure, and crop rotation (maize, wheat, cowpea, pearl millet) study at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) near New Delhi were used. Plots receiving optimum NPK, super optimum NPK and optimum NPK + FYM had better values for all the parameters analyzed. Biological, chemical, and physical soil quality indicator data were transformed into scores (0 to 1) using both linear and non-linear scoring functions, and combined into soil quality indices using unscreened transformations, regression equation, or principal component analysis (PCA). Long-term application of optimum inorganic fertilizers (NPK) resulted in higher soil quality ratings for all methods, although the highest values were obtained for treatment, which included FYM. Correlations between wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield and the various soil quality indices showed the best relationship (highest r) between yield and a PCA-derived SQI. Differences in SQI values suggest that the control (no NPK, no manure) and N only treatments were degrading, while soils receiving animal manure (FYM) or super optimum NPK fertilizer had the best soil quality, respectively. Lower ratings associated with the N only and NP treatments suggest that one of the most common soil management practices in India may not be sustainable. A framework for soil quality assessment is proposed.     

Application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis for determination of monensin in environmental samples

There is growing concern that antibiotic use in livestock production is contributing to contamination of soil and aquatic environments. Monensin, a polyether ionophore antibiotic, accounts for approximately 13% of total subtherapeutic livestock antibiotic usage in the USA and has been widely detected in aquatic environments. Due to insufficient ultraviolet absorbance, liquid chromatography analysis of monensin in environmental samples is limited to equipment with mass spectrometry (e.g., liquid chomatography-mass spectrometry [LC-MS]). However, LC-MS equipment is costly, and extensive sample preparation and clean-up is often required. Rapid, low-cost analytical techniques are needed to monitor for monensin residues in the environment. In this study, a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting monensin in animal feed extracts was evaluated for determination of monensin in water, soil, and manure. The monensin ELISA was highly sensitive, with limits of detection and quantification at 1.5 and 3.0 microg L(-1), respectively. Recovery of monensin in spiked water samples was approximately 100%. Cross-reactivity was not observed with similar polyether ionophores, tetracyclines, macrolides, or sulfonamides. Concentrations of monensin using ELISA were greater than concentrations measured with LC-MS. This is attributed to cross-reactivity of the monensin ELISA toward structurally similar monensin compounds, such as factors (slight naturally produced structural variants) and metabolites. Results from this study showed that ELISA can be a reliable, rapid, and low-cost alternative to LC-MS analysis of environmental samples.     

Is moral hazard good for the environment? Revenue insurance and chemical input use

Using farm level data we evaluate the input use and environmental effects of revenue insurance. A priori, the moral hazard effect on input use is indeterminate. This paper empirically assesses the input use impact of the increasingly popular, and federally subsidized, risk management instrument of revenue insurance and the extent to which its effects on input use may differ from those of the older yield based instruments. We conclude that among winter wheat farmers, those who purchase revenue insurance tend to spend less on fertilizers but do not appreciably alter pesticide expenditures. Thus, any improved environmental outcomes due to crop insurance are likely due to reduced fertilizer not pesticide use. When the environmental indicators included indicated a potential environmental fragility (i.e. high erosion, pesticide leaching or pesticide runoff potential), the input use equation suggested that fertilizer expenditures decreased. Revenue insurance undoubtedly further reduces fertilizer applications on these fields as well, but the marginal environmental benefit of revenue insurance is lessened because the reduction, where it matters most, accrues on land on which fertilizer use has already been curtailed to some degree.     

Stakeholder-based SWOT analysis for successful municipal solid waste management in Lucknow, India

The present investigation is a case study of Lucknow, the main metropolis in Northern India, which succumbs to a major problem of municipal solid waste and its management. A qualitative investigation using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis (SWOT) has been successfully implemented through this community participation study. This qualitative investigation emphasizes the limited capabilities of the municipal corporation's resources to provide proper facilitation of the municipal solid waste management (MSWM) services without community participation in Lucknow city. The SWOT analysis was performed to formulate strategic action plans for MSWM in order to mobilize and utilize the community resources on the one hand and municipal corporation's resources on the other. It has allowed the introduction of a participatory approach for better collaboration between the community and municipal corporation in Lucknow (India). With this stakeholder-based SWOT analysis, efforts were made to explore the ways and means of converting the possible "threats" into "opportunities" and changing the "weaknesses" into "strengths" regarding a community-based MSWM programme. By this investigation, concrete strategic action plans were developed for both the community and municipal corporation to improve MSWM in Lucknow.     

Effect of Accelerated Weathering on Biocomposites Processed by SMC and Compression Molding

The durability of biocomposites utilized for building components has been a subject of recent concern and questioning. To address these concerns, the long-term effects of weathering on biocomposites used as building components were evaluated using an accelerated weatherometer. The biocomposite samples were processed by sheet molding compounding (SMC) panel processing and/or compression molding. The accelerated weatherometer served to expose the samples to ultraviolet radiation (UV), condensation, and water spray at levels pertinent to actual conditions: 48 cycles of UV (340 nm) treatment at 60 °C for 2.5 h was followed by water spray for 0.5 h, and then condensation at 45 °C for 24 h. Twelve cycles were repeated in each test, and the total duration for the complete test was 2016 h. Measurements for color, surface roughness test weight change, and dynamical mechanical analysis were taken at regular intervals of time. It was found that the surface roughness increased, as the color changed, and storage modulus decreased with increases in the exposure time of the samples to accelerated weathering conditions, compared to their properties at the beginning of the test.     

Effect of photoperiod on the adrenal activities of male rose ringed parakeet, Psittacala krameri

Adult male rose ringed parakeets were exposed to very long photoperiod (22 hr L: 2 hr D) and very short photoperiod (2 hr L: 22 hr D) daily for 60 days during different phases of the annual testicular cycle. Adrenal activities of the experimental birds were compared with that of parallel held natural photoperiodic birds. Marked atrophy of adrenocortical cells was noted in the glands of long photoperiod (22 hr L:2 hr D) during different phases, i.e., post-breeding, quiescent and pre-breeding phases of annual gonadal cycle. The atrophied cells were not uniformly distributed in different groups of long photoperiod responsive birds. During pre-breeding, post-breeding and quiescent phases marked atrophy of the adrenocortical cells were restricted to the sub capsular zone of the gland. The cytometric and karyometric studies also revealed significant decrease in the cortical cord width and diameter of nuclei in the cortical cells in either subcapsular zone in the gland of long photoperiodic birds considered for treatment during pre-breeding, post-breeding and quiescent phase or in both the sub capsular zone and the inner zone. The cytometric and karyometric values did not show any change from control birds.     

Computational analysis of turbulence enhancement in a compression ignition engine with modified inlet design

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to enhance the turbulence of direct injection (DI) diesel engine by modifying the inlet manifold design with an inclined nozzle-like...     

Enhanced biogeochemical cycling and subsequent reduction of hydraulic conductivity associated with soil-layer interfaces in the vadose zone

Biogeochemical dynamics in the vadose zone are poorly understood due to the transient nature of chemical and hydrologic conditions but are nonetheless critical to understanding chemical fate and transport. This study explored the effects of a soil layer on linked geochemical, hydrological, and microbiological processes. Three laboratory soil columns were constructed: a homogenized medium-grained sand, a homogenized organic-rich loam, and a sand-over-loam layered column. Upward and downward infiltration of water was evaluated during experiments to simulate rising water table and rainfall events, respectively. In situ collocated probes measured soil water content, matric potential, and Eh. Water samples collected from the same locations were analyzed for Br, Cl, NO, SO, NH, Fe, and total sulfide. Compared with homogeneous columns, the presence of a soil layer altered the biogeochemistry and water flow of the system considerably. Enhanced biogeochemical cycling was observed in the layered column over the texturally homogeneous soil columns. Enumerations of iron- and sulfate-reducing bacteria showed 1 to 2 orders of magnitude greater community numbers in the layered column. Mineral and soil aggregate composites were most abundant near the soil-layer interface, the presence of which likely contributed to an observed order-of-magnitude decrease in hydraulic conductivity. These findings show that quantifying coupled hydrologic-biogeochemical processes occurring at small-scale soil interfaces is critical to accurately describing and predicting chemical changes at the larger system scale. These findings also provide justification for considering soil layering in contaminant fate and transport models because of its potential to increase biodegradation or to slow the rate of transport of contaminants.