Influence of polymethyl acrylate additive on the formation of particulate matter and NOX emission of a biodiesel–diesel-fueled engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the polymethyl acrylate (PMA) additive on the formation of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen...     

Current scenario of CNG vehicular pollution and their possible abatement technologies: an overview

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Compressed natural gas is an alternative green fuel for automobile industry. Recently, the Indian government is targeting to replace all the...     

Historical trends in the mass and chemical species concentrations of coarse particulate matter in the Los Angeles Basin and relation to sources and air quality regulations

To assess the impact of past, current and proposed air quality regulations on coarse particulate matter (CPM), the concentrations of CPM mass and its chemical constituents were examined in the Los Angeles Basin from 1986 to 2009 using PM data acquired from peer-reviewed journals and regulatory agency database. PM10 mass levels decreased by approximately half from 1988 to 2009 at the three sampling sites examined- located in downtown Los Angeles, Long Beach and Riverside. Annual CPM mass concentrations were calculated from the difference between daily PM10 and PM2.5 from 1999 to 2009. High CPM episodes driven by high wind speed/stagnant condition caused year-to-year fluctuations in the 99th/98th percentile CPM levels. The reductions of average CPM levels were lower than those of PM10 in the same period, therefore the decrease of PM10 level was mainly driven by reductions in the emission levels of PM2.5 (or fine) particles, as demonstrated by the higher annual reduction of average PM2.5 (0.92 microg/m3) compared with CPM (0.39 microg/m3) from 1999 to 2009 in downtown Los Angeles despite their comparable concentrations. This is further confirmed by the significant decrease of Ni, Cr, V and EC in the coarse fraction after 1995. On the other hand, the levels of several inorganic ions (sulfate, chloride and to a lesser extent nitrate) remained comparable. From 1995 to 2008, levels of Cu, a tracer of brake wear, either remained similar or decreased at a smaller rate compared with elements of combustion origins. This differential reduction of CPM components suggests that past and current regulations may have been more effective in reducing fugitive dust (Al, Fe and Si) and combustion emissions (Ni, Cr, V, and EC) rather than CPM from vehicular abrasion (Cu) and inorganic ions (NO3(-), SO4(2-) and Cl(-)) in urban areas. Implications: Limited information is currently available to provide the scientific basis for understanding the sources and physical and chemical variations of CPM, and their relations to air quality regulations and adverse health effects. This study investigates the historical trends of CPM mass and its chemical components in the Los Angeles Basin to advance our understanding on the impact of past and current air quality regulations on the coarse fraction of PM. The results of this study will aid policy makers to design more targeted regulations to control CPM sources to ensure substantial protection of public health from CPM exposure. Supplemental Materials: Supplemental materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association for (1) details of the sampling sites and (2) the daily concentrations of high CPM/PM10 episodes.     

Arsenic uptake and phytotoxicity of T-aman rice (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis> L.) grown in the As-amended soil of Bangladesh

A pot-culture experiment was conducted in open-field conditions with highly cultivated locally transplanted (T) aman rice (Oryza sativa L.) named BR-22 in arsenic (As)-amended soil (0, 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 30.0, 40.0 and 50.0 mg kg⁻¹ As) of Bangladesh to see the effect of As on the growth, yield and metal uptake of rice. Arsenic was applied to soil in the form of sodium arsenate (Na₂HAsO₄). Arsenic affected the plant height, tiller and panicle numbers, grain and straw yield of T-aman rice significantly (P ≤ 0.05). The grain As uptake of T-aman rice was found to increase with increase of As in soil and a high grain As uptake was observed in the treatments of 30–50 mg kg⁻¹ As-containing soil. These levels exceed the food hygiene concentration limit of 1.0 mg kg⁻¹ As. However, the straw As uptake varied significantly (P ≤ 0.05) from a low concentration of As in soil (5 mg kg⁻¹) and the highest uptake was noticed in 20 mg kg⁻¹ As treatment.     

Potential emissions reduction in road transport sector using biofuel in developing countries

Use of biofuels as transport fuel has high prospect in developing countries as most of them are facing severe energy insecurity and have strong agricultural sector to support production of biofuels from energy crops. Rapid urbanization and economic growth of developing countries have spurred air pollution especially in road transport sector. The increasing demand of petroleum based fuels and their combustion in internal combustion (IC) engines have adverse effect on air quality, human health and global warming. Air pollution causes respiratory problems, adverse effects on pulmonary function, leading to increased sickness absenteeism and induces high health care service costs, premature birth and even mortality. Production of biofuels promises substantial improvement in air quality through reducing emission from biofuel operated automotives. Some of the developing countries have started biofuel production and utilization as transport fuel in local market. This paper critically reviews the facts and prospects of biofuel production and utilization in developing countries to reduce environmental pollution and petro dependency. Expansion of biofuel industries in developing countries can create more jobs and increase productivity by non-crop marginal lands and wastelands for energy crops plantation.Contribution of India and China in biofuel industry in production and utilization can dramatically change worldwide biofuel market and leap forward in carbon cut as their automotive market is rapidly increasing with a souring proportional rise of GHG emissions.     

Experimental investigation of high alcohol low viscous renewable fuel in DI diesel engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study offered a comprehensive investigation on engine performance and emission characteristics of Kirloskar make tangentially vertical (TV1)...     

Comparative corrosion characteristics of automotive materials in Jatropha biodiesel

This study investigated the corrosion characteristics of widely used automotive materials: copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) and stainless steel (SS) in Jatropha biodiesel. The corrosion rate of the materials was measured by the weight loss and changes in the surface morphology using immersion test in biodiesel. Before and after the immersion test, fuel samples were characterized by the change in chemical composition, viscosity, density, and water content. Experimental results revealed that Cu had the highest corrosion rate, while SS had the lowest. The main fatty acids observed in the tested biodiesel were oleic (44.6 wt %), linoelic (31.9 wt %), Palmitic (14.6 wt %), and Stearic (7.6 wt %). Apart from linoelic acid, the compositions of all other acids were increased after the immersion test of 1600 h. Also, the viscosity, density, and water content of the fuel samples were increased after the immersion test. However, these properties were within the maximum standard limit except water content.     

Diurnal trends in coarse particulate matter composition in the Los Angeles Basin

To investigate the diurnal profile of the concentration and composition of ambient coarse particles, three sampling sites were set up in the Los Angeles Basin to collect coarse particulate matter (CPM) in four different time periods of the day (morning, midday, afternoon and overnight) in summer and winter. The samples were analyzed for total and water-soluble elements, inorganic ions and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC). In summer, highest concentrations of CPM gravimetric mass, mineral and road dust, and WSOC were observed in midday and afternoon, when the prevailing onshore wind was stronger. In general, atmospheric dilution was lower in winter, contributing to the accumulation of air pollutants during stagnation conditions. Turbulences induced by traffic become a significant particle re-suspension mechanism, particularly during winter night time, when mixing height was lowest. This is evident by the high levels of CPM mass, mineral and road dust in winter overnight at the near-freeway sites located in urban Los Angeles, and to a lesser extent in Riverside. WSOC levels were higher in summer, with a similar diurnal profile with mineral and road dust, indicating that they either share common sources, or that WSOC may be adsorbed or absorbed onto the surfaces of these dust particles. In general, the contribution of inorganic ions to CPM mass was greater in the overnight sampling period at all sampling sites, suggesting that the prevailing meteorological conditions (lower temperature and higher relative humidity) favor the formation of these ions in the coarse mode. Nitrate, the most abundant CPM-bound inorganic species in this basin, is found to be predominantly formed by reactions with sea salt particles in summer. When the sea salt concentrations were low, the reaction with mineral dust particles and the condensation of ammonium nitrate on CPM surfaces also contributes to the formation of nitrate in the coarse mode.     

Coastal Aquaculture Development in Bangladesh: Unsustainable and Sustainable Experiences

Coastal aquaculture in Bangladesh consists mainly of two shrimp species (Penaeus monodon and Macrobrachium rosenbergii). Currently, there are about 16,237 marine shrimp (P. monodon) farms covering 148,093 ha and 36,109 fresh water shrimp (M. rosenbergii) farms covering 17,638 ha coastal area. More than 0.7 million people are employed in the farmed shrimp sector and in 2005–2006 the export value of shrimp was 403.5 million USD. Thus, coastal aquaculture contributes significantly to rural employment and economy but this is overshadowed by negative social and ecological impacts. This article reviews the key issues, constraints and opportunities of sustainable shrimp farming. In addition we present the results of two case studies from southwestern coastal areas where shrimp farming originated and central coastal areas where shrimp farming, especially M. rosenbergii, began in recent years. Lessons learned from the review and case studies are considered in the context of recommendations to encompass a socially equitable and ecologically sound coastal aquaculture.     

Rice bran: A prospective resource for biodiesel production in Bangladesh

The increasing demand of renewable energy sources has pressed the need to search for biofuels. The world is not only thrusting for potential sources of biofuels but also surveilling not to hamper the food supply, particularly in the Third World countries, such as Bangladesh. Rice bran oil is a prominent source of biofuels. Rice, the main cereal in Bangladesh, is cultivated all the year round. Rice hull containing bran is mostly wasted and merely used as feedstock for cattle and for cooking purposes. This study considered rice bran as a prospective source of biodiesel in Bangladesh. The properties of oil collected from rice bran were investigated to ensure the production of biodiesel by transesterification. An economic analysis relative to Bangladesh was conducted, and the production rate of biodiesel under different percentage of catalyst was investigated.