Publications

Production of biodiesel from freshwater microalgae and evaluation of fuel properties based on fatty acid methyl ester profile

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Eleven freshwater microalgal strains of Chlorella sorokiniana BTA4015; Chlorella sp. BTA4032, C. variabilis BTA4036; Chlorella sp. BTA4071; C. variabilis BTA4109; C. variabilis BTA4121; Chlorella sp. BTA4146; Chlamydomonas asymmetrica BTA4028; C. asymmetrica BTA4154; Scenedesmus armatus BTA4076 and Scenedesmus regularis BTA4112 were isolated from northeast India and identified through internal transcribed spacer 2 region sequence alignment.

Purification and characterization of exopolysaccharide bioflocculant produced by heavy metal resistant Achromobacter xylosoxidans

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Optimization of process parameters enhanced bioflocculating activity of 'Achromobacter xylosoxidans strain TERI L1' from 75% to 83.3% in absence of heavy metals, which decreased to 73% in presence of multi-metals. 'TERI L1' could adsorb 90% of multi-metals when grown in presence of 1250 mg L(-1) Zn, 2 mg L(-1) Cd, 30 mg L(-1) Pb, 200 mg L(-1) Ni and 90 mg L(-1) Cu and could adsorb 1100 mg L(-1) of Pb when grown in presence of 1500 ppm lead nitrate. The bioflocculant was purified and characterized. Bioflocculant yield was 5 g L(-1).

Regional cooperation to meet climate pledges of South Asia

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Climate cooperation has been discussed for long, but little is achieved on the ground in South Asia. The Paris Agreement is an opportunity to renew the commitments.

Rural electricity access in South Asia: Is grid extension the remedy: A critical review

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Despite the historical priority to grid-based electrification in South Asia, two out of every five people in the region still live without access to electricity. Due to various limitations of conventional grid-based rural electrification, as brought out by a number of studies and reports, demand for alternative models such as renewable energy based off-grid and distributed generation solutions are gaining increasing attention globally.

Sensitivity analysis of ground level ozone in India using WRF-CMAQ models

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Ground level ozone is emerging as a pollutant of concern in India. Limited surface monitoring data reveals that ozone concentrations are well above the prescribed national standards. This study aims to simulate the regional and urban scale ozone concentrations in India using WRF-CMAQ models. Sector-specific emission inventories are prepared for the ozone precursor species at a finer resolution (36 × 36 km2) than used in previous studies.

Separation of zinc oxide nanoparticles in water stream bymembrane filtration?

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are used for the synthesis of various materials. The nanoparticles, when entering into the environment, affect aquatic life. Their antibacterial properties deter the biological treatment process of wastewater treatment plants. The study focuses on the effectiveness of ultrafiltration (UF) membranes for the removal of ZnO nanoparticles. In this study, a commercial membrane was used for the separation of ZnO nanoparticles in the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) and alkalinity.

Sustainable Development: A Critical Review of Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules 2016

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change(MoEFCC), Government of India has notified the Construction and Demolition Waste Management (CDWM) Rules in March, 2016. The new notification supersedes the existing Municipal Solid Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 which was addressing limited issues related to Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste. This paper summarises the salient features of the gazette notification and discusses the shortcomings in the existing CDWM rules?

Sustaining the Farming Household to Sustain the Farming

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

In the literature on sustainability of agriculture, both labourers and workers are conspicuously absent. Here, the sustainability of agriculture has been defined in terms of whether the farm household in question is able to yield an energy surplus when its members and the animals in its possession are obtaining an adequate ‘energy income’ or Calorie intake. To evaluate the sustainability of 590 farming households in the state of West Bengal, India, during 2004–5, four progressively stricter definitions of sustainability have been proposed, defined and applied.

The determinants of electricity theft: An empirical analysis of Indian states

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

More than 20% of the electricity generated in India is lost to rampant thefts. Drawing data from 28 states of India over a time span of ?ve years (2005–2009, this paper examines the role played by socio-eco-nomic and governance factors in determining the extent of electricity thefts in Indian states.

The Effect of Development on the Climate Sensitivity of Electricity Demand in India

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

The climate sensitivity of electricity demand in India is likely to be highly sensitive to growth in income. Thus, both intensive and extensive adjustments in cooling and heating will play an important role in determining future climate change impacts on electricity demand. This paper utilizes a national level panel dataset of 28 Indian states for the period 2005–2009. The preferred estimates indicate that climate change will increase electricity demand by 6.7% with 4% p.a. GDP growth and 8.5% with 6% p.a. GDP growth in 2030 over the reference scenario of no climate change.