Publications

Photo fermentative hydrogen production by a new strain; Rhodobacter sphaeroides CNT 2A, isolated from pond sediment

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

In the present study, a new purple non sulfur (PNS) bacterial strain identified as Rhodobacter sphaeroides CNT 2A was investigated for photo fermentative hydrogen production from acetate, butyrate (short chain organic acids), glucose & sucrose (simple and complex sugar) as sole carbon source in presence of sodium glutamate (0.6 g/L) as nitrogen source. Initial medium pH, acetate and butyrate concentration (by using these substrates as sole carbon sources) were optimized.

Powering the North East: Challenges & Opportunities

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

All the states in the region except Sikkim are facing peaking and energy shortages much higher than the national average. This may appear paradoxical considering the fact that the region is bestowed with rich hydropower and other renewable energy (RE) resources, has high literacy rate and enjoys special category status for funding support. Sustainable development of the region's power sector merits special significance in this context?.

Probiotics as a Potential Alternative for Relieving Peripheral Neuropathies: a Case for Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Research Paper
| January 11, 2018

Trillions of microorganisms form the “natural flora” of the human body. These microorganisms outnumber the host cells 10 to 1, essentially making humans a microbial ecosystem of sorts. Before the advent of the high-throughput sequencing technologies such elusive microorganisms were uncultivable and could not be studied using traditional microbiological techniques. However, since the past decade, with the establishment of the Human Microbiome Project reference database in 2012, research in this area has grown logarithmically (Grogan, 2015).

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?