Research Papers
Implication of composite electrode on the functioning of photo-bioelectrocatalytic fuel cell operated with heterotrophic-anoxygenic condition.
Navaneeth B, Hari Prasad R, Chiranjeevi P, Chandra Rashmi, Sarkar Omprakesh, Verma Anil, Subudhi Sanjukta, Lal Banwari, Venkata Mohan S
| 2015
Electrode materials play a vital role in biofilm formation and electron conduction for efficient functioning of fuel cells. In the present study, graphite polymer composite electrode (GPF) was evaluated as anode for photo-bioelectrocatalytic fuel cell (PhFC; biophotovoltaic system) and compared with much studied graphite electrode (Gc) with photosynthetic bacteria as biocatalyst under anoxygenic condition. The electrogenic activity noticed in GPF (584mV; 2.67mA) was slightly lower than Gc (604mV; 2.92mA; OL2/HRT2).
Impact of air pollutants from surface transport sources on human health: A modeling and epidemiological approach
Aggarwal Preeti, Jain Suresh
| 2015
This study adopted an integrated ‘source-to-receptor’ assessment paradigm in order to determine the effects of emissions from passenger transport on urban air quality and human health in the megacity, Delhi. The emission modeling was carried out for the base year 2007 and three alternate (ALT) policy scenarios alongwith a business as usual (BAU) scenario for the year 2021. An Activity-Structure-Emission Factor (ASF) framework was adapted for emission modeling, followed by a grid-wise air quality assessment using AERMOD and a health impact assessment using an epidemiological approach.
Identification and modelling of winners and qualifiers for management institutes: evidence from India
Mahajan Ritika, Agrawal Rajat, Sharma Vinay, Nangia Vinay
| 2015
Mushrooming of management institutes in the nooks and corners of cities in India has created a struggle amongst these institutes to gain and sustain market shares. Amidst the struggle, some institutes continue to outperform others. The objective of this paper is to understand the reasons for their performance.
High strength distillery wastewater treatment by a PAC-MBR with low PAC dosage
Basu Subhankar Kaushik Ankita, Saranya P, Batra Vidya S, Balakrishnan Malini
| 2015
Augmentation of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) with activated carbon is established to offer several operational advantages. This work investigates the influence of low dosing (2 g/L) of powdered activated carbons (PACs) with different characteristics on the performance of MBR treating high strength molasses distillery wastewater containing difficult-to-biodegrade recalcitrant components.
High density polyethylene/cenosphere composites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes: Mechanical, thermal and fire retardancy studies
Divya V C, Khan M Ameen, Rao B Nageshwar, Sailaja R R N
| 2015
Nanocomposites of high density polyethylene (HDPE) along with lightweight hollow fly ash cenospheres and acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have been developed. In order to enhance the interfacial adhesion, an epoxy functionalized HDPE has been added to the composites while the cenospheres have been surface modified using aminosilane coupling agent. Improvement in mechanical properties for the nanocomposites using both cenospheres and MWCNT was seen and were further analysed using micromechanical models.
Green Index: Grading Companies on Sustainability Initiatives
Thapar Sapan
| 2015
Background: Commercial entities are adopting sustainable business practices to show-case their ‘Green Quotient’ in form of ‘Business Sustainability Reports’. However, these reports are difficult to comprehend and do not provide the overall socio-environmental impact of the business operations of a company. Methods: In this regard, a comprehensive ‘GREEN-INDEX’ has been developed to grade the sustainability initiatives of a company.
Geospatial and geostatistical approach for groundwater potential zone delineation
Mallick Javed, Singh Chander Kumar, Al-Wadi Hussein, Ahmed Mohd, Rahman Atiqur, Shashtri Satyanarayan, Mukherjee Saumitri
| 2015
Over the past few decades, groundwater has become an essential commodity owing to increased demand as a result of growing population, industrialization, urbanization and so on. The water supply situation is expected to become more severe in the future because of continued unsustainable water use and projected change in hydrometeorological parameters due to climate change.
Formation and characterisation of aerobic sludge aggregates in a lab-scale activated sludge system
Chowdhury Parinita, Basu Subhankar, Tewari Prahlad Kumar, Batra Vidya S. Balakrishnan Malini
| 2015
Sludge aggregates were developed under ambient conditions in the aeration tank of a lab-scale activated sludge system. Different strategies were employed to accelerate the aggregation process viz.: i) initiating aggregation with large-dense flocs; ii) supplementing sewage with food-waste leachate containing readily biodegradable substrates; iii) periodic aerobic starvation; iv) addition of support materials to nucleate aggregate formation.
For Sustainable SDGs: Righting Through Responsibilities
Nawn Nandan
| 2015
Sustainability of SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are contingent on both ‘ weak sustainability ’ and ‘ strong sustainability. ’ Rights- based approach, the most prevalent one in the international policy space towards sustained realization of development goals, is unlikely to ensure either of the sustainability notions. Rather it has to be the (moral) responsibility of the State, communities, and even individuals.
Financing large scale wind and solar projects-A review of emerging experiences in the Indian context
Swarnalakshmi Umamaheswaran, Seth Rajiv
| 2015
Renewable energy can play a strategic role in India in meeting the country’s growing energy demands, as well as combating climate change. Policymakers have recognized this potential and over the last decade have intensified their efforts towards creating a conducive regulatory and policy framework. Policy instruments such as renewable obligations, feed-in-tariffs and generation based incentives have specially aided the transformation towards large scale generation, enabling higher efficiency and lower costs of generation.