Surjit Singh Katoch - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Surjit Singh Katoch

Research paper thumbnail of Microplastics in complex soil matrix: Recovery, identification and removal using micro nano techniques

Micro and Nano Engineering, Dec 31, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Investigation of Electrode Materials Used in Electrocoagulation Process for Wastewater Treatment

CRC Press eBooks, Feb 27, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater containing cefazolin by electrocoagulation (EC): Optimization of various parameters using response surface methodology (RSM), kinetics and isotherms study

Chemical engineering research & design, Dec 1, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Optimization Through Box-Behnken Design for Cr(VI) Degradation from Real Tannery Wastewater Using Graphite Electrode by Electrocoagulation

Advances in transdisciplinary engineering, Dec 13, 2022

The mitigation of tannery effluents is a rising issue owing to the complex mixture of contaminant... more The mitigation of tannery effluents is a rising issue owing to the complex mixture of contaminants and hazardous chemicals, mostly chromium. The disposal of tannery effluent into the various water sources such as ponds, lakes, rivers, etc., affects the ecosystem and aquatic lives. The current work scrutinizes the performance of EC unit for Cr(VI) degradation from real tannery effluent. The chromium removal efficiency was evaluated using an iron and graphite electrode in parallel arrangement (MP-P). The iron anode was employed to generate metal coagulant species whereas, graphite served as the cathode. Furthermore, based upon factors mainly pH, current density (CD), electrolysis duration and initial pollutant concentration, the process was statistically optimized using BBD-based response surface methodology (RSM). Optimization of all the four independent variables was determined to be pH = 5.27, CD = 6.26 mA/cm 2 , electrolysis time = 26.7 minutes and initial concentration = 133.62 mg/L respectively based on which maximum chromium removal efficiency of 89.12% was obtained. Residual, response, probability, 3D surfaces, and contour plots were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Analysis of Constructed Wetland Treating Secondary Effluent Under Cold Climatic Conditions in Hamirpur (H.P.), India

Research paper thumbnail of Design of Photo-voltaic Solar tracking system based on Peripheral Interface Controller

The work discusses about the detailed design and construction of a prototype of solar tracking sy... more The work discusses about the detailed design and construction of a prototype of solar tracking system which detects the sun’s intensity using the light dependent resistors. The control circuit for the tracker is microchip make peripheral interface controller 16F877A. The controller is programmed to detect the sunlight with the aid of photo sensors and then actuate the motor to align the solar panel where it achieves the maximum solar intensity. The panel’s voltage and the current reading were transmitted to the personal computer using universal synchronous and asynchronous receiver/transmitter protocol. The proposed tracking system is hybrid hardware and software prototype which provides best alignment of solar panel with the sun. It uses three photo resistors which are mounted on the sides of the solar photo voltaic panel. By using photo resistors, solar tracking system becomes more sensitive and allows it to determine a more accurate location of the panel to align to the sun. A co...

Research paper thumbnail of Investigation and performance analysis of active solar still in colder Indian Himalayan region

Groundwater for Sustainable Development

Research paper thumbnail of Recommendation No: 105 – Proposal for an “Archaeological Park” for Delhi in Mehrauli

Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 4-(2-aminoethylthio phthalocyanato complexes of c... more Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 4-(2-aminoethylthio phthalocyanato complexes of cobalt (complex 3) and manganese (complex 4) are investigated in this work. The UV-Vis spectral properties of the complexes were typical of the nature of central metal (cobalt versus manganese) phthalocyanine. The Q-band of manganese 4-(2-aminoethylthio) phthalocyanine is red shifted with respect to cobalt manganese 4-(2aminoethylthio) phthalocyanine. Solution electrochemistry of complex 3 showed three distinctly resolved redox processes attributed to (), () and / (). No ring based oxidation was observed in complex 3. Complex 4 showed both ring-based oxidation, attributed to () and ring-based reduction associated with (), with the normal metal reduction,

Research paper thumbnail of A review on electrocoagulation process for the removal of emerging contaminants: theory, fundamentals, and applications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2022

Electrocoagulation (EC) is an excellent and promising technology in wastewater treatment, as it c... more Electrocoagulation (EC) is an excellent and promising technology in wastewater treatment, as it combines the benefits of coagulation, flotation, and electrochemistry. During the last decade, extensive researches have focused on removal of emerging contaminants by using electrocoagualtion, due to its several advantages like compactness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, low sludge production, and eco-friendness. Emerging contaminants (ECs) are micropollutants found in trace amounts that discharging into conventional wastewater treatment (WWT) plants entering surface waters and imposing a high threat to human and aquatic life. Various studies reveal that about 90% of emerging contaminants are disposed unscientifically into water bodies, creating problems to public health and environment. The studies on removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater are by global researchers are critically reviewed. The core findings proved that still more research required into optimization of parameters, system design, and economic feasibility to explore the potential of EC combined systems. This review has introduced an innovative collection of current knowledge on electro-coagulation for the removal of emerging contaminants. Graphical abstract

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental sustainability of run of the river hydropower projects: A study from western Himalayan region of India

Renewable Energy, 2016

Run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects are generally considered more environmentally sustaina... more Run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects are generally considered more environmentally sustainable as compared to their reservoir based counterparts. Further, impacts of these projects are supposed to be in proportion to their installed capacity. Large numbers of this category of hydropower projects in different size ranges are coming up in Himalayan regions. Un-sustainable construction/operation practices adopted during development and/or running of these projects are posing an environmental threat to this fragile and youngest mountain range of the world. This research paper presents a public perception cum data collection study on the environmental impacts of small and large RoR hydropower projects located in western Himalayan region of India. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect the primary data pertaining to intangible impacts while secondary data was collected to analyse tangible environmental parameters. The study concludes that every environmental impact of SHPs is not 'small' as compared to LHPs. Ignoring the environmental impacts of SHPs may not be a good practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability suspense of small hydropower projects: A study from western Himalayan region of India

Renewable Energy, 2015

Small hydropower projects (SHPs), though generally considered more environmentally benign and soc... more Small hydropower projects (SHPs), though generally considered more environmentally benign and socially acceptable as compared to large projects, yet their overall sustainability is under suspicion in the Himalayan regions. Almost all SHPs in this region are being developed as run of the river mode which generally causes less/no submergence and quite less displacement of people as compared to large reservoir based hydropower production mode. However, in the absence of proper planning and monitoring mechanism, these projects are causing implacable tunnelling of hills, choking of streams, conversion of streams into dry ditches and long term socio-environmental impacts. This paper presents a SHP development study from hydro rich Beas river basin of Himachal Pradesh, a state nestled in western Himalayan region of India. In depth field studies, focus group discussions with the project affected people and interaction with project proponents of five SHPs in this region suggest that sustainability issues with respect to SHPs are not small vis-a-vis size of their installed capacity. There is an urgent need to take steps to include SHPs having an installed capacity of above 10 MW into the ambit of environment clearance process which is absent in many countries of the world at present.

Research paper thumbnail of Small hydropower development in western Himalayas: Strategy for faster implementation

Renewable Energy, 2015

Glacier fed fast moving perennial streams in western Himalayan region present a scope of vast hyd... more Glacier fed fast moving perennial streams in western Himalayan region present a scope of vast hydropower potential in this region. Indian states in this region are striving hard to tap this potential by promoting run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in a big way. However large RoR hydropower projects are being opposed by environmentalists and native communities as they badly affect flora and fauna in the diverted reach and generate huge quantity of muck due to construction of tunnels. Due to diversion of water, large population in the diverted reach of the river is devoid of sufficient water for its consumptive use. In this scenario, small hydropower projects (SHPs) are considered as comparatively more sustainable and greener option for hydropower development in these regions. There are well placed small hydropower policies and various incentives for this sector both from state and central government. In spite of all this, the progress of implementation of SHPs is not up to the mark. This study presents case study of small hydropower development in two hydro rich western Indian Himalayan states. Besides it, the study discusses the reasons for slow pace of progress in small hydropower sector and suggests strategy for its faster implementation.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability indicators for run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in hydro rich regions of India

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014

Any hydropower project whether mega, large or small is to be weighed for sustainability at the ti... more Any hydropower project whether mega, large or small is to be weighed for sustainability at the time of its inception. Without proper sustainability assessment, the project may face many problems during its construction or/and operational phase(s). Legally also, this aspect has been made mandatory in many countries across the globe to check the feasibility of the project from sustainability point of view beforehand. This study intends to emphasise sustainability of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in hydro rich regions of India where these types of projects are being undertaken on a large scale. In addition, this study has compiled a list of sustainability indicators which may be of use for policy makers and designers while planning RoR projects in hydro rich regions of India and similar regions throughout the world.

Research paper thumbnail of Dams turning devils: An insight into the public safety aspects in operational run of the river hydropower projects in western Himalayas

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017

A large number of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects have been planned in hydro rich west... more A large number of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects have been planned in hydro rich western Himalayan region. However, public safety aspects are not given due consideration during operation of these projects and many people had lost their lives in the recent past. This study aims at reviewing public safety norms/aspects in these regions and suggests suitable safety measures. Qualitative approach has been adopted to study the problem in detail by undertaking a case study in Himachal Pradesh, a western Indian Himalayan hydro rich state. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to develop and effectively implement public safety standards and/or manuals for operation of RoR hydropower projects in the region under study. The study may be useful in creating awareness and framing of imperative public safety norms for operational RoR hydropower projects in western Himalayan region of India and similar other regions across the world.

Research paper thumbnail of Study of Ammoniacal Nitrogen Removal from Leachate of Sanitary Landfills in Hilly Terrain

Nearness of ammoniacal nitrogen in the leachate is one of the serious issue looked by administrat... more Nearness of ammoniacal nitrogen in the leachate is one of the serious issue looked by administrators of landfill. Generally, quantity of organic waste present at landfill site is high; the slow leaching of this organic waste produces nitrogen in high concentration also there is no significant mechanism for the alteration of ammoniacal nitrogen. This cause very high amount of ammoniacal nitrogen concentration in landfill leachate over a long period. A literature review regards this shows that, ammoniacal nitrogen removal from landfill leachate is not well defined and to date, especially in the adsorption treatment. In addition, there are limited studies in hilly terrain of India on this regards. The principle goal of this study was to research the appropriateness of brick dust, Activated carbon and mixture of these two materials as adsorption medium for the elimination of ammoniacal nitrogen from leachate, which present in significant amount (around 500 to 1600 mg/L). Adsorption experiments were performed in batch mode. This choice for using brick dust was motivated primarily from economic consideration and their abundance. Activated carbon has good adsorption capability. Brick dust also has higher adsorption capability and hence a mixture of brick dust and activated carbon allows us to combine good adsorption property with lesser cost as brick dust can be procured at negligible amount. The aftereffect of this investigation demonstrates that around 40%-80% of ammoniacal nitrogen (with focus around 1000 mg/L) can be expel financially by blending initiated carbon with brick dust and can be actually useful as a financially savvy medium to substitute activated carbon for the expulsion of ammoniacal nitrogen from procured landfill leachate at a considerable low cost.

Research paper thumbnail of O-Anisidine Degradation by Fenton’s Reagent and Reaction Time Estimation

O-Anisidines (OAs) are extensively used as an intermediate for chemical reactions to produce vari... more O-Anisidines (OAs) are extensively used as an intermediate for chemical reactions to produce various triphenylmethane and azo dyes, and also in manufacturing numerous pigments. They are found to be highly toxic and have carcinogenic properties, so it is imperative to treat OA solutions before disposal. In this study a promising approach to degrade OA solutions has been carried out using Fenton’s reagent. Oxidation trials were conducted for 24 hours and various parameters – OA removal, pH, effect of H2O2 and Fe2+, and COD removal – were analysed to understand the oxidative degradation of OA. For varying initial OA concentrations, the OA and COD removal efficiencies of 72 to 85% and 62 to 74%, respectively, were obtained at pH = 3, and at different optimum H2O2 and Fe2+ doses. Lower initial concentrations of OA showed better removal efficiencies. The reaction time was estimated to 360 minutes after which there was negligible degradation occurs.

Research paper thumbnail of Investigations on Common Treatment Technologies for Some Biomedical Wastes

... I acknowledge with deep gratitude the inspiring guidance of Dr. Vineet Kumar, Professor &... more ... I acknowledge with deep gratitude the inspiring guidance of Dr. Vineet Kumar, Professor & Head, Chemical Engineering Department and Dr. Susheel Mittal, Professor & Head, ... and Dr. HaripadaBhunia, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Department during ...

Research paper thumbnail of Annual Pattern of Biomedical Waste Generation and the Seasonal Variation

Waste generation in a healthcare facility depends basically upon a number of factors including bu... more Waste generation in a healthcare facility depends basically upon a number of factors including but not limited to the number of patients treated, the total bed occupancy rate and the type of diseases treated. These three aspects are controlled by many sub factors but in this case study we have studied the seasonal variation, average temperature and disease outbreak in the area where the health care facility under study is located and the way in which they influence the amount of medical waste generated. Data on medical waste generation at the largest health facility of a hilly town of Himachal Pradesh a northern state of India was collected by observational approach, formal personal interviews, informal dialogue and site visits for analysis between August 2011 and August 2014. It was found out that the waste generated is directly related to the average temperature and varies with the seasonal variations. It was further found out that the waste generated at the health care facility w...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of pine cone derived activated carbon as an adsorbent in defluoridation

SN Applied Sciences

A vast population of the world is vulnerable to fluoride contaminated drinking water intake, and ... more A vast population of the world is vulnerable to fluoride contaminated drinking water intake, and there are various defluoridation techniques available to date as well. But the removal of fluoride is still a challenge, especially in remote rural areas because available techniques require proper supervision and equally, ineffective due to economic issues and electricity crisis. Among all methods of defluoridation, adsorption methods are found better to carry out at the community and household level but sometimes demanded a replacement of commercial activated carbon (CAC) due to economic issues and less availability in remote areas. Hence keeping this in mind, the present study assessed the pine cone activated carbon (PCAC) as adsorbent material in the defluoridation that is easy to prepare like any other agriculture-waste material. The activated carbon was prepared using KOH as an impregnating agent for activation of pine cone by pyrolysis technique at 800 °C and has been analyzed for various parameters in the fluoride removal viz. contact time, dose variation, pH and initial fluoride concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity of fluoride on pine cone activated carbon was found 1.34 mg/g of initial fluoride concentration (2-12 mg/L) at pH (6.8-7.0) with a contact period of 45 min. Also, a comparison has been made between Pine Cone Activated Carbon (PCAC) with Commercial Activated Carbon (CAC) based on obtained results. It has been suggested that Pine cone activated carbon is efficient as well as cheap adsorbent and can be used for the removal of fluoride from drinking water in rural areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Performance optimization of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater treatment and sustainable Bio-H2 production using response surface methodology (RSM)

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Research paper thumbnail of Microplastics in complex soil matrix: Recovery, identification and removal using micro nano techniques

Micro and Nano Engineering, Dec 31, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Investigation of Electrode Materials Used in Electrocoagulation Process for Wastewater Treatment

CRC Press eBooks, Feb 27, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater containing cefazolin by electrocoagulation (EC): Optimization of various parameters using response surface methodology (RSM), kinetics and isotherms study

Chemical engineering research & design, Dec 1, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Optimization Through Box-Behnken Design for Cr(VI) Degradation from Real Tannery Wastewater Using Graphite Electrode by Electrocoagulation

Advances in transdisciplinary engineering, Dec 13, 2022

The mitigation of tannery effluents is a rising issue owing to the complex mixture of contaminant... more The mitigation of tannery effluents is a rising issue owing to the complex mixture of contaminants and hazardous chemicals, mostly chromium. The disposal of tannery effluent into the various water sources such as ponds, lakes, rivers, etc., affects the ecosystem and aquatic lives. The current work scrutinizes the performance of EC unit for Cr(VI) degradation from real tannery effluent. The chromium removal efficiency was evaluated using an iron and graphite electrode in parallel arrangement (MP-P). The iron anode was employed to generate metal coagulant species whereas, graphite served as the cathode. Furthermore, based upon factors mainly pH, current density (CD), electrolysis duration and initial pollutant concentration, the process was statistically optimized using BBD-based response surface methodology (RSM). Optimization of all the four independent variables was determined to be pH = 5.27, CD = 6.26 mA/cm 2 , electrolysis time = 26.7 minutes and initial concentration = 133.62 mg/L respectively based on which maximum chromium removal efficiency of 89.12% was obtained. Residual, response, probability, 3D surfaces, and contour plots were determined using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Research paper thumbnail of Performance Analysis of Constructed Wetland Treating Secondary Effluent Under Cold Climatic Conditions in Hamirpur (H.P.), India

Research paper thumbnail of Design of Photo-voltaic Solar tracking system based on Peripheral Interface Controller

The work discusses about the detailed design and construction of a prototype of solar tracking sy... more The work discusses about the detailed design and construction of a prototype of solar tracking system which detects the sun’s intensity using the light dependent resistors. The control circuit for the tracker is microchip make peripheral interface controller 16F877A. The controller is programmed to detect the sunlight with the aid of photo sensors and then actuate the motor to align the solar panel where it achieves the maximum solar intensity. The panel’s voltage and the current reading were transmitted to the personal computer using universal synchronous and asynchronous receiver/transmitter protocol. The proposed tracking system is hybrid hardware and software prototype which provides best alignment of solar panel with the sun. It uses three photo resistors which are mounted on the sides of the solar photo voltaic panel. By using photo resistors, solar tracking system becomes more sensitive and allows it to determine a more accurate location of the panel to align to the sun. A co...

Research paper thumbnail of Investigation and performance analysis of active solar still in colder Indian Himalayan region

Groundwater for Sustainable Development

Research paper thumbnail of Recommendation No: 105 – Proposal for an “Archaeological Park” for Delhi in Mehrauli

Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 4-(2-aminoethylthio phthalocyanato complexes of c... more Spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 4-(2-aminoethylthio phthalocyanato complexes of cobalt (complex 3) and manganese (complex 4) are investigated in this work. The UV-Vis spectral properties of the complexes were typical of the nature of central metal (cobalt versus manganese) phthalocyanine. The Q-band of manganese 4-(2-aminoethylthio) phthalocyanine is red shifted with respect to cobalt manganese 4-(2aminoethylthio) phthalocyanine. Solution electrochemistry of complex 3 showed three distinctly resolved redox processes attributed to (), () and / (). No ring based oxidation was observed in complex 3. Complex 4 showed both ring-based oxidation, attributed to () and ring-based reduction associated with (), with the normal metal reduction,

Research paper thumbnail of A review on electrocoagulation process for the removal of emerging contaminants: theory, fundamentals, and applications

Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2022

Electrocoagulation (EC) is an excellent and promising technology in wastewater treatment, as it c... more Electrocoagulation (EC) is an excellent and promising technology in wastewater treatment, as it combines the benefits of coagulation, flotation, and electrochemistry. During the last decade, extensive researches have focused on removal of emerging contaminants by using electrocoagualtion, due to its several advantages like compactness, cost-effectiveness, efficiency, low sludge production, and eco-friendness. Emerging contaminants (ECs) are micropollutants found in trace amounts that discharging into conventional wastewater treatment (WWT) plants entering surface waters and imposing a high threat to human and aquatic life. Various studies reveal that about 90% of emerging contaminants are disposed unscientifically into water bodies, creating problems to public health and environment. The studies on removal of emerging contaminants from wastewater are by global researchers are critically reviewed. The core findings proved that still more research required into optimization of parameters, system design, and economic feasibility to explore the potential of EC combined systems. This review has introduced an innovative collection of current knowledge on electro-coagulation for the removal of emerging contaminants. Graphical abstract

Research paper thumbnail of Environmental sustainability of run of the river hydropower projects: A study from western Himalayan region of India

Renewable Energy, 2016

Run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects are generally considered more environmentally sustaina... more Run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects are generally considered more environmentally sustainable as compared to their reservoir based counterparts. Further, impacts of these projects are supposed to be in proportion to their installed capacity. Large numbers of this category of hydropower projects in different size ranges are coming up in Himalayan regions. Un-sustainable construction/operation practices adopted during development and/or running of these projects are posing an environmental threat to this fragile and youngest mountain range of the world. This research paper presents a public perception cum data collection study on the environmental impacts of small and large RoR hydropower projects located in western Himalayan region of India. A structured questionnaire was designed to collect the primary data pertaining to intangible impacts while secondary data was collected to analyse tangible environmental parameters. The study concludes that every environmental impact of SHPs is not 'small' as compared to LHPs. Ignoring the environmental impacts of SHPs may not be a good practice.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability suspense of small hydropower projects: A study from western Himalayan region of India

Renewable Energy, 2015

Small hydropower projects (SHPs), though generally considered more environmentally benign and soc... more Small hydropower projects (SHPs), though generally considered more environmentally benign and socially acceptable as compared to large projects, yet their overall sustainability is under suspicion in the Himalayan regions. Almost all SHPs in this region are being developed as run of the river mode which generally causes less/no submergence and quite less displacement of people as compared to large reservoir based hydropower production mode. However, in the absence of proper planning and monitoring mechanism, these projects are causing implacable tunnelling of hills, choking of streams, conversion of streams into dry ditches and long term socio-environmental impacts. This paper presents a SHP development study from hydro rich Beas river basin of Himachal Pradesh, a state nestled in western Himalayan region of India. In depth field studies, focus group discussions with the project affected people and interaction with project proponents of five SHPs in this region suggest that sustainability issues with respect to SHPs are not small vis-a-vis size of their installed capacity. There is an urgent need to take steps to include SHPs having an installed capacity of above 10 MW into the ambit of environment clearance process which is absent in many countries of the world at present.

Research paper thumbnail of Small hydropower development in western Himalayas: Strategy for faster implementation

Renewable Energy, 2015

Glacier fed fast moving perennial streams in western Himalayan region present a scope of vast hyd... more Glacier fed fast moving perennial streams in western Himalayan region present a scope of vast hydropower potential in this region. Indian states in this region are striving hard to tap this potential by promoting run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in a big way. However large RoR hydropower projects are being opposed by environmentalists and native communities as they badly affect flora and fauna in the diverted reach and generate huge quantity of muck due to construction of tunnels. Due to diversion of water, large population in the diverted reach of the river is devoid of sufficient water for its consumptive use. In this scenario, small hydropower projects (SHPs) are considered as comparatively more sustainable and greener option for hydropower development in these regions. There are well placed small hydropower policies and various incentives for this sector both from state and central government. In spite of all this, the progress of implementation of SHPs is not up to the mark. This study presents case study of small hydropower development in two hydro rich western Indian Himalayan states. Besides it, the study discusses the reasons for slow pace of progress in small hydropower sector and suggests strategy for its faster implementation.

Research paper thumbnail of Sustainability indicators for run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in hydro rich regions of India

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2014

Any hydropower project whether mega, large or small is to be weighed for sustainability at the ti... more Any hydropower project whether mega, large or small is to be weighed for sustainability at the time of its inception. Without proper sustainability assessment, the project may face many problems during its construction or/and operational phase(s). Legally also, this aspect has been made mandatory in many countries across the globe to check the feasibility of the project from sustainability point of view beforehand. This study intends to emphasise sustainability of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects in hydro rich regions of India where these types of projects are being undertaken on a large scale. In addition, this study has compiled a list of sustainability indicators which may be of use for policy makers and designers while planning RoR projects in hydro rich regions of India and similar regions throughout the world.

Research paper thumbnail of Dams turning devils: An insight into the public safety aspects in operational run of the river hydropower projects in western Himalayas

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017

A large number of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects have been planned in hydro rich west... more A large number of run of the river (RoR) hydropower projects have been planned in hydro rich western Himalayan region. However, public safety aspects are not given due consideration during operation of these projects and many people had lost their lives in the recent past. This study aims at reviewing public safety norms/aspects in these regions and suggests suitable safety measures. Qualitative approach has been adopted to study the problem in detail by undertaking a case study in Himachal Pradesh, a western Indian Himalayan hydro rich state. The study concludes that there is an urgent need to develop and effectively implement public safety standards and/or manuals for operation of RoR hydropower projects in the region under study. The study may be useful in creating awareness and framing of imperative public safety norms for operational RoR hydropower projects in western Himalayan region of India and similar other regions across the world.

Research paper thumbnail of Study of Ammoniacal Nitrogen Removal from Leachate of Sanitary Landfills in Hilly Terrain

Nearness of ammoniacal nitrogen in the leachate is one of the serious issue looked by administrat... more Nearness of ammoniacal nitrogen in the leachate is one of the serious issue looked by administrators of landfill. Generally, quantity of organic waste present at landfill site is high; the slow leaching of this organic waste produces nitrogen in high concentration also there is no significant mechanism for the alteration of ammoniacal nitrogen. This cause very high amount of ammoniacal nitrogen concentration in landfill leachate over a long period. A literature review regards this shows that, ammoniacal nitrogen removal from landfill leachate is not well defined and to date, especially in the adsorption treatment. In addition, there are limited studies in hilly terrain of India on this regards. The principle goal of this study was to research the appropriateness of brick dust, Activated carbon and mixture of these two materials as adsorption medium for the elimination of ammoniacal nitrogen from leachate, which present in significant amount (around 500 to 1600 mg/L). Adsorption experiments were performed in batch mode. This choice for using brick dust was motivated primarily from economic consideration and their abundance. Activated carbon has good adsorption capability. Brick dust also has higher adsorption capability and hence a mixture of brick dust and activated carbon allows us to combine good adsorption property with lesser cost as brick dust can be procured at negligible amount. The aftereffect of this investigation demonstrates that around 40%-80% of ammoniacal nitrogen (with focus around 1000 mg/L) can be expel financially by blending initiated carbon with brick dust and can be actually useful as a financially savvy medium to substitute activated carbon for the expulsion of ammoniacal nitrogen from procured landfill leachate at a considerable low cost.

Research paper thumbnail of O-Anisidine Degradation by Fenton’s Reagent and Reaction Time Estimation

O-Anisidines (OAs) are extensively used as an intermediate for chemical reactions to produce vari... more O-Anisidines (OAs) are extensively used as an intermediate for chemical reactions to produce various triphenylmethane and azo dyes, and also in manufacturing numerous pigments. They are found to be highly toxic and have carcinogenic properties, so it is imperative to treat OA solutions before disposal. In this study a promising approach to degrade OA solutions has been carried out using Fenton’s reagent. Oxidation trials were conducted for 24 hours and various parameters – OA removal, pH, effect of H2O2 and Fe2+, and COD removal – were analysed to understand the oxidative degradation of OA. For varying initial OA concentrations, the OA and COD removal efficiencies of 72 to 85% and 62 to 74%, respectively, were obtained at pH = 3, and at different optimum H2O2 and Fe2+ doses. Lower initial concentrations of OA showed better removal efficiencies. The reaction time was estimated to 360 minutes after which there was negligible degradation occurs.

Research paper thumbnail of Investigations on Common Treatment Technologies for Some Biomedical Wastes

... I acknowledge with deep gratitude the inspiring guidance of Dr. Vineet Kumar, Professor &... more ... I acknowledge with deep gratitude the inspiring guidance of Dr. Vineet Kumar, Professor & Head, Chemical Engineering Department and Dr. Susheel Mittal, Professor & Head, ... and Dr. HaripadaBhunia, Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering Department during ...

Research paper thumbnail of Annual Pattern of Biomedical Waste Generation and the Seasonal Variation

Waste generation in a healthcare facility depends basically upon a number of factors including bu... more Waste generation in a healthcare facility depends basically upon a number of factors including but not limited to the number of patients treated, the total bed occupancy rate and the type of diseases treated. These three aspects are controlled by many sub factors but in this case study we have studied the seasonal variation, average temperature and disease outbreak in the area where the health care facility under study is located and the way in which they influence the amount of medical waste generated. Data on medical waste generation at the largest health facility of a hilly town of Himachal Pradesh a northern state of India was collected by observational approach, formal personal interviews, informal dialogue and site visits for analysis between August 2011 and August 2014. It was found out that the waste generated is directly related to the average temperature and varies with the seasonal variations. It was further found out that the waste generated at the health care facility w...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of pine cone derived activated carbon as an adsorbent in defluoridation

SN Applied Sciences

A vast population of the world is vulnerable to fluoride contaminated drinking water intake, and ... more A vast population of the world is vulnerable to fluoride contaminated drinking water intake, and there are various defluoridation techniques available to date as well. But the removal of fluoride is still a challenge, especially in remote rural areas because available techniques require proper supervision and equally, ineffective due to economic issues and electricity crisis. Among all methods of defluoridation, adsorption methods are found better to carry out at the community and household level but sometimes demanded a replacement of commercial activated carbon (CAC) due to economic issues and less availability in remote areas. Hence keeping this in mind, the present study assessed the pine cone activated carbon (PCAC) as adsorbent material in the defluoridation that is easy to prepare like any other agriculture-waste material. The activated carbon was prepared using KOH as an impregnating agent for activation of pine cone by pyrolysis technique at 800 °C and has been analyzed for various parameters in the fluoride removal viz. contact time, dose variation, pH and initial fluoride concentration. The maximum adsorption capacity of fluoride on pine cone activated carbon was found 1.34 mg/g of initial fluoride concentration (2-12 mg/L) at pH (6.8-7.0) with a contact period of 45 min. Also, a comparison has been made between Pine Cone Activated Carbon (PCAC) with Commercial Activated Carbon (CAC) based on obtained results. It has been suggested that Pine cone activated carbon is efficient as well as cheap adsorbent and can be used for the removal of fluoride from drinking water in rural areas.

Research paper thumbnail of Performance optimization of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater treatment and sustainable Bio-H2 production using response surface methodology (RSM)

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy