IJEP 35 (3) : 177-187 (2015) (Received on August 24, 2014)

Environmental Study and Analysis of Silts Deposition at Maithon Reservoir

B. Mukherjee, S. Das and A. Mazumdar

Jadavpur University, School of Water Resources Engineering, Kolkata-700 032

Reservoir capacity around 2040-2050 will come to a critical condition due to siltation in the reservoir. Hence it is very pertinent to study the disilting of the dam and for which an environmental impact assessment methodology has to be takenup for avoiding serious environmental problems. In this research a study was undertaken on the future prediction of the total accumulated volume of reservoir around year 2043. Moreover, a potential forecast was also made about the deposition of sediments at various reaches at the upstream of Maithon reservoir by using least square line method. The results were validated with original surveyed data. In order to establish the calculated outcomes the validation was carried out in 2 processes, such as line of perfect agreement method and root mean square deviation error method. A non linear deposition of silts, along the considered reach range of 24 km at upstream of the reservoir, was observed and its reasons were also conferred.

KEYWORD

Accumulated volume of silt, Maithon reservoir, Environmental impact assessment, Siltation, Line of perfect agreement method, Root mean square deviation error.

IJEP 35 (3) : 188-199 (2015) (Received on November 2, 2014)

Model for Optimum Initial Earthworm Population in Vermicomposting

N.B. Singh, S.N. Chauhan, A.K. Khare, D.S. Bhargava and S.P. Shukla

Bhargava Lane, Devpura, Haridwar - 249 401

The epigeic earthworm (Perionyx excavatus) is increasingly used for the stabilization of a variety of non-toxic organic solid waste, as a modern tool of waste management. The effect of initial earthworm population on substrate density, ash content and temperature during vermicomposting of mixed vegetable residues using perionyx exacavatus have been studied. It was observed that substrate density and ash content increases with time of vermicomposting at a fater rate as compared to aerobic composting without earthworms. The substrate temperature was almost similar in all the experiments without a significant variation. The substrate density during vermicomposting as a function of time and earthworm population was assessed and a model for predicting initial earthworm population density required for minimum processing time has been worked out. The model was further used to develop a guide curve which can be used for predicting initial earthworm population density required to achieve desired processing time.

KEYWORD

Earthworm, Substrate density, Ash content, Vermicomposting, Modelling.

IJEP 35 (3) : 200-215 (2015) (Received on August 10, 2014)

Evaluation of Spatial Distribution of Erosion Potential of Jharia Coalfield by Geographical Information System

M. K. Jain and V. Vinod Babu

Indian School of Mines, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dhanbad-826 004

Jharia Coalfield is one of the oldest coalfields in India and mining is continued from more than 100 year. Due to its prime coking coal reserves, favourable coal seams configuration and high concentration of thick coal seams, the Jharia Coalfield became a highly attractive area for mining. Area is covered with number of open cast mines and few underground mines. Both types of workings are having potential of erosion in the area. An attempt has been made to evaluate erosion potential of the study area with the help of remote sensing data and tools in geographical information system.

KEYWORD

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IJEP 35 (3) : -227 (2015) (Received on August 12, 2014)

Recycling of Textiles : A Dire Need for Protection of Environs and Sustainability Amit Sengupta and Jagadananda Behera

Wool Research Association, Kolshet Road, Thane - 400 607

Textile industry is one of the most polluting industries, not only the production but the consumption produces wastes. Thus production and consumption of textiles create environmental problems and to minimize this ‘Reduce-Reuse-Recycling’ is mandatory. In this era of consumerism each one has to be sensitive to the textile sustainability issue. To counter the problem, textile industry has taken many measures for reducing its negative contribution towards environment, this is true from the production point of view, but as consumers, how far we are familiar with this concept, for this our textile consumption and disposal patterns needs to be examined. Textile recycling is the reuse, remanufacturing or reprocessing or back processing of a material or product with the scope of waste reduction. There is a huge amount of textiles which end up in landfill every year in the UK and recycling is one of the most easily understood and effective ways to address this. In terms of textiles, recycling can cover many different areas. Firstly, there is the recycling of clothing as whole garments. This could be through charity shops or via the vintage clothes market or through the reuse of clothing items which have been reworked, printed over or re-cut, to be resold. Secondly, there is the recycling of materials in a more industrial context. This could include the production of recycled yarn where textiles are unravelled and re-spun into new fibres. Or it could include the reuse of waste textiles as fillings for upholstery or as cleaning wipes for industrial purposes. Alongside this, is the sort of reuse that mainly occurs in a domestic setting. The ‘make-do and mend’ approach is either extending the useful life of an item or product, for example by darning some old wool socks, or reusing a material or product and giving it another function, such as turning old curtains into a garment. By upcycling textiles in this way, we can offer garments a second life and prevent them from ending up in landfill. Nearly three-quarter of the world’s population uses second-hand clothes, either bought through the marketplace or distributed by charitable organisations. A large amount of fibrous waste is generated each year in the United States. For economic and environmental reasons, industries and research organizations have been looking for various technologies to

recycle fibrous waste. This paper reviews the waste statistics, troubles and manufacturing consequence, recycling processes, international and Indian recycle scenario.

KEYWORD

Troubles and manufacturing consequence, Recycling processes, International and Indian recycle scenario.

IJEP 35 (3) : 228-234 (2015) (Received on June 2, 2014)

Potential of algal biodiesel as a renewable source – A review

Vandna Pathak, Ravindra Singh and Pankaj Gautam

Mahatma Gandhi Chitrakoot Gramodaya Vishwavidyalaya, Department of Physical sciences, Chitrakoot-485 780, Satna

The increasing global demand of biofuels for energy security and reduction in climate change effects generate the opportunity to explore new biomass sources. Algae are currently being considered as a versatile feedstock for biofuel production because of their fast growth rate and high biomass productivity. Based on the chemical composition, microalgae can be used to produce a variety of biofuels, such as biogas, ethanol, biodiesel, bio-oil and syngas. Biodiesel production using microalgae is attractive in a number of respects. While there has been much research into producing fuel from algae, a commercial-scale facility has not yet been built. This paper reviews the potential of algal biodiesel as a renewable source (Singh et al., 2011; Lam and Lee, 2014; Roddy, 2012; Gustava et al., 2013; Haase et al., 2013; Singh et al., 2010).

KEYWORD

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IJEP 35 (3) : 235-246 (2015) (Received on December 31, 2014)

End-of-Life Vehicle Recycling–An Analysis of the Indian Scenario

P.A. Azeem Hafiz and S. Pugazhendhi

Ace College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Thiruvananathapuram - 695 027

An end-of-life vehicle (ELV) is a vehicle, that is being taken out of use, either because of its age or because of damage from a collision. ELVs have become a global concern as automobiles have become popular worldwide. Under the current situation where automobile ownershipis growing rapidly, ELV management is of importance in terms of resource conservation, waste management and traffic safety that involves human lives (Sakai et al., 2013). While it is observed that ELV legislations are in place and ELV recycling systems are established in the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea and China, it is seen that in countries, like India, with growing automobile markets, no such regulations are in place and establishing ELV regulations is an urgent issue and needs to be addressed. This paper presents a detailed analysis on the existing ELV processing in India. The implications of the present system of ELV treatment in India are highlighted alongwith the suggestions for improving ELV management in India.

Keyword

End of life vehicle (ELV), Recycling, ELV management, ELV regulations.

IJEP 35 (3) : 247-256 (2015) (Received on June 2, 2014)

Feasibility Study and Application of different Industrial Sludge for Landfilling/Vegetative Propagation by Using Flyash, Soil and Chemical Coagulant

Rubina Chaudhary, Shukti Tomar and R. P. Singh

Devi Ahilya University, School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Takshashila Campus, Khandwa Road, Indore-452 001

This work proposed a database on characterization of sludge of 2 industries created as field application for utilizing the same to evaluate the present way of sludge handling and disposal systems of respective industries as well as to elaborate the possible alternatives, if any in the light of current information on emerging technology. The characteristics of sludge from both steel processing and pharmaceutical industries have shown that both of the sludge become useful when conditioned with the optimum dose. Among ferric chloride, aluminium sulphate and poly aluminum chloride used as conditioner, the poly aluminum chloride is best conditioner. It reduces the moisture content upto 27-29% which improve its dewatering capacity. It was found that sludge from steel processing unit when mix with ash does not support plant growth but it in can be for filling or leveling of low lying area. Sludge from pharmaceutical industry has less moisture content so does not require any pretreatment for it. When ash is mixed with sludge, it acts as a bulking agent. It reduces its moisture content and acts as a conditioner and also support plants growth. So it can be used for both leveling of low lying area and for agricultural uses.

KEYWORD

Treatment, Industrial sludge, Vegetative propagation, Flyash, Chemical coagulant.

IJEP 35 (3) :257 -261 (2015) (Received on July 1, 2014)

Impact of Web Server on the Environment: Need for Greening the Internet

Oinam Bhopen Singh

Icfai University Nagaland, Department of IT and Mathematics, Dimapur-797 112

Web servers are the heart of today’s web hosting industry. There are millions, perhaps, billions of web servers in the world as the number of internet users increase day by day. But, they are also the main contributors to web hosting industry’s energy consumption problem. To give uninterrupted service to the users web servers have to be on 24/7, 365 day non-stop. This requires huge energy backup from diesel engine generators, large UPS supported by lead-acid batteries. And half of this energy is used for cooling as lot of heat is produced. Directly or indirectly web server also produce carbon dioxide to a very large extend which leads to climate change. While the internet reduces commute times, lessening our reliance on physical copies of documents and making it easier to search and connect with information, they also contribute harmful greenhouse gas emission, e-waste, landfill contamination and air quality issues. All of us need to understand and contribute something as the web industry search for alternate source of energy.

Keyword

Web server, Data center, E-waste, Global warming, Pollution, Environment, Green computing.