Publications
On-site treatment of source separated domestic wastewater employing anaerobic package system
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
On-site treatment of black water generated at a residential school was investigated by employing an upgraded two-stage package system: a modified septic tank followed by an anaerobic filter. The findings revealed that the average removal efficiency for CODtot, CODss, BOD and TSS were 72.6, 90.2, 78.4 and 83.2%, respectively. Monthly septage characterization revealed a declining trend in VSS/TSS ratio, which indicated the progressive hydrolysis as well as stabilization of the sludge.
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in river and ground/drinking water of the Ganges River basin: Emissions and implications for human exposure
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
Many perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They have been widely used in production processes and daily-use products or may result from degradation of precursor compounds in products or the environment. India, with its developing industrialization and population moving from traditional to contemporary lifestyles, represents an interesting case study to investigate PFAS emission and exposure along steep environmental and socioeconomic gradients.
Performance of Upflow Anaerobic Bioelectrochemical Reactor Compared to the Sludge Blanket Reactor for Acidic Distillery Wastewater Treatment
Research Paper
| January 11, 2018
The performance of upflow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UABE), equipped with electrodes (anode and cathode) inside the upflow anaerobic reactor, was compared to that of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater. The UASB was stable in pH, alkalinity and VFAs until the organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.0 g COD/L.d, but it became unstable over 4.0 g COD/L.d. As a response to the abrupt doubling in OLR, the perturbation in the state variables for the UABE was smaller, compared to the UASB, and quickly recovered.
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.