High Permeate Recovery for Concentrate Reduction by Integrated Membrane Process in Textile Effluent.

The textile dyeing industry consumes a significant amount of high-quality water for processing, which stresses water resources. In recent decades, technologies have been developed to recover water from wastewater. This study describes the high recovery (greater than 92%) of reusable water from an industrial-scale hosiery dye-water recovery facility, consisting of three stages of reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration. The effluent was pre-treated before the membrane process was performed to prevent biofouling. The process performance results in the generation of a consistent water quality that is required for dyeing operations. An average feed flux of 15 l/m2h was maintained in the reverse osmosis membrane by regular chemical dosing and cleaning. The integrated membrane process achieved a permeate with a pH of 6.5 and total dissolved solids (TDS) of 160 mg/l, with no other contaminants, which is of sufficient quality for reuse in the cotton hosiery dyeing process.

Preparation and characterization of porous cross linked laccase aggregates for the decolorization of triphenyl methane and reactive dyes.

The production of porous cross-linked enzyme aggregates (p-CLEAs) is a simple and effective methodology for laccase immobilization. A three-phase partitioning technique was applied to co-precipitate laccase and starch, followed by cross-linking with glutaraldehyde and removal of starch by α-amylase to create pores in the CLEAs. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a very smooth spherical structure with numerous large pores. The half-life of free laccase at 55°C was calculated to be 1.3h, while p-CLEAs did not lose any activity even after 14 h. p-CLEAs also exhibited improved storage stability, catalytic efficiency and could be recycled 15 times with 60% loss of activity. The catalysts decolorized triphenylmethane and reactive dyes by 60-70% at initial dye concentrations of 2 and 0.5 g L(-1), respectively, without any mediators. These results suggest the potential of CLEA technology in waste-water treatment.

Equilibrium and kinetic studies on the removal of Acid Red 114 from aqueous solutions using activated carbons prepared from seed shells.

The use of low-cost and ecofriendly adsorbents has been investigated as an ideal alternative to the current expensive methods of removing dyes from wastewater. This paper deals with the removal of Acid Red 114 (AR 114) from aqueous solutions using activated carbons prepared from agricultural waste materials such as gingelly (sesame) (Sp), cotton (Cp) and pongam (Pp) seed shells. Optimum conditions for AR 114 removal were found to be pH 3, adsorbent dosage=3g/L of solution and equilibrium time=4h. Higher removal percentages were observed at lower concentrations of AR 114. The adsorption isotherm data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich equation, and the adsorption capacity of the studied adsorbents was in the order Sp>Cp>Pp. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed both pseudo-second-order and Elovich equation. The thermodynamics parameters such as DeltaG degrees, DeltaH degrees, DeltaS degrees were also evaluated. The activated carbons prepared were characterized by FT-IR, SEM and BET analysis.

Removal of Acid Violet 17 from aqueous solutions by adsorption onto activated carbon prepared from sunflower seed hull.

The adsorption of Acid Violet 17 (AV17) was carried out using various activated carbons prepared from sunflower seed hull (SSH), an agricultural solid waste by-product. The effect of parameters such as agitation time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, pH and temperature were studied. The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were applied and the Langmuir model was found to best report the equilibrium isotherm data. Langmuir adsorption capacity was found to be 116.27 mg/g. Kinetic data followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Maximum colour removal was observed at pH 2.0. It was observed that the rate of adsorption improves with increasing temperature and the process is endothermic. The adsorbent surface was analysed with a scanning electron microscope. The results indicate that activated sunflower seed hull could be an attractive option for colour removal from dilute industrial effluents.

Production of biogas from municipal solid waste with domestic sewage.

In this study, experiments were conducted to investigate the production of biogas from municipal solid waste (MSW) and domestic sewage by using anaerobic digestion process. The batch type of reactor was operated at room temperature varying from 26 to 36 degrees C with a fixed hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 25 days. The digester was operated at different organic feeding rates of 0.5, 1.0, 2.3, 2.9, 3.5 and 4.3kg of volatile solids (VS)/m(3) of digester slurry per day. Biogas generation was enhanced by the addition of domestic sewage to MSW. The maximum biogas production of 0.36m(3)/kg of VS added per day occurred at the optimum organic feeding rate of 2.9kg of VS/m(3)/day. The maximum reduction of total solids (TS) (87.6%), VS (88.1%) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) (89.3%) occurred at the optimum organic loading rate of 2.9kg of VS/m(3)/day. The quality of biogas produced during anaerobic digestion process was 68-72%.

Surface ozone measurements at urban coastal site Chennai, in India.

The present study was carried out to gain knowledge of current surface ozone concentrations and the effects of meteorological parameters in the highly populated urban area of Chennai, in South India. We have reported measurement results of surface ozone (O(3)) and meteorological parameters from 17th March to 10th October 2005. A photometric ozone analyzer continuously recorded the ozone concentrations at this site. The present study deals with the statistical characteristics of daily and monthly mean ozone levels under different meteorological conditions. The highest ozone concentrations were recorded in ESE-SE sectors. The monthly mean concentrations were higher in May (23+/-14 ppb) and lower in April at this site (10+/-8 ppb). The maximum hourly ozone concentration reached 69 ppb on 21st April.

Equilibrium studies for the adsorption of acid dye onto modified hectorite.

The adsorption of Acid dye, C.I. Acid Red 151 from aqueous solution onto modified hectorite at different concentrations and pH has been studied. Hectorite clay has been modified using two cationic surfactants, cetyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and cetylpyridinium chloride. Present experimental study shows that acidic pH favours enhanced adsorption. The adsorption isotherms are described by means of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity has been found to be 208.33 and 169.49 mg g(-1) for the modified cetyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride-hectorite (CDBA-hect) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CP-hect), respectively.

Air quality monitoring in Chennai, India, in the summer of 2005.

During the summer of 2005, concentrations of surface ozone (O(3)), oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)), respirrable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and total suspended particulate matter (TSPM), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS) and wind direction (WD) were collected over successive periods of about 24 h at five sites. UV photometric ozone analyzer was used to measure the concentration of surface O(3). The study deals with the characteristics of hourly and daily mean surface O(3) under different climatic conditions, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and wind direction and other pollutant concentrations. The maximum hourly O(3) concentration reached 53 ppb on 17th May. The ground-level O(3) concentration in Chennai varied between 2 and 53 ppb. The concentration of NO(x) and O(3) were below the prescribed limits. The TSPM values were exceeded the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) at Koyambedu, Mandaveli, Taramani and Vallalar Nagar study area.

Adsorption of acid dye onto organobentonite.

Removal of Acid Red 151 from aqueous solution at different dye concentrations, adsorbent doses and pH has been studied. The bentonite clay has been modified using cationic surfactants, which has been confirmed using XRD and FT-IR analyses. Experimental result has shown that the acidic pH favours the adsorption. The adsorption isotherms are described by means of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption capacity has been found to be 357.14 and 416.66 mg g(-1) for the cetyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride-bentonite (CDBA-bent) and cetylpyridinium chloride-bentonite (CP-bent), respectively. Kinetic studies show that the adsorption followed second-order kinetics.