Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution - Volume 9, issue 3

Article Type: Other

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. i-iv, 2012

Authors: Scholz, Bettina | Ziehe, Daniel | Pivetta, Lucinéia A. | Pielok, Nils | Liebezeit, Gerd

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Bioassays employing the luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri (LUMIStox system), the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) as well as the acetylcholinesterase inhibition test were used to evaluate sediment toxicity of surface sediments from five East Sumatra rivers. In March and November of 2008 samples were collected from Rokan, Siak, Kampar, Indragiri and Musi rivers from overall 52 stations. The sediments were extracted with a sediment/water ratio of 1:1 (w/v). The most toxic sediments were found at the stations …529 (Kampar), 543 (Musi) as well as 517 (Siak) during the November 2008 campaign. Of the bioassays employed in this study, the acetylcholinesterase inhibition test was the most responsive to the extracts (EC_{50} : 0.4 ± 0.1 to 1.02 ± 0.3 g/L), whereas the invertebrate lethality assay using Artemia salina was less sensitive (EC_{50} : 6.1 ± 0.6 to 9.3 ±; 0.4 g/L). While it was not possible to correlate the observed ecotoxicological effects with a specific and/or class of contaminants it is notable that the Siak sediment extracts were consistently ranked the most toxic with all test species and all test phases. Show more

Keywords: Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, bioassay test systems, brine shrimp assay, LUMIStox, Sumatra river sediment, toxicity

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 1-9, 2012

Authors: Ruto, W.K.S. | Kinyamario, J.I. | Ngétich, N.K. | Akunda, E. | Mworia, J.K.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Environmental gradients in physico-chemical properties and distance to human settlements at two wetlands (around Hyena and Nalogomon dams) in the Nairobi National Park were studied. Ordination showed that over 84% of the variation in both wetland waters and soils was accounted for by twelve parameters (physico-chemical properties and distance to settlements). In wetland waters, Cu and Mn contributed most to variation that was related to distance to nearest urban settlements. This means that the concentration of …the two elements increased as distance to settlements decreased. Elements Cu and Mn are pollution indicators and their increased concentration during the wet season in wetlands close to urban areas could be due to run-off or storm waters from the settled areas finding its way into the wetland. Critically, P and Cu varied along the distance gradient, being highest closest to urban settlements. The ordination plots on the wetland soil/sediment show a clear gradient, that is, a distance to urban settlements gradient that separates the two wetlands. Show more

Keywords: Wetlands, gradient analysis, human impacts

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 11-18, 2012

Authors: Kumar, Hemant | Mohanty, Kaustubha

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In the present study, mixed microbial culture isolated from the sludge of effluent treatment plant of a refinery was tested for its phenol biodegradation potential under static batch condition. The result showed that, after acclimatization, the culture could biodegrade upto 750 mg L^{-1} of phenol. 100% phenol degradation was achieved for the various concentrations studied. Kinetic study showed that specific growth rate of microorganisms and specific substrate degradation rate increased up to 300 mg …L^{-1} of initial phenol concentration and then started decreasing. The biodegradation kinetics was fitted to different substrate inhibition models by using optimization software tool (solver) in Microsoft office 2007. Among all models, Aiba model (μmax = 0.3187 h^{-1} , K_I = 400, R^2 = 0.915) and Edward Model (μmax = 0.0011 h^{-1} , K_I = 210 mg L^{-1} , R^2 = 0.942) were fitted the best. Growth kinetics was also fitted well to the classical Haldane model. The values of inhibition constant, K_I from Yano model indicated that this culture may well degrade phenol beyond 750 mg L^{-1} . Show more

Keywords: Phenol, mixed culture, batch mode, growth kinetics, inhibition model

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 19-24, 2012

Authors: Hakro, Ahmed Nawaz

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Theoretically, water supply, sanitation and poverty are intertwined. This intertwined link is governed by various socio-economic, political and cultural factors. In Pakistan, this interlink is very strong. This paper is designed to assess the extent of this link and to evaluate various options of interventions and their effectiveness. Data analysis suggests that the sector suffers from poor attributes of access, quality, coverage and expenditure constraints. Sector's review indicates that approaches, strategies and …priorities suffer from a number of problems. Results imply that water and sanitation approaches are less likely to work well or very effective. At least the approaches are not sustainable in the long run till the situation of the poor people will not be changed. Improvement could only be possible where the services are targeted efficiently with better access with low cost technologies coupled with improved pro-poor financial mechanisms. This can be achieved by extending the services to the income poor and water and sanitation poor and by extending the services in rural areas such as schools where the lack of facilities are visible. Show more

Keywords: Water supply, sanitation, poverty, Pakistan, Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP)

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 25-36, 2012

Authors: Ngomo, Horace Manga | Abi, Charles Fon | Tuemgnie, Gaëlle Tatiana Ngnie | Tsobnang, Patrice Kenfack | Mbadcam, Joseph Ketcha

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The removal of Co(II) ions by two Cameroon clays – kaolinite and smectite as adsorbents – was investigated in a batch system. The effect of Co(II) ions initial concentration, Co, pH and contact time, t, has been studied in terms of kinetic models. The experimental data fitted well the pseudo-second order kinetic model allowing the rate constant to be evaluated. This study shows that these clays could be used as important efficient adsorbent materials for the …uptake of Co(II) ions from aqueous solution at low initial concentrations. This study is important for the treatment of Co(II) ions effluent where continuous removal can be achieved on a large scale. Show more

Keywords: Adsorption, cobalt(II) ions, kinetic models, kaolinite, smectite

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 37-43, 2012

Authors: Giri, A.K. | Sachan, P. | Kushwaha, S. | Singh, M.P. | Verma, S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Effluent from an urban pond receiving domestic sewage for many decades was investigated. The chemical analysis of sewage of the pond revealed very high concentrations of BOD, COD, total N, NH_4^ + -N at alkaline pH with very low concentration of DO and caused stunted growth of Eichhornia crasspes. Hence, biomass productions by E. crassipes in different rate of diluted cultures, sewage with tap water were studied. The plant recorded significantly (p < 0.01) increased …biomass production, N uptake efficiency as well as N removal efficiency in two times dilution than undiluted sewage culture. Analysis of variance revealed significant variation among different rate of dilutions for net biomass production (F = 58.13), N uptake efficiency (F = 89.80) and N removal efficiency (F = 18.61) by E. crassipes at the end of two months culture study. Show more

Keywords: Domestic sewage, E. crassipes biomass, N uptake, N removal

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 45-50, 2012

Authors: Sriruang, Varittha | Pumijumnong, Nathsuda | Nutmagul, Winai | Surapipith, Vanisa

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This study is a documented research work that determines the emission quantities of HFCs, PFCs and SF6 in Thailand. The information included in this study is comprised of secondary data that have been collected from relevant government agency sources and the results of a field survey. The field survey provides information about the production process, the production output, and the emission factors for each specific production process, extracted from the Revised 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National …GHG Inventories, Volume 3. The effect of the use of HFC-134a in the manufacturing and servicing of household refrigerators and automobile air-conditionings was calculated during 2001–2006 and the results indicated that the direct emission of HFCs based on CO_2 and carbon equivalent was 59,280,394 and 16,300,616 MT carbon, respectively. Similarly, the effect of the use of SF6 in the manufacture was calculated during 2001-2006 and the results indicated that the direct emission of SF6 based on CO2 and carbon equivalent was 29,473 and 8038 MT carbon, respectively. The direct emission was calculated from the amount of HFCs, PFCs and SF6 that had leaked or had purged directly into the atmosphere. It was found that the direct emissions from manufacturing and servicing refrigerator had increased and the different emissions depend on the amount of GHG that was converted which was compared to the amount of equivalent CO_2 . Show more

Keywords: Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), per fluorocarbons (PFCs), sulphurhexafluoride (SF6), emission factor, greenhouse gas inventory

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 51-57, 2012

Authors: Dave, Pragnesh N. | Joshi, Asim

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In this study of plasma pyrolysis of cotton, main focus was drawn on the energy recovery possibilities by generating Syn gas (H_2 + CO) by thermal pyrolysis and gasification (cracking) of cotton through plasma as heat source. Through GC analysis, we concluded that plasma pyrolysis of cotton in temperature range of 500 to 700°C yields H2 as main component around 15–25% volume basis and other compounds like CO, CO_2 , CH_4 …, C_2 H_6 , C_2 H_4 , C2H2 and soot (carbon). Dioxin and furan formation do not take place as we worked in higher temperature ranges and then provided sudden fast quenching to avoid De-Nevo synthesis. The theoretical and experimental energy recovery comparisons have also been done and shown. Show more

Keywords: Plasma waste treatment, hydrogen, cotton waste, energy recovery, DC plasma

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 59-66, 2012

Authors: Sharan, Anand M.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This paper deals with an important phenomenon taking place these days – melting of polar ice caps and glaciers on various mountains around the globe. This phenomenon has already affected the population in India and Pakistan due to the drying up of rivers. This is an indication for those living in South East Asia, and Far East that without the rivers to irrigate fields, there would be major food crisis. In addition, it would result in mass …migration of people due to the shortage of water. This paper, at first, provides evidences of drying up processes of rivers Indus in Pakistan and Ganga in India – to show that the adverse effect of the global warming is already there in India and Pakistan, and this fact was completely missed out at the Copenhagen Conference in December 2009. Next, the paper shows that, without the glaciers on the Himalayas, vast areas in India and Pakistan would turn into deserts because in these areas the climate would change drastically due to lack of vegetation and influx of solar energy. Show more

Keywords: Melting of glaciers, melting of Himalayan glaciers, formation of desert, global food crisis, migration of populations

Citation: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 67-72, 2012