Browsing by Author "Mittal, S."

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    Characterization, activity and process optimization with a biomass-based thermal power plant's fly ash as a potential catalyst for biodiesel production
    (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015) Kumar, P.; Aslam, M.; Singh, N.; Mittal, S.; Bansal, A.; Jha, M.K.; Sarma, A.K.
    A typical thermal power plant operated using a solid biomass mixture as fuel, which comprised 70-80% gram straw, 10-15% cotton straw, 5-10% wheat straw and leaves (2%) with a small quantity of coal (1-2%) initially used for smooth ignition, produces a residue called Biomass-Based Thermal Power Plant Fly Ash (BBTPFS). BBTPFS was investigated for composition and structural characterization using different techniques. The versatile composition of the BBTPFS was confirmed by XRF analysis that indicated the weight percent of different components viz. CaO (30.74%), SiO2 (27.87%), K2O (13.96%), MgO (6.67%), SO3 (4.83%), Cl (3.36%), Al2O3 (2.83%), Fe2O3 (2.36%), P2O5 (1.34%), Na2O (1.14%), small quantities of TiO2, SrO, MnO, BaO, ZrO2, ZnO, Rb2O, Br, Cr2O3, CuO, NiO and As2O3 as active ingredients. The SEM and TEM image analysis showed the surface morphology of the BBTPFS which was found to be mixed in nature, having 1 to 500 nm range particles with meso, micro and macro porosity. BBTPFS was used as a catalyst for transesterification of Jatropha curcas oil having a high percentage of free fatty acids and appropriate process optimization was achieved using the Taguchi-ANOVA method. It was observed that at a temperature of 225?C and an internal vapour pressure of 3.2 MPa in a batch reactor with 5% catalyst loading, 1:9 mol mol-1 of oil-alcohol and 3 h reaction time, the optimum yield of biodiesel obtained was ?93.9%, which is in agreement with the theoretical value. The product quality was assessed and found to conform to ASTM and EN-standards. ? The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.
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    COVID-19 lockdown: a rare opportunity to establish baseline pollution level of air pollutants in a megacity, India
    (Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021-02-22T00:00:00) Sahoo, P.K.; Salom�o, G.N.; da Silva Ferreira J�nior, J.; de Lima Farias, D.; Powell, M.A.; Mittal, S.; Garg, V.K.
    This paper analyses air quality data from megacity�Delhi, India, during different periods related to the COVID-19, including pre-lockdown, lockdown and unlocked (post-lockdown) (2018�2020) to determine what baseline levels of air pollutants might be and the level of impact that could be anticipated under the�COVID-19 lockdown�emission scenario. The results show that air quality improved significantly during the lockdown phases, with the most significant changes occurring in the transportation and industrially dominated areas. A pronounced decline in PM2.5 and PM10 up to 63% and 58%, respectively, was observed during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period in 2020. When compared to 2018 and 2019, they were lower by up to 51% and 61%, respectively, dropping by 56% during unlock. Some pollutants (NOx and CO) dropped significantly during lockdown, while SO2 and O3 declined only slightly. Moreover, when compared between the different phases of lockdown, the maximum decline for most of the pollutants and air quality index occurred during the�lockdown phase 1; thus, this period was used to report the�COVID-19 baseline threshold values�(CBT; threshold value is the upper limit of baseline variation). Of the various�statistical methods used median + 2 median absolute deviation (mMAD)�was most suitable, indicating CBT values�of 143 and 75 ug/m3 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. This results although preliminary, but�it�gives a positive indication that temporary lockdown can be considered as a boon to mitigate the damage we have done to the environment. Also, this baseline levels can be helpful�as a first line of information�to set future�target limits�or to�develop effiective management policies for achieving better air quality in urban centres like Delhi. � 2021, Islamic Azad University (IAU).
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    Effects of Environmental Pesticides on the Health of Rural Communities in the Malwa Region of Punjab, India: A Review
    (2014) Mittal, S.; Kaur, G.; Vishwakarma, G.S.
    The Malwa region of Punjab, India, is facing an unprecedented crisis of environmental health linked to indiscriminate, excessive, and unsafe use of pesticides, fertilizers, and poor groundwater quality. The region has been described as India's "cancer capital" due to abnormally high number of cancer cases, which have increased 3-fold in the last 10 years. Studies of this region have also highlighted a sharp increase in many other pesticide-related diseases, such as mental retardation and reproductive disorders. The most affected individuals are the agricultural workers who are directly exposed to pesticides. The Malwa region of Punjab, India, is less than 15% of the total area of Punjab (only 0.5% of the total geographical area of India), but it consumes nearly 75% of the total pesticides used in Punjab. The high use of pesticides, along with environmental and social factors, is responsible for the high concentration of pesticide residues in the food chain of this region. Moreover, many banned and restricted pesticides are still in use in this region, warranting strict periodical health checkups and other interventions. The present review describes occupational, environmental, and social factors associated with pesticide use in the Malwa region of Punjab, India, and proposes some risk reduction interventions. ? 2014 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
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    Influence of anion induced proton abstraction on Cu(II) adsorption by alginic acid
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015) Vaid, U.; Mittal, S.; Nagendra Babu, J.
    Alginic acid (AA) synthesized by acidification of commercial sodium alginate was investigated for its Cu(II) adsorption efficiency in the presence of different counter ions. The results of batch adsorption studies indicated an adsorption of 169.86 mg/g of Cu(II) by AA in the presence of acetate ions, however, it significantly decreased in the presence of chloride (126.36 mg/g), sulphate (115.24 mg/g) and nitrate (113.28 mg/g) as counter ions. This can be accounted to the tendency of conjugate base (anion) to abstract proton from AA, which determines the extent of deprotonation of carboxylic acid. The FTIR and TGA/DTA studies support the difference in the coordination of carboxylate to Cu(II) in the presence of various counter anions. Acetate showed strong chelate coordination between Cu(II) and AA, whereas in the presence of Cl-, NO3- and SO42 -, Cu(II) was complexed by weak bridging coordination with AA. � 2015 Elsevier B.V.
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    Polymeric Encapsulates of Essential Oils and Their Constituents: A Review of Preparation Techniques, Characterization, and Sustainable Release Mechanisms
    (Taylor and Francis Inc., 2016) Vishwakarma, G.S.; Gautam, N.; Babu, J.N.; Mittal, S.; Jaitak, Vikas
    Natural polymer based encapsulation of essential oil (EO) is one of the emerging and challenging area of research in perfumery, cosmetics, flavoring agents, preservatives, therapeutics, etc. The knowledge of formulation techniques and physico-chemical properties of the polymers are the basic requirements for the successful encapsulations of essential oils (EOs). This current review article is focused on a comparative account of various formulation techniques based on their applicability. For the first time, it also reviews various physico-chemical techniques used in the analysis of EO encapsulates to determine their stability, structure, surface morphology, and encapsulation efficiency. Further, the mechanisms involved in the release of EOs from encapsulates, along with various factors affecting their release, have also been discussed. ? 2016 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.