School Of Environment And Earth Sciences
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://kr.cup.edu.in/handle/32116/83
Browse
6 results
Search Results
Item Synergistic effect of TiO2 nanostructured cathode in microbial fuel cell for bioelectricity enhancement(Elsevier Ltd, 2023-03-30T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; J, Rajesh Banu; N, Yogalakshmi K.Nano-bedecking of electrode with nanoparticles is an effective method to improve power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, different concentrations (0.25 mg cm?2, 0.50 mg cm?2, 0.75 mg cm?2 and 1.0 mg cm?2) of TiO2 nanoparticles of size 10�25 nm were overlaid on the carbon cloth (CC) using spray pyrolysis technique and used as catalytic cathode in a dual-chambered microbial fuel cell treating distillery wastewater. Results evidenced that TiO2 nanoparticles modified cathode increased the power generation and recorded a highest power and current density of 162.5 � 2 mW m?2 and 1.4 � 0.005 A m?2, respectively. Carbon cloth coated with 0.50 mg cm?2 TiO2 nanoparticles showed 2.8 and 7.3 times higher current and power density as compared to uncoated cathode. MFC operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) of 72 h and 59.2 g COD L?1 d?1 showed a maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 72.3% which was 15.3% higher than the control MFC. Likewise, the coulombic efficiency of control and modified MFC was 33% and 44%, respectively. The maximum NO3?- N, NO2?- N and NH4+- N removal efficiency of 77.3%, 49.9% and 59.4% were observed for TiO2 nanoparticles modified electrode which was 19.3%, 11.4% and 10.5% higher than control. TiO2 modified cathode was effective in enhancing the bioelectricity generation in MFCs. � 2023Item Anode modification: An approach to improve power generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)(Elsevier, 2023-01-27T00:00:00) Rani, Gini; Jaswal, Vijay; Yogalakshmi, K.N.Global energy demand is continuously increasing and has become a matter of concern. At present, 86% of the energy demand are accomplished by fossil fuels, but these deliver harmful effects on the environment by releasing CO2 in the atmosphere. Contrary, though nonrenewable resources such as solar, wind, and bioenergy possess minimal carbon footprints, they suffer from limitations of higher installation cost, low efficiency, and complex operation system. Since the past two decades, a relatively new sustainable technology, the microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged with potential to convert the bond energy of molecules present in organic/inorganic waste into electric energy with the help of microbes. The electricity produced through the release of electrons during microbial degradation of organic waste can be used to offset the running cost of wastewater treatment plants. The performance of the MFCs is influenced by a number of cofactors, viz. type of reactor, nature of feed, microbial consortia, electrode material, and mode of operation. Anode plays a significant role in the power enhancement. Across the globe, various research groups are working to enhance the efficiency and power output of anode through its modification using conductive polymers (polypyrrole and polyaniline), metal oxides, nanomaterials, and many others. MFC operated with the electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified anode evidenced a power density enhanced by 17.5 times as compared to carbon cloth. In the past 5 years, power density ranging from 6.12 to 6119mWm?2 was observed with various modified anode. The chapter will throw light on anode materials popularly used in MFC, method/techniques used for its modification to enhance energy output and limitations that restrict its wide-scale application. � 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Item Rice husk-derived silicon nanostructured anode to enhance power generation in microbial fuel cell treating distillery wastewater(Academic Press, 2022-12-16T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; Kadapakkam Nandabalan, YogalakshmiThe present study aims to utilize rice husk as a source of silica to prepare rice husk derived silicon nanoparticles (RH-Si) and demonstrate its ability as an anode modifier in a two-chambered H-shaped microbial fuel cell (MFC). The silicon nanoparticles synthesized by magnesiothermal reduction process were spherical in shape and ranged in size from 15 to 60 nm. The anode modified with silicon nanoparticles of 0.50 mg cm?2 recorded the maximum power and current density of 190.5 mW m?2 and 1.5 A m?2 corresponding to 7.6-fold and 3-fold increase as compared to the control. The modified anode also recorded a COD removal and coulombic efficiency of 74% and 49%, respectively in MFC operated with combined distillery and domestic wastewater at a HRT and OLR of 72 h and 59.2 gCOD L?1 d?1, respectively. The results evidence that RH derived silicon NPs are good anode modifiers and effective in enhancing bioelectricity generation and COD removal in MFCs. � 2022 Elsevier LtdItem Multi-parametric groundwater quality and human health risk assessment vis-�-vis hydrogeochemical process in an Agri-intensive region of Indus basin, Punjab, India(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2021-06-14T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; Kumar, Ravishankar; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Mittal, Sunil; Kumar, Ajay; Sahoo, Sunil Kumar; Nandabalan, Yogalakshmi KadapakkamThe groundwater quality of the Indus basin of Punjab, India, is a serious concern due to the existence of toxic contaminants. Although, this contamination has been documented in some studies, some part of this basin is scantily explored. This is true for the Fazilka district of Malwa region, Punjab. In the present study, a total of 78 groundwater samples were collected from this district to evaluate their suitability for drinking and irrigation purpose, to understand the current hydrogeochemical processes involved and assess the human health risk status of the region. The results of the water quality index (WQI) revealed that majority of the groundwater samples were of poor quality with U, F?, SO42?, and NO3? exceeding the BIS limit in 60%, 94%, 43%, and 19% of samples, respectively. The groundwater geochemistry is mainly influenced by rock-water interaction. Ca-Mg-Cl water type is identified as the dominant hydrogeochemical facies, followed by Ca-Mg-SO42? and Na-Cl types. The Mg2+ and Na+ were identified as the major cations, while SO42? and HCO3? existed as the dominant anions. Furthermore, the results of Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical cluster and Pearson correlation matrix (PCM) analyses corroborated the elevated level of U, F?, SO42? with geogenic activity supplemented with agrochemical activities. The annual effective intake dose of U exceeded the WHO recommended mean annual effective dose of U (100 �Sv y?1) for all age groups with infants recording the highest dose of U (151 �Sv y?1). Moreover, the non-cancer risk of U and F? exceeded the USEPA limit (HQ-1) in majority of the sites. The high cumulative risk of non-carcinogenic contaminants (HI-4.6) in the entire study area is a matter of grave concern. � 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Item Photosynthetic Microbial Fuel Cells: From Fundamental to Potential Applications(Springer Singapore, 2021-02-09T00:00:00) Jaswal, Vijay; Rani, Gini; Yogalakshmi, K.N.In photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (MFC), algae and photosynthetic bacteria undergo photosynthesis to generate electricity by harnessing the solar energy. The microorganisms on absorbing solar energy initiate a series of reactions to generate protons (H+ ions), electron, and oxygen through splitting of water. The energy from these reaction series is harnessed by placing photosynthetic organisms in anodic chamber separated from cathodic chamber by a semipermeable membrane selective for hydrogen ions. The electrons generated in an anodic chamber by photosynthetic activity of microbes travel through an outer circuit to the cathodic chamber, where they combine with protons and oxygen at the reductive electrode (cathode) to generate water. This technology has huge potential for converting solar energy into electrical energy and might also help to reduce the carbon footprint. The chapter discusses the concept, fundamentals, process design and operation of photosynthetic MFC. Furthermore, the role of photosynthetic organisms in MFC, various bottlenecks faced by MFC systems and their potential applications are also outlined in the chapter. � Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020.Item An Insight into Biological Photovoltaic Cell Based Electrochemical System(Springer Singapore, 2021-02-02T00:00:00) Rani, Gini; Jaswal, Vijay; Banu, Rajesh; Yogalakshmi, K.N.Biological photovoltaic cells can be called as living solar cells. They use oxygenic photoautotrophs such as cyanobacteria and algae, instead of silicon, to capture light energy for photolysis. The organisms such as cyanobacteria and algae capture light energy during the process of photosynthesis and perform charge separation of water molecules (photolysis), producing protons, electrons, and oxygen molecules. The electrons thus produced are transferred to the anode and through external circuit they move to cathode to get reduced to water, producing electric current. Biophotovoltaic (BPV) are different from traditional silicon based solar photovoltaics (SPV) cells in a number of ways. Unlike SPV, the presence of water is imperative in BPV for the algae/cyanobacteria to perform photolysis. The BPV are self-renewing in nature and do not require any external carbon source for growth. The technology of BPV can be incorporated in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) to generate green energy. BPV based electrochemical technology can be used as solar bio-battery or bio-solar panel. It can also be utilized in low powered devices such as alarm clocks. Despite the multiple advantages of BPV, still they are in the threshold of its development due to its energy conversion efficiency. The chapter would comprehensively explain the principle, working, and application of biological photovoltaic systems. � Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2020.