Vimal Chandra Srivastava

An evaluation of desulfurization technologies for sulfur removal from liquid fuels

Sulfur compounds represent one of the most common impurities present in the crude oil. Sulfur in liquid fuel oil leads directly to the emission of SO2 and sulfate particulate matter (SPM) that endangers public health and community property; and reduces the life of the engine due to corrosion. Furthermore, the sulfur compounds in the exhaust gases of diesel engines can significantly impair the emission control technology designed to meet NOx and SPM emission standards. The research efforts for developing conventional hydrodesulfurization and alternative desulfurization methods such as selective adsorption, biodesulfurization, oxidation/extraction (oxidative desulfurization), etc. for removing these refractory sulfur compounds from petroleum products are on the rise. Research laboratories and refineries are spending huge amounts of money in finding a viable and feasible solution to reduce sulfur to a concentration of less than 10 mg l−1. This paper reviews the current status in detail of various desulphurization techniques being studied worldwide. It presents an overview of novel emerging technologies for ultra-deep desulfurization so as to produce ultra-low-sulfur fuels.

Rice husk ash as an effective adsorbent: Evaluation of adsorptive characteristics for Indigo Carmine dye

Present study explored the adsorptive characteristics of Indigo Carmine (IC) dye from aqueous solution onto rice husk ash (RHA). Batch experiments were carried out to determine the influence of parameters like initial pH (pH(0)), contact time (t), adsorbent dose (m) and initial concentration (C(0)) on the removal of IC. The optimum conditions were found to be: pH(0)=5.4, t=8h and m=10.0 g/l. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model represented the adsorption kinetics of IC on to RHA. Equilibrium isotherms were analyzed by Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin and Redlich-Peterson models using a non-linear regression technique. Adsorption of IC on RHA was favorably influenced by an increase in the temperature of the operation. The positive values of the change in entropy (DeltaS(0)) and heat of adsorption (DeltaH(0)); and the negative value of change in Gibbs free energy (DeltaG(0)) indicate feasible and spontaneous adsorption of IC on to RHA.

Nano‐adsorbents for the removal of metallic pollutants from water and wastewater

Of the variety of adsorbents available for the removal of heavy and toxic metals, activated carbon has been the most popular. A number of minerals, clays and waste materials have been regularly used for the removal of metallic pollutants from water and industrial effluents. Recently there has been emphasis on the application of nanoparticles and nanostructured materials as efficient and viable alternatives to activated carbon. Carbon nanotubes also have been proved effective alternatives for the removal of metallic pollutants from aqueous solutions. Because of their importance from an environmental viewpoint, special emphasis has been given to the removal of the metals Cr, Cd, Hg, Zn, As, and Cu. Separation of the used nanoparticles from aqueous solutions and the health aspects of the separated nanoparticles have also been discussed. A significant number of the latest articles have been critically scanned for the present review to give a vivid picture of these exotic materials for water remediation.

An overview of various technologies for the treatment of dairy wastewaters.

Dairy industries have shown tremendous growth in size and number in most countries of the world. These industries discharge wastewater which is characterized by high chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nutrients, and organic and inorganic contents. Such wastewaters, if discharged without proper treatment, severely pollute receiving water bodies. In this article, the various recent advancements in the treatment of dairy wastewater have been discussed and the areas where further research is needed have been identified.

Treatment of bio-digester effluent by electrocoagulation using iron electrodes

The present paper deals with chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of a bio-digester effluent (BDE) in a batch electrocoagulation (EC) reactor using iron electrode. A central composite (CC) experimental design has been employed to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of four independent parameters on the COD removal efficiency. The parameters studied are current density (j): 44.65-223.25A/m(2); initial pH (pH(0)): 2-8; inter-electrode distance (g): 1-3 cm and electrolysis time (t): 30-150 min. The results have been analyzed using Pareto analysis of variance (ANOVA). Analysis showed a high coefficient of determination value (R(2)=0.8547) and satisfactory prediction for second-order regression model. Graphical response surface and contour plots have been used to locate the optimum values of studied parameters. Maximum COD and color reduction of 50.5% and 95.2%, respectively, was observed at optimum conditions. Present study shows that EC technique can be employed in distilleries to reduce the pollution load before treatment in aerobic treatment plants to meet the discharge standards.

Treatment of dairy wastewater by commercial activated carbon and bagasse fly ash: Parametric, kinetic and equilibrium modelling, disposal studies.

Present study reports treatment of synthetic dairy wastewater (SDW) in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal by means of adsorption onto activated carbon-commercial grade (ACC) and bagasse fly ash (BFA). Optimum conditions for SDW treatment were found to be: initial pH approximately 4.8, adsorbent dose of 20g/l for ACC and 10g/l for BFA and contact time approximately 8h. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to fit the kinetic data and Redlich-Peterson isotherm model was generally found to best represent the equilibrium data for SDW treatment by ACC and BFA. The change in entropy and enthalpy for SDW adsorption onto ACC and BFA were estimated as 125.85kJ/molK and 91.53kJ/mol; and 25.71kJ/molK and 17.26kJ/mol, respectively. The negative values of change in Gibbs free energy indicate the feasibility and spontaneous nature of the adsorptive treatment.

Modelling Individual and Competitive Adsorption of Cadmium(II) and Zinc(II) Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution onto Bagasse Fly Ash

Abstract The present study deals with the competitive adsorption of cadmium (Cd(II)) and zinc (Zn(II)) ions onto bagasse fly ash (BFA) from binary systems. BFA is a waste obtained from the bagasse‐fired boilers of sugar mills. The initial pH≈6.0 is found to be the optimum for the individual removal of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions by BFA. The equilibrium adsorption data were obtained at different initial concentrations (C 0 = 10–100 mg/l), 5 h contact time, 30°C temperature, BFA dosage of 10 mg/l at pH 0 = 6. The Redlich–Peterson (R–P) and the Freundlich models represent the single ion equilibrium adsorption data better than the Langmuir model. The adsorption capacities in the binary‐metal mixtures are in the order Zn(II)>Cd(II) and is in agreement with the single‐component adsorption data. The equilibrium metal removal decreases with increasing concentrations of the other metal ion and the combined action of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions on BFA is found to be antagonistic. Equilibrium isotherms for the binary adsorption of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions on BFA have been analyzed by non‐modified Langmuir, modified Langmuir, extended‐Langmuir, Sheindorf–Rebuhn–Sheintuch (SRS), non‐modified R–P and modified R–P adsorption models. The isotherm model fitting has been done by minimizing the Marquardts percent standard deviation (MPSD) error function using MS Excel. The SRS model satisfactory fits for most of the adsorption equilibrium data of Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions onto BFA.

Electrocoagulation study for the removal of arsenic and chromium from aqueous solution.

This study was undertaken to investigate the removal of arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) from aqueous solution using electrocoagulation (EC) technique. Batch EC studies were performed using iron electrodes to evaluate the influence of various experimental parameters on the removal of metal ions. The parameters were initial pH (pH 0), electrolysis time (t), initial concentration (C 0), electrode gap (g), stirring rate (r) and current density (j). Effect of pH 0 was studied in the range 2.0 to 8.0 while C 0 was varied from 10 to 100 mg/L. As and Cr removal by EC was governed by the chemical dissolution of iron, and the formation of metal-hydrous ferric oxide complexes, which in turn was strongly, influenced by pH 0 and j. Optimum value of pH 0 and j for As and Cr removal were found to be 4.0 and 2.0; and 75 and 50 A/m2, respectively. Removal efficiency increased with decrease in the value of C 0 and g. The r value of 100 rpm produced sufficient agitation for the proper agglomeration of flocs and optimum removal of ions.

Adsorption of Furfural from Aqueous Solution onto Activated Carbon: Kinetic, Equilibrium and Thermodynamic Study

Abstract The present study aims to evaluate the influence of various experimental parameters viz. initial pH (pH 0), adsorbent dose, contact time, initial concentration and temperature on the adsorptive removal of furfural from aqueous solution by commercial grade activated carbon (ACC). Optimum conditions for furfural removal were found to be pH 0 ≈ 5.9, adsorbent dose ≈ 10 g/l of solution and equilibrium time ≈ 6.0 h. The adsorption followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics. The effective diffusion coefficient of furfural was of the order of 10−13 m2/s. Furfural adsorption onto ACC was found to be best represented by the Redlich‐Peterson isotherm. A decrease in the temperature of the operation favorably influenced the adsorption of furfural onto ACC. The positive values of the change in entropy (ΔS 0); and the negatived value of heat of adsorption (ΔH 0) and change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG 0) indicated feasible, exothermic, and spontaneous nature of furfural adsorption onto ACC.

Critical analysis of engineering aspects of shaken flask bioreactors

Shaking bioreactors are the most frequently used reaction vessels in biotechnology. Since their inception, shaking bioreactors have been playing a significant role in medicine, agriculture, food, environmental, and industrial research. In spite of their huge practical importance, very little is known about the characteristic properties of shaken cultures from an engineering point of view. In this paper, a critical analysis is presented of the mixing characteristics, aeration, mass and heat transfer, power consumption, and suitability for on-line monitoring and control of various environmental and other operating parameters in aerated and anaerobic/anoxic conditions. Aspects of cell damage due to shear stress generated in shaken flask and loss of sterility due to contamination are also discussed.