Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

A. Darwin ¹, S. S. Sundarvel ¹, R. Saravanane ², N. Ramesh ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Ecology & Environmental Science, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry-605 014, IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Pondicherry Engineering College, Pondicherry-605 014, IN
3 Department of Science Technology & Environment, Pondicherry-605 005, IN

Abstract

The present study focuses on the seasonal evaluation and short range dispersion of suspended particulatematter (SPM) emitted by a detergent manufacturing industry in Vadamangalamnear Puducherrywithin a radius of 1.5 km of its source.The studywas carried out using monitoring followed bymodelling. Experimental measurements were obtained by conducting a spot sampling analysis during different seasons in and around the detergent manufacturing industry. Analytical calculations were carried out by employing the Gaussian plume point sourcemodel. SPM is considered to be themain pollutant emitted by detergent industry. Five years (1999-2003) of wind speed, wind direction and cloud cover data, recorded by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), were used for concentration prediction. The predicted values of particulate matter in and around the industry, were used to evaluate the seasonal impact of detergent manufacturing industry on air quality. Comparison of modelling results with experimental data showed a marked seasonal trend in the study period, which is characterized by SPM levels that were higher in summer and decreased progressively through the monsoon, post-monsoon and winter seasons.

Keywords

Gaussian Model, Wind Speed, Short Range Dispersion, Suspended Particulate, Matter Point Source.

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N. Lakshminarasimaiah ¹, T. Meenambal ², Lakshmi Priya Thyagarajan ³, N. Ramesh ⁴

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur-635 109, T.N., IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 013, T.N., IN
3 Government College of Technology, Anna University, Coimbatore, T.N., IN
4 Department of Civil Engineering, K.S.R College of Technology, Tiruchengode, T.N., IN

Abstract

Solid waste can be disposed off either by diluting or by making it into useful manure. Since most of the land, water and atmosphere have been polluted largely, the only way to prevent pollution is to make the waste into a useful product. The present study investigates feasibility of blending the fruit waste (mango waste) with poultry waste and cow dung to produce a value added compost. Mango waste usually creates nuisance when compared to other fruit and vegetable waste as it gives foul smell. To achieve good composting mango waste was blended with poultry waste and cow dung at six different weight proportions. Chemical properties of compost like pH, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus and potassium were observed at different periods, i.e., on the days 1, 21 and 35. Finally, the carbon to nitrogen ratio was compared with all the five samples to identify the best compost. The samples with ratio 1:1:1 and 2:1:1 without mango seeds were considered to be more reliable and efficient to be used as compost.

Keywords

Composting, Mango Waste, Poultry Waste, Cow Dung, Aerobic Decomposition.

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N. Ramesh ¹, T. Meenambal ², K. Murugan ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode-637 215, Tamil Nadu, IN
2 Department of Civil Engineering, Govt. College of Technology, Coimbatore-614 013, Tamil Nadu, IN
3 Department of Microbiology, K.S.R. College of Arts & Science, Tiruchengode- 637 215, T. N., IN

Abstract

The present study deals the sources, treatment and strategies for future management of municipal solid waste (MSW) in class I city Erode, Tamilnadu, India, which includes collection, segregation, transportation, treatment and disposal. The study also analysed and reported the existing waste treatment methods, which revealed the necessity for improvement and based on that suggested a suitable technology to improve the system thereby minimizing the associated environmental damage. Ground water samples were also collected in and around the solid waste dumping yard and analysed for their physicochemical characteristics to ascertain the extent of groundwater pollution through leachate. The results revealed that concentration of most of the critical parameters (like hardness, BOD, COD, zinc, iron, etc.) exceeded the permissible limits, which requires the improvement of currently employed solid waste management system. The existing solid waste management practices such as open dumping and vermicomposting techniques are not only inefficient but also inadequate enough to manage huge amount of wastes generated daily. Hence, integrated solid waste management system comprising biomethanation, sanitary landfill, etc. is adopted.

Keywords

Municipal Solid Waste, Biomethanation, Leachate, Groundwater, Biodegradable Waste.

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Lakshmi Priya Thyagarajan ¹, T. Meenambal ¹, L. Mangaleshwaran ¹, N. Lakshminarasimaiah ², N. Ramesh ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering Div., Government College of Technology, Coimbatore-641 013, T.N., IN
2 Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, Hosur, T.N., IN
3 K. S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, T.N., IN

Abstract

Studies were conducted to evaluate the feasibility of bioconversion of pulp and paper industry secondary treatment sludge with sawdust under aerobic conditions. The composting of the waste was carried out for a period of 90 days by mixing pulp and paper industry sludge (PS) with sawdust (SD) in the ratio of 3:1 and inoculating treatment 1 (T₁) with only cow dung whereas inoculating the treatment 2 (T₂) with cow dung and effective microorganisms (EM). The composting process showed satisfactory results with the cow dung and effective microorganism inoculum, i.e., Treatment 2 (T₂). The different chemical parameters like pH, EC, temperature and C:N ratio were analysed during the composting period. The C:N ratio showed a gradual decrease from 36.12 to 21.02 and 38.30 to 17.63 for T₁ and T₂ respectively on the 90th day of composting. The pH varied from 6.5 to 7.3 and from 6.8 to 7.6 in T₁ and T₂ respectively indicating a good compost quality. The EC values decreased gradually from 2.3 μmhos/cm and reached the value 1.2 μmhos/cm in both the treatments. The nutrient values like NPK were almost equal in both the treatments i.e. Though the nutrients levels were equal, the Treatment 2 (T₂) reached the compost stability at the 90th day whereas the Treatment 1 has not reached the stability or maturity at the 90th day, which is indicated by the C:N ratio. Therefore, it can be concluded that the pulp and paper industry sludge (PS) can be successfully converted into value added compost in the period of 90 days by cocomposting with sawdust (SD) in the ratio of 3:1 and by mixing with cowdung (CD) + effective microorganisms (EM) as inoculum.

Keywords

Waste Management, Co-Composting, C:N Ratio, Bio-Compost, Recycling.

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