This paper deals with assessment of air quality in Haora River basin using two techniques. Initially, air quality indices were evaluated using a modified EPA method. The indices were also evaluated ...using a fuzzy comprehensive assessment (FCA) method. The results obtained from the fuzzy comprehensive assessment method were compared to that obtained from the modified EPA method. To illustrate the applicability of the methodology proposed herein, a case study has been presented. Air samples have been collected at 10 sampling sites located along Haora River. Six important air pollutants, namely, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, suspended particulate matter (SPM), PM
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, and lead, were monitored continuously, and air quality maps were generated on the GIS platform. Comparison of the methodologies has clearly highlighted superiority and robustness of the fuzzy comprehensive assessment method in determining air quality indices under study. It has effectively addressed the inherent uncertainties involved in the evaluation, modeling, and interpretation of sampling data, which was beyond the scope of the traditional weighted approaches employed otherwise. The FCA method is robust and prepares a credible platform of air quality evaluation and identification, in face of the uncertainties that remain eclipsed in the traditional approaches like the modified EPA method. The insights gained through the present study are believed to be of pivotal significance in guiding the development and implementation of effective environmental remedial action plans in the study area.
Abstract
One of the key elements for rural development is the connectivity using proper roads, which enhances the passage for economic and social utilities with overall socio-economic development. ...Socio-economic impact assessment (SEIA) forms one of the significant measures to evaluate the outcome received through infrastructure development in rural areas. SEIA modeling under computational intelligence coupled with fuzzy framework provides significant ground to deal with both qualitative and quantitative data. This study proposes a novel methodology by using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) with Fuzzy Delphi method (FDM) to evaluate socio-economic impacts. The effectiveness of the methodology is presented through a case study for 27 habitations connected with all-weather rural roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan State, India. 33 key-parameters under five different criteria are considered for SEIA. For a comprehensive view of the impacts, the results are depicted using ArcGIS tool.
Landslide susceptibility mapping plays an imperative role in mitigating hazards and determining the future direction of developmental activities in mountainous regions. Here, we used 518 landslide ...occurrences and nine landslide-conditioning parameters to build landslide vulnerability models in the Kailash Sacred Landscape (KSL), India. Four multivariate statistical models were applied, namely the generalized linear model (GLM), maximum entropy (MaxEnt), Mahalanobis D
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(MD), and support vector machine (SVM), to calibrate and compare four maps of landslide susceptibility. The results demonstrated the outperformance of Mahalanobis D
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for predictability compared to other models obtained from the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). The ensemble model data shows that 10.5% of the landscape has susceptible conditions for future landslides, whereas 89.50% of the landscape falls under the safe zone. The occurrence of landslides in the KSL is linked to the middle elevations, vicinity to water bodies, and the motorable roads. Furthermore, the observed patterns and the resulting models exhibit the major variables that cause landslides and their respective significance. The current modelling approach could provide baseline data at the regional scale to improve the developmental planning in the KSL.
Heavy metals from various natural and anthropogenic sources are becoming a chief threat to the aquatic system owing to their toxic and lethal effect. The treatment of such contaminated wastewater is ...one of the prime concerns in this field. For decades, a huge array of innovative biosorbents is used for heavy metal removal. Though extensive microbes and their biomolecules have been experimented and have showed great potential but most of them have failed to have the substantial breakthrough for the practical application. The present review emphasis on the potential utilization of the cyanobacteria for the heavy metal removal along with the toxic effect imposed by the pollutant. Furthermore, the effect of significant parameters, plausible mechanistic insights of the heavy metal toxicity imposed onto the cyanobacteria is also discussed in detail. The role of extrapolymeric substances and metallothionein secreted by the microbes are also elaborated. The review was evident that the cyanobacterial species have a huge potential towards the heavy metal removal from the aqueous system ranging from very low to very high concentrations.
Thepresent study proposes a novel mixed-method approach to ascertain and explorethe socio-economic indicators, which help in assessing the impacts of theconstruction of rural roads. Rural road ...infrastructure often has direct orindirect socio-economic impacts (SEIs) on the target population. Assessment ofSEIs poses a wide range of challenges due to their multi-dimensional nature ofvarious factors and their qualitative and quantitative evaluation process.Thus, the present study suggests a unique mixed-method approach to integratemultivariate techniques under a multi-criteria fuzzy framework. The applicabilityof this approach is demonstrated by employing a case study of roads constructedunder the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the Jhunjhunu district ofRajasthan, India. The findings of the study analysed a total of 33 sub-criteriaassociated with five main indicators, impacted by the construction of PMGSYroads. Sub-criteria contributing to education facility and quality ofneighbourhood have been found as the most significant effects. The results ofthe analysis presented in this study would benefit the respective StateGovernments to achieve sustainable rural development.
Chromium (VI) is a well-known pollutant that is present in industrially polluted soil and water, and has been reported to be mutagenic and carcinogenic. In the present study, we investigated the ...effective use of Leptolyngbya boryana (cyanobacterium) as an eco-friendly option to overcome Cr (VI) toxicity in tannery effluents. The main objective of this study was to identify the Cr reductase (ChrR) gene and its variability in the context of Cr (VI) stress. Industrial polluted soil samples were collected and processed according to standard protocols for ChrR variation and 16S rDNA gene analysis. Genomic DNA was isolated from the collected samples and the ChrR and 16S rDNA genes were amplified by PCR. Amplified 16S rDNA was sequenced and aligned with known sequences. In the present study, a strong correlation was established between the nucleotide sequences of the ChrR and 16S rDNA genes. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined for Cr (VI), and pure strains of L. boryana were identified and isolated from soil samples. Cr (VI)-stressed conditions and their genetic variability were confirmed by sequencing. In conclusion, the L. boryana strain has been identified an eco-friendly option for overcoming Cr (VI) toxicity in tannery effluents.
The present study attempts to utilize the cyanobacterial species, Leptolyngbya boryana, isolated from tannery effluent contaminated site for hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) removal from the aqueous ...solution. The isolated Leptolyngbya boryana showed efficient Cr (VI) removal along with potential tolerance ability even at higher concentrations. A Box-Behnken design of experiments was employed for optimizing and evaluating the effect of various parameters onto Cr (VI) removal. During the adsorption process, effect of adsorbent dose, initial Cr (VI) concentration and temperature played the key role. Further, the experiments were up-scaled to bioreactor level with all the optimized parameters for Cr (VI) removal. Interestingly, at the batch bioreactor level a slight decline in the removal efficiency was observed. The cyanobacterial species depicted a good tolerance limit (750 mg/L) even at higher concentration of Cr (VI). The maximum removal of 96.6% was obtained via the isolated cyanobacterial species depicting its potential for the heavy metal removal from the wastewater.
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•High Cr (VI) tolerant cyanobacteria, Leptolyngbya boryana (~750 mg/L) was isolated.•Batch shake flask and bioreactor studies were performed for Cr (VI) removal.•Box-Behnken design of experiments was employed for optimization of process parameters.•Effect of adsorbent dose, initial Cr (VI) concentration and temperature played key role.
The Textile Wastewater Treatment Technique (TWWTT) plays a prominent role in reducing effluent contaminants and thus keeping the environment cleaner. To select appropriate technology, evaluating the ...unified performance of TWWTTs towards social, technical, economic, and environmental sustainability parameters is of utmost importance. Though there are TWWTTs available, no ready framework exists that can help decision-makers choose the appropriate technology based on their requirement. The study proposes a novel and systematic decision-making framework and a comprehensive mathematical model for judiciously selecting the TWWTT. It integrates fuzzy Delphi and hybrid Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) approach of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM). A total of 38 sub-indicators of sustainability are identified from past studies and expert opinions. Fuzzy Delphi is applied to identify the essential sub-indicators of sustainability, and hybrid FAHP is used to rank the sustainability dimensions, key sub-indicators, and alternatives. Twenty-eight sub-indicators are rounded down from the initial 38. The results from hybrid FAHP indicate that the technical dimension of sustainability is of paramount importance while selecting the TWWTTs followed by the economic dimension. The key sub-indicators for the selection of TWWTTs that scored higher than the others in technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects respectively are as under (i) color removal efficiency, COD removal efficiency, and quantity of sludge generation; (ii) cost of construction, operation, and maintenance; (iii) awareness within textile industries, public safety; (iv) effluent suitability for reuse and space requirements. The five TWWTTs, namely, Activated Sludge Process (ASP), Membrane Biological Reactor (MBR), Electrochemical Coagulation (EC), Mixed Bed Bio Reactor (MBBR), and the Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC), are compared using the estimated entropy weights also called as sustainability indices. MBR has scored the highest sustainability index value, and ASP has the least value. MBR, EC and MBBR have higher sustainability indices proving them better sustainable alternatives than ASP and RBC. The MBR permeate quality is good enough to be reused in the textile industry without any further treatment. This will reduce the effluent quantity and groundwater demand leading to cleaner production of textile. The study will help the decision-makers in the overall assessment of the sustainability of TWWTTs prior to selection.
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•The technical dimension has outperformed the economic, social, environmental dimensions of sustainability.•The color, COD removal efficiency followed by the sludge generated by the TWWTTs are critical in the technical dimension.•Awareness, O&M costs, and effluent reuse suitability get the first rank for social, economic, and environmental dimensions.•The MBR, EC, and MBBR are better sustainable treatment options with their overall performances than ASP and RBC.•The sensitivity analysis results show no sign of rank reversal of TWWTTs; the developed model is robust.
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•Portland cement was partially replaced with copper tailings and fly ash in concrete.•Pozzolanic materials were found above ASTM limit in fly ash and copper tailings.•Increase in ...compressive strength was observed in modified concrete mixes.•The replacement leads to a notable reduction in the cost of concrete manufacturing.•LCA results of modified concrete mixes show a decline in greenhouse gas emissions.
Fly ash (FA) and copper tailings (CT) both are, anthropogenic wastes, spread all over the globe due to rapid growth in thermal power plants and progressive increase in the demand of copper. This study examines the feasibility of combined utilization of FA and CT in concrete as a partial replacement of cement by assessing compressive strength, cost, and environmental impact. Morphology and constituent minerals of FA and CT have been identified to understand the utilization potential. Subsequently, the concrete has been designed for 30 MPa target strength as per IS 10262:2009 for different mix proportions of FA and CT. Improvement (up to 8.27% compared to the control mix) in the compressive strength has been observed at combined replacement of 10% FA and 5% CT. The cost of concrete can also be reduced up to 16% without compromising its compressive strength. The environmental impact assessment of the modified concrete mix proportions has also been performed using life cycle assessment (LCA) as per ISO 14040:2006. Effect of all raw materials, electricity, and water consumption have been considered from their cradle to grave approach. One cubic meter concrete has been taken as a functional unit in LCA. Notable reduction has been observed in the chosen midpoint categories up to 38% in climate change, up to 32.6% in human toxicity, up to 33.6% in ozone depletion, up to 31.9% in agriculture land occupation, water depletion up to 34.3%, fossil depletion up to 34.8%, particulate matter up to 35.4%, and metal depletion up to 25.2%.
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