Removal Of Pollutants From Domestic Wastewater Using Electro Oxidation Process: Optimization Through Response Surface Methodology

The electrochemical oxidation of domestic effluent was studied in a batch reactor in the presence of supporting electrolyte NaCl, CaCl2 and Na2CO3 using stainless steel electrodes. The effect of operating parameters such as current ampere, pH, electrolysis time, inter-electrode distance and supporting electrolyte concentration on the percentage of color, COD, turbidity removal and power consumption were studied. The maximum percentage removal of color, COD and turbidity was 94.76%, 77.93% and 92.19% respectively at an initial pH of 8.99, current ampere of 0.18A, electrolysis time of 30 minutes, inter-electrode distance of 2cm and electrolyte concentration (i.e. NaCl) of 3gm/L for NaCl, the maximum percentage removal of color, COD and turbidity was 99.97%, 79.11% and 90.00% respectively at initial pH of 8.68, current ampere of 0.10A, electrolysis time of 30minute, inter-electrode distance of 2cm and electrolyte concentration (i.e. CaCl2) of 1gm/L for CaCl2 and the maximum percentage removal of color, COD and turbidity was 83.78%, 83.16% and 93.66% respectively at initial pH of 8.98, current ampere of 0.10A, electrolysis time of 30minute, inter-electrode distance of 1.99cm and electrolyte concentration (i.e. Na2CO3) of 2.40gm/L for Na2CO3. The operating parameters for the treatment of domestic effluent by electrochemical process were optimized using response surface methodology. The quadratic regression models with estimated coefficients were developed for the percentage removal of color, COD, turbidity and power consumption. It was observed that the model predictions matched with experimental values with an R2 values of 0.5889, 0.8695, 0.6218 and 0.5428 for color, COD, turbidity and power consumption respectively for NaCl, R2 values of color, COD, turbidity and power consumption for CaCl2 were 0.5987, 0.8574, 0.6945 and 0.6215 respectively and R2 values of color, COD, turbidity and power consumption for Na2CO3 were 0.6868, 0.8979, 0.6430 and 0.5771 respectively. The extent of color and turbidity removal were analysed using UV spectrophotometer and turbidity meter respectively. Besides, the operating costs investigated in the study were the energy cost of electro oxidation and the material cost because of consumption of stainless steel electrodes. Operating costs are 1.076$/m3 for NaCl, 1.077$/m3 for CaCL2 and 1.072$/m3 for Na2CO3 wastewater treatment

Energy transfer and charge transfer between semiconducting nanocrystals and transition metal dichalcogenide monolayers

: Nowadays, as a result of the emergence of low-dimensional hybrid structures, the scientific community is interested in their interfacial carrier dynamics, including charge transfer and energy transfer. By combining the potential of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and nanocrystals (NCs) with low-dimensional extension, hybrid structures of semiconducting nanoscale matter can lead to fascinating new technological scenarios. Their characteristics make them intriguing candidates for electronic and optoelectronic devices, like transistors or photodetectors, bringing with them challenges but also opportunities. Here, we will review recent research on the combined TMD/NC hybrid system with an emphasis on two major interaction mechanisms: energy transfer and charge transfer. With a focus on the quantum well nature in these hybrid semiconductors, we will briefly highlight state-of-the-art protocols for their structure formation and discuss the interaction mechanisms of energy versus charge transfer, before concluding with a perspective section that highlights novel types of interactions between NCs and TMDs

Climate Change as a Social Determinant of Health: An Interactive Case-Based Learning Activity

INTRODUCTION: Despite consensus on climate change\u27s impact on humans, medical schools have not widely adopted inclusion of environmental topics into their mandatory curriculum. This educational activity explicitly addresses climate change as one of the environmental determinants of health (EDH). METHODS: We developed a required, 1-hour module for all first-year medical students. This interactive, case-based, small-group activity was incorporated into a curriculum within an advising program but could be run independently. Before and after the session, participants completed evaluations assessing knowledge gains and attitude shifts. RESULTS: Of 183 first-year students, 155 completed both pre- and postmodule surveys. Participants\u27 rating increased on the postmodule survey item priority should be given to the discussion of EDH in medical education. The Wilcoxon signed rank test determined this difference in priority was statistically significant ( DISCUSSION: Climate change remains the greatest global threat to human health, and future physicians must be equipped to educate patients and policymakers on the harms of environmental hazards. This brief yet effective module offers one approach to incorporating this topic into medical school curricula

IndEcho study: Cohort study investigating birth size, childhood growth and young adult cardiovascular risk factors as predictors of midlife myocardial structure and function in South Asians

Introduction South Asians have high rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and central obesity). Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction are features of these disorders and important predictors of CVD mortality. Lower birth and infant weight and greater childhood weight gain are associated with increased adult CVD mortality, but there are few data on their relationship to LV function. The IndEcho study will examine associations of birth size, growth during infancy, childhood and adolescence and CVD risk factors in young adulthood with midlife cardiac structure and function in South Asian Indians. Methods and analysis We propose to study approximately 3000 men and women aged 43–50 years from two birth cohorts established in 1969–1973: the New Delhi Birth Cohort (n=1508) and Vellore Birth Cohort (n=2156). They had serial measurements of weight and height from birth to early adulthood. CVD risk markers (body composition, blood pressure, glucose tolerance and lipids) and lifestyle characteristics (tobacco and alcohol consumption, physical activity, socioeconomic status) were assessed at age ~30 years. Clinical measurements in IndEcho will include anthropometry, blood pressure, biochemistry (glucose, fasting insulin and lipids, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio) and body composition by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance. Outcomes are LV mass and indices of LV systolic and diastolic function assessed by two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography, carotid intimal-media thickness and ECG indicators of ischaemia. Regression and conditional growth models, adjusted for potential confounders, will be used to study associations of childhood and young adult exposures with these cardiovascular outcomes. Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the Health Ministry Steering Committee, Government of India and institutional ethics committees of participating centres in India and the University of Southampton, UK. Results will be disseminated through scientific meetings and peer-reviewed journals

Electrochemical treatment of simulated sugar industrial effluent: Optimization and modeling using a response surface methodology

AbstractThe removal of organic compounds from a simulated sugar industrial effluent was investigated through the electrochemical oxidation technique. Effect of various experimental parameters such as current density, concentration of electrolyte and flow rate in a batch electrochemical reactor was studied on the percentage of COD removal and power consumption. The electrochemical reactor performance was analyzed based on with and without recirculation of the effluent having constant inter-electrodes distance. It was found out that the percentage removal of COD increased with the increase of electrolyte concentration and current density. The maximum percentage removal of COD was achieved at 80.74% at a current density of 5A/dm2 and 5g/L of electrolyte concentration in the batch electrochemical reactor. The recirculation electrochemical reactor system parameters like current density, concentration of COD and flow rate were optimized using response surface methodology, while COD removal percents were maximized and power consumption minimized. It has been observed from the present analysis that the predicted values are in good agreement with the experimental data with a correlation coefficient of 0.9888