International Journal of Environment and Climate Change

Permanent URI for this collection

https://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/151211

Chief Editor: Prof. Jingfeng Wang
ISSN: 2581-8627

Frequency: Quarterly

Language: English

Open Access Peer-reviewed journal

Web site: https://www.journalijecc.com/index.php/IJECC

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 1991

Estimation of Water Balance of Oyan Lake in the North West Region of Abeokuta, Nigeria.
(2011-01) Ufoegbune, G C; Yusuf, H O; Eruola, A O; Awomeso, J A
The paper presents results related to water balance of the Oyan Lake in the North West in Nigeria. The catchment covering an area of 9000 km2 includes a small dam called Oyan dam having an effective watershed area of 40 km2 with a gross storage of 270 million cubic meters. Hydrology of the area was characterized on the basis of land use, rainfall, temperature, evaporation, evapotranspiration, and runoff using meteorological data. Different methods like rainfall coefficient method is used to determine monthly distribution of rainfall including rainy and dry months; Penman method to calculate evaporation from the reservoir; Thornthwaite method and Thornthwaite water balance model to determine potential and actual evapotranspiration; and runoff coefficient method to estimate runoff. The catchment is characterized by one rainy season and two dry seasons during the year. The rainy season has five months duration and dry season seven months. The mean annual rainfall of the catchment is 1015.09 mm, out of which rainy season accounts for 96.1% and the dry season for 3.9%. The total annual water loss by evaporation from the reservoir is 1178.5 mm. The mean annual actual evapotranspiration for the catchment is 899.3 mm. The mean annual runoff generated from the catchment is estimated to be 822.2 million cubic meters. The amount of water that percolates into the ground in the catchment as groundwater is estimated to be about 219.9 million cubic meters, and the same at the reservoir site is 826.9 million cubic meters. The total amount of water which is actually available to recharge the groundwater within the catchment is 1046.8 million m3.
Critical Review of Trends in GHG Emissions from Global Automotive Sector.
(2011-01) Mondal, P; Kumar, Abhishek; Agarwal, Varun; Sharma, Nitin; Prashant, Vijay; Bhangale, U D; Dinesh, Tyagi
Between 1906 and 2005, records show that global average air temperature near the earth’s surface increased by 0.74 ± 0.18°C. If emissions of greenhouse gases, and in particular CO2, continue unabated the enhanced greenhouse effect may alter the world’s climate system irreversibly. Total emissions of greenhouse gases, across all sectors, were 42.4 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2-eq in 2005. Energy sector, accounts for 84% of global CO2 emissions and 64% of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions. Energy-related CO2 emissions rise from 28.8 Gt in 2007 to 34.5 Gt in 2020 and 40.2 Gt in 2030. Global percapita emissions of energy-related CO2 in 2007 was 4.4 tonnes. Higher growth of automobiles and consumption of petroleum products is invariably attended by concerns of pollution and climate changes. Global fleet of passenger light-duty vehicles (PLDVs) is estimated to increase from 770 million in 2007 to 1.4 billion in 2030. Among all sectors that emit CO2, the transport sector is the fastest growing, representing from 22% to 24% of global GHG emissions from fossil fuel sources, second only to the industrial sector. World emissions of NOx were 82 Mt in 2007, of which Road transport was responsible for about one-third of NOx emissions. Only Road transport related CO2 emission is estimated to increase from 4.8 Gt in 2007 to 6.9 Gt in 2030. The increase in CO2 emissions is largely a result of increasing demand for individual mobility in developing countries. There are strong efforts and renewed investments by manufacturers and suppliers in providing solutions to the CO2 reduction challenge. Low-carbon vehicles, such as hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids and electric cars, have received widespread public attention recently. It is estimated that share of hybrids in the global fleet will reach about 5% by 2020 and almost 8% by 2030, up from just 0.15% in 2007. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars will constitute only 0.2% of the global fleet in 2030. But increase in electricity consumption in road transport in future due to increased penetration of plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, sees transport sector CO2 savings partially offset by power generation emissions. An estimated increase of 880 TWh of electricity consumption in transport in 2030, of which 90% occurs in PLDVs, will result in about 250 Mt of additional CO2 emissions. Authors forecasted that the use of environmentfriendly and clean technologies is going to make all the difference between the winners and the losers of the industry. It is noted that current policies are insufficient to prevent a rapid increase in the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is recommended that policy makers and researchers should give more emphasis on ‘cost-effectiveness as most important factor to reduce automotive GHG emission reduction’. It is also concluded that CO2 savings will be maximized if well-to-wheel impact is clearly addressed at all stages of the fuel and energy chain.
Tribological Issues Related to the Use of Biofuels: A New Environmental Challenge.
(2011-04) Tandon, A; Kumar, A; Mondal, P; Vijay, P; Bhangale, U D; Tyagi, Dinesh
Due to gradual depletion of world petroleum reserves and the impact of environmental pollution of increasing exhaust emissions, there is an urgent need for suitable alternative fuels for use in engines. The heightened awareness of green house gas emissions and global warming compels introduction of more stringent environmental regulations worldwide. Renewable biofuels are considered potential solution for these problems. But use of biofuel is creating tribology related new challenges world over. In this paper a critical analysis of tribology related issue of three main biofuels, namely Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO), biodiesel and alcohols are discussed. Many issues like lubricity of blends, carbon deposit, viscosity, corrosion of engine components, etc are discussed in detail. Quality control of biofuels, identified as a key factor for sustainable market growth of these fuels and can lead to many tribological issues. In this regard a dire need for global harmonized standards is also discussed. Different solutions for alcohol fuel related engine problems are discussed. Critical discussion in relation to the problems due to the use of SVO in engine, like engine performance decrease, injector choking, oil ring sticking, etc took place in this paper. Potential solutions to these problems found by academia as well as industry are discussed here.
Extraction of Chromium from Tannery Effluents Using Waste Egg Shell Material as an Adsorbent.
(2011-04) Rajendran, A; Mansiya, C
In the present era, due to industrial revolution in the developing country like India, the ground water system has been largely polluted, especially with heavy metals like chromium. The removal of such heavy metals from industrial effluents and from wastewater has become a subject of keen interest. This paper deals with the removal of chromium from its aqueous solution using egg shell, a waste material as an adsorbent. Experimental results vividly demonstrate that this extraction method was found to be cheaper, quicker and more efficient than other conventional techniques. The results are interpreted in the light of Loggergren’s model.
Determination of the Contamination of Groundwater Sources in Okrika Mainland with Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
(2011-07) Ogbuagu, D H; Okoli, C G; Gilbert, C L; Madu, S
In this study, we examined the presence and concentrations of six polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in groundwater sources of Okrika mainland impacted by effluent discharges from a petroleum refinery into her surrounding Creeks. Sterile amber coloured bottles were used to collect 10 replicate borehole water samples from the mainland and fixed with concentrated H2SO4. Samples were transferred to the laboratory in iced coolers and analyzed using Gas chromatography coupled with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). The interactions of the PAH components detected was determined using the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient (r) while spatial variance equality in means of concentrations was explored with the One-way ANOVA. Structure detection of observed inequalities was made with means plots. Concentrations of the PAHs were high and exceeded the WHO maximum permissible limit of 0.002mg/l in drinking water. Benzo(b)fluoranthene, with the highest mean concentration varied between 0.00037- 0.51266 (0.08117±0.03330159)mg/l, fluoranthene varied between 0.00060-0.32890 (0.0473946±0.01769877)mg/l, while benzo(k)fluoranthene with the least mean concentration varied between 0.00017-0.08478 (0.0237385±0.00610045)mg/l. However, pyrene concentration ranged between 0.00015 and 0.24757 (0.0508440±0.01859716)mg/l, benzo(a)anthracene between 0.00020-0.21972 (0.0512660±0.01688275)mg/l, and chrysene between 0.00013 and 0.16571 (0.0488975±0.01090264)mg/l. Strong associations were observed between all the PAH components measured at P<0.01. Significant heterogeneity in mean variance of the PAHs [F(211.9502)>Fcrit(3.921478)] was recorded across the sampling locations at P<0.05. Structure detection of mean difference revealed that the inequalities were most contributed in BH1, BH 2, BH 5 and BH 10, while equality in mean concentrations were observed between BH 1 and BH 4, and BH 5 and BH 6. BH 8 recorded the highest contamination level of the various PAHs due basically to its proximity to the refinery’s effluent channel. The most probable source of these PAHs is therefore the nearby Port Harcourt Refinery Company’s effluent discharges into the surrounding creeks of the mainland. This contamination is of public health concern as several PAHs are known carcinogens. It is recommended that advanced technological engineering be applied to contain the presence of these pollutants in drinking water sources of residents of the area.
Community Approach to Growing Greener Cities through Self-help Street Horticultural Gardens: A Case Study of Lagos, Nigeria.
(2011-07) Abegunde, Albert Ayorinde
The study examines residents’ concerns in greening their communities though self-help initiatives (SHI) carried out by individuals who utilise road set-backs to plant street horticultural gardens (SHG) in Eti-osa Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria. It purposefully administered questionnaire to managers of all SHG in the study area to establish their socio-economic characteristics, contributions to community greening and motivating factors behind their SHI. The study found that the horticulturists were nearly males (93.7%), young adults (54.0%), earning about three dollars per day (63.6%), have been in practice for more than four years (79.3%) and altogether using about 1.5% of land in the study area for SHG. A good number of them have contributed to voluntary greening of their communities through planting of trees (76.2%), hedges and shrubs (47.6%) and flowering plants (65.1%). The horticulturists’ Motivating Index (HMI) employed to know why they went into the practice revealed that they (51%) were moved by the depreciating state of urban green (HMI=2.55) and feared (46.4%) the impending ecological doom on the built environment due to lack of sufficient green space, causing global warming (HMI=2.32). This could be why the linear regression test of the preference of social to economic value of the practice of SHG in the study area has its R2 to be 0.219. This means that SHG in the area did not necessarily bring positive economic value to the horticulturists as the social value embedded in it. This study is a prove that literature and publicities on environmental effects of global reduction in green space seem to be yielding positive results in Africa as some individuals in the study area are taking into self-help initiatives in community greening, even where land seemed very scarce for such development. It concludes that literature on the subject should be more encouraged.
Application of Harmonic Analysis in the Preliminary Prediction of Air Temperature over Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria.
(2011-07) Isikwue, B C; Agada, O I; Utah, E U; Okeke, F N
Harmonic Analysis technique has been employed in predicting the hourly air temperature variations over Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. The variations in hourly air temperatures over the two stations are periodic and thus have strong tendency of being repeated the next day, if all other atmospheric variables are constant. It was observed that the variation in hourly air temperature in the two stations is dominated by the first harmonic, thus it fluctuates by one cycle with a period of 24 hours. Invariably, harmonic equations could be applied to hourly temperature prediction even on a large scale data. The maximum hourly air temperature occurred two hours on the average after the maximum solar irradiance has occurred in each station. It was found that the temperature of the air at a particular hour is dependent on that of the previous hour.
Global Climate Change: A Threat to Food Security and Environmental Conservation.
(2011-07) Agbogidi, O M
Rapid socio-economic changes in some developing countries like India, China, etc., are influencing dramatically the fuel consumption pattern world over. An increase of 880 TWh of electricity consumption in transport in 2030 compared with the Reference Scenario, of which 90% occurs in PLDVs, results in about 250 Mt of additional CO2 emissions. The rise in the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere is 1.0 – 3.50C (1PCC, 2007a). If emissions of greenhouse gases, and in particular CO2, continue unabated the enhanced greenhouse effect may alter the world’s climate system irreversibly. This review attempted to examine how climate change constitutes a threat to food security and environmental conservation. Climate change (CC) refers to changes in modern climate. It reflects abnormal variations to the expected climate within the earth’s atmosphere and subsequent effects on other parts of the earth. It is emphasized that CC poses a threat to food security as it impacts on natural systems and resources through erratic rainfall patterns, heightened temperature and susceptibility to pest and disease outbreaks hence decreasing crop yields and consequently increased hunger. CC negatively affects biodiversity conservation and management through exacerbated drought conditions, increased risk of wildfires leading to some extreme events like heat, waves, river and coastal flooding, landslides, storms, hurricanes and tornadoes which culminate in environmental degradation. For its effects to be reduced establishment of more forest plantations and maintenance of the existing natural and artificial forests should be encouraged. Saving biodiversity in the form of standing forests and interact lands can help prevent climate change and help communities and natural areas cope with a changing planet. At the same time, helping nature become more reification climate change through a combination of management restoration and protection strategies will help prepare places, plants, animals and people for climatic change successful adoption of living system can help ensure their ability to support the needs of people and better withstand future changes.
Effect of Depth on Microbial Pollution of Shallow Wells in Makurdi Metropoilis, Benue State, Nigeria.
(2011-07) Isikwue, M O; Iorver, D; Onoja, S B
This study looked at the effect of depth on the microbial pollution of shallow wells in the three floodplains of Makurdi metropolis of Benue State, Nigeria. Water samples from the wells were collected and analyzed monthly for seven months from February to August (covering both wet and dry seasons) using the pour plate technique. The assessment was for the presence coliform bacteria. The species isolated were Salmonella typhilis, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, Proteus spp. and total coliform. The pollution of wells was found to increase with decrease in depth and decrease with increase in depth. The water table varied from 4.3m (in wet season) to 6.4m (in dry season). Generally pollution level in the floodplains was between 17cfu/ml and 297cfu/ml of bacterial population. No well studied met the limit by World Health organization (WHO) for drinking water which is 0cfu/ml and 10cfu/ml by the National Agency Food and Drugs Administration and Control, Nigeria (NAFDAC). This shows that wells must be up to 15m deep so as to be free from pollution. Screening the wells to the depth of 15m and treatment by disinfection before drinking were the recommendations made.
Evolution of Beninese Coastline from 1963 to 2005: Causes and Consequences.
(2011-10) Kaki, Christophe; Laïbi, Raoul A; Oyédé, Lucien M
The coastal zone of Benin is the interface between the marine environment and the straightforward continental environment. It is constituted of sandy cords, lagoon system, lakes and flood plains. This zone shelters a population of about 3 million inhabitants that is more than 30% of the Beninese population. As all coastal regions of the world, this zone remains very sensitive to climatic changes (global elevation of the sea level, perpetual variations of the weather marines conditions) and to human activities (large inland dams, harbour infrastructures, urbanization) that drive to the rupture of the equilibrium in this coastal environment with enhanced risks of beach erosion as the main consequences. This study monitors the evolution of the Beninese shorelines around Cotonou and underlines the causes mainly human that negatively affect this naturally fragile environment. Natural factors (tempests and erosive processes) and human actions (building of the port of Cotonou (1962) then Lome (1967) and hydroelectric dams on Volta (1966) and on Mono (1987) rivers) aim the coastal evolution of the Benin. They procreate, on the sandy cords at East of ports and rivers mouths, an erosion about 10 m linked to the reduction of provisions in sand and the fragilisation of cords by farms, steps and of anarchic occupations.
Understanding Leaching Behaviour of Landfill Leachate in Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria through Dumpsite Monitoring.
(2011-10) Aiyesanmi, A F; Imoisi, O B
Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste in unauthorized places has become an increasing problem for most cities in Nigeria, especially Benin-City, Edo state. Benin-City one of the largest city in Nigerian is experiencing the problem of solid waste management despite the best attempt of waste avoidance, reduction, reuse and recovery. Use of dumpsites is still the ultimate disposal method of domestic and industrial wastes in Benin-City. Three dumpsites in Benin-City and environs were selected randomly to evaluate their leachates characteristics. Leachate samples were collected from the dumpsites at three months interval and were assessed for their quality through physico-chemical and elemental examination using standard methods for examination of water and wastewater. Physicochemical analysis result showed pH range of 6.76±0.08 –7.49±0.02, EC (55212.0±2028.43 – 64344.33±1131.22 μS/cm), Temperature (26.03±0.25 – 26.60±0.35OC), Cyanide (0.08±0.04 – 0.46±0.01 mg/L), Sulphide (12.30±1.21 – 14.90±2.26 mg/L), BOD5 (61.23±1.39 – 98.60±3.41mg/L), COD (92.11±2.14 – 140.00±4.19 mg/L), NO3-N 0.41±0.03 – 0.75±0.09 mg/L), NO2-N (0.09±0.01– 0.30±0.03mg/L), TOC (506.67±230.94 – 573.33±370.05 mg/L). Metals with consequential environmental significance determined in the leachate samples recorded concentration in mg/L as: Cd(0.02±0.01 – 0.240.31), Cr(0.04±0.00 – 0.06±0.01), Cu(0.49±0.07 - 0.61±0.05), Hg(0.03±0.01 – 0.06±0.01), Mn(0.27±0.07 - 0.38±0.03), Ni(0.05 ± 0.01- 0.07 ± 0.01), Pb(0.05±0.01 – 0.12±0.010) and Zn(0.37±0.04 - 0.65±0.03). The physiologic and metabolic roles of the elements detected in the leachate are discussed. The concentrations of the elements detected were below the toxicity limits recommended by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) limits. On the overall, the physico-chemical and elemental characteristics of leachates obtained in this study revealed that the three waste dumpsites generated leachates that were not as contaminated as those reported in some other parts of the world.
Relationships between Climate Parameters and Forest Vegetation At and Near Digya National Park, Ghana.
(2011-10) Twumasi, Yaw A; Coleman, Tommy L; Manu, Andrew; Merem, Edmund C; Osei, Albert
This paper evaluates the effect of three climate parameters on forest cover in Ghana and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at Digya National Park derived from Landsat image data. Climate data (temperature, humidity, dewpoint, rainfall) are assembled from statistics provided by Ghana's Meteorological Agency. The study introduces a weighted averaging method by computing weather information from neighbouring stations. Also, this research introduces a model of dewpoints, enabling the direct calculation of dewpoints from temperature and humidity data. The major finding is that while temperature significantly affects forest cover and Park vegetation, dew-points and rainfall do not. The paper suggests where future research may be more fruitful in analyzing the effects of climate on vegetation.
Energy and Environment: Applications and Sustainable Development.
(2011-10) Omer, Abdeen Mustafa
Aims: The increased availability of reliable and efficient energy services stimulates new development alternatives. This article discusses the potential for such integrated systems in the stationary and portable power market in response to the critical need for a cleaner energy technology. Throughout the theme several issues relating to renewable energies, environment, and sustainable development are examined from both current and future perspectives. It is concluded that green energies like wind, solar, groundsource heat pumps, and biomass must be promoted, implemented, and demonstrated from the economic and/or environmental point view. Study design: Anticipated patterns of future energy use and consequent environmental impacts (acid precipitation, ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect or global warming) are comprehensively discussed in this article. Place and Duration of Study: National Centre for Research, Energy Research Institute (ERI), between January 2011 and July 2011. Methodology: An approach is needed to integrate renewable energies in a way to meet high building performance. However, because renewable energy sources are stochastic and geographically diffuse, their ability to match demand is determined by adoption of one of the following two approaches: the utilisation of a capture area greater than that occupied by the community to be supplied, or the reduction of the community’s energy demands to a level commensurate with the locally available renewable resources. Results: The adoption of green or sustainable approaches to the way in which society is run is seen as an important strategy in finding a solution to the energy problem. The key factors to reducing and controlling CO2, which is the major contributor to global warming, are the use of alternative approaches to energy generation and the exploration of how these alternatives are used today and may be used in the future as green energy sources. Conclusion: This global warming will eventually lead to substantial changes in the world’s climate, which will, in turn, have a major impact on human life and the built environment. Therefore, effort has to be made to reduce fossil energy use and to promote green energies, particularly in the building sector. Energy use reductions can be achieved by minimising the energy demand, by rational energy use, by recovering heat and the use of more green energies.
Physic Nut: A Proactive Climate Change Risk Management Strategy.
(2011-10) Belewu, M A; Orire, I O
Regardless of the regional variability in the causes and effects of Climate Change, it poses a major threat to both global human and ecological survival. Therefore, adapting and mitigating its consequences require an integrated approach which is not mutually exclusive of any specialization as enshrined in the Kyoto protocol. This paper reviews the concept, cause, impacts of climate change vis-a-vis the cultivation and viability of Jatropha curcas plant as a pro-active adaptation and mitigation method to Climate Change phenomenon. The paper underscores the potential contributions of the plant and its mitigating potentials against global warming to the Economy. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for sustained population enlightenment on the benefits of Jatropha curcas cultivation for climate change mitigation.
Potential Impact of Climate Change on Termite Distribution in Africa.
(2011-10) Ahmed(Shiday), B M; Nkunika, P O Y; Sileshi, G W; French, J R J; Nyeko, P; Jain, S
Termites (Order: Isoptera) constitute an integral component of various ecosystems in Africa. Termites are also amongst the most difficult insects to study because of their cryptic behaviour and natural nesting habitat. There are around 2600 species of termites in 280 genera which have been described worldwide and about 39% of the total termite species are found in Africa. Termite identification is crucial to understanding termite distribution and their relationship to climate change. Some termite species are well known pests of agricultural crops, forest trees, wood products and timber-in-service causing considerable damage in Africa. This review paper attempts to collate information on African termite distribution and climate change and highlights some knowledge gaps. Africa is the origin of the termite family of Macrotermitinae. The paper focuses more on economically important termite species in Africa. The use of traditional identification methods coupled with molecular techniques in resolving some of the challenges in termite distribution with particular reference to climate change in Africa are discussed. There is scant information on published literature on the impact of climate change on termites with particular reference to termite distribution in Africa. However there is anectodal evidence to suggest that African termite species will be affected by changes in the local and global climate.
Evidence of Organic Contamination in Urban Soils of Cotonou Town (Benin).
(2012-01) Kèlomè, Nelly C; Faure, Pierre; Mathieu, Olivier; Lévêque, Jean; Oyédé, Lucien Marc
In Cotonou (Benin), growth of the population leads to an excessive use of natural resources, inducing organic contaminations. Surface soils collected in the town, were extracted and fractionated by liquid chromatography in three families: aliphatic, aromatic hydrocarbons and polar fractions. Each fraction was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. All the results show that an anthropogenic input exists (waste oils). Indeed, aliphatic hydrocarbons have specific markers emphasizing the presence of petrogenic products: UCM (unresolved complex mixture), specific distribution of pentacyclic triterpane. However, specific molecular biomarkers reveal also natural input. Nevertheless, samples from similar origins do not always have the same pattern. This fact underlines that organic sources are numerous in theses soils and imply a mixture of fingerprints. Moreover, modifications of the organic matter fingerprints with time (alteration, lixiviation…) complicate correlation between organic sources and contaminated soils.
The Environmental Quadrupole: Forest Area, Rainfall, CO2 Emissions and Arable Production Interactions in Cameroon.
(2012-01) Epule, Epule Terence; Peng, Changhui; Lepage, Laurent; Chen, Zhi; Nguh, Balgah Sounders
Aims: This paper evaluates the interactions between forest area, CO2 emissions, rainfall and arable production at a national scale in Cameroon. Methodology: The data used for this analysis was essentially time series data for all the variables spanning the period 1961-2000. It uses regression analysis to determine the most important of these variables that affects CO2 emissions and uses correlation analysis and coefficient of determination to verify the nature of the interactions between the variables. Results: The results show that as forest area reduces there is an increase in CO2 emissions concentration in the air in Cameroon. On the other hand, as forest area and rainfall reduce arable production also reduces but forest area is seen to be more responsible for changes in arable production than rainfall. Conclusion: The study concludes that the interactions between CO2 and forest area, arable production and forest area seem to be the most significant while rainfall is denoted as very variable from year to year.
Conversion of Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) Waste Plastics into Liquid Fuel Using Thermal Cracking Process.
(2012-01) Sarker, Moinuddin; Rashid, Mohammad Mamunor; Rahman, Md. Sadikur; Molla, Mohammed
In every sector of the world today energy is essential. Energy has many forms such as electricity, transportation fuel and so on. A large amount of energy is produced from crude oil, which is used to produce petroleum and petroleum to produce daily usable plastics. The solution to the above mentioned problems can be solved through the utilization of the new develop technology. This new developed technology will remove these hazardous waste plastics from the environment and convert them into eco friendly liquid fuel. The process is used to convert these waste plastics into liquid fuel creates no harmful emissions and can be produced at a very little overall cost. The thermal process utilized to break down the hydrocarbon chains of the polymers and convert them into liquid fuel. A Steel reactor with temperature range from 100 ºC to 400 ºC is utilized for the plastic thermal degradation process. The process yield about 80-90% liquid product. The experiment is conducted under a fume hood and open air system, no vacuum process is applied in this particular thermal cracking process.
Soil Quality Changes and Quality Status: A Case Study of the Subtropical China Region Ultisol.
(2012-01) Odunze, A C; Jinshui, Wu; Shoulong, Liu; Hanhua, Zhu; Tida, Ge; Yi, Wang; Qiao, Luo
Aims: To provide a soil quality assessment frame work and threshold limits for assessing soil quality in Ultisol of subtropical China region. Study Design: Selected minimum data set for soil quality assessment and threshold limits for the study were total carbon, nitrogen, soil pH and phosphorus, biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, maize grain and fresh potato tuber yields. Soil data (2000-2010), maize grain and fresh potato yield data (2000-2009) from a long term experiment under the Institute of subtropical Agriculture, China were analyzed using the SAS statistical package and means were graphically compared to determine threshold limits for selected data set and fitted into a soil quality model. Place and Duration of Study: The key Laboratory for Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Regions, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Changsha, Hunan China long-term experimental site in Taoyuan county, conducted from the year 2000 to 2010. Methodology: Soils samples at the experimental fields were obtained from depths 0-20 cm using an auger at each replicate in triplicates and homogenized to obtain a composite sub sample, air-dried, sieved through 2.0 mm to obtain samples for analysis in the Laboratory. Parameters analyzed for were organic carbon concentration, measured by the combustion method using an automated C/N analyzer (Vario MAX CN, Elemental Co., Germany) while total nitrogen was by the Kjeldahl method of ISSCAS (1978). Microbial carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus levels were determined using the chloroform-fumigationextraction method (Jenkinson and Powlson, 1976; Vance et al., 1987; Brookes et al., 1982) and adopting the conversion factors 0.45 (Wu et al., 1990), 0.45 (Brookes et al., 1985), and 0.29 (Wu et al., 2000) respectively for the C, N and P. Extractable N and Olson P were taken from values obtained from the non fumigated soil samples. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using the SAS package for ANOVA and significant means were separated using the Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT). Treatment means were also matched graphically to delineate critical threshold limits between classes for each parameter. Soil quality was assessed by using the Parr et al. (1992) equation; SQ =ƒ(SP,P,E,H, ER,BD,FQ, MI); where SQ= soil quality, SP= soil properties, P = potential productivity, E=environmental factor, H= health (human/animal), ER= erodibility, BD= biodiversity, FQ= food quality and MI= management input. A score scale of 1 to 5 was used in the assessment of parameters in the model; where 1 is best and 5 is the worst condition. However, E, H, ER, FQ and MI were each scored 1.0 because the long-term experiment has an environmental component, health factor, biodiversity, food quality and management input components that are being optimally managed. Therefore SQ= f(SP, P) was used to assess quality of the Ultisol at the uplands and slope land locations. Results: At the uplands, the practice of maize-rape/marsh residue+NK (8.54gkg-1 C, 1.0 gkg-1 N and 5.67 mgkg-1 P) treatments could be rotated with Maize-rape/nil fertilizer (7.51 gkg-1 C, 0.87 gkg-1 and 0.39 mgkg-1 P) to encourage improved soil quality by allowing for more years with soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen and phosphorus credit than years of depletion and discourage soil degradation. At the slope lands, treatments that combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizer materials [Sweet potato-rape/NP+straw (7.18 gkg-1 C, 0.88 gkg-1 N and 0.38 mgkg-1 P) and Peanut-broadbean/NP+straw (6.81 gkg-1 C, 0.86 gkg-1 N and 0.38 mgkg-1 P)] improved soil quality significantly over time by sequestering significantly higher total carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus better than sole inorganic fertilizer [Sweet potato-rape/NPK (6.52 gkg-1 C, 0.81 gkg-1 N and 0.38 mgkg-1 P)]. Conclusion: Ultisol at the upland positions had better quality (SQ1) than those at the slope (SQ2) positions. Threshold limits for nutrients, pH and yield of maize and Fresh Potato tubers in the subtropical China region Ultisol was developed.
Assessing Groundwater Vulnerability to the Activities of Artisanal Refining in Bolo and Environs, Ogu/Bolo Local Government Area of Rivers State; Nigeria.
(2012-01) Amangabara, Gordon T; Njoku, John D
Artisanal refining typically involves primitive illegal stills in which crude oil is boiled and the resultant fumes are collected, cooled and condensed in tanks to be used locally for lighting, energy or transport. The distilleries are heated on open fires fed by crude oil that is tipped into pits in the ground. As part of the oil burns away, some seeps into the ground. The waste from the process is stored in open pits thereby increasing the risk of the contamination of the environment and possibly impacting the underground aquifer. It is this concern of crude oil seeping to the groundwater that necessitated the current investigation with the sole objective of assessing the vulnerability of the aquifer to the activities of artisanal refining. Soil, water and crude oil samples from artisanal refining sites were collected according to standard procedures and transferred to the laboratory for analyses to determine their properties. An empirical method was adopted in estimating the permeability. The Kozeny – Carman equation for deriving the coefficient of permeability takes the porosity (η) into account. Using a typical soil porosity η = 0.4, mean particle size = 0.05 and mean viscosity determined from crude samples permeability estimate was calculated to be 3.6 x 10- 8cm/s, infiltration was assessed using a simplified version of Darcy’s law. With a typical superficial soil permeability of 3.6 x 10-8 cm/s, depth of ponding of 0.5m, and a wetting front of 0.4m, an estimated infiltration rate of 1.15 x 10-8cm/s can be expected. Given the infiltration rate and the depth to groundwater (water table is between 3m and 8m), we calculated the time for crude oil contaminant plume to intercept the water table simply reexpressing the equation for velocity as distance/time which results in approximately 4.6 years. The character of the water from the area indicates that groundwater is already being impacted given that artisanal refining has been going on in the area since 2002.

Browse

Browsing International Journal of Environment and Climate Change by Issue Date

Results Per Page

Sort Options