Journal of Environmental Nanotechnology

01-05

Authors: M. Balaji Prasad

Over the past ten thousand years, farmers have routinely using their knowledge to improve food production. Recent decades have seen a bleak with food shortage looming all over the globe, especially in the developing and under-developing regions due to population explosion. Factors such as shrinking landscape, lack of arable soil, pest epidemics, extensive use of pesticides & fertilizers and nature’s fury (global warming, precipitation, flood, storm, untimely raining, tsunami, etc.,) aid to the decline of the crop’s yield. India’s already large population is expected to become world’s largest in the next fifteen years, resulting an increase in the demand for food, with a need to be met through higher agriculture productivity. At present, yield per hectares is far below the global average. Rejuvenating agricultural productivity through technology-led intervention is gaining urgency and is to be made central to the economic growth endeavor of the country. Nano technology is the latest forerunner to introduce evolution in various fields of livelihood encompassing agriculture, food processing, medicine and comforting goods. Nano agriculture has changed the way, in food produced, processed, packaged and consumed. It has revolutionized the agri-sector with new tools and techniques to enhance crops to absorb key nutrients, fight diseases, targeted treatment, for early disease detection and withstand ecological stress. This article reflects an overview of potential applications of nano technology being researched and commercialized in the agri-sector. It also explores the top-to-bottom strategy for the infusion of the scientific and technical know-how of nano technology to evolve sound production pattern in-line with the demand pattern to strengthen the socio economic fabric of the country. Keywords: Nano agriculture; Tsunami Pest epidemics.

13-16

Authors: P. Hemalatha1*, S. Kumaresan2 , V. Veeravazhuthi3

The channeled spectrum method was used for measuring the birefringence of an anisotropic material. Crystals of uniform thickness were placed between crossed polarizers and illuminated with a tungsten source. The resulting pattern was analyzed to deduce the birefringence and its dispersion across the visible spectrum. Cauchy�s two parameter formula was applied to fit the experimental data. The Cauchy�s coefficients A and B were obtained by solving the linear equations using MATLAB. The value of birefringence was also calculated. Keywords : Anisotropic materials; MATLAB; Birefringence.

29-33

Authors: Subita Bhagat

Titanium dioxide reinforced epoxy composites are developed by simple mechanical stirring and compression molding technique respectively. Investigation on mechanical and morphological characteristics of titanium dioxide reinforced epoxy composite is presented. The effect of titanium dioxide taken as different weight fractions and their interactive influences on the mechanical and morphological characteristics of these composites has been studied. X-Ray diffraction observation indicates that the composite changes its state from amorphous to crystalline behavior with increasing the filler loading. The study revealed that titanium dioxide particle addition in epoxy composite has dramatic effect on mechanical properties i.e. tensile, flexural, impact. The composite exhibit improved mechanical property with the increase of filler loading as the property of the composite mainly depends on dispersion condition of filler particles. Keywords: Epoxy resin; Titanium dioxid; Hardener; Impact test; Tensile test; Flexural test.par

38-43

Authors: N. P. Subiramaniyam1, P. Thirunavukkarasu2*

CuInSe2 CIS)-based thin film compounds are considered one of the most efficient absorber materials for solar cell applications, now reaching conversion efficiencies as high as almost 20% for laboratory-sized devices. To make CIS-based thin films solar cells even more attractive and competitive, an alternative low cost process has to be developed for the manufacture of the high quality CIS absorber layers. In this work, CIS films were deposited by the brush plating technique for the first time. AR grade Copper sulphate (0.03M), Indium sulphate (0.05 M) and 0.005 M Selenium oxide was rsed for the deposition of films. The deposition current density was varied in the range of 10-100 mA cm-2. XRD analysis of the as-deposited films verified the existence of the main Bragg peaks for CIS in a chalco-pyrite crystal structure. The chemical composition of the films identified using XPS found to be copper rich. Tauc's plot indicated a direct band gap of 0.99 eV. Surface morphology of the films indicated an increase of grain size and RMS value of surface roughness from 0.32 to 1.3 nm with depositon current density. Raman spectra of the films exhibited an intense peak at around 175 cm 1. This peak can be assigned to the A 1 mode of CIS. Photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) studies indicated an open circuit voltage of 0.49V and short circuit current density of 13 mA cm-2 for the films deposited at 100 mA cm-2. The photo output increased with deposition current density. Keywords: Thinfilms; Chalcopyrite; Energy bandgap.

53-55

Authors: J. Balavijayalakshmi1*, Greeshma2 1*,2Department of Physics, PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatoreicle

Magnesium ferrite nanoparticles are successfully prepared by co-precipitation method. Magnesium chloride [MgCl2. 6H2O], anhydrous Ferric chloride [FeCl3] and sodium hydroxide are used as raw materials. Magnesium ferrite samples sintered at 130 °C and 600 °C are subjected to X-ray diffraction to calculate the average nano-crystalline size using Debye-Scherrer formula. The FT-IR spectra of the sample are recorded to ensure the presence of the metallic compounds. The morphological analysis of the sample is done using Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Keywords: XRD; Debye-Scherrer formula; FT-IR; X-ray diffration.

66-75

Authors: K. Sakthivel1, I. Arockiaraj2, C. Kannan3, S. Karthikeyan4*

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and Nano porous activated carbon materials were prepared from Jatropha curcas oil and Jatropha curcas stem waste respectively (JCAC and MWNTS). Both carbon materials were utilized as a potential sorbents for toxic textile dye Acid Orange 7 (acid dye) removal. The effects of major variables governing the efficiency of the process such as, temperature, initial dye concentration and pH were investigated. The kinetic measurements helped in determining the specific rate constant confirming the applicability of pseudo second order rate expression. Plausible mechanism of ongoing adsorption process involved was obtained by carrying out kinetic measurements. To compare adsorption of dye on to both adsorbents is particle diffusion or film diffusion, the treatment given by Boyd and Reichenberg was employed. The influence of different factors on the adsorption of Acid Orange 7 on both adsorbents is explained in terms of electrostatic interaction by considering the dye species and the surface characteristics of the adsorbents. Keywords: Multi-walled Carbon nanotubes; Activated Carbon; Acid Orange 7; Adsorption, Particle diffusion.

81-87

Authors: S. Siji1*, M. A. Dhanitha2, C. Janardanan3

An advanced inorganic cation exchange material of the class of tetravalent metal acid salt, cerium(IV) arsenomolybdate has been synthesized by co-precipitation method. The chemical composition was determined from EDS and other physio-chemical analyses carried out are TGA, FTIR and X-ray diffraction studies. Its ion exchange capacity was found to be 2.19 meqg-1.The distribution coefficient(Kd) has been determined for transition metal ions ( Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Zn2+ and Mn2+ ), heavy metal ions( Cd2+, Hg2+, Pb2+ and Bi3+) and alkaline earth metals( Mg2+ and Ca2+ ) using cerium(IV) arsenomolybdate. Distribution studies showed that the selectivity of the exchanger towards various metal ions was in the order Pb2+ > Co2+> Cu2+> Mn2+> Bi3+> Cd2+> Mg2+> Zn2+> Ni2+> Ca2+> Hg2+. The analytical importance of the material has been established by studying degradation of various dyes (methylene blue, methyl orange, congo red and crystal violet) in water using UV-Visible diffuse reflectance spectrophotometer. The remarkable change in intensity of absorption of aqueous solution of these dyes, before and after the treatment with the exchanger showed clearly that these dyes are significantly degradable by cerium(IV)arsenomolybdate. The efficiency of the exchanger towards the removal of methylene blue, methyl orange,congo red and crystal violet from aqueous solution indicates its promising use in waste water treatment for the removal of these dyes. Keywords: Cation exchanger; Distribution coefficient; Dye degradation; Water treatment.

92-101

Authors: S. Senthil Kumar1*, S. Arivazhagan2, N. Rengarajan 3

Remote sensing and Geographic Information System play a pivotal role in environmental mapping,mineral exploration, agriculture, forestry, geology, water, ocean, infrastructure planning and management, disaster mitigation and management etc. Remote Sensing and GIS has grown as a major tool for collecting information on almost every aspect on the earth for last few decades. In the recent years, very high spatial and spectral resolution satellite data are available and the applications have multiplied with respect to various purpose. Remote sensing and GIS has contributed significantly towards developmental activities for the four decades in India. In the present paper, we have discussed the remote sensing and GIS applications of few environmental issues like Mining environment, Urban environment, Coastal and marine environment and Wasteland environment. Keywords: Remote sensing; Geographic Information System; Environment.