Sarita Sinha

Bio: Sarita Sinha is an academic researcher from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ascorbic acid & Sludge. The author has an hindex of 46, co-authored 97 publications receiving 8406 citations. Previous affiliations of Sarita Sinha include National Botanical Research Institute & Indian Institute of Toxicology Research.

Color Removal from Wastewater Using Low-Cost Activated Carbon Derived from Agricultural Waste Material

Abstract: An activated carbon was developed from coconut shell fibers, characterized and used for the removal of methylene blue (basic) and methyl orange (acidic) dyes from wastewater successfully. Adsorption studies were carried out at different temperatures, particle size, pH, and adsorbent doses. The adsorption data are correlated with both Langmuir and Freundlich models. The results indicate that the Freundlich model fits the data better as compared to the Langmuir model in terms of regression coefficients. Isotherms have been used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters such as free energy, enthalpy, and entropy of adsorption. The kinetic studies were also conducted, and the adsorption of methylene blue and methyl orange follow the first-order rate equation. Various kinetic parameters such as the mass-transfer coefficient, effective diffusion coefficient, activation energy, and entropy of activation were evaluated to establish the mechanisms. It was concluded that methylene blue adsorption occurs through a film diffusion mechanism at low as well as at higher concentrations, while methyl orange adsorption occurs through film diffusion at low concentration and particle diffusion at high concentrations. The sorption capacity of the developed carbon is comparable to the other available adsorbents, and costwise it is quite cheaper.

Heavy metals, occurrence and toxicity for plants: a review

Abstract: Metal contamination issues are becoming increasingly common in India and elsewhere, with many documented cases of metal toxicity in mining industries, foundries, smelters, coal-burning power plants and agriculture. Heavy metals, such as cadmium, copper, lead, chromium and mercury are major environmental pollutants, particularly in areas with high anthropogenic pressure. Heavy metal accumulation in soils is of concern in agricultural production due to the adverse effects on food safety and marketability, crop growth due to phytotoxicity, and environmental health of soil organisms. The influence of plants and their metabolic activities affects the geological and biological redistribution of heavy metals through pollution of the air, water and soil. This article details the range of heavy metals, their occurrence and toxicity for plants. Metal toxicity has high impact and relevance to plants and consequently it affects the ecosystem, where the plants form an integral component. Plants growing in metal-polluted sites exhibit altered metabolism, growth reduction, lower biomass production and metal accumulation. Various physiological and biochemical processes in plants are affected by metals. The contemporary investigations into toxicity and tolerance in metal-stressed plants are prompted by the growing metal pollution in the environment. A few metals, including copper, manganese, cobalt, zinc and chromium are, however, essential to plant metabolism in trace amounts. It is only when metals are present in bioavailable forms and at excessive levels, they have the potential to become toxic to plants. This review focuses mainly on zinc, cadmium, copper, mercury, chromium, lead, arsenic, cobalt, nickel, manganese and iron.

Second generation biofuels: high-efficiency microalgae for biodiesel production

Abstract: The use of fossil fuels is now widely accepted as unsustainable due to depleting resources and the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the environment that have already exceeded the “dangerously high” threshold of 450 ppm CO2-e. To achieve environmental and economic sustainability, fuel production processes are required that are not only renewable, but also capable of sequestering atmospheric CO2. Currently, nearly all renewable energy sources (e.g. hydroelectric, solar, wind, tidal, geothermal) target the electricity market, while fuels make up a much larger share of the global energy demand (∼66%). Biofuels are therefore rapidly being developed. Second generation microalgal systems have the advantage that they can produce a wide range of feedstocks for the production of biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane and biohydrogen. Biodiesel is currently produced from oil synthesized by conventional fuel crops that harvest the sun’s energy and store it as chemical energy. This presents a route for renewable and carbon-neutral fuel production. However, current supplies from oil crops and animal fats account for only approximately 0.3% of the current demand for transport fuels. Increasing biofuel production on arable land could have severe consequences for global food supply. In contrast, producing biodiesel from algae is widely regarded as one of the most efficient ways of generating biofuels and also appears to represent the only current renewable source of oil that could meet the global demand for transport fuels. The main advantages of second generation microalgal systems are that they: (1) Have a higher photon conversion efficiency (as evidenced by increased biomass yields per hectare): (2) Can be harvested batch-wise nearly all-year-round, providing a reliable and continuous supply of oil: (3) Can utilize salt and waste water streams, thereby greatly reducing freshwater use: (4) Can couple CO2-neutral fuel production with CO2 sequestration: (5) Produce non-toxic and highly biodegradable biofuels. Current limitations exist mainly in the harvesting process and in the supply of CO2 for high efficiency production. This review provides a brief overview of second generation biodiesel production systems using microalgae.