Tabassum-Abbasi

Bio: Tabassum-Abbasi is an academic researcher from University of Petroleum and Energy Studies. The author has contributed to research in topics: Air quality index & Airshed. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 13 publications receiving 14 citations.

Potential of joyweed Alternanthera sessilis for rapid treatment of domestic sewage in SHEFROL® bioreactor.

Abstract: In a first-ever report on this subject, it is shown that a common amphibious plant joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis) can be used in rapid and efficient treatment of biodegradable wastewaters, typifi...

A novel high-rate vermicomposting machine for downstream processing of biorefinery waste and other forms of organic solid waste

Abstract: A novel machine, with the acronym HEVSTOW (high-efficiency vertically stacked vermicomposting system for treating organic waste), of which a patent has recently been granted, is described. It is capable of rapid, inexpensive, and emission-free processing of biorefinery waste and other forms of organic solid waste. The machine is based on the paradigm of high-rate vermicomposting earlier developed by the authors. It makes it possible to rapidly process biorefinery waste of plant origin, as also paper, which the conventional vermireactors are not able to handle without elaborate pre-treatment and/or augmentation of animal manure. The machine also makes it possible to simultaneously vermicompost different forms of biowaste as also use different species of earthworms in such a manner that each batch operates independently without one batch interfering with the other. The applicability of the machine has been demonstrated by its application in simultaneous yet independent processing of a biorefinery waste, and paper waste, each with two epigeic species of earthworms Eisenia andrei and Lumbricus rubellus.

Ability of Indian pennywort Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell in the phytoremediation of sewage (greywater).

Abstract: The freely and abundantly available amphibious plant Indian pennywort Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell was able to phytoremediate sewage (greywater) quickly and substantially in SHEFROL® (“sheet flow root level”) bioreactors, achieving reductions in the levels of several indicator parameters: suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc, copper, nickel, and manganese to the extents of about 90%, 76–77%, 80%, 65%, 55%, 56%, 42%, and 41%, respectively at hydraulic retention times of just 6 h. As these indicators of primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments were achieved simultaneously in a single reactor compartment, the system presented in this paper promises to be simple, rapid, and economical, in achieving significant treatment of greywater.

Salvinia (Salvinia Molesta) and Water Hyacinth (Eichhorniacrassipes): Two Pernicious Aquatic Weeds with High Potential in Phytoremediation

Abstract: The two free-floating aquatic weeds—salvinia (Salvinia molesta) and water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) —feature among the world’s 100 most invasive plants and animals. Both occur widely in India as also in most other countries of the tropical and sub-tropical region. In this brief review the attributes of the two weeds, with special reference to their role in phytoremediation, are presented.

An Assessment of the Spread Rates of Accidentally Spilled Flammable Liquids and the Development of a Model to Forecast the Spill Velocity

Abstract: More often than not, major fires and explosions occur in chemical process industries as also in public places, due to accidental spills of flammable substances. This makes it important to study the dynamics of flammable liquids spilled onto the ground, so that strategies to contain and quench such spills can be devised. Moreover, the risk posed by a liquid spilling over an inclined plane is much greater than the risk posed by a spill over a flat surface because in the former case there is an increased rate of evaporation due to an enhanced spread rate, thereby enhancing the possibility of the formation of highly flammable/explosive vapor clouds. Such vapor clouds are known to drift to other units and damage them, often escalating a mere spill into a major catastrophe. But even though a large number of accidents have occurred where the flammable liquid had spilled over inclined planes, little work has been done toward understanding the dynamics of such spills which may help in the development of models to forecast the pattern and impact of such spills. The present work is an attempt to fill the knowledge gap and is arguably the first-ever study of its kind. In this work, the dynamics of spill of three different fuels—petrol, kerosene and ethanol—on two types of substrates of different roughness—vinyl and plastered concrete—have been studied. The angle of inclinations over which the spill dynamics have been studied is 0°, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20° to the horizontal. Further, for the first time, the application of artificial neural networks to predict the spill velocity has been demonstrated.

Amaranthaceae plants of Israel and Palestine: Medicinal activities and unique compounds

Abstract: Amaranthaceae plant family is one of the largest and most diverse in the plant kingdom. While some of the plants of this family have important nutritional value, others are considered toxic and/or hazardous weeds that many efforts were investigated in controlling them. But both categories were used by humans for traditional medicinal purposes, and some of them were extensively studied by modern science. In this review article, we will present some ethnomedicinal uses of the plants of this family, along with comprehensive literature survey of medicinal, biological and other activities. Information will be presented in tables for the convenience of readers, and many figures of natural products structures are introduced. The extensive discussion section will focus mainly (but not only) on studies of active compounds production. To the best of our knowledge, this review article is the most extensive that was ever published about plants of this family in general, and the first about Amaranthaceae plants of our region, which grow all over the world, part. Conclusions and future research recommendations are presented for the benefit of interested scholars.