Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad

About: Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad is a education organization based out in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Coal & Coal mining. The organization has 3038 authors who have published 5682 publications receiving 88301 citations.

Young consumers' intention towards buying green products in a developing nation: Extending the theory of planned behavior

Abstract: The present research attempts to understand the young consumers' intention toward buying green products in a developing nation; India. The study has used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as its theoretical framework and further attempted to extend the TPB by incorporating additional constructs (environmental concern & environmental knowledge) in it. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaire survey and analyzed with the help of structural equation modeling (SEM). The finding reported the usefulness of TPB in predicting young consumers' intention towards purchasing green products. The result also supported the applicability of including additional constructs in TPB, as it has improved the predictive utility of the proposed model (from 27.1% to 37.7%). At the end, the implications for policy makers and scope for further research have been discussed.

Satellites measure recent rates of groundwater depletion in California's Central Valley

Abstract: In highly-productive agricultural areas such as California's Central Valley, where groundwater often supplies the bulk of the water required for irrigation, quantifying rates of groundwater depletion remains a challenge owing to a lack of monitoring infrastructure and the absence of water use reporting requirements. Here we use 78 months (October, 2003–March, 2010) of data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellite mission to estimate water storage changes in California's Sacramento and San Joaquin River Basins. We find that the basins are losing water at a rate of 31.0 ± 2.7 mm yr−1 equivalent water height, equal to a volume of 30.9 km3 for the study period, or nearly the capacity of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. We use additional observations and hydrological model information to determine that the majority of these losses are due to groundwater depletion in the Central Valley. Our results show that the Central Valley lost 20.4 ± 3.9 mm yr−1 of groundwater during the 78-month period, or 20.3 km3 in volume. Continued groundwater depletion at this rate may well be unsustainable, with potentially dire consequences for the economic and food security of the United States.

Determinants of Consumers' Green Purchase Behavior in a Developing Nation: Applying and Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior

Abstract: The green consumption among individuals can be an effective way to minimize the negative impact of consumption on the environment. The research related to green consumption behavior in developing nations such as India is few and far between. Considering this, researchers in the present study have attempted to understand the consumer behavior to buy green products in context of a developing nation; India. The study has used the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and further extended the TPB including additional constructs namely; perceived value and willingness to pay premium (WPP) and measured its appropriateness in determining consumer green purchase intention and behavior. A total of 620 usable responses were collected with the help of a questionnaire survey using the convenience sampling approach. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the strength of relationships among constructs. The findings reported that TPB fully supported the consumers' intention to buy green products which in turn influences their green purchase behavior. Inclusion of additional constructs was supported in the TPB as it has improved the predicted power of the TPB framework in predicting consumer green purchase intention and behavior. At the end, discussion and implications have been discussed.

A review on production, storage of hydrogen and its utilization as an energy resource

Abstract: Energy price is rising due to rapid depletion of fossil fuels. Development of renewable and non-polluting energy resources is necessary for reducing pollution level caused by those conventional fuels. Researchers have recognized hydrogen (H2) as such an energy source. Hydrogen is a potential non-carbon based energy resource, which can replace fossil fuels. Hydrogen is considered as the alternative fuel as it could be generated from clean and green sources. Despite many advantages, storage of hydrogen is a serious problem. Due to high inflammability, adequate safety measures should be taken during the production, storage, and use of H2 fuel. This review article elucidates production methods and storage of hydrogen. Besides this safety related to H2 handling in refilling station, and automobiles has also been discussed. Study shows that safety program and awareness could be fruitful for increasing the acceptance of hydrogen as fuel.

Oxidative removal of Bisphenol A by UV-C/peroxymonosulfate (PMS): Kinetics, influence of co-existing chemicals and degradation pathway

Abstract: In the present study, a sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation process was applied for the degradation of an industrial chemical and suspected endocrine disruptor, Bisphenol A (BPA). UV-C ( λ = 254 nm; 40 W power; I o = 1.26 μE s −1 ) activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was used as an oxidant. The effect of operating parameters (initial concentration of BPA, dose of PMS, initial solution pH (pH o ), and water matrix components such as chloride (Cl − ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 − ) ions and humic acid (HA) was evaluated. At the initial pH of reaction mixture (5.15) and room temperature (29 ± 3 °C), the optimum dosage of PMS was found to be 0.66 mM, giving a BPA removal of 96.7 ± 0.05% and a total organic carbon (TOC) removal of 72.5 ± 0.05% after 360 min of irradiation. With an increase in initial BPA concentration and PMS dosage greater than 0.66 mM, the BPA and TOC removal decreased. The extent of BPA removal increased with an increase in pH o (3 ⩽ pH o ⩽ 12) of the reaction mixture. The degradation of BPA followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and the apparent first order rate constant for BPA was found to be 0.025 min −1 at the optimum oxidation conditions ( C BPA = 0.22 mM, C PMS = 0.66 mM, pH = 5.15, temperature = 29 ± 3 °C). The Cl − ions have negligible inhibition effect on the BPA removal. However, the HCO 3 − and HA inhibited the BPA oxidation under UV-C irradiation. The identification of intermediates and final products was carried out with HPLC, GC/MS and FTIR, and a degradation pathway was proposed. The present study reveals that the UV-C/PMS oxidation process is effective for BPA removal under real water/wastewater conditions.