Plappally, Anand K

2024, Meraj Ahmad, Chandra Prakash, Arti Sharma, Dixit, Ambesh, Chhabra, Meenu, Plappally, Anand K

The availability of safe drinking water in non-networked rural areas and disaster-affected zones is dependent on point-of-use water filters. This study describes the design and performance assessment of a personal portable ceramic water filter named “sip-up.” Four sample variants were made using clay, exfoliated graphite (EG), and sawdust as raw materials. Samples were made using a mold to ensure uniformity and sintered at 850 °C. The experimental results showed that the sample containing the maximum amount of sawdust had the highest porosity of 36.07 ± 1.8%, providing an average flow rate of 0.61 ml/min in passive mode. The average pore size radius of all variants varied in the range of 1–10 nm, classifying the material as having a mesoporous structure. Compressive test results indicate that the addition of an organic additive (sawdust) decreases the compressive strength of filters as compared to non-organic additives. It has been observed that the addition of EG to clay does not significantly improve water filtration parameters as compared to samples containing only sawdust and clay. However, due to the smaller pore size, samples containing EG performed better in E. coli removal as compared to sawdust-containing samples. The final prototype can act as a single-use personal water filtration device that can be inserted into any commercial water bottle, making it an affordable and effective solution for hikers, travelers, and natural disasters such as floods and cyclones.

2024, Meraj Ahmad, Usha K. Aravind, Plappally, Anand K

In India, Ceramic Water Filters (CWF) named G-filters are becoming a point-of-use household water treatment solution. The filter's reliability may be primarily characterized by the filtrate turbidity and microbial removal efficiency. The temperature and moisture gradients of the location affect its performance. This paper describes a 19-week laboratory investigation of G-filters simulating field conditions. The basic objective during the study was to ascertain the effective useable life of the filter. The discharge rate and turbidity reduction ability of the filters are studied in depth. The G-filters were prepared using locally available salty clay and sawdust taken in equal volume fractions. A total of 30 filters with a 9-liter capacity each were used for the experiments. The results showed that CWFs can reduce turbidity effectively. The influent water used for the study had a mean turbidity of 7.65 NTU, which reduced in the range of 0.03 NTU to 1.03 NTU. Over the course of four months, the average flow rate decreased from 1.94 Lh-1 to 0.93 Lh-1. Although a soft brushing of filters improved the filtration rate but that too failed in the long run. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) nitrogen adsorption–desorption measurements were used to determine the variation in pore size of filters with time. An average pore radius of 2.91 nm was found in the original filter that has not been used for filtration experiments. Moreover, an average pore radius of 1.77 nm, 1.21 nm, and 1.22 nm were reported in G-filters through which 427.5 L, 807.5 L, and 1035.5 L, respectively, of water were passed. This reduction in pore size is attributed to the clogging of pores over a period of time. This study aims to collect performance data to establish a scientific model using statistical analysis for implementing CWF technology in developing nations.

2024, Aryan Sawant, Plappally, Anand K, Winston Soboyejo, Amrita Nighojkar

Effective waste management is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals, which require a comprehensive understanding of environmentally sound practices. This study introduces a pioneering methodology by employing Microsoft's Power BI data visualization tool to analyze and predict trends in sustainable waste management in India. The investigation spans a decade of sustainable handling of diverse waste categories, identifying key research entities and influential journals. Notably, Elsevier and Springer are prominent publishers, with hybrid publishing accounting for 62% of articles. Research focuses predominantly on municipal solid waste management (57%), followed by biomass waste management (15%). Leveraging Power BI facilitates intricate temporal analysis of waste patterns, providing a nuanced view of the evolving landscape in sustainable waste management. The study innovatively integrates data visualization with predictive analytics to forecast trends through 2034, particularly in converting municipal solid and biomass waste into valuable energy resources. These predictive insights are indispensable for long-term strategic planning and informed policy decisions, empowering stakeholders with actionable intelligence for sustainable energy and waste management strategies. By harnessing Power BI's forecasting capabilities and analyzing historical Scopus data, this research underscores the strategic significance of visual analytics in guiding data-driven decision-making for sustainable practices. This comprehensive examination of waste management dynamics establishes a benchmark for future research and policy formulation in the field.