Browsing by Author "Jayanta Kumar Pati"

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Assessment of topsoil contamination in an urbanized interfluve region of Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) using magnetic measurements and spectroscopic techniques
(Springer International Publishing, 2019) Abhishek Kumar Rai; Anuj Kumar Singh; Jayanta Kumar Pati; Shubham Gupta; Munmun Chakarvorty; Ambalika Niyogi; Anamika Pandey; Mrigank Mauli Dwivedi; Kamlesh Pandey; Kuldeep Prakash
The magnetic susceptibility (MS) measurements are used for rapid and cost-effective soil surveys and for accessing heavy metal contamination worldwide. In the sub-Himalayan plains of India, nearly 6.05 × 104 km2 area of most the fertile land occurs as interfluve of Late Quaternary age between the two major glacier-fed rivers (Ganga and Yamuna). The vast areal expanse of interfluve terminates at the rivers’ confluence in Sangam (25°25′13″N-81°53′22″E), Allahabad. This is the first study of MS soil survey of the interfluve region at the confluence comprising 490 samples from 49 locations. The MS values are between 8.84 and 261.25 × 10−8 m3 kg−1 and the change is more pronounced (8.84–312.65 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) with increasing depth. A sudden increase in the MS between 12- (11.28–303.32 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) and 14-cm (11.21–238.45 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) depth is observed similar to observations worldwide. The high MS hotspots are aligned parallel to major traffic networks of the city suggesting a major contribution emanating from the anthropogenic load. A significant difference has been noted in the MS values of present-day mid-channel bar sediments of Ganga (25.24 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) and Yamuna (116.47 × 10−8 m3 kg−1) Rivers. The laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) data showed the presence of heavy (Fe, Ti, Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb) and light (H, C, N, and O) elements supporting MS data. The concentration of toxic elements predicted by partial least squares regression (PLSR) approach concurs with magnetic measurements. The topsoil MS values increase up to a depth of ~ 6.25 cm suggesting the dominant role of anthropogenic source for the increased heavy metal concentration compared with basement contributions. © 2019, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Characterization of Ash Samples from the Kelud (Indonesia) Volcanic Eruption of 2014 and its Environmental Implications
(Springer, 2023) Sujesh Sahay; Jayanta Kumar Pati; Anuj Kumar Singh; Ambalika Niyogi; Munmun Chakarvorty; Kuldeep Prakash; Mrigank Mauli Dwivedi
The eruptions from Kelud (Kelut) volcano, Indonesia on 13 to 14 February, 2014 ejected huge amount of volcanic ash to an altitude of more than 26 km and spread to >700 km, leading to the disruption of flights, collapse of man-made structures, traffic accidents, and large-scale evacuations while leaving indelible signs of ecosystem degradation. To better comprehend the physical and chemical characters and possible environmental implications of Kelud eruption, three unconsolidated poorly-sorted ash samples were collected on February 24, 2014 from roof tops in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and analyzed for their size (0.3 to 300 µm), shape (irregular, columnar and tabular), texture (vesicular with shards and Pele’s hair), mineralogy (andesine + diopside + enstatite + cristobalite + magnetite + glass) and geochemistry (basaltic andesite — andesite). The trace element concentrations, marginally fractionated REE pattern, and the basaltic andesite to andesite affinity of all Kelud ash samples infer their genetic linkage with island arc environment. The fine-grained particulate matter in the inhalable size range, presence of crystalline silica (cristobalite) and chemical toxicity of ash, observed during the present study, shall be useful for disaster preparedness and to create environmental safeguards for similar volcanic eruptions in future. © 2023, Geological Society of India, Bengaluru, India.
Effect of seasonal variation on dust samples of a winter fog affected urban environment of India, South East Asia
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2017) Munmun Chakarvorty; Jayanta Kumar Pati; Kuldeep Prakash; Ambalika Niyogi
Physical and chemical characteristics of leaf dust (LD) samples, collected between 2011 and 2013, of a severely winter fog affected and polluted urban environment (Allahabad, India) of Indo-Gangetic plain are presented in this study. The weather changes in the study area are grouped into three effective annual seasonal periods–winter fog, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. The pronounced impact of seasonal variations is observed in LD characteristics, as ~46% of the winter fog period samples ranges in size between 2.5 and 20 µm with high magnetic susceptibility (up to 938.22 × 10−8 m3 kg−1). In comparison, 35% of the LD from pre-monsoon period occurs in the size range of 100–300 µm with low magnetic susceptibility (up to 43.29 × 10−8 m3 kg−1). The fractal analysis involving submicroscopic clast dimension of LD also reveals a seasonal influence. The toxic metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni) in LD belonging to winter fog and post-monsoon periods increase in comparison to samples from pre-monsoon time. Multivariate statistical analysis of trace element data suggests that the LD collected from winter fog and post-monsoon periods originate predominantly from anthropogenic source, whereas those collected during pre-monsoon owe their origin to crustal and anthropogenic sources, mainly. The present study has demonstrated the role of seasonal variation in controlling the physical and chemical properties of particulate matter based on multiple parameter analyses, and the derivation of the dust load from a mixed source (upper continental crust, anthropogenic and vehicular) for the study area for the first time. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Experimental Synthesis of Coloured Soda-lime-silica (SLS) Glasses using Untreated Silica Sand of Shankargarh Area (Prayagraj District, Uttar Pradesh, India) and its Ramifications
(Springer, 2022) Anuj Kumar Singh; Pawan Kumar Rajak; Jayanta Kumar Pati; Mrigank Mauli Dwivedi; Kamlesh Pandey; Kuldeep Prakash; Abhishek Kumar Rai; Shivanshu Dwivedi
The physical, mechanical and chemical processing of silica sand, the main ingredient of silicate glass, are routinely carried out in glass and ceramic industries worldwide to enhance the silica content and to reduce the concentration of ferromagnesian impurities. The processing of silica sand prior to glass synthesis generally involves washing with water, physical screening (size and magnetic separation) and chemical treatments. The silica sand mining, in parts of Prayagraj (earlier known as Allahabad) district, Uttar Pradesh, is continuing for more than six decades and yet meager peer-reviewed published scientific data is available hitherto. On the other hand, the continued rampant water cleaning of silica sand for more than six decades has led to the accumulation of toxic sludge in the vicinity and also causing ground water depletion in the area. In order to find an amicable balance amongst silica sand processing, ground water depletion and environmental degradation, an attempt has been made to use untreated/raw silica sand of Prayagraj district, mainly from the Shankargarh area, to synthesize soda-lime-silica (SLS) glass. Following this objective, thirty five silica sand samples are collected from different washeries and grouped into seven classes based on their magnetic susceptibility values (30.23 to −0.71 × 10−8 m3kg−1). Representative silica sand samples from these seven groups are mixed with sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in a ratio of 75:15:10 and melted at 1300°C under one atmospheric pressure for a run duration of 90 minutes. Transparent to translucent SLS glasses of various hues and variable refractive indices (1.504–1.547) are formed. The glasses, thus analyzed by the electron probe micro analyzer (EPMA), comprise SiO2 (80.56–85.79 wt%), Na2O (9.70–12.69 wt%), CaO (4.80–6.51 wt%), Al2O3 (0.51–1.46 wt%), FeOT (0.15–0.95 wt%) and TiO2 (0.12–0.29 wt%), similar to the commercial SLS glasses manufactured worldwide. The present study suggests that the raw silica sand from Shankargarh area can be used to synthesize coloured SLS glasses even without washing with water and as a consequence the water resources and geo-environment of the area shall remain protected from further degradation. © 2022, Geological Society of India, Bengaluru, India.