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Munmun Bhattacharya ¹, D. Sengupta ², S. K. Bhowal ³

Affiliations
1 Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., RL, P-31, CIT Rd., Kolkata 700014, IN
2 Forensic Science Laboratory (Govt. of WB), 37/1/2 Belgachhia Rd., Kolkata 700037, IN
3 Department of Chemistry, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, IN

Abstract

In this communication, a very simple titrimetric technique using emulsification and deemulsification phenomena by the formation of micelles has been developed and the technique, which is termed as micellar titration, furnishes excellent results for the purpose of characterization of crude oil and determination of adulteration of petroleum products and the results agree very well when compared with that obtained by sophisticated instrumental methods. This micellar titration method is very much reproducible and can be done with common chemicals and every forensic science laboratory in our country can afford to use this procedure with success in the laboratory and in the field.

Keywords

Micellar Titration, Crude Oil, Adulterated Petroleum, Analysis.

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D. Bagchi ¹, Pushpraj Singh ¹, D. Sengupta ², S. P. Sharma ²

Affiliations
1 Central Ground Water Board, Regional Directorate, Uttaranchal Region, 2, Ankit Puram, G.M.S. Road, Dehradun - 248 001, IN
2 IIT, Kharagpur, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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A. Mandal ¹, D. Sengupta ¹, S. P. Sharma ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology and Geophysics, IIT Kharagpur, Kharagpur - 721 302, IN

Abstract

Coal combustion in thermal power plants contributes to more than 70% of the e1ectricity generated in India. Combustion of coal generates huge amounts of wastes which are disposed off in nearby ponds. The ash generated from the coal combustion process contains a lot of toxic elements which are leached out by the percolating rain water and subsurface runoff from the ash ponds. These toxics cause sufficient amount of groundwater contamination.

DC resistivity studies are very helpful in determining the subsurface lithology and in delineating the zones of groundwater contamination. The present study was conducted in and around the ash disposal sites of Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant in West Bengal. Six Schlumberger soundings were conducted in the four ash ponds of the thermal power plant. The quantitative interpretation of the VES curves has been done by a very fast simulated annealing computer program developed for this purpose. The subsurface lithology as determined from the VES curves shows alternate layers of clay and sand upto a depth of 6Om. All the sounding locations show a general thin top layer of ash of high resistivity mixed with coarse sand or clay followed by a 29-50m thick layer of wet clay of very low resistivity. The lowermost layer is sandy clay to clayey sand in all the cases. Groundwater samples have also been collected from the tube wells located near the ash ponds and analysed for pH, TDS and trace elements. Results of the chemical analysis show high values of TDS and high concentration of the toxics. Earlier studies on the geochemistry of the pond ash have shown that the ashes are characterized by hlgh concentration of As, Pb, Cu, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cr, CO, Mn all of which exceed the crustal abundance by a factor of 3-5. The high concentration of the toxics (As, Al, Li, As, Zn, Ag, Sb, Si, Mo, Ba, Rb, Se, Pb) in the water samples implies significant input from the ash pile due to leaching. This increases the TDS values of the water. The low resistivity values of the intermediate clayey layer along with the high values of TDS and high concentration of the toxics imply that the contaminant zone lies at a shallow depth of 29-50m thick. It is formed due to leaching of the toxics from the top sandy layer and adsorption in the clayey layer.

Keywords

Ash pond, Groundwater contamination, Resitivity survey, Thermal power plant, Geochemical analysis.

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N. Sulekha Rao ¹, Kajori Parial ¹, Hiroaki Koide ², D. Sengupta ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 721 302, IN
2 Research Reactor Institute, Kyoto University, Kumatori-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka 590-04, JP

Abstract

External gamma dose rate measurement using thermoluminescent dosimeter has been performed along the southern coast of Odisha, eastern India. A total of nine villages from the three sectors, viz. Gopalpur, Chhatrapur and Rushikulya have been selected for the study. The average external gamma dose to people residing in the three sectors is 3.77, 4.47 and 3.57 mSv year^-1 respectively, which is ~3-4 times the international limit of 1 mSv year-1. These values are high compared to other high background radiation areas like Tamil Nadu along the east coast of India, but are comparable to the high radiation areas in Kerala, along the west coast of India.

Keywords

Coastal Dwellings, Eastern Indian Beach Placer, External Gamma Dose, Natural Radioactive Hazard, Thermoluminescent Dosimeter.

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D. Sengupta ¹

Affiliations
1 Bengal Engineering College (A Deemed University), IN

Abstract

Respected dignitaries in the dais, learned participants and listeners. I have been entrusted with the task of speaking a few words about Perspective Planning, Need Assessment & Future Orientation in technical education. I am thankful to the organizers for giving me this opportunity.

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Kajori Parial ¹, S. Mukherjee ², A. R. Ghosh ², D. Sengupta ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Geology and Geophysics, Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721 302, IN
2 Department of Science and Technology and Biotechnology, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata 700 091, IN

Abstract

Coal combustion in thermal power plants releases ash, which is reported to cause adverse health hazards in humans and other organisms. Owing to the presence of radionuclides, it is also considered as a potential radiation hazard. In this study, based on the surface radiation measurements and relevant ancillary data, expected radiation risk zones were identified with regard to human population residing near a thermal power plant using GIS. With population density as the vulnerability determining criterion, about 20% of the study area was in the ‘high’ risk zone and another 20% in the ‘low’ risk zone. The remaining 60% was under ‘medium’ risk zone. Based on the findings of this study, greenbelt locations have been proposed as a remedial measure.

Keywords

Geographic Information System, Radiation Risk Analysis, Remedial Measures, Surface Radiation, Thermal Power Plant.

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