@chula.ac.th
Postdoctoral researcher, Center of Excellent in Interdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development
Chulalongkorn University
Ph.D., - ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
M.E., - ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
B.E., - CIVIL ENGINEERING
Groundwater, Climate change impact on natural resource, Wastewater engineering
Scopus Publications
Scholar Citations
Scholar h-index
Scholar i10-index
Nagireddy Masthan Reddy, Subbarayan Saravanan, and Balamurugan Paneerselvam
Elsevier BV
Yash Aryan, Thambidurai Pon, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, and Anil Kumar Dikshit
IWA Publishing
Abstract The present study found that ∼80 million people in India, ∼60 million people in Pakistan, ∼70 million people in Bangladesh, and ∼3 million people in Nepal are exposed to arsenic groundwater contamination above 10 μg/L, while Sri Lanka remains moderately affected. In the case of fluoride contamination, ∼120 million in India, >2 million in Pakistan, and ∼0.5 million in Sri Lanka are exposed to the risk of fluoride above 1.5 mg/L, while Bangladesh and Nepal are mildly affected. The hazard quotient (HQ) for arsenic varied from 0 to 822 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 1,051 in Bangladesh, 0 to 582 in Nepal, and 0 to 89 in Sri Lanka. The cancer risk of arsenic varied from 0 to 1.64 × 1−1 in India, 0 to 1.07 × 10−1 in Pakistan, 0 to 2.10 × 10−1 in Bangladesh, 0 to 1.16 × 10−1 in Nepal, and 0 to 1.78 × 10−2 in Sri Lanka. In the case of fluoride, the HQ ranged from 0 to 21 in India, 0 to 33 in Pakistan, 0 to 18 in Bangladesh, 0 to 10 in Nepal, and 0 to 10 in Sri Lanka. Arsenic and fluoride have adverse effects on animals, resulting in chemical poisoning and skeletal fluorosis. Adsorption and membrane filtration have demonstrated outstanding treatment outcomes.
Saravanan Subbarayan, Saranya Thiyagarajan, Shankar Karuppannan, and Balamurugan Panneerselvam
Elsevier BV
Periyasamy Muthusamy, Balamurugan Paneerselvam, Shunmuga Priya Kaliyappan, Hussein Almohamad, Ali Abdullah Aldosari, and Hazem Ghassan Abdo
MDPI AG
The quality of groundwater plays an important role in human health, and it majorly influences the agricultural process in the southern part of India. The present study mainly focused on evaluating the quality of groundwater used for domestic purpose in semi-arid regions of the southern part of India. The samples were collected in 36 locations, covering the entire investigation zone. The collected samples were analyzed for various physical and chemical characteristics of groundwater and compared with the world health organization standards. The entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI) of the groundwater revealed that 16.67% of the samples required primary-level treatment before they could be used for drinking purposes. About 72.23% of the samples were in the good-to-medium category for drinking purposes, as was identified through weighted overlay analysis. The ionic relationship plot was used to identify the source of contamination and it revealed that carbonate weathering and anthropogenic activities are the primary sources of groundwater contamination. The present results show the contaminated zones and offer more helpful solutions to strengthen the water management policy in the study region.
Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, Umesh Chandra Dumka, Maciej Thomas, Warit Charoenlerkthawin, and Butsawan Bidorn
Elsevier BV
Anna Lanzetta, Francesco Di Capua, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Davide Mattioli, Giovanni Esposito, and Stefano Papirio
MDPI AG
Aerobic granular sludge is an interesting alternative to the conventional activated sludge (CAS) system and modified-Ludzack–Ettinger (MLE) process for biological wastewater treatment, as it allows a more cost-effective and simultaneous removal of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) compounds in a single stage. In this study, (micro)aerobic C and N removal from synthetic urban wastewater was investigated in a continuous-double-column-upflow aerobic granular sludge blanket (UAGSB) system. The UAGSB reactor was operated under different dissolved oxygen (DO) ranges (0.01–6.00 mg∙L−1), feed C/N ratios (4.7–13.6), and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (6–24 h). At a DO range of 0.01–0.30 mg∙L−1, feed C/N ratio of 13.6, and HRT of 24 h, the UAGSB achieved the highest chemical oxygen demand (COD), N-NH4+, and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal efficiencies of 86, 99, and 84%, respectively. A preliminary assessment of the energy and economic savings associated with the process investigated was also carried out. The impact of capital and operating costs mainly related to the energy consumption of the aeration was taken into account. The assessment reveals that the capital and energy expenses of the UAGSB reactor would result in cost savings of around 14 and 7%, respectively, compared with a MLE system.
Balamurugan Paneerselvam, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, Peiyue Li, Maciej Thomas, Warit Charoenlerkthawin, and Butsawan Bidorn
Elsevier BV
Nagavinothini Ravichandran, Balamurugan Paneerselvam, and Nagananthini Ravichandran
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Abstract Floating photovoltaic systems (FPVs) are one of the emerging renewable-energy technologies suitable for implementation in land-scarce areas around the world. The installation of FPVs in water bodies in highly populated countries such as India will improve renewable-energy production with added advantages in terms of efficiency, water savings and reduced carbon emissions. In this context, the present study aims to identify suitable reservoirs for solar energy production using FPV technology in Tamil Nadu, India using geographic information system techniques. A total of 118 reservoirs located in the study area were considered. The results have shown that the implementation of FPV systems will significantly improve the production of renewable energy. The most suitable reservoirs with hydroelectric power plants for hybrid FPV implementation and their potential to reduce water evaporation and carbon emissions are presented. The results reveal that hybrid systems will generate 1542.53 GWh of power annually and also save 36.32 × 106 m3 of water every year. The results of this investigation will aid in fulfilling sustainable energy production in India, and the methodology presented may be useful for the analysis and prioritization of reservoirs for the implementation of FPV all over the world.
Ganesh Prabhu Ganapathy, Arjunan Alagu, Samundeeswari Ramachandran, Arul Sivanantham Panneerselvam, George Gabriel Vimal Arokiaraj, Mukesh Panneerselvam, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Vivek Sivakumar, and Butsawan Bidorn
Elsevier BV
K. Sankar, D. Karunanidhi, K. Kalaivanan, T. Subramani, D. Shanthi, and P. Balamurugan
Elsevier BV
Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Kirubakaran Muniraj, Karunanidhi Duraisamy, Chaitanya Pande, Shankar Karuppannan, and Maciej Thomas
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractThe main objective of the present study is to perform risk assessment of groundwater contaminated by nitrate (NO3−) and evaluate the suitability of groundwater for domestic purposes in the Palani region of South India. Thirty groundwater samples were collected in the study area. Various groundwater quality analysis parameters such as the pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+), and major anions (Cl−, SO42−, F−, CO32−, and HCO3−) were adopted in this study to evaluate the drinking water suitability according to 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Piper and Gibbs’s diagrams for the tested groundwater indicated that, due to the influence of rock–water interactions, evaporation, and reverse ion exchange, the chemical composition of groundwater varied. According to water quality index (WQI) mapping results, 46.67% of the sample locations was identified as contaminated zones via GIS spatial analysis. Multivariate statistical analysis methods, such as principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and the Pearson correlation matrix, were applied to better understand the relationship between water quality parameters. The results demonstrated that 40% of the samples could be identified as highly affected zones in the study region due to a high nitrate concentration. The noncarcinogenic health risks among men, women, and children reached 40, 50, and 53%, respectively. The results illustrated that children and women occurred at a higher risk than did men in the study region. The major sources of contamination included discharge from households, uncovered septic tanks, leachate from waste dump sites, and excess utilization of fertilizers in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, using the nitrate health hazard integrated method with the conventional indexing approach ensures that groundwater reliability can be guaranteed, contamination can be explored, and appropriate remedial measures can be implemented.
Abdelfattah Amari, Heba Saed Kariem Alawameleh, Mubeen Isam, Mohammed Abdul Jaleel Maktoof, Haitham Osman, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, and Maciej Thomas
MDPI AG
Hitherto, a considerable amount of research has been carried out to investigate the equilibrium condition of adsorption process; nevertheless, there is no comprehensive study to evaluate the surface adsorption properties of MOFs. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism and equilibrium capacity of MOFs have not been fully understood. Furthermore, the mass transfer mechanism is still unknown and so it is not possible to predict the adsorption process using MOFs. In this work, a new metal–organic framework (MOF) named UIO-66–MnFe2O4 was synthesized as an adsorbent for oily wastewater treatment. In this way the effects of temperature, amount of adsorbent, adsorption time, pH, and pollutant initial concentration were studied in the treatment of oily wastewater using the UIO-66-MnFe2O4 MOF through the adsorption process. Furthermore, to examine the process of surface adsorption, different adsorption kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich) have been performed for the removal of oily pollutants on MOF adsorbents and the surface adsorption mechanism has been discussed carefully. Moreover, to investigate the mass transfer mechanism of oily pollutants in the surface adsorption process, different mass transfer models (Weber and Morris, liquid film diffusion, and Bangham and Burt) have been investigated on porous adsorbents, and finally the mass transfer mechanism of the adsorption process has been proposed.
Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, Shunmuga Priya Kaliyappan, Shankar Karuppannan, and Butsawan Bidorn
MDPI AG
The continuous intake of contaminated drinking water causes serious issues for human health. In order to estimate the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation, and also conduct human risk assessments of various groups of people, a total of 43 sample locations in the semi-arid southern part of India were selected based on population density, and we collected and analyzed groundwater from the locations for major anions and cations. The present study’s novelty is integrating hydrochemical analysis with the entropy water quality index (EWQI), nitrate pollution index (NPI) and human health risk assessment. The results of the EWQI revealed that 44.19% of the sample locations need to be treated before consumption. About 37.20% of the study region has a high concentration of nitrate in the groundwater. NPI revealed that 41.86% of the samples had moderate or significant pollution levels. The non-carcinogenic risk evaluation showed that 6–12-year-old children are at a higher risk than teenagers, adults and elderly people in the study area. The natural sources of nitrate and other contamination of groundwater are rock–water interaction, weathering of rock, dissolution of carbonate minerals and evaporation processes, and the anthropogenic sources are the decomposition of organic substances in dumping yards, uncovered septic tanks and human and animal waste. The results suggest taking mitigation measures to reduce the contamination and improve the sustainable planning of groundwater management.
Sasan Zahmatkesh, Mostafa Hajiaghaei-Keshteli, Awais Bokhari, Suresh Sundaramurthy, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, and Yousof Rezakhani
Elsevier BV
Balamurugan Panneerselvam and Shunmuga Priya K
Informa UK Limited
Kirubakaran Muniraj, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Suresh Devaraj, Colins Johnny Jesudhas, and Karuppasamy Sudalaimuthu
Informa UK Limited
Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Kirubakaran Muniraj, Chaitanya Pande, and Nagavinothini Ravichandran
Informa UK Limited
Suresh Sundaramurthy, Shashi Bala, Anil Kumar Sharma, Jyoti Verma, Sasan Zahmatkesh, S. Arisutha, Sarika Verma, Mika Sillanpaa, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, and Balamurugan Panneerselvam
MDPI AG
Paver blocks are manufactured from zero-slump plain concrete, which is small element used for outdoor applications and flexible road surfaces. IS:15658 (2006) permits the use of 33- grade ordinary Portland cement (OPC) as the minimum for manufacturing paver blocks, but the usage of this type of cement is restricted in India nowadays. In this context, we have studied OPC 43-grade cement replaced by 30% Class F-grade fly ash and the addition of 0.0% and 0.5% polypropylene fibre (PPF) to evaluate the suitability of paver blocks in terms of the climatic conditions, movement of vehicles and road surfaces in India. The synergistic effect of the mechanical properties of paver blocks revealed that a 30% replacement of OPC with fly ash and 0.3% PPF is more suitable for the manufacturing of paver blocks. The obtained results from the reference mixes indicated that the mechanical properties of paver blocks have increased with respect to the age of the blocks. The present study is important for paver block manufacturers as it fulfils the mix design, strength and durability requirements for Indian roads associated with the utilization of waste materials such as fly ash. Additionally, the study will help the national economy increase by 20% in the future, along with the sustainability of virgin materials.
Warit Charoenlerkthawin, Komkrit Bidorn, William C. Burnett, Jun Sasaki, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, and Butsawan Bidorn
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
AbstractCoastal protection measures can be categorized into grey and green solutions in terms of their ecosystem impacts. As the use of grey solutions has become a serious issue due to environmental consequences during the last few decades, green/nature-based solutions have become prioritized. This study evaluates the effectiveness of grey and green solutions applied along the eastern Chao Phraya Delta (ECPD) based on historical shoreline change analysis and coastal observations using Light Detection and Ranging technology. The results from shoreline analysis indicate that nearshore breakwaters installed 100–250 m from the shoreline have successfully reclaimed the coastline with a sedimentation rate of 17–23 cm/y. Meanwhile, sand-sausage-submerged breakwaters were ineffective at stabilizing the coastline during 2002–2010 due to land subsidence. With a low subsidence rate, the rubble-mound-submerged breakwaters can reduce the shoreline retreat rate with a vertical deposition rate of about 5 cm/y. In contrast, use of a bamboo fence, a green solution widely used along muddy coasts, traps sediment at a rate of less than 1.3 cm/y and typically lasts only for 2–3 years after installation. Decomposed bamboo causes environmental degradation so local communities disapprove of the approach. Results reveal that grey solutions are more effective for stabilizing the ECPD coastline and result in less coastal environmental impact than the nature-based solution using a bamboo fence.
Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Kirubakaran Muniraj, Chaitanya Pande, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, Maciej Thomas, and Shankar Karuppannan
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
The primary goal of this study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and conduct a non-carcinogenic risk assessment of nitrate contamination in an industrialized and high-density region of South India. A total of 40 sampling sites were identified in and around the industrial area, and samples were collected during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Piper and Gibbs’ diagram shows that rock-water interaction, lithological characteristics and ion-exchange processes are the primary factors determining groundwater quality. The novel entropy water quality index (EWQI) indicated that 32 and 37.5% of the water in the study area were unsuitable for drinking purposes during both the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Due to landfill leachate and modern agricultural activity, the nitrate concentration in groundwater post-monsoon had increased by 17.11%. The nitrate pollution index (NPI) value of groundwater exceeded the contaminated level by 22.77%. The non-carcinogenic human health risk assessment revealed that 35 and 40% of adult males, 37.5 and 52.5% of adult females and 42.5 and 55% of children during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods were exposed to an increased concentration of nitrate in groundwater. The non-carcinogenic risk level to the exposed population in the study region descends in the following order: children > > females > males. The study suggests that low body weight in children is a direct result of consumption of low-quality water and that adult men and women suffer less severe consequences.
Nagananthini Ravichandran, Nagavinothini Ravichandran, and Balamurugan Panneerselvam
Elsevier BV
P. Balamurugan, S. Pauline, M. Kirubakaran, and M. Thomas
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of several pre-selected carrier materials used in an Inverse Fluidized Bed Reactor (IFBR) on the treatment efficiency of distillery spent wash water. Distillery spent wash water has been identified as a threat to the natural environment due to its high pollution load. The effluents from the industry are dark brown in color and contain heavy organic matter, causing a high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD); however, they can be treated effectively through biological processes. Previous research reveals that a high-rate anaerobic digester especially an IFBR reduces COD more effectively than other treatment technologies. The effectiveness of the reactor depends on the expansion of the fluidized bed which in turn is related to the carrier material. In this study, four different carrier materials: perlite, expanded perlite, sawdust and polystyrene, were selected. The carrier materials selected were assessed based on their efficiency in reducing COD, Total Solids (TS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS). Results were taken at 140-h Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT), with a constant Organic Loading Rate (OLR) of 12 kg COD/m3/day. Among the selected carrier materials, expanded perlite was most effective at reducing COD, TS, TDS and TSS (83.33, 72.47, 29.67 and 88.78%, respectively). This method could be easily implemented in industrial practice and thereby reduce the negative impact of production plants on the natural environment.
Chaitanya B. Pande, Balamurugan Panneerselvam, Kirubakran Muniraj, and Nagavinothini Ravichandran
Springer International Publishing