Academic

Identifying the Issue

• As per WHO, water contamination by heavy metal ions, poses enormous threat to both the environment and human health as they are non-biodegradable and highly toxic by nature
• Their presence in high concentration in wastewater and in low concentration in ground waters of industrial regions demands efficient water remediation techniques

Objective of the Research

• Design and development of versatile Nano adsorbent, suitable for simultaneous removal of multiple cationic and anionic contaminants from water with rapid and high removal efficiency at various pH conditions of source water which makes it a viable solution for waste water and groundwater remediation
• The developed Nano adsorbent could simultaneously remove Pb(II), Hg(II), As(V), As(III) and Cr(VI) in less than two minutes of its contact in water with high efficiency at all pH conditions of source water

Who should read this?

• Global water treatment product manufacturers
• The industrial wastewater is a major source of a variety of highly toxic water contaminants, which includes heavy metal ionic contaminants. Therefore, these industries can use the material for treating the wastewater before releasing it into the water bodies
• Government bodies and NGOs concerned with providing safe water
• Researchers working on water remediation and nanomaterials for different applications

Solution

Presence of heavy metal ionic contaminants in water is a matter of global concern, owing to their disastrous impact on human health and environment. Cerium intercalated, ceria decorated titanate nanotubes (CCTNT) was developed for efficient adsorption of toxic heavy metal ions, lead, mercury, arsenate, arsenite and dichromate from water. The material properties of CCTNT were thoroughly studied using various characterization tools. CCTNT, is a nanocomposite of ceria and titanate nanotubes with a high specific surface area. The morphology is a blend of nanotubes of the titanate phase decorated with ceria nanoparticles. The results obtained from batch adsorption experiments indicated that CCTNT, with a wide pH window for adsorption of heavy metal ions, is applicable for both groundwater and wastewater remediation. In addition, it exhibited ultrafast adsorption of all five contaminants using a low adsorbent dosage. The maximum adsorption capacities of the adsorbent were calculated to be 66.76, 97.18, 189.59, 199.80, 288.23 mg/g respectively for the removal of Cr(VI),Pb(II),As(V), Hg(II) and As(III) from water. CCTNT is further suitable for highly efficient and simultaneous removal of all five heavy metal ions. These attractive properties make CCTNT a superior material for adsorption of heavy metal ions from water.

Key Features and Benefits

• CCTNT is mesoporous with high surface area, dense OH groups and multivalent cations
• CCTNT could simultaneously adsorb Pb(II), Hg(II), As(V), As(III) and Cr(VI) from water with high efficiency and ultrafast kinetics
• The wide pH window of adsorption in CCTNT makes it suitable for groundwater and wastewater
• Applicable for removal of both low and high concentrations of heavy metal ions

Impact

• The developed material is a viable solution for remediation of heavy metal ions from water
• Its attractive adsorption properties such as its high efficiency at all pH conditions makes it suitable for any kind of water source
• Simultaneous removal of contaminants to WHO permissible limits with dosage of as low as 1 g/L within two minutes of its contact with water enables it to be a suitable material for developing adsorption based water purification technology

Team

• Anjana Biswas
• B. P. Chandra
• Dr. (Mrs.) C Prathibha

Paper Published in: Applied Surface Science (Elsevier)

Title of paper: Highly efficient and simultaneous remediation of heavy metal ions (Pb(II), Hg(II), As(V), As(III) and Cr(VI)) from water using Ce intercalated and ceria decorated titanate nanotubes

Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.155841

Mrs. Akanksha Aggarwal and Dr. B Chandrasekhar, both Assistant Professors of the Department of Management and Commerce, SSSIHL, received the best paper award for their paper titled “Spirituality: An Attitudinal Variable Among the Other Factors That Drive Purchase Behavior of the Green Consumer Segment” presented at the 10th International Conference on Advances in Business and Management, held on November 11 & 12, 2022.

The paper is a part of Mrs. Akanksha’s doctoral research work, conducted under the guidance of Dr. B Chandrasekhar, and was co-authored by both.

The conference was organized by the Department of Management and Commerce, Shaheed Bhagat Singh College, University of Delhi. The theme for the 2-day conference was ‘Business Practices in the Era of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and New Age Technologies‘.

The session at the conference was chaired by Prof. Nimit Chowdhary, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and Dr. Pooja Mehta, Assistant Professor, Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management, Ludhiana.

Identifying the Issue

Inhalation exposure to endocrine disruptors (Phthalic acid esters (PAEs)) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons associated with serious health effects. However, the available methods for the analysis of PAEs and PAHs are time consuming methods based on gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. There is a need for a robust analytical method for the simultaneous determination of PAEs and PAHs.

Objective of the Research

• Develop a simple and robust analytical method for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the state-of-the-art technique liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry
• Deploy the developed method for the analysis of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient PM2.5 samples collected at the suburban city of North West Indo-Gangetic Plain (N.W.IGP) in different seasons of the year
• Identify the sources of PAHs at the sampling site using diagnostic ratios
• Estimate the health risk associated due to the inhalation exposure to fine particulate matter bound PAEs and PAHs for the children and adults at the sampling site

Who should read this?

It is applicable to all the scientific and social community researchers as this work highlights health risk associated with the inhalation exposure to PAEs and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter. Anyone who works in the Atmospheric and Analytical chemistry.

Solution

Liquid chromatography coupled electrospray ionization source mass spectrometry is a robust, sensitive and high performance analytical technique for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of organic composition from a sample. However, to the best of our knowledge there are no methods for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors (PAEs) and PAHs using LC-MS/MS. In the present study, we had optimized a novel LC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter. In this method, we report the quantification of targeted compounds faster than the earlier reported gas chromatography – mass spectrometry methods with better sensitivity for benzyl butyl phthalate (0.03 ng m-3) and di-butyl phthalate (0.33 ng m-3). This method has been deployed for the analysis for the endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter samples collected at IISER Mohali in North West Indo-Gangetic plain.

Key Features and Benefits

• LC-ESI-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to PM2.5.
• The higher concentrations of endocrine disruptors observed in summer season whereas PAHs in winter.
• DEHP and B[b]F are the most abundant endocrine disruptor and PAH, respectively at the sampling site
• B[a]P is higher in concentrations than the NAAQS standards (1 ng m−3), India.
• ILCR values for B[a]Peq exceeded the threshold limits set by USEPA

Impact

This work presents the novel method for the simultaneous analysis of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5). The reported results suggest that benzo (a) pyrene (B[a]P) (Group 1 Carcinogen) exceeded the threshold limits set by National Ambient Air Quality Standards, India. This study shows that exposure to PAEs and PAHs bound to PM2.5 should be of concern at the sampling site.

Team

• Patnana Durga Prasad, Department of Chemistry, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL
• Dr B Praphulla Chandra, Department of Chemistry, Prasanthi Nilayam Campus, SSSIHL
• Pooja Chaudhary, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali
• Dr Baerbel Sinha, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali
• Dr Vinayak Sinha, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, IISER Mohali

Paper Published in: Atmospheric Environment (Elsevier)

Title of paper: Optimized LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of endocrine disruptors and PAHs bound to PM2.5: Sources and health risk in Indo-Gangetic Plain

Read Paper Here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2022.119363

The Department of Management and Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Prasanthi Nilayam campus celebrated their 36th MBA day on 21st August 2022 with a conclave themed Stealth Leadership – A Model Towards Selfless Leadership.

The students had the opportunity to listen and interact with the three leaders from the industry – Sri Mayank Bathwal, CEO of Aditya Birla Health insurance, Sri Vinay Tonse, MD & CEO, SBI Funds Management Private Ltd., and Deputy Managing Director, SBI, and Sri D. Lakshmi Narayanan, MD Sundaram Home Finance. The leaders dwelled on the theme by sharing their perspectives with examples and lessons learned during the course of their professional journey so far, illuminating the young minds.

The conclave commenced with a prayer and the lighting of the lamp, followed by a welcome address by Dr. K Sayee Manohar, Head Dept. of Management and Commerce. The inaugural address was delivered by Dr. B Sai Giridhar, Registrar SSSIHL, followed by the keynote address by Dr. CB Sanjeevi, Vice-Chancellor SSSIHL. The Guest of Honour Sri R J Rathnakar, Managing Trustee, Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust, shared leadership lessons he had learned from the founder chancellor, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

The final segment titled ‘Ask me Anything’ saw students interact with a panel of five industry leaders – Sri Ram Gopal, CEO, Barclays Bank India, Sri Rangarajan Krishnan, CEO, Five Star Business Finance Ltd., Sri Anand Nergunam S, Global VP Revenue, Management & Growth, Zoho Corporation, Sri Bharath M Sundaram, Vice-President, Everest Group, and Sri Jitendra Panjabi, CEO, EM Investco Capital Advisors (all SSSIHL Alumni).

The students and staff were extremely grateful to all the leaders for their insightful talks on the importance and role of a good selfless leader in today’s highly self-centered world.

View Detailed Report Here.
View Pictures from the event

Watch the Recording here:
Session 1: https://youtu.be/RBZcSKuWIek
Session 2: https://youtu.be/MOLwwJRTXzQ

Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) an initiative by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) aims to disseminate Indian research stories among the masses in an easy-to-understand and interesting format to common-man.

The annual AWSAR award, was constituted to encourage Ph.D. Scholars and Post-Doctoral Fellows (PDFs) in Science and Technology (S&T) streams to write popular science articles by participating in a national competition.

The results of the 2021 AWSAR awards were announced at a ceremony that was streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, and India Science websites on National Science Day, 28 February 2022. A panel of eminent science communicators and scientists, constituted by DST, evaluated the entries.

From over 4000+ participants, Ms. Amitananda Dash, Research Scholar from the Department of Chemistry, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus, was selected as one of the top 100 awardees for her popular science story titled “Cancer- The Nemesis”. Her story highlighted the innovative research on cancer being carried out currently in the labs at SSSIHL.

Ms. Amitananda Dash received a Certificate of Appreciation along with prize money of Rs. 10,000/- as part of the award.

For more on the award: https://www.awsar-dst.in/results-2021

The Department of Management and Commerce, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur Campus held a one-day workshop on the 6 August 2022, titled Confluence of Shakti, Siddhi, and Samsiddhi. When translated into English, it reads as Confluence of Power, Knowledge, and Success.

The workshop saw five accomplished women leaders from the industry – Mrs. Premamala Ramalingam, Managing Director, Jouve India, Mrs. Vidya Shah, Founder Director of Bhooma Trust for Knowledge and Culture, Mrs. Sosmeta Sheshadri, Director Delivery Excellence, Life sciences Practice, Cognizant, Ms. Gayatri Rao Korde, Senior Vice President of HDFC Bank, and Ms. Bharathi Krish, Transformation Coach and Impact Professional – participate and illuminate the young minds through their inspiring talks, interactions and activities on various topics involving the students.

The workshop commenced with a prayer and the Lighting of the Lamp, followed by a welcome address by Dr. U Suma Rao, Associate professor, Dept. of Management and Commerce, and introductory remarks by Dr. K Sayee Manohar, Head, Dept. of Management and Commerce.

Prof. B Sai Giridhar, Registrar, SSSIHL delivered the inaugural address, which was followed by the keynote by Dr. C B Sanjeevi, Vice-Chancellor, SSSIHL.

The activities, interactions, and experiences shared by the guest speakers left the students highly energised and enlightened at the end of the workshop. The students found the content and speakers extremely engaging and informative.

For a detailed summary please click here.

View photos.

Watch the Recording here:

Morning Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50I6H-QQuNI
Afternoon Session: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkW-GdhDV58

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (SSSIHL) appreciates Casualty Actuarial Society for awarding the 2022 Individual Research Grant to the Actuarial Data Science group, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.

The project team is led by Professor Pallav Kumar Baruah and Satya Sai Mudigonda.

About Individual Grants Competition:

The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) and the Society of Actuaries’ (SOA) Committee on Knowledge Extension Research (CKER) announce the 2022 Individual Grants Competition to support the advancement of knowledge in actuarial science and contribute in an important way to areas of interest to the actuarial profession.

About CAS:

The Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) is a leading international organization for credentialing and professional education. Founded in 1914, the CAS is the world’s only actuarial organization focused exclusively on property and casualty risks and serves over 9,100 members worldwide. CAS members are experts in property and casualty insurance, reinsurance, finance, risk management, and enterprise risk management. Professionals educated by the CAS empower business and government to make well-informed strategic, financial and operational decisions.

About SSSIHL Actuarial Data Science:

SSSIHL is actively involved in actuarial data science research, specifically in the area of fraud detection. It has to its credit about 30 research papers/book chapters, 20 dissertations in non-life actuarial stream and 2 PhDs awarded in the area of actuarial data science. In fact, SSSIHL is one of the first University to award PhD in Actuarial Science in India.

About the Project:

The project is in the area of Insurance Fraud Detection using Actuarial and Data Science techniques. The project commenced on 1st June 2022 and will end by March 2023.

We wish the SSSIHL Actuarial Data Science Team all the best for the execution of this project.

A ‘Special Appreciation Prize’ was awarded to Ms. Sai Sruthi Shree K. K, Doctoral Research Scholar, DFNS, for her presentation under the ‘Basic Science’ category at ‘The Chellaram Foundation Diabetes Research Awards’ held on 4-6 March, during the 6th International Diabetes Summit (Virtual) – 2022.

The paper entitled ‘Designing and evaluation of a low-GI pigmented rice-based vegan gluten-free protein formulation suitable for malnutrition modulated and lean T2-diabetes mellitus’ was co-authored by Prof. N. Srividya, Research Supervisor & Head, DFNS, and Ms. Ashrita C. Haldipur, Research Scholar, DFNS.

In the study, low-GI pigmented rice and plant protein isolates were used as novel ingredients to scientifically design a gluten-free protein formulation. The nutritional analysis revealed the formulation to be a cost-effective dietary supplement suitable for preventing and managing lean T-2 diabetes mellitus.

Organized by the Chellaram’s Diabetes Institute (CDI), Pune, the event hosted best-in-class experts in the field of diabetes from leading national and global diabetes institutions and had over 9000 participants.

Congratulations to Ms. Sai Sruthi Shree on the recognition, and we wish her the very best for many more to come in the future.