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2013 - 201912020 - 20211
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Author: Manmeet Kaur × End date: 2022 × Type: Thesis × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Evaluation of synthesized ferrite nanocomposites with N-doped graphene and carbon microspheres for the removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants
    (Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, 2021) Manmeet Kaur; Manpreet Kaur
    Magnetic ferrites and their nanocomposites with nitrogen doped graphene oxide (N-GO) and hollow mesoporous silica have received immense interest as adsorbents and photocatalysts for water decontamination. This work reports facile strategy for the synthesis and evaluation of N-GO, MFe2O4 NPs (M= Mg, Ca), MFe2O4-NGO (M= Mg, Ca) and hollow mesoporousnanocomposites for the removal of Pb(II), Ni(II), As(III), CR dye and PNP from contaminated water.NCs of NGO with MFe2O4 NPs were prepared using ultra sonication method. For dual core shell nanocomposite, hollow mesoporous SiO2 core was synthesized using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as cotemplates. Synthesized SiO2 was used as template over which MgFe2O4 NPs were loaded using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as a surfactant to synthesize MgFe2O4@SiO2 core-shell nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was further loaded with N-GO in order to design NGO@MgFe2O4@SiO2 dual core nanocomposite by ultra sonication method. Structural, magnetic and surface properties of the nanocomposites were analyzed using various physicochemical techniques. The effectiveness of NPs and nanocomposites for the removal of Pb(II), Ni(II) and As(III) and photodegradation of CR and PNP was studied.MgFe2O4@SiO2 displayed maximum heavy metal removal whereas, NGO@MgFe2O4@SiO2 dual corenanocomposite exhibited maximum photocatalytic degradation for organic pollutants. The mechanism of adsorption and photocatalysis from spiked water was investigated by batch experiment studies.The adsorption data was best fitted into Langmuir adsorption isotherm and followed pseudo-second-order kinetic model.The degradation mechanism for CR and PNP was proposed on the basis of mass spectrometric analysis of products formed during photodegradation. Also, the comparative photocatalytic activity of spiked distilled water and contaminated water revealed reduction in photocatalysis of 17% and 22% in the contaminated water. The synthesis of NCs of MgFe2O4 NPs with doped carbon material and core-shell synthesis using SiO2 core provide new synthetic strategy for further modification of pristine ferrite NPs for future applications.
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    A STUDY OF THE RESEARCH-EXTENSION-FARMER LINKAGES IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR OF PUNJAB
    (PAU Ludhiana, 2013) Manmeet Kaur; R.K., Dhaliwal
    The present study entitled “A study of the Research-Extension-Farmer Linkages in the agriculture sector of Punjab” was undertaken to study the existing research-extension-farmer linkages, to analyze the factors affecting these linkages, to study the attitude of researchers and extensionists towards these linkages, to study the opinion of farmers regarding research-extension-farmer linkages and study the linkages of research, extension and farmers with the market. A total of 700 farmers representing six villages from three districts were selected for the study. Apart from the farmers, 32 ADOs, 15 KVK subject matter specialists, 21 PAU extension specialists and 82 researchers from PAU were also selected. Two separate interview schedules were developed for farmers and for researchers and extensionists. The results of the study revealed that farmers had low linkages with researchers, extensionists and market in the adopted (83.9%) and non-adopted (85.2%) villages. More than 83 per cent and 79 per cent of the farmers had low extent of participation in linkage mechanisms with researchers, 90.4 per cent and 93.3 per cent had low extent of participation with extensionists while 94.5 per cent and 91.9 per cent of the farmers had low extent of participation in market linkage mechanisms in the adopted and non-adopted villages respectively. Farmers opined that researchers and extensionists do not frequently visit the farmers, farmers do not have adequate representation in research and extension, only progressive farmers have direct contacts with the researchers and KVKs and State Department of Agriculture are not very effective in developing linkages with them. They also felt that their lack of ICT skills, their inability to organize themselves into groups and inappropriate government policies discourage their market linkages. About 43% of the researchers and extensionists had low extent of participation in linkage mechanisms with each other while 45.3% had medium extent of participation with farmers. A little less than half of the researchers and extensionists (46%) had a neutral attitude towards research-extension-farmer linkages. The study revealed that factors like lack of prioritization to linkages, lack of effective communication, lack of incentives and busy schedule hampers research-extension linkages while factors like priorities to complete the targets, minimal opportunities with the researchers to link with farmers, lack of participation of the researchers in field days, negligible pressure from the resource poor farmers and lack of adequate staff affected research-extension-farmer linkages. Participatory technology generation and participatory conduct, monitoring and evaluation of research and extension activities should be used to enhance the research-extension-farmer linkages. Formation of Village Knowledge Centres and farmer’s organizations will help in increasing market linkages of the farmers.