PERIYAR CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY MANAGEMENT (PCEM)
ABOUT PCEM
It is established under Women’s Environmental Programme sponsored by Canadian International Developmental Agency (CIDA) in collaboration with University College of Cape Breton (UCCB) and the College of the North Atlantic (CAN), Canada. PCEM offers Environmental and Energy related services to safeguard the planet earth from disaster. Its primary concern is projecting environmental problems associated with increasing population, polluting industries, and uncontrolled wastes in developing countries. The major activities of PCEM include; analysis of trace level pollutants, developing range of methods of analysis, quality control, training and consultancy in all aspects of Ecosystem Management. PCEM has experienced staff members and conducted various workshops, seminars, for the betterment of society particularly women.
PCEM seeks collaboration from other organizations having similar scope and activities for promoting health of the rural people especially women. PCEM executes extensively various projects through interactions with Periyar Research Organisation for Bio Technic and Eco system (PROBE) and Periyar Renewable Energy Training Institute (PRETI) within the campus and outside.
ACTIVITIES OF PCEM ANALYTICAL SERVICES
ANALYTICAL SERVICES
PCEM houses sophisticated instruments such as Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and Gas Chromatograph (GC), Bomb Calorimeter, UV – Visible Spectrophotometer, etc. The enhanced and environmental levels of inorganic (heavy metals) and organic pollutants from range of matrices are detected and reported. Gas Chromatograph is specially used for analyzing compositions of gas produced and exhaust gases from biomass Gasifier. Calorific values of different biomass materials are tested before use as fuel and the efficiency of fuel is calculated.
Research and Development PROJECTS
All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), Government of India sponsored R &D project titled Electro-kinetic remediation of heavy metals contaminated soils is intended to study the state of heavy metal pollutants in the soil contaminated from industrial and agricultural sources and their removal from the soils are also being studied. A study to improve the quality of producer gas from gasification is also taken-up by our energy institute (PRETI). A Briquetting plant is established and operated for making biomass wastes into briquettes (bio-fuel). A 100-kWe-biomass gasifier has also been established and operated for producing electricity using dual mode generator. The management has sanctioned these projects under Periyar Bio-Power and Fuel Research projects.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & CONSULTANCY
PCEM conducts training programme in wastewater analysis, treatment, remediation technologies, renewable energy technologies, and other related subjects. Both Under Graduate & Post Graduate (UG & PG) students are given training in chemical and biological analysis and treatment of wastewater. Workshops in Environmental impact. Assessment (EIA) and Environment Management System (EMS) have been conducted both for faculty and Postgraduate students. National and International level seminars on Environment and Energy has also been conducted. PCEM also aims at carrying out consultancy activities in the areas of environment and energy management.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Biogas Plants
Our college has two cow dung based biogas plants of 15 cu.m and 25 cu.m and a night soil based biogas plants with a capacity of 25 cu.m by linking 200 toilets of our hostel. All these three units are effectively used for the energy needs of the kitchen. The slurry coming out from the biogas plants is soft and is very good raw material for the vermicompost. This unit is the model farm in the campus as a part of our environmental and agricultural promotion activity.
Solid Waste Management
The 4R concept –REDUCE,REUSE,RECYCLE,RECOVER is being experimented with the solid waste collected in the campus. The wastes are segregated and composting of degraded materials in the process. To promote research and encourage young researchers National and International Level conferences are regularly hosted every year in collaboration with various agencies.
HUMANITE - INDIA
Muncipal solid Waste management – Project, Thanjavur
HUMANITE INDIA Project initiated by the institute for the management of solid waste in Thanjavur Municipality is the outcome of the Indogerman Workshop jointly organized by our Institute and RWTH, Achen University, Germany during 16-18th Feb, 2004. This humanite Technology was developed by worksheet Sagentur Martin Schroeder Gmbh (WAS) Netherlands
In the first phase, our institute and Thanjavur Municipality have jointly organized an interactive programme on 7th August, 2005, involving the heads of educational institutions in Thanjavur after a technical presentation by the Principal Dr. N. Ramachandran on the current scenario of solid waste generation, importance of creating awareness among the public to segregate the waste at source, effective collection, transportation and further processing and using Humunite technology.
In continuation, PCEM in association with Thanjavur Municipality organized a Core-group meeting on 20,August 2005 with local educational institutions. The Collector of Thanjavur District inaugurated the function. Segregation at source was discussed the focus area in the central theme of solid waste management.
The participants came out with many useful points. The College has collectively planned a follow up action in a short time. It is to educate and rally the population in the town on the theme of solid waste management in Thanjavur town.
On Sept.12, 2005 and Oct. 10, 2005 PCEM has given a presentation among the students of Veeraraghava Higher Secondary School and Blake Higher Secondary School Thanjavur on the importance of Munucipality Solid Waste Management. Preliminary work for the feasibility study is in progress and the registration of Indian body namely, Humunite-India is under way.
CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
The scarcely available rainwater is deliberately collected in a planned manner into the sump well from the rooftop and elevated plains in the campus. Similarly two ponds within the college near the Dairy Farm have been made for storing the rainwater. A total of 253.75 cu.m water from college buildings and 1679.55 cu.m from hostel buildings are being harvested during the rainy season every year under normal rainfall.
The gray water from the hostel is used to water the fodder crops and grassy plots in the area. Besides this water is used to irrigate 540 coconut and palm trees 2 acres of Bamboo in the farmyard of the campus is also irrigated by this water.
In one of our adopted villages namely Aachampattai, water conservation is adopted by means of drip irrigation, check dams and soil erosion control. Two rainwater collection ponds serve as water storage and as a source of drinking water for grazing animals.
Under Periyar PURA scheme PCEM is under taking five villages for supplying clean water to villagers in association with SDSU, USA and Pure O Tech, USA.
ASSOCIATES
|
|
|
