scholarly journals Practicality and humaneness of euthanasia of pest birds with compressed carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) from petrol engine exhaust

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Tidemann ◽  
Daryl H. King

Feral birds degrade the environment and have an adverse impact on human health, welfare and economy in many parts of the world. In eastern Australia, common myna (Acridotheres tristis), common starling (Sturnus vulgaris) and house sparrow (Passer domesticus) have recently become targets of community groups seeking to control impacts by selective live-trapping. We sought a safe and practical euthanasia method that could be recommended to such groups for humanely destroying trapped birds. We compared the practicality and humaneness of the following two commonly available inhalant euthanasia agents: (1) carbon dioxide (CO2) from cylinders and (2) carbon monoxide (CO) from cooled exhaust from idling petrol engines. Test birds were euthanased in conditions that promoted calm (small groups of birds; small covered chambers with perches). Video recordings were analysed in real time and at 1/10 speed for signs of distress, and times to recumbency and last movement. In all, 25 mynas and 24 starlings were euthanased with CO2, and 32 mynas, 30 starlings and 8 sparrows with CO. Times to recumbency for birds euthanased with CO2 varied from 20 to 85 s and time to last movement from 65 to 153 s. For birds euthanased with CO, these times were 7–180 s and 43–240 s respectively. Mynas and starlings euthanased with CO2 showed substantially more signs of distress (gaping and head-shaking) before recumbency than did birds euthanased with CO, although this was less pronounced if the concentration was increased slowly. No signs of distress were observed in any birds euthanased with CO, irrespective of the rate at which the concentration was increased. CO produced a comparably rapid, and more humane death than did CO2 in birds of all three study species. The study indicated that, with simple precautions to avoid accidental exposure, CO in cooled exhaust from petrol engines provides a safe, rapid and humane agent for euthanasing mynas, starlings and sparrows, that is readily available at a very low cost. We tested only three species, and the results suggested that it would be useful to re-examine the embargo against animal euthanasia via engine exhaust, that exists in many jurisdictions.

Volume 2 ◽  
2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madhuri Jakkaraju ◽  
Vasudha Patri

I. C. Engines consume large amounts of fossil fuel emitting harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydrocarbons (UBHC), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). By using a catalytic converter (CC), the carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon emissions can be transformed into less harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) & water vapor (H2O). Currently available CC’s are using costly noble metals like platinum (pt), palladium (pd), rhodium (rh) etc., hence making them expensive. This paper deals with the use of low-cost palletized silver coated alumina as the catalyst element in a CC. In this study, alumina and silver were used in the ratio of 10:1. All tests have been conducted on a stationary S.I. Engine at a constant speed of 1500 r.p.m with and without CC. Also, the performance of the palletized CC in combination with promoters like Bismuth, Cerium and Lanthanum was tested which have shown better results than silver alone as the coating element. It has been experimentally determined that the CO emissions have dropped from 7.25 (% vol) to 3.03(% vol) and the HC values have reduced from 350 ppm to 190 ppm.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (23) ◽  
pp. 6714
Author(s):  
Rebecca A. Sugrue ◽  
Chelsea V. Preble ◽  
Thomas W. Kirchstetter

The exhaust plume capture method is a commonly used approach to measure pollutants emitted by in-use heavy-duty diesel trucks. Lower cost sensors, if used in place of traditional research-grade analyzers, could enable wider application of this method, including use as a monitoring tool to identify high-emitting trucks that may warrant inspection and maintenance. However, low-cost sensors have for the most part only been evaluated under ambient conditions as opposed to source-influenced environments with rapidly changing pollutant concentrations. This study compared black carbon (BC) emission factors determined using different BC and carbon dioxide (CO2) sensors that range in cost from $200 to $20,000. Controlled laboratory experiments show that traditional zero and span steady-state calibration checks are not robust indicators of sensor performance when sampling short duration concentration peaks. Fleet BC emission factor distributions measured at two locations at the Port of Oakland in California with 16 BC/CO2 sensor pairs were similar, but unique sensor pairs identified different high-emitting trucks. At one location, the low-cost PP Systems SBA-5 agreed on the classification of 90% of the high emitters identified by the LI-COR LI-7000 when both were paired with the Magee Scientific AE33. Conversely, lower cost BC sensors when paired with the LI-7000 misclassified more than 50% of high emitters when compared to the AE33/LI-7000. Confidence in emission factor quantification and high-emitter identification improves with larger integrated peak areas of CO2 and especially BC. This work highlights that sensor evaluation should be conducted under application-specific conditions, whether that be for ambient air monitoring or source characterization.


2011 ◽  
Vol 403-408 ◽  
pp. 3769-3774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asif Mirza ◽  
Nor Hisham Hamid ◽  
Mohd Haris Md Khir ◽  
Khalid Ashraf ◽  
M.T. Jan ◽  
...  

This paper reports design, modeling and simulation of MEMS based sensor working in dynamic mode with fully differential piezoresistive sensing for monitoring the concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) gas in human breath called capnometer. CO2 being a very important biomarker, it is desirable to extend the scope of its monitoring beyond clinical use to home and ambulatory services. Currently the scope of capnometers and its adaption is limited by high cost, large size and high power consumption of conventional capnometers . In recent years, MEMS based micro resonant sensors have received considerable attention due to their potential as a platform for the development of many novel physical, chemical, and biological sensors with small size, low cost and low power requirements. The sensor is designed using 0.35 micron CMOS technology. CoventorWare and MATLAB have been used as simulation software. According to the developed model and simulation results the resonator has resonant frequency 57393 Hz and mass sensitivity of 3.2 Hz/ng. The results show that the longitudinal relative change of resistance is 0.24%/µm while the transverse relative change of resistance is -0.03%/µm.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22
Author(s):  
S.A. Plotnikov ◽  
◽  
Sh.V. Buzikov ◽  
I.S. Kozlov ◽  
◽  
...  

The use of rapeseed oil (RO) in tractor engines and other agricultural machinery in its pure form or a mixture of RO with diesel fuel (DF) imposes a number of limitations associated with some dif-ference in physical and chemical properties. Therefore, the most promising is the use of mixed fuel (MF) consisting of DF and RO. The purpose of these studies is to determine the optimal composi-tion of the MF, consisting of DF and RM by optimizing the approximated dependences of the envi-ronmental indicators of a diesel engine. To solve this problem, bench tests of the operation of the D-245.5S diesel engine (4ChN 11.0 / 12.5) were carried out. The following determined environmental performance indicators of a diesel engine are selected: soot (С), nitrogen oxides (NOx), unburned hydrocarbons (CxHy), carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The studies were carried out on various compositions of MF, consisting of 80% DF and 20% RO, 55% DF and 45% RO, 20% DF and 80% RO by weight, respectively. As a result of the bench tests, two load characteris-tics were obtained, the one at a speed of n = 1400 min-1 corresponding to the value of the maximum torque, and the second at a speed of n = 1800 min-1 corresponding to the value of the rated power, as well as the external speed characteristic of the D-245.5S tractor diesel engine (4ChN 11.0 / 12.5). The analysis of the obtained experimental data revealed the dependence of environmental indicators on the rotational speed of the diesel engine crankshaft, the average effective pressure and the addi-tion of RO in MF by weight. Using the least squares method, the approximated mathematical de-pendences of the ecological indicators of a diesel engine are determined. The analysis of the ob-tained dependencies showed that: the increase in the crankshaft speed n, the proportion of RO in MF and a decrease in the average effective pressure pe, leads to a decrease in soot С to 4.0%, nitro-gen oxides NOx to 100.0 ppm, unburned hydrocarbons CxHy to 1.0 ppm, carbon dioxide, CO2 up to 2%, and an increase in carbon monoxide CO up to 0.16%. As a result of solving the obtained system of equations for the approximated dependences of environmental indicators, the optimal addition of RO to MF of up to 35% by weight was determined.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 6285-6294
Author(s):  
R. Arias Gilart ◽  
M. R. B. Ungaro ◽  
C. E. A. Rodríguez ◽  
J. F. F. Hernández ◽  
M. C. Sofia ◽  
...  

In this research, different magnetic treatments were applied to diesel fuel using static magnetic fields of 0.36T of magnetic induction. The magnetic conditioners (MCs) were installed in different positions of the fuel lines in the engine and the magnetic treatment of the diesel was also carried out before introducing it into the engine tanks. The study was conducted using a four-stroke, two-cylinder, Lister Petter (LPWS2) engine with a compression ratio of 23.5:1 and a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm. The emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), nitrogen oxides and the temperature of the exhaust gases and the mass consumption of fuel were measured. The highest levels of reduction were achieved with the magnetic treatments that locate the MC directly in the engine's pipes. As the number of MC in the engine pipes increases, the emissions of polluting gases decrease. With the treatment that locates one MC in front of each injector, two MC at the entrance of the filter and two MC in the return of fuel were able to increase the O2 emissions by 6.9% and decrease the CO emissions in about 21.3% in the last load of the generator set. With this treatment a decrease in fuel consumption of 4.89% to 80% of engine load was obtained.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
HR Dang ◽  
SS Guraya

Testis growth and regression were studied, in relation to environmental temperature, sunshine, relative humidity and rainfall, in the house crow Corvus splendens, the common myna Acridotheres tristis and the house sparrow Passer domesticus, all of which are harmful species in the Punjab. Testis weight varied greatly during the year, but the species differed in their response to environmental conditions. The crow and the myna have active testes during May-July and April-July respectively; in the sparrow the testes are active twice in the year, February-June and September-October. The environmental factors are not sufficient to regulate the reproductive behaviour of these birds in the Punjab, and it is suggested that the reproductive state of birds is determined by a combination of exteroceptive and enteroceptive factors which varies considerably among species.


2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 237
Author(s):  
M.A. John ◽  
M. Khan ◽  
A. Quadir ◽  
A.R. Choudhury ◽  
M.A. Baba ◽  
...  

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