Mano Krishnapillai

Phone: (709) 637-6272

Email: mkrishna@grenfell.mun.ca

Office: AS308

Associate Professor – Environ​​​mental Science

Profile

Dr. Mano Krishnapillai is an environmental scientist who studies remediation of contaminated soils.  He is a member of the Environmental Science Unit of Grenfell campus, MUN and associated with the Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative as well.  He works with students in B.Sc. in Environmental Science and Master of science In Boreal Ecosystems and Agricultural Sciences (M.Sc. BEAS)

Dr. Krishnapillai's primary research area is soil and groundwater remediation.  His research interests include using electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation for contaminant removal, mapping contaminated sites, and developing innovative soil remediation technologies.  He is also interested in non-destructive monitoring of soil water content, salinity, and snow density using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) and in developing sustainable practices in agriculture.

Dr. Krishnapillai's expertise is in the areas of soil and water management, agricultural waste management, and soil and groundwater remediation.  During the past twenty-three years he has had considerable teaching experience at the undergraduate level, research experience at the graduate level, and as well as administrative and leadership experience in initiating new programs at both levels.

Interests

• Research area is soil and groundwater remediation.
• Research interests include using electrokinetic remediation and phytoremediation for contaminant removal, mapping contaminated sites, and developing innovative soil and groundwater remediation techniques.
• Also interested in nondestructive monitoring of soil water content, soil salinity, and snow density using Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR).

Current Research and Projects

• Decomposition of disposable materials
• Bioremediation of hydrocarbons using compost

Recent Publications

1. Krishnapillai, M. and R. Sri Ranjan. 2009.  Non-destructive monitoring of nitrate concentration in a laboratory flow experiment using time domain reflectometry (TDR).  Environmental Technology 30(1): 101-109.
   
2. Kahimba, F.C., R. Sri Ranjan, and Krishnapillai, M. 2007.  Impact of cable lengths on the accuracy of dielectric constant measurements by time domain reflectometry.  Canadian Biosystems Engineering Journal 49: 1.11–1.18.
   
3. Sri Ranjan, R., Y. Qian, and M. Krishnapillai. 2006.  Effects of electrokinetics and cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide [CTAB] on the hydrocarbon removal and retention from contaminated soils.  Environmental Technology 27(7): 767-776.
   
4. Krishnapillai*, M. and R. Sri Ranjan. 2005.  Creation of a barrier for nitrate ions using electrokinetic methods in a silty loam soil.  Canadian Biosystems Engineering Journal 47: 1.15–1.21.
   
5. Sri Ranjan, R., M. Krishnapillai*, and C. Wiebe. 2005.  Assessing the hydraulic conductivity beneath clay-lined earthen manure storages.  Canadian Biosystems Engineering Journal 47: 6.1-6.7.
   
6. Krishnapillai*, M. and R. Sri Ranjan. 2005.  Electrokinetic denitrification of nitrates in a nitrate contaminated silty loam soil.  Applied Engineering in Agriculture 21(3): 541-549.
7. Krishnapillai*, M. and R. Sri Ranjan. 2005.  Electrokinetic retention, migration and remediation of nitrates in silty loam soil under hydraulic gradients.  Engineering Geology 77(4): 263-272.