Investigating the impacts of treated effluent discharge on coastal water health (Visakhapatnam,SW coast of Bay of Bengal,India)

The present study investigated the impacts of treated effluent discharge on physicochemical and biological properties of coastal waters from three pharmaceuticals situated along the coast of Visakhapatnam (SW Bay of Bengal). Seawater samples were collected (during the months of December 2013, March 2014 and April 2014) from different sampling locations (Chippada (CHP), Tikkavanipalem (TKP) and Nakkapalli (NKP)) at 0- and 30-m depths within 2-km radius (0.5 km = inner, 1 km = middle and 2 km?=?outer sampling circles) from the marine outfall points. Physicochemical and biological parameters, which differed significantly within the stations, were likely to be influenced by strong seasonality rather than local discharge. Dissolved oxygen variability was tightly coupled with both physical and biological processes. Phytoplankton cell density and total chlorophyll (TChla) concentrations were significantly correlated with dissolved inorganic nutrient concentrations. CHP (December) represented a diatom bloom condition where the highest concentrations of diatom cells, total chlorophyll (TChla), dissolved oxygen coupled with lower zooplankton abundance and low nutrient levels were noticed. The centric diatom, Chaetoceros sp. (>?50%) dominated the phytoplankton community. TKP (March) represented a post-diatom bloom phase with the dominance of Pseudo-nitzschia seriata; zooplankton abundance and nutrient concentrations were minimum. Conversely, NKP (April) represented a warm well-stratified heterotrophic period with maximum zooplankton and minimum phytoplankton density. Dinoflagellate abundance increased at this station. Relatively higher water temperature, salinity, inorganic nutrients coupled with very low concentrations of dissolved oxygen, TChla and pH were observed at this station. Copepods dominated the zooplankton communities in all stations and showed their highest abundance in the innermost sampling circles. Treated effluent discharge did not seem to have any significant impact at these discharge points.     

Impact of soil quality on elemental uptake by,and distribution in,Colocasia esculenta (Amadumbe), an edible root

In this study the elemental distribution of selected essential (Ca, Mg, Al, Mn, Cu, Fe, Co, Cr, Zn, Ni and Se) and the non-essential (Pb, Hg and As) elements were determined in the bulb and peel of Amadumbe (Colocasia esculenta) samples from eight different sites in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The concentration of Se and As in the soil and in the Amadumbe bulbs were below the detection limit of 0.09 μg g^?1. The total and bioavailable concentrations of the elements in conjunction with pH, soil organic matter (SOM) and cation exchange capacity (CEC) were determined in the soil samples from the eight sites. Statistical analysis was done to evaluate the impact of soil quality parameters on the chemical composition of the Amadumbe root. The results show accumulation or exclusion of certain elements by the bulb as evidenced by the noticeable increase or decrease of the concentrations of elements, respectively. Ca and Mg were found to be major elements in the range (2000–12000 μg g^?1), whilst Mn, Zn, Fe and Al were found to be minor elements in the range (20–400 μg g^?1). A general trend observed was that the plant favours the absorption of Zn over Cu. A positive correlation between Mg & Ca, Cu & Fe and Co & Ni was also observed. Statistical analysis revealed that the plant tended to accumulate Mg, Ca, Co, Cr and Pb whilst it excluded Hg and Fe, to a lesser extent.     

Solvent tolerant marine bacterium Bacillus aquimaris secreting organic solvent stable alkaline cellulase

The organic solvent tolerant bacteria with their physiological abilities to decontaminate the organic pollutants have potentials to secrete extracellular enzymes of commercial importance. Of the 19 marine bacterial isolates examined for their solvent tolerance at 10 vol.% concentration, one had the significant tolerance and showed a relative growth yield of 86% for acetone, 71% for methanol, 52% for benzene, 35% for heptane, 24% for toluene and 19% for ethylacetate. The phylogenetic analysis of this strain using 16S rDNA sequence revealed 99% homology with Bacillus aquimaris. The cellulase enzyme secreted by this strain under normal conditions showed an optimum activity at pH 11 and 45 °C. The enzyme did show functional stability even at higher pH (12) and temperature (75 °C) with residual activity of 85% and 95% respectively. The enzyme activity in the presence of different additives were in the following order: Co⁺² > Fe⁺² > NaOCl₂ > CuSO₄ > KCl > NaCl. The enzyme stability in the presence of solvents at 20 vol.% concentration was highest in benzene with 122% followed by methanol (85%), acetone (75%), toluene (73%) and heptane (42%). The pre-incubation of enzyme in ionic liquids such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide increased its activity to 150% and 155% respectively. The change in fatty acid profile with different solvents further elucidated the physiological adaptations of the strain to tolerate such extreme conditions.     

Identification of the hydrogeochemical processes in groundwater using major ion chemistry: a case study of Penna–Chitravathi river basins in Southern India

Hydrogeochemical studies were carried out in the Penna–Chitravathi river basins to identify and delineate the important geochemical processes which were responsible for the evolution of chemical composition of groundwater. The area is underlain by peninsular gneissic complex of Archaean age, Proterozoic meta-sediments, and strip of river alluvium. Groundwater samples were collected covering all the major hydrogeological environs in pre- and post-monsoon seasons. The samples were analyzed for major constituents such as Ca^2?+?, Mg^2?+?, Na^?+?, K^?+?, CO₃ ^???, HCO₃ ^???, Cl^???, SO₂ ^???4, NO₃ ^???, and F^???. The groundwater in general is of Na^?+?–Cl^???, Na^?+?–HCO₃ ^???, Ca^2?+?–Mg^2?+?–HCO₃ ^???, and Ca^2?+?–Mg^2?+?–Cl^??? types. Na^?+? among cations and Cl^??? and/or HCO₃ ^??? among anions dominate the water; Na^?+? and Ca^2?+? are in the transitional state with Na^?+? replacing Ca^2?+? and HCO₃ ^??? Cl^??? due to physiochemical changes in the aquifer and water–rock interactions. The Ca^2?+?–Mg^2?+?–Cl^??? HCO₃ ^??? type water in one third samples suggest that ion exchange and dissolution processes are responsible for its origin. Change in storage of aquifer in a season does not influence the major geochemical makeup of groundwater. Gibbs plots indicate that the evolution of water chemistry is influenced by water–rock interaction followed by evapotranspiration process. The aquifer material mineralogy together with semiarid climate, poor drainage system, and low precipitation factors played major role in controlling groundwater quality of the area.     

Modeling Air Flow Dynamics in Radon Mitigation Systems: A Simplified Approach

Subslab air flow dynamics provide important diagnostic information for designing optimal radon mitigation systems based on the subslab depressurization technique. In this paper, it is suggested that subslab air flow induced by a central suction point be treated as radial air flow through a porous bed contained between two impermeable disks. Next, we show that subslab air flow is most likely to be turbulent under actual field situations in houses with subslab gravel beds, while remaining laminar when soil is present under the slab. The physical significance of this model is discussed and simplified closedform equations are derived to predict pressure and flows at various distances from a single central depressurization point. A laboratory apparatus was built in order to verify our model and experimentally determine the model coefficients of the pressure drop versus flow for commonly encountered subslab gravel materials. These pressure drop coefficients can be used in conjunction with our simplified model as a rational means of assessing subslab connectivity in actual houses, which is an important aspect of the pre-mitigation diagnostic phase. Preliminary field verification results in a house with gravel under the basement slab are presented and discussed.     

Biodegradable Microspheres for Controlled Release of an Antibiotic Ciprofloxacin

Ciprofloxacin (CF) loaded biodegradable microspheres of Poly(lactide-co-caprolactone)-PF127 (a poloxamer block copolymer of Ethylene Oxide/Propylene Oxide) were prepared by using solvent evaporation technique. The microspheres were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffractometry (X-RD) technique to confirm the polymorphism of ciproflaxacin (CF) drug. The X-RD and DSC techniques indicated molecular level dispersion of CF in the microspheres. Scanning electron micrographic images (SEM) of the microspheres indicated smooth surfaces of the spherical microspheres. Cumulative release characteristics of the matrices for CF, the antibiotic drug, were investigated in pH 7.4 media. It was possible to release CF in controlled manner up to 72 h. The developed ciprofloxacin loaded Poly(lactide-co-caprolactone)-PF127 microspheres were evaluated for preliminary antibacterial applications.     

Influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth and nutrient status of bermudagrass grown in alkaline bauxite processing residue

A nursery experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in encouraging the vegetation cover on bauxite residue (red mud) sites. An alkali tolerant bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) adapted to local conditions were grown in red mud with different amendments with and without AM fungi to assess mycorrhizal effects on plant growth, mineral nutrition, metal uptake and neutralization of bauxite residue. Inoculation of AM fungi significantly increased the plant growth, nutrient uptake and reduced Fe, Al accumulation in plant tissue and also improved the soil physico-chemical and biochemical properties. Gypsum and sludge amended treatments inoculated with AM fungi had maximum biomass, nutrient uptake and reduced accumulation of metals. The neutralization of red mud was significant in presence of AM fungi than control. The experiment provided evidence for the potential use of bermudagrass in combination with AM fungi for ecological restoration of bauxite residue sites.     

Feasibility study of the separation of chlorinated films from plastic packaging wastes

This study describes the possible separation of chlorinated plastic films (PVC and PVDC) from other heavy plastic packaging waste (PPW) by selective twist formation and gravity separation. Twists formation was mechanically induced in chlorinated plastic films, whereas twist formation did not occur in PS and PET films. After twist formation, all the films had the apparent density of less than 1.0 g/cm³ and floated in water even though the true density was more than 1.0 g/cm³. However, the apparent density of the PS and the PET films increased with agitation to more than 1.0 g/cm³, whereas that of chlorinated plastic films was kept less than 1.0 g/cm³. The main reason would be the air being held inside the chlorinated plastic films which was difficult to be removed by agitation. Simple gravity separation after twist formation was applied for artificial film with 10 wt.% of the chlorinated films and real PPW films with 9 wt.% of the chlorinated films. About 76 wt.% of the artificial PPW films and 75 wt.% of real PPW films after the removal of PP and PE were recovered as settling fraction with 4.7 wt.% and 3.0 wt.% of chlorinated plastic films, respectively. These results indicate that simple gravity separation process after twist formation can be used to reduce the chlorinated plastic concentration from mixed heavy PPW films.     

Intracellular biosynthesis of Au and Ag nanoparticles using ethanolic extract of Brassica oleracea L. and studies on their physicochemical and biological properties

In this present study, we reported broccoli(Brassica oleracea L.) as a potential candidate for the synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles(NPs) in green chemistry method. The synthesized metal nanoparticles are evaluated their antimicrobial efficacy against different human pathogenic organisms. The physico-chemical properties of gold nanoparticles were analyzed using different analytical techniques such as a UV–Vis spectrophotometer, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer. In addition, gold and silver NP antimicrobial efficacy was checked by disc diffusion assay. UV–Vis color intensity of the nanoparticles was shown at 540 and 450 nm for gold and silver nanoparticles respectively. Higher magnification of the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy image shows the variable morphology of the gold nanoparticles such as spherical, rod and triangular shapes and silver nanoparticles were seen in spherical shapes. The average spherical size of the particles was observed in 24–38 nm for gold and 30–45 nm for silver NPs. X-ray diffraction pattern confirmed the presence of gold nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles which were crystalline in nature. Additionally,the functional metabolites were identified by the Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. IR spectra revealed phenols, alcohols, aldehydes(sugar moieties), vitamins and proteins are present in the broccoli extract which are accountable to synthesize the nanoparticles. The synthesized gold and silver NPs inhibited the growth of the tested bacterial and fungal pathogens at the concentration of 50 μg/m L respectively. In addition, broccoli mediated gold and silver nanoparticles have shown potent antimicrobial activity against human pathogens.