Baseline study of methane emission from open digesting tanks of palm oil mill effluent treatment

Anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, especially CO₂ and CH₄ has been recognized as one of the main causes of global warming. Several measures under the Kyoto Protocol 1997 have been drawn up to reduce the greenhouse gases emission. One of the measures is Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) that was created to enable developed countries to cooperate with developing countries in emission reduction activities. In Malaysia, palm oil industry particularly from palm oil mill effluent (POME) anaerobic treatment has been identified as an important source of CH₄. However, there is no study to quantify the actual CH₄ emission from the commercial scale wastewater treatment facility. Hence, this paper shall address the CH₄ emission from the open digesting tanks in Felda Serting Hilir Palm Oil Mill. CH₄ emission pattern was recorded for 52 weeks from 3600 m³ open digesting tanks. The findings indicated that the CH₄ content was between 13.5% and 49.0% which was lower than the value of 65% reported earlier. The biogas flow rate ranged between 0.8 l min⁻¹ m⁻² and 9.8 l min⁻¹ m⁻². Total CH₄ emission per open digesting tank was 518.9 kg day⁻¹. Relationships between CH₄ emission and total carbon removal and POME discharged were also discussed. Fluctuation of biogas production was observed throughout the studies as a result of seasonal oil palm cropping, mill activities, variation of POME quality and quantity discharged from the mill. Thus only through long-term field measurement CH₄ emission can be accurately estimated.     

Alterations of lipid profile in plasma and liver of diabetic rats: effect of hypoglycemic herbs

The effect of three species of hypoglycemic herbs (Termis, Halfa barr, or Kammun Quaramany) on the lipid profile was investigated in plasma and liver tissues of diabetic and herbs-treated diabetic rats. This profile includes total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). A dose of 1.5 ml of aqueous suspension of each herb/100 g body weight (equivalent to 75 mg/100 g body weight) was orally administered daily to alloxan-diabetic rats for four weeks. The present study showed 2-fold increase (p<0.05) in the plasma glucose level of diabetic rats, which received alloxan as a single dose of 120 mg/kg body weight, relative to the mean value of control group. This elevated glucose level was restored to its normal level after treatment with any one of the three herbs. Furthermore, the levels of TL, TG, cholesterol, LDL and VLDL were significantly (p<0.05) increased in the plasma and the liver tissues of diabetic rats compared to the control group, whereas HDL level was significantly (p<0.05) decreased. The plasma levels of all above parameters were normalized after treatment of the diabetic rats with Kammun Quaramany. Treatment of diabetic rats with Tennis normalized TG, cholesterol, LDL and VLDL levels, but Halfa barr restored the induced levels of plasma cholesterol, LDL and HDL to their normal levels. On the other hand, treatment with any of the three herbal suspensions could not restore the concentrations of the all tested parameters in the liver. These data demonstrated that the glycemic control of any of the three herbal suspensions was associated with their hypocholesterolemic effects on the hypercholesterolemia of the alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Moreover, the Kammun Quaramany showed the most potent effect.     

Recilia banda Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a vector of Napier stunt phytoplasma in Kenya

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is the most important fodder crop in smallholder dairy production systems in East Africa, characterized by small zero-grazing units. It is also an important trap crop used in the management of cereal stemborers in maize in the region. However, production of Napier grass in the region is severely constrained by Napier stunt disease. The etiology of the disease is known to be a phytoplasma, 16SrXI strain. However, the putative insect vector was yet unknown. We sampled and identified five leafhopper and three planthopper species associated with Napier grass and used them as candidates in pathogen transmission experiments. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), based on the highly conserved 16S gene, primed by P1/P6-R16F2n/R16R2 nested primer sets was used to diagnose phytoplasma on test plants and insects, before and after transmission experiments. Healthy plants were exposed for 60 days to insects that had fed on diseased plants and acquired phytoplasma. The plants were then incubated for another 30 days. Nested PCR analyses showed that 58.3% of plants exposed to Recilia banda Kramer (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) were positive for phytoplasma and developed characteristic stunt disease symptoms while 60% of R. banda insect samples were similarly phytoplasma positive. We compared the nucleotide sequences of the phytoplasma isolated from R. banda, Napier grass on which these insects were fed, and Napier grass infected by R. banda, and found them to be virtually identical. The results confirm that R. banda transmits Napier stunt phytoplasma in western Kenya, and may be the key vector of Napier stunt disease in this region.     

Alarming decline of freshwater trigger species in western Mediterranean key biodiversity areas

Theidentification of key biodiversity areas (KBA) was initiated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2004 to overcome taxonomic biases in the selection of important areas for conservation, including freshwater ecosystems. Since then, several KBAs have been identified mainly based on the presence of trigger species (i.e., species that trigger either the vulnerability and or the irreplaceability criterion and thus identify a site as a KBA). However, to our knowledge, many of these KBAs have not been validated. Therefore, classical surveys of the taxa used to identify freshwater KBAs (fishes, molluscs, odonates, and aquatic plants) were conducted in Douro (Iberian Peninsula) and Sebou (Morocco) River basins in the Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot. Environmental DNA analyses were undertaken in the Moroccan KBAs. There was a mismatch between the supposed and actual presence of trigger species. None of the trigger species were found in 43% and 50% of all KBAs surveyed in the Douro and Sebou basins, respectively. Shortcomings of freshwater KBA identification relate to flawed or lack of distribution data for trigger species. This situation results from a misleading initial identification of KBAs based on poor (or even inaccurate) ecological information or due to increased human disturbance between initial KBA identification and the present. To improve identification of future freshwater KBAs, we suggest selecting trigger species with a more conservative approach; use of local expert knowledge and digital data (to assess habitat quality, species distribution, and potential threats); consideration of the subcatchment when delineating KBAs boundaries; thoughtful consideration of terrestrial special areas for conservation limits; and periodic field validation.     

Spatial and temporal variability of fluoride concentrations in groundwater resources of Larestan and Gerash regions in Iran from 2003 to 2010

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - There is discrepancy about intervals of fluoride monitoring in groundwater resources by Iranian authorities. Spatial and temporal variability of fluoride in...     

Correlation of cadmium and aluminum in blood samples of kidney disorder patients with drinking water and tobacco smoking: related health risk

The combined exposure to aluminum (Al) and cadmium (Cd) causes more pronounced adverse health effects on humans. The kidneys are the main organs affected by internal exposure to Cd and Al via food and non-food items. The objective of present study was to measure the Al and Cd concentrations in cigarettes tobacco (branded and non-branded) and drinking water (domestic treated, ground and lake water) samples in southern part of Pakistan, to assess the risk due to ingestion of water and inhalation of cigarettes smoke containing high concentrations of both elements. The study population (kidney disorder and healthy) divided into two group based on consuming lake and ground water, while smoking non-branded cigarette as exposed, while drinking domestic treated water and smoking branded cigarette as non-exposed. Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determined Cd and Al concentrations in tobacco, drinking water and blood samples. The resulted data indicated that the levels of Al and Cd in lake and underground water were higher than the permissible limit in drinking water recommended by the World Health Organization. The biochemical parameters of exposed and referent patients, especially urinary N-acetyl-h-glucosaminidase, were used as a biomarkers of kidney disorder. Exposed kidney disorder patients have higher levels of Cd and Al than the exposed referents subjects, while difference was significant when compared to resulted data of non-exposed patients and referents (p = 0.01–0.001). The pearson correlation showed positive correlation between both toxic element concentrations in water, cigarettes versus blood samples of exposed subjects (r = 0.20–0.67 and 0.71–0.82), while lower values were observed for non-exposed subjects (r = 0.123–0.423 and 0.331–0.425), respectively.

     

Effect of Surface Treatment on Betel Nut (Areca catechu) Fiber in Polypropylene Composite

Betel nut fiber (Bn)/polypropylene (PP) composites were prepared in the different ratio of 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60 (Bn wt%:PP wt%) using extruding and hot press moulding technique. From the results, it can be inferred that Bn30:PP70 mixture composite (BnPP) showed better performance among the composites prepared. For further improvement, betel nut fiber was subjected to detergent wash as well as alkali treatment for composite preparation. This work investigated the tensile strength, bending strength, tensile modulus, bending modulus, elongation at break and impact strength of the composites. Fracture morphology of the composite as well as the water absorption capacity has been monitored.     

Evaluation of pesticides multiresidue contamination of khat leaves from Jazan region,Kingdome Saudi Arabia,using solid-phase extraction – gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

The habit of khat chewing is widespread with a deep-rooted sociocultural tradition in these regions and as such poses a public health problem. The use of pesticides is considered to be indispensable practice for the production of adequate food supply for the increasing demands by the global population and for control of insect-borne diseases. Thus, contamination of the environment with pesticides and entry of these chemicals into the food chain is unavoidable especially in developing countries. The main objective of our current study was to assess pesticide pollution of khat leaves (unknown origin) obtained while being smuggled into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to be used in Jazan area. A total of 120 khat leaf samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction followed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis for the presence of 69 standard pesticides using an internal standard, tiphenyl phosphate. No pesticide residues were detected in all the studied samples. These data as preliminary and more experiments need to be performed to confirm our present findings. Routine monitoring of the pesticide residues is important for the prevention, control, and reduction of environmental pollution and also for legal decisions to minimize health risks.     

Rapid liquid chromatographic analysis of Metoclopramide in pharmaceutical preparations

A sensitive, accurate and reproducible method for the analysis of metoclopramide, a gastrointestinal drug, has been described. An isocratic HPLC elution method was employed which requires about 10 minutes to be performed. The concentration of metoclopramide hydrochloride preparations was found to be 95.1 ±0.3% and 94.21 ±0.25% in tablet and injection formulations, respectively.     

Potentiometric studies of mixed complexes of cobalt(II) and copper(II) with l‐Asparagine and adenine

A potentiometric titration technique has been used to determine the stability constants for the various complexes of Co(II) and Cu(II) with L‐asparagine and from DNA base, e.g. adenine. Stability constants of ternary systems have been evaluated by the method suggested by Irwing‐Rossotti. In addition, the conditional constants were calculated as a function of pH. The maximum values of the conditional formation constants were found to be in accordance with the mixed‐ligand complex formation constants in a determined pH region. Furthermore, the molar fractions of different species from mixed complexes were calculated by means of formation constants. The values of stability constants of mixed‐ligand complexes at 25°C are as follows: log K= 5.25 for Co(II)‐L‐asparagine‐adenine; log K= 9.30 for Cu(II)‐L‐asparagine‐adenine. The ionic strength was kept constant at I = 0.20 with NaClO₄.