Isolation of Thiobacillus sp from aerobic sludge of distillery and dairy effluent treatment plants and its sulfide oxidation activity at different concentrations

In the present study two strains of Thiobacillus sp were isolated from aerobic sludge of distillery and dairy effluent treatment plant using standard methods of isolation and enrichment. Experiments were conducted using isolated cultures in batch bioreactor with initial sulfide concentration of 75 and 150 mg/l. The effect of initial sulfide concentration on the activity of isolated Thiobacillus sp was studied. Sulfide oxidizing capacity was also determined at different initial sulfide concentrations. The results from the study indicate the possible isolation of Thiobacillus cultures from native source and application in the full-scale reactor     

甲苯降解菌的分离、鉴定及其对甲苯的降解特性

从重庆钢铁集团焦化厂脱酚池车间污泥中分离纯化得到一株能以甲苯为惟一碳源和能源的革兰氏阴性菌。根据生理生化实验结果、菌落特征、菌体形态,初步鉴定为假单孢菌属。菌株的最佳生长条件为：pH7、温度35℃、加入量100mL培养基中加入60μL甲苯、接种量5．0％。考察了菌株对甲苯的降解特性,在甲苯质量浓度为150mg/L时,比降解速率达到0．211h^-1。     

Seasonal Variation of Toxic Benzene Emissions in Petroleum Refinery

Petroleum refineries are largest chemical industries that are responsible for the emission of several pollutants into the atmosphere. Benzene is among the most important air pollutants that are emitted by petroleum refineries, since they are involved in almost every refinery process. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a major group of air pollutants, which play a critical role in atmospheric chemistry. These contribute to toxic oxidants, which are harmful to ecosystem, human health and atmosphere. The variability of pollutants is an important factor in determining human exposure to these chemicals. The ambient air concentrations of benzene were measured in several sites around the Digboi petroleum refinery, near the city of Gowahati in northeast India, during winter and summer 2004. The seasonal and spatial variations of the ambient air concentrations of this benzene were investigated and analyzed. An estimation of the contribution of the refinery to the measured atmospheric levels of benzene was also performed. The ambient air mixing ratios of benzene in a large area outside the refinery was generally low, in ppbv range, much lower than the ambient air quality standards. This article presents the temporal and spatial variation of air pollution in and around petroleum refinery and showed that no health risk due to benzene is present in the areas adjacent to the refinery.     

Real time remote monitoring of air pollutants and their online transmission to the web using internet protocol

Recent advances in both information and sensor technologies have enabled the development of Real Time Remote Monitoring (RTRM) capabilities for environmental management. An online and real time remote monitoring system for air pollution has been designed and installed at a traffic police station at Punjagutta in Hyderabad, India. The system is optimized using electrochemical sensors and a real time particulate matter analyzer. The system also monitors meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity, rainfall, barometric pressure, wind speed and wind direction. The system periodically monitors both pollution and meteorological parameters at pre- programmed intervals of hr during peak periods and 1 hr during non peak periods of the day and continuously uploads to a predestinated web site (www.appcb.org/home.htm) using File Transfer Protocol. The web site renders a quick, simple and graphical display of air pollution levels and meteorological parameters and their significance to humans. The present paper highlights design considerations of a pollution monitoring system, system hardware and software requirements and practical limitations and future directions for real time remote monitoring of air pollution.     

Problems of livestock development in the Himalayan region

Summary This paper outlines the complexities and problems of animal husbandry in the Himalayas of India. In particular, the climatic influences of temperature, rainfall and humidity are emphasised. A wide range of possible improvements to decrease livestock malnutrition and mortality are proposed.Dr J.C. Biswas, BSc, MVSc, works in the Animal Genetics and Breeding Laboratory; Dr R. Somvanshi, MVSc, FRCVS (Sweden) is Veterinary Pathologist in charge of the Clinical Pathology and Medicine Section in Livestock Production Research and Lt.Col. Dr G.S.C. Ranga Rao, MVSc, is Veterinary Parasitologist and Joint Director. All three work at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute.     

Diet and Nutrition during Drought-An Indian Experience

In 1987 India experienced one of the century's worst droughts with two-thirds of its sown area receiving 'scanty' or 'deficient' rainfall. Delayed rains in some parts, though to some extent they relieved the water scarcity, did not brighten the prospects of agricultural production. In order to assess the diet and nutritional situation of the vulnerable population in the severely affected areas, rapid surveys were undertaken by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, in five States of the country, namely Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa and Gujarat, during the months of October-December 1987. Results obtained during the current surveys are compared with the dietary situation observed in earlier droughts in the 1960s and 1970s, and it is concluded that the widespread hunger and its consequences encountered in earlier droughts could be averted, due mainly to the better food security and distribution mechanisms now available in the country.     

Microbial ecology of the soils of Indian desert

A comprehensive study on the microbial ecology of Indian desert soils was carried out. Although different groups of microorganisms e.g., fungi, actinomycetes, bacteria, Azotobacter and nitrifying bacteria were present, but in relatively low numbers, there was considerable variation in numbers from one site to another within the desert as the physicochemical characters of the soils varied. Actinomycetes formed a high proportion of the total microflora. In the majority of the soils, 80% of the fungal population belonged to the genera Aspergillus and Penicillium, while Gram-positive spore formers were the dominant group among bacteria. No significant decline in the population of microorganisms was observed during summer, in spite of high surface soil temperatures. Microbiological properties of these soils also varied depending on the type of land use pattern: grasslands, in general, supported higher numbers of microorganisms than three plantations, cultivated fields or barren land. Stabilization of shifting and sand dunes introduction of vegetation has markedly increased the soil microflora. In general the low organic matter content and poor moisture availability of desert soils were the major factors limiting optimum microbial activity.     

中国红色粘土型金矿成矿特征

中国的红色粘土型金矿是 90年代初发现并开始研究的 ,基本上产于南方特别是西南地区。由于特殊的地质构造条件和气候、地貌条件 ,该类型金矿与国外的红土型金矿存在明显的差异 :红色粘土型金矿剖面发育差 ,红土化程度低 ;对源岩依存度高 ;铁铝含量低、硅含量高 ;矿石处在富粘土矿物阶段 ,少见三水铝石 ,一般为伊利石和高岭石共存。金在红色粘土中以微细粒分散形式存在 ,且在红色粘土剖面中由于表生淋滤作用而发生活化、迁移和再沉淀。     

Control of distal retinal pigment migration in the fiddler crab Uca pugilator

Several concentrations of extracts prepared from the eyestalks of a specimen of Uca pugilator were injected into other U. pugilator individuals. The distal pigment of the eyes first became light adapted and then dark adapted, the whole process lasting 6 h. The mean integrated response for light adaptation increased progressively up to the highest tested extract (3 eyestalk equivalents/dose), but with the darkadapting response the maximal effect was produced by the extract containing 2 eyestalk equivalents/dose. Gel filtration of eyestalk extracts in Sephadex G-50 showed that the fractions associated with greatest light adaptation were also associated with greatest pigment dispersion in the melanophores. Almost no light or dark adaptation of the retinal pigment resulted from injections of eyestalk extracts treated with -chymotrypsin which supports the interpretation that these substances are polypeptides of neurosecretory origin.Supported by Grant GB-7595 X from the National Science Foundation.     

Downcore sulphur isotope ratios and diatom inferred pH in an artificially acidified Canadian shield lake

Three gravity cores were removed from near the deepest point in Lake 223 on 9 June 1984, eight years after the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) staff began the artificial acidification of the lake with sulphuric acid. The first of these cores was analysed for diatoms and pollen stratigraphy while the second and third were analysed for downcore sulphur isotope ratios (H. Thode) and downcore changes in sulphur reducing bacterial densities (S. Rao). Sediment core chronologies were based on lead-210 and cesium-137 data (R. Anderson) and the Ambrosia pollen rise (M. Dickman). Analysis of the first core to the depth of the Ambrosia pollen rise (9 cm) indicated that diatom inferred pH in Lake 223 at the time of the Ambrosia rise (circa 1890) was 6.8-7.0. At a sediment depth of 3 cm the diatom inferred pH was 6.7. Thereafter diatom inferred pH began a decline culminating in the present day (observed) pH range for 1984 (5.3-5.5). At a sediment depth of 1 cm, an increase in the abundance of two benthic alkalophilic diatoms occurred. The increase in the abundance of these diatoms was ascribed to an increase in hypolimnetic alkalinity following the artificial acidification of Lake 223. This is the first time that lake acidification has been linked to an increase in benthic alkalophilic diatoms associated with hypolimnetic alkalinity production following sulphate reduction. Sulphur in the anaerobic (black) sediment layers (0-1.5 cm) was isotopically light relative to the sulphur in the deeper layers. This was due to sulphur isotope fractionation resulting from the bacterial reduction of sulphate to hydrogen sulphide in the anaerobic portion of the water column. A jet black FeS-rich layer in the uppermost 1.5 cm of the lake's sediments was associated with an increase in the abundance of sulphate reducing bacteria (e.g. Desulfovibrio spp.).