HIGH-PERFORMANCE THIN LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY (HPTLC) FINGERPRINTING PATTERN OF MANGROVE AVICENNIA MARINA

Objective: An attempt has been made to study phytoconstituents and High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting pattern of leaf/stem/root methanol extracts of Avicennia marina.Methods: The phytochemical screening was done by standard biochemical methods and standard optimized HPTLC densitometry determination was performed under two different energy zones [under UV-254 nm and under 540 nm after derivatization at sample size-10 µl, temperature = 25.8±0.3 °C (constant) and relative humidity = 86±1% (constant) in optimized solvent system].Results: Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of phytochemicals in the leaf, stem, and root of the plant. Under UV–254 nm energy range, the leaf, stem and root extract showed the presence of 8, 6 and 5 components respectively and under 540 nm energy zone after derivatization, the leaf, stem and root extract revealed the presence of 7, 5 and 5 components, respectively and specific marker components with very high concentration (under UV-254 nm; 3, 2, 2 in leaf, stem, and root respectively and under 540 nm after ASR treatment; 2, 1, 2 in leaf, stem, and root respectively) were detected among them.Conclusion: The preliminary phytochemical test results elucidated Avicennia marina leaf, stem, and root as a hug reservoir of various class of phytochemicals and metabolites. The results obtained by HPTLC fingerprinting method found to be acceptable as a quick, reliable, accurate and economical for identification and authentication of Avicennia marina mangrove plant and useful to differentiate this mangrove species from other similar mangroves, in a single TLC plate run. This serves as a biochemical marker pattern for leaf, stem and root parts of this mangrove and for its diverse phytoconstituents

Investigation of potential rhizospheric isolate for cypermethrin degradation

Rhizoremediation is the use of plant–microbe interaction for the enhanced degradation of contaminants. Rhizosphere bioremediation of pyrethroid pesticides will offer an attractive and potentially inexpensive approach for remediation of contaminated soil. The present study was done with the aim of establishment of highly effective remediation method using plant with degradative rhizosphere and isolation of naturally occurring rhizosphere associated potential degrader providing the possibility of both environmental and insitu detoxification of cypermethrin contamination. The remediation efficacy of Pennisetum pedicellatum was investigated using green house pot culture experiments in cypermethrin amended potting soil mix (10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) for periodic evaluation of changes in concentration. Total proportion of cypermethrin degraders was found to be higher in rhizosphere soil compared to bulk soil. The cypermethrin degrading strain associated with rhizosphere capable of surviving at higher concentrations of cypermethrin was designated as potential degrader. On the basis of morphological characteristics, biochemical tests and 16S rDNA analysis, isolate was identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia MHF ENV 22. Bioremediation data of cypermethrin by strain MHF ENV22 examined by HPLC and mass spectroscopy, indicated 100, 50 and 58 % degradation within the time period of 72, 24 and 192 h at concentrations 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. This is the first report of effective degradation of cypermethrin by Stenotrophomonas spp. isolated from rhizosphere of Pennisetum pedicellatum. Rhizoremediation strategy will be of immense importance in remediation of cypermethrin residues to a level permissible for technogenic and natural environment

Microbial degradation of petrochemical waste-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Background Petrochemical industry is one of the fastest growing industries. This industry has immense importance in the growth of economy and manufacture of large varieties of chemicals. The petrochemical industry is a hazardous group of industry generating hazardous waste containing organic and inorganic compounds. In spite of the present treatment process, the hazardous waste compounds are found untreated to the acceptable level and found discharged at soil–water environment resulting into the persistent organic–inorganic pollutant into the environment. The bioremediation will be the innovative techniques to remove the persistent pollutants in the environment. Result Petrochemical contaminated site was found to be a rich source of microbial consortium degrading polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Indigenous microbial consortiums were identified and used for bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (naphthalene and anthracene) at the concentrations of 250, 500, and 750 ppm. The potential microorganism was also identified for naphthalene and anthracene, and their bioremediation was studied at varying concentrations. The bioremediation with consortium was found to be comparatively more effective than the potential microorganism used for bioremediation of each compound. Pseudomonas aeruginosa a potential organism was identified by 16S rRNA and further studied for the gene responsible for the PAH compounds. Conclusion Indigenous microorganism as a consortium has been found effective and efficient source for remediation of organic compound—Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and this will also be applicable to remediate the toxic compounds to clean up the environment

Mineralization of a sulfonated textile dye Reactive Red 31 from simulated wastewater using pellets of Aspergillus bombycis

Abstract Background Reactive Red 31, applied extensively in the commercial textile industry, is a hazardous and persistent azo dye compound often present in dye manufacturing and textile industrial effluents. Aspergillus bombycis strain was isolated from dye contaminated zones of Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation, Vatva, Ahmedabad, India. The decolorization potential was monitored by the decrease in maximum absorption of the dye using UV–visible spectroscopy. Optimization of physicochemical conditions was carried out to achieve maximum decolorization of Reactive Red 31 by fungal pellets. Results Pellets of A. bombycis strain were found to decolorize this dye (20 mg/L) under aerobic conditions within 12 h. The activity of azoreductase, laccase, phenol oxidase and Manganese peroxidase in fungal culture after decolorization was about 8, 7.5, 19 and 23.7 fold more than before decolorization suggesting that these enzymes might be induced by the addition of Reactive Red 31 dye, and thus results in a higher decolorization. The lab-scale reactor was developed and mineralization of Reactive Red 31 dye by fungal pellets was studied at 6, 12 and 24 h of HRT (hydraulic retention time). At 12 h of HRT, decolorization potential, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon reduction (TOC) was 99.02, 94.19, and 83.97%, respectively, for 20 mg/L of dye concentration. Conclusions Dye decolorization potential of A. bombycis culture was influenced by several factors such as initial dye concentration, biomass concentration, pH, temperature, and required aerated conditions. Induction of azoreductase, laccase, phenol oxidase, and Mn-peroxidase enzymes was observed during dye decolorization phase. A. bombycis pellets showed potential in mineralization of dye in the aerobic reactor system. Isolated fungal strain A. bombycis showed better dye decolorization performance in short duration of time (12 h) as compared to other reported fungal cultures. Graphical abstract Degradation of RR31 dye in developed aerobic fungal pelleted reactor

2009. Potential of Citrobacter freundii for bioaccumulation of heavy metal – copper

Abstract The small scale industries located at Mira Road, Mumbai, are engaged in various processes/operations which generate the wastes. The waste generated are collected and disposed of at the dumping ground near the industrial estate. In the present study, the physico-chemical and microbial status of the contaminated sites has been carried out. The heavy metal with special reference to copper was exposed to microbial consortium at increasing concentrations viz 5, 25, 50, 75, 100 up to 800ppm to isolate potential microorganism for bioremediation. Citrobacter freundii has been identified by 16SrDNA technique as potential microorganism for bioaccumulation/bioremediation of copper. This organism can be used for remediation of copper from contaminated environment

Phytoremediation of Cadmium, Lead and Zinc by Brassica juncea L. Czern and Coss

ABSTRACT Objectives: To determine the potential of Brassica juncea to take up heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) from aquatic environment. Methodology and results: The uptake of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) was studied at various concentrations, i.e. 0, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg ml -1 in Steinberg's solution over a period of 21 days. After 21 days, the plants were harvested, dried and the root and shoot biomass weighed. The uptake of each metal was studied in the root and shoot respectively, to determine the bioaccumulation coefficient of metals in B. juncea. The translocation factor was calculated so as to study the efficiency of the plants to bioaccumulate each metal in roots and shoot. The result showed that the heavy metals accumulated more in roots than in the shoots. When plants were exposed to the higher concentration (50 μg ml -1 ) of Cd or Pb, the metals were present at an average of 18.42 and 12.27 mg g -1 tissue in the root, respectively, and at 3.35 and 2.48 mg g -1 tissue in the shoots, respectively. The average concentration of zinc was 26.52 mg gm -1 and 2.59 mg g -1 in root and shoot respectively, when exposed to 50 μg ml -1 of zinc. Conclusions and application of findings: Brassica juncea has been found to have high potential to remediate Cd, Pb and Zn from aquatic environment with up to a maximum concentration of 50 μg ml -1 . This plant can therefore be grown in aquatic environment that are contaminated with heavy metals, after which the plant biomass can be harvested and burned to ash to recover the metals or to be disposed of appropriately and safely

Phytoremediation of ¹³⁷Cs from low level nuclear waste using <i>Catharanthus roseus</i>

516-519Remediation of radionuclides has been carried out using the phytoremediation technology. The green plants have been screened for the uptake potential of radionuclide and found that Catharanthus roseus has the high potential for radionuclides in particular 137Cs. Low level nuclear waste (LLNW) collected from effluent treatment plant, BARC has been characterized for physico-chemical and the presence of traces of radionuclides. LLNW was spiked with 3.7×104kBqL-1 activity level of 137Cs. The plants of C. roseus were grown in (i) LLNW, (ii) 137Cs spiked LLNW and (iii) with the control. The radio activities were measured in the solution at the intervals of 0, 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 15 days in triplicate set of the experiment. The plants were harvested after the growth. The depletion of 137Cs in LLNW was found to be 19, 21, 24, 38, 60 and 76% at intervals of 1, 2, 3, 6, 8 and 15 days, respectively. The bio-accumulation of 137Cs has been measured in the roots and shoots of the harvested plants. The activity of 137Cs was found higher in shoots (998 kBq g-1 dw) as compared to the roots (735 kBq&nbsp;g-1 dw). The uptake of radionuclide-137Cs, bio-accumulation in the shoot via the active transport from the root, shows the high efficiency and potentiality of C. roseus for the remediation of radionuclide. The bio-accumulation of 137Cs in the shoot will remediate the radionuclide contamination from LLNW. C. roseus can also be made applicable for effective remediation of radionuclides present in the LLNW

Serendipitous discovery of super adsorbent properties of sonochemically synthesized nano BaWO<SUB>4</SUB>

The superior adsorbent properties of BaWO<SUB>4</SUB> nanostructures have been reported for the first time. Flower shaped aggregates (∼250 nm) of BaWO<SUB>4</SUB> nanoparticles, having an average size of ∼10–15 nm with a high surface area of ∼148.0 ± 0.2 m<SUP>2</SUP> g<SUP>−1</SUP>, have been synthesized sonochemically and used for the adsorption of various cationic dyes from aqueous solutions. The sonochemically synthesized BaWO<SUB>4</SUB> have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR). The adsorbent capacity of this tungstate is much higher than that reported for other nanomaterials like Fe<SUB>2</SUB>O<SUB>3</SUB>, MnO<SUB>2</SUB>, WO<SUB>3</SUB>, etc. Complete removal of dyes like rhodamine B and methylene blue was possible within a short time span of 10–15 minutes. The adsorption process was followed using UV-Visible spectroscopy, while the material before and after adsorption has been characterized using physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Various isotherms have been used to fit the data, and kinetic parameters were evaluated. Moreover, the adsorbed dyes could be desorbed completely from nanoparticle surfaces by annealing at moderate temperature and were found to be efficient for multicyclic use. Thus this sonochemically synthesized nano BaWO<SUB>4</SUB> has great significance in treatment of dye industry effluents as a promising adsorbent for cationic dyes from aqueous solution