Arrhenius Plot Analysis of the Temperature Effect on the Biodegradation Rate of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol

Several models are available to determine the effect of temperature on the growth rate of microorganisms on substrates. An example is Arrhenius model, which is very popular because it has few parameters. For the first time, a discontinuous chevron-like graph of apparent activation energy based on the Arrhenius plot on the growth of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol by Cupriavidus sp. is reported. The plot of ln mm against 1/T shows a discontinuous chevron-like graph for the entire investigated temperature range with an inflection at 27.75°C. This indicates that the existence of 2 activation energies for growth on 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol ranges from 20 to 40°C. Furthermore, a regression analysis from 20–25°C and 30–40°C results in activation energies of 88.71 kJmol-1 and 75.16kJ mol-1, respectively. This is probably the first time a Chevron-like graph was observed for the Arrhenius plot on the effect of temperature on the growth rate of 2-chloro-4-nitrophenol

Bioremoval of toxic molybdenum using dialysis tubing

The toxicity of molybdenum to ruminants and its general toxicity to spermatogenesis in animals are increasingly being reported. Its contamination of aquatic bodies has been reported, and this necessitates its removal. In this work, we utilize the dialysis tubing method coupled with the molybdenum-reducing activity of S. marcescens strain Dr.Y6 to remove molybdenum from solution. The enzymatic reduction of molybdenum into the colloidal molybdenum blue traps the reduced product in the dialysis tubing. The initial rate of increase of Mo-blue product was determined using the modified Gompertz model while the resultant inhibition kinetics profile was carried out using the Haldane model. The calculated maximal rate of Mo-blue production was 153 µmole (Mo-blue.hr)-1 and the concentration of molybdate resulting in the half-maximal rate of reduction (Ks), and the inhibition constant (Ki) were 0.22 and 506 mM, respectively. The results indicate that the system using dialysis tubing coupled with the Mo-reducing bacterium is a good candidate for a method for molybdenum bioremoval from solution

Test for the presence of autocorrelation in the modified Gompertz model used in fitting of Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 growth on acrylamide

The growth of microorganism on substrates, whether toxic or not usually exhibits sigmoidal pattern. This sigmoidal growth pattern can be modelled using primary models such as Logistic, modified Gompertz, Richards, Schnute, Baranyi-Roberts, Von Bertalanffy, Buchanan three-phase and Huang. Previously, the modified Gompertz model was chosen to model the growth of Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 on acrylamide, which shows a sigmoidal curve. The modified Gompertz model relies on the ordinary least squares method, which in turn relies heavily on several important assumptions, which include that the data does not show autocorrelation. In this work we perform statistical diagnosis test to test for the presence of autocorrelation using the Durbin-Watson test and found that the model was adequate and robust as no autocorrelation of the data was found

Phenol removal via cellular immobilization: a review

Environmental pollution is one of the major concerns in the 21st century; where billions of tonnes of harmful chemicals are produced by industries such as petroleum, paints, food, rubber, and plastic. Phenol and its derivatives infiltrate the ecosystems and has become one of the top major pollutants worldwide. This review covers the major aspects of immobilization of phenol-degrading bacteria as a method to improve phenol bioremediation. The use of various forms of immobilization matrices is discussed along with the advantages and disadvantages of each of the immobilization matrices especially when environmental usage is warranted. To be used as a bioremediation tool, immobilized system must not only be effective, but the matrices must be non-toxic, non-polluting and if possible non-biodegradable. The mechanical, biological and chemical stability of the system is paramount for long term activity as well as price is an important factor when very large scale is concern. The system must also be able to tolerate high concentration of other toxicants especially heavy metals that form as co-contaminants, and most immobilized systems are geared towards this last aspect as immobilization generally provides protection from other contaminants

Right to Privacy and Malaysian Practice: A Step Further in Recognising another Aspect of Human Rights

Privacy is an individual right that is fundamental to protect the dignity of a person, especially in the technological era. Currently, privacy is not part of human right under the Malaysian Federal Constitution. Conversely, European Union, South Africa, Hong Kong, and India were advance in the recognition. This is qualitative research analysing the need to move forward in recognising privacy as part of human right with reference to the practice of the European Union, South Africa, Hong Kong, and India. The outcome of the study is proposing a legal framework recognising privacy as a basic human right in Malaysia Keywords: privacy; human rights; fundamental liberties; external intrusion eISSN: 2398-4287© 2020. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bsby e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v5iSI3.257

Bartlett and the Levene's tests of homoscedasticity of the modified Gompertz model used in fitting of Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 growth on acrylamide

Most often than not, microorganism’s growth curve is sigmoidal in characteristics. The modified Gompertz model via nonlinear regression using the least square method is one of the most popular methods to describe the growth curve. One of the assumptions of a good model is that the variance of the data must be homogenous (homoscedasticity). In this work, two statistical diagnostics; the Bartlett and the Levene’s tests was performed to a modified Gompertz model utilized to model the growth of the bacterium Burkholderia sp. strain Neni-11 on acrylamide in order to satisfy the requirement above and found that data conformed to the requirement indicating the modified Gompertz model is a robust model for modelling the bacterial growth process

Adequacy of Public Information for Meaningful E-Participation in Policy-Making

Within the first two years of COVID-19’s exposure, countries around the world mitigated, among other things, social mobility control, resulting in other limitations on fundamental rights, such as freedom of movement and peaceful assembly. Within the rights restrictions, the desire of citizens to satisfy their desire for information and exercise their right to free expression was insatiable. The authors argue that citizens deserve access to sufficient information in order for them to have a meaningful right to participate. At the same time, electronic means can be an additional feature to channel public participation in policy-making. Regrettably, the primary platform adopted in Human Rights laws in operationalizing the right to participate in public affairs remains minimal to coexist meaningful e-participation embarked on the adequacy of the right to information based on Human Rights (HR) standards. This study aims to answer how a justification for meaningful e-participation in law-making can be defined. It also queries which framework can provide sufficient public information based on a rights-based approach. The study leverages the convention of civil and political rights (ICCPR) as the primary legal instrument for a qualitative doctrinal approach. The study suggests that adequate information should be in one package with e-participation to optimize the enjoyment of the right to participate in policy-making.                                    Keywords:  Law-Making, meaningful e-Participation, Right-Based, Right to Informatio

Atrazine degradation by Bacillus safensis strain BUK_BCH_BTE6 isolated from agricultural land in northwestern Nigeria

Atrazine herbicide is known to disrupt the endocrine system and is potentially carcinogenic. Its continual application leads to high residue levels in soil, causing water pollution, which when consumed is associated with devastating health effects. This research reported the isolation and characterization of a new bacterial strains from active agricultural soil with the potential to biodegrade atrazine as a sole carbon source. An enrichment method was utilized to isolate the bacteria (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2) on mineral salt media (MSM) following serial dilution. Six isolates were screened for their tolerance to various concentrations of atrazine (500 to 1500 mg∙L‐1), and only isolate B1 tolerated up to 1500 mg∙L‐1 atrazine. The isolate was identified molecularly as Bacillus safensis strain BUK_BCH_BTE6 based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Characterization of the isolate based on the effects of temperature, pH, substrate concentration, incubation time, inoculum size, and heavy metals revealed optimum growth and atrazine degradation at 35 °C, a pH of 7.5, 400 mg∙L‐1, at 48 h, and inoculum size of 600 µL, respectively. The growth of the isolate was inhibited by 2 ppm Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ar, and Ni, while Fe, Cu, and Zn stimulated it. GC‐MS analysis revealed a degradation efficiency of 88.85% within 120 h, while metabolites such as desethyldeisopropylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, N‐ethylammelide, and cyanuric acid were also detected. This isolate is a highly atrazine‐tolerant and efficient atrazine degrader that could be employed for bioremediation of atrazine‐polluted sites

Assessing Resistance and Bioremediation Ability of Enterobacter sp. Strain Saw-1 on Molybdenum in Various Heavy Metals and Pesticides

One of the most economical approaches for removal of toxic compounds is bioremediation. In the long term, bioremediation is economic and feasible compared to other methods, such as physical or chemical methods. A bacterium that can efficiently reduce molybdenum blue was isolated from polluted soil. Biochemical analysis revealed the identity of the bacterium as Enterobacter sp. strain Saw-1. The growth parameters for optimal reduction of molybdenum to Mo-blue or molybdenum blue, a less toxic product, were determined around pH 6.0 to 6.5 and in the range of 30 to 37 ℃, respectively. Glucose was selected as preferred carbon source, followed by sucrose, maltose, l-rhamnose, cellobiose, melibiose, raffinose, d-mannose, lactose, glycerol, d-adonitol, d-mannitol, l-arabinose and mucate. Phosphate and molybdate were critically required at 5.0 mM and 10 mM, respectively. The scanning absorption spectrum acquired to detect the development of complex Mo-blue showed similarity to previously isolated Mo-reducing bacteria. In addition, the spectrum closely resembled the molybdenum blue from the phosphate determination method. Heavy metals, including mercury, copper (II) and silver (I), inhibited reduction. Moreover, the bacterium also showed capability of exploiting the pesticide coumaphos as an alternative carbon source for growth. As the bacterium proved its ability to detoxify organic and inorganic xenobiotics, the usefulness of this microorganism for bioremediation is highlighted