Bleaching of Sunflower Waste Oil by Absorption on Activated Carbon and Improved by Ozonisation

The present investigation attempts to bleach the sunflower waste oil which can be reused for many industrial applications. A comprehensive bleaching technology developed with activated carbon and liquid ozone under laboratory condition. Laboratory bleaching was performed with different concentrations of activated carbon (w/v) in a round bottom flask under a vacuum. During the bleaching process, coloring pigments like carotenoids, chlorophylls, gossypol, peroxides and other impurities are removed from the edible oil using activated carbon. The bleached oil was retreated with different concentrations of liquid ozone and incubated at room temperature (270C) for 24 to 120 hrs. The retreated oil samples were drawn at every interval of 24 hrs, analyzed and the bleaching capacity were measured with UV-VIS Spectrometer to measure light absorbance in the visible region at 455 nm. The absorbance values decreased with respect to the increased mass of activated carbon (w/v in %) and liquid ozone. Bleaching of crude oil with activated carbon and liquid ozone are affordable method for sunflower waste oil management and recycling

Bose Hubbard Models with Synthetic Spin-Orbit Coupling: Mott Insulators, Spin Textures and Superfluidity

Motivated by the experimental realization of synthetic spin-orbit coupling for ultracold atoms, we investigate the phase diagram of the Bose Hubbard model in a non-abelian gauge field in two dimensions. Using a strong coupling expansion in the combined presence of spin-orbit coupling and tunable interactions, we find a variety of interesting magnetic Hamiltonians in the Mott insulator (MI), which support magnetic textures such as spin spirals and vortex and Skyrmion crystals. An inhomogeneous mean field treatment shows that the superfluid (SF) phases inherit these exotic magnetic orders from the MI and display, in addition, unusual modulated current patterns. We present a slave boson theory which gives insight into such intertwined spin-charge orders in the SF, and discuss signatures of these orders in Bragg scattering, in situ microscopy, and dynamic quench experiments.Comment: 4 pages + references + supplementary inf

Effect of salinity stress on the life history variables of Branchipus schaefferi Fisher, 1834 (Crustacea: Anostraca)

BACKGROUND: Freshwater anostracans inhabit ephemeral water bodies in which as the water level decreases due to evaporation the salt concentration increases. Thus, for most anostracans salinity becomes the major stress factor. RESULTS: We tested five concentrations of NaCl (0 to 8 g/l) on the life table demography of Branchipus schaefferi fed Chlorella (alga). Age-specific survivorship curves of male and female B. schaefferi showed nearly a similar pattern in that increased salt concentration resulted in decreased survivorship. The age-specific reproduction (m(x)) of females showed several peaks of cyst production at 0 and 1 g/l salinity while in treatments containing salt at 4 or 8 g/l, there were fewer peaks. Average lifespan, life expectancy at birth, gross and net reproductive rates, generation time and the rate of population increase were all significantly influenced by the salt concentration in the medium. The highest value of net reproductive rate (970 cysts/female) was in treatments containing 0 g/l of salt, while the lowest was 13 cysts/female at 8 g/l. The rate of population increase (r) varied from 0.52 to 0.32 per day depending on the salt concentration in the medium. CONCLUSION: The low survival and offspring production of B. schaefferi at higher salinity levels suggests that this species is unlikely to colonize inland saline water bodies. Therefore, the temporary ponds in which it is found, proper conservative measures must be taken to protect this species

Heavy metals accumulation in macrophytes in the lakes of Bangalore urban

This study was mainly focused upon the impact of heavy metals pollution (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in aquatic macrophytes of the littoral zones of the lakes of Bangalore Urban region. The heavy metals concns. were as follows: Manganese (257.6 ± 39.6) ppm; Lead (66 ± 12.5)​ppm; Chromium (64.9 ± 6.2)​; Nickel (42.3 ± 3.2)​, Cobalt (18.8 ± 4.0) and Cadmium (4.7 ± 0.7)​. Copper, Manganese and Zinc were largely within normal range while Chromium, Lead, Cobalt and Nickel were in crit. range. There were more statistically significant correlations between metals in the dry than in the west sea..

Impact assessment of heavy metals pollution of Vartur lake, Bangalore

The unscientific disposal of wastes and pollution in urban water bodies has caused immense problems not only to human beings but also to the aquatic biodiversity. Assessment of heavy metals in Vartur Lake, Bangalore, revealed that Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), and Lead (Pb) all exceeded drinking water standards. Nevertheless, Chromium (Cr) exceeded the CPCB’s tolerance limits for water bodies subjected to effluent discharge. In Eichornia crassipes, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni were critical. In the sediments, Cadmium (Cd) and Nickel (Ni) exceeded the Probable Effect Level (PEL). Sediment Geo-accumulation Index of the lake showed moderate contamination with Mn, Cu, and Pb. Cr had the highest plant/sediments metal concentration factor even though its bioavailability in plants (71.5 ppm) was lower compared to Manganese (192.3 ppm). This calls for immediate action to be implemented to carry out necessary environmental mitigation measures for the lake