Evaluation of various plant species for biodiesel production

Fuels are the combustible substances containing carbon, hydrogen as the main constituents. The biomass consists of these carbonaceous materials as the chemical form. In this recent new era when we are facing short listing of conventional fuels, a substitute is urging. Newer inventions and research works are being carried out by various agencies. The biofuel concept is found much helpful, sustainable and environmental friendly. Some members of Euphorbiaceae, some algal species, sugarcane, residues and sugar beet are remarkable in this field. Biomass has been used for energy purposes ever since man discovered fire. With the evolutionary trend man discovered the conventional fuels and started its consumption. The over consumption of these fuels have brought up to the condition that today these fuels are depleted and stocks towards end. To cope up with these conditions, a newer technological concept is to develop the fuels, which are never ending. This need can be fulfilled by the use of non-conventional fuels or resources. Biomass is likely to remain as an important global source in developing countries well in the next century. Some species of petro plants have been found fruitful and a bless in the route. A powerful option for improving our environment while reducing dependence on foreign fuels, and the stretching fossil fuel reserves in the biodiesel. Biodiesel is a clean burning fuel for diesel engines made from domestically produced, renewable fats and oils such as Soybean oil, Jatropha, Pongamia pinnata, and various other species. The aim and purpose of developing these plant species is to incorporate such species, which are economical, beneficial and having potency to grow even in the drastic conditions. India is a country of vast diversity, blessed with all types of vegetation: tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine. Keeping in mind its economic and development status, some species like Pongamia pinnata, Jatropa curcas, Shorea robusta, Madhuca indica, Pongamia glabra, Azadirachta indica, Magnifera indica, Salvadora oleoides, some grasses like Andropogon, Cymbopogan, Lemon grasses, etc. The oil extracted from these species particularly the Jatropa and Pongamia pinnata has environmental as well as economical benefits. These species are found growing, luxuriantly even in the desertified, barren and waste lands. The oil obtained from the species can be used for lightening lamps, electrification and as a biodiesel for automobiles. Maintenance cost and cost of production are negligible. As expensive can help in employment for locals and increasing soil fertility and green patches of these can be developed for substance of good, healthier environment

Fluorides in the ground waters of Amravati district (M.S), India

India is one of the important country on the world map and ranks 3rd for its water reservoirs. Although it is blessed with these reservoirs ground water constitutes the main reliable source for drinking water. The concentration of elements is of great concern. Keeping in mind the dilema of fluoride and its impact the present study carried out for Amravati district where major portion of population rely on the ground water source. Consumption of excessive fluorides in drinking water causes dental decay and physiological deformities. In the present study it is observed that some glimpses of Nimbhi and Daryapur are above the prescribed limits. A variation in concentration is seen with the change in season. Some spots like Mullapua, Amravati are approaching the verge of contamination. Need for continuos and recurrent monitoring of water will be helpful for betterment.Â

Age related histological and histochemical studies on the testis of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry

Birds (10) of 2 age group, viz. 5 months (grower) and 13 months (adult) of Aseel and Vanaraja breeds of poultry were used. The thickness of tunica albuginea, maximum and minimum diameter of seminiferous tubules, diameter of primary spermatocytes and number of sustentacular cells or Sertoli cells per seminiferous tubule were significantly higher in growers and adults of Vanaraja than Aseel whereas, number of interstitial cells per field were significantly higher in growers and adults of Aseel than Vanaraja. The density of connective tissue fibers, PAS activity and AB-PAS activity was more in both groups of Vanaraja than Aseel

A Novel Approach for Shadow Detection and Removal from Image

Image processing has been one region of studies that draws the interest of extensive form of researchers. Surveillance structures are in big demand specially, for their packages in public areas, consisting of airports, stations, subways, front to buildings and mass events. Shadow occurs while objects consist of light from light source. Shadows offer wealthy information about the item shapes as well as light orientations. Shadow in picture reduces the reliability of many computer imaginative and prescient algorithms. Shadow regularly degrades the visual exceptional of an image. Shadow removal in an image is pre-processing step for computer imaginative and prescient algorithm and image enhancement. Shadow detection and removal in numerous actual lifestyles situations consisting of surveillance device and laptop vision machine remained a hard project. Shadow in visitors surveillance system might also misclassify the actual item, lowering the gadget overall performance

Somatic cell count and alkaline phosphatase activity in milk for evaluation of mastitis in buffalo

Abstract Background and Aim: Mastitis is a serious disease of dairy animals causing great economic losses due to a reduction in milk yield as well as lowering its nutritive value. The application of somatic cell count (SCC) and alkaline phosphatase activity in the milk for diagnosis of mastitis in buffalo is not well documented. Therefore, the present study was conducted to observe the SCC and alkaline phosphatase activity for evaluation of mastitis in buffalo. Materials and Methods: Milk samples of forty apparently healthy lactating buffaloes were selected and categorized into five different groups viz. normal buffaloes, buffaloes with subclinical mastitis with CMT positive milk samples (+1 Grade), (+2 Grade), (+3 Grade), and buffaloes with clinical mastitis with 8 animals in each group. The milk samples were analyzed for SCC and alkaline phosphatase activity. Results: The levels of SCC (×10 5 cells/ml) and alkaline phosphatase (U/L) in different groups were viz. normal (3.21±0.179, 16.48±1.432), subclinical mastitis with CMT positive milk samples with +1 Grade (4.21±0.138, 28.11±1.013), with +2 Grade (6.34±0.183, 34.50±1.034), with +3 Grade (7.96±0.213, 37.73±0.737) and buffaloes with clinical mastitis (10.21±0.220, 42.37±0.907) respectively, indicating an increasing trend in the values and the difference observed among various group was statistically significant. Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the concentration of milk SCC and alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in the milk of buffaloes with mastitis than in the milk of normal buffaloes

Extending the Absorption Limit of BiVO4 Photoanodes with Hydrogen Sulfide Treatment

Bismuth vanadate is a promising photoanode material for photoelectrochemical water splitting due to its relative stability, low cost, and nontoxic properties. However, its performance is limited by the large bandgap Eg of 2.4 amp; 8201;eV, and the record photocurrent is already within 90 of its theoretical limit. Further photocurrent enhancement could only be obtained by increasing its optical absorption, for example, by reducing Eg. Herein, sulfur incorporated bismuth vanadate S BiVO4 thin films are synthesized via spray pyrolysis combined with post treatment in hydrogen sulfide environment. Under optimal H2S treatment conditions, sulfur can be incorporated successfully into the BiVO4 lattice, without the formation of any secondary phases. The use of reactive H2S, instead of solid sulfur powders, allows us to decrease the required annealing temperature and increase the kinetics for sulfur incorporation into BiVO4. The Eg of the resulting S BiVO4 films is decreased by gt;200 amp; 8201;meV vs. pristine BiVO4 , which theoretically corresponds to a 20 increase in the theoretical photocurrent limit. Finally, the stability limitation of S BiVO4 is overcome by introducing pulsed laser deposited NiOx protection layers. The modified S BiVO4 NiOx film exhibits higher photocurrent density with no reduction of photocurrent during the 9 amp; 8201;h stability test with AM1.5 illuminatio

Performance of aquatic plant species for phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated water

This study investigates the effectiveness of aquatic macrophyte and microphyte for phytoremediation of water bodies contaminated with high arsenic concentration. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and two algae (Chlorodesmis sp. and Cladophora sp.) found near arsenic-enriched water bodies were used to determine their tolerance toward arsenic and their effectiveness to uptake arsenic thereby reducing organic pollution in arsenic-enriched wastewater of different concentrations. Parameters like pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and arsenic concentration were monitored. The pH of wastewater during the course of phytoremediation remained constant in the range of 7.3–8.4, whereas COD reduced by 50–65 % in a period of 15 days. Cladophora sp. was found to survive up to an arsenic concentration of 6 mg/L, whereas water hyacinth and Chlorodesmis sp. could survive up to arsenic concentrations of 2 and 4 mg/L, respectively. It was also found that during a retention period of 10 days under ambient temperature conditions, Cladophora sp. could bring down arsenic concentration from 6 to <0.1 mg/L, Chlorodesmis sp. was able to reduce arsenic by 40−50 %; whereas, water hyacinth could reduce arsenic by only 20 %. Cladophora sp. is thus suitable for co-treatment of sewage and arsenic-enriched brine in an algal pond having a retention time of 10 days. The identified plant species provides a simple and cost-effective method for application in rural areas affected with arsenic problem. The treated water can be used for irrigation

Megafaunal Community Structure of Andaman Seamounts Including the Back-Arc Basin – A Quantitative Exploration from the Indian Ocean

Species rich benthic communities have been reported from some seamounts, predominantly from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, but the fauna and habitats on Indian Ocean seamounts are still poorly known. This study focuses on two seamounts, a submarine volcano (cratered seamount – CSM) and a non-volcano (SM2) in the Andaman Back–arc Basin (ABB), and the basin itself. The main purpose was to explore and generate regional biodiversity data from summit and flank (upper slope) of the Andaman seamounts for comparison with other seamounts worldwide. We also investigated how substratum types affect the megafaunal community structure along the ABB. Underwater video recordings from TeleVision guided Gripper (TVG) lowerings were used to describe the benthic community structure along the ABB and both seamounts. We found 13 varieties of substratum in the study area. The CSM has hard substratum, such as boulders and cobbles, whereas the SM2 was dominated by cobbles and fine sediment. The highest abundance of megabenthic communities was recorded on the flank of the CSM. Species richness and diversity were higher at the flank of the CSM than other are of ABB. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) analysis of substratum types showed 50% similarity between the flanks of both seamounts, because both sites have a component of cobbles mixed with fine sediments in their substratum. Further, nMDS of faunal abundance revealed two groups, each restricted to one of the seamounts, suggesting faunal distinctness between them. The sessile fauna corals and poriferans showed a significant positive relation with cobbles and fine sediments substratum, while the mobile categories echinoderms and arthropods showed a significant positive relation with fine sediments only