Developmental effects of three textile chemicals on locomotor activity, antioxidant markers and acetylcholine esterase activity in zebrafish

212-218Textile chemicals discharged into the water bodies cause huge impact on human health and environment. However, the adverse effects of textile chemicals during critical period of brain development are not explored. This study uses zebrafish to assess the developmental toxicity of three textile chemicals. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations (1, 5, 10, 20 and 40 PPM) of Naphthalene sulfonic acid (NSA), Metanilic acid (MA) and Acid blue 113 (AB113) from 18 h post-fertilization (HPF) to 96 HPF, respectively. Several endpoints, such as mortality, morphological abnormalities and locomotor activity of embryos and larvae were studied. Biochemical detection of oxidative stress, glutathione and acetylcholine esterase was subsequently tested. The survival rate was decreased (LC (50): 1PPM) by NSA, MSA or AB113 and at > 5PPM a 90% mortality was observed respectively. Exposure to 1 PPM of NSA, MSA or AB113 significantly reduced the locomotor activity in an age dependent manner. However, no neurodegenerative phenotypes were noted. The glutathione and acetylcholine esterase activity (P <0.05) was decreased while malondialdehyde content was accumulated by NSA, MSA or AB113 treatment. The overall findings suggest that the selected textile dyes exposed during critical window development is able to produce oxidative stress and exert noticeable effects on locomotor activity in zebrafish embryos by altering acetylcholine esterase activity

MORAXELLA OSLOENSIS MEDIATED SYNTHESIS OF TIO2 NANOPARTICLES

Objective: The main idea behind the present investigation is to explore the ability of Moraxella osloensis to reduce Titanium dioxide to nanosizes in a facile manner.Methods: The bacterium was grown in nutrient broth for 24 hr. The culture supernant was used for the bioreduction process. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterised by instrumental analyses namely FTIR, SEM and XRD. Toxicity of the nanoparticles was tested against HaCaT and Hep2 cell lines.Results: Moraxella osloensis with the dye degrading ability was found to be capable of reducing bulk Titanium dioxide to nanostructure. These biogenic TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) were in the size range of 60–150 nm with the average size of 72 nm. The particles were found to irregularly shaped and uniformly dispersed with less aggregation. In addition, XRD analysis indicated the presence of titanium beta. FTIR confirmed the involvement of proteins in the bioreduction and stabilization. Nano TiO2 was found to be more toxic against HaCaT and Hep2 cell lines than its bulk counterpart.Conclusion: Moraxella osloensis successfully synthesised TiO2 NPs in environmentally safe and cost effective method in an extracellular fashion.Keywords: Moraxella osloensis, Biogenesis, TiO2 NP, Characterization, Cytotoxicit

Coupling dye degradation and biodiesel production by Geitlerinema sp TRV27

In this study, the dye degrading the ability of marine cyanobacteria, Geitlerinema sp TRV27 was tested against the textile dye Acid black 52. Optimum conditions like pH, temperature, dye concentration for acid black 52 dye degradation were studied and were found to be pH 7, 25±2°C. More than 50% of degradation was observed for the tested maximum dye concentration, 100 ppm. The degraded dye intermediate was found to be naphthalene by GC-MS analysis and their toxicity on seed germination was studied. The dye treated biomass was used for the production of biodiesel and the physicochemical properties of biofuel were found to be within the standard limits

Degradation of crude oil using the indigenous isolate Bacillus sp SEA18

Hydrocarbon contamination in the environment today is gaining more importance as they are carcinogenic and neurotoxic. Methods to degrade these hydrocarbons are rightfully demanding and researchers are on a lookout for new and indigenous species as they are sustained in that niche by utilizing the resources available. Because of the capabilities exhibited by bacteria in environmental remediation, this study, focuses on isolating an indigenous bacterium from oil-contaminated site and evaluate its potential in degrading oils. The isolate obtained was identified as Bacillus sp and was found to show the degradation of crude oil to an extent of 80% after 60 days of incubation. The analysis was confirmed by GC-MS analysis that showed a significant reduction in the number of hydrocarbons. This capability of this bacterium to produce biosurfactants promises this species to play a role in degradation as biosurfactants would enhance the degradation process. This study, therefore, reinforces the fact that indigenous species are potential hydrocarbon degraders due to their adaptability and endurance

Degradation of crude oil using the indigenous isolate Bacillus sp SEA18

317-326Hydrocarbon contamination in the environment today is gaining more importance as they are carcinogenic and neurotoxic. Methods to degrade these hydrocarbons are rightfully demanding and researchers are on a lookout for new and indigenous species as they are sustained in that niche by utilizing the resources available. Because of the capabilities exhibited by bacteria in environmental remediation, this study, focuses on isolating an indigenous bacterium from oil-contaminated site and evaluate its potential in degrading oils. The isolate obtained was identified as Bacillus sp and was found to show the degradation of crude oil to an extent of 80% after 60 days of incubation. The analysis was confirmed by GC-MS analysis that showed a significant reduction in the number of hydrocarbons. This capability of this bacterium to produce biosurfactants promises this species to play a role in degradation as biosurfactants would enhance the degradation process. This study, therefore, reinforces the fact that indigenous species are potential hydrocarbon degraders due to their adaptability and endurance

CBSE-2014 [2 nd and 3 rd April 2014] Challenges in Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology for Sustainable Environment Albizia saman: A Green Route for the Reduction of Bulk TIO 2

Abstract : Recently, Metal oxide nanoparticles have been paid much attention as they are possessing fascinating properties such as semiconducting, photovoltaic, photocatalytic, magnetic, electronic and antimicrobial activity. This is due to their high fraction of atoms and their high surface area. Each and every nanoparticle differs in their size, shape, composition and crystalline nature. Among the metaloxides, TiO 2 has its applications in degrading dyes and in purifying water. In this present investigation, an eco-friendly method was adopted to reduce the bulk TiO 2 to nanoscale by using the aqueous leaf extract of Albizia saman. The reduced particle was characterized by performing XRD. The average grain size formed after the bioreduction was determined by using the Scherrer&apos;s formula, d = 0.89 / βcosθ. The estimated size for the bulk TiO 2 was 79nm whereas the bioreduced TiO 2 nanoparticle possessed the grain size of 41nm. The bioreduced TiO 2 should be explored for its potential applications in the future

CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL AND PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF JUSTICIA BEDDOMEI AND ITS ENDOPHYTIC ASPERGILLUS SP

Abstract Introduction; Endophytic fungi are mutualistic symbionts of plants producing bioactive secondary metabolites. Objective; The study was carried out to screen for phytochemicals and demonstrate the cyotoxicity, the ethyl acetate extracts of the plant Justicia beddomei and its endophytic fungi. Methods; Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried by standard procedures. The MTT assay of the extracts was carried out on A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells. Results; The endophytic Aspergillus had an IC 50 of 22.73µg/ml, while the plant extract had an IC 50 of   6.25µg/ml. The phytochemical screening of the extracts showed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Conclusion; The present study indicates the presence of anticancer compounds in the plant and its endophytic Aspergillus sp. The endophyte was shown to possess bioactivity three times than that of the host plant

Optimization and Kinetics of Nickel Ion Adsorption from Electroplating Effluent onto Activated Carbon Prepared from Egg Shell

This study was aimed at investigating the kinetic modelling of the treatment of nickel(II) ions in electroplating effluent by an activated carbon prepared from Anas platyrhyncha egg shell. The following process variables were chosen for optimizing the batch operation: Ni(II) ion conc. in effluent (10–50 mg/ℓ), pH (4–8), adsorbent dosage (0.3–0.9 g), temperature (30–70 °C). A five-level, four-variable central composite design was used to evaluate the effects of these parameters on the adsorption of Ni(II) ions onto Anas platyrhyncha egg shell. The optimization process demonstrated significant interaction between the process variables studied. Adsorption kinetic data were tested using the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption process was best described by the pseudo-second-order reaction model. Reichenberg plots were used to calculate the rate-controlling parameters and the effective diffusion coefficient. Adsorption occurs via particle diffusion at low concentrations, while film diffusion becomes the rate-determining step at higher concentrations

Optimization of cellulase synthesis by RSM and evaluation of ethanol production from enzymatically hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse using <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

353-359This study presents ethanol production from enzymatically hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize conditions for the production of endo b-1, 4 glucanase component of cellulase using Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 under solid state condition, employing pretreated bagasse as chief substrate. Cellulase thus produced was utilized for hydrolyses of pretreated bagasse resulting in soluble sugars. FTIR and XRD of bagasse showed structural changes through pretreatment, in favor of enzymatic hydrolysis during cellulase production. Ethanol produced was found to be strongly dependent on pretreatment given, hydrolysis and fermentation conditions