Bioremediation Of Polluted Waters Using Nanoparticles

Water pollution is an issue of great concern worldwide, contamination by organic compounds, inorganic compounds and microorganisms. Bioremediation using microorganisms helps in the removal of toxic metals from the environment. The focus is on the heavy metals associated with environmental contamination, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) which are potentially hazardous to ecosystems. In the present study textile effluent was collected, and subjected to Physicochemical treatment methods , Herbal-Metal nanocomposite was prepared and used to treat textile effluents. As a bioremediation study, the plant growth potential of treated effluents was evaluated using pot studies of an aquatic plant .Laboratory and field test results confirmed superior bioremediation efficiency and long-term effect. When compared to today’s most-efficient bioremediation technologies there is an efficient, fast, safe, and inexpensive way to clean up polluted waters through acceleration of natural bioremediation process. Nanotechnology provides an economical, convenient and ecofriendly means of wastewater remediation. The results obtained in this study shall be carried out as future studies using different types and concentrations of nanoparticles for the treatment of any types of effluents causing land and water pollution. There is a growing need for the development of novel, efficient, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach for the remediation of inorganic metals released into the environment and to safeguard the ecosystem. In this regard, recent advances in microbes-base heavy metal have propelled bioremediation as a prospective alternative to conventional techniques.

Geo-Engineering Study of Selected Soils for Cement Industry in Al-Kifil District, Babylon, Central Iraq

The research was conducted on nine pits for selected soils in Babylon, in the Al-Kifl region in particular. It aims to find the relationship between the physical and chemical properties of the studied soil and its suitability in the cement industry. Nine samples of different depths were taken with a simple description of the soil in the fieldwork stage. As for the stage of laboratory tests, it included testing the grain size distribution to find the percentage of sand, silt, and clay, and Atterberg limits to find plasticity. It was found through these tests that the soil is silty clay and has low plasticity except for samples no. 5, and 6, which were clayey soil with low plasticity. The relationship between physical properties depends on the property of the grain size distribution, as it is the function of the rest of the properties. Chemical tests of the samples and comparing the ratios of their oxides with the standard specifications of the Kufa plant laboratory turned out to be suitable for the manufacture of ordinary Portland cement, as the study area is considered a good quarry for the clays used in such industries.

Influence of Vermicompost as the Source of Nitrogen in Various Combinations with Chemical Fertiliser on Winter Wheat Productivity

There is rarely any study that deals with the application of vermicompost in combination with chemical fertiliser to study the growth and yield variables of wheat crop in the typical agro-climatic conditions of saline sandy agricultural land of tropical semi-arid climatic condition with vast fluctuations of temperature between summer and winter seasons. Hence, the current study has been planned with a broader objective of utilising the organic resources by preparing vermicompost and applying it as the partial substitute of chemical fertiliser to cultivate wheat in an eco-friendly manner in saline sandy agricultural land of the tropical semi-arid zone. For achieving the intended goal, an experiment was conducted in the field of ‘Soil-Water-Plant Laboratory’, Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Ropar, Punjab, India during the winter season (rabi) of 2018-19. In this experiment, Randomised Block Design (RBD) was followed, and four treatments were used, including T1: 100% RD using chemical fertilisers, T2: 50% RD using chemical fertilisers + 50% of nitrogen through vermicompost, T3:75% RD using chemical fertilisers + 25% of nitrogen through vermicompost and T4: control (without any additional nutrients). Each treatment was replicated nine times. Plot size was 4m × 6m, and row to row spacing was 0.2 m. Following statistical analysis, it was found that treatment T2 (50% RD using chemical fertilisers + 50% of nitrogen through vermicompost) showed the best results, which were reflected in different parameters such as number of effective tillers per plant, ear length, number of grains per ear, and test weight, grain yield and straw yield of the wheat crop in comparison to other treatments. In this case, an almost equal amount of nitrogen supply from both organic and inorganic sources is responsible for getting the best results.

Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against the cotton leaf roller, Haritalodes (Syllepte) derogata (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) under laboratory conditions.

Objective: The leaf-roller caterpillar Haritalodes (=Syllepte) derogata (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) induces high yield losses by damaging cotton leaves and reducing the photosynthetic activity of the plant. Laboratory bioassays were carried to evaluate the effect of Beauveria bassiana on the survival of H. derogata larvae. Methodology and results: In the first trial, screening of thirteen B. bassiana isolates was performed on third larval instars at 107 conidia.mL-1 . In the second trial, effects of five concentrations (105 to 109 conidia.mL-1 ) of the three best isolates of the fungus were tested. Conidia suspension was applied on each larva topically. Germination rates of conidia used varied between 90.2% to 95.7%, 24 hours after incubation. Five isolates were found to be the most promising namely Bb116, Bb3, Bb11, Bb6 and Bb115. In the second bioassay, caterpillar mortality increased with fungal concentration. Lethal Concentration (LC50) was estimated to 1.18x1015 conidia.mL-1 , 1.75x1013 conidia.mL-1 , 1.75x1013 conidia.mL-1 , 9 days after inoculation for Bb3, Bb11 and Bb115, respectively. Conclusion and application of results: The use of B. bassiana as a biopesticide against H. derogata could be a good alternative method to control the pest. It is an environmentally friendly method with less side effects compared to the application of synthetic pesticides on cotton. This method could be tested in future station and field experiments. Keywords: Cotton, Integrated pest management, Haritalodes (=Syllepte) derogata, Beauveria bassiana, Lethal Concentration.

Monitoring of maize root growth on N, P, and K fertilization using rhizotron

Maize roots will show varying growth responses to the type of fertilizer given. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of N, P, and K fertilizers on the growth of maize roots and the function of the relationship between root dry weight and shoot dry weight of maize under rizhotron. The research was conducted in April - June 2019 at the screen house and Plant Laboratory, Politeknik Lamandau in Lamandau Regency. The research was conducted in rizhotron's growth medium which was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with a fertilizer treatment consisting of urea (N = 200 kg ha-1), SP36 (P = 100 kg ha-1), KCl (K = 100 kg ha-1), and control (without fertilizer) with three replications. The results showed that N fertilizer was able to provide better root dry weight growth compared to P and K fertilizer, namely 2.59 g. Root dry weight has a significant effect on plant dry weight gain based on the function of y = 4.10x + 0.06 (R2 = 0.96 **).

Study of the swelling pressure of coals and coal charges in the coking process

The maintenance of furnaces is one of the most important problems for by-product coke production. Swelling pressure is one of the least studied factors affecting the lining of coke furnace walls. The results of studies of the swelling pressure of PJSC “Koks” feedstock coal are presented in this paper. Research has been carried out to identify the dependence of the swelling pressure on the coal quality indicators, estimated during the incoming control of the central plant laboratory of PJSC “Koks”. The plastic properties of PJSC “Koks” feedstock coals were studied using Gieseler plastometer. The relationship between the swelling pressure and the maximum coal fluidity is revealed.

Bacterial Quorum Sensing During Infection

Bacteria are highly interactive and possess an extraordinary repertoire of intercellular communication and social behaviors, including quorum sensing (QS). QS has been studied in detail at the molecular level, so mechanistic details are well understood in many species and are often involved in virulence. The use of different animal host models has demonstrated QS-dependent control of virulence determinants and virulence in several human pathogenic bacteria. QS also controls virulence in several plant pathogenic species. Despite the role QS plays in virulence during animal and plant laboratory-engineered infections, QS mutants are frequently isolated from natural infections, demonstrating that the function of QS during infection and its role in pathogenesis remain poorly understood and are fruitful areas for future research. We discuss the role of QS during infection in various organisms and highlight approaches to better understand QS during human infection. This is an important consideration in an era of growing antimicrobial resistance, when we are looking for new ways to target bacterial infections.

Pecularities of Strength Assessment of Cast-in-Situ Structures in Terms of Siberia

This article states the results of experimental studies to assess concrete strength in cast-in-situ structures based on a systematic approach, including integrated research methods at all stages of construction of reinforced concrete structures. It was established that the concrete strength of the sample-cubes made on the object simultaneously with the structure and stored under the same conditions was slightly lower than the structures and standard control samples. The decrease in the strength of concrete samples from structures is on average 13,3%. Its value is effected by several factors, one of the main was the maintenance of the structure. The most appropriate is to meet the requirements of achieving 70% of the design strength and higher percentage is required for cast-in-situ construction in terms of winter pouring concrete. At the same time, along with the assessment of the physical and mechanical properties of the structure by non-destructive methods, it is necessary to carry out tests aimed at determining the actual concrete strength based on samples made in the batching plant laboratory and solidified (cured) in permissible humidity conditions (herein after referred as PHC).

Migration behaviour of fluoride in contaminated soils near ammophos production plant: laboratory studies

Fluoride contamination of irrigated alkaline soils (Irragric Anthrosols) is a common problem in the areas of vast cotton production in Uzbekistan. Large number of laboratory measurements using corresponding models allows deeper studying the fluoride mobility in contaminated soil in the vicinity of Ammophos production factory. In a series of column experiments the migration ability of fluoride was studied in Irragric Anthrosols of different particle size distribution and four different experiments using near neutral and acidic washing water in the low, moderate and highly contaminated soils. It has been established that studied soils, located in the zone of airborne emissions from the Ammophos production plants, have a weak fluoride-holding capacity. The intensity of fluoride migration was conditioned by the initial level of soil contamination. Repeated simulated irrigation of the soil didn’t result in complete removal of fluoride. At low contamination level (3.5 mg F/kg soil) on sandy-loam soil, concentration of fluoride increased with increasing of the volume of leaching moisture. With medium contamination level (6.1 mg F/kg soil) on a loamy soil, the average leaching rate was near zero throughout the measurement interval. At high contamination level (17.5 mg/kg) on heavy textured soil, the increase in the concentration of fluoride in the eluates was observed throughout the entire study interval and posed a threat of ground water contamination.