Optimization of Propagation Medium for Enhanced Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Pseudomonas oleovorans

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a promising alternative to commercially used petroleum-based plastics. Pseudomonas oleovorans is a natural producer of medium-chain-length PHA (mcl-PHA) under cultivation conditions with nitrogen limitation and carbon excess. Two-step cultivation appears to be an efficient but more expensive method of PHA production. Therefore, the aim of this work was to prepare a minimal synthetic medium for maximum biomass yield and to optimize selected independent variables by response surface methodology (RSM). The highest biomass yield (1.71 ± 0.04 g/L) was achieved in the optimized medium containing 8.4 g/L glucose, 5.7 g/L sodium ammonium phosphate and 35.4 mM phosphate buffer. Under these conditions, both carbon and nitrogen sources were completely consumed after 48 h of the cultivation and the biomass yield was 1.7-fold higher than in the conventional medium recommended by the literature. This approach demonstrates the possibility of using two-stage PHA cultivation to obtain the maximum amount of biomass and PHA.

Validation of the infrared spectroscopy method for analysis of the composition of urine concretes

The aim of this study was to validate the method for analyzing the composition of calculus using infrared (IR) spectroscopy by studying model mixtures of salts. Study was made with an ALPHA-P IR Fourier spectrometer with OPUS software (Bruker, Germany). The samples of pure chemical salts manufactured by Sigma-Aldrich USA were used to validate the method. Salt mixtures were prepared in ratios of 10/90, 50/50 and 90/10. To assess the effect of the fraction size on the calculus component results, were used calculi of patients with urolithiasis. For each mixture were used 10 repeated measurements. Analysis of the composition of model salts showed that in the study of pure cystine salt CV(%) was 0,79%, calcium carbonate - 0,92%, sodium urate - 0,97%, calcium oxalate monohydrate - 4,94%, magnesium ammonium phosphate - 5,59%. And the most common components were analyzed in the composition of complex mixtures, including 90%, 50% and 10% of the investigated component. Calcium oxalate monohydrate has CV(%) 5.70% in mixture 9 part of it to one part of impurities, in mixture 50/50 - 21.57% and in 10/90 - 5.70%. For uric acid in 90/10 - 2.20%, in 50/50 - 10.09%, in 10/90 - 31.94%. For calcium carbonate in 90/10 - 9.02%, in 50/50 - 11.98%, in 10/90 - 24.70%. The dispersion analysis showed that the weighed portions of salts with a particle diameter of more than 0.8 mm provide reproducibility with a CV - 11.48%, with a diameter of 0.2-0.8 mm - 5.35%, and finally less than 0.1 mm - 2.28%. The accuracy of the method is high, but the reproducibility of the IR-spectroscopy method is relatively low in the analysis of stones of mixed composition, due to the greater error in the determination of impurities. Laboratories should pay special attention to optimizing sample preparation to ensure particle fineness less than 0.1 mm.

STUDY OF THE COAGULATION OF AEROSOL PARTICLES IN THE SCRUBBER ULTRASOUND CHAMBER

В данной работе представлены результаты исследования процесса коагуляции частиц аэрозоля моноаммонийфосфата в модельной ультразвуковой (УЗ) камере скруббера. Изучено поведение аэрозольных частиц внутри камеры на расстоянии 100 мм и 400 мм от ультразвукового излучателя с частотой излучения 22 кГц. Представленные результаты показывают практически отсутствие коагуляции частиц при интенсивности звукового давления 140 dB и процесс активной коагуляции при интенсивности звукового давления 150 dB для выбранного образца. Начальная массовая концентрация фосфата аммония в камере составляла 1 г/м3. Измерения дисперсного состава аэрозоля внутри камеры показали, что более интенсивно коагуляция проходила в области 400 мм. Через 30 минут воздействия значение среднего объемно-поверхностного диаметра частиц аэрозоля в камере изменилось на 238,4 %. This paper presents the results of the study of the coagulation of the monoammonium phosphate aerosol particles in the model ultrasonic scrubber chamber. The behavior of aerosol particles inside the chamber is studied at the distance of 100 mm and 400 mm from the ultrasonic emitter with 22 kHz of the radiation frequency. The presented results show almost complete absence of particle coagulation at the sound pressure intensity of 140 DB and the active coagulation process at the intensity of 150 dB for the selected sample. The initial mass concentration of ammonium phosphate in the chamber was 1 g / m3. Measuring the dispersed composition of the aerosol showed that coagulation proceeds more intensively in the region of 400 mm. After 30 minutes of exposure the value of the average surfactant diameter of the aerosol particles in the chamber has changed by 238.4%.

Influence of Seed Priming and Foliar Spray of Nutrients on Growth and Yield of Rabi Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.)

An experiment was carried out at Agricultural Research Station, Tandur, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) for three consecutive years viz. 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18 to study the Influence of seed priming and foliar spray of nutrients on growth and yield of Rabi Sorghum during the winter seasons. The experiment was laid out in split plot design with two factors. The treatments comprised were Factor 1: Seed priming (5) 1.Priming for 12 Hours in Water 2.Priming with ZnSo4 (2% solution) 3.Priming with K2HPO4 (2% solution). 4. Priming with KNO3 (2% solution) and 5.Control (No Priming). Factor 2: Foliar Spray (4) 1.KNO3 @ 2g in 100 ml of water, 2. Diammonium phosphate @ 2g in 100 ml of water, 3.Urea @ 2g in 100 ml of water and 5.Control (Simple water spray) with three replications. The pooled results of the trial indicated that seed treatment with KNO3 @ 0.5% and seed priming with KH2PO4 @ 0.5% recorded significantly on par and highest among all other seed priming treatment. The 100 seed weight (g) and grain yield t/ha recorded significantly on par by foliar spraying of KNO3 @ 2 % and di ammonium phosphate @ 2g in 100 ml of water over the control. The combination of seed priming with KNO3 and foliar spray of KNO3 or di ammonium phosphate @ 2g in 100 ml of water or Urea @ 2g in 100 ml of water resulted in highest and on par grain yield of rabi sorghum.

Comparative evaluation of sulphur sources on growth, yield and quality of garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Sulphur is a prime nutrient in Allium crops. Garlic fertilization with ammonium-based sulphur fertilizers in low pH soils is being practiced by farmers that culminate the soil acidity, which has an adverse effect on plant growth. Hence a field experiment was conducted at Horticultural Research Station, Woodhouse farm, Ooty, the Nilgris in 2021 to evaluate the appropriate sulphur sources and their levels for garlic at acidic hilly soil using four sulphur sources viz., potassium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, zinc sulphate and ammonium phosphate sulphate and three levels viz., 0, 40, 60 kg ha-1. Garlic variety Ooty 2 was used as test crop. The results revealed that application of magnesium sulphate @ 60 kg ha-1 produced the highest plant height, leaf numbers, clove numbers bulb-1, neck thickness, polar diameter, equatorial diameter, the weight of 10 cloves, fresh weight, dry weight and bulb yield (16.78 t ha-1) of garlic. Quality parameters viz., total soluble solids, ascorbic acid and total phenols of garlic bulbs were improved by the application of potassium sulphate @ 60 kg ha-1. Sulphur source of Magnesium sulphate had a minimal effect of rendering acidity to soil measured in terms of pH (4.74) and exchangeable acidity (0.22 meq 100 g-1). Hence, the promising source for acidic hilly soil and garlic crop was found to be magnesium sulphate @ 60 kg ha-1 followed by potassium sulphate @ 60 kg ha-1. This particular investigation focuses not only on yield improvement but also on maintaining soil quality of the area.

Influence of phosphorus fertilizers of various composition on the yield of tomato crops and control of their consumption by plants

Phosphate fertilizers are widely used for growing crops. To obtain phosphoric fertilizers, phosphoric acid purified using organic solvents, one of which is 100% tributyl phosphate, is used. The authors of the paper have chosen this solvent to obtain purified phosphoric acid. Purification from impurities included the stages of extraction and reextraction. On the basis of the re-extract and chemically pure phosphoric acid, a phosphoric fertilizer magnesium-ammonium phosphate (MgNH4PO4) was synthesized and used in the greenhouse experiment. The greenhouse experiment consisted in growing a tomato crop included three options for fertilization. A comparative analysis of the stimulating effect of magnesium-ammonium phosphate, synthesized with the use of phosphoric acid of varying degrees of purification, on the yield of tomato culture has been carried out.The paper proposes a blister-colorimetric version of the determination of phosphate ions in a blister cell containing a mixture of dry reagents in the form of a bulk. The optimal conditions for carrying out colorimetry have been selected. The proposed method makes it possible to semi-quantitatively determine phosphorus in various objects without preparing reagent solutions, using a bulk packed in an ampoule or blister, and can be used to control phosphorus consumption by plants, which, in turn, allows regulating the introduction of nutrients in the form of dressings.