Bioprospecting Studies of Halopholic Bacteria – Streptomyces sp. MA05 and Halobacterium sp. MA06

Halophile organisms such as Halobacterium salinarum and halophilic Actinomycetes flourish under the hostile hypersaline condition and are well known for their ability to produce novel bioactive compounds for bioprospecting analysis such as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and enzyme analysis. In this present study, the objective is to isolate two types of halophiles, namely Halobacterium sp. MA06 and Streptomyces sp. MA05 based on their 16SrRNA gene sequencing. The two potential halophiles were isolated from the salt pan of Chennai, India. In order to evaluate enzyme analysis and pigment production of both the organism, optimization of the growth state of both species was performed on complex medium with various additives and different concentrations of sodium chloride and magnesium sulfate. The result showed that Halobacterium sp. MA06 produced orange colored pigment after characterization using GC-MS analysis. For Streptomyces sp. MA06, it was found to produce the enzyme amylase, hence Streptomyces sp. MA06 was subjected to producing the enzyme amylase, and the produced amylase will be characterized. The antimicrobial and anticancer activity was then carried out on the extract of Streptomyces sp. MA05 and the pigment of Halobacterium sp. MA06. In conclusion, the pigment from Halobacterium sp. MA06 and the enzyme amylase from Streptomyces sp. MA05 could be a novel bio-sourced for bioprospecting of bioactive natural products.

Ethylenediamine-Catalyzed Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Hierarchically Porous Carbon Aerogel under Hypersaline Condition for High-Performance Supercapacitors and Organic Solvent Absorbents

The simple and cost-efficient preparation of high-performance nitrogen-doped carbon aerogel (N-CA) for supercapacitors and other applications is still a big challenge. In this work, we have presented a facile strategy to synthesize hierarchically porous N-CA, which is based on solvothermal polymerization of phenol and formaldehyde under hypersaline condition with ethylenediamine (EDA) functioning as both a catalyst and a nitrogen precursor. Benefited from the catalytic effect of EDA on the polymerization, the obtained N-CA has a predominant amount of micropores (micropore ratio: 52%) with large specific surface area (1201.1 m2·g−1). In addition, nitrogen doping brings N-CA enhanced wettability and reduced electrochemical impedance. Therefore, the N-CA electrode shows high specific capacitance (426 F·g−1 at 1 A·g−1 in 0.5 M H2SO4) and excellent cycling stability (104% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles) in three-electrode systems. Besides, a high energy density of 32.42 Wh·kg−1 at 800 W·kg−1 can be achieved by symmetric supercapacitor based on the N-CA electrodes, showing its promising application for energy storage. Furthermore, N-CA also exhibits good capacity and long recyclability in the absorption of organic solvents.

Geochemistry of severely biodegraded oils in the Carboniferous volcanic reservoir of the Chepaizi Uplift, Junggar Basin, NW China

A substantial amount of petroleum was recently discovered in the Carboniferous volcanic reservoir of the Chepaizi Uplift in the western Junggar Basin, yet the source is still indefinitive. Geochemical investigation indicates that the Carboniferous oils from the eastern and western Chepaizi Uplift are characterized by different source facies, although they are all typically of lacustrine origin. The eastern oils exhibit a restricted, clastic starved, highly reducing hypersaline condition during source rock deposition, which is distinct from the western oils. The Carboniferous oils were subjected to biodegradation ranging from rank 6 to rank 9, as indicated by the presence of 25-norhopane, evident depletion of hopanes and regular steranes, and even selective reduction of tricyclic terpanes. The maturities for the Carboniferous oils correspond to the onset of oil generation. The eastern oils contain lower (C19 + C20)TT/(C23 + C24)TT and C19TT/C21TT, and lighter stable carbon isotopes than the western ones, correlating well with the Middle Permian Wuerhe (P2w) source rocks and the Jurassic source rocks, respectively. The good correlation of tricyclic terpanes source-related parameters further implies less contribution to the eastern oils by the Carboniferous source rocks.

Engineering Solutions to the Problem of Hypersalinity in Florida Power & Light’s Turkey Point Cooling Canals

The aim of this project is to investigate engineering methods to reduce salinity in the cooling canals at the Florida Power & Light (FP&L) Turkey Point Power Plant. In order to stop discharging hot water from the plant into the adjacent Biscayne Bay, a cooling canal system was made operational in 1972 that occupies an area 3.2 km wide by 8.0 km long extending south of the plant. The 5,900 acre canal system has been measured at twice the salinity of the adjacent Biscayne Bay at as high as 68 ppt [Appendix i]. Florida Power & Light added a canal along the western perimeter of the cooling canal system to intercept seepage. The interceptor ditch enables FP&L to pump seepage back into the canal system during the dry season thus reducing the groundwater flow of hypersaline water to the west. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) are monitoring a saltwater plume migrating west of FP&L property (FDEP/SFWMD Miami-Dade Saltwater Intrusion Presentation pg 3). Tidal influences have a profound effect on saltwater intrusion, so it is difficult to quantify the influence of the canals on this plume. To ensure that FP&L has no culpability in the contamination of ground water, the cooling canals should either operate at a lower level of salinity or be isolated to restrict flow to underground sources of water. Isolation, however, is not an appealing option as the methods which have been conceptualized are highly invasive. Environmental concerns are abundant as the ecosystem within the cooling canals supports at least 17 protected species of birds and animals of South Florida. Over 25% of the world’s population of the American crocodile resides in the Turkey Point cooling canals. Very few organisms require a hypersaline condition to thrive; therefore, lowering the salt concentration of the canal system is not expected to have adverse effects upon the ecosystem. Careful attention must be paid to ensure wildlife survival during treatment and/or disposal system development and operation.