Evaluation of Toxicity Effect of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Final Discharge by using Daphnia magna

Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) final discharge has a risk to the ecosystem due to various harmful contaminants including organic and inorganic materials. In this study, biological monitoring method was used to evaluate the toxicity effects of POME final discharge using Daphnia magna. The physical and chemical nature of toxicants present in the effluent were characterized through acute Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET), and Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) tests. The Toxicity Unit (TU) and median lethal concentration (LC50) of the POME sample were 11.09 and 9.02% (v/v) respectively. From TIE test, the toxicants present in the effluent can be characterized as filterable and oxidisable through filtration and aeration treatment. The presence of cationic metals, chlorine and disinfection by-products were also determined by the toxicity reduction of the effluent after treatment using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and sodium thiosulphate. From TIE test, the filtration treatment at pH 10 of the POME final discharge was the most effective method in reducing the toxicity of the effluent with a value of TU, 1.16 and LC50, 86.34% (v/v). It is recommended that biological tests using Daphnia magna can be made as potential methods to indicate the effects of POME final discharge to the aquatic ecosystem.

The Effect of the plant Adiantum philippense Extracts on Biofilms Formation and Adhesion to Shigella flexneri: A Predictive Modelling Approach

In the quest for novel bioactive metabolites, which can also be used as therapeutic agents, Adiantum philippense (A. philippense), an ethnomedically important fern, has become a fascinating herb. In this study, the predictive mathematical modelling of A. philippense crude extract was tested against Shigella flexneri, a common food pathogen for its phytochemical constituents, antagonistic ability, and effect on bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation was calculated. Various kinetics models such as Von Bertalanffy, Baranyi-Roberts, modified Schnute, Modified Richards, Modified Gompertz, Modified Logistics and latest Huang were used to get values for the above kinetic constants or parameters. modified Gompertz of the entire model was found to be the best model with the highest adjusted R2 value and lowest RMSE value. The accuracy and bias factors values were close to unity (1.0). The maximum specific growth rate (mmax (h-1) for S. flexneri treatment with A. philippense extract was significantly much lower (p<0.05) with a value of 0.292 (95% confidence interval of 0.254 to 0.331) compared to control with a value of 0.540 (95% confidence interval of 0.481 to 0.599) indicating potential biofilm inhibition.

Prevalent of Staphylococcus aureus from Sachet Waters Sold in Different Areas of Jos Terminus Market, Nigeria

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human pathogen that causes wide range of infectious diseases both in nosocomial and community settings. The Gram-positive pathogen possess virulence factors that facilitate it to establish infections in the hosts. When a “water for life” is contaminated with infectious bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus then, there may be public health challenge in the area. In this study Samples of Sachet water of different companies ware purchased, marked E, T, C and R and examined for the presence of staphylococcus aureus. Total of 80 sachet waters were examined and a prevalence rate of Staphylococcus aureus 5(25.00%) was recorded. The study revealed that sachet water (E) has the highest prevalence of 15.00%, followed by T (5%) and C (5%) and R had the least prevalence with 0.00%. It was discovered that a Prevalence rate of Abuja market terminus recorded 1(5.00%) while that of Ahmadu Bello way has the highest prevalence of 2(10.00%), Yan Taya market 1(5.00%) and railway 1(5.00%). This shows that S. aureus can be isolated from sachet waters. Though the sachet eaters had NAFDAC numbers, it is advisable to review and quality control such sachet water companies regularly because of Staphylococcus aureus and other public health infectious agants. The populace should equally be careful with the type of waters they drink.

Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria and Their Application for Heavy Metal Removal: A Mini Review

Nitrogen is a critical component of biological systems and typically serves as a constraint on production in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, although its shortage has been compensated for through the process of biological nitrogen fixation. Nitrogen fixation is a critical microbial activity that utilises nitrogenase enzymes to convert dinitrogen (N2) gas to ammonia (NH3). It is carried out by a diverse spectrum of bacteria known as nitrogen fixing bacteria. These include free-living bacteria such as Azotobacter, Bacillus, Beijerickia, and Clostridium, associative bacteria such as Azospirillum, Enterobacter, and Pseudomonas, and bacteria that form symbiotic associations with legumes such as Rhizobium and actinorrhizal plants such as Frankia. These bacteria contribute significantly to plant growth by producing phytohormones (such as auxins, cytokinins, gibberelins, and indole acetic acid), reducing the incidence of plant diseases through the production of siderophores and cell wall degrading enzymes, and increasing phosphorus nutrition via phosphate solubilization. Additionally, they remove heavy metal ions from solutions through a process called biosorption, which is a feasible, natural, environmentally benign, and economically viable technique of remediating heavy metal-contaminated environments.

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soils: A Review

Heavy metals represent a major threat to public health and the environment if they are intentionally or unintentionally introduced into the soil. They are elements that cannot be degraded and can be teratogenic, mutagenic, and endocrine-disrupting. Carcinogens and toxins in humans can be caused by heavy metals, which are difficult to regulate. Phytoremediation has been recommended as an alternative to classic physicochemical remediation methods since it is more efficient for combating heavy metals pollution in soil or water bodies and ecologically friendly. Biomass produced as a result of phytoremediation can be utilised for cogeneration of energy and/or the creation of biofuels, all of which contribute to health, the environment, and cost-effectiveness. In order to improve the usage of phytoremediation in the coming years, a deeper understanding of the technique's potential is necessary. Additionally, this study provides information on the use of herbaceous and woody plants for phytoremediation in soils affected by heavy metals.

The Use of Plants, Nanotechnology and Surfactants in Lindane Remediation: A Mini Review

Lindane is an organochlorine chemical and an isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane that has been used both as an agricultural insecticide and as a pharmaceutical treatment for lice and scabies. Lindane accumulates in the agricultural soil and plants thereby causing environmental and health deteriorative effects. A lot of soil remediation methods used are highly expensive and require a lot of expertise. Phytoremediation (rhizofiltration, phytostabilization), which involve the use of the plant to stabilize or remove environmental toxicants is presently much in use because of its cost-effectiveness and ecological friendliness. Adsorption has emerged as the most efficient, easy, and promising nanotechnology method of wastewater treatment out of the several approaches now employed. Recently, biosurfactants are used for the production of nanoparticles which will be further applied in the area of pesticide remediation. The use of phytoremediation is the most important fully green approach as no new chemicals are added to the polluted soil. Other emerging technologies where phytoremediation might not be applicable especially groundwater has begun to evaluate the use of green nanobiotechnology.

Mathematical Modelling of the Growth of Bacillus cereus Strain wwcp1on Malachite Green Dye

In this paper, various growth models such as Von Bertalanffy, Huang, Baranyi-Roberts, Modified Gompertz, Buchnam-3-phase, Modified-Richards and Modified-Logistics, were presented in fitting and evaluating the growth of Bacillus cereus wwcp1 on Malachite green dye. The Von Bertalanffy model was found to be the best model with the lowest RMSE and highest R2 values. The Accuracy and Bias factor values were near unity (1.0). The von Bertalanffy parameters such as A (lower asymptote bacterial growth), μ (bacterial growth rate) and k (curve fitting parameter) were found to be 2.757 (95% confidence interval from 2.131 to 3.382 ), 0.287 (95% confidence interval from 0.244 to 0.329) and 4.323 (95% confidence interval from 4.285 to 4.361) respectively.

An Acrylamide-degrading Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Volcanic Soi

In soil, polyacrylamide is a key source of acrylamide because it slowly decomposes into acrylamide. There has been a modest but steady rise in worldwide interest in microbe-mediated acrylamide decomposition as a bioremediation method. A bacterial consortium isolated from the volcanic soil of Mount Marapi, West Sumatra, Indonesia, was able to thrive on acrylamide in this study. Acrylamide-degrading bacteria grew best in the presence of 1 %(w/v) glucose with acrylamide as the sole nitrogen source. Optimum growth occurs in between 300 and 500 mg/L of acrylamide, pH between 6.5 and 8.0, and temperatures between 30 and 35 °C. The consortium can also grow on acetamide as the sole nitrogen source. Toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, silver and copper slowed down the growth of this consortium on acrylamide. This is the first report of an acrylamide-degrading consortium isolated from volcanic soils.

Effects Of High Dosage of Codeine - Containing Cough Syrup Administration on Some Biochemical Parameters of Liver in Albino Rats

The study aimed to determine the effect of a high dosage of codeine-containing cough syrup administration on some biochemical parameters of the liver in albino rats. Codeine at 80 mg/kg/day, 160 mg/kg/day, 240 mg/kg/day, 320 mg/kg/day cough syrup were administered orally to albino rats for 21 days, biochemical parameters were analyzed for the activities of Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Bilirubin, Total protein and Albumin. Results obtained revealed that a high dosage of codeine administration significantly increased plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and albumin while it reduced total protein level when compared with the control rats. The study confirmed the risk of increased hepatotoxicity due to a high dosage of codeine administration. Although codeine is reported to be effective in pain management, its toxicity should be kept in mind.

Kinetic Analysis of the Adsorption of Malachite Green onto Graphene Oxide Sheets Integrated with Gold Nanoparticles

Malachite green is extensively used in the textile dye industry and in agriculture as fish pests’ pesticide. Biosorption is a type of sorption technique that uses a biological sorbent. As of now, biosorption is viewed as a simple and cost-effective process that might be used as an alternative to traditional pollution treatment methods. Bioremediation is one of the branches of bioremediation that is used to minimise pollution in the context of incorrect textile waste disposal. The sorption isotherm of Malachite Green onto graphene oxide were analyzed using three models—pseudo-1st, pseudo-2nd and Elovich, and fitted using non-linear regression. The Elovich model was the poorest in fitting the curve based on visual observation and the best was pseudo-2nd order based on statistical analysis such as root-mean-square error (RMSE), adjusted coefficient of determination (adjR2), bias factor (BF), accuracy factor (AF), corrected AICc (Akaike Information Criterion), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) and Hannan–Quinn information criterion (HQC). Nonlinear regression analysis using the pseudo-2nd order model gave values of equilibrium sorption capacity qe of 6.164 mg/g (95% confidence interval from 5.918 to 6.410) and a value of the pseudo-2nd-order rate constant, k2 of 0.034 (95% confidence interval from 0.024 to 0.045). Further analysis is needed to provide proof for the chemisorption mechanism usually tied to this kinetic.