Effect of Process Parameters on the Adsorption of Chromium VI on a Packed Bed Column (PBC) using Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the different process parameters on adsorption of chromium VI on a packed bed column using Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) and to examine the effect of pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) at a constant contact time of 10 minutes at a temperature of 40 ºC under two experimental conditions namely, tannery effluent with and without microwave treatment. The results revealed that microwave heating process had a higher impact on chromium (VI) adsorption than normal heating process. The pH values of microwave treated sample were found to be 6.65±0.65 when compared to normal heated sample where the pH was 4.62±0.72 when compared to the initial pH of effluent found to be 3.47±0.58. Further, a threefold reduction in BOD and COD values was observed in microwave treated vetiver sample which was around 86.73±1.43 and 107.90±2.82 mg/l respectively when compared to normal heated sample (250±1.45 and 200±2.65 mg/l respectively) and untreated effluent (780±2.53 and 920±3.86 mg/l respectively) which indicated the reduction of chromium VI present in the effluent water. It was also observed that the metal adsorption capacity of the vetiver powder and the adsorption characteristics were positively correlated with the FTIR and SEM analysis which confirmed the presence of chromium (VI) on the surface of vetiver.

Palaeoclimatic significance of non - striate disaccate pollen in Yellandu coalfield of Godavari graben, Telangana State

The present palaeopalynological study deals with the significance of non - striate disaccate pollen from bore hole Q - 563 of Yellandu coalfield (Jawahar Khani - 5 coal block), Kothagudem sub-basin and to determine the age and palaeoclimatic interpretations of the study area based on the pollen morphological characters. For the palynological investigation, sixty samples were thoroughly analyzed in which fairly diversified palynofloral assemblages of Gondwanic affinity were recorded. About 30 genera and 50 species of palynomorphs, belong to Glossopteridales, Coniferales, Cordaitales of gymnospermous pollen, pteridophytic spores. In the present communication, the palynoflora belongs to Glossopteridales viz. Scheuringipollentites barakarensis, S. maximus, S. tentulus, Ibisporites diplosaccus, Primuspollenites levis, P. densus and Sahnites thomasii etc. Frequency distribution pattern of the palynotaxa reveals that the assemblage is dominated by the non - striate disaccates followed by striate disaccates, monosaccates (gymnosperms) and pteridophytic spores. The diversified palynoassemblage of both non striate and striate disaccates pollen strongly signifies that the Yellandu coal belt of Godavari graben belongs to Barakar Formation of Early Permian age (Late Sakmarian – Early Artinskian). Predominance of non - striate disaccate pollen recorded from the Yellandu sediments indicates a warm and high humid climatic condition with fluvial environment of deposition.

Development and validation of Stability-indicating RP-UPLC Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Ivacaftor, Tezacaftor and Elexacaftor in bulk and their Formulation

A simple reproducible stability indicating RP-UPLC method was developed for the simultaneous determination of Ivacaftor, Tezacaftor and Elexacaftor in their combined dosage forms using HSS C18, 1.8μm, 100mm x2.1 mm i.d. column. A mobile phase of phosphate buffer (10mM) pH-4.8 and acetonitrile in the ratio of 70: 30v/v mixture was used for separation and quantification of ivacaftor, tezacaftor and elexacaftor. The present drug analytes were run at a flow-rate of 0.3ml/ min at 30°C temperature. The injection volume was 2μL and with ultraviolet detection at 270nm. Under these conditions, elexacaftor, ivacaftor and tezacaftor were eluted at 0.72min, 1.4min and 1.9min respectively with a total run time shorter than 5min. The developed method was validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The developed RP-UPLC method was applied successfully for quality control assay of Ivacaftor, Tezacaftor and Elexacaftor in their combination drug product.

Feasibility Study of Methane Generation from Swine Manure and Eichhornia Crassipes [Mart.] Solms

This research was made to study the feasibility of methane generation from swine manure and water hyacinth (Eichhornia Crassipes [Mart.] Solms) under mesophilic conditions. The component of Eichhornia Crassipes [Mart.] Solms was analyzed before pretreatment that was 21.47% cellulose, 14.98% hemicellulose and 9.88% lignin respectively. Eichhornia Crassipes [Mart.] Solms was pre-treated by using the physical pre-treatment and physicalchemical pre-treatment method. The experiment was batch-test operated within forty days of fermentation when incubated at 37 °C. The highest methane production was obtained from water hyacinth physical pre-treatment with a swine manure ratio of 50:50, Hmax 490 ml, Rmax 0.90 ml h-1 and a yield of 135 ml CH4/ g TVS removal respectively. In terms of physicalchemical pre-treatment for water hyacinth, the highest methane production was obtained with water hyacinth to swine manure 50:50 ratio with Hmax 290 ml, Rmax 0.59 ml h-1 and a yield of 130 ml CH4/ g TVS removal respectively. These results showed that the physical pre-treatment method was suitable as a water hyacinth pretreatment for methane production. In terms of economic feasibility, it was evaluated that the cost, net present value (NPV), a benefit to cost ratio (B/C ratio) and payback period (PBP) were 64.27 USD, 12,116.60, 10.52 and thirteen months respectively. Finally, this research will be useful for aquatic invasive species management and biogas production.

Reduction of Colour from effluents of Pulp and Paper Industry by Ozonation: A Review

Pulp and paper making is the major old process industry in India which is water intensive and generates heavy water pollution. Pulp and paper industries are the fifth largest contributor to industrial water pollution. Waste water is generated from each and every section of paper making process and depends upon the type of pulping and bleaching process. Presently, primary and secondary (Biological) treatment systems based on activated sludge process are widely used by paper industry for effluent treatment. The process requires high energy and chemical inputs and involves high operational costs. One of the novel processes for treating effluent is its oxidation through ozonation which is a greener way of degrading pollutants. Ozonation of intermediate stage effluents having high colour load is more effective for industrial application and re-utilization.

Microwave assisted Acetylation of Amines using Imidazole Hydrochloride under solvent-free condition

A simple and novel microwave irradiation method has been developed for N-acetylation of both aliphatic and aromatic amines with N,N-dimethylacetamide via Nacetyl imidazole by using Imidazole hydrochloride under solvent-free condition. The method proved more eco-friendly and economic.

A simple paper-based biosensor for on-site visual detection of organophosphate residues

In general, the laboratory method of analyzing pesticides in vegetables is complicated due to the high cost of equipment and chemicals. The process of analyzing pesticide residues generally requires expertise as well as a significant period of time. In this study, a paper-based biosensor was developed for the detection of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors, particularly organophosphate pesticides. The paperbased biosensor was constructed based on the Ellman colorimetric assay by immobilizing AChE on cellulose paper with 2% alginate gel, 0.25% glutaraldehyde and the colorimetric reagent 5,5-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB) in phosphate buffer (pH 8.0). As a substrate, acetylthiocholine chloride (ATChCl) was used. The results showed that the developed paperbased biosensor has been stable for 2 weeks with a detection limit of 0.03 mM of chlorpyrifos. The paper-based biosensor was applied to detect organophosphate pesticides in vegetables from the farmers’ market, Ratchaburi Province. It was found that the test results of the paper-based biosensor were similar to the commercial GT-test kit. The paper-based biosensor was 10 times faster than the GT-test kit in terms of testing time and the results were easy to identify due to the color-based indicator. As a result, a paper-based biosensor is rapid, portable and easy to use by the general population.

Proteome wide screening for identification of putative drug target gene in Nautella italica and structure-based ligand screening for therapeutic candidates

In silico based subtractive genomic approaches were employed to identify the key drug targets for an opportunistic pathogen Nautella italica, a member of the marine Roseobacter clade that causes bleaching disease in the temperate-marine red macro algae, Delisea pulchra. The aim of this study is to propose new active ligands against bleaching disease seen in algae. Using comparative and subtractive genomic approach, a set of 21 proteins were identified as the therapeutic drug target proteins for algal bleaching. This core set of drug targets has been analyzed for network topology using string network analysis and major hub gene identified by CytoHubba was rpoB (DNA directed RNA Polymerase subunit beta). The three-dimensional structure of rpoB was built by comparative modelling and used to perform a virtual screening of Zinc database by DOCK Blaster server. The 50 top scored compounds were screened for toxicity analysis by OSIRIS Data Warrior and ECOSAR tool. Further refinement by autodock program revealed two compounds ZINC49821385 and ZINC97218938 with the best binding energy of -7.07 and -6.79 respectively. These results indicated that 5-(4- isopropylphenyl)furan-2-carboxamide (ZINC ID 49821385) could be one of the potential ligand to treat bleaching disease in algae.

Ionic Conductivity of Ce0.91Ca0.09O2 as an Electrolyte for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

The search for new cost-effective electrolyte materials for IT-SOFC towards its mass scale commercialization has gained momentum in recent years. The Ca- doped ceria having composition Ce0.91Ca0.09O2 was prepared using the facile conventional solid-state method. The structural and electrical properties of low sintered ceramic samples have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV–VIS diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) and A.C. impedance technique respectively. The oxide ion conductivity was measured between the temperatures 573 K−973 K in air. The obtained results showed that total conductivity is mainly dependent on the grain boundary effect. The nanocrystalline Ce0.91Ca0.09O2 exhibited the high total ionic conductivity of 7.36  103 S cm1 at 973 K with a lower activation energy of 0.96 eV. The obtained results highlight the use of cost-effective dopant in ceria lattice to develop commercially viable electrolyte materials for IT-SOFC.

Mitigation of Aflatoxin Contamination in Groundnuts using Trichoderma viride

Groundnuts are often prone to contamination by Microorganisms during pre-harvest or post-harvest storage. One such contaminant is Aspergillus flavus which is abundantly found in soil and air. Several strains of A. flavus are known to produce mycotoxins named as aflatoxins. These aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic agents whose destruction has become a challenging task in the present scenario. Various physical and chemical methods are available to eliminate the growth of Aspergillus flavus but these methods have several demerits. The present study is based on biological control of Aspergillus flavus using Trichoderma viride strain TV 10. Antagonistic studies of Tv 10 against A.flavus were carried out by performing dual culture technique.