JETT- Volume 1, Issue 1, (2013)

Volume 1, Issue 1, (2013)

Comparison the Efficiency of Bagas, Modified Bagas and Chitosan for Fluoride Removal from Water by Adsorption

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 1-7 | [Full Text] PDF (272 KB)

Mohammad Mehdi Mehrabani Ardekani¹, Roshanak Rezaei Kalantary², Sahand Jorfi³, Mohammad Nurisepehr⁴

1- MSc of Environment Engineering Head of Health, Safety & Environment Office, Fars Industrial Estates Co. (Corresponding Author)

E-mail: m.m.mehrabani@gmail.com, Tel: +98-7112333199.

2- Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

3- Ph.D student of Environmental health Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

4- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.

Abstract — Fluoride is used widely in industries such as manufacture of semi-conductors, power plants, glass production and etc and released tothe environment via their effluents. The purpose of this sturdy was to compare the efficiency of low price adsorbents in fluoride removal from water. The optimum values of pH, contact time and adsorbent dosage were determined and different concentrations of fluoride were experimented in lab scale conditions for bagas, modified bagas and chitosan. Then Langmuir and Freundlich contacts were also determined based on optimum conditions. The pH value of 7, contact time of 60 min and adsorbent dose of 2 g/L were determined as optimum conditions for all three adsorbents. The most fluoride removal efficiency of 91% was obtained for modified bagas in optimum conditions. Based on data obtained in this study, it can be concluded that adsorption by modified bagas is an efficient and reliable method for fluoride removal from liquid solutions

Keywords — Fluoride, Flourosis, Adsorption, Chitosan, Modified bagas.

Strategy of F₁ Hybrid Rice Seed Production through CMS Breeding Technology

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 8-12 | [Full Text] PDF (479 KB)

Riya Pal and Jagatpati Tah

Cytogenetics and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Advanced Studies in Botany, Department of Botany, The University of Burdwan, Golapbag Campus, Burdwan – 713 104, West Bengal, India - 713104. Email: riya.pal20@gmail.com

Abstract — It is a major problem of emerging the inflorescence from the first leaf of this crop which is managed by spraying GA3 plant hormone in different concentrations. GA3 is a costly chemical which is a matter of problem to afford by the middle class farmers as well as margin farmers. It would be helpful to the rice breeders as well as scientific community if we could explore the alternative low cost chemicals instead of GA3 to fulfill the purpose of this breeding technology. Different doses of chemical viz. GA3, penicillin, Sulfonamide, and gentamicin were applied as foliar spay during flowering times in three phases. This practice for producing F1 seeds from the A-line and R-line were done in both the seasons i.e. (i) winter-summer-boro and (ii) kharif seasons. The produced F1 seeds as well as R-line seeds were measured in various agronomic parameters for assessing the seasonal variations over the same location. Fourteen metrical were observed and recorded properly for biometrical calculations. Correlation matrix model (1) was followed for determining the metrical traits of cultivars studied. The main aims and objectives of this experiment were to assess the effectiveness of different chemicals for emerging out the inflorescence of ‘A’ line parent cultivar of the experiment.

Index Terms — Alternative chemicals, CMS breeding, Explore.

Desertification in Pakistan, Challenges and Opportunities

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 13-18 | [Full Text] PDF (387 KB)

Zaheer Ud Din Babur, Arshad Ali, Muhammad Naseem Baig

National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract — Pakistan is experiencing one of the diverse kinds of weather patterns for the last three decades. Overall, the climate change in the region has affected the eco balance of Pakistan. Experiencing the drought in Thar desert (Province of Sindh in Southern Pakistan) in 2001-2004, followed by major Earthquake of 2005 (7.6 Richter scale) and then recurring flash floods of 2010 and 11 has motivated the global scientist to research the causal effects of these climatic changes and related hazards. The paper discusses in detail the effects of climate change with particular emphasis on desertification. It elaborates on desertification profile and its contours with detail. After carrying out the analysis of desertification and its causes, the paper reviewed different kinds of programs and initiatives which have been proved very effective in the past in curtailing desertification. The paper proposes these programs and initiatives can be used in future by other communities which are vulnerable to desertification with a view to tackle the issue effectively.

Keywords — Desertification, Deforestation, Hazard, Drought, Wind erosion.

The Linkage between Agricultural Practices and Environmental Degradation

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 19-22 | [Full Text] PDF (246 KB)

Shujaat Ali Khan, Arshad Ali, Muhammad Naseem Baig

National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

Keywords — Agricultural Practices, Environmental Degradation.

Study of Water Quality in Swabi District, Pakistan

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 23-26 | [Full Text] PDF (312 KB)

Zulfiqar Ahmed¹, Muhammadullah¹, Arshad Ali², Jamila Begum², Ali Khan²

1-Northern University, Nowshera Cantonment, KPK, Pakistan

2-College of Civil Engineering (MCE-NUST), Risalpur Cantonment, KPK, Pakistan

Abstract — Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. Pakistan’s current population is growing rapidly and the per capita water availability has dropped from 5,600m3 to 1,000m3. Results from various investigations and surveys indicate that water pollution has increased in Pakistan. In several areas, increased arsenic, nitrate and fluoride contamination was detected in drinking water. Therefore, this study was design to evaluate the drinking water quality of various locations of District Swabi, Pakistan. And to evaluate the treatability potential of different coagulants like alum, lime and magnesium sulfates. Samples were collected from various points and were tested for different physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. The results obtained illustrated that the drinking water is highly polluted in terms of microbial, arsenic, nitrates and fluoride, i.e., 16ppb, 3.2mg/L, 36mg/L and 104MPN/100mL, respectively. Alum, lime and magnesium sulfate were tried as coagulants ranging from 4-48mg/L, 2-24mg/L and 1.5-18mg/L, respectively. Lime was observed to be the most effective coagulant.

Keywords — Agricultural Practices, Environmental Degradation.

Purification and Characterization of Pleurotus florida Laccase (L1) involved in the Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) Decoloration

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 27-34 | [Full Text] PDF (1190 KB)

Palanivel Sathishkumar, Thayumanavan Palvannan*

Laboratory of Bioprocess and Engineering, Department of Biochemistry, Periyar University Salem – 636 011, Tamil Nadu, India.

Abstract — Pleurotus florida produces two extracellular laccase (L1 and L2) isoenzymes and the L1 isoenzyme is dominantly involved in the dye decoloration process. L1 isoenzyme was successfully purified to 6.4 fold with a yield of 36% and had a specific activity of 52.6 U mg-1 of protein. The purified laccase was monomeric with an apparent molecular mass of ≈54 kDa. The optimum pH and temperature of the LI isoenzyme was found to be around 5.5 and 50ºC, respectively. L1 isoenzyme showed a half life of 2 h at 60 ºC and at 4 h it retained around 25% residual activity. The kinetic parameters suggest that the order of affinity towards the tested substrates was syringaldazine > ABTS > DMP > guaiacol. Interestingly, L1 isoenzyme was not significantly inhibited by chloroform and benzene, whereas above 50% of laccase activity was inhibited by acetone, dimethyl sulfoxide and methanol.

Keywords — Decoloration, Isoenzyme, Laccase, Pleurotus florida, Purification, White-rot fungi.

The Relationship of Salt Classification with Distance to Shoreline and Elevation, Case Study Lake Urmia, Iran

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 35-37 | [Full Text] PDF (113 KB)

Seyed Kazem Alavipanah1, Mohammad Ali Nezammahalleh2*

1-Professor, Remote Sensing and GIS Department, Geography Faculty, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

2-PhD Student, Physical Geography Department, Geography Faculty, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract — Increase in salt concentration may have adverse environmental and economic consequences. The Lake Umia is the largest hypersaline lake in the world that is rapidly drying. The drying leaves salt layers in a belt around the shore of the lake. These layers can be source of many damages to the human and the environment. The objective of this research is to investigate for the first in the world the relationship between salt concentration with distance to shoreline and elevation. For this, Landsat satellite image data for salt classification and SRTM imagery for elevation data and shoreline layer for distance to shoreline raster have been used for the analysis as the material. By overlying of the data and selection query the relationships of the parameters have been explored. The results indicate that the salt concentration decreases with increase in elevation and distance to shoreline. This can be concluded that the demonstrated relationships can help make appropriate decisions in planning.

Index Terms — Salt Concentration, Classification, Landsat, Orumieh Lake

In vitro analysis of Calotropis peroxidase transformed diamine compounds

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 38-45 | [Full Text] PDF (643 KB)

Murugesan Balasubramanian^1,2*, R. Neethu Raj¹, V. Gayathri¹, K.M. Maria John³

1- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore - 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India.

2- Department of Biotechnology, KSR college of Technology, Tiruchengode, Namakkal - 637 215, Tamil Nadu, India.

3- Laboratory of Functional Metabolomics, Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul - 143 701, South Korea.

Abstract — Benzidine (BZ), O-dianisidine (OD) and Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) compounds are commonly used in hair dyes, textile dying and paper coloring industries. These dyes are reported to have genotoxic property. When such dyes are let it to effluent adds significant carcinogenicity to the rodent and human, removal of such dyes remain essential. Application of Calotropis gigantea peroxidase (CgPOD) for biotransformation of these genotoxic dyes found to be one of the effective processes to reduce the toxicity. When BZ and OD were exposed to CgPOD, get transferred from genotoxic to non-genotoxic form, whereas the PPD transformed to the genotoxic form due to the formation of cyclohexa-2,5-dione-1,4-diylidenediamine compound. The structural changes were elucidated using FT-IR & 1H NMR, which confirmed the biotransformed structure of PPD, BZ and OD to cyclohexa-2,5-dione-1,4-diylidenediamine, bis-(4’-amino-biphenyl-4-yl)-diazene and bis-(3,3’-dimethoxy-4’-amino-biphenyl-4-yl)-diazene, respectively. In conclusion, although the BZ and OD are genotoxic and not in the case of PPD when exposed to human systems, the CgPOD mediated metabolites of BZ and OD were non-genotoxic as shown in DNA fragmentation assay and fluorescence assay. Whereas the PPD metabolite induce or activate genotoxicity when exposed to lymphocytes and it shows 13.05% residual fluorescence intensity at 0.15 mg/ml. Hence the CgPOD mediated biotransformation can be effectively used in the treatment of BZ and OD containing dye effluents and should not be used in dyes having PPD.

Index Terms — Benzidine, Biotransformation, Calotropis gigantean, O-dianisidine, Paraphenylenediamine, Plant peroxidase

Taming the Monster - Attabad Landslide Dam

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 46-55 | [Full Text] PDF (1230 KB)

Fiaz Hussain Shah, Arshad Ali*, Muhammad Naseem Baig

National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Abstract — Hindukash - Karakoram - Himalayan (HKH) is a hazard prone region where triggering of landslides due to seismic, geological, hydrological or anthropogenic reasons is a common phenomenon. On 4th January 2010, a massive landslide at Attabad swept the low lying Surat village and blocked Hunza River thereby creating a dam resulting into a huge lake upstream. As a result of preliminary planning, emergency response was launched by Frontier Works Organization (FWO), a civil engineering component of Pakistan Army Engineers on instruction of the Federal Government and a 24 meters deep spillway cut was made through which the water started flowing on 29th May 2010 resulting into lowering of water in the lake. A detailed planning ensued and different proposals including those of Chinese, Americans and FWO were considered and finally based on cost-benefit analysis, the indigenous effort for execution was approved. FWO planned the operation in five stages whereby 675 meters long spillway was to be deepened by 30 meters having a width of approximately 60 meters resulting into lowering of water in the lake by over 50 percent. The working and weather conditions were extreme. The work was only possible in winter season when the water inflow reduced to minimum. FWO with dynamic leadership, meticulous planning, determined execution and methodical working achieved the assigned target within three working seasons and reduced the spillway bed level from 2398 meters to 2368 meters. Following the examples of other landslide dams in the world, Attabad Lake can be sustained after partial draining out through spillway and this natural hazard can be transformed into an opportunity. Announcement regarding establishing Kashgar -Gawadar Corridor made by Prime Minister of Pakistan during his recent visit to China in June 2013,by developing road and rail link between the two countries has given a new dimension and importance to Northern Areas in general and Hunza Valley in particular where the transforming of Attabad lake into an opportunity has promising prospects and enlightened future.

Index Terms — Landslide Dam, Monster, Taming, Hazard, Mitigation, Vulnerability, Risk, Spillway, Coffer Dam, Slip mass, Inundated area, Reclaimed area, Blasting, Earth moving machinery, Morale and Silver Lining.

Sustainable production of Kochia indica grown in saline habitat

Volume 1, Issue 1, Pages: 56-61 | [Full Text] PDF (332 KB)

Tawfik, M. M.; A. T. Thalooth; Nabila, M. Zaki; M. S. Hassanein; Amany, A. Bahr and Amal ,G. Ahmed

Field Crop Reseach Department. National Research Centre, Dokki, ,Giza, Egypt

Abstract — Biosaline agriculture is considered as unconventional approach for sustainable use of marginal soil (salt affected soils with poor drainage) and salt affected irrigation water. These can be used for planting non-traditional crops such as halophytic plants to overcome the serious shortage of fresh water and conventional soil. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, two field experiments were carried around Qaroon lake, Fayum Governorate, Egypt at the two successive summer season of 2011 - 2012 to study the effect of foliar application of zinc, potassium or ascorbic acid in addition to fresh water as control on vegetative growth and some physiochemical parameters of Kochia indica grown under diluted saline water (Fresh water, 25% and 50%) from Qaroon Lake. Irrigation with 25% dilution significantly increased plant growth compared to fresh water irrigation. Raising irrigation salinity levels up to 50% significantly increase the content of chlorophyll a+b, proline, soluble carbohydrates and osmotic potential values compared to fresh water. On the other hand, the same treatment decreased the content of potassium and zinc in the shoot of K inica plant. However moderate saline irrigation i.e. 25 % generally increased crude protein content. All foliar spraying treatments significantly increased plant height, number of branched/plant, leaf area, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, chlorophyll a+b, crude protein, potassium and zinc as well as (salinity tolerance index) STI and succulence values as compared with control plants. On the other hand, foliar treatments decreased the content of soluble carbohydrates, proline and osmotic potential values. As for the interaction effect of between saline irrigation and foliar treatments, data show that the highest content of crude proten % and photosynthetic pigments were recorded in Kochia indica plants sprayed with 2% KNO3 and irrigated with 25% Lake water, meanwhile plants sprayed with 300 ppm Zn-EDTA and irrigated with fresh water produced the highest zinc content. Furthermore, plants sprayed with fresh water and irrigated with 50% Lake water produced the highest content of soluble carbohydrates and proline as well as succulence and osmotic potential values. In conclusion, Foliar application with potassium surpasses all the other treatments especially under high levels of saline irrigation.

Index Terms — Kochia indica - Biosaline agriculture – Foliar treatments

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