Biofuel production potential of indigenous isolates of Scenedesmus sp. from lake water in Pakistan

Aims@#This paper presents the report on biodiesel and biogas production at a laboratory scale from Scenedesmus strain.@*Methodology and results@#Previously isolated and identified Scenedesmus were grown in 10 Liter flask using BG-11 media at 16 h light and 8 h dark cycle. Oven-dried biomass (20 g) from 16-day-old culture of Scenedesmus was finely grounded and subjected to lipids extraction by chloroform-methanol-NaCl mixture. Microalgal lipids (6 mL) were subjected to transesterification by using NaOH leading to the production of 5 mL biodiesel and 4 mL of glycerin. Biodiesel was rich in methyl esters of linoleic acid, phosphorothioc acid and dodecanoic acid, as shown by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Oven-dried microalgae (2 g) without lipid extraction and leftover biomass (2 g) after lipid extraction were subject to biogas production through anaerobic digestion. Biogas (34, 27 and 19 mL) were recorded respectively in oven-dried whole biomass; lipid extracted biomass and control over a period of 15 days of anaerobic digestion.@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#It was concluded that water bodies are rich in diverse algae, especially Scenedesmus sp., and this algae can be cultured to produce biodiesel and biogas. But the lipid accumulation potential of microalgae requires special treatment and lipid extraction methods are not up to the mark, which is a major bottleneck in biofuel production from microalgae.

importance of socio-economic status and sex on the prevalence of human pediculosis in government schools children in Lahore, Pakistan

The present project was designed to study the effect of age, sex and socio-economic status on the prevalence of Pediculosis [Pediculus capitis]. A survey was conducted among 1-5 class children of five public sector schools located in Lahore, where most of the students belonged to middle and low income classes. After obtaining ethical clearance from the parents, school principals and students, 500 children of age >/= 7 years were examined both macroscopically and microscopically on first come first basis up to 100 children from each school. Of 500 children [n=122 boys; n=378 girls], overall 387 [77.40%] while in girls 323 [85.45%] and in boys 64 [52.46%] were positive for Pediculosis. A higher prevalence was recorded in children of