Biodecolorization and Bioremediation of Denim Industrial Wastewater by Adapted Bacterial Consortium Immobilized on Inert Polyurethane Foam (PUF) Matrix: A First Approach with Biobarrier Model.

The present experiments were studied on bioremediation of denim industry wastewater by using polyurethane foam (PU foam) immobilized bacterial cells. About 30 indigenous adapted bacterial strains were isolated from denim textile effluent out of which only four isolates were found to be efficient against crude indigo carmine degradation using broth decolorization method. The selected bacterial strains were identified as Actinomyces sp., (PK07), Pseudomonas sp., (PK18), Stenotrophomonas sp., (PK23) and Staphylococcus sp., (PK28) based on microscopic and biochemical characteristics. The bacterial immobilized cells have the highest number of viable cells (PK07, PK18, PK23 and PK28 appeared to be 1 x 10(8), 1 x 10(9), 1 x 10(6) and 1 x 10(7) CFU/ml respectively) and maximum attachment efficiency of 92% on PU foam. The complete degradation using a consortium of PU foam immobilized cells was achieved at pH 6, 27 degrees C, 100% of substrate concentration and allowed to develop biofilm for one day (1.5% W/V). In SEM analysis, it was found that immobilization of bacterial cells using PUF stably maintained the production of various extracellular enzymes at levels higher than achieved with suspended forms. Finally, isatin and anthranilic acid were found to be degradation products by NMR and TLC. The decolorized dye was not toxic to monkey kidney cell (HBL 100) at a concentration of 50 µl and 95% of cell viability was retained. A mathematical model that describes bacterial transport with biodegradation involves a set of coupled reaction equations with non-standard numerical approach based on the time step scheme.

Phytoremediation of dye contaminated soil by Leucaena leucocephala (subabul) seed and growth assessment of Vigna radiata in the remediated soil.

The present study was investigated for soil bioremediation through sababul plant biomass (Leucaena leucocephala). The soil contaminated with textile effluent was collected from Erode (chithode) area. Various physico-chemical characterizations like N, P, and K and electrical conductivity were assessed on both control and dye contaminated soils before and after remediation. Sababul (L. leucocephala) powder used as plant biomass for remediation was a tool for textile dye removal using basic synthetic dyes by column packing and eluting. The concentration of the dye eluted was compared with its original concentration of dye and were analyzed by using UV-vis spectrophotometer. Sababul plant biomass was analyzed for its physico-chemical properties and active compounds were detected by GC-MS, HPTLC and FTIR. Plant growth was assessed with green gram on the textile contaminated soil and sababul had the potential of adsorbing the dye as the contaminated soil and also check the growth of green gram.

Production and optimization of indole acetic acid by indigenous micro flora using agro waste as substrate.

Indole Acetic Acid (IAA) producing bacterium was isolated from the Rhizosphere soil and identified as Rhizobium sp. and Bacillus sp., Optimization of Indole acetic acid production was carried out at different cultural conditions, such as pH, temperature and substrate with Rhizobium sp., Bacillus sp. and Rhizobium sp., produced higher amount of Indole acetic acid (6.1 mg mL(-1)) than the Bacillus sp., (4.4 mg mL(-1)) at pH 7 and 37 degrees C in the Bengal gram substrate. Partial purification of Indole acetic acid was done by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). In conclusion Rhizobium sp., appear to be a suitable soil microorganism for high level of IAA production.

Comparative analysis of bioremediation potential of adapted and non-adapted fungi on azo dye containing textile effluent.

About 4 different predominant adapted fungal strains (screened from effluent sample) Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. and Mucor sp. and 4 predominant non-adapted strains (screened from soil, water and fungal fruiting bodies) Aspergillus sp., Penicillium sp., Fusarium sp. and Rhizopus sp., with potential dye decolorization ability on Reactive black 5, Amido black-10B, Red 5B, Reactive red 120 and Anthraquinone violet R were isolated. These organisms were used to develop a consortium which was used in analyzing the bioremediation efficiency on textile effluents containing a mixture of azo dyes. There was about 67% of reduction in color along with 34% of COD reduction by non-adapted fungal consortium while effective bioremediation efficiency was observed in adapted fungal consortium (Color 75% and COD 50%). The regression co-efficient for Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms were found to be higher for adapted fungal consortium (R2 = 0.97 and R2 = 0.92) than the non-adapted consortium (R2 = 0.97 and R2 = 0.85) proving that both monolayer and multilayer adsorption of dyes were observed on treating the samples with the adapted fungal consortium. On analyzing the results observed through chi-square test, the calculated value (28.712) was higher than the tabulated value (9.49) at a 4 degree freedom hence the hypothesis was rejected. So, there was an association between adapted fungal consortium and non-adapted fungal consortium and hence the adapted fungal consortium could be considered potentially useful for the bioremediation of textile effluent.

Analysis of Bcl I and Xba I polymorphism in factor VIII gene to detect carriers of haemophilia a in Andhra Pradesh.

The efficacy of two intragenic polymorphic markers of factor VIII gene has been examined in Andhra Pradesh population with a view to confirm/revise the strategy for carrier detection that would be precise and economical. The haemophilia A carrier was detected using Bcl I and Xba I polymorphic sites in intron 18 and 22 respectively. The cumulative efficiency of these two sites for detection of carriers is 100% since all 15 families tested were informative for one of these polymorphisms, thus confirming their usefulness for factor VIII gene mutations found in Andhra Pradesh.

Analysis of chromosomal aberrations in men occupationally exposed to cement dust.

Cement industry is considered as a major pollution problem on account of dust and particulate matter emitted at various steps of cement manufacture. Cement dust consists of many toxic constituents. The workers who are employed in cement industries are exposed to cement dust for long periods. Therefore, it is mandatory to evaluate the mutagenic effects of occupational exposure to cement dust in such workers. In the present study, we analyzed the samples of 124 male workers including 59 smokers and 65 non-smokers who were employed in cement industry for a period of 1-17 years. For comparison, 106 controls (including 47 smokers and 59 non-smokers) of the same age group and socio-economic status were also studied. Controls had no exposure to cement dust or any known physical or chemical agent. A significant increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations was observed in the exposed group when compared to the control group. The results were analyzed separately for non-smokers and smokers. The chromosomal damage was more pronounced in the smokers when compared with the non-smokers both in control and exposed groups. A significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations was also observed with increase in age in both control and exposed subjects.

Analysis of chromosomal aberration frequencies in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of smokers exposed to uranyl compounds.

One hundred fifteen smokers working in a nuclear fuel manufacturing facility were analysed for various types of chromosomal aberrations. They experienced exposure for a period of 1-25 years. Their age ranges from 23 to 52 years. A total of 94 smokers and 118 non-smokers who were not exposed to uranyl compounds or to any other known mutagens and belong to the same age group formed the control subjects. The results showed that there is a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the exposed smokers when compared to the control smokers. In the control group, the smokers showed a high frequency of chromosomal aberrations when compared to non-smokers suggesting clastogenic effect of smoking. Chromosomal aberrations observed in the exposed smokers could be due to the cumulative effect of both smoking and exposure to uranyl compounds.

Sister-chromatid exchanges in nuclear fuel workers.

Peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures of 116 smokers and 80 non-smokers who were occupationally exposed to uranyl compounds were analysed for sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs). Blood samples were collected from 59 non-smokers (control group I) and 47 smokers (control group II) who were not exposed to uranium for control data. A significant increase in SCEs was observed among both smokers and non-smokers exposed to uranyl compounds when compared to their respective controls. In controls, a significant increase in the frequency of SCEs was observed in smokers when compared to non-smokers.

Alkaline ribonuclease activity in plasma and leucocytes of malnourished women.

Alkaline RNase activity was measured in plasma and leucocytes of pregnant and non-pregnant women belonging to low and high socio-economic groups. It was observed that the enzyme activities were significantly higher in pregnant as well as non-pregnant women of the low socio-economic group as compared to women of the high socio-economic group. There was no correlation between the enzyme activities in maternal or cord blood on the one hand and birth weight of the infants on the other. These results suggest that RNase activities in maternal blood reflect the nutritional status of the mother but not that of the fetus.

Ribonuclease activity in plasma and leucocytes of malnourished children.

RNAase activity was measured in plasma and leucocytes of manourished children. In subjects suffering from kwashiorkor, alk. RNAase levels in plasma and leucocytes were markedly raised and they returned to normal after therapy. However, the enzyme activity was not altered in undernourished children. These data indicate that circulating level of alkaline. RNAase is not a useful parameter for detecting milder grades of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM).