Iranica Journal of Energy & Environment
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Summer 2010

The fishes, Rasbora daniconius were exposed to lethal concentration at 9.5% (LC of 96 hrs) for 50 96 hrs and sublethal concentrations [1.9% (1/5) and 0.95% (1/10) LC of 96hrs] of paper mill effluent for 30 days 50 to study the impacts on the histology of gill. Many pathological changes were observed in the gill lamellae such as bulging at the tip of primary lamellae, epithelial hypertrophy, Fusion, curling, reduction in secondary gill lamellae, disorganization and rupture in secondary lamellae, swelling in pillar, mucous, and chloride cells. Hemorrhage at the primary and secondary lamellae.

This study was focused on aerobic composting of the municipal solid waste using thenewly developed beneficial microbial consortium (BMC). Also the possibilities of using distillery spent wash as and moisturizing agent were also explored during the study. The obtained humus was characterized for various features such as its chemical composition and its possible effects on enhancement of plant growth. The results have shown that the aerobic composting process was completed efficiently in a shorter period of time (about 25 days). The obtained compost was found to be chemically balanced and biologically stable. It was found that the compost could efficiently be employed as a soil rejuvenator in agriculture. Also the spent wash was found to further enhance the qualities of the compost.

An extensive study on the prevalence of seromarkers (HBsAg and AFP) of hepatocellular carcinoma among two low socio-economic groups of Karumanthurai tribes and Kanyakumari coastal populations were carried out. The results obtained suggest that the mean HBsAg value of tribal was more than that of the coastal population. The mean AFP of elevated and normal cases was found to be invariably significant (P< 0.01) over the two areas. Coastal patients tended to be significantly older than the tribal patients (P < 0.005, Wilcoxon rank sum test). All two racial/geographic regions showed a preponderance of male patients but this tendency was significantly more marked (P < 0.05) in the tribal group than in the coastal populations. Liquor habit and lack of personal hygienic practices were associated with the prevalence of HBsAg and AFP in both the areas. Surprisingly, a positive association has been found between the consumption of marine foods and reduced risk of HCC. Thus, the reduced risk of HCC among the coastal populations probably the development of immunity against HBV due to the dietary pattern of marine food consumption by coastal population.

Gasoline a, major petroleum hydrocarbon used frequently in automobiles is a complex mixture of aliphatic, aromatic and allicyclic hydrocarbons. The general population is exposed to gasoline or gasoline vapors during automobile refueling procedures, refueling of gasoline-powered equipment and using the gasoline-contaminated surface water or groundwater. Biodegradation of gasoline holds a promising approach for handling the problems due to gasoline pollution. In the present study the soil samples from the regionsaround petrol stations and petroleum refinery industry located at Mangalore, Karnataka, India were collected and subjected to screening by enrichment technique. Two Gram-negative bacilli C1 and C3 were isolated from the soil samples of petrol filling stations. The gasoline biodegradation was confirmed by the gas chromatography technique. Both the organisms showed significant reduction in the peak area as compared to that of control. Both the organisms showed a good adherence to hydrocarbons.

In addition to meeting nutrient intake levels, greater consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancers. The proximate composition and mineral constituents of Chlorophytum comocum root tubers were evaluated. The root tubers contained a ashes: 10.38%,crude protein: 4.54%, crude lipid: 2.00%, crude fiber: 17.24% and carbohydrates: 65.84%. The leaves and stem also have high energy value (299.52kcal/100g)dry weight where as Alocacia indica stem contained a ashes: 9.1%,crude protein: 5.44%, crude lipid: 3.25%, crude fiber: 22.9% and carbohydrates: 59.31%. The stem also have high energy value (288.25kcal/100g) dry weight Comparing the root tubers mineral contents with recommended dietary allowances (RDA), the results indicated that Chlorophytum comocum root tubers could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as calcium, fibre and carbohydrates where as the results indicated that Alocacia indica stem could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as Fibre, Potassium, Zinc, lipid and Carbohydrates. The root tubers and the stem could be promoted as a carbohydrate supplement for cereal-based diets in poor rural communities, while its high potassium content could be utilized for the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions.

The proximate composition and mineral constituents of Asparagus officinalis stem and Momordica dioica fruit were evaluated in order to standard methods. The stem contained a ashes: 10.70%,crude protein: 32.69%, crude lipid: 3.44%, crude fiber: 18.50% and carbohydrates: 34.67%. Stem also have high energy value (384.27kcal/100g)dry weight. Mineral ranges (mg/100g dry weight, DW) were: K (10.94), Na (1.84), Ca (0.67), Fe (0.19) and Zn (2.60). The fruits contained a ashes: 9.1%, crude protein: 5.44%, crude lipid: 3.25%, crude fiber: 22.9% and carbohydrates: 59.31%. The fruits also have high energy value (288.25kcal/100g)dry weight. Mineral ranges (mg/100g dry weight, DW) were: K (4.63), Na (1.62), Ca (7.37), Fe (5.04) and Zn (3.83). Comparing proximate and minerals contents of the stem and the fruit, the results indicated that Asparagus officinalis stem could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as protein, lipid, potassium and Zinc, fibre and carbohydrates while Momordica dioica fruit was good source of lipid, crude fiber, carbohydrates, Fe and Zinc.

Pigeon pea or tur (Cajanus cajan L. Mills.) is one of the important pulse crops of Indiaand ranks second to chickpea in area and production. Traditionally the harvesting of pigeon pea is done manually by sickle, which demands considerable amount of labour, drudgery, time and cost to harvest, which reflects on total production cost of the crop. In view of this a tractor operated front mounted pigeon pea stem cutter was developed and being front mounted implement it facilitated better visibility and control to operator.The power was transmitted from pto to gear box. Arrangement of hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic motor was provided on the equipment to facilitate the height of cut and to rotate the conveyer belt. During comparative performance evaluation of developed equipment, the average cutting efficiency and field capacity was found 96.30 % and 0.176 ha/hr respectively. There was increase in fuel consumption and plant damage with increase in speed of operation. The average operation cost of newly developed tractor operated front mounted pigeon pea stem cutter was 64.71% less as compared with manual harvesting of pigeon pea crop. The time saved was almost 1/3rd to that of manual harvesting.

In the recent past, the crude oil prices have increased immensely as the fossil fuels are depleting, biodiesel has emerged as an alternative fuel for the petroleum. In this context the use of bio-diesel in the gas turbine seems a solution for power generation problems and their environmental concerns. Vegetable oils, due to their agricultural origin, are able to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere. However, there are several operational and durability problems which may arise in using straight vegetable oils, which are because of their higher viscosity and low volatility compared to mineral diesel fuel. Bio-fuels, an alternative fuels are having environmental benefit as; they are made from renewable sources. It can be blended in any proportion with mineral Diesel. Many performance and emission tests are being carried out in reciprocating diesel engines that use bio fuel but there are very few tests has been done on gas turbine engines. The gasturbine combustion is steady flame combustion. This feature creates the wide range for the different alternative fuels for clean combustion in the gas turbine, such as natural gas, petroleum distillates, pyrolysis wood gas, biogas of methanisation, bio-diesel etc. The present work is an analysis of the Soya bio-diesel production process i.e. trans-esterification, the different parameters affecting on trans-esterification. The different physical and chemical properties of this bio-diesel and diesel has been determined and compared to establish the suitability of the bio-diesel in the gas turbine. An analysis on High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) has been done to find out the composition of the different fatty acid esters. The effect of these fatty acids on the property of the bio-diesel has also been explained such as viscosity, heat of combustion, cetane No, cold flow properties, lubricity and oxidative stability etc. This will also help us to select best suited bio-diesel for the gas turbine.

History has seen fuel innovations being driven majorly by transportation needs rather than the overall need to revolutionize the energy needs of the society. Biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol are now receiving the impetus required for becoming a fuel source for the future. One of the ways to reduce the dependence on fossil diesel is the blending of bioethanol with conventional diesel. However, an emulsifier or a co-solvent is required to stabilize the blend. The ricebran oil biodiesel offers an alternative application as an emulsifier for diesel-ethanol blends to form diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. In the present study the rice bran oil biodiesel was used in different ways such as pure biodiesel, blending with diesel and diesel- ethanol blends. The performance and emission characteristics of a direct injection (DI) diesel engine when fuelled with conventional diesel fuel, pure biodiesel, a blend of diesel and biodiesel and three blends of dieselbiodiesel- ethanol were studied over the entire range of load on the engine. The experimental results showed that the highest brake thermal efficiency was observed with 30% ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The exhaust gas temperature and sound reduced with the increase of ethanol percentage in diesel-biodieselethanol blends. The Carbon monoxide, smoke, exhaust gas temperature and sound reduced with the increaseof ethanol percentage in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The minimum values of Carbon monoxides, smoke, exhaust gas temperature and sound intensity were observed with the blend BE30 and were respectively 41.23%, 14.5%, 0.57% and 11.53% lower than that of the diesel fuel. The Oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions increased with the increased percentage of ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends.The hydrocarbon emissions increased with ethanol but lower than that of the diesel fuel by a maximum of 35.35% with 10% ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blend. The blending of 20% biodiesel into diesel-ethanol blends allowed higher percentage (30%) of ethanol mixing with diesel, increased the brake thermal efficiency and reduced the carbon monoxide, sound, hydrocarbons and smoke than that of the diesel fuel. So the rice bran oil biodiesel can be used as an emulsifier to mix higher percentage of ethanol with fossil diesel to improve the performance and reduce the emissions of a diesel engine.

Numbers of chlorinated pesticides residues such as DDE, Kelthane, $-BHC and DDT were determined by those waters from paddy fields and rivers that discharged to Caspian Sea. The multivariate analysis of variance MANOVA was used to analyze the data obtained from this study. No significant difference was shown between the concentrations of all parameters during four seasons and all stations based on MANOVA test. The total percentage of DDE, Kelthane, $-BHC and DDT detected in stations were 63, 56, 50 and 69% over the year, respectively. The maximum concentrations of $-BHC (fall), kelthane (fall), DDE (spring) and DDT (summer) were 21.6, 15.4, 9.8 and 9.2μg/l, respectively. The minimum concentrations of kelthane, $-BHC, DDE and DDT were 3, 3.1, 1.9 and 3μg/l in stations 1 (summer), 2 (fall), 3 (summer) and 4 (summer), respectively. In agricultural periods, the most of chemicals compounds were found in spring and summer seasons. During four seasons, the most percentage of chemicals compounds such as DDT (summer), $-BHC (summer-fall), Kelthane (springsummer) and DDE (spring) were 100, 75, 75 and 75%, respectively. According to the data, the amounts of $-BHC respect to the lethal concentration of $-BHC (LC) for fishes (50 through 200 μg/l) during 96 hours were less 50 and not remarkable.

Toxicity tests allow the determination of pollution effects, providing direct evidence of the biological responses of marine organisms to contaminants. Fifty four yellow fine sea bream (Acanthopagrus latus) all immature male in same size (120 g final body weight average) were obtained from Mahshahr creeks with hooks in a Upon capture. In laboratory Fish maintained in a seawater re-circulatory system (300-L tanks) equipped withphysical/biological filters and with aeration. All samples were acclimatized for one weeks in a 15 aerated fiberglass tank containing 46 ppt saltwater maintained at 25 C under a constant 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Acclimatized Fish were fed daily with a live feed (fresh shrimp) and daily we checked water quality and water parameters. HgCl tested concentrations were 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and10000 μg/l, Groups of 2 six male yellow fine sea bream (120 g) were exposed for 96 h to each of the Range finding test for LC50, in fiberglass tank equipped with aeration with 100 l of test medium. The control group was exposed to filtered sea water in similar conditions. Test medium was not renewed during the assay and no food was provided to the animals. Values of pH, Temperature and salinity were measured at time 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. At the end of the bioassay, Range values were determined as 500-1000 μg/l (fifty percent of mortality between 500 and 1000). Range finding test values indicated that mercury is more toxic to A. latus than other same marine spices. Range obtained in the present study compare with corresponding values that have been published in the literature for other species of fish, show different Range of mercury in different species and even different time, but what is important, lower value of range finding test for A. latus compare with most species and confirm sensitively of A. latus to low mercury doses.

This study was focused on the development of a kinetic model and a reactor model for the enzymatic resolution of (R,S)-1-phenylethanol. The reaction progress curves catalyzed by immobilized lipases,ChiroCLEC-PC in batch stirred tank reactor were used to develop the kinetic model. The resolution followed Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism with the inhibition of lauric acid, (R,S)-1-phenylethanol and water. The validity of the model was verified by fitting it to another experimental data catalyzed by immobilized lipases, Chirazyme L2, c.-f., C3, lyo at the same reaction conditions. The rate equation was then applied for the development of reactor model in a recirculated packed bed reactor system. The overall effectiveness factor and Peclet number were used to determine the mass transfer and axial dispersion limitation in the reactor performance. The reactor model was verified by fitting it to the larger scale reactor data with the correlation coefficient value more than 0.99.

The piscicidal quality of water extracts of Adenia cissampeloides leaves on Tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus) juveniles was investigated in a static renewal bioassay to determine the median lethal concentration (LC) at 96hour of exposure. Five graded concentrations of 800, 600, 400, 200 and 100 mg/litre of aqueous 50 solution of A. cissampeloides and a control 0 mg/10L were applied to S. galilaeus fingerlings in plastic tanks. The 96h LC of aqueous extract of A. cissampeloides to S. galilaeus under laboratory condition was 317mg/l. 50 Behavioural changes such as erratic swimming, loss of reflex, hyper ventilation, increased surfacing frequency and jerky movements were observed prior to death. Histopathological changes in the liver of S. galilaeusjuveniles observed are severe widespread vacuolar degeneration and necrosis, hepatocytes, hyperplasia and presence of large numbers of megalocytes. In the gills, there were denudation of gill filaments, swelling of chondrocytes and rarefication of cartilage within gill filament. These damages became severe with increasingconcentration of the plant extracts.

The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) parameters were assessed using Satellite Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS with a view to model soil erosion in Katsina area of Katsina State of Nigeria. Data on parameters such as slope factors, crop cover and management practice support (P) were obtained from obtained for Katsina area for Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and Landsat ETM +, 2002 of the area. The estimated potential mean annual soil loss of 17.35 ton/ac/yr based on the refined RUSLE was btained for the study area. Also, the potential erosion rates from the erosion classes identified ranged from 0.0 to 4185.12 ton/ac/yr. About 65.47% of the study area was classified under the first class with erosion rate between 0.0 and 10 ton/ac/yr. The most severely eroded area with rates of erosion between 104.80 and 4,185.12 ton/ac/yr accounted for about 1.86% of the study area. On the whole, this study has demonstrated the significance of Satellite (RS) and GIS technologies in modeling erosion.