1. Introduction
Industrialization is a hallmark of civilization but nowadays it is becoming matter of great concern. Industrial emissions unfavorably affect the environment, leading to the large-scale worldwide destruction of agricultural land along with water bodies (1, 2). Various toxic substances are released that accumulate in the environment and food chains, thereby affecting many biological processes. Chromium (Cr) is one the important metal being employed far and wide in numerous industrial processes, including chrome leather tanning, chrome plating, ceramics, dyes, paints and pigments manufacturing, textile processing, metal finishing etc.(3-6). Leather processing industry is one of the major industries utilizing chromium in the form of chrome liqueur or chrome powder. Residual chromium is thus discharged in solid as well as liquid effluent. It exists in various oxidation states ranging from -2 to +6 but the most persistent forms are hexavalent (Cr6+) and trivalent (Cr3+) species. Hexavalent chromium is the most toxic form, mainly available as oxyanions, whereas trivalent chromium is hundred-fold less toxic, less soluble and less mobile, mostly found as oxides, hydroxides or sulfates (7, 8). Hexavalent chromium is a strong oxidizing agent, mutagen and teratogen (4, 9). Its oxyanionic form (CrO42−), analogous in structure to sulfate and phosphate ions, readily permeate through bacterial and eukaryotic cells resulting in intracellular reduction leading to chromate-induced toxicity (4, 8, 10). The presence of chromate in the environment inhibits most microorganisms, but it also promotes the selection of metal resistant bacteria (2, 11).
In Kanpur, about 400 leather processing industries at Jajmau, discharge both liquid as wel...
... middle of paper ...
...munity. Normally, it is assumed that the heavy metal exposure leads to the establishment of a tolerant microbial population. A gram negative bacilli strain SA13A isolated in this study has shown high chromium (100 mgL-1) reducing efficiency (100%, 16 h). Further, chromium reduction was also found to be dependent on both pH and temperature. The optimal values of temperature and pH for reduction were 37 oC and 8.0, respectively. As per literature surveyed, this is the first compilation of data in conviction with chromate reduction by Luteimonas aestuarii SA13A. Moreover, the isolate SA13A has also shown resistance against various heavy metals. As Luteimonas aestuarii SA13A possess heavy metal resistance along with chromate reduction potential, therefore it may serve as potent novel bacteria for bioremediation applications especially in heavy metal contaminated sites.
In this lab project, the microbiology students were given 2 unknown bacteria in a mixed broth each broth being numbered. The goal of this project is to determine the species of bacteria in the broth. They had to separate and isolate the bacteria from the mixed broth and ran numerous tests to identify the unknown bacteria. The significance of identifying an unknown bacteria is in a clinical setting. Determining the exact bacteria in order to prescribe the right treatment for the patient. This project is significant for a microbiology students because it gives necessary skills to them for future careers relating to clinical and research work.
The purpose of this laboratory is to learn about cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics that are used in identifying bacterial isolates. Besides identifying the unknown culture, students also gain an understanding of the process of identification and the techniques and theory behind the process. Experiments such as gram stain, negative stain, endospore and other important tests in identifying unknown bacteria are performed. Various chemical tests were done and the results were carefully determined to identify the unknown bacteria. First session of lab started of by the selection of an unknown bacterium then inoculations of 2 tryptic soy gar (TSA) slants, 1 nutrient broth (TSB), 1 nutrient gelatin deep, 1 motility
In the last decade, the number of prescriptions for antibiotics has increases. Even though, antibiotics are helpful, an excess amount of antibiotics can be dangerous. Quite often antibiotics are wrongly prescribed to cure viruses when they are meant to target bacteria. Antibiotics are a type of medicine that is prone to kill microorganisms, or bacteria. By examining the PBS documentary Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria and the article “U.S. government taps GlaxoSmithKline for New Antibiotics” by Ben Hirschler as well as a few other articles can help depict the problem that is of doctors prescribing antibiotics wrongly or excessively, which can led to becoming harmful to the body.
These materials are based on sodium chlorite (NaClO2) which are activated by citric acid. Sodium chlorite is an very good oxidizing agent wh...
There are several types of treatment methods present but biological treatment methods have gained much traction in the recent years due to their low operation costs, comparatively benign effects on the environment and their ease of handling and maintenance. Biological wastewater treatment methods can be subcategorized into dispersed growth systems and attached growth systems. Biofilms fall under the latter category (Sehar & Naz, 2016)
Environmental pollution produces bacteria which results as diseases and disorders in humans, animals, agricultural plantations. The process of pollution occurs when toxins are released into the ground water from landfill sites, this pollution stays in the environment for hundreds of years, while they break dow...
When the water comes into contact with the pyrite, the chemical reactions that take place causes the water to increase in pH which will dissolve heavy metals which stay in solution. However, when the pH levels reach a certain stage, the iron can then precipitate out, coating sediments with the characteristic yellow, red or orange colourings (D.E.P. 2, 2002; U.S.G.S.; U.S.E.P.A., 2002). The rate that A.M.D. advances is also influenced by the presence of certain bacteria (Doyle; U.S.G.S). A.M.D that has dissolved heavy metals such as copper, lead and mercury can contaminate ground and surface water. Especially at risk are mines that are located above the water table (Keller, 2000; D.E.P. 2, 2002). The sources of water that get polluted can be surface water that permeates into the mine, shallow ground water flowing through the mine or any water that comes into contact with the waste tailings produced by mines.
With the expansion of technology available to the textile industry emerged a growing want among those who produced the textiles for new colors. When this problem arose, textile producers called upon the chemistry industry to help lessen the need for textile producers to rely upon natural methods of bleaching such as sun, rain, sour milk, and urine (Britannica). While these methods had been practiced for centuries, the industry saw a definite want for a new and more efficient method of bleaching. From this point forth, chemistry’s role in the Industrial Revolution not only led to innovations in bleaching, but also led to great changes in the practice of chemistry, as we know it. In the mid-1700’s, a chemist named John Roebuck solved the problems of the textile industry with his invention of a new method for mass producing a chemical by-product known as sulfuric acid in lead chambers (Encarta 97). This discovery paved the way for sulfuric acid’s use in bleaching, and eventually led to the production of chlorine bleach, a common household product today.
...croorganisms present in wastewater as the anodic solution obtained from different sources made me to understand that microbes present in domestic as well as industrial waste can even be proved beneficial if they are tapped for electricity generation. Such results were based on the preliminary experiments which need further research in the field . I did it on laboratory level and at the end could generate enough electrical energy to light a bulb or to run a calculator for a few hours to a day.
Bioremediation are most effective management technique for remediate this type of contaminations. Microorganism are very important to remediate the contaminated environment mainly aerobic and anaerobic organism are included in bioremediation process
Although there are a lot of conventional water treatment methods available, but due to their disadvantages, there is a need for development of new and effective methods for disinfection of total waterborne pathogens in water treatment. In the near future, advanced oxidation process (AOPs) may become the most widely used water treatment technologies [30, 31, 32]. The processes can be categorized into three types:
One of the biggest problems with gold mining in South Africa is the disposal of the overburden from the mines. Another problem is the use and disposal of the cyanide solutions which are used to extract and dissolve the gold. Cyanide is a well known poison and is very toxic for humans. Cyanide is also very dangerous to plants and animals as even small amounts of cyanide can be dangerous to them. To produce just one single fine ounce (about 31,104 g) they need about 3.3 tons of ore, 5440 litres of water, 572 kilowatt ...
When products of any type are broken down, the chemicals witch make up those items are released. The disposal of medical waste contaminated with communicable disease agents, such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B, is becoming a growing concern here in America (Johnson, 1). When medical waste is disposed of, the air becomes saturated with harmful chemicals such as arsenic, lead, copper, and dangerous compounds known as dioxins (Waste 149). Dioxins, or chlorinated dioxins, are really badly toxic substances which affect both humans and animals when released into the Earth’s atmosphere. The effects of these dioxins have been witnessed in animals and also humans. According to an article by scientist Rachel Cohn, a suppressed immune system, birth defects, and death have all been seen in animals exposed to dioxins (Rachel). “Human exposure to dioxins has been found to cause liver damage, as well as risks for developing forms of cancer.” (Rachel). A highly toxic metal known as cadmium is also a run off of medical waste disposal. This waste product is severely harmful to humans as it has been reported to affect liver, kidney, and cardiovascular functioning. Cad...
One of the major causes of marine pollution is toxic ocean pollutants. Heavy metals such as ...
...e industries, textile industries are considered as one of the major sources of wastewater in ASEAN countries. Dyes are also used in industries such as rubber, paper & pulp, dye & dye intermediate industries, pharmaceutical, tannery, food technology, hair coloring, plastic, cosmetic etc. There are more than 10,000 commercially available dyes with over 7x105 tones of dyestuff being produced annually across the world2.. The textile industry consumes more than 107 kg of dye per year of which 90% ending up on fabrics3. Of this total usage 10- 15% of the dye is lost during the dyeing process and released with the effluent. Colour is contributed by phenolic compounds such as tannins, lignins (2-3%) and organic colourants (3-4%) and with a maximum contributions from dye and dye intermediates which could be sulphur/ mordant/ reactive/ cationic/ dispersed/acid/azo vat dye4.