Department Of Environmental Science And Technology
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Item Ground/drinking water contaminants and cancer incidence: A case study of rural areas of South West Punjab, India(Bellwether Publishing, Ltd., 2019-12-26T00:00:00) Kaur, Gursharan; Kumar, Ravishankar; Mittal, Sunil; Sahoo, Prafulla Kumar; Vaid, UpmaThis study was carried out in the rural areas of South West Punjab, India, to evaluate the groundwater quality and cancer incidence. The epidemiological study was carried using standardized questionnaire method, and the groundwater samples were analyzed for heavy metals by ICP-MS and AAS. The results showed that the cancer prevalence was highest in the age group of > 60, followed by >45�60 years old in both males and females. The average cancer rate in females (272 cases/lakh) was ?3 times higher than the India�s national cancer average of 80 cases/lakh. The mean concentration of As (27.59 �g/L), Pb (48.3 �g/L), U (96.56 �g/L), NO3� (67.32 mg/L), and F� (4.7 mg/L) exceeded the drinking water limits of WHO/BIS. Health risk analysis indicated that As, Pb, U, and F� with NO3� are the major groundwater contaminants, which may be one of the potential cause of cancer incidences. Multivariate analyses reveal that anthropogenic activities are source of NO3�, whereas U, As, and F� are mainly of geogenic origin. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk followed in the order of As > Pb and U > F�>NO3�>Cu > Zn, respectively. Further, correlations between cancer incidence and groundwater quality have been discussed. � 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.Item EVALUATION OF ALGINATE MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLE BEADS FOR IMMOBILIZATION OF QUORUM QUENCHING BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM DAIRY INDUSTRY WASTEWATER TO ALLEVIATE BIOFOULING(Central University of Punjab, 2019) Kaur, Jaskiran; K.N., YogalakshmiMembrane fouling is one of the prominent problem of membrane bioreactors (MBR) during wastewater treatment. Biofouling caused by the bacterial biofilm formation on the membrane surface is considered as one of the major contributor of the overall membrane fouling process. Reduction in hydraulic performance; increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) and shortening of membrane’s life span are some of the widely encountered adverse effects of biofouling on membrane systems. Various approaches including membrane backwashing, cleaning of membranes employing numerous chemicals, variation in hydrodynamic conditions and membrane modification have been explored to mitigate fouling. But membrane biofouling being a complex multistage process is not effectively eradicated by these approaches. Additionally, the problems of chemical toxicity, foulant accumulation within membrane pores also facilitates the need for development of effective technologies for biofouling control. Bacterial acyl homoserine (AHL) based quorum sensing (QS) mechanism is considered as the regulatory phenomenon for biofilm formation. However, these signalling molecules are disrupted by a special group of bacteria termed the quorum quenching bacteria through the phenomena of quorum quenching (QQ). This phenomenon has been recognized as a promising method to control the problem of membrane biofouling. The QQ bacteria co-exist with the QS bacteria in a wide variety of habitats including rhizosphere, sewage, soil and many other sources but the occurrence of QQ bacteria in dairy waste activated sludge (WAS) remains unexplored. Keeping this in view, an attempt has been made to investigate the potential of QQ bacteria isolated from the dairy WAS collected from Verka milk industry effluent treatment plant situated in Bathinda, Punjab. The QQ bacteria showing higher AHL degrading potential was chosen to alleviate biofouling in MBR. Since, the bacteria are known to have low survival rate in the free-state, they were v immobilized onto the magnetic iron nanocomposite carriers. The nanoparticles in the magnetic nanocomposite beads possessed enough magnetic strength to enable their easy separation from the MBR during operation. The QQ bacteria present in dairy WAS was enriched in the KG medium supplemented with n-hexanoyl homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Five bacterial isolates obtained after enrichment were identified as Klebsiella pneumoniae (JYQ1 and JYQ5), Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2, Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3, and Pseudomonas JYQ4 through 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (16S rDNA) analysis. These isolates were submitted in Genbank under accession numbers KP189202 (JYQ1), KP340458 (JYQ2), KP340459 (JYQ3), KU555415 (JYQ4), and KP780263 (JYQ5). The C6-HSL degrading ability of the isolated QQ bacteria was determined quantitatively and qualitatively through biosensor (using Chromobacterium violaceum CV026) assay and GC-MS analysis, respectively. All the five isolates exhibited decolourization zone around the Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 spotted lawns indicating C6-HSL degradation. Maximum degradation percentage of 83.8% was shown by Pseudomonas JYQ4 within 6 h of incubation. Other isolates Klebsiella pneumoniae JYQ1 and JYQ5 showed around 81.5% and 81.4% of C6- HSL degradation, respectively within 24 h of incubation. Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 degraded 68.4% of C6-HSL in 12 h of exposure. The isolate Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2 possessed both QS and QQ activity which is evident from its degradation percentage. The isolates Klebsiella pneumoniae JYQ1 and JYQ5 due to their pathogenic nature were exempted and the other three QQ bacterial isolates (Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2, Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 and Pseudomonas JYQ4) were immobilized onto the IMN beads by encapsulating magnetic iron nanoparticles and QQ bacteria in sodium alginate mixture. The magnetic iron nanoparticles prepared by co-precipitation method were cubical in shape and ranged in size from 5-19 nm. The FTIR analysis indicated the presence of Fe and O functional groups in the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles exhibited polycrystalline structure with crystallite size of around 6.9 nm and saturation magnetization of 39 emu g-1 . The successful immobilization of QQ bacteria onto the magnetic nanocomposite beads was confirmed through the SEM analysis. The QQ bacteria IMN beads also showed C6-HSL degradation potential. Confirming the preliminary studies, the Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads exhibited the maximum C6-HSL degradation of 90% within 6 h of incubation when compared to other isolates whose degradation percentage varied in the range between 73- 90%. The IMN beads of bacterial consortium (prepared by mixing JYQ2, JYQ3 and JYQ4) showed degradation percentage of 73.9%. The efficiency of QQ bacteria IMN beads in controlling the biofilm developed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3541 was then assessed. The SEM analysis demonstrated the growth of less number of bacterial cells on the surface of QQ IMN beads incubated membranes when compared to control. Among the different QQ IMN beads, Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads indicated better biofilm reduction ability. Furthermore, the CLSM analysis confirmed the efficiency of QQ bacteria IMN beads in controlling the biofilm growth and development when compared to control which exhibited signs of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3541 biofilm maturation in 10 vi days. Among the different QQ bacteria and consortium IMN beads incubated membranes, Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads incubated membranes showed no signs of biofilm maturation till 30 days of incubation. The isolates Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2 and consortium incubated membrane showed signs of biofilm maturation within 20 days, respectively unlike Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 that showed biofilm maturation in 30 days. The biofilm structural elucidation by COMSTAT software further supported the results of CLSM analysis by showing less biomass (0.015± 0.001 µm3 /µ2 ) and more surface to biovolume ratio (0.93± 0.003 µm2 /µ3 ) for biofilm developed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3541 in 30 days incubation period with Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads when compared to control membrane that showed biomass volume of 0.06± 0.003 µm3 /µ2 and surface to biovolume ratio of 0.21± 0.005 µm2 /µ3 . Microcolony development and biofilm growth is indicated by more biomass volume and lesser surface to biovolume ratio. Further, the flux measurement of the incubated membranes confirmed the delayed biofilm formation in membranes incubated with Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2, Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3, Pseudomonas JYQ4 and consortium IMN beads that showed 10.4%, 17.7%, 20.3% and 8.1% higher flux, respectively compared to control. The potential of QQ bacteria IMN beads in controlling the biofilm formation by the sludge bacteria was also tested. The light microscopy analysis of glass slides incubated with QQ bacteria IMN beads revealed a significant reduction in the number of sludge bacterial cells when compared with the control slide (without IMN beads). Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads were more efficient in controlling biofilm formation followed by Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3, Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2 and consortium. The CLSM analysis of the QQ bacteria IMN beads incubated membranes exhibited the less amount of biofilm on the membranes compared to control. Similar to Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3541 studies, Pseudomonas JYQ4 delayed the biofilm maturation up to 30 days showing better biofilm controlling ability compared to other isolates. The biomass volume and surface to biovolume ratio of sludge bacteria biofilm developed on the Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads incubated membrane was calculated to be around 0.019± 0.015 µm3 /µ2 and 0.85± 0.65 µm2 /µ3 , respectively. The control 1 (without IMN beads) incubated membranes however, showed biomass volume of 0.065± 0.061 µm3 /µ2 and surface to biovolume ratio of 0.18± 0.14 µm2 /µ3 , respectively whereas control 2 (blank nanoparticle beads) incubated membranes showed biomass volume of 0.06± 0.02 µm3 /µ2 and surface to biovolume ratio of 0.16± 0.38 µm2 /µ3 , respectively. The flux studies showed that Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads incubated membranes showed 22% higher flux followed by Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 (19% higher), Acinetobacter baumannii JYQ2 (16% higher) and consortium (12.6% higher) compared to control membranes within 30 days incubation. The efficiency of the QQ bacteria IMN beads in biofouling control was also investigated in MBR. A submerged aerobic MBR with polyethersulfone hollow fiber membrane of pore size 0.4 µm and working volume of 4.5 L was used for the study. The MBR was operated at hydraulic retention time (HRT) and flux of 8h and 12.5 L/ (m2h), respectively. Synthetic dairy industry wastewater with COD of 4800± 40 mg/L was used as substrate in MBR. The MBR performance was evaluated at three different MLSS (i.e.) 4000, 7000 and 10,000 mg/L. The MBR showed removal efficiencies in the range of 95.6- 99.2% for COD removal; 55.7- 88.4% for TSS removal; 93.6- 94.6% for NH3-N removal and 25.5- 33.2% for phosphate removal at vii the MLSS 4000, 7000 and 10,000 mg/L. The performance of MBR in terms of effluent quality remained the same in QQ-MBR and showed no significant change in removal efficiencies. The membrane fouling potential at three different MLSS (i.e.) 4000, 7000 and 10,000 mg/L were assessed through tightly bound (TB-EPS), loosely bound (LBEPS) and soluble EPS polysaccharides and proteins. At MLSS of 4000 mg/L, the polysaccharides and protein fraction in TB-EPS varied between 32- 42.6 mg/L and 34.2- 50.7 mg/L, respectively which increased to 59.9- 71.3 mg/L and 61.6- 80.3 mg/L at 7000 mg/L MLSS; and 76.6- 92.6 mg/L and 85.9- 115.9 mg/L at 10,000 mg/L MLSS. Likewise, the LB-EPS polysaccharides and proteins were in the range of 11.7- 17.7 mg/L and 38.5- 56.1 mg/L at 4000 mg/L MLSS; 25.5- 36.2 mg/L and 81.1- 115.9 mg/L at 7000 mg/L MLSS; and 40.4- 58.5 mg/L and 124.6- 186.5 mg/L at 10,000 mg/L MLSS. The polysaccharides and proteins in soluble EPS also increased with increase in MLSS and was observed to be 23.4- 31.8 mg/L and 30.3- 48.1 mg/L at 4000 mg/L MLSS; 40.2- 53.2 mg/L and 56.3- 75 mg/L at 7000 mg/L MLSS; and 56.4- 72.3 mg/L and 77.9- 101.1 mg/L at MLSS 10,000 mg/L. Among all the EPS, TB-EPS and LB-EPS showed higher levels of polysaccharides and proteins, respectively. TMP also showed continuous increase and reached 29.8 kPa during MLSS 10,000 mg/L. When the QQ-MBR (Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 and Pseudomonas JYQ4 IMN beads) was assessed, it showed decreased EPS production in terms of polysaccharide and protein fractions of TB-EPS, LB-EPS and soluble EPS. During the operation of QQ-MBR at 4000 mg/L, 75.3% and 63.2% decrease in polysaccharide and proteins fractions of TB-EPS was observed compared to that of control MBR. Likewise, the QQ-MBR showed 64% and 77% lower LB-EPS and soluble EPS polysaccharides, respectively. The protein of LB-EPS and soluble EPS decreased by 62.2% and 68.7%, respectively in QQ-MBR at MLSS of 4000 mg/L. At MLSS 7000 mg/L, the polysaccharide in TB-EPS, LB-EPS and soluble EPS reduced by 69.7%, 63.1% and 72.3% when compared to control MBR. Similarly, around 57.3%, 63.4% and 61.7% reduction in the protein fraction of TB-EPS, LBEPS and soluble EPS, respectively was attained in the QQ-MBR. At MLSS 10,000 mg/L, the QQ-MBR showed a decrease of around 57.3% and 42.7% in TB polysaccharides and proteins fractions, respectively. LB polysaccharides and proteins reduced by 52.2% and 59.5% and soluble polysaccharides and proteins showed a decrease of around 60.7% and 40.3% in the QQ-MBR at 10,000 mg/L MLSS compared to control. Also, the QQ-MBR showed comparatively slower TMP rise than control MBR. The results concluded that the QQ bacteria Pseudomonas nitroreducens JYQ3 and Pseudomonas JYQ4 can be used effectively for interrupting the QS mechanism in bacteria for controlling the membrane biofouling problem in MBR.Item WATERSHED CHARACTERISATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANNING OF HARIKE WETLAND USING REMOTE SENSING AND GIS APPROACH(Central University of Punjab, 2019) NAJAR, GH NABI; Pandey, PuneetaWetlands are among the world’s most productive ecosystems and offer several beneficial services for man, fish and other wildlife. Despite the numerous valuable services provided by wetlands, they are overexploited throughout the world and particularly in developing countries. Hence their conservation and management has become a serious issue; and to restore them, conservational efforts at watershed level are most appropriate. Watershed planning approach adopted for wetland restoration provides dynamic benefits by restoring ecological processes and conserve water and soil resource integrity. In the present study, an attempt has been made to carry out a comprehensive analysis of Harike wetland and its catchment for various conservational measures and its sustainable management. The whole study area has been divided into 5 watershed basins, which were further subdivided into 25 sub-watersheds using Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data in conjunction with topographical maps of the study area. Morphometric parameters including linear parameters such as Stream number, Stream order (U), Stream Length (LU), Mean stream length (Lsm), Stream length ratio (RL), Bifurcation Ratio (Rb ); relief parameters such as Basin relief (Bh), Relief Ratio (Rh ), Ruggedness Number (Rn), Gradient ratio (Gh), Dissection index (Di); and aerial parameters namely: Drainage density (Dd), Drainage texture (T), Stream iv frequency (Fs), Form factor (Rf), Circulatory ratio (Rc), Elongation ratio (Re), Length of overland flow (Lg) and Constant channel maintenance(C) have been analysed to characterise the study area. The Morphometric analysis results revealed that study area as a whole has 7th stream order drainage basin as per the Strahler method. The sub-watershed ‘SWS11’ and ‘SWS12’ showed the smallest and largest basin area of 68.17 and 328.25 Km2 respectively. Among 25 sub-watersheds, SWS15 exhibit highest mean bifurcation ratio of 6.16. The drainage system of the basin is coarse with permeable subsurface strata and having moderate to good groundwater prospects. Landsat-8 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor-IV (LISS IV) satellite data of year 1995 and 2016 have been used to investigate the land use/ land cover (LULC) of Harike wetland and its catchment. On the basis of the spectral reflectance, seven major land use/land cover classes have been recognised namely; water, agricultural crop land, current follow land, wetland vegetation, wasteland, forest and built-up land. Agricultural land occupied the largest area in both the years of 1995 and 2016, covering an area of 74.55 and 66.16% respectively; whereas, forest occupied the lowest area of 0.13 and 0.10% respectively during the same time periods. Current fallow land exhibited the highest increase in total area followed by built up land. Different primary and secondary data were used to calculate the several parameters used in Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Length and Slope-factors (LS-factors) were calculated using data derived from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) in conjunction with topographical maps. Land use/land cover data prepared from LISS-IV satellite image (resolution of 5.8 m) have been used to calculate the Cover management-factor (C-factor). Average annual rainfall of last 15 years from year 2000 to 2015 of the study area have been used to prepare soil erodibility factor. SWS01 and SWS20 showed highest and lowest average annual soil loss of 12.22 and 3.20 t/ha/year respectively; whereas, average soil loss for whole study area was 5.03 t/ha/year. To have insights about groundwater recharge potential in the study area, groundwater potential zonation map was prepared using information from different raster layers including rainfall, slope, lineament density, soil, LULC, drainage density, geological and geomorphological maps. For the whole study area, groundwater potential recharge has been classified into five categories: poor, low, v medium, good and excellent based on infiltration potential. The moderate zone exhibits the highest percentage of 37.9 (1701 Km2 ). The area having excellent groundwater recharge potential is only 7.8% (350.13 km2 ). Further, groundwater recharge potential was analysed for all the 25 sub-watersheds of the study area, where, sub-watershed SWS03 covering large portion of the Harike wetland exhibited the highest area under excellent groundwater prospect zone (32.09%). In the present study an attempt has also been made to prioritise the different subwatersheds for soil and water conservation. Prioritization of sub-watersheds has been done based on soil erosion estimation and morphometric analysis and groundwater recharge prospect zonation. The results revealed that prioritization based on soil erosion estimation method is more appropriate than morphometric based method. Vulnerability of Harike wetland to weed infestation, encroachment and sediment deposition has been carried out based on the general impacts of LULC change, water quality and soil erosion on it. The present study describes the successful use of remote sensing and GIS for monitoring, characterisation and conservation of soil and water resources of the study area, using integrated watershed management approach for sustainable development.Item Studies on the Adsorptive Removal of Heavy Metals by Cellulose Immobilized Zerovalent Iron Nanoparticles(Central University of Punjab, 2018) SHARMA, ARCHANA KUMARI; Mittal, Sunil and Babu, J. NagendraItem BIOREMEDIATION OF COPPER CONTAMINATED SOIL USING RHIZOSPHERE AND ROOT NODULE BACTERIA(Central University of Punjab, 2018) Kumari, Manohari; K.N. YogalakshmiIncreased industrialization and urbanization have led to heavy metal contamination of the soil. It is the matter of great concern in recent times as it poses threat to all life forms. The existing physical and chemical remediation approaches for these toxic substances are too expensive and eco-unfriendly. Hence, the focus has been shifted towards more feasible, eco-friendly and cost-effective remediation approaches. Biological remediation is one such naturally driven technology with the potential to overcome the drawbacks of other physical and chemical treatment methods. It is well known that the metal contaminated site harbours natural metaltolerant microbial population that are capable of accumulating and immobilizing the metals from the contaminated environment and restrict their availability to the other living beings. In recent times, endophytic bacteria too are gaining an alarming attention in bioremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils. Keeping this in view, in the present study an attempt has been made to investigate the bioremediation and phytoremediation potential of copper-tolerant bacteria isolated from rhizosphere soil of Cynodon dactylon L. grown in brass effluent contaminated soil. Likewise, root nodule endophytic bacteria isolated from a leguminous plant (Vigna unguiculata L.) grown in uncontaminated soil was also explored for its copper bioremediation and phytoremediation potential. Copper-tolerant rhizobacteria and root nodule endophytic bacteria showing good plant growth promoting factors (PGPF) and higher copper removal potential were chosen for the construction of phytoextraction system with plants Helianthus annuus L. var. CO4 and Vigna unguiculata L. var. RS Gomati, respectively. The efficiency of phytoextraction system was evaluated through seed germination, plant length, chlorophyll, plant biomass and copper accumulation in the plant tissues. Total six copper-tolerant rhizobacterial colonies were isolated on nutrient media after enrichment in copper (II) sulphate (50 to 600 mg/L). The isolated v rhizobacteria were gram-negative bacilli and belonged to genera Stenotrophomonas and Brevundimonas. 16S rRNA analysis identified the rhizobacteria isolates as Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS1, Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS2, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia MYS3, Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS4, Stenotrophomonas sp. MYS5 and Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6. Likewise, four copper-tolerant root nodule endophytic bacterial colonies were isolated on yeast mannitol agar after enrichment in copper (II) sulphate (10 to 500 mg/L) and were identified as Arthrobacter tumbae MYR1, Bacillus safensis MYR2, Bacillus pumilus MYR3 and Bacillus sp. MYR4. The plant growth promoting factors namely IAA production, siderophore, ACC deaminase and phosphate solubilisation were in the range of 5.4 to 7.8 µg/mL, 0.38 to 1.1 cm, 0.37 to 0.93 and 2.2 to 3.8, respectively in rhizobacteria and 5.7 to 10.2 µg/mL (IAA) and 0.21 to 0.5 (ACC deaminase) in root nodule endophytic bacteria. No siderophore production or phosphate solubilisation was observed in root nodule endophytic bacteria. The copper-tolerant rhizobacteria and root nodule endophytic bacteria showed high copper removal at pH 5 and temperature of 32.5ºC. However, the copper concentration was different and was 250 mg/L for rhizobacteria and 600 mg/L for the root nodule endophytic bacteria. The growth and copper removal studies carried out for each bacteria at the optimized pH, temperature and copper concentration displayed that the rhizobacteria Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6 and Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS4 showed the highest copper removal in the range of 94 – 95%. Likewise, root nodule endophytic bacteria Bacillus safensis MYR2 and Arthrobacter tumbae MYR1 exhibited maximum copper removal of 84%. Growth curves indicated that the bacteria achieved higher copper removal in the stationary phase. The rhizobacteria and root nodule endophytic bacteria adapted biosorption and bioaccumulation as a mechanism for copper removal. Bioaccumulation and biosorption study demonstrated that Cu bioaccumulation in the bacterial cells increased with increase in bacterial cell growth. However, biosorption being a metabolism independent process to accumulate copper even after decrease in bacterial cell growth. SEM and EDX analysis confirmed copper biosorption by the bacterial cell surface. The slimy or mucoid texture of the bacterial colonies and copper biosorption capacity of the copper-tolerant bacteria suggested possibility of EPS secretion. Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS4 showed 34.4% increased EPS secretion in copper exposed bacterial cells when compared to unexposed control bacterial cells. Likewise, Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6 showed 18.6% increased EPS secretion in copper exposed bacterial cells as compared to the control cells. More abundant production of EPS by copper exposed bacteria when compared to control demonstrated their role as a defence mechanism in Cu stress condition. Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6 showed more EPS production (738.7 mg/L) when compared to Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila (317.6 mg/L) suggesting the vi potential role of EPS in overall copper removal by Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6. FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, aliphatic amines, imines, alkenes and alkanes are the main dominant functional chemical groups present on EPS with potential to bind Cu ions. The efficiency of phytoextraction systems constructed with H. annuus L. var. CO4 with rhizobacteria and root nodule endophytic bacteria and V. unguiculata L. var. RS Gomati with root nodule endophytic bacteria assessed via seed germination rate, root and shoot length, chlorophyll content, plant biomass (fresh and dry weight) and Cu uptake showed that phytoextraction system, H. annuus L. var. CO4 with Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6 and V. unguiculata L. var. RS Gomati with Bacillus safensis MYR2 was the most efficient systems. Brevundimonas diminuta MYS6 improved root and shoot length by 1.47 and 1.7 fold, plant fresh weight by 9.9 fold, plant dry weight by 15.8 fold and chlorophyll by 2.1 fold, respectively when compared to un-inoculated control plant. It also demonstrated a markedly higher copper accumulation of 235 µg/g in the plant. Likewise, the phytoextraction system constructed with V. unguiculata L. RS Gomati and Bacillus safensis MYR2 showed an increased seed germination of 87.5%, root and shoot length of 6 cm and 24.7 cm, fresh and dry weight of 8.6 gm and 1.5 gm, chlorophyll of 4.7 mg/g and copper accumulation of 490 µg/g when compared to un-inoculated plants. Further the systems were evaluated for the phytoextraction and phytostabilization ability through translocation factor (TF), bio-concentration factor (BCF) and biological accumulation factor (BAF). TF was more than 1 in H. annuus L. var. CO4 inoculated with Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila MYS4 and in V. unguiculata L. var. RS Gomati inoculated with Arthrobacter tumbae MYR1 and Arthrobacter tumbae MYR1- Bacillus safensis MYR2 co-inoculated plant, suggesting good Cu phytoextraction capability. Likewise, BCF obtained was less than 1 in all the treatments suggesting poor copper phytostabilization potential of the strains and plant. Results obtained in the present study demonstrated that copper-tolerant rhizobacteria and root nodule endophytic bacteria possess good potential for bioremediation and phytoremediation of copper contaminated soil. The phytoextraction system with V. unguiculata L. var. RS Gomati and root nodule endophytic bacterium, Bacillus safensis MYR2 proved to be competent system for copper phytoremediation from contaminated soil. From the study it can be concluded that root nodule endophytic bacteria proved to more advantageous over the rhizobacteria in terms of copper-tolerance, copper removal, promotion of plant growth and phytoextraction of copper from the contaminated soil.Item ASSOCIATION OF OXIDATIVE STRESS WITH CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6 AND PON1 GENETIC POLYMORPHISM IN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY OF BATHINDA(Central University of Punjab, 2018) Kaur, Gurpreet; Jain, A. K. and Singh, SandeepThe aim of present study is to evaluate the association of oxidative stress with CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2B6 and PON1 genetic variation in the pesticide exposed (occupationally) population. The present study demonstrated that the relative risk (RR) of declined antioxidant defense (Glutathione, Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione peroxidases, Glutathione Reductase) mechanism was significantly more in occupationally pesticide exposed group (n=120) as compared to unexposed group (n=84) from Bathinda district of Punjab (India). Although the age, BMI and alcohol intake were observed to be independent risk factors to decline the antioxidant defense mechanism, but the pesticide exposure was observed to be another risk factor to increase the oxidative stress inside the body. The gas chromatographic analysis revealed the residues of organophosphates (chlorpyriphos, dichlorvos, ethoprophos) and herbicides (atrazine, butachlor, alachlor, metolachlor) in the blood samples of population under investigation. Our results showed a dose dependent decrease in the cell viability following pesticide treatment (detected in blood samples) alone or in combination in hPBMC and A549 human lung cancer cell line. The pesticide treatment resulted the cell death in apoptotic manner via increased reactive oxygen species and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. Genetic variation analysis revealed the detection of two missense mutations [g.40991390G>T (SNP ID: rs33926104), g.40991388T>C (unknown)] on CYP2B6 gene of chromosome 19 in the coding region (exon 1) that results in the R29S and D28G amino acid change in CYP2B6 protein. One missense mutation (g.99758180C>T) has been detected in CYP3A4 gene that leads to change of amino acid from valine to isoleucine (V489I) at 489 location of protein. The mutated proteins have been predicted to change the structure and conformation of protein structure, thereby can alter its interaction with various DNA, membrane, ligand or . g.99757990A>T, g.99758050A>C and g.99758022A>T had been detected in CYP3A4 gene that may impair the post-translational modification of protein. So, the oxidative stress and pesticide residue accumulation inside the body could be the reason for more health problems in Bathinda district. Further, there is need to elaborate the research to study the genetic polymorphism in all pesticide metabolism genes.Item Studies on the Use of Fly Ash and Crop Residue Biochar in Soil Amelioration and Nutrient Uptake in Wheat(Central University of Punjab, 2018) NAG, SHILPA; Garg, V.K. and Babu, J. NagendraCatalytic pyrolysis of rice straw using fly ash as catalyst was studied in various gravimetric proportions of 1:3, 1:1 and 3:1 (fly ash : rice straw, w/w). The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA ) of the thermal degradation of rice straw in presence of fly ash and its subsequent kinetic analysis by Coats-Redfern equation showed a decrease in the activation energy. The pyrolysis was conducted in a laboratory scale batch reactor maintained at 400, 500 and 600 oC pyrolysis temperatures under slow pyrolysis conditions (10 oC/min). The pyrolysis furnishes three components namely biochar/biochar-fly ash composites (35-90%), bio-oil (4-22%) and syn-gas (6-48%) characteristic of slow pyrolysis conditions. The syn-gas obtained from catalytic pyrolysis were analysed and characterized using GC-TCD analysis to reveal CO2, CH4 and H2 as the major constituents with no traces of CO observed is accounted to fly ash metal oxide catalysed CO to CO2 conversion. The bio-oil obtained from catalytic pyrolysis upon GC-MS analysis, showed an increase in depolymerization of lignin and fragmentation and dehydration of the carbohydrate residues as the major processes operative in presence of fly ash. The results were further affirmed by the Ultimate (CHNO) analysis, 1H-NMR and HSQC 2D-NMR analysis for the catalytic pyrolysis biooil. The biochar and biochar-fly ash composites were characterized for their Ultimate analysis, Functional groups (FTIR and Boehm Titration), SEM-EDS, physico-chemical properties (pH, EC, alkalinity, total phosphate), surface area, micronutrients and its leaching characteristics and Cu(II) adsorption. The O/C and H/C atomic ratios for biochar and biochar fly ash composites decreased with increase in the pyrolysis Name of student Shilpa Nag Registration Number CUP/MPh-PhD/SEES/EVS/2010-11/07 Degree for which submitted Doctor of Philosophy Supervisor Prof. (Dr.) V. K. Garg Co-Supervisor Name Dr. J. Nagendra Babu Department Centre for Environmental Science and Technology School of Studies School of Environment and Earth Sciences Key words Crop residue, Biochar, Fly ash, Soil, Wheat iv temperature. Functional group analysis further reiterated the results with oxygenated functional groups like lactone and carboxylic acids present at lower temperature biochar whereas only phenols were present in case of high temperature biochar. Biochar were alkaline and with increase in the fly ash content the pH of the composites tend to be less basic. Cu(II) adsorption was characteristically observed to increase with increase in the fly ash content in the biochar obtained from catalytic pyrolysis at 500 oC. The biochar and biochar-fly ash composites were ameliorated to soil and changes in the physicochemical properties namely pH, EC, CEC, water holding capacity, total Phosphorus and available Phosphorus, of soil were characterized. The biochar-fly ash composite also prepared externally using biochar obtained at various pyrolysis temperatures with fly ash, mixed in proportion as calculated for the catalytic pyrolysis biochar obtained. The soil ameliorated with biochar-fly ash composite prepared from catalytic pyrolysis were compared with the soil ameliorated with externally mixed biochar-fly ash composite for various soil physicochemical properties. The plant growth of Triticum aestivum was studied for the full crop cycle. The plant growth parameters namely – root length, shoot length, photosynthetic pigments, cellular respiration, antioxidant enzymes, crop height were studied. The results of the study were compared statistically using one way and two way ANOVA. The ANOVA analysis revealed that all the plant growth parameters tend to show a significant change with the biochar/biochar-fly ash composites obtained at various pyrolysis temperatures and their composition. Regression analysis revealed the significant change with all the chemical and biological properties measured at different stages of Triticum aestivum and biochar/biochar-fly ash composite ameliorated soil physicochemical properties. The parameters indicate oxidative stress in case of the plants grown on the biochar and biochar-fly ash ameliorated soils.Item Calix[4]arene Derivative Capped Quantum Dots for Fluorogenic Sensing of Aromatic Analytes(Central University of Punjab, 2018) KUMAR, RABINDRA; Jain, A. K. and Babu, J. NagendraQuantum dots (CdSe and CdS) were synthesized and capped with Calix[4]arene derivative (2-12). Method for green route of synthesis of CdS QD in [BMIM]Cl was established in our lab. Quantum dots (CdSe and CdS) were characterized by the TEM, DLS, UV-Vis, and Fluorescence. Calix[4]arene derivatives (1-12) were synthesized and characterized by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Calix[4]arene derivatives adsorption on CdSe QD1-4 was characterized by fluorescence quenching and the binding characteristics were studied by applying Stern-Volmer plot to Langmuir adsorption. A non-covalent interaction between 2-12 and TOPO capped CdSe QD1-4 was observed. CdSe QD and Calix[4]arene derivative capped CdS QDs were evaluated for fluorescence sensing behavior towards sixteen polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aromatic analytes, respectively. 2@QD2, 4@QD2, 7@QD2 and 9@QD2 showed selective and sensitive fluorescence enhancement in upto presence of fluorine (8 nM), acenaphthelene (30 nM), acenaphthene (135 nM) and benzo[b]fluorenthene (15 nM), respectively. However, 2@CdS QDs Showed selective and sensitive fluorescence enhancement in benzene. The limit of detection for benzene using 2@CdS QDs was found to be upto 30 nM. The proposed method was demonstrated for its use in determination of fluorene, acenaphthelene, acenaphthene and benzo[b]fluorenthene in spiked respirable dust (PM10) in ambient air samples collected during the open biomass (stubble) burning event in Bathinda, Punjab, ground water, milli Q water and canal water from CUP, Bathinda.Item Degradation of CHLORPYRIFOS by Laccase immobilized magnetic Iron Nanoparticles(Central University of Punjab, 2018) Das, Anamika; K.N. YogalakshmiItem HERBICIDAL POTENTIAL OF POLYMER BASED FORMULATIONS OF ESSENTIAL OIL FROM PLANT Callistemon viminalis(Central University of Punjab, 2016) VISHWAKARMA, GAJENDRA SINGH; Mittal, Sunil