Journal of Sustainable Environment

Physicochemical Analysis of Surface Water in Rohri Canal from Sukkur Barrage to Mehrabpur

Rahat Ali Malik — 2024-03-15

The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of domestic and industrial waste discharge on the surface water quality of Rohri Canal in the stretch of the canal from Sukkur Barrage to Mehrabpur town. Eight sampling points were selected along the canal focusing on canal locations near major settlements. The parameters studied were temperature, pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, total dissolved solids and suspended solids, chlorides, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and E-coli. The average value of BOD and COD at the sampling stations were recorded as 212 mg/L and 423 mg/L respectively, which exceed the permissible surface water limits for drinking and irrigation purposes. The results indicate significantly higher value of BOD in sampling locations where there are major settlements and there is a continuous inflow of untreated sewage into the canal. The pH values at all the sampling sites were found within the drinking and irrigation water quality standards whereas the TDS values at only sampling stations (3 and 4) exceeded these limits. The turbidity values of the samples ranged from 237 to 821 NTU, exceeding the WHO drinking water quality standards for this parameter. The values of the water quality parameters including hardness (range 146 to 300 mg/L), chlorides (range 36 to 103 mg/L) and alkalinity (range 120 to 230 mg/L) were found well below the limits of WHO drinking water quality standards. The turbidity values of the samples ranged from 237 to 821 NTU and exceeded the WHO drinking water quality standards for this parameter. At all the sampling sites located near major settlements low levels of dissolved oxygen and the presence of E.coli were recorded. The results revealed that the continuous inflowing of untreated or un-treated sewage and industrial effluents into the canal has changed its physicochemical and biological characteristics, which make it unfit for human consumption and can have long-term irrevocable ecological threats if left unmanaged

Comparison of Extraction Assays and Quantification of Protein from Ulva anandii (Cholorophycota)

Laila Shahnaz — 2024-03-15

Seaweeds contain many macronutrients including protein, therefore they can be utilized to fulfil the protein requirements of human beings. This research focused on extracting total protein in green seaweed Ulva anandii (Amjad et Shameel 1993), from the crude extracts, by using the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and acetone precipitation methods, and the estimation of crude extract (water-soluble proteins), and those obtained from the two above-mentioned methods. The results indicate that the water-soluble proteins had the highest quantity (949.75µg/mL) followed by the TCA precipitation method (831µg/mL), while the acetone precipitation method had the least concentration of total protein (100 µg/mL). The study concludes that treatment with organic solvents lowers the quantity of protein extracted from U. anandii.

Evaluation of the Performance of Wastewater Treatment Plant at Steel Mill Karachi, Pakistan

Ghazala Akber Jamali — 2024-04-30

The purpose of this study is to evaluate how well Steel Mill Karachi's wastewater treatment system works. Wastewater treatment facilities employ the activated sludge technique. Several influent and effluent locations allowed for the collection of influent and effluent samples. A number of physicochemical parameters, such as total dissolved solids (TDS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), electric conductivity (EC), pH, and other metals, such as potassium (K), iron (Fe), sulphate (SO4-2), calcium (Ca), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), and magnesium (Mg), were measured in order to evaluate the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants. In a lab environment, the sample's analysis findings were compared to Sindh Environmental Quality Standards (SEQS) for Pakistan. EC, BOD5, COD, SO4-2, Ca, Mg, Na, K, TDS, TSS, EC, BOD₅, COD, SO₄^-2, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, and Zn were removed to different degrees: 42.93%, 60.33%, 43.63%, 51.53%, 40.5%, 35.56%, 26.33%, 22.12%, 34.09%, 20.75%, 55.87%, 22.12%, and 76.10%. Only two metrics, the COD and Zn concentrations, were over the SEQS limits, keeping other effluent results parameters within the limits. Additionally, it is advised that proper maintenance be carried out to increase the effectiveness of wastewater treatment plants.

Utilization of Azadirachta Indica Latex for Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles its Application in Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye

Ambreen Shahadat — 2024-03-15

The use of extract from indigenous plant species for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles has significant importance as they have a capacity to act as potential reducing, capping and stabilizing agent. In this research, latex of Azadirachta indica (Neem) was selected for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Maximum absorbance was achieved at 425 nm (λ_max) for AgNPs. FTIR vibrational peaks of AgNPs were observed at 3462, 2933, 1732, 1658, 1458, 1381, 1244, and 1028 and near 600 cm^-1. Moreover, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) showed that the synthesized AgNPs were face-centered cuboid, spherical, hexahedral, and pentagonal structures ranging in size between 7.15-71.5nm. XRD analysis shows that most of the nanoparticles have spherical crystalline structure. Photocatalytic degradation of hazardous azo dye; Methylene blue dye (MB) was performed in the presence of synthesized AgNPs as catalysts under UV-induced photocatalytic degradation. The degradation efficiency after 180 minutes of reaction time was 82 % which proposes its potential to use as environmental pollutant eradicators in the treatment of textile industries wastewater.

Harnessing Nature's Arsenal: Investigating the Antibacterial Efficacy of Commercial Essential Oils against Staphylococcus Strains Isolated from Poultry Meat.

Ambreen Rafique — 2024-04-30

Pathogens prevalent in the food supply chain provide a significant worldwide risk to both human health and the economy. Poultry meat, a staple in global diets, serves as a reservoir for bacterial contamination. Staphylococcus, a gram-positive bacterium belonging to family Staphylococcaceae has been identified as a potential causative agent of food borne illnesses. The presence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus strains in poultry products raises concerns about the transmission of resistance genes through the food chain, necessitating thorough investigations into alternative antimicrobial agents for effective bacterial control. Essential oils (EOs) hold profound importance in terms of their known and potential application. This study focuses on the evaluation of commercial essential oils and their effectiveness against Staphylococcus strains isolated from poultry meat. Briefly, 150 raw chicken meat samples were collected, and Staphylococcus spp. was identified based on morphological and cultural characteristics. Antibiogram analysis and essential oils activity was determined by disc diffusion and agar well diffusion assay respectively. Results showed that 27 (18%) samples tested positive for Staphylococcus spp, out of which S. aureus was identified in 25 isolates (16.66%). The antibiogram profile reveals that three antibiotics namely, gentamicin, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics showing sensitivity against 74.07%, 70.37% and 62.96% of the isolates respectively. Moreover, amongst the tested essential oils cinnamon oil and clove oil exhibited the highest antimicrobial activities ZOI ranges from 19-41mm and 19-33 mm respectively. While focusing on the evaluation of antimicrobial activity of essential oils, the study endeavors to aid in development of sustainable strategies for mitigating bacterial contamination in the food industry.

GC/GC-MS analysis and biological activities of Lantana Camara Linn.

Riffat Abdul Ghafoor — 2024-03-15

Medicinal plants have been a part of human history for thousands of years and are still used as healthcare throughout the world. The current research aims to explore the chemical constituents of the methanol soluble extract (LC-Me) and petroleum ether soluble fraction (LCM-PES) from the leaves of Lantana camara Linn by GC/ GC-MS. This chemical analysis revealed the existence of 16 and 23 phytoconstituents in LC-Me and LCM-PES respectively. The major constituents in LC-Me were found to beethyl 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate (31.9%), hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (12.6%), n-hexadecanoic acid (11.1%), linoleic acid ethyl ester (9.1%), squalene (8.7%), di-n-octyl phthalate (6.2%), 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (Z,Z)- (4.2%), (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (2.7%) andcyclopropanebutanoicacid,2-[[2-[[2-[(2-pentylcyclopropyl)methyl]cyclopropyl]methyl]cyclopropyl]methyl]-, methyl ester (2.3%). The chief bioactive compounds in petroleum ether soluble fraction were found to beandrost-8-en-3-ol, 4,4,14α-trimethyl-17-(2-bromo-1-methylethyl (57.9%), 14,17-nor-3,21-dioxo-β-amyrin, 17,18-didehydro-3-dehydroxy- (13.0%), barringtogenol B (2.5%), olean-12-ene-3,16,21,22,28-pentol, 21-(2-methyl-2-butenoate), [3β,16α,21β(Z),22α]-(1.7%),perhydrocyclopropa[e]azulene-4,5,6-triol, 1,1,4,6-tetramethyl (1.7%), ethyl iso-allocholate (1.6%) and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (1.6%). Both the extract and its fraction have exhibited very significant antibacterial, antifungal,mosquito repellent and larvicidal propertiesoriginated by numerous bioactive metabolites. Twenty eight (20 Gram-positive and 8 Gram-negative) bacteria were tested against LC.Me and LCM-PESwith noteworthy zone of inhibition.The significant in vitro antifungal activity was observed against fifteen fungi in LC-Me and LCM-PES. Very robust initial repellency was observed for LC-Me and LCM-PES (94% and 80% respectively) against the dengue-carrying mosquito (Aedes aegypti) at 2% concentration. The extract and its fraction were also found to be an efficient larvicidal agent against fourth-stage larvae of Aedes aegypti. The effective larvicidal property was noted in methanol soluble extract as compared topetroleum ether soluble fraction and standard with LC₅₀value of 20 and 400 ppm respectively.