NISCAIR Online Periodicals Repository Collection: JSIR Vol.64(10) [October 2005]

Production of fungal cellulases by solid state bioprocessing of groundnut shell wastes

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Production of fungal cellulases by solid state bioprocessing of groundnut shell wastes

Authors: Vyas, Ashish; Vyas, Deepak

Abstract: Groundnut shell was found to be potent inducer of cellulases by Aspergillus terreus, A. nidulans and Trichoderma viride in solid-state fermentation. Combination of A. terreus and Trichoderma viride was best for cellulase production.

Page(s): 767-770

Sorption of humic acid from aqueous solutions by lanthana-alumina mixed oxide pillared bentonite

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Sorption of humic acid from aqueous solutions by lanthana-alumina mixed oxide pillared bentonite

Authors: Bringle, C D; Shibi, I G; Vinod, V P; Anirudhan, T S

Abstract: This work aims to evaluate the sorbent power of pillared inter layer clay (PILC) for humic acid from aqueous solutions. PILC was prepared from natural bentonite clay with lanthana-alumina mixed oxide pillars and was found to be very effective in removing humic acid from water. Maximum adsorption of 97.3 and 88.8 % took place by PILC (pH 3.0) from an initial concentration of 15.0 and 30.0 mmol/l respectively. Lagergren first-order kinetic equation governed uptake process. Electrolyte (NaCl) compresses the diffuse double layer leading to the increased uptake of humic acid; this also showed that van der Waals attraction is an important part of the interactive forces between humic acid and PILC. According to Giles classification, adsorption isotherm may be classified as L-type. The applicability of Langmuir isotherm to PILC-humic acid system was tested. Adsorption capacity ‘Q^o’ (54.32 mmol/g) and binding constant ‘b’ (0.249 l/ mol) were maximum at 10^oC and pH 3.0. Experiments conducted at different temperatures allowed for the calculation of isosteric heat of adsorption, revealing that the adsorptionprocess was exothermic. About 94.6 % can be recovered from the spent clay using 0.01 M NaOH.

Page(s): 782-788

Biosorption of Pb and Zn from pulp and paper industry effluent by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Biosorption of Pb and Zn from pulp and paper industry effluent by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

Authors: Verma, V K; Gupta, R K; Rai, J P N

Abstract: Lead and zinc uptake by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was studied in the laboratory conditions to investigate a low cost natural aquatic treatment system for pollutant removal from pulp and paper industry effluent. Bioaccumulation of Pb and Zn by water hyacinth was found concentration and duration dependent. The plant possessed ability to neutralize the effluent. It could effectively absorb Pb (0.28-1.39 mg/l, 17.6-80.3%) and Zn (0.26-1.30 mg/l, 16.6-73.4 %) after 20 days of treatment. Metal removal efficiency was found to be maximum (80.3% for Pb; 73.4 % for Zn) at 20 % effluent concentration, thus highlighting that phytoremediation could be used along with and/or in some cases as a substitute of expensive cleanup technologies in industrial sector.

Page(s): 778-781

Biological treatment of low-biodegradable composite chemical wastewater using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor: Process monitoring

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 22:58:59 GMT

Title: Biological treatment of low-biodegradable composite chemical wastewater using upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor: Process monitoring

Authors: Mohan, S Venkata; Prasad, K Krishna; Rao, N Chandrasekhara; Bhaskar, Y Vijaya; Babu, V Lalit; Rajagopal, D; Sarma, P N

Abstract: Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor was investigated for the treatment of low biodegradable composite chemical wastewater, which was complex in nature and has low biodegradability (BOD/COD ratio ~0.32), with high concentrations of sulphate and total dissolved inorganic solids (TDIS). After inoculating with slaughterhouse wastewater treating anaerobic sludge, the reactor showed a rapid startup phase. The reactor was operated continuously for 60 days with an actual organic loading rate (OLR_actual) of 4.25 kg COD/ m³-d accounting for 37 h of detention time in continuous mode without recirculation at a mesophilic temperature of 29±2^oC. At steady state conditions, the reactor resulted in 62% of COD removal efficiency accounting for substrate degradation rate (SDR_actual) of 2.6 kg COD/ m³-d. The experimental data demonstrated the applicability of UASB system for treating composite chemical wastewater with low biodegradable nature. Introduction of appropriate inoculum to the reactor during startup showed the effective biological treatment of composite wastewater, which is evident from the substrate and sulfate removal data and non-accumulation of VFA concentration in the reactor along with the generation of biogas.

Page(s): 771-777