The Asian Journal of Experimental Chemistry

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, M. A. Sabitha ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women (Autonomous), Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, J.A. College for Women (Autonomous), Periyakulam (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Sugar industry is one of the most important agro based industries in India and is highly responsible for creating significant impact on rural economy in particular and countries economy in general. Sugar industries rank second amongst mavar agro based industries in India. Sugar industry is seasonal in nature and operates only for 120 to 200 days in a year (early November to April). A significant large amount of waste is generated during the manufacture of sugar and contains a high amount of production load particularly in items of suspended solids, organic matters, press-mud, bagasses and air pollution. Air pollutants from sugar mill can directly affect plants via leaves or indirectly via soil acidification. When exposed to air pollutants, most plant experience physiological changes before exhibiting visible damage to leaves. In the present study, the extraction of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid pigments were studied in the five tree species such as Ficus benghalensis, Delonix regia, Ficus religiosa, Azadirachta indica and Pongamia pinnata. Extraction was made by using solvents such as acetone (80% and 100%), ethanol and ethyl acetate. The spectrophotometric determination of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoid pigments were studied. The study area was polluted with organic pollutants which results in reduced pigment levels in the leaves. It was observed that Acetone (100%) showed higher significance during the extraction process when compared to ethanol, ethyl acetate and acetone (80%).

Keywords

Air Pollutants, Bagasse, Chlorophyll A and B, Carotenoid, Organic Pollutants, Extraction Process, Solvents.

Full Text

     

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Govt. Arts College for Women, Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, P.S.N.A. College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul (T.N.), IN

Abstract

In the present study physico chemical parameters such as Temperature, pH, Total dissolved solids, Total suspended solids, Electrical Conductivity, Calcium, Magnesium, Total Hardness, Chloride, Sulphate, Phosphate, Nitrate, Nitrite, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand and Dissolved oxygen were analyzed in the leather tannery of Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. All the parameters were found to be above the standard limit. The tannery effluent was alkaline with high BOD and COD, along with higher concentration of Total dissolved solids and Total Suspended solids, Sodium adsorption ratio and high amount of sodium having water quality class C3S1. A systematic statistical analysis showed correlation between water quality parameters. Water quality index minimum (WQI minimum) calculated using Temperature, pH, Electrical conductivity, DO and Total suspended solids which showed that effluent belonged to bad water class. Water quality index (WQI) calculated using all the 16 physico-chemical parameters showed that effluent belonged to very bad water class. The total dissolved solid present in the effluent is maximum hence effluent is unfit for irrigation and for any use. The discharge of leather tannery effluent is leading to the contamination of ground water to the surrounding area and highly polluting the environment. It can thus be concluded that waste effluent from leather tannery is unfit for agricultural use and it may have deleterious effect on soils when used for irrigation purposes causing salinity and sodicity problems unless proper management techniques are adopted.

Keywords

Waste Water Effluents, Water Quality Index (WQI), Physico-Chemical Parameter, Tannery, Correlation, Water Quality Parameters, Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Water Pollution Limit, Threshold Hazard of Waste Water and Normalization Factors.

Full Text

     

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, M. Vidya Vathana ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Govt. Arts College (W), Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, Sacs M.A.V.M.M. Engineering College, Madurai (T.N.), IN

Abstract

As industrialization and urbanization is increasing, the concentration of smoke, dust and ash are increasing in the ambient air and the natural environment is in deterioration. Particulate matter and zinc monitoring is conducted in an urban area of Madurai in a state of Tamil Nadu. The study is carried out in three sites namely industrial, traffic and residential area based on the activities. It is selected to determine the variation in the concentration levels. This study focuses the key air pollution problem arising from industrial pollution. Data analysis of suspended particulate matter and zinc metal concentration showed the significant differences between all the concentration of pollutants and at all three sampling sites. The genesis of urban air pollution is mainly due to anthropogenic activities, including industrial pollution. Air pollution cause negative impact directly or indirectly on human beings, vegetation, climate and buildings. The present study is carried out for useful planning and control measures of air pollution in traffic and industrial area to avoid air quality deterioration.

Keywords

Particulate Matter, Zinc, Air Pollution, Air Quality Deterioration, Industrial Pollution.

Full Text

     

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, R. Saravana Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Govt. Arts College for Women, Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, N.P.R. College of Engineering and Technology, Natham, Dindigul (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Plants are the only living organisms which have to suffer a lot from cement dust pollution, because they remain static at their habitat. In the present study, the estimation of Chlorophyll 'a', Chlorophyll 'b' and total carotenoid pigments were studied in three different species such as Azhadirachta indica (L), Polyalthia longifolia (L) and Ficus religiosa (L). Extraction was made using 100 per cent acetone and spectrophotometric determination was carried out. The selected plant species was exposed to the cement dust pollution. Variation in Chl'a', Chl'b' and carotenoid were found out from the plant species which were exposed to the cement dust pollution on various days such as 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days. Ficus religiosa (L) was found to be more affected compared to the remaining species. This variation can be used as indicators of the air pollution for early diagnosis of stress caused by the pollution. The findings implied that cement dust pollution reduced the photosynthetic capacity of the plants. The reduction in photosynthetic pigments corresponds directly to the reduction in plant growth.

Keywords

Cement Dust, Bio-Indicators, Photosynthetic Pigments, Chlorophyll, Carotenoids, Leaf Extraction, Spectrophotometric Determination and Acetone.

Full Text

     

D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, M. A. Sabitha ², R. Selvasundari ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, Sri Meenakshi Government Arts College for Women, Madurai (T.N.), IN
2 Department of Chemistry, Jayaraj Annapackiam College for Women, Periyakulam (T.N.), IN
3 Department of Chemistry, Maduari Kamaraj University, Madurai (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Air pollutant from vehicles affect tree by injuring and killing them, and by adversely affecting physiological processes so as to decrease growth without necessarily causing visible symptoms of injury. In the present study, the four leaf parameters such as pH, relative water content, total chlorophyll and ascorbic acid for the five tree species such as Peltophorum ferrugineum, Pongamia glabra, Polyalthia longifolia, Tectona grandis and Ailanthus excelsa in three different sampling stations such as residential area, commercial cum heavy traffic area and less traffic area has been monitored. The air pollution tolerance index (APTI) has been evaluated, incorporating the biochemical parameters to categorize the plants as sensitive or resistant to air pollutants. The analysis of the parameters show that all the four parameters are high in the residential area compared to the sampling stations exposed to automobile exhaust. It reveals that the air pollutants from the vehicles enter the plants through the natural opening usually stomata and react within leaf tissues. They do not cause tissue death but inhibit leaf function.

Keywords

Ascorbic Acid, Chlorophyll Content, Air Pollution Tolerance Index, Biochemical Parameter.

Full Text