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D. Gnanasangeetha ¹, D. Sarala Thambavani ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Chemistry, PSNA College of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul, Tamilnadu, IN
2 Research and Development Centre, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, IN

Abstract

An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model was urbanized to forecast the biosorption competence of zinc oxide nanoparticle ingrained on activated silica using Corriandrum sativum (ZNO-NPs-AS-Cs) for the amputation of whole As(III) from aqueous solution based on 95 data sets obtained in a laboratory batch study. Experimental parameters affecting the biosorption progression such as initial concentration, dosage, pH, contact time and agitation were premeditated. A contact time of 90 min was generally passable to bring about equilibrium. The maximum adsorption capacity of (ZNO-NPs-AS-Cs) in AS (III) removal was found to be 3.46 g/L. The sensitivity analysis confirmed that MSE values decreased as the number of variables used in the ANN model increased. The relative increase in the performance due to inclusion of V₂, adsorbent dosage; V₃, contact time; and V₅, agitation speed is larger than the contribution of other variables. The proposed ANN model provided realistic experimental data with a satisfactory correlation coefficient of 0.999 for five operating variables.

Keywords

Artificial Neural Network, Biosorption, Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle, As(III).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

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

Abstract

Levels of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and chromium were determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to assess the heavy metal contamination of urban soil of Dindigul town. Soil samples were collected from the residential site, traffic site and industrial site at the depth of 0-20 cm, 20-40 cm and 40-60 cm, respectively. A comparison of heavy metal concentrations between polluted and control site exhibited significantly higher concentration at the polluted sites. The mean concentration of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr at the industrial site were 9.087 mg/kg, 10.443 mg/kg, 2.49 mg/kg, 8.657 mg/kg, 0.072 mg/kg, 2.85 mg/kg, respectively. Soil profile samples showed that Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr concentration were higher in the top soil of (0-20 cm), but decreased with increase in depth. Correlation co-efficient of all the heavy metals showed significant correlation except Mn. Heavy Metal Index (HMI) for the control, traffic and industrial sites were 14.27, 21.13 and 24.39, respectively. Traffic and industrial sites were found to be highly polluted. Comparing heavy metal concentration in soils of different sampling sites show that urban soil was affected by the human impact. However, the heavy metal content in the soil compared with international standards do not give cause for the concern but continued urbanization and industrialization will ultimately place human health and environmental targets at risk.

Keywords

Heavy Metal Index (HMI), Load Representative Supply (LRS), Heavy Metals, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS), Contaminated, Highly Polluted, Industrialization, Urbanization, Human Impact.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

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

Abstract

Total concentration of iron, manganese, zinc, lead, copper, cadmium and chromium have been estimated in soil of residential, traffic and tannery sites at two depths (0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) and in leaves of plant species Azadirachta indica, Pongamia glabra and Delonix regia growing at traffic and industrial site in urban town of Dindigul. The metal concentrations were found to be higher at traffic and tannery sites compared to residential area. The heavy metal concentrations were found to be higher at 0-20 cm depth compared to (20-40 cm) depth. Delonix regia had higher concentration of Fe, Mn, Cu and Cr at traffic and tannery sites (318.4 mg/kg, 375.2 mg/kg, 71.6 mg/kg, 85.3 mg/kg and 290.2 mg/kg, 41.0 mg/kg and 1.25 mg/kg, 1.93 mg/ kg, respectively). Pongamia glabra showed the higher concentration of Zn and Cd at traffic and tannery site (75.8 mg/kg, 40.2 mg/kg and 2.28 mg/kg and 4.60 mg/kg, respectively). The concentration of Pb was higher for Azadirachta indica at traffic and Pongamia glabra at tannery site. The enrichment data indicated Cd was enriched in the soil compared to other elements. Cr was enriched more in the tannery site.The Enrichment factor of plants for heavy metals such as Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd has the EF value greater than 2 except for Fe and Cr. Mobility ratio for heavy metals was found to be greater than 2 except for chromium. Soil plant transfer data indicated that plant was enhanced with anthropogenic activities. Therefore, Azadirachta indica, Pongamia glabra and Delonix regia could be considered a more suitable to biomonitor the environmental pollution in the examined area. These plant species had potential use as a low cost tool in ecological restoration. Since they are tolerant to most of the pollutant in the area studied.

Keywords

Anthropogenic, Enrichment Factor, Mobility Ratio, Heavy Metal, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Industrial, Traffic, Tannery, Accumulator, Bioaccumulation.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, M. Vidya Vathana ²

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

Abstract

Contamination of heavy metals in the environment is of major concern because of their toxicity and threat to human life and the environment. Metal interaction in soil vary considerably with the nature of soil types. Concentrations of Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Cd were determined to assess the impact of traffic and industrial activities. Soil samples at two polluted sites and a control site were collected at a depth of 0-2 cm. A comparison of elemental levels between polluted and control sites exhibited exceptionally higher concentrations at the former sites. The Pb levels in polluted sites varied from 33.23-41.50 μg/cm³. Similarly mean concentrations of Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Cd were significantly higher in industrial and traffic area compared to residential area. Correlation coefficients between heavy metals were positively significant for all the heavy metals. A comparison of heavy metal content strongly implicate the automobile as the source of contamination. Heavy metal contamination such as Pb in road side soil is continuous and takes place on a relatively long term basis since many metals are not so mobile. The levels of Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn, Ni and Cd in the road side soil of traffic areas are much higher than the industrial and residential road side soil. Therefore, it is apparent that the continued loading will ultimately place human health and other environmental targets at risk. The results have been presented using heavy metal index.

Keywords

Concentrations, Polluted Sites, Control Site, Heavy Metal Index, Contamination, Environmental Target, Correlation Coefficient.

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D. Sarala Thambavani ¹, V. Prathipa ²

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

Abstract

Heavy metal enrichment and contamination of the soil has attracted a great deal of attention world wide due to their non-biodegradable nature. This study was conducted to investigate the concentration of heavy metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr in soil which have been contaminated by industrial activity. In view of this, influence of an industrial environment on the accumulation of heavy metals in the surface soils of the Dindigul which is Industrial Town, Tamil Nadu has been investigated. The total 18 top soil samples enrichment (0-20cm) were collected for a period between October 2011 to February 2012 and the heavy metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentration of Mn (13.16 mg/kg) was found to higher followed by Fe (9.13 mg/kg), Cu (6.73 mg/kg), Zn (2.13 mg/kg), Cr (1.98 mg/kg), Pb (0.82 mg/kg) and Cd (0.079 mg/kg). The average enrichment factor for Cr (4.58) was found to be higher followed by Cd (3.06), Zn (1.93), Pb (1.78), Mn (1.49), Fe (1.41) and Cu (1.17). Cr and Cd have the more enrichment factor and normalized scatter coefficient compared to other heavy metals. It is inferred that Cr and Cd are accumulated to the greater extent in the industrial soil of Dindigul Town.

Keywords

Enrichment Factor, Normalized Scatter Coefficient, Heavy Metals, Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, Contamination, Industrial Soil, Non-Biodegradable.

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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), Madurai (T.N.), IN

Abstract

Sugar industry plays a major role in creating pollution of water bodies and soil, because effluent contain large amount of organic and inorganic chemicals. Direct discharge of effluents from this industry may have profound influence on soil physico-chemical and biological properties. Hence, characterization of the effects of sugar industry effluents on soil is an urgent need to identify the problem areas, so that proper steps could be taken up before the soil just become hardly of any use. The present study was conducted to investigate the impact of sugar industry effluents on the soil spread over an area of radius of 2 km from the mill. The soil physico-chemical parameters such as pH, electrical conductivity, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron, nanganese, zinc and copper were monitored at residential and three polluted sites and at two different depths. The analysis of the parameters shows that pH and electrical conductivity were high compared to residential site and found to decrease as the distance from the mill increased. The same trait was encountered with depth variations. The macronutrient nitrogen decreased away from the mill where as phosphorus and potassium showed increase at site 2 and a decline at sites 1 and 3, respectively. Among the micronutrients, iron was found to be high at all the sites. The iron content increased at all the sites, because of its solubility and ready availability to the soil. All the micronutrients except iron showed a similar trend of higher values at site 2 compared to sites 1 and 3. The high level of phosphorus, potassium, manganese, zinc and copper at site 2 can be attributed to the fact that leaching due to the rain.

Keywords

Sugar Industry, Effluents, Physico-Chemical Parameters, Macronutrients, Micronutrients, Leaching.

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