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J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Yamini Verma ¹, Rita N. Kumar ¹, Manishita Das ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidya Nagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

The study deals with water quality parameters affecting the composition, seasonal abundance and dominance of phytoplankton in a wetland, Thol Bird Sanctuary, Central Gujarat, India. Hydrochemical parameters of water samples were analysed during September 2007 to August 2009. Monthly variation of water quality parameters like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, total hardness, chloride, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate were investigated during the study period. Nutrients like chloride, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate were found higher during summer and lower during monsoon months in both the years. 102 phytoplankton taxa were identified of which Cyanophyta represented by 44 species, constituted the largest group, followed by Bacillariophyta by 25 species, Chlorophyta by 23 species and Euglenophyta by 10 species. Remarkable seasonal variation in mean density of Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta was observed during the study period. Chlorophyta members were present in reasonable numbers throughout the study period, being most abundant in post monsoon and winters. Cyanophyta and Euglenophyta populations showed less seasonal variations except a noticeable increased in density of Euglenophyta in summer 2009. The interrelationship between the hydrochemical properties and phytoplankton assemblages and influence of water quality parameters were investigated by adopting statistical correlation coefficient analysis and linear curves. The hierarchical cluster analysis was used to define biologically distinct regions within the wetland based on the composition of phytoplankton.

Keywords

Thol Wetland, Phytoplankton, Water Quality, Trophic Status.

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Rita. N. Kumar ¹, Rajal H. Solanki ¹, J. I. Nirmal Kumar ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Natubhai V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN
2 P. G. Department of Environmental Sciences and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advance Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

The Sabarmati river is life-line of Ahmedabad city, as a source of irrigation and drinking water, and as a sink for urban and industrial wastewaters. Ahmedabad is known as a commercial and political capital of Gujarat with highest number of textile mills which poses a major problem of safe disposal of industrial and sewage effluents from different sources. River water quality at Ahmedabad has become a matter of concern due to continuous changing environment and increasing social and industrial activities that influence the water quality directly or indirectly. The present study was conducted to assess the water quality of Sabarmati river and Kharikat canal at Ahmedabad, Gujarat. An assessment of various physico-chemical characteristics of water such as pH, temperature, DO, hardness, acidity, alkalinity, phosphate, sulphate, nitrate, total dissolved solids and COD was carried out from July 2009 to April 2010 at three sites of River Sabarmati and two sites of Kharicut canal to know the pollution status. The correlation matrix among various physico-chemical parameters was also prepared. The study revealed the high pollution load at both the study areas with high values of COD and lower values of DO, which makes these unfit for any human intended purpose.

Keywords

Sabarmati River, Kharicut Canal, Physico-Chemical Properties, Water Quality, Correlation Matrix.

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J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Cini Oommen ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

An assessment of hydrochemical parameters was carried out in two distinguishing wetlands of central Gujarat, India for the period of one year from June 2007 to May 2008. Water quality parameters like temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, Secchi depth, total solids and total dissolved and suspended solids, free carbon dioxide, phenolphthalein alkalinity, total alkalinity, carbonates, bicarbonates, total hardness, calcium and magnesium hardness, chloride, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate were investigated during the study period. Chloride, phosphate, sulphate and nitrate of water were greater in Khodiyar than Malwar wetland because of high wastes and sewage inflow. Moreover, monthly variation of hydrochemical characters was found higher during summer and lower during monsoon months in both the wetlands. Correlation coefficients were calculated among the various physico-chemical variables. Sulphate and nitrate showed a positive correlation with phosphate at Khodiyar, whereas sulphate and chloride correlated positively with nitrate at Malwar wetland. Dissolved oxygen showed a negative correlation with temperature, phosphate and other parameters in both the wetlands.

Keywords

Water Quality Parameters, Khodiyar Wetland, Malwar Wetland, Correlation Coefficients.

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J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Rita N. Kumar ¹, Shweta Patel ¹

Affiliations
1 P.G .Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate biochemical fate of Aulosira fertilissima when treated with different doses of PbNO₃ which is the one of the sources of heavy metal of lead. Moreover, cyanobacteria, a group of prokaryotes, symbiotic, N₂ fixing organism, ubiquitous in distribution and used as a biofertilizer in the paddy fields. The heavy metals not only destroy organisms but also kill the non-target cyanobacteria in paddy fields. Therefore, in the current study an attempt has been made to study acute toxicity of PbNO₃ on biochemical changes like pigment contents, chlorophyll-a, b, total, phycobilins and carotenoids, metabolites- carbohydrates, proteins and phenols, and enzyme activity-protease and nitrate reductase of nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria Aulosira fertilissima Ghose when grown in BG11 media. Retardation of chlorophyll-a, b, total, phycobilin and carotenoids was observed in all the treatments of PbNO₃ when compared with control as the days progressed. On the other hand, metabolites like carbohydrates, proteins and phenols also showed decrease in their content after 96 hours treatment of different doses. However, the present study revealed that there is a rise in protein content in 6 ppm, and phenol content in 12.0 ppm and 22.0 ppm. Besides, there was an inhibition in the nitrate reductase and protease activities with an increase in PbNO₃ doses. Further, cyanobacterial species, Aulosira fertilissima could be considered for bioremediation processes due to their potentiality to tolerate up to 6.00 ppm of PbNO₃ dose without any adverse effect, but proper studies are necessary for their practical reuse and development of heavy metal resistant strains.

Keywords

Acute Toxicity, Biochemical Changes, N-Fixing Cyanobacteria, Aulosira fertilissima.

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J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Hiren Soni ², Rita N. Kumar ³, Ira Bhatt ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Science & Technology (EST), Institute of Science & Technology for Advanced Studies & Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN
2 Ashok and Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences (ARIBAS), New Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 121, Gujarat, IN
3 Department of Biosciences & Environmental Sciences, N.V. Patel College of Pure and Applied Sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

The heavy metals play an important role in the metabolic pathways during the growth and development of plants, when available in required concentration. The heavy metal concentration of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) was analysed using Inductive Coupled Plasma Analyser (ICPA) in 20 vegetable crop plants and their parts along with the soil, collected from Shivam organic farm, Valasan, Anand, Gujarat, India. The vegetables selected for the present investigation were Abelmoschus esculentus, Allium sativa, A. cepa, Anethum graveolens, Brassica oleracea, B. oleracea, Capsicum annum, Coccinia indica, Coriandrum sativum, Cucumis sativus, Cyamopsis psoralioides, Lagenaria vulgaris, Luffa acutangula, Lycopersicon esculentum, Mentha piperata, Momordica charantia, Raphanus sativus, Solanum melongena, Spinacia oleracea and Trigonella foenum-graceum. The concentration of heavy metals of vegetable crop plants, grown in organic farm, falls within the prescribed limit except Fe. The Accumulation Factor (AF) and Mobility Index (MI) were calculated for the assessment of accumulation and mobility of heavy metals from soil to various plant parts, i.e., ischolar_mains, stems and leaves through different levels: Level 1 (soil-ischolar_main), Level 2 (ischolar_mains-stem) and Level 3 (stem-leaf) in the plants. The accumulation factor (AF) for Cd, Co and Pb metals was found greater in plant parts as compared to available levels in soil. On the other hand, the concentration of Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn was lower in plant parts than the soil. The mobility index (MI) of heavy metal in plant parts was found to be greater compared to available metal concentration in soil. The results showed concentration dependent variables of heavy metal levels among vegetable crop plants. The lower and higher concentration gradient along with their mobility gradient was also determined. A perusal of data reflects that accumulation gradient of each plant component vary according to nature, properties and podsol climate of a particular plant. The data on accumulation factor and mobility index of the heavy metals from soil to leaves suggest that all the metals are highly mobile in the soil.

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J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Shailendra V. Viyol ¹

Affiliations
1 P.G. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar-388 120, Gujarat, IN

Abstract

Methane emission from two wetlands namely Khodiyar and Pariyej of Central Gujarat, India was measured during pre-summer season. Along with the methane emission, hydro and geo chemistry of these two contrasting wetlands (SO₄ ^2-, PO₄ ^-2 and organic carbon) were determined. The methane emission ranged from 1219.51 mg/m2/h to 7274.47 mg/m2/h, having greater emission at noon period (11 am to 1 pm) of the day in the Khodiyar wetland. Besides, the methane emission ranged between 80.84 mg/m²/h and 495 mg/m²/h, having higher emission at same time of the day at Pariyej wetland. The methane release was declined from first trip followed by second, third and fourth trips. The results of the current investigation confirm that methane emission vary substantially between the two study wetlands, and suggest that hydrochemistry and geochemistry might control methane emission in both the wetlands. Correlation analysis revealed that the methane emission from both the sites has positive correlation with organic carbon of the sediment and negative correlations with phosphate and sulphate content of water and sediment. The details of the reasons have been discussed in this paper.

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Hiral Soni ¹, J. I. Nirmal Kumar ¹, Khushal Patel ², Rita N. Kumar ³

Affiliations
1 P.G. Dept of Environment Science and Technology (DEST), Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidyanagar -388120 (Gujarat), IN
2 Ashok and Rita Patel Institute of Integrated Study and Research in Biotechnology and Allied Sciences, New Vallabh Vidyanagar-388121 (Gujarat), IN
3 Dept of Bioscience & Environment Science, N.V.Patel college of Pure and applied sciences, Vallabh Vidyanagar -388120 (Gujarat), IN

Abstract

Background: Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RB) Dye was carried out with ZVI nanopowder. The effect of parameters such as the amount of catalyst, concentration of the dye on photo catalytic degradation of RB is studied.

Methods: Zero valent iron (ZVI) powder with crystallite size around 50 to 60 nm was prepared by chemical reduction route. The product was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Findings: The results reveal that the maximum decolorization (more than 95%) of dye occurred with ZVI catalyst in 6 - 8 hours of UV irradiation.

Application: The results suggest that, the ZVI may potentially offer a simple and low-cost option for abatement of dyes. Possible applications of ZVI in water treatment plants are proposed and the potential benefits are discussed.

Keywords

ZVI Nanoparticles, Rhodamine B, XRD, TEM.

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