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Two new negative-parity bands have been identified in the odd-odd 104Rh nucleus. According to their experimentally observed properties, they have the same π(1g9/2)−1⊗ν(1h11/2)1 high-j configuration as the previously known negative-parity chiral doublet bands. This observation raises the possibility of the existence of multiple chiral doublet bands, MχD, in this nucleus. Comparing the properties of the observed bands with results of detailed theoretical calculations, one can conclude that the lower energy parts of bands 1 and 2 are chiral partner bands with the π(1g9/2)−1⊗ν(1h11/2)1 two-quasiparticle configuration, while bands 3 and 4 are chiral partner bands with the π(1g9/2)−1⊗ν(1g7/2)−2(1h11/2)1 four-quasiparticle configuration. Thus, MχD based on different configurations is observed in 104Rh.

Kleibsiella pneumoniae Kpn555, isolated from coffee waste pulp showed high level of tolerance to lead with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 900 mg/L. On its growth in nutrient broth supplemented with lead, brown clumps were visualised at the bottom of the flask. On scanning and transmission electron microscopic studies the brown clumps were corroborated to be bacterial cells with lead biosorbed on the cell surface and accumulated inside the cytoplasm. Biochemical and FT-IR analysis of the extracellular polymeric substance produced on exposure to lead revealed its chemical nature as glycolipid with protein moieties. Purified EPS (100 mg/L) could remove 50% of lead from aqueous solution (200 mg/L). Isolation of plasmid from Klebsiella pneumoniae Kpn555 revealed the presence of a plasmid of size 30–40 kb. This capability of the bacteria was proven to be plasmid mediated as the Escherichia coli DH5α cells transformed with the plasmid of Klebsiella pneumoniae Kpn555 also could tolerate 900 mg/L of lead and form brown clumps. This study shows that these bacteria, aided by EPS could serve as an effective agent for the removal of lead from contaminated water environmental samples.

Biodiesel is the most promising renewable alternative fuel for fossil diesel fuel, which can be produced even in rural settings of an economically backward sector of developing countries. Biodiesel can be produced from non-edible seed oils or used edible oil sources by a transesterification reaction. Biodiesel feedstock differ according to geographic location, therefore, it is essential to optimise the biodiesel production process at least in pilot scale for each source to obtain highest biodiesel yield to be used for domestic purpose. In the present study, biodiesel was produced from non-edible Pongamia seed oil and Waste Cooking Oil separately using the 50 L capacity pilot scale reactor. The crucial reaction parameters such as catalyst (NaOH) concentration, alcohol (Methanol) volume and reaction time were optimised through Box-Behnken Design (BBD) approach to maximise the biodiesel yield. In the optimised pilot study, the biodiesel yield of 89.1% from Pongamia oil and 96% from Waste Cooking Oil sources were obtained. Also, the biodiesels produced by pilot scale met the requisite quality standards of ASTM, EU and India.