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Nanoparticles obtained from physical and chemical methods are uniformly sized having long term stabilities. However, their syntheses usually involve expensive chemicals which are toxic, carcinogenic and require high temperature and pressure. These issues can be addressed by facile and eco-friendly green synthesis. This study focuses on to synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Cymbogobon Citratus aqueous extract with zinc acetate. The prepared particles were calcined at 450°C. The synthesized NPs were categorized using FTIR, UV-Visible, XRD and SEM techniques. FTIR verified zinc oxide vibrational frequency at 551 cm-1. UV-Visible spectrum displayed the ZnO absorption peak at λmax of 370 nm. XRD studies showed average particle size about 4.96 nm much smaller as compared to most of the ZnO NPs reported earlier. SEM image demonstrated crystalline and porous nano-sheets for the prepared NPs. These NPs were also evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Microsporum cannis, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium solani. The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited highest antibacterial and antifungal potential against S. Aureus and A. flavus, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile and other dye house effluents from different industries have many worst effects on aquatic as well as non-aquatic life. The present work was carried out for the conditions optimization of degradation of Allura Red AC dye. This was done by UV treatment and examining the effects of different parameters on degradation i.e. pH, concentration of the dye, temperature, radiation exposure time and concentration of TiO2. The efficiency of the treatment was monitored by checking the highest degradation value, parameters of water quality such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and toxicity. The end products of degradation of dye were checked out by UV/visible spectrophotometer, Fourier transform-infra red (FT-IR) and gas chromatographymass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. From the results, it was concluded that the degradation efficiency was in the order UV/H2O2/TiO2> UV/H2O2> UV alone. Furthermore, it was also concluded that UV/H2O2/TiO2 could be implemented on industrial scale for the removal of the toxic pollutants from industrial effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the ambient air pollutants levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in two major industrial estates. The data was collected from different Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certified laboratories. The results revealed that before the COVID-19 pandemic or lockdown the levels of ambient air pollutants were above the Punjab Environment Quality Standards (PEQs) limit, during lockdown conditions these were within PEQs limits. The change was gradual due to a decline in emissions coming from different sources like vehicles and industries during the period of COVID-19 and limited human movement within the study area. The Sunder Industrial Estate (SIE) was less polluted as compared to Quaid e Azam Industrial Estate (QIE), but in the case of different pollutants, some pollutants in SIE were high compared with QIE. It was observed that the ambient air pollutants meditations will reduce regularly and keep declining to the least limit during the COVID-19 induced lockdowns. In crux, the quality of ambient air in the study area improved notably during the lockdown registering reduced concentrations of NOx, SO2, SPM, CO, and PM emissions, resulting in health benefits for the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study focuses on the fabrication of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using aqueous extracts of Allium sativum as reducing agents. Silver ion becomes a good carrier of bioactive compounds of Allium sativum, so their biochemical potential such as total phenolic and flavonoids were evaluated. Results showed that as a concentration increases TPC and TFC were also increased. Similar to their secondary metabolite, scavenging potential of Ag NPs of Allium sativum was also monitored. Green synthesized Ag NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity 24±2.6, 22±1.4, 19±2.7 and 20±3.17 against B. subtilis, S. aureus, E. coli and P. multocida bacterial strains respectively. Moreover, Ag NPs of garlic did not show any mutagenicity against mutant strain of S. typhimurium TA98 & TA100. Brine shrimp lethality assay (BSLA) showed their dose dependent effect. Finally, green synthesized Ag NPs of garlic presented anti-proliferative effect against HEPG2 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study looks at using partially purified peroxidase extracted from peels of sweet lime (Citrus limetta) for decolorizing textile industry effluent. The ideal pH and thermal conditions of the enzyme were 7 and 35°C. The Km and Vmax for guaiacol were 0.66 mM and 6666 μmol/mL/min, respectively. We found that sweet lime peroxidase was very effective in decolorizing textile industry effluent. Almost complete decolorization (>99 %) of effluent was attained at a pH of 5.0, temperature of 55°C, H2O2 concentration of 2 mM, and enzyme dose of 40 U/mL within 60 minutes of incubation. The effluent was also analysed in terms of physicochemical parameters before and after treatment with sweet lime peroxidase. The reduction in toxicity after the enzymatic treatment was evidenced by chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enormous amount of waste material (sludge) generated from paper and pulp industries is either dumped or incinerated. However, this pulp is an enriched source of macronutrients and can be employed on agricultural land to improve its fertility. The current study was therefore performed to analyze phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) by flame photometer, nitrogen (N) by Kjeldahl method, and magnesium (Mg) by back titration from sludge. The application of sludge significantly increases macronutrients in the plants lady finger (Abelmoschus esculentus) and garden mint (Mentha sachalinensis).We applied primary (initial husk treatment) and secondary (after primary treatment) sludge to observe the growth of Abelmoschus esculentus and Mentha sachalinensis. However, primary sludge showed the highest concentration of nutrients, i.e., 96.5% P, 99.6% N, 86% Ca, and 0.008% Mg. The application of paper and pulp waste to the soil indicates that these bio-solids are good for soil fertility, biomass production, and plant growth; however, they are slightly less efficient than synthetic fertilizers. However, the synthetic fertilizers are probable candidates for holding heavy metals, so these bio-solids can be considered a better source for soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invertase has a vital role in ethanol fermentation, especially on sucrose-containing media. In this study, catabolite-resistant mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were isolated through gamma ray mutagenesis with improved productivity of ethanol and invertases. Enzyme productivity of mutant yeast was compared with that of the parent. Various fermentation parameters were optimized, including substrate concentration, pH, and temperature on the production of invertase and ethanol. Applying optimized conditions (pH 4.6, 37°C) at lab scale, industrial scale experiments in 300 m3 fermenters were performed. Mutants had completed fermentation with high efficiency in 28 hrs irrespective of parents that took 36 hrs. The mutant obtained is of great commercial value as it has the potential to enhance the overall profitability of the fermentation process through advancement in the quality of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]