Balasaheb Kapadnis

Electricity generation using chocolate industry wastewater and its treatment in activated sludge based microbial fuel cell and analysis of developed microbial community in the anode chamber.

Feasibility of using chocolate industry wastewater as a substrate for electricity generation using activated sludge as a source of microorganisms was investigated in two-chambered microbial fuel cell. The maximum current generated with membrane and salt bridge MFCs was 3.02 and 2.3 A/m(2), respectively, at 100 ohms external resistance, whereas the maximum current generated in glucose powered MFC was 3.1 A/m(2). The use of chocolate industry wastewater in cathode chamber was promising with 4.1 mA current output. Significant reduction in COD, BOD, total solids and total dissolved solids of wastewater by 75%, 65%, 68%, 50%, respectively, indicated effective wastewater treatment in batch experiments. The 16S rDNA analysis of anode biofilm and suspended cells revealed predominance of beta-Proteobacteria clones with 50.6% followed by unclassified bacteria (9.9%), alpha-Proteobacteria (9.1%), other Proteobacteria (9%), Planctomycetes (5.8%), Firmicutes (4.9%), Nitrospora (3.3%), Spirochaetes (3.3%), Bacteroides (2.4%) and gamma-Proteobacteria (0.8%). Diverse bacterial groups represented as members of the anode chamber community.

Electroactive mixed culture biofilms in microbial bioelectrochemical systems: the role of temperature for biofilm formation and performance.

In this paper we investigate the temperature dependence and temperature limits of waste water derived anodic microbial biofilms. We demonstrate that these biofilms are active in a temperature range between 5°C and 45°C. Elevated temperatures during initial biofilm growth not only accelerate the biofilm formation process, they also influence the bioelectrocatalytic performance of these biofilms when measured at identical operation temperatures. For example, the time required for biofilm formation decreases from above 40 days at 15°C to 3.5 days at 35°C. Biofilms grown at elevated temperatures are more electrochemically active at these temperatures than those grown at lower incubation temperature. Thus, at 30°C current densities of 520 μA cm(-2) and 881 μA cm(-2) are achieved by biofilms grown at 22°C and 35°C, respectively. Vice versa, and of great practical relevance for waste water treatment plants in areas of moderate climate, at low operation temperatures, biofilms grown at lower temperatures outperform those grown at higher temperatures. We further demonstrate that all biofilms possess similar lower (0°C) and upper (50°C) temperature limits--defining the operational limits of a respective microbial fuel cell or microbial biosensor--as well as similar electrochemical electron transfer characteristics.

Actinomycetes: A Repertory of Green Catalysts with a Potential Revenue Resource

Biocatalysis, one of the oldest technologies, is becoming a favorable alternative to chemical processes and a vital part of green technology. It is an important revenue generating industry due to a global market projected at

Isolation and characterization of microalgae for biodiesel production from Nisargruna biogas plant effluent.

7 billion in 2013 with a growth of 6.7% for enzymes alone. Some microbes are important sources of enzymes and are preferred over sources of plant and animal origin. As a result, more than 50% of the industrial enzymes are obtained from bacteria. The constant search for novel enzymes with robust characteristics has led to improvisations in the industrial processes, which is the key for profit growth. Actinomycetes constitute a significant component of the microbial population in most soils and can produce extracellular enzymes which can decompose various materials. Their enzymes are more attractive than enzymes from other sources because of their high stability and unusual substrate specificity. Actinomycetes found in extreme habitats produce novel enzymes with huge commercial potential. This review attempts to highlight the global importance of enzymes and extends to signify actinomycetes as promising harbingers of green technology.

Biocatalytic potential of an alkalophilic and thermophilic dextranase as a remedial measure for dextran removal during sugar manufacture

Increasing energy demand and depleting fossil fuel sources have intensified the focus on biofuel production. Microalgae have emerged as a desirable source for biofuel production because of high biomass and lipid production from waste water source. In this study, five microalgae were isolated from effluents of Nisargruna biogas plants. These isolates were identified based on morphology and partial 18S and 23S rRNA gene sequences. Growth and lipid accumulation potential of these microalgae were investigated. One isolate, Chlorella sp. KMN3, accumulated high biomass (1.59 ± 0.05 g L(-1)) with moderate lipid content (20%), while another isolate Monoraphidium sp. KMN5 showed moderate biomass accumulation of 0.65 ± 0.05 g L(-1) with a very high (35%) lipid content. The fatty acid methyl esters mainly composed of C-16:0, C-18:0, C-18:1 and C-18:2. This observation makes these microalgae immensely potential candidate for biodiesel production using the effluent of a biogas plant as feed stock.

Management of Heavy Metal Pollution by Using Yeast Biomass

The present study is focused on dextranase from Streptomyces sp. NK458 with potential to remove dextran formed during sugar manufacture. The dextranase had molecular weight of 130 kDa and hydrolyzed 15-25 and 410 kDa dextran. Dextranase production was optimized using statistical designs and the enzyme was purified 1.8-fold with 55.5% recovery. It displayed maximum activity at pH 9.0 and 60°C and was stable over a wide range of pH from 5.0 to 10.0. The k(m) and V(max) values were 3.05 mM and 17.97 mmol/ml/h, respectively. Ten units of dextranase could reduce dextran content by 67% in 24h and 56% in 72 h from sugarcane juice of cane variety CoS 86032. The enzyme was stable up to 3 days at 30°C beyond which its activity decreased and dextran removal could be retained by supplementation of 5 U of dextranase. These properties make it a promising biocatalyst for sugar industry.

Biological Electricity Production from Wastes and Wastewaters

In recent years, the management of heavy metal pollution has become a major issue. Toxic heavy metals pose a serious threat to the environment and living forms. A number of conventional methods have been developed for the recovery of toxic heavy metals. On account of some disadvantages associated with these methods, biosorption onto microbial biomass has become an attractive alternative. Among microorganisms, yeasts have received considerable attention on account of yeast biomass being easily obtainable from inexpensive media. This is also abundantly generated as a by-product from the fermentation industry. Based on the published literature, the principles, methodologies and techniques involved in the management of heavy metals by yeast systems are summarized in this chapter. Adsorption capacities of different yeasts for a variety of heavy metals have been compared. Dependence of yeast biomass metal-binding capacities on parameters such as pH, temperature, contact time, competitive metal ions, agitation, initial metal ions and biomass concentrations have been explained. Isotherms, equilibrium models and kinetics have also been extensively discussed. Mechanisms involved in the biosorption by yeasts and the future prospects of this biotechnologically relevant topic have been highlighted.

Microbial Mining of Value Added Products from Seafood Waste and Their Applications

Attributed to their multifaceted abilities, microorganisms have been constantly explored for several applications ranging from product synthesis, energy recovery to waste treatment. Biological production of electricity has been an important area of research in the past decade and half. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) offer a promising solution in aiding the energy development sector due to its supplementing ability to generate electricity from wastes and wastewaters. This chapter lays focus on the mechanisms and applicability of microorganisms to tap the potential in the wastes and wastewaters to function as active substrates for bioelectricity generation. Simultaneous bioenergy recovery is an added advantage in the BESs along with waste treatment. The main emphasis is on the electron-transfer mechanisms across microorganisms and electrodes, reactor architecture, and operating conditions. A brief overview on the potential of various solid wastes and wastewaters from domestic, agricultural, and industrial sectors is also included. The advancements in the field of microbial electrocatalysis have been highlighted under various sections which shed some light on the possibilities of active integration of BESs with other existing bioprocesses. Further technical and technological advancements can supplement the capability of waste to bioenergy conversion concept of BESs to tackle the energy sustainability and waste management issues.

Use of N,N-diacetylchitobiose in decreasing toxic effects of indoor air pollution by preventing oxidative DNA damage

Waste management is the current focus of the decade towards a greener and cleaner environment. Waste management involves effective, safer and efficient methods that can degrade waste and reduce the release of pollutants. The seafood industry generates around 312 tons waste annually that poses a serious crisis for degradation and waste management. The marine waste contains valuable products like chitin, chitosan, their oligosaccharides, proteins, pigments, etc. which can be extracted and used for commercial applications. The chemical methods employed for their production have numerous disadvantages like low recovery, high cost and the release of hazardous effluents, thus biological conversion which is cost effective, efficient and environment friendly, is the best alternative to recover these value added products. This review describes the value added products that are biologically extracted from marine waste and their applications in the field of biotechnology.

Bacteriophage Based Technology for Disinfection of Different Water Systems

Abstract Indoor air pollution occurs due to hazardous pollutants, such as tobacco smoke, pesticides and carbon oxides, sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides arising from combustion of biomass fuels. Exposure to these pollutants results in respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, pneumonia and other lower respiratory infections. Several of these infections are a result of inflammation and oxidative stress. Here we demonstrate the ability of N, N’-diacetylchitobiose in preventing oxidative DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells exposed to biomass smoke extracts and cigarette smoke extract. The cytotoxic effect of these pollutants was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, where cytotoxicity in decreasing order was cigarette > wood > sawdust > cowdung. Cytotoxicity could be due to single- and double-strand breaks in the DNA as a result of oxidative stress. Comet assay measures the extent of DNA damage in the cells exposed to toxic agents. When mononuclear cells were treated with N, N′-diacetylchitobiose and later exposed to smoke extracts, the extent of DNA damage decreased by 44.5% and 57.5% as compared to untreated cells. The protection offered by N, N′-diacetylchitobiose towards oxidative DNA damage was at par with quercetin, a popular herbal medicine. Glutathione-S-transferase activity was determined in mononuclear cells exposed to smoke extracts, where oxidative stress in cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract was maximum. The present study demonstrates for the first time the ability of N, N′-diacetylchitobiose to alleviate the harmful effects of indoor air pollutants.