Kuldeep Bauddh

Assessment of Metal Uptake Capacity of Castor Bean and Mustard for Phytoremediation of Nickel from Contaminated Soil

ABSTRACT The effect of increasing level of nickel (Ni) in soil was studied on biomass production, antioxidants, and Ni bioaccumulation and its translocation in castor bean (Ricinus communis) as well as Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) in similar agroclimatic conditions. The plants were exposed to 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg Ni kg−1 soil for up to 60 days. It was found that R. communis produced higher biomass during the same period at all the contamination levels than B. juncea, and reduction in fresh and dry weights due to the metal contamination in soil was significantly lower in R. communis than in B. juncea. Proline and malondialdehyde in the leaves increased with increase in Ni level in both the species, whereas soluble protein content was found decreased. A correlation between the protein and MDA contents in the leaves and Ni contamination levels revealed that higher r2 values for protein and MDA were found in case of B. juncea, which indicates more toxic effects of the metal in this species. R. communis was found to have enhanced proline accumulation (higher correlation value, r2) at different Ni contamination levels. The bioaccumulation of Ni was higher in B. juncea on the basis of the per unit biomass; however, the total metal accumulation per plant was much higher in R. communis than in B. juncea during the same growing periods. The translocation of Ni from roots to shoots was higher in B. juncea at all Ni concentrations. R. communis appeared more tolerant and capable to clean more Ni from the contaminated soil in a given time and also in one crop cycle.

A study on the effect of cadmium on the antioxidative defense system and alteration in different functional groups in castor bean and Indian mustard

Abstract The present study was planned to delineate the role of antioxidants and different functional groups of Ricinus communis and Brassica juncea in the tolerance mechanisms toward cadmium (Cd) for phytoremediation. Application of Cd caused a reduction in dry biomass of 53.84% and 26.58% in root and 45.33% and 33.84% in shoots of B. juncea and R. communis, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase, and metabolites (proline) increased in both the species due to Cd exposure. The metal caused substantial changes in the functional groups present in the roots and leaves of the plants. A number of new peaks appeared in the Cd-treated plants, which indicate the production of the compounds responsible for the metal tolerance of these plants. R. communis has been found to possess a good antioxidant defense system against Cd stress and may be used for the phytoremediation of metal-contaminated soils in place of edible crops, which enhance the risk of contaminating the food chain. It has been observed that R. communis accumulated 213.39 and 335.68 mg Cd in roots and shoots, respectively, whereas B. juncea accumulated 28.19 and 310.15 mg Cd in the roots and shoots, respectively.

Remediation of Nickel-Contaminated Soil by Brassica juncea L. cv. T-59 and Effect of the Metal on Some Metabolic Aspects of the Plant

ABSTRACT Among four cultivars of Brassica juncea L., viz., TM-4, TM-2, RH-30, and T-59, cv. T-59 was relatively more tolerant to nickel (Ni) toxicity based on the growth parameters, seedling vigor index, and metal tolerance index. Nickel application inhibited the activity of the nitrate-assimilating enzyme nitrate reductase in the roots, stem, and leaves, whereas the total organic nitrogen, proline, and activity of a polyamine-metabolizing enzyme, diamine oxidase, increased in this tolerant cultivar (T-59). It accumulated a good amount of Ni from the soil in its root and shoot (i.e., 6.0–6.51 μg Ni g−1 dry weight) during 2 months of cultivation with an 8.0 mM Ni supply in the soil. The data presented in this paper indicate that Ni tolerance and its removal by Indian mustard from subtropical Indian soil is cultivar dependent, possibly due to different genetic and physiological adaptations of the cultivars.

Remediation of Dyes from Aquatic Ecosystems by Biosorption Method Using Algae

Industrialisation and urbanisation are the root cause of increasing pollution. Water is of utmost necessity for the survival of all living beings and is subjected to pollution by industrial effluents, domestic sewage and agricultural runoffs. New environment friendly techniques to curb water pollution due to the increasing usage of toxic chemicals are needed. Extensive use of dyes today cause contamination of water bodies, loss of aquatic biota, poisoning of agricultural fields and spread of mutagens and carcinogens in organisms. Dyes of synthetic origin need to be particularly eliminated from aquatic ecosystems to reduce their toxic effects. Traditional methods of effluent treatment have failed to provide effective results because of high cost, nonselectiveness of adsorbents, toxic sludge produced by the adsorption process and other factors. In the case of nonconventional dye removal processes, researches are being done to introduce cost-effective and efficient technologies. Biosorption by macroalgae and microalgae is a promising method for treatment of wastewater. Phycoremediation of toxic compounds, heavy metals (e.g. chromium, lead and nickel) and colour from the aquatic ecosystem is a natural, eco-friendly and cost-effective technique. Easy availability and growth of algae, efficient uptake of dyes and other contaminants, some value-added merits like carbon sequestration and formation of less toxic sludge are the major advantages of using algae for biosorption.

Phytoremediation Potential of Bioenergy Plants

Chapter 1. Phytoremediation: A multidimensional and ecologically viable practice for the cleanup of environmental contaminants (Poulomi Chakravarty) -- Chapter 2. Bioenergy: A sustainable approach for cleaner environment (Abhishek Guldhe) -- Chapter 3. Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil using Bioenergy Crops (Ambuj Bhushan Jha) -- Chapter 4. PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SOIL CONTAMINANTS BY BIODIESEL PLANT Jatropha curcas (Abioye OP) -- Chapter 5. Ricinus Communis: An ecological engineer and a biofuel resource (Dhananjay Kumar) -- Chapter 6. Bioenergy and Phytoremediation Potential of Millettia pinnata (Dipesh kumar) -- Chapter 7. PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. FOR HEAVY METAL POLLUTED AND DEGRADED ENVIRONMENTS (Jamilu Edrisa Ssenku) -- Chapter 8. Phytoremediation potential of industrially important and biofuel plants: Azadirachta indica and Acacia nilotica (Jaya Tiwari) -- Chapter 9. Efficiency of an industrially important crop Hibiscus cannabinus for phytoremediation and bioenergy production (Neha Vishnoi) -- Chapter 10. Canabis sativa: A plant suitable for Phytoremediation and Bioenergy production (Sanjeev Kumar) -- Chapter 11. Phytoremediation and bioenergy production efficiency of medicinal and aromatic plants (Jisha C.K.) -- Chapter 12. A sustainable approach to clean contaminated land using terrestrial grasses (Anju Patel) -- Chapter 13. Macrophytes for the reclamation of degraded water bodies with potential for bio-energy production (Sangeeta Anand) -- Chapter 14. Efficiency of bioenergy plant in phytoremediation of saline and sodic soil (Priyanka Bharti) -- Chapter 15. Managing waste dumpsites through energy plantations (Vimal Chandra Pandey) -- Chapter 16. Biotechnological intervention to enhance the potential ability of bioenergy plants for phytoremediation (Gulshan Singh) -- Chapter 17. Sustainability of three (Jatropha, Karanja and Castor) oil seed bearing bio-energy plants for phytoremediation: A meta-analysis based case study of India (Dipesh Kumar) -- Chapter 18. Phycoremediation: An ecofriendly algal technology for bioremediation and bioenergy production (Sanjay Kumar Gupta) -- Chapter 19. Coupling phytoremediation appositeness with bioenergy plants: A socio-legal perspective (Rashwet Shrinkhal).

Toxicity Assessment and Accumulation of Metals in Radish Irrigated With Battery Manufacturing Industry Effluent

Industrial wastewater is being used for irrigation of agricultural crops without consideration of possible toxic effects. The study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of battery manufacturing industry effluent on biochemical changes and heavy metal accumulation in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) grown on soil irrigated with 0% (tap water control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% effluent (v/v) at 60 days after sowing (DAS). Total metal concentration in raw effluent samples was Cr = 0.14 < Cd = 0.17 < Pb = 0.22 < Cu = 2.50 mg·L−1. An increase in photosynthetic pigments of plants occurred up to the 50% concentration of the effluent followed by a decrease at higher concentrations. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in treated plants occurred, evident by an increased level of antioxidants, proline, cysteine, and ascorbic acid. Concentrations of Cu, Cd, Cr, and Pb in roots of treated plants ranged between 4.17 and 7.44, 1.15 and 14.78, 1.09 and 12.30, and 2.49 and 7.33 μg·g−1 dry weight and in shoots between 12.02 and 24.83, 3.37 and 34.94, 3.77 and 35.09, 3.97 and 10.86 μg·g−1 dry weight, respectively. Use of battery manufacturing effluent, even after treatment and subsequent dilution, caused biochemical changes in radish and resulted in accumulation of heavy metals in edible parts of the plant. Use of battery manufacturing effluent in agriculture should be discouraged.

Phytoremediation: A Multidimensional and Ecologically Viable Practice for the Cleanup of Environmental Contaminants

The humungous load of pollutants added to the environment every day by the human activities is one of the major menaces facing by the world. Toxic substances released into the ecosystems are said to create imbalance to the equilibrium of the environment. Phytoremediation is a set of processes which have been considered as one of the most sustainable approaches to combat the problem of contaminants. Phytoremediation is considered to be more effective in comparison with traditional techniques because of the added benefits provided by the plants. The mechanisms adapted by the plants for extraction, accumulation, stabilization and degradation of contaminants from the polluted sites have been explored in this chapter. Various floral species which have been reported by several researchers that have the potential to remediate contaminated sites are listed in this report. The bioenergy crops, medicinal plants, trees and weeds have been found to be the best options for phytoremediation. Phytoremediation has proven to have a holistic approach which can help in restoration of contaminated sites with production timber, essential oils, energy, and employment to the rural peoples and with several other ecosystem services.

Phytoremediation and Bioenergy Production Efficiency of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

The cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants for their direct as well as indirect uses is a common practice from ancient time. There are several medicinal plants which have not only the tolerance ability against the environmental contaminants but also may extract them from the polluted sites. Essential oil-bearing crops like peppermint (Mentha sps.), tulsi (Ocimum basilicum L.), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), Cymbopogon citratus etc., have been found to bear substantial efficiency to accumulate toxic metals e.g., Cd, As, Ni, Cu, Fe, etc. Generally the process used to extract the essential oil is steam distillation which has the least chance to allow the contaminants to move in oil. After harvesting the oil, residual biomass may be utilized for energy production. This energy may be produced by direct burning of biomass or production of biogas through the gasification of biomass. This integrated approach will not only reduce the cost of petroleum oil but also will help to develop a sustainable model which will help in mitigation of many environmental issues like reduction of greenhouse gases, pollution alleviation etc.

Harvesting of Microalgae for Biofuels: Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of Natural, Inorganic, and Synthetic Flocculants

Microalgal biomass is considered as one of the most suitable alternative feedstocks for the renewable biofuels. Microalgae have several advantages such as ability to grow in harsh environment, comparatively very high productivity, and high lipid contents. Due to such potentials, microalgal biomass is preferred over the convention biofuel feedstocks. The concentration of microalgal biomass typically ranged between 0.5 and 1 kg/m3 in the raceways or open pond type cultivation systems and around 5–10 kg/m3 in the closed photobioreactor-type cultivation systems. The bottleneck of the algal biofuels is the harvesting of microalgae biomass from diluted culture media. Irrespective of the density of the algal biomass, the water content in microalgal culture exceeds 99% that makes the separation process lengthy and energy intensive. This largely determines the economic viability of microalgae-based biofuels and by-products. Among various techniques used for the harvesting of microalgal biomass, coagulation and flocculation have been found very effective and inexpensive; however, the choice of the coagulant depends on the use of harvested biomass for desired end products. The success of microalgae harvesting by flocculation requires thorough understanding about the nature of the flocculants, its molecular weight, mode of interaction, etc., along with the understanding about the algae species to be harvested. Harvesting of microalgae by coagulation and flocculation has its own advantages and disadvantages; however, being simple and cost-effective, it is one of most preferred techniques especially if the biomass is used for biofuels.

Bio-oil and Biodiesel as Biofuels Derived from Microalgal Oil and Their Characterization by Using Instrumental Techniques

Microalgal oil has been a source for production of biofuels such as bio-oil and biodiesel. These two biofuels can be characterized quantitatively using advanced instrumentation techniques. Nile red fluorescence method, PAM fluorometry, NMR, GC/GC-MS, and FTIR are among the major techniques available for characterization and quantification of algal oil. NMR is a rapid and nondestructive analytical technique as it requires minimal sample preparation, and even one intact algal cell can be analyzed. It can also be used for continuous monitoring of cellular composition of algal culture. NMR can be used to monitor transesterification reaction and oxidation of lipids and biodiesel components. GC has remained the most widely used analytical technique for fatty acid profile analysis. GC-MS is a destructive analytical technique as derivatization of algal oil is required owing to its poor volatility and hence involves lengthy sample preparation procedure. FTIR is a relatively inexpensive technique and, like NMR, can analyze intact cells with scanning time of the order of seconds. FTIR may offer high signal-to-noise ratio and can also be used to monitor transesterification.