Shefali Arora

Environmental Implications of Rice and Wheat Stubble Burning in North-Western States of India

The paddy and wheat cropping pattern (PWS) is one of the extensive farming systems in north-western zones of India mainly the river plains of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and western Uttar Pradesh. These river plains famous for extensive agricultural fields are equally defamed for burning of rice and wheat straw and stubbles by peasants after the reaping season. In India, it is reckoned that 22,289 Gg of paddy stubble biomass is generated annually and out of this, 13,915 Gg is blazed in the agricultural fields as calculated. Haryana and Punjab alone produce 48% of the whole straw production which is openly burnt in situ. The flaming of paddy stubbles causes soil nutrient loss of organic carbon (3850 million Kg), nitrogen (59 million Kg), phosphorus (20 million Kg) and potassium (34 million Kg), aside from deteriorating the ambient air quality. Burning of agricultural residue discharges various trace gases like COX, CH4, NOX, SOX and huge quantity of particulates matters (PM10 and PM2.5) which cause adverse impacts on human health. The major problems faced by the local people are eye irritation, dryness of eyes and chest congestion. It also led to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumoconiosis, pulmonary tuberculosis, bronchitis, cataract, corneal opacity and blindness. The cases of road accidents also enhance during the period of stubble burning due to poor visibility. It also contributes to haze, greenhouse effect and environmental changes thereto. In India, National Green Tribunal (NGT) prohibited this ancient agricultural practice of straw burning in pollution-wrecked city New Delhi and the adjacent four states viz. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. One suitable method to reduce this menace is incorporation of straw into soil which eventually enhances soil fertility. The crop residue material can also be used for compost formation as a traditional approach. Alternate energy resources can also be generated from this agro-biomass. The most prominent method to prevent this threat is to generate biomass energy. Further, in past decades, many conversion processes have been developed to produce alternate biofuels under different forms (pellets, briquettes) from crop residues. An integrated crop residue management approach is need of the hour to combat this anthropogenic disaster.

PHARMACOGNOSTICAL STANDARDIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LEAVES OF SYZYGIUM CUMINI (LINN.) FROM VARIOUS REGION OF NORTH INDIA

Syzygium cumini is one of the widely used medicinal plants in the treatment of vario us diseases in particular diabetes. In present investigation, the pharmacognostic study of Syzygium cumini leaf is carried out from different region of north India. The study include s de termination of foreign matter, m icroscopy and macroscopy examination, determination of ash, determination of total alcoholic extractives and loss on drying. Preparation of different leaves extract, their phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of Syzygium cumini were also carried out. Results from the above studies were comparable with different regions of India. From antimicrobial study, ethyl acetate extract showed maximum antimicrobial activity at a concentration 200 mg/ml.

Solid acids: potential catalysts for alkene–isoalkane alkylation

Production of high-octane gasoline is important to improve upon the performance and hence economics of oil companies worldwide. Heterogeneous catalysis employing the use of solid acids plays a key role in accomplishing this target through various routes, including isomerization, alkylation, and reforming. Alkylation is an imperative means for this to be achieved in the presence of solid acid catalysts. The use of solid acids as catalysts has been considered as one of the foremost accomplishments in processes of industrial significance in the current century. The introductory part of this review describes the importance of alkylation as a route to obtain high-quality gasoline and the conventional catalysts applied to it globally. The main body of the article details the use of various solid acids as catalysts for alkylation including the concerns about it. It also includes the solution for the drawbacks associated with their use as catalysts for the process. The final section covers the mechanistic approach for alkylation to happen during the progression of the reaction and the recommendations. This review intends to provide a detailed insight into the significance of solid acid catalysts for such an important reaction for chemists, researchers and scientists of refineries.

Membrane Stability and Antioxidant Activity of Gmelina arborea Seed Extracts and Their Fatty Acid Composition

1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Manduwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. 2 Department of Biochemistry, Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Manduwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. 3 Department of Chemistry, Dolphin PG Institute of Biomedical and Natural Sciences, Manduwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India. Department of Chemistry, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.

Antimicrobial studies of leaf extracts from Desmodium heterocarpon (L.) DC

The methanolic leaf extract of Desmodium heterocarpon (L) DC was tested for antimicrobial activity against the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtillis, Staphylococcus aureus and the fungal strains of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans. The results have shown that methanol extract showed very good strong antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi and excellent antifungal activity against all the test fungal strains as it showed more inhibition zone than the standard drug ketoconazole.