Taj Muhammad Jahangir

Determination of Metal Ions in Crude Oils

Crude oil is complex mixture of hydrocarbons that occur in the earth in liquid form. It constitutes an important part of primary fossil fuels. Crude oil was used as a medicine by the ancient Egyptians, presumably as wound dressing, liniment and laxative. Several centuries later, Spanish explorers discovered crude oil in Cuba, Mexico, Boliva and Peru. The industrial revolution brought increasing demand for cheaper and convenient source of energy. Crude oil (liquid petroleum) was easily transportable source of energy, concentrated and flexible from of fuel. At the beginning of the 20th century the industrial revolution had progressed to the extent that the oil industry became the major supplier of the energy, largely because of the advent of automobile. The oil achieved a primary importance as an energy source on which the world economy depends. The growth in the energy production during the 20th century was unprecedented and is the major contributor to the growth. On the time scale within the human history, the utilization of oil as a major source of energy will be affair of a few centres, but it will have profound effect on world industrialization.

Determination of amino acids in jams, fruits and pharmaceutical preparations by gas chromatography using trifluoroacetylacetone and ethylchloroformate as derivatizing reagents

A gas chromatography (GC)-flame ionization detection procedure was used to determine amino acids in a pharmaceutical preparation (Aminess N tablets), jams (apple, mango, strawberry and mixed fruit), juices (lemon and orange) and a vegetable (kundru). Free amino acids were extracted as aqueous or aqueous–methanol solutions and hydrolyzed by acid treatment with 6 M hydrochloric acid. GC was performed after pre-column derivatization with trifluoroacetylacetone and ethylchloroformate using an HP-5 column (30 m × 0.32 mm id). The complete separation of 19 amino acids was repeatable with a relative standard deviation, in terms of retention time and peak height/peak area, within 3.8%. The limits of detection were in the range 0.1–0.2 μg mL−1. Differences in the concentrations of both free and acid hydrolyzed amino acids were observed in the various jams, fruit juices and vegetables.

Accumulation and distribution of lead (Pb) in plant tissues of guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): profitable phytoremediation with biofuel crops

Abstract Contamination of lead indicates one of the major threats to soil system. Phytoremediation technique utilized plants which are able to tolerate and accumulate metals within in their tissues. It has recently been suggested that biofuel plants are more suitable for both utilization and remediation of metal contaminated soil. This study reported Pb phytoremediation potential of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L. in comparison with Sesamum indicum L. in the framework of a pot-experiment. Plants were subjected to seven Pb concentrations (0, 100, 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000 mg kg-1 soil) for 12 weeks. Our results demonstrated that both C. tetragonoloba and S. indicum were able to tolerate Pb concentrations up to 1000 mg kg-1 which confirms the plant ability to grow well in higher Pb levels. Significant metal accumulation was observed in root along with reduced biomass for both plants species. Furthermore, both plant species could possibly be used for phytostabilization, with success in marginally polluted soils where their growth would not be impaired and decontamination of Pb could be maintained at satisfying levels. However, bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and translocation factor (TF) values proposed that C. tetragonoloba was more efficient for phytoremediation than S. indicum at higher Pb levels.

Comparative study of Zn-phytoextraction potential in guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.) and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.): tolerance and accumulation

Abstract Phytoextraction is a plant-based technique for removing heavy metals from polluted soil. The experiment reported in this paper was undertaken to study the Zn phytoextraction potential of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba in comparison with Sesamum indicum in the framework of a pot experiment. Plants were subjected to six Zn concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 mg kg−1 soil) for 90 days to investigate Zn tolerance and accumulation. Results demonstrated that, at higher Zn levels, root, shoot lengths, biomass and chlorophyll content were all significantly reduced (p < 0.05). A steady increase in Zn accumulation with increasing concentration in soil was observed for all treatments. Both plant species had relatively high Zn tolerance and accumulation capacity, with C. tetragonoloba being more tolerant and having higher Zn accumulation than S. indicum. At 400 mg Zn kg kg−1, accumulation of Zn in C. tetragonoloba was highest in the root (439.33 mg kg−1) followed by stem (436.00 mg kg−1), leaf (40.67 mg kg−1) and pod (11.33 mg kg−1). Considering the rapid growth, high biomass, tolerance, accumulation efficiency, bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and translocation factor (TF) (all greater than 1) established C. tetragonoloba as a potential candidate plant for Zn phytoextraction.

Improved Gas Chromatographic Determination of Guanidino Compounds Using Isovaleroylacetone and Ethyl Chloroformate as Derivatizing Reagents.

An improved GC method in terms of sensitivity and decrease in the analysis time has been developed for the analysis of eight guanidino compounds: guanidine (G), methylguanidine (MG), creatinine (CTN), guanidinoacetic acid (GAA), guanidinobutyric acid (GBA), guanidinopropionic acid (GPA), argenine (Arg), and guanidinosuccinic acid (GSA), using isovaleroylacetone (IVA) and ethyl chloroformate (ECF) as derivatizing reagents. The separation was obtained from column HP-5 (30 m × 0.32 mm i.d.) with film thickness of 0.25 μm within 11 min. The linear calibrations were obtained with 0.5 to 50 μg/mL with coefficient of determination (R(2)) within 0.9969 - 0.9998. Limits of detections (LODs) were within 5 - 140 ng/mL. The derivatization, separation and determination was repeatable (n = 6) with relative standard deviation (RSD) within 1.2 - 3.1%. The guanidino compounds were determined in deproteinized serum of healthy volunteers and uremic patients within below LOD to 8.8 μg/mL and below LOD to 43.99 μg/mL with RSD within 1.4 - 3.6%. The recovery of guanidino compounds calculated by standard addition from serum was within 96.1 - 98.9%, with RSD 1.4 - 3.6%.

Water quality and sediment assessment of Manchar Lake, Sindh, Pakistan: after effects of the super flood of 2010

Public attention to the preservation of the environment in recent decades has been increased and the present study covers the principal water of the Manchar Lake, a fresh water resource of Pakistan, which has received less fresh water for a decade. The accumulation of agricultural runoff through the Main Nara Valley Drain (MNVD) has changed its fate of salty water. The super flood event of 2010 in the Indus River and the receiving MNVD passed through Manchar Lake, affecting the lake water and sediments. The study, covering the period earlier than the monsoon season (April–June) of 2012, includes the physicochemical characteristics of water quality and sediments. Two bodies, the water and sediments, were monitored for more than 30 parameters: TDS, EC, DO, COD, BOD, chloride, hardness, alkalinity, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, sulfate, orthophosphate, total phosphate, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn. The total extractable salts in sediments were determined by EDTA or mixed acid. The trend of EDTA-extractable metals was in a decreasing order Ca > Mg > Na > K > Fe > Mn > Pb > Ni > Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd. Most of the acid-extractable metals indicated similar pattern but the values were lower than EDTA. The water and sediments of the lake indicated less contamination compared to that reported before the Indus river super flood 2010, despite causing many causalities and economic loss. The study explained factor analysis (FA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), Pearson correlation coefficient, and geo contamination index for the quality parameters of the water and sediments.

GC analysis of guanidino compounds in serum and urine of healthy volunteers and uremic patients using methylglyoxal and ethyl chloroformate as derivatizing reagent

Gas chromatographic (GC) determination of 9 guanidino compounds: guanidine, methylguanidine, guanidinoacetic acid, guanidinopropionic acid, guanidinobutyric acid, guanidinosuccinic acid, arginine, creatinine and creatine have been examined from the serum and urine of healthy volunteers and uremic patients using precolumn derivatization with methylglyoxal and ethyl chloroformate. GC elution and separation was from the column HP-5 (30 m × 0.32 mm id) with film thickness 0.25 μm within 10.5 min. The detection was carried out using FID. The linear calibration curves for guanidino compounds were within 0.1–20.0 μmol L−1 and the lower limits of detection were 0.014–0.027 μmol L−1. The amounts of guanidino compounds observed in the serum of healthy volunteers were 0.2–88.0 μmol L−1 as compared to that of uremic patients at 0.8–521 μmol L−1, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) within 1.5–3.7% and 1.0–3.8%, respectively. The guanidino compounds in the urine of healthy volunteers and uremic patients were observed in the range below the limit of detection (BLOD) to 7304 μmol L−1 and below LOD – 7541 μmol L−1, with RSDs 1.1–3.7% and 1.0–3.8%, respectively. The derivatization, separation and quantitation were repeatable with RSD < 4%. Recovery of the guanidino compounds calculated by standard addition from serum and urine was obtained within 93–105% and 89–99%, with RSDs 1.4–2.9% and 1.8–4.3%, respectively.