Niladevi, K N; Dr. Prema, P(National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, 2008)
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Abstract:
The present study has identified an actinomycete culture (S. psammoticus) which
was capable of producing all the three major ligninolytic enzymes. The study
revealed that least explored mangrove regions are potential sources for the isolation
of actinomycetes with novel characteristics. The laccase production by the strain in
SmF and SSF was found to be much higher than the reported values. The growth of
the organism was favoured by alkaline pH and salinity of the medium. The enzyme
also exhibited novel characteristics such as activity and stability at alkaline pH and
salt tolerance. These two characters are quite significant from the industrial point of
view making the enzyme an ideal candidate for industrial applications. Many of the
application studies to date are focused on enzymes from fungal sources. However,
the fungal laccases, which are mostly acidic in nature, could not be used
universally for all application purposes especially, for the treatment of
effluents from different industries, largely due to the alkaline nature of the
effluents. Under such situations the enzymes from organisms like S.
psammoticus with wide pH range could play a better role than the fungal
counterparts. In the present study, the ability of the isolated strain and
laccase in the degradation of dyes and phenolic compounds was successfully
proved. The reusability of the immobilized enzyme system made the entire
treatment process inexpensive. Thus it can be concluded from the present
study that the laccase from this organism could be hopefully employed for
the eco-friendly treatment of dye or phenol containing industrial effluents
from various sources.
Jacob, Mathew; Dr.Balakrishnan, K P(Cochin University of Science and Technology, September , 1994)
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Abstract:
The research work which was carried out to characterization of wastes from natural rubber and rubber wood processing industries and their utilization for biomethanation. Environmental contamination is an inevitable consequence of human activity. The liquid and solid wastes from natural rubber based industries were: characterized and their use for the production of biogas investigated with a view to conserve conventional energy, and to mitigate environmental degradation.Rubber tree (flevea brasiliensis Muell. Arg.), is the most important commercial source of natural rubber and in india. Recently, pollution from the rubber processing factories has become very serious due to the introduction of modern methods and centralized group processing practices.The possibility of the use of spent slurry as organic manure is discussed.l0 percent level of PSD, the activity of cellulolytic, acid producing,proteolytic, lipolytic and methanogenic bacteria were more in the middle stage of methanogenesis.the liquid wastes from rubber processing used as diluents in combination with PSD, SPE promoted more biogas production with high methane content in the gas.The factors that favour methane production like TS, VS, cellulose and hemicellulose degradation were favoured in
this treatment which led to higher methane biogenesis.The results further highlight ways and means to use agricultural wastes as alternative sources of energy.
Description:
Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology
Bijoy, Nandan S(Overseas Publishers Association, October 2, 1995)
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Abstract:
The extensive backwaters of Kerala are the sites for a flourishing cottage industry - the coir
industry. This enterprise almost exclusively located along the 590 km coastal belt of Kerala,
provides direct employment to over half a million people in the state and produces nearly
90% of the total coir goods in the world. The shallow bays and lagoons of the 30 backwater
systems of the state are traditional areas for the retting of coconut husk for the production of
the coir fibre. The paper examines the environmental status of the retting grounds in Kerala,
in relation to the biotic communities. The study revealed that retting activity has caused large
scale organic pollution along with the mass destruction of the flora and fauna, converting
sizeable sections of the backwaters into virtual cesspools of foul smelling stagnant waters.
High values of hydrogen sulphide, ammonia, BOD5 associated with anoxic conditions and
low community diversity of plankton, benthic fauna, fish, shell fish, wood boring and fouling
organisms were the outstanding feature of the retting zones.
Description:
Intern. J. Environmental Studies, 1997, Vol. 52, pp. 335-355