Innovare Journal of Sciences

POTENTIAL OF MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION AND CATTLE RUMEN DIGESTA IN THE BIOREMEDIATION OF SPENT ENGINE OIL CONTAMINATED SOIL

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530

Soil pollution by crude oil contamination has become a major constraint on agricultural productivity. Physicochemical techniques are often expensive. However, bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon polluted soil is cost-effective. Therefore, the study was carried out to analyze the influence of mycorrhiza and cattle rumen digesta on bioremediation of Spent Engine Oil (SEO) contaminated soil in Dutse, Jigawa state. Soil samples were randomly collected from the University Research and Teaching Farm. About 2.5 kg of sterilized topsoil (0–15 cm) was filled into pots and arranged in a 2×2×3 factorial experiment in completely randomized design with three replications. Mycorrhiza and cattle rumen digesta were at two levels, while SEO was at three levels. Data were collected on the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content, bacterial and fungal colony count. Data were analyzed using ANOVA at α 0.05. Results obtained from the study show that mycorrhiza and cattle rumen digesta increased the colonies of fungi and bacteria resulting in significantly enhanced TPH degradation in the contaminated soil. However, cattle rumen digesta significantly (p<0.05) enhanced TPH degradation, bacterial and fungal population the most compared to mycorrhiza alone. Combined cattle rumen digesta and mycorrhiza application resulted in significantly (p<0.05) lower residual TPH content in the contaminated soil compared to using cattle rumen digesta or mycorrhiza alone. Thus, cattle rumen digesta and mycorrhiza should be used in bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon impacted soils.

DETECTION OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINANTS IN READY-TO-DRINK BEVERAGE (ZOBO) SOLD ON FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSE CAMPUS, NORTHWEST NIGERIA

Sat, 24 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0530

Introduction: Consumption of ready-to-drink beverages is a norm in the world over. However, the presence of total coliform in any beverage renders it unfit for human consumption.

Objectives: Due to non-existence of scientific data on the safety status of the ready-to-drink Zobo which is a popular local beverage, we did conduct this study to assess the bacteriological quality of the lots sold to consumers on the campus of Federal University Dutse (FUD), Nigeria.

Methods: Purposive sampling was employed to sample nine (9) locally packaged Zobo in three (3) different outlets; FUD Bakery (BAK) where three (3) were assayed (BAKA, BAKB, and BAKC), FUD Backside (BS) where three (3) samples were assayed (BSA, BSB, and BSC), and Morocco Girls’ hostel (MGH) three (3) samples were assayed (MGHA, MGHB, and MGHC). Standard methods were used to assay the sampled Zobo.

Results: Results obtained indicate that samples from MGH (8.0×10⁴ CFU/mL) had the lowest total viable count (TVC), while samples from BAK (2.8×10⁷ CFU/mL) recorded the highest TVC. However, samples assayed from MGH recorded no total coliform count. The number of bacterial colonies recorded in BAKA and BAKB was not significantly different from each other (p>0.05). However, the number of bacterial colonies recorded from MGHA was significantly different from those obtained in MGHB and MGHC (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Due to the results obtained, we can conclude that Zobo samples assayed in the sampling points were not fit for human consumption during the conduct of our study.

BIOLOGIC AND PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF UV PRETREATED MIXTURE OF DYES BY CALOCYBE INDICA

VENKATA KRISHNA BAYINENI, S. MAHESWARI, MALAIYARASA PANDIAN P — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0530

The degradation of a mixture of dyes by photocatalytic process (TiO₂/UV) and as a pre-treatment to biologic degradation by Calocybe indica (milky white mushroom) was investigated. The fungus was capable of degrading 52.6% of the dye’s mixture, within 10 days under static conditions at pH 7.5 and 30°C temperature and having 150 μg/ml dye concentration. The photocatalytic process was capable of degrading only 16.2% dye mixture when exposed to UV for 4 h at continuous stirring at 30°C temperature and 150 μg/mL dye concentration. A two-step treatment process, namely, photocatalytic treatment followed by biologic degradation, was assessed. The visual observations and ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectral analysis showed that the combined effects were most efficient in the removal of the dye (94.6%), which involved a complex interaction of enzyme activity, biosorption, and photocatalytic action. The biotransformation of the synthetic dye mixture was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy analyses of samples before and after decolorization. The strain showed a high correlation between the dry weight and color removal percentage. Thus, the biodegradation of complex synthetic dye mixture to non-toxic metabolites using C. indica would be a better option for the biologic treatment of textile effluents.