Iranica Journal of Energy and Environment (IJEE)

170-175

Authors: T.S. Pathan, P.B. Thete, S.E. Shinde, D.L. Sonawane, Y.K. Khillare

The fishes, Rasbora daniconius were exposed to lethal concentration at 9.5% (LC50 of 96 hrs) for 96 hrs and sublethal concentrations [1.9 % (1/5) and 0.95 % (1/10) LC50 of 96hrs] of paper mill effluent, for 30 days to study the impacts on the histology of gill. Many pathological changes were observed in the gill lamellae such as bulging at the tip of primary lamellae, epithelial hypertrophy, Fusion, curling, reduction in secondary gill lamellae, disorganization and rupture in secondary lamellae, swelling in pillar, mucous, and chloride cells. Hemorrhage at the primary and secondary lamellae.

179-183

Authors: Joseph Selvin, Aseer Manilal, C. Rani, B. Sabarathnam, G. Seghal Kiran, Sujith Sugathan, Chippu Shakir

An extensive study on the prevalence of seromarkers (HBsAg and AFP) of hepatocellular carcinoma among two low socioeconomic groups of Karumanthurai tribes and Kanyakumari coastal population was carried out. The results obtained suggest that the mean HBsAg value of tribal was more than that of the coastal population. The mean AFP of elevated and normal cases was found to be invariably significant (P< 0.01) over the two areas. Coastal patients tended to be significantly older than the tribal patients (P < 0.005, Wilcoxon rank sum test). All two racial/geographic regions showed a preponderance of male patients but this tendency was significantly more marked (P < 0.05) in the tribal group than in the coastal sample. Liquor habit and lack of personal hygienic practices were associated with the prevalence of HBsAg and AFP in both the areas. Surprisingly a positive association has been found between the consumption of marine foods and reduced risk of HCC. Thus the reduced risk of HCC among coastal population can probably be due to the development of immunity against HBV due to the dietary pattern of marine food consumption by coastal population.

192-195

Authors: Ali Aberoumand

In addition to meeting nutrient intake levels, greater consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and cancers. The proximate composition and mineral constituents of Chlorophytum comocum root tubers were evaluated. The root tubers contained a ashes: 10.38%,crude protein: 4.54%, crude lipid: 2.00%, crude fiber: 17.24%, and carbohydrates: 65.84%. The leaves and stem also have high energy value (299.52kcal/100g)dry weight where as Alocacia indica stem contained a ashes: 9.1%,crude protein: 5.44%, crude lipid: 3.25%, crude fiber: 22.9%, and carbohydrates: 59.31%. The stem also have high energy value (288.25kcal/100g)dry weight Comparing the root tubers mineral contents with recommended dietary allowances (RDA), the results indicated that Chlorophytum comocum root tubers could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as calcium, fibre and carbohydrates where as the results indicated that Alocacia indica stem could be a good supplement for some nutrients such as Fibre, Potassium, Zinc, lipid, and Carbohydrates. The root tubers and the stem could be promoted as a carbohydrate supplement for cereal-based diets in poor rural communities, while its high potassium content could be utilized for the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions.

200-204

Authors: Atul R. Dange, S.K.Thakare

Pigeon pea or tur (Cajanus cajan L. Mills.) is one of the important pulse crops of India and ranks second to chickpea in area and production. Traditionally the harvesting of pigeon pea is done manually by sickle, which demands considerable amount of labour, drudgery, time and cost to harvest, which reflects on total production cost of the crop. In view of this a tractor operated front mounted pigeon pea stem cutter was developed and being front mounted implement it facilitated better visibility and control to operator. The power was transmitted from pto to gear box. Arrangement of hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic motor was provided on the equipment to facilitate the height of cut and to rotate the conveyer belt. During comparative performance evaluation of developed equipment, the average cutting efficiency and field capacity was found 96.30 % and 0.176 ha/hr respectively. There was increase in fuel consumption and plant damage with increase in speed of operation. The average operation cost of newly developed tractor operated front mounted pigeon pea stem cutter was 64.71% less as compared with manual harvesting of pigeon pea crop. The time saved was almost 1/3rd to that of manual harvesting.

211-221

Authors: G. Venkata Subbaiah, Dr. K. Raja Gopal, Syed Altaf Hussain

History has seen fuel innovations being driven majorly by transportation needs rather than the overall need to revolutionize the energy needs of the society. Biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol are now receiving the impetus required for becoming a fuel source for the future. One of the ways to reduce the dependence on fossil diesel is the blending of bioethanol with conventional diesel. However, an emulsifier or a co-solvent is required to stabilize the blend. The ricebran oil biodiesel offers an alternative application as an emulsifier for diesel-ethanol blends to form diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. In the present study the rice bran oil biodiesel was used in different ways such as pure biodiesel, blending with diesel and diesel- ethanol blends. The performance and emission characteristics of a direct injection (DI) diesel engine when fuelled with conventional diesel fuel, pure biodiesel, a blend of diesel and biodiesel and three blends of diesel-biodiesel-ethanol were studied over the entire range of load on the engine. The experimental results showed that the highest brake thermal efficiency was observed with 30% ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The exhaust gas temperature and sound reduced with the increase of ethanol percentage in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The Carbon monoxide, smoke, exhaust gas temperature and sound reduced with the increase of ethanol percentage in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The minimum values of Carbon monoxides, smoke, exhaust gas temperature and sound intensity were observed with the blend BE30 and were respectively 41.23%, 14.5%, 0.57% and 11.53% lower than that of the diesel fuel. The Oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide emissions increased with the increased percentage of ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blends. The hydrocarbon emissions increased with ethanol but lower than that of the diesel fuel by a maximum of 35.35% with 10% ethanol in diesel-biodiesel-ethanol blend. The blending of 20% biodiesel into diesel-ethanol blends allowed higher percentage (30%) of ethanol mixing with diesel, increased the brake thermal efficiency and reduced the carbon monoxide, sound, hydrocarbons and smoke than that of the diesel fuel. So the rice bran oil biodiesel can be used as an emulsifier to mix higher percentage of ethanol with fossil diesel to improve the performance and reduce the emissions of a diesel engine.

228-233

Authors: Aliakbar Hedayati, Alireza Safahieh, Ahmad Savari, Jasem Ghofle Marammazi

Toxicity tests allow the determination of pollution effects, providing direct evidence of the biological responses of marine organisms to contaminants. Fifty four yellow fine sea bream all immature male in same size (120 g final body weight average) were obtained from Mahshahr creeks with hooks in a Upon capture. In laboratory Fish maintained in a seawater re-circulatory system (300-L tanks) equipped with physical/biological filters and with aeration. All samples were acclimated for one weeks in a 15 aerated fiberglass tank containing 46 ppt saltwater maintained at 25 C under a constant 12:12 L:D photoperiod. Acclimatized Fish were fed daily with a live feed (fresh shrimp) and daily we check water quality and water parameters. Hg2+ tested concentrations were 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and10000 µg/l, Groups of six male yellow fine sea bream (120 g) were exposed for 96 h to each of the Range Finding Test for LC50, in fiberglass tank equipped with aeration with 100 l of test medium. The control group was exposed to filtered sea water in similar conditions. Test medium was not renewed during the assay and no food was provided to the animals. Values of pH, Temperature, and salinity were measured at time 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. At the end of the bioassay, Range values were determined as 500-1000 µg/l (fifty percent of mortality between 500 and 1000). Range Finding Test values indicated that mercury is more toxic to A. latus. Range obtained in the present study compare with corresponding values that have been published in the literature for other species of fish, show different Range of mercury in different species and even different time, but what is important, lower value of Range Finding Test for A. latus compare with most species and confirm sensitively of A. latus to low mercury doses.

246-254

Authors: E.K. Ajani, S.O. Ayoola

The piscicidal quality of water extracts of Adenia cissampeloides leaves on Tilapia (Sarotherodon galilaeus) juveniles was investigated in a static renewal bioassay to determine the median lethal concentration(LC ) at 96hour of exposure. Five graded concentrations of 800, 600, 400, 200 and 100 mg/litre of aqueous 50 solution of A. cissampeloides and a control 0 mg/10L were applied to S. galilaeus fingerlings in plastic tanks. The 96h LC of aqueous extract of A. cissampeloides to S. galilaeus under laboratory condition was 317mg/l. 50 Behavioural changes such as erratic swimming, loss of reflex, hyper ventilation, increased surfacing frequency and jerky movements were observed prior to death. Histopathological changes in the liver of S. galilaeus juveniles observed are severe widespread vacuolar degeneration and necrosis, hepatocytes, hyperplasia and presence of large numbers of megalocytes. In the gills, there were denudation of gill filaments, swelling of chondrocytes and rarefication of cartilage within gill filament. These damages became severe with increasing concentration of the plant extracts.