Soil Chemical Analysis

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides access to information on a variety of topics related to the environment and strives to inform citizens of health risks. The EPA also has an extensive library network that consists of 26 libraries throughout the United States, which provide access to a plethora of information to EPA employees, scientists, and researchers. The EPA implemented a reorganization project to digitize their materials so they would be more accessible to a wider range of users, but this plan was drastically accelerated when the EPA was threatened with a budget cut. It chose to close and reduce the hours and services of some of their libraries. As a result, the agency was accused of denying users the “right to know” by making information unavailable, not providing an adequate strategic plan, and discarding vital materials. This case study explores the background of the digitization project, the practices implemented, and the critiques of the project.

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The Environmental Protection Agency

Statistical Methods For Agricultural Workers

B6nassy, C., 1955. R6marques sur deux Aphelinid6s: Aphelinus mytilaspidis Le Baron et Aphytis proclia Walker. Annls l~piphyt. 6: 11-17. Lord, F. T. & MacPhee, A. W., 1953. The influence of spray programs on the fauna of apple orchards in Nova Scotia II. Oyster shell scale. Can. Ent. 79: 196-209. Pickett, A. D., 1946. A progress report on long term spray programs. Rep. Nova Scotia Fruit Grow. Ass. 83 : 27-31. Pickett, A. D., 1967. The influence of spray programs on the fauna of apple orchards in Nova Scotia XIV. Can. Ent. 97: 816-821. Tothill, J. D., 1918. The predacious mite Hemisarcoptes malus Shimer and its relation to the natural control of the oyster shell scale Lepidosaphes ulmi L. Agric. Gaz. Can. 5 : 234-239.

http://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF01976688.pdf

Soil enzymes: Kuprevich, V. F. & Shcherbakova, T. A.: Translated from the Russian edition (1966), published by the Indian National Scientific Documentation Centre, New Delhi 1971. 392 pp., offset printing from type script, paper cover. Obtainable from U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, Springfield, Va. 22151

This article introduces the radical approach of applying alkaline anion-exchange membranes (AAEMs) to meet the current challenges with regards to direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs). A review of the literature is presented with regards to the testing of fuel cells with alkaline membranes (fuelled with hydrogen or methanol) and also to candidate alkaline anion-exchange membranes for such an application. A brief review of the directly related patent literature is also included. Current and future research challenges are identified along with potential strategies to overcome them. Finally, the advantages and challenges with the direct electrochemical oxidation of alternative fuels are discussed, along with how the application of alkaline membranes in such fuel cells may assist in improving performance and fuel efficiency.

https://epubs.surrey.ac.uk/1696/1/fulltext.pdf

Prospects for Alkaline Anion-Exchange Membranes in Low Temperature Fuel Cells†

The present study explores the potentiality of sugarcane charcoal for fluoride removal from synthetic fluoride solution. Column adsorption experiments with respect to variation of flow rate, pH, initial concentration, and column depths were carried out. Sugarcane charcoal exhibited almost consistent scavenging capacity at various bed depths with a flow rate 4.34 ml min(-1). Maximum adsorption capacity of sugarcane charcoal was recorded 7.33 mg g(-1). The adsorption studies were simulated using Thomas and Bed depth service time model. Both the models consistently predict its characteristic parameters and describe the breakthrough profiles in the whole range of sorption process.

Investigation on fixed bed column performance of fluoride adsorption by sugarcane charcoal.

The influence of 0, 0.1 mM, 0.5 mM, 1.0 mM, 4.0 mM, 8.0 mM fluoride (F) concentration on seed germination, seedling growth of gram seeds (cv. Anuradha) was studied under laboratory condition. At the end of 15 days of treatment, significant reduction in root length, shoot length, dry weight, fresh weight, % of germination, protein content, catalase activity, tolerance index, vigour index, germination rate, germination relative index, mean daily germination were observed at increasing fluoride concentration. Total soluble sugar content, proline content, peroxidase activity, ascorbic acid oxidase activity, % DFC, % phytotoxicity of root and shoot increased along with gradual increment of F concentration. 4.0 mM F concentration was found to be most sensitive for gram seeds. At 8.0 mM F concentration germination occurred but plants were totally dried after completion of treatment period.

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Studies on the impact of fluoride toxicity on germination and seedling growth of gram seed (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Anuradha)

Studies on the impact of micronutrient (Molybdenum) on germination, seedling growth and physiology of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) under laboratory condition.

The aim of this research work is to develop a novel cost effective strategy for fluoride removal, applicable to rural areas of developing countries. Most of the adsorbent based technologies for fluoride removal work at acidic pH which is not a feasible condition for application in rural areas. This study investigates the feasibility of three low-cost adsorbents (calcium carbonate, activated alumina, and activated sugarcane ash) for the removal of fluoride ions by adsorption using a synthetic fluoride solution (3.0–30.0 ppm). The effects of various process parameters have been investigated by the following batch adsorption technique at 30 ± 1 °C. Fluoride ion adsorption increased with increasing adsorbent dose for all the adsorbents. Adsorption of fluoride increased with increasing contact time and reached equilibrium at 100 min. Adsorption data were fitted with the Langmuir isotherms. The maximum fluoride adsorptions occurred as 12.5 mg/g, 1.2 mg/g, 10.99 mg/g for calcium carbonate, activated alumina and activated sugarcane ash, respectively. Further, fluoride adsorption of all the studied adsorbents follows pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 0.99). Intra-particle diffusion model revealed that activated carbon of sugarcane ash is more effective in adsorption of fluoride. Thermodynamic study showed spontaneous nature and feasibility of the adsorption process with negative enthalpy (∆H0) value also supported the exothermic nature. These results indicate that activated carbon of sugarcane ash can be used as an effective, low-cost adsorbent to remove fluoride compared to calcium carbonate and activated alumina.

Fluoride Adsorption by Calcium Carbonate, Activated Alumina and Activated Sugarcane Ash

A new Gram-positive, nonpigmented, rod-shaped fluoride-tolerant bacterial strain, NM25, was isolated from waterlogged muddy field soil collected from the fluoride endemic area of Rampurhat II block (average fluoride in water, 4.7 mg/l, and in soil, 1.5 mg/kg) in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India. The study was undertaken to characterize the fluoride-tolerant bacterial isolate, to determine its role in bioaccumulation of fluoride, and to analyze the water and soil quality of the bacterial environment. The isolate was positive for catalase, lipase, urease, protease, oxidase, and H2S production, but negative for indole production, nitrate reduction, and Vogues–Proskauer test. The organisms were sensitive to recommended doses of ofloxacin, kanamycin, rifampicin, levofloxacin, vancomycin, gatifloxacin, gentamicin, doxycycline, streptomycin, and nalidixic acid but resistant to ampicillin. Based on the phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence, and phylogenetic analysis, the bacterial isolate NM25 was identified as Bacillus flexus. The G+C content of the 16S rDNA was 53.14 mol%. This strain tolerated up to 20 % (w/v) NaCl in nutrient agar medium and was grown at the pH range 4–12. It reduced fluoride concentration up to 67.45 % and tolerated more than 1,500 ppm of fluoride in brain–heart infusion agar medium.

Characterization of fluoride-tolerant halophilic Bacillus flexus NM25 (HQ875778) isolated from fluoride-affected soil in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.

Jayanta Kumar Datta

Papers

Investigation on fixed bed column performance of fluoride adsorption by sugarcane charcoal.

Studies on the impact of fluoride toxicity on germination and seedling growth of gram seed (Cicer arietinum L. cv. Anuradha)

Studies on the impact of micronutrient (Molybdenum) on germination, seedling growth and physiology of Bengal gram (Cicer arietinum) under laboratory condition.

Fluoride Adsorption by Calcium Carbonate, Activated Alumina and Activated Sugarcane Ash

Characterization of fluoride-tolerant halophilic Bacillus flexus NM25 (HQ875778) isolated from fluoride-affected soil in Birbhum District, West Bengal, India.