Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology

Recent advancements in natural dye applications: a review

Cadmium in soils and groundwater: A review.

Removal of Chromium(VI) from aqueous solution using guar gum–nano zinc oxide biocomposite adsorbent

Increasing studies on extraction, purification and modification processes of natural dyes and antimicrobials, and their subsequent application on textiles demonstrate the revival of natural dyeing and finishing. Natural dyes have been widely used in textile coloration since ancient times. But, with advent of man-made synthetic dyes in the mid-nineteenth century, the dye market has been captured due to a variety of competitive properties of synthetic dyes against natural ones such as lower cost, higher fastness, color variety, ability to dye synthetic fibers and availability in large industrial scale. However, most of the synthetic dyes raise some serious problems in human health and cause environmental risks. Due to these drawbacks along with the growing awareness about cleaner surroundings and healthy lifestyle, there has been recently a worldwide interest in the production and application of dyes from two natural sources, plants and microorganisms. Most of these natural dyes have also inherently antimicrobial properties and could consequently possess high medicinal activity. They are extracted from different types of microorganisms as well as various parts of the plants that contain coloring materials such as tannin, flavonoids and quinonoids. Here we review the latest scientific researches on extraction and application of natural dyes/antimicrobials on textiles as effective coloring and antibacterial agents. First, different methods of extraction of natural dyes/antimicrobials will be discussed, and then, current methods of textile treatments and examples of early applications of these dyes on textile processing, properties achieved and the results obtained will be presented.

Natural dyes and antimicrobials for green treatment of textiles

India's Unnao region is home to many leather-treatment facilities and related industries. Industrial and agricultural waste leads to heavy metal contamination that infiltrates groundwater and leads to human health hazards. This work measured the amount of heavy metal in groundwater at specific sites near the industrial facilities in Unnao and identified potential sources of contamination as anthropogenic or lithogenic. Groundwater samples were taken from 10 bore well sites chosen for depth and proximity to industry. Data obtained from sample sites was interpreted using a multivariate statistical analytical approach, i.e., principal component analysis, clustering analysis, and correlation analysis. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that cadmium, copper, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc were correlated with anthropogenic sources, while iron and chromium were associated with lithogenic sources. These findings provide information on the possible sources of heavy metal contamination and could be a model for assessing and monitoring heavy metal pollution in groundwater in other locales. This study analyzed a selection of heavy metals chosen on the basis of industries located in the study area, which might not provide a complete range of information about the sources and availability of all heavy metals. Therefore, an extended investigation on heavy metal fractions will be developed in further studies.

Source identification study of heavy metal contamination in the industrial hub of Unnao, India.

To evaluate the biosorption efficacy of submerged aquatic plant Hydrilla verticilata for arsenic uptake from drinking water. H. verticillata, a submerged aquatic plant was utilized successfully for arsenic uptake from aqueous solution. Batch studies with various parameters viz. pH, sorbent dose, contact time, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature were carried out. Data were utilized to plot Lagergren graph along with pseudo-second-order graphs for kinetic studies to estimate the removal efficacy and to determine the nature of reaction. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) have been performed for characterization of metals on biomass. The study showed 96.35 % maximum absorption of arsenic by H. verticilata at initial concentration of 100 ppb with 0.5 g of biomass/100 ml for 5 h contact time at pH 6.0 with 150 rpm agitation rate. Data followed Langmuir isotherm showing sorption to be monolayer on homogeneous surface of biosorbent. The negative values of ΔG° indicated spontaneous nature; whereas ΔH° indicates exothermic nature of system and negative value of ∆S° entropy change correspond to a decrease in the degree of freedom to the adsorbed species followed by pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics. FTIR and SEM results showed apparent changes in functional group regions after metal chelation and the changes in surface morphology of biosorbent. This is a comparatively more effective, economic, easily available, and environmentally safe source for arsenic uptake from solution due to its high biosorption efficacy than other biosorbents already used.

Biosorption of arsenic in drinking water by submerged plant: Hydrilla verticilata.

In this paper, batch removal of hexavalent chromium from aqueous solutions by Araucaria heterophylla leaves was investigated. The batch experiments were conducted to study the adsorption of metal species and effect of different pH, contact time, metal concentration, biosorbent concentration, and adsorption capacity. Freundlich and Langmuir’s isotherm model were used to describe the adsorption behavior, and the experimental results fitted Freundlich model well. The adsorption efficiency observed for all chromium concentrations, i.e., 1, 3, 5, and 10 mg/L was 100% and the equilibrium was achieved in 30 min for 1 and 3 mg/L, whereas for 5 and 10 mg/L, it was less than 60 min. FTIR spectra was taken to identify functional groups involved in the biosorption. Thus, Araucaria leaves can be considered as one of the cheap and efficient biosorbent for toxic hexavalent chromium removal from natural or wastewaters.

Efficient biosorption of chromium(VI) ion by dry Araucaria leaves

Symplocos spicata (local name: Dom sheng) belonging to Family Symplococeae produces yellowish brown natural dye which has been used for dyeing textiles since ancient times by the Monpas tribe of Arunachal Pradesh. Symplocos spicata (Dom Sheng) was found in the Lumla area of Tawang district. Leaves of the plant are used by the Monpas and Tibetans for extraction of dye. Innovative sonicator dyeing with S. spicata showed that pretreatment with 2–4% metal mordant of the weight of the fabric is optimum showing very good fastness properties for dyed natural polymers such as cotton, wool, and silk. CIELab and K/S of the dyed fabrics were also evaluated. The superiority of sonicator dyeing over conventional dyeing has been established through this study.

Padma S. Vankar

Papers

Source identification study of heavy metal contamination in the industrial hub of Unnao, India.

Biosorption of arsenic in drinking water by submerged plant: Hydrilla verticilata.

Efficient biosorption of chromium(VI) ion by dry Araucaria leaves

Sonicator dyeing of natural polymers with Symplocos spicata by metal chelation

Dyeing wool with gomphrena globosa flower