Showing papers by "Ruma Pal published in 2019"

An integrated approach towards agricultural wastewater remediation with fatty acid production by two cyanobacteria in bubble column photobioreactors

Abstract: Cyanobacteria are capable of rapidly sequestering CO2 into lipid-enriched biomass while utilizing dissolved inorganic nutrients in wastewater. Semi-batch 30-d cultures of Anabaena sphaerica and A. variabilis were simultaneously monitored for biomass and lipid productivities, CO2 sequestration rates and dissolved macronutrient (N, P) utilization rates under varying photoperiods (8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 h) and CO2 concentrations (control (air), 2% and 5%) in media supplemented with 15% (v/v) agricultural run-off water in bubble column photobioreactors. Effect of enhanced CO2 supply was significantly beneficial for all parameters. Longer or shorter photoperiods from the originally acclimated 14 h led to diminished and enhanced parameters respectively, but these changes were staggered due to inherent adaptibilities. The long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) profiles of A. sphaerica and A. variabilis were respectively dominated by saturated fatty acids (SFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). Eight LCFAs were common between the two species while the SFA myristic acid was found in A. sphaerica and the ω-6 PUFA cis-8,11,14-eicosatrienoic acid was found in A. variabilis. It was concluded that A. sphaerica and A. variabilis showed potential in biodiesel and nutraceutical production, respectively. However, culture conditions including photoperiod and CO2 supply were found to affect the LCFA profiles slightly.

SEM study of planktonic chlorophytes from the aquatic habitat of the Indian Sundarbans and their conservation status

Abstract: Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is the most modern technique for plankton research. The present paper deals with the taxonomy and morphology of some rare and endangered planktonic chlorophytes in relation to scanning electron microscopy. Water samples from the distinct water body of the Sundarbans have been concentrated and examined by scanning electron microscopy. A total of 45 species, of which 17 species of Scenedesmaceae, 10 species each of Hydrodictyaceae and Desmidiaceae, five species of Chlorococcaceae, two species of Selenastraceae and only one species of Chlorellaceae were recorded from the study site. Some species were recorded as new and rare from the study area. About 18 species including nine extremely rare, seven occasional, six frequent, four sporadic and one abundant was recorded in the present study. A detailed taxonomic description with line drawings is also included in the present communication.