Phytoremediation of chromium polluted soil

Heavy metal-contaminated land is an important environmental, health, economic, and planning issue in Egypt. Phytoextraction involves use of plans to remove metals from soil. In a greenhouse experiment, Zea mays, Helianthus annuus and Sorghum bicolor plants were grown in tannery effluent polluted soils and non-polluted reference soils. After 8 weeks of growth, the plants were harvested and the dry weight and the content of Cr were determined. The relationship between mycorrhizae and plans indicates that the percentage of mycorrhizal colonization in all plant species grown in un-polluted soils were higher than plants grown in polluted soil. Roots of all three plan species growing on both soils possessed Arbuscular mycorrhizal [AM] colomization in their roots and AM propagules in the associated rhizospheres. High Cr contents adversely affected the number and diversity of Am SPECIES. The order of Cr foliar accumulation was Z. mays > S. bicolor > H. annus. The effect of AM fungi on heavy metal uptake is dependent upon the initial soil metal concentration. The uptake of heavy metals by Z. mays, H. annus and S. bicolor was affected by the colonization of roots with [AM] fungi

Effect of some nutrients on alginate synthesis in azotobacter vinelandii and characterization of the produced alginate

The role of nutrients on alginate production by A. vinelandii was studied in batch cultures. The largest amount of bacterial alginate was obtained in presence of: 0.3 g/t MgSO[4-].7H[2]O, 0.4g/l NaCI, 42mg/I CaCl[2]. 2H[2]O, 4mg/I K[2]HPO[4], 16mg/I K[2]HPO[4], 2.5mg/1 FeSO[4-]7H[2]O, 2.9mg/I H[3]BO[3], 2mg/1 ZnSO[4], 7H[2]O, 2mg/I Na[2]MoO[4]. 2H[2]O, 0.3mg/I CuSO[4-],. 5H[2]O, 0.2mg/I MnCI[2]. 4H[2]O. Alginate production was not enhanced by natural additives or inducing agents except for acetate which increase alginate yield. The pure alginate contained 0.36% ash and 0.4% protein. It is similar to algal alginate but has an extra acetyl group. It contains 69.5% M-M block, 27.5% M-G block and 3% G-G block

Alginate production by azotobacter Vineland

The production of alginate by a mucoid strain of Azotobacter vinelandii was studied in batch culture. Highest alginate yield was obtained using Jarman N 2,-free mineral medium supplemented with 4% sucrose and the pH was initially adjusted to 8.0. Maximum alginate yield and productivity were achieved at the late growth phase [4 days old cultures], when each flask containing 100m1 medium was inoculated with 5% [V/V] bacterial suspension of 36h old cultures and shaked at 250rpm

Cellulase and single cell protein production by aspergillus niger

The potentiality of 4 isolates of Aspergillus niger, to produce cellulolytic enzymes and single cell protein [SCP] has been studied under static culture conditions using 5 different agricultural and agro industrial cellulosic wastes as a carbon source. Isolate No 1 was selected as the most potent for cellulase and SCP production on using beet pulp. Cellulase activities and SCP production of this isolate were found to be influenced by the type and the age of the fungal culture. Best results were maintained after 4 days using the shaked culture. The beet pulp was pretreated in different manners to increase the cellulase and SCP production by the selected isolate. Milling, as a physical treatment, rendered the beet pulp sample more productive for cellulolytic enzymes and SCP. The cellulase and SCP production were also tested using initially adjusted pH as well as buffered media. Maximal CMCase and FPase activities [0.561 and 0.293 unit/ml respectively] and the highest protein yield [35.7%] with maximum conversion efficiency [55.6%] were obtained at pH 6.0 with the phosphate buffer giving better results as compared with the acetate buffer

Influence of some nutritional factors on cellulase and single cell protein production by aspergillus niger from beet pulp

Production of cellulose and single cell protein [SCP] by Aspergillus niger isolate No I grown on beet pulp [BP] waste, as the sole carbon source, were optimal when the culture medium was composed of [g/I]: BP, 25; NaNO[3]2; MgSO[4],. 7H[2]O, 0.57;K[2]HPO[4], 1. Microelements solution in the cultivation medium did not significantly affect the fermentation activities. On the other hand, supplementation of yeast extract [2g/1] to the medium permitted maximal cellulase and SCP production

Riboflavin production by aspergillus terreus from beet-molasses

Aspergillus terreus was used for riboflavin [vitamin B[2] production in a media containing beet molasses as the sole carbon source. The growth and vitamin production of the fungus were markedly affected by the composition of the culture medium. Maximum riboflavin yield was achieved at the late exponential growth phase [16 days old cultures], in presence of [g/1]: centrifuged beet-molasses, 90; L-asparagine. 1: MgSO[4]. 7H[2]O. 0.5; K[2]HPO[4]+]KH[2PO[4] [1:1], 5 -and the medium initially adjusted to pH 8

Degradation of shrimp-shell waste and production of chitinase by bacillus amyloliquefaciens under some cultural conditions

The study of chitinase production by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens grown on shrimp-shell waste as the sole carbon source showed that chitinase production with maximum enzyme activity was reached when 2% inoculum of 24 h age seed culture was used. The inoculated medium contained [g/I] shrimpshell waste, 80; NH[4]CI, 1.2: KH[2]PO [4]; K[2]HPO[4], 1.6; MgSO[4].7H[2]O, 0.1: ZnSO[4]. 7H[2]O, 0.1; ZnSO[4] .7H[2]O. FeCI[3]. 6H[2]O, 0.01; CaCI[2]2]H[2]O, 0.02 at pH 7 and the culture shaken at 30°C for 36 hours

Some factors influencing chitinase production by bacillus amyloliquefaciens

The effect of several analogues and breakdown products of chitin on the iodsetioa of the chitinase of B. amyloliquefaciens was examined. Glucose. N -acetyl-glucosamine and chitobiose inhibited the enzyme productivity. The effect of the addition of some natural extracts was also investigated and the maximum enzyme activity was produced with 2% sand extract. A simplified medium composed of 8% shrimp-shell waste and 80% sand extract yielded an enzyme of highest activity. Reaction conditions supporting best activity sum achieved using 5-7-5mg swollen chitin in 0.03 M phosphate buffer at pH 5.916.98; enzyme concentration of 11.35mg protein/reaction mixture and incubating the mixture at 45°C for 60 min

Physiological study on riboflavin production by a hydrocarbon-utilizing candida guilliermondii wickerhamii

The production of riboflavin [Vitamin, B[2]] by Candida quilliermondii wickerham cultivated on solar-containing medium was stimulated in presence of corn oil [0.1g%], arginine, phenylalanine [1 m mole/1] or CoSO[4]. 7H[2]O [1000 ug/I]. On the other hand, emulsifying agents strongly inhibited yeast growth and vitamin production. Similarly, FeSO[4]H[2]O and MnSO[4]. 4H[2]O 50 and 200 ug/1 levels respectively also showed inhibitory effect. Among the tested purines, xanthine enhanced the vitamin production

Microbial response to steroids

The metabolic activities of Aspergillus nidulans culture able to oxygenate progesterone [P] at C-6 beta; 11 alpha and 21-positions, responded differently to the added P. Thus, a rapid sugar and a limited nitrogen uptakes leading to the accumulation of lipid materials was recorded in the presence of P. Similarly, the detailed analysis of nucleic acids, amino acids, fatty acids and sterol constituents revealed different profiles when P was supplemented to the fermentation medium

Single cell protein production from orange waste

Sporotrichum thermophile was successfully used for single cell protein [SCP] production using crude orange waste [OW] as the sole carbon source. Lower fermentation yields were achieved with delignified or depectinized OW containing media. However, the oil-free OW supported the maximum growth yields, holocellulose assimilation as well as SCF outputs [49%] after 20 days of incubation. The analyses of fermentation residue [fungal biomass unfermented OW], revealed that about 2/3 of the crude OW, s holocellulase was consumed by the fungus. Similarly, the amounts of lignin and pectin constituents were reduced nearly to half the original contents. On the contrary, highest percentage of crude protein [41%] was recorded. The obtained protein proved to contain all essential amino acids. Which were mostly compared favourably with those of the FAD guidline and of soy bean oil meal

Some nutritional requirements influencing the utilization of orange waste by Sthermophile for protein production

Snorutrichum thermophile was used for single cell protein [SCP] production in a medium containing orange waste as the sole carbon source. The growth and SCP production of the Fungus were markedly affected by the orange waste [OW] level. Optimal OW concentration for biomass and SCP yields was found to be 40 g/1. Ammonium nitrate as a nitrogen source at 3.5 g/l level supported high growth and maximal protein production [42.4%]. The addition of K[2] HP0[4], MgSO [4]. 7H[2]O, KCl and FeSO [4]. 7H[2]O at concentrations of 15 mg/1 for the latter salt and 0.5 g/1 for each of the other salts allowed better fermentation yields

Some physiological relations of progesterone conversion by aspergillus nidulans

Progesterone [P] was successfully converted by Aspergillus nidulans to 11 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone [11 alpha-HP], and 21-phydroxyprogesterone [21-F3P], in addition to one unde sired product; namely 6 beta, 11 alpha-dihydroxyprogestero-ae [6 beta, 11 alpha-DHP]. The transformation pattern was markedly affected by the composition and pH of the medium, the age of the culture as well as by the prior induction of these cultures with P substrate. The obtained results outlined the composition of the fermentation medium best suited for P conversion. The optimal pH value and the proper culture age enhancing the production of 11 alpha-HP and min - mize the occurrence of the secondary enzymic 6 beta-hydroxylation reaction leading to the formation of the undesired 6 beta, 11 alpha-DHP were recorded

Some nutritional requirements of streptomyces coriofaciens producing 16-progesterone hydroxylase

Progesterone was successfully converted to 16 alpha-hydroxy- progesterone by S. Coriofaciens culture. The efficiency of the conversion process depends on the C/N ratio, the concentration of K2HPO4 and MgSO4, 7H2O salts of the growth medium. Best conversion efficiencies were maintained with [g/1]: starch, 10, KNO3, 1.5; [i.e. C: N ratio of 21: 1] K2HPO4, 0.5; MgSO4. 7H2O, 0.5. Moreover, the addition of different natural additives affected the conversion process differently. However, active progesterone transforming cultures were obtained when peptone was supplemented to the basal medium