Distribution of butyltins in the waters and sediments along the coast of India.

Water and surface sediment samples were analyzed for butyltins (TBT, DBT, MBT) from various ports along the east and west coast of India. The total butyltin (TB) in water samples varied between ~1.7 and 342 ng S nl⁻¹, whereas for sediments it varied between below detection limit to 14861 ng S ng⁻¹ dry weight of sediment.

Differences in carbohydrate profiles in batch culture grown planktonic and biofilm cells of Amphora rostrata Wm. Sm.

Diatoms are abundant in biofilms developed on surfaces immersed in sunlit waters. In both the planktonic and the biofilm mode of growth, diatoms produce carbohydrate polymers which perform several functions including motility, protection, production of macro-aggregates and detoxification. However, little is known about the differences, if any, in the production and characterization at the molecular level of carbohydrates in planktonic and biofilm cells.

Distribution of butyltins in waters and sediments of the Mandovi and Zuari estuaries, west coast of India.

Butyltins (TBT, DBT, MBT) were measured in water and sediment samples collected from various locations in the Mandovi (ten stations) and Zuari (nine stations) estuaries during November 2007. The total butyltin (TB) in water samples varied between approximately 12 and 73 and from 0.5 to 77 ng Sn l(-1), whereas for the sediments, it varied from approximately 15 to 118 and 6 to 119 ng Sn g(-1) dry weight for the Mandovi and the Zuari estuaries, respectively.

Organotins in the sediments of the Zuari estuary, west coast of India.

Industrial use of organotins such as butyltins and phenyltins has increased several folds during the last two decades. Butyltins and phenyltins are synthetic, multipurpose chemicals, which have been extensively used in marine antifouling paints. They have been known to be extremely poisonous to mollusc fishery resources (oysters, clams, etc.

Biochemical composition of the marine conditioning film: implications for bacterial adhesion.

The conditioning film formed on glass panels was analysed for total carbohydrates (CFCHO), total proteins (CFP) and total uronic acids (CFURA). The influence of these compounds on the adhesion of three marine bacterial cultures, Pseudomonas sp. CE-2, Pseudomonas sp.

Role of beta 1-4 linked polymers in the biofilm structure of marine Pseudomonas sp. CE-2 on 304 stainless steel coupons.

Pseudomonas sp CE-2 cells attach and form biofilms on 304-stainless steel (SS) coupons. A series of experiments were carried out in order to understand the role of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in the formation and maintenance of CE-2 biofilms on SS coupons. The biofilm density and EPS concentration increased over the period of incubation and the highest values for both were recorded after 72 h.

Sources of hydrocarbons in sediments of the Mandovi estuary and the Marmugoa harbour, west coast of India.

Surface sediments were collected from various locations of the Mandovi estuary and the Marmugoa harbour. Sediments were analysed for organic carbon (OC), total lipids, n-alkanes concentration and composition. Concentrations of OC, total lipids and n-alkanes varied spatially and ranged from 1 to 2.

Effects of DNP on the cell surface properties of marine bacteria and its implication for adhesion to surfaces.

The effect of 2, 4-dinitrophenol (DNP) on the extracelluar polysaccharides (EPS), cell surface charge, and the hydrophobicity of six marine bacterial cultures was studied, and its influence on attachment of these bacteria to glass and polystyrene was evaluated. DNP treatment did not influence cell surface charge and EPS production, but had a significant effect on hydrophobicity of both hydrophilic (p = 0.05) and hydrophobic (p = 0.

Application of thermoalkalophilic xylanase from Arthrobacter sp. MTCC 5214 in biobleaching of kraft pulp.

A thermoalkalophilic and cellulase-free xylanase produced from Arthrobacter sp. MTCC 5214 by solid-state fermentation using wheat bran as a carbon source was evaluated for prebleaching of kraft pulp. The UV absorption spectrum of the compounds released by enzyme treatment showed a characteristic peak at 280 nm, indicating the presence of lignin in the released colouring matter.

Purification and characterization of thermoalkalophilic xylanase isolated from the Enterobacter sp. MTCC 5112.

Thermoalkalophilic Enterobacter sp. MTCC 5112 was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the Mandovi estuary on the west coast of India. This culture produced extracellular xylanase.

Alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases: the potential applications in biotechnology.

Recently, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidases (EC3.2.1.

Bacterial extracellular polymeric substance (EPS): a carrier of heavy metals in the marine food-chain.

The ecological implications of metal binding properties of bacterial EPS and its possible role in the bioaccumulation of pollutants in the marine food-chain was investigated using a partially purified and chemically characterized microbial EPS isolated from a species of Marinobacter. Various factors influencing metal sorption by the EPS including the influence of initial metal concentrations, incubation time, pH and sodium chloride concentrations on binding of lead (Pb2+) and copper (Cu2+) were evaluated. The bacterial EPS selectively bound more amount of Cu2+ per mg of EPS than Pb2+.

Butyltins in the sediments of Kochi and Mumbai harbours, west coast of India.

Surface sediment samples were collected from various locations in the Mumbai and Kochi harbours, west coast of India, to assess the presence of butyltin compounds. Tributyltin (TBT) and dibutyltin (DBT) varied from 16 to 16,816 ng/g dry wt. and from undetected to 469 ng/g dry wt.

Dynamics of amino acids in the conditioning film developed on glass panels immersed in the surface seawaters of Dona Paula Bay.

The conditioning film developed on glass panels immersed in surface seawater over a period of 24 h was analysed for total organic carbon (OC), total organic nitrogen (ON), and total hydrolyzable amino acid (THAA) concentrations and composition. The concentrations of C and N and THAA increased, whereas the C/N ratio decreased over the period of immersion. The amino acid-C and N accounted for 3.

Butyltins in water, biofilm, animals and sediments of the west coast of India.

Biofilm, fish, oyster, mussel, clam, surface seawater, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment samples were collected from marine and/or estuarine waters of the west coast of India. These samples were analysed for butyltin derivatives such as dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT). The concentrations DBT plus TBT varied between 2.

Analysis of microfouling products formed on metallic surfaces exposed in a marine environment.

Mild steel (MS), stainless steel (SS) and copper (Cu) test panels were immersed in the surface water of Dona Paula Bay over a period of 15 d. During the immersion period data on the hydrography, nutrients and suspended matter were also collected. The suspended matter and fouling products on the MS, SS and Cu panels were analysed for organic carbon (OC), organic nitrogen (ON), chlorophyll a (chl a), protein and carbohydrate concentration and composition, and the dry weight (DW) was recorded.