Bioadsorbent: To clean industrial effluents by seaweeds

Keywords:
Bioadsorbent, effluents, seaweed, effluent toxicity, bioremoval,
Cyamopsis tetragonaloba.
ABSTRACT:

Bioadsorption is a form of environmental clean-up which involves
the use of plant biomass. In the present study, the seedling of Guar
[Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.] were treated with various concentrations of
match and plate making industrial effluents (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%). Both the
effluents cause stress to the plant. The effluents caused a drastic reduction in
morphometric, pigment and other biochemical characters. But same effluents after
seaweed treatment have bought about considerable increase in morphometric and
biochemical characteristics of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. Seaweed dry
powder used in this study is found to be nullifying the toxicity of the effluents. From
this investigation, it is clear that the naturally occurring green macro algae possess an
excellent adsorption capacity.

167-176 | JRPS | 2013 | Vol 2 | No 1

This article is governed by the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by/2.0), which gives permission for unrestricted use, non-commercial, distribution and
reproduction in all medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

www.plantsciences.info
Authors:
Selvaraj K,
Sevugaperumal R and
Ramasubramanian V.



Institution:
Department of Botany,
Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal
College (Autonomous),
Sivakasi 626 142,
Virudhunagar District,
Tamilnadu, India.



Corresponding author:
Ramasubramanian V.















Email:
drvrams@gmail.com,
kselvarajphd@gmail.com



Web Address:
http://www.plantsciences.info
documents/PS0045.pdf.


Dates:
Received: 29 Nov 2012 Accepted: 16 Dec 2012 Published: 23 Jan 2013
Article Citation:
Selvaraj K, Sevugaperumal R and Ramasubramanian V.
Bioadsorbent: To clean industrial effluents by seaweeds.
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176
Original Research
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences
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An International Scientific Research Journal
Journal of Research in
Plant Sciences
An International Scientific
Research Journal
INTRODUCTION
Water is an invaluable asset for all living organisms.
Water sources have been polluted due to
industrialization, urbanization and modern civilization.
Sivakasi is an industrial town in Virudhunagar district.
The town alone has nearly 250 fireworks, 200 litho and
offset, 700 match units and 150 other industries
including dye, printing ink, chemical cardboard, metal
plate making and chemical plate grinding industries.
Quite a large number of chemicals have constantly used
for manufacturing process (Ramasubramanian et al.,
2004). Whenever these industrial effluents are released
through drainage from the nearby industries without any
proper treatment. Thereafter they reach in agricultural
area and make major havoc to the entire environment of
the town (Ramasubramanian et al., 1988; 1993).
None of the technology had so far been introduced
to allay the apprehension of farmers, that effluents are
reducing yield and wrest the farming from them. In the
present study an attempt has been made to nullify the
problem in green way i.e., by the use of seaweeds,
Bioadsorption technique-using of weed plants to reduce
the toxicity which present in the effluents and render
them harmless to plants. This will be effective in
bringing new resources and technology to solve
environmental problems in India generated by industries.
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. is a
vegetable crop commonly cultivated in the effluent
contaminated sites of Sivakasi as the vegetable crop. It is
the established fact that seaweed has the potency to
ameliorate the metal toxicity. Since Ulva lactuca and
Gracillaria cordicata are commonly available in Uvari a
coastal area hardly 60 km away from Sivakasi, we took
up the study to exploit the beneficial effect of these
seaweeds to alleviate metal toxicity of the contaminated
soil and to boost the yield of the crop.
In the present study, it was aimed to find out the
impact of various concentrations of industrial effluents
(Plate making and Match industry) on the growth of
plants and studying the effect of varying amount of
natural biomass of seaweeds (Ulva lactuca and
Gracillaria cordicata) with the effluents on the plant
growth.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The plate making and match industry effluents
were collected from the match and plate making industry
in Sivakasi. The seaweeds (Ulva lactuca and
Gracillaria cordicata) were collected from Tuticorin
coastal area, shade dried and finally powdered by
milling.
Both control and experimental seedlings of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub. were treated with
various concentrations of plate making and match
industry effluents (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) separately.
After ten days of effluents treatment, various
morphometric, pigment, biochemical and enzymatic
characteristics were analysed. In another set 60% of
effluent (the concentration at which the toxicity found to
be optimum) level based on LST analysis (Zar, 1984)
was mixed into various amount of Ulva lactuca and
Gracilaria corticata seaweed dry powder (2 g/L, 4 g/L
and 6 g/L W/V) constantly shaken in a shaker for
12 h, filtered and the plants of another set was treated
with filtrate. After ten days of treatment various
morphometric, pigment, biochemical and enzymatic
characters were analyzed.

Selvaraj et al.,2013
168 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176
Figure 1
Morphometric Characters
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Twen t y da ys ol d s e edl i n gs of
Cyamopsis tertagonoloba (L.) Taub. Were used to
measure the morphometric characters such as root
length, shoot length, leaf area, fresh weight and dry
weight were measured manually. The biochemical
characters and enzymatic charters were analysed by the
following methods. Chlorophyll and carotenoids
(Wellburn, and Lichtenthaler, 1984), anthocyanin (Swain
and Hills, 1959), total soluble sugar and amino acid
(Jayaraman,1981), Protein content (Lowry et al., 1951),
leaf nitrate (Cataldo et al., 1978). In vivo nitrate
reductase activity (Jaworski, 1971), Peroxidase and
catalase (Kar and Mishra, 1976). Morphometric
parameters were determined with ten independent
replicates. Biochemical characters and enzymatic assay
were carried with five replicates. The data were reported
as mean SE (Standard Error) and in parentheses
represent the percent activity.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The effect of different concentration of effluents
and the effect of algal treated effluents on the plants are
summarized and discussed below.
The morphometric characters such as root length
shoot length, leaf area, fresh weight and dry weight
decreased with increase in the concentrations of plate
making and match industry effluent (Figure-1), similarly
chlorophyll, carotenoids total soluble sugar, protein and
nitrate reductase activity also showed a decline in trend
(Figure-2). In contrary, the anthocyanin, leaf nitrate, free
amino acids, proline contents and the activity of
antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and peroxidase
were increased (Figure-3). At the 100% concentration of
match and plate making industry effluent treatment the
root length was reduced to 71% and 76%, similarly, the
shoot length was reduced to 74% and 71%. The
pronounced inhibition of shoot and root growth and
leaf area were the main cause for the decrease in fresh
and dry weight of seedlings. The inhibition of biomass
accumulation is directly related to the photosynthetic
process at higher concentration of effluents
(Kumar, 1999; Upadhyaya et al., 2011).
The total chlorophyll content was reduced to 76%
in the maximum concentration of match industry effluent
and 71% in the maximum concentration of plate making
industry effluent, likewise at 80% concentration of match
and plate effluents are reduction of sugar content was
60% and 57%, respectively. The reduction in sugar
contents may be attributed to reduction in chlorophyll
content of the leaf and also decline in protein. This
change might have already been affected the
photosynthetic activity of plant and hence reduction in
contents (Swaminathan et al., 1998; Dowton, 1997).
Accumulation of proline has been frequently used as
biochemical marker for water stress in plants (Alia and
Saradhi, 1991; Schat et al., 1997). Similarly an increase
in the amino acid and proline content after match
and sugar industry has already been reported by
Selvaraj et al.,2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176 169
Figure 2
Biochemical Characters
Biochemical Characters
Figure 3



Selvaraj et al.,2013
170 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176
Pigments Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Chlorophyll.a
(mg/gLFW)
3.600.964 (100) 1.490.245 (41) 2.690.350 (59) 2.140.298 (59) 3.530.046(98)
Chlorophyll.b
(mg/gLFW)
2.870.164 (100) 1.520.037 (53) 1.580.049 (55) 2.460.410 (86) 2.870.326(100)
Total.
Chlorophyll
(mg/gLFW)
6.470.891 (100) 3.010.282 (47) 4.410.263 (66) 4.860.241 (71) 6.550.304 (99)
Carotenoids
(mg/gLFW)
3.480.011 (100) 1.800.173 (52) 1.930.097 (56) 2.770.223 (80) 3.440.279 (99)
Anthocyanin
(mg/gLFW)
2.430.070 (100) 3.490.025(144) 3.370.193(139) 2.730.259(112) 2.510.418 (103)
Table 2 Effect of Match Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the photosynthetic pigments of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Total soluble Sugar
(mg/g LFW)
43.870.88 (100) 24.050.250(55) 29.50.452 (67) 35.80.294 (82) 44.30.331 (101)
Total soluble Protein
(mg/g LFW)
12.480.271(100) 8.920.461(71) 9.8 0.171 (78) 10.60.779 (85) 12.60.458 (101)
Amino acid
(Mole/g LFW)
2.560.067(100) 4.680.21(183) 4.120.130(161) 3.520.434 (137) 2.780.214 (109)
Proline
(Mole/g LFW)
27.690.103(100) 43.970.347(159) 40.80.167(147) 33.20.499 (120) 28.70.199 (104)
Leaf nitrate
(mg/g LFW)
3.670.066(100) 5.260.282(143) 4.080.151(111) 4.00.210 (109) 3.760.221 (102)
Table 3 Effect of Match Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Biochemical characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragaonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Nitrate Reductase
activity (Mole/g LFW)
2.210.330(100) 1.510.220(68) 1.490.186(67) 1.880.208(85) 2.320.232(105)
Catalase activity
(Mole/g LFW)
2.250.060(100) 3.410.121(152) 3.350.201(149) 2.8 0.341(125) 2.460.180(109)
Peroxidase activity
(Mole/g LFW)
6.240.017(100) 10.330.061(166) 9.860.281(158) 8.410.355(135) 5.74 0.978 (92)
Table 4 Effect of Match Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Enzymes activity of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Growth Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Root Length (cm) 14.790.489 (100) 7.030.188 (48) 8.360.197 (57) 10.740.270 (73) 14.080.564 (95)
Shoot Length (cm) 17.340.489 (100) 9.480.243 (55) 9.850.224 (57) 13.950.638 (80) 16.960.49 (98)
Leaf Area (cm
2
) 12.380.149(100) 5.760.219 (47) 6.580.119 (53) 10.110.276 (82) 12.070.518 (97)
Fresh Weight (gm) 1.480.584 (100) 0.910.248 (61) 0.910.027 (61) 1.290.126 (87) 1.470.118 (99)
Dry Weight (gm) 1.1710.111 (100) 0.4430.192 (38) 0.490.023 (43) 0.810.038 (69) 0.940.109 (80)
Table 1 Effect of Match Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Morphometric characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 10 samples with their standard error ()
Selvaraj et al.,2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176 171
Growth Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Root Length (cm) 14.790.489(100) 7.03 0.188 (48) 8.230.188 (56) 11.870.625 (80) 14.530.309 (98)
Shoot Length (cm) 17.340.489 (100) 9.480.243 (55) 9.650.117 (56) 14.290.646 (82) 17.140.497 (99)
Leaf Area (cm
2
) 12.380.149 (100) 5.760.219 (47) 6.580.112 (53) 9.480.134 (77) 12.130.419 (98)
Fresh Weight (gm) 1.480.584 (100) 0.910.248 (61) 0.9220.24 (62) 1.180.074 (80) 1.510.084 (103)
Dry Weight (gm) 1.1710.111 (100) 0.4430.192 (38) 0.4650.024 (40) 0.880.038 (75) 1.180.081 (101)
Table 5 Effect of Match Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Morphometric characteristics of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 10 samples with their standard error ()
Pigments Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Chlorophyll .a
(mg/gLFW)
3.600.964 (100) 1.490.245 (41) 1.670.064 (46) 2.450.262 (68) 3.490.258 (97)
Chlorophyll .b
(mg/gLFW)
2.870.164 (100) 1.520.037 (53) 1.660.069 (58) 2.050.040 (72) 2.700.150 (94)
Total. Chlorophyll
(mg/gLFW)
6.470.891 (100) 3.010.282 (47) 3.330.134 (51) 4.500.237 (70) 6.190.278 (96)
Carotenoids
(mg/gLFW)
3.480.011 (100) 1.800.173 (52) 1.730.191 (50) 2.740.117 (79) 3.710.148 (106)
Anthocyanin
(mg/gLFW)
2.430.070 (100) 3.490.025 (144) 3.440.161 (141) 2.640.185 (108) 2.200.129 (90)
Table 6 Effect of Match Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the photosynthetic pigments of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Total soluble Sugar
(mg/g LFW)
43.870.880(100) 24.050.250 (55) 28.810.182 (66) 35.690.538 (81) 43.460.593 (99)
Total soluble Protein
(mg/g LFW)
12.480.271 (100) 8.920.461 (71) 8.600.173 (69) 10.200.529 (82) 12.960.064(104)
Amino acid
(Mole/g LFW)
2.560.067 (100) 4.680.21 (183) 3.620.116(141) 3.030.234 (118) 2.600.241 (102)
Proline
(Mole/g LFW)
27.690.103(100) 43.970.347 (159) 39.390.271(142) 30.080.228 (109) 27.310.731 (99)
Leaf nitrate
(mg/g LFW)
3.670.066(100) 5.260.282 (143) 4.550.191(124) 3.85 0.14 (105) 3.080.297 (84)
Table 7 Effect of Match Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Biochemical characteristics of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub..
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters
Control
(Water)
Control (Match
Effluent 60%)
Match Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Nitrate Reductase
activity (Mole/g LFW)
2.210.330 (100) 1.510.220 (68) 1.580.238 (72) 1.980.183 (90) 2.490.212 (113)
Catalase activity
(Mole/g LFW)
2.250.060 (100) 3.410.121 (152) 3.550.264 (158) 2.900.097 (129) 2.300.096 (102)
Peroxidase activity
(Mole/g LFW)

6.240.017 (100)

10.330.061 (166)

8.950.648 (143)
7.350.207 (118) 5.990.289 (96)
Table 8 Effect of Match Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Enzymes activity of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ().


Selvaraj et al.,2013
172 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176
Growth Control (Water)
Control (Plate
Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Root Length (cm) 12.750.091 (100) 6.460.094 (51) 6.850.055 (54) 9.250.132 (73) 10.960.140 (86)
Shoot Length (cm) 15.120.155 (100) 7.530.107 (50) 8.060.145 (53) 11.110.317 (73) 13.490.314 (89)
Leaf Area (cm
2
) 11.430.109 (100) 4.730.039 (41) 5.550.112 (49) 8.310.143 (73) 10.400.63 (91)
Fresh Weight (gm) 1.120.014 (100) 0.640.037 (58) 0.7430.017 (67) 0.890.180 (80) 1.0670.072 (96)
Dry Weight (gm) 0.970.040 (100) 0.280.015 (29) 0.410.016 (42) 0.740.04 (76) 0.82 0.079 (84)
Table 9 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Morphometric characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 10 samples with their standard error ()
Pigments Control (Water)
Control (Plate Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Chlorophyll .a
(mg/gLFW)
1.590.080 (100) 0.720.016 (45) 0.850.021 (54) 1.040.044 (65) 1.450.112 (91)
Chlorophyll .b
(mg/gLFW)
0.870.016 (100) 0.400.90 (46) 0.570.016 (66) 0.730.020 (84) 0.850.028 (98)
Total. Chlorophyll
(mg/gLFW)
2.450.021 (100) 1.120.016 (46) 1.420.033 (58) 1.770.041 (72) 2.300.084 (94)
Carotenoids
(mg/gLFW)
0.4830.011 (100) 0.2470.060 (51) 0.3020.023 (63) 0.4040.040 (84) 0.4610.010(95)
Anthocyanin
(mg/gLFW)
1.430.077 (100) 2.490.025 (174) 2.180.084 (152) 1.850.048 (129) 1.480.038(104)
Table 10 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the photosynthetic pigments of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control
(Plate Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Total soluble Sugar
(mg/g LFW)
45.870.88(100) 24.050.250 (52) 28.810.182 (63) 34.76 0.672 (76) 41.080.843 (90)
Total soluble Protein
(mg/g LFW)
10.810.157(100) 7.250.174 (67) 8.130.049 (75) 9.770.052 (90) 10.210.168 (94)
Amino acid
(Mole/g LFW)
1.610.040(100) 2.9430.038 (184) 2.290.181 (143) 1.820.086(113) 1.70.136 (106)
Proline
(Mole/g LFW)
25.580.060(142) 42.470.566 (166) 39.39 0.399 (154) 30.080.228(118) 27.310.731 (107)
Leaf nitrate
(mg/g LFW)
1.740.011(100) 2.920.0475(168) 2.630.059 (151) 2.20 0.105 (127) 1.70 0.081 (98)
Table 11 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Biochemical characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control
(Plate Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Nitrate Reductase
activity (Mole/g LFW)
0.540.014 (100) 0.29 0.048 (54) 0.350.021 (65) 0.470.017 (86) 0.56 0.019(103)
Catalase activity
(Mole/g LFW)
0.2480.068(100) 517 0.094 (208) 0.5270.051(212) 0.3870.036(156) 0.2500.092(101)
Peroxidase activity
(Mole/g LFW)
4.240.017(100) 9.150.020 (216) 8.540.244(201) 6.470.387(153) 4.61 0.191(109)
Table 12 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Ulva lactuca on the Enzymes activity of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()

Selvaraj et al.,2013
Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176 173
Growth Control (Water)
Control
(Plate Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Root Length (cm) 12.750.091 (100) 6.460.094 (51) 8.360.190 (66) 10.220.21 (80) 12.530.19 (98)
Shoot Length (cm) 15.120.155 (100) 7.530.107 (50) 9.850.22 (65) 12.750.14 (84) 14.980.20 (99)
Leaf Area (cm
2
) 11.430.109 (100) 4.730.039 (41) 6.580.11 (58) 9.480.13 (83) 10.880.28 (95)
Fresh Weight (gm) 1.120.014 (100) 0.640.037 (58) 0.870.020 (79) 0.960.014 (87) 1.090.15 (98)
Dry Weight (gm) 0.970.040 (100) 0.280.015 (29) 0.50.24 (51) 0.810.35 (83) 0.940.17 (97)
Table 13 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Morphometric characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 10 samples with their standard error ()
Pigments Control (Water)
Control
(Plate Making
Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Chlorophyll .a
(mg/gLFW)
1.590.080 (100) 0.720.016 (45) 0.970.41 (61) 1.360.312 (86) 1.620.175 (102)
Chlorophyll .b
(mg/gLFW)
0.870.016 (100) 0.400.90 (46) 0.600.157 (70) 0.760.29 (88) 0.860.331 (99)
Total. Chlorophyll
(mg/gLFW)
2.450.021 (100) 1.120.016 (46) 1.570.014 (64)

2.130.514 (87) 2.480.056 (101)
Carotenoids
(mg/gLFW)
0.4830.011 (100) 0.2470.060 (51) 0.3130.025 (65) 0.4340.046 (90) 0.4720.097 (98)
Anthocyanin
(mg/gLFW)
1.430.077 (100) 2.490.025 (174) 2.010.131 (140) 1.70.056 (119) 1.480.065 (103)
Table 14 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the photosynthetic pigments of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
Parameters Control (Water)
Control (Plate
Making Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Total soluble Sugar
(mg/g LFW)
45.870.88(100) 24.050.250(52) 29.510.452(64) 35.780.294 (78) 45.50.71(99)
Total soluble Protein
(mg/g LFW)
10.810.157 (100) 7.250.174 (67) 8.380.121(78) 9.570.65(89) 10.890.39 (101)
Amino acid
(Mole/g LFW)
1.610.040(100) 2.9430.038 (184) 2.2370.035 (139) 1.8030.168(112) 1.5870.015 (99)
Proline
(Mole/g LFW)
25.580.060 (142) 42.470.566 (166) 35.740.641 (140) 28.930.753 (113) 25.770.544(101)
Leaf nitrate
(mg/g LFW)
1.740.011(100) 2.920.0475(168) 2.490.020(144) 2.0470.081 (118) 1.7530.032(101)
Table 15 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Biochemical characteristics of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()


Ramasubramanian et al., (2006); Jeyarathi and
Ramasubramanian (2002). The leaf nitrate content was
found to be more in effluents treated plants paralleling
with the reduction in nitrate reductase activity. These
results coincides with the results of Selvaraj et al.,
(2011).
In the present study an enhanced peroxidase
activity was observed with the increase in the
concentration of Match and Plate making effluents.
Balasimha (1982), reported that peroxidase plays a vital
role in IAA and chlorophyll degradation. Thus observed
an increase in peroxidase activity that can be correlated
with the observed reduction in chlorophyll content, fresh
weight and biomass, similar results were also observed
by Ramasubramanian et al., (2004) and Selvarathi et al.,
(2006). Catalase is an antioxidant and scavenging
enzyme and found to be increased with the increasing
concentration of Match and Plate making effluents.
Bioadsorption studies showed increase in
morphometric characteristics after the application of
dried powders of Ulva lactuca and Graciaria corticata
(Table-1, 5, 9 and 13). Similarly the chlorophyll content
too was increased (Table-2, 6, 10 and 14). The total
chlorophyll content was increased to about 18% in match
industry effluent and 16% in plate making industry
effluent treated with a minimum of 2 g w/v of seaweed
Graciaria corticata, and increased about 27% and 24%
in match industry and plate making industry effluent
treated with 4 g w/v of seaweed Ulva lactuca dry powder
treatment than the plants treated with untreated effluent.
Carotenoid content also shows a marked increase, but the
anthocyanin content showed a remarkable reduction with
increasing concentration of the enriched liquid organic
manure. These results coincides with the results of
Ramasubramanian et al., (2006). The total soluble sugar
protein content and nitrate reductase activity also
increased after the application of algal dry powders
(Table-3, 7, 11 and 15), owing to bioadsorption. Algal
biomass absorb or remove toxic elements present in the
effluent (Ramasubramanian et al 2006). In contrary leaf
nitrate, free amino acids, proline (Table-3, 7, 11 and 15)
and the activity of enzymes such as catalase and
peroxidase (Table-4, 8, 12 and 16) were found decreased
after the application of algal dry powder. These findings
are also in line with the findings of Selvarathi and
Ramasubramanian (2010) and Selvaraj et al., (2010).
Conventional methods of removal of toxins which
are expensive in match and plate making industry
effluents are expensive and hence the use of low cost
abundant environment friendly bioadsorption has been
tested. The dried algal biomass used in the present study
is available in large quantities for remove of heavy
metals and also a potential economic and effective safe
alternative (Jayakumar and Ramasubramanian,2009).

CONCLUSION
The result of the present study shows that the
dry powder of Ulva lactuca and Gracillaria corticata
can effectively remove the toxicity from the effluents.
Hence, we strongly suggest that these bioadsorbents
could well be used to boost the yield of crops commonly
cultivated in much metal contaminated areas of Sivakasi.
Selvaraj et al.,2013
174 Journal of Research in Plant Sciences (2013) 2(1): 167-176
Parameters Control (Water)
Control (Plate
Making Effluent 60%)
Plate Making Effluent With
2 gm /L SWP 4 gm /L SWP 6 gm /L SWP
Nitrate Reductase activity
(Mole/g LFW)

0.54 0.014 (100)

0.290.048(54)

0.390.090(72)

0.480.011(90)

0.580.039(107)
Catalase activity
(Mole/g LFW)

0.2480.068 (100)

0.5170.094 (208)

0.4270.073
(172)

0.3400.021 (137)

0.2550.068 (103)
Peroxidase activity
(Mole/g LFW)

4.24 0.017(100)

9.150.020(216)

8.040.070(190)

5.660.54(134)

4.150.105 (98)
Table 16 Effect of Plate Making Effluent and Gracillaria corticata on the Enzymes activity of
Cyamopsis tetragonoloba Taub.
Values in parenthesis indicate percent activity; value represents mean of 5 samples with their standard error ()
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