IPRC - 2015
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://repository.kln.ac.lk/handle/123456789/156
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Item Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water bodies and sediment around kerawalapitiya and kelanitissa power plants of sri lanka - preliminary study(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Doole, F.T.; Jayalath, K.G.; Subramanium, S.S.Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of organic compounds composed of two or more aromatic benzene rings. PAHs are produced due to incomplete combustion of fossil fuels; such as coal, oil and due to pyrolytic processes; such as forest fires and volcanic activities. There are hundreds of PAHs in the environment, among them; sixteen PAHs have been classified as priority pollutants by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Due to the harmful effect of PAHs towards living beings, studies have been conducted around water bodies in different parts of the world. This study aims to determine the type and concentration of PAHs in water bodies and sediment near two power plants of Sri Lanka. Kerawalapitiya Power Station (KW) and AES Kelanitissa Power Station (KL) are diesel fuel fired combined cycle power stations, which might have an influence on accumulation of PAHs in water and sediment around these power stations. During the dry season of the year surface water samples were collected from Hamilton Cannel (KW) and Sebasthian Cannel (KL), extracted using dichloromethane and analyzed using HPLC. PAHs from sediment samples were extracted using ultra sonicator and analyzed using HPLC. As the reference site, water and sediment samples were collected from a freshwater spring in Bandarawela. The study shows the presence of low molecular weight PAHs in water samples and most of the high molecular weight PAHs in sediments. Naphthalene, acenapthene and fluorene are the major PAHs present in the water and naphthalene, acenapthene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene are the major PAHs present in the sediments. The total PAH concentration in surface water ranges from 0.38 – 1.89 μg/L in KL site whereas, it ranges from 0.40 – 2.21 μg/L in KW site. The preliminary study indicates the occurrence of PAHs in significant amounts around the two power plants, which is needed to be investigated further.Item Phytoremediation potential of Talinum triangulare (Ceylon spinach) towards Cr in different soils(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayalath, K.G.; De Silva, R.C.L.; Deeyamulla, M.P.Phytoremediation has emerged as a plant-based and cost-effective alternative to remediate heavy metal contaminated soils. Although this technique is widely known, a significant study has not been reported yet to find out a potentially capable plant to clean Cr contaminated soils. In studies carried out by our group, six plant species (Vernonia cinerea, Tridax procumbens, Sphagnaticola trilobata, Talinum triangulare, Clitoria ternatea and Vernonia zeylanica) have been tested under Cr contaminated conditions and identified T. triangulare (Ceylon spinach) with comparatively higher tolerance to Cr with relatively higher biomass than other plants under contaminated conditions. The aim of this study was to compare the phytoremediation potential of T. triangulare towards Cr for various soil types under Cr contamination conditions. Pot experiments were carried out using four different types of soils (sand, loamy sand, clay and laterite) under Cr contamination conditions (treatments with 200 and 300 mg of Cr/ kg dry soil). Plants were harvested at 60 days of growth and Cr uptake by plant shoot and root were separately analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The Cr uptake by T. triangulare under different soil types with maximum contaminated conditions of Cr (300 mg/kg) were analysed (ANOVA, p < 0.05) and showed no significant difference between loamy sand and sandy soil with the mean value of 109.30 (±18.45) mg kg- 1 and 136.00 (±34.70) mg kg-1 respectively and also no significant difference between Laterite and Clay with the mean value of 36.26 (±6.12) mg kg-1 and 43.44 (±4.29) mg kg-1 respectively. The results of this study indicated that, Cr uptake capacity and the tolerability of T. triangulare significantly change with soil types. Even though T. triangulare shows to be capable of habituation in different soils, its Cr uptake capacities varies significantly. T. triangulare shows potential of being introduced to different terrestrial environments to remediate Cr. However, future study of the plant in different soil environments is suggested.