UPV Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14583/10
Browse
Search Results
Item Photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous media using TIO2 -based heterogeneous photocatalysts under natural lightBernido, Julidyn P. (Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)This study developed two heterogeneous TiO2-based photocatalysts: pure TiO2 and Fe-doped TiO2 (Fe-TiO2). Heterogeneous catalysts were prepared by coating TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 powder on glass beads. The photocatalytic activity of both heterogeneous photocatalysts were studied by photodegradation of methylene blue in aqueous solution under two pH conditions (6 and 9) and two ionic concentration conditions (0 and 38 ppt). The Fe-TiO2 powder contained minimal amount (2.245%) of Fe as expected. However, surface functionality and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) profile of both TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 powder were very similar indicating that doping did not alter these properties. Between the two heterogeneous catalysts prepared, the amount of Fe-TiO2 catalyst coated on glass beads was lower compared to pure TiO2. The removal of methylene blue was significantly affected by ionic concentration which removal is higher at lower ionic concentration (0 ppt). Although it appeared that the removal of methylene blue was higher at pH 9, statistical analyses revealed that the effect was not significant. In addition, the removal of methylene blue by the two catalysts were significantly different. Heterogeneous photocatalyst based on pure TiO2 showed higher removal of methylene blue in all pH and ionic concentration. Moreover, no interactive effects between variables were observed. Lastly, the blank showed no significant difference on the removal of methylene blue with the heterogeneous photocatalysts which suggest that degradation by direct photolysis from sunlight could be the reason for this result.Item Abundance, distribution, and composition of macrobenthos in Banate Bay, Iloilo, PhilippinesBernasol, Mylin M. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)In order to characterize the macrobenthic community in Banate Bay, quarterly sampling was done from December 2012 to December 2013 in nine (9) stations of the study area. Samples were collected using a hand-held mud corer measuring 0.15m in diameter. Samples were sieved in the field using a 0.5mm mesh, preserving all retained organisms in a plastic container containing 10% buffered formalin with Rose Bengal dye. Two (2) replicate samples per station in June and September 2013 were processed in the laboratory. A total of 38 taxa were sorted and identified with overall mean density of 821 ind/m2. Cluster Analysis using the program COMM grouped species according to their abundances and stations based on their relative location from the shore. T-test for 2 sample means showed that densities in June and September did not differ significantly (p=0.42). ANOVA showed that densities per station did differ significantly (p=0.05). Correlations identified salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and organic matter content to have negative effects on macrobenthos density in the Bay. In spite of low density, diversity particularly of polychaetes appeared to be relatively high. This can be attributed to the intensity and fluctuations of the harsh environment in the Bay still being within limits.Item Ascariasis and protein energy malnutrition among schoolchildren of Monteclaro Elementary School, Miag-ao, IloiloBerlin, Nellisa Marie; Chua, Enrique III; Daquilenea, Miko; Dorde, Cristy Joy; Hosillos, Juls; Libo-on, Dyann Dolour; Panizales, Katherine Royce; Robleza, Xela Patricia; Sanchez, Maria Lourdes; Sumayo, Marilyn (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2008-04)Ascaris infections lead to malnutrition and poor cognitive development especially to children aged 5-15 years of age. In the Philippines, protein-energy malnutrition is one of the ten leading causes of child mortality. From January to February 2008, a cross- sectional descriptive study was carried out in Monteclaro Elementary School to describe the prevalence of ascariasis and the prevalence of protein energy malnutrition and relate it to the demographic factors such as age group, educational attainment of the mother, annual family income, availability of toilet, and proper hand washing practice. Sixty eight pupils of the said school were included in the study with ages ranging from 6-13 years. Fecal sample of the participants were collected, processed using the Kato-Katz smear technique, and microscopically examined to determine the prevalence of infections. The weight was measured for weight for age index. A self administered questionnaire was given to know about socio-economic factors. Handwashing activities were utilized as a basis for personal hygiene. The result of the study shows that 12% of the study population has a mild A. lumbricoides infection. Weight for age measurement shows that 21% of the pupils are underweight. Pupils of the age group 12-14 were of the highest frequency of ascaris infection and pupils of the age group of 6-8 were of the lowest frequency. Twelve percent of pupils who have toilets in their household are positive for ascaris infection. All pupils failed in the handwashing activity. Twenty seven percent of the pupils whose mothers have no formal education were underweight. This is due to the level of education that the mother has achieved. Mothers who have undergone tertiary education know more about the proper ways to nourish their children thereby minimizing children who are underweight. Twenty-three percent of the pupils included in the study were below normal in the weight for age index. Trend shows that those families with lower income have a higher frequency of respondents that are underweight. For pupils with below normal weight for age 50% are without toilet while 19% with toilet. There is low prevalence of ascariasis in Monteclaro Elementary School. The results of this study do not truly show the relationship of ascariasis with protein energy malnutrition. Inconsistencies of the results with the findings of other studies are possibly due to low number of positive ascaris-infected participants and the low number of overall participants. Increase in the sample size and ascariasis positive participants within the sample are recommended to get more accurate results.Item Abundance, composition and distribution of phytoplankton in Mindoro StraitBayona, Riena Rose M. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2008-04)Phytoplankton in Mindoro Strait, north of Palawan, were investigated from the samples taken last April-May 2007. Twenty stations were selected from over 40 stations surveyed. Samples were collected by filtering 50L of surface waters through 20 micrometer mesh plankton net using a 10L bucket. Phytoplankton assemblage was grouped into four major taxa. Diatoms dominated the area. It recorded the highest mean density of 314.9indivL-1. It was followed by blue green algae that noted a mean density of 165.69indivL-1. The next most abundant was dinoflagellates that recorded a mean density of 51.59indivL-1 and then the group of silicoflagellates. It recoded 35.69indivL-1 mean density. The top three species were Trichodesmium, Thalasiothrix and Isthmia. Protoperidinium represented the dinoflagellates among the top genera while Eutintinnus recorded the highest silicoflagellate. Higher concentrations were found in the midst of the oceanic region where water currents mainly pass. Overall abundance is lower than other nearby waters. This is maybe due to the effect of water currents.Item Moss (Brachythecium sp.) and a filamentous green algae (Oedogonium sp.) as bunker oil sorbentsBautista, Norwell Brian C. (Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2007-04)Oil spills are very catastrophic and very destructive events. One way of controlling the dispersion of oil from these spills is by the use of sorbents. The procurement of commercial sorbents can be very costly. Thus, this study analyzed and evaluated the efficiency and effectivity of moss (Brachythecium sp.) and a green filamentous algae Oedogonium sp. as substitutes for commercial sorbents. Brachythecium sp. can grow in any moisture—rich environment and Oedogonium sp. algae grow freely in fish ponds and in any body of stagnant, oxygen-poor water. Thus, both samples are very abundant in the environment. Sorption capacity results showed that the moss Brachythecium sp. and the algae Oedogonium sp. can sorb five times and seven times its weight, respectively. In comparison, Peat Sorb, a commercial sorbent, was recorded to sorb 15 times its weight (Emedco, 2007). The minimum sorption capacity of the moss and algae samples was recorded to be approximately equal to their weight. The adsorption isotherms of both samples follow the Langmuir plot for monolayer adsorption. In the hexane capillary rise experiment, hexane rose significantly in ground moss (72.25 mm in 7 min.) and unground moss (64.80 mm in 7 min.) compared with unground algae (23.52 mm in 7 min.) and (20.70 mm in 7 min.), indicating that moss is more hydrophobic. In water, capillary rise, on the other hand, unground algae is a better medium (5.76 mm in 4 min) compared to the rest (ground algae - 4 mm, unground moss - 5.29 mm, and ground moss — 4.11 mm, all in 4 min.). Results also revealed that the moss Brachythecium sp. and the algae Oedogonium sp. expressed hydrophobic characters in the hexane-water system by remaining in the hexane layer after agitation. The moisture content of the algae (14.85%) is twice that of moss (7.94%). This gives the moss an advantage in oil sorption. The lipid contents of algae (15.58%) and moss (11.47%) do not comprise the majority of their biomass, but the lipids aid in increasing the samples’ affinity for non-polar substances. The samples may not sorb as effectively as the commercial sorbents, but they are abundant in the environment, thus, a cheaper alternative. Like Peat Sorb, which was processed from the biomass of Sphagnum sp. moss, the samples may undergo the same process that increases the hydrophobicity several-fold and gives oil-biodegradation capabilities.Item Bacteriological survey and detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Streptococcus spp., and Vibrio spp. in bottom sediments from two sites in Iloilo RiverBarrera, Christopher (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2010-04)Bacterial contamination in the Iloilo river occurs because of various human activities. The assessment of the river was done using microbiological parameters (HPC, TC, FC, and FS) for 7 months in Sooc Bridge and Carpenter’s Bridge using bottom sediments for samples. Sediment was used because bacteria accumulate over time in the sediment due to high amounts of organic and inorganic matter in the substrate and this leads to better survivability of bacteria. The values obtained from microbiological parameters investigated are generally higher in Sooc Bridge. HPC results show that the higher mean value was in Sooc Bridge(7.43 x 108 CFU/lOOg). The levels of TC on both sampling sites ranged from 9.5 x 102to 2.40 x 104 CFU/100g. For TC, Sooc has the higher mean (1.76 x 104 CFU/lOOg) for 7 months. FC values ranged from 3.0 x 101 to 2.4 x 104 CFU/lOOg. Sooc bridge has the higher mean(1.17 x 104 CFU/lOOg) between the 2 sites. Lastly, the FS value range from 2.9 x 103 to 2.4 x 104 CFU/lOOg. Also, Sooc Bridge has the higher mean value (1.58 x 104 CFU/lOOg). There are no significant differences on the microbiological parameters used in each site. The FC/FS ratio revealed that mixed fecal materials contaminate the river. Among the four pathogenic bacteria detected, Salmonella spp. was the most abundant for 7 months (63-65%) and E. coli was the least abundant(>l%). Based on the criteria on sediment quality evaluation, there is little to moderate loading of organic and inorganic matter.Item Bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper and lead by Hydrilla (Hydrilla vericillata)Baniago, Arjay C. (Division of Pysical Sciences and Mathematics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2007-04)Bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper, and lead by Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) were tested to 5 different initial concentrations. The water contaminant sample was composed of mixed cadmium, copper and lead metals supplied as nitrate salts. These were analyzed for the decrease in concentrations at 24-hour intervals for 5 days using the SpectrAA 55B Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Plants exposed only for 5 days were digested and analyzed. The plant growth was normal at lower concentrations and showed higher removal efficiency. H. verticillata showed maximum removal percentage on the 5th day of exposure at 5 mg L-1 for cadmium (90.47%) and copper (95.20%) but for lead was on the 1st day (96.74%). The order of metal ion removal and the actual uptake for the three metals by H. verticillata is Pb>Cu>Cd, but at lower concentration, cadmium was absorbed more than copper. The copper and lead uptakes by H. verticillata are superior as compared to other aquatic plants uptakes. Lead uptake at higher concentrations might be due to physicochemical adsorption of the metal to the plant components and not on metabolism-mediated uptake, because plant condition does not have an adverse effect on the uptakeItem Antioxidant property, total phenolics, manganese and iron content of humic acid obtained from Sta. Barbara, Iloilo artesian well waterBaltazar, Lenmark Anthony M. (Division of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2016-06)The town of Santa Barbara in Iloilo is famous for its reddish browncolored well water due to the presence of humic acid which makes up most of the water’s natural organic matter content. Because the well water is used by the local townsfolk for drinking and other domestic activities, it is imperative that a study must be made to assess its potential health benefits and risks. In this study, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracted humic acid was investigated. It was determined that the sample contains antioxidants capable of reducing DPPH with an IC5o of 51.552± 0.652 ppm. Prussian Blue Assay for total phenolic content also showed that a 76.5 ppm humic acid sample has 14.169 ± 1.151 ppm in GAE. Flame-AAS analysis showed that the humic acid sample contains iron (0.8376 ± 0.0581 ppm). The manganese content of the sample was below the detection limit of the instrument. The results suggest that the humic acid extracted from the well water contains potential antioxidants which can be exploited for various commercial and medical applications.Item Determination of the fungal flora in the rearing water, eggs, larvae and post-larvae of Penaeus monodon in a large-scale hatchery systemBaes, Glanee F. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 1995-03)The rearing water and homogenized. eggs, larvae, post-larvae of Penaeus monodon were taken front the large-scale hatchery system. These were counted, isolated and identified. Analysis was done by determining the mean, standard deviation and skewness of the data. The result showed that the skewness of the yeast and mold counts in the rearing water were 0.93 and 0.64, respectively 'while that in the homogenized samples were 0.92 and 1.09, respectively. These showed that the data were positively skewed, hence, fungi were greater in the early larval stages than in the later stages. The mean showed that yeast yielded greater counts as compared to the molds. Furthermore, rearing water have also higher fungal count than that of the homogenized prawns. The fungi identified were Aspergillus, Balanium, Bispora, Cladosporium and Phialomysis. In the study, the fungi identified were the normal mycoflora which did not adversely harm the prawn due to favorable hatchery conditions, there being no disease outbreak during the duration of the study.Item Zooplankton composition, abundance and diversity in selected Municipalities of Negros Occidental and AklanAusan, Aisa Marie U. (Division of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Visayas, 2015-06)Zooplankton samples were collected last May and June 2014 from 20 stations in the vicinity of Kalibo, Aklan and Pontevedra, San Enrique, and Valladolid, Negros Occidental. Three hundred fifty-three (353) liters of water were filtered per station thru a 5m vertical haul of plankton net with a diameter of 30cm and a mesh size of 20μm. Overall zooplankton densities were higher in Negros Occidental, specifically in Valladolid (D=1915.3 cells/L), than in Kalibo, Aklan (D=7.2 cells/L). On the other hand, zooplankton community was most diverse in Kalibo (H’ = 2.6) compared to Valladolid (H’=1.3), San Enrique (H’=2.1) and Pontevedra (H’=1.8). Jaccard’s similarity index was highest between Pontevedra and San Enrique while lowest between Valladolid and Kalibo. In Kalibo there were four major groups of zooplankton. Most dense of these were the tintinnids (3.9 cells/L) followed by copepods (2.5 cells/L), molluscs (7xlOE-lcells/L) and polychaetes (IxlOE-lcell/L). Among the copepods Subeucalanus was the most abundant zooplankton genus. In Pontevedra and San Enrique, Negros Occidental, copepods were the most abundant group with a mean density of 205.3 cells/L and 312.1 cells/L, respectively. The relative abundance ofAcartia (36.5%) and Longipedia (22.6%) made them the dominant zooplankton genera in Pontevedra and San Enrique, respectively. Like in Kalibo, the tintinnids were also the most abundant group in Valladolid (1879.2 cells/L). Copepods followed with a mean density of 35.7 cells/L, while Polychaetes comprised only 4xlOE-l cells/L. Epiplocylis was the most abundant tintinnid in Valladolid while Xystonella in Kalibo. Varying sampling time within months and day is the possible cause of the differences in zooplankton abundance, composition, and diversity since some zooplankton species undergo diel vertical migration.