The work described in this thesis consists of the synthesis, characterization and application of the supported ion exchange materials for use in connection with the separation of lithium, rubidium, cesium and strontium ions from the nitric acid solutions. Some of these metals, especially the Li, are of immense importance due to their use in industrial and defense sectors being vital for a special type of atomic power plants, alloy making, hydrogen storage, heat-resistant ceramic technologies, pharmaceutical industry and power sources including the storage batteries. Such uses, naturally, are expected to lead to environmental issues with the envisaged environmental induction leading to deterioration of the latter. Increasing energy demands and hence more nuclear power production seems to be inevitable and feasible alternate. However such steps may result in the production of more than forty radioactive by-products including Rb86, 87, Cs134, 137 and Sr90. These radio nuclides with their high transport abilities are expected to find their way to water bodies and soils and thus incorporated into animals and human beings through the food chain. The present work describes separation of such hazardous metal ions from the effluents and thus suggests environmental remedial mitigation and control by using new types of materials and appropriate separation methodologies. For this purpose supported inorganic ion exchange materials based upon hexacyanoferrates of different metal ions were prepared and used for the separation of the lithium, rubidium, cesium and strontium ions from aqueous HNO3 solutions. Potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) and potassium iron(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) supported on polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were prepared by impregnation-precipitation method. However silica gel supported potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II), potassium iron(II) hexacyanoferrate(III), potassium nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) and potassium copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) were synthesized, by in-situ impregnation–precipitation of the silica gel, prepared from trans silicate a commercial sodium silicate product cheaply available in the local market. All the synthesized materials were characterized by FTIR, XRPD, SEM/EDX, CHNS, TGA and surface area analysis in addition to the solubility and stability studies using different solutions of the mineral acids. Using the synthesized ion exchange materials separation studies for each of the lithium, rubidium, cesium and strontium ions, in HNO3 solution, were conducted independently, by carrying out optimizations procedures for establishment of various factors on the separation processes, to elucidate effects of the changing concentration of the metal ion, extent of the ion exchange process, effect of temperature variations on sorption, xii sorption capacity and distribution coefficient determination under respective optimized concentration for each of the above mentioned ions. All procedures, as designed, were tested before undertaking actual separations using authenticated standard solutions. Results on these optimizations are presented and discussed. Distribution coefficient (Kd) values determined for each of the Li+, Rb+, Cs+ and Sr2+ sorption on each of the synthesized material suggested their metal ion removal efficiency. Distribution coefficient values of these metal ions on PMMA supported potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) represented a decreasing order of the Kd values as Li+ < Rb+< Cs+< Sr2+ showing the maximum capability for the Sr2+ removal. Deviation in the above cited trend was observed in the case of PMMA supported potassium iron(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) as Kd values followed the trend Sr2+ < Li+ < Rb+< Cs+ showing the lowest distribution of the Sr2+. Distribution of the metal ions on silica gel supported potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) indicated the lowest efficiency of the sorbent for Sr2+ removal, while alkali metals have shown minimum values of Kd for Rb+, intermediate for Li+ and highest for Cs+. Potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) supported on silica gel has followed the order Li+<Rb+<Sr2+<Cs+, while silica gel supported potassium nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) has depicted the decreasing order of the distribution coefficient values as Rb+< Li+≤ Sr2+< Cs+ showing the least capability for the Rb+ extraction, intermediate for Li+ and Sr2+, while maximum for Cs+. Efficacy of the silica gel supported potassium copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) was minimum for Li+ and maximum for the Cs+ as indicated by the Kd values which have shown the decreasing order Li+< Sr2+<Rb+<Cs+. Distribution coefficient values stated that the material PMMA supported potassium iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) appeared to be the best for the Sr2+ removal under respective optimized conditions. Maximum efficiency for the Li+ extraction was observed in silica gel supported potassium iron(II) hexacyanoferrate(III), while silica gel supported potassium copper(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) appeared to be the best for Rb+ removal. All the materials were found to be excellent Cs+ scavenger under respective optimized conditions. The results obtained have been discussed keeping in view the available information and stipulated use of some of these materials have been suggested for remedial mitigation of the environmental problems.
Self-concept refers to the domain of self-descriptions that have self-evaluative connotation. Though many researchers embarked in the study of self-concept, and some even developed tests that measured self-concept, majority of these instruments had methodological and theoretical problems due to lack of systematic instrument development and presentation. The objective of the study is to develop a reliable and valid alternative approach to measuring the self in a semi-structured undisguised comics-type test that directly accounts for the way college students consider their choices of superheroes’ traits that characterizes their own. A preliminary survey on self-concept, in a form of open-ended statements was conducted to five hundred ninety-eight (598) college students of selected schools in Manila and Bulacan to know how college students see themselves indicatory of their self-concepts. Results of which, were collated to form the preliminary form. The preliminary form of the SCSS was administered to five hundred ninety-five (595) college students of different universities and colleges. Eighty-eight (88) items under eight (8) components were subjected to item analysis by identifying factors through a series of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Descriptive results were also calculated, as well as the exact reliability coefficient through split-half and Cronbach’s alpha. For the validity, content analysis was applied using two groups of experts who ascertain the suitability of each item in terms of content, relevance, clarity, appropriateness and their representations. They include three (3) experts who have a long experienced in comics industry and another three (3) experts in the field of college students’ self-concept formation. From the total of 88 items, 30 items were eliminated. However, the items that constitute the final form of the SCSS was concentrated into 55 items under six (6) factors upon post-analysis consideration. Statistical analysis revealed that the experts’ ratings were consistent and has high reliability with a generated r value of.894. The SCSS final form was administered to 809 respondents following the same procedures that were used for the preliminary form. The test scores were subjected to reliability facility, such as Alpha Coefficient and Split-Half, computing the reliability coefficients of the final form. Validity was established through convergent analysis, tested in a sample of 419 respondents who took the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS: 2) Adult Form. The test was found to have high reliability with r =.792.
Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) having economic importance because of pest attacking throughout the world on various fruits and vegetables. The genus of fruit flies; Bactrocera are serious pests of fruits and vegetables, hence the studies were carried out to find out the level of fruit fly infestation, comparison of fruit fly attractants and molecular identification of fruit fly species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The trials were laid out in randomized complete block design, replicated three times on various fruits and vegetables in KP during 2010 and 2011. The experimental studies were carried out on Guava at Kohat, Peach at Swat and Bitter gourd at Charsada. The data of infestation were recorded on counting healthy and infested fruits and vegetable randomly. Findings of the study showed that fruit fly infestation gradually gained from mid April and reached to its peaks in mid August and then dropped till mid November in Guava orchards. In case of Peach orchards, fruit fly infestation varied during the study periods in both the years (2010 & 2011). The infestation increased from mid April and gained its peaks in August and thereafter started declined till October. In similar way, fruit flies infestation in Bitter gourd at Charsada reached to highest percentage in months of August, drastically decreased and the lowest records were in the month of November. It was concluded that the presence of fruit fly was recorded in all the three orchards throughout their crop seasons and this window is considered a critical one in the management of fruit fly. The findings of three different attractants i.e, Methyl eugenol (M.E), Cue lure (C.L) and PPr-Product (locally made protein/yeast autolysate based) showed that significant variation for the captured of fruit flies among attractants and observational dates in Guava, Peach and Bitter gourd orchards. M.E trapped more fruit flies as compared PPr-Product and C.L traps in Guava and Peach orchards whereas higher number of fruit flies was captured by PPr-Product as compared to both C.L and M.E traps in Bitter gourd orchards. Higher capture of Bactrocera zonata and Bactrocera dorsalis in Guava and Peach orchards was recorded by M. E whereas C.L attracted more Bactrocera. cucuribitae as compared to M.E traps for Peach, Guava and Bitter gourd orchards. More number B. zonata and B. dorsalis captured by PPr-Product in Bitter gourd. The PPr-Product traps were found more effective against all three types of female adults flies whereas M.E traps captured more B. zonata and B. dorsalis while C.L captured more male adults of B. cucurbitae in xiPeach, Bitter gourd and Guava orchards. For molecular analysis of five major Tephritids fruit fly species (B. zonata, B. dorsalis, B. cucurbitae, Bactrocera tau and Myiopardalis pardalin) the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (COI) gene was amplified using primers previously described for the conserved region and the amplified products were subjected to RFLP analysis and sequencing. Analysis of the PCR-RFLP profile of COI gene using primers LCOI and HCOI and restriction enzymes (PstI, HincII, HaeIII, BamHI and SspI) revealed that the five different restriction enzymes could efficiently differentiate among the Five (05) major fruit fly species analyzed in this study. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of fruit fly species based upon the COI gene revealed species-specific distinct evolutionary trends.