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A SIMPLE FIELD METHOD FOR THE ESTIMATION
 OF FLUORIDE IN GROUND WATERS

S. V. Rao, Ritu Singh and S. C. Chaurasia
National Centre for Compositional Characterization of Materials
Hyderabad

Fluoride is considered as an essential element for human beings. In potable waters, a fluoride concentration of 1 mg/ml is necessary to prevent tooth decay. However, at higher concentrations  (>2 mg/ml), it has adverse effects such as causing fluorosis. Fluoride toxicity is prevalent in various parts of Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Due to natural as well as anthropogenic causes, the levels of fluoride in ground waters can exceed the permissible levels. These levels may also vary from well to well and season to season. Hence, periodic monitoring of potable water samples is necessary. If the water supply is centralised, government agencies can check the quality of water in well-equipped laboratories.

In India, most of the people use their own water sources. In such cases, checking the fluoride content at  every water source is  practically impossible by government laboratories. To monitor fluoride, there is a need for fast, simple and cost effective method, which can be easily adapted by common man. Visual colorimetric methods would be the most suited for such applications. The most commonly used visual method based on bleaching of zirconium-alizarin complex requires skilled and experienced person for testing.

A method for the estimation of fluoride based on the bleaching of zirconium-xylenol orange complex has been developed at BARC. Zirconium forms several complexes with xylenol orange. In this method, the metal to ligand ratio has been optimised. Acidity and dye concentration have been optimised such that distinct colours are produced at three different levels (deficient, normal and toxic) of fluoride. Zirconium ions, which get polymerized at a lower acidity, affect colour development. De-polymerization of zirconium ions has been achieved using specific treatment, which helps in instantaneous colour development. Stability of the reagent solution prepared has been tested. Purity of the dye is also very important in getting colour contrast and stability. This simplifies the procedure that a common man can so easily adapt it for field-testing.

MICROPROPAGATION OF PINEAPPLE

Pineapple is one of the important commercial fruits. Conventionally the average production is 4-5 prop-agules per year and it takes considerable time to produce enough planting material. Large scale production of planting material can be achieved by using in vitro micropropagation techniques. A protocol for large-scale multiplication has been established using dormant auxiliary buds from pineapple crowns with a capacity of producing 1000-1200 plants in a year from a single crown. The protocol has been standardized for the establishment of cultures, multiplication, rooting and hardening of the plants in the field. Tissue cultured plants have been field planted at the BARC campus and the Rashtriya Chemicals Fertilizers (RCF) Experimental Field at Alibagh.

NBHM SPONSORS WORKSHOP
Under the Visitor’s Programme initiated by the National Board of Higher Mathematics (NBHM), the Board has invited Prof. L.C. Evans of the University of California, Berkeley, to visit the Department of Mathematics, Indian Institute of Science and the TIFR Centre (both at Bangalore), during July 21 - August 08, 2003.
In the proposed series of lectures Prof. L.C. Evans will discuss on the application of basic techniques of viscosity solutions to a wide variety of non-linear problems. In many parts of pure and applied mathematics, the non-linear first and second order partial differential equations appear for which the robust methods of viscosity solutions are appropriate. These areas include control theory, differential games, large deviations in probability, interface motions for reaction-diffusion PDE, weak KAM theory for dynamics.

AWARDS & HONOURS
l Prof. M.S. Raghunathan, FRS, an eminent mathematician of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, has received G.L. Mehta Award 2002 .

l Dr. D.C. Khandekar, Member-Secretary, National Board of Higher Mathematics, Mumbai has been nominated on the Governing Council of the Institute of Mathematics & Applications, Bhubaneswar, Orissa.
Dr. Khandekar has also been nominated on the Board of Experts for Educational Broadcast (Mathematics) — Gyan Vani FM, an educational radio programme for the Mumbai Zone, from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi.

DAE’S EXHIBITIONS/ SEMINARS

ANALYTICAL ANACON-2003

The Department of Atomic Energy participated in Analytica Anacon-2003, an exhibition organized by the Indian Analytical Instruments Association, held during January 28 - 31 at Nehru Centre, Mumbai. DAE displayed information on its activities, especially the various technologies and products developed in the field of analytical instruments. The analytical services and consultancy services in the fields, being offered by the Department, were also highlighted.

TECHFEST 2003

DAE participated in an exhibition ‘Techfest 2003’ organized by IIT-Bombay, in association with private sector giants, during January 31 - February 2, 2003. The Department showcased its activities in the fields of power production, production and applications of radioisotopes in agriculture, food preservation and healthcare, and technological developments in advanced technologies such as accelerators, lasers and supercomputers. Exhibits also included dynamic models, samples of mutant seeds, radiation processed food and radiation sterilized medical products. Multimedia shows were an added attraction. The pavilion evoked an overwhelming response from the visitors who were mainly students from IIT and other institutes in Mumbai.

IICHE SEMINAR

In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE), Kochi, Kerala, DAE organized a seminar on ‘Nuclear Safety’ at Cochin, during February 10-11, 2003. The seminar discussed the safety aspects of nuclear technology focussed on an audience comprising teachers, students from various universities, engineers from industry and media persons. Officials from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), DAE and its constituent units addressed the audience on the overall activities of the Department, regulatory aspects, safety and genetic effects of natural background radiation on the population of Kerala.

IARP SEMINAR/EXHIBITION

DAE organized a seminar on the ‘Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy’ at Chennai, in collaboration with the Indian Association for Radiation Protection, Kalpakkam Chapter on March 8, 2003, at the Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai. Experts from the Department spoke on nuclear power, food preservation, public perceptions about atomic energy, diagnostic X-rays etc. Parallel to the seminar, an exhibition on the activities of the department and its contribution towards societal development was also held.