Accreditation of the testing & calibration laboratories as per ISO/IEC-17025 standard is the only mean to assure credibility of public sector testing laboratories. Laboratory management system as per international standard is the only way to give confidence to their customers including exporters and business community by providing quality of testing and calibration activities. Through laboratory management system a customer realize that laboratories showing technical competency for issuance of authentic, reliable and correct results. Public Sector laboratory accreditation enhances the trust and confidence of the customer as well as public. Generally in public sector accredited laboratories are very rare in Pakistan. The accredited laboratories provide best analytical services to its customers, mostly business community to enhance their capabilities for export of goods and consumption of goods in local markets by achieving the accreditation status. Laboratory accreditation needs reasonable funds to meet all the needs of the standard. In developing countries especially in government sector accredited laboratories are suffering from lack of support from top management, shortage of funds. Funds availability is a mandatory requirement for implementation and maintenance of the Lab Management System (LMS), due to this only few testing and very few calibration labs are accredited in Pakistan.

An improved electrochemical method for the preparation of styrene oxide is reported in 96% yield using electrochemically generated hypobromous acid. The epoxidation of styrene is realized by constant current electrolysis using tetraethylammonium bromide (TEABr) as the electrolyte. Anodically generated hypobromous acid reacts with alkenes to form bromohydrin which is cyclised to epoxide by the base generated at the cathode at 25^oC in a solvent mixture of acetonitrile-water (3:2) without any catalyst.

Marine alga commonly known as seaweeds is one of the most important marine organisms used for food, feed and medicine since 21st century. In this study, the most richest pigments found in marine alga was investigated among different species of seaweeds belonging to Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta and Phaeophyta, collected from the coast of Gulf of Munnar, Tamil Nadu, India. The collection of samples of marine algae was done trial times in a year i.e in summer, winter and Rainy season. During experimental observation, the highest chlorophyll a content was observed in C.racemosa, while the lowest was observed in G. corticata. The determination of Chlorophyll b was highest in U.fasciata, which further decreases in Gracilaria corticata, similar to chlorophyll a content. The amount of carotenoid was maximum in G.verrucosa, which gradually decreases in Laurencia sp. The order of chlorophyll a content was in order of following sequences Chlorophyceae >Phaeophyceae > Rhodophyceae.

The study on heavy metals absortion of alfalfa in soil environments with varying amounts of heavy metals shows that different heavy metal content in the soil environment at experimental levels has not yet affected the growth potential of alfalfa trees, however affecting the ability to handle. The heavy metal absorption capacity of alfalfa after 4 months of experimentation has accumulated certain amounts of heavy metals in the parts of the vegetation, however, thorough analysis indicates that the amount of heavy metals accumulated at the roots more in the stem. For As, the highest content in leaf stems was 22.89 mg/kg (T4As), the lowest was 4.44 mg/kg (T1As) and the highest in roots was 42.04 mg/kg (T1As), the lowest is 16.41 mg/kg (T4As); the highest Zn content in leaf stems and roots was 40.22 mg/kg and 49.52 mg/kg (T4Zn), the lowest in stems, leaves and roots was 13.67 mg/kg and 15.63 mg/kg (T1Zn), Pb content in leaf stems and roots was 24.26 mg/kg and 34.85 mg/kg; Cd content in leaf stems and roots was 7.36 mg/kg and 9.01 mg/kg. In addition, after 4 months of research T4 with the content of Zn, Pb and As are the highest treated with corresponding content of 504.34 mg/kg, 123.68 mg/kg and 38.98 mg/kg, followed by CT3, CT2 and the lowest is T1 has the content of Zn, Pb and As is 51.52 mg/kg, 13.07 mg/kg and 2.73 mg/kg.   

The corrosion inhibition of duplex (α,β) brass in HNO₃ solution by anthranilic acid as an inhibitor has been studied using weight loss, temperature effect, adsorption and kinetic study methods. Corrosion rate increases with the increase in acid concentration and temperature. As inhibitor concentration increases corrosion rate decreases while percentage of inhibition efficiency (I.E.) increases. Maximum I.E. of anthranilic acid was found up to 96.44 % at 20 mM inhibitor concentration in 0.1 M HNO₃ solution. The value of free energy of adsorption (DG⁰_ads), heat of adsorption (Q_ads), energy of activation, (E_a), enthalpy of adsorption (DH⁰_ads) and entropy of adsorption (DS⁰_ads) were calculated.  The inhibition effect is discussed in view of anthranilic acid adsorbed on the metal surface and it obeys Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Present study indicates that anthranilic acid is a good corrosion inhibitor for the corrosion brass in HNO₃ solution.

Intercalation of transition metal salts into polyaniline matrix significantly transformed their optical and electronic properties to greater extent. Interactions of nickel sulfide into polyaniline matrix were synthesized by simplest route via oxidation method. Effect of nickel sulfide nanoparticles on the electrical properties of polyaniline was studied. Product were characterized through FT-IR, NMR and TEM spectroscopy.  It has been also observed that successful incorporation of nickel sulfide into the polymer matrix along with a strong interaction between the nickel sulfide and polyaniline matrix. Electrical conductivity was enhanced significantly analogues to semiconducting materials, which could be used in variety of electronic devices

Analysis of heavy metals – (copper, chromium, iron, manganese lead and zinc) in effluent samples collected in the vicinity of M/s Andhra ferroalloys Ltd., (Visakhapatnam Dt. A.P.) has been carried out over a period of 2 months during January &February (2020).The concentration of these metals except chromium was found well within the limits as per the standards. The results obtained on the determination of chromium were compared with synthetic samples under similar conditions. Attempts were also made to reduce contamination due to chromium following analytical techniques

The oxidation studies of some alpha hydroxy acids such as lactic acid and malic acid by selenium dioxide in aqueous acetic acid medium in presence of H₂SO₄ have been reported spectrophotometrically at 308 and 318 K. Based on the spectral data. Beer-Lambert’s law at definite pH was verified. The reactions shows first-order kinetics each with respect to oxidant SeO₂, substrate. The reactions are acid catalysed. The Increases in binary composition of acetic acid and water 10 to 50%, v/v increases the rate and yield positive intercepts indicating that two dipoles involved in the reactions. The reactions observed 1:2 stoichiometric ratio, formulated in the proposed mechanism. Arrhenius parameters in consistence with rate law have been determi

In Ayurveda the plant Eclipta alba is considered as a rasayana for longevity and rejuvenation. Eclipta alba Linn. has been traditionally used for blackening, promoting hair growth and strengthening the hair. It is useful in inflammations, hernia, eye diseases, bronchitis, leucoderma, anaemia, heart, skin diseases and syphilis etc. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of Eclipta alba extract against CCl₄-induced oxidative stress in mice.  Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is a well-known hepatotoxin and exposure to this chemical is known to induce oxidative stress and causes liver injury by the formation of free radicals. Oral administration of CCl₄ (826 mg/ kg bw/ day; 1/10^th of the LD₅₀ value) for 30 days caused significant (p<0.05) increase in hepatic lipid peroxidation, which may be due to significant decrease in non-enzymatic (glutathione content and total ascorbic acid) contents and enzymatic (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione reductase) antioxidants activities. Histopathological analyses were also carried out by Masson’s trichrome staining technique.  Co-administration of Eclipta alba extracts (100, 200 and 300 mg/ kg bw/ day) along with CCl₄ were significantly (p<0.05) restored lipid peroxidation, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant activities in a dose dependent manner as compared to CCl₄ alone treated group of mice. In CCl₄ alone treated group of mice, histological studies showed massive necrosis, fatty infiltration, lymphocytic infiltration, and severe fibrosis which were significantly ameliorated with the co-treatment of Eclipta alba extract in a dose-dependent manner. Results of the present study indicates that the Eclipta alba extract possess potent hepatoprotective activity against CCl₄ induced oxidative stress in Swiss albino mice, which was mainly due to its antioxidative property. This study proves the antioxidant activity of the Eclipta alba extract.

Okra Abelmoschus esculentus L belongs to the family Malvaceae and is valued for its edible green seed pods. Plant is grown in tropical, sub-tropical and temperature regions of the world. The present study was conducted in five districts of Karnataka to investigate the residue level of the pesticides in okra. The sporadic information and data was collected from farmers with the use different pesticides during harvesting period of okra. The acaphate residue detected in 37.5% samples from Bangalore rural, Bangalore Urban, Chickballapura and Kolar and 25% contamination in Ramanagara. Chlorpyriphos found contaminated with 25% samples but none crossed the MRL value of 0.2mg/kg. Dichlorvos and phorate values have not surpassed MRL value 0.15mg/kg and 0.05mg/kg respectively. In kolar district, 12.5% samples contaminated (512mg/kg) with cyfluthrin and Ramanagara district exhibited only 25% (0.247-0.361mg/kg) residue. The trend mean concentration of cypermethrin residue in okra is Bangalore rural>Ramananagara> Bangalore Urban=chickballapura=kolar. Fenvalerate residue values were noticed above MRL of 2.0mg/kg. The monocrotophos, cyhalothrin-λ and deltamethrin residues are below the detectable level in okra samples from all the five districts.

Environmental pollutants have become a major global concern. Modern growth of industrialization, urbanization, modern agricultural development, energy generation, have resulted in indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources for fulfilling the human desires and need, which have contributed in disturbing the ecological balance on which the quality of our environment depends. The development of multiple human activities such as in industry, transport, agriculture, domestic and space, the increase in the standard of living and higher consumer demand have amplified pollution of air with carbon , nitrogen, sulphur  oxides gasses, greenhouse gasses and particulate matters,  water with chemical and biological pollutants, leachate and oil spills, soil due to the disposal of hazardous waste, spreading of pesticides, the use of disposable goods or non-biodegradable materials, and the lack of proper facilities for waste . Environmental biotechnology is concerned with the application of biotechnology as an emerging technology in the context of environmental protection. It is not a new area of interest, because some of the issues of concern are familiar example of old technology, such as: composting, wastewater treatment etc. In its early stage, environmental biotechnology has evolved from chemical engineering, but later, other disciplines such as biochemistry, environmental engineering, environmental microbiology, molecular biology and ecology also contribute to environmental biotechnology development.  Using advanced biotechnologies are now possible to treat waste and degrade pollutants assisted by living organisms or to develop products and processes that generate less waste and preserve the natural non- renewable resources and energy as a result of- improved treatments for solid waste and wastewater, bioremediation: cleaning up contamination and phytoremediation, ensuring the health of the environment through bio-monitoring, cleaner production: manufacturing with less pollution or less raw materials, energy from biomass, genetic engineering for environmental protection and control. By considering all these issues, biotechnology may be regarded as a driving force for integrated environmental protection by environmental bioremediation, waste minimization, and environmental biomonitoring and bio maintenance, to the progress of a more sustainable society is revealed.