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Internship Report at

Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR)

Salman Habib

22-10490

Summer 2021

Date of Submission: 30-09-2021

B.Sc. (HONS) Biological Sciences, Forman Christian College ( A

Chartered University)
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to Allah Almighty “The most Merciful and the most Beneficent who
empowered me to learn and complete my task successfully” I accolade The Holy
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). He (S.A.W) is the lifetime guiding torch
for me.

I pay my gratitude to the respected Head of Biological Sciences department Dr. Samina
Mehnaz, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University) for giving me opportunities
for research and commanding such a prestigious institute.

I would also like to pay gratitude to my supervisor at Pakistan Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (PCSIR), Dr. Imran Kalim, who worked very hard and supported
me a lot during my internship. He provided me possibility to complete my internship. He
guided me throughout my internship and his practical advices will be very helpful for my
future objectives. Moreover, my Advisor at University Asma Maqbool (Assistant
Professor) and Dr. Rehan Siddique (Professor Emeritus) who admire me the most,
directed me to work with experienced scientists.

I would like to offer my respect to Director General of PCSIR Dr. Quratulain Syed for
giving me great opportunity to work in the most prestigious institute of Pakistan in field
of science and technology.

Lastly I would say that with out the support and prayers of my Parents my studies was
not possible. They supported me financially, morally and inspired me at each level of my
life.
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Summary

This report is about my internship at Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial

Research. During my Internship. I performed different experiments in FBRC department
of PCSIR under the supervision of Dr. Imran Kalim. I performed dehydration of
mangoes. Our main work was in aflatoxin laboratory. In aflatoxin laboratory I performed
aflatoxin analysis. I did whole procedure myself from grinding of samples to spotting and
analyzing them under ultraviolet light. Other than that I also learn who to write and save
Observational Data Record. Experience at PCSIR was good.

I was also taught about the process of lactose analysis and M1 analysis. But our instructor
just described the procedure orally. We did not do these procedures practically as they
did not give us apparatus to perform these analysis that’s why I do not have the result. In
this report I’ll write the procedures as our instructor describe the procedures.

My stay at PCSIR gives me a lot of knowledge and new skills. All the activities or
experiments that I performed will be discussed in detail along with their procedures in
chapters given below.
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Chapter 1

1.1 Introduction to Pakistan

Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research (PCSIR)

Pakistan Council of Scientific and

Industrial Research (PCSIR) was
established in 1953 under Societies Act
to promote the cause of Science and
Technology in the country. Since 1973,
it is functioning under the Act of Parliament, which was amended in 1984. Chief
Executive of the Council is the Chairman who is appointed by the Federal
Government. There are eleven Laboratories and five HRD Centers established in the
Pakistan headed by Director Generals. Director Generals are supposed to directly
report to Chairman. There are 570 Scientists, Engineers, Technologists working in
different Laboratories, who are supported by 859 technicians, skilled workers,
supporting staff and 1125 non-technical, administrative, accounts, security staff.
PCSIR is a government owned scientific and industrial research organization which
mainly focus on the development of industrial and scientific research. PCSIR
laboratory complex Lahore is certified under ISO 9001:2008 by TUV Nord
Germany. PCSIR is known as West Regional Laboratories that were started
functioning with staff in a wing of Punjab University in 1953. This setup was shifted
to the permanent present site. For this purpose, 68.5 acres of land was earmarked by
Punjab Government in 1955. There are following different functional centers
working under PCSIR Lab Complex Lahore.
 Applied Chemistry Research Centre
 Applied Physics, Computers and Research Centre
 Centre for Environmental Protection Studies
 Centre for Development of Laboratory Equipment
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 Electrical Measurement Test Laboratory

 Engineering Services Centre
 Food and Biotechnology Research Centre
 Glass & Ceramics Research Centre
 Mineral Processing Research Centre
 Pakistan Institute of Technology for Minerals & Advance Engineering Materials

Chapter 2

Determination of Aflatoxins

Material required:

Grinder, beaker, TLC tank, hot plate, TLC Sheet, measuring cylinder, conical flask,
shaker, distilled water, filter paper, aluminum foil, spotter, UV light

Reagents:

Chloroform, Diethyl ether, Acetone, 40% Sulphuric Acid, Celite

Procedure:

 50g of rice samples were taken after grinding in a

grinder.
 Sample were putted into conical flask.
 25ml of distilled water was added.
 200ml of chloroform was added into each flask.
 Flasks was than covered with aluminum foil than Fig. Grinder
putted them in a shaker at 25-30 rpm for 30
minutes.
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 After shaking sample were filtered through filter paper of 11 μm.

 50 ml of filtered solution were taken in a beaker and placed on hot plate until it
dries.
 0.5 ml of chloroform was added to each flask and shake well.
 Each sample was spotted on TLC sheet with the help of Fig. Shaker
capillary tube.
 TLC sheet was placed into first mobile phase tank
containing 50ml diethyl ether.
 The spots on TLC plate was raised as solvent
moves. Sheet was removed when spots reached
given mark.
 TLC sheet was placed in second mobile phase
containing
5 ml acetone and 45ml chloroform for fixation of
Fig. Samples during filter process
aflatoxins.

Fig. TLC tank Mobile phase 1 Fig. TLC tank Mobile phase 2

 TLC sheet was than dried and checked in a dark room under UV cabinet.
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Fig. TLC sheet under UV light

Results:

Results of Rice samples (white + Brown)

Sr no. Sample Aflatoxin

1 001 Not detected

2 002 Not detected

3 003 Not detected

4 004 Not detected

5 005 Not detected

6 006 Not detected

7 007 Not detected

8 008 Not detected

9 009 Not detected

10 010 Not detected

11 011 Not detected

Results of Other Samples

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Sr no. Samples Aflatoxin %

1 Wheat Not detected

2 Red Chili Not detected

3 Turmeric Not detected

4 Curry powder Not detected

5 Animal Feed Not detected

6 See buck throne seeds Not detected

7 Lolly pops Not detected

8 Almonds Not detected

9 Pine Nuts Not detected

10 Peanuts Not detected

11 Chicken Breast meat cubes Not detected

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Observation Date Record (ODR):

Fig. Observation Data Record (ODR) form

Above Fig. shows a ODR form in which results/calculation of above experiment written
down. In this Data record form every information about sample like ILO no., sample
description, client name, receiving date, reporting date, humidity and temperature at
which analysis is performed, weight of sample all have to be write according to the
calculations of analysis. Than after analysis in the below box we have to write if aflatoxin
are detected or not than it is signed by the operator and lab in-charge.
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Chapter 3

3.1 Dehydration of Mangoes

Dehydration of mangoes is performed so, that they can be stored and enjoyed in later
time. This process sucks out all the juices of fresh fruit slices. It is a way to preserve your
harvest fruit and fill up your pantry for off season.

Material required:

Mangoes, Sugar, Water, Burner, Dryer

Preservatives:

10 grams Citric acid, 5 grams Potassium Pyrosulfate

(Kms) powder

Procedure:

 Peel off 10 kg mangoes and cut them into small

slices.
 Make syrup by adding 5kg sugar into 5 liters of
water
 Add 10 grams citric acid and 5 grams of potassium Fig. Peeling off mangoes

pyrosulfate into syrup

 Put all mango slices into syrup for 45 minutes.
 Now put all mangoes into dryer at 60 degrees
Celsius for 10 to 12 hours.
 Now pack mango slices and they are ready to go
to market.

Fig. Dried Mangoes

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Chapter 4

4.1 Lactose Analysis:

Stock Solution:

 In 80 ml of water dissolve 1 gram of Phenyl Hydrazine Hydrochloride and add

sodium metabisulfite
 Add 100ml of water to dilute solution and keep the solution in a brown colored
glass bottle.

Working Solution:

Add 100ml of glacial acetic acid to 10 ml of stock solution to dilute it. It should be
prepared fresh for validity.

Standard Lactose:

Prepare stock solution by dissolving 1g lactose hydrate, 0.2 w/v benzoic acid solution and
dilute it to 100ml. 10mg of lactose hydrate is present in 1 ml of solution. Prepare working
solution by diluting 5 ml stock solution to 100ml with 0.2% benzoic acid solution. Now
1ml solution has 0.5 lactose hydrate.

Lactose in milk can be estimated using calorimetry method.

Procedure:

 Take 1ml of milk and 1ml of zinc acetate.

 Dilute it to 100ml with water.
 After 5 minute filter the solution
 Take 0.5ml milk filtrate than add 5ml of working solution into it.
 Mix and heat it in vigorously boiling water bath for one hour.
 Filter and measure the optical density (O.D) of yellow color at 370.
 Measure O.D of blank sample without milk.
 Subtract that value from O.D of original sample.
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Week 5 of our internship was fully off because “High Profile Visit”. No students
were allowed to go to PCSIR.

Chapter 5

5.1 Aflatoxin M1 Analysis:

Procedure:

 Add 250 microliter of sample to their respective red-marked mixing wells

 Transfer 100 µl from mixing wells to antibody coated wells.
 Place microwell holder on an automatic plate shaker and let it shake for 20
minutes at room temperature.
 Dump liquid from antibody wells and wash wells for 5 times with diluted wash
buffer. Tap out liquid on absorbent paper.
 Transfer 100 µL of conjugate from the reagent boat to the wells.
 Place microwell holder on an automatic plate shaker and let it shake for 10
minutes at room temperature.
 Dump liquid from antibody wells. Wash wells thoroughly with diluted wash
buffer for 5 times. Tap out liquid on absorbent paper.
 Transfer 100 µL substrate from the reagent boat to the antibody wells.
 Place microwell holder on an automatic plate shaker and let it shake for 15
minutes at room temperature.
 Transfer 100 µL of red stop solution from the reagent boat to the wells. Mix by
sliding microwell holder back and forth on a flat surface.
 Read results using a microwell reader with a 650 nm filter.