Acid Hydrolysis Research Articles

Quantifying cellulose content in plastic-cellulose material mixtures

This study investigates the capabilities of various measurement techniques for quantifying the cellulose content in reject material from a carton recycling center, which consists of polyethylene, cellulose, and aluminum, along with impurities. Different measurement techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy combined with Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR), cellulose dissolution using cupri-ethylenediamine (CED) from plastic followed by gravimetric analysis, acid hydrolysis combined with chromatography, and Thermal Gravimetric Analysis TGA, are employed in this study. Acid hydrolysis combined with chromatography and TGA shows comparable results when compared to different techniques for analyzing pulper reject. Dissolution with CED showed also comparable results but shows higher variation than TGA or chromatography. FTIR absorbance ratio of 1025/2917 correlates with cellulose content, but it shows high variation and lacks sensitivity below 5% cellulose content in polyethylene. This limitation is attributed to factors such as the limited measurement area (1.8 mm) and the large particle size of the cellulose and LDPE mixtures, possibly caused by inadequate grinding of LDPE. In conclusion, TGA and acid hydrolysis combined with chromatography are the most reliable for quantifying cellulose content in recycling reject, providing more consistent and accurate results than FTIR-ATR or CED dissolution methods.

New acid anhydride from Phalaris canariensis with antimicrobial activity assessed through in vitro and in silico approaches

In this study, a novel fatty acid anhydride, named phalarisin 1, was successfully isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Phalaris canariensis growing in Tunisia. The structural characterisation of the compound was achieved through various spectroscopic techniques including FT-IR, 1D and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, as well as acidic hydrolysis analyses. Remarkably, phalarisin exhibited potent antimicrobial properties against a range of pathogens including Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium phylophylum, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 31.25 to 62.5 μg/mL. To grasp the antimicrobial potential of compound 1, molecular docking studies were performed and they furnished evidence indicating its ability to bind to proteins in bacteria and fungi that are pivotal for drug resistance.

Study on properties and simulation application scenarios of flame retarded modified konjac glucomannan organic and inorganic composite aerogel

In this paper, a new organic-inorganic biomass composite aerogel was prepared by freeze-drying method with glucomannan, hydrophilic isocyanate, water-soluble flame retardant, and water glass as raw materials. Biomass Konjac glucose mannan (KGM) was used as the main network framework, KGM was chemically cross-linked and alkali-cross-linked with hydrophilic isocyanate and Na2SiO3 solution, and flame retardant modified with water-soluble flame retardant and water glass. The microstructure showed an obvious organic-inorganic interpenetrating network structure. The compressive strength of sample K2S4P2 was 4.751 ± 0.089 MPa, and the compression modulus of sample K2S4P1B modified by boric acid hydrolysis of Na2SiO3 was 63.76 ± 1.81 × 103 m2/s2. The introduction of boron ions contributes to the thermal stability of organic components. The peak and total heat release rates of sample K2S4P1A4 decreased by 80.3 % and 50.8 %, respectively. In addition, the thermal simulation calculation of the external wall in winter and summer using ANSYS software showed that the thickness of the insulation layer with the best insulation effect is 40–60 mm. The organic-inorganic composite aerogel provides a simple and environmentally friendly method for the application of external wall insulation systems in low-energy buildings with both mechanical properties and flame retardant properties.

Preparation of new green poly (amino amide) based on cellulose nanoparticles for adsorption of Congo red and its adaptive neuro-fuzzy modeling

In this study, a novel green poly(amino amide) nanoparticle based on cellulose nanoparticles (Cell-PAMN) was developed for the efficient adsorption of Congo Red dye. Cellulose nanocrystals obtained from acid hydrolysis of cotton linter were functionalized via Oxa-Michael addition of acrylamide on their surface hydroxyl groups, followed by transamidation with ethylenediamine. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM, and X-ray diffraction techniques. The as-prepared Cell-PAMN exhibited considerably higher adsorption capacity compared to unmodified cellulose nanoparticles due to the presence of amino and amide functional groups. The adsorption kinetics and the effects of parameters such as contact time and initial dye concentration on the adsorption capacity were investigated. An adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy model was used to study the efficiency of dye removal, accurately predicted the adsorption behavior of Cell-PAMN. The kinetic study results showed that the adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of around 40 mg/g. The results demonstrated the potential of the synthesized material for the removal of Congo Red from aqueous solutions, highlighting its applicability in wastewater treatment. This research contributes to the development of sustainable and eco-friendly materials for environmental remediation applications.

Optimization through response surface modelling, experimental validation on development of nanocellulose for pharmaceutical applications

Nanocellulose, a promising polymer derived from lignocellulosic sources, is utilized in various applications such as paper production, water purification, wound dressing, scaffolds, biosensors, super-disintegrants, cosmetics, and drug delivery systems. The study investigates the production of optimized nanocellulose size using response surface methodology, examining the impact of factors like sulphuric acid concentration and temperature on the acid hydrolysis process. The central composite design was used to screen and adjust the design matrix with two-factor levels. The optimized size of nanocellulose was found to be 364.1 nm, with a zeta potential of −40.6, which shows long-term stability. Hence, process variables like sulphuric acid of 48.29% v/v and temperature of 39.7 °C were optimized to get the desired particle size from commercial cellulose. An Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine the primary parameters that have a significant impact on the particle size of nanocellulose. Thus, the obtained nanocellulose was characterized using FTIR, XRD, DLS and TEM analysis. FTIR confirms that the functional groups of cellulose are similar in nanocellulose. As the XRD illustrates, 67% of the crystallinity index in the developed nanocellulose is semicrystalline. The particle size was found within the nm size by employing the DLS method. Nanocellulose was characterized using TEM for surface morphology. Thus, obtained nanocellulose is widely used in various pharmaceutical applications like tissue engineering, cosmeceuticals, wound healing, scaffolds, aerogels, hydrogels, and controlled release of drugs.

Novel self-pretreatment of biomass by in-situ preparation of acid-assisted carbohydrate-derived DES

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) can greenly and efficiently fractionate biomass, but their utilization efficiency is severely limited by the high ratio of DES required and the wasted hemicelluloses released during the pretreatment. Herein, this work first developed a novel self-pretreatment of biomass by in-situ preparation of acid-assisted carbohydrate-derived DES with the aid of ball milling to facilitate enzymatic hydrolysis. The effect of hydrogen bond acceptor types, water content, acid content, and ball-milling time on enzymatic hydrolysis was studied systematically. Under the optimal condition (tetrabutylammonium chloride (TBAC), 1000 wt% H2O, 100 wt% acids, ball milling for 2 h), the yields of glucose and xylose produced from the pretreated substrates after enzymatic hydrolysis were >99.9 % and 88 %, respectively. Furthermore, the structural integrity of the residual lignin was well-preserved, making it suitable for positional structural characterization and ideal substrates for lignin degradation. Characterization suggested that the hemicelluloses fragments via in-situ acid hydrolysis acted as hydrogen bond donors and combined in situ with TBAC to form DES. This strategy avoided the use of high dosages of DES and the wastage of hemicelluloses, and promoted the sustainability of the entire biorefinery process.

Effect of acid and fermented silage hydrolysis time on protein fractionation and digestibility for Nile Tilapia

World aquaculture production currently demands sustainable protein ingredients that can compete with fishmeal regarding nutritional quality and economic feasibility. In this study, the protein fractionation of silages prepared with Nile tilapia processing waste (heads, spine, fins, and viscera) by two processes and three hydrolysis times was evaluated, considering the digestibility coefficients of its crude protein, amino acids, and gross energy of Nile tilapia juveniles. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) were determined using 360 Nile tilapia juveniles (9.36 ± 0.74 g) distributed in 18 tanks (150 L), following a completely randomized design with six treatments, in a factorial scheme of 2×3, with three replicates. The six test diets were composed of 69.5 % of the reference diet, 0.5 % chromium (III) oxide, and 30 % of either acid or fermented silages produced with three hydrolysis times (24, 96, and 192 hours). The results demonstrated that both the processing type and hydrolysis time influenced the profile and peptide fractions of the silages. The acid silage was faster in relation to the release of free α-amino groups and the degree of hydrolysis (DH), up to 192 hours of hydrolysis. After this period, the fermented silage showed a higher degree and speed of hydrolysis. SDS-PAGE demonstrated that a longer hydrolysis time increased the concentration of the protein band between 150 and 100 kDa, indicating a proliferation of microorganisms using the free amino acids produced during fermentation. Regarding the distribution of peptides, acid silage presented higher values for the concentration of polypeptides, slow degradation and proportion among fractions, with the appearance of di- and tripeptides, as well as free amino acids. For the fermented silage, a higher degradation of polypeptides into oligopeptides was verified, representing the highest fraction, with a small proportion of di- and tripeptides and free amino acids. ADC values were high for all amino acids and proteins, which was not observed for the mean values of energy ADC. The production of silages with 192 hours of hydrolysis proved to be viable, and the fermented processing revealed the highest ADC values in relation to most of the amino acids, thus being the most indicated to be incorporated in fish diets, favoring its utilization by small farmers and reducing the inadequate disposal of biodegradable waste, thereby avoiding environmental pollution.

Polyhydroxybutyrate production from non-recyclable fiber rejects and acid whey as mixed substrate by recombinant Escherichia coli

Producing polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from agro-food processing waste has the potential to mitigate the global synthetic plastic pollution crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it offers a promising solution to the challenges associated with high feedstock and production costs. This study aims to explore the use of two such wastes, non-recyclable fiber rejects (FR) (solid waste) and acid whey (AW) (liquid waste), as cost-effective and sustainable carbon sources for PHB production. Fiber rejects contains up to 50% carbohydrates that can be hydrolyzed to fermentable sugars. The AW is composed of lactose, lactic acid, fats, proteins, and mineral salts which could be used as carbon sources for PHB. The focus of this work was a comprehensive evaluation of substrate utilization, cell growth, and PHB inclusion in recombinant E. coli during the fermentation of various blends of acid whey and hydrolysate obtained from fiber rejects. Two approaches were investigated: i) produce FR hydrolysate and mix it with AW in various ratios (1:2, 1:1, and 2:1), and ii) use acid whey to replace water during the hydrolysis of FR. Combining acid whey with the hydrolysate achieved the highest PHB yield in a shorter duration compared to using only the hydrolysate. Replacing acid whey with water during the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated fiber rejects and utilizing it further for fermentation resulted in the highest PHB yield of 5.2 g/L, with a 45.4% PHB inclusion rate. Additionally, the inherent lactic acid content in acid whey eliminates the need for adding acetic acid to adjust pH levels during hydrolysis, thereby saving freshwater and acid.Graphical

Comprehensive techno-economic and environmental assessment for 2,3-butanediol production from bread waste

Bread waste (BW) is a common food waste in Europe and North America and has enormous potential as a biorefinery substrate for the sustainable synthesis of various platform chemicals. Our previous work made use of BW for the fermentative production of 2,3–butanediol (BDO). The present work evaluated the economic prospects and environmental consequences associated with the overall processes, handling 100 metric tons BW per day. The comprehensive process design using Aspen Plus and integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment was carried out for two different BW hydrolysis scenarios: acid and enzyme hydrolysis, followed by fermentation and extraction-based downstream BDO separation. The optimal heat exchanger network was designed using pinch analysis, which improved the energy efficiency of the process significantly, with about 10 % savings of BDO production costs. Despite this improvement, the BDO derived from BW was exorbitant (4.2–6.9 $/kg) compared to the market price (3.23 $/kg) due to relatively higher capital investment for the current plant capacity. Further, the process inventory was modelled in SimaPro v9.1.0 to estimate the environmental consequences of these production processes for impact categories, such as global warming (2.63 – 3.19 kg CO2 eq.), marine eutrophication (3.55 × 10-4 – 4.01 × 10-4 kg N eq.), terrestrial ecotoxicity (6.44 – 7.88 kg 1,4 − DCB), etc. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were also conducted to establish the reliability of the results. It was found that the enzyme hydrolysis was associated with lower environmental impacts than acid hydrolysis. This comprehensive study can be used as a guideline for developing sustainable BW-based biorefinery in the future.

Investigating the synergistic effect of fish waste extract and KI on the corrosion inhibition of carbon steel in sulfuric acid solution

Biowaste has become a serious problem that can lead to serious environmental pollution and waste of resources if not handled properly. Waste materials are often high in proteins, which are easily extracted and hydrolyzed to provide an adequate quantity of amino acids. This indicates that biowastes can be used as green and efficient corrosion inhibitors (CIs). This work aimed to prepare fish waste extract (FWE) by acid hydrolysis with alkaline leaching using fish waste as the raw material. The results of the characterization analysis identified the presence of 17 amino acids, with Leucine, Phenylalanine, Methionine, and Alanine being the most abundant. FWE was then tested as a corrosion inhibitor (CI) for carbon steel in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4. Further, the effect of KI on the corrosion inhibition performance of FWE for carbon steel in 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 was systematically investigated by the weight loss method, electrochemical method, and surface analysis. The maximum corrosion inhibition efficiencies were 88.7 % and 63.9 % for the FWE and KI alone, and 97.10 % for the combination of FWE and KI. The synergistic coefficient study confirmed that the synergistic coefficients of the FWE and KI exceeded 1 across all concentration conditions, indicating a synergistic effect between them. The surface analysis results showed that the deterioration of carbon steel after adding the compounded CI was mild, and pitting and crevice corrosion was not observed. Theoretical calculations revealed the active reaction sites of four major amino acid molecules via quantum chemical and molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of different types of side chains and heteroatoms of amino acid molecules on their corrosion inhibition performance was elucidated to provide theoretical guidance for designing biowaste CIs.

Cellulose extraction from Cladophora rupestris for extraction of nanomaterials

Abstract Cellulose from macroalgae is potential for the extraction of nanomaterials due to its availability and its great fraction in the biomass. Cladophora rupestris is a macroalgae and is a good material to which a cellulose may be extracted. The said macroalgae has no value-added products or uses yet. It has a lignocellulosic profile of: alpha-cellulose, 33.43 %; hemicellulose, 15.48%; holocellulose, 48.93; acid soluble lignin, 2.22%; acid insoluble lignin, 22.33%, extractives, 5.67% and total ash, 39.65%. Identifying the best method and conditions for the extraction of cellulose from the said material is a challenge that needs to be addressed. The process for the cellulose extraction considered variations on drying (oven, air, and sun drying), defatting (using solvents: methanol and hexane; and extraction time: 8 hrs and 4 days), solvent drying (oven and air drying), alkaline pre-treatment (0.1, 0.5, and 1M NaOH), fixed conditions on bleaching, bleached biomass oven drying. The biomass weight losses were monitored for some steps, attributing this on the removal of the lignin and extractives. The lignocellulosic profile of the crude cellulose extracted from the macroalgae using the best conditions was determined indicating an increased fraction of the cellulose components in the biomass and a transformation of the rigid biomass into a soft and paper-like texture. The functional groups present on the cellulose was determined. The extracted cellulose was used to produced cellulose nanofibril (CNF) with fiber diameter of the CNF ranges on 14.29 – 37.50 nm and crystallinity index of 92.48%. Attempts were done on extraction of cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) utilizing microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis (MAAH) and semi-batch acid hydrolysis (SBAH); and variation on the acid used (sulfuric acid, and oxalic acid), concentration of the acid, and the temperature conditions.

Isolation and Characterization of Cellulose Nanofibrils (CNF) from Dates by-Product via Citric Acid Hydrolysis

Industrial residues that are not optimally utilized are removed by burning, landfilling, or dumping, which can threaten the environment and health. In fact, part of this agro-industrial waste still has content that has the potential to become raw material for value-added other industries. Dates by-product as residue of the fiber-rich fruit industry have the potential to be a source of nanocellulose. This study aims to obtain nanofibril cellulose (CNF) isolates from dates by-product via citric acid hydrolysis, and investigate the effect of acid concentration on the unknown dates by-product CNF isolate characteristics. Pretreatment such as delignification and bleaching is needed to obtain cellulose isolate with high purity. Furthermore, acid hydrolysis, centrifugation, and sonication are performed to obtain CNF. CNF isolates are characterized by the analysis of particle size distribution, morphology, and crystallinity. Analysis of functional groups and lignocellulose content test confirm that lignin and hemicellulose are degraded during isolation. The particle size distribution measurement shows that the greater the acid concentration, the smaller the CNF size and the better the size uniformity. The morphology of the CNF obtained is net-like fibers. The degree of crystallinity shown decreases with increasing acid concentration. This study revealed that different citric acid concentrations can result in different characteristics of CNF isolates.

Use of Low‐Energy Ultrasonication to Enhance the Purity and Morphology of Cellulose Nanofibers Prepared from Areca Nut Shells

AbstractThe isolation of cellulose nanofibers from areca nut shell has been successfully carried out using a simple alkaline treatment, acid hydrolysis, and followed by a morphological modification using low‐energy sonication method. The alkaline treatment consists of dewaxing and bleaching process to remove lignin, while acid hydrolysis process was carried out to remove hemicellulose. Mechanical fibrillation was carried out via ultrasonication and low‐power homogenization with 100 W cleaner and 3 W homogenizer to obtain fine fibers. Following the scanning electron microscope (SEM) result, the ultrasonicated treatment sample showed better lignin and hemicellulose removal processes and increased dispersity, as well as reduce diameter of cellulose fibers from 710.4 to 451.6 nm. The particle size analyzer (PSA) showed that the colloidal cellulose after sonication provide a frequent diameter of 56 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy result showed that sonication is an effective removal process of noncellulosic components. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the crystallinity of nanocellulose decrease following the sonication process. Hence, low‐energy ultrasonication is a viable approach to enhance the morphology and mechanical strength of cellulose nanofiber.

Cellulose, cellulose nanofibers, and cellulose acetate from Butia fruits (Butia odorata): Chemical, morphological, structural, and thermal properties

Cellulose possesses numerous advantageous properties and is a precursor to compounds and derivatives. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize cellulose from Butia fruits and simultaneously produce cellulose nanofibers and cellulose acetate from the isolated cellulose. Cellulose extraction was performed using a combination of alkaline and bleaching treatments, while the production of cellulose nanofibers and cellulose acetate was achieved through acid hydrolysis and acetylation, respectively. The materials were characterized by their chemical composition, size distribution, zeta potential, morphology, relative crystallinity (XRD), functional groups (FTIR), molecular structure (NMR), and thermal stability (TGA). The Butia crude fibers presented 49.4 % cellulose, 4.5 % hemicellulose, 25.4 % lignin, and 1.3 % ash. The cellulose nanofibers presented an average diameter ranging from 13.7 to 93.1 nm and exhibited a high degree of crystallinity (63.3 %). FTIR, XRD, 13C, and 1H NMR analyses confirmed that the isolation processes effectively removed amorphous regions from the cellulose nanofibers and confirmed the cellulose acetylation process. As demonstrated, cellulosic materials derived from Butia fruit exhibit promise for various applications, including their potential use as reinforcing agents in polymer matrices, due to their high extraction yield, thermal properties, and crystallinity.

Fabrication of millet starch nanocapsules loaded with beta carotene using acid hydrolysis and ultrasonication: Characterisation, release behaviour and bioactivity retention

The acid hydrolysis process was used to create novel millet starch-based nanoparticles from three different sources: sorghum, foxtail millet and pearl millet. An environment-friendly, risk-free ultrasonication technique was used for encapsulating beta carotene in starch nanoparticles to create nanocapsules that will shield the bioactivity of beta carotene in gastrointestinal conditions and increase its accessibility after consumption. Formulated nanocapsules were examined for zeta potential, particle size and encapsulation efficiency. The particle dimensions of beta carotene-loaded sorghum (SSB), foxtail millet (FSB), and pearl millet (PSB) starch nanoparticles were 416, 399 and 587 nm with zeta potential of −17.98, −19.03 and –22.31 mV respectively. Encapsulation efficiencies of nanocapsules were found to be 85.83, 89.65 and 78.32 % for SSB, FSB and PSB respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was also harnessed as a confirmatory tests towards the presence of beta carotene in nanocapsules. Beta carotene encapsulation in starch nanoparticles was also demonstrated using ATR-FTIR which revealed broad characteristic peaks at 3000, 1086 and 885 cm−1 that occur without any discernible interaction. Intestinal juice with higher beta carotene content ensured controlled release in the intestine. Encapsulated beta carotene showed more bioactive properties in terms of antioxidant activity as compared to free beta carotene form

Effect of ultrasound and enzymatic pre-treatments on the profile of bioactive peptides of beef liver hydrolysates

The use of meat by-products as a potential source of protein hydrolysates rich in bioactive peptides is of growing interest to valorise these products and improve their sustainable use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different pre-treatments (hydrolysis with pepsin, ultrasounds, and ultrasounds-assisted pepsin hydrolysis) on the peptide profile and bioactivity of beef liver hydrolysed with flavourzyme. The pre-treatments with pepsin increased the degree of hydrolysis and generation of free amino acids in the liver hydrolysates, whereas the subsequent hydrolysis with flavourzyme influenced the molecular weight distribution of the peptides. Samples pre-treated with pepsin and ultrasounds-assisted pepsin hydrolysates showed the highest values of antioxidant and inhibitory activity of ACE-I, ECE-I, DPP-IV, and neprilysin enzymes, and therefore these hydrolysates were characterised to obtain the bioactive peptide profiles. A total of 995 peptides were identified by tandem mass spectrometry in the most active fractions separated by reversed-phase liquid chromatography, and 20 of them were predicted as potentially responsible for the observed bioactivities and subsequently characterised by in silico tools. These results evidenced the potential of hydrolysis pre-treatments with pepsin and ultrasounds-assisted pepsin to obtain beef liver hydrolysates rich in bioactive peptides that could exert multifunctional bioactivities such as antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic, while giving added value to this meat by-product.

Effects of different fermentation modes on tea leaves: Revealing the metabolites modification by quasi-targeted metabolomics

To investigate the effects of aerobic and anaerobic fermentation on tea leaves and to compare the differences between different fermentation modes, the metabolite profiles of pre-fermented tea, anaerobic-fermented tea, and aerobic-fermented tea from the same batch were comprehensively analyzed by quasi-targeted metabolomics. The results showed that the two fermentation modes altered tea metabolites significantly differently based on 1162 identified metabolites. A total of 611 differential metabolites were screened in different fermented teas, of which phenolics were the most critical compounds. Both fermentation modes reduced the levels of phenolic esters/glucosides in tea, accompanied by the accumulation of free phenolic. Notably, aerobic fermentation was more conducive for flavonoid glycosides and phenolic acid esters/glycosides reduction, while anaerobic fermentation better for free phenolic acids enhancement, especially gallic acid and its derivatives. Additionally, potential metabolic pathways of tea phenolics during fermentation were depicted, primarily involving the hydrolysis, methylation, and glycosylation of flavonoids, as well as the hydrolysis, esterification, degradation, and amination of phenolic acids. Furthermore, there were also some differences in the metabolism of amino acids, sugars, organic acids and lipids between the two fermentation modes. This study will advance our insights into the fermentation metabolism of post-fermented tea.

Modifying Cassava Starch via Extrusion with Phosphate, Erythorbate and Nitrite: Phosphorylation, Hydrolysis and Plasticization.

Extrusion processing of plasticized cassava starch, a prominent industrial crop, with chemical additives offers a thermo-mechanical approach to modify starch structures through physical and chemical interactions. This research investigates the interaction and morphology of thermoplastic cassava starch (TPS) blended with tetrasodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7), sodium tripolyphosphate (Na5P3O10), sodium hexametaphosphate (Na6(PO3)6), sodium erythorbate (C6H7O6Na), and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) via twin-screw extrusion. The effects of these additives on the chemical structure, thermal profile, water absorption, and solubility of the TPS were examined. The high temperature and shearing forces within the extruder disrupted hydrogen bonding at α-(1-4) and α-(1-6) glycosidic linkages within anhydroglucose units. Na4P2O7, Na5P3O10 and Na6(PO3)6 induced starch phosphorylation, while 1H NMR and ATR-FTIR analyses revealed that C6H7O6Na and NaNO2 caused starch hydrolysis. These additives hindered starch recrystallization, resulting in higher amorphous fractions that subsequently influenced the thermal properties and stability of the extruded TPS. Furthermore, the type and content of the added modifier influenced the water absorption and solubility of the TPS due to varying levels of interaction. These modified starch materials exhibited enhanced antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in polyester blends fabricated via extrusion, with nitrite demonstrating the most potent antimicrobial efficacy. These findings suggest that starch modification via either phosphorylation or acid hydrolysis impacts the thermal properties, morphology, and hydrophilicity of extruded cassava TPS.

Eco-friendly technologies for obtaining antioxidant compounds and protein hydrolysates from edible insect Tenebrio molitor beetles

The functional properties of edible insects can be explored by a joint use of novel technologies. This work applied varied pre-treatments (ultra-sound-assisted extraction, UAE; microwave-assisted extraction, MAE; temperature-assisted extraction, TAE; CO2-assisted extraction) and solvents (water, ethanol, water:ethanol) in Tenebrio molitor beetles to enhance the extraction of phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. An enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) was performed in wet and treated biomasses to determine the protein hydrolysis. Higher phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity was released after MAE using water as solvent compared to the other treatments and solvents. Treatments decreased 32 %, 19 % and 30 % the protein, chitin and lipids content. EH improved protein and amino acids hydrolysis in the MAE-treated insects, followed by UAE and TAE treatments. In conclusion, MAE was the most effective to release phenolics and antioxidant activity from T. molitor beetles, while using MAE followed by EH improved protein and amino acids hydrolysis, envisioning valuable applications for this insect biomass.

Fabrication of CNC-AC bionanosorbents from the residual mass of Magnolia champaca l. Bark after methanol extraction for wastewater treatment: Continuous column adsorption study

In this current study, a new class of multifunctional biobased ecofriendly nanosorbents namely crystalline nanocellulose-activated char (CNC-AC) nanosorbents were fabricated by employing a much more innovative and beneficial solvent evaporation induced phase separation (EIPS) technique. While the crystalline nanocellulose (CNC) were extracted from a very much new, innovative, and beneficial agrowaste source namely banana tree (M. oranta) rachis fibers by conducting a series of chemical treatments like scouring, alkali treatment, bleaching, and acid hydrolysis reactions. Additionally, the biochar were synthesized from the residual mass of Magnolia champaca L. barks after methanol extraction and functionalized by 30 % H3PO4 to improve their overall properties. Besides these the fixed-bed continuous column adsorption study were carried out by optimizing the various influential factors such as preliminary concentration and flow rates of the inlet wastewater solution, along with the nanosorbent bed heights into the applied column. For better understanding the overall physicochemical, thermomechanical, and morphostructural behavior of the newly fabricated polyfunctional CNC-AC bionanosorbents the samples were characterized by conducting FTIR-ATR, FESEM, BET, XRD, TGA analysis. Meanwhile the treated and nontreated water specimens were examined by conducting AAS and UV–vis-NIR techniques. The obtained results recommended that the newly produced CNC-AC nanosorbents have contained a quite number of active edges/binding sites along with substantial sp. surface area (around 316.95 m2/g). Additionally, they possessed a crystallinity index about 59.98 ± 0.027 %, greater thermal steadiness up to 600 °C, and outstanding 2D honeycomb-like mesoporous peripheral surface microstructure with a promising spherical shapes and smaller size nearly 5–10 nm. The highest removal capacity were found at 538.91 mg/g and 455.70 mg/g for Pb2+ and CR respectively. Additionally, for better understanding the experimental breakthrough curves (BTC) were evaluated by several well established column models while the maximum R2 value was found around 0.999 for the Thomas model and reduced chi squire (χ2) value was around 0.0001.