Alkaline Hydrolysis Research Articles

Chemical characterization of palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis Jackqu) oil

This study evaluates the Fatty Acids (FAs) components of Palm Kernel Oil (PKO). The fatty acids were obtained by alkaline hydrolysis of the PKO obtained through soxhlet extraction of the dry ground sample of the seeds using n-hexane. The fatty acids obtained were characterized and identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS results revealed the presence of Saturated Fatty Acids (SAFAs) and Unsaturated Fatty Acids (UFAs). The results show the presence of abundant lauric acid (42.21%) is vital in the application of the seed oil as an antibacterial agent with the ability to effectively combat acne. The average iodine value of 6.23 indicates that the highly saturated PKO will be less prone to oxidation resulting in better oxidation stability. Furthermore, the acid value of 12.22 as reported in this study unravels the state and edibility of the oil under consideration. This indicates that the PKO has a high possibility to undergo easy hydrolysis. However, its ability to melt at too low a temperature, prompting the need for hydrogenation is a gap in its application for most industrial production that requires thermally induced temperature.

Catalyst-Free Amino-Yne Click Reaction: An Efficient Way for Immobilizing Amoxicillin onto Polymeric Surfaces.

Surface modifications play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality of biomaterials. Different approaches can be followed in order to achieve the bioconjugation of drugs and biological compounds onto polymer surfaces. In this study, we focused on the immobilization of an amoxicillin antibiotic onto the surface of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) using a copper-free amino-yne click reaction. The utilization of this reaction allowed for a selective and efficient bioconjugation of the amoxicillin moiety onto the PLLA surface, avoiding copper-related concerns and ensuring biocompatibility. The process involved sequential steps that included surface activation via alkaline hydrolysis followed by an amidation reaction with ethylendiamine, functionalization with propiolic groups, and subsequent conjugation with amoxicillin via a click chemistry approach. Previous amoxicillin immobilization using tryptophan and fluorescent amino acid conjugation was carried out in order to determine the efficacy of the proposed methodology. Characterization techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR)-Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, surface imaging, water contact angle determination, and spectroscopic analysis confirmed the successful immobilization of both tryptophan and amoxicillin while maintaining the integrity of the PLLA surface. This tailored modification not only exhibited a novel method for surface functionalization but also opens avenues for developing antimicrobial biomaterials with improved drug-loading capacity.

Efficacy of alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast for monitoring Anastrepha spp.

AbstractAnastrepha fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are important pests of several crops in the Americas. Alkaline hydrolysis of proteins represents a potential source of novel attractants. Previous studies revealed a higher response by Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) to alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast compared with other attractants. Under field conditions, captures of Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha ludens (Loew), and Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) were significantly higher in traps baited with alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast than in traps baited with acid hydrolyzed protein (Captor) + borax. Fly attraction to alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast varied with species but was higher in the 1st week and decreased after 2 or 3 weeks of use in the field. The release of ammonia gas from alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast and CeraTrap was reduced after 3 weeks, but CeraTrap remained effective in the capture of flies whereas alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast did not. No improvement in fly captures was observed for aged alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast when 1% ammonium acetate was added to traps. The addition of propylene glycol or benzalkonium chloride did not improve trap captures over time. Although CeraTrap has advantages in attractiveness and durability, the attraction, simplicity, and low cost make alkaline hydrolyzed torula yeast a promising attractant when compared with the standard Captor + borax in short‐term monitoring programs targeted at Anastrepha pests.

Tailoring fully crosslinked polyamide layers on optimized polyacrylonitrile supports via coactive delayed phase inversion and alkaline hydrolysis for brine treatment through pervaporation

A novel method of co-hydrolysis of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) support to host polyamide (PA) formation using coactive delayed phase inversion is presented to synthesize high-performance pervaporation membranes. Pure water in the coagulation bath was replaced with a 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solution maintained at 50 °C, allowing concurrent hydrolysis and delayed phase inversion. The characterization results revealed a smoother surface morphology, a higher carboxylic group content, improved hydrophilicity, and an ideal O/N ratio (∼1) of the PA layer on the co-hydrolyzed PAN (HPAN-Co) support compared with the PA layer on the post-hydrolyzed PAN (HPAN-Post) support. Furthermore, the typical pattern observed in PA-HPAN-Post, with a plethora of finger-like pores followed by macrovoids, completely disappeared and was replaced by a uniform and fine microvoid structure in PA-HPAN-Co, with an approximately 50 % reduction in membrane thickness. This led to a reduction in membrane swelling and salt transport without compromising the permeation flux. The pervaporation tests with a 10 wt% NaCl feed at 70 °C using PA-HPAN-Co showed a 99.97 % salt rejection ability and a 74.2 kg m−2h−1 flux, which is 33 % higher than the permeate flux of PA-HPAN-Post. Thus, the PA-HPAN-Co membrane is highly recommended for pervaporative desalination, considering the enhanced performance and scalability of the synthesis technique.

Kinetically promoted hydrogen generation by Ru nanoparticles decorated CoB2O4 on mesoporous carbon spheres with rich oxygen vacancies for NaBH4 hydrolysis

Developing heterostructured catalysts with highly active and reusable is an urgent task to achieve green hydrogen production via NaBH4. Herein, we proposed a novel NaCl template method, which involves solid-state physical grinding of metal salts, reducing agents and prepared carbon spheres with the participation of sodium chloride to synthesize Ru-particles decorated CoB2O4 supported on hollow mesoporous carbon nanospheres (Ru/CoB2O4@C) catalysts for efficient and durable H2 generation through alkaline hydrolysis of NaBH4. The optimized catalyst with a Ru content of 3.0 wt% exhibits a high hydrogen generation rate of 8139 mL min−1gcat-1 and a low activation energy of 33.2 kJ mol−1 for NaBH4 hydrolysis, which is one of the most efficient catalysts reported recently. The extraordinary performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect between Ru and CoB2O4 species and abundant oxygen vacancies, which facilitate charge redistribution and provide more active sites, thereby enhancing the catalytic activity. Density functional theory calculations support the proposed Michaelis-Menten mechanism, where BH4− and H2O are adsorbed on electron-rich Ru and electron-deficient CoB2O4 surfaces, respectively, and the reaction energy barrier for the rupture of the B-H bond as the rate-determining step is only 1.37 eV, synergistically promoting the hydrolysis of NaBH4. Our study provides an innovative method for designing efficient and stable catalysts for green hydrogen generation.

OBTAINING LACTIC ACID FROM THE FERMENTATION OF RESIDUAL SUGAR CANE, CORN, AND CASSAVA

In this research, lactic acid (LA) was obtained by fermentation from three agricultural residues: cassava husk(CH), corn forage (CF), and sugarcane bagasse (SB). The content of moisture, ash, protein, fat, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin for each residue were determined. Then, two chemical pretreatments were applied to CH, CF, and SB: alkaline with 3 % (v.v-1) NaOH, and acid with 8 % (v.v-1) H2SO4. Total reducing sugars (TRS) were determined through the Miller technique (DNS) to select the pretreatment conditions that offered a higher yield in terms of sugar production. Lactic acid fermentation was carried out for 72 hours at 37°C and the amount of lactic acid obtained was determined through HPLC. The highest concentration of ART in acid (8611.90 mg/L) and alkaline hydrolysis was for BC (5526.87 mg/L), respectively. Agricultural residues are a potential resource for the production of biobased products, which currently use raw materials of fossil origin.

Phytochemical profile and antioxidant characteristics of bound and free phenolics from Rosa roxburghii Tratt

Rosa roxburghii Tratt (RRT) is renowned for its abundance of phenolics, various methods have been used to extract free phenolics from RRT, there remains a paucity of research on the comparative distinctions between bound phenolic compounds and their free counterparts in RRT, especially in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of RRT-BP necessitates further exploration. This study sought to optimize the process parameters for extracting bound polyphenols through alkaline hydrolysis. Among the bound phenolic compounds, 20 phenolic acids and 34 flavonoids were identified, while the free phenolic compounds comprised 19 phenolic acids and 42 flavonoids. The IC50 values for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were 44.92 μg/mL and 60.92 μg/mL for free phenols, 87.02 μg/mL and 95.02 μg/mL for bound phenols, respectively. Compared with the control group, the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans fed with 1 mg/mL of free and bound phenol extended from 11.63 d to 16.77 d and 13.88 d, respectively, with no adverse impact on the reproductive capability of the nematodes. The longevity of C. elegans was observed to persist even under thermal and oxidative stress, primarily attributed to elevated superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, coupled with reduced malondialdehyde content in C. elegans. These findings underscore that free polyphenols exhibit superior polyphenolic components and antioxidant properties compared to their bound counterparts. Nevertheless, the potential health effects of bound polyphenols as a supplement to free polyphenols in RRT should not be ignored.

Alkaline Hydrolysis of Poultry Carcasses and Health Risk Assessment of Exposure to Target Volatile Organic Compounds

HighlightsHydroxide solutions (1 M, 2 M, 4 M) were used for chicken carcass hydrolysis.pH of hydrolysates remained above 13.1 for the entire 10 weeks.Headspace samples had characteristic fish odor due to trimethylamine.Over 17% of the workers exposed to gases for 3 hours daily risk developing serious health risks.Abstract. Animal carcass management is an essential part of a livestock production system. Alkaline hydrolysis is a relatively new disposal method used to digest and break down animal tissues. Despite the effectiveness of inactivating pathogens, alkaline hydrolysis has not been widely accepted as a disposal method because of its high capital and operating costs when done at high temperatures and pressure. The objectives of this research were (1) to test if alkaline solutions at ambient temperature and pressure can be used to hydrolyze poultry carcasses; (2) to quantify target VOCs emitted from carcasses, and (3) to neutralize and aerobically treat hydrolysates to prepare liquid fertilizer. 1 molar (M), 2 M, and 4 M potassium hydroxide solutions were used to hydrolyze chicken carcasses, and the headspace was sampled to quantify target VOCs. The pH of the hydrolysates stayed above 13.1 during the study, which was considered sufficient for eliminating pathogens of concern. Concentrations of target VOCs fluctuated over 10 weeks, and concentrations of trimethylamine (TMA), acetic acid, and propionic acid exceeded their recommended inhalation exposure limits. It was found that more than 17% of the workers exposed to the process headspace gases for 3 h a day would be at a high risk of developing serious chronic health problems. Although the results of this study indicated that chicken carcasses can be hydrolyzed under ambient conditions, they raised concerns about the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to the gases produced during the process. Future studies are needed to adjust daily exposure times depending on the ventilation rates of full-scale alkaline hydrolysis sites. Keywords: Alkaline hydrolysis, Cancer risk, Carcass, Livestock, Solid-phase microextraction.

Alkyl backbone variations in common β-diketiminate ligands and applications to N-heterocyclic silylene chemistry.

We report the extension of the common β-diketimine proligand class, RArnacnacH (HC(RCNAr)2H), where R is an alkyl group such as Et or iPr, plus Ph, and Ar is a sterically demanding aryl substituent such as Dip = 2,6-diispropylphenyl, Dep = 2,6-diethylphenyl, Mes = 2,4,6-trimethylphenyl or mesityl, Xyl = 2,6-dimethylphenyl, via one-pot condensation procedures. When a condensation reaction is carried out using the chemical dehydrating agent PPSE (polyphosphoric acid trimethylsilylester), β-diketiminate phosphorus(V) products such as (iPrMesnacnac)PO2 can also be obtained, which can be converted to the respective proligand iPrMesnacnacH via alkaline hydrolysis. The RArnacnacH proligands can be converted to their alkali metal complexes with common methods and we have found that deprotonation of iPrDipnacnacH is significantly more sluggish than that of related β-diketimines with smaller backbone alkyl groups. The basicity of the RArnacnac- anions can play a role in the success of their salt metathesis chemistry and we have prepared and structurally characterised the EtDipnacnac-derived silicon(II) compounds (EtDipnacnac)SiBr and (EtDipnacnac')Si, where EtDipnacnac' is the deprotonated variant MeCHC(NDip)CHC(NDip)Et.

A review on the surface modification of materials for 3D-printed diagnostic devices.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing in tissue engineering and biosensing of analytes by using biocompatible materials or modifying surface structures is an upcoming area of study. This review discusses three common surface modification techniques, viz. alkaline hydrolysis, UV light photografting, and plasma treatment. Alkaline hydrolysis involves the reaction of an alkaline solution with the surface of a material, causing the surface to develop carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. This technique can enhance the biocompatibility, surface wettability, adhesion, printability, and dyeability of materials, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, and polylactic acid (PLA). This review also mentions details about some of the surface-modified 3D-printed diagnostic devices. Although most of the devices are modified using chemical processes, there are always multiple techniques involved while designing a diagnostic device. We have, therefore, mentioned some of the devices based on the materials used instead of categorising them as per modification techniques. 3D printing helps in the design of sophisticated shapes and structures using multiple materials. They can, therefore be used even in the design of microfluidic devices that are very useful for biosensing. We have also mentioned a few materials for printing microfluidic devices.

Keratin protein nanofibers from merino wool yarn: a top-down approach for the disintegration of hierarchical wool architecture to extract α-keratin protein nanofibers.

We report the extraction of keratin nanofibers from the medulla of a parent yarn after denaturing the cuticle and cortex microstructures of a merino wool yarn. Controlled alkaline hydrolysis, followed by high-speed blending in acetic acid, allowed for the extraction of keratin protein nanofibers with an average diameter of 25 nm and a length of less than 3 μm. SEM and AFM analyses showed the removal of cuticle cells from the yarn. FT-IR and DSC analyses confirmed the hydrolysis and denaturation of the sheet protein matrix of cuticle cells. XPS analysis provided strong evidence for the gradual removal of the epicuticle, cuticle cells, and cortex of the hierarchical wool structure with an increase in alkaline hydrolysis conditions. It was confirmed that the merino wool yarn subjected to hydrolysis under alkaline conditions exposed its internal fibrillar surface. In an acetic acid medium, these fibrillar surfaces obtained a surface charge, which further supported the defibrillation of the structure into its individual nanofibrils during high-speed blending. The extracted nanostructures constitute mainly α-helical proteins. The morphology of the nanofibers is composed of a uniform circular cross-section based on the images obtained using AFM, TEM, and SEM. The extracted nanofibers were successfully fabricated into transparent sheets that can be used in several applications.

Optimization of Hydrolysis and Identification of Bioactive Peptides in Brewery Yeast Residuals

Industrial waste products are of biotechnological interest due to their abundance and can be utilized as protein sources for the production of bioactive peptides through hydrolysis. The utilization of yeast residues from the brewing industry has been demonstrated to be a viable method for obtaining protein hydrolysates. The degree of hydrolysis and soluble total protein of the hydrolysates were evaluated for optimization purposes to achieve a product with a high proportion of soluble organic nitrogen, increased levels of bioactive peptides and amino acids. Both alkaline and enzymatic hydrolysis processes were tested. The hydrolyses were carried out with the aim of large-scale implementation. The treatments were effective in liberating intracellular content and producing biologically functional hydrolysates, with degree of hydrolysis values ranging from 28 to 63% and total protein from 2.95 to 8.28% at the optimum points confirmed by statistical analysis (analysis of variance (ANOVA)). The hydrolysate produced with Alcalase® exhibited the highest peptide intensity, while the hydrolysate produced with Flavourzyme® showed the highest concentration of free amino acids. The peptides were identified by mass spectrometry and were found to have biological activities according to the Biopep database. This study presents a quick and economically feasible approach for the implementation of a pilot project for the reuse of this waste.

Photolysis of tolfenamic acid in aqueous and organic solvents: a kinetic study.

Tolfenamic acid (TA) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that was studied for its photodegradation in aqueous (pH 2.0-12.0) and organic solvents (acetonitrile, methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 1-butanol). TA follows first-order kinetics for its photodegradation, and the apparent first-order rate constants (k obs) are in the range of 0.65 (pH 12.0) to 6.94 × 10-2 (pH 3.0) min-1 in aqueous solution and 3.28 (1-butanol) to 7.69 × 10-4 (acetonitrile) min-1 in organic solvents. The rate-pH profile for TA photodegradation is an inverted V (∧) or V-top shape, indicating that the cationic form is more susceptible to acid hydrolysis than the anionic form of TA, which is less susceptible to alkaline hydrolysis. The fluorescence behavior of TA also exhibits a V-top-shaped curve, indicating maximum fluorescence intensity at pH 3.0. TA is highly stable at a pH range of 5.0-7.0, making it suitable for formulation development. In organic solvents, the photodegradation rate of TA increases with the solvent's dielectric constant and solvent acceptor number, indicating solute-solvent interactions. The values of k obs decreased with increased viscosity of the solvents due to diffusion-controlled processes. The correlation between k obs versus ionization potential and solvent density has also been established. A total of 17 photoproducts have been identified through LC-MS, of which nine have been reported for the first time. It has been confirmed through electron spin resonance (ESR) spectrometry that the excited singlet state of TA is converted into an excited triplet state through intersystem crossing, which results in an increased rate of photodegradation in acetonitrile.

Chemical and Biological Changes Under Force Degradation and Acceleration Condition of the Combination of Ha‐Rak Remedy, Piper betle, and Garcinia mangostana Extracts for Atopic Dermatitis

Herbal medicine could be an option for atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment for those suffering from global public health. HMB is a new combination of three herb extracts, consisting of the Ha‐Rak (HR) remedy extract, Piper betle (PB) extract, and Garcinia mangostana (GM) extract in equal proportions, using Thai traditional medicine theory, that uses a combination of medications that can improve therapeutic efficacy and reduce side effects and toxicity. HMB extract has anti‐inflammatory and antiallergic properties, is a component for AD treatment, and tends to develop topical products. Drug registration requires stability data. Results from drug stability testing affect not only the efficacy of the drug but also its safety. The aim of this study was to investigate stability through forced degradation and an accelerated study of extracts. Chemical content analysis and in vitro biological activities such as anti‐inflammatory and antiallergic activities determined the effects of all examined samples. Anti‐inflammatory and antiallergic effects were assessed by inhibiting nitric oxide synthesis in RAW 264.7 cells and β‐hexosaminidase release in RBL‐2H3 cells, respectively. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assessed content indicators. Moisture and temperature hydrolysis had no significant differences in the chemical or biological properties of the HMB. However, the HMB demonstrated sensitivity to alkaline hydrolysis, showed low anti‐inflammatory activity, and decreased hydroxychavicol, eugenol, and α‐mangostin contents. The contents of the three compounds also decrease with acid hydrolysis. For the accelerated study, anti‐inflammatory and antiallergic effects and hydroxychavicol amount were not significantly different after 180 days at 40°C and 75% RH. Therefore, the contents of eugenol and α‐mangostin were changed. Eugenol in HMB decreased significantly from the 15th day until the 180th day of storage. In addition, α‐mangostin amounts in HMB decreased slightly on 180th day. Fortunately, reducing the two chemicals did not affect anti‐inflammatory or antiallergic effects. For stability, combination extract should be stored in a closed container in the refrigerator at a low temperature and protected from light, high temperature, oxygen, and pH. Further HMB development should avoid pH or oxidation processes or components.

Granular aqueous suspensions with controlled interparticular friction and adhesion.

We present a simple route to obtain large quantities of suspensions of non-Brownian particles with stimuli-responsive surface properties to study the relation between their flow and interparticle interactions. We perform an alkaline hydrolysis reaction on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) particles to obtain poly(sodium methacrylate) (PMAA-Na) particles. We characterize the quasi-static macroscopic frictional response of their aqueous suspensions using a rotating drum. The suspensions are frictionless when the particles are dispersed in pure water. We relate this state to the presence of electrosteric repulsion between the charged surfaces of the ionized PMAA-Na particles in water. Then we add monovalent and multivalent ions (Na+, Ca2+, La3+) and we observe that the suspensions become frictional whatever the valency. For divalent and trivalent ions, the quasi-static avalanche angle θc at large ionic strength is greater than that of frictional PMMA particles in water, suggesting the presence of adhesion. Finally, a decrease in the pH of the suspending solution leads to a transition between a frictionless plateau and a frictional one. We perform atomic force microscopy (AFM) to relate our macroscopic observations to the surface features of the particles. In particular, we show that the increase in friction in the presence of multivalent ions or under acidic conditions is driven by a nanoscopic phase separation and the bundling of polyelectrolyte chains at the surface of the particle. Our results highlight the importance of surface interactions in the rheology of granular suspensions. Our particles provide a simple, yet flexible platform to study frictional suspension flows.

Effect of phase transfer catalyst structure on the alkaline hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

A systematic investigation into the factors which influence catalytic activity in 50 simple (mostly) quaternary ammonium- and phosphonium halide catalysts for the hydrolysis of poly(ethylene terephthalate) has revealed the most...

The role of alkaline hydrolysis in polyacrylamide modification: from structural transformations to new applications

The role of alkaline hydrolysis in polyacrylamide modification: from structural transformations to new applications

Predicting nitrogen mineralization potential and availability of biochar-based agro-municipal solid waste co-compost using alkaline hydrolysis

Valorization of agro-municipal solid wastes into value-added nutrient-enriched slow-release organic amendments (OAs) for ameliorating soil fertility constraint has been proposed as an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to managing challenges associated with disposal of organic wastes. However, for soils receiving OAs of complex composition, such as biochar-manure-compost (BMC), the predictive knowledge needed to synchronize amount and timing of nitrogen (N) release with plant demand, thereby minimizing environmental pollution, is still lacking. This study validated results from an alkaline hydrolysis method for estimating N mineralization potential with: (i) the standard long-term N mineralization procedure and (ii) actual N uptake from soils amended with BMCs of varied C/N ratios. The alkaline hydrolysis procedure involves direct steam-distillation of BMC-soil mixtures, requiring only 40-min for estimating N mineralization potential, whereas the standard N mineralization procedure followed 26-week laboratory incubation. For both procedures, cumulative N mineralized or hydrolyzed was fitted to the first-order exponential equation to determine the potentially mineralizable N (No) and an analogous “potentially hydrolyzable N (Nmax)” for the BMCs. Nitrogen uptake by maize was evaluated in a six-week pot experiment. The results showed that Nmax and No values differed among the BMCs, indicating differences in chemical composition, and potential mineralizabilities of the BMCs. Increasing biochar content of the BMCs decreased kinetic parameters of N mineralization compared to compost alone. Estimated Nmax values significantly correlated with No (p = 0.023) and N uptake (p = 0.005), suggesting that alkaline hydrolyzable ON can replace the long-term procedure for estimating No in BMC-amended soils, reducing experimental cost and time.

Kinetic study of the hydrolysis of ester with mineral acid by spectrophotometer at different temperature

To determine the kinetic parameters and activation energy of the hydrolysis of ethyl acetate with hydrochloric acid monitored by spectrophotometry. The first order fits were automatically drawn and the values of the first order rate constants (k) were calculated using standard equations as part of the program. Acidic hydrolysis of ethyl acetate is essentially an irreversible and first order reaction whereas alkaline hydrolysis is an irreversible and second order reaction. Rate of reaction is the change in the number of molecules of reacting species per unit volume per unit time. In this hydrolysis of ethyl acetate with hydrochloric acid to accelerate the reaction mixture. A simple and sensitive kinetic spectrophotometric method presented for the determination of rate constant, order of reaction and activation energy. This method based on a kinetic investigation of ethyl acetate and hydrochloric acid at 35°C and 45°C temperature. The reaction followed spectrophotometrically by measuring the absorbance at 500 nm as a function of time. The initial rate and fixed time methods utilized for construction of calibration graphs successfully for the determination of rate constant, order of reaction and activation energy. The rate constant after calculation from the graphs was approximately k1 ≈ 0.00260 Sec-1 k2 ≈ 0.00322 Sec-1 by titration and spectrophotometric method respectively, order of reaction found to be first order and the activation energy for this reaction is 17.44 kJ/mol. One factor that influences the absorbance of a sample is the concentration (c). As the concentration increases, more radiation is absorbed and the absorbance increase. Therefore, the absorbance is directly proportional to the concentration.

Extraction and Characterization of Keratin Protein from Chicken Feathers using Alkaline Hydrolysis Method: Effects of Sodium Sulphide Concentration and Shelf-life Evaluation

This study investigated the extraction of keratin protein from chicken feathers through alkaline hydrolysis using sodium sulphide as a digesting agent. The protein was precipitated using hydrogen chloride and confirmed through biuret test, solubility test, sulfur test, and FTIR analysis. The effect of varying sodium sulphide concentrations (0.5 M, 0.75 M, and 1 M) on the extracted keratin was evaluated. Results showed that a higher concentration of sodium sulphide produced a higher yield of keratin, with 1 M producing 65.8% yield. However, the shelf-life of wet keratin extracted using 1 M concentration was four weeks, compared to six weeks for 0.5 M and 0.75 M concentrations. The dried keratin was unaffected after six weeks. The study suggests that a higher concentration of the reducing agent produced a higher yield of keratin protein but with a shorter shelf-life if drying was not carried out. The utilization of abundant waste generated by poultry industries is crucial in reducing pollution and creating opportunities for valuable product development. The extraction of keratin from chicken feathers provides an eco-friendly approach to waste management and creates opportunities for product development.