Gum Arabic Research Articles

Effect of gastrointestinal resistant encapsulate matrix on spray dried microencapsulated Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG powder and its characterization

This study investigated spray drying a method for microencapsulating Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG using a gastrointestinal resistant composite matrix. An encapsulate composite matrix comprising green banana flour (GBF) blended with maltodextrin (MD) and gum arabic (GA). The morphology of resulted microcapsules revealed a near-spherical shape with slight dents and no surface cracks. Encapsulation efficiency and product yield varied significantly among the spray-dried microencapsulated probiotic powder samples (SMPPs). The formulation with the highest GBF concentration (FIV) exhibited maximum post-drying L. rhamnosus GG viability (12.57 ± 0.03 CFU/g) and best survivability during simulated gastrointestinal digestion (9.37 ± 0.05 CFU/g). Additionally, glass transition temperature (Tg) analysis indicated good thermal stability of SMPPs (69.3 – 92.9 ℃), while Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the structural integrity of functional groups within microcapsules. The SMPPs characterization also revealed significant variation in moisture content, water activity, viscosity, and particle size. Moreover, SMPPs exhibited differences in total phenolic and flavonoid, along with antioxidant activity and color values throughout the study. These results suggested that increasing GBF concentration within the encapsulating matrix, while reducing the amount of other composite materials, may offer enhanced protection to L. rhamnosus GG during simulated gastrointestinal conditions, likely due to the gastrointestinal resistance properties of GBF.

Enhancing postharvest quality of sapota fruit using edible coatings and malic acid

Sapota is a tropical fruit that grows in tropical regions and is highly perishable and sensitive to low temperatures. The main problem with sapota marketing is that it is ripe in less than a week after harvest and has a short storage life. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of edible coatings containing 2% sodium alginate (AL), 2% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), 10% gum Arabic (GA) and 1% oleic acid (OL) in combination with malic acid (MA) to improve the postharvest quality of sapota during 32 days of storage at 10 °C and 90% relative humidity. The results showed that the least weight loss was observed in coated fruits. In addition, the treatments resulted in more firmness and reduced electrolyte leakage. The best treatments for delaying malondialdehyde production were MA and CMC/MA, and MA was the most effective treatment for increasing catalase activity. According to the results, all treatments showed more significant bioactive compounds than untreated fruit. Application of GA/MA and AL/MA resulted in more phenol and flavonoid content, respectively. This study showed the positive effect of edible coatings and MA on improving the postharvest quality of sapota fruit.

Enhancing stability and performance of emulsion stabilized by soy protein isolate nanofiber - polysaccharide complexes

Soy protein isolate can self-assemble into nanofibers, thereby improving their performance as emulsifiers. However, the lack of stability in extreme environments (especially acidic conditions) limits their use in certain foods. In this study, three polysaccharides (sodium alginate (SA), xanthan gum (XG) and arabic gum (AG)) were used to improve the stability of soy protein isolate nanofiber (SPIF) emulsions. Complexes exhibit high ζ-potential. Electrostatic force was the major interaction that maintained the internal structure of complexes. The addition of SA can effectively reduce the interfacial tension and present higher contact angle. The emulsification properties of SPIF-SA emulsions were higher than those of SPIF-AG and SPIF-XG emulsions at pH 3 and 60% of the oil phase, which proved by the decreased particle size, increased ζ-potential, and uniform droplet distribution. Polysaccharides improved the interface properties based on electrostatic force, which increased the emulsion stability of nanofibers. The results contribute to expanding the possibility of SPIF-polysaccharide complexes becoming a new emulsifier in the food industry.

Designing silver nanoparticles impregnated acacia and tragacanth gum based copolymeric hydrogels for drug delivery applications

The current study investigates the utilization of gum acacia (GA) & tragacanth gum (TG) for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (NPs) and their subsequent incorporation into hydrogels for potential applications in drug delivery (DD). Cefoperazone, an antibiotic drug, was encapsulated into hydrogels to enhance their antimicrobial activity. Copolymers were characterized by UV–Vis, TEM, FESEM, AFM, XPS, XRD, FTIR, TGA and DSC techniques. UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed the formation of NPs at a wavelength of 436 nm with an optical density of 2.65. TEM images depicted AgNPs with an average size of 37.29 ± 7.25 nm with their uniform distribution. XRD analysis demonstrated distinct crystalline peaks at 2θ = 38.34o, 43.80o, 64.60o and 77.42o attributed to AgNPs. XPS peaks observed at 368 & 374 eV, corresponding to the 3d5/2 and 3d3/2 modes of silver, respectively, confirmed the incorporation of AgNPs in the polymer matrix. Hydrogels demonstrated pH responsive sustained release of cefoperazone. The diffusion mechanism was non-Fickian and described by the Higuchi kinetic model. In the DPPH assay, copolymers exhibited a 32.36 % inhibition of free radicals, whereas in the F–C reagent assay, antioxidant activity was measured as 22.25 μg equivalent of gallic acid. The copolymers displayed blood compatible nature, as evidenced from haemolysis (2.11 ± 0.03 %) and thrombogenicity (74.71 ± 1.63 %) results. The interactions of copolymer with intestinal membrane attributed to mucoadhesive properties and required detachment force of 55.30 ± 2.80 mN to separate from the biological membrane. Growth of E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus bacteria was inhibited by copolymers with and without antibiotic drug. These characteristic properties of copolymers make them ideal materials for DD carriers.

Synthesis and Superficial Modification "In Situ" of Copper Selenide (Cu2-x Se) Nanoparticles and Their Antibacterial Activity.

Copper selenide nanoparticles (Cu2-x Se NPs) have received a lot of attention in recent decades due to their interesting properties and potential applications in various areas such as electronics, health, solar cells, etc. In this study, details of the synthesis and characterization of copper selenide nanoparticles modified with gum arabic (GA) are reported. Also, through transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) analysis, the transformation of the morphology and particle size of copper selenide nanoparticles in aqueous solution was studied. In addition, we present an antimicrobial study with different microorganisms such as Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Candida albiacans (C. albicans). Copper selenide nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) and TEM. XRD confirmed the crystal-line structure of the nanoparticles such as cubic berzelanite with a particle size of 6 nm ± 0.5. FTIR and TGA corroborated the surface modification of copper selenide nanoparticles with gum arabic, and DSC suggested a change in the structural phase from cubic to hexagonal. TEM analysis demonstrated that the surface modification of the Cu2-x Se NPs stabilized the nanostructure of the particles, preventing changes in the morphology and particle size. The antimicrobial susceptibility analysis of copper selenide nanoparticles indicated that they have the ability to inhibit the microbial growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans.

Assessing anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant capacities in green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles and solvent-based plant extracts

Cancer and diabetes represent significant challenges in the field of biomedicine, with major and global impacts on public health. Acacia nilotica, commonly called 'gum arabic tree,' is recognized for its unique biomedical properties. The current study aimed to investigate the pharmacological potential of A. nilotica-based zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in comparison to the ethanol and methanol-based extracts against cancer, diabetes, and oxidative stress. Green synthesis of ZnO-NPs was performed using barks of Acacia nilotica. Different techniques for the characterization of ZnO-NPs, including UV–Visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transmission Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), were utilized. The morphological analysis of ZnO-NPs revealed that the fine NPs have mean particle sizes of 15 ± 1.5 nm. For the solvent based-extraction, leaves and barks were utilized and dissolved into ethanol and methanol for further processing. The MTT assay revealed that the optimum concentration of ZnO-NPs to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cell line HepG2 was 100 μg/mL where 67.0 % inhibition was observed; and both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts showed optimum inhibition at 100 μg/mL. The DPPH assay further demonstrated that 250 μg/mL of ZnO-NPs and 1000 μg/mL of both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts, as the optimum concentration for antioxidant activity (with 73.1 %, 68.9 % and 68.2 % inhibition respectively). The α-Glucosidase inhibition assay revealed that 250 μg/mL of ZnO-NPs and 10 μg/mL of both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts as the optimum concentration for antidiabetic activity (with 95 %, 93.7 % and 93.4 % inhibition respectively). The study provided interesting insights into the efficacy and reliability of ZnO-NPs for potential pharmacological application. Further research should be focused on examining specific pathways and the safety of ZnO-NPs in comparison to solvent-based extracts.

Socio-economic contributions and determinants of locals engagement with Boswellia papyrifera in lowland woodlands in Burie Zuria district, Ethiopia

Ethiopia's lowland woodlands are comprised of the major gum and resin-producing genera Acacia, Boswellia, and Commiphora. Boswellia papyrifera is primarily found in the degraded drylands, Burie Zuria district is the existence of the species; however, limited information is available on the woodland socio-economic contribution and determinants of locals' use of woodlands for their livelihoods, particularly Boswellia papyrifera. So to fill this gap, the study was conducted to examine the locals' socio-economic benefits from the woodland and to identify the determinants of locals' engagement in the collection of the benefits for better wise use and conservation policy implementation. The data was collected from household interviews, focus group discussions, and key informants. Species' socio-economic benefits were analyzed through descriptive statistics, whereas determinants of local's willingness to use woodlands were analyzed through an econometric model. The dependent variable used was annual income gained from the woodland and explanatory variables taken were gender, marital status, livestock number, family size, land holding size, age of the respondent, education level, wealth status, perception of local communities towards forest cover change, and distance from woodlands to the household's residence. Based on the results, the total annual income derived from the woodland by the sampled households' was a mean of 1759.45 USD. The result shows the woodland species shares 14.37 % of the total annual income, but because of legal investors Boswellia papyrifera had no contribution to this share. However, the local communities use woodlands for their livelihoods due to explanatory variables, and the usage percentage shows significant differences. The multiple linear regression results showed that the model was significant at a 5 % probability level, and 95.9 % of the variation was due to the explanatory variables. Age of respondent, family size, total land holding size, and education level showed positive and statistically significant relations to annual income derived from the woodland while other remaining variables showed non-significant. The result concludes that the species contributes significantly to local communities' livelihoods and engagement in gathering timber and non-timber products. The study recommended that awareness about the use of non-timber products in addition to forest products be created among the locals, and policies related to woodland sustainability and conservation should also be implemented.

The Use of Arabic Gum in the Manufacture of Like-Margarine

The Use of Arabic Gum in the Manufacture of Like-Margarine

Optimizing Wall Material Ratios for Enhanced Bioactive Compound in Ficus deltoidea using Freeze Drying

Ficus deltoidea (FD) is well documented for its pharmacological properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anti-aging properties. However, the stability and adsorption of many bioactive compounds in herbs are poor, limiting their bioavailability. This study aimed to investigate the optimal formulation ratios and different wall materials (maltodextrin (MD) and gum Arabic (GA)) for encapsulating FD extract using freeze drying. Physicochemical characterizations of the formulated FD powders included evaluation of marker compound (isovitexin), phenolics (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) content. The safety of the optimized encapsulated FD (OEFD) powder was assessed through microbiological assay. The optimal conditions, determined through response surface methodology (RSM), were a solid ratio of 20% w/v, a 75% MD: 25%GA and 3:1 of core to wall ratio, which resulted in the highest retention of isovitexin at 1.96 g/g, phenolic content of 1473 GAE mg/ 10 g extract and flavonoids content of 185 CE mg/ 10 g extract. Optimizing the freeze -drying process for FD extract improved its quality by retaining the marker compound. This optimization ensures that the bioactive compounds remain stable and effective, enhancing the therapeutic potential of the extract.

Productivity of labour and capital in gum gardens in Western Sudan

This study aimed to assess the labour and capital productivity of Gum Arabic Producers Associations (GAPAs) based on the performance of GAPAs in North and West Kordofan States, where 14 GAPAs were selected for a case study. More specifically, the study aimed to: i) estimate the productivity of gum gardens per hour worked (hrs/ha/yr) and per dollar invested ($/ha/yr), as well as their capital productivity ($/$), and ii) analyze the relationship between productivity and gum arabic revenue and gum production. To achieve these specific objectives, the following questions were highlighted: i) What is the productivity of gum gardens and how can it be estimated? ii) How can productivity influence gum arabic revenue and gum production? Primary and secondary quantitative and qualitative data were collected to answer these questions. The primary data were collected using face-to-face interviews with a random sample of 338 household heads, group discussions, and 38 interviews with key informants. Data analysis relied on mathematical equations for labour and capital productivity, and regression analyses of the relationship between productivity and gum revenue were employed. The results revealed that capital productivity is low in Alkhowi (9.3) compared to Shiekan (18.5) and Umrawaba (24.1) Localities. Labour productivity per hour worked and labour productivity per dollar were low in Shiekan compared to the other localities. The regression findings show that labour productivity per working hour and per dollar significantly influenced gum revenue. The main conclusion is that labour and capital productivity play an essential role in assessing the performance of GAPAs and are influenced by many factors. The study recommends that government and NGOs provide production inputs and ease marketing services to enhance capital and labour productivity.

Intestinal Dialysis Research Progress and the Early Treatment of a NonDiabetic Patient with Symptomatic Uremia and Fatty Liver with Intestinal Dialysis: The Practice of Evidence-Based Medicine

Background: Chronic renal failure results from a variety of pathophysiological mechanisms and etiologies, and is associated with progressive and irreversible damage and loss of the kidneys’ tissue leading to failure of the kidneys to excrete waste products, and also failure to perform some other functions. Many patients with chronic renal failure in a country like Iraq has been reported to be reluctant to accept dialysis therapies because of the wide spread notion of its association with high mortality. The lack of effective, convenient, and affordable therapy for chronic renal failure in many regions of the world should not mean should that the patients with advanced chronic renal failure are left without other suitable, convenient and acceptable care. The aim of this paper is to describe the early treatment of a patient with symptomatic uremia with intestinal dialysis. Patients and Methods: A 60-year non-diabetic male patient was experiencing progressive symptomatic uremia. On the 18th of November, 2023, blood urea was elevated at 217 mg/dL, serum creatine was 5.2 mg/dL, and he had symptomatic uremia with nausea, vomiting, fatigue, pruritus and anemia. The patient was treated with intestinal dialysis (Acacia gum supplementation plus conservative dietary and pharmacological management of chronic renal failure) which was prescribed according to the latest published guidelines. It was necessary during the first week of treatment to eliminate almost all dietary protein, and his diet was consisting mainly of high calorie juices, grapes, and water melon. Results: When the patient was seen on the 2nd of December, 2023, treatment was associated with marked symptomatic and laboratory improvements. Blood urea was 115 mg /dL, serum creatine was 3.6 mg /dL However, and serum calcium was 5.3 mg/dL (Normal ranges: 8-10.5 mg/dL). Therefore, oral alphacalcidol was added in a dose of 1 microgram daily. Conclusion: Intestinal dialysis will continue to be used to improve the management of chronic renal failure and symptomatic uremia as long as there is no convenient and affordable therapy for chronic renal failure in many regions of the world.

Prebiotic saccharides polymerization improves the encapsulation efficiency, stability, bioaccessibility and gut microbiota modulation of urolithin A liposomes

This work was to investigate the effect of four prebiotic saccharides gum arabic (GA), fructooligosaccharide (FOS), konjac glucomannan (KGM), and inulin (INU) incorporation on the encapsulation efficiency (EE), physicochemical stability, and in vitro digestion of urolithin A-loaded liposomes (UroA-LPs). The regulation of liposomes on gut microbiota was also investigated by in vitro colonic fermentation. Results indicated that liposomes coated with GA showed the best EE, bioaccessibility, storage and thermal stability, the bioaccessibility was 1.67 times of that of UroA-LPs. The UroA-LPs coated with FOS showed the best freeze-thaw stability and transformation. Meanwhile, saccharides addition remarkably improved the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, reduced the abundances of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria. The UroA-LPs coated with FOS, INU, and GA exhibited the highest beneficial bacteria abundance of Parabacteroides, Monoglobus, and Phascolarctobacterium, respectively. FOS could also decrease the abundance of harmful bacteria Collinsella and Enterococcus, and increase the levels of acetic acid, butyric acid and iso-butyric acid. Consequently, prebiotic saccharides can improve the EE, physicochemical stability, gut microbiota regulation of UroA-LPs, and promote the bioaccessibility of UroA, but the efficiency varied based on saccharides types, which can lay a foundation for the application of UroA in foods industry and for the enhancement of its bio-activities.

Microencapsulation of fish oil rich in EPA and DHA using mixture of Arabic gum and Persian gum through spray‐drying technique

Microencapsulation of fish oil rich in EPA and DHA using mixture of Arabic gum and Persian gum through spray‐drying technique

Unlocking Synergistic Hepatoprotection: Dapagliflozin and Silymarin Combination Therapy Modulates Nuclear Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2/Heme Oxygenase-1 Pathway in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Wistar Rats.

This study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of dapagliflozin and silymarin alone and in combination to combat carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity and the anticipated mechanisms. Thirty female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five different groups. All the experimental animals except the normal control (Group I) were administered CCl4. Additionally, Groups II, III, IV, and V were treated with gum acacia, silymarin, dapagliflozin, and a combination of dapagliflozin and silymarin, respectively, for 14 days. Dapagliflozin, silymarin alone, and in combination, significantly reduced (p < 0.05) serum levels of ALT, AST, AST:ALT ratio, and total bilirubin compared to CCl4-intoxicated control rats. There was a notable reduction (p < 0.05) observed in the levels of IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, nitrites, and 4-hydroxynonenal, accompanied by an elevation in catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in liver homogenates of the groups treated with dapagliflozin, silymarin alone, and in combination, as compared to the CCl4-intoxicated control group. Dapagliflozin in combination with silymarin showed a synergistic hepatoprotective effect. Our study reveals the profound hepatoprotective potential of dapagliflozin alone and in combination with silymarin in CCl4-intoxicated Wistar rats by modulating the Nrf2 and HO-1 signaling pathways.

Competitive Binding of Methylene Blue to Calf Thymus DNA and Carrageenan: Implications for Sensor Development

Carrageenans are sulfated polysaccharides widely used in the food industry due to their excellent thickening, stabilising, and gelling properties. Objective: This study delves into two key aspects: 1) the binding interaction between the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) and carrageenan compared to other polyanions (alginate, starch, and Arabic gum), and 2) the competitive binding behavior of carrageenan and DNA for MB. Methods: Spectroscopy methods were employed to determine the total amount of carrageenan by utilising MB, which creates complexes with carrageenan. The investigation into the competitive binding between polysaccharides and double-stranded DNA modified with screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) (dsDNA/SPE) for methylene blue (MB) involved the addition of varying quantities of polysaccharide to a solution containing 100 µM MB after a 5-minute accumulation period. Subsequently, cyclic voltammograms were directly recorded to analyse the interactions. Results: Strong electrostatic binding between MB and carrageenan was confirmed using various techniques, including UV-vis, fluorescence, and cyclic voltammetry. Moreover, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy was more sensitive than Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, detecting carrageenans in a linear range from 0.5-15 ppm, 2-15 ppm, with correlation coefficients 0.998, 0.997, respectively. Notably, the preference for binding increased with increasing sulfate content, following the order kappa &gt; iota &gt; lambda carrageenan, highlighting the crucial role of sulfate groups in complex formation. Additionally, carrageenan exhibited the strongest competitive binding towards MB at low concentrations compared to other tested polyanions, implying its effectiveness in hindering MB-DNA interactions. Conclusions: These findings pave the way for exciting developments in DNA biosensors. The sensitive colorimetric assay holds promise for the rapid and selective determination of carrageenan levels in food products. Moreover, the competitive binding between carrageenan and MB can be harnessed in DNA biosensors by monitoring changes in MB binding due to specific DNA sequences.

Mathematical and experimental insights into acid-resistant enhancements: Graphene plates' influence on rubber-incorporated cementitious materials

To mitigate the strength loss of rubberised cementitious materials, either concrete or mortar, graphene plates were incorporated. Limited studies have highlighted significant strength enhancement in rubberised cementitious materials incorporating graphene plates under non-acidic conditions. However, a notable gap persists in their performance when exposed to harsh conditions, particularly those induced by acid attack. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the inclusion of graphene plates, alongside Arabic gum as a surfactant for graphene dispersion, on the acid resistance of rubberised mortar exposed to sulphuric acid (H2SO4). One purpose of this study was to experimentally examine their behaviour through visual inspection, compressive strength measurement, and weight loss analysis. The second purpose was to utilise response surface methodology for prediction, optimisation, and developing two quadratic equations for further exploration. The results exhibit a strong alignment between equations and experimental data, with a coefficient of variation below 2.8 % and an impressive R-squared value of 0.99, confirming their reliability and accuracy. Additionally, the proposed mortar incorporating graphene plates and rubber demonstrates superior resistance to acid attacks. Even with up to an 18 % increase in rubber content, it shows reduced strength and weight losses of 47.1 % and 25.2 % after 40 days, respectively, compared to the control mixture's losses of 62.1 % and 33.6 %. It can be concluded that the remarkable results obtained for graphene-based rubberised cementitious material hold promise for real-world applications, particularly where resistance to energy absorption and penetration by aggressive agents is required such concrete pavement.

Isolation and Characterization of Irvingia gabonensis Seed Contents and the Tableting Properties of its Gum Component

This experimental work was designed to isolate, purify and estimate the fatty acids contents of Irvingia gabonensis seeds (IGS) and to evaluate the tableting properties of the gum constituent of the seed in metformin tablet. A known amount of the IGS was crushed and dispersed in purified water at a temperature of 80oC, Ethanol (90 %) was added, filtered and dried at 40oC. The fatty acid components were recovered using petroleum ether, while the gum was further purified with ethanol (90%). The fatty acid contents obtained were analyzed using an Agilent G1701 GC/MSD system. The gum content was evaluated using parameters such as: flow rate, angle of repose, bulk and tapped density and Carr’s index. The gum was granulated with other excipients and metformin powder dried at 40oC. The granules were evaluated as was done for the gum and tablet compression done at 2.0 KN on a single punch tablet machine fitted with 12.5 mm diameter die size. The GC-MS revealed bioactive compounds mainly fatty acids– lauric acid (36.82%), myristic acid (31.52%), benzyl dodecanoate (9.06%) and palmitic acid (4.03%), n-decanoic acid, 1-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-ethanediyl ester, tetradecanoic acid, 2-hydroxy-1,3-propanediyl ester, etc. The granule size distribution revealed size and compactness in the following order: Acacia gum &gt; IGS-gum &gt; Gelatin, and average granule size for the batches were found to be 500 μm. Evaluation of metformin tablets gave the following results: crushing strength, friability, and disintegration time for B7 and B8 (7.5 and 10 %w/v IGS-gum as binder) as 58 and 68 N, 1.03% and 1.01%, 20.00 and 26.00 min., respectively. B3and B4 (7.5 and 10 %w/v acacia were shown as gum as binder) 44 and 48 N, 1.10 and 1.03%, 20.00 and 23.50 min., respectively. It can be concluded that at 7.5 and 10 %w/v, IGS-gum proved to be a better binder than acacia in metformin tablets formulation. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 23(1): 53-62, 2024 (June)

Enhancing carbon dioxide foam flooding for Egyptian oil recovery: the role of Arabic gum nanocomposites in foam stability and interfacial properties

In response to the growing demand for environmentally sustainable solutions in the oil and gas sector. In this study, three nanocomposites, namely Arabic gum silica oxide (ASO), Arabic gum iron oxide (AIO), and Arabic gum iron silica oxide (AIS), were synthesized. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the chemical composition of these nanomaterials, while visual inspection and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis were employed to evaluate their particle size distribution and stability. It was found that ASO demonstrated a significant 26.8% increase in oil recovery compared to pure Arabic gum (15.6%) when applied at a concentration of 5 wt.% during CO2 foam flooding. This enhancement can be attributed to the high foam volume (134.1 mL) and prolonged drainage half-life (3562.5 s) at 30 °C. Furthermore, ASO displayed favorable interfacial tension (32.21 mN/m) and a superior storage modulus (10−27 mN/m) compared to pure Arabic gum (10−28 mN/m and 46.13 mN/m, respectively), indicating enhanced elasticity and improved stability of bubble-lamellae, ultimately resulting in enhanced oil recovery. Conversely, AIO nanocomposite exhibited a negative impact on recovered oil (4.8%), attributed to its low stability (zeta potential: −3.6 mV). These findings underscore the potential of ASO as a promising foaming agent for efficient oil recovery processes.

Potensi Bunga Anggrek Cymbidium Golden Boy sebagai Sumber Antioksidan dan Aplikasinya pada Flower Leather

Orchid flowers are believed to be an antioxidant source, however, the antioxidant activity of the Cymbidium Golden Boy (CGB) orchid has not been identified. The antioxidant potential can be applied to flower leather products, and a main reason behind the idea is the valorization of agricultural waste. The aim of this research is to study phenol content and antioxidant capacity of ethanol extracts of CGB orchid petals. Additionally, this study aimed to determine the best formulation for flower leather products with a combination of carrageenan and gum arabic based on organoleptic acceptance. This research was conducted by extracting CGB orchid flowers using ethanol, and total phenol and antioxidant activity of the extracts were determined. Moreover, the flower leather products were mad from CGB orchid flowers as the raw material, accroding to a Factorial Randomized Block Design using two factors as follows: carrageenan concentration (0, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7%) and gum arabic concentration (0.9, 1.2, and 1.5%). Flower leather samples were analyzed for moisture content, tensile strength, total dissolved solid, color intensity, and sensory. The ethanol extract of CGB orchid flowers showed antioxidant capacity up to 23.88 ppm and high phenolic content which is equal to 15.32 mg GAE/g. The differences between carrageenan and arabic gum concentration showed significant effect on water content and dissolve solid, but they did not affect on tensile strength and color intensity. The best treatment of flower leather according to panelist evaluation was those prepared from carrageenan 0.5% and arabic gum 0.9%, reaching tensile strength 4.86 N, brightness level (L) 40.1, (a+) +5.7, (+b) 23.7, water content 19.18%, aroma score 3.76 (slight flowery), taste 4.84 (pleasant), and texture 4.56 (approaching chewiness).

Low-salinity water flooding by a novel hybrid of nano γ-Al2O3/SiO2 modified with a green surfactant for enhanced oil recovery

This paper introduces a hybrid enhanced oil recovery (HEOR) method that combines a low-salinity water flooding (LSWF) and nanoparticles (NPs) stabilized with a green surfactant. We experimentally investigated the use of combinations of silica (SiO2) and gamma alumina (γ-Al2O3) nanohybrids stabilized with Gum Arabic (GA) at different water salinities. Nanofluids (NFs) were prepared by dispersing γ-Al2O3 and SiO2 NPs (0.1 wt%) in deionized water (DW), synthetic seawater (SSW), 2, 5, and 10 times diluted samples of synthetic seawater (in short 2-DSSW, 5-DSSW and 10-DSSW, respectively). The challenge is that NPs become unstable in the presence of cations in saline water. Moreover, an attempt was made to introduce NFs with high stability for a long period of time as the optimal NFs. The effects of temperature on the behaviour of optimal NFs in the presence of different base fluids, distinct mass ratios of γ-Al2O3/SiO2 and various concentrations of surfactant were analysed via interfacial tension (IFT) and viscosity measurements. The results of the viscosity measurement showed that with increasing temperature, the NPs dispersed in DW had lower viscosity than NPs dispersed in various salinities. However, the IFT measurement for NPs dispersed in different base-fluids revealed that with increasing temperature and presence of cations in saline water, IFT values decreases. Although, the minimum IFT for hybrid nanofluid (HNF) γ-Al2O3/SiO2 modified with GA and dispersed in 10-DSSW was reported 0.99 mN/m. Finally, according to the micromodel flooding results, in oil-wet conditions, the highest oil recovery for combination γ-Al2O3/SiO2 modified with GA and dispersed in 2-DSSW was reported 60.34%. It was concluded that NFs modified with GA could enhanced applicability of LSWF via delay in breakthrough time and improving sweep efficiency.