High Water Absorption Capacity Research Articles

Recent Advances, Applications, and Challenges in Superabsorbent Polymers to Support Water Sustainability

ABSTRACTSuperabsorbent polymers (SAPs) can absorb and retain water thousands fold their weight, so it is believed can overcome water depletion issues. However, the applications are dominantly found in daily consumer goods, while still limited especially in agricultural and environmental sectors. This review aims to provide insights into the preparation, synthesis, key properties, recent applications, and challenges of SAPs targeted to support water sustainability. The resources for SAPs synthesis are cellulose, chitin, chitosan (as natural‐based), and polyacrylate (as synthetic‐based). Likewise, semi‐synthetic SAPs have also been explored by graft copolymerization and crosslinking between natural and synthetic resources. Several key properties in SAPs are absorption capacity, biodegradability, antibacterial capabilities, swelling properties, and grain size. It is found that cellulose‐based SAPs have high water absorption capacity and biodegradability, chitosan‐based SAPs are superior in biodegradability and antibacterial capabilities, and polyacrylate‐based SAPs are eminent in water absorption capacity. As a further recommendation, cellulose‐based SAPs from plants or seaweeds can be a solution to replace synthetic polymer materials that are not environmentally friendly while supporting sustainable agricultural needs. The properties of SAPs, including salt resistance, should also be rectified by physicochemical modifications to overcome dynamic agricultural conditions by means of soil moisture, soil salinity, and microclimate alterations.

Application of porous luffa fiber as a natural internal curing material in high-strength mortar

This study explores the potential of renewable plant fibers as internal curing (IC) materials, analyzing their potential in high-strength mortar (HSM) applications. Experiments involving the incorporation of different volumetric ratios of luffa fiber into concrete assessed impacts on autogenous shrinkage (AS), mechanical properties, and microstructure. The research found that the addition of luffa fibers extended both the setting times of the mixture, and after final setting, continued the hydration reaction by releasing internally stored water. Compared to the control group, luffa fibers significantly reduced AS by up to 56.87%, primarily due to their high-water absorption capacity (211%), which mitigates the internal capillary pressures during the cement hydration process. Moreover, the inclusion of luffa fibers significantly affected the concrete's mechanical properties: a 1% luffa addition enhanced the compressive strength at 28 days by 7.6% over the control; concrete with 2% luffa fiber exhibited the highest flexural strength at 28 days, showing a 9.4% increase over the control. Microstructural analysis revealed that luffa fiber not only promoted continued hydration but also increased the content of hydration products and enhanced the compactness of the cementitious matrix. Overall, luffa fibers effectively reduce HSM’s AS and enhance its mechanical properties and microstructure, showing potential to improve concrete performance.

3D Bioprintable Self-Healing Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel with Cysteamine Grafting for Tissue Engineering

The abundance of hyaluronic acid (HA) in human tissues attracts its thorough research in tissue regenerating scaffolds and 3D bioprintable hydrogel preparation. Though methacrylation of HA can lead to photo-crosslinkable hydrogels, the catalyst has toxicity concerns, and the hydrogel is not suitable for creating stable complex 3D structures using extrusion 3D bioprinting. In this study, a dual crosslinking on methacrylated HA is introduced, using cysteamine-grafted HA and varying concentrations of 2-hydroxy ethyl acrylate. The resultant hydrogel is suitable for extrusion 3D printing (or bioprinting), mechanically robust, self-standing, stable in phosphate-buffered saline at 37 °C for more than 42 days, has high water absorption capacity with a low swelling ratio (1.5), and exhibits self-healing and adhesive properties. Complex 3D structures like ears and pyramid shapes with more than 2 cm of height are 3D printed using the optimized composition. All the synthesized hydrogels have shown nontoxicity and cell-supportiveness. Loading of cells, tetracycline, and bovine serum albumin into the hydrogel led to better bioink properties such as cell attachment, growth, and proliferation for osteoblast cells. The test results suggest that this hydrogel is biocompatible and has potential for 3D bioprinting of self-standing structures in bioink form in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

Development of 3D Printed Scaffolds Containing Decellularized Plants and Investigation of Their Basic Cell Interactions

The decellularization process fundamentally removes the cellular content of the tissue (nuclear material and other nucleic acid components) without disrupting the structural integrity of the tissue. It is an effective approach, especially for obtaining three-dimensional (3D) biomaterials composed of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which provides tissue biomechanical support. In the literature, studies have shown that after the decellularization process, animal-derived decellularized tissues have been combined with various biopolymers to prepare composite scaffolds using different techniques. In recent years, due to their structural features, decellularization studies of plant-derived tissues have also gained prominence alongside animal tissues. In this study, succulent plants were chosen as the plant tissue, and the purpose was to prepare hybrid scaffolds by combining decellularized succulent tissues with alginate structures. The study aimed to investigate the fundamental cell-material interactions and cartilage-specific differentiation parameters using mesenchymal stem cells. Succulent plant leaves were decellularized using a solution containing Triton X-100 and SDS. The water-retaining parts were separated from other tissues, lyophilized, and turned into a powder. This approach was employed to preserve biomolecules with water-retaining capacity in powdered form. To determine the efficiency of the decellularization process, the quantities of DNA and proteins were assessed and compared. Due to their high water-absorbing capacity, the succulent plants' water-retaining structures were combined with alginate biopolymer at various viscosity levels to prepare an ink suitable for 3D printing. After printing, the resulting scaffolds' degradation and swelling behavior, chemical composition, structural characterization, and thermal properties were examined. In the final phase, a fundamental investigation was carried out on cell-material interactions using L929 mouse fibroblast cells and human mesenchymal stem cells on 3D printed scaffolds. The interactions within the prepared hybrid scaffolds were analyzed through basic cytotoxicity tests.

Colonic drug delivery systems: Exploring the potential of biodegradable polymers for systemic effects

Targeted drug delivery to the colon is highly desirable for the local treatment of various bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, amebiasis, and colonic cancer, as well as for the systemic delivery of protein and peptide drugs. The colon-specific drug delivery system (CDDS) must protect the drug during transit through the stomach and small intestine, ensuring that release and absorption occur only in the colon. The colon is an ideal site for drug absorption due to its lower enzymatic activity compared to the small intestine, which helps protect peptide drugs from degradation, and its long residence time, which enhances systemic bioavailability.While the oral route is the most convenient for CDDS, rectal administration is also used, though it can be uncomfortable and less effective for targeting the proximal colon. Intrarectal drug preparations, such as solutions, foams, and suppositories, are used for both systemic dosing and local treatment of the large intestine. The efficacy of these drugs often depends on their formulation, spreading capacity, and retention time.The colon’s high water absorption capacity and viscous contents can limit drug availability to the absorptive membrane. However, the presence of a diverse bacterial flora in the colon can be leveraged for drug metabolism and targeted delivery of peptide-based macromolecules, such as insulin. Understanding the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including variations in pH, is crucial for designing effective CDDS. This knowledge helps optimize drug release and absorption, ultimately improving therapeutic outcomes for patients.

Bacterial Cellulose-Silk Hydrogel Biosynthesized by Using Coconut Skim Milk as Culture Medium for Biomedical Applications.

In this study, hydrogel films of biocomposite comprising bacterial cellulose (BC) and silk (S) were successfully fabricated through a simple, facile, and cost-effective method via biosynthesis by Acetobacter xylinum in a culture medium of coconut skim milk/mature coconut water supplemented with the powders of thin-shell silk cocoon (SC). Coconut skim milk/mature coconut water and SC are the main byproducts of coconut oil and silk textile industries, respectively. The S/BC films contain protein, carbohydrate, fat, and minerals and possess a number of properties beneficial to wound healing and tissue engineering, including nontoxicity, biocompatibility, appropriate mechanical properties, flexibility, and high water absorption capacity. It was demonstrated that silk could fill into a porous structure and cover fibers of the BC matrix with very good integration. In addition, components (fat, protein, etc.) in coconut skim milk could be well incorporated into the hydrogel, resulting in a more elastic structure and higher tensile strength of films. The tensile strength and the elongation at break of BC film from coconut skim milk (BCM) were 212.4 MPa and 2.54%, respectively, which were significantly higher than BC film from mature coconut water (BCW). A more elastic structure and relatively higher tensile strength of S/BCM compared with S/BCW were observed. The films of S/BCM and S/BCW showed very high water uptake ability in the range of 400-500%. The presence of silk in the films also significantly enhanced the adhesion, proliferation, and cell-to-cell interaction of Vero and HaCat cells. According to multiple improved properties, S/BC hydrogel films are high-potential candidates for application as biomaterials for wound dressing and tissue engineering.

Upcycling Industrial Biomass Wastes Into Aerogels Using Zinc Chloride Salt Hydrates

AbstractEnd‐of‐life paper products, including food packages and rejected fibers from the paper industry, are unrecyclable biomass wastes and thus generally landfilled or incinerated. One of the major obstacles to their recycling is the existence of impurities besides cellulose fiber in the biomass wastes. In this study, a fabrication method is investigated to upcycle biomass wastes directly into high‐performance aerogels without separation of impurities. Surprisingly, this study observes that residual impurities participate in cross‐linking reactions for the aerogel formation. In this study, zinc chloride salt hydrate is applied to convert biomass wastes to aerogel via a dissolution‐regeneration process. The fabricated aerogels exhibited high water absorption capacity (15 times its weight), as well as comparable mechanical strength and thermal insulation performance to the reported cellulose aerogels. In addition, the impurities (i.e., calcium‐based inorganic salt) assisted in the cross‐linking of the cellulose network for the aerogel formation. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of the aerogel generated from the rejected fibers showed a honeycomb inner structure. The rejected fiber aerogels also demonstrated a high compressive modulus of 51 MPa and a low thermal conductivity of 0.029 W m−1 K−1. The results for water absorption and thermal insulation suggest excellent potential across various application domains.

Infant Food Flours Made from Local Products to Combat Acute Malnutrition in Children Under 5 Years Old in Côte D’ivoire

In Côte d'Ivoire, recurring stock shortages and difficulties in accessing specialized food products compromise nutritional treatment. This study proposes food formulas of flours composed of locally available products capable of meeting the protein-energy needs of children aged 6 to 59 months diagnosed with moderate acute malnutrition. The methodological approach consists of formulating and determining the physicochemical, nutrient, and functional characteristics of four new formulations (1F, 2F, 3F, 4F, and 5F). The results indicate that the formulated foods have high levels of calcium (215.60-252,29 mg/100g MS), potassium (555,70-789,29 mg/100 g MS), magnesium (261,26-200,63 mg/100g MS), iron (4,86-7,03 mg/100g MS) and phosphorus (392,36 -469,36 mg/100g MS). The fat content varies from 9.66% to 23.86%. The energy value determined for all flours corresponds well to the Codex. The food formulas developed would also be able to meet more than 100% of the daily requirement of vitamins E and B1. The phytate (180.26 - 227.05 mg/100 g) and oxalate (66.00 - 88.00 mg/100 g) contents are low. The presence of phenolic compounds, including flavonoids (7.78-15.44 mg/100 g) and antioxidant activity (31.09-32.84%) would be a significant asset. The levels of deoxynivalenol (62 μg/kg) recorded in flours are below 200 μg/kg recommended for infants and young children. The proposed formulations have high-water absorption capacity (136.15 -252.94%) and high solubility index (56.84 -59.2%). The wettability time ranges from 3.66 ± 0.16 s to 33.71 ± 0.23 s. Flours (1F, 2F, 3F, 5F) have a better absorption capacity for refined palm oil (132 %, 139 %, 121 %; 115 %). The proposed new formulations have nutritional characteristics close to standard data and could therefore be recommended for children aged 6 to 59 months for complementary feeding in the context of the fight against moderate acute malnutrition.

Challenges of forward osmosis desalination processes using hydrogels as draw agents

The present study aims to investigate the properties, identification, and comprehension of the obstacles encountered in the forward osmosis process when utilizing a hydrogel drawing agent (FO-HG). Furthermore, a comparison is made between the FO-HG system and conventional forward osmosis systems employing a salt solution drawing agent. The comparison and evaluation of the swelling process of hydrogel and the kinetics of water penetration are conducted in both un-constrained and constrained states. Furthermore, the investigation and analysis are carried out to determine the presence or absence of internal concentration polarization (ICP) and external concentration polarization (ECP) phenomena. These phenomena are studied in situations with and without mixing, as well as in different orientations of the membrane (FO-mode and PRO-mode). The impact of these phenomena on the water flux of the systems FO-HG and FO-NaCl is also examined. An evaluation is conducted to determine the influence of the amount and size of hydrogel used as a draw agent in the FO-HG system on the water flux. The results of the study reveal that smaller hydrogel particles in the FO-HG system exhibit a higher flux compared to larger particles. Additionally, it is observed that the water flux in PRO-mode is unexpectedly higher when salt water is used as feed solution. This phenomenon can be ascribed to a counter-osmotic effect, originating from the FO state. Despite the high water absorption capacity of hydrogel and its potential as an ideal drawing agent in the forward osmosis process, the results demonstrate that the flux of the FO-HG system is inferior to that of the FO-NaCl system. Finally, the focus is on resolving the low flux issue by suggesting a process involving multiple cycles throughout day and night. We investigate the influence of hydrogel particle size, membrane surface, hydrogel layer thickness, as well as swelling and deswelling time in one cycle. The swelling time displays a peak at an optimal absorption duration, while the deswelling time does not show a similar optimal point, highlighting the difference between swelling and deswelling phenomena. Therefore, the hydrogels' high absorption capacity alone is insufficient for achieving desalination success. The research findings emphasize the high importance of synthesis of a membrane with minimal resistance, enabling a high water flux and suitable selectivity.

Synthesis of high-efficient low-cost fertilizer carriers based on biodegradable lignin hydrogels

Conventional fertilizers face environmental and economic challenges due to their high solubility, leading to significant losses via runoff and leachate. This study presents a biodegradable hydrogel, synthesized from lignin and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), designed as an eco-friendly carrier for struvite (fertilizer) with controlled phosphate release. The hydrogel was analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, the prepared hydrogels demonstrated high water absorption capacities (963.4 %, 706.4 %, and 410 % for LH4, LH8, and LH12, respectively) and exhibited Fickian diffusion behaviour. Phosphate release studies showed a gradual release over 6–8 h with concentrations of 20.5 ppm, 19.45 ppm, and 17.85 ppm for St-LH4, St-LH8, and St-LH12. These lignin-based hydrogels offer a promising, cost-effective solution for slow-release fertilizers with high efficiency.

Composite Sand–Clay Infrastructural Soil Fills: Characteristic Consolidation and Hydraulic Properties

In the design construction of infrastructural projects comprised of geotechnical applications, including composite soil fill layers, compacted sand-clay soil fills are widely preferred as barrier layers, particularly in solid waste landfills, to minimize leakage, to prevent leachate from entering into groundwater. When bentonite clay with high water absorption capacity and low hydraulic conductivity is mixed with sand possessing relatively enhanced frictional properties, greater shear strength capacity, an effective fill material exhibiting low sensitivity to frost, and low volume change in case of wetting, drying can be obtained. On the other hand, when montmorillonite clay is loaded, due to highly critical volumetric contraction or dilation characteristics (high compressibility nature of clay), the soil fill composed of sand-clay will significantly consolidate. This situation may cause differential settlement problems of infrastructural fills employed in geotechnical applications. In this regard, the load conditions (mechanical effects) and the environmental conditions (physicochemical effects) in the field control compressibility characteristics and consolidation properties of sand-bentonite clay mixtures. This will ultimately impact the desired stability conditions of sand-clay soil layers built for constructed infrastructural fill, resulting in a deviation from anticipated performance conditions. To this end, in this study, the specimens of sand-bentonite clay mixtures prepared with different contents of sand-bentonite clay were subjected to one-dimensional consolidation tests to investigate the effect of bentonite content used in the mixture on consolidation behavior, hydraulic properties, and effect of sand amount on rate of consolidation and on resulting compressive strength behavior.

Gels for Water Remediation: Current Research and Perspectives.

The development of cost-effective and high-performance technologies for wastewater treatment is essential for achieving a sustainable economy. Among the various methods available for water remediation, adsorption is widely recognized as an effective and straightforward approach for removing a range of pollutants. Gel materials, particularly hydrogels and aerogels, have attracted significant research interest due to their unique properties. Hydrogels, for instance, are noted for their ability to be regenerated and reused, ease of separation and handling, and suitability for large-scale applications. Additionally, their low cost, high water absorption capacity, and contribution to environmental protection are important advantages. Aerogels, on the other hand, are distinguished by their low thermal conductivity, transparency, flexibility, high porosity, mechanical strength, light weight, large surface area, and ultralow dielectric constant. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current literature, highlighting gaps in knowledge regarding the classification, preparation, characterization, and key properties of these materials. The potential application of hydrogels and aerogels in water remediation, particularly in removing contaminants such as dyes, heavy metals, and various organic and inorganic pollutants, is also discussed.

Novel chitosan-based hydrogels as promising wound dressing materials with advanced properties

Herein, four different grafted chitosans were synthesized by covalent attachment of glycine, L-arginine, L-glutamic acid, or L-cysteine to the chitosan chains. All products were subsequently permethylated to obtain their corresponding quaternary ammonium salts to enhance the inherent antimicrobial properties of native chitosan. In all cases, transparent hydrogels with the following remarkable characteristics were obtained: i) high-water absorption capacity (32–44 g H2O per g of polymer), ii) viscoelastic behavior at low deformations, iii) flexibility when subjected to deformations and iv) stability over long time scales. All the permethylated derivatives successfully inhibited 100 % of the growth of S. aureus. They also exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against E. coli than native chitosan. The structure of the chemically crosslinked products was more stable under external perturbations than that of the physically crosslinked ones. Between the chemically crosslinked products, the permethylated glutamic acid-grafted chitosan exhibited a noteworthy higher water absorption capacity with respect to that modified with cysteine, which makes it the most promising material for various industrial applications, including biomedical and food industries. Regarding biomedical applications, this derivative met the required physicochemical criteria for wound dressings, which encourages the pursuit of biological studies necessary to ensure the safety of its use for this application.

Quantitative analysis of β-ODAP neurotoxin among different varieties of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) flour: A comparative study

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.), a protein-rich pulse crop, is often overlooked due to its association with neurolathyrism and its neurotoxin, β-ODAP. The study aims to compare the β-ODAP content, chemical, and functional properties of four BARI varieties and two local varieties of grass pea seed flour. The findings presented that the β-ODAP content of BARI varieties grass pea flour was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than local varieties, and the least amount of β-ODAP was found in BARI-3 varieties (0.086 %), which is below the safe level (0.15 %) for consumption. The safe level of neurotoxin was also found in the BARI-1 variety (0.13 %), but local varieties grass pea flour of Pabna and Tangail showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) value of 0.39 and 0.49 % β-ODAP content, respectively. There were no significant differences in protein content among BARI and local varieties, with the highest value of 26.58 % protein content found in the BARI-2 variety. In terms of functional properties, the BARI-5 variety had the highest water absorption capacity (2.92 ml/g) and oil absorption capacity (1.48 ml/g). The grass pea BARI variety, with its high oil absorption capacity and low β-ODAP content, can be utilized in food formulations for bakery products, sausages, and functional ingredients.

Evaluation of the nutritional and chemical composition of crackers developed from blends of wheat, unripe plantain, and mushroom flour

Crackers are considered a healthier substitute for other types of biscuits that are more calorie-dense. Novel ingredients are therefore being searched for in the formulation of crackers. This study evaluated crackers' nutritional and chemical composition from blends of wheat, unripe plantain, and mushroom flours. Compared to wheat flour, the functional properties of the blends showed high water absorption capacity (WAC), and bulk density, while swelling capacity was not significantly affected. The moisture (4.98–8.51 %), protein (10.47–21.31 %), fat (7.17–11.46 %), fiber (0.20–0.60 %), and ash (1.61–3.47 %), contents of the composite crackers were higher, while carbohydrate content (51.81–72.07 %) was lower than the control. The soluble and insoluble dietary fiber increased from 5.13 % to 9.00 %, and 3.49 % to 7.08 % respectively. K and Na were the principal minerals in the crackers based on the mineral analysis results, which increased upon 10 % replacement of mushroom flour. The oxalate and phytate contents of the crackers ranged between 0.05–0.07 mg/g and 7.78–14.98 mg/g respectively. The crackers with 10 % replacement of mushroom flour were accepted by panelists. The study revealed the feasibility of cracker production with enhanced nutritional composition using wheat, unripe plantain, and mushroom flour blends.

Evaluating chemi-mechanical pulping processes of agricultural residues: High-yield pulps from wheat straw for fiber-based bioproducts

This work evaluates the feasibility of APMP (alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping) and CTMP (chemi-thermomechanical pulping) of wheat straw as small-scale, low-capital expenditure pulping process to produce high-yield pulps for fiber-based bioproducts. APMP and CTMP wheat straw pulps were characterized in terms of pulping yield, freeness, ISO brightness, and fiber morphology. Additionally, both pulps were evaluated for tissue paper applications and benchmarked against BEK (bleached eucalyptus kraft) market pulp. APMP wheat straw pulps presented higher yield (75.2 – 79.8 %) compared to CTMP (69.1 – 80.6 %), depending on cooking chemicals and chemical charge during the chemical impregnation stage. The final brightness of APMP pulps varied from 36.4 % to 37.8 % ISO when sodium hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide were used as pulping agents without additional chemical additives. However, the brightness of APMP pulps can be increased up to 49.7 % ISO by using additional chemical additives such as EDTA (chelating agent), sodium silicate (peroxide stabilizer), or by employing a multi-stage chemical impregnation strategy. Both pulps produced fibers with similar morphological properties. A comparison of tissue-making properties showed that APMP pulps produced bulkier handsheets with higher water absorption capacity and better softness than CTMP pulps. However, CTMP pulps exhibited a higher tensile index than APMP pulps for a given pulp freeness. The results indicate that non-wood fibers, such as those derived from wheat straw, could be a promising alternative for use in fiber-based bioproducts such as hygiene tissue.

3D-printed MOF/MoS2 aerogel for dye adsorption and photocatalytic degradation

The escalating challenge of water resources contamination, attributed to toxic pollutants, requires urgent attention from both governments and society. Furthermore, the inefficacy of conventional water treatment methods emphasizes the critical necessity for exploring the development of affordable, renewable, and high-performance materials, which should, for instance, enable the mutual adsorption and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. Here we employed the 3D printing technique to manufacture an aerogel based on alginate, gelatin, and carboxymethylcellulose incorporated with 5 and 7.5 wt % of MOF/MoS2. FTIR spectra and EDS analysis evidenced the presence of MOF/MoS2 in the structure of the aerogels, while Helium pycnometer analysis and SEM micrographs demonstrated that the aerogels presented low density and a porous structure with porosity above 80 %. The swelling test showed that the aerogels displayed a high water absorption capacity (1400 %) after 70 h of immersion. The rheology test demonstrated that elastic behavior prevails over viscous behavior (G' > G″) and the incorporation of 7.5 wt % MOF/MoS2 favored shear thinning and viscosity recovery in the hydrogel. Adsorption tests to methylene blue (employed as a model) showed that the aerogel (HD) without the presence of MOF/MoS2 and the aerogels HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and MOF/MoS2 7.5 % showed removal efficiencies of 16.77 %, 28.66 %, and 95.86 %, respectively. Conversely, the photodegradation test showed that HD/MOF/MoS2 5 % and HD/MOF/MoS2 7.5 % had an efficiency of 89 % and HD of 80 %. Therefore, our results demonstrate that the developed aerogels are promising candidates for the adsorption and photodegradation of dye while being low-cost, environmentally friendly, and easy to manufacture.

Comparative Analysis of Physical and Functional Properties of Colored Horse Gram Varieties (Macrotyloma uniflorum) and Its Flour

Pulses has important role in contributing to food and nutritional security and replenishing soil nutrients having a huge potential in addressing needs like future global food security, nutrition and environmental sustainability. Horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum) is a minor, under-exploited legume of tropics and subtropics grown under dry-land agriculture. The present study was conducted with the objective to maximize the utilization of horse gram and its flour physical and functional properties. Hundred grain weight and density (3.33 g,1.29 g/ml) were higher in cream colored variety and it was lighter, redder (less green), yellower (less blue) than brown and black colored varieties. Thickness of varieties varied significantly, highest being in brown (2.18 mm) colored variety. Hydration capacity, hydration index, swelling capacity and percent germination (2.92 g/100 grains, 0.93, 3.83 ml/100 grains and 91.66 %) varied significantly with highest being in brown colored variety. Maximum amount of all the flours passed through 52 BSS standard sieve having 300 µ sieve opening. Loose bulk density was high in brown colored flour (0.41 g/ml) whereas tapped bulk density was high in cream colored flour (0.63 g/ml). Cream-colored horse gram flour was lighter (L* value being 78.72), redder (a* value being 5.78) and yellower (b* value being 16.84). There was significant difference in the functional properties of flour. The black colored flour had highest water absorption capacity (2.31 ml/g), oil absorption capacity (2.15 ml/g), swelling power (9.14 g/g), foaming capacity (36.23 %) and foaming stability (32.13 %) than other two flours. The wettability, flowability and cohesiveness of all three flours were good, fair and low respectively. Thus brown and black colored varieties had better physical and functional properties than cream-colored variety. The brown and black colored flour had highest loose bulk density whereas cream colored flour had highest tapped bulk density. Black colored flour had highest water and oil absorption capacity, swelling power, foaming capacity and foaming stability.

The preparation and investigation of ionic functional resins for deep dehydration of toluene

Toluene is a solvent and raw material widely used in industrial production. Reducing the water content of toluene to less than 10 mg/kg is of significant importance in fine chemicals. In this study, different ionic functional resins containing strong hydrophilic sulfonate groups were synthesized. These ionic functional resins exhibit an exceptional depth of toluene dehydration and an extremely high water absorption capacity. The most effective hydrogen functional resin has a water adsorption capacity of 679.7 mg/g, which is more than 2.5 times of 3A molecular sieve, and can dehydrate toluene from 180 mg/kg to less than 3 mg/kg. The specific surface area and pore size distribution of the resins were analyzed by nitrogen adsorption and desorption methods, and results show that these resins are mesoporous materials. The multilayer adsorption mechanism of the ionic functional resins was determined by fitting the adsorption isotherms using a Modified Dent model. The effects of contact time, oil-agent ratio, regeneration temperature, and number of regenerations were also investigated, and fixed-bed penetration curves were obtained to provide data for practical industrial applications. The results show that low-temperature drying at 80 °C is sufficient to regenerate the ionic functional resin. Finally, competitive adsorption studies with toluene and water reveal that the resin exhibit a higher affinity for water than for toluene.

Functionalised Sodium-Carboxymethylcellulose-Collagen Bioactive Bilayer as an Acellular Skin Substitute for Future Use in Diabetic Wound Management: The Evaluation of Physicochemical, Cell Viability, and Antibacterial Effects.

The wound healing mechanism is dynamic and well-orchestrated; yet, it is a complicated process. The hallmark of wound healing is to promote wound regeneration in less time without invading skin pathogens at the injury site. This study developed a sodium-carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) bilayer scaffold that was later integrated with silver nanoparticles/graphene quantum dot nanoparticles (AgNPs/GQDs) as an acellular skin substitute for future use in diabetic wounds. The bilayer scaffold was prepared by layering the Na-CMC gauze onto the ovine tendon collagen type 1 (OTC-1). The bilayer scaffold was post-crosslinked with 0.1% (w/v) genipin (GNP) as a natural crosslinking agent. The physical and chemical characteristics of the bilayer scaffold were evaluated. The results demonstrate that crosslinked (CL) groups exhibited a high-water absorption capacity (>1000%) and an ideal water vapour evaporation rate (2000 g/m2 h) with a lower biodegradation rate and good hydrophilicity, compression, resilience, and porosity than the non-crosslinked (NC) groups. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AgNPs/GQDs presented some bactericidal effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity tests on bilayer scaffolds demonstrated good cell viability for human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Therefore, the Na-CMC bilayer scaffold could be a potential candidate for future diabetic wound care.