Min Washing Research Articles

Evaluating wet and dry contact time of contaminated produce with chlorine solution against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica

Chlorine is the most widely used sanitizer, however, there are varying reports on the exposure time and its effectiveness on fresh produce. This study determined the minimum exposure time for wet and dry contact chlorine treatments with the highest efficacy in reducing Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica on spinach and bell pepper surfaces. The chlorine wash at 100 mg/L for 1 min resulted in a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of both pathogens on both produce. S. enterica was reduced by 4.86 log CFU/g on spinach and by 3.97 log CFU/g on bell pepper, while L. monocytogenes was reduced by 3.7 log CFU/g on spinach and by 3.08 log CFU/g on bell pepper. The majority of Listeria cross-contamination (>2.30 log CFU/g) on un-inoculated spinach and bell peppers was observed within 1 min of chlorine washing. Cross-contamination of Salmonella on spinach was >2.9 log CFU/g within 1 min and the level increased to 4.21 log CFU/g after 6 min. This study showed that washing spinach and bell pepper for up to 6 min with a 100 mg/L chlorine solution did not achieve additional reductions in L. monocytogenes and S. enterica populations compared to a 1 min wash.

Construction of a durable superhydrophobic flame-retardant coating on the PET fabrics

In order to meet the increasing demand for fire prevention and pollution prevention of polyester fiber fabrics (PET) in different scenes, it is imperative to develop surface coatings with superhydrophobic and flame retardant properties. However, how to realize all these functions at the same time is still a big challenge. In this work, fluorinated PDMS was obtained through the cross-linking reaction between fluorosilane and PDMS, which was evenly mixed with the combustion product of silicone rubber (mainly composed of SiO2) and ammonium polyphosphate (APP), and the mixed coating was deposited on the surface of PET fabrics by spraying method to construct a superhydrophobic flame-retardant coating. The coated fabrics shows good superhydrophobicity (water contact angle is 155.61 ± 1.42°, sliding angle is 3.2 ± 0.4°) and self-cleaning performance. In particular, the prepared coated fabrics also has excellent mechanical durability, and it still does not lose its superhydrophobicity after 10 abrasive paper rubbing cycles, 60 min washing and even 300 bending and twisting cycles. In addition, compared with the original fabrics, the coating shows excellent flame retardant performance, which can realize self-extinguishing within 10 s in vertical combustion experiment.

Development of an optimized method to obtain a limonene-rich concentrate from the discarded lemon peels.

In this study, lemon peels were used as volatile component source. Automatic solvent extraction has been used for the recovery of limonene rich citrus volatile extract for the first time. The process parameters (amount of raw material, immersion time and washing time) were analyzed to optimize the process by means of Box-Behnken design via response surface methodology. The optimum conditions were achieved by ~10 g fresh lemon peel, and ~15 min immersion time and ~13 min washing time. The difference between the actual (89.37 mg/g limonene) and predicted (90.85 mg/g limonene) results was satisfactory (<2%). α-Terpinene, β-pinene, citral, ɣ- terpinene and linalool were determined as other major volatiles in the peel extract. FTIR and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopies were applied to verify the identified volatile compounds.

Stretchable and wash durable reactive silver ink coatings for electromagnetic interference shielding, Joule heating, and strain sensing textiles

In this paper, we demonstrate a highly conductive, stretchable, and wash-durable fabric for a variety of electronic textile applications such as electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, Joule heating, and strain sensing by utilizing a chemical etchant pretreatment that promotes covalent bonding, a reactive silver ink with conformal in situ silver reduction, and the use of a polymer coating for a protective barrier. Reactive ink coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) knitted textiles exhibit an average EMI shielding efficiency of 74.8 dB in the X band (frequency range of 8–12 GHz) and 76.6 dB in the Ku band (12–18 GHz). The conductive textiles show high Joule heating performance, where a temperature of 152 °C can be achieved at only 1.3 V DC applied voltage. This Joule heating performance is maintained after stretching and washing. Furthermore, the textile may be used for strain sensing and monitoring human movement. As prepared silver films do not degrade after 1000 stretching cycles at 50 % strain and maintain EMI SE higher than 70 dB after 300 min washing. The demonstrated textiles may be used for wearable electronics, personal medical devices, and next generation communications.

A dual paper-based nucleic acid extraction method from blood in under ten minutes for point-of-care diagnostics.

Nucleic acid extraction (NAE) plays a crucial role for diagnostic testing procedures. For decades, dried blood spots (DBS) have been used for serology, drug monitoring, and molecular studies. However, extracting nucleic acids from DBS remains a significant challenge, especially when attempting to implement these applications to the point-of-care (POC). To address this issue, we have developed a paper-based NAE method using cellulose filter papers (DBSFP) that operates without the need for electricity (at room temperature). Our method allows for NAE in less than 7 min, and it involves grade 3 filter paper pre-treated with 8% (v/v) igepal surfactant, 1 min washing step with 1× PBS, and 5 min incubation at room temperature in 1× TE buffer. The performance of the methodology was assessed with loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), targeting the human reference gene beta-actin and the kelch 13 gene from P. falciparum. The developed method was evaluated against FTA cards and magnetic bead-based purification, using time-to-positive (min) for comparative analysis. Furthermore, we optimised our approach to take advantage of the dual functionality of the paper-based extraction, allowing for elution (eluted disk) as well as direct placement of the disk in the LAMP reaction (in situ disk). This flexibility extends to eukaryotic cells, bacterial cells, and viral particles. We successfully validated the method for RNA/DNA detection and demonstrated its compatibility with whole blood stored in anticoagulants. Additionally, we studied the compatibility of DBSFP with colorimetric and lateral flow detection, showcasing its potential for POC applications. Across various tested matrices, targets, and experimental conditions, our results were comparable to those obtained using gold standard methods, highlighting the versatility of our methodology. In summary, this manuscript presents a cost-effective solution for NAE from DBS, enabling molecular testing in virtually any POC setting. When combined with LAMP, our approach provides sample-to-result detection in under 35 minutes.

Improving inorganic composition and ash fusion behavior of spruce bark by leaching with water, acetic acid, and steam pre-treatment condensate

The present study evaluates the effect of water and acetic acid washing on the chemical composition of spruce bark in-depth. Also, washing with steam explosion condensate (SEC) was investigated which is a novel attempt. The leaching kinetics of troubling elements (TE) was studied to understand the leaching behavior of TEs and for upscaling the process. Furthermore, to study the ash transformation behavior of TEs in pre-treated and raw bark at high temperatures (500–1500 °C), thermodynamic equilibrium modeling (TEM) was also performed. The result of washing pre-treatment shows high removal of TEs: 22–97% Na, 46–82% Cl, 14–79% K, 14–65% Mg, 25–50% S, 3–22% Ca, 12–36% P, 3–43% Si, and 6–35% N. Continuous removal of TEs was seen with increasing washing duration where most of TEs followed a second-order leaching kinetics. Acid washing results in a much higher and quicker removal for all TEs than water washing. Due to the acidic nature of the SEC, it shows similar removal of TEs as the 0.1 M acetic acid solution. TEM reveals that the transformation behavior of TEs in bark changes considerably after pre-treatment. Pre-treated bark shows the formation of fewer problematic compounds responsible for fouling, slagging, and corrosion at typical gasification and combustion temperatures, such as KCl, K2SO4, K2CO3, KOH, Na2SO4, NaCl, and K-, Na-, P-, and Ca-slag. Though best washing efficiency was seen for longer washing durations, 10 min washing with 0.1 M acetic acid or SEC may be adequate for practical applications.

Screening of bio-derived surfactants for soil washing of PAHs: effects of substrate sources and trace metals distribution

In this study, we screened the performance of aqueous extracts of Talinum triangulare (AET) and soap solution prepared from Hura crepitans seed oil saponified by aqueous solution of ashed plantain peels (HCS) for removal of naphthalene and phenanthrene from soil. The distribution of trace metals in the soil before and after soil washing was also investigated. The results revealed maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time of 96.25, 96.14, and 25.70% naphthalene, for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. While for phenanthrene, the recorded maximum removal efficiencies after 25 min washing time were: 91.80, 26.00, and 94.0 for Tween 80, AET and HCS, respectively. Based on results from other experiments, AET generally showed slightly lower removal efficiencies compared to the commercial Tween 80 surfactant. Also, the results revealed that the three remediants affected the distribution of trace metals (Cd, Pb, and Zn) in the soil after surfactant washing. Based on the amount of trace metals extracted, the performance of the three remediants are as follows: AET &gt; Tween 80 &gt; HCS. The performance of AET has been attributed to the presence of multiple heteroatomic moieties for trace metals adsorption and moderation of the acidic conditions of the soil.

Efficacy of chlorine and peroxyacetic acid to control Listeria monocytogenes on apples in simulated dump tank water system

Chlorine and peroxyacetic acid (PAA) are commonly applied in dump tanks and flume systems in commercial fresh apple packing lines; however, little is known about their practical efficacies in dump tank water systems. This study evaluated the efficacies of chlorine and PAA to control Listeria monocytogenes on fresh apples and cross-contamination in simulated dump tank water (SDTW). Efficacies of chlorinated water with initial free chlorine (FC) of 25–100 ppm against L. monocytogenes on apples were significantly impacted by the presence of organic matter, especially for chlorine with 25 ppm initial FC. Chlorine with initial FCs of 50–100 ppm and 2 min contact reduced L. monocytogenes on apples by ∼0.9 log10 CFU/apple in SDTW with 1000 ppm chemical oxygen demand (COD). However, 2–5 min wash of chlorine with 25 ppm initial FC only led to ∼0.3 log10 CFU/apple reduction of L. monocytogenes on apples in SDTW compared to ∼0.9 log10 CFU/apple reduction in clean water. The impacts of organic matter on the antimicrobial efficacy of PAA are concentration dependent. At 20–80 ppm and tested contact times (2–5 min), efficacies of PAA against L. monocytogenes were not influenced by organic matter presented in SDTW; 2–5 min wash with PAA 80 ppm caused 1.7–1.8 log10 CFU/apple log reduction. However, the anti-Listeria efficacy of 10 ppm PAA was significantly lower in SDTW than in clean water. Sanitizers at the tested concentrations reduced L. monocytogenes transferred from contaminated apples to uncontaminated apples and SDTW but did not eliminate it. There were 1.7–0.6 and 1.0–0.9 log10 CFU/apple of L. monocytogenes transferred to uninoculated apples in SDTW treated with 50–100 ppm FC and 60–80 ppm PAA, respectively, for 2 min, while 3.6–3.7 log10 CFU/apple of L. monocytogenes were transferred to uncontaminated apples in SDTW without any sanitizer treatments. Data indicated that sanitizer treatments in SDTW are effective but can be further improved to ensure the microbial safety of apples.

Evaluation of decontamination procedures for drug testing in undamaged versus damaged hair.

Although substances incorporated by ingestion are strongly bound to hair, their loss may occur if aggressive decontamination procedures are applied, especially in highly damaged/porous hair. Evaluation of cleaning procedures using hair samples with different porosity obtained from ethanol or drug users (cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, methadone, fentanyl, tramadol, diazepam, buprenorphine, dihydrocodeine, citalopram and trazodone). The effect of washing time and multiple wash steps with water and methanol were evaluated. Hair samples (n= 16) were selected and evaluated according to (a) the drug pattern consumption, (b) available amount, and (c) hair porosity (c1 'cosmetic treatment', c2: storage time). Six of them were soaked with an aqueous deuterated analogue solution. The samples were cut in 1-cm segments and homogenized. All hair samples were then decontaminated one or six times with 1.5 ml of water or methanol during 1, 5, 15, 30, 60 and/or 90 min (n= 1 to 3/sample, depending on the available amount of hair). Hair extracts were then cleaned up via a solid-phase extraction (SPE) or liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), while the washes were evaporated to dryness. All were thereafter reconstituted and analysed with routine ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods. Although concentrations of parent drugs and/or metabolites presented a negative trend along the washing time with methanol (up to 80%), the compounds were relatively well retained in hair even after a 90 min wash (with methanol or water) in most samples, and their retention would depend mostly on the hair nature rather than their physicochemical properties (whether incorporated by ingestion and/or from external contamination). Moreover, parent drugs and/or metabolites were detected in the washes in most samples, and the ratio between hair and washes decreased along the washing time. More than 50% of the deuterated analogues soaked into hair were still present after the different washing steps. Losses were observed more frequently for long-term stored hair samples, after decontamination with methanol for more than 30 min. Therefore, prolonged or repeated cleaning with methanol should be avoided in general procedures.

The microbiological and physical properties of catheters for intermittent catheterization: a systematic review on the impact of reuse and cleaning.

Systematic Review. To review systematically the clinical evidence of the effectiveness of various intermittent catheter cleaning methods that have been proposed as methods to prepare catheters for reuse. A keyword search in Medline, Excerpta Medica dataBASE, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, was undertaken to identify all English, Russian and German language literature evaluating the effectiveness of various intermittent catheter cleaning methods. Studies selected for review included analytical experimental, prospective cohort and cross-sectional. Cleaning methods reviewed included heat-based sterilization, chemical cleaning solutions, mechanical abrasion, photocatalytic sterilization, and combined methods. Overall, 12 studies were included. Heat-based sterilization and mechanical abrasion methods were either not effective or damaged the physical properties of catheters. Two studies reported evidence that their chemical cleaning methods (i.e., soaked catheters in a 70% alcohol solution for 5 min or combined approach detergent wash followed by soaking in Milton sterilizing fluid also known as the Milton method) both preserved the structural integrity of their catheters and were bactericidal. Numerous cleaning methods resulted in the destruction of catheters. However, there are two reported cleaning methods, submersion for 5 min in 70% alcohol and the "Milton method", that eliminate bacterial colonization while leaving the physical properties of the catheters unchanged. While these cleaning methods are promising, each was published in just one study, therefore higher-powered / longitudinal studies confirming the safety and efficacy of these cleaning methods must be obtained before current clinical recommendations can be modified.

Quantification of residual cryoprotectants and cytotoxicity in thawed bovine ovarian tissues after slow freezing or vitrification.

How much residual cryoprotectant remains in thawed/warmed ovarian tissues after slow freezing or vitrification? After thawing/warming, at least 60 min of diffusion washing in media was necessary to significantly reduce the residual cryoprotectants in ovarian tissues frozen by slow freezing or vitrification. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) by slow freezing has been the conventional method; while the vitrification method has gained popularity for its practicality. The main concern about vitrification is how much potentially toxic residual cryoprotectant remains in the warmed tissues at the time of transplantation. This was an animal study using the ovarian tissues from 20 bovine ovaries. The duration of this study was from 2018 to 2020. Ovarian cortex tissues were prepared from 20 bovine ovaries and assigned randomly to groups of fresh (non-frozen) control, slow freezing with 1.5 M dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 1.5 M 1,2-propanediol (PROH) and vitrification with 35% ethylene glycol (EG). The residual cryoprotectant concentrations in thawed/warmed tissues were measured by gas chromatography at the following time points: frozen (before thawing/warming), 0 min (immediately after thawing/warming), 30, 60 and 120 min after diffusion washing in media. Next, the ultrastructural changes of primordial follicles, granulosa cells, organelles and stromal cells in the ovarian tissues (1 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm) were examined in fresh (non-frozen) control, slow freezing with DMSO or PROH and vitrification with EG groups. Real-time quantitative PCR was carried out to examine the expressions of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1), a DNA damage sensor and caspase-3 (CASP3), an apoptosis precursor, in thawed/warmed ovarian tissues that were washed for either 0 or 120 min and subsequently in tissues that were ex vivo cultured for 24 or 48 h. The same set of tissues were also used to analyze the protein expressions of gamma H2A histone family member X (γH2AX) for DNA double-strand breaks and activated caspase-3 (AC3) for apoptosis by immunohistochemistry. The residual cryoprotectant concentrations decreased with the extension of diffusion washing time. After 60 min washing, the differences of residual cryoprotectant between DMSO, PROH and EG were negligible (P > 0.05). This washing did not affect the tissue integrity or significantly elevate the percentage of AC3 and γH2AX positive cells, indicating that tissues are safe and of good quality for transplantation. N/A. Since the study was performed with ovarian tissues from bovines, generalizability to humans may be limited. Potential changes in ovarian tissue beyond 120 min were not investigated. This study addresses concerns about the cytotoxicity of EG in warmed ovarian tissues and could provide insights when devising a standard vitrification protocol for OTC. The study was funded by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to N.S.

Effects of the Washing Time and Washing Solution on the Biocompatibility and Mechanical Properties of 3D Printed Dental Resin Materials.

Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is highly regarded in the field of dentistry. Three-dimensional printed resin restorations must undergo a washing process to remove residual resin on the surface after they have been manufactured. However, the effect of the use of different washing solutions and washing times on the biocompatibility of the resulting resin restorations is unclear. Therefore, we prepared 3D-printed denture teeth and crown and bridge resin, and then washed them with two washing solutions (isopropyl alcohol and tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether) using different time points (3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min). After this, the cell viability, cytotoxicity, and status of human gingival fibroblasts were evaluated using confocal laser scanning. We also analyzed the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and surface SEM imaging. Increasing the washing time increased the cell viability and decreased the cytotoxicity (p < 0.001). Confocal laser scanning showed distinct differences in the morphology and number of fibroblasts. Increasing the washing time did not significantly affect the flexural strength and surface, but the flexural modulus of the 90 min washing group was 1.01 ± 0.21 GPa (mean ± standard deviation), which was lower than that of all the other groups and decreased as the washing time increased. This study confirmed that the washing time affected the biocompatibility and mechanical properties of 3D printed dental resins.

A Purified Alkaline and Detergent-Tolerant Lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus with Potential Application in Removal of Mustard Oil Stains from Cotton Fabric

Abstract In the present study, the lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus was purified which was found to be stable to commercial detergents and oxidising agents. A purification fold of 6.96 and yield of 11.03% were achieved when the enzyme was purified using Octyl Sepharose column chromatography. In presence of various oxidizing agents, the highest activity of lipase was 15.56 U/mg with hydrogen peroxide. Among various surfactants used, the maximum activity exhibited by lipase was with Tween 80. While studying the effect of various detergents, the highest activity of 9.3 U/mg was achieved with "Vanish" detergent. Wash performance was studied with various detergents out of which "Vanish" showed highest oil removal of 79%. Lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus possessed better stability with various surfactants and oxidizing agents. The results of this study have shown that the lipase from Aspergillus fumigatus along with detergent "Vanish" (0.7%) under optimized conditions (5 μg/ml lipase, 40°C wash temperature and 40 min wash duration) improved oil removal from cotton fabric stained with mustard oil by 84%.

Managing microbes

Managing microbes

Effect of plasma activated water (PAW) on rocket leaves decontamination and nutritional value

Plasma Activated Water (PAW) obtained by exposing water to cold atmospheric pressure plasma, has recently emerged as a promising alternative for food decontamination, compared to the use of traditional chemical sanitizers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of PAW treatments for rocket salad decontamination. Washing with PAW for 2, 5, 10 and 20 min was assessed against different endogenous spoilage microorganisms and compared to untreated water and hypochlorite solution. The chemical composition of PAW as a function of treatment and delay time was characterized and the effect on product quality and nutritional parameters was evaluated.Results showed that PAW allowed an average reduction of 1.7–3 Log CFU/g for total mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae following 2–5 min washing with minimal variation of qualitative and nutritional parameters. Overall, experimental results highlighted the potentiality of PAW treatments as a promising alternative to chlorine having the advantage of a minor adverse impact on environment and consumers' health. Industrial relevanceTo meet consumers demand, the minimally processed fruit and vegetable industry needs to find sustainable solutions as alternative to the use of traditional chemical sanitizers that allow to increase product shelf-life and preserve safety, qualitative and nutritional characteristics.Plasma activated water represents a promising strategy for food decontamination, but its effects on foods have been only limitedly investigated. The present research is the first study on the use of plasma activated water on fresh rocket leaves, providing new and important information on microbial inactivation and quality of the fresh cut product.

Effect of basic washing parameters on the chemical composition of empty fruit bunches during washing pretreatment: A detailed experimental, pilot, and kinetic study

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of basic washing parameters on the chemical composition of empty fruit bunches of oil palm (EFB) and to determine the optimal parameters for large-scale applications of washing pre-treatment. Three basic washing parameters were studied in detail: washing duration, temperature, and solid/liquid (S:L) ratio. The leaching kinetics of ash and troubling elements such as K, Cl, N, and S were also evaluated with respect to washing time. About 82–98% Cl, 64–80% S, 38–77% K, 34–67% ash, and 24–63% N removal was noted after washing EFB, which follows a second-order leaching kinetics on increasing washing duration. Two pilot washing tests were also conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the pre-treatment on a large scale, which showed similar trends as the laboratory results. The recommended EFB washing conditions for large-scale applications are 10 min washing with a 1:15 S:L ratio at 50 °C.

Cy3-RgIA-5727 Labels and Inhibits α9-Containing nAChRs of Cochlear Hair Cells.

Efferent cholinergic neurons inhibit sensory hair cells of the vertebrate inner ear through the combined action of calcium-permeable α9α10-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and associated calcium-dependent potassium channels. The venom of cone snails is a rich repository of bioactive peptides, many with channel blocking activities. The conopeptide analog, RgIA-5474, is a specific and potent antagonist of α9α10-containing nAChRs. We added an alkyl functional group to the N-terminus of the RgIA-5474, to enable click chemistry addition of the fluorescent cyanine dye, Cy3. The resulting peptide, Cy3-RgIA-5727, potently blocked mouse α9α10 nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes (IC50 23 pM), with 290-fold less activity on α7 nAChRs and 40,000-fold less activity on all other tested nAChR subtypes. The tight binding of Cy3-RgIA-5727 provided robust visualization of hair cell nAChRs juxtaposed to cholinergic efferent terminals in excised, unfixed cochlear tissue from mice. Presumptive postsynaptic sites on outer hair cells (OHCs) were labeled, but absent from inner hair cells (IHCs) and from OHCs in cochlear tissue from α9-null mice and in cochlear tissue pre-incubated with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474. In cochlear tissue from younger (postnatal day 10) mice, Cy3-RgIA-5727 also labeled IHCs, corresponding to transient efferent innervation at that age. Cy3 puncta in Kölliker’s organ remained in the α9-null tissue. Pre-exposure with non-Cy3-conjugated RgIA-5474 or bovine serum albumin reduced this non-specific labeling to variable extents in different preparations. Cy3-RgIA-5727 and RgIA-5474 blocked the native hair cell nAChRs, within the constraints of application to the excised cochlear tissue. Cy3-RgIA-5727 or RgIA-5474 block of efferent synaptic currents in young IHCs was not relieved after 50 min washing, so effectively irreversible.

A novel biomass vitamin B6-based flame retardant for lyocell fibers

A biomass vitamin B6-based flame retardant, ammonium salt of pyridoxine phosphoric ester acid (ASPPEA) was synthesized and used for modification of lyocell fibers. FTIR, XPS and EDX analyses indicated that lyocell fibers had been successfully grafted with ASPPEA. The ASPPEA improved the char-forming ability, as evidenced by the increase of the char residue (51 wt%) of ASPPEA-treated lyocell fibers. The limiting oxygen index (LOI) value of ASPPEA-treated lyocell fabrics increased up to 48.3%. After 450 min washing, the LOI value remained 30.8%, thus demonstrating the flame retardant durability. The total heat release of ASPPEA-treated lyocell fabrics decreased by 82.5%. During the pyrolysis, the ASPPEA decomposed to produce acidic substances which promoted the dehydration and char formation of lyocell fibers, thus blocked the exchange of heat and flammable gas. This research proposes a novel application of vitamin B6 to impart lyocell fibers with flame retardancy.

The influence of the addition of anionic sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate on washing properties of liquid laundry detergents

Detergency of liquid laundry detergents (L1, L2) before and after the addition of anionic surfactant sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) was determined using colorimetric analysis based on the CIELab system. Standard cotton fabrics soiled with carbon black and olive oil were used in washing processes under the following conditions: the concentration range of detergents 1.25–50 g/L, water hardness 5.35 mval/L, 40 °C, rotational speed 200 rpm, 30 min washing cycle. Organoleptic and physicochemical properties of tested detergents as well as construction parameters of cotton fabrics were examined using a number of analytical methods. The research showed a gradual increase in detergency with laundry detergents and surfactants concentration. The modification with AOT had a positive effect on washing effectiveness by about 1.9% (AOT-L1) and 3.3% (AOT-L2) on average, as well as a significant reduction in foaming capacity of solutions. A synergistic effect was found through the interaction of all ingredients in solutions with higher concentrations. Based on the microscopic analysis, it was indicated that no damage occurred to the cotton textiles, but the presence of slight fraying of individual fibers. The research results suggest that enriching detergent compositions with a small amount of AOT favorably affects detergency efficiency, which may translate into practical application in industry in the future.

Automatic solvent extraction of sour cherry peels and storage stability of the products

Conversion of biomass (particularly waste of agricultural and food products) into high-added value compounds has been an attractive research field recently. Therefore, developing an alternative downstream process to recover the relevant biologically active components is of great significance. In this study, waste of sour cherry has been used as a source of phenolic compounds rich in anthocyanins. As an advanced alternative technology, automatic solvent extraction has been used to recover phenolics from sour cherry peels. The process factors (immersion time, washing time, solid mass and solvent concentration) of this novel method were optimized by face-centered composite design of response surface method. Chromatographic analysis (HPLC) was also used to measure the major anthocyanin (cyanidin-3-glucoside) of the samples. The process was optimized in order to maximize the dependent factors such as total phenolic and anthocyanin content extractions measured spectrophotometrically. Maximum predicted TPC and TA yields on optimized conditions were 119.63 mg GAE/g FM and 24.31 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/g FM, respectively (23.79 min immersion time, 52.21 min washing time, 0.47 g solid mass, 80% solvent concentration). A stability assay under different conditions (light, dark, ambient condition, refrigerator and deep freezer) has been also performed in order to monitor the stability of bioactivity profile (total phenolic and anthocyanin contents and cyanidin-3-glucoside level). All of the independent parameters (immersion time, washing time, solid mass and solvent concentration) were significant at the level of p > 0.05. The solvent concentration was identified to be the most significant parameter on the yields obtained by automatic solvent extraction.