Similar FTIR Spectra Research Articles

Evaluation of Differences in Solubility in Organic Solvents of Softwood/Hardwood-Based Industrial Kraft Lignins Using Hansen Parameters and FTIR

Abstract: Lignin is part of the lignocellulosic biomass found in hardwoods, softwoods, and herbaceous plants. It is isolated by fractionation and pulping processes, where it is considered a waste product and is mainly burned to generate electricity and heat. However, lignin is a biopolymer that can be a source of many chemicals of significant value after treatments of functionalisation or depolymerisation. The main processes for its valorisation require solubilisation in organic solvents, which may affect the process’s mass balance and the biopolymer’s chemical structure, as lignins are rarely completely soluble in organic solvents. In this research, two industrial Kraft lignins derived from softwood and hardwood were treated using different green organic solvents (2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, tetrahydrofuran, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, and acetone), measuring the soluble and insoluble content to determine the mass balance, and the solubility was evaluated using Hansen parameters and FTIR. The results showed that both lignins were more soluble in tetrahydrofuran and 1-methoxy-2-propanol. Also, tetrahydrofuran performed better than the 2-methyl tetrahydrofuran, which is considered the green alternative. The reason can be explained using the Hansen solubility parameters. Moreover, the solubilised fractions showed similar FTIR spectra. The same is the case for the insoluble parts. In conclusion, the two lignins studied showed different solubilities in absolute values in organic solvents, but the trends were similar.

Ball Milling Improves Physicochemical, Functionality, and Emulsification Characteristics of Insoluble Dietary Fiber from Polygonatum sibiricum.

The effects of ball milling on the physicochemical, functional, and emulsification characteristics of Polygonatum sibiricum insoluble dietary fiber (PIDF) were investigated. Through controlling milling time (4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h), five PIDFs (PIDF-1, PIDF-2, PIDF-3, PIDF-4, and PIDF-5) were obtained. The results showed that ball milling effectively decreased the particle size and increased the zeta-potential of PIDF. Scanning electron microscope results revealed that PIDF-5 has a coarser microstructure. All PIDF samples had similar FTIR and XRD spectra. The functional properties of PIDF were all improved to varying degrees after ball milling. PIDF-3 had the highest water-holding capacity (5.12 g/g), oil-holding capacity (2.83 g/g), water-swelling capacity (3.83 mL/g), total phenol (8.12 mg/g), and total flavonoid (1.91 mg/g). PIDF-4 had the highest ion exchange capacity. Fat and glucose adsorption capacity were enhanced with ball milling time prolongation. PIDF-5 exhibited a contact angle of 88.7° and lower dynamic interfacial tension. Rheological results showed that PIDF-based emulsions had shear thinning and gel-like properties. PE-PIDF-5 emulsion had the smallest particle size and the highest zeta-potential value. PE-PIDF-5 was stable at pH 7 and high temperature. The findings of this study are of great significance to guide the utilization of the by-products of Polygonatum sibiricum.

Sustainable and eco-friendly 3D printing filament fabricated from different recycled solid wastes and evaluate its impact on interior and furniture design

A designer's work is based on creativity, innovation, and fresh ideas therefore, they are constantly searching for creative designs, especially when it comes to furniture and internal design. Meanwhile, innovative materials and ideas are actively sought after by designers for usage in furniture and interior design. In this scope, our study explores the practical implications of using date palm fronds and plastic waste from drinking water bottle to create a composite with varying loadings of date palm frond nanoparticles (DPFNP) at 10, 20, and 30 wt % and its applications on furniture design. A desktop extruder was used to form the composites into filaments, which were subsequently used to create 3D-printed specimens. The impact of adding (DPFNP) on the composite's mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties was assessed. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) drinking water bottle waste, and filament composites presented similar FTIR spectra; however, filament composites presented increased thermal stability and mechanical strength. The filament with 10 wt% DPFNP has been effectively printed with a 3D printer, demonstrating the practicality of employing the developed filaments and perhaps encouraging new uses in furniture and interior design. As a result, employing DPFNP in the recycled PET (RPET) matrix offers a cheap substitute for making filaments. It could increase the use of 3D printing in furniture and interior design by using more environmentally friendly materials. This result will be considered the first phase of future research investigation on a full-scale furniture prototype, examining its physical, thermal, and mechanical properties.

Developing Eco-Friendly 3D-Printing Composite Filament: Utilizing Palm Midrib to Reinforce High-Density Polyethylene Matrix in Design Applications.

Designers actively pursue the use of novel materials and concepts in furniture and interior design. By providing insights into their processing behavior and suitability for 3D-printing processes, this research helps to highlight the potential of using waste materials to create more environmentally friendly and sustainable 3D-printing filaments that can be used in furniture and interior design. Furthermore, the study evaluates the effect of incorporating palm midrib nanoparticles (DPFNPs) to reinforce a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) matrix with different loadings such as 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 wt.%. The composites were extruded into filaments using a manual extruder, which was then utilized to fabricate 3D-printed specimens using a 3D-printing pen. The effect of adding DPFNPs on the composite's chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties was evaluated, with a particular focus on how these modifications influence the melt flow rate (MFR) and, subsequently, the material's printability. The results revealed that HDPE and filament composites presented similar FTIR spectra. On the other hand, the filament composites presented an increase in the thermal stability and a decrease in the mechanical strength with increasing DPFNP content in the HDPE matrix. The filaments were successfully printed using a 3D-printing pen. Thus, using DPFNPs in the HDPE matrix presents a low-cost alternative for filament production and may expand 3D-printing applications in interior and furniture design with more sustainable materials. Future work will delve into optimizing these composites for improved printability and assessing their recyclability, aiming to broaden their applications in 3D printing and beyond.

Refinement technique for nanocellulose extraction from corn cobs as a green material for environmental sustainability

Corn cob and other types of agricultural biomass waste are abundant and have several potential uses as renewable materials. A unique extraction approach for producing nanocellulose materials with precise control, scalability, and promising practical applications has been presented. Nanocrystalline cellulose was produced from corn cobs by mechanical treatment with ultrasonic technology, room temperature extraction for 30 min, and sulfuric acid concentrations ranging from 30% to 60% w/v. Nanocellulose has been effectively extracted from maize cobs with comparatively high yields and crystallinities ranging from 63.55% to 71.76%. The TEM data demonstrate the production of fiber nanoparticles with a size range of 15.3 nm to 2.1 nm. Simultaneously, SEM results match TEM findings. SEM pictures indicate smaller nanoparticles as sonication duration rises, but particle size does not vary with acid content. XRD analysis indicates an increase in the amount of crystalline cellulose in nanocellulose, demonstrating a notable transformation of cellulose. Nanocellulose and cellulose had similar FTIR spectra, distinct from the basic material of corn cobs. The FTIR analysis showed that the NaOH and subsequent bleaching treatments eliminated most hemicellulose and nearly all lignin throughout the conversion process. This work introduces a method for extracting nanocellulose from corncob waste utilizing standard ultrasonic technology under moderate conditions, at a cheap cost, in an ecologically responsible manner, with a high yield while maintaining its integrity.

Exploring microstructure of MgCl2·nEtOH adducts for Ziegler-Natta catalysts

The activation of MgCl2 through the formation of MgCl2·nEtOH adducts is considered the principal step for the preparation of high performance Ziegler-Natta catalysts for olefins polymerizations in industry. Despite this importance, due to the complicated microstructure of the adducts, the precise structural characterization of these compounds has been left behind. In this research, four MgCl2.nEtOH adducts (with n = 0.6, 1.0, 1.8, and 3.2) were prepared by melt quenching procedure and assessed thoroughly by different techniques. Despite the multiple peaks in TGA analysis, similar FTIR spectra were recorded, and the adducts with n = 3.2 revealed sticky nature in SEM pictures which enhanced their particle size and broadened SPAN. According to the XRD spectra, the adducts showed distinct peaks related to the lateral cuts of distorted MgCl2, in which the ratio of α-MgCl2 to β-MgCl2 form enhanced by increasing the EtOH content, that was further confirmed by DFT calculations, even though it must be accepted that it is only a minimalist exercise in terms of a clear characterization of the adducts.

Photocatalytic degradation of dissolved organic matter in landfill leachate by heterostructural ZnO-rGO composite catalysts.

The dissolved organic matter (DOM) in landfill pollutes not only the landfill and surroundings, but also the environment far away from the landfill by infiltrating into the soil and/or flowing on the ground surface. Developing an efficient photocatalyst to degrade DOM is an interesting topic. Herein, the catalysts composed of ZnO and reduced graphene oxide (ZnO-rGO) with different morphologies were fabricated with a two-step hydrothermal method. The phase composite and microstructure were analyzed, and the degradation efficiency of the DOM under ultraviolet light was investigated. Three kinds of ZnO-rGO composite catalysts with different morphologies were successfully synthesized, and rGO was coated on the ZnO surface to form heterostructural composite catalysts. The catalyst powders have similar Raman and FT-IR spectra, but have different specific surface areas and band gaps. The degradation efficiency of DOM by ZnO-rGO composites is higher than that of pure ZnO powder. Compared to pure ZnO, ZnO-rGO composite catalysts contain more oxygen vacancies and a narrower band gap, and the heterostructure is beneficial for accelerating electron separation, inhibiting electron recombination.

Revalorization of Australian royal palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) waste as reinforcement in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) for use in 3D printing pen

This study assesses the potential revaluation of solid waste from palm residues for use as reinforcement in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) matrix to develop a composite filament that is more environmentally friendly. Filaments were processed using a thermokinetic mixer and then processed by a mini extruder using different fiber loadings (5, 10, 15, and 20% wt.). The effect of the fiber contents on the morphological, chemical, and thermal properties was evaluated, and environmental analysis was performed using the life cycle assessment. For a concept-proof, the materials were printed using a 3D printing pen. Pristine ABS presented no porosity, while filament composites showed a porous structure due to fiber presence and higher fiber loading induced pores with a diameter smaller than 50 μm. ABS and filament composites presented similar FTIR spectra; however, the hydrogen-bonding coefficient indicated a better fiber-matrix interaction for the ABS/15%Palm composition, increasing 42% compared to ABS. Filament's composites presented a slight decrease in thermal stability, which does not compromise its processing temperature, while the Tg presented similar values to pristine ABS. The life cycle assessment demonstrated beneficial environmental gains with fiber inclusion, especially for agricultural land occupation and ozone depletion impact categories. The filaments were successfully printed using a 3D printing pen showing the viability of using the developed filaments, and new applications may be promoted. Thus, the revalorization of palm fibers in the ABS matrix presents a low-cost alternative for filaments production and may expand 3D printing applications with more sustainable materials that could enable new applications in the additive manufacturing area.

Characteristics of Collagen from Parrotfish (Chlorurus Sordidus), Tiger Grouper (Epinephelus Fuscoguttatus) and Pink Ear Emperor (Lethrinus Lentjan): Effect of Acetic Acid Concentration and Extraction Time

The use of marine fishes skin waste such as parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus), tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and pink ear emperor (Lethrinus lentjan) needs improvement to increase its economic value and sustainability. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of fish skin to acetic acid ratio with different extraction times on the yield and characteristics of skin collagen obtained from three-marine fishes (parrotfish, tiger grouper and pink ear emperor). The skin samples were divided into 4 groups (A, B, C and D) and treated with different sample to acetic acid ratios and extraction time of A. [ratio 1:10 (w/v) with 24 h]; B. [ratio 1:10 (w/v) with 36 h]; C. [ratio 1:20 (w/v) with 24 h]; and D. [ratio 1:20 (w/v) with 36 h]. Furthermore, characterization of collagen functional groups was carried out using FTIR while the peptide pattern analysis was carried out with SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that the collagen yield from the groups was different and the longer the extraction time, the higher the yield. Collagens from the three fishes in the treatment groups had wave spectra that were consistent with the standard collagen amide band while the peptide patterns showed α1 and α2 chains with molecular weights of 93-106 kDa and the dominant amino acids were glycine, proline and alanine. They were also identified as collagen type 1 with similar protein pattern and FTIR spectra.

Oral Films with Addition Mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) as a Source of Active Compounds

The purpose of this study was to develop oral films (OFs) based on agar-agar with the incorporation of mushroom powder (MP) as a source of phenolic compounds. To this end, three different OFs were produced using different concentrations of MP, containing sorbitol and agar-agar. The OFs were characterized based on visual assessment, mass, thickness, moisture content, folding endurance, surface pH, contact angle, and phenolic compound content, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and FTIR, as well as an assessment of their antioxidant capacity. In general, all the OFs showed film-forming capacity after the incorporation of MP, although their mass, thickness, moisture content, and folding endurance differed significantly. The surface pH value remained close to neutrality (∼6.7), regardless of MP concentration. The incorporation of MP increased the crystallinity of the OFs in comparison to that of the agar-based film, but all the OFs showed similar FTIR spectra. The oral films containing 2 g of MP showed antioxidant capacity by ABTS●+ and FRAP of 3.68±0.23 and 14.61±0.66 mMol ET/g OF, respectively, and total phenolic content of 3.55±0.27 µmol GAE/g OF. Thus, oral films offer an innovative source of delivery of active compounds, and their consumption does not cause oral mucosal irritation.

Development of instant low glycemic rice using extrusion technology and its characterization

An instant low glycemic rice (LGR) was prepared from the broken rice, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and quinoa using extrusion technology. For obtaining instant LGR, the effect of extruder process parameters such as screw speed, SS (30–50 rpm), and die head temperature, DHT (110–140°C) and feed moisture content, FM (26–34%wb) were evaluated on physicochemical properties viz. water absorption index (WAI), water solubility index (WSI) and total color change (∆E), and cooking characteristics viz. cooking time (CT), cooking loss (CL), and water absorption ratio (WAR). The LGR was successfully instantized with 3.65 ± 0.21 min CT, 12.05 ± 0.12% CL, 2.79 ± 0.10 WAR, 2.96 ± 0.08 g/g WAI, 4.16 ± 0.10% WSI and 18.20 ± 0.05 ∆E at the optimum condition of 34% (wb) FM, 30 rpm SS, and 110°C DHT. The LGR was significantly different (p < .05) in the physical characteristics, textural properties and crystallinity compared to the raw rice with similar FTIR spectra. Practical applications Diabetes affects a large segment of the global population uprising the blood glucose level due to the consumption of high glycemic index (GI) foods. Though rice is a staple food, its high GI value makes it unsuitable for the diabetic population. Therefore, an alternative to it, an instant low GI rice (LGR) with GI ≤ 55 using broken rice, foxtail millet, barnyard millet and quinoa was developed using extrusion technology. This would help to reduce the blood sugar level in diabetic individuals and provide an opportunity for the industry to commercialize such a novel product.

The effects of quorum sensing molecule farnesol on the yield and activity of extracellular polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa in liquid fermentation

A strategy by exogenous addition of quorum sensing molecule farnesol to improve the production, antioxidant activity and antitumor activity of extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) of Grifola frondosa by liquid fermentation was proposed in the study. The highest yield of EPS induced by farnesol was 1.25 g/L, which was 150% higher than that of the control. Four polysaccharides including EPS-C-0M, EPS-C-0.2M, EPS-F-0M and EPS-F-0.2M were extracted and purified under the conditions of control and farnesol respectively. The physicochemical properties, antioxidant activities and antitumor activities were studied. Their chemical composition differed in sugar, protein and uronic acid contents, and they were composed of six constituent monosaccharides with different ratios, with the average molecular weights of 1.12 × 103, 1.89 × 103, 1.41 × 103 and 2.02 × 103 kDa, respectively. They presented similar FT-IR spectra, but different surface morphology. Antioxidant experiments showed that they had strong scavenging activities on ABTS+, hydroxyl radical, O2− and DPPH radical. Antitumor experiments showed that they had strong inhibitory effects on human cervical cancer (HeLa) cells and human liver cancer cells (HepG2) cells. Among the four polysaccharides, EPS-F-0.2M showed the highest antioxidant and antitumor activities, indicating that farnesol could regulate the biological activity of EPS by affecting structure and properties. These results demonstrated that appropriate adjustment of culture conditions had potential application in the development of polysaccharides with high antioxidant and antitumor activity. It provided a new strategy to enhance the production and bioactivity of edible and medicinal fungal polysaccharides by using quorum sensing molecules.

Tuning the physicochemical properties of apple pectin films by incorporating chitosan/pectin fiber

Various biodegradable or edible films were designed to deal with the environmental threats from plastic films. To overcome the defects of pectin film, the feasibility for the incorporation of CH/PE fiber was explored. Micron-scale novel artificial CH/PE fibers in needle, spindle or whisker shape with a diameter around 25 μm were fabricated via a shearing regime in virtue of electrostatic complexing. The incorporation of CH/PE fiber (mixture) and its size-fractioned portions (small and large) substantially changed PE films in diverse ways. Structurally, the fiber-incorporated films were heterogeneous with the fibers concentrated in the upper layer, although they presented similar FT-IR spectra and XRD pattern to PE film. Regarding the film performance, the incorporation of CH/PE fibers, especially the small portion, rendered the PE film with higher values in water-proof ability, thermal stability, break resistibility, stretchability and UV blocking capacity. More importantly, this work provided an innovative strategy to improve the performance of edible films.

Study of Some Functional Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Two Types of Cherry Trees (Prunus avium) Gum Exudates Grown in Syria

The aim of this research is to study some functional properties and the antioxidant activity of cherry gum, collected from Serghaya and Suwayda in Syria, and to compare these features with those of Arabic gum. The values of the hydroxyl groups for the Arabic gum, Serghaya and Suwayda cherry gums were 757.1, 655.1 and 564.3 mg KOH/gm, respectively. The solubility of exudate gums ranged from 53.53 to 86.53% and was arranged as follows: Arabic gum&gt;Serghaya cherry gum &gt;Suwayda cherry gum. Gum solubility increased with rising the temperature. Water and oil holding capacities of cherry gums were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than those of Arabic gum, while their emulsifying capacity was significantly lower than that of Arabic gum. The antioxidant activity of the gum was evaluated using the DPPH scavenging activity method and reducing power method. The inhibition percentages of DPPH were 51.52%, 23.23% and 21.19% for Serghaya, Suwayda and Arabic gums, respectively. The antioxidant activities of Serghaya and Suwayda gums using the reducing power method were 753.12 and 312.93 meq ascorbic acid/100gm, whereas Arabic gum didnot exhibit any Fe+3 reducing activity. All of gum types showed similar FT-IR spectra.

Study of Some Functional Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Two Types of Cherry Trees (Prunus avium) Gum Exudates Grown in Syria

The aim of this research is to study some functional properties and the antioxidant activity of cherry gum, collected from Serghaya and Suwayda in Syria, and to compare these features with those of Arabic gum. The values of the hydroxyl groups for the Arabic gum, Serghaya and Suwayda cherry gums were 757.1, 655.1 and 564.3 mg KOH/gm, respectively. The solubility of exudate gums ranged from 53.53 to 86.53% and was arranged as follows: Arabic gum&gt;Serghaya cherry gum &gt;Suwayda cherry gum. Gum solubility increased with rising the temperature. Water and oil holding capacities of cherry gums were significantly higher (p&lt;0.05) than those of Arabic gum, while their emulsifying capacity was significantly lower than that of Arabic gum. The antioxidant activity of the gum was evaluated using the DPPH scavenging activity method and reducing power method. The inhibition percentages of DPPH were 51.52%, 23.23% and 21.19% for Serghaya, Suwayda and Arabic gums, respectively. The antioxidant activities of Serghaya and Suwayda gums using the reducing power method were 753.12 and 312.93 meq ascorbic acid/100gm, whereas Arabic gum didnot exhibit any Fe+3 reducing activity. All of gum types showed similar FT-IR spectra.

Effects of different polysaccharides and proteins on dough rheological properties, texture, structure and in vitro starch digestibility of wet sweet potato vermicelli

The effects of polysaccharides (chitosan, xanthan and sodium alginate) and proteins (gluten, egg white protein) on dough rheological properties, texture, structure and in vitro starch digestibility of wet sweet potato vermicelli (SPV) were investigated. All starch doughs exhibited a linear viscoelastic region (LVR) of <0.05% strain. Chitosan, sodium alginate and xanthan incorporated dough exhibited lower maximum creep compliance and degree of dependence of G′ on frequency sweep than those with egg white protein and gluten, suggesting the formation of stable network structure with stronger deformation resistance. Wet SPV with chitosan exhibited the highest tensile strength, tensile distance and cooking break time, followed by sodium alginate, xanthan, egg white protein and gluten. A mass fracture structure and evenly distributed air cells with similar pore sizes were formed in all wet SPV. Physical linkages between starch and polysaccharides or proteins in all wet SPV were confirmed by similar FTIR spectra. Xanthan and sodium alginate addition decreased the rapidly digestible starch, and increased the resistant starch in wet SPV. In conclusion, all polysaccharides and proteins can improve the quality of wet SPV, and xanthan, sodium alginate and egg white protein show greater application potential.

Extraction and characterization of collagen from sheep slaughter by-products

There is a growing search for alternative raw materials to obtain collagen and hydrolysates and processes that do not threaten the environment or human health. Thus, sheep slaughter residue, which doesn’t yet have an adequate and sustainable destination, is an excellent source of study. The objective of this study was to investigate the technological properties of collagen extracted from sheep slaughter by-products. It was possible to produce and characterize collagens extracted from sheep slaughter by-products. The yield of collagen was 18.0% and 12.5% for lamb and sheep by-products, respectively, on a dry basis. Lamb and sheep collagens showed similar FTIR and digestibility spectra and increased solubility at acidic pH-value. Higher foaming capacity was found for lamb collagen, while the sheep collagen presented higher viscosity. The emulsifying power of the collagens was 59.1 and 69.6 m2/g for lamb and sheep by-products, respectively. The collagens presented bands corresponding to α1, α2, and β chains, characteristic of collagen type I and a molecular weight (SDS-PAGE) between 100 and 5 kDa. The collagens of this study showed potential for application in food products, both for the technological improvement and nutrient enrichment, adding value and giving a sustainable destination to sheep slaughter by-products.

Foaming at the mouth: Ingestion of floral foam microplastics by aquatic animals

Phenol-formaldehyde plastics are used globally as floral foam and generate microplastics that can enter the environment. This study is the first to describe how aquatic animals interact with this type of microplastic, and the resultant physiological responses. We analysed “regular foam” microplastics generated from petroleum-derived phenol-formaldehyde plastic, and “biofoam” microplastics generated from plant-derived phenol-formaldehyde plastic. Regular foam and biofoam microplastics showed similar FTIR spectra. Both types of microplastics were consumed by all six invertebrate species tested: the freshwater gastropod Physa acuta, the marine gastropod Bembicium nanum, the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis, adults and neonates of the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna, the marine amphipod Allorchestes compressa, and nauplii of the marine crustacean Artemia sp. For all species, the occurrence of ingestion was similar for regular foam and biofoam microplastics. Biofoam microplastics leached more than twice as much phenolic compounds than regular foam microplastics. The leachates from regular foam and biofoam microplastics showed the same acute toxicity to Artemia nauplii (24-h LC50 = 27.4 mg mL−1 and 22.8 mg mL−1, respectively) and D. magna (48-h LC50 = 17.8 mg mL−1 and 15.3 mg mL−1, respectively). However, biofoam microplastic leachate was twice as toxic to embryos of the zebrafish, Danio rerio, compared with leachate from regular foam microplastic (96-h LC50 = 43.8 mg mL−1 vs 27.1 mg mL−1). Using M. galloprovincialis, we show that regular foam microplastic leachate and the physical presence of the microplastics exerted separate and cumulative effects on catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione-s-transferase (GST) activity and lipid peroxidation. Microplastic ingestion did not affect the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Taken together, these results show that phenol-formaldehyde microplastics can interact with a range of aquatic animals, and affect sublethal endpoints by leaching toxic compounds, and through the physical presence of the microplastics themselves.

Characterization of Nipa Palm’s (Nypa fruticans Wurmb.) Sap and Syrup as Functional Food Ingredients

Nipa palm (Nypa fruticans Wurmb.) sap and its syrup locally produced in southern, Thailand, were characterized. Sugar was the predominant dry matter of both sap and syrup (p < 0.05). Sucrose, glucose and fructose were detected in both samples. In both samples, potassium was the most abundant macroelement (p < 0.05), followed by sodium, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, respectively. Iron, copper, zinc, manganese and iodine were also found. Syrup had higher total soluble solid, lower aw and pH, darker color with higher intermediate browning product (A285) and browning intensity (A420) than sap. Syrup had lower total phenolic and flavonoid contents than sap (p < 0.05). Vanillic acid was predominant in sap, whereas vanillic acid, rutin and trans-ferullic acid were identified in syrup. DPPH·-scavenging and ferrous ion-chelating abilities of sap were higher than syrup, whereas the ferric reducing antioxidant power of the syrup was higher (p < 0.05). Sap and syrup were able to inhibit α-glucosidase with the IC50 of 15.79 and 222.51 mg/mL, respectively. Similar FTIR spectra with the different intensities of sap and syrup were noticeable suggesting the identical compositions of both samples with different contents. The peaks at 3380 and 2924 cm−1 suggested the presence of carbohydrates and the bands at 1500–800 cm−1 represented the zone of the three major sugar including sucrose, fructose and glucose. Our result suggests that nipa palm sap and syrup can be used as potential sources of functional food ingredients.

Crystallization behavior of glasses from the system CdO-B2O3 with varying CdO contents (30–90 mol%)

A novel study on the crystallization behavior of extended cadmium borate glasses with varying CdO contents (30–90 mol%), has been carried out. Collective structural FTIR spectral measurements were made for the parent cadmium borate glasses and their glass-ceramic derivatives to identify the structural building groups within the prepared glasses and their crystalline derivatives. X-ray diffraction together with scanning electronic microscopic analysis of the prepared glass-ceramic were done to find out the formed crystalline phases upon thermal heat treatment with two-step regime and identifying the morphological features of the formed crystalline phases. FTIR spectral data reveal the appearance of both the vibrational bands due to triangular and tetrahedral borate groups irrespective of the high CdO content but with varying intensities. The tetrahedral borate (BO4) groups are identified to possess their vibrational modes within the wavenumber 800-1200 cm-1 while the triangular borate (BO3) groups are vibrating within the range 1200–1600 cm-1. The glass-ceramics reveal similar FTIR spectra but with distinct sharpness and the generation of a further IR band at 1060 cm-1 due to formed distinct crystalline tetrahedral structures (such as triborate, pentaborate, diborate). X-ray diffraction patterns indicate the formation of main crystalline phases of cadmium borates with increasing the ratio of CdO to B2O3 by increasing the CdO content (CdO·2B2O3 → CdO·B2O3 → 3CdO·2B2O3→ 2CdO·1B2O3). The ease of crystallization of the studied binary CdO-B2O3 glassy system is assumed to be related to the presence of phase separation in this divalent borate glassy system as other related divalent borate glasses and hence thermal heat-treatment of the parent glasses leads to voluminous crystallization.