Soybean Husk Research Articles

PEMANFAATAN LIMBAH KULIT ARI KULIT ARI INDUSTRl RUMAHAN TEMPE MENJADI PUPUK GRANUL TAHUN 2014

Organic fertilizer is fertilizer made from organic materials such as leaves, twigs, and livestock manure sobetter keep the soil fertile than inorganic fertilizers . One form of organic fertilizer is granule shapedfertilizers. Among the materials that can be made into organic fertilizer epidermal skin of soy generated byhome industries producing soybean cakes. The protein content of soybean epidermal skin is good for plantgrowth. The purpose of this research is to utilize soybean skin into fertilizer granules.This study followed a pre-experimental Post Test Only Design involving measurement after treatments.Data collection was performed by measurements and laboratory testing . Data were analyzed descriptivelyin reference to the Minister of Agriculture decree No.28 I Permentan I SR.130 /2009.Results of the study especially on the examination of the C / N ratio was 14.40 and water content ofgranular fertilizer was 24.80 % . It was pointed out that these results were not in accordance with the theMinister of Agriculture Regulation No.28 / Permentan/ SR.130/ 2009 on Minimum Technical RequirementsOrganic Fertilizer. Reduction of the C / N ratio was caused by the composting process that run longer.That's becausethe decomposition processeswere uneven that impacted on the finished compost . Fertilizercan still be used as a soil conditioner as the C I N ratio was in accordance with the regulations on theMinimum Technical Organic Soil conditioners but it requires additional drying so that the water content ofthe fertilizer falls within the standard that is 4-15 % .It is recommended especially for the owner of a home industries to process soybean husks into fertilizer foradditional earnings and incomes. Farmers should start getting used to using organic fertilizers inagriculture. Future researchers should perform aeration during the composting process so that compost canmature completely perfectly and evenly . Educational institutions may use results of this study as aninnovative practice, especially in the areas of soil health and waste management

Mathematical approach to application of industrial wastes in clay brick production—Part II: Optimization

The effects of organic and inorganic waste sludges, coal dust, fly and landfill ashes, soybean crust, sawdust, sunflower flakes and their ash addition to representative heavy clay were investigated. Changes introduced to shaping moist (SM), shrinkage (ΔSk) and weight loss (ΔGk) in Bigot’s curve critical point, and plasticity coefficient (PC) by Pfefferkorn were studied. The highest sensitivity to drying showed samples with coal dust addition, while the greatest plasticity and shaping moist was detected in samples with 50wt% of fly and landfill ashes.The influence of waste material used, its’ content and also firing temperature were independent parameters that influenced compressive strength, water absorption, firing shrinkage, weight loss during firing and volume mass as dependent parameters. Second order polynomial mathematical models predicted fired products characteristics, and were later used to determine the optimum conditions by Response Surface Method (RSM), coupled with Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation algorithm (FSE), using trapezoidal function. The choice of the parameters optimal interval that characterized fired products (water absorption, compressive strength, weight loss during firing, firing shrinkage and volume mass), depended on a final usage of the raw material in heavy clay brick industry. The optimization results showed that sunflower hulls, wood sawdust, soybean husks and saturation sludge are best to be used in solid bricks production. Coal dust, landfill ashes and neutralization (inorganic) sludges are best to be used in hollow bricks production. Sunflower hulls ash can be added in higher quantity to heavy clay to produce blocks or in lower quantity in roof tiles. Fly ashes addition of 50wt% allows roof tiles production. The optimal temperature for solid bricks and hollow blocks production is found to be 900–950°C.

Characterization of Hemicellulolytic Enzymes Produced by Aspergillus niger NRRL 328 under Solid State Fermentation on Soybean Husks

This manuscript describes the analysis of xylanase production by Aspergillus niger NRRL 328 in solid state fermentation (SSF) of soybean husks. A maximum value of extracellular xylanase activity of approximately 950 U g-1 was achieved after 96 h. Proteomic analyses performed on the enzymatic mixture responsible for the maximum value of xylanase activity in SSF revealed the presence of two xylanases. This xylanolytic mixture was partially purified and characterized. It followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics towards xylan, with a KM of 7.92 ±0.97 mg xylan/mL and a Vmax of 262.2 ± 27.8 g L-1 s-1. The optimum pH for the enzyme is 5.3, and the optimal temperature is 50 °C. The enzyme retains 100% of its activity at 40 °C for at least 1 month. It shows very high stability in a broad pH range, with a half-life of 40 days at pH 5.3, pH 6.0, pH 6.5, pH 7.0, and pH 8.0.

Portuguese

The inappropriate disposal of effluents containing toxic metals in high concentrations is a serious problem for the environment, and hexavalent chromium has received attention due to its high toxicity. The biosorption is a technology characterized as an alternative to remove these compounds from wastewater, due to lower material cost and lower operating costs of biosorbents. The aim of this work was to evaluate the removal of hexavalent chromium of effluent by biosorption using agroindustrial wastes fermented with fungi of the genus Aspergillus. The maximum hexavalent chromium removal was of 58%, using 2% biosorbent produced by solid state fermentation of soybean and rice husk using Aspergillus O-8 strain. The biomass was submitted to heat treatment for sterilization and the initial concentration of hexavalent chromium in the medium was 120 mg/L. This result can be optimized through the study of reaction conditions such as pH and agitation. Keywords: biosorption, rice husk, hexavalent chromium, fungi, soybean.

English

Laccases are copper polyphenol oxidases that are interesting for several applications such as in the food industry, sewage treatment and decolorization. The use of agro-industrial byproducts allows bioprocesses development for the production of large quantities at viable cost enzymes. In this study, the laccase production of Agaricus blazei was optimized in submerged cultivation (SmC). First, the following agro-industrial substrates were evaluated: sugarcane molasses, soybean molasses, coffee husks, soybean husks and pellet citrus pulp; and then these nitrogen sources: urea, ammonium sulfate, yeast extract. For the optimization of laccase production, a Plackett-Burman and 2(4-1) incomplete factorial designs were used to evaluate the effect of KH2PO4, MgSO4, KCl, FeSO4, ZnSO4 and the ethanol on laccase activity, and for the optimization of sugarcane molasses, urea, MgSO4 and ethanol concentrations. Finally, laccase production kinetics was determined. The best substrate for laccase production by A. blazei was sugarcane molasses. After optimization, it was found that laccase activity of 9635 U/L was obtained in medium with sugarcane molasses (6 g/L), urea (1.5 g/L), MgSO4 (12 mM), ethanol (1.2 mM ) at 28°C and pH 8.0 during 10 days of cultivation. The results indicate that sugarcane molasses is a promising substrate for A. blazei laccase production.   Key words: Agaricus brasiliensis, Agaricus subrufescens, laccase, manganese peroxidase, sugarcane molasses.

An eco-sustainable model on energy recovery from municipal solid waste

In the present day situation, the toxicity in municipal solid waste has increased to a very high level leading to various problems. The main purpose of the study is to improve the quality of mixed solid waste by adding locally available biomass. It was observed that the feedstock for refuse derived fuel and biomethanation contains 12% and 20% toxicity, respectively, as a result degrading the energy potential of waste. By adding locally available wheat and soya bean husk having calorific values of 4,100 kcal/kg and 4,170 kcal/kg respectively, not only was the toxicity reduced but the energy content of respective feedstock was also enhanced

Dietary fiber inclusion as an alternative to Feed Fasting to induce molting in Commercial Layers

The objective of the present experiment was to compare the performance, egg quality and organ morphometrics of commercial layers submitted to alternative forced molting methods using dietary fibers. The experimental period included the phases of molting, rest, and second laying cycle (six periods of 28 days each). In the trial, 320 commercial Isa Brown layers with 72 weeks of age were distributed, according to a completely randomized experimental design into five treatments with eight replicates of eight birds each, totaling 40 experimental units. Molting was induced by feeding diets with the inclusion of alfalfa or soybean husks at 80% and 60% or feed fasting. Treatments were applied for 14 days. Performance and egg quality parameters were evaluated for the second laying cycle and organ morphometrics (liver, gizzard, proventriculus, reproductive apparatus) in two different slaughter dates. The obtained data were submitted to analysis of variance using the General Linear Model (GLM) procedure of SAS statistical package (SAS Institute, 2002). Alternative molting methods promoted similar performance and egg quality results after molting were similar to those obtained by the conventional fasting method. Feeding fiber produced the expected effects in terms of organ weight regression and recovery and may be used to induce molting in commercial layers.

Comparative Evaluation of Different Organic Media on Soil Chemical Composition, Growth, and Yield of Mushroom (Pleurotus tubergium L.)

The effectiveness of organic media as sources of nutrients on soil fertility, growth, and yield of mushroom (Pleurotus tubergium) was studied at Akure in the rainforest zone of Nigeria. The organic media were applied at 8 t/ha with an organo-mineral fertilizer medium as a reference material and unfertilized control treatment, replicated four times and arranged in a randomized complete block design. The result showed that the use of organic media increased significantly (P<0.05) crown width, stalk length, stalk girth, weight of fruiting bodies of mushroom and soil K, Ca, Mg, N, P, K, Ca, and O.M compared to the control treatment. Among the organic media, loamy soil had the highest values of mushroom crown width and weight of fruiting bodies relative to the others. However, the organo-mineral medium still had higher values of mushroom growth and yield than the soil organic media, but it may increase cost of production. For soil chemical composition, loamy soil treatment had the highest values of soil O.M and % N while oil palm bunch husk had the highest values of soil K, Ca, and Mg compared to other treatments. Wood ash treatment increased most the soil pH. In these experiments, loamy soil and soybean husk media applied at 8 t/ha were the most effective organic media for improving growth, yield of mushroom, and soil fertility.

Resultados econômicos da produção de cordeiros em confinamento utilizando na dieta casca de soja associada a quatro fontes de nitrogênio não-proteico

O objetivo neste estudo foi avaliar o custo de produção e a resposta econômica da utilização de casca de soja (CS) associada a duas fontes de nitrogênio não-proteico (NNP) na terminação de cordeiros em confinamento. Foram utilizados 80 cordeiros mestiços Suffolk, com idade inicial de 69 ± 6 dias e peso vivo inicial de 23,11 ± 1,78 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em quatro grupos, cada um com uma dieta formulada com uma fonte de NNP: grupo ureia convencional, na proporção de 1%; grupo ureia protegida, na proporção de 1%; grupo ureia protegida convencional, na proporção de 1% + 0,5% de ureia convencional, da dieta total, respectivamente; e grupo controle, sem fonte adicional de NNP. O custo total de produção do cordeiro até a desmama foi de R$ 85,27/animal. Entre os componentes desse custo, a categoria de ovelhas foi a principal contribuinte, com 68,55%, seguida pelos custos referentes ao próprio cordeiro (0-67 dias), que representaram 25,57%, e a dos carneiros, com participação de apenas 5,88%. O custo total médio da terminação em confinamento foi de R$ 57,73/cordeiro. O custo operacional efetivo (COEf) representou R$ 57,35, ou 99,33% do custo total à terminação. As variáveis de maior representatividade do COEf foram alimentação (61,56%) e impostos (31,06%). As dietas que permitiram obter margem bruta/cordeiro positiva foram aquelas com ureia convencional e sem fonte adicional de NNP (R$ 1,77 e R$ 4,35), respectivamente. No entanto, todas as dietas apresentaram margem líquida e resultado econômico negativos. Em sistemas de terminação de cordeiros em confinamento, o uso de dietas sem fonte adicional de nitrogênio não-proteico é a opção que permite obter melhor resultado zootécnico e econômico.

The potential reuse of soybean husk as feedstock of Eudrilus eugeniae in vermicomposting

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one the most commonly consumed legumes worldwide, with 200 million metric tons produced per year. However, the inedible soy husk would usually be removed during the process and the continuous generation of soybean husk may represent a major disposal problem for soybean processing industries. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility to convert soybean husk (S) amended with market-rejected papaya (P) into vermicompost using Eudrilus eugeniae. Soybean husk was mixed with market-rejected papaya in different ratios to produce five different treatments (1P:1S, 2P:1S, 1P:2S, S only and P only) for laboratory screening of solid wastes. Generally, the application of E. eugeniae permitted a significant increase in Ca (42.3-91.6%), K (93.8-235%), Mg (25.4-84.6%) and P (37.1-129%) but a decrease in the C:N ratio (21.4-52.8%) after 9 weeks of vermicomposting. Among all the treatments investigated, soybean husk which was mixed with an equal amount of market-rejected papaya (1P:1S) showed superior quality vermicompost. Waste mixtures also encouraged the growth of E. eugeniae except the treatments with soybean husk alone as well as soybean husk which was mixed with market-rejected papaya in 1P:2S ratio. Vermicomposting could be used as an efficient technology to convert soybean husk into nutrient-rich organic fertiliser if it was mixed with market-rejected papaya in appropriate ratio.

Evaluation of litter material and ventilation systems on poultry production: II. thermal comfort

The objective of this study was to evaluate environmental thermal conditions in broiler houses with two different ventilation systems and two different litter materials. The experiment was carried out in four 12 m × 10 m broiler houses, internally divided in 4 boxes/poultry house, with 200 birds/pen for four consecutive flocks, each one with a duration of 42 days with 15 days of downtime between flocks. Treatments tested were two ventilation systems (stationary or oscillating fans), and two types of litter materials (soybean straw or rice husks). It was collected in the center of each pen and in the external enviroment, dry and wet bulb temperatures, black globe temperature, and air velocity. These data were collected at 3-hour intervals from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the fourth, fifth and sixth week age of the bird. Based on the data collected at each time, wet and globe temperature index (WBGT) and radiant heat load (RHL) were determined. Litter temperature reaings were also performed by using an infrared thermometer. Effects of flock, ventilation, week, hour and the interactions among factors on the studied variables were evaluated in the analysis of the internal thermal environment by using the theory of mixed models for repeated measures. Ventilation provided by stationary and oscilating fans had equal behavior and it did not affect the studied variable. However, both ventilation systems are sufficient to soften internal thermal conditions in the broiler house in relation to the external environment. Relative humidity of the air is higher when rice husks is used as litter material.

Evaluation of litter material and ventilation systems in poultry production: I. overall performance

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the performance, mortality and the incidence of lesion on the foot-pad of broilers and litter enterobacteriaceae load in two ventilation systems and two litter materials. The experiment was carried out in four 12 m × 10 m broiler houses, internally divided in 4 pens, with 200 birds/pen for four consecutive flocks, each one with 42 days of duration and interval of 15 days of downtime between flocks. It was evaluated two ventilation systems (stationary and oscillating fans), and two litter materials (soybean straw and rice husks). Performance variables studied were body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio and mortality of birds at 21, 35, and 42 days of age. Flock mortality was daily recorded, and total mortality was used for analysis. Evaluation of lesions by using foot-pad macroscopic examination was performed in all birds at final weighing. It was also performed quantitative examinations of litter enterobacteria. Statistical analyses were performed by using the mixed model theory for repeated measures and logistical regression. Rice husks litter promoted the best performance of birds at all studied ages. Results did not permit to recommend a ventilation system inasmuch as both had similar performances. Soy straw litter causes a high incidence of foot-pad lesions. Enterobacteria occurrence is lower in reused litter.

Evaluation of litter material and ventilation systems in poultry production: III. litter reuse, darkling beetle populations and intestinal parasites

It was evaluated the quality of rice husks or soybean straw as litter substrate and the effect of litter reuse for four consecutive flocks of broiler chickens on populations of darkling beetle and intestinal parasite and as organic fertilizer. The experiment was carried out in four 12 m × 10 m poultry houses, internally divided in 4 boxes/poultry house with 200 birds/pen for four consecutive flocks, each flock with a duration of 42 days and with a 15-day downtime between flocks. The evaluated treatments were two ventilation systems (stationary or oscillating fans) and two litter materials (soybean straw or rice husks). Darkling beetle population was followed by collecting the insects in traps, three traps per box, and endoparasite litter contamination was determined by eggs/oocyst counts per gram of litter. Levels of dry matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, potassium, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, organic carbon and pH were evaluated by physical/chemical analyses of samples of the litters in each flock. Overall, litters of broilers used by three flocks meet the minimal legal requirements to be marketed as simple organic fertilizer, regardless to the material used as substrate. Soybean straw presented higher darkling beetle counts in stationary ventilation system as well as in oscillating ventilation system. The probability of rice husks litter present contamination by Eimeria spp oocysts is 18.78 times higher in rice husks than in soybean straw litter when both are submitted to oscillating ventilation, and 1.32 higher when stationary ventilation is used. Litter temperature does not influence significantly levels of contamination by oocysts.

Pengaruh Pemberian Kulit Ari Biji Kedelai Hasil Fermentasi dengan Aspergillus niger sebagai Pengganti Jagung dan Bungkil Kedelai dalam Ransum terhadap Retensi Bahan Kering, Bahan Organik dan Serat Kasar pada Ayam Pedaging

The research on substitution of corn and soybean cake with fermented soybean husk by Aspergillus niger was done on 100 DOCs strains MB 202. Completely Randomizing Design (CRD) was used in five treatments: 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% of fermented soybean husk by four replications. Observed variables were the retentions of dry matter, organic matter and crude fiber. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance continued by Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that substitution of corn and soybeans cake with fermented soybean husk had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the retention of the dry matter but significantly (P<0.05) affected retentions of organic matter and crude fiber. In conclusion, the fermented soybeans husk can be used as a substitute for corn and soybean cake up to 40% of broiler feed.

Evaluation of Growth and Yield of Indian Oyster Mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. on Three Agricultural Wastes Supplemented with Cottonseed Hulls (CSH) in Uganda

The main economic activity in Uganda is agriculture, which provides livelihood for over 80% of the country's population. However, the ever rising population on static land resources has led to decline in agricultural productivity. Consequently, there is a decline in household incomes, thus compromising government efforts to fight poverty and food insecurity. To avert this scenario, Ugandan farmers and the Ugandan Government are keen to explore and develop alternative livelihood strategies. Mushroom cultivation offers a viable solution because currently there is a strong demand for mushrooms, locally and internationally. In order to sustain production to meet this demand, improvement of cultivation practices is paramount. Locally, cottonseed hulls (CSH) is the major substrate commonly used for cultivation, especially in urban areas, where most farmers are located. Supply of this substrate is limited as a result of decline in cotton productivity. There is scarcity of the substrate (CSH) mainly because of its multipurpose use in agricultural communities coupled with high costs of transportation from the remote cotton producing areas. Therefore, it became necessary to evaluate other alternative abundant substrates in whole or in combination with CSH in mushroom production. Whole CSH (100%), sawdust, soybean husks, and coffee hulls were supplemented with CSH at rates of 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% were the substrate combinations tested. The substrates were separately characterized physically and chemically to determine their nutritional contents and suitability to support mushroom growth. All substrate combinations were pasteurized by steaming for 3 hours and inoculated with Pleurotus pulmonarius. Mycelial colonization rates, mushroom yields, and biological efficiency were determined. Sawdust formulations colonized fastest with the longest cropping cycles, whereas soy-cotton seed (in a ratio of 50:50%) substrate had the highest mushroom yields, amounting to 624.5 g per kg of substrate (weight of substrate computed on an air dry basis) and biological efficiency (BE) of 62.44%. Pure coffee produced the lowest yield of 121.3 g per kg of substrate and a BE of 13.16%. Through the use of such alternative formulations, Ugandan farmers will maximize mushroom production by use of substrates abundant in their localities. In addition, the amount of CSH used in mushroom production will decrease, offsetting transportation costs and the possibility of pest and disease transmission from one locality to another.

Micronutrient content of certain tropical conventional and unconventional feed resources of Southern India.

The ash, silica and certain important micronutrients were estimated in conventional and unconventional feed and fodder resources available in Southern India. Commonly used dry roughages, such as paddy straw, ragi straw, maize kadbi/stalk, jowar kadbi/stalk, bajra stalk and wheat straw, were high in ash (9.9% +/- 0.77%) and silica (6.4% +/- 0.65%) and low in most of the other micronutrients, except iron, with paddy straw containing most silica (>9%). Cultivated non-leguminous (maize, jowar) and improved green crops (hybrid napier, guinea, green panic, NB-21, CO-1) were also high in ash (10.5% +/- 0.60% and 12.5% +/- 0.51%) but were moderate sources of P, Mg and Cu and good sources of Zn (98 +/- 13.8 ppm and 55 +/- 6.7 ppm). Leguminous green fodders (stylosanthus, lucerne, cow pea, soyabean) were excellent sources of Ca (1.9% +/- 0.16%), Mg (0.40% +/- 0.05%), Cu (30 +/- 5.2 ppm), Zn (121 +/- 14.7 ppm) and Fe (1234 +/- 166 ppm) and moderate sources of P. Mixed local grasses and weeds were high in silica (6.9% +/- 1.00%) but were good sources of Cu, Zn and Fe. Cereal grains (maize, wheat, rice, ragi) were low in ash (2.9% +/- 0.33%) and were relatively poor sources of Ca (0.22% +/- 0.03%), Mg (0.19% +/- 0.03%) and Cu (13 +/- 3.1 ppm). Pulses were low to medium sources of most minerals and good sources of Fe (1230 +/- 293 ppm). Oil seed cake/extractions (groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, soyabean meal, sunflower cake, safflower cake) and cereal by-products (rice polish, rice bran, wheat bran) were excellent sources of P (1.1% +/- 0.47% and 2.3% +/- 0.19%) and good sources of Zn (65 +/- 3.9 ppm and 66 +/- 10.7 ppm) and Fe (938 +/- 130 ppm and 662 +/- 126 ppm). Among the unconventional feeds screened, orange peel, sunflower heads, meat meal, rubber seed cake, spirulina algae and sea weeds contained plentiful Ca, Zn and Fe: tree leaves/top feeds (mulberry, erythrina, glyricidia, banana, subabul, groundnut haulms) were excellent sources of Ca (1.5% +/- 0.13%), Zn (120 +/- 22.9 ppm) and Fe (1033 +/- 133 ppm) but relatively poor sources of P. Soyabean husk, cocoa seed husk, rubber seed cake and meat meal were moderate to good sources of P (1.0% and 0.33%). The high Zn and Fe values of most feeds/fodders were probably due to soil contamination. This account of the micronutrient content of feed/fodder resources should help in strategic supplementation intended to alleviate local deficiencies.

Utilization of the soya husk in techno-agglomerates

The preservation of the environment bacame a fundamental practice nowadays all over the planet. Giving continuity to this ideology we researched an alternative material that uses quickly renewable natural resources for the production of agglomerate sheeting.In a strategic analysis of the possible materials that could be used for the production of agglomerate, we decided for the soy bean husks, for being a material of low cost, abundant and composed basically of fiber and cellulose. It confers a low density to the material and permits the agglomerate sheeting fabrication with varied densities. To obtain the agglomerate sheeting we took the following steps:- We used different soybean particle sizes besides the raw husk size;- We added tannin-formaldehyde glue to connect and waterproof the particles;- We carried out a compression and polymerization where we obtained quality sheeting, these being submitted to evaluation tests where we confirmed the applicability and efficiency of the soybean husk for agglomerate sheeting manufacturing.In the whole world, the research for new aggregate development has turned principally to synthetic materials or to the massive exploitation of non-renewable natural resources, while the use of the materials like soya husk, abundant and appropriate, can have a great tendency to minimize pollution, deforestation and final price products.This new technology turns the implantation of agglomerate producing industries viable, because the soya husk is derived from an amply implanted culture, which hold the concept of Zero Emission or whole usage of the prime material to the current application with low cost and high profitability.

Microcrystalline cellulose from soybean husk: effects of solvent treatments on its properties as acetylsalicylic acid carrier

Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is a very important product in pharmaceutic, food, cosmetic and other industries. In this work, MCC was prepared from soybean husk, produced in large quantities in soybean oil processing industries. It was characterized through various techniques (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)) and compared with a commercial MCC. The results obtained show that the prepared sample has similar crystallinity and lower particle size than the commercial MCC. Both MCC samples were treated with organic solvents (chloroform, acetone, ethanol and ethyl ether), for structural modifications to be introduced, and used as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) carrier. Pretreated MCC and MCC/ASA 1:1 mixtures were analyzed through FTIR and thermal analysis. The drug release was evaluated in buffer solution of pH 4.5 and in pure water, at 37°C. The MCC pretreated with different solvents show different thermal properties and ASA release rates, each MCC showing a particular behavior.

Air as a source of lead in edible crops

The effect of airborne lead on the lead concentration of the edible and nonedible portions of several important types of food crops was studied by growing crops in greenhouses supplied with filtered and ambient air, and in plots planted in long rows perpendicular to a busy highway. Of the ten crops studied - wheat, potatoes, tomatoes, sweet corn, carrots, cabbage, oats, rice, leaf lettuce, and snap beans - eight were not affected by the concentration of lead in air. In both sets of tests, inedible portions of the plants (bean leaves, corn husks, soybean husks, and oat, wheat, and rice chaff) showed a two- to three-fold increase in lead concentration when grown near the road or in the greenhouse with unfiltered air. The conclusions are reached that lead occurring naturally in the soil is the main source of lead in the edible portion of the crops studied, and that airborne lead, based on the crops studied, contributes 0.5 to 1.5% of the lead content of the US diet.