Extraction of anthocyanins from red cabbage and purification using adsorption

There is an increasing interest in anthocyanins, as natural food colorants, in food products and also in pharmaceutical products due to their antioxidative potential. The present study deals with extraction and purification of anthocyanins from red cabbage. Conventional extraction methods of anthocyanin from plant material are non-selective and yield pigment solutions with large amounts of byproducts such as sugars, organic acids and proteins. Some of these impurities may accelerate anthocyanin degradation. Different extracting media were used and the mixture of 50% (v/v) ethanol and acidified water resulted in maximum anthocyanin content (390.6 mg/L). In order to obtain anthocyanins in a purified form, adsorption was carried out with six different adsorbents. Among these, non-ionic acrylic ester adsorbent, namely Amberlite XAD-7HP, showed the highest adsorption capacity (0.84 mg/mL of resin) and desorption ratio (92.85%). Adsorption results were found to be correlated best using the Langmuir isotherm equation especially at low temperature. The resulting anthocyanin solution after purification was free from sugars, which are the major cause for degradation of anthocyanin. No browning was observed and chroma increased by 27% compared to crude anthocyanin.     

A Novel Highly Sensitive Humidity Sensor Based on ZnO/SBA‐15 Hybrid Nanocomposite

This work deals with the study of hydrothermally synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) loaded mesoporous SBA‐15 hybrid nanocomposite for relative humidity sensing (RH) at room temperature. The sensor exhibits an excellent ~5 orders impedance change along with excellent linearity, quick response time (17 s), rapid recovery time (18 s), negligible hysteresis (1.2%), good repeatability, and stability (1.8%) in 11%–98% RH range. In addition, complex impedance spectra of the sensor at different RHs were analyzed to understand the humidity sensing mechanism. Our study can open a new way for realizing ZnO/SBA‐15 hybrid nanocomposite for fabrication of high‐performance RH sensors.     

Urethane‐forming reaction kinetics and catalysis of model palm olein polyols: Quantified impact of primary and secondary hydroxyls

Model palm olein natural oil polyols (NOPs) with varying ratios of primary to secondary hydroxyls were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated in reaction kinetics study with isocyanate in formation of polyurethanes. Reaction rate constants and activation energies associated with primary and secondary hydroxyls of NOPs were quantified. The kinetic study in toluene shows that the NOP containing primary hydroxyls have three times higher reaction rate constants in noncatalyzed reaction with 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (4,4′‐MDI) compared to the model NOP containing only secondary hydroxyls, which is associated with higher activation energy of secondary hydroxyls. However, the difference in reaction rate constants of primary and secondary hydroxyls in NOPs diminished in the reactions catalyzed with dibutyltin dilaurate. Bulk polymerization reaction confirms the kinetics results in toluene, showing that the model NOP containing primary hydroxyls reached gel time at a faster rate. Evaluation of elastomers from bulk polymerization shows low degree of phase separation of hard and soft segments for elastomers based on the model NOPs. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 42955.     

Highly selective sulfonated poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene)/poly(ether sulfone) blend proton exchange membranes for direct methanol fuel cells

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) based on blends of poly(ether sulfone) (PES) and sulfonated poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) (sPVdF‐co‐HFP) were prepared successfully. Fabricated blend membranes showed favorable PEM characteristics such as reduced methanol permeability, high selectivity, and improved mechanical integrity. Additionally, these membranes afford comparable proton conductivity, good oxidative stability, moderate ion exchange capacity, and reasonable water uptake. To appraise PEM performance, blend membranes were characterized using techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, AC impedance spectroscopy; atomic force microscopy, and thermogravimetry. Addition of hydrophobic PES confines the swelling of the PEM and increases the ultimate tensile strength of the membrane. Proton conductivities of the blend membranes are about 10^?3 S cm^?1. Methanol permeability of 1.22 × 10^?7cm² s^?1 exhibited by the sPVdF‐co‐HFP/PES10 blend membrane is much lower than that of Nafion‐117. AFM studies divulged that the sPVdF‐co‐HFP/PES blend membranes have nodule like structure, which confirms the presence of hydrophilic domain. The observed results demonstrated that the sPVdF‐co‐HFP/PES blend membranes have promise for possible usage as a PEM in direct methanol fuel cells. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43907.     

Bioprocess Scale-up for Acetohydroxamic Acid Production by Hyperactive Acyltransferase of Immobilized Rhodococcus Pyridinivorans

Catalysis Letters - In this study, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans cells containing hyperactive acyltransferase was immobilized on various macromolecules based-polymeric matrices and used to improve...     

Effects of Microbial Polysaccharides on the Oil Absorption and Quality Characteristics of a Deep-Fried Snack Namkeen

This study investigates the potential of microbial polysaccharides (MP) gellan gum and pullulan to reduce oil uptake in a deep-fried snack (Namkeen). The concentration of MP in refined wheat flour varied between 1–10% (w/w) and the frying time and temperature are optimized. The results reveal that MP added namkeens showed a maximum relative oil reduction of 33.87% with gellan gum and 26.93% with pullulan at 10% (w/w). Gellan gum and pullulan result in oil reduction of 23.19% and 15.97% with 5% (w/w). The results reveal that gellan gum added namkeens exhibited 1.45 times lower oil uptake than pullulan added namkeen indicating potential oil reduction capabilities. The hardness of namkeen is observed to increase with an increase in MP concentration. Sensorial and textural characteristics of control and MP incorporated fried samples are comparable up to 5% (w/w) with MP concentration. The results for the control samples and MP incorporated samples are statistically significant. Furthermore, overall sensorial acceptability of pullulan added namkeens (7.74 ± 0.53) is slightly higher than that of gellan gum added namkeens (7.64 ± 0.36). Practical Application: Low-fat diet and functional foods are expected to help in managing the conditions of hyperlipidaemia. This study focuses on the potential of MP in reducing the oil content of deep-fried snacks. The efficacy of MP gellan gum and pullulan as functional ingredients for oil reduction in fried snacks demonstrates its aid in formulating low-fat foods thereby retaining sensorial characteristics.     

Experimental Investigation on the Performance of a Solar Still Using SiO2 Nanoparticles /Jatropha curcas L

Silicon - Now, enticing systematic civic since everywhere the world is used in green synthesis and benefit of the simple is eco-friendly with an emergent method of producing nanoparticles (NPs)....     

Matched‐dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses,using new cathodically coloring conducting polymers,with exceptional performance and incorporated into automated sunglasses

Reported are syntheses of several new monomer precursors of cathodically coloring conducting polymers (CPs), based on a propylene dioxythiophene skeleton. These are shown to yield CPs—both as homopolymers and as copolymers—that are nearly “perfectly” matched electrochemically and electrochromically with a set of anodically coloring poly(aromatic amines), for use in dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses. Resulting dual‐polymer electrochromic lenses display very high light/dark contrast (typically up to 70/7% or 50/0.5% Transmission (integrated over visible spectrum, vs. air reference), Haze < 2%, very high cyclability (> 10 K cycles), multiyear shelf life, appealing transparent to dark‐blue‐black transition, and excellent optical memory. Dramatic lowering of switching time, from 8 to < 1 s, is demonstrated using unique applied‐potential algorithm resident on inexpensive Microcontroller chip. Working, practical dual‐polymer electrochromic spectacles are demonstrated with electrochromic lenses retrofitted to spectacles meeting ANSI Z87.1, GL‐PD 10–12 (U.S. military) specifications. These incorporate photosensor, rechargeable Li battery, Microcontroller, allow for automated operation. Ab‐initio‐design spectacles, also conforming to above specifications, are also demonstrated, with components seamlessly hidden within frame. To the best of our knowledge, the electrochromic lenses and sunglasses reported herein represent the best visible‐region electrochromic performance for dual‐polymer CP electrochromic systems to date and the first practical implementation in working sunglasses. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41043.     

Synthesis and characterization of moisture‐cured polyurethane membranes and their applications in pervaporation separation of ethyl acetate/water azeotrope at 30°C

NCO‐terminated polyurethane membranes were prepared using diisocyanate, diol, and trimethylolpropane (TMP) using an NCO/OH ratio of 1.6 : 1. Prepolymer was chain‐extended using cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) in the ratios of 2 : 1, 4 : 1, and 3 : 1 of NCO/OH. Polyurethane (PU) membranes were characterized by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TGA) to investigate their thermal properties. Equilibrium sorption studies were carried out at 30°C in water and ethyl acetate media as well as in their binary mixtures. The influence of CAB on pervaporation (PV) separation of an ethyl acetate/water (92/8, w/w, i.e., azeotropic composition) mixture was investigated. Membranes in this study showed a selectivity of 42.42 with a flux value of 0.187 kg/m/h for 3 : 1% NCO/OH containing PU membrane. In order to gain a more detailed picture of the molecular transport phenomenon, we performed the sorption gravimetric experiments at 30°, 35°, 40°, and 50°C to compute diffusion, swelling, sorption, and permeability coefficients of PU membranes in the azeotropic mixture of ethyl acetate and water. Activation parameters for diffusion and permeation were computed from the Arrhenius equation to understand the polymer/solvent interactions. Sorption trends and diffusion anomalies were established through an empirical equation after estimating the diffusion parameters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3405–3414, 2007     

A delay and energy aware coordination mechanism for WSAN

In this paper, a delay and energy aware coordination mechanism (DEACM) has been devised for wireless sensor–actor networks. In DEACM, a two‐level hierarchical K‐hop clustering mechanism is used to organize the sensors and actors for communication. In the first level, sensors form a K‐hop cluster using actors as cluster heads, and sink is made as the cluster head in the second level to form a cluster among actors. Sensor nodes, which are 1‐hop away from the actors, also called as relay nodes are elected as backup cluster head (BCH) based on the residual energy and node degree. BCH collects the data from sensors when an actor is away to perform actions in the affected area. The scheme is evaluated through exhaustive simulation in NS2 along with other existing schemes. Different parameters like average event waiting time, event reliability, and average energy dissipation are compared, varying the number of sensors, actors, and data transfer rate. In general, it is observed that the proposed DEACM outperforms other existing schemes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.