Preparation, Proximate Composition and Culinary Properties of Yellow Alkaline Noodles from Wheat and Raw/Pregelatinized Gadung (Dioscorea Hispida Dennst) Composite Flours

The steady increase of wheat flour price and noodle consumptions has driven researchers to find substitutes for wheat flour in the noodle making process. In this work, yellow alkaline noodles were prepared from composite flours comprising wheat and raw/pregelatinized gadung (Dioscorea hispida Dennst) flours. The purpose of this work was to investigate the effect of composite flour compositions on the cooking properties (cooking yield, cooking loss and swelling index) of yellow alkaline noodle. In addition, the sensory test and nutrition content of the yellow alkaline noodle were also evaluated for further recommendation. The experimental results showed that a good quality yellow alkaline noodle can be prepared from composite flour containing 20% w/w raw gadung flour. The cooking yield, cooking loss and swelling index of this noodle were 10.32 g, 1.20 and 2.30, respectively. Another good quality yellow alkaline noodle can be made from composite flour containing 40% w/w pregelatinized gadung flour. This noodle had cooking yield 8.93 g, cooking loss 1.20, and swelling index of 1.88. The sensory evaluation suggested that although the color, aroma and firmness of the noodles were significantly different (p ≤ 0.05) from wheat flour noodle, but their flavor remained closely similar. The nutrition content of the noodles also satisfied the Indonesian National Standard for noodle. Therefore, it can be concluded that wheat and raw/pregelatinized gadung composite flours can be used to manufacture yellow alkaline noodle with good quality and suitable for functional food

Covalently bonded interfaces for polymer/graphene composites

The interface is well known for taking a critical role in the determination of the functional and mechanical properties of polymer composites. Previous interface research has focused on utilising reduced graphene oxide that is limited by a low structural integrity, which means a high fraction is needed to produce electrically conductive composites. By using 4,40-diaminophenylsulfone, we in this study chemically modified high-structural integrity graphene platelets (GnPs) of 2–4 nm in thickness, covalently bonded GnPs with an epoxy matrix, and investigated the morphology and functional and mechanical performance of these composites. This covalently bonded interface prevented GnPs stacking in the matrix. In comparison with unmodified composites showing no reduction in electrical volume resistivity, the interface-modified composite at 0.489 vol% GnPs demonstrates an eight-order reduction in the resistivity, a 47.7% further improvement in modulus and 84.6% in fracture energy release rate. Comparison of GnPs with clay and multi-walled carbon nanotubes shows that our GnPs are more advantageous in terms of performance and cost. This study provides a novel method for developing interface-tuned polymer/graphene composites

Gaya belajar pelajar tingkatan lima aliran perdagangan di lima buah sekolah menengah teknik : suatu kajian

Kajian ini mengenal pasti gaya belajar Visual, Auditori dan Kinestetik pelajar tingkatan lima aliran perdagangan di lima buah sekolah menengah teknik. Objektif utama kajian ini adalah untuk mengenal pasti peratus setiap kecenderungan gaya belajar di setiap sekolah yang dikaji. Satu ratus lima puluh orang pelajar telah dijadikan responden kajian. Kajian ini adalah berbentuk deskriptif dan instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah borang soal selidik yang telah diubahsuai dari Learning Style Inventory. Data dianalisis menggunakan Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) versi 11.5 bagi mendapatkan peratus, min, sisihan piawai serta mengenal pasti sekiranya terdapat perbezaan yang signifikan setiap skor gaya belajar di kalangan sekolah yang dikaji. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan peratus kecenderungan gaya pelajar paling tinggi ialah gaya belajar Auditori diikuti dengan gaya belajar Kinestetik dan Visual

Review on Blueprint of Designing Anti-Wetting Polymeric Membrane Surfaces for Enhanced Membrane Distillation Performance

Recently, membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a versatile technology for treating saline water and industrial wastewater. However, the long-term use of MD wets the polymeric membrane and prevents the membrane from working as a semi-permeable barrier. Currently, the concept of antiwetting interfaces has been utilized for reducing the wetting issue of MD. This review paper discusses the fundamentals and roles of surface energy and hierarchical structures on both the hydrophobic characteristics and wetting tolerance of MD membranes. Designing stable antiwetting interfaces with their basic working principle is illustrated with high scientific discussions. The capability of antiwetting surfaces in terms of their self-cleaning properties has also been demonstrated. This comprehensive review paper can be utilized as the fundamental basis for developing antiwetting surfaces to minimize fouling, as well as the wetting issue in the MD process

Optimization in Eugenol Production from Clove Oil with Saponification – Neutralization Process by using Response Surface Methods

The objective of this research was to obtain optimum condition in eugenol production from clove oil with response surface methods. Clove oil was founded from essential oil cluster in Batang district Central Java. The eugenol was produced with saponification and neutralization process. Eugenol was obtained with vacuum distillation. Eugenol concentration was analyzed with gas chromatography. In this research, the variable was studied are temperature and ratio of sodium hydroxide to clove oil and yield of eugenol as response variable. So the results was obtain in minimum condition with yield of eugenol 39.17% at X 1 = -0,0109 and X 2 = 0.3095 with determinant coefficient 0.764

SYNTHESIS AND EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF PHENYL AND FURAN-2-YL[1,2,4] TRIAZOLO[4,3-a]QUINOXALIN-4(5H)-ONE AND THEIR HYDRAZONE PRECURSORS

A variety of 1-(s-phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-one (3a-3h) and 1-(s-furan-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-one (5a-d) were synthesized from thermal annelation of corresponding hydrazones (2a-h) and (4a-d) respectively in the presence of ethylene glycol which is a high boiling solvent. The structures of the compounds prepared were confirmed by analytical and spectral data. Also, the newly synthesized compounds were evaluated for possible antimicrobial activity. 3-(2-(4-hydroxylbenzylidene)hydrazinyl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-one (2e) was the most active antibacterial agent while 1-(5-Chlorofuran-2-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-4(5H)-one (5c) stood out as the most potent antifungal agent

Trace ions rejection tunning in NF by selecting solution composition: Ion permeances estimation

Nanofiltration (NF) is suggested to selectively remove ionic species in aqueous process streams taking benefit of both membrane and aqueous solution composition. The importance of predicting and optimizing selective ion rejections by NF not only of major compounds (e.g. NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2, MgSO4) but also of minor ones such as ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3-), bromide (Br-), iodide (I-) typically present in natural and industrial process streams is crucial. The current work explores ion rejection patterns and membrane ion permeances using the phenomenological Solution-Electro-Diffusion-Film (SEDF) model. It makes possible rapid calculations that account for the effects of spontaneously arising electric fields on rejections. Experimental ion rejection data of several inorganic ions species at various transmembrane pressures and at fixed cross-flow velocity have been obtained with NF270 membrane. A number of trace ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, Ca2+, Mg2+, SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, Br-and I-) have been used in combination with various dominant salts (NaCl, MgCl2, MgSO4) as model feed solutions. Results showed that dominant salts were moderately (NaCl) and highly (MgCl2, MgSO4) rejected when some ions are divalent, while trace ions exhibited quite variable rejection, including negative ones mainly at low transmembrane volume flows. The electric field of membrane potential can accelerate or retard the ion flows to the permeate, so negative or unexpectedly high rejections could be observed. Ions transport was shown to be affected by the membrane chemistry (e.g. acid-base properties of the un-crosslinked carboxylic and amine groups) and the dielectric exclusion phenomena. From the modelling procedure, ionic membrane permeances were determined for various multi-ion systems studied. Results showed that nature of dominant salt composition can be used to control the rejection of minor components.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Single and binary protein electroultrafiltration using poly(vinyl-alcohol)-carbon nanotube (PVA-CNT) composite membranes.

Electrically conductive composite ultrafiltration membranes composed of carbon nanotubes have exhibited efficient fouling inhibition in wastewater treatment applications. In the current study, poly(vinyl-alcohol)-carbon nanotube membranes were applied to fed batch crossflow electroultrafiltration of dilute (0.1 g/L of each species) single and binary protein solutions of α-lactalbumin and hen egg-white lysozyme at pH 7.4, 4 mM ionic strength, and 1 psi. Electroultrafiltration using the poly(vinyl-alcohol)-carbon nanotube composite membranes yielded temporary enhancements in sieving for single protein filtration and in selectivity for binary protein separation compared to ultrafiltration using the unmodified PS-35 membranes. Assessment of membrane fouling based on permeate flux, zeta potential measurements, and scanning electron microscopy visualization of the conditioned membranes indicated significant resulting protein adsorption and aggregation which limited the duration of improvement during electroultrafiltration with an applied cathodic potential of -4.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). These results imply that appropriate optimization of electroultrafiltration using carbon nanotube-deposited polymeric membranes may provide substantial short-term improvements in binary protein separations

Effect of dispersion of carbon nanotubes on the synthesis of carbon nanotube/ polysulfone composite membranes

In this study, a Carbon Nanotube (CNT) dispersion method which can be adopted during the synthesis of a CNT/polysulfone Mixed Matrix Membrane (MMM) resulting in optimal performance in the application of oil and water separation is described. Furthermore, the influence of the CNT particle size on MMMs performance is reported. The two aspects of CNT/polysulfone MMMs considered in this study were investigated in two parts. In the first part of this work, CNT/polysulfone MMMs with 5% multi-walled CNT loading and pure polysulfone membranes were synthesized using the phase inversion method, three CNT dispersion methods (Method 1, Method 2 and Method 3 were adopted during synthesis of the MMMs). Characterization of the membranes and CNT was carried out to examine the morphology, the surface chemistry as well as the hydrophilic properties. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs depicted both porous cross sections and surface morphologies in MMMs and polysulfone membranes. However, the degree of CNTs dispersion within the polysulfone matrix was less pronounced for MMMs prepared using CNT dispersion Method 2. The functional groups observed for the MMMs and CNTs using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra included carboxylic acid groups (O−H) and carbonyl group (C=O) which are responsible for hydrophilic properties. The contact angles measured for the MMMs using CNT dispersion Method 1, Method 2 and Method 3 were 76.6±5.0○, 77.9±1.3○ and 77.3±4.5○ respectively, while 88.1±2.1○ was measured for the pure polysulfone membranes. The oil rejection obtained for MMMs synthesized by adopting CNT dispersion Method 1, Method 2 and Method 3 were 48.71%, 65.86% and 99.88% respectively. The oil rejection obtained for the pure polysulfone membrane was 84.92%. The pure water and oil water flux increased with an increase in trans-membrane pressure for all the membranes. The oily water permeability of the MMMs vi was 26.4 L m-2 h-1 bar-1, 113 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and 2.3 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 for MMMs prepared using CNT dispersion Method 1, Method 2 and Method 3 respectively, while the pure polysulfone membrane oily water permeability was 6.9 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 at 6.9 bar. The competition between water and oil to occupy the porous sites of the membranes was confirmed by the low oil rejection result for M4, indicating that the surface chemistry of the membranes favours the absorption of oil over water. The low rejection observed for M1 and M2 were attributed to poor CNT dispersion and formation of interfacial defects between the CNTs and polymer matrix, resulting in an increase in the free fraction volume that enhanced the permeation flux as well as the permeability. The adoption of CNT dispersion Method 3 has produced MMMs with exceptional oil rejection as well as good permeability. In the second part of this work, CNT dispersion Method 3 was adopted during the synthesis of MMMs with different CNTs particle size while the CNT loading was kept at 5%. CNT I, OD 6-9 nm x L 5 nm, and CNT II, D 110-170 nm x L 5-9 μm , were used in the study. Characterisation techniques and performance evaluation methods used in the first part of this work were also employed in part two. FTIR spectra confirmed that the functional groups present in both the CNTs were similar and most importantly included carboxylic acid groups (O−H). The contact angles measured for MMMs from CNT I and CNT II were 77.3 ± 4.5○ and 78.8 ± 5.6○ respectively. The oil rejection obtained was 99.88% and 99.76% for CNT I MMMs and CNT II MMMs respectively. The oily water permeability was 2.11 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and 2.20 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 for CNT I and CNT II respectively, at 8.28 bar. Fouling of CNT II MMMs was observed from a vii trans-membrane pressure at 9.66 bar which resulted in a decrease in permeability, while the oil permeation flux for CNT I MMMs increased with increasing TMP above 9.66 bar. This study demonstrates that the CNT dispersion method employed during synthesis influences the performance of MMMs in oil-water mixture separation, as well as the hydrophilic properties, which was indicated by the differences in the MMM contact angles. An interesting observation was that the incorporation of CNT in CNT/polysulfone composites can also be detrimental to the performance of the MMM, which was illustrated by the poor oil rejection obtained for MMMs prepared using CNT dispersion Method 1 compared to the pure polysulfone results. Furthermore, the CNT particle size has been shown to influence the performance of CNT/polysulfone MMMs. Increasing the particle size of the CNTs resulted in improved oil permeation flux as well as permeability at low pressure, however at a TMP above the 8.28 bar, MMMs with bigger CNTs foul more rapidly. The best CNT dispersion can be obtained in CNT/polysulfone MMMs by employing CNT dispersion Method 3 during synthesis and using small CNT diameters