Effect of Chemical Modifications on Pasting Properties of Cocoyam Starch (Xanthosoma Sagittifollium)

The present study investigated the effect of chemical modifications on pasting properties of starch isolated from Cocoyam chemically modified to produce oxidized starch. The objective of chemical modification was to tailor and improve the native properties of Cocoyam starch so that it could be used in wide variety of food products. The chemicals used for oxidation is sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The pasting characteristics of native and modified (oxidized) cocoyam were analyzed using Rapid Visco Analyser (RVA). The peak viscosity of native cocoyam (304.70C) was reduced after oxidation (290.50C). The trough of native cocoyam (164.9Bu) was increased after oxidation (176.0Bu). The pasting value of native Cocoyam (4.52mins) reduced after Oxidation (4.50mins). The setback value for the native cocoyam (88.42) was reduced after oxidation (87.92).The pasting temperature of native cocoyam (79.650C) was significantly reduced after oxidation(78.350C). The FT-IR showed that the native cocoyam showed hydroxyl peak around 3492.24cm-1.  On oxidation, the FT-IR spectrum showed a new peak around 1641.48cm-1 for carbonyl group. Keywords: cocoyam modified , native starches, pasting properties, RVA, Ft-Ir, carbonyl group

Phytochemical, Antimicrobial and Gc-Ms of African Nutmeg (Monodora Myristica).

The quest to continue searching for new antibiotic, anti-parasites necitate this project as African nutmeg is a very useful plants medically and all its parts are useful. The major aim of this research work was to examine the monodora myristica for its secondary metabolites, antimicrobial analysis and to characterize the oil using gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer. The antimicrobial screening was done using agar method and the isolates used were obtained from the microbiology laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Akure, saponin, alkaloid, tannin and flavonoids were determined using standard methods. The results of the characterization of oil showed that organic compounds and fatty acids were present, the fatty acids present included, Palmitic acid, Eicosanoic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, the results showed that the plants contained essential fatty acids useful for both adult and infant. The result of antimicrobial screening showed that the oil was very sensitive against the tested isolates. After 24hours incubation, the zone of inhibitions against Escherichia coli was (11millimetre), Bacillus substilis (8millimetre) and Staphylococcus aureus (11millimeter). The result compares favorably with standard streptomycin, the result of zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli of the sample (11millimetre) was better than that recorded for standard streptomycin (7millimetre).These may be as a result of presence various secondary metabolites which were discovered in the sample during analyses. These are flavonoids, tannin, saponin and alkaloids

Sustainable Chitosan Supported Magnetite Nanocomposites for Sequestration of Rhodamine B Dye from the Environment

This study investigated the sustainable chitosan supported magnetite nanocomposites (C-Fe3O4) for sequestration of Rhodamine B (RhB) Dye from environment. The synthesis of C-Fe3O4, its physicochemical characterization and synergistic influence of initial concentration of the dye and time of contact with the adsorbent during the sorption of Rhodamine B (RhB) on C-Fe3O4 were studied. The physicochemical properties indicated better equilibration via bulk density of 0.731 g/cm3, moisture content 7.2, point of zero charge (PZC) of 4 indicated suitability for RhB. Functional group of C-Fe3O4 determined by FTIR revealed characteristics peaks at 3433 cm-1 and 698 – 478 cm-1 confirming the successful formation by incorporation of chitosan and magnetite nanoparticles. Synergistic influence of the time of contact and initial concentration of Rb dye influenced the dye sorption. Effective adsorption of RhB onto C-Fe3O4 was studied using batch adsorption techniques at initial concentration (200 – 1000 ppm), contact time (10 – 120 min), stirring speed (120 rpm), temperature of 25 oC and adsorbent dosage of 100 mg. Rapid adsorption of RhB onto C-Fe3O4 was obtained at 10 min with 96.9% removal efficiency at highest RhB concentration of 1000 ppm. The study revealed the efficacy of contact time and initial dye concentration as imperative operational parameters majorly influencing sorption study