Utilisation and effect of dried apple peels in preparation of a new dry sausage prototype

The purpose of this study was to develop a new recipe to obtain a special innovative pork sausage, to develop the manufacturing process, technological stages, and nutritional analysis of the final product. We obtained this product starting from a classic recipe (of pork sausage), it was added by adding of dry apple peels The apples are fruits with a rich content of ascorbic acid, and biominerals, and also have a high content of antioxidants. Our work has focused on evaluation of the sensory characteristics, biochemical, and nutritional characteristics a type of sausage obtained by adding of dry apple peels (sausage DAP). Sensory examination was performed by analyzing the appearance, texture and taste. The main physico-chemical features observed in the sample of sausage (simple sausage and sausages prepared with added dry apple peels) were: the content of humidity (%), ash (%), soduim chloride (%), protein (%), fat (%), carbohydrates (%) and energetic value (kcal/100g). Following the research that have been undertaken in this work, the obtained product (sausage obtained by adding of dry apple peels – sausages DAP) can be included in the category of secure products of consuming. This prototype can be considered a food variant due to its high nutritious properties and to its distinguished taste too

Peelable nanocomposite coatings : "eco-friendly" tools for the safe removal of radiopharmaceutical spills or accidental contamination of surfaces in general-purpose radioisotope laboratories

Radioactive materials are potentially harmful due to the radiation emitted by radionuclides and the risk of radioactive contamination. Despite strict compliance with safety protocols, contamination with radioactive materials is still possible. This paper describes innovative, inexpensive, formulations that can be employed as 'eco-friendly' tools for the safe decontamination of radiopharmaceuticals spills or other accidental radioactive contamination of the surfaces arising from general-purpose radioisotope handling facilities (radiopharmaceutical laboratories, hospitals, research laboratories, etc.). These new peelable nanocomposite coatings are obtained from waterbased, non-toxic, polymeric blends containing readily biodegradable components, which do not damage the substrate on which they are applied while also displaying efficient binding and removal of the contaminants from the targeted surfaces. The properties of the film-forming decontamination solutions were assessed using rheological measurements and evaporation rate tests, while the resulting strippable coatings were subjected to Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and tensile tests. Radionuclide decontamination tests were performed on various types of surfaces encountered in radioisotope workspaces (concrete, painted metal, ceramic tiles, linoleum, epoxy resin cover). Thus, it was shown that they possess remarkable properties (thermal and mechanical resistance which permits facile removal through peeling) and that their capacity to entrap and remove beta and alpha particle emitters depends on the constituents of the decontaminating formulation, but more importantly, on the type of surface tested. Except for the cement surface (which was particularly porous), at which the decontamination level ranged between approximately 44% and 89%, for all the other investigated surfaces, a decontamination efficiency ranging from 80.6% to 96.5% was achieved

Design and Evaluation of Screening Smoke Compositions Based on Red Phosphorus in Open Field Conditions

This research describes the design and evaluation of screening smoke compositions based on red phosphorus (RP), in open field conditions. In defense applications, smoke is used for both signaling and screening. Defense forces use smoke screening over their operational areas to conceal positions and activities from the ground or air observation performed by the enemy. In this research, various optimized smoke charges based on RP were prepared and tested to investigate IR and VIS screening effectiveness in static and dynamic conditions and to establish the parameters that influence the screening time (ST- the active time of the small solid hot particles suspended in the air). In addition, this study projected a mathematical model to describe the concealing time of a civil or military target by optimizing the smoke compositions. The mathematical approach clarifies the limitations of reducing smoke charge while maintaining adequate screening time. The empirical mathematical model estimates the screening time of the generated solid smoke particles (aerosol) through laboratory experiments and open field studies. According to the experimental results, more hot particles should be kept in the atmosphere to maintain the smoke screen and sustain the aerosol density in the considered volume

Strippable Polymeric Nanocomposites Comprising “Green” Chelates, for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides

The issue of heavy metal and radionuclide contamination is still causing a great deal of concern worldwide for environmental protection and industrial sites remediation. Various techniques have been developed for surface decontamination aiming for high decontamination factors (DF) and minimal environmental impact, but strippable polymeric nanocomposite coatings are some of the best candidates in this area. In this study, novel strippable coatings for heavy metal and radionuclides decontamination were developed based on the film-forming ability of polyvinyl alcohol, with the remarkable metal retention capacity of bentonite nanoclay, together with the chelating ability of sodium alginate and with “new-generation” “green” complexing agents: iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC). These environmentally friendly water-based decontamination solutions are capable of generating strippable polymeric films with optimized mechanical and thermal properties while exhibiting high decontamination efficiency (DF ≈ 95–98% for heavy metals tested on glass surface and DF ≈ 91–97% for radionuclides 241Am, 90Sr-Y and 137Cs on metal, painted metal, plastic, and glass surfaces)

Film-Forming Polymeric Blends Designed for the Removal of Heavy Metals and Radionuclides from Contaminated Surfaces

Surface decontamination is a vast domain. The majority of the methods use a considerable quantity of water, requiring further treatments. This study presents an ecological method for surface decontamination, based on polymeric nanocomposites, specially designed for the removal of heavy metals and radionuclides. Besides being effective in decontaminating the surfaces, these polymeric coatings also reduce the volume of the waste materials. The novelty of this work consists of the innovative path of combining the advantages brought by the film-forming ability of polyvinyl alcohol, with the remarkable metal retention capacity of bentonite nanoclay, together with the chelating ability of alginate, and with one of two ‘new-generation ‘green’ complexing agents’: iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) and 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTC). These are used to obtain powerful, customizable, and environmentally friendly, film-forming, water-based solutions, for the surface decontamination of heavy metals or radioactive metals. Decontamination tests revealed a high decontamination efficiency for heavy metals (DF ≈ 95–98%, tested on glass surface) and also for radioactive metals (DF ≈ 91–97% for 241Am, 90Sr-Y and 137Cs, tested on metal, painted metal, plastic, and glass surfaces).This eco-friendly, low-waste, biodegradable method can successfully be employed, alternatively, to classical methods, having comparable capabilities for surface decontamination, but multiple advantages

Eco–Friendly Peelable Active Nanocomposite Films Designed for Biological and Chemical Warfare Agents Decontamination

In the context of imminent threats concerning biological and chemical warfare agents, the aim of this study was the development of a new method for biological and chemical decontamination, employing non-toxic, film-forming, water-based biodegradable solutions, using a nano sized reagent together with bentonite as trapping agents for the biological and chemical contaminants. Bentonite-supported nanoparticles of Cu, TiO2, and Ag were successfully synthesized and dispersed in a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/glycerol (GLY) aqueous solution. The decontamination effectiveness of the proposed solutions was evaluated by qualitative and quantitative analytical techniques on various micro-organisms, with sulfur mustard (HD) and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) as contaminants. The results indicate that the peelable active nanocomposite films can be successfully used on contaminated surfaces to neutralize and entrap the hazardous materials and their degradation products. Mechanical and thermal characterization of the polymeric films was also performed to validate the decontamination solution’s potential as peelable-film generating materials. The removal efficacy from the contaminated surfaces for the tested micro-organisms varied between 93% and 97%, while for the chemical agent HD, the highest decontamination factor obtained was 90.89%. DMMP was almost completely removed from the contaminated surfaces, and a decontamination factor of 99.97% was obtained

Chitosan nanoparticles as a promising tool in nanomedicine with particular emphasis on oncological treatment

Abstract The study describes the current state of knowledge on nanotechnology and its utilization in medicine. The focus in this manuscript was on the properties, usage safety, and potentially valuable applications of chitosan-based nanomaterials. Chitosan nanoparticles have high importance in nanomedicine, biomedical engineering, discovery and development of new drugs. The manuscript reviewed the new studies regarding the use of chitosan-based nanoparticles for creating new release systems with improved bioavailability, increased specificity and sensitivity, and reduced pharmacological toxicity of drugs. Nowadays, effective cancer treatment is a global problem, and recent advances in nanomedicine are of great importance. Special attention was put on the application of chitosan nanoparticles in developing new system for anticancer drug delivery. Pre-clinical and clinical studies support the use of chitosan-based nanoparticles in nanomedicine. This manuscript overviews the last progresses regarding the utilization, stability, and bioavailability of drug nanoencapsulation with chitosan and their safety