Development of Starch-Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Biodegradable Film: Effect of Cross-Linking Agent and Antimicrobials on Film Characteristics

To satisfy the need of developing eco-friendly flexible antimicrobial packaging film with minimum use of synthetic chemical ingredients, the present study examined the efficacy of citric acid (CA) as cross-linking agent and essential oils (EOs), viz., cinnamon essential oil (CEO) and oregano essential oil (OEO) as natural antimicrobials in corn starch-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) film. Compared to film prepared from filmogenic solution (FS) containing 75 kg CS+8.75 kg PVA+24.6 kg glycerol per m3 FS, film additionally containing CA at 0.07 kg/kg CS indicated 95% higher ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and 27% lower water vapor permeability (WVP). Film developed with incorporation of CEO and OEO at 1.875 m3 in 100 m3 FS (CS:PVA= 8.5:1) containing CA at 0.07 kg/kg CS exhibited antimicrobial action against Staphylococcus aureus. Added advantage was, both EOs could reduce WVP of film with no EO by about 50%, though CEO exhibited better antimicrobial action. Structural alteration in film matrix due to incorporation of EOs was evident from FTIR and SEM analyses. Thus, from the overall results, CEO (at 1.875 m3 /100 m3 FS) incorporated CS-PVA film cross-linked with CA, in prescribed amounts, was found to be the suitable antimicrobial film with appreciable mechanical properties (UTS ≈4 MPa, Elongation ≈50%) and water vapor permeability (≈0.5×10-6 kg.m.m-2.kPa-1.h-1)

Isolation and characterization of hydroxyapatite powder from the scale of freshwater fish Labeo rohita using green technology

359-368The objective of the present work was to isolate and characterize hydroxyapatite (HAP) from Labeo rohita scale using green technology. The method used only 0.6% KOH solution for isolation, which did not generate any spent liquid for disposal to the environment. Investigation through thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction study, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and particle size distribution measurement was carried out for characterization of HAP. The powder after isolation from scale contained < 7% organic matter and could be converted to thermally stable perfectly crystalline pure HAP without any organic impurity by exposition to 1000 °C for only 1 h. The heated HAP powder had a Ca:P ratio of 1.52 and indicated the grains to be in submicron size but remaining in soft agglomerated condition with 50% of the mass passing through ≈ 167 μm

Isolation and characterization of hydroxyapatite powder from the scale of freshwater fish Labeo rohita using green technology

The objective of the present work was to isolate and characterize hydroxyapatite (HAP) from Labeo rohita scale using green technology. The method used only 0.6% KOH solution for isolation, which did not generate any spent liquid for disposal to the environment. Investigation through thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction study, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and particle size distribution measurement was carried out for characterization of HAP. The powder after isolation from scale contained &lt; 7% organic matter and could be converted to thermally stable perfectly crystalline pure HAP without any organic impurity by exposition to 1000 °C for only 1 h. The heated HAP powder had a Ca:P ratio of 1.52 and indicated the grains to be in submicron size but remaining in soft agglomerated condition with 50% of the mass passing through ≈ 167 µm

Microwave-convective hot air and vacuum drying of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels seeds and its effect on total phenolics content, vitamin C and antioxidant activity

Seeds of (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) are rich in medicinal values. In this work, the effect of drying on its total phenolics content (TPC), vitamin C (vit C) and antioxidant activity (AA) was studied. Seeds were dried at 60, 70, 80, and 100 °C using both microwave-convective hot air drying (MCD) at 1, 2, and 3 W/g, keeping air velocity fixed at 0.5 m/s, and vacuum drying (VD) at 60, 160, and 260 mm Hg. Dried seeds were powdered and evaluated. Statistically, MCD at 60 °C, 2 W/g was selected as the best drying method and condition that retained the highest functional properties. Compared to fresh seed powder, this drying condition retained 82% of TPC and ≈ 34% vit C and increased AA by about 52%. The drying curve at 60 °C, 2 W/g was fitted to four different mathematical models, viz., Lewis, Page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic. Logarithmic model was found to be best suited for characterising the drying profile. The final product was non-hygroscopic and free-flowing with a negligible degree of caking

Microwave-convective hot air and vacuum drying of Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels seeds and its effect on total phenolics content, vitamin C and antioxidant activity

136-144Seeds of (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) are rich in medicinal values. In this work, the effect of drying on its total phenolics content (TPC), vitamin C (vit C) and antioxidant activity (AA) was studied. Seeds were dried at 60, 70, 80, and 100 &deg;C using both microwave-convective hot air drying (MCD) at 1, 2, and 3 W/g, keeping air velocity fixed at 0.5 m/s, and vacuum drying (VD) at 60, 160, and 260 mm Hg. Dried seeds were powdered and evaluated. Statistically, MCD at 60 &deg;C, 2 W/g was selected as the best drying method and condition that retained the highest functional properties. Compared to fresh seed powder, this drying condition retained 82% of TPC and &asymp; 34% vit C and increased AA by about 52%. The drying curve at 60 &deg;C, 2 W/g was fitted to four different mathematical models, viz., Lewis, Page, Henderson and Pabis, and Logarithmic. Logarithmic model was found to be best suited for characterising the drying profile. The final product was non-hygroscopic and free-flowing with a negligible degree of caking

Effect of screw speed and plasticizer on the torque requirement in single screw extrusion of starch based plastics and their mechanical properties

555-559Rod-shaped plastics have been prepared from blends of corn starch (69%) and plasticisers (31%), in the form of glycerol and water in different proportions (ranging from no glycerol to full glycerol) using a single screw extruder (compression ratio 1:1) (Length: Diameter ratio of 20:1) operated at specified constant temperatures, viz., 70, 110 and 110C at feed, mixing (plasticizing) and metering zones of the barrel, respectively. The screw speed was varied between 20 and 80 rpm. The torque generated during extrusion was recorded and then ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elongation at break (EB) were measured after storing the extrudates for nine months at ambient condition. There was no significant difference in torque requirement for extrusion for use of zero to 9% glycerol content in the blends; however, for glycerol content greater than 9%, the developed torque gradually increased over the full range of rpm used. The range of torque was from 4.5 to 28 Nm, and for each blend it passed through a minimum at 60 rpm. Ultimate tensile strength followed a decreasing trend with increase in glycerol content in the plasticizer mix. However, elongation at break followed an increasing trend for increase in glycerol content up to 24%, and thereafter followed a decreasing trend with further increase in glycerol content. For glycerol content less than 24%, screw speed had a strong and direct bearing on UTS, but for EB, screw speed had no specific trend

Evaluation of effluent from fish (Labeo rohita) scale processing as a fertilizer for paddy (Oryza sativa) production

Purpose Fish scale contains two important constituents, the hydroxyapatite and collagen. The purpose of this paper was to use the dried form of the effluent, called Fish Scale Effluent (FSE), generated through simultaneous recovery of these constituents, as a fertilizer.Method The FSE was obtained from Labio rohita (Rohu) scale by treatment in sequence with potassium hydroxide, phosphoric acid, and ammonium sulfate. Chemical composition of FSE was analyzed. The FSE was applied as a sole fertilizer for IR36 paddy plant grown on sand in plastic pot. Various growth parameters and grain qualities were evaluated.Results FSE contained most of the macro- and micro- elements required for growth, and the plant could be harvested by 126 days. Among different concentrations, 2% FSE (w/v) solution gave the best growth results, viz., plant height at maturity (98 cm), effective tillers (22.2/plant), spikelets (90/panicle), paddy production (44.2 g filled grain/plant) and chaffyness (only 2.85% of total paddy). The paddy thus produced exhibited 75.11% hulling, the de-hulled rice containing 55.18% of whole kernel having hardness of around 6 kg. The brown rice contained (sample basis) protein, fat, fibre, ash, and carbohydrate as 7.40%, 1.71%, 0.93%, 1.11% and 75.35%, respectively; morphology of the starch granule being irregular polyhedral in shape with maximum size <10 µm.Conclusion Since these plant growth and grain quality criteria are in acceptable limit, the FSE could be utilized as a potential fertilizer for paddy production

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"Arial Unicode MS";mso-bidi-font-family: Mangal;mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB;mso-bidi-language: HI" lang="EN-GB">Nutritive, therapeutic and processing aspects of Jamun,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Syzygium cuminii</i> (L.)Skeels- An overview</span>

295-307Jamun (Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels is a seasonal perishable berry, grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. It is rich in minerals, phytochemicals and shows high antioxidant potential heading towards its therapeutic effects. From ancient era, jamun is being cherished and used for controlling diabetes mellitus. Its seeds are popular among alternative medicine systems to control different ailments such as diabetes, cardio-vascular and gastro-intestinal disorders. Owing to such attributes, the powdered jamun seeds have been commercialized to meet these purposes. Recently, pharmacological effect of this fruit has been systematically evaluated by many researchers. This review is an attempt to present the compendious information on nutritive, therapeutic and processing aspects of jamun available hitherto

Nutritive, therapeutic and processing aspects of Jamun, Syzygium cuminii (L.)Skeels- An overview

Jamun (Syzygium cuminii (L.) Skeels is a seasonal perishable berry, grows mainly in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. It is rich in minerals, phytochemicals and shows high antioxidant potential heading towards its therapeutic effects. From ancient era, jamun is being cherished and used for controlling diabetes mellitus. Its seeds are popular among alternative medicine systems to control different ailments such as diabetes, cardio-vascular and gastro-intestinal disorders. Owing to such attributes, the powdered jamun seeds have been commercialized to meet these purposes. Recently, pharmacological effect of this fruit has been systematically evaluated by many researchers. This review is an attempt to present the compendious information on nutritive, therapeutic and processing aspects of jamun available hitherto

Sensory evaluation of aromatic foods packed in developed starch based films using fuzzy logic

The last two decades have seen attempts to replace non biodegradable, synthetic food packaging films with alternatives made from biopolymers. The objective of the present work was to evaluate sensory quality of tea leaf and culinary tastemaker powder when sealed in pouches based on starch films.Films were developed from corn starch and a functional polysaccharide (FP) from amylose (AM), methylcellulose (MC), and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), using a casting technique. Pouches were stored inside a secondary package (plastic jar) under ambient condition for 90 days. Sensory attributes of the stored food samples were evaluated (tea in liquor form) and the scores analysed by fuzzy logic. Results were compared with similarly stored foods but using market available poly-pouches as packaging material.For tea and tastemaker in general, the relative importance of the sensory attributes under consideration was assessed as:  aroma (Highly important) &gt;taste (Highly important)&gt;colour (Highly important) &gt; strength (Important) for tea, and taste (Highly important)&gt;aroma (Highly important)&gt;colour (Important)&gt;appearance (Important) for tastemaker. Among the three films that were developed, the highly important sensory attributes of aroma and taste were maintained as ‘Very good’ when the foods were packed in starch–HPMC/AM film. When the products were packed in market-available poly-pouches they exhibited similar attributes. With the exception of ‘Very good’ maintenance of the colour of tastemaker by the commercial pouch, irrespective of film and food, the colour and strength/appearance were retained in the ‘Good’-‘Satisfactory’ range. The overall sensory score of tea was also maintained as ‘Very good’ in starch-HPMC film. </p