Characterization and Separation Performance of a Novel Polyethersulfone Membrane Blended with Acacia Gum

Novel polyethersulfone (PES) membranes blended with 0.1–3.0 wt. % of Acacia gum (AG) as a pore-former and antifouling agent were fabricated using phase inversion technique. The effect of AG on the pore-size, porosity, surface morphology, surface charge, hydrophilicity, and mechanical properties of PES/AG membranes was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, contact angle and zeta potential measurements. The antifouling -properties of PES/AG membranes were evaluated using Escherichia coli bacteria and bovine serum albumine (BSA). The use of AG as an additive to PES membranes was found to increase the surface charge, hydrophilicity (by 20%), porosity (by 77%) and permeate flux (by about 130%). Moreover, PES/AG membranes demonstrated higher antifouling and tensile stress (by 31%) when compared to pure PES membranes. It was shown that the prepared PES/AG membranes efficiently removed lead ions from aqueous solutions. Both the sieving mechanism of the membrane and chelation of lead with AG macromolecules incorporated in the membrane matrix contributed to lead removal. The obtained results indicated that AG can be used as a novel pore-former, hydrophilizing and antifouling agent, as well as an enhancer to the mechanical and rejection properties of the PES membranes

Approaches in biotechnological applications of natural polymers

Natural polymers, such as gums and mucilage, are biocompatible, cheap, easily available and non-toxic materials of native origin. These polymers are increasingly preferred over synthetic materials for industrial applications due to their intrinsic properties, as well as they are considered alternative sources of raw materials since they present characteristics of sustainability, biodegradability and biosafety. As definition, gums and mucilages are polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates consisting of one or more monosaccharides or their derivatives linked in bewildering variety of linkages and structures. Natural gums are considered polysaccharides naturally occurring in varieties of plant seeds and exudates, tree or shrub exudates, seaweed extracts, fungi, bacteria, and animal sources. Water-soluble gums, also known as hydrocolloids, are considered exudates and are pathological products; therefore, they do not form a part of cell wall. On the other hand, mucilages are part of cell and physiological products. It is important to highlight that gums represent the largest amounts of polymer materials derived from plants. Gums have enormously large and broad applications in both food and non-food industries, being commonly used as thickening, binding, emulsifying, suspending, stabilizing agents and matrices for drug release in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. In the food industry, their gelling properties and the ability to mold edible films and coatings are extensively studied. The use of gums depends on the intrinsic properties that they provide, often at costs below those of synthetic polymers. For upgrading the value of gums, they are being processed into various forms, including the most recent nanomaterials, for various biotechnological applications. Thus, the main natural polymers including galactomannans, cellulose, chitin, agar, carrageenan, alginate, cashew gum, pectin and starch, in addition to the current researches about them are reviewed in this article.. }To the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientfíico e Tecnológico (CNPq) for fellowships (LCBBC and MGCC) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nvíel Superior (CAPES) (PBSA). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, the Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) (JAT)

Analysis of Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium and Lead Residue in Commercial Eggs in Damaturu Local Government, Yobe State, Nigeria

Poultry egg is a self-contained unit for starting a new life, it is the most consumable animal protein in the world and so the safety of this important food for its role in the daily diet is paramount. The objectives of this study were to determine the sources of table eggs and to detect the residue of cadmium, lead, chromium and arsenic in commercial eggs meant for human consumption in Damaturu Local Government, Yobe state. Sixty table egg samples were collected using convenient sampling method. After preparation and processing the samples in the laboratory the concentration of these metals has been determined in whole egg, using digital calorimeter. Data were analysed using SPSS statistical package (Version 21). There are 2 major source of commercial eggs in Damaturu Viz: Damaturu farms and Jos, plateau state. The mean residue concentrations of these metals in the whole egg was as follows: Damaturu farms include 0.023 mg/kg, 0.043 mg/kg, 0.032 mg/kg and 0.002 mg/kg for cadmium, lead, chromium and arsenic respectively. Jos include 0.054 mg/kg, 0.023 mg/kg, 0.007 mg/kg and 0.008 mg/kg for cadmium, lead, chromium and arsenic respectively. The mean residue concentration of Cadmium sourced from Jos farms and Chromium from both Damaturu and Jos farms have exceeded the Maximum residue limit for these metals in table eggs. Therefore, it is cause for concern. It can be prevented or control through Farmers’ awareness on the danger of heavy metal residue, adopting the principle of hazard analysis and critical control point and legislation by the government

Research Note 1: Detection of helminth parasites of ruminants in hedgehog Atelerix albivetrix

Parasitological investigation on the gastro-intestinal contents of hedgehog was conducted. Samples were scrubbed from the length of gastro-intestinal tracts of road kills and casualty hedgehogs collected from the road site(s) during the early hours of the day and transported to the laboratory before post-mortem changes sets in. Of the ninety-nine road-kills hedgehogs collected and used for the studies, 5.26% (5) and 2.10 % ( 2) prevalence rates of infestation with Haemonchus contortus and Dicrocoelium dendriticum that are classical ruminant helminthes were detected respectively. Thus, the findings confirmed hedgehog as a host in the epizootiology of helminth parasitosis in ruminants; further investigation is required to determine if hedgehog could act as a secondary intermediate host in the epizootiology of helminthes infection in ruminants. Keywords: helminth parasites, hedgehog, ruminants, helminthosis. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 28 (2) 2007: pp. 129-13