Development of Greaseproof Paper from Banana Pseudostem Fiber for Packaging of Butter

A study was undertaken to make greaseproof packaging paper using banana pseudostem fiber. Kraft pulp produced from banana fiber was beaten to the freeness of 60°SR and 70°SR, and handsheets (40 ± 1 g/m2) produced were coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (3% and 5% w/v) and sodium alginate (3% and 5% w/v). Handsheets were compared based on differences in their mechanical (tensile index and bursting strength) and barrier properties (contact angle, grease resistance, and air resistance). Significant differences among the treatment were found for all the responses studied. Results obtained for ‘turpentine oil test’ showed that handsheets made at 70°SR and subsequently coated with 3% and 5% carboxymethyl cellulose had grease resistance properties. It was observed that handsheets (70°SR) coated with 5% carboxymethyl cellulose possess maximum tensile index (65.00 ± 3.46 Nm/g), burst strength (3.76 ± 0.21 kg/cm2), contact angle (41.27 ± 0.45º), and air resistance (29.95 ± 0.38 s/100 ml). However, if the amount of coating absorbed per unit area of the sheet is taken into consideration, handsheets produced with 70ºSR pulp freeness in combination with 3% carboxymethyl cellulose coating seem to be more efficient and can be used for packaging of butter

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Not AvailableThe effect of vacuum packing and ambient storage conditions on the stability of the β-carotene in the transgenic Golden Rice® lines was studied. The β-carotene was quantified using RP-HPLC at bimonthly intervals for a period of six months. The β-carotene concentration in the genotypes analyzed ranged from 7.13 to 22.81 µg/g of endosperm. The transgene being the same in all the genotypes, variation in the β-carotene concentration reflects on the genetic background of the rice variety and the transgene position that governed the differential accumulation of β-carotene. It was observed that in the absence of light, oxidative degradation is higher followed by thermal degradation. Weibull model with higher R2 best explained the degradation kinetics of β-carotene in Golden Rice® lines across all the storage conditions. The knowledge generated through this study can be utilized in devising an effective delivery system for Golden Rice® to the consumer.Not Availabl

Response surface optimization of process parameters for preparation of cellulose nanocrystal stabilized nanosulphur suspension

Abstract This study employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize various parameters involved in the synthesis of nanosulphur (NS) stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The elemental sulphur (ES) mixed with CNCs was processed in a high-pressure homogenizer to make a stable formulation of CNC-stabilized NS (CNC-NS). RSM was adopted to formulate the experiments using Box-Behnken design (BBD) by considering three independent variables i.e., ES (5, 10, 15 g), CNCs (25, 50, 75 ml), and the number of passes (NP) in the high-pressure homogenizer (1, 2, 3). For the prepared suspensions (CNC-NS), the range of the responses viz. settling time (0.84–20.60 min), particle size (500.41–1432.62 nm), viscosity (29.20–420.60 cP), and surface tension (60.35–73.61 N/m) were observed. The numerical optimization technique was followed by keeping the independent and dependent factors in the range yielded in the optimized solution viz. 46 ml (CNCs), 8 g (ES), and 2 (NP). It was interpreted from the findings that the stability of the suspension had a positive correlation with the amount of CNC while the increasing proportion of ES resulted in reduced stability. The quadratic model was fitted adequately to all the responses as justified with the higher coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.88). The characterization performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed better-stabilizing properties of the optimized CNCs–ES suspension. The study confirmed that CNCs have the potential to be utilized as a stabilizing agent in synthesizing stable nanosulphur formulation by high-pressure homogenization