Waste Medical Cotton Reinforced Chitosan Biocomposite Film Using Tannic Acid as the Crosslinking Agent

Sustainable biocomposites were prepared from the reinforcement of waste medical grade cotton (MGC) in a chitosan matrix. This work presents an investigation of the influence of tannic acid on the chitosan-MGC biocomposite. A series of samples comprising pure chitosan film, MGC and chitosan-MGC biocomposites were crosslinked with tannic acid. The interfacial interaction among the components in biocomposite was established by FTIR and SEM study. The crystallinity of biocomposite was in between chitosan film and MGC sample as shown by XRD. Crosslinked chitosan-MGC biocomposite shows improvement in mechanical properties. The thermal stability of the composite sample is considerable stabler than MGC

Preparation and Characterization of Chitosan/viscose Rayon Filament Biocomposite

Viscose rayon filaments were used as reinforcement in the chitosan matrix (dissolved in acetic acid) to create a truly green composite. Unidirectional composites with different weights of viscose rayon filament were fabricated. The composite material was characterized by tensile strength, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM. The tensile strength of the biocomposite increased (43.81%), and elongation % decreased (11.42%) with an increase in reinforcement loading. FTIR spectra of biocomposites confirmed strong hydrogen bonding between chitosan and hydroxyl groups of viscose rayon. The SEM micrograph indicated that the viscose rayon filament was fully surrounded by the matrix, and hence a strong composite was fabricated

Novel Sericin/Viscose Rayon-Based Biocomposite: Preparation and Characterization

Biocomposite film of viscose rayon filament (VF) and sericin was prepared by a solvent casting method. Sericin was extracted from Bombyx mori cocoons and was used as a matrix, in which viscose rayon filaments were used as a reinforcing material. Different amount of VF (i.e., 15, 20, and 25 wt.%) were used in the biocomposites manufacturing. The effect of various amounts of VF on the mechanical properties of sericin-viscose rayon biocomposite (SVB) were characterized by tensile tests. Moreover, FTIR, TGA, XRD, and SEM analysis were performed to investigate the thermal behavior, the crystallinity and the morphology of the resulting biocomposites, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation at break increased with increasing loading of VF in the matrix. The tensile modulus of the composite films showed a linear, additive dependence on the mixing ratio. The strong hydrogen bonding between sericin and VF was confirmed by FTIR analysis. The decomposition temperature of SVB was higher than VF and sericin indicating its enhanced thermal stability. VF was uniformly impregnated in the sericin matrix as confirmed by the SEM analysis. Resultant biocomposite can find application in various fields like medical textile, automobile, etc

Development and characterization study of silk filament reinforced chitosan biocomposite

The present work aims to explore the use of a silk filament (SF) as a reinforced material in chitosan matrix to develop low-cost biocomposite using the solution casting technique. The biocomposites were assessed for their physiochemical, mechanical, as well as thermal properties. Fourier-transform infrared study confirmed the chemical interaction between SF and chitosan matrix in biocomposite samples. The morphology of SF in the matrix was discovered by scanning electron microscopy analysis and bundle formation of individual filaments was observed due to the adhesive effect of chitosan solution. The prepared composites with higher loading showed improved mechanical properties. X-ray diffraction study showed increased crystallinity of the biocomposite when compared with the chitosan film (CF). The thermal properties of the biocomposites improved due to the presence of SF

Mass transfer from a highly soluble single cylinder in parallel flow

This work deals with the study of mass transfer rates from single cylinders of oxalic, succinic and boric acids placed in parallel flowing water stream. Due to high dissolution rates of acids, the surface area of the cylinder is continually changing with time and cannot be assumed constant. The hydrodynamic regimes through which mass transfer takes place from a cylinder are divided into three regions: (i) transfer from the bottom surface of the cylinder; (ii) transfer from the lateral surface; and (iii) transfer from the top surface. In the present work, appropriate correlations have been obtained experimentally for each of these cases, together with the overall mass transfer. The predictive equations proposed herein enable calculation of the overall mass transfer coefficient in a new application with an acceptable level of accuracy

The immediate impact of a balanced, very low-calorie diet on the metabolic health of Indian subjects - A prospective longitudinal study

Problems considered: Global challenges posed by obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, and related metabolic diseases necessitate effective interventions. Pharmacotherapy often falls short, leading to a demand for innovative approaches. This study delves into the effects of an organized diet featuring a readily available food substitute blend over an eight-week span. Methods: The study implemented a low-calorie diet (800–830 calories), comprising three shakes, non-starchy vegetables, soups, reduced buttermilk, and limited fat. Assessments covered NCDs like T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. WHO STEPS protocol guided anthropometric measures and blood pressure readings, while INBODY 230 Analyser determined body composition. SPSS 16 software facilitated analysis of baseline and two-month follow-up data. Results: Participants with an average baseline BMI of 31.9 kg/m2 witnessed substantial improvements. Weight, BMI, waist and hip circumferences, neck, arm, and thigh circumferences, and body fat percentage registered significant decreases. Positive changes were observed in diabetes indicators, including reduced HbA1c (7.2%–6.1%) and fasting/post-prandial blood glucose (p < 0.001). Noteworthy enhancements extended to blood pressure, triglycerides, and NAFLD markers (p < 0.001), indicating favorable shifts in obesity-related markers and metabolic irregularities. Conclusion: The study underscores the potential of reversal diet in real-world clinical settings, offering promise in ameliorating metabolic disorders linked to obesity. Intriguingly, these benefits extended to individuals of South Asian region, accentuating its broad relevance. However, sustaining these improvements necessitates further exploration through extended interventions with larger participant cohorts. The findings kindle optimism in addressing mounting burden of metabolic diseases on a global scale