Search

Despite its use in traditional medicines, studies on the radical scavenging activity of the essential oils from Xylopia aethopica from Nigeria have not been widely reported in literature. Thus, in this work, fresh fruits of Xylopia aethopica were air dried, ground and extracted through hydro-distillation using Clevenger-type distillation apparatus. The essential oil was analyzed using Gas Chromatographic/Flame Ionization Detection (GC/FID) Technique and confirmed by gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis. The radical scavenging activity of the essential oil was evaluated in comparison with butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) through 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay. A total of Forty-five compounds were detected through the GC/FID and GC/MS analyses of the essential oil of Xylopia aethopica. The major constituents of the essential oil were β-pinene (55.15%), α-thujene (9.23%) and α-eudesmol (8.61%) and α-pinene (6.77%). Other notable constituents were 1, 8-cineole (6.13%), ethyl cinnamate (5.83%) and elemol (5.17%). The methanolic solution of the essential oil showed concentration-dependent scavenging activity on 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The results of the Scavenging effect of the Xylopia aethopica essential oil compared well with the activity of the commercial radical scavenging agent, Butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA) and this suggests possible uses of the essential oil as sources of natural antioxidants. Data were analyzed using R statistical software.

Pectin is a complex polysaccharide that makes up about one third of the cell wall of higher plants. It was extracted from fruit peels of Irvingia gabonensis and pulp of Cola milleni and Theobroma cacao using acid extraction and alcohol precipitation methods. The effects of temperature and time on the yield and physicochemical properties of the extracted pectin were evaluated. Optimum yields of pectin from C. milleni, I. gabonensis, and T. Cacao were 10.73%, 19.83%, and 11.73% respectively at extracting period of 150 min and temperature of 100 °C. Although there was significant difference in moisture content, degree of esterification, equivalent weight, and methoxyl content of the extracted pectins, there was no significant difference in yield, protein, and ash content at 95% confidence interval. The monosaccharide composition of the three pectins shows that the extracted pectin composed of galacturonic acid and minor neutral sugars. Major functional groups in the extracted pectin show peaks in the region between 1000 and 2000 cm−1. The bands observed between 1627–1651 cm−1 and 1739–1793 cm−1 indicated the presence of the carbonyl group stretching. The surface morphologies of the extracted pectins show irregular shapes, non-smooth surfaces, and unequal sizes which also reveals more silica nodes in cocoa pulp pectin than in other pectins. Thermogravimetric analysis of the pectin samples shows multi-step stages of thermal decomposition, indicating wide range of thermal stability. The overall results specified that the pectins extracted from these plants are suitable for industrial applications.

Novel eco-friendly adsorbents were prepared through pyrolysis and acid activation of raw almond leaf (RAL) to form almond leaf biochar (ALB) and chemically activated almond leaf biochar (CAL), respectively. The prepared adsorbents were characterized using TGA, FTIR, SEM–EDX, BET and XRD techniques and their physicochemical properties investigated. RAL, ALB and CAL were utilized for adsorption of BPB dye from aqueous solution using batch technique under optimum conditions. The optimum dye adsorbed by RAL, ALB and CAL were 92.83, 93.21 and 94.89%, respectively at pH 3, dye initial conc. (100 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.04 g/25 mL), 60 min contact time and 301 K adsorption temperature. Although, Langmuir maximum monolayer adsorption capacities were found to be 365.36, 535.62 and 730.46 mg/g for RAL, ALB and CAL, respectively, but isotherm conformed to Freundlich model. Kinetic study confirmed suitability of pseudo-second-order model with rate constant 9.33 × 10–4, 9.91 × 10–4 and 12.60 × 10−4 g mg−1 min−1 for RAL, ALB and CAL, respectively. Negative values of thermodynamic parameters (∆G and ∆H) established sequestration process to be spontaneous and exothermic. RAL, ALB and CAL were discovered to be highly efficient adsorbents that could be used in place of expensive commercial adsorbents.

Moringa oleifera (MO) seed coat, a postharvest waste of MO seed, was mercerized and used as eco-friendly adsorbent for removal of Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solution at different time and temperature. Mercerized M. oleifera seed coat (MSC) was characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) before and after adsorption process. Data obtained from effect of contact time on CR dye-uptake were applied on Elovich, pseudo-first- and second-order kinetic models, as well as on intraparticle diffusion and Boyd models. SEM and FTIR showed adsorption of CR dye on MSC through filled holes (SEM), appearance of new and shifting existing of functional groups (FTIR) on the surface of MSC after adsorption process. Adsorption kinetics was seen to be best fitted with pseudo-second-order model with the highest value of correlation coefficient at all temperatures. Film diffusion mechanism controlled the adsorption process, where external mass transfer was higher than internal mass transfer. Adsorption kinetics parameters confirmed removal of CR dye from aqueous solution through chemical and physical adsorption on MSC.

Most textile materials are potential substrates for microbial growth. In order to make textile materials suitable as functional materials, the microbial growth must be reduced to the barest minimum or quenched due to their undesirable effects; such as offensive odor, discoloration, degradation, mechanical strength reduction etc. Chemical finishing of textile materials (such as application of silver nanoparticles, quaternary ammonium compounds, chitosan, some synthetic and natural dyes to mention a few) is capable of imparting this functional property among others to the textiles. Although, mechanism of antimicrobial activities of treated textiles is yet to be clearly defined, but in most cases, antimicrobial action of treated textiles usually occurs through interaction of cation in antimicrobial agents with anionic charged microbial cell wall. Antimicrobial treated textiles are usually less prone to offensive odor, discoloration, deteriorating mechanical properties and make the consumers free of skin problems. In fact, they can be used as cheap materials for production of hospital gowns, hand gloves and face masks for containing microorganism borne diseases, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Thermochemical decomposition of post harvest agro-wastes (biomass) to solid carbonaceous material called as bio-char, condensable vapors (bio-oils and bio-tars) and non-condensable vapors (bio-gas or syn-gas) is referred as pyrolysis. The yield of these products from biomass pyrolysis depends on temperature and other conditions (such as vapor retention time and heating rate) of thermal decomposition in air or oxygen excluded reactor. Bio-char is often used as adsorbent in treatment of water contaminated with dye effluent from textile industry and/or emerging contaminants from other industries. It is also used in production of supercapacitor for energy storage, fertilizer composite and soil amendment for slow release of nutrients for plants and stabilizing pH, enhances water holding and ion exchange capacity of soil. Bio-oils are used for transportation fuels, soaps and other cosmetics production. Bio-tars are also used for transportation fuels but with high heating values and also as organic solvents in chemical, biological and biochemical laboratories. Non-condensable vapors are mostly used as bio-fuels. Products of biomass pyrolysis are potential alternative eco-friendly precursors for chemical and allied industries.

Activated biochar was prepared from water lily through combination of physical and chemical technique. The prepared adsorbent was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis (CHN/O), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model (BET). Batch technique was used for adsorption of 99.25% of MG dye onto prepared adsorbent with 102.35 mg/g maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (Qmax) at optimum conditions of initial dye concentration (100 mg/L), adsorbent dose (0.1 g/100 mL), contact time (30 min), temperature (301 K), and stirring speed (200 rpm). Kinetic and equilibrium models were best fit with pseudo-first order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm, respectively. Thermodynamic parameters showed∆Ho, ∆So, and ∆Go to be 1.154 kJ/mol, 3.139 kJ/mol K, and −943.685 kJ/mol, respectively. Positive value of ∆Ho and large value of ∆So indicated that adsorption process was endothermic and that there was high collision rate at adsorbent–dye interface. The negative value of ∆Goconfirmed that adsorption process was spontaneous and feasible. Comparison of water lily stem-derived activated biochar (WLSAB) Qmax with those reported for other plant-derived activated carbons affirmed WLSAB as a better potential alternative adsorbent for treatment of dye-contaminated wastewater.

Natural dye extracted from Mucuna slonaei F leaves (MSL) was used as green, sustainable and eco-friendly alternative in coloring cotton fabric with and without sodium chloride (NaCl), ferrous sulfate (FeSO4·7H2O) and alum (KAl(SO4)2·12H2O) as mordants. Effects of these mordants on color parameters (exhaustion (%), lightness (L∗), color axes (a∗ and b∗), hue angle (ho), color strength (K/S) and fastness properties evaluated) of MSL dyed cotton fabric were investigated. Flavonoids were identified as main chromophoric constituents in extracted MSL dye by UV–visible and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry techniques. Satisfactory color parameters in unmordanted MSL dyed fabric indicated that cotton fabric has a moderate affinity for the extracted dye. Metal pre-mordanting enhanced dye exhaustion by 4.85, 13.10 and 10% in Sodium chloride (Na+), ferrous sulfate (Fe2+) and alum (Al3+) dyed cotton fabrics respectively. Unmordanted MSL dyed fabric has lighter shade, higher L∗ and lower K/S value than metal salt pre-mordanted fabrics. The value of a∗ greater than b∗ and ho ​

Novel 1,3-bis[(furan-2-yl) methylene]thiourea (BFMT) dye was synthesized from condensation reaction between sugarcane bagasse derived furfural and thiourea. The synthesized BFMT dye was characterized by physicochemical (melting point and CHN) and spectrometry (UV–Vis, FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR) analyses. The synthesized BFMT dye was screened for its antimicrobial (antibiotic and antifungal) properties. BFMT dye was applied on wool and cotton fabrics. The functional properties of BFMT dyed fabrics (color value, color strength, fastness properties, antimicrobial activities, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF), and mechanical properties) were assessed. Chemical composition of synthesized BFMT dye was determined by CHN analyzer, while its structure was confirmed by FTIR and NMR spectrometry analyses. BFMT dye solution showed reddish brown complementary color with λmax 485 nm on UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The antibiotic property of the synthesized dye was moderate, while antifungal property was excellent on tested microorganisms. BFMT dyed wool and cotton fabrics displayed good mechanical properties, air permeability, water vapor permeability and wetability. Dyed fabrics possessed excellent exhaustion (> 80%), fastness properties, ultraviolet protection factor (UPF > 40) and fungal growth inhibition rate (> 70%).

Activities of components in liquid Al–Ga and In–Sn alloys, the separation coefficients and vapour–liquid phase equilibrium in vacuum distillation were predicted using the molecular interaction volume model as a function of the activity coefficients. The results indicated that both Al and In are preferentially volatilised into vapour phase while Ga and Sn remain in residue. Similarly, we found that both the mass fraction and the content of Al and In in vapour phase increase as distillation temperature increases such that when the content of Al is 0.005985 wt% and In is 0.004141 wt% in vapour phase, respectively, in liquid phase, it was 70 wt% at T = 1073 K for both. The calculated values of activity and activity coefficients at various temperatures are presented. Comparison of the predicted values with experimental data indicates good agreement, thus verifying from statistical thermodynamics viewpoint that the model is stable and reliable.

This work investigates the influence of kaolin and dolomite on the properties of polyurethane foam. The selected fillers were pulverized and sieved to obtained

The separating effects of Al from Ti-Al alloys were investigated via the molecular interaction volume model in vacuum distillation. The vapour-liquid equilibrium (VLE) composition and the activity coefficients of Ti-Al alloys at 1773 K–2273 K were predicted using only the properties of pure components. The calculated values of components activities are in good agreement with the corresponding FactSage data used for comparison. Predicted results of VLE show that the content of Ti in vapour and liquid phases increases with increasing distillation temperature. At 1873 K, in the vapour phase, the content of Ti was 0.000379 and 0.001353, while in the liquid phase it was 20 and 70 (all in wt %), respectively. The predicted separation coefficients indicate that Al can be separated from Ti completely by vacuum distillation. This study verified that FactSage Thermo-Chemical Software and Databases could serve as suitable source of experimental data for binary liquid alloys.