Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(methyl acrylate)-grafted-Sodium Salt of Partially Carboxymethylated Tamarind Kernel Powder

Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN)-initiated graft copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) onto sodium salt of partially carboxymethylated tamarind kernel powder (Na-PCMTKP, DS = 0.15) was studied in an aqueous medium by solution polymerization technique. The growth of the graft reaction was monitored gravimetrically. The role of various synthesis variables on the grafting yields was examined to achieve the maximum graft yields (%G = 278.27, %GE = 94.38, %Hp = 5.62) and the influence of the synthesis variables in the graft copolymerization has been discussed. The reactivity of methyl acrylate (MA) towards graft copolymerization was compared with that of acrylonitrile (AN) on the basis of the results obtained from the earlier studies and plausible explanation was furnished for the observed reactivity of both the monomers towards grafting. The evaluated optimized reaction conditions were utilized to study the effect of reaction medium on grafting and it was found that reaction medium plays an important role in graft copolymerization. In order to ascertain the grafting, characterization of the samples made by FTIR, TGA and SEM was conducted. The synthesized novel graft copolymer may find potential application to be used as metal adsorbents.

Photocatalysis and flocculation processes for recycling aquaculture effluent into nutrient-rich irrigation water

This research aimed to create a novel technique for recovering fertilizers from aquaculture effluent to overcome potential non-renewable fertilizers shortages. There are two steps: Photocatalyst technique for nutrient mobilization, succeeded by solids precipitating with two natural and one synthetic flocculant. The photocatalytic degradation of organonitrogen compounds in batch experiments started under the irradiation of sunlight. Following that, photocatalytic breakdown of organonitrogen compounds produces inorganic nitrogen constituents like NH4+, NO2−, and NO3−, which could be used as manure. It was found that, after 12 h of circulating, the concentration of inorganic nitrogen become as NH4+ = 17.2 g/L, NO2− = 18.1 mg/L, and NO3− = 15.9 mg/L. The jar test was adopted to assess the capacity of two natural compounds (tamarind kernel polysaccharide (TKP) and tannin-based product (TBS)) and synthetic water-soluble polymer cationic polyacrylamide (SWP) to reduce turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), COD and colour. The findings reveal that with a dose of 20 mg/L of TBS, 20 mg/L of TKP, and 50 mg/L of SWP, the maximum turbidity reductions were 95, 93, and 94%, respectively. The TBS was slightly better than TKP and highly better than SWP in terms of coagulation activities with TSS, COD and colour maximum removal efficiencies.

Evaluation of the Nutritional Characteristics for Tamarind kernel Flour Incorporated Cookies

Tamarind kernels are typically under-emphasized by products of the tamarind pulp industry. The kernel is a fair source of protein, fat (essential fatty acids), carbohydrates and minerals, which can replace conventional flour to develop new food products. The study aims to exploit the under-utilized tamarind kernel for value addition to improve tamarind kernel-based food products’ acceptability and consumption. The tamarind kernel incorporated cookies at 50 percent level of incorporation had moisture of 1.62 %, carbohydrate content of 72.52%, protein of 9.26 %, fat of 22.98%, fiber of 3.25% and ash of 1.12%, respectively. The developed cookies had higher protein and fiber content than control cookies, which depicts its potential to be the better alternative for the conventional flour.