Extraction and Isolation of Cellulose Nanofibers from Carpet Wastes Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Approach

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are the most advanced bio-nanomaterial utilized in various applications due to their unique physical and structural properties, renewability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It has been isolated from diverse sources including plants as well as textile wastes using different isolation techniques, such as acid hydrolysis, high-intensity ultrasonication, and steam explosion process. Here, we planned to extract and isolate CNFs from carpet wastes using a supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc.CO2) treatment approach. The mechanism of defibrillation and defragmentation caused by Sc.CO2 treatment was also explained. The morphological analysis of bleached fibers showed that Sc.CO2 treatment induced several longitudinal fractions along with each fiber due to the supercritical condition of temperature and pressure. Such conditions removed th fiber’s impurities and produced more fragile fibers compared to untreated samples. The particle size analysis and Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM) confirm the effect of Sc.CO2 treatment. The average fiber length and diameter of Sc.CO2 treated CNFs were 53.72 and 7.14 nm, respectively. In comparison, untreated samples had longer fiber length and diameter (302.87 and 97.93 nm). The Sc.CO2-treated CNFs also had significantly higher thermal stability by more than 27% and zeta potential value of −38.9± 5.1 mV, compared to untreated CNFs (−33.1 ± 3.0 mV). The vibrational band frequency and chemical composition analysis data confirm the presence of cellulose function groups without any contamination with lignin and hemicellulose. The Sc.CO2 treatment method is a green approach for enhancing the isolation yield of CNFs from carpet wastes and produce better quality nanocellulose for advanced applications.

Characterization of Nanosilver Biosynthesis by Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck and Peel-off Mask Formulation with Variation Polyethylene Glycol 400-Glycerin Concentration

Sweet orange contains flavonoids and citric acid that have the potential as a capping agent in the nanosilver biosynthesis process. The antibacterial activity of silver can be increased in nanoparticles, then it can be applied to treat acne through a peel-off mask preparation. Glycerin and Polyethylene glycol 400 are humectants that combined to obtain good physicochemical properties of the preparation. This study aims to determine the character of nanosilver biosynthesis and the effect of humectant combination on the physicochemical properties of the preparation. The characterization of nanosilver was employed by UV-VIS Spectrophotometry, Particle Size Analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscope. The Glycerin- PEG 400 combination was F1 (0:100%); F2 (25:75%); F3 (50:50%); F4 (75:25%) and F5 (100:0%). The results of nanosilver biosynthesis have an absorption peak of nanoparticles at 421-423nm, rod shape, the particle size of 83.2±7.2nm. Statistical analysis showed that the combination of Glycerin- PEG 400 had a significant effect on organoleptic, viscosity, and dry time, but did not affect the pH of preparation. The combination of Glycerin-PEG 400 (75%:25%) is the best formula because it has stable viscosity, dry time, and pH value during storage for four weeks.Keywords: nanosilver, biosynthesis, Citrus sinensis, humectants, peel off mask

Study on the Characteristics of Materials and Manufacturing Techniques for the Mural Paintings in Daeunjeon at Ssanggyesa Temple, Jindo

This study identifies the structure and material characteristics of the mural paintings in Daeungjeon at Ssanggyesa temple in Jindo by conducting scientific research and analysis including microscope examination, SEM-EDS, XRD, particle size analysis, and others. According to the analyses, the murals were considered to be of a typical soil mural style for Korean Buddhist murals, given that the walls were made of sand and soil and the murals had layers consisting of wall layers and a finishing layer. However, some finishing layer used calcite, while some ground layer used zinc white beneath the thick paint. In addition, there were similar features to those found on the surfaces of oil paintings such as cracks along with the paint layer, high gloss on surfaces, and thick brush strokes in many areas. It was found that the walls on which the murals were painted were made of soil but that the paint layer was created based on the oil painting technique using drying oil. It determined that the murals were painted in a unique painting style that is rarely found in other typical Buddhist murals in Korea.

Synthesized NaA nanozeolite as a catalyst for the preparation of 3-amino imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines under solvent-free conditions

The present study explores a new method for the fabrication of NaA nanozeolite as a simple and efficient catalyst for the production of 3-aminoimidazo [1,2-a] pyridines through the 3-component reaction of aldehydes, 2-aminoperidines and isocyanides under solvent-free conditions. The production of organic template free (OTF) NaA nanozeolite was performed at room temperature. The prepared nanozeolite was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electronic microscopy (FESEM), N2 sorption isotherm and particle size analysis (PSA). The particle sizes of synthesized spherical NaA nanozeolite were under 100 nm via the FESEM method. The BET surface area, total pore volume and mean pore diameter of the created sample were attained to be 362 m2g-1, 0.44 cm3 g-1 and 5.9 nm, respectively. The developed method has some advantages such as OTF production of NaA nanozeolite, simple synthesis method with short reaction time and easy separation using filtration and the ability to recycle and reuse of catalyst several times without reducing its efficiency.

Strategy Towards Active Food Packaging Material From Cellulose Nanoparticles and its Characterization

The utilization of agro-industrial wastes such as sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a source of cellulose has influenced a wide range of interest in various applications such as food packaging, drug delivery, paper production, etc. Owing to the rich source of cellulose in SCB, the nanoparticle was prepared efficiently. The pure form of cellulose was isolated from SCB by eliminating the remaining components such as hemicellulose and lignin by treating SCB with a soluble base and a bleaching agent. Cellulose nanoparticles were synthesized from the purified cellulose by acid hydrolysis using H2SO4 followed by dialysis to remove sulfate ions and attain neutrality. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy that helped to confirm the exclusion of lignin and hemicellulose. The crystalline nature of the cellulose nanoparticles (CNPs) was confirmed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The morphology of CNPs was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the particle size of CNPs was found to be 189 nm by particle size analysis (PSA). Further, this study proved the nanomaterial preparation from agro-wastes can be utilized to develop food packaging film in food industries.

Pharmaceutical and Physico Chemical Analysis of Tuttha Bhasma

Rasa sastra is an ancient science dealing with various drugs of mineral and metallic origin Tuttha (copper sulphate) is a mineral useful in various clinical conditions externally as well as internally. According to Rasasastra, through the process of Shodhana (purification) and Marana (incineration) the harmful effects of Tuttha bhasma (incinerated copper sulphate) is nullified resulting in the formation of a newer compound that is therapeutically more potent. To prepare Tuttha Bhasma by adopting standard manufacturing procedure explained in Ayurvedic texts as well as to study it’s physical and chemical characters using traditional and modern analytical tools. The pharmaceutical processing of Tuttha bhasma was carried out in three Kukkuta puta (incineration) with a peak temperature of 6100C according to Rasa Tarangini reference. Physico chemical analysis, Energy-Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Particle Size Analysis (PSA) were conducted. The final product shows presence of nano particles which was confirmed by particle analysis. XRD results of Tuttha bhasma revealed the presence of copper sulphide (covellite) with hexagonal lattice and sodium sulphate with orthorhombic structure. All of the preparation stages and changes in the properties were documented and validated, and they may now be used as a valuable tool for standardization and quality assurance of Tuttha bhasma.