Biodegradable Polymeric Membranes for Organic Solvent/Water Pervaporation Applications

Biodegradable polymers are a green alternative to apply as the base membrane materials in versatile processes. In this study, two dense membranes were made from biodegradable PGS (poly(glycerol sebacate)) and APS (poly(1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-co-polyol sebacate)), respectively. The prepared membranes were characterized by FE-SEM, AFM, ATR-FTIR, TGA, DSC, water contact angle, and degree of swelling, in comparison with the PDMS (polydimethylpolysiloxane) membrane. In the pervaporation process for five organic solvent/water systems at 37 °C, both biodegradable membranes exhibited higher separation factors for ethanol/water and acetic acid/water separations, while the PDMS membrane attained better effectiveness in the other three systems. In particular, a positive relationship between the separation factor and the swelling ratio of organic solvent to water (DSo/DSw) was noticed. In spite of their biodegradability, the stability of both PGS and APS membranes was not deteriorated on ethanol/water pervaporation for one month. Furthermore, these two biodegradable membranes were applied in the pervaporation of simulated ABE (acetone-butanol-ethanol) fermentation solution, and the results were comparable with those reported in the literature.

Coconut Neera—A Vital Health Beverage from Coconut Palms: Harvesting, Processing and Quality Analysis

Nature has made nutritive products in such a way that it cannot be manufactured in laboratories or in mills. Coconut Neera is the natural sap of the mature coconut palms rich with all essential nutrients, minerals and vitamins for human health. Harvesting of Neera from the spadix of the palms without disturbing the physiology of the tree has a lot of potential at the industrial scale. However, the development of alcohol in the extracted sap during tapping by auto-fermentation has given a misnomer for Neera as “sweet toddy”. Hence, the commercial popularity of Neera as a health drink has diminished at a global level. Though several traditional techniques like the usage of calcium hydroxide (lime) and the application of the chiller device during harvesting Neera from spadix have been practiced for collecting non-fermented Neera, none of the techniques were found acceptable at the commercial level. The results of the present study demonstrate the harvesting and processing procedure standardized for the collection and storage of non-fermented Neera from palms by repeated field trials. The cumulative effect of the anti-fermentation solution (AFS) with the presence of the two preservatives—citric acid (5 mM) and potassium metabisulphite (2 mM)—by preventing fermentation from the level of harvesting to processing was confirmed. The zero content of alcohol in raw Neera indicates the AFS action. The proximate composition of primary constituents and the content of minerals, amino acids and vitamins present in Neera highlights its nutrient value as a health beverage. The higher content of minerals—sodium and potassium (15.2 mg and 100 mg), the elevated level of amino acids-cysteine (14 mg), tyrosine (7.11 mg), arginine (7 mg) and the presence of vitamin C (65 mg) and vitamin A as retinol (4.88 IU)—indicates the therapeutic importance of coconut Neera. The data of oral toxicity and the glycemic index further support the vital quality.

Optimization of submerged fermentation conditions to overproduce bioethanol using two industrial and traditional Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

The present study focuses on the overproduction of bioethanol through submerged fermentation. In a batch-scale submerged bioreactor using a traditional and an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NCYC 4109 and SFO6) strains, the fermentation was accomplished. The effects of the substrate brix (20.50–24.00 °Bx) and inoculum percentage in the initial fermentation solution (15%–45%) as independent variables on bioethanol production (g/l) as the dependent variable were assessed using the response surface methodology. Using the obtained experimental values for the response variable based on experiments for the fermentation parameters, a general model (second-order) with high coefficient of determination values (R2 > 95%) was generated to predict the bioethanol concentrations that were obtained using both yeast strains. The obtained results indicated that the optimum fermentation conditions to overproduce bioethanol (56.14 g/l) using the SFO6 yeast were at the substrate brix and inoculum percentage values of 24.70 °Bx and 26.35%, respectively. However, a higher concentration of bioethanol (53.1 g/l) using the NCYC 4109 yeast strain was obtained at the substrate brix and inoculum percentage values of 24.68 °Bx and 40.07%, respectively.

Application of Butterfly Pea Flower Extract in Mask Development

(1) Background: Clitoria ternatea (butterfly pea), a plant species belonging to the Leguminosae (Fabaceae) family, is useful for medical treatments and has been used in folk medicines and to cure different diseases. The antioxidation ability of the total phenolic compounds of butterfly pea is useful for preserving flavor, and colour and for preventing vitamin destruction in processed foods. In this study, a butterfly pea flower fermentation solution was added to cosmetics as a whiting ingredient. (2) Methods: After the phenolics, flavonoids and ascorbic acid content of the butterfly pea flower extraction had been determined, lactic acid bacteria fermented the extraction. The whitening and moisturizing effect was assayed by SSC3 and NF333 analyzers. (3) Results: This study demonstrated that the butterfly pea flower fermentation solution has free radical scavenging ability, a reducing power in high concentrations, a moisturizing effect, and a whiting effect. (4) Conclusions: The results showed that the butterfly pea flower fermentation solution not only inhibits redness, itching, allergies, and irritation to the skin, but also has antioxidation properties and promotes moisture retention and whitening effects, and the results increase as the concentration increases. Therefore, butterfly bean flowers may be suitable as a raw material for natural beauty care products.

Comparing Effectiveness of Hay Infusion and Sugar Fermentation Solution as Ovitrap's Attractans to Aedes aegypti

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is still one of the major public health problems in the world and Indonesia. There are several methods of mosquito vector control, one of them is the use of ovitrap and the addition of attractants which is a compound that may attract gravid mosquitoes to lay eggs. Some examples of attractants are hay infusion and sugar fermentation solution. This research aimed to compare effectiveness of hay infusion and sugar fermentation solution as Aedes aegypti attractants. This research type was true experimental laboratory with complete randomized design which is divided into 3 groups of ovitrap containing aquades as control, 20% hay infusion and 20% sugar fermentation solution. Ovitraps with those attractants were put into a mosquito coop containing 25 gravid female mosquitoes. Mosquito’s eggs counting was done after 2 days with 9 times repetition. The data were then analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test. It was found that the difference of mosquito’s eggs number in the ovitrap containing the fermentation solution of sugar and hay infusion had a significance value of 0.000 (p> 0,05). It means that hay infusion is more effective compared with sugar fermentation. Keywords : DHF, ovitrap, attractant, hay infusion, sugar fermentation solution

Preparation of a fermentation solution of grass fish bones and its calcium bioavailability in rats

In this study, with grass fish bones as the substrate, after flavourzyme treatment, and fermentation with Leuconostoc mesenteroides, a fermentation solution with a high content of soluble calcium was obtained.

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF 4-OUTLETS SPRAY AERATOR FOR PROCESSING OF INDIGOFERA LEAVES (Indigofera Tinctoria Linn) BECOMES NATURAL DYE SUBSTANCES

The commonly known natural dye substance processing for traditional clothes, such as batik and tenun (woven cloth) is fermentation. The fermentation process can specifically be continued with extraction to produce indigo paste. The process can be done mechanically, i.e. by stirring process, and chemically. In order to accelerate the production, manual process of aeration can be substituted with jet-spray aerator. The aerator prototype which has been developed is acrylic aerator tube with diameter of 240 mm and thickness of 5 mm. The tube was made 1 m long to provide with a sufficient space for indigo foam. Its bottom part is completed with spiral air hose having five small holes of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mm diameter uniformly located along the height of solution in the tube. The aerator was designed for the 10 litters of fermentation solution of 1 kilogram indigofera leaves. Based on the mass of indigo paste produced, the optimum working condition of the aerator is achieved on 3.8 m/sec air velocity and supply pressure of 2 bar with duration of 60 minutes. The aeration test indicated operational characteristic was quite good, i.e. Oxygen Transfer Rate (OTR) of 3.6 kg/hour, Aeration Efficiency (AE) of 4.8 kg/kWh and factual Oxygen Transfer Efficiency (OTE) of 44%.