Sustainable dyeing of wool fabric with Talaromyces purpurogenus

Natural dyes had been used by human being since ancient times for colouring of various materials including textiles. These were replaced completely by synthetic dyes, continuous use of which created the problem of pollution and environmental degradation. With the development of green technology and increased awareness of sustainability, the use of non-allergic, non-toxic and eco-friendly natural dyes on textiles has become a matter of significant importance. Among the natural sources of colourants, microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi have gained interest in the field of textile coloration. In the present study, the pigment solution yielded from growth of Talaromyces purpurogenus sp. on organic waste was used for dyeing of wool fabric. Under the dyeing conditions i.e. 1:30 M:L ratio, pH 5, 80º C temperature and 45 minutes dyeing time, the percent absorption could reach 57 %, 32%, 36% and 49% respectively. The wool fabric samples dyed with the fungal dye exhibited very good to excellent washing and rubbing fastness properties. The colour pigment obtained from fungal thus offered an opportunity to reduce impact on plant resources for dye source exploration. So it can be concluded from the study that a natural fungal dye could help to sustain the environment and to minimize the over exploitation of natural resources.

Optimasi Proses Penyerapan CO2 dengan Adsorben Karbon Aktif Menggunakan Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) dan Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Biogas purification from carbon dioxide compounds due to can reduce the calorific value of methane (CH4). One application used in this case is adsorption using activated carbon. This study aims to simulate the absorption of CO2 using ANSYS R19.0 and to analyze percent adsorption, adsorption capacity and isothermal adsorption. Based on variations in bed height, flow rate and pressure, the highest percent percussion occurs at 10 cm bed height, 50 cm3/minute flow rate with a pressure of 1.4 atm and the lowest percent absorption occurs at 6 cm bed height, 150 cm3/minute flow rate with a pressure of 1.2 atm. Whereas the maximum absorption capacity occurs at 8 cm bed height, 50 cm3/minute flow rate at a pressure of 1.4 atm and minimum absorption capacity occurs at 8 cm bed height, flow rate of 150 cm3/minute at a pressure of 1 atm. This adsorption process occurs in the Langmuir isotherm with R2 approaching 1, which is equal to 0.9151. The optimization results were obtained at a flow rate of 50 cm3/minute, bed height 9.46 cm and 1.4 atm pressure.

PENGGUNAAN ARANG AKTIF KULIT KACANG TANAH (Arachis hypogaea) SEBAGAI ADSORBEN DALAM PRODUKSI KAROTEN DARI FRAKSI OLEIN MINYAK SAWIT KASAR

Research using active charcoal leather peanut (Arachis hypogaea) as adsorbent in carotene production of crude palm oil olein fraction has conducted. This study aims to determine the ratio between active charcoal and olein that can produce the highest carotene shake time for 3 hours. Carotene analysis was conducted using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The study design is applied is completely randomized design (CRD), with 5 variations adsorbent ratio is 1: 5; 1,5: 5; 2: 5; 2,5: 5; 3: 5 w/v and each stage is repeated twice. Results of this research showed that the ratio of peanut skin adsorbent 2: 5 w/v have the best adsorption weighing carotene obtained at 0,72 mg and percent absorption by the adsorbent reaches 97,3%.Keywords: Peanut Leather, Adsorbents, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Carotene.

Eco-friendly dyeing of wool and pashmina fabric using Quercus robur L. (fruit cups) dye and Salix alba L. (wood extract) mordant

Study was conducted to investigate the dyeing potential of Quercus robur L. (fruit cups) dye and Salix alba L. (wood extract) mordant on wool and pashmina fabrics. The experiment was conducted keeping in view the environmental safety by using unutilized plant materials and excluding the usage of chemical agents. The dyeing was carried out individually including and excluding mordant adopting different mordanting methods. The parameters like percent absorption, colour coordinates, colour strength (K/S), relative colour strength and colour fastness with regard to washing, light and rubbing were investigated. The results revealed higher percent absorption of mordanted samples than unmordanted samples. Colour coordinates (L*a*b*, Chroma, hue and ΔE) of dyed wool and pashmina fabric exhibited satisfactory results. The colour strength (K/S) and relative colour strength of pashmina fabric recorded higher than wool fabric. The fastness properties to washing, light and rubbing showed satisfactory grades including and excluding natural mordant. However, the grades of mordanted samples were found better than unmordanted samples. The dye and mordant in isolation and in combination showed beautiful colours and shades on selected fabrics with satisfactory retention properties, hence can be utilized commercially for coloration of wool and pashmina fabrics.

Workability and Compressive Strength of Recycled Concrete Waste Aggregate Concrete

Concrete waste from construction site such as pile waste and tested concrete cubes waste is quite a problem for the contractor to dispose of. This waste is currently being buried or dumped illegally at a certain area, which lead to environmental pollution issue and waste of construction materials. In this study, concrete cubes waste from a concrete testing laboratory is crushed and recycled as natural coarse aggregate (NA) replacement (0% - control, 30% and 50% by mass) in grade 15, 25 and 40 concrete. The recycled concrete waste aggregate (RCWA) was tested for grading, specific gravity, percent absorption and impact and crushing (% crushed). For the fresh concrete mix, slump and compaction factor test were carried out. Concrete samples are wet cured and tested at 7 and 28 days for compressive strength. Results show that the workability of RCWA concrete reduce as the content of RCWA increase in the mix as the water absorption of RCWA is higher than the NA. The compressive strength of the RCWA concrete is acceptable at all RCWA replacement for grade 15 and 25 concrete with strengths higher than the design values of 15 and 25 MPa. For grade 40 concrete, the optimum RCWA replacement is at 30% and at 50% replacement, the compressive strength of the RCWA concrete is lower than the design value of 40 MPa. 50% replacement of NA with RCWA works well for grade 15 and 25 concrete, but for higher concrete grade (C40), the limiting value of replacement is 30%.

Changing the zinc:iron ratio in a cereal-based nutritional supplement has no effect on percent absorption of iron and zinc in Sri Lankan children

The Thriposha programme is a community-level nutrition intervention in Sri Lanka that provides a combination of energy, protein and micronutrients as a ‘ready-to-eat’ cereal-based food. We measured the bioavailability of Fe and Zn from Thriposha formula at two different molar ratios of Zn:Fe in order to determine the effect on Fe and Zn absorption. Children 4–7 years (n 53) were given a meal prepared with 50 g Thriposha containing 1·5 mg Zn as zinc sulphate and either 9 mg (high Fe concentration (HiFe)) or 4·5 mg (low Fe concentration (LoFe)) Fe as ferrous fumarate. Zn and Fe percent absorption were measured using stable isotopes by tracer:tracee ratio and by incorporation of erythrocytes, respectively. Percent Fe absorption from the two meals was similar (6·6 % (4·8) v. 4·8 % (2·6); P = 0·15), but total Fe absorption was significantly higher from the HiFe meal (0·59 (0·43) mg) than the LoFe meal (0·20 (0·12) mg; P = 0·01). There was no significant difference between the two groups in Zn absorption (10·7 % (0·9) v. 8·8 % (1·4), P = 0·13, respectively). Decreasing the amount of Fe in Thriposha did not cause a significant change in the percent absorption of Fe and Zn, but significantly lowered the total amount of absorbed Fe. These results demonstrate the utility of maintaining a higher Fe content in this supplement. Further studies to increase Zn content are warranted while maintaining a HiFe.

Efficacy, Site of Uptake, and Retention of Bromoxynil in Common Lambsquarters with Conventional and Sprinkler Application

Bromoxynil efficacy, uptake, translocation, and spray retention were investigated when bromoxynil was applied in conventional water volumes of 234 L ha−1and in simulated sprinkler irrigation at 127 000 L ha−1to common lambsquarters. Bromoxynil controlled common lambsquarters similarly regardless of water volume, whereas injury to spearmint, a tolerant crop, was greatest using low water volume. Spray retention was 18 and 38 times greater on common lambsquarters and spearmint, respectively, when bromoxynil was applied in 234 L ha−1than 127 000 L ha−1. Two weeks after applying bromoxynil in 127 000 L ha−1water volume, common lambsquarters dry weight was 60% of the nontreated check where only soil was treated but was 5% of the nontreated check where only leaves were treated. Roots of lambsquarters absorbed 22% of14C-bromoxynil applied to hydroponic solution by 7 d, but only 2% was translocated to the shoots. Percent absorption and translocation of foliar-applied14C-bromoxynil were 15 and 6% greater, respectively, from 0.0096 g L−1than from a 1.2 g L−1bromoxynil solution by 24 h after application. Uptake of bromoxynil was 13% greater through lower than upper leaf surfaces. These results suggest efficacy of bromoxynil applied in large spray volumes is, in part, due to root uptake, efficient foliar uptake and translocation, and uptake from lower leaf surfaces.

CHANGES IN APPARENT ABSORPTION AND RETENTION OF NUTRIENTS DURING GESTATION IN GILTS FED TWO DIETARY CALCIUM-PHOSPHORUS LEVELS

Twenty-seven Landrace × Yorkshire gilts were used in three trials to determine the influence of feeding more Ca-P from breeding through gestation on changes in apparent absorption and retention of energy, nitrogen, Ca, P, Mg, K, Mn, Cu and Zn, at the 5th, 8th, 11th, 13th and 15th wk of gestation. The gilts were housed during gestation in individual sow metabolism stalls equipped for separate collection of feces and urine. In trial 1, feeding more Ca-P (26.2–23.8 vs. 21.2–15.4 g d−1) during gestation reduced (P < 0.05) the percent absorption and retention of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu at certain stages of gestation but the overall differences between the two diets were not significant. In trial 2 feeding more Ca-P (26.8–15.8 vs. 20.4–10.4 g d−1) also reduced the percent absorption and retention of Ca, Mg, Zn and Cu at certain stages of gestation and the overall differences between the two diets were not significant. In trial 3, feeding more Ca-P (23.6–18.2 vs. 17.8–12.4 g d−1) reduced the percent absorption and retention of energy, Ca, P, Mg, K, Zn, Mn and Cu at several stages of gestation and the overall differences between the two diets were significant for these nutrients. The percent absorption and retention of Ca, P and Mn progressively increased while that of nitrogen, K and Zn decreased with the advancement of gestation. The mineral levels of femurs and metacarpals of gilts and their piglets at birth were similar for both diets. The results indicated that feeding more Ca-P during gestation had minimal influence on amount of energy, nitrogen Ca and K absorption and retention but it increased the amount of P absorption and retention; however, the reduction of Zn, Mn and Cu absorption may cause deficiencies with inadequately supplemented diets. Key words: Gilt, gestation, minerals, energy, nitrogen, absorption, retention

On model and data requirements for determining the bioavailability of oral therapeutic agents: application to gut absorption of thyroid hormones

A two-pool model is proposed as a first approximation of the dynamics of thyroid hormone dissolution and absorption in the human gut. It is shown that this model, or any more complex one of the same process, must be imbedded in a larger whole-body model for the purpose of quantifying its parameters. Parameter identification experiments are designed with the aid of identifiability analysis and a complete quantification is obtained, for both triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) absorption, using kinetic data obtained from the literature. The average percent absorption of oral dosages calculated from the model for T3 (95.8%) and for T4 (49.3%) are exceptionally close to reported measured values. Other data not used in model development also serve to validate the results, for use in applications not demanding greater physiological detail, such as for determining the bioavailability of orally administered hormones, or for the "inverse problem," computing optimal dosage regimens for hormone therapy.

Effect of Wetting Agents upon Uptake by Sugarcane of Foliar-Applied Phosphorus

The effect of wetting agents at three different concentrations upon the absorption of foliar-applied phosphates was studied. A concentration of 0.1 percent of the wetting agent proved to be the best to work with, for it gave the maximum phosphate absorption in all cases. The order of their effectiveness, as measured by the ability to enhance phosphorus absorption by the leaf was as follows: Tergitol 7 > Sterox AJ-100 > Agricultural surfactant > Atlox 210 > Triton X-400 > Atlox 209 > Glycerine. Both Tergitol and Sterox AJ-100 increased in phosphorus absorption while glycerine caused a reduction in absorption when applied as sprays (14,19). The maximum absorption by sugarcane leaves of foliar-applied orthophosphates of sodium, potassium, and ammonium was found to occur at pH's 5, 3, and 10, respectively. As pointed out in the literature (19) phosphate absorption varies with the accompanying cation, the pH of the applied solution and the time the applied solution is in contact with the leaf. The time required for 50-percent absorption of potassium orthophosphate by the leaf of a 1-month-old sugarcane plant was 18 days. Burr et al. (8) report 15 days as the comparative absorption rate for sugarcane.