• Fibers and Polymers
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 2006

There is increasing interest in the many beneficial aspects of green tea to human such as anti-carcinogenic, anti-aggregant, anti-allergic, anti-bacterial, anti-mutagenic, and anti-oxidant activities. Besides these beneficial aspects, it has been reported that green tea ingredients, especially polyphenolic families (i.e., catechin), have some UV protection property both in vivo and in topical applications. In this study, green tea extract was used as a dyeing stock for cotton and the UV protection property of the dyed cotton fabric was examined. To increase the affinity of cotton fiber to the polyphenolic components in the green tea extract, a natural biopolymer, chitosan, was used as mordanting agent. The effects of chitosan concentration in mordanting on the dyeing characteristics and the UV protection property were examined. Chitosan mordanted green tea dyed cotton showed better dyeing characteristic and higher UV protection property compared with the unmordanted green tea dyed cotton. As the chitosan concentration in mordanting increased, the dyeing efficiency and the UV protection property also increased. Therefore, adapting chitosan mordanting in green tea dyeing can increase the UV protection property of cotton fabrics to some extent.

• Entomological Research
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.480-489
• /
• 2018

Due to the increasing interest in natural biopolymers including chitin, the exploitation of economic and easily accessible chitin sources with good physicochemical properties is nowadays required. In view of this fact, in the current study chitin was extracted and physicochemically characterized from six Cicadas (Hemiptera: Homoptera: Cicadoidea) species collected from Mediterranean region of Turkey (2014-15). Chitin was extracted using a classic extraction method that includes acid and base treatment. TGA results revealed a remarkable increase ($410-412^{\circ}C$) for all the six Cicada species compared to other chitin samples extracted from various sources. For all of the six selected species the chitin contents on the dry basis were determined as 6.7% for Cicadatra atra, 5.51% for C. hyalina, 8.84% for C. platyptera, 4.97% for Cicada lodosi, 6.49% for C. mordoganensis, and 5.88% for Cicadetta tibialis. The surface morphology of chitin isolates from Cicada species was observed to consist of nanofibers and nanopores.

• Advances in materials Research
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.191-209
• /
• 2022

Very slow degradation of synthetic based polymers has created a severe environmental issue that increased awareness towards research in polymers of biodegradable property. Soy protein isolate (SPI) is a natural biopolymer used as matrix in green composites but it has limitations of low mechanical properties and high water sensitivity. To enhance mechanical properties and reduce water sensitivity of Jute-SPI composites, SPI was modified with pine rosin which is also a natural cross-linking agent. 30% glycerol on the weight basis of a matrix was used as a plasticizer. The fibre volume fraction was kept constant at 0.2 whereas the pine rosin in SPI ranged from 5% to 30% of the matrix. The effects of pine rosin on mechanical, thermal, water sensitivity and surface morphology have been characterized using various techniques. The mechanical properties and water absorbency were found to be optimum for 15% pine rosin in Jute-SPI composite. Therefore, Jute-SPI composite without pine rosin and with 15% pine rosin were chosen for investigation through characterization by Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The surface morphology of the composite was influenced by pine rosin which is shown in the SEM image. TGA measurement showed that the thermal properties improved due to the addition of pine rosin. Antimicrobial test showed antimicrobial property in the composite occurring 15% pine rosin. The research paper concludes that the modification of SPI resin with an optimum percentage of pine rosin enhanced mechanical, thermal as well as water-resistant properties of jute fibre reinforced composites.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.458-464
• /
• 2006

The adsorption ability of heavy metal ions from the aqueous solution by chitosan, which it is well known natural biopolymer, has been investigated. The fundamental study in this research is focusing on the physicochemical adsorption utilizing the chitosan as a organic chelating adsorbent, adsorb especially heavy metal ions from the waste liquid solution. The adsorption ability of the chitosan between metal ions, having different characteristics with Mw of 188,600, 297,200, and 504,200 g/mol and degree of deacetylation (DD) of 86.92% and 100% were investigated targeting on the $Ni^{2+}$, $Co^{2+}$, $Zn^{2+}$, and $Pb^{2+}$ ions, respectively. The uptake of heavy metal ions with chitosan was performed by atomic absorption flame emission spectrophotometer (AAS) as conducted residual metal ions. It was found that chitosan has an strong adsorption capacity for some metals under certain conditions. Chitosan, which have 100% degree of deacetylation showed high adsorption recovery ratio and have an affinity for all kinds of heavy metals. In contrast, the molecular weight of chitosan was not completely affected on metal ion adsorption.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.11
• /
• pp.1739-1749
• /
• 2020

Exopolysaccharide produced by the yeast Papiliotrema flavescens, isolated from wine grape berries of Champagne vineyard, was investigated for both chemical and functional characterization. SECMALLS and colorimetric assay analyses showed that the EPS is a high M_W heteropolymer (2.37 × 10⁶ g/mol) majorily consisting of mannose, glucose, xylose and glucuronic acid as monosaccharide constituents, with two substituents (sulphate and phosphate groups), and a minor protein moiety. Structural enchainment of these carbohydrates based on methylation, GC-MS and NMR analyses revealed a linear main backbone built up of α-(1 → 3)-D-mannopyranosyl residues on which are branched side chains consisting of a single β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid residue and β-(1 → 2)-xylopyranoses (2-5 residues). Suggestion of some xylopyranose side chains containing a mannose residue at the nonreducing terminal end was also proposed. This is first report on EPSs from the grape P. flavescens yeast with such structural characteristics. Furthermore, investigations for valuating the application performance of these EPS in relation with their structural features were carried out in 8% alcohol experiment solutions. Very exceptional viscosifying and foaming properties were reported by comparison with commercial biopolymers such as Arabic, gellan and xanthan gums. The intrinsic properties of the natural biopolymer from this wild grape-associated P. flavescens yeast make it a potential candidate for use in various biotechnology applications.

• Macromolecular Research
• /
• v.13 no.4
• /
• pp.339-343
• /
• 2005

Microbial hydrogel was prepared by ${\gamma}-irradiation$ of poly(${\gamma}-glutamic acid$) (PGA) which was produced from Bacillus subtilis BS 62 and it's physico-chemical characteristic was examined. The hydrogel, prepared from 10% PGA with the dose of 48 kGy, was swollen up to 1,370 times of specific water content as dry weight basis. The hydrogels obtained above the dose of 48 kGy appeared to have higher compressive strength but lower specific water content. The period to reach a swelling equilibrium for the hydrogel in deionized water at the temperature range of 4 to $45^{\circ}C$ was about 10 h. The swollen hydrogel was shrunk in ionic solutions with the increase of ionic strength, and the rate of shrinkage was greater in calcium chloride solution than in sodium chloride. Specific water content of the hydrogel was quickly decreased at $80^{\circ}C$, showing a thennally hydrodegradable property.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.121-131
• /
• 2023

Clay sedimentation has been widely analyzed for its application in a variety of geotechnical constructions such as mine tailing, artificial islands, dredging, and reclamation. Chemical flocculants such as aluminum sulfate (Al₂(SO₄)₃), ferric chloride (FeCl₃), and ferric sulfate (Fe(SO₄)₃), have been adopted to accelerate the settling behaviors of clays. As an alternative clay flocculant with natural origin, this study investigated the settling of xanthan gum-treated kaolinite suspension in deionized water. The sedimentation of kaolinite in solutions of xanthan gum biopolymer (0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% in a clay mass) was measured until the sediment height was stabilized. Kaolinite was aggregated by xanthan gum via a direct electrical interaction between the negatively charged xanthan gum molecules and positively charged edge surface and via hydrogen bonding with kaolinite particles. The results revealed that the xanthan gum initially bound kaolinite aggregates, thereby forming larger floc sizes. Owing to their greater floc size, the aggregated kaolinite flocs induced by xanthan gum settled faster than the untreated kaolinite. Additionally, X-ray computed tomography images collected at various depths from the bottom demonstrated that the xanthan gum-induced aggregation resulted in denser sediment deposition. The findings of this study could inspire further efforts to accelerate the settling of kaolinite clays by adding xanthan gum.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.362-368
• /
• 2019

For the practical application and development of biopolymer flocculant Biopol32 produced by Pseudomonas sp. GP32, its flocculation effect on wastewater from food processing, slaughter houses, and the dyeing industry was investigated. In the food processing wastewater, Biopol32 led to a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction rate of 70% and a suspended solid (SS) removal rate of 49% at pH 6.0. In the slaughter house wastewater at pH 4.0, a COD reduction rate of 61% and SS removal rate of 91% were observed, and in the dyeing wastewater, the rates were 72% and 92%, respectively, at pH 5.0. The size of floc formed during the flocculation process was 10 mm at a final concentration of 20 ppm, and the dehydration efficiency was 62%. In both the bioflocculant Biopol32 group and a PAA synthetic flocculant group, optimal flocculant concentration that yielded the best overall dehydration efficiency was 20 ppm, and, at this concentration, the shortest filtration time to reach the natural critical moisture content of 78.1% was attained.

• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2008

Microcapsules have been widely used in cosmetics and pharmacology as controlled delivery devices of various active materials. Chitosan is the second most plentiful natural biopolymer with biocompatibility and nontoxicity. The chitosan microcapsules were prepared by the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion method using glutaraldehyde as a crosslinking agent. Span80 was used as an emulsifier, and mineral oil was used as a medium material. Perfectly spherical microcapsules were obtained in the size range of $2{\sim}10{\mu}m$. The effects of emulsifier concentration and stirring speed on the average particle size and distribution were investigated. Encapsulation and release behavior of the microcapsules with different amount of the crosslinking agent (glutaraldehyde), different chitosan contents and different emulsifier concentration conditions were also investigated. The release rate of riboflavin was controlled by the crosslinking density of the chitosan and amount of emulsifier in the preparation of the microcapsule.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
• /
• v.24 no.4 s.193
• /
• pp.138-146
• /
• 2007

Some biodegradable polymers and other materials such as hydrogels have shown the promising potential for surgical applications. Post surgical adhesion caused by the natural consequence of surgical wound healing results in repeated surgery and harmful effects. Recently, scientists have developed absorbable anti-adhesion barriers that can protect a tissue from adhesion in case they are in use; however, they are dissolved when no longer needed. Although these approaches have been attempted to fulfill the criteria for adhesion prevention, none can perfectly prevent adhesions in all situations. Overall, we developed a new method to fabricate an anti-adhesion membrane using biodegradable polymer and hydrogel. It employed a highly accurate three-dimensional positioning system with pressure-controlled syringe to deposit biopolymer solution. The pressure-activated microsyringe was equipped with fine-bore nozzles of various inner-diameters. This process allowed that inner and outer shapes could be controlled arbitrarily when it was applied to a surgical region with arbitrary shapes. In order to fulfill the properties of the ideal barriers f3r preventing postoperative adhesion, we adopted the pre-mentioned method combined with surface modification with the hydrogel coating by which anti-adhesion property was improved.