Sustainable bacterial cellulose production by Achromobacter using mango peel waste.

Bacterial Cellulose (BC) is still the most renewable available biopolymer produced in fine nature from alternative microbial sources as bacteria. In the present study, newly BC producing bacteria were successfully isolated from acidic fruits. The most potent producer was isolated from strawberry and identified genetically using 16 s rRNA technique as Achromobacter S3. Different fruit peels were screened to produce BC using the cheapest culture medium. Among them, Mango peel waste (MPW) hydrolysate proved to be the significant inducible alternative medium without any extra nutrients for the maximum productivity. Improvement of the BC yield was successfully achieved via statistical optimization of the MPW culture medium, from 0.52 g/L to 1.22 g/L with 2.5-fold increased about the standard HS culture medium. Additionally, the physicochemical analysis affirmed the cellulose molecular structure as well as observed the crystallinity of nanofiber as 72 and 79% for BC produced by Achromobacter S33 on HS and MPW media, respectively. Moreover, the topographical study illustrated that the BC nanofibers had close characteristics upon fiber dimeter and length as about 10 and 200 nm, respectively.

Comparative DFT Computational Studies with Experimental Investigations for Novel Synthesized Fluorescent Pyrazoline Derivatives.

A novel series of pyrazoline derivatives were synthesized and their spectral properties were characterized via FT-IR, 1H, and 13C NMR. The electronic transitions and fluorescence properties were tracked via UV-Vis and emission spectrometry. The density functional theory (DFT) calculations have been also computed to get spot onto the geometry, electronic transitions and spectroscopic properties theoretically that has been compared with the encountered experimental ones. Moreover, the dipole moment, optimized energy, HOMO - LUMO energies and band gaps were calculated for novel candidates pyrazoline derivatives with highly fluorescence quantum yield.

Green nanocoating-based polysaccharides decorated with ZnONPs doped Egyptian kaolinite for antimicrobial coating paper.

Paper coating plays an important role in the paper properties, printability and application. The nanocoating is a multifunction layer that provides the paper with unique features. In this work, nanocoating formulas were prepared using a green method and component. The nanocoating formulas were based on biopolymers nanostarch NSt and nanochitosan NCh (NCS) decorated with Egyptian kaolinite Ka doped with zinc nanoparticles NCS@xka/ZnONPs (x represents different ratios) support for multifunctional uses. The nanocoating formulas were characterized using a physiochemical analysis as well as a topographical study. FTIR, XRD, SEM and TEM techniques were used. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity of the tested samples was assessed against six microorganisms including Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The prepared nanocoating formulas affirmed excellent antimicrobial activity as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial active agent with excellent activity against all representative microbial communities. The nanocoating with the highest ratio of Ka/ZnONPs (NCS@40 ka/ZnONPs) showed excellent antimicrobial activity with an inhibition percentage of more than 70% versus all microorganisms presented. The paper was coated with the prepared suspensions and characterized concerning optical, mechanical and physical properties. When Ka/ZnONPs were loaded into NCS in a variety of ratios, the characteristics of coated paper were enhanced compared to blank paper. The sample NCS@40 ka/ZnONPs increased tensile strength by 11%, reduced light scattering by 12%, and improved brightness and whiteness by 1%. Paper coated with NCh suspension had 35.32% less roughness and 188.6% less porosity. When coated with the sample NCS@10 ka/ZnONPs, the coated paper's porosity was reduced by 94% and its roughness was reduced by 10.85%. The greatest reduction in water absorptivity was attained by coating with the same sample, with a reduction percentage of 132%.

Electrical insulated paper from cotton linter.

Insulated paper had been prepared from cotton linter containing certain additives. Strength properties had been studied for all paper prepared from cotton linter, before and after impregnating in the linseed oil. Also, the dielectric constant (έ) and AC electrical conductivity with frequencies over the range (100 kHz to 3 MHz) and at different temperatures were studied. Blended cotton linter with glass fiber or polyester fiber increased the dielectric constant. Since the glass fibers lowered the power factor from 0.63 to 0.28% and enhanced dielectric constant. The addition of hydrophilic fibers such as rayon or polyester fiber can be made paper of low porosity, low density and high dielectric resistance. Also, the addition of lead sulphate improved dielectric constant of paper since it has dielectric coefficient >20. The dielectric constant in sample which dipped in oil is higher than the sample without oil.

Ecofriendly green conversion of potato peel wastes to high productivity bacterial cellulose.

Potato peel waste (PPW) is employed as the first report on bacterial cellulose (BC) production by Gluconacetobacter xylinus. Scharification of PPW was performed by 2 M different mineral acids individually. The suitable pre-treatment conditions were determined by reducing sugar release. Although all acid PPW-hydrolysates culture media are studied to produce BCs. Nitric acid hydrolysate gives the high productivity value The influence of nitric acid PPW-hydrolysate culture condition parameters were applied throughout the Taguchi method and the optimum conditions for the highest BC yield (4.7 g/L) was observed after 6 days at 35 °C, pH 9, medium volume 55 ml and with 8% inoculum size. The instrumental analysis of PPW-BC, included FT-IR, Particle size distribution, BET, DSC, XRD and SEM are cleared that the PPW-BC recorded high crystalliny82.5%, excellent PDI. In general, this study revealed that nitric acid PPW-hydrolysate could be used as cost effective alternative medium for production of BC with sustainable processes that can overcome the environmental pollution.

New Approach for Securing and Dating Valuable Printed Documents.

This work deals with using a novel approach for securing and dating printed documents, which will detect any forging crime present. In this respect, the coded dots matrices (machine identification code (MIC)) for the used printers are extracted via a binary system of base 2 (0, 1). The UV ink used in the printing process is prepared from novel fluorescence compounds together with polyvinyl alcohol. Different Xerox models of color laser printers are used for printing the document designs. The data obtained reveal that the investigated approach is succeeded in specifying the date of the printing process together with translating the embedded data of the printer to visible information, which can be tracked under a UV lamp. This innovative approach will assist workers in examining the questioned document by specifying the authorized date and position of printed documents from the MIC.

Green carboxymethyl cellulose-silver complex versus cellulose origins in biological activity applications.

This article deals with evaluating the role of cellulose origin, from wood and non-wood, on preparing green CMC-Ag complex as biological active agent. Viscose pulp as well as bagasse and rice straw pulps were used in preparation of CMCs, followed by complexation with AgNO3. The complex structure (free-Ag, IR-spectra and TGA), morphology (TEM), antibiological and anti-tumor activities were studied. The data revealed that, the main interaction between CMC and silver is occurred via carboxylate groups and ether link of 1ry alcohol, with formation stable 5-membered ring structure. For the case of RS-based CMC-Ag complex the interaction between COO groups and silica included RS is also possible, via hydrogen bonds. These complexes have anti-biological especially towards gram positive bacteria (B.subtilis, NCID-3610), and uni- and multi cellular fungi. AgNPs from viscose (VCMC-Ag complex) has relatively higher anti-tumor activity for breast cancer MCF-7 in vitro than bagasse-based CMC-Ag complex (BCMC-Ag complex) with IC50 128µg/ml (as Ag). It is interesting to note that; viscose-based CMC-Ag complex (VCMC-Ag) has higher efficient behaviour as bioactive agent than literature reported agents, e.g., Pyridine derivative (∼300µg/ml).

Synthesis, quantitative structure-property relationship study of novel fluorescence active 2-pyrazolines and application.

A variety of fluorescence-active fluorinated pyrazolines 13-33 was synthesized in good yields through cyclocondensation reaction of propenones 1-9 with aryl hydrazines 10-12. Some of the synthesized compounds provided promising fluorescence properties with quantum yield (Φ) higher than that of quinine sulfate (standard reference). Quantitative structure-property relationship studies were undertaken supporting the exhibited fluorescence properties and estimating the parameters governing properties. Five synthesized fluorescence-active pyrazolines (13, 15, 18, 19 and 23) with variable Φ were selected for treating two types of paper sheets (Fabriano and Bible paper). These investigated fluorescence compounds, especially compounds 19 and 23, provide improvements in strength properties of paper sheets. Based on the observed performance they can be used as markers in security documents.

Properties of modified carboxymethyl cellulose and its use as bioactive compound.

The present study deals with synthesizing novel cellulose derivative, from modifying the carboxymethyl cellulose with amino phenylpropanoic acid (CMC-APP). The synthesized CMC-APP was evaluated as biological and anti-cancer active compound. The molecular structures of this active compound were built using the HyperChem program 7.5, together with conventional analysis (nitrogen content, FT-IR, and non-isothermal TGA analysis). Optimizing the CMC/APPA ratio was carried out as preliminary assessment step, via undetected antimicrobial activity measurement. The TEM study showed that, the synthesized cellulose CMC-APP derivative in the nano-scale particle size (range from 12.5 to 89.3nm). Among all the tested microorganisms and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, the synthesized nano-cellulose derivative is possible used as safety medicine for microbial infections and cancers. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Gram-positive bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria are 48.82µg/mL and 97µg/mL, respectively. While, the unicellular fungi and filamentous fungi are 12.2µg/mL and 97.65µg/mL, respectively. The cytotoxic index (IC50) for MCF-7 breast cancers is 50µg/mL. Moreover, the computational study of ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination and toxic) properties, of the molecules showed that, this investigated nano-compound is good oral bioavailability.

Chitosan-caseinate bilayer coatings for paper packaging materials.

Papers coated with caseinate and caseinate/chitosan bilayer films were developed. Caseinate, chitosan and caseinate/chitosan films were preliminary characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and thermal stability analyses. The effects of coating weight, caseinate concentration (7%, 10%, and 12%, w/w), and coating application methods (single layer and bilayer) on the physical and mechanical properties of coated papers were studied. Increasing the concentration of caseinate led to a decrease in water vapor permeability (WVP) of the resulting coated paper sheets. Chitosan significantly (p<0.05) increased the elongation at break (%E) of coated paper. However, the application of chitosan as a second layer on wet or dry caseinate films did not significantly affect (p>0.05) the tensile strength (TS) of coated paper. The greatest reduction in paper WVP is achieved by addition of a chitosan layer to the dried preformed caseinate-coated paper.