Effect of sulphiting and drying methods on physico-chemical and sensorial quality of dried apricots during ambient storage

Fresh mature and ripe apricots after preparations were pre-treated with potassium meta-bisulphite (KMS) at concentrations of 2–8% for 30, 45 and 60 min followed by drying in solar tunnel dryer and in open air. After completion of drying, the samples were packed in polyethylene pouches and evaluated for various quality parameters at 0, 6 and 12 months of ambient storage. KMS pre-treatment at concentration of 6% for 60 min prior to drying helped significantly in improving and maintaining the quality of dried apricots for up to 12 months of ambient storage. Solar tunnel drying resulted in hygienic product and reduced the drying time to 3–4 days compared with 14–16 days in open air drying. Residual free sulphur dioxide of apricots pre-treated at KMS concentration of 6% for 60 min was within the prescribed limits of the Fruit Product Order (1955) specifications for dried products.     

Mixed Micellization and Interfacial Properties of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Esters with Cetylpyridinium Chloride: A Tensiometric Study

In this work a surface tensiometric method was used to study the effect of the chain length of non-ionic surfactants, viz. ethoxylated sorbitan esters, on micellar composition, critical micellar concentration, mutual interaction parameter (β ₁₂), and activity coefficients of the mixed micelles formed with the cationic surfactant cetylpyridinium chloride at 25 °C. The micellar characteristics evaluated using the Clint, Rubingh, and Blankschtein models deviated significantly from ideality, and were used to ascertain the validity of these theories. Thermodynamic stability in terms of Maeda’s approach and interfacial properties is also discussed.     

First Application of Mix Metallic Salt Mordant Combinations to Develop Newer Shades on Wool with Bixa orellana Natural Dye Using Reflectance Spectroscopy

Annatto colorants derived from Bixa orellana L. seeds have been extensively used in a wide range of food commodities such as dairy products, flour confectionery, fish, soft drinks, meat products, snack foods, and dry mixes. To exploit its use as a colorant for textiles, this research study investigates for the first time pre-mordanting of wool with bi and tri metal salt combinations using aluminum potassium sulfate, ferrous sulfate, and stannous chloride mordants in order to develop natural and beautiful shades on wool with variation in hue and tone. The dyeing was carried by exhaustion method and dyed samples were analyzed using a Reflective Spectrophotometer in terms of CIELAB (L*, a*and b*) and K/S values and washing and light fastnesses were investigated according to I.S.O. standard recommendations. In the dyeing experiments, wool samples pre-mordanted with Fe + Sn displayed highest color strength followed by Fe + Al and Al + Sn combinations. The results showed that overall 36 different shades having good to very good fastness properties were produced by the use of different metallic salt combinations in the natural dyeing of wool using annatto dye.     

Natural dyeing of merino wool fibers with Cinnamomum camphora leaves extract with mordants of biological origin: a greener approach of textile coloration

Abstract

In this research work, an attempt has been made to investigate the possibility of wool dyeing with natural dye extracted from the Cinnamomum camphora middle aged/mature leaves. Visually, a range of ecofriendly shades with quite different color gamut of varying hue and tone were produced via the application of different natural mordants. The effect of various natural mordants (gallnut, pomegranate peel, arjun bark, chlorophyll extract, and citric acid) and some commonly used metal mordants (ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, stannous chloride, and sodium dichromate) on color and fastness properties of dyed wool samples was comparatively evaluated in conjunction with 50% (o.w.f.) of C. camphora natural dye. Dyeing experiments were performed with and without mordants employing pre-mordanting technique. The color of dyed wool fibers were investigated in terms of CIELab (L*, a*, and b*) and color strength values (K/S); and fastness properties were determined as per ISO standard test methods. In general, pre-biomordanted wool fibers with P. granatum (3, 4 and 5% o.w.f.), citric acid (5% o.w.f.) and chlorophyll extract (10–50% o.w.f.) showed comparable color and fastness results compared to those of metal treated samples. Durability of color was also checked to assess the effect of washing of dyed wool fibers. This research work on the use of ecofriendly biomordants will provide a valuable reference in future for ecological and environmentally safe dyeing.     

Influence of exposed facets,morphology and hetero-interfaces of BiVO4 on photocatalytic water oxidation: A review

The photocatalytic water splitting has a stupendous role to generate renewable hydrogen. However, the overall water splitting reaction is limited by the sluggish oxidation step. Bismuth vanadate (BiVO₄) has been identified as one of the most promising n-type semiconductors for photocatalytic water oxidation due to its small energy gap and favorable band alignment. Thus, it is necessary to summarize the recent progress done on BiVO₄ for the guidance of future research. In this review, we have discussed recent strategies that have been adopted to boost its photoconversion efficiency at three different levels: (1) facet control, (2) morphological control and, (3) interfacial control. The roles of high indexed facets, anisotropic morphologies, and mediator-based Z schemes are comprehensively discussed and the emphasis is given to find the suitable structural, morphological, and interfacial combination of BiVO₄ for efficient water oxidation.     

Oxidative degradation of aliphatic carboxylic acids by photocatalysis with bare and Ag-loaded TiO2 under UV light irradiation

Carboxylic acids are industrially important and specifically used for the manufacturing of soaps and detergents and for various other chemical processes. As a result, wastewater derived from such industries generally contains significant amounts of these acids, posing threats to aquatic life, and thus needing detoxification by suitable treatment methods. In the present work, the degradation of different aliphatic carboxylic acids by bare and Ag-loaded TiO₂ under UV light irradiation was investigated. The acids were photo-decomposed to CO₂ with a linear decrease in the respective concentrations as a function of chain length/carbon atoms (C₁-C₈) and irradiation time. Small carboxylic acids, i.e., formic, acetic and propionic acid, exhibited faster rates of degradation than longer ones, i.e., butanoic, valeric and ethyl hexanoic acid; Ag loading did not significantly improve the TiO₂ photocatalytic activity.