Effect of various irradiation doses on some nutrients of Pakistani date

Summary Date samples were irradiated with different doses using a gamma-irradiator. Levels of moisture, protein, fibre and fats were determined on monthly basis for 5 months. Generally, the moisture contents of control date samples packed in white polythene decreased from 14.1±1.1 to 9.7±0.8% over a 5-month period while the irradiated samples were in the range of 10.4-11.2%, however, no proper pattern of change was observed. After 5-month storage, the protein level of irradiated samples was reduced to 1.00-1.30%, while the percent fibre levels were found to be in the range of 2.40-2.48. Similarly, the fat level decreases from 1.06±0.12 to 0.68±0.06 for control date sample while after 5-month the decrease in fat content was 0.45±0.04%, 0.44±0.04%, 0.44±0.05%, 0.42±0.05% and 0.40±0.04% for samples irradiated with 20, 50, 100, 200 and 300 krads, respectively.     

Method for the determination of131I in urine

A comprehensive radiochemical procedure for the measurement of gamma/beta activity of¹³¹I has been standarized by optimizing different steps. The procedure is mainly divided into three stages, i.e., (1) concentration of iodine using anion exchange column followed by elution; (2) extraction of iodine into CCl₄ and back extraction, and (3) precipitation as AgI. The percent chemical recovery and the lower limit of detection (LLD) were found to be 75.5±5% and 0.014 mBq/ml, respectively.     

Process Optimization and Modeling of Phenol Adsorption onto Sludge-Based Activated Carbon Intercalated MgAlFe Ternary Layered Double Hydroxide Composite

A sewage sludge-based activated carbon (SBAC) intercalated MgAlFe ternary layered double hydroxide (SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH) composite was synthesized via the coprecipitation method. The adsorptive performance of the composite for phenol uptake from the aqueous phase was evaluated via the response surface methodology (RSM) modeling technique. The SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH phenol uptake capacity data were well-fitted to reduced RSM cubic model (R² = 0.995, R²-adjusted = 0.993, R²-predicted = 0.959 and p-values < 0.05). The optimum phenol adsorption onto the SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH was achieved at 35 °C, 125 mg/L phenol, and pH 6. Under the optimal phenol uptake conditions, pseudo-first-order and Avrami fractional-order models provided a better representation of the phenol uptake kinetic data, while the equilibrium data models’ fitting follows the order; Liu > Langmuir > Redlich–Peterson > Freundlich > Temkin. The phenol uptake mechanism was endothermic in nature and predominantly via a physisorption process (ΔG° = −5.33 to −5.77 kJ/mol) with the involvement of π–π interactions between the phenol molecules and the functionalities on the SBAC-LDH surface. The maximum uptake capacity (216.76 mg/g) of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH was much higher than many other SBAC-based adsorbents. The improved uptake capacity of SBAC-LDH was attributed to the effective synergetic influence of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH, which yielded abundant functionalized surface groups that favored higher aqueous phase uptake of phenol molecules. This study showcases the potential of SBAC-MgAlFe-LDH as an effective adsorbent material for remediation of phenolic wastewater     

Losses of technetium during various steps in the development of a procedure for environmental samples

A key aspect of the development of a procedure for the measurement of technetium in environmental samples is that each step should be optimized to achieve maximum recovery.⁹⁹Tc and^95mTc have been the tracers used for the determination of yields in steps involving anion exchange, leaching, ashing, solvent extraction, precipitation and evaporation. The results thus obtained are discussed.     

Combined effect of gamma irradiation and hot water dipping on the selected nutrients and shelf life of peach

Gamma irradiation in combination with hot water dipping treatment was tested for maintaining storage quality and extending the shelf life of peach fruit. The matured peaches fruits (local variety no, Tex-A-6-69) were first dipped in hot water having temperature of 0, 40 and 60 °C for 60 seconds and they were exposed to 0.5 and 1.0 kGy doses of gamma radiation and stored in paper cartons under ambient (temperature 25 ± 2 °C, RH 70 %) conditions for their physico-chemical evaluations on weekly basis. The combine effect of hot water dipping treatment and irradiation for peach was study for the first time in Pakistan. The parameters studied included % weight loss, % ash content, % moisture content, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity and ascorbic acid. The sensory indices studied were size, shape, color and overall acceptability. The sensory evaluation values at 0 days for the controlled peach sample were recorded for comparison. Statistical analysis was performed to find determinates of irradiation alone and in combination with hot water dipping techniques on peaches. Studies revealed that irradiation treatment in combination with hot water treatments significantly (LSD at 5 %) maintained the storage quality of peach fruit under ambient conditions. Data obtained for weight loss, moisture, shape and overall acceptability showed significant results while non-significant values were recorded for ash, TSS and size. Overall, consumers rated the acceptability of treated peaches higher than untreated peaches. This particular type of research also helps in improving one’s country export quality of fruits.