Diffusion and reaction in an immobilized enzyme starch saccharification catalyst

Effectiveness factors were predicted from measurements of basic parameters made on single oligosaccharides, and the prediction was compared to experimental effec tiveness factors for the reaction of each oligosaccharide in the immobilized enzyme catalyst. Kinetic parameters were obtained for the hydrolysis of each oligosaccharide catalyzed by soluble glucoamylase, and were fit with a subsite model equation capable of generalization to all sizes of oligosaccharide. Diffusion coefficients in free solution were determined from movement out of a capillary tube. Spatial characteristics of the immobilized enzyme bed were obtained from pulse response experiments, allowing the calculation of effective diffusivities. Experimental effectiveness factors plotted against modulus were in reasonable agreement with the predictions.     

Effect of different starch contents on physical,morphological, mechanical,barrier, and biodegradation properties of tapioca starch and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) blend film

Study on degradation behaviors of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) blended with different compositions of thermoplastic starch (TPS) under soil burial and natural weathering environments is vital in order to predict the product service-life and planning for in situ biodegradation after product disposal. In this article, different compositions of TPS (0%, 20%, 40%, 50%, and 60%) were compounded with PBAT using single screw extruder. The samples were characterized for their tensile properties, fractured surface morphology, water barrier and surface hydrophorbicity properties in order to investigate the effect of starch fractions in PBAT blends. The degradation behavior under natural weathering and soil burial conditions was also determined during the 9 months duration by observing the change of physical appearance, weight loss, surface morphology, chemical structural, and tensile properties. The findings showed that the addition of TPS (20%, 40%, 50%, and 60%) had led to a reduction in tensile strength (41.47%, 60.53%, 63.43%, and 68.53%), and reduction in elongation at break (42.92%, 92.1%, 92.23%, and 93.22%, respectively) and water barrier properties. The findings also showed that there were distinct degradation behavior under both conditions. Upon exposure to natural weathering, photodegradation and Norrish type I & II occurred whereas under the soil burial condition, hydrolytic, and enzymatic degradation take places. Sample with the highest starch contents underwent the highest weight loss and reduction in tensile properties under both environments. The findings in this study are useful in order to investigate the feasibility of PBAT/Tapioca starch blends for biodegradable plastic film for various industrial applications especially in packaging and agricultural mulch.     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorescent starch using fluorescein as fluorophore: potential polymeric temperature/pH indicators

A convenient method for attaching fluorescein (via its epoxy derivate) to natural starch and its temperature/pH‐sensitive qualities of fluorescence were investigated. 3‐epoxypropoxy fluorescein (EPF) was first synthesized through the reaction between fluorescein and epichlorohydrin, and starch‐bearing fluorescein (ST‐EPF) was prepared via ring‐opening reaction with EPF in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solution, in the presence of NaH as a catalyst. Both of them were characterized by the methods of ¹H NMR, MS, IR, XRD, UV–Vis, and luminescence spectra, respectively. The chemiluminescent and photophysical behaviors of the dye fluorescein derivative and the polymer‐containing fluorescein were studied. The results indicated that ST‐EPF could still provide temperature and pH sensitivity similar to that of fluorescein and could achieve better long‐term stability and fast equilibrium response. ST‐EPF had an excellent linear response between relative fluorescence intensity and temperature in the range of 0–60°C and a nonlinear relationship between relative fluorescence intensity and pH in the wide range of 0.0–12.0, and so it has promise as an optical transducer for temperature and pH value determinations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Microstructure and Swelling Properties of Poly Acrylic Acid-Acrylamide Grafted Starch Hydrogels

Starch grafted acrylic acid-acrylamide hydrogel was synthesized using an aqueous solution polymerization method. The microstructures of the vacuum-dried hydrogel (VDH) and vacuum-freeze-dried hydrogel (VFDH) were studied by means of scanning electron microscopy and biomicroscopy. The water-absorption rate of the hydrogel was tested. The results showed that the microstructure of the two kinds of dried hydrogels exhibited significant differences. Before absorbing water, VDH had a relatively dense surface whereas the surface of VFDH had a clear macroporous structure. After absorbing water, a three-dimensional network structure was clearly visible in VDH. Many interlaced and free filaments occupied the space between the main skeleton and channels. The holes formed by vacuum-freeze-drying had the effect of squeezing the surrounding network structure, which had an impact on the water-absorption rate and water absorbency of the hydrogel.     

Banana fiber strands–reinforced polymer matrix composites

Banana fiber (BF)-reinforced low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unidirectional composites were fabricated by the compression molding process with 40 wt% fiber loading. The fibers were modified with methylacrylate (MA) mixed with methanol (MeOH) along with 2% benzyl peroxide under thermal curing method at different temperatures (50–90 °C) for different curing times (10–50 min) in order to have better compatibility with the matrix. The effect of fiber surface modification on the mechanical properties (tensile and impact properties) of the composites were evaluated. Monomer concentration, curing temperature, and curing time were optimized in terms of polymer loading and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties were found to be improved based on the improved interaction between the reinforcement and the matrix. Optimized BFs were again treated with 2–5 wt% starch solutions and composites made of 4% starch treated BF showed the highest mechanical properties than that of MA treated composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to get an insight into the morphology of the composites. Water uptake and soil degradation test of the composites were also investigated.     

环氧呋喃树脂反应性增容改性聚乳酸/淀粉复合材料的研究

研究了环氧呋喃树脂反应增容改性聚乳酸/淀粉复合材料,对索氏提取法得到的淀粉进行1H-NMR、FTIR、XPS和静态接触角测试表征.结果表明在熔融共混过程中环氧呋喃树脂(FER)与淀粉及聚乳酸(PLA)发生化学反应,从而起到反应性增容的作用.另外,利用SEM、万能材料试验机和DSC分别对复合材料的界面相容性、机械性能以及热性能进行了表征,结果表明FER能够显著改善PLA和淀粉之间的界面相容性,在保持PLA高强度高模量的基础上,显著提高了PLA/starch复合材料的综合机械性能和结晶性能.     

Surface activity of commercial food grade modified starches

An attempt to quantitative evaluation of the functionality of food grade chemically modified starches in the emulsion systems by estimation of their surface activity as well as the capability of thickening food products was the main purpose of this present work. It was stated that chemically modified starches reveal higher surface activity at air/water and toluene/water interfaces in comparison to the native starch. The increase of the degree of substitution of polar carboxyl groups as well as rather non-polar acetyl ones results in an enhance of surface activity. Starch sodium octenylsuccinate stands out from other investigated starches, in its excellent capability of lowering surface and interfacial tension. Cross-linked starches reveal excellent stabilisation activity at a pH range of 5.5–7.0 but their surface activity is lower than those of other modified starches. Acetylated starch as well as starch sodium octenylsuccinate reveal satisfactory thickening capability up to pH 4.5 and moreover their surface activity (especially of E 1450) allows us to recommend them as functional constituents of food emulsions. Low thickening capability of oxidised starches rather excluded these derivatives from the group of potential functional additives for food emulsions.     

Carboxymethyl Ethers of Cellulose and Starch – A Review

This review article deals with the technically important carboxymethyl ethers of cellulose and starch. Recent developments of synthesis, characterization, and application are presented considering adequately own research work in this field. In particular, the structure characterization by means of chromatographic (HPLC) and NMR-spectroscopic techniques as well as commercially important synthesis paths and alternative methods are described.     

Preparation,Structure, and Properties of Starch/Rubber Composites Prepared by Co-Coagulating Rubber Latex and Starch Paste

Summary: Several rubber/starch composites in which the starch particles are in an amorphous state and are smaller than 1 μm, prepared by directly mixing and co-coagulating rubber latex and starch paste, exhibit higher hardness, stress at 100%, tensile strength, and tear strength relative to the corresponding rubber/starch composites prepared by direct blending.

TEM micrograph of starch/SBR composite.     

He-Ne激光诱变黑曲霉Sx的原生质体

对生淀粉糖化菌黑曲霉Sx用混和酶制取原生质体进行了探索.在GM培养基中加入一定量的Cu²⁺、Mn²⁺,原生质体产量较高;采用pH4～5的蜗牛酶、纤维素酶、溶菌酶的混合酶,最佳浓度比为:1.5:3.5:1.5(mg/mL).取在GM培养基中培养17～18h的菌丝,在32℃酶解3h,原生质体产量最高,达到2.4×10⁵个/mL;在加入β-巯基乙醇及二硫苏糖醇处理菌丝时,原生质体产量提高近3倍.在再生培养基中,加入终浓度为30mmol/LMgSO₄时,原生质体再生率由16.7%提高到25.6%.用He-Ne激光照射原生质体时,功率9mW照射30min时致死率为50%,随着时间的延长,原生质体存活率降低.采用波长632.5nm、功率9mW、光斑直径5mm的He-Ne激光多次照射诱变,筛选出一株酶活力最高菌株黑曲霉Sy,活力提高51%,经连续传代5次,酶活力稳定.