Development of a Natural Chewing Gum from Plant Based Polymer

In this study, Kenger gum obtained from Kenger plant (Gundelia tournefortii) was used in the production of biodegradable and edible chewing gum. Kenger gum was able to be softened by thermal process to improve its textural properties. 80% methanolic extract of gum showed 195.6 gallic acid equivalents (GAE) mg/100 g gum antioxidant activity and 17.9 mm inhibition zone for Escherichia coli O157:H7 as an antimicrobial activity. Softened Kenger gum was also characterized by texture properties, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and chemical compositions. Hardness value of gum decreased from 864 to 238 g which was comparable to commercial chewing gums. Softened Kenger gum was observed to be a perfect substitute for a synthetic gum base in the production of a conventional chewing gum. Moreover, resilience value was remarkably found to be the best standard parameter to select chewing gums with desired textural properties.     

Miscibility Studies of Polysaccharide Xanthan Gum/PVP Blend

Miscibility characteristics of Xanthan gum and Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) in common solvent water were studied by viscometry, ultrasonic velocity and density techniques at 30 and 50 °C. Blend films of Xanthan gum/PVP were prepared by solution casting method and characterized by scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) techniques. Using the viscosity data, interaction parameters of Chee’s (μ) and Sun’s (α) were computed to determine their miscibility. The values obtained revealed that blends were miscible when PVP content is up to 70% in blend at 30 °C. Xanthan gum/poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) blends showed miscibility in all composition at 50 °C. The results were then confirmed by ultrasonic velocity, density, and DSC techniques. Compatibility in the above compositions may be due to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the carbonyl group in PVP and hydroxyl group in Xanthan gum. Further, the results revealed that change in temperature had significant effect on the miscibility of Xanthan gum/Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) blends.     

Preparation of Galactomannan-Based Materials Compatibilized with Ionic Liquids

This paper reports the preparation of galactomannan/ionic liquid composite materials from the corresponding ion gels. Three kinds of galactomannans, that is, fenugreek gum (FG), guar gum (GG), and locust bean gum (LBG) and an ionic liquid of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl) were used. When the galactomannan/BMIMCl gels were immersed in ethanol, followed by dryness under reduced pressure, the galactomannan/BMIMCl composite materials were obtained. The crystalline structures of galactomannans in the materials were evaluated by the powder X-ray diffraction measurement. The mechanical property of the FG/BMIMCl composite material under compressive mode was superior compared with the GG and LBG/BMIMCl composite materials. Then, FG films compatibilized with polymeric ionic liquids (PILs) were also prepared by in situ radical polymerization of polymerizable ionic liquids, 1-(3-acryloyloxypropyl)-3-vinylimidazolium bromide and 1-methyl-3-vinylbenzylimidazolium chloride by AIBN in mixtures of FG with BMIMCl. The mechanical properties of the resulting films were affected by the FG/PIL ratios as well as the unit ratios in PILs.     

Effect of Manufacturing Process and Xanthan Gum Addition on the Properties of Cassava Starch Films

The objective of this work was to manufacture biodegradable films by two different processes (casting and extrusion), from different combinations of cassava starch and xanthan gum. These films were produced by casting and by extrusion from six different starch-xanthan gum combinations (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10% w/w), containing glycerol as plasticizer (20% w/w) and were also characterized according to their microstructure, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties. Scanning electron microscopy of the starch-xanthan gum extruded films showed reticulated surface and smooth interior, suggesting that xanthan was driven to the surface and gelatinized starch to the interior of the films during extrusion. Films manufactured by casting were entirely homogeneous. In general, casted films presented lower opacity and water vapor permeability and higher stress at break than films manufactured by extrusion. Xanthan gum addition affected mechanical properties of starch films, improving their stress and strain at break, especially for extruded samples, but these properties did not show stability at different RH conditions.     

Development of a Novel Antibacterial Hydrogel Scaffold Based on Guar Gum/Poly (methylvinylether-alt-maleic Acid) Containing Cinnamaldehyde-Loaded Chitosan Nanoparticles

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, we produced a novel chemical cross-linked Guar gum/Poly(methylvinylether-alt-maleicacid) (GG/PMVE-MA) hydrogels with various blending weight...     

Optimization of Xanthan Gum/Poly(acrylic acid)/Cloisite 15A Semi-IPN Hydrogels for Heavy Metals Removal

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Semi-interpenetrating networks (semi-IPNs) of Xanthan gum/poly (acrylic acid) containing Cloisite 15A were prepared via radical polymerization using a...     

Production and Characterization of Sodium Alginate/Gum Arabic Based Films Enriched with Syzygium cumini Seeds Extracts for Food Application

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Biodegradable sodium alginate/gum Arabic (SG) films were obtained. The influence of Syzygium cumini seeds extract (SCSE) incorporation in SG films on...     

Preparation of Cellulose/Xanthan Gum Composite Films and Hydrogels Using Ionic Liquid

This paper reports the preparation of cellulose/xanthan gum composite films and hydrogels through gelation with an ionic liquid. Mixtures of cellulose and xanthan gum in desired weight ratios with an ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMIMCl), were thinly placed on a Petri dish and heated at 100 °C for 9 h to obtain the solutions. Then, the solutions were left standing at room temperature for 1 day for the progress of gelation. The resulting ion gels were subjected to Soxhlet extraction with ethanol to remove BMIMCl, followed by drying under ambient conditions to obtain the composite films. The crystalline structures of the polysaccharides and the mechanical properties were evaluated by powder X-ray diffraction measurement and tensile testing of the films, respectively. The ion gels in various cellulose/xanthan gum weight ratios, which were prepared in a test tube by the same procedure, were immersed in water for the exchange of disperse media to obtain the cellulose/xanthan gum composite hydrogels. Water contents of all the materials were higher than 90 %. The mechanical properties of the hydrogels were evaluated by compressive testing.     

Novel Biodegradable Cast Film from Cherry Tree Gum,Development, Modification and Characterization

The feasibility of sweet cherry gum as a bio-based film-forming material and effect of hydrogen peroxide as a chemical modifier investigated. The influence of film compositions (gum, glycerol) and hydrogen peroxide on the physical properties of films, including solubility in water, permeability to water vapor (WVP), mechanical properties, and transparency, thermal and microstructural properties evaluated. The results showed that WVP and thickness increased by gum and glycerol concentration, but significantly decreased by hydrogen peroxide. As expected, elongation-at-break and solubility, increased at higher concentration of glycerol but the tensile strength decreased at the same condition. The film transparency was influenced by the dry weight content and was improved by higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The partial degradation of polymer chain by hydrogen peroxide was observed by FTIR analysis.     

Ionically Crosslinked Chitosan/Tragacanth Gum Based Polyelectrolyte Complexes for Antimicrobial Biopackaging Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The novel polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) were prepared by mixing different Wt% of Tragacanth gum (TG) to Chitosan (CS) and systematic evaluation of...     

Development of Hybrid Film Based on Carboxymethyl Chitosan-Gum Arabic Incorporated Citric Acid and Polyphenols from Cinnamomum camphora Seeds for Active Food Packaging

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, carboxymethyl chitosan with gum Arabic (CG) based novel functional films containing Cinnamomum camphora seeds extract (CCSE) at varying...     

Physicochemical and Antibacterial Evaluation of Poly (Vinyl Alcohol)/Guar Gum/Silver Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, we prepared Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/Guar gum (GG) based nanocomposite films with a different weight ratio of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs)...     

Characterization and Optimization of Persian Gum/Whey Protein Bionanocomposite Films Containing Betanin Nanoliposomes for Food Packaging Utilization

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, composite packaging films were produced from relatively inexpensive materials including Whey protein isolate (WPI) and Persian gum (PG),...     

Electrospun Composite Nanofibers Based on Poly (ε-Caprolactone) and Styrax Liquidus (Liquidambar orientalis Miller) as a Wound Dressing: Preparation,Characterization, Biological and Cytocompatibility Results

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this study, styrax liquidus (sweet gum balsam) extracted from Liquidambar orientalis Mill. incorporated PCL fibrous scaffolds were prepared using the...     

Optimization and Characterization of Bioactive Biocomposite Film Based on Orange Peel Incorporated with Gum Arabic Reinforced by Cr2O3 Nanoparticles

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - In this paper, the effect of adding gum arabic at levels of 0–5%, and chromium oxide nanoparticles (Cr2O3 NPs) at levels of 0–3%, were...     

A Comparative Study Between Technological Properties of Cashew Tree Gum and Arabic Gum

Arabic gum (AG) is the most common emulsifier used for beverage emulsions. Cashew tree gum (CG) is a biological macromolecule that has been proposed as a substitute for the AG, although their technological properties comparison is still necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate an isolation method for CG, and then evaluate CG technological properties in comparison to AG. The CG isolation methodology was improved using a small solvent amount. CG zeta-potential ranged from +8.0 mV (pH 2) to ?9.7 mV (pH 5), while the electric charge in solution of AG ranged from ?2.7 mV (pH 2) to ?28.6 mV (pH 6). As compared to AG, the CG showed a 50 % higher swelling, a 36 % lower oil absorption capacity, a slightly lower (4–8 %) solubility and lower consistency. CG is a feasible polyelectrolyte, promotes lower consistency solutions, and exhibits good swelling property.     

Effect of Magnesium Oxide Loading on Adhesion Properties of ENR 25/NBR Blend Adhesives in the Presence of Petro Resin and Gum Rosin Tackifiers

The adhesion properties of magnesium oxide filled epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 25)/acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) blend adhesives were studied using petro resin and gum rosin as tackifiers. Toluene was used as the solvent throughout the experiment. Five different loadings, i.e. 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 phr magnesium oxide was used in the adhesive formulation. The SHEEN hand coater was used to coat the adhesive on polyethylene terephthalate at 30 and 120 µm coating thickness. The tack, peel strength and shear strength were determined by a Lloyd adhesion tester operating at 30 cm min^?1. Results shows that all the adhesion properties of the ENR 25/NBR adhesives show a maximum value at 10 phr filler loading. Loop tack and peel strength pass through a maximum, an observation which is associated to the optimum wettability of adhesive on the substrate. For the shear test, maximum shear strength occurs due to the optimum cohesive strength of the adhesive. Results also show that all petro resin based adhesives have higher adhesion properties than gum rosin based adhesive. In all cases, the adhesion properties of adhesives also increase with increasing coating thickness.     

Encapsulation of lead from hazardous CRT glass wastes using biopolymer cross-linked concrete systems

Discarded computer monitors and television sets are identified as hazardous materials due to the high content of lead in their cathode ray tubes (CRTs). Over 98% of lead is found in CRT glass. More than 75% of obsolete electronics including TV and CRT monitors are in storage because appropriate e-waste management and remediation technologies are insufficient. Already an e-waste tsunami is starting to roll across the US and the whole world. Thus, a new technology was developed as an alternative to current disposal methods; this method uses a concrete composite crosslinked with minute amounts of biopolymers and a crosslinking agent. Commercially available microbial biopolymers of xanthan gum and guar gum were used to encapsulate CRT wastes, reducing Pb leachability as measured by standard USEPA methods. In this investigation, the synergistic effect of the crosslinking reaction was observed through blending two different biopolymers or adding a crosslinking agent in biopolymer solution. This CRT-biopolymer-concrete (CBC) composite showed higher compressive strength than the standard concrete and a considerable decrease in lead leachability.     

The use of agricultural substrates to improve methane yield in anaerobic co-digestion with pig slurry: Effect of substrate type and inclusion level

Anaerobic co-digestion of pig slurry with four agricultural substrates (tomato, pepper, persimmon and peach) was investigated. Each agricultural substrate was tested in co-digestion with pig slurry at four inclusion levels: 0%, 15%, 30% and 50%. Inclusion levels consisted in the replacement of the volatile solids (VS) from the pig slurry with the VS from the agricultural substrate. The effect of substrate type and inclusion level on the biochemical methane potential (BMP) was evaluated in a batch assay performed at 35 °C for 100 days. Agricultural substrate’s chemical composition was also analyzed and related with BMP. Additionally, Bacteria and Archaea domains together with the four main methanogenic archaeal orders were quantified using quantitative real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) at the end of the experiment to determine the influence of agricultural substrate on sludge’s microbial composition. Results showed that vegetable substrates (pepper and tomato) had higher lipid and protein content and lower carbohydrates than fruit substrates (persimmon and peach). Among substrates, vegetable substrates showed higher BMP than fruit substrates. Higher BMP values were obtained with increasing addition of agricultural substrate. The replacement of 50% of VS from pig slurry by tomato and pepper increased BMP in 41% and 44%, respectively compared with pig slurry only. Lower increments in BMP were achieved with lower inclusion levels. Results from qPCR showed that total bacteria and total archaea gene concentrations were similar in all combinations tested. Methanomicrobiales gene concentrations dominated over the rest of individual archaeal orders.