The accumulation of non-biodegradable food packaging waste causes huge pollution to the environment, has become a major issue. Currently, the use of edible and biodegradable packaging for food applications to avoid the generation of waste is a fast-emerging eco-friendly technology with increased attention. The edible packaging; films and coatings synthesized from biodegradable sources like polysaccharides, lipids, proteins and composites can be consumed without disposing them to the environment. These can be used on different foods by functioning as barriers to moisture, vapours and other solutes, also by reducing lipid oxidation and discolouration. They perform multiple functions as carriers for active compounds and have the ability to release them at a controlled rate to the packed food, which significantly extends the shelf-life and hence, improves the quality of food. This review focuses on the recent researches on the innovative biopolymer-based edible packaging, an alternative to synthetic nonedible packaging.
This article provides an overview of using textile materials as reinforcement in polymer composites. A considerable amount of research studies on this topic have been conducted to date. The different types of textile materials and polymer matrices used in composite development have been discussed. The fabrication techniques used in the development of composites, the properties, testing methods and the specific standards have been critically reviewed. Furthermore, the suitable applications of textile reinforced polymer composites are reviewed. This review highlights the potential of textile materials in polymer matrices as reinforcement for various applications, including automotive, aeronautical, defence, construction industries, etc.
A variety of anthropogenic sources release hazardous polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) into the phyllosphere which is an excellent niche for diverse fungi, and some of them have PAHs degradation capabilities. Therefore, this research attempted to determine the PAHs (phenanthrene, anthracene, naphthalene, and pyrene) degradation capability of phyllosphere inhabited Penicillium species. The leaf samples were collected from highly polluted urban areas (Panchikawatta, Pettah, Orugodawatta, Maradana, Sapugaskanda, and Colombo Fort) in Sri Lanka to isolate fungal species inhabiting the phyllosphere. Furthermore, their distribution patterns among the leaf tissue layers were studied using bright-field microscopic observations. Moreover, the best PAH degraders were screened out using plate assays and confirmed through High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Further, their enzymatic activities during the PAHs degradation were analyzed. As per the microscopic observations, the highest fungal distribution was in the upper epidermis of the leaves followed by the fungal distribution in the interspaces of palisade mesophyll layers. Out of isolated fungal species, two Penicillium spp. (Penicillium citrinum P 23 B-91 and Penicillium griseofulvum P 9 B -30) showed the highest PAHs (phenanthrene, anthracene, naphthalene, and pyrene) degradation capabilities. Manganese peroxidase (MnP) enzyme dominated phenanthrene degradation in P. griseofulvum P 9 B -30, which showed the highest phenanthrene degradation ability (61%). In addition, P. citrinum P23B-91 was good at degrading anthracene (88%) and also displayed a higher MnP activity during the anthracene degradation than laccase and lignin peroxidase activities. The discoveries from the toxicity assay during the PAHs degradation processes revealed that the produced byproducts had no toxic effects on the fungal growth cycle and the phyllosphere. Therefore this phyllosphere Penicillium spp. are ideal for the bioremediation of polluted air in urbanized areas.
Petroleum consumption in the transportation sector causes severe damage to the environment. Bioethanol is used as a biofuel or fuel additive because of its properties that give clean burning, reducing air pollution and avoiding global warming. Still, Sri Lanka depends on petroleum fuel. As a result, Sri Lanka generates 270000 tons of fruit waste per year, including bananas, and it is time to investigate alternatives to fossil fuel. It would diminish environmental pollution and reduce the dependence on imported fossil fuels. In present study, the waste of bananas and grapes is used to produce bioethanol using S. cerevisiae (Baker’s yeast). Temperatures of 30 ºC and pH 5.0 were maintained in the fermentation medium. This study shows that waste grapes have a higher ethanol concentration, 6.08% greater than bananas at 5.11%. The grape and banana ethanol yields are 46.77 g/L and 39.46 g/L, and the specific gravity shows 0.871 and 0.882, respectively.
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