The present study aims at investigating sonochemically synthesized MIL-53(Al) and its applications in adsorption lead ions from aqueous solution. XRD, FESEM, BET, and FTIR analyses were employed to identify and characterize MIL-53(Al). The ultrasonic-assisted synthesis procedure results in reducing the synthesis time to 24 h; however, the conventional synthesis of MIL-53(Al) takes 3 days. Applying ultrasonic waves also leads to increase of the specific surface area up to 50% more than that of synthesized by the conventional method, as well as creating the hierarchical MIL-53(Al) structure which reduces the mass transfer limitation of ions into internal micropores. The optimum conditions for removing lead ions are pH of 6, Pb+2 ion concentration of 20 mg/L, contact time of 60 min, adsorbent dose of 0.04 g, and temperature of 318 K with the removal efficiency of 97.63%. The experimental adsorption equilibrium and kinetic data fit the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, respectively. Moreover, the usage of sonochemically synthesized MIL-53(Al), for the first time as an adsorbent in heavy metal removal points to the great potential of this new environmentally-friendly adsorbent in removing lead ions from aqueous solutions
Herein, Psyllium‐seed mucilage (PSM) and oregano extract (OE) were incorporated into the design of a promising, biodegradable, and antimicrobial edible film to enhance the shelf life of food. Various OE‐PSM films with different concentrations of OE, PSM, and glycerol, as a plasticizer, were fabricated. Further physicochemical, mechanical, and structural studies demonstrated an enhancement in the films' thickness, extensibility, and water‐related properties (excluding water vapor permeability [WVP]) by increasing the glycerol and OE content. Also, the final OE‐PSM films presented a bit yellow and opaque appearance. The effectiveness of fabricated films against microbial attacks was confirmed by the in vitro zone of inhibition measurement against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, almost 118 and 77 mm, respectively. In addition, the efficiency of films on the extension of the postharvest lifetime of strawberries to 16 days was optically approved by determining the coated strawberries decay. All mentioned above confirmed the potential of the developed OE‐PSM as a promising edible film.
Practical Application
Recently, new technology and materials have prompted to meet the consumers' demand for healthier and safer food. To support this claim, we developed a productive edible film (plasticized OE‐PSM film) which showed acceptable biodegradability, mechanical stability, water resistance, and antimicrobial efficiency. The unique properties of this edible film have made it a promising film, which is not only potent to extend the shelf life of food products, leading to facilitate the commercialization activities, but also inexpensive and more available over the traditional synthetic ones. These properties turn this film to a productive candidate, deserve to be implemented by the food and agricultural industries.
Abstract. Plant-derived polymers are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry due to their emollient, lack of toxicity, and irritating nature and low cost. In this work, basil seed mucilage was dried using supercritical carbon dioxide phase inversion technique to form a nanometric structure. The obtained polymeric structures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-EmmettTeller (BET) method, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and compared with the ovenderived sample group. It was demonstrated that the product morphology could be controlled by altering the composition of methanol which functioned as the co-solvent in the nonsolvent stream. The most homogeneous product (60-nm mean pore size diameter, 78 m 2 /g BET surface area with no agglomeration) was obtained with 2.5% methanol. The FTIR data showed that the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups suggested the bioadhesive property of basil seed mucilage was good and many active pharmaceutical compounds might be loaded to the resultant nanometric structure to enhance drug release. Furthermore, the FTIR analyses indicated that the nature of the final product did not change during the supercritical drying procedure.
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