Superabsorbent derived from cassava waste pulp

Abstract

Purpose Improving the nutritional value of rice straw by microbial inoculants and some physical treatments for animal feeding during dry seasons. Methods Different microbial inoculants and some physical treatments were used to improve the nutritional value of rice straw. Rice straw was divided into moist straw, soaked straw for 24 h without pasteurization and soaked for 24 h and pasteurized at 100 °C/1 h, and all of them were inoculated with different microbial inoculants. Results Moistened rice straw inoculated with Azotobacter chroococcum and Saccharomyces cerevisiae recorded the highest significant reduction in organic matter percent, 74.21%. The highest significant reductions in crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber percent were recorded in moistened rice straw inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense and Saccharomyces cerevisiae which gave 27.54, 55.39 and 42.47%, respectively. The highest significant increase in crude protein percent, 13.71%, was recorded in rice straw soaked for 24 h and inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense and Bacillus megaterium. The combined interaction between microbial treatments and physical pretreatments of rice straw gave a significant decrease in organic matter, crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber %, as well as a significant increase in crude protein % compared to control. Addition of nitrogen fixers to rice straw improved its nitrogen contents. Conclusions This study showed the possibility of improving the nutritional value of rice straw using microbial inoculants and some physical treatments to produce safe and cheap animal feeds.

Sustainable Production of Slow Release Fertilizers for Eco-Nutrient Delivery to Soil Microbial Communities in Nutrient Deficient soils

“…Proximate analysis is a quantitative analysis used to determine the different micronutrient components in an organic material. In this study, ash (furnance method), moisture (air oven method) lipids (soxhlet extraction method), carbohydrate (Cleg Anthrone method), fibre (standing method) and protein (Kjeldah method) were determined in each organic compound according to [9] and [11]. Mineral content, phosphate and nitrate were also determined by Ascorbic and Brucin methods, respectively.…”

“…However, starch has recently caught the attention of researchers because it occurs naturally as a polysaccharide biopolymer that is abundantly available from many renewable plant sources. Due to its slow cost, biodegradability and abundance, several non-food applications of starch have been investigated [9] with starch based controlled release coating material as one of the numerous applications [10,11]. Other biopolymers such as cellulose, alginate, wheat gluten and rubber have been explored for their suitability in enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer release [12].…”

Sustained nutrient delivery system: A new perspective in bioremediation

“…SAPs have recently caught the attention of research circles due to its interesting properties that favour SRF production. These SAPs are 3-dimensional hydrophilic groups that are able to absorb and retain fluids and to release the fluids under certain conditions (Mas'ud et al, 2013). A polymer is characterised as a superabsorbent if its ability to absorb water is 100 times its original weight (Zhang et al, 2007).…”

“…However, starch has recently caught the attention of researchers because it occurs naturally as a polysaccharide biopolymer that is abundantly available from many renewable plant sources. Due to its low cost, biodegradability and abundance, several nonfood applications of starch have been investigated (Akaranta and Agiri, 2010) with starch based controlled release coating material as one of the numerous areas (Jiang et al, 2013;Teli and Waghmare, 2010;Mas'ud et al, 2013). Other biopolymers such as cellulose, alginate, wheat gluten and rubber have been explored for their suitability in enhancing the efficiency of fertilizer release (Fernadez-Perez et al, 2008;Dubey et al, 2011;Li and Wang, 2012;Wang et al, 2012).…”

Application of Super Absorbent Polymer and Plant Mucilage Improved Essential Oil Quantity and Quality of Ocimum basilicum var. Keshkeni Luvelou

“…Positive effects of using superabsorbent polymers have been recorded for the production of different plants such as Pinus halepensis seedlings [22], Agrostis tenuis [29], Linum usitatissimum, and Matricaria chamomilla [30]. Waste pulp from the Cassava plant, with water absorption almost 1000 times their dry weight, can be used in soils as superabsorbent polymers according to Masud et al (2013) [31]. Research has also shown that the application of superabsorbent polymers caused an increase in unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and reduced saturated fatty acids in six cultivars of canola, ultimately leading to an increased quality of canola oil [32].…”