Sterculia 62% / Alverine 0.5% granules

• 95.2 % conversion rate achieved in biodiesel production from Sterculia foetida oil. • 5.17 h oxidation stability exceeds ASTM D6751 biodiesel standards. • Emissions reduced: CO by 2.3 %, HC by 4.1 %, and smoke by 1.9 % vs. diesel. • High Iodine value (101.4 g/100 g) indicates unsaturation, affecting viscosity/cetane. • Slight NOx rise observed; trade-off requires further research for mitigation. This study examines the feasibility of employing Sterculia foetida oil as a sustainable feedstock for biodiesel production, offering an eco-friendly substitute for conventional diesel fuel without requiring engine alterations. The method employs a two-step catalytic process, first with acid esterification to reduce the free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, followed by alkaline esterification for biodiesel synthesis. Essential process parameters—such as reaction time, temperature, catalyst concentration, and molar ratio—are carefully optimized to improve biodiesel yield. Under optimal conditions, the process achieves an impressive conversion rate of 95.2 %, demonstrating the considerable potential of Sterculia foetida oil for biodiesel production. Furthermore, blends of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) and diesel demonstrate a notable decrease in harmful emissions, especially a 2.3 % reduction in carbon monoxide (CO), a 4.1 % reduction in hydrocarbons (HC), and a 1.9 % decrease in smoke emissions compared to pure diesel. This study highlights the innovative use of non-edible oil as feedstock, a customized optimization method, and a highly effective catalytic process, all while emphasizing environmental sustainability and reduced emissions.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

• Enhanced oxidative stability and fuel quality, meeting ASTM D6751 standards. • Significant reduction in CO, UHC, and smoke emissions with butanol-enriched blends. • Slight increase in NOx emissions due to higher combustion temperatures from oxygen-rich butanol. • Optimization needed to improve brake-specific energy consumption for better fuel efficiency. This research endeavors to explore the viability of Sterculia foetida biodiesel (SFB) as a renewable feedstock for biodiesel synthesis, accentuating the novel application of butanol as a co-solvent to optimize engine functionality and emission profiles. The biodiesel was produced through a bifurcated catalytic method encompassing acid esterification to diminish free fatty acids (FFAs), succeeded by alkaline transesterification, which accomplished a conversion efficiency of 95.2%. Mixtures of SFB incorporating 10% and 20% butanol (SFB90B10 and SFB80B20) were assessed within the operational parameters of diesel engine functionality. The elevated oxygen content and energy density of butanol augmented combustion efficacy, with SFB80B20 exhibiting a 4% enhancement in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) alongside a 3.5% decrease in brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC). Emission assessments indicated a reduction of 6.2% in carbon monoxide (CO), 7.1% in hydrocarbons (HC), and 5.5% in smoke opacity for SFB80B20, countered by a slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NOx) of 2.2%. These results address significant deficiencies in biodiesel scholarship by demonstrating the potential of Sterculia foetida as a feedstock and elucidating the contribution of butanol in improving performance and sustainability. This investigation plays a pivotal role in the progression of biodiesel formulations aimed at more environmentally friendly and efficient diesel engine applications.

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp is a by-product of tropical and subtropical fruit Sterculia nobilis Smith, the functional activity and phytochemical composition of which have not been widely reported. In this work, LC-ESI-MS/MS-MRM technique was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of 16 phenolic compounds in the ethyl acetate fraction of Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp extract (EAF). Luteolin-7-O-glucoside, epicatechin gallate and apigetrin were the principal phenolics in the EAF. The hypoglycemic activity of EAF was examined by α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition models. EAF inhibited both α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities reversibly and uncompetitively with half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 69.390 ± 1.410 μg/mL and 2.151 ± 0.044 mg/mL, respectively. Enzyme inhibition mechanism of EAF was studied by spectroscopic methods. The results showed that EAF altered the secondary structure and microenvironment of tyrosine and tryptophan residues of the enzymes. This research demonstrates that Sterculia nobilis Smith pericarp is a potential raw material for production of functional foods at low cost.

Abstract licence: CC BY

Herein the present work, aloe vera (AV) and sterculia gum (SG) based polymer network hydrogels have been designed for use in wound dressing and drug delivery (DD) applications. The hydrogels were prepared by graft copolymerization reaction of poly(2-(methacryloyloxy) ethyl trimethylammonium chloride) [poly (METAC)] onto AV and SG. Polymers were characterized by FESEM, SEM, EDS, AFM, C13 NMR, FTIR, XRD and TGA-DTG analysis. Swelling, drug delivery and biomedical properties of dressings have been evaluated. Sustained diffusion of moxifloxacin drug from dressings exhibited a non-Fickian diffusion mechanism and the release profile was best fitted in the Korsmeyer-Peppas kinetic model. Various interactions of polymers with blood and goat membranes revealed the biocompatible and mucoadhesive nature of the dressings. Hydrogel dressings were found permeable to O2 and water vapour and impermeable to microbes. Overall, these properties revealed that these hydrogels could act as suitable materials for design of wound dressings. Furthermore, antioxidant properties of AV, wound healing characteristic of SG, antibacterial properties of poly(METAC) and encapsulated moxifloxacin drug in hydrogel dressings may enhance the wound healing potential of hydrogel wound dressings (HWD).

Abstract licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Chicha gum is a natural polymer obtained from the Sterculia striata plant. The hydroxyl groups of its structure have a chemical affinity to form hydrogels, which favors the association with biologically active molecules, such as nerolidol. This association improves the biological properties and allows the material to be used in drug delivery systems. Chicha gum hydrogels associated with nerolidol were produced at two concentrations: 0.01 and 0.02 g mL−1. Then, the hydrogels were characterized by thermogravimetry (TG), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and rheological analysis. The antibacterial activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The cytotoxicity was evaluated against Artemia salina. Finally, an in vivo healing assay was carried out. The infrared characterization indicated that interactions were formed during the gel reticulation. This implies the presence of nerolidol in the regions at 3100–3550 cm−1. The rheological properties changed with an increasing concentration of nerolidol, which resulted in less viscous materials. An antibacterial 83.6% growth inhibition effect was observed using the hydrogel with 0.02 g mL−1 nerolidol. The in vivo healing assay showed the practical activity of the hydrogels in the wound treatment, as the materials promoted efficient re-epithelialization. Therefore, it was concluded that the chicha hydrogels have the potential to be used as wound-healing products.

Abstract licence: CC BY