The coconut palm tree leaf sheath fibers were analyzed by FTIR spectral analysis, Chemical, X-ray and thermo gravimetric methods to assess their suitability as reinforcements in the preparation of green composites. Th...The coconut palm tree leaf sheath fibers were analyzed by FTIR spectral analysis, Chemical, X-ray and thermo gravimetric methods to assess their suitability as reinforcements in the preparation of green composites. The morphology of the untreated and alkali treated fibers was studied by scanning electron microscopic method. The FTIR and chemical analyses indicated lowering of hemi-cellulose content by alkali treatment of the fibers. The X-ray diffraction revealed an increase in crystallinity of the fibers on alkali treatment. The thermal stability of the fibers was found to increase slightly by alkali treatment. The tensile properties of these fibers increased on alkali treatment. The mechanical and other physical properties indicated that these fibers were suitable as reinforcements for making the green composites.展开更多
Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ing...Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ingestion, disintegration and decomposition of organic matter in soil. This study characterized the feed, the decomposing leaf litter of coconut （Cocos nucifera）, and faeces of two endemic giant pill-millipedes Arthrosphaera disticta and A. fumosa collected from forests of the Western Ghats of India based on chemical features and microbial profile. In both millipedes, electric conductivity and total phosphorus were significantly increased in faeces, while the crude protein, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phenolics were significantly decreased, as compared to those in feed. Heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, rhizobia and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were significantly higher in faeces than in feed, while filamentous fungi and yeast substantially decreased in faces compared to feed in both the millipedes. Spectrum of fatty acid methyl esters was considerably different between feed and faeces of both the millipedes. The total saturated fatty acids were higher than the total unsaturated fatty acids in feed as well as faeces, while the ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids decreased from feed to faeces. Dodecanoic and tetradecanoic acids in A. disticta and octadecanoic acid in A. fumosa significantly increased, while （9Z）-octadec-9-enoic and （9E,12E）-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A.. disticta and hexadecanoic, tetracosanoic and （9E,12E）- octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A. fumosa significantly decreased in faeces compared to feed, indicating millipede-dependent changes in fatty acids. Icosanoic acid was present in faeces of both the millipedes, and hexadec-9-enoic acid was confined to faeces of A disticta, while pentadecanoic, heneicosanoic, （9Z,12Z,15Z）-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic and eicosenoic acids were confined to faeces of A. fumosa. Pill-millipedes enrich the soil quality by leaf litter conditioning in their gut through specific microbial communities. Fingerprinting of fatty acid methyl esters in faeces of these millipedes reflected the activity of specific microbial population in their guts.展开更多
基金supported by University Grants Com-mission,India,Major Research Project(No:33-397/2007(SRF))
文摘The coconut palm tree leaf sheath fibers were analyzed by FTIR spectral analysis, Chemical, X-ray and thermo gravimetric methods to assess their suitability as reinforcements in the preparation of green composites. The morphology of the untreated and alkali treated fibers was studied by scanning electron microscopic method. The FTIR and chemical analyses indicated lowering of hemi-cellulose content by alkali treatment of the fibers. The X-ray diffraction revealed an increase in crystallinity of the fibers on alkali treatment. The thermal stability of the fibers was found to increase slightly by alkali treatment. The tensile properties of these fibers increased on alkali treatment. The mechanical and other physical properties indicated that these fibers were suitable as reinforcements for making the green composites.
基金the award of Inspire Fellowship,Department of Science and Technology,New Delhi,India (No.IF110540)the award of UGCBSR Faculty Fellowship by the University Grants Commission,New Delhi,India
文摘Soil macroinvertebrates are highly diverse and their major ecological service include breakdown of organic matter and in turn improve soil fertility and pill-millipedes are well-known for their significant role in ingestion, disintegration and decomposition of organic matter in soil. This study characterized the feed, the decomposing leaf litter of coconut （Cocos nucifera）, and faeces of two endemic giant pill-millipedes Arthrosphaera disticta and A. fumosa collected from forests of the Western Ghats of India based on chemical features and microbial profile. In both millipedes, electric conductivity and total phosphorus were significantly increased in faeces, while the crude protein, organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phenolics were significantly decreased, as compared to those in feed. Heterotrophic bacteria, actinomycetes, rhizobia and phosphate-solubilizing bacteria were significantly higher in faeces than in feed, while filamentous fungi and yeast substantially decreased in faces compared to feed in both the millipedes. Spectrum of fatty acid methyl esters was considerably different between feed and faeces of both the millipedes. The total saturated fatty acids were higher than the total unsaturated fatty acids in feed as well as faeces, while the ratio of unsaturated/saturated fatty acids decreased from feed to faeces. Dodecanoic and tetradecanoic acids in A. disticta and octadecanoic acid in A. fumosa significantly increased, while （9Z）-octadec-9-enoic and （9E,12E）-octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A.. disticta and hexadecanoic, tetracosanoic and （9E,12E）- octadeca-9,12-dienoic acids in A. fumosa significantly decreased in faeces compared to feed, indicating millipede-dependent changes in fatty acids. Icosanoic acid was present in faeces of both the millipedes, and hexadec-9-enoic acid was confined to faeces of A disticta, while pentadecanoic, heneicosanoic, （9Z,12Z,15Z）-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic and eicosenoic acids were confined to faeces of A. fumosa. Pill-millipedes enrich the soil quality by leaf litter conditioning in their gut through specific microbial communities. Fingerprinting of fatty acid methyl esters in faeces of these millipedes reflected the activity of specific microbial population in their guts.
