Purification and drying methods of sericin from cocoons.

Different methods of purification and drying of sericin were evaluated to obtain a material free of contaminating residues through the development of safer and sustainable environmental technology. Samples purified using different proportions of alcohol solvents and by freezing/thawing were compared, while drying was performed by lyophilisation and atomisation in a spray. No significant statistical differences were observed in the yield of the purification process compared with the evaluated methods.

Photocatalytic degradation of HS in the gas-phase using a continuous flow reactor coated with TiO-based acrylic paint.

For the photocatalytic degradation of the hydrogen sulphide (HS) in the gas-phase it was developed a rectangular reactor, coated with acrylic paint supported on fiber cement material. The surface formed by the paint coverage was characterized structural and morphologically by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and X-ray diffraction analysis. The flow rate and the inlet concentration of HS were evaluated as operational performance parameters of the reactor.