Synthesis of Intelligent pH Indicative Films from Chitosan/Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Anthocyanin Extracted from Red Cabbage.

In this study, pH indicative films were successfully synthesized from hydrogels made by blending 1% poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and 1% chitosan (CS) with anthocyanin (ATH) and sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP). Particularly, ATH extracted from red cabbage was used as the pH indicator, while STPP was utilized as the cross-linking agent to provide better mechanical properties of the cast films. FT-IR spectra confirmed the existence of the ATH in the cast films.

Application of kaolin-based catalysts in biodiesel production via transesterification of vegetable oils in excess methanol.

Biodiesel production from transesterification of vegetable oils in excess methanol was performed by using as-prepared catalyst from low-cost kaolin clay. This effective heterogeneous catalyst was successfully prepared from natural kaolin firstly by dehydroxylation at 800°C for 10h and, subsequently, by NaOH-activation hydrothermally at 90°C for 24h and calcined again at 500°C for 6h. The as-obtained catalytic material was characterized with instruments, including FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and porosimeter (BET/BJH analysis).