Cochin University of Science and Technology

About: Cochin University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Thin film & Natural rubber. The organization has 5382 authors who have published 7690 publications receiving 103827 citations. The organization is also known as: CUSAT & Cochin University.

Voltammetric Sensor for the Determination of TBHQ in Coconut Oil

Abstract: A sensitive voltammetric method for the determination of tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a widely used synthetic phenolic antioxidant in oils and fats, using multiwalled carbon nanotube modified gold electrode (MWCNT/GE) was developed. In 0.10 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 2, TBHQ gave redox peaks at E pa = 258 mV and E pc = 228 mV on MWCNT/GE. Diffusion-controlled electrooxidation of TBHQ was found to be perfectly reversible with the involvement of two electrons and two protons. The anodic peak currents varied linearly with concentrations of TBHQ in the range 4.0 × 10−6 to 1.00 × 10−4 M. The limit of detection achieved for the developed sensor was 3.20 × 10−8 M (5.31 ng mL−1). Developed sensor was used for the determination of TBHQ in commercially available coconut oil. The results obtained from the developed method were in good agreement with the standard method (HPLC-UV).

Improved biochemical characteristics of crosslinked β-glucosidase on nanoporous silica foams

Abstract: Large mesoporous cellular foam (LMCF) materials were synthesized using the microemulsion templating route. For the enzyme stabilization, β-glucosidase was immobilized onto mesocellular silica foams (MCFs) in a simple and effective way, a process achieved using enzyme adsorption followed by glutaraldehyde (GA) crosslinking. This resulted in the formation of crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) of nanometer scale. The structural and chemical properties of these prepared materials were characterized by TG, CPMAS NMR and nitrogen adsorption measurements. The crosslinked immobilizates retained activity over wider ranges of temperature and pH than those of the free enzyme. Kinetic parameter ( K m ) of the immobilized β-glucosidase is lower than that of its free counterpart. The resulting CLEA was proved to be active and recyclable up to 10 cycles without much loss in activity. This demonstrates its prospects for commercial applications. The immobilizate exhibited enhanced storage stability characteristics than the native enzyme. In contrast to adsorbed GL and covalently bound glucosidase, the resulting crosslinked enzyme aggregates (CLEAs) showed an impressive stability with high enzyme loadings.