Ëbiocureí to Protect Fruits Increasing Storage Life of Cashew Apple Use of Tobacco Seed Oil Methyl Ester in Diesel Engine

Fruit

Increasing storage ëBiocureí to protect life of cashew apple fruits

Cashew apple has potential applications in various value-added People are concerned about possible products and medicines. Scientists at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, residues of synthetic pesticides on fruits like apple Madurai have done study on increasing the storage life of cashew apple, and oranges. Keeping this into consideration USDA which normally gets spoiled very soon. During experiment treatments scientists have developed new natural environment were given to the cashew apples with mustard oil, neem oil, Bavistin, friendly fungicide which can eradicate infections that BHT, KMS + Sodium benzoate + Citric acid at 1% level and compared occur within 24 hours before its application. with control. The treated samples were packed in polyethylene bags and This fungicide contains a yeast, Candida were kept in low temperature (20°C) to observe the storage behaviour saitoana and lysozyme, an antifungal enzyme of cashew apple. Once in every two days the samples were noted for derived from chicken eggs. The scientists have called physiological loss of weight, TSS, acidity and ascorbic acid. Among these it ‘Biocure’. Besides providing very effective treatments, mustard oil treated sample was found to be the best (12 protection against rot fungi infection this combination days), than the other treatments, however other factors were on reducing can also eradicate in existing infection [Bliss, Agric state [Kannan & Thirumaran, Cashew Bull, 2002, 40(3), 3-6]. Res, 2002, 50(7), 12-13].

Fuel

Use of tobacco seed oil methyl ester in diesel engine

Vegetable oils and their methyl/ oil extraction process from tobacco seed ethyl esters are alternative renewable fuels and the transesterification process for for compression ignition engines. biodiesel production were examined. Different kinds of vegetable oils and their Tobacco seed oil methyl ester has been methyl/ethyl esters have been tested in produced and tested in a diesel engine as diesel engines. However, tobacco seed oil an alternative diesel fuel. The results and tobacco seed oil methyl ester have not conclude that tobacco seed oil methyl been tested in diesel engines, yet. Tobacco ester can be partially (up to 25-35%) (Nicotiana tabacum Linn.) seed oil substituted for the diesel fuel at most is a non-edible vegetable oil and a by- operating conditions in terms of product of tobacco leaves production. In performance parameters and emissions a study (conducted at Pamukkale without any engine modification and University, Mechanical Engineering preheating of the blends [Usta, Biomass Department, Camli, Denizli, Turkey), the Bioenergy, 2005, 28(1), 77-86].

Vol 4(2) March-April 2005 133 Fuel

Mahua oil methyl ester as biodiesel

There is an increasing interest in Leather Research Institute, Chennai and greatly from that of diesel. A slight power many countries to search for suitable Department of Mechanical Engineering, loss, combined with an increase in fuel alternative fuels that are environment Anna University, Chennai, Mahua oil consumption, was experienced with friendly. Although straight vegetable oils (Madhuca indica J.F. Gmel. seed oil) MOME. This may be due to the lower can be used in diesel engines, their high was transesterified with methanol using heating value of the ester. Emissions of viscosities, low volatilities and poor cold sodium hydroxide as catalyst to obtain Carbon monoxide and Hydrocarbon are flow properties have led to the mahua oil methyl ester (MOME). The too low for MOME. Oxides of nitrogen investigation of various derivatives. biodiesel obtained by this process was were slightly low for ester compared with Biodiesel is a fatty acid alkyl ester, which tested in a single cylinder, four stroke, diesel. Thus, MOME could be used as can be derived from any vegetable oil by direct injection, constant speed, alternative fuel in a diesel engine instead transesterification. Biodiesel is a compression ignition diesel engine of diesel fuel [Puhan et al, Biomass renewable, biodegradable and non-toxic (Kirloskar) to evaluate the performance Bioenergy, 2005, 28(1), 87-93]. fuel. In a study conducted by researchers and emissions. Engine performance test at Chemical Engineering Division, Central show that MOME as a fuel does not differ

Insecticide

Larvicidal potential of some extracts obtained from marine organisms

Various biologically active organisms like prawn and sea cucumber steroids in the active extracts of prawns, molecules have been isolated from marine extracts against mosquito Culex pipens whereas the presence of saponins in the flora and fauna, which have applications fatigans. This mosquito species is one active extracts of sea cucumber body wall. in pharmaceuticals, nutritional of the important vectors of filarial In this context, the observed mosquito supplements, cosmetics, agrochemicals, nematode, Wuchereria bancrofii and larvicidal activity could be attributed to the molecular probes and fine chemicals. The reported to be highly prevalent in Mumbai presence of steroids and saponins. This extracts of the marine organisms have region, as it breeds mainly in polluted investigation explores the importance of been reported to be lethal for the larvae waters. The non-polar petroleum ether marine organisms as a valuable resource of marine fouling organisms including extract of prawn, Nematopalaemon for the discovery of novel insecticidal barnacles (Arthropoda). In view of this tenuipes and polar methanol extract of molecules [Thakur et al, Indian J it is possible that marine organisms could sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra Marine Sci, 2004, 33(3), 303-306]. provide entirely new avenues for mosquito body wall were found to be effective control. Thakur and others investigated against mosquito larvae. The preliminary the larvicidal potential of two marine chemical analysis showed the presence of

134 Natural Product Radiance