The comparison between Tramadol drug loaded microspheres prepared from gelatin/sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and those prepared from gelatin/sodium carboxymethyl nanocellulose (NaCMNC) in presence of glutaraldehyde (GA) as cross linker was carried out. Cellulose isolated from rice straw was hydrolyzed using 65% H2SO4 to prepare nanoparticles with average particle size ranging from 44 to 66 nm. Various formulations of gelatin/NaCMC and gelatin/NACMNC were prepared with different ratios of amounts of gelatin, NaCMC/NaCMNC, and GA. Microspheres were characterized by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The FTIR spectroscopy results confirmed the structure of microsphere and the absence of chemical interactions among Tramadol drug, polymer, and crosslinking agent. The ultraviolet spectroscopy showed 68% efficiency of the drug encapsulation using cellulose, while 55% for nanocellulose. The equilibrium water uptake decreased from 646 to 329% for cellulose microspheres, when the amount of GA increased from 5 to 10 mL. In contrast, the equilibrium water uptake decreased significantly from 501 to 33.7% for nanocellulose microspheres. The yield percentage enhanced from 54.67 to 80% for nanocellulose microspheres. The in vitro release rate was also calculated. The percent cumulative release of drug was significantly increased at the first 2 h and then a slow increase was further noticed. In general, the nanocellulose microsphere showed lower release rates than cellulose. None of the prepared microsphere presented 100% drug release until 12 h.

Cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), prepared from rice straw, were used for hydrogel preparation, separately or in a mixture of both of them in a ratios of 1:1, 1:4, 1:9, 2:3 and 3:7 (by weight).They were polymerized with partially neutralized acrylic acid (AA) in the presence of potassium persulphate, as initiator, and vinylsulphone (VS), as cross-linker. Moreover, glutaraldehyde, N,N-methylene bis acrylamide (MBA) and Epichlorohydrin (ECH) were used as cross-linker for the mixture of 1:1 of Cellulose: CMC. The mechanism of the polymerization was studied and the resulted hydrogels were characterized for their appearances, yields percentage, and water absorbencies. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and XRD analysis were also investigated for the hydrogel samples. Since the textile industry produces large volumes of wastewaters which contain hazardous compounds such as dyes, heavy metals like Cu(II), and surfactants, so we aimed in this research to use the hydrogel samples for Cu²⁺ absorption that can be presented in the wastewater. The FT-IR spectrum, before and after absorption, indicated that the prepared hydrogels were able to absorb the Cu²⁺. The Cu²⁺ ions can be recovered and dried to be reused again as well as the hydrogel samples can be available again for reuse.

A Ag-nanoparticle (Ag-NP) dispersion was successfully synthesized using a glucose/Ag-nitrate/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/sodium hydroxide reduction formulation. The resultant Ag-NP dispersion was successfully used alone and in combination with Disperse Orange 31 or Basic Blue 9 dyes to impart antibacterial properties against Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria to polyester and polyacrylonitrile fabrics respectively using microwave treatment. An increase in Ag-NP dispersion concentration by 50% and prolonged microwave irradiation by two minutes significantly improved the antibacterial performance. The EDX spectrum of the Ag-NP loaded substrates confirmed the presence of elemental Ag (Ag ⁰ ) on the fabrics’ surface. Addition of selected disperse or basic dye to the Ag-NP treatment bath produced disperse or basic dyeings with darker depth of shades and remarkable antibacterial functionality.

This work was performed to extract oil from Jatropha seeds and to study the optimum conditions of extraction. The extraction process was observed with regard to oil yield percent versus time to calculate the kinetic and thermodynamic parameter. On the other hand, Jatropha oil was used as feed stock for biodiesel production by alkali catalyzed methanolysis. The optimum condition for the production process was studied depending on the methyl ester content. The Jatropha biodiesel was blended with 10, 15, and 25% with petroleum diesel and the thermo-physical properties were studied. All the measured properties of Jatropha oil and biodiesel are determined by international standards ASTM6751-07b, with exception of lower oxidation stability.