There is a continued need for the advancement of natural emulsifiers to replace synthetic emulsifiers, driven by human health concerns. This study is aimed at producing protein-polysaccharide conjugates through the Maillard reaction and at evaluating its ability as an emulsifier based on its emulsifying properties. The proteins used in this study were bovine milk whey protein and soy protein isolates, while the polysaccharides were maltodextrin and pectin. The protein-polysaccharide conjugation used a Maillard reaction under dry heating conditions. The protein and polysaccharide mass ratios were 1 : 2 and 1 : 3. The results showed that the types of proteins and polysaccharides and their mass affect the surface tension of the conjugate products. Whey protein-pectin conjugates with a mass ratio of 1 : 2 and a concentration of 1% had the lowest surface tension at 43.77 dyne/cm². This conjugate sample also showed the highest emulsifying index at 27.20 m²/g. The conjugate powder containing pectin as a polysaccharide showed better emulsifying activity than that of those containing maltodextrin. However, the smallest droplet size of the emulsion (256.5 nm) resulted from the emulsification process using whey protein-maltodextrin conjugates as an emulsifier. The FTIR and gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis confirmed the conjugation formation. In general, protein-polysaccharide conjugates containing whey protein could potentially act as a natural emulsifier for food.

Cellulose derivative products, such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), which are used in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries, but still rely on cotton-derived cellulose, can be made from oil palm fruit empty bunches (OPEFB) and rice straw. This study examined how sodium monochloroacetic acid (NaMCA) concentration (3, 6, and 9 g) affected the simple synthesis and characteristics of CMC from OPEFB and rice straw cellulose. OPEFB-derived CMC produced with NaMCA (9 g) had the lowest of brightness, while rice straw CMC was brighter. NaMCA modifications altered the onset temperature (Tonset), but not maximum degradation temperature (Tmax), according to thermal analysis. The onset temperatures of OPEFB and rice straw CMC were 40–62 °C and 67–183 °C, respectively. Commercial CMC has an onset temperature of about 27 °C. The EDX analysis showed that rice straw CMC had a higher degree of substitution (DS) of 0.34–1.37 than OPEFB CMC, which had 0.30-0.70. Oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) cellulose and rice straw cellulose offer a viable carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) alternative. This process turns agricultural waste into valuable products and enables for their usage in numerous applications.

Rat taro is a potential plant as a raw material for medicine. Rat taro contains an active compound that is useful as an anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant. Standardization of raw materials is important to obtain reproducible effects and safe consumption. This study is aimed at obtaining an appropriate drying method to produce high‐quality rat taro simplicia from the tuber and leaf. The drying methods applied were sun drying, modified sun drying covered with black fabric, and oven drying. Simplicia of rat taro was made from the tuber and leaf. Simplicia quality was observed for moisture content, dry weight yield, ash content, water‐ and alcohol‐soluble essence, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (IC ₅₀ ). The results showed that the average drying temperature for the tuber was around 37.5°C–39°C, and for the leaf, it was 32.5°C–37°C. The drying time for the tuber was around 15–16 h, and for the leaf, it was 20–26 h. The average moisture content of rat taro simplicia ranged from 8.27% to 10.84%. The water‐soluble extract content of the tuber was around 10.92%–12.81%, and of the leaf, it was 35%–39.10%. Alcohol‐soluble extract content of the tuber was 1.88%–2.28%, and of the leaf, it was 6.35%–9.19%. The flavonoid content of the tuber was around 0.2–0.3 mg QE/g, and of the leaf, it was 4.1–5.6 mg QE/g. The IC ₅₀ value of the tuber was around 6477.70–8847.77 ppm, and of the leaf, it was 585.01–1189.63 ppm. The results revealed that the drying method influenced antioxidant activity ( p = 0.028) and flavonoid levels ( p = 0.009) in rat taro simplicia. The moisture content, antioxidant activity, and flavonoid content of the leaves were higher than the tubers. The most effective drying method for rat taro simplicia was oven drying at 37°C–38°C, which yielded flavonoid contents of 0.3 mg QE/g in the stems and 5.6 mg QE/g in the leaves, along with antioxidant activities of 6477.70 ppm in the stems and 585.01 ppm in the leaves, representing the best results obtained.

Nano-emulsions of Eucalyptus globulus leaves extract in 96% ethanol and 96% methanol were successfully prepared using the method of homogenization at various speeds of 13,000 rpm, 15,000 rpm and 17,000 rpm, with the addition of non-ionic surfactant to prevent agglomeration. A phytochemical analysis showed the presence of tannin, phenol and flavonoids. The size of the resulting nano-emulsions was measured using a particle size analyser (PSA) prior to the dyeing of cotton fabrics using the two-dips-two-nips method. Antibacterial tests were carried out on the extracts and dyed fabrics. The results showed that nano-sized particles (< 100 nm) were obtained from all extracts in both solvents used at all speeds. All dyed fabrics showed good levelness in a pale-brown colour with K/S values < 1 for all samples under spectrophotometric measurement. The colour fastness of the dyed fabrics to washing and rubbing were good to very good, with grey scale values ranging between 4/5–5. Antibacterial tests in Staphylococcus aureus bacterium showed that the eucalyptus leaves extract solution exhibited antibacterial ability, as evidenced by the formation of clear zones around the wells. Much better antibacterial activity was demonstrated by the dyed fabrics. Changing the particle size to nano increased the effectiveness of the antibacterial activity of the Eucalyptus globulus. Results showed that the nano-sized eucalyptus leaves extract demonstrated a more significant antibacterial activity than dyeability.

The main issue driving this research is the need to develop sustainable packaging materials that can replace conventional nonbiodegradable plastics. Traditional biodegradable foams often exhibit inadequate mechanical and thermal properties, which limit their practical use in food packaging. The study explores sustainable packaging alternatives using agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder, aiming to improve structural integrity, reduce water absorption, and optimize performance, while also addressing the growing environmental demand for renewable and eco‐friendly packaging solutions. Various physical properties were assessed, including moisture content, density, thickness, water absorption, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphology. The results indicated that the biofoam density ranged from 0.2282 to 0.2952 g/cm ³ , and thickness values were between 2.82 and 2.92 mm. Water absorption increased significantly after 2 min of immersion, while XRD analysis indicated a reduction in crystallinity with higher PVA concentrations. The morphology of the biofoam, including the shape, size, and distribution of pores, was influenced by the addition of PVA. A lower concentration of PVA led to an increase in the size of the pore holes. Among the formulations tested, the treatment with 35 g PVA (Formula 1) is recommended due to its superior mechanical strength, optimal density, and improved water resistance.

Rice straw is an abundant lignocellulosic residue with potential as a feedstock for carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) production. This study optimized sodium monochloroacetate (NaMCA) dosage and reaction time for obtaining CMC derived from Ciherang rice straw using response surface methodology with a central composite design (RSM-CCD). The optimal conditions, 4.40 g NaMCA and 3 h, yielded 25.31% CMC with pH 7.58, whiteness of 74.23%, moisture content of 4.12%, purity of 94.09%, viscosity of 6.8 cP, NaCl content of 5.91%, and desirability of 0.58. ANOVA showed that NaMCA dosage and reaction time significantly affected the yield and pH, whereas the other responses were less sensitive. FTIR confirmed characteristic CMC functional groups, and SEM revealed a distinct fibrillar morphology relative to commercial CMC. Although the product did not fully satisfy food-grade requirements for viscosity and NaCl content, the findings support Ciherang rice straw as a sustainable CMC feedstock and establish a predictive framework for further process optimization.