Microfluidic paper based membraneless biofuel cell to harvest energy from various beverages

The present work establishes the cost-effective and miniature microfluidic self-pumping paper based enzymatic biofuel cell (P-EBFC). The developed Y-shaped P-EBFC consists of buckeye composite multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) buckypaper (BP) based bioanode and bio-cathode that were immobilized with electro-biocatalytic enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx) and laccase, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of enzymes on electrode surface is confirmed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. Such immobilized bio-anode and bio-cathode show exquisite electrocatalytic activity towards glucose and O2, respectively. Most appealingly, P-EBFC can directly harvest energy from widely available beverages containing glucose such as Mountain Dew, Pepsi, 7up and fresh watermelon juice. This could provide potential application of P-EBFC as a portable power device

EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTATION OF OREGANO (ORIGANUM VULGARE) ESSENTIAL OIL WITH PROBIOTICS ON ECONOMICS AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of oregano essential oil (OEO) (Origanum vulgare L.) individually or in combination with probiotics as a dietary supplement in broiler chicken for 42 days. A total of 240 straight run “Ven-Cobb 400Y” strain commercial day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 4 replications each (15 birds per replicate): T0 (standard broiler diet as per BIS, 2007), T1 (Standard broiler chicken diet as per BIS, 2007 + oregano essential oil @ 0.15 gm/kg diet) T2 (Standard broiler chicken diet as per BIS, 2007+ probiotic (encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae) @ 200 gm/tones) T3 (Standard broiler chicken diet as per BIS, 2007 + oregano essential oil @ 0.15 gm/kg diet + probiotic (encapsulated Saccharomyces cerevisiae) @ 200 gm/tones). Improved Cumulative body weight gain and feed efficiency (P<.05) were found in (T3) being 1163.96 gm and 1.22 respectively, followed by (T2) having 1128.18 gm and 1.22 while (T1) 1106.83 gm and 1.29 and T0 (control) 1063.1 gm and1.32. It can be concluded that oregano oil at the levels of 0.15 gm/kg when fed along with probiotics (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) appears as a promising alternative to antibiotic growth promoters for augmented performance in broiler chickens

Realization of Optimized Wax Laminated Microfluidic Paper-Based Analytical Devices

Being an economical, simple, user-friendly on-field screening platform, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) have gained significant attention in the scientific community. Hitherto, μPADs were fabricated by patterning hydrophobic regions using photoresist, wax crayons, solid-ink, plotting-machine, cutting paper via laser and conventional table-top solid wax printer. However, most of these methods needed sophisticated and proprietary instruments, with a complicated process required to forms a hydrophobic barrier, and result in low resolution. In the present work, to prepare a μPAD using an inexpensive laminator to generate hydrophobic patterns of paraffin wax on cellulose paper has been demonstrated. Here, a predesigned mold coated with paraffin wax and a hot laminator to form an absolute hydrophobic wax pattern. The predesigned mold was created using a simple printing/copier paper followed by wax dip-ping. These fabricated μPADs have been characterized by selecting a suitable copier paper, with suitable density, as a predefined mold, and choosing optimized speed of roller and temperature of laminator. Finally, the fabricated μPAD has been exploited for viscosity measurement and colorimetric pH study of fluids. This low-cost, ergonomic and versatile wax lamination approach offers an excellent alternative to the current methods, and offers boundless opportunities for researchers from resource-constrained labs.</jats:p

Microfluidic paper based membraneless biofuel cell to harvest energy from various beverages

The present work establishes the cost-effective and miniature microfluidic self-pumping paper based enzymatic biofuel cell (P-EBFC). The developed Y-shaped P-EBFC consists of buckeye composite multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) buckypaper (BP) based bio-anode and bio-cathode that were immobilized with electro-biocatalytic enzymes glucose oxidase (GOx) and laccase, respectively. The electrocatalytic activity of enzymes on electrode surface is confirmed using cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique. Such immobilized bio-anode and bio-cathode show exquisite electrocatalytic activity towards glucose and O2, respectively. Most appealingly, P-EBFC can directly harvest energy from widely available beverages containing glucose such as Mountain Dew, Pepsi, 7up and fresh watermelon juice. This could provide potential application of P-EBFC as a portable power device.</jats:p