Palm and Latex Technology and Value Addition Degree Programme ( PLT)
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Item Effect of Residual Diammonium Hydrogen Phosphate (Dahp) Content on Natural Rubber Centrifuged Latex Properties Development and its Effect on Latex Film Properties(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Siriwardhana, M.W.H.N.M.Natural rubber particle, a polyisoprene core is surrounded by a shell of non-rubber components, proteins and phospholipids. Natural PO43- are added to ammonia preserved latex due to the hydrolysis of phospholipid layer around the rubber particle. Although this process contribute for the stability of the latex this could produce a waste sludge; a precipitate of magnesium with phosphate. In centrifuged latex (CL) manufacturing process PO43- are added as diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAHP) before centrifugation in order to remove residual Mg2+ present in field latex (F-NRL) to the level of 80-100 ppm. In most cases, added DAHP will leave excess PO43- in latex as most manufacturers added it without estimating the remaining Mg2+ present in latex. It results in high amount of PO43- in latex as considerable amount of PO43- are released from the • natural hydrolysis process with storage time. This study, aimed to determine the effect of residual DAHP content on properties of latex and films. A series of CL samples were prepared by adding 0 g (control sample), 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 g of 15% DAHP. Changes of the latex characteristics such as mechanical (MST) and chemical stability time (CST), PO43- and Mgt} content, viscosity and mechanical properties of latex films were determined with time according to ISO procedures. High ammonia preserved CL showed a considerable amount of natural PO43" of about 350-250 ppm which fluctuate with storage time. The excess PO43- in the latex lead to decrease in viscosity and stability due to colloidal destabilization. The control sample showed highest MST (315 seconds) and CST (97 seconds) with storage time. Higher PO43- content in latex causes increase in tensile strength but not more than 23 M Pa. The highest tensile strength of 25 M Pa was achieved by control sample with time. Elongation at break of all the samples are greater than 750% and control sample showed the highest value. Finally concluded that, no need to add DAHP in manufacturing CL if the Mg2+ content of F-NRL is below 100 ppm. Key words: - colloidal; destabilization; diammonium; magnesium; rubber latex; phosphateItem Effect of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate and Polyvinyl Chloride Ratio on Microcellular Sheets(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Ekanayake, K.N.S.Polymer blending is a significant technique that used in industrial practices to obtain desirable properties which cannot be achieved by an individual material. Component polymers and their mixing ratios affect greatly on the properties of the final product. Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) are most popular polymer materials in industrial applications. Hence, this study aspired to explore the effect of EVA and PVC ratio on physical properties of EVA microcellular sheets. . Five samples of EVA microcellular sheets were prepared with different EVA: PVC ratios (95:5, 90:10, 85:15, 80: 20, 75:25). Sample prepared with EVA alone was used as the control. Then all samples were cured at 120°C for seven minutes. Hardness, specific gravity, compression set, abrasion resistance and flexibility of these six samples were tested as per standard test procedures. This experiment was conducted in triplicate. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance and mean comparison by turkey comparison test using Minitab statistical software 16.0 version. The EVA microcellular sheets prepared with EVA: PVC ratio of 80:20 was found be the best in terms of all the tested properties and its hardness, specific gravity, compression set, abrasion resistance and flexibility tests were 43.66 N mm-2 with 0.577 of standard deviation(SD), 0.224 kg M-3 (SD-0.002), 65% (SD-1.00), 933.7 mg mm-3(SD-50.30) and more than 30000 cycles respectively. In conclusion, blending of EVA and PVC at the ratio of 80:20 respectively can be recommended for manufacturing EVA microcellular sheets with improved properties. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of polymer blending ratio on mechanical and morphological behavior of EVA microcellular sheets. Key words: Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polymer ratio, Microcellular sheetsItem Evaluation of Growing Media Compositions; Different Combinations of Peat And Coco Pith(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Karunathilaka, D.M.N.U.Coconut coir is an excellent soil conditioner similar to peat moss and exhibit similar performances as growing substrates The evaluation of growing media composition in terms of different compositions of peat and coco pith, enables an evaluation of performance of different combinations of peat and coco pith as a growing medium as substrates. Selected seven peat types and coir pith were mixed with three ratios as (30%:70%), (20%:80%) and (10%:90%). Then physical properties were evaluated such as moisture content, electrical conductivity and pH value. Tomato (Lycopersicon esculeniwn) was used to evaluate the growing parameters. The plant growth parameters such as plant height, number of leaves, root dry weight were measured from the first week to seventh week of planting. Based on the results of the present study, the moisture content of the blends were observed between 70-80%, pH were between 4.8¬7.5 and electrical conductivity were found between 80-180 (pSem-1). The highest plant height was observed in the blend type P2C80 Blend. The highest root dry weight was recorded in P2C80 blend type among all the custers. The highest number of leaves, highest plant height and highest root dry weight found in P2C80% and it was recorded as eleven numbers of leaves, 23.12 cm, and 88.2g. All plant parameters were significantly affected by the blend type according to the statistical analysis However, results of the present study revealed that P2C80 blend is the best performing grow bag substrate (Peat type - Baltic fraction A 3-5 mm Latvia peat) for tomato. Keywords: Coir pith, Peat, Growing media ratios, pH value, Electrical conductivity, Moisture content, TomatoItem Factors Affecting on the Export Performance of Coconut Based Products: A Study of Coconut Exporting Companies(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Ranasinghe, R.A.H.H.Despite the issues in the marketing of agricultural commodities due to prevailing global concerns, it is notable that the export performance of Coconut based products has been increased in the country. Assuming that apart from macro-economic aspects, the individual exporting companies have made a remarkable contribution in this regard, this study was conducted to identify the organizational level determinants of export performance of coconut-based products. The export performance was examined within the context of the company's overall business efforts in international markets. Accordingly, data were gathered from randomly selected 40 coconut-based products exporting companies using a questionnaire-based mail survey. During the study, special concern was given to the marketing strategies executed by each company. Multiple linear regression results of the study revealed that the scale of production, number of foreign buyers, the level of market segmentation and the marketing strategies significantly affect the export performance of coconut-based products in Sri Lanka while the number of exporting countries does not significantly affect the export performance. Further, the number of foreign buyers shows a negative relationship with export performance. The study concludes that when the production scale and overall marketing mix strategies are enhanced while segmenting and focusing on specific markets or buyers would increase the export performance of coconut-based products of Sri Lankan Coconut based products exporting companies. Key word: Coconut products, Export marketing strategies, Export performanceItem Mechanical and Flammability Properties of High-Density Polyethylene / Crumb Rubber / Rice Husk Ash Composites(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Amarathunga, A.V.S.K.The illegal disposal of plastic and rubber wastes has adversely affected the environment. Recycling these waste materials is a solution to overcome such problems. This study focused on developing composite board (CB) compound using the waste of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Crumb Rubber (CR), and Rice Husk Ash (RHA), which can be used to improve the strength properties of plastic products. Composite Board (CB) compounds were prepared keeping the HDPE to CR to RHA (HDPE/CR/RHA) ratio at 100:0:0, 76:19:5, and 66.5:28.5:5. The CR used in the compounds were 0.5 mm, 1 mm, and 2 mm in size. The properties of compressive strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, density, and flammability were tested. According to the results, the compressive strength of composites was varied from 99.1x106 Nm-2 to 109.9x106 Nm-2, while the control showed 101.5x106 N m-2. The flexural strength of composites was varied between 1.4x106 Nm-2 and 13.7x106 Nm-2, while the controls showed 6.6x106 Nm-2. The tensile strength was varied between 0.4x106 Nm-2 and 2.0x106 Nm with 0.9x106 NM-2 of control. The density of composites was varied between 1.2x103 kgm-3 and 1.5x103 kgm-3, while the control showed 1.4x103 kgm-3. The maximum compressive strength was shown by 0.5 mm sized CR added composites, maximum flexural strength, and tensile strength was depicted by 1 mm sized CR added composites & minimum density was depicted by 1 mm sized CR added composites. The fire initiation time of flammability was varied from 30 s to 51.3 s and the burning time was varied from 5.7 s to 33.7, s. The composites can be fixed together using a screw and can groove using a grooving machine. Overall, HDPE, CR, and RHA can be used to prepare CB compounds with better mechanical and flammability properties, and with the ability to fix them through grooving and screwing. Keyword: High-Density Polyethylene, Crumb Rubber, Rice Husk Ash, Composite Board CompoundItem Green Synthesis of Zn Nanoparticle (Zn Nps) from Palmyrah Resource and Evaluation of its Antimicrobial Property(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Ubaitha, N.A.Borassus flabellifer is a tree found in the tropical belt of Sri Lanka and almost all parts of the tree can be used for various purposes like food, medicine, and others. Mostly, the leaf has been used to make handicraft items and is popularly known for this only but other than this, there is a potential for leaf being used for various purposes. Only very few studies were conducted to evidence the medicinal importance of palmyrah leaf The aim of this work is associated with plant-mediated nano-particle synthesis through developing low-cost, eco-friendly processing using palmyrah leaf extract and zinc sulfate and sodium hydroxide as precursor solution. The artificial synthesis of zinc oxide is assisted by chemical processing and leaving several hazardous effects on the world. The nanoparticles synthesized were characterized using X-ray diffraction analysis and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method. The X-ray diffraction spectrometer was used to determine the crystalline size of nanoparticles synthesized as 20 + 6 nm at the wavelength of 517 nm. Antimicrobial activity for two different concentrations of zinc oxide nano-particle (50 and 100 mg/ml) was studied for Escherichia coli. A significant inhibition activity was observed for the tested two concentrations and the maximum activity (18 mm) was observed from the highest concentration. An attempt is employed for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using leaf extract of Borassus flabellifer in an environmentally friendly manner. In this green nanoparticle synthesis process, palmyrah leaf extract has functioned as a reducing and capping agent. Green aspects of zinc oxide nanoparticle synthesis could be recommended as an alternative to high thermal chemical processing. Further characterization for associated phytochemical compounds and any toxic factor will assist to incorporate this nanoparticle for developing any value-added product from palmyrah in the future Keywords: Borassus flabellifer; Zinc oxide nanoparticle; XRD analysis; antibacterial activityItem Study the Effect of Application of Different Sap Collection Vessels on Nutrition & Quality Parameters of Palmyrah Sap and its Value-Added Products(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Pirashanth, T.Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer. L) is an important and versatile plant that belongs to the family of Aceraceae (Palmae). Palmyrah sap is an important output that is used for sweet toddy production or fermented toddy production. The sap is collected from male or female spadix or inflorescence of the palmyrah palm using clay pots and plastic bottles. It is light yellow, transparent liquid, and sweet. The pH of the sap is nearly (6.8 to 7). The Sap contains sugar as sucrose, glucose, and fructose, protein-free amino acids minerals (K, Ca, p, Mg, Fe, and Cr), and some vitamins (Vit C, Vit B1, Vit B5). The research mainly focusing on the sap collection vessels affect the quality parameters of sap so there are two types of vessels Earthen clay pot and Plastic bottle (Polyethylene terephthalate). Testing parameters are sap Brix, pH, Reducing sugar, Total sugar, Titrable acidity, Microbial tastings. Clay pot sap shows high pH value and Brix value also reducing sugar and total sugar value high because reducing the fermentation using high purity of lime. The clay pot sap is more suitable than plastic bottle sap. Clay pot shows a higher Brix value compared with the plastic bottle. Further, they showed a higher reducing value than a plastic bottle. Also, can identify higher pH value in the clay pot, Clay pot showed a higher value for pH compared with plastic bottle sap, Clay pot showed a higher reducing sugar value than plastic bottle sap, The earth pot sap shows a higher Brix worth and high pH likewise lessening sugar and complete sugar high in that strategy. Among the tried strategies all out sense of taste count and yeast and shape, count is higher into the plastic compartment as a result of the maturation and synthetic responses. Key Words: Palmyrah, sweet toddy, sap, vessels, Earthen clay pot, Plastic bottle, pH, Fermentation.Item Formulation of Natural Liquid Soap with Carotenoids from Palmyrah Fruit (Boraasus Flabellifer L.) Pulp and Rock Salt(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Risla, K.R.Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer) fruit pulp is a rich source of carotenoids which are oil soluble antioxidants capable of scavenging fi-ee radicals. Further, it contains saponin which can act as a detergent. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the potential of utilizing palmyrah fruit pulp in developing a natural skin nourishing liquid soap. A solvent mixture was prepared by mixing two parts of 80 % aqueous glycerol with one part of cold pressed virgin coconut oil (v/v). Carotenoids from palmyrah fruit pulp was extracted by macerating one part of palmyrah fruit pulp with ten parts of solvent mixture (w/v). Water extracts of red-coloured lx-ora petals, lemon peel and soapberry drupes were prepared. Different formulations of liquid soaps were prepared using pigment extracted oil and different combinations of Ixora, lemon, soap nut and jasmine water extracts and cinnamon oil. Rock salt, Potassium hydroxide and distilled water were the other ingredients used in the preparation of liquid soap. Liquid soap made from pure coconut , oil was used as the control. Sensory parameters; texture, colour, aroma, touch, formability, washing ability, feel after washing, dirt removing ability and overall acceptability of soap sample were evaluated by 30 untrained panelists using 7 points hedonic scale. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, lather volume, total fatty matter and total free alkali were determined according to the methods described in SLS standard for liquid soap. As per the results of sensory evaluation, the formulation consisted of pigment oil (46%), rock salt (3.5%), potassium hydroxide (7.0%), distilled water (20.0%), soapberry extract (20%) and jasmine essential oil (3.5%) was selected as the best. pH, lather volume, total fatty matter content' and total free alkali content of the best liquid soap formulation were 9,75+ 0.31, 415.01+ 4.11 ml, 48.99 + 0.80 % and 0.75 ± 0.05 g/L respectively. The best liquid soap formulation had the highest total fatty matter. Never the less, as compared to the control, the best liquid soap formulation was not significantly different in pH, lather volume and total free alkali content. Both formulations comply with the SLS standards requirements for liquid soap. Further studies on antioxidant and antibacterial activities of this liquid soap will be useful to promote it as a skin nourishing cosmetic product. Keywords: Palmyrah fruit pulp; Liquid soap; natural; skin nourishingItem Identify Suitable Substitutes for Calcium Nitrate Usage in Coir Substrate Industry(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Kanchana, G.S.Coco-peat based soilless plant growing substrates are with a high demand in agricultural sector around the world. To improve the fertility, buffering coco-peat is a practice prior to growing media preparation. Calcium nitrate is used as the buffering agent but it has been identified illegal to be used due to its negative effects on natural environment. Buffering adjusts the sodium, potassium, calcium ion concentrations through cation exchange capacity of coco-peat. Industries use 10 kg of Calcium nitrate for 1 ton of coco¬peat. Objective of the present study was to identify suitable substitutes for Calcium nitrate usage in coir substrate industry. Based on a literature survey, Calcium carbonate, Calcium oxalate, Calcium citrate and Calcium bicarbonate were selected as the chemicals to be tested in buffering coco-peat. 1 kg of coco-peat was used for each trial. A series of 200 ml and 250 ml solutions were prepared using 10 g, 20 g, and 30 g of each. Control samples were treated with 200 ml and 250 ml solutions prepared with 10 g of Calcium nitrate. EDTA titrations and Flame Photometer analysis were used to identify calcium ion concentrations of buffered coco-peat. Mean calcium ion concentration of control samples was (1.03 ± 0.0168) % and mean pH was 6.485 ± 0.115. Mean of EC was (1480 + 0.051) mS/cm. Based on calcium ion concentrations, Calcium citrate and Calcium oxalate were identified with a mean calcium concentration near (1.03 ± 0.0168) %. pH values were beyond the pH of control samples. Mean EC values of samples treated with Calcium citrate and Calcium oxalate were (1600 + 0.120) mS/cm and (1593 ± 0.1401) mS/cm respectively. Among the set of chemicals, a significant cost difference was not identified between Calcium nitrate and Calcium citrate. Overall results revealed that, further studies on the use of Calcium citrate as a buffering agent is required prior to substituting with Calcium nitrate. Moreover, further studies are required to use the natural resources which contain Calcium citrate to increase the efficacy of buffering coco-peat in an eco-friendly manner. Keywords: Buffering, Calcium citrate, Calcium nitrate, Calcium oxalate, Coco-peat, Soilless plant growing mediaItem Development of A Ready-to-Drink (Rtd) Beverage- Based on Organic Coconut Seed Cake Flour (Cocos nucifera)(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Madhusanka, T.G.D.M.Coconut industry can be dated back to 19th century. Coconut act as a cash crop and as a food crop in the industry. Coconut seed cake flour is the major by-product of the virgin coconut oil company. This study was conducted to develop a Ready to Drink beverage incorporated with organic coconut seed cake flour. The product was prepared by mainly changing the amount of coconut seed cake flour. Four beverages were based on organic coconut seed cake flour, and three beverages were based on organic coconut seed cake flour and matured coconut water. Following the product formulation, a sensory evaluation was conducted, and the results indicated that the formulation with 13.75 percent coconut seed cake flour and 7.5 precent fructose incorporated beverage sample to be the most preferred treatment combination. The final product was with Energy 59.8 kcal, total fat 1.0g,potassium 268.9 mg,calcium 12.5mg,sodium 56.8mg, total carbohydrate 12.1g,available carbohydrate 11.3g, protein 1.4g, total dietary fibre 0.8g per 100g of beverage.According to the results it could be concluded that, the microbial counts of the product for refrigerated conditions at 3rd week was zero while room temperature conditions of the product was 4x101 CFU ml-' for Total Plate Count and 2.3x102 CFU for Yeast and Mould count. The sample under the refrigerated conditions (4 :9C) had a longer shelf life and can be stored more than 3 weeks without any alteration in properties. As per the results the titratable acidity, pH and Total soluble sugar of the final product were recorded as 6.4 percent, 5.2 and 14 respectively. The shorter shelf life observed was due to the fact, the product was made without using any artificial preservative or additives. Keywords: Coconut Seed Cake Flour; Organic; Byproduct; RTD beverageItem A Comparative Study on Degradability of Nbr And Nr Latex Gloves(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Manukularathne, W.G.P.D.Natural rubber (NR) and Nitrile rubber (NBR) gloves are two main types of latex gloves used in the personal protective equipment market. In the face of abrupt increase in the demand and usage of these gloves due to the present Covid-19 pandemic, degradation of these gloves after usage may create an environmental threat. Therefore, a study was conducted to compare the degradation behavior of these products. Both glove types were treated under thermal and hydrothermal and UV radiation environments. Untreated samples were used as the control. Under thermal, hydrothermal and photo oxidative treatments, increase of the swelling index of untreated NR gloves (65.2%) increased by 38.23%, 14.69% and 7.17%, respectively while NBR gloves showed an percentage swelling index increment by 14.52%, 15.56% and 12.12% with compered to the percentage of swelling index of the untreated sample (28.77%) in the same order of treatments. The average tensile strength of NR was decreased from 16.89 to 15.67, 11.19, and 15.63 MPa while for NBR it decreased from 28.06 to 24.35, 23.93 and 20.56 MPa after the thermal, hydrothermal and UV exposure, respectively. Hydrothermally treated NR gloves showed new peaks suspected as hydroxyl groups and carbon-carbon triple bonds. Spectra of thermally and hydrothermally treated NBR showed identical loss of the peak responsible for the cyanide group. TGA analysis showed that the initial decomposition temperature of NR has reduced from 365.42 °C to 364.95 °C, 360.63 °C and 365.27 °C, respectively after the thermal, hydrothermal and UV treatments. NBR gloves also showed the same trend except for hydrothermal treatment where an increase in initial decomposition temperature was recorded. Overall, hydrothermal treatment was the best degradation method for NR gloves among candidated systems while exposure to UV radiation exhibited the highest degradation potential for NBR gloves. It was also found that removal of cyanide group when NBR gloves were subjected to hydrothermal degradation. Key words: Fourier transform infrared. spectroscopy; Natural Rubber; Nitrile Butadiene Rubber; Thermo Gravimetric Analysis; UltravioletItem Investigating the Potential of Bio Ethanol Production Using Different Palmyrah Products(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Rosana, R.F.Fossil fuel is widely used as energy source in various fields. The day-to-day life of human being become difficult due to scarcity, fast depletion and increasing price of fossil fuel. Biofuel can be an alternative to reduce the dependency on fossil fuel. Palmyrah (Borassus flabellifer) is an economically beneficial plant which is mainly found in tropical regions. Palmyrah products such as tuber flour, boiled tuber flour, Sweet sap, Treacle, Jaggery are rich in starch, sugars and some nutrients needed for fermentation. Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is the common microbes employed in ethanol production due to its high ethanol productivity, high ethanol tolerance and ability of fermenting wide range of sugars compared to other microorganisms. Further, yeast can grow under wide range of pH (2.8 -8.0). Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the potential of bioethanol production using various palmyrah products as medium. Five fermentation mediums were prepared using Palmyrah products such as tuber flour, boiled tuber flour, sweet sap, treacle and jaggery. Glucose solution (50 gL-1) was used as the control. This experiment was laid as a Complete Randomized Design with two replicates. The starter culture was prepared by inoculating 5 g of yeast into 100 mL of sterile sucrose solution (50 gL-1) and incubated in a rotary shaker. Each fermentation medium (250 ml) was inoculated with 20 ml of starter culture and incubated at room temperature (30 ± 2 °C) in an orbital shaker (100 rpm). Fermentation time was changed while keeping other factors constant. Samples were taken at different time intervals (24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h and 120 h) and after measuring their pH and Brix values they were centrifuged at 10000 x g for 10 min. Supernatants were collected and their ethanol contents were measured using an Ebulliometer. Alcohol concentration (% v/v) was calculated from the Ebulliometer degree table. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance. Glucose medium resulted highest ethanol yield (3.09% v/v) after 72 hours. Among Palmyrah products, after 48 hours, jaggery resulted the highest ethanol yield (2.5% v/v) whereas boiled tuber flour and raw tuber flour resulted 0.75% and 0.87% (v/v) of ethanol yield respectively. Therefore, this study suggested that the palmyrah products can serve as a raw material in bioethanol production.Item Factors Affecting on the Level of Value - Added Product Exportation of Coconut Industry of Srilanka(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Vithana, Vi.N.S.Sri Lanka is one of the largest suppliers of quality value-added coconut products to the world market. Though the value-added coconut products play a crucial role in the coconut sector, the performance of the overall sector in Sri Lanka has not been reached the expectations over the past couple of years. Sri Lanka has been ranked high as a value-added coconut exporter to the world market. Furthermore, the USA, the European Union, Asia, Africa, Oceanic countries are the leading markets for the value-added coconut product of Sri Lanka. Hence, this study was focused on the factors affecting value-added coconut product exportation in Sri Lanka. Primary data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey, the foremost factors which affect the value-added exportation were figured out by discussing with exporters. Accordingly, a questionnaire was developed and 40 coconut-based value-added exporting and manufacturing coconut companies registered under the Coconut Development Authority in Sri Lanka were interviewed. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed and results revealed that, the number of foreign buyers, number of employees in the company, company experience in exportation and Ability to adopt environment dynamics significantly positive affect the proportion of the value-added exportation of coconut products. Nevertheless the owner's experience in exportation, owner's experience in the process, the number of destination countries, show a significantly negative impact on the value added exportation of coconut products. Accordingly, it can be suggested that initiatives need to be taken to increase the export reach of coconut products (countries and buyers) and customize marketing strategies in order to increase profits via value added exportation of coconut products. Keywords: Coconut industry, value addition, exportation, marketing strategiesItem Effect of Fiber Size on Properties of Oil Palm Fiber Waste Filled Natural Rubber Composites(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Madushika, T.G.K.H.The twenty-first century has witnessed remarkable achievements in the rubber industry in regard to green technology through development of natural fiber based rubber composites. A wide variety of natural fibers extracted from coconut, palmyra and banana has been used as fillers in the development of natural rubber (NR) based green composites, most importantly to reduce environmental pollution caused by hazardous powdered fillers and to enhance reinforcement. Oil palm fiber (OPF) is hard, tough and has a potential to reinforce the rubber matrix. Mesocarp part of OPF, which generates as a waste material of palm oil processing mills was used as a filler in this study. The objective was to investigate the effect of size of OPF on cure, physico-mechanical, water absorption and ageing properties of NR composites. A chemical treatment was conducted to reduce fiber size and to improve physico-mechanical properties. Chemical processing with sodium hydroxide, bleaching with sodium chlorate and oxalic acid were conducted to remove residual oil and reduce fiber size. A series of NR composites was prepared with 2 phr OPF by varying its size from 250 p.m to below 50 p,m. The NR composite prepared without OPF, but with 2 phr of carbon black was considered as the control. Although an increase in properties was expected with the reduction of fiber size, no significant increase was observed. Nevertheless, results showed the highest values for the NR composite prepared with OPF in the size range 125 -175µm in regard to modulus at 300% elongation, tensile strength, hardness, resilience and an average value for water absorption. This revealed even dispersion of OPF in the rubber matrix of the above composite and the results were in agreement with crosslink density indicated by the delta cure value. There was no decrease in tensile modulus and strength after ageing, which indicates a high retention of these properties. Overall, results revealed that carbon black in NR composites could be replaced with OPF to manufacture rubber products requiring hardness ranging from 29-36 Shore A. Keywords: Oil palm mesocarp fiber, natural fillers% natural rubber, cure characteristics, physico-mechanical propertiesItem Hypoglycemic Activity of Palmyrah Flour by Using Invitro Glucose Uptake Assay(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Atputharajah, S.The objectives of this study were to analyze the hypoglycemic potential tuber flour as plukkodiyal flour extracts of Palmyrah by using the in-vitro technique namely glucose update assays by the yeast cells. Commercial yeast was used for the experiment, and to obtained high growth of yeast, optimization was carried out with different activation times (16, 18, 20, and 2hrs) and inoculum size (1, 2, 3, and 4m1). Then that of activation time, inoculum size showed best turbidity atl 8 hrs. And 3m1 respectively. Palmyrah tuber flour solvent was concentrated using a rotatory evaporator after extract was prepared in a soxhlet extractor for seven-run with petroleum ether, ethanol, and water separately based on polarity index. Then inoculated with the activated commercial yeast which was grown in a medium having Yeast (0.3g), Peptone (0.5g), and Dextrose (1g). Based on the concentration of glucose in the external solution water extract was selected for further studies. Different solvent extracts (50mg /ml) were added to glucose solution (5-25 mM) and incubated for 10 min at 37 °C and absorbance was measured and the percent increase in the uptake of glucose by the yeast cells was calculated and showed to proportional to the concentration of glucose and got increase with an increase in the molar concentration of the glucose solution. The Palmyrah flour water extract can serve as a beneficial agent and can be used as a potential source of novel bioactive compounds also observed these effects further, need to be confirmed by employing different in vivo models and clinical trials for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. Keywords: Palmyrah, extract, glucoseItem Fruit Component Analysis and Simple Sequence Repeats (Ssr) Genotyping of Exotic Coconut Varieties in Sri Lanka(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Mirissage, M.S.A.S.S.Coconut is a socio economically vital crop in Sri Lanka. Due to its recently discovered health benefits, coconut industry is flourishing across the globe. Based on the molecular studies, Sri Lankan coconut germplasm was found to have a narrow genetic base. Hence, 23 exotic coconut varieties had been imported from 2002 to 2004 as embryos, seedlings have been generated via embryo culture and planted at the field gene bank to broaden the genetic base. The aims of the current study were to evaluate the comparative performance of different exotic coconut varieties under Sri Lankan climatic conditions for the identification of superior mother palms for new hybrid production and/or releasing them as elite cultivars to the national coconut replanting program and SSR genotyping for varietal identification/hybridity testing. The research methods used for this study include Fruit component (FC) analysis and SSR genotyping. FC analysis investigated the fresh nut weight, husked nut weight, split nut weight, kernel weight, water volume etc. of different cultivars/varieties and data were analyzed using IRRI Statistical tool for Agricultural Research (Software). FC analysis was repeated in both dry and wet seasons to capture the environmental variations. DNA extracted, SSR genotyped, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresed and silver stained for varietal identifications. According to the results, exotic variety Markem Valley Tall (MKV) reported highest fresh nut weight, husked nut weight, split nut weight, kernel weight and water volume which is significantly different to the recommended cultivars; CRIC60, CRI65, CRISL98 and Kapruwana. Kar Kar Tall (KKT) also reported superior fruit components. Further data collection and analysis needed to carry-out in future for further validate these results. Results of the SSR genotyping reported PCR amplifications for all the 6 primers used in the study, yet no varietal specific bands could be identified. SSR genotyping is needed to be repeated with more SSR primers in future. In conclusion, superior exotic coconut cultivars MKV and KKT would be valuable genetic resources for the future coconut breeding in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Coconut Germplasm, Fruit Component Analysis, SSR GenotypingItem Development of Edible Coating for Palmyrah Jaggery and its Performance(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Nagulesvaran, J.Palmyrah jaggery is a traditional sweetener and indigenous medicine which is produced by concentrating the unfermented inflorescence sap of Palmyrah palm to a thick consistency. Composition and storage conditions of jaggery (both physical and chemical) are important factors that determine the keeping quality of product. During storage, solid jaggery undergoes liquefaction and changed to dark color, which was due to absorption of moisture and microbial attack. The present study was carried out to develop four different types of edible coatings to improve the self life and quality of Palmyrah jaggery. basic materials of coatings were selected in three concentration levels such as , carboxymethylcellulose (0.5%, 1%, and 2%), pectin (0.5%, 1%, and 2%), carrageenan (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) and whey protein (2%, 4%, and 6%).4% glycerol was selected as plastizer and ginger, cinnamon and cardamom were used as 0.2% additive materials in . Sensory analysis of organoleptic properties was carried out for selecting best additive material for each coating. Sensory panel was comprised of 30 trained panelist and data were analyzed by the Friedman non-parametric test. Cinnamon was selected as best additive. Moisture content, pH and water activity were analyzed at 7-day interval for 28 days to select the best concentration level for each coating. Results were analyzed statistically using one-way ANOVA in Minitab 19 at 95 % confidence level. Results of moisture content, pH and water activity showed that decreasing trend with storage period. According to above analysis results revealed that there is significant different between the concentration levels of coatings for each week was observed, so their highest level concentration was selected, such as Carboxymethylcellulose (2%), Pectin (2%), carrageenan (2%) and Whey protein (6%). It can be concluded that coating jaggery sample could help in retaining the desirable moisture up to some extent. Also that problem related to keeping quality of jaggery could be overcome by applying edible coating. Key words: Biodegradable; Indigenous; liquefaction; Organoleptic; PlastizerItem Film Properties of Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex Films Produced Out of Creamed Latex(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Lakshani, W.M.D.S.Pre-vulcanization of latex yields latex with intra cross-linked rubber molecules in rubber agglomerated dispersed in the aqueous medium. This nature of latex offers many advantages such as improved stability, simplicity in use, long shelf life, low toxicity in the industrial applications. Despite numerous works has been reported on pre-vulcanization of centrifuged natural rubber latex, no much work has been reported on the pre-vulcanization of creamed natural rubber latex. In this research study, pre-vulcanization of natural rubber creamed latex using fast, ultrafast and delayed-action accelerator systems was investigated. Accelerators used were Tetramethylthiuram disulfide, Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate and N-Tert-Butyl-2- benzothiazolesulfenamide, respectively. Corresponding counterparts were also prepared using centrifuged latex for the purpose of comparison. Pre-vulcanized latex films were prepared and their film properties were compared. Results showed that latex films made out of pre-vulcanized creamed latex exhibit higher crosslink density as evidenced by the lower swelling index, higher tensile strength (unaged and aged) and tear strength values than the corresponding films prepared using pre-vulcanized centrifuged latex. These results were justified by the low level of curing agent residuals available in the pre-vulcanized creamed latex than the centrifuged latex counterpart as evidenced by the acetone extraction results. Further pre-vulcanized creamed latex possesses low leachable protein content before leaching than that of in centrifuged latex. However, after leaching the opposite trend was observed, with significantly low levels of leachable protein content. Among the accelerators, Zinc diethyldithiocarbamate accelerator showed overall best performance while the lowest performance was shown by N-Tert-Butyl-2-benzothiazolesulfenamide. Therefore, it could be inferred that pre-vulcanized creamed latex with ultra-fast accelerator system can be a new achievement for the small scale rubber product manufacturers assuring energy efficient and less chemical consuming process promoting greener rubber products. Keywords: Accelerator, Centrifuged, Creamed, Pre-vulcanizedItem Unravelling the Impact of Coconut Production Declining in Sri Lanka on Kernel-Based Export Products and Coconut Oil(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Gamage, G.D.M.D.Coconut is one of the most commercially important crops in Sri Lanka, and the country requires around 3,600 million nuts per year to function properly upon the current demand. However, the current volume of the nuts produced annually is only between 2,500 and 3,100 million nuts. The production data reveals that there is a shortage in nut production. The main objective of this study is to unravel the impact for declining the production of coconut in Sri Lanka on kernel-based export products and coconut oil (excluding export). This study utilized primary data which was collected through a cross sectional survey conducted by interviewing 120 kernel-based exporters, palm oil importers, and dehydrated chips importing millers using three semi-structured questionnaires. Apart from that, secondary data which was gathered from the Coconut Development Authority. The ARIMA (2,1,1) model was used to predict whether coconut production in Sri Lanka would fluctuate between 2500-3000 in the next 5 years. According to the model, nut production will be 2,626, 2,833, 2,978, 2,850 and 2,761 million nuts, respectively. The Friedman test confirmed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among the statements which were related to the sustainability of raw material supply and sustainability of final product supply of kernel-based products to export market. According to statistical analysis, production of the kernel-based export companies would be affected with the decrease of annual nut production., However, they would continue to export even when the annual nut production decreases because of their strong supplier base. It was also found that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among statements which were described the impact of dehydrated chips importation. The findings reveal that due to the influx of most of the existing coconuts switching into the milk industry, millers could not meet the demand for coconut oil as a result of the unavailability of the required raw material. According to the findings, importation of quality palm oil and dehydrated chips would mitigate the impact of declining nut production and help to meet the local oil demand as well as boost the industry. Keywords: Coconut; Decline; Impact; Production; UnravelItem Effect of Bis-(3-Triethoxyslylpropyl)- Tetrasulfide and Polyethylene Glycol on the Properties of Natural Rubber/ Mica Composite(Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka, 2016) Edirisinghe, E.D.S.The bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfane (Si69) is widely applied as a coupling agent to rubber-filler interactions in silica filled rubber composites. In this study, the effect of bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)-tetrasulfane (Si69) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the properties of natural rubber (NR)/mica composites has been studied. Mica is one of the widely available silica-containing minerals in Sri Lanka. The effect of Si69 and PEG on the properties of natural rubber (NR)/mica composites have been observed while keeping the mica loading constant (30 phr). By keeping the total weight of Si69/PEG at 2 phr, the ratios of the Si69: PEG were changed as 0:1 (SP01), 1:0 (SP10), and 1:1 (SP11). The composite free from Si69/PEG (SPOO) was considered as the control. SP10 recorded the highest cure time (Tao) and scorch time (T52). The introduction of PEG has reduced cure time (Tao) and scorch time (T52) in SPO1 and SP11, which are comparable with the control. Higher tensile strength emphasized better rubber-filler interactions in the composites with Si69 (SP10 and SP11). Although, SP10 recorded the highest elongation at break, SP11 resulted the enhanced moduli,. at 100%, 300%, and 500% elongation, showing better rubber-filler interactions than SP10. This further supports the hardness and resilience data, of which SP 11 yielded the highest hardness and resilience values. Thermal aging results showed enhanced tensile strengths in SPOO and SP10, which may be attributed to the formation of more crosslinks. PEG could increase the viscosity of rubber causing permanent heat deformation, thus resulting inferior tensile aging results in the SPO1 and SP11. The thermogravimetric analysis revealed that Si69 and PEG have no significant effect on the degradation of composites. The highest swelling ratio was exhibited by SP01. Overall results specified that the use of Si69 with PEG may be more effective and have optimized overall properties of NR/mica composites. Keywords: Coupling agent, Mica, Natural rubber composites, Polyethylene glycol