https://hdl.handle.net/10646/242 Sun, 12 Apr 2026 21:10:03 GMT 2026-04-12T21:10:03Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3452 Avocado seed starch and carboxymethyl cellulose superabsorbent polymer: Synthesis and characterisation. Siyaduba, Ketiwe Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) of crosslinked avocado seed starch and carboxymethyl cellulose were synthesized and their performance as fluid absorption materials was assessed by comparing them with those made from analytical grade starch. The SAPs were characterized by water absorption capacity (WAC) tests, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses, solubility fraction tests, effects of crosslinker quantity and swelling rate were investigated to determine the suitability of avocado starch in the synthesis of SAPs. Avocado seed starch was used in the superabsorbent polymer framework because of its biodegradability, abundance and limited use as a source of food for human consumption. The results of the research showed that the SAPs produced with avocado seed starch and those made from pure starch have comparable properties. The WAC for the avocado seed starch blend was 39g/g (3900% of the original weight) when the ratio of the avocado starch, carboxymethyl cellulose and aluminium sulphate was 88: 9.7: 2.3 respectively. The pure starch blend with a similar weight ratio had a WAC of 46.5g/g. As the amount of either starch was increased the differences between the WAC of the SAPs were less than 3.0g/g. FTIR spectra of the SAPs showed no significant differences between avocado starch and pure starch SAPs. The soluble fraction results showed that avocado SAPs had good gel formation. Analysis of experimental data by GraphPad Prism 6.0, one way Anova showed that there was no significant difference between the two types of SAPs for all the tests conducted. Avocado seed starch can therefore be used in the synthesis of superabsorbent polymers. It can be used as a substitute for starch extracted from agricultural plants that have already been studied in detail. Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3452 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/10646/2694 N,N-Bis (pyridin-2-ylmethyl) cyclohexanamine Ackerman, Matthew P.; Chipangura, Mathias; Jaganyi, Deogratius The pyridine rings of the title compound, C18H23N3, are in a nearly perpendicular orientation relative to the plane defined by the three amino-bonded C atoms, making dihedral angles of 87.4 (1) and 84.2 (1) . One of the pyridine N atoms acts as an hydrogen-bond acceptor for two pyridine C—H groups. By means of these intermolecular hydrogen bonds, the molecules form a two-dimensional network parallel to the ab plane. Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/10646/2694 2012-06-01T00:00:00Z