Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences1028-88801812-5735Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/pjbs.2013.1199.1203AddisK.T. RainaS.K. 1220131620Silk cocoon shells and degummed fibers from four African wild
silkmoth species were studied and compared with the industrial standard, Bombyx
mori, for their dissolution properties. Nine M aqueous Lithium bromide,
Calcium chloride and Sodium thiocyanate solution systems were used. Efficiency
of the solvent systems was determined by the percentage of dissolved silk cocoon
shells and degummed fibers after three hours of treatment. Degummed fibers were
more readily soluble than the cocoon shells. B. mori cocoon shells (51.5%)
and fibers (59.3%) had higher solubility than their wild counterparts. Among
the wild species, Gonometa postica cocoon shells and degummed fibers
had the highest solubility (37.3 and 51.7%, respectively). Lithium bromide was
the most effective dissolving agent for both the cocoon shells and fibers (41.2
and 84.5%, respectively). Argema mimosae, Anaphe panda and Epiphora
bauhiniae showed lower solubility across the solution systems used. The
Scanning Electron micrographs showed A. panda fibers exhibited gelling
property after dissolution while E. bauhiniae and A. mimosae had
cracked and broken fibers exposing the fibriliar structures. The difference
in the chemical orientation and composition of the fibers might have contributed
to the variability in the dissolution behaviour.]]>Teshome, A., S.K. Raina, F. Vollrath, J.M. Kabaru, J. Onyari and E.K. Nguku,20118450458Alessandrino, A., B. Marelli, C. Arosio, S. Fare, M.C. Tanzi and G. Freddi,20088219225Ajisawa, A.,1998679194Arami, M., S. Rahimi, L. Mivehie, F. Mazaheri and N.M. Mahmoodi,2007106267275Dash, R., S.K. Ghosh, D.L. Kaplan and S.C. Kndu,2007Antherea mylitta.]]>147129134Furuhata, K., A. Okada, Y. Chen, Y. Y. Xu and M. Sakamoto,199463315322Jin, H.J., and D.L. Kaplan,200342410571061Ki, C.S., K.H. Lee, D.H. Baek, M. Hattori, I.C. Um, D.W. Ihm and Y.H. Park,200710516051610Kweon, H.Y., I.C. Um and Y.H. Park,2000Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin film treated with aqueous methanol.]]>4173617367Kweon, H., S.O. Woo and Y.H. Park,2001Antheraea pernyi silk fibroin films.]]>8122712276Mandal, B.B. and S.C. Kundu,20089914821489Matsumoto, A., A. Lindsay, B. Abedian and D.L. Kaplan,2008810061018Miyaguchi, Y. and J. Hu,2005113742Mondal, M., K. Trivedy, S.N. Kumar and V. Kumar,2007Bombyx mori Linn.]]>4362370Nuanchai, K., S. Wilaiwan and S. Prasong,2010219Padamawar, M.N. and A.P. Pawar,200463323329Plaza, G.R., C. Paola, J. Perez-Rigueiro, E. Marsano, G.V. Guinea and M. Elices,200810917931801Prasad, B.C., J.P. Pandey and A.K. Sinha,2012Antheraea mylitta cocoonase and its use in cocoons cooking.]]>2012Prasong, S., S. Wilaiwan and K. Nualchai,2010Bombyx mori silk fibroin films: effect of different organic solvents.]]>22127Rastogi, D., K. Sen and M. Gulrajani,2001117193198Sah, M.K. and K. Pramanik,20101404408SAS,2010Version 9.2 (32).Sashina, E.S., A.M. Bochek, N.P. Novoselov and D.A. Kirichenko,200679869876Sashina, E.S., N.P. Novoselov and K. Heinemann,200376128131Srihanam, P.,2009Philosamia ricini) silk fibroin film.]]>37883Srisuwan, Y. and P. Srihanam,2009Philosamia ricini silk film: Properties and functions in different solutions.]]>9978982Tanaka, T., J. Magoshi, Y. Magoshi, S. Ichi Inoue and M. Kobayashi et al.,2002Bombyx mori and several wild silkworm silks Phase transition of liquid silk.]]>70825832Wilaiwan, S., S. Yaowalak, B. Yodthong and S. Prasong,201010455459Zhou, C.Z., F. Confalonieri, N. Medina, Y. Zivanovic and C. Esnault et al.,2000Bombyx mori fibroin heavy chain gene.]]>2824132419