Technological Implications of Modifying the Extent of Cell Wall-Proanthocyanidin Interactions Using Enzymes

The transference and reactivity of proanthocyanidins is an important issue that affects the technological processing of some fruits, such as grapes and apples. These processes are affected by proanthocyanidins bound to cell wall polysaccharides, which are present in high concentrations during the processing of the fruits. Therefore, the effective extraction of proanthocyanidins from fruits to their juices or derived products will depend on the ability to manage these associations, and, in this respect, enzymes that degrade these polysaccharides could play an important role. The main objective of this work was to test the role of pure hydrolytic enzymes (polygalacturonase and cellulose) and a commercial enzyme containing these two activities on the extent of proanthocyanidin-cell wall interactions. The results showed that the modification promoted by enzymes reduced the amount of proanthocyanidins adsorbed to cell walls since they contributed to the degradation and release of the cell wall polysaccharides, which diffused into the model solution. Some of these released polysaccharides also presented some reactivity towards the proanthocyanidins present in a model solution.     

Impact of Debaryomyces hansenii strains inoculation on the quality of slow dry-cured fermented sausages

Debaryomyces hansenii strains, M4 and P2, isolated from natural fermented sausages were inoculated in slow fermented sausages to study their effect on processing parameters, microbial population, volatile compound and sensory characteristics. The inoculation of D. hansenii strains, M4 and P2, did not affect the ripening process as no differences in pH and Aw were detected. The dominance of the inoculated yeast strains along the process was followed by RAPDs of M13 minisatellite. The inoculated yeasts, P2 and M4, were recovered at the end of the ripening process although P2 appeared in higher counts than M4. The sausages inoculated with P2 resulted in a decrease in lipid oxidation values (TBARS) and a reduction of lipid-oxidation derived aldehydes in addition to a highest acid compound abundance. M4 inoculated sausages resulted in highest sulphur containing compound abundance. However, no differences in consumer acceptance were detected. Moreover, both yeast strains were responsible for the generation of ethyl methyl-branched ester compounds in the dry-cured sausages.     

Desorption‐ and Decomposition‐Based Techniques for the Regeneration of Activated Carbon

Activated carbon (AC) is an adsorbent used in most adsorption processes related to micro removal of pollutants from the water phase, but the application is limited due to high costs and environmental issues related to the disposal after saturation. Different regeneration techniques, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact, are reported for the reuse of saturated AC. These techniques can be performed via two separate strands: regeneration based only on desorption of adsorbed compounds in AC, or based on the decomposition of pollutants adsorbed on AC. Literature on the regeneration of saturated ACs is reviewed and promising techniques are highlighted. One of the most challenging bottlenecks preventing the commercial application of regeneration technologies is the difficulty of scaling‐up.     

Dodecatungstocobaltate supported over ZSM-5 zeolite as novel solid catalyst in selective sulfide oxidation

The catalytic behavior of a Keggin type potassium dodecatungstocobaltate (II) salt supported on ZSM-5 zeolite for wet peroxide oxidation of 2-(methylthio)benzothiazole, as a model organic sulfide, was thoroughly studied. Microporous ZSM-5 zeolite was obtained by the hydrothermal crystallization method. The Keggin salt was incorporated in the MFI zeolite matrix by the wet impregnation method followed by calcination at 350 °C. Catalysts were further characterized by X ray diffraction, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy-EDAX techniques. Supported and bulk Keggin dodecatungstocobaltate (II) were compared with pure H-ZSM-5 zeolite as catalysts for the sulfide oxidation. When the reaction was not catalyzed, just a 9 mol% of sulfide conversion was obtained. Reaction parameters, such as nature of the solvent, hydrogen peroxide concentration, reaction time, catalyst mass, substrate initial concentration and reaction temperature, were evaluated to reach the optimum reaction conditions, considering substrate conversion and sulfoxide and sulfone selectivities. Catalyst stability in several oxidation cycles was also examined.     

Development and characterization of bionanocomposites based on poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) and cellulose nanocrystals for packaging applications

Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)‐based bionanocomposites were prepared using various percentages of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) by a solution casting method. CNCs were prepared from microcrystalline cellulose using sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The influence of CNCs on PHB properties was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetry and tensile testing. Vapor permeation and light transmission of the materials were also measured. Differential scanning calorimetric tests demonstrated that CNCs were effective PHB nucleation agents. Tensile strength and Young's modulus of PHB increased with increasing CNC concentration. Moreover, the PHB/CNC bionanocomposites exhibited reduced water vapor permeation compared to neat PHB and had better UV barrier properties than commodity polymers such as polypropylene. It was found that nanocomposites with 6 wt% of CNCs had the optimum balance among thermal, mechanical and barrier properties. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis, Crystal Structure, Spectroscopic and Thermal Investigations of a Novel 2D Sodium(I) Coordination Polymer Based on 2-Aminoterephthalic Ligand

The reaction of sodium hydroxide with 2-aminoterephthalic acid leads to the formation of a complex of the general formula: [Na₂(atpt)(H₂O)₅]·H₂O, where atpt?=?[NH₂C₆H₃(COO)₂]^2?. Sodium 2-aminoterephthalate was synthesized and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and coupled TG–FT-IR technique. Crystallographic study of the sodium complex reveals that the compound crystallizes in the triclinic system, the space group P-1 with a?=?7.983(3) ?, b?=?8.405(3) ?, c?=?11.311(5) ?, α?=?70.74(3)°, β?=?76.57(3)°, γ?=?83.12(3)° and V?=?696.1(5) ?³. On heating in air atmosphere the compound in question loses all water molecules in two steps in the temperature range 30–205?°C. The anhydrous form of the complex is stable up to 370?°C and then decomposes to sodium carbonate.     

The influence of hydrogen and nitrogen on the formation of Si nanoclusters embedded in sub-stoichiometric silicon oxide layers

This work reports the study concerning the influence of the preparation conditions on the structure of silicon rich oxide (SRO) deposited by PECVD method by which the structural properties of the film are strictly related. In particular we investigated the role of reactant gases N₂O and SiH₄ on the total Si concentration, Si excess concentration, Si clustered concentration and size of nanoclusters formed by high annealing temperature. We payed particular attention on the role of the hydrogen and nitrogen during the Si agglomeration.The presence of hydrogen atoms on the as-deposited specimen, confirmed by the Si–H bonds peak on the FTIR analysis, has been directly correlated to the silicon excess concentration in the layer. The silicon, oxygen and nitrogen atomic density has been calculated from RBS analysis. These information were coupled to the ones obtained using methodology based on electron energy loss spectroscopy combined with energy filtered images, which allowed us to quantify the clustered silicon concentration in annealed sub-stoichiometric silicon oxide layers (SiO_x). We have verified that the nitrogen dissolved in the layer inhibits the Si excess clustering so that the efficiency of silicon agglomeration process decreases as the nitrogen content increases.     

Water and phosphoric acid uptake of poly [2,5-benzimidazole] (ABPBI) membranes prepared by low and high temperature casting

Phosphoric acid-doped membranes based in poly[2,5-benzimidazole] (ABPBI) were obtained by a new low temperature casting procedure and by the classical high temperature casting from methanesulfonic acid. These membranes, which can be suitable for application in direct methanol proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells, were studied in relation with their phosphoric acid doping level by measuring the free and bonded acid. The water isotherms were also determined for the low and high temperature casted ABPBI membranes. Both, acid and water sorption properties, were compared with those determined in poly [2-2′-(m-fenylene)-5-5′ bibenzimidazole] (PBI) membranes. The water sorption of the ABPBI membranes over the range of all water activity is described by the modified BET equation, commonly known as Guggenheim–Anderson–de Boer (GAB) and a two-parameters empirical isotherm. The acid uptake behaviour of the membranes prepared by low and high temperature casting are related with differences in their supramolecular structure.     

Fine structural analysis of the epithelial cells in the hepatopancreas of Palaemonetes argentinus (Crustacea, Decapoda, Caridea) in intermoult.

The aim of this study is to describe the ultrastructure of the hepatopancreas of P. argentinus in intermoult. P. argentinus hepatopancreas was studied using standard TEM techniques. Each tubule consists of four cellular types: E (embryonic), F (fibrillar), R (resorptive) and B (blister like). E-cells have embryonic features and some of them were found in mitosis. F, R and B cells possess an apical brush border. F-cells have a central or basal nucleus, a conspicuous RER, and dilated Golgi cisternae. R cells show a polar organization of organelles in three areas: apical, with numerous mitochondria and sER tubules, a central area with the nucleus and RER, and a basal area containing a sER-like tubule system and mitochondria. B-cells were observed at different stages of their life cycle. In an early differentiation stage they comprise an apical endocytotic complex and Golgi vesicles. The fusion of endocytotic and Golgi vesicles originates subapical vacuoles. During maturation, a big central vacuole is formed by coalescence of subapical vacuoles. The central vacuole is eliminated by holocrine secretion. The ultrastructure suggests that F-cells synthesize proteins, R-cells storage nutrients and B-cells have a secretory or excretory function, and confirms the independent origin of F, B and R cells from the embryonic cells.