Composition of Rice Bran Stearin from Various Refineries Across China

In this study, we evaluated the composition of rice bran stearin (RBS) from various refineries across China. Here, we report the physicochemical parameters of RBS. The slip melting point ranged from 20.8 to 35.3 °C. The free fatty acid content (0.05–0.27 %) and peroxide value (0.34–3.70 mequiv oxygen/kg) was quite low, indicating that the RBS was of good quality. The iodine value ranged from 85.8–102.9 g/100 g, indicating a high unsaturated bond content. There was a significant difference in the unsaponifiable matter content (1.20–3.87 %) among RBS samples. The oxidative stability index (OSI) ranged from 0.56 to 5.85 h. The palmitic acid content in RBS refined by molecular distillation was significantly higher than the RBS that was refined physically and chemically. The major triacylglycerol was LLO/OLL, PLL/LPL, OLO, PLP, OOO and POO (L, linoleic acid; O, oleic acid; P, palmitic acid). RBS contained high levels of micronutrients, including total tocopherols (23.3–117.9 mg/100 g), oryzanol (0.1–2.1 %), and total sterols (682.9–1787.3 mg/100 g). Moreover, three different kinds of solid fat curves were distinguished. The results presented here are probably the first report regarding RBS on an industrial scale, meanwhile the potential utilization of RBS is discussed.     

Preparation and Characterization of Human Milk Fat Substitutes Based on Triacylglycerol Profiles

Human milk fat substitutes (HMFS) having similarity in (TAG) composition to human milk fat (HMF) were prepared by Lipozyme RM IM‐catalyzed interesterification of lard blending with selected oils in a packed bed reactor. Four oil blends with high similarity in fatty acid profiles to HMF were first obtained based on the blending model and then the blending ratios were screened based on TAG composition similarity by enzymatic interesterification in a batch reactor. The optimal ratio was determined as lard:sunflower oil:canola oil:palm kernel oil:palm oil:algal oil:microbial oil = 1.00:0.10:0.50:0.13:0.12:0.02:0.02. This blending ratio was used for a packed bed reactor and the conditions were then optimized as residence time, 1.5 h; reaction temperature, 50 °C. Under these conditions, the obtained product showed high degrees of similarity in fatty acid profile with 39.2 % palmitic acid at the sn‐2 position, 0.5 % arachidonic acid (n‐6) and 0.3 % docosahexaenoic acid (n‐3) and the scores for the degree of similarity in TAG composition was increased from 58.4 (the oil blend) to 72.3 (the final product). The packed bed reactor could be operated for 7 days without significant decrease in activity. The final product presented similar melting and crystallization profiles to those of HMF. However, due to the loss of tocopherols during deacidification process, the oxidative stability was lower than that of the oil blend. This process for the preparation of HMFS from lard with high similarity in TAG composition by physical blending and enzymatic interesterification, as optimized by mathematical models in a packed bed reactor, has a great potential for industrialization.     

Low Dietary c9t11-Conjugated Linoleic Acid Intake from Dairy Fat or Supplements Reduces Inflammation in Collagen-Induced Arthritis

Dietary cis‐9,trans‐11 (c9t11) conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) fed at 0.5 % w/w was previously shown to attenuate inflammation in the murine collagen‐induced (CA) arthritis model, and growing evidence implicates c9t11‐CLA as a major anti‐inflammatory component of dairy fat. To understand c9t11‐CLA's contribution to dairy fat's anti‐inflammatory action, the minimum amount of dietary c9t11‐CLA needed to reduce inflammation must be determined. This study had two objectives: (1) determine the minimum dietary anti‐inflammatory c9t11‐CLA intake level in the CA model, and (2) compare this to anti‐inflammatory effects of dairy fat (non‐enriched, naturally c9t11‐CLA‐enriched, or c9t11‐CLA‐supplemented). Mice received the following dietary fat treatments (w/w) post arthritis onset: corn oil (6 % CO), 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA, control butter (6 % CB), c9t11‐enriched butter (6 % EB), or c9t11‐CLA‐supplemented butter (6 % SB, containing 0.2 % c9t11‐CLA). Paw arthritic severity and pad swelling were scored and measured, respectively, over an 84‐day study period. All c9t11‐CLA and butter diets decreased the arthritic score (25–51 %, P < 0.01) and paw swelling (8–11 %, P < 0.01). Throughout the study, plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNFα) was elevated in CO‐fed arthritic mice compared to non‐arthritic (NA) mice but was reduced in 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA‐ and EB‐fed mice. Interleukin‐1β and IL‐6 were increased in arthritic CO‐fed mice compared to NA mice but were reduced in 0.5 % c9t11‐CLA‐ and EB‐fed mice through day 42. In conclusion, 0.125 % c9t11‐CLA reduced clinical arthritis as effectively as higher doses, and decreased arthritis in CB‐fed mice suggested that the minimal anti‐inflammatory levels of c9t11‐CLA might be below 0.125 %.     

Monitoring of Changes in Composition of Soybean Oil During Deep-Fat Frying with Different Food Types

Changes in the composition of soybean oil during deep‐fat frying with wheat dough (WD) and chicken breast meat (CBM) were comparatively investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The amounts of saturated fatty acids (FAs) and short‐chain FAs were increased. The amount of unsaturated FAs was decreased as the processing time increased. An increase in the amount of tetradecanoic acid and 9‐cis‐hexadecanoic acid was observed during the CBM frying only. The FTIR spectrum of frying oil was analyzed by extracting the entire information as the area ratios based on vibration absorptions of the specific functional groups. Changes in content of functional groups, namely cis C=C, trans C=C, C=O, C–O, O–H, and C–H, were studied by the FTIR‐based method. Based on the changes in the content of FAs and functional groups, soybean oil fried with CBM degraded more quickly than that fried with WD. Moreover, good linear correlations between the change in contents of functional groups and the mass percentages of FAs were also observed. The FTIR‐based method could be used in real time to monitor the quality of frying oil during the deep‐fat frying.     

The Impact of Polyoxyethylene Sorbitan Surfactants in the Microstructure and Rheological Behaviour of Emulsions Made With Melted Fat From Cupuassu (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Theobroma grandiflorum</Emphasis>)

Cupuassu fat is a good candidate for partial substitution of cocoa butter in many products, including emulsions. However, for such use it is necessary to know the characteristics of the products prepared with cupuassu fat. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to characterize emulsions prepared with cupuassu fat using the surfactants Tween^® 60, Tween^® 80 and Tween^® 85 as emulsifiers. The emulsions were prepared at 43 °C with addition of 0.5 or 1.5 % (w/v) of surfactant and compared with an emulsion without surfactant. All emulsions were analysed by conductivity, stability, pH, optical microscopy, rheology and oxidative stability. It was verified that the emulsions prepared with Tween^® 60 and Tween^® 80 have higher stability, smaller droplet size and higher apparent viscosity. Also, these properties are positively influenced by the concentration of the surfactant. On the other hand, emulsions prepared with Tween 85 or without surfactant reached unsatisfactory results. The rheological behaviour of the emulsions was adequately described by both Herschel-Bulkley and Mizhari-Berki models revealing pseudoplastic character. These emulsions also present strong gel behaviour, with storage modulus higher than loss modulus. In conclusion, cupuassu fat can be used as oil phase for emulsions products and this characterization helps to understand their behaviour in order to increase their use in food industry.     

Enzyme-assisted extraction of chicken skin protein hydrolysates and fat: Degree of hydrolysis affects the physicochemical and functional properties

Enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE) of oils/fats involves the disruption of the cell wall of source material using enzymes to facilitate the release of oil. When proteases are used as the enzyme, EAE ends in the extracted oil as well as the protein hydrolysates. Herein, the EAE (using a commercial protease, Alcalase) was exploited to obtain fat and protein hydrolysates from chicken skin. Degree of hydrolysis (DH, the percentage ratio of cleaved peptide bonds), which showed a logarithmic correlation with the reaction time, was found to affect the properties of the products. As the DH increased, the peptide chain length of protein hydrolysates decreased which was confirmed by SDS-PAGE analysis. With the increase of DH, the emulsifying activity index, foaming capacity, and oil holding capacity of the hydrolysates decreased but the solubility and emulsion stability index increased (p < 0.05). The DPPH free radical scavenging activity of the hydrolysates increased with the DH up to DH = 39.62% but decreased thereafter (p < 0.05). EAE resulted in a rise in fat yield and the fat contained a higher amount of unsaponifiables and lower free fatty acids (FFA) content, as compared to the control treatment (No enzyme, 80°C, 2 h, p < 0.05). DH affected the fat yield and the unsaponifiables content of the fat, positively (p < 0.05). However, it did not affect the fat FFA content and iodine value (p > 0.05). Results obtained here showed DH can be used as an effective measure for controlling the physicochemical and functional properties of chicken skin protein hydrolysates and fat in the EAE process.     

Flow and crystallization of saturated fatty acid methyl esters and their binary mixtures

Demand for biodiesel has increased due to being a more environmentally-friendly fuel. Cold weather operation of biodiesel is challenging due to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content in biodiesel. Saturated FAMEs crystallize at relatively high temperatures, increase the viscosity of biodiesel, and can clog fuel lines. Here, several factors altered crystallization temperature (CT) of FAMEs, including composition, shear rate, and cooling rate. The crystallization of pure and binary mixtures of methyl palmitate, methyl myristate, and methyl stearate were studied under shear flow and static conditions. Static phase CTs of pure methyl palmitate, methyl myristate, and methyl stearate were 26, 14, and 35°C, respectively. In binary mixtures, CTs were depressed up to 7°C, which agreed with freezing point depression theory. Increasing shear rate up to 100 s⁻¹ decreased CT by 2°C compared to static conditions. Decreasing cooling rate from 1 to 0.1°C/min increased CT less than 2°C. Overall, FAME composition altered CT more than shear flow or cooling rate for pure and binary mixtures of three FAMEs.     

单种强黏结性肥煤的配煤实验及黏结指数变化分析

将半焦、焦粉、主焦煤以不同的比例,配入新疆焦煤集团强黏结性肥煤中,进行黏结性实验,实验结果表明,焦煤和经低温干馏处理过的半焦在配入比例5%以内时,配合煤的黏结指数并未遵循低于最高黏结指数的一般规律;不同温度干馏的半焦其配合煤的黏结指数不同。通过实验验证,强黏结性的肥煤对无黏结性的半焦会产生非常强的黏结性,这对于动力煤的半焦的配煤炼焦具有一定的实践意义。     

不同煤配比对胶质层指数的影响研究

为提高焦炭质量,降低生产成本,采用陕北地区常见的气煤、肥煤、东风煤进行单独炼焦,分析3种煤单独炼焦时生成的焦炭质量。在此基础上将3种煤按不同比例配煤炼焦,分析不同配比下焦炭质量的变化,研究最佳配煤方案。结果表明：气煤单独炼焦所得焦炭质量差,但配入气煤可增加产气率和焦饼收缩度;肥煤是优质炼焦煤,但单独炼焦所得焦炭气孔率高,需配煤以改善焦炭质量;东风煤无法单独炼焦,但少量配入可增加焦炭强度,减少优质炼焦煤用量。气煤、肥煤、东风煤质量比为1∶6∶3时,焦炭质量最好,孔隙小,无缝隙和绽边,色泽为银灰色,无海绵体,部分熔合;配煤胶质层最大厚度Y=20.4 mm,最终收缩度X=7.2 mm。