Evaluation of a sulfidogenic system fed with microalgal biomass of Chlorella pyrenoidosa as an electron donor: Sulfate reduction kinetics

In this study, a sulfidogenic reactor fed with microalgal biomass of Chlorella pyrenoidosa as an electron donor was operated in a continuous mode. This study evaluated the influence of various initial sulfate concentration from 1.0 to 2.5 g/L on anaerobic sulfate reduction kinetics by a sulfidogenic enrichment culture predominantly Desulfovibrio sp. VSV2. It was observed that volumetric sulfate reduction rate (VSRR) was consistently increasing with an increase in volumetric sulfate loading rate (VSLR) across the retention time of 7–10 days. For a retention time of 7 days, the maximum VSRR was noted as 0.0050 g/(L.h) with a corresponding VSLR of 0.0089 g/(L.h). When retention time was maintained for 10 days, a maximum sulfate reduction of 65% and a maximum bacterial concentration of 1.632 g/L were achieved for an initial sulfate concentration of 1.5 g/L. It was concluded that VSLR facilitated through both dilution rate and initial sulfate concentration had a significant influence over sulfate reduction kinetics. The results of the study suggested that the microalgal-fed sulfidogenic system could be effectively employed for reduction of sulfate from sulfate-rich wastewater.     

Microscopic Methods for Identification of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria from Various Habitats

This paper is devoted to microscopic methods for the identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In this context, it describes various habitats, morphology and techniques used for the detection and identification of this very heterogeneous group of anaerobic microorganisms. SRB are present in almost every habitat on Earth, including freshwater and marine water, soils, sediments or animals. In the oil, water and gas industries, they can cause considerable economic losses due to their hydrogen sulfide production; in periodontal lesions and the colon of humans, they can cause health complications. Although the role of these bacteria in inflammatory bowel diseases is not entirely known yet, their presence is increased in patients and produced hydrogen sulfide has a cytotoxic effect. For these reasons, methods for the detection of these microorganisms were described. Apart from selected molecular techniques, including metagenomics, fluorescence microscopy was one of the applied methods. Especially fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in various modifications was described. This method enables visual identification of SRB, determining their abundance and spatial distribution in environmental biofilms and gut samples.     

基于主成分分析法的熟化菠萝蜜种子品质评价

以菠萝蜜种子为原料,研究水煮、汽蒸、焙烤3种熟化方式对其感官品质、色泽、质构、糊化度、基本营养含量、脂肪酶抑制率、质量损失率和微观结构的影响,并对其品质指标进行主成分分析。结果表明:水煮、汽蒸、焙烤3种熟化方式对不同指标有较大影响,水煮方式糊化度最高且质量损失率最大;焙烤显著加深菠萝蜜种子色泽且脂肪酶抑制率最大;汽蒸熟化后菠萝蜜种子感官评分最高;通过主成分分析可知,焙烤方式获得的品质评价综合得分最高,可作为菠萝蜜种子预熟化的较优选择。     

The effects of preparation and cooking processes on vitamins and antioxidant capacity of sour and spicy potato silk

The effect of a traditional dish sour and spicy potato silk preparation and cooking process on B vitamins, phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities was investigated. Results showed that cutting of potato caused an increase in VB₁, VB₂, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, VB₇ and VB₉. Soaking decreased the content of B vitamins and vitamin C. Blanching and rinsing caused the contents of B vitamins and vitamin C decrease compared to the control. The content of VB₁, VB₅ and VB₆ after rinsing increased compared to soaking and blanching processes. However, VB₁, nicotinamide, VB₅, VB₆ and VC decreased sharply after the stir-frying process. The content of VB₁, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, VB₇ and VC retained the most after five steps compared to the control. In addition, there was no difference in VB₉ contents among different cooking processes compared to the control. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) exhibited a reduction rate of 95.32% and peroxidase (POD) 97.13% after the stir-frying process.     

Extruded meat alternatives made from Maillard-reacted beef bone hydrolysate and plant proteins: part I – Effect of moisture content

This study investigated the effects of moisture content (MC) on the physicochemical properties of extruded meat alternatives made from Maillard-reacted beef bone hydrolysate and plant proteins. Samples were extruded at 170 °C (maximum barrel temperature), at 3.6 kg h⁻¹ (liquid feed rate) and at 1.8, 2.2, 2.6 and 3.0 kg h⁻¹ (dry feed rates) to obtain MC of 60%MC, 56%MC, 52%MC and 49%MC, respectively. Meat alternatives at 52%MC showed the greatest degree of texturisation. However, meat alternatives at 49%MC were the closest in terms of both textural and microstructural properties to reference sample, boiled chicken breast. Results from protein solubility suggested that a large amount of aggregated proteins were associated with hydrogen bonds, while disulphide bonds were the main contributor in the formation of fibrous structure in meat alternatives. Results showed that the change in MC as process parameter played an important role in the formation of fibrous structure in extruded meat alternatives.     

Activated Carbon Supported CaO from Waste Shells as a Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

In the wake of increasing environmental constraints, this work is aimed at developing a catalyst purely prepared from waste biomass source as the raw material. The catalyst is investigated for its applicability in transesterification of vegetable oil with the objectives: (i) to use waste shells of mollusk as raw material for the preparation of activated carbon and CaO; (ii) to use it as heterogeneous catalyst in the transesterification of waste cooking oil; (iii) to optimize the different parameters affecting the transesterification reaction; and (iv) to study its reusability. Under optimized conditions it was observed that a conversion >90% was possible and the catalyst could be reused five times with a slight loss in activity. This study indicates that the biomass source could also be used as a potential raw material in the synthesis of environmentally benign catalysts.     

Alterations in phenolic compound levels and antioxidant activity in response to cooking technique effects: A meta-analytic investigation

The aim of this study was to review prior studies that have evaluated the effects of cooking techniques on polyphenol levels and antioxidant activity in vegetables and to release a meta-analysis of the findings. Meta-analysis with a random effect model was conducted using the weighted response ratios (R*) that were calculated for each experiment. Baking (R* = 0.51), blanching (R* = 0.94), boiling (R* = 0.62), microwaving (R* = 0.54) and pressure cooking (R* = 0.47) techniques precipitated significant reductions in the polyphenol levels. Significant decreases in the antioxidant activity levels were noted after baking (R* = 0.45) and boiling (R* = 0.76), while significant increases were observed after frying (R* = 2.26) and steaming (R* = 1.52).     

镓锗铜萃余液综合利用研究与应用

本文针对镓锗铜综合回收系统产出的萃余液,设计通过中和氧化除杂、锌粉置换除铜镉、有机试剂除钴镍、纯碱法生产碱式碳酸锌、高温煅烧生产活性氧化锌和一步法生产元明粉的生产工艺流程,有效的将镓锗铜萃余液分类分离富集,产出具有价值的富集渣和工业产品,进一步提升综合回收经济效益。     

Remediation of oil spill polluted water from Niger Delta Nigeria by sorption onto ammonium sulfate modified Dialium guineense seed husk

The abstraction of crude oil molecules from aqueous solution (produced water) and from real petroleum polluted water (collected from River State, Nigeria) by Dialium guineense Seed Husk (DGSH) and its ammonium sulfate functionalized form (AS-DGSH) was studied using a batch technique. The sorbents were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), BET surface area analysis and the Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Crude oil characterization revealed a light crude oil based on the API gravity of 35.6⁰. The Langmuir and Freundlich models gave good fits for crude oil sorption on DGSH and AS-DGSH respectively. The sorbents were found to remove over 50% of crude oil from the real polluted water at the natural pH of 6.1 and showed increase in removal with increase in sorbent dose. The potential of DGSH and its ammonium sulfate modified derivative as effective low cost sorbents for oil spill treatment was established.