Modification of physiochemical properties of copra meal by dilute acid hydrolysis

Coconut residue or copra meal (CM), a by‐product after pressing cream and oil out of the coconut meat, is a good source of dietary fibre (DF), but high water‐holding capacity (WHC) of CM limits the quantity of fibre incorporated into food products. This study focused on the modification of CM physiochemical properties using acid hydrolysis to improve its potential utilisation as source of food fibres or low‐calories bulk ingredients in food applications. Acid hydrolysis using 0.5% HCl significantly reduced swelling capacity (SC) and water retention capacity, whereas bulk density (BD) and soluble DF content of the modified CM significantly increased. Monosaccharide composition profile, gel penetration profile and FT‐IR spectra indicated the destruction of CM matrix structure. This destruction increased compactness of the structure and lessened the ability of CM to hold water. Substituting the modified CM for wheat flour in bread and cookies significantly improved bread and cookies qualities compared with the use of the untreated CM. Response surface methodology showed that HCl concentration, hydrolysis temperature and time influenced properties of the modified CM. The models predicting their relationships were also generated.     

Amino acid composition and anti‐polyphenol oxidase of peptide fractions from sericin hydrolysate

Sericin hydrolysate (SH), prepared from enzymatic hydrolysis of sericin, was investigated for its antipolyphenol oxidase (PPO) properties. SH decreased PPO activity from both purified mushroom PPO and extracts from apple and eggplant, and retarded browning in fresh‐cut apple and eggplant. SH was a competitive inhibitor using catechol as a substrate. SH exhibited copper ion‐chelating power and reducing power abilities. Fractionation of SH using size exclusion chromatography resulted in four fractions, designated as F1, F2, F3 and F4, with PPO inhibition of 35.75%, 3.89%, 24.52% and 14.75%, respectively. Ser and Asp were major amino acids found in F1. Amino acid sequences in F1, as investigated by LC‐MS/MS using de novo sequencing, contained a high ratio of amino acids with chelating ability. Moreover, amino acids with reducing power ability and with antityrosinase ability were also identified in the sequences.     

Inhibitory effect of sericin on polyphenol oxidase and its application as edible coating

Sericin, a water‐soluble globular protein derived from silk industry wastewater, was investigated for food industrial applications. The results proved that sericin retarded polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity. However, the degree of inhibition varied depending on the enzyme origins, the types of substrate, sericin content and sericin molecular size. Using catechol as a substrate, under the conditions studied, sericin lowered purified mushroom PPO and apple extract PPO activity by 40% and mango extract PPO by 75%. Kinetic studies on purified mushroom PPO indicated that the type of inhibition of sericin was dependent on the substrates used. Inhibitory effects of sericin increased as the sericin content increased. The reduction in sericin molecular size by enzymatic hydrolysis produced sericin hydrolysate with ability to decrease PPO activity approximately three times greater than that of sericin. Fresh‐cut Red Delicious apples coated with sericin showed significant reduction in weight loss and improvement in the colour and texture.     

Effect of Zr-Modified SiO2-Supported Metallocene/MAO Catalyst on Copolymerization of Ethylene/1-Octene

The study revealed enhancement (four to seven times) of catalytic activities for ethylene/1-octene copolymerization via the Zr-modified SiO₂-supported the metallocene/MAO catalyst. Increased activity can be attributed to an increase in absorption ability of MAO on the modified support. In addition, the strong interaction between MAO and the support was also considered.