Evaluation of Beeswax,Candelilla Wax,Rice Bran Wax,and Sunflower Wax as Alternative Stabilizers for Peanut Butter

Four natural waxes were evaluated as stabilizers in peanut butter. The potential advantage of using natural waxes would be the replacement of current stabilizers such as hydrogenated or tropical oils, thereby reducing saturated fats and satisfying clean label requirements. Beeswax (BW), candelilla wax (CLW), rice bran wax (RBW), sunflower wax (SFW), and a commercial peanut butter stabilizer, hydrogenated cottonseed oil (HCO), were added to three natural peanut butter brands at levels ranging from 0.5% to 2.0% (w/w) and tested for accelerated oil release, long-term stability, firmness, and rheology. At levels ≥0.5%, all waxes improved oil-binding capacity (OBC). SFW and HCO had the highest OBC, followed by RBW, CLW, and BW. All waxes reduced the amount of oil separation after 6 months at 22 ± 2 °C. HCO followed by SFW reduced oil separation the most, but there were no significant differences between stabilizers at 1–2%. Firmness and yield stress increased with increasing stabilizer level, with SFW increasing firmness the most, followed by HCO, RBW, and CLW, while BW had the lowest effect. The results indicate that the waxes may be feasible replacements for hydrogenated oils as peanut butter stabilizers, but levels would need to be optimized depending on the product characteristics and wax type.     

Recovery and Recycling of Isopropyl Alcohol Used in Biodiesel Production From Yellow Mustard Oil

The recovery of solvents used during biodiesel synthesis is an important factor in the economic feasibility and sustainability of the entire process. In this study, we looked at the use of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) for oil extraction and biodiesel production, as well as its potential for recovery and recycling. We found that multistage extraction improved oil recovery, with up to 86% oil yield using four stages of extraction at an IPA:mustard flour (volume:weight) ratio of 1.5:1 at room temperature. Using acid–base‐catalyzed transesterification, 99% of the mustard oil was converted to biodiesel. At the end of this process, IPA was recovered from the azeotrope by salting out using potassium carbonate or sodium carbonate. The solubility behavior of the components was evaluated by means of ternary‐phase diagrams of IPA/water/sodium carbonate and IPA/water/potassium carbonate, which determined their liquid–liquid–solid equilibrium constants at ambient pressure and at room temperature. Using 20% (w:w) potassium carbonate, 95% of the IPA was recovered at 99% purity from a starting mixture of IPA containing 13% water. Azeotropic distillation of the IPA–water azeotrope with 10% potassium carbonate resulted in the recovery of 99% of the IPA at 94% purity. These results suggest that IPA is not only a suitable solvent for mustard‐oil extraction but also for salt‐enhanced azeotropic distillation resulting in near‐complete recovery from aqueous solutions.     

Ionic Liquids as Modifying Agents for Protein Separation in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography

Aqueous two‐phase systems (ATPSs) can be applied in centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) to separate biomolecules. Two ionic liquids (ILs) served as modifying agents to tune partition coefficients in the separation of two model proteins, myoglobin and lysozyme. Myoglobin was not affected by the ILs, while the partition coefficient of lysozyme was lowered with addition of IL. High stationary phase retention was achieved with ATPSs in a CPC column with cell size and geometry specially designed for unstable biphasic systems. When ILs were used as modifying agents, no notable decrease in stationary phase retention was observed. The injection volume was increased to 20 % of the total column volume and process simulations indicate that a further increase in the injection volume is possible.