PCR assay for the identification of animal species in cooked sausages

A species-specific PCR assay was developed for the detection of low levels of pork, horse and donkey meat in cooked sausages. Oligonucleotid primers were designed for amplification of species-specific mitochondrial DNA sequences of each species and detected the presence of 0.01 ng of template DNA in water. When applying the assay to DNA extracts from sausages samples that were prepared from binary meat mixtures, it was possible to detect each species when spiked in any other species at the 0.1% level. In conclusion, it can be suggested that this assay can be used to determine mislabelled and/or fraudulent species substitution in comminuted meat products.     

Determination of Antioxidant Properties of Fruit Juice by Partial Least Squares and Principal Component Regression

The multivariate calibration methods—principal component regression and partial least squares—were employed for the prediction of antioxidant capacities of fruit juices. High-performance liquid chromatography and spectrophotometric approaches were used to determine the antioxidant capacities of fruit juices. The importance of calibration design was investigated by calculating the prediction and validation errors. The influences of using independent validation sets were emphasized. Calibration design is shown to have major effect on principal component regression and partial least squares errors. The models developed on the basis of the mean-centered data were able to predict the total antioxidant activity with a precision comparable to that of the reference [2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzothialozine-sulfonic acid)] method. The partial least squares model seems preferable because of its predictive and describing abilities and good interpretability of the contribution of compounds to the antioxidant capacity. The contribution of individual phenolic compounds to the antioxidant capacity was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography.     

Cumulative frequency distribution of solar insolation at Quetta, Pakistan

An inverse Gaussian relationship between percentage cumulative frequency and energy (in MJ/m²/day) is obtained from solar insolation data of Quetta, Pakistan.     

Effects of different batter formulations on the quality of deep-fat-fried carrot slices

The effects of batter coating containing pregelatinized tapioca starch or maltodextrin at different concentrations (1, 3 or 5%) on product quality of deep-fat-fried carrot slices were evaluated. Coated slices were fried for 2, 3 and 4 min at 170 °C. Coating pickup of batter formulations and moisture and oil contents, porosity, texture and colour of fried slices were determined. Batter without pregelatinized starch or maltodextrin addition was used as the control. Addition of 5% pregelatinized tapioca starch to the batter formulation provided the crispiest product with the lowest oil content. Increasing maltodextrin concentrations enhanced the crispness and colour development of the fried product but had an adverse effect on porosity, moisture and oil contents of carrot slices.     

Influence of fat content and emulsifier type on the rheological properties of cake batter

The effects of fat content and emulsifier type on the rheological properties of cake batter have been investigated by using a parallel-plate rheometer. The apparent viscosity of cake batter with five different fat concentrations (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50%) and two types of emulsifier, namely Purawave and Lecigran, was studied as a function of the shear rate. In addition, the time dependency of different cake formulations was investigated. It was found that cake batter with different fat concentrations and emulsifier types exhibited shear thinning and time-independent behavior. Experimental data provided a good fit for the power law model. The increase in fat content and addition of emulsifier caused a decrease in the apparent viscosity. The flow behavior index was not found to be dependent on the composition of cake batter.     

Microwave Frying Compared with Conventional Frying via Numerical Simulation

Microwave heating can be combined with other means of heating to yield a unique heating profile. In the study, microwave frying, a combination of convective and microwave heating, was compared with conventional frying. Frying experiments were performed by inserting a single food sample (chicken breast meat) in the hot oil at 180?±?1°C for both frying methods. Center temperature of the sample and the oil temperature were recorded during both frying methods. Simulations were performed to predict heat transfer coefficients. Processing time was shorter with microwave frying. Simulations revealed a varying convective heat transfer coefficient, which was in the range of 160–490 W/m² K, during conventional frying. Higher convective heat transfer coefficient, 500 W/m² K, compared to conventional frying was observed during microwave frying with the simulations. This is suggested to be due to higher turbulence in microwave frying.     

Very fast H2 production from the methanolysis of NaBH4 by metal‐free poly(ethylene imine) microgel catalysts

The polyethyleneimine (PEI) microgels prepared via microemulsion polymerization are protonated by hydrochloric acid treatment (p‐PEI) and quaternized (q‐PEI) via modification reaction with methyl iodide and with bromo alkanes of different alkyl chain lengths such as 1‐bromoethane, 1‐bromobutane, 1‐bromohexane, and 1‐bromooctane. The bare p‐PEI and q‐PEI microgels are used as catalysts directly without any metal nanoparticles for the methanolysis reaction of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). Various parameters such as the protonation/quaternization reaction on PEI microgels, the amount of catalyst, the amount of NaBH₄, and temperature are investigated for their effects on the hydrogen (H₂) production rate. The reaction of self‐methanolysis of NaBH₄ finishes in about 32.5 min, whereas the bare PEI microgel as catalyst finishes the methanolysis of NaBH₄ in 22 min. Surprisingly, it is found that when the protonated PEI microgels are used as catalyst, the same methanolysis of NaBH₄ is finished in 1.5 min. The highest H₂ generation rate value is observed for protonated PEI microgels (10 mg) with 8013 mL of H₂/(g of catalyst.min) for the methanolysis of NaBH₄. Moreover, activation parameters are also calculated with activation energy value of 23.7 kJ/mol, enthalpy 20.9 kJ/mol, and entropy ?158 J/K.mol. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The influence of operating and device parameters on the maximum efficiency and the maximum output power of thermoelectric generator

Thermoelectric power generators are one of the promising green energy sources. The operating and the generator parameters influence the generator output performance. In the present study, the influence of the operating and the generator parameters on the maximum output power and the efficiency of the thermoelectric power generator are examined. The output power corresponding to the maximum efficiency and the maximum attainable output power of the generator are compared. It is found that the maximum power of the thermoelectric generator corresponding to the high Figure of Merit is very sensitive to the operating temperature. The maximum power attainable is larger than that its counterpart corresponding to the maximum generator efficiency. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermo-economic analysis of chlor-alkali electrolysis for hydrogen production in the electrochlorination plant: Real case

This study deals with the implementations of electrochemical technology for the on-site production of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrogen from seawater for utilization in the steam power plant. The effects of electrical current and seawater temperature on the performance of electrochlorination system are investigated. The obtained results show that current efficiency increases with increasing electrical current. The current efficiency of the system is calculated as 94% at a maximum electric current with a value of 4000 A and maximum temperature with a value of 30 °C. Electricity consumption increases for the unit generation of available chlorine in the case of both enhancements of electrical current and seawater. Hydrogen generation is directly proportional to the variation of the electrical current. Also, improvement in seawater temperature provides more efficient hydrogen generation. Moreover, energy and exergy efficiencies of the whole system are positively affected by an increase of current. However, energy and exergy efficiencies are determined to be 50.4% and 3.04%, respectively, under the best operational conditions. Besides, the cheapest product cost of the hydrogen gas is calculated as $4.04/kg under the greatest electrical current and seawater temperatures.     

Highly active and stable CeO2 supported nickel-complex catalyst in hydrogen generation

Cerium oxide supported 5-Amino-2,4-dichlorophenol-3,5-ditertbutylsalisylaldimine-Nickel complex for the first time was used to produce H₂ from hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. Cerium oxide supported Nickel complex catalyzed hydrolysis system was studied depend on temperature, concentration of sodium hydroxide, amount of Cerium oxide supported Ni complex catalyst, concentration of Ni complex and concentration of sodium borohydride. Cerium oxide supported Ni(II) complex display highly effective catalytic activity in sodium borohydride hydrolysis reaction. The obtained Cerium oxide supported Ni(II) complex catalyst was characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscope, Transmission Electron Microscope, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller Surface Area Analysis, X-Ray Diffraction Analysis techniques. The catalyst stability was tested, even the fifth recycle the catalytic activity was maintained at 100%. Additionally the proposed Cerium oxide supported-Ni (II) complex catalyzed sodium borohydride hydrolysis mechanism was determined carefully. The experimental results showed that Cerium oxide supported Ni (II) complex catalyst accelerate sodium borohydride hydrolysis with 43,392 and 19,630 mL H₂ g_cat^?1 min^?1 hydrogen production rates at 50 °C and 30 °C respectively and 20,587 kJ mol^?1 activation energy.