Dielectric,thermal, and swelling properties of calcium ion‐crosslinked sodium alginate film

In this study, Ca²⁺‐crosslinked sodium alginate (SA) gel films (SA‐Ca/SA2‐Ca) have been prepared, and their structural and thermal characterizations were investigated using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, respectively. Dielectric characterization was performed at room temperature in the frequency range of 12 Hz–100 kHz. The equilibrium swelling value (ESV) of gel films was determined both in distilled water and in 0.1 M sodium chloride (NaCl) solution at room temperature. Sodium alginate films (SA/SA2) were also prepared for use as reference. The effect of the crosslinking of sodium alginate on the dielectric and thermal properties of gel films was investigated by comparing the properties of gel films with those of SA/SA2 films. Although ESV of Ca²⁺‐crosslinked SA film in distilled water is about 350 /g_polymer, it decreased into one third in 0.1 M NaCl solution. The crosslinking of SA did not significantly affect the thermal properties, but it decreased the β‐relaxation associated with the polar side groups. Frequency spectra of electric modulus, impedance and Cole‐Cole plots confirmed the higher conductance values of SA‐Ca films at low frequencies than those of SA film due to the presence of by‐product of crosslinking. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1372–1382, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Self-assembly of POSS-containing block copolymers: Fixing the hierarchical structure in networks

A series of P(MMA-co-GMA)-b-PMAPOSS block copolymers (BCPs) were synthesized by ATRP. The BCPs contain POSS (polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane) as a pendant unit on a particular polymer block chain. In selective solvents, the BCPs self-assemble to form ordered micellar-like structures. Spherical, cylindrical or vesicle-like morphologies were produced by tuning the BCP and mixed solvent compositions. Crosslinking of the BCP by the reaction of the glycidyl groups in the P(MMA-co-GMA) block of the micelle shell (GMA = glycidyl methacrylate) with a diamine results in a long-range structure ordering. The hexagonally packed cylindrical arrangement of the BCP networks was revealed by SAXS and TEM. The hierarchical, ordered structure of the POSS-containing hybrids was fixed by crosslinking. In addition, transient physical gels were prepared from triblock copolymers with outer MAPOSS blocks, and their rheological behavior was investigated.     

From Diols to Lactones under Aerobic Conditions using a Laccase/TEMPO Catalytic System in Aqueous Medium

An efficient catalytic system to oxidize quantitatively aliphatic diols using Trametes versicolor laccase and TEMPO has been developed in aqueous medium. Oxidations have occurred in a non‐stereoselective fashion but with complete regio‐ and/or monoselectivity, obtaining lactones with excellent purity after simple extraction. This catalytic system has been demonstrated to be scalable, compatible with the presence of a variety of functionalities, and also allowed the successful enzyme recycling using a laccase‐cross‐linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) preparation.     

Sour Cherry By-products: Compositions,Functional Properties and Recovery Potentials – A Review

Abstract

Sour (tart) cherry is an industrial fruit where a considerable amount of by-products remain after processing. Sour cherry by-products consist of pomace (skin and flesh) and seeds (pit, stone) which remain after the fruit juice and IQF processes. Sour cherry pomace is characterized with a high content of phenolic compounds and the seed constitutes a high oil yield with beneficial effects on human health because of their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. There has been a great interest in sour cherry by-products due to the increasing production rate of sour cherry worldwide and the increasing efforts on seeking bioactive compounds from natural sources as functional food. Thus, there have been a number of studies regarding the sour cherry pomace and sour cherry seed, especially in the last five years. The present review summarizes the chemical, biological, functional, and technological properties of the sour cherry pomace and sour cherry seed with their current and potential applications.     

Reduction of U(VI) Incorporated in the Structure of Hematite

U(VI) doped hematite was synthesized and exposed to two different organic reductants with E(0) of 0.23 and 0.70 V. A combination of HAADF-TEM and EXAFS provided evidence that uranium was incorporated in hematite in uranate, likely octahedral coordination. XPS indicated that structurally incorporated U(VI) was reduced to U(V), whereas non-incorporated U(VI) was reduced to U(IV). Specifically, the experiments indicate that U(V) was the dominant oxidation state of uranium in hematite around Eh -0.24 to -0.28 V and pH 7.7-8.6 for at least up to 5 weeks of reaction time. U(V), but not U(IV), was also detected in hematite at Eh +0.21 V (pH 7.1-7.3). The results support the hypothesis, based on previous experimental and theoretical work, that the stability field of U(V) is widened relative to U(IV) and U(VI) in uranate coordination environments where the coordination number of U is less than 8.     

Critical electric field strengths of onion tissues treated by pulsed electric fields

The impact of pulsed electric fields (PEF) on cellular integrity and texture of Ranchero and Sabroso onions (Allium cepa L.) was investigated. Electrical properties, ion leakage rate, texture, and amount of enzymatically formed pyruvate were measured before and after PEF treatment for a range of applied field strengths and number of pulses. Critical electric field strengths or thresholds (E(c)) necessary to initiate membrane rupture were different because dissimilar properties were measured. Measurement of electrical characteristics was the most sensitive method and was used to detect the early stage of plasma membrane breakdown, while pyruvate formation by the enzyme alliinase was used to identify tonoplast membrane breakdown. Our results for 100-μs pulses indicate that breakdown of the plasma membrane occurs above E(c)= 67 V/cm for 10 pulses, but breakdown of the tonoplast membrane is above either E(c)= 200 V/cm for 10 pulses or 133 V/cm for 100 pulses. This disparity in field strength suggests there may be 2 critical electrical field strengths: a lower field strength for plasma membrane breakdown and a higher field strength for tonoplast membrane breakdown. Both critical electric field strengths depended on the number of pulses applied. Application of a single pulse at an electric field up to 333 V/cm had no observable effect on any measured properties, while significant differences were observed for n≥10. The minimum electric field strength required to cause a measurable property change decreased with the number of pulses. The results also suggest that PEF treatment may be more efficient if a higher electric field strength is applied for a fewer pulses.     

Microbiological and chemical quality of different types of salted pearl mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi Pallas, 1811)

This research aimed to determine microbiological and chemical quality of different types of salted pearl mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi Pallas, 1811). Samples of salted pearl mullet (C. tarichi Pallas, 1811), produced by six different methods, were obtained from three different local producers at the end of the hunting season of 2016 and 2017 (May–June) with wooden boxes, plastic cans, or in bottom perforated plastic cans. Samples stored in a cold storage (2 ± 2°C) were analyzed in August and September of 2017. Six fish were used in each sampling day and thus the analyses were completed in 18 days. So, 108 fish samples were analyzed (3 producer × 6 method × 3 sample for each method × 2 hunting season). Analysis results were calculated as mean ± SD. One-way analysis of variance was used to determine whether there was a significant difference between the sample groups analyzed, and p < .05 was considered significant. All sample groups were found to be appropriate according to total mesophilic aerobic bacteria count, but one sample group (OS11-old sample, gutted and cleaned fish producted in wooden box according to method 1) included Salmonella spp. and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, it was found to be inappropriate (p < .05). The total volatile basic nitrogen acceptability upper limit (25–30 mg/100 g) were found to be exceeded in three sample groups (OS12-old sample, ungutted, and uncleaned fish producted in wooden box according to method 1, OS31-old sample, gutted, and cleaned fish producted in bottom perforated plastic can according to method 3, OS32-old sample, ungutted, and uncleaned fish producted in bottom perforated plastic can according to method 3) (p < .05) and the tiobarbituric acid index value was found to vary between 13.32 ± 0.08 and 31.43 ± 0.04 μg malondialdehyde/g (p < .05). According to histamine results, all sample groups were determined at acceptable values (p > .05). However, it was determined that the salt amount of the sample groups was very high in raw, and that more than half of the salt amount remained in the samples, even after baked waiting for 3 hr in warm water (p < .05).