Nanobubbles at Water-Solid Interfaces: Calculation of the Contact Angle Based on a Simple Model

Nanobubbles have been found to form at the interface of water and solid surfaces. We examine the conditions for such bubbles to form and estimate the pressure inside the bubble based on thermodynamic considerations. Using a simple model we calculate the contact angle for a wide range of temperatures and hypothetical substrates possessing a continuous range of strengths. We show that as the temperature increases the shape of a bubble changes continuously from a spherical cap with low curvature to a complete sphere. An equivalent effect results from either increasing the strength of the solid or decreasing the surface tension. A model of a substrate formed by layers of materials is proposed to obtain a nanobubble with a particular contact angle.     

Optimisation of tripalmitin‐rich fractionation from palm stearin by response surface methodology

BACKGROUND: Solvent fractionation is effective in improving separation at low temperature, resulting in higher yield and purity of the final product. Tripalmitin (PPP) is an important substrate for the synthesis of human milk fat substitute (HMFS). In this study a fraction rich in PPP was separated from palm stearin by solvent fractionation. RESULTS: The PPP‐rich fraction was concentrated from palm stearin by acetone fractionation. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimise PPP purity (Y₁, %) and PPP content (Y₂, g kg^?1 palm stearin) with the independent variables fractionation temperature (X₁, 25, 30 and 35 °C) and weight ratio of palm stearin to acetone (X₂, 1:3, 1:6 and 1:9). The predictive models for PPP purity and PPP content of the solid fraction were adequate and reproducible, with no significant lack of fit and satisfactory levels of R². PPP purity showed a positive correlation with temperature and acetone ratio, whereas PPP content exhibited a negative correlation. The optimised fractionation condition for a targeted PPP‐rich fraction with > 92% PPP purity and > 225 g kg^?1 PPP content from palm stearin was predicted. CONCLUSION: The RSM model for optimising PPP purity and PPP content in the PPP‐rich fraction from palm stearin by acetone fractionation was valid. The scaled‐up PPP‐rich fraction obtained can be used as a substrate for the synthesis of 1,3‐dioleoyl‐2‐palmitoylglycerol, which is a main component of HMFS in infant formulas. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of lipase-catalyzed interesterification on the oxidative stability of melon seed oil triacylglycerols

Melon seeds are rich in oil. However, the stability of melon seed oil (MSO) is low because of its high content of the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid (18:2n-6). MSO was physically blended or enzymatically interesterified with higholeic sunflower oil (HOSO). The fatty acid composition of MSO was remarkably changed after interesterification. Palmitic (16:0), stearic (18:0), and oleic (18:1n-9) acid contents increased at the sn-2 position of triacylglycerols, whereas 18:2n-6 decreased due to interesterification. The oxidative stability of the physical and Pseudomonas sp. (PS30) lipase-interesterified blends was assessed with the Oxidative Stability Instrument, peroxide value, and conjugated diene methods. The stability of MSO increased with increased proportions of HOSO, which was the source of 18:1n-9 in the blends. The ratio of 18:1n-9/18:2n-6 improved from 0.18 in MSO to 1.47 in the enzymatically interesterified blend. Calculated oxidizability and the results of oxidation tests of the blends confirmed the improvement in MSO stability by both physical blending and enzymatic interesterification.     

The impact of assessing lower head integrity on boiling water reactor probabilistic risk assessments

Over the last several decades, much effort has been directed at estimating the likelihood of a large early release of radioactivity during a nuclear accident. This effort has culminated in the Individual Plant Examinations (IPEs) for the over 100 US nuclear power plants and the NUREG 1150 study. The large early release of radioactivity requires core damage with loss of primary containment integrity during the accident. Given a successful reactor scram, early containment failure coupled with a large release of radioactivity will only occur if the reactor core vessel is breached by core debris. Most IPE/PRA studies performed to date have not considered the possibility of quenching core debris in the lower plenum. Consequently, lower head failure is presumed to closely follow the onset of core damage. Therefore, these assessments did not address the role that in-vessel debris retention plays in preserving primary containment integrity, nor do they propose a criterion for evaluating the integrity of the vessel lower head given that core damage has occurred. Yet preserving the vessel lower head integrity is a necessary condition for satisfying the plant design and licensing basis. Therefore, a more complete treatment of the risk associated with nuclear plant operation includes an evaluation of the ability to retain the core debris in-vessel. This paper presents a performance requirement for vessel integrity to be used in probabilistic risk assessments; evaluates the impact the core damage progression and lower plenum quenching models have on the likelihood of terminating the damage progression in-vessel; documents the significant reduction in BWR containment failure probability that can occur when appropriate core damage and lower head quenching models are used; reviews the implications of core debris quenching in the lower head on BWR PRA modeling; argues why crediting the capability to maintain vessel integrity is necessary from a safety point of view. These results and conclusions are derived from consideration of a BWR 4 plant with a 251 inch vessel. However, the concepts are generally applicable and results specific to other BWR designs can be developed using the methodology presented in this paper.     

Enzymatic modification of trilinolein: Incorporation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids

Two immobilized lipases, IM60 fromMucor miehei and SP435 fromCandida antarctica, were used as biocatalysts for the modification of trilinolein with n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), by using their ethyl esters as acyl donors (EEPA and EDHA, respectively). Transesterification (ester-ester interchange) reactions were carried out in organic solvent. The products were analyzed according to their equivalent carbon number and polarity by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, and the fatty acid profiles were determined by gas-liquid chromatography. Modified triacylglycerol products contained 1 or 2 molecules of n-3 PUFA. With EEPA as the acyl donor, the total EPA product yields with IM60 and SP435 as biocatalysts were 79.6 and 81.4%, respectively. However, with EDHA as the acyl donor and IM60 and SP435 as biocatalysts, the total DHA product yields were 70.5 and 79.7%, respectively. Effects of reaction parameters, such as type of solvent, enzyme load, time course, and molar ratio of substrates on the n-3 PUFA incorporation, were followed with SP435 as the biocatalyst. High yields were obtained, even in the absence of organic solvent. These lipids do hold promise for specialty nutrition and other therapeutic uses.     

Spray‐Dried Structured Lipid Containing Long‐Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids for Use in Infant Formulas

Human milk fat (HMF) analogs are structured lipids (SLs) modified to have palmitic acid content at the sn‐2 position of the triacylglycerol (TAG) and fatty acid composition comparable to HMF. Some of these SLs are also designed to incorporate long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) because of their important role in infant development. In this study, Maillard reaction products (MRPs), obtained from heated whey protein isolates and corn syrup solids (CSS) solution, were used as encapsulants for microencapsulation of 2 enzymatically synthesized SLs for infant formula applications. The encapsulated SL powders were obtained through spray‐drying and evaluated in terms of their microencapsulation efficiency, chemical and physical properties, oxidative stability, and dispersibility. The microencapsulation efficiency of the SLs was 90%. Dispersibility test using particle size measurement demonstrated that these powders dispersed quickly into a homogeneous suspension. The encapsulated SL powders had low peroxide and thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances values. Lower oxidative stability was obtained in the powder containing SL with a higher degree of unsaturation and a lower concentration of tocopherols. The results demonstrated that the degree of fatty acid unsaturation and concentration of endogenous antioxidant in starting oils influenced the oxidative stability of the encapsulated SLs.     

Evaporative light scattering mass detection for high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of sucrose polyester blends in cooking oils

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method is described to determine the sucrose polyester (SPE) content in seven blends of cooking oils. Four gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) columns were used in series with an evaporative light scattering mass detector to separate the SPE from the acylglycerols in the final chromatogram. The SPE fraction was collected off the GPC column and injected onto a reverse-phase C-18 column for quantitation with sucrose octaacetate as an internal standard and a gradient of nonaqueous solvents as mobile phase. The chromatograms were interference-free, with only two sharp peaks appearing. The standards were linear from 500 to 5000 μg/mL with a correlation coefficient of r=0.999. The mean percent recovery (n=9) and standard deviation were 102±6.7. The detector could detect amounts as low as 5 μg SPE.