Bread and durum wheat compared for antioxidants contents,and lipoxygenase and peroxidase activities

Potential beneficial components, including proteins, total phenolics, total flavonoids, carotenoids, tocopherols, and DPPH radical scavenging activity, were investigated in wholemeal of ten bread (T. aestivum L.) and ten durum (T. durum Desf.) novel wheat genotypes. In addition, the activity rate of lipoxygenase (LOX) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes implicated in the antioxidant metabolism was determined. The protein contnet and the antioxidant properties varied according to the two different wheat species, as well as, between the different bread and durum wheat genotypes themselves. The results indicated significant differences in proteins and antioxidant compounds between bread and durum wheat. Higher total proteins, wet gluten and antioxidants contents, combined with lower LOX and POD activities, point to a higher nutritive value of durum wheat than bread wheat.     

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN PRODUCTS OF A BEET SUGAR FACTORY IN VOJVODINA: LEVELS AND INTAKES

The levels of 16 EPA polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in samples of sugar beets and their products representative for a beet sugar factory located in the central part of Vojvodina, the main agricultural region in Serbia. The sum of the detected PAHs ranged from 51 pg g ^?1 ww for molasses to 391 pg g ^?1 ww for dried sugar beet pulp. The concentration of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) for all sample types was about or less than 100 pg g ^?1 ww, which is far less than the existing Serbian and EU tolerances set for some foodstuffs. The Serbian intake of BaP via total sugar consumption that ranged from 70–85 g per capita day ^?1 , was assessed to be from 0.029 to 0.035 ng kg ^?1 b.w. day ^?1 . Furthermore, the toxic equivalency factor (TEF) approach was used to estimate the carcinogenicity of PAH mixture found in analyzed samples.     

Synthesis,calcination and characterization of Nanosized ceria powders by self-propagating room temperature method

Nanometric ceria powders with fluorite-type structure were obtained by applying self-propagating room temperature method. The obtained powders were subsequently thermally treated (calcined) at different temperatures for different times. Powder properties such as specific surface area, crystallite size, particle size and lattice parameter have been studied. Roentgen diffraction analysis (XRD), BET and Raman scattering measurements were used to characterize the as-obtained (uncalcined) powder as well as powders calcined at different temperatures.It was found that the average diameter of the as-obtained crystallites is in the range of 3–5 nm whereas the specific surface area is about 70 m²/g. The subsequent, 15 min long, calcination of as-obtained powder at different temperatures gradually increased crystallite size up to ～60 nm and reduced specific surface down to 6 m²/g. Raman spectra of synthesized CeO_2?y depicts a strong red shift of active triply degenerate F_2 g mode as well as additional peak at 600 cm^?1. The frequency of F_2 g mode increased while its line width decreased with an increase in calcination temperature. Such a behavior is considered to be the result of particle size increase and agglomeration during the calcination. After the heat treatment at 800 °C crystallite size reached value larger than 50 nm. Second order Raman mode, which originates from intrinsic oxygen vacancies, disappeared after calcination.     

Effect of preparation route on the microstructure and electrical conductivity of co-doped ceria

Dense Ce_0.8Sm_0.1Gd_0.1O_2?δ electrolytes were fabricated by sintering of CeO₂ solid solutions which were prepared from metal nitrates and NaOH using self propagating room temperature synthesis (SPRT). Three different routes were employed to obtain CeO₂ solid solution powders: (I) hand mixing of reactants, (II) ball milling of reactants and (III) ball milling of Ce_0.8Sm_0.2O_2?δ and Ce_0.8Gd_0.2O_2?δ solid solutions previously prepared by ball milling of corresponding nitrates and NaOH. Density measurements showed that ball milling, which is more convenient than hand mixing, is an effective way to obtain almost full dense samples after presureless sintering at 1550 °C for 1 h. These samples had larger grain size and consequently higher conductivity than the samples obtained by hand mixing. The highest conductivity of 2.704×10^?2 (Ω cm)^?1was measured at 700 °C in a sample prepared by route II. It was found that reduced grain size in samples obtained by hand mixing leads to a decrease in grain boundary conductivity and therefore decrease in the total conductivity. The results showed that mixing of single doped ceria solid solutions improved densification and inhibited grain growth.     

A comparative study of photocatalytically active nanocrystalline tetragonal zyrcon-type and monoclinic scheelite-type bismuth vanadate

Monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO₄ is currently considered as one of the most promising non-titania photocatalysts, wheras tetragonal zircon-type BiVO₄ is still poorly understood. Herein, a new and simple synthetic approach was applied and nanostructured single-phase zircon-type BiVO₄ was successfully prepared by a controllable ethylene-glycol colloidal route. In addition, nanostructured monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO₄ powders were also fabricated through annealing of the as-prepared samples. A comparative study of the two BiVO₄ polymorphs was conducted and it turned out that the novel synthetic approach had a significant impact on porosity and photocatalytic performance of zircon-structured BiVO₄. All the prepared materials, as-prepared and annealed, were mesoporous, while measured values of specific surface area of some zircon-structured samples (～34?m²/g) were ～7 times higher than those reported thus far for this phase. Interestingly, for the first time, zircon-type BiVO₄, previously considered to be a poor photocatalyst, exhibited a better overall performance in degradation of methyl orange compared to monoclinic scheelite-type BiVO₄. Hence, it could be expected that the here-presented synthesis and observations will both arouse interest in scarcely studied tetragonal zircon-type BiVO₄ and facilitate as well as speed up further research of its properties.     

Deposition of silver ions onto DBD and DCSBD plasma treated nonwoven polypropylene

The aim of this work is plasma activation of nonwoven polypropylene (PP) using two different ambient air plasma sources: volume dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) and its functionalization by silver ion deposition.     

Corrosion behaviour of AA2024 aluminium alloy in different tempers in NaCl solution and with the CeCl3 corrosion inhibitor

The paper analyses the corrosion behaviour of naturally and artificially aged AA2024 alloy in NaCl solution and in the presence of an environment-friendly corrosion inhibitor, CeCl₃. On the basis of the values of polarisation resistance and corrosion current density, the corrosion resistance of the protective inhibitor film is established as well as the general corrosion resistance of this aluminium alloy. Resistance to pit formation is determined based on the difference in pitting and corrosion potentials while resistance to pit growth is determined based on the amount of charge consumed during pit growth. A scanning electron microscope is used to examine the morphology of the pits formed during the pitting corrosion testing, as well as to determine the cerium content on intermetallic particles and the matrix AA2024 alloy. The corrosion behaviour of AA2024 alloy is investigated after different test periods in NaCl solution and in the same solution with the CeCl₃ inhibitor. The corrosion resistance of both tempers of AA2024 alloy is more than one order of magnitude higher in the presence of CeCl₃. An explanation of the observed differences in the corrosion behaviour of the naturally and artificially aged AA2024 alloy is proposed. Different corrosion behaviour of the alloy after different test periods is also explained.