Continuous fixed bed biosorption of Cu2+ ions: application of a simple two parameter mathematical model

Biomass from two fungi of the Mucorales order, laboratory cultured and immobilised Rhizopus arrhizus, and industrial waste Mucor miehei, was tested for capacity to adsorb copper from solution in batch and continuous‐flow column systems. Maximum uptake levels were c 400 and 300 mmol g⁻¹ (dry weight) respectively. Immobilisation of Rhizopus arrhizus in polyvinyl formal to cell loadings of 60% (w/w) did not diminish metal uptake levels. In continuous‐flow columns both biosorbents adsorbed copper to levels equal or approaching the batch uptake values. Column breakthrough curves were fitted to a two parameter model and each of the parameters, σ and t₀ , were linearly correlated with column operating parameters. Predicted breakthrough curves agreed closely with experimental values. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry     

Low‐temperature selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur on a NiS2/SiC catalyst

Nickel sulfide supported on SiC exhibits a very high activity and selectivity for the direct oxidation of H₂S into elemental sulfur at low reaction temperature (60°C). The presence of water on the catalyst surface could explain the absence of deactivation even at high sulfur loading of the surface. The chemical inertness of the SiC support allowed any detrimental reactions between the active phase and the support itself to be avoided.     

Fate and effects of Camembert cheese micro-organisms in the human colonic microbiota of healthy volunteers after regular Camembert consumption

The objective of this study was to determine i) if Camembert cheese micro-organisms could be detected in fecal samples after regular consumption by human subjects and ii) the consequence of this consumption on global metabolic activities of the host colonic microbiota. An open human protocol was designed where 12 healthy volunteers were included: a 2-week period of fermented products exclusion followed by a 4-weeks Camembert ingestion period where 2x40 g/day of Camembert cheese was consumed. Stools were collected from the volunteers before consumption, twice during the ingestion period (2nd and 4th week) and once after a wash out period of 2 weeks. During the consumption of Camembert cheese, high levels of Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were measured in fecal samples using real-time quantitative PCR, reaching median values of 8.2 and 7.5 Log(10) genome equivalents/g of stool. For Ln. mesenteroides, persistence was observed 15 days after the end of Camembert consumption. The survival of Geotrichum candidum was also assessed and the fecal concentration reached a median level of 7.1 Log(10) CFU/g in stools. Except a decreasing trend of the nitrate reductase activity, no significant modification was shown in the metabolic activities during this study.     

Microbial inactivation by pulsed electric fields in a batch treatment chamber: effects of some electrical parameters and food constituents

The inactivation of Escherichia coli by high voltage pulsed electric fields in a batch treatment chamber was studied in liquid, solid and semisolid foods or model systems. Treatment heterogeneity was demonstrated and found to be due to the presence of an air bubble trapped inside the chamber. Agitation of the inoculated liquid samples (16 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7, ρ=460 Ωcm) during pulse processing resulted in efficient microbial inactivation (five log cycles at 33 kV/cm and 25°C after 261 μs of cumulated pulses). A slower inactivation rate was observed in inoculated solid agar gels of the same pH and resistivity, under the same pulse processing conditions. The inactivation of E. coli in inoculated dairy cream (33% fat, pH 6.8, ρ=370 Ωcm), ovalbumin solution (10% protein w/v, pH 6.7, ρ=370 Ωcm) or fish egg suspension (pH 6.8, ρ=400 Ωcm) was almost identical to that in 16 mM phosphate buffer, pH 7. Thus emulsified lipids, soluble proteins or conductive food particulates do not appear to protect against microbial inactivation by electric pulses.     

Combination of mass spectrometry and site-specific NMR isotope analyses in the characterisation of amino acids

Experimental strategies have been developed which make amino acid probes accessible to the NMR study of site-specific natural isotope fractionation. A multi-isotope approach, based on combined mass spectrometry determination of hydrogen-, carbon- and nitrogen-overall isotope contents and on ²H-NMR determination of site-specific hydrogen isotope ratios, shows that relatively wide ranges of variation are exhibited by the isotopic parameters of glutamic acid, aspartic acid, alanine, proline and lysine samples from different origins. Moreover, relatively large deviations with respect to a random distribution of deuterium among the molecular sites are quantified and compared. A noticeable enantiomeric imbalance at the methylenic site adjacent to the chiral centre is also detected in natural samples of L -glutamic and L -aspartic acids in particular. The results are analysed in terms of filiation criteria and technological effects. It is shown in particular that the C₃ or C₄ metabolic origin of the raw materials utilised in fermentation processes can be recognised. Principal component analyses involving the two mean isotopic variables δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N and the three site-specific variables (D/H)_x (D/H)_β and (D/H)_γ associated with positions α, β and γ of glutamic acids, for example, are helpful for interpreting the main discriminating factors. This approach provides the basis for new applications to origin recognition of fundamental constituents and metabolites of plant or animal species.     

Natural isotope fractionation in the discrimination of sugar origins

More than 500 carbohydrate samples have been characterised by hydrogen, carbon and oxygen isotopic parameters measured on ethanol and water resulting from controlled fermentation. Different chemical states of the carbohydrate pool have been considered: polysaccharides from cereals, tubers and leguminosae (maize, sorghum, rice, wheat, barley, potato, bean), glucose, fructose and sucrose from fruits (pineapple, citrus, apple, soft fruits), sucrose from sugar plants (beet, cane). The overall carbon-13 content of ethanol and the deuterium and oxygen-18 contents of water before fermentation were determined by mass spectrometry of isotope ratios whereas the investigation of site-specific natural isotope fractionation by deuterium NMR has provided access to the deuterium contents in the methyl (I) and methylene (II) sites of ethanol. The results have been analysed in the multidimensional space of these isotopic variables. Hierarchical clustering, principal component and discriminant analyses have been performed. Among fruits, for example, the pineapple group exhibits a 100% discrimination with respect to the apple and citrus groups which are themselves well distinguished. A still higher discrimination is reached between the three groups, citrus, cane and beet, and the addition of 10% exogenous cane or beet sucrose to citrus juice is unambiguously detected.     

Geographical origin classification of olive oils by PTR-MS

The volatile compositions of 192 olive oil samples from five different European countries were investigated by PTR-MS sample headspace analysis. The mass spectra of all samples showed many masses with high abundances, indicating the complex VOC composition of olive oil. Three different PLS-DA models were fitted to the data to classify samples into ‘country’, ‘region’ and ‘district’ of origin, respectively. Correct classification rates were assessed by cross-validation. The first fitted model produced an 86% success rate in classifying the samples into their country of origin. The second model, which was fitted to the Italian oils only, also demonstrated satisfactory results, with 74% of samples successfully classified into region of origin. The third model, classifying the Italian samples into district of origin, yielded a success rate of only 52%. This lower success rate might be due to either the small class set, or to genuine similarities between olive oil VOC compositions on this tight scale.     

Exposure of several Belgian consumer groups to pesticide residues through fresh fruit and vegetable consumption

The output of a pesticide surveillance program (detection frequency and number of exceeding measures) can lead to unnecessary concern among consumers since they lack information concerning the actual exposure. In this study, the exposure to pesticide residues through fruit and vegetable consumption is evaluated based on the 2008 surveillance data of the Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC).Results (deterministic and probabilistic approach) demonstrate that the chronic exposure of the adult population (>15 years) is generally under control, even at high or frequent consumption of fruit and vegetables. For most of the pesticide residues studied, the exposure is one hundred times lower than the ‘acceptable daily intake’ or ADI. With regard to children (2–5 years) who consume regularly or large amounts of fruit and vegetables, there are however, indications that for some pesticides the ADI can be exceeded. Nevertheless, due to the large uncertainty in these calculations, a more detailed study is required for this vulnerable group of consumers. In addition, it was demonstrated that washing and peeling of fruit and vegetables result in an exposure that is probably five to six times lower.     

The invasion of a large lake by the Eurasian genotype of common reed: The influence of roads and residential construction

The Eurasian genotype of common reed (Phragmites australis) is one of the most aggressive plant invading North American wetlands. There is, however, little published evidence on establishment patterns of populations along lakes of the St. Lawrence River–Great Lakes watershed. We tested the hypothesis that the recent invasion of Great Lake Saint-François (Québec, Canada) by common reed was facilitated by a dense road system and by an intense residence construction activity along lakeshores. A total of 345 and 2914 reed stands were mapped along lakeshores, and along the road system of the study area, respectively. The probability of finding a reed stand on a lakeshore increases with the proximity of the lake's outlet, and of a paved road, but decreases with the proximity of a residence built since 1990. It is likely that common reed first spread along the road system, and that wind dispersal of seeds then favored the establishment of populations on lakeshores. Our model does not support the hypothesis that residential construction facilitated the establishment of reed stands, probably because the recent residential construction boom occurred essentially in the southern part of the lake, where the number of roadside reed populations is much lower than in the northern part (lower seed rain). The invasion of Great Lake Saint-François shows that the spread of the plant is not restricted to major river or road systems. Large or small lakes, if submitted to intense diaspore pressure, can also be at risk.     

Analysis of the El Niño Effect on the Discharge of Selected Rivers in the Asia-Pacific Region

Abstract

Discharge records originating from 78 rivers within the Asia-Pacific region are used to assess a possible relationship between a temporal El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Index and regional discharges of rivers. The rivers selected have long monthly discharge series and are geographically distributed throughout the whole region. Analyses of variance are used to identify the sub-regions most teleconnected to the ENSO signal. Composite analyses show the temporal patterns of the relationships between river discharge and the ENSO signal and the possible presence of a time lagged relationship. The analyses show that the rivers of the Oceania-Pacific region are the most affected and that a majority of rivers show a similar temporal pattern, thus allowing the construction of a regional composite streamflow index. The temporal patterns of the identified relationships demonstrate the possibility of forecasting the occurrence of abnormally high or low flows (floods/droughts) months ahead of time.