The Application of Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) Oil in Cosmetic Formulations

The depletion of natural resources, the increasing use of valuable land surface for human activities, and the generation of waste are detrimental to the planet. Sustainable alternatives to guarantee a sufficient supply of food, feed, and biomaterials are needed. Insects may hold an interesting position in a circular economy to tackle contemporary societal challenges. Using insects for food, feed, biomaterial production, and to valorize side-streams, have gained increased interest. Mealworms are amenable to large-scale farming. Herein, the potential of mealworm oil for implementation in a cosmetic hand cream is evaluated. It is shown that mealworms are rich in oil (≈30% of the dry weight), and the oil can be extracted using hexane or ethyl acetate as a solvent. The euthanization step of mealworms has profound effect on the free fatty acid content. The fatty acid profile indicates a large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, which is promising for use in cosmetic applications. In a proof of concept, the mealworm oil is implemented in a hand cream and compared to hand cream containing macadamia nut oil. No differences in odor and aspect/stability are observed, but mealworm creams are slightly less white color. Mealworm oil is suitable for cosmetics applications. Practical applications: Several insect species can be sustainably reared on low-value organic side-streams, requiring only small amounts of land-surface, less water, and producing less greenhouse gases. In addition, they have short life cycles and can be reared continuously and locally. This implies that insects are an interesting source of biological materials including proteins and oils. Insect oils, including oil of mealworms, have interesting fatty acid profiles that make them amenable to replace oils of vegetable origin for applications within cosmetics. The results indicate that mealworm oil can be a novel, sustainable ingredient for use in the cosmetics industry.     

Degradation and Mechanical Behavior of Fish Gelatin/Polycaprolactone AC Electrospun Nanofibrous Meshes

With the increasing interest in biopolymer nanofibers for diverse applications, the characterization of these materials in the physiological environment has become of equal interest and importance. This study performs first-time simulated body fluid (SBF) degradation and tensile mechanical analyses of blended fish gelatin (FGEL) and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibrous meshes prepared by a high-throughput free-surface alternating field electrospinning. The thermally crosslinked FGEL/PCL nanofibrous materials with 84–96% porosity and up to 60 wt% PCL fraction demonstrate mass retention up to 88.4% after 14 days in SBF. The trends in the PCL crystallinity and FGEL secondary structure modification during the SBF degradation are analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Tensile tests of such porous, 0.1–2.2 mm thick FGEL/PCL nanofibrous meshes in SBF reveal the ultimate tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break within the ranges of 60–105 kPa, 0.3–1.6 MPa, and 20–70%, respectively, depending on the FGEL/PCL mass ratio. The results demonstrate that FGEL/PCL nanofibrous materials prepared from poorly miscible FGEL and PCL can be suitable for selected biomedical applications such as scaffolds for skin, cranial cruciate ligament, articular cartilage, or vascular tissue repair.     

Interlaboratory study on lipid oxidation during accelerated storage trials with rapeseed and sunflower oil analyzed by conjugated dienes as primary oxidation products

Accelerated storage tests are frequently used to assess the oxidative stability of foods and related systems due to its reproducibility. Various methods and experimental conditions are used to measure lipid oxidation. Differences between laboratories make it necessary to determine the repeatability and reproducibility of oxidation tests performed under the same conditions. The objective of the present interlaboratory study was to evaluate the outcome of a storage test for two different bulk oils, sunflower oil (SFO) and rapeseed oil (RSO), during a period of 9 weeks at 20°C, 30°C, 40°C, and 60°C. Sixteen laboratories were provided with bottled oils and conducted the storage tests according to a detailed protocol. Lipid oxidation was monitored by the formation of conjugated dienes (CD) and the activation energy (E_a) was determined for comparative purposes and statistically evaluated. An increase in CD formation was observed for both oils when the storage temperature was increased in all laboratories. The E_a,1 ranged from 47.9 to 73.3 kJ mol⁻¹ in RSO and from 27.8 to 62.6 kJ mol⁻¹ in SFO, with average values of 58.2 and 46.8 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. The reproducibility coefficients were 10.9% and 18.2% for RSO and SFO, respectively. Practical applications: In order to compare results on oxidative stability of foods derived from different studies, the reproducibility of storage tests and methods employed to evaluate the oxidation level should be considered. This study provides fundamental data on the reproducibility of lipid oxidation under accelerated storage conditions and defines important parameters to be considered for the conduction of experiments.     

The effectuation of seawater on the microstructural features and the compressive strength of fly ash blended cement at early and later ages

The current work scrutinizes the effectuation of seawater on morphological properties, pore structure, and compressive strength during the hydration process of fly ash blended cement at 3, 7, 28, 56, and 90 days to better understand the influence of salinity conditions of seawater on the microstructural modification and strength development of the hydration products as well as the total porosity. The chemical reaction's mechanism of mightily soluble salts, for example, Mg₂SO₄ and NaCl, with hydrated fly ash and blended cement (calcium-bearing phases) was also confirmed. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy has been appointed to observe and characterize the energetics of variation in the formulation of portlandite (CH), calcium silicate hydrate, gypsum (Gy), ettringite (AFt), and calcium chloroaluminate (Friedel's salt [FS]) throughout the hydration process of fly ash blended cement with seawater in comparison with deionized water. X-ray diffraction analysis exposed that the peak intensities of FS, portlandite, and some particular phases of the hydrated fly ash blended cement in seawater are higher and sharper than the comparable peaks in deionized water. Mercury intrusion porosimetry-measurements have been appointed that the total porosity of artificial seawater (ASW) was decreased from 28.9% at 3 days to 19.4% at 56 days. In addition, the average, median, and critical pore diameter were decreased in ASW while compared to deionized water (DIW). The reaction products of this work were also characterized using scanning electron microscopy, EDS, compressive strength, and isothermal calorimeter.     

Phylloquinone (vitamin K1) and dihydrophylloquinone content of fats and oils

Assessment of vitamin K (VK) dietary intakes has been limited by the incompleteness of VK food composition data for the U.S. food supply, particularly for VK-rich oils. The phylloquinone (VK-1) and 2′,3′-dihydrophylloquinone (dK) concentrations of margarines and spreads (n=43), butter (n=4), shortening (n=4), vegetable oils (n=6), and salad dressings (n=24) were determined by RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection. Each sample represented a composite of units or packages obtained from 12 or 24 outlets, which were geographically representative of the U.S. food supply. Butter, which is derived from animal fat sources, had less VK-1 compared to vegetable oil sources. The VK-1 and dK of the margarines and spreads increased with fat content and the degree of hydrogenation, respectively. In some margarines or spreads and in all shortenings, the dK concentrations were higher than the corresponding VK-1 concentrations. As the fat content of salad dressings increased, the VK-1 concentrations also increased. Fat-free foods had <1 μg/100 g of either form of the vitamin. No dK was detected in the salad dressings or oils tested. Some margarines, spreads, and salad dressings may be significant sources of vitamin K in the U.S. food supply.     

Flow patterns in granulating systems

Particle flow patterns were investigated for wet granulation and dry powder mixing in ploughshare mixers using Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT). In a 4-l mixer, calcium carbonate with mean size 45 μm was granulated using a 50 wt.% solution of glycerol and water as binding fluid, and particle movement was followed using a 600-μm calcium hydroxy-phosphate tracer particle. In a 20-l mixer, dry powder flow was studied using a 600-μm resin bead tracer particle to simulate the bulk polypropylene powder with mean size 600 μm. Important differences were seen between particle flow patterns for wet and dry systems. Particle speed relative to blade speed was lower in the wet system than in the dry system, with the ratios of average particle speed to blade tip speed for all experiments in the range 0.01–0.25. In the axial plane, the same particle motion was observed around each blade; this provides a significant advance for modelling flow in ploughshare mixers. For the future, a detailed understanding of the local velocity, acceleration and density variations around a plough blade will reveal the effects of flow patterns in granulating systems on the resultant distribution of granular product attributes such as size, density and strength.     

Isoprenoids: Remarkable diversity of form and function

The isoprenoid biosynthetic pathway is the source of a wide array of products. The pathway has been highly conserved throughout evolution, and isoprenoids are some of the most ancient biomolecules ever identified, playing key roles in many life forms. In this review we focus on C-10 mono-, C-15 sesqui-, and C-20 diterpenes. Evidence for interconversion between the pathway intermediates farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranly pyrophosphate and their respective metabolites is examined. The diverse functions of these molecules are discussed in detail, including their ability to regulate expression of the β-HMG-CoA reductase and Ras-related proteins. Additional topics include the mechanisms underlying the apoptotic effects of select isoprenoids, antiulcer activities, and the disposition and degradation of isoprenoids in the environment. Finally, the significance of pharmacological manipulation of the isoprenoid pathway and clinical correlations are discussed.     

Identification of Two Sex Pheromone Components of the Potato Aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas)

Females of the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae exhibit typical calling behavior, with virgin female oviparae raising their back legs off the substrate to release sex pheromone from glands on the tibia. Airborne collections from calling oviparae were analyzed by GC and GC-MS to determine if, like the majority of aphids examined to date, they produced (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactol (1) and (4aS,7S,7aR)-nepetalactone (2). Both components were present and produced in ratios that varied with age from 4:1 to 2:1. The relative stereochemical configurations of these components were determined by GC-coinjection of the aphid-derived sample with synthetic standards on both HP-1 and DB-Wax GC columns. The absolute stereochemical configuration of the nepetalactol (determined from approximately 15 microg of material in an air entrainment sample) was determined as (1R,4aS,7S,7aR)-1 by derivatization of the aphid sample with (S)-(+)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-(trifluoromethyl)phenylacetyl chloride (Mosher's acid chloride) to generate a diastereoisomer that was compared to synthetic samples by NMR spectroscopy and GC. In bioassays in the wind tunnel, M. euphorbiae males responded to potato plants with oviparae but not to unattacked plants or those infested with parthenogenetically reproducing apterae. In no-choice laboratory bioassays, the same level of male response was observed to virgins and to the 3:1-5:1 synthetic blends of nepetalactol (1):nepetalactone (2). However, the time taken to reach the source was significantly less to virgin females than to the synthetic pheromone blends. In all cases, males walked rather than flew to the source. Males showed lower responses to a 1:1 synthetic mixture and did not respond to either of the components when presented alone. Under field conditions, few M. euphorbiae males were captured in traps baited with different ratios of the synthetic pheromone. Possible reasons for the different responses under laboratory and field conditions are discussed.     

Metal recovery from jarosite waste – A resin screening study

Work has been carried out screening hydrometallurgical resins for application in the valorization of industrially produced jarosite. Of the seven resins tested, anion exchange resins performed poorly for valuable metal recovery. Purolite S950+ and S957, along with a strong acid resin, show good extraction properties, but are selective for Fe³⁺ over the other (divalent) metals. Purolite S930+ (iminodiacetic acid-functionalized resin) demonstrates selectivity for Cu²⁺ over Fe³⁺, but poor selectivity for Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, and Co²⁺. Dowex M4195 (bispicolylamine-functionalized resin) demonstrates promise for extracting metals of value away from a mixed metal pregnant liquor solution (PLS). A three-stage column-based recovery process is proposed for jarosite leachate treatment.     

Laboratory measurements of light scattering properties of kaolinite dust at 532 nm

Light scattering by kaolinite dust samples at 532 nm is studied using a newly developed laboratory apparatus. During the experiments, dust samples are suspended in water, aerosolized by a nebulizer, and then injected into the scattering zone, with or without going through a diffusion drier, to generate either dried dust particles or water droplets with dust inclusions. The light source is a dual wavelength (532 and 1064 nm) diode-pumped solid state laser. Light scattered by an ensemble of particles is collected by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, which is mounted on the rotating arm of a stepper motor. The stepper motor rotates the CCD to cover the scattering angle range from 3° to 177°. Polarized scattering light is measured for the horizontally and vertically polarized incident light. The apparatus is calibrated, using pure water droplets as the scattering media. The response function with respect to the scattering angle is obtained by comparing the measurements with Lorenz–Mie calculations and then used in the later data analysis. Measurements show that the backward scattering features of the water droplets are smoothened due to their dust inclusions. Numerical simulations and measurements are extensively compared and discussed. It is found that the Lorenz–Mie theory is inadequate to reproduce the scattering phase functions of either dust particles or water droplets with dust inclusions. A nonspherical aggregate model is applied to simulate the scattering phase functions. The simulation is able to reproduce the overall scattering features; however, substantial discrepancies still exist due to uncertainties in particle shape and refractive index.

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