Supercritical CO2 extraction of essential oils and cuticular waxes from peppermint leaves

Essential oils and cuticular waxes were extracted from peppermint leaves with supercritical carbon dioxide in a semicontinuous-flow extractor. The effects of CO₂ flow rate and pressure on the extraction rate were studied within the flow rate range of (4·1–9·8) × 10⁻⁵ kg s⁻¹ and the pressure range of 10–30 MPa. Flow rate effect indicated that the intraparticle diffusion resistance was not dominant in this process. The extraction rate of cuticular waxes increased remarkably with the pressure, whereas that of essential oils was almost constant as compared with cuticular waxes. The concentration of cuticular waxes at the exit of the extractor was close to the solubility of triacontane while that of essential oils was much lower than the solubility of 1-menthol.     

Immobilization of alkaline phosphatase on magnetic particles by site-specific and covalent cross-linking catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase

Bacterial alkaline phosphatase (BAP) was site-specifically and covalently immobilized on magnetic particles (MPs) using the enzymatic reaction of microbial transglutaminase (MTG). Immobilization efficiency was affected by the chemical surface treatment of MPs and immobilized BAP exhibited more than 90% of the initial activity after 10 rounds of recycling.     

Detection of Leuconostoc strains at a meat processing plant using polymerase chain reaction

To simplify the labor-intensive conventional routine testing of samples to detect Leuconostoc at a meat processing plant, we developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific for Leuconostoc from 16S rRNA gene sequences. These primers did not detect other common lactic acid bacteria such as Lactobacillus plantarum, Lact. sake, Lact. fermentum, Lact. acidophilus and Weissella viridescens. PCR with this primer detected all Leuconostoc species tested (Leu. mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, Leu. pseudomesenteroides, Leu. carnosum, Leu. lactic, Leu. citreum, Leu. amelibiosum, Leu. gelidum), except for Leu. fallax, and no other lactic acid bacteria on agarose gel electrophoresis. The method could identify areas contaminated with Leuconostoc in a large-scale industrial meat processing plant. Of 69 samples analyzed, 34 were positive for Leuconostoc according to the conventional culture method (isolation of LAB producing dextran) and PCR, whereas 29 were negative according to both. Six samples were culture-negative but positive by PCR. No false negative results were generated by PCR. The method is rapid and simple, is useful for routinely monitoring areas contaminated with Leuconostoc in meat processing plants, and could help to prevent the spoilage of meat products.     

Determination of Ethyl Carbamate in Sake Using Headspace Solid Phase Microextraction

An analytical method for the determination of ethyl carbamate in alcoholic beverages has been developed and optimized. A combination of headspace solid phase microextraction (HS‐SPME), as the extraction technique, and GC/MS, as the determination technique, was utilized. Analytical grade ethyl carbamate dissolved in ethanol solution was analyzed to determine the optimum analytical conditions. Ethyl carbamate‐d₅ was added as an internal standard. The following HS‐SPME conditions were investigated: type of stationary phase of the fibre, ethanol content, sample volume and extraction time. The optimized procedure showed that the detection limit, relative standard deviation, and recovery were 6.7 μg/L, 0.4–2.0%, and 103.6–107.6%, respectively. The precision of this new method was equivalent to previous analyses. Finally, the developed method was applied to the analysis of ethyl carbamate in sake.     

Mass transfer and holdup in gas-liquid cocurrent flow packed beds containing water-repellent particles

Water-repellent particles were prepared by spraying polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) on activated carbon. Gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficient and holdup were determined in gas-liquid cocurrent upflow and downflow packed beds from the measurements of gas desorption and volume, respectively. As the PTFE loading increased, the gas-liquid volumetric mass transfer coefficients in both upflow and downflow modes were enhanced. Gas holdup in the upflow mode increased with the PTFE loading, while the dynamic liquid holdup in the downflow mode decreased. The enhancement of the mass transfer rate from gas to liquid can be explained by the effect of water-repellency on the surface of activated carbon.     

High-Temperature Active Oxidation of Chemically Vapor-Deposited Silicon Carbide in CO─CO2 Atmosphere

Active oxidation behavior of CVD-SiC in CO─CO₂ atmospheres was investigated using a thermogravimetric technique in the temperature range between 1823 and 1923 K. The gas pressure ratio, P _CO2/ P _CO, was controlled between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻¹ at 0.1 MPa. Active oxidation rates (mass loss rates) showed maxima at a certain value of P _CO2/ P _CO, ( P _CO2/ P _CO )^*, In a P _CO2/ P _CO region lower than the ( P _CO2/ P _CO)^* a carbon layer was formed on the SiC surface. In a P _CO2/ P _CO region higher than the ( P _CO2/ P _CO)^*, silica particles or a porous silica layer was observed on the SiC surface.     

Chemical‐Free Approach for Z‐Isomerization of Lycopene in Tomato Powder: Hot Air and Superheated Steam Heating above the Melting Point of Lycopene

Z‐isomers of lycopene exhibit higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity than those of the all‐E‐isomer. Therefore, it is important to develop an efficient and environmentally friendly procedure for Z‐isomerization. The current methods for Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene use toxic chemicals such as organic solvents and catalysts. This study is aimed to develop a chemical‐free method for Z‐isomerization of (all‐E)‐lycopene in tomato powder by hot air and superheated steam heating. The Z‐isomerization reaction is promoted by heating above the melting point of lycopene. When heated with superheated steam, the thermal decomposition of lycopene is suppressed compared to that when heated with hot air. When tomato powder is heated at 240 °C for 5 min by superheated steam, the total Z‐isomer content and remaining lycopene are 69.0% and 90.7%, respectively, while with hot air heating, the total Z‐isomer content and remaining lycopene are 69.9% and 68.0%, respectively. These results indicate that the thermal Z‐isomerization of lycopene occurs in the molten state and heating in a low oxygen atmosphere suppresses the thermal decomposition of lycopene. Practical Applications: Tomato powder rich in lycopene Z‐isomers is an important ingredient for the food and animal feed industries. Since Z‐isomers of lycopene are more soluble in solvents including ethanol which is a low‐toxicity and environmentally friendly solvent, the efficiency of lycopene extraction with ethanol can be improved by using the Z‐isomer‐rich tomato powder as a raw material. The obtained Z‐isomer‐rich extract has a high added value because the Z‐isomers have higher bioavailability and antioxidant capacity than those of the all‐E‐isomer. In addition, since lycopene Z‐isomers exhibit higher accumulation efficiency and better color improvement in hen egg yolks than those of the all‐E‐isomer, Z‐isomer‐rich tomato powder is an effective animal feed.     

High Intensity Operation at Naoshima Smelter

This paper describes the successful test operation of a 50 t/h concentrate feed rate (or on the anode copper basis 9000 tlm) with the Mitsubishi Process. Particular emphasis is given to the analyses of the furnace capacity by the measurement of flow pattern and oxygen potential. Smelting rate on the unit hearth area of the smelting furnace is now one-ton of concentrate/m²·h. The results of the analyses show the further potential of the furnace capacity of the process.     

Preliminary investigation of a vapor-open envelope tailored for subtropical climate

Concerning global warming and resource depletion, the impact of buildings in subtropical regions is becoming even greater due to a high growth rate of urbanized areas. From the viewpoint of building physics, the main problem concerning subtropical climate is the high level of humidity in combination with high temperature. In this study, a flexible building envelope consisting of wood and clay components was developed so that the materials and the assemblies can be easily tailored to comply with local climatic conditions. The movement and accumulation of moisture in the wall was of prime concern. This has been investigated by means of testing full scale walls in a climate chamber and the corresponding one dimensional transient heat and transfer simulation. In order to achieve a consistency between calculation and measurement, the individual materials were tested for their hygric and thermal properties. Based on these findings attempts were made to calculate the behavior of an optimized wall assembly under real climatic conditions of central Japan. As a result, it was shown that the hygrothermal behavior of the envelope is predictable by means of the models and the simulation program used, and that no risk of interstitial condensation and mold growth was predicted under the real climatic conditions of Kyoto.