Ternary Blends of Renewable Fast Pyrolysis Bio-Oil,Advanced Bioethanol,and Marine Gasoil as Potential Marine Biofuel

An alternative for reducing emissions from marine fuel is to blend bio-oil from lignocellulose non-edible feedstocks to diesel fossil fuels. Phase diagrams of the ternary systems were built to represent the transition from heterogeneous regions to homogeneous regions. Four homogeneous blends of bio-oil of eucalyptus-bioethanol-marine gasoil were experimentally characterized with respect to the most important fuel parameters for marine engines: water content, flash point, low heating value, viscosity, and acidity. Blends with closer properties to marine gasoil replacement, lower costs, and environmental impacts should be tested for large engines.     

On the Isolated Pentagon Rule: Could Fullerenes Exist Violating This Rule?

Abstract

Through a short review on pentalene chemistry, it is discussed the possibility to trap as organometallic complexes unstable fullerenes violating the isolated pentagons rule.     

Process optimisation and physicochemical characterisation of enzymatic hydrolysates of proteins from co‐products of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi)

The aim of this study was to develop an enzymatic hydrolysis process of protein co‐products for two major commercial fish species in Australia: Atlantic salmon (AS) and Yellowtail kingfish (YTK). The outcomes are to produce high protein recovery of fish protein hydrolysates within controlled molecular weight ranges that display enhanced physicochemical properties of oil binding and emulsification. Three enzymes (Flavourzyme, Neutrase and Alcalase) were applied to processing co‐products. Protein recovery and physicochemical properties were evaluated with increasing hydrolysis time from 30 min to 180 min and ratio of enzyme to substrate (E/S) from 0.5% to 3.0%. In order to achieve a product with optimum emulsifying capacity (50 ± 0.6 m² g^?1), an E/S ratio of 0.6–1.3% Flavourzyme was applied for 30–111 min with a protein recovery of 55%; in order to achieve a product with optimum oil‐binding capacity (8.3 ± 0.3 g oil g hydrolysates^?1), an E/S ratio of 2.3–3.0% Flavourzyme was applied for 25–64 min with a protein recovery of 70%. YTK protein hydrolysates were further membrane‐fractionated into five fractions (>100 kDa, 50–100 kDa, 30–50 kDa, 10–30 kDa and <10 kDa), and of these, the 10–30 kDa exhibited the best properties of oil binding (19 ± 0.3 g oil g hydrolysates^?1) and emulsification (57 ± 0.7 m² g^?1). These results demonstrate the importance of enzymatic hydrolysis of seafood co‐products into high‐value ingredients for food products and processing.     

Conductivity of Nafion 117 membrane used in polymer electrolyte fuel cells

The membrane electric transport (MC) directly influences the performance of the polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEMFC). The membrane conductivity is determined by a number of parameters such as: hydration technique, graphite cell geometry and pressure applied when the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is joined. In addition, the membrane conductivity might be influenced by the electrode position due to the possibility of anisotropic electric conductivity.     

Effect of muscle and intensity of finishing diet on meat quality of foals slaughtered at 15 months

The effect of muscle and intensity of finishing diet on meat quality of foals slaughtered at 15 months was study. For this work, a total of twenty one foals and six muscles: longissimus dorsi (LD), semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), biceps femoris (BF), triceps brachii (TB) and Psoas major & minor (PM) from two different intensities of finishing diet (1.5 vs. 3 kg/day) were analysed.     

Growth performance,carcass and meat quality of the Celta pig crossbred with Duroc and Landrance genotypes

The Celta pig is a native breed adapted to the north of Spain and extensive production system. The objective was to study the effects of sex and crossbreeding on carcass characteristics and meat quality. Samples were taken from longissimus dorsi muscle of 52 pigs of three different groups [Celta pure breed (C), Celta crossed with Landrace (C × L) and Celta crossed with Duroc (C × D)].     

On the sensitivity of reactive tabu search to its meta-parameters

In this paper, we assess the sensitivity of reactive tabu search to its meta-parameters. Based on a thorough experimental analysis of reactive tabu search applications to the quadratic assignment and the maximum clique problem, we show that its performance is relatively insensitive to its meta-parameters. This is particularly evident when compared to the sensitivity of tabu search to its parameters: tabu search is rather penalized if used with sub-optimal parameter settings. Reactive tabu search does not strongly pay its high parameter robustness in terms of performance, although it does not improve the peak performance of tabu search.     

Optimisation of the peracetic acid washing disinfection of fresh‐cut strawberries based on microbial load reduction and bioactive compounds retention

Total microbial count reduction (TMR), total anthocyanins (TAR), and ascorbic acid retention (AAR) after the operation at different PAA concentrations (0–100 mg L^?1), contact times (10–120 s), and temperatures (4–40°C) were used for multiple optimisation using Derringer′s desirability function. Two optimization scenarios (OP 1 and OP 2) were studied. OP 1 was proposed with the goal to maximize TMR with 90% TAR and AAR; and OP 2 maximizing TAR and AAR with TMR of 2 log UFC g^?1. The optimized variable levels obtained were the following: 100 mg L^?1 PAA, 24 °C and 50 s for OP 1 and 20 mg L^?1 PAA, 18 °C and 52 s for OP 2. Additional validation experiments showed agreement between predicted and experimental results. OP 2 conditions are recommended to fresh‐cut strawberries washing disinfection because of an acceptable TMR, higher TAR and AAR, better sensory attributes, and the economic convenience of lesser PAA consumption.     

Antioxidant activity of phenolic and phenylethanoid glycosides from Teucrium polium L

In the present study, the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae) were assessed. Fractionation of methanol extract obtained from the aerial parts of T. polium yielded one new phenylethanoid glycoside, named poliumoside B, together with four known flavonoids, two iridoid glycosides and a known poliumoside. The structures of all of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data from 1D and 2D NMR experiments and MS spectral analyses. The antioxidant activities of the crude extracts and of the isolated compounds were evaluated through tests such as DPPH radical-scavenging capability, reducing power, xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect and inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. The highest antioxidant activity was found in the n-butanol extract, which also contained active polyphenols, thus suggesting that this plant could be used as a source of natural molecules, to provide safe antioxidant additives and nutraceuticals. The structure–activity relationships of the isolated compounds are also discussed.     

Characterization of laser energy consumption in sintering of polymer based powders

This paper presents an analysis of Laser Sintering (LS) process from an energy standpoint. LS has a potential as an environmental benign alternative to traditional processes but only few authors deal with the process optimization including the energy aspects. This work evaluates the effect of the energy density in processing of two polymeric materials: polyamide powder and a phenolic resin coated sand. The different behaviour of the two materials is studied by analysing the geometrical features (depth and width) of linear sintered structures. In particular the volumetric productivity and the energy intensity of the process are calculated to characterize the sintering process.It is shown how an upper limit to the energy consumption can be remarked. Measurements reveal that within the energy density range of 0.02-0.1 J/mm² the whole energy input is useful for the agglomeration process. The use of higher energy density produces different results for both the cases analysed. A proper selection of energy density maintains the energy requirement below the level of 10⁶ J/kg which is considered a lower limit for manufacturing process.