Volatile constituents of roasted tigernut oil (Cyperus esculentus L.)

BACKGROUND: Volatile compounds play a key role in determining the sensory appreciation of vegetable oils. In this study a systematic evaluation of odorants responsible for the characteristic flavour of roasted tigernut oil was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 75 odour‐active volatiles were identified. From these, 13 aroma compounds showing high flavour dilution factors in the range of 16 to 128 were quantified by their odour activity values (OAVs). On the basis of high OAVs in oil, the following aroma compounds [vanillin (chocolate, sweet vanilla), 5‐ethylfurfural (caramel, spicy), 2,3‐dihydro‐3,5‐dihydroxy‐6‐methyl‐4H‐pyran‐4‐one (caramel), phenyl acetaldehyde (honey‐like), ethanone, 1‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl) (faint vanilla)] were elucidated as important contributors to the overall chocolate, sweet vanilla, butterscotch aroma of the oil. CONCLUSION: Odorants with high concentrations in the roasted tigernut oil such as 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural, ethyl hexadecanoate, n‐propyl‐9,12‐octadecadienoate gave relatively low OAVs, so their contributions to the overall orthonasal aroma impression of roasted tigernut oil can be assumed to be low. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

The effect of pH on bioremediation potential for the removal of direct violet textile dye by Aspergillus niger

Alkaline and acidic media have been used in the textile dye industry, depending on the fabric nature. The bioremoval of textile direct violet dye by Aspergillus niger fungal strain was studied. The effect of pH on dye bioremoval was investigated at a pH range from 2 to 11. The direct violet dye bioremoval reached maximum with 92.4%, 64.0%, 91.4%, and 62.3 % at pH values of 2, 3, 8, and 9, respectively, at 24 h of incubation. The percentages of removal rate after 72 h incubation were 98.9, 97.3, 94.0, 95.0, 97.0, and 97.3 at pH 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, respectively. The optimum pH values were 2, 3, 8, and 9 for direct dye removal. At the end of the experiments, the treatment with fungal strain could reduce COD value of synthetic dye solution by 76-91%. Pseudo first and second order kinetic models were applied to evaluate differences in the biosorption rates and uptakes of textile dye. Pre-equilibrium biosorption of direct violet dye onto fungus under different dye concentrations followed a pseudo second order kinetic model with a high degree of correlation coefficients (R² > 0.99), and the calculated values of q_e nearly matched the experimental values of textile dye during the biotreatment process.     

Stabilization of alumina with polyelectrolyte and comb copolymer in solvent mixtures of water and alcohols

Solvent mixtures of water and ethanol and water and isopropanol have been evaluated for processing of concentrated alumina suspensions. The addition of alcohols may increase the long-term stability of suspensions with soluble ceramic species such as magnesia, which is added as a sintering aid. A poly(acrylic acid) and a hydrophilic comb copolymer were used as dispersants for the different solvent mixtures. The aim was to compare the stabilization efficiency at normal processing conditions, pH 9–10, through rheological measurements and to develop a robust system including magnesia with long-term stability. The electrostatic stabilization of the dispersants in the different solvent mixtures was studied by zeta potential measurements. Highly negative zeta potentials were observed for the poly(acrylic acid) at pH 9–10 in the solvent mixtures. A charge contribution was also seen from the adsorbed comb copolymer, however smaller than for the poly(acrylic acid). Low viscosity was obtained for suspensions stabilized with poly(acrylic acid) in solvent mixtures with either 25 vol% ethanol or isopropanol. Higher alcohol to water ratio led to flocculation of the suspension when poly(acrylic acid) was used as dispersant. Alumina suspensions with added magnesia in isopropanol:water 25:75 and poly(acrylic acid) as dispersant showed long-term stability. The viscosity remained almost constant during 4 days of aging. Suspensions stabilized with the comb copolymer dispersant gave stable systems with ethanol and isopropanol concentrations between 25 and 75 vol%. The superior dispersing efficiency of the comb copolymer at alcohol contents above 25 vol% was believed to originate from steric stabilization in combination with low effective particle size, giving low viscosity through lower apparent solid contents of the suspension.     

Photodegradation of DMMP and CEES on zirconium doped titania nanoparticles

The structure and photocatalytic activity of Zr doped TiO₂ nanocrystallites with a varying Zr content between 0 and 15 wt% prepared by an efficient and environmentally benign method has been studied by vibrational spectroscopy, TEM and XRD. It is shown that the presence of Zr⁴⁺ ions stabilizes the anatase structure and delays phase transformation to rutile upon annealing as well as retarding grain coarsening. All TiO₂ samples up to 13 wt% Zr doping concentration show better or similar photoreactivity compared to P25 (Degussa) for decomposition of adsorbed 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulphide (CEES) and dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) in synthetic air at room temperature. The most efficient sample for photodegradation of both CEES and DMMP is shown to be titania doped with 6.8 wt% Zr. The photodegradation of CEES is faster than DMMP under the same experimental conditions. On the undoped TiO₂ sample urea residues are detected spectroscopically. Much less is detected on the Zr doped samples. Mode resolved in situ FTIR surface spectroscopy enables distinction of CEES or DMMP, decomposition products as well as the influence of residues from the particle synthesis. This facilitates extraction of intra-comparable reaction rates. Possible explanations for the improved reactivity of the Zr doped titania are discussed.     

Synthesis of Bisindolylmethanes and Their Cytotoxicity Properties

Polymer supported dichlorophosphate (PEG-OPOCl₂) is an efficient green catalyst for the electrophilic substitution reaction of indole with aromatic aldehydes, in neat condition, to afford an excellent yield of bis(indolyl) methanes with short reaction time, at room temperature. The synthesized compounds and their anti-cancer activity are evaluated.     

Fractionation and concentration of kraft black liquor lignin with ultrafiltration

Kraft black liquor lignin is a biofuel that is separated from the cellulose during kraft pulping. Improved technology and energy integration in paper mills have led to an energy surplus at many mills. It is therefore of great interest to extract the lignin from the pulp mill and sell it as fuel to replace fossil fuel in other furnaces. The fractionation of kraft black liquor with a total dry matter content of about 15 wt% has been studied using ultrafiltration. The flux for three polymeric membranes with different cut-offs was investigated as well as their retention of lignin and other process specific substances. The retention of lignin for the three membranes with cut-offs of 4,8 and 20 kDa was 80%, 67% and 45%, respectively. The retention of sulphur and sodium was zero for all three membranes. The purity of the final lignin fuel is of importances as the ash content preferably should be as low as possible. The flux and retention during concentration and diafiltration of the black liquor were therefore studied. The dialfiltration operation was conducted in batch and semicontinuous mode. The lignin purity was 36% in the original kraft black liquor and 78% after semi-continuous dialfiltration.     

Coping style and social support in women suffering from cluster headache or migraine

BACKGROUND: Many clinical neurologists have considered cluster headache patients to differ from migraine patients as to behavioral patterns. There is, however, little empirical validation of such a differentiation. METHODS: Coping profiles and social networks were studied in patients suffering from two kinds of recurrent headache. Twenty-four female patients with cluster headache, aged 23-72 years, and 24 age-matched migraine patients with and without aura participated in the study. All female cluster patients treated at the neurologic clinic of the hospital were included, and consecutive outpatients, who had been referred to the policlinics for diagnosis and treatment, whose symptoms agreed with the IHS criteria for migraine and who had ages matching the cluster headache patients, participated in the study. RESULTS: In the semiprojective coping tests the cluster headache patients were found to be statistically significant more 'positive' as to their anticipated activities in the future compared to the migraine patients (p < 0.04). No other statistical differences were found between the two groups. Compared to randomly selected and age-matched referents in the population. cluster headache patients reported significantly poorer social support (p < 0.01), while no other difference was found when the migraine patients were compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that there are differences in perception of anticipated activities and social support between patients with cluster headache and migraine.     

Effects of dietary protein on teratogenicity of polyphenols obtained from the outer coat of the fruit of Treculia africana

The teratogenic effects of a single subcutaneous dose of 2.5 mg kg⁻¹ polyphenol given on day 6 of gestation were compared in weanling rats fed 5% protein for 4 weeks followed by normal protein diet (referred to as 5% normal protein diet) for the remainder of the experimental period (I), rats maintained on 10% protein diet (II), and rats on a normal protein diet throughout (III). These different diets are based on total dietary concentration of protein. Twenty-two percent of the rats fed 10% protein diet failed to mate while 39% failure of fertilization was observed. In rats fed 5% normal protein diets, the fertilization rate was 100%. Treatment with polyphenol obtained from the outer coat of the fruit of T. africana resulted in significant depression of fetal body weights in rats fed 5% normal protein diet and in rats maintained on normal protein diet throughout. Significant numbers of malformations (gross and skeletal) occurred in all the treated groups. Rats on a 5% normal protein diet and rats on the normal diet yielded a significant number of fetuses with internal soft tissue anomalies. The highest incidence of skeletal malformations occurred in polyphenol-treated rats maintained on 10% protein diet throughout the experiment. Complete rehabilitation took place by replacement of low protein diet with normal protein diet.     

Life cycle assessment of fuels for district heating: A comparison of waste incineration,biomass- and natural gas combustion

The aim of this consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) is to compare district heating based on waste incineration with combustion of biomass or natural gas. The study comprises two options for energy recovery (combined heat and power (CHP) or heat only), two alternatives for external, marginal electricity generation (fossil lean or intense), and two alternatives for the alternative waste management (landfill disposal or material recovery). A secondary objective was to test a combination of dynamic energy system modelling and LCA by combining the concept of complex marginal electricity production in a static, environmental systems analysis. Furthermore, we wanted to increase the methodological knowledge about how waste can be environmentally compared to other fuels in district-heat production. The results indicate that combustion of biofuel in a CHP is environmentally favourable and robust with respect to the avoided type of electricity and waste management. Waste incineration is often (but not always) the preferable choice when incineration substitutes landfill disposal of waste. It is however, never the best choice (and often the worst) when incineration substitutes recycling. A natural gas fired CHP is an alternative of interest if marginal electricity has a high fossil content. However, if the marginal electricity is mainly based on non-fossil sources, natural gas is in general worse than biofuels.     

On the thermal oxidation kinetics of two metallic glasses

The oxidation kinetics of two metallic glasses have been studied by ellipsometry and Auger Electron spectroscopy. The presence of chromium in Fe-based alloys has a marked influence on the corrosion film formed and on the kinetics of film formation. The chromium-free alloy shows piecemeal parabolic oxide growth; this is transformed into a logarithmic growth law for the chromium concentration studied. The influence of moisture on the kinetics of film formation has also been studied.