Extraction of lipids from Yarrowia Lipolytica

BACKGROUND: Microorganisms have often been considered for the production of oils and fats as an alternative to agricultural and animal resources. Extraction experiments were performed using a strain of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica (Y. lipolytica), a high‐lipid‐content yeast. Three different methods were tested: Soxhlet extraction, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCCO₂) extraction using ethanol as a co‐solvent. Also, high pressure solubility measurements in the systems ‘CO₂ + yeast oil’ and ‘CO₂ + ethanol + yeast oil’ were carried out. RESULTS: The solubility experiments determined that, at the conditions of the supercritical extractor (40 °C and 20 MPa), a maximum concentration of 10 mg of yeast oil per g of solvent can be expected in pure CO₂. 10% w/w of ethanol in the solvent mixture increased this value to almost 15 mg of yeast oil per g of solvent. Different pretreatments were necessary to obtain satisfactory yields in the extraction experiments. The Soxhlet and the ASE method were not able to complete the lipid extraction. The ‘SCCO₂ + ethanol’ extraction curves revealed the influence of the different pretreatments on the extraction mechanism. CONCLUSION: Evaluating the effectiveness of a given pretreatment, ASE reduced the amount of material and solvent used compared with Soxhlet. In all three cases, the best total extraction performance was obtained for the ethanol‐macerated yeast (EtM). Addition of ethanol to the solvent mixture enhanced the oil solubility. Oil can be extracted from Y. lipolytica in two different steps: a non‐selective ethanol extraction followed by TAG‐selective SCCO₂ purification. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simulations of vapor–liquid phase equilibrium and interfacial tension in the CO2–H2O–NaCl system

Direct interfacial molecular dynamics simulations are used to obtain the phase behavior and interfacial tension of CO₂–H₂O–NaCl mixtures over a broad temperature and pressure range (50°C ≤ T ≤ 250°C, 0 ≤ P ≤ 600 bar) and NaCl concentrations (1–4 mol/kg H₂O). The predictive ability of several existing water (SPC and TIP4P2005), carbon dioxide (EPM2 and TraPPE), and sodium chloride (SD and DRVH) models is studied and compared, using conventional Lorentz–Berthelot combining rules for the unlike‐pair parameters. Under conditions of moderate NaCl molality (～1 mol/kg H₂O), the predictions of the CO₂ solubility in the water‐rich and CO₂‐rich phase resemble those in the CO₂–H₂O system [Liu et al., J Phys Chem B. 2011;115:6629–6635]. Consistent with our previous work, the TraPPE/TIP4P2005 model combination gives the best overall performance in predicting coexistence composition and pressure in the water‐rich phase. Critical assessments are also made on the ranges of temperature and pressure where particular model combinations work better. The dependence of the interfacial tension on temperature and pressure is better predicted by the TraPPE/TIP4P2005 and EPM2/SPC models, whereas the EPM2/TIP4P2005 model overestimates this property by 10–20%, possibly due to the inadequacy of the combining rules. It is also found that the interfacial tension increases with salt concentration, consistent with experimental observations. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 3514–3522, 2013     

Melatonin May Curtail the Metabolic Syndrome: Studies on Initial and Fully Established Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats

To examine the effect of melatonin given to rats simultaneously with fructose on initial and fully developed metabolic syndrome, male Wistar rats had free access to chow and 5% or 10% fructose drinking solution for 8 weeks. As compared to controls, systolic blood pressure augmented significantly under both treatments whereas excessive body weight was seen in rats receiving the 10% fructose only. Rats drinking 5% fructose showed a greater tolerance to a glucose load while rats having access to a 10% fructose drinking solution exhibited the expected impaired glucose tolerance found in the metabolic syndrome. Circulating triglyceride and low density lipoproteins-cholesterol (LDL-c) concentration augmented significantly in rats showing a fully developed metabolic syndrome only, while high blood cholesterol levels were found at both stages examined. Melatonin (25 μg/mL drinking solution) counteracted the changes in body weight and systolic blood pressure found in rats administered with fructose. Melatonin decreased the abnormal hyperglycemia seen after a glucose load in 10% fructose-treated rats but it did not modify the greater tolerance to glucose observed in animals drinking 5% fructose. Melatonin also counteracted the changes in plasma LDL-c, triglyceride and cholesterol levels and decreased plasma uric acid levels. The results underline a possible therapeutical role of melatonin in the metabolic syndrome, both at initial and established phases.     

Variability of Phytosterols in Jatropha curcas Germplasm

Jatropha curcas L. has great potential for biofuel and phytosterol production. The objective of this research was to evaluate G × E variability for kernel phytosterol content and composition in Jatropha germplasm. Freshly matured seeds from 21 accessions grown in Málaga, Spain were collected at two stages of development. Significant genetic variation was detected for total kernel phytosterol content, which ranged from 2,246 to 2,883 mg kg^?1; and stigmasterol concentration, which ranged from 7.6 to 11.5 % of the total phytosterols. An accession with 9.2 % Δ⁵‐avenasterol was also identified. The coefficient of variation for kernel phytosterol content and stigmasterol concentration was 6.2 and 14.0 % respectively between accessions and 7.2 and 10.2 % respectively within accessions. Accordingly, evaluation of plant to plant variation is advisable. The existence of variability for kernel phytosterol content and composition in Jatropha will enable breeding for enhanced levels of these compounds.     

Catalysts to improve the abatement of sulfamethoxazole and the resulting organic carbon in water during ozonation

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), one pharmaceutical compound, has been treated in aqueous solutions with catalysts (copper and cobalt type perovskites and cobalt–alumina) and promoters (activated carbons). Hydrogen peroxide and saturated carboxylic acids were identified as intermediates. The effects of adsorption and pH have been investigated. Removal of the starting SMX accomplished with ozone alone is a fast process but catalytic or promoted ozonation is needed to significantly reduce the resulting organic carbon. SMX is, thus, mainly removed through direct ozone reaction while hydroxyl radical oxidation is the mechanism of removal the remaining TOC. The kinetics of the process has also been investigated. Perovskite catalytic ozonation resulted to be a chemical control process and apparent rate constants for homogeneous and heterogeneous ozonation were determined. For activated carbon ozonation, external diffusion of ozone to solid particles controlled the process rate.     

Fractal Extra-Framework Species in De-aluminated LaY Zeolites and Their Catalytic Activity

Lanthanum-containing Y (LaY) zeolites were prepared by ionic exchange from NaY parent zeolite. The LaY zeolites were de-aluminated by steaming. De-aluminated zeolites presented different Si/Al ratio. The physicochemical properties of these catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, pyridine and xenon adsorption, infrared spectroscopy and ²⁹Si, ²⁷Al, ¹²⁹Xe, ¹³⁹La solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Furthermore, a fractal geometry approach was adopted to describe the evolution in the texture as a consequence of de-alumination. The catalytic properties of materials were evaluated in the n-hexane cracking reaction. The catalyst with the highest catalytic activity was the zeolite highest de-aluminated (Si/Al ratio of 3.7). Such performance was attributed on the one hand, to active extra-framework aluminum species hosted in the large cavities of zeolites and, on the other hand to redistribution of lanthanum species into the zeolite as a consequence of de-alumination.     

MMP1 and MMP11 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells upon Their Interaction with Breast Cancer Cells and Fibroblasts

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells phenotype is associated with tumor progression. However, little is known about the phenotype of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from breast cancer patients. We investigated MMP1 and MMP11 expression in PBMC from breast cancer patients and we analyzed gene expression changes upon their interaction with cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). We measured the impact of PBMC on proinflammatory gene expression in breast cancer cells, normal fibroblast (NF), and CAF and the impact on proliferation and invasiveness capacity of breast cancer cells. Gene expression of MMP1 and MMP11 in PBMC from breast cancer patients (n = 54) and control (n = 28); expression of IL1A, IL6, IL17, IFNβ, and NFĸB in breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231); and, additionally, IL10 and MMP11 in CAF and NF were analyzed by qRT-PCR before and after co-culture. Our results show the existence of a subpopulation of breast cancer patients (25.9%) with very high levels of MMP11 gene expression in PBMC. Also, gene expression of MMP1 and MMP11 increases in PBMC after co-culture with breast cancer cell lines, NF or CAF. PBMC from healthy or breast cancer patients induce an increased proliferation rate on MCF-7 and an increased invasiveness capacity of MDA-MB-231. Finally, we show a differential expression profile of inflammatory genes in NF and CAF when co-cultured with control or breast cancer PBMC. We have observed that MMPs’ expression in PBMC is regulated by the microenvironment, while the expression of inflammatory genes in NF or CAF is differentially regulated by PBMC. These findings confirm the importance of the crosstalk between stromal cells and suggest that PBMC would play a role in promoting aggressive tumor behavior.