Drying Characteristics and Quality Parameters of Microwave-Dried Grated Carrots

The effectiveness of various microwave-convective drying treatments was compared with convective drying to determine the most favourable treatments in terms of drying kinetics, specific energy consumption and dried product quality of grated carrots. The quality of the dried products differed among drying treatments depending on the microwave power level, pulse ratio and drying temperature. The intermittent microwave-convective drying at ambient temperature with a pulse ratio of 3.0 at 2.23 W?g^?1 provided considerable savings in drying time and specific energy consumption when compared to convective drying and produced high-quality product with better physical (colour and texture) and sensory attributes for carrots. The intermittent microwave-convective drying conducted at lower drying temperature with relatively long power-off time resulted in a more stable and gentle drying process and could be preferred to produce high-quality products.     

Antibacterial activities and total phenolic contents of grape pomace extracts

The aim of this study was to determine the total phenolic contents and antibacterial effects of grape pomace extracts (cultivars Emir and Kalecik karasi) against 14 bacteria, and the effects of the extracts on the growth and survival of two of the bacteria during storage. The total phenolic contents of grape pomace of Emir and Kalecik karasi cultivars extracted with acetone/water/acetic acid (90:9.5:0.5) were 68.77 and 96.25 mg GAE g^?1, respectively. The agar well diffusion method was used to test the antibacterial activity of the extracts at 1, 2.5, 5, 10 and 20% (w/v) concentrations in methanol on spoilage and pathogenic bacteria including Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7. Mycobacterium smegmatis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica. All the bacteria tested were inhibited by extract concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20%, except for Y enterocolitica which was not inhibited by the 2.5% concentration. However, pomace extracts at 1% concentration had no antibacterial activity against some of the bacteria. According to the agar well diffusion method, E coli O157:H7 was the most sensitive of the bacteria. Generally, using the serial dilution method, while the extracts at 0.5% concentration had bacteriostatic activities on E coli O157:H7 and S aureus, the extracts appeared to have bactericidal effects at 1 and 2.5% concentrations. In accordance with this method, S aureus was more sensitive than E coli O157:H7 to the extracts. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

Detection of Konjac glucomannan by immunoassay

Konjac glucomannan is a hydrocolloid that has been used in food applications. The European ban on the use of Konjac glucomannan means that the detection and analysis has potential applications in the food industry, particularly detection of food adulteration. The aim of this work was to develop an assay capable of detecting Konjac glucomannan as an isolated sample and within food matrices. An indirect competitive ELISA was developed utilising a polyclonal antibody raised against Konjac glucomannan. The ELISA was found to be specific for Konjac glucomannan and sensitive, with a detection limit of 0.1 ng mL^?1. Increasing salt concentration and freeze/thaw cycles did not affect the performance of the assay. The ELISA was able to detect Konjac glucomannan in admixtures with other gums and also in confectionery that had been spiked with Konjac glucomannan. The ELISA has potential as a kit for the differentiation of Konjac glucomannan from other hydrocolloids and detection in food.     

Electrocatalytic oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution reactions on phthalocyanine modified electrodes: Electrochemical, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ electrocolorimetric monitoring

This study describes electrochemical, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ electrocolorimetric monitoring of the electrocatalytic reduction of molecular oxygen and hydronium ion on the phthalocyanine-modified electrodes. For this purpose, electrochemical and in situ spectroelectrochemical characterizations of the metallophthalocyanines (MPc) bearing tetrakis-[4-((4′-trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenoxy] groups were performed. While CoPc gives both metal-based and ring-based redox processes, H₂Pc, ZnPc and CuPc show only ring-based electron transfer processes. In situ electrocolorimetric method was applied to investigate the color of the electrogenerated anionic and cationic forms of the complexes. The presence of O₂ in the electrolyte system influences both oxygen reduction reaction and the electrochemical and spectral behaviors of the complexes, which indicate electrocatalytic activity of the complexes for the oxygen reduction reaction. Perchloric acid titrations monitored by voltammetry represent possible electrocatalytic activities of the complexes for hydrogen evolution reaction. CoPc and CuPc coated on a glassy carbon electrode decrease the overpotential of the working electrode for H⁺ reduction. The nature of the metal center changes the electrocatalytic activities for hydrogen evolution reaction in aqueous solution. Although CuPc has an inactive metal center, its electrocatalytic activity is recorded more than CoPc for H⁺ reduction in aqueous solution.     

Synthesis,characterization, biological activity,and thermal stability of new styrenic polymer having pendant ketone and its some derivatives

A new type of styrene monomer, 1‐{4‐[(4‐vinylbenzyl)oxy]phenyl}ethanone (VBOPE), was synthesized. The oxime, phenylhydrazone, toluol‐4‐sulfonic acid hydrazone, and thiosemicarbazone (TSC) derivatives of VBOPE were prepared with hydroxylamine hydrochloride, phenylhydrazine, toluol‐4‐sulfonic acid hydrazine, and TSC hydrochloride, respectively. Radical homopolymerization of the monomers were prepared at 65°C in 1,4‐dioxane solution with benzoylperoxide as an initiator. The compounds was characterized with Fourier transform infrared and NMR techniques. The thermal properties of polymers were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The activation energies of the thermal degradation of the polymers were calculated with the Ozawa and Kissinger method. The antibacterial and antifungal effects of the monomer and the polymer and its derivatives were also investigated on various bacteria and fungi. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermal,mechanical, and morphological characterization studies of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) blends with polystyrene and brominated polystyrene

The miscibility of the binary and ternary blends of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide), brominated polystyrene, and polystyrene was investigated using a differential scanning calorimeter. The morphology of these blends was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. These studies revealed a close relation between the blend structure and its mechanical properties. The compatibilizing effect of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) on the miscibility of the polystyrene/brominated polystyrene blends was examined. It was found that poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide), which was miscible with polystyrene and partially miscible with brominated polystyrene, compatibilizes these two immiscible polymers if its contention exceeds 33 wt %. Upon the addition of poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) to the immiscible blends of polystyrene/brominated polystyrene, we observed a change in the morphology of the mixtures. An improvement in the mechanical properties was noticed. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 225–231, 2000     

Effects of NCO/OH Ratio and Reactive Diluent Type on the Adhesion Strength of Polyurethane Methacrylates for Cord/Rubber Composites

A series of dual curable polyurethane methacrylate-based oligomers were synthesized by changing the NCO:OH ratio and then were included in adhesive formulations using trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and tricyclodecane dimethanol diacrylate (TCDDA) as reactive diluents. The effects of NCO:OH ratio and reactive diluent type on the structural properties of UV-cured free films and adhesion properties between polyester cord/rubber surfaces were studied. The highest adhesion strength of the 103?N?cm^?1 was obtained when the NCO:OH ratio was set as 4 and the TCDDA was used as a reactive diluent.     

Self-organization of nanometer periodic structures of clusters in solids

The formation of non-uniform spatial structures in irradiated solids (metals, semiconductors) is investigated, when the subsystem of nonequilibrium lattice defects (vacancies and interstitials) forms bonded states, nanoclusters. A set of kinetic equations is formulated which incorporates, (i) generation of point defects by radiation, (ii) their diffusion and recombination, (iii) mutual pairwise elastic interaction among defects, (iv) formation and growth of the nanoclusters of point defects, and (v) losses of the nanoclusters due to removal from the nucleation zone by diffusion. Linear stability analysis is used to show that, if the temperature (T) of medium is below a critical value (Ter), due to the elastic interaction the homogeneous distribution of point defects and their clusters becomes unstable, and a periodic structure of a nanometer scale arises. The criterion of self-organization of the clusters and the dependence of a super-lattice period on temperature of medium are determined analytically. The critical temperature for self-organization of periodic structures is governed by the dilatation volume of defects, by the potential energy of elastic interaction, and the concentration of defects. Estimations showed that the period of super-lattices may change in the range of (20-80) nm. Obtained results agree with the experimental data.