Effect of pulsed ultrasound treatment compared to continuous mode on microbiological and quality of Mirabelle plum during postharvest storage

The effects of pulsed and continuous ultrasound treatment on microbiological and physiological quality of Mirabelle plum fruit were investigated. Freshly harvested Mirabelle plum was treated with 30‐kHz pulsed and continuous ultrasound at 20 °C for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min and subsequently stored at 4 °C for 10 days. The total count of bacteria, total fungi, decay index, titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), colour, texture, ascorbic acid content and total phenolics was measured. The results showed that pulsed and continuous ultrasonic treatment significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the number of microorganisms and improved the quality of Mirabelle plums during storage. Increasing pretreatment time enhanced the positive effects of pulsed and continuous ultrasound. Also, in terms of the total count of bacteria, total fungi, titratable acidity and total phenolics, the pulsed and continuous ultrasound did not show a significant difference (P < 0.05). However, pulsed ultrasound was better compared to continuous mode in preservation of TSS, colour, texture and ascorbic acid content of the fruit during storage. Our results demonstrated that pulsed ultrasound is an appropriate method for improving safety and maintaining the quality of Mirabelle plum fruit.     

The efficiency and comparison of novel techniques for cell wall disruption in astaxanthin extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis

The efficiency of various techniques pulsed electric field (PEF), ultrasound (US), high‐pressure microfluidisation (HPMF), hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ionic liquids (ILs) for cell wall disruption in astaxanthin extraction from Haematococcus pluvialis was compared. The results indicated that ILs, HCl and HPMF treatment were shown the most efficient for cell disruption with more than 80% astaxanthin recovery. While the cell wall integrity of H. pluvialis cyst cell was less affected by US and PEF treatment. It was found that imidazolium‐based ILs showed the greater potential for cell disruption than pyridinium‐based and ammonium‐based ILs. Among all the ILs examined, 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim] Cl) exhibited efficient cell disruption and capability of astaxanthin recovery at mild condition (pretreatment with 40% IL aqueous solution at 40 °C, followed by extraction with methanol at 50 °C) without extensive energy consumption and special facility requirement. In addition, recyclability of ILs was excellent.     

Hybrid sonochemic urea-nitrate combustion preparation of CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 nanocatalyst used in fuel cell-grade hydrogen production from methanol: Effect of sonication and fuel/nitrate ratio

Fuel cell-grade hydrogen production has been studied via steam reforming of methanol (SRM) over a series of CuO/ZnO/Al₂O₃ nanocatalysts fabricated by the combustion method. The effect of sonication and urea/nitrate ratio on the characteristics and catalytic properties of the prepared catalysts has been investigated. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Particle Size Distribution (PSD), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and FTIR analyses XRD patterns showed positive influence of urea/nitrate ratio on CuO and ZnO crystallite sizes. The ultrasonic mixing of primary gel compared with conventional mixing led to lower crystallite size. FESEM images showed that the sample mixed by sonication with a urea/nitrate ratio of 1 had more homogeneous morphology with narrow particle size distribution. EDX results proved the presence of all metals on the surface of the nanocatalysts and better consistence between the gel and surface composition of elements in samples prepared by sonication. Catalytic performance showed that sonication during the mixing of primary gel dramatically increased the methanol conversion. It was also proved that increasing the amount of urea led to lower catalytic activity. The ultrasound-treated nanocatalyst with urea/nitrate?=?1 was the best sample in terms of activity and selectivity. It was stable in the SRM for 1200?min without considerable change in methanol conversion and product selectivity.     

聚能式逆流超声强化制备脂肪酸乙酯工艺研究

以大豆油脱臭馏出物为原料,通过聚能式逆流超声强化与乙醇反应制备脂肪酸乙酯。分析醇油体积比、反应温度、超声功率、催化剂用量和反应时间对脂肪酸乙酯转化率、得率、含量和生物柴油转化率的影响。通过正交实验优化得到:脂肪酸乙酯转化率最优工艺条件为醇油体积比20∶1,反应温度35℃,超声功率300 W,催化剂用量1.6%,反应时间30 min;脂肪酸乙酯得率最优工艺条件为醇油体积比30∶1,反应温度40℃,超声功率600 W,催化剂用量1%,反应时间30 min;脂肪酸乙酯含量最优工艺条件为醇油体积比20∶1,反应温度40℃,超声功率600 W,催化剂用量1%,反应时间60 min;生物柴油转化率最优工艺条件为醇油体积比25∶1,反应温度35℃,超声功率500 W,催化剂用量1%,反应时间30 min。     

The effects of ozone,ultrasound and coating with shellac and lysozyme–chitosan on fresh egg during storage at ambient temperature – part 1: interior quality changes

The objective of this research was to investigate and compare the effect of different treatments including gaseous ozone (6-ppm/4-min), ultrasound (450 W/4 min) and coating of shellac, lysozyme–chitosan (L-C) on fresh eggs internal quality during storage for six weeks at ambient temperature. The internal quality attributes such as weight loss (WL), albumen viscosity, Haugh unit (HU), yolk index, total soluble solids, albumen and yolk's pH were monitored. Control groups had the worst HU (50.04), WL (8.35%), albumen pH (9.27) and viscosity (7.72 mPa·s) values after storage. The best interior qualities were obtained by shellac coating [HU (72.37), WL (1.37) and viscosity (30.10 mPa·s)] and sonication (albumen pH: 8.22). Thus, the shellac-coated eggs maintained all the internal quality parameters at the highest values, while the ozone and ultrasound only helped to keep the internal quality and enhance the shelf life of eggs.     

Combined application of electrolysed water and ultrasound to improve the sanitation of knives in the meat industry

This study investigated the effect of the combination of basic electrolysed water (BEW) and slightly acid electrolysed water (SAEW) with ultrasound (US) for cleaning and sanitation of the knives used in slaughtering processes. The knives were sonicated in a US bath using two modes of operation (normal and sweep) in two steps: (i) 5 min with BEW and (ii) 10 min with SAEW at 35 °C. The microbiological counts and the possible changes in the physical structure of the knives were evaluated. The association BEW + SAEW + US, in the sweep mode, provided lower mesophilic, enterobacterial, Staphylococcus aureus and yeast counts when compared to the values recommended by the international legislation. In addition, these conditions removed all organic residues from the knife blades and promoted the highest migration rate of the residues to the US water bath (12.35 mg/L·min), without modifications in the knife blades. Thus, cleaning and sanitation of knives was feasible with the association of BEW + SAEW + US, which could be a useful alternative for the meat industry.     

Fermentation of Chortan (heated strained yoghurt) by Lactobacillus helveticus: sonication treatment and biological activities

In the present study, the effects of continuous and pulsed ultrasound (100 W, 30 kHz, 25–75% amplitudes for 30 min) and fermentation process (37°C for 24 h) by Lactobacillus helveticus PTCC 1332 on biological activities of Chortan were investigated. The obtained results showed that fermentation enhanced protease content (36.27% (neutral), 37.57% (acid), 39.28% (alkaline) protease), peptide concentration (45.27%) and antioxidant activity (33.69% (DPPH), 132.85% (ABTS)) of samples compared to unfermented ones. Additionally, an increase in ultrasound amplitude (except for continuous at 75%) promoted the protease enzymes, peptides and radical scavenging activity of the fermented and unfermented samples. Our results indicated that the ultrasound and fermentation treatments complemented each other. Depending on the experimental conditions, the effect of continuous ultrasound on samples was sometimes lower, sometimes similar and sometimes higher than that of pulsed treatment. Therefore, selection of an appropriate ultrasound mode and amplitude can improve the biological activity of Chortan.     

Effect of ultrasonication treatment and fermentation by probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum strains on goat milk bioactivities

In the present research, the effects of continuous ultrasound treatment (100 W, 30 kHz; 0%, 30%, 60% and 90% amplitudes, 15 min) and fermentation process (37°C, 24 h) on the growth of Lactobacillus plantarum LP3 and LU5 strains and bioactive properties (peptide content, α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, anticancer and antioxidant activities and exopolysaccharide content) of goat milk were investigated. According to our results, the ultrasonication of milk up to 60% amplitude promoted the growth of Lactobacillus strains and enhanced the bioactive properties compared with control during fermentation, while, the ultrasonication at 90% amplitude had negative effects on the mentioned parameters. Exopolysaccharide content, α-amylase inhibition, α-glucosidase inhibition, antioxidant activity and anticancer activity of treated samples at 60% amplitude at the end of fermentation in comparison to its beginning were increased 18.09, 12.79, 12.44, 9.4 and 1.92 folds, respectively. Also, the increase of assayed characteristics was found strain-dependent, so that L. plantarum LP3 was more effective than LU5 strain.     

Structural changes and stress relaxation behavior of κ‐carrageenan cold‐processed gels: Effects of ultrasonication time and power

Ultrasound has been used for cold gelation of κ‐carrageenan hydrocolloid. In this work, the effect of ultrasound conditions such as power (50–150 W) and time (20–240 s) of sonication has been investigated. The application of ultrasound to hydrocolloid dispersion caused an increase in water solubility. The texture profile analysis test was used in order to evaluate the mechanical properties of gels. Textural parameters of κ‐carrageenan gels, enhanced with increasing sonication time and power up to a certain level (usually 2.5 min) and longer sonication times had negative effects. In addition, intrinsic viscosities of sonicated specimens were measured to investigate the molecular characteristics of all samples. An increase in the process time and power reduced the intrinsic viscosity. The microstructural observation by scanning electron microscope determined that applying power ultrasound on κ‐carrageenan dispersions influenced the formation of gel networks significantly.