In vitro gastrointestinal digestion of polyphenols from different molasses (pekmez) and leather (pestil) varieties

In this study, to evaluate the in vitro bioaccessibility of eight different pekmez and pestil samples, total phenolics, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity were determined at different phases of simulated gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. For the analysis of antioxidant activity, four different methods were used including 2,2‐azinobis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline)‐6‐sulfonic acid, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazil, ferric reducing antioxidant power and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity. The results revealed that the dialysed fraction (IN) represented 12–50%, 3–17% and 3–72% of the total phenolics, flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, respectively. Moreover, total antioxidant capacity of IN fraction was 2–57% of the initial values obtained for pekmez and pestil samples. To identify the influence of simulated in vitro GI digestion on total anthocyanins, only black mulberry molasses (pekmez) and plum leather (pestil) were analysed and according to the results no anthocyanins were detected in the IN fraction for both samples. The present study presented a detailed insight of bioaccessibility of polyphenols in various pekmez and pestil samples.     

Production of bio‐energy from organic waste: effect of temperature and substrate composition

This article presents the influence of temperature and influent substrate composition on the produced biogas volume in an anaerobic co‐digestion process. Four cases of anaerobic digestion were considered. Digestion of waste sludge only and anaerobic co‐digestion of sludge mixed with solid waste in mesophilic (T = 35 °C) and thermophilic (T = 55 °C) phases. The obtained results show that thermophilic co‐digestion gives the best results; although the temperature has an effect on biogas production, it remains however quite relative compared to the effect of solid waste. They confirm, surely, that the combined effect of temperature and solid waste improves considerably the biogas production rate (GPR). Changing conditions from mesophilic to thermophilic ones for waste sludge alone and for waste sludge mixed with solid waste results in an increase of the GPR from 0.18 to 0.39 m³/m³.d and from 0.29 to 0.96 m³/m³.d, respectively. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

污水厌氧处理系统中溶解性微生物产物的研究进展

污水厌氧处理系统中产生的溶解性微生物产物(SMP)因其自身的性质、潜在危害性等逐渐引起国内外学者的重视。综述了国内外对厌氧SMP的研究成果,系统阐述了厌氧SMP的性质及影响其产生的运行参数。对其生成与降解数学模型的发展进行了综述。最后对今后厌氧SMP的研究方向作出了展望。     

Leaching of elements from packaging material into canned foods marketed in India

The interaction between food and metal packaging can be a potential source of trace elements release, which if ingested by humans can cause harmful effects. The present study is undertaken to investigate the leaching of elements from packaging materials into canned foods under different conditions of temperature, pH and storage period. Elemental analysis was done using Energy Dispersive-X-Ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) for packaging materials and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-AES) for canned foods. The concentration of Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, Silicon and Tin in the canned food products selected for analysis were found to be in range of 4.40–21.59 mg/kg, 2.38–19.70 mg/kg, 0.19–5.97 mg/kg, 16.46–359.63 mg/kg and 1.99–138.48 mg/kg respectively, when stored at room temperature within their shelf life storage period. The data revealed that the concentrations of elements under study were above the recommended limits of FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.     

Changes in the structure,digestibility and immunoreactivities of glycinin induced by the cross‐linking of microbial transglutaminase following heat denaturation

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of microbial transglutaminase (MTG)‐mediated modification on the structure, digestibility and immunoreactivities of glycinin. Glycinin was separated from soya bean and cross‐linked with MTG, and the sulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) showed that the molecular weight of cross‐linked glycinin was higher than that of native glycinin. Individual MTG cross‐linking could maintain stable secondary structures and spatial structure. Sequential heat denaturation and MTG cross‐linking could promote the unfolding of protein structures and reduce their hydrophobicity. The digestibility of glycinin was decreased, and its immunoreactivities were increased because of MTG‐induced structural alteration, including primary and spatial structures.     

Impact of xylan structure and lignin–xylan association on methane production from C5-sugars

Xylan biopolymers are the dominant hemicelluloses present in agricultural plant materials which have potential use in various biotechnological processes including methane production. Hence, the effect of lignin content and the structural features of xylan on anaerobic digestion were studied by using synthetic assemblies consisting of xylans and lignin models (dehydrogenation polymers). The ramification by arabinose and uronic acid was shown to be a key factor in low methane potential (BMP) from xylans and xylan–lignin assemblies. Indeed, BMP increased when xylose content was increased, and decreased when arabinose and uronic acid contents were increased. Lignin content and molecular weight were found to be the most influential parameters on the anaerobic digestion rate. Digestion rate decreased when the lignin content and molecular mass increased.     

Biogas production from reed biomass: Effect of pretreatment using different steam explosion conditions

Biogas production often competes with food and feed production for the raw materials and cropland required for cultivation. Common reed offers an alternative source of biomass for biogas production, alleviating this conflict. Effective microbiological conversion of this type of lignocellulosic biomass requires a pretreatment process. This study aims to determine the specific methane yields of steam-exploded reed as well as to identify how pretreatment conditions influence its physico-chemical characteristics. For this purpose, reed was pretreated with steam explosion at severity factors ranging from 2.47 to 4.83. The effects on methane yields were analyzed in batch experiments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images were captured and detailed chemical analyses of the substrates carried out. Results show that the digestibility of reed biomass improved remarkably after pretreatment. Compared to the untreated sample, steam explosion increased the specific methane yield up to 89% after pretreatment at 200 °C for 15 min. However, methane yield decreased under harsher conditions, which may be due to the formation of degradation compounds during the pretreatment.     

Enhanced methane fermentation of municipal sewage sludge by microbial electrochemical systems integrated with anaerobic digestion

Sewage sludge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant was fed into a microbial electrochemical system, combined with an anaerobic digester (MES-AD), for enhanced methane production and sludge stabilization. The effect of thermally pretreating the sewage sludge on MES-AD performance was investigated. These results were compared to those obtained from control operations, in which the sludge was not pretreated or MES integration was absent. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) in the raw sewage sludge after pretreatment was 31% higher than the SCOD in untreated sludge (5804.85 mg/L vs. 4441.46 mg/mL). The methane yield and proportion of methane in biogas generated by the MES-AD were higher than those of the control systems, regardless of the pretreatment process. The maximum methane yield (0.28 L CH₄/g COD) and methane production (1139 mL) were obtained with the MES inoculated with pretreated sewage sludge. Methane yield and production with this system using pretreated sewage were 47% and 56% higher, respectively, than those of the control (0.19 L CH₄/g COD, 730 mL). Additionally, the maximum SCOD removal (89%) and current generation were obtained with the MES inoculated with a pretreated substrate. These results suggested that sewage sludge could be efficiently stabilized with enhanced methane production by synergistic combination of MES-AD system with pretreatment process.     

In-situ methane enrichment of biogas from anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent by addition of zero valent iron (ZVI)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a wastewater effluent that is generated from palm oil milling. Treatment of POME, especially using biological treatment methods, is a challenge as it contains high amounts of organic and sulfur compounds, and it is highly acidic. In this research, the effects of zero-valent iron (ZVI) on the enhancement of methane production from POME via anaerobic digestion were investigated. Furthermore, to identify the reactor operation modes that were suitable for the addition of ZVI, anaerobic digestion of POME was tested in three reaction configurations: batch reactor, fed-batch reactor, and continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). In the batch mode, where acidic POME was fed with 16 g/L of ZVI dose just once, methane production increased by 74%. However, as the oxidation of ZVI under anaerobic conditions led to the production of hydroxyl ions, the pH of the medium continuously increased from approximately 7 to 9, which is not suitable for methanogenesis. In the fed-batch mode that involved intermittent feeding of acidic POME, the pH of the culture media was maintained at 6.8. This is because the extra hydroxyl ions generated from the oxidation reaction of ZVI tended to neutralize the acids in the feeding substrate. In addition, ZVI promoted the production of methane from POME and increased the average methane content in biogas from 62% to 76%. In the CSTR mode, which involved continuous feeding of acidic POME, ZVI increased methane production by 86% (from 1.79 to 3.32 L/day), methane content in biogas from 60 to 75%, and total chemical oxygen demand (tCOD) removal efficiency from 78 to 89 to 88–95%. Thus, the addition of ZVI can be a potential strategy for in-situ methane enrichment of biogas by anaerobic digestion of POME. This is because ZVI acts as a buffer for acid generation and provides extra electrons, ferrous ions, and ferric ions, which promote key microbial activities in the anaerobic digestion process.