Drying of persimmons (Diospyros kaki L.) and the following changes in the studied bioactive compounds and the total radical scavenging activities

Fresh persimmons were subjected to two different processes: sun-drying during 1 month and dehydration at 60 °C during 12 h. To assess the effect of this process on nutritional and health-related properties of persimmons dietary fibers, minerals, trace elements, polyphenols and the total radical scavenging activities (TRSAs) were determined before and after processing. It was found that the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons fruits were comparable. Total polyphenols in fresh persimmons was higher than in dried fruits (1.3 vs. 0.9 and 0.8 mg/100 g FW, respectively) and percentage of inhibition was higher than in dried fruits (70% vs. 59% and 55% and 58% vs. 53% and 46% for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) [ABTS] radicals, respectively (P>0.05 in all cases). In conclusion: (1) the differences in the contents of dietary fibers, minerals and trace elements in fresh and dried persimmons are not significant; (2) the contents of polyphenols and the level of the TRSA are higher in fresh persimmons than in dried fruits; however, both variables are also high in dried persimmons; (3) when fresh fruits are not available, proper dried persimmons could be used as a valuable substitute.     

Adsorption of Cr(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) ions onto phenolated wood resin

In this study, phenolated wood resin was used an adsorbent for the removal of Cr(III), Ni(II), Zn(II), Co(II) ions by adsorption from aqueous solution. The adsorption of metal ions from solution was carried at different contact times, concentrations and pHs at room temperature (25°C). For individual metal ion, the amount of metal ions adsorbed per unit weight of phenolated wood resin at equilibrium time increased with increasing concentration and pH. Also, when the amounts of metal ions adsorbed are compared to each other, it was seen that this increase was order of Cr(III) > Ni(II) > Zn(II) > Co(II). This increase was order of Cr(III) > Ni(II) > Co(II) > Zn(II) for commercial phenol–formaldehyde resin. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption process obeyed the intraparticle diffusion model. It was also determined that adsorption isotherm followed Langmuir and Freundlich models. Adsorption isotherm obtained for commercial phenol–formaldehyde resin was consistent with Freundlich model well. Adsorption capacities from Langmuir isotherm for commercial phenol–formaldehyde resin were higher than those of phenolated wood resin, in the case of individual metal ions. Original adsorption isotherm demonstrated the monolayer coverage of the surface of phenolated wood resin. Adsorption kinetic followed the intraparticle diffusion model. The positive values of ΔG° determined using the equilibrium constants showed that the adsorption was not of spontaneous nature. It was seen that values of distribution coefficient (K_D) decreasing with metal ion concentration in solution at equilibrium (C_e) indicated that the occupation of active surface sites of adsorbent increased with metal ions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2838–2846, 2006     

Influence of carboxymethylation on the gelling capacity,rheological properties,and antioxidant activity of feruloylated arabinoxylans from different sources

Feruloylated arabinoxylans (FAX) are gelling polysaccharides presenting antioxidant activity (AC) and potential application as delivery systems. The influence of carboxymethylation on the gelling capacity, rheological properties, and AC of FAX from wheat flour (FAX1) and maize distillers grains (FAX2) was analyzed. The degree of substitution of carboxymethyl groups was 0.27 and 1.77 for carboxymethylated FAX1 (CFAX1) and FAX2 (CFAX2), which presented a change in M _n from 446 to 362 kDa and from 120 to 180 kDa, and a loss in FA content from 1.05 to traces and from 10.13 to 0.12, respectively, after carboxymethylation. G′ value at the end of rheological tests for FAX1 (71 Pa) and FAX2 (726 Pa) was higher than the corresponding G″ value. In contrast, G″ value for CFAX1 (0.35 Pa) and CFAX2 (0.03 Pa) was higher than the respective G′ value, indicating that they do no form gels. The AC increased in CFAX1 in relation to FAX1 from 4.49 to 8.30 mmol Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) kg⁻¹, respectively, while it decreased in CFAX2 with regard to FAX2 from 11.31 to 9.43 mmol TEAC kg⁻¹, respectively. Carboxymethylation could be a path to design FAX derivatives offering alternative potential applications. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020 , 137, 48325.     

Susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from food in Italy to antibiotics

The susceptibility of 148 strains of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from food to antibiotics currently used in veterinary and human therapy was determined by standard agar dilution and disk diffusion methods. The antibiotics included amikacin, amoxicillin, cefazolin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, flumequine, fosfomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, lincomycin, oxytetracycline, rifampicin, spiramycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, tobramycin and vancomycin. Soussy's breakpoints and MIC(50)-MIC(90) values were used to classify the strains into sensitive, moderately sensitive and resistant groups.This work is part of a wider surveillance program on listeriosis started in Italy in 1995.     

Sorption of copper (II) ions by pine sawdust

The sawdust of Calabrian pine was used as sorbent for the removal of Cu(II) ions from aqueous solution of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄.5H₂O) at different concentrations, pHs and temperatures. The results showed that about 65–81% of Cu(II) ions in the solution could be adsorbed on the sawdust. The percentage of adsorped Cu(II) ions onto the sawdust increased with increasing initial concentration. Kinetic studies indicated that the sorption process followed the first order reversible kinetic model. It was also determined that the sorption process obeyed the Freundlich isotherm. Furthermore, the sorption thermodynamic was investigated in detail.     

Application of chemical equilibrium for hydrocarbon isomerization analysis

Isomerization is used in refining industry to upgrade gasoline. Since it is an important process, it is desirable to analyze the reactions that take place in the process. In this paper, the isomerization of a mixture of hydrocarbons was modeled by solving the chemical equilibrium of the system. A direct application of the chemical equilibrium solution cannot reproduce experimental results. However, when some of the system reactions are molar extent limited, the solution can reproduce published experimental data.