Abstract: Tannase (tannin acyl hydrolase, E.C.3.1.1.20) is an
important hydrolysable enzyme with innumerable applications and
industrial potential. In the present study, a kinetic model has been
developed for the batch fermentation used for the production of
tannase by A.flavus MTCC 3783. Maximum tannase activity of
143.30 U/ml was obtained at 96 hours under optimum operating
conditions at 35oC, an initial pH of 5.5 and with an inducer tannic
acid concentration of 3% (w/v) for a fermentation period of 120
hours. The biomass concentration reaches a maximum of 6.62 g/l at
96 hours and further there was no increase in biomass concentration
till the end of the fermentation. Various unstructured kinetic models
were analyzed to simulate the experimental values of microbial
growth, tannase activity and substrate concentration. The Logistic
model for microbial growth , Luedeking - Piret model for production
of tannase and Substrate utilization kinetic model for utilization of
substrate were capable of predicting the fermentation profile with
high coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.980, 0.942 and
0.983 respectively. The results indicated that the unstructured models
were able to describe the fermentation kinetics more effectively.
Abstract: Life cycle assessment is a technique to assess the
environmental aspects and potential impacts associated with a
product, process, or service, by compiling an inventory of relevant
energy and material inputs and environmental releases; evaluating the
potential environmental impacts associated with identified inputs and
releases; and interpreting the results to help you make a more
informed decision. In this paper, the life cycle assessment of
aluminum and beech wood as two commonly used materials in Egypt
for window frames are heading, highlighting their benefits and
weaknesses. Window frames of the two materials have been assessed
on the basis of their production, energy consumption and
environmental impacts. It has been found that the climate change of
the windows made of aluminum and beech wood window, for a
reference window (1.2m×1.2m), are 81.7 mPt and -52.5 mPt impacts
respectively. Among the most important results are: fossil fuel
consumption, potential contributions to the green building effect and
quantities of solid waste tend to be minor for wood products
compared to aluminum products; incineration of wood products can
cause higher impacts of acidification and eutrophication than
aluminum, whereas thermal energy can be recovered.
Abstract: Grains, including oats (Avena sativa L.), have been
recognized functional foods, because provide beneficial effect on the
health of the consumer and decrease the risk of various diseases. Oats
are good source of soluble fibre, essential amino acids, unsaturated
fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Oat breeders have developed oat
varieties and improved yielding ability potential of oat varieties.
Therefore, the aim of investigation was to analyze the composition of
perspective oat varieties and breeding lines grains grown in different
conditions and evaluate functional properties. In the studied samples
content of protein, starch, β-glucans, total dietetic fibre, composition
of amino acids and vitamin E were determined. The results of
analysis showed that protein content depending of varieties ranged
9.70% to 17.30% total dietary fibre 13.66 g100g-1 to 30.17 g100g-1,
content of β-glucans 2.7 g100g-1 to 3.5 g100g-1, amount of
vitamin E (α-tocopherol) determined from 4 mgkg-1 to 9.9 mgkg-1.
The sums of essential amino acids in oat grain samples were
determined from 31.63 gkg-1 to 54.90 gkg-1. It is concluded that
amino acids composition of husked and naked oats grown in organic
or conventional conditions is close to optimal for human health.
Abstract: Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is the most common primary
mineral used for the commercial production of copper. The low
dissolution efficiency of chalcopyrite in sulfate media has prevented
an efficient industrial leaching of this mineral in sulfate media. Ferric
ions, bacteria, oxygen and other oxidants have been used as oxidizing
agents in the leaching of chalcopyrite in sulfate and chloride media
under atmospheric or pressure leaching conditions. Two leaching
methods were studied to evaluate chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) dissolution
in acid media. First, the conventional oxidative acid leaching method
was carried out using sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and potassium
dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as oxidant at atmospheric pressure. Second,
microwave-assisted acid leaching was performed using the
microwave accelerated reaction system (MARS) for same reaction
media. Parameters affecting the copper extraction such as leaching
time, leaching temperature, concentration of H2SO4 and
concentration of K2Cr2O7 were investigated. The results of
conventional acid leaching experiments were compared to the
microwave leaching method. It was found that the copper extraction
obtained under high temperature and high concentrations of oxidant
with microwave leaching is higher than those obtained
conventionally. 81% copper extraction was obtained by the
conventional oxidative acid leaching method in 180 min, with the
concentration of 0.3 mol/L K2Cr2O7 in 0.5M H2SO4 at 50 ºC, while
93.5% copper extraction was obtained in 60 min with microwave
leaching method under same conditions.
Abstract: Biodiesel is one of the alternative fuels that promising
for substituting petro diesel as energy source which is advantage on
sustainability and ecofriendly. Due to the raw material that tend to
decompose during storage, biodiesel also have the same characteristic
that tend to decompose and formed higher acid value which is the
result of oxidation to double bond on a chain of ester. Decomposition of biodiesel due to oxidation reaction could
prevent by introduce a small amount of antioxidant. The origin of raw
materials and the process for producing biodiesel will determine the
effectiveness of antioxidant. The quality degradation on biodiesel
could evaluate by measuring iodine value and acid number of
biodiesel. Biodiesel made from high fatty acid Jatropha curcas oil by using
esterification and transesterification process will stand on the quality
by introduce 90 ppm pyrogallol powder on the biodiesel, which could
increase Induction period time from 2 hours to more than 6 hours in
rancimat test evaluation.
Abstract: Plants can contain a wide variety of substances with
antioxidative properties which are associated with important health
benefits. These positive health effects are of great importance at a
time when the environment is laden with many toxic substances. Five
selected herbal plants namely, Mimosa pudica, Phyllanthus niruri,
Ceiba pentandra, Eleusine polydactyla and Trema amboinensi, were
chosen for the experiment to investigate their total phenolics content
and antioxidant activities using ABTS radical cation decolorization
power, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The total phenolic
content of each herbal plants ranges from 0.84 to 42.59 mg gallic acid
equivalent/g. The antioxidant activity in the ABTS radical cation
decolorization power varies from 0.005 to 0.362 mg trolox
equivalent/g and the FRAP ranges from 0.30 to 28.42 mg gallic acid
equivalent/g. Among the five medicinal plants, Mimosa pudica has
been an excellent performer in terms of the 3 parameters measured; it
is followed by Phyllanthus niruri. The 5 herbal plants do not have
equivalent antioxidant power. The relative high values for M. pudica
and P. niruri supports the medicinal value of both plants. The total
phenolics, ABTS and FRAP correlate strongly with one another.
Abstract: Biodiesel production from vegetable oil will produce
glycerol as by-product about 10% of the biodiesel production. The
amount of glycerol that was produced needed alternative way to
handling immediately so as to not become the waste that polluted
environment. One of the solutions was to process glycerol to
polyglycidyl nitrate (PGN). PGN is synthesized from glycerol by
three-step reactions i.e. nitration of glycerol, cyclization of 13-
dinitroglycerine and polymerization of glycosyl nitrate. Optimum
condition of nitration of glycerol with nitric acid has not been known.
Thermodynamic feasibility should be done before run experiments in
the laboratory. The aim of this study was to determine the parameters
those affect nitration of glycerol and nitric acid and chose the
operation condition. Many parameters were simulated to verify its
possibility to experiment under conditions which would get the
highest conversion of 1, 3-dinitroglycerine and which was the ideal
condition to get it. The parameters that need to be studied to obtain
the highest conversion of 1, 3-dinitroglycerine were mol ratio of
nitric acid/glycerol, reaction temperature, mol ratio of
glycerol/dichloromethane and pressure. The highest conversion was
obtained in the range of mol ratio of nitric acid /glycerol between 2/1
– 5/1, reaction temperature of 5-25oC and pressure of 1 atm. The
parameters that need to be studied further to obtain the highest
conversion of 1.3 DNG are mol ratio of nitric acid/glycerol and
reaction temperature.
Abstract: Zn alloy and composite coatings are widely used in
buildings and structures, automobile and fasteners industries to
protect steel component from corrosion. In this paper, Zn-Ni-Al2O3
nanocomposite coatings were electrodeposited on mild steel using a
novel sol enhanced electroplating method. In this method, transparent
Al2O3 sol was added into the acidic Zn-Ni bath to produced Zn-Ni-
Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings. The effect of alumina sol on the
electrodeposition process, and coating properties was investigated
using cyclic voltammetry, XRD, ESEM and Tafel test. Results from
XRD tests showed that the structure of all coatings was single γ-
Ni5Zn21 phase. Cyclic voltammetry results showed that the
electrodeposition overpotential was lower in the presence of alumina
sol in the bath, and caused the reduction potential of Zn-Ni to shift to
more positive values. Zn-Ni-Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings produced
more uniform and compact deposits, with fine grained microstructure
when compared to Zn-Ni coatings. The corrosion resistance of Zn-Ni
coatings was improved significantly by incorporation of alumina
nanoparticles into the coatings.
Abstract: SARA is a common and serious metabolic disorder in
early lactation in dairy cattle and in finishing beef cattle, caused by
diets with high inclusion of cereal grain. This experiment was
performed to determine the efficacy of Megasphaera elsdenii, a
major lactate-utilizing bacterium in prevention/treatment of SARA in
vivo. In vivo experimentation, it was used eight ruminally cannulated
rams and it was applied the rapid adaptation with the mixture of grain
based on wheat (80% wheat, 20% barley) and barley (80% barley,
20% wheat). During the systematic adaptation, it was followed the
probability of SARA formation by being measured the rumen pH
with two hours intervals after and before feeding. After being
evaluated the data, it was determined the ruminal pH ranged from
5.2-5.6 on the condition of feeding with 60 percentage of grain
mixture based on barley and wheat, that assured the definite form of
subacute acidosis. In four days SARA period, M. elsdenii (1010 cfu
ml-1) was inoculated during the first two days. During the SARA
period, it was observed the decrease of feed intake with M. elsdenii
inoculation. Inoculation of M. elsdenii was caused to differentiation
of rumen pH (P
Abstract: Food poisoning and infection by bacteria are of public
health significance to both developing and developed countries.
Samples of ogi (akamu) prepared from white and yellow variety of
maize sold in Uturu and Okigwe were analyzed together with the
laboratory prepared ogi for bacterial quality using the standard
microbiological methods. The analyses showed that both white and
yellow variety had total bacterial counts (cfu/g) of 4.0 ×107 and 3.9 x
107 for the laboratory prepared ogi while the commercial ogi had 5.2
x 107 and 4.9 x107, 4.9 x107 and 4.5 x107, 5.4 x107 and 5.0 x107 for
Eke-Okigwe, Up-gate and Nkwo-Achara market respectively. The
Staphylococcal counts ranged from 2.0 x 102 to 5.0 x102 and 1.0 x
102 to 4.0 x102 for the white and yellow variety from the different
markets while Staphylococcal growth was not recorded on the
laboratory prepared ogi. The laboratory prepared ogi had no Coliform
growth while the commercially prepared ogi had counts of 0.5 x103
to 1.6 x 103 for white variety and 0.3 x 103 to 1.1 x103 for yellow
variety respectively. The Lactic acid bacterial count of 3.5x106 and
3.0x106 was recorded for the laboratory ogi while the commercially
prepared ogi ranged from 3.2x106 to 4.2x106 (white variety) and 3.0
x106 to 3.9 x106 (yellow). The presence of bacteria isolates from the
commercial and laboratory fermented ogi showed that Lactobacillus
sp, Leuconostoc sp and Citrobacter sp were present in all the
samples, Micrococcus sp and Klebsiella sp were isolated from Eke-
Okigwe and ABSU-up-gate markets varieties respectively, E. coli
and Staphylococcus sp were present in Eke-Okigwe and Nkwo-
Achara markets while Salmonella sp were isolated from the three
markets. Hence, there are chances of contracting food borne diseases
from commercially prepared ogi. Therefore, there is the need for
sanitary measures in the production of fermented cereals so as to
minimize the rate of food borne pathogens during processing and
storage.
Abstract: Several parameters are established in order to measure
biodiesel quality. One of them is the iodine value, which is an
important parameter that measures the total unsaturation within a
mixture of fatty acids. Limitation of unsaturated fatty acids is
necessary since warming of higher quantity of these ones ends in
either formation of deposits inside the motor or damage of lubricant.
Determination of iodine value by official procedure tends to be very
laborious, with high costs and toxicity of the reagents, this study uses
artificial neural network (ANN) in order to predict the iodine value
property as an alternative to these problems. The methodology of
development of networks used 13 esters of fatty acids in the input
with convergence algorithms of back propagation of back
propagation type were optimized in order to get an architecture of
prediction of iodine value. This study allowed us to demonstrate the
neural networks’ ability to learn the correlation between biodiesel
quality properties, in this caseiodine value, and the molecular
structures that make it up. The model developed in the study reached
a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.99 for both network validation and
network simulation, with Levenberg-Maquardt algorithm.
Abstract: HZSM-5 zeolites modified by iron and phosphorus
were applied in catalytic cracking of butene. N2 adsorption and
NH3-TPD were employed to measure the structure and acidity of
catalysts. The results indicate that increasing phosphorus loading
decreased surface area, pore volume and strong acidity of catalysts.
The addition of phosphorus significantly decreased butene conversion
and promoted propylene selectivity. The catalytic performance of
catalyst was strongly dependent on the reaction conditions.
Appropriate reaction conditions could suppress side reactions and
enhance propylene selectivity.
Abstract: Rice bran is normally used as a raw material for rice
bran oil production or sold as feed with a low price. Conventionally,
the protein in defatted rice bran was extracted using alkaline
extraction and acid precipitation, which involves in chemical usage
and lowering some nutritious component. This study was conducted
in order to extract of rice bran protein concentrate (RBPC) from
defatted rice bran using enzymes and employing polysaccharides in a
precipitating step. The properties of RBPC obtained will be compared
to those of a control sample extracted using a conventional method.
The results showed that extraction of protein from rice bran using
enzymes exhibited the higher protein recovery compared to that
extraction with alkaline. The extraction conditions using alcalase 2%
(v/w) at 50 C, pH 9.5 gave the highest protein (2.44%) and yield
(32.09%) in extracted solution compared to other enzymes. Rice bran
protein concentrate powder prepared by a precipitation step using
alginate (protein in solution: alginate 1:0.016) exhibited the highest
protein (27.55%) and yield (6.84%). Precipitation using alginate was
better than that of acid. RBPC extracted with alkaline (ALK) or
enzyme alcalase (ALC), then precipitated with alginate (AL)
(samples RBP-ALK-AL and RBP-ALC-AL) yielded the precipitation
rate of 75% and 91.30%, respectively. Therefore, protein
precipitation using alginate was then selected. Amino acid profile of
control sample, and sample precipitated with alginate, as compared to
casein and soy protein isolated, showed that control sample showed
the highest content among all sample. Functional property study of
RBP showed that the highest nitrogen solubility occurred in pH 8-10.
There was no statically significant between emulsion capacity and
emulsion stability of control and sample precipitated by alginate.
However, control sample showed a higher of foaming capacity and
foaming stability compared to those of sample precipitated with
alginate. The finding was successful in terms of minimizing
chemicals used in extraction and precipitation steps in preparation of
rice bran protein concentrate. This research involves in a production
of value-added product in which the double amount of protein (28%)
compared to original amount (14%) contained in rice bran could be
beneficial in terms of adding to food products e.g. healthy drink with
high protein and fiber. In addition, the basic knowledge of functional
property of rice bran protein concentrate was obtained, which can be
used to appropriately select the application of this value-added
product from rice bran.
Abstract: The crude methanol extracts of five indigenous vegetables namely, Amarathus tricolor, Basella rubra L., Chochurus olitorius L., Ipomea batatas, and Momordica chuchinensis L., were examined for their phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The values for DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 7.6-89.53% with B. rubra and I. batatas having the lowest and highest values, respectively. The total flavonoid content of all five indigenous vegetables ranged from 74.65-277.3 mg quercetin equivalent per gram of dried vegetable material while the total phenolic content ranged from 1.93-6.15 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram dried material. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of steroids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates and reducing sugars, which may also be associated with the antioxidant activity shown by these indigenous vegetables.
Abstract: Current research is targeting new molecular
mechanisms that underlie non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
and associated metabolic disorders like non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
(NASH). Forty New Zealand White rabbits have been used and fed a
high protein (HP) and energy diet based on grains and containing
11.76 MJ/kg. Boron added to 3 experimental groups’ drinking waters
(30 mg boron/L) as boron compounds. Biochemical analysis
including boron levels, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) based
metabolomics evaluation, and mRNA expression of peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) family was performed. LDLcholesterol
concentrations alone were decreased in all the
experimental groups. Boron levels in serum and feces were increased.
Content of acetate was in about 2x higher for anhydrous borax group,
at least 3x higher for boric acid group. PPARα mRNA expression
was significantly decreased in boric acid group. Anhydrous borax
attenuated mRNA levels of PPARγ, which was further suppressed by
boric acid. Boron supplementation decreased the degenerative
alterations in hepatocytes. Except borax group other boron groups did
not have a pronounced change in tubular epithels of kidney. In
conclusion, high protein and energy diet leads hepatocytes’
degenerative changes which can be prevented by boron
supplementation. Boric acid seems to be more effective in this
situation.
Abstract: Because blueberries are worldwide recognized as a
good source of beneficial components, their consumption has
increased in the past decades, and so have the scientific works about
their properties. Hence, this work was undertaken to evaluate the
effect of some production and conservation factors on the properties
of blueberries from cultivar Bluecrop. The physical and chemical
analyses were done according to established methodologies and then
all data was treated using software SPSS for assessment of the
possible differences among the factors investigated and/or the
correlations between the variables at study. The results showed that
location of production influenced some of the berries properties
(caliber, sugars, antioxidant activity, color and texture) and that the
age of the bushes was correlated with moisture, sugars and acidity, as
well as lightness. On the other hand, altitude of the farm only was
correlated to sugar content. With regards to conservation, it
influenced only anthocyanins content and DPPH antioxidant activity.
Finally, the type of extract and the order of extraction had a
pronounced influence on all the phenolic properties evaluated.
Abstract: WO3/SiO2 catalysts were modified by an ion exchange
method with sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide solution. The
performance of the modified catalysts was tested in the metathesis of
ethylene and trans-2-butene to propylene. During ion exchange,
sodium and potassium ions played different roles. Sodium modified
catalysts revealed constant trans-2-butene conversion and propylene
selectivity when the concentrations of sodium in the solution were
varied. In contrast, potassium modified catalysts showed reduction of
the conversion and increase of the selectivity. From these results,
potassium hydroxide may affect the transformation of tungsten oxide
active species, resulting in the decrease in conversion whereas
sodium hydroxide did not. Moreover, the modification of catalysts by
this method improved the catalyst stability by lowering the amount of
coke deposited on the catalyst surface.
Abstract: Potassium borates, which are widely used in welding
and metal refining industry, as a lubricating oil additive, cement
additive, fiberglass additive and insulation compound, are one of the
important groups of borate minerals. In this study the production of a
potassium borate mineral via hydrothermal method is aimed. The
potassium source of potassium nitrate (KNO3) was used along with a
sodium source of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and boron source of
boric acid (H3BO3). The constant parameters of reaction temperature
and reaction time were determined as 80°C and 1 h, respectively. The
molar ratios of 1:1:3 (as KNO3:NaOH:H3BO3), 1:1:4, 1:1:5, 1:1:6
and 1:1:7 were used. Following the synthesis the identifications of
the produced products were conducted by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD),
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman
Spectroscopy. The results of the experiments and analysis showed in
the ratio of 1:1:6, the Santite mineral with powder diffraction file
number (pdf no.) of 01-072-1688, which is known as potassium
pentaborate (KB5O8·4H2O) was synthesized as best.
Abstract: Sol-enhanced Zn-Ni-Al2O3 nanocomposite coatings
were electroplated on mild steel by our newly developed solenhanced
electroplating method. In this method, transparent Al2O3 sol
was added into the acidic Zn-Ni bath to produced Zn-Ni-Al2O3nanocomposite
coatings. The chemical composition, microstructure and
mechanical properties of the composite and alloy coatings deposited
at two different agitation speed were investigated. The structure of all
coatings was single γ-Ni5Zn21 phase. The composite coatings possess
refined crystals with higher microhardness compared to Zn-Ni alloy
coatings. The wear resistance of Zn-Ni coatings was improved
significantly by incorporation of alumina nano particles into the
coatings. Higher agitation speed provided more uniform coatings
with smaller grain sized and slightly higher microhardness.
Considering composite coatings, high agitation speeds may facilitate
co-deposition of alumina in the coatings.
Abstract: Chitosan functionalized Fe3O4-Au core shell
nanoparticles have been prepared using a two-step wet chemical
approach using NaBH4 as reducing agent for formation of Au in
ethylene glycol. X-ray diffraction studies shows individual phases of
Fe3O4 and Au in the as prepared samples with crystallite size of 5.9
and 11.4 nm respectively. The functionalization of the core-shell
nanostructure with Chitosan has been confirmed using Fourier
transform infrared spectroscopy along with signatures of octahedral
and tetrahedral sites of Fe3O4 below 600cm-1. Mössbauer
spectroscopy shows decrease in particle-particle interaction in
presence of Au shell (72% sextet) than pure oleic coated Fe3O4
nanoparticles (88% sextet) at room temperature. At 80K, oleic acid
coated Fe3O4 shows only sextets whereas the Chitosan functionalized
Fe3O4 and Chitosan functionalized Fe3O4@Au core shell show
presence of 5 and 11% doublet, respectively.