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Water-holding capacity (WHC) is a critical indicator of beef quality. Several conventional test methods have high cost or spend more time. In this study, a rapid detection method was developed to measure WHC by modified test paper. The test paper was modified by cobalt chloride for its color turned from blue to red after contacting with water. When the test paper was attached to the surface of meat sample, its color would change. The time of color changing was related to WHC. A prediction model was built. The prediction accuracy was 90 % and the detection time was less than 1 min. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that the three-dimensional network structures of the test paper were more compact and homogeneous. Accordingly, the modified test paper exhibits a more stable property and can be used for other meat products.

Pulp and paper industries have provided great research opportunities to control systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationships between 80 process variables of CMP tower and stock preparation, and 17 newsprint quality properties in Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries (MWPI). After the preparation of two suitable data series considering the time needed for pulp to paper, the relations between process dependent and newsprint independent variables were determined using partial least squares (PLS) regression. As a result, two PLS models were developed. The first model with 4 latent vectors categorized and related CMP tower variables and the second one, through 8 latent vectors connected stock preparation variables with paper properties. PLS regression coefficients determined how much the most influencing process variables impact each paper properties

This special issue presents a set of four selected papers from 8th International Forum on Industrial Bioprocessing (IBA-IFIBiop) 2019. The forum itself was held in Miri Sarawak, Malaysia from 1st to 5th May 2019. This symposium was co-organised by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP) Malaysia, Curtin University Malaysia and International Association of Bioprocessing-An International Forum on Industrial Bioprocessing (IBA-IFIBiop). Since the theme of 8th IBA-IFIBiop 2019 is “Bridging Sustainability and Industrial Revolution through Green Bioprocessing”, its papers are related to the latest advances and global development in the areas of bioenergy/biofuels, food technology and engineering, industrial biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, and upstream & downstream bioprocesses. This special issue collects four best papers presented at 8th IBA-IFIBiop 2019 focusing on food technology and engineering. Each paper in this special issue had undergone peer reviews to ensure its quality. We believe that this issue will serve as an essential literature leading to scientific and engineering progress in food engineering. We express our gratitude to the authors, reviewers and editors of this journal who make the publications of these papers possible.

COD reduction studies of paper mill effluent using a batch recirculation electrochemical method The conventional method of treating pulp and paper mill effluent involves the biological oxidation by bacterial action of aerobic and anaerobic conditions and aerobic lagooning method, which are less efficiency of removing COD. To overcome the drawbacks of the existing treatment process, in the present work an attempt has been made to study the electro oxidative destruction of the pulp and paper mill effluent using an electrochemical method and the effect of various parameters such as concentration of supporting electrolytes, current densities, flow rates of electrolyte and reservoir volumes of the effluent were conducted. From the experimental results it is observed that the rate of reduction of COD of the effluent increased with an increase in the supporting electrolyte (sodium chloride) concentration, current density where as it decreased with increase in the reservoir volume and the flow rate of electrolyte. The residence time distributions studies have also been conducted to study the behavior of the electrochemical reactor.

A pilot-scale vacuum dryer with visualization system was used to study the drying characteristics of the whole blueberry pulp. The heating temperature, operating pressure and initial material thickness had significant effects on the drying characteristics and the retentions of total monomeric anthocyanins and vitamin C in dried blueberry powder (P

Residual anionic polyacrylamide in polymer-flooding oil production wastewater results in the formation of a thermodynamically stable system. In this study, the effects of three different types of medicaments, namely, cationic, anionic and nonionic agents, in dynamic treatments, such as adding a position, dosage and combined processes of chemical addition, on the oil removal rate of sewage were examined. In the treatment with a single agent, the oil removal rate of the cationic agent CQY-1 and the nonionic agent CHF-2 was ≥ 97.8%. The charge characteristics of different ionic agents for the combined dosing treatment indicated that the oil removal rate was better than that of a single agent; the combined dosing ratio was 50 mg/L CHP-1 and 50 mg/L CHP-2. At 80 mg/L CQY-1, the oil removal rate of the dynamic process was ≥ 98.8%, and the dosage of CQY-1 was reduced from 200 mg/L to 50–150 mg/L, which corresponded to a decrease of 25.0%–75.0%. Therefore, the combined dosing process effectively reduced the single dosage.

The research study investigated the biosorption behavior of Pb(II) ions by treated and untreated biomass of B. subtilis. At initial biosorption conditions, the biosorption efficiency was found to be 36.75%. At the optimized experimental conditions, control biomass showed maximum biosorption efficiency of 58.04% where the biomass was treated with different chemicals. The biomass treated with formaldehyde showed the highest efficiency of 80.9% which was further optimized and attained maximum efficiency of 89.8% for Pb(II) ions. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and EDX (Energy dispersive X- ray) analysis evaluates the structural and elemental changes that occurred as a result of biosorption. Functional groups that are involved in biosorption were revealed by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy). Kinetic data showed the best fit with the pseudo second-order model. Effective removal of lead ions from industrial contaminated water sources by pretreatment biomass of B. subtilis elucidates its potential use as biosorbent for metal remediation..

The effects of fermentation on the sensory qualities, lipid oxidation, harmful substances, and microbial growth of dried duck meat slice (DDMS) were investigated. The results showed that the optimal fermentation was controlled at 22.18 °C for 49.15 h with the mixed inoculation (7.09 log CFU/g) of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Pediococcus pentosaceus (2:1). Under the optimal fermentation conditions, the fermented DDMS presented higher scores of color (9.0 ± 0.16), aroma (8.8 ± 0.35), and total (8.9 ± 0.24) with lower hardness (5316 ± 98.80 g), compared to control (8.6 ± 0.21, 8.3 ± 0.26, 8.4 ± 0.08, and 7016 ± 114.17 g, respectively). Meanwhile, the histamine content decreased, and the nitrite content was reduced by nearly 60% in fermented DDMS. The lipid oxidation and microbial growth (Escherichia coli, mold, and yeast) in DDMS were also inhibited by fermentation. It provides useful data for improving the quality and safety of meat products.

The freeze-drying process of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels was studied and evaluated. Using a single factor investigation, drying temperature and pressure were determined as the main factors affecting the drying process. The central composite design (CCD) combined with response surface method was employed to optimize the drying process. Optimal conditions were determined to be 52 Pa, 63 °C, and a slice thickness of 5 mm. Subsequently, samples were compared in terms of chemical constituents, microstructure, and in vitro absorption profiles under different drying operations. The freeze-drying process was effective for the preservation of ferulic acid (1.82 mg/g), Z-ligustilide (13.91 mg/g), and other compositions. The porous and loose characteristic structure enabled rapid release of ferulic acid (71%, 60 min) and Z-ligustilide (32%, 60 min). Therefore, the freeze-drying method is a reasonable and efficient drying method for the dehydration of A. sinensis.

In this present work, vinasse, a by-product of sugarcane industry, was examined using combined treatment methods to purify it. Electrocoagulation/flocculation, ultrafiltration were applied as pre-treatment and post-treatment, respectively. The effectiveness of combined process was evaluated based on colour, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The efficiency of electrochemical reactor was investigated according to process variables such as retention time, electrode distance and electrolyte dose. From the results, the price to treat unit vinasse is found to be 2.5 US$/m3 under optimum conditions. FT-IR analysis of sludge obtained shows the results of electro-coagulation process. Ultrafiltration as post treatment experiments showed the enhanced removal efficiency of colour (91%), turbidity (88%) and COD (85%). The results showed that electrocoagulation followed by ultrafiltration is a suitable combined technique to reduce the colour, turbidity and COD from vinasse liquid.

The work is a compilation of the research results concerning the evaluation of the hardness of pumpkin pulp depending on the implemented methods of heat treatment, i. e. scalding pumpkin in hot water and acting on it with water steam. Extended time of pumpkin heat treatment, both in hot water and combi steamer with steam during 6 min resulted in the reduction of the pulp hardness at 46 % after steaming and 88 % after boiling and softening of the skin, which eased its mechanical removal (cleavage) from the pumpkin fruit. The study was targeted to search for the methods allowing the facilitation and mechanisation of skin removal process in the course of acquiring pumpkin pulp for food purposes.

Fruit and vegetable processing by-products, undervalued until recently, are rich sources of nutrients. This study investigated properties of extruded corn puffs with addition (5–20%) of blackcurrant or chokeberry pressings. We assessed expansion rate, water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI) of the produced extru-dates, the concentration of polyphenols, and antioxidant activity measured by FRAP method and ABTS method. The puffs with addition of chokeberry pressings had higher WSI values, higher phenolic acids, flavonols, and anthocyanins content, and higher antioxidant activity than puffcorn with addition of blackcurrant pressings. The corn puffs with addition of fruit pressings contained much higher concentrations of phenolic compounds and were characterized by much higher antioxidant activity than pure puffcorn. This confirms the usefulness of addition of such fruit processing by-products in order to manufacture functional food.

The performance of Vigna unguiculata coagulant (VUC) for colour removal from acid dye was investigated in this study. The proximate, structure and morphology of the coagulant were investigated using standard official methods, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometer and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Response surface methodology (RSM) using face-centred central composite design (FCCD) optimized four process variables including pH, coagulant dosage, dye concentration and time. The colour removal efficiency obtained from the optimization analysis was 99.26% at process conditions of pH 2, coagulant dosage 256.09 mg/l, dye concentration 16.7 mg/l and time 540 min. The verification experiments agreed with the predicted values having a standard error value of 1.96%. Overlay contour plot established optimum areas where the predicted response variable is in an acceptable range (≥ 70%) with respect to optimum conditions. The FCCD approach was appropriate for optimizing the process giving higher removal efficiency when compared to the main effect plots.

In this study, the effect of the flour, which was obtained from stale bread, on flour and bread quality was investigated. The bread that was staled at refrigerator for 7 days was prepared as whole and crumb, and was grinded to convert into flour. The staled whole and crumb bread flours were stored at −18 °C and used to replace 0, 15, 30 and 45% of wheat flour. Then microbiological and physicochemical properties of flours; physical, textural and sensory properties of bread obtained from these composite flours were investigated. We concluded that stale bread flour could be used for bread production at the level of 15%. If the total bread production and consumption is considered, this addition level could provide a significant amount of waste bread recycling each year.

The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effect of three commercial bioprotectant agents on the growth of yogurt-spoiling fungi. Mucor circinelloides, Mucor racemosus, Penicillium spp., Saccharomyces exiguus, and Candida intermedia, commonly involved in the spoilage of dairy products, were isolated from spoiled yogurt and were fully characterized using molecular and phenotypic methods. HOLDBAC-YMC™, Lyofast-FPR2™ and MicroGARD 200™ were used as antifungal products. An optimized experimental mixture design was applied to determine the proportion of each bioprotectant in terms of growth-inhibition response against the fungal strains in standard laboratory media. The results of the challenge tests showed that the application of bioprotectants inhibited the growth of the moulds in the range of 85–100% and the growth of yeast between 1.23 and 5.40 log cycles. The optimal combination of the bioprotectants was determined, tested in standard laboratory media and found to inhibit fungal growth. The antifungal effect of the optimal combination of the bioprotectants was validated in yogurt against the most resistant fungal species of the study, M. circinelloides and C. intermedia. The bioprotectants elicited antifungal effect in yogurt by completely inhibiting all of the tested fungi compared to controls. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a mixture of commercial bioprotectants has been tested on yogurt as a potential alternative for the biopreservation of yogurt in order to reduce spoilage of fermented dairy products and economic losses.

Myrtle (Eugenia gracílima Kiaersk) is a fruit that has significant amounts of anthocyanins and its sensory characteristics give it commercial value and its short shelf life justifies studies on conservation processes. The aim of this study was to assess the dehydration of myrtle pulp in spray dryer using maltodextrin as promoter, evaluating the effect of drying temperatures of 150, 170, and 190 °C on the powder obtained. Increasing the drying temperature provided lower moisture content, water activity and anthocyanin values and total color difference. Acidity and insolubility of powders were better for lower drying temperatures. In general, there were changes in the shape of powder particles by increasing the drying temperature and different collection locations on the spray dryer. The model that best fit experimental data of adsorption isotherms at 25 °C was Peleg. Isotherms were classified as type III.

Increase in energy demand and limited sources of fossil fuels force the world’s population to seek new energy sources Biodiesel obtained by transesterification of oils with an alcohol in the presence of catalysts is an example of renewable fuel. The aim of the study was to assess the best conditions for enzymatic biodiesel synthesis by direct transesterification of rapeseed cake using Taguchi method. The influence of alcohol (methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol), temperature (30–60 °C), C. antarctica lipase B concentration (0.5–2 %), time (6–48 h) and rapeseed cake to alcohol ratio (1:2–1:5) was examined in the synthesis of fatty acid alkyl esters. Optimum conditions for direct enzymatic transesterification of rapeseed cake are: 30 °C, 12 h, 0.5 % of lipase and ethanol in 4:1 ratio to rapeseed cake.

The aim of this study was to develop an environmentally friendly process to extract anthocyanins from blueberry pomace using water as a solvent and directly microencapsulate anthocyanins by spray drying. The anthocyanins in water and ethanol extracts were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The malvidin-3-O-galactoside and malvidin-3-O-glucoside were identified as the main anthocyanins in the blueberry pomace. The anthocyanins profiles of water extracts were similar to that by ethanol extraction. The effects of extraction parameters including solid-to-liquid ratio and temperature on the extraction efficiency and anthocyanins concentration were studied. The blueberry anthocyanins degraded at temperatures higher than 60 °C and all anthocyanins showed similar degradation tendency. The result showed that the artificial neural network (ANN) modeling could be well used to portray the effects of these parameters. Finally, the water extracts were successfully spray dried to produce microencapsulation of blueberry anthocyanins with maltodextrin (MD) as wall materials.

Pomegranate peel, a by-product of pomegranate fruit is rich in antioxidants. It is being used as an animal feed or discarded to the environment, which could cause an environmental problem. A new integrated process of maceration and freeze concentration was studied to recover the antioxidants from the pomegranate peel. The low temperature used in the freeze concentration assists in concentrating a high quality of antioxidants. The concentrated peel solution was tested for an antioxidant activity via 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method. It was found that methanol gave the best extraction of antioxidants from pomegranate peel. The highest antioxidant recovery with DPPH radical scavenging of 96.14 % was obtained at −16 °C of coolant temperature and 30 min of freezing time (p

This study aimed to investigate the potential of electronic nose (E-nose) to differentiate volatiles of shiitakes produced at different drying stages. Shiitakes at different drying time slots were categorized into four groups (fresh, early, middle and late stage) by sensory evaluation. E-nose was used to analyze the volatiles and compared with headspace solid phase micro-extraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS/GC-MS). The principal component analysis results showed that shiitakes at each stage could be successfully discriminated by E-nose and HS/GC-MS. The differences in volatile organic compounds produced at each stage were mainly caused by sulfurs and alcohols, leading to apparent changes of sensors sensitive to sulfurs, alcohols and aromatic compounds. The discriminant models were established by partial least squares discriminant analysis and support vector machine classification, with accuracy rates of 91.25 % and 95.83 %, respectively. The results demonstrated the potential use of E-nose in classifying and monitoring shiitakes during drying process.

The course of epoxidation of sesame oil (SO) with performic acid formed „in situ” by the reaction of 30 wt% hydrogen peroxide and formic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid(VI) as a catalyst was studied. The most advantageous of the technological independent parameters of epoxidation are as follows: temperature 80°C, H2O2/ C=C 3.5:1, HCOOH/C=C 0.8:1, amount of catalyst as H2SO4/(H2O2+HCOOH) 1 wt%, stirring speed at least 700 rpm, reaction time 6 h. The iodine number (IN), epoxy number (EN), a relative conversion to oxirane (RCO) and oxirane oxygen content (EOe) were determined every hour during the reaction. Under optimal conditions the sesame oil conversion amounted to 90.7%, the selectivity of transformation to epoxidized sesame oil was equal to 93.2%, EN = 0.34 mol/100 g, IN = 0.04 mol/100 g oil (10.2 g/100 g oil), a relative conversion to oxirane RCO = 84.6%, and oxirane oxygen content of EOe = 5.5%.

Pharmaceutical pollutants have been detected in many countries in surface and ground water after treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The presented studies concern the photocatalytic removal of one of SSRI antidepressants - sertraline from water using TiO2 photocatalyst. The process was conducted using two laboratory installations with periodic and flow reactors. Two forms of TiO2 was used in the photocatalytic reactions: suspended and supported onto a glass fabric. The studies shown that with increasing initial concentration of pharmaceutical, photoactivity decreases. For the initial concentration of 0.025 g/dm3, the best results – 94% removal – was achieved for the process conducted in the periodic reactor with TiO2 supported onto a glass fabric.

A new bio-polyol based on white mustard oil (Synapis alba) and 2,2′-mercaptodiethanol (2,2′-MDE) was obtained. The synthesis was carried out by two-step method. In the first stage, the double bond of the unsaturated fatty acid residues was oxidized, and in the second step the epoxy rings were opened with 2,2’-MDE. The properties of the obtained bio-polyol for application as raw material in polyurethane-polyisocyanurate foams (PUR-PIR) - hydroxyl number, acid number, density, viscosity, pH, water content, FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR were investigated. Based on the obtained results, foaming formulations containing 0 to 0.6 R of the new bio-polyol were prepared. Significant impact of bio-polyol on apparent density, compressive strength, brittleness, flammability, water absorption and thermal conductivity of polyurethane composites were noted. Modified foam had better functional properties than reference foam e.g. lower brittleness, better thermal insulation properties and better fire resistance.

This work reports on the process of phenol electrooxidation, which is carried-out through continuous electrolysis of synthetic, sodium sulphate-based wastewater. Phenol electrodegradation is examined by means of a laboratory size (ca. 700 cm3 of working volume), poly (methyl methacrylate)-made electrolyser unit for various, carbon fibre and graphite-based anode configurations, and stainless steel cathodes, two different current-densities and concentrations of phenol in synthetically prepared wastewater solution. Proper monitoring of phenol degradation (including quantitative identification of reaction products and calculation of specific energy consumption) in wastewater is performed by means of instrumental, combined HPLC and MS technique in function of electrolysis time.

The study of process kinetics may aid the design and optimization of drying systems. This paper evaluated the influence of drying temperature (40, 60 and 80 °C) on the moisture content, drying rate, density, shrinkage and breakage of maize dried in two different dryers: oven and silo dryer. In both dryers, the temperature increase reduced drying time, final moisture content and shrinkage of the grains, however increased breakage. Drying rate was higher in the oven (6.4×10−4±2.3×10−4s−1 versus 5.4×10−4±1.2×10−4s−1), while shrinkage (15.2±4.7 % versus 24.4±5.6 %) and density increase (16.6±5.9 % versus 33.4±5.8 %) were more intense in the silo. There was a large release of husk in the silo dryer and the moisture content was slightly smaller in the lower layers respective to the upper ones.

This paper presents a comparative study on which type of platelets nanofiller, organic or inorganic, will affect the properties of thermoplastic elastomer matrix in the stronger manner. Therefore, poly(trimethylene terephthalate-block-poly(tetramethylene oxide) copolymer (PTT-PTMO) based nanocomposites with 0.5 wt.% of clay (MMT), graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and graphene oxide (GO) have been prepared by in situ polymerization. The structure of the nanocomposites was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in order to present good dispersion without large aggregates. It was indicated that PTT-PTMO/GNP composite shows the highest crystallization temperature. Unlike the addition of GNP and GO, the introduction of MMT does not have great effect on the glass transition temperature of PTMO-rich soft phase. An addition of all three types of nanoplatelets in the nanocomposites caused the enhancement in tensile modulus and yield stress. Additionally, the cyclic tensile tests showed that prepared nanocomposites have values of permanent set slightly higher than neat PTT-PTMO.

New fragrant and biodegradable starch-based films have been obtained. These films were prepared by the method of the outpour into the Teflon mould of the starch composition containing such fragrant compounds as: eugenol or α-pinene. For characterizing the final products the following properties were taken into account: the solubility in water, the absorbance of moisture from air and the length of release of the fragrant compound. The obtained starch-based films were characterized by the relatively long time of release the fragrant compound and also by the good absorbance of moisture from air. Taking into account the properties of the obtained films, they can find applications in production of appliances used in the bioactive cleaning of air. The prototype of such a product was presented in this work. The presented studies show the potential of applying these materials in the future, and thus these examinations should be developed.

This paper is concerned with drying kinetics and models of heat pump drying (HPD) of green soybean. Experiments were done for continuous and intermittent drying with intermittency of 1, 3 and 6. Drying rate decreases sharply in continuous HPD process, while circuitously in intermittent HPD process. Peak drying rate values appear in every drying period of intermittent drying and differ a lot because of different intermittent ratios. In addition, various mathematical models were investigated to describe the HPD kinetics of green soybean seeds. Fitting suitability of the experimental data by models was specified as comparing the coefficient of correlation (R2), mean absolute percentage error (EMD%), Chi-squareΧ2and root mean square error (ERMS). The page model and 23rd model were found to be the most suitable models in describing the continuous and intermittent drying of green soybeans, respectively.

Kedondong (Spondias dulcis) contains polyphenols, vitamin C and carotenoids which are beneficial to human health. Fresh kedondong has short shelf life and drying is an option to preserve the fruit in dried form to avoid spoilage. In this research, kedondong slices were dried at three temperatures (60 °C, 70 °C and 80 °C) using convective air and RH was fixed at 30 %. High drying temperature facilitated faster drying rate but resulted in poor product quality when compared to freeze dried samples. Drying rates were observed only occurred within falling rates period. Effective diffusivities were estimated in the order of magnitude 10–7 - 10–9 m2/s based on Fick’s second law. Quality assessment showed that samples dried at 60 °C had the lowest hardness and the highest total polyphenols content was observed from samples dried at 80 °C. In addition, kedondong flavour note was found favourable from samples dried at 70 °C and 80 °C based on penalty analyses.

In order to improve the uniformity of microwave absorption and obtain good drying quality, a vibratory fluidized bed was used during the microwave drying of balsam pear slices. The temperature distribution of the materials during drying is discussed. The water state and drying quality of the balsam pear slices with blanching, ultrasonic, and superheated steam pretreatment were measured using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and scanning electron microscopy. As a result, the drying uniformity of balsam pear slices was improved, and the drying temperature decreased more than 10 °C using the microwave vibratory fluidized bed. By using an ultrasonic pretreatment step, the activity of the water molecules was improved, and the drying time was reduced by 10 min, but the product was discolored during drying. Blanching and superheated steam pretreatment did not improve the activity of water molecules, but the product color changes were minimal and drying time was reduced by 20 min. The microstructure of dehydrated balsam pear slices was destructed seriously caused by this heat–moist pretreatment. Therefore, a variety of pretreatments should be integrated for the comprehensive control of the processing characteristics, such as enzyme deactivation and improving water activity, to further improve the drying efficiency and quality of balsam pear slices.

In this paper, white radish discs were dried in superheated steam at absolute pressure 95 mbar at four levels of drying temperature from 75 °C to 90 °C. The drying kinetics and various quality attributes of white radish were investigated, compared with the results by vacuum drying. By kinetic modeling of drying processes with Fick’s second law, low pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD) had slightly lower value of effective moisture diffusivity but higher activation energy than vacuum drying. In comparison with vacuum drying, the rehydration capability of dried samples by LPSSD was better due to porous microstructure. Only 25 % or more the total amount of Vitamin C was preserved after drying to the ultimate moisture content, but it was found that some amount of Vitamin C was taken with the exhaust steam and preserved in the condensate.

Liquefaction of sugar beet pulp (SBP) was carried out using microwave irradiation as the heating source, ethylene glycol/glycerol at a ratio of 80/20 (w/w) as the liquefaction solvent and sulfuric acid as the catalyst at 160 °C. The effects of different liquefaction conditions, including two particle size ranges of SBP, liquefying solvent-to-SBP solids (LS/S) ratio and reaction time on the liquefaction yield, viscosity of the liquefaction products, chemical characteristics and morphology of residues were studied using viscometry, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The efficiency of liquefaction of SBP was found to depend on its particle size of SBP raw material and the LS/S ratio. The smaller SBP particles improved liquefaction efficiency and reduced the amount of solvent required. The crystallinity index of liquefaction residues indicated that crystalline cellulose was no longer the rate limiting factor of liquefaction process when the particle size of SBP was small (75–177 μm). A rugged and deformed surface of the liquefaction residue (observed through SEM) indicated that severe damage in the native fiber structure occurred during the liquefaction.

Polyurethane (PU) foams were prepared from microwave liquefied sugar beet pulp (LSBP) and polymethylene polyphenyl isocyanate (PAPI) by using a one-step method. The [NCO]/[OH] ratio was increased from 0.6 to 1.2, and the effect of this ratio on the mechanical, thermal and microstructural properties of the LSBP–PU foams was studied. The allophanate, isocyanurate and free isocyanate were detected in all the foams. The thermal degradation of these foams in air occurred in two main stages; the first one occurred at 200–350 °C and the second one occurred at 300–400 °C. The Tg of the foams increased when the [NCO]/[OH] ratio increased up to 0.9 above which it decreased. As the [NCO]/[OH] ratio increased, the less regular structure and broken cell shape (observed through SEM) indicated that severe damage in structural stability and mechanical properties of LSBP–PU foams occurred. The cellular structure of the foams could be controlled by controlling the gelling and blowing reactions through the control of NCO]/[OH] ratio.

Sea cucumbers are popular traditional tonic foods in Asia and the Middle East and are often dried for storage or sale. Rehydration of dried sea cucumber is a necessary step before further processing. The kinetics for ultrasound-assisted rehydration were mathematically described using mechanistic (Fick’s diffusion) and empirical (Peleg’s equation, Weibull model) models. The effective diffusivities of water transport with ultrasound were in the range of 0.182 mm2 min–1–0.197 mm2 min–1, which was greater than the value of the control, at 0.179 mm2 min–1, considering Fick’s diffusion. Peleg’s equation was concluded to be the best model to predict the ultrasound-assisted rehydration of dried sea cucumber. Its rehydration efficiency was increased 16-fold by ultrasound and rehydration time was reduced up to 45 h, the sea cucumbers did not show any negative effects on their texture properties after rehydration.

The effects of the drying temperature and the residual moisture content on the drying behavior, energy consumption and quality of dried citrus peels (CPs), which are value-added food ingredients, were studied. The CP samples were dried in a laboratory-scale hot-air dryer at air temperatures from 40 to 70 °C under a constant air velocity of 1 m/s until the desired moisture content for safe storage was reached or until the final moisture level was achieved for the specific drying conditions. Cakes prepared from blends containing different proportions (0 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 %) of dried CPs were also evaluated for chemical composition and sensory attributes. The optimal drying temperatures were 50–60 °C, and the optimal moisture content was 10±0.2 % w.b.; these conditions reduced the drying time and energy consumption and maximized the product quality. In contrast, over-drying CPs with the higher temperatures and to a final moisture level of 5.4±0.2 % sharply increased the loss of vitamin C, carotenoids as antioxidants and essential oils. Incorporation of 15 % dried orange and mandarin peels in cake formulas increased the dietary fiber by 33.5 % and 29.6 %, the crude fat by 2.9 % and 4.6 % and the ash by 30.6 % and 29.0 %, respectively, whereas the protein and total carbohydrate content decreased slightly. Highly acceptable nutritious cakes could be obtained by incorporating 15 % orange or mandarin peel dried to 10 % w.b. moisture content into the formulation.

The supported co-catalyst (Co, Ni)3O4/Al2O3 was prepared via using a co-precipitation method. Three sets of these materials were prepared by calcination at three different temperatures 500, 600, and 700°C. Crystal structure of the prepared materials was investigated using powder X-rays diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic force microscope (AFM), and specific surface area (BET). The activity of the prepared catalysts was investigated by following both of photocatalytic and adsorption removal of Reactive yellow 145 dye (RY 145) from simulated industrial wastewaters. In this study, different reaction conditions were performed such as effect of pH of the reaction mixture, mass dosage of the used catalyst, and effect of temperature. In addition to that adsorption isotherms and reaction kinetics were investigated. Also the activity of these catalysts were investigated after cyclization of the used catalysts.

The development of new food products enriched with biologically active components is a topical issue for modern food science and practice. Many of these substances are unstable when being incorporated into the food matrix, which demands a study on the possibilities to stabilize them before use. Encapsulation of biologically active substances is a method which provides stability of the substance in the food product. The principles for implementing encapsulation of biologically active substances, especially natural oils, the matrices and the encapsulation methods are discussed in the present review. Data on the impact of key process parameters of encapsulation, the biological value of oils and the opportunities for application of the encapsulated systems in different groups of dairy products are presented.

The present work describes the application of Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) technology towards the removal and recovery of a cationic dye (Methylene Blue) from aqueous solutions. Natural and non-toxic vegetable oils have been impregnated on microporous polymeric films of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to constitute a liquid membrane. Different parameters affecting the transport, like pH of feed solution, acid concentration in the strip solution, initial dye concentration, oil types and stirring speeds have been investigated. Highest value of flux (1.7 × 10−5 mg/cm2/sec1) for methylene blue dye was achieved with sunflower oil impregnated on the PVDF support, with pH maintained at 12 in the feed solution and 0.3 M hydrochloric acid concentration in the strip solution. It took 6 hours to transport maximum amount of dye under optimum conditions.

Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensis L.) pulp is high in carotenoids and fiber; however, it is discarded during process. Both maturity stages of matured gac fruit could be used in the drying experiments. Gac fruit pulp was dried by different drying methods including tray drying (40–60 °C), heat pump-assisted dehumidified drying (40–60 °C), microwave drying (450–900 W), mixed-mode solar drying and freeze drying. The Modified Henderson model presented the best fit of desorption isotherms. New model proposed was the best drying model. Quality evaluation by β-carotene, lycopene, lutein, total phenolics and antioxidant activity revealed that heat pump-assisted dehumidified drying at 60 °C provided the highest lutein, total phenolics and antioxidant activity and could reduce drying time by 25 % and increased lutein, total phenolics and antioxidant activity by 12.6 %, 32.0 % and 0.3 %, respectively and is more promising drying method for gac fruit pulp.

The objective of this study was to investigate different drying methods (oven-drying, vacuum-drying, and freeze-drying) applied to cooked mussels meat and the resulting rehydration and water-holding capacity. Drying curves were obtained using an online weighting system that allows continuous monitoring of sample weight during processing. The influence of the processing temperature on the drying rates and on the properties of dehydrated samples was assessed. In the studied conditions, freeze-drying presented higher drying rates and less structure alterations compared to the other drying methods investigated. The equilibrium rehydration capacity of oven-dried and vacuum-dried mussels was about 37 % lower than rehydration capacity of freeze-dried samples for the rehydration performed at 20 °C and about 21 % lower for rehydration performed at 80 °C.

Pumpkin is widely used as a valuable food source and is gaining the attention of healthcare consumers. Dried powdering pumpkin is an alternative way to increase the consumption. For these reasons, a sound knowledge of the processes for drying and powdering of pumpkin is needed. Therefore, the present review summarizes data from the literature and points out promising areas for further research. This review focused mainly on various processes of dried pumpkin powder, including pre-treatment techniques which can influence the quality of dried product. Impacts of drying and storage methods on quality changes were also revealed in dried pumpkin powder such as the loss of color, changes in texture or an off-flavor and decreases in carotenoids or other nutrients. Moreover, this review also collected the basic information about characterization of pumpkin fruit and also chemical characteristics and nutritional values of pumpkin. Finally, the review pointed out areas for future research to further elucidate the best methods of dried pumpkin powdering for the local companies.

The present study includes the compositional analysis and pyrolysis products obtained from Desmodesmus sp. cultivated in anaerobic digested effluents (DADE) from 300°C to 800°C. Compared to Desmodesmus sp. cultivated in BG11 (DBG11), both species exhibited a hydrogen content of ca. 6%, ca. 7% of nitrogen, and ca. 0.56% of sulfur except carbon content, of which was lower than DBG11. Pyrolysis products of DADE consisted of aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, acids, nitrogen compounds, phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alcohols, aldehydes, and furans. Pyrolysis of DADE at 800°C produced 62.52% (the maximum yield) of pyrolysis products compared to 41.89% at 600°C. Considering the reasonably high yield and minimum release of pollutants, lower temperature (600°C) was found to be optimum for producing biofuel from DADE. A process combing anaerobic digestion and algae cultivation can be proposed as a direct and effective way to produce biofuel so as to reduce contaminations to the environment.

The aim of the experimental research studies was to determine some electrical properties of graphite oxide and thermally exfoliated/reduced graphene oxide. The authors tried to interpret the obtained physicochemical results. For that purpose, both resistance measurements and investigation studies were carried out in order to characterize the samples. The resistance was measured at various temperatures in the course of composition changes of gas atmospheres (which surround the samples). The studies were also supported by such methods as: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy (RS), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and thermogravimetry (TG). Moreover, during the experiments also the elemental analyses (EA) of the tested samples (graphite oxide and thermally exfoliated/reduced graphene oxide) were performed.

Graphene – novel 2D material, which possesses variety of fascinating properties, can be considered as a convenient support material for the nanoparticles. In this work various methods of synthesis of reduced graphene oxide with metal or metal oxide nanoparticles will be presented. The hydrothermal approach for deposition of platinum, palladium and zirconium dioxide nanoparticles in ethylene glycol/water solution was applied. Here, platinum/reduced graphene oxide (Pt/RGO), palladium/reduced graphene oxide (Pd/RGO) and zirconium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide (ZrO2/RGO) nanocomposites were prepared. Additionally, manganese dioxide/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite (MnO2/RGO) was synthesized in an oleic-water interface. The obtained nanocomposites were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results shows that GO can be successfully used as a template for direct synthesis of metal or metal oxide nanoparticles on its surface with a homogenous distribution.