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A universal, green, and rapid lignin-based emulsive liquid-liquid microextraction (ELLME) method was established to detect nine triazole fungicides in water, juice, vinegar, and alcoholic beverages via UHPLC-MS/MS. By employing an environmentally friendly emulsifier (lignin), the proposed ELLME was compatible with more extractants, and not restricted to fatty acids. Due to the high amphiphilic properties and three-dimensional structure of lignin, the emulsion was quickly formed through several aspirate-dispense cycles of the green extractant (guaiacol) and lignin solution. And a micropipette was used for rapid microextraction. The limit of detection was 0.0002-0.0057 μg L -1 . The extraction recoveries and relative standard deviation were 81.7%-102.0% and 0.9%-7.1%, respectively. Finally, three green metric tools were used to verify the greenness of the whole procedure. The proposed lignin-based ELLME successfully emulsified green solvents, indicating that emerging solvents may be excellent alternatives as extractants in ELLME for pesticide residue analysis in food samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polysorbates, widely used excipients in drug formulations, present a stability challenge due to complex degradation processes. This study investigates the hydrolysis of polysorbate (PS) under temperature stress (50 °C), focusing on the impact of primary packaging materials (glass vs. plastic vials), buffers (histidine and acetic acid), counterions (chloride vs. malate), and pH (4-7). Our findings reveal that leachables from plastic vials inhibit PS degradation in both histidine and acetic acid buffers. Kinetic parameters derived from sigmoidal fitting suggest distinct degradation mechanisms for each buffer. Furthermore, the malate counterion with histidine displays inhibitory effects on PS hydrolysis. Principal component analysis was employed to identify key factors. These results highlight the critical role of excipients and packaging in PS stability, providing valuable insights for biopharmaceutical formulation development and a deeper understanding of PS degradation complexities., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

With the widespread application of anaerobic digestion technology, biogas slurry become the main source of organic amendments in practice. Comprehensive studies into the inhibitory effects of low molecular weight (LMW) organic acids, essential components in biogas slurry, on the sulfide minerals biooxidation and its bioleaching (AMD) have been lacking. In this study, acetic acid (AA) served as a representative of LMW organic acids in biogas slurry to investigate its impact on the inhibition of chalcopyrite biooxidation by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans (A. ferrooxidans). It was shown that AA could slow down the chalcopyrite biooxidation and inhibit the jarosite formation on the mineral surface. Compared with the control group (0 ppm AA), the sulfate increment in the leachate of the 50 ppm, 100 ppm, and 200 ppm AA-treated groups decreased by 36.4%, 66.8%, and 69.0%, respectively. AA treatment (≥50 ppm) could reduce the oxidation of ferrous ions in the leachate by one order of magnitude. At the same time, the bacterial concentration of the leachate in the 50 ppm, 100 ppm, and 200 ppm AA-treated groups decreased by 70%, 93%, and 94%, respectively. These findings provide a scientific basis for new strategies to utilize biogas slurry for mine remediation and contribute to an enhanced comprehension of organic amendments to prevent AMD in situ in mining soil remediation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The quality of the grains during the fumigation process can significantly affect the flavour and nutritional value of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was used to monitor the extent of fumigated grains, and it was combined with chemometrics to quantitatively predict three key physicochemical constituents: moisture content (MC), total acid (TA) and amino acid nitrogen (AAN). The noise reduction effects of five spectral preprocessing methods were compared, followed by the screening of optimal wavelengths using competitive adaptive reweighted sampling. Support vector machine classification was employed to establish a model for discriminating fumigated grains, and the best recognition accuracy reached 100%. Furthermore, the results of partial least squares regression slightly outperformed support vector machine regression, with correlation coefficient for prediction (Rp) of 0.9697, 0.9716, and 0.9098 for MC, TA, and AAN, respectively. The study demonstrates that HSI can be employed for rapid non-destructive monitoring and quality assessment of the fumigation process in SAV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The "shell biorefinery," which valorizes the shell waste chitin into fine chemicals, has developed rapidly in recent years. Herein, we present a novel base-free heteropolyacid-catalyzed oxidation method for the transformation of chitin biomass into organic acid. After a series of optimization experiments, a 5.93 % yield of formic acid and 25.09 % yield of acetic acid were achieved in the presence of 0.5 equivalent of Mo-V-P heteropolyacids (H 4 PMo 11 VO 40 ·2H 2 O) and air at 180 °C under hydrothermal conditions for 4 h. Meanwhile, we have demonstrated that the Keggin-type heteropolyacid catalysts are capable of efficiently converting microcrystalline chitin into organic acids. The synthesized heteropolyacids are well characterized with FT-IR, XRD, ICP-AES, and TGA. The possible reaction pathway was speculated accordingly. This method offers several advantages, including readily available raw materials, simple operation, and relatively higher yield., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Hongjun Zang reports financial support was provided by Tianjin science and technology commission (No. 18JCYBJC87200). Hongjun Zang reports a relationship with Tianjin science and technology commission that includes: funding grants. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sodium Alginate has a high demand and is favored for food packaging; however, this film typically exhibits poor antimicrobial activity. In this study, sodium alginate film containing peppermint essential oil, Japanese rice vinegar, or a combination of both, is used to analyze antimicrobial, mechanical, structural, and optical properties. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique is utilized to observe the film's surface and cross-section homogeneity. The addition of peppermint essential oil and Japanese rice vinegar to the alginate film solution improves fungal growth and spore germination prevention. Unlike the film containing vinegar, the film with peppermint essential oil shows the lowest transparency. It also has the lowest tensile strength and exhibits the highest elongation at break and water vapor permeability. Conclusively, the film containing a combination of vinegar and essential oil indicates moderate values. According to AFM topography, the film with a mix of essential oil and vinegar has a smoother, more homogeneous surface than other films. Our results prove that combining vinegar and oil with sodium alginate film is an ideal choice. This combination significantly improves the performance of food packaging., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

As an important part of the ecosystem, saline-alkali soils are in urgent need of efficient and environmentally friendly soil conditioners. Biochar and wood vinegar are regarded as organic soil improvement and plant growth regulators to improve soil physicochemical properties and promote crop growth. However, the mechanism of how inorganic phosphorus bacteria increase phosphorus when biochar and wood vinegar applied to saline-alkali soils is not clear. Herein, the present study was designed to investigate the effects of biochar and wood vinegar with different rates on physicochemical properties of saline-alkali soils and inorganic phosphorus bacteria diversities and to discuss the mechanism of biochar and wood vinegar on available phosphorus by pot experiments. The application of biochar and wood vinegar exhibited an effect on the decrease in pH and salt contents and the increase in soil porosity, soil nutrients, and hundred-grain weight of rice. The 600 kg ha -1 biochar and 1800 kg ha -1 wood vinegar group showed the most significant increment in available phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase, and neutral phosphatase activities, with the increases of 49.24%, 40.35%, 48%, and 149%, respectively. The 600 kg ha -1 biochar and 1200 kg ha -1 wood vinegar group significantly enhanced microbial biomass phosphorus concentrations by 41.29%. Moreover, biochar and wood vinegar shifted inorganic phosphorus bacteria composition structure and promoted its diversities, more so at a higher rate of wood vinegar application. The dominant species of inorganic phosphorus bacteria were Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Pseudomonas, and Rhizobium in saline-alkali soils. The Alphaproteobacteria and Hydrogenophaga were the key microorganisms reducing pH and salt contents and increasing available phosphorus contents in saline-alkali soils. In conclusion, the application of biochar and wood vinegar was a useful strategy to improve saline-alkali soils., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

New stability indicating related substances and assay methods for trametinib acetic acid by RP-HPLC have been developed and validated through forced degradation and mass balance studies for the first time. In related substances (RS) method, trametinib acetic acid was successfully separated from its six related substances namely, cyclopropanamide impurity, desiodo trametinib, desacetyl trametinib, trione acetamide intermediate, trione intermediate, and trione PTSA intermediate using YMC-Triart C18 (150 × 4.6 mm, 3 µm) column. Orthophosphoric acid (0.15%) in water was used as buffer. Gradient elution was programmed using mobile phase-A (buffer and acetonitrile mixture in 80:20 v/v ratio) and mobile phase-B (buffer and acetonitrile mixture in 20:80 v/v ratio). Acetonitrile and methanol mixture (1:1 v/v) was used as diluent. Flow rate, injection volume, column temperature, and wavelengths were kept as 0.8 mL/min, 10 µL, 55 °C, and 240 nm, respectively. Desacetyl trametinib and cyclopropanamide impurity were identified as potential degradation impurities in acid and base degradation conditions, respectively. Assay method specific to above six related substances was also developed. Assay of forced degradation samples was also determined, and the mass balance was established by adding total impurities formed in RS method to assay of trametinib acetic acid., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.)

The typically low solubility and gelation capacity of plant proteins can impose challenges in the design of high-quality plant-based foods. The acid used during the precipitation step of plant protein isolate extraction can influence protein functionality. Here, acetic acid and citric acid were used to extract quinoa protein isolate (QPI) from quinoa flour, as these acids are more kosmotropic than the commonly used HCl, promoting the stabilisation of the native protein structure. While proximate analysis showed that total protein was similar for the three isolates, precipitation with kosmotropic acids increased soluble protein, which correlated positively with gel strength. Microstructure analysis revealed that these gels contained a less porous protein network with lipid droplet inclusions. This study shows that the choice of precipitation acid offers an opportunity to tailor the properties of quinoa protein isolate for application, a strategy that is likely applicable to other plant protein isolates., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Statement of Problem: Choosing the best disinfection agent for removable partial dentures may be challenging since most commercially available disinfection solutions alter the properties of the metal framework., Purpose: The purpose of this in vitro study was to analyze the changes in the surface topography and elemental composition of a cobalt chromium (Co-Cr) alloy when immersed in a vinegar-hydrogen peroxide mixture., Material and Methods: Disk-shaped specimens (N=50) were fabricated with Co-Cr alloy and randomly distributed into 5 groups (N=10) according to the immersion solutions: distilled water (control) (W); 0.5% sodium hypochlorite (H); 3% hydrogen peroxide and water in a 1:1 ratio (HP); vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio (V); and vinegar and 3% hydrogen peroxide mixture in a 1:1 ratio (VHP). The immersions simulated 90 uses of 10 minutes each. The surface topography and the elemental composition were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy, before (T 0 ) and after (T 1 ) the immersions. The 2-way ANOVA for repeated measures was used for statistical comparisons (α=.05)., Results: The tested mixture (VHP) did not change the metal surface topography or increase the oxygen proportion, indicating that no corrosion occurred. Similarly, groups W, HP, and V had no topographic changes and nonsignificant statistical differences at T 1 for elemental composition (P>.05). However, the specimens immersed in sodium hypochlorite (H) showed staining, surface irregularity, composition change, with an appearance of 22.56% more oxygen, 41% less chromium, and 28.77% less cobalt at T 1 (P<.05)., Conclusions: The immersion of Co-Cr alloy in a vinegar-hydrogen peroxide mixture did not change the surface structure of the metal., (Copyright © 2022 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective of this research was to assess the potential of a Pickering emulsion based on lycopene extracted from guava by sunflower oil-water and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) isolated from banana residues as a novel ingredient for a French-style salad dressing. The aim was to determine the impact of this emulsion on the stability and rheological properties of the dressing as well as ascertain the presence of lycopene in the final product. The particle size distribution, rheological properties, and emulsion stability of the Pickering emulsion and salad dressing were evaluated. The sample exhibiting the optimal stability condition contained 0.5 wt.% of CNFs (EPI0.5). In order to prepare the French salad dressing based on this Pickering emulsion, three concentrations of vinegar were analyzed. All samples contained white salt and sugar. The findings suggest that alterations in emulsion stability may be influenced by the vinegar content and the presence of salt, particularly during the storage period, which also affects the concentration of lycopene. Notwithstanding these findings, the untrained panelists expressed a favorable opinion and acceptance of the dressings, indicating that the product could serve as an alternative means of enriching food through the incorporation of beneficial substances such as lycopene.

Low-Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) can be a valid tool in food fingerprint analyses to detect commercial frauds. Thus, the work aims at exploring the potential of LF-NMR, coupled with chemometrics, in discriminating authentic white wine vinegars from products adulterated with alcohol vinegars (i.e., 5-25% v/v adulteration levels). The monodimensional spectra and transverse relaxation times (T2) of 88 samples, including 32 authentic vinegars and 56 adulterated samples, were collected. Three different spectral regions were investigated (i.e., 3.75-0.90, 3.75-2.00, and 1.50-0.90 ppm) and, for each, fifteen variables were selected from the pretreated monodimensional spectra. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) on monodimensional spectra in the range 3.75-0.90 ppm gave 100% correct classification of authentic and adulterated vinegars in prediction, whereas LDA models developed with acetic acid or water T2 failed. In conclusion, LF-NMR spectra can be effectively used to detect, in a rapid and non-destructive way, white wine vinegar adulteration with alcohol vinegar., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The accurate quantification of volatile organic compound (VOC) emission rates from porous media to the air is a challenging problem, as measurements are affected by the chemical and physical characteristics of the porous media, and the operating parameters of the sampling device itself. The main objective of this study is to investigate how flux chamber (the most commonly used sampling device) configurations influence emission rate measurement from three selected porous media. Various parameters were studied, including sweep air flow rate, presence of a mixing fan, headspace volume and thickness of media. Controlled experiments focused on the behaviour of two VOCs commonly found in area sources: acetic acid and 1-butanol. Sweep gas flow rate emerged as the most influential factor, inducing turbulence and dilution over porous media surfaces and impacting emission rate measurements more significantly than headspace volume and fan installation. Variations in porous media properties also affected mass transfer, with emissions from coco coir showing higher mass transfer as its porosity and particle size facilitated gas transportation. While behaviour of acetic acid emission through the media supported the diffusion theory, emission of 1-butanol was affected by a combination of factors, highlighting the role of both diffusive and advective transport mechanisms. Understanding how flux chamber setups and porous media properties influence emission rates is crucial for accurately interpreting data. This knowledge also guides the design of studies, especially when investigating complex sources like biosolids and organic-amended soil., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to investigate the effects of acid or alkali modification of isolated cassava starch (ICS) on its physicochemical properties. Acetic acid concentrations of 5%, 10%, and 20% v/v (0.87, 1.73, and 3.46 M, respectively) and calcium hydroxide concentrations of 0.15%, 0.20%, and 0.30% w/w (0.02, 0.025, and 0.04 M, respectively) were tested independently and compared with untreated isolated starch. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) shows starches with polyhedral and semispherical shapes; these modifications do not change the surface of the starch granules. Nanocrystals with orthorhombic crystal structure were extracted from ICS. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows crystallites with a size (two-dimensional) of 20 ± 5 nm in length and 10 ± 2 nm in width and reveals that this starch contains nanocrystals with orthorhombic crystal structure. The X-ray patterns show that these nanocrystals are unaffected by acidic or alkaline treatments. The Ca +2 and CH 3 COO - ions do not interact with these nanocrystals. The alkaline treatment only affects the gelatinization temperature at a Ca(OH) 2 concentration of 0.30%. Low concentrations of acidic and alkaline treatments affect the ability of cassava starch to absorb water and reduce the peak and final viscosity. The infrared spectra show that the modifications lead to C-H and C═C bond formations. ICS-B 0.30 can modify the amorphous regions of the starch, and the acid treatment leads to acetylation, which was confirmed by the presence of an IR band at 1740 cm -1 ., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

In recent years, red-fleshed apple has attracted a lot of attention due to its pleasant appearance, taste, and being a valuable source of anthocyanins. Generally, different types of this apple are known as ornamental apple plants that are rarely found in various regions around the world like New Zealand, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, China, and Turkey. This study focused on the accumulation and changes of the bioactive and aroma-related volatile components at different production stages of a red-fleshed apple vinegar. The aim of this study is to produce an anthocyanin- and vitamin C-rich vinegar (NAV) from red-fleshed Niedzwetzky's apple for the first time. According to the results, in this vinegar, it was determined high concentrations of total phenolic content (904.8 mg-GAE/mL), total flavonoid content (0.25 mg-EGCE/mL), vitamin C content (3024.3 mg-AAE/mL), and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (8.33 mmol-TE/mL), as well as FRAP (13.57 mmol-ISE/mL), respectively. Moreover, total anthocyanin content value was found to be 6.46 mg/g. One of the components that provide the specified functional effect in this vinegar is chlorogenic acid, which constitutes the main phenolic compound, and the other one is cyanidin-3-glucoside, which is the major anthocyanin in this vinegar. The main volatile components associated with the aroma of vinegar are -acetic acid, -phenylacetic acid (5067.7 µg/100 mL), -phenethyl alcohol (3096.1 µg/100 mL), and -nonanoic acid (2939.0 µg/100 mL) compounds. Consequently, it is recommended to expand the range of Niedzwetzky's apples in the production and consumption of food products such as functional vinegar. Thus, a new vinegar with high functional properties will be introduced to the worldwide food industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In this study, vinegar was produced from the small and dark-red-flesh-colored fruits of Niedzwetzky's apple tree, which is known in a small part of the world and is generally used as an ornamental plant due to its red-pink flowers. It has been determined that the produced vinegar has high bioavailability due to the apples with red inner flesh and high anthocyanin content and has a desirable aromatic content. Thus, a food product with high functional quality and desirable aroma, accessible to consumers all over the world, has been produced from a little-known fruit., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Food Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Institute of Food Technologists.)

Background: This study evaluated for the first time the potential of orange passion fruit as a base for alcoholic and acetic fermentations, with a view to assessing its profile of organic acids and polyphenols, in vitro digestion, and biological activities., Results: In terms of aliphatic organic acids, malic acid was the majority in the wine (3.19 g L -1 ), while in the vinegar, it was acetic acid (46.84 g L -1 ). 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB) was the major phenolic compound in the wine and vinegar samples (3443.93 and 2980.00 μg L -1 , respectively). After the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation stage, the wine showed high bioaccessibility for the compounds sinipaldehyde (82.97%) and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2,4-DHBA, 81.27%), while the vinegar exhibited high bioaccessibility for sinipaldehyde (89.39%). Through multivariate analysis, it was observed that 3,4-DHB was highly concentrated in the different digested fractions obtained from the wine. In contrast, in the vinegar, the stability of isorahmenetin and Quercetin 3-o-rhamnoside was observed during the in vitro digestion simulation. Lastly, the vinegar stood out for its inhibition rates of α-amylase (23.93%), α-glucoside (18.34%), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (10.92%). In addition, the vinegar had an inhibitory effect on the pathogenic microorganisms Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes., Conclusion: Orange passion fruit has proved to be a promising raw material for the development of fermented beverages. Therefore, this study provides an unprecedented perspective on the use and valorization of orange passion fruit, contributing significantly to the advancement of knowledge about fermented products and the associated nutritional and functional possibilities. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Traditional vinegars are naturally produced from sugar- or starch-containing raw materials, through alcoholic fermentation followed by acetic fermentation. Fermentation is a spontaneous and complex process involving interactions between various microorganisms. In this study, we produced vinegar using traditional methods from six fruits: rosehip, pear, fig, wild pear, apple, and plum. Bacteria that produce bacterial cellulose (BC) were isolated from these vinegars and identified. In addition, we investigated the properties of BC produced from these bacteria. The strains isolated from vinegars were identified as Gluconobacter oxydans strain MG2022, Acetobacter tropicalis strain MG2022, Acetobacter fabarum strain MG2022, Komagataeibacter saccharivorans strain MG2022, K. saccharivorans strain EG2022, and Acetobacter lovaniensis strain OD2022. In total, 0.83-2.04 g/L BC was produced and the bacterial strain isolated from pear vinegar yielded the most BC. BC produced by the bacterial strain isolated from wild pear vinegar had the highest thermal stability and crystallinity (87.44 %). Overall, this study shows that different fruits contain different BC-producing bacteria in their natural flora and vinegars obtained from fruits can be used in BC production. Also, different BC-producing bacteria can be isolated from different vinegars, and BC produced by these bacteria might have different properties., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The author declares no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This article employs six organic acids to selectively dissolve Mo, Ni and V from spent catalysts, and the most effective acid is identified. Then, the effects of key leaching parameters, including acid concentration, temperature, and S/L ratio, on metal leaching are systematically explored to determine the leaching mechanism. The results demonstrate that the leaching ability of organic acids followed the order: oxalic acid > citric acid > tartaric acid > malonic acid > acetic acid > formic acid. The leaching process of metals was jointly influenced by acidolysis and complexolysis. Among them, more than 93.07 % of Mo, 86.64 % of V, and 74.21 % of Ni were selectively leached with oxalic acid at the optimum condition: S/l: 1/20, oxalic acid: 1.0 mol/L, temp: 60 °C. From the correlation coefficients, the resulting activation energies, and n values, it was demonstrated that Mo and V followed the Avrami dissolution reaction model, V leaching was controlled by the diffusion mode, and Mo leaching was controlled by a mixed mode of chemical reaction and diffusion. The dissolution behavior of both metals consistently adhered to the linear trend of the Avrami kinetic model under varying S/L ratios and oxalic acid concentrations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the natural environment, a symphony of environmental factors including sunlight exposure, current fluctuations, sodium chloride concentrations, and sediment dynamics intertwine, potentially magnifying the impacts on the aging process of disposable face masks (DFMs), thus escalating environmental risks. Employing Regular Two-Level Factorial Design, the study scrutinized interactive impacts of ultraviolet radiation, sand abrasion, acetic acid exposure, sodium chloride levels, and mechanical agitation on mask aging. Aging mechanisms and environmental risks linked with DFMs were elucidated through two-dimensional correlation analyses and risk index method. Following a simulated aging duration of three months, a single mask exhibited the propensity to release a substantial quantity of microplastics, ranging from 38,800 ± 360 to 938,400 ± 529 particles, and heavy metals, with concentrations from 0.06 ± 0.02 μg/g (Pb) to 29.01 ± 1.83 μg/g (Zn). Besides, specific contaminants such as zinc ions (24.24 μg/g), chromium (VI) (4.20 μg/g), thallium (I) (0.92 μg/g), tetracycline (0.51 μg/g), and acenaphthene (1.73 μg/g) can be adsorbed significantly by aged masks. The study elucidates pivotal role of interactions between ultraviolet radiation and acetic acid exposure in exacerbating the environmental risks associated with masks, while emphasizing the pronounced influence of many other interactions. The research provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate aging processes and ensuing environmental risks posed by DFMs, offering valuable insights essential for developing sustainable management strategies in aquatic ecosystems., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Using CO 2 as the primary feedstock offers the potential for high-value utilization of CO 2 while forging sustainable pathways for producing valuable natural products, such as l-tyrosine. Cascade catalysis is a promising approach but limited by stringent purity demands of nexus molecules. We developed an abiotic/biotic cascade catalysis using blended nexus molecules for l-tyrosine synthesis. Specifically, we begin by constructing a solid-state reactor to reduce CO 2 electrochemically, yielding a mixture of acetic acid and ethanol, which serves as the blended nexus molecules. Subsequently, we use genetic engineering to introduce an ethanol utilization pathway and a tyrosine producing pathway to Escherichia coli to facilitate l-tyrosine production. The ethanol pathway synergistically cooperated with the acetic acid pathway, boosting l-tyrosine production rate (nearly five times higher compared to the strain without ethanol utilization pathway) and enhancing carbon efficiency. Our findings demonstrate that using blended nexus molecules could potentially offer a more favorable strategy for the cascade catalysis aimed at producing valuable natural products.

Schizophyllan is a triple helical β-1,3- D -glucan, and shows the cooperative order-disorder transition in the aqueous solution at the triple helix state. In this paper, the solvent stabilizing effects of two carboxylic acids, acetic acid and citric acid, on the cooperative order-disorder transition of aqueous schizophyllan solution were investigated from DSC and SEC-MALS measurements. The transition temperature (T r ) was shifted to higher temperature with increasing the molar fraction of carboxylic acid in the mixture (x). The transition enthalpy (ΔH r ) was increased with increasing x. These solvent stabilizing effects indicate that these carboxylic acid molecules were selectively associated with the branched side chains of schizophyllan to stabilize the ordered state. The composition dependencies of T r and ΔH r were analyzed by the linear cooperative transition theory to estimate the association parameters between the side chains and carboxylic acid. The theoretical parameters obtained were compared with those for the other active substances for the transition to discuss the molecular interactions between the triple helix and carboxylic acid., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Acetic acid is the key organic substance used to verify the authenticity of vinegar. A new method for precisely determining acetic acid δD CH3 in vinegar via gas chromatography -pyrolytic-stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-P-IRMS) was established. The δD CH3 values were obtained via calibration with a series of standards. The optimised method demonstrated a repeatability standard deviation within 3 ‰. The standard deviation of accuracy of the new method compared with that of the SNIF-NMR method was within 2.6 ‰. The synthetic acetic acid δD CH3 values was -136.7 ‰ ± 29.6 ‰, and the δD CH3 value of acetic acid in vinegar was -414.9 ‰ ± 40.5 ‰, with significant isotopic distribution characteristics. This methodology serves as a supplementary method for measuring the δD CH3 value of acetic acid in vinegar. It has advantages over other methods in terms of time, sensitivity and operability. And provides a new idea for solving the problem of analyzing substances in the presence of exchangeable groups., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Coconut wood (Cocos nucifera L.) is lightweight and has variable quality, making it a potential candidate for manufacturing sound absorption boards. However, its sound absorption coefficient needs enhancement to optimize its effectiveness in this application. This study aims to enhance its sound absorption properties using eco-friendly hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid treatments. This treatment modified the carbohydrate polymers (hemicellulose and cellulose) and lignin structures in the wood cell wall. The novelty of this approach lies in using these chemicals to improve acoustic performance significantly. Coconut wood samples were treated with a 1:1 acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture for 20, 40, 60, and 80 min. Characterization techniques such as FTIR, XPS, and XRD, and 3D optical profilometry analyzed changes in chemical functionalities, crystallinity, and surface roughness. Sound absorption coefficients were measured using the impedance tube method. Results showed a significant improvement in sound absorption for all treated samples, especially at 60 min. The treatment also enhanced surface roughness, air permeability, porosity, and pore sizes, contributing to better sound absorption. This proposed treatment method addresses environmental consciousness and enhances the sustainable use and utilization of coconut wood., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Moreover, no animal studies or human participants are involved in this study., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) can drive soil arsenate reduction, a process known as methane-dependent arsenate reduction (M-AsR), which is a critical driver of arsenic (As) release in soil. Low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), an important component of rice root exudates, have an unclear influence and mechanism on the M-AsR process. To narrow this knowledge gap, three typical LMWOAs-citric acid, oxalic acid, and acetic acid-were selected and added to As-contaminated paddy soils, followed by the injection of 13 CH 4 and incubation under anaerobic conditions. The results showed that LMWOAs inhibited the M-AsR process and reduced the As(III) concentration in soil porewater by 35.1-65.7 % after 14 days of incubation. Among the LMWOAs, acetic acid exhibited the strongest inhibition, followed by oxalic and citric acid. Moreover, LMWOAs significantly altered the concentrations of ferrous iron and dissolved organic carbon in the soil porewater, consequently impacting the release of As in the soil. The results of qPCR and sequencing analysis indicated that LMWOAs inhibited the M-AsR process by simultaneously suppressing microbes associated with ANME-2d and arrA. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for modulating the M-AsR process and enhance our understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of As in paddy soils under rhizosphere conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

In this study, vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VA-LLME) based on hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (HDES) was used to efficiently and sustainably extract five phenolic acids and tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) from Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The VA-LLME technique was employed to investigate the extraction mechanism of HDES with the best extraction performance for the target compounds using a conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS). An artificial neural network combined with a genetic algorithm (ANN-GA) was developed to optimize the extraction conditions based on single-factor and response surface methodology, while also analyzing the interactive effects on the phenolic acids and TMP in the extracted solution during the extraction phase. The optimized conditions were determined, and the greenness of the procedure was evaluated using an analytical greenness metric, indicating that this technique can serve as a green alternative for the determination of phenolic acids and TMP in SAV., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Background: The co-application of biochar and wood vinegar has demonstrated the potential to enhance premium crop production. The present study reveals the effects of co-applying rice husk biochar and wood vinegar (both foliar and soil application) on soil properties and the growth of Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.) in a two-season pot experiment., Results: The soil pH, electrical conductivity and dissolved organic carbon contents in combination treatments of wood vinegar and biochar were increased more when wood vinegar was applied to soils rather than to leaves, and the parameters were observed to surpass those for chemical fertilizer treatments. The biomass of Chinese cabbage shoots was significantly increased by 60.8- and 27.3-fold in the combined treatments compared to the control when 1% wood vinegar was sprayed to the leaves (WF1) in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Higher contents of vitamin C, soluble protein and soluble sugar were also observed in the combined wood vinegar and biochar treatments compared to chemical fertilizer treatments and the control; for example, the vitamin C content of plant shoot in WF1 was 21.3 times that of the control. The yield and quality of plants were decreased across all treatments in 2023 compared to 2022 but the combination treatments still displayed superiority., Conclusion: The co-application of wood vinegar and biochar enhances the growth and improve the quality of Chinese cabbage through improving the soil properties and plant photosynthesis. Moreover, the foliage application of wood vinegar is more preferable compared to soil application. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Acetic acid (HAc) pretreatment has been widely used for the production of xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), requiring harsh reaction conditions because XOS are intermediates during the xylan degradation process. This complexity makes the pretreatment process difficult to regulate. In this study, a pH-controlled HAc pretreatment using sodium hydroxide (NaOH) was proposed to enhance the yield of XOS and to reduce its degree of polymerization (DP) from corncobs (CC). By employing this method (0.3 M-2.7), 49.7 % of XOS with DP 2-6 was obtained, alongside a notable increase in the fraction of XOS with DP 2-4 (10.1 g/L). This performance significantly surpassed that of the HAc alone (0.3 M). Moreover, the glucose yield from CC via pH-controlled HAc pretreatment was as high as 93.1 % after 72-h enzymatic hydrolysis. These results suggested that the pH-controlled HAc pretreatment could be a promising strategy for the coproduction of low-DP XOS and fermentable sugars., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Acetic acid is a promising alternative to antibiotics for topical applications, particularly burn wounds, however its site specificity and retention are impaired by poor material properties. In this study, acetic acid was investigated as both the gelling agent and antimicrobial active in alginate fluid gels. The formed microstructure was found to be directly dependent on acetic acid concentration, leading to highly tuneable material properties. At clinically relevant concentrations of 2.5-5 % acetic acid, the fluid gels were elastically dominated at rest, with viscosities up to 7 orders of magnitude greater than acetic acid alone. These material properties imparted long term surface retention and microparticle barrier function, not seen with either acetic acid or alginate solutions. Most notably, sprayability was enhanced simultaneously with the increased viscosity and elasticity due to the introduction of a discretised microstructure, leading to a remarkable tenfold increase in spray coverage. Formulation was found not to inhibit antimicrobial activity, despite the less acidic pH, with common burn wound pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa being equally susceptible to the fluid gels as to acetic acid solutions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Richard Moakes & Liam Grover has patent #WO2021250422A3 issued to University of Birmingham. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Immunosensors based on electrical impedance spectroscopy allow for label-free, real-time detection of biologically relevant molecules and pathogens, without requiring electro-active materials. Here, we investigate the influence of bare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), synthesized via laser ablation in solution, on the performance of an impedimetric immunosensor for detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Graphene acetic acid (GAA) was used in the active layer for immobilizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, owing to its high density of carboxylic groups. Immunosensors incorporating AuNPs exhibited superior performance compared to those relying solely on GAA, achieving a limit of detection (LoD) of 3 x 10 -20  g/mL to detect the Spike Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) protein of SARS-CoV-2 and of 2 PFU/mL for inactivated virus. Moreover, these immunosensors presented high selectivity against the H1N1 influenza virus. We anticipate that this platform will be versatile and applicable in the early diagnosis of various diseases and viral infections, thereby facilitating Point-of-Care testing., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Jr. reports financial support was provided by Coordination of Higher Education Personnel Improvement (CAPES). Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Jr. reports financial support was provided by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Osvaldo Novais de Oliveira Jr. reports financial support was provided by State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). Rafael Cintra Hensel reports financial support was provided by State of Sao Paulo Research Foundation. Stefano Casalini reports financial support was provided by Nanochemistry for Energy and Health. Stefano Casalini reports financial support was provided by Nexus. Stefano Casalini reports financial support was provided by Complessità Chimica C2. Stefano Casalini reports financial support was provided by Government of Italy Commission for the Selection of Excellence University Departments. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In this study, molecular dynamics simulation was used to predict the molecular diffusion coefficient of acetic acid and acetone in water, toluene, and benzene. The results showed that COMPASS was the best force field to optimize the atoms and structure of molecules, and the results were compared with experimental equations. The Arrhenius behavior of the molecular diffusion coefficient was investigated at three temperatures. The extraction of acetic acid and acetone from water was investigated using two solvents, toluene, and benzene, with and without SiO 2 nanoparticles. The relative concentration change diagram was drawn for three cases without and with SiO 2 nanoparticles. To quantitatively examine the results, extraction efficiency, selectivity, and distribution coefficient were calculated. The extraction efficiency of acetone from water by benzene in the absence of silica nanoparticles was 65.748 %, this value in the presence of SiO 2 nanoparticles with a concentration of 0.2231 wt% was 72.45 % due to the Brownian motion of the nanoparticles, which increased the mass transfer and as a result, the extraction efficiency. With the further increase of nanoparticles up to 1.7573 wt%, the extraction efficiency decreased to 61.276 %, which can be attributed to the accumulation of silica nanoparticles and the decrease in the free movement of nanoparticles., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

New vinegar needs a long maturing time to improve its poor flavor before sale, which greatly increases its production cost. Therefore, it is urgent to explore regulation technologies to accelerate vinegar flavor maturation. Based on literature and our research, this review introduces the latest advances in flavor regulation technologies of vinegar including microbial fortification/multi starters fermentation, key production processes optimization and novel physical processing technologies. Microbial fortification or multi starters fermentation accelerates vinegar flavor maturation via enhancing total acids, esters and aroma precursors content in vinegar. Adjusting raw materials composition, fermentation temperature, and oxygen flow reasonably increase alcohols, organic acids, polyphenols and esters levels via generating more corresponding precursors in vinegar, thereby improving its flavor. Furthermore, novel processing technologies greatly promote conversion of alcohols into acids and esters in vinegar, shortening flavor maturation time for over six months. Meanwhile, the corresponding mechanisms are discussed and future research directions are addressed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

This study investigated the effect of calcium chloride (CaCl 2 ) combined with acetic acid (AA) pretreatment on the oil absorption of potato chips and explored the possible mechanisms influencing oil absorption. Results indicated that compared with hot water blanching, the combination of 0.3% CaCl 2 blanching and AA soaking for 2-8 h pretreatment was found to reduce oil content by 10.52%-12.68% and significantly improve the crispness and color of fried potato chips. Microstructural and textural analyses revealed that the main reason for the reduction in oil content was the promotion of pectin gelation in the cell wall by CaCl 2 and AA. However, it was observed that prolonged AA soaking time and high-concentration CaCl 2 blanching led to an increase in total oil content and decrease in brittleness. Based on the results of surface roughness and moisture content analyses, it was suggested that the CaCl 2 and AA pretreatments affected surface roughness and moisture content, thereby increasing oil absorption and reducing brittleness during frying., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest We solemnly confirm that this manuscript has not been published or presented elsewhere in part or in entirety and is not under consideration by another journal. We have read and understood the policies of the “Food Research International” and we believe that neither the manuscript nor the study violates any of these. No conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The study aimed to mine and characterize novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from the Shanxi aged vinegar microbiome. Utilizing machine learning techniques, AlphaFold2 structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulations, six novel AMPs were innovatively mined from 98,539 peptides based on metagenomic data, of which one peptide secreted by Lactobacillus (named La-AMP) was experimentally validated to have remarkable bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) with high stability and no hemolytic activity. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that La-AMP caused irreversible damage to cell membranes of S. aureus and E. coli, a finding further confirmed by calcein-AM/propidium iodide staining. Additionally, La-AMP induced nucleic acid leakage and reactive oxygen species accumulation in bacterial cells. It was found to bind to DNA gyrase through salt bridges, hydrogen bonds, and hydrophobic interactions, ultimately inducing apoptosis. Thus, La-AMP exhibited encouraging promise as a valuable bioactive component for the development of natural preservatives., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Combined electrokinetic remediation employing reducing agents represents an extensively utilized approach for the remediation of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI))-contaminated soil. In this investigation, electrokinetic remediation of artificially contaminated kaolin was conducted utilizing a separate circulation system for the anolyte, with a 0.5M solution of acetic acid (HAc) as the electrolyte and foamed iron serving as the anode. The experimental outcomes demonstrated that employing HAc as the electrolyte enhances the electromigration of Cr(VI) and establishes an acidic milieu conducive to the reduction of Cr(VI) by foamed iron, thereby facilitating the rapid reduction of Cr(VI) accumulated in the anolyte through electrokinetic remediation. In the self-prepared contaminated kaolin, the initial concentration of Cr(VI) was 820.26 mg/L. Following the remediation process under optimal experimental conditions, the concentration was significantly reduced to 11.6 mg/L, achieving a removal efficiency of Cr(VI) in the soil of 98.59%. In the optimal experimental setup, the Cr(VI) concentration in the anolyte was reduced to 0.05 mg/L, which is below the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Act standard for Cr(VI) content of 0.1 mg/L. The removal mechanism of Cr(VI) from the electrolyte primarily involves reduction, precipitation, and co-precipitation, with the foamed iron playing a predominant role. HAc and foamed iron exhibit a synergistic effect. The findings of this study substantiate that the integration of foamed iron with HAc is efficacious for the electrokinetic remediation of soil contaminated with Cr(VI)., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Depolymerization of the cellulose part in lignocellulose to glucose is a significant step for lignocellulose valorization. As one of the main by-products of agricultural biomass in crop-producing filed, valorization of corn straw has attracted considerable attention. In this study, a two-step depolymerizing strategy of high-pressure CO 2 -H 2 O pretreatment and oxidation-hydrolysis was applied for selective depolymerization of the cellulose component of corn straw to glucose production. Most part of the hemicellulose component could be removed through high-pressure CO 2 -H 2 O pretreatment in the presence of low concentration of acetic acid, and then as high as 32.2 % yield of glucose was achieved in water at 170 °C for 6 h without additional catalyst. The active acid sites generated during the partial oxidation of hydroxymethyl groups to carboxyl groups on glucose units of cellulose was shown to be crucial for the efficient valorization of corn straw for glucose production., (© 2024 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Foods contaminants pose a challenge for food producers and consumers. Due to its spontaneous formation during heating and storage, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a prevalent contaminant in foods rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Colorimetric assays, such as the Seliwanoff test, offer a rapid and cost-effective method for HMF quantification but require careful optimization to ensure accuracy. We addressed potential interference in the Seliwanoff assay by systematically evaluating parameters like incubation time, temperature, and resorcinol or hydrochloric acid concentration, as well as the presence of interfering carbohydrates. Samples were analyzed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer in scan mode, and data obtained were validated using HPLC, which also enabled quantification of unreacted HMF for assessing the protocol's accuracy. Incubation time and hydrochloric acid percentage positively influenced the colorimetric assay, while the opposite effect was observed with the increase in resorcinol concentration. Interference from carbohydrates was eliminated by reducing the acid content in the working reagent. HPLC analyses corroborated the spectrophotometer data and confirmed the efficacy of the proposed method. The average HMF content in balsamic vinegar samples was 1.97 ± 0.94 mg/mL. Spectrophotometric approaches demonstrated to efficiently determine HMF in complex food matrices. The HMF levels detected in balsamic vinegars significantly exceeded the maximum limits established for honey. This finding underscores the urgent need for regulations that restrict contaminant levels in various food products.

We describe a microwave-assisted, methanol and acetic acid-free, inexpensive method for rapid staining of SDS-PAGE proteins. Only citric acid, benzoic acid, and Coomassie brilliant blue G-250 (CBG) were used. Microwave irradiation reduced the detection duration, and proteins in a clear background were visualized within 30 min of destaining, after 2 min of fixing and 12 min of staining. By using this protocol, comparable band intensities were obtained to the conventional methanol/acetic acid method., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Three environmentally friendly organic acids, acetic acid, citric acid and oxalic acid, were used to treat citrus insoluble dietary fiber (CIDF) in present study, aiming to explore the changes in structural properties as well as their inhibitory effects on starch digestion. The results showed that organic acid treatment significantly reduced the particle size of all three CIDFs, with rougher and folded surfaces, improved crystallinity and thermal stability. During in vitro digestion, it was found that organic acid treatment could increase the particle size and viscosity of digestion, and also effectively enhance the inhibitory ability of α-glucosidase activity, resulting in a further blockage of starch digestion. The starch digestion in oxalic acid-treated group (with 3 wt% addition) was significantly reduced by 18.72 % compared to blank group and 9.05 % compared to untreated. These findings provide evidence of the potential of organic acid-treated insoluble dietary fiber as a functional food., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The manuscript is approved by all authors for publication., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The increased interest in the utilization of lignin in biobased applications is evident from the rise in lignin valorization studies. The present study explores the responsiveness of lignin toward oxidative valorization using acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The pristine lignins and their oxidized equivalents were analyzed comprehensively using NMR and SEC. The study revealed ring opening of phenolic rings yielding muconic acid- and ester-end groups and side-chain oxidations of the benzylic hydroxyls. Syringyl units were more responsive to these reactions than guaiacyl units. The high selectivity of the reaction yielded oligomeric oxidation products with a narrower dispersity than pristine lignins. Mild alkaline hydrolysis of methyl esters enhanced the carboxylic acid content of oxidized lignin, presenting the potential to adjust the carboxylic acid content of lignin. While oxidation reactions in lignin valorization are well documented, this study showed the feasibility of employing optimized oxidation conditions to engineer tailored lignin-based material precursors.

In the present study, pyroligneous acid, also known as wood vinegar, has been employed as reducing and stabilizing agent in the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) anchored on nanocellulose (NC). The idea is to confer the latter bactericidal properties for its typical uses such as in cosmetics and food-packing. It has been demonstrated that AgNPs can be directly produced onto NC in one-pot fashion while dramatically enhancing the kinetics of AgNPs synthesis (2 h for reaction completion) in comparison to the NC-less counterpart (10 days for reaction completion). Furthermore, NC allowed for a narrower size distribution of AgNPs. NC-supported and non-supported AgNPs had sizes of 5.1 ± 1.6 nm and 16.7 ± 4.62 nm, respectively. Immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCat) cells were then employed as model to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the AgNPs-NC compound. The latter was found not to impact cell proliferation at any formulation, while decreasing the viability by only 6.8% after 72 h. This study contributes to the development of more environmentally benign routes to produce nanomaterials and to the understanding of their impact on cells., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background: This study explored the utilization of luffa sponge (LS) in enhancing acetification processes. LS is known for having high porosity and specific surface area, and can provide a novel means of supporting the growth of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) to improve biomass yield and acetification rate, and thereby promote more efficient and sustainable vinegar production. Moreover, the promising potential of LS and luffa sponge coated with κ-carrageenan (LSK) means they may represent effective alternatives for the co-production of industrially valuable bioproducts, for example bacterial cellulose (BC) and acetic acid., Methods: LS and LSK were employed as adsorbents for Acetobacter pasteurianus UMCC 2951 in a submerged semi-continuous acetification process. Experiments were conducted under reciprocal shaking at 1 Hz and a temperature of 32 °C. The performance of the two systems (LS-AAB and LSK-AAB respectively) was evaluated based on cell dry weight (CDW), acetification rate, and BC biofilm formation., Results: The use of LS significantly increased the biomass yield during acetification, achieving a CDW of 3.34 mg/L versus the 0.91 mg/L obtained with planktonic cells. Coating LS with κ-carrageenan further enhanced yield, with a CDW of 4.45 mg/L. Acetification rates were also higher in the LSK-AAB system, reaching 3.33 ± 0.05 g/L d as opposed to 2.45 ± 0.05 g/L d for LS-AAB and 1.13 ± 0.05 g/L d for planktonic cells. Additionally, BC biofilm formation during the second operational cycle was more pronounced in the LSK-AAB system (37.0 ± 3.0 mg/L, as opposed to 25.0 ± 2.0 mg/L in LS-AAB)., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that LS significantly improves the efficiency of the acetification process, particularly when enhanced with κ-carrageenan. The increased biomass yield, accelerated acetification, and enhanced BC biofilm formation highlight the potential of the LS-AAB system, and especially the LSK-AAB variant, in sustainable and effective vinegar production. These systems offer a promising approach for small-scale, semi-continuous acetification processes that aligns with eco-friendly practices and caters to specialized market needs. Finally, this innovative method facilitates the dual production of acetic acid and bacterial cellulose, with potential applications in biotechnological fields., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Sriphochanart et al.)

Methyl parathion, a highly toxic, efficient, and persistent organophosphorus pesticide, is widely used in China. Sibutramine, a non-amphetamine central nervous system depressant, helps lose weight by disrupting hormone regulation, stimulating sympathetic nerves, and suppressing appetite. However, some unethical businesses fail to properly handle raw materials in foods like apple cider vinegar, leading to residual methyl parathion in apples or illegal excessive addition of sibutramine. Therefore, it is imperative to develop an immunoassay for the rapid detection of methyl parathion and sibutramine. The corresponding two haptens were prepared and coupled with the carrier proteins according to methyl parathion-sulfur-bovine serum protein (BSA)/chicken ovalbumin (OVA)-sibutramine (20 : 1 : excess, 15 : 1 : excess, 10 : 1 : excess, and 5 : 1 : excess), and sibutramine-BSA/OVA-methyl parathion (20 : 1 : excess, 10 : 1 : excess: 5 : 1 : excess, and 0 : 1 : excess). The result shows that the inhibition rate of the antibody obtained by methyl parathion-BSA/OVA-sibutramine (20 : 1 : excess) was higher than that of sibutramine-BSA/OVA-methyl parathion, which was 67.93%, and the concentration of methyl parathion was 8.65 ng mL -1 at this inhibition rate. Thus, methyl parathion-BSA/OVA-sibutramine (8.65 : 1 : excess) and the corresponding antibodies were selected for subsequent method establishment. By changing the concentration of the coating and antibody, the inhibition rate was found when the coating was 0.125 ng mL -1 and the antibody was diluted 4000 times. The antibody was used to develop a standard curve for the detection of sibutramine at the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) is 4.59 ng mL -1 , the limit of detection (IC 10 ) is 2.21 ng mL -1 , the detection range is 2.89 to 7.28 ng mL -1 , methyl p-phosphorus at the half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) is 15.34 ng mL -1 , the limit of detection (IC 10 ) is 0.42 ng mL -1 , the detection range is ng mL -1 . Under these conditions, the recovery rate was between 88% and 102%, within reasonable limits, indicating the successful establishment of a rapid enzyme-linked ELISA assay.

Shanxi aged vinegar microbiome encodes a wide variety of bacteriocins. The aim of this study was to mine, screen and characterize novel broad-spectrum bacteriocins from the large-scale microbiome data of Shanxi aged vinegar through machine learning, molecular simulation and activity validation. A total of 158 potential bacteriocins were innovatively mined from 117,552 representative genes based on metatranscriptomic information from the Shanxi aged vinegar microbiome using machine learning techniques and 12 microorganisms were identified to secrete bacteriocins at the genus level. Subsequently, employing AlphaFold2 structure prediction and molecular dynamics simulations, eight bacteriocins with high stability were further screened, and all of them were confirmed to have bacteriostatic activity by the Escherichia coli BL21 expression system. Then, gene&#95;386319 (named LAB-3) and gene&#95;403047 (named LAB-4) with the strongest antibacterial activities were purified by two-step methods and analyzed by mass spectrometry. The two bacteriocins have broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values of 6.79 μg/mL-15.31 μg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis indicated that LAB-3 and LAB-4 could interact with dihydrofolate reductase through hydrogen bonds, salt-bridge forces and hydrophobic forces. These findings suggested that the two bacteriocins could be considered as promising broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

ABSTRACT Designed to meet the specific needs of the printing industry exhaust gas emissions, this paper proposes a method for the degradation of gaseous acetic acid ester organics that is environmentally friendly, safe, and simple to use: micro-nano cavitation technology. In the process of using micro-nano cavitation technology to degrade acetic acid ester organics, the products in the degradation process were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass (GC-MS) spectrometry, and the degradation pathways of acetic acid ester organics were identified. Under high temperatures and high pressure caused by cavitation collapse, the C-C bond and C-O bond on the main chain of organic matter are cleaved to form low molecular products. Low-molecular intermediate products are continuously produced as the reaction advances, and these intermediate products are further oxidized and decomposed into carbon dioxide and water. Besides, the factors that influence the degradation rate of acetic acid ester organics were investigated. Based on the experimental data, acetic acid esters can degrade with the greatest efficiency when their initial concentration is 200 ± 50 mg/m 3 and their treatment time is 20∼30 min. Moreover, the experiment was optimized using the response surface method. The results suggested that for an initial concentration of 155.544 mg/m 3 and a reaction time of 21.961 min, the best degradation rate was 0.251 min -1 . Micro-nano cavitation technology is a novel and promising technology for the degradation of volatile organic compounds, with a wide range of practical applications.

Objectives: Fruit vinegar is one of the most famous fruit byproducts worldwide with several unique properties. There are two types of fruit vinegar, artisanal and industrial, for consumers to choose from. This review aims to assess for the first time the phytochemistry of fruit vinegar and its anti-inflammatory effects., Method: The present work was conducted based on a literature search that selected the relevant papers from indexed databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, MDPI, PubMed, Hindawi, and Web of Science. We used numerous terms to assure a good search in different databases, including fruit vinegar, phytochemistry, bioavailability and bioaccessibility, and anti-inflammatory effect. All articles were selected based on their relevance, quality, and problematic treatment., Results: Literature data have shown that vinegar has a long medicinal history and has been widely used by different civilizations, due to its richness in bioactive molecules, vinegar plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis, mastitis, asthma, arthritis, acute pancreatitis, and colitis. Fruit vinegar consumption benefit is highly dependent on its chemical composition, especially organic acids and antioxidants, which can act as nutraceuticals., Conclusion: Fruit vinegar has a rich chemical composition, including organic acids that can be transformed in the digestive system into compounds that play an important role in health-promoting features such as anti-inflammatory effects throughout the control of intestinal microbiota and pro-inflammatory cytokine production., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Mayonnaise is an emulsion of oil that is susceptible to lipid oxidation, which can cause spoilage and the formation of harmful compounds. This study aims to evaluate the impact of Syrian apple and grape vinegar on the oxidative stability of mayonnaise and compare the use of natural antioxidants to synthetic ones such as butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene. The study measured total phenol content, radical scavenging activity, and identified some phenolic compounds by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The rancidity of mayonnaise was examined using peroxide value and thiobarbituric acid number. The fatty acids content in the mayonnaise samples was examined using gas chromatography. Vinegar samples containing high concentrations of phenolic antioxidants showed high ability to scavenge free radicals. The antioxidants in vinegar protected the mayonnaise samples from primary and secondary oxidation, and there was no statistically significant difference between the ratio of unsaturated fatty acids in the samples containing vinegar at the beginning and at the end of the storage period. The study shows the significance of using vinegar to protect mayonnaise from deterioration and increase its shelf life, in addition to its role as a dressing., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Acetic acid bacteria (AAB) and other members of the complex microbiotas, whose activity is essential for vinegar production, display biodiversity and richness that is difficult to study in depth due to their highly selective culture conditions. In recent years, liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as a powerful tool for rapidly identifying thousands of proteins present in microbial communities, offering broader precision and coverage. In this work, a novel method based on LC-MS/MS was established and developed from previous studies. This methodology was tested in three studies, enabling the characterization of three submerged acetification profiles using innovative raw materials (synthetic alcohol medium, fine wine, and craft beer) while working in a semicontinuous mode. The biodiversity of existing microorganisms was clarified, and both the predominant taxa ( Komagataeibacter , Acetobacter , Gluconacetobacter , and Gluconobacter ) and others never detected in these media ( Asaia and Bombella , among others) were identified. The key functions and adaptive metabolic strategies were determined using comparative studies, mainly those related to cellular material biosynthesis, energy-associated pathways, and cellular detoxification processes. This study provides the groundwork for a highly reliable and reproducible method for the characterization of microbial profiles in the vinegar industry.

This research presents a new, eco-friendly, and swift method combining solid-phase extraction and hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (DES) with high-performance liquid chromatography (SPE-DES-HPLC) for extracting and quantifying catechin and epicatechin in Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV). The parameters, such as the elution solvent type, the XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage, the DES ratio, the DES volume, the adsorption time, and the desorption time, were optimized via a one-way experiment. A central composite design using the Box-Behnken methodology was employed to investigate the effects of various factors, including 17 experimental runs and the construction of three-dimensional response surface plots to identify the optimal conditions. The results show that the optimal conditions were an HDES (tetraethylammonium chloride and octanoic acid) ratio of 1:3, an XAD-2 macroporous resin dosage of 188 mg, and an adsorption time of 11 min. Under these optimal conditions, the coefficients of determination of the method were greater than or equal to 0.9917, the precision was less than 5%, and the recoveries ranged from 98.8% to 118.8%. The environmentally friendly nature of the analytical process and sample preparation was assessed via the Analytical Eco-Scale and AGREE, demonstrating that this method is a practical and eco-friendly alternative to conventional determination techniques. In summary, this innovative approach offers a solid foundation for the assessment of flavanol compounds present in SAV samples.

Polysaccharides of vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBCP) have been reported to exhibit liver-targeting and immunomodulatory activities through oral administration, but the absorption behavior and mechanism of VBCPs have not been extensively studied. In this study, a novel HG type pectin polysaccharide, VBCP1-4, with a high molecular weight of 2.94 × 10 6  Da, was separated from VBCP. VBCP1-4 backbone was contained 1,4-α-D-GalpA, 1,4-α-D-GalpA6OMe, 1,3,4-α-D-GalpA and 1,2,4-α-D-Rhap. The branches were mainly contained 1,5-α-L-Araf, 1,3,5-α-L-Araf, t-α-L-Araf and t-α-D-Galp, which linked to the 3 position of 1,3,4-α-D-GalpA and the 4 position of 1,2,4-α-D-Rhap. VBCP1-4 could self-assemble to nanoparticles in water, with CMC values of 106.41 μg/mL, particle sizes of 178.20 ± 2.82 nm and zeta potentials of -23.19 ± 1.44 mV. The pharmacokinetic study of VBCP1-4, which detected by marking with FITC, revealed that it could be partially absorbed into the body through Peyer's patches of the ileum. In vitro absorption study demonstrated that VBCP1-4 was difficult to be absorbed by Caco-2 cell monolayer, but could be absorbed by M cells in a time and concentration dependent manner. The absorption mechanism was elucidated that VBCP1-4 entered M cells through clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the form of nanoparticles. These findings provide valuable insights into the absorption behavior of VBCP and contribute to its further development., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The effects of different types of acid coagulants and nano fish bone (NFB) additives on the characteristics of tofu were investigated using texture analyzers, SEM, FT-IR, and other techniques. The breaking force and penetration distance, in descending order, were found in the tofu induced by glucono-d-lactone (GDL) (180.27 g and 0.75 cm), citric acid (152.90 g and 0.74 cm), lactic acid (123.33 g and 0.73 cm), and acetic acid (69.84 g and 0.58 cm), respectively. The syneresis of these tofu samples was in the reverse order (35.00, 35.66, 39.66, and 44.50%). Lightness and whiteness were not significantly different among the different samples. Regardless of the acid type, the soluble calcium content in the soybean milk was significantly increased after adding NFB. As a result, the breaking force and penetration distance of all tofu samples increased significantly, but the syneresis decreased. Compared with tofu coagulated by other acids, GDL tofu formed a more uniform and dense gel network maintained by the highest intermolecular forces (especially hydrophobic interactions). Regarding the secondary structure, the lowest percentage of α-helix (22.72%) and, correspondingly, the highest β-sheet (48.32%) and random coil (18.81%) were noticed in the GDL tofu. The effects of NFB on the tofu characteristics can be explained by the changes in the gel network, intermolecular forces, and secondary structure, which were in line with the acid type. The characteristics of acid-induced tofu can be most synergistically improved by coagulation with GDL and NFB., (© 2024 Institute of Food Technologists.)