From raw clay to ceramics: Evaluating the suitability of raw materials through compositional analysis

Tututepec was a regional capital that dominated much of southern Oaxaca, Mexico, during the Late Postclassic period (A.D. 1100-1522). This article synthesizes the results of compositional (neutron activation and petrography), stylistic, and iconographic analyses of pottery from commoner household excavations at Tututepec to address questions concerning ceramic production and distribution and also to shed light on aspects of political economy and domestic ritual at the capital. The study focuses primarily on Mixteca-Puebla polychromes, painted serving vessels bearing complex decorative motifs. Our compositional analyses, interpreted in light of the bedrock geology of the region, indicate that commoners obtained at least six to ten distinct varieties of pottery made from raw materials available locally within greater Tututepec. We argue that households probably acquired pottery through a central marketplace at the capital. In addition, our study demonstrates that commoners had regular access to polychromes from multiple producers, challenging the widespread notion that these vessels were restricted to elites who controlled their production. We argue that polychrome serving vessels played a prominent role in commonly occurring domestic rituals. Furthermore, commoners appear to have consciously selected vessels painted with imagery associated with warfare and sacrifice, suggesting that they actively supported the official imperial ideology of Tututepec.

DI Yogyakarta is the largest student and tourism city in Indonesia that produces 2,953 tons of waste per day. Increasing waste generation is not matched with adequate landfill sites. Landfill mining and utilization of excavated waste is a method that can be used to overcome the problems in the landfill. Combustible waste could be used as renewable energy by processed it into RDF (refuse-derived fuel), and the accumulated soil can be used again to compost. Therefore it is necessary to do composition analysis, proximate analysis, calorific value analysis to see the potential of combustible waste into raw material RDF and soil stability analysis with compost maturity method to know whether the land of TPA is stable enough to be composted. The potential of RDF raw materials from combustible waste is known by performing composition analysis, proximate analysis, and calorific value analysis. Proximate analysis was performed with water content test, ash content, volatile content and fixed carbon. Heat value analysis using calorimeter bomb and composition analysis according to SNI 19-3964-1994 was done. The soil stability analysis using compost maturity method was done using Verstraete method during 20 days of incubation.

One of the important assumptions of compositional analysis is that the elemental composition of an artifact reflects the source of the materials used to make it. Thus, pottery from a particular source will be chemically similar to the raw materials from that source. This “commonsense” assumption seems beyond dispute, but the fact that pottery is a mixture of clay, water, and often temper added by the potter, complicates the interpretation of compositional data from ceramics. This article examines the relationship between potters' behavior in obtaining and using raw materials, on the one hand, and the chemical composition of their finished pottery, on the other, by comparing the elemental composition of ethnographic pottery and raw materials from contemporary pottery‐making communities in the Valley of Guatemala. The results of this research show that the relationship between pottery and its constituent raw materials is not as obvious as was first supposed. The article concludes with an alternative approach to compositional analysis that is more in line with the realities of real‐world pottery production.

Abstract: The effect of substrate on mycelium growth, the optimal composition of the culture medium, and the optimal cultivation conditions for Streptomyces ornatus S 1220 have been investigated in the present work. The specific activity of keratinase has been monitored during cultivation and activity variation caused by addition of various salts to the cul-tivation medium has been analyzed. The results of the optimization study are reported and successful use of the culture studied in the present work in processes performed on an industrial scale is anticipated. Key words: keratin, secondary raw materials, processing, keratinase-producing microorganism, enzyme, protein, culti-vation, keratinase activity, bioconversion UDC 577.151.35:547.962.9 DOI 10.12737/2051 INTRODUCTION The amount of secondary raw material obtained dur-ing slaughter and processing of poultry can be as high as 45% of the live weight of the birds. Most of this materi-al is constituted by down and feathers, which have a high biological value, since they contain about 85% keratin. Keratins are abundant proteins found in epithelial cells. They are major structural components of skin, nails, hair, feathers, and wool. Analysis of the amino acid composition of keratins shows that these proteins are a rich source of essential amino acids. However, the transformation of natural keratin into a digestible form is problematic, since keratins are fibrillar proteins and their mechanical stability is higher than that of all other materials of biological origin except chitin. The conven-tional techniques used for the processing of keratin-containing raw materials are neither efficient nor ration-al. The use of physical and chemical processing meth-ods can result in formation of various toxic substances, as well as in loss of up to 75% of protein. Consequently, novel procedures for the processing and efficient use of the secondary raw material are needed. Enzymatic methods for the processing of protein-containing raw materials, which became available due to the development of biotechnology, allow for the preser-vation of all essential amino acids. The use of ready-made enzyme preparations on an industrial scale can lead to a significant increase in costs and expenses, and there-fore it is necessary to find solutions which enable the minimization of processing costs for the keratin-containing raw material. The use of live microorganism cultures in the processing of keratin-containing raw material allows for a reduction of the processing costs. The bioconversion method involves cultivation of the enzyme-producing strains on a substrate formed by the raw material to be processed. High efficiency of the sub-sequent decomposition of the substrate can be attained if this method is used. Selection of the optimal enzyme-producing microorganism and the optimal cultivation conditions is necessary in order to increase the rate and efficiency of bioconversion employing this method. With the requirements concerning the strain and its functional efficiency taken into account, we chose the keratinase-producing strain Streptomyces ornatus S 1220. Simple composition and low cost of cultivation media, high levels of keratinase production, short culti-vation time, and high enzyme yield [4] were the primary reasons for the choice of this strain. The aim of the present work, formulated with the current problems taken into account, was to define the optimal composition of the cultivation medium provid-ing for a high biomass yield of Streptomyces ornatus S 1220, to determine the most appropriate cultivation temperature and the period during which the rate of bi-omass accumulation is the highest, and to assess the effect of chemical additives on the specific enzyme ac-tivity. The tasks to be fulfilled in order to achieve the aim included analysis of the chemical composition of feathers, characterization of the effect of complex culti-vation media on the yield of keratinase produced by the microorganism, analysis of environmental effects on the growth and productivity of the microorganism under investigation, and optimization of the cultivation pa-rameters established.

The primary significance of compositional analysis in archaeology lies on the spatial dimension, in distinguishing products made by locally or regionally-based groups. If compositional analysis is to be carried beyond the descriptive recording of similarities and differences, the resource procurement zone (and its geographical relationship to inferred places of manufacture) is a basic operational concept (Rands and Bishop 1980). A zonal concept is clearly indicated in the case of pottery, which frequently is derived from raw materials, clay and temper, that do not necessarily coincide in their place of procurement. Moreover, depending on geomorphological and geochemical variables, these materials may show considerable homogeneity over a fairly extended area. On the other hand, unless there is strong, selective patterning in the exploitation of resources, great heterogeneity within a restricted region may result in fragmented procurement zones that are difficult to equate with the products of specific manufacturing centers. Under favorable circumstances, however, it appears that methods of compositional analysis are approaching the point at which microzones of limited geographical extent can be recognized and assigned heuristically useful boundaries.

Fruit waste (FW), mainly from agroindustry, is currently left behind in landfills despite its rich composition. The bioactive compounds (e.g., oils, polyphenols), carbohydrates, and lignin present in this biomass type require comprehensive characterization (i.e., identification and quantification) before they can be used as raw materials in biorefineries. This review collected information from scientific papers on FW compositional analysis methods and characterization data; the information needs to be compiled in a systematic, standardized, and comprehensive way to understand and quantify the true potential of FW as feedstocks for biorefineries. The information gathered in this review allowed us to identify the biomass fractions that could be valorized further depending on the kind of FW (peels, seeds, or seed vessels, and pomace or mixed residues). Fruit waste differs from conventional lignocellulosic biomass due to the presence of higher amounts (>5%) of extractives – pectin, and starch. This review describes current compositional analysis methodologies to identify possible strengths and weaknesses that could affect the adequate selection of valorization platforms. As no current methodology allows the composition of FW to be described thoroughly, this work identifies procedures applicable to biorefineries that use FW. Possible improvements are suggested to fill methodological gaps in the quantification of samples with large amounts of extractives and pectin. The standardization of methods for FW's quantification is fundamental for the adequate integration of different valorization platforms into biorefineries. It is essential to consider all the substances present in FW to exploit fully their potential for new value‐added molecules, including oils, polyphenols, and pectin.

The development of the production of functional products based on plant materials is the most important scientific direction, based on modern physiological ideas about adaptation, homeostasis, the provisions of biological cybernetics and the theory of functional nutrition. From the point of view of the biochemistry of nutrition, the human body needs, in addition to vitamins and minerals, an extensive set of other compounds that have a diverse physiological effect on it. The main part of toxins during environmental pollution passes from the blood into the extracellular and then the intracellular space of human organs and tissues. If the changes they cause are not yet irreversible, in this case some medicinal plants with endoecological effects can help. The article presents an analysis of the chemical composition of plant raw materials of the Far Eastern region. The assessment of quality characteristics, chemical composition and safety indicators of certain types of plant materials is given. According to the results of research, it was established that freshly harvested wild fruit and berry raw materials have a high moisture content (79–84%). In wild berries, the content of pectic substances was in the range of 0.66 - 1.72%. the highest amount of vitamin C is found in actinidia colomicta 112.3 mg / 100 g, Chinese magnolia vine 136.3 mg / 100 g and rosehip 166.3 mg / 100 g, the lowest amount of ash is 44.9 mg / 100 g Analyzed medicinal and technical raw materials are also quite rich in biologically active substances. All investigated types of raw materials can be used in the production of functional products.

With the shortage of petrochemical resources and the constant pursuit of high quality of life, natural cellulose fiber is widely used in the papermaking field because of its good comfort, resource availability and environmental friendliness. At the same time plant resources as an important source of natural cellulose fiber, also received attention. China is rich in plant resources, paper that made by plant fiber and a wide range of raw materials, such as cotton, linen, mulberry bark, Eulaliopsis, palm leaves, all kinds of bamboo, coconut shells, straw and so on. Quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of plant fiber and its resources is usually carried out by the national standard GB/T5889-865 quantitative analysis of chemical composition of wheat straw but the standard is formulated for wheat straw raw materials, in the analysis of other plant fiber raw materials will inevitably exist some of the problems, therefore, require a relatively accurate and generally applicable method for chemical analysis of plant fiber raw materials.

The article aims to study the qualitative parameters of the restructured yak meat product. Yak meat was treated with a brine solution containing cherry plum juice, which is rich in organic acids. The raw meat material for the restructured product was ground on a spinner with a 16-25 mm diameter grate. Then salting was carried out during 6 hours at t =10-12ºC, brine pouring in the amount of 10 % to the mass of meat material. The raw meat material was sent for massaging in a stirrer for 60 minutes. Massaged raw meat was sent for maturation (τ =24-48 h at t =18ºC). During the maturation of yak meat, a certain degree of protein extraction occurred, as well as a muscle-relaxing effect caused by the presence of cherry plum juice and salt. Meat raw material, chopped and cooled at a temperature of 0 to +2 °C, was placed in a stirrer and stirred for 20-30 min with gradual introduction of hydrated lentil meal, spices, sodium nitrite, and water (ice) in an amount of 10% of the weight of the meat raw material. Then sausages were moulded into casings, and precipitation was carried out at τ =3 h and t =4-8ºC. The prepared sausage products were subjected to heat treatment. The chemical, mineral, amino acid, vitamin, and fatty acid compositions of the finished restructured products were studied. The use of cherry plum juice in massaging yak meat and lentil flour in the recipe of the experimental product also contributes to its enrichment with amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Analysis of the amino acid composition of experimental and control products showed that in the experimental product, the amount of all essential amino acids significantly prevails in comparison with the control product. Thus, valine is more by 3289 mg, isoleucine by 1154 mg, leucine by 567 mg, lysine by 266 mg, methionine+cystine by 797 mg, threonine by 234 mg, tryptophan by 175 mg, phenylalanine+tyrosine by 1103 mg. Analysis of the mineral composition of the restructured products showed that the experimental product contains more minerals than the control product. The high iron content in the experimental product is due to the rich haemoglobin content in yak meat. The use of cherry plum juice in brine as an antioxidant during massaging contributes to the reduction of microbiological values.

This article provides a methodology for extracting social information through an analysis of mudbrick compositions, using a case study fromÇatalhöyük,Turkey. Particle size analysis, loss on ignition, and magnetic susceptibility were used to examine variability in mudbrick recipe. The analysis revealed that neither magnetic susceptibility nor calcium carbonate were significantly altered through tempering. The results suggest that the greatest degree of compositional variability was a result of the manufacture process and not raw materials used in production. Mudbricks are products of deliberate human actions, similar to any other artifact assemblage, but have been long overlooked. Examining the technology involved with mudbrick manufacture highlights aspects ofNeolithic social life through shared resources, production choices, and organization of labor. The analysis of mudbrick compositions considers how raw materials were used within and between groups of houses, represented in 1000 years of uninterrupted occupation atÇatalhöyük.

C2H2 and H2, as important chemical and energy raw materials, can be produced effectively and environmentally friendly by the partial oxidation (POX) of CH4. Simultaneous analysis of intermediate gas compositions in the multiprocess (cracking, recovery, degassing, etc) of POX can regulate product generation and improve production efficiency. To overcome the disadvantage of common gas chromatography, we propose a fluorescence noise eliminating fiber-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (FNEFERS) technique for simultaneous and multiprocess analysis of the POX process, in which the fluorescence noise eliminating (FNE) method can effectively eliminate the horizontal and vertical spatial noise to ensure ppm level limits of detection (LOD). The vibration modes of gas compositions related to each POX process such as cracked gas, synthesis gas, and product acetylene are analyzed. Meanwhile, the composition of three-process intermediate sample gases from Sinopec Chongqing SVW Chemical Co., Ltd is quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed simultaneously, along with the ppm level LODs (H2: 11.2 ppm, C2H2: 3.1 ppm, CO2: 9.4 ppm, C2H4: 4.8 ppm, CH4: 1.5 ppm, CO: 17.9 ppm, allene: 1.5 ppm, methyl acetylene: 2.6 ppm, 1,3-butadiene: 2.8 ppm) with a laser power of 180 mW, exposure time of 30 s, and accuracy of higher than 95.2%. This study fully demonstrates the ability of FNEFERS to replace gas chromatography to achieve simultaneous and multiprocess analysis of intermediate compositions for C2H2 and H2 production and to monitor other chemical and energy production processes.

PurposeAluminum-based adjuvants including aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) are commonly used in many human vaccines to enhance immune response. The interaction between the antigen and adjuvant, including the physical adsorption of antigen, may play a role in vaccine immunogenicity and is a useful marker of vaccine product quality and consistency. Thus, it is important to study the physicochemical properties of AlPO4, such as particle size and chemical composition. Control of the vaccine adjuvant throughout the manufacturing process, including raw materials and the intermediate and final product stages, can be effectively achieved through monitoring of such key product attributes to help ensure product quality. MethodsThis study focuses on the compositional analysis of AlPO4 adjuvant at the intermediate and final manufacturing stages using the off-line methods Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and the in-line method Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR). Particle size distribution of AlPO4 was measured off-line using Laser diffraction (LD) and in-line using Focused Beam Reflectance Measurement (FBRM®). ResultsThere was no observable difference in size distribution between the intermediate and final stage AlPO4 by off-line and in-line analysis, in both small- or large-scale production samples. Consistent peak shifts were observed in off-line and in-line infrared (IR) spectroscopy as well as off-line XPS for both small- and large-scale AlPO4 manufacturing runs. Additionally, IR spectroscopy and FBRM® for size distribution were used as in-line process analytical technology (PAT) to monitor reaction progress in real-time during small-scale AlPO4 manufacturing from raw materials. The small-scale adsorption process of a model protein antigen (Tetanus toxoid) to AlPO4 adjuvant was also monitored by in-line ReactIR probe. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that in-line PAT can be used to monitor particle size and chemical composition for the various stages of adjuvant manufacturing from raw materials through intermediate to final adjuvant product stage. Similar approaches can be utilized to help assess lot-to-lot consistency during adjuvant manufacturing and vaccine product development. Moreover, the use of in-line PAT is highly conductive to advanced manufacturing strategies such as real-time product release testing and automated processes of the future.

In today’s world, the use of paper and cardboard increasing but the availability of raw materials and the environmental impact on the paper industry is a big concern. To address these concerns, researchers are exploring the potential of agricultural waste products as raw materials for pulp production. This study uses morphological, chemical composition, FTIR, XRD, and thermogravimetric analysis to examine the potential of banana pseudo-stem as a raw material for paper pulp to address environmental concerns and raw material shortages in the paper industry. The study reveals favorable characteristics for papermaking, including long fiber length (1750 μm), thin cell wall thickness (9.7 μm), and large lumen diameter (22.15 μm). The chemical composition of banana pseudo-stem contains cellulose (44.93 %), hemicellulose (23.7 %), and Klason lignin (11.1) showing its suitability for pulp production. FTIR analysis highlights the functional groups present on the banana pseudo-stem. The XRD analysis shows that it has a similar cellulosic peak and crystallinity index with common raw materials used in pulp production. The thermogravimetric analysis shows that the banana pseudo-stem has high thermal stability. The findings demonstrate that banana pseudo-stem, both by itself and in combination with other raw materials, might be a potential raw material for the pulp production.

In recent years, serious attention has been paid around the world to the chemical and biotechnological processing of biomass of easily renewable plant raw materials. One of the most mass-produced aliphatic alcohols is ethyl alcohol. The aim of this work was gas chromatographic analysis of the chemical composition of ethyl alcohol obtained from plants of the genus Asteraceae (dahlia and jerusalem artichoke tubers, chicory and big burdock roots) growing on the territory of Kazakhstan. The article discusses the methods of obtaining and application of ethyl alcohol. The results of the analysis of the chemical composition of ethyl alcohol obtained from plants of the genus Asteraceae are presented. As a result of the study, alcohols were obtained in different concentrations. The chemical composition of ethyl alcohol was determined by gas chromatography. The impurity composition of ethyl alcohol obtained from various types of raw materials is also shown. The composition of impurities in various samples of ethanol and alcohol-containing products is considered in detail. The results of the study were discussed, and the peculiarities of using the gas chromatography method were shown.

The berries of the black elderberry are a source of biologically active substances, among which phenolic compounds that have the main value. Most of the phenolic compounds are natural antioxidants and are widely used in the food industry. Using black elderberry will allow to enrich foods with biologically active complex contained in it. The purpose of the research is to study the chemical composition of black elderberry and the impact of processing technology on the quality of juice from these raw materials. Analysis of the chemical composition of berries of the black elderberry has confirmed the presence of a large number of biologically active substances in its composition. The impact of processing technology on the quality of the black elderberry juice was investigated. It was found that using enzymatic catalysis for squash pre-treatment has a positive effect on the quality indicators of black elderberry juice. Analysis of the fractional composition of phenolic compounds at different ways of squash pre-treatment was performed and it was determined that the maximum transition of phenolic compounds is achieved in enzymatic catalysis of squash, which has been pre-heated to inactivate endoenzymes of raw materials.