Ratio Of Acetic Acid Research Articles

Nicotinamide benefited amino acid metabolism and rumen fermentation pattern to improve growth performance of growing lambs.

Nicotinamide (NAM) is easily degraded in the rumen, but the rumen-protected NAM (RPN) supplementation might enable the use of NAM in ruminants. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of RPN supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation, antioxidant status and amino acid (AA) metabolism in growing lambs. A total of 128 healthy and similar lambs (21.3±0.28 kg, 70±6.3 days of age) were allotted to 1 of 4 groups. The treatments were 0, 0.5, 1, and 2 g/d RPN supplementation. The RPN products (50% bioavailability) were fed at 0700 h every day for 12 weeks. All lambs were fed the same pelleted total mixed rations to allow ad libitum consumption and had free access to water. The RPN tended to increase the average daily gain and feed efficiency. The tendencies of RPN×day interaction were found for dry matter intake during the entire study (p = 0.078 and 0.073, respectively). The proportions of acetic acid, isobutyric acid and isovaleric acid were decreased, whereas the proportions of propionic acid and valeric acid were increased (p<0.05). The ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid was decreased (p<0.05). Moreover, the antioxidative status was enhanced and the glucose concentration was increased by RPN (p<0.05). In addition, 17 AAs were detected in plasma, of which 11 AAs were increased by RPN (p<0.05). Plasma metabolomics analysis identified 1,395 compounds belonging to 15 classes, among which 7 peptides were significantly changed after RPN supplementation. Overall, the results suggested that RPN supplementation favoured the rumen fermentation pattern to propionic acid-type with benefited glucose metabolism, enhanced antioxidant capacity, and changed the AA and small peptide metabolism. This study provides a new perspective for studying the relationship between vitamin and AA metabolism.

Enhancing Biogas Production Through the Co-Digestion of Fish Waste (FW) and Water Hyacinth (WH) Using Cow Dung as an Inoculum: Effect of FW/WH Ratio

The current investigation explores biogas production from water hyacinth (WH) and fish waste (FW) with cow dung (CD) as an inoculum source in two scenarios. In the first scenario, the optimization of mono-digestion was performed where the effect of WH/FW (substrates) with CD (inoculum) in varied ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 2:1, and 3:1 was observed to enhance the biogas production. In the second scenario, the optimization of co-digestion using both FW and WH as substrates in different ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1) with a fixed amount of inoculum was studied. The experiments were conducted in 500 mL digesters in duplicate under mesophilic conditions. Under mono-digestion conditions for FW, the digester operating with FW/CD in a 1:2 ratio demonstrated the highest biogas yield of 970 ± 14.1 mL/g VS, containing 610 CH4 mL/g VS, while in WH, the WH/CD ratio of 1:1 exhibited the highest biogas yield of 925 ± 49.4 mL/g VS, with a methane content of 440 CH4 mL/g VS. The co-digestion of the WH/FW ratio (1:1) showcased the highest biogas production of 1655 ± 91.92 mL/g VS, accompanied by 890 ± 70.7 CH4 mL/g VS. This was followed by the 1:2 and 2:1 ratio, yielding 1400 ± 56.5 and 1140 ± 169.7 mL/g VS. of biogas and 775 and 585 CH4 mL/g VS, respectively. The CD and WH mixture at a 1:1 ratio demonstrated the most significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD), reaching 91.68%. COD reductions over 80% in all combinations were observed in all instances. Anaerobic digestion (AD) simulations were validated using the Gompertz model, with high correlation coefficient values (R-squared) above 0.99 for all of the studied ratios, depicting a significant correlation between experimental data and model predictions. The propionic to acetic acid ratio did not cross the threshold level, indicating no inhibition of methane production. ANOVA analysis of biogas production between the co-digestion and mono-digestion of substrates showed non-significant results (p &gt; 0.310 and p &gt; 0.824, respectively), while overall digestion was significant (p &lt; 0.024), indicating efficiency variations among substrates. Paired sample t-tests revealed substantial differences between co-digestion ratios, which were also significant.

Solvates and Polymorphs of Axitinib: Characterization and Phase Transformation.

Axitinib (AXTN) is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the treatment of early to advanced renal cell carcinoma. In this work, solvates of AXTN were prepared in five solvents and subjected to desolvation treatment. The crystal form A of AXTN can form solvates in acetonitrile, DMF, acetic acid, acetic acid + water, and methanol. Different ratios of AXTN and acetic acid will form different products (solvate or directly crystallized into another crystal form (form IV)). The characterization results of thermal analyses confirmed the types of the five solvates. The obtained solvates were desolvated using methods of solid-phase desolvation (heating, exposure to solvent steam, microwave) and solvent-mediated phase transformation (SMPT). The desolvated solids were characterized by PXRD, TGA, DSC, FT-IR, and SEM, and it was ultimately inferred that a new crystal form (form Z) of AXTN could be formed after desolvation. In addition, the solvates obtained in this work experienced mutual transformation via SMPT, which depends on the type of solvents or mixed solvents. The phase transformations of different solid forms were summarized. This study is instructive for exploring solvates and polymorphs of AXTN and understanding phase transitions under different environments.

Yogurt acid whey powder dietary inclusion level modulates broiler cecal microbiota composition and metabolic activity

All over the world, the increasing demand for Greek yogurt generates vast quantities of acid whey as a by-product. The large volume and nutrient composition of yogurt acid whey makes it worthwhile to investigate potential uses in animal nutrition. This study aimed to investigate the inclusion of yogurt acid whey powder (YAWP) in four dietary levels on broiler performance, cecal microbiota composition and metabolic activity. A total of 300 male one-day-old male Ross broiler chickens were randomly assigned into 4 treatments of 5 replicates each. Broilers were fed maize-soybean meal basal diets following a 2-phase feeding program. Depending on the YAWP inclusion level (g kg-1 diet), treatments were no YAWP addition (W0), YAWP at 25 g kg-1 (W25), YAWP at 50 g kg-1 (W50) and YAWP at 100 g kg-1 (W100). Overall body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not affected by YAWP addition. In the ceca, a linear decrease in total bacteria counts and a linear increase in Lactobacillus spp. was noted with increasing YAWP dietary level. A linear reduction of Clostridium cluster I and E. coli species was noted with increasing YAWP dietary level. A linear increase in total volatile fatty acids concentration, acetic acid and butyric acid molar ratios was shown with increasing YAWP level. In conclusion, the addition of YAWP did not affect overall performance but positively modulated the cecal microbiota and metabolic activity of 42-day-old broiler chickens.

Interstellar Glycolaldehyde, Methyl Formate, and Acetic Acid. II. Chemical Modeling of the Bimodal Abundance Pattern in NGC 6334I

Gas-phase abundance ratios between C2H4O2 isomers methyl formate (MF), glycolaldehyde (GA), and acetic acid (AA) are typically on the order of 100:10:1 in star-forming regions. However, an unexplained divergence from this neat relationship was recently observed toward a collection of sources in the massive protocluster NGC 6334I; some sources exhibited extreme MF:GA ratios, producing a bimodal behavior between different sources, while the MF:AA ratio remained stable. Here, we use a three-phase gas-grain hot-core chemical model to study the effects of a large parameter space on the simulated C2H4O2 abundances. A combination of high gas densities and long timescales during ice-mantle desorption (∼125–160 K) appears to be the physical cause of the high MF:GA ratios. The main chemical mechanism for GA destruction occurring under these conditions is the rapid adsorption and reaction of atomic H with GA on the ice surfaces before it has time to desorb. The different binding energies of MF and GA on water ice are crucial to the selectivity of the surface destruction mechanism; individual MF molecules rapidly escape the surface when exposed by water loss, while GA lingers and is destroyed by H. Moderately elevated cosmic-ray ionization rates can increase absolute levels of “complex organic molecule” (COM) production in the ices and increase the MF:GA ratio, but extreme values are destructive for gas-phase COMs. We speculate that the high densities required for extreme MF:GA ratios could be evidence of COM emission dominated by COMs desorbing within a circumstellar disk.

Membrane-based fermentation enables highly selective caproic acid production from wine lees

Chain elongation is a green chemistry approach to convert organic waste or agro-industrial side-products into caproic acid. Nonetheless, such feedstocks may contain microorganisms and chemical pollutants that could deteriorate the product yield and purity. This study introduces a membrane-based fermentation process designed to isolate the caproic acid producing bacteria from these contaminants. A tubular polysiloxane (silicone) membrane submerged into a fermentor allowed the selective diffusion of ethanol and acetic acid while preventing the cross-over of bacteria and contaminants such as ions. Abiotic tests confirmed that membrane thickness, feedstock pH and flow velocity can be adjusted to independently control the diffusion of ethanol and acetic acid. Thereof, optimal ethanol:acetic acid ratios for chain elongation (6:1) were obtained from a feedstock solution with equimolar (1 M) concentrations of both. In the biotic tests, this resulted in a highly selective (>90 %) caproic acid production at a highest rate of 3.1 g/(L·d). Maintaining the pH above 6.8, thereby keeping most caproic acid in its dissociated form, prevented its back-diffusion through the membrane. Similar caproic acid productivity was achieved from diluted wine lees (1 M ethanol), amended with 1 M acetic acid. In contrast, unamended wine lees resulted in three times lower caproic acid production rate, although the product selectivity remained high (94 %). Downstream processing by acidification and phase separation yielded 6–13 mL/Lfeedstock of an oily product containing up to 784 g/L caproic acid (84.3 % purity). In conclusion, membrane-based fermentation enables highly selective caproic acid production from highly concentrated and unbalanced substrates.

Optimizing Lactic Acid Bacteria Proportions in Sourdough to Enhance Antifungal Activity and Quality of Partially and Fully Baked Bread.

The organic acids produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) during the fermentation of sourdoughs have the ability to reduce the growth of different molds. However, this ability depends on the LAB used. For this reason, in this study, the proportions of different LAB were optimized to obtain aqueous extracts (AEs) from sourdough to reduce fungal growth in vitro, control the acetic acid concentration, and obtain a specific lactic to acetic acid ratio. In addition, the optimized mixtures were used to formulate partially baked bread (PBB) and evaluate the mold growth and bread quality during refrigerated storage. Using a simplex-lattice mixture design, various combinations of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Lacticaseibacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus were evaluated for their ability to produce organic acids and inhibit mold growth. The mixture containing only Lpb. plantarum significantly reduced the growth rates and extended the lag time of Penicillium chrysogenum and P. corylophilum compared with the control. The AEs' pH values ranged from 3.50 to 3.04. Organic acid analysis revealed that using Lpb. plantarum yielded higher acetic acid concentrations than when using mixed LAB. This suggests that LAB-specific interactions significantly influence organic acid production during fermentation. The reduced radial growth rates and extended lag times for both molds compared to the control confirmed the antifungal properties of the AEs from the sourdoughs. Statistical analyses of the mixture design using polynomial models demonstrated a good fit for the analyzed responses. Two optimized LAB mixtures were identified that maximized mold lag time, targeted the desired acetic acid concentration, and balanced the lactic to acetic acid ratio. The addition of sourdough with optimized LAB mixtures to PBB resulted in a longer shelf life (21 days) and adequately maintained product quality characteristics during storage. PBB was subjected to complete baking and sensory evaluation. The overall acceptability was slightly higher in the control without sourdough (7.50), followed by bread formulated with the optimized sourdoughs (ranging from 6.78 to 7.10), but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The sensory analysis results indicated that the optimization was used to successfully formulate a sourdough bread with a sensory profile closely resembling that of a nonsupplemented one. The designed LAB mixtures can effectively enhance sourdough bread's antifungal properties and quality, providing a promising approach for extending bread shelf life while maintaining desirable sensory attributes.

Ionic liquid coupled plasma promotes acetic acid production during anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge: Breaking the restrictions of low bioavailable substrates and altering the metabolic activities of anaerobes

This study explored the potential application of plasma coupling ionic liquid on disintegration of waste activated sludge and enhanced production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in anaerobic fermentation. Under optimal conditions (dosage of ionic liquid [Emim]OTf = 0.1 g/g VSS (volatile suspended solids) and discharge power of dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBD) = 75.2 W), the [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment increased SCFA production by 302 % and acetic acid ratio by 53 % compared to the control. Mechanistic investigations revealed that the [Emim]OTf/DBD combination motivated the generation of various reactive species (such as H2O2, O3, •OH, 1O2, ONOO−, and •O2−) and enhanced the utilization of physical energies (such as heat). The coupling effects of [Emim]OTf/DBD synergistically improved the disintegration of sludge and biodegradability of dissolved organic matter, promoting the sludge anaerobic fermentation process. Moreover, the [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment enriched hydrolysis and SCFAs-forming bacteria while inhibiting SCFAs-consuming bacteria. The net effect was pronounced expression of genes encoding key enzymes (such as alpha-glucosidase, endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, l-lactate/D-lactate dehydrogenase, and butyrate kinase) involved in the SCFA-producing pathway, enhancing the production of SCFAs from sludge anaerobic fermentation. In addition, [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment facilitated sludge dewatering and heavy metal removal. Therefore, [Emim]OTf/DBD pretreatment is a promising approach to advancing sludge reduction, recyclability, and valuable resource recovery.

Comparative analysis of multi-effect evaporators in an ammonium acetate concentration process for L-methionine production

The process of treating an acetic acid aqueous solution generated during L-methionine production with ammonia and recovering a highly concentrated ammonium acetate aqueous solution using a multi-effect evaporator process was studied. The electrolyte non-random two-liquid model was applied to calculate the activity in the electrolyte solution, and the Hayden-O’Connell model was used to consider the dimerization reaction of acetic acid in the vapor phase. The dissociation equilibrium constant of acetic acid was modeled based on experimental values, and all other thermodynamic property models and parameters were used as implemented in the Aspen Plus software. Economic evaluation was carried out with various sensitivity tests, considering the loss of acetic acid and ammonia, as well as the steam cost. Evaporator operation was found to be more economical when the molar ratio of acetic acid to ammonia was equal, feed concentration was high, feed flow rate was low, and evaporator temperature was low. These results were confirmed in actual plant operations, with significant correlations between the feed flow rate and evaporator temperature. Our findings have significant implications for the development of sustainable and economical L-methionine production methods that enable the recycling of ammonium acetate.

Silage Quality Characteristics of Quinoa Varieties Grown in Different Row Spacings

Changing climatic conditions, agricultural lands becoming barren, losing their qualities and decreasing feed resources have led to the search for alternative feed resources. Quinoa (Chenepodium quinoa Willd.) is increasing in importance as an alternative feed source because it is a plant resistant to arid, salty and cold conditions. Quinoa plant can be considered as an alternative plant for silage, which is an important feed source for animals. In this study, the effects of sowing Cherry Vanilla and Read Head quinoa varieties at 4 different row spacings (17.5, 35.0, 52.5, 70.0 cm) on silage quality were investigated. In the research, pH, dry matter ratio, fleig score, ammonia production, sensory analyses, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid contents of quinoa silage were determined. While the effect of row spacing on dry matter ratio, ammonia production, sensory analysis, lactic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid ratios was found to be significant, its effect on pH value was insignificant. The quinoa varieties used in the research had a significant effect on the dry matter ratio and propionic acid content. In the light of the results obtained from the research, it was concluded that in order to obtain a quality quinoa silage, the plants should be sown in 52.5 cm row spacing and the Cherry Vanilla variety should be preferred.

In vitro fermentation end-products and rumen microbiome as influenced by microencapsulated phytonutrient pellets (LEDRAGON) supplementation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of microencapsulated bioactive compounds from lemongrass mixed dragon fruit peel pellet (MiEn-LEDRAGON) supplementation on fermentation characteristics, nutrient degradability, methane production, and the microbial diversity using in vitro gas production technique. The study was carried out using a completely randomized design (CRD) with five levels of MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% of the total dry matter (DM) substrate. Supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 3 or 4% DM resulted in increased (p < 0.05) cumulative gas production at 96 hours (h) of incubation time, reaching up to 84.842 ml/ 0.5 g DM. Furthermore, supplementation with 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON resulted in higher in vitro nutrient degradability and ammonia–nitrogen concentration at 24 h of the incubation time when compared to the control group (without supplementation) by 5.401% and 11.268%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, supplementation with MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet led to an increase in the population of Fibrobacter succinogenes at 24 h and Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens at 12 h, while decreasing the population of Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Methanobacteriales (p < 0.05). Moreover, supplementation of MiEn-LEDRAGON in the diet at levels of 2 to 4% DM resulted in a higher total volatile fatty acids (VFA) at 24 h, reaching up to 73.021 mmol/L (p < 0.05). Additionally, there was an increased proportion of propionic acid (C3) and butyric acid (C4) at 12 h (p < 0.05). Simultaneously, there was a decrease in the proportion of acetic acid (C2) and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid (C2:C3), along with a reduction of methane (CH4) production by 11.694% when comparing to the 0% and 3% MiEn-LEDRAGON supplementation (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study suggests that supplementing MiEn-LEDRAGON at 3% of total DM substrate could be used as a feed additive rich in phytonutrients for ruminants.

Fluorescein@NH2-UiO-66 Probe for Ratiometric Fluorescence Sensing of Trace Phosphate in Water

Phosphate pollution leads to deterioration in water quality, posing a serious threat to human health. Therefore, it is important to develop a highly selective and sensitive fluorescent probe for phosphate detection. Here, we report a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe, Fluorescein@NH2-UiO-66 (denoted as Flu@NH2-UiO-66), for the trace detection of phosphate in water. Specifically, during the in situ solvothermal synthesis of Flu@NH2-UiO-66, fluorescein molecules were encapsulated into the cavities of the metal-organic framework. Furthermore, the encapsulation amount of fluorescein was controlled by adjusting the acidity of the system. The Flu@NH2-UiO-66 (60 H+) sample, prepared with a 60:1 molar ratio of acetic acid to the metal center exhibited distinct dual fluorescence signal peaks. The probe showed a highly selective fluorescence response to phosphate. Within a range of 0–20 μM phosphate concentration, the probe demonstrated excellent linear detection capability with a detection limit of 0.37 μM. Moreover, the mechanism of fluorescence enhancement can be attributed to the addition of phosphate, which greatly increases the UV absorbance of the probe. This study developed a novel ratiometric fluorescent probe capable of rapid, sensitive, and stable detection of trace phosphate, which is of great significance for environmental management.

Influence of dietary Salicornia europaea L. extract supplementation on feed efficiency of Altay sheep by modifying their gastrointestinal bacteria communities.

This experiment aimed to examine the impact of Salicornia europaea L. extract on sheep growth performance, rumen fermentation variables, nutrient apparent digestibility, and gastrointestinal microbial diversity. Forty-eight male Altay sheep, weighing 32.5 ± 2.8 kg and approximately 3.5 months old, were chosen. Four dietary treatments, each consisting of four replicates and three sheep per replicate, were distributed randomly to the sheep. The pelleted total mixed ration containing Salicornia europaea L. extract at 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6% DM was freely available to the sheep in the four treatment groups. The 56-day experiment consisted of 45 days of measurements followed by 11 days of adaptation. The growth performance was not affected by nutrition Salicornia europaea L. extract (p ≤ 0.05), but the feed-to-gain ratio was reduced when the extract was given at 0.4% DM (p ≤ 0.05). Compared to the 0 and 0.2% treatments, the apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF was substantially greater in the 0.4, and 0.6% treatments. Furthermore, compared to sheep in the 0 and 0.2% groups, sheep in the 0.6% group had a noticeably higher apparent digestibility of CP. As the amount of Salicornia europaea L. extract added to the rumen fluid rose, the molar ratio of acetic acid increased. In contrast, the molar ratio of propionic acid gradually decreased, and the total volatile fatty acid content gradually reduced. Thus, adding a suitable quantity of Salicornia europaea L. extract to the sheep ration is natural and secure, which may improve the environmental sustainability of small ruminant production systems.

Enhancing Rumen Fermentation and Bacteria Community in Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) through Varying Levels of Dragon Fruit Peel Polyphenolic Extract: An In Vitro Study.

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of dragon fruit peel polyphenolic extract (DFPE) on gas production, rumen fermentation, and bacterial communities in sika deer using an in vitro technique. Three treatments with different DFPE levels (DFPE0, base diet; DFPE5, base diet + 5 mg/g DFPE; DFPE10, base diet + 10 mg/g DFPE, respectively; n = 6) were implemented. The phenolic composition of DFPE, gas production (GP), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), volatile fatty acid (VFA), and bacteria communities was evaluated after 24 h of incubation. The results showed that GP and NH3-N were reduced by DFPE supplementation. Total VFA, isovaleric acid, and valeric acid were increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of DFPE. No changes (p > 0.05) were observed in pH, acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, butyric acid, and the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid. Additionally, the alpha indexes, including Sobs, Shannon, and Ace, were increased by DFPE supplementation. Moreover, at the phylum level, DFPE supplementation increased (p = 0.01) Bacteroidota but reduced (p < 0.01) Firmicutes. At the genus level, compared to DFPE0, the DFPE10 had increased relative abundances of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group (p < 0.01), norank_f_Muribaculaceae (p = 0.01), Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group (p < 0.01), Christensenellaceae_R-7_group (p < 0.01), and NK4A214_group (p < 0.01), decreased relative abundances of Streptococcus (p < 0.01), Oribacterium (p = 0.01), and Enterococcus (p < 0.01). Compared to DFPE0, DFPE5 had no change (p > 0.05) in all bacteria at the genus level except for decreased relative abundance of Enterococcus (p < 0.01). These results indicated that DFPE may be able to be used as a feed additive to enhance fermentation parameters and improve ruminal bacteria communities in Sika deer.

Determination of hydroxyl value of vegetable oils‐based polyols through ring‐preopening, solvent‐extraction, and acetylation method

AbstractVegetable oils‐based polyols prepared by epoxidation‐hydroxylation often have the phenomenon of the coexistence of epoxy and hydroxyl groups due to different ring‐opening degrees. The acylation method recommended by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standard (D1957‐86) and the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) standard (965.32) is applicable only to fatty alcohols in oils and fats and their derivatives but not to vegetable oils‐based polyols since the residual epoxy groups in vegetable oils‐based polyols lead the tested hydroxyl value (OHV) to be higher than the actual OHV. A method combining ring‐preopening of residual epoxy groups, ether extraction of ring‐preopened vegetable oils‐based polyols, and subsequent acetylation by acetic anhydride‐acetic acid was established for OHV determination of vegetable oils‐based polyols. The accuracy of the method was verified by the known theoretical OHVs of short‐chain alcohols and simulated vegetable oils‐based polyols. The absolute values of relative deviations for OHVs of short‐chain alcohols and simulated vegetable oils‐based polyols were within 1.0% and 3.1%, respectively, which indicates the feasibility of the established method in eliminating the negative effects of residual epoxy groups in vegetable oils‐based polyols on OHV determination as well as accurately determining and evaluating the OHV of vegetable oils‐based polyols. The method can broaden the range of OHV determination up to 1800 mg KOH/g. The ratio of acetic anhydride and acetic acid and reaction time are key factors affecting the complete degree of acetylation, which can be regulated mutually in accurately determining the OHV of vegetable oils‐based polyols according to the practice. It is the first time, to our best knowledge, to establish a method to eliminate the negative effects of residual epoxy groups in vegetable oils‐based polyols on OHV determination. The established method provides a feasible method for polyol industry to accurately evaluate the product quality of vegetable oils‐based polyols.

Exploring the effect of protein secondary structure on the solid state and physical stability of protein-based amorphous solid dispersions

Amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs) using proteins as carriers have emerged as a promising strategy for stabilizing amorphous drug molecules. Proteins possess diverse three-dimensional structures that significantly influence their own properties and may also impact the properties of ASDs. We prepared β-lactoglobulin (BLG) with different contents of β-sheet and α-helical secondary structures by initially dissolving BLG in different mixed solvents, containing different ratios of water, methanol/ethanol, and acetic acid, followed by spray drying of the solutions. Our findings revealed that an increase in α-helical content resulted in a decrease in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the protein. Subsequently, we utilized the corresponding mixed solvents to dissolve both BLG and the model drug celecoxib (CEL), allowing the preparation of ASDs containing either β-sheet-rich or α-helix/random coil-rich BLG. Using spray drying, we successfully developed BLG-based ASDs with drug loadings ranging from 10 wt% to 90 wt%. At drug loadings below 40 wt%, samples prepared using both methods exhibited single-phase ASDs. However, heterogeneous systems formed when the drug loading exceeded 40 wt%. At higher drug loadings, physical stability assessments demonstrated that the α-helix/random coil-rich BLG structure exerted a more pronounced stabilizing effect on the drug-rich phase compared to the β-sheet-rich BLG. Overall, our results highlight the importance of considering protein secondary structure in the design of ASDs.

Sourdough Fermentation of Oat and Barley Flour with Bran and Its Application in Flatbread Made with No-Time and Dough Retardation Methods

Dough retardation is commonly used to extend dough shelf-life, but it poses a challenge for flatbreads due to their large surface. This study explored the sourdough fermentation of oats and barley, addressing challenges in the retardation of dough for flatbread. Sourdough, using flour only or flour blended with bran (3:1), was fermented with a LIVENDO LV1 starter at 30 °C for 24 h. The pH value, microbial viable cell count, total titratable acidity and organic acids concentration of the sourdough were measured. The properties of dough and flatbread, depending on the retardation time (24 h and 48 h), sourdough type (oat or barley) and sourdough level (30% or 50% dough weight), were investigated. Oat flour’s limited acidification improved with the inclusion of bran, resulting in a desirable pH, TTA, and lactic to acetic acid ratio after 15 h of fermentation, which were comparable to results achieved with barley sourdough. The sourdough addition slowed down the enzymatic browning of dough during retardation. Dough retardation at 24 h reduced the phytates content (32–38%) and crumb hardness (9–16%), depending on the sourdough type and level. In dough retardation, β-glucans were degraded by up to 9% in the case of oats and by up to 28% in the samples with barley. Overall, adding oat or barley sourdough at a 30% dough weight can be recommended to enhance flatbread’s nutritional value and prolong its shelf life.

Tailorable mechanical and degradation properties of KCl-reticulated and BDDE-crosslinked PCL/chitosan/κ-carrageenan electrospun fibers for biomedical applications: Effect of the crosslinking-reticulation synergy

The development of intricated and interconnected porous mats is desired for many applications in biomedicine and other relevant fields. The mats that comprise the use of natural, bioactive, and biodegradable polymers are the focus of current research activities. In the present work, crosslinked fibers with improved characteristics were produced by incorporating 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BDDE) into a polymer formulation containing polycaprolactone (PCL), chitosan (CS), and κappa-carrageenan (κ-C). A slight variation of formic acid (FA)/acetic acid (AA) ratio used as a solvent system, significantly affected the characteristics of the produced fiber mats. Both polysaccharides and BDDE played a major role in tailoring mechanical properties when fibrous scaffolds were reticulated under KCl-mediated basic conditions for determined periods of time at 50 °C. In vitro biological assessment of the electrospun fiber mats revealed proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells when incubated for 1 and 7 days. After staining the cells with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)/rhodamine phalloidin an autofluorescence response was observed by fluorescence microscopy in the scaffold manufactured using a solvent with higher FA/AA ratio due to the formation of microfibers. The results demonstrated the potential of the BDDE-crosslinked PCL/CS/κ-C electrospun fibers as promising materials for biomedical applications that may include soft and bone tissue regeneration.

A rapid method for the determination of stable hydrogen isotope ratios of acetic acid in vinegar.

Vinegar is an everyday condiment made from fermented grains or fruits. It contains acetic acid which is the main organic material produced by fermentation. Vinegar suffers from the authenticity problem of exogenous adulteration due to the indistinguishability of low-cost chemical sources of synthetic acetic acid from acetic acid produced by fermentation. It is necessary to establish a simple and rapid measurement technique. Determination was according to the total acid content of vinegar diluted with acetone to a certain concentration. Online separation and determination of acetic acid δD in vinegar were carried out using gas chromatography-pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry. An HP-Plot/U column was selected for online separation of acetic acid and water with molecular sieve characteristics. At the same time, combined with the instrument blowback function to remove water. Dilute solvent acetone was treated with a molecular sieve to remove trace water. The reproducibility of this method is less than 3‰. The long-term stability is within a reasonable error range. The accuracy correlation coefficient is greater than 0.99. The δD values of acetic acid in vinegar (-264.5 ± 20.3‰) and from chemical sources (-30.5 ± 90.8‰) were obtained. A rapid method was developed for identification of different sources of acetic acid. These different sources of acetic acid exhibited significant hydrogen isotope distribution characteristics. Additionally, it was observed that the carboxyl hydrogen of acetic acid exhibited facile exchange with water. In future investigations, we aim to mitigate this interference.

Optimisation of the glycerol acetylation process using graphene oxide catalyst

Glycerol diversification from biodiesel production can be improved by converting it into high-value acetin products, for example, glyceryl monoacetate (MAG), glyceryl diacetate (DAG) and glyceryl triacetate (TAG) via the glycerol acetylation process with graphene oxide as a catalyst synthesised from Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT). Hummer's method was used to prepare graphene oxide. The acidity of the catalyst was examined, as well as FTIR, BET, XRD and SEM-EDX. This research aims to improve the glycerol acetylation to produce high glycerol conversion and acetins selectivity depending on the reaction circumstances. Process optimisation employs Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in conjunction with the Box-Behnken Design (BBD) method with three repeats of the midpoint. Temperature, mole ratio and catalyst loading (%) were all evaluated factors. The RSM process was optimised using Design-Expert software version 13, which resulted in a glycerol conversion of 93.04%. Moreover, with the selectivity of MAG 47.65%, DAG 29.21%, and TAG 23.36% at a temperature of 110°C, the mole ratio of glycerol and acetic acid (1:9) and the catalyst loading are 5%.