Acid Value Research Articles

E012 Burden and risk factors for cardiovascular involvement in connective tissue disease

Abstract Background/Aims Connective tissue diseases (CTD) are associated with several cardiovascular manifestations. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are significant cause of morbidity and premature death. The pathogenesis of CVD in CTD patients is incompletely understood and likely multifactorial. Traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis are common among patients with CTD as well as metabolic syndrome. Furthermore, diabetes, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, and obesity may all be exacerbated by connective tissue disease itself or treatment with glucocorticoids. The aim of this study was to assess the burden of CVD and the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with CTD. Methods This was a retrospective study from a single centre. We reviewed clinical records of CTD patients as determined by treating rheumatologist. This CTD cohort included patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), myositis, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren’s syndrome, mixed and undifferentiated connective tissue diseases. Data on demographic, clinical, laboratory parameters, cardiac investigations, treatment and outcome were collected from electronic patient records. CVD and traditional risk factors were defined using standard criteria. Results A total of 298 patients with CTD were included in the analysis. Mean age of the cohort was 61±17.7 years and majority were females (n = 240, 80.5%). Of the 298 patients, 64 had CVD (21.5%). Most common CVD was ischaemic heart disease (17 patients) followed by hypertension (12), arrhythmia (9), pulmonary arterial hypertension (7), valvular diseases (5), pericardial disease (3), cardiomyopathy (3), myocarditis (2), thromboembolism (3), aortic dissection (2) and coronary spasm (1). Patient with CTD who had CVD were older (72.5±12.2 years) compared to CTD patients who did not develop CVD (non-CVD group, 57.7±17.6 years). The duration of CTD was shorter in patients with CVD (88.9±41.7 months), compared to 106±84.3 months in non-CVD group. The risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and dyslipidaemia was higher in the CVD group. Comparing CVD vs non-CVD patients respectively, systolic BP (147.1±23.0 vs 133.6±18.3mmHg), diastolic BP (83.2 ± 16.3 vs 78.2 ± 11.2mmHg) and serum uric acid (321.8±97.4 vs 292±83.9mg/dL) values were higher and statistically significant (p < 0.05) in CVD group. Patients with CVD had longer exposure to steroids (50%) compared to non-CVD patients (31.6%). They required high dose steroids (9.4% vs 5.6% in non-CVD patients). Current and previous DMARD use was also higher in patients who had CVD (51.6% vs 44.9%). Conclusion This study has demonstrated high burden of cardiovascular disease in CTD patients. Traditional risk factors were more prevalent in the CVD group. DMARD’s and steroid use was also higher in the CVD group. Screening for cardiovascular diseases and disease control in CTD patients is paramount for better outcomes. Further analysis will be carried out for risk factors and relevant outcomes. Disclosure K.K. Garg: None. S. Sampath: None. A. Erinjogunola: None. B. Ting: None. H. Noori: None. G.M. Koduri: None.

Study of the Targeted Regulation of Rice Drying Characteristics and Quality

As the pre-process of storage and processing, rice drying is a key link to ensuring grain quality. A scientific and reasonable drying process can maintain grain quality and realize grain loss reduction, energy savings, and emission reduction. By establishing the response surface (RSM) regression model, the relationship between various experimental factors and quality indicators was analyzed, and the reasons for the results were explained. The optimized parameter combination was a hot air temperature of 43.14 °C, hot air humidity of 48.00%, initial moisture content of 23.80%, hot air velocity of 0.70 m/s, and hysteresis ratio of 3.55. Under this parameter combination, the drying characteristics (net drying time = 157.61 min, germination rate = 94.15%), processing quality (burst waist increase rate = 3.48%, whole rice rate = 70.458%), and nutritional quality (fatty acid value = 20.93 mg, resistant starch concentration = 195.26 μg/g, protein content change = 8.53 g/100 g, fat content change = 2.37 g/100 g) of rice after drying improved. The relative error between the validation results and the optimized results was 4.68%, indicating that the optimized process parameters can improve the efficiency and quality of rice drying. According to the regression model, the process reference chart with the process retrieval and prediction function was drawn, and the corresponding high-quality control scheme was given, providing a reference for the parameter settings of actual drying operations. The optimized drying process parameter combination effectively reduced the moisture gradient inside rice grains, drying stress, and the occurrence of cracks, thereby improving the appearance, quality and nutritional value of rice after drying. Moreover, the process reference chart can provide a reference for the actual preliminary processing technology of rice after production and a theoretical basis for an in-depth exploration of the mechanism of changes in rice quality.

Evaluation of Dynamic Changes of Volatile Organic Components for Fishmeal during Storage by HS-SPME-GC-MS with PLS-DA.

Headspace solid-phase microextraction, combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and partial least squares discriminant analysis, was adopted to study the rule of change in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) for domestic and imported fishmeal during storage with different freshness grades. The results showed that 318 kinds of VOCs were detected in domestic fishmeal, while 194 VOCs were detected in imported fishmeal. The total relative content of VOCs increased with storage time, among which acids and nitrogen-containing compounds increased significantly, esters and ketones increased slightly, and phenolic and ether compounds were detected only in domestic fishmeal. Regarding the volatile base nitrogen, acid value, pH value, and mold counts as freshness indexes, the freshness indexes were significantly correlated with nine kinds of VOCs (p < 0.05) through the correlation analysis. Among them, volatile base nitrogen had a significant correlation with VOCs containing nitrogen, acid value with VOCs containing carboxyl group and hydrocarbons, pH value with acids which could be used to adjust pH value, and mold counts with part of acids adjusting pH value and VOCs containing nitrogen. Due to the fact that the value of all freshness indexes increased with freshness degradation during storage, based on volatile base nitrogen and acid value, the fishmeal was divided into three freshness grades, superior freshness, corrupting, and completely corrupted. By using partial least squares discriminant analysis, this study revealed the differences in flavor of the domestic and imported fishmeal during storage with different freshness grades, and it identified four common characteristic VOCs, namely ethoxyquinoline, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-3H-benzo[e]indole-1,2-dione, hexadecanoic acid, and heptadecane, produced by the fishmeal samples during storage, as well as the characteristic VOCs of fishmeal at each freshness grade.

Mapping of Water and Soil Quality Parameters in the Gampaha-Ihalagama East and Eldeniya East Grama Niladhari Divisions, Sri Lanka

Water and soil are important natural resources, and the study of their distribution is of great interest. The Grama Niladhari Divisions, Ihalagama-East and Eldeniya-East, located in the Gampaha district, are selected as the study areas, and this is done as a pilot study. Different water and soil quality parameters are investigated followed by the construction of contour maps. As water quality parameters, pH, conductivity, phosphate content, nitrate content, and Ca2+ hardness were determined, and as soil quality parameters, pH, nitrate, organic matter, water-soluble Na+ and K+, extractable Na+ and K+, and water-soluble Ca2+ ion contents were determined. The pH of water samples lies within the range of 4.41 - 7.11 and 3.79 – 7.18 in the Ihalagama-East and Eldeniya East divisions, respectively. Almost all the samples have acidic pH values, with some falling below the lower limit of the WHO guidelines for safe drinking water (6.5 - 8.5). Conductivity values vary from 52.0 - 277.0 µS/cm and between 54.0 – 403.0 µS/cm, respectively, which is below the WHO permissible level of 1500 µS/cm. The phosphate content varies from 1.374 - 3.986 mg/L in Ihalagama-East and water-soluble phosphate was not detected in Eldeniya-East, indicating a very low range and suggesting that the water samples are less contaminated with phosphate-containing substances. Considerably high values in the range of 1.24 - 279.00 mg/L for Ihalagama-east and 59.5 mg/L - 168.0 mg/L for Eldeniya-East, are obtained for the nitrate content where most of them are beyond the safe level of drinking water, 50 mg/L. The soil pH in all the samples falls within the acidic range, varying from 2.99 - 6.73 in Ihalagama-East and 3.07 – 6.68 in Eldeniya-East. Most of the soil samples contain high nitrate contents, indicating significant contamination. The percentage soil organic matter content varies between 0.60% and 13.27% in both areas. Many fertile agricultural soils typically have an organic matter content ranging from 3% - 6% revealing that most of the samples are beyond the standard levels. The distribution of water-soluble and extractable cations does not exhibit a wide range. According to the findings, though two Grama Niladhari Divisions are selected, they also display a huge variation. This reveals the importance of mapping to address contaminations, effects of natural disasters which lead to changes in the studied water and soil quality parameters.

Seed oil of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. a non-edible promising feedstock for biodiesel synthesis

Finding an alternative energy source that satisfies our energy needs while being ecologically beneficial is vital. This study aimed to synthesize biodiesel of ASTM standard from the non-edible seed oil of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik over cheap MgO nanoparticles using various characterization techniques like XRD, SEM, FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR. The optimum 92% biodiesel yield was achieved at a 1:15 oil-to-methanol ratio using 30 mg catalyst concentration at a temperature of 60 °C, and the 40 min reaction time. The low acid value (0.39 KOH mg/kg) and in-range kinematic viscosity (4.16 cSt at 40 °C) of biodiesel is close to the conventional diesel, whereas the low calorific value (27933 KJ/Kg) indicates the presence of more oxygen in biodiesel than conventional one. Very low sulfur % wt (0.0126) ensures the eco-friendly nature of synthesized biodiesel. 42.72 MJ/kg Higher heating value (HHV), 47 cetane number, 2.89 h oxidative stability, 0.041 mg/Kg water content, 349 °C Distillation temperature (for 90% recovery) and 0.037 carbon residue and presence of mostly unsaturated methyl esters (FAMEs) make the synthesized biodiesel engine friendly, good fuel efficacy and competitive source for the commercial production.

Optimization of Extraction and Refining Parameters of Oil from Dotted Gizzard Shad (Konosirus punctatus).

To address the challenges associated with resource inefficiency, low extraction rates, environmental concerns, and high energy consumption in traditional fish oil production from dotted gizzard shad (Konosirus punctatus), a novel approach is needed. This study aimed to develop and evaluate two innovative methods for fish oil extraction and refinement, focusing on their effects on fish oil quality, fatty acid profile, and volatile compound composition throughout the respective processes. The findings of the study revealed that the ethanol-assisted enzymatic extraction method surpassed the conventional enzymatic approach in extraction efficiency, achieving an optimal extraction rate of 74.94% ± 0.45% under optimized process conditions. Moreover, the ethanol-NaOH one-step degumming and deacidification method proved effective in simultaneously removing phospholipids and free fatty acids. Under optimal conditions, a notable reduction in phospholipid content in dotted gizzard shad oil, from 6.80 ± 0.01 mg/g to 1.18 ± 0.01 mg/g, and a substantial decrease in acid value, from 3.31 mg/g to 0.31 mg/g, were observed. In summary, the study analyzed the physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, and volatile components of fish oil before and after refinement. The refining process was found to preserve the fatty acid composition while efficiently eliminating hydroperoxides and reducing unpleasant odors in the crude oil.

Metal-Organic Frameworks for Cisplatin Delivery to Cancer Cells: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are utilized as nanocarriers to enhance the efficiency of chemotherapy drugs, including cisplatin, which exhibit limitations such as side effects and resistance mechanisms. To evaluate the role of MOFs, we employed a molecular dynamics simulation, which, unlike other experiments, is cost-effective, less dangerous, and provides accurate results. Furthermore, we conducted molecular docking simulations to understand the interaction between cisplatin and MOF, as well as their internal interactions and how they bind to each other. Cisplatin and MOF molecules were parametrized using the Avogadro software and x2top command in GROMACS 5.1.2 and optimized by CP2K software; the Charmm-GUI site parametrized the cell cancer membrane. Three molecular dynamics simulations were conducted in four stages at various pHs, followed by simulated umbrella sampling. The simulations analyzed the pH responsiveness, total energy, Gibbs free energy, gyration radius, radial distribution function (RDF), solvent accessible surface area, and nanoparticles' toxicity. Results demonstrated that a neutral pH level (7.4) has greater adsorption and interaction compared to acidic pH values (6.4 and 5.4) because it displays the highest total energy (-17.1 kJ/mol), the highest RDF value (6.66), and the shortest distance (0.51 nm). Furthermore, the combination of cisplatin and MOFs displayed increased penetration compared to that of their individual forms. This study highlights the suitability of MOFs as nanocarriers and identifies the optimal pH values for desirable outcomes. Thus, it provides future studies with appropriate data to conduct their experiments in assessing MOFs.

Reduction of Acid Value of Waste Cooking Oil through Optimized Esterification via Central Composite Design

Reduction of Acid Value of Waste Cooking Oil through Optimized Esterification via Central Composite Design

Characterization of oil extracted from wild apricot seeds kernel using submerged alcoholic fermentation and its quality characteristics

The current study investigated the impact of Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation on apricot kernel oil extraction and the resulting quality characteristics of the oil. The seed kernels underwent physicochemical and antioxidant studies after being separated, gelatinized, and fermented. The results revealed 43.6% of oil yield by fermentation. The extracted oil had a lower acid value (3.74 mg KOH/g), and peroxide value (4.25 meq/kg). The investigation of additional oil properties was included, like iodine value (100.26 mg KOH/g), saponification value (190.5 mg KOH/g), specific gravity (0.919), viscosity (4.62), moisture content (0.592%), and refractive index (1.4836), which signifies optimum physicochemical parameters of oil. As per the FTIR data, some distinct functional groups like C-H stretch and CO, CC, CH3, OH, and R-O-R esters were found in the extracted oil. The oil's fatty acid composition, with 50.47% saturated, 22.23% mono-unsaturated, and 35.13% polyunsaturated fatty acids, enhances stability, oxidative resistance, and nutritional value, justifying its favorable physicochemical properties. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the oil showed to have good antioxidant activity. Metabolic modeling of S. cerevisiae provided information about compounds received after fermentation. Hence, it can be concluded that fermentation is a suitable approach to extract apricot seed kernel oil with beneficial properties.

Green solvent-based lipid extraction from guava seeds and spent coffee grounds to produce biodiesel: Biomass valorization and esterification/transesterification route

Spent coffee grounds and guava seeds were used as representative biomass residues to analyze the replacement of hexane with alternative green solvents for the extraction of lipids and their application to obtain biodiesel with the aim of contributing to the global zero-waste strategy. Lipid extraction studies were performed with these biomass wastes under different operating conditions. The results showed that the green solvents (i.e., ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, and ethyl propionate) outperformed the lipid extraction using hexane, achieving a maximum oil recovery of 24% for guava seed and 16.4% for spent coffee grounds, with ethyl propionate. The impact of solvent-to-biomass ratio, extraction temperature, and biomass particle size on lipid recovery from tested biomass residues was analyzed and discussed. The optimal extraction conditions for both biomasses were ethyl propionate, 0.3 mm of particle size and 40 °C; while the best solvent to biomass ratio were 10 and 8 mL/g for guava seeds and spent coffee grounds, respectively. The lipids extracted with green solvents showed similar physicochemical properties and compositions to those lipids extracted with hexane. Lipid extraction kinetics exhibited an endothermic performance. The kinetic data were suitably described with the first-order model (R2 = 0.92 – 1) with kinetic rate parameters in the range of 0.38–0.59 and 0.28–0.72 min−1, for guava seeds and spent coffee grounds, respectively. The lipids extracted from tested biomass were analyzed as raw source for biodiesel production via transesterification. The best reaction conditions to produce biodiesel (90%) were found at 60 °C, 6 h, 15% of catalyst-to-oil, and molar methanol-to-oil ratio of 26:1 using a one-step process. FAME formation up to 96% was obtained using a two-step esterification/transesterification methodology. A detailed characterization of the biodiesel obtained from the lipid fraction from these biomass wastes was also performed, indicating that transesterification reduced the acid value and viscosity to meet the ASTM standard criteria for biodiesel. The study contributes to the valorization of biomass wastes to produce renewable energy and to minimize the waste management problem.

Synthesis of Bio-Based Polyester Resins for Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing.

Driven by environmental considerations, the scientific community has directed great effort towards the synthesis of new materials derived from renewable resources. However, for photocurable resins, most commercially available building blocks still rely on petroleum-based precursors. Herein, we present a simple synthesis route for bio-based acrylate-modified polyester resins, whose viscosity is sufficiently low for processing them with vat photopolymerization 3D printing. The established synthesis route enables the gradual substitution of fossil-based raw materials with bio-based alternatives. The acid number, color and viscosity of the bio-based acrylic resins are characterized and photocurable formulations are prepared by adding a radical photoinitiator. The photopolymerization kinetics, and thermomechanical and mechanical properties of the photopolymers are investigated as a function of the resin structure and benchmarked against a commercially available petroleum-based counterpart. Finally, the processability of the new bio-based resins via digital light processing 3D printing is demonstrated and test specimens are successfully 3D printed with a resolution in the millimeter range.

The Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Moisturizing Effects of Camellia oleifera Oil and Its Potential Applications.

Camellia oleifera oil (CO oil) extracted from C. oleifera seeds has a 2300-year consumption history in China. However, there is relatively little research regarding its non-edible uses. This study determined the physicochemical properties of CO oil extracted via direct pressing, identified its main components using GC-MS, and evaluated its antioxidant, moisturizing, and anti-inflammatory activities. The results revealed that CO oil's acid, peroxide, iodine, and saponification values were 1.06 ± 0.031 mg/g, 0.24 ± 0.01 g/100 g, 65.14 ± 8.22 g/100 g, and 180.41 ± 5.60 mg/g, respectively. CO oil's tocopherol, polyphenol, and squalene contents were 82.21 ± 9.07 mg/kg, 181.37 ± 3.76 mg/kg, and 53.39 ± 6.58 mg/kg, respectively; its unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content was 87.44%, and its saturated fatty acid (SFA) content was 12.56%. CO oil also demonstrated excellent moisture retention properties, anti-inflammatory effects, and certain free radical scavenging. A highly stable CO oil emulsion with competent microbiological detection was developed using formulation optimization. Using CO oil in the emulsion significantly improved the formulation's antioxidant and moisturizing properties compared with those of the emulsion formulation that did not include CO oil. The prepared emulsion was not cytotoxic to cells and could reduce cells' NO content; therefore, it may have potential nutritional value in medicine and cosmetics.

Optimization of Red Ginger (Zingiber officinale var. Rubrum) Extraction Using Microwave Assisted Hydrodistillation Method

Red ginger is a spice plant that has high economic and social value. One of the uses of red ginger is to process it into a product, namely essential oil. This study aims to determine the optimization of the extraction process conditions on solvent volume, time, and extraction power that can produce optimum yield and residual content of red ginger essential oil solvent. The extraction was carried out with the help of microwaves. The research method is experimental design and optimization process with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) type Box-Behnken Design (BBD). The results showed that the optimum yield was at 700 mL solvent volume, 1 min extraction time, and 10% power (69.9 watts) with the equation Y = 0.2076 + 0.0262A – 0.0300B – 0.0013C and the concentration conditions the optimum remaining solvent with the equation Y = 4.98 – 1.0000A + 4.56B + 5.44C. The optimal yield of red ginger essential oil was 0.205%, with a residual solvent content of 3.8%, specific gravity 0.885, acid number 1.399, refractive index 1.485. The results of the optimum residual solvent content of -6.023%. Based on the results obtained, the yield value with the help of microwaves is higher than that without the help of microwaves. Keywords: Essential oil, Microwave, Residual solvent content, Response surface methodology (RSM), Yield.

Nutritional composition of ghee of various animal origins produced in some silk road countries

This study aimed to investigate the fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals of ghee from various animal milk from different countries, such as India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Turkey. Ghee consists of 98.9% of fat, irrespective of the animal source. Among the short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids, all samples contain butyric (C4:0), caproic (C6:0), caprylic (C8:0), and capric acid (C10:0). Mare and goat ghee additionally contain undecanoic acid (C11:0). Major fatty acids were myristic acid (C14:0), palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), and monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1 cis 9). Notably, camel and mare ghee have the highest values of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Regarding minerals, the average levels were 5.48 mg/100 g for calcium, 5.04 mg/100 g for potassium, and 23.6 mg/100 g for phosphorus. Ghee also contains β-carotene at an average of 392 µg/100 g, vitamin A at 606 µg/100 g, and vitamin E at 1650 µg/100 g. The aforementioned results underscore the variation in the nutritional composition of ghee according to its geographical origin and source.

Effect of fermentation agents on the pH, tta and microbial composition of &lt;i&gt;Fufu&lt;/i&gt; dough

Fufu, a product of cassava has been adulterated by processors. They add toxic substances to the soaked roots to fasten the fermentation days and make quick money. There is need to evaluate the effect of these fermentation agents on the microbial, pH and total titratable acidity (TTA) of the fufu dough. Fufu dough was produced with fermentation agents; kerosene, detergent and palm ash and also with a control without agent. They were wrapped in polyethylene bags, stored at ambient temperature and evaluated for storage and microbial quality in the Biochemistry Laboratory of National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Nigeria. These samples were assayed for chemical and microbial qualities which include pH and TTA. The results showed that the pH values ranged from 3.70 - 6.80, and Total Titratable Acidity (TTA) values ranged from 0.004 - 0.048 %. The microbial analysis showed increase in fungal (2.1×108 (cfu/g)) and bacterial (1.0 ×106 (cfu/g)) counts as the storage time increased with the control having the least microbial load. The fungal isolates from the samples are Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium spp, while the bacteria isolates from the samples include Bacillus spp and Staphylococcus aureus. Statistically, there were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in appearance of the fufu as storage time increased. The results from this study showed that the fufu with fermenting agents had higher microbial load than the control. It therefore encourages healthy practices among the fufu producers by stopping the use of fermenting agents to reduce the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms in processed fufu.

DNA-functionalized MOF fluorescent probes for the enzyme-free and pretreatment-free detection of MicroRNA in serum

MicroRNA (miRNA) is a promising biomarker that plays an important role in various biomedical applications, especially in cancer diagnosis. However, the current miRNA detection technology has inherent limitations such as complex operation, expensive testing cost and excessive detection time. In this study, a dual signal amplification biosensor based on DNA-functionalized metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) fluorescent probes, MFPBiosensor, was established for the enzyme-free and pretreatment-free detection of the colon cancer (CC) marker miR-23a. DNA-functionalized MOFs NH2-MIL-53(Al) (DNA@MOFs) were synthesized as fluorescent probes with specific recognition functions. A single DNA@MOF carries a large number of fluorescent ligands 2-aminoterephthalic acid (NH2–H2BDC), which can generate strong fluorescence signals after alkaline hydrolysis. Combined with catalyzed hairpin assembly (CHA), an efficient isothermal amplification technique, the dual signal enhancement strategy reduced matrix interference and sensitized the signal response. The established MFPBiosensor successfully detected extremely low levels of miRNA in complex biological samples with acceptable sensitivity and specificity. With a single detection cost of $0.583 and a test time of 50 min, the excellent inexpensive and rapid advantage of the MFPBiosensor is highlighted. More importantly, the subtle design enables the MFPBiosensor to achieve convenient batch detection, where miRNA in serum can be directly detected without any pretreatment process or enzyme. In conclusion, MFPBiosensor is a promising biosensor with substantial potential for commercial miRNA detection and clinical diagnostic applications of CC.

Sustainable production of biodiesel enabled by acid-base bifunctional ZnF2 via one-pot transformation of Koelreuteria integrifoliola oil: Process optimization, kinetics study and cost analysis

Against the backdrop of energy crisis and quest for carbon neutrality, efficient utilization of heterogeneous catalysts to facilitate one-pot conversion of low-quality nonedible oils into biodiesel, shows enormous promise for the reduction of carbon footprints and environmental pollution. In this study, an effective heterogeneous catalyst, acid-base bifunctional mesoporous ZnF2 (MP-ZnF2) was successfully fabricated for biodiesel synthesis from Koelreuteria integrifoliola oil (KIO, acid values of 8.26 mg KOH/g) via facile one-pot process. Meanwhile, systematic characterization showed the large specific surface area (62.9 m2/g), abundant mesoporous (12.15 nm), outstanding thermal stability, and plentiful stable acid-base sites (1.22 and 0.56 mmol/g) of MP-ZnF2. Consequently, MP-ZnF2 achieved a high biodiesel yield of 97.15% under moderate conditions (103 °C, 6.2 h, 10.2 wt% catalyst dosages, 29:1 MeOH/KIO molar ratio) optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). More importantly, through the kinetic investigation, a low activation energy of 49.24 kJ/mol explained the reason for its high activity, and the possible reaction mechanism of (trans)esterification was also proposed. In addition, MP-ZnF2 demonstrated satisfactory reusability (6th cycle, >90%), water resistance (8 wt% water content, 89.25%), and versatility (all yields >90%). According to cost analysis, the price of biodiesel in this work was about 0.64 $/kg. Notably, the as-prepared biodiesel conformed to ASTM D6751 and EN 14,214 standards, indicating great application prospects. It was demonstrated that one-pot transformation of KIO into biodiesel using acid-base bifunctional MP-ZnF2 contributes to the sustainable development of clean energy.

A comparison of indigenous vegetable oils and their blends with optimal fatty acid ratio

Oil blending is a trendy method of retaining their visual appeal, which also enhances their quality, stability, and nutritional content. The significance of this study lies in its pioneering approach towards determining the optimal fatty acid ratio through the blending of oils extracted from Bangladeshi origin rice bran, sesame seed, and mustard seed. Three blends were prepared, consisting of unrefined rice bran oil (RBO), unrefined mustard oil (MO), and partially refined sesame oil (SO) in different proportions: 70:20:10, 50:30:20, and 30:40:30, respectively. GC-MS (Gas Chromatogram-Mass Spectrometer) analyses revealed that the 50:30:20 (RBO:MO:SO) blend preserved the optimal ratio of fatty acids, 1:2:1; Saturated fatty acids (SFA): mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA): poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which closely matched the WHO/FAO standards. This blend was further evaluated and compared with each individual oil. Compared to the individual oils, the blended oil demonstrated superior physicochemical qualities. The blend of 50:30:20 (RBO:MO:SO) had a total antioxidant content of 96.046±0.11 %, with an IC50 value of 0.518±0.20 mg/mL. This value was much greater than that of the single oils and on par with standards BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) (97.589±0.40 %) and BHA ((butylated hydroxyanisole) (96.528±0.83 %). Density, viscosity, acid value, peroxide value, p-anisidine value, saponification value, iodine value, totox value, and color values of blended oil exhibited a slow rise in comparison to other individual vegetable oils under deep frying. The intended fatty acid ratio in the designed oil contributed to improved durability and nutritional potency compared to the individual oils, making it a potentially commercially feasible edible oil. By focusing on indigenous sources, the study aims to harness the unique properties of these oils to create blends that align with the dietary needs and preferences of the local population.

Standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in Chinese fermented soybean meal from different sources fed to mid and late-gestating sows.

We determined apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) values of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in fermented soybean meal from five different sources (FSBM 1 to 5) in China when fed to mid and late-gestating sows. Twenty-four parity four sows (12 at 30 d in gestation and 12 at 80 d in gestation) were fitted with a T-cannula in the distal ileum and used in this experiment. Sows were randomly assigned to a replicated 6 × 3 Youden square design including six diets and three periods. Six diets were provided for sows in mid and late gestation, including a nitrogen-free diet and five test diets containing 26% FSBM from different sources. Results showed that there were differences in AID and SID of CP among the different FSBM samples, but no differences between sow physiological stages were observed. Specifically, when mid-gestating sows were fed FSBM 2, the AID of CP was the lowest, whereas FSBM 3 exhibited a greater AID of CP when compared to the other FSBM samples (P < 0.01). Furthermore, during late gestation, FSBM 3 consistently had greater SID of CP when compared to other FSBM samples (P < 0.01). The ileal digestibility of most AA varied with different FSBM samples. In both mid and late gestation, differences (P < 0.05) were observed for AID of lysine, tryptophan, histidine, and arginine across different FSBM samples. Similarly, the AID of dispensable AA (cysteine, glutamine, and serine) also exhibited differences (P < 0.05) across different FSBM samples in both mid and late-gestating sows. For mid-gestating sows, SID differences relating to lysine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, threonine, and arginine were observed among different diets (P < 0.05). In late-gestating sows, SID values for lysine, tryptophan, leucine, and arginine differed across diets (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the ileal digestibility of some dispensable AA was influenced by physiological stage, as evidenced by greater AID and SID values for glycine, glutamine, cysteine, and serine in late-gestating sows when compared to mid-gestating sows (P < 0.01). In summary, our study determined AA ileal digestibility of different FSBM fed to mid and late-gestating sows. We observed that the AA ileal digestibility differed among five FSBM samples, but the physiological stage of sows did not affect the ileal digestibility of CP and most AA. Additionally, when formulating diets for sows, it is crucial to consider the nutritional value differences of FSBM.

Efficient removal of Cr(VI) by mechanochemically modified pyrites: Self-regulated neutralization behaviors

The pH of the aqueous environment commonly occurs during the application of natural/modified pyrite in water/soil remediation. In this study, mechanochemical modification of natural pyrite (M−pyrite) was employed to remove Cr(VI) over a wide pH range. Self-regulated neutralization was observed during Cr(VI) removal by M−pyrite in the initial pH range of 2.0–12.3. The reductive immobilization of total Cr occurred effectively when the solution self-regulated to a circumneutral pH (pH 5.0–9.0), but only efficient Cr(VI) reduction occurred under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions. Three pathways, i.e., Fe(II) removal, surface sulfide reduction and both combinations, could be revealed for Cr(VI) removal by M−pyrite at circumneutral pH and under strongly alkaline and acidic conditions. As Cr(VI) is reduced by ferrous and sulfide species, the protons generated from pyrite oxidation by O2 are consumed, causing neutral restoration to resist the initial sharp decrease in pH. Effective immobilization of the reduced Cr(VI) was confirmed at an initial pH of 5.0–9.0, but this immobilization did not occur at more acidic and alkaline pH values due to strong Fe(II) dissolution or surface precipitation. The M−pyrite was successfully applied in treating four types of saline industrial Cr(VI) wastewaters, demonstrating the advantage of self-regulated neutralization resistance in complex wastewater matrices.