Amount Of Total Sugars Research Articles

Biochemical changes in rice yellow stem borer infested rice accessions

Biochemical constitution of 22 rice accessions showing susceptible, moderately susceptible, moderately resistant and resistant reaction to yellow stem borer, Scirpophaga incertulas (Walker) were studied in 40 days old transplanted healthy and stem borer infested plants under screen house condition. Total phenol increased by range of 13.11 to 43.66%, OD phenol increased by range of 20.00 to 61.29%, total sugar increased by range of 30.62 to 64.35%, reducing sugar increased by range of 33.68 to 64.48% and non-reducing sugar increased by range of 22.57 to 61.17% due to stem borer infestation in different rice accessions. The results depicted that the amount of total sugars, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugars in all susceptible genotypes was found higher compared to resistant and moderately resistant accessions. Higher level of total phenols and ortho-dihydroxy phenol were found in resistant and moderately resistant accessions as against susceptible accessions and indicating that these defensive compounds contributing towards the rice yellow stem borer resistance.

Controlled pollinations reveal self-incompatibility and inbreeding depression in the nutritionally important parkland tree, <i>Parkia biglobosa</i>, in Burkina Faso

The socioeconomically important fruit tree Parkia biglobosa is becoming less abundant in the West African savannah, possibly due to poor regeneration. This decline can be self-enforcing if lower densities of fertile trees result in increasing self-pollination followed by increased abortion rates or poor regeneration due to inbreeding depression. Hence, we have studied the reproductive success and seedling viability of P. biglobosa after controlled self- and cross-pollination based on a full diallel crossing design with eight trees. Controlled cross-pollination tripled the pod set compared to open-pollinated capitula, suggesting that fruiting of P. biglobosa trees in the study area is already seriously pollen limited. Self-pollination and specific pairs of trees resulted in very few pods, suggesting a high level of self-incompatibility. Cross-pollination resulted in larger pods with more and heavier seeds than self-pollinated pods. The total amount of sugar in the fruit pulp was correlated with both the number of healthy and total seeds per pod. Growth rate of self-pollinated seedlings was lower than the cross-pollinated ones, suggesting significant inbreeding depression. Because the wild fruit trees play an important role in human nutrition, these results give rise to serious concerns. We recommend that future studies investigate how the level of cross-pollination can be increased and how the regeneration of P. biglobosa, whether natural or planted, can be improved.

Mixture of calcium, magnesium and seaweed affects leaf phytoalexin contents and grape ripening on vines with grapevine leaf stripe disease.

Grapevine leaf stripe disease (GLSD) is a tracheomycosis caused by Phaeomoniella chlamydospora and Phaeoacremonium minimum . Impacts on yields of grapes were correlated with the incidence and severity of GLSD symptoms on vine canopies. In 2012 and 2013, vines in two vineyards were treated with nine applications of a mixture of leaf fertilizers containing calcium, magnesium and seaweed extracts. At different growth stages, leaves were sampled from treated and control plots of healthy, GLSD-asymptomatic, or GLSD-symptomatic vines and contents were measured of the phytoalexins trans -resveratrol, trans -e-viniferin, trans -δ-viniferin and trans -pterostilbene. Grape ripening was also monitored from veraison to harvest during both vintages. The treatments caused significant reductions in canopy symptom expression. Increased phytoalexin contents were measured from ‘fruit set’ to ‘berries developing colour’ stages. Trans -resveratrol peak was recorded in asymptomatic diseased vines at the ‘berries pea-sized’ stage, and trans -e-viniferin and trans -δ-viniferin increased at the ‘berries beginning to touch’ stage, compared to the contents recorded in untreated asymptomatic vines. From ‘berries developing colour’ to harvest, all treated vines had lower amounts of phytoalexins than the control ones. At harvest, treated healthy and symptomatic vines produced berries with similar amounts of total sugars compared to untreated vines. Treated asymptomatic vines produced berries with greater amounts of total sugars compared to the untreated vines. These results indicate that increased phytoalexin content recorded from ‘fruit set’ to ‘berries beginning to touch’ in asymptomatic vines treated with the mineral/seaweed mixture may reduce symptoms of GLSD.

Effect of silicon on improving salinity tolerance of TaliouineCrocus sativusL.

The aim of this study is to determine and evaluate the silicon effect on saffron under salt stress. Saffron, Crocus sativus L., was grown in different treatments of NaCl in presence and absence of silicon in its soluble form, ortho silicic acid (SiOH)4. The obtained results showed that the silicon acted positively on biometric and biochemical studied parameters; the number of bulbs was15.24 and 20% more important in treatments of 50 and 100 mM of NaCl, respectively, with silicon compared to those obtained in its absence; silicon increased weights of bulbs by 34% for the treatment of 50 mM NaCl and 8% for the treatment of 100 Mm. Moreover, supplementary Si ameliorated chlorophyll content. In the presence of silicon, the proline content was reduced about 60 and 95% in the bulbs and aerial parts respectively, indicating, the less stressed status of salted plants grown in 100 mM of NaCl and the amount of total sugar enhanced. In conclusion of this study, silicon strengthened the immunity of saffron by reducing the adverse effect of salinity that can make it an ally for the valorization of regions affected by salinity and for the climate change adaptation of this species.

Carbohydrates Components of Some Italian Local Landraces: Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Garlic is one of the most widespread and ancient medicinal plants. Its health benefits are due to its chemical components, and among these is carbohydrate, whose characteristics have been so far little investigated. The aim of this study is to typify the various components of carbohydrate (starch, individual sugars, fructans, and total dietary fibre) in four commonly consumed “Italian local landraces”: Bianco Piacentino, Rosso di Castelliri, Rosso di Sulmona, Rosso di Proceno, which are grown in two different geographical areas—Viterbo and Alvito—under the same agronomic conditions. This study will also evaluate how genotype and the cultivation area can affect the profile of the carbohydrate components of these landrace strains. Regarding unavailable carbohydrates, all of the varieties showed appreciable contents of fructans, the most representative component, which ranged from 45.8 to 54.4 g/100 g d.w. In contrast, total dietary fibre values varied from 9.1 to 13.1 g/100 g d.w. in Rosso di Castelliri and Bianco Piacentino, respectively, which are both grown in Viterbo. As for starch, only some traces were found, while the amount of total sugars ranged between 2.12 and 3.27 g/100 g d.w., with higher levels of sucrose. Our findings could provide important information that may be adopted to enhance and promote the quality of some local Italian garlic landraces through highlighting the influence that the cultivar and the environmental conditions can have on carbohydrates components.

AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF THE CURRENT STATUS OF SUGAR CROPS IN EGYPT

Sugar crops are considered to be the most important strategic food commodities, which attract the attention of decision-makers and producers who are concerned with the availability of supply in the markets, the deficit and the food gap. Sugar production depends on two crops in Egypt: sugarcane and sugar beet. A sugar gap due to the inability of the supply of domestic sugar to meet the demand for increased consumer needs, resulting in higher prices. The study aims to study the current situation of the production and consumption of sugar crops in Egypt and to estimate the food gap of sugar. Also, study the most important factors affecting the production and consumption of sugar crops in Egypt and the self-sufficiency rate. Of sugar The research was based on descriptive and quantitative analysis of the economic variables, the subject of the research to measure those variables and the research reached the following results. The cultivated area of sugar cane and sugar beet has taken an increasing general trend, which is estimated to be about 0.6, 37.7 thousand feddans annually, respectively, representing about 0.19%, 11.3% of the average during the period (2005- 2015) 324.3, 334.6 thousand acres, respectively. The total production of cane sugar has taken a general trend is decreasing, and did not confirm the statistical model, that is, there is relative stability length of study. The production of sugar beet crop has taken an increasing trend, which is estimated at about 810.8 thousand tons annually, representing about 11.6% of the annual average and estimated at 7002 thousand tons. The total amount of sugar produced from both sugar cane and sugar beets has taken an increasing general trend, and did not confirm the statistical significance, that is, there is relative stability throughout the study period. The food gap of sugar amounted to about 50.35 thousand tons, representing about 1.71% of the average national consumption of sugar, which amounted to 2937 thousand tons during the same period. Self-sufficiency rate of sugar amounted to about 63%, has taken a general trend decreases, and did not confirm the statistical significance, there is relative stability length of the study period. The study of the most important factors affecting the production of cane and sugar beet separately showed the existence of a positive relationship between the total production of each crop separately and the area and productivity of each crop separately, respectively. Study the factors affecting the consumption of sugar during the period of research shows the existence of a positive relationship between national consumption of sugar and the income of the consumer per pound / per year, local production of sugar per thousand tons, and the monetary value to support sugar per million pounds, and the opposite of the amount of national consumption of sugar and the retail price of sugar per kilogram per kilogram and the average global price in dollars / ton.

In vitro assessment of the antihyperglycemic and antioxidant properties of araçá, butiá and pitanga

Abstract Native fruits have been known as a great source of bioactive compounds with potential biological effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidant activities of araca (Psidium cattleianum Sabine), butia (Butia odorata (Barb. Rodr.) Noblick) and pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) and relate their chemical composition with the observed biological activity. Samples of mature fruits were extracted with ethanol and the observed biological activities were dependent of the species and concentration as well. Aracas were the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitors (IC50 value of 25.4 ± 0.7 and 31.8 ± 0.7 µg/ml, respectively). Pitangas showed antiradical activities against DPPH, hydroxyl and nitric oxide radicals. Orange pitanga and butia from Santa Vitoria do Palmar were the most active concerning anion superoxide radical. All fruits are rich in total phenolic compounds with values in the range of 454.5 ± 17.3–908.3 ± 60.8 mg of equivalents of chlorogenic acid/100 g fresh weight. Purple pitanga stood out due to their levels of anthocyanins and carotenoids. Fruits showed similar amounts of total sugars, aracas and pitangas showed higher levels of reducing sugars while butias were the richest ones in non-reducing sugars. Fruits with lower IC50 values for α-glucosidase inhibition were correlated with higher concentrations of reducing sugars, phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and carotenoids and grouped by principal component analysis (PCA). The obtained results indicate that these native fruits are promising sources of α-glucosidase inhibitors and antioxidants that can be used to control glycemia in patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus.

Nectar sugars and amino acids in day- and night-flowering Nicotiana species are more strongly shaped by pollinators' preferences than organic acids and inorganic ions.

Floral nectar contains mainly sugars but also amino acids, organic acids, inorganic ions and secondary compounds to attract pollinators. The genus Nicotiana exhibits great diversity among species in floral morphology, flowering time, nectar compositions, and predominant pollinators. We studied nectar samples of 20 Nicotiana species, composed equally of day- and night-flowering plants and attracting different groups of pollinators (e.g. hummingbirds, moths or bats) to investigate whether sugars, amino acids, organic acids and inorganic ions are influenced by pollinator preferences. Glucose, fructose and sucrose were the only sugars found in the nectar of all examined species. Sugar concentration of the nectar of day-flowering species was 20% higher and amino acid concentration was 2-3-fold higher compared to the nectar of night-flowering species. The sucrose-to-hexose ratio was significantly higher in night-flowering species and the relative share of sucrose based on the total sugar correlated with the flower tube length in the nocturnal species. Flowers of different tobacco species contained varying volumes of nectar which led to about 150-fold higher amounts of total sugar per flower in bat- or sunbird-pollinated species than in bee-pollinated or autogamous species. This difference was even higher for total amino acids per flower (up to 1000-fold). As a consequence, some Nicotiana species invest large amounts of organic nitrogen for certain pollinators. Higher concentrations of inorganic ions, predominantly anions, were found in nectar of night-flowering species. Therefore, higher anion concentrations were also associated with pollinator types active at night. Malate, the main organic acid, was present in all nectar samples but the concentration was not correlated with pollinator type. In conclusion, statistical analyses revealed that pollinator types have a stronger effect on nectar composition than phylogenetic relations. In this context, nectar sugars and amino acids are more strongly correlated with the preferences of predominant pollinators than organic acids and inorganic ions.

Extraction process of palm kernel cake as a source of mannan for feed additive on poultry diet

Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) is a by-product of palm kernel oil extraction and found in large quantity in Indonesia. The inclusion of PKC on poultry diet are limited due to some nutritional problems such as anti-nutritional properties (mannan). On the other hand, mannan containing polysaccharides play in various biological functions particularly in enhancing the immune response and to control pathogen in poultry. The research objective to find out the extraction process of PKC and conducted at animal nutrition and Feed Science Laboratory, Agricultural Faculty, University of Sumatera Utara. Various extraction methode were used in this experiment, including fraction analysis used 7 number sieves, and followed by water and acetic acid extraction. The result indicated that PKC had different particle size according to sieve size and dominated by particle size 850 um. The analysis of sugar content indicated that each particle size had different characteristic on treatment by hot water extraction. The particle size 180—850 um had higher sugar content than coarse PKC (2000—3000 um). The total sugar content were recovered vary between 0.9—3,2% from PKC were extracted. Treatment grinding method followed by hot water extraction (100—120 °C, 1 h) increased total sugar content than previous treatments and reach 8% from PKC were extracted. Utilisation acetic acid decreased the total amount of total sugar from PKC were extracted. It is concluded that treatment by hot temperature (110—120 °C) for 1 h show highest yield to extract sugar from PKC.

Agro-Industrial Wastes for Production of Biosurfactant by Bacillus subtilis ANR 88 and Its Application in Synthesis of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles.

Biosurfactants, surface-active amphiphilic compounds, despite having a wide range of applications, have a high cost of production, which severely restricts their use. For cheaper production of biosurfactant, we investigated the potential of the indigenously isolated biosurfactant producing organism, Bacillus subtilis ANR 88, to grow on different cheap carbon sources (molasses, whey, and extracts of potato peels, orange peels, banana peels, and bagasse). We found that, B. subtilis ANR 88 used significant amounts of total sugar to produce cell biomass and biosurfactant. The biosurfactant production in minimal medium containing glucose as sole source of carbon was 0.207 g/l and the same with molasses as carbon source was 0.241 g/l. With whey as carbon source, isolate failed to produce biosurfactant. Amongst the extracts of the agro-wastes, the extracts of bagasse and orange peels gave 0.127 and 0.089 g/l of biosurfactant respectively. One-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) studies carried out to optimize the production of biosurfactant by B. subtilis ANR 88 resulted into maximum biosurfactant yield of 0.513 g/l in medium: molasses 4%, ammonium ferric citrate 0.25%, pH 7. Plackett–Burman design based statistical method for optimization increased the production of biosurfactant to 0.746 g/l, which is 3.6-fold of that produced on glucose. The biosurfactant produced by B. subtilis ANR 88 was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR); it showed that the biosurfactant contained alkyl as well as peptide groups. The biosurfactant of B. subtilis ANR 88 was found effective in the synthesis of silver as well as gold nanoparticles in the total absence of conventional chemical reducing agents. Interestingly, nanoparticles produced were almost uniform in their size and shapes i.e., spherical silver (4–18 nm) and hexagonal gold nanoparticles (40–60 nm), as evident in TEM images.

Microalgae Cultivation for Lipids and Carbohydrates Production

Microalgae are photoautotrophic microorganisms that can produce energy both by using sunlight, water and CO2 (phototrophic metabolism) and by using organic sources such as glucose (heterotrophic metabolism). Heterotrophic growth is a key factor in microalgae research, due to its increased productivity and the lower capital and operative costs compared to photoautotrophic growth in photobioreactors. Carbohydrate production from microalgae is usually investigated for the production of biofuels (e.g. bioethanol) by successive fermentation, but also other applications can be envisaged in biopolymers. In this work an increment in carbohydrate purity after lipid extraction was found. Protein hydrolysis for different microalgae strains (Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp.) was investigated. Microalgae were cultivated under photoautotrophic or heterotrophic conditions, collecting biomass at the end of the growth. Biomass samples were dried or freeze dried and used for carbohydrate and lipid extraction tests. Lipid extraction was achieved using different organic solvents (methanol-chloroform and hexane-2propanol). Basic protein hydrolysis has been carried out testing different temperatures and NaOH concentrations values. Lipids were spectrophotometrically quantified, while residual biomass was saccharificated and the total amount of sugars was measured. Significant differences about the purity of extracted carbohydrates were found comparing dried with freeze dried biomass. However, not a very promising purification of carbohydrates was achieved after protein hydrolysis, asking for further analysis.

Chinese Herbal Medicines as Potential Agents for Alleviation of Heat Stress in Poultry.

Heat stress negatively affects the productivity of chickens in commercial poultry farms in humid tropics. In this study, the concentrations and types of the antioxidant compounds of eight Chinese herbal medicines, which have previously demonstrated promising effects on suppressing heat stress as a mixture, were investigated using reversed-phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography, spectrophotometry, Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, and Gas-Liquid Chromatography. Our results provided the levels of phenolic compounds, total amounts of sugars, and total unsaturated fatty acids in the herbal extracts. Apart from the detection and quantification of the active ingredients of herbs that have the potential to mitigate heat stress in poultry, results of this study also provide useful data for developing an efficient and accurate formulation of the herbs' mixtures in order to induce positive effects against heat stress in in vivo studies.

Productivity, Physicochemical Changes, and Antioxidant Activity of Shiitake Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom Lentinus edodes (Agaricomycetes) Cultivated on Lignocellulosic Residues.

The effects of substrate and strain on productivity, physicochemical characteristics, and compounds with antioxidant activity were evaluated in basidiomes of the shiitake mushroom, Lentinus edodes. Strains IE-245 and IE-256 and the substrates oak wood shavings (OW), sorghum stubble (SS), and sugar cane bagasse (SC) were used. Productivity was evaluated by measuring biological efficiency (BE), production rate (PR), and yield. Total sugars, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, color parameters, total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity of the basidiomes were measured. BE, PR and yield were higher with the combination IE-256/SS, at 103.71%, 1.32%, and 34.57%, respectively. The largest amount of total sugars (17.61 mg glucose · g-1 dry weight) was found with combination IE-256/SS. Variation was observed in basidiome color; the lowest luminosity (L*) value (darkest color) was found in the IE-256 strain on the OW substrate (L* = 30.45), whereas that of the IE-245 strain on the SC substrate was the lightest in color (L* = 57.00). The largest amounts of total phenolics were recorded in the IE-256 strain on the OW (6.50 mg gallic acid equivalents [GAE] · g-1 dry weight) and the SS substrates (5.85 mg GAE · g-1 dry weight). The best antioxidant activity was obtained with IE-256-0.80, 0.65, and 0.59 μmol Trolox equivalents · g dry weight-1-on the OW, SC, and SS substrates, respectively. Based on the values of BE, PR, and yield, IE-256/SS was the most productive. Substrate and strain, and their interactions, influenced the physicochemical characteristics of the basidiomes and the amounts of compounds with antioxidant activity they contained.

Functional Properties of Partially Characterized Polysaccharide from the Medicinal Mushroom Ganoderma neo-japonicum (Agaricomycetes).

This study was conducted to evaluate the mycochemical composition and antiglycemic and antioxidant activities of Ganoderma neo-japonicum hot aqueous extracts, prepared at different boiling durations, and polysaccharides isolated from them. Ground basidiocarps of G. neo-japonicum were double-boiled at 100°C for 0.5, 3, or 4 hours, and the antiglycemic activity was assessed by α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays. The antioxidant capacity of the crude hot aqueous extracts (AE-1, AE-2, AE-3) was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. The total phenolics, protein, and sugar in the crude extracts were also determined. The hot aqueous extract (AE-3) containing a significant amount of total sugar and having enhanced antiglycemic and antioxidant activities was selected for polysaccharide isolation. The isolated crude polysaccharide was separated and purified using diethylaminoethyl-cellulose-52 and Sepharose 6B column chromatography. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy studies of the purified polysaccharide fraction (PF) showed the presence of typical bands corresponding to polysaccharides. The estimated β-glucan concentration in the PF was 39.26%. In general, the PF exhibited significantly lower antioxidant activity than AE-3. Nevertheless, its potency in inhibiting carbohydratehydrolyzing enzymes may have potential in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Growing Endive Plants (Cichorium endivia L. var. crispum) Under Different Planting Dates and Spacing in Egypt

This investigation was carried out on the curled endive (Cichorium endiviaL. var. Crispum) cv. Salad King in private farm located at El-Giza governorate, Egypt during the two successive seasons of 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 A.D. Seedlings of endive were transplanting on October 15th, November 15th and December 15th and three planting space were used (10, 15 and 20 cm) in both growing seasons.The highest values of plant length and leaves number per plant were obtained from transplanting in October 15th with the spacing 20 cm in both seasons respectively. The greatest value of ascorbic acid and dry weight were obtained from transplanting in October 15th. In addition the best plant spacing for ascorbic acid content was 15 cm and for dry weight 20 cm. Total sugar, inulin, fresh weight per rosette (g) and yield per plot (kg) were obtained from transplanted on October 15th. However, the highest amount of total sugar and inulin were found from grown plants in spacing 15 cm, while the fresh weight per rosette was obtained from spacing 10 cm and yield per plot was obtained from spacing 15 cm among plants.

Biochemical composition of tangerine fruits under microfertilizers

The paper presents the long-term research and its results in the field of biochemical composition and mechanical analysis of dwarf tangerine fruits ('Miagava-Vase') growing in the subtropical zone of the Black Sea coast, Krasnodar region. The given results have been obtained after treatments with the following micro fertilizers: H3BO3 (at a concentration of 0.06%), MnSO4 H2O (0.4%), ZnSO4 H2O (0.3%) and CuSO4 H2O (0.06%), an option with foliar water spraying served as a control. It is shown that treatments with copper, zinc and boron significantly (at 2.37 - 3.66 mg.100g-1) increase the amount of vitamin C in fruits compared to the control option. The total amount of sugars in fruits was slightly increased under foliar application of manganese salts. The results show an effect of manganese and zinc to the ratio of total sugars and titratable acids and consequently, on the sugar-acid index value. We found that the content of ascorbic acid in tangerine depends on harvesting term, fruit location on the crown, light level, etc. Equally important is the fact that if storage makes up 3 months the loss of ascorbic acid is not more than 12%. Micro fertilizers had a positive effect on market quality: heavier fruits with thin peel were recorded on options with boric acid and manganese treatments. Treatments with boron and copper sulphate increased juice output from the pulp (74 and 76%, respectively, which is 3 - 7% higher than the control option). A higher dry substance accumulation was observed in the option with foliar application of zinc (13.93%). The despite differences in climatic characteristics of research years and annual adverse periods, foliar feeding with micro fertilizers had a positive effect not only on the accumulation of assimilates in the fruit, but also on the preservation of their presentation. The studies have shown that foliar treatments with micronutrients are promising for tangerine crop, which allowed us to develop guidelines for their use as an agro technical method on dwarf tangerine plantations.

Effects of organosolv pretreatment and acid hydrolysis on palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB) as bioethanol feedstock

Biomass synthesis of palm empty fruit bunch (PEFB) into sugars yield as raw material for bioethanol conversion has successfully been performed through organosolv pretreatment and acid hydrolysis processes. These synthesis processes were conducted to evaluate the effect of solvent concentration namely ethanol (C2H5OH) and sulfuric acid (H2SO4), reactions time and temperature against total sugars yield. It is optimized through pretreatment and hydrolysis processes, respectively. The optimum total sugars for pretreatment optimization was obtained 98.89 mg/L which correspond to 55% vol of C2H5OH with reaction time of 60 min at 120 °C. Hydrolysis process for pretreatment optimization was conducted at 1% vol H2SO4, reaction time of 30 min and temperature of 90 °C. The optimum pretreatment conditions were selected for further hydrolysis process with H2SO4 to optimize sugars yield amount in the slurries. The results of acid hydrolysis showed that the optimum amount of total sugars obtained was 133.17 mg/L at concentration H2SO4 0.5% vol with reaction time 30 min and temperature 100 °C. Therefore, it is concluded that organosolv pretreatment and acid hydrolysis can be used as a novel integrated method to optimize the total sugars production synthesized from PEFB to bioethanol.

Statistical Modeling and Optimization of Enzymatic Pretreatment of Empty Fruit Bunches with Laccase Enzyme

Laccase enzyme was used as a pretreatment agent to delignify empty fruit bunches (EFB) for sugar production. The degree of delignification of the biomass was assessed directly by the percentage of pre-pretreatment weight loss (%) after pretreatment and indirectly by the amount of total sugar produced after saccharification of the pretreated biomass with cellulase enzymes. Process parameters such as pretreatment time, temperature, enzyme concentration, substrate concentration, pH, and substrate size were studied using a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) analysis. The combined effect of temperature and pH on the pretreatment was studied using the face-centered central composite design (FCCCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized conditions for EFB pretreatment using laccase enzyme were achieved as follows: sample size, 2 mm; temperature, 25 °C; time, 4 h; substrate concentration, 5% (w/v); pH 5; and enzyme concentration, 20 IU/g of EFB. Although higher pretreatment was achieved with substrates of 1 mm size and at a temperature of 35 °C, these conditions were not considered energetically sustainable because of the need for energy during milling for sample size reduction and energy for temperature maintenance at 35 °C.

Optoelectronic sensor for measuring ethanol content during grape must fermentation using NIR spectroscopy

The evolution of sugar, alcohol, released CO2 and microbiological activity in fermenting grape must is a matter of the utmost importance for the winemaking industry. Supervising the fermentation process is an awkward and non-comprehensive task, especially in wine cellars where production rates are massive, and enologists usually measure the density of the extracted samples from each fermentation tank manually twice a day, since density is an indicator of the total amount of sugars, ethanol and glycerol. This work shows the design of a fast, low-cost, portable and reliable optoelectronic sensor for measuring ethanol concentration in fermenting grape must samples. Different sets of model solutions, which contain ethanol, fructose, glucose and glycerol dissolved in water and emulate the grape must composition at different stages of the fermentation, were prepared both for calibration and validation. The absorption characteristics of these model solutions were measured by a commercial spectrophotometer in the near-infrared region. Spectra were analyzed using principal component analysis, in order to identify key wavelengths from which valuable information regarding the sample composition can be extracted. Finally, an optoelectronic prototype, based on absorbance measurements at three identified wavelengths, was designed, fabricated and successfully tested both with model solutions and samples from two real fermentations. The system, featuring three LED lamps and their corresponding paired photodiodes operating at 1.20, 1.30 and 1.72 µm, provides the ethanol content by applying a multiple linear regression.

Analysis of sugars and pH in commercially available soft drinks in Saudi Arabia with a brief review on their dental implications.

Objective:To determine the amount of sugar and pH in commercially available soft drinks in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. This was further compared with their labeled values in order to inform the regulations. The effects of these drinks on teeth is reviewed.Materials and Methods:Ten brands of popular soft drinks including 6 regular carbonated drinks and 4 energy drinks were obtained from the local markets. Their pH was determined using a pH meter. The amount of total sugar, glucose, fructose, and sucrose was estimated using high performance liquid chromatography (using Dionex ICS 5000 ion chromatography) at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Descriptive statistics was done to obtain the mean and standard deviation. Intergroup comparison was performed using independent t-test, and the labeled and estimated values within the group were compared with paired t-test.Results:The labeled and estimated sugar in energy drinks (14.3 ± 0.48 and 15.6 ± 2.3, respectively) were higher than the carbonated drinks (11.2 ± 0.46 and 12.8 ± 0.99), which was statistically significant. In addition, there was a significant difference in the concentration of glucose in energy drinks (5.7 ± 1.7) compared to carbonated drinks (4.1 ± 1.4). The pH of these drinks ranged from 2.4 to 3.2. The differences between the estimated and labeled sugar in carbonated drinks showed statistical significance. Mild variation was observed in total sugar, glucose, fructose, and sucrose levels among different bottles of the same brand of these drinks.Conclusion:The low pH and high sugar content in these drinks are detrimental to dental health. Comparison of the estimated sugar with their labeled values showed variation in most of the brands. Preventive strategies should be implemented to reduce the health risks posed by these soft drinks.