Ash Content Research Articles

Comparative analysis of nutritional and mineral compositions of Farfantepenaeus notialis and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii for dietary planning and food industry applications

AbstractThis study compares the nutritional composition of two commercially important crustaceans, Farfantepenaeus notialis and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, to assess their dietary suitability. Proximate and mineral analyses were performed on dried samples of each species, evaluating fat, protein, ash, moisture, and mineral concentrations. Results reveal significant differences. F. notialis showed higher fat (1.79% ± 0.001%) and protein (6.69% ± 0.2%) compared to M.vollenhovenii (fat: 1.54% ± 0.001%; protein: 5.34% ± 0.4%), making it a more energy-dense protein source. Conversely, M. vollenhovenii had higher ash (5.38% ± 0.002%) and moisture (22.12% ± 0.004%), with higher calcium (256.24 mg/g ± 0.74) and potassium (71.02 mg/g ± 0.76) content, key for bone health and cardiovascular function. F. notialis was richer in iron (5.18 mg/g ± 0.03), useful for preventing iron deficiency. Both species had substantial zinc levels (~ 0.8 mg/g), essential for immune health. T-tests confirmed significant differences in nutritional parameters and minerals. The findings highlight the benefits of including both species in diets for improved nutritional diversity, especially in regions with limited food options. Graphical Abstract

Effects of different feeding rates on growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activity, and intestinal microbial composition of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

The study aimed to investigate the effects of different feeding rates on the growth, muscle composition, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, and intestinal microbiota composition of juvenile crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). A total of 240 crayfish with an initial body weight of 8.33±0.50 g were randomly distributed into five groups, and each group had three replicates. The five groups corresponded to five different feeding rates of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% body weight per day (BW/day). The feeding trial lasted for six weeks. The results showed that the final body weight (FBW), weight gain rate (WGR), and specific growth rate (SGR) first increased when the feed rate increased from 2% to 6 % (P<0.05) and then showed a decreased trend with the further increase of the feeding rate, but no significant differences were observed. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) increased with a rise in feeding rate, which reached a peak at the feeding rate of 10% (P<0.05). The survival rate (SR), hepatosomatic index (HSI), and condition factor (CF) were unaffected by the feeding rates (P>0.05). The moisture, crude protein, crude fat, and ash contents of crayfish muscle remained unchanged among all feeding rate groups. Intestinal activities of lipase and amylase increase with the feeding rate (up to 6%) increasing (P<0.05). The ACE and Chao indices in the groups fed at 2% of feeding rate were significantly lower than those at a feeding rate of 10% (P<0.05). The relative abundance of Firmicutes in the groups fed at feeding rates of 4%, 6%, and 8% was higher than that in other groups (P<0.05), Citrobacter in the group fed at feeding rate of 6% was lower than that in different groups (P<0.05). The intestinal microbiota primarily functions in connection to amino acid, carbohydrate, and vitamin metabolism. Therefore, the optimum feeding rate could be 6.0% of the feeding rate of juvenile P. clarkii.

Potential of Dry Leaf Waste as A Raw Material for Charcoal Briquettes Preparation as an Alternative Fuel

This research was motivated by the large potential of dry leaf waste in the campus environment of the University of North Sumatra and the awareness of the importance of appropriate innovation in the use of dry leaf waste as an environmentally friendly alternative fuel. The aim of this research was to determine the potential of leaf waste in the campus environment as a raw material for making environmentally friendly charcoal briquettes. The research method was observation, conducted in the campus environment of the University of North Sumatra, followed by calculating the amount of leaf waste produced per day, and testing continued with the production of dry leaf briquettes. The test results of the three combustions with different mixtures of raw materials in each combustion resulted in solid dry leaf briquettes that could ignite well. This study produced briquettes with proximate and ultimate tests that met SNI No.01-6235-2000 standards with a moisture content test of 4.35%, ash content test of 5.65%, carbon content test of 78.68%, calorific value of 6115 cal/g, and a burning rate of 1.5 grams/minute. Briquettes that meet SNI standards can become an environmentally friendly alternative energy source, a source of livelihood, and will certainly have a positive impact on waste management on the campus of the University of North Sumatra.

Formulation and Evaluation of Weaning Foods Prepared from Multigrain Flour and Powdered Milk

Aims: Children after 6 months need to shift from breast milk to weaning food. The present study aims to develop low cost nutritious weaning foods to fulfil the increased nutritional requirements during this phase of growth. Study Design: The present study involved development of three different samples of low cost weaning foods prepared with multigrain flour (combination of rice flour, wheat flour and gram flour in the ratio of 2:1:0.5) mixed with milk powder (5%, 7.5% and 10% of the total flour mixture). Sensory, physicochemical and cost analyses were performed for the samples. Place and Duration of Study: University Polytechnic (Boys), Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, between January 2016 and July 2016. Methodology: Sensory evaluation was done on a 9 point hedonic scale after preparing the samples for consumption by adding either water or milk. Physicochemical properties of the developed samples such as moisture content, ash content and protein content were assessed during storage at room temperature (25-32˚C) for 2 months in airtight laminated aluminium film packing material. Results: In sensory of samples prepared with water, sample 3 was found to be the most preferred sample while in case of samples prepared with milk, sample 1 was found to be the best in sensory quality. All the developed weaning food samples were found to be stable during 50 days of storage. Moisture content, Protein content and Ash content of the samples ranged from 4.84 to 10.38%, 13.23 and 16.29% and 1.22 to 1.54% respectively. Samples with more milk powder showed higher protein content and fat content. Conclusion: The prepared weaning food samples had comparable physicochemical and sensory characteristics and lower cost than the commercially available weaning foods. They will be helpful in fulfilling the nutritional requirement of the vulnerable sections of society including middle-income groups (MIG) and low-income groups (LIG) consumers and overcoming malnutrition.

Nutrients and Antioxidant Composition of Local Condiment “Ogiri” Produced from Different Leguminous Seeds

‘Ogiri’ refers to a fermented oily paste that is used as soup condiments for its strong smell. Apart from the fact that it’s mostly used in soup preparation because of the strong pungent odour and organoleptic properties, it also impact nutrients to soup. This study investigated the nutrients and antioxidant composition of Ogiri produced from different leguminous seeds. Raw material such as melon (EGU) and sesame (SES) seeds were procured from Oja Oba (Oba Market) in Owo, Ondo State while pumpkin (PUM) and Castor (CAS) seed were purchased at Upper Iweka market, Onitsha Anambra State, Nigeria. The raw materials were processed into ‘Ogiri’ using traditional methods and were subjected to chemical analysis using standard analytical methods.” Data generated were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test at 5% level of significance. Findings shows that the moisture content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in PUM than any other sample. Sample SES was significantly (P<0.05) higher in Ash (10.22g /100g) content, and fibre (11.21g/100g) while EGU was significantly (P<0.05) higher in fat (30.17g/100g) and protein (29.30g/100g). CAS had the highest carbohydrate content (27.58g/100g).Minerals result shows that Na (14.835mg/g), Ca (22.570mg/100g) and Mg (3.351mg/100g) were significantly (P<0.05) higher in sample EGU. Sample SES was significantly higher in K (55.855mg/100g) and Zn (0.308mg/100g), while CAS was significantly lower (P<0.05) in Na (3.45mg/100g), Ca (13.15mg/100g) K, (21.655mg/100g), Zn (0.128mg/100g) and Mg (1.925mg/mg) but has the highest value in P (12,252mg/100g). PUM was significantly higher in Vitamin E (8.270mg/100g), while CAS was significantly higher in vitamin A (7.576UI/g). Sample PUM had the highest Polyphenol and Terpenoid content (106.82mg/g and 1.37mg/g respectively) while sample SES had the highest steroid content (0.92mg/g). In conclusion, this study revealed that the nutrients and antioxidant properties of the “Ogiri” samples vary proportionately. The results can guide farmers, processors, and consumers in making informed decisions regarding seed selection and Ogiri preparation.

Modeling and optimizing the flotation of coal fines: an investigation utilizing the Box-Behnken design in conjunction with response surface methodology

ABSTRACT This study investigates a novel approach for upgrading coking coal fines by combining wet sieving with flotation. Using a Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology (RSM), we optimized the flotation parameters – collector concentration, pulp density, and frother concentration – to enhance clean coal recovery. Analysis showed that these parameters significantly impacted coal quality and yield. With a fixed pulp density of 10% and an 18% ash target, RSM identified optimal flotation conditions as 0.200 kg/T frother and 0.885 kg/T collector concentrations. The optimal conditions for an 18% ash content were a 6.645% pulp density, 0.200 kg/T frother, and 1.1869 kg/T collector. Under these conditions, clean coal with 18.00% ash content and yields of 34.27% and 39.72% were achieved, with deviations from predicted values under 2%. The study indicates that the RSM-based method is effective, with parameter selection influenced by collector cost and clean coal market price. These findings provide a basis for future research to assess the method’s industrial applicability and economic and environmental viability.

Nutritional differences in eggs, chicken, and plantain from agroecological, conventional, and commercial systems: a case study in Valle del Cauca, Colombia

ABSTRACT This case study examines the nutritional differences between agroecological, conventional, and commercial products in Valle del Cauca, Colombia. Using a participatory methodology with local farmers, eggs, chicken, and plantain were selected for analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium contents were compared across the three production systems. Statistical analyses included ANOVA and MANOVA. Results indicate that agroecological products from the studied farms tended to have lower moisture content. Agroecological eggs showed higher fat content (11.09 g/100 g vs 9.32 g/100 g conventional and 8.45 g/100 g commercial). Agroecological chicken presented higher protein content (22.37 g/100 g vs 20.73 g/100 g conventional and 18.1 g/100 g commercial) and potassium (281 mg/100 g vs 298 mg/100 g conventional and 213 mg/100 g commercial). Agroecological plantain had higher ash content (0.85 g/100 g vs 0.77 g/100 g conventional and 0.79 g/100 g commercial) and calcium (8 mg/100 g vs 5 mg/100 g conventional and 6 mg/100 g commercial). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). While these findings suggest potential nutritional benefits of agroecological production in this region, further studies with a larger number of replicates are needed to confirm these trends on a broader scale.

Analysis and Characterization of Pericopsis mooniana Seed Oil for Potential Applications in Cosmetics and Nutritional Supplements

Pericopsis mooniana is renowned for wood applications, while its bark and leaves find uses in ayurvedic medicine. The shifting of global cosmetic and nutritional supplement industries towards plant-based oils has led to explore novel sources. No prior studies were done on P. mooniana seed oil. Therefore this study aims to characterize the seed oil of P. mooniana by determining Fatty Acids (FA) composition as their methyl esters, nonpolar constituents in unsaponifiable matter, and other physio-chemcial properties. The oil was extracted using the soxhlet extraction method. Ash and moisture contents of seeds, Acid Value (AV), Iodine Value (IV), smoke point and thermal stability of oil were also determined. Prepared fatty acid methyl esters and chemical constituents in unsaponifiable matter were identified and quantified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry method. Results indicated a substantial oil yield of 36.71± 0.01% with moisture content of 5.60 ± 0.19%, ash content of 3.65 ± 0.38%, AV of 2.97 ± 0.40 mg KOH/g, IV of 16.02 ± 0.14 g I2/100g, smoke point of 233.6 ± 8.57°C, decomposition temperature of 409.95 ± 1.74°C and yield of unsaponifiable matter of 1.35 ± 0.01%. The dominant FAs are oleic (41.02%) and linoleic (38.12%) acids. Major unsaponifiable matter constituents are squalene (4.01 mg/g), beta.-sitosterol (2.63 mg/g), stigmasterol (1.23 mg/g), phytol (1.45 mg/g), geranylgeraniol (1.03 mg/g) and amyrin (0.95 mg/g). Based on the finding of this study, it can be concluded that P. mooniana seed oil has the potential to be utilized in both cosmetic and nutritional supplement industries.

Mechanical properties of high-volume fly ash concrete with varying fly ash content

Fly ash is widely used as a replacement for cement to produce more environmentally friendly concrete with reliable performance in construction applications. Therefore, this research aimed to analyze the mechanical properties of high-volume fly ash concrete (HVFAC) using class F fly ash with different percentages. Performance tests that were carried out included workability, unit weight, and compressive strength. Laboratory experiments were conducted by making 5 variations of mix design, namely variation 1 (FA0), which consisted of normal concrete with a control test material of 100% Portland cement. The other 4 variations were HVFAC (FA70, FA80, FA90, and FA100), which were made with fly ash content comprising 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% of the total binders/cementitious. Fresh concrete was tested for workability, while hardened concrete was tested for unit weight and compressive strength at ages 3, 7, and 28 days on test specimens subjected to water immersion curing. The results showed that all workability of HVFAC test specimens met the self-consolidated concrete (SCC) category. The dry unit weight of all specimens met the requirements for normal-weight concrete. The results of the compressive strength test at 28 days showed that the addition of fly ash percentage caused a decrease in the compressive strength value of the entire HVFAC, but still exceeded the minimum requirements for high-quality concrete. HVFAC with variations FA70, FA80, and FA90 met the requirements of ASTM C618-12a based on the evaluation of Strength Activity Index (SAI) values at 7 and 28 days of age, while FA100 did not meet the requirements.

The Toxicity Leaching and the Cement Admixtures Properties with Incineration Fly Ash of Different Furnace Types.

Incineration of fly ash is a hazardous solid waste, and there are two types of furnaces used for production. The impact of furnace types on the properties and toxicity of incineration fly ash was studied. The resource utilization of incineration fly ash has been tested. The results showed that circulated fluidized bed (CFB) ash and grate (GF) ash were alkaline materials, dioxin content ranged between 98 and 359 ng-TEQ/kg, and heavy metals exceeded 7700 ppm. The leaching of Zn in CFB ash was 110.474 ppm, and that in the GF ash was 5.985 ppm. The chlorine content in GF ash was 27.07%, 2.7 times that of CFB ash. When the content was 5%, GF ash promoted cement grinding and improved the 3-day compressive strength of cement, which was 35.55% higher than the control sample. CFB ash generates hydrogen gas during the hydration process, causing volume cracking. When 20% GF ash was added, the hydration heat release peak appeared 10.5 h ahead of time. According to the Chinese standard GB 175-2023, the maximum dosages of CFB ash and GF ash in cement were 0.22 and 0.57%. There was no risk of excessive leaching of heavy metals. During cement production with CFB and GF ash, attention should be paid to the issues of chlorine and dioxins.

Polyurethane foam adhesive with fly ash as a sustainable stabilizer

ABSTRACT This experimental research work investigates the role of polyurethane foam adhesive (PFA) in evaluating the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of three different types of sands with varying maximum particle sizes (Dmax = 4.00 mm, 2.00 mm, and 0.63 mm) mixed with different proportions of fly ash (FA = 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). Moreover, this study includes the influence of the polymer percentages (PFc = 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) and particle size characteristics on the UCS of the tested materials. The obtained results indicate a significant increase in the UCS and ductility at a particular fly ash content (FA = 5%), where the increment of the polyurethane foam content from PFc = 2% to 8% induces an increasing of the UCS from 1.64 MPa to 5.28 MPa (a 3.2% increase). It is found that higher values of PFc = 8% and FA = 15% exhibit noticeable improvements and stabilization of the strength properties in the tested mixtures. Additionally, the UCS of the enhanced mixtures can be predicted using a newly introduced parameter called the polymer factor index (IPF), which considers the porosity and PFA content properties. The PFA-enhanced sand-fly ash mixtures offer a promising and innovative solution in many geotechnical engineering applications due to their reliable mechanical performances.

Enzymatization of Nila Fish (Oreochromis Niloticus) Protein Hydolysate by Combination of Bromelin and Pepsin Enzymes

Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is a freshwater fish with better nutritional content compared to other freshwater fish, making it suitable for use as a source for protein hydrolysate production. Protein hydrolysate is the result of the breakdown of protein into short-chain compounds through hydrolysis. This research aims to hydrolyze the minced Nile tilapia meat using a combination of bromelain and pepsin enzymes at a concentration of 5% and pH 7 conditions for 5-6 hours. The hydrolysis results using the combination of bromelain and pepsin enzymes (B100: P0) have a yield value of 12.68%, ash content of 2.94%, protein of 57.25%, water 2.65%, and fat 10.25% with a degree of hydrolysis of 61.46%. The hydrolysate has antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria with inhibition zones of approximately 8.3 mm and 8.5 mm, respectively, at a concentration of 1 (mg/µL), contains 15 types of amino acids with the highest composition being lysine 5.12% and the highest non-essential amino acid being aspartic acid 5.75%.

Identification and Analysis of the Nutrition Value of Black Teripang (Holothuriaedulis) and Sand Teripang (Holothuria Scabra) In the Waitiu Flow of Lewolema District

Indonesia is a country with a large area of ​​water, with enormous potential for marine biodiversity which is useful as food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. There are several marine biota that produce secondary metabolites that are beneficial to humans, including microorganisms, blue green algae, green algae, brown algae, red algae, sponges, coelenterates, bryozoans, molluscs and sea cucumbers (echinoderms). Sea cucumbers are marine animals classified in the phylum Echinodermata, class Holothuroidea. This animal lives on sandy substrates or can be found in coral ecosystems. Sea cucumbers have complete and quite high nutritional content, but the existence of sea cucumbers with a high population in East Flores Regency has not been utilized properly. This study aims to identify and analyze the nutritional content of Sand Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Scabra) and Black Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Edulis). Identification is based on morphology and body color and spicules of the dorsal integument tissue, while the analysis of nutritional value includes water content and ash content using the gravimetric method, protein content using the Kjeldahl method, fat content using the Soxhlet method and carbohydrate content using the by difference method. The results of the study showed that the nutritional content of Sand Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Scabra) was 5.472% water content, 51.056% ash content, 27.072% protein content, 1.449% fat content and 20.424% carbohydrate content, while the nutritional content of Black Sea Cucumber (Holothuria Edulis) was 6.214% water content, 18.864% ash content, 51.636% protein content, 0.659% fat content and 28.841% carbohydrate content.

Biochemical Analysis of Fruiting Bodies of Cordyceps Militaris Grown on Brown Rice

Cordyceps militaris is a medicinal fungus known for its diverse biofunctional properties. This subject has been extensively analyzed over the past decade. The diverse pharmacological potential of C. militaris has garnered significant global interest recently. This research aims to determine the proximate composition of in vitro cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies. The analysis of proximate composition included measurements of crude protein, fat, crude fiber, ash, total carbohydrate, and moisture content. The research focused on quantifying the overall nutritional value of the fruit bodies and evaluating biological efficiency, in addition to key bioactive compounds including cordycepin, ergosterol, and Vitamin D2. The results demonstrated that the carbohydrate content constituted 47.67% of dry weight, the protein content was 30.41%, and the fiber content accounted for 15%. The fruit bodies contained 39.82 mg/kg of cordycepin and 61.73 mg/100g of ergosterol, whereas vitamin D2 was absent in the cordyceps mushroom sample. The findings demonstrate that in-vitro-cultivated C. militaris fruit bodies exhibit considerable nutritional and therapeutic potential.

Quality assessment of yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor L.) powders processed by pulsed electric field and convective drying.

Edible insects offer opportunities for food production, as they are an interesting source of many nutrients. In this study, the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) and convective drying on the chemical composition with emphasizing the fat properties as well as physical, techno-functional, and thermal properties of yellow mealworm powders was investigated. The chemical composition of the yellow mealworm powders differed by PEF. When PEF was applied at 20 and 40kJ/kg, the moisture, ash, and protein content were significantly lower, while the fat extraction yield significantly increased compared to the control sample. Furthermore, the fat extracted from these samples was characterized by a higher proportion of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids as well as a higher thrombogenicity index, which is not beneficial from a nutritional point of view. After treatment with PEF at 5kJ/kg, the powder was the lightest, redness and yellowness. Moreover, the highest hygroscopicity, water activity, and water and oil binding capacity for this powder were determined. The results revealed that yellow mealworm powders are a good source of macronutrients and exhibit beneficial techno-functional properties, nevertheless, the drawback is their high cohesiveness (1.27-1.44), which can be difficult to apply under industrial conditions.

Mechanism analysis on carbon-ash separation of coal gasification fine slag by high internal phase emulsion collector

ABSTRACT Coal gasification slag is a solid waste produced in modern coal chemical industry, its mixed characteristics of residual carbon and ash materials restrict its resource utilization. This study focused on improving the flotation effect of coal gasification slag and reducing the consumption of flotation reagents, a water in oil type high internal phase emulsion collector was prepared, and the microstructure, rheology, stability, particle size and other characteristics of the emulsion collector were analyzed. By comparing with the flotation effect of conventional kerosene collector, when the amount of organic liquid is basically equal, the ash content of the tailings increased by 4.02%, the yield of concentrate increased by 9.79% and the recovery of combustible matter increased by 11.11%. When the combustible matter recovery is similar, the emulsion collector can save 13.40% of kerosene. The flotation kinetics test shows that the emulsion collector can significantly improve the flotation speed. By analyzing the flocculating ability of emulsion collectors, emulsion collectors can significantly improve the flocculating ability of particles, thereby improving the flotation effect. The research results have certain guiding significance for improving the flotation efficiency of coal gasification slag.

Effect of dietary supplementation of yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisiae in lactating female goats

This study was designed to investigate the effects of adding a novel yeast culture, Saccharomyces cerevisiae refermented sorghum distiller's dried grains with solubles (SSDDGS), to the diets of lactating female goats on lactation performance and lamb growth performance. We divided 10 lactating Dazu black goats of similar age, weight, and offspring into two groups: one fed a pelleted diet with 50 g/day SSDDGS (ET), and the other without SSDDGS as a control (EC) for 7 weeks. We monitor the weight changes of each goat and collect blood and milk samples from experimental ewes at specific times for hormone and milk composition determination. We use ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) to detect metabolites in the serum of lactating ewes. Our results showed that SSDDGS supplementation significantly reduced female goats' average daily weight loss during weeks 2–4 of lactation and increased serum IGF-1 and prolactin levels at week 4 (p &amp;lt; 0.05). SSDDGS supplementation in early lactation significantly increased milk protein, lactose, and ash content (p &amp;lt; 0.05). UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that SSDDGS changed the levels of 58 metabolites in the serum of lactating goats. These metabolites were mainly involved in the sohingolipid signaling pathway, and cysteine, methionine, and sphingolipid metabolism. In summary, Yeast culture SSDDGS reduced weight loss, enhanced milk quality, and modified metabolic profiles in early lactation goats, providing insight into the potential regulatory role and mechanism of yeast culture in lactation female goats.

Briquetting of black soldier fly frass as a post-harvest stabilization strategy

ABSTRACT The production–consumption cycle needs a transition towards a circular economy where waste valorization is included. This study investigated briquetting as a stabilization method for black soldier fly frass (BSFF) with faecal matter, pig manure, and poultry manure as the larvae feed. Herein, dried BSFF was pyrolyzed at 350 °C for 2 h to produce biochar then mixed with charcoal dust in equal ratio to produce biobriquettes through densification, with cassava gel (10 wt%) as binder. One-way ANOVA showed statistical significance in carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. There were significant differences (p &amp;lt; 0.05) between the calorific value, moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and fixed carbon of the briquettes. The fixed carbon, volatile matter, moisture, and ash content ranged from 29.66 ± 0.86 to 42.01 ± 0.92, 29.26 ± 0.52 to 32.59 ± 0.80, 2.95 ± 0.1 to 5.08 ± 0.04, and 21.48 ± 0.14 to 37.20 ± 0.29, respectively. The calorific value of the produced briquettes ranged from 16.25 ± 0.57 to 20.70 ± 0.53 MJ/kg, which exceeds the minimum requirement of 14.5 MJ/kg recommended for non-woody briquettes. During combustion, concentrations of NOx, N2O, CO, and CO2 varied significantly across the treatments with the acacia charcoal having the highest concentration of CO. Briquetting is a potential stabilization method for frass resulting in waste reduction, bioenergy production, reduced adverse effects of climate change, and enhanced sustainability.

Research on building a biochar production model from agricultural by-products in Gia Lai province

ABSTRACT The impact of climate change on ecosystems and agricultural systems, particularly in key agricultural areas like the Central Highlands of Vietnam, has caused severe soil degradation, water depletion, and desertification, directly affecting productivity and livelihoods. Sustainable agricultural solutions, especially biochar, have gained attention due to their ability to improve soil fertility, retain moisture, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This research focuses on developing a biochar production model from agricultural by-products in Gia Lai to meet both domestic and export needs. Biochar was produced through the pyrolysis of coffee by-products, including stems, branches, and fruit husks. The study employs 10 brick kilns (90 m³ capacity) for stems and branches, and 15 steel kilns (300 kg/batch capacity) for fruit husks and leaves. The biochar produced meets export quality standards, with a fixed carbon content ≥70.0%, ash content ≤3.0%, and calorific value ≥7,000 Kcal/kg. Additionally, biochar is combined with the biological agent Trichoderma to produce 1,000 tons of organic microbial fertilizer, surpassing national standards for organic matter content (≥15%) and Trichoderma density (≥1.0x10⁶ CFU/g). Biochar production from agricultural waste not only reduces waste but also contributes to sustainable agriculture in the Central Highlands. The research results show great potential for expanding biochar production models, improving soil health, reducing farming costs, and increasing farmers' income.

Karakteristik Fisiko Kimia dan Organoleptik Bakso Vegetarian Berbasis Tempe Kacang Kedelai dan Kacang Merah (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Meatballs are one of the foods that are much liked by the people of Indonesia. Meatballs are generally made from meat, such as chicken, beef or fish. Vegetarians tend to consume meat analogues to replace animal flesh. Analog meat is usually made from legumes such as soybeans and red beans, where protein is an important nutrient needed by a vegetarian. Research using a simple randomized block design (RBD) with 7 treatment levels. The control treatment consisted of 50g of soybean flour and 50g of red bean flour. While the other 6 treatments used a comparison between soybean tempeh and red bean flour, namely 50:50; 55:45 ; 60:40 ; 65:35 ; 70:30 and 75:25. The results showed that the comparison of soybean tempeh and red bean flour had a significant effect on proximate levels (moisture content, ash content, fat content, protein content, carbohydrates), yield and meatball elasticity and had no significant effect on water holding capacity meatball. Treatment using 65g soybean tempeh and 35g red bean flour was the best treatment, with an average moisture content of 56.24%, ash content of 2.21%, fat content of 9.15%, protein content of 11.02%, carbohydrates 21.35%, water holding capacity 117.26%, yield 108.09%, elasticity 100.61gf, aroma 3.06 (rather like), color 3.06 (rather like), texture 3.33 (rather like) and taste 3.53 (towards like).