Pulp Content Research Articles

Proximate Analysis, Total Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity of Wild Carob Pulp from Three Mediterranean Countries

(1) Background: Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) pulp is of great interest nowadays due to its nutritional benefits and diverse utilization in the food process. The nutritional and antioxidant properties of carob pulp in the Mediterranean have been assessed in several studies. Still, few studies have combined, within the same work, a comprehensive analysis of the chemical composition of carob pulp from fruits of natural populations across different countries of the Mediterranean basin, while also incorporating new research areas. (2) Methods: In the present work, we evaluated the nutritional value, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity of carob pulp derived from wild populations of carob trees from three Mediterranean countries: Lebanon, Spain, and Morocco; (3) Results: All assessed bromatological characteristics, with the exception of ash and fiber content, revealed significant differences in the carob pulp from the three countries under study. High variability was observed for the total polyphenols ranging between 5.05 mg/g and 12.70 mg/g. Sucrose was the predominant sugar quantified ranging between 13.70 g/100 g and 28.10 g/100 g. The lipid content was low (0.26–0.36%). The moisture content of carob pulp ranges between 4.36% and 6.40%. Carob pulp presented a rich composition in fiber, with an average of 35.87%. The ash content was between 2.52% and 3.28%. The percentage of the protein content of the carob pulp ranged between 4.40 and 5.52, with an average carbohydrate value of 74.71%; (4) Conclusions: Spanish wild carob pulp samples offered higher carbohydrates contents and values for sucrose, fructose, and glucose, polyphenol content, and antioxidant activity, whereas Moroccan samples had higher values of carbohydrates and in concrete, the monosaccharides fructose and glucose showed higher contents in proteins and lipids. In contrast, Lebanese samples exhibit a high content of the disaccharide sucrose. These findings could be exploited in breeding programs to improve varieties that balance both the agronomical quality and nutritional values of carob pulp.

Limonene and Fatty Acid Content of the Volatile Oil of Raphia australis Fruit Pulp and Their Synergistic In vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Aim: To evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil and fatty acid compositions of the volatile oil of Raphia australis fruit pulp. Method: The oils of pulp and seed of Raphia australis were isolated using Clevenger apparatus and were further subjected to GC-MS analyses. Anti-inflammatory test was carried out on the pulp of Raphia australis oils using four groups of rats comprising six rats per group (n=5). Group one were administered normal saline (0.09 % v/v NaCl) while group 1, 2 and 3 were administered 40 mg kg-1(volatile oil), 80 mg kg-1 (volatile oil) and 100mg kg-1 aspirin, respectively. Inflammation was induced in all the groups using lipopolysaccharide. Results: From the GCMS analysis, 20 compounds were detected in the oil of R. australis pulp while 19 compounds were shown to be present in the seed oil. The total fatty acid content of R. australis seed oil was 38.1 %. The rest were essential oil compounds (21.6 %). There are 6.6% unknown compounds present in the oil obtained from the seed of R. australis. The essential oil content of the pulp of R. australis was 68.6 %. The pulp contained 16 % of fatty acids with 9.1 % unknown compounds. The limonene content (38.4 %) of Raphia australis pulp was found to be about 6 times higher than that of the seed (6.3 %). However, the quantity of hexadecenoic acid obtained from the seed (34.4 %) was more than 3 times higher than the amount found in the pulp (10.8%). Other volatile compounds present in the pulp include 2-pentylfuran (3.2 %), germacrene D (7.1 %), nonanal (3.3 %) alpha cadinene (5.2 %), tertradecanoic acid (2.2 %) while nonanal (8.5 %), eicosane (3.9 %) b-pinene (2.2%), 2 pentyl furan (1.9%) and tetradecanoic acid (1.7 %) constitute the major component of the rest of the volatile oil of the seed of Raphia australis. The result of inflammatory activity of the volatile oil of Raphia australis pulp using adult male mice showed that 80 mg kg-1 dose of the oil elicited a significant anti-inflammatory effect (P<0.01) when compared to 100mg kg-1 of aspirin (P<0.01). The analgesic activities of aspirin (P<0.05) and the 80 mg kg-1 dose (P<0.05) of the oil were only significant in the inflammatory phase of the analgesic test. Conclusion: These results show that the volatile oil of Raphia australis has therapeutic potential for use in the management of inflammation-related disorders.

A comparative study of proximate compositions, phytochemical constituents, and anti-nutritional contents of pulps and seeds of Garcinia buchananii fruit.

Garcinia buchananii is a tropical wild edible plant that is locally consumed in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Regional state of Ethiopia. However, there is limited information comparing nutritional, phytochemical, and anti-nutritional factors present in fruit pulps and seeds of the fruit. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and compare the proximate compositions, phytochemical constituents, and anti-nutritional contents of the fruit pulp and seeds. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software version 20. The proximate analysis revealed that the pulp had higher moisture content (80.52%) compared to the seed (42.4%), whereas the seed contained more crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate. However, the phytochemical constituents were relatively more abundant in the pulp compared to the seed. The pulp exhibited higher levels of total phenolic content (31.62%), total flavonoid content (22.27%), ascorbic acid (0.67%), and inhibition percentage (15.31%), but was lower in beta-carotene (4.60%). The fruit seed has higher anti-nutritional values than the pulp. Overall, the pulp and seeds of the Garcinia buchananii fruit are nutrient-rich and can be used in food product development and formulation. Being high in moisture content and low in anti-nutritients the pup of the plant can be utilized in the form of juice.

Osmosonication parameters affect Salmonella Typhimurium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus reductions in solutions and fruit juices

Introduction. Sonication followed by storage in high osmotic pressure, referred to as osmosonication, can significantly reduce microbial loads in food products. Understanding the parameters that influence these reductions is essential. Objective. To evaluate the effect of osmosonication parameters on the reduction of Salmonella Typhimurium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in model solutions and fruit juices. Materials and methods. This study was conducted at the Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica between January and December 2012. Completely randomized experiments were designed for both model solutions and fruit juices, with data analyzed using ANOVA. The parameters evaluated included amplitude (20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 %), sonication time (10, 20, and 30 minutes), percentage of pulsations time (90, 50, 10, and 0), pectin content (0, 0.5, and 1,0 %), and cellulose content (0, 0.15, and 0.30 %), pH (2.5; 3.5; 4.5; 5.5, and 6.5) or natural juice pulp content. Results. L. rhamnosus demonstrated greater resistant to osmosonication treatments compared to S. Typhimurium. Microbial reductions increased with higher sonication times and amplitudes. The percentage of pulsations time did not significantly influence bacterial reductions. Lower pH values resulted in reduced bacterial resistance to osmosonication. Neither pectin nor cellulose content significantly affected the resistance of either microorganism to osmosonication. Similar treatments applied to fruit juices (blackberry, pineapple, apple, and coconut water) showed that microbial reductions for both bacteria were influenced by the type of juice, likely due to varying pH levels. These effects was also bacteria-dependent. Pulp content affected bacterial resistance to osmosonication, with the impact varying by bacterial species. Conclusions. Osmosonication parameters such as amplitude, time, pH, and the pulp content influence the reduction of Salmonella Typhimurium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus in model solutions and fruit juices.

Production and properties of powder and pigments from bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart) rinds

Bacuri (Platonia insignis Mart) pulp content does not reach 20 % of the fruit's weight, rind corresponds to 64–70 % of the raw material, and presents phenolic compounds which suggests the possibility of obtaining colored compounds by complexation with metals. This work studied the bacuri rind powder without treatment, as we as with different metals (calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, copper, magnesium and aluminum) to evaluating which ones had potential for application after the complexation process. The best results in complexation, FT-IR spectroscopy, and color change were obtained with iron and aluminum salts. Temperature and pH had a strong influence on the color of the pigments. At room temperature, complexed with iron and aluminum salts in the range of pH 5 and 6 showed a significant color difference (p < 0.05) from the control (without treatment). The results of colors in the terracotta range (yellow to reddish brown) can be especially recommended for future studies for cosmetics, as well as plant-based doughs, or other chemical applications, with prospects for replacing yellow tartrazine and caramel, in specific application, according its properties.

Influence of plant growth regulators on yield attributes and physical parameters of fruit quality in sapota under the eastern tropical region of India

The present study was conducted at Central Horticultural Experiment Station (ICAR-IIHR), Bhubaneswar, during 2022 and 2023 to evaluate the impact of the application of plant growth regulators on fruit set, yield and physical fruit quality of Sapota (Manilkara zapota L.) cv. DHS-1. The experiment was designed in a randomized completely block design with nine treatments consisting of NAA (50 and 100 ppm), CPPU (5 and 7.5 ppm), SA (150 and 300 ppm) and Homobrassinolide (10 and 15 ppm) and water as control. Treatments were imposed on 24-year-old, uniformly grown sapota trees, planted at 10m x 10m spacing, at flowering, fruit set and one month after fruit set. In general, the application of PGRs was effective in augmenting fruit sets, fruit retention, yield attributes and physical fruit quality over control. However, the application of NAA and CPPU performed better at higher doses. The treatment NAA @100 ppm resulted in the highest fruit set (34.76 %), fruit retention (57.46% at 30 DAFS, 28.48 % at 120 DAFS), yield (47.77 kg/tree) and physical fruit viz. pulp content (93.80%), dry matter (26.15%), fruit length (7.47 cm) and fruit width (6.57 cm). Pearson correlation coefficient analysis showed positive links among fruiting, yield, yield attributing traits and physical fruit quality parameters of sapota, as well as a negative correlation for peel content.

Correlation between Pulp Weight and Physio-Biochemical Traits of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Germplasms

Aim: The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between pulp weight and various physio-biochemical attributes among 30 diverse mango (Mangifera indica L.) germplasms under the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. Place and Duration of Study: This investigation was carried out at Horticulture Research Centre, GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, during the years 2021 and 2022. Methodology: The selected 30 germplasms included two commercially grown cultivars and 28 primary germplasms sourced from different eco-geographical locations of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states of India. Pulp weight, physical characteristics (fruit shape index, pulp/stone ratio) and biochemical parameters (Brix/Acid ratio and pH) were measured for each germplasm and statistically laid out in completely randomized design (CRD), and their relationships were analyzed using simple linear regression and Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Results: The maximum values recorded among the studied germplasms were 300.73 g for pulp weight (PMGC-19), 2.41 for fruit shape index (PMSS-31), 0.309 for pulp/stone ratio (PMGC-71), 140.87 for Brix/Acid ratio (PMGC-96) and 5.87 for pH (PMGC-96). Among the physical attributes, pulp weight exhibited a moderate positive correlation with fruit shape index (r = 0.419), indicating that fruits with a higher shape index tend to have increased pulp weight. Whereas, a moderate negative correlation was observed between pulp weight and pulp/stone ratio (r = -0.457), suggesting that as the pulp/stone ratio increases, pulp weight decreases. However, biochemical attributes such as Brix/Acid ratio and pH showed no significant correlation with pulp weight (r = 0.005 and r = 0.018, respectively), indicating an independent influence of these parameters on pulp characteristics. Conclusion: These findings provide important insights into the complex relationships between pulp weight and other physio-biochemical traits in mango, some traits for breeding programs aimed to improving fruit quality and pulp content and identified superior and promising germplasms for cultivation as well as potential parental genotypes in mango improvement programs.

Influence of variety and harvest on the sensory characteristics of chocolate made from cocoa fermented with different pulp contents

Despite the long-standing recognition of pulp's impact on cocoa fermentation, studies correlating pulp removal with cocoa variety remain scarce. This study investigates the influence of two cocoa varieties (Parazinho and PS1319) harvested in three different periods and various pulp contents (0–100%) on chocolate's physicochemical and sensory properties. Fermentation was conducted with varying pulp contents, followed by natural drying. The beans were roasted, ground to produce liquor, and mixed with other ingredients, undergoing conching, tempering, and storage to produce chocolate. Sensory evaluations included acceptance tests, CATA (Check-All-That-Apply), and JAR tests. Physicochemical analysis showed no correlation with harvest or variety but differed between samples. Sensory evaluation revealed no significant differences in “aroma” among samples. However, “overall liking” and “flavor” had higher acceptance with partial pulp removal for the PS1319 variety, whereas the Parazinho variety showed no impact. CATA and ideal scale analyses indicated that attributes like “chocolate flavor,” “sweet taste,” “pleasant flavor,” and “pleasant aroma” varied with harvest, variety, and pulp content. In conclusion, partial pulp removal positively impacts certain attributes, enhancing chocolate quality and adding value to pulp, benefiting the cocoa supply chain.

Plant traits determine seed retention times in frugivorous birds: Implications for long‐distance seed dispersal

Abstract Seed dispersal by frugivorous animals is a key process for plant populations and communities. When frugivores consume fruits, seeds are temporarily retained inside their guts until seed deposition. Hence, information on retention times is essential to estimate seed‐dispersal distances. Although it is well known that retention times are affected by the body size of frugivores, there is an important knowledge gap on the effects of plant species traits, such as seed size and pulp content. Here, we comprehensively address whether and which plant traits affect seed retention times in frugivorous birds. On the one hand, we conducted a first set of experiments to assess variation in retention times among 31 plant species dispersed by a single bird species, and a second set to assess variation among five plant species dispersed by a guild of five frugivorous passerines. On the other hand, we conducted a literature review retrieving retention times for 231 interactions involving 155 plant species and 55 bird species from nine different avian orders. Seed size had negative effects on retention times at the three levels addressed in this study: the larger the seeds, the shorter the times. The effects of seed size were higher within a single bird species, intermediate for the small assemblage of five passerine species, and lower for all frugivorous birds included in the compilation. Notably, the effects of seed size on retention times were comparable to that of frugivore body size in Passeriformes. We analysed the effects of the pulp content on a single bird species, but these lacked predictive power. Importantly, the effects of seed size were indirect and mediated by the type of seed ejection (digestive processing): birds generally defecate smaller seeds and regurgitate the larger ones. We provide comprehensive evidence that retention times are intrinsically linked to plant traits and to frugivores' response to such traits, particularly to seed size and the type of seed ejection, respectively. Thus, our study unveils a source of interspecific variability in the capacity of plants to disperse at long distances. Moreover, we provide methodological improvements to trait‐based models that estimate mean retention times and seed‐dispersal distances. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Physical and Energy Properties of Fuel Pellets Produced from Sawdust with Potato Pulp Addition

This paper presents the findings of a study of the pelleting process of pine sawdust with the addition of waste in the form of potato pulp (as a natural binder), in the context of producing fuel pellets. The process of pelleting was carried out for sawdust and for a mixture of sawdust and potato pulp (10, 15, 20, and 25%). The highest moisture content was obtained in the case of pellets produced from a mixture of straw with a 25% potato pulp content, i.e., 26.54% (with a potato pulp moisture content of 85.08%). Increasing the potato pulp content in a mixture with sawdust from 10 to 25% reduced the power demand of the pelletizer by approx. 20% (from 7.35 to 5.92 kW). The obtained density values for pellets made from a mixture of sawdust and potato pulp (over 1000 kg∙m−3) with a potato pulp content of 10% make it possible to conclude that the obtained pellets meet the requirements of the ISO 17225-2:2021-11 standard. Increasing the potato pulp content from 0 to 25% caused a slight decrease in the heat of combustion, i.e., from 20.45 to 20.32 MJ∙kg−1, as well as in the calorific value, from 19.02 to 18.83 MJ∙kg−1 (both for dry sawdust matter and the mixture). The results of the laboratory tests were used to verify the densification process of mixtures of sawdust and potato pulp under industrial conditions at the PANBAH plant, using pelleting mixtures with a 5%, 10%, and 25% content of potato pulp. Industrial research also confirmed that the use of the addition of potato pulp in a mixture with sawdust significantly reduces the power demand of the pelletizer, and it also increases the kinetic strength of the obtained pellets.

A feasibility study of oil palm empty fruit bunch pulp as a substitution for radiata pine pulp for autoclave fibre cement composite production

The main objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using unbleached pulp from oil palm empty fruit bunches, produced via the Ethanolamine pulping process, to replace Radiata Pine pulp in autoclave fibre cement composite (AFCC) manufacturing. The Ethanolamine pulping process was chosen for its silica retention capability on empty fruit bunch surfaces. The research involves three key phases: an initial characterization of RPP and EFBP properties, including kappa numbers and pulp aspect ratios; subsequent AFCC production with varying RPP content levels (0%–13%) and different cement-to-silica (C/S) ratios (0.2–1.0); and the introduction of EFBP as a partial or complete substitute for RPP at a fixed C/S ratio. Results reveal RPP excels in fibre quality attributes like length, coarseness, fineness, width, and wet/dry zero span, while EFBP offers advantages in fibre count and macro fibrillation index. X-ray diffraction confirms silica presence on EFBP. The highest modulus of rupture (MOR), at 15.5 MPa, is achieved with 9% RPP and a C/S ratio of 1.0. Subsequent analysis, with 1% EFBP interval substitutions to total 13% pulp content, yields the highest MOR values under dry (16.7 MPa) and wet (9.9 MPa) conditions using recipes with 6% RPP and 3% EFBP. XRD confirms the presence of silica on EFBP, forming a crystalline flake layer post-autoclaving. Thus, EFBP proves suitable as a partial AFCC substitute.

Quality Wafer Fiber Fraction from Sago Dregs with Various Types of Adhesives and Storage Times

This study aims to determine the quality of nutrition in the form of wafer-shaped feed fiber fractions using different types of adhesives and storage times. This study used an experimental method using Factorial RAL. Factor A was storage time of 0, 7, and 14 days and factor B was tapioca adhesive, wheat flour and rice flour. The results showed that factor A (storage time) had a very significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on the decrease in the content of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin and hemicellulose. Furthermore, factor B addition of adhesive material also had a very significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on the decrease in the content of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin and hemicellulose. The conclusion of this study is that the addition of sago pulp content up to 30% can reduce the content of the complete ration wafer fiber fraction. The best treatment is the addition of sago pulp level, namely at 14 days of storage using tapioca flour as an adhesive can reduce the nutritional content in the form of neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin

Study on Chalcopyrite Dissolution Mechanism and Bioleaching Community Behavior Based on Pulp Concentration Gradient at 6 °C

Low-temperature bioleaching is relevant to the recovery of metals in alpine mines, but its development has been constrained by low bioleaching rates at high pulp concentrations. To this end, the bioleaching effect of the microbial community after the domestication of pulp concentration at 6 °C was studied. Domestication improved the bioleaching rate of copper. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemical measurements revealed that the domestication process aggravated the corrosion of the chalcopyrite surface by accelerating its dissolution reaction. High-throughput sequencing technology indicated that Acidithiobacillus spp., Leptospirillum spp., and Acidiphilium spp. were the major lineages of the domesticated microbial community. The analysis of the microbial community revealed that domestication changed the microbial structure, enhancing the adaptability of the microbial community to pulp concentrations and acidic conditions. This study uncovered the mechanism by which domestication enhanced the bioleaching efficiency of the microbial community at low temperatures.

Upgrading paper-grade bleached hardwood pulp towards dissolving pulp using γ-valerolactone

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) is a promising biomass-based platform compound that can be used for the removal of hemicellulose in pulp. In this study, a paper-grade pulp was treated using GVL to generate dissolving pulp for viscose production. The GVL concentration, treatment temperature, and reaction time had significant effect on the hemicellulose dissolution. The dissolving pulp with α-cellulose content of 92.3% and hemicellulose content of 5.45% was achieved with 60% GVL at 120 °C for 2 h. The Fock reactivity and intrinsic viscosity of the obtained dissolving pulp were 54.6% and 595 mL/g, which is comparable with the commercial product. In addition, GVL spent liquor was also recycled and reused to upgrade paper-grade pulp. By using purified recycled GVL to treat original pulp, the Fock reactivity of pulp was improved, and the cellulose content of as-prepared upgraded pulp increased to 92.1%, which was close to the cellulose content of dissolving pulp obtained from fresh GVL solution, while the intrinsic viscosity decreased significantly to 598 mL/g. Therefore, the efficient reuse of GVL not only ensured the high quality of dissolving pulp, but it also saved production costs and reduced environmental pollution.

Profiling of bioactive compounds identified in functional gummies by metabolomics analysis using High-Resolution Accurate Mass-Spectrometry

The consumers demand for healthier and fortified products received much attention these days. The main aim of this study was to prepare functional gummies that contain beneficial bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and phenolics. The gummies were prepared using varying concentrations of jamun pulp and pear pomace powder, which are both known for their health benefits. Optimization of the prepared gummies was done on the basis of their antioxidant profile. The bioactive compounds found in the gummies were characterized by High-Resolution Accurate Mass-Spectrometry. These bioactive compounds were divided into different categories, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, as well as terpenoids. Analytical characterization was employed to identify both known and unknown bioactive compounds and metabolites in the optimized product. The results showed that the optimized gummies (FG3) exhibited desirable sensory, textural, and functional properties. FG3 contains a substantial amount of dietary fibre and bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, triterpenes, which exhibits health benefits such as anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory etc., Overall, the developed gummies provide a promising solution to address health-related issues.

Development and Performance Evaluation of Synbiotic Red Banana Yoghurt

Aims: The present study aimed at the production of yoghurt with different levels of red banana pulp (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15%) Study Design: Development of red banana pulp incorporated probiotic yoghurt and its performance evaluation. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Dairy Microbiology, Dairy Science College, Hebbal, Bengaluru, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Bidar, Karnataka, India. Between June 2022 and March 2023. Methodology: The red banana pulp incorporated probiotic yoghurt was developed and subjected to sensory analysis by the panel of judges using 9-point hedonic scale, analyzed for milk set time, acidity and viability and the best combination was selected. Results: The 10% concentration of red banana pulp was selected which showed 2.3 h of milk set time, acidity of 0.74% LA, viable log count/g was 9.50 and overall acceptability score was 8.25. The contaminants like coliforms and yeast and molds were absent. The 10% concentration showed no significant difference (P =.05) with the control sample in milk set time and acidity, while significant difference was observed in viability among the different concentrations. The samples were analyzed for synerisis which was 9.30%, water activity was 0.939, viscosity was 6.08cP and color intensity L* was 80.17, a* was -0.85 and b* was 8.68, for the developed red banana pulp incorporated probiotic yoghurt. Conclusion: The developed product improves the acceptability and provides benefits of both probiotics and red banana for the consumers.

Effect of Pod Storage and Drying Temperature on Fermentation Dynamics and Final Bean Quality of Cacao Nacional in Ecuador.

The impact of pod storage (PS) and two drying temperatures of fermented cocoa beans was investigated in Ecuador. Therefore, four variations were simultaneously carried out three times at two locations, independently: 0, 3, and 5 days of PS, dried at 60 °C and 0 days of PS, dried at 80 °C. Pod weight during storage, pulp content, pH, temperature, microbial counts, total free amino acids, protein profiles, sugars, organic acids, cut-test, fermentation index, and sensory profiles were analyzed. Minor differences in fermentation dynamics and bean quality were found between variations with and without PS. A rather accelerated fermentation with pod-stored beans was observed (e.g., faster color change, slightly lower pH in cotyledon after 48 h), along with a significantly higher maximal temperature during 24-42 h (43.1 ± 3.2 °C compared to 39.2 ± 2.0 °C without PS). More well-fermented beans were reached with PS (52.3 ± 22.6%) than without (62.7 ± 9.2%). Differences during fermentation were observed between the locations (e.g., pH, acids, sugars), but sensory evaluation indicated that the impact of location was mitigated with PS. Drying at 80 °C showed no adverse effects, as evidenced by the results of the cut-test and fermentation index. However, sensory evaluations revealed significant differences between 80 °C and 60 °C, with the former exhibiting more bitter and astringent cocoa liquor.

Microwave heating concentration of raspberry pulp: Evaluation of processing variables on concentration characteristics and quality attributes

Concentration of fruit pulp is an important unit operation in food processing and has a wide range of applications. In this study, the microwave heating concentration (MHC) of raspberry pulp at different microwave powers, heating times and sample masses were investigated considering concentration characteristics and quality attributes. The results showed that increasing microwave power/heating time or decreasing sample mass significantly decreased the moisture content but had no significant effect on the temperature of raspberry pulp, while these conditions resulted in loss of total anthocyanin content and deterioration of total color difference. LF-NMR and SEM results revealed that the changes in temperature and moisture content caused by MHC significantly affected the total anthocyanin content and total color difference of the final product. Microwave power of 800 W, heating time of 3 min and sample mass of 90 g are selected as suitable parameters for MHC of raspberry pulp. This study may provide guidance for the development of appropriate technology for MHC of berry pulp.

An Ionic Liquid-Based Biorefinery Approach for Duckweed Utilization.

This study establishes a foundation for the ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment of duckweed biomass. An optimized IL-based process was designed to exploit the unique properties of duckweed including efficient metal removal, potential starch accumulation, and protein accumulation. Two ILs, namely, dimethylethanolammonium formate ([DMEtA][HCOO]) and N,N-dimethylbutylammonium hydrogen sulfate ([DMBA][HSO4]), were investigated for the pretreatment of two duckweed species (Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna minor). The evaluation focused on starch recovery, sugar release, protein recovery, and metal extraction capabilities. [DMEtA][HCOO] demonstrated near-quantitative starch recoveries at 120 °C, while [DMBA][HSO4] showed similar performance at 90 °C within a reaction time of 2 h. Saccharification yields for most pulps exceeded 90% after 8 h of hydrolysis, outperforming "traditional" lignocellulosic biomasses such as miscanthus or sugarcane bagasse. Approximately 50 and 80 wt % of the protein were solubilized in [DMEtA][HCOO] and [DMBA][HSO4], respectively, while the remaining protein distributed between the pulp and lignin. However, the solubilized protein in the IL could not be recovered due to its low molecular weight. Regarding metal extraction, [DMEtA][HCOO] demonstrated higher efficiency, achieving 81% removal of Ni from Lemna minor's pulps, whereas [DMBA][HSO4] extracted only 28% of Ni with slightly higher pulp concentrations. These findings indicate the need for further optimization in concurrent metal extraction using ILs.

EFFECT OF AGE OF SUCKERS AND BUNCH COVERING ON YIELD AND QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF BANANA CV. AMRITSAGAR

The investigation was carried out at the Horticulture farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from April to October, 2019. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors and five replications. Factor A was different aged suckers namely A1= 1st year sucker, A2= 2nd year sucker and A3= 3rd year sucker. Factor B was different types of bagging like B1= Black, B2= White, B3= Blue and B4= Control. Five fingers were randomly selected from each hand and were analyzed for different parameters. The result of the experiment showed that all the parameters were studied found significantly different among the treatments. Among the effect of sucker age, the highest plant height (301cm), plant diameter (74.4 cm), number of fingers per bunch (55.1), bunch weight per plant (13.15 kg), weight all hands per bunch (11.79 kg), weight of single finger at ripening time (145.4 g) were found from A3 (3rd year sucker ). Also, the highest weight of single pulp at ripening time (107.3 g), weight of single peel at ripening time (38.0 g), TSS (20.05 %), moisture content of pulp (78.4 %), dry weight of peel (5.36 g) and moisture content of peel (85.76%) was found from A3 (3rd year sucker). On the other hand, among the effect of bagging, the highest growth and yield like fingers per bunch (57.47), bunch weight per plant (12.83 kg), weight all hands per bunch (11.42 kg) were found in B2 (white polythene). Also, the highest weight of single finger at harvesting time (157 g), weight of single finger at ripening time (137.3 g), weight of pulp at ripening time (102.3 g), moisture content of pulp (78.77%), moisture content of peel (85.41%) were found from B2 (white polythene). The combined effect of sucker age and bagging materials, the highest growth and yield like length of bunch (76.2cm), bunch weight per plant (14.58kg), weight all hands per bunch (13.04 kg) was found in A3B2 (3rd year sucker with white polythene). In a nutshell, the present study showed that different aged suckers and bunch covering had a better effect on physio-morphological characteristics, yield and quality.