Content Of Raw Materials Research Articles

Use of Syzygium aromaticum L. Fermented Plant Extract to Enhance Antioxidant Potential: Fermentation Kinetics

The concept of our research is related to the use of stems from S. aromaticum L. in the fermentation process in order to obtain new cosmetic raw materials with high antioxidant potential that are safe for human fibroblasts (HDFs) and keratinocytes (HaCaTs). This evaluation involves treating cell lines with different concentrations of fermented extracts to establish a noncytotoxic dose range. The focus was on evaluating antioxidant activity (AA), total polyphenol content (TPC), and lactic acid efficiency (LAe). For this purpose, the most favourable technological parameters of the fermentation process of stems were determined, including the type of microorganisms, initial sugar content, plant raw material content, and fermentation time. In the present study, lactic acid was obtained with maximum efficiency by stem fermentation in the presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and molasses as a source of six-carbon sugars. In addition, fermentation kinetics was investigated, the essence of which was to identify the technological parameters that allow the highest values of the main functions describing the process (AA, TPC LAe). Two kinetic models were used to determine the kinetics of process function changes during fermentation. The most favourable fermentation conditions for maximum antioxidant activity (26.88 mmol Tx/L ± 0.19), total polyphenol content (5.96 mmol GA/L ± 0.19), and lactic acid efficiency (88% ± 1) were: type of microorganism L. rhamnosus MI-0272, initial sugar content 3.20%, plant raw material content 6.40%, and a fermentation time of 9 days. The values of chelating activity (ChA), AA, and TPC in the fermented stems increased more than two-fold compared to the non-fermented extracts. Reducing activity (RA) and LAe increased to 46.22 mmol Fe3+/L ± 0.29 and 88% ± 1, respectively. Of the kinetic models adopted, follow-up reaction equations and first-order equations best described the time-dependent changes taking place. This study shows that the process function values of AA and LAe are dependent on the LAB strain and the content of the plant material, and the rate of change of TPC may largely depend on the forms of phenolic compounds formed during fermentation.

Enhanced prediction of cement raw meal oxides by near-infrared spectroscopy using machine learning combined with chemometric techniques.

The component analysis of raw meal is critical to the quality of cement. In recent years, near-infrared (NIR) has been emerged as an innovative and efficient analytical method to determine the oxide content of cement raw meal. This study aims to utilize NIR spectroscopy combined with machine learning and chemometrics to improve the prediction of oxide content in cement raw meal. The Savitzky-Golay convolution smoothing method is applied to eliminate noise interference for the analysis of calcium carbonate ( ), silicon dioxide ( ), aluminum oxide ( ), and ferric oxide ( ) in cement raw materials. Different wavelength selection techniques are used to perform a comprehensive analysis of the model, comparing the performance of several wavelength selection techniques. The back-propagation neural network regression model based on particle swarm optimization algorithm was also applied to optimize the extracted and screened feature wavelengths, and the model prediction performance was checked and evaluated using and RMSE. In conclusion, the results indicate that NIR spectroscopy in combination with ML and chemometrics has great potential to effectively improve the prediction performance of oxide content in raw materials and highlight the importance of modeling and wavelength selection techniques. By enabling more accurate and efficient determination of oxide content in raw materials, NIR spectroscopy coupled with meta-modeling has the potential to revolutionize quality assurance practices in cement manufacturing.

Double-edged effects of aluminosilicates formation on denitrification and desalination during the leaching process of secondary aluminum dross (SAD)

As the proportion of recycled aluminum increased, the production of secondary aluminum dross (SAD) increased dramatically, putting enormous pressure on the enterprises and environment. The utilization rate of SAD was less than 30 % due to problems such as high discharge of acidic/alkaline wastewater or restrictions on the salt content of raw materials. In a previous study, authors achieved self-driven hydrolysis of SAD by water leaching. However, the removal of Na and K was incomplete, which was also found in alkaline leaching processes and was more serious. To further identify the causes, the transformation behaviors of Al, Si, N, F, Cl, Na, and K in SAD during the water leaching process were investigated in this study. In addition, the double-edged effects of aluminosilicates formation on denitrification and desalination during the leaching process of SAD were also revealed. The results showed that the generation of Al(OH)3 inclusions during the hydrolysis of AlN inhibited the deep denitrification, while NH3 provided an alkaline driving force for the dissolution of Al(OH)3 and Si/SiO2. Dissociated Al(OH)4- and H3SiO4- reacted with Na+/K+ to form aluminosilicates, which promoted denitrification but inhibited desalination. Eventually, after 480 min of water leaching (L/S = 1.5, T = 80 °C), the denitrification was 86.39 %, the removal rate of Cl was 99.61 %, and the contents of Na and K in leaching residues were 0.39 wt% and 0.24 wt%, respectively. The leaching residues with an Al content of 37.41 wt% showed no leaching toxicity, which reached Grade I bauxite grade.

Содержание белка и масла в пшеничном и ячменном талгане

The purpose of the study is to analyze the protein and oil content in wheat and barley grain raw materials at different technological stages of the production of the national Khakass cereal product talgan. Wheat and barley were grown in 2022 in the Beysk District of the Republic of Khakassia. In the process of making talgan, the grain was heat treated at 240–250 °C for 5 minutes, then the fried grain was crushed and sifted to separate the bran. In samples taken at each technological stage, the protein content was analyzed using the Kjeldahl method on an automatic UDK 159 installation; the oil content was determined using the Soxhlet method on a SER 148 device from Velp in accordance with the standard. As we progress through the technological stages of talgan production, from raw materials to the final product, significant changes in protein and oil content towards their increase were demonstrated. The final product talgan, made from barley, was characterized by a significantly higher level of protein and oil compared to those from wheat (by 4.2 and 24.9 %, respectively). After heat treatment of wheat and barley raw materials, a statistically proven change in the content of both protein and oil was noted in the product. The protein content of both crops increased by 6.1 and 9 %, respectively. As a result of passing the technological stage associated with grinding the grain product and sifting it, it was established that the oil content in the resulting wheat talgan increased by 39.7 % and its content doubled in barley talgan. The protein content in wheat and barley talgan exceeded that in the original raw material by 2.5 and 13.2 %, and the oil content was respectively higher by 56.5 and 86.7 %. The results obtained indicate a noticeable increase in the quality of the final talgan product compared to the original grain raw material.

Microbiology Profile of Dairy Product Raw Materials to Prepare Superior Products for Politeknik Negeri Jember

The government continues to make efforts to reduce the incidence of stunting through education on the provision of animal protein food products especially Ultra High Temperature (UHT) milk product. Tefa (Teaching Factory) Polije (Politeknik Negeri Jember) in preparation for UHT Milk production required several product tests, one of them is the Microbiology Profile. This study aimed to determine microbiology profile of Tefa UHT Polije milk products. The method used were descriptive quantitative consisting using fresh milk samples from Tefa Dairy Cows and water quality with 2 replications each used Total Plate Count (TPC) test. The results showed the Total Bacteria content in fresh milk raw materials was normal, namely 1.45 x 104 ml/cfu. The quality of water as a raw material for made superior Tefa UHT milk products is <1 x 101 cfu/ml. The quality of pH value and water were normal (6.8 and 6.9), and the quality of milk density 1.028 and water 1 (normal). The conclusion was the quality of Tefa Polije UHT milk raw materials was of good quality to prepare UHT milk production as Polije’s superior product.

РАЗРАБОТКА МЕТОДА ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИИ И ОПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ ЭФИРНОГО МАСЛА В ПОБЕГАХ ТУИ ЗАПАДНОЙ (THUJA OCCIDENTALIS)

The purpose of the study is to develop methods for identifying terpenoids and assessing the quantitative content of essential oil in the shoots of western thuja (Thuja occidentalis). The object of the study was samples of thuja occidentalis shoots. The raw materials were used fresh. To carry out qualitative reactions, well-known methods were selected that are most often used in the analysis of essential oil raw materials. Identification of essential oil components was carried out by TLC on Silufol plates. A solution of α-pinene was used as a standard. The quantitative content of essential oil in the raw materials was determined by steam distillation in accordance with the GPM method 1.5.3.00010.15 Determination of the content of essential oil in medicinal plant raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations. The authors proposed qualitative reactions for identifying terpenoids in raw materials, which can be used to form the “Authenticity” section for a new type of raw material - thuja occidentalis shoots. α-pinene was identified by TLC. A quantitative assessment of the essential oil content in raw materials was carried out. Qualitative reactions were experimentally selected to confirm the presence of terpenoids in alcoholic extracts from thuja occidentalis shoots, as well as for unsaturated compounds in essential oil obtained by steam distillation. Using TLC, α-pinene was identified in the analyzed samples. The presence of additional 8 adsorption zones in the essential oil samples was also revealed. Assessment of the quantitative content of essential oil in raw materials, carried out according to method 2 OFS.1.5.3.00010.15 “Determination of the content of essential oil in medicinal plant raw materials and medicinal herbal preparations.” The data obtained during the experiment allows us to recommend the inclusion of an essential oil content of at least 2.84% in the quality indicators of western thuja shoots.

INVESTIGATION OF THE USE OF KÜTAHYA REGION KAOLIN IN WALL TILES

The main raw materials in the ceramic wall tiles are clay, kaolin, calcite, and feldspar. The technical properties of the tiles (water absorption, total shrinkage, dry firing strength, fracture strength) and the desired physical properties (L, a, b, surface smoothness) vary depending on the raw material content in the recipe. Rheological parameters are crucial in the formulation development stages to avoid production problems and to ensure the final desired product parameters. Density, viscosity, and sieve analysis have therefore been included in the developed formulations. The use of raw materials from the region close to the production facility facilitates easy access to these materials. Thanks to this advantage, the use of domestic raw materials is becoming more widespread. In addition to the use of alternative raw materials, it contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The aim of this study, is to formulate a recipe for wall tiles using kaolins from the Kütahya region instead of clay from the Afyon region. Recipes containing 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% of Kütahya region kaolin, with a corresponding reduction in clay from the Afyon region, were developed and sintered at 1130-1150°C with a 29-minute firing cycle. By analyzing the technical properties of the developed formulations, it was found that a maximum of 2% of Kütahya region kaolin could be used in the wall tile formulation. It was found that exceeding this percentage was not feasible due to the associated increase in water absorption, expansion of product size, and decrease in dry strength.

A comprehensive study of melt foaming in E‐glass batch‐to‐melt conversion process: Effects of sulfate content and chemistry of raw materials

AbstractControl of sulfate‐induced melt fining without excessive foaming is one of the critical steps in maintaining the stability of E‐glass fiber manufacturing processes. Besides, the efficiency of combustion or energy utilization is directly affected by the extent of the melt‐foaming. A fundamental understanding of key factors affecting melt foaming under the simulated oxy‐fuel combustion environment will enable commercial E‐glass fiber production to optimize both batch chemistry and operation conditions to achieve adequate furnace control. In this study, six types of E‐glass batches with the same target glass composition were prepared by using four different CaO sources; calcined limes with different SO3 contents, limestone, limestone with sodium sulfate, and a mixture of limestone and calcined lime. All batch samples were examined by HTMOS‐EGA system (high temperature melting observation system with evolved gas analysis). HTMOS enables monitoring batch‐to‐melt conversation steps by using a high‐resolution camera and EGA detects the evolved reaction gaseous, such as CO, CO2, and SO2 via an Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) gas analyzer. Gases of water vapor, N2, and O2 were introduced accordingly into the fused quartz crucible to simulate similar oxy‐fuel atmosphere of the furnace operation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different SO3 contents in batches and different raw material chemistries on the foam formation in E‐glass melts under the oxy‐fuel atmosphere. Different raw materials were characterized by mineralogical analysis, chemical analysis, particle size distribution, chemical oxygen demanding (COD) level, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. Although some of the batches contained the same SO3 content, different foam formations resulted from the effect of the batch chemistry. Our detailed HTMOS‐EGA investigations show that not only SO3 content in the batch affects foam formation in E‐glass melts, but also raw material chemistry and particle size have strong effects on the melt foaming in E‐glass batch melting, especially for those of ingredients having hydroxide phases and/or finer particles with higher specific areas.

Portable optical spectroscopy and machine learning techniques for quantification of the biochemical content of raw food materials

BackgroundAccuracy in determining food authenticity, possible contamination, content analysis, and even geographical origin is of considerable scientific and economic value. The aim of this study is to facilitate quantitative evaluation of protein content in the seeds of cereals (Triticum turgidum var. durum and Tritordeum genotypes) and ripening pomegranate fruits (Wonderful cultivar).MethodsTwo species of wheat were evaluated in this study: durum wheat, Triticum turgidum var. durum, and Tritordeum (durum wheat × wild barley) together with pomegranate fruits of the variety Wonderful. Two different portable Near InfraRed (NIR) spectrometers have been used: a prototype developed in the PhasmaFood project and the commercial SCiO™ molecular sensor.ResultsConsidering the specific samples, the obtained results of the classification models indicate a validation mean absolute error of 0.8% (percentage of total protein content in dry matter) for two species of wheat using Convolutional Neural Network following normalization procedures and 0.32% using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis applied to Tritordeum samples; visible reflectance spectra have been used to discriminate the two cereal species. A Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.25 was obtained for the determination of total soluble solids (TSS) over a 2-year period for pomegranate fresh fruits of Wonderful cultivar, which is commonly harvested with TSS values of 16–17.ConclusionsThe application of portable sensors using NIR spectroscopy can be a valid and rapid alternative to the use of destructive laboratory techniques for the assessment of protein content in intact wheat seeds and ripeness grade (TSS) in intact pomegranates.

Optimization of watermelon peel yogurt fermentation process and study on antioxidant capacity

This study aims to explore the variation patterns of total flavonoid and other antioxidant activities in watermelon peel yogurt, providing a basis for the production of a functional yogurt. Using watermelon peel as the raw material and total flavonoid content as the indicator, the optimal process of watermelon peel yogurt was optimized through single-factor and orthogonal experiments. The results indicate that yogurt fermented with a mass ratio of watermelon juice to milk at 1:3, fermentation time of 10 hours, and fermentation agent dosage of 0.10% exhibits a refreshing watermelon aroma, excellent texture, and almost no whey separation. After process optimization, the polysaccharide content of watermelon peel yogurt increased by 19%, and water-holding capacity rose to 63.3%. Texture analysis revealed a hardness of 81.50 g, viscosity of 20.00 g, adhesiveness of 1.20 mJ, elasticity of 8.83 mm, and a draw length of 6.76 mm. The physicochemical and microbiological properties of watermelon peel yogurt meet national standards, and it possesses a good free radical scavenging ability.

Current Issues in Determining Fat Content in Food Products and Food Raw Materials (Review)

The article raises the problem of incomparability of measurement results obtained by different methods of measuring fat content in food products and food raw materials. The problem identified by the author can be solved by developing metrological support for measurements in the food industry. The purpose of the study is to analyze methods for measuring fat content in food products and food raw materials, as well as to revise the state of their metrological support. A brief description, applications, advantages and limitations of extraction-gravimetric, butyrometric, refractometric, chromatographic, ultrasonic, turbidimetric, NMR, and IR spectroscopic methods for measuring fat content are presented. Standardized measurement techniques regulated in national (GOST R), interstate (GOST), and international (ISO, AOAC) standards are analyzed, taking into account the method used, areas of application, and metrological characteristics. An overview of testing equipment and measuring instruments for implementing various methods for determining fat content is given. Particular attention is paid to the consideration of certified express analyzers of food products and food raw materials. A list of certified reference materials for the composition of dairy and grain-milk products, fish and meat products, oilseeds and their processed products, compound feed, egg powder and wheat crackers with a certified value of the mass fraction of fat is provided, their metrological characteristics and certification methods are listed. Based on the results of the study, the main features and problems of ensuring the uniformity of measurements of fat content in food products and food raw materials were formulated, and perspective directions for the development of metrological support were identified.

ACCUMULATION OF ORGANOCHLORINE PESTICIDES IN MEDICINAL PLANT RAW MATERIALS OF THE VORONEZH REGION

The purpose of the study is to examine the peculiarities of accumulation of the most dangerous organochlorine pesticides in medicinal plant materials of Voronezh region agrocenoses.&#x0D; Materials and Methods. The author analyzed pharmacopoeial species of medicinal plant raw materials, widespread in central Russia. The plants belong to both natural plant communities and synanthropic vegetation: common nettle leaves, common plantain leaves, ginger plant flowers, small-leaved lime flowers, quinquelobate motherwort herb, absinthium herb, common yarrow herb, knotgrass herb, common burdock roots, and common dandelion roots. Samples of the surface soil were also taken. The author determined dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, hexachlorocyclohexane, hexachlorane, and aldrin content in medicinal plant raw materials and surface soil. The studies were carried out on a Tsvet 500M gas chromatograph with a microsyringe dispenser, glass capillary separation columns and flame ionization detection.&#x0D; Results. Studies of surface soil samples and medicinal plant raw materials showed the virtual absence of organochlorine pesticides in the analyzed materials: the content of hexachlorocyclohexane and its isomers (total) was less than 0.001 mg/kg, the content of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and its metabolites (total) was less than 0.007 mg/kg. Aldrin and hexachlorane were not detected. The results obtained favorably distinguish the Voronezh region from other constituent entities of the Russian Federation, where high concentrations of organochlorine pesticides are periodically detected both in soil and in plants. This fact opens prospects for the cultivation and procurement of wild plants in the Voronezh region.

The 30/100 Classification System as a Reference for Price of Sandalwood (Santalum album) Wood in Sandalwood Oil Industry

The perfume and cosmetics industry heavily relies on quality raw materials, particularly Sandalwood oil, known for its unique scent and importance in various products. The presence of a reliable Sandalwood oil distillation industry is crucial for meeting industry demands. However, determining the price of Sandalwood wood faces challenges due to quality variations influenced by factors like geographical origin and processing methods. We have proposed a 30/100 classification system developed by CV. Suraya Nirmala and UPT Laboratorium Terpadu of Universitas Nusa Cendana. The aim of this research is to determine the sandalwood oil content of several raw materials with a 30/100 classification system as a basis for determining the price of these raw materials. The classification method involves categorizing sandalwood into four classes (30, 60, 90, and 100) based on visual observations of the brown heartwood area on the cross-section of the wood sample. The comparative analysis of Sandalwood oil volume indicates variations in oil content among the different classes of Sandalwood wood samples. Sandalwood wood class 90 exhibits a 57.49% Sandalwood oil content compared to class 100. Sandalwood wood class 60 demonstrates a 33.44% Sandalwood oil content compared to class 100. Sandalwood wood class 30 showcases a 19.86% Sandalwood oil content compared to class 100. These findings serve as a reference for determining the pricing of Sandalwood wood as raw material in the Sandalwood oil distillation industry. The price of class 100 serves as the Highest Base Price (Hd), with class 90 priced at 0.5749Hd, class 60 at 0.3344Hd, and class 30 at 0.1986Hd.

Influence of cocoa products on rheological, fatty acid profile and quality characteristics of biscuits.

Cocoa products namely cocoa powder (CP), cocoa butter (CB) and cocoa mass (CM) were selected for their utilization in soft dough biscuits. CP was blended with the refined wheat flour (WF-0, 5, 10 and 15% levels) and rheological and quality characteristics of biscuits were studied. The spread ratio decreased (10.1-8.8), density (0.49-0.52g/cm3) and breaking strength values (1127-1369g force) increased gradually with increase in CP. Combination of GMS and SSL at 0.25% each improved the quality of biscuits at 10% incorporation of CP. Further the biscuit fat (BF) was replaced with CB (0, 25, 50 and 75%). Later the biscuits with CM were prepared by replacing the flour (15%) and BF (0, 25, 50 and 75%). Acceptability of the CM based biscuits was better when compared to CB based biscuits. The total polyphenol content in control biscuits was 55.55mg/100g and was in the range between 81.98 and 102.05mg/100g for cocoa based biscuits. The protein content in cocoa based biscuits was marginally higher than the control biscuit. Though there was a wide variation in the fat content and different fatty acids in raw materials, interestingly, the values varied narrowly in biscuits.

Composition of biologically active substances of common cranberry fruits (Oxycoccus palustris Pers.) in various methods of preservation

Introduction. The study of common cranberry fruits is promising due to the wide variety of biologically active substances included in their composition, a wide range of therapeutic properties, as well as the ability of cranberry fruits for long-term storage and resistance to harsh environmental conditions. Fresh fruits contain the maximum amount of biologically active substances and, accordingly, have the most pronounced pharmacological effect. To preserve the composition and content of biologically active substances, preservation is used in pharmacy. Most often they resort to drying. Freezing can be considered a new and promising method for preserving the quality of medicinal plant materials. Purpose of the study. Study of the effect of freezing and drying on the qualitative composition and quantitative content of biologically active substances in common cranberry fruits. Material and methods. The object of the study was fresh, frozen, and dried common cranberry fruits collected in the Pskov and Novgorod regions in 2022 during the fruiting period. The study of the composition of biologically active substances (BAS) and quantitative assessment of the content were carried out according to pharmacopoeial methods, using analysis using thin layer chromatography (TLC), spectrophotometry and redox titration methods. Results. Using TLC analysis, organic acids (ascorbic, malic, citric, tartaric and succinic), flavonoids (rutin, quercetin), tannins (gallic acid) and anthocyanins were identified in the fruits. There were no differences in the qualitative composition of dried and frozen fruits. The content of organic acids, tannins, flavonoids and anthocyanins in cranberry fruits using different preservation methods was determined. It has been established that when fruits are dried, the content of all studied groups of biologically active substances decreases, on average by 40–60% of the initial content in fresh raw materials. Ascorbic acid is destroyed to a greater extent (90–92%). Exposure to low temperatures leads to a slight decrease in biologically active substances in common cranberry fruits (7–14%). Conclusion. The influence of preservation methods on the composition and content of biologically active substances in common cranberry fruits has been studied. The possibility of using frozen cranberry fruits as an alternative to fresh and dried raw materials in the manufacture of drugs in allopathy and homeopathy has been shown.

Improvement of the methods for determining ore losses when designing cement raw material deposit mining by surface miner combines

Relevance. The need to optimize production of cement raw materials and reduce the cost of processing raw materials. A surface miner combine allow high selective mining of a deposit, which helps to reduce moisture content of cement raw materials and reduce energy costs in a cement plant. In open-cast mining of cement raw materials deposits with the use of the surface miner combines, the increase in economic efficiency of mining operations can be achieved by determining the rational values of ore losses and dilution. Aim. To determine rational level of cement raw material losses during field development by surface miners. Objects. Cement industry quarries excavated with of the surface miner combines. Methods. Technical and economic analysis of the cement plant Beočin (Serbia), summation and synthesis of materials, sources and data available in the public domain, as well as calculations to determine the amount of loss and dilution of mineral resources at ore–rock contact for mining conditions of the quarry for extracting cement raw materials. Results. The main problems that arise during mining quarries for extracting cement raw materials have been identified. It concerns the determination of the volume of losses and dilution of mineral resources at the ore–rock contact for mining conditions of the quarry for extraction of cement raw materials. The authors present and substantiate conclusions about further effective application of optimal mining technology, with the use of the surface miner combines, which allows reducing the cost of production of minerals and specific operating costs of transporting carbonate rocks compared to the traditional technology of mining works at 50–60%.

The Effect of Nitrogen-Enriched Partially Burnt Paddy Husk on Growth and Yield of Rice (Oryza Sativa)

Paddy husk can be defined as a material that can be easily accessed by small-scale, resource-poor farmers in Sri Lanka. It is being produced in large quantities during the production of milled rice as by-products. Currently, most paddy husk is underutilized or left unused due to their intrinsic properties. Partially burnt paddy husk (PBPH) is an organic material that is prepared by incomplete combustion of paddy husk. The use of PBPH as a soil amendment to fix soil fertility problems has been well recognized. It contains a higher porous structure and an enhanced adsorption capacity, therefore, has the ability to slow down nutrient leaching by capturing nutrients in its porous structure. In the present study, a farmer-friendly, biochar-based organic nitrogen fertilizer was developed by nitrogen-enriching PBPH using nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizers in order to determine its effect on the growth and yield of rice. A pot experiment was conducted at the Rice Research and Development Institute, Bathalagoda based on a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with eight treatments and five replicates.The treatments included T1 (Gliricidia extract+PBPH), T2 (cow urine+PBPH), T3 (poultry manure+PBPH), T4 (fish tonic+PBPH), T5 (compost tea+PBPH), T6 (urea+PBPH), T7 (PBPH only) and T8 (no treatment). Nitrogen (N) content of raw materials, liquid fertilizers, N-enriched PBPH, and N uptake of plants were determined using Kjeldahl method. Phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents of PBPH were determined by using UV-Visible Spectrophotometer and Flame Photometer, respectively. Plant height and greenness (SPAD results) were recorded as growth parameters and finally, number of tillers, panicles, grains per pot and grain weight per pot were obtained as the yield parameters. Significantly, the highest N content was found in urea liquid fertilizer (3.42%) whereas the lowest was found in Gliricidia extract (0.35%). Significantly, the highest N content (1.735%) of N-enriched PBPHs was found in T6 (urea+PBPH), while the lowest (0.058%) was found in T7 (PBPH only). Significantly, the highest N uptakes (1.98% and 1.86%) of rice plants were found in T6 (urea+PBPH) and T4 (fish tonic+PBPH) respectively while the lowest (0.56%) was found in the T8 (no treatment). SPAD readings, the number of panicles, tillers and grain yield, and biomass were significantly increased in all treatments over T7 (PBPH only) and T8 (no treatment) treatments. The overall study concluded that the application of N-enriched PBPH has improved the growth and yield of rice, therefore it can be used as a farmer-friendly, sustainable, and organic nitrogen source in paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka.&#x0D; Keywords: Nitrogen, Partially burnt paddy husk, Nitrogen enrichment

Optimization of Heat Pump Drying Process for Schefflera heptaphylla Leaves by the Response Surface Methodology

Background: Schefflera heptaphylla is a species of plant living in the forest, containing numerous bioactive compounds beneficial for human health. The efficient extraction of these bioactive compounds from the plant while minimizing losses is a currently highlighted issue. Methods: In this research, the impact of three variables: drying time (min), drying air velocity (m/s) and drying air temperature (oC) on the reactions, including loss of total phenolic (TPCL), total flavonoid content loss (TFCL) and moisture content (MC) investigation of Schefflera heptaphylla leaves was conducted using the central complex design (CCD) within the framework of the methodology reaction surface method (RSM). Result: The optimal conditions obtained from the response surface method were 48°C, 1.9 m/s and 600 min. The experimental values at the optimal conditions of TPCL, TFCL and MC are 17.22±0.20%, 14.83±0.15% and 8.47±0.12%, respectively. Crude fiber content, moisture content, total ash and total fat content of raw materials have been identified.

Effects of a Delayed Harvest and Additives on the Fermentation Quality of Corn Stalk Silage

This study investigated the effects of harvest time, cellulase, lactic acid bacteria, and ensiling with alfalfa hay on the chemical parameters, bacterial community composition, and fermentation of corn stalk silage. Corn stalks were ensiled after the ear harvest at 0 days (D0) and 20 days (D20). Each harvest was treated with alfalfa hay [AL, 5% of fresh matter (FM)], Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp) (1 × 106 CFU/g of FM), Trichoderma cellulase (TC) (100 mg/kg of FM), or both Lp and TC (Lp+TC). The silos were opened after 60 days of fermentation. The dry matter (DM) content of raw materials increased from 18.79% to 28.32% with the harvest time. The acid detergent fiber (ADF) content also significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05), while water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) significantly decreased (p &lt; 0.05). After 60 days, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and ADF contents increased, and all chemical composition and fermentation state parameters of silages had significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) with the harvest time. Compared with the control group, the AL treatment resulted in higher (p &lt; 0.05) DM and crude protein (CP) contents, and the Lp+TC treatment resulted in a lower NDF (p &lt; 0.05) content. For D0, the TC and Lp+TC treatments resulted in a higher WSC content and lower NDF and ADF contents than in D20. Meanwhile, the ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) content in each treatment was less than 10% of the DM. The pH values were all approximately 3.70. The AL treatment significantly increased the lactic acid (LA) content and lactic/acetic acid ratio (LA/AA). Additionally, the silages had a similar microbial environment before and after fermentation. We recommend harvesting corn stalks for silage immediately after the corn ear harvest. Adding cellulase improved the corn stalk feed value, and ensiling with alfalfa hay improved its fermentation quality.

Nutritive value of cereal grains, protein meals and by-products for yellow mealworms

Abstract Nutritive value of raw materials is needed to formulate diets that fulfil the requirements of the yellow mealworms. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional value of six raw materials commonly used in yellow mealworm feeding (barley grain, corn grain, hominy feed, wheat bran, corn gluten feed and soybean meal) and to propose prediction equations for the nutritive value of raw materials from their chemical composition. From Monday to Friday 5 g of raw material and 20 g of gel (source of water and micronutrients) were daily supplied. After two days of fasting, frass was collected. This procedure was repeated for 6 weeks. During this period, the initial and final weight of the larvae, the consumption of the raw material offered, and the production of faeces were controlled. Raw materials and faeces were analysed for dry matter (DM), ashes, crude protein (CP), ether extract, acid detergent fibre (ADF) and gross energy (GE), from which their coefficients of digestibility were determined. The digestible energy (DE) content of the raw materials was 13.8, 14.2, 11.6, 8.7, 6.9, 11.3 MJ DE/kg DM and the digestible protein (DP) was 61, 52, 48, 74, 70 and 242 g DP/kg DM for the barley grain, corn grain, hominy feed, wheat bran, corn gluten feed and soybean meal, respectively. DE content of raw materials was closely correlated with their content on ashes, starch and ADF (−0.83, +0.69 and −0.65, respectively; ), while DP content was mainly correlated with their content on CP, starch and ether extract (+0.95, +0.60 and −0.69, respectively; ). It can be concluded that mealworms have a good ability to utilize cereal starch, wheat bran diets should be complemented with digestible carbohydrates and protein sources, and soybean meal may be a good source of vegetable protein for mealworms.