Date Seeds Research Articles

Date Seeds as a Natural Source of Dietary Fibers to Improve Texture and Sensory Properties of Wheat Bread.

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of date seed water-soluble polysaccharides (DSP) and hemicellulose (DSH) as dietary fiber sources in enhancing the wheat bread’s quality. DSP and DSH were extracted from the three date seed varieties Deglet Nour, Ghars Souf, and Allig. The extraction yields ranged from 3.8% to 6.14% and from 13.29% to 18.8%, for DSP and DSH, respectively. DSP and DSH showed interesting functional properties and were incorporated at 0.5% and 0.75% (w/w) in wheat flour with low bread-making quality (FLBM). The results showed that the addition of 0.75% DSH significantly improved the alveograph profile of the dough, and in a more efficient way than that of DSP. Furthermore, bread evaluation revealed that the addition of DSH considerably improved the volume (by 24.22%) and the texture profile of bread (decrease of the hardness and chewiness by 41.54% and 33.81%, respectively), compared to control bread (prepared with FLBM). A sensory analysis showed that the better overall acceptability was found for bread supplemented with DSH. Results in this work demonstrate that hemicellulose fraction extracted from date seeds (DSH) and added with a level of 0.75% to FLBM represents the component that improved bread quality the best.

Effect of Phoenix dactylifera seeds (dates) extract in triton WR-1339 and high fat diet induced hyperlipidaemia in rats: A comparison with simvastatin

Ethnopharmacological relevanceDate seeds are widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine for treating obesity and related diseases. Aim of the studyTwo date seed varieties (Jihel and Majhoul) were assessed for their phenolic profile and lipid-lowering activity. Materials and methodsThe polyphenolic profile was determined using HPLC-DAD. Triton-WR-1339 and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidaemic rats were used to evaluate the hypolipidaemic effect of date seeds extracts. Serum lipid profile was measured using automatic biochemical analyser. ResultsRutin, quercetin, p-coumaric and caffeic acids were the most prevalent chemical among the analysed phenolic compounds. Serum lipids: Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were lowered and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were increased by date seed methanolic extract (at 200 mg/kg) in triton WR1339 -induced hyperlipidaemia in experimental rats. Chronic feeding of these extracts (at 200 mg/kg), to animals concurrently fed with high fat diet (HFD) for three weeks, caused a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and atherogenic index, while it increased serum HDL-C. Furthermore, the supplementation of date seed extract was effective in preventing body weight gain. ConclusionsThese findings are suggestive of hypolipidaemic and atherosclerosis prevention roles of Jihel and Majhoul date seeds.

Comparative study between static and dynamic adsorption efficiency of dyes by the mixture of palm waste using the central composite design

The present work was carried out to study the efficiency of the mixture of palm waste (MPW) (including (60% of date seeds (DS), 20% of palm's leaves (PL) and 20% of palm's bark (PB)) for the elimination of dyes (methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO)) by the adsorption method. The adsorbent was characterized by the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), pH points zero charge (pH pzc ) and the specific surface area by the methylene blue method (SS). A central composite design (CCD) with three factors was used to optimize the experimental conditions. After realization of the experiment and data analysis, the optimal conditions are: 80 mg of adsorbents, 20 mg/L of initial dyes concentration and pH of adsorbate solution equal to 8.023 for MB with the removal efficiency of 93.4% and 90.38 mg of adsorbents, 20 mg/L of initial concentration dyes, and pH of adsorbate solution equal to 2 for MO adsorption with the removal efficiency of 46.6%. The results show that the kinetic modelisation of the MB and MO adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order model. The identification of retention mechanism by different models of adsorption isotherms (Freundlich, Langmuir, Dubini-Radushkevich and Timkin), indicate that the adsorption of the studied dyes follows the Langmuir model. The maximal quantities adsorbed of MB and MO are respectively 40.98 mg/g and 10.14 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters show that the adsorption of MB and MO is spontaneous and exothermic for both dyes. The second part concerns the study of adsorption on a fixed-bed column which was applied to compare the efficiency of each system (static or dynamic) for the three studied supports.

Catalytic hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived pyrolysis oil over alloyed bimetallic Ni3Fe nanocatalyst for high-grade biofuel production

The design of cost-effective and high-performance bimetallic catalysts has become crucial for the effective conversion of biomass-derived pyrolysis-oil (Py-oil) into liquid biofuels. New bimetallic Ni3Fe catalysts were developed for effective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of Py-oil derived from date seeds. Ni3Fe catalyst showed a well-defined octagon-like morphology with a diameter of 120 nm and high saturation magnetization (Ms) of 78 emu g−1 at room temperature. Py-oil was subjected to catalytic HDO processes at 250 °C for 120 min in a 10 bar H2 atmosphere in the presence of Ni3Fe catalyst. Characterization results confirmed HDO of several components of Py-oil, including phenols, acids, aldehyde and ketones, sugars and aromatic hydrocarbons over the surfaces of Ni3Fe catalyst. The obtained upgraded Py-oil (HDO Py-oil) showed the highest hydrocarbons content of 23.77%, higher heating value (HHV) of 36.78 MJ kg−1, and lower content of water, total acid number, and viscosity than fresh Py-oil. Bimetallic Ni3Fe catalyst resulted in better HDO performance and re-usability for five consecutive cycles than recently reported monometallic or noble metal nanocatalysts. Plausible reaction pathways for the formation of major components including ethane, ethyl acetate, 2,5-dimethylfuran, D-sorbitol, methylcyclohexane, furfural alcohol, and 1,5-pentane diols are discussed. Results demonstrate that this simple and active bimetallic catalytic system leads to a cutting-edge liquid biofuels production pathway in the future.

Performance assessment of bio-modified asphalt binder using extracted bio oil from date seeds waste

As the construction industry drives towards sustainability, all construction sectors, including the asphalt pavement, are suggested to explore more environmental approaches in their developments. Despite that the demand for oil is continuously increasing, the production of the worldwide oil is started to diminish due to the depletion of the resources. One of the most promising ways to address this issue is to produce bio-binders or bio-oils from biomass resources that can completely or partially replace the petroleum asphalt binders. This study investigates the effect of bio-oil extracted from local date seeds using Soxhlet method on the performance of asphalt binder used in construction of asphalt roadways. Asphalt mastic was prepared using three volume ratios of 0.0%, 1.5%, and 2.5% of date seed oil (DSO) and one asphalt binder with penetration grade of 60/70 (PG 64–16). Multiple rheological and advanced tests were conducted at different temperatures to assess the different performance parameters and compare it to the Superpave criteria and specifications. The findings of this research study show that the addition of the bio oil to the asphalt binder increases the penetration; however, both softening point and viscosity decreased with the addition of bio oil. On the other hand, the temperature susceptibility and the high-temperature performance grade (PG) of the modified asphalt binder dropped down. Rutting and fatigue performance parameters obtained through the MSCR and LAS tests, respectively, indicated that the addition of the DSO to the asphalt binder increases the nonrevocable creep compliance (Jnr) that leads to a reduction in the rutting performance. However, the traffic level was enhanced to tolerate heavier traffic than the conventional asphalt binder despite the dramatic increase in the strain. The fatigue resistance of the modified asphalt binder was improved explained by the increase in the damage intensity and the number of cycles to failure.

Evaluation of date seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.) oil as crop base stock for environment friendly industrial lubricants

Growing environmental concern and rapid consumption of poor biodegradable mineral oils have triggered the need for the development of eco-friendly biodegradable bio-based oils with low toxicity and excellent lubricating performance. The study aims to produce and evaluate the performance of date seed (Phoenix dactylifera L.) oil, which is abundantly available in the Middle East region, as an alternative bio-based lubricant. The optimum date seed oil (DSO) yield of 6% was achieved using solvent extraction of date seeds with particle size of 1 mm, hexane solvent to seed ratio of 6:1, and processing time of 18 hours. The physicochemical properties of the DSO were found such as its clear yellow color, density of 0.907 g/cm3, iodine value of 13.28 gl2/100 g, saponification value of 162.5 mg KOH/g, and acid value of 1.4 mg KOH/g. Moreover, fatty acid composition was analyzed employing quantitative gas chromatography (GC), and the oleic acid (41.1%), linoleic acid (21.4%), and palmitic acid (11.3%) were found to be the major unsaturated fatty acids. The pour and flash points were around -10 °C and 140 °C, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the produced DSO is thermally stable at up to 300 °C. The rheological properties such as viscosity (41.62 cSt at 40 °C and 8.13 cSt at 100 °C) and viscosity index 173 were also assessed. These properties along with tribological properties of the DSO were compared with other bio-based oils and commercial SAE20W40 mineral oil. Overall, the characteristics of the DSO showed good potential to be developed into a bio-based lubricant. Furthermore, its properties can be enhanced by adding suitable additives. The findings of this study will help in developing eco-friendly bio-based industrial lubricants.

REMOVAL OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATER BY ACTIVATED CARBON PREPARED FROM DATES STONES OF SOUTHERN ALGERIA

The aim of this work is to prepare activated carbon from date seeds to treat wastewater. The study of the characteristics of activated carbon from El-Oued dates gave the following results: surface area (125.86m2/g), pore volume (0.039cc/g), pore size (16.25mm), microspores surface area (92.28 m2/g), the external surface (33.57 m2/g), methylene blue index (13.6 mg/g), iodine number (735.2 mg/g) and amount of functional groups (4.10-2 mol/g). The best conditions for the removal of organic pollutants are: contact time (5 min), stirring speed between 200 and 300 rpm and a pH below 5 or above 8. The removal of organic pollutants in wastewater from El-Oued region prepared by the charcoal has led to very significant abatement rate: COD (86.9%) and BOD5 (87.55%).

Isolation and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from date seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.)

This article reports the isolation and characterization of microcrystalline cellulose from date seeds of the date palm tree. The raw ground date seeds (RG-DS) are composed of cellulose matrix wrapped by lignin and hemicellulose as amorphous components. Cellulose was isolated from RG-DS through the following sequence: dewaxing, delignification/(bleaching) and acid hydrolysis. FTIR and Raman analysis for the bleached date seeds (B-DS) revealed the successful removal of the amorphous components from the polymer matrix. The X-ray diffractogram of the obtained (B-DS) exhibited the characteristic peaks of native cellulose (type I), with a crystallinity index (CrI = 62%). An additional acid hydrolysis step was used to convert native cellulose into microcrystalline cellulose (MCC-DS) with higher crystallinity (CrI = 70%). SEM analysis showed that the obtained microcrystals exhibit agglomerated and irregular elongated or semi-spherical shaped morphology. TEM analysis confirmed the semicrystalline nature of the MCC-DS. Thermal analysis showed enhanced thermal stability of MCC-DS. The current study shows the feasibility of using date seeds as a low-price source for obtaining MCC which is envisaged for applications in pharmaceutical and food industries as well as for preparing bionanocomposites with enhanced thermal properties.

Re-Use of Date Palm Wastes to Improve Aging of Composite Concrete System

The presented research aims to manipulate and improve the aging behaviors of concrete composite systems by employing ecologically safe date palm (seeds and husks) waste as a filler. In addition, optimized workability, durability, and erosion resistance properties for the new material were investigated.The experimental work included the application of different mixing ratios (50/50, 30/70, and 70/30) of husk date/ date seeds to study the enhanced physicochemical behaviors and erosion resistant of bio-waste-concrete composite system exposed to severe temperature conditions (50 ºC) for a time period of 25 days. Optimum results were observed for samples reinforced with the natural filler with a ratio of 50/50 in comparison to the base samples.In conclusion, good resistance to erosion and creeping thickness appeared at optimum conditions of 250 μm particle size. Also, higher reaction compatibility and less pores between particles were observed, which improved all physical and chemical properties as depicted by SEM images.

Preparation of activated carbon using fruit, paper and clothing wastes for wastewater treatment

The scarcity of clean drinking water is one of the biggest issues in the world and will be the most studied subject along with food and energy in the near future. Some freshwater sources are contaminated with sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorous, and other organic and inorganic contaminants. Desalination is a solution to this water problem, but it is costly and time-consuming. Thus, there is a growing need for developing an inexpensive water treatment process for various contaminated freshwater sources. The objective of this study was to develop an inexpensive and sustainable processes for cleaning lake water and other drinking water sources using waste materials. Here, old clothes, wastepaper, and fruit waste, such as date and olive seeds, were pelletized, carbonized, and activated to produce activated carbons. Chemical activation was performed using zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and calcium chloride (CaCl2). Additionally, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests were performed to determine the surface area, morphology, and porosity of the produced activated carbon. From BET surface area analysis, it can be seen that activated carbon produced from wastepaper and cotton with ZnCl2 activation provided better values (1496.97 m2/g and 1293.02 m2/g). According to the pore volume analysis, activated carbon produced from cotton with ZnCl2 activation provided higher values (0.68654 cm3/g). This system is a promising approach for wastewater treatment and future commercialization.

Optimization of β-mannanase production by Bacillus subtilis US191 using economical agricultural substrates.

The Bacillus subtilis US191 strain producing highly thermostable β-mannanase was previously selected as potential probiotic candidate for application as feed supplement in poultry industry. Initially, the level of extracellular β-mannanase production by this strain was 1.48 U ml-1 . To improve this enzyme titer, the present study was undertaken to optimize the fermentation conditions through experimental designs and valorization of agro-industrial byproducts. Using the Plackett-Burman design, in submerged fermentation, a set of 14 culture variables was evaluated in terms of their effects on β-mannanase production. Locust bean gum (LBG), soymeal, temperature, and inoculum size were subsequently optimized by response surface methodology using Box-Behnken design. Under optimized conditions (1 g L-1 LBG, 8 g L-1 soymeal, temperature of 30°C and inoculum size of 1010 CFU ml-1 ), a 2.59-fold enhancement in β-mannanase titer was achieved. Next, to decrease the enzyme production cost, the effect of partial substitution of LBG (1 g L-1 ) by agro-industrial byproducts was investigated, and a Taguchi design was applied. This allowed the attaining of a β-mannanase production level of 8.75 U ml-1 in presence of 0.25 g L-1 LBG, 5 g L-1 of coffee residue powder, 5 g L-1 of date seeds powder, and 5 g L-1 of prickly pear seeds powder as mannans sources. Overall, a 5.91-fold improvement in β-mannanase production by B. subtilis US191 was achieved.

Systematic production and characterization of pyrolysis-oil from date tree wastes for bio-fuel applications

The prevailing trends in global energy consumption and the rapid depletion of fossil fuel present an urgent need for alternative fuels, particularly from renewable sources of biomass. In this study, date palm tree mixture wastes (DTM) and date seed (DS) biomass were used as starting materials in the production of bio-oil by pyrolysis. The yields of the pyrolysis oils from DTM and DS were optimized by tuning the experimental parameters. The DS provided a maximum yield of 68 wt% obtained from 30 min of pyrolysis with a biomass loading of 200 g, fluidizing gas flow rate of 10 mL min−1, and at a temperature of 500 °C. In addition, we evaluated the impact of the aging process of the obtained pyrolysis oils. The produced pyrolysis oils (freshly made) were aged for 15 and 30 days at room temperature under closed conditions. All the feedstock biomass were subjected to proximate and ultimate analysis. The TG-DTA results indicated that both biomasses were richer in cellulose and hemicellulose contents than in lignin content. The FT-IR and GC/MS analyses of the fresh and aged oil samples demonstrated the outstanding characteristics of the DS derived bio-oil for use as a bio-fuel. The variation in the chemical composition of the fresh and aged pyrolysis oils are completely described and presented elaborately. This study demonstrates the significance of and a new functionality for the date palm industry to process date palm wastes, particularly the DS as a rich biomass source for the production of bio-fuel.

Optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis for acid pretreated date seeds into fermentable sugars

Abstract One of the issues in the Middle East is that tons of date palm fruit waste are discarded by the date processing industries daily. Open burning to dispose agricultural residues can create environmental problems. To mitigate this issue, it is desirable to evaluate the potentials of the date palm wastes, such as date seeds, to be converted into value-added products. Date seeds were found to contain 27.34% lignin, 20.63% cellulose and 13.49% hemicellulose which can be hydrolysed into fermentable sugars. In this project, acid hydrolysis at 70 °C coupled with enzymatic hydrolysis proved to be able to deteriorate the lignin and cellulose in date seeds based on the physical changes observed with FESEM. Response surface methodology was used to determine the optimum condition; 120 FPU/g of cellulase for 6 h, at 45 °C. Under this condition, the maximum concentration of reducing sugars obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis is 31 g/L, making a total of 0.3 g/g of fermentable sugar obtained when combined with acid hydrolysis, equivalent to 81% from the theoretical value. Validation of the model indicated that there was no variance between the predicted (32.5 g/L) and observed values (31 g/L). This is the first work done on optimization of dates seeds into fermentable sugar under mild conditions.

Origins and insights into the historic Judean date palm based on genetic analysis of germinated ancient seeds and morphometric studies.

Germination of 2000-year-old seeds of Phoenix dactylifera from Judean desert archaeological sites provides a unique opportunity to study the Judean date palm, described in antiquity for the quality, size, and medicinal properties of its fruit, but lost for centuries. Microsatellite genotyping of germinated seeds indicates that exchanges of genetic material occurred between the Middle East (eastern) and North Africa (western) date palm gene pools, with older seeds exhibiting a more eastern nuclear genome on a gradient from east to west of genetic contributions. Ancient seeds were significantly longer and wider than modern varieties, supporting historical records of the large size of the Judean date. These findings, in accord with the region's location between east and west date palm gene pools, suggest that sophisticated agricultural practices may have contributed to the Judean date's historical reputation. Given its exceptional storage potentialities, the date palm is a remarkable model for seed longevity research.

Potency of Ethanol Extracts Palm Seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L.) as Antidiabetic with Inhibition Kinetics Parameter

Dates seeds are one of the byproducts of the date palm juice industry which has the potential for further processing. Dates seeds contain active compounds that are known to have ability to inhibit αglucosidase. This study aims to measure the activity of 70% ethanol extract and the fraction of date palm seeds with a mechanism in inhibiting αglucosidase. The measurement of inhibitory activity was carried out by extracting date palm seeds using 70% water and ethanol. The extraction product is then fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water. Then the total phenolic and flavonoid calculations were calculated for each extract and fraction. Measurement of α-glucosidase inhibition activity was measured based on reaction of substrate to enzyme by the addition of inhibitors. The results showed that the ethanolextract had the highest total phenolic and flavonoid, which were 76.86 mg GAE / g and 21.19 mg QE / g, respectively. n-hexane fraction have the best inhibitory activity seen from the IC50 value, which is 12.69 mg/L. The kinetics of inhibition of 70% ethanol extract of date palm seeds are mixed inhibition.&#x0D; Keywords: α-glucosidase, date seeds, flavonoids, kinetic inhibition, phenolics

Phenolic profile and anti-inflammatory activity of four Moroccan date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seed varieties

Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) seeds are seen as good drug to cure rheumatoid arthritis and asthma in Moroccan traditional medicine. The present research aimed to study the anti-inflammatory effect, of methanol extract of different date seed varieties using membrane stabilizing effect, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity, inhibition of protein denaturation, carrageenan-induced paw edema and croton oil induced ear edema. The polyphenolic profile was examined using HPLC-DAD. Rutin, quercetin, p-coumaric and caffeic acids were the main among the analysed phenolic compounds. Concerning the anti-inflammatory activity, the analysed date seed were significantly effective in scavenging nitric oxide free radical, in stabilisation of erythrocyte membrane and possessed a high anti denaturation effect. In agreement with this finding, date seed exhibited a profound ability to reduce paw and ear swelling induced by carrageenan and croton oil respectively. The biochemical parameters showed that date seed are able to reduce the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ERS) and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in rats used in Carrageenan-induced paw edema model. The predominant phenolic compounds are the potential candidates that drive these activities and the differences observed among varieties are related to their chemical composition. These data suggest that date seeds can be explored as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

Eco-friendly date-seed nanofillers for polyethylene terephthalate composite reinforcement

Polymer composites have been widely exploited in numerous industries. Micro-particle fillers are typically added as reinforcement materials to improve the characteristics of these composites. In this work, organic nanoparticles of date seeds were added as a filler for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to produce enhanced polymer nanocomposites. A date-seed nanofiller (DSN) was prepared and examined with x-ray diffraction measurements, and then added to PET by hot compression. The characteristics of the PET-DSN composite were experimentally investigated through tests of mass loss, compressive strength, and Vickers micro-hardness. The PET-DSN microstructure was inspected using a scanning electron microscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results show chemical stability of the PET-DSN composite. Moreover, key mechanical properties of the composite, namely hardness, compressive strength and wear resistance, were improved and optimized with a DSN reinforcement of 0.75 wt%.

Potential antitumor activity of exopolysaccharide produced from date seed powder as a carbon source for Bacillus subtilis

The major functions of Exopolysaccharide (EPS) include, preventing bacterial cells from desiccating and biofilm production to increase the colonization of bacterial cells. In the current study, a bacterial strain was isolated to produce EPS. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strain indicated it was related to Bacillus subtilis. The bacterium showed the ability to produce a new EPS using very cheap date seeds as a carbon source. Different conditions were studied to enhance exopolysaccharide production. Maximum total sugars (exopolysaccharide) were reached to 0.87 mM) at 20 g/lAjwadates seed (ADS). The maximum production was found to be 3.46 mM by addition of peptone as the main source of nitrogen with a concentration of 1.5 g/L. The optimal parameter values were temperature 37 °C, pH 6, incubation time 72 h and inoculum concentration 1 mL. The crude exopolysaccharide was purified by removing the cells, then the protein, then dialysis and finally ethanol precipitation of the exopolysaccharide. This method modification increased exopolysaccharide production to 0.6 g/L. The exopolysaccharide produced showed antitumor activity against Erlich tumor cells. It is promising for application on a large scale for different types of cancer cell lines.

Performance of Activated Carbons Derived from Date Seeds in CO2 Swing Adsorption Determined by Combining Experimental and Molecular Simulation Data

The ability to experimentally control the structural features of activated carbons (ACs), combined with current advances in modeling carbon-based materials at the atomic level, allows one to build ...

Dispersal, endosymbiont abundance and fitness-related consequences of inbreeding and outbreeding in a social beetle

Abstract Most social species outbreed. However, some have persistent inbreeding with occasional outbreeding, and the decision of the individual regarding whether to stay in the natal group and inbreed or to disperse, with the potential to outbreed, is flexible and may depend on social, genetic and ecological benefits and costs. Few of these factors have been investigated experimentally in these systems. The beetle Coccotrypes dactyliperda Fabricius, 1801 (Scolytidae: Xyloborinae) lives in extended family colonies inside date seeds. The beetles inbreed, but some individuals disperse away from the natal seed and may outbreed. We investigated dispersal behaviour and assessed fitness-related measures in inbred and outbred offspring, in addition to the relative abundance of two endosymbionts. We predicted inbred offspring to have higher fitness-related measures and a reduced tendency to disperse than outbred offspring, owing to fitness benefits of cooperation within the colony, whereas increased endosymbiont abundance will promote dispersal of their hosts, thus enhancing their own spread in the population. Dispersing beetles were more active than ones that remained in the natal seed. As predicted, fewer inbred offspring dispersed than outbred offspring, but they matured and dispersed earlier. Fitness-related measures of inbred mothers were either lower (number of offspring) or not different (body mass) from those of outbred mothers. Inbred dispersers had greater amounts of Wolbachia, suggesting a role in dispersal. The results support the hypothesis that inbred females reduce dispersal and that early maturation and dispersal are likely to be benefits of increased cooperation in brood care.