Effect Of Particle Size Reduction Research Articles

Effects of Particle Size Reduction on the Pore Structure and Accessibility in Natural Porous Materials

Effects of Particle Size Reduction on the Pore Structure and Accessibility in Natural Porous Materials

Particle size of insoluble fibres and gelation of soluble fibres influence digesta passage rate throughout the gastrointestinal tract of finishing pigs

Fibres, as abundant in agricultural by-products, exhibit a large range of physicochemical properties that can influence digestive processes such as digesta mean retention time (MRT), thereby affecting nutrient digestion kinetics. In this study, we investigated the effects of particle size of insoluble fibres, and gelation of soluble fibres on MRT of liquids, fine solids, and fibrous particles in the different segments of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of pigs. Twenty-four boars (51.6 ± 4.90 kg) were allocated to four diets; two diets contained 15% wheat straw, either coarsely chopped or finely ground (1-mm screen), two diets contained 27% wheat bran without or with the addition of 10% low-methylated pectin. After 14 days of adaptation to the diet, a total collection of faeces was performed to determine the total tract digestibility of nutrients. Thereafter, pigs were fed diets supplemented with tracers for at least 5 days and dissected following a frequent feeding procedure to approach steady-state passage of digesta. The MRT of liquids (Co-EDTA), fine solids (TiO2), and fibrous particles (Chromium-mordanted fibres) in the different segments of the GIT were quantified. In the stomach, particle size reduction of straw decreased the MRT of fine solids by 02:39 h, and fibrous particles by 07:21 h (P < 0.10). Pectin addition to the wheat bran diet reduced the MRT of fine solids by 03:09 h, and fibrous particles by 07:10 h (P < 0.10), but not of liquids, resulting in less separation between digesta phases in the stomach compared with the bran diet (P < 0.05). In the mid−small intestine (SI), pectin addition reduced the MRT of fibrous particles and the separation between fibrous particles and fine solids. No further effects of particle size reduction of straw nor pectin addition on MRT and digestibility of starch, nitrogen, or fat were observed in the SI. In the large intestine (LI), particle size reduction of straw reduced separation between fibrous particles and fine solids (P < 0.10), while pectin addition had no effects. Total tract, non-starch polysaccharide degradation of straw was poor (∼31%), and unaffected by particle size reduction (P > 0.10). The complete fermentation of pectin did not influence the degradation of wheat bran fibres (∼51%). In conclusion, the effects of particle size of insoluble fibres and gelling properties of soluble fibres on the passage of digesta phases were most pronounced in the stomach, but less prominent in distal segments of the GIT.

Effects of particle size reduction of meadow hay on feed intake, performance, and apparent total tract nutrient digestibility in dairy cows

ABSTRACT Forage-based diets are encouraged in organic dairy cattle production as this can increase the net human food supply, but their voluminous nature can limit dry matter intake (DMI) and performance. This study investigates the effects of a substantial particle size reduction of hay on dairy cows’ feed intake, performance, and body characteristics, as well as on apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD). Eighteen lactating Holstein cows were allocated to two balanced feeding groups. The control group received long stem hay with a conventional particle size (CON), the experimental group received chopped hay (RED). Both groups were supplemented with concentrates (3.6 kg/d, DM basis). After 14 adaptation days, data were collected for 20 consecutive days. A covariate period of 21 days preceded the experimental feeding period. Particles retained on the 19-, 8- and 4-mm screens and on the pan of the Penn State Particle Separator accounted for 21%, 20%, 20% and 39% of the RED hay. CON hay consisted of 72% large particles, followed by 8%, 7% and 13% retained on the other screens. Average DMI levels of cows in the CON group reached 20.8 kg/d, with a nonsignificant increase (+1.05 kg/d) in the RED group (p = 0.28). Intakes of both NFC (+0.65 kg/d, p = 0.01) and CP (+0.28 kg/d, p = 0.05) were significantly greater in the RED group, resulting in a slightly increased milk yield (+0.8 kg energy corrected milk/d) (p = 0.45), likely because the ATTD decreased significantly when feeding RED hay. No impact was observed on energy balance (103.7 vs 103.9%, p = 0.95), feed conversion efficiency (kg ECM/kg DMI), or N use efficiency. Overall, the results indicate increases in intake of NFC and CP in the RED group when feeding a hay-based (>83%, DM basis) diet, but also a decrease in nutrient digestibility, likely due to increased passage rate, potentially because of the high fraction of hay particles < 4 mm. In conclusion, hay-based rations with a lower proportion of fine particles should be tested to exploit the potential of particle size reduction in terms of improving hay use efficiency.

303 Interactive Effects of Pelleting and Particle Size Reduction of Corn on Ileal Digestibility of Starch and Amino Acids in Corn-Soybean Meal Diets Fed to Pigs

Abstract The objective was to determine the interactive effects of particle size reduction and pelleting on the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of starch and the standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids (AA) in corn-soybean meal diets fed to pigs. Six corn-soybean meal based diets were arranged in a 3 × 2 factorial with 3 particle sizes of corn (i.e., 700, 500, or 300 μm) and 2 diet forms (i.e., meal or pelleted). An N-free diet was also used and there were, therefore, a total of 7 diets. Pigs were allowed ad libitum access to feed and water. Pigs (n = 7; initial body weight = 59.30 kg; SD = 2.77) that were equipped with a T-cannula in the distal ileum were allotted to the 7 diets using a 7 × 7 Latin square design with 7 periods. Ileal digesta were collected for 2 days after 5 days of adaptation. The statistical model included diet as fixed effect and pig and period as random effects. Contrast coefficients were used to determine effects of diet form, linear effects of particle size, and the interaction. Results indicated that the AID of starch was linearly increased (P = 0.001) with reduced particle size of corn and pelleted diets had greater (P = 0.029) AID of starch than meal diets (Table 1). The SID of Leu, Lys, Met, Phe, Thr, and Val linearly increased with reducing particle size, but the increase was greater in pelleted diets than in meal diets (interaction, P &amp;lt; 0.05). The SID of Arg, His, Ile, and Val also linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) as the particle size of corn was reduced, and the SID of all indispensable AA except Trp was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in pelleted diets than in meal diets. In conclusion, reducing the particle size of corn from 700 to 300 μm increased the AID of starch and the SID of AA, but the AID of starch and the SID of most indispensable AA was greater in pelleted diets than in meal diets. If there were interactions, the effects of reducing particle size were greater when corn particle size was reduced from 500 to 300 μm in meal diets and from 700 to 500 μm in pelleted diets.

Effect of micronisation on colour and optical properties of ceramic colourants for inkjet printing

The advent of inkjet printing (IJP) as the main used decoration technique for ceramic products has changed the technological requirements for pigments and the way they are obtained. To meet IJP and durability requirements, it is necessary to micronise the colourants to achieve particles smaller than 1 μm (median particle diameter d50 ∼300 nm). The high-energy milling process induces microstructural changes that affect the colour properties. In order to understand the effect of particle size reduction on chromatic properties, an in-depth study was carried out by simulating the industrial milling process on a pilot scale. The effect of micronisation was investigated for four ceramic pigments (yellow zircon, brown spinel, pink malayaite, and green eskolaite) and one dye (blue olivine) by UV–vis–NIR optical spectroscopy (DRS), chromatic coordinates and XRPD analyses (Rietveld method). This study was carried out on the colourants both as they were and mixed with glass, reproducing the industrial firing process. The results obtained led to the definition of the main aspects responsible for the colour evolution derived from the milling process.

Effect of Porosity in Activated Carbon Supports for Silicon-Based Lithium-Ion Batteries (LIBs).

Activated carbon supports for Si deposition with different porosities were prepared, and the effect of porosity on the electrochemical characteristics was investigated. The porosity of the support is a key parameter affecting the Si deposition mechanism and the stability of the electrode. In the Si deposition mechanism, as the porosity of activated carbon increases, the effect of particle size reduction due to the uniform dispersion of Si was confirmed. This implies that the porosity of activated carbon can affect the rate performance. However, excessively high porosity reduced the contact area between Si and activated carbon, resulting in poor electrode stability. Therefore, controlling the porosity of activated carbon is essential to improving the electrochemical characteristics.

The effect of particle size reduction on dissolution of ibuprofen

The effect of particle size reduction on dissolution of ibuprofen

Nanosizing Coamorphous Drugs Using Top-Down Approach: The Effect of Particle Size Reduction on Dissolution Improvement

Nanotechnology and coamorphous are both advanced technologies that can effectively improve the solubility of drugs. This study has been the first attempt to combine these two approaches to construct the coamorphous nanoparticles to improve the dissolution and investigated the effect of physical properties of coamorphous solid on the nanosizing process. Two types of coamorphous solid, i.e., curcumin-artemisinin and quercetin-lysine, were selected as models. Coamorphous curcumin-artemisinin could highly contribute to the size reduction during milling compared to the crystalline form, which might attribute to the change of crystallinity. Nanosized coamorphous curcumin-artemisinin showed higher dissolution than nanocrystals and single coamorphous sample. However, quercetin-lysine coamorphous nanoparticles did not reflect significant dissolution improvement compared with the microsized sample. The difference of initial dissolutions for both could be the main reason. The directly mixing and drying method was confirmed to be an effective and simple approach to maintain the dissolution of nanosized coamorphous sample.

Assessment of the Stabilization of Mercury Contaminated Soil Using Starfish

Approximately 50% of the 2600 decommissioned mines in South Korea are implicated in toxic metal/metalloid releases. One of the problems experienced in orchards situated near abandoned mines is the transport of heavy metals including mercury (Hg) into the plants. Due to high levels of Hg observed in orchard soils, heavy metal remediation is needed. The stabilization process is one of the widely used techniques to immobilize heavy metals in contaminated soil and waste. In this study, two types of starfish, Asterias amurensis (ASF) and Asterina pectinifera (PSF), were considered as stabilizing materials for remediating Hg-contaminated soil. In addition to natural starfish, the Hg immobilization effectiveness of calcined forms (CASF and CPSF) was also evaluated comparatively. The effect of particle size reduction on Hg immobilization was assessed for the ASF treatment. Total dosages of less than 10 wt% of ASF and PSF and less than 5 wt% of CASF and CPSF were applied to the Hg contaminated soil. Following treatment and curing for 28 days, the effectiveness of the stabilization process was evaluated using 1N HCl extraction tests. Overall, the stabilization results showed a decrease in Hg leachability with increasing dosages of ASF, PSF, CASF and CPSF. Generally, ASF outperformed the PSF treatments and calcined forms (CASF, CPSF) were more effective than natural forms (ASF, PSF). A reduction of approximately 79% was attained in Hg leachability for the 10 wt% ASF treatments. The -#20 mesh materials were more effective on Hg immobilization than the -#10 mesh materials. The Hg immobilization effectiveness exhibited the following increasing order: PSF (-#10 mesh) &lt; ASF (-#10 mesh) &lt; CPSF (-#10 mesh) &lt; ASF (-#20 mesh) &lt; CASF (-#10 mesh). It was found that effective Hg immobilization was most probably associated with the existing sulfur content in the starfish. The results of scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) indicated that a HgS compound and pozzolanic reaction products were responsible for effective Hg immobilization.

Functional and physicochemical properties of milled and microfluidized bulgur and chickpea brans

Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in human diet due to their health-promoting effects. Cereal brans are widely used for fiber enrichment of bakery products; however, their high phytic acid content, mostly localized in the aleurone layer, lowers the nutritional value of the end-product. Therefore, the functional and physicochemical properties of two aleurone-free brans, bulgur and chickpea brans, were investigated as alternative fiber sources. Furthermore, effect of particle size reduction by means of milling and the microfluidization on these properties were determined. The results indicated that these two by-products of milling industry are valuable fiber sources with high amounts of phytochemicals and low phytic acid content. The applied microfluidization process enhanced physicochemical properties along with their functional properties, altered the ratio between insoluble and soluble fiber, dramatically increased phenolic compounds content and antioxidant activity; however, more importantly, it showed that it is possible to degrade phytic acid with microfluidization process.

Effects of particle size reduction combined with β-cyclodextrin on the in vitro dissolution and in vivo relative bioavailability of ginsenosides in Panax ginseng.

The biological effects of ginsenosides are limited by their low oral bioavailability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of particle size reduction and dispersants on the dissolution and bioavailability of ginsenosides in ginseng. Fine ginseng powder (FGP), ultrafine ginseng powder (UGP), and ultrafine ginseng powder with β-cyclodextrin as the dispersant (UGPD) were prepared using a planetary ball mill from coarse ginseng powder (CGP, as the control). The particle size, morphology, hydration, thermal properties, and in vitro dissolution behavior of ginseng powders were characterized. The relative oral bioavailability of ginsenosides (9 protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type and 7 protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type) was determined in a rat model. Both UGP and UGPD displayed improved physiochemical properties (e.g. reduced particle size, increased hydration and thermal properties). The total in vitro dissolution of ginsenosides from UGPD was ∼17.2% higher than that from CGP; in contrast, UGP did not differ from CGP. More importantly, the in vivo pharmacokinetic study showed that the relative bioavailability of a total of 16 ginsenosides in UGPD was 180.1 ± 9.9% (CGP set as 100%), which was significantly greater than that in FGP and UGP. This suggested that dispersants were essential for preserving the benefits of ultrafine milling by preventing ultra-pulverization induced agglomeration. In particular, PPD-type ginsenosides showed similar deglycosylation trends in in vitro and in vivo experiments; in contrast, the deglycosylation states of PPT-type ginsenosides varied, which might be attributed to the relatively low abundance, glycosylation linkage, and potential involvement of the gut microbiota metabolism. Conclusively, ultrafine milling combined with a dispersant provides a simple and scalable manufacturing process that can effectively improve the bioavailability of ginseng products.

Finite-size effects on the evolution of magnetic correlations and magnetocaloric properties of Pr0.4Bi0.2Sr0.4MnO3

The effect of particle size reduction on the magnetic correlations of Pr0.4Bi0.2Sr0.4MnO3 nanoparticles prepared by top-down approach has been studied in detail. It was observed that as the milling time increases from 0 to 240 min, particle size decreases from 160 to 12 nm. Correspondingly it was observed that the ferromagnetic transition temperature (TC) drops (264 to 213 K) and saturation magnetization (MS) decreases (2.12–0.41 {upmu }_{mathrm{B}}/mathrm{f}.mathrm{u}.) while coercivity (HC) shows a monotonous increase (0.18–1.5 kOe) as the particle size decreases due to increase in milling. The magnetic entropy change (ΔS) also decreases (2.41–0.24 J/kg-K) as particle size decreases indicating a strong correlation between magnetism and particle size. The metamagnetic M–H response of the bulk sample, which signifies the magnetic phase coexistence, is suppressed, and the nature of magnetic interactions demonstrates a transition from long range to short range. The observed characteristics emphasizes that with particle size reduction there is an increase in the surface disorder which can be explained by considering the core–shell model for the nanoparticles.Graphic abstract

Nanocrystals as Tool to Enhance Stigmasterol Oral Bioavailability.

Phytosterols are sterols naturally occurring in plant cells and well known for their cholesterollowering activity, as witnessed by the large number of food supplements based on these functional ingredients available on the market. However, the marked hydrophobic character of phytosterols makes their solubility in biological fluids extremely low, with disadvantageous consequences on the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. In this work, we explore the effect of particle size reduction on the water solubility of stigmasterol, one of the most abundant phytosterols, through the formulation of nanocystals. A robust, top-down production process was employed to prepare stigmasterol nanocrystals, subsequently characterized by thermal and spectroscopic techniques. When formulated as nanocrystals, the solubility of stigmasterol in water and in simulated gastro-intestinal fluids was boosted compared to the raw material. The increased solubility of stigmasterol nanocrystals makes such formulation a promising candidate for the development of medicinal/nutraceutical products with enhanced bioavailability.

Influences of size reduction, hydration, and thermal-assisted hydration pretreatment to increase the biogas production from Napier grass and Napier silage

Pretreatment of lignocellulose materials prior to biogas production is required to minimize biomass recalcitrance and increase biomass digestibility. In this study, the effects of particle size reduction, hydration, and thermal-assisted hydration on Napier grass and silage for methane production were evaluated. Compared to the 4.75-mm particle size Napier grass and silage, 0.425-mm Napier grass and silage showed 72% and 46% increases in methane yield, respectively, whereas hydration pretreatment using hydrogenic effluent increased the methane yields from Napier grass and silage by 23% and 56%, respectively. Superior effects were observed when Napier grass and silage were pretreated with thermal-assisted hydration using hydrogenic effluent for 60 and 15 min, respectively, resulting in methane yields of 385 and 331 mL CH4/g substrateadded. The results indicate that size reduction accompanied by thermal-assisted hydration using hydrogenic effluent as a hydration medium significantly improved the biodegradability of Napier grass and silage.

Effect of coal rank, oxygen level and particle size on oxidation reactivity of typical Chinese coals

The changeable and deteriorating coal quality in air staging mode threats the safe and economic operation of the boiler. Non-isothermal TGA experiment was performed with varying heating rates (5, 10, 15 and 20 K/min) on six Chinese coals at 20 % O2 and on the lean coal with varying O2 (5%, 10 %, 20 % and 40 %). Isoconversional method is adopted to determine the activation energy (Eα) and frequency factor (Aα). Influence of particle size at varying oxygen concentration is compared between lean coal and bituminous coal at 20 K/min. The characteristic temperature (T0.1, T0.5 and T0.9) increases as the coal rank increases and oxygen level decreases. The slope of the line (characteristic temperature vs. O2) increases from 1.6 to 3.6 as the conversion increases from 0.1 to 0.9, which means the oxygen diffusion has an increasingly important role as the oxidation proceeds. As O2 decreases, the effect of particle size reduction on combustion improvement of low volatile coal is increasingly significant than that of high volatile coal. The smaller economic fineness of coal particle can be established for low volatile coal in low NOx combustion mode compared with that for high volatile coal.

Rutin nanosuspension for potential management of osteoporosis: effect of particle size reduction on oral bioavailability, in vitro and in vivo activity

Clinical significance of Rutin (RUT) is limited by poor dissolution rate and low oral bioavailability. The study was designed to improve the physicochemical and therapeutic potential of the drug by formulating nanosuspension (NS) for osteoporosis. Rutin nanosuspension (RUT-NS) was prepared after screening a range of stabilizers and their combinations at a different concentration by antisolvent precipitation technique. Effect of precipitation on crystallinity (differential scanning calorimetry DSC, X-ray diffraction studies XRD), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM) and chemical interaction (attenuated total reflectance fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy ATR-FTIR) were studied through biophysical techniques. An optimized nanosuspension exhibited a minimum particle size of 122.85 ± 5.02 nm with higher dissolution of RUT-NS (87. 63 ± 2.29%) as compared to pure drug (39.77 ± 2.8 6%). The enhanced intestine absorption and apparent permeability were achieved due to the improved particle size, surface area and dissolution. RUT-NS displayed greater (3 folds) AUC0–24 h than pure drug. In vitro assays with RUT-NS depicted an increased cell proliferation, antioxidant (ROS) activity and osteocalcin production in MG-63 osteoblast cells. The augmented biochemical in vivo biomarkers and bone quality proved the protective effect of RUT-NS. The results supported RUT-NS as a potential therapy for maintaining bone health.

High-pressure homogenization as compared to pasteurization as a sustainable approach to obtain mandarin juices with improved bioaccessibility of carotenoids and flavonoids

High-pressure technologies are among those with increased interest in the sustainable production of quality-enhanced food products. In this work, Ortanique mandarin juices have been submitted to traditional pasteurization conditions (time/temperature of 65 °C/15 s, 85 °C/15 s and 92 °C/30 s) and energy-saving high-pressure homogenization (HPH, 150 MPa) treatments to compare the effects on the physicochemical composition and in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids and flavonoids. In general, physicochemical attributes of the homogenized sample were similar to those found in fresh juice, with similar ascorbic acid content and cloudiness but with significant colour differences in all cases. The bioaccessibility of total carotenoids was similar in fresh and pasteurized juices in contrast to the HPH sample that exhibited a five-fold increase, which suggests a positive effect of particle size reduction to favour the action of digestive enzymes. A clear increase in the levels of epoxycarotenoids was detected in the micellar fractions of digested HPH juices, although such carotenoids are not detected in human fluids or tissues. Regarding the bioaccessibility of flavonoids, no significant differences were found in the samples studied. Results obtained can help the implementation of HPH processing to obtain natural beverages with enhanced nutritional properties.

Particle size, inoculum-to-substrate ratio and nutrient media effects on biomethane yield from food waste

This study investigates the effects of particle size reduction at different inoculum-to-substrate ratios and nutrient media supplementation on the assessment of biomethane production from food waste, under batch mesophilic conditions. Two different food waste samples were used and the best method for testing biomethane potential was chosen based on their characterisation and methane yields. Results obtained indicate that Inoculum-to-substrate ratios of 3:1 and 4:1 helped to stabilise test reactors with smaller particle sizes of 1 mm and 2 mm, respectively. Consequently, an overall biomethane yield increase of 38% was reported (i.e., from 393 NmLCH4 gVS−1added to 543 NmLCH4 gVS−1added). This could potentially imply a better assessment of energy outputs from anaerobic digestion of food waste (i.e., 43.5% higher energy output as electricity from biogas, using commercial scale Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units). Although nutrient media supplementation did not enhance methane yield from optimum inoculum-to-substrate ratio (3:1) and particle size (1 mm), it was found that its application helped to stabilise food waste digestion by avoiding volatile fatty acids accumulation and high propionic-to-acetic acid ratio, consequently, improving the overall test kinetics with 91% lag time reduction from 5.6 to 0.5 days. This work supports the importance of key variables to consider during biomethane potential tests used for assessing methane yields from food waste samples, which in return can potentially increase the throughput of anaerobic digestion system processing food waste, to further increase the overall energy output.

A Comparison Study of Magnetic Stirrer and Sonicator Technique to Disperse 1% Span20 Treated Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs)

Effect of particle size reduction and dispersion of 2-dimensional material, layered double hydroxide (LDHs), prepared by co-precipitation method with the primary particle size of around 100 nm, was investigated. Two simple laboratory dispersing techniques including magnetic stirrer, and sonicator were applied to disperse agglomerated LDHs in 1 wt.% Span20 solution, act as a stabilizer. Magnetic stirrer showed a cluster of agglomerate particles with improved dispersion while, agglomerates with single stack LDHs were presence in case of sonicator product.

Particle size reduction of rice straw enhances methane production under anaerobic digestion

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of particle size reduction (20, 1, 0.15, and 0.075 mm) on biogas production from rice straw waste through batch anaerobic digestion experiments. To clarify the digestion mechanisms, the microbial community and rice straw properties including fractal dimension, dissolution abilities and the bio-liquefaction degree were determined. Particle size reduction of rice straw improved methane yield from 107 mL g−1 VS to 197 mL g−1 VS. The elevated digestion efficiency was attributed to the cellulose degradation (degradation rate from 27% to 93%) rather than hemicellulose or lignin. The comminution pretreatment improved the basic morphology, dissolution abilities and bio-liquefaction degree, which associated with the shifts in the bacterial community and the decreased bacterial diversity. These results suggested that particle size reduction of the rice straw in conjunction with optimized microbial growth could improve the methane yield in anaerobic digestion processes.