Effect Of Sonication Research Articles

Effects of ultrasound treatment on the morphological characteristics, structures and emulsifying properties of genipin cross-linked myofibrillar protein

Genipin is a natural crosslinker that improves the functional properties of proteins by modifying its structures. This study aimed to investigate the effects of sonication on the emulsifying properties of different genipin concentration-induced myofibrillar protein (MP) cross-linking. The structural characteristics, solubility, emulsifying properties, and rheological properties of genipin-induced MP crosslinking without sonication (Native), sonication before crosslinking (UMP), and sonication after crosslinking (MPU) treatments were determined, and the interaction between genipin and MP were estimated by molecular docking. The results demonstrated that hydrogen bond might be the main forces for genipin binding to the MP, and 0.5 μM/mg genipin was a desirable concentration for protein cross-linking to improve MP emulsion stability. Ultrasound treatment before and after crosslinking were better than Native treatment to improve the emulsifying stability index (ESI) of MP. Among the three treatment groups at the 0.5 μM/mg genipin treatment, the MPU treatment group showed the smallest size, most uniform protein particle distribution, and the highest ESI (59.89%). Additionally, the highest α-helix (41.96%) in the MPU + G5 group may be conducive to the formation of a stable and multilayer oil–water interface. Furthermore, the free groups, solubility, and protein exposure extent of the MPU groups were higher than those of UMP and Native groups. Therefore, this work suggests that the treatment of cross-linking followed by ultrasound (MPU) could be a desirable approach for improving the emulsifying stability of MP.

Integrated poultry waste management by co-digestion with perennial grass: Effects of mixing ratio, pretreatments, reaction temperature, and effluent recycle on biomethanation yield

This work aims to enhance the efficiency of integrated poultry waste management in bio-circular-green economy by maximizing the co-digestion of chicken manure and its digestate-grown biomass. In a series of batch assays, Napier grass (NG) was mixed with chicken manure (CM) at various proportions (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 50:50, 40:60, 20:80 and 0:100) to identify co-substrate synergism, followed by physiochemical conditioning (size reduction and ultrasonication) of NG before co-digestion. Results indicated that NG mix of at least 80% was required to gain a full methanation potential of the individual substrates; no synergistic ratio above unity was found. However, the combined effect of size reduction and sonication was found to markedly improve the co-substrate’s biodegradability by 88.7%. The findings were then used to run continuous co-digestion at various operating regimes. In optimal continuous co-digestion condition, NG particle size of 0.6–2.4 mm combined with sonication intensity at 1111 kJ/kgTS improved biomethanation yield as high as 106.3%. Sub-thermophilic digestion at 45 °C was shown to give a higher and more stable CH4 yield than at 55 °C. Finally, it was also found that recycling liquid effluent at 40% to replace freshwater in feed, although showed no significant difference in CH4 yield (α = 0.05), noticeably increased system buffer capacity. This optimized biodegradation regime could give co-digestion waste management a higher overall plant efficiency and economic return.

The influence of ultrasonic processing on the structure and electrophysical properties of fruit in combined drying

The intensification of ultrasonic vibrations for the processing of agricultural products is becoming increasingly important in the food industry, as it can reduce energy consumption for the dehydration of raw materials. The research aims to study the effect of sonication on the change of electrophysical parameters and structure of apple raw materials in the process of combined drying using direct electric heating. Using scanning electron microscopy, images of the surface structure of dried apple samples were obtained at different combinations of sonication duration and methods of heat supply to the raw material during the drying process. Based on the experimental studies, the dependences of the current flowing through the sample in the process of combined drying using direct electric heating on the duration of raw material processing in an ultrasonic bath were obtained. The influence of preliminary sonication on the maximum values of the current strength during direct electric heating was determined. The dependences of changes in the resistivity of apple samples during dehydration at different pretreatment durations were investigated. The effect of ultrasound on the initial resistivity of apples, the duration of electro-plasmolysis, and the resistivity values at which the maximum values of the direct electric heating current are observed were determined. The results of the experiments show that the pretreatment of raw materials in an ultrasonic bath can reduce the peak current values by up to 27%. The initial values of the resistivity of the raw material after sonication are reduced by 7.8-13.8% compared to the control samples. The obtained images of the dried fruit surfaces showed an increase in the porosity and roughness of the samples. The obtained results of experimental studies can become a prerequisite for the development of an energy-efficient technical means of ultrasonic processing of fruit and vegetable raw materials before drying and the selection of optimal operating modes

Desulfurization of oxidized diesel fuel in a spiral micro-channel contactor under ultrasound irradiation

The extractive desulfurization of the oxidized real diesel fuel has been investigated in a spiral micro-channel contactor. The solvent screening has been performed and dimethylformamide has demonstrated the best performance in sulfur removal and fuel recovery. In addition, the influence of channel size, channel length, sonication intensification approach, and multi-stage extraction on the sulfur removal have been studied. It was found that the desulfurization efficiency increased from 42.94% to 70.25% as the channel size decreased from 1.78 mm to 0.79 mm, which is due to the higher interfacial area in the smaller channel diameter. Also, the results showed that increasing the micro-channel length from 160 mm to 640 mm increased the sulfur removal from 52% to 85%, respectively. Moreover, the simultaneous effect of sonication and channel size on the desulfurization efficiency was investigated. It was shown that the sonicated contactor had higher desulfurization efficiency than the silent contactor in all channel diameters, and its performance intensification increased with the channel size. The enhancement ratio of the sonicated contactor rose from 5.81% to 16.82% by increasing the channel diameter from 0.79 mm to 1.78 mm. Furthermore, the multi-stage extraction has been performed and 97.57% sulfur removal was achieved.

Sonication impact on thermal conductivity of f-MWCNT nanofluids using XGBoost and Gaussian process regression

BackgroundPrevious research has revealed that nanofluids are capable of improving the heat transfer performance of energy systems. Researchers devote a considerable deal of attention to multi-walled carbon nanotubes owing to their exceptional features, like superior thermal conductivity. By adding COOH functional groups to multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), the carbon nanotubes become hydrophilic, hence enhancing the stability of nanofluids. MethodsIn this investigation, nanoparticles were characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The durational effects of sonication on three distinct nanofluid concentrations (0.3, 0.1, and 0.05 vol.%) generated with functionalized-multi walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs/water) on thermal conductivity were also examined. After 80 minutes of sonication, a volume concentration of 0.10 vol% exhibits the best stable long-term value (39.84 mV) based on the findings of studies. As sonication duration increases, particle size decreases, and the 0.30 vol% concentration changes significantly. At a temperature of 50 °C and a sonication period of 20 minutes, the largest increase in thermal conductivity was 5.90% at a concentration of 0.10 vol %. The experimental data acquired through extensive lab-based testing was employed for the development of the meta-model. A modern machine learning technique i.e., extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) has been employed to model-predict the effects of sonication on thermal conductivity. A contemporary machine learning method Gaussian process regression (GPR) was employed for comparative analysis. Significant findingsThe optimal sonication time and long-term stability were determined to be 0.10 vol.% concentration and 80 minutes. All samples remained stable for up to two months during the examination. With proper sonication time and at 0.10 vol.%, improved dispersions and characteristics were obtained. The XGBoost-based model outperformed the GPR-based framework in terms of both reduced errors and greater correlation values. The coefficient of determination (R2) of the XGBoost-based model was observed to be 5.45% higher than that of the GPR-based model.

Combined effect of sonication and equilibrium‐modified atmosphere packaging to improve storage stability of “Angelino” plums during extended storage

AbstractThis work focuses on the combined effects of ultrasound treatment (100, 200, and 300 W for 5 min) and equilibrium‐modified atmosphere packaging (EMAP) to enhance the storage stability based on pH, aw, gas compositions in headspace, color changes (L*, a*, b*), organic acids, and texture profile of fresh “Angelino” plums for 120 days at 4°C. The results were expressed that pH values were increased (3.19‐initial to 3.69/300 W–3.86/control) and Brix values were decreased (16.9‐initial to 14.70/control–15.3/100 W) during storage. At the end of the storage, except the control group, O2 in the headspace decreased from 20.9%‐initial to 16%/300 W–18.5%/200 W and CO2 was accumulated from 0.03%‐initial to 4.9/%200 W–6.5%/300 W. Hardness (from 11,677, 6124 gf), gumminess (from 4344 g to 4335–6715 g), and chewiness (from 3831 and 2326–2638 g) consistently decreased as a function of storage. The hardness of “Angelino” plums had been maintained after the sonication combined with EMAP compared with the control during storage. The 100 W and 200 W sonication could significantly delay the degradation of malic (from 8957 to 4227–4236 mg/L) and tartaric (1796 to 1703–1722 mg/L) acid in flesh plums, but not citric acid and malonic acid over the storage period. The sonication (200 W) combined with EMAP enhanced the storage stability.Practical ApplicationsThis research demonstrates that packaging fresh Angelino plums with micro‐perforated lid films and subjecting them to sonication can enhance their storage stability, allowing for longer distribution via sea freight at a considerably reduced cost compared with air freight. This can potentially expand the producer's reach in international markets. Sonication had great potentials in stabilizing cell wall and maintaining hardness in the plums during storage. Moreover, the application of sonication, especially 200‐W for enhancing storage stability without any detrimental effects on physicochemical properties and natural main organic acids (malic acid) of “Angelino” plums during the storage.

Sonochemical advanced oxidation process for the degradation of furosemide in water: Effects of sonication’s conditions and scavengers

The intensive consumption of pharmaceuticals and drugs in the last decades has led to their increased concentrations in wastewaters from industrial sources. The present paper deals, for the first time, with the sonochemical degradation and mineralization of furosemide (FSM) in water. FSM is a potent loop diuretic used to treat fluid build-up due to heart failure, liver scarring, or kidney disease. The influence of several operating parameters such as acoustic intensity, ultrasonic frequency, initial FSM concentration, solution’s pH, nature of the dissolved gas (Ar, air and N2) and radical scavengers (2-propanol and tert-butanol) on the oxidation of FSM was assessed. The obtained results showed that the degradation rate of the drug increased significantly with the increase of the acoustic intensity in the range of 0.83 to 4.3 W cm−2 and decreased with the augmentation of the frequency in the range of 585–1140 kHz. It was also found that the initial rate of the sonolytic degradation of FSM increased with the increase of its initial concentration (2, 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L). The most significant degradation was achieved in acidic conditions at pH 2, while in terms of saturating gas, the rate of FSM degradation decreased in the order of Ar > air > N2. The FSM degradation experiments with radical scavengers showed that the diuretic molecule degraded mainly at the interfacial region of the bubble by hydroxyl radical attack. Additionally, in terms of acoustic conditions, the sono-degradation of 30.24 µmol L-1 of FSM solution demonstrate an optimal performance at 585 kHz and 4.3 W/cm2, the results indicated that even if the ultrasonic action eliminated the total concentration of FSM within 60 min, a low degree of mineralization was obtained due to the by-products formed during the sono-oxidation process. The ultrasonic process transforms FSM into biodegradable and environmentally friendly organic by-products that could be treated in a subsequent biological treatment. Besides, the efficiency of the sonolytic degradation of FSM in real environmental matrices such as natural mineral water and seawater was demonstrated. Consequently, the sonochemical advanced oxidation process represent a very interesting technique for the treatment of water contaminated with FSM.

Synthesis, characterization, and study of the influence of energy of irradiation on physical properties and biologic activity of nickel ferrite nanostructures

The influence of different irradiations on the molecular structure, optical, morphological and antimicrobial activity was investigated for nickel ferrite nanoparticles synthesized using the coprecipitation method. The effect of different irradiations on the characterization of prepared samples has been studied using X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscope, scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared, atomic force, and Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy. The effect of sonication on the mean effective diameter of the prepared Nanoparticles (NPs) is also analyzed and discussed. Moreover, the potential antimicrobial activity of NPs was studied against two different bacterial strains. The results confirmed the presence of nanoparticles, and reveal that before and after the irradiations, these nanoparticles exhibit a high degree of agglomeration, higher size uniformity and a narrower size distribution. The nanoparticles are also cubic with slightly rounded edges. The atomic force microscope (AFM) image confirmed that the roughness decreases inversely with the energy of the laser beam used for irradiation. A shift towards green and another towards blue are also observed in the UV–Visible (UV–Vis) spectrum after irradiation. The antibacterial activities of NiFe2O4 NPs are also examined on pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus. The result showed remarkable activity against bacteria after laser irradiation by 532 nm laser beam. Moreover, the study of the optical parameters, and biologic activity gave valuable information on the optical properties and medical efficacity of nickel ferrite which may be necessary for improving the practical applications.

Photovoltaic Performance of Si and SiGe Surfaces Sonochemically Activated in Dichloromethane

Aims: To activate Si and SiGe surfaces by employing the sonochemical treatment at different operating frequencies in dichloromethane to improve the surface photovoltage signal. Background: To produce integrated electronic devices, one needs to achieve low surface and interface trap densities. In this respect, placing a passivating thin layer on Si and Ge surfaces, which saturates the electronic levels of traps and therefore affects the carrier recombination velocities at the surface, is of great interest. Objective: To demonstrate that the effectiveness of the treatment of Si and SiGe surfaces depends on the ultrasonic frequency used. Methods: Photovoltaic transients, electron microscopy, EDX spectroscopy. Result: The surface photovoltage (SPV) decay curves can be divided into rapid (τ_1) and slow (τ_2) components. The sonication effect on the SPV is different for the treatment done at about 25 and 400 kHz. The SPV signal in Si gradually increases with increasing lower-frequency sonication time, whereas the SPV enhancement on SiGe is somewhat smaller. Increasing the sonication time increases the amplitude of the τ_2 component in Si. In SiGe, the lower-frequency sonication quenches the τ_2 component yielding a nearly single-exponential decay form. This trend is even more pronounced at the higher-frequency sonication. Conclusion: The sonochemical treatments greatly intensify the formation of CxHy–Si and CxHy–Ge bonds on Si and Si1-xGex surfaces, resulting in increased SPV signals and prolonged SPV decay times. These results demonstrate that sonochemical treatment is a more effective technique to obtain stable highly passivated Si and Si1-xGex surfaces in comparison with wet chemical treatments in hydrocarbon solutions.

The Effect of Gelatin Coating and Sonication on the Quality Properties of Wet-Aging Pork Loins.

In this study, we evaluate the effect of gelatin coating and sonication of wet-aged pork loin on quality. The moisture content of wet-aged pork loin with sonication and gelatin coating was the highest in the G5S sample (5% gelatin coating and sonication), while the moisture content of wet-aged pork loin with sonication was higher than that without sonication. The pH of wet-aged pork loin with sonication was lower than that without sonication. The aging loss of 5% gelatin coating with sonication was significantly lower than that of G0 (control), while the cooking loss was the lowest in G0 wet-aged pork loin. The water holding capacity of the wet-aged pork loin was the highest in G1. The thiobarbituric acid reactive substances value of wet-aged pork loin was significantly decreased with coating and not affected by sonication. The gelatin coating and sonication treatment significantly increased the myofibrillar fragmentation index of the samples. Shear force of wet-aged pork loin significantly decreased as the samples were gelatin-coated and sonicated. The myofibrillar and total protein solubilities were not significantly different between samples. In conclusion, the 1% gelatin coating with sonication can enhance the quality of wet-aged pork loin.

Fabrication of a VO2-Based Tunable Metasurface by Electric-Field Scanning Probe Lithography with Precise Depth Control.

Vanadium dioxide (VO2) is widely employed in developing tunable optoelectronic devices due to its significant changes in optical and electric properties upon phase transition. To fabricate the VO2-based functional devices down to the micro/nanoscale, a high-resolution processing technique is in demand. Scanning probe lithography (SPL) on the basis of a tip-induced electric field provides a promising approach for prototyping. Here, we demonstrated a precise VO2 etching strategy by direct writing on a VO2 film with a negative tip bias and subsequent sonication removal of the written area. The effects of bias voltage, sonication, and thermal treatment as well as the mechanical difference between the tip-modulated area and the pristine VO2 film were investigated systematically. The results show that VO2 can be etched layer by layer via alternately repeating tip modulation and sonication, and arbitrary patterns can be written. Based on this route, we designed a kind of metasurface by arranging VO2-gold nanoblocks with different sizes and heights for spectrally selective tunable reflectivity in near- and mid-infrared. This electric-field SPL method demonstrates the prominent advantages of high resolution down to several tens of nanometers, quasi-3D patterning, and resist-free maskless direct writing, which should be applicable for prototyping other micro/nanodevices.

Extraction of mangiferin and pectin from mango peels using process intensified tactic: A step towards waste valorization

Simultaneous extraction of mangiferin and pectin from the waste mango peels was attempted with the aim of reducing the number of processing steps, minimizing the operation time and avoiding the requirement of harsh acids. Microwave-assisted extraction has been employed along with different hydrotropes (sodium cumene sulfonate, sodium salicylate, and sodium p-toluene sulfonate) and methanol with varying concentrations. The highest yield of mangiferin (10.43 mg/g) was attained using sodium cumene sulfonate at 80 W microwave power, 10 min time, 0.5 M concentration, 80 °C temperature and 1:50 g/mL solid-liquid ratio. The mangiferin recovery was 20 % higher using hydrotropic solution in comparison to methanol (50 %, v/v). The hydrotropes have concurrently extracted pectin (25.38 %, w/w), which was not possible using methanol. Thus, the incorporation of hydrotropes has led to the avoidance of acidic solution for the recovery of pectin. Pectin has a higher methoxy content (∼ 74 % degree of esterification) and a higher percentage of D-galacturonic acid. The extraction time was further reduced in the range of 50–70 % by embedding sonication with microwave-assisted extraction. Moreover, the extract has exhibited good antioxidant activities (> 70 % DPPH and> 90 % ABTS). A symbiotic effect of hydrotrope, microwave and sonication has resulted in the simultaneous extraction of mangiferin and pectin along-with better processing conditions thereby providing a sustainable option which can be explored at a higher scale. In addition, the present study has presented a judicious utilization of mango waste.

초음파와 대두유 용매를 이용한 감 껍질 추출물의 이화학적 특성

Persimmon peels are mostly discared as a by-product of dried persimmon manufacturing, but effective use is required as it contains various functional constituents. This study covers the preparation of carotenoid-enriched oil by ultrasound treatment of persimmon peel in soybean oil solvent, and the investigation of its physicochemical characteristics. Using the Box-Behnken design and response surface methodology, the optimal extraction conditions (temperature, 62°C; time, 32 min; and persimmon peel to oil ratio, 1:3.1) were determined based on the carotenoid concentration of the extract. The physicochemical characteristics of the extract obtained under optimal conditions and the untreated soybean oil (control) were compared. The total carotenoid content of the extract increased. The carotenoid-enriched soybean oils had a lighter color than the controls, but with high redness and yellowness values. The effect of sonication and a component of the persimmon peel on the oxidation and heating stability of soybean oil was weak. The viscosity and activation energy of carotenoid-enriched soybean oil were slightly higher than those of the control. Thus, it was possible to prepare yellow-red carotenoid-enriched soybean oil by applying ultrasonic-soybean oil solvent extraction to persimmon peel. The oil is expected to be useful as an additive as well as a substitute for general edible oils.

Effect of sonication - cooking on the immunoreactivity of soy slurry from germinated soybeans

Soy proteins are globular in nature and are resistant to denaturation with lower intensity thermal treatments like cooking. Likewise, germination can also alter the protein structure through the activity of various enzymes and sonication can disrupt the molecular structure through cavitation and other ultrasound effects, and contribute to some reduction in immunoreactivity (IR) of allergens. This study evaluated the effects of germination and sonication pretreatment in combination with common cooking on lowering the soy allergen IR. Germination was carried out for up to 120 h and ultrasound sonication treatments were given for 20, 40 and 60 min at room temperature. Cooking at 100 ^oC was carried out for 10 to 60 min. The soy allergen IR was evaluated using a commercial sandwich ELISA kit. The combined action of germination, sonication and cooking helped to reduce the soy allergen IR to single digit mg/L levels from the nearly 400 mg/L initial level in the 5% soy slurry (> 99% reduction). These levels are lower than the reported threshold values of soy allergens in foods. In addition, the germination and ultrasound process was shown to reduce the anti-nutritional properties and enhance the phenolic and radical scavenging activity by over 50%.

Effect of Sonication on Phase Transition Temperature of Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate

Effect of Sonication on Phase Transition Temperature of Cholesteryl Oleyl Carbonate

Sonicação de superplastificante à base de policarboxilato para aplicação em matrizes cimentícias

Abstract Sonication is widely used for nanomaterials dispersion in cementitious matrices. Polycarboxylate-based superplasticizer (SP) admixtures are usually incorporated in the aqueous nanomaterials suspension before sonication to improve the dispersion of these materials. Nevertheless, the effect of sonicating SP on its molecular structure or dispersing performance has not been fully investigated. This work assessed the effect of sonicating a commercial SP at 20 kHz, 750 W power, 50 or 80% amplitude, during 15 and 30 min. Initially, the sonication effect was evaluated in aqueous suspension by determining the SP size distribution (through dynamic light scattering – DLS) and zeta potential. Subsequently, the aqueous SP suspensions were used for Portland cement paste production. Rheological tests up to 120 minutes and compressive strength at 14 and 28 days were conducted. DLS and zeta potential results suggested that sonication reduce the size of SP chains. As a result, SP sonication increased the initial dynamic yield stress, viscosity, and hysteresis area of cement pastes. In contrast, SP sonication improved its time-dependent dispersing performance, resulting in pastes with reduced viscosity from 80 minutes onwards. Finally, SP sonication did not affect the compressive strength of cement pastes at 14 and 28 days of hydration. Overall, when SP is sonicated together with nanoparticles for application in cementitious matrices, the effect of sonicating the chemical admixture must be considered when the fresh-state properties of the composite are evaluated.

Ultrasonic treatment to enhance seed germination and vigour of wheat (Triticum durum) in association with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway.

Treatments of wheat (Triticum durum L.) seeds with sonication or hydropriming may enhance seed germination and vigour in association with γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the effect of sonication and hydropriming treatments on seed germination of wheat through the characterisation of seed germination performance, GABA shunt metabolite level (GABA, glutamate, and alanine), and the level of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA transcription. Wheat seeds were exposed to three treatments for 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20min: (1) sonication with water; (2) sonication without water; and (3) hydropriming without sonication. Treated seeds were evaluated for germination percentage, mean time to germinate, germination rate index in the warm germination test, and seedling emergence and shoot length in the cold test. GABA shunt metabolites level (GABA, glutamate, and alanine), and the level of GAD mRNA transcription were measured for the seeds after treatments and for seedlings during germination and cold tests. Seeds treated with sonication or hydropriming treatments had a higher germination rate index (faster germination) in the standard germination test, and higher seedling emergence and shoot length in the cold test. Seeds treated with sonication or hydropriming treatments showed an enhancement in GABA shunt and their metabolites (alanine and glutamate), and GAD mRNA transcription level compared to untreated-control seeds. In conclusion, the sonication or hydropriming treatments significantly improved the germination performance of wheat and enhanced GABA metabolism to maintain the C:N metabolic balance, especially under cold stress.

Detoxification of Meghalayan cherry (Prunus nepalensis) kernel and its effect on structural and thermal properties of proteins

Valorizing food wastes and by-products can improve economic and environmental sustainability of the food production chain. In this regard, Meghalayan cherry kernels are a good source of proteins, but the presence of toxic compounds like amygdalin, makes them underutilized. Therefore, the present study was focused on detoxifying Meghalayan cherry kernel using thermal, soaking and ultrasound treatments and studying their impact on the structural and thermal characteristics of protein isolate. The results showed that all three treatments significantly reduced amygdalin content, with complete detoxification achieved after 30 and 60 min at 70 °C and 60 °C, respectively, in ultrasound, and after 90 and 120 min at 70 °C and 60 °C, respectively, in soaking + thermal treatment. The detoxification treatments significantly affected the protein content and weight-loss of Meghalayan cherry kernel. Fluorescence spectroscopy and FTIR showed alterations in Meghalayan cherry kernel protein isolate (MCKPI) secondary and tertiary structure. The fluorescence intensity was observed at 340 nm for native and detoxified protein isolate, and the lowest peak for MCKPI-US depicts conformational changes. The fading of bands in SDS-PAGE confirms structural changes due to thermal and sonication effects. SEM images demonstrated that more cracks and porous structures were seen in treated MCKPI than native MCKPI. Detoxification treatment increased thermal stability, resulting in lesser weight loss and higher denaturation temperature than native MCKPI. In this study, ultrasound treatment demonstrated the most pronounced effects on the detoxification of MCKPI and its thermal and structural properties, suggesting that Meghalayan cherry kernel is one of the most promising substrates for zero-waste bioprocess development.

Effects of Sonication and Thermal Pasteurization on the Nutritional, Antioxidant, and Microbial Properties of Noni Juice.

Sonication is recognized as a potential food processing method to improve the functional properties of fruit juice. This study evaluated the effects of different sonication durations (20, 40, and 60 min) and thermal pasteurization on the nutritional, antioxidant, and microbial properties of noni juice. Fresh noni juice served as the control. The main organic acids detected were malic (57.54-89.31 mg/100 mL) and ascorbic (17.15-31.55 mg/100 mL) acids. Compared with the fresh sample, the concentrations of these compounds were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in the 60 min sonicated sample but reduced (p < 0.05) in the pasteurized sample. Moreover, sonication for 60 min resulted in increments of scopoletin, rutin, and vanillic acid compared to the fresh sample. The antioxidant activity of the juice sample was improved in the sample sonicated for 60 min. Irrespective of juice processing method, the level of microbial counts in noni juice was within the satisfactory level over the 8 weeks of refrigerated (4 °C) storage. This study highlights the feasibility of using ultrasound processing to enhance the quality of noni juice on the industrial scale.

Bentonite pillarization using sonication in a solid acid catalyst preparation for the oleic acid esterification reaction

Bentonite is one of the abundant non-metallic minerals and still was not used optimally. Bentonite could be tailored into a high-value material, one of which is a solid catalyst for a particular reaction. In general, the modification of bentonite is by the pillarization process, which is exchanging cations between the alumina-silicate layers of bentonite with a single or mixture of metal oxide, thereby modifying the distance between the layers and its physicochemical properties from the original bentonite. However, the conventional pillarization process is usually time-consuming, especially during on aging process (almost one day). Using sonication during the pillarization process could prepare the pillarization process to become shorter, at least eliminating the aging process. Thus, this study investigated the sonication effect on the pillarization process of bentonite, especially its physicochemical properties. A solid acid catalyst is prepared by the pillarization method with or without the sonication. Zirconium (Zr) and titanium (Ti) are used as the pillared metals. In the bentonite pillarization process using sonication, the amplitude of the ultrasonic probe will be varied at 30, 50, and 70% with a sonication time of 20 min, respectively. The prepared solid acid catalysts are tested for their catalytic activity in the esterification reaction of oleic acid to methyl oleate. Several characterization techniques are also conducted on the prepared solid acid catalysts to obtain information on their physicochemical properties, such as N2 gas adsorption, XRD, NH3-TPD, XRF, and SEM. Conversion of the esterification reaction is verified by calculating the acid value and GC–MS analysis. It is found that the surface area increased after the pillarization process for Ti-PILC and Zr-PILC catalysts, with/without the sonication. The XRD results also confirmed that the basal spacing shifted after the pillarization for both prepared catalysts. It is assumed that the pillarization is prepared successfully by using sonication. Furthermore, the surface area of Zr-PiLC catalysts was significantly enhanced when using sonication, however, not observed for the Ti-PiLC catalyst. The N2 gas adsorption results disclosed that the sonication effects extensively enlarge the pore volume. Similar results are described in the NH3-TPD analysis that the acidity of the prepared catalysts also increased due to the sonication. Therefore, the conversion of the esterification reaction of oleic acid also increased. The maximum value of oleic acid conversion obtained in this study was 62.66% for the solid acid catalyst Ti/PILC, with an amplitude of 70%. It is achieved that using the sonication in the bentonite pillarization process could reduce the pillarization time drastically and cause the prepared material to become more porous.