High Ethanol Concentrations Research Articles

Application of Proton Ionic Liquid in the Process of Obtaining Bioethanol from Hemp Stalks

In this work, hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) stalks were pretreated with pyrrolidinium acetate [Pyrr][AC] to increase the availability of cellulose for cellulolytic enzymes and thus improve the production of 2G ethanol from reducing sugars. The process was carried out under different temperature and time conditions: The control sample was raw material and deionized water, and the second sample was kept at 21 °C for 24 h. The third sample was kept at 90 °C for 30 min, and the fourth sample was kept at the same temperature for 24 h. For each pretreatment, the extraction of lignin and hemicellulose was determined, as well as the change in biomass composition before and after pretreatment. The stalks of hemp seed contained 41.54% cellulose, 18.08% lignin and 28. 87% hemicellulose. [Pyrr][AC] used to dissolve seed hemp at 90 °C for 24 h was most effective in the extraction of this biopolymer, extracting 3.1% content. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the highest content of reducing sugars was found for samples of hemp stalks that were first pretreated with proton ionic liquid (PIL) and stirred at 90 °C for 24 h. On the other hand, the highest ethanol content (5.6 g/L) after fermentation and yeast viability (56.7%) after 72 h were obtained in samples pretreated at 90 °C and for 24 h.

Cultivar-dependent grape berry dehydration in later ripening phases may be associated with energy regulation and ionic homeostasis

Climate warming and drought may alter the progression of sugar accumulation by the grape berry, and contribute to pre-harvest berry shrivel and cell vitality loss which were hypothesised to be associated with solute accumulation cessation and energy status in the berries. To explore the relationship between energy and cultivar-dependent berry cell death, we characterised the variations of pericarp constituents and energy status across five time points, five ripening phases, and three cultivars with various levels of berry shrivel and cell death. Grape berries of Shiraz, Chardonnay and Flame Seedless at the Eichorn-Lorenz stages 33 to 39 were sampled at 5:00, 9:00, 13:00, 17:00 and 21:00 on each sampling day, which were used in the analysis of water percentage, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ethanol, sugar, L-malic acid, as well as elements with vascular mobility, including potassium (K) and sodium (Na). Shiraz and Chardonnay ceased accumulating sugar and phloem mobile elements during the later ripening phase, while Flame Seedless did not undergo water loss or cease to accumulate solutes in pericarps. Shiraz berry ripening was distinguished by greater pericarp water loss, ATP reduction, increased ion disorder susceptibility as indicated by a lower K/Na ratio, and higher ethanol concentration in the later ripening phase. The Chardonnay pericarp contained the highest ATP concentration and K/Na ratio among the three cultivars. The Flame Seedless pericarp maintained a low but stable K/Na ratio throughout berry ripening. Berry ripening phase impacted the diurnal variations of pericarp water percentage and ATP concentration. The results indicated that energy regulation and ionic homeostasis may be associated with cultivar-dependent grape pericarp hydration, solute accumulation and cell vitality during berry ripening.

Optimization of Bioactive Compound Extraction from Saffron Petals Using Ultrasound-Assisted Acidified Ethanol Solvent: Adding Value to Food Waste.

The saffron industry produces large by-products, including petals with potential bioactive compounds, which are cheap and abundant, making them an attractive alternative to expensive stigmas for extracting bioactive components. This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of bioactive compounds from vacuum-dried saffron petals using an ultrasound-assisted acidified ethanol solvent. Three factors were considered: ethanol concentration (0-96%), citric acid concentration in the final solvent (0-1%), and ultrasound power (0-400 watt). This study examined the effects of these factors on parameters like maximum antioxidant activity, total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and the total flavonoid content of the extraction. This study found that saffron petal extract's antioxidant activity increases with higher ethanol concentration, citric acid dose, and ultrasound power, but that an increased water content leads to non-antioxidant compounds. Increasing the dosage of citric acid improved the extraction of cyanidin-3-glucoside at different ultrasound power levels. The highest extraction was achieved with 400 watts of ultrasound power and 1% citric acid. Ethanol concentration did not affect anthocyanin extraction. Higher ethanol concentration and greater citric acid concentration doses resulted in the maximum extraction of total phenolic content, with a noticeable drop in extraction at higher purity levels. This study found that increasing the proportion of citric acid in the final solvent did not affect flavonoid extraction at high ethanol concentration levels, and the highest efficiency was observed at 200 watts of ultrasound power. The optimum values of the independent parameters for extracting bioactive compounds from saffron petals included 96% ethanol concentration, 0.67% citric acid concentration, and 216 watts of ultrasound power, resulting in a desirability value of 0.82. This ultrasound-assisted acidified ethanolic extract can be used in the food industry as a natural antioxidant and pigment source.

Fractionation of flavonols and anthocyanins in winemaking residues using molecularly imprinted cellulose‐synthetic hybrid particles with pyridyl active surface

AbstractHybrid cellulose‐synthetic particles with surface active pyridyl moieties and molecularly imprinted cavities for quercetin were prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization. The functionalization of the materials with pyridyl groups was confirmed by FTIR and the SEM micrographs of the hybrid particles demonstrate a clear surface modification compared with the pristine cellulose. Competitive sorption/desorption testing of the imprinted and non‐imprinted particles with standard polyphenols show the achievement of an imprinting factor IF ∼8. Moreover, it was also confirmed the high retention capability of the hybrid materials for polyphenols, due to their strong binding with the surface pyridyl moieties, even when using hydroalcoholic solvents of high ethanol content (e.g., ethanol/water 80/20 v/v). The sorption capabilities of the synthesized materials for polyphenols were explored with the fractionation of flavonols and anthocyanins in winemaking residues. High concentration and enrichment factors were achieved for high‐added value compounds, namely five times for quercetin and 12 for quercetin‐3‐O‐glucuronide with a diatomaceous earth extract and up to 4 for flavonols in a grape pomace (e.g. myricetin and quercetin glucosides). This research demonstrates the feasibility for the combination between the development of engineered materials addressing sustainability with their application to the valorization of agro‐industrial wastes.

Stability of Cytoplasmic Membrane of Escherichia coli Bacteria in Aqueous and Ethanolic Environment.

The mechanism of action of any antibacterial agent or disinfectant depends largely on their interaction with the bacterial membrane. Herein, we use the SPICA (surface property fitting coarse graining) force-field and develop a coarse-grained (CG) model for the structure of the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and its interaction with water and ethanol. We elucidate the impact of different concentrations of ethanol on the cytoplasmic membrane bilayers and vesicles of E. coli using the CG molecular dynamics (CG MD) simulations. Our modeling approach first focuses on the parametrization of the required force-field for POPG lipid and its interaction with water, ethanol, and POPE lipid. Subsequently, the structural stability of the E. coli bacterial membrane in the presence of high and low concentrations of ethanol is delineated. Both flat bilayers as well as vesicles of E. coli membrane were considered for the CG MD. Our results reveal that, at low ethanol concentrations (<30 mol %), the size of the E. coli vesicles increases with discernible deformations in their shapes. Because of ethanol-induced interdigitation, thinning of the E. coli vesicular membrane is also observed. However, at higher ethanol concentrations (>30 mol %), the integrity of the vesicles is lost because of deteriorating invasion of ethanol molecules into the vesicle bilayer and significant weakening of lipid-lipid interactions. At higher ethanol concentrations (40 and 70 mol %), both the multivesicle and single-vesicle bacterial membranes exhibit a similar rupturing pattern wherein the extraction of lipids from the membrane and formation of aggregates of the component lipids are observed. These aggregates consist of polar head groups of 3-5 POPE/POPG lipids with intertwined nonpolar tails.

Recent Excavation of Nanoethosomes in Current Drug Delivery.

In the current era, the Transdermal delivery of bioactive molecules has become an area of research interest. The transdermal route of administration enables direct entry of bioactive molecules into the systemic circulation with better and easy accessibility, bypassing the hepatic metabolism and improving patient compliance. Permeation through the skin has always been a barrier. To overcome this challenge, an efficient route by the vesicular system has been adopted so as to have better skin permeation of the bioactive molecules. A novel vesicular and non-invasive drug delivery system called Nanoethosomes was developed. Nanoethosomes are lipid-based vesicular carriers that are used for deeper permeation of the bioactive agents into the skin. The main components of Nanoethosomes are Phospholipids, water, and ethanol. High ethanol concentration in Nanoethosomes distinguishes them from other nano-formulation and results in deeper permeation and smaller vesicular size. This review article gives detailed information on the formulation techniques, and characterization parameters of nanoethosomes along with the research work done by various researchers in the same field. The compiled manuscript gives detailed elaboration about the various drugs used to treat different diseases which when incorporated in nanoethosomes resulted in better permeability and enhanced bioavailability.

Oral administration of resveratrol reduces oxidative stress generated in the hippocampus of Wistar rats in response to consumption of ethanol.

Chronic ethanol intake has been found to favor hippocampal deterioration and alter neuronal morphological maturation; resveratrol has been suggested as an antioxidant that may counteract these effects. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of resveratrol on oxidative stress markers, endogenous antioxidant system in the hippocampus, and the behavior of male Wistar rats administered different concentrations of ethanol. The animals, at 3 months old, were randomly distributed into 11 study groups (n = 6/group), orally administered (5 days on, 2 days off) with water (control), ethanol (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50%), or ethanol (10, 20, 30, 40 or 50%) plus resveratrol (10 mg/Kg/day) for 2 months. Subsequently, the production of nitrites, malondialdehyde, and 4-hydroxy-alkenal (HNE) and the enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were quantified. The levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation products were significantly increased in each ethanol concentration and were statistically different compared to the control group; however, resveratrol significantly reduced oxidative stress caused by high ethanol concentration. The SOD and CAT did not present significant changes with respect to the controls in any of the study groups. In the different concentrations of ethanol used, GR increases significantly in the groups administered with resveratrol but not GPx. Resveratrol was shown to maintain the results similar to the control at most ethanol concentrations. Our results suggest that resveratrol prevents oxidative stress induced by ethanol in the hippocampus by decreasing cellular lipid peroxidation, but does not prevent the activation of catalase or SOD enzymes; however, allows glutathione to be kept active and in adequate concentrations in its reduced form and avoids alterations in the locomotor system.

Response Analysis of an Experimental Study on the Effect of Speed and Premixed Fuel Ratio on Performance and Emissions in RCCI Engine

Even though CI engines are more efficient than SI engines due to their ability to operate at a greater compression ratio, a leaner charge, and lower throttle losses, they have higher PM and nitrogen oxide emissions. The induction system modification with fuel port injection is used as a parameter in RCCI engine operations for controlling emission through in-cylinder charge reactivity and combustion phasing. By varying the amount of hydrous bioethanol in the premixed fuel injection ratio, the engine’s performance and emissions are greatly affected. In this study, an experimental investigation of a triple-fuel RCCI engine running on port-injected gasoline-bioethanol blend and direct-injected diesel fuel was conducted. Taguchi’s experimental design method was employed to assess the impact of various independent variables utilizing three set levels and two factors with the L9 orthogonal array. From the findings, the delta value shows the highest average response for each factor. Engine speed has the largest effect on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) with the (delta value of: 10.7446, rank = 1), and the delta value of 38.96, rank = 1, has the largest effect on the response of means at engine speeds of 3000 rpm. The premixed fuel ratio of G25BE75 (delta: 87.30, rank = 1) has the largest effect on the standard deviation. The lines are not parallel in all emission and performance cases except for Tb and CO2, which are close to parallel. The best means in engine speed and premixed blended fuel ratio were NOx, CO, HC, and brake power. At 3000 rpm, the speed had the larger main effect plots of SNR. The premixed fuel ratio of G25BE75 had higher main effect plots for means and standard deviations. The residues appear to have been dispersed normally based on a straight line by using a normal probability plot. The data are normally distributed, as demonstrated by the normal probability plot, and the factors had an impact on the response. Conferring to the experiment result, a high engine speed and higher ethanol content in the RCCI premixed fuel are preferred for reducing nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2), while unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs) and carbon monoxide (CO) showed a slight increase.

Enhancing the Foam Stability of Aqueous Solution with High Ethanol Concentration

Enhancing the Foam Stability of Aqueous Solution with High Ethanol Concentration

A model to reduce tyrosine crystallization in Chinese fermented soybean curd by adjusting NaCl, ethanol and temperature during fermentation

Abstract Objectives White spots, mainly consisting of tyrosine, refer to small white particles that exist on the surface of mature Chinese fermented soybean curd or in the fermentation broth and have affected the appearance of Chinese fermented soybean curd. Materials and Methods The study determined the composition of the white spots throughout mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography and investigated the relationship between tyrosine content, amino acid nitrogen content, depth of the proteolysis index and protease activity to interpret the mechanism of white spot formation during fermentation. Results In this study, the results confirm that tyrosine accounts for 78.22% of the white spots. Excessive tyrosine content can promote the formation of white spots during fermentation. Free tyrosine content, amino acid nitrogen content, depth of the proteolysis index and protease activity during the fermentation process increased during fermentation. Correlation analysis results show that free tyrosine content was positively correlated with amino acid nitrogen content, depth of the proteolysis index and protease activity, which showed that the production of tyrosine is related to the degree of proteolysis. Solubility studies show that high concentrations of NaCl and ethanol affect the production of tyrosine and reduce its solubility, while the increase in temperature increases the solubility of tyrosine. Taking NaCl, ethanol and temperature as influencing factors, a mathematical model of tyrosine solubility was established. Conclusion This study lays the groundwork for understanding the mechanism of white spot formation during Chinese fermented soybean curd fermentation and provides solutions for controlling white spot formation.

Effect of non-ideal mixture on flame–spray interaction in counterflow n-heptane/ethanol flames

This work presents a numerical study of bi-component n-heptane/ethanol spray flames in a counterflow to improve the understanding of the effect of non-ideal mixtures on the flame–spray interaction. The simulations of this spray configuration allow for the detailed examination of the real fluid behavior and its influence on gas-phase combustion kinetics for a wide range of relevant parameters, i.e., droplet composition, size, and gas strain rate. The results reveal that due to the large real activity coefficient of n-heptane and the resulting selective evaporation of the heavier component, the burning characteristics of the spray with a high initial ethanol content do not differ if non-ideal mixture is considered. Conversely, the flame structure with a low ethanol content is substantially different, and displacement of the flame towards the spray side of the configuration is found. A multiple reaction zone, displaying both partially-premixed and diffusion flames, exists, which is overestimated spatially if the fluid is assumed ideal. In general, the ideal prediction of real fluid would misinterpret the composition evaporation order, prolonging the droplet lifetime and consequently, enhancing the flame–spray interaction locally, which results in a lower flame temperature. A parameter characterizing the multicomponent droplet penetration is introduced, which highlights the appreciable non-ideal effects that vary with droplet size and composition, and most importantly, further demonstrates the necessity of considering the real fluid properties in design of next-generation engines with blended fuels.

Bioethanol production from cassava fermentation in pervaporation membrane bioreactor fed with high concentration sugar

Bioethanol production from cassava in a pervaporation membrane bioreactor consisted of fermentation coupled with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane separation has been carried out. A cassava hydrolysate with a high sugar concentration of 448–492 gL-1 was prepared by repeating the liquefaction process and then fed to the bioreactor to overcome the fermentation broth volume expansion problem. The coupled system lasted as long as 248 h. The cell concentration, sugar consumption rate, ethanol productivity, and total ethanol production were 22 gL-1, 3.91 gL-1h−1, 1.47 gL-1h−1, and 365.1 gL-1, respectively. The average membrane flux and separation factors of the membrane were 645 gm-2h−1 and 5.3, respectively. A permeate vapor with as high as 21.5 wt% ethanol concentration downstream of the membrane was obtained. Fractional condensation was used downstream of the membrane to differentially refine and recover the ethanol from the permeate vapor. The ethanol concentration can be increased by 57.3 % with the fractional condensation method, with separation factor increased to 9.8–14.9. As much as 96.6 % of the permeated ethanol on the downstream of the membrane can be recovered as the product with high ethanol concentration.

Pengaruh Rasio Crude Enzim Selulase Trichoderma reesei dan Aspergillus niger terhadap Kadar Gula dan Bioetanol Fermentasi Kulit Kacang Tanah (Arachis hypogaea L.) Menggunakan Zymomonas mobilis

The need for fuel oil in Indonesia is increasing along with the increase in the number of people's consumption in the fields of transportation, industry, and economy. While the source of petroleum fuel in Indonesia is running low. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize alternative energy, namely bioethanol. Bioethanol can be produced from organic waste that contains high cellulose, one of which is peanut shells. This study aims to determine the effect of the ratio of crude cellulase enzyme Trichoderma reesei and Aspergillus niger on sugar and ethanol content of peanut shell fermentation using Zymomonas mobilis, and to determine the ratio of crude cellulase enzyme that produces the highest sugar and ethanol content of peanut shell fermentation using Z. mobilis. This research is an experimental study with independent variables, namely the ratio of crude cellulase enzyme T. reesei : A. niger (0:0), (1:0), (0:1), (1:1), (1:2), (2:1), (1:3), and (3:1) and the dependent variable of sugar and biethanol content. Data analysis of experimental research results using ANOVA and DMRT test. The addition of crude cellulase enzyme from T. reesei and A. niger affects the sugar content and bioethanol from peanut shell fermentation. The ratio of crude cellulase enzyme from T. reesei and A. niger that produces the highest sugar content is in the treatment P5 ratio of crude enzyme T. reesei: A. niger (2:1) which is 0.14 g/mL and the highest ethanol content from groundnut shell fermentation is in the treatment of P8 crude enzyme ratio of T. reesei : A. niger (1:3) which is 2.23%.

Extractive Distillation of Ethanol/Water with 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium Bromide Ionic Liquid as a Separating Agent: Process Simulation

Ethanol purification has become of great interest recently because ethanol can be used as renewable energy, solvent in many industries, and for medicinal purposes. The separation of ethanol from water is challenging because the azeotropic point has appeared in this binary mixture. Extractive distillation technology is one of the most interesting methods to separate ethanol from water due to the competitiveness of its energy consumption and capital investment costs. Ionic liquids such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide [BMIM] [Br], categorized as a green solvent, produce a significant salting-out effect in the ethanol-water system. This makes ionic liquid a promising solvent in ethanol-water separation. This study simulated the extractive distillation of an ethanol-water system with 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide as a solvent. The simulation and sensitivity analysis were performed on the Aspen Plus Process Simulator to obtain the optimum configuration. The NRTL thermodynamic model was used in this study. The effects of the number of stages (NS), binary feed stage (BFS), entrainer feed stage (EFS), and reflux ratio (RR) on the ethanol concentration with minimum energy requirements were studied. The most optimal configurations to produce a high ethanol concentration with less energy are NS 28, BFS 22, EFS 4, and RR 1.5.

Consumption Volume Comparison of Fuel for the 2009 Toyota Altis 1.6 Gasoline Engine Car

This research study aimed to investigate the fuel consumption rates of different types of fuel for a 2009 Toyota Altis 1.6 car. The objective was to determine the fuel consumption rates of various types of gasoline and compare them. Four different fuel types were used in the experiments: gasoline 91, gasoline 95, gasoline E20, and gasoline E85. Data was collected from the car's Engine Control Unit (ECU) using a G-scan 2 device during test drives covering a distance of 8 kilometers in urban driving conditions. Three main factors were considered during the experiments: consistent single-driver performance throughout the tests, controlled additional equipment in the vehicle, and varying environmental conditions. On average, the research found that gasoline 91 had the highest fuel consumption rate, averaging 0.73 liters, indicating relatively high fuel wastage during driving. In contrast, gasoline 95 had the lowest average fuel consumption rate at 0.54 liters for the same 8-kilometer distance. This is attributed to the fact that gasoline 95 has a higher-octane rating of 95%, making it more suitable for this type of engine. Additionally, gasoline E20 had an average fuel consumption rate of 0.64 liters, while gasoline E85 had an average fuel consumption rate of 0.66 liters over the same test distance. Gasoline 95 consistently demonstrated the lowest fuel consumption among the four fuel types. Furthermore, the research also calculated the energy content of each fuel type. Gasoline 91 was found to have an energy content of 273,755.2 kJ, gasoline 95 had an energy content of 271,857.6 kJ, both of which were relatively close due to their main component being gasoline. On the other hand, E20 had an energy content of 48,428.94 kJ, and E85 had an energy content of 37,426.66 kJ, both lower due to their higher ethanol content. In conclusion, among the four tested fuel types, gasoline 95 exhibited the lowest fuel consumption rate for the 2009 Toyota Altis 1.6. Additionally, the energy content of the fuels showed that gasoline 91 and gasoline 95 had similar values, primarily composed of gasoline, while E20 and E85 had lower energy contents due to their higher ethanol content.

Synthesis of Poly[N‐(2‐((3‐Morpholino‐3‐Oxopropyl)Thio)Ethyl)Methacrylamide]: A New Thermoresponsive Polymer with Tunable LCST‐ and UCST‐Type Phase Transition in Aqueous and Alcoholic Solutions

AbstractA novel monomer, N‐(2‐((3‐morpholine‐3‐isopropyl)thio)ethyl)methacrylamide (MTMA), is synthesized and polymerized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization to give a thermoresponsive polymer poly[N‐(2‐((3‐morpholino‐3‐oxopropyl)thio)ethyl)methacrylamide] (PMTMA). PMTMA exhibits reversible thermoresponsive phase transitions of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) type in water and the upper critical solution temperature (UCST) type in ethanol and methanol. The degree of polymerization and concentration of PMTMA, and solvent type have a significant influence on the transition temperature. PMTMA shows complicated thermoresponse in water–alcohol mixtures. In water–ethanol mixtures, the phase diagram of PMTMA can be divided into three regions according to ethanol volume percentages, φ: 0 ≤ φ &lt; 15% for an LCST region; 15% ≤ φ &lt; 91.5% for a complete dissolution region; 91.5% ≤ φ ≤ 100% for a UCST region. At high water content, the LCST increases with increasing ethanol content; and at high ethanol content, the UCST decreases with increasing water content. In water–methanol mixtures, PMTMA shows more complex thermoresponse. In the range of 0–50 °C, the phase diagram can be divided into five regions, depending on the methanol volume percentages φ: 0 ≤ φ &lt; 15% for LCST region; 15% ≤ φ &lt; 25% for immiscible region; 25% ≤ φ &lt; 85% for UCST region; 85% ≤ φ &lt; 95% for fully dissolved region; 95% ≤ φ ≤ 100% for another UCST region.

Sensitivity analysis of heat flow of heat exchangers in ethanol-water distillation column

In this study sensitivity analysis was made with Unisim Design process simulator software for ethanol-water mixture. The effect of the reflux ratio and the number of trays on the heat flow of the heat exchangers was investigated in case of different purification of bottom product. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that the heat flow of the reboiler averagely 1.94 times higher than the heat flow of the condenser. Afterwards, the effect of the thermal state of the feed stream was investigated on the heat flow of the condenser and the reboiler. In each cases the mass flow and ethanol content of the distillate stream were also investigated. The results showed that in the studied cases the liquid volume percent of the ethanol varies between 65% and 87%. A simplified cost estimation was calculated with the determination of mass flow of cooling water and low-pressure steam. From the results it was concluded that higher number of trays, higher temperature of the feed stream and higher ethanol content in the bottom product resulted lower costs of the utility streams.

Effect of Apple Cultivar and Selected Technological Treatments on the Quality of Apple Distillate.

Apple producers are looking for new markets to dispose of their harvest surpluses. One of the solutions may be the production of apple spirits by small distilleries. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of apple cultivars and technological treatments, i.e., pasteurization, depectinization, and deacidification, on the fermentation efficiency and quality of the distillates. Samples for fermentation were prepared from Polish apple cultivars (Antonówka, Delikates, Kosztela, Kronselska). The control samples were raw pulp-based samples. After fermentation, the samples were analyzed for ethanol, residual sugars, and by-product content by the HPLC technique. The distillates were tested for volatile compounds by the GC-MS method and their sensory evaluation was performed. Raw pulp-based samples, independent of the apple cultivar, showed fermentation efficiencies between (75.77 ± 4.69)% and (81.36 ± 4.69)% of the theoretical yield. Depectinization of apple pulp prior to fermentation resulted in the highest ethanol concentration and yield up to approximately 89%. All tested apple distillates were rich in volatile aroma compounds and met the requirements of the EU regulation for hydrogen cyanide content. The obtained results indicate that the tested apple cultivars can be used for the efficient production of apple spirits, providing producers with an opportunity for brand development.

Assessment of A- to B- DNA Transitions Utilizing the Drude Polarizable Force Field.

In addition to the well-characterized B-form of DNA, duplex DNA can adopt various conformations, such as A or Z-DNA. Though less common, these structures can be induced biologically through protein or ligand interactions or experimentally with niche environmental conditions, such as high salt concentrations or in mixed water-ethanol. Reproducing these alternate structures through molecular dynamics simulations in recent years has been quite challenging with the currently available force fields, simulation techniques, and time scales. In this study, the Drude polarizable force field is tested for its ability to facilitate transitions between A-DNA and B-DNA or maintain A-DNA. Though transitions away from B-DNA were observed in high concentrations of ethanol, the resulting structures had hybrid properties taken from both B-DNA and A-DNA structures. This was also true for A-DNA in ethanol, which lost some of the A-DNA properties that it was expected to maintain. When B-DNA was tested in high salt environments, the resulting B-DNA structures showed no distinguishable differences with the increasing salt concentrations tested. These results with the Drude FF and recent results with additive force fields suggest that at present the current additive and polarizable force fields do not facilitate a complete transition between B- to A-DNA conformations under the conditions simulated. At present, the Drude FF favors A-B DNA hybrid structures when simulated in nonphysiological conditions.

The analytical performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus megaterium microbial consortium as recognition element in ethanol biosensor

Abstract. Nurdiani, Iswantini D, Nurhidayat N, Wahyuni WT, Kartono A. 2023. The analytical performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Bacillus megaterium microbial consortium as recognition element in ethanol biosensor. Biodiversitas 24: 5928-5936. Alcohol, particularly ethanol, is commonly found in human food and plays a significant role in degenerative diseases and disability. Accurate measurement of alcohol in food products is essential to ensure adherence to the Muslim halal rule. However, existing alcohol biosensor that relies on a single microbe has limitations in measuring a wide range of ethanol concentrations. To address this issue, a microbial consortium is needed to expand the measurable range. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an innovative biosensor to widen the range of measured ethanol concentrations based on the microbial consortium of Saccharomyces cerevisiae YSAPMI.2 and Bacillus megaterium BSAPMI.1. The performance of the biosensor was evaluated using the cyclic voltammetry method. The results showed that the linear range, linearity, coefficient of determination, sensitivity, and response time, were 0.02-6.0%, 0.9968, 0.9936, 83.157 µA (%)-1, and 11 seconds. The LoD ??and LoQ theoretical values ??of the method obtained in the ethanol oxidation reaction were 0.060% and 0.182%, respectively. The confirmatory test for the LoD value of 0.01% yielded a positive response, while the confirmed LoQ value of 0.02% showed good precision and accuracy. The biosensor had precise %RSD values of 0.568, 1.338, and 4.632% for the high, medium, and low ethanol concentrations, respectively. The accuracy reflected as the recovery percentage was in the range of 90.27-111.07%. The biosensor was relatively specific and had no interferences with common ethanol compounds including methanol, sodium chloride, formic acid, and glucose. The stability obtained with biofilm showed a better result reaching 88% in 70 days. Based on the result, this microbial consortium biosensor could widen the range of measured ethanol concentrations and should be further developed to create a prototype for an accurate and practical analysis.