5-hydroxymethylfurfural Research Articles

Lineage-specific genes are clustered with HET-domain genes and respond to environmental and genetic manipulations regulating reproduction in Neurospora.

Lineage-specific genes (LSGs) have long been postulated to play roles in the establishment of genetic barriers to intercrossing and speciation. In the genome of Neurospora crassa, most of the 670 Neurospora LSGs that are aggregated adjacent to the telomeres are clustered with 61% of the HET-domain genes, some of which regulate self-recognition and define vegetative incompatibility groups. In contrast, the LSG-encoding proteins possess few to no domains that would help to identify potential functional roles. Possible functional roles of LSGs were further assessed by performing transcriptomic profiling in genetic mutants and in response to environmental alterations, as well as examining gene knockouts for phenotypes. Among the 342 LSGs that are dynamically expressed during both asexual and sexual phases, 64% were detectable on unusual carbon sources such as furfural, a wildfire-produced chemical that is a strong inducer of sexual development, and the structurally-related furan 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF). Expression of a significant portion of the LSGs was sensitive to light and temperature, factors that also regulate the switch from asexual to sexual reproduction. Furthermore, expression of the LSGs was significantly affected in the knockouts of adv-1 and pp-1 that regulate hyphal communication, and expression of more than one quarter of the LSGs was affected by perturbation of the mating locus. These observations encouraged further investigation of the roles of clustered lineage-specific and HET-domain genes in ecology and reproduction regulation in Neurospora, especially the regulation of the switch from the asexual growth to sexual reproduction, in response to dramatic environmental conditions changes.

Effect of different stabilizers and rebaudioside A (reb A) sweetener on quality characteristics of low-calorie orange marmalade

Low-calorie orange marmalade was produced using sugar and reb A (0.08%) or reb A-sugar free recipes with pectin (1%) and agar agar (AA) (1%) stabilizers. The physical, chemical, and sensory properties of the marmalades were evaluated. AA stabilizers increased the viscosity of the marmalades compared to pectin, but they did not affect samples with reb A. Low-calorie samples had higher L* and b* values and lower a* values than sugar-containing samples. Total sugar content in reb A samples was 8.30 to 9.28 g/100 g, and it was lower in agar samples produced in parallel with pectin. The hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) value was lower in sugar-free recipes (3.03 to 3.62) than in sugar-containing samples. Pectin-reb A samples had favorable taste, while AA-reb A samples favored consistency among reb A-containing samples.

Physicochemical and sensory parameters of black locust and chestnut honey quality

Black locust honey is produced from nectar collected from the Robinia tree (Robinia pseudoacacia). It has light yellow colour, very light and neutral fragrance, and smells of acacia blossom. It has a medium-sweet to very sweet taste, which is fairly to very long-lasting. Its aroma lasts for a short time and it slowly crystallizes. Chestnut honey is produced from nectar or collected from the sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa). Honey is dark brown with a red tint colour, dark colour depends on the region and year, and its aroma is very distinctive with extremely characteristic bitter taste. It rarely crystallizes. This paper presents the characteristics of quality black locust and chestnut honey produced in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the period 2012-2015. The study included 31 samples of honey. Laboratory testing of black locust and chestnut honey were carried out in accordance with the rules of the Ordinance on Honey and other Bee Products (Official Gazette of BiH, No. 37/09) and the EU Directive 2001/110/EC; CODEX STAN 12-1981. Indicators of quality (water content, electrical conductivity, total acidity, pH, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and colour) and sensory properties of honey were determined. It was found that patterns of black locust and chestnut honey classified according to years showed certain variability in the physicochemical and sensory characteristics.

Study of the Physiochemical and Nutraceutical Properties of Sour and Sweet Pomegranate Juice in Northern Jordan

Pomegranate juice (PJ) is the major pomegranate product that offers a simple way to consume pomegranate’s biologically active compounds, obtained from arils. In this study, we objectively investigate the physiochemical properties such as pH value, total soluble solids, color parameters, fructose and glucose contents, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) content, and viscosity. Also, the phytochemical content includes total phenols content, antioxidant activity, flavonoid, anthocyanin content, and phenolic quantification. In addition, the alpha-amylase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory activities among sweet and sour varieties of pomegranate juice obtained from different regions in Northern Jordan (Ajloun, Dair Abi Said, and Kufur Soum) where the significant differences at P ≤ 0.05 appeared among sweet and sour varieties in different pomegranate juice samples. The pH values for pomegranate juice range from 2.87 to 3.77, and TSS ranges from 15.36 to 16.9 Brix. The total phenol content of pomegranate juice ranged from 105.8 to 238.63 mg/g while the total flavonoid content was present in the range of 135.53–184.9 mg/g. The DPPH inhibition (%) of pomegranate juice ranged between 20.66% and 50.63%, and the anthocyanin content range was 3.66–11.02 mg/g. Ellagic acid, delphinidin, 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl alcohol, 2-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol, catechin, epicatechin, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, P-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, and syringic acid are phenolics present predominantly in pomegranate juice. Pomegranate juice exhibits high alpha-amylase and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition activity. All results indicate good quality and health properties for pomegranate juice.

Green Synthesis of UV-Reactive Polycarbonates from Levoglucosenone and 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural.

This study focuses on the synthesis of fully renewable polycarbonates (PCs) starting from cellulose-based platform molecules levoglucosenone (LGO) and 2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)furan (BHMF). These unique bio-based PCs are obtained through the reaction of a citronellol-containing triol (Triol-citro) derived from LGO, with a dimethyl carbonate derivative of BHMF (BHMF-DC). Solvent-free polymerizations are targeted to minimize waste generation and promote an eco-friendly approach with a favorable environmental factor (E-factor). The choice of metal catalyst during polymerization significantly influences the polymer properties, resulting in high molecular weight (up to 755kDa) when Na2 CO3 is employed as an inexpensive catalyst. Characterization using nuclear magnetic resonance confirms the successful incorporation of the furan ring and the retention of the terminal double bond of the citronellol pendant chain. Furthermore, under UV irradiation, the presence of both citronellol and furanic moieties induces singular structural changes, triggering the formation of three distinct structures within the polymer network, a phenomenon herein occurs for the first time in this type of polymer. These findings pave the way to new functional materials prepared from renewable monomers with tunable properties.

Determination and assessment of some physicochemical parameters of Bulgaria sunflower and polyfloral honey

Honeybee products are highly valued food products in the nutrition and medicine.This work aims to determine physicochemical parameters of polyfloral and sunflower honey, which are produced in Bulgaria. Twelve sunflower and 17 polyfloral honey samples were used in this study. The parameters color, water content, electrical conductivity, specific optical rotation, pH, proline, invertase, diastase, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were analyzed. Bulgarian sunflower and polyfloral honeys were characterized by main physicochemical parameters and compared to products from other countries. The color correlates with the electrical conductivity and diastase correlates with invertase in the sunflower honey. The results of the present study indicated that Bulgarian sunflower and polyfloral honey are known for its good quality since the criteria that were closely correlated with the honey’s quality were measured.

Kinetic Modeling of Cornstalk Cellulose Hydrolysis in Supercritical Water: A Comparative Study of the Effects of Temperature and Residence Time on Derivative Production

Kinetic modeling is essential in understanding and controlling the process of cellulose hydrolysis for producing value-added cellulose derivatives. This study aims to adopt a set of dominate kinetic ordinary differential equations of cornstalk cellulose hydrolysis in supercritical water for mechanism-based prediction of the production of cellulose, glucose, fructose, glyceraldehyde, erythrose, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, glycolaldehyde, threose, aldose, and other cellulose derivatives from cornstalks under processing conditions with a pressure of 89 MPa and a temperature of 378 °C, as considered in a recent experimental study in the literature. The yield rates of several cellulose derivatives, e.g., glucose, fructose, 5-HMF, and erythrose as predicted by the present model, are close to those of experimental measurements. The model is further used to predict the yield rates of a few new cellulose derivatives, e.g., glycolaldehyde, threose, and aldose, that are potentially generated in cornstalk cellulose hydrolysis in supercritical water. The present model and computational simulations can be utilized as a rational tool to predict, control, and optimize the derivative yields in cellulose hydrolysis in supercritical water via tuning the process parameters, and, therefore, are useful for the optimal production of targeted bio-based fuels and chemicals from cornstalks and other agricultural and municipal wastes.

Physicochemical properties and process contaminants analysis of flaky egg-free rolls incorporated with buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)

ABSTRACT The fortification of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) with rheological characteristics, nutritional properties, and formation of contaminants in wheat flour-based flaky rolls was studied. Higher content of buckwheat flour increased the antioxidant capacity, and phenolic, protein, fiber, rutin, and quercetin contents, leading to the development of a nutritionally improved product. The contents of the process contaminants, for example, the acrylamide, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and furfural ranged from 147.25–262.19 μg/kg, 19.17–73.56 mg/kg, and 1.34–4.55 mg/kg, respectively, when buckwheat was added in the range of 0–30%. Parallelly, the production levels of methylglyoxal (MGO) and glyoxal (GO) were 4.09–23.55 and 0.69–2.05 mg/kg in the buckwheat substitution range of 0–30%. Shortly, even though incorporating 10% buckwheat flour had the best sensory scores, 20% was the most suitable substitution rate in terms of controlling the contaminants produced during processing while enhancing the nutritional properties of flaky rolls.

Application of response surface methodology for optimisation of Cornelian cherry - Capia pepper leather dried in a heat pump drying system

The heat pump drying system was optimised for cornelian cherry-capia pepper leather production development using response surface methodology. The central composite design was used to optimise the process parameters in terms of drying time, coefficient of the performance of heat pump, coefficient of the performance of the whole system, specific moisture extracted ratio, energy consumption, drying rate and colour values. The optimal condition of independent variables was obtained as a cornelian cherry pulp concentration of 47.419% and drying temperature of 33.574°C with composite desirability of 0.846. Moreover, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and effective moisture diffusivity (Deff) values of all runs were analysed. HMF was not determined in cornelian cherry-capia pepper leather. Deff values of cornelian cherry-capia pepper leather were between 1.026×10-9 - 1.532×10-9 m2s-1. The drying behaviour of cornelian cherry-capia pepper leather with optimal conditions acquired with the central composite design was evaluated with seven thin-layer drying models. The statistical parameters based on R2, root mean square of error and χ2 values were determined between 0.8267 to 0.9845, 0.004087 to 0.035626 and 0.000853 to 0.066247, respectively. Page and Modified Page models were assumed to represent the heat pump drying behaviour of the cornelian cherry-capia pepper leather in thin layers compared to the other models.

Biotransamination of Furan-Based Aldehydes with Isopropylamine: Enzyme Screening and pH Influence.

Furan-based amines are highly valuable compounds which can be directly obtained via reductive amination from easily accessible furfural, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF). Herein the biocatalytic amination of these carbonyl derivatives is disclosed using amine transaminases (ATAs) and isopropylamine (IPA) as amine donors. Among the different biocatalysts tested, the ones from Chromobacterium violaceum (Cv-TA), Arthrobacter citreus (ArS-TA), and variants from Arthrobacter sp. (ArRmut11-TA) and Vibrio fluvialis (Vf-mut-TA), afforded high levels of product formation (>80 %) at 100-200 mM aldehyde concentration. The transformations were studied in terms of enzyme and IPA loading. The pH influence was found as a key factor and attributed to the imine/aldehyde equilibrium that can arise from the high reactivity of the carbonyl substrates with a nucleophilic amine such as IPA.

Development of a consolidated heterogeneous catalytic process for the selective oxidation of carbohydrate‐derived 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural for the industrial upscaling of 2,5‐diformylfuran

AbstractSelective oxidation of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) to 2,5‐diformylfuran (DFF) is an important approach for biobased compound valorization through biorefinery. As there is no large‐scale process for this application yet, it is of high importance to find a suitable catalyst system for the production of DFF. In this work, we show that an important step in this direction was taken with a 5 % Ru/Al2O3 catalyst, whereby essentially quantitative selectivities could be obtained in the solvent toluene without the significant formation of over‐oxidation products. A design of experiments approach was used to determine important information about the main process parameters – catalyst amount, oxygen pressure and reaction temperature. By developing an optimised washing method, excellent results were achieved in terms of catalyst reusability, with HMF conversions of over 99.5 % without loss of the catalyst‘s high selectivity after five cycles. Upscaling experiments were performed with the catalyst in a 5‐L reactor at different reactor fill rates, where complete conversion of HMF to DFF was achieved, with a 25 % longer reaction time to achieve full conversion compared to a smaller scale reactor setup.

An Overview on Production of Lignocellulose-Derived Platform Chemicals Such as 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural, Furfural, Protocatechuic Acid

Furan derivatives such as 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) and furfural (FA) and aromatic acids such as protocatechuic acid (PCA) represent the most essential classes of intermediates derived from lignocellulosic biomass. These bio-based compounds are potential feedstocks for producing bio-based chemicals and fuels. However, the derivatives of these bio-based compounds are useful in their antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-aging activities. Protocatechuic acid (PCA, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid), derived from lignin biomass, is also one of the essential bio-derived aromatic intermediates with an active acid and hydroxyl group, which can elevate it into an important class of potential platform chemicals for the production of value-added chemicals, such as HMF and furfuryl alcohol (FAL). The platform compounds are indeed the most used furan-based feedstocks since their chemical structure allows the preparation of various high-value-added chemicals. The related catalytic techniques are well known for the upgradation of biomass into these platform chemicals and their conversion into value-added chemicals. In this short review, we aim to briefly discuss biomass conversion into FA, HMF, and PCA and related heterogeneous catalytic processes. In addition, a few potential ongoing research trends are also proposed to provide some ideas for the further preparation of bio-based innovative derivatives in a much more green, simple, efficient, and economical way.

Physicochemical and antioxidant characterization of commercially available honey sample from Addis Ababa market, Ethiopia

High-quality and genuine honey is crucial to provide consumers with natural honey and prevent any potential health issues. This study aimed to examine the quality of commercial honey available in the Addis Ababa market. A total of 30 honey samples were randomly collected from eight sub-cities of Addis Ababa city. Both High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and UV–Vis spectroscopic methods were used to determine 12 physicochemical and three antioxidant activity parameters in the honey samples according to internationally recognized standards. The findings of this study showed that the hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), free acidity, and ash content of all commercial honey samples conformed to honey standards. However, except for honey samples collected from processors (19.48 ± 0.4 %) and retail outlets (20.49 ± 0.13 %), all other commercial honey samples failed to meet the moisture content criteria (≤21 %). Proline levels in honey samples taken from the street (67.1 ± 0.52 mg/kg) were also found to be below the required standard. The commercial honey samples contained fructose, glucose, sucrose, and maltose within a range of 33.85 ± 0.65 to 48.61 ± 0.51 %, 33.07 ± 1.58 to 44.3 ± 0.82 %, 0.91 ± 0.05 to 6.23 ± 2.49 %, and 0.51 ± 0.14 to 2.4 ± 0.44 %, respectively. Furthermore, honey samples from market areas showed good Total Phenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. Overall, the results revealed that all physicochemical parameters, except for proline, moisture, and sucrose content, complied with approved standards (Codex Alimentarius, European Union (EU), and Ethiopia Standard Agency (ESA). Accordingly, it is recommended that stakeholders receive regular training on how to manage honey quality issues and detect adulteration techniques to prevent contaminated honey from reaching the markets.

Some properties of fruit juice produced by black raisins by traditional methods in Erbil region and changes during storage

Grape (Vitis vinifera) is one of the most grown fruits in Iraq and is evaluated in different ways. This study aimed to determine some properties of the fruit juice that is traditionally produced from dried black grapes in the Erbil region and consumed directly, to make it durable by various methods, as well as to examine the changes that may occur during storage. For this purpose, some of the grape juices were pasteurized and the other part was stored using Na-benzoate in 500 ml glass bottles, at room temperature, under dark and light conditions for 6 months. In the stored products, pH, acidity, total dry matter, soluble dry matter, ash, color, total antioxidant (DPPH), Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and browning reaction and total phenolic substance (folin-ciocalteu) analyzes as well as sensory evaluations were made periodically. As a result of the statistical evaluations, There is no difference between the applications in terms of color, but there is a slight decrease in the L value after the 4th month, depending on the storage period, while the pasteurized samples show higher values in terms of HMF and browning levels, the browning levels increase significantly in all samples after the 2nd month, and TFM values were decreased. It has been determined that all products are highly appreciated in terms of sensory properties, pasteurized samples are more appreciated, and the storage time does not have a significant effect on the sensory properties of the samples. In addition, it has been determined that beverages can be easily stored for a long time at room temperature with or without the addition of preservatives, only by pasteurization, and such a product will be in demand.

Whole-Genome Sequence and Fermentation Characteristics of Enterobacter hormaechei UW0SKVC1: A Promising Candidate for Detoxification of Lignocellulosic Biomass Hydrolysates and Production of Value-Added Chemicals.

Enterobacter hormaechei is part of the Enterobacter cloacae complex (ECC), which is widespread in nature. It is a facultative Gram-negative bacterium of medical and industrial importance. We assessed the metabolic and genetic repertoires of a new Enterobacter isolate. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of a furfural- and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF)-tolerant strain of E. hormaechei (UW0SKVC1), which uses glucose, glycerol, xylose, lactose and arabinose as sole carbon sources. This strain exhibits high tolerance to furfural (IC50 = 34.2 mM; ~3.3 g/L) relative to Escherichia coli DH5α (IC50 = 26.0 mM; ~2.5 g/L). Furfural and HMF are predominantly converted to their less-toxic alcohols. E. hormaechei UW0SKVC1 produces 2,3-butanediol, acetoin, and acetol, among other compounds of industrial importance. E. hormaechei UW0SKVC1 produces as high as ~42 g/L 2,3-butanediol on 60 g/L glucose or lactose. The assembled genome consists of a 4,833,490-bp chromosome, with a GC content of 55.35%. Annotation of the assembled genome revealed 4586 coding sequences and 4516 protein-coding genes (average length 937-bp) involved in central metabolism, energy generation, biodegradation of xenobiotic compounds, production of assorted organic compounds, and drug resistance. E. hormaechei UW0SKVC1 shows considerable promise as a biocatalyst and a genetic repository of genes whose protein products may be harnessed for the efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass, abundant glycerol and lactose-replete whey permeate to value-added chemicals.

Açai Seeds (Euterpe oleracea Mart) Are Agroindustrial Waste with High Potential to Produce Low-Cost Substrates after Acid Hydrolysis.

Açai seeds have been discarded improperly around the Amazonia region, but they can be seen as promising low-cost substrates for fermentation processes. The structural carbohydrates and physicochemical characterization of açai seeds from the Amazonia were assessed followed by the determination of the optimal hydrolysis conditions using H3PO4 (phosphoric acid) and H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to obtain a liquor with high contents of simple carbohydrates and low levels of potential microbial inhibitors usually generated during acid hydrolysis of carbohydrates. A central composite rotational design was carried out varying the concentrations of diluted acid (0-5%, w/v), solids (0.1-25%, w/v), and hydrolysis time (9.5-110 min). Acid hydrolysis with H2SO4 was more effective in producing reducing sugars (15.9-103.1 g/L) than H3PO4 (2.9-33.9 g/L) during optimization. The optimal hydrolysis conditions with H2SO4 were 3.5% of acid (w/v), 25% of solids during 70 min at 121 °C, which provided a liquor with 55 g/L of reducing sugars and low levels of microbial inhibitors: acetic acid (1.8 g/L), hydroxymethyl furfural (338 mg/L), and furfural (10 mg/L). Thus, açai seeds were characterized as promising agroindustrial waste with high potential to be used as a low-cost substrate in biotechnological processes, comprising relevant environmental and bioeconomic aspects for the development of the Amazonia.

Evaluation of drying kinetics and quality parameters of rosehip pestils dried by three different methods

BACKGROUND: Rosehip fruits cannot be eaten as entire fruits in their fresh feature so they processed into various products including pestils. OBJECTIVE: In the current work, rosehip pestil as a new healthy snack food was developed by using hot air (HA) drying at 55, 65 and 75°C, vacuum (VC) drying at 55, 65 and 75°C with 25 kPa and microwave (MCW) drying at 90 and 180 W. METHODS: The effect of three different drying methods on drying kinetics and quality parameters i.e., total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity (AC), Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) formation, lycopene, β-carotene content, element composition, color, texture and sensorial properties of rosehip pestils was studied. RESULTS: Wang and Singh model was best fitted for MCW drying at 90 W, however Page and Modified Page models were best fitted for other drying conditions. The rosehip pestils dried by MCW drying method had highest drying rate, TPC, AC, lycopene and β-carotene content, element concentration, color values, whereas their HMF content and sensorial properties were not acceptable. Sensory evaluation results indicated that rosehip pestils dried with HA was rated the most acceptable. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that rosehip pestil with its sensorial and nutritive properties could be an alternative product for the functional food market. However, it has been seen that the drying methods used alone have some disadvantages. For this reason, it may be possible to eliminate these disadvantages if hybrid drying methods (for example MCW drying followed by HA or VC drying) are preferred in future studies.

5-Methoxymethyl furfural production by acid heterogeneous catalytic etherification of 5-hydroxymethyl furfural

The use of non-edible raw materials from agriculture as a form of biomass to obtain carbon-based compounds is the most viable solution to replace fossil resources. Within this, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) is a platform monomer from which other high value-added monomers are obtained, such as 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), a compound that can be obtained from 5-methoxymethyl furfural (MMF), and which can be used as a fuel, fuel additive or polymer precursor. Several catalysts (mostly zeolites) have been tested to produce MMF. Specifically, with a ZSM-5 zeolite a yield towards this compound of 97 % has been achieved, carrying out the reaction in a batch reactor for 5 h. Through the characterization of the catalysts, a strong correlation has been observed between the acidity of these catalysts and their effectiveness in the reaction of HMF through MMF.

Effect of Hydrochar Modification on the Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution: An Experimental Study Followed by Intelligent Modeling

Wheat straw, which is a carbon-rich precursor and a common agriculture waste in Sanandaj, was modified to produce hydrochar with high adsorption capacity by the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) method. The hydrochars were tested as adsorbents to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution, and the effects of various interfering parameters, including pH, MB concentration, and adsorbent dosage, were investigated using artificial neural networks (ANNs) on adsorption modeling. Adsorption isotherms and kinetics were studied to explain the MB adsorption process. The prepared hydrochars were characterized using Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDAX), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) instruments. The maximum MB removal efficiency achieved by hydrochar modified by KOH (0.1 M) and adsorption data fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics. In terms of elemental composition, the hydrochar sample contained 52.19% carbon (C), 3.37% hydrogen (H), 0.1% nitrogen (N), 0.15% sulfur (S), and 35.66% oxygen (O). The ash content in the sample was 8.50%. The recorded hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (H/C) and oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O/C) indicated a shift towards humification, implying the influence of KOH addition during the hydrochar production process. Additionally, the specific surface area of the hydrochar, as measured by the BET method, was found to be 11.54 m²/g. Among the aromatics, a significant presence of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) was detected, with a concentration of 4.70 g/kg DM. The modeling results demonstrated that the concentration of MB had the most substantial impact on the predicted removal, followed by pH, adsorbent dosage, and contact time.

Influence of temperature and pH during cacao mucilage exudate concentration on cacao syrup composition

SummaryCacao mucilage exudate (CME) is a highly nutritious by‐product of cacao fruit processing containing up to 15 wt% simple sugars and organic acids. We investigate the CME dehydration process to produce cacao syrup (CS) under varying temperatures (60 °C and 70 °C) and pH (4.0 and 5.0) using a 22‐factorial design with a central point (65 °C, pH 4.5). Neither temperature nor pH significantly (P < 0.05) impacts CS chemical composition. Average concentrations of fructose, glucose, and sucrose in the syrups reached 27.79, 25.56, and 12.46 wt%, respectively. Organic acids—citric, malic, lactic, tartaric, and fumaric—represent 5.12, 3.01, 0.20, 0.16, and 0.002 wt%, respectively. Although the heating treatment results in the formation of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) (12.8–13.7 mg L−1), its concentration remains below the limits of the regulatory standard. These findings have significant implications for using CME as a sustainable and nutritious source of ingredients for the food industry.