Physicochemical Research Articles

Enhanced physicochemical properties of isoflavone derivatives through enzymatic encapsulation using cyclodextrin glucanotransferase

To establish the encapsulation parameters applicable to isoflavones, inclusion complexes (cycloamylose-genistein (CA-GNT), CA-daidzein (CA-DDZ), CA-equol (CA-EQ)) were synthesized for three varieties of plant-derived isoflavones via the cyclization catalysis of cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase; EC 2.4.1.19). Subsequently, an analysis of their physicochemical properties and functional characteristics was performed to ascertain their retained intrinsic activity within the encapsulated milieu. These encapsulation complexes were purified via preparative high-performance liquid chromatography and confirmed through MALDI TOF mass spectrometry for molecular weight analysis. The water solubility of CA-GNT, CA-DDZ, and CA-EQ increased approximately 15,000, 89,000, and 90 times, respectively, compared to the original compounds. Furthermore, in a 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid radical scavenging activity assay, the CA-GNT, CA-DDZ, CA-EQ encapsulated complexes exhibited 6.4-, 6.9-, and 4.2-fold higher levels of scavenging activity compared to the original material in aqueous solution, respectively. The mRNA level of estrogen receptor α increased with increasing treatment concentration of the encapsulated complexes in MC3T3 cells, which was similar to the effect of the original compounds. CA-EQ remained stable under external conditions of varying pH and high temperature, and a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) production was observed as the treatment concentration increased in RAW 264.7 cells.

Modifying the Resistant Starch Content and the Retrogradation Characteristics of Potato Starch Through High-Dose Gamma Irradiation

Potato starch is widely utilized in the food industry. Gamma irradiation is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for starch modification. Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of comprehensive and consistent knowledge regarding the physicochemical characteristics of high-dose gamma-irradiated potato starch, retrogradation properties in particular. In this study, potato starch was exposed to gamma rays at doses of 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 kGy. Various physicochemical properties, including retrogradation characteristics, were investigated. Generally, the apparent amylose content (AAC), water absorption, gel viscosity, gel hardness, and gumminess decreased as the doses of gamma irradiation increased. Conversely, the resistant starch (RS), amylose content evaluated by the concanavalin A precipitation method, water solubility, and enthalpy of gelatinization were increased. Additionally, swelling power, crystalline structure, and amylopectin branch chain length distribution either remained stable or exhibited only minor changes. Notably, the degree of retrogradation of potato starches on day 7 was positively correlated with the doses of gamma irradiation.

Facile synthesis of CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure for asymmetric supercapacitor

The abundant active sites, high theoretical capacitance, and cost-effective synthesis of transition metal oxides@sulfides (TMOs@TMSs) have made them a highly desirable choice as active electrode materials for supercapacitors. This study demonstrated the successful fabrication of a CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure electrode using a simple and economical co-precipitation method The morphology, physicochemical properties, and electrochemical behavior of this electrode were subsequently studied. The synthesized CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure was characterized using Infrared Fourier-transform spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, High-resolution transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms and atomic force microscopy. The electrochemical performance was studied using cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and galvanostatic charge-discharge (GCD) measurements with a 6 Molar KOH aqueous electrolytic solution. Results from powder X-ray diffraction pattern and energy dispersive X-ray revealed the formation of CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure. Furthermore, SEM images showed the formation of more spherical structures in nanoheterostructure. The results of optical measurements of thin films were analyzed, which showed an increase in the energy gap (Eg) of CuCo2O4 nanoparticles when combined with cadmium sulfide (CdS). Additionally, the intensity of photoluminescence of the CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure was lower compared to the pure nanoparticles. Moreover, the newly synthesized CuCo2O4@CdS nanoheterostructure showed a specific capacitance of 257.5 F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 via a three-electrode galvanostatic charge-discharge system, respectively. In the asymmetric device, the supercapacitor yielded an optimum energy density and power density of 19.6 Wh kg−1 and 700 W kg−1 at 1 A g−1 current density, respectively. Although the capacitance retention was maintained at nearly 85.2 % after 4000 cycles at a current density of 3 A g−1.

Physico-chemical and biological properties of pumpkin pectin

This study presents the findings of pectin's isolation and purification process derived from the Michurinskaya pumpkin variety. The researchers employed infrared spectroscopy and acid-base titration techniques to determine the presence of free carboxyl groups and the degree of esterification. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the resulting polysaccharide, including kinematic viscosity and molecular weight, were investigated using viscometry. Furthermore, the fungicidal activity of the resulting polysaccharide was assessed. The acidic polysaccharide, pectin, was extracted from the Michurinskaya pumpkin cultivar using the salt extraction method, yielding 29 %. The overall concentration of OM e- and OAc groups (36.3%) and free carboxyl groups (6.48%) was measured using acid-base titration techniques. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy data validated the obtained results. The spectra revealed signals inside the 1319-1408 cm-1 region, corresponding to OMe groups. Free carboxyl groups were also present in the 1730-1760 cm-1 range. The molecular weight of pectin measured using the viscometry method was 2.5 kDa. The findings of the antifungal activity investigation indicated that the isolated pectin derived from pumpkins demonstrates inhibitory properties against the growth of Penicillium sp.

New pyrano-pyridine conjugates as potential anticancer agents: design, synthesis and computational studies.

New pyrano[3,2-c]pyridine 4a-h, 5-8 and pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidin 9a,b series were designed and chemically synthesized. Using the standard drug doxorubicin, the novel chemical entities have been assessed in vitro as potential anticancer prospects on cell lines from liver, breast, colon, and lung cancer along with examining their inhibitory behaviors upon both EGFR and VEGFR-2 kinases. Compared to erlotinib (IC50 = 0.18 µM), compounds 8a and 8b demonstrated the highest anticancer activity with IC50 Values 0.23 and 0.15 µM, respectively). Further, derivative 8a illustrated encouraging inhibitory characteristics against EGFR and VEGFR-2 (IC50 = 1.21 and 2.65 μM, respectively). A computational study was used to estimate the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties to afford insightful information about the newly synthesized agents.

The Effect of Accelerated Storage Temperature Conditions on the Shelf Life of Pasteurized Orange Juice Based on Microbiological, Physicochemical, and Color Attributes

The accelerated life testing (ASLT) method was used to evaluate the effect of increasing the storage temperature from 10 to 40 °C on the aerobic plate count (APC), the pH, and the colorimetric parameters (L*, a*, b*) of pasteurized orange juice during 40 days of storage. For APC growth, a polynomial model was found to fit better, and at the lower temperatures of 10 and 15 °C, the shelf life was longer, as expected. More specifically, 15 and 10 days were needed, respectively, until the rise in the APC population to 1000 cfu/mL. However, for the temperature range of 30–40 °C, only approximately 3 days were needed to reach 1000 cfu/mL APC. Regarding pH, according to an exponential 3P model, a stable trend was apparent at all temperatures until 30 days of storage, followed by a more abrupt decreasing trend at 25 °C. The lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) of the juice showed a decreasing trend with the temperature increase, and this trend was more profound at higher temperature levels. The multiple regression analysis between the predictors L*, a*, b*, pH, storage temperature, and the APC response showed an increase in APC growth when the colorimetric parameters decreased and the temperature increased.

Structural Characteristics and Driving Factors of Rhizosphere Microbial Communities in the Rhizosphere of Six Stipa Species Across the Ningxia Steppe

The relation and interaction of rhizosphere microbial communities with local environmental factors and root traits is currently a vibrant research hotspot. Yet little is known about how the morphological and functional properties of roots in steppe plants affect microbial community structure. Hence, this study investigated the rhizosphere soil of six Stipa species across the Ningxia steppe in China to examine how the composition of their microbial communities responds to both root traits as well as surrounding environmental factors. Our results reveal significant differences (p < 0.001) in the composition of rhizosphere microbial communities among different Stipa species. The dominant bacterial and fungal phyla are Proteobacteria and Ascomycota, respectively; further, Mortierellomycota plays a key role in the fungal community and is closely associated with other fungal taxa. According to the functional gene predictions for bacteria and fungi, the rhizosphere microbes associated with Stipa species are mainly related to organic matter metabolism and nitrogen cycling. We find that soil physicochemical properties (SOC, TN, TP, AP, SWC, FL, SL) and root traits (RTD, Rtn) are pivotal factors which directly influence the structure of microbial communities dwelling in the rhizosphere of Stipa species. The dominant phyla of fungi and bacteria can respond to those properties in two contrasting ways. One group, consisting of bacteria such as Acidobacteria and fungi like Mortierellomycota, has a relative abundance that is positively correlated with soil nutrients (SOC, TN, AN, TP), whereas the second group, which includes bacteria such as Bacteroidetes and fungi like Ascomycota, is characterized by a negative correlation. More importantly, our results show that root traits significantly impact (p < 0.001) fungal diversity, whereby the morphological and functional properties indirectly affect the composition of bacterial and fungal communities by modulating soil properties. Altogether, the findings suggest that the morphological and functional properties of Stipa roots play a prominent role in shaping the community structure of rhizosphere microbes in steppe, providing a theoretical basis for exploring changes in these communities across space and time, as well as offering insights for grassland conservation and sustainable management.

Influence of enzymatic modification on the structure, antioxidant activity, and prebiotic activity of ginseng neutral polysaccharide

The abundant ginseng neutral polysaccharide (GPN) has been neglected due to its lower activity compared to acidic polysaccharide in ginseng. Herein, the composite enzymes were used to modify the GPN and obtained the enzymatic-degradation-GPN (EGPN). The structural changes were further characterized by GPC, FT-IR, Congo red, XRD, zeta potential, TG, cryo-SEM and AFM. The antioxidant activity of GPNs in vitro was investigated by in vitro chemical experiments and oxidative stress-related indicators on PC12 cells damaged by Aβ25–35, and EGPN showed favorable antioxidant activity. In addition, EGPN metabolized by intestinal microbiota also significantly increased the viability of injured PC12 cells. Furthermore, in vitro fermentation model was used to investigate the differences of physicochemical properties of GPNs and their regulatory effects on the microbiota. EGPN enhanced the diversity of the microbiota and increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Importantly, EGPN demonstrated a significant reduction in the presence of detrimental bacteria such as Enterococcus and Allobaculum, while simultaneously promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms including Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Ruminococcu. This study highlights the potential use of EGPN prepared by composite enzymatic degradation in antioxidant, neuroprotection and restoration of intestinal homeostasis.

In Vivo Screening of Barcoded Gold Nanoparticles Elucidates the Influence of Shapes for Tumor Targeting

AbstractGold nanoparticles (NPs) are promising for cancer therapy due to their versatile shapes, optical properties, adjustable sizes, and facile functionalization. However, their diverse physicochemical properties, complex in vivo environments, and cellular heterogeneity lead to markedly different interactions with cells, impacting reproducibility and application selection. To address this, we implemented a DNA barcoding system to label gold NPs with varying shapes, sizes, and surface modifications for tumor delivery optimization. Six NP species, comprising three shapes (sphere, rod, triangle) and two sizes (40 nm, 80 nm), were tagged with unique DNA barcodes. Barcodes demonstrated minimal detachment, no interference with cell interactions, and resistance to DNase digestion. Next‐generation sequencing revealed that sphere NPs exhibited poor in vitro uptake but superior in vivo tumor targeting, likely due to enhanced endothelial interactions and reduced macrophage clearance. Additionally, 80 nm nanotriangles displayed excellent tumor targeting both in vitro and in vivo. Supporting experiments validated these findings. To demonstrate practical utility, the NPs were applied in siRNA delivery and photothermal therapy in a breast tumor model. This study pioneers the integration of DNA barcoding with gold NPs to systematically explore shape, size, and surface modifications for in vivo delivery.

Granular Nanofiber-Hydrogel Composite-Programmed Regenerative Inflammation and Adipose Tissue Formation.

The interplay between biomaterials and host immune responses critically determines outcomes in tissue restoration. Recent studies suggest that physicochemical properties of materials can dictate pro-regenerative versus pro-fibrotic responses and have begun to define the key immune cell types and signals governing these divergent effects. This emerging understanding enables the engineering of regenerative biomaterials capable of functional restoration in situ. An injectable nanofiber-hydrogel composite (NHC) microparticles are designed and constructed from cross-linked electrospun collagen nanofiber fragments surface-bonded to the hyaluronic acid hydrogel network via covalent conjugation during the cross-linking process. The collagen nanofiber fragments, acting as the structural reinforcement component, increased the overall storage modulus of the NHC to a level comparable to native soft tissues while maintaining a sufficiently high degree of porosity of the hydrogel phase to allow host cell infiltration following subcutaneous injection of the NHC microparticles. More importantly, the NHC promoted macrophage/monocyte infiltration, migration, and spreading, sustained cell recruitment over time, and enhanced the proangiogenic effect and recruitment of PDGFRα+ perivascular progenitor cells, leading to extensive adipose tissue remodeling. This study demonstrates the regenerative potential of the injectable NHC microgels as an off-the-shelf solution for devastating soft tissue losses.

Ultrasound-assisted chilling to minimize sodium hypochlorite use while reducing pathogens and preserving quality in chicken breast meat

This study investigates the use of ultrasound-assisted chilling (at 80% amplitude for durations ranging from 0 to 5 min) and varying chlorine (NaClO) concentrations (0%, 2%, and 5%) to reduce Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli on poultry meat while assessing its impact on chicken breast physicochemical properties. Treatment of 5% NaClO with 5 min ultrasound exposure resulted in reductions of 1.55 log CFU/g for S. Typhimurium and 2.29 log CFU/g for E. coli. Ideal inactivation conditions for achieving approximately a 1 log CFU/g reduction were identified as 5 min in 0% NaClO, 3 min in 2% NaClO, and 1 min in 5% NaClO, resulting in reduction levels of 0.17, 1.32, and 1.01 log CFU/g for S. Typhimurium, and 0.54, 1.44, and 1.21 log CFU/g for E. coli, respectively. Ultrasound treatment increased the whitening of chicken meat (p < 0.05), particularly with longer treatment durations, but had no impact on other tested quality parameters (p > 0.05). Ultrasound combined with NaClO was more effective at inactivating microorganisms than either method alone, while preserving meat quality. Notably, 3 min of ultrasound in 2% NaClO significantly reduced microbial contamination while minimizing NaClO use, offering an environmentally friendly and effective approach for enhancing food safety during poultry chilling.

Hybrid Chitosan Biosorbents: Tunable Adsorption at Surface and Micropore Domains

Herein, we report a study that provides new insight on the knowledge gaps that relate to the role of biopolymer structure and adsorption properties for chitosan adsorbents that are cross-linked with glutaraldehyde. The systematic modification of chitosan cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (CG) and its quaternized forms (QCG) was studied in relation to the reaction conditions: mole ratios of reactants and pH conditions. Complementary adsorbent characterization employed 13C NMR/FTIR spectroscopy, TGA and DSC, point-zero-charge (PZC), solvent swelling, and sorption studies using selected dye probes. The spectral and thermal techniques provide complementary evidence that affirm the key role of cross-linker content and quaternization on variation of the physicochemical properties of chitosan. The PZC results reveal a neutral surface charge for the modified materials between pH 6.0 to 6.3 ± 0.3, as compared with pH 8.7 ± 0.4 for pristine chitosan. Solvent swelling in water decreased with greater cross-linking, while the QCG materials had greater swelling over CG materials due to enhanced hydration. The adsorption results reveal variable dye uptake properties according to the cross-linker content. Similarly, surface versus micropore adsorption was demonstrated, according to the nature and ionization state of the dye for the modified adsorbents, where the CG and QCG materials had tunable sorption properties that exceeded that of unmodified chitosan. A key step in tuning the structure and surface chemical properties of cross-linked chitosan involves pH control during synthesis. The facile tunability of the physicochemical properties of the modified biopolymers reported herein means that they possess features of biomimetics that are relevant to advanced drug delivery, antimicrobial materials for wound healing, biosensors, and biosorbents for biomedical applications.

Enhanced physicochemical properties of Himalayan Weeping Bamboo-biochar for rapid multicomponent textile dyes uptake under classical and ultrasound irradiation: A comparative study

This study focused on synthesizing a low-cost adsorbent via a unique two-step solvothermal slow pyrolysis of Drepanostachyum falcatum plant biomass. It evaluated its adsorption capabilities for removing various textile dyes, including methylene blue (MB), basic fuchsin (BF), and methyl orange (MO), from aqueous solutions. Under conventional and ultrasound-assisted conditions, the adsorption performance was assessed for single, binary, and ternary dye systems. Comprehensive investigations examined the effects of environmental factors such as temperature, pH, humic acid, and interfering ions on adsorption. The findings revealed that ultrasonication significantly accelerated the adsorption process, making it up to six times faster than classical adsorption methods, and equilibrium was reached in one-tenth the time required without ultrasound. The experimental data best fit the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, indicating that chemisorption was the dominant adsorption mechanism. Additionally, the Freundlich isotherm suggested multilayer sorption on the biochar surface. Maximum adsorption capacities under ultrasound were found to be 139.34 mg/g for MB, 75.09 mg/g for MO, and 98.13 mg/g for BF dyes, with a higher affinity observed for cationic dyes compared to anionic dyes. The study provides insights into an efficient, novel synthesis method for converting waste biomass into a valuable adsorbent for dye removal. It also highlights the role of ultrasound in enhancing physicochemical properties, facilitating improved mass transfer, and promoting better interaction between the dyes and the adsorbent.

Effect of Nitrogen and Municipal Solid Waste Compost on the Physicochemical Properties of a Calcareous Soil Under Wheat Cultivation

ABSTRACT Municipal solid waste (MSW) is an exciting source of organic matter (OM) for agricultural soil. In recent years, the application of MSW compost has received considerable attention. On the other hand, simultaneous use of organic and chemical fertilizers can lead to better plant growth and soil fertility. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of MSW compost and nitrogen fertilizer (N-fertilizer) on soil physicochemical properties. Treatments consisted of three levels of MSW compost 0, 10, and 20 t ha−1 (C0, C10, and C20), three rates of N-fertilizer 0, 100, and 200 kg ha−1 (N0, N100, and N200). Application of N-fertilizer and MSW compost alone or in combination significantly affected some physical and chemical properties of soil. The addition of N-enriched compost to the soil increases electrical conductivity (EC), N-NO3 − contents (in C20N200 treatment) and available iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), field capacity (FC) and available water (AW) contents (in C20N100 treatment). While the bulk density (BD) of the soil decreased. Our results show that the use of MSW compost and N-fertilizer is a beneficial option for improving the physicochemical properties of soil, especially physical properties under arid and semi-arid conditions.

A novel high-speed homogenizer assisted process intensification technique for biodiesel production using soya acid oil: Process optimization, kinetic and thermodynamic modelling

Acid oils, which are readily available and cost-effective, show promise as a feedstock for biodiesel synthesis. This study focuses on biodiesel production using soya acid oil having high free fatty acids (FFAs) content of 80.65 %. Biodiesel is produced from high-FFA soya acid oil by employing a novel high speed homogenizer technique through esterification process followed by neutralization step. The process variables affecting esterification reaction have been optimized through response surface methodology (RSM) based Box-Behnken Design (BBD) technique. A maximum FFA conversion of 98.06 % was found at a M:O molar proportion of 18.41:1, a process time of 84.62 min, a catalyst amount of 2.18 wt%, and a rotational speed of 14,100 RPM. The determined activation energy for esterification reaction using high speed homogenizer was 36.82 kJ/mol, which is 1.5 to 2 times lower compared to conventional techniques. Thermodynamic behaviour of esterification reaction was studied and analysed. The resulting biodiesel after the neutralization step meets the EN 14214 standard for conversion rate (minimum 96.5 %) and physicochemical properties, ensuring commercial viability.

Effects and mechanisms of different carbonaceous aggregates on coal tar pitch wettability behavior

The wettability of coal tar pitch is significantly influenced by the type of carbonaceous aggregate, directly impacting its effectiveness as a binder in industrial applications. This study systematically investigates the wetting behavior between various carbonaceous aggregates and coal tar pitch, providing critical insights into the physicochemical properties that influence the interaction. Specifically, we examine the potential of utilizing residual anodes as alternative aggregates. The rheological property of coal tar pitch was characterized to evaluate its suitability as a binder. Subsequently, the wettability of coal tar pitch on multiple carbonaceous aggregates was characterized by single particle wettability experiments, static wettability tests, and dynamic contact angle measurements. The results indicate that coal tar pitch exhibits the highest wettability with calcined coke, followed by residual anode, anthracite coal, and spent pot lining. Static wettability experiment revealed an inverse relationship between the specific surface area of the carbonaceous aggregates and their wettability. The Super-Depth-of-Field Microscope denoted that decreasing surface roughness improves the wettability of car tar pitch when the composition of aggregates is similar. X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy tests showed that higher ideal graphite carbon content (Ig), decreased height of the crystallite (Lc), and increased surface functional groups (CN/CO/CS) all contribute to improve wettability. This study not only provides a comprehensive framework for selecting optimal carbonaceous aggregates but also delivers theoretical support for the reuse of residual anodes in industrial processes.

Relationships between charcoal property and post fire productivity in the boreal forest

Fire disturbances are increasing under global climate change and ecological transformations of forests are occurring. Specifically, shifts from productive closed-canopy feather moss forests to low-productivity open-canopy lichen (Cladonia spp.) woodlands have been observed in boreal forests of eastern Canada. It has been hypothesized that high severity of fires would be the cause of this change, but this is difficult to validate a posteriori on mature forest stands. Because charcoal properties are affected by fire severity, we have put forward the hypothesis that the amount and physicochemical properties of charcoal (C, N, H, O, ash, surface area) would be different and indicative of a greater fire severity for open-canopy forests compared to closed canopy ones. Our hypothesis was partly validated in that the amount of charcoal found on the ground of closed-canopy forests was greater than that of open-canopy forests. However, the physicochemical properties were not different, albeit a greater variability of charcoal properties for open canopy stands. These results do not allow us to fully validate or reject our hypothesis on the role of fire severity in the shift between open and closed canopy stands. However, they suggest that the variability in fire conditions as well as the amounts of charcoal produced are different between the two ecosystem types. Furthermore, considering the role that biochar may play in improving soil conditions and promoting vegetation restoration, our results suggest that charcoal may play a role in maintaining these two stable alternative ecosystem states.

Enhancing Morchella Mushroom Yield and Quality Through the Amendment of Soil Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Community with Wood Ash

Morchella mushroom is a nutritionally rich and rare edible fungus. The traditional cultivation model, which relies on expanding the cultivation area to meet market demand, is no longer sufficient to address the rapidly growing market demand. Enhancing the yield and quality of Morchella without increasing the cultivation area is an intractable challenge in the development of the Morchella mushroom industry. Against this backdrop, this study investigates the effects of different amounts of wood ash (WA) application on the yield and quality of Morchella, and conducts an in-depth analysis in conjunction with soil physicochemical properties and microbial communities. The results indicate that the application of WA improves both the yield and quality of Morchella, with the highest yield increase observed in the WA2 treatment (4000 kg/hm2), which showed a 118.36% increase compared to the control group (CK). The application of WA also modified the physicochemical properties of the soil, significantly improving the integrated fertility index of the soil (IFI, p &lt; 0.05). The soil microbial community structure was altered by the addition of WA. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that pH and total potassium (TK) were the main environmental factors influencing the bacterial community, while pH, TK, and total nitrogen (TN) were the main factors influencing the fungal community structure. In addition, bacterial community diversity tended to increase with higher WA application rates, whereas fungal community diversity generally showed a decreasing trend. Furthermore, the relative abundance of beneficial microbial communities, such as Acidobacteriota, which promote the growth of Morchella, increased with higher WA application, while the relative abundance of detrimental microbial communities, such as Xanthomonadaceae, decreased. Partial least squares path model (PLS-PM) analysis of external factors affecting Morchella yield and quality indicated that WA application can alter soil physicochemical properties and soil microbial communities, thereby improving Morchella yield and quality. Among these factors, soil fertility was identified as the most important determinant of Morchella yield and quality.

Physicochemical and functional properties of yogurt enriched with ultrafiltered juice of Red Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) as a functional ingredient

Yogurt has long been recognized as a health-promoting food for its bioavailability of protein, energy, probiotics and calcium, increasing digestibility, as well as preventing potential diseases beyond basic nutritional function. Recently, yogurt has become one of those foods whose functional properties are developed by adding functional substances with a potential positive effect on health. The objective was to evaluate the effect of ultrafiltered juice of red fruits of O. ficus-indica as a functional ingredient in yogurt. A completely randomized block design (CRBD) was used. The treatments were: yogurt with 0 % ultrafiltered red prickly pear juice (Y0) as a control; yogurt with 10 % ultrafiltered red prickly pear juice (Y1); yogurt with 20 % ultrafiltered red prickly pear (Y2); and yogurt with 30 % ultrafiltered red prickly pear juice (Y3). The variables to measure in each yogurt treatment were pH during lactic fermentation and the final product, syneresis, energy content, colorimetry, composition (total solids, protein, fat and ash), antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP), phenol content and sensory evaluation. The incorporation of red prickly pear ultrafiltrates accelerated antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents. Finally, the sensory panel satisfactorily accepted the incorporation of red prickly pear ultrafiltered in yogurt. DOI: https://doi.org/10.54167/tch.v18i4.1614

Influence of MIL-53 on the catalytic performance of metallocene in propylene polymerization

In this study, we investigate the application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as a support for metallocene catalysts in the polymerization of propylene. MOFs such as MIL-53 and other conventional supports, SBA-15 and SiO2, were employed to immobilize the Me2Si(2-Me-4-PhInd)2ZrCl2 catalyst activated with methylaluminoxane (MAO). The effects of the physicochemical properties of these supports on catalytic performance and polymer properties were investigated. MIL-53, characterized by its channel structure, facilitated higher molecular weight polypropylene production and exhibited double the catalytic activity of SBA-15 and SiO2 supports. The MIL-53/MAO/Me2Si(2-Me-4-PhInd)2ZrCl2 catalyst also demonstrated higher comonomer incorporation and lower polymer melting points. The higher activity, elevated molecular weight, and increased reactivity towards 1-hexene of the MIL-53/MAO/Me2Si(2-Me-4-PhInd)2ZrCl2 catalyst are attributed to the electronic and steric effects of MIL-53. This study underscores the significant role of MOF structure in influencing polymerization behavior and highlights the potential of MOF-supported catalysts for tailored polymer properties.