Reduction Of Salt Concentration Research Articles

Brackish groundwater desalination by constant current membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI): Results of a long-term field trial in Central Australia

A long-term field trial of membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) was conducted in a remote community in the Northern Territory of Australia, with the aim of producing safe palatable drinking water from groundwater that contains high concentrations of salt and hardness ions and other contaminants. This trial lasted for 1.5 years, which, to our knowledge, is one of the longest reported studies of pilot-scale MCDI field trials. The 8-module MCDI pilot unit reduced salt concentration to below the Australian Drinking Water Guideline value of 600 mg/L total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration with a relatively high water recovery of 71.6 ± 8.7 %. During continuous constant current operation and electrode discharging at near zero volts, a rapid performance deterioration occurred that was primarily attributed to insufficient desorption of multivalent ions from the porous carbon electrodes. Performance could be temporarily recovered using chemical cleaning and modified operating procedures however these approaches could not fundamentally resolve the issue of insufficient electrode performance regeneration. Constant current discharging of the electrodes to a negative cell cut-off voltage was hence employed to enhance the stability and overall performance of the MCDI unit during the continuous operation. An increase in selectivity of monovalent ions over divalent ions was also attained by implementing negative voltage discharging. The energy consumption of an MCDI system with a capacity of 1000 m3/day was projected to be 0.40∼0.53 kWh/m3, which is comparable to the energy consumption of electrodialysis reversal (EDR) and brackish water reverse osmosis (BWRO) systems of the same capacity. The relatively low maintenance requirements of the MCDI system rendered it the most cost-efficient water treatment technology for deployment in remote locations. The LCOW of an MCDI system with a capacity of 1000 m3/day was projected to be AU$1.059/m3 and AU$1.146/m3 under two operational modes, respectively. Further investigation of particular water-energy trade-offs amongst MCDI performance metrics is required to facilitate broader application of this promising water treatment technology.

Research Progress in the Treatment of High-Salinity Wastewater

The generation of high-salinity wastewater is closely associated with various industries, containing a plethora of dissolved salts such as chlorides, sulfates, and carbonates, which pose a significant threat to the environment and human health. Consequently, the treatment of high-salinity wastewater has emerged as a pivotal environmental challenge in contemporary society. This review aims to elucidate the sources and characteristics of high-salinity wastewater, as well as the current status and trends in the field of high-salinity wastewater treatment. First and foremost, we explore the means by which high-salinity wastewater is generated in different industries and the principal salt components it contains. We revisit conventional methods for high-salinity wastewater treatment, including chemical precipitation, ion exchange, evaporation-crystallization, and reverse osmosis, while emphasizing the application of biotechnological approaches. This includes the utilization of salt-tolerant microorganisms, biological adsorption, biodegradation processes, and various types of bioreactors. Advanced oxidation technologies also play a crucial role in high-salinity wastewater treatment. We introduce advanced oxidation techniques such as ozone oxidation, UV-catalyzed oxidation, and high-pressure water oxidation, emphasizing their potential in degrading organic compounds and reducing salt concentration. Furthermore, we discuss hybrid approaches, such as case studies combining biological treatment with advanced oxidation technologies, and the advantages and challenges associated with these integrated techniques. Finally, we provide an outlook on future trends, including research on novel and efficient biodegrading agents, advancements and innovations in advanced oxidation technologies, and the development of intelligent high-salinity wastewater treatment systems. Policy and industry trends will also influence the direction of high-salinity wastewater treatment field development. In summary, high-salinity wastewater treatment represents a complex and pressing environmental challenge. However, through the integration of diverse treatment technologies and ongoing research efforts, it is anticipated that more effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally friendly solutions can be developed to mitigate the impact of high-salinity wastewater on ecosystems and society.

Native mass spectrometry of complexes formed by molecular glues reveals stoichiometric rearrangement of E3 ligases.

In this application of native mass spectrometry (nMS) to investigate complexes formed by molecular glues (MGs), we have demonstrated its efficiency in delineating stoichiometric rearrangements of E3 ligases that occur during targeted protein degradation (TPD). MGs stabilise interactions between an E3 ligase and a protein of interest (POI) targeted for degradation, and these ternary interactions are challenging to characterise. We have shown that nMS can unambiguously identify complexes formed between the CRBN : DDB1 E3 ligase and the POI GSPT1 upon the addition of lenalidomide, pomalidomide or thalidomide. Ternary complex formation was also identified involving the DCAF15 : DDA1 : DDB1 E3 ligase in the presence of MG (E7820 or indisulam) and POI RBM39. Moreover, we uncovered that the DCAF15 : DDA1 : DDB1 E3 ligase self-associates into dimers and trimers when analysed alone at low salt concentrations (100 mM ammonium acetate) which dissociate into single copies of the complex at higher salt concentrations (500 mM ammonium acetate), or upon the addition of MG and POI, forming a 1 : 1 : 1 ternary complex. This work demonstrates the strength of nMS in TPD research, reveals novel binding mechanisms of the DCAF15 E3 ligase, and its self-association into dimers and trimers at reduced salt concentration during structural analysis.

Prevention of Dry Cracking of Excavated Earthen Sites at Han Yangling Museum Using Ultrasonic Wetting

ABSTRACT Dry cracking is the most perilous weathering process threatening the structural stability of earthen sites. Even in a high-humidity environment, dry cracking resulting from soil water evaporation cannot be entirely prevented. This study examined use of an ultrasonic atomization system to create an atmosphere of water-mist above excavated earthen sites. This system was selected to facilitate liquid water transport from air to the soil, to prevent dry cracking of earthen sites. A validation experiment was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the system for wetting earthen sites. The experimental results revealed that the system could maintain a high water content at an excavated earthen sites with a minimal gradient in soil water content and significantly reduced salt concentrations in the soil surface layer. The HYDRUS-2D model was calibrated using 15 d of experimental data, enabling numerical simulation of water and salt transport at an excavated earthen site under various wetting scenarios for a one-year period. The simulations demonstrated a steady increase in water content and a gradual decrease in the water content gradient at the excavated earthen site when short wetting intervals were used, thereby enhancing the structural stability of the site. These findings offer a vital reference for the application of ultrasonic atomization in the wetting of excavated earthen sites to prevent dry cracking.

Characteristics of Seasoning Powders from Nagara Bean Tempeh and Oyster Mushroom for Umami Enhancer to Reduce Salt-use

Aims: Nagara bean tempeh and oyster mushroom have high protein, and free glutamate can increase the umami effect. The formulation is needed to obtain the desired umami level.The research aimed to formulate seasoning powders of Nagara bean tempeh flour, white oyster mushroom flour, salt, and sugarto enhance the umami taste.
 Study Design: This research formulated seasoning powder using a randomized block design involving two treatment factors: 1) the concentration of salt, Nagarabean tempeh flour, and white oyster mushroom flour,and 2) the percentage of sugar.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of analytical chemistry and industrial environment, Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, LambungMangkurat University, between June and November 2021.
 Methodology: The seasoning flavor formulation includes the proportion of salt 50% to 20 %, and the remaining composition is the ratio of Nagara bean tempeh flour and oyster mushroom flour 50: 50. The addition of sugar 0%, 25%, and 30% is also studied in this formulation to determine the effect of strengthening the umami taste. The seasoning powder was analyzed bychemical and sensory analysis.
 Results: Data analysis showed that the NaCl content in the seasoning powder decreased according to the reduced salt concentration in the seasoning formula. The proportions of salt: Nagara bean tempeh flour and oyster mushroom flour 20: 40: 40 produced the highest soluble protein content, total acid, and insoluble solids. Adding 25-30% sugar strengthened umami sensory test results more than the others.The results of salty taste scoring correlated with the proportion of salt in the formulation, where the salt ratio of 40%-50% was significantly not different.
 Conclusion: Seasoning powder formulation using salt, Nagara bean tempeh flour, and oyster mushroom flour did not yet providea strong umami effect. The umami effect should be enhanced by added sugar. Seasoning powder with slightly strong umami was obtained in the formulation of salt: Nagara bean tempeh flour: oyster mushroom flour by 20: 40: 40 with the sugar addition of 25%. According to the formula, salt consumption can be reduced by adding Nagara bean tempeh flour and white oyster mushroom flour in seasoning powder.

Changes in nutrient and heavy metal content after vermicomposting of water hyacinth-based spent mushroom substrate

The spent biomass of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) after oyster mushroom cultivation is not much suitable for application as soil amendment. As a means to avoid environmental pollution and to decrease waste to landfill, the spent biomass was primarily composted with cow dung and then feed to red wiggler earthworm (Eisenia fetida) to transform it into vermicompost. The produced vermicompost showed significant reduction in salt concentration, electrical conductivity, available K concentration, C/N ratio and increase in pH, available N and P. The representative heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) detected in the spent biomass of water hyacinth were derived from the initial plant biomass. Among these metals, concentration of Fe increased and that of Zn decreased significantly in the vermicompost, while the other metals did not show significant change. When applied as amendment to control soil for growth of radish plants, the vermicompost treatment resulted in significantly higher shoot and root biomass. Also, the amendment decreased the bioavailability of metals (especially Cd) and their accumulation in radish plants. The metal concentrations in the vermicompost and in the radish plants were found to fall within the permissible limits for compost and the normal range present in plants, respectively, indicating the suitability of the vermicompost for use as organic fertilizer. Utilization of the water hyacinth as substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation and recycling the spent mushroom substrate through vermicomposting could therefore provide food and fertilizer with no waste to landfill, changing the status of the invasive aquatic weed from a prolific pest to a potentially usable product.

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tunability of Double-Network Hydrogel Strength and Lubricity.

Double-network (DN) hydrogels are promising materials for tissue engineering due to their biocompatibility, high strength, and toughness, but understanding of their microstructure-property relationships still remains limited. This work investigates a DN hydrogel comprising a physically crosslinked agarose, as the first network, and a chemically crosslinked copolymer with a varying ratio of acrylamide and acrylic acid, as the second network. The charge, intrinsic to most DN hydrogels, introduces a responsive behavior to chemical and electrical stimuli. The DN strengthens agarose hydrogels, but the strengthening decreases with the swelling ratio resulting from increasing acrylic acid content or reducing salt concentration. Through careful imaging by atomic force microscopy, the heterogenous surface structure and properties arising from the DN are resolved, while the lubrication mechanisms are elucidated by studying the heterogeneous frictional response to extrinsic stimuli. This method reveals the action of the first (agarose) network (forming grain boundaries), copolymer-rich and poor regions (in grains), charge and swelling in providing lubrication. Friction arises from the shear of the polymeric network, whereas hydrodynamic lift and viscoelastic deformation become more significant at higher sliding velocities. We identify the copolymer-rich phase as the main source of the stimulus-responsive behavior. Salt concentration enhances effective charge density and reduces viscoelastic deformation, while electric bias swells the gel and improves lubrication. This work also demonstrates the dynamic control of interfacial properties like hydrogel friction and adhesion, which has implications for other areas of study like soft robotics and tissue replacements.

Salinization of stream water and groundwater at daily to decadal scales in a temperate climate

AbstractElevated salt concentrations in streams draining developed watersheds are well documented, but the effects of hydrologic variability and the role of groundwater in surface water salinization are poorly understood. To characterize these effects, we use long‐term data (12–19 yr) and high‐frequency specific conductance (SPC) data collected from 13 streams across New Hampshire, USA. Concentration–discharge (C–Q) relationships for chloride (Cl−) derived from high‐frequency SPC showed distinct seasonal variability. Diluting behavior was common, but flushing behavior occurred in autumn and winter, suggesting that both groundwater and surface runoff contribute salts to streams. Long‐term data show that although extreme flood events initially reduced salt concentrations in groundwater and rural streams, concentrations recovered to preflood conditions in about a decade. Chronic Cl− exceedances occurred in urban streams during all seasons. This research suggests that variation in stream flow, extreme events and application of deicing agents play a role in freshwater salinization.

Electrodialysis process for carbon dioxide capture coupled with salinity reduction: A statistical and quantitative investigation

Rejected brine and CO2 are the two most common pollutants associated with the desalination process. The current study focuses on the sustainable and efficient handling of these emissions. Herein, a method is presented that can effectively manages waste fractions and results in value-added products. A multi-chamber electrodialysis was studied to remove salt from the water and capture CO2 to produce hydrochloric acid, carbonates/bicarbonate salt mixture, and irrigation standard water. The effects of process variables (sodium chloride concentration, voltage/area, and CO2 flow rate on CO2 uptake, current efficiency, % salt removal, waste-to-product ratio, and energy consumption were optimized using a central composite design. It was found that high voltage and high CO2 flow rate were beneficial for high CO2 uptake. Current efficiency for salt removal improved with low voltage and high salt concentration. In contrast, increasing voltage and reducing salt concentration reduced the waste-to-product ratio and improved % salt removal. A salt concentration of 0.76 M, a voltage/area of 2344 V/m2, and a CO2 flow rate of 1.3 l/min were optimum parameters, resulting in a CO2 uptake of 11 g/M NaCl, a current efficiency of 87 %, a salt removal percentage of 28 %, a waste-to-product ratio of 2.2, and energy consumption of 123 Wh/M NaCl. Under optimum conditions, the process was analyzed over time to determine the variations within the system caused by ion transfer. The sodium carbonate and bicarbonate liquid mixture was freeze-dried and quantified using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Solvating power regulation enabled low concentration electrolyte for lithium batteries

Li+ solvation structures have a decisive influence on the electrode/electrolyte interfacial properties and battery performances. Reduced salt concentration may result in an organic rich solid electrolyte interface (SEI) and catastrophic cycle stability, which makes low concentration electrolytes (LCEs) rather challenging. Solvents with low solvating power bring in new chances to LCEs due to the weak salt-solvent interactions. Herein, an LCE with only 0.25 mol L−1 salt is prepared with fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropylether (D2). Molecular dynamics simulations and experiments prove that the low solvating power solvent FEC not only renders reduced desolvation energy to Li+ and improves the battery kinetics, but also promotes the formation of a LiF-rich SEI that hinders the electrolyte consumption. Li||Cu cell using the LCE shows a high coulombic efficiency of 99.20%, and LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2||Li cell also exhibits satisfying capacity retention of 89.93% in 200 cycles, which demonstrates the great potential of solvating power regulation in LCEs development.

Tuning the Electrolyte Solvation Structure via a Nonaqueous Co-Solvent to Enable High-Voltage Aqueous Lithium-Ion Batteries.

"Water-in-salt" electrolytes have significantly expanded the electrochemical stability window of the aqueous electrolytes from 1.23 to 3 V, making highly safe 3.0 V aqueous Li-ion batteries possible. However, the awkward cathodic limit located at 1.9 V (versus Li+/Li) and the high cost of the expensive salts hinder the practical applications. In this work, an ideal "bisolvent-in-salt" electrolyte is reported to tune the electrolyte solvation structure via introducing sulfolane as the co-solvent, which significantly enhances the cathodic limit of water to 1.0 V (versus Li+/Li) at a significantly reduced salt concentration of 5.7 mol kg-1. Due to the competitive coordination of sulfolane, water molecules that should be in the primary solvation sheath of Li+ are partly substituted by the electrochemically stable sulfolane, significantly decreasing the hydrogen evolution. Meanwhile, the unique electrolyte structures enable the formation and stabilization of a robust solid electrolyte interphase. As a result, a 2.4 V LiMn2O4/Li4Ti5O12 full cell with a high energy density of 128 Wh kg-1 is realized. The hybrid water/sulfolane electrolytes provide a brand new strategy for designing aqueous electrolytes with an expanded electrochemical stability window at a low salt concentration.

Organic fertigation system in saline‐sodic soils: A new paradigm for the restoration of soil health

AbstractA continuous decline in soil organic C (SOC) and an increase in salt‐affected areas are a challenge to future sustainability. We searched on the scientific databases of Web of Science, Scopus (Elsevier) database, and Google. We reviewed 101 studies of the last 25 yr with the following keywords: drip irrigation, fertigation system, liquid biochar, liquid organic, organic fertigation, saline‐sodic soils, and salinization. Our objectives were to identify knowledge gaps to direct future organic research and assess the effect of organic amendments on meeting the plant's N, P, and K requirements in saline‐sodic soils. The review showed that organic fertigation systems reduce salt concentration in irrigation water and inhibit glutamine synthetase by N‐fixing diazotrophs. The system increases photosynthetic activities in plants, microbial biomass C, bacterial colonization, plant–mycorrhizal association, and phospholipid‐derived fatty acids from microbes. It increases essential soil nutrients, including SOC; increases salt/water stress tolerance; and reduces Na+ ion toxicity in plants by regulating abscisic acid pathways in saline‐sodic soils. It creates a conducive environment for phosphatase, dehydrogenase, urease, protease, α‐amylase, and gibberellins. This review sketches the role of silicic acid, salicylic acid, and liquid organics in plant growth mechanisms: enhanced photosynthesis, increased salt/water tolerance, and reduced Na+ toxicity. It suggests novel strategies to develop a task force to promote a community–corporate farming system to adopt cost‐effective green technologies for bioresource regeneration, diverse market production, and social capital generation. We develop a synergy between organic fertigation system and community–corporate farming to bring much‐needed agricultural sustainability.

Influence of Rain Water Recharging on the Chemical Properties of Groundwater

The study was conducted to analyze the impact of different seasons and sources of rainwater (rooftop runoff and runoff plots) used in recharging borewells on chemical properties of groundwater. There were nine borewells considered for the study, among them five borewells are recharged through rooftop runoff water, two borewells are recharged through water from runoff plots and the two borewells have no treatments. After each runoff event, water samples from each borewell were collected for five days and analyzed for various chemical parameters. The electrical conductivity, pH and concentration of bicarbonate ions were analyzed. The result revealed that the recharge that took place during the Kharif season had an impact through reduced salt concentration and it also had an influence during the Rabi season. The electrical conductivity and concentration of bicarbonates in water samples from borewells was low in Kharif than rabi. The values of these chemical properties indicated that recharging of borewells is having the beneficial effect on the groundwater properties.

Lactic acid bacteria starter in combination with sodium chloride controls pathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC, ETEC, and EHEC) in kimchi

Kimchi is one of the primary sources of high sodium content in the Korean diet. Low-sodium kimchi is commercially manufactured to minimize the health effects of high salt. We investigated the influence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as starter culture in combination with 1% or 2.5% salt on the survival of pathogenic Escherichia coli and physicochemical properties of kimchi during fermentation at 10 °C and 25 °C. Among ten strains of LAB isolated from kimchi, Leuconostoc mesenteroides (KCTC 13374) and Lactobacillus plantarum (KCTC 33133) exhibited antimicrobial activities against pathogenic E. coli (EPEC, ETEC, and E. coli O157:H7) and strong tolerance to low pH (2 and 3) and 0.3% bile salts. Thus, L. mesenteroides and L. plantarum were used as starter cultures for kimchi that contained 1% and 2.5% salt. All pathogenic E. coli strains survived in kimchi regardless of starter cultures or salt concentration for over 15 days at 10 °C, but they died off within 4 days at 25 °C. Survival of pathogenic E. coli was better in naturally fermented kimchi (titratable acidity:0.65%) than kimchi fermented with starter cultures (titratable acidity:1.0%). At 10 °C, the average delta value of E. coli O157:H7 (16.15 d) was smaller than those of EPEC (20.76 d) and ETEC (20.20 d) in naturally fermented kimchi. Overall, survival ability of E. coli O157:H7 was lower than EPEC and ETEC, although differences were not significant. Reduced salt concentration from 2.5% to 1% in kimchi did not affect the growth of LAB and the fermentation period. Pathogenic E. coli died at a faster rate in kimchi fermented with starter cultures and 1% salt than in naturally fermented kimchi with 2.5% salt.

(Student Battery Slam Best Presentation Award Winner) “Water-in-Salt” Polymer Electrolyte for Li-Ion Batteries

Lithium ion batteries (LIBs) have been widely applied in multitudinous energy storage systems due to their high energy density, long cycle stability and high energy efficiency. While the public concern over the safety of LIBs increases rapidly with our reliance on this technology in our daily life, for which the nonaqueous and highly flammable electrolyte should bear most of the responsibility. Aqeuous rechargeable lithium ion batteries resolve several challenges of conventional LIBs. However, the electrochemical stability window of aqueous electrolytes is less than 2.0 V, beyond which the electrolysis of H2O with the hydrogen evolution reaction at anode (H2 generated) and oxygen evolution reaction at cathode (O2 generated). Recently, the ground-breaking of “water-in-salt” electrolyte (WiSE) successfully expanded the ESW of water to 3.0 V. To further enhance the energy density of WiSE based batteries, the cathodic limitation of 1.9 V needs to further reduced, and a high Coulombic efficiency (CE) of > 99.9% at a matched areal capacities of cathode/anode is required for a long-term cycling. Here, we designed a solid-state aqueous polymer electrolyte (SAPE) by incorporating WiSE with UV-curable methacrylic polymer. The abundant hydrophilic groups of the polymer stabilized water molecules due to the sluggish water mobility in SAPE and formed a water-less thin passivation interphase between anode and electrolyte. In addition, by pre-coating a strongly basic water-free solid polymer electrolyte on the surface of anode, an artificial passivation interphase was formed. A robust SEI was formed on the surface of anode and the water reduction reaction is suppressed in our electrolyte system. Also, an extended electrochemical stability window of 3.86 V is achieved at 12 mol kg-1 aqueous polymer electrolyte, enabling the 3 V full cells cycled with an unprecedented high initial CE of 90.5% and average CE of 99.97%. The SAPE exhibits intrinsic safety and tolerance of drastic mechanical abuse, the flexible full cell with supper robustness can be widely used for low-cost and high-safety flexible electronic devices. Moreover, the UV-cured polymerization process possesses the merit of facile and high efficiency, and the whole process have the potential to be practical used in a large scale. Overall, this newly developed reduced salt concentration WiSE not only reduces the cost of aqueous electrolyte, but also opens up another perspective on future directions and guidance for the design of aqueous electrolyte for high-energy-density Li-ion batteries in practical applications.

Ionic Strength and Drag Reduction of Polymers in Straight Pipes – An Experimental Investigation

Previous work has tied the drag reduction properties of polymer solutions to type and concentration of salts, rather than its ionic strength, although it is a more extensive parameter to investigate the effects of salt contents on fluids behavior. The current study aims at investigating the relationship between ionic strength and drag reduction characteristics of polymer solutions when flowing in straight tubing. 
 
 Nalco ASP-700 and ASP-820, two common anionic AMPS copolymers, are examined with various salts (2% KCl, 4% KCl, and synthetic seawater). Flow tests were conducted using a small-scale flow loop that includes a straight tubing with an outside diameter of 1.27 cm and a length of 4.57 m. 
 
 It has been found that drag reduction performance of polymer solutions is well correlated with ionic strength, rather than salt type and/or concentration. With high ionic strength, lower drag reduction is noticed despite of the reduced salt concentration. Nevertheless, at higher Reynolds number, the effects of ionic strength minimizes. Both polymer solutions exhibit effective drag reduction characteristics and their behavior is greatly affected by polymer type, shear rate, and salt content. Correlations, with acceptable confidence level, between drag reduction ratio and solutions ionic strength are proposed. The correlations are strongly recommended to investigate the effects of salt types and/or concentrations, represented by its ionic strength on drag reduction behavior of polymer solutions in straight tubing.

Impact of salt levels on the sensory profile and consumer acceptance of Italian dry-cured ham.

Reduction of the salt (NaCl) content in typical Italian dry-cured ham is intended to reduce sodium dietary intake to meet World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the prevention of serious diseases. This reduction is a complex issue because of the multiple roles that salt plays in the product. Hams that were processed to obtain a final product with target salt levels (hams with reduced salt concentration and controls) were analyzed using chemical parameters (salt, moisture, fat, and proteolysis indexes). Their sensory properties were described by a trained panel and 87 consumers evaluated the impact of salt reduction on their liking for the products. The dry-cured hams under investigation are representative of Italian dry-cured hams, which are considered to be low and medium to high in terms of salt content. Consistent with the role of salt in proteolytic enzymes inhibition, there was an increase in the proteolysis index in fully matured dry-cured hams with reduced salt content. Salt level affected saltiness perception but also texture, color, and, to a lesser extent, flavor intensity in matured dry-cured hams. On average, reduced-salt dry-cured hams resulted in increased consumer liking. However, the resulting three consumer segments (37%, 27%, and 36% of the consumer cohort, respectively), differed in the acceptability ranking given to reduced-salt hams and controls. The tested reduction in salt content, besides improving the nutritional profile of dry-cured ham, was effective in increasing consumers' acceptance. These results were useful for exploring the effect of reducing salt concentration on consumer liking for dry-cured hams. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Benefits of the Use of Lactic Acid Bacteria Starter in Green Cracked Cypriot Table Olives Fermentation.

Table olives are one of the most established Mediterranean vegetables, having an exponential increase consumption year by year. In the natural-style processing, olives are produced by spontaneous fermentation, without any chemical debittering. This natural fermentation process remains empirical and variable since it is strongly influenced by physicochemical parameters and microorganism presence in olive drupes. In the present work, Cypriot green cracked table olives were processed directly in brine (natural olives), using three distinct methods: spontaneous fermentation, inoculation with lactic acid bacteria at a 7% or a 10% NaCl concentration. Sensory, physicochemical, and microbiological alterations were monitored at intervals, and major differences were detected across treatments. Results indicated that the predominant microorganisms in the inoculated treatments were lactic acid bacteria, while yeasts predominated in control. As a consequence, starter culture contributed to a crucial effect on olives fermentation, leading to faster acidification and lower pH. This was attributed to a successful lactic acid fermentation, contrasting the acetic and alcoholic fermentation observed in control. Furthermore, it was established that inhibition of enterobacteria growth was achieved in a shorter period and at a significantly lower salt concentration, compared to the spontaneous fermentation. Even though no significant variances were detected in terms of the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, the degradation of oleuropein was achieved faster in inoculated treatments, thus, producing higher levels of hydroxytyrosol. Notably, the reduction of salt concentration, in combination with the use of starter, accented novel organoleptic characteristics in the final product, as confirmed from a sensory panel; hence, it becomes obvious that the production of Cypriot table olives at reduced NaCl levels is feasible.

Evaluation of Product Quality of Low-Salt Pork Sausage Using Prerigor Pork Ham

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to develop pork sausages with reduced salt content using the pre-rigor pork ham to have similar product quality to regular-salt (1.5%) sausages.Materials and MethodsPork ham with pre-rigor (< 1 h after slaughter) and post-rigor (> 1 d after slaughter) were purchased at the local market. Sausages containing pre-rigor pork hams with various salt contents (0– ∼1.5%) were manufactured and compared to the post-rigor sausages with regular salt (1.5%). To confirm the states of pre-rigor and post-rigor, pH and temperature of pork hams were measured. The pH, color, cooking loss (CL, %), expressible moisture (EM, %), textural properties, lipid oxidation (TBAR), protein oxidation (VBN) of the sausages were measured, while the protein solubility and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of meat batter were measured. The experiment design was one-way analysis of variance at a significant level of 0.05.ResultsThe pre-rigor ham had higher pH and temperature than the post-rigor ham, as expected. Protein solubility of pre-rigor sausages was higher than those with reduced salt concentrations (< 1.0%). However, no differences in CIE color values (L*, a*, b*), CL, TBARS, and VBN were observed among treatments. The EM (%) of pre-rigor sausages with 0.5 and 1.0% salt were similar to those with pre-rigor sausages with 1.5% salt. Textural properties of sausages were not different between pre-rigor with various salt levels (0.5∼1.5%) and post-rigor sausages with 1.5% salt. High intensity of myosin heavy chain band was shown in pre-rigor meat batters as compared to the post-rigor ones.ConclusionPre-rigor sausages containing 1.0% salt had similar characteristics to those with post-rigor with 1.5% salt. This result indicated that the amount of salt on sausages could be reduced by approximately one-third of regular-salt (1.5%) level without detrimental effects.

New Platform for Gravitational Microfluidic Using Ferrofluids.

Among the large variety of microfluidic platforms, surface devices are a world apart. Electrowetting systems are used to control the displacement of droplets among predetermined pathways. More confidential, superhydrophobic surfaces are more and more described as new elements to guide spherical droplet reactors. As such, they can exhibit confinement properties analogous to channel-based microfluidics. In this article, we describe a new strategy to use superhydrophobic surfaces as a permanently tilted microfluidic platform, on which droplets containing iron oxide nanoparticles are guided with permanent magnets. These droplets are fed with water through a capillary tube until their weight exceeds the magnetic field force. Thus, the volume at which the droplet rolls off the surface is only governed by the initial quantity of magnetic nanoparticles and the tilting angle of the surface. This phenomenon provides a strategy for droplet dilution in a simple and reproducible manner, which is not that easy in microchannels, and a key advantage of open systems. As a proof of concept, we used this platform to prepare magnetic filaments by a salting-out process already described in large batches. By reducing salt concentration on the platform, we are able to control the electrostatic attractive interactions between iron oxide nanoparticles coated with poly(acrylic acid) and a positively charged polyelectrolyte [poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)]. The formation of nanostructured filaments was conducted in 2 min while more than 30 min was required for dialysis. Our results also illustrate the power of microfluidic reaction processes because such magnetic filaments could not be obtained through direct batch dilution because of mixing issues. Such microfluidic platforms could be useful for the efficient and simple dilution of systems where reactivity is controlled by concentration.