Storage Of Products Research Articles

Development of Poly(lactic acid)-Based Biocomposites with Silver Nanoparticles and Investigation of Their Characteristics

Nowadays, the demand for food packaging that maintains the safety and quality of products has become one of the leading challenges. It can be solved by developing functional materials based on biodegradable polymers, such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA). In order to develop PLA-based functional materials with antibacterial activity, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were introduced. In the present study, AgNPs stabilized by a copolymer of ethylene and maleic acid were used. Under the joint action of shear deformations and high temperature, the biocomposites of PLA with poly(ethylene glycol) and AgNPs were produced. Their mechanical and thermal characteristics, water absorption, and structure were investigated using modern methods (DSC, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, SEM). The effect of AgNP concentration on the characteristics of PLA-based biocomposites was detected. Based on the results of antibacterial activity tests (against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, along with yeast) it is assumed that these systems have potential as materials for extending the storage of food products. At the same time, PLA–PEG biocomposites with AgNPs possess biodegradability.

Chemical analysis of Viloa odorata L. (Fam. Violaceae) and the efficacy of its essential oil against some stored product insects

The current experiment was carried out to assess the insecticidal activity of sweet violet (Viola odorata) essential oil against three major stored product insects (Tribolium castaneum, Rhyzopertha dominica and Sitophilus oryzae). The chemical composition of sweet violet essential oil in different cuts (first, second and third cut) of V. odorata grown in Al-Gharbia governorate, Egypt was determined. For the first cut, 73.825 % linolenic acid was the main component, while for second cut, 61.000 % linolenic acid was the main component and for the third cut, the main component was 75.419 % linolenic acid. The biomass yield was changed on different cuts. In the first cut, the yield was 15.500 ton/acre while it was 10.300 and 6.800 ton/acre for the second and the third cut respectively. In mixing with medium experiment, Triboleum castaneum was the most tolerant insect against violet absolute essential oil while after one day of exposure Rhizobirtha dominica was the most sensitive insect with LC50 of 53730 mg/kg. After 24 h of exposure in thin film experiment, R. dominica was found to be the most sensitive insect with LC50 of 475 mg/L. At the highest concentration (15000 mg/kg) there were no emerged adults for T. castaneum and S. oryzae while there were a mean of 0.33 emerged adults for R. dominica. The reduction was 100 % at the highest concentration for S. oryzae and T. castaneum while it was 99.53 % for R. dominica.

Sosialisasi Peningkatan Pengetahuan Keamanan Dalam Jual Beli Online

The increasing number of internet users makes Indonesia a very potential market for e-commerce. The growth of the middle class and the literacy rate of online buyers and sellers is also growing. E-commerce itself is not new, but its rise marks a new milestone for this industry in the country. Although it is growing quite rapidly, there is still one major problem that is preventing e-commerce in Indonesia from taking off, namely the problem of consumer trust in e-commerce sites. Consumers still do not trust the sales system with a non-physical buying and selling process, do not trust to provide credit card numbers to e-commerce services and are still afraid of fraud. However, this crisis of trust can actually be solved. One of the many ways is to use a payment service that has guaranteed security. Not all e-commerce can provide their own payment system, now there are many services that provide a secure payment system and are especially easy to apply to online stores. E-commerce players can use this payment system easily, quickly and which can improve the performance process in their online stores. However, the selection of services that provide a payment system must also be considered carefully. A secure payment system provider will provide a sense of security to prospective buyers, meaning that consumer trust must be built by e-commerce service providers so that consumers can be comfortable and do not encounter problems in making purchases and paying for products in the online stores provided.Security is important, the use of credit cards is widely highlighted because there are still many unpleasant incidents or fraud that occur due to the use of credit cards. Education on this security needs to be carried out continuously, because it will be related to consumer behavior.

Bifunctional sludge-derived redox carbon dots with photoelectron storage and delivery properties for ammonia production by photosensitized Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

Combining the light-harvesting capabilities of photosensitizers with microbial catalysis shows great potential in solar-driven biomanufacturing. However, little information is available about the effects of photosensitizers on the photoelectron transport during the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) process. Herein, redox carbon dots (CDs-500) were prepared from sludge via the pyrolysis-Fenton reaction and then used to construct a photosynthetic system with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. The MR-1/CDs-500 photosynthetic system showed a 5.9-fold increase in ammonia production (4.9 mmol(NH3)·g−1(protein)·h−1) with a high selectivity of 94.0 %. The photoelectrons were found to be stored in CDs-500 and transferred into the cells. During the inward electron transport, the intracellular CDs-500 could be used as the direct photoelectron transfer stations between outer membrane cytochrome c and DNRA-related enzymes without the involvement of CymA and MtrA. This work provides a new method for converting waste into functional catalysts and increases solar-driven NH3 production to a greater extent.

Effects of Storage Conditions, Cultivars, and Production Systems on Fruit Decay Incidence of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Fruit after Shelf-Life Conditions

Effects of Storage Conditions, Cultivars, and Production Systems on Fruit Decay Incidence of Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) Fruit after Shelf-Life Conditions

Soil utilization analysis of synergistic pyrolysis products of flue gas desulfurization gypsum and biomass

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) is one of the typical bulk solid wastes. With its vast production and considerable storage capacity, it accumulates in substantial quantities, occupies an extensive amount of land, and poses a severe pollutant threat to the ecological environment. To achieve large-scale consumption of FGDG, this study puts forward a method for the soil utilization and ecological reconstruction involving the co-pyrolysis of FGDG and biomass. The main emphasis is placed on exploring the alterations in leaching toxicity and plant-available elements under diverse conditions of temperature, biomass addition, and pyrolysis time. The co-pyrolysis parameters were optimized, and the changes in mineral composition of FGDG and biomass under different pyrolysis circumstances were investigated using XRD and SEM characterization methods. The experimental outcomes demonstrated that the optimal pyrolysis conditions were a temperature of 700 °C, a biomass content of 60 %, and a pyrolysis time of 5 h. The toxic and harmful substances within FGDG were solidified and stabilized, achieving a harmless treatment of FGDG. Simultaneously, the usable elements for plants were released. Through the analysis of mineral composition and microstructure, it was discovered that the pyrolysis products contain a considerable amount of CaSO4 and C, and the microstructure mainly consists of porous aggregates. The reason for the reduced leaching efficiency of toxic and harmful substances might be attributed to the formation of stable minerals such as heavy metals through crystallization and vitrification mineralization after the removal of crystal water from FGDG. Under the reduction effect of C, the available elements for plants are liberated. This study furnishes a theoretical basis for the industrial application of FGDG and biomass for large-scale soil utilization treatment.

Food Preservation in the Industrial Revolution Epoch: Innovative High Pressure Processing (HPP, HPT) for the 21st-Century Sustainable Society.

The paper presents the 'progressive review' for high pressure preservation/processing (HPP) (cold pasteurization) of foods and the next-generation high-pressure and high temperature (HPHT, HPT) food sterilization technologies. It recalls the basics of HPP and HPT, showing their key features and advantages. It does not repeat detailed results regarding HPP and HPT implementations for specific foods, available in numerous excellent review papers. This report focuses on HPP and HPT-related issues that remain challenging and can hinder further progress. For HPP implementations, the reliable modeling of microorganisms' number decay after different times of high pressure treatment or product storage is essential. This report indicates significant problems with model equations standard nonlinear fitting paradigm and introduces the distortion-sensitive routine enabling the ultimate validation. An innovative concept based on the barocaloric effect is proposed for the new generation of HPT technology. The required high temperature appears only for a strictly defined short time period controlled by the maximal pressure value. Results of the feasibility test using neopentyl glycol as the barocaloric medium are presented. Attention is also paid to feedback interactions between socioeconomic and technological issues in the ongoing Industrial Revolution epoch. It indicates economic constraints for HPP and HPT developments and emerging business possibilities. The discussion recalls the inherent feedback interactions between technological and socioeconomic innovations as the driving force for the Industrial Revolution epoch.

Performance analysis of refuse‐derived fuel gasification plant with carbon capture and storage for power, heating, and hydrogen production

AbstractAmong various waste‐to‐energy technologies, gasification is one of the most promising, because of high efficiency, feedstock flexibility, and carbon capture potential. This case study is focused on comprehensive analysis of integrated gasification combined cycle‐based plant with refuse‐derived fuel (RDF) as feedstock and carbon capture. As there are hardly any studies focused on simulation of waste gasification with carbon capture, most of which are lacking important process specifics, this study addresses existing research gap. Process flowsheets are developed in detail according to literature data for various process configurations and simulated in AspenPlus software, while obtained results on material and energy balance were used for estimation of plant efficiency and performance indicators. Waste generation data in Novi Sad, Serbia, were used for determination of RDF flowrate. Configurations include different syngas cleaning pathways, final products (power, heating, and hydrogen) and co‐gasification with coal. Cogeneration increases overall plant efficiency from 27%–36% (power production only) to 63%–76%. High net hydrogen efficiencies, around 58%, compensate lower power and thermal energy production in hydrogen‐based configurations. Overall, co‐gasification produces better results due to higher feedstock heating value. Obtained results will be used in further research for environmental and economic evaluation to provide multi‐level assessment of proposed processes.

Interference of mechanical damage on the physiological performance of corn seeds

Corn (Zea mays L.) is cultivated and consumed globally due to its nutritional qualities and short production cycle. However, during harvesting, processing, transportation, and storage, seeds are susceptible to various types of damage that can compromise their productive capacity, affecting both germination and plant vigor. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the physiological quality of corn seeds subjected to different types of mechanical damage. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Storage and Processing of Agricultural Products at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. Corn seeds were subjected to four types of mechanical damage: hammering, cutting, abrasion, and perforation, alongside a control sample that did not undergo any mechanical damage. Each treatment (mechanical damage) consisted of 200 seeds, which were evaluated through germination tests, including first count, germination rate, germination speed index (GSI), seedling dry weight, and root length. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design. Data were subjected to Analysis of Variance, and means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (P ≤ 0.05) when necessary. Mechanical damage reduces the germination and vigor of corn seeds. Cutting-type damage affects corn seeds more severely, reducing germination by an average of 80% and impairing vigor.

A unique solar pond system integrated with chlor-alkali electrolyser for heat storage and hydrogen production

Solar ponds are recognized as a simple, but a unique solution for renewable heat storage to use later. A freshwater feed to solar ponds is considered a crucial requirement to maintain the salinity gradient accordingly for heat storage purposes. This study aims to benefit from this specific requirement for solar ponds by integrating chlor-alkali electrolysers to produce hydrogen along with heat storage, which is a common purpose of a solar pond. Therefore, the proposed system establishes a desirable synergy, as per the sustainable development goals, between a conventional solar pond and an innovative high-tech hydrogen production system. In order to produce hydrogen, the saline water withdrawn from the upper convective zone is used in a chlor-alkali electrolyser powered by solar PV in order to produce green hydrogen. Thus, a conventional solar pond is converted into an integrated energy system that produces hydrogen and chlorine for useful purposes, along with heat storage capability. The system’s performance has been assessed in terms of the energy and exergy efficiencies for five distinct cities located in different countries that are grappling with poverty. The system’s performance, which is assessed in five cities, demonstrates the energy and exergy efficiencies ranging from 11.66 % to 14.56 % and 6.84 % to 8.60 % for the solar pond. They vary from 21.95 % to 24.22 % and from 14.23 % to 14.66 % for the overall system, respectively. Furthermore, the system effectively captures and stores solar energy, and it reaches temperatures up to 89.1°C. Moreover, the proposed system is expected to contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals by addressing energy poverty, promoting clean energy, and fostering economic growth.

Online Grocery Shopping Intention after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Grocery shopping is a vital activity in people’s lives. During the Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, many consumers turned to online platforms to purchase food, resulting in a significant increase in online grocery shopping. Hence, this study aims to investigate the post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions in the USA using quantitative research conducted via online surveys on Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (MTurk). The sample of this study is composed of two hundred fifty-two (252) validated data collected for analysis. The majority of participants perceive online grocery shopping as a reassuring, useful, and convenient method for purchasing food. Merits of online grocery shopping include reduced impulse buying and a lower risk of injury compared to traditional grocery shopping. Suggestions regarding online grocery shopping from peers or other influential people do not directly impact participants’ future purchasing decision. Participants diligently review grocery items on website before making online purchases. The availability of a wide range of high-quality food products in online grocery stores encourages continued online shopping post-pandemic. It is anticipated that in the near future, online grocery stores may become the preferred choice for consumers to purchase their foods.

Exploration of microRNAs in butter and their potential influence on human health

Milk is the richest body fluid in microRNAs (miRNAs), which are small non-coding RNAs, regulating many biological processes, influencing human health. With the objective of determining their bioavailability in processed dairy products, we established the miRNomes of butter using small-RNA-Seq, identifying 526 miRNAs, including 50 % in common with milk miRNomes. The top 30 most abundant miRNAs were not the exact mirror of the top 30 miRNAs already reported in Holstein milk and milk fat miRNomes, suggesting differences during the butter production process or storage. We identified predicted miRNAs whose sequences also aligned with those of bacteria used in dairy processing. The effects of the top 30 miRNAs on human health were estimated by in silico analyses, revealing potential consequences on cell life and regulation of gene expression that could affect consumer health. Our results highlight the importance of the bioavailability of food miRNAs, including in various processed dairy foods.

Latest Findings on the Effects of Gold Nanoparticles on the Storage Quality of Blood Products (2011-2022) - A Narrative Review

Abstract: A wide range of challenges are faced during the storage of blood products, including storage lesions, contamination that must be removed, and cell and protein damage due to chemicals and UV exposure. The enhancement of stability exhibited by gold nanoparticles (GNPs) is a notable advantage of these nanoparticles for the storage of blood products. The results of our review of articles from 2011 to 2022 discussing the effect of GNPs on blood products revealed that in RBCs, the dose, concentration, amount, and surface charge of GNPs significantly affect their compatibility. Purified GNPs were compatible with RBCs. Negatively charged GNPs with smaller diameters at lower concentrations were more compatible. However, in the plasma product, the nanoparticle surface modification with different agents showed greater compatibility. PEGylated nanospheres and GNPs exhibited higher albumin conformational stability than those coated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and rods. In the platelet product, smaller GNPs and high GNP concentrations induce platelet aggregation. PEGylation increased the platelet compatibility of GNP. The combination of GNPs with human fibrinogen and clopidogrel prevented clot formation. Finally, the findings of this investigation demonstrate that GNPs are contingent on their surface charge, dosage, and concentration.

Improving the quality and safety of caviar products based on an internal traceability system

This article examines the regulations concerning fishery products and presents information on traceability to improve them. A method called system-analytic research is used, which involves logical analysis, comparing things, grouping them together and drawing general conclusions. The collection of information in the manufacture of caviar products is studied and given. The process of converting raw materials into the final product and selling it is described. Analyzed the process of tracing and reporting fish products at each stage of their life cycle to ensure transparency. An effective traceability system will help to determine the safety and quality control of fish products at all stages of production, storage, transport, processing and marketing of products, taking into account the requirements of national and international regulations. Traceability system allows to determine the life cycle of raw materials or products, in case of unreliability or instability helps to identify the problem, and exclude it from the chain of technological process. It has been found that the use of an internal traceability system will enhance and improve production, as well as improve the quality and safety of finished products.

Ionic Liquid/Deep Eutectic Solvent-Mediated Calcining Synthesis of Cobalt-Based Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting.

The recent advancements of ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in the synthesis of cobalt-based catalysts for water splitting is reviewed. ILs and DESs possess unique physical and chemical properties, serving as solvents, templates, and reagents. Combined with calcination techniques, their advantages can be fully leveraged, enhancing the stability and activity of resulted catalysts. In these solvents, not only are they suitable for simple one-step calcination, but also applicable to more complex multi-step calcination, suitable for more complex reaction conditions. The designability of ILs and DESs allows them to participate in the reaction as reactants, providing metal and heteroatoms, simplifying the preparation system of cobalt phosphide, sulfide, and nitride. This work offers insights into design principles for electrocatalysts and practical guidance for the development of efficient and high-performance materials for hydrogen production and energy storage systems.

Effects of organic richness, mineral composition, diagenesis, and thermal maturity on the viscoelastic properties of organic-rich Cretaceous mudstones in the Middle Magdalena Valley basin, Colombia

A major geological risk factor for engineering and energy-related applications, such as CO2 storage and unconventional hydrocarbon production, is the geomechanical integrity of mudrocks. The goal of this work is to better constrain the macroscopic mechanical properties resulting from microstructural components by investigating the effects of thermal maturity, mineral composition, diagenesis and organic richness on the mechanical properties of Cretaceous mudstones in two surface sections (San Vicente de Chucurí and La Cristalina Creek) and one well (La Luna-1) from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (MMVB), Colombia. The thermal maturity of 22 rock samples was evaluated via organic source-rock screening and determination of illite crystallinity (Reichweite). Both geothermometers placed the La Luna Formation rock samples from San Vicente de Chucurí and the La Luna-1 well within the oil generation window (80°C–120 °C). In contrast, the rock samples of the Guaguaquí Group from La Cristalina Creek in the southern part of the basin are within the gas window (>180 °C). The mineralogy of organic-rich mudstones in the MMVB is dominated by quartz and calcite. Moreover, mudstones from the MMVB have a wide range of organic richness and clay contents, with organic abundances comparable to and clay contents lower than those found in other source-rock reservoirs. The Young's modulus (EIT), Martens hardness (HM), and creep (CIT), as determined through microindentation experiments, highly varied, but overall, the findings suggest that the Cretaceous rocks of the MMVB present conditions favorable for hydraulic fracturing. Furthermore, the viscoelastic properties of Cretaceous rocks in the MMVB are influenced primarily by the concentrations of strong minerals (quartz and calcite) and weak components (clay and TOC). Specifically, an increase in the concentration of weak components compared with that of strong minerals leads to an increase in CIT and a decrease in HM and EIT, and vice versa. Unlike other source-rock reservoirs, there are no indications of a strong correlation between thermal maturity and mechanical properties, suggesting a decoupling of these parameters in rocks of the MMVB. A close scanning electron microscopy examination of the rocks indicated that the observed weak to moderate correlation between thermal maturity and mechanical properties appears to result from rock silicification and calcite cementation caused by the precipitation of these minerals at early stages of diagenesis. This observation implies that the impact of diagenesis on rock geomechanics of silica-rich and calcareous-rich mudstones may override or be more important than the effects of thermal maturity, which, along with clay and organic matter contents, are the greatest controls in the geomechanics of argillaceous source-rock reservoirs.

Thermodynamic evaluation of solar energy-based methanol and hydrogen production and power generation pathways: A comparative study

This work presents a comparative evaluation of two distinct fuels, methanol and hydrogen, production and power generation routes via fuel cells. The first route includes the methanol production from direct partial oxidation of methane to methanol using solar energy, where the methanol is condensed, stored, and sent to a direct methanol fuel cell. The second route is hydrogen production from solar methane cracking (named as turquoise hydrogen), where heat is supplied from concentrated solar power, and hydrogen is stored and directed to a hydrogen fuel cell. This study aims to provide insights into these fuels' production conditions, storage methods, energy, and exergy efficiencies. The proposed system is simulated using the Engineering Equation Solver software, and a thermodynamic analysis of the entire system, including all the equipment and process streams, is performed. The methanol and hydrogen route’s overall energy and exergy efficiencies are 39.75 %, 38.35 %, 34.21 %, and 33 %, respectively. The highest exergy destruction rate of 1605 kW is observed for the partial oxidation of methane to methanol. The methanol and hydrogen routes generate 32.087 MWh and 11.582 MWh of electricity for 16-hour of fuel cell operation for the same amount of methane feedstock, respectively. Sensitivity analysis has been performed to observe the effects of different parameters, such as operating temperature and mass flow rate of fuels, on the electricity production and energy efficiencies of the systems.

Deep learning analysis of green ammonia synthesis: Evaluating techno-economic feasibility for sustainable production

This research presents a comprehensive optimization of green ammonia synthesis in Morocco by leveraging advanced deep learning techniques to maximize the utilization of the country's abundant renewable energy resources. By employing deep learning models such as LSTM and LSTM_adv, we forecast ammonia production over the next decade, improving strategies for production and energy storage. Our findings confirmed the viability of sustainable ammonia production in Dakhla and highlighted its transformative potential for global sustainability goals. Under the optimal scenario of 20 % photovoltaic and 80 % wind energy, the production cost was US$575 per tNH3, delivering an energy output of 8916.64 GWh and a daily ammonia production of 2503.36 tNH3. Shifting to 100 % wind energy further enhances the potential, increasing daily ammonia production to a maximum of 3090 tNH3 while reducing the production cost to US$376 per tNH3. These results demonstrate the significant economic and environmental benefits of using renewable energy sources for ammonia production in Morocco. By leveraging a country's abundant wind and solar resources, we can contribute to a sustainable and energy-independent future.

Improved properties of glass vials for primary packaging with atomic layer deposition

Novel pharmaceuticals and drug delivery devices may require better performance from the packaging material e.g., in terms of extractables and leachables, and unwanted interactions. To address this, we applied atomic layer deposition (ALD) to build nanometer-range SiO2, ZrO2 and Al2O3-TiO2 films on primary packaging glass. Controlled modification of the surface also enabled creation of functionality without affecting visual appearance of the material. ALD-coated Type I borosilicate vials were compared to uncoated ones, and tailored functionality was presented by appropriate measurements. The tested ALD coatings formed a barrier on glass against extractables and leachables, from the vial and the coating alike. A good ALD coating prevents any leakage into the stored drug product. Hydrolytic resistance results improved by 85–92 %, and these results correlated well with straightforward water conductivity measurements. Opposite to uncoated borosilicate glass vials, no extracted elements could be detected from the extracts of the coated vials with stable ALD films. Improved surface integrity was observed with electron microscopy as well. ALD films increased hydrophilicity of the surface and tuning the ALD film thickness and composition allowed precise blocking of UV light wavelengths, without affecting transparency. As a conclusion, ALD is a versatile method to create barrier and functional films on primary packaging materials.

Evaluation of Proximate, Organoleptic and Vitamin C Changes of Seaweed Jelly Candy (Gracillaria Sp.) after the Addition of Honey Mango Juice

Aims: to determine the effect of the addition of honey mango juice on the characteristics of jelly candy Study Design: This research was designed using a completely randomized design (CRD) with four treatments namely A (addition of 0% mango juice), B (addition of 9.93%% mango juice), C (addition of 12.5% mango juice) and D (addition of 16.07% mango juice) with 2 replications. Proximate and sensory data of jelly candy were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and followed by honest real difference test at α5% level Place and Duration of Study: This research was conducted at the Makassar Health Laboratory Center (Chemical Testing) and Departemen of Aquatic Product Processing and Storage Workshop (Organoleptic Test) of Pangkep State Polytechnic of Agriculture from April to July 2024. Methodology: The analysis conducted in this study included chemical and organoleptic analysis. Chemical analysis included: analysis of water content by distillation method, total sugar content. Vitamin C levels through iodometric titration. Organoleptic (sensory) analysis included Odor, taste, texture and color. Results: The results showed that the addition of mango juice to the characteristics of jelly candy was significantly different to water content, total sugar content and vitamin C. The best product based on chemical analysis is jelly candy in treatment D with the highest vitamin C content (5520.1 µg/g) and the highest total sugar content (38.92%) while the lowest water content (11.21%) was found in treatment A. Tests on organoleptic assessment of the highest panelists in treatment D, namely Odor 3.8 (like), taste 4.2 (like), texture 3.2 (normal), and color 3.7 (like).