Types Of Raw Materials Research Articles

RESULTS OF DETERMINING THE HARDNESS OF THE SEED COAT OF GRAINS GROWN IN MONGOLIA

The objectives of the long-term development policy of Mongolia "VISION-2050" include scientific and knowledge-based development of agricultural production with the sight of sustainable development, the ability to transform knowledge into practice, the introduction of advanced technologies and innovations, the extension of agricultural raw materials and products in a foreign market, suspending the import of certain types of raw materials and products, and increasing exports.In order to determine the hardness of grain seeds, carried out 3-5 repeated experiments and measurements on the laboratory equipment for each grain grade after considering the different levels of moisture and made mathematical and statistical analysis on data of collected samples and processed experiment results.

Adsorption of metal ions by oceanic manganese nodule and deep-sea sediment: Behaviour, mechanism and evaluation

Deep-sea mining disturbs the sediment on the seabed to form plumose flows, carrying metal ions that are transmitted through the food chain, posing a serious threat to marine ecosystems and human health. In this study, two types of marine raw materials were screened: Oceanic Manganese Nodules (OMN) and Deep-sea Sediments (DSS), and prepared the spherical regenerative adsorption materials OMN@SA, DSS@SA and OMN&DSS@SA using sodium alginate (SA) by sol-gel method. Preliminary investigations on the adsorption effect of metal ions were carried out. OMN@SA exhibited the best adsorption capacity, with the adsorption quantities for Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ reaching 31.12, 21.11 and 16.66 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption behaviour is consistent with the Langmuir, pseudo-second-order kinetics and particle diffusion model, indicating that the adsorption process is mainly spontaneous, monolayer chemical adsorption, and the adsorption rate is mainly controlled by internal particle diffusion. SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR and XPS analyses suggest that the adsorption mechanism includes surface physical adsorption, ion exchange, functional group complexation, electrostatic attraction and precipitation. The fixed bed column experiment shows that OMN@SA can effectively remove metal ions Cu2+, demonstrating excellent stability, safety and good regenerability. This study paves a new direction for the design of efficient and sustainable materials for heavy metal adsorption. More importantly, as marine primordial materials, OMN and DSS have strong technical and economic feasibility for future use in in-situ fixation of metal ions in seafloor sediments and restoration of the original seabed environment.

Функциональный состав и структурные особенности лигнинов высших растений

NMR spectroscopy is one of the effective methods for the study of plant raw materials, which makes it possible to identify differences in the structure and functional composition of lignins of various types of plant biomass. However, there are a number of limitations in the use of this method – in particular, the registration of NMR spectra at some nuclei (13C, 31P, etc.) usually requires considerable amount of time. This article proposes an approach to reduce the recording time of 31P NMR spectra by a factor of 17 without losing the quality of the result. With the help of this method and with the use of optimized experimental parameters, the functional group analysis of lignins of some softwood and hardwood species and herbaceous plants distributed in the European North of the Russian Federation was carried out. The types of structural units and their characteristic interstructural relationships per 100 phenylpropane units were determined by HSQC NMR. Differences in the functional composition and features of the structural organization of lignins were identified depending on the family to which the plant belongs. On the basis of the obtained array of experimental data the strategies of processing of specific types of plant raw materials were proposed. For example, lignins of the Birch and Beech families showed the largest number of β-aryl ether fragments with a free hydroxyl group in the α-position, which indicates the greater reactivity of these lignins. Accordingly, representatives of these families are priority raw materials in the development of lignin processing methods. At the same time, the structure of lignins of representatives of the Beech family proved to be the most resistant to hydrolytic degradation, which is important for lignin-directed bioprocessing concepts. For citation: Sypalova Yu.A., Shestakov S.L., Kozhevnikov A.Yu. Functional Composition and Structural Features of Higher Plant Lignins. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 5, pp. 164–183. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-5-164-183

Evaluating the Feasibility of Obtaining a Mesophase by Heat Treatment of Various Types of Hydrocarbon Raw Materials

Evaluating the Feasibility of Obtaining a Mesophase by Heat Treatment of Various Types of Hydrocarbon Raw Materials

Study of the Slow Pyrolysis of Lignin, Hemicellulose, and Cellulose and the Effect of Their Interaction in Plant Biomas

The pyrolysis of two types of raw materials of plant origin (sawdust and sunflower husks), components of the organic matter of biomass (hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin), and model mixtures preparedfrom components in accordance with their fractions in the raw materials was studied. Pyrolysis of the materials was carried out using TGA and a laboratory setup with a fixed bed reactor. The distribution and composition of the products were determined at pyrolysis temperatures of 350, 425, 500, and 575C. Experimental data obtained with the biomass samples and model mixtures were compared with calculated values obtained based on the pyrolysis of individual components and their fractions in the biomass. The possibility of predicting the distribution of pyrolysis products depending on the component composition was investigated. Theinfluence of intercomponent interaction in biomass on the yield and composition of pyrolysis products was revealed.

Ochre use at Olieboomspoort, South Africa: insights into specular hematite use and collection during the Middle Stone Age

Recent excavations at Olieboomspoort (OBP) in the Waterberg Mountains of South Africa confirmed previous research at the site that highlighted an abundance of ochre in the Middle Stone Age (MSA) deposits. Here, we report on the results of an analysis of the ochre from the MSA deposits excavated in 2018–2019. Fossilised equid teeth from these deposits were recently dated to approximately 150 ka, an early date for such a sizeable ochre assemblage in southern Africa. Calcium carbonate concretions were removed from ochre pieces using hydrochloric acid. Macro- and microscopic analyses were undertaken to identify raw material types and to investigate utilisation strategies. There are 438 pieces in the assemblage and only 14 of them show definite use-traces. The predominant raw material is a micaceous, hard specular hematite, which is rare at MSA sites elsewhere in southern Africa. A preliminary investigation into the geological nature of the ochreous materials in the archaeological sample and those available in the area was performed using semi-quantitative portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF), XRF, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Together with site formation processes, we suggest possible, primarily local sources of the ochre found in the deposits. The data do not support previous suggestions that OBP was used as an ochre caching site that may have formed part of an exchange network during the MSA. Instead, the local abundance of nodules of specular hematite within the Waterberg sandstone, the limited number of used pieces in the assemblage, and the stratigraphic context indicate a more natural, less anthropogenic explanation for the abundance of ochre at the site.

MARKETING STRATEGY ANALYSIS ON FOOD PRODUCTS

The economy places a great deal of importance on marketing, which is also essential to business actors' success. In this case, a well-thought-out marketing strategy is required in order for the anticipated results to be achieved. The goal of the research is to understand food items' marketing strategies. The study employs a qualitative description methodology, gathering data via observation, documentation, and interviews. The findings demonstrated that the marketing mix study discovered that the product remains straightforward, the pricing is reasonably low, the place of sale is less fancy, and the promotion is still not aggressive. The product's strengths stem from its regionally typical raw materials, while its weaknesses are related to its simple toppings and ekmasan. The product's quality raw materials and lack of preservatives present an opportunity, while its growing number of similar products and increasingly diverse variants pose a threat. The product can be used to win the competition because of its strengths and possibilities, but in order to compete with similar products, it must promptly address its flaws and threats.

Bio-damaged wood processing in microcrystalline cellulose production

Bio-damaged wood was studied as a potential raw material for the production of hydrolytic degradation cellulose products. Conditions for obtaining fine-dispersed microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) based on hydrolytic treatment of cellulose from bio-damaged wood were determined. A comparative analysis of the quantitative values of the degree of polymerization of default commercial cellulose and cellulose from damaged wood was performed. The objective of the work was to study the possibilities of obtaining MCC from bio-damaged wood possessing quantitative characteristics close to those obtained from the commercial wood, reducing the concentration of inorganic acid during the hydrolytic degradation. The experimental analysis showed that with an increase in the pulp refining degree from 15 °SR to 75 °SR, the time for the hydrolysis process decreased from 150 to 90 min, the temperature of chemical treatment decreased from 100 °C to 80 °C, and acid concentration by 0.5 N. The polymerisation degree of microcrystalline cellulose, regardless of the type of raw material, also decreased with an increase in the refining degree.

Methodology for the development of identification criteria of stone fruit brandy

The need to develop identification criteria for fruit brandy is connected with the prevention of the sale of counterfeit products on the Russian alcohol market. Due to the variety of factors affecting the final product, the solution to this problem requires the use of a methodology based on an integrated approach. The work is devoted to its first stage — the assessment of the influence of the biochemical composition of fruit stone raw materials, as well as various technological factors on the formation of essential (identification) characteristics of products. Fresh fruits of apricots, cherry plums, cherries, dogwood and plums, as well as samples of fermented raw materials were used as objects of research. The biochemical composition of fresh fruits was assessed by the content of sugars, free organic acids, amino acids and pectin substances. It has been found that the values of all main indicators of the biochemical composition varied widely in the samples of initial raw materials. At the same time, significant differences were noted between the types of fruit raw materials in the content of free amino acids (dogwood, cherry plum up to 0.08% and 0.12%, respectively; cherry, plum and apricot up to 0.19–0.30%) and pectin substances (cherry, apricot up to 0.6–0.8%; cherry plum, dogwood, plum up to 1.2–1.3%). The following factors were studied in the work as technological factors: a method of primary processing of raw materials (obtaining pulp or juice extraction); a maceration method — without enzyme preparations and with treatment with enzyme preparations; a fermentation method — without fermentation activators and using fermentation activators. It has been established that the method for primary processing of raw materials affects the concentration of methanol, esters and higher alcohols in fermented raw materials. The use of fermentation activators contributes to an increase in the concentration of higher alcohols and esters in them by almost 2 times, and the use of individual complex enzyme preparations — by 16% and 80%, respectively. It has been shown that the methodology for developing identification criteria for fruit vodkas at the first stage should include an assessment of the physico-chemical composition of initial raw materials and individual technological factors at the stage of preparing them for distillation.

Study of the process of the frozen raw beef defrosting with its simultaneous massaging in industrial conditions

Many meat processing enterprises use the frozen raw meat. Its defrosting and thawing is a crucial technological operation that fundamentally affects the quality of food products. The experience and knowledge obtained directly in the workshop in the process of thawing the raw materials and their using to obtain a specific finished product are of great importance. Defrosting and thawing of the frozen beef meat, as one of the stages of raw meat processing, still remains a challenging process in industrial food production. The importance of this process is constantly increasing due to the growing volumes of frozen raw materials processed in food enterprises. Scientific research shows that one of the most efficient methods of defrosting and thawing is the process of meat thawing with saturated water steam under vacuum. When applying the steam the raw materials is heated at its least and minimal losses are observed, while the duration of the process is significantly reduced. This work examines the process of beef meat defrosting and thawing with simultaneous shaking and crumpling the frozen mass, which can be called as massaging of raw materials. As studies have shown, this method of thawing makes it possible to reduce losses down to almost zero and obtain raw materials with good structural characteristics for the production of a finished product with a wide range of consumer properties. The obtained experimental curves of changes in the mass and temperature of raw materials make it possible to analyze the kinetics of heat transfer and mass transfer processes at the macro- and micro levels of the food system, which serve as the basis for modeling and controlling the technological process. This study presents the results of conventional defrosting and thawing of the raw meat but combined with massaging. Studies of the parameters of processing modes have shown that the proposed program makes it possible to use efficiently the design and technological features of the defroster-massager in order to obtain the raw beef for the production of high-quality food products. The results of experimental studies and their analysis allow making conclusion about the prospects of applying this process for the other types of raw meat materials before the main technological processing of raw materials.

A Comparison of the Qualitative Characteristics of Pellets Made from Different Types of Raw Materials

With the aim of extending the production of renewable energy from lignocellulosic materials by improving their energy characteristics, the authors have started a series of experimental activities that involve a densification process of the wood material and a subsequent quantitative and qualitative characterization of the different pellets produced. The research activity was focused on different types of pellets obtained using biomass deriving from dedicated energy crops (medium rotation forestry), pruning residues of agricultural crops, thinning interventions in planted forests, and, lastly, residues from the maintenance of urban greenery. Among the 15 parameters that were investigated, 9 (length, diameter, fusibility, As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were within the limits set by current legislation for all the analyzed pellets. The same was not detected for the remaining 6 parameters (bulk density, heating value, ash, N, durability, and cadmium), the value of which did not reach the quality requirements established by the standards. The biomass obtained from medium rotation forestry plants (MRF) and forest residues turned out to be the best source of material to be used to produce pellets. Within these two groups, the best results were found for eucalypt, except for the heating value. Pellets from MRF also showed interesting values of durability and nitrogen content (classes A1 vs. A2).

Investigation of Vegetable Oils and Their Derivatives for the Synthesis of Extreme Pressure Additives.

The harmful effects of wear can be reduced through proper lubrication of the frictional parts. When exposed to excessive loads, the lubricant film is displaced from the surfaces, and even the adhesive lubricant layer may rupture. Additives known as Extreme Pressure (EP) are frequently incorporated into lubricants to minimise wear and avert seizures under high temperature and pressure. Mechanistically, these additives generate a film on the surface through chemisorption. These additives are extensively applied in various lubricants, with the largest quantities being employed in metalworking fluids and lubricating greases. Sulfurized vegetable oils and their derivates can be used as EP additives for lubricants. To conduct the investigations, sulfurized additives were synthesized using different vegetable-based oils and fatty acid esters, and alpha-olefins. In this study, the Four-ball test results were compared to gain a more accurate comprehension of how various raw-material-based additives influence wear and friction. The goal was to select raw materials that could be used with favorable results for the production of EP additives. The objective was to achieve a minimum Four-ball weld load parameter of 2000 N. The experiments revealed that the functional impacts of the synthesized samples are dependent on the type of raw materials employed. Based on the experimental data and the stated criteria, the examined raw materials were found to be suitable for the synthesis of EP additives.

Influence of pre-treatment methods on quality indicators and mineral composition of plant milk from different sources of raw materials.

Pre-treatment of plant materials is essential in producing plant-based products and can affect their various organoleptic and physicochemical characteristics. This work aimed to study the effect of pre-treatment of vegetable raw materials, namely ultrasonic processing and freezing of raw materials under various low-temperature conditions, to obtain multiple types of vegetable milk and determine their characteristics. It is shown that by applying a certain kind of pre-treatment of vegetable raw materials it is possible to adjust organoleptic parameters and the content of solids, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber and mineral composition of various types of vegetable milk from soy, rice, oats, wheat, peas, buckwheat, pumpkin seeds and lentils. Ultrasound pre-treatment allows increasing of polyphenol content by an average of 15-20% for all types of plant milk, except for lentil milk. The results showed that ultrasound treatment for 3 min had the most significant effect on the overall acceptability for lentils, pumpkin, rice and pea milk. Pre-freezing at a temperature regime of -17 and -85 °C contributed to an increase in Fe, K, Zn, Ca, Mg, Si and P by an average of 30-100%, depending on the plant material. Pre-treatment of vegetable raw materials, including freezing and ultrasonic treatment, can positively affect the macro- and micronutrient composition of plant milk. However, the effect may vary depending on the type of raw material and processing conditions. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pomace from Oil Plants as a New Type of Raw Material for the Production of Environmentally Friendly Biocomposites

The production of environmentally friendly biocomposites can be based on attractive and low-cost vegetable pomace, a waste product from oil production. In the present study, biocomposites made from HDPE and pomace from black cumin, corn, and flax seeds were subjected to evaluation of structural, morphological, and thermal parameters and susceptibility to germination by filamentous fungi. Based on the characteristics of the produced biocomposites, it should be concluded that vegetable waste from oil production, applied at a 1:1 ratio as a filler for polyethylene-based biocomposites, significantly reduces the crystallinity of the produced material and decreases its thermal stability. It should also be noted that such biocomposites are more easily overgrown by fungi, which may facilitate their biodegradation. Very poor antioxidant properties, resulting from the encapsulation of the plant fraction in polyethylene, limit the functionality of this type of material as, for example, active biomaterials to prevent free radical processes. Although the structural and physical characteristics of the produced biocomposites have been shown to be inferior to polyethylene, efforts should be made to improve these characteristics. Plant waste can be a valuable raw material for the production of materials compatible with various industries.

Mineral and Raw-Material Potential of Strategic Critical Mineral Raw Material for Development of the High-Tech Industry of the Russian Federation

The present paper briefly characterizes the state system of a regional geological study of subsoil implemented by Rosnedra and the Karpinsky All-Russian Research Geological Institute (VSEGEI) and provides an assessment of the mineral and raw material potential of the Russian Federation for strategic types of minerals. In 2022, the VSEGEI completed compiling of a set of 1 : 2 500 000 digital monometal maps of patterns of distribution and prediction of strategic and critical types of minerals of the Russian Federation in GIS-format. The reserves of these types of minerals were estimated according to the data of the state accounting system and expert reassessment of forecast resources was performed. As a result, regional prognostic criteria for localization of areas promising for searching deposits were developed. Recommendations on setting GDP-200/2 and/or GMK-200 on specific nomenclature sheets that are promising for realization of prospecting stage exploration for strategic types of mineral raw materials are given.

Application of by-products of ethanol production in the fuel industry

This article analyzes two ways of solving environmental problems in the fuel industry, which arose due to the need to stabilize the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. According to the first direction, the ways of using various non-traditional types of raw materials and waste containing sugars for the purpose of producing environmentally friendly types of fuel are considered. According to the second direction, the possibilities of integrated use of ethanol and all by-products formed during its production are analyzed to improve ecology in the fuel industry. We have established the possibility of using the by-products of ethanol production, fuel oil and fuel alcohol, to improve the operational properties of motor fuels used in carburetor and diesel engines. It has been stated that the additives of fuel alcohol and fuel oil increase the octane number of gasoline, improve its fractional composition, as a result of which the completeness of fuel combustion and the uniformity of its supply to the engine cylinders increase. The optimal concentrations of alcohol additives to gasoline are as follows: 5 vol.% and 10 vol.% for fuel alcohols and fuel oil, respectively. It has been established that the addition of fuel oil to diesel fuels increases their cetane number, this causes the mixture to ignite faster and the diesel engine to start. Moreover, with the addition of fuel oil, the temperature of the beginning of boiling decreases which facilitates the starting properties of the fuel, and the viscosity of the fuel mixture decreases which improves the completeness of mixing and transportation in the engine system. The optimal concentration of fuel oil additive to diesel fuel is 10 vol.%.

Synthesis of bioethanol from mixed vegetable wastes: Experimental methodology and characterization

AbstractBioethanol has been identified as a renewable product with high potential for application as biofuel. On the other hand, high volumes of agri‐food residues are generated daily. Such residues have potential as raw materials for industrial bioethanol production. There is a significant advance in the synthesis of biofuels from fruit and vegetable residues; however, most of the studies are focused on the conversion of a single type of raw material, limiting the application of the synthesis routes. This work presents a conversion methodology to produce bioethanol from carrot and broccoli residues and from their mixture; the samples of vegetable wastes has been collected in the municipality of Guanajuato, Mexico. Using the 1H NMR technique, the characteristic signals of bioethanol are identified. On the other hand, using the UV–VIS spectrophotometry technique, a maximum of 25.63 mg of total sugar content has been determined for the mixture. Likewise, a maximum bioethanol concentration of 60.6 g/L is obtained. From a refractometry and HPLC study, a conversion to bioethanol of 34.8% is determined for the mixture of residues. This work analyses the potential of broccoli and carrot residues for bioethanol production, either as isolated or as mixed wastes.

Silk wastes and autoclaved degumming as an alternative for a sustainable silk process

Silk degumming is considered the first point in the preparation of silk-based materials since this process could modify the silk fiber and the properties of its related products. This study evaluated the differences in morphology, secondary structure, amino acid content, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of two types of raw materials, defective cocoons (DC) and silk fibrous waste (SW), degummed by chemical (C) and autoclaving (A) methods. Subsequently, silk fibroin films were prepared by dissolving each type of degummed fibers, and thermal and structural films properties were determined. The findings demonstrated that autoclaving is an efficient alternative to remove silk sericin, as the resulting fibers presented improved structural, thermal, and mechanical properties compared to those obtained by the chemical method. For films preparation, autoclave resulted in a good option, but dissolution parameters need to be adjusted for defective cocoons. Furthermore, similarities between the physicochemical properties of fibers and films from both fibrous wastes suggest that SW is a promising raw material for producing fibrous resources and regenerated silk fibroin materials. Overall, these findings suggest new recycling methods for fibrous waste and by-products generated in the silk textile production process.

The Palaeolithic in Transcarpathia (Ukraine) and the different use of various lithic raw material outcrops and sources

The present article proposes a new approach for the detailed analysis of lithic raw material sources and their use by various human groups during the period from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Transcarpathia, western Ukraine. The approach is based upon the study of particular outcrops and sources of basic raw material types in Transcarpathia, examining their role in supplying various human groups across different Palaeolithic epochs and periods, both within and outside of the outcrop/source areas. Our analysis identified three localized volcanic-associated lithic raw material regions that demonstrate a ve ry limited ‘micro-region/source’ pattern of lithic exploitation. In contrast, more widely dispersed sedimentary regions with rock types that intermittently appear on the landscape show continuous use across most Transcarpathian areas and archaeological sites, including those located both at and far from outcrops/sources.

Evolution of the technological, sensory, and nutritional quality of gluten-free cookies: a critical review

Understanding the scenario of the development of gluten-free products, the relationship with the public, and the present challenges is of paramount importance to advance the development of these products successfully. This review focuses on gluten-free cookies, with a discussion of the main results found for the different types of raw materials and their influence on product quality and the lack of innovation in new processes for such products. According to the presentation of the studies, the main challenges for the development of gluten-free cookies are the repetition of starchy raw materials and the processes that lead to technological and sensory results that displease consumers because they are being compared with the affective memory of the gluten-free product, which unbalanced the nutritional value of the products because they have high levels of carbohydrates and fat. In the food industry, innovations and changes are already occurring, such as the use of protein and fiber raw materials. However, it is still necessary to develop strategies dissociated from those used for gluten-free baked goods that are more personalized for this market, which, compared with wheat products with more than 2000 years of history, is in the first steps of development.