Unique Textural Properties Research Articles

Bacterial Cellulose In Vitro Uptake by Macrophages, Epithelial Cells, and a Triculture Model of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

Bacterial cellulose (BC) has a long-standing human consumption history in different geographies without any report of adverse effects. Despite its unique textural and functional properties, the use of BC in food products in Europe is still restricted due to concerns over its nanosize. Here, we evaluated the potential uptake of celluloses (from plant and microbial sources, processed using different blenders) by macrophages (differentiated THP-1 cells) and human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 and HT29-MTX cells) without (coculture) or with (triculture) Raji-B cells. A carbohydrate-binding module coupled to a green fluorescent protein was employed to observe cellulose in the cell cultures by confocal laser scanning microscopy and stimulated emission depletion microscopy. The methodology demonstrated excellent sensitivity, allowing detection of single nanocrystals within cells. All celluloses were taken up by the macrophages, without significantly compromising the cell's metabolic viability. The viability of the cocultures was also not affected. Furthermore, no internalization was observed in the triculture cell model that was exposed 24 h to BC and Avicel LM310. When (rarely) detected, cellulose particles were found on the apical side of the membrane. Overall, the obtained results suggest that BC should not be absorbed into the human gut.

Removal of arsenic and fluoride ions from aqueous solutions using electronic waste-derived adsorbent

Printed Circuit Boards are the fundamental component of almost every electronic device with usage intensifying at an average rate of 8.7 %. However, this leads to a generation of 45 million tons of electronic waste (E-waste) annually posing significant and concerning environmental risks. Recycling these waste printed circuit boards (PCBs) is vital, in terms of environmental pollution, prevention and resource recycling. Activating these non-metallic fractions of the printed circuit boards results in the development of unique textural properties and functionalities which resemble aluminosilicates; confirmed by FTIR, XRD, XPS, XRF, and TGA and could potentially be applied for the uptake of Fluoride and Arsenate. In this study, Activated Non-metallic fraction of the Printed Circuit Boards (A-NMP) was used to investigate various physio-chemical parameters, including contact time, pH, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration to optimize the reaction conditions for the uptake of F− and As(V) from aqueous solutions and, compared its adsorption capacity with other natural and synthetic aluminosilicate. The maximum adsorption capacity comes out to be 4.33 mg g−1 and 4.65 μg g−1 for F− and As(V) and best fit to Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms, respectively. Kinetic modelling reveals that the adsorption of F− follows pseudo-first-order kinetics whereas, As(V) follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. Moreover, Intra-particle diffusion revealed a chemisorption-controlled process for both the adsorbates. Furthermore, in a binary component system the F− and As(V) showed the maximum percentage removal of 92 % and 76 %, respectively at pH 5, and best fit to Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Architecture of bimodal porous CuO/Al2O3-controlled continuous and low-temperature production of biomass-derived γ-butyrolactone

Biomedical activities of gamma butyrolactone (GBL) play an important role in the development of novel physiological and therapeutic agents. Maleic anhydride catalytic liquid phase hydrogenation allows for selective synthesis of GBL. However, this process is hampered by high cost noble metals and high reaction pressure conditions. Here, we demonstrate cyclic dehydrogenation of biomass-derived 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO) under atmospheric pressure and low-temperature conditions using highly dispersed and chemically stabilized Cu species on bimodal porous Al2O3. The bimodal porous Al2O3 exhibited both Lewis and Brønsted acidic properties along with high specific surface area and large pore volume. Among prepared catalysts, 15 wt% Cu/Al2O3 catalyst has shown an optimal crystallite size, bimodal porous nature, and high diffusion properties. Hence, high catalytic activity and remarkable GBL yields with very high 1,4-BDO conversion for 50 h of continuous time-on-stream. The unique bimodal textural properties help to enhance the dehydrogenation activity with a high turnover frequency (TOF) of about 5.0118 x 10-3 s-1via efficient chemical interaction between metallic Cu and 1,4-BDO molecules.

Recent advances of copolymer for water treatment.

Increasing water pollution due to anthropogenic activities prompts the quest for an effective water treatment method. Polymeric materials have gained attention as adsorbents for water purification. Membranes are majorly made from homopolymeric materials. However, recent studies have focused on using copolymeric materials for improved performance. In this review, the basics of copolymerization including various types of copolymers, synthetic approaches, and their applications in various water pollutants removal are discussed in detail. Advances in water treatment technology using copolymeric materials as adsorbent/membranes in the last 4 years are covered with insights into the future outlook and areas of improvement in terms of copolymer composites for water treatment. Studies from the literature did not only reveal effectiveness of copolymer as a flocculant/antifouling materials and in removal of selective toxic metals, oil, and microbes but also demonstrated recyclability of the copolymer sorbents/membrane. Full exploration of unique copolymer textural and structural properties could lead to great advancement in water treatment process. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The copolymer types and synthetic methods are discussed. Application of copolymer as adsorbent/membranes for water treatment is presented. Recent advances show good pollutants removal for toxic metals, oil, and organics. Copolymer composites have great potential as adsorbent/membranes for future use in water treatment processes.

Improvement of Surimi Gel Quality Using Protein Cross-Linker, Hydrocolloids and Protease Inhibitor

Surimi and its products have been consumed widely, especially in Japan and Southeast Asia. Market value and consumer acceptability are mainly determined by the textural properties of surimi gel. Textural and gelling properties are governed by the type of fish, lipid content, processing conditions, and presence of endogenous protease and transglutaminase. In addition, several additives such as protein cross-linkers, hydrocolloids, protease inhibitors, etc. have been used in surimi to improve their gelling properties. Cross-linking is the promising method for protein modification to obtain desirable surimi-based gel products possessing unique textural properties. Endogenous transglutaminase (TGase) plays a profound role in protein cross-linking during setting in surimi paste. For surimi from fish with low setting phenomenon, microbial TGase (MTGase) has been widely used. Plant polyphenols have also been employed for protein crosslinking to strengthen the surimi gel. Polysaccharides mainly the hydrocolloids also strengthen the gel network and increase water holding capacity (WHC) of gel. During heating, endogenous heatactivated proteases that are firmly attached to muscle proteins are active in hydrolyzing myofibrillar proteins. This results in a weaker gel with low WHC. Protease inhibitors form plants as well animals could impede the protease activity, thus maintaining the myofibrillar proteins responsible for the gelation. In addition to the additives, processing methods such as highpressure technology or ohmic heating in combination with those additives have a positive impact on the gel properties. For this review, the role of various kinds of additives namely protein crosslinkers, hydrocolloids and protease inhibitors in surimi gel improvement was revisited.

Association of DGAT1 with goat milk and meat production traits

Genetic factors can influence the composition of milk fat and its genetic variation. The purpose of our work was to familiarize and study the structure, role, and influence of the DGAT1 (or diacylglycerol-O-acyltransferase 1) gene on goat milk production, its structure, and relationship with milk fat for further research in improving the goat selection system. The selection of goats, aimed at increasing the frequency of alleles with a positive effect on this trait, was initiated by geneticists. In general, identifying and evaluating genetic markers for milk performance traits are the initial and crucial steps for establishing a marker-assisted selection system (MAS). Thus, increasing productivity through genetic selection is a common goal for many animal breeding programs worldwide. The amount of milk, milk fat, and proteins are essential features of dairy farming. In cheese production, milk fatty acids perform a crucial technical function, as they are the main building blocks of milk fat, giving the cheese its unique taste and textural properties. Milk fatty acids are necessary for producing many dairy products, while intramuscular fat is associated with meat quality. Triacylglycerols (TAG) are the main components of intramuscular fat and milk fat. Therefore, understanding polymorphisms and genes related to fat synthesis is essential for animal husbandry. The identification of quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genes associated with milk production traits has been supported by various studies over the past decade. It was established that QTL genes on chromosomes 14, 15, and 9 are related to the properties of milk and meat production in goats. The presence of the diacylglycerol-O-acyltransferase 1 (DGAT1) gene in goat chromosomes 14, 15, and 9 has been reported. Having a key role in fat metabolism and TAG synthesis, DGAT1 genes have attracted considerable attention, especially in animal milk production. Several polymorphisms have been documented in DGAT1 in different animal species, including many cattle and small cattle, for their association with milk production traits. The critical role of the DGAT1 gene in milk fat metabolism makes it an exciting candidate for genetic variation in milk characteristics in dairy goats.

Hybrid MOFs Supercapacitor: A Mini Review

In the world of energy storage devices, Supercapacitors occupy a very unique and pivotal position. Their rapid rate of discharge gives them high power density. They have high reversibility and are robust to a large number of charging and discharging cycles. Sustained research has revealed a certain set of properties and behaviour, that every prospective candidate supercapacitor material must possess. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) with unique textural properties, excellent specific surface area, tuneable porous structure and distinctively advantageous electrochemical behaviour are prominent candidates for the use in energy storage applications. However pristine MOF based materials are handicapped due to their low conductivity and poor mechanical stability. These inherent deficiencies can be overcome by hybridizing pristine MOFs with other materials like carbon materials (Activated Carbon, Graphene and Carbon Nano Tubes), conducting polymers, metals, and small molecules through variety of methods. This review puts the spotlight on the utilization, growth and various forms of hybrid materials based on MOFs for supercapacitor applications. It also highlights the various surface engineering techniques on the materials for high potential applications.

Tailoring the pore structure of amine-functionalized KCC fibrous nanosilica for efficient CO2 adsorption

Controlling the emission of greenhouse gases such as CO2 by adsorption has been extensively investigated over various solid adsorbents to achieve effectual capture. The present work studied the fabrication of mesoporous nanosilica materials, KCC-1, KCC-2, KCC-3, and their corresponding amine-functionalized NH2-KCC, as potential adsorbents for CO2 capture. The KCC-1, KCC-2, and KCC-3 silica were prepared using the hydrothermal and reflux methods under various parameters. The NH2-functionalized materials were obtained by grafting the KCC materials with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The synthesized materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, N2-sorption, CHN elemental analysis, SEM-EDX, TEM, and TGA techniques. Results showed that the NH2-KCC materials retained the original KCC structure. Adsorption experiments revealed that the maximum CO2 capture capacity was 0.997 mmol g-1 at 1 bar (60 °C) and 0.715 mmol g-1 at 1 bar (25 °C) by NH2-KCC fibrous nanosilica. Furthermore, the CO2/N2 selectivity of KCC-3-APTES was 36 at 50 mbar (25 °C). The pores and surface silanol groups of the mesoporous silica, with NH2 functionalities, possess unique textural and binding properties that assess the efficient adsorption of CO2. The adsorption data were fitted using Langmuir and Freundlich models. Moreover, the NH2-KCC material was recycled and reused for five cycles and retained 99% adsorption efficiency. The results suggest that the synthesized functional porous silica (NH2-KCC) materials are potential adsorbents for advanced adsorption and CO2 capture processes.

Catalytic Oxidation of Glycerol over Pt Supported on MOF-Derived Carbon Nanosheets.

A series of nitrogen-doped porous carbon nanosheets (NPCNs) doped with transition-metal-supported Pt catalysts were prepared by colloidal deposition and evaluated for the selective oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid (GLYA) under nonalkaline conditions. The transition metal contained in the catalyst was found to affect its performance and selectivity for GLYA, with the Pt/Zr@NPCN catalyst showing the highest catalytic activity and selectivity. These materials were characterized using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area analysis, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and CO2 temperature-programmed desorption. The results showed that the small size of the Pt nanoparticles, the interaction between the Pt nanoparticles and the support, and the unique textural properties of the catalyst all promoted glycerol conversion and GLYA selectivity. A Zr concentration of 1.5 wt % and a support preparation temperature of 800 °C were found to provide a catalyst with the optimal performance that exhibited a glycerol conversion and selectivity for GLYA of 68.62 and 77.29%, respectively, at an initial O2 pressure of 10 bar and 60 °C after 6 h. Even after being recycled five times, this material provided a GLYA selectivity of approximately 75%, although the glycerol conversion decreased from 68 to 50%. The insights may provide new suggestions on the design of efficient support for the selective oxidation of polyols.

Protozeolite-Seeded Synthesis of Single-Crystalline Hierarchical Zeolites with Facet-Shaped Mesopores and Their Catalytic Application in Methanol-to-Propylene Conversion.

Hierarchical zeolites integrating intrinsic micropores with secondary meso- and/or macropores afford superior catalytic properties for enhanced mass transportation and more accessible active sites. The mesopores generated by using mesoporogens or framework etching are usually irregular with abundant defective sites and low hydrothermal stability. Here, using protozeolite nanoparticles as seeds, we succeeded in the synthesis of single-crystalline hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites with hexagonal mesopores faceted by complete microporous frameworks. The protozeolites played a key role in the formation of faceted mesopores achieved via intraparticle ripening process. Thanks to the unique texture properties and more accessible acid sites at the open location, the as-prepared zeolites exhibited remarkedly long lifetime (18 h) and high propylene selectivity (52.7 %) with propylene/ethylene ratio of 3.64 in the methanol-to-propylene reaction (WHSV=12.5 h-1 ) compared to the counterparts.

Protozeolite‐Seeded Synthesis of Single‐Crystalline Hierarchical Zeolites with Facet‐Shaped Mesopores and Their Catalytic Application in Methanol‐to‐Propylene Conversion

AbstractHierarchical zeolites integrating intrinsic micropores with secondary meso‐ and/or macropores afford superior catalytic properties for enhanced mass transportation and more accessible active sites. The mesopores generated by using mesoporogens or framework etching are usually irregular with abundant defective sites and low hydrothermal stability. Here, using protozeolite nanoparticles as seeds, we succeeded in the synthesis of single‐crystalline hierarchical ZSM‐5 zeolites with hexagonal mesopores faceted by complete microporous frameworks. The protozeolites played a key role in the formation of faceted mesopores achieved via intraparticle ripening process. Thanks to the unique texture properties and more accessible acid sites at the open location, the as‐prepared zeolites exhibited remarkedly long lifetime (18 h) and high propylene selectivity (52.7 %) with propylene/ethylene ratio of 3.64 in the methanol‐to‐propylene reaction (WHSV=12.5 h−1) compared to the counterparts.

Water chestnut shell-derived N/S-doped porous carbons and their applications in CO2 adsorption and supercapacitor

Porous carbons have attracted great interest in both CO2 capture and supercapacitor applications owing to their unique textural, physicochemical and electrochemical properties. Fabrication of eco-friendly and cost-effective heteroatom-doped porous carbons from renewable biomass resources becomes a sustainable route for future carbon capture and energy storage technology. Herein, for the first time, N/S-doped porous carbon has been prepared via the KOH-activating method using water chestnut shell as a carbon precursor and thiourea as nitrogen/sulfur source. The as-prepared carbons possess a well-developed porosity and excessive nitrogen/sulfur functionality. These porous carbons were examined as absorbents for CO2 uptake and as electrode materials for supercapacitors. The maximum CO2 uptake for these carbons is up to 4.54 and 6.90 mmol g−1 at 25 and 0 °C and 1 bar, respectively, thanks to the high nitrogen/sulfur functional groups and advanced porosity. Besides, this series of carbons presents outstanding performance as electrode material not only with a high specific capacitance of 318F g−1 at a current density of 0.5 A g−1 but also superior cycling durability of 94 % retention after 5000 cycles. Last but not least, we in-depth enlighten the potential reasons behind the high performance of CO2 uptake and supercapacitor application. The present study suggest that water chestnut shell-derived porous carbons may become a strong candidate in both CO2 adsorption and supercapacitor fields.

Bifunctional imidazolium/amine polymer foams: One-pot synthesis and synergistic promotion of CO2 sorption

Amines and imidazolium are well-known functional groups in carbon dioxide capture applications because of their excellent interactions with CO2, but their combination and possible synergistic effects when combined in polymer foams have not yet been considered. This work reports an innovative one-pot water-mediated synthesis of bifunctional imidazolium/amine microcellular polymer foams containing tunable ratios of these functions by combining the Radziszewski multicomponent reaction and high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) polymerization in a one-pot manner. The resulting polymer foams have unique textural and structural properties exhibiting rapid CO2 sorption kinetics with good capacities and excellent ability to selectively capture CO2 from the gas mixture in spite of their low specific surface. The bifunctional amine/imidazolium foams showed superior CO2 capture performances compared to their monofunctional counterparts, indicating the synergy between the functional groups. Comparison with the corresponding non-porous bulk materials also proved that the imidazolium/amine bifunctionality must be incorporated in a highly porous morphology to beneficiate from efficient and fast CO2 uptake. The marked influence of both the amine/imidazolium ratio and the nature of the imidazolium counteranion on CO2 capture capacity under dry and humid conditions is demonstrated, as well as the outstanding multicyclic capture performance.

One-pot synthesis of novel porous carbon adsorbents derived from poly vinyl chloride for high methane adsorption uptake

Owing to the increasing interest in the production of “turquoise” hydrogen, various methods for capturing and recycling unreacted methane as a reactant have been reported. Porous carbon adsorbents can efficiently capture large amounts of methane based on the pore structure and reduce the adsorption column size due to its low density. Herein, we report a one-pot synthesis for preparing porous carbon adsorbents by thermally treating poly(vinyl chloride) or chlorinated poly(vinyl chloride)/KOH admixtures under Ar flow and characterize their methane adsorption properties. The Ar adsorption measurements indicated that the prepared porous carbon adsorbents have uniform pore sizes (between 0.4 and 0.8 nm), in addition to a large Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area and micropore volume. The unique textural properties contributed significantly to the superior methane adsorption performances. In particular, the cPVCK800 sample exhibited the highest CH4 adsorption uptake of 3.17 mmol/g at 25 °C. Density functional theory calculations revealed that functionalized pore structures also significantly improve the CH4 adsorption properties.

Effects of frozen storage temperature on the quality and oxidative stability of bigeye tuna flesh after light salting

SUMMARYEffects of frozen storage temperature on the quality and oxidative stability of lightly salted tuna were investigated. The bright and vivid colour became totally brown after 4 weeks at −20 °C and 8 weeks at −30 °C, where the a*/b* value decreased from 1.35 to 0.38 and 0.58, respectively. Discoloration and lipid oxidation occurred concurrently in lightly salted tuna flesh, and it was speculated that the oxidation of oxymyoglobin to metmyoglobin exacerbated lipid oxidation and vice versa. Storage at −40 °C or lower temperatures effectively suppressed the discoloration and maintained the high water‐holding capacity and unique textural properties of lightly salted flesh. It was attributed to the reduction in the conformational changes and particularly hydrophobic interactions among proteins, protecting the myoglobin from oxidative damages during frozen storage. Considering the quality maintenance and energy savings, storage at −40 °C was appropriate for lightly salted tuna flesh.

All-Nanoporous fiber sorbent with a Non-Sacrificial polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) matrix

Microporous materials are highlighted with regard to low-energy and low-carbon adsorptive separation processes, where the interests have evolved simple microporous powders into a structured sorbent platform of fiber sorbent to tackle the technical challenges of large-scale applications. However, the challenge of sorption capacity loss in a limited footprint due to the addition of non-adsorbing binder materials still remained. Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are promising advanced materials for gas separation and capture due to their unique textural properties and processability. This article reports an efficient but straightforward blend of organic and inorganic materials, PIM-1 and zeolite NaY, forming “all-nanoporous” fiber sorbents. The combination of the two nanoporous materials resulted in a structured platform for a sorption-based separation system for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It is differentiated from other sorption platforms as it presents minimal volumetric sorption loss from the “binder” material by allowing the microporous substrate to work as a VOC sorbent. The “all-nanoporous” fiber sorbent of NaY/PIM-1 shows feasible sorption performance capabilities under both dry and humid conditions while maintaining a minimal pressure drop due to its hierarchical porous structure.

イネの澱粉生合成メカニズムの解明から異なる食感や機能性をもつ米品種の開発

イネの澱粉生合成メカニズムの解明から異なる食感や機能性をもつ米品種の開発

Molecular behavior of fluid gels - the crucial role of edges and particle surface in macroscopic properties.

Fluid gels exhibit unique properties during oral processing and thus are well known in gastronomy as well as for use in dysphagia patients. Agarose fluid gels, which are produced by gelation under shear, in particular, show elastic solid-like behavior at rest but a fluid-like behavior once critical stress is exceeded. In a previous study this special behavior is addressed to the "hairy" structure of the microgel particles - dangling gel parts and chains on the particle surface - which plays a crucial role in the rheological, mechanical and tribological properties of the gels. In this paper, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the underlying microscopic structures and develop a consistent physical model, which relates the irregular particle structures and their heterogonous shape to the experimental observation of the previous studies. One crucial point is the inner structure of the gel particles, which show a dense area in the center, whereas towards the periphery the network and thus the elastic properties change. Agarose gels by forming helices and meshes, which defines the basic length scale for their elastic response in bulk. These properties in turn depend on the concentration and preparation conditions. The present study is meant to address the still prevalent lack of understanding regarding a direct structure-property relationship of these novel fluid gels. Controlling the properties of such fluid gels may play a crucial role in the texture modification of foods and beverages for dysphagia.

Ni(ii) immobilized on poly(guanidine-triazine-sulfonamide) (PGTSA/Ni): a mesoporous nanocatalyst for synthesis of imines.

Mesoporous materials have been the subject of intense research regarding their unique structural and textural properties and successful applications in various fields. This study reports a novel approach for synthesizing a novel porous polymer stabilizer through condensation polymerization in which Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) are used as hard templates. Using this method allowed the facile and fast removal of the template and mesopores formation following the Fe3O4 MNPs. Different techniques were performed to characterize the structure of the polymer. Based on the obtained results, the obtained mesoporous polymeric network was multi-layered and consisted of repeating units of sulfonamide, triazine, and guanidine as a novel heterogeneous multifunctional support. Afterward, the new nickel organometallic complex was supported on its inner surface using the porous poly sulfonamide triazine guanidine (PGTSA/Ni). In this process, the obtained PGTSA/Ni nanocomposite was used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the synthesis of imines from amines. Since this reaction has an acceptorless dehydrogenation pathway, the hydrogen gas is released as its by-product. The synthesized nanocatalyst was structurally confirmed using different characterization modalities, including FT-IR, SEM, XRD, EDX, TEM, elemental mapping, ICP-AES, BET, and TGA. In addition, all products were obtained in high turnover frequency (TOF) and turnover number (TON). The corresponding results revealed the high selectivity and activity of the prepared catalyst through these coupling reactions. Overall, the synthesized nanocatalyst is useable for eight cycles with no considerable catalytic efficiency loss.

Novel pathways in bacteriocin synthesis by lactic acid bacteria with special reference to ethnic fermented foods.

Ethnic fermented foods are known for their unique aroma, flavour, taste, texture and other sensory properties preferred by every ethnic community in this world culturally as parts of their eatables. Some beneficial microorganisms associated with fermented foods have several functional properties and health-promoting benefits. Bacteriocins are the secondary metabolites produced by the microorganisms mostly lactic acid bacteria present in the fermented foods which can act as lantibiotics against the pathogen bacteria. Several studies have been conducted regarding the isolation and characterization of potent strains as well as their association with different types of bacteriocins. Collective information regarding the gene organizations responsible for the potent effect of bacteriocins as lantibiotics, mode of action on pathogen bacterial cells is not yet available. This review focuses on the gene organizations, pathways include for bacteriocin and their mode of action for various classes of bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria in some ethnic fermented foods.