Vegetable Oil Blends Research Articles

Dietary Oil Source and Selenium Supplementation Modulate Fads2 and Elovl5 Transcriptional Levels in Liver and Brain of Meagre (Argyrosomus regius).

The meagre (Argyrosomus regius) is taking on increasing importance in the aquaculture industry. In view of the limited supply of fish oil (FO) as a feed ingredient, the study of the capacity to biosynthesize long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) from alternative dietary oil sources is important. We analyzed changes in fatty acid (FA) desaturase 2 (fads2) and FA elongase 5 (elovl5) mRNA levels in livers and brains in response to FO replacement with a blend of vegetable oils (VO) and selenium (Se) supplementation. Fish were fed for 60days with either a diet containing FO or a diet including VO, each supplemented or not with organic Se. Results showed that fads2 and elovl5 transcription was higher in liver when fish were fed VO diets. The brain mRNA levels of both genes were not affected by the dietary replacement of FO by VO. FA composition in the liver and skeletal muscle was altered by FO replacement, particularly by decreasing eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid contents. The α-linolenic, linoleic, and arachidonic acid contents increased in both liver and brain of fish fed VO diets. The effect of Se supplementation on lipid metabolism was evident only in fish fed FO, showing a decrease in the transcription of hepatic fads2. Results indicate that the total replacement of FO by VO in diets modulates the expression of genes involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis in meagre, affecting the FA profile of the fish flesh.

Minor lipid metabolic perturbations in the liver of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) caused by suboptimal dietary content of nutrients from fish oil.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects on Atlantic salmon hepatic lipid metabolism when fed diets with increasing substitution of fish oil (FO) with a vegetable oil (VO) blend. Four diets with VOs replacing 100, 90, 79 and 65% of the FO were fed for 5months. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) in the experimental diets ranged from 1.3 to 7.4% of fatty acids (FAs), while cholesterol levels ranged from 0.6 to 1.2gkg(-1). In hepatocytes added [1-(14)C] α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3), more ALA was desaturated and elongated to EPA and DHA in cells from fish fed 100% VO, while in fish fed 65% VO, ALA was elongated to eicosatrienoic acid (ETE; 20:3n-3), indicating reduced Δ6 desaturation activity. Despite increased desaturation activity and activation of the transcription factor Sp1 in fish fed 100% VO, liver phospholipids contained less EPA and DHA compared with the 65% VO group. The cholesterol levels in the liver of the 100% VO group exceeded the levels in fish fed the 65% VO diet, showing an inverse relationship between cholesterol intake and liver cholesterol content. For the phytosterols, levels in liver were generally low. The area as a proxy of volume of lipid droplets was significantly higher in salmon fed 100% VO compared with salmon fed 65% VO. In conclusion, the current study suggests that suboptimal dietary levels of cholesterol in combination with low levels of EPA and DHA (1.3% of FAs) can result in minor metabolic perturbations in the liver of Atlantic salmon.

Comparative assessment of a porous burner using vegetable cooking oil–kerosene fuel blends for thermoelectric and thermophotovoltaic power generation

This paper presents an experimental evaluation of combustion-driven thermoelectric (TE) and thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power systems using several blends of vegetable cooking oil–kerosene (VCOK) fuels. The TE and TPV systems were integrated with a porous burner, and the combustion characteristics and system performance were evaluated. Three blends of fuel mixtures were tested: 95%/5% VCO–kerosene (9505 VCOK), 90%/10% VCO–kerosene (9010 VCOK), and 80%/20% VCO–kerosene (8020 VCOK). Experiments were conducted to assess the effects of the fuel–air equivalence ratio on the temperature distributions, emission profiles, electrical power output, and electrical efficiency. For both the TE and TPV systems, the asymmetrical temperature distributions were highly insensitive to the fuel–air equivalence ratio and the fuel blends. The emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) were largely unaffected by the fuel blends. The CO emission exhibited a minimum value at a fuel–air equivalence ratio of 0.60 for the TPV system, and the level of NOx emission gradually decreased with mixture enrichment. It was also observed that the general trend of electrical efficiency tended to be similar for both the TE and TPV systems, and the electrical efficiency markedly improved at a rich fuel–air equivalence ratio.

Assembled Block Copolymer Stabilized High Internal Phase Emulsion Hydrogels for Enhancing Oil Safety

Accidental spills and subsequent fires during oil storage and transportation periods cause serious damage to environments. Herein, we present a novel route to enhance oil safety by transforming oils into high internal phase emulsion (HIPE) hydrogels. These HIPE hydrogels are stabilized by solvent- or pH-driven assembled block copolymer (BCP), namely poly(4-vinylpyridine)-block-poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (4VPm-EGn-4VPm). The assembled BCP shows high efficiency to stabilize HIPE hydrogels with a low concentration of 1.0 (w/v) % relative to the continuous aqueous phase. The volume fraction of the dispersed organic phase can be as high as 89% with a variety of oils, including toluene, xylene, blended vegetable oil, canola oil, gasoline, diesel, and engine oil. These smelly and flammable liquids were formed into HIPE hydrogels and thus their safety was enhanced. As the assembly is pH sensitive, oils trapped in the HIPE hydrogels can be released by simply tuning pH values of the continuou...

Dietary Lipid and Carbohydrate Interactions: Implications on Lipid and Glucose Absorption, Transport in Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata) Juveniles.

A digestibility trial was performed with gilthead sea bream juveniles (IBW=72g) fed four diets differing in lipid source (fish oil, FO; or a blend of vegetable oil, VO) and starch content (0%, CH-; or 20%, CH+) to evaluate the potential interactive effects between carbohydrates and VO on the processes involved in digestion, absorption and transport of lipids and glucose. In fish fed VO diets a decrease in lipid digestibility and in cholesterol (C), High Density Lipoprotein(HDL)-C and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-C (only in CH+group) were recorded. Contrarily, dietary starch induced postprandial hyperglycemia and time related alterations on serum triacylglycerol (TAG), phospholipid (PL) and C concentrations. Fish fed a CH+diet presented lower serum TAG than CH- group at 6h post-feeding, and the reverse was observed at 12h post-feeding for TAG and PL. Lower serum C and PL at 6h post-feeding were recorded only in VOCH+group. No differences between groups were observed in hepatic and intestinal transcript levels of proteins involved in lipid transport and hydrolysis (FABP, DGAT, GPAT, MTP, LPL, LCAT). Lower transcript levels of proteins related to lipid transport (ApoB, ApoA1, FABP2) were observed in the intestine of fish fed the CH+diet, but remained unchanged in the liver. Overall, transcriptional mechanisms involved in lipid transport and absorption were not linked to changes in lipid serum and digestibility. Dietary starch affected lipid absorption and transport, probably due to a delay in lipid absorption. This study suggests that a combination of dietary VO and starch may negatively affect cholesterol absorption and transport.

Assessment of cashew nut shell oil as an alternate fuel for CI (Compression ignition) engines

Neat CNSO (cashew nut shell oil) otherwise called as Neat CNSL (cashew nut shell liquid) is capable of running the engine but possesses high viscosity and density. This drawback can be overcome by reducing its viscosity. This can be done by blending with secondary fuels and transesterification of CNSO as well. CNSO was separately blended with oxygenates (diethyl ether and dimethyl carbonate), alcohols (ethanol, methanol and butanol) and vegetable oils (camphor oil, orange peel oil, cottonseed oil and coconut oil) in various proportions by volume. Performance, emission and combustion characteristics were studied by operating the engine with cashew nut shell oil as base fuel blended with diesel and separately with other secondary fuels like oxygenates, alcohols and vegetable oils in various proportions by volume. Results proved that performance of neat CNSO is very low compared to diesel and CNSO methyl ester (CNSOME). Among the various oxygenate, alcohol and vegetable oil blends, DEE30 blend (CNSO70% + Diethyl ether30%), BUTANOL30 blend (CNSO70% + Butanol30%) and CMPRO30 (CNSO70% + Camphor Oil 30%) has given better performance. Brake thermal efficiency increases to the maximum of 29.68% with DEE30 followed by CMPRO30 of 29.1% and BUTANOL30 of 28.4%. Smoke emission is 4.01 BSU for DEE30, 3.91 BSU for both CMPRO30 and BUTANOL30 which is lower compared to neat CNSO and CNSOME.

Optimization of diesel–butanol–vegetable oil blend ratios based on engine operating parameters

The rule of thumb in literature is that 20% of biodiesel is the most acceptable blend ratio in alternative fuel blends. This work focuses on in-depth mathematical optimization analyses of ternary blends of diesel–butanol–vegetable oil (cotton oil), based on engine operating parameters using RSM (response surface methodology). It is critical to achieve the maximum power and torque for customers while keeping the emissions low enough due to government regulations and certifications. Thus, three optimization studies were conducted at 2200 rpm, which corresponds to the maximum brake torque, and engine emissions were fixed at a maximum possible value based on emission standards, for all three studies. In order to understand the impact of other engine parameters on the blend ratio, as well, various combinations of BTE (brake thermal efficiency), maximum brake power, maximum brake torque, BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) and BMEP (brake mean effective pressure) were fixed, which correspond to Opt-1 (optimization 1) (BTE and exhaust emissions), optimization 2 (BTE, brake power and exhaust emissions), and optimization 3 (BTE, brake power, brake torque, BSFC, BMEP and exhaust emissions). Optimization studies used experimentally determined emissions and performance data of a diesel engine based on 7 different concentrations of diesel–butanol–cotton oil blends. Optimum values of the blends corresponding to the optimization studies were mathematically determined as Opt-1 (optimization 1) (61.7 vol.% diesel, 34.75 vol.% butanol, 3.55 vol.% cotton oil), Opt-2 (optimization 2) (64.5 vol.% diesel, 28.7 vol.% butanol, 6.8 vol.% cotton oil), and Opt-3 (optimization 3) (65.5 vol.% diesel, 23.1 vol.% butanol, 11.4 vol.% cotton oil). When compared to diesel, BSFCs of Opt-1, Opt-2 and Opt-3 blends at 2200 rpm increased 41.57, 33.87 and 24.53%, respectively. In terms of basic exhaust gas emissions, optimum fuel blends decreased NOx (oxides of nitrogen), CO (carbon monoxide) and HC (hydrocarbon) emissions as compared to diesel.

SEA-BUCKTHORN OIL IN VEGETABLE OILS STABILISATION

The paper proposes the development of blends of vegetable oils with a high content of easily oxidizable unsaturated fatty acids with sea-buckthorn fruit oil as a natural method of their preservation. The predominant lipophilic compounds in sea-buckthorn oil included ?-carotene, ?-tocopherol, and ?-sitosterol. Strong correlations were found between oxidative stability of the blends and ?- and ?-tocopherols, lutein and ?-carotene concentration (r ranging from 0.96 to 0.99). The observed effect may result from both the particularly huge increase in the carotenoid content (from 64- to 171-fold) in the obtained blends, and the synergistic interaction between tocopherol mixtures and carotenoids.

Performance assessment of vegetable oil and mineral oil blends during heat treatment of medium carbon steel

Cooling effect of palm kernel oil and mineral oil (SAE 40) with their blends as quenching media for heat treatment of medium carbon steel was investigated. Palm kernel oil was blended with SAE 40 in the ratio of 1 : 3, 1 : 1 and 3 : 1. Medium carbon steel probe of diameter 12.5 mm and 60 mm height was used to determine the cooling intensities of the oils and their blends. Mechanical properties and microstructure of the quenched steel samples were determined. Quench severity of pure palm kernel oil was found to be greater than that of SAE 40. The blend consisting of 75% palm kernel oil and 25% mineral oil showed higher cooling power as compared to other blends. Samples quenched in 100% palm kernel oil showed higher hardness values than the blends whereas samples quenched in 100% mineral oil (SAE 40) showed the least hardness value.

Effect of feeding lambs with a tanniferous shrub (rockrose) and a vegetable oil blend on fatty acid composition of meat lipids

The effects of feeding Cistus ladanifer (Cistus) and a blend of soybean and linseed oil (1 : 2 vol/vol) on fatty acid (FA) composition of lamb meat lipids and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of desaturase enzymes was assessed. In total, 54 male lambs were randomly assigned to 18 pens and to nine diets, resulting from the combination of three inclusion levels of Cistus (50 v. 100 v. 200 g/kg of dry matter (DM)) and three inclusion levels of oil (0 v. 40 v. 80 g/kg of DM). The forage-to-concentrate ratio of the diets was 1 : 1. Longissimus muscle lipids were extracted, fractionated into neutral (NL) and polar lipid (PL) and FA methyl esters obtained and analyzed by GLC. The expression of genes encoding Δ5, Δ6 and Δ9 desaturases (fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) and stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD)) was determined. Intramuscular fat, NL and PL contents were not affected by oil or Cistus. Oil supplementation reduced (P<0.05) 16:0, c9-16:1, 17:0, c9-17:1 and c9-18:1 FA and increased (P<0.05) 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3 and the majority of biohydrogenation intermediates in NL. Cistus alone had few effects on FA of NL but interacted with oil (P<0.05) by increasing t10-18:1,t10,t12-18:2,t10,c12-18:2 and t7,c9-18:2. The t10-/t11-18:1 ratio increased with both Cistus and oil levels. The c9, t11-18:2 did not increase (P<0.05) with both oil and Cistus dietary inclusion. Oil reduced c9-16:1, 17:0, c9-17:1,c9-18:1, 20:4n-6, 22:4n-6 and 20:3n-9 proportions in PL, and increased 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:3n-3 and of most of the biohydrogenation intermediates. The Cistus had only minor effects on FA composition of PL. Cistus resulted in a reduction (P<0.05) of 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 in the meat PL. The expression level of SCD mRNA increased (P=0.015) with Cistus level, although a linear relationship with condensed tannins intake (P=0.11) could not be established. FADS1 mRNA expressed levels increased linearly (P=0.019) with condensed tannins intake. In summary, the inclusion of Cistus and oil in 1 : 1 forage-to-concentrate ratio diets resulted in a large increase in t10-18:1 and no increase in c9,t11-18:2 or n-3 long chain poor in polyunsaturated fatty acids in lamb meat.

Modeling Criteria and Air Toxic Pollutants in Light-Duty Biodiesel Exhaust

Biodiesel fuel use is more widespread, but studies of the fuel’s effects on air toxic emissions, especially from light-duty diesel engines, are largely insufficient for understanding the air quality effects of biodiesel use. This study applied steady-state and transient cycle data on air toxics and criteria pollutant exhaust emissions from a light-duty diesel engine running on biodiesel fuel blends to develop models for pollutant emission rates. Using second-by-second Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy data on formaldehyde, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen monoxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from waste vegetable oil and soybean biodiesel blends, statistical analyses examined how engine operating conditions, biodiesel fuel content, and biodiesel feedstock affected steady-state emissions. Each factor had a significant effect on emissions of all five species. Transient cycle emissions data were used to develop multiple linear regression models for each pollutant on the basis of measurable engine parameters and biodiesel content. Log-linear models of CO2 and NO predicted emission rates very well; transient emissions of NO2, formaldehyde, and CO were modeled only moderately well. Modeling high concentrations in the two species formed by incomplete combustion, formaldehyde and CO, proved especially challenging, which suggested the need for additional variables or separate models for different modes of engine operation. Fuel-normalized formaldehyde emission rates up to one order of magnitude higher than previously reported for a heavy-duty engine suggest the need for more light-duty mobile source air toxic emissions studies of biodiesel to identify the feedstock and operating blend that minimizes air toxic emissions from light-duty diesel engines.

Lasting effects of butyrate and low FM/FO diets on growth performance, blood haematology/biochemistry and molecular growth-related markers in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Four isoproteic/isolipidic plant protein-based diets were formulated to assess the lasting effects of feed additives and low fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) diet formulations on gilthead sea bream growth performance. FM was included at 23% in the control diet (D1) and at 3% in the other three diets (D2, D3, D4). Added oil was either FO (D1) or a blend of vegetable oils replacing 58% (D2) and 84% (D3, D4 diets) of FO. A commercial sodium butyrate preparation (NOREL, 70-BP) was added to the D4 diet at 0.4%. Each diet was allocated to triplicate groups of juvenile fish fed to satiety over an 8-month feeding trial (May–December). All fish grew efficiently from 15g of initial body weight to 296–320g with an overall feed efficiency (FE) of 0.95–1.01, although fish fed D3 and D4 diets showed transient growth impairments over the course of the first four weeks of the trial. Data on biometric indexes, whole body composition, haematology and blood biochemistry revealed a strong effect of sampling time in fish sampled at mid-summer (August) and late autumn (December). In contrast, the diet effect was mostly reduced to a few blood parameters. Low inclusion levels of FM reduced plasma haemoglobin levels (D2, D3), but these effects were reversed by butyrate supplementation (D4). The same phenomena occurred for total cholesterol with the highest circulating concentration of choline and IGF-I in fish fed the D4 diet during their summer growth spurt. At the transcriptional level, gene expression profiling of liver and skeletal muscle with a PCR-array of 87 growth markers provided additional evidence for an overall well-growth condition in all of the experimental groups. Up to 73 genes were found at detectable levels in the liver tissue, but only 13 were differentially expressed. Likewise, 84 genes were actively transcribed in the skeletal muscle, but only nine were differentially expressed in at least one experimental group. Butyrate supplementation reversed the up-regulated expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNFα) and muscle markers of cellular morphogenesis and protein breakdown (CDH15, CAPN3, PSMA5, PSMB1, UBE2N) in the muscle of fish fed the extreme D3 diet. These results support the use of low FM/FO diets alone or supplemented with feed additives, which have the potential to improve or reverse metabolic steady-states. Statement of relevanceButyrate effect on low fish meal/fish oil diets.

Effects of fish oil replacement by vegetable oil blend on digestive enzymes and tissue histomorphology of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles.

The impact of replacing circa 70% fish oil (FO) by a vegetable oil (VO) blend (rapeseed, linseed, palm oils; 20:50:30) in diets for European sea bass juveniles (IBW 96 ± 0.8 g) was evaluated in terms of activities of digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphatase, trypsin and total alkaline proteases) in the anterior (AI) and posterior (PI) intestine and tissue morphology (pyloric caeca-PC, AI, PI, distal intestine-DI and liver). For that purpose, fish were fed the experimental diets for 36 days and then liver and intestine were sampled at 2, 6 and 24 h after the last meal. Alkaline protease characterization was also done in AI and PI at 6 h post-feeding. Dietary VO promoted higher alkaline phosphatase activity at 2 h post-feeding in the AI and at all sampling points in the PI. Total alkaline protease activity was higher at 6 h post-feeding in the PI of fish fed the FO diet. Identical number of bands was observed in zymograms of alkaline proteases of fish fed both diets. No alterations in the histomorphology of PC, AI, PI or DI were noticed in fish fed the VO diets, while in the liver a tendency towards increased hepatocyte vacuolization due to lipid accumulation was observed. Overall, and with the exception of a higher intestine alkaline phosphatase activity, 70% FO replacement by a VO blend in diets for European sea bass resulted in no distinctive alterations on the postprandial pattern of digestive enzyme activities and intestine histomorphology.

Assessment of Wetting Kinematics and Cooling Performance of Select Vegetable Oils and Mineral-Vegetable Oil Blend Quench Media

Quench hardening is a process where an alloy is heated to solutionizing temperature and held for a definite period, and then rapidly cooled in a quenching medium. Selection of quenchant that can yield desired properties is essential as it governs heat extraction process during quenching. In the present work, the cooling performance of vegetable oil and mineral-vegetable oil blend quench media was assessed. The vegetable oils used in this work were olive oil, canola oil and rice bran oil. The mineral-vegetable oil blends were prepared by blending 10 and 20 vol. % of rice bran and canola oil in mineral oil. Inconel probe of 12.5mm diameter and 60mm height, instrumented with thermocouples were used to characterize quenchants. The probe was heated to 850°C and quenched in the oil medium. The cooling curves at different locations in the probe were used to study wetting kinematics. Inverse modelling technique was used to estimate spatially dependent metal-quenchant interfacial heat flux. It was found that the vegetable oils exhibited very short vapour blanket stage compared to mineral oil and blends. Faster wetting kinematics obtained with blends resulted in uniform heat transfer compared to that of mineral oil. The temperature distribution in the probe quenched in vegetable oils and blends was more uniform compared to that in mineral oil. It is expected that the parts quenched in vegetable oils and blends would lead to better hardness distribution compared to mineral oils.

Dietary carbohydrate and lipid source affect cholesterol metabolism of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles.

Plant feedstuffs (PF) are rich in carbohydrates, which may interact with lipid metabolism. Thus, when considering dietary replacement of fishery by-products with PF, knowledge is needed on how dietary lipid source (LS) and carbohydrates affect lipid metabolism and other metabolic pathways. For that purpose, a 73-d growth trial was performed with European sea bass juveniles (IBW 74 g) fed four diets differing in LS (fish oil (FO) or a blend of vegetable oils (VO)) and carbohydrate content (0 % (CH-) or 20 % (CH+) gelatinised starch). At the end of the trial no differences among diets were observed on growth and feed utilisation. Protein efficiency ratio was, however, higher in the CH+ groups. Muscle and liver fatty acid profiles reflected the dietary LS. Dietary carbohydrate promoted higher plasma cholesterol and phospholipids (PL), whole-body and hepatic (mainly 16 : 0) lipids and increased muscular and hepatic glycogen. Except for PL, which were higher in the FO groups, no major alterations between FO and VO groups were observed on plasma metabolites (glucose, TAG, cholesterol, PL), liver and muscle glycogen, and lipid and cholesterol contents. Activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malic enzyme - lipogenesis-related enzymes - increased with carbohydrate intake. Hepatic expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism was up-regulated with carbohydrate (HMGCR and CYP3A27) and VO (HMGCR and CYP51A1) intake. No dietary regulation of long-chain PUFA biosynthesis at the transcriptional level was observed. Overall, very few interactions between dietary carbohydrates and LS were observed. However, important insights on the direct relation between dietary carbohydrate and the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway in European sea bass were demonstrated.

Positional Distribution of Fatty Acids in Triacylglycerols and Phospholipids from Fillets of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo Salar) Fed Vegetable and Fish Oil Blends.

The nutritional and functional characteristics of dietary fat are related to the fatty acid (FA) composition and its positional distribution in the triacylglycerol (TAG) fraction. Atlantic salmon is an important source of healthy long chain omega 3 FA (particularly, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docoxahexaenoic (DHA) acids). However, the impact of lipid sources in salmon feeds on the regiospecificity of FA in the fish TAG remains to be explored. The present study determines the effect of feeding salmon with blends of palm, rapeseed, and fish oil, providing two different EPA + DHA concentrations (high: H-ED 10.3% and low: L-ED 4.6%) on the fillet lipid class composition and the positional distribution of FA in TAG and phospholipids. The regiospecific analysis of fillet TAG showed that around 50% of the EPA and around 80% of DHA was located in the sn-2 position. The positional distribution of FA in phosphatidylcholine (PC), showed that around 80% of the EPA and around 90% of DHA were located in the sn-2. Fish fed the vegetable-rich diets showed higher EPA in the sn-2 position in PC (77% vs. 83% in the H-ED and L-ED diets, respectively) but similar DHA concentrations. It is concluded that feeding salmon with different EPA + DHA concentrations does not affect their positional distribution in the fillet TAG.

Oxidative Stability of Cooking Oil Blend Stabilized with Leaf Extract of Eucalyptus citriodora

The present study was conducted to assess the effects of Eucalyptus citriodora (E. citriodora) leaf extract on the oxidative stability of blend of canola, rapeseed, and sunflower oils (45:20:35 v/v, respectively) under accelerated storage. The blended oil was stabilized with 300 mg/L ethanolic extract (source of total phenolic content and total flavonoid content [5.23 ± 0.19 and 1.18 ± 0.04 g/100 g d.wt. of extract]) of E. citriodora leaves. The oxidative stability was measured on the basis of parameters such as free fatty acid contents, peroxide value, sponification value, iodine value, color, cloud point, and refractive index. After a 100 day incubation period, the increase in refractive index, free fatty acid, and peroxide, and sponification values in stabilized and non-stabilized oil blends were 0.0028 and 0.0047, 0.20 and 2.37% as oleic acid, 12.54 and 21.12 meq/kg of oil and 10.04 and 17.01 meq of KOH/g of oil, respectively, as compared with initial values. However, a decrease of 10.0 and 16.9 g of iodine/100 g of oil was recorded in oil iodine values of both stabilized and non-stabilized blended vegetable oils. Results showed that E. citriodora leaf extract was found effective to maintain the oxidative stability of blended vegetable oils for long duration (6 months) as compared with control oil samples. Therefore, it can be concluded that E. citriodora leaf extract is a cheap rich source of natural antioxidants that can be easily used for the stabilization of vegetable oils in the food processing industries.

Production of vegetable oil blends and structured lipids and their effect on wound healing

&lt;p&gt;Two oil blends (sunflower/canola oils 85/15 (BL1) and canola/linseed oils 70/30 (BL2)), were prepared and enzymatically interesterified to be applied to surgically-induced wounds in rats. Following surgery, the animals were submitted to the Treatment with Physiological Saline (TPS) (control group), Blends (TBL), and Structured Lipids (TSL). The control group (TPS) received physiological saline solution for 15 days. In TBL, BL1 was administered during the inflammation phase (days 0-3) and BL2 in the tissue formation and remodeling phase (days 4-15). In TSL, Structured Lipid 1 (SL1) and Structured Lipid 2 (SL2) were used instead of BL1 and BL2, respectively. The aim of this study was to compare wound closure evolution among rats treated with the blends or structured lipids versus control rats treated with physiological saline. The wound healing process was evaluated by measuring the wound areas along the treatments and the concentrations of cytokines. An increase in the areas of wounds treated with the blends and structured lipids in the inflammatory phase was observed, followed by a steeper closure curve compared to wounds treated with physiological saline. The changes observed during the inflammatory phase suggest a potential therapeutic application in cutaneous wound healing which should be further investigated.&lt;/p&gt;

Antioxidant Activity, Reaction Mechanisms, and Kinetics of Matricaria recutita Extract in Commercial Blended Oil Oxidation

Antioxidant activity, reaction mechanisms, and kinetics of Matricaria recutita crude extract (CE; total phenolics: 41 ± 2.5 mg/g, total flavonoids: 26 ± 1.4 mg/g, IC50: 82.3 ± 2.8 µg/mL and reducing power: 10.45 ± 0.56 mmol Fe2+/mass) in comparison to tert-Butylhydroquinone during oxidation of blended vegetable oil (sunflower, soybean, and palm oil) at 120, 130, and 140°C were studied. Good correlations existed between the Rancimat oil stability index and stability indices (induction period) calculated from peroxide value, conjugated diene value, and anisidine value with no significant differences in kinetic parameters calculated from them. The temperature acceleration (Q10), activation energy (Ea), frequency factor (A), enthalpy (ΔH++), entropy (ΔS++), and free energy of activation (ΔG++) for oils containing crude extract were lower than for oils containing tert-Butylhydroquinone (0.0025, 0.005, 0.01, and 0.02%). Values were independent of crude extract or tert-Butylhydroquinone concentration. For crude extract and tert-Butylhydroquinone, Ea and A were well correlated with ΔH++ and ΔS++ values, respectively, but correlation between Ea and Q10 for crude extract compared to tert-Butylhydroquinone was poor. Furthermore, the rate of Monounsaturated:Polyunsaturated fatty acids formation did not differ significantly between crude extract and tert-Butylhydroquinone, but concentrations of them did affect Monounsaturated:Polyunsaturated ratio. Based on the results obtained, crude extract decreased the rate of the oxidation reaction due to the decrease in the concentration of the activated complex and reduction in the rate at which the activated complex dissociated into oxidation products.

Emission and Performance analysis of hydrotreated refined sunflower oil as alternate fuel

The experiments were conducted by using the hydrotreated refined sunflower oil as alternative fuel in a 4-stroke, stationary DI diesel engine at a constant speed of 1500rpm. The effects of hydrotreated vegetable oil blends on diesel engine emission and performance were studied. The emission and performance were studied for different proportions such as HTSF B25 and HTSF B100 and at different loading conditions and comparison was made with petrodiesel. The emission and performance results of HTSF B25 and HTSF B100 showed that decrease in CO by 9% and 37%, HC by 42% and 55%, NOx by 10% and 18.18%, BSFC by 25% and 12.5%. The increase in brake thermal efficiency was by 10% and 38%. It was observed from the study that hydrotreatment of refined sunflower oil could be one of the best alternative fuels for the diesel engine.