Vegetable Oils Research Articles

Fucoidan-Vegetable Oil Emulsion Applied to Myosin of Silver Carp: Effect on Protein Conformation and Heat-Induced Gel Properties.

How to improve the gel properties of protein has become a research focus in the field of seafood processing. In this paper, a fucoidan (FU)-vegetable oil emulsion was prepared, and the mechanism behind the effect of emulsion on protein conformation and the heat-induced gel properties was studied. The results revealed that the FU-vegetable oil complex caused the aggregation and cross-linking of myosin, as well as increased the surface hydrophobicity and total sulfhydryl content of myosin. In addition, the addition of the compound (0.3% FU and 1% vegetable oil) significantly improved the gel strength, hardness, chewiness, and water-holding capacity of the myosin gel (p < 0.05). In particular, when the addition of camellia oil was 1%, the gel strength, hardness, chewiness, and water-holding capacity had the highest values of 612.47 g.mm, 406.80 g, 252.75 g, and 53.56%, respectively. Simultaneously, the emulsion (0.3% FU-1% vegetable oil) enhanced the hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction of the myosin gels. The image of the microstructure showed that the emulsion with 0.3% FU-1% vegetable oil improved the formation of the stable three-dimensional network structure. In summary, the FU-vegetable oil complex can promote unfolding of the protein structure and improve the gel properties of myosin, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development of functional surimi products.

Study of the extraction kinetics of flavonoids from the fruits of Sophora japonica L. with sunflower oil

Among the large number of biologically active substances contained in the fruits of Sophora japonica L., the extraction of flavonoids, substances of medium polarity, is particularly important. The process of extracting them with vegetable oil from fruits is quite complicated. The object of research is the kinetics of the process of extracting flavonoids from Sophora japonica L. fruits with sunflower oil. The influence of temperature, duration, and hydraulic modulus on the extraction process, as well as on the derivation of the equation of the mathematical model, is studied. Mathematical modeling methods are used in the research. Processing of experimental data for the study of extraction kinetics in the vegetable oil:vegetable raw material system is carried out using the Statistica statistical package. In order to derive the equation of the mathematical model of the process of extracting flavonoids from Sophora japonica L. with sunflower oil, the influence of temperature, duration and hydromodulus on the process of transition of the target component – flavonoids to the extract – is investigated. A mathematical model of the dependence of flavonoids on the hydromodulus (H=10–25), temperature (t=25–45 °С) and the duration of the extraction process of Sophora japonica L. (τ=2–10 h) is obtained, which makes it possible to calculate the content of flavonoids with an average relative with an error within 5 %. On the basis of the conducted experimental studies, basic technological schemes for obtaining unrefined sunflower oil of increased biological value are developed, which includes the following stages: preparation of raw materials, treatment of prepared raw materials with sunflower oil during dilution and mixing, separation of oil from raw materials by filtering. The proposed technology is promising, as its implementation is possible not only in food industry enterprises, but also in restaurant establishments, as it does not require expensive equipment, additional production premises and special training of personnel. The mathematical models of the extraction process of Sophora japonica L. with unrefined sunflower oil proposed in the work allow to select the extraction parameters with a high degree of probability and offer the consumer flavonoid-enriched sunflower oil of increased biological value.

Effects of Herbal Safflower Oil on Longevity and Oxidative Stress

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is one of the oldest cultivated plants. Safflower oil, separated from its seeds, has superior properties than many vegetable oils. In this study, it was aimed to determine the toxic, antitoxic or antioxidant effects of safflower oil. For this purpose, 72±4-hour old larvae of the Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) model organism Oregon R wild strain were used. According to the preliminary studies, application doses were determined as 0.3125%; 0.625%; 1.25%, and 2.5%. In addition, distilled water, ascorbic acid, and H2O2 control groups were formed and the toxic or antitoxic effects of using them separately or together on the larvae were investigated. In addition, the lifespan of individuals that matured from larvae were studied and antioxidant parameters (TAS/TOS/OSI) were examined in male individuals fed at the doses with the best results. All experimental sets were repeated three times. As a result, it was determined that Safflower oil does not cause any toxic effect on the larvae at the concentrations used; on the contrary, when used with H2O2, it has a reduced toxic effect. As a result of the longevity studies of safflower oil, it was observed that the longest average life was in the %1.25 Safflower Oil + H2O2 application group with 65±1.09 days. It was determined from the data obtained from antioxidant studies that the antioxidant capacity of safflower oil was high, but this result was not statistically significant compared to the control group Ascorbic acid (p&gt;0.05).

Hydrogen-free deoxygenation of oleic acid on acidic and basic ZSM-5 and Y-zeolites: Products for biofuel and reaction pathways

A large volume of highly acidic vegetable oils generated as waste could be utilized to produce low-cost biofuels without competing with food production. This study investigated the conversion of oleic acid (OA), used as a model fatty compound, in a micropyrolysis apparatus under conditions similar to those employed in fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) of petroleum feedstocks. The influence of small-micropore size zeolites (ZSM-5) and large-micropore size zeolites (Y), in both their acidic H- and basic Na-forms, on the product distribution was evaluated. Oleic acid was pre-adsorbed onto the zeolites at a mass ratio Catalyst:OA = 10:1. Thermal cracking of pure oleic acid was limited, predominantly producing linear 1-alkenes and carboxylic acids. Conversion in the presence of catalysts was enhanced, resulting in the formation of a greater variety of hydrocarbons. Branched and cyclic alkanes, as well as polyaromatics hydrocarbons, were produced in greater quantities on Y zeolites compared to ZSM-5, due to the larger micropore diameter of the Y zeolite. Among the catalysts, Na-Y produced the highest number of hydrocarbons, predominantly within the gasoline range. These results are promising for the co-processing of fatty residues in the FCC, promoting the production of second-generation drop-in biofuels and bio-based chemicals, and contributing to industrial decarbonization.

Valorization of oil refinery by-products: production of sophorolipids utilizing fatty acid distillates and their potential antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal activities.

Starmerella bombicola is a native yeast strain producing sophorolipids as secondary metabolites. This study explores the production, characterization, and biological activities of sophorolipids and investigates the antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal properties of sophorolipids produced from oil refinery wastes by the yeast Starmerella bombicola. The present work demonstrated that S. bombicola MTCC 1910 when grown in oil refinery wastes namely palm fatty acid distillates and soy fatty acid distillates enhanced the rate of sophorolipids production drastically in comparison to vegetable oil, sunflower oil used as hydrophobic feedstock. Sophorolipid yields were 18.14, 37.21, and 46.1g/L with sunflower oil, palm, and soy fatty acid distillates respectively. The crude biosurfactants were characterized using TLC, FTIR, and HPLC revealing to be acetylated sophorolipids containing both the acidic and lactonic isomeric forms. The surface lowering and emulsifying properties of the sophorolipids from refinery wastes were significantly higher than the sunflower oil-derived sophorolipids. Also, all the sophorolipids exhibited strong antibacterial properties (minimum inhibitory concentrations were between 50 and 200µgmL-1) against Salmonella typhimurium, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis and were validated with morphological analysis by Scanning electron microscopy. All the sophorolipids were potent biofilm inhibitors and eradicators (minimum biofilm inhibitory and eradication concentrations were between12.5to1000µgmL-1) for all the tested organisms. Furthermore, antifungal activities were also found to exhibit about 16-56% inhibition at 1mgmL-1 for fungal mycelial growth. Therefore, this endeavour of sophorolipids production using palm and soy fatty acid distillates not only opens up a window for the bioconversion of industrial wastes into productive biosurfactants but also concludes that sophorolipids from oil refinery wastes are potent antimicrobial, anti-biofilm, and antifungal agents, highlighting their potential in biotechnological and medical applications.

Interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phospholipids cause PAH migration into wet gums during the oil degumming process

The refining process can reduce PAH contamination levels in vegetable oils, but the safety of byproducts requires further attention. We hypothesize that interactions between PAHs and phospholipids could contribute to PAH migration into the wet gums and subsequently evaluated the distribution of PAHs during different degumming processes. Enzymatic degumming achieved over 99.90 % removal of phospholipids from soybean oil and sunflower seed oil and minimized the toxic equivalency quotient of PAHs in wet gums (approximately 0.05 μg/kg). Notably, greater PAH reduction was correlated with greater phospholipid removal in degummed soybean oil. Quantum chemical calculations indicated that van der Waals forces between PAHs and phospholipids could cause PAH migration, with higher phospholipid contents and PAH contamination in soybean oil providing more favourable conditions than in sunflower seed oil. This study will help to improve the quality of edible oils and provide information on the mechanisms underlying PAH migration.

Morphological Assessment of Drought Stress Tolerant Soybean Genotypes in Bangladesh

Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr) is the most important commercial grain legume and oil seed crop which represents the most important plant source of vegetable oil and protein in the world. The water stress tolerance of the fifty soybean genotypes was evaluated in a glasshouse at the Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA). The study was carried out to identify the drought tolerant soybean genotype(s) for improving yield under rainfed conditions in Bangladesh. Drought stress was induced by withholding water completely from 21 days after emergence. The water stress was continued until wilting symptom persisted on plant overnight. Water stress caused an overall reduction in some morphological and yield contributing characters such as plant hight, number of branches plant-1, internode length, pod plant-1, seeds pod-1, hundred (100) seeds weight and finally the seed yield of soybean. The studied genotypes were categorized into four groups based on their yield reduction under drought stress conditions. Five genotypes YESOY-4, PK-416, Shohag, SBM-09 and Binasoybean-6 were categorized as tolerant (&lt;35% yield reduction), fourteen genotypes were categorized as moderately tolerant (35%-60% yield reduction), twenty five genotypes were categorized as moderately susceptible (61%-80% yield reduction) and rest six genotypes were categorized as susceptible (&gt;80% yield reduction). These five genotypes YESOY-4, PK-416, Shohag, SBM-09 and Binasoybean-6 study further for developing drought tolerant soybean verities which may be helpful for quality oil seed production.

Double (W1/O/W2) emulsions prepared with natural vegetable oils and varied inner glucose concentration: Microstructure, rheology and stability

The objective was to study the microstructure, rheology and stability of double (W1/O/W2) emulsions prepared with Tween 80 as hydrophilic emulsifier and coconut, palm or sunflower oil. The effects of glucose concentration in inner aqueous phase and crystallization of lipid phase were analyzed. Aggregation of oil globules by partial coalescence was observed in emulsions prepared with coconut or palm oil because of the crystallization of the lipid phase. The increase of glucose concentration increased the amount of inner water by osmotic swelling and produced a higher partial coalescence degree due to a higher collision frequency between oil globules. Consequently, higher elastic and viscous modules were observed at higher glucose concentration. Fat crystals in lipid phase allowed a partial retention of inner water in the absence of glucose, but they also favored the release of inner water due to partial coalescence. Creaming stability was enhanced by the presence of glucose, because of the formation of a three-dimensional network of aggregated oil globules in emulsions with coconut or palm oil, and a higher packing and global density of oil globules in systems with sunflower oil. The obtained results contribute to the understanding of partial coalescence in W1/O/W2 emulsions, including its effects on inner water release and creaming stability. This work could be relevant for the design and stabilization of vegetable, lipid-reduced food emulsions prepared with natural oils.

The Toxic Effects of Petroleum Diesel, Biodiesel, and Renewable Diesel Exhaust Particles on Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells.

The use of alternative diesel fuels has increased due to the demand for renewable energy sources. There is limited knowledge regarding the potential health effects caused by exhaust emissions from biodiesel- and renewable diesel-fueled engines. This study investigates the toxic effects of particulate matter (PM) emissions from a diesel engine powered by conventional petroleum diesel fuel (SD10) and two biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels in vitro. The fuels used were rapeseed methyl ester (RME), soy methyl ester (SME), and Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), either pure or as 50% blends with SD10. Additionally, a 5% RME blend was also used. The highest concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emissions and elemental carbon (EC) was found in conventional diesel and the 5% RME blend. HVO PM samples also exhibited a high amount of EC. A dose-dependent genotoxic response was detected with PM from SD10, pure SME, and RME as well as their blends. Reactive oxygen species levels were several times higher in cells exposed to PM from SD10, pure HVO, and especially the 5% RME blend. Apoptotic cell death was observed in cells exposed to PM from SD10, 5% RME blend, the 50% SME blend, and HVO samples. In conclusion, all diesel PM samples, including biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels, exhibited toxicity.

Effect of adjuvants on growth and spore attributes of &lt;i&gt;Metarhizium anisopliae&lt;/i&gt; (Metsch.) Sorokin

The pathogenicity of the fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, commonly referred to as the green muscardine fungus, has been demonstrated against numerous insect species inhabiting various habitats. Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the impact of naturally derived adjuvants on the growth and spore characteristics of M. anisopliae. The natural polysaccharide (guar gum, gum acacia and carboxymethyl cellulose), vegetable oil (groundnut and cottonseed oil) and a synthetic adjuvant were used in the study at three distinct concentrations: 0.05%, 0.1%, and 0.2% v/v or w/v. Among the various adjuvants tested, both gum acacia and guar gum at concentrations of 0.1% and 0.2% were observed to have a positive impact on the growth of the fungus, resulting in enhanced radial mycelial growth, conidiospore production, surface area coverage, and conidiospore germination. Conversely, this fundamental study highlights the detrimental effects of synthetic adjuvants on the growth and spore characteristics of M. anisopliae.

HLA diversity unveils susceptibility and organ-specific occurrence of second primary cancers: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundUp to 17% of cancer survivors have been reported to develop second primary cancers (SPC), which cause significant physical and economic distress and often complicate clinical decision-making. However, understanding of SPC remains limited and superficial. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is characterized by its polymorphism and has been associated with various diseases. This study aims to explore the role of HLA diversity in SPC incidence.MethodsWe analyzed a cohort of 47,550 cancer patients from the UK Biobank. SNP-derived HLA alleles were used and SPC-related HLA alleles were identified using logistic regression, followed by stepwise filtering based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and permutation tests. Additionally, we examined the association between extragenetic factors and the risk of SPC in patients carrying hazardous HLA alleles.ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 3.11 years, a total of 2894 (6.09%) participants developed SPC. We identified three protective HLA alleles (DRB1*04:03 and DPA1*02:02 for males and DRB5*01:01 for females) and two hazardous alleles (A*26:01 for males and DPB1*11:01 for females) about SPC. The presence of the protective alleles was associated with a reduced SPC risk (males: hazard ratio [HR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59–0.89; females: HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.93), while the hazardous alleles were linked to an increased risk (males: HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.03–1.56; females: HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07–1.70). The hazardous allele A*26:01 indicated skin-lung organ-specific SPC occurrence in males. Animal fat and vitamin C were associated with SPC risk in males carrying the hazardous alleles, while free sugar and vegetable fat were linked to SPC risk in females.ConclusionsThese results suggest that HLA alleles may serve as biomarkers for the susceptibility and organ-specific occurrence of SPC, while dietary modulation may mitigate hazardous alleles-related SPC risk, potentially aiding in the early prediction and prevention of SPC.

The Relationship between the Density of Winter Canola Stand and Weed Vegetation

Canola (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop that provides essential vegetable oil but faces significant competition from weeds that are influenced by various agronomic practices and environmental conditions. This study examines the complex interactions between canola stand density and weed intensity over three growing seasons, identifying a total of 27 weed species. It is important to establish a connection between the density of winter canola stands, the intensity of weeding and the response of individual weed species in real conditions. The case study was executed on plots located in the Přerov district (Olomouc region, Czech Republic). The assessment was carried out during two periods—autumn in October and spring in April. Canola plants (plant density) were counted in each evaluated area, weed species were identified, and the number of plants for each weed species was determined. Half of the plots were covered with foil before herbicide application to prevent these areas from being treated with herbicides. We used redundancy analysis (RDA) to evaluate the relationships between canola density and weed dynamics, both with and without herbicide treatment. The results show the ability of canola to compete with weeds; however, that is factored by the density of the canola stand. In dense stands (over 60 plants/m²), canola is able to suppress Galium aparine L., Geranium pusillum L., Lamium purpureum L., Papaver rhoeas L. and Chamomilla suaveolens (Pursh) Rydb. Nevertheless, there are weed species that grow well even in dense canola stands (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud., Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) Sch. Bip. and Triticum aestivum L.). These findings highlight the potential for using canola stand density as a strategic component of integrated weed management to reduce herbicide reliance and address the growing challenge of herbicide-resistant weed populations. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of the dynamics of weed competition in canola systems and informs sustainable agricultural practices for improved crop yield and environmental stewardship.

Phytosterol Depletion in Soybean Oil Using a Synthetic Silica Adsorbent

Phytosterols in vegetable oils have gained attention for their nutritional benefits in foods and food supplements. However, the use of vegetable oils in emulsions for infant formulas and parenteral nutrition has raised some concerns, as phytosterols may contribute to phytosterolemia in the case of infant formulas and, in a second scenario, to parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease. The present study proposes removing phytosterols from soybean oil using a synthetic amorphous silica Trisyl® (E551) as an adsorbent material. The process is simple and involves stirring the oil at a high temperature under vacuum conditions followed by filtration to remove the adsorbent. A rotational factorial design of experiments, considering the adsorbent/oil ratio, temperature, and time was carried out to determine the optimal conditions. Additionally, the effects on tocopherols levels and formation of trans fatty acids were explored. The total sterol content in the initial refined soybean oil was 2540 mg/kg, with 32% in ester form (813 mg/kg). The treatments effectively reduced the sterol concentration, achieving a reduction of nearly 70% when 10% Trisyl®, 140 °C, and a 90-min treatment were applied. Under these conditions, nearly 80% of the oil was recovered. Campesterol and stigmasterol levels were almost halved. Tocopherol losses were found to be below 20%. Thermal degradation, as analyzed by triacylglycerol polymers and trans fatty acids, was not observed in the treatments.

Studies on surface roughness and axial thrust force of drilled holes in Mg-Zn-Ca bio-medical alloy

Mg-Zn-Ca alloy is a promising candidate for orthopaedic implants such as bone plates and screws, as it has a similar mechanical strength and elastic modulus to bone, and it degrades in the body without causing toxicity or inflammation. Drilling studies are necessary to optimize the drilling process parameters, to evaluate the machinability and surface integrity of Mg-Zn-Ca alloy, and to ensure the effective and efficient drilling for various applications in the medical and engineering fields. The present experimental study emphasizes the influence of Ca content, biofriendly coolants and their combined effect with standard drill bits on the surface quality and axial thrust force in the drilling operation of Mg-Zn-Ca alloy. The drilling parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, standard tools, bio-compatible coolants were optimized with respect to the amount of Ca in the Mg-Zn alloy. The axial thrust force and average surface roughness of drilled holes were considered as response of the experiments. The drilled surfaces were measured for average surface roughness in the transverse direction along the centre path of the drilled hole and a qualitative analysis was also carried out using advanced confocal microscope. The results revealed that the cutting speed among continuous factors significantly influenced the axial thrust force and average surface roughness. The effect of categorical factors was assessed using a regression based ranking method. The results of statistical analysis revealed that high speed steel, and vegetable oil offered improved surface quality, whereas the coconut oil showed low axial thrust force. The liquid nitrogen showed high value of axial thrust force and average surface roughness due to the brittleness induced by cryogenic coolant before drilling operation.

Evaluation of lubrication mechanism of hybrid nanolubricants in turning hardened AISI D6 tool steel

Turning of hardened tool steels has posed a significant challenge for machining professionals. Usually, hardened tool steels are machined under dry with ceramic or PCBN inserts. However, dry machining imposes a condition where high cutting temperatures are developed, which becomes prohibitive when the part's geometric and dimensional accuracy is required. On the other hand, using mineral oil-based cutting fluid has encountered increasing restrictions because of its unsustainable nature. In this context, developing new sustainable lubri-cooling techniques, such as using vegetable oils blended with nanoparticles, could be an appropriate alternative. Thus, the main objective of this study was to investigate the performance of three different vegetable oil-based nanolubricants blended with three different nanoparticles (CuO, a-C:H, and CuO + a-C:H), applied under MQL when machining a quenched and tempered AISI D6 tool steel. For this purpose, facing turning trials were performed using solid PCBN inserts with the following cutting parameters: Vc = 100 m/min, ap = 0.3 mm, and f = 0.1 mm/rev. For comparison, facing turning tests were performed under dry and pure vegetable oil (without nanoparticles) and applied under MQL. Output variables included average surface roughness (Ra), flank wear (VBC), wear mechanisms of the cutting edge, chip shape, and chip compression ratio (Rc). The results showed that the vegetable oil-based nanolubricants applied under MQL improved the tribological conditions in the chip-tool and workpiece-tool interfaces, mainly in the case of CuO + a-C:H nanolubricant. In this case, it enhanced the lubricating action of the vegetable oil, decreasing cutting tool wear probably because of the combination of rolling mechanism, - provided by the CuO nanoparticles, and the formation of a protective film, supplied by the a-C:H nanoparticles.

Novel vegetable biolubricants containing ionic liquid

Novel biolubricants based on vegetable avocado oils modified by the ionic liquid diethylmethylammonium methanesulfonate (IL), were investigated. Neat (Av) and epoxidized avocado (EAv) oils with 1 wt% IL were studied in a metal-ceramic tribopair under pin-on-disc configuration. The best tribological performance was found for the EAv+ 1 %IL oil, with higher viscosity, and friction coefficient and wear rate up to 74.5 % and 98.8 % lower than that of neat lubricants. The presence of IL and epoxidized oil tribofilm inside the wear tracks was confirmed using X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy. These results highlight the potential use of ionic liquids as efficient additives in biolubricant oils.

Integrated pest management of soybean emerging pests in Brazil and United States: a review

Soybean cultivation is crucial for meeting global demand for vegetable oil and protein, with Brazil being the largest global producer, followed by the United States. However, intensifying soja production has led to the emergence of new pests, such as whitefly, thrips, and leaf miners, which cause damage to plants and reduce crop productivity. The integrated pest management approach is essential for sustainable pest control, minimizing pesticide use, and maintaining ecological balance. However, further research is needed on emerging pests and their management strategies.

Quantitative detection of heavy metal Cd in vegetable oils: A nondestructive method based on Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics.

Heavy metal contaminants in vegetable oils can cause irreversible damage to human health. In this study, the quantitative detection of Cd in vegetable oils was investigated based on Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometric methods. The necessary preprocessing of the Raman signal was performed using baseline calibration and the Savitzky-Golay method. Three variable optimization methods were applied to the preprocessed Raman spectra. Namely, bootstrap soft shrinkage, multiple feature spaces ensemble strategy with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), respectively. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) modeling for the determination of Cd in vegetable oils. The results show that three variable optimization algorithms improved the predictive performance of the model. Among them, the CARS-PLSR model has strong generalization performance and robustness. Its prediction coefficient of determination ( ) was 0.9995, the root mean square error of prediction was 0.3533mg/kg, and the relative prediction deviation was 44.3748, respectively. In summary, rapid quantitative analysis of Cd contamination in vegetable oils can be realized based on Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometrics.

Positive effects of a mixture of fish oil and soybean oil as a dietary lipid source on the ovarian development and health of female giant river prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii broodstock

Lipids are key nutrients that affect the development of the ovary in aquatic animals. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different lipid sources on the ovarian development and health of Macrobrachium rosenbergii broodstock. The M. rosenbergii broodstock, with an initial body weight of 8.07±0.74 g, were fed diets containing 5 % fish oil (FO), soya bean oil (SO), rapeseed oil (RO), coconut oil (CO), and a 1:1 mixture of fish oil and soybean oil (MO) as lipid sources for a period of 56 days. The results indicated that there were no significant differences in survival rate (SR) and hepatopancreatic index (HSI) among the different groups (P > 0.05). However, the specific growth rate (SGR) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) in the MO group were significantly higher than other groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, fatty acid levels in diets directly influenced the fatty acid composition of prawn hepatopancreas, showing a similar trend to that observed in the diet itself. Furthermore, compared to the other trial groups, haemolymph levels of 17-β estradiol (E2) and progesterone (PROG) were significantly increased in the MO group (P < 0.05). The ovarian section also exhibited better histomorphology and larger oocyte diameter in this group. Moreover, total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased in the MO group (P < 0.05). Saturated fatty acids in RO and CO groups could promote the expression of lipid synthesis-related genes fatty acid synthase (fas) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc), concurrently suppressing the expression of lipid catabolism-related genes acyl-CoA oxidase-1 (acox-1) and AMP-activated protein kinase alpha (ampkα) (P < 0.05). Conversely, polyunsaturated fatty acids in the MO group significantly up-regulated the expression levels of fatty acid binding protein-3 (fabp-3) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (pparγ) (P < 0.05). Based on the findings of hepatopancreatic tissue structure, it was determined that the use of a single vegetable oil resulted in some damage to the hepatopancreatic tissue structure of M. rosenbergii broodstock, leading to increased oxidative stress. In conclusion, it is recommended that a 1:1 mixture of fish oil and soybean oil be used as a dietary lipid source to effectively meet the nutritional requirements during the ovarian development period of M. rosenbergii broodstock. This combination also enhances antioxidant properties, promotes the synthesis of haemolymph steroid hormones and lipid metabolism in female prawns, thereby facilitating ovarian development and overall health of M. rosenbergii broodstock.

Behavioral and toxicological impacts of bio-derived oils in aqueous spills

There is an increasing global demand for, and transportation of, goods classified as Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), including bio-derived oils and chemicals. With the increasing variety of bio-feedstocks and the development of processing technologies, the physical and chemical properties of commercially available and transported bio-derived oils vary significantly. The objective of this work was to analyze and compare the physical and chemical characteristics, behaviour, and risks of several bio-derived oils (four vegetable oils, one biodiesel, and two pyrolysis oils) and one petrol diesel when spilled into both fresh and salt water system. The laboratory results indicated that the vegetable oils and biodiesel remained buoyant and resulted in low total organic carbon (TOC) in water when spilled, similar behaviour to petrol diesel. However, the two pyrolysis oils exhibited remarkably different behaviours. The two oils sunk directly in the water and then rapidly dissolved the organic components into the water when mixed. This resulted in a high TOC (100 times higher than other types of oil) and an altered water chemistry, leaving a large portion of water-insoluble portion (35.0 wt% of pyrolysis oils) remaining at the water bottom. Initial Microtox findings indicated that water samples contaminated with pyrolysis oils and biodiesel (similar to petrol diesel) exhibited increased aqueous toxicity towards Vibrio fischeri. Further biological tests are required to understand their ecological risks. This work provides insights to the challenges and knowledge gaps on the fate, behaviour and risk of emerging bio-derived oils in water, while supporting HNS emergency response and remediation measures.