Use of beer bran as an adsorbent for the removal of organic compounds from wastewater

Beer bran was found to effectively adsorb several organic compounds, such as dichloromethane, chloroform, trichloroethylene, benzene, pretilachlor, and esprocarb. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich isotherm (log-log linear). Adsorption of these organic compounds by beer bran was observed in the pH range of 1-11. At equilibrium, the adsorption efficiency of beer bran for benzene, chloroform, and dichiloromethane was higher than that of activated carbon. The removal of these organic compounds by beer bran was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes. The object of this work was to investigate several adsorbents for the effective removal of organic compounds from wastewater.     

Efficiency of rice bran for the removal of selected organics from water: kinetic and thermodynamic investigations

The sorption efficiency of indigenous rice (Oryza sativa) bran for the removal of organics, that is, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene (BTEC), from aqueous solutions has been studied. The sorption of BTEC by rice bran is observed over a wide pH range of 1-10, indicating its high applicability to remove these organics from various industrial effluents. Rice bran effectively adsorbs BTEC of 10 microg mL(-1) sorbate concentration from water at temperatures of 283-323 +/- 2 K. The effect of pH, agitation time between solid and liquid phases, sorbent dose, its particle size, and temperature on the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran has been studied. The pore area and average pore diameter of rice bran by BET method are found to be 19 +/- 0.7 m(2) g(-1) and 52.8 +/- 1.3 nm. The rice bran exhibits appreciable sorption of the order of 85 +/- 3.5, 91 +/- 1.8, 94 +/- 1.4, and 96 +/- 1.2% for 10 microg mL(-1) concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and cumene, respectively, in 60 min of agitation time using 0.1 g of rice bran at pH 6 and 303 K. The sorption data follow Freundlich, Langmuir, and Dubinin-Radushkevich (D-R) models. Sorption capacities have been computed for BTEC by Freundlich (32 +/- 3, 61 +/- 14, 123 +/- 28, and 142 +/- 37 m mol g(-1)), Langmuir (6.6 +/- 0.1, 7.5 +/- 0.13, 9.5 +/- 0.22, and 9.4 +/- 0.18 m mol g(-1)), and D-R isotherms (11 +/- 0.5, 16 +/- 1.3, 30 +/- 2.2, and 33 +/- 2.5 m mol g(-1)), respectively. The Lagergren equation is employed for the kinetics of the sorption of BTEC onto rice bran and first-order rate constants (0.03 +/- 0.002, 0.04 +/- 0.003, 0.04 +/- 0.003, and 0.05 +/- 0.004 min(-1)) have been computed for BTEC at their concentration of 100 mug mL(-1) at 303 K. Studies on the variation of sorption with temperatures (283-323 K) at 100 mug mL(-1) sorbate concentration gave thermodynamic constants DeltaH (kJ mol(-1)), DeltaG (kJ mol(-1)), and DeltaS (J mol(-1) K(-1)). The results indicate that the sorption of organics onto rice bran is exothermic and spontaneous in nature under the optimized experimental conditions selected. This sorbent has been used successfully to accumulate and then to determine benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene in wastewater sample.     

亚临界丙烷萃取米糠油及其微量活性组分动力学模型

为了揭示亚临界流体萃取米糠油及其微量活性组分的动力学规律,该文以亚临界丙烷为萃取介质,研究了米糠油、γ-谷维素及α-生育酚等活性组分在不同萃取温度和时间的萃取率,并基于 Baümler 模型对目标物的萃取率进行模型拟合,建立相应的动力学模型并验证。结果表明,亚临界萃取过程中目标物的相对萃取率随时间增长递增,且在初始阶段（洗涤过程）的增长速率快于第二阶段（扩散过程）的增长速率;同时,升高萃取温度可同时提高目标产物的扩散系数和相对萃取率;基于Baümler模型可较好拟合亚临界丙烷萃取米糠油、γ-谷维素和α-生育酚的动力学过程（R2>0.95）,所得动力学模型具有较好的预测准确性。由Arrhenius方程可计算出米糠油、α-生育酚和γ-谷维素的亚临界萃取反应活化能,其中米糠油的活化能最低（5.23 kJ/mol）,α-生育酚次之（7.05 kJ/mol）,γ-谷维素最高（9.11 kJ/mol）,表明γ-谷维素最难萃取且对温度依赖程度最高;根据拟合所得动力学模型,对米糠油提取率进行预测,结果表明,该模型对米糠油萃取率的预测准确率达95.8%,而对γ-谷维素和α-生育酚萃取率的预测准确度稍低,分别达94.7%和94.4%,对三者均具有很好的预测准确性。总之,基于 Baümler 模型可以较好地建立米糠油及其有益伴随物的亚临界萃取动力学模型,从而较为准确的预测米糠油及其微量活性组分的萃取率,对米糠油的亚临界萃取工艺具有一定的理论指导意义。     

Studies on defatted seed removal efficiency for organochlorine compounds

Defatted seeds were evaluated for effective adsorption of organochlorine compounds such as chloroform, dichloromethane, and trichloroethylene. The amounts of these compounds adsorbed were plotted against the equilibrium concentration of substances in solution on a logarithmic scale. A linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reactions were of the Freundlich type. The removal of these organochlorine compounds by defatted seed was attributed to the uptake by intracellular particles called spherosomes.     

Use of microscopy to assess bran removal patterns in milled rice

During rice milling, the bran and germ are successively removed from the caryopsis (kernel). Because bran and germ contain large quantities of lipid, the amount of lipid remaining on the kernel surface may be used as a method for the assessment of milling quality. Bulk samples of rice pureline varieties and an experimental hybrid were milled for 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 s. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that brown rice kernels had large contours of linear protuberances and depressions running lengthwise along the kernel surface. The protuberances were abraded successively during milling, but varying amounts of material remained in the depressions. Light microscopy combined with the lipid-specific probes Nile Blue A or Sudan Black B demonstrated that the material in the depressions observed with SEM was lipid. Sections of whole, milled rice kernels, prepared using a modified sectioning technique and stained with Nile Blue A, showed that portions of the embryo remain after milling and that lipid is located on or near the surface of the kernel. Differences in quantity and distribution of residual lipid as milling duration increased were documented photographically to indicate the extent to which the bran and embryo components were removed during milling. This paper provides proof of concept that residual lipid is a robust measure of the degree of milling.     

Tyrosinase inhibitor from black rice bran

The inhibitor of tyrosinase activity in black rice bran was investigated. The methanol extract from black rice bran was re-extracted with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, or water. The ethyl acetate extract had the most potent inhibition against tyrosinase activity by 80.5% at a concentration of 0.4 mg/mL. Inhibitory compound in the ethyl acetate fraction was isolated by silica gel column chromatography, and identified as protocatechuic acid methyl ester (compound 1) by GC, GC-MS, IR, and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Compound 1 inhibited 75.4% of tyrosinase activity at a concentration of 0.50 micromol/mL. ID(50) (50% inhibition dose) value of compound 1 was 0.28 micromol/mL. To study the structure-activity relationship, protocatechuic acid (2), vanillic acid (3), vanillic acid methyl ester (4), isovanillic acid (5), isovanillic acid methyl ester (6), veratric acid (7), and veratric acid methyl ester (8) were also assayed.     

A new method for sodium sulfide removal from an aqueous solution and application to industrial wastewater and sludge

The catalyst activities for Na₂S oxidation in aqueous solution were examined for various materials such as activated carbon, carbon black, ferric salts, hydroquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt, 1,4-naphthoquinone, and their mixed systems. The following conclusions have been drawn: (1) These catalyst systems are all active. (2) The effect of carbon black-ferric sulfate-system or hydroquinone-ferric chloride-system on oxidation efficiency is larger than that of carbon black or hydroquinone alone. (3) In case of carbon black system, the experimentally determined requirement of air is, respectively, about 40, 15, and 10 times larger than theoretical, corresponding to the runs of no catalyst, carbon black, and carbon black-ferric sulfate-system. In case of hydroquinone system, air requirements are, respectively, about 40, 15 and 8 times, corresponding to the runs of no catalyst, hydroquinone-ferric chloride-system and hydroquinone-ferric chloride-ammonium peroxydisulfate-system. (4) Application of the catalyst systems studied was made to wastewater and sludge treatments. These catalyst systems gave good results.     

Efficiency of spherosome for removal of chloroform from water

Spherosomes were elucidated to be a key for removal of chloroform by rice bran (Adachi, A.; Okano, T. Chemosphere 2002, 46, 87-92). On the basis of the above findings, a large amount of spherosomes was separated from rice bran using an industrial scale machine in order to investigate direct removal of chloroform by spherosome from tap water. The efficiency of removal of chloroform from water by rice bran spherosome was evaluated. Equilibrium adsorption isotherms conformed to the Freundlich isotherm (log-log linear). Adsorption of this compound by spherosome was observed in the pH range of 1-12. At equilibrium, the adsorption efficiency of spherosome for chloroform was higher than that of rice bran or activated carbon in the high chloroform concentration range (concentration>0.1 g/L). In the low chloroform concentration range (concentration<0.08 g/L), activated carbon adsorbs more chloroform than spherosome, but the adsorbed amount by spherosome is of the same order as that by activated carbon, which is several orders higher than that by rice bran. Chloroform was removed from tap water with an average removal efficiency of 90% after 90 min when spherosome (2 g/L) was added to tap water containing 0.105 mg/L of chloroform.     

Triterpene alcohol and sterol ferulates from rice bran and their anti-inflammatory effects

Six novel feruloyl esters of triterpene alcohols and sterols, viz., two trans-ferulates, cycloeucalenol and 24-methylenecholesterol trans-ferulates, and four cis-ferulates, cycloartenol, 24-methyelenecycloartanol, 24-methylcholesterol, and sitosterol cis-ferulates, besides five known trans-ferulates, cycloartenol (CAR), 24-methylenecycloartanol (24-MCA), 24-methylcholesterol, sitosterol, and stigmastanol trans-ferulates, and one known cis-ferulate, stigmastanol cis-ferulate, were isolated from the methanol extract of edible rice bran. These and eight other synthetic trans- and cis-ferulates of triterpene alcohols and sterols, along with the corresponding free alcohols, were evaluated with respect to their anti-inflammatory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation (1 microg per ear) in mice. All of the ferulates showed marked inhibitory activity, and their 50% inhibitory dose (ID(50)) was 0. 1-0.8 mg per ear. On the other hand, whereas two free triterpene alcohols, CAR and 24-MCA, showed strong inhibition (ID(50) 0.2-0.3 mg/ear), eight free sterols examined showed weaker activity (ID(50) 0.7-2.7 mg/ear) than their corresponding ferulates.     

Phosphorus removal from secondary-treated wastewater using overland flow

The removal of total phosphorus from secondary effluent by overland flow was studied using five terraces constructed 91 m in length and 140 or 70 m in width. Three methods of wastewater application were tested on the terraces including sprinkler, fan nozzle, and gated pipe. In addition, three different application rates were used. Samples of applied wastewater, runoff collected at points along the terraces, effluent from each terrace, and soils were analyzed for total phosphorus over a ten-month period. Hydraulic application rate had a significant effect on the removal of total phosphorus; the removal efficiency was inversely proportional to the hydraulic application rate. However, the method of application did not have an effect on phosphorus removal. An increase in phosphorus was observed in terrace soil samples; the increase was attributed to adsorption and precipitation.     

Properties of extracts from defatted rice bran by its subcritical water treatment

Defatted rice bran was extracted with water and subcritical water at 50-250 degrees C for 5 min. The highest extract yield was achieved at 200 degrees C, at which the maximum amounts of protein and carbohydrate were also obtained. The total phenolic and furfural contents, radical scavenging activity, and antioxidative activity for the autoxidation of linoleic acid increased with increasing treatment temperature. The bran extracts exhibited emulsifying activity except for the extract prepared at 250 degrees C, which was concomitant with the disappearance of its high-molecular-mass substances. The extract prepared at 200 degrees C also had the highest emulsion-stabilizing activity.     

Optimization of acid hydrolysis conditions for feruloylated oligosaccharides from rice bran through response surface methodolgy

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the hydrolysis conditions with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to obtain the maximum amount of feruloylated oligosaccharides from rice bran. The TFA concentration and hydrolysis time effects on feruloylated oligosaccharides recovery are studied. The optimum hydrolysis conditions for maximizing feruloylated oligosaccharides recovery were 193 mM TFA concentration and 1.36 h of hydrolysis time. Under these conditions the corresponding acyl ferulic group quantity was 78.63 microg in 1 mL of hydrolysate. The model was experimentally verified with a satisfactory coefficient of R (2) (= 0.96). The quantity of acyl ferulic group in the feruloylated oligosaccharides, purified using Amberlite XAD-4, was 916.12 microg/g of rice bran under the optimum hydrolysis conditions. The proposed method accounted for 54.08% of the total acyl ferulic group in rice bran. The results suggest that the proposed conditions were useful in maximizing recovery of feruloylated oligosaccharides from rice bran.     

Preparation and functional properties of rice bran protein isolate

Rice bran protein isolate (RBPI) containing approximately 92.0% protein was prepared from unstabilized and defatted rice bran using phytase and xylanase. The yield of RBPI increased from 34% to 74.6% through the use of the enzymatic treatment. Nitrogen solubilities of RBPI were 53, 8, 62, 78, 82, and 80% at pHs 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, and 12.0, respectively. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that RBPI had denaturation temperature of 83.4 degrees C with low endotherm (0.96 J/g of protein). RBPI had similar foaming properties in comparison to egg white. But emulsifying properties of RBPI were significantly lower than those of bovine serum albumin. The result of amino acid analysis showed that RBPI had a similar profile of essential amino acid requirements for 2-5-year-old children in comparison to that of casein and soy protein isolate.     

复合酶法提取稻麸蛋白工艺的优化

运用配料试验设计,采用纤维素酶、复合蛋白酶、植酸酶提取米糠分离蛋白,建立复合酶配合比例与蛋白得率之间的数学模型,确定最佳配比为：纤维素酶65.84%、蛋白酶18.52%、植酸酶15.64%,最佳反应条件为：复合酶温度45℃、底物浓度 20%、酶添加量4%、pH值5.5、水解时间2 h,最终蛋白收率可达86%以上。     

Comparison of various extraction methods for policosanol from rice bran wax and establishment of chromatographic fingerprint of policosanol

A capillary gas chromatographic (GC) method has been developed for the separation and determination of policosanol components extracted from rice bran wax. A Varian CP-sil 8 CB column was employed, and an oven temperature was programmed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the composition of policosanol. Quantitative analysis was carried out by means of hydrogen flame ionization detector (FID) with dinonyl phthalate (DNP) as internal standard. The results indicated that the extract obtained by dry saponification has the highest contents of octacosanol and triacontanol among extracts by all used extraction methods including dry saponification, saponification in alcohol, saponification in water (neutralized and non-neutralized), and transesterification. Meanwhile, the GC-MS fingerprint of policosanol extracted by dry saponification has been established. Euclidean distance similarity calculation showed remarkable consistency of compositions and contents among 12 batches of policosanol from a rice bran wax variety. This protocol provided a rapid and feasible method for quality control of policosanol products.     

Transfer and accumulation of persistent organochlorine compounds from bovine dams to newborn and suckling calves

The maternal-fetal and neonatal transfers of polychlorinated dibenzo- p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in the blood and milk of dams and in the blood of newborn and suckling calves. Calf blood toxic equivalent quantities (TEQs) were drastically increased by suckling. Blood concentrations of individual congeners were greater in suckling calves than in newborn calves, excluding octachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (O 8CDD); O 8CDD did not readily transfer to milk but was readily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract and remained in systemic circulation longer than other congeners. Congener concentrations in milk were correlated with maternal blood levels, and those in suckling calf blood were dependent on their concentrations in milk. These results suggest that neonatal calves absorb more lipophilic organochlorine compounds than prenatal fetuses, that those compounds that are transferred from dams to calves are associated not only with lipid transport but also with other carriers, and that the distribution of congeners is structure-dependent.     

苹果中有机氯农药残留的超声波去除条件优化

中国是世界苹果第一生产大国,但中国苹果出口仅占世界贸易量的不足10%,其主要制约因素是安全性,其中农药残留是主要原因之一。论文采用响应曲面法对超声波去除苹果中有机氯农药残留的工艺条件（功率、时间、温度）及其交互作用进行了优化,并就超声波处理对苹果主要品质指标的影响进行了分析。结果表明：超声波去除苹果中有机氯农药残留的适宜工艺参数为：超声波功率为609.16 W,时间为70.46 min,温度为15.45℃,去除率可达到64.32%;超声波处理对苹果的硬度没有显著性影响;对苹果的总糖、总酸具有一定的显著性影响,但没有超出国家标准及主要出口国苹果标准的要求。超声波处理简单快速,能有效去除苹果中有机氯农药的残留,极大提高苹果的安全性,很容易和现有鲜果清洗、分级、打蜡生产线耦合链接,其产业化应用前景极为广阔。     

Protein extraction from heat-stabilized defatted rice bran. 1. Physical processing and enzyme treatments

Physical processing with or without enzyme treatments on protein extraction from heat-stabilized defatted rice bran (HDRB) was evaluated. Freeze-thaw, sonication, high-speed blending, and high-pressure methods extracted 12%, 15%, 16%, and 11% protein, respectively. Sonication (0-100%, 750 W), followed by amylase and combined amylase and protease treatments, extracted 25.6-33.9% and 54.0-57.8% protein, respectively. Blending followed by amylase and protease treatment extracted 5.0% more protein than the nonblended enzymatic treatments. High-pressure treatments, 0-800 MPa, with water or amylase-protease combinations, extracted 10.5-11.1% or 61.8-66.6% protein, respectively. These results suggest that physical processing in combination with enzyme treatments can be effective in extracting protein from HDRB.     

Biocatalysis for the production of industrial products and functional foods from rice and other agricultural produce

Many industrial products and functional foods can be obtained from cheap and renewable raw agricultural materials. For example, starch can be converted to bioethanol as biofuel to reduce the current demand for petroleum or fossil fuel energy. On the other hand, starch can also be converted to useful functional ingredients, such as high fructose and high maltose syrups, wine, glucose, and trehalose. The conversion process involves fermentation by microorganisms and use of biocatalysts such as hydrolases of the amylase superfamily. Amylases catalyze the process of liquefaction and saccharification of starch. It is possible to perform complete hydrolysis of starch by using the fusion product of both linear and debranching thermostable enzymes. This will result in saving energy otherwise needed for cooling before the next enzyme can act on the substrate, if a sequential process is utilized. Recombinant enzyme technology, protein engineering, and enzyme immobilization are powerful tools available to enhance the activity of enzymes, lower the cost of enzyme through large scale production in a heterologous host, increase their thermostability, improve pH stability, enhance their productivity, and hence making it competitive with the chemical processes involved in starch hydrolysis and conversions. This review emphasizes the potential of using biocatalysis for the production of useful industrial products and functional foods from cheap agricultural produce and transgenic plants. Rice was selected as a typical example to illustrate many applications of biocatalysis in converting low-value agricultural produce to high-value commercial food and industrial products. The greatest advantages of using enzymes for food processing and for industrial production of biobased products are their environmental friendliness and consumer acceptance as being a natural process.