Comparison of methods to reduce dioxin and polychlorinated biphenyls contents in fishmeal: extraction and enzymatic treatments

Methods to remove dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from fishmeal were investigated and compared. The tested methods include (i) lowering the fat content and simultaneously the level of toxic contaminants using either organic solvents or (ii) lowering the fat content using protease and (iii) removal of dioxins and PCBs using either oil extraction or (iv) breakdown of dioxin and PCBs using oxidoreductase. The results showed that the organic solvents tested (ethanol, isopropanol, and isohexane) were efficiently lowering the oil content of the fishmeal by 80%. However, the treated fishmeal has a low fat content and may contain traces of solvent. The protease alcalase was not as efficient as the solvent extraction and only removed approximately 30% of the oil but presented the advantage of being a mild process. Other proteases, alone or in combination with other enzymes, might give better yield if the reaction conditions are optimized. In contrast, extraction of dioxin and PCBs using olive oil or fish oil was very effective and resulted in 60-75% extraction of dioxin and PCBs, respectively, after a single extraction step. No preference for the oil type was observed. This method is very simple and quick and does not require an important investment for the fishmeal producer. It is expected that with optimization this method could be implemented at an industrial scale without too many difficulties. In contrast, the oxidoreductases tested did not result in a major degradation of dioxins and PCBs with only 10-15% degradation achieved. However, with the recent advancement in biotechnology, it is possible that future research will result in the development of enzymes that effectively degrade recalcitrant contaminants.     

Colorimetric evaluation of phenolic content and GC-MS characterization of phenolic composition of alimentary and cosmetic argan oil and press cake

The global phenolic content of argan oil and press cake samples (alimentary and cosmetic) was evaluated using the Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method and the phenolic composition of argan oil (alimentary and cosmetic) and press cake (alimentary) samples were analyzed by GC-MS after extraction with 80:20 (v/v) methanol:water and silylation. Identification of chromatographic peaks was made by mass selective detection. Nineteen simple phenols were detected, 16 in press cake, 6 in the alimentary oil, and 7 in the cosmetic oil, among which 15 compounds [3-hydroxypyridine (3-pyridinol), 6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine, catechol, resorcinol, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, vanillin, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, vanillyl alcohol, 3,4-dihydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenethyl alcohol, methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate, hydroxytyrosol, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, and catechin] were identified for the first time in such materials.     

UV treatment of fishmeal: a method to remove dioxins?

This study evaluates the use of UV on contaminated fishmeal and photodegradation of dioxins. Fishmeal samples were placed under UVA or UVB light for 2, 5, and 10 days. Subsequently, analysis of amino acid content, lipid oxidation marker, ethoxyquin content, dioxin, and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) profiling was carried out. Exposure of fishmeal for 5 days to UVB light resulted in the degradation of approximately 70% of the dioxin content, while UVA had little effect, only resulting in the degradation of 10% of the dioxin content. UVB did not affect the protein and amino acid content of fishmeal; however, lipid oxidation was triggered. Addition of ethoxyquin prevented oxidation but simultaneously slowed dioxin breakdown. Increasing UVB intensity resulted in a more efficient dioxin degradation of 90%. Exposure of fishmeal to UVB also resulted in an increase in PCBs. UVB light is shown to photodegrade dioxin in fishmeal, indicating the needs to further investigation of methods for application at industrial scale.     

Partitioning and inhibition of lipid oxidation in mechanically separated turkey by components of cranberry press cake

Extracts from cranberry press cakes were prepared either using ethanol or an ethyl acetate-acetone mixture. The press cake extracts were compared with extracts from cranberry juice powder (CJP), prepared using chloroform:methanol (1:1), for their ability to inhibit lipid oxidation in mechanically separated turkey (MST). Because of the susceptibility of muscle membrane lipids to oxidation, the ability of quercetin in the extracts to partition between the aqueous and the membrane phases was studied. Membrane suspensions were prepared from MST. Partitioning of quercetin was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. Oxidation was studied by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lipid peroxides. The effectiveness of the extracts to inhibit lipid oxidation was CJP extract > ethyl acetate extract of press cake > or = ethanol extract of press cake. The amount of quercetin in the extracts and the amount of quercetin that partitioned into the membranes followed the same order. However, the total phenolic content of the extracts did not follow the same order as that of inhibitory power. The phenolic content of the extracts decreased, ethyl acetate extract > ethanol extract of press cake > or = chloroform extract of CJP. Irrespective of the extraction method, around 78% quercetin from the extracts partitioned into the membranes. It could be concluded that increasing the amount of quercetin in the press cake extracts increases the ability of the extracts to inhibit lipid oxidation in MST. Hence, a proper choice of solvents and extraction method, which would increase the amount of quercetin in the press cake extracts, might increase the antioxidant potential of the extracts and hence their economic value.     

油枯对镉污染土壤的钝化研究

为了研究油枯对镉(Cd)污染土壤的钝化效果,以油枯为外源添加物(质量比:1%、2%、3%、4%、5%),模拟田间条件在塑料桶中进行为期45 d的培养,对镉污染土壤中Cd形态分布特征、DTPA提取态Cd(DTPA-Cd)含量、pH、有机质含量进行分析。结果表明,添加油枯可显著降低镉污染土壤中可交换态镉(Ex-Cd)的比例,提高碳酸盐结合态镉(Cb-Cd)、铁锰氧化物结合态镉(Fe-Mnb-Cd)以及有机质及硫化物晶格态镉(OMb-Cd)的比例,而残渣晶格结合态镉(RLb-Cd)变化不明显。添加油枯显著降低镉污染土壤中DTPA-Cd含量,降幅最高可达49%。镉污染土壤p H值维持在6.0左右,1%~4%添加处理中土壤pH波动幅度较大;而5%添加处理的土壤pH波动幅度小。添加油枯均能显著提高镉污染土壤中有机质含量。由此可见,油枯对镉污染土壤有较好的钝化效果,这为重金属污染土壤的修复和农业废弃物的循环利用提供了参考。     

不同压榨工艺对芝麻油和芝麻饼品质的影响

为比较芝麻不同压榨工艺对芝麻油和芝麻饼品质的影响,分别以整籽带皮白芝麻和整籽脱皮白芝麻为原料,采用液压榨油机进行冷榨,对所得芝麻油和芝麻饼进行品质分析,并与热榨芝麻油、芝麻饼以及芝麻油国家标准进行对比.结果表明:冷榨芝麻油的色泽、酸价、过氧化值等质量指标都明显优于热榨芝麻油和芝麻香油国家标准;脱皮冷榨芝麻油较整籽冷榨芝...     

氮素对温室黄瓜开花后干物质分配和产量影响的模拟研究

了解氮素对干物质分配和产量的定量影响是实现温室黄瓜氮肥优化管理的前提.该研究通过黄瓜雌性无限生长型品种"戴多星"(Cucumis sativas.'Deltastar')不同定植期和开花后不同氮素处理试验,定量分析了氮素施用水平对该类型黄瓜开花后干物质分配和产量的影响,并建立了开花后分配指数和采收指数与盛果期叶片氮浓度的关系方程.在此基础上,建立了氮素对黄瓜开花后干物质分配和产量影响的预测模型,并用独立的试验数据对模型进行了检验.结果表明,模型对茎干物质量、叶干物质量和果实干物质量及黄瓜产量(鲜质量)预测值与实测值之间基于1:1直线之间的决定系数R2分别为0.945、0.943、0.990、0.955;相对预测误差RE分别为13.0%、12.3%、9.2%、16.8%.本模型可预测不同氮素水平下温室黄瓜地上部各器官干物质量和产量,可以为中国温室黄瓜生产的氮肥优化管理决策提供参考.     

The effect of genetic variation and nitrogen fertilization on productive characters of Greek oregano

This study aims to investigate the response of 10 Greek Oregano (Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum) populations, collected across Greece, under 3 levels of N-fertilization during 2012 and 2013. The populations were differentiated for dry matter (from 32.7 to 63.3?g·pot^?1), for essential oil content (from 2.31 to 5.86?ml·100^?1?g dry weight) and for amount of essential oil (from 1.37 to 2.46?ml·pot^?1), for both years. Those with the highest dry matter (1-“Palaiochori” and 5-“Gliki”) and the highest essential oil content (10-“Gytheio” and 9-“Achladocastro”) were superior by 30%, as compared to the general mean of the experiment. The populations 3-“Litochoro” and 5-“Gliki” had an increased amount of essential oil (24%) as compared to the general mean of the experiment. An additional nitrogen supply (N₀ to N₁ level) increased dry matter production and amount of essential oil per pot, while decreased essential oil content for all populations. Further increase of nitrogen supply, favored six populations for dry matter production and two populations for amount of essential oil per pot while had almost no effect on five populations for essential oil content. The superior populations could be used in a breeding program as starting material for the development of new cultivars.     

Oil, sugar, and starch characteristics in peanut breeding lines selected for low and high oil content and their combining ability

Peanut seeds contain approximately 50% oil on a dry weight basis, making them a high fat food. Reduction of the oil content would make peanuts a more desirable food to fat conscious consumers. Removal of existing oil by processing is not feasible for in-shell peanuts, the dominant product of the North Carolina-Virginia area. To reduce oil content in in-shell peanuts, a genetic solution must be found. However, while reduced oil content is a desirable objective, changes in oil must not be accompanied by significant decreases in any of the desirable aspects of peanut flavor. Because the impact of selection for low or high oil on flavor is not known, it would be useful to know in what form dry matter is being stored in the seed, particularly if it is not being stored as oil. Screening of 584 accessions identified two lines (PI 269723 and PI 315608) with high and two (Robusto 2 and Robusto 3) with low oil contents, each pair differing in sugar content. The four parents were crossed in diallel fashion to investigate patterns of inheritance. General combining abilities (GCA) for oil content closely followed values of the parental lines. One low oil parent (Robusto 2) had a correspondingly elevated GCA for sugar content, but neither low oil parent had the effect of elevating starch in progeny. Reciprocal cross differences were found for starch and sugar contents, suggesting influences of cytoplasmic genes on those traits. These lines serve as resource material for researchers interested in the genetic and physiological aspects of the oil-sugar-starch relationship in peanuts.     

Straightforward process for removal of milk fat globule membranes and production of fat-free whey protein concentrate from cheese whey

A straightforward method for the separation of milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) and production of fat-free whey protein concentrate/isolate from cheese whey has been developed. Lowering of the conductivity of the whey from its initial value of about 5600 μS cm(-1) to about 2000-500 μS cm(-1) via diafiltration with water caused selective precipitation of MFGM when incubated for 30 min at pH 4.2 and 35 °C. The whey proteins remained soluble in the supernatant under these conditions. Experimental evidence suggested that precipitation of MFGM at pH 4.2 was not due to a nonspecific effect of lowering of the conductivity of the whey but due to the specific effect of removal of Ca2+ from the whey. The lipid content of whey protein isolate obtained by this process was <0.2%, and the protein loss was <14%. The method provides an industrially feasible process for the production of fat-free whey protein concentrate/isolate. The MFGM, which is reported to contain bioactive/nutraceutical lipids and proteins, is a valuable byproduct of the process.     

Influence of origin and extraction method on argan oil physico-chemical characteristics and composition

Twenty one samples of argan oil of different geographical origin (Tidzi, Tamanar, Benaiznassen, Ait mzal, Ait Baha, Ighrem, Aoulouz) and/or prepared following a different process (traditional, mechanical, or industrial) were collected and their physico-chemical properties analyzed. Sample acidity was found between 0.14 and 1.40%, unsaponifiable matter between 0.34 and 0.79%, saponification value between 180.0 and 199.6, highest peroxide index was 5.72 meq/kg, refractive index (20 degrees C) between 1.4644 and 1.4705, and UV absorption at 270 nm between 0.228 and 0.605. This study, carried out on randomly selected samples, clearly demonstrates that press extraction does not alter either the chemical composition of argan oil or its physico-chemical characteristics. It also demonstrates that press extraction respects the critical factors reported for traditionally prepared oils and necessary to obtain a beneficial effect on human health (a specific fatty acid balance and high tocopherol and sterol levels). In addition, this study should be useful for the establishment of a national quality standard.     

Factors Affecting Cake Firmness and Cake Moisture Content as Evaluated by Response Surface Methodology

Values of initial fat temperature, mixing intensity, mixing time, and mass ratio of fat and sucrose (F/S ratio) were varied in the preparation of fat-sugar cream. The dependence of cake firmness and cake moisture content on these values, the size of sucrose particles, and storage time were studied using response surface methodology. The logarithm of storage time and F/S ratio proved to be the best predictors for both cake firmness and cake moisture content in the creamed cake. An interaction between fat temperature and F/S ratio had a notable influence and size of sucrose particles had a slight influence on cake firmness. Besides logarithm of time and F/S ratio, mixing intensity was the only factor that affected cake moisture content significantly.     

磷肥对日光温室番茄磷营养和产量及土壤酶活性的影响

采用盆栽方法进行了不同施磷（P2O5）水平下,日光温室番茄产量、不同生育期番茄磷素分配、干物质积累、土壤速效磷含量和酶活性研究,并确定了适宜番茄生长的最佳施磷量与土壤速效磷含量。结果表明,随着磷肥施用量的增加,土壤速效磷含量及番茄各组织含磷量相应增加;当施用P2O5达到0.53 g/kg（处理5）,土壤速效磷含量在60～77 mg/kg时,较适宜番茄生长,番茄产量和单果重达最高,根系和茎叶干物质积累也达到最好水平。当施磷量超过0.53 g/kg时,造成土壤和植株磷累积过高,易引起土壤盐害,降低土壤酶活性,从而降低干物质积累和番茄产量,影响土壤的可持续利用。     

Comparison of isolated cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) proanthocyanidins to catechin and procyanidins A2 and B2 for use as standards in the 4-(dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde assay

The 4-(dimethylamino)cinnamaldehyde (DMAC) assay is currently used to quantify proanthocyanidin (PAC) content in cranberry products. However, this method suffers from issues of accuracy and precision in the analysis and comparison of PAC levels across a broad range of cranberry products. Current use of procyanidin A2 as a standard leads to an underestimation of PACs content in certain cranberry products, especially those containing higher molecular weight PACs. To begin to address the issue of accuracy, a method for the production of a cranberry PAC standard, derived from an extraction of cranberry (c-PAC) press cake, was developed and evaluated. Use of the c-PAC standard to quantify PAC content in cranberry samples resulted in values that were 2.2 times higher than those determined by procyanidin A2. Increased accuracy is critical for estimating PAC content in relationship to research on authenticity, efficacy, and bioactivity, especially in designing clinical trials for determination of putative health benefits.     

Nitrogen requirements of taro

Taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] is an important root crop in the tropics. Under optimum conditions, the crop develops a large leaf area and accumulates substantial amounts of dry matter in the corms. To support this high biomass production, the crop requires large amounts of nitrogen (N). Excessive N fertilization, however, favors top growth, reduces the proportion of dry matter allocated to the corms, and often results in poor N use efficiency. To examine the dynamics governing N utilization, this paper reviews published responses of taro to N fertilization. The objective is to provide a better understanding of how dry matter production and partitioning proceeds in the presence of differential N regimes.     

冬小麦同化物生产与分配对水分胁迫响应的模拟模型研究

研究建立了不同土壤水分处理冬小麦同化物生产与积累模型 ,该模型综合考虑了环境因子对冬小麦物质生产能力的影响作用 ,引用简单的经验物质分配模式 ,得到同化产物的积累模型。并对模拟结果进行平均根方差分析 ,不同土壤水分处理叶、茎、穗干物质量模拟的平均根方差介于 1 5～ 1 0 0间 ,表明该模型较好地模拟不同土壤水分作物物质生产和积累过程     

Effect of the corn breaking method on oil distribution between stillage phases of dry-grind corn ethanol production

The majority of fuel ethanol in the United States is produced by using the dry-grind corn ethanol process. The corn oil that is contained in the coproduct, distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS), can be recovered for use as a biodiesel feedstock. Oil removal will also improve the feed quality of DDGS. The most economical way to remove oil is considered to be at the centrifugation step for separating thin stillage (liquid) from coarse solids after distilling the ethanol. The more oil there is in the liquid, the more it can be recovered by centrifugation. Therefore, we studied the effects of corn preparation and grinding methods on oil distribution between liquid and solid phases. Grinding the corn to three different particle sizes, flaking, flaking and grinding, and flaking and extruding were used to break up the corn kernel before fermentation, and their effects on oil distribution between the liquid and solid phases were examined by simulating an industrial decanter centrifuge. Total oil contents were measured in the liquid and solids after centrifugation. Dry matter yield and oil partitioning in the thin stillage were highly positively correlated. Flaking slightly reduced bound fat. The flaked and then extruded corn meal released the highest amount of free oil, about 25% compared to 7% for the average of the other treatments. The freed oil from flaking, however, became nonextractable after the flaked corn was ground. Fine grinding alone had little effect on oil partitioning.     

Separation of Fiber from Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS) Using Sieving and Elutriation

A process was developed to separate fiber from distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in a dry‐grind corn process. Separation of fiber from DDGS would provide two valuable coproducts: 1) DDGS with reduced fiber, increased fat, and increased protein contents; and 2) fiber. The process, called elusieve process, used two separation methods, sieving and elutriation, to separate the fiber. Material carried by air to the top of the elutriation column was called the lighter fraction and material that settled to the bottom of the column was called the heavier fraction. We evaluated the compositions of fractions produced from sieving and elutriation. Two commercial samples of DDGS were obtained from two dry‐grind corn plants. Sieving over four screens (869, 582, 447, and 234 μm openings) created five size categories. The two smallest size categories contained >40% (w/w) of the original DDGS and had reduced fiber and increased protein and fat contents relative to the original DDGS. Elutriation of the remaining three size categories increased protein and fat contents and reduced fiber contents in the heavier fractions. Elutriation at air velocities of 1.59–5.24 m/sec increased the protein content of the heavier fraction by 13–41% and increased the fat content of the heavier fraction by 4–127% compared with the bulk fractions of each size category. This process was effective in separating fiber from both DDGS samples evaluated. Elusieve process does not require changes in the existing dry‐grind process and can be implemented at the end of the dry‐grind process.     

乙醇水溶液提取玉米胚芽油的工艺优化

为了解决水酶法提取玉米胚芽油生产成本高、提取时间长的缺点,该文采用乙醇水溶液作为提取剂提取玉米胚芽油。通过对粒径、料液比、温度、乙醇体积分数、p H值和时间等条件对油在油相、水相和渣相中分布的研究发现,物料粒径和乙醇体积分数对提高清油得率具有显著(P0.05)的影响,而提取时间对清油得率的影响最小(P0.05)。在单因素试验的基础上通过正交试验,得出乙醇水溶液提取玉米胚芽油的最佳工艺参数为:物料细粉4次(此时粒径为49.18μm)、料液比1∶7 g/m L、温度70℃、乙醇体积分数30%、p H值9.0、提取时间2 h。在该条件下,清油的得率为94.05%±0.32%,水相含油量为3.49%±0.77%,渣相含油量为2.55%±0.82%。分析乙醇水溶液提取的玉米胚芽毛油酸价、过氧化值和含水率等指标发现,该毛油的质量优于国标规定的玉米原油,并且和压榨一级成品油指标接近,只需要经过简单精炼就可以达到食用油要求。研究结果为乙醇水溶液工业化生产玉米胚芽油提供参考。     

Main agronomic-productive characteristics of two ecotypes of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and chemical composition of their essential oils

The productive potential of two different ecotypes of Rosmarinus officinalis (Cevoli and Lunigiana) cultivated in the littoral area near Pisa (northern Tuscany, Italy) and the differences in the yield and composition of the essential oils of leaves, flowers, and stems obtained from different positions of the plants were used to characterize the two ecotypes. The Cevoli ecotype plant produced the highest yield of dry matter (221 g plant-1) in comparison to the Lunigiana ecotype (72 g plant-1). There were significant differences in dry matter production of different organs of both ecotypes. The essential oil contents of Cevoli and Lunigiana ecotypes were similar. In contrast, the oil contents of the different plant parts showed marked differences. The apical part of the plant and the leaves gave the highest essential oil yields. The major difference between the oils of the two ecotypes consisted in the 1,8-cineole contents (6.6 and 37.9% in Cevoli and Lunigiana, respectively). The Cevoli ecotype was determined to be the most suitable for essential oil extraction because it was characterized by a preponderance of flowers and leaves in the apical portion. The Cevoli ecotype could be classifited as an alpha-pinene chemotype, whereas Lunigiana is a 1,8-cineole chemotype.