Resveratrol and piceid levels in natural and blended peanut butters

Peanut and its derivatives, especially peanut butter, are extensively consumed in many countries, mainly in the United States, which is also the major exporter of these products. trans-Resveratrol is present in peanuts, and recently this compound has been quantified in peanut butter. It is well-known that there are beneficial effects of trans-resveratrol and its glucoside, the piceid, in health. The absorption of trans-resveratrol has been proven in animals, and certain studies show that the absorption of some phenols is enhanced by conjugation with glucose, so that it could be possible that trans-piceid would be more absorbed than its aglycon (trans-resveratrol). In our work, we have identified the presence of trans-piceid in peanut butter with a new method to quantify trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid (3-beta-glucose of trans-resveratrol). This fact is very interesting because the glucosilated form could be more easily absorbed by the intestinal gut; in this way trans-piceid would exercise its beneficial function more efficiently than trans-resveratrol. To our knowledge, this is the first time that trans-piceid has been quantified in peanut butter. Resveratrol and piceid contents in natural peanut butters were found to be significantly higher than those in blended peanut butters.     

A rapid method for the determination of chlorine, phosphorus, and sulfur in flours of grains and legumes using wavelength dispersive x-ray flourescence spectrometry

A rapid method for the determination of chlorine, phosphorus, and sulfur in commercial flours of wheat, barley, maize, rice, field bean, and soybean by wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry has been developed. The flours are strained through a 425 microns sieve, then pelletized and measured. The total analysis time for the quantitation of chlorine, phosphorus, and sulfur is less than 20 min per sample. Calibration is carried out using a standard additions method with mixed standards. The method is accurate and precise, and appears to be adequate for routine analyses.     

Removal of Copper and Cadmium Ions from Diluted Aqueous Solutions by Low Cost and Waste Material Adsorbents

The sorption of copper and cadmium ions using activated carbon,kaolin, bentonite, diatomite and waste materials such as compost,cellulose pulp waste and anaerobic sludge as sorbents is reported. Equilibrium isotherms were obtained for the adsorption of these metals in single and binary solutions. Bentonite presented the highest adsorption capacities for both copper and cadmium. A competitive uptake was observed when both metals are present; copper being preferentially adsorbed by all materials with theexception of anaerobic sludge. Equilibrium data were fitted toLangmuir and Freundlich models, with satisfactory results for most of the adsorbent-metal systems studied.Of all the adsorbents studied, bentonite and compost presentedthe highest removal efficiencies, reaching 99% for copper whencadmium is also present, for initial solution concentrations ofup to 100 mg L^-1. Anaerobic sludge has a greater preferencefor cadmium, even in the presence of copper, with removal efficiencies of 98% for similar concentrations to those mentioned above.     

Removal of Mercury Ions from Mixed Aqueous Metal Solutions by Natural and Modified Zeolitic Minerals

Research works on the removal of mercury from water by zeolitic mineralshow that small quantities of this element are sorbed. In this work the mercury sorption from aqueous solutions in the presence and absence of Cu(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) onto a Mexican zeolitic mineral unmodified and modified with cysteamine hydrochloride or cystamine dihydrochloride was investigated in acidic pH. The zeolitic minerals were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and FTIR. The sorption kinetics behavior and the retention isotherms for mercury were determined in the natural and treated zeolitic mineral samples. It was found that the amounts of sulfur on the modified zeolitic minerals were 0.375 (cysteamine hydrochloride) and 0.475 (cystamine dihydrochloride) mmol g^-1, which were not saturated to their total capacities of adsorption for the maximum concentration used (0.310 mM). Under the experimental conditions, the retention of mercury was the highest for the zeolitic minerals treated with the organic compounds, with adsorption capacities ranging from 0.0107 to 0.0509 mmol Hg g^-1.The retention was not affected by the presence of others heavy metals studied in this work as expected.     

Improved water solubility of neohesperidin dihydrochalcone in sweetener blends

Significant technological advantages in terms of sweetness synergy and hence cost-saving can be obtained if neohesperidin dihydrochalcone (NHDC) is used in sweetener blends with other intense or bulk sweeteners. The combination of NHDC with sodium saccharin or sodium cyclamate is an excellent method to improve the water solubility at room temperature of NHDC. In the case of NHDC-sodium saccharin, two different methods for blend preparation, a simple mixture and a cosolubilized mixture, can be used, with similar results obtained for solubility and solution stability properties. To improve temporally the water solubility of NHDC in combination with sodium cyclamate, it is absolutely necessary to prepare cosolubilized blends.     

Effect of cooking temperatures on chemical changes in species of organic arsenic in seafood

The concentrations of arsenobetaine (AB), tetramethylarsonium ion (TMA(+)), and trimethylarsine oxide (TMAO) were determined in samples of sole, dory, hake, and sardine, raw and after being subjected to cooking processes--baking, frying, and grilling--at various temperatures. In all cases, the temperature attained inside the product during the cooking process was measured. The arsenic species extracted from the samples with methanol/water were separated by means of a column switching technique between a PRP-X100 column and a PRP-X200 column. AB was detected by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, whereas TMA(+) and TMAO were detected by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The results obtained showed that, in all of the types of seafood studied, TMA(+) appeared after cooking, possibly because heating facilitates decarboxylation of AB to TMA(+).     

Total and inorganic arsenic in fresh and processed fish products

Total arsenic and inorganic arsenic contents were determined in 153 samples of seafood products consumed in the Basque Country (Spain): fish (white fish and blue fish), mollusks, crustaceans, and preserved fish. White fish presented higher levels of total arsenic and lower levels of inorganic arsenic than the blue fish, indicating possible differences in the metabolization of inorganic arsenic. For total arsenic, 66% of the samples exceeded the maximum permitted level by the strictest international legislation in seafood products [1 microg g(-)(1), wet weight (ww)]. The levels of inorganic arsenic were considerably lower than the maximum authorized in New Zealand (2 microg g(-)(1), ww), the only country with legislation for inorganic arsenic in fish and fish products. It is recommended that legislation based on levels of inorganic arsenic should be established.     

Application of an electronic nose to predict total volatile bases in capelin (Mallotus villosus) for fishmeal production

An electronic nose was used as a rapid technique to monitor changes in the headspace gas above capelin (Mallotus villosus) during storage at 0 and 5 degrees C. At both temperatures, refrigeration was compared with an ice/seawater cooling system. At 5 degrees C, the effect of added 0.2% acetic acid was also tested. Electronic nose measurements were compared to measurements of total volatile bases (TVB), gas chromatography of volatile compounds, and sensory analysis. TVB analysis indicated less spoilage in seawater/ice systems than in refrigeration, but the other measurements indicated more spoilage in the seawater system compared to refrigeration. The possibility of using only a few sensors in the electronic nose to predict TVB was studied using partial least squares regression and a saturated generalized linear model. The results reported herein indicate that rapid electronic nose measurements, which require no sample preparation, can be used to predict the TVB value of the raw material stored under different conditions.     

Effect of the addition of sewage sludge as a fertilizer on a sandy vineyard soil

Purpose

The application of sludge from wastewater in agriculture has increased in recent years, and it is therefore important to assess the effect that such treatment has on both the soil and the plant. The aim of the study described here was to ascertain whether there is a variation in the properties of the soil and to determine if this addition has an impact on the plant.

Materials and methods

The area of investigation was close to the municipality of Villarrubia de los Ojos (Ciudad Real). In this work, six samples were taken from the surface horizon in the studied plot at a depth of 35 cm. A further three samples were taken: (i) a surface horizon of a soil close to the area under investigation but without treatment (control sample), (ii) a sample of sludge from the wastewater treatment plant and (iii) a sample of the mixture used by farmers as fertilizer. Laboratory tests were conducted in accordance with the SCS-USDA (1972) guidelines. Trace element samples were analysed by X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry (Philips PW 2404).

Results and discussion

The parcel of land studied is dominated by a sandy texture (88.3 % sand), and a decrease in pH was observed in areas in which the mixture (manure + sludge) was added (pH?=?8.0) compared to areas in which fertilizer was not applied (pH?=?8.5). It was observed that the addition of the compound led to an increase in the electrical conductivity of the soil. The trace elements can be organized into two groups based on the results obtained in this study. One group contains the trace elements that were only present in the rows that were treated with the fertilizer. The other group of trace elements was mobilized throughout the whole plot.

Conclusions

The application of sewage sludge on agricultural soils can be very useful as an organic amendment because it produces an increase in soil organic matter. However, sewage sludge must be applied with caution due to the changes in soil chemical properties (for example, pH and E.C.). The use of this type of waste for prolonged periods of time can cause problems of contamination in the soil.

     

Remediation of As-Contaminated Soils in the Guadiamar River Basin (SW, Spain)

In 1998, the pond containing the ore wastes from a pyrite mine in Aznalcóllar (SW, Spain) broke open, spilling some 36×10⁵ m³ of acidic waters and 9?×?10⁵ m³ of tailings containing high concentrations of As and heavy metals. The affected area was around 55 km² of predominantly agricultural soils. After the clean-up of the tailings, many remediation actions were undertaken and the use of blocking agents to immobilize the As was one of the most extended measure. The first experiment performed was to determine the most important soil components in As adsorption under acidic conditions. A second experiment was conducted to neutralize the acidity caused by the solution coming from the tailings undergoing oxidation; an adequate liming material (sugar-refinery scum) was selected and the application rates were established. After the remediation measures, the zone was monitored for three years. A detailed study in four experimental plots located in the most polluted sector was carried out to test the influence of iron oxides in the As immobilization. The use of red soils of the area (rich in free-iron oxides Fe_d) was established as an appropriate material in the remediation of the area.