scholarly journals Interdisciplinary Projects Applied to Chemistry Lessons: Example of Chemistry Linked to Food Science

2020 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 196-198
Author(s):  
Lydie Moreau ◽  
Véronique Breguet Mercier

An interdisciplinary project regarding the effect of ascorbic acid on bread dough's physico-chemical properties was proposed to bachelor students in chemistry and food sciences. Such an approach was proposed to develop both scientific and soft skills, in order to prepare students for their future working environment. Together, students deepened their knowledge regarding food science and chemistry. They were then able to plan and design experiments demonstrating the impact of gluten network formation and ascorbic acid influence onto bread dough and finished product characteristics. This way of teaching was very appreciated by students, nevertheless it highlighted the fact that the professors' investment was considerably high, and that good organization, alignment and preparation prior to the start of this project is key.

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 149
Author(s):  
Karol Leluk ◽  
Stanisław Frąckowiak ◽  
Joanna Ludwiczak ◽  
Tomasz Rydzkowski ◽  
Vijay Kumar Thakur

Recently, biocomposites have emerged as materials of great interest to the scientists and industry around the globe. Among various polymers, polylactic acid (PLA) is a popular matrix material with high potential for advanced applications. Various particulate materials and nanoparticles have been used as the filler in PLA based matrix. One of the extensively studied filler is cellulose. However, cellulose fibres, due to their hydrophilic nature, are difficult to blend with a hydrophobic polymer matrix. This leads to agglomeration and creates voids, reducing the mechanical strength of the resulting composite. Moreover, the role of the various forms of pure cellulose and its particle shape factors has not been analyzed in most of the current literature. Therefore, in this work, materials of various shapes and shape factors were selected as fillers for the production of polymer composites using Polylactic acid as a matrix to fill this knowledge gap. In particular, pure cellulose fibres (three types with different elongation coefficient) and two mineral nanocomponents: precipitated calcium carbonate and montmorillonite were used. The composites were prepared by a melt blending process using two different levels of fillers: 5% and 30%. Then, the analysis of their thermomechanical and physico-chemical properties was carried out. The obtained results were presented graphically and discussed in terms of their shape and degree of filling.


Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zubair Aslam ◽  
Safdar Bashir ◽  
Waseem Hassan ◽  
Korkmaz Bellitürk ◽  
Niaz Ahmad ◽  
...  

The present study was conducted to explore the role of different types of vermicomposts (VCs) prepared from different substrates to improve soil health (physical and chemical properties) and wheat plant growth under field conditions. Different combinations of vermicompost prepared from different substrates (cow dung, paper waste, and rice straw) and inorganic fertilizers were applied in soil using wheat as a test plant. The impact of three different VCs on physico-chemical characteristics and nutrient availability in soil was evaluated to examine their efficacy in combination with chemical fertilizers. Temporal trends in vermicomposting treatments at various stages showed significant improvement in physico-chemical attributes of the VCs substrates. All the plant physiological attributes showed significant response where N:P:K 100:50:50 kg ha−1 + 10 t ha−1 cow dung vermicompost was applied. In addition, post-harvest analysis of soil not only revealed that different combinations of the vermicomposting treatments improved the soil health by improving the physico-chemical attributes of the soil. Conclusively, application of cow dung vermicompost along with recommended NPK not only improved crop yield, soil health, reduced insect (aphid) infestation but also fortified grains with Zn and Fe.


Author(s):  
Gintaras JARAŠIŪNAS ◽  
Irena KINDERIENĖ

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different land use systems on soil erosion rates, surface evolution processes and physico-chemical properties on a moraine hilly topography in Lithuania. The soil of the experimental site is Bathihypogleyi – Eutric Albeluvisols (abe–gld–w) whose texture is a sandy loam. After a 27-year use of different land conservation systems, three critical slope segments (slightly eroded, active erosion and accumulation) were formed. Soil physical properties of the soil texture and particle sizes distribution were examined. Chemical properties analysed for were soil ph, available phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (N). We estimated the variation in thickness of the soil Ap horizon and soil physico-chemical properties prone to a sustained erosion process. During the study period (2010–2012) water erosion occurred under the grain– grass and grass–grain crop rotations, at rates of 1.38 and 0.11 m3 ha–1 yr–1, respectively. Soil exhumed due to erosion from elevated positions accumulated in the slope bottom. As a result, topographic transfiguration of hills and changes in soil properties occurred. However, the accumulation segments of slopes had significantly higher silt/clay ratios and SOC content. In the active erosion segments a lighter soil texture and lower soil ph were recorded. Only long-term grassland completely stopped soil erosion effects; therefore geomorphologic change and degradation of hills was estimated there as minimal.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iryna Antal ◽  
Oliver Strbak ◽  
Iryna Khmara ◽  
Martina Koneracka ◽  
Martina Kubovcikova ◽  
...  

In this study, we analysed the physico-chemical properties of positively charged magnetic fluids consisting of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) functionalised by different amino acids (AAs): glycine (Gly), lysine (Lys) and tryptophan (Trp), and the influence of AA–MNP complexes on the MRI relaxivity. We found that the AA coating affects the size of dispersed particles and isoelectric point, as well as the zeta potential of AA–MNPs differently, depending on the AA selected. Moreover, we showed that a change in hydrodynamic diameter results in a change to the relaxivity of AA–MNP complexes. On the one hand, we observed a decrease in the relaxivity values, r1 and r2, with an increase in hydrodynamic diameter (the relaxivity of r1 and r2 were comparable with commercially available contrast agents); on the other hand, we observed an increase in r2* value with an increase in hydrodynamic size. These findings provide an interesting preliminary look at the impact of AA coating on the relaxivity properties of AA–MNP complexes, with a specific application in molecular contrast imaging originating from magnetic nanoparticles and magnetic resonance techniques.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (02) ◽  
pp. 176-184
Author(s):  
Amit Kotiyal ◽  
Siddharth Shankar Bhatt ◽  
Jitendra Kumar ◽  
Dinesh Chandra Dimri ◽  
Narender Singh Mehta

The objective of this study was to compare the physico-chemical properties of 10 apple cultivars grown in mid hills of India. Fruit weight, volume, size, total soluble solids (T.S.S.), total sugars, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid content were measured in the cultivars Aurora, Brookfield, Braeburn, Galaxy, Azetec, Scarlet Gala, Marini Red, Jonagold, Royal Gala and Royal Delicious. The results showed significant differences in physico-chemical attributes of apple cultivars. Among all the cultivars the maximum fruit size (50.66 mm length, 74.73 mm diameter) and fruit weight (170.12 g) were observed in cv. Royal Delicious, while the minimum fruit size (40.52 mm length, 53.03 mm diameter) and weight (110.97 g) were measured in Azetec and Aurora, respectively. The highest volume (196.79 ml) of fruit was registered in Royal Delicious in comparison to the minimum (125.75 ml) in Aurora. The maximum T.S.S. (14.27 °B) and acidity (0.717%) was noticed in Scarlet Gala and Marini Red, respectively. While the minimum T.S.S. and acidity was observed in Marini Red (11.20 °B) and Azetec (0.186%). The ascorbic acid varied from 6.07 mg/100 g in Royal Gala to 9.86 mg/100 g in Braeburn, whereas the total sugar ranged 11.36% in Royal Gala to 7.06% in Jonagold.


2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (01) ◽  
pp. 88-91
Author(s):  
Ram Kumar ◽  
M. M. Syamal ◽  
R. Chandra ◽  
Vishwanath .

The present investigation was conducted on different genotypes of aonla to assess the variability in physico- chemical properties of fruits. These plants were planted in the campus of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, U.P. The experiment was arranged in randomized block design with 12 treatments and 4 replications. The observations recorded during experiment showed that genotype 6 and 7 were found most superior, in terms of physico-chemical properties of fruits. The maximum pulp content (88.25%), pulp: stone ratio (8.24) and ascorbic acid content (679.25 mg/ 100g) was recorded in genotype 7. Whereas, highest TSS (12.18%), lowest acidity (1.80%) and maximum sugar (3.50%, 2.50% and 6.0% reducing, non-reducing and total sugar respectively) was found in genotype 6.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (23) ◽  
pp. 13146
Author(s):  
Hanna Pruchnik ◽  
Anna Gliszczyńska ◽  
Aleksandra Włoch

The aim of this work was the evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of a new type of liposomes that are composed of DPPC and bioconjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine. In particular, the impact of modified anisic acid phospholipids on the thermotropic parameters of liposomes was determined, which is crucial for using them as potential carriers of active substances in cancer therapies. Their properties were determined using three biophysical methods, namely differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), steady-state fluorimetry and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Moreover, temperature studies of liposomes composed of DPPC and bioconjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine provided information about the phase transition, fluidity regarding chain order, hydration and dynamics. The DSC results show that the main phase transition peak for conjugates of anisic acid with phosphatidylcholine molecules was broadened and shifted to a lower temperature in a concentration- and structure-dependent manner. The ATR-FTIR results and the results of measurements conducted using fluorescent probes located at different regions in the lipid bilayer are in line with DSC. The results show that the new bioconjugates with phosphatidylcholine have a significant impact on the physico-chemical properties of a membrane and cause a decrease in the temperature of the main phase transition. The consequence of this is greater fluidity of the lipid bilayer.


Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1205
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Piotrowska-Kirschling ◽  
Joanna Brzeska

Materials science is an interdisciplinary area of studies. This science focuses on the influence of the physico-chemical properties of materials on their application in human everyday lives. The materials’ synthesis should be developed in accordance with sustainable development. Polyurethanes (PUR) represent a significant consumption of plastic in the world. Modification of PUR, e.g., with polysaccharide of natural origin (chitosan, Chit), should have a positive effect on their functional properties and degradability in the natural environment. The basic parameters affecting the scope and direction of changes are the size and quantity of the chitosan particles. The impact assessment of chitosan on the chemical structure, morphology, thermal properties, crystallinity, mechanical properties, flammability, water sorption, adsorption properties, degradability, and biological activity of PUR/Chit composites (without other additives) is discussed in this article. To the best of our knowledge, recent literature does not contain a study discussing the direct impact of the presence of chitosan in the structure of PUR/Chit composite on its properties, regardless of the intended uses. This paper provides an overview of publications, which presents the results of a study on the effect of adding chitosan in polyurethane/chitosan composites without other additives on the properties of polyurethane.


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