scholarly journals Beekeeping practices and physicochemical properties of honey produced in Lerala village, Botswana

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-32
Author(s):  
L Bareki

This study was conducted to evaluate the physicochemical properties of Apis mellifera honey produced in Lerala village and to assess the beekeeping practices. Sale of honey is an important source of income for beekeepers in Lerala village. There are two types of honeybee production systems in the study area: traditional backyard beekeeping and forest honey harvesting. A total of six honey samples obtained from two sources (modern hive and forest) were analysed for physicochemical properties following standard procedures. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess beekeeping practices by interviewing 15 individuals who have experience in beekeeping. The  average values for moisture content, total ash, free acidity, reducing sugars, sucrose, pH, water-insoluble solids and hydroxymethylfurfural of honey samples obtained from modern hives  were 18%, 0.24%, 31 meq/kg, 56.6%, 1.88%, 4.24, 0.05 g/100g and 26.6 mg/kg, respectively. The corresponding values for honey obtained from the forest were 17.7%, 0.28%, 27.7 meq/kg, 58%, 2%, 5.18, 0.07 g/100g and 10.9 mg/kg, respectively. Honey source significantly (P≤0.05) influenced the pH, reducing sugars and sucrose contents of the honey samples while ash, free acidity, water-insoluble solids and moisture content were not significantly (P>0.05) different between the two sources of honey. The pH, sucrose and reducing sugars content of forest honey samples were significantly (P≤0.05) higher than honey obtained from modern hives. All the parameters analysed were within the limits set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission for honey. The major challenges faced by beekeepers in the study area include lack of skills and knowledge of beekeeping, weak extension services and lack of bee handling and honey processing equipment. Thus, there is a need for training of beekeepers on improved beekeeping practices and provision of inputs such as modern hives and honey handling and processing equipment to farmers.

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-42
Author(s):  
W. Bafo

This study was conducted to assess the harvesting practices in Kalakamati village of honey produced by the African stingless bee Plebeina hildebrandti Friese and to determine the physicochemical properties of this honey. To understand stingless bee honey harvesting practices, a semi-structured questionnaire was prepared and 15 individuals who have experience in collecting stingless bee honey were interviewed. The physicochemical properties of four honey samples were analysed following standard procedures. The stingless bee honey had average moisture (28.4%), reducing sugar (61%), apparent sucrose (2.4%), free acidity (36 meq/kg), pH (4.77), total ash (0.42%), hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) (17.82 mg/kg) and water-insoluble solids content of 0.07%. All the parameters comply with the Tanzanian standard for stingless bee honey whereas all but moisture content agrees with the European standard for honey from Apis mellifera. Moisture content of the stingless bee honey in the present study is higher than the 21% EU standard for Apis mellifera honey. In Kalakamati village, honey from stingless bees is collected from the bush and stingless bees are not kept by farmers. According to the respondents, honey from stingless bees is consumed as it is, is used as a substitute for sugar in tea and for its medicinal value to treat cough, stomach ache and flu. The results suggest that honey produced by stingless bees in Kalakamati village is of good quality as it generally meets international quality standards. Honey production from stingless bees could contribute to poverty alleviation and food security in the study area if appropriate interventions are made.


Author(s):  
Abdullahi Nwaha Isah ◽  
Umi Aisah Asli ◽  
Nasiru Audu ◽  
Sadiku Itopa Bello ◽  
Jibrin Waziri ◽  
...  

Tallow mainly consists of triglycerides, whose major constituents are derived from stearic, palmitic and oleic acids, and its usage reduces production cost of soap, adds lather stability and hardness to soap. Laundry soaps were produced with variation on amount of tallow (sourced from cow, sheep and goat) and labelled as A, B, C, D and E formulations. The respective tallows were characterized in terms of saponification value and acid value and determined to be 192.14 and 2.24mg KOH/g (cow tallow); 200.56 and 2.38mgKOH/g (sheep tallow) and 197.75 and 1.96 mgKOH/g (goat tallow). The physicochemical properties of soap which determine its area of usage and cleansing properties were determined. The properties considered in this work were hardness, moisture content, foam capacity, pH, free acidity content, and total fatty matter. The hardness, moisture content, foam capacity, pH, free acidity content and total fatty matter of the produced soaps were determined and ranged between mild-deep penetration level; 11-21%; 1-9cm; 8-10.5; 0.16-0.82% and 40-86% respectively. From the comparative analysis, soap made from sheep tallow has the lowest penetration level (with formulations B and E), lowest free acidity content of 0.16% (with formulation A), highest total fatty matter of 86% (using formulation E), highest foam height of 9cm (with formulation A), lowest moisture content of 11% (with formulation A) and mild alkalinity of 8 (with formulations A, B and E). These results showed that the soaps produced from sheep tallow are the best in terms of hardness, lather and skin friendliness, due to its high degree of longer carbon chain lengths of fatty acids. These values satisfy the standard limit set for good quality laundry soap by National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemical Analysis, respectively.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Walsh ◽  
John C. Broster ◽  
Stephen B. Powles

AbstractIn Australia, widespread evolution of multi-resistant weed populations has driven the development and adoption of harvest weed seed control (HWSC). However, due to incompatibility of commonly used HWSC systems with highly productive conservation cropping systems, better HWSC systems are in demand. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the integrated Harrington Seed Destructor (iHSD) mill on the seeds of Australia’s major crop weeds during wheat chaff processing. Also examined were the impacts of chaff type and moisture content on weed seed destruction efficacy. Initially, the iHSD mill speed of 3,000 rpm was identified as the most effective at destroying rigid ryegrass seeds present in wheat chaff. Subsequent testing determined that the iHSD mill was highly effective (>95% seed kill) on all Australian crop weeds examined. Rigid ryegrass seed kill was found to be highest for lupin chaff and lowest in barley, with wheat and canola chaff intermediate. Similarly, wheat chaff moisture reduced rigid ryegrass seed kill when moisture level exceeded 12%. The broad potential of the iHSD mill was evident, in that the reductions in efficacy due to wide-ranging differences in chaff type and moisture content were relatively small (≤10%). The results from these studies confirm the high efficacy and widespread suitability of the iHSD for use in Australian crop production systems. Additionally, as this system allows the conservation of all harvest residues, it is the best HWSC technique for conservation cropping systems.


Author(s):  
Yasemen Yanar ◽  
Mehmet Gökçin

The aims of this study were to determine the physicochemical properties of extracted gelatins from mackerel (Scomber scombrus) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) bones and compare with those of commercial fish and bovine gelatins. The yield of gelatin obtained from the bone of mackerel and sea bass were 5.98 and 6.20%, respectively. Two extracted gelatins showed higher protein content, lower moisture content compared to both commercial gelatins, indicates that the gelatin has considerably high purity. Melting temperatures of mackerel and sea bass bone gelatins were 25.5 and 23°C, respectively. Mackerel bone gelatin was yellow in appearance and higher L* value than both commercial gelatins. It can be concluded from the present study that mackerel and sea bass bone are a prospective source to produce gelatin in good yield with desirable functional properties comparable to commercially available mammalian and fish gelatins.


2020 ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
Rosalinda C Torres ◽  
Rowelain Mae G Yumang ◽  
Chelsea Kate F Jose ◽  
Danielle Camille P Canillo

Dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) is known for its purple-coloured peels and pulp, which can be attributed to the presence of betalains. In this study, the potential of red dragon fruit as a source of natural colorant was investigated. Betacyanins were extracted from red dragon fruit peels and flesh in 1:3 ratio with water. Microencapsulation by spray-drying was done by adding 5% and 10% (w/v) maltodextrin (DE 11.8) to peels and flesh extracts, respectively. The spray-dried colorant powders all obtained <10% moisture content, 5.261-6.409 g/100g hygroscopic moisture content, and 5.317-7.349(mg/100L) betacyanin content. Morphological characterization revealed spherical, agglomerated particles with visible cracks on the surface. The stability study conducted showed that pigment retention was lowest at 70°C and highest at 4°C. Keywords: Hylocereus polyrhizus; Red dragon fruit; Betacyanin; Microencapsulation; Physicochemical properties


Author(s):  
Kevin Nicolás Galvis-Arias ◽  
Luisa Daniela Hidrobo-Pedroza ◽  
María Cristina García-Muñoz ◽  
Oscar Andrés Mendieta-Menjura ◽  
Martha Patricia Tarazona-Díaz

Non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) is a natural sweetener with beneficial health properties. This is traditionally produced in an oven which has had technological variations. Therefore, the present study focuses on determining the effect that NCS processing technology has on its physicochemical properties. In this study, two contrasting technologies were selected: the first one corresponds to the traditional furnace, characterized by a flat combustion chamber and hemispherical pan. The second one corresponds to the furnace with a ward type combustion chamber and modified pan. The variety of sugarcane selected was RD 75-11. The physical and chemical parameters evaluated were hydrogen potential (pH), total acidity (TA), solid soluble content soluble (SSC), ash, minerals, reducing sugars, color, moisture content and heat capacity. The technology with ward- type combustion chamber and modified pan managed to concentrate the oBrix of syrup to NCS in a 36.03% unlike the traditional furnace (32.59%). The two technologies used allowed obtaining NCS with an average caloric value of 14684.9 J g-1 and soluble solid content of 90.1°Brix. It was found that the NCS is a source of minerals such as potassium (3.55 g kg -1), calcium (2.25 g kg -1) and phosphorus (0.3 g kg -1).


Author(s):  
Nyuk L Chin ◽  
Suit M Chan ◽  
Yus Aniza Yusof ◽  
Teong Guan Chuah ◽  
Rosnita A Talib

The properties of pummelo juice were studied by measuring its chemical and physical composition. Pummelo fruit juice was freeze-concentrated to a concentration varying from 10 to 50 °Brix for investigation at temperature ranging from 6 to 75 °C. The fresh pummelo juice compositions in terms of moisture content, ash, fat, protein, fibre, carbohydrates, and vitamin C are comparable to existing literature. The water activity, pH and acidity were predictable linearly by its concentration measured in °Brix. The density of pummelo juice was well-predicted using linear regressions with a single parameter (i.e., concentration), giving R2>0.983 and with a temperature at R2>0.921. The density of pummelo juice showed stronger dependence on its concentration than on the temperature. With multiple linear regressions, the density could be predicted by the equation, with an R2 of 0.9877. As such, these predictions are useful in the juice processing industry as densities variant by concentration and temperature are important during the pasteurization process.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Ezin Azonwade ◽  
Armand Paraïso ◽  
Cokou P. Agbangnan Dossa ◽  
Victorien T. Dougnon ◽  
Christine N’tcha ◽  
...  

Honey is a very complex biological product. It has great diversity, giving it a multitude of properties, both nutritionally and therapeutically. This study aimed to study the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of honeys collected during the dry and rainy seasons in the different phytogeographical areas of Benin. The study revealed that all honeys had pH, water content, electrical conductivity, ash content, free acidity, total sugars, and reducing sugars, respectively, ranging within 3.65–4.09; 12.07–13.16%; 530.25–698.50 μs/cm; 0.42–0.53%; 35.67–40.52 meq/kg; 60–70%; and 58–70%. Moisture content, total sugars, and reducing sugars varied very significantly (p<0.05top<0.001) from one area to another and from one season to another. However, only the production season has a significant influence (p<0.05) on the pH of the honey. With regard to the ash content, free acidity, and electrical conduction, no significant difference (p>0.05) between the zones or between the seasons was observed. The results of the microbiological characterization showed that there is heterogeneity in the microbial load. These results have shown that these honeys meet international standards and their characterization will make it possible to obtain Beninese quality labels.


Author(s):  
Mircea OROIAN ◽  
Sorina ROPCIUC ◽  
Amalia BUCULEI ◽  
Sergiu PADURET ◽  
Elena TODOSI

The aim of this study is to determine the physicochemical (moisture content, pH, free acidity, electrical conductivity, colour (L*, a*, b*, chroma, hue angle), ash content, fructose and glucose content) and to determine the phenolic profile (quercetin, apigenin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, kaempherol, caffeic acid, chrysin, galangin, luteolin, p-coumaric acid, gallic acid and pinocembrin) of five samples of honeydew honeys from the North East part of Romania. The honey samples analysed respected the maximum allowable level of the moisture content, which is established by the European Union at 20%. The acidic nature of the honeydew is confirmed by the level of the pH and free acidity of the samples, and is influenced in principal by the organic acids; all the samples had a free acidity lower than 50 meq acid/kg. The honey colour is dark which is confirmed by the level of the CIE L*a*b* parameters (lower values of L*, a* and b*). The inverted sugar level (fructose and glucose content) is higher than 60 g/ 100g, respecting the European Union directive. The phenolic profile of the honeydew samples do not presented one compound that can be considered a chemical marker, the major polyphenols presented into the honeydew honeys are quercetin and pinocembrin.


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