Ultrafiltration for the separation of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase and its effect on physicochemical and antioxidant properties of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) water

Coconut water is a nutritious, natural, and refreshing drink. However, a challenge for the coconut water industry is its fast deterioration caused by naturally occurring enzymes mainly polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD). This study aimed to separate the PPO and POD using ultrafiltration and to evaluate its effect on the physicochemical properties and antioxidant attributes of tender and mature coconut water. The membrane used was polyethersulfone (PES) with two molecular weight cut-offs, namely 30 kDa (PES 30) and 50 kDa (PES 50) and conducted in a vacuum filter unit. The results showed that ultrafiltration with PES 30 completely separated the POD activity of both tender and mature coconut water. The ultrafiltration was also able to separate 86.07% PPO activity of tender coconut water and 100% separation on mature coconut water. While PES 50 could separate 49.60% PPO activity in tender coconut water. The ultrafiltration process also increased the clarity of mature coconut water and maintained the total sugar, sodium, and potassium contents in both maturities. However, ultrafiltration using these membrane types reduced total phenolic content and radical scavenging activity. In conclusion, this study revealed that ultrafiltration can remove the oxidative enzymes to extend the shelf life against oxidation deterioration. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the separation of enzymes without high significance loss of polyphenols, antioxidants, and nutritional properties

Dispersed filler based on synthetic calcium carbonate – requirements for applications quality

The introduction of fillers into various materials improves its technological, physical and mechanical properties, and leads to a decrease in cost. The main areas of application of natural and synthetic calcium carbonate as highly dispersed fillers are: the construction industry, the production of Portland cement, mineral fertilizers, glass, paper, polymer composite materials, paints and varnishes, and rubbers. A promising direction at present is the use of production by-products as fillers, for example, conversion calcium carbonate - a waste product from the production of a complex mineral fertilizer - nitroammophoska. However, its use in the above areas is limited by the content of water-soluble nitrogen-containing impurities, impurities of heavy metals, strontium carbonate, phosphates, etc. The analysis of scientific, technical and patent literature on methods of purification of conversion calcium carbonate has been carried out. These methods are based on the extraction of impurities from the initial product of calcium carbonate production - a melt of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate by precipitation with various reagents, followed by the isolation of an insoluble precipitate (impurities) and processing of the purified melt into calcium carbonate and nitroammofoska. A method is proposed for the extraction of acid-tonic-soluble iron-containing impurities from the initial calcium nitrate melt in order to obtain a cleaner by-product - conversion calcium carbonate, which will expand the scope of its application. An effective method is to dilute the initial calcium nitrate melt with a 60% solution of ammonium nitrate to a calcium content of 12-13%, followed by the isolation of an acid-insoluble precipitate in a vacuum filter, conversion of the purified calcium nitrate solution with ammonium carbonate and separation of the resulting suspension in a drum filter. The described method can reduce the amount of iron-containing impurities by more than 50%.

Elimination of the juice clarifier and the drum vacuum filter at a cane sugar plant

The sugar manufacturing process includes many stations with specific residence times for proper and complete reactions. Sugar losses due to inversion in sugar processing are mainly influenced by temperature, pH value, d.s. content, and residence time of the juices/syrups. Reducing the residence time by the elimination of some process steps would reduce sucrose loss. Recycling of clarifier underflow into the cane diffuser was initiated in 2004. At the sugar units of The Andhra Sugars Limited the drum vacuum filter is no longer used. In the 2012/13 milling season at plant-3 a plant-scale run of clarification of juice in the diffuser to produce diffuser clear juice (DCJ) was carried out. The juice clarifier was bypassed with encouraging process and financial outcomes. With the elimination of the drum vacuum filter and the juice clarifier, there was a gain in sugar recovery as well as savings in manpower, electricity, steam, and maintenance costs. For a new raw sugar plant using this process the capital costs would be reduced.

Meningkatkan Kinerja Mesin Extrude Hydron Menggunakan Metode Preventive Maintenance

Background Hydron extrude machines in line 4 have a high enough total downtime, until the October 2019 period with a total of 264, 33 hours. Damage that often occurs in extrude machines from each Extrude Hydron engine subsystem, namely vacuum filter, vacuum hose and digital vacuum indicator. Aim to focus on steps to reduce damage. And from maintenance ensures the level of reliability and readiness while minimizing maintenance costs. Method on the extrude hydron machine is to use visual inspection and quantitative presentation. Results and Discussion Damage that occurs in vacuum filter components that often need to be caused by dust contamination, Automatic sensors (Limit Switch Piston, Pneumatic Limit Switch Cylinderr) are contaminated with dust particles. In repairing the damage that occurs is based on field conditions, so that the repair downtime is quite long due to the availability of spare parts and technical personnel. Conclusion in minimizing damage to extrude hydron machines using preventive maintenance

Технологические аспекты обезвоживания осадков промышленно-дождевых сточных вод автотранспортных предприятий

Приводятся сведения об условиях формирования, объемах, химическом составе и свойствах осадков очистных сооружений производственных сточных вод автотранспортных предприятий. Даны примеры технологических решений по обезвоживанию образующихся в процессе очистки шламов. Рассмотрены технологические аспекты процесса интенсификации механического обезвоживания уплотненных осадков с использованием высокомолекулярных полиэлектролитов. Представлены данные лабораторных экспериментов по выбору типа флокулянта, его дозы, технологических параметров процесса, а также результаты определения влажности обезвоженных осадков, полученные на модели барабанного вакуум-фильтра. Приведены примеры эффективных обезвоживающих аппаратов отечественного производства и их технические характеристики, рекомендации и критерии их выбора, а также факторы, оказывающие влияние на эксплуатационные параметры обезвоживающего оборудования. Установлено, что наилучшая обезвоживающая способность барабанных вакуум-фильтров (остаточная влажность шламов от 66 до 83) может быть достигнута при применении катионного флокулянта ВПК-402 для осадков различных производственных цехов автотранспортного предприятия.Information on the conditions of generation, volumes, chemical composition and properties of sludge generated at the industrial wastewater treatment facilities of motor transport enterprises is provided. Examples of process engineering solutions for dewatering sludge generated during the wastewater treatment process are given. The technological aspects of enhancing mechanical dewatering of thickened sludge using high-molecular polyelectrolytes are considered. The data of laboratory experiments on choosing the type of flocculant, its dose, technological parameters of the process, as well as the results of determining the moisture content of dewatered sludge obtained in a model of a drum vacuum filter are presented. Examples of effective domestically produced dewatering apparatus and their technical characteristics, recommendations and criteria for their selection, as well as factors influencing the operational parameters of the dewatering equipment are given. It is found that the highest dewatering capacity of drum vacuum filters (residual sludge moisture content from 66 to 83) can be achieved by using VPK-402 cationic flocculant for processing sludge generated at the workshop premises of a motor transport enterprise.

Surgical vacuum filter-derived stromal cells are superior in proliferation to human bone marrow aspirate

Background During joint replacement, surgical vacuum suction guarantees a sufficient overview on the situs. We assume high concentrations of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) on surgical vacuum filters. We compared the in vitro proliferative and differentiation potency of cells from the following: (i) bone marrow (BM), (ii) cancellous bone (CB), (iii) vacuum filter (VF), and (iv) cell saver filtrate reservoir (SF) in 32 patients undergoing elective total hip replacement. Methods Mononuclear cells (MNC) were isolated, and cell proliferation and colony-forming units (CFU) were measured. Adherent cells were characterized by flow cytometry for MSC surface markers. Cells were incubated with osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic stimuli. Cells were cytochemically stained and osteoblastic expression (RUNX-2, ALP, and BMP-2) investigated via qPCR. Results Dependent on the source, initial MNC amount as well as CFU number was significantly different whereas generation time did not vary significantly. CFU numbers from VF were superior to those from SR, BM, and CB. The resulting amount of MSC from the respective source was highest in the vacuum filter followed by reservoir, aspirate, and cancellous bone. Cells from all groups could be differentiated into the three mesenchymal lines demonstrating their stemness nature. However, gene expression of osteoblastic markers did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusion We conclude that surgical vacuum filters are able to concentrate tissue with relevant amounts of MSCs. A new potent source of autologous regeneration material with clinical significance is identified. Further clinical studies have to elucidate the regenerative potential of this material in an autologous setting.

Paper-Based Flexible Electrode Using Chemically-Modified Graphene and Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Composites for Electrophysiological Signal Sensing

Flexible paper-based physiological sensor electrodes were developed using chemically-modified graphene (CG) and carboxylic-functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube composites (f@MWCNTs). A solvothermal process with additional treatment was conducted to synthesize CG and f@MWCNTs to make CG-f@MWCNT composites. The composite was sonicated in an appropriate solvent to make a uniform suspension, and then it was drop cast on a nylon membrane in a vacuum filter. A number of batches (0%~35% f@MWCNTs) were prepared to investigate the performance of the physical characteristics. The 25% f@MWCNT-loaded composite showed the best adhesion on the paper substrate. The surface topography and chemical bonding of the proposed CG-f@MWCNT electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The average sheet resistance of the 25% CG-f@MWCNT electrode was determined to be 75 Ω/□, and it showed a skin contact impedance of 45.12 kΩ at 100 Hz. Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals were recorded from the chest and fingertips of healthy adults using the proposed electrodes. The CG-f@MWCNT electrodes demonstrated comfortability and a high sensitivity for electrocardiogram signal detection.

Reduction of alkali content in nepheline sludge for the production of heat-resistant insulating materials from it

The results of studies of the reduction of alkali metal oxides in nepheline sludge are presented. The alkali-containing phase is sodium hydroaluminosilicate. The methodology of the experimental studies involved the preparation of a water suspension with a given ratio W:T, mechanical stirring, heating, aging and separation of the pulp on a vacuum filter. A technology has been developed to reduce the alkali content by 21% of the initial amount of alkali, which has increased the melting temperature by 310 ° C. The obtained results are the basis for the design of a pilot plant and the development of refractory heat-insulating materials with the replacement of expensive mineral raw materials with non-deficient man-made waste. Ill. 2. Ref. 22. Tab. 1.

Treatment of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediments by application of flocculants

Many steel-works discharge the sediments from BOF gas cleaning systems sludge pans into the waste accumulators without dewatering, therefore implementation of facilities of their treatment is an extraordinarily actual task. Besides the BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediments are attributed to a substance rich or relatively rich by iron, which can be utilized in metallurgical production after dewatering. Application of synthetic organic flocculants for sediments conditioning is one of most effective methods of dewatering equipment operation intensification. Results of experiment tests on the treatment of real BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment by a high-molecular organic flocculants namely Servey FL9, Nalco 71661 and Nalco 8172 PULV. It was shown, that Nalco 8172 PULV is most effective reagent for the sediment conditioning. The effective doze of high-molecular anion flocculant for treatment of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment before the gravitational thickening and further mechanical dewatering is 0.15 g of active substance per1 kg of dry sediment substance. Technological parameters of dewatering equipment determined when using high-molecular anion flocculant for intensification of the treatment process of BOF gas cleaning systems sewage sediment: the specific load for thickeners by dry sediment substance is 300–400 kg/(h·m2), the specific load for disc vacuum-filter by dry sediment substance is 60–70 kg/(h·m2). Content of suspended particles in bright water from thickeners and filtrate from vacuum-filter is less than 100 mg/dm3.