Chufa Drink: Potential in Developing a New Plant-Based Fermented Dessert

Plant-based foods with desirable texture and nutritional value have attracted considerable interest from consumers. In order to meet the growing demand for more sustainable and health-focused products, new sources for plant-based products are needed. In this study, we aimed to develop an innovative plant-based dessert based on the underutilized crop chufa tubers (Cyperus esculentus). The chufa extract was fermented with plant-adapted lactic acid bacteria and formulated with the purpose of imitating the Danish summer dessert “cold butter-milk soup”. The effect of various bacterial fermentations and formulations on steady and oscillatory rheology, stability, dry matter, pH, and sugar profile of the product were studied and compared to a commercial cold buttermilk soup sample. A strain of Leuconostoc mesenteroides was found to create the most similar taste to a commercial sample. By adding lemon juice, sucrose, xanthan gum, and vanilla to the fermented chufa drink, the drink was found to mimic the pH, texture, acid profile, and stability of a commercial dairy-based sample, while containing a lower concentration of carbohydrates.

Treated Cow Milk Quality Analysis in High-Temperature Short Time (HTST) Thermal Treatment using F-Value and Methylene Blue Reduction Test (MBRT)

This study was conducted to evaluate raw and pasteurized cow milk regarding physical properties, microbiological quality, and lethality value ofMycobacterium Paratuberculosis(MAP)at different temperature and time combinations of the pasteurization process.Cow milk samples were pasteurized at high-temperature (70°C, 75°C, and 81°C) and short-time (15s and 25s) high temperature and short time (HTST) combinations. Raw and pasteurized (HTST) cow milk was analyzed, while commercial cow milk that undergo proses (HTST) was used as control. High-temperature short time (HTST) pasteurization showed a significant effect on the colour of raw and pasteurized cow milk (p<0.05) at every temperature. In addition, cow milk also indicated an increase in lightness and yellowness after HTST pasteurization.The microbiological quality of raw, pasteurized, and commercial cow milk is evaluated using the Methylene Blue Reduction (MBRT) test, a common, rapid, simple, and inexpensive method for microbiological quality evaluation.The MBRT on raw milk samples revealed that it was of poor quality. On the other hand, all pasteurized samples were good quality, and the commercial sample was excellent.Based on the evaluated F-values, the most suitable temperature and time combinationsin this study was 70°C and 25s.

Influence of yttrium and niobium oxides modifiers on physicochemical and photocatalytic properties of titanium (IV) oxide

The photocatalytic and physicochemical properties of titanium (IV) oxide modified by yttrium and niobium oxides were studied. It is shown that modification is a powerful way to increase the efficiency of catalysts' photocatalytic properties and improve the photocatalytic process as a whole. Commercial and laboratory-synthesized titanium (IV) oxides were used as catalysts for modification. Modification of titanium (IV) oxide powders in an amount of 1 wt. % by appropriate modifiers was performed by the hydrothermal method, after which they were characterized by diffraction and X-ray fluorescence methods. The structural characteristics of modified and non-modified titanium (IV) oxide samples by the method of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption have been studied. A slight increase in the specific surface area was found: from 61 m2/g to 70 m2/g for the commercial sample and from 172 m2/g to 180 m2/g for the synthesized one in this work. Similar dependencies are observed when studying the optical properties by the spectrophotometric method. Determination of surface properties (surface acidity) of modified and non-modified photocatalysts based on TiO2 showed different effects of modifiers on TiO2 acidity: in the modification by yttrium oxide, the acidity decreases, and in the case of niobium oxide – increases. Studies of photocatalytic and sorption activities with respect to dyes of different nature are not the same – the photocatalytic activity after modification increases, the sorption capacity with the cationic dye decreases, anionic – increases. Additional studies on dye destruction are in full accordance with photocatalytic and sorption experiments.

ELIMINATION OF ANTIBIOTICS BY PHOTOCATALYTIC METHODS

Antibiotics have been found in water bodies of different origin around the world, including natural waters. The presence of antibiotics in natural waters is already an important environmental problem, as they pose a potential threat to the environment. Analysis of the literature shows that photocatalytic methods are considered to be more promising than biological methods and adsorption processes for the treatment of water bodies contaminated with antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of antibiotics removal (ciprofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) by photocatalytic methods over TiO2 photocatalyst modified with yttrium oxide. For this purpose, a commercial sample of TiO2 P25 (Evonik) was modified, which was further characterized by X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence analysis methods. The obtained data indicate the presence of yttrium in commercial P25 sample after modification. Studies on the removal of antibiotics from aqueous solutions by photocatalytic methods were carried out in three ways: employing modified photocatalyst; combination of photocatalyst and hydrogen peroxide, and the combination of photocatalyst with hydrogen peroxide and ozone. The results of research demonstrate high efficiency of photocatalytic methods in the oxidation of antibiotics in aqueous solutions, among which the greatest oxidation is achieved using the combination of heterogeneous photocatalyst, hydrogen peroxide and ozone.

Experimental and Physico-Chemical Comparison of ZnO Nanoparticles’ Activity for Photocatalytic Applications in Wastewater Treatment

In this contribution, the photoactivity upon activation by simulated sunlight of zinc oxide (ZnO) obtained from two different synthetic pathways (Acetate and Nitrate) is investigated for water purification. Different reagents and processes were exploited to obtain ZnO nanoparticles. Products have been characterized by means of X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy along with Energy Dispersive Spectrometer, Dynamic Light Scattering, and Diffuse Reflectance Measurements, to highlight the different outcomes ascribable to each synthesis. A comparison of characteristics and performances was also carried out with respect to commercial ZnO. Nanoparticles of this semiconductor can be obtained as aggregates with different degrees of purity, porosity, and shape, and their physical-chemical properties have been addressed to the specific use in wastewater treatment, testing their effectiveness on the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model pollutant. Excluding the commercial sample, experimental results evidenced a better photocatalytic behavior for the ZnO Nitrate sample annealed at 500 °C, which was found to be pure and stable in water, suggesting that ZnO could be effectively exploited as a heterogeneous photocatalyst for the degradation of emerging pollutants in water, provided that thermal treatment is included in the synthetic process.

Crystal structure of the anticancer drug carmustine determined by X-ray powder diffraction

The structure of the anticancer drug carmustine (1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, C5H9Cl2N3O2) was successfully determined from laboratory X-ray powder diffraction data recorded at 278 K and at 153 K. Carmustine crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121 with Z = 4. The lattice parameters are a = 19.6935(2) Å, b = 9.8338(14) Å, c = 4.63542(6) Å, V = 897.71(2) ų at 153 K, and a = 19.8522(2) Å, b = 9.8843(15) Å, c = 4.69793(6) Å, V = 921.85(2) ų at 278 K. The Rietveld fits are very good, with low R-values and smooth difference curves of calculated and experimental powder data. The molecules form a one-dimensional hydrogen bond pattern. At room temperature, the investigated commercial sample of carmustine was amorphous.

Hand Sanitizer With Natural Ingredients Exhibits Enhanced Antimicrobial Efficacy

Hand sanitizers are amongst the foremost preventive defence against coronavirus. Ever since the outbreak of this virus in late 2019 the hand sanitizers has become an essential part of our day-to-day life in fight against this contagious disease. The global demand for hand sanitizers has suddenly peaks and reaches record high with ever-increasing market. However, the regular and excessive usage of hand sanitizers, which contains chemical additives and synthetic fragrances, do have serious health and environmental hazards. Thus, due to the evident role of natural phytoconstituents and essential oils against various infectious microorganisms including viruses, they appeared as prospective and viable option for toxic and hazardous chemicals frequently used in hand sanitizers. Here we have developed an alcohol based hand sanitizer formulation supplemented with natural and sustainable ingredients like tea extract and lemon grass essential oil enriched with phenolics and natural flavours respectively. The antimicrobial efficacy of developed hand sanitizer was evaluated and compared with alcohol based hand sanitizers and commercial hand sanitizers. The results of well diffusion assay method and time-kill test have clearly revealed the enhanced effectiveness of hand sanitizer with natural ingredients compared to commercial sample and World Health Organization recommended formulation. Moreover, the herbal origin of these ingredients is very significant since the left over residues on hands after repeated usage might not have any toxicity issues. Hence, it has established that usage of tea extract and lemon grass essential oil in alcoholic hand sanitizer formulation may have positive effects on health and environment.