Functional bread enreached with regional bioactive food additives

The scientific work presents materials of theoretical and experimental substantiation of the use of regional bioactive food additives, namely wild plants of the legume family (Fabaceae), permitted for use in the food industry: sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), red meadow clover (Trifolium pratense), white acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) in the production of functional foods [1]. Experimental studies of the safety indicators of food wild-growing plants (FWP) have been carried out. It was found that the studied FWP growing in ecologically clean areas of the North Ossetia-Alania are distinguished by a low mass fraction of toxic substances. Two fractions of cellulose were investigated: 1 - water-soluble (pectic acid, pectin, methylcellulose); 2 - water-insoluble (protopectin, cellulose, hemicellulose). The increased content of dietary fiber in WGP powders has been established, corresponding to the physiological norms of satisfying the daily requirement for FWP and, in this regard, indicating the expediency of using functional food in formulations for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The sorption capacity of WGP powders with respect to lead has been investigated. All studied powders of WGP modification products are characterized by high sorption capacity. The technologies of flour products with the addition of FWP powders have been developed. The results of clinical and preclinical studies of the developed functional bread show a corrective effect of glycemic blood parameters, as well as a decrease in the lead content in the blood of fed laboratory rat pups by almost two times, compared with the control.

Preparation and characterization of Ca(II) cross-linking modified pectin microspheres for Pb(II) adsorption

A novel adsorbent, composed of cross-linked de-esterified pectin microspheres, was prepared via cross-linking with Ca(II) and modification by de-esterified pectin, low-methoxyl pectin (LMP) and pectic acid (PA). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) were applied too, exhibiting a successful fabrication, good adsorption ability, and well-defined surface microstructure beneficial to Pb(II) adsorption. The adsorption ability of pectin microspheres (PMs), low-methoxyl pectin microspheres (LMPMs) and pectic acid microspheres (PAMs) for Pb(II) in aqueous solution were explored. The maximum adsorption capacity of PMs, LMPMs and PAMs was 127 mg·g−1, 292 mg·g−1 and 325 mg·g−1 at pH 5.0 respectively, indicating a great improvement of LMPMs and PAMs in the adsorption ability for Pb(II) compared with PMs. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanism was proposed. The experimental data were well fitted with pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. Five-cycle reusability tests demonstrated that microspheres could be used repeatedly. All the results confirmed that LMPMs and PAMs, which presented outstanding adsorption capability and reusability, could be a good candidate for wastewater purification.

Synthesis and Solution Properties of Hydrophobically Modified Polysaccharides

Hydrophobically modified polymers are amphiphilic macromolecules mainly constituted of a hydrophilic backbone and hydrophobic side groups. In aqueous solutions these polymers undergo inter- or intra-molecular hydrophobic association, which results in unusual properties useful for a number of practical applications. The areas of application of these polymers include associative thickeners for enhanced oil recovery, pharmaceuticals, personal care formulations, coatings, adhesives, surfactants, emulsifiers, etc. This review presents the analysis of a literature data on preparation of hydrophobically modified polysaccharides (HMP) and their properties in aqueous solutions. Some of the synthetic methods used for hydrophobic modification of non-ionic (cellulose ethers, starch, dextran, pullulan, etc.), anionic (carboxymethylcellulose, hyaluronic<br />acid, pectic acid, alginic acid, heparin) and cationic olysaccharides (chitosan) are presented. The methodology used for the investigation of solution properties of hydrophobically modified polysaccharides is discussed. Special attention is paid to aggregate and micelle formation in solutions of hydrophobically<br />modified polysaccharides, solubilization of hydrophobic compounds, their rheological properties and surface activity. The effects of polymer architecture (level of hydrophobic substitution, nature of hydrophobic groups, molecular weight of a hydrophilic backbone, etc.), concentration, temperature, presence of inorganic salts and organic solvents on solution properties of hydrophobically modified polysaccharides are discussed. Some applications of hydrophobically modified polysaccharides are briefly highlighted.

ADSORPTIVE REMOVAL OF HAZARDOUS INORGANIC ELEMENTS FROM WATER BY USING ORANGE WASTE

Pectic acid contained in some fruits like orange and apple is natural chelating polymeric material, exhibiting excellent adsorption behavior for some cationic metal ions including toxic heavy metals such as lead and copper. In addition, it also exhibits excellent adsorption behavior for some hazardous inorganic anionic species like phosphorus, arsenic and fluoride by loading some high valence cationic metal ions like zirconium(IV) in advance.For the practical application to the removal of these hazardous inorganic elements from various waste water at cheap cost, orange juice residue was employed instead of pure pectic acid. Orange juice residue just after juicing was activated by saponification with small amount of calcium hydroxide to prepare the sorbent.Some hazardous cationic species like lead(II), copper(II) and cadmium(II) were effectively adsorbed on this sorbent, while toxic anionic species like phosphate, arsenate, arsenite and fluoride were also effectively adsorbed on zirconium(IV)-loaded sorbent. Keywords: Orange waste, Pectic acid, Natural chelating material, Heavy metals, Arsenic, Phosphorus, Adsorption, Removal, Water