Effects of Thermal and High-Pressure Processing on Quality Features and the Volatile Profiles of Cloudy Juices Obtained from Golden Delicious, Pinova, and Red Delicious Apple Cultivars

In this study, juices extracted from three apple cultivars (Golden Delicious, Pinova, and Red Delicious) were stabilized by means of thermal treatment (TT) and high-pressure processing (HPP, 600 MPa 3 min); pH, total titratable acidity, total soluble solids content, color, and viscosity, as well as volatile profile, were investigated. Qualitative characteristics (pH, titratable acidity, colorimetric parameters, viscosity, and volatile profile) results were significantly influenced by both cultivars and treatments; for example, juice viscosity greatly increased after HPP treatment for Golden Delicious, and after both TT and HPP for Pinova, while no influence of stabilization treatment was registered for Red Delicious juices. Regarding the volatile profile, for Golden Delicious cultivar, HPP treatment determined an increase in volatile compounds for most of the classes considered, leading to a supposed quality implementation. For the other two cultivars, the stabilization treatment that better preserved the volatile profile was the HPP one, even if the results were quite similar to the thermal treatment. Further studies are needed to evaluate different time/pressure combinations that could give better results, depending on the specific apple cultivar.

Integrated technology for conditioning low-mineralized cold ground water

Сообщается о новой комплексной технологии кондиционирования холодных маломинерализованных подземных вод. Технология разрабатывалась для целей хозяйственно-питьевого водоснабжения нефтегазоносных районов Тюменского Севера. При благополучном соотношении ресурсов пресной воды и фактического объема водопотребления в этом регионе России вопрос питьевого водоснабжения из подземных горизонтов остается острым из-за проблемного качества воды и низкой эффективности очистных сооружений. Технология предназначена для очистки от железа, марганца, сероводорода и обеспечивает стабилизационную обработку воды. Основные работы, включавшие лабораторные исследования и пилотные испытания, выполнены в период 2001–2020 годов. На основе разработанных технологических решений построены и успешно эксплуатируются водопроводные очистные сооружения в городах Ноябрьске (75 тыс. м3/сут, 2006 г.) и Новом Уренгое (65 тыс. м3/сут, 2007 г.). Дополнительные испытания технологии, проведенные в Ханты-Мансийске и Комсомольске-на-Амуре, подтвердили ее эффективность. Технология предусматривает применение в качестве основных реагентов пероксида водорода и перманганата калия для окисления примесей воды, а также щелочного реагента для корректировки рН и стабилизационной обработки. Для обеспечения требований стандарта ВОЗ по содержанию железа и марганца дополнительно может использоваться флокулянт. Обобщены данные по составу подземных вод, использованных для испытаний, и на их основе определена рекомендуемая область применения разработанной технологии. Приведена принципиальная технологическая схема кондиционирования холодных маломинерализованных подземных вод, учитывающая 15-летний опыт эксплуатации построенных станций, а также современные решения по дозированию и смешению реагентов. Указано, что данная технология обеспечивает также частичное снижение содержания кремния в очищенной воде (до 30%). Разработанная технология позволяет получать стабильную питьевую воду при нормативном остаточном содержании железа, марганца и сероводорода. An advanced integrated technology for conditioning low-mineralized cold groundwater is presented. The technology was developed for the purpose of supplying drinking water to the oil and gas-bearing regions of the Tyumen North. With a favorable ratio of fresh water resources and the actual volume of water consumption in this region of Russia, the issue of drinking water supply from underground aquifers remains acute due to the problematic water quality and low efficiency of the treatment facilities. The technology is intended for removing iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide and providing for the stabilization treatment of water. The main work including laboratory studies and pilot tests was carried out in the period 2001–2020. On the basis of the developed process solutions, water treatment facilities have been built and successfully operated in the cities of Noyabrsk (75 thousand m3/day, 2006) and Novy Urengoy (65 thousand m3/day, 2007). Additional tests of the technology carried out in Khanty-Mansiisk and Komsomolsk-on-Amur confirmed its effectiveness. The technology involves using hydrogen peroxide and potassium permanganate as the basic chemicals for the oxidation of water pollutants, as well as using an alkaline chemical for pH adjustment and stabilization treatment. To meet the requirements of the WHO standard for the concentrations of iron and manganese, an additional flocculant can be used. The data on the composition of groundwater used for testing are summarized, and on their basis the recommended area of ​​application of the developed technology is determined. The basic process flow scheme of conditioning low-mineralized cold groundwater in view of 15 years of experience in operating the existing facilities, and of advanced solutions for dosing and mixing of chemicals, is presented. It is indicated that the technology also provides for a partial reduction in the silicon concentration in purified water (up to 30%). The developed technology ensures stable drinking water with a standard residual concentration of iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfide.

Sludge water stabilization treatment

Technologically contaminated water, formed during processing of coal slurries, finds its application in modern technological cycles of coal enrichment. Limitation of use of untreated recycled water of coal concentration plants is caused by a high degree of its mineralization by various salts, presence of insoluble solid particles and presence of flotation reagents, coagulants and flocculants. Part of technical water purified from mineral and organic contaminants can be used in heating systems and heat exchange equipment of industrial enterprises, including the coal industry. For this purpose, it is necessary to reduce the scale-forming ability of service water (to reduce the content of soluble calcium and magnesium salts in water). One of the most effective and advanced methods is the stabilization treatment of water with an electric field. In addition, this method is environmentally safe, low-cost and simple. The article gives the foundation of the method of stabilization treatment of recycled water of concentrating plants by an electric field, a description of the methodology of the laboratory experiment for scaling reduction, and the analysis of the results.

Mechanical Response of Ni-Based CU5MCuC Alloy to Different Stabilization Thermal Treatments

The Ni–Fe–Cr system is the basis of a series of commercial alloys featuring chemical–physical characteristics that allow them to be used in a variety of fields where excellent resistance to aggressive environments is required. In this scenario, the CU5MCuC alloy, the foundry counterpart of Alloy 825, is proving successful in the petrochemical field thanks to its good corrosion resistance in acidic and highly oxidizing environments. Intergranular corrosion resistance, critical for this material, is ensured by the stabilization treatment that allows precipitation of Nb carbides. Strengthening of this alloy takes place only via a solid solution. Therefore, its mechanical properties depend on the solution annealing treatment: often this treatment alone does not make it possible to reach the UTS imposed by the ASTM-A494 standard. In this work, the possibility of using stabilization treatment to increase mechanical strength as well was considered. Treatments, with different combinations of time and temperature, were carried out in order to modify the material’s microstructure. After the thermal treatments, microstructural analyses, mechanical tests and (pitting and intergranular) corrosion and resistance tests were carried out to identify optimal treatment parameters in order to promote the evolution of microstructural constituents capable of improving mechanical strength without decreasing corrosion resistance. The treatment that achieves the best compromise between mechanical properties and corrosion resistance is stabilization at 970 °C for 4 h.

Microtubule Stabilization Promotes Microcirculation Reconstruction After Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord microcirculation plays an important role in maintaining the function of spinal cord neurons and other cells. Previous studies have largely focused on the ability of microtubule stabilization to inhibit the fibroblast migration and promote axon regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effect of microtubule stabilization treatment on microcirculation reconstruction after SCI remains unclear. By using immunofluorescence, we found that microtubule stabilization treatment improved microcirculation reconstruction via increasing the number of microvessels, pericytes, and the perfused microvessels after SCI. To clarify the underlying mechanisms, rat brain microvascular endothelial cells and pericytes were subjected to glucose oxygen deprivation. By using flow cytometry and western blotting, we found that microtubule stabilization treatment inhibited apoptosis and migration of endothelial cells and pericytes but promoted proliferation and survival of endothelial cells and pericytes through upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), VEGF receptor 2, platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGFB), PDGF receptor β, and angiopoietin-1 after SCI. Taken together, this study provides evidence for the mechanisms underlying the promotion of microcirculation reconstruction after SCI by microtubule stabilization treatment. Importantly, this study suggests the potential of microtubule stabilization as a therapeutic target to reduce microcirculation dysfunction after SCI in the clinic.