Study of the Swelling of a Composite Based on Argan Nut, Urea-Formaldehyde and Water as a Non-Polluting Solvent

In the center and southwest of Morocco, there is an endemic tree «Argania Spinosa» known as the ironwood. The miraculous product of this millenary tree is argan oil. Known for its therapeutic and cosmetic properties. Only 20% of the fruit of the argan tree is intended for the manufacture of argan oil while the shell, which represents 80%, remains an unexploited resource. This hull, which is sold by farmers at low prices, is used as fuel for baths and Moorish bakeries. In order to value the shells; first, we sort, grind and sieve them. Second, we bind the particles into adhesive. Three biomaterials are based on three particle sizes of shell grains. The designed particles are bound with an adhesive powder that is produced from a pre-catalyzed urea-formaldehyde resin. Moreover, the water used is a non-polluting solvent. The biomaterials and two samples of Red and Beech Wood were immersed in water for 15 days, with mass measurements that were done on a daily basis. It was concluded that the swelling coefficient of the large distribution of biomaterial is smaller than the small distribution of biomaterial. However, Red and Beech Wood have the highest coefficient.

Can the water quality influence the chemical composition, sensory properties, and oxidative stability of traditionally extracted argan oil?

Argan oil (AO) is an appreciated vegetable oil thanks to its high nutritional and cosmetic values. AO extraction technology has evolved to meet the market demand. However artisanal production is still widely practiced. The present study aimed at highlighting the influence of water quality on the physicochemical and sensory properties of artisanally extracted AO. To meet this objective, AO was prepared using various water types namely: well water (AOWW), tap water (AOTW), mineral water (AOMW), distilled water (AODW), and ultra-pure water (AOUW). The obtained AOs were evaluated in terms of routinely measured quality indices: iodine, peroxide, acid, and anisidine values, UV specific coefficients extinction, refraction index, and moisture content. Chemical composition (fatty acids, sterols content, and tocopherols content) was investigated together with oxidative stability (OS) and sensory properties. As revealed by the statistical test used, water quality impacted significantly mainly on AO chemical composition, OS, and sensory properties. Obtained results of almost studied quality attributes were consistent with the Official Moroccan Norm. The greatest values of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were recorded in AOMW and OAWW, respectively, while AOUW together with AOTW displayed the best record of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, the highest values of tocopherols were found in AOTW and AOUW. AODW and AOUW presented greatest values of sterols content, OS, and shelf life. Likewise, sensory analysis was satisfactory in almost obtained AOs. Principal component analysis confirmed these results and allowed allowed a good separation among AOs especially with sterols and tocopherols. Based on these outcomes, it could be concluded that water quality is an important parameter to consider by AO producers, ultra-pure and distilled water seemed to exert an ameliorative effect on quality, stability, and shelf life of AOs.

Discrimination of Geographical Origin of Unroasted Kernels Argan Oil (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) Using Tocopherols and Chemometrics

Valorisation of Argan oil requires the precise identification of different provenances markers. The concentration of tocopherol is regarded as one of the essential parameters that certifies the quality and purity of Argan oil. In this study, 39 Argan samples from six different geographical origins (Safi, Essaouira, Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, and Sidi Ifni) from the central west of Morocco were collected and extracted using cold pressing. The total tocopherol amount was found to range from 783.23 to 1,271.68 mg/kg. Generally, γ-tocopherol has the highest concentration in Argan oil. It should also be noted that the geographical origin was found to have a strong effect on the amounts of all tocopherol homologues studied. Principal component analysis of tocopherol concentrations highlighted a significant difference between the different provenances. The content of tocopherol has also been found to be strongly influenced by the distance from the coast and altitude, whereas no significant effect was found regarding other ecological parameters. The prediction ability of the LDA models was 87.2%. The highest correct classification was revealed in coastal provenances (100%), and the lowest values were from the continental ones (71.4%). These results provide the basis for determining the geographical origins of Argan oil production with well-defined characteristics to increase the product’s value and the income of local populations. In addition, this study provides a very promising basis for developing Argan varieties with a high content of tocopherol homologues, as well as contributing to the traceability and protection of Argan oil’s geographical indication.

Creaming behavior prediction of argan oil in water emulsion stabilized by lacto-fermentation: creaming index

Background In order to improve the taste acceptability of certain nutritional oils, it has been decided in this study to introduce them in an emulsion whose surfactant is casein, then to carry out a lacto-fermentation, leading to a dairy-like product with added nutritional value and health benefit. In this context, a plan of mixtures has been proposed for the preparation of emulsions based on argan oil, sodium caseinate and starch, with concentrations ranged between (10–20%) and (0–2%) and (0–1.5%) respectively. All emulsions were homogenized at two high stirring velocities (10,000–20,000 rpm) and two stirring times (5–20 min). The physical stability was assessed by visual analysis and microstructural measurements. The Creaming index was calculated for selected emulsions to predict their creaming behavior. Results All emulsions showed a creaming behavior except one emulsion that required the highest values of all factors, which showed the highest creaming index with an average particle size of 11.27 μm. The absence or the variation of one or all factors led to various degrees of instabilities verified in all other emulsions. Due to the synergistic action of all parameters, the emulsion stability was attributed to the reduction of droplets size, the increase of continuous phase viscosity and the decrease of coalescence. Conclusion The parameters that played a major role in the stability of the emulsion consists of: stirring velocity and time, sodium caseinate/oil ratio and starch/sodium caseinate ratio. The underlying structure and the interaction of the fluid droplets within the solid like product is what holds the stability of the product against settling or separation during fermentation.

Legal Pluralism in Infrastructural Designs: Alternative Supply Chains in the Moroccan Argan Oil Export

This article explores an emergent assemblage in which material semiotics interacts with legal plurality. It is argued that infrastructural designs constitute specific configurations of such assemblages. While research on infrastructure is proliferating in anthropology and STS, law as a constitutive component in all its forms and manifestations has not yet been sufficiently examined from this perspective. Infrastructures enact the ordering of their constitutive components and develop their own specific legal configurations. They combine components from various legal registers with routinized social practices and the normativity of technologies and materiality. Law in infrastructure is thus in itself inherently plural. The article exemplifies what plural law does to infrastructures and how social and legal relations take on infrastructural properties. These plural technolegal entanglements are examined using a case study of one specific strand within the infrastructure of the multilayered supply chain that brings Moroccan argan oil to the global market. This strand emerged in response to the breakdown of a supply infrastructure that was set up as a model development cooperation project.

Elucidation of Melanogenesis-Associated Signaling Pathways Regulated by Argan Press Cake in B16 Melanoma Cells

The beneficial effect on health of argan oil is recognized worldwide. We have previously reported that the cake that remains after argan oil extraction (argan press-cake or APC) inhibits melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells in a time-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. In this study, the global gene expression profile of B16 melanoma cells treated with APC extract was determined in order to gain an understanding of the possible mechanisms of action of APC. The results suggest that APC extract inhibits melanin biosynthesis by down-regulating microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) and its downstream signaling pathway through JNK signaling activation, and the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. APC extract also prevented the transport of melanosomes by down-regulating Rab27a expression. These results suggest that APC may be an important natural skin whitening product and pharmacological agent used for clinical treatment of pigmentary disorders.

Combination of Stable Isotopes and Fatty Acid Composition for Geographical Origin Discrimination of One Argan Oil Vintage

Quality control and traceability of Argan oil requires precise chemical characterization considering different provenances. The fatty acid profile is an essential parameter that certifies the quality and purity of Argan oil. In addition, stable isotopes were recently shown to be accurate as an indicator for geographical origin. In this study, fatty acid composition by gas chromatography (GC) and stable isotope ratio by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) were investigated for classifying Argan oil according to its geographical origin. Forty-one Argan oil samples, belonging to six geographical origins of Moroccan natural Argan population (Safi, Essaouira, Agadir Ida Outanane, Taroudant, Tiznit and Sidi Ifni) were collected and extracted under the same conditions. The results show that the isotope δ13C, palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2) and unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) were strongly influenced by ecological parameters. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was performed to discriminate the six studied provenances. Discriminant models predicted the origin of Argan oil with 92.70% success. Samples from Safi, Essaouira and Agadir Ida Outanane presented the highest classification rate (100%). In contrast, the lowest rate was reported for samples from Tiznit (85.70%). The findings obtained for fatty acids and isotope combination might be considered as an accurate tool for determining the geographical origins of Argan oil. Moreover, they can potentially be used as specific markers for oils labeled with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).