Effect of selenium and zinc foliar application to increase the quantitative and qualitative yields of rapeseed at different sowing dates

The sowing date is an important factor for expanding the cultivated area of rapeseed and affects seed yield, oil content, and fatty acid compounds. Micronutrient elements play an important role in improving the vegetative and reproductive growth of the plant, especially under conditions of biological and environmental stresses. A two-year experiment (2014-2016) was performed to study the response of rapeseed genotypes to foliar application of micronutrients on different sowing dates. The treatments were arranged as a factorial-split plot in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Three sowing dates of 7 (well-timed sowing date), 17, and 27 (delayed sowing dates) October and two levels of foliar application with pure water (control), selenium (1.5%), zinc (1.5%), and selenium+zinc (1.5%) were factorial in the main plots and five genotypes of SW102, Ahmadi, GKH2624, GK-Gabriella, and Okapi were randomized in the subplots (a total of 30 treatments). Seed yield, oil yield and content, oleic acid, and linoleic acid were reduced when rapeseeds were cultivated on 17 and 27 October, while the contents in palmitic, linolenic, and erucic acids, and glucosinolate increased (p < 0.01). a selenium+zinc treatment improved seed yield, oil content and yield (p < 0.01). The oil quality increased due to increased contents of oleic and linoleic acids under the selenium+zinc treatment (p < 0.01). The GK-Gabriella and GKH2624 genotypes are recommended to be sown on well-timed (7 October) and delayed sowing dates (17 and 27 October) and treated with selenium+zinc due to the higher oil yield, linoleic and oleic acids.

Computational studies on physico-chemical properties in the quality analysis of corn and peanut oil

Oils are commonly used in cooking as a frying medium which has been constantly subjected to different levels of heating. In this work, we have considered the most commonly used oils namely peanut oil and corn oil. Quality analyses of corn and peanut oils were made by relating macroscopic properties (ultrasonic velocity, viscosity, and density) to microscopic parameters (intermolecular free length, adiabatic compressibility etc.,) by subjecting them to six cycles of heating (190 ˚C). Variation in the mentioned property indexes, the degree of degradation and reusability for the next heating cycle that could be used in the food industry and processing were monitored. Using Newton-Laplace and Wood’s equation, the adiabatic compressibility, acoustic impedance, and intermolecular free length of the oil were estimated from the experimental data. Ultrasonic velocity was observed linearly as related to viscosity with the dependency factor (R2 = 0.932). With the aid of experiential data, the physical thermodynamic parameters, particularly particle size, packing factor, chemical potential, and L-J potential were computed. A high correlation factor was observed by fitting ultrasonic velocity, viscosity, and density to Parthasarathy and Bakshi, and Rodenbush equations. In the study, ultrasonic velocity, a macroscopic parameter, could be decoded to determine the microscopic variations in oil subjected to different temperatures in an industrial application.

Oil quality characterization of the Arauco variety from the main olive growing areas of Mendoza (Argentina)

‘Arauco’ forms part of the over two thousand olives (Olea europaea L.) varieties identified worldwide with the peculiarity of being the only recognized variety from Argentina. In this work, the fruit and oil characteristics from the ‘Arauco’ variety cultivated in the three main olive growing zones of Mendoza province (Argentina) were evaluated over two harvests (2016 and 2017). The characteristics assessed were oil and water concentrations, pulp/pit ratio, industrial yield, oxidative stability, fatty acid profile, total phenols and total flavonoids, among others. The results showed relatively high oleic acid and phenolic contents, together with low acidity and extinction coefficients (K232 and K270), as well as a well-balanced fatty acid profile. In addition, three interesting relationships among oxidative stability and ratios of monounsaturated fatty acids/polyunsaturated fatty acids (R2=0.96), oleic/linoleic (R2=0.96) and stearic acid (R2=0.93) were observed. These results showed that the ‘Arauco’ variety cultivated in Mendoza provides excellent oil quality.

A novel bleaching approach: Microwave assisted sunflower oil bleaching and optimization

The factors affecting the microwave bleaching of sunflower oil and the interaction between them were investigated and optimized by response surface methodology using a three-factor five-level central composite rotatable design. Microwave power, time and the amount of bleaching clay were selected as independent variables studied in the range of 70-120 W, 2-15 min, and 0.01-0.5%. The dependent variables that measure the bleaching efficiency and oil quality were evaluated as hue angle, chroma and totox value. Optimization was carried out by minimizing totox and chroma and maximizing hue angle. Hue angle, chroma and totox were found as 96.91, 37.66 and 23.31 under optimal conditions. Optimal microwave bleaching was successfully performed by using less bleaching clay (0.4%) and a shorter time (8 min) compared to the current industrial application without any adverse effect on oil quality. Hence, microwave bleaching is thought to be an alternative method for the bleaching of edible oils.

Geochemical characteristics and origins of biodegraded oils in the Bongor Basin (Chad) and their implications for petroleum exploration

The Bongor Basin is a typical lacustrine passive-rifted basin situated in the West and Central African Rift System (WCARS). It has experienced two phases of tectonic inversion and features a complex process of petroleum generation and accumulation. A total of 41 crude oil samples from the basin were geochemically analyzed to investigate their compositions of molecular markers. The results show that the oils have similar origins and are likely to belong to the same oil population. However, there are significant differences in geochemical characteristics and physical properties, caused by the secondary alteration. The relative contents and distribution patterns of normal alkanes and acyclic isoprenoids indicate that some of the oils have suffered biodegradation to varying degrees. The samples can be divided into three categories according to their relative degrees of degradation: normal oil, slightly biodegraded oil (PM 1–3), and severely biodegraded oil (PM 5–7). The burial depth of oil reservoirs in this area is the predominant factor impacting on the level of biodegradation. Crude oils in reservoirs with burial depths of less than 800 m are all severely biodegraded, while oils in reservoirs with burial depths greater than 1300 m have experienced no evident biodegradation. In reservoirs with burial depths between 800 m and 1300 m, the biodegradation degrees vary from normal to severely biodegraded. Oil reservoirs with burial depths less than 1300 m and adjacent to major faults are readily subject to biodegradation, while reservoirs with similar burial depths, but a certain distance away from major faults, have suffered no evident biodegradation. Moreover, if primary reservoirs have been modified by tectonic activity after accumulation, the crude oils are more likely to be biodegraded. Faulted anticline traps may create more favorable geological conditions for preservation of crude oil than reverse extrusion anticline reservoirs. This study may provide practical guidance for the assessment and prediction of oil quality in future oil exploration.

The effectiveness of the use of natural minerals of the Terbunskoye deposit and organic waste in the cultivation of rapeseed

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the effect of natural nanoporous minerals together with organic waste from poultry farms on the yield of spring rapeseed, qualitative analysis of seeds and obtained samples of rapeseed oil. The experiments were carried out in 2019-2021 in the experimental field of the Yelets State University named after I.A. Bunin. The object of the study was the Rif spring rape variety. The highest productivity was observed in the variants with the introduction of zeolite (3 t / ha) in combination with organic waste 5 t / ha and 10 t / ha, which amounted to 34.4 c / ha and 34.9 c / ha, respectively. These options provided the maximum gross yield of protein (9.74 c / ha and 9.95 c / ha) and oil (13.95 c / ha and 14.10 c / ha). A positive effect from the use of natural zeolite as a fertilizer on the accumulation of oleic acid in the obtained rapeseed oil samples has been established. Keywords: SPRING RAPE, ZEOLITES, ORGANIC WASTE, YIELD, OIL QUALITY