Utilization of Fluted Pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis) Seed Milk for the Production of Textured Vegetable Protein

textured vegetable proteins (tofu) using two coagulants namely: lime and calcium sulphide. The textured vegetable proteins were analyzed for their proximate composition and sensory properties. Proximate composition of the texture vegetable proteins revealed a range of 13.67-15.04% moisture, 1.39-3.51% ash, 16.56-21.32% fat, 34.75-48.00% crude protein, 6.64-14.21% crude fibre and 4.34-16.22% carbohydrate. Soymilk curd coagulated with calcium sulphide had higher ash and protein contents while fluted pumpkin seed milk curd coagulated with calcium sulphide had significantly (p<0.05) higher fat and crude fibre contents. There was no significant (p<0.05) difference in the crude protein, moisture, and carbohydrate content of the textured vegetable proteins. Mean sensory scores of the curds showed a range of 4.40-6.70 for colour, 5.05-6.50 for aroma, 3.20-5.20 for taste, 3.95-6.15 for texture, 3.55-6.25 for flavour and 4.18-6.65 for overall acceptability. The sensory result showed that soybean milk coagulated with calcium sulphide was the most preferred sample for all sensory attributes. Fluted pumpkin milk coagulated with calcium sulphide also had sensory attributed comparable with the of soybean milk coagulated with calcium sulphide. Mean sensory scores of fluted pumpkin seed milk and soybean milk curds coagulated with calcium sulphide were more preferred than the samples coagulated with lime juice. The study therefore recommends the use of fluted pumpkin seed milk coagulated with calcium sulphide for the production of tofu with sensory attributes and nutrient content comparable with soybean tofu.

Application of Raman Spectroscopy for Characterizing Synthetic Non-Metallic Inclusions Consisting of Calcium Sulphide and Oxides

The presence of non-metallic inclusions (NMI) such as sulphides and oxides may be detrimental to the control of the steel casting process and product quality. The need for their identification and characterization is, therefore, urgent. This study uses time-gated Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of synthetic duplex oxide-sulphide phases that contain CaS and the oxide phases of Al2O3, CA, C12A7, C3A, and MgO·Al2O3 (MA). Binary phase samples of CaS–MA, C3A–CaS, C12A7–CaS, Al2O3–CaS, and MA–CaS were prepared with varying phase contents. The relative intensities of the Raman peaks were used to estimate the samples’ phase content. For a quantitative estimation, linear regression calibration models were used to evaluate the change in phase content in the samples. The most suitable Raman peak ratios had mean absolute error (MAE) values ranging from 3 to 7 wt. % for the external validation error, and coefficients of determination (R2) values between 0.94 and 0.98. This study demonstrated the use of Raman spectroscopy for the characterization of the calcium sulphide, magnesium aluminate spinel, Al2O3, and calcium aluminate phases of CA, C3A, and C12A7 in a duplex oxide-sulphide system, and it offers potential for inclusion characterization in steel.

Study on Sulfur Existing Form in Sinter

Lower sulfur content is absolutely necessary for high value-added quality steel, so it is required to reduce sulfur content of product in each link of metallurgical production. Sintering is one of important links to provide blast furnace raw materials. Study on Sulfur existing form in Sinter can provide significant theoretical guide on sulfur distribution in metallurgical production. In this paper, small sintering experiments were carried out and sinter samples with different alkalinities were prepared. The samples were characterized by mineralogical analysis and X-ray diffraction. The results show that Sulfur existing form in Sinter is calcium sulphide (CaS). CaS can not be oxidized and melted down in the following process of blast furnace iron-making and can directly enters into slag for discharge outside the furnace.