NUTRITIONAL QUALITY OF AWARA MADE FROM FERMENTED BANJARA BEANS AND SOYBEAN

Awara, a Nigerian soft cheese analogue produced from soy milk using crude coagulant of citric acid and alum. Soybean and banjara bean were used in this study and were evaluated for their proximate composition, mineral element content, antinutritional factors, in vitro protein digestibility and vitamin content using standard procedures. Results obtained indicated that fermented banjara bean awara had a protein content of 2.15±0.01%, and fermented soybean awara had a protein content of 3.75±0.01%. Fermented banjara beans awara and soybean awara had a fat content of 5.16±0.01% and 17.13±0.01% respectively. There were significant differences in the mineral element content of both non fermented and fermented banjara bean and soybean awara. Level of antinutritional factors showed that both tannin and phytic acid were absent in fermented soybean awara. The in vitro protein digestibility of non-fermented and fermented banjara bean and soybean awara significantly increases with time. Vitamin A contents of fermented banjara and soybean awara increased when compared to non-fermented banjara and soybean awara, while a decrease was observed in non-fermented banjara and soybean awara as compared to fermented banjara bean and soybean awara. It can be concluded from this study that fermented soybean awara which is free of antinutritional factors is a more suitable source of protein and fat as a local cheese in this part of the world.

RESEARCH ON THE PROPERTIES OF SORBENTS AND DECONTAMINANTS IN THE PROCESSES WITH SMALL ISOTOPE EFFECTS

The low values of isotope effects in the sorption/decontamination processes make it possible to investigate the properties of the sorbing and decontaminating agents with the use of stable isotope simulators. In the work present-ed here the element content was determined from the characteristic X-ray emission induced by the proton beam (PIXE), by gamma-ray emission from the radioactive source, and by emission from the X-ray tube. Based on the results of efficiency determination for different kinds of sorbents and decontaminants, recommendations have been given for the choice of materials having the wanted performance characteristics.

Effects of Phytic Acid-Degrading Bacteria on Mineral Element Content in Mice

Trace minerals are extremely important for balanced nutrition, growth, and development in animals and humans. Phytic acid chelation promotes the use of probiotics in nutrition. The phytic acid-degrading strain Lactococcus lactis psm16 was obtained from swine milk by enrichment culture and direct plate methods. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the strain psm16 on mineral element content in a mouse model. Mice were divided into four groups: basal diet, 1% phytic acid, 1% phytic acid + psm16, 1% phytic acid + 500 U/kg commercial phytase. Concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total short-chain fatty acids were significantly increased in the strain psm16 group compared to the phytic acid group. The concentrations of copper (p = 0.021) and zinc (p = 0.017) in liver, calcium (p = 0.000), manganese (p = 0.000), and zinc (p = 0.000) in plasma and manganese (p = 0.010) and zinc (p = 0.022) in kidney were significantly increased in psm16 group, while copper (p = 0.007) and magnesium (p = 0.001) were significantly reduced. In conclusion, the addition of phytic acid-degrading bacteria psm16 into a diet including phytic acid can affect the content of trace elements in the liver, kidney, and plasma of mice, counteracting the harmful effects of phytic acid.

Quality of coal seam D of Muara Enim Formation, Central Palembang Subbasin

Coal seam D belongs to Muara Enim Formation in Central Palembang Subbasin, South Sumatera Basin, which ages of Middle Miocene to Late Miocene. This study aims to determine the quality of the coal, especially sulphur content and form, ash content and composition, and trace elements of heavy metals. Those are important to know as a reference in suitability in the use of this coal. Methods of analysis is proximate, total of sulphur, form of sulphur, SEM-EDS, ash composition, and trace element. The coal is categorized as low rank coal or lignite with a very low total sulphur max 0.25%, dominated by the organic sulphur formed during the peatification and coalification process (syngenetic). The coal has a safe ash composition. It shows from a very low metal oxide content that causes slagging and fouling at low temperatures process. Likewise, the trace element content of the coal such as chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni) is still far below the threshold for trace element content in coal.