Determination of the mineral profile of raw and roasted lentil flour after addition to yogurt

Introduction: Lentil (Lens culinaris) is a pulse largely consumed in the world, especially in Algeria. This legume can be consumed in different forms (pottage, soup), but also flour can be produced after roasting treatment of the lentils. Resulted flour can be used as a food or ingredient in the formulation of food products. Aims: The main objective of this study is to determine the variation in the main mineral content of lentil flour. The flour was analyzed at its native state (raw), after roasting, raw before addition to yogurt, and roasted after addition in yogurt as a functional ingredient at a rate of 4%. Material and Methods: The lentil flours analysis was carried out by means of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) associated with Dispersive X-ray Energy (EDX) microanalysis (SEM-EDX). Results: The results show that the roasting treatment does not have a marked effect on the mineral content of lentil flours. However, the addition to the yogurt made it possible to raise the mineral content of the raw and roasted lentil flour remarkably. Conclusions: Adding lentil flour to yogurt is an effective way to increase the mineral content of yogurts made from these flours. Keywords: Lens culinaris, flour, roasting, SEM-EDX, mineral.

Microstructural and chemical properties of gari and eba: Food products from cassava (Manihot esculenta Cranz)

The microstructure, elemental distribution and rheological behavior of two varieties of gari and their doughs (eba) were investigated. SEM analysis revealed a concave structure with fibre-strands, which were altered after processing to eba. Gari nanostructures which were analyzed with TEM were not affected when processed to eba. SEM-EDX microanalysis revealed the presence of magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and cobalt for both varieties, which were altered after processing. Rheological analysis revealed increases in storage modulus, with concomitant loss factor for both varieties. Their viscosity decreased with increasing shear rate. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of sugar, fatty acids, and steroids in both varieties, which were also affected after processing. Both varieties showed significant free radical scavenging activity which was not affected after processing. These results indicate that the conclave microstructure, elements and phytochemicals of both gari varieties are altered after processing to eba, with their nanostructure and antioxidant activity unaltered.

Use of ornamental rock waste as a partial substitute for binder in the production of structural concrete

Due to the population increase, to the improvement of life conditions, to the elevation of levels of consumption and the growing industrialization of developing countries, it is estimated that the production of concrete will present significant increase in the next decades. The process of producing cement is responsible for approximately 5 % of the emissions of CO2, an expressive environment pollutant. In this context, this work presents an evaluation of the influence of partial substitution of cement by ornamental rock waste (ORW) on the physical and mechanical properties of concrete. ORW from a local marble and granite processing company was used. The waste was mineralogically characterized through X-ray diffraction (XRD) essays, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) microanalysis, and physically characterized through laser granulometry and specific mass. For this, was adopted a concrete trace as reference, produced with CP V-ARI cement (similar to ASTM Type III), from IPT dosage. Waste was used in proportions of 5 %, 7.5 %, 10 % and 12.5 % of substitution of cement by mass. Results were treated with ANOVA and multiple comparison of means, indicating a possibility of substitution of until 10% of cement by ORW, creating a concrete with proper resistance to Brazilian regulations regarding the classification as structural.

Pitting Corrosion of Hot-Dip Galvanized Coatings

Lead (Pb) addition to hot-dip galvanizing (HDG) baths affects the physical characteristics of zinc coatings and is also useful to protect kettles. The influence of lead additions on both corrosion rate and morphology as well as on structure of zinc coating is less investigated. In this paper, three different additions, (Pb = 0.4–0.8–1.2 w/w) were chosen for three series of steel substrates, plus references without lead. The three steels chosen as substrates contained silicon (Si) = 0.18, 0.028, 0.225 w/w, respectively. The experimental part included both macro- and micro-electrochemical measurements, weight loss vs. time plots, Glow Discharge Optical Emission Spectroscopy (GDOS) and SEM/EDX microanalysis of both surface and cross-section of samples. Lead concentration is responsible for evident bimetallic coupling in the surrounding of lead inclusion with consequent increased dissolution rate, chunk effect, and rougher surface morphology.

The Use of ESEM-EDX as an Innovative Tool to Analyze the Mineral Structure of Peri-Implant Human Bone

This study aimed to investigate the mineralization and chemical composition of the bone–implant interface and peri-implant tissues on human histological samples using an environmental scanning electron microscope as well as energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (ESEM-EDX) as an innovative method. Eight unloaded implants with marginal bone tissue were retrieved after four months from eight patients and were histologically processed and analyzed. Histological samples were observed under optical microscopy (OM) to identify the microarchitecture of the sample and bone morphology. Then, all samples were observed under ESEM-EDX from the coronal to the most apical portion of the implant at 500x magnification. A region of interest with bone tissue of size 750 × 500 microns was selected to correspond to the first coronal and the last apical thread (ROI). EDX microanalysis was used to assess the elemental composition of the bone tissue along the thread interface and the ROI. Atomic percentages of Ca, P, N, and Ti, and the Ca/N, P/N and Ca/P ratios were measured in the ROI. Four major bone mineralization areas were identified based on the different chemical composition and ratios of the ROI. Area 1: A well-defined area with low Ca/N, P/N, and Ca/P was identified as low-density bone. Area 2: A defined area with higher Ca/N, P/N, and Ca/P, identified as new bone tissue, or bone remodeling areas. Area 3: A well-defined area with high Ca/N, /P/N, and Ca/P ratios, identified as bone tissue or bone chips. Area 4: An area with high Ca/N, P/N, and Ca/P ratios, which was identified as mature old cortical bone. Bone Area 2 was the most represented area along the bone–implant interface, while Bone Area 4 was identified only at sites approximately 1.5 mm from the interface. All areas were identified around implant biopsies, creating a mosaic-shaped distribution with well-defined borders. ESEM-EDX in combination with OM allowed to perform a microchemical analysis and offered new important information on the organic and inorganic content of the bone tissue around implants.

Analysis of Al-Si coatings in terms of bendability

Protective coatings provide protection of structures against corrosion, but they also aim to meet marketing requirements – decorative qualities. One of the representatives of protective coatings are fire coatings based on Al and Al-Si, which have been used, among others, in the automotive industry. The production of Al-Si coatings using the fire method (known as: immersion) consists in immersing a previously degreased detail in a bath of molten coating metal. Al-Si coatings are applied permanently, and the connection between the coating and the substrate is ensured by the mutual diffusion of aluminum and iron, which leads to the formation of intermetallic phases. The study examines Al-Si coatings used in the automotive industry. The research included assessment of coatings in terms of structure, hardness distribution of elements, and surface condition (roughness). The chemical composition of the coatings was determined using EDX microanalysis and phase composition by diffractometric analysis. The final assessment focused on the impact of bending on the quality of the connection between the substrate and the coating.