Volume 22, No. 3 (2021)
Articles
EQUILIBRIUM, THERMODYNAMIC AND KINETIC MODELING FOR THE ADSORPTION OF TEXTILE DYE (BEMACID BLUE) ONTO ACTIVATED CARBON SYNTHESIZED FROM OLIVE CORES
GHANIA HENINI(1*), YKHLEF LAIDANI(2), SALAH HANINI(3), AIDA FEKAOUNI(2), KHEIRA DJELLOULI DELLA(1)
The present study focuses on the valorization of an agricultural waste, olive cores that have been chemically activated by an oxidizing agent (H3PO4) in order to improve its adsorptive capacities. For a better orientation of its uses a range of physicochemical tests has been carried out: the ash content (1.87 %), the moisture content (1.089 %), the iodine value (317.26 mg·g-1) and the isoelectric point (pHPZC = 3.2). In order to test the performance of our activated carbon, we chose the Bemacid Blue (BB) dye as a pollutant. The adsorption of this dye was monitored by UV-Visible spectrophotometer. Several parameters have been studied, including contact time, temperature, initial concentration, adsorbent dosage. The kinetics and thermodynamics of adsorption of Bemacid Blue by activated olive cores were studied. The adsorption kinetics have been well described by the pseudo second order model. The adsorption kinetics seem to satisfy the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 = 0.9931) with respect to the Freundlich and Temkin isotherms. This study demonstrated that chemically activated olive cores can be used as a new adsorbent for the treatment of water contaminated by textile dyes.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF GLUTEN-FREE SAPAL FLOUR
AZIZ CALISKAN(1), NORHIDAYAH ABDULLAH(1*), NORIZA ISHAK(1), IMÈNE TATAR(2)
Gluten constitutes protein, essential for obtaining the elasticity and mouldable structure of food products. However, gluten intolerant (GIP) victims are recommended to abstain from gluten intake, indicating that they must focus solely on gluten-free diets. As a result, this affects their level of dietary fiber consumption that is vital for intestinal health. Hence, this study was initiated to explore Left-Over Sapal (LOS) potential usage to produce a gluten-free alternative flour high in dietary fiber. Series of analyses were conducted on the LOS, encompassing physical analysis, peroxide value, and microbial analysis. All analyses were compared with the control sample (wheat flour). The results from physical analysis showcased 20 % better water activity as compared to the control sample. Milling yield value of 51.43 % and color analysis results of 65.94 ± 0.04 (L*), 9.67 ± 0.02 (a*), and 12.25 ± 0.01 (b*) were obtained. The peroxide values manifested were all below 18.9 meq·kg-1 during the ten weeks, satisfying the standard. The microbial analysis exhibited a total plate count of; 0-day (5.04 ± 0.02), week 2 (4.85 ± 0.06), week 4 (5.85 ± 0.04), week 6 (4.00 ± 0.05) and week 10 (3.62 ± 0.11) cfu·g-1. Finally, the yeast and mould results showcased during the ten weeks were coherent with the standard (≤ 5 cfu·g-1).
PREPARATION AND PROPERTIES OF OXIDIZED STARCH NANOPARTICLES
XIAO KANG LIU1,2, XIAO YU ZHANG2*, XIN FANG LIU1*
Starch nanoparticles (SNP) were prepared by traditional sulfuric acid hydrolysis using corn starch as raw material, and SNP was oxidized by potassium bromate (KBrO3) to prepare oxidized starch nanoparticles (OSNP). The structure and properties of SNP and OSNP were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, X-ray powder diffractometer, laser particle size analyzer and dispersion test experiment. The results showed that native starch was transformed from micro grade (6 -10 μm) to nano grade with the formation of SNP (240 nm) and OSNP (180 nm). Compared with native starch, OSNP has good dispersibility due to its small particle size and negative charges, which will expand its application areas by combing the advantages of oxidized starches and nanoparticles.
THE EFFECT OF AMBER ACID ON THE PRODUCTIVITY AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF TOMATOES GROWN IN A CLIMATIC CHAMBER
INNA V. KNYAZEVA(1), ALEKSEI S. DOROKHOV(1), OKSANA V. VERSHININA(1), NINA I. MYACHIKOVA(2), ANDREI А. GRISHIN(1), VLADIMIR В. GUDIMO(1), CECILIA GEORGESCU(3*)
The research was carried out in 2019 - 2020 in the department of closed artificial agroecosystems for plant growing in the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Federal Scientific Agroengineering Center VIM”, Moscow. The study focused on the seeds of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) variety “Lyana”. Amber acid was used as a biostimulating factor at the stage of pre-sowing seed treatment (factor A) and with constant drip irrigation of plants (factor B) throughout the entire growing season – 145 days. The use of аmber acid can increase the crop yield from 2.34 to 3.84 kg/bush when growing tomatoes under controlled conditions in a climatic chamber. Inoculation of seeds with a biostimulant substance promoted an increase in the content of vitamins C (23.23 mg/100 g) and B1 (0.041 mg/100 g) and dry matter (5.06 %) compared to the control. As a result of determining the content of nitrates, it was revealed that the maximum permissible concentration in all samples did not exceed the permissible norm. Thus, the use of amber acid is very promising for growing Lyana tomato plants in artificial agroecosystems.
DETERMINATION OF PRIMERS EFFICIENCY IN THE DETECTION OF PEDIOCOCCUS IN WINES
ALEXANDRA BUGA(1), IRINA MITINA(2), VALENTIN MITIN(2), SILVIA RUBTOV(1), DAN ZGARDAN(1*)
Pediococcus spp. are lactic acid bacteria which are considered spoilage in the wine making processes. Early detection can minimize the negative effects of Pediococcus spp on wine quality and prevent the development of advanced spoilage stages. The goal of this work was development and testing of a fast and efficient Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (R-T PCR)-based method for easy detection of Pediococcus spp. strains in wine at the early stages of wine spoilage. As a result, primer sets for the Real time-PCR were designed to allow for correct and efficient detection of Pediococcus spp., and experimentally tested.
EMPIRICAL MODELING OF THE EFFECTS OF MAGNETIC FIELD PRETREATMENT ON THE DRYING RATE OF SWEET PEPPER AND FLUTED PUMPKIN LEAF
MICHAEL M. ODEWOLE1*, AYOOLA P. OLALUSI2, AJIBOYE S. OYERINDE2
Empirical modeling of the effects of magnetic field pretreatment on the drying rate of sweet pepper and fluted pumpkin leaf was done. Static, pulse and alternating magnetic fields were used in conjunction with magnetic field strength (5 - 30 mT) and pretreatment time (5 - 25 min) as the combined pretreatment factors. All samples were dried at 50 °C after pretreatment and the drying rate was estimated. Data obtained were used to produce bar charts that showed statistical effect of magnetic field pretreatment on the drying rate. Same set of data were also used to develop empirical model equations. Results showed that most of the magnetic field pretreatment combinations caused the drying rate of SP (20 - 21 g·h-1) and FPL (10 - 12.50 g·h-1) to be significantly higher than the drying rate of blanched samples of SP (17 g·h-1) and FPL (8 g·h-1) at P ≤ 5%. Also, there are six (6) empirical model equations that reliably described the characteristics of the process with R2 (88 - 98 %); R2adj (83 - 95 %); coefficients of variation (0.88 - 3.80); standard error (0.11 - 1.07); mean of residuals (-0.0008 - 0.0002); standard deviation (0.16 - 1.19); probability values (0.0000 - 0.0007) and adequate precision values (6.80 - 25.46).
QUANTIFICATION OF THE POLLUTION GENERATED BY THE LEACHATE OF THE MOHAMMEDIA-BENSLIMANE LANDFILL
ZINEB HAMRI(*), LATIFA MOUHIR, SALAH SOUABI
This work aims to assess the pollution generated by the leachate discharges produced at the landfill, which receives the waste collected in the towns of Mohammedia and Benslimane. Indeed, leachate discharges are a major source of contamination for the environment. Indeed, the leachate diagnosis allows on the one hand to estimate the pollutant load of the parameters (BOD5 - Biological oxygen demand, COD - Chemical oxygen demand, TSS - Total suspended solids) and on the other hand to prevent the biodegradability of the organic matter while determining the age of the leachate. This will then allow us to think about the technique that can be used to reduce pollution. The average leachate production is 146.84 m3 per day, the physico-chemical analyses carried out have shown high concentrations for chlorides, ammoniums, COD and BOD5 respectively of 6957.65, 4203.2, 37267.5 and 19000 mg∙L-1. The calculated pollutant loads exceed Moroccan standards in minerals composing the leachates, such as chlorides, nitrates, ammoniums, COD and BOD5 with concentrations respectively of 1,021.66, 8.18, 617.21, 5,472.4, 2.8 kg∙d-1.
CONSIDERATION ON SOME PROPERTIES OF LINIC AND EKRANIC TECHNOSOLS FROM URBAN AREAS
FEODOR E. FILIPOV, ESMERALDA ȘT. CHIORESCU(*)
In recent periods, urban soils have been extensively studied. These studies contribute to better understanding of the soil cover diversity in the urban area, identification of changes and threats resulting from expansion of urbanization and industrialization. The aim of our study is to identify to define correctly some urban soils, such as “technogenic soils”, that are recently introduced in the soil classification and are constantly updated and completed. The studied sites are located in the urban areas from northeastern part of Romania. In our studies we made several soil profiles. The studied soils have been diagnosed according to the Romanian System of Soil Taxonomy and World Reference Base for Soil Resource. Characterization of soil profiles was done following the instructions from guidelines for soil and land descriptions. The urban soils are characterized by a strong spatial heterogeneity resulting from various input of exogenous materials and mixing of material from different soil horizons. Case studies conducted in several locations of urban areas showed that Ekranic and Linic Technosols keeps some undisturbed soil properties such as particle size, mineralogical composition and allows some plants roots to develop their roots. We believe that the results obtained during our investigations will facilitate easier identification in the field of urban soils such as Linic and Ekranic Technosols and the establishment of appropriate management.
STUDY ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AFLATOXINS; DEGRADATION METHODS; MYCOTOXINS PREVALENT IN CORN
ALINA MIHALCEA(*), SONIA AMARIEI
Aflatoxins are mycotoxins produced by fungi of the genus Aspergillus. The species Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus are the main responsible for the appearance of the main types of aflatoxins: aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2, but they also produce other non-toxic substances such as sterigmatocystin. The development of aflatoxin-producing fungi occurs in areas with hot, humid climate, and the appearance of aflatoxins is the result of fungal contamination both before and after harvest. Dietary exposure to aflatoxins is a global problem, due to direct intake of contaminated food, or indirectly, intake of products from animals fed with contaminated feed. The phenomenon of mycotoxin contamination of food is widespread, from European countries to Korea, China, Brazil, Kenya, Africa, Pakistan. In few of these countries there is a program for monitoring, preventing or degrading mycotoxins in corn. This material aims to present the mycotoxins prevalent in corn, the species of fungi producing aflatoxins, the degradation strategies of aflatoxins developed so far, and finally, the importance of preventing this risk for human health.
THE INFLUENCE OF ZNO NANOPARTICLES ON THE AMINO ACIDS BIOSYNTHESIS AT PIGMENTED YEAST RHODOTORULA GRACILIS CNMN-Y-30
ALINA BEȘLIU(*), NADEJDA EFREMOVA
The research paper provides data about the influence of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) of size