Physical, chemical and microbiological characterization of cupuassu seed during fermentation

The cupuassu’s seeds are similar to cocoa, being possible to apply fermentative techniques used to obtain nibs and cupulate. The aim of this work to study the physicochemical transformations during the cupuassu´s seeds fermentation. For this purpose, frozen seeds from a pulp processing industry were fermented in three batches of 20 kg for seven days at room temperature. During the fermentation process, seed mass temperature, dimensions, density and composition of the kernels, color indexes (L*, C* and H*), microbiological analyzis (mesophiles, molds and yeasts), cut-proof, physicochemical analyzis (pH, acidity and glucose reducing sugars and non sucrose reduction) and centesimal composition (ashes, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates) were analyzed from triplicates. The results were expressed as dry basis. During the fermentations, the great temperatures were reached. The maximus were 43,44 and 47 ºC in three fermentations. It was observed during the fermentation process: seed darkening (L*) and color intensity reduction (Chroma), pH increase, sugar reduction and acidity reduction. The ash, lipid and protein contents were not significantly influenced by the fermentation time. According to the cut test, the kernels of 3rd fermentation, whose maximum temperature was higher, were classified as type 2 and the others as type 3. The values of apparent density, dimensions, mass and composition of seeds demonstrated that during the fermentation there was a decrease in volume with a higher proportion of cotyledon compared to testa. There was an increase in counts of total mesophiles aerobic microorganisms, molds and yeasts, during the fermentative process.

The Influence of Pulp and Paper Industry on Environment

Currently, paper consumption is globally increasing and at an unsustainable level. However, traditional paper production could release excessive greenhouse gas emissions or wastewater, resulting in environmental contamination. To make the result more visual and persuasive, this study takes Time magazine as an example to analyze the impacts of the papermaking process on the environment. This study analyzes energy consumption from several sectors in the paper industry, carbon dioxide emissions, and discharge of condensed wastewater to show current consumption during traditional pulp and paper production. Results show that the papermaking process would consume a lot of electricity during the pulp preparing, pulp condition, pulp preparation, manufacture paper with pulp, and pulp processing stages. Meanwhile, various degree of carbon emissions is generated based on the physical and chemical changes in materials during the papermaking process. Two kinds of wastewater, including black and white liquor, are produced in the papermaking process. Several countermeasures are suggested to achieve a low consumption and sustainable development of the pulp and paper industry to solve these environmental problems. The suggestion includes the surrogate of electronic paper, carbon capture and storage, and wastewater recycling.

Drying and Properties of Solid Residue from Guava (Psidium guajava) Pulp Processing

The solid residue from pulp production of guava (Psidium guajava) represents around 30% of the raw material. The drying of this residue on drier’ trays at 45, 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70 °C was investigated. After drying, the material was ground in one of two types of mills: a knife or a hammer mill. Guava flour samples were characterized according to their water absorption capacity (WAC), oil holding capacity (OHC), emulsifying and foaming properties, lycopene, total carotenoids and phenolic compounds. The drying curves show typical behaviour and five mathematical models (two-term exponential, Henderson and Pabis, diffusion approximation, Page and logarithmic) were constructed. Of the models tested for the temperatures applied in the experiment, only the Henderson and Pabis model, when adjusted to the experimental data obtained at temperatures of 45 to 50 °C did not represent the drying kinetics of the guava processing solid residue, with coefficients of determination of 0.9376 and 0.6905, respectively. The type of mill and the drying temperature influenced the phenolic compounds, lycopene and total carotenoids. The WAC was higher than the OHC for all drying temperatures, due to the high content of dietary fiber in this residue.

Effect of moderate thermal treatments on the inactivation of a strain of Listeria monocytogenes and physicochemical properties of soursop pulp

Soursop ( Annona muricata L.) is a commercially important tropical fruit, whether fresh or processed as a pasteurized or frozen pulp used to prepare juice, drinks, nectar, ice cream, popsicles, and desserts. Besides preserving quality, another preoccupation in the processing of fruit pulps is product safety. Several studies show the association between pulp processing and the development of various microorganisms; however, few have focused on the association between L. monocytogenes and the pulp of sour fruits. The objective was to evaluate the effect of moderate thermal treatments on the inactivation of L. monocytogenes and the physicochemical properties in soursop pulp in order to determine the best processing conditions that will allow to maintain quality as well as to achieve an adequate level of safety. Thermal inactivation kinetics were obtained for L. monocytogenes inoculated in soursop pulp at five levels of temperature (50, 52.5, 55, 57.5, and 60 ℃) and different exposure times (0–60 min). The survival curves did not suggest a log-linear relationship, and were, consequently, fitted to the modified Gompertz equation. The results indicated that the modified Gompertz equation provided an acceptable goodness of fit. Five-log10 cycles reductions of L. monocytogenes were achieved at 50 ℃/60 min, 52.5 ℃/16 min, 55 ℃/10 min, 57.5 ℃/5 min, and 60 ℃/1.25 min. These 5-log10 treatments applied to the soursop pulp indicated that the soursop pulp showed changes in the color parameters and a decrease in the content of total sugars, reducing sugars, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and pH.

Bioconversion of Mango Pulp Industrial Waste into Ellagic acid Using Aspergillus niger

Ellagic acid was considered as the potential bioactive compound with many therapeutical applications. Bioconversion of tannin present in the mango pulp processing waste in to ellagic acid using fungi would be better alternate than the chemical as well as extraction from plant sources. A total of three different fungi were isolated from the soil sample and it was confirmed as Aspergillus niger. Further, the isolated strains of A. niger were identified to produce ellagic acid from ellagitannin of mango waste. Quantification of the ellagic acid production was carried out by solid-state fermentation using 3% of mango waste as substrate. Ellagic acid enzyme activity was calculated and found to be 17.6 U ml−1 The ellagic acid production was optimized to fix the various factors, that is, pH and temperature, nitrogen and carbon source. The maximum production (200 μg/g) of ellagic acid was achieved at pH 5.5, temperature 30 °C, Ammonium nitrate as nitrogen source, 0.2% of NaCl and carbon source (0.2% of sugar) with 3% of mango pulp waste. Ellagic acid produced was characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometer and by FT-IR analysis.

Microbial Production Of Ellagic Acid From Mango Pulp Processing Waste

Ellagic acid has gained momentum recently due to its various properties like anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-oxidant, and anti-viral and many other benefits to human health. The present study focused on the microbial production of ellagic acid from mango pulp processing industrial waste an alternate method for conventional chemical extraction. Our experiments demonstrated that the 100 μg/ml of ellagic acid was produced by Micrococcus luteus from 9% of mango pulp waste and the optimization of ellagic acid production with Pontecorvo medium supplemented with 5.0 g of ellagitannin has yielded 37.80 ± 0.30 mg/g at pH 5.0, temperature 30 °C, ammonium nitrate (nitrogen source), glucose (carbon source), with 1.5% of inoculums after 24 h of incubation. Ellagic acid synthesized was further confirmed with the standard ellagic acid. Applications like drought resistant in plants, anti-microbial activity, anti-parasitic activity and anti-cancer activities have been proven. Ellagic acid exhibited potential applications and further research in product development is promising.

Pequi Kernel oil extraction by hydraulic pressing and its characterization

The seed by-products of pequi pulp processing have a kernel in its core which is not used due to the difficulty of its extraction from the spinous endocarp. However, this kernel has high quality oil which can be used for human consumption. Thus, the kernel and the oil composition as well as the conditions to obtain the kernel oil by hydraulic pressing were evaluated in this study. The kernel showed high lipid content (55.76%), therefore being a good source for obtaining oil. The oil extraction by hydraulic pressing presented a higher yield at 5.5 tons to 6.0 tons of force and 9% to 10% moisture. Oil recovery was 75%. The pequi kernel oil showed low acid (0.17 mg KOH/g) and peroxide (1.22 mEq O2/kg) values. The kernel oil also presented high levels of oleic acid (42.47%). The results indicate that the kernel oil extraction is an alternative form for using seeds to increase the producer/processor income and to decrease residue volumes in the pequi processing industry.