This document contains supplementary materials for full-paper submission to ESCAPE 35 - European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering.

Cucumbers are a popular vegetable consumed worldwide and are known for their nutritional value, containing carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamin C, etc. The abundance of a high moisture content is correlated to cucumber perishability, which encourages investigation into ways to maintain its quality and increase shelf-life. This study was carried out to determine the effect of a moringa oil−beeswax coating on the quality of fresh cucumber at different storage temperatures for 27 days of storage. Freshly harvested cucumbers were divided into two groups: the first group was coated with the moringa oil−beeswax edible coating, while the other one was not coated (control). Each group was divided into three other subgroups, for storage at 4, 10, and 22 °C. Different quality parameters, including weight loss, color change, firmness, total soluble solid (TSS), vitamin C, and pH, were evaluated. The findings showed that the weight loss of cucumber was highly increased in non-coated samples stored... [more]

A review of the application of matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD) in the extraction of biologically active compounds and impurities from plants and food samples with a particular emphasis on conventional and new types of sorbents has been provided. An overview of MSPD applications for the isolation of organic residues from biological samples, determined using chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, has been presented. In this study, procedural solutions that may extend MSDP applicability for the extraction such as vortex-assisted, ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and extraction with a magnetic sorbent have been discussed. Special attention has been paid to MSPD sorbents including modified silica, diatomite, magnesium silicate, alumina, carbon materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, graphene, or graphite), molecularly imprinted polymers, and cyclodextrin. An important aspect of the MSPD procedure is the use of high-purity and environmentally friendly solvents for ex... [more]

The global demand for sustainable lamb production is increasing due to the need for high-quality meat with minimal environmental impact, making the choice of feeding systems crucial. This study investigates the effects of supplemented pasture feeding during the last 60 days of rearing on the meat fatty acid profile, pH value, colour characteristics, and mineral composition of lambs, highlighting the benefits of such feeding systems. Ninety lambs (MIS sheep breed) were divided into three distinct feeding regimes: Group I (alfalfa and concentrate feeding), Group II (white clover [Trifolium repens] pasture with concentrate supplementation), and Group III (birds’ foot trefoil [Lotus corniculatus] pasture with concentrate supplementation). The results have shown that supplemented pasture feeding improves the fatty acid profile by increasing n-3 content and desirable fatty acids, while reducing the n-6/n-3 ratio and atherogenic index (p < 0.05), particularly in lambs finished on an L. cor... [more]

Background: The analysis of vitamins in baby food is a challenging task given the complexity of the food matrix, vitamin stability, and strict regulations of the European Union regarding permissible deviations from declared values. Vitamins in food exist in different concentrations and forms and have different stabilities; thus, the preparation of samples for a reliable analysis using the same procedure is not straightforward. Therefore, significant attention has been devoted to optimizing sample preparation in the analysis of vitamins. Methods: This study aims to determine which of the sample preparation and extraction methods is the most efficient for the simultaneous determination of vitamins A, D, E, and K in milk and baby food using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Different samples of baby food were prepared in seven different ways based on four methods (saponification, enzymatic hydrolysis, solvent extraction, and solid-phase extraction). Results and Conclusions: A... [more]

It has been documented that the shelf life of fishery products is extremely reduced due to microbial development and its endogenous biochemistry. For this reason, food technologists around the world are researching how to reduce the main processes that lead to spoilage. Recently, high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) has had different applications in the food industry because the cavitation effect can inhibit or reduce microbial development as well as cause conformational changes in muscle enzymes. Therefore, in this study, HIU was applied for 30, 60, and 90 min to the tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillet, and subsequently, it was stored on ice for 20 days. During this period, samples were taken every 5 days (day 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20), and moisture content, pH, total volatile base (TVB-N), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), texture, electrophoresis, color, and microbiological analyses (mesophiles and psychrophiles) were determined. No significant changes (p ≥ 0.05) were observed in the moisture c... [more]

Nowadays, there has been a significant rise in the consumption of kefir, a functional beverage touted for its perceived health benefits. To offer a high-quality beverage to consumers, it is imperative to scrutinize and fine-tune the fermentation process. This study seeks to investigate the impact of fermentation time and the number of subcultures on the physicochemical, microbiological, and volatile composition, as well as the visual appearance, of kefir beverages obtained from four consecutive 24- or 48-h batch subcultures. All fermented beverages exhibited low lactose, ethanol and acids levels, with counts of viable probiotic lactic acid bacteria and yeast exceeding 106 colony forming units/mL. The four kefir beverages from the 48-h batch subcultures notably showed the lowest total concentrations of volatile compounds, likely due to overfermentation and over-acidification of the beverages. This caused the separation of the whey and curd, along with the formation of large gas bubbles,... [more]

Excessive alcohol intake leads to significant physiological complications, particularly alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). The extent of liver damage caused by ethanol correlates with increased oxidative stress and accumulation of lipids in the hepatic tissue. In this study, we investigated the defense properties of the aqueous extract of Perilla frutescens Briton Var. acuta Kudo (PF) on hepatic injury in chronically ethanol-treated mice. The mice were orally administered the water extract from PF for 4 weeks with ethanol treatment (3 g/kg. P.O.). The level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver tissues was determined. A substantial increase in MDA generation was detected in the livers of mice subjected to ethanol exposure, whereas the administration of PF markedly reduced MDA levels in hepatic tissues. Additionally, histological analysis of the liver tissue was performed. Histopathological investigation revealed a significant reduction in hepatocellular necrosis in the PF-treated group. T... [more]

Bangladesh is increasing agricultural mechanization to reduce labor-intensive drudgery and to address labor shortages in farming. Agricultural equipment, such as power tillers and threshers, are used to achieve this goal and require regular replacement of the spare parts that experience significant wear in use. Spare parts are currently imported at twice the cost of domestic ones. This paper supports the development of domestic manufacturing by analyzing the manufacturing processes for two fast-moving spare agricultural parts, tiller blades and threshing teeth, and providing a method to develop more efficient processes. The manufacturing processes, which focused on the design of forging and bending dies, reflect the constraints of the manufacturing equipment and stock materials available in Bangladesh. The die designs and manufacturing processes were verified by FEA simulations and by experimental testing. The experiments and simulations suggest that the spare parts should be made at e... [more]

Plasma technology, relatively new in the fields of biomedicine, agriculture, and ecology, is the subject of intensive research as a prospective means of decontamination of various microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and fungi). The objectives of the present study were to follow the effect of cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) treatment on in vitro grown plum plants (Prunus domestica L. ‘Kyustendilska sinya’ cv.) and the possibility of eradicating or inactivating plum pox virus (PPV) causing Sharka disease by CAP. The source tree is naturally co-infected by PPV (both M and D strains). In the experiments, two different plasma sources were used. First, a surface-wave-sustained Argon plasma torch and second, an underwater diaphragm discharge. For the treatments, nodal segments (10 mm in length) from in vitro cultured plum plants with or without one leaf were prepared. Apical shoots from treated plants (PPV-positive and negative clones as well non-treated controls) were cultivated in vitro for fo... [more]

Potassium-containing feldspars provide a high potential for producing potash, a product with widespread use in agriculture. The present work assesses applying the anti-solvent crystallization method for the purification and recovery of high-purity muriate of potash (KCl) from feldspar leaching solutions. Initially, screening experiments were carried out on a synthetic leaching solution with the aim of analyzing the crystallization behavior of key components. Screening experiments were performed using five anti-solvents, namely methanol, ethanol, acetone, 2-propanol, and ethylene glycol. Acetone and 2-propanol were viable options for crystallization of potassium chloride. Then, the effects of anti-solvent ratio (O/A), time, and anti-solvent addition rate on potassium-chloride crystallization were further investigated using acetone and 2-propanol. A recovery of 83% of potassium was achieved when using acetone at the O/A of 5 with the addition rate of 10 mL/min, at room temperature with a... [more]

Drug discovery based on medicinal plants remains an important source of bioactive compounds, many of which have been the basis for new chemical structures for the pharmaceutical and food industries. According to the World Health Organization, about 80% of the worldwide population still depends on plant drugs, and several medicines have been obtained from medicinal plants. Unfortunately, the potential benefits of these plants have led to unscientific exploration of natural resources, a fact that is being globally observed. The aim of this study was to evaluate eleven aromatic medicinal plants and compare them to Azorean Camellia sinensis green tea in terms of antioxidant activity, total phenolics, and flavonoid content, and also to evaluate the possibility of their valorization as a nutraceutical material. The results revealed that Camellia sinensis presented higher values for free radical scavenging activity (FRSA, EC50 = 3.43 µg/mL), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, EC50 = 5.1... [more]

(1) Background: In this study, bioactive compounds (phenolics and betalains) extracted from beetroot were stabilized by encapsulation with maltodextrin and soy protein by the freeze drying method. Stability of bioactive compounds and bioactivities in a beetroot extract and encapsulates during 60 days of storage at 4 °C (without light) and at 25 °C (with and without light) were investigated. (2) Methods: Contents of bioactive compounds and bioactivity (antioxidant activity by DPPH, RP, and ABTS tests; anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activity) were determined. Improvement in stability of bioactives’ content and bioactivity of prepared encapsulates in relation to the extract was observed after storage at room temperature under light conditions. (3) Results: Encapsulation with maltodextrin showed improvement in stability of all studied bioactive parameters, while an encapsulate with soy protein improved stability of bioactives and antioxidant activity compared to the extract. The e... [more]

The aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of tomato pomace (TP) on the technological and sensory properties of ćevapi. Four treatments were prepared as follows: control (CON) and samples with the addition of TP in amounts of TP5 (0.5%—5 g/kg), TP10 (1%—10 g/kg), and TP20 (2%—20 g/kg). Technological properties (pH values, water activity (aw) cooking loss, length reduction), instrumental colour and texture, and sensory properties were examined. The addition of TP powder did not result in significant differences in pH and aw values between CON and modified treatments (in both raw and grilled). The addition of TP in the amounts higher than 10 g/kg significantly reduced cooking loss, while length reduction was observed when 20 g/kg was added. Also, significantly higher values of yellowness were observed in both the raw and grilled ćevapi, when 10 g/kg and more of TP was added. Significantly higher hardness and chewiness were observed in all experimental treatments. However, differe... [more]

Waste management in large urban centers is one of the main challenges for public administration. Two of the most abundant wastes in cities are waste solid and municipal wastewater (MWW). Their management can be optimized if they are treated together. This work analyzed an anaerobic−aerobic system for the treatment of fruit and vegetable wastes (FVWs) and MWW. Firstly, FVWs were collected and characterized; once in the laboratory, they were placed in a tank with the MWW, aiming at transferring to the water those solids with a particle size below 105 µm; then, they were separated by sieving. The mixture of MWW and FVWs with a particle size below 105 µm was fed into an up-flow anaerobic sludge reactor (UASB); in the latter, dissolved and suspended organic matter was transformed into methane and carbon dioxide. The water that left the UASB was sent to be post-treated in an activated sludge reactor (ASR). The chemical oxygen demand (COD) was used as an evaluation parameter of the anaerobic−... [more]

Glioblastoma presents one of the most formidable challenges in cancer treatment, remaining persistently incurable. There is a pressing need to explore less toxic alternatives, particularly natural remedies that could be applied in glioblastoma therapy. The aim of this research is to investigate the antiproliferative potential of selected stone fruit juices—tart cherry (Prunus cerasus), cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), and blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)—on U87-MG and GBM43 glioblastoma cells. Their effects were compared with temozolomide (TMZ), the current standard treatment. Additionally, the juices were assessed for their bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential. Unlike the other two juices, blackthorn juice did not exhibit an antiproliferative effect on U87-MG cells. However, all three juices, including blackthorn, demonstrated antiproliferative potential against TMZ-resistant GBM43 cells. Cornelian cherry exhibited an even stronger inhibitory effect than TMZ. This observation correl... [more]

Elements are released into water bodies, affecting the environment and human health. To address this problem, the adsorption-desorption capacity of untreated rice husk (URH) and rice husk treated with alkali (RHTA) for Cu(II), Pb(II), Fe(II), Cd(II), and Zn(II) was investigated. Analyses during the process were performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, and elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Adsorption-desorption kinetics and isotherms were carried out. The FTIR analysis of RHTA revealed a lowering of intensity of the bonding signals (OH, C-O, CH2, CH3, SiO2, Si-OH) and loss of some signals due to the adsorbent-elements interaction. The adsorption on RHTA presented higher adsorption of Fe, followed by Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd. Meanwhile, in URH, the adsorption was Fe > Pb > Cu > Zn and Cd. On the other hand, the desorption values for RHTA were Zn > Cd > Pb > Cu > and Fe and... [more]

We treated dry black bean dreg fermentation products with radio-frequency (RF) waves. With RF treatment (RF output power of 3 kW and electrode gap of 12 cm), a sample was dried within 1 h, which would take 10 h to dry via hot-air drying at 60 °C (sample weight reduction from 100 to 28.2 g). RF treatment thus accelerated fermented black bean dreg drying approximately 10-fold. The fermented black bean dregs were dried for 60 min at a fixed RF output power of 3 kW with different electrode gaps (12, 16, and 20 cm). Samples treated with electrode gaps of 12 and 16 cm were completely dried. When the fermented black bean dregs were dried for 60 min with an RF output power of 3 kW with a 16 cm electrode gap, their water activity decreased from 0.98 to 0.65. Colorimetric analysis showed that the sample color darkened significantly (ΔE = 5.73 ± 2.71), whereas its solubility (28.8 ± 0.1%) and antioxidant capacity (EC50 = 51.7 ± 0.7 mg/mL) increased. In addition, deglycosylated isoflavone daidzein... [more]

The preparation of activated carbons (ACs) from cherry stones and chemical activation with H3PO4 can be controlled by the experimental variables during the impregnation step in order to obtain a tailored porous structure of the as-prepared ACs. This control not only extends to the ACs’ texture and porosity development, but also to the chemical nature of their surface. The spectroscopic and elemental characterization of different series of ACs is presented in this study. The spectroscopic band features and assignments strongly depend on the H3PO4 concentration and/or the semi-carbonization treatments applied to the feedstock before impregnation, which ultimately influence different characteristics such as the AC hydrophilicity. Different surface chemistries arise from the different tailored impregnation solutions, showing a practical outcome for future applications of the as-prepared ACs.

Food producers have focused on novel and attractive raw materials with functional properties. Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits contain numerous compounds that may be beneficial for health. Objective: This study aimed to compare and assess the physicochemical properties and amygdalin levels in brandy and liquor prepared from frozen cornelian cherry fruits. Density functional theory-based B3LYP functionals were used to analyze the spectral and optical properties of amygdalin. The contents of the compounds and volatile products of amygdalin decay were found in two spirituose beverages of Cornus mas, using HPLC and GC-MS. Significant differences in their physicochemical properties were detected between the samples. Alcoholic beverages based on cornelian cherry fruits were rich in a wide range of functional ingredients with a low concentration of amygdalin. In silico analysis showed that orbital density diffusion has a major effect on the physical properties of amygdalin, while diffe... [more]

The peel from mango (Mangifera indica L.) var. “Kent” is a good source of bioactive compounds (BC). BC are sensitive to oxygen, temperature, humidity, light, and gastrointestinal digestion, which change their biological function and health benefits. This study was aimed at the extraction of the bioactive compounds present in the peel from mango var. “Kent” and their microencapsulation using spray drying (SD) and spout-fluid bed drying (SFB). The bioaccessibility of BC was also evaluated. Two consecutive extractions of 90 min at 30 °C and 80% v/v ethanol were used. The microcapsules produced via SD and SFB presented high retention and encapsulation percentages of the bioactive compounds; nevertheless, SFB showed better protection during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The non-encapsulated extract showed a decrease (p ≤ 0.05) of BC at the end of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The results show that these microcapsules might be used in the food industry as an ingredient to produ... [more]

The steels from which the components of mining machinery are constructed must be based primarily on knowledge of their behaviour under environmental conditions and of the excavation technology. Secondly, the structural changes undergone by the materials due to mechanical and thermal processing and the stresses generated by the action of excavation forces that can induce internal stresses at a level that is difficult to determine must be taken into account. Determining the level of structural and mechanical degradation involves sampling the load-bearing structure elements of the excavation and storage machinery for analysis of the mechanical and chemical properties of the component materials. The paper focuses on issues related to the structural and mechanical degradation of steel as a material for parts of mining machinery. In this paper, a methodology for evaluating the degree of structural degradation of three types of bucket wheel excavators with different operating hours (ERc 1400-... [more]

The aim of this study was to optimize parameters of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) in terms of extraction temperature and time, microwave power and cycle numbers on the phenolic content of sea buckthorn leaves and berries, using 70% ethanol (v/v) as an extraction solvent. The characterization of phenolic composition in leaf and berry extracts obtained at optimal MAE and ASE conditions was performed with UPLC/ESI-MS2, while antioxidant activity was determined using the ORAC method. The optimal extraction conditions for MAE were 60 °C, 500 W and 15 min for leaves and 60 °C, 300 W, and 10 min for berries. The optimal extraction conditions for ASE from both leaves and berries were 120 °C, 15 min, and 3 cycles. Total phenolic content (TPC) in MAE and ASE extracts from leaves was similar to the TPC determined in extracts obtained by conventional extraction (60 °C/30 min); however, ASE contributed to the higher TPC of the berry extracts. The flavo... [more]

In this study, the effects of ultrasonic power, drying temperature, and slice thickness on the drying rate, chromatism, water migration law, gingerol content, flavor, and antioxidant activity of ginger were investigated by using a direct-contact ultrasound and far infrared combined drying technology. The results showed that compared with single far infrared drying, direct-contact ultrasound and far infrared combined drying accelerated the free water migration rate of ginger (7.1~38.1%), shortened the drying time (from 280 min to 160 min), reduced the loss of volatile components in ginger, and significantly increased the antioxidant activity of ginger (p < 0.05). Furthermore, after ultrasound intervention, the gingerol content decreased in slices of 4 mm thickness (0.1226 ± 0.0189 mg/g to 0.1177 ± 0.0837 mg/g) but increased in slices of 6 mm thickness (0.1104 ± 0.0162 mg/g to 0.1268 ± 0.0112 mg/g). This drying technology has a certain reference significance for the drying process of... [more]

During the production of soy milk, a by-product is produced, which is typically treated as a waste material. This by-product has significant levels of dietary fibre, proteins, isoflavones and antioxidant capacity. As such, it has been recommended as an effective functional ingredient when milled to a flour after drying at 100 °C. The shelf-life stability of this dried by-product is relatively unknown when stored under different storage conditions (2 °C, 20 °C and 40 °C) and initial moisture content (9%, 12% and 14%), both packaged and exposed to immediate environments. This study investigated the impact of storage over ten weeks on the physical properties, lipid oxidation, antioxidant capacity and stability of isoflavones of this functional ingredient. The results showed that exposure significantly affected the stability of flour, especially on moisture content, water activity, isoflavone concentration and lipid oxidation. Different initial moisture contents significantly affected the... [more]