Inactivation of the enveloped virus phi6 with hydrodynamic cavitation

The COVID −19 pandemic reminded us that we need better contingency plans to prevent the spread of infectious agents and the occurrence of epidemics or pandemics. Although the transmissibility of SARS-CoV-2 in water has not been confirmed, there are studies that have reported on the presence of infectious coronaviruses in water and wastewater samples. Since standard water treatments are not designed to eliminate viruses, it is of utmost importance to explore advanced treatment processes that can improve water treatment and help inactivate viruses when needed. This is the first study to investigate the effects of hydrodynamic cavitation on the inactivation of bacteriophage phi6, an enveloped virus used as a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate in many studies. In two series of experiments with increasing and constant sample temperature, virus reduction of up to 6.3 logs was achieved. Inactivation of phi6 at temperatures of 10 and 20 °C occurs predominantly by the mechanical effect of cavitation and results in a reduction of up to 4.5 logs. At 30 °C, the reduction increases to up to 6 logs, where the temperature-induced increased susceptibility of the viral lipid envelope makes the virus more prone to inactivation. Furthermore, the control experiments without cavitation showed that the increased temperature alone is not sufficient to cause inactivation, but that additional mechanical stress is still required. The RNA degradation results confirmed that virus inactivation was due to the disrupted lipid bilayer and not to RNA damage. Hydrodynamic cavitation, therefore, has the potential to inactivate current and potentially emerging enveloped pathogenic viruses in water at lower, environmentally relevant temperatures.     

Cavitation based cleaner technologies for biodiesel production and processing of hydrocarbon streams: A perspective on key fundamentals,missing process data and economic feasibility – A review

The present review emphasizes the role of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) and acoustic cavitation in clean and green technologies for selected fuels (of hydrocarbon origins such as gasoline, naphtha, diesel, heavy oil, and crude oil) processing applications including biodiesel production. Herein, the role of cavitation reactors, their geometrical parameters, physicochemical properties of liquid media, liquid oxidants, catalyst loading, reactive oxygen species, and different types of emulsification and formation of radicals, formation as well as extraction of formed by-products are systematically reviewed. Among all types of HC reactors, vortex diode and single hole orifices revealed more than 95 % desulfurization yield and a 20 % viscosity reduction in heavy oil upgrading, while multi-hole orifice (100 holes) and slit Venturi allowed obtaining the best biodiesel production processes in terms of high (%) yield, low cost of treatment, and short processing time (5 min; 99 % biodiesel; 4.80 USD/m³). On the other hand, the acoustic cavitation devices are likely to be the most effective in biodiesel production based on ultrasonic bath (90 min; 95 %; 6.7 $/m³) and desulfurization treatment based on ultrasonic transducers (15 min; 98.3 % desulfurization; 10.8 $/m³). The implementation of HC-based processes reveals to be the most cost-effective method over acoustic cavitation-based devices. Finally, by reviewing the ongoing applications and development works, the limitations and challenges for further research are addressed emphasizing the cleaner production and guidelines for future scientists to assure obtaining comprehensive data useful for the research community.     

Effects of ultrasound irradiation on Au nanoparticles deposition on carbon-coated LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 and its performance as a cathode material for Li ion batteries

LiNi_0.5Mn_1.5O₄ (LMNO) has attracted considerable attention as a Li-ion battery cathode material, owing to its high discharge voltage of 4.7 V (vs. Li/Li⁺) and high energy density. However, the electronic conductivity of LMNO is low, resulting in a low discharge capacity at high current density. To overcome this limitation, we deposited Au nanoparticles (NPs), which have a high conductivity and chemical stability at high battery voltages, on carbon-coated LMNO (LMNO/C) using ultrasound irradiation. Consequently, Au NPs that are ∼16 nm in size were deposited on LMNO/C, and ultrasound irradiation was reported to disperse the NPs on LMNO/C more effectively than stirring. Furthermore, the deposition of Au NPs on LMNO/C using ultrasound irradiation improved its electronic conductivity, which is related to an increase in the discharge capacity due to the reduction of Ni⁴⁺ to Ni²⁺ in LMNO/C at a high current density.     

Investigation of cavitation noise using Eulerian-Lagrangian multiscale modeling

We have employed the large eddy simulation (LES) approach to investigate the cavitation noise characteristics of an unsteady cavitating flow around a NACA66 (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) hydrofoil by employing an Eulerian-Lagrangian based multiscale cavitation model. A volume of fluid (VOF) method simulates the large cavity, whereas a Lagrangian discrete bubble model (DBM) tracks the small bubbles. Meanwhile, noise is determined using the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings equation (FW-H). Eulerian-Lagrangian analysis has shown that, in comparison to VOF, it is more effective in revealing microscopic characteristics of unsteady cavitating flows, including microscale bubbles, that are unresolvable around the cloud cavity, and their impact on the flow field. It is also evident that its evolution of cavitation features on the hydrofoil is more consistent with the experimental observations. The frequency of the maximum sound pressure level corresponds to the frequency of the main cavity shedding for the noise characteristics. Using the Eulerian-Lagrangian method to predict the noise signal, results show that the cavitation noise, generated by discrete bubbles due to their collapse, is mainly composed of high-frequency signals. In addition, the frequency of cavitation noise induced by discrete microbubbles is around 10 kHz. A typical characteristic of cavitation noise, including two intense pulses during the collapsing of the cloud cavity, is described, as well as the mechanisms that underlie these phenomena. The findings of this work provide for a fundamental understanding of cavitation and serve as a valuable reference for the design and intensification of hydrodynamic cavitation reactors.     

Foodomics revealed the effects of ultrasonic extraction on the composition and nutrition of cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed oil

Cactus is a tropical fruit with a high nutritional value; however, little information is available regarding the comprehensive utilization of its byproducts. This study aimed to explore the composition and nutritional value of cactus fruit seed oil (CFO) and reveal the effects of ultrasound-assisted extraction and traditional solvent extraction on oil quality. Foodomics analysis showed that CFO extracted using a traditional solvent is rich in linolenic acid (9c12cC18:2, 57.46 ± 0.84 %), α-tocopherol (20.01 ± 1.86 mg/100 g oil), and canolol (200.10 ± 1.21 μg/g). Compared to traditional solvent extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction can significantly increase the content of lipid concomitants in CFO, whereas excessive ultrasound intensity may lead to the oxidation of oils and the formation of free radicals. Analysis of the thermal properties showed that ultrasound had no effect on the crystallization or melting behavior of CFO. To further demonstrate the nutritional value of CFO, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lipid metabolism imbalance model was used. Lipidomics analysis showed that CFO significantly reduced the content of oxidized phospholipids stimulated by LPS and increased the content of highly bioactive metabolites such as ceramides, thus alleviating LPS-induced damage in C. elegans. Hence, CFO is a functional oil with high value, and ultrasound-assisted extraction is advocated. These findings provide new insights into the comprehensive utilization of cactus fruits.     

Ultrasonic-assisted catalytic transfer hydrogenation for upgrading pyrolysis-oil

Recent interest in biomass-based fuel blendstocks and chemical compounds has stimulated research efforts on conversion and upgrading pathways, which are considered as critical commercialization drivers. Existing pre-/post-conversion pathways are energy intense (e.g., pyrolysis and hydrogenation) and economically unsustainable, thus, more efficient process solutions can result in supporting the renewable fuels and green chemicals industry. This study proposes a process, including biomass conversion and bio-oil upgrading, using mixed fast and slow pyrolysis conversion pathway, as well as sono-catalytic transfer hydrogenation (SCTH) treatment process. The proposed SCTH treatment employs ammonium formate as a hydrogen transfer additive and palladium supported on carbon as the catalyst. Utilizing SCTH, bio-oil molecular bonds were broken and restructured via the phenomena of cavitation, rarefaction, and hydrogenation, with the resulting product composition, investigated using ultimate analysis and spectroscopy. Additionally, an in-line characterization approach is proposed, using near-infrared spectroscopy, calibrated by multivariate analysis and modeling. The results indicate the potentiality of ultrasonic cavitation, catalytic transfer hydrogenation, and SCTH for incorporating hydrogen into the organic phase of bio-oil. It is concluded that the integration of pyrolysis with SCTH can improve bio-oil for enabling the production of fuel blendstocks and chemical compounds from lignocellulosic biomass.     

Intensified recovery of lipids,proteins, and carbohydrates from wastewater-grown microalgae Desmodesmus sp. by using ultrasound or ozone

This study evaluates the effect of ultrasound and ozone pretreatments for the subsequent recovery of Desmodesmus sp. biocomponents—lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates—using a response surface methodology. Both pretreatments impact on the recovered lipids quality, solvent waste production and extraction time is analysed for process intensification purposes. For ultrasound pretreatment, independent parameters were energy applied (50–200 kWh/kg dry biomass), biomass concentration (25–75 g/L), and ultrasonic intensity (0.32 and 0.53 W/mL). While for ozone pretreatment, independent parameters were ozone concentration (3–9 mg O₃/L), biomass concentration (25–75 g/L), and contact time (5–15 min). In the case of ultrasound pretreatment, recovery yield reached 97 ± 0.4%, 89 ± 3%, and 73 ± 0.6% for proteins, carbohydrates and lipids respectively. Given process required: energy applied of 50 kWh/kg dry biomass, 75 g/L of biomass concentration, 0.32 W/mL of ultrasonic intensity, and 56 min of time process. Ultrasound caused high cell disruption releasing all proteins, thereby obviating downstream processing for its recovery. Ozone pretreatment recovery yield was 85 ± 2%, 48 ± 1.4%, and 25 ± 1.3%, for carbohydrates, lipids and proteins respectively, under the following conditions: 9 mg O₃/L of ozone concentration, 25 g/L of biomass concentration, and 5 min of contact time that depicts an energy consumption of 30.64 kWh/kg dry biomass. It was found that ultrasound and ozone pretreatments intensified the lysis and biocomponents recovery process by reducing solvent consumption by at least 92% and extraction time between 80% and 90% compared with extraction of untreated biomass biocomponents. Both pretreatments improve the composition of the recovered lipids. It was noted that the yield of neutral lipids increased from 28% to 67% for ultrasound pretreatment while for ozone pretreatment from 49% to 63%. The method used for lipid extraction may also have an effect but here it was kept constant.     

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on the structural and functional properties of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed protein

With the steady increase in the consumption of ultra-processed foods, there is growing interest in sustainable diets that include more plant protein. However, little information is available regarding the structural and functional properties of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) seed protein (CSP), a by-product of the cactus seed food-processing chain. This study aimed to explore the composition and nutritional value of CSP and reveal the effects of ultrasound treatment on protein quality. Protein chemical structure analysis showed that an appropriate intensity of ultrasound treatment (450 W) could significantly increase protein solubility (96.46 ± 2.07%) and surface hydrophobicity (13.76 ± 0.85 μg), decrease the content of T-SH (50.25 ± 0.79 μmol/g) and free-SH (8.60 ± 0.30 μmol/g), and enhance emulsification characteristics. Circular dichroism analysis further confirmed that the ultrasonic treatment increased the α-helix and random coil content. Amino acid analysis also suggested that ultrasound treatment (450 W) increased the hydrophobic amino acid content. To evaluate the impact of changes in the chemical structure, its digestion behavior was studied. The results showed that ultrasound treatment increased the release rate of free amino acids. Furthermore, nutritional analysis showed that the digestive products of CSP by ultrasound treatment can significantly enhance the intestinal permeability, increase the expression of ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1, thus repairing LPS induced intestinal barrier disfunction. Hence, CSP is a functional protein with high value, and ultrasound treatment is recommended. These findings provide new insights into the comprehensive utilization of cactus fruits.     

Effects of ultrasonic treatment on color,carotenoid content,enzyme activity,rheological properties,and microstructure of pumpkin juice during storage

Freshly squeezed pumpkin juice (Cucurbita moschata D.) was sonicated at various power levels at a constant frequency of 25 kHz and a treatment time of 10 min. Samples were stored in the dark for 0, 4, 8, and 12 days at 4 °C and were subsequently analyzed. The combined effects of power level and storage period on color parameters, carotenoid content, particle size distribution, cloud value, rheological characteristics, and microstructure were investigated. The results showed ultrasonic-treated samples had little effect on carotenoid content, cloud value, particle size distribution, and polydispersity during storage compared to those of the untreated samples. The L^⁎, a^⁎, b^⁎, and C* values decreased significantly during 8–12 days of storage, resulting in a significant increase in ΔE, especially 400 W/10 min-treated samples. Meanwhile, the enzyme activity and rheological properties increased significantly on storage days 8–12. However, the microstructure of all samples did not change significantly during storage. Based on these results, during the storage period, the physical and chemical properties of 400 W/10 min-ultrasonic treated pumpkin juice were retained more than those in the untreated pumpkin juice. Therefore, ultrasonic treatment has broad application prospects in preserving bioactive substances and physicochemical properties and improving the storage life of fresh pumpkin juice.     

Effects of dual-frequency slit ultrasound on the enzymolysis of high-concentration hydrolyzed feather meal: Biological activities and structural characteristics of hydrolysates

Ultrasound-assisted enzymolysis has been applied to improve conventional enzymolysis, while there are rare reports on the application of ultrasound to high-concentration feather protein enzymolysis. Therefore, the feasibility of dual-frequency slit ultrasound (DFSU) for enzymolysis of high-concentration hydrolyzed feather meal (HFM), as well as the biological activities and structural characteristics of hydrolysates were investigated. The single-factor test was used to optimize the ultrasonic processing parameters: substrate concentration, frequency mode, intermittent ratio, power density, and time. The results showed that protein recovery rate and conversion rate increased by 6.08% and 18.63% under the optimal conditions (200 g/L, 28/80 kHz, 5:2 s/s, 600 W/L, and 3 h) compared with conventional enzymolysis, respectively. The macromolecular proteins in hydrolysates were converted into micromolecular peptides (< 500 Da) when treated by DFSU, and antioxidant activity and angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of hydrolysates were increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) images illustrated the microstructure changes of feather protein particles in the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic hydrolysates of HFM (UEH), including more porous, smaller, and more uniform. Additionally, the conformation of protein molecules was significantly affected (P < 0.05), including the increase in free sulfhydryl (SH), the decrease in disulfide bond (SS) and surface hydrophobicity (H₀). Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra analysis further showed that the secondary structure of feather proteins was modified with a reduction in α-helix, β-turn, and β-sheet, while an increase in random coil content was observed. These results indicated that DFSU could be a promising method to enhance high-concentration HFM for preparing peptide-rich hydrolysates with high antioxidant activity and ACE inhibitory activity.     

Effects of ultrasound treatment on muscle structure,volatile compounds,and small molecule metabolites of salted Culter alburnus fish

This study investigated the effects of ultrasound treatment on the quality of salted Culter alburnus fish. The results showed that with the increasing ultrasound power, the structural degradation of muscle fibers was intensified, and the conformation of myofibrillar protein was significantly changed. The high-power ultrasound treatment group (300 W) had relatively higher thiobarbiturate reactive substance content (0.37 mg malondialdehyde eq/kg) and peroxidation value (0.63 mmol/kg). A total of 66 volatile compounds were identified with obvious differences among groups. The 200 W ultrasound group exhibited fewer fishy substances (Hexanal, 1-Pentene-3-ol, and 1-Octane-3-ol). Compared with control group, ultrasound groups (200, 300 W) contained more umami taste-related amino peptides such as γ-Glu-Met, γ-Glu-Ala, and Asn-pro. In the ultrasound treatment group, L-isoleucine and L-methionine, which may be used as flavor precursors, were significantly down-regulated, while carbohydrates and its metabolites were up-regulated. Amino acid, carbohydrate, and FA (fatty acyls) metabolism products in salted fish were enriched by ultrasound treatment, and those products might ultimately be related to the taste and flavor of salted fish.     

Ultrasound-aided synthesis of gold-loaded boron-doped graphene quantum dots interface towards simultaneous electrochemical determination of guanine and adenine biomolecules

To acquire substantial electrochemical signals of guanine-GUA and adenine-ADE present in deoxyribonucleic acid-DNA, it is critical to investigate innovative electrode materials and their interfaces. In this study, gold-loaded boron-doped graphene quantum dots (Au@B-GQDs) interface was prepared via ultrasound-aided reduction method for monitoring GUA and ADE electrochemically. Transmission electron microscopy-TEM, Ultraviolet–Visible spectroscopy-UV–Vis, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy-XPS, cyclic voltammetry-CV, and differential pulse voltammetry-DPV were used to examine the microstructure of the fabricated interface and demonstrate its electrochemical characteristics. The sensor was constructed by depositing the as-prepared Au@B-GQDs as a thin layer on a glassy carbon-GC electrode by the drop-casting method and carried out the electrochemical studies. The resulting sensor exhibited a good response with a wide linear range (GUA = 0.5–20 μM, ADE = 0.1–20 μM), a low detection limit-LOD (GUA = 1.71 μM, ADE = 1.84 μM), excellent sensitivity (GUA = 0.0820 µAµM⁻¹, ADE = 0.1561 µAµM⁻¹) and selectivity with common interferents results from biological matrixes. Furthermore, it seems to have prominent selectivity, reproducibility, repeatability, and long-lasting stability. The results demonstrate that the fabricated Au@B-GQDs/GC electrode is a simple and effective sensing platform for detecting GUA and ADE in neutral media at low potential as it exhibited prominent synergistic impact and outstanding electrocatalytic activity corresponding to individual AuNPs and B-GQDs modified electrodes.     

A low-temperature and short-annealing process for metal oxide thin film transistors using deep ultraviolet light for roll-to-roll processing

Solution-processed metal oxide semiconductors have superior electron mobility and stability than solution-processed organic semiconductors. However, their fabrication requires a very-high-temperature and long-time annealing process. In this study, we utilized deep ultraviolet (DUV) light to decrease both the temperature and time of the annealing process. High external energy is required to break the organic bonds in a metal oxide film, which is generally supplied by a high-temperature annealing process carried out for a long duration.Alternatively, the required high energy can be supplied more efficiently by irradiating the metal oxide film with DUV light for a shorter duration. In this work, we used DUV light whose peaks at 172 nm instead of the generally used mercury lamp, peaking at 254 and 185 nm. Owing to this difference, thin film transistors (TFTs) could be fabricated on silicon wafers at a lower temperature and shorter duration as compared to the conditions used in previous studies. Various conditions, such as the heating temperature, duration of DUV irradiation, and N₂ flow rate, were optimized to control the heating temperature so as to achieve a mobility of 4.44 cm²/V·s and on–off ratio of 2 × 10⁷, which are much higher than those of a transistor annealed at 300 °C for 30 min (mobility, 1.31 cm²/V·s and on–off ratio, 7 × 10⁵).     

One-step chemically vapor deposited hybrid 1T-MoS2/2H-MoS2 heterostructures towards methylene blue photodegradation

The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue is a straightforward and cost-effective solution for water decontamination. Although many materials have been reported so far for this purpose, the proposed solutions inflicted high fabrication costs and low efficiencies. Here, we report on the synthesis of tetragonal (1T) and hexagonal (2H) mixed molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) heterostructures for an improved photocatalytic degradation efficiency by means of a single-step chemical vapor deposition (CVD) technique. We demonstrate that the 1T-MoS₂/2H-MoS₂ heterostructures exhibited a narrow bandgap ∼ 1.7 eV, and a very low reflectance (<5%) under visible-light, owing to their particular vertical micro-flower-like structure. We exfoliated the CVD-synthesised 1T-MoS₂/2H-MoS₂ films to assess their photodegradation properties towards the standard methylene blue dye. Our results showed that the photo-degradation rate-constant of the 1T-MoS₂/2H-MoS₂ heterostructures is much greater under UV excitation (i.e., 12.5 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹) than under visible light illumination (i.e., 9.2 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹). Our findings suggested that the intermixing of the conductive 1T-MoS₂ with the semi-conducting 2H-MoS₂ phases favors the photogeneration of electron-hole pairs. More importantly, it promotes a higher efficient charge transfer, which accelerates the methylene blue photodegradation process.     

Positive effects and mechanism of ultrasound on chitin preparation from shrimp shells by co-fermentation

The objective of this study is to explore the effect and mechanism of ultrasound on chitin extraction from shrimp shells powder (SSP) by the co-fermentation of Bacillus subtilis and Acetobacter pasteurianus. After pre-treating the SSP with high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) at 800 W, the protease activity in the fermentation solution reached 96.9 U/mL on day 3, which was significantly higher than for SSP that had not been pre-treated with ultrasound (81.8 U/mL). The fermentation time of the chitin extraction process was 5.0 d without ultrasound pre-treatment, while it was shortened to 4.5 d when using ultrasound at 800 W to treat SSP. However, there were no obvious differences when we applied ultrasound at low power (200 W, 400 W). Furthermore, chitin purified from shrimp shells pre-treated with HIU at 800 W exhibited lower molecular weight (11.2 kDa), higher chitin purity (89.8%), and a higher degree of deacetylation (21.1%) compared to SSP with no ultrasound pre-treatment (13.5 kDa, 86.6%, 18.5%). Results indicate that HIU peels off the protein/CaCO₃ matrix that covers the SSP surface. About 9.1% of protein and 4.7% of Ca²⁺ were released from SSP pre-treated with HIU at 800 W. These figures were both higher than with no ultrasound pre-treatment (4.5%, 3.2%). Additionally, the amount of soluble protein extracted from SSP through HIU at 800 W was 50% higher than for the control sample. SDS-PAGE analysis indicated that the soluble protein was degraded to the micromolecule. It also revealed that HIU (600, 800 W) induced the secondary and tertiary structure destruction of protein extracted from SSP. In conclusion, HIU-induced degradation and structural damage of protein enhances the protein/CaCO₃ matrix to be peeled off from SSP. Also, in the co-fermentation process, an increase of protease activity further accelerates deproteinization.     

Improvement in enzymolysis efficiency and changes in conformational attributes of corn gluten meal by dual-frequency slit ultrasonication action

The influences of dual-frequency slit ultrasound (DFSU) pretreatment with various working parameters on the enzymolysis efficiency and conformational characteristics of corn gluten meal (CGM) were studied. Results indicated that under the conditions of ultrasonic power density of 80 W/L, time of 30 min, ultrasonic intermittent ratio of 5:2 s/s, temperature of 30 °C, and substrate concentration of 50 g/L, the relative enzymolysis efficiency (REE) of CGM reached a maximum of 21.05%, and the protein dissolution rate was 68.50%. In addition, ultrasonication had considerable impact on the conformation of CGM and consequently improved the susceptibility to alcalase proteolysis. Changes in free sulfhydryl (SH_F) and disulfide bonds (SS) groups indicated spatial conformation of CGM was altered following sonication (sonochemical) treatment. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FITR) analysis showed a reduction in α-helix and β-turn content; and an increase in β-sheet and random coil content of CGM. Alterations in the particle size, particle size distribution, microstructure and surface roughness (R_a, R_q) indicated generation of smaller and more uniform protein fragments of CGM by sonochemical pretreatment. The proposed mechanism of sonicated CGM was elaborated. Our findings suggest that using DFSU in pretreating CGM may be an efficacious approach to enhance proteolysis.     

Combining high intensity ultrasound and experimental design to improve carotenoid extraction efficiency from Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa)

Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa L.) is a significant source of carotenoids, but these compounds have been extracted using laborious and low-effective methods. The present work evaluated the high-intensity ultrasound combined with a chemometric approach to developing an optimal extraction method of carotenoids from buriti pulp. The multivariate optimization was carried out through two steps. First, a simplex-lattice mixture design was used to optimize the extractor solution finding higher extraction yield (903 ± 21 µg g⁻¹) with the acetone:ethanol (75/25) mixture. After, sample mass (80 mg) and sonication time (30 min) were optimized applying central composite design (CCD) which provided a 14% improvement in the extraction method yield. So, the total carotenoid content (TCC) with optimal extraction conditions was 1026 ± 13 µg g⁻¹ which is almost twice the yield of methods known in the literature for buriti. The RP-HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that the carotenoids are gently extracted and β-carotene is the major compound in the extracts. To confirm the accuracy, buriti samples spiked with β-carotene standard and the developed method showed recovery >84% and precision <6.5%. Furthermore, the optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method was applied to other samples (tomato, guava, carrot, mango, acerola, papaya, and pumpkin) and presented a yield to 5.5-fold higher when compared to the reported methods indicating high robustness. Based on results, the UAE method developed has demonstrated feasibility and reliability for the study of carotenoids in buriti pulp as well as in other plant matrices with high biological relevance.     

Optimisation of the ultrasound-assisted extraction of betalains and polyphenols from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Nutrisol

The present study optimised the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from Amaranthus hypochondriacus var. Nutrisol. Influence of temperature (25.86–54.14 °C) and ultrasonic power densities (UPD) (76.01–273.99 mW/mL) on total betalains (BT), betacyanins (BC), betaxanthins (BX), total polyphenols (TP), antioxidant activity (AA), colour parameters (L*, a*, and b*), amaranthine (A), and isoamaranthine (IA) were evaluated using response surface methodology. Moreover, betalain extraction kinetics and mass transfer coefficients (K_La) were determined for each experimental condition. BT, BC, BX, TP, AA, b*, K_La, and A were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by temperature extraction and UPD, whereas L*, a*, and IA were only affected (p < 0.05) by temperature. All response models were significantly validated with regression coefficients (R²) ranging from 87.46 to 99.29%. BT, A, IA, and K_La in UAE were 1.38, 1.65, 1.50, and 29.93 times higher than determined using conventional extraction, respectively. Optimal UAE conditions were obtained at 41.80 °C and 188.84 mW/mL using the desired function methodology. Under these conditions, the experimental values for BC, BX, BT, TP, AA, L*, a*, b*, K_La, A, and IA were closely related to the predicted values, indicating the suitability of the developed quadratic models. This study proposes a simple and efficient UAE method to obtain betalains and polyphenols with high antioxidant activity, which can be used in several applications within the food industry.