Optimization of Vacuum-Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Natural Polyphenols and Flavonoids from Raw Solid Waste of the Orange Juice Producing Industry at Industrial Scale

Orange pomace (OP) is a solid waste produced in bulk as a byproduct of the orange juice industry and accounts for approximately 50% of the quantity of the fruits processed into juice. In numerous literature references there is information about diverse uses of orange pomace for the production of high-added-value products including production of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial extracts rich in polyphenols and flavonoids which can substitute the hazardous chemical antioxidants/antimicrobials used in agro-food and cosmetics sectors. In this work and for the first time, according to our knowledge, the eco-friendly aqueous vacuum microwave assisted extraction of orange pomace was investigated and optimized at real industrial scale in order to produce aqueous antioxidant/antimicrobial extracts. A Response Surface Optimization methodology with a multipoint historical data experimental design was employed to obtain the optimal values of the process parameters in order to achieve the maximum rates of extraction of OP total polyphenols and/or total flavonoids for economically optimum production at industrial scale. The three factors used for the optimization were: (a) microwave power (b) water to raw pomace ratio and (c) extraction time. Moreover, the effectiveness and statistical soundness of the derived cubic polynomial predictive models were verified by ANOVA.     

Towards a world‐sheet description of doubled geometry in string theory

Starting from a sigma‐model for a doubled target‐space geometry, we show that the number of target‐space dimensions can be reduced by half through a gauging procedure. We apply this formalism to a class of backgrounds relevant for double field theory, and illustrate how choosing different gaugings leads to string‐theory configurations T‐dual to each other. We furthermore discuss that given a conformal doubled theory, the reduced theories are conformal as well. As an example we consider the three‐dimensional WZW model and show that the only possible reduced backgrounds are the cigar and trumpet CFTs in two dimensions, which are indeed T‐dual to each other.     

Influence of age-hardening and strain-rate on confined compression and shear behaviour of snow

The problem of assessing mobility performance of tracked or wheeled vehicles over snow is addressed in terms of the capability of the snow to provide flotation and traction capabilities. To obtain input into analyses for energy transfer from the traction element to the supporting snow cover, it is necessary to describe confined compression and shear performances of the snow—recognizing that a large density increase occurs under initial attack of the vehicle traction element. This study provides experimental input and diagrams of energy surfaces describing confined compressive and shear effects related to snow age and initial density.     

Chitosan-Based Materials for the Removal of Nickel Ions from Aqueous Solutions

Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A - Sorption of Ni(II) ions from liquid effluents utilizing chemically modified chitosan; (vanillin, polymer I) and (ortho-vanillin, polymer II) is studied...     

Space-time finite element methods stabilized using bubble function spaces

ABSTRACT

In this paper, a stabilized space-time finite element method for solving linear parabolic evolution problems is analyzed. The proposed method is developed on a base of a space-time variational setting, that helps on the simultaneous and unified discretization in space and in time by finite element techniques. Stabilization terms are constructed by means of classical bubble spaces. Stability of the discrete problem with respect to an associated mesh dependent norm is proved, and a priori discretization error estimates are presented. Numerical examples confirm the theoretical estimates.     

Synthesis and characterization of chiral poly(alkyl isocyanates) by coordination polymerization using a chiral half‐titanocene complex

A new chiral half‐titanocene complex, [CpTiCl₂(O‐(S)?2‐Bu)], is synthesized and characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. This complex is employed for the coordination polymerization of n‐butyl and n‐hexyl‐ isocyanate leading to chiral polymers, as revealed by their CD spectra. Only the left‐handed helix is produced, due to the chiral (S)?2‐butoxy group, which is bound to the polymer chain end. The polymerization of 3‐(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate produces less soluble polymers. On the other hand, phenyl isocyanate reacts slowly with the complex leading quantitatively and selectively to triphenyl isocyanurate. 2‐Ethylhexyl isocyanate is slowly and selectively cyclotrimerized in the presence of the half‐titanocene complex. However, a statistical copolymer of 2‐ethylhexyl isocyanate and hexyl isocyanate is produced. The reaction of benzyl isocyanate with the complex leads to a mixture of low molecular weight polymer and cyclotrimer. The polymers are characterized using SEC, NMR, and CD spectroscopy and their thermal properties are investigated by TGA/DSC analysis. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2141–2151     

Employing (half-)titanocene complexes as initiators for the synthesis of end-functionalized polylactides by coordination polymerization

Seven (half-)titanocene alkoxide complexes, [Cp₂TiCl(OEt)], [Cp₂TiCl(O-2-Bu)], [Cp₂TiCl(OCH₂CF₂CF₂H)], [CpTiCl₂(OEt)], [CpTiCl₂(O-(S)-2-Bu)], [CpTiCl₂(OCH₂CF₃)], and [Cp₂TiCl(OCH₂CF₃)], were synthesized and employed in lactide coordination polymerization. These organotitanium (IV) compounds proved to be very efficient initiators for the ring-opening polymerization of enantiomeric l -lactide and racemic mixture of rac-lactide, leading to end-functionalized polymers. Kinetic studies illustrated that these compounds produce well-defined polymers in a controlled manner. This was further demonstrated by synthesizing poly(l -lactide-b-hexyl isocyanate) diblock copolymer. The effect of the alkoxy end groups on the thermal behavior of the polymers was also studied by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The polymers were characterized using size exclusion chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The optical properties of the diblock copolymer were also investigated. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2192–2202