Highly Porous Carbons Synthesized from Tannic Acid via a Combined Mechanochemical Salt-Templating and Mild Activation Strategy

Highly porous activated carbons were synthesized via the mechanochemical salt-templating method using both sustainable precursors and sustainable chemical activators. Tannic acid is a polyphenolic compound derived from biomass, which, together with urea, can serve as a low-cost, environmentally friendly precursor for the preparation of efficient N-doped carbons. The use of various organic and inorganic salts as activating agents afforded carbons with diverse structural and physicochemical characteristics, e.g., their specific surface areas ranged from 1190 m²·g⁻¹ to 3060 m²·g⁻¹. Coupling the salt-templating method and chemical activation with potassium oxalate appeared to be an efficient strategy for the synthesis of a highly porous carbon with a specific surface area of 3060 m²·g⁻¹, a large total pore volume of 3.07 cm³·g⁻¹ and high H₂ and CO₂ adsorption capacities of 13.2 mmol·g⁻¹ at −196 °C and 4.7 mmol·g⁻¹ at 0 °C, respectively. The most microporous carbon from the series exhibited a CO₂ uptake capacity as high as 6.4 mmol·g⁻¹ at 1 bar and 0 °C. Moreover, these samples showed exceptionally high thermal stability. Such activated carbons obtained from readily available sustainable precursors and activators are attractive for several applications in adsorption and catalysis.     

Selective Removal of the Emerging Dye Basic Blue 3 via Molecularly Imprinting Technique

A molecularly imprinting polymer (MIP) was synthesized for Basic Blue 3 dye and applied to wastewater for the adsorption of a target template. The MIPs were synthesized by bulk polymerization using methacrylic acid (MAA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA). Basic Blue 3 dye (BB-3), 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and methanol were used as a functional monomer, cross linker, template, initiator and porogenic solvent, respectively, while non-imprinting polymers (NIP) were synthesized by the same procedure but without template molecules. The contact time was 25 min for the adsorption of BB-3 dye from 10 mL of spiked solution using 25 mg polymer. The adsorption of dye (BB-3) on the MIP followed the pseudo-second order kinetic (k₂ = 0.0079 mg·g⁻¹·min⁻¹), and it was according to the Langmuir isotherm, with maximum adsorption capacities of 78.13, 85.4 and 99.0 mg·g⁻¹ of the MIP at 283 K, 298 K and 313 K, respectively and 7 mg·g⁻¹ for the NIP. The negative values of ΔG° indicate that the removal of dye by the molecularly imprinting polymer and non-imprinting polymer is spontaneous, and the positive values of ΔH° and ΔS° indicate that the process is endothermic and occurred with the increase of randomness. The selectivity of the MIP for BB-3 dye was investigated in the presence of structurally similar as well as different dyes, but the MIP showed higher selectivity than the NIP. The imprinted polymer showed 96% rebinding capacity at 313 K towards the template, and the calculated imprinted factor and Kd value were 10.73 and 2.62, respectively. In this work, the MIP showed a greater potential of selectivity for the template from wastewater relative to the closely similar compounds.     

Physicochemical Characterization,Antioxidant Capacity,and Sensory Properties of Murici (Byrsonima crassifolia (L.) Kunth) and Taperebá (Spondias mombin L.) Beverages

Amazonian fruits are excellent sources of bioactive compounds and can be used in beverages to improve the nutritional and sensorial characteristics. The present study aimed to develop a blend of murici (Byrsonima Crassifolia (L.) Kunth) and taperebá (Spondias Mombin L.) through experimental design and investigating the nutritional and sensorial characteristics of fruits and beverages. The murici was highlighted as higher vitamin C content (58.88 mg · 100 g⁻¹) compared to taperebá (25.93 mg · 100 g⁻¹). The murici and taperebá are good sources of total phenolic compounds (taperebá 1304.15 ± 19.14 mgGAE · 100 g⁻¹ and the murici of 307.52 ± 19.73 mg GAE · 100 g⁻¹) and flavonoids (174.87 ± 1.76 μgQE/g and 129.46 ± 10.68 μgQE/g, murici and taperebá, respectively), when compared to other Brazilian fruits. The antioxidant capacity in different methods revealed that the taperebá had a higher average in the results, only in the ORAC method and did not present a significant difference (p > 0.05) in relation to the murici. The beverage development was performed using experimental design 2³, showed through sensory analysis and surface response methodology that murici and high sugar content (between 12.5 and 14.2% of sugar) influenced in sensory acceptance. Our findings indicate that beverages with improved nutrition and a sensory acceptance can be prepared using taperebá and murici fruits.     

Nitrogen-Doped Porous Carbon Materials Derived from Graphene Oxide/Melamine Resin Composites for CO2 Adsorption

CO₂ adsorption in porous carbon materials has attracted great interests for alleviating emission of post-combustion CO₂. In this work, a novel nitrogen-doped porous carbon material was fabricated by carbonizing the precursor of melamine-resorcinol-formaldehyde resin/graphene oxide (MR/GO) composites with KOH as the activation agent. Detailed characterization results revealed that the fabricated MR(0.25)/GO-500 porous carbon (0.25 represented the amount of GO added in wt.% and 500 denoted activation temperature in °C) had well-defined pore size distribution, high specific surface area (1264 m²·g⁻¹) and high nitrogen content (6.92 wt.%), which was mainly composed of the pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N species. Batch adsorption experiments demonstrated that the fabricated MR(0.25)/GO-500 porous carbon delivered excellent CO₂ adsorption ability of 5.21 mmol·g⁻¹ at 298.15 K and 500 kPa, and such porous carbon also exhibited fast adsorption kinetics, high selectivity of CO₂/N₂ and good recyclability. With the inherent microstructure features of high surface area and abundant N adsorption sites species, the MR/GO-derived porous carbon materials offer a potentially promising adsorbent for practical CO₂ capture.     

Rapid Sample Screening Method for Authenticity Controlling of Vanilla Flavours Using Liquid Chromatography with Electrochemical Detection Using Aluminium-Doped Zirconia Nanoparticles-Modified Electrode

A rapid and sensitive technique for frauds determination in vanilla flavors was developed. The method comprises separation by liquid chromatography followed by an electrochemical detection using a homemade screen-printed carbon electrode modified with aluminium-doped zirconia nanoparticles (Al-ZrO₂-NPs/SPCE). The prepared nanomaterials (Al-ZrO₂-NPs) were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX). This method allows for the determination of six phenolic compounds of vanilla flavors, namely, vanillin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillyl alcohol, vanillic acid and ethyl vanillin in a linear range between 0.5 and 25 µg g⁻¹, with relative standard deviation values from 2.89 to 4.76%. Meanwhile, the limits of detection and quantification were in the range of 0.10 to 0.14 µg g⁻¹ and 0.33 to 0.48 µg g⁻¹, respectively. In addition, the Al-ZrO₂-NPs/SPCE method displayed a good reproducibility, high sensitivity, and good selectivity towards the determination of the vanilla phenolic compounds, making it suitable for the determination of vanilla phenolic compounds in vanilla real extracts products.     

Rapid Preparation of Mesoporous Methylsilsesquioxane Aerogels by Microwave Heating Technology

Microwave heating technology is known as an alternative to traditional gas and electric heating sources. In this work, mesoporous methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ) aerogels were prepared via a sol–gel process accompanied by microwave heating technology, and microwave heating was used in the gelation of sol and the drying of wet gels, respectively. The effects of hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) as a surfactant and template, hydrochloric acid (HCl) as a catalyst, ethanol as a solvent, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a gelation agent, and microwave power on the pore structure of as-prepared MSQ aerogels were investigated in detail. Microwave heating at low power results in the acceleration of sol–gel transition and achieves the gelation within a few minutes. Appropriate amounts of chemical reagents and microwave heating at high power allow the preparation of mesoporous MSQ aerogels with a BET-specific surface area of 681.6 m²·g⁻¹ and a mesopore size of 19 nm, and the resultant MSQ aerogel still has a BET specific surface area as high as 134 m²·g⁻¹ after heat treatment at 600 °C for 2 h, showing high thermal stability. The MSQ aerogels/fibre composite possesses a low thermal conductivity of 0.039 W/(m·k)⁻¹, displaying good thermal insulation. Microwave heating technology is a promising heating method for the preparation of other aerogels.     

The Effect of Growth Parameters on Electrophysical and Memristive Properties of Vanadium Oxide Thin Films

We have experimentally studied the influence of pulsed laser deposition parameters on the morphological and electrophysical parameters of vanadium oxide films. It is shown that an increase in the number of laser pulses from 10,000 to 60,000 and an oxygen pressure from 3 × 10⁻⁴ Torr to 3 × 10⁻² Torr makes it possible to form vanadium oxide films with a thickness from 22.3 ± 4.4 nm to 131.7 ± 14.4 nm, a surface roughness from 7.8 ± 1.1 nm to 37.1 ± 11.2 nm, electron concentration from (0.32 ± 0.07) × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³ to (42.64 ± 4.46) × 10¹⁷ cm⁻³, electron mobility from 0.25 ± 0.03 cm²/(V·s) to 7.12 ± 1.32 cm²/(V·s), and resistivity from 6.32 ± 2.21 Ω·cm to 723.74 ± 89.21 Ω·cm. The regimes at which vanadium oxide films with a thickness of 22.3 ± 4.4 nm, a roughness of 7.8 ± 1.1 nm, and a resistivity of 6.32 ± 2.21 Ω·cm are obtained for their potential use in the fabrication of ReRAM neuromorphic systems. It is shown that a 22.3 ± 4.4 nm thick vanadium oxide film has the bipolar effect of resistive switching. The resistance in the high state was (89.42 ± 32.37) × 10⁶ Ω, the resistance in the low state was equal to (6.34 ± 2.34) × 10³ Ω, and the ratio R_HRS/R_LRS was about 14,104. The results can be used in the manufacture of a new generation of micro- and nanoelectronics elements to create ReRAM of neuromorphic systems based on vanadium oxide thin films.     

Preparation of High-Performance Activated Carbon from Coffee Grounds after Extraction of Bio-Oil

In this study, a new method for economical utilization of coffee grounds was developed and tested. The resulting materials were characterized by proximate and elemental analyses, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and N₂ adsorption–desorption at 77 K. The experimental data show bio-oil yields reaching 42.3%. The optimal activated carbon was obtained under vacuum pyrolysis self-activation at an operating temperature of 450 °C, an activation temperature of 600 °C, an activation time of 30 min, and an impregnation ratio with phosphoric acid of 150 wt.%. Under these conditions, the yield of activated carbon reached 27.4% with a BET surface area of 1420 m²·g⁻¹, an average pore size of 2.1 nm, a total pore volume of 0.747 cm³·g⁻¹, and a t-Plot micropore volume of 0.428 cm³·g⁻¹. In addition, the surface of activated carbon looked relatively rough, containing mesopores and micropores with large amounts of corrosion pits.     

Pressurized Extraction as an Opportunity to Recover Antioxidants from Orange Peels: Heat treatment and Nanoemulsion Design for Modulating Oxidative Stress

Orange peel by-products generated in the food industry are an important source of value-added compounds that can be potentially reused. In the current research, the effect of oven-drying (50–70 °C) and freeze-drying on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential from Navelina, Salustriana, and Sanguina peel waste was investigated using pressurized extraction (ASE). Sixty volatile components were identified by ASE-GC-MS. The levels of terpene derivatives (sesquitenenes, alcohols, aldehydes, hydrocarbons, and esters) remained practically unaffected among fresh and freeze-dried orange peels, whereas drying at 70 °C caused significative decreases in Navelina, Salustriana, and Sanguina peels. Hesperidin and narirutin were the main flavonoids quantified by HPLC-MS. Freeze-dried Sanguina peels showed the highest levels of total-polyphenols (113.3 mg GAE·g⁻¹), total flavonoids (39.0 mg QE·g⁻¹), outstanding values of hesperedin (187.6 µg·g⁻¹), phenol acids (16.54 mg·g⁻¹ DW), and the greatest antioxidant values (DPPH•, FRAP, and ABTS^•+ assays) in comparison with oven-dried samples and the other varieties. Nanotechnology approaches allowed the formulation of antioxidant-loaded nanoemulsions, stabilized with lecithin, starting from orange peel extracts. Those provided 70–80% of protection against oxidative UV-radiation, also decreasing the ROS levels into the Caco-2 cells. Overall, pressurized extracts from freeze-drying orange peel can be considered a good source of natural antioxidants that could be exploited in food applications for the development of new products of commercial interest.     

Preparation and Electrochemical Performance of Three-Dimensional Vertically Aligned Graphene by Unidirectional Freezing Method

Three-dimensional vertically aligned graphene (3DVAG) was prepared by a unidirectional freezing method, and its electrochemical performances were evaluated as electrode materials for zinc−ion hybrid supercapacitors (ZHSCs). The prepared 3DVAG has a vertically ordered channel structure with a diameter of about 20−30 μm and a length stretching about hundreds of microns. Compared with the random structure of reduced graphene oxide (3DrGO), the vertical structure of 3DVAG in a three−electrode system showed higher specific capacitance, faster ion diffusion, and better rate performance. The specific capacitance of 3DVAG reached 66.6 F·g⁻¹ and the rate performance reached 92.2%. The constructed 3DVAG zinc−ion hybrid supercapacitor also showed excellent electrochemical performance. It showed good capacitance retention up to 94.6% after 3000 cycles at the current density of 2 A·g⁻¹.     

Influence of Initial pH Value on the Adsorption of Reactive Black 5 Dye on Powdered Activated Carbon: Kinetics,Mechanisms, and Thermodynamics

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of initial pH value (pH₀) on the isothermal adsorption of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye on commercial powdered activated carbon. Four initial pH values were chosen for this experiment: pH₀ = 2.00, 4.00, 8.00, and 10.00. In order to investigate the mechanism of adsorption kinetic, studies have been performed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models as well as an intraparticle diffusion model. In addition, thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were determined for pH₀ = 4.00. Results of this research showed that the initial pH value significantly influences the adsorption of RB5 dye onto activated carbon. The highest adsorption capacities (q_e) and efficiencies of decolouration were observed for initial pH values of pH₀ = 2.00 (q_e = 246.0 mg g⁻¹) and 10.00 (q_e = 239.1 mg g⁻¹) due to strong electrostatic interactions and attractive π···π interactions, respectively. It was also shown that the adsorption of RB5 dye on activated carbon at all initial pH values is kinetically controlled, assuming a pseudo-second-order model, and that intraparticle diffusion is not the only process that influences on the adsorption rate.     

Zinc-Guided 3D Graphene for Thermally Chargeable Supercapacitors to Harvest Low-Grade Heat

Low-grade heat energy recycling is the key technology of waste-heat utilization, which needs to be improved. Here, we use a zinc-assisted solid-state pyrolysis route to prepare zinc-guided 3D graphene (ZnG), a 3D porous graphene with the interconnected structure. The obtained ZnG, with a high specific surface area of 1817 m²·g⁻¹ and abundant micropores and mesopores, gives a specific capacitance of 139 F·g⁻¹ in a neutral electrolyte when used as electrode material for supercapacitors. At a high current density of 8 A·g⁻¹, the capacitance retention is 93% after 10,000 cycles. When ZnG is used for thermally chargeable supercapacitors, the thermoelectric conversion of the low-grade heat energy is successfully realized. This work thus provides a demonstration for low-grade heat energy conversion.     

Effect of Must Hyperoxygenation on Sensory Expression and Chemical Composition of the Resulting Wines

This paper evaluates the effect of must hyperoxygenation on final wine. Lower concentrations of caftaric acid (0.29 mg·L⁻¹), coutaric acid (1.37 mg·L⁻¹) and Catechin (0.86 mg·L⁻¹) were observed in hyperoxygenated must in contrast to control must (caftaric acid 32.78 mg·L⁻¹, coutaric acid 5.01 mg·L⁻¹ and Catechin 4.45 mg·L⁻¹). In the final wine, hydroxybenzoic acids were found in higher concentrations in the control variant (gallic acid 2.58 mg·L⁻¹, protocatechuic acid 1.02 mg·L⁻¹, vanillic acid 2.05 mg·L⁻¹, syringic acid 2.10 mg·L⁻¹) than in the hyperoxygenated variant (2.01 mg·L⁻¹, 0.86 mg·L⁻¹, 0.98 mg·L⁻¹ and 1.50 mg·L⁻¹ respectively). Higher concentrations of total flavanols (2 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated must and 21 mg·L⁻¹ in control must; 7.5 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine and 19.8 mg·L⁻¹ in control wine) and polyphenols (97 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated must and 249 mg·L⁻¹ in control must; 171 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine and 240 mg·L⁻¹ in control wine) were found in both the must and the control wine. A total of 24 volatiles were determined using gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Statistical differences were achieved for isobutyl alcohol (26.33 mg·L⁻¹ in control wine and 32.84 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine), or 1-propanol (7.28 mg·L⁻¹ in control wine and 8.51 mg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine), while esters such as isoamyl acetate (1534.41 µg·L⁻¹ in control wine and 698.67 µg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine), 1-hexyl acetate (136.32 µg·L⁻¹ in control wine and 71.67 µg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine) and isobutyl acetate (73.88 µg·L⁻¹ in control wine and 37.27 µg·L⁻¹ in hyperoxygenated wine) had a statistically lower concentration.     

Significant Enhancement of the Capacity and Cycling Stability of Lithium-Rich Manganese-Based Layered Cathode Materials via Molybdenum Surface Modification

Lithium-rich manganese-based layered cathode materials are considered to be one of the best options for next-generation lithium-ion batteries, owing to their ultra-high specific capacity (>250 mAh·g⁻¹) and platform voltage. However, their poor cycling stability, caused by the release of lattice oxygen as well as the electrode/electrolyte side reactions accompanying complex phase transformation, makes it difficult to use this material in practical applications. In this work, we suggest a molybdenum surface modification strategy to improve the electrochemical performance of Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂. The Mo-modified Li_1.2Mn_0.54Ni_0.13Co_0.13O₂ material exhibits an enhanced discharge specific capacity of up to 290.5 mAh·g⁻¹ (20 mA·g⁻¹) and a capacity retention rate of 82% (300 cycles at 200 mA·g⁻¹), compared with 261.2 mAh·g⁻¹ and a 70% retention rate for the material without Mo modification. The significantly enhanced performance of the modified material can be ascribed to the formation of a Mo-compound-involved nanolayer on the surface of the materials, which effectively lessens the electrolyte corrosion of the cathode, as well as the activation of Mo⁶⁺ towards Ni²⁺/Ni⁴⁺ redox couples and the pre-activation of a Mo compound. This study offers a facile and effective strategy to address the poor cyclability of lithium-rich manganese-based layered cathode materials.     

HTO/Cellulose Aerogel for Rapid and Highly Selective Li+ Recovery from Seawater

To achieve rapid and highly efficient recovery of Li⁺ from seawater, a series of H₂TiO₃/cellulose aerogels (HTO/CA) with a porous network were prepared by a simple and effective method. The as-prepared HTO/CA were characterized and their Li⁺ adsorption performance was evaluated. The obtained results revealed that the maximum capacity of HTO/CA to adsorb Li⁺ was 28.58 ± 0.71 mg g⁻¹. The dynamic k₂ value indicated that the Li⁺ adsorption rate of HTO/CA was nearly five times that of HTO powder. Furthermore, the aerogel retained extremely high Li⁺ selectivity compared with Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, and Na⁺. After regeneration for five cycles, the HTO/CA retained a Li⁺ adsorption capacity of 22.95 mg g⁻¹. Moreover, the HTO/CA showed an excellent adsorption efficiency of 69.93% ± 0.04% and high selectivity to Li⁺ in actual seawater. These findings confirm its potential as an adsorbent for recovering Li⁺ from seawater.     

Process Parameters Optimization,Characterization, and Application of KOH-Activated Norway Spruce Bark Graphitic Biochars for Efficient Azo Dye Adsorption

In this work, Norway spruce bark was used as a precursor to prepare activated biochars (BCs) via chemical activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) as a chemical activator. A Box–Behnken design (BBD) was conducted to evaluate and identify the optimal conditions to reach high specific surface area and high mass yield of BC samples. The studied BC preparation parameters and their levels were as follows: pyrolysis temperature (700, 800, and 900 °C), holding time (1, 2, and 3 h), and ratio of the biomass: chemical activator of 1: 1, 1.5, and 2. The planned BBD yielded BC with extremely high SSA values, up to 2209 m²·g⁻¹. In addition, the BCs were physiochemically characterized, and the results indicated that the BCs exhibited disordered carbon structures and presented a high quantity of O-bearing functional groups on their surfaces, which might improve their adsorption performance towards organic pollutant removal. The BC with the highest SSA value was then employed as an adsorbent to remove Evans blue dye (EB) and colorful effluents. The kinetic study followed a general-order (GO) model, as the most suitable model to describe the experimental data, while the Redlich–Peterson model fitted the equilibrium data better. The EB adsorption capacity was 396.1 mg·g⁻¹. The employment of the BC in the treatment of synthetic effluents, with several dyes and other organic and inorganic compounds, returned a high percentage of removal degree up to 87.7%. Desorption and cyclability tests showed that the biochar can be efficiently regenerated, maintaining an adsorption capacity of 75% after 4 adsorption–desorption cycles. The results of this work pointed out that Norway spruce bark indeed is a promising precursor for producing biochars with very promising properties.     

Facile Preparation of Porous Carbon Derived from Pomelo Peel for Efficient Adsorption of Methylene Blue

Pomelo peel waste-derived porous carbon (PPPC) was prepared by a facile one-step ZnCl₂ activation method. The preparation parameters of PPPC were the mass ratio of ZnCl₂ to pomelo peel of 2:1, carbonization temperature of 500 °C, and carbonization time of 1 h. This obtained PPPC possessed abundant macro-,meso-, and micro-porous structures, and a large specific surface area of 939.4 m² g⁻¹. Surprisingly, it had excellent adsorption ability for methylene blue, including a high adsorption capacity of 602.4 mg g⁻¹ and good reusability. The adsorption isotherm and kinetic fitted with Langmuir and pseudo-second order kinetic models. This work provides a novel strategy for pomelo peel waste utilization and a potential adsorbent for treating dye wastewater.     

Light Intensity and Photoperiod Affect Growth and Nutritional Quality of Brassica Microgreens

We explored the effects of different light intensities and photoperiods on the growth, nutritional quality and antioxidant properties of two Brassicaceae microgreens (cabbage Brassica oleracea L. and Chinese kale Brassica alboglabra Bailey). There were two experiments: (1) four photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) of 30, 50, 70 or 90 μmoL·m⁻²·s⁻¹ with red:blue:green = 1:1:1 light-emitting diodes (LEDs); (2) five photoperiods of 12, 14, 16, 18 or 20 h·d⁻¹. With the increase of light intensity, the hypocotyl length of cabbage and Chinese kale microgreens shortened. PPFD of 90 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ was beneficial to improve the nutritional quality of cabbage microgreens, which had higher contents of chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugar, soluble protein and vitamin C, as well as increased antioxidant capacity. The optimal PPFD for Chinese kale microgreens was 70 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Increasing light intensity could increase the antioxidant capacity of cabbage and Chinese kale microgreens, while not significantly affecting glucosinolate (GS) content. The dry and fresh weight of cabbage and Chinese kale microgreens were maximized with a 14-h·d⁻¹ photoperiod. The chlorophyll, carotenoid and soluble protein content in cabbage and Chinese kale microgreens were highest for a 16-h·d⁻¹ photoperiod. The lowest total GS content was found in cabbage microgreens under a 12-h·d⁻¹ photoperiod and in Chinese kale microgreens under 16-h·d⁻¹ photoperiod. In conclusion, the photoperiod of 14~16 h·d⁻¹, and 90 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ and 70 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ PPFD for cabbage and Chinese kale microgreens, respectively, were optimal for cultivation.     

Comparative Studies of Selected Criteria Enabling Optimization of the Extraction of Polar Biologically Active Compounds from Alfalfa with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

The aim of this research was to provide crucial and useful data about the selection of the optimization criteria of supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of alfalfa at a quarter-technical plant. The correlation between more general output, including total phenolics and flavonoids content, and a more specified composition of polar constituents was extensively studied. In all alfalfa extracts, polar bioactive constituents were analyzed by both spectrometric (general output) and chromatographic (detailed output) analyses. Eight specific phenolic acids and nine flavonoids were determined. The most dominant were salicylic acid (221.41 µg g⁻¹), ferulic acid (119.73 µg g⁻¹), quercetin (2.23 µg g⁻¹), and apigenin (2.60 µg g⁻¹). For all seventeen analyzed compounds, response surface methodology and analysis of variance were used to provide the optimal conditions of supercritical fluid extraction for each individual constituent. The obtained data have shown that eight of those compounds have a similar range of optimal process parameters, being significantly analogous for optimization based on total flavonoid content.     

Development and Validation of Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Methods for the Quantification of Cefquinome,Ceftiofur, and Desfuroylceftiofuracetamide in Porcine Feces with Emphasis on Analyte Stability

Cefquinome and ceftiofur are β-lactam antibiotics used for the treatment of bacterial infections in swine. Although these antimicrobials are administered intramuscularly, the exposure of the gut microbiota to these cephalosporins is not well described. This exposure can contribute to the emergence and spread of antimicrobials in the environment and to the possible spread of antimicrobial resistance genes. To assess the impact of drug administration on the intestinal excretion of these antimicrobials it is essential to measure the amounts of native compound and metabolites in feces. Two (ultra)-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry ((U)HPLC–MS/MS) methods were developed and validated, one for the determination of cefquinome and ceftiofur and the other for the determination of ceftiofur residues, measured as desfuroylceftiofuracetamide, in porcine feces. The matrix-based calibration curve was linear from 5 ng g⁻¹ to 1000 ng g⁻¹ for cefquinome (correlation coefficient (r) = 0.9990 ± 0.0007; goodness of fit (gof) = 3.70 ± 1.43) and ceftiofur (r = 0.9979 ± 0.0009; gof = 5.51 ± 1.14) and quadratic from 30 ng g⁻¹ to 2000 ng g⁻¹ for desfuroylceftiofuracetamide (r = 0.9960 ± 0.0020; gof = 7.31 ± 1.76). The within-day and between-day precision and accuracy fell within the specified ranges. Since β-lactam antibiotics are known to be unstable in feces, additional experiments were conducted to adjust the sampling protocol in order to minimize the impact of the matrix constituents on the stability of the analytes. Immediately after sampling, 500 µL of an 8 µg mL⁻¹ tazobactam solution in water was added to 0.5 g feces, to reduce the degradation in matrix.