Determination of mono and disaccharide content of enteral formulations by gas chromatography

Summary A quantitative GC method has been developed which allows determination of mono and disaccharides in enteral formulations. The method is based on the isolation of the mono and disaccharide fraction on a charcoal-celite column and conversion to trimethylsilylated oximes (TMS-oximes). The repeatability of the complete method and recovery were acceptable. In the five commercial samples assayed, maltose was the main sugar (5.24–8.85 gL⁻¹) followed by glucose (1.06–2.41 gL⁻¹) and lactose (0–1.17 gL⁻¹) Low levels of fructose (0–0.18 gL⁻¹) and sucrose (0–0.07 gL⁻¹) were observed and galactose was detected in two of the samples. The presence of maltulose is reported in enteral formulations for the first time. Maltulose formed from maltose during processing, was present in variable amounts (0.12–1.07 gL⁻¹) and could be a useful indicator for enteral formulation classification.     

Investigation of whole blood of SJL/J mice using neutron activation analysis

The Br (0.0022 ± 0.0006 gL⁻¹), Ca (0.113 ± 0.012 gL⁻¹), Cl (3.07 ± 0.36 gL⁻¹), K (2.63 ± 0.14 gL⁻¹), Mg (0.045 ± 0.002 gL⁻¹) and Na (2.09 ± 0.10 gL⁻¹) concentrations were determined in whole blood of SJL/J mice using the Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. Eleven whole blood samples were analyzed in the IEA-R1 nuclear reactor at IPEN (S?o Paulo, Brazil). These data contribute for applications in veterinary medicine related to biochemistry analyses using whole blood. Moreover, the correlation with human blood estimation allows to checking the similarities for studying muscular dystrophy using this model animal.     

Butanol Production from Cane Molasses by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium saccharobutylicum</Emphasis> DSM 13864: Batch and Semicontinuous Fermentation

Clostridium acetobutylicum strains used in most Chinese ABE (acetone–butanol–ethanol) plants favorably ferment starchy materials like corn, cassava, etc., rather than sugar materials. This is one major problem of ABE industry in China and significantly limits the exploitation of cheap waste sugar materials. In this work, cane molasses were utilized as substrate in ABE production by Clostridium saccharobutylicum DSM 13864. Under optimum conditions, total solvent of 19.80 g/L (13.40 g/L butanol) was reached after 72 h of fermentation in an Erlenmeyer flask. In a 5-L bioreactor, total solvent of 17.88 g/L was attained after 36 h of fermentation, and the productivity and yield were 0.50 g/L/h and 0.33 g ABE/g sugar consumption, respectively. To further enhance the productivity, a two-stage semicontinuous fermentation process was steadily operated for over 8 days (205 h, 26 cycles) with average productivity (stage II) of 1.05 g/L/h and cell concentration (stage I) of 7.43 OD₆₆₀, respectively. The average batch fermentation time (stage I and II) was reduced to 21−25 h with average solvent of 15.27 g/L. This study provides valuable process data for the development of industrial ABE fermentation process using cane molasses as substrate.     

Effect of Feed Strategy on Methane Production and Performance of an AnSBBR Treating Effluent from Biodiesel Production

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different feeding times (2, 4 and 6 h) and applied volumetric organic loads (4.5, 6.0 and 7.5 gCOD L⁻¹ day⁻¹) on the performance of an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor (AnSBBR) treating effluent from biodiesel production. Polyurethane foam cubes were used as inert support in the reactor, and mixing was accomplished by recirculating the liquid phase. The effect of feeding time on reactor performance showed to be more pronounced at higher values of applied volumetric organic loads (AVOLs). Highest organic material removal efficiencies achieved at AVOL of 4.5 gCOD L⁻¹ day⁻¹ were 87 % at 4-h feeding against 84 % at 2-h and 6-h feeding. At AVOL of 6.0 gCOD L⁻¹ day⁻¹, highest organic material removal efficiencies achieved with 4-h and 6-h feeding were 84 %, against 71 % at 2-h feeding. At AVOL of 7.5 gCOD L⁻¹ day⁻¹, organic material removal efficiency achieved with 4-h feeding was 77 %. Hence, longer feeding times favored minimization of total volatile acids concentration during the cycle as well as in the effluent, guaranteeing process stability and safety.     

Effect of organic load on the performance and methane production of an AnSBBR treating effluent from biodiesel production

Currently, there is an increasing demand for the production of biodiesel and, consequently, there will be an increasing need to treat wastewaters resulting from the production process of this biofuel. The main objective of this work was, therefore, to investigate the effect of applied volumetric organic load (AVOL) on the efficiency, stability, and methane production of an anaerobic sequencing batch biofilm reactor applied to the treatment of effluent from biodiesel production. As inert support, polyurethane foam cubes were used in the reactor and mixing was accomplished by recirculating the liquid phase. Increase in AVOL resulted in a drop in organic matter removal efficiency and increase in total volatile acids in the effluent. AVOLs of 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 and 6.0 g COD L⁻¹ day⁻¹ resulted in removal efficiencies of 92%, 81%, 67%, and 50%, for effluent filtered samples, and 91%, 80%, 63%, and 47%, for non-filtered samples, respectively, whereas total volatile acids concentrations in the effluent amounted to 42, 145, 386 and 729 mg HAc L⁻¹, respectively. Moreover, on increasing AVOL from 1.5 to 4.5 g COD L⁻¹ day⁻¹ methane production increased from 29.5 to 55.5 N mL CH₄ g COD⁻¹. However, this production dropped to 36.0 N mL CH₄ g COD⁻¹ when AVOL was increased to 6.0 g COD L⁻¹ day⁻¹, likely due to the higher concentration of volatile acids in the reactor. Despite the higher concentration of volatile acids at the highest AVOL, alkalinity supplementation to the influent, in the form of sodium bicarbonate, at a ratio of 0.5–1.3 g NaHCO₃ g COD_fed⁻¹, was sufficient to maintain the pH near neutral and guarantee process stability during reactor operation.     

Treatment of acidic palm oil for fatty acid methyl esters production

Acidic crude palm oil (ACPO) produced from palm oil mills with an acid value of 18 mg g⁻¹ was considered to be a possible feedstock for biodiesel production. Due to its high acidity, conventional transesterification cannot be applied directly for biodiesel production. Methane sulphonic acid (MSA, CH₃SO₃H) is used to reduce the acidity prior to the alkaline transesterification reaction. The laboratory-scale experiments involved an MSA to ACPO dosage of 0.25–3.5 %, a molar ratio (methanol to ACPO) from 4: 1 to 20: 1, reaction temperature of 40–80°C, reaction time of 3–150 min, and stirrer speed of 100–500 min⁻¹. The optimum esterification reaction conditions were 1 % of catalyst to ACPO, with a molar ratio of methanol to ACPO of 8: 1, a stirring speed of 300 min⁻¹, for 30 min and at 60°C. Under these conditions, the FFA content was reduced from 18 mg g⁻¹ to less than 1 mg g⁻¹ and with a yield of 96 %. The biodiesel produced met the EN14214 standard specifications. MSA was recycled for three times without losing its activity. The biodiesel produced in a two-stage process has a low acid value (0.14 mg g⁻¹).     

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch as Alternative Substrate for Acetone–Butanol–Ethanol Production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium butyricum</Emphasis> EB6

Acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) production from renewable resources has been widely reported. In this study, Clostridium butyricum EB6 was employed for ABE fermentation using fermentable sugar derived from treated oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). A higher amount of ABE (2.61 g/l) was produced in a fermentation using treated OPEFB as the substrate when compared to a glucose based medium that produced 0.24 g/l at pH 5.5. ABE production was increased to 3.47 g/l with a yield of 0.24 g/g at pH 6.0. The fermentation using limited nitrogen concentration of 3 g/l improved the ABE yield by 64%. The study showed that OPEFB has the potential to be applied for renewable ABE production by C. butyricum EB6.     

Sequential spectrofluorimetric determination of free and total glycerol in biodiesel in a multicommuted flow system

A new procedure for spectrofluorimetric determination of free and total glycerol in biodiesel samples is presented. It is based on the oxidation of glycerol by periodate, forming formaldehyde, which reacts with acetylacetone, producing the luminescent 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydrolutidine. A flow system with solenoid micro-pumps is proposed for solution handling. Free glycerol was extracted off-line from biodiesel samples with water, and total glycerol was converted to free glycerol by saponification with sodium ethylate under sonication. For free glycerol, a linear response was observed from 5 to 70 mg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.5 mg L⁻¹, which corresponds to 2 mg kg⁻¹ in biodiesel. The coefficient of variation was 0.9% (20 mg L⁻¹, n = 10). For total glycerol, samples were diluted on-line, and the linear response range was 25 to 300 mg L⁻¹. The detection limit was 1.4 mg L⁻¹ (2.8 mg kg⁻¹ in biodiesel) with a coefficient of variation of 1.4% (200 mg L⁻¹, n = 10). The sampling rate was ca. 35 samples h⁻¹ and the procedure was applied to determination of free and total glycerol in biodiesel samples from soybean, cottonseed, and castor beans.     

Determination of carbetamide in groundwater by micro liquid-liquid extraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Summary A method is proposed for the determination of carbetamide in water below European Union guidelines (detection limit,DL, below 0.1 μgL⁻¹). Micro liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane affords carbetamide which is converted to aniline by hydrolysis. Identification and quantification of aniline was performed by GC-MS. The retention time was 4.24 min. Quantification was achieved by single-ion monitoring (SIM) atm/z 66 and 93. Clean-up is not necessary before SIM. Deuterated anthracene (²H₁₀-anthracene) was used as internal standard. The method was used to determine carbetamide in different types of water sample spiked at very low concentration levels (0.13–10.00 μgL⁻¹). TheDL was 0.04 μgL⁻¹. The effect of the presence of other carbamates was also studied.     

Radiolysis of N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine and its radiolytic liquid organics

N,N-dimethylhydroxylamine (DMHA) is a novel salt-free reducing reagent used in the separation U from Pu and Np in the reprocessing of power spent fuel. This paper reports on the radiolysis of aqueous DMHA solution and its radiolytic liquid organics. Results show that the main organics in irradiated DMHA solution are N-methyl hydroxylamine, formaldehyde and formic acid. The analysis of DMHA and N-methyl hydroxylamine were performed by gas chromatography, and that of formaldehyde was performed by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry. The analysis of formic acid was performed by ion chromatography. For 0.1–0.5 mol L⁻¹ DMHA irradiated to 5–25 kGy, the residual DMHA concentration is (0.07–0.47) mol L⁻¹, the degradation rate of DMHA at 25 kGy is 10.1–30.1%. The concentrations of N-methylhydroxylamine, formaldehyde and formic acid are (8.25–19.36) × 10⁻³, (4.20–36.36) × 10⁻³ and (1.35–10.9) × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹, respectively. The residual DMHA concentration decreases with the increasing dose. The concentrations of N-methylhydroxylamine and formaldehyde increase with the dose and initial DMHA concentration, and that of formic acid increases with the dose, but the relationship between the concentration of formic acid and initial DMHA concentration is not obvious.     

Simultaneous production of citric acid and erythritol from crude glycerol by Yarrowia lipolytica Wratislavia K1

This study shows a possible microbial process for utilization of crude glycerol generated by the biodiesel industry for citric acid and erythritol production. Simultaneous production of citric acid and erythritol under nitrogen-limited conditions with glycerol as the carbon source was achieved with an acetate negative mutant of Y. lipolytica Wratislavia K1 in fed-batch cultivations. The effect of the initial glycerol concentration (from 30–180 g dm⁻³) on the citrate and erythritol production was investigated. As a result of the experiments, maximum citric acid production (110 g dm⁻³) and a very high amount of erythritol (81 g dm⁻³) were determined after 168 h of fed-batch cultivation with the initial glycerol concentration of 150 g dm⁻³ and the total glycerol concentration of 250 g dm⁻³. In addition, the citric acid to isocitric acid ratio of the products from this strain was 35.5:1. Presented at the 34th International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 21–25 May 2007.     

Citric acid production from raw glycerol by acetate mutants of Yarrowia lipolytica

Three acetate mutants of the yeast species Yarrowia lipolytica were screened using batch cultivation. The strain Y. lipolytica 1.31 was found to be the most suitable for citric acid production from raw glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production from rapeseed oil. At the initial concentration of glycerol of 200 g dm⁻³, the citric acid production of 124.5 g dm⁻³, yield of 0.62 g g⁻¹, and productivity of 0.88 g dm⁻³ h⁻¹ were achieved. Presented at the 33rd International Conference of the Slovak Society of Chemical Engineering, Tatranské Matliare, 22–26 May 2006.     

Determination of organophosphorus pesticides in environmental water samples by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction with solidification of floating organic droplet followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography–diode array detection was developed for the determination of five organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) in water samples. In this method, the extraction solvent used is of low density, low toxicity, and proper melting point near room temperature. The extractant droplet could be collected easily by solidifying it in the lower temperature. Some important experimental parameters that affect the extraction efficiencies were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the concentration range from 1 to 200 ng mL⁻¹ for the five OPs (triazophos, parathion, diazinon, phoxim, and parathion-methyl), with the correlation coefficients (r) varying from 0.9991 to 0.9998. High enrichment factors were achieved ranging from 215 to 557. The limits of detection were in the range between 0.1 and 0.3 ng mL⁻¹. The recoveries of the target analytes from water samples at spiking levels of 5.0 and 50.0 ng mL⁻¹ were 82.2–98.8% and 83.6–104.0%, respectively. The relative standard deviations fell in the range of 4.4% to 6.3%. The method was suitable for the determination of the OPs in real water samples.     

Comparative study of inorganic elements determination in whole blood from Crioula breed horse by EDXRF and NAA analytical techniques

The World Health Organization states that envenomation is responsible for a high number of deaths per year, especially in equatorial areas. The only effective specific treatment is the use of hyperimmune serum (antivenom). In Brazil, Crioula breed horses are used for antivenom production, with great importance in the maintenance of public health programs. A strict biochemical and metabolic control is required to attain specificity in antiserum. Inorganic elements represent only a small fraction of whole blood. Nonetheless, they play important roles in mammalian metabolism, being responsible for controlling enzymatic reactions, respiratory and cardiac functions and ageing. In this work, whole blood samples from Crioula breed horses were analyzed by EDXRF technique. The reference interval values were determined for the elements Na (1955–2013 μg g⁻¹), Mg (51–75 μg g⁻¹), P (523–555 μg g⁻¹), S (1628–1730 μg g⁻¹), Cl (2388–2574 μg g⁻¹), K (1649–1852 μg g⁻¹), Ca (202–213 μg g⁻¹), Cu (4.1–4.5 μg g⁻¹) and Zn (2.4–2.8 μg g⁻¹) and a comparative study with NAA results was outlined. The samples were obtained from Instituto Butantan. Both techniques showed to be appropriate for whole blood sample analyses and offer a new perspective in Veterinary Medicine.     

Effects of Light Intensity on the Growth and Lipid Accumulation of Microalga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scenedesmus</Emphasis> sp. 11-1 Under Nitrogen Limitation

Scenedesmus spp. have been reported as potential microalgal species used for the lipid production. This study investigated the effects of light intensity (at three levels: 50, 250, and 400 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) on the growth and lipid production of Scenedesmus sp. 11-1 under N-limited condition. Carotenoid to chlorophyll ratio was higher when algae 11-1 grew under 250 and 400 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ than that under 50 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹, while protein contents was lower. Highest biomass yield (3.88 g L⁻¹), lipid content (41.1 %), and neutral lipid content (32.9 %) were achieved when algae 11-1 grew at 400 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. Lipid production was slight lower at 250 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ level compared to 400 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. The major fatty acids in the neutral lipid of 11-1 were oleic acid (43–52 %), palmitic acid (24–27 %), and linoleic acid (7–11 %). In addition, polyunsaturated fatty acids had a positive correlation with total lipid production, and monounsaturated fatty acids had a negative one.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for the rapid and sensitive determination of UV filters in environmental water samples

The performance of the dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction (DLLME) technique for the determination of eight UV filters and a structurally related personal care species, benzyl salicylate (BzS), in environmental water samples is evaluated. After extraction, analytes were determined by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). Parameters potentially affecting the performance of the sample preparation method (sample pH, ionic strength, type and volume of dispersant and extractant solvents) were systematically investigated using both multi- and univariant optimization strategies. Under final working conditions, analytes were extracted from 10 mL water samples by addition of 1 mL of acetone (dispersant) containing 60 μL of chlorobenzene (extractant), without modifying either the pH or the ionic strength of the sample. Limits of quantification (LOQs) between 2 and 14 ng L⁻¹, inter-day variability (evaluated with relative standard deviations, RSDs) from 9% to 14% and good linearity up to concentrations of 10,000 ng L⁻¹ were obtained. Moreover, the efficiency of the extraction was scarcely affected by the type of water sample. With the only exception of 2-ethylhexyl-p-dimethylaminobenzoate (EHPABA), compounds were found in environmental water samples at concentrations between 6 ± 1 ng L⁻¹ and 26 ± 2 ng mL⁻¹.     

Anode performance of Mn-doped ceria–ScSZ for solid oxide fuel cell

The 70 wt.% Mn-doped CeO₂ (MDC)-30 wt.% Scandia-stabilized zirconia (ScSZ) composites are evaluated as anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) in terms of chemical compatibility, thermal expansion coefficient, electrical conductivity, and fuel cell performance in H₂ and CH₄. The conductivity of MDC10 (10 mol.% Mn-doping), MDC20, and CeO₂ are 4.12, 2.70, and 1.94 S cm⁻¹ in H₂ at 900 °C. With 10 mol.% Mn-doping, the fuel cells performances improve from 166 to 318 mW cm⁻² in H₂ at 900 °C. The cell with MDC10–ScSZ anode exhibits a better performance than the one with MDC20–ScSZ in CH₄, the maximum power density increases from 179 to 262 mW cm⁻². Electrochemical impedance spectra indicate that the Mn doping into CeO₂ can reduce the ohmic and polarization resistance, thus leading to a higher performance. The results demonstrate the potential ability of MDC10–ScSZ composite to be used as SOFCs anode.     

Tetracycline residues in royal jelly and honey by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry: validation study according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC

A specific, sensitive and robust liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for determining oxytetracycline, tetracycline, chlortetracycline and doxycycline in royal jelly and honey samples is presented. Extraction of drug residues was performed by ammonium acetate buffer as extractant followed by a clean-up with metal chelate affinity chromatography and solid-phase extraction. Tetracycline analysis was performed using liquid chromatography–electrospray ionisation–tandem mass spectrometry. The presented method is the first validated for royal jelly and in accordance with the requirements set by Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. Recoveries of the methods, calculated spiking the samples at 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 and 30.0 μg kg⁻¹, were 79% to 90% for honey and 77% to 90% for royal jelly. The intra-day precision (RSD) ranged between 8.1% and 15.0% for honey and from 9.1% to 16.3% for royal jelly, while inter-day precision values were from 10.2% to 17.6% and from 10.6% to 18.4% respectively for honey and royal jelly. Linearity for the four analytes was calculated from 5.0 to 50.0 μg kg⁻¹. The decision limits (CCα) ranged from 6.2 to 6.4 μg kg⁻¹ and from 6.1 to 6.5 μg kg⁻¹ for honey and royal jelly, respectively. Detection capabilities values (CCβ) ranged between 7.2 and 7.7 μg kg⁻¹ and from 7.3 to 7.9 μg kg⁻¹ respectively for honey and royal jelly. The developed method is currently in use for confirmation of the official control analysis of honey and royal jelly samples.     

Biodiesel production and comparison using commercial lipase and chemical catalyst from Cassia auriculata oil

In this present investigation, Cassia auriculata was explored as a feedstock for production of biodiesel. Transesterification reaction was performed by both enzyme (lipase) and chemical (potassium hydroxide) catalyst with diverse acyl acceptors such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, n-propanol, butanol, n- butanol, and finally their biodiesel yield were also recorded. Process optimization was performed by both one factor at a time method and response surface method. The maximal biodiesel yield of 92% (weight/weight) was obtained at the following optimal conditions: Oil:Methanol molar ratio of 1:6 (moles/moles), the lipase concentration of 2% (weight/weight), at 35 ?°C and 120 ?min. The highest biodiesel yield from Cassia auriculata oil was occurred with excess methanol that aids the equilibrium shift in the forward direction. The kinetics of the transesterification reaction was investigated under optimal conditions and the activation energy was found to be 14.91 ?kJ/mol. Simultaneously Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy was also carried out for the biodiesel produced from Cassia auriculata and the same has been reported. The GC analysis declares the existence of fatty acid esters like hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, methyl stearate and the peak with retention time 12.8 ?min signifies the evidence of hexadecanoic acid methyl ester with 28% of yield content. This investigation also evaluated the biodiesel quality produced from lipase-transesterified Cassia auriculata oil based on fuel properties. Biodiesel properties Flash Point (FC), Pour Point (PP) and kinematic viscosity were compared with American (ASTM 6751) and European (EN 14214) Standards. Cassia auriculata oil had PP 6.7 ?°C and Kinematic viscosity (813 ?kg/m³) that agreed with both the standards. Thus this study showed that Cassia auriculata oil could be a better fuel alternative with further improvement of fuel properties.     

Vertical inventories and fluxes of <Superscript>210</Superscript>Pb, <Superscript>228</Superscript>Ra and <Superscript>226</Superscript>Ra at southern South China Sea and Malacca Straits

Inventories and fluxes of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were determined in sediment cores collected at nine stations covering of the southern South China Sea and Malacca Straits with the thickness of water column between 42 and 83 m depth. The inventories of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were calculated range from 0.15–2.55 Bq cm⁻², 0.05–0.40 Bq cm⁻² and 6.83–83.63 Bq cm⁻², meanwhile the fluxes ranged from 0.005–0.079 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹, 0.009–0.048 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹ and 0.003–0.037 Bq cm⁻² yr⁻¹, respectively. The results show that the highest inventories and fluxes for ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra were found at station WC 01 and EC 05. Because there are additional sources of ²¹⁰Pb, ²²⁸Ra and ²²⁶Ra, where water transport will brings more dissolved isotopes, influence of the transportation and deposition of suspended particles, fast rate of regeneration and greater production of those radionuclides and others.