Thermal and oxidative stability of Sacha Inchi oil and capsules formed with biopolymers analyzed by DSC and <Superscript>1</Superscript>H NMR

The oxidative stability of edible oils is an important feature to know due the undesirable changes that can occur in the storage. In this way, the oxidative induction time (OIT) value is an indicative to prevent this effect. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the omega-3 content and kinetic parameters of Sacha Inchi oil (SIO) and capsules that are formed with biopolymers, in addition, there were analyzed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR). The SIO and capsules, formed using an emulsion, were analyzed with DSC in an oxygen atmosphere to determine the OIT value in isothermal conditions at 100, 120 and 150 °C. The kinetic parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor and z value) of SIO were obtained, and the stability time was predicted at different temperatures. The ¹H NMR spectra enabled us to assess the identification and percentage relative before and after the isothermal DSC oxidation of omega-3 concentration and formation of their oxidized compounds. (E-E)-2,4-Alkadienals were the primary oxidized compound and is strongly correlated with the decrease in omega-3 content. Isothermal DSC is a useful to determine the OIT (min) and kinetic parameters to predict the stability oxidation in different edible oils and thus prevent the inadequate consumption of edible oils oxidized.     

Anti-inflammatory, laxative and intestinal motility effects of Senna macranthera leaves

Several species of Senna are well known for their therapeutic properties, being used in folk medicine to treat throat inflammation and constipation. In this regard, the anti-inflammatory, laxative and intestinal motility effects of different extracts of Senna macranthera (Colladon) H. Irwin and Barneby leaves were determined. The hexane extract significantly reduced carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats in a manner similar to that of sodium diclofenac. A laxative effect was observed for the methanolic and hexane extracts comparative to the standard drug bisacodyl; however, only the hexane extract increased the intestinal motility in the studied period. Moreover, the extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and the ethyl acetate extract presented a pronounced activity comparable to the standard rutin. Phytochemical screening was also performed and phenolic compounds like flavonoids, tannins and coumarins were observed in all extracts except for the hexane extract, which instead presented anthrones, triterpenes and steroids in its composition. The HPLC profile showed the presence of the anthraquinone emodine in all tested extracts.     

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Dark Fermentation Hydrogen Production Using an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor

The effect of substrate (glucose) concentration on the stability and yield of a continuous fermentative process that produces hydrogen was studied. Four anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) were operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 1 to 8 h and an influent glucose concentration from 2 to 25 g L⁻¹. The reactors were inoculated with thermally pre-treated anaerobic sludge and operated at a temperature of 30 °C with an influent pH around 5.5 and an effluent pH of about 3.5. The AFBRs with a HRT of 2 h and a feed strength of 2, 4, and 10 g L⁻¹ showed satisfactory H₂ production performance, but the reactor fed with 25 g L⁻¹ of glucose did not. The highest hydrogen yield value was obtained in the reactor with a glucose concentration of 2 g L⁻¹ when it was operated at a HRT of 2 h. The maximum hydrogen production rate value was achieved in the reactor with a HRT of 1 h and a feed strength of 10 g L⁻¹. The AFBRs operated with glucose concentrations of 2 and 4 g L⁻¹ produced greater amounts of acetic and butyric acids, while AFBRs with higher glucose concentrations produced a greater amount of solvents.     

Determination of Zirconium and Vanadium in Natural Waters by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry in the Presence of Cupferron,Oxalic Acid and 1,3‐Diphenylguanidine

A sequential AdSV method based on the accumulation of Zr(IV) and V(V) as cupferron‐oxalic acid‐1,3‐diphenylguanidine (COD) complexes at the HMDE was used to determine traces of these metals in samples with different ionic strengths. DP mode, E_ads ?0.6 and ?0.2 V (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 mol L^?1 KCl), t_ads 400 and 20 s and 10 and 60 mV s^?1 scan rates were used for Zr(IV) and V(V), respectively. E_peak were ?0.95 (Zr(IV)‐COD) and ?0.65 V(V(V)‐COD). The methodology was applied in samples of rivers, estuaries (in Germany and Brazil) and coastal and open seawater.     

Fractionation of red wine polyphenols by solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography

A systematic method for separation of aged red wine polyphenols into various distinct fractions using combined techniques of solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography was proposed. The aged red wine polyphenols were separated into various distinct fractions including phenolic acid fraction, monomer flavanol fraction, oligomer procyanidin fraction, anthocyanin and its pyruvic acid derivative fraction, free or non-colored proanthocyanidin fraction, fraction of direct condensation products between anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins and fraction of other pigmented complexes. The phenolic composition of each fraction was verified by HPLC with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), thiolysis, vanillin assay, HPLC coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) and multi-stage MS fragment analysis. For the first time, anthocyanins and their pyruvic derivatives were separated from other phenolic compounds, while free or non-pigmented polymer proanthocyanidins from other pigmented complexes. The fractionation method would be of particular interest in further studying the detailed composition of polymeric polyphenols in red wine.     

Effects of preservation methods on stable isotope signatures in bird tissues

Increasing use is being made of stable isotopes as indicators of habitat use and trophic ecology of animals. Preservation of tissues can alter stable isotope signatures. We investigated the effects of addition of ethanol and NaCl solution (hereafter 'salt'), and of freezing and drying, on carbon and nitrogen isotopic values in blood of the spectacled petrel Procellaria conspicillata, and compared these with those from simultaneously growing feathers. The mean delta(13)C values of blood preserved in ethanol was significantly higher, and of blood preserved in salt was significantly lower than that of dried or frozen samples. delta(13)C values in ethanol showed high variation according to brand and batch and could account for the differences found in delta(13)C ratios in ethanol-preserved blood samples. Mean delta(13)C and delta(15)N values in growing feathers were higher than in blood, suggesting tissue-specific fractionation. We conclude that different methods of preserving tissues such as blood may bias stable isotope values, and urge researchers to consider this issue. Air drying is proposed as a practical and unbiased method for blood preservation in field situations where freezing is not a practical option, and a mathematical approach is suggested to permit comparison between studies using different preservation methods or tissues.     

Production of reactive oxygen species induced by a new [60]fullerene derivative bearing a tetrazole unit and its possible biological applications

The wide range of physical and chemical properties of modified fullerenes has drawn increasing attention in the past few years. As part of this research, this paper describes the preparation, characterization, and photophysical properties of a new fullerene derivative chemically modified with a tetrazole. The photophysical properties were studied by EPR radical spin-trapping technique and showed that reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be produced through UVA photosensitization. EPR spin-trapping experiments with singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide (O₂⁻) inhibitors (β-carotene and superoxide dismutase, respectively) revealed also that: (i) the main ROS produced is ¹O₂ and (ii) ¹O₂ is being partially dismutated to O₂⁻. The results suggest that this derivative can be used in biological applications, as for example, in topic photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a photosensitizer.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols through a transesterification reaction was studied. The optimal conditions found for the kinetic resolution of m- and p-aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols, led to excellent results, high conversions (c = 50%), high enantiomeric ratios (E > 200) and enantiomeric excesses for the remaining (S)-alcohol and (R)-acetylated product (>99%). However, kinetic resolution of o-aryltrimethylsilyl chiral alcohols did not occur under the same conditions applied to the other isomers.     

Sewage sludge coke estimation using thermal analysis

The imposition of more stringent legislation by CETESB in the State of São Paulo (Brazil) governing the disposal and utilization of sewage sludge, coupled with the growth in its generation has prompted a drive for alternative uses of sewage sludge. One option that is especially promising, due to its potential to valorize sludge, is its conversion into carbonaceous adsorbents or coke for industrial effluents treatment. Thus, a methodology is presented to estimate the coke produced from the sludge of a sewage treatment station using thermal analysis. The used sewage sludge, which comes from aerobic treatment, was collected in the wastewater treatment station of Barueri, one of the largest of the São Paulo metropolitan area. The sludge samples were collected, dried, ground, and milled until they passed an ABNT 200 sieve. The inert ambient used during its thermal treatment produces inorganic matter and coke as residual materials. Coke formation occurs in the 200–500 °C range and, between 500 and 900 °C, its thermal decomposition occurs. The highest formation of coke occurs at 500 °C.