Encapsulation of Vitamin B12 by Complex Coacervation of Whey Protein Concentrate–Pectin; Optimization and Characterization

Vitamin B₁₂ (VB₁₂) is one of the essential vitamins for the body, which is sensitive to light, heat, oxidizing agents, and acidic and alkaline substances. Therefore, the encapsulation of VB₁₂ can be one of the ways to protect it against processing and environmental conditions in food. In this work, the influence of pectin concentration (0.5–1% w/v), whey protein concentrate (WPC) level (4–8% w/v) and pH (3–9) on some properties of VB₁₂-loaded pectin–WPC complex carriers was investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). The findings showed that under optimum conditions (1:6.47, pectin:WPC and pH = 6.6), the encapsulation efficiency (EE), stability, viscosity, particle size and solubility of complex carriers were 80.71%, 85.38%, 39.58 mPa·s, 7.07 µm and 65.86%, respectively. Additionally, the formation of complex coacervate was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, it was revealed that the most important factor in VB₁₂ encapsulation was pH; at a pH < isoelectric point of WPC (pH = 3), in comparison with higher pH values (6 and 9), a stronger complex was formed between pectin and WPC, which led to an increase in EE, lightness parameter, particle size and water activity, as well as a decrease in the zeta-potential and porosity of complex carriers.     

The investigation of the destructive effects of high-energy hydrogen ions on molybdenum and copper

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The effects of high-energy protons produced in the plasma focus device on molybdenum and copper metals were studied. Molybdenum and copper samples...     

The effect of using nanofluid flow into a porous channel in the CPVT under transient solar heat flux based on energy and exergy analysis

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Concentrator photovoltaic thermal system is one of the heat and power generation systems that have received special attention in recent decades. In...     

Fabrication of novel Fe (III), Co (II), Hg (II), and Pd (II) complexes based on water-soluble ligand (NaH2PH): structural characterization,cyclic voltammetric,powder X-ray diffraction,zeta potential,and biological studies

Sodium4-hydroxy-3-([2-picolinoylhydrazineylidene]methyl)benzenesulfonate (NaH₂PH) was synthesized as a novel water-soluble ligand, by the condensation of picolinohydrazide with sodium 3-formyl-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonate. The (NaH₂PH) ligand and its isolated Co (II), Fe (III), Hg (II), and Pd (II) complexes were analyzed by elemental analysis and characterized by spectroscopic (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–visible, powder XRD, ¹H NMR,¹³C NMR, MS) and magnetic measurements. By comparing IR spectra of both ligand and the metal complexes, one can assume that the (NaH₂PH) ligand behaves as a bi-negative tetradentate (ONNO) in [Co (NaPH)(H₂O)₂].3H₂O, and a mono-negative tridentate (ONO) in [Fe (NaPH)Cl₂(H₂O)] complex, whereas in [Hg₂(NaPH)Cl₂(H₂O)] complex, (NaH₂PH) coordinates as a bi-negative pentadentate (ONNNO) ligand via deprotonated OH group of phenolic ring (C=N)_Py and (C=N*) coordinated to one of Hg (II) ion and the oxygen atom of enolic group and (C=N)_az group with the another Hg (II) ion. Moreover, (NaH₂PH) acts as bi-negative tridentate (ONO) ligand in [Pd (NaPH)(H₂O)].2H₂O complex. The geometries of complexes were suggested based on the UV–visible spectra, magnetic measurements and confirmed by applying discrete Fourier transform (DFT) optimization studies. The thermal fragmentation of both [Pd (NaPH)(H₂O)].2H₂O and [Co (NaPH)(H₂O)₂].3H₂O complexes was performed, and the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were computed using the Coats–Redfern and Horowitz–Metzger methods. The redox behavior of divalent ions of cobalt and mercury were discussed by the cyclic voltammetry technique in the presence and absence of (NaH₂PH) ligand. Biological potencies of the ligand and its metal complexes were evaluated as antioxidants (ABTS and DPPH), anticancer, DNA, and antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis as Gram (+) bacteria, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as Gram (−) bacteria, and Candida albicans as fungi).