α-Tocopherol-loaded Ca-pectinate microcapsules: Optimization, in vitro release, and bioavailability

We used response surface methodology to optimize microcapsule preparation conditions, including the ratio of pectin:α-tocopherol (TP) (X₁), emulsifier concentration (X₂), and CaCl₂ concentration (X₃) for maximal entrapment efficiency (EE) of TP-loaded Ca-pectinate microcapsules. The values of X₁, X₂, and X₃, optimized for maximal EE were a ratio of 9.7:6.3, and 1.33% and 5.09%, respectively. The experimental results obtained from the optimum formulation agreed with the predicted results, indicating the usefulness of models for EE. TP release from the Ca-pectinate microcapsules prepared according to the optimized conditions was slow and incomplete in simulated gastric fluid, whereas it was relatively rapid and considerably sustained in simulated intestinal fluid. An in vivo release study revealed that physical entrapment of TP within Ca-pectinate microcapsules can be a good technique to demonstrate the sustained release pattern of TP and to improve the bioavailability for TP following oral administration.     

Sequential injection analysis (SIA) and response surface methodology: A versatile small volume approach for optimization of photo-Fenton processes

Optimization of photo-Fenton degradation of copper phthalocyanine blue was achieved by response surface methodology (RSM) constructed with the aid of a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system coupled to a homemade photo-reactor. Highest degradation percentage was obtained at the following conditions [H₂O₂]/[phthalocyanine] = 7, [H₂O₂]/[FeSO₄] = 10, pH = 2.5, and stopped flow time in the photo reactor = 30 s. The SIA system was designed to prepare a monosegment containing the reagents and sample, to pump it toward the photo-reactor for the specified time and send the products to a flow-through spectrophotometer for monitoring the color reduction of the dye. Changes in parameters such as reagent molar ratios, residence time and pH were made by modifications in the software commanding the SI system, without the need for physical reconfiguration of reagents around the selection valve. The proposed procedure and system fed the statistical program with degradation data for fast construction of response surface plots. After optimization, 97% of the dye was degraded.     

Multivariate optimization of hydrodistillation-headspace solvent microextraction of thymol and carvacrol from Thymus transcaspicus

In this paper multivariate response surface methodology (RSM) has been used for the optimization of hydrodistillation-headspace solvent microextraction (HD-HSME) of thymol and carvacrol in Thymus transcaspicus. Quantitative determination of compounds of interest was performed simultaneously using gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were assessed and the optimized values were 5 min, 2 μL and 3 min for the extraction time, micro-drop volume and cooling time after extraction, respectively. The amounts of analyte extracted increased with plant weight. The calibration curves were linear in the ranges of 6.25-81.25 and 1.25-87.50 mg L⁻¹ for thymol and carvacrol, respectively. Limit of detection (LOD) for thymol and carvacrol was 1.87 and 0.23 mg L⁻¹, respectively. Within-day and between-day precisions for both analytes were calculated in three different concentrations and recoveries obtained were in the range of 89-101% and 95-116% for thymol and carvacrol, respectively.     

Potentiometric anion selectivity of polymer-membrane electrodes based on cobalt, chromium, and aluminum salens

Metallo-salens of cobalt(II) (Co-Sal), chromium(III) (Cr-Sal), and aluminum(III) (Al-Sal) are used as the active ionophores within plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes. It is shown that central metal-ion plays a critical role in directing the ionophore selectivity. Polymer-membrane electrodes based on Co-Sal, Cr-Sal, and Al-Sal are demonstrated to exhibit enhanced responses and selectivity toward nitrite/thiocyanate, thiocyanate, and fluoride anions, respectively. The improved anion selectivity of the three ionophore systems is shown to deviate significantly from the classical Hofmeister pattern that is based only on ion lipophilicity. For example, optimized membrane electrodes for nitrite ion based on Co-Sal exhibit logK(Nitrite,Anion)(pot) values of -5.22, -4.66, -4.48, -2.5 towards bromide, perchlorate, nitrate, and iodide anions, respectively. Optimized membrane electrodes based on Co-Sal and Cr-Sal show near-Nernstian responses towards nitrite (-57.9+/-0.9 mV/decade) and thiocyanate (-56.9+/-0.8 mV/decade), respectively, with fast response and recovery times. In contrast, Al-Sal based membrane electrodes respond to fluoride ion in a super-Nernstian (-70+/-3 mV/decade) and nearly an irreversible mode. The operative response mechanism of Co-Sal, Cr-Sal, and Al-Sal membrane electrodes is examined using the effect of added ionic sites on the potentiometric response characteristics. It is demonstrated that addition of lipophilic anionic sites to membrane electrodes based on the utilized metallo-salens enhances the selectivity towards the primary ion, while addition of cationic sites resulted in Hofmeister selectivity patterns suggesting that the operative response mechanism is of the charged carrier type. Electron spin resonance (ESR) data indicates that Co(II) metal-ion center of Co-Sal ionophore undergoes oxidation to Co(III). This process leads to formation of a charged anion-carrier that is consistent with the response behavior obtained for Co-Sal based membrane electrodes.     

A fluorescent chemical sensor for Hg(II) based on a corrole derivative in a PVC matrix

A fluorescent chemical sensor for Hg(II) using 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corrole (H₃(tpfc)) as fluorophore is described in this paper. The response of the sensor is based on the fluorescence quenching of H₃(tpfc) by coordination with Hg(II). H₃(tpfc) based sensor shows a linear response towards Hg(II) in the concentration range from 1.2 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M, with a working pH range from 5.0 to 8.0. The response time for Hg(II) concentration ≤1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M is less than 5 min. The sensor shows good selectivity for Hg(II) over alkali, and alkaline earth, and most of transition metal cations. The effect of the composition of the sensor membrane has been studied and the experimental conditions optimized. The corrole based sensor membrane can be easily regenerated just by washing with blank buffer solution after each measurement. The sensor has been used for determination of Hg(II) in water samples with satisfactory results.     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of xyloglucan from apple pomace

Ultrasound-assisted extraction was evaluated as a simpler and more effective alternative to conventional extraction method for the isolation of xyloglucan from apple pomace. The apple pomace samples were extracted under indirect sonication in an ultrasound cleaning bath. The ultrasound extraction was compared with the conventional method, on the productions of xyloglucan. It was found that the ultrasound-assisted extraction of xyloglucan was about three times faster than the traditional extraction method. Response surface methodology was employed to study the effect of liquid:solid ratio, KOH concentration and ultrasound-assisted extraction time on the yield of xyloglucan from apple pomace. Regression analysis was performed on the data obtained. The most relevant variable was the quadratic of liquid:solid ratio. The coefficient determination (R²) was good for the second-order model. The optimum combination was determined as a liquid:solid ratio of 34.4:1 (v/w), a KOH concentration of 3.3 M and an ultrasound-assisted extraction time of 2.5 h.     

Optimization of Preparation Process for Allylamine-bacterial Cellulose via Graft Copolymerization by Response Surface Methodology

In order to improve the efficiency of new adsorbent, grafting-allylamine bacterial cellulose（al-BC）, response surface methodology（RSM） was used for the optimization of preparation process. Three factors affecting the yield of grafting reaction are the amount of allylamine, the concentration of ceric ammonium nitrate（CAN） and the concentration of nitric acid. Based on the regression coefficient analysis in the Box-Behnken design, a relationship between the preparation variable and grafting yield was obtained. Square error analysis on main factors, and multi-variable interactions were employed for studying grafting yield. The results show that at the conditions of CAN of 23.00 mmol/L CAN, 0.17 mol/L nitric acid, adding an amount of grafting-allylamine bacterial cellulose of 26.49 mL/L made grafting rate reach maximum of 24.25% at 40℃ after the reaction for 4 h. The experimental results are in good agreement with the calculation values via proposed regression equation, indicating that the equation could be used to nredict and optimizate the preparation of grafting al-BC.     

基于实测光谱的植被指数对水稻叶面积指数的响应特征分析

叶面积指数(LAI)是目前最常用的农业生态监测指标,可以为农作物的病虫害监测、作物长势监测、碳循环、生物量估算及作物估产提供依据。植被指数(VI)是卫星LAI产品生产的重要数据源,但不同VIs对植被LAI的响应特征具有一定的差异性。以江西省水稻为例,基于实测光谱提取了水稻实测VIs,结合实测LAI,讨论了归一化植被指数(NDVI)、增强型植被指数(EVI)、土壤调节植被指数(SAVI)和修正的土壤调节植被指数(MSAVI)四种常见VIs对LAI的响应特征,并与MODIS LAI备用算法的计算结果进行了对比分析,研究了不同VIs用于LAI产品反演的可行性及存在的问题。通过对不同实测VIs-LAI模型精度的评估,分析其应用于LAI反演的适应性,结果显示EVI,SAVI和MSAVI比NDVI有更好的适应性,其中EVI效果最优。此外,通过对比MODIS LAI备用算法查找表,发现针对MODIS LAI备用算法中草地与谷物作物这一地表覆盖大类,在LAI>4时,NDVI出现饱和;而实测水稻作物的NDVI在LAI>2时开始出现饱和;且当NDVI相同时,查找表LAI远大于实测LAI,MODIS备用算法中使用的地表覆盖产品分类过粗可能是造成这一结果的主要原因。因此MODIS LAI备用算法在该区域水稻LAI监测中可能产生较大误差,有必要改用其他VIs优化该备用算法。通过对比分析四种VIs模型对LAI的预测误差,发现EVI,SAVI和MSAVI精度明显优于NDVI,基于EVI的模型平均预测误差仅为MODIS LAI备用算法的1/6,基于实测NDVI反演算法的1/2,因此设计基于EVI的LAI算法对LAI的反演精度有一定的提升空间。     

廉价离子液体体系中玉米芯生成糠醛优化

采用廉价绿色离子液体[TEA][HSO4]作为溶剂,利用微波加热法辅助玉米芯水解并脱水制备糠醛.通过响应面法优化糠醛生成反应条件,有效转换玉米芯中的木糖,并得到82.2％糠醛收率.利用2-丁醇作为萃取剂对糠醛进行回收.重复4次萃取实验,从[TEA][HSO4]中回收99.7％糠醛.在2次[TEA][HSO4]的回收实验...     

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of functional compound from mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaf using response surface methodology and effect of microencapsulation by spray drying on quality of optimized extract

This study aimed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) condition of mulberry leaf extract (MLE) using response surface methodology and to microencapsulate MLE by spray drying using different coating materials and ratios of coating material and MLE. The extraction results showed that MLE from condition of 60 °C (X₁, temperature), 30 min (X₂, time) and 60% v/v (X₃, ethanol concentration) exhibited the highest bioactive compound and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP assay). Based on this optimal condition, MLE was further encapsulated by spray drying. It was found that MLE encapsulated with resistant maltodextrin at ratio of MLE and resistant maltodextrin 1:1 (w/w) showed the highest encapsulation yield (%) and encapsulation efficiency (%). Water solubility, moisture content and water activity were non-significant (p > 0.05) among the microcapsules. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that the types of coating material affected their microstructures and microcapsules prepared by resistant maltodextrin as coating material had a spherical shape, smooth surface and less shrinkage than microcapsules prepared by maltodextrin and gum arabic which had rough surfaces. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained from microcapsule prepared by gum arabic at ratio of MLE and gam arabic 1:2 (w/w). In conclusion, optimal condition from UAE and encapsulation by spray drying suggest the critical potential for production of functional food with improved bioactive compound stability and maximized antioxidant activity.