Membrane degumming of crude rice bran oil: Pilot plant study

The procedure for the classical chemical refining of vegetable oils consists of degumming, alkali neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization. Conventional refining of rice bran oil using alkali gives oil of acceptable quality, but the refining losses are very high. A critical work has been carried out to study the application of membrane technology in the pretreatment of crude rice bran oil. Oils intended for physical refining should have a low phosphorus content, and this is not readily achievable by the conventional acid/water degumming process. The application of membrane technology for the pretreatment of rice bran oil has been investigated. The process has already been successfully applied to other vegetable oils. Ceramic membranes, which are important from the commercial point of view, were examined for this purpose. The results showed that the membrane‐filtered oils met the requirements of physical refining, with a substantial reduction in color. It was observed that most of the waxy material was also rejected. Experiments were carried out to establish the relationship between permeate flux and rejection with membrane pore size, trans‐membrane pressure and micellar solute concentration.     

Hot deformation mechanisms in Ti-5.5Al-1Fe alloy

The mechanisms of hot deformation in the alloy Ti-5.5Al-1Fe have been studied in the temperature range 750 to 1150 °C and with the true strain rate varying from 0.001 to 100 s⁻¹ by means of isothermal compression tests. At temperatures below β transus and low strain rates, the alloy exhibited steady-state flow behavior, while, at high strain rates, either continuous flow softening or work hardening followed by flow softening was observed. In the β region, the deformation behavior is characterized by steady-state behavior at low strain rates, yield drops at intermediate strain rates, and oscillations at high strain rates. The processing maps revealed two domains. (1) In the temperature range 750 to 1050 °C and at strain rates lower than 0.01 s⁻¹, the material exhibits fine-grained superplasticity. The apparent activation energy for superplastic deformation is estimated to be about 328 kJ/mole. The optimum conditions for superplasticity are 825 °C and 0.001 s⁻¹. (2) In the β region, a domain occurs at temperatures above 1100 °C and at strain rates from 0.001 to 0.1 s⁻¹ with its peak efficiency of 47% occurring at 1150 °C and 0.01 s¹. On the basis of kinetic analysis, tensile ductility, and grain size variation, this domain is interpreted to represent dynamic recrystallization (DRX) of β phase. The apparent activation energy for DRX is estimated to be 238 kJ/mole. The grain size (d) is linearly dependent on the Zener-Hollomon parameter (Z) per the equation

Effect of electron-beam irradiation on the safety and quality of Fusarium-infected malting barley

Utilization of Fusarium-infected barley for malting may lead to mycotoxin production during malting and decreased malt quality. Electron-beam irradiation may prevent safety and quality defects and allow use of otherwise good quality barley. We evaluated electron-beam irradiation for preventing Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production while maintaining barley-malt quality characteristics. Four barley lots with varying deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were irradiated at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 kGy. Treated barley was malted in a pilot-scale malting unit. Barley and malt were analyzed for Fusarium infection (FI), germinative energy (GE), aerobic plate counts (APC), mold and yeast counts (MYC), and DON. Malt quality parameters included malt extract, soluble protein, wort color, wort viscosity, free amino nitrogen, alpha-amylase, and diastatic power. FI, APC, and MYC decreased in barley with an increase in dosage. The APC and MYC for malts from barley exposed to 8–10 kGy were slightly higher than in other malted samples indicating that irradiation-resistant microflora could flourish during malting. Barley GE significantly decreased (3–15%) at 8–10 kGy. Although irradiation had no effect on DON in raw barley, DON decreased significantly (60–100%) in finished malts prepared from treated barley (6–10 kGy). Malt quality parameters were slightly affected by electron-beam radiation. The results suggest 6–8 kGy may be effective for reducing FI in barley and DON in malt with minimal effects on malt quality.     

Packaging and storage studies on double-filtered groundnut oil

Packaging and storage studies of double-filtered groundnut oil was carried out in different multilayer film pouches based on non-nylon, nylon and polyester (PET) layers and PET bottles at 27° C and 65% relative humidity (RH) and 38° C and 90% RH. The groundnut oil keeps better in multilayer film pouches consisting of nylon and PET films and PET bottles than in non-nylon-based film pouches under both conditions.

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Verpackung und Lagerung von doppelt filtriertem Erdnußöl

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Untersuchungen über die Lagerfähigkeit von doppelt filtriertem Erdnußöl in Polyesterflaschen und in Beuteln aus Verbundfolien mit und ohne Nylon sowie mit Polyester als Barriereschicht durchgeführt. Die Lagerung fand bei 27 °C, 65% relative Feuchtigkeit und 38 °C, 90% relative Feuchtigkeit statt. Die Haltbarkeit des Öls in den Flaschen und Beuteln mit Barriereschichten war wesentlich besser als in den Beuteln ohne Nylon-Schicht.

     

Evaluation of gaseous ozone and hydrogen peroxide treatments for reducing Fusarium survival in malting barley

The use of Fusarium-infected barley for malting can lead to mycotoxin production and decreased malt quality. Methods for treatment of Fusarium-infected barley might prevent these safety and quality defects and allow use of otherwise good-quality barley. Gaseous ozone and hydrogen peroxide (HP) were evaluated for effectiveness in reducing Fusarium survival while maintaining germinative energy (GE) in barley. Gaseous ozone treatments (GOT) included concentrations of 11 and 26 mg/g for 0, 15, 30, and 60 min. HP treatments included 0, 5, 10, and 15% concentrations with exposure times of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 min. For GOT, in naturally Fusarium-infected barley, a statistically significant (P < 0.05) decrease (24 to 36%) of Fusarium survival occurred within 15 min of exposure at either concentration. GE was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by 30 min at both concentrations in naturally Fusarium-infected barley, but not in sound barley. GOT did not cause any significant (P > 0.05) effect on GE in sound barley at either concentration over the full 30-min exposure time. For HP, Fusarium survival was significantly decreased (50 to 98%) within 5 min of exposure. With the exception of two treatments (10 and 15% HP agitated for 20 min), GE was not statistically significantly different from the control in naturally Fusarium-infected barley. In sound barley, HP had no significant (P > 0.05) effect on GE. The results suggest that GOT and HP might have potential for treatment of Fusarium-infected malting barley.     

Sono-chemical leaching of uranium

A fundamental study on the mechanism of uranium leaching in nitric acid and sulphuric acid media has been carried out to understand the effect of the ultrasound on leaching. The use of ultrasound clearly improves the leaching rate within the studied leach acid media. The enhancement in the leaching rate in the presence of ultrasound is higher with low leach acid concentration of nitric acid (HNO₃), and it is high at high leach acid concentration in the case of sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) being used as a leachant, when compared to conventional mechanical agitation. The basic reason behind this observed variation is explained on the basis of the reaction mechanism involving the oxidative conversion of acid insoluble tetravalent uranium form to the soluble hexavalent form of uranium in the presence of ultrasound at a faster rate.     

Mild and Efficient Allylation of Aldehydes by using Copper Fluorapatite as Catalyst

A facile synthesis of homoallylic alcohols is achieved by the allylation of aldehydes with allylic metal reagents or allyl halides using copper fluorapatite (CuFAP) as catalyst under mild reaction conditions. A variety of aldehydes were converted to the corresponding homoallylic alchohols, demonstrating the versatility of the reaction.     

Evaluation of hot water and electron beam irradiation for reducing Fusarium infection in malting barley

The use of Fusarium-infected barley for malting may lead to mycotoxin production and decreased product quality. Physical methods for the treatment of Fusarium-infected barley may prevent these safety and quality defects and allow the use of otherwise good quality barley. Hot water and electron beam irradiation were evaluated for their effectiveness in reducing Fusarium infection while maintaining germinative energy in barley samples. Hot-water treatments involved temperatures of 45, 50. 55, and 60 degrees C and treatment times of 0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 min. Electron beam irradiation involved doses ranging from 0 to 11.4 kGy. Treatment with water at 45 degrees C for 15 min resulted in a reduction in Fusarium infection from 32 to 1% after 15 min, with only a very slight reduction in germination. Treatment with water at 50 degrees C for 1 min resulted in a reduction in Fusarium infection from 32 to 2%, and no effect on germination was observed for up to 5 min of treatment. At higher water temperatures. Fusarium infection was essentially eliminated, but germination was also severely reduced. Electron beam irradiation of Fusarium-infected barley reduced Fusarium infection at doses of >4 kGy, and a slight increase in germination for dry samples was observed with doses of 6 to 8 kGy. Doses of >10 kGy significantly decreased germination. Physical methods may have potential for the treatment of Fusarium-infected malting barley.     

Effect of hot water treatments on the safety and quality of Fusarium-infected malting barley

Utilization of Fusarium-infected barley for malting may lead to mycotoxin contamination of malt and decreased malt quality. Hot water treatments may prevent or reduce safety and quality defects and allow use of otherwise good quality barley. We evaluated hot water treatments for preventing Fusarium growth and mycotoxin production while maintaining barley-malt characteristics. Four barley lots with varying deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations were hot water-treated at 45 or 50 degrees C for 0, 1, 5, 12, and 20 min. Treated barley was malted in a pilot-scale malting unit. Barley and malt were analyzed for Fusarium infection (FI), germinative energy (GE), aerobic plate count (APC), mold and yeast count (MYC), and DON. Malt quality parameters included malt extract, soluble protein, wort color, wort viscosity, free amino nitrogen, alpha-amylase, and diastatic power. Significant decreases in FI occurred within 1 min at both 45 degrees C (41-66%) and 50 degrees C (51-69%) in all barley samples. Significant reductions in APC (1.0-1.8 log) and MYC (1.7-1.8 log) in barley were observed after 5 min at both temperatures. The largest reductions for DON were observed in malts prepared from barley treated with hot water at 45 degrees C (79-93%) and 50 degrees C (84-88%) for 20 min. GE and most of the malt quality parameters were only affected when barley was treated at 50 degrees C for 12 and 20 min. The results suggest that hot water treatments may offer the potential for treating mildly FHB infected malting barley.     

The turmeric effect

The Turmeric Effect created by the successful opposition of a US patent on Turmeric by CSIR, India, has made its name known not only amongst the millions of common Indian people but also all over the world for its capabilities and expertise in taking up this techno-legal issue to its logical end and by showing to the world that, the India can take on any such complex issue at any international platform, like the present case which has been handled at one of the strongest and exemplary Patent Offices in the world USPTO. This case, very clearly, brings out the weakest links in one of the strongest patent systems and at the same time attempts to allay fears of those who think that once India fulfils its obligations as committed under WTO by amending its IP laws by 2000, the country would be forced to play on an uneven playing field and that the developed world would take advantage of the IP system under WTO. Starting with a brief introduction to turmeric, this paper traces the various developments beginning with the genesis of the re-examination proceeding initiated against the US Patent No. 5401504 on turmeric and then focussing on how this issue was successfully litigated by CSIR. The article emphasises the importance of a very thorough search of the existing disclosures, both patent and non-patent, in dealing with the patentability of aspects of the use of traditional products. Some such disclosures may be very old or in particular languages, but nevertheless highly relevant.