Dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites based on linear low-density polyethylene/styrene-butadiene rubber/nanoclay/bitumen: morphology and rheological behavior

Dynamically crosslinked thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites were synthesized as modifier for the bitumen binder-based asphalts. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), with the ratio of 80/20, bitumen, and organically modified clay (OC) were all melt mixed in the presence of the sulfur curing system. The proposed mixing was carried out in an internal mixer at 160 °C with a rotor speed of 120 rpm. To enhance the molecular interactions between the polymer phases and the clay silicate layers, maleic anhydride-grafted LLDPE (PE-g-MA) with the maleiation degree of 50% was also incorporated into the mixture. Observation of the composite samples, using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), revealed the matrix dispersed type of morphology for all dynamically vulcanized samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examinations evidenced the exfoliation of the clay silicate layers with good dispersion. Rheomechanical spectrometry (RMS) was performed on the prepared nanocomposites. All dynamically vulcanized nanocomposites comprising 2.5% of OC exhibited shear-thinning behavior and non-terminal characteristics with a low frequency range. These indicate the formation of three-dimensional physical networks by the clay nanolayers throughout the LLDPE matrix. The presence of the bitumen in the composition of the prepared nanocomposites improved the flowability of the samples. This is a promising feature of the prepared nanocomposites to be used as an elastic and resistant modifier in the composition of the bitumen-based asphalts.

     

Use of Hydrolysates from Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares) Heads as a Complex Nitrogen Source for Lactic Acid Bacteria

Two different peptones obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) head waste have been shown to be effective in promoting the growth of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus bulgaricus Persian Type Culture Collection (PTCC) 1332, Lactobacillus acidophilus PTCC 1643, Lactobacillus casei PTCC 1608, Lactobacillus delbrukii PTCC 1333, Lactobacillus plantarum PTCC 1058, Lactococcus lactis PTCC 1336, and Lactobacillus sakei PTCC 1712). Peptones obtained from the enzymatic hydrolysis with Alcalase or Protamex were used instead of the standard peptones used in commercial MRS media. Peptones produced by Alcalase and Protamex had a 34% and 19% degree of hydrolysis, respectively. The results showed that the peptones from Alcalase and Protamex were better at promoting lactic acid bacteria (LAB) growth than the commercial MRS media (P < 0.05). The choice of proteolytic enzyme used to produce the fish hydrolysate had a considerable impact on the performance of the resulting hydrolysate, both in terms of maximum growth rate and biomass production. Peptones produced using Alcalase, with a higher degree of hydrolysis, induced better growth and performed better overall as an LAB substrate than those using Protamex. Current study revealed that enzymatic-modified fish by-products can be used as low cast nitrogen source for bacterial growth.     

Chemical and Biochemical Hydrolysis of Persian Sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) Visceral Protein

Chemical (pH 3.3, 70 °C, 85 °C; pH 12, 70 °C, 85 °C) and biochemical (Alcalase, Protamex, Neutrase, Flavourzyme, and Trypsin) hydrolysis of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) visceral protein was investigated. The results of this study revealed that there are significant differences between enzymes in terms of degree of hydrolysis (DH%; P < 0.05). Alcalase-hydrolyzed fish protein had the highest DH% (50.13%), and Trypsin-hydrolyzed fish protein had the minimum DH% (14.21%). The highest DH% in chemical hydrolysis was related to pH 3.3 at 85 °C (68.87%). The highest protein recovery (83.64%) and protein content (73.34) were related to enzymatic hydrolysis by Alcalase. The results of current study showed the significant effect of hydrolysis conditions on fish protein hydrolysate properties. Microbial enzymes could produce fish hydrolysates with higher degree of hydrolysis when compared to animal enzyme. Also, in chemical hydrolysis it is clear that hydrolysis at the lower pH and at higher temperature causes to more protein recovery and degree of hydrolysis.     

Optimization of Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Visceral Waste Proteins of Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

Fish protein hydrolysate was produced from the viscera of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). Hydrolysis conditions (enzyme activity, temperature, and time) were optimized using response surface methodology. A factorial design was applied to minimize enzyme utilization and modeling of degree of hydrolysis (r ² = 0.94). Lack-of-fit test revealed a non-significant value for the model, indicating that the regression equation was adequate for predicting the degree of hydrolysis under any combination of the variables (P < 0.05). The optimum conditions to reach the highest degree of hydrolysis were: 60.4 °C, 90.25 min, and a protease (Alcalase 2.4 L) activity of 70.22 AU/kg protein. The spray-dried tuna visceral protein hydrolysates had relatively high protein (72.34%) and low lipid (1.43%) content. The chemical score of the hydrolysate indicated that it fulfils adult human nutritional requirements except for methionine. Lysine and methionine were the first and the second limiting amino acids in that order. Phenylalanine was the predominant amino acid in the hydrolysates with respect to common carp requirement. In addition, the protein efficiency ratio of tuna visceral hydrolysate was 2.85–5.35.     

Seasonality of the Thermal Kinetics of Color Changes in Whole Spinach (Spinacia Oleracea) Leaves Under Pasteurization Conditions

Color changes in whole spinach (Spinacia oleracea) leaves at pasteurization temperatures (65 to 90°C) indicate that the parameter of “greenness” (-a_t/b_t) increased during a short initial period of heating, followed by a loss that was more pronounced at higher temperatures. Seasonality was evident in kinetic models for color changes possibly due to seasonal difference in chemical composition influencing color degradation kinetics. The mechanism for loss of greenness at lower temperatures was attributed to enzymatic activity while cell collapse, cell compaction, and oxidative changes were probably more important at higher temperatures. Lower temperatures resulted in a higher retention of green color of spinach leaves during the thermal pasteurization process and the kinetic models presented in this work could be used for optimizing pasteurization processes.     

Kinetics of Quality Changes of Shrimp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Litopenaeus setiferus</Emphasis>) During Pasteurization

Effect of cooking between 1 and 80 min at 60 to 100 °C on several quality attributes of whole peeled shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) (80–90 counts/kg) was studied using an isothermal heating method. Cook loss, area shrinkage, and hardness of shrimp increased with increasing heating time and temperature, following a fractional first-order kinetic model with activation energies (E _a ) of 71.0, 53.3, and 29.9 kJ/mol, respectively. Cook loss, area shrinkage, and hardness were positively correlated. The toughness of shrimp muscle increased in the initial period of heating, then decreased in the later period during the treatments. The overall color change (ΔE) increased with increasing treatment time and temperature, and followed a zero kinetic model with an E _a of 37.2 kJ/mol. The kinetic parameters obtained from this study can be applied toward understanding and predicting shrimp-quality changes during pasteurization treatments, and further provides insight into the pasteurization conditions required to achieve safe and high-quality shrimp products and potentially other crustacean shellfish and seafood products.     

Efficacy of Neutral Electrolyzed Water,Quaternary Ammonium and Lactic Acid‐Based Solutions in Controlling Microbial Contamination of Food Cutting Boards Using a Manual Spraying Technique

Bactericidal activity of neutral electrolyzed water (NEW), quaternary ammonium (QUAT), and lactic acid‐based solutions was investigated using a manual spraying technique against Salmonella Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus that were inoculated onto the surface of scarred polypropylene and wooden food cutting boards. Antimicrobial activity was also examined when using cutting boards in preparation of raw chopped beef, chicken tenders or salmon fillets. Viable counts of survivors were determined as log₁₀ CFU/100 cm² within 0 (untreated control), 1, 3, and 5 min of treatment at ambient temperature. Within the first minute of treatment, NEW and QUAT solutions caused more than 3 log₁₀ bacterial reductions on polypropylene surfaces whereas less than 3 log₁₀ reductions were achieved on wooden surfaces. After 5 min of treatment, more than 5 log₁₀ reductions were achieved for all bacterial strains inoculated onto polypropylene surfaces. Using NEW and QUAT solutions within 5 min reduced Gram‐negative bacteria by 4.58 to 4.85 log₁₀ compared to more than 5 log₁₀ reductions in Gram‐positive bacteria inoculated onto wooden surfaces. Lactic acid treatment was significantly less effective (P < 0.05) compared to NEW and QUAT treatments. A decline in antimicrobial effectiveness was observed (0.5 to <2 log₁₀ reductions were achieved within the first minute) when both cutting board types were used to prepare raw chopped beef, chicken tenders or salmon fillets.