Aloisio Henrique Pereira de Souza

Removal of Anabaena flos-aquae in water treatment process using Moringa oleifera and assessment of fatty acid profile of generated sludge

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the coagulation/flocculation/dissolved air flotation (C/F/DAF) process using the coagulant Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder, and to analyse the profile of fatty acids present in the generated sludge after treatment. For the tests, deionized water artificially contaminated with cell cultures of Anabaena flos-aquae was used, with a cell density in the order of 104u2005cellsu2005mL–1. C/F/DAF tests were conducted using ‘Flotest’ equipment. For fatty acid profile analyses, a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector was used. It was seen that the optimal dosage (100u2005mgu2005L–1) of MO used in the C/F/DAF process was efficient at removing nearly all A. flos-aquae cells (96.4%). The sludge obtained after treatment contained oleic acid (61.7%) and palmitic acid (10.8%). Thus, a water treatment process using C/F/DAF linked to integral MO powder seed was found to be efficient in removing cells of cyanobacteria, and produced a sludge rich in oleic acid that is a precursor favourable for obtaining quality biodiesel, thus becoming an alternative application for the recycling of such biomass.

Development, characterization and chemometric analysis of a gluten-free food bar containing whole flour from a new cultivar of amaranth

Food bars are consumed heavily, especially because of their practicality; however they cannot be ingested by celiac patients and present low contents of essential nutrients. The goal of this study was the development and physical-chemical, nutritional and sensory evaluation of a gluten-free food bar containing amaranth and linseed. Gluten fractions were not detected in the food bar formulations. Crude protein and total lipid contents ranged from 68.32 to 76.60 and 74.56 to 82.06 g kg-1 of food, respectively. The polyunsaturated/saturated and n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratios ranged from 0.45:1 to 0.55:1 and 1.44:1 to 2.50:1, respectively. Calcium, magnesium, copper, iron, manganese and zinc were the principal minerals. Application of multivariate analysis enabled sample B to be distinguished according to its mineral and alfa-linolenic acid content. All food bar formulations had good sensory acceptance and high purchase intent.

Application of Multivariate Analysis to Assess the Incorporation of Omega-3 Fatty Acid in Gluten-Free Cakes

A complete 22 experimental planning (two factors at two levels) with central point in quintuplicate was used to investigate the influence of the factors: chia and azuki flours on fatty acids composition of gluten-free chocolate cake. Both factors were significant, but chia flour presented greater influence on the results. Increased values of both factors contributed to improve contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids (380.96 g kg-1 of product), mainly n-3 series (70.25 g kg-1 of product), and provided more adequate nutritional indices. The principal component analysis and desirability function indicated the sample with higher level of both factors as the optimal region. This sample showed an increase in contents of alpha-linolenic acid (188.03%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (18.16%) when compared to control formulation. The addition of chia flour can improve nutritional characteristics of food stuffs such as bakery products, especially their lipid composition.

FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF Capsicum GENUS PEPPERS

Fatty acids have a great metabolic and structural importance. Evaluation of fatty acid composition of peppers is still incomplete. Pulps and seeds from six varieties of the genus Capsicum were evaluated in this work with respect to their contents in fatty acids. A total of 25 different fatty acids, including some with odd number of carbons were identified in the samples. The most abundant fatty acids were palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n-9) and linoleic (18:2n-6) acids. The polyunsaturated:saturated fatty acid (PUFA/SFA) ratios for all peppers were high due to the elevated amounts of polyunsaturated acids, particularly linoleic acid. In the pulps, the omega-6/omega-3 ratios ranging from 1.28 to 4.33, were relatively adequate if one considers that ratios between 0.25 and 1.0 in the human diet are regarded as highly appropriate. In the seeds, the levels of omega-3 were very low whereas the levels of omega-6 were high, leading to very inadequate omega-6/omega-3 ratios ranging from 74.2 to 279.6. Principal component analysis (PCA) explained 93.49% of the total variance of the data. Considering the PUFA/SFA ratio and omega-6/omega-3 ratio, our data suggest that, among the peppers of the genus Capsicum evaluated in this work, the bell pepper and orange habanero pepper present the best nutritional characteristics concerning fatty acid composition.

Multivariate study of Nile tilapia byproducts enriched with omega-3 and dried with different methods

The present work aimed at studying the effect of different drying methods applied to tilapia byproducts (heads, viscera and carcasses) fed with flaxseed, verifying the contents of omega-3 fatty acids. Two diets were given to the tilapia: a control and a flaxseed formulation, over the course of 60 days. After this period, they were slaughtered and their byproducts (heads, viscera and carcasses) were collected. These fish parts were analyzed in natura, lyophilized and oven dried. Byproducts from tilapia fed with flaxseed presented docosapentaenoic, eicopentaenoic and docosahexanoic fatty acids as a result of the enzymatic metabolism of the fish. The byproducts from the oven drying process had lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the multivariate analysis, the byproducts from fish fed with flaxseed had a greater composition of fatty acids. The addition of flaxseed in fish diets, as well as the utilization of their byproducts, may become a good business strategy. Additionally, the byproducts may be dried to facilitate transport and storage.