Itaciara Larroza Nunes

Obtenção de nanocelulose da fibra de coco verde e incorporação em filmes biodegradáveis de amido plastificados com glicerol

Composites strengthened with nanocellulose have been developed with the aim of improving mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties of materials. This improvement is primarily due to the nanometric size and the high crystallinity of the incorporated cellulose. Cassava starch films plasticized with glycerol and incorporated with nanocellulose from coconut fibers were developed in this study. The effect of this incorporation was studied with respect to the water activity, solubility, mechanical properties, thermal analysis, and biodegradability. The study demonstrated that the film properties can be significantly altered through the incorporation of small concentrations of nanocellulose.

Physicochemical Characterization and Oxidative Stability of Microencapsulated Crude Palm Oil by Spray Drying

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of crude palm oil microencapsulation by spray drying to preserve the oil’s characteristics such as carotenoid content, antioxidant activity, fatty acid, and peroxide value and improve its technological process as thermal stability and oxidative stability for possible use as a food fortifier. Capsules were generated from emulsions with different wall material combinations and then dried at 180 °C. The best wall material combination was cassava starch with gum arabic because it provided good encapsulation efficiency and yield and moisture content. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analyses indicated that the microcapsules had satisfactory thermal stability. The fatty acid profile and color parameters did not change with oil microencapsulation. However, total carotenoids, antioxidant activity, and peroxide value changed with encapsulation. In conclusion, crude palm oil remains an important source of bioactive compounds, such as pro-vitamin A, which have various functions in the body and these microcapsules can be used on food industry fortification.

Desenvolvimento e avaliação da eficácia de filmes biodegradáveis de amido de mandioca com nanocelulose como reforço e com extrato de erva-mate como aditivo antioxidante

The objective was to develop biodegradable packaging using a polymer matrix as the cassava starch plasticized with glycerol and reinforced with the incorporation of nanocelulose of coconut fiber, as well as to evaluate the effect of the addition of an additive nature (yerba mate) in nanobiocompositos formulations with antioxidant action. The nanocrystal cellulose (L/D=39) were obtained by acid hydrolysis with 65% H2SO4. The films were prepared by casting containing 4.5 and 6.0% starch, 0.5 and 1.5% glycerol, 0.3% nanocelulose and 20% extract of yerba mate. The palm oil storage packed with films containing the additive was monitored for 40 days under conditions of accelerated oxidation (63%UR/30°C). It was found that as the losses increase polyphenol films, there is a smaller increase of the peroxide value of the packaged product, thus demonstrating that instead of the product, the compounds of the packages who are suffering oxidation. The incorporation of yerba mate extract did not alter the mechanical and barrier properties of these films.

Prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency in children and adolescents

OBJECTIVE To identify the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children and adolescents. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study involving 546 schoolchildren, aged between 7 and 14 years, of both genders, enrolled in public elementary schools. Blood was collected for measurement of serum retinol. The retinol concentration in the samples was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Data were collected on anthropometrics, dietary, demographic, and socioeconomic factors. Polytomous logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of interest. RESULTS Approximately 27.5% of the students had retinol values<30 μg/dL. The multivariate analysis showed, after the appropriate adjustments, a positive and statistically significant association of moderate/severe VAD (OR=2.19; 95% CI 1.17 to 4.10) and marginal VAD (OR=2.34; 95% CI 1.47 to 3.73) with age<10 years. There was also association of VAD moderate/severe (OR=2.01; 95% CI 1.01 to 5.05) and borderline VAD (OR=2.14; 95% CI: 1.08 to 4.21) with the anthropometric status of underweight. Lower intake of retinol was detected among those with severe VAD. CONCLUSION VAD is a health concern among children and adolescents. Lower weight and younger schoolchildren had greater vulnerability to VAD.

Incorporação de urucum como aditivo antioxidante em embalagens biodegradáveis a base de quitosana

The objective was to develop and characterize a biodegradable packaging using chitosan as polymeric matrix, plasticized with glycerol, as well as evaluate the effect of adding a natural antioxidant additives (annatto) in antioxidant protection in packaging. The cans were prepared by casting containing 1.5% of chitosan, 0.15% glycerol and 0.25 to 1.0% of coloring. Palm oil packed with the films containing the additive was monitored at 0, 7, 15, 30 and 45 days of storage under accelerated oxidation conditions (63% UR/30°C). Palm oil packed in the film that contained the highest percentage of annatto (1.0%) was the least oxidized during the study period. It was found that, as they increase the losses of phenolic compounds in the formulations of the films, there is a reduction in the peroxide increases the packaged product, thus demonstrating that instead of the product, the compounds of the packages who are suffering oxidation.

DESENVOLVIMENTO DE PRODUTOS DE MARISCO: UMA PROSPECÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA

O consumo de pescado vem crescendo muito nos ultimos anos no Brasil. A insercao do pescado na alimentacao se deve ao seu valor biologico e aos beneficios a saude do consumidor. Assim como os peixes, a carne de mariscos possui proteina de alto valor biologico, e rica em acidos graxos poli-insaturados e tem pequenas concentracoes de acidos graxos saturados totais. A sua composicao nutricional a caracteriza como um alimento saudavel. Sendo assim, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um mapeamento do volume de producao de patentes a fim de verificar a frequencia de depositos e as perspectivas sobre a utilizacao da carne de marisco na industria de alimentos no Brasil e no mundo. Para tal foi realizado levantamento de dados junto aos bancos de dados de patentes do INPI e do escritorio de patentes Europeu – Espacenet. Os maiores depositantes e inventores encontram-se nos paises asiaticos. A principal area de utilizacao que envolve o marisco e as tecnologias empregadas concentra-se na area da industria alimenticia, especificamente naquelas que envolvem a inovacao tecnologica. As perspectivas quanto a utilizacao do marisco na industria de alimentos sao as melhores possiveis, em funcao do grande valor nutricional e potencialidade de uso em outras areas, essa perspectiva esta disponivel para todos os paises.

DENDÊ E SEU POTENCIAL DE USO: UMA PROSPECÇÃO TECNOLÓGICA

O dende (Elaeis guineensis) e uma olaeginosa de grande produtividade. Seu oleo tem uma cor que vai do amarelo ao vermelho devido a presenca de carotenoides, pigmentos com propriedades antioxidantes. Este oleo tem amplo uso comercial, na industria de alimentos, farmaceutica e quimica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um estudo de prospeccao para avaliar o panorama mundial da utilizacao do dende. Foram realizadas consultas nos bancos de dados de patentes (Espacenet e no Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial), utilizando palavras-chave em ingles para a pesquisa avancada (Advanced Search). O Brasil e um dos principais mercados destacando-se pela quantidade de documentos. A industria de alimentos e de biotecnologia (biocombustiveis) sao das que mais utilizam este recuso natural. A maioria das instituicoes depositantes e de natureza privada corporativa. Houve aumento de depositos a partir do ano 2000, em virtude da insercao de novas tecnologias no beneficiamento do dende e seus derivados.