Massimo Calabrese

A study of the proline isomerisation in typical Italian wines

In this paper the presence of the D isomer of proline in wine was investigated. The analyses were carried out on samples of two different types of Italian red wines, ‘Merlot’ and ‘Cabernet’, at different stages of aging during the period 1987–1996. The quantitative determination was performed using an RP–HPLC apparatus equipped with a diode array detector. Marfeys reagent, (1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrophenyl)-5-L-alanine amide (FDAA), was used for the derivatisation, and the obtained diastereomers were separated on a Supelcosil LC-18 analytical column (25 cm × 0.4 cm id), adopting a gradient procedure and making use of water/acetonitrile buffer as the mobile phase. L-Norluecine was used as the internal standard for quantitative determination, and the detection of the derivatised components was made at a fixed wavelength of 340 nm. The data obtained show an interesting correlation between the age of the sample and the presence of the D-proline isomer, due to a racemisation process that can be described as a first-order kinetic reaction. The values of the kinetic constants obtained for the two wines are very similar but differ significantly from those observed for wines aged for more than 10 years. This is probably due to enzymatic degradation processes, which can occur in wine after longer periods of time. © 1999 Society of Chemical Industry

Radiocesium Contamination in Samples of Blueberries Jams Collected in Stores of NE Italy (2013-2017)

The monitoring of radioactivity in foodstuffs is carried out for the purposes of food safety in order to follow the evolution of the contamination as result of incidents that occurred both in the past (eg Chernobyl) and in more recent times (eg, Fukushima). Then, the movement of goods from these countries to European Union may cause the propagation of foods potentially toxic for health. At the Port of Trieste, in the period of September 2013, some loads of blueberries (Vaccinum mirtyllus L.) were examined within the application of EC Regulation 733/2008, on the conditions governing imports of agricultural products originating in the countries affected by the nuclear accident of Chernobyl in 1986. The fruits came from Ukraine and were intended for the food preparations containing blueberries, in particular jams and marmalades. As in some cases significant values of Radiocesium concentrations (Cesium-137) were found in blueberries, though below the limit of 600 Bq/kg as required by the Regulations, it was decided to verify whether the presence of this contaminant in the raw material at the tested levels could interest the finished products. In this work, we have therefore collected and analyzed some samples of concentrated blueberries products in different large stores, in order to verify the magnitude of the possible contamination by radio Cesium.

Quality and Safety in Commercial Baby Foods

Nutrient-rich baby foods are required with particularly high standards of quality and safety expressed through product specifications or attributes. These foods are generally subjected to thermal processes that could involve a reduction of essential elements, as well as in the formation of potentially harmful molecules. This paper aimed at detecting the presence, in some baby foods, of compounds derived from Maillard reactions, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and total Maillard Reaction Products (MRPs), as well as at evaluating the hypothetical levels of HMF daily intake by infants and children fed with the tested products. Baby food samples included milk powders, lyophilized meat-based foods, powdered creams based on cereals, homogenized jarred foods based on processed cheese, fish, vegetables, and meat. As far as the healthiness of the tested foods is concerned, significant quantities of total MRPs were found. The lyophilized meat-based foods samples showed the highest levels of total MRPs. At 380 nm, all the samples exceeded the total MRPs concentration of 1000 mg/100g. The analysis revealed the presence of HMF in all the samples under study. However, none of the samples exceeded the threshold concentration of 20 mg/Kg. The highest values were recorded for the category of lyophilized meat-based foods and for a sample of homogenized veal-based food. The results for the hypothetical daily levels of HMF intake by babies showed that, for the age group over 12 months, a value of 3.6 mg was reached. The largest percentage contribution was imputable to the homogenized jarred foods based on proteins and vegetables.

Improvement of Cellulose Hydrolysis Process and Cost Savings

The hydrolysis process to obtain the so-called “reducing sugars” represents the main step involved in the production of the second generation bioethanol. This product can be obtained directly from various types of green biomass, replacing the use of cereals cultivations, with obvious benefits to the environment and the economy of agricultural production. However, it is necessary to improve the hydrolysis process of the cellulose to achieve this goal. To this purpose, we applied a chemical process formerly used. The values of sugars yield were increased by about 40% with respect to the previous study. Further significant cost savings were accomplished, resulting from the recovery of the by-product, calcium sulfate, commercially known as gypsum.

Investigation on the Content of Uranium and Other Elements in Imported Mushrooms, from the Balkan Region

In this paper the results of the analyses carried out on some radionuclides in mushrooms have been reported. Mushrooms have been collected in countries outside the European Union. This research have been pointed out the absence of a contamination due to uranium in the products coming from the ex Jugoslavia regions.