Yahya Maghsoudlou

Crocin loaded nano-emulsions: Factors affecting emulsion properties in spontaneous emulsification.

Spontaneous emulsification may be used for encapsulating bioactive compounds in food and pharmaceutical industry. It has several advantages over high energy and other low energy methods including, protecting sensitive compounds against severe conditions of high energy method and its ability to minimize surfactant, removal of cosurfactant and thermal stability compared with other low energy methods. In this study, we examined possibility of encapsulating highly soluble crocin in W/O micro-emulsions using spontaneous method which further could be used for making double emulsions. Nonionic surfactants of Span 80 and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR) were used for making micro-emulsions that showed the high potential of PGPR for spontaneous method. Surfactant to water ratio (SWR%) was evaluated to find the highest amount of aqueous phase which can be dispersed in organic phase. Droplet size decreased by increasing SWR toward the SWR=100% which had the smallest droplet size and then increased at higher levels of surfactant. By increasing SWR, shear viscosity increased which showed the high effect of PGPR on rheological properties. This study shows in addition to W/O micro-emulsions, spontaneous method could be used for preparing stable O/W micro-emulsions.

Evaluation of folic acid release from spray dried powder particles of pectin-whey protein nano-capsules

Our main goal was to evaluate release kinetics of nano-encapsulated folic acid within a double W1/O/W2 emulsion. First, W1/O nano-emulsions loaded with folic acid were prepared and re-emulsified into an aqueous phase (W2) containing single whey protein concentrate (WPC) layer or double layer complex of WPC-pectin to form W1/O/W2 emulsions. Final double emulsions were spray dried and their microstructure was analyzed in terms of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Also the release trends of folic acid were determined and fitted with experimental models of zero and first order, Higuchi, and Hixson-Crowell. It was revealed that folic acid nano-capsules made with Span as the surfactant had the lowest release rate in acidic conditions (pH=4) and highest release in the alkaline conditions (pH=11). The best model fitting for folic acid release data was observed for single layer WPC encapsulated powders with the highest R2. Our FTIR data showed there was no chemical interaction between WPC and pectin in double layered capsules and based on SEM results, single WPC layered capsules resulted in smooth and uniform particles which by incorporating pectin, some wrinkles and shrinkage were found in the surface of spray dried powder particles.

Optimization of folic acid nano-emulsification and encapsulation by maltodextrin-whey protein double emulsions

Due to susceptibility of folic acid like many other vitamins to environmental and processing conditions, it is necessary to protect it by highly efficient methods such as micro/nano-encapsulation. Our aim was to prepare and optimize real water in oil nano-emulsions containing folic acid by a low energy (spontaneous) emulsification technique so that the final product could be encapsulated within maltodextrin-whey protein double emulsions. A non ionic surfactant (Span 80) was used for making nano-emulsions at three dispersed phase/surfactant ratios of 0.2, 0.6, and 1.0. Folic acid content was 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0mg/mL of dispersed phase by a volume fraction of 5.0, 8.5, and 12%. The final optimum nano-emulsion formulation with 12% dispersed phase, a water to surfactant ratio of 0.9 and folic acid content of 3mg/mL in dispersed phase was encapsulated within maltodextrin-whey protein double emulsions. It was found that the emulsification time for preparing nano-emulsions was between 4 to 16 h based on formulation variables. Droplet size decreased at higher surfactant contents and final nano-emulsions had a droplet size<100 nm. Shear viscosity was higher for those formulations containing more surfactant. Our results revealed that spontaneous method could be used successfully for preparing stable W/O nano-emulsions containing folic acid.

Enhanced biomass delignification and enzymatic saccharification of canola straw by steam-explosion pretreatment.

BACKGROUND In recent decades, bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuel (ethanol and biodiesel) has been extensively investigated. The three main chemical constituents of biomass are cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose are polysaccharides of primarily fermentable sugars, glucose and xylose respectively. Hemicellulose also includes small fermentable fractions of arabinose, galactose and mannose. The main issue in converting lignocellulosic biomass to fuel ethanol is the accessibility of the polysaccharides for enzymatic breakdown into monosaccharides. This study focused on the use of steam explosion as the pretreatment method for canola straw as lignocellulosic biomass. RESULTS Result showed that steam explosion treatment of biomass increased cellulose accessibility and it hydrolysis by enzyme hydrolysis. Following 72 h of enzyme hydrolysis, a maximum cellulose conversion to glucose yield of 29.40% was obtained for the steam-exploded sample while the control showed 11.60% glucose yields. Steam explosion pretreatment increased glucose production and glucose yield by 200% and 153.22%, respectively, compared to the control sample. The crystalline index increased from 57.48% in untreated canola straw to 64.72% in steam-exploded samples. CONCLUSION Steam explosion pretreatment of biomass increased cellulose accessibility, and enzymatic hydrolysis increased glucose production and glucose yield of canola straw.

Intelligent Estimation of the Canola Oil Stability Using Artificial Neural Networks

In the present study, a multi-layer perceptron neural network and radial basis function (RBF) network were used to estimate the oxidative stability of canola oil during storage. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to model oxidative stability of canola oil during storage, and comparison was also made with the results obtained from a regression analysis. The oxidative stability of canola oils was considered as dependent variable, and independent variables were selected as time (in week), variety, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, C20:0, C18:1, C18:2, C18:3, and C22:1 fatty acid content. The results were compared with experimental data and it was found that the estimated oxidative stability by RBF neural network is more accurate than multi-layer perceptron network and regression model. It was also found that the oxidative stability of canola oil decreased with increase in storage time and C18:3 fatty acid content.

Optimisation of humidity absorbers in active packaging of button mushroom by response surface methodology and genetic algorithms

Button mushroom is one of the most perishable products. Respiration of product leads to an accumulation of moisture within the package and the speed of product spoilage increases. The use of active packaging with moisture absorbers results in absorption of the excess moisture within the package and a slowing down of the speed of product spoilage. In this work the effects of three moisture absorbers (silica gel, CaCl2 and sorbitol) were studied. The amount of absorbers with respect to quality indicators like weight loss, cap size, stem length and colour parameters was optimized in a response surface methodology (RSM) design. The coefficients of the RSM models were optimised using the genetic algorithm (GA) method. The results showed that using 5 g silica gel and 5 g CaCl2 during storage time of button mushrooms led to the lowest weight loss, changes of cap size, stem length and colour difference (ΔE). Predicted values by GA optimised model with experimental values had a higher correlation coefficient than ...

Optimization of roselle beverage formulation using response surface methodology

Roselle beverage as a functional drink is rich in vitamin C and anthocyanin compounds. The aim of this work is formulation of roselle beverage. In this study roselle beverage formulations were prepared. Durability and physicochemical tests were investigated. Considering that roselle beverage is effective in treating diabetes, therefor it is necessary to use other sweeteners except sugar to decrease sugar from the formulation by replacing it with stevia. In order to optimize time and temperature conditions of aqueous extraction of roselle calyx, response surface methodology was used considering features such as anthocyanin content, vitamin C content, total solids and opacity of drink. The beverage formulation was done using the response surface methodology. Results suggested 85 °C for 10 min as the best conditions for aqueous extraction. The best product considering sensory evaluation, opacity and brix was including 1% stevia, 0.08 g/l Arabic gum, 95% extract and 0.9% sugar. Pasteurization and storage cond...

Effect of active lipid‐based coating incorporated with nanoclay and orange peel essential oil on physicochemical properties of Citrus sinensis

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the different lipid‐based coating on the physicochemical properties and shelf life of blood orange. In this study, four different carnauba wax coatings formula were used: carnauba wax, carnauba wax incorporated with orange peel essential oil (OPEO) (1%), carnauba wax with montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT) (2%), and carnauba wax combination by OPEO (0.5%) and MMT (1%). Physicochemical properties (total phenol content, antioxidant activity, °Brix, titratable acidity, vitamin C, color, firmness, and pH) of fruits were determined throughout the storage. According to the results, carnauba wax with MMT was better than the other treatments. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in carnauba wax coating containing MMT and total phenol and DDPH gained 733.00 ± 1.204 (mg gallic acid/100 g) and 78.327 ± 0/364%, respectively, at 100th day. Blood orange coated by carnauba wax with MMT had the least of deformation and dissolved solid and the highest acidity rather than other treatments. Moreover, time storage and coating had significant effect on vitamin C content in which maximum and minimum amount was observed in wax coating incorporated by MMT and combination with MMT and OPEO treatments, respectively. Fruits coating with MMT showed better brightness.

Stabilizing O/W Emulsions by Soy Protein Concentrate + Maltodextrin and Optimizing the Process by Using Response Surface Methodology

Stability is one of the key quality parameters of emulsion systems, which goes a long way in predicting the shelf life of emulsion products. In this study, the effect of emulsifier (soy protein concentrate (SPC) + maltodextrin (MDX)), dispersed phase (lycopene in oil solution) and homogenizer speed on emulsion stability were investigated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). Independent variables were lycopene content (10-20%, w/w), SPC+ MDX as emulsifier and surfactant (30-40%, w/w) and the homogenizer speed (14000-18000 rpm). Responses were droplet size, viscosity and creaming index as stability indicators of the emulsions. According to RSM analysis and models, optimized variables showed a good fit to quadratic equations for droplet size and viscosity with correlation coefficients (R 2 ) of 0.9571 and 0.9826, respectively. After model simplification with backward stepwise solution, the R 2 values for droplet size and viscosity decreased slightly to 0.9504 and 0.9826, respectively. Creaming values were fitted properly with linear model, and R 2 was 0.8030. Graphical optimization methods were adapted for preparing the best lycopene emulsifying conditions and were predicted to be: homogenizer speed of 18000 rpm; lycopene content of 20% w/w, and SPC+MDX concentration of 36.95% w/w.

Dough Characteristics, Baking Performance, and Staling of Taftoon Bread as Affected by Supplementation with Sesame Oil

ABSTRACT Taftoon bread is one the main traditional flat breads consumed in Iran and various parts of the Middle East. We studied the effect of different levels (1–3% w/w flour-based) of sesame oil on dough characteristics, baking performance, and staling of Taftoon bread during storage (5 days) in room (25 ± 1°C) or refrigerator (4 ± 1°C). Supplementation of dough with 1 or 2% oil led to improved Farinograph characteristics. Breads with 2% oil showed higher oven spring and specific volume and lower baking loss. The moisture and water-soluble starch content of the oil-added samples were higher, but their firmness was less than the control bread. Supplementation of bread with oil led to a lighter Hunterlab color and improved sensory scores. Generally, the best quality was obtained at the optimum usage level of 2% sesame oil. Bread staling, as monitored by moisture, water-soluble starch, and firmness analysis, was slower in refrigerator than in room.