Optimization and Characterization of Interspecific Hybrid Crude Palm Oil Unaué HIE OxG Nanoparticles with Vegetable By-Products as Encapsulants

Interspecific hybrid crude palm oil (HCPO) HIE OxG derived from crossbred African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and American Caiaué (Elaeis oleifera) is prominent for its fatty acid and antioxidant compositions (carotenoids, tocopherols, and tocotrienols), lower production cost, and high pest resistance properties compared to crude palm oil. Biodegradable and sustainable encapsulants derived from vegetable byproducts were used to formulate HCPO nanoparticles. Nanoparticles with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit seed flour as a wall material (N-JSF) and with hybrid crude palm oil and jackfruit axis flour as a wall material (N-JAF) were optimized using a 22 experimental design. They exhibited nanoscale diameters (<250 nm) and were characterized based on their zeta potential, apparent viscosity, pH, color, and total carotenoid content. The nanoparticles demonstrated a monodisperse distribution, good uniformity, and stability (polydispersity index < 0.25; zeta potentials: N-JSF -19.50 ± 1.47 mV and N-JAF -12.50 ± 0.17 mV), as well as high encapsulation efficiency (%) (N-JSF 86.44 ± 0.01 and N-JAF 90.43 ± 1.34) and an optimal carotenoid retention (>85%). These nanoparticles show potential for use as sustainable and clean-label HCPO alternatives in the food industry.

Influence of culture media composition on the rheology of microalgae concentrates on a large scale

The role of microalgae in the production of bioproducts and biofuels, along with their ability to provide a sustainable pathway for wastewater treatment, makes them promising alternatives to conventional processes. Nevertheless, large-scale downstream processing requires an understanding of biomass rheology that needs to be addressed further. This study aimed to characterize microalgal concentrates rheologically in different culture media. The presence of bacteria was quantified by photorespirometry and plate counting techniques. The culture medium was found to significantly influence viscosity, with primary wastewater exhibiting the highest viscosity and seawater plus pig slurry the lowest. The concentration of heterotrophic bacteria was directly related to the viscosity. Extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in supernatant exhibited an inverse viscosity trend compared to biomass concentrates, with pig slurry cultures having higher concentrations. These findings emphasize the profound influence of culture medium and EPS on the rheology of microalgal biomass, underscoring the need for continued research aimed at facilitating and optimizing large-scale downstream processes within the framework of a circular economy and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (6,8, and 12).

Optimization of enhanced oil recovery using ASP solution

Many studies have been conducted to focused on developing an optimal alkali/surfactant/polymer (ASP) composition to increase the recovered fraction of oil in reservoirs that have already undergone water injection. To analyze the effect of alkali (Na2CO3), surfactant (lauryl sodium sulfate), and polymer (commercial xanthan gum) concentration on oil recovery, a complete factorial experimental design was performed with combinations of three variables (alkali, surfactant, and polymer) and three central point replications (2³ + 3). The experiments were carried out on a core holder using rock samples from the Botucatu formation. The simulated oil reservoirs have an average permeability of 348 mD and a temperature of 60 °C. The crude oil was acquired from the Carmópolis field, with 25.72 °API. Synthetic production water containing 40,000 mg L-1 of NaCl and 13,000 mg L-1 of Na2SO4 was injected through an HPLC pump to saturate the rock samples and to recover the oil in the secondary step. From the experimental results, it was verified that the surfactant and polymer concentrations are the most statistically significant independent variables and that first-order interactions are not statistically significant for the process. The oil recovery factors in the secondary stage ranged between 30 and 36 % of the OOIP, which are within the range reported in the literature. The optimal composition of the ASP fluid obtained a recovered fraction of oil of 62 % in the advanced step. Other combinations reported in the literature used higher concentrations of alkali, surfactant, and polymer with lower recoveries and higher cost in the injection design. Thus, the present study highlights the necessity to investigate the performance of each component of the ASP solution. In addition, the results obtained in this study are very attractive for possible full-scale applications.

Effect of Addition of Cross-Linked Starch on the Properties of Degraded PBAT Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) Films

This work aimed to evaluate the properties of butylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT) degraded after 1800 days of storage (DPBAT) by preparing blends (films) with crosslinked starch (Cm) through extrusion and thermocompression. Different ratios of DPBAT:Cm (70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 m/m) were prepared. The incorporation of Cm into DPBAT significantly changed the properties of the films by making them stiffer (increasing Young's modulus by up to 50%) and increasing the thermal resistance of DPBAT. The presence of crosslinked starch in the films made them less hydrophobic (with decreased contact angle and increased moisture content), but these parameters did not vary linearly with changes in the content of crosslinked starch in the blend (DPBAT:Cm). The microscopic images show an inhomogeneous distribution of Cm granules in the DPBAT matrix. Thus, the films prepared with PBAT show a significant decrease in their mechanical parameters and heat resistance after long-term storage. However, the preparation of blends of degraded DPBAT with crosslinked starch promoted changes in the properties of the films prepared by thermocompression, which could be useful for disposable packaging.

Innovation in Alternative Food Sources: A Review of a Technological State-of-the-Art of Insects in Food Products

Insects present great potential for the food industry due to their easier rearing conditions and high nutritional value, in comparison with traditional livestock. However, there is a lack of evaluation of the technological status of food products developed with edible insects. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the emergent technological and scientific applications of edible insects in the food industry through a prospective study of patent documents and research articles. Espacenet was used as a research tool, applying the terms Insect, Pupa, Larva, or Nymph and the codes A23L33 and A23V2002. A total of 1139 documents were found-341 were related to the study. Orbit^® was used to evaluate technological domains and clusters of concepts. Scopus database research was performed to assess the prevalence of insect research, with the term "edible and insect*". The main insects used were silkworms, bees, beetles, mealworms, crickets, and cicadas. Protein isolates were the predominant technology, as they function as an ingredient in food products or supplements. A diverse application possibility for insects was found due to their nutritional composition. The insect market is expected to increase significantly in the next years, representing an opportunity to develop novel high-quality/sustainable products.

Analysis and Modeling of Innovations in the Global Microalgae Lipids Market

Microalgae lipids offer numerous advantages over those of plants and animals, enabling the sustainable commercialization of high value-added products in different markets. Although these markets are in a vertiginous annual expansion, technological life cycle modeling is a tool that has been rarely used for microalgae. Life cycle modeling is capable of assisting with decision-making based on data and is considered as a versatile model, usable in multiple software analyzing and diagnostic tasks. Modeling technological trends makes it possible to categorize the development level of the market and predict phase changes, reducing uncertainties and increasing investments. This study aims to fill this gap by performing a global analysis and modeling of microalgal lipid innovations. The Espacenet and Orbit platforms were used by crossing the keywords “microalgae”, “lipid*”, and the IPC code C12 (biochemistry and microbiology). Different sigmoid growth models were used in the present study. A successive repetition of the Chlorella genus category was found in the keyword clusters regarding extraction and separation of lipids. The life cycle S curve indicates a market starting at the maturity phase, where the BiDoseResp model stands out. The main countries and institutions at the technological forefront are shown, as well as potential technological domains for opening new markets.

Production and characterization of Spirulina sp. LEB 18 cultured in reused Zarrouk's medium in a raceway-type bioreactor

The objective was to evaluate the effect of reusing Zarrouk's medium on a Spirulina sp. LEB 18 culture by determining kinetic parameters, chemical composition, biofuels, and thermal characterization. Cultivation was performed in a raceway bioreactor for 7 days, the supernatant was reused for four cycles. Culturing the microalga in the reused medium resulted in a cellular yield of 2.30 g L^-1 (control) and 2.04, 1.89, 1.73, and 1.15 g L^-1 for four cycles with no influence on cell growth and productivity. Biomass with high contents of carbohydrates (58.00%, 3rd cycle), phycocyanin (2.47 mg mL^-1, 1st cycle), and saturated fatty acids (60.13%, 4th cycle) were obtained with an increase in the profiles of C16:0 (45.85%) and C18:2n6 (47.40%) in the 1st cycle. The reuse of Zarrouk's medium allowed obtaining biomass with reduced cost and differentiated characteristics, allowing the exploration of commercially important biomolecules by the completion of up to four cycles.

Valorization of crude glycerol based on biological processes for accumulation of lipophilic compounds

Bacteria that are capable of accumulating lipids in their cells as storage compounds can also produce polyhydroxyalkanoates of high technological value, depending on the specific culture conditions. The objective of this study was to utilize crude glycerol from biodiesel (CGB) as a substrate, which is a major byproduct from biodiesel production, to produce lipophilic compounds. Bacillus megaterium INCQS 425 was cultivated and evaluated for the production of lipophilic compounds and the properties of these compounds were investigated. Cultivation of the bacteria in a medium with a C:N ratio of 0.60:1 favored the accumulation of lipids by (17.5%) comprising mainly palmitic acid (13.08%), palmitoleic (39.48%), and especially oleic acid (37.02%), which imparts good characteristics to biodiesel. Meanwhile, cultivation of the bacteria in a medium with a C:N ratio of 4:1 favored the accumulation of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) (3.31gL^-1) mainly comprising medium and long chain PHA. Low crystallinity (<30%) and excellent thermal properties make them suitable for processes that demand high temperatures, such as extrusion. The lipids produced in the present study had satisfactory oxidative stability for the production of quality biodiesel. The polyhydroxyalkanoates produced in the study are of low cost and have promising thermal properties that justify its technological potential, thereby configuring highly competitive bioproducts.

Pilot-scale isolation and characterization of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from cell-free medium of Spirulina sp. LEB-18 cultures under outdoor conditions

This objective of this work was to monitor the EPS production during the growth of Spirulina sp. LEB-18, evaluate the productivity and to characterize the exopolymers obtained on pilot-scale under outdoor conditions. The production of crude EPS occurred in all phases of biomass growth and was approximately ten folds higher than that biomass concentration of Spirulina sp. LEB-18 at the end cultivation, demonstrating the importance of the use of supernatant after harvesting of Spirulina to obtain high value bioproducts. The EPS extracted by Spirulina sp. LEB-18 are typically heteropolymers with one high molecular weight fraction (polysaccharides) with potential to be utilized as an alternative bioflocculant and another fraction of lower molecular mass (proteins). The presence of uronic acids, pyruvates and acyl groups of carbohydrates or carboxylic groups of amino acids in protein moiety is the main responsible for overall negative charge of EPS, which is also of biotechnological importance. Moreover, due to the pseudoplastic behavior of the solutions and high thermal stability, the obtained EPS can be widely applied in several industrial sectors, thus determining its technological and market potentiality.

Properties and antioxidant action of actives cassava starch films incorporated with green tea and palm oil extracts

There is an interest in the development of an antioxidant packaging fully biodegradable to increase the shelf life of food products. An active film from cassava starch bio-based, incorporated with aqueous green tea extract and oil palm colorant was developed packaging. The effects of additives on the film properties were determined by measuring mechanical, barrier and thermal properties using a response surface methodology design experiment. The bio-based films were used to pack butter (maintained for 45 days) under accelerated oxidation conditions. The antioxidant action of the active films was evaluated by analyzing the peroxide index, total carotenoids, and total polyphenol. The same analysis also evaluated unpacked butter, packed in films without additives and butter packed in LDPE films, as controls. The results suggested that incorporation of the antioxidants extracts tensile strength and water vapor barrier properties (15 times lower) compared to control without additives. A lower peroxide index (231.57%), which was significantly different from that of the control (p<0.05), was detected in products packed in film formulations containing average concentration of green tea extracts and high concentration of colorant. However, it was found that the high content of polyphenols in green tea extract can be acted as a pro-oxidant agent, which suggests that the use of high concentration should be avoided as additives for films. These results support the applicability of a green tea extract and oil palm carotenoics colorant in starch films totally biodegradable and the use of these materials in active packaging of the fatty products.