A comprehensive investigation of the use of freeze concentration appro aches for the concentration of fish protein hydrolysates

Fish protein hydrolysates (FPH) are inherently unstable in their liquid form, necessitating either freezing or dewatering for stabilization. Gentle methods such as freeze concentration can be used to remove water, this can be achieved by freezing water in solution by decreasing the bulk temperature below freezing point and separating pure ice crystals from concentrated solution. This approach serves as an alternative to techniques like evaporation and reverse osmosis for concentrating solutions that have high water content, significant nutritional value, and thermolabile compounds. This is crucial as many bioactive compounds degrade when exposed to elevated temperatures. Another notable advantage of this technology is its potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 40% when integrated into the FPH drying process. Although this technology is currently industrialized primarily for juices, it can achieve concentrations of up to 60°Brix and manage viscosities up to 400 mPa.s. Numerous studies have been dedicated to enhancing design and processes, leading to a 35% reduction in the system's capital cost and a 20% reduction in energy consumption. Moreover, freeze concentration can synergize with other concentration techniques, creating more efficient hybrid processes. This review aims to introduce freeze concentration as a superior option for preserving fish protein hydrolysates, enhancing their stability, and maintaining their nutritional and bioactive qualities.

Nanocellulose hydrogels formed via crystalline transformation from cellulose I to II and subsequent freeze cross-linking reaction

We describe nanocellulose (NC) hydrogels formed from chemically unmodified NC by cellulose crystalline transformation and subsequent freeze cross-linking reaction. The freeze cross-linked NC hydrogel with macropores (~100 μm) was prepared by freezing a mixture of NC and NaOH (0.2 mol L-1), adding citric acid to the frozen mixture, and thawing it. Using NaOH and freezing together induced the crystalline transformation of NC from cellulose I to II via freeze concentration. After the crystalline transformation, cross-linking between the NC and CA in the freeze concentration layer provided a strong NC network structure, forming NC hydrogels with high mechanical strength. The structural changes in NC caused by NaOH, freezing, and freeze cross-linking on the angstrom to micrometer scale were investigated with FT-IR, SAXS, PXRD, and SEM. The freeze cross-linked NC hydrogel easily retained powder adsorbents in its inner space by mixing the NC-NaOH sol and the powder, and the hydrogel showed high removal efficiency for heavy metals. The results highlight the versatility of chemically unmodified celluloses in developing functional materials and suggest possible practical applications. This study also provides new insights into the efficient use of chemical reactions of cellulose under freezing conditions.

Bioactive compounds recovery by freeze concentration process from winemaking by-product

Grape pomace is the main solid residue of wine industry, containing high amounts of phenolic compounds. Considering its high potential, an extraction procedure was optimized for maximal recovery of anthocyanins from grape pomace (Vitis vinifera L.) using citric acid as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) acidulant in water. Volume of solvent (3.2-36.8 mL), time (14.4-165.6 min) and pH of solvent (1.12-4.48) were the studied variables. Furthermore, the best condition to obtain extract rich in anthocyanins was submitted to the gravitational block freeze concentration process. The performance of the process was evaluated and cryoconcentrated and ice fractions were analyzed for physicochemical properties, bioactive compounds content, and antioxidant activity. Interaction, linear, and quadratic effects for volume and pH of solvent were significant by analysis of variance (ANOVA). The experimental design allowed the prediction for maximal recovery of anthocyanins (10 mL of solvent at pH 1.8). The bioactive composition of the optimized grape pomace extract was influenced by the cryoconcentration process. After three cycles using gravitational block freeze concentration, the total phenolics and monomeric anthocyanins were approximately 4 and 5 times higher than the initial condition of the extract, respectively. Consequently, an increase in antioxidant activity was observed. The increase in the concentration of bioactive compounds reached a process efficiency of 93% (stage 1) for phenolic compounds and 91% (stage 2) for anthocyanins. Therefore, the final water-based optimized method is safe and has a low cost and the concentrated extract certainly showed higher concentrations of total phenolics and anthocyanins, compared to the initial extract. The proposed clean extraction method and cryoconcentration technique can be considered important strategies for recovering and valuing grape pomace components, improving the approach to the circular economy concept in the wine industry.

Treatment of compressed leachate from refuse transfer stations by freeze-melt method

A small amount of leachate with complex composition will be produced during the compressing of municipal solid waste in refuse transfer stations. In this study, the freeze-melt method, a green and efficient wastewater treatment technology, was used to treat the compressed leachate. The effects of freezing temperature, freezing duration, and ice melting method on the removal rates of contaminants were investigated. The results showed that the freeze-melt method was not selective for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), ammonia-nitrogen (NH₃-N) and total phosphorus (TP). The removal rate of contaminants was positively correlated with freezing temperature and negatively correlated with freezing duration, and the slower the growth rate of ice, the higher the purity of ice. When the compressed leachate was frozen at -15 °C for 42 h, the removal rates of COD, TOC, NH₃-N and TP were 60.00%, 58.40%, 56.89% and 55.34%, respectively. Contaminants trapped in ice were removed during the melting process, especially in the early stages of melting. The divided melting method was more beneficial than the natural melting method in removing contaminants during the initial stage of melting, which contributes to the reduction of produced water losses. This study provides a new idea for the treatment of small amounts of highly concentrated leachate generated by compression facilities distributed in various corners of the city.

Catalytic behavior of nitrous acid for acetaminophen transformation during the freezing process

This study demonstrates the transformation of acetaminophen by reactive nitrous acid in a frozen solution and its abnormal stoichiometry. The chemical reaction between acetaminophen and nitrous acid (AAP/NO₂^- system) was negligible in the aqueous solution; however, the reaction rapidly progressed if the solution started to freeze. The ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry measurements showed that polymerized acetaminophen and nitrated acetaminophen were formed in the proceeding reaction. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements showed that nitrous acid oxidized acetaminophen via a one-electron transfer reaction producing acetaminophen-derived radical species, which is the cause of acetaminophen polymerization. We demonstrated that a relatively smaller dose of nitrite than acetaminophen caused significant acetaminophen degradation in the frozen AAP/NO₂^- system and revealed that the dissolved oxygen content notably affected acetaminophen degradation. We showed that the reaction occurs in a natural Arctic lake matrix (nitrite and acetaminophen spiked). Considering that the freezing phenomenon is common in the natural environment, our research provides a possible scenario for the freezing chemistry of nitrite and pharmaceuticals in environmental chemistry.

Freezing-enhanced oxidation of iodide by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of antifreeze proteins from the Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp.AY30

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs), originating from Arctic or Antarctic microorganisms, have freeze-inhibiting characteristics, allowing these organisms to survive in polar regions. Despite their significance in polar environments, the mechanism through which IBPs affect the chemical reactions in ice by controlling ice crystal formation has not yet been reported. In this study, a new mechanism for iodide (I^-) activation into triiodide (I₃^-), which is the abundant iodine species in seawater, by using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in a frozen solution with IBPs was developed. A significant enhancement of I^- activation into I₃^- was observed in the presence of Arctic-yeast-originating extracellular ice-binding glycoprotein (LeIBP) isolated from Leucosporidium sp. AY30, and a further increase in the I₃^- concentration was observed with the introduction of H₂O₂ to the frozen solution (25 times higher than in the aqueous solution after 24 h of reaction). The reaction in the ice increased with an increase in LeIBP concentration. The in-situ pH measurement in ice using cresol red (CR) revealed protons accumulated in the ice grain boundaries by LeIBP. However, the presence of LeIBP did not influence the acidity of the ice. The enhanced freeze concentration effect of H₂O₂ by LeIBP indicated that larger ice granules were formed in the presence of LeIBP. The results suggest that LeIBP affects the formation and morphology of ice granules, which reduces the total volume of ice boundaries throughout the ice. This leads to an increased local concentration of I^- and H₂O₂ within the ice grain boundaries. IBP-assisted production of gaseous iodine in a frozen environment provides a previously unrecognized formation mechanism of active iodine species in the polar regions.

DSC Analysis of Thermophysical Properties for Biomaterials and Formulations

The development of freezing and freeze-drying processes for biological samples requires knowledge of the thermophysical properties of the biomaterial and protectant solutions involved. This chapter provides an introduction on the use of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) to study thermophysical properties of biomaterials in protective solutions. It covers specific methods to study thermal events related to freezing and drying processes including crystallization, eutectic formation, glass transition, devitrification, recrystallization, melting, molecular relaxation, and phase separation.

Freeze concentration during freezing: How does the maximally freeze concentrated solution influence protein stability?

During freeze drying of biologics, a highly viscous freeze concentrate (FC) is formed upon the initial freezing due to the crystallisation of ice. Protein stability in this freeze concentrated phase is not yet well understood, but can decide upon the success of the lyophilisation itself. Protein stability may be high below the T_g' as it is typically the case during primary drying but decreases above T_g', e.g. during annealing or during aggressive freeze drying above T_g' in presence of a crystalline bulking agent or, beyond freeze drying, during storage of frozen bulk. Different FCs containing monoclonal antibody, sucrose, histidine or phosphate buffer and sodium chloride were prepared via partial freeze drying and analysed for protein aggregation. No solute crystallisation is visible and the systems are vitrifying during cooling. Increasing sugar or buffer concentration showed positive effects on either melting and aggregation temperature or on protein self-interaction as indicated by A₂ values. Protein integrity in the FC was not affected by 1 month storage at temperatures above T_g'. Thus, upconcentration of solutes during freezing does not negatively impact protein stability. Exceeding T_g' during freeze drying e.g. upon annealing or, intentionally or unintentionally, during primary drying does not lead to protein aggregation.

Halide-induced dissolution of lead(IV) oxide in frozen solution

The dark dissolution behavior of plattnerite (ß-PbO₂) was investigated in frozen solutions containing halide ions and compared with those in aqueous solution. The amount of dissolved lead in the frozen solutions varied depending on the solution pH and the kind and concentration of halide ions. The presence of bromide and iodide ions enhanced the dissolution of lead in the aqueous phase, whereas the effect of chloride was insignificant. Compared with the aqueous phase dissolution, ß-PbO₂ dissolution in the frozen solution was slightly enhanced in the presence of bromide but suppressed in the presence of iodide. Iodide ions seemed to be relatively more trapped in the bulk ice (ice-crystal lattice) than bromide ions, which might be related to the suppressed dissolution of lead oxide in the presence of iodide. The co-existence of bromide (or iodide) and chloride ions in the frozen solution enhanced the dissolution of lead, which seems to be enabled by an additional reaction pathway involving the formation of mixed halide radicals, whereas such kind of synergistic enhancements were not observed in aqueous solution. The halide-induced lead oxide dissolution in frozen solutions can be related to the behavior of lead ions found in various media of frozen environments.

Visualization data on concentrating apple juice with a trinitarian crystallization suspension freeze concentrator

This article contains visualization data on concentrating apple juice with a trinitarian suspension crystallization freeze concentrator, which integrates scraped-surface heat exchanger, suspension crystallizer and wash-column into one piece of equipment. The visualization data on ice accumulation, ice bed development and consolidation in the crystallizer/wash-column of the freeze concentrator are presented in a set of photographs in chronological order and videos attached as appendix materials. These data refer to the related research article entitled "Concentration of Apple Juice with an Intelligent Freeze Concentrator" Ding et al., 2019.

Investigation, Application, and Techno-Economic Benefits

In order to close the technology gap between membrane technologies and spray/freeze‐drying ideally with a technology that avoids thermal stress to sensitive enzyme solutions, the limits of freeze concentration for this application have been investigated. On laboratory scale it was found that average crystal sizes are > 300 µm despite high viscosity and ice separation is possible up to 42 % solids and > 1000 mm²s⁻¹ viscosity. No activity loss was observed during concentration. A combination of two‐stage freeze concentration with a filter and wash column for ice liquid separation in an integrated setup with ultrafiltration has the greatest potential and was shown to be economically feasible in three out of four cases studied.

Viscosities encountered during the cryopreservation of dimethyl sulphoxide systems

This study determined the viscous conditions experienced by cells in the unfrozen freeze concentrated channels between ice crystals in slow cooling protocols. This was examined for both the binary Me₂SO-water and the ternary Me₂SO-NaCl-water systems. Viscosity increases from 6.9 ± 0.1 mPa s at -14.4 ± 0.3 °C to 958 ± 27 mPa s at -64.3 ± 0.4 °C in the binary system, and up to 55387 ± 1068 mPa s at -75 ± 0.5 °C in the ternary (10% Me₂SO, 0.9% NaCl by weight) solution were seen. This increase in viscosity limits molecular diffusion, reducing adsorption onto the crystal plane. These viscosities are significantly lower than observed in glycerol based systems and so cells in freeze concentrated channels cooled to between -60 °C and -75 °C will reside in a thick fluid not a near-solid state as is often assumed. In addition, the viscosities experienced during cooling of various Me₂SO based vitrification solutions is determined to below -70 °C, as is the impact which additional solutes exert on viscosity. These data show that additional solutes in a cryopreservation system cause disproportionate increases in viscosity. This in turn impacts diffusion rates and mixing abilities of high concentrations of cryoprotectants, and have applications to understanding the fundamental cooling responses of cells to Me₂SO based cryopreservation solutions.

Protein freeze concentration and micro-segregation analysed in a temperature-controlled freeze container

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Freeze concentration of bovine serum albumin studied in a laboratory freeze container.

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Protein micro-segregation visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

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Freezing protocol affected protein freeze concentration.

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Spatial heterogeneities created by freeze concentration.

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Micro-segregation was affected by freezing parameters.

To examine effects of varied freezing conditions on the development of spatial heterogeneity in the frozen protein solution, macroscopic freeze concentration and micro-segregation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated in a temperature-controlled 200-ml freeze container. Freezing to −40 °C promoted formation of protein concentration gradients (69–114 μg ml⁻¹) in frozen samples taken from 12 different freezer positions, whereby slow freezing in 4 h or longer facilitated the evolution of strong spatial heterogeneities and caused local concentration increases by 1.15-fold relative to the initial protein concentration (100 μg ml⁻¹). To visualize protein micro-segregation during phase separation, BSA was conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate and confocal laser scanning fluorescence microscopy was used to localize and size the freeze-concentrated protein regions. Slow freezing resulted in distinctly fewer and larger protein domains in the frozen bulk than fast freezing. Surface stress on the protein during freezing would therefore be minimized at low cooling rates; microscopic freeze concentration would however be highest under these conditions, potentially favoring protein aggregation.