Environmental impact assessment of biodiesel production from soybean

In this study the environmental impacts of biodiesel production from soybean were determined by using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. In order to achieve this objective all four LCA stages (goal setting, life cycle inventory, impact assessment and interpretation) were followed. The system boundaries included: cultivation, transport, crushing and extraction, soy oil refining and biodiesel production. The functional unit considered in this study is 1000 kg of biodiesel. All the inputs and outputs for each process included in the biodiesel production system were collected, calculated and estimated in the inventory phase. Environmental impact assessment step was performed considering LCA methods such as: CML 2001, CML 96, EDIP 2003 and ReCiPe. The impact categories selected for this evaluation were: global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), human toxicity potential (HTP), photochemical ozone creation potential (POCP), agricultural land occupation (ALO); climate change ecosystems (CCE); climate change human health (CCHh); fossil depletion (FD); particulate matter formation (PMF) etc. Results showed that negative values were obtained for GWP, EP, CCE, CCHh indicators which means positive impacts of biodiesel production on the environment while the others impact categories have positive low levels respectively negative environmental impacts. Overall the greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted from combustion of fuel used; the diesel used for soybean transportation also contributes to GHG emissions; the transesterification process significantly contributes to the emissions of these gases

Assessment of Phaseolus vulgaris L. biomass as low-cost adsorbent for the removal of Congo red dye from aqueous solutions

This research deals with the evaluation of available waste biomass of Phaseolus vulgaris L., as low cost adsorbents, in the removal of organic azo dye Congo red (CR). The effects of operational parameters on the efficiency of dye removal, including contact time, initial pollutant concentration and adsorbent dose have been investigated. The obtained results show that the amount of dye uptake was found to increase with the increase of contact time and initial dye concentration. The maximum sorption capacity was 1.291 mg g-1 for CR at 20°C. The removal efficiency of CR is increasing with the increase on sorbent dose, in the range of studied concentration (10 - 30 mg L-1 ). For evaluating the mechanism involved in the sorption process, the experimental results were analyzed using pseudo-I order kinetic model, pseudo-II order kinetic model, the Ritchie second-order model and intraparticle diffusion model. The pseudo II-order kinetic model agrees very well with the dynamic behavior of the sorption of CR dye onto Phaseolus vulgaris L. hull. The experimental sorption results indicated that agricultural waste - bean hull could be applied as an low-cost sorbent alternative used for azo dye removal from industrial effluents, taking into account that no pretreatment on the solid is carried out

Identification of biogenig amine in salad dressings

The presence of biogenic amine in food represents a quality indicator of acceptability. The intake of foods containing biogenic amines can present a health hazard through the direct toxic effect of these compounds. The biogenic amine contents in four samples of sauce used for salad enrichment were determined using HPLC. From the sampled fresh open after purchase, just two were identified with traces of biogenic amines. Of the nine biogenic amines under study, six of them were identified after 7 days after -sauces were open and stored in refrigeration: putrescine (1%), spermidine (1%), spermine (1%), tryamine (4%), phenylethylamine (72%) and histamine (21%). The total content for the identified amine in each sauce was 150.45 mg/g with a range from 2.55 mg/g to 112.75 mg/g. After 14 days in three sauces was identified one type of biogenic amine namely: putrescine, spennidine and phenylethylamine

Removal of Erythrosine B dye from water effluents using crop waste pumpkin seed hulls as adsorbent

Erythrosine B is widely used for coloring in various applications, especially in the food industry, despite its already proved toxicity and carcinogenicity. The agrowaste pumpkin seed hulls were applied as potential adsorbent for the removal of Erythrosine from aqueous solutions. Adsorption mechanism and kinetics were analyzed for design purposes. The seed hulls were characterized by specific techniques before and after dye retention. It was found that the attachment of Erythrosine B molecules on adsorbent surface may be attributed to the interactions between carboxyl and/or carbonyl groups of both dye and agrowaste wall components. A univariate approach followed by a factorial design was applied to study and analyze the experimental results as well as to estimate the combined effects of the process factors on the removal efficiency and dye uptake. Adsorption mechanism may be predominantly due to intraparticle diffusion, dependent on pore size. The four equilibrium models applied fitted the data well; the maximum adsorption capacity for Erythrosine was 16.4 mg/g. The results showed that adsorbent is effective for Erythrosine B removal for a large concentration range in aqueous solutions (5400 mg/L) in batch systems.This paper was elaborated with the support of a grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0559, Contract 265/2011. The authors are very grateful to Dr Luciana Pereira from University of Minho, Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering-Centre of Biological Engineering, Braga, Portugal for her substantial contribution and support during experimental investigation and paper elaboration

Sucuri comerciale la tetra pack - evaluarea parametrilor de calitate

The present study was conducted to investigate the physico-chemical parameters (titratable acidity, total soluble solids, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic compounds) of six different types of commercial Tetra Pack juices. The total phenolic content was measured byFolin-Ciocalteu reagent assay.Antioxidant activity determination was performed by the spectrophotometric method with the DPPH reagent (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). Results of the physico-chemical properties obtained show the following range of values for acidity (1.46-2.76 g/L malic acid), total solids (9.17-12.00 °Bx). The highest total phenolic content was 1.138 mg GAE/100g and the lowest 0.003 mg GAE/100g. It was shown that the content of total antioxidant activity in juices varied between 0.639 and 1.554

Biological decolorization of xanthene dyes by anaerobic granular biomass

Biodegradation of a xanthene dyes was investigated for the first time using anaerobic granular sludge. On a first screening, biomass was able to decolorize, at different extents, six azo dye solutions: acid orange 7, direct black 19, direct blue 71, mordant yellow 10, reactive red 2 and reactive red 120 and two xanthene dyes—Erythrosine B and Eosin Y. Biomass concentration, type of electron donor, induction of biomass with dye and mediation with activated carbon (AC) were variables studied for Erythrosine B (Ery) as model dye. Maximum color removal efficiency was achieved with 4.71 g VSS L−1, while the process rates were independent of the biomass concentration above 1.89 g VSS L−1. No considerable effects were observed when different substrates were used as electron donors (VFA, glucose or lactose). Addition of Ery in the incubation period of biomass led to a fivefold increase of the decolorization rate. The rate of Ery decolorization almost duplicated in the presence of commercial AC (0.1 g L−1 AC0). Using different modified AC samples (from the treatment of AC0), a threefold higher rate was obtained with the most basic one, \textAC\textH2ACH2, as compared with non-mediated reaction. Higher rates were obtained at pH 6.0. Chemical reduction using Na2S confirmed the recalcitrant nature of this dye. The results attest that decolorization of Ery is essentially due to enzymatic and adsorption phenomena.This work was supported by the PTDC/AMB/69335/2006 project grants (Fundacao para a Ciencia e Technologia, FCT, Portugal), BRAIN project (ID 6681, European Social Found and Romanian Government and the grant of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS-UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0559, Contract 265/2011

THE INTERACTION BETWEEN BEANS HULLS AND FOOD DYE

In this study, a local agro – waste, namely beans hulls, was used to identify the interactions between it and the xanthene food dye Red No. 3. Batch experiments were made in order to identify if the dye can be adsorbet by the hull components. Thus, the investigation started with the influence of different parameters on bean-hull absorption capacity: pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, and temperature. The amount of dye sorbed was found to vary with the initial dye concentration and contact time. The process is favorable at low acid pH (5) value and the optimum sorbent dosage was found to be 20 g L-1 sorbent

ESTIMATION OF HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES PURCHASED FROM SUCEAVA

In the present study the levels of five important heavy metals were identified in vegetable samples purchased from Suceava local markets. The concentrations of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn) and Copper (Cu) were analysed using a mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) from the Instrumental Analysis Laboratory within the Faculty of Food Engineering Suceava. The mean levels of heavy metals examined in spinach (Spinacia oleracea), ramsons (Allium ursinum), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), orache (Atriplex hortensis) and nettle (Urtica dioica) were found to be in the order: Fe (13.52 µg/g) > Cu (4.83 µg/g) > Zn (3.623 µg/g) > Cd (1.890 µg/g)> Pb (0.290 µg/g). The highest concentration of heavy metal was identified in the case of Fe (51.333 µg/g in ramsons), whereas the lowest amount was identified for Pb (0.227 µg/g orache). The estimated daily intake for Cd is above 60 µg/kg b.w./day. The levels of the other metals are lower than the safe limits predicted by the FAO/WHO

Effect of Hemp Seed Oil Addition on the Rheological Properties of Dough and Bread

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of hemp seed oil on the rheological properties of the dough and the properties of white and black wheat flour bread. In this work, the dough was obtained from wheat flour types 550, 650, and 1350 to which hemp seed oil was added in percentages ranging from 0–15% (flour-based). The empirical and fundamental rheological properties of the dough were characterization using an alveograph test and a rotational rheometer. The rheological properties determined by the alveograph test indicated a correlation between the dough extensibility index and the bread volume. The obtained results led to the conclusion that the addition of oil in the dough, at a maximum percentage of 15%, modifies rheological properties by decreasing the modulus of viscosity and elasticity. Textural properties were used to determine hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and adhesiveness. The hardness and softness of the bread decreased as the percentage of added oil increased and the elasticity of the bread samples increased with the addition of more oil. Supplementing bread with oil has led to improved textural features and sensory scores. Generally, the best quality was obtained at the optimum usage level of 5–10% hemp oil