Estudio del paisaje de Aldeamayor de San Martín (Valladolid)

Estudio del paisaje del término municipal de Aldeamayor de San Martín (Valladolid), que reúne elementos de elevado interés ecológico, histórico-cultural, paisajístico y social diseminados por todo el territorio.Ingeniería Agrícola y ForestalMáster en Investigación en Ingeniería para el Desarrollo Agroforesta

Caracterización físicoquímica y aprovechamiento de dos especies pirófilas mediterráneas: Cistus Ladanifer L. y Erica Arborea L.

Cistus ladanifer L. y Erica arborea L. son los representantes más importantes de los ecosistemas de matorral de clima mediterráneo en nuestra área geográfica, donde ocupan grandes superficies vegetales. Su presencia en estas superficies ha venido siendo justificada por sus ventajas para reconstruir ecosistemas tras incendios forestales gracias a la adaptación de sus raíces (rebrotadoras obligadas). Recientemente, han comenzado a ser revalorizadas por su carácter de “sumideros perdidos” de carbono, necesarios para completar el efecto sumidero de su alternativa, los sistemas arbolados, y con ello cerrar el balance global de carbono a escala regional. Asimismo, el hecho de que ambas especies ardan con más facilidad que otras especies rebrotadoras debido a la presencia de aceites esenciales, ha determinado que fijemos nuestra atención en los componentes responsables de tales aceites, a efectos de caracterización. Finalmente, las aplicaciones como combustibles de los componentes de ambos arbustos, la explotación de sus aceites como productos de alto valor añadido para la industria de cosméticos y la valorización de furfural, hidroximetilfurfural y fibras de celulosa cristalina obtenidas del fraccionamiento y tratamiento de sus maderas son objeto de consideración.Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y ForestalDoctorado en Ciencia e Ingeniería Agroalimentaria y de Biosistema

An analysis of the similarities in the ATR-FTIR spectra from Argania spinosa, Rosa rubiginosa and Elaeis guineensis oils

The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra of the essential oil from Rosa rubiginosa L. seeds and the vegetable oils from Argania spinosa L. kernel and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. pulp show important similitudes that hamper their identification by vibrational spectroscopy techniques if they are not complemented with well-established methods such as gas chromatography. Nevertheless, the observed similarities in structure-composition-traditional uses between Argania spinosa and Rosa rubiginosa oils suggest that they could be interchangeable when skin physicians, dermatologic-surgeons or cosmetologists perceive in their practice that one of the oils produces an allergic reaction or other side effects, although further activity studies are needed

Vibrational analysis and thermal behavior of Salvia hispanica, Nigella sativa and Papaver somniferum seeds

Producción CientíficaIntroduction: Salvia hispanica L., Nigella sativa L. and Papaver somniferum L. are involved in opiate-dependent behavior. It is known that the seeds of these three herbs contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are helpful in disease prevention, but further research is needed on some of their other phytochemical components (terpene alkaloids, benzoquinones and others), which are claimed to affect human opioid receptors. Methods: Seeds from the three afore mentioned plants have been studied by ATR-FTIR vibrational spectroscopy and thermo analytical techniques (TG/DTG, DTA and DSC). Results: The infrared spectrum has confirmed the presence of the ester carbonyl of terpenoid alkaloids (such as nigellamine) and the fully conjugated cyclic dione structure of quinones (e.g., thymoquinone). As regards the thermal stability of these seeds, small differences have been observed in their thermal profiles (endothermic effects at around 333ºC for chia, 268ºC for black cumin and 319ºC for poppy seeds), which can be ascribed to their different content in carbohydrates. Conclusions: The functional groups of the main active constituents and the thermal behavior of these three seeds have been elucidated

Crude and refined oils from Elaeis guineensis: Facile characterization by FTIR and thermal analysis techniques

From an industrial perspective, fast characterization of raw materials provides an important tool for preventing manufacturing problems and contributes to assure the quality of the final products. In this work, several fast, cheap, and simple methods (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and various thermoanalytical techniques) were used for screening and characterization of crude and refined palm oils and other palm-derived products. The FTIR spectra allowed for ready distinction between mesocarp-derived products and those obtained from the kernel. The same applied to high-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) thermograms and the low-temperature DSC curves, in which the peak values and the presence or absence of certain peaks also permitted to differentiate among the various oils and fractions. Correspondences of mesocarp-derived oils with olein and kernel-derived oils with stearin were confirmed by both analytical methods and from the crystallization study. The relationship between the triglyceride composition and the FTIR and thermal profiles of the various palm-derived products has potential to be utilized as a facile quality control method in mill plants and laboratories

On the probable composition of ‘Jamaican stone’ aphrodisiac

Producción CientíficaA dangerous aphrodisiac, commonly known as ‘Jamaican stone’, banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has been studied by vibrational spectroscopy in order to solve the controversy on its composition. The results of the ATR-FTIR analysis revealed the presence of the a-pyrone ring, which is characteristic of bufadienolides from toad venom and bulbs of squill (Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn). This conclusion was reached after a comparative study with the spectra for phytochemicals derived from gambir and cat’s claw, two Uncaria species also preconized as aphrodisiacs and deemed as possible constituents of the ‘stone’. Owing to their physiologic similarities to digoxin, bufadienolides have been shown to produce a toxic profile similar to that of digoxin, although the lack one of the side chains found on digoxin should allow the use of hemodialysis to treat ‘Jamaican stone’ overdose

Furfural, 5-HMF, acid-soluble lignin and sugar contents in C. ladanifer and E. arborea lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysates obtained from microwave-assisted treatments in different solvents

Cistus ladanifer L. and Erica arborea L. are the two most representative shrub species from the Iberian Peninsula. With a view to their valorization, their biomass hydrolysate components, obtained from microwave-assisted treatments with choline chloride/urea - HNO3 10%, N,N-dimethylacetamide/NaHCO3 and N,N-dimethylacetamide/CH3OK as solvents, have been measured using a spectrophotometric method. Concentrations of furfural and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF) in the filtrate have been determined after reduction with NaBH4. The production of total sugars, reducing sugars and non-reducing sugars has also been assessed. The obtained results support the choice of microwave-assisted choline chloride/urea deep eutectic solvent in acid media as the preferred method (over the polar aprotic solvent-based alternatives) for the extraction of lignin, furfural, 5-HMF and sugars from C. ladanifer and E. arborea biomass, attaining the best production yields for 60¿min exposure times. Another is the case if the aim of the treatments is to recovery sugars from both shrubs for subsequent enzymatic saccharification: the very low 5-HMF contents resulting from the dimetylacetamide systems (especially is association with CH3OK) make them highly advantageous as compared to the traditional method using NaOH

Crystallinity of cellulose microfibers derived from Cistus ladanifer and Erica arborea shrubs

The effectiveness of the use of cellulose fibers as particulates/composite reinforcers involves the assessment of the crystallinity of such fibers. The aim of the present work is to provide information on the degree of crystallinity of the cellulose microfibers obtained from the stems of Cistus ladanifer and Erica arborea shrubs through two different methods, namely an alkaline treatment and a microwave-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) method. The crystallinity indexes (CrI) obtained from X-ray powder diffraction patterns indicated that higher CrI were attained for cellulose obtained from the DES treatment. Complementary information on the degree of crystallinity was also retrieved from attenuated total reflection- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) vibrational spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs, and accessibility data for the DES-treated celluloses from the two species. The crystallinity results for the fibers derived from these two Mediterranean shrubs were within the range of the results for those derived from wood pulp, opening the door to their valorization for cellulose-derived packing applications or for their use as reinforcers in composite materials in combination with other biopolymers

Vibrational and thermal studies of essential oils derived from Cistus ladanifer and Erica arborea shrubs

Producción CientíficaEssential oils from the two most representative shrub species from the Iberian Peninsula (namely Cistus ladanifer L. and Erica arborea L.) have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermoanalytical techniques (TG/DTG and DSC). Vibrational spectra have been compared with those of components of the plants, and with those of oils, gums and resins from other species. The different content in terpenoids of C. ladanifer oil (mainly mono- and sesquiterpenoids) and E. arborea oil (mainly triterpenoids) is reflected in the ATR-FTIR by the position of the bands at around 2873 cm−1, 1730 cm−1 and 1678 cm−1. As regards their thermal behavior, C. ladanifer-derived oil evinced higher thermal stability than that of obtained from E. arborea: the pyrolysis of the former was sensitized at 210°C, whereas for the later it occurred at 143°C. These temperatures are high enough to state that thermolabile constituents such as terpenoids are conserved in the hydrodistillation and that this extraction process ensures the recovery of the main constituents of both essential oils.Programa LIFE+ de la Unión Europea (Proyecto LIFE11 ENV/ ES/000535)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (Proyecto UID/QUI/UI0313/2013

Assessment of RGB vegetation indices to estimate chlorophyll content in sugar beet leaves in the final cultivation stage

Estimation of chlorophyll content with portable meters is an easy way to quantify crop nitrogen status in sugar beet leaves. In this work, an alternative for chlorophyll content estimation using RGB-only vegetation indices has been explored. In a first step, pictures of spring-sown ‘Fernanda KWS’ variety sugar beet leaves taken with a commercial camera were used to calculate 25 RGB indices reported in the literature and to obtain 9 new indices through principal component analysis (PCA) and stepwise linear regression (SLR) techniques. The performance of the 34 indices was examined in order to evaluate their ability to estimate chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation in the leaves under different natural light conditions along 4 days of the canopy senescence period. Two of the new proposed RGB indices were found to improve the already good performance of the indices reported in the literature, particularly for leaves featuring low chlorophyll contents. The 4 best indices were finally tested in field conditions, using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-taken photographs of a sugar beet plot, finding a reasonably good agreement with chlorophyll-meter data for all indices, in particular for I2 and (R−B)/(R+G+B). Consequently, the suggested RGB indices may hold promise for inexpensive chlorophyll estimation in sugar beet leaves during the harvest time, although a direct relationship with nitrogen status still needs to be validated