Potential of Antifungal Proteins (AFPs) to Control Penicillium Postharvest Fruit Decay

Penicillium phytopathogenic species provoke severe postharvest disease and economic losses. Penicillium expansum is the main pome fruit phytopathogen while Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum cause citrus green and blue mold, respectively. Control strategies rely on the use of synthetic fungicides, but the appearance of resistant strains and safety concerns have led to the search for new antifungals. Here, the potential application of different antifungal proteins (AFPs) including the three Penicillium chrysogenum proteins (PAF, PAFB and PAFC), as well as the Neosartorya fischeri NFAP2 protein to control Penicillium decay, has been evaluated. PAFB was the most potent AFP against P. digitatum, P. italicum and P. expansum, PAFC and NFAP2 showed moderate antifungal activity, whereas PAF was the least active protein. In fruit protection assays, PAFB provoked a reduction of the incidence of infections caused by P. digitatum and P. italicum in oranges and by P. expansum in apples. A combination of AFPs did not result in an increase in the efficacy of disease control. In conclusion, this study expands the antifungal inhibition spectrum of the AFPs evaluated, and demonstrates that AFPs act in a species-specific manner. PAFB is a promising alternative compound to control Penicillium postharvest fruit decay

Experimental and simulated propene isotherms on porous solids

Trabajo presentado al Seventh International Symposium on Surface Heterogeneity effects in Adsorption and Catalysis on Solids (ISSHAC), celebrado en Polonia del 5 al 11 de julio de 2009.Peer reviewe

Experimental and simulated propene isotherms on porous solids

The lack of treatment capacity of hydrocarbons by three-way catalysts during the “cold start” period creates an important environmental problem. During this period, the temperature of the three-way catalyst is too low for effective operation and cannot convert the hydrocarbons in the exhaust. 50–80% of the total hydrocarbon emissions are produced in this phase that accomplishes the first 60–120 s of the engine operation. In this study, the technology chosen to treat these emissions is the use of HC-traps, and molecular simulations are tested as a tool to reproduce the experimental adsorption behaviour of porous solids. Therefore, experimental and simulated adsorption isotherms of propene (model hydrocarbon) have been obtained for four different crystalline materials with distinctive framework structures (3D and 1D) and a variety of Si/Al ratios and cations (three zeolites: ZSM-5, BETA and Mordenite; and a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve: SAPO-5).Authors acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino (Project 331/PC08/3-13.1) and Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2009/047) and M.V. Navarro financial support of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Grant RYC-2008-03674).Peer reviewe

Screening of different zeolites and silicoaluminophosphates for the retention of propene under cold start conditions

Propene adsorption isotherms, breakthrough curves and temperature programme desorption profiles have been obtained for six different crystalline materials with distinctive framework structures (3D and 1D) and a variety of Si/Al ratios and cations (four zeolites: Silicalite-1, BETA, ZSM-5, Mordenite; and two silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieves: SAPO-41 and SAPO-5). Moreover, for a proper evaluation of the solids in a propene trap under cold start conditions, cold start tests have been performed, carrying out four cycles (adsorption/desorption) to analyze the ageing process of the materials. A detailed analysis of the experimental results points out that materials with high equilibrium propene adsorption capacity at 30 °C, where propene is mainly chemisorbed and, which presents some kinetics restrictions, seem to be the best for a propene trap under cold start conditions. BETA and ZSM-5 zeolites and SAPO-5 silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve are promising materials as propene traps.The authors would like to thank Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino (Project 331/PC08/3-13.1) and Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2009/047) for financial support.Peer reviewe

Water effect on HC retention by four zeolites under cold start conditions

Trabajo presentado a la 16th International Zeolite Conference and 7th International Mesostructured Materials Symposium, celebradas en Sorrento (Italia) del 4 al 9 de julio de 2010.Peer reviewe

Abatement of hydrocarbons by acid ZSM-5 and BETA zeolites under cold-start conditions

Trabajo presentado al Eight International Symposium on Surface Heterogeneity effects in Adsorption and Catalysis on solids (ISSHAC), celebrado en Polonia del 27 al 31 de agosto de 2012.Peer reviewe

Adsorción de hidrocarburos en condiciones de arranque en frío en zeolita beta soportada sobre monolitos de cordierita

Trabajo presentado a la XXXV Reunión Ibérica de Adsorción (RIA), celebrada en Lisboa el 8 de septiembre de 2010.Peer reviewe

Propene adsorption on different zeolites and silicoaluminophosphates under cold start conditions

Trabajo presentado a la 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, celebrada en Lyon (Francia) del 3 al 7 de mayo de 2010.Peer reviewe