Natural lycopene from Blakeslea trispora: all-trans lycopene thermochemical and structural properties

Structural and thermal properties of all-trans lycopene are described in the present paper. Different crystalline lycopene samples obtained from fermentation process and recrystallized lycopene were analyzed. Structural properties (NMR, mass spectrometry and powder X-ray diffraction) of lycopene were clarified with recent techniques. High purity sample analysis by differential scanning calorimetry was used to study thermal behavior of pure lycopene and with traces of isomers. But also this was correlated with HPLC method for determine lycopene purity and isomers in low proportion. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

(Bio)degradable polymers as a potential material for food packaging: studies on the (bio)degradation process of PLA/(R,S)-PHB rigid foils under industrial composting conditions

The rigid foils obtained from polylactide (PLA) with synthetic poly[(R,S)-3-hydroxybutyrate] ((R,S)-PHB) can be used for production of food packages, which is important enhancement of biodegradable materials application. The biodegradable rigid packaging can be subjected to organic recycling together with food remains. The degradation of PLA and its blend with (R,S)-PHB as rigid foils were studied under industrial composting conditions. Incubation of these materials in water at 70 °C (hydrolytic degradation) was conducted as reference experiment. Gel permeation chromatography, electrospray mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetry were used to determine the progress of degradation during incubation in selected environments. The present results showed that PLA-based rigid foil degrades under industrial composting conditions. In the blends, (R,S)-PHB content was found to accelerate the degradation process under industrial composting conditions in comparison with the reference experiment. Thus, it is possible to control the degradation process by changing the composition of polymer blend.POIG.01.03.01-00-018/08, POLINNOVA Project No. 316086, 2012/07/B/ST5/00627, 012/05/D/ST5/03384, 3CE368P1European Regional Development Fund, EU 7FP, National Science Centre (NCN) Poland, Central Europe Programme, University of Wolverhampto