Optimization of the Sustainable Production of Resistant Starch in Rice Bran and Evaluation of Its Physicochemical and Technological Properties

In this study, the optimization of ultrasound (US) (850 kHz, 120 W) processing parameters (temperature, time, and power) for the enhanced production of resistant starch (RS) in rice bran (RB) matrixes was performed. The effect of US cavitation at different temperatures on the morphology, physicochemical properties, and mechanical performance of RS was evaluated. Ultrasonication at 40–70 °C temperatures affected the chemical structure, reduced the crystallinity of RS from 23.85% to between 18.37 and 4.43%, and increased the mechanical and thermal stability of RS pastes, indicating a higher tendency to retrograde. US treatment significantly (p < 0.05) improved the oil (OAC) and water (WAC) absorption capacities, swelling power (SP), solubility (WS), and reduced the least-gelation concentration (LGC). The mathematical evaluation of the data indicated a significant effect (p < 0.05) of the US parameters on the production of RS. The largest increment of RS (13.46 g/100 g dw) was achieved with US cavitation at 1.8 W/cm2 power, 40.2 °C temperature, and 18 min of processing time. The developed method and technology bring low-temperature US processing of rice milling waste to create a new sustainable food system based on modified rice bran biopolymers

Rheological Properties of Cement Pastes with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes

The evaluation of rheological properties of cement systems is getting more relevant with growing interest to self-consolidating concrete (SCC), high-performance concrete (HPC) and ultrahigh-performance concrete (UHPC). The rheology models are a perspective tool to predict and manage the properties of cement systems in the fresh and hardened state. The current research is focused on the rheological test of cement systems modified by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) dispersion with and without polycarboxylate ether (PCE). The content of dispersion with 1% concentration of MWCNT in cement pastes varied from 0.125 to 0.5% by weight of cement. The dosage of PCE was taken as 0.6% by weight of cement. The cement pastes were prepared based on Portland cement without mineral additives. The rheological test was carried out at 5, 30, 60, and 120 min after mixing of cement paste. The rheological test established that modification of cement pastes by MWCNT dispersion in dosage 0.25% leads to the decrease of yield stress by 30.7% and increase of plastic viscosity by 29.6%. The combined modification by PCE and MWCNT dispersion shows the decrease in plastic viscosity of cement pastes by 9.90% in dosage of MWCNT equal to 0.5% by weight of cement, reduction of water demand by 20% for the same workability, and decrease of yield stress till 0 Pa. It gives the ability to obtain the self-compacting mixtures. The cement pastes with and without MWCNT dispersion revealed the shear-thinning behavior during 120 min after mixing. The modification of cement pastes by PCE with and without MWCNT dispersion showed the shear-thickening behavior which remains during 120 min after mixing

Production of Cationic Starch-Based Flocculants and Their Application in Thickening and Dewatering of the Municipal Sewage Sludge

Polymer flocculants are used to promote solid–liquid separation processes in wastewater treatment technologies, and bio-based flocculants possess many advantages over conventional synthetic polymers. Potato starch microgranules were chemically modified and mechanically sheared to produce modified starch flocculants. The effectiveness of produced cationic starch (CS) and cross-linked cationic starch (CCS) flocculants in the thickening and dewatering of surplus activated sewage sludge was evaluated and compared with that of synthetic cationic flocculants (SCFs) The flocculation efficiency of SCF, CS, and CCS in sludge thickening was determined by measuring the filtration rate of treated surplus activated sludge. Comparing the optimal dose of SCFs and CCS flocculants needed for thickening, the CCS dose was more than 10 times higher, but a wide flocculation window was determined. The impact of used flocculants on the dewatering performance of surplus activated sludge at optimal dose conditions was investigated by measuring capillary suction time. The filtration efficiencies (dewaterability) of surplus activated sludge using SCF, CS, and CCS were 69, 67, and 72%, respectively. The study results imply that mechanically processed cross-linked cationic starch has a great potential to be used as an alternative green flocculant in surplus activated sludge thickening and dewatering operations in municipal sewage sludge treatment processes

Integration of Ultrasound into the Development of Plant-Based Protein Hydrolysate and Its Bio-Stimulatory Effect for Growth of Wheat Grain Seedlings In Vivo

This study was dedicated to increasing the efficiency of producing plant-based protein hydrolysate using traditional and non-traditional treatments. Low- and high frequency ultrasound (US) at different intensities were applied to corn steep liquor (CSL) at 50 °C for 30 min, and enzymatic hydrolysis was performed using industrially produced alkaline protease. The efficiency of US and enzymatic treatments was characterized by protein solubility (soluble protein (SP) content, hydrolyzed protein (HP) concentration, and free amino acid (FAA) profile) and kinetic parameters: Michaelis–Menten constant (KM) and apparent breakdown rate constant (kA). A significant effect of 37 kHz US pre-treatment for CSL enzymatic hydrolysis was found and resulted in the highest HP concentration (17.5 g/L) using the lowest enzyme concentration (2.1 g/L) and the shortest hydrolysis time (60 min). By using US pre-treatment, on average, a 2.2 times higher FAA content could be achieved compared to traditional hydrolysis. Additionally, results for the kinetic parameters kM and kA confirmed the potential of applying US treatment before hydrolysis. The effect of CSL protein hydrolysate on plant growth was tested in vivo on wheat grain seed germination and resulted in the significant increase in germination parameters compared to the control treatment. These findings indicate that by-products of starch industry could be a promising source for the production of low-cost sustainable biostimulants