Extraction of wood compounds by use of subcritical fluids

A study of the extraction of oak wood compounds with subcritical water-ethanol mixtures as extractant, with an ethanol content between 0-60%, is reported. Identification and characterisation of the extracted compounds have been made by spectrophotometry and gas chromatography with either flame ionisation or mass detectors. Extraction was performed statically manner by use of a single cycle or repeated cycles. All variables affecting the extraction process were studied and optimised. Extraction time and temperature are 60 min and 200ºC, respectively. Comparison of the extract thus obtained with commercial extracts showed the former to be rich in compounds characteristic of the commercial extracts. The method enables manipulation of the extract composition by changing the temperature and water/ethanol ratio used. It is faster than the traditional procedures for obtaining wood extracts

Two-parameter determination in vinegar by a flow injection-pervaporation system

A flow-injection method (FI) for the sequential determination of ethanol and acetic acid in vinegar is reported. The determination of ethanol is based on the oxidation of the pervaporated ethanol by Cr2O7K2. The acetic acid is determined by an acid-base reaction with Thymol Blue as the indicator. Both reactions are monitored photometrically at 600 nm using a single detector. Optimisation studies and assessment of the sequential FI method are also reported. The linear determination range is between 0-12 % (v/v) for ethanol and 0-10 % (grams of acetic acid in 100 ml) for acetic acid. The sample throughput of the sequential manifold is 7 per hour. The new method has been applied to vinegar samples and the results obtained are in excellent agreement with those from the reference methods used in Spain

Semiautomatic flow-injection method for the determination of volatile acidity in wines

A flow-injection (FI) method based on analytical pervaporation was assessed for its routine use in the determination of volatile acidity in winery laboratories. The new method was compared with both the official method and the Mathieu method, which is most often used in Spanish wineries, by testing 30 different wines, including young and aged, and sweet and dry wines from Montilla-Moriles appellation d´origine. The robustness of the new method was established and then all three methods were studied in terms of range of linearity and regression of the calibration curve, repeatability, reproducibility, sensitivity, detection and quantification limits (LOD and LQ, respectively) and time of analysis. The FI method surpasses the Mathieu method in reproducibility and both the Mathieu and official methods in LOD and LQ and sensitivity; it also requires less personnel involvement and shorter analysis time. The statistical criteria established by the “Office International de la Vigne et du Vin” were applied to the data and the results obtained indicated that the differences between the analytical parameters of the 3 methods are not significant and can be applied indistinctly. The correlation of the methods was studied by taking them 2 by 2, and the corresponding equations, coefficients and deviations confirmed the statistical results. Thus, the new method can be used in winery laboratories with clear advantages over its 2 counterparts (the routine and official methods)

Determination of ethanol in beverages by flow injection, pervaporation and density measurements

A fast, clean and easy to automate flow injection-pervaporation method for the determination of ethanol in different beverages using density measurements is proposed. The method is based on separation of the ethanol from the sample using a pervaporation module, thus obtaining in the acceptor chamber of the pervaporator a water-alcohol mixture, the density of which is measured. After optimisation by either the univariate or multivariate approach as required, a linear range between 0-40% was established. Then, the assessment of the method versus a reference one was studied in terms of repeatability (0.12% v/v), reproducibility (0.32% v/v), detection limit (0.11% v/v) and traceability. The sample throughput was 15 samples h-1. The method was in agreement with the reference methods used in the European Union

Sequential Spectrophotometric determination of methanol and iron in vinegar by a flow injection-pervaporation method

An easily automatable sequential flow-injection-pervaporation method is proposed for the photometric determination of methanol and iron in vinegar. The method is based on separation of the methanol from the sample matrix by pervaporation followed by its oxidation to formaldehyde with permanganate, decolouration of the latter with S2O5-2 and subsequent reaction of formaldehyde with p-rosaniline to yield a violet reaction product with maximum absorption at 567 nm. Iron is determined by an existing method based on reaction with thiocyanate in acidic medium and monitoring at 508 nm. After optimisation by either the univariate or multivariate approaches, as required, the linear range was established for methanol (4-1000 mg L-1) and iron (0.18-20 mg L-1); The proposed method was then compared with reference methods for methanol and iron in terms of repeatability (2.452 mg L-1 and 0.245 mg L-1, respectively), reproducibility (4.435 mg L-1 and 0.356 mg L-1, respectively), detection limit (LOD=82 and 0.234 mg L-1, respectively) and traceability. The throughput was nine samples per hour

Method for the simultaneous determination of total polyphenol and anthocyan indexes in red wines using a flow injection approach

A simultaneous and fast method for the determination of total polyphenol index (t.p.i.) and total anthocyan index (t.a.i.) has been developed by a flow injection approach and a diode array spectrophotometer for monitoring at 280 nm and 520 nm, respectively. Linear ranges were obtained from 20 to 70 index units and from 20 to 500 mg l-1 for t.p.i. and t.a.i., respectively. The results provided by the proposed method agree with those obtained using the polyphenol index at 280 nm and the Ribereau-Gayon method for the determination of total anthocyans. The sample throughput was 25-30 samples per hour. Analytical features such as repeatability, reproducibility and detection and quantification limits as well as the results of a robustness study based on the Steiner-Younden procedure are also given

Superheated liquids for the extraction of solid residues from winemaking processes

Solid residues from winemaking process have been subjected to extraction with superheated water-ethanol mixtures. Identification and characterisation of the extracted compounds have been made by spectrophotometry, gas chromatography with either flame ionisation or mass detectors and high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection. The extraction has been performed in a static manner by single or repetitive cycles. All variables affecting the extraction process have been studied and optimised. The extraction time and temperature are 65 min and 210ºC, respectively. Two phases constitute the extract: an aqueous phase, which is rich in phenol compounds and an oily phase, mainly formed by fatty acids. The method allows manipulation of the extract composition by changing the applied pressure, temperature, water-ethanol ratio and pH. The method is faster than the traditional extraction procedures for obtaining valuable compounds from these residues

Creación de rutas senderistas mediante análisis de redes y algoritmo multicriterio. Aplicación en el parque natural Sierra de las Nieves

En este trabajo se presenta una aplicación para la creación de rutas de senderismo personalizadas a cada senderista en función de criterios como dificultad, motivación y capacidad física. La aplicación ejecuta un sistema recomendador basado en el análisis de redes y en el algoritmo de búsqueda A* para calcular las rutas que cumplan con los criterios del usuario. Para implementar el sistema se han utilizado herramientas de software libre como postgreSQL (para la base de datos), postGIS (para la creación de la información geográfica) y pgrouting (para el análisis de redes). La base de datos está cargada con capas de información geográfica públicas a escala 1/10.000 que contienen la localización de la red de caminos y sendas. A partir de ella se extrae la información que necesita el buscador y se analizan los grafos que cumplen con las condiciones impuestas por el usuario. El recomendador se ejecuta en un entorno web y el resultado que se devuelve al usuario puede ser consultado en la misma web o exportado a otros formatos (jpg, gpx o kml), con lo que el recorrido propuesto para hacer senderismo puede ser visualizado en diversos dispositivos móviles (smartphones, tablets, navegadores). El geoportal implementado (http://analisisgeografico.uma.es/sierranieves/) cumple con los estándares del Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC), de manera que la información generada es compatible con otras plataformas universales.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Scaling Equipment Effect on Technical–Tactical Actions in U-13 Basketball Players: A Maturity Study

The aim of this study was to analyse the performance of technical–tactical actions in two different types of tournaments and the influence of biological age on the performance of young basketball players. Thirty-seven under-13 male basketball players (age = 12.91 ± 0.57 years) were selected from four southeast Spanish teams to participate in two different tournaments on two consecutive days. The following technical–tactical variables were analysed: (a) Ball Obtained; (b) Ball Handler Player Actions; (c) Ball Handler Player Finished Actions; and (d) Ball Handler Shooting Performance. The results showed that reduced basket height and a closer three-point line promoted a higher number of balls obtained, 1 vs. 1 situations, finished ball player actions, shots, and the efficacy of offence phases. There was a significant increase in the number of balls obtained, 1 vs. 1 situations played, the number of plays finished with a lay-up or shot, number of received personal fouls, number of plays finished in 1 vs. 2, and those finished in equality and inferiority with a high defence opposition. The modified version presented a higher number of technical–tactical actions in Late Maturity players. The authors of this study believe that it is necessary to conduct more experimental studies and use bio-banding strategies in young basketball competitions.This research was funded by the Basket 2.0 project (No. 21076/PDC/19) granted by Fundación Séneca—Agencia de Ciencia y Tecnologia de la Región de Murcia and Consejo Superior de Deportes (19/UPB/21)

PIM-1/graphene pervaporation membranes for bioalcohol recovery

Biofuels are an alternative to more traditional fuels, such as those derived from crude oil. Bioalcohols, including bioethanol and biobutanol, are produced from biomass through sugar fermentation and purification processes and thus they are a more sustainable alternative to reducing the CO2 footprint of transportation and mitigating climate change. In the short term they will find it difficult to replace hydrocarbon fuels due to direct competition with the food supply chain, although as new alternative raw materials and production processes are developed this hurdle will be overcome. The recovery of bioalcohols from fermentation broths includes a series of very challenging steps that need more attention. In this regard, membrane-based technologies with lower energy consumption, such as pervaporation (PV), have emerged as potential candidates for the replacement of energy intensive distillation operations. In this work we present the development of novel organophilic membranes based on polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) and graphene for the separation of ethanol and butanol from aqueous solutions. PIM-1 is one of the few polymers that offer selectivity for organic compounds over water [1-3]. However, excessive swelling limits its performance and the addition of graphene nanoparticles can have a positive effect in preventing it [4,5]. For the preparation of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) PIM-1 and graphene were first synthesized. Graphene oxide (GO) was obtained from natural flake graphite via a modified Hummer’s method, functionalized with octylamine (OA) and octadecylamine (ODA), 8 and 18 carbons, respectively and subsequently reduced with hydrazine monohydrate. PIM-1 was prepared by the polycondensation of monomers 3,3,3’,3’-tetramethyl-1,1’’-spirobisindane-5,5’,6’,6’-tetrol with 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophthalonitrile with a molecular ratio of 1:1 [6]. The preparation of freestanding membranes was done via a casting-evaporation technique using chloroform as solvent (one of the very few that dissolve PIM-1). The functionalization of GO with OA or ODA allowed its dispersion in chloroform and therefore a homogeneous casting solution was obtained. Membranes of thicknesses up to 40 µm with loadings of graphene from 0.01 to 0.5 wt.% were prepared and characterized via contact angle measurements, FTIR, TGA, and SEM. PV tests of aqueous feed solutions containing 5wt% of alcohol were performed at 65 ˚C and a pressure of 10 mbar on the permeate side of the membrane. An increase in the separation factor of ethanol and butanol over water was achieved for both amine-functionalized GO with maximum values of 7 and 40, respectively. The maximum flux achieved of ~ 2 kg m-2 h1 was obtained for membranes with graphene loadings of 0.5 wt.%. [1] Mason, C.R., et al. Polymer, 2013. 54(9), 2222-2230. [2] Žák, M., et al. Separation and Purification Technology, 2015. 151, 108-114. [3] Adymkanov, S.V., et al. Polymer Science Series A, 2008. 50(4), 444-450. [4] A. Gonciaruk, et al., Microporous Mesoporous Mater., 2015. 209, 126-134. [5] M.M. Khan, et al. J. Membr. Sci. 2013. 436, 109-120. [6] Budd, P.M., et al. Advanced Materials, 2004. 16(5), 456-459