Biodiesel Production by Esterification of Oleic Acid over Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquid Supported onto Fe-Incorporated SBA-15

The esterification of oleic acid with short-chain alcohols using Brønsted acidic ionic liquid supported onto Fe-incorporated SBA-15 (Fe-SBA-15) was studied to develop a green method for biodiesel production. This catalyst was prepared by immobilization of Brønsted acidic ionic liquid 1-(propyl-3-sulfonate)-3-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) imidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([SO₃H-PIm-CPMS]­[HSO₄]) onto Fe-SBA-15 (IL/Fe-SBA-15). The structure of the catalyst was characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption–desorption measurement, FT-IR and TEM. The results demonstrated that Fe was incorporated into the framework of SBA-15, bringing Lewis acidic site. After the ionic liquid was successfully immobilized onto the surface of Fe-SBA-15, the structure of the catalyst remained intact. This catalyst displayed relatively high catalytic activity in esterification of oleic acid with short-chain alcohols because of the synergistic effect of Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites. Under the optimum reaction conditions (reaction temperature 363 K, molar ratio of methanol to oleic acid 6: 1, catalyst amount 5 wt %, and reaction time 3 h), the conversion of oleic acid reached to 87.7% when methanol was used as reactant

Table_1_Peppermint extract improves egg production and quality, increases antioxidant capacity, and alters cecal microbiota in late-phase laying hens.docx

IntroductionPeppermint contains substantial bioactive ingredients belonging to the phytoestrogens, and its effects on the production of late-laying hens deserve more attention. This study evaluated the effects of dietary peppermint extract (PE) supplementation on egg production and quality, yolk fatty acid composition, antioxidant capacity, and cecal microbiota in late-phase laying hens.MethodPE powder was identified by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. Two hundred and sixteen laying hens (60 weeks old) were randomly assigned to four treatments, each for 28 days: (i) basal diet (control group, CON); (ii) basal diet + 0.1% PE; (iii) basal diet + 0.2% PE; and (iv) basal diet + 0.4% PE. Egg, serum, and cecal samples were collected for analysis.ResultsDietary PE supplementation increased the laying rate, serum triglyceride, immunoglobulin G, and total antioxidant capacity, while 0.2 and 0.4% PE supplementation increased eggshell thickness, serum total protein level, and superoxide dismutase activity of laying hens compared with the CON group (P DiscussionDietary PE supplementation improved egg production and quality (including yolk fatty acid composition) by increasing serum IgG and antioxidant capacity and modulating the intestinal microbiota in late-phase laying hens.</p