Journal of Engineering & Processing Management (EPM)
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Packaging materials and articles for food: legislation and codes of good manufacturing practice
Full text linkThe basic objectives of food packaging materials are to provide safety and to prevent physical damage of the product, to retain or improve sensory characteristics, to offer a pleasing appearance, to be functional, to facilitate distribution, to give dimensional stability, but also to be compatible with the requirements regulated by the law. Consumers’ demands for an extended shelf life of the product, as well as increased competition in the packaging industry, foster the need for continuous growth and application of innovative solutions for food packaging. While the traditional packaging acts as a passive barrier toward atmospheric effects, the innovative packaging systems offer “active” interactions with the foodstuff, providing increased shelf life and improved quality of the product. The selection of the appropriate packaging material is influenced by many factors, and, among many packaging materials offered on the market, polymer materials and articles have a significant place. On the other hand, some interactions occur between the plastics and the food in contact. The migration of the low-molecular-weight components from the polymer packaging to the packed food is emphasized when the socalled active and intelligent systems are used. Therefore, all the issues related to the packaging materials for food and the substances used as part of the packaging systems, are elaborated in the directives and regulations of the materials and articles intended to come in contact with the food
Cloud Point Extraction as a Method for Preconcentration of Metal Ions
Full text linkCloud point extraction (CPE) is an attractive technique that reduces solvent consumption and exposure, disposal costs, and process time. This method has an important practical application and is used to separate and concentrate the analyte as a step before its determination, and after the formation of a poorly water-soluble complex. Use of nonionic surfactants as ”green solvents” which represent an effective alternative to toxic organic solvents (in classical extraction), along with other advantages, such as low cost and low flammability, makes this method attractive and worth further research and optimization. This paper presents a detailed description of the principles, procedure, advantages, disadvantages and application of CPE
3D model of a Monolithic Honeycomb Adsorber for Electric Swing Adsorption for Carbon Dioxide Capture
Full text linkThe goal of this work was to develop a 3D model of Electric Swing Adsorption process for carbon dioxide capture from effluent gasses from power plants. Detailed 3D model of the composite honeycomb monolithic adsorber was developed for a single monolith channel and can be used to simulate and represent different physical properties: velocity, concentration and temperature. The advantage of this model is the fact that all physical properties and results can be presented visually in the 3D domain. COMSOL Multiphysics software was used for solving partial differential equations and simulations of adsorption and electrothermal desorption processes. Some simulation results are presented in this work. The results obtained from 3D simulations will be used for the adsorber model reduction to the 1D model which will be used for modeling and optimization of the whole ESA cycle due to its simplicity and computational demands. Simulation and optimization runs based on the 1D model will be performed in g-Proms software
Quality testing of industrially produced essential oil of white pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Republic of Srpska
Full text linkThe quality of the essential oil obtained from white pine wood greenery from the territory of the Republic of Srpska was analyzed by examining the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of samples produced by the hydro-distillation process in industrial production conditions. The chemical composition of the essential oil was analyzed by GC/MS and GC/FID analysis. The antimicrobial activity of the obtained white pine oil was investigated for its possible use as an antimicrobial agent. The obtained results prove the presence of 37 components in the analyzed sample, which represents 98.5% of the total components present. The most common are monoterpene hydrocarbons, followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, much less represented are monoterpenes containing oxygen and aromatic compounds, while aliphatic esters are found only in traces. Antimicrobial activity was examined using the disk diffusion method. The results showed large zones of inhibition, both for the tested oil sample and for all eight analyzed bacterial strains (from 12.00 ± 0.00 to 17.33 ± 1.15mm), as well as for the fungal strain. The chemical composition and antimicrobial action of essential white pine oiled from plant material originating from the territory of the Republic of Srpska indicates its significant phytomedical potential
Simulation of a single-stage evaporator system integrated with a mechanical vapor compressor for concentrating the electrolytic system KNO3 – H2O
Full text linkA simulation of a single-stage evaporator system integrated with a mechanical compressor for a case study (concentrating the electrolytic system KNO3 – H2O) was performed. A mathematical model of the subsystem of a single-stage evaporator, a mechanical compressor, and superheated steam seeding is presented. Microsoft Excel with VBA (Visual Basic for Application) was used to solve the mathematical model. The model was solved by an iterative method where the values of the in-let stream temperature and the salt concentration in the concentrated stream at the evaporator outlet were assumed. The process parameters of the system have been determined. Since the goal of any industrial process is to minimize costs and maximize products, the impact of mean temperature difference changes on saturation water consumption and molar salt content in the concentrated stream was presented. 106.92 kg/h of freshwater are required to obtain 18% by weight of salt in a concentrated stream, while 432.30 kg/h of fresh water are required to obtain 25% by weight of salt in a concentrated stream. Consumption of heating steam ranged from 1760.31 to 4473.4 kg/h depending on the average temperature difference. By increasing the temperature differences from 10 to 25 ◦C, the amount of transferred upper lines increases from 1025 to 2750 kW, which is an advantage of increasing the mean temperature difference. The disadvantage of the larger temperature difference is the increase in the power of the mechanical compressor from 97.02 to 384.12 kW
Adsorption of phenol on polycrystalline gold from aqueous solutions
Full text linkThe presence of phenolic compounds as one of the most common organic pollutants in natural water (surface and ground waters) has been detected as a worldwide problem. Very small concentrations of phenols affect the quality of both environmental and household waters, and directly or indirectly impact lives in aquatic systems and humans, as well. Most of the organic compounds, containing certain functional groups, such as amino, amines, carbonyl, hydroxyl, groups containing sulfur and others, have shown ability of adsorption on metal surfaces from aqueous solutions. Cyclic voltammetry (dE/dt = 100 mV s-1) with simultaneous monitoring of the double layer (dl) capacitance (at 100 Hz and 1 mV ac signal) was used for an adsorption study of phenol on polycrystalline gold from 0.5 mol dm-3 aqueous solutions of NaHCO3. Thus, in this study an effort was made to establish a fast method, an electrochemical procedure for qualitative and quantitative determination of phenols in natural water systems
MINERAL CONTENTS IN PORK AND EDIBLE OFFAL FROM INDIGENOUS PIGS
Full text linkMeat is one of the most nutritious foods that humans can consume, and is defined as the flesh (skeletal muscles) of animals used as food. In addition to protein and fat, meat is a significant source of several micronutrients (minerals and vitamins). Edible offal is also a form of meat which is used as food, but which is not skeletal muscles, and in general possesses higher contents of some micronutrients, especially minerals and vitamins, than muscular tissue. Minerals are the inorganic elements other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, which remain behind in the ash when food is incinerated. They are usually divided into two groups – macrominerals (main elements) and microminerals (trace elements) or into three groups – main elements (macrominerals), trace elements (microminerals) and ultra-trace elements. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the existing literature on the content of nine most abundant minerals (potassium, phosphorous, sodium, magnesium, calcium, zinc, iron, copper and manganese) in the major raw pork meat cuts (tenderloin, ham, loin and shoulder) and edible offal (tongue, heart, lungs, liver, spleen, kidney, brain and spinal cord) from indigenous pigs. The mineral levels in raw pork meat and pig edible offal are variable, ranging from 175.7 to 463.8 mg/100g for potassium; 159 to 502.0 mg/100g for phosphorous; 38.11 to 158.4 mg/100g for sodium; 8.3 to 28.5 mg/100g for magnesium; 4.61 to 26.02 mg/100g for calcium; 0.67 to 6.47 mg/100g for zinc; 0.55 to 45.59 mg/100g for iron; 0.10 to 0.825 mg/100g for copper; and from 0.0038 to 0.338 mg/100g for manganese
Removing Products of Thermal Degradation from Edible Oils by Zeolite and by Clinoptilolite - Comparison of Results
Full text linkWhen edible oils are heated above 150°C, they undergo thermo-oxidative changes depending on a variety of factors, such as temperature, heating time, type of oil, etc. These changes cause a series of chemical reactions (hydrolysis, oxidation, polymerization, etc.) resulting in the formation of free fatty acids, an increase in the peroxide number and the acid number, a change of color and a decrease in the iodine number. This study investigates changes of the content of free fatty acids, the acid number, and the peroxide number in edible sunflower oil when heating at the temperature range from 110°C to 190°C for 30 minutes, as well as after the adsorption by a natural and a synthetic adsorbent (clinoptilolite and zeolite 4A). The results of the research show that these adsorbents are effective in removing the products of chemical reactions occurring in thermal degradation, which is particularly evident after the adsorption of oil heated at 190°C. Somewhat better results were achieved after the adsorption using clinoptilolite, with a 72 % reduction in the content of free fatty acids, 83 % reduction in the acid number, and 43 % reduction in the peroxide number. After the adsorption by zeolite 4A, the content of free fatty acids was reduced by 65%, the acid number by 76 %, and the peroxide number by 39 %. The results obtained open the possibilities of further research aiming at discovering the adsorbents which would be most suitable for the regeneration of used edible oils, after which they could be applied safely for different purposes
The Investigation of Characteristics and Thermal Behaviour of Lignocellulosic Waste Biomass Using Thermogravimetric Analysis
No full textThis paper focuses on lignocellulosic waste biomass originating from food industry, which should find its further application in order to fulfill demands of circular economy. Therefore, here are presented some of the chemical and physical properties that affect combustion process, as well as thermochemical reaction kinetics for lignocellulosic biomass wastes. The biomass investigated was peach stone particles originating from food industry. The results have showed that peach stones can be characterized as good energy alternative renewable material, with properties that allow its safe thermochemical conversion. Kinetic analysis of this biomass was performed using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) with a simple reaction model applied, namely n-th order reaction model. The obtained results have confirmed the complex nature of this material and the need for further modelling
β-sitosterol and gentisic acid loaded 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glicero-3-phosphocholine liposomal particles
Full text linkThe aim of the present study was the examination of the impact of β-sitosterol and gentisic acid on characteristics of 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glicero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) liposomal particles: (a) bilayer permeability (fluorescence spectroscopy), (b) particle size, polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (photon correlation spectroscopy) and (c) thermal properties (differential scanning calorimetry). β-sitosterol has induced the increase of liposomal bilayer rigidity, due to rearranging of the phospholipids chains, while gentisic acid has enhanced the membrane fluidity, due to the reduced orderliness and the increase of phospholipids dynamics. The inclusion of β-sitosterol in liposomes has caused statistically significant increase of particle diameter and PDI, while the encapsulation of gentisic acid did not have influence on particle size distribution. Apart from that, the presence of β-sitosterol has resulted in the significant zeta potential increase, thus better stability of liposomal spheres (in the absence and in the presence of gentisic acid). β-sitosterol has decreased main transition temperature (Tm) and phase transition enthalpy (∆H), and caused the disappearance of the pre-transition peak as well, whereas the presence of gentisic acid has produced a slight decrease in Tm and increase of ∆H. Therefore, gentisic acid had more favourable, stabilizing interactions with phospholipids than β-sitosterol. Thus, it can be drawn a conclusion that β-sitosterol is located in the bilayer interior between phospholipids acyl chains, and gentisic acid is incorporated near the outer leaflet of phospholipid membrane, next to the polar head groups. β-sitosterol and gentisic acid loaded DPPC liposomal particles have potential to be used in food and pharmaceutical products, due to the important individual and possible synergistic beneficial health properties of β-sitosterol and gentisic acid