121 research outputs found
A new physical-chemical process for the efficient production of cellulose fibers from Spanish Broom (Spartium junceum L.)
No full textA novel and efficient method for the extraction of cellulose fibers from Spanish broom(Spartium junceum L.)
is presented. The method is based on the sequential combination between an initial chemical stage (alkaline
digestion) and a subsequent physical–chemical stage, consisting of compression with hot air in an
autoclave followed by rapid decompression (DiCoDe process, digestion–compression–decompression).
The alkaline mother liquor deriving from the initial digestion step can be conveniently recycled after centrifugation
followed by ultrafiltration. The process is characterized by the production of fibers with excellent
physical–chemical properties, such as high mechanical resistance and high elasticity, and rapid
production times. The fibers obtained after the DiCoDe process can be further softened and whitened
by means of enzymatic digestion.
Fibers were morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their composition
and physical–chemical properties were determined by conventional methods, including colorimetry,
TAPPI protocols, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry
Assessment of the polyphenol recovery from white wine lees via non-ionic polymeric resins
No full text[EN] Wine lees, a significant by-product of the wine industry, are an underutilized but valuable resource for nutraceutical recovery, as they are rich in bioactive compounds, particularly polyphenols. This study introduces a
novel and eco-friendly method for extracting and purifying polyphenols from white grape wine lees. Solid-liquid
extraction was conducted using water and a 25 % w/w ethanol-water hydroalcoholic solution, resulting in
aqueous (Aq) and hydroalcoholic (HA) extracts. Five food-grade, non-ionic polymeric resins (XAD7HP,
XAD16HP, MN202, PAD900, and PAD950) were evaluated for polyphenol purification. Resin MN202 emerged as
the most effective for this purpose.
Under static conditions with the Aqueous extract, the MN202 resin achieved an adsorption ratio (AR) of up to
60.5 % and a desorption ratio of 97.9 %, yielding a total adsorption-desorption efficiency (TADY) of 59.2 %. In
contrast, the TADY for glucose and fructose was minimal at just 0.36 % and 11.25 %, respectively, highlighting
the resin¿s high selectivity for separating polyphenols from sugars. Adsorption isotherms (Langmuir, Freundlich,
Sips, and Redlich-Peterson) followed the Langmuir isotherm model, indicating monolayer adsorption. Both
adsorption and desorption conformed to pseudo-second-order kinetics, dominated by multilayer intraparticle
diffusion. Under dynamic conditions, polyphenol recovery decreased to 44 %, though the purified polyphenols
remained suitable for high-value applications. Overall, this process potentially provides a promising and sustainable approach for recovering polyphenols from wine lees, with strong potential for scaling and use in nutraceutical and antioxidant products.The author Martina Gagliano ` acknowledges the University of Calabria and POR
Calabria-FSE/FESR 2014 2020. The author Esperanza M. GarciaCastello acknowledges the Conselleria for Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society of the Generalitat Valenciana, for the grant CIBEST/2021/222.Gaglianò, M.;Rodríguez López, Antonio Diego;Conidi, C.;Cassano, A.;De Luca, G.;Garcia-Castello, Esperanza M. (2025). Assessment of the polyphenol recovery from white wine lees via non-ionic polymeric resins. Journal of Food Engineering. 397:1-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2025.112576S11739
A membrane-assisted green strategy for purifying bioactive compounds from extracted white wine lees
No full text[EN] This work was aimed at investigating the recovery of wine-derived bioactive compounds from white wine lees through a combination of hydroalcoholic extraction and membrane-based operations, as a potential alternative for winery wastewater treatment and valorisation.
Hydroalcoholic extracts obtained in selected conditions of solid¿liquid ratio, extraction time and working temperature (1:10, 25 % and 32 ± 2 °C, respectively) were previously clarified by ultrafiltration (UF) in order to produce a clarified solution free of suspended solids and colloidal substances. The concentration of bioactive compounds from the clarified extract was investigated by using three different spiral-wound NF membranes with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) in the range of 200¿1000 Da (TS40, XN45 and NP010, all from Microdyn-Nadir); their performance was analysed in terms of productivity, fouling index and retention towards target compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, sugars) and antioxidant activity.
Low molecular weight polyphenols (i.e. gallic acid, catechin, vanillic acid, epicatechin and caffeic acid) were highly rejected by the selected membranes despite their difference in MWCO; on the other hand, the rejection index for total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoids and glucose was in agreement with the MWCO. The TS40 membrane, with a lowest cut-off (200¿300 Da), showed the highest rejection for flavonoids (100 %) and rejections for total phenolic compounds of 85 % resulting in concentrated fractions containing 1.7 g of gallic acid equivalents per liter (GAE/L); most of the components analysed in the retentate samples showed a concentration factor of approximately 3.5 in agreement with the weight reduction factor of the NF process. The analysis of fouling mechanisms according to the Hermia¿s model revealed that the cake filtration mechanism was the predominant one for all selected NF membranes.The author Esperanza M. Garcia-Castello, acknowledges the Conselleria for Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society of the Generalitat Valenciana, for the grant CIBEST/2021/222. Masseria Falvo
1727 (Saracena, Cosenza, Italy) which provided the raw material used in this study is also kindly acknowledged.Garcia-Castello, EM.; Conidi, C.; Cassano, A. (2024). A membrane-assisted green strategy for purifying bioactive compounds from extracted white wine lees. Separation and Purification Technology. 336:1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2023.126183S11033
La liofilizzazione quale intervento di recupero di volumi alluvionati ed attaccati da Microfunghi
No full textNegli ultimi venti anni diversi trattamenti di liofilizzazione di massa sono stati utilizzati
e documentati nel caso di materiali librari danneggiati da alluvioni o andati
sommersi. Il trattamento permette di evitare l’adesione dei fogli cartacei gli uni agli
altri e previene la migrazione di inchiostri o altri composti solubili. Lo scopo del
presente lavoro riguarda gli effetti della liofilizzazione sui funghi biodeteriogeni
che attaccano la carta bagnata. Su campioni di carta infettati con tre specie di funghi
e sottoposti a tre differenti trattamenti (liofilizzazzione, sterilizzazione con il
calore, controllo vitale non trattato) sono stati effettuati due test di vitalità: un test
colturale e l’analisi del contenuto in ATP. La liofilizzazione ha comportato rispetto
al controllo una diminuzione sensibile del contenuto in ATP di tutti e tre i ceppi
fungini ed in modo più marcato nel C.cladosporioides e nel T.viridae rispetto al C.globosum.
Una significativa differenza è stata registrata inoltre fra dato colturale e contenuto
in ATP. Ciò si deve al diverso effetto nocivo che ha la liofilizzazione nei confronti
del micelio fungino rispetto ai conidi ed alle ascospore. Sembra cioè che la
liofilizzazione sia capace di uccidere o di deprimere il micelio e solo in parte i
conidi e le spore
The cytoskeleton regulatory protein hMena (ENAH) is overexpressed in human benign breast lesions with high risk of transformation and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-positive/hormonal receptor-negative tumors
No full textPurpose: hMena (ENAH), a cytoskeleton regulatory protein involved in the regulation of cell motility and adhesion, is overexpressed in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to define at what stage of breast carcinogenesis hMena is overexpressed and to correlate hMena overexpression with established prognostic factors in breast cancer, focusing on human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2). Experimental Design: hMena expression was assessed immunohistochemically in a prospective cohort of cases (n = 360) encompassing a highly representative spectrum of benign breast diseases associated with different risk of transformation, in situ, invasive, and metastatic tumors. Correlations with conventional pathologic and prognostic variables, such as proliferation index, hormonal receptor status, and HER-2 overexpression, were also evaluated. In vitro experiments were done to study the effect of neuregulin-1 and Herceptin treatments on h Mena expression. Results: hMena protein is undetectable in normal breast and is weakly expressed in a small percentage of low-risk benign diseases (9%), but displays a progressive and significant increase of positivity in benign lesions at higher risk of transformation (slightly increased risk 43%; moderate increased risk 67%), in in situ (72%), invasive (93%), and metastatic breast cancer (91%). A significant direct correlation with tumor size (P = 0.04), proliferation index (P < 0.0001), and HER-2 overexpression (P < 0.0001) and an inverse relationship with estrogen (P = 0.036) and progesterone receptors (P = 0.001) are found in invasive carcinomas. In vitro experiments show that neuregulin-1 up-regulates, whereas Herceptin down-regulates, h Mena expression. Conclusions: Our data provide new insights into the relevance of actin-binding proteins in human breast carcinogenesis and indicate hMena overexpression as a surrogate indicator in breast disease management
A combination of eco-friendly extraction techniques and membrane operations for the recovery of bioactive compounds from wine by-products.
No full textPurification of artichoke polyphenols by using membrane filtration and polymeric resins
No full textThe present study aimed at evaluating the potential of an integrated process based on the use of membrane technology and adsorbent resins for the recovery, concentration and purification of phenolic compounds from artichoke wastewaters.
In particular, artichoke wastewaters coming from the blanching step were pre-treated by ultrafiltration (UF) in order to remove suspended solids and macromolecular compounds. The UF permeate was submitted to a nanofiltration (NF) process producing a concentrated fraction enriched in phenolic and sugar compounds.
Three different macroporous resins were tested through adsorption/desorption methods to produce purified phenolic fractions with high antioxidant activity. Samples produced in UF, NF and adsorption desorption tests were assayed for phenolic composition (chlorogenic acid and apigenin 7-O-glucoside), sugar composition (fructose, glucose and sucrose) and antioxidant activity.
Among the three different tested resins, the S 7968 offered the best performance in terms of adsorption/desorption ratio for chlorogenic acid, with a total adsorption/desorption yield (TADY) of 63.39%; for the apigenin 7-O-glucoside the S 7968 and the S 2328 resins showed a TADY in the range 68.31-78.45%. (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Authors acknowledge the Vicerrectorado de Investigacion of the "Universitat Politecnica de Valencia" for the financial support (project 1965) from the call "Proyectos de Nuevas Lineas de Investigacion Mul-tidisciplinares (PAID05-11)".Conidi, C.; Rodríguez López, AD.; Garcia-Castello, EM.; Cassano, A. (2015). Purification of artichoke polyphenols by using membrane filtration and polymeric resins. Separation and Purification Technology. 144(1):153-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2015.02.025S153161144
Optimization of conventional and ultrasound assisted extraction of flavonoids from grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) solid wastes
No full textFlavonoid compounds from grapefruit wastes were obtained by conventional solid liquid extraction (CE) and ultrasound assisted extraction (USE). Naringin was by far the most abundant flavonoid in the extracts ranging from 18 to 28 mg/g dw for CE and 24-36 mg/g dw for USE. Response surface methodology allowed obtaining predictive models for total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant activity (TAA) as a function of the process variables ethanol concentration (Etc) (defined as weight of ethanol/weight of solution), temperature (T) and time (t) with reasonable success (CE-TPC, R-2 = 0.86, CE-TAA, R-2 = 0.85; USE-TPC, R-2 = 0.82; USE, TAA, R-2 = 0.86). USE was very effective when compared with conventional solvent extraction, allowing higher extraction yields (on average TPC 50% and TAA 66% higher) with lower temperatures and extraction times. Although the optimum process conditions indicate the use of a low ethanol concentration and ultrasounds (T = 25 degrees C, EtC = 0.4 (g/g) (40 g/100 g) and t = 55 min leading to TPC = 80.0 mg GAE/g dw and TAA = 38.3 mmol trolox/g dw), it has been proved that an USE treatment free of organic solvent (EtC = 0 g/g), at moderate temperature (25 degrees C) and short time (t = 3 min) leads to similar results (TPC = 753 mg GAE/g dw and TAA = 31.9 mmol trolox/g dw), suggesting its use for economic and environmental purposes.The authors acknowledge the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain) for its financial support through the project 1965 (PAID05-11).Garcia-Castello, EM.; Rodríguez López, AD.; Mayor López, L.; Ballesteros, R.; Conidi, C.; Cassano, A. (2015). Optimization of conventional and ultrasound assisted extraction of flavonoids from grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) solid wastes. Food Science and Technology. 64(2):1114-1122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lwt.2015.07.024S1114112264
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