Foods

This work presents an innovative microwave-assisted subcritical water extraction (MA-SWE) approach for the simultaneous recovery of proteins and phenolic compounds from hemp seeds (HS). The extraction temperature (100–180 °C), time (5–60 min), and solid-to-liquid ratio (1:5–1:30 w/v) were optimized via Box–Behnken design. The effects of whole, crushed and defatted HS were investigated, with defatted HS exhibiting higher selectivity for proteins and polyphenols. Two optimization strategies were explored: one maximizing protein and polyphenol yields and another minimizing solvent and energy consumption, while maintaining competitive yields. The maximized conditions (MAPPY) were 180 °C, 57 min, and a ratio of 1:28, providing a protein selectivity of 48.91 g/100 g of dry extract (DE) and a total phenolic content of 7.24 g gallic acid equivalent/100 g DE. Regarding functional properties, both strategies yielded extracts with similar performance; however, the maximization strategy resulted in higher emulsifying capacities. These results support the industrial valorization of defatted HS by MA-SWE under optimized conditions to produce antioxidant- and protein-rich ingredients.

Understanding how environmental factors modulate starch structure and functionality in sorghum is critical for optimizing its application in the food processing and fermentation industries. In this study, two sorghum cultivars with distinct starch types—Liaonian 3 (LN3, waxy) and Liaoza 82 (LZ82, non-waxy)—were cultivated across four major ecological regions in China to systematically investigate the combined effects of temperature and precipitation on grain composition, starch molecular structure, and processing properties. Comprehensive analyses, including scanning electron microscopy, molecular weight profiling, chain-length distribution, crystallinity, molecular order, and thermal/pasting behaviors, demonstrated that precipitation is the predominant environmental factor driving starch biosynthesis and structural assembly. High precipitation levels promoted amylopectin accumulation, shorter chain formation, increased branching degree, and higher crystallinity and molecular order, ultimately enhancing starch thermal stability and paste consistency. Genotypic differences further modulated starch structural patterns and environmental responsiveness, with LN3 consistently exhibiting higher amylopectin content, crystallinity, double-helix proportion, and gelatinization enthalpy compared to LZ82. Correlation analyses revealed genotype-dependent regulatory relationships linking environmental cues to starch structure and processing functionality. These findings provide a comprehensive framework elucidating the environmental regulation of starch structure–function relationships in sorghum, offering theoretical insights for climate-resilient breeding and functional starch development.

Sodium alginate (SA) is widely used as an edible coating for fruit preservation, but its weak water barrier and antibacterial properties limit broader application. In this study, quaternary ammonium lignin–cinnamaldehyde (QKC) composite particles were incorporated into SA as multifunctional fillers to construct antibacterial coatings. Electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between cationic QKC and anionic SA yielded a uniform, stable network with improved hydrophobicity and UV-shielding capacity. At 5 wt% QKC loading (SA5), the tensile strength increased from 11.53 to 24.42 MPa (111.8% higher than SA0), while water vapor permeability decreased by 35.4%. SA coatings also exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and the ABTS radical scavenging rate increased to 70.22% at 7 wt% QKC, with SA5 offering a favorable balance between antioxidant, barrier, and mechanical properties. SA5 showed pronounced antibacterial efficacy, giving inhibition rates of 96% against Staphylococcus aureus and 65% against Escherichia coli. Coating trials on persimmons and tangerines demonstrated that SA5 reduced weight loss, delayed firmness decline, and mitigated decay during storage. In addition, calcium-crosslinked SA/QKC hydrogel beads markedly delayed visible mold growth on blueberries. These results indicate that QKC-reinforced SA coatings provide a promising strategy for enhancing the postharvest quality and shelf life of fresh fruit.

Orange peel is suitable for reuse due to the quantity and variety of bioactive compounds it contains, such as pectins, sugars and hesperidin. This study designed a scheme for reusing orange peel extract (OPE) using membrane technologies. Initially, a 100 kDa ceramic membrane was used to separate the pectins and hesperidine from acids and sugars and obtain a clarified product. In the subsequent stage, two ultrafiltration membranes of 25 and 5 kDa were tested, improving the results in terms of product transmittance and obtaining permeates whose physical–chemical parameters are compatible with those established by the European Fruit Juice Association. These membranes did not achieve complete separation of monosaccharide sugars from disaccharides. Finally, a 200 Da nanofiltration membrane was used, which completely reduced the sucrose and pectin content, concentrating glucose and fructose by 40%, values higher than those obtained with the GR90PP membrane. In addition, calcium and magnesium ions were completely rejected. Color changes in the permeate and concentrate streams could be appreciated due to the high concentration produced when working in batches. The nanofiltration (NF) process obtained lower yields (approximately 30%) compared to ultrafiltration (approximately 85%).