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23 pages, 6987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influences of Agglomeration and Storage on the Thermal Properties and Stability of Fats in Infant Formulas

by Ewa Ostrowska-Ligęza, Magdalena Wirkowska-Wojdyła, Rita Brzezińska, Iga Piasecka and Agata Górska

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14052103 - 03 Mar 2024

Viewed by 762

Abstract

Agglomeration is a technological process that is widely applied to obtain powdered products with the appropriate shape and particle size and different physical characteristics and stabilities. The purpose of this research was to study the influences of the composition and storage of powdered [...] Read more.

Agglomeration is a technological process that is widely applied to obtain powdered products with the appropriate shape and particle size and different physical characteristics and stabilities. The purpose of this research was to study the influences of the composition and storage of powdered infant formulas on their thermal behaviours, as analysed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); fatty acid compositions, as determined by gas chromatography; and water activity and water content. This study investigated the influence of the storage time (six months) at temperatures of 20–22 °C and air humidities of 42–45% on powder mixtures and agglomerates. The isotherms of the agglomerates presented a shape and course similar to those of the isotherms of the mixtures from which they were obtained. The agglomeration process affected the stability of the fatty acids in the stored powdered infant formulas. The composition of the fatty acids changed during the storage process. The thermal properties of the powdered infant formulas were not significantly influenced by agglomeration. The compositions of the mixtures and agglomerates influenced the shape and course of the DSC diagrams. Using the DSC method, it was determined whether the fat was a natural component of the powder or it was added in the form of fatty acid preparations. Differences were observed between the shape and course of the DSC curves (heating and cooling) obtained for fresh and 6-month-stored mixtures and agglomerates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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13 pages, 2980 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Antifungal Activity of Various Natural Extracts in a Sustainable Saccharomyces cerevisiae Model Using Cell Viability, Spot Assay, and Turbidometric Microbial Assays

by Sophia Letsiou, Katerina Pyrovolou, Spyros J. Konteles, Maria Trapali, Sophia Krisilia, Vasiliki Kokla, Alexandra Apostolaki, Violeta Founda, Dimitra Houhoula and Anthimia Batrinou

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1899; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051899 - 26 Feb 2024

Viewed by 718

Abstract

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a sustainable yeast with many applications in the food industry. Here, we study the use of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model composed of three different industrial strains (a wine, a beer and a baker’s strain) to assess the antifungal activity of [...] Read more.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a sustainable yeast with many applications in the food industry. Here, we study the use of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model composed of three different industrial strains (a wine, a beer and a baker’s strain) to assess the antifungal activity of three organic plant-based extracts (Hypericum perforatum 10% w/w, Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia 20% w/w and Rosmarinus officinalis 6% w/w). Three different methods were employed (agar disc diffusion, spot assay, and growth curve analysis). Only the Rosmarinus officinalis extract (6% w/w) exhibited inhibitory activity against all the tested yeast strains in the agar disc diffusion method. In the spot assay, all extracts and their carrier oils (sunflower oil and caprylic triglyceride) exerted similar mild antifungal activity. In the growth curve analysis, all extracts significantly lowered the growth rate of the yeasts, but this was not observed for the carrier oils. The results highlighted that it is important to consider more than one method for testing the antimicrobial activity of different compounds. The three yeast strains exhibited differences in their susceptibility to pharmaceutical antifungals, and the beer and baker’s yeasts were resistant to itraconazole. Moreover, polyphenols were detected in all natural extracts which may be linked to their antifungal activity. Our results suggest that we might consider multiple use of these natural extracts in the food industry as food additives or even preservatives to delay food spoilage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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14 pages, 2557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Determination of Nonylphenol in a Highly Sensitive Chemiluminescent Immunoenzyme Assay of Natural Waters

by Anna N. Berlina, Nadezhda S. Komova, Kseniya V. Serebrennikova, Anatoly V. Zherdev and Boris B. Dzantiev

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(5), 1685; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14051685 - 20 Feb 2024

Viewed by 603

Abstract

A competitive chemiluminescent immunoenzyme assay (CL-EIA) technique is proposed for the sensitive determination of one of the environmentally significant toxicants of anthropogenic origin-nonylphenol—in natural waters. The chosen chemiluminescent detection is characterized by a higher sensitivity compared to the colorimetric. The limit of nonylphenol [...] Read more.

A competitive chemiluminescent immunoenzyme assay (CL-EIA) technique is proposed for the sensitive determination of one of the environmentally significant toxicants of anthropogenic origin-nonylphenol—in natural waters. The chosen chemiluminescent detection is characterized by a higher sensitivity compared to the colorimetric. The limit of nonylphenol detection was 9 ng/mL compared to 55 ng/mL for colorimetric one in optimal conditions. The developed analysis can be used for two purposes; it is highly sensitive for the possibility of toxicological analysis and dilution of complex matrices with raw buffer solution, as well as for the analysis of water samples without pretreatment and dilution. The method has a working range from 28 to 1800 ng/mL. The degree of nonylphenol revealing in the spiked samples of river, spring, and waterfall water was 82–119%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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15 pages, 6019 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterization of Small Micro-and Nanoparticles in Antarctic Snow by Electron Microscopy and Raman Micro-Spectroscopy

by Nicolò Riboni, Erika Ribezzi, Lucia Nasi, Monica Mattarozzi, Maurizio Piergiovanni, Matteo Masino, Federica Bianchi and Maria Careri

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1597; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041597 - 17 Feb 2024

Viewed by 887

Abstract

The impact of the anthropic activities in Antarctica is a concerning issue. According to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, attention has to be paid to the next-generation contaminants deriving from both long-range atmospheric transport and local sources. In this study, the capabilities [...] Read more.

The impact of the anthropic activities in Antarctica is a concerning issue. According to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, attention has to be paid to the next-generation contaminants deriving from both long-range atmospheric transport and local sources. In this study, the capabilities of transmission electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and Raman micro-spectroscopy were exploited to evaluate the size, morphology, and chemical composition of small micro- and nanoparticles, as well as their aggregates, in surface snow samples collected during the 2020–2021 austral summer in the coastal area of Victoria Land near the Mario Zucchelli research station. The presence of biological particles, mineral dust, sea salts, and small carbonaceous and plastic micro- and nanoparticles was assessed. Sulfate, carbonate, and nitrate minerals were detected in all the samples, whereas polyethylene, poly(ethylene-co-vinyl-acetate), and different kinds of carbonaceous materials were predominantly identified in the samples closest to the research base. The presence of small micro- and nanoparticles containing heavy metals and plastic polymers in samples collected in the areas surrounding the Italian research base highlights the impact of anthropogenic activities on the polar environment, suggesting the need for continuous monitoring to evaluate possible threats to the delicate Antarctic ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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13 pages, 3505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Innovative Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Method as a Fast Tool to Assess the Oxidation of Lipids in Ground Pork

by Magdalena Wrona, Juliette Lours, Jesús Salafranca, Catherine Joly and Cristina Nerín

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(9), 5533; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13095533 - 29 Apr 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1078

Abstract

A novel method for the determination of lipid oxidation using Raman microscopy was developed. A home-made surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate based on silver nanoparticles deposited on a glass Petri dish was used. The degradation of ground pork stored at 5 °C was [...] Read more.

A novel method for the determination of lipid oxidation using Raman microscopy was developed. A home-made surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate based on silver nanoparticles deposited on a glass Petri dish was used. The degradation of ground pork stored at 5 °C was monitored for 16 days. Two packages were considered: an active packaging containing an oregano extract with antioxidant properties and a conventional one consisting of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. The lipid fraction of the ground pork was extracted with a mixture of diethyl ether/n-hexane (1:1). A remarkable maximum signal enhancement factor of 1.64 × 10⁷ at 1439 cm⁻¹ shift (and up to 8.58 × 10⁶ at 1655 cm⁻¹, chosen for fat oxidation assessment) was obtained with SERS compared to conventional Raman. In addition, SERS provided better discrimination among samples than the results obtained by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) method. The experimental conditions for SERS were optimized and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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12 pages, 2134 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Quantitative Colour-Based Software Method to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Active Antioxidant Packaging on Fresh Sliced Mushrooms

by Magdalena Wrona, Davinson Pezo, Jesús Salafranca, Cristina Nerín and Alexander Ihler

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(1), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13010301 - 26 Dec 2022

Viewed by 1507

Abstract

A software-based procedure consisting of colour measurement of mushrooms was developed for assessing the effectiveness of a new antioxidant active packaging. As active agents, sodium metabisulphite combined with citric acid, green tea extract combined with α-tocopherol and purple carrot extract were evaluated. After [...] Read more.

A software-based procedure consisting of colour measurement of mushrooms was developed for assessing the effectiveness of a new antioxidant active packaging. As active agents, sodium metabisulphite combined with citric acid, green tea extract combined with α-tocopherol and purple carrot extract were evaluated. After obtaining the image of mushrooms with a conventional flatbed scanner, a MATLAB code was specially designed to obtain and compare histograms. Then, data were processed using principal component analysis (66% of the accumulated variance explained) and a successful classification of samples according to their age and antioxidant system was obtained. The developed procedure greatly exceeded the discrimination capabilities of other commonly used methods such as CIE L*a*b* (which was unable to find any significant difference between blank and antioxidant-treated mushrooms; L*_blank = 70 ± 3; L*_{metabisulphite} = 75 ± 5; L*_{green tea} = 75 ± 5; L*_carrot = 69 ± 5) and visual panel (where only sodium metabisulphite sample was perceived to be significantly different from the rest of the samples, with 27 positive votes out of 50). The developed method classified correctly up to 90% of blank samples according to their age. Besides, 100% and 70% of the mushrooms treated with sodium metabisulphite and green tea, respectively, were found to be fresher than their corresponding blanks. Among samples with sodium metabisulphite, 33% behaved as one-day blank samples, and 67% acted as 4-day blank samples, while among samples with green tea, 10% were found in the 1-day group, and 60% were found in the 4-day group. In contrast, purple carrot proved to be inefficient as an antioxidant. Thus, the difference between blank mushroom samples and those treated with antioxidants was objectively measured. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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20 pages, 2878 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characterisation of Refined Marc Distillates with Alternative Oak Products Using Different Analytical Approaches

by Maurizio Petrozziello, Laura Rosso, Chiara Portesi, Andriani Asproudi, Federica Bonello, Tiziana Nardi, Andrea Mario Rossi, Consolato Schiavone, Stefano Scuppa, Simone Cantamessa, Matteo Pollon and Pier Mario Chiarabaglio

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(17), 8444; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12178444 - 24 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1319

Abstract

The use of oak barrel alternatives, including oak chips, oak staves and oak powder, is quite common in the production of spirits obtained from the distillation of vegetal fermented products such as grape pomace. This work explored the use of unconventional wood formats [...] Read more.

The use of oak barrel alternatives, including oak chips, oak staves and oak powder, is quite common in the production of spirits obtained from the distillation of vegetal fermented products such as grape pomace. This work explored the use of unconventional wood formats such as peeled and sliced wood. The use of poplar wood was also evaluated to verify its technological uses to produce aged spirits. To this aim, GC-MS analyses were carried out to obtain an aromatic characterisation of experimental distillates treated with these products. Moreover, the same spirits were studied for classification purposes using NMR, NIR and e-nose. A significant change in the original composition of grape pomace distillate due to sorption phenomena was observed; the intensity of this effect was greater for poplar wood. The release of aroma compounds from wood depended both on the toasting level and wood assortment. Higher levels of xylovolatiles, namely, whisky lactone, were measured in samples aged using sliced woods. Both the NIR and NMR analyses highlighted similarities among samples refined with oak tablets, differentiating them from the other wood types. Finally, E-nose seemed to be a promising alternative to spectroscopic methods both for the simplicity of sample preparation and method portability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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Review

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 403 KiB

Open AccessReview

DNA Barcoding as a Plant Identification Method

by Stavroula Letsiou, Panagiotis Madesis, Efstathios Vasdekis, Cinzia Montemurro, Maria E. Grigoriou, George Skavdis, Vassilios Moussis, Antonios E. Koutelidakis and Andreas G. Tzakos

Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(4), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14041415 - 08 Feb 2024

Viewed by 1927

Abstract

In the last two decades, plant taxonomy has bloomed, following the development of a novel technique, namely, DNA barcoding. DNA barcodes are standardized sequences, ideally unique, coding or non-coding, either from the genome of the organism or from its organelles, that are used [...] Read more.

In the last two decades, plant taxonomy has bloomed, following the development of a novel technique, namely, DNA barcoding. DNA barcodes are standardized sequences, ideally unique, coding or non-coding, either from the genome of the organism or from its organelles, that are used to identify/classify an organismal group; in short, the method includes amplification of the DNA barcode, sequencing and comparison with a reference database containing the relevant sequences from different species. In plants, the use a universal DNA barcode, such as COI, which is used in animals, has not been achieved so far. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the progress made in DNA barcoding within the field of plant taxonomy. It highlights the success of various barcode loci, the emergence of super barcodes from the chloroplast genome, and the overall impact of next-generation sequencing technologies on the field. The discussion of different approaches reflects the ongoing efforts to refine and optimize DNA barcoding techniques for plants, contributing to the advancement in our understanding of plant biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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26 pages, 1914 KiB

Open AccessReview

PFAS: A Review of the State of the Art, from Legislation to Analytical Approaches and Toxicological Aspects for Assessing Contamination in Food and Environment and Related Risks

by Consolato Schiavone and Chiara Portesi

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(11), 6696; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13116696 - 31 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6187

Abstract

More than 7000 synthetic compounds known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are applied to food packaging and other materials to provide fat, fire, and/or water resistance properties. These compounds have exceptional environmental stability and persistence due to the strong C-F chemical bond, [...] Read more.

More than 7000 synthetic compounds known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are applied to food packaging and other materials to provide fat, fire, and/or water resistance properties. These compounds have exceptional environmental stability and persistence due to the strong C-F chemical bond, earning them the moniker “forever chemicals”. Emission of PFAS from industrial waste leads to water, air, and soil contamination. Due to this ubiquitous nature, combined with the fact that PFAS in humans are known to have carcinogenic and reprotoxic effects and to cause vaccine resistance and depression of the immunity system, PFAS may constitute a major threat to human health. For this reason, the attention of the scientific community and of control bodies is increasing and as a consequence legislation and the scientific literature on PFAS are constantly evolving. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art about current legislation addressing PFAS; targeted and screening method for identification, detection and quantification of PFAS; toxicity of PFAS; and contamination of environmental and food matrices and from food contact matrices. A comprehensive review of the latest scientific research and recent developments in the legislation of PFAS will provide insights into the current understanding of PFAS and its health implications. Moreover, it will serve as a valuable reference for further studies related to PFAS and could help in informing future policy decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Analytical Methods Applied to Food and Environment)

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