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Spray-dried yellow cashew juice ingredients produced under different inlet temperatures (140 and 150 °C) and gum arabic (GA) addition ratios (15% and 25% w/v) were evaluated for their physicochemical and phytochemical attributes and storage stability for 56 days. All spray-dried cashew juice particles showed high solids recovery (>70%) and solubility (>90%), low water activity (<0.3), and low hygroscopicity (<10%). Spray-dried particles prepared with 15% w/v GA showed spherical shapes with a semi-crystalline structure and higher ascorbic acid concentration (>650 mg 100 g−1) and total phenolic content (>330 mg GAE 100 g−1). During storage, spray-dried cashew juice particles maintained their water activity levels within the microbiologically safe range and retained high solubility, in addition to high ascorbic (>68%) and phenolic (>55%) acid retention. Overall, we showed that spray-drying cashew juice is a feasible strategy to upcycle abundant and undervalued cashew juice into stable, phytochemical-rich ingredients for multiple applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low-carbon methane (CH4) obtained from CO2 hydrogenation is a promising option for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy production, but catalytic performance, especially in low temperatures, still needs to be improved before large-scale implementation. In this work, it is proposed the use of hydroxyapatite (HAP) as an alternative catalyst support to validate its performance for CO2 hydrogenation to CH4. In addition, for the first time in literature, the influence of process conditions (temperature, gas hourly space velocity and Ni metal load) on the performance of HAP-supported catalysts is investigated on semi-pilot scale. CO2 conversion is favored up to 400 °C, despite the thermodynamic limitations of the hydrogenation reaction. Ni-based catalysts present the best performance for CO2 hydrogenation with a maximum CO2 conversion around 88% under optimized conditions (20 wt.% Ni, T = 350 °C, GHSV = 320 h−1) with 100% CH4 selectivity and no CO production up to 450 °C. Finally, long-term operation of 20Ni/HAP for 50 h on semi-pilot scale shows a robust performance with 83% CO2 conversion, 100% CH4 selectivity and no signs of catalyst deactivation. The performance HAP-based catalyst presented here demonstrates the feasibility of HAP as alternative catalyst support for CO2 hydrogenation and the potential for process upscaling with HAP-supported catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose is to describe and demonstrate the applicability of a bottom-up methodology to build the lifecycle inventory of industrial equipment ubiquitous in chemical processes. The analysis describes concepts of the methodology and demonstrates its functionality in the context of carbon footprint assessment of methanol production. Methods: The methodology proposed assumed unit operations are composed of macroscopic components, six structural including steel, concrete, insulation (glass wool), aluminum, powering, and electronic, and one functional, catalyst. Unit operations included heat exchangers (shell-and-tube and air-cooled systems), separation units (flash tanks and distillation column), and a methanol reactor. Sets of equations were provided to estimate the lifecycle inventory (LCI), while relying on scaling parameters as reported in techno-economic assessment techniques (i.e., surface area to estimate heat exchangers costs). A Power-to-X case study (system boundary) was selected to demonstrate the methodology functionality to build the equipment LCI to estimate the CO2 equivalent emissions to produce 1.0 kg of methanol at 25 °C and 1 atm (functional unit). Results and discussion: The case study showed emissions associated to capital goods amounted to 4146 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, with the methanol reactor having the largest share (67.9%), followed by heat exchangers (23.5%) and separation units (8.6%). Regarding components, steel and concrete comprised the largest contribution for most unit operations (> 53.8% of emissions) excluding the methanol reactor (9.9%). The share of powering and electronics was relevant in the carbon footprint (CF) exercise due to the components intrinsic CF (5.74 and 36.25 kg-CO2 eq./kg-component, respectively) when compared to other major components (i.e., steel, 0.58 kg-CO2 eq./kg-component). The component catalyst had a significant impact on the reactor emissions (80.7%) which originated from the need of being renewed every 2.5-year period. For the system boundary, capital goods only amounted to 0.221% of methanol production emissions or 0.0005 kg-CO2 eq./kg-MeOH. Conclusion: This study described a novel methodology to estimate the LCI and subsequent CF of capital goods. This new methodology has been used in a specific case study for methanol production using PtX. Ultimately, the authors of this study seek to create the basis of a simple but comprehensive methodology to reduce data gaps associated to lifecycle inventory and assessment of industrial equipment in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the potential of yellow mombin (Spondias mombin L.)–extracted pectin as a film-forming matrix for the elaboration of edible coatings was investigated. The films of chitosan, citric pectin, and carboxymethylcellulose (Sigma/USA) and natural pectin were prepared by casting. The film morphological characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy (SME), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Additionally, total phenolic compounds (TPC), total antioxidant activity (TAC), DPPH scavenging capacity, and antimicrobial activity were assayed for the natural pectin–based films. The results showed that the film based on natural pectin presented a 46% degree of esterification that was higher than commercial (34%), showing its capacity of forming gels. The film formed by chitosan presented a very different behavior for loss of mass during TGA when compared to the other films, occurring a mass loss completely at 647.7 °C in 61 min. The value obtained from the concentration of total phenolics (mg GAE/100 g dried) found in the formulated film based on pectin was 3998.99 ± 42.64 and with solubility in water of almost 100%. Additionally, the scavenging of the DPPH radical with a value of 15.48 ± 1.48 μmol TE/g was found on the film based on natural pectin thus showing antioxidant capacity. Finally, this film showed less significant mechanical properties when compared to other films and a good pronounced antimicrobial effect against the gram-negative bacteria tested. Therefore, it could be potentially used for producing food-active packages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental issues related to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions have pushed the development of new technologies that will allow the economic production of low-carbon energy vectors, such as hydrogen (H2), methane (CH4) and liquid fuels. Dry reforming of methane (DRM) has gained increased attention since it uses CH4 and carbon dioxide (CO2), which are two main greenhouse gases (GHG), as feedstock for the production of syngas, which is a mixture of H2 and carbon monoxide (CO) and can be used as a building block for the production of fuels. Since H2 has been identified as a key enabler of the energy transition, a lot of studies have aimed to benefit from the environmental advantages of DRM and to use it as a pathway for a sustainable H2 production. However, there are several challenges related to this process and to its use for H2 production, such as catalyst deactivation and the low H2/CO ratio of the syngas produced, which is usually below 1.0. This paper presents the recent advances in the catalyst development for H2 production via DRM, the processes that could be combined with DRM to overcome these challenges and the current industrial processes using DRM. The objective is to assess in which conditions DRM could be used for H2 production and the gaps in literature data preventing better evaluation of the environmental and economic potential of this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the lactose hydrolysis conditions from "coalho" cheese whey using β-galactosidase (β-gal) produced by Kluyveromyces lactis immobilized with sodium alginate. Three sodium alginate-based immobilization systems were evaluated (0.5, 0.7, and 1% w/v) for maximizing the immobilization yield (Y), efficiency (EM), and recovered activity (ar). The lactose hydrolysis capacity of the immobilized form of β-gal was determined, and simulated environments were used to assess the preservation of the immobilized enzyme in the gastrointestinal tract. The results showed that β-gal immobilization with 1% (w/v) sodium alginate presented the best results (EM of 66%, Y of 41%, and ar of 65%). The immobilization system maintained the highest pH stability in the range between 5.0 and 7.0, with the highest relative activity obtained under pH 5 conditions. The temperature stability was also favored by immobilization at 50 °C for 30 min was obtained a relative activity of 180.0 ± 1.37%. In 6 h, the immobilized β-gal was able to hydrolyze 46% of the initial lactose content. For the gastrointestinal simulations, around 40% of the activity was preserved after 2 h. Overall, the results described here are promising for the industrial applications of β-galactosidase from K. lactis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluated the co-production of β-galactosidase and ethanol by Kluyveromyces marxianus ATCC 36907 and Kluyveromyces lactis NRRL Y-8279 using as carbon source the lactose found on "coalho" cheese whey. Cheese whey was subjected to partial deproteinization, and physicochemical parameters were assessed. Cultivations were carried out in an shaker to evaluate two carbon/nitrogen (C:N) ratios. The best C:N ratio (1.5:1) was carried to 1.5-L bioreactor cultivation in order to increase co-production yields. The stability of β-galactosidase was assessed against different temperatures and pH, and in the presence of metal ions. Concerning the co-production of β-galactosidase and ethanol, K. lactis proved to be more efficient in both the C:N ratios, reaching 21.09 U·mL−1 of activity and 7.10 g·L−1 of ethanol in 16 h. This study describes the development of a viable and value-adding biotechnological process using a regional cheese by-product from Northeast Brazil for co-production of biomolecules of industrial interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes the investigation of curcumin encapsulation into Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells through osmoporation as an efficient way of increasing curcumin stability. The influence of three process parameters (cell, ethanol and curcumin concentrations) on the encapsulation process was evaluated, and the obtained biocapsules were characterised for physical and photochemical stabilisation. Results showed that encapsulation efficiency was favoured by the increase of cells/curcumin ratio and ethanol concentration up to 60%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves revealed that yeast encapsulation delayed the curcumin melting point up to 207 °C. Encapsulated curcumin retained over 80% of antioxidant activity after thermal treatment (150 °C) and over 70% after a 50-day exposure to artificial light. Photochemical stability of yeast-encapsulated curcumin was increased by 5.7-fold, and half-life time reached 181 days under illumination conditions. Overall, osmoporation-produced yeast biocapsules confirmed the versatility of osmoporation as an encapsulation technique and successfully improved curcumin stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the production of acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC) based powder formulations by spouted bed drying was investigated. Dairy matrices (milk powder, reconstituted milk and concentrated whey‐protein) were used as drying adjuvants in order to obtain an ingredient‐like ready‐to‐use final product. High‐density polyethylene particles were used in the spouted bed dryer and an intermittent feeding strategy was adopted. Physicochemical attributes of both sample formulations and final powders were assessed, and the water sorption isotherms of powdered matrices were determined at 25°C and fitted to the GAB Model. The performance of the dryer was evaluated in regard to the fluid dynamics and the thermal efficiency of the process. Spouted bed dried matrices produced with acerola pulp and milk powder presented the highest powder production rates (0.0895 g powder/min), production yields (24.75%) and satisfactory thermal efficiency (40.4%). The use of milk powder as adjuvant resulted in a significant ascorbic acid retention (72.9%) after thermal processing. The sorption isotherms showed that the addition of dairy adjuvants was responsible for reducing the equilibrium monolayer moisture of powdered samples. Practical Application: Brazil is one of the world's largest producers of acerola fruit. The production of fruit‐flavored products is a trend to the food industry that aims to exploit the desirable marketing, flavoring and nutritional characteristics of fruits to increase products' acceptance and consumption. The motivation of this work was to evaluate the spouted bed drying as an appropriate processing strategy for producing food ingredients based on acerola and using alternative dairy‐based drying adjuvants. The data shown here can be used for the development of new acerola‐based food products and for clarifying the role that dairy adjuvants play on the physicochemical attributes of powdered matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]