Iron Encapsulation by Deacetylated Glucomannan as an Excipient Using the Gelation Method: Characteristics and Controlled Release

Research background. Deacetylation and the use of CaCl2 as a gelation agent improve the performance of glucomannan as iron encapsulant using the gelation method. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of deacetylation using NaOH and pH gelation on the characteristics of encapsulated iron using the CaCl2 gelation method. Experimental approach. Glucomannan was deacetylated at various NaOH concentrations and was subsequently utilized as an iron excipient using the pipette-dropped gelation method in CaCl2 solution to directly investigate the gelation process of encapsulation. The pH of the gelation solution was also changed. The beads were subsequently vacuum-dried. Results and conclusions. Deacetylation led to lower endothermic peak temperature of the glucomannan than that of the native one. The deacetylation degree (DD) and gelation pH did not significantly affect the diameter of the beads but influenced their appearance and physical characteristics. The backbone of glucomannan was not changed by either the deacetylation degree or the pH of the gelation treatment. The highest encapsulation efficiency (73.27 %) was observed in the encapsulated iron using the glucomannan matrix of the highest deacetylation degree (82.56 %) and gelated in pH=10 solution. The highest deacetylation degree of glucomannan caused the beads to have the highest swelling, which led to the release of a higher amount of iron. Glucomannan deacetylation improved the pH sensitivity of iron encapsulation, in which more iron was released at a pH=6.8 than of pH=1.2. The Weibull model was the best-fitted model to represent the profile of iron release from the deacetylated glucomannan matrix using the gelation method (R2 > 0.93) at pH=6.8 and pH=1.2 solutions. Novelty and scientific contribution. This result supports the application of deacetylated glucomannan using NaOH as a pH-sensitive matrix on iron encapsulation using CaCl2 solution as gelation agent. A higher deacetylation degree leads to the release of a higher amount of iron from the matrix. The encapsulation is not only protecting the iron but also delivering it to the absorption site and controlling the iron release which are useful in supplement formulation. or food fortifications. The results show that the deacetylated glucomannan as the matrix holds more iron in encapsulation process.

Wet-Spun Composite Filaments from Lignocellulose Nanofibrils/Alginate and Their Physico-Mechanical Properties

Lignocellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) with different lignin contents were prepared using choline chloride (ChCl)/lactic acid (LA), deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment, and subsequent mechanical defibrillation. The LCNFs had a diameter of 15.3–18.2 nm, which was similar to the diameter of commercial pure cellulose nanofibrils (PCNFs). The LCNFs and PCNFs were wet-spun in CaCl2 solution for filament fabrication. The addition of sodium alginate (AL) significantly improved the wet-spinnability of the LCNFs. As the AL content increased, the average diameter of the composite filaments increased, and the orientation index decreased. The increase in AL content improved the wet-spinnability of CNFs but deteriorated the tensile properties. The increase in the spinning rate resulted in an increase in the orientation index, which improved the tensile strength and elastic modulus.

Preparation and properties of wet-spun microcomposite filaments from cellulose nanocrystals and alginate using a microfluidic device

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were wet-spun in a coagulation bath for the fabrication of microfilaments, and the effect of sodium alginate (AL) addition on the wet-spinnability and properties of the microcomposite filament was investigated. The CNC suspension exhibited excellent wet-spinnability in calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution, and the addition of AL in CNC suspension resulted in the enhancement of the wet-spinnability of CNCs. As the AL content increased from 3% to 10%, the average diameter of the microcomposite filament decreased, and its tensile properties deteriorated. The increased spinning rate caused an increase in the orientation index of CNCs, resulting in an improvement in the tensile properties of the microcomposite filament.

Kinetics of potassium release from soil amended with clinoptilolite zeolite and maize stalks biochar

A laboratory incubation experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications was carried out for 90 days to test the effect of zeolite and biochar application to calcareous sandy loam soil on potassium forms distribution and its release rate. The treatments included (1) Absolute control (C), (2) 10 g kg-1 zeolite (Z1), (3) 20 g kg-1 zeolite (Z2), (4) 10 g kg-1 biochar (B1), and (5) 20 g kg-1 biochar (B2). After incubation period, the concentrations of soluble, exchangeable, and non-exchangeable K and the release rate of K to 0.01 M CaCl2 during 200 min (10 successive extractions for soil samples of 20 min for each using CaCl2 solution) were determined. Results showed that zeolite application increased the soluble and exchangeable K concentrations. However, amending soil with biochar had a positive effect on all K forms. Addition of zeolite or biochar increased the cumulative K release. The parabolic diffusion, power function and Simple Elovich models described the kinetics of K release to CaCl2 solution well from all the soil treatments. Zeolite and maize stalks biochar may have an effective role in improvement of K availability and release in the calcareous sandy loam soil as well as may aid in increasing the ability of this soil to supply the different crops with K.

Combined Effects of Calcium Addition and Thermal Processing on the Texture and In Vitro Digestibility of Starch and Protein of Black Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Legumes are typically soaked overnight to reduce antinutrients and then cooked prior to consumption. However, thermal processing can cause over-softening of legumes. This study aimed to determine the effect of calcium addition (0, 100, 300, and 500 ppm in the form of calcium chloride, CaCl2), starting from the overnight soaking step, in reducing the loss of firmness of black beans during thermal processing for up to 2 h. The impact of calcium addition on the in vitro starch and protein digestibility of cooked beans was also assessed. Two strategies of calcium addition were employed in this study: (Strategy 1/S1) beans were soaked and then cooked in the same CaCl2 solution, or (Strategy 2/S2) cooked in a freshly prepared CaCl2 solution after the calcium-containing soaking medium was discarded. Despite the texture degradation of black beans brought about by increasing the cooking time, texture profile analysis (TPA) revealed that their hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, chewiness, and resilience improved significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing calcium concentration. Interestingly, beans cooked for 2 h with 300 ppm CaCl2 shared similar hardness with beans cooked for 1 h without calcium addition. Starch and protein digestibility of calcium-treated beans generally improved with prolonged cooking. However, calcium-treated beans cooked for 1 h under S2 achieved a reduced texture loss and a lower starch digestibility than those beans treated in S1. A lower starch digestion could be desired as this reflects a slow rise in blood glucose levels. Findings from this result also showed that treating black beans with high level of CaCl2 (i.e., 500 ppm) was not necessary, otherwise this would limit protein digestibility of cooked black beans.

Preparation and Properties of Wet-Spun Microcomposite Filaments from Various CNFs and Alginate

We aimed to improve the mechanical properties of alginate fibers by reinforcing with various cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Pure cellulose nanofibril (PCNF), lignocellulose nanofibril (LCNF) obtained via deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment, and TEMPO-oxidized lignocellulose nanofibril (TOLCNF) were employed. Sodium alginate (AL) was mixed with PCNF, LCNF, and TOLCNF with a CNF content of 5–30%. To fabricate microcomposite filaments, the suspensions were wet-spun in calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution through a microfluidic channel. Average diameters of the microcomposite filaments were in the range of 40.2–73.7 μm, which increased with increasing CNF content and spinning rate. The tensile strength and elastic modulus improved as the CNF content increased to 10%, but the addition of 30% CNF deteriorated the tensile properties. The tensile strength and elastic modulus were in the order of LCNF/AL > PCNF/AL > TOLCNF/AL > AL. An increase in the spinning rate improved the tensile properties.

Encapsulation of Clove Oil within Ca-Alginate-Gelatine Complex: Effect of Process Variables on Encapsulation Efficiency

Karena memiliki khasiat seperti analgesik, minyak cengkeh biasa digunakan sebagai obat, antibakteri, antioksidan, dan antimikroba. Kemungkinan enkapsulasi minyak cengkeh sebagai makrokapsul padat dipelajari dengan pembuatan makrokapsul Ca-Alginate-Gelatine. Variabel proses yang digunakan adalah variasi konsentrasi alginat 1% dan 1,5% b / v, dan perbandingan massa antara alginat-gelatin divariasikan antara 1: 4, 1: 6, dan 1: 8 w /w. Selain itu, variasi konsentrasi CaCl2 (10%, 20% dan 30% w / v) sebagai cross-linking agent pembentukan kompleks Ca-Alginate juga digunakan sebagai variabel proses. Peningkatan konsentrasi alginat, gelatin dan CaCl2 nampaknya menurunkan efisiensi enkapsulasi karena terbatasnya volume ruang bebas yang terbentuk pada matriks Ca-Alginat-Gelatin. Efisiensi enkapsulasi tertinggi (93,08%) diperoleh pada penggunaan Alginat 1% w / v, dengan perbandingan alginat dengan gelatin 1: 4 dan ikatan silang dalam larutan CaCl2 10% w / v selama 15 menit.Owing to the properties such as analgesic, clove oil is commonly used as medicine, antibacterial, antioxidant, and antimicrobial drugs. The possibility of clove oil encapsulation as a solid macrocapsule was studied by making Ca-Alginate-Gelatine macrocapsules. The process variables used were variations in Alginate concentration of 1% and 1.5% w/v, and the mass ratio between alginate-gelatine was varied between 1: 4, 1: 6, and 1: 8 w/w. In addition, variations in the concentration of CaCl2 (10%, 20% and 30% w/v) as a cross-linking agent for the formation of Ca-Alginate complexes were also used as process variables. The increase of alginate, gelatine and CaCl2 concentration seems to decreased the encapsulation efficiency because of the limitation of the free space volume formed in the Ca-Alginate-Gelatine matrix. The highest encapsulation efficiency (93.08%) was obtained in the use of Alginate 1% w/v, with a ratio of alginate to gelatine 1: 4 and cross-linking in a 10% w/v CaCl2 solution for 15 minutes.

Purification of precursors of calcium orthophosphates synthesis by co-precipitation method

The purification of the synthesis precursors of calcium phosphates from the toxic microimpurities Cu(II), Cd(II), As(III) and Pb(II) by co-precipitation with a part of the target product was studied. It was found that a maximum extraction of Cu(II), Cd(II) and As(III) from the CaCl2 solutions was achieved in the acidic and alkaline media. When precipitating calcium phosphates from the H3PO4 solutions, the following patterns regarding the degree of co-precipitation of the microimpurities with increase of pH were observed: the degree of co-precipitation of Cd(II) decreases rapidly, whereas the degree of the co-precipitation of As(III) goes through the maximum and Cu(II) is removed completely. Pb(II) ions are also completely removed in both CaCl2 and H3PO4 solutions. It was shown that in order to purify the CaCl2 solution, it is necessary to add at least 15 g of H3PO4 per 1 dm3 of the solution and then adjust pH to the value of 2.5 to 3.0 by neutralizing the solution with ammonia. In order to remove the impurities from the phosphoric acid solution, it is recommended to carry out the co-precipitation in two following stages: firstly, the ions of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) are removed at pH of 6.0–6.5, which requires at least 4 g of CaCl2 per 1 dm3 of the acid, and then the arsenic residues are removed at pH of 8.0–8.25, which requires at least 13 g of CaCl2 per 1 dm3 of the solution.