An effective and recyclable decolorization method for polysaccharides from Isaria cicadae Miquel by magnetic chitosan microspheres.

The purpose of this research was to develop an efficient and non-destructive method for decolorizing of polysaccharides extracted from Isaria cicadae Miquel by magnetic chitosan microspheres (MCM). The optimum decolorization parameters were achieved by response surface methodology as follows: the MCM amount was 8.0%, the adsorption temperature was 48 °C, the adsorption time was 82 min and the pH was 7. Under these optimal conditions, the D r%, R r%, and K c were 90.31 ± 0.12%, 95.40 ± 0.11% and 19.66 ± 0.49, respectively. MCM adsorption of pigment molecules was a spontaneous and endothermic process that could be fitted with the pseudo-second-order equation and the Freundlich equation. Besides, the adsorption mechanism could be controlled by multiple-diffusion steps, including film diffusion and intra-particle diffusion. Furthermore, MCM is a recyclable material. Adsorption with MCM is a promising method to remove pigment molecules of polysaccharide, it may replace the traditional decolorization method.

Consumers' attention on identification, nutritional compounds, and safety in heavy metals of Canadian sea cucumber in Chinese food market.

BACKGROUND: Based on the consumers' attention issues of sea cucumbers, we aimed to complete comprehensive information of commercial Canadian sea cucumbers (CCSC), which sprang up extensively in Chinese food market. RESULTS: CCSC were identified as Cucumaria frondosa and characterized based on the characteristics, nutritional compositions, and heavy metals. The abdomen and five internal tendons of Cucumaria frondosa were special orange. The average of soaking degree and water content, which consumers paid great attention to, was 2.8 ± 0.3 and 0.46 ± 0.09%, respectively. Proteins (56.4 ± 9.1%) and polysaccharides (12.2 ± 14.7%) were the principal nutrient component. In addition, there was a variety of free amino acids, in which arginine (70.1 ± 50.0 mg/100 g), glutamate (42.6 ± 23.9 mg/100 g), and alanine (32.2 ± 21.0 mg/100 g) were the main components. Phosphorus (P, 0.26 ± 0.05%), magnesium (Mg, 0.19 ± 0.07%), and kalium (K, 0.17 ± 0.08%) were the major mineral elements. Amount of heavy metal was within the safety limitation (5.5 ± 1.4 mg/kg). Furthermore, the active ingredients were positively correlated with size. CONCLUSION: The overall findings enriched the information of Cucumaria frondosa for consumers and suggested that the quality of Cucumaria frondosa was varied following commercial classification and size.