Effects of vacuum ultrasonic treatment on the texture of vegetarian meatloaves made from textured wheat protein.

To improve the quality of vegetarian meatloaves (VMs) made from textured wheat protein, the effects of different treatments (Vacuum, ultrasound and vacuum ultrasound) were compared in terms of texture, moisture distribution, microstructure and chemical bonding interactions. After vacuum, ultrasonic, and vacuum ultrasonic treatments, the hardness of VMs increased by 78%, 66%, 176% respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that surface of VMs was smoother and the structure was tighter after vacuum ultrasonic treatment. In addition, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis showed that the moisture in VMs was evenly distributed after vacuum ultrasonic treatment. According to the optical maps observed by spectrofluorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the fluorescence value and relative content of ß-sheet increased after vacuum ultrasonic treatment. Furthermore, the protein was cross-linked and hydrophobic interactions increased after vacuum ultrasonic treatment. Results showed that texture of VMs after vacuum ultrasonic treatment was closer to that of beef patties.

A simple approach to mesoporous fibrous titania from potassium dititanate.

A new approach is developed to synthesize mesoporous fibrous titania from the sintered product of K(2)Ti(2)O(5), which involves a novel hydrolytic reaction for the formation of potassium-rich nanophase and the generation of an amorphous intermediate.

[Deactivation of titania whiskers used for purification of drinking water].

The reason of deactivation of titania whiskers used for deep purification of drinking water and the corresponding regeneration methods were presented. AFM, XRD and ICP were carried out to characterize the titanium dioxide. The experimental results suggest that the main reason of deactivation of titania whiskers is the deposition of calcium carbonate on the catalyst surface. The surface of titania whiskers is covered by the insoluble carbonates generated from carbon dioxide produced during the degradation of organics and metal ions such as calcium in the tap water, and the activity of the titania whiskers decreases gradually till deactivation. After washing by 1 mol/L hydrochloric acid for four hours, the photocatalytic activity of the titania whiskers can achieve 95 percent of that before deactivation. The photocatalytic activity of the titania whiskers which regenerated for many times keeps steady.

[Study on oxidant strengthening photocatalytic degradation of DMF over TiO2 fiber catalyst].

Oxidant strengthening the degradation of DMF aqueous solution was investigated when TiO2 fiber is used as the photocatalyst. When the UV light was absent, ozone per se could not make DMF degrade, which proves that DMF is a stable substance. But ozone could increase obviously photocatalytic degradation rate of DMF in O3/TiO2 (F). Under the same reaction condition, photocatalytic degradation rate and speed of DMF in O3/TiO2 (F) was almost 1.5 times and 2 times higher than that in air/ TiO2 (F) and H2O2/TiO2 (F) respectively. COD analysis showed DMF was almost mineralized completely when the reaction was carried out for 120 min. Through Hinsberg test secondary amine was proved as one of intermediates in the process of DMF photocatalytic degradation. Rise of pH value of reaction solution also showed that amine was produced in the photocatalytic reaction process. Degradation speed of DMA in O3/TiO2 (F) was higher than that in air/TiO2 (F). The increasing degradation rate and speed of DMF was mainly caused by fast degradation of secondary amine in the process of DMF photocatalytic degradation in O3/TiO2 (F).