Bioconversion of grape and chokeberry wine polyphenols during simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion.

The primary objective of the present study was to assess the qualitative and quantitative changes of wine polyphenols during in vitro digestion process conducted in a gastrointestinal tract model. Wines selected for these experiments were red grape, white grape and chokeberry wines. Following the stages of in vitro digestion-stomach, small and large intestine-qualitative and quantitative changes particularly in phenolic acids were monitored. Decomposition of resveratrol and chlorogenic acid, secretion of caffeic acid and formation of other derivatives characterized with high antioxidant activity were determined. As a second focus of this work the evaluation of interactions between human fecal microflora (Enterobacteriaceae, Lactobacillus, Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium) and polyphenolic compounds and their derivatives secreted during the digestion were performed.

Impact of batch, repeated-batch (with cell recycle and medium replacement) and continuous processes on the course and efficiency of aerobic thermophilic biodegradation of potato processing wastewater.

The aim of the study was to assess the course and efficiency of aerobic thermophilic treatment of a high-strength (COD=35gO(2)/l) effluent from potato processing. A comparative analysis was conducted of the treatment effects achieved using batch, repeated-batch (with cell recycle and medium replacement) and continuous treatment operations. The analysis consisted in (1) examining the extent of removal for the major parameters of the wastewater: COD, TOC, TN and TP (chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and total phosphorus), and (2) determining the impact of oxygen deficit on the formation and assimilation of organic acids in the course of the three treatment operations. When use was made of the repeated-batch operation, the values of the COD and TOC removal rates were more than twice as high as those obtained with the continuous process, and more than five times as high as those obtained with the batch process.

Thermo- and mesophilic aerobic batch biodegradation of high-strength distillery wastewater (potato stillage)--utilisation of main carbon sources.

The aim of the study was to ascertain the extent to which temperature influences the utilisation of main carbon sources (reducing substances determined before and after hydrolysis, glycerol and organic acids) by a mixed culture of thermo- and mesophilic bacteria of the genus Bacillus in the course of aerobic batch biodegradation of potato stillage, a high-strength distillery effluent (COD=51.88 g O(2)/l). The experiments were performed at 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 63 degrees C, at pH 7, in a 5l working volume stirred-tank bioreactor (Biostat B, B. Braun Biotech International) with a stirrer speed of 550 rpm and aeration at 1.6 vvm. Particular consideration was given to the following issues: (1) the sequence in which the main carbon sources in the stillage were assimilated and (2) the extent of their assimilation achieved under these conditions.