Response surface optimization of process parameters for preparation of cellulose nanocrystal stabilized nanosulphur suspension.

This study employed response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize various parameters involved in the synthesis of nanosulphur (NS) stabilized by cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). The elemental sulphur (ES) mixed with CNCs was processed in a high-pressure homogenizer to make a stable formulation of CNC-stabilized NS (CNC-NS). RSM was adopted to formulate the experiments using Box-Behnken design (BBD) by considering three independent variables i.e., ES (5, 10, 15 g), CNCs (25, 50, 75 ml), and the number of passes (NP) in the high-pressure homogenizer (1, 2, 3). For the prepared suspensions (CNC-NS), the range of the responses viz. settling time (0.84-20.60 min), particle size (500.41-1432.62 nm), viscosity (29.20-420.60 cP), and surface tension (60.35-73.61 N/m) were observed. The numerical optimization technique was followed by keeping the independent and dependent factors in the range yielded in the optimized solution viz. 46 ml (CNCs), 8 g (ES), and 2 (NP). It was interpreted from the findings that the stability of the suspension had a positive correlation with the amount of CNC while the increasing proportion of ES resulted in reduced stability. The quadratic model was fitted adequately to all the responses as justified with the higher coefficient of determination (R2 ≥ 0.88). The characterization performed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed better-stabilizing properties of the optimized CNCs-ES suspension. The study confirmed that CNCs have the potential to be utilized as a stabilizing agent in synthesizing stable nanosulphur formulation by high-pressure homogenization.

Citrinin Mycotoxin Contamination in Food and Feed: Impact on Agriculture, Human Health, and Detection and Management Strategies.

Citrinin (CIT) is a mycotoxin produced by different species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Monascus. CIT can contaminate a wide range of foods and feeds at any time during the pre-harvest, harvest, and post-harvest stages. CIT can be usually found in beans, fruits, fruit and vegetable juices, herbs and spices, and dairy products, as well as red mold rice. CIT exerts nephrotoxic and genotoxic effects in both humans and animals, thereby raising concerns regarding the consumption of CIT-contaminated food and feed. Hence, to minimize the risk of CIT contamination in food and feed, understanding the incidence of CIT occurrence, its sources, and biosynthetic pathways could assist in the effective implementation of detection and mitigation measures. Therefore, this review aims to shed light on sources of CIT, its prevalence in food and feed, biosynthetic pathways, and genes involved, with a major focus on detection and management strategies to ensure the safety and security of food and feed.

Supercritical CO2 extraction of lycopene from pink grapefruit (Citrus paradise Macfad) and its degradation studies during storage.

Lycopene was extracted from pink grapefruit using SC-CO2 and rice bran oil as co-solvent. Response surface methodology was employed to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of three process parameters varied at five levels i.e. pressure (250, 300, 375, 450 & 500 bar), temperature (55, 60, 70, 80 & 85 °C), and extraction time (60, 90, 135, 180 & 210 min). Single optimum point for multiple response variables was achieved at 325 bar, 64 °C, and 143 min with overall desirability of 0.92 at which 70.52 ± 3.65% (lycopene extraction efficiency) and 11154 ± 148 ppm (γ-oryzanol) were predicted. Extraction temperatures of more than 80 °C and time beyond 180 min led to the isomerization of lycopene. Lycopene storage at 3 °C, 10 °C, & 25 °C showed average k and half-life values as 0.018, 0.030, & 0.075 and 40, 23, & 9 days, respectively for first-order degradation kinetics; depicting faster degradation at higher storage temperatures.

Kinetics of ß-carotene degradation under different storage conditions in transgenic Golden Rice® lines.

The effect of vacuum packing and ambient storage conditions on the stability of the ß-carotene in the transgenic Golden Rice® lines was studied. The ß-carotene was quantified using RP-HPLC at bimonthly intervals for a period of six months. The ß-carotene concentration in the genotypes analyzed ranged from 7.13 to 22.81 µg/g of endosperm. The transgene being the same in all the genotypes, variation in the ß-carotene concentration reflects on the genetic background of the rice variety and the transgene position that governed the differential accumulation of ß-carotene. It was observed that in the absence of light, oxidative degradation is higher followed by thermal degradation. Weibull model with higher R2 best explained the degradation kinetics of ß-carotene in Golden Rice® lines across all the storage conditions. The knowledge generated through this study can be utilized in devising an effective delivery system for Golden Rice® to the consumer.