Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Calorimetric Investigations of Extraction Mode on Flaxseed Gum Composition.

We discussed about the influence of extraction mode on the flaxseed gums composition and their thermal stabilities. In order to do so, flaxseed gum was extracted by both classical magnetic stirring method and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE). As a function of time, protein content, gum yield, pH values were evaluated and samples were characterized by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The flaxseed gum extracted in aqueous solution correspond to a mixture of different components, including polysaccharides, proteins and sometimes lignan derivatives. It is found that the protein and gum contents increase with the extraction duration for both the ultrasonic assisted and the traditional extraction while the pH decreases at the same time. As expected, compared to traditional magnetic stirring method, ultrasonic assisted extraction method can significantly enhance the yield of polysaccharides, lignans and proteins. The variation of pH is correlated to the increase of lignan molecules in the extracted samples. For thermic methods, SEM experiments showed that lignan derivatives which ester-bonded to polysaccharides associated to proteins are responsible to the formation of globular aggregates. Supplementary rod-like molecular organization were obtained from UAE and questions on the nature of the amphiphilic mesogen carbohydrate structures.

Amorphous oxide as a novel efficient catalyst for direct selective oxidation of methanol to dimethoxymethane.

We report for the first time the use of an amorphous oxide catalyst for the selective oxidation of methanol in the gas phase, leading at 553 K to the production of dimethoxymethane with a selectivity as high as 90% at high methanol conversion (68%).