Incorporation of Bromelain into Dermatological Bases： Accelerated Stability Studies

This work aimed the incorporation of the enzyme bromelain from pineapple peel into dermatological bases for potential therapeutic application. The enzyme was incorporated into Lanette cream and lotion, as well as Carbopol gel and Chemyunion cream and lotion, at a concentration of 0.5% （w/w）. These bases were subjected to centrifugation test and accelerated stability test during 90 days at 25 ℃（with and without sunlight）, 37 ℃ and 4 ℃, in order to evaluate bromelain stability in dermatological bases. Total protein content and enzymatic activity were measured. The bases were stable as its organoleptic characteristics （appearance, color, smell and sensitivity to touch） only when kept at 4 ℃ with activity remaining 95.5%, 84,9%. 77.7%, 73.8% and 72.3%, alter 90 days of testing in Carbopol gel, Lanette and Chemyunion cream, and Lanette and Chemyunion lotion, respectively. Based on the results, it was possible to incorporate bromelain into dermatological bases, and the activity was well preserved when these bases were kept in refrigerator at 4 ℃.

Purification Processes and Market Potential of Bromelain in Brazil

Bromelain is the denomination given to the group of endoproteases obtained from members of Bromeliacea family. These enzymes have a wide range of proven applications and have been an object of study for worldwide researchers for decades. Over the years, several different downstream processes were studied in order to determine which technique would be worthwhile to be implemented in Brazil and provide the national market with such product. The objective of the present study is to relate the main studies in Brazil that has proven that bromelain purification can be cost-effective, in addition to the well-known benefits owned by such enzymes, and highlight the applications that create their market potential in the Brazilian market.

Optimization Techniques and Development of Neural Models Applied in Biosurfactant Production by <i>Bacillus subtilis</i>Using Alternative Substrates

Bacillus subtilis was investigated as production of biosurfactant using a combination based on waste of candy industry and glycerol from biodiesel production process as only substrate. The experimental design chosen for optimization by response surface methodology was a central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and dry weight (DW) and crude biosurfactant (CB) concentrations were selected as responses in analysis. Two techniques were implemented response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). First challenge of study was to assess the effects of the interactions between variables and reach optimum values. With the CCRD results, RSM and ANN models were developed, optimizing the production of biosurfactant. The correlation coefficients (R2) of RSM models explained 88% for DW and 73% for CB of the interactions among substrate concentrations, while ANN models explained 99% for DW and 98% for CB, demonstrating that developed ANN models were more accurate and consistent in predicting optimized conditions than RSM model. The maximum DW and CB produced in the optimum conditions were 25.60 ± 5.0 g/L and 668 ± 40 mg/L, respectively. The crude biosurfactant also showed applications in cases of oil spreading in water due to clear zone produced in Petri dishes assays.

Production Optimization of Biodiesel from Frying Oil Waste to Reduce the Environmental Impacts

The objective of this study was to reduce the environmental impacts of used frying oil waste through the production of biodiesel. A 22 factorial planning has been used to evaluate the influences of alcohol/oil and reaction time on the biodiesel production yield. The optimal condition to produce the biodiesel has been found by use of the response surface methodology and analysis of variance to obtain the fitting model. This study was conducted in Campinas city, Brazil, where were collected the waste oil. An analysis of ecological cost also has been developed. Cooking oils collected from Campinas homes were mixed with ethanol in planned proportions （1：9, 1：7 and 1：5） and were transesterified at 60 ℃ and planned reaction times （30, 60 or 90 min）, in order to obtain biodiesel, using 0.1% NaOH as a catalyst. The results of the physical-chemical analyses demonstrated that the biodiesels obtained possessed characteristics close to those required by Brazilian standards. This fuel could be used in fleets of buses, trucks and machines, or even sold to fuel distributors, which results in a solving between US$0.8 and US$4.5 millions. Thus, Campinas would gain environmental credits and become a sustainable city.

Biosurfactant Production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Yarrowia lipolytica and Its Use for Detergent Formulations

This work reports detergents production using biological surfactants, microbiologically synthesized, and compares its foaming power and emulsification capacity to those presented by a petroleum based surfactant. Both used microorganisms were capable to produce surfactants, been able to emulsify oil/water mixtures and cause decrease of surface tension of water. The biosurfactant produced from Yarrowia lipolytica has a critical micelle concentration lower than that obtained from Pseudomonas aeruginosa （10 and 30 mg·Lt, respectively）, but the later showed better results in foaming power and emulsification experiments, similar to the synthetic detergent.

Optimization and Evaluation of Biosurfactant Produced by Pantoea sp. Using Pineapple Peel Residue, Vegetable Fat and Corn Steep Liquor

In this study, the authors have investigated the potential of a bacterial strain of Pantoea sp., isolated from wastewater of the textile industry, for the production of biosurfactant. The biosurfactant production was optimized by the combination of CCD （central composite design） and RSM （response surface methodology）. To assess the effects and interactions of medium the vegetable fat （1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 v/v）, the variables corn steep liquor （2.0, 5.0 and 8.0 v/v） and pineapple peel residue （10.0, 25.0 and 40.0 v/v） on the surface tension were evaluated. The empirical model developed through RSM in terms of the effective operational factors mentioned above was found to be adequate to describe the biosurfactant production. Compositional analysis of the produced biosurfaetant has been carried out by FT-IR （Fourier transform infrared spectoscopy） and subjected to the test of removing hydrocarbons. Through the analysis, vegetable fat and pineapple peel residue were found to be the most significant factors, whereas corn steep liquor had less effect within the ranges investigated. A maximum reduction in surface tension of 30.00 mN/m was obtained under the optimal conditions of 2.0% （v/v） vegetable fat concentration, 5.0% （v/v） corn steep liquor and 25.0% （v/v） pineapple peel residue concentration of medium. FT-IR spectrometer analysis of the biosurfactant characterized it as a glycolipid derivative. The biosurfactant exhibited the ability to solubilize the hydrocarbons tested, working between 64% and 92%. According to consists of bars with a length proportional to the absolute value of the estimated effects divided by the standard error. On this chart, ANOVA （analysis of variance） effect estimates are arranged from the largest to smallest absolute value. The chart includes a vertical line at the critical p-value of 0.05. Effects for which the bars are smaller than the critical p-value are considered non-significant and do not have an effect on the response variables. The effects are either positive or negative ANOVA; the determination of regression coefficients and the construction of graphs were performed using the Statistical program, version 7.0 （Statsoft Inc, RSA）. The results, the biosurfactant produced by Pantoea sp. can be a valuable source for application in rapid environmental bioremediation.