Liquid penetration of freeze-drying and air-drying wood of plantation Chinese fir

A comparative study was conducted on liquid penetration of the freeze-drying and air-drying sapwood and heartwood lumber of plantation Chinese fir （Cunninghamia lanceolata）. The maximum amount of dyeing solution uptake by the capillary rise method was used to evaluate the liquid penetration properties of the treated wood. The pit aspiration ratio was determined by semithin section method. Changes in wood microstructure were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that compared with air drying, the freeze drying had a significant effect on liquid penetration of sapwood and heartwood of Chinese fir. The liquid penetration of sapwood is significantly higher than that of the heartwood for both drying treatments. Low pit aspiration ratio and cracks of pits membrane of some bordered pits are the main reasons for increasing liquid penetration after freeze drying treatment.

Preparation of highly dispersed iron species over ZSM-5 with enhanced metal-support interaction through freeze-drying impregnation

Supported metal catalysts play a vital role in the chemical industry, and the metal-support interaction is an important property of the catalyst. However, in the traditional impregnation method, it is difficult to obtain sufficient metal-support interactions owing to the mobility of the metal precursor during evaporation drying. Here, freeze drying is applied during impregnation instead of evaporation drying for enhancing the metal-support interactions. 57 Fe ZSM-5 was chosen as a representative catalyst. A quantitative analysis was conducted based on Mossbauer spectroscopy. Compared with traditional evaporation-drying catalyst, freeze-drying catalyst has stronger metal-support interactions. In addition, more iron species are confined in the channel and smaller metal sizes and less diversity are obtained. The compositional change is also proved because of the superior performance of the freeze-drying catalyst during N2O decomposition. This method can be extended to other supported metal catalysts prepared through an impregnation method, which can be used to tune the metal-support interactions and metal sizes.

Structural and functional properties of hydrolyzed/glycosylated ovalbumin under spray drying and microwave freeze drying

Ovalbumin(OVA),the main protein in egg white,affects most of the functional properties of egg white protein in food processing.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of spray drying(SD)and microwave freeze drying(MFD)on the preparation of hydrolyzed/glycosylated ovalbumin(HGOVA)and provide useful information on the applications of egg protein powders in the food industry.Results demonstrated that the structure of HGOVA was considerably changed,and its functional properties were improved compared with those of native OVA.SD and MFD processing did not lead to dissociation of HGOVA subunits.SD-HGOVA exhibited higher protein solubility,emulsifying activity,foaming capacities,and gel hardness than MFD-HGOVA.However,MFD-HGOVA was better than the SD-HGOVA in terms of color,emulsion stability,foam stability,water/oil absorption capacity,and thermal stability.Selection of an appropriate drying method could enhance the potential applications of HGOVA in the food industry.

Preservation of moderately thermophilic culture by freeze drying and frozen preservation way and effect on subsequent bioleaching of chalcopyrite

Freeze drying and frozen preservation way was used to preserve a moderately thermophilic culture for bioleaching of chalcopyrite concentrate.After preservation of 15 months,the cell viability rate decreases to 22% with a cell density of 7×107 mL-1.When the growth time was extended from 8 days to 14 days,cell density would increase in a large scale to about 3×108 mL-1.In the bioleaching experiments,unpreserved and preserved cultures were compared for dissolving chalcopyrite concentrate.Before 44 days,the unpreserved culture can reach a high copper extraction of about 17.4 g/L.While the preserved culture shows a rather low copper extraction,which is only 9.7 g/L.When the bioleaching time was extended to 80 days,copper extraction by preserved culture increases remarkably,and the concentration of copper finally achieves up to 18.3 g/L.On the other hand,copper extraction by the unpreserved culture does not show remarkable increase from 44th to the 80th day,and finally the total copper extraction is 19.8 g/L.As a result,total copper extraction in 80 days by preserved culture approaches that by unpreserved culture and freeze drying and frozen preservation even after 15 months does not bring much decrease of bioleaching ability.

Research on Freeze Drying and High-temperature Molding in Medium-temperature Fluorocarbon Board

A research and test system for the carbon anode plate preparation technology was established to optimize the physical and chemical indicators of carbon anode plates,such as bulk density,resistivity,and compressive strength,and improve the operating cycle.In this study,a carbon plate was prepared via a combination of high-temperature molding and freeze drying using a formulation with asphalt content much lower than the industry standard.The experimental results show that the density of the carbon plate is increased by 0.02-0.04 g/cm^(3) by improving the drying method.The carbon plate prepared in the laboratory has a bulk density of 1.814 g/cm^(3),resistivity of 29.8μΩ·m,and compressive strength of 89.27 MPa.The bulk density,room-temperature resistivity,compressive strength,graphitization,and other key indices of the carbon plates made in the laboratory and those procured from a factory in Shanxi,Datong,were tested.Additionally,the specimens were analyzed using thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry,scanning electron microscopy,and X-ray fluorescence.The laboratory-made carbon plates were superior to the factory specimens in terms of all the indicators tested.The process in this study improves the performance of the carbon anode plate and is used to provide technical support for electrolytic fluorine production in enterprises.The carbon plates prepared in the laboratory fully meet the process requirements of a medium-temperature electrolytic fluorine production line,which indicates the possibility of its use in the stable production of fluorine gas.

Optimization of Freeze-drying Protective Agents for Lactobacillus plantarum KLDS1.0391 by Response Surface Methodology

In this study, the Single Factor Test（SFT） was used to optimize the pre-freezing conditions of L. plantarum KLDS1.0391（KLDS1.0391）. Further, the Freeze-Drying Protective Agents（FDPA） of KLDS1.0391 was optimized by Response Surface Methodology（RSM）. The optimum pretreatment conditions were as the follows： initial concentration of KLDS1.0391 was 1011 CFU · m L-1 and KLDS1.0391 was pre-freezed at –80℃ for 8 h to achieve the survival rate of 46.21%. The main components of FDPA were skim milk, sucrose, sodium glutamate and Tween-80. And the influence of four factors on the survival rate of KLDS1.0391 in freeze-drying was in order as the follows： skim milk〉sucrose〉Tween-80〉sodium glutamate. The optimal FDPA composition was skim milk 11.3%, sucrose 9.8%, sodium glutamate 5.1% and Tween-80 0.2%. Under the above conditions, the survival rate of the cells was 82.98%. Comparing the predicted values, the relative error was 0.37% and the difference was not significant, which indicated that the established model could effectively reflect the actual protection of FDPA to KLDS1.0391.

Physico-chemical properties and nutrition quality of potato flour: chuño vs modern processing technology

Chuño production is a kind of ancient method of potato preservation that has been used to the present day.In this study,physicochemical property and nutrition quality of white chuño(WC),black chuño,and dehydrated potato flour prepared by hot air drying(AD)and freezing drying were analyzed and compared.The results revealed that the average particle size of the starch in WC is almost 10 times of the dehydrated potato flour by AD treatment according to the laser particle size meter.During the dehydration of WC,water-soluble minerals(K+,Mg2+),proteins,ascorbic acid,etc.were partly lost while Ca2+content increased dramatically.In addition,WC showed the lowest antioxidant capacity among the four different kinds of dehydrated potato products.The polyphenol oxidase activity of WC,black chuño and AD were between 0.62–12.2 U/g fresh weight,which indicated that the color will be stable when chuño was used as staple food ingredient in the subsequent process.Therefore,as a potato processed food,chuño displayed great potential for promotion in the cold and poor rural areas of the northern China.

Progress involving new techniques for liposome preparation

The article presents a review of new techniques being used for the preparation of liposomes.A total of 28 publications were examined.In addition to the theories,characteristics and problems associated with traditional methods,the advantages and drawbacks of the latest techniques were reviewed.In the light of developments in many relevant areas,a variety of new techniques are being used for liposome preparation and each of these new technique has particular advantages over conventional preparation methods.However,there are still some problems associated with these new techniques that could hinder their applications and further improvements are needed.Generally speaking,due to the introduction of these latest techniques,liposome preparation is now an improved procedure.These applications promote not only advances in liposome research but also the methods for their production on an industrial scale.

Preparation of Ceramic Foams Suitable for Aircraft Arresting by the Airport Runway Based on a Protein Foaming Agent

Crushable ceramic foams are more suitable to be used as an arrestor material applied in engineered materials arresting system （EMAS） for airport runway for their properties of widely controllable strength, negligible crushing-rebounding behavior, durability, and chemically-inert composition, comparing with traditional concrete foams. The synthesis of ceramic foams adopted direct-foaming method and used an animal protein as foaming agent. Kaolin, talc powder and alumina were the main raw materials. Effects of the ratios of raw materials, calcination temperatures, heating rates, holding time, viscosities of potyvinyl alcohol （PVA） solution as well as the amounts of protein foaming agent and water on microscopic structure, densities, compressive strength and open porosities of ceramic foams were investigated systematically. The results indicate that ceramic foams with typical pore sizes 100-300 μm, open porosities from 73.1% to 91.5%, densities from 0.25 to 0.62 g.cm-3, compressive strength from 0.19 to 4.89 MPa, are obtained by properly adjusting the parameters mentioned above. And the mechanical strength meets the requirement for the EMAS for airport runway. In addition, good correlations are observed among compressive strength, open porosity, microscopic structure, and crystal phase. Furthermore, the possibility of producing the general dimensions of such aircraft arresting components with the proposed method was also discussed.

Dynamic culture improves MSC adhesion on freeze-dried bone as a scaffold for bone engineering

AIM: To investigate the interaction between mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone grafts using two different cultivation methods: static and dynamic. METHODS: MSCs were isolated from rat bone marrow. MSC culture was analyzed according to the morphology, cell differentiation potential, and surface molecular markers. Before cell culture, freeze-dried bone (FDB) was maintained in culture for 3 d in order to verify culture medium pH. MSCs were co-cultured with FDB using two different cultivation methods: static co-culture (two-dimensional) and dynamic co-culture (three-dimensional). After 24 h of cultivation by dynamic or static methods, histological analysis of Cell adhesion on FDB was performed. Cell viability was assessed by the Trypan Blue exclusion method on days 0, 3 and 6 after dynamic or static culture. Adherent cells were detached from FDB surface, stained with Trypan Blue, and quantified to determine whether the cells remained on the graft surface in prolonged non-dynamic culture. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS and a P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The results showed a clear potential for adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of MSC cultures. Rat MSCs were positive for CD44, CD90 and CD29 and negative for CD34, CD45 and CD11bc. FDBs were maintained in culture for 3 d and the results showed there was no significant variation in the culture medium pH with FDB compared to pure medium pH (P > 0.05). In histological analysis, there was a significant difference in the amount of adhered cells on FDB between the two cultivation methods (P < 0.05). The MSCs in the dynamic co-culture method demonstrated greater adhesion on the bone surface than in static co-culture method. On day 0, the cell viability in the dynamic system was significantly higher than in the static system (P < 0.05). There was a statistical difference in cell viability between days 0, 3 and 6 after dynamic culture (P < 0.05). In static culture, cell viability on day 6 was significantly lower than on day 3 and 0 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: An alternative cultivation method was developed to improve the MSCs adhesion on FDB, demonstrating that dynamic co-culture provides a superior environment over static conditions.

Atmospheric freeze drying of garlic slices based on freezing point depression

Garlic is difficult to dry due to browning reaction and degradation of heat-sensitive component.Freeze drying(FD)can keep good shape,color and nutrition of dried garlic,but it consumes long drying time and high energy.To shorten drying time and obtain high quality products,atmospheric freeze drying(AFD)was developed for drying garlic slices.The effects of different inlet air temperature programs on product quality and drying process were studied during AFD process.It was found that freeze point depression could lead to part of ice thawing resulting in product quality deterioration when the air temperature was not low enough.Based on this,a step-down-up temperature program was developed to reduce the drying time and provide good product quality.

Use of Thermogravimetric Analysis for Moisture Determination in Difficult Lyophilized Biological Samples

Residual moisture is a key quality control parameter for lyophilized biologicals, as high moisture can correlate with poor stability. Coulometric Karl Fischer titration is the most widely used technology to determine residual water content;some chemicals are known to cause problems with Karl Fischer titration, but these chemicals do not usually occur in biologics. Three biological samples, of fibrinogen, heparin and Haemophilus influenza b polysaccharide, have caused particular issue in our hands by routine Karl Fischer analysis, illustrating different limitations with this method. The use of thermogravimetric analysis, with evolved gas mass spectrometric monitoring, is described here as a successful alternative for moisture analysis in these materials.

Comparative study on the effects and efficiencies of three sublimation drying methods for mushrooms

Freeze drying(FD)yields the best quality of dried mushrooms but needs long drying time and higher cost.Air drying(AD)gives relatively poor product quality.In order to achieve faster drying along with high product quality,microwave freeze drying(MFD)and atmospheric freeze drying(AFD)were developed to dry mushrooms.By comparison of three sublimation drying processes,it was concluded that FD could lead to the best product quality,but cost the highest energy consumption.AFD mushrooms had the worst quality and longest drying time,but the lowest energy consumption.Compared with FD and AFD,MFD could get relatively acceptable quality and drying efficiency.As a result,MFD can be used to replace traditional FD,and AFD also should be popularized because of its low energy consumption.

Effects of freeze-drying and spray drying processes on functional properties of phosphorylation of egg white protein

Egg white protein(EWP)was phosphorylated with Sodium Tripolyphosphate(STP)at pH 4.5.Freeze drying and spray drying were used for drying purpose and the effects of these drying methods on the functional properties were investigated.The functional properties of native and modified proteins were also determined.The results demonstrated that phosphorylation of EWP markedly improved its functional properties,and that it was more effective for the food industry.The freeze-dried STP-EWP powders were superior in terms of solubility,emulsion stability,water holding capacity,oil and water absorption capacity and heat gel strength than spray-dried STP-EWP powders.The results in viscosity showed no significant differences between freeze-dried and spray dried.The spray-dried powders were better in terms of foaming ability and foam stability than freeze-dried powders.However,the spray drying required the longest time to produce.Freeze drying was found to be the best method in terms of production of modified EWP powders with superior functional properties.

Evolution of pore structure during microwave freeze-drying of Chinese yam

In order to reduce the energy consumption of freeze drying(FD),microwave freeze drying(MFD)can be used to dry Chinese yam.Porosity is a critical factor influencing transport mechanism,and can be considered as an important index to reflect the changes of structure of MFD foods.In this study,the changes of pore structure during the process of MFD Chinese yam were investigated by SEM and mercury porosimetry.The results showed that some closed pores could transform to open pores in drying process,and the open porosity showed a rising trend throughout the drying process.The pore size distribution range was about 10 nm to 10^(6) nm throughout the drying process.In the early stage of drying,the pore size was mainly in the range of 10-10^(4) nm,and then the pore size and the number of pores reduced.In the middle and late drying stages,the size of large pores increased again.

Effects of different pretreatments on the pore structure of Chinese yam during microwave freeze drying

In order to explore the effects of different pretreatments on the pore structure of Chinese yam during Microwave Freeze Drying(MFD),the samples were treated by typical drying pretreatments including osmosis,blanching and ultrasound,and compared with the untreated samples.The results showed that the pretreatment had significant impacts on the porosity of MFD Chinese yam.Ultrasonic pretreatment could obtain the highest open porosity,and the internal pore network structure of the material showed a uniform sponge shape.The shape of pores obtained by blanching pretreatment was the most irregular.The pore network structure obtained by different pretreatments could result in various product texture and rehydration,which implied that pretreatment methods should be carefully selected according to actual requirements.All these pretreatments could improve the open porosity of MFD Chinese yam,which result in a better rehydration capability.Among them,ultrasonic treatment is worth further investigating.

Freeze and microwave vacuum combination drying technique for sea cucumber

To improve the quality and efficiency of sea cucumber drying,an orthogonal experiment of freeze and microwave vacuum combination drying technique was carried out.Factors and levels were FD time of conversion point(8 h,16 h and 24 h),initial microwave power density(1.7 W/g,2.0 W/g and 2.3 W/g)and microwave intermittent ratio(12s-on/18s-off,14s-on/16s-off and 20s-on/10s-off).Results showed that the optimal parameters of FD-MVD were 8 h FD conversion point,1.7 W/g initial microwave power density,12 s-on/18 s-off microwave intermittent ratio,and the maximum rehydration rate of 280.71%,the lowest shrinkage rate of 14.48%,the least drying time of 9.25 h and energy consumption of 77316 kJ could be obtained.

Boosted activity of Cu/SiO_(2) catalyst for furfural hydrogenation by freeze drying

The biomass valorization is of great importance as an alternative for the production of transport fuels and fine chemicals.Furfural hydrogenation to furfuryl alcohol is a prevailing industrial route for the utilization of hemicellulose component of biomass.The toxicity of the chromium species in commercial copper chromite catalyst for furfuryl alcohol production motivates the development of efficient chromium-free catalyst.Thus,a highly efficient silica supported copper catalyst is developed in this study.The catalyst is prepared by freeze drying of a gel precursor that is synthesized by ammonia evaporation,followed by calcination and H_(2)reduction.The catalyst exhibits higher furfural hydrogenation activity than oven dried catalyst,commercial copper chromite catalyst and a plant supplied commercial silica supported copper catalyst.The catalyst also shows good stability.The superior performance of the freeze dried catalyst has resulted from its developed pore structure and higher amount of Cu^(0)as well as Cu^(+)active sites.

Freeze–dried synthesized bifunctional biopolymer nanocomposite for efficient fluoride removal and antibacterial activity

Local fluoride contamination and bacterial infections in potable water have dangerous effects on the human body and are today a global concern.In this study,we have synthesized a pH-responsive bifunctional biopolymer nanocomposite(HAZ)of humic acid with incorporating aluminum zirconium bimetallic oxide by deep freeze–drying method.Fast nucleation and interconnection of nanoparticles form a highly porous network because of sublimation of frozen HAZ.This duo nanocomposite has efficiently worked for fluoride removal and showed potent antibacterial activity against the Escherichia coli Gram-negative and Staphylococcus aureus Gram-positive bacteria.The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS)analysis demonstrates that the hydroxyl groups act as a pivot in the ion exchange process of adsorption,each element of bimetallic oxide primarily takes part in the adsorption mechanism.The maximum adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was 180.62 mg/g at pH seven.Thermodynamic parameters like Gibbs free energy change(△G0),entropy(△S0),and enthalpy(△H0)indicate that the process was endothermic,feasible,and taken place by a chemisorption mechanism.This is the first novel freeze–dried bifunctional biopolymer nanocomposite composed of humic acid natural polymer incorporated with Al–Zr metal oxide,and it exhibited three times higher adsorption efficacy with excellent antibacterial action at a concentration of 5μg/mL of the nanocomposite.