RESUMEN

Over the last 20 years, polysaccharide-based materials have garnered attention in the enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs) research. Biodegradability, non-toxicity, water-solubility, swellability, and ease of chemical modification make these polymers suitable for agricultural applications. In this review, the polysaccharides-based EEFs advances are summarized over the polymer and co-materials selection, the methods, and the chemical/structure aspects necessary for an appropriate production. We also briefly discuss terminologies, nutrient release mechanisms, biodegradation, and future trends. The most used polysaccharides are chitosan, starch, and alginate, and the non-Fickian model most describes the release mechanism. It is dependent on the relaxation of polymer chains by the matrix swelling followed by the nutrient diffusion. EEFs-polymers-based should be designed as more packed and less porous structures to avoid the immediate contact of the fertilizer with the surrounding water, improving fertilizer retention. Furthermore, the preparation methods will determine the scale-up of the material.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Properties of modified starch and its interaction with functional raw materials are of great interest to the food industry. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the rheological and technological characterization of starches modified by the action of the enzymes α-amylase and amyloglucosidase and their mixtures with jaboticaba peel powder. The parameters of firmness, gumminess, and final viscosity of starches paste increased, and the tendency to setback was reduced with the addition of jaboticaba peel powder. Starches and mixtures presented shear-thinning behavior. The addition of jaboticaba peel powder to starches increased water, oil, and milk absorption capacity, while syneresis remained stable over the storage period. The addition of jaboticaba peel powder had a positive effect on native and modified starches' rheological and technological properties, qualifying it as an alternative for developing new functional food products.

RESUMEN

Starch is a technologically challenging polysaccharide that arouses the global interest in its modification to increase its applicability. Thus, the objective of the present work was to study the influence of enzymatic modification on the properties of red rice starch. The enzymatic modification was performed sequentially through the actions of α-amylase enzymes and amyloglucosidase using a design of experiments where several process conditions were used at sub-gelatinization temperatures. Then the native and modified starches were characterized for its physicochemical, physical, centesimal, phytochemical, morphological, and thermal properties. The enzymatic hydrolysis of the starch granules with α-amylase resulted in 4.46% hydrolysis and more 8.63% after the action amyloglucosidase. Results revealed that surface adsorption is more limiting than diffusion. The enzymatic hydrolysis process resulted in a reduction of the amylase and amylopectin content, as well as on all phytochemicals. After hydrolysis, granules starches presented surface alterations and tendency to become spherical. Small differences on crystallinity revealed that the enzymes had more influence on the amorphous fractions of the starch granules.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Hemoglobin-containing electrochemical biosensors are useful for detecting hydrogen peroxide through oxidation of the iron ion, but high efficiency can only be reached with appropriate immobilization strategies for hemoglobin. In this work, we combined zein from corn seed with carbon black to immobilize hemoglobin, as proof of concept, and form an electroactive film that could determine hydrogen peroxide within the concentration range from 4.9 × 10-6 to 3.9 × 10-4 mo L-1, and limit of detection of 4.0 × 10-6 mol L-1, using differential pulse voltammetry. The biosensor could also detect hydrogen peroxide in commercial samples of oxygenated water, synthetic serum (physiological and glycoside) and milk. The high performance is ascribed to the large surface area and conductive nature of the porous film that had carbon black and hemoglobin anchored on zein microspheres, according to scanning and transmission electron microscopies. It is significant that a protein from renewable sources (zein) combined with a low-cost carbon material (carbon black) serves as matrix for immobilization of biomolecules.

Asunto(s)