Article
Agronomy
Antonio Ortiz-Alvarez, Stanislav Magnitskiy, Elias Alexander Silva-Arero, Caren Rodriguez-Medina, Xavier Argout, Angela Maria Castano-Marin
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the accumulation of Cd in young cacao plants under water-deficit conditions. The results showed that water stress led to a decrease in leaf water potential and biomass, which in turn affected the accumulation and translocation of Cd. The full-sib family SCA6 x PA121 was found to be the most tolerant to water deficit and had the highest Cd accumulation. This study provides a basis for discussing the influence of water stress on Cd accumulation in cacao plants.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Carlos E. Gonzalez-Orozco, Allende Pesca
Summary: This study proposes a new biogeographical regionalization of cultivated cacao in Colombia, based on spatial partitioning, climate variable mapping, and hierarchical classification. Four main regions, along with 31 sub-regions and 54 provinces, were identified using cocoa farm distributions and geospatial data. Solar radiation, precipitation, and soil temperature seasonality were found to be the main factors explaining the biogeographical regions. River networks also played a role in explaining sub-regional and provincial differences. This up-to-date classification can be a valuable tool for agricultural planning and the development of denominations of origin for cacao in Colombia.
FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Babar Hussain, Shibin Liu, Shafeeq Ur Rahman, Santos Triunfo Leiva-Espinoza, Khadija Javed, Shengyan Pu, Muhammad Farooq
Summary: Cadmium is a carcinogenic element with no significant role in plant growth. Accumulated cadmium in plants can enter the food chain and pose human health risks. Recent research has focused on reducing cadmium uptake and accumulation in cacao beans. Various approaches such as biochar, organic amendments, and inorganic amendments have been proposed to immobilize cadmium in soil and alleviate its toxic effects. The selection of low cadmium-accumulating genotypes may also be a promising strategy to decrease cadmium contents in cacao beans.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2023)
Review
Agronomy
Helmuth E. E. Nieves-Orduna, Konstantin V. V. Krutovsky, Oliver Gailing
Summary: The cacao tree is cultivated in the tropics to produce seeds, which are valuable raw materials for the chocolate industry. It is crucial to conserve and use cacao genetic resources for breeding programs to enhance yield, improve quality, and disease resistance. This review focuses on three important aspects of cacao genetics necessary for sustainable production and crop improvement: geographic distribution and genetic variation of wild cacao populations, conservation and utilization of cacao genetic resources, and genetic basis of agronomic traits and its application for cacao improvement. We also emphasize the critical research areas required for sustainable cacao cultivation.
Article
Plant Sciences
Baby Juby, Janaki Seifudeen Minimol, Basura Suma, Adiyodi Venugopal Santhoshkumar, Joseph Jiji, Pottekkat Sidharthan Panchami
Summary: The study found that drought tolerant hybrids had higher levels of proline, superoxide dismutase enzyme, and glycine betaine. While plants under drought stress generally exhibit low nitrate reductase activity, the drought tolerant hybrids actually had higher NR activity compared to the susceptible hybrids. The control plants kept under fully irrigated conditions showed the highest amount of NR.
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Arguello, E. Chavez, E. Gutierrez, M. Pittomvils, J. Dekeyrel, H. Blommaert, E. Smolders
Summary: The effects of soil amendments on cadmium concentrations in cacao beans were tested in two established cacao orchards in Ecuador. Lime application decreased leaf cadmium concentrations in acidic soil, while compost application decreased leaf cadmium concentrations in neutral soil. The compost + lime treatment should be further tested in field scale to accelerate cadmium mitigation effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Alessandro Marinho Rodrigues, Sarah Brenda Ferreira dos Santos, Monica Maria de Almeida Lopes, Diana Jessica Souza Guimaraes, Ebenezer de Oliveira Silva, Men de Sa Moreira de Souza Filho, Adriano Lincoln Albuquerque Mattos, Larissa Morais Ribeiro da Silva, Henriette Monteiro Cordeiro de Azeredo, Nagila Maria Pontes Silva Ricardo
Summary: This study aimed to prepare active films and coatings from fruit starch and phenolic stem bark extract, and evaluate their properties. The coatings containing stem bark extract showed better protective effects in preserving mangoes, delaying color changes and reducing fungal attacks. The active films and coatings have a great potential as environmentally friendly packaging materials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Akiko Ishida, Isao Ogiwara, Sakae Suzuki
Summary: This study found that treating cacao seedlings with elevated CO2 concentrations significantly improved root growth and morphology, enhancing the ability of roots to absorb water and nutrients, and promoting overall seedling growth. The photosynthetic capacity of the leaves also increased, adapting to the high CO2 concentration environment.
Article
Plant Sciences
Mayra Andreina Osorio Zambrano, Darwin Alexander Castillo, Loyla Rodriguez Perez, Wilson Teran
Summary: This study characterized the response of seven commercially important cacao clones to water deficit stress, identifying EET8 as the highest performing clone and ICS-60 as the most susceptible to water stress. Water deficit triggered oxidative stress, activating antioxidant systems and PSII repair mechanisms, which played key roles in determining tolerance to water deficit stress among clones.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Horticulture
Edy Subroto, Mohamad Djali, Rossi Indiarto, Elazmanawati Lembong, Nur Baiti
Summary: Cocoa beans, which are used to produce chocolate and related products, are greatly influenced by microbial activity during post-harvest handling, especially fermentation, drying, and storage. This review explores the factors affecting each stage, the process mechanisms, and the latest technologies for improving cocoa bean quality. Fermentation plays a crucial role in determining cocoa bean quality as it involves various microorganisms that produce flavor compounds. Drying and storage processes are also important to maintain quality and prevent microbial contaminants. Various technologies, including the use of microbial starters during fermentation and vacuum drying and controlled atmosphere during storage, can enhance cocoa bean quality. However, controlling microbial activity remains a challenge, necessitating continuous development of post-harvest technology.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Manee Saelee, Bhagavathi Sundaram Sivamaruthi, Chawin Tansrisook, Sasiwimon Duangsri, Khontaros Chaiyasut, Periyanaina Kesika, Sartjin Peerajan, Chaiyavat Chaiyasut
Summary: Cocoa seed oil (CSO) is an agriculturally important product with various applications. This study used response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the extraction of CSO and evaluated its quality. The results showed that the restriction die, temperature, and sieve size significantly affected the yield and quality of CSO, while the pressing time influenced the quality of CSO.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Cesar R. Balcazar-Zumaeta, Efrain M. Castro-Alayo, Ilse S. Cayo-Colca, Guillermo Idrogo-Vasquez, Lucas D. Munoz-Astecker
Summary: Spontaneous fermentation is influenced by substrates, crop variety, and postharvest practices, leading to changes in metabolites responsible for taste, aroma, and quality. Metabolomics facilitates the detection of key metabolites and patterns under specific conditions, allowing for the study of metabolomic fingerprint changes during fermentation. This review highlights the characterization of spontaneous fermentation and its impact on cocoa quality by modulating fermentation time to improve volatile aromatic compounds formation.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Eudes Villanueva, Patricia Glorio-Paulet, Monica Giusti, Gregory T. Sigurdson, Siyu Yao, Luis E. Rodriguez-Saona
Summary: In this study, a portable FTIR instrument was used to screen cocoa beans for pesticide residues. The FTIR method showed excellent predictability in detecting pesticide residues and predicting pesticide concentrations in cocoa beans. This method provides a viable alternative for field screening of cocoa.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruth Vanderschueren, Lena Wantiez, Hester Blommaert, Julia Flores, Eduardo Chavez, Erik Smolders
Summary: The pathways of cadmium (Cd) loading into cacao beans (nibs) have been investigated using a stable isotope (108Cd) pulse-chase experiment. The results suggest that Cd is likely transported from the stem, branches, or mature leaves to the nibs through phloem-mediated redistribution, rather than directly through the xylem.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Cristopher G. Millena, Aubrey Rosebud R. Balonzo, Jem R. Rentoy, Sylvester S. Ruivivar, Samuel C. Bobiles
Summary: Analysis of the complex composition of cacao beans during fermentation stages revealed that the nutritional content decreases and the fat content increases with the increase of fermentation days. Fermentation leads to the migration of total mineral content and a positive effect on reducing potential heavy metals. The bioavailability of minerals also increases with fermentation time.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Izabella de Carvalho Batista Muniz, Rosana Moura de Oliveira, Annie Nolasco Alves, Emilia Carmem da Silva, Beatriz Silva Santos, Evaldo Cardozo de Souza Junior, Vanessa Santos Sampaio, Angelica Ribeiro da Costa, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo
Summary: In this work, the partition of commercial porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL) in different aqueous two-phase systems was studied to evaluate the efficiency and driving forces of these systems in the separation process. The results showed that temperature and salt concentration had an impact on the partition coefficients and separation performance. This study provides guidance for optimizing enzyme separation and extraction processes.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rui Gomes Nascimento, Marjorie Castro Pinto Porfirio, Annie Nolasco Alves, Priscilla Amaral Nascimento, Leandro Soares Santos, Cristiane Martins Veloso, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo, Rafael da Costa Ilheu Fontan
Summary: Polymeric monolithic structures functionalized with IDA + Cu2+ were prepared and evaluated for protein adsorption. The adsorption equilibrium of bovine serum albumin on polyacrylamide cryogel was analyzed using Langmuir model and the enthalpy and entropy of adsorption were calculated. Microscopy analysis confirmed the porosity of the cryogels. The results showed that the columns produced had high swelling capacity, degree of expansion, porosity, and high permeability, indicating resistance to flow. The adsorption process was favored by increased temperature and occurred spontaneously for all temperatures studied. The stability of the column to reuse cycles was an interesting feature of this study.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Josiane F. da Silva, Clara M. G. Lima, Debora L. da Silva, Ivonea S. do Nascimento, Sarah de O. Rodrigues, Leticia A. Goncalves, Renata F. Santana, Waseem Khalid, Silvani Verruck, Talha Bin Emran, Irwin R. A. de Menezes, Henrique D. M. Coutinho, Mayeen U. Khandaker, Mohammad R. I. Faruque, Rafael da C. I. Fontan
Summary: Growing interest in medical, engineering, biochemical, and biological fields has led to continuous research and development of polymeric monolithic structures with densely interconnected pores for purifying bio compounds. Cryogels, generated by freezing a reactive polymerization mixture, offer versatility and cost-effectiveness as macroporous, polymeric, monolithic adsorbents. The conversion of cryogels into affinity adsorbents, particularly using epoxy radicals as supports, provides a promising alternative for biomolecule purification.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Izabella de Carvalho Batista Muniz, Gabriela de Souza Silva, Evaldo Cardozo de Souza Junior, Luciano Brito Rodrigues, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo
Summary: The aim of this study was to extract and characterize starch from native breadfruit and its hydrothermally modified forms at different temperatures. The evaluation of the obtained starches included extraction yield, chemical and physicochemical properties, structural properties, thermal properties, morphological properties, and technological properties. Both native and modified starches showed low levels of impurities and an increase in amylose content was observed after modification. The annealing modification also resulted in reduced crystallinity of breadfruit starch. The use of breadfruit starch, either in its native or modified form, is technologically viable and has advantageous characteristics for application in the food industry.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jessica Ferreira Borges, Priscilla Amaral Nascimento, Annie Nolasco Alves, Mateus Pereira Flores Santos, Mylena Junqueira Pinto Brito, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo, Leandro Soares Santos, Cristiane Martins Veloso
Summary: The study aimed to immobilize laccase on activated carbon produced from corn cob through hydrothermal carbonization. The optimal synthesis condition was determined using a Rotatable Central Composite Design (RCCD) based on the oxygen functional groups (OFGs) content. The activated carbon produced under the best conditions showed excellent properties and achieved high immobilization efficiency and activity for the enzyme.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mateus P. F. Santos, Matheus A. Ferreira, Evaldo C. S. Junior, Renata C. F. Bonomo, Cristiane M. Veloso
Summary: This study aimed to immobilize trypsin on activated carbon with different surface modifications and applied it in casein hydrolysis. Results showed that pH 5.0 was optimal for immobilization and pH 9.0 for casein hydrolysis. Among the supports used, activated carbon modified with iron ions showed the best results, with a immobilization yield of 95.15% and a hydrolytic activity of 4.11 U. This derivative exhibited stable activity at high temperatures and after long-term storage, and could be reused for multiple cycles.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yara Gomes de Souza, Rui Gomes Nascimento, Izabella de Carvalho Batista Muniz, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo, Rafael da Costa Ilheu Fontan
Summary: The present study aimed to produce a macroporous monolithic cation-exchanger and investigate the effect of temperature on lysozyme adsorption. The adsorbent was characterized and the adsorption isotherms were determined. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the process was spontaneous with enthalpy-entropy compensation, and the ion exchange was entropy-driven as the temperature increased. The produced matrix was also tested for the partial purification of lysozyme, demonstrating its potential in cation exchange purification processes.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Beatriz Silva Santos, Izabella de Carvalho Batista Muniz, Vanessa Santos Sampaio, Olga Reinert Ramos Gandolfi, Cristiane Martins Veloso, Rafael da Costa Ilheu Fontan, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo
Summary: The aim of this work was to conduct a comprehensive thermodynamic study on the distribution of Remazol Yellow l, Remazol Brilliant Blue, and Remazol Red dyes in isopropyl alcohol + sodium phosphate + water aqueous two-phase systems at different temperatures. The transfer free energy change, transfer enthalpy change, and transfer entropy change were evaluated. The effects of dye structure, tie line length, and temperature on the partitioning were investigated. The results showed that these aqueous two-phase systems have a high capacity to extract dyes from aqueous matrices to the organic phase, making them an interesting alternative for effluent treatment.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Mariana Caldeira Barbosa, Gabriela Leite Silva, Eduardo Bruno Macedo Viana, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo, Luciano Brito Rodrigues, Cristiane Martins Veloso
Summary: Starches and proteins are two major components in many foods and greatly influence the structure and properties of starch-based food systems. The study evaluated the effects of whey protein concentrate on the texture and rheological properties of jackfruit starch gels. The results showed that the addition of proteins delayed the gelatinization of starch and led to an increase in gel strength, except for the treatment with 6% starch.
JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY-MYSORE
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Joao C. Vilvert, Sergio T. de Freitas, Luana F. dos Santos, Tiffany da S. Ribeiro, Cristiane M. Veloso
Summary: Acerola is a tropical fruit rich in ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds. It has various biological properties, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Further research on phenolic compounds is important for understanding the seasonal and genotypic influence on acerola and improving its bioaccessibility.
JOURNAL OF FOOD MEASUREMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Olga Reinert Ramos Gandolfi, Sergio de Sousa Castro, Gabriel Ramos Ferreira Goncalves, Izabella de Carvalho Batista Muniz, Rafael da Costa Ilheu Fontan, Juliana Gomes Pimentel, Renata Cristina Ferreira Bonomo
Summary: This study aimed to determine new interaction parameters of lysozyme through UNIFAC modelling, in order to understand the interactions during protein transfer. The results showed that lysozyme had a preference for the bottom phase and the overall composition and polymer molar mass influenced the partition coefficient. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the transfer of lysozyme in the phases was governed by entropy contribution.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES
(2023)
Correction
Chemistry, Applied
Jia Liu, Juntong Dong, Xiaodan Li, Teng Xu, Zhenguo Li, Jeffrey Dankwa Ampah, Mubasher Ikram, Shihai Zhang, Chao Jin, Zhenlong Geng, Tianyun Sun, Haifeng Liu
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Seba Alareeqi, Daniel Bahamon, Kyriaki Polychronopoulou, Lourdes F. Vega
Summary: This study explores the potential application of single-atom-alloy (SAA) catalysts in bio-oils hydrodeoxygenation refining using density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling. It establishes the relationships between stability, adsorptive properties, and activity structures for bio-oil derivatives, providing guidance for the synthesis of cost-effective SAA combinations.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Bin Hu, Wen -Ming Zhang, Xue-Wen Guo, Ji Liu, Xiao Yang, Qiang Lu
Summary: This study explored the pyrolysis behaviors and mechanisms of different monosaccharides, including arabinose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid. The roles of structural differences in these monosaccharides were analyzed, and it was found that glucuronic acid undergoes a special C-C bond breaking reaction during pyrolysis. The findings provide a deep understanding of the pyrolysis chemistry of hemicellulose and the role of different branches.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Youwei Zhi, Donghai Xu, Guanyu Jiang, Wanpeng Yang, Zhilin Chen, Peigao Duan, Jie Zhang
Summary: Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is an effective method for the harmless disposal of municipal sludge (MS) and offers potential applications for the obtained products. Optimizing reaction conditions, coupling with other waste materials, and combining different processes can improve the performance of HTC. Furthermore, HTC contributes to energy recovery and enhances the quality of life cycle assessment.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jia Wang, Jianchun Jiang, Dongxian Li, Xianzhi Meng, Arthur J. Ragauskas
Summary: This study presents a scalable process for converting holocellulose and cellulosic wastes into advanced oxygen-containing biofuels with high furan, cyclic ketone, and ethanol content. By combining hydropyrolysis and vapor-phase hydrodeoxygenation using Pd/Al2O3 as a catalyst, the researchers achieved high yields and conversions. The integrated process holds great promise for biomass waste conversion into advanced biofuels.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Florian Held, Jannis Reusch, Steffen Salenbauch, Christian Hasse
Summary: The accurate prediction and assessment of soot emissions in internal combustion engines are crucial for the development of sustainable powertrains. This study presents a detailed quadrature-based method of moments (QMOM) soot model coupled with a state-of-the-art flow solver for the simulation of gasoline engines. The model accurately describes the entire cause-and-effect chain of soot formation, growth and oxidation. Experimental validation and engine cycle simulations are used to identify the root cause of observed soot formation hotspots.
FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
