Encapsulation of cactus (Opuntia megacantha) betaxanthins by ionic gelation and spray drying: A comparative study.

The encapsulation of betaxanthins from orange Opuntia megacantha fruits was performed as a stabilisation strategy for these natural pigments. Betaxanthin-rich extract (BE) was encapsulated by two methodologies, spray drying (SD) and ionic gelation (IG). Encapsulates were obtained by using two encapsulating agents (EA), a mixture of maltodextrin-cactus cladode mucilage and sodium alginate (SA) for SD and IG, respectively. Their properties were compared with the freeze-dried cactus fruit pulp (CP) as control. Total betaxanthin content, moisture content, water activity (aw), particle size, morphology by SEM, colour parameters (CIELab), and thermogravimetric properties were analysed in the encapsulates. Additionally, the antioxidant activity, total dietary fibre content, and pigment stability of encapsulates under two relative humidity conditions were also evaluated. The results showed that the encapsulation technique, EA concentration, and the BE/EA ratio affected the particle size and morphology, the glass transition temperature, and the mass loss of encapsulated materials. The best pigment stabilisation was obtained for the SD capsules, although both encapsulation techniques allowed improving the pigment stability in comparison with the CP taken as control. These results provided evidence that betaxanthins from Opuntia megacantha have the potential to be used as natural pigments, soluble in water, with functional properties for the food industry.

Magnetita (Fe 3 O 4 ): Una estructura inorgánica con multiples aplicaciones en catálisis heterogénea / Magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ): An inorganic structure with many applications for heterogeneous catalysis / Magnetita (Fe 3 O 4 ): Uma estrutura inorgânica com múltiplas aplicações em catálise heterogénea

Resumen Se describió la intervención del mineral magnetita como catalizador o como soporte catalitico, un material inorgánico con una estructura de espinela inversa (FeFe204), en el desarrollo de un número importante de reacciones quimicas de interes cientifico, tecnológico y ambiental. Debido a la necesidad actual de generar procesos quimicos eficientes y favorables ambientalmente, la magnetita se ha convertido en un material promisorio en los contextos de la quimica verde, la quimica fina y la catálisis heterogénea. Este óxido de hierro se ha estudiado en diversas reacciones: catalizador másico, soporte catalitico de metales y de óxidos metálicos, núcleo de catalizadores tipo core-shell, o modificado mediante el anclaje de organocatalizadores y complejos metálicos. Se discute el desempeno catalitico de estos sistemas basados en magnetita, en reacciones de catálisis asimetrica, ambiental, ácido-base, de óxido-reducción, de sintesis multicomponente y de acoplamiento C-C. Particularmente, dichos catalizadores han mostrado enorme importancia en ciertas reacciones de tipo Sonogashira, Sonogashira-Hagihara, Mannich, Ullman, Knoevenagel, Suzuki-Miyaura y Fenton heterogénea, entre otras. Finalmente, se detallaron algunos usos tecnológicos de la magnetita en el contexto nacional (Colombia) y se intentó localizar geográficamente los depósitos importantes.

Abstract This manuscript contains a review on the mediation of magnetite, an inorganic material with an inverse spinel structure (FeFe204), being used as either catalyst or catalytic support in many chemical reactions of scientific, technological and environmental interest. Because of current awareness on the efficient and environmentally friendly chemical processes, magnetite has become as a promising material in contexts such as green chemistry, fine chemistry, and heterogeneous catalysis. This iron oxide has been used in several reactions as bulk catalyst, catalytic support of either metals or metal oxides, core in catalysts type core-shell, or as solid modified by grafting with organocatalysts and metal complexes. The catalytic performance of these systems has been described in some chemical processes such as: asymmetric catalysis, environmental catalysis, acid-base catalysis, redox reactions, multicomponent synthesis reactions, and those of C-C coupling. Particularly, these catalysts have shown large importance in a variety of reactions: Sonogashira, Sonogashira-Hagihara, Mannich, Ullman, Knoevenagel, Suzuki-Miyaura, and the Fenton heterogeneous reaction, among others. Finally, some technological uses of magnetite in the national context (Colombia) are detailed, and localizing geographically the most important deposits of this mineral in the Colombian region was intended.

Resumo Foi descrita uma intervenção da mineral magnetita, um material inorgânico com estrutura de espinela inversa (FeFe204), como catalisador ou como suporte catalitico no desenvolvimento de um número importante de reações quimicas de interesse cientifico, tecnológico e ambiental. Devido à necessidade atual de gerar processos quimicos eficientes e favoráveis ambientalmente, a magnetita surge como um material promissório nos contextos da quimica verde, da quimica fina e da catálise heterogénea. Este óxido de ferro e objeto de estudo em diversas reações: catalizador mássico, suporte catalitico de metais e de óxidos metálicos, núcleo de catalizadores tipo core-shell, ou modificado mediante a ancoragem de organocatalizadores e complexos metálicos. E descrito o desempenho catalitico deste tipo de sistemas em algumas reacóes de catálise assimetrica, ambiental, ácido-base, de óxido-redução, de sintese multicomponente y de acoplamento C-C. Particularmente, ditos catalisadores tem mostrado enorme importáncia em certas reações do tipo Sonogashira, Sonogashira-Hagihara, Mannich, Ullman, Knoevenagel, Suzuki-Miyaura e a reação Fenton heterogénea, entre outras. Finalmente, são detalhados alguns usos tecnológicos da magnetita no contexto nacional (Colômbia) e realiza-se um esforço por localizar geograficamente os depósitos mais importantes do mineral no território colombiano.

Delaminated montmorillonite with iron(III)-TiO2 species as a photocatalyst for removal of a textile azo-dye from aqueous solution.

A set of mesoporous delaminated montmorillonites containing iron(III)-titanium oxide species was synthesized using two minerals: a bentonite as support and an ilmenite as source of Fe-TiO2 species. Several values of both sulphuric acid concentration and temperature were employed to extract Fe-TiO2 species from an ilmenite. Analyses by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption confirmed the successful formation of delaminated (or exfoliated) mesoporous structures. Optical properties of solids were determined by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and their band gap energy values were also calculated. A small UV-shift of band gap values regarding that of commercial photo-active TiO2 was detected as consequence of the quantum size effect, suggesting that photocatalytic experiments should be performed under UV-radiation assistance. The synthesized solids showed good activity in the photocatalytic oxidation of a textile dye (reactive yellow 145: RY 145), achieving conversions higher than 70% and chemical oxygen demand removal between 60% and 80%.

Síntesis y caracterización de bentonita modificada con especies de TiO2 y Fe-TiO2 obtenidas del mineral ilmenita / Synthesis and characterization of modified-bentonite with TiO2 and Fe-TiO2 species obtained from ilmenite / Síntese e caracterização de bentonita modificada com espécies de TiO2 e Fe-TiO2 obtidas do mineral ilmenita

Se sintetizó una serie de sólidosnanoestructurados obtenidos de laintercalación de nanopartículas de TiO2y Fe-TiO2 en los espacios interlaminaresde un mineral de arcilla esmectítico. Losnuevos materiales se prepararon mediantela modificación simultánea de dos mineralesnaturales: bentonita e ilmenita. Los materialesobtenidos se caracterizaron por fluorescenciade rayos X (FRX), espectroscopia infrarroja(IR), difracción de rayos X (DRX),microscopia electrónica de barrido (SEM)y sortometría de nitrógeno. Los resultadosdel análisis químico (FRX) confirmaronclaramente la incorporación de titanio y dehierro en los materiales sintetizados. Losanálisis por DRX, SEM y sortometría denitrógeno verificaron la modificación delmineral de arcilla por incorporación deespecies de dióxido de titanio y la generaciónde estructuras mesoporosas delaminadas oexfoliadas con incremento en los valores deárea superficial y porosidad controlada.

A set of nanostructured porous solids was synthesized by intercalation of TiO2 and Fe- TiO2 into the interlayer sites of a smectite clay mineral. The new materials were prepared through simultaneous modification of two natural minerals: bentonite and ilmenite. Synthesized materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and N2-adsorption technique. Results of chemical analysis (XRF) clearly confirmed the incorporation of titanium and iron in the synthesized materials. Modification of clay mineral by incorporation of titanium dioxide species was verified by XRD, SEM and N2- adsorption analyses, showing the formation of mesoporous delaminated structures with increased surface areas and controlled porosity.

Uma serie de sólidos nanoestruturadosforam sintetizados, obtidos pela intercalaçãode nanopartículas de TiO2 e Fe-TiO2 nosespaços interlaminares de um mineralde argila esmectítica. Os novos materiaisforam preparados mediante a modificaçãosimultânea de dois minerais naturais:uma bentonita e uma ilmenita. Osmateriais obtidos foram caracterizadospor fluorescência de raios X (FRX),espectroscopia infra-vermelho (IR), difraçãode raios X (DRX), microscopia eletrônica devarredura (SEM) e sortometria de nitrogênio.Os resultados da análise química (FRX)confirmaram claramente a incorporação detitânio e de ferro nos materiais sintetizados.A análise por DRX, SEM e sortometriade nitrogênio verificaram a modificaçãodo mineral de argila por incorporação deespécies de dióxido de titânio, demonstrandoa geração de estruturas mesoporosasdelaminadas ou esfoliadas com incrementonos valores de área superficial e porosidade controlada.

Anthocyanin composition of wild Colombian fruits and antioxidant capacity measurement by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

The qualitative and quantitative anthocyanin composition of four wild tropical fruits from Colombia was studied. Compounds of "mora pequeña" ( Rubus megalococcus Focke.), "uva de árbol" ( Myrciaria aff. cauliflora O. Berg), coral, and motilón ( Hyeronima macrocarpa Mull. Arg.) fruits were separately extracted with methanol-acetic acid (95:5, v/v). The anthocyanin-rich extracts (AREs) were obtained by selective adsorption on Amberlite XAD-7. Each extract was analyzed by HPLC-PDA and HPLC-HRESI-MS(n) with LCMS-IT-TOF equipment in order to characterize the anthocyanin pigments and the coinjection in HPLC using standards allowed identifying the major constituents in each extract. The antioxidant activity was measured by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and UV-vis spectroscopy, using ABTS and DPPH free radicals. The ARE of motilón ( H. macrocarpa Müll. Arg) exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity in comparison to the other extracts. A second-order kinetic model was followed in all of the cases. These results suggested that the studied fruits are promising not only as source of natural pigments but also as antioxidant materials for food industry.