Abstract The cosmetics industry searches for new products with sustainable, natural and non-toxic characteristics. Levan is a microbial exopolysaccharide composed of fructose units with β-2,6-glycoside bonds. Due to its biological properties, levan has a wide range of applications in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industry. The effects of levan can be improved by its combination with biocompatible actives such as plant-derived compounds and vitamins resulting in a multifunctional cosmetic formulation. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a new biocosmetic gel-anionic type containing 1 % of levan and plant-derived compounds, such as Aloe vera extract and avocado oil and vitamin E, using simplex lattice mixtures design. According to the statistical analyses, the concentrations to obtain a cosmetic with maximum antioxidant activity (76%), hydration capacity (98.37%) and spreadability (767.30 mm2), would be 10% (0.1 mL) of Aloe vera, and 90% (0.9 mL) of avocado oil. Cosmeceutical formulations showed good stability and did not show phase separation or visible changes being classified as normal. The development of innovative and sustainable cosmetic formulations, with natural, vegan and non-toxic molecules is of great importance for cosmetic industry.

Biodiesel is a biofuel produced by the esterification reaction. It is an option to replace fossil fuels, mainly diesel, due to its similar physical and chemical properties. In this research, a mathematical modeling was performed to predict the antioxidant mass to be added in a commercial biodiesel to achieve the minimum oxidative stability provided by the legislation. An equation for each additive was proposed, with the mass of these antioxidants considered as dependent variables and the conformity parameters as independent ones, obtaining multiple regression equations without intercept. The BHA and BHT antioxidants were used. The equations provided were lower at the 5% level and presented determination coefficients (R2) equal to 0.9790 and 0.9770 for the BHA and BHT, respectively, proving their predictability ability and also showing that they can be used to estimate the antioxidant mass to be added in a biodiesel to reach the current regulations.

Abstract A highly efficient tool that has stood out in data processing and treatment is Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). Self-organized maps (SOM), which is a type of ANNs, are easy-to-view computational models that simulate information processing and knowledge acquisition. Applying this tool, we analyzed the behavior of the film formed on the mozzarella cheese surface when subjected to salting by immersion. In order to reduce the amount of NaCl in the food, KCl was used as a partial substitute in adequate amounts, without causing sensory changes in the cheese. The diffusion of salts in the brine is caused by the transfer of sodium and potassium ions, induced by concentration gradient of these salts inside and outside the food. The application of artificial neural networks proved to be an effective tool in the evaluation of the influence of the film on the diffusion process of Na+ and K+ ions, in the mozzarella cheese salting.

Abstract Problems related to high blood pressure have led consumers to choose foods with low levels of sodium chloride, and an alternative to reduce the salt content of this salt is its partial replacement with KCl. In order to not affect the sensory properties of cheese, salting was performed using a solution containing 70% of NaCl and 30% of KCl in a static and dynamic system. During the salting process by immersion, the mass transfer is affected by the formation of a film on the cheese surface. The analysis of the diffusion of salts in the film can be performed using self-organizing map (SOM) combined with the Finite Element Method (FEM). Through these tools, a greater influence of the film was observed when the static system was applied and that the diffusion is different according to the studied position. On the biosolid sides the diffusion was more pronounced than in the center, indicating a decrease in the film thickness towards the edges. The SOM combined with 3D modeling showed to be an efficient tool to investigate the formation, influence and behavior of the film during the diffusion of Na+ and K+ on salting of Prato cheese.

Abstract In the elaboration of young red wine, it is necessary to obtain a clear product with stable color. The clarity and stability can be obtained using fining agents. The objective of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of fining with pea protein isolate (PPI), bentonite, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVPP) on a red wine, using the experimental design of mixtures. Merlot wine was used to evaluate the changes on monomeric flavan-3-ol, turbidity and anthocyanin levels promoted by the fining compounds. For all the parameters, the adjusted models showed influence of the combination of the three fining agents. Together, bentonite and PVPP have synergistic effect on the reduction in monomeric flavanol levels. Such synergistic effect was also observed with PPI and PVPP combination for the reduction in turbidity. However, for this same characteristic (turbidity), the combination of PPI and bentonite has antagonistic effect. To achieve broader wine fining objectives, the simultaneous optimization of the three response variables demonstrated the importance of the presence of the three refining agents in the following proportions: 25% PPI, 43% PVPP and 32% Bentonite. The isolated use of these additives would not result in the same effect on the three studied variables.

Biodiesel is a suitable alternative to replace the petro-diesel. The biodiesel is formed by unsaturated esters easily degraded by interferences of oxygen, temperature, contact with metals or contaminants. The aim of this research was to investigate the biodiesel degradation process via 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, observing the olefinic, bis-allylic and allylic protons signals of the chemical bonds, and by the induction period of the Rancimat. Biodiesel samples with metallic ions (Fe and Cu) and with rosemary natural extract were analyzed. The metal compounds showed a catalytic effect in the samples and the rosemary natural extract showed to be efficient by retarding the degradation process. The extract was ineffective in the presence of iron. Through the 1H NMR spectra was possible to observe changes in the signal intensities of the olefinic, bis-allylic and allylic protons as well as the formation of oxidation products in the biodiesel in the degradation process.

Abstract The influence of film coefficient formed during the diffusion of inorganic salts (NaCl and KCl) in biosolids was studied using a 3D computer modeling by Finite Elements Method (FEM) in COMSOL Multiphysics® software combined with SOM-type Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Such tools have shown that the influence of the film formed in the biosolid/solution interface occurs in a heterogeneous manner and is due to the matrix geometry, the type of system (agitated or static) and the ion size (Na+ or K+). The influence of film coefficient was more pronounced for K+ ion, and for a static system. Comparing the geometry of biosolids, ion diffusion was more pronounced in the (Y±) axis in relation to other axes, X (±) and Z (±), as well as in between the poles (±) of this axis. FEM simulation associated with SOM-type ANN were efficient tools to evaluate this complex and unknown biophysical phenomenon.

The quality of biodiesel is extremely important for its commercialization and use; oxidation of biodiesel is a critical factor because it decreases the fuel storage time. A commercial biodiesel was mixed with synthetic antioxidants, according to a simplex-centroid experimental mixture design, and its stability was evaluated through induction period and activation energy. In all trials, addition of antioxidants increased activation energy in the mixtures containing tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). When a mixture containing 50% TBHQ and 50% butylated hydroxyanisole was used, synergistic effect was observed, and the major activation energy obtained was 104.43 kJ mol-1.

The Rancimat and accelerated stove tests were used to determine the oxidative stability of B100 biodiesel mixed with synthetic antioxidants. The predictive equations, with process variable, were obtained by applying a simplex-centroid design. Regardless of the antioxidant used, all assays carried out with the accelerated stove test presented storage time longer than 177.88 d, the greatest value obtained by applying the Rancimat test. The t test, applied to the parameters containing the process variable, showed a statistically significant difference (at the level of 5%) between the methods used.

The objective of the present study was to develop a functional product from the osmo-dehydrated Fuji apple incorporating FOS with acceptable physical, chemical and sensorial characteristics and potential for commercial-scale production. Some treatments were discarded due to texture and water activity that did not reach the desired quality parameters. The products submitted to the osmo-dehydration treatments presented a greater vitamin C loss. All the treatments obtained sensory scores of 6 in a 9 points scale for all the attributes, except the crispness, indicating good acceptance. The sensory scores and incorporated FOS quantities indicated that the osmo-dehydrated apple products have potential for commercial-scale production.

The objective of the present study was to study the effect of the variables of the osmotic dehydration process on sliced Fuji apples (Malus domestica) using a 2 x 3² factorial design. The variables studied in the apple slices were the pretreatment (blanching or acidification), the temperatures (30, 45 and 60ºC) and the FOS concentration (40%, 50% and 60% m/v) of the osmotic solution. There was no difference among the pretreatments for the water activity and titratable acidity. The slices pre-treated by the acidification presented less enzymatic browning (greatest luminosity L* value) combined with a greater soluble solid contents (thus, this treatment was selected). Treatments T4 (45ºC and 40% m/v) and T7 (60ºC and 40%m/v), using the acidification presented responses within the recommended standards and FOS were validated by the repetition.

A relação de NaCl com problemas de hipertensão arterial tem levado a uma redução dos níveis de sal presente na produção de alimentos. O KCl tem sido usado como substituto parcial do NaCl, porque este não pode ser totalmente substituído sem afetar a aceitabilidade do produto final. Neste estudo, foi simulada a difusão que ocorre durante o processo de salga do ovo de codorna em salmoura estática e agitada. O modelo matemático utilizado teve como base uma generalização da segunda lei de Fick. O programa COMSOL Multiphysics foi usado para simular a difusão do sistema água-KCl-NaCl. Os desvios entre os dados simulados e experimentais foram de 2,50% para o NaCl e 6,98% para o KCl em salmoura estática, enquanto na salmoura agitada foram de 3,48% para o NaCl e 4,72% para o KCl. Os resultados da simulação apresentaram boa concordância com os valores experimentais e validando a capacidade preditiva do modelo proposto.

The relationship of NaCl with problems of arterial hypertension has led to a reduction in the levels of this salt in food production. KCl has been used as a partial substitute for NaCl since it cannot be completely substituted without affecting the acceptability of the end product. In this study, the diffusion that occurs during quail egg salting in static and stirred brine was simulated. The mathematical model used was based on a generalization of the Fick's 2nd law, and the COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to simulate the diffusion in the NaCl-KCl-water system. The deviations in the simulated data and experimental data were 2.50% for NaCl and 6.98% for KCl in static brine, while in the stirred brine they were 3.48% for NaCl and 4.72% for KCl. The simulation results presented good agreement with the experimental values and validated the predictive capacity of the model.

Synthetic antioxidants are an alternative to prevent or retard the degradation of biofuels made from vegetable oils. In this study, it was evaluated the oxidative stability of B100 soybean oil biodiesel, in the presence of tercbutylhydroquinone (TBHQ). The results showed that the induction period, that precedes the seeding process, was delayed in the presence of the antioxidant. Moreover, the obtained results suggest that the B100 biodiesel containing TBHQ can present a storage time at 25 ºC, three times longer than the estimated time for the pure B100.

Vinte variedades de soja (Glycine max), quatorze convencionais e seis variedades transgênicas (RR) foram analisadas quanto ao teor de proteína, ácido fítico, teor de óleo, fitosteróis, cinzas, minerais e ácidos graxos que foram tabelados e apresentados à rede neural do tipo perceptron de múltiplas camadas para a classificação e identificação quanto a região de plantio e quanto a variedade convencional ou transgênica. A rede neural utilizada classificou e testou corretamente 100% das amostras cultivadas por região. Para o banco de dados contendo informações sobre sojas transgênicas e convencionais foi obtido um desempenho de 94,43% no treinamento da rede, 83,30% no teste e 100% na validação.

Twenty soybean (Glycine max) varieties, 14 conventional and 6 transgenic varieties were analyzed for protein content, phytic acid, oil content, phytosterols, ash, minerals and fatty acids. The data were tabled and presented to the multilayer perceptron neural network for classification and identification of their planting region and whether they were a conventional or transgenic. The neural network used correctly classified and tested 100% of the samples cultivated per region. For the data bank containing information on transgenic and conventional soybean, a performance of 94.43% was obtained in the training of the neural network, 83.30% in the test and 100% in the validation.

A substituição parcial do NaCl pelo KCl é uma alternativa promissora para produzir queijos com um teor reduzido de sódio, desde que não se altere sua qualidade final. Para assegurar uma proporção adequada dos sais, a utilização de modelos que simulam a difusão multicomponente durante a maturação de queijos com teor reduzido de NaCl é importante para o controle do processo e qualidade do produto. A segunda lei de Fick generalizada para dois solutos é um dos modelos mais utilizados para este fim, e o sistema de equações diferenciais resultante foi resolvido através do Método de Elementos Finitos (MEF). No presente trabalho, foi simulada a difusão dos sais NaCl e KCl durante a maturação de queijo prato utilizando uma salmoura estática 20% (m/m) contendo 70% de NaCl e 30% de KCl. Em seguida, os resultados estimados foram comparados com os dados experimentais. O desvio percentual obtido entre os dados experimentais e os estimados resultou em 4,43% para o NaCl e 4,72% para o KCl, indicando que o modelo proposto é válido para a produção de queijos de qualidade e com teor reduzido de sódio.

The partial replacement of NaCl by KCl is a promising alternative to produce a cheese with lower sodium content since KCl does not change the final quality of the cheese product. In order to assure proper salt proportions, mathematical models are employed to control the product process and simulate the multicomponent diffusion during the reduced salt cheese ripening period. The generalized Fick's Second Law is widely accepted as the primary mass transfer model within solid foods. The Finite Element Method (FEM) was used to solve the system of differential equations formed. Therefore, a NaCl and KCl multicomponent diffusion was simulated using a 20% (w/w) static brine with 70% NaCl and 30% KCl during Prato cheese (a Brazilian semi-hard cheese) salting and ripening. The theoretical results were compared with experimental data, and indicated that the deviation was 4.43% for NaCl and 4.72% for KCl validating the proposed model for the production of good quality, reduced-sodium cheeses.