Using vibrational molecular spectroscopy to reveal association of steam-flaking induced carbohydrates molecular structural changes with grain fractionation, biodigestion and biodegradation

Farm to fork applications: how vibrational spectroscopy can be used along the whole value chain?

Vibrational spectroscopy is a nondestructive analysis technique that depends on the periodic variations in dipole moments and polarizabilities resulting from the molecular vibrations of molecules/atoms. These methods have important advantages over conventional analytical techniques, including (a) their simplicity in terms of implementation and operation, (b) their adaptability to on-line and on-farm applications, (c) making measurement in a few minutes, and (d) the absence of dangerous solvents throughout sample preparation or measurement. Food safety is a concept that requires the assurance that food is free from any physical, chemical, or biological hazards at all stages, from farm to fork. Continuous monitoring should be provided in order to guarantee the safety of the food. Regarding their advantages, vibrational spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), near-infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy, are considered reliable and rapid techniques to track food safety- and food authenticity-related issues throughout the food chain. Furthermore, coupling spectral data with chemometric approaches also enables the discrimination of samples with different kinds of food safety-related hazards. This review deals with the recent application of vibrational spectroscopic techniques to monitor various hazards related to various foods, including crops, fruits, vegetables, milk, dairy products, meat, seafood, and poultry, throughout harvesting, transportation, processing, distribution, and storage.

Developments in Surface/Interface Engineering of Ni-Rich Layered Cathode Materials

Ni-rich layered cathodes with high energy densities reveal an enormous potential for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), however, their poor stability and reliability have inhibited their application. To ensure their stability over extensive cycles at high voltage, surface/interface modifications are necessary to minimize the adverse reactions at the cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI), which is a critical factor impeding electrode performance. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive discussion on the surface engineering of Ni-rich cathode materials for enhancing their lithium storage property. Based on the structural characteristics of the Ni-rich cathode, the major failure mechanisms of these structures during synthesis and operation are summarized. Then the existing surface modification techniques are discussed and compared. Recent breakthroughs in various surface coatings and modification strategies are categorized and their unique functionalities in structural protection and performance-enhancing are elaborated. Finally, the challenges and outlook on the Ni-rich cathode materials are also proposed.

Application of advanced molecular spectroscopy and modern evaluation techniques in canola molecular structure and nutrition property research

This review aims to provide research update and progress on applications of advanced molecular spectroscopy to current research on canola related bio-processing technology, molecular structure, and nutrient utilization and availability. The studies focused on how inherent molecular structure changes affect nutritional quality of canola and its co-products from bio-processing. The molecular spectroscopic techniques (SR-IMS, DRIFT, ATR-FTIR) used for molecular structure and nutrition association were reviewed, including the synchrotron radiation with infrared microspectroscopy, the synchrotron radiation with soft x-ray microspectroscopy, the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, the grading near infrared reflectance spectroscopy, and the Fourier transform infrared vibrational spectroscopy. Nutritional evaluation with other techniques in association with molecular structure was also reviewed. This study provides updated research progress on application of molecular spectroscopy in combination with various nutrition evaluation techniques to current research in the canola-related bio-oil/bio-energy processing and nutrition sciences.

Using vibrational molecular spectroscopy with chemometrics as an analytical method to investigate association of degradation with inherent molecular structures in grain

Corn starch played a critical role in maintaining energy supply for high milk yield. The objectives of this research were to disclose the starch and carbohydrate-related biopolymers degradation in three newly developed corn lines (LM10, LM01 and LD999) during rumen incubation, and detect relationships between molecular structures and starch degradation. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-transform Vibrational Molecular Spectroscopy (ATR-Ft/VMS) was applied to reveal molecular structure conformations that were associated with major nutrients macro-biopolymers. Line LM01 was greater (P < 0.01) in peak heights and areas of carbohydrate (CHO) related spectral than LM10 and LD999 (P < 0.01). Line LM01 had greater rumen degradable dry matter and starch than LM10 and LD999 (P < 0.05). During 48 h rumen incubation, absorbance intensities of CHO peak 1 and peak 3 decreased linearly (P < 0.01), but absorbance intensities of CHO peak 2 increased, non-structural CHO related spectral absorbance intensities decreased linearly (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis showed that CHO associated spectral were positively correlated to ruminal dry matter and starch degradability (P < 0.10). The results inferred that the molecular spectral features of newly developed corn lines played a more important role in determining starch degradability.

Application of FT/IR-ATR vibrational spectroscopy to reveal protein molecular structure of feedstock and co-products from Canadian and Chinese canola processing in relation to microorganism bio-degradation and enzyme bio-digestion

The principal objective of this study was to apply FT/IR-ATR vibrational spectroscopy to inspect the relationship between rumen dry matter (DM) and protein degradation, rumen undegraded protein (RUP) intestinal digestion and processing induced protein molecular structure changes in feedstock (canola oil seeds) and co-products (canola meal) from bio-oil processing from different crushing plants in Canada and China. The rumen DM and protein degradation, rumen undegraded protein intestinal digestion and protein molecular structure affected by bio-oil processing were examined using in situ, three step in vitro digestion and Fourier transform infrared (FT/IR) molecular spectroscopy techniques, respectively. The results showed that the protein molecular structure; α-helix height and α-helix to β-sheet height ratio had a close association with rumen DM and protein degradation and rumen undegraded protein intestinal digestibility. Multiple regression analyses showed that protein β-sheet height and α-helix to β-sheet height ratio spectral intensity can be used to predict rumen DM and protein degradation, while intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein can be predicted by α-helix height and β-sheet height. In conclusion, the co-product canola meal from bio-oil processing is a good source of intestinally digestible protein. Rumen DM and protein degradation and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein are related to the protein molecular structures of the co-products affected by changes during bio-oil processing.

Determine effect of pressure heating on carbohydrate related molecular structures in association with carbohydrate metabolic profiles of cool-climate chickpeas using Globar spectroscopy

Grain has been heat-processed to alter rumen degradation characteristics and improve nutrient availabilities for ruminants. However, limited study was found on internal structure changes induced by processing on a molecular basis. The objectives of this study were to use advanced vibrational molecular spectroscopy to: (1) determine the processing induced carbohydrate (CHO) structure changes on a molecular basis, (2) investigate the effect of pressure heating on changes of CHO chemical profiles, CHO subfractions in cool-climate CDC Chickpea varieties, and (3) to reveal the association between carbohydrates related molecular spectra with carbohydrate metabolic profiles. The cool-climate CDC chickpea varieties with multisource were pressure heated in an autoclave at 120 °C for 60 min; and FTIR vibrational spectroscopy was used to detect the molecular spectra. Molecular spectroscopic results showed that compared to raw chickpea varieties, autoclave heating induced changes in both total CHO (region and baseline ca. 1186-946 cm^-1) and structural CHO (STCHO, region and baseline ca. 1482-1186 cm^-1), except for cellulosic compounds (CELC, region and baseline ca. 1374-1212 cm^-1). The CHO chemical profile and rumen degradation results showed that autoclave heating decreased rumen degradable, undegradable and intestinal digestible sugar (CA4) content, but increased available fiber (CB3) content, without affecting available energy of chickpeas. The changes of CHO molecular spectra in chickpea varieties were strongly correlated with CHO chemical profiles, CHO subfractions, and CHO rumen degradation characteristics. Moreover, the regression analysis showed that STCHO peak 1 height could be used to predict sugar content, its rumen degradability and digestibility of chickpeas. Our results suggest that autoclave heating markedly changes sugar and fiber degradation characteristics. The carbohydrate molecular spectral profiles are associated with carbohydrate metabolic profiles in raw and pressure heated cool-climate chickpeas.