Fatty Acid Compositions of Linseed ( Linum Usitatissimum L.) Genotypes of Different Origin Cultivated in Turkey

Diversity of Linum genetic resources in global genebanks: from agro-morphological characterisation to novel genomic technologies - a review

Linseed or flaxseed is a well-recognized nutritional food with nutraceutical properties owing to high omega-3 fatty acid (α-Linolenic acid), dietary fiber, quality protein, and lignan content. Currently, linseed enjoys the status of a 'superfood' and its integration in the food chain as a functional food is evolving continuously as seed constituents are associated with lowering the risk of chronic ailments, such as heart diseases, cancer, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. This crop also receives much attention in the handloom and textile sectors as the world's coolest fabric linen is made up of its stem fibers which are endowed with unique qualities such as luster, tensile strength, density, bio-degradability, and non-hazardous nature. Worldwide, major linseed growing areas are facing erratic rainfall and temperature patterns affecting flax yield, quality, and response to biotic stresses. Amid such changing climatic regimes and associated future threats, diverse linseed genetic resources would be crucial for developing cultivars with a broad genetic base for sustainable production. Furthermore, linseed is grown across the world in varied agro-climatic conditions; therefore it is vital to develop niche-specific cultivars to cater to diverse needs and keep pace with rising demands globally. Linseed genetic diversity conserved in global genebanks in the form of germplasm collection from natural diversity rich areas is expected to harbor genetic variants and thus form crucial resources for breeding tailored crops to specific culinary and industrial uses. Global genebank collections thus potentially play an important role in supporting sustainable agriculture and food security. Currently, approximately 61,000 germplasm accessions of linseed including 1,127 wild accessions are conserved in genebanks/institutes worldwide. This review analyzes the current status of Linum genetic resources in global genebanks, evaluation for agro-morphological traits, stress tolerance, and nutritional profiling to promote their effective use for sustainable production and nutrition enhancement in our modern diets.

Utilization and characterization of flaxseed oil in ultrasonically emulsified mango beverage

The present study described the formation of stable emulsion of flaxseed oil (0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75% v/v) in ready to serve Mango beverages using 20 kHz ultrasound of power input 21 W, 32 W, 43 W for varying times 3, 5, 7 min to create emulsion droplets size 100-800 nm. Oil was extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction and solvent extraction method by varying solvents, time, ultrasonic intensity etc. and physio-chemical characterization was conducted. Fatty acid profiling revealed that linolenic acid and linoleic acid are major fatty acids present in extracted oil. Effect of flaxseed oil in fruit-based beverage was evaluated in terms of turbidity, pH, acidity, color, antioxidant activity and carotenoids content. Pectin stabilizes emulsion droplets by generating electrostatic repulsion (ζ potential - 25 mV) and the emulsions were stable upto 18 days at (4 ± 2) °C. The rheological behaviour in terms of viscosity of the emulsion stayed unaffected with sonication time upon storage. The carotenoids and antioxidant activity significantly increased from 151.37 to 292.24 µg/mL and 26.99% to 61.43% respectively at 0 to 0.75% added oil in the beverage and enhanced stability by preventing lipid oxidation. Organoleptic score of 0.25% and 0.50% of the flaxseed oil in the beverage was found to be acceptable.

Effect of dietary incorporation of peanut and linseed meals with or without enzyme mixture on physiological performance of broilers

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of feeding peanut meal and linseed meal (LSM) with or without enzyme mixture on growth, plasma metabolites, muscle amino acid (AA) profile, nutrient digestibility, and expression of nutrient absorption-related genes in broilers. A total of 560 one-day-old Cobb-500 male broiler chicks were distributed into eight experimental treatments (7 replications of 10 chicks each) as follows: This study was designed by using 560 one-day-old Cobb-500 male broiler chicks were distributed into eight experimental groups (7 replications of 10 chicks each) to evaluate the differences in body weight, body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion rate, carcass parts, blood biochemical and mRNA expression genes. Group 1 (C) control fed the basal diet without supplements, Group 2 (C + E) is control group fed on 350 g/ton enzyme mixture, Group 3 (C + PNM100) is control group fed 100 kg/ton peanut meal, Group 4 (C + E + PNM100) is a control group fed on 350 g/ton enzyme mixture and 100 kg/ton peanut meal, Group 5 (C + LSM100) is a control group fed on 100 kg/ton linseed meal, Group 6 (C + E + LSM100) is a control group fed on 350 g/ton enzyme mixture and 100 kg/ton linseed meal, Group 7 (C + PNM50 + LSM50) is control group fed on 50 kg/ton peanut meal and 50 kg/ton linseed meal. Group 8 (C + E + PNM50 + LSM50) is the control group fed on 50 kg/ton peanut meal and 50 kg/ton linseed meal. Each gram of the enzyme mixture contains 11,000 U Xylanase, 6000 U Cellulase, 700 U β-Mannanase, 1500 U Phytase, 5 mg α-Amylase, and 2 mg Protease. No differences in Bodyweight, Bodyweight gain, Feed intake, and carcass parts were noticed among experimental groups, while abdominal fat (%) and FCR were reduced (P < 0.05) in PNM50 + LSM50 + E and LSM100 groups. Plasma metabolites were not altered except total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL, reduced (P < 0.01) in treated birds. Dietary inclusion of 100 kg PNM or LSM reduced (P < 0.05) methionine concentration in muscle, while all remaining AA and ammonia concentrations were unaffected. Hepatic MDA contents were reduced (P < 0.001) in treated groups. Nutrient digestibility was not altered among groups except for protein digestibility, which was elevated (P < 0.05) in PNM50 + LSM50 + E, E, and PNM100 + E groups. The highest mRNA expressions of PepT1, APN, SGLT1, HMGCR, GHr, and IGF-1 genes were noticed in PNM50 + LSM50 + E. Conclusively, PNM and LSM can efficiently substitute corn and soybean meal in broiler diets, particularly when fortified with exogenous enzymes, without negative impacts on broiler performance.

Understanding Off-Gassing of Biofuel Wood Pellets Using Pellets Produced from Pure Microcrystalline Cellulose with Different Additive Oils

Fuel wood pellets have the tendency of undergoing self-heating and off-gassing during storage and transportation. Self-heating can lead to spontaneous combustion and cause fires while toxic gasses such as carbon monoxide and some volatile organic compounds released due to off-gassing are a human health and environmental hazard. Previous research suggests that the self-heating and off-gassing of wood pellets are as a result of the oxidation of wood extractives. The aim of this study was to identify the extractives, i.e., fatty and resin acids that are responsible for the emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane from wood pellets by testing the off-gassing tendencies of pellets produced from synthetic microcrystalline cellulose and different additive oils. The additive oils were intentionally selected to represent different types of wood extractives (mainly fatty and resin acids) and they included: tall oil, pine rosin, linseed oil and coconut oil. The highest mean concentrations of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and methane were recorded from cellulose pellets with added linseed oil. The concentrations of carbon monoxide and methane for the other four pellet types were negligible and there was no carbon dioxide emission. Pellets with added linseed oil had high off-gas emissions due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids compared to other pellet types.

Sustainability in Heritage Wood Conservation: Challenges and Directions for Future Research

Conserving the world’s cultural and natural heritage is considered a key contributor to achieving the targets set out in the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, yet how much attention do we pay to the methods we use to conserve and protect this heritage? With a specific focus on wooden objects of cultural heritage, this review discusses the current state-of-the-art in heritage conservation in terms of sustainability, sustainable alternatives to currently used consolidants, and new research directions that could lead to more sustainable consolidants in the future. Within each stage a thorough discussion of the synthesis mechanisms and/or extraction protocols, particularly for bio-based resources is provided, evaluating resource usage and environmental impact. This is intended to give the reader a better understanding of the overall sustainability of each different approach and better evaluate consolidant choices for a more sustainable approach. The challenges facing the development of sustainable consolidants and recent research that is likely to lead to highly sustainable new consolidant strategies in the future are also discussed. This review aims to contribute to the ongoing discussion of sustainable conservation and highlight the role that consolidants play in truly sustainable heritage conservation.

Fatty Acid Composition of Cannabis sativa, Linum usitatissimum and Camelina sativa Seeds Harvested in Lithuania for Food Use

The objective of this study was to determine species-associated differences in the seed proximate and fatty acid composition of three traditional oil crop species, hemp (Cannabis sativa), flax (Linum usitatissimum), and camelina (Camelina sativa), and the sowing season of camelina harvested under Lithuanian farming conditions for food use. Camelina seeds had the highest (p < 0.001) content of protein, oil, and sugar contents compared to both dehulled hemp and flax seeds. The amounts of protein and oil in camelina seeds were considerably increased by their summer cultivar, which showed higher (p < 0.001) contents of protein and oil than winter cultivars. However, the highest and lowest (p < 0.001) fiber content was found in flax seeds and camelina seeds, respectively. Camelina seeds showed considerably higher and lower (p < 0.001) proportions of total monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids, respectively, compared with hemp and flax. The summer cultivar of camelina had higher (p < 0.001) proportions of saturated (SFA) and MUFA and lower proportions of PUFA compared with winter cultivars. Hemp seeds had the highest and lowest (p < 0.001) proportions of PUFA and MUFA, respectively. The n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in hemp seeds is optimal (3.79), whereas the use of flax and camelina seeds with their n-6/n-3 ratios of 0.28 and 0.48, respectively, can significantly improve this ratio in the overall diet. The properties of oil crop seeds showed that whole seeds of hemp, flax, and camelina are potentially highly beneficial to human health.

The link to polysulfides and their applications

This article highlights recent discoveries within the field of polysulfides which are created from waste sulfur through inverse vulcanisation. Due to the current environmental climate, making materials from renewable resources or industrial waste is highly desirable. Sulfur is an impurity refined out of petroleum and gas reserves at a rate of more than 70 million tonnes a year and is currently used in the rubber, fertiliser and chemical industries. However, even with these applications, the usage is significantly below the amount refined each year, leading to large stockpiles of sulfur. Inverse vulcanisation is an attractive method to synthesize new sulfur based materials by trapping the polysulfide using crosslinkers containing diene functionalities. A wide variety of unsaturated crosslinkers can be incorporated into polysulfide materials resulting in inorganic rubbers, combining the benefits of both components. The materials produced have been shown to selectively absorb mercury, are prominsing replacements for existing mid IR lenses, and can be used as capsules for controlled release fertilisers. An overview of the field, including the breadth of crosslinkers employed, synthetic strategies, and the properties and potential applications of polysulfides created through inverse vulcanisation, is captured.

Flexible Polyurethane Foams from Epoxidized Vegetable Oils and a Bio-Based Diisocyanate

Bio-polyols from epoxidized soybean and linseed oils and caprylic acid or 3-phenyl butyric acid were prepared using an environmentally friendly, solvent-free method evaluating the presence of triethylamine as catalyst. Side reactions, leading to a cross-linking structure with high density, were reduced, introducing the catalyst and properly tuning the reaction conditions. A medium functionality value of around 3 along with a hydroxyl number up to around 90 mg KOH/g, narrow polydispersity index, and relatively low molecular mass up to 2400 g/mol were the experimental targets. From selected bio-polyols and an aliphatic partially bio-based isocyanate, a series of water blown polyurethane (PU) foams was produced, estimating the effect of the chemical nature of substituents in the polyol backbone on the PU properties. The apparent density of the foams was in the range of 79–113 kg/m³, with higher values for foams from the aromatic acid. Flexible polyurethane foams with open cell structure from bio-based polyols were obtained, with higher cavity size and lower pore sizes for foams from caprylic acid. The bio-based flexible PU foams showed comparable Young’s moduli (14–18 kPa) and compression deflection values (4.6–5.5 kPa) and exhibited an almost complete recovery of their initial size.

The Effect of Different Plant Oil Impregnation and Hardening Temperatures on Physical-Mechanical Properties of Modified Biocomposite Boards Made of Hemp Shives and Corn Starch

In this study, tung tree and linseed drying oils, as well as semi-drying hempseed oil, were analyzed as the protective coatings for biocomposite boards (BcB) made of hemp shives, corn starch binder, and the performance-enhancing additives. The hydrophobization coatings were formed at 40, 90, and 120 °C temperatures, respectively. The physical-mechanical properties such as the compressive strength, thermal conductivity, dimensional stability, water absorption, and swelling were tested. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed for the analysis of the board microstructure to visualize the oil fills and impregnation in pores and voids. It was demonstrated that the compressive strength of oil-modified BcBs compared to uncoated BcBs (at 10% of relative deformation) increased by up to 4.5-fold and could reach up to 14 MPa, water absorption decreased up to 4-fold (from 1.34 to 0.37 kg/m²), swelling decreased up to 48% (from 8.20% to 4.26%), whereas the thermal conductivity remained unchanged with the thermal conductivity coefficient of around 0.085 W/m·K. Significant performance-enhancing properties were obtained due to the formation of a protective oil film when the tung tree oil was used.

Winter camelina seeds as a raw material for the production of erucic acid-free oil

Camelina oil is increasingly popular as consumption as oil. Erucic acid is an unwanted fatty acid in oil. First studies on several genotypes have shown that this oil contains varying amounts of eriuc acid. The aim of the study was to analyses content of eriuc acid in all genotypes camelina. Hypothesis was that the content of erucic acid in winter forms is lower than in spring ones. A field experiment with 65 spring genotypes and 9 winter genotypes of camelina was conducted in Poland from 2016 to 2018. The analyses based on two chromatographic methods, i.e. UPLC-DAD and GC-MS, showed no differences in the results for the camelina samples. The average percentage content of the erucic acid in the spring genotypes was 3.432%, and in the winter genotypes was 0.1%. Our three-year research shows that some winter varieties can be used as low erucic acid forms.

Review of the use of NMR spectroscopy to investigate structure, reactivity, and dynamics of lead soap formation in paintings

Heavy metal carboxylate or soap formation is a widespread deterioration problem affecting oil paintings and other works of art bearing oil-based media. Lead soaps are prevalent in traditional oil paintings because lead white was the white pigment most frequently chosen by old masters for the paints and in some cases for the ground preparations, until the development of other white pigments from approximately the middle of the 18th century on, and because of the wide use of lead-tin yellow. In the latter part of the 19th century, lead white began to be replaced by zinc white. The factors that influence soap formation have been the focus of intense study starting in the late 1990s. Since 2014, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have contributed a unique perspective on the issue by providing chemical, structural, and dynamic information about the species involved in the process, as well as the effects of environmental conditions such as relative humidity and temperature on the kinetics of the reaction(s). In this review, we explore recent insights into soap formation gained through solid-state NMR and single-sided NMR techniques.

Design, Optimization, Manufacture and Characterization of Efavirenz-Loaded Flaxseed Oil Nanoemulsions

The formation, manufacture and characterization of low energy water-in-oil (w/o) nanoemulsions prepared using cold pressed flaxseed oil containing efavirenz was investigated. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were constructed to identify the nanoemulsion region(s). Other potential lipid-based drug delivery phases containing flaxseed oil with 1:1 m/m surfactant mixture of Tween® 80, Span® 20 and different amounts of ethanol were tested to characterize the impact of surfactant mixture on emulsion formation. Flaxseed oil was used as the oil phase as efavirenz exhibited high solubility in the vehicle when compared to other vegetable oils tested. Optimization of surfactant mixtures was undertaken using design of experiments, specifically a D-optimal design with the flaxseed oil content set at 10% m/m. Two solutions from the desired optimization function were produced based on desirability and five nanoemulsion formulations were produced and characterized in terms of in vitro release of efavirenz, physical and chemical stability. Metastable nanoemulsions containing 10% m/m flaxseed oil were successfully manufactured and significant isotropic gel (semisolid) and o/w emulsions were observed during phase behavior studies. Droplet sizes ranged between 156 and 225 nm, zeta potential between -24 and -41 mV and all formulations were found to be monodisperse with polydispersity indices ≤ 0.487.

Effect of thymol and Pickering stabilization on in-vitro digestion fate and oxidation stability of plant-derived flaxseed oil emulsions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Pickering stabilization by biopolymer-based particles (bioparticles), consisting of flaxseed protein and polysaccharides, and of the addition of thymol to the oil phase on the oxidation stability, and digestion fate of flaxseed oil (FO) emulsions, compared to bulk FO and conventional emulsions stabilized by polysorbate 80 (PS80). Applying Pickering stabilization and thymol simultaneously was a successful approach to retard FO oxidation. Moreover, lipid digestion was slower in bioparticle-stabilized emulsions compared to PS80 stabilized emulsions. The thymol bioaccessibility increased after incorporation into FO Pickering emulsions in comparison to the bulk oil. The results suggested that the combination of Pickering stabilization and thymol addition to the oil phase can be used as a promising way of protecting highly unsaturated oils such as FO against oxidation. These emulsions are also applicable for designing functional foods with controlled lipid digestion.

Kinetic, rheological and thermal studies of flaxseed (Linum usitatissiumum L.) oil and its utilization

In present study kinetic, thermal and rheological characteristics of oil isolated from flaxseed were studied and because of high content of α-linolenic acid (essential omega-3 fatty acid), flaxseed oil was incorporated in muffins by replacing fat/shortening at different levels (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%). To evaluate rheological behaviour, the experimental data of flow behaviour for flaxseed oil was fitted to Power law model, consistency index (K) and flow behaviour index (n) and Arrhenius parameters (activation energy and frequency factor) were evaluated. The n value of the oil treated at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C were found between 0.8 to 0.9, which suggested the non-Newtonian fluid behaviour of flaxseed oil. Thermal properties of flaxseed oil was evaluated using DSC (differential scanning calorimetry). The flaxseed oil possessed three endothermic and one shoulder peak. Gas chromatography revealed the fatty acids composition qualitatively and quantitatively and flaxseed oil is dominated by unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated oil was replaced with flaxseed unsaturated fat and results showed that substituting oil with flaxseed fat at level upto 20% produced muffins possessed the better texture, colour, aroma, mouth feel and overall quality score. Practical application: Modern diet lifestyle demands of healthy natural foods represent a challenge for food manufacturers to lead towards the healthy new trends. Fats imparts lubrication, texture, flavour and acceptability therefore used as major ingredients in bakery goods. Fats contains saturated fatty and dietary intake of saturated fatty acids in excess amount leads to many health disorders. Therefore, substitution of saturated fatty acid with PUFAs (omega-3 and omega-6) for the protection against diseases and metabolic disorders may be a solution for healthy and nutritious product development.

Linseed oil: Characterization and study of its oxidative degradation

This paper proposes to characterize and monitor the degradation of linseed oil under two oxidation conditions using some traditional oxidative and quality parameters. The experimental section of this study was divided into 2 stages. In the first one, three commercial linseed oil samples (OL1, OL2, and OL3) were characterized according to oxidative stability (90 °C) and fatty acid composition. In the second stage, the OL1 sample, selected due to its availability, was subjected to the following oxidation procedures: storage at room temperature conditions with exposure to light and air (temperature ranging from 7 to 35 °C) for 140 days and accelerated oxidation at 100 °C for 7h. Samples were collected at different time intervals and analyzed for oxidative stability (90 °C), peroxide value, and acid value. The results showed that all the samples presented a similar fatty acid profile and that the OL3 sample showed a higher induction period (p < 0.05). Regarding the oxidative degradation, the induction period of the OL1 sample reduced from 9.7 to 5.7 and 9.7 to 6.3 during 140 days of storage under room temperature and 7 h of accelerated oxidation, respectively. The end of induction period of the OL1 sample is expected to occur within 229 days according to an exponential mathematical model fitted to the induction period values at different temperatures. In addition, the OL1 sample met the limits proposed by Codex and Brazilian regulations for peroxide and acid values during the oxidation time intervals.

Growth performance and immune status in common carp Cyprinus carpio as affected by plant oil-based diets complemented with β-glucan

Omnivorous fish species such as the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) are able to biosynthesise long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) from plant oil PUFA precursors, but the influence of the amount and quality of the LC-PUFAs biosynthesised from these oils on the immunocompetence status of the fish has received little attention. This study aims to evaluate whether the conversion of PUFA by carp induces a sufficient biosynthesis of LC-PUFA to maintain a good immunocompetence status in this species. Six iso-nitrogenous (crude protein = 39.1%) and iso-lipidic (crude lipids = 10%) diets containing three different lipid sources (cod liver oil (CLO) as fish oil; linseed oil (LO) and sunflower oil (SFO) as plant oils) were formulated with or without β-glucan supplementation at 0.25 g/kg diet. Juvenile carp (16.3 ± 0.6 g initial body weight) were fed a daily ration of 4% body weight for 9 weeks and then infected at day 64 with the bacteria Aeromonas hydrophyla. No significant differences in survival rate, final body weight, specific growth rate and feed conversion rate were observed between diets. After bacterial infection, mortality rate did not differ between fish fed CLO and plant oil-based diets, indicating that the latter oils did not affect the overall immunocompetence status of common carp. Plant oil-based diets did not alter lysozyme activity in healthy and infected fish. No negative effects of plant oils on complement activity (ACH50) were observed in healthy fish, even if both plant oil-based diets induced a decrease in stimulated fish two days after infection. Furthermore, the levels of various immune genes (nk, lys, il-8, pla, pge, alox) were not affected by plant oil-based diets. The expression of pla and pge genes were higher in SFO-fed fish than in CLO ones, indicating that this plant oil rich in linoleic acid (LA) better stimulated the eicosanoid metabolism process than fish oil. In response to β-glucan supplementation, some innate immune functions seemed differentially affected by plant oil-based diets. LO and SFO induced substantial LC-PUFA production, even if fish fed CLO displayed the highest EPA and DHA levels in tissues. SFO rich in LA induced the highest ARA levels in fish muscle while LO rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA) sustained higher EPA production than SFO. A significantly higher fads-6a expression level was observed in SFO fish than in LO ones, but this was not observed for elovl5 expression. In conclusion, the results show that common carp fed plant oil-based diets are able to produce substantial amounts of LC-PUFA for sustaining growth rate, immune status and disease resistance similar to fish fed a fish oil-based diet. The differences in the production capacity of LC-PUFAs by the two plant oil-based diets were associated to a differential activation of some immune pathways, explaining how the use of these oils did not affect the overall immunocompetence of fish challenged with bacterial infection. Moreover, plant oil-based diets did not induce substantial negative effects on the immunomodulatory action of β-glucans, confirming that these oils are suitable for sustaining a good immunocompetence status in common carp.

Epoxidación enzimática de metil ésteres de ácidos grasos de origen vegetal y sus aplicaciones como alternativa para sustituir a los derivados del petróleo

Recientemente, la modificación de aceites vegetales para obtener ésteres metílicos de ácidos grasos (FAMEs) o biodiesel ha emergido como una alternativa para la sustitución de los derivados del petróleo, esto debido a los problemas ambientales y de salud que genera su uso. Debido a su estructura química es posible epoxidar estas moléculas y usarlas directamente para producir plastificantes o lubricantes. Sin embargo, éstas también pueden ser sujetas a modificaciones para mejorar sus propiedades y el de servir como intermediarias para la síntesis de poliuretanos. Puesto que los métodos convencionales para la producción de epóxidos también son una fuente potencial de contaminación, se ha sugerido el uso de catalizadores enzimáticos como una alternativa sostenible o “Verde” para su preparación, ya que permiten obtener productos con alta pureza y mejores rendimientos. Este artículo presenta una revisión de la literatura disponible centrándose en la epoxidación enzimática de los FAMEs, así como sus principales aplicaciones.

Enhanced Interfacial Adhesion of Polylactide/Poly(ε-caprolactone)/Walnut Shell Flour Composites by Reactive Extrusion with Maleinized Linseed Oil

Novel green composites were prepared by melt compounding a binary blend of polylactide (PLA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) at 4/1 (wt/wt) with particles of walnut shell flour (WSF) in the 10–40 wt % range, which were obtained as a waste from the agro-food industry. Maleinized linseed oil (MLO) was added at 5 parts per hundred resin (phr) of composite to counteract the intrinsically low compatibility between the biopolymer blend matrix and the lignocellulosic fillers. Although the incorporation of WSF tended to reduce the mechanical strength and thermal stability of PLA/PCL, the MLO-containing composites filled with up to 20 wt % WSF showed superior ductility and a more balanced thermomechanical response. The morphological analysis revealed that the performance improvement attained was related to a plasticization phenomenon of the biopolymer blend and, more interestingly, to an enhancement of the interfacial adhesion of the green composites achieved by extrusion with the multi-functionalized vegetable oil.

Optimization of Maleinized Linseed Oil Loading as a Biobased Compatibilizer in Poly(Butylene Succinate) Composites with Almond Shell Flour

Green composites of poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) were manufactured with almond shell flour (ASF) by reactive compatibilization with maleinized linseed oil *MLO) by extrusion and subsequent injection molding. ASF was kept constant at 30 wt %, while the effect of different MLO loading on mechanical, thermal, thermomechanical, and morphology properties was studied. Uncompatibilized PBS/ASF composites show a remarkable decrease in mechanical properties due to the nonexistent polymer‒filler interaction, as evidenced by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). MLO provides a plasticization effect on PBS/ASF composites but, in addition, acts as a compatibilizer agent since the maleic anhydride groups contained in MLO are likely to react with hydroxyl groups in both PBS end chains and ASF particles. This compatibilizing effect is observed by FESEM with a reduction of the gap between the filler particles and the surrounding PBS matrix. In addition, the T_g of PBS increases from −28 °C to −12 °C with an MLO content of 10 wt %, thus indicating compatibilization. MLO has been validated as an environmentally friendly additive to PBS/ASF composites to give materials with high environmental efficiency.

Improving of hydrolases biosythesis by solid-state fermentation of Penicillium camemberti on rapeseed cake

The study show usefulness of rapeseed cake, rich in fats and proteins byproduct generated after oil production, which may be used as a microbial medium for lipase and protease biosynthesis. Of 26 different filamentous fungi screened by solid-state fermentation, Penicillium camemberti AM83 was found to abundantly produce lipase and protease. Various process parameters were then optimized to maximize lipase and protease secretion, including carbon and nitrogen source, C/N ratio, metal ions, temperature, moisture content, initial pH, and inoculum size. Lipase production increased approximately 11.2-fold in solid-state cultures on rapeseed cake supplemented with lactose and calcium chloride, alkalinized to pH 8, hydrated to 80%, and inoculated with 1.2 × 106 spores/mL. Similarly, protease production increased approximately 8.4-fold in optimized cultures inoculated with 3.2 × 108 spores/mL, and grown on rapeseed cake with lactose and ammonium sulfate at pH 9 and moisture content 60%. The results highlight the potential economic value of solid-state fermentation on rapeseed cake to produce industrial hydrolases.

Antimicrobial Coatings Based on Linseed Oil/TiO 2 Nanocomposites

Linseed oil is a cheap, biodegradable, and nontoxic vegetable oil with antimicrobial properties, which has recently attained a lot of interest for the manufacturing of coatings, surfactants, soaps cosmetic products, lubricants, and so forth. Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is an important semiconductor material frequently employed in foods, cosmetics, paints, coatings, food packaging materials, optical devices, and particularly, antimicrobials due to its strong photocatalytic disinfection ability. This chapter describes the preparation and characterization of acrylated epoxidized linseed oil nanocomposite coatings reinforced with TiO₂ nanoparticles. The effect of TiO₂ loading on the morphology, barrier, thermal, mechanical, tribological, and antibacterial performance of the coatings is summarized. The coatings exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria even in the absence of UV light, and the bactericidal effect increases with the TiO₂ loading. These nanocomposite coatings could be used to prevent microbial proliferation in public places with high risk of infections such as hospitals.

Physicochemical and Bacteriological Characteristics of Organic Sprouted Chia and Flax Seed Powders Implicated in a Foodborne Salmonellosis Outbreak

Despite the increasing popularity of sprouted chia and flax seed powders, no data have been reported on their intrinsic physicochemical properties and background microflora. Here, we report the moisture content, water activity, pH, and fatty acid methyl ester and bacteriological profiles of 19 sprouted chia and flax seed samples, 10 of which were associated with an outbreak of salmonellosis in Canada and the United States. The physicochemical parameters of the Salmonella-positive samples did not differ significantly from those of the negative samples. However, the higher Enterobacteriaceae and coliform levels on the contaminated powders were associated with the presence of Salmonella. Enumeration of Salmonella by the most probable number (MPN) method revealed concentrations ranging from 1 MPN per 3 g of powder to 1 MPN per 556 g of powder. The results of this study demonstrate that low numbers of Salmonella may be linked to foodborne outbreaks.

Development of linseed oil-TiO2 green nanocomposites as antimicrobial coatings

This study deals with the preparation and characterization of acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (AELO) based bionanocomposites for antimicrobial coating applications. AELO was synthesized from epoxidized vegetable oils, crosslinked with an acrylic monomer, reinforced with anatase TiO₂ nanoparticles and then subjected to UV irradiation to yield the cured nanocomposite coatings. The effect of TiO₂ loading on the morphology, barrier, thermal, mechanical, tribological and antibacterial performance of the coatings has been comprehensively investigated. FT-IR spectra indicated the existence of strong TiO₂-AELO hydrogen bonding interactions. The nanoparticles were randomly dispersed within the bioresin, significantly reducing its water absorption and gas permeability whilst increasing its thermal stability. They also promoted remarkable enhancements of both static and dynamic mechanical properties such as storage and Young's moduli, hardness, impact resistance and glass transition temperature. Strong reductions in the coefficient of friction and the wear rate were attained in the nanocomposites with the highest TiO₂ loadings. The coatings were found to display antimicrobial activity even in the absence of UV light, and the bactericidal effect against Staphylococcus aureus was higher than on Escherichia coli. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity improved with increasing nanoparticle concentration. The use of these "green" nanocomposite coatings could be a suitable and inexpensive method to prevent microbial proliferation in public places, particularly in medical centers where there is higher risk of infections.

Assessment of oils of selected legumes and oil plants with regard to animal nutrition

The aim of our study was to compare nutritional quality of oils of legumes (soybean, pea, faba bean and lupin) and oil plants (rape, sunflower, poppy and flax) grown in the Czech Republic. Individual seeds of legumes and oil seeds were analysed for fat content and fatty acid profile. Fatty acids were detected by gas chromatography, following fat extraction. The fatty acid profile was evaluated for contents of fatty acids saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, n-3 and n-6 fatty acids. The highest proportion of fat in the dry matter of seed was found in poppy, followed by sunflower, flax, rape, soybean, lupin, pea, and faba bean. Differences in fat contents between individual plants were highly significant (P ≤ 0.01), except for differences between flax and rape (P ≤ 0.05), pea and faba bean and poppy and sunflower (non-significant). Apart from rapeseed, markedly higher proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in other oils but rapeseed had the least content of saturated fatty acids. Legumes had a favourable ratio of n-3:n-6 fatty acids, especially lupin oil (1:4.3), which is in accordance with the recommended ratio 1:5. Sunflower oil is less suitable, with n-3 present in trace concentration. The most significant source of n-3 is flaxseed oil. The study brings new findings regarding oil composition in a wide range of feed components. These data may be used for development of diets for specific purposes and for production of functional food.

Interactive effect of supplemental ultraviolet B and elevated ozone on seed yield and oil quality of two cultivars of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) carried out in open top chambers

BACKGROUND

Current scenarios of global climate change predict a significant increase in ultraviolet B (UV-B) and tropospheric ozone (O₃) in the near future. Both UV-B and O₃ can have detrimental effects on the productivity and yield quality of important agricultural crops. The present study was conducted to investigate the individual and interactive effects of supplemental UV-B (sUV-B) (ambient + 7.2 kJ m⁻² day⁻¹) and O₃ (ambient + 10 ppb) on the yield and oil quality of two cultivars of linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.).

RESULTS

The mean monthly ambient O₃ concentration varied from 27.7 to 59.0 ppb during the experimental period. O₃ affected fruit formation, while sUV-B was mainly responsible for ovule abortion. Seed sugar and protein contents showed maximum reduction in O₃-treated plants, while mineral nutrient levels were most affected by sUV-B + O₃ treatment. Rancid oil of low nutritional quality and containing long-chain fatty acids was favoured along with a decrease in oil content.

CONCLUSION

sUV-B and O₃ individually as well as in combination caused deterioration of the yield and quality of oil and seeds of linseed. However, the individual effect of O₃ was more damaging than the effect of sUV-B or sUV-B + O₃, and cultivar T-397 performed better than Padmini.