Microbubble-Assisted Cleaning-in-Place Process for Ultrafiltration System and Its Environmental Performance

Effect of microbubbles on immersion freezing of grape tomato

Microbubbles (MBs) were incorporated into calcium chloride solution as a novel freezing medium for immersion freezing of grape tomato. The effects of MB size (39, 43, 48 μm mean diameter), entrapped gas (air, N2, CO2) and freezing temperature (-10, -15, -20 °C) on the freezing behavior and quality attributes of tomato were investigated. MBs increased the nucleation temperature from -7.4 to -3.5 °C and reduced the onset time of nucleation from 5.8 to 2.9 min at freezing temperature of -20 °C, which facilitated the formation of small ice crystals within tomato. MB-assisted freezing reduced the drip loss by 13.7-17.0% and improved the firmness of tomato, particularly when MB size and freezing temperature decreased. Freezing tomato with air-MBs did not compromise its nutritional quality, using N2- and CO2-MBs even increased its lycopene content, by 31% and 23%, respectively. The results proved the preservation effect of MBs on fruit during immersion freezing. This study can benefit the fruit and vegetable industry by providing an efficient freezing technology for producing frozen products with high sensory and nutritional quality.

State-of-the-Art Advances and Current Applications of Gel-Based Membranes

Gel-based membranes, a fusion of polymer networks and liquid components, have emerged as versatile tools in a variety of technological domains thanks to their unique structural and functional attributes. Historically rooted in basic filtration tasks, recent advancements in synthetic strategies have increased the mechanical strength, selectivity, and longevity of these membranes. This review summarizes their evolution, emphasizing breakthroughs that have positioned them at the forefront of cutting-edge applications. They have the potential for desalination and pollutant removal in water treatment processes, delivering efficiency that often surpasses conventional counterparts. The biomedical field has embraced them for drug delivery and tissue engineering, capitalizing on their biocompatibility and tunable properties. Additionally, their pivotal role in energy storage as gel electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells underscores their adaptability. However, despite monumental progress in gel-based membrane research, challenges persist, particularly in scalability and long-term stability. This synthesis provides an overview of the state-of-the-art applications of gel-based membranes and discusses potential strategies to overcome current limitations, laying the foundation for future innovations in this dynamic field.