Integrated management of groundwater quantity, physicochemical properties, and microbial quality in West Nile delta using a new MATLAB code and geographic information system mapping

Groundwater is an excellent alternative to freshwater for drinking, irrigation, and developing arid regions. Agricultural, commercial, industrial, residential, and municipal activities may affect groundwater quantity and quality. Therefore, we aimed to use advanced methods/techniques to monitor the piezometric levels and collect groundwater samples to test their physicochemical and biological characteristics. Our results using software programs showed two main types of groundwater: the most prevalent was the Na-Cl type, which accounts for 94% of the groundwater samples, whereas the Mg-Cl type was found in 6% of samples only. In general, the hydraulic gradient values, ranging from medium to low, could be attributed to the slow movement of groundwater. Salinity distribution in groundwater maps varied between 238 and 1350 mg L-1. Although lower salinity values were observed in northwestern wells, higher values were recorded in southern ones. The collected seventeen water samples exhibited brackish characteristics and were subjected to microbial growth monitoring. Sample WD12 had the lowest total bacterial count (TBC) of 4.8 ± 0.9 colony forming unit (CFU mg L-1), while WD14 had the highest TBC (7.5 ± 0.5 CFU mg L-1). None of the tested water samples, however, contained pathogenic microorganisms. In conclusion, the current simulation models for groundwater drawdown of the Quaternary aquifer system predict a considerable drawdown of water levels over the next 10, 20, and 30 years with the continuous development of the region.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Honey in Southwest Ethiopia: Detection of Adulteration through Analytical Simulation

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of honey in the supply chain from the Gera district to Jimma town in southwest Ethiopia and develop a predictive model to detect adulteration. A preliminary survey revealed that poor handling practices and adulteration negatively impacted honey's physicochemical and microbial quality. For laboratory analysis, 268 honey samples were collected from households, cooperatives, chira markets, Agaro markets, and Jimma markets. They were mixed separately to create composite samples representing different value chain actors. Laboratory results indicated that honey samples from supply chain actors confirmed significant differences (p < 0.05) in physicochemical and microbial quality. The study found that the extent of adulteration and physicochemical quality loss increased from producers to Jimma retailers, indicating multiple-stage adulteration along the supply chain that could pose a risk to the safety and quality of the product. The physicochemical quality parameters of the honey samples in the study varied within the following ranges: moisture (18.35-19.42%), water activity (0.48-0.61), viscosity (7.45-10.28 Pas), pH (3.41-4.0), titratable acidity (34.01-36.03 meq/kg), ash (0.1-0.23%), electrical conductivity (0.25-0.39 mS/cm), Total Soluble Solid (75.9-77.5 °Brix), Water insoluble Solid (0.16-2.48 g/100 g), Diastase Activity (6-14 DN), and Hydroxymethylfurfural (0.2-27.7 mg/kg). Microbiological analyses showed that total aerobic bacterial and fungal load ranged from 2.7 × 101-2.29 × 102 and 3.2 × 101-4.57 × 102, respectively. A predictive model was developed using adulteration indicator parameters, showing good linearity (R2>90%) and predictive capacity for detecting adulteration with sugar syrup.

Microbiological and physicochemical quality enhancement of treated wastewater using raw and chemically modified clays from Sidi Bouzid region, Tunisia

Environmental discharge of wastewater represents a source of chemical and biological pollutants. This study firstly evaluates the microbiological and physicochemical quality of treated wastewaters collected from two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in two different Tunisian cities namely Sidi Bouzid (SB) and Gafsa (G). Then, the capacity of three raw and acid/base-activated local clays to enhance the quality of wastewaters was assessed. The results indicate that the quantities of enteric bacteria (oscillating from 1.381 × 103 to 1.4 × 108 CFU/100 mL), fungi (between 1.331 × 103 and 1.781 × 104 CFU/100 mL), as well as SARS-CoV-2 (between 4.25 × 103 and 5.05 × 105 CFU/100 mL) and Hepatitis A virus RNA (form 4.25 × 103 to 7.4 × 104 CFU/100 mL) detected in effluent wastewaters were not in compliance with the Tunisian standards for both studied WWTPs. Likewise for other indicators such as electrical conductivity (ranging 4.9-5.4 mS/cm), suspended matter (145-160 g l-1), chemical oxygen demand (123-160 mg l-1), biological oxygen demand 5 (172-195 mg l-1), chloride, Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and phosphorus contents (710, 58-66 and 9.47-10.83 mg l-1 respectively), the registered values do not agree with the set standards established for wastewater treatment. On the other hand, the pH values fitted (oscillating from 6.86 (at G) to 7.24 (at SB) with the Tunisian standards for both WWTPs. After treatment, wastewaters showed better values for the microbiological parameters, especially for the clays designed as AM and HJ1, which eliminated 100% of viruses. In addition, when acid-activated AM clays were applied, a marked improvement in the quality of physicochemical parameters was obtained, especially for suspended matter (2 and 4 g l-1 for SB and G, respectively), TKN (5.2 (SB) and 6.40 (G) mg/l), phosphorus (1.01 (SB) and 0.81 (G) mg/l). Our results open perspectives for the possibility of efficiently using these specific clays in the enhancement of the quality of treated wastewaters.

Monitoring structural and functional responses of the macroinvertebrate community in a resilient stream after its depollution (Casablanca, Morocco)

This study evaluates the changes in the structure of the macroinvertebrate functional feeding groups (FFGs) of the Hassar Stream (northeast of Casablanca) following the installation of Mediouna's wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Data on water quality and the macroinvertebrate fauna were collected at seven sample points from November 2013 to October 2014. Macroinvertebrates were used to assess the impact of physicochemical and hydromorphological properties on the FFG organization and resilience. Redundancy analysis (RDA) was employed to examine the distribution of FFGs along this stream. Based on the FFGs' relative abundance, collector-gatherers account for 39.06% of the macroinvertebrates' assemblage, followed by shredders (28.41%), collector-filters (18.76%), scrapers (7.16%), and predators (6.6%). The FFG ratios revealed that the environment was highly heterotrophic (P/R < 0.75), and all studied stations had relatively stable substrates. In addition, the ratios indicated that the studied stations had a functional riparian zone (CPOM/FPOM > 0.25), except for stations S1 and S2. Simultaneously, the RDA model revealed that the distribution of the FFGs closely followed fluctuations in the water quality (BOD₅, NH₄⁺, PO₄^3-, EC, and Cl^-) and hydromorphic properties (flow and depth). These findings highlight the importance of studying macroinvertebrate FFGs as a complementary way to assess the aquatic ecosystems' ecological integrity and resilience following anthropogenic impact reduction.

Revealing color change and drying mechanisms of pulsed vacuum steamed Cistanche deserticola through bioactive components, microstructural and starch gelatinization properties

Cistanche deserticola is a famous herbal medicine and has been used worldwide for its kidney-tonifying and anti-aging values. This study investigated the effects of pulsed vacuum steaming (PVS) on bioactive phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs), total soluble sugars, polysaccharides, color, drying characteristics, microstructure, and starch gelatinization properties of Cistanche deserticola. PVS pretreatment significantly increased PhGs and soluble sugar content while reduced the polysaccharides content. And increasing the material core temperature to 75 °C at the largest diameter was proposed as the optimal steaming condition and the PhGs content was increased by 1.11 times compared with that by atmospheric steaming. The color of steamed samples changed to oily black due to Maillard reaction. PhGs content was significantly (P < 0.05) positively correlated with total color difference (ΔE). Steaming until the ΔE value of 15.95 could achieve the maximum accumulation of PhGs, corresponding to the highest increasing ratio of echinacoside and acteoside. Starch was completely gelatinized and formed a barrier layer adhering to the cell surface when the material core temperature reached 75 °C at the largest diameter, explaining why after steaming the Cistanche deserticola drying time was prolonged by 85.71 %. The study can provide an innovative steaming technology and optimal process parameters for obtaining high-quality Cistanche deserticola decoction pieces, as well as propose a non-destructive testing method to quickly predict PhGs content based on color parameters during the steaming process.

Dynamics of microbial communities, flavor, and physicochemical properties of pickled chayote during an industrial-scale natural fermentation: Correlation between microorganisms and metabolites

Pickled chayote is a Chinese fermented vegetable with unique flavors and is favored by local consumers. However, little is known about its quality changes and microbial community succession during fermentation and the relationship between microbes and quality. In the work, the physicochemical quality attributes (pH, acidity, nitrite, texture, and color) and flavor properties (sugars, organic acids, free amino acid [FAA], and volatiles) were investigated. The results revealed that organic acids, FAAs, and key volatiles (esters, terpenes, alcohols, and phenols) significantly increased during fermentation. Lactobacillus was the dominant bacterial genus with Lactobacillus alimentarius being the prevalent species; Kazachstania and Pichia were dominant fungal genera with Kazachstania humilis and Pichia membranifaciens being the prevalent species. The microbial metabolic network found that bacteria (L. alimentarius, L. futsaii, and L. paralimentarius) and fungi (K. humilis and P. membranifaciens) played significant roles in the physicochemical changes and flavor production of pickled chayote.

Assessment of the physicochemical water quality of the Moulouya River, Morocco, using the SEQ-Eau index

Surface water is subject to strong anthropogenic pressures caused by the development and extension of agricultural activities and also by industrial and domestic activities. As a result, rational and sustainable management of water resources is necessary in order to protect them. The objective of this work is the use of geographic information system GIS and the application of the weighted index of the water quality evaluation system SEQ-Eau for the overall assessment of the physicochemical quality of surface waters of the Moulouya River. First, a cartographic representation of the study area was produced with the development of quality maps for the various alterations relating to acidification, temperature, mineralization, phosphorus materials, and organic and oxidizable materials. The overall quality map is generated from the lowest index of all the alterations considered. The results generally show surface water of excellent quality in the Upper Moulouya and of average to poor quality in the Middle and Lower Moulouya. The alteration of water, linked mainly to mineralization and phosphorus nutrients, organic and oxidizable matter, reveals a domestic type pollution in relation to urban wastewater and agricultural discharges in addition to the impact of the geological substratum of the watershed. The seasonal impact is influenced by the increase in the degree of deterioration of water quality due to the increase in the concentration of pollutants and the decrease in precipitation during the summer season.

Effects of cultivars and fertilization levels on the quality of rice milling: A diagnosis using near-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy

Cultivars and fertilization levels influence rice productivity and can be associated with grain quality. Thus, it is possible to make decisions regarding the choice of cultivars and application of fertilizer levels based on the type of milling, a necessary post-harvest process that may minimize the nutrient load in the grains and result in loss in quality. This study relates the physicochemical composition and morphological quality of brown and polished milled rice grains, cultivar types, and different levels of soil fertilization using near-infrared spectroscopy analysis, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Statistical tools were used to test the various treatments and identify the relationship between factors and variables. A high fertilization level is related to increasing crude protein composition and starch for cultivar IRGA 431 CL associated with polished rice. However, the combination of cultivar IRGA 424 RI and brown rice demonstrated a higher grain resistance, and different percentages of whole, chalky, and damaged rice. The correlation between ash × crude protein and starch × crude fiber was found to be positive for brown rice and negative for the polished rice. Further, an increase in starch content was inversely proportional to the ash content, whereas an increase in crude protein was inversely proportional to the low-fat content in milled rice. The crystalline characteristics of rice starch were preserved at high fertilization levels associated with polished grains that demonstrated high starch content. Polished grains, however, showed more pores and cavities, and consequently greater permeabilities in the surface. It is recommended that batches of grains produced from cultivar IRGA 431 CL with high levels of fertilization be subjected to polished rice milling to achieve high protein and starch quality. However, grains from cultivar IRGA 424 RI with high levels of fertilization are recommended for brown rice milling owing to the high percentage of physical defects observed.

Physicochemical quality and metabolomics comparison of the green food apple and conventional apple in China

The Green Food apple production has increased rapidly in China recently, due to its sustainability and high-quality compared to the conventional apple. The aim of this study was evaluating and comparing physicochemical quality as well as metabolomics of the apples grown in green certified and conventional production systems. The results of physicochemical properties indicated that Green Food apples showed significant superiorities than conventional ones at soluble solids content, firmness and titratable acidity. While, in the vitamin C content comparison, there was no significant difference. Compounds, including several phenolic compounds and fatty acids, were revealed by the untargeted metabolomics as differential markers between apples grown in the two production systems, and could serve as the potential markers for differentiating these two types of apples. Overall, these results of this study could encourage the Green Food apples consumption, promote its production, and will benefit the development of Green Food production and the cleaner agricultural production in China.

Impact of chlorine dioxide and electron-beam irradiation for the reduction of murine norovirus in low-salted "jogaejeotgal", a traditional Korean salted and fermented clam

Clam jeotgal, called "jogaejeotgal," is a Korean fermented seafood product with, generally, a high amount of added salt to inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), a surrogate for human norovirus, in salt-fermented clam, jogaejeotgal. The sequential effect of ClO₂ and electron-beam (e-beam) irradiation on the inactivation of MNV-1 was also investigated. Treatments of up to 300 ppm ClO₂ and 1000 ppm NaOCl were used to determine the disinfectant concentrations at which more than 1 log (90%) MNV-1 inactivation occurred. The sequential treatment of ClO₂ (50-300 ppm) and e-beam (1-5.5 kGy) was performed after storage at 4 °C for 7 days. There was a 1.9-log reduction of the virus in seasoned clams irradiated at 5.5 kGy after ClO₂ treatment at 300 ppm. No significant change (p > 0.05) in physicochemical quality was observed after the combined treatment, suggesting the potential for the use of a combined treatment using ClO₂ (300 ppm) and e-beam (5.5 kGy) in the jeotgal manufacturing industry for the reduction of norovirus.

Ultrasound-assisted thawing of frozen white yak meat: Effects on thawing rate, meat quality, nutrients, and microstructure

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of ultrasound-assisted thawing (UAT) on the quality of longissimus dorsi muscles from white yak meat (WYM). Ultrasonic power levels of 0, 200, 400, and 600 W (frequency of 20 kHz) were used to assist thawing. The thawing rate, meat quality, nutrient substances, volatile compounds, and microstructure of the WYM were determined. The results showed that ultrasonic thawing treatment reduced thawing times by 30.95-64.28% compared to control. The meat quality results revealed that the thawing loss, cooking loss, L* and b* values, and pH values decreased significantly while the a* value and cutting force increased significantly (P < 0.05) at the lower 400 W power level compared with the control. In addition, the free amino acid (FAA), mineral, and vitamin (especially water-soluble vitamins) contents were significantly (P < 0.05) increased with the ultrasound treatment. UAT significantly (P < 0.05) increased the content of volatile compounds, an effect that was highest in the UAT-400 W group. Partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) showed that 2,4-heptadienal was critical in distinguishing the UAT groups from the control. When the ultrasonic power was lower than 400 W, the muscle cell area was significantly (P < 0.05) increased but decreased when higher power was used. Therefore, UAT improves the thawing efficiency and quality of frozen WYM, particularly at a power level of 400 W, and these findings have potential applications in the meat industry.

Physical and phytochemical composition of 23 Portuguese sweet cherries as conditioned by variety (or genotype)

This study aimed to analyze physicochemical characteristics and phenolic profile of twenty-three sweet cherry cultivars from Fundão region, Portugal. The average length and width ranged between 1.9 and 2.6 and 2.1-2.8 cm, respectively. Weight varied between 4.9 and 11.8 g, firmness ranged from 7.3 to 20.1 N, moisture and ash contents ranged from 75.1 to 88.6% and 0.4 to 2.9%, respectively. Sunburst and Sweetheart presented high values of CIEL∗, a∗ and b∗, and low values regarding total soluble solids and maturity index. A total of 46 phenolic compounds were identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSⁿ and quantified by HPLC-DAD, namely 19 hydroxycinnamic acids, 2 hydroxybenzoic acids, 13 flavonols, 5 flavan-3-ols, 2 flavanones, 1 flavanonol and 4 anthocyanins. Sunburst and Brook's were the richest in non-colored phenolics, while Garnet and Tavora were the richest ones in anthocyanins. Therefore, our results revealed that sweet cherries represent a supply of high-value bioactive compounds, being greatly influenced by the cultivar.

Impact of particle size on functional, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of cladode powder (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Particle size is an important quality parameter of pharmaceutical and processed food products. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of powder fractionation on the functional, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of cladode powder with particle size ranging from < 45 to 500 µm. Granulometric study presented bimodal granules' volume distribution explaining the irregular shape of particles. The results indicated that functional properties were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by particle size distribution and the critical fraction size was 63-80 µm. Scanning electron microscopy showed that morphology of cladode powder granules was highly related to the grinding treatment. Physicochemical analysis showed that ash content and soluble solids were more affected contrary to moisture, pH and titratable acidity. Chlorophylls (a, b) and carotenoids content of fractionated powder were affected significantly unlike color (b* value). The granulometric classes (80-100 µm) had the highest polyphenol and flavonoids content (605.30 mg GAE/100 g and 476.33 mg CE/100 g respectively). Two fractions "100-200 µm" and "80-100 µm" exhibited a high rise in the antioxidant activity as determined by the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP essays compared to other fractions. The chemical composition and bioactive compounds analysis of cladode powder confirmed a differential distribution of chemical composition and bioactive compounds according to particle size.

Sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) supplementation on meat quality of Korean native black goat

The supplementation effects of sea tangle powders were determined for the meat quality in Korean native black goats. A total 90 castrated male black goats at 3-month age were divided into 3 dietary treatment groups: control (basal diet + mineral block), T1 (0.3% sea tangle feeding with the basal diet), T2 (0.9% sea tangle feeding with the basal diet). At 9-months feeding, 10 goats per treatment group were slaughtered, and the longissimus dorsi muscle samples were vacuum-packed, and subsequently analyzed for physicochemical evaluations. Analysis revealed decrease in the shear force and TBARS values of meat in the sea tangle dietary groups (p < 0.05). The T2 group exhibited increased levels of unsaturated fatty acids such as C16:1, C18:1, C18:2, and C20:4 (p < 0.05). The content of free amino acids with desirable taste such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, and serine were higher in T2, whereas alanine content was higher in both sea tangle dietary groups, as compared to control (p < 0.05). These data indicate that feeding dietary sea tangle as an alternative mineral source results in an improvement in the physicochemical profiles of goat meat.

Effects on quality properties of cooked pork sausages with Caesalpinia sappan L. extract during cold storage

This study was evaluated the possibility of replacing some chemical additives in meat products by the Caesalpinia sappan L. (CS) extract. Four different types of cooked pork sausages were prepared by mixing nitrite with CS extracts at different concentration like control (without nitrite and extract), T1 (0.007% nitrite), T2 (0.004% nitrite + 0.05% extract) and T3 (0.1% extract). Physicochemical properties, sensory attributes, and antioxidant activity of the control and treatments were investigated. Ash contents and DPPH radical scavenging activity were significantly (P < 0.05) higher when pork sausages were processed with the addition of CS extracts. The rate of lipid oxidation significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in the case of CS extracts addition. By comparing with the control, all nitrite or CS extract resulted in significant (P < 0.05) lower L* values; however, 0.007% nitrite and 0.004% nitrite plus 0.05% CS extract pointed significantly (P < 0.05) higher a* values in all storage times. As well as, arrangement of CS extracts (0.05%) and nitrite (0.004%) in pork sausages displayed high gumminess and cohesiveness values (P < 0.05), stable springiness and chewiness, and significantly (P < 0.05) enhance overall acceptability scores as sensory attributes compared to the control sausage after 30 days of storage. Therefore, the CS extract (0.05%), which can act as a natural antioxidant, exert a positive effect with nitrite (0.004%) on the sensory acceptability and help to preserve the desired color of cooked pork sausages by reducing oxidation rate during cold storage.

Low field nuclear magnetic resonance and multivariate analysis for prediction of physicochemical characteristics of Atlantic mackerel as affected by season of catch, freezing method, and frozen storage duration

Fast and non-destructive prediction of the quality characteristics of food products during frozen storage are of great value both for the food industry and the consumers. The current study investigated the potential of using low field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) along with multivariate chemometric methods to predict various important physicochemical quality parameters in Atlantic mackerel during frozen storage, as affected by season of catch, freezing method and temperature, as well as frozen storage duration. The obtained results clearly showed that transverse relaxation data obtained by low field NMR can be effectively used to simultaneously predict multiple quality characteristics of the mackerel fillets through storage, including water and lipid content, water holding capacity, lipid oxidation (peroxide value (PV), and thiobartituric reactive substances (TBARS)) and lipid hydrolysis (free fatty acids (FFA)) content within the muscle. The NMR data could furthermore be used to predict variations in the muscle due to season of catch, the frozen storage duration of the mackerel samples when all samples were used, and whether the fish had been headed and gutted or stored whole, which freezing equipment had been used, and the frozen storage temperature for mackerel samples caught at the end of July. Simplified monitoring and optimization of these quality parameters in frozen mackerel with a fast and non-destructive analytical technique like low field NMR is thus of great value for the fishing industry.

Data on physicochemical quality of drinking water in the rural area in Divandarreh county, Kurdistan, Iran

Good quality of drinking water is very important in the maintenance of human health. The gathered data from the present work was used to evaluate the quality of drinking water resources in the rural villages of Divandarreh, Iran. Physicochemical quality of water was determined by a collection of 35 random samples during dry and rainy seasons in 2015. The APHA approach was used to determine the physicochemical parameters of the samples. The results showed that the average concentration of Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO₄, TDS and TH during dry season was 85.64 mg/l, 13.41 mg/l, 34.11 mg/l, 2.8 mg/l, 9.9 mg/l, 45.7 mg/l, 326.06 mg/l and 269.61 mg/l, respectively. Also, the average concentration of the parameters during rainy season was 77.3 mg/l, 18.27 mg/l, 30.3 mg/l, 1.9 mg/l, 12.54 mg/l, 39 mg/l, 269.1 mg/l and 316.17 mg/l, respectively.

Physicochemical changes of 'Phulae' pineapple fruit treated with short-term anoxia during ambient storage

The effects of short-term anoxia exposure for 16h on physicochemical changes of 'Phulae' pineapple fruit stored at ambient temperature (25±2°C) were investigated. The respiratory rate of the fruit was induced by the anoxia treatment. However, it retarded the increase in moisture loss and maintained both flesh and pulp colour by inhibiting polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity of the both tissues. The anoxia exposure delayed the increase in total sugar content and enhanced total ascorbic acid content during storage. The half-cut pineapple fruit showed that the anoxia exposure completely inhibited internal transparency of the flesh tissue adjacent to core during the storage. In conclusion, the short-term anoxia exposure for 16h maintained postharvest quality, retarded physiological disorder and enhanced nutritional values of the pineapple fruit stored at ambient temperature (25±2°C).

An assessment of the physicochemical properties and toxicity potential of carwash effluents from professional carwash outlets in Gauteng Province, South Africa

The assessment of the quality of carwash effluents has received scant attention as a potential source of public and environmental health hazard in South Africa as demonstrated by the lack of literature in this subject. The physicochemical quality and potential ramifications of carwash effluents on receiving waterbodies were investigated in this study. Grab effluent samples were collected from six carwash outlets in Gauteng Province of South Africa and analysed for selected physicochemical qualities including biological oxygen demand (BOD), oil and grease, total petroleum hydrocarbons-gasoline range organics (TPH-GRO), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total solids (TS) and total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), nutrients (nitrates, nitrites and phosphates), anionic surfactants and heavy metals (zinc [Zn], copper [Cu], lead [Pb] and chromium [Cr]). Further, the toxicity potential of the effluent samples was assessed using organisms from four trophic levels ranging from Selenastrum capricornutum (primary producer), Daphnia magna (primary consumer), Poecilia reticulata (secondary-tertiary consumer) and Vibrio fischeri (decomposer). High pollutant levels were observed in all effluents with BOD ranging from 27 ± 2.1 to 650 ± 4.9 mg/l, TDS from 362 ± 8.5 to 686 ± 8.5 mg/l, GRO-TPH from 0.01 ± 0.0 to 7.6 ± 0.2 mg/l, DO from 0.0 to 0.1 mg/l, Zn from 0.79 ± 0.08 to 20 ± 2.12 mg/l, Cu from 0.77 ± 0.03 to 13 ± 0.71 mg/l and oil and grease from 12 ± 2.8 to 43 ± 2.1 mg/l. Ammonium concentrations ranged from 0.4 ± 0.1 to 75 ± 6.4 mg/l; turbidity from 109 ± 0.7 to 4000 ± 29.7 mg/l, anionic surfactants from 1.4 ± 0.1 to 5.8 ± 0.3 mg/l and TPH from <0.01 to 7.6 mg/l. Toxicity assessment assays resulted in 100 % mortality for fish and Daphnia after 96 and 24 h, respectively, and significant bioluminescence and growth reduction in V. fischeri and algae after 15 min and 72 h, respectively. Most of the measured physicochemical parameters were in concentrations above the Environmental Management Agency (EPA) stipulated guidelines. Additionally, the effluents demonstrated acute toxicity against all four test species.

The effect of oil-soluble rosemary extract, sodium erythorbate, their mixture, and packaging method on the quality of Turkey meatballs

The effect of oil-soluble rosemary extract, sodium erythorbate and a mixture of oil-soluble rosemary extract and sodium erythorbate and packaging method (vacuum packaging and modified atmosphere packaging) on the quality of cooked turkey meatballs stored at 4 °C was determined. The physicochemical, microbiological and sensory analyses were performed. Oil-soluble rosemary extract was found to be the most effectual antioxidant and vacuum more effective than modified atmosphere packaging in preventing oxidative changes. Sodium erythorbate slowed down hydrolytic process and more effective in modified atmosphere packaged samples. A slighter change in the colour of turkey meatballs was noted during modified atmosphere storage. Microbial counts of mesophilic bacteria during storage were never higher than the spoilage limit (10(7) cfu/g). All additives reduced microbial population and better effect was achieved by the combination of modified atmosphere packaging and additives. Sensory analysis results indicated the significant advantages in using rosemary individually or with sodium erythorbate in retarding warmed-over-flavour development in cooked poultry product.

Effect of starter culture and turmeric on physico-chemical quality of carabeef pastirma

Carabeef samples were sliced, pressed, cured and divided into 6 groups. Starter cultures (Micrococcus varians M483 (MV), Staphylococcus carnosus (SC), Lactobacillus sakei (LS), M. varians M483+ Lb. sakei and Staph. carnosus + Lb. sakei) were inoculated at the dose of 10(6)-0(7)cfu/g and stored at 10 ± 1°C for 7 days. Uninoculated samples were maintained as control. Samples were then divided into 2 treatment groups. Samples of treatment 1 (T1) were smeared with a paste of turmeric followed by application of a thick layer of the paste of garlic, cumin, black pepper and red pepper whereas, samples of treatment 2 (T2) were applied with a thick layer of spices as above without turmeric. With the gradual fall in pH there was a reduction in water-holding capacity (WHC) of samples. The WHC of samples treated with SC+LS of T1 reduced to 6.3 ± 0.03 cm(2) and those inoculated with MV+LS of T2 to 6.2 ± 0.03 cm(2). The extract release volume (ERV) increased in all samples during storage. The least ERV of 11.7 and 11.6 ml were recorded in samples inoculated with MV of T1 and T2, respectively. The tyrosine (TV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) number of turmeric treated samples were significantly lower than non turmeric treated samples. The samples inoculated with LS had the least TV of 30.9 mg tyrosine/100 g of meat and TBA number of 0.06 mg manoladehyde/kg of meat. Samples inoculated with MV and LS of both T1 and T2 were better in physico-chemical qualities.