Biofilms arise as an alternative to replace synthetic polymers, which have generated environmental pollution. The aim of this work was to extract starch from Hass avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill) to produce biofilms. Starch was extracted using the wet method and characterized by infrared spectroscopy. Moisture, ash content, gelatinization temperature, and color were determined. Two types of biofilms were produced: T1 (starch) and T2 (starch and glycerol). The colour was measured, and the films were characterized by mechanical tests. A yield of 11.38% was obtained for the isolated starch. Glycerol addition significantly influenced the tensile strength being T1 higher than T2. In elongation percentage, T1 was lower than T2. The results indicate that it is possible to use Hass avocado seed waste for starch extraction and produce biofilms to give it added value. This biofilm can be used in low moisture food coatings.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) is a fruit of tropical and subtropical zones of the world, is an important source of phytochemicals (phenolic acids, flavonoids and tannins). Several studies have associated phytochemicals with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. The objective of this work was to analyze the polyphenolic content, the antioxidant and antifungal properties of jackfruit extracts on phytopathogenic fungi. Two phenolic extracts of jackfruit of different maturity level (J1-J2) were used. The total polyphenol content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and total flavonoids (TFC) by the aluminum chloride method, the free radical trapping potential was measured using FRAP and ORAC methods. The results showed a TPC of 844 and 1,178 mgEAG/100 g and TFC of 37 and 68 mgQE/100 g, of dry jackfruit, the antioxidant potential analysis by FRAP was 7,575 and 8,691, by ORAC was 13.369 and 14.728 µmol Trolox/100 g, of dry jackfruit for J1 and J2 respectively. Additionally, it was observed that the phenolic extracts of jackfruit reduced the mycelial growth of: Penicillium digitatum (20-14%), Geotrichum candidum (56-55%), Aspergillus niger (72-67%) and Botrytis cinerea (100%-100%) for J1 and J2 respectively. We conclude that regardless of the degree of maturity, jackfruit has antioxidant and antifungal properties on phytopathogens important in agriculture.

Adsorption of heavy metals on modified orange biomass has been studied. This biomass was treated with NaOH and CaCl 2 to improve its adsorption properties. Kinetic and thermodynamic studies of the adsorption of Cd 2þ , Ni 2þ , Cu 2þ , and Zn 2þ were performed at different operating conditions, including competitive adsorption studies with binary metallic mixtures. Results show that this adsorption process was endothermic where an ion exchange mechanism played a relevant role. Adsorbent effectiveness decreased in binary solutions, indicating a strong antagonistic adsorption behavior caused by counter-ions. This antagonistic adsorption was highly dependent on the counter-ion type and its concentration. Multicomponent adsorption of Cu 2þ ions was not significantly affected by the presence of other metallic counter-ions, whereas the adsorption of Ni 2þ could be totally suppressed by the other ions. The modeling of binary adsorption isotherms was successful using the modified Langmuir equation, which outperformed the Ideal Absorbed Solution Theory-Sips and modified Redlich-Peterson models. Water Environ. Res., 90, 2114Res., 90, (2018.

Microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) is widely used as an additive in the food industry for improving the mechanical properties and texture of foods. The enzyme production process is expensive due to the cost of the components of the fermentation medium used, therefore, it was evaluated the possibility of using inexpensive raw materials for Streptomyces mobaraensis growth. An economic study of microbial transglutaminase (MTGase) production with a variety of raw materials would be a long process. The software SuperPro Designer® v7.5 was used, based on data obtained from pilot plant scale fermentations, to estimate the services, capital, and operating costs, and revenue of the product. The model showed an estimation of MTGase production costs using glucose obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of sorghum grains supplemented with distilled dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The MTGase production plant using enzymatic hydrolysates yielded an annual gross income of 12.326 x