Films based on starch-gellan blends at 9:1 and 8:2 ratios containing emulsified or lecithin encapsulated thyme (Thymus zygis) essential oil (EO) (0.25 or 0.5 g/g polymer), were obtained by casting method and characterized as to their structural, functional (mechanical, barrier and optical) and in vitro antifungal properties against Alternaria alternata (AA) and Botryotinia fuckeliana (BF). The EO retention during the film formation was also quantified. Lecithin encapsulation of the EO allowed for greater oil retention (45-55%), which enhanced the antifungal activity of the films, which were more effective against BF than AA. All films exhibited high oxygen barrier capacity, while lecithin improved the films water barrier properties and gloss, conferring them with a slightly brownish color. Lecithin also reduced the film stiffness and resistance to break and extensibility. Of the studied formulations, 8:2 S:G films with lecithin-encapsulated EO were very effective at controlling fungal growth, while exhibiting adequate functional properties as packaging/coating materials.
Bioethanol production from sugarcane represents an opportunity for urban-agricultural development in small communities of Ecuador. Despite the fact that the industry for bioethanol production from sugarcane in Brazil is fully developed, it is still considered expensive as a small rural business. In order to be able to reduce the costs of monitoring the production process, and avoid the application of expensive sensors, the aim of this research was modeling the kinetics of production of bioethanol based on direct measurements of Brix grades, instead of the concentration of alcohol, during the process of cane juice bio-fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This avoids the application of expensive sensors that increase the investment costs. Fermentation experiments with three concentrations of yeast and two temperatures were carried out in a laboratory reactor. In each case Brix grades, amount of ethanol and alcoholic degree were measured. A mathematical model to predict the quality and production of bioethanol was developed from Brix grade measurements, obtaining an adjusted coefficient of determination of 0.97. The model was validated in a pilot plant.
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