SpringerBriefs in Molecular Science – serie

This brief explores polysaccharides, the most abundant family of naturally occurring polymers, and explains how they have gained considerable attention in recent decades as a source of innovative bio-based materials. The authors present a range of material including an extensive array of polysaccharide hybrid nanomaterials with distinct applications. The most recent knowledge regarding polysaccharide-based hybrid nanomaterials with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), carbon nanotubes and graphene is presented as well as the main polysaccharides, namely cellulose, chitin and chitosan, starch and their most relevant derivatives. The book features a description of important production methodologies, properties, and applications of these types of hybrids.

This book covers the functionalisation of silicone surfaces with polysaccharides to improve their antimicrobial and antifouling properties, thus reducing the implant-related infections. The authors describe how silicone surfaces were chosen because silicone exhibits excellent biocompatible properties and is already being used for medical implants such as catheters, breast implants, prosthetics etc. The potential of polysaccharides such as cellulose, chitosan, hyaluronic acid, and other natural substances such as natural surfactants as coatings for silicones are also discussed, their effects are evaluated. With the aging of the population, the number of medical implants is growing and with it the number of infections associated with the use of implants.

This brief explores recent progress in the area of polysaccharides and their composites and nanocomposites. It is a complete resource for the evolving field of polysaccharide based biomaterials and their applications in different fields. The volume focuses on their composition, properties, characterization, chemistry and applications and also highlights recent developments in polysaccharide based composites and nanocomposites spurred by advances in polymer technology and biotechnology. Divided into different sections featuring alginates, carrageenans, cellulose, starch, chitin, chitosan, gums, etc, each chapter presents chemical, physical, and biological attributes, and reviews the recent research performed such as drug carriers, selective water absorption materials from oil-water emulsions, purification of water, biomedical applications, etc. The authors hope that this brief will help to inspire scientists towards novel sources for chemicals, materials, and energy in the years to come.

This book is devoted to the characterization of Maillard reaction products using mass spectrometry (MS)-based technologies. The Maillard reaction is a well-known non-enzymatic reaction between reducing sugars and proteins, and one of the most important reactions in food sciences. The authors explore different MS-based technologies to systematically investigate the Maillard reaction from amino acids, peptides and proteins. By using amino acid/peptide-sugar models, the authors also show how reactants, temperature and time affect the Maillard reaction. In this book, readers will learn more about glucosylation, and how it can improve functional properties of food proteins.

This brief introduces readers to an alternative thermochemical reference system that makes it possible to use the heats of formation of organic compounds to deduce the energies that depend entirely on their structures, and which provides calculated values for most of the characteristic structures appearing in organic molecules. These structure-dependent energies are provided e.g. for selected compounds of normal and cyclic alkanes, open chain and cyclic olefins (including conjugated polyenes), alkynes, aromatic hydrocarbons and their substituted derivatives. The oxygen, sulfur and nitrogen derivatives of the above-mentioned compounds are also represented with calculated structure-dependent energies including alcohols, ethers, aldehydes and ketones, carboxylic acids, thiols, sulfides, amines, amides, heterocyclic compounds and others. Most organic reactions can be interpreted as the disappearance of certain structures and formation of others. If the structure-dependent energies are known, it can be shown how the disappearing and the newly formed structures contribute to the heat of reactions and to the driving forces. As experienced by the author, who pioneered the concept, structure dependent energies can help teachers to make organic chemistry more accessible for their students. Accordingly, the brief offers a valuable resource for all those who teach organic chemistry at universities, and for those who are learning it.

The authors describe how sustainable textile fibers from crops such as quinoa, grass, hops, corn and wheat stems, etc. have recently begun to generate great interest. The structure-property relationships of such non-conventional cellulose fibers are studied in this brief, as are their sorption and surface properties which are of primary importance. A systematic review of each fiber's properties is given, the emphasis is placed on the water sorption capacity, the fiber's surface potential, and fibrillation properties.

This book presents the latest research on fundamental aspects of acoustic bubbles, and in particular on various complementary ways to characterize them. It starts with the dynamics of a single bubble under ultrasound, and then addresses few-bubble systems and the formation and development of bubble structures, before briefly reviewing work on isolated bubbles in standing acoustic waves (bubble traps) and multibubble systems where translation and interaction of bubbles play a major role. Further, it explores the interaction of bubbles with objects, and highlights non-spherical bubble dynamics and the respective collapse geometries. It also discusses the important link between bubble dynamics and energy focusing in the bubble, leading to sonochemistry and sonoluminescence.The second chapter focuses on the emission of light by cavitation bubbles at collapse (sonoluminescence) and on the information that can be gained by sonoluminescence (SL) spectroscopy, e.g. the conditions reached inside the bubbles or the nature of the excited species formed. This chapter also includes a section on the use of SL intensity measurement under pulsed ultrasound as an indirect way to estimate bubble size and size distribution.Lastly, since one very important feature of cavitation systems is their sonochemical activity, the final chapter presents chemical characterizations, the care that should be taken in using them, and the possible visualization of chemical activity. It also explores the links between bubble dynamics, SL spectroscopy and sonochemical activity.This book provides a fundamental basis for other books in the Molecular Science: Ultrasound and Sonochemistry series that are more focused on applied aspects of sonochemistry. A basic knowledge of the characterization of cavitation bubbles is indispensable for the optimization of sonochemical processes, and as such the book is useful for specialists (researchers, engineers, PhD students etc.) working in the wide area of ultrasonic processing.

This book describes the consequences of an increased demand for food for human consumption for the global food industry. In four concise chapters, the authors explore the trend for the overproduction of food, the concomitant diminution of raw materials and the increase in environmental concerns. Chapter one describes the variations in biochemical properties of fishmeal depending on the season and geographical location. Chapter two discusses how the expansion of cropland and pastures to meet the rising demand for food is damaging the environment, while chapter three examines the impact of bee viruses on food crops and production. Lastly, the fourth chapter addresses the issue of food adulteration and provides specific examples of fraud in the American dairy industry. This book is of interest to researchers working in the area of food production in academia and industry, as well as certification and scientific bodies involved in food inspection.

This brief discusses the influence of modern food production on dietary patterns and chronic diseases. In four concise chapters the authors explore different aspects of this topical issue. Chapter one highlights the importance of advanced glycation end products in food and describes how high levels of these complex molecules can lead to an increase in chronic diseases. Chapter two addresses the role of carbohydrates in inexpensive and tasty foods, while chapter three outlines how vegetable fats, notably palm oil, are used in selected industrial foods and explores their relation to hyper-palatability and other health issues. Lastly, the fourth chapter discusses the increasing demand for high-protein foods and the concomitant availability of vegan products. This brief is of interest to researchers in food production, food hygiene and public health, but is also relevant for certification bodies and specialists in the food industry.

This book explains the role of food-oriented (or ‘food-centric’) quality system standards in the modern food and beverage industry. It discusses food safety schemes based on the international norm ISO 9001 and the “Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points” approach, and also introduces the new Global Standard for Food Safety (GSFS) and the International Featured Standard (IFS, 7th ed.), outlining standardization for international equivalence (while maintaining the necessary flexibility and independence – which is not always easy an easy task).Providing selected specific examples, it examines the problems of chemical additives and possible cross-contaminations between different production lines, as well as adequate reactions to and handling of intentional adulterations. In addition, it includes a chapter focusing on quality audits and technical data sheets in the food industry, and a final chapter describing the certification of food-grade lubricants in the food industry, especially with regard to allergenic substances.

This book provides an overview of mitigation strategies and positive health effects of Maillard Reaction products in the contexts of food processing and storage. The effects of Maillard Reactions can vary considerably: while on the one hand certain sensorial alterations and influences on color, flavor and odor may be desirable, Maillard Reactions can also result in potentially harmful and toxic products (e.g. furfurals, furosines, or acrylamide). This book discusses possible mitigation strategies for the reduction of toxic reaction products, including the addition of enzymes or antioxidants, reducing sugars, and encapsulation approaches, as well as new processing strategies, such as high-pressure, radio-frequency, ultrahigh-temperature, or Ohmic heating methods. The book also illustrates that certain Maillard products can even produce positive health effects, e.g. antimicrobial or anticarcinogenic effects. The methods described here can serve as a blueprint for promoting the formationof beneficial compounds and reducing / avoiding toxic substances, offering essential strategies and methods.

This book emphasizes the atom economy aspect of multicomponent reactions. It describes how this methodology has been applied to several named reactions. Among the “twelve principles of green chemistry”, atom economy addresses ‘synthetic efficiency’. A multicomponent reaction can be defined as an energy, cost, and time efficient method for organic synthesis. Instead of making one or two bonds in a chemical transformation, multicomponent reactions generate several chemical bonds in a single operation. This book presents a series of detailed reaction mechanisms that beautifully illustrate this principle. Multicomponent reactions are widely applied to the preparation of complex and diverse molecular structures in academic and industrial research laboratories. As such, this book is targeted at researchers involved in green organic chemistry.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry of CO2 in relation to surface interactions and photocatalytic transformation by UV radiation. The first part deals with the modelling of an anatase surface, its interaction with CO2, and the spontaneous exchange of oxygen atoms between the gas and solid phases. The book then naturally transitions to the photocatalytic reduction of CO2, achieved by adding UV radiation and traces of water to the experimental system, to produce methane and CO. This photocatalytic reduction is explained in detail and the implications for planetary chemistry (specifically concerning Mars), as well as Earth’s atmospheric chemistry and global warming, are discussed.

This book provides an introduction to the fundamental and applied aspects of sonochemistry, discussing a number of basic concepts in sonochemistry, such as how ultrasonic waves interact with gas bubbles in liquids to generate cavitation, and how the high temperatures generated within cavitation bubbles could be estimated. It explains how redox radicals are produced and how to make use of both the physical and chemical forces generated during cavitation for various applications. Intended for academic researchers, industry professionals as well as undergraduate and graduate students, especially those starting on a new research topic or those new to the field, it provides a clear understanding of the concepts and methodologies involved in ultrasonic and sonochemistry.

This Brief presents an historical investigation into the reaction between ferric ions and thiocyanate ions, which has been viewed in different ways throughout the last two centuries. Historically, the reaction was used in chemical analysis and to highlight the nature of chemical reactions, the laws of chemistry, models and theories of chemistry, chemical nomenclature, mathematics and data analysis, and instrumentation, which are important ingredients of what one might call the nature of chemistry. Using the history of the iron(III) thiocyanate reaction as a basis, the book’s main objective is to explore how chemistry develops its own knowledge base; how it assesses the reliability of that base; and how some important tools of the trade have been brought to bear on a chemical reaction to achieve understanding, a worthwhile goal of any historical investigation.

This book presents the concept of food sharing from a European perspective, and provides a concise analysis of its safety implications and the chemical properties of recovered foods.In our modern world, 33% of the total food produced is lost each year, with serious economic, environmental and social consequences. Food worth approximately 1 trillion USD is wasted per year, and it is estimated that this wasted food could feed more than 3.4 billion people. Considering that 1/10 of the global population still does not have enough money for basic needs, and in view of the impact of consumer behaviour, food retailers and industry in food waste, food sharing appears to be an attractive solution, and several communities have recently been created with the main goal of saving food and giving it to those in need. Despite the positive impact of food sharing, it also raises concerns since recovered foods are subject to spoilage, decay and irreversible chemical-physical transformations.In this book, the authors explore the current situation and the regulatory definition of food sharing in various European countries, presenting the German experience in the city of Magdeburg, where food-sharing networks have been implemented. They also discuss the chemical and safety evaluations of durable foods, and provide a simulation of food waste by comparing a food product with the same food produced with re-worked and still edible raw materials (recovered foods).

This book focuses on both production and extraction aspects of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for their commercialization purpose. PHAs have broad range of applications in packaging, food, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries. Until now literature reports have discussed either production strategies or extraction protocols. But for commercialization purpose both issues need to be addressed. This book highlights other copolymers of PHAs which have much better physico-mechanical properties such as elasticity and strength than polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Finally efficient product recovery protocols and process optimization strategies including renewable substrates, high cell density cultivations, genetic engineering and mathematical modeling are discussed in detail in order to outline the progress made so far in the area of economic biopolymer production. The primary audience will be scholars, researchers and professors working in colleges, universities, research institutes and government organizations.

This book focuses on the use of food gases in the food industry, their different applications and their role in food processing, packaging and transportation. Since these gases come into contact with food, they must comply with strict of labeling, purity and hygiene standards in order to ensure food safety.The book discusses various implications of food gases in the food chain, providing examples of how they can be used to limit food waste and losses. The first two chapters examine the classification and role of food gases in Europe, and the third chapter then explores the chemical and physical features of commonly used food gases in the food and food packing industries. The fourth chapter highlights the impact of food gases on human health due to their possible abuse and misuse. This book appeals to researchers and professionals working in food production and quality control.

This book discusses a major issue in the food contact materials industry: non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), and their impact on PET-bottled water. NIAS are chemical compounds that are present in food contact materials but have not been added for technical reasons during the production process, and consumers are usually unaware of their presence. NIAS can include decomposition or degradation products, impurities in the raw materials, unwanted by-products or contaminants from recycling processes, and they pose a challenge for packaging manufacturers.In Europe, the EU Regulations No. 1935/2004 and 10/2011 set out, respectively, the general principles of safety and inertness for all packaging materials, and rules on the composition of plastic food-contact materials. Among the plastics commonly used for bottled water and other non-alcoholic refreshment beverages, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most favoured thanks to its chemical and physicalstability, its transparency, low weight and good recyclability. Further, very few additives are used for its manufacture. Nonetheless, due to the complex formulations of polymers, processes and storage, NIAS can also be found in PET-bottled water, with potential cancerogenic or toxic effects.This book provides an overview of the European regulation of NIAS in plastic packaging materials, offering insights into their chemical composition in PET-bottled water. Lastly, it provides a useful discussion on NIAS and their toxicity.

This book focuses on polyphenols in the Mediterranean diet, providing a detailed overview of their chemical structure, extraction and analysis methods, and their role in the diet and in flavor.Phenols are important not only in terms of preventing a number of diseases due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant effects, but also in shaping our perception of foods. The first chapter discusses consumers’ sensory assessment of foods containing polyphenols in terms of flavor and color, as well as the chemical properties and natural sources of phenolic compounds. The second chapter examines hygiene and safety claims with respect to naturally occurring polyphenols, especially in connection with organoleptic features. The third and final chapter examines the dietary sources of these molecules from various fruits, including processed products such as infusions, wines, oils and olives. Given its scope, this book is a valuable resource for researchers in academia and industryinterested in food safety, hygiene and production issues related to the Mediterranean diet.

This book addresses the use and management of chemicals in the food and beverage industry. The authors explore the use of chemicals as food additives and sanitizers, and provide an overview of their toxicological characterisation with regard to the employees who handle them, and to consumers. In addition, the authors pay special attention to the safe and reliable management of chemicals in the food production and packaging areas, and in quality control laboratories. Topics such as toxicological risks, the importance of labelling, technical and material safety data sheets, risk categories (e.g. fire, explosion, unforeseen chemical reactions, etc.), safe use of hazardous chemicals, prevention procedures, and emergency planning in laboratories and industrial areas are also covered. In closing, readers will learn more about the future behaviour of food-production workers regarding chemical handling and approved uses, especially in light of the recent REACH obligations.Given its scope, the book will appeal not only to researchers interested in food production, food safety, risk prevention and public health, but also to professionals involved in quality control and risk assessment in the food and beverage industry.

This book explores the lively chemistry culture that arose during the 17th century in Colonial New England. This was chiefly due to the efforts of John Winthrop, Jr. who brought both chemical knowledge and the largest library of chemical books in the New World to Boston. He founded towns, such as Ipswich and New London, and industrial enterprises, such as salt works and ironworks, while also serving as the primary source of Paracelsian medicines, which led him to become the most famous physician in Colonial New England. Moreover, the book covers topics such as the founding of Harvard College, and the life and works of Cotton Mather, especially Magnalia Christi Americana, one of the most important vanity volumes in the history of scholarly publication.

This book reviews the authenticity of certain Street Food specialties from the viewpoint of food chemists. At present, the food market clearly shows the predominance of fast-food operators in many Western countries. However, the concomitant presence of the traditional lifestyle model known as the Mediterranean Diet in Europe has also been increasingly adopted in many countries, in some cases with unforeseen effects such as offering Mediterranean-like foods for out-of-home consumption. This commercial strategy also includes the so-called Street Food, which is marketed as a variation on Mediterranean foods. One of the best known versions of Street Food products can be found in Sicily, Italy, and particularly in its largest city, Palermo. Because of certain authenticity issues, the Italian National Council of Research Chemists has issued four procedural guidelines for various Palermo specialties with the aim of attaining the traditional specialty guaranteed status in accordance with European Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012. The first chapter of the book provides a brief introduction to the general concept of Street Foods. The remaining four chapters describe four food specialties – Arancina, Sfincionello, Pane ca meusa, and Pane e panelle – typically produced in Palermo, with particular reference to their chemical composition, identification of raw materials from a chemical viewpoint, permissible cooking and preparation procedures (with chemical explanations), preservation, and storage. The book offers a unique guide to Street Food authenticity, and can also serve as a reference work for other traditional/historical products.

This book addresses the traditional use of a specific crop legume, grass pea (Lathyrus sativus), as a food product and ingredient for typical food products. Grass pea has very interesting nutritional qualities, including an abundance of proteins and peculiar organoleptic properties. As the crop also shows an enhanced resistance to adverse conditions, it is used in many geographical areas as the main ingredient of certain traditional foods. On the other hand, grass pea is questionable as a source of human and animal nutrition because it contains a neurotoxin – β-N-oxalyl-L-α,β-diaminopropionic acid – that is known for its neurological effects. The related disease is referred to as ‘neurolathyrism’ and occurs when grass pea-based foods are consumed in large quantities.The book is divided into five chapters, the first of which summarizes the chemical and biochemical properties of grass pea and provides nutritional evaluations. The second chapter provides an overview of foods containing Lathyrus sativus around the world, while the third describes Italian foods in detail. The fourth chapter focuses on the problem of neurolathyrism in connection with human nutrition and health. In closing, the fifth chapter sheds light on the historical and traditional food products sector from a food traceability and authenticity standpoint.

This book traces the global chemical history of cannabidiol (CBD), which is a compound that originates partially from hemp (the fiber), marijuana (the popularized term for medicinal/recreational use), and cannabis (the species sativa). It also argues about the position that CBD is in today and the heritage established by chemists over the course of its development. Each term associated with the plant spans centuries of development and cross-culturally became an object of cultivation and commerce. Humans have explored cannabis’ complex chemical possibilities with the hope that it would offer pain relief or some type of mind-numbing portal to other existences. As such the trio and their many incarnations have been and will continue to be an integral part of the past, the present, and the future.Known as cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive component of the drug, it is one of some 100-plus known cannabinoids; offshoots of the original plant that are isolatedand, in some cases, chemically altered. Just as with any supposed pharmaceutical marvel, chemists are at the center of this narrative. In order to understand its historical roots, central to CBD’s discovery was the efforts of scientists who worked in separate eras and regions. These included, Americans Roger Adams and Allyn Howlett, and the Bulgarian-born Israeli chemist Raphael Mechoulam, along with a throng of others. They influenced a generation of students and changed the face of cannabis research into the 21st century. What does its history tell us about the future of chemical products like CBD? This brief will explore the chemical heritage that formed across a complicated nexus of global events. These are the bonds that tie.

This book outlines the evolution of food traceability matters in the current traditional foods market and particularly with regard to selected historical foods based in Jordan.At present, traceability is just one of the many requirements the food industry is forced to meet. The topic can be approached from various angles: regulation, technological perspectives, food business operators, packaging manufacturers, software producers, and consumer views. In addition, traceable food products provide an interesting legacy for many geographical and ethnic cultures. Consequently, the examination of certain recipes or food products linked with history and traditions can make a unique and valuable contribution to future developments in this area.In this regard, Jordanian foods offer a prime example. This book examines three traditional products from different viewpoints, paying special attention to their chemical composition, the identification of raw materials, preparation procedures, and traceability. The book begins with a more general discussion on food traceability without detailed regional implications, while the second chapter discusses the product hummus in its many versions. In turn, the third and fourth chapters focus on two fermented dairy products, labaneh and jameed, and their connections with the Mediterranean diet. The book offers a valuable reference guide to many traditional/historical products in the Middle East, with a particular focus on traceability matters and solutions.

This book explores the traditional use of Ilex paraguariensis, a plant that is widely distributed in South America. Thanks to its purported properties, it has been used for centuries in the form of teas with a variety of names, including: ‘yerba mate’ (Argentina), ‘chimarrão’ (Brazil), and others.Ilex paraguariensis and its teas (also referred to as ‘mate teas’) are well known because of their alleged pharmacological effects in numerous common conditions, including obesity, osteoporosis, constipation, arthritis, and hypertension. These effects are generally ascribed to yerba mate teas because the botanical species contains bioactive and stimulating substances like caffeine (originally dubbed ‘mateine’), various alkaloids, and several phenolic acids. Interestingly, the chemical profiles of these teas can fluctuate over time, creating serious production problems. As a result, it is difficult to reliably determine their safety and health effects on humans. In response to the global interest in these products, this book offers a reference guide to ‘yerba mate’/‘chimarrão’ teas. It analyzes their chemical profiles, discusses their bioactive features, and addresses their safety and health effects. In addition, since the cultural heritage of yerba mate has greatly contributed to its international success, the book also provides information on its historical legacy, regulatory aspects, and the global market.

This book provides an overview of various traditional Middle Eastern food products and beverages and investigates their chemical, microbial and physical profiles.The authors selected 5 traditional Jordanian products that represent the region’s historical foods and beverages and examined them with a focus on their chemical composition and preparation, as well as features such as food safety and quality management. The first chapter provides a general introduction to traditional foods in Jordan. Subsequent chapters then shed light on specific product classes, including Shaneenah, a popular fermented dairy drink; Mujaddara and Rashoof, two products based on lentils; Kebab products; soft cheese; and Muhallabiaah, a traditional milk pudding. This book offers a valuable reference guide to many traditional/historical products in the Middle East, and due to region’s historical influence on the Mediterranean diet, it is also of interest to researchers in southern Europe.

This book explores the uranium uptake by plants and its impact on plant physiology and biochemistry. In the first part of this work, the author summarizes the chemistry of uranium, its use and its environmental distribution. Then, particular attention is given to the methods for uranium detection, and to the plant biochemical reactions that influence the uranium uptake. Readers will also discover several strategies adopted by cells to immobilize and handle uranium.