Scaling up dissolution-based recycling to eliminate brominated flame retardants from WEEE plastics.

The significant challenges of recycling plastics from electrical and electronic equipment waste (WEEE) comprise the mixture of different plastics and their content of brominated flame retardant (BFR). Current recycling techniques are insufficient in removing BFRs, leading to high rejects and incineration of valuable resources. In this study, it is shown that de-pollution by a dissolution-based recycling technique (DBR) is feasible with presorted flame-retarded (FR) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS-FR) and polystyrene (PS-FR) fractions from WEEE.

A comprehensive quantitative study of organic contaminants in marine plastics.

Marine plastics act as carriers for a wide range of chemical contaminants, many of which pose serious environmental and health risks. This study investigated organic contaminants such as benzotriazole UV stabilizers (BUVs), phthalates, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), bisphenol A (BPA), and antioxidants in beach and ocean plastics collected from multiple geographic locations. A validated analytical method comprising solid-liquid extraction followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography with UV detection (HPLC-UV) was employed for contaminant identification.

Effects of Roasting Level and Milk Addition on Aroma Release and Perception of Coffee.

Adding milk to coffee balances its flavor and reduces unpalatable notes (e.g., aroma, ), but research on how adding milk affects aroma release and perception is limited.

Mindfulness training decreases the habituation response to persistent food stimulation.

Modern societies and their obesogenic environments expose individuals to persistent food stimulation. This frequent exposure can cause sensory systems to habituate or desensitize to food-related sensory stimulation. This can, in turn, lead to the reduction of pleasure associated with eating, which can elicit overeating behavior to attain the desired pleasurable effect.

Exploring the Activation of the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE Pathway by PAHs in Children's Toys.

Background: Children are particularly susceptible to environmental pollutants. This study assessed the skin sensitisation risk associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), prevalent in toys.

Objectives: To evaluate the skin sensitisation potential of PAHs using the KeratinoSens assay.

Oil mobility in sucrose-in-oil dispersions as a function of particle morphology and BET surface.

Solid particles in dispersions, for example sucrose, can reduce the mobility of liquid oils, potentially through sorption or physical entrapment. So far, little is known about the mechanisms and influencing factors behind oil immobilization. Fatty acid composition of oils and the sucrose characteristics (particle size, morphology, BET surface) are thought to affect oil immobilization in sucrose-in-oil dispersions.

Smell the Label: Odors Influence Label Perception and Their Neural Processing.

Providing nutrition or health labels on product packaging can be an effective strategy to promote a conscious and healthier diet. However, such labels also have the potential to be counterproductive by creating obstructive expectations about the flavor of the food and influencing odor perception. Conversely, olfaction could significantly influence label perception, whereby negative expectations could be mitigated by pleasant odors.

Design, New Materials, and Production Challenges of Bioplastics-Based Food Packaging.

This paper outlines the current design trends in food packaging, its main environmentally friendly material alternatives, and industrial processing technologies. In this respect, this important product has undergone several evolutions throughout history. Initially acting as a containment device, it has later evolved into a source of information and even a marketing platform for food companies, always with a view to extending shelf life.

Assessing the feasibility of ocean plastic waste as secondary feedstock for the production of base chemicals.

Plastic pollution in the marine environment is a growing concern, with around 10 % of globally produced plastics ending up in oceans annually. Most ocean plastics are incinerated for energy recovery if harvested, since harvesting remains a key challenge. This study evaluated the feasibility of recovering base chemicals from the polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) fraction of ocean plastic waste through a single-step olefin production method.

Sniffing colors-color associations for descriptors and odors of the MONEX-40 test.

Research on odor-color associations provides insights into brain processes that integrate attributes from seemingly independent senses, forming crossmodal correspondences. Since multisensory integration is based, among others, on semantic congruency, we aimed to provide a color profile-encompassing hue, saturation, and lightness-for the standardized MONEX-40 test. This color profile will enable the use of odor-congruent or odor-incongruent colors in olfactory-visual studies.

Cell wall polysaccharides from macauba pulp (Acrocomia aculeata L.): Fractionation and characterization of their chemical and rheological properties.

Macauba fruit pulp (Acrocomia aculeata) is an emerging oil source. After de-oiling, the macauba pulp meal (MPM) offers a dietary fiber content of 40-50 %, which mainly comprises cell wall polysaccharides (CWP). The present work aimed to assess the potential of MPM as an innovative source of sustainable food polysaccharides.

Odor prediction of whiskies based on their molecular composition.

Aroma compositions are usually complex mixtures of odor-active compounds exhibiting diverse molecular structures. Due to chemical interactions of these compounds in the olfactory system, assessing or even predicting the olfactory quality of such mixtures is a difficult task, not only for statistical models, but even for trained assessors. Here, we combine fast automated analytical assessment tools with human sensory data of 11 experienced panelists and machine learning algorithms.

Heat Treatment of Hazelnut Allergens Monitored by Polyclonal Sera and Epitope Fingerprinting.

Hazelnuts are frequently involved in IgE-mediated reactions and are the main cause of nut allergies in Europe. Most food products are processed before human consumption. Food processing can modify the structure, properties, and function of proteins, and as a result, the IgE-binding capacity of allergens can be affected.

Conching of dark chocolate - Processing impacts on aroma-active volatiles and viscosity of plastic masses.

The conching process plays a key role in determining the sensory and rheological properties of dark chocolate. To further understand this process, changes in the chocolate mass during plastic conching were investigated on a time-resolved basis with varying conching temperature, shear direction, and with or without the presence of residue from previous trials (pre-charge) on the conche vessel wall. Six selected odorants (acetic acid, benzaldehyde, linalool, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, 2-phenylethanol, 2-phenylethyl acetate) were quantified in fat and particle phases of chocolate masses.

UV-C-Activated Riboflavin Crosslinked Gelatin Film with Bioactive Nanoemulsion for Enhanced Preservation of Fresh Beef in Modified Atmosphere Packaging.

This study explores a new eco-friendly approach for developing bioactive gelatin films using UV-C irradiation-induced photo-crosslinking. Riboflavin, a food-grade photoinitiator, was selected at an optimal concentration of 1.25% (/) for crosslinking gelatin under UV-C exposure for 4 to 22 min.

Characterization and Modeling of Out-of-Plane Behavior of Fiber-Based Materials: Numerical Illustration of Wrinkle in Deep Drawing.

The characterization and modeling of the out-of-plane behavior of fiber-based materials is essential for understanding their mechanical properties and improving their performance in various applications, especially in the forming process. Despite this, research on paper and paperboard has mainly focused on its in-plane behavior rather than its out-of-plane behavior. However, for accurate material characterization and modeling, it is critical to consider the out-of-plane behavior.

Analytical characterization of volatiles present in the whole body odour of zebra finches.

In recent decades, the compositions of preen oil and feathers have been studied to achieve insights into the chemistry of avian odours, which play a significant role in birds' social behaviour. Fewer studies are available regarding volatiles originating from other sources, such as faeces, eggs or a bird's whole body. The aims of this study were (i) to identify odour-active and further volatile compounds in zebra finch whole body odour and (ii) to semi-quantify selected volatiles and use the information to evaluate two different adsorbents for their suitability for whole body odour sampling.

Identification of odor-active compounds in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from recirculated aquaculture systems: A case study with different depuration procedures.

Off-flavors are a major challenge for companies using recirculated aquaculture systems (RAS). In the presented work, we comprehensively characterize the odorant composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised in RAS and compare the impact of two depuration processes on the odorant composition and aroma profile of the fish. Fish collected from the production tank and after two different tank pre-disinfection approaches in the depuration process (high pH versus HO) were investigated.

Chemical Composition of Fat Bloom on Chocolate Products Determined by Combining NMR and HPLC-MS.

To reduce unwanted fat bloom in the manufacturing and storage of chocolates, detailed knowledge of the chemical composition and molecular mobility of the oils and fats contained is required. Although the formation of fat bloom on chocolate products has been studied for many decades with regard to its prevention and reduction, questions on the molecular level still remain to be answered. Chocolate products with nut-based fillings are especially prone to undesirable fat bloom.

Waste Study on Flexible Food and Non-Food Packaging: Detailed Analysis of the Plastic Composition of European Polyethylene-Containing Waste Streams.

Despite extensive sorting, packaging waste often contains a mixture of different materials that make high-quality recycling difficult, especially in the case of flexible packaging. This is partly due to the widespread use of multi-layer laminates and packaging consisting of different inseparably combined materials. To improve the post-consumer recyclate quality and develop optimised recycling processes, it is important to generate a comprehensive understanding of the composition of the sorted packaging waste streams.

The impact of cognitive distraction on gustatory perception in volunteers with obesity.

Obesity, a global health challenge, is influenced by biological, behavioral, socioeconomical, and environmental factors. In our technology-driven world, distracted eating is prevalent, yet neurocognitive mechanisms behind it remain poorly understood. This study targets individuals with overweight and obesity, exploring taste perception under distraction comprehensively.

Controversy on health-based guidance values for bisphenol A-the need of criteria for studies that serve as a basis for risk assessment.

Since 2006, the responsible regulatory bodies have proposed five health-based guidance values (HBGV) for bisphenol A (BPA) that differ by a factor of 250,000. This range of HBGVs covers a considerable part of the range from highly toxic to relatively non-toxic substances. As such heterogeneity of regulatory opinions is a challenge not only for scientific risk assessment but also for all stakeholders, the Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) analyzed the reasons for the current discrepancy and used this example to suggest improvements for the process of HBGV recommendations.