Browse Our Chemical Engineering Journals
Chemical engineering is an engineering branch that deals with the chemical production and manufacture of products that undergo chemical processes. This includes equipment design, creating systems and processes to refine raw material, as well as mixing, compounding, and processing chemicals to create products.
Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Abstract
Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. fruits (ESF) is a natural health food that has been widely used in traditional medicine. This study aimed to establish and validate a rapid and sensitive method for determining of six phenolic acids in plasma of normal and T2DM rats by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Separation and quantification were performed on a Waters HSS T3 column (100 × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) with water (A) and methanol (B). The electrospray ionization (ESI) source was operated in negative ionization mode. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to quantitatively analyzed hyperoside m/z 463.2→301.1, caffeic acid m/z 179.1→135.1, chlorogenic acid m/z 353.2→190.9, gallic acid m/z 169.0→125.1, protocatechuic acid m/z 153.1→109.1, and isofraxidin m/z 221.1→191.0, respectively. The hypoglycemic effect of ESF was verified by determining blood glucose and lipid levels in a type 2 diabetes model. This study laid the foundation for exploring ESF clinical guidelines in the future.
Abstract
High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography has capacity to run many samples simultaneously and its reduced solvent usage. Simultaneous quantification of gallic acid, ferulic acid, rutin and berberine in Asthimajja Pachak Kwath has been developed and validated using a specific, precise, accurate, and low-cost high performance thin layer chromatography technique. Toluene: ethyl acetate: chloroform: methanol: formic acid (5:2:2:2:1, v/v/v/v/v) was used as mobile phase during separation, which took place on a stationary phase of pre-coated silica gel aluminum plate 60 F254. At 270 nm, separated components were densitometrically measured. The method was validated for linearity and range, precision, reproducibility, specificity, robustness, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantification as per International Council for Harmonization Q2 (R2) guideline. Gallic acid, ferulic acid, rutin and berberine regression coefficients (R 2) were found to be 0.9995, 0.9990, 0.9985 and 0.9997 accordingly. Gallic acid, ferulic acid, rutin and berberine percentage recoveries were measured to be 99.81 ± 0.833, 99.15 ± 0.776, 99.56 ± 0.582 and 99.90 ± 0.719 respectively. Having a reliable analytical method is essential for ensuring the quality, consistency, and efficacy of herbal formulations in traditional medicine. This meticulous approach is crucial for accurate quantification of the target compounds in the Asthimajja Pachak Kwath.
Abstract
Nowadays, drone imagery is a common way to quickly obtain information on the state of vegetation, as well as a method for taking orthophotos and terrain models. For terrain modelling, aerial photographs are required to have at least 60% overlap between adjacent images. Typically, the inadequate overlap is only discovered later, during post-processing. In our previous work we have presented a method we developed to determine on the spot, whether the in-flight images are suitable for producing the terrain model or whether it is necessary to re-render a part of the area, which can be done under the same conditions (weather, ionosphere, satellite geometry). Our proposed method for calculating the overlap is different from the usual procedure. Using VBA-based calculations, we computed the overlap between the images based on the position of the centre of the images, the altitude of the flight and the rotation angle of the images. The method was tested in practice, but we felt it necessary to verify our calculations. During the verification, we checked the VBA-based calculations using a Python script. The test showed that the results obtained with a previous midpoint calculation method were 92.2 percent identical to the calculations performed with Python. The Python program is accurate and fast; therefore, the use is recommended on the field.
Abstract
Similar to other regions, in East Central Europe, agriculture is the most vulnerable sector regarding the consequences of climate change through increasing variability in weather conditions, even on the short-term and local scales. Agricultural engineers make decisions; higher education has a crucial role in taking proper actions. Our survey aimed to get up-to-date information on the knowledge and attitude of graduating students completing agriculture-related studies at 6 universities located in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovakia, with particular attention to weather projections, crop production, and soil protection issues. Analyses revealed adequate lexical knowledge of young engineers in each country. They are familiar with the agro-environmental actualities and future trends, issues to address at the right time, and the repertoire of tools and practices for taking efficient measures. A positive attitude toward proactive actions was proved. We report proof of a high level of preparedness resulting from the proper efficacy of agricultural higher education. The content of the curricula and the teaching methodologies meet well the receptiveness to learning in the V4 countries. Our findings confirm that frequent updating of the content of subjects as well as incorporating practical applications that promote active learning and engagement, are more critical today than ever, and it is possible to achieve a high level of preparedness for the challenges in the agricultural sector.
Abstract
This study analyzed the impact of storing Golden Delicious apples at 3 °C with a relative humidity of 85 ± 5% in two environments, namely a darkroom (D03) and a lightroom (L03), on the fruit quality. The research evaluated weight loss (Δm) and color metrics (a*, b*, L*, ΔE, C*, hue angle). The number of apples used for each storage was 12. Weight loss was calculated by measuring the changes in mass during storage. Color differences (ΔE), chroma (C*), and hue angle were determined based on the L*a*b* scale values. Apples stored at 3 °C in D03 experienced a minimal percentage of weight loss of 7.02%. The results indicated that compared to the D03 storage, the L03 storage had a more significant increase in Δm and color variation. The non-destructive method of measuring color characteristics facilitates the assessment of the storage conditions for Golden Delicious apples.
Abstract
Nutritional information on packaging is becoming increasingly important in the food industry. Currently, labels are seen not only on the back of the packaging but also on the front. As there are many versions of front-of-pack labels (FoPLs), the research aims to determine which helps consumers the most in making decisions about which food to include in a healthier lifestyle. Nutri-Score, Guideline Daily Amount (GDA) and Multiple Traffic Lights (MTL) FoPLs on cereals were compared using eye-tracking (ET) and choice-based conjoint analysis (CBCA). CBCA was used to assess consumer preferences and the labels and products were also ranked. Based on the results, GDA type FoPL proved to be the most useful based on conjoint analysis, ranking and the analysis of ET parameters. This label helped participants the most in choosing the product that best fits into a healthier lifestyle. The Nutri-Score label, which offers little information on a product's nutritional content, was not favourably received by the Hungarian sample, who preferred more detailed FoP labels.
A vízpótlás talajvízszintre gyakorolt hatásának értékelése egy délnyugat-magyarországi példán keresztül
Evaluation of the water supply’s impact on groundwater levels, with an example from South-West Hungary
Az Európát is érintő jelenlegi, napjainkban zajló éghajlatváltozás statisztikailag szignifikáns felmelegedési tendenciával jellemezhető. Az éghajlatváltozás hatása a csapadékviszonyok és az evapotranszspirációs folyamatok megváltoztatásán keresztül érinti a vízkörforgalmat, így a csapadék eloszlásának és mennyiségének várható változásai a folyamatosan emelkedő hőmérséklettel együtt a növények nagyobb vízfelhasználását eredményezhetik, ami változásokat indukálhat a talajnedvességben, a talajvízben és ennek következtében a vízmérlegben. Az emelkedő hőmérséklet hatására a jövőben a növekvő transzspirációs igény valószínűleg a növényi közösségek fokozott talajvízfelvételét eredményezi, ami a talajvízszint további csökkenését is magával vonhatja. Ha ez bekövetkezik, a talajvízfüggő erdei közösségek regenerálódása ezeken a területeken kérdésessé válik, mivel a fiatal fák gyökérzete nem fogja tudni elérni a vízforrást. Következésképpen a Kárpát-medence sík vidékein és vizes élőhelyein a nagy vízigényű erdők fennmaradása kérdésessé válhat. A fás vegetáció számára kiemelten fontos a talajvíz szerepe a vegetációs időszakban, éppen ezért a talajvízszint változását régóta, rendszeresen monitorozzák.
Konkrét megoldás lehet az árhullámok visszaduzzasztásából származó vízpótlás. A pozitív vízpótlási beavatkozásokra példa a Kaszó LIFE projekt. A projekt célja a leromlott élőhelyek rehabilitációja volt, ami a kedvező ökológiai állapot stabilizálásával teszi lehetővé a hosszú távú megőrzést. A megvalósítás eszközeként tórehabilitációt és folyó-mederbordákat alkalmaztak, biztosítva a Szentai-erdő (Nyugat-belső-somogyi kistérség) erdeinek, kis lápjainak és gyepterületeinek vízellátás javítását.
Jelen kutatás célja pedig a Kaszó LIFE projekt vízpótlási beavatkozásai után, azok felszín alatti vízszintre gyakorolt hidrológiai hatásainak elemzése volt. A meteorológiai adatok és a monitoring adatok alapján elmondható, hogy a Szentai-erdőben 30 éves szárazodási tendencia volt tapasztalható, amelynek elsődleges mutatója a talajvízszint csökkenése. Kiemelendőek a 2016–2017-es vizsgálati időszak évei, amikor az alapvetően lefolyástalan vizsgálati területen nem volt elegendő csapadék a talajvíz szintjének fenntartásához. Kutatási eredményeink azonban azt mutatták, hogy a vízpótlást célzó beavatkozások (mederbordák és tározótavak) összességében a talajvízszint emelkedését biztosítják.
A két beavatkozási típus talajvízszint emelkedésére gyakorolt hatását vizsgálva arra a következtetésre jutottunk, hogy míg a tavak építése jelentősen befolyásolja a környező kutak vízszintjét, addig a mederbordák esetében kisebb mértékű a hatás.
This study explored the effects of salicylic acid on the growth and biochemical responses of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) under different soil salinity levels, a major challenge in agricultural productivity. The experiment was conducted using a factorial design with salicylic acid applied at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, and 50 ppm, combined with sodium chloride-induced salinity at 0, 1,000, 2,000, and 3,000 mg kg–1 soil. Results demonstrated that increasing soil salinity negatively impacted plant growth, reducing plant height, leaf number, and the dry weight of aerial parts. Salinity stress also led to reduced nutrient uptake, particularly for essential elements like calcium and potassium, while increasing sodium levels in plant tissues. However, the foliar application of salicylic acid, especially at 50 ppm, significantly improved growth parameters and mitigated the detrimental effects of salinity. Notably, at the highest salinity level (3,000 mg kg–1), salicylic acid enhanced plant height by 11.1% and leaf number by 30.9% compared to untreated plants. Salicylic acid also boosted biochemical responses, such as increasing total phenolic and flavonoid content, which are critical for stress tolerance. This study underscores the potential of salicylic acid as a stress mitigator, promoting better growth and physiological resilience in peppermint under saline conditions, offering valuable insights for improving crop performance in salinity-affected regions.
