Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:32:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 1306121 bytes, checksum: a37665a647e350c65a7c8f5fa7dc4f7b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-24 / In the analysis of problems in which the response variable of interest is influenced by many factors and whose goal is to optimize, it's it intended to use designs for the response surface. One of the highlights is the central composite design (CCD), which is a randomized second-order and may have characteristics of rotational and / or orthogonality. These designs are simple, economical, promising and very flexible. These are consisted of factorial points, axial and central. This way, using simulation data, the objective was to investigate, by means of simulation data, the effects of axial points and the number of central points on the quality of fitting of the area response surfaces obtained through this design for two factors studied, when the great is well centered or not in the intervals studied, trying to indicate more appropriated analysis strategies in different cases. For this purpose, the full factorial was used as a witness. For the two factors study, we established a complete 9x9 factorial design with nine replicates per treatment, according to a completely randomized design, it also has been established two responses areas one with a critical point near the midpoint and the other with a critical point away from central. Defined the values of the axial points (α) equal to 1; 1,4142; 2 and 3 and the number of repetitions at the central point equal to 1, 3, 6 and 9. The 16 CCDs observations were obtained from the first repetition of the respective treatments (factorial points, axial and central) contained in the full factorial. For different simulations, it was determined the coefficients of variation equal to 5, 10, 20 and 30%. Five simulations were done by variation coefficient and response surface, totaling 640 data files. To evaluate the of approximation degree of the response surface adjusted, compared to the real one, was used as a measure, the absolute difference between the values of true and estimated coefficients (Δβi) and the absolute difference related to critical points (ac and bc) from the responses surfaces (Δac and Δbc) in relation to the factors A and B, and to measure the fit degree of each response surface, we used the mean absolute percentage error (EPMA) and the linear correlation coefficient between the fitted values and true Y (rŷyv). However, different values of α provided better estimates of the measures evaluated and, as α = 1,4142 is closer to them all, it was concluded that this value is probably among the best for treatment planning. The value of α = 1,4142, which has the property rotatability and the increase in number of repetitions at the central point provided the best fit response surface, however, the residual variance increase is not good for this estimates. Therefore, the conclusion is that the rotational CCD must be recommended for experiments under more controlled conditions, and compared with the full factorial had low efficient. In addition, the CCD presented similar results for the two surfaces of simulated responses. / Na análise de problemas nos quais a variável resposta de interesse é influenciada por diversos fatores e cujo objetivo é otimizá-la, propõe-se utilizar delineamentos para superfície de resposta. Dentre eles, destaca-se o Delineamento Composto Central (DCC), que é um delineamento de segunda ordem, podendo apresentar características de rotacionalidade e/ou ortogonalidade. Tais delineamentos são simples, econômicos, promissores e bastante flexíveis. Estes são constituídos de pontos fatoriais, axiais e central. Deste modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi de investigar, por meio da simulação de dados, os efeitos dos pontos axiais e do número de pontos centrais sobre a qualidade dos ajustes das superfícies de reposta obtidas, por meio desse delineamento para dois fatores estudados, quando a região ótima está ou não bem centralizada nos intervalos estudados, buscando assim, indicar estratégias de análises mais adequadas em diferentes casos. Para tanto, utilizou-se como testemunha, o fatorial completo. Para o estudo de dois fatores, foi estabelecido um fatorial completo 9x9 com nove repetições por tratamento, segundo o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, estabeleceu-se também duas superfícies de respostas, uma com ponto crítico próximo ao ponto central e a outra com ponto crítico afastado do ponto central. Definiu-se os valores dos pontos axiais (α) iguais a 1; 1,4142; 2 e 3 e do número de repetições no ponto central iguais a 1, 3, 6 e 9. As observações dos 16 DCCs, foram obtidas a partir da primeira repetição dos respectivos tratamentos (pontos fatoriais, axiais e central) contidos no fatorial completo. Para as diferentes simulações, foi especificado os coeficientes de variação iguais a 5, 10, 20 e 30%. Realizou-se cinco simulações por coeficiente de variação e por superfície de resposta, totalizando 640 arquivos de dados. Para avaliação do grau de aproximação da superfície de resposta ajustada, em relação à verdadeira, utilizou-se como medida a diferença absoluta entre os valores dos coeficientes verdadeiros e estimados (Δβi) e a diferença absoluta relacionada aos pontos críticos (ac e bc) das superfícies de respostas (Δac e Δbc) em relação aos fatores A e B, e para medir o grau de ajuste de cada superfície de resposta utilizou-se o erro percentual médio absoluto (EPMA) e o coeficiente de correlação linear entre os valores ajustados e verdadeiros de Y ( rŷyv ). Contudo, diferentes valores de α proporcionaram melhores estimativas das medidas avaliadas e, como α = 1,4142 está mais próxima de todas elas, concluiu-se que esse valor está, provavelmente entre os melhores para o planejamento dos tratamentos. O valor de α = 1,4142, que possui a propriedade de rotacionalidade, e o aumento do número de repetições no ponto central proporcionou melhor ajuste da superfície de resposta, porém, o aumento da variância residual prejudicou tais estimativas. Portanto, conclui-se que o DCC rotacional deve ser recomendado para experimentos sob condições mais controladas, e quando comparado com o fatorial completo apresentou-se menos eficiente. Além disso, o DCC apresentou resultados similares para as duas superfícies de respostas simuladas.

Orientador: Otto Mack Junqueira / Resumo: Um dos maiores desafios encontrados na nutrição de aves de corte atualmente, é determinar com precisão quais os níveis de energia ideais para compor a dieta das distintas fases de crescimento. Sabe-se que do custo total de uma ração a energia representa cerca de 50%, e que devemos considerar seus níveis na dieta para inclusão de todos os nutrientes. Neste trabalho serão apresentadas ferramentas computacionais e métodos aplicados com objetivo de otimizar as respostas para teores energéticos de dietas para frangos de corte. Para isso, foram realizados dois experimentos com total de 1120 frangos de corte (experimento I, 560 machos e experimento II, 560 fêmeas) da mesma linhagem comercial (Cobb 500), no período de 1 a 56 dias de idade, os quais receberam 4 dietas com diferentes densidades nutricionais. O objetivo dos experimentos foi gerar dados para definir as equações de superfície de resposta que servem como base de modelagem, a ser aplicado para programação não linear. As rações formuladas pelo programa prático de formulação de ração (PPFR), atende as exigências nutricionais dos frangos de corte e os requisitos de cada fase de crescimento mantendo a relação entre energia e nutrientes e visando o lucro máximo, uma vez que considera a cotação do preço pago pelo kg do frango e o custo de cada ingrediente da ração, baseando-se nos exemplos de exigências das tabelas brasileiras para aves e suínos. / Abstract: One of the biggest challenges in broiler nutrition today is to accurately determine the optimal energy levels to compose the diet of the distinct growth stages. It is known that from the total cost of a feed, energy represents about 50%, and that its contents in the diet must be considered when including all the nutrients. In this work will be presented computational tools and methods applied with the objective of optimizing responses to energy contents of diets for broilers. For this, two experiments were carried out with a total of 1120 broilers (experiment I, 560 males and experiment II, 560 females) of the same commercial strain (Cobb 500), in the period from 1 to 56 days of age, which received 4 diets with different nutritional densities. The objective of the experiments was to generate data to define the equations of the response surfaces as a modeling base, to be applied for nonlinear programming. The rations formulated by the practical program for feed formulation (PPFR), meet the nutritional requirements of broiler chickens and the requirements of each growth phase, maintaining the relation between energy and nutrients, aiming for maximum profit, since it considers the price paid per kg of live chicken and the cost of each feed ingredient, based on the sample requirements of the Brazilian tables for poultry and swines. / Mestre

Le verrou de l'intégration de la simulation multi-physique dans la conception des systèmes mécatroniques est lié, entre autres, aux problèmes d'interopérabilité entre les outils de simulation. Ces problèmes engendrent des difficultés pour assurer des optimisations multidisciplinaires. Dans cette thèse, nous avons développé une approche de conception intégrée permettant de franchir cet obstacle. Cette approche s'appuie sur l'utilisation d'une plateforme d'intégration permettant de coupler divers outils de modélisation et de simulation. La modélisation du comportement multi-physique des composants au niveau détaillé est assurée par les méta-modèles, également utilisés pour l'optimisation multidisciplinaire des composants du système mécatronique. Ces méta-modèles permettent aussi d'intégrer le comportement multi-physique des composants et des modules mécatroniques pour la simulation au niveau système. Cette approche a été validée avec une modélisation d'un véhicule électrique. Ainsi, le niveau conceptuel de modélisation a été effectué avec le langage de modélisation des systèmes SysML et la véri_cation d'un test de performance d'accélération a été réalisée avec le langage de modélisation Modelica. Le module de conversion de puissance électrique du véhicule avec les fils de bonding a été modélisé avec la CAO 3D et son comportement multi-physique a été vérifié avec la méthode des éléments finis. Des méta-modèles sont ainsi élaborés en utilisant les techniques de surfaces de réponse et les réseaux de neurones de fonctions à base radiale. Ces méta-modèles ont permis ensuite d'effectuer des optimisations géométriques bi-niveaux du convertisseur de puissance et des fils de bonding. Le comportement électro-thermique du convertisseur de puissance et celui thermo-mécanique des fils de bonding ont été alors intégrés au niveau système à travers les méta-modèles. Les résultats montrent la flexibilité de l'approche du point de vue échange des méta-modèles et optimisation multidisciplinaire. Cette approche permet ainsi un gain très important du temps de conception, tout en respectant la précision souhaitée. / Difficulty of integrating multi-physics simulation in mechatronic system design is related, among others, to issues of interoperability between design tools, which lead to difficulties to ensure multidisciplinary optimizations. In this thesis, we have developed an integrated design approach to overcome this obstacle. This approach relies on the use of integrating platforms for coupling various design tools. Capture of multi-physics behaviour of components at detailed level is provided by meta-models which are also used for multidisciplinary optimization. These meta-models are therefore used to integrate multi-physics behaviour of mechatronic components and modules in system-level simulations. This approach has been validated with a design case of an electric vehicle. Conceptual design level has been performed with the Systems Modeling Language SysML and a verification of an acceleration performance test has been achieved with modeling language Modelica. Electric power converter with wire bondings has been modeled using 3D CAD and the multi-physics behaviour has been verified with finite elements method. Meta-models have then been developed for the power converter and wire bondings using techniques of response surfaces and neuronal networks of radial basis functions. These meta-models have been used to perform geometric bi-level optimizations of the components. Electro-thermal behavior of the power converter and thermo-mechanical behavior of the wire bondings have been integrated at system level through meta-models. Results show flexibility of the approach used in terms of exchange of meta-models and multidisciplinary optimization. Thus, this approach allows an important gain of design time while maintaining the desired accuracy.

Master of Science / Department of Biological & Agricultural Engineering / Donghai Wang / Camelina sativa (L). Crantz that belongs to Brassicaceae family has been grown as a dicotyledonous oilseed crop in the cold places like America and Canada. Camelina seeds are widely used for the extraction of oil and protein. Recently, research found that camelina gum is an excellent candidate for food and industrial uses as thickener or stabilizer. The objectives of this research were 1) to increase camelina gum isolation efficiency using spray drying technology, and 2) to develop an innovative method to remove gum from seed bran to increase protein and oil extraction efficiency and quality. The camelina gums isolated using ethanol precipitation and spray drying method from the whole camelina seeds were compared. Effects of spray drying temperature on yield, gum morphology, and gum rheological and thermal properties were studied. The representative sample dried at 165°C was chosen to study the effects of concentration, temperature, pH and additives (NaCl, CaCl₂, sucrose, and ethanol) on viscosity and viscoelastic properties of the isolated gum. The gum showed a shear thinning behavior when shear rate increased gradually, higher concentrations of additives only slightly affect the rheological properties. Results showed that spray drying is an effective method in terms of saving time and energy, and provided positive rheology benefits on camelina gum isolation. Pre-removal of gum from camelina seeds can increase protein and oil yield and their quality. Decortication can separate 10-17% of the total camelina seed as bran. A wind tunnel was used to separate lighter bran particles from heavier endosperm and unbroken seeds. Camelina gum isolation from the separated seed bran using the traditional ethanol precipitation method was optimized using response surface methodology where the simultaneous effect of the three independent variables (seed bran to water ratio, isolation temperature, and isolation time) were investigated for gum yield, purity, and optimum rheological properties. Three independent quadratic modules were developed and the original data fitted the models fitted (R² = 0.995, 0.877, and 0.804). The optimal isolation conditions were seed bran to water ratio of 1:39, isolation temperature of 35 ºC, and isolation time of 1.5 h and 0.839 desirability was obtained by the rigorous statistics analysis. The protein yield and quality extracted from decorticated endosperm were improved significantly compared with that extracted from whole seeds meal without decortication. In addition, the degumming step can be eliminated before protein and oil extraction that increase protein and oil extraction efficiency.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-06Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:50:17Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 silveira_ndp_me_arafcf.pdf: 632968 bytes, checksum: 566fea3e37e0a1dbca16d6a35e7a7aa1 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O desenvolvimento de alimentos funcionais tem aumentado mundialmente devido a seus compostos bioativos que diminuem o risco de doenças e promovem a saúde. Baseado nisso, a indústria e a comunidade científica estão, cada vez mais, buscando ingredientes que possam conferir tais características aos alimentos. A soja, além de ser importante fonte protéica, possui fibras, isoflavonas, oligossacarídeos com potencial prebiótico (rafinose e estaquinose), vitaminas e minerais. As raízes tuberosas de yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) possuem grande quantidade de frutooligossacarídeos do tipo inulina, um componente não digerível pelo nosso organismo, com função de auxiliar na seleção de determinadas bactérias da microbiota intestinal, principalmente as bifidobactérias, possuindo, portanto, efeito prebiótico. O objetivo do presente estudo foi o de verificar, através da metodologia da superfície de resposta, as melhores condições para a utilização simultânea de extratos aquosos de soja e de yacon no desenvolvimento de um novo produto fermentado por um cultivo probiótico constituído por Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 e Lactobacillus helveticus ssp jugurti 416. Para tanto, as variáveis independentes foram representadas pelo teor protéico fornecido pelo extrato hidrossolúvel de soja (g/L) e pelo extrato aquoso de yacon (%). As variáveis dependentes (respostas) foram obtidas através do teste de aceitação sensorial (“sabor” e “impressão global”). A otimização conjunta das variáveis apontou a formulação 7 (1,74 g/L de teor protéico fornecido pelo extrato de soja e 25,86% de extrato de yacon) do planejamento experimental como sendo a mais adequada. No entanto, as formulações 9 e 10 (ambas contendo 1,74 g/L de teor protéico fornecido pelo extrato de soja e 40% de extrato de yacon) apresentaram valores de aceitação que não diferiram significativamente... / World-wide the development of functional food has been increased, due to its bioactive components which decrease the risk of getting some illnesses and promote health. Based on that, the industry and the scientific population are more and more searching for ingredients that may confer such characteristics to food. The soy, besides being an important proteic source, has fibers and isoflavones, oligosaccharides with potential prebiotic (raffinose and stachyose), vitamins and minerals. The yacon tuber (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is a source of fructooligosaccharides, type inulin, undigestible components by our organism that helps in the selection and development of some bacteria of intestinal microbiota, mainly the bifidobacteria, which means that yacon has prebiotic effect. The aim of this study was to check, through Response Surface Methodology, the optimum conditions to use, simultaneously, the soy and yacon watery extracts in the development of a new fermented product with the probiotic cultive constituted by Enterococcus faecium CRL 183 and Lactobacillus helveticus ssp jugurti 416. Therefore, the independent variables were represented by the protein of soymilk (g/L) and the yacon extract (%). The dependent variables (responses) were obtained through the acceptance test (“taste” and “overall acceptability”). The joint optimization of the variables pointed out the 7th formulation (1.74 g/L of soymilk protein and 25.86% of yacon extract) of the factorial design as the most adequate. However, the 9th and 10th formulations (both containing 1.74 g/L of soymilk protein and 40% of yacon extract) presented acceptance scores significantly equal to the 7th treatment. The optimized product was submitted to the shelf-life determination, and it was presented in conditions of consuming in the course of 21 days at 5 ºC and with viability of the probiotic cultive among... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Taninos sÃo substÃncias polifenÃlicas que fazem parte dos metabÃlitos secundÃrios de vegetais. Tais compostos tÃm sido muito utilizados no curtimento de couro, como substitutos de fenol na produÃÃo de adesivos para madeira e em aplicaÃÃes mÃdicas. As principais fontes de taninos sÃo cascas de Ãrvores, e de acordo com alguns estudos, o caule de cajueiro possui grande potencial para ser utilizado como fonte de taninos. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar a extraÃÃo de taninos da casca de cajueiro. Inicialmente, conduziram-se experimentos para avaliar o efeito de diferentes solventes sobre a extraÃÃo de taninos condensados (TC) e polifenÃis totais (PT). A tÃcnica de extraÃÃo utilizada foi a maceraÃÃo dinÃmica. TambÃm foi realizado um planejamento experimental para estudar a influÃncia de algumas variÃveis crÃticas (tempo, temperatura e razÃo lÃquido/sÃlido) sobre a extraÃÃo aquosa de PT e TC, alÃm do efeito sobre o teor de sÃlidos totais (TST). Testou-se o efeito da reutilizaÃÃo da casca e do solvente na extraÃÃo de TC e por fim foi avaliado o efeito da secagem por atomizaÃÃo e por liofilizaÃÃo sobre os extratos. De acordo com os resultados, os extratos obtidos com etanol 50% em Ãgua apresentaram maiores quantidades de PT e TC em relaÃÃo aos outros solventes. A variÃvel razÃo lÃquido/sÃlido foi o fator mais importante para todas as respostas, apresentando efeito positivo para PT e TC e efeito negativo para sÃlidos totais. TambÃm foi observado que hà uma relaÃÃo diretamente proporcional entre a temperatura e os teores de PT e TC. E o fator tempo sà foi significativo para TC, onde foi observado que o tempo de 100 minutos favoreceu a extraÃÃo. Avaliando a relaÃÃo das variÃveis, a melhor condiÃÃo encontrada para obter maiores teores de taninos foi: temperatura de 100ÂC, por 100 minutos e razÃo L/S 30:1. Nessa condiÃÃo, o teor de TC extraÃdos foi de 7,63 mg equivalente de catequina/ 100 mg casca. A utilizaÃÃo do mesmo solvente em atà duas extraÃÃes se mostrou viÃvel para a extraÃÃo de TC, ao contrÃrio da casca que, ao ser extraÃda uma segunda vez, proporcionou ganhos mÃnimos. A secagem por atomizaÃÃo se mostrou mais adequada para aplicaÃÃo industrial em comparaÃÃo com a liofilizaÃÃo. / Tannins are secondary plant metabolites with polyphenolic structure. These compounds have been used in leather tanning, also as replacement for phenol in adhesives manufacture for wood and medical applications. The main sources of these compounds are tree barks, and according to some studies, the stem cashew has great potential to be a source of tannins. In this context, the aim of this study was to optimize the tannins extraction from the cashew bark. Initially, experiments were performed to evaluate the effect of different solvents on the condensed tannins (CT) and total polyphenols (TP) extraction. Dynamic maceration was the technique used for extraction. An experimental design was conducted to understand the influence of some critical variables (time, temperature and liquid/solid ratio) on aqueous extraction of TP and CT, as well as the effect on total solids content (TSC). We tested the effect of bark and solvent reuse in the CT extraction and finally it was evaluated the effect of extracts freeze drying and spray drying. According to results, the extracts obtained with 50% ethanol in water showed higher amounts of TP and CT when compared to other solvents. The variable liquid/solid ratio, the most important factor for all responses, showed positive effect for TP and CT and negative effect on total solids. There is a directly proportional relationship between temperature and levels of TP and CT. Time factor was significant only for CT, where it was observed that 100 minutes favored the extraction. Evaluating the variables relationship, the best condition found for higher levels of tannins was: temperature of 100ÂC for 100 minutes and liquid/solid ratio 30:1. In this condition, the amount of CT extracted was 7.63 mg catechin equivalent / 100 mg bark. In extraction process, solvent used twice is feasible to extract CT. Unlike the bark, that obtained minimal gains in a second extraction. Spray drying was more suitable for industrial application compared to freeze drying.

Orientador: Caroline Joy Steel / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Engenharia de Alimentos / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-08T12:05:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 VernazaLeoro_MariaGabriela_M.pdf: 2963475 bytes, checksum: 26fde35fc78447f593f66f139fddbf2b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: É cada vez maior o número de pessoas que procura uma alimentação mais saudável, com alimentos frescos, de boa qualidade biológica e livre de defensivos agrícolas, como são os produtos orgânicos. Percebe-se também que nas dietas contemporâneas em geral existe um "déficit nutricional" de fibras. Este fato tem motivado as autoridades de saúde de diversos países a estimular um maior consumo de fibras por parte da população adulta, seja estimulando o consumo de alimentos como frutas, verduras, leguminosas, raízes, tubérculos e cereais integrais, ou através de produtos comerciais de consumo habitual que tenham sido enriquecidos com fibras. Já existem no mercado ou têm sido estudadas algumas fontes alternativas de fibras, como as fibras de beterraba, de caule de trigo, de laranja, de maracujá e a quitosana. Neste trabalho, optou-se por aproveitar os resíduos da extração de polpa de maracujá como fonte alternativa de fibras. Na extração de polpas e sucos, os resíduos resultantes do processo são normalmente utilizados em ração animal ou como adubo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito de parâmetros da extrusão termoplástica (umidade da matéria-prima e temperatura de processo) e da adição de fibra sobre propriedades físicas, propriedades físico-químicas e propriedades nutricionais de produtos extrusados, no desenvolvimento de cereal matinal orgânico à base de farinha de milho e farelo de maracujá. A matéria-prima foi caracterizada quanto a sua composição centesimal; teores de fibra alimentar total, solúvel e insolúvel; índices de solubilidade em água (ISA), de absorção de água (IAA), de solubilidade em leite (ISL), de absorção de leite (IAL), de absorção de óleo (IAO), índice glicêmico (IG) e teor de compostos cianogênicos. Após a caracterização da matéria-prima, foi utilizado o processo de extrusão termoplástica para produzir uma base para cereal matinal, otimizando-se a formulação e os parâmetros de extrusão através da Metodologia de Superfície de Resposta, visando a obtenção de um produto com "alto teor de fibras" e propriedades tecnológicas adequadas. Os produtos extrusados foram caracterizados quanto a propriedades físicas, como índice de expansão (IE), cor, dureza e manutenção da textura em leite; propriedades físico-químicas, como ISA, IAA, ISL, IAL e IAO; e propriedades nutricionais, como IG e teor de compostos cianogênicos. Foi observado que o farelo de maracujá utilizado continha alto teor de fibra alimentar total (64,11%), apresentando teores significativos de fibra insolúvel (50,16%) e fibra solúvel (13,95%), ao contrário da farinha de milho que apresentou baixo teor de fibra alimentar total (3,68%), sendo 3,37% fibra insolúvel e 0,31% fibra solúvel. Os valores encontrados na determinação do ISA da farinha de milho e do farelo de maracujá foram 7,14 e 31,66%, respectivamente. O valor do IAA encontrado para a farinha de milho foi de 3,33 g de água/g material seco e para o farelo de maracujá foi de 14,38 g de água/g material seco. Os valores encontrados para o ISL da farinha de milho e do farelo de maracujá foram 5,23 e 14,53%, respectivamente. Os valores do ISL foram menores quando comparados com os valores do ISA. Os valores do IAL encontrados para a farinha de milho e para o farelo de maracujá foram de 3,26 e 12,50 g de leite/g material seco, maiores que os valores de IAA, possivelmente devido à formação de géis de pectina. Os índices de absorção de óleo da farinha de milho e do farelo de maracujá foram de 3,63 e 4,74 g de óleo/g de material seco, respectivamente. Os índices glicêmicos da farinha de milho e do farelo de maracujá foram de 48,03 e 45,00%, respectivamente. O farelo de maracujá apresentou um teor de compostos cianogênicos totais de 748,3 mg/kg. As superfícies de resposta demonstraram que a valores baixos das variáveis estudadas, foi obtida a maior expansão. Já, sobre a dureza dos produtos extrusados, as superfícies demonstraram que o efeito mais importante foi a umidade e a interação dela com a temperatura. Ao aumentar a umidade, a dureza dos produtos extrusados aumentou significativamente. No entanto, foi observado que a temperatura de processo foi o parâmetro que mais influenciou negativamente a textura do produto após 5 minutos de imersão em leite. Em relação à cor dos extrusados, altos níveis de farelo de maracujá diminuíram os valores de L* e hab, produzindo extrusados mais escuros e menos amarelos, ao contrário do efeito da temperatura, onde altas temperaturas aumentaram o valor de L* e o hab, produzindo extrusados mais claros e mais amarelos. Nos produtos extrusados, os maiores valores de ISA foram encontrados para os maiores teores de farelo de maracujá, enquanto que os maiores valores para o IAO foram obtidos com baixos teores de farelo. Aparentemente, não houve efeito das variáveis estudadas sobre o IG dos produtos extrusados. O teor dos compostos cianogênicos foi maior nos produtos com maiores teores de farelo de maracujá, como esperado. Além disso, parace haver um efeito da umidade da matéria-prima na redução dos compostos cianogênicos durante o processo de extrusão. O extrusado considerado como produto ótimo neste trabalho apresentou propriedades adequadas com respeito a IE e dureza. Também apresentou uma porcentagem de fibra alimentar alta (11%), bem superior à exigida pela Legislação Brasileira (6 g/100 g de produto) para ser denominado cereal matinal "com alto teor de fibras" / Abstract: The number of people searching healthier eating habits, including fresh foods of good biological quality and free of pesticides, such as organic products, is increasing. It is also observed that in contemporary diets in general, there is a â?¿nutritional deficitâ?? of fibers. This fact has motivated health authorities of several countries to stimulate a greater ingestion of fibers by the adult population, either by stimulating the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes, tubers and wholegrain cereals, or through the enrichment of commonly consumed commercial products. There are already a few alternative fiber sources on the market or under study, such as beetroot, wheat stalk, orange, passion fruit fibers and chitosan. In this work, we opted to use the residues from the extraction of passion fruit pulp as an alternative fiber source. In the extraction of pulps and juices, the residues are usually used as animal feed or fertilizers. The objective of this work was to study the effect of thermoplastic extrusion parameters (raw material moisture content and process temperature) and fiber addition on physical, physical-chemical and nutritional properties of extruded products, as a step in the development of an organic breakfast cereal based on corn flour and passion fruit fiber. The raw material was characterized as to its proximate composition; total, soluble and insoluble fiber contents; water solubility index (WSI), water absorption index (WAI), milk solubility index (MSI), milk absorption index (MAI), oil absorption index (OAI); glycemic index (GI) and cyanogenic compounds. After characterization of the raw material, the thermoplastic extrusion process was used to produce a base for breakfast cereals, optimizing the formulation and process parameters through the Response Surface Methodology, with the aim of obtaining a â?¿high fiber contentâ?? product with adequate technological properties. The extruded products were characterized with respect to physical properties, such as expansion index (EI), color, hardness and maintenance of texture in milk; physicalchemical properties, such as WSI, WAI, MSI, MAI and OAI; and nutritional properties, such as GI and cyanogenic compounds. It was observed that the passion fruit fiber used had a high total fiber content (64.11%), presenting significant contents of insoluble (50.16%) and soluble (13.95%) fibers, different to the corn flour used that presented a low total fiber content (3.68%), of which 3.37% were insoluble fibers and 0.31% soluble fibers. The values found for the WSI of the corn flour and passion fruit fiber were 7.14 and 31.66%, respectively. The values found for the WAI of the corn flour and of the passionfruit fiber were 3.33 and 14.38 g water/g dry material, respectively. The values found for the MSI of the corn flour and passion fruit fiber were 5.23 and 14.53%, respectively. The MSI values were lower than the WSI values. The values found for the MAI of the corn flour and passion fruit fiber were 3.26 and 12.50 g milk/g dry material, higher than those of WAI, possibly due to the formation of pectin gels. The oil absorption indices of the corn flour and passion fruit fiber were 3.63 and 4.74 g oil/g dry material, respectively. The glycemic indices of the corn flour and passion fruit fiber were 48.03 and 45.00%, respectively. The content of cyanogenic compounds in passion fruit fiber were 748,3 mg/kg. The response surfaces demonstrated that at low values of the variables studied, greatest expansion was obtained. For the hardness of the extruded products, the surfaces demonstrated that the most important effect was moisture and its interaction with temperature. Increasing moisture, the hardness of the extruded products increased significantly. However, it was observed that process temperature was the parameter that had the greatest negative effect on the texture of the products after 5 minutes in milk. With respect to color of the extrudates, high levels of passion fruit fiber reduced L* and hab values, producing darker and less yellow extrudates, different to the effect of temperature, where high temperatures increased L* and hab values, producing lighter and more yellow extrudates. In the extruded products, the highest values for WSI were found with the highest passion fruit fiber contents, while the highest values for OAI were obtained with low fiber contents. Apparently, there was no effect of the variables studied on the GI of the extruded products. The content of cyanogenic compounds was higher in the products with greater percentages of passion fruit fiber, as expected. Apart from this, there seems to be an effect of raw material moisture content in the reduction of cyanogenic compounds during the extrusion process. The extrudate considered optimum in this work presented adequate properties with respect to EI and hardness. It also presented a high percentage of dietary fiber (11%), higher than that required by the Brazilian Legislation (6 g/100 g product) to be labeled as a â?¿high fiber contentâ?? breakfast cereal / Mestrado / Mestre em Tecnologia de Alimentos

Autogenous (AG) milling is utilised around the world for rst stage particle size reduction. The system exhibits highly non-linear behaviour in addition to being subject to unmeasured variability associated with most ore bodies. Anglo American Platinum aimed at improving online optimisation of the circuit by implementing industrial model predictive control to reduce system variability and continuously drive towards the optimal operating point within system constraints. A dimensional analysis of the circuit was conducted to explain the relationships between the various milling parameters discussed in the literature survey. The measured variables used in the analysis satis ed Buckingham's theorem, indicating that a complete subset of dimensionless groups were present and suitably able to describe process movement. These relationships were used as a reference point in determining the dynamic step response models between these variables necessary for model based control. The industrial dynamic matrix controller commissioned on the AG mill resulted in a 66 % reduction in power and a 40 % reduction in load. These are the main controlled variables of the mill. The controller also managed to reduce its objective function, e ective power utilisation, by 11 %. This stability improvement enabled a test campaign where the mill was controlled at various operating regions in order to establish the conditions conducive to the nest product size at a given mill feed rate. Moving the mill's operating region from the benchmarked plant to this optimal grind environment (at benchmarked variability) provided an estimated potential recovery increase of 0.27 % (absolute) due to better precious metal liberation. Stabilising the mill at this point with the model predictive controller resulted in a further 0.04 % potential recovery increase (absolute). The 0.31 % potential recovery increase is estimated at a monetary value of $93.1 million per annum. Copyright / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Chemical Engineering / unrestricted

The ability of natural zeolite and synthetic ion-exchange resin for ammonia removal from aqueous solution was studied through batch experiments. The results showed that both zeolite and ion-exchange resin were effective (up to 87% of removal) in eliminating ammonia from aqueous solution. Factorial design and response surface methodology were applied to evaluate and optimize the effects of pH, dose, contact time, temperature and initial ammonia concentration. Low pH condition was preferred with the optimum pH found to be 6 for both zeolite and ion-exchange resin. High dose generated high removal rate and low exchange capacity. Results of factorial design and response surface methodology showed that temperature was not a significant parameter. The model prediction was in good agreement with observed data (R2 = 0.969 for zeolite and R2 = 0.957 for resin, respectively). For zeolite, the optimum Qe was 22.90 mg/g achieved at pH=7 and initial ammonia concentration of 3000 mg/L. For ion-exchange resin, Qe of 28.78 mg/g was achieved at pH=6 and initial TAN concentration of 3000 mg/L. The reaction kinetics for both of them followed the Pseudo-second order kinetic model (R2=0.998 and R2=0.999, respectively). Equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models with Freundlich model providing a slightly better predication for zeolite (R2=0.992) and Langmuir providing more accurate prediction for ion-exchange resin (R2=0.996). The ion-exchange resin can be completely regenerated by 2N H2SO4.

The application of Ultrasound (US) irradiation to remove ammonia nitrogen from aqueous solutions, including synthetic solution and landfill leachate, at 20 kHz was investigated in this thesis. Batch experiments were carried out using two synthetic solutions with initial ammonia concentrations of 3000 and 5000 mg TAN/L in addition to two leachates from new and old landfills. The results of testing showed that US irradiation is an effective treatment technology for the removal of aqueous ammonia. More specifically, it was found that increasing sonication time and pH increased ammonia removal. The maximum observed removal of ammonia was 87.4% at a pH of 11 and sonication time of 25 minutes. Also, it was found that volatilization of ammonia to the atmosphere accounted for 0-7% of removal, the thermal effect of US accounted for 21.1-52.7%, and the non-thermal effect of US accounted for 44.5-78.8% (depending on pH and sonication time). Results of factorial design and response surface methodology showed that pH, energy output (kJ), and the interaction between the two were significant parameters. The predicted two factor interaction (2FI) model was in close agreement to the observed data (R2 = 0.94) and produced an optimum ammonia removal of 87% at a pH of 10.9 and energy output of 94.8 kJ. Analysis of variance tests showed that there were no significant differences in the percent removal of ammonia due to the non-thermal effects of US across all four solutions (synthetic and leachate) indicating that US irradiation is a non-selective treatment method for ammonia removal.