Tunis University

About: Tunis University is a education organization based out in Tunis, Tunisia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Thin film. The organization has 11745 authors who have published 15400 publications receiving 154900 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Tunis & UT.

Studies on the Biodiversity of Halophilic Microorganisms Isolated from El-Djerid Salt Lake (Tunisia) under Aerobic Conditions

Abstract: Bacterial and archaeal aerobic communities were recovered from sediments from the shallow El-Djerid salt lake in Tunisia, and their salinity gradient distribution was established. Six samples for physicochemical and microbiological analyses were obtained from 6 saline sites in the lake for physico-chemical and microbiological analyses. All samples studied were considered hypersaline with NaCl concentration ranging from 150 to 260 g/L. A specific halophilic microbial community was recovered from each site, and characterization of isolated microorganisms was performed via both phenotypic and phylogenetic approaches. Only one extreme halophilic organism, domain Archaea, was isolated from site 4 only, whereas organisms in the domain Bacteria were recovered from the five remaining sampling sites that contained up to 250 g/L NaCl. Members of the domain Bacteria belonged to genera Salicola, Pontibacillus, Halomonas, Marinococcus, and Halobacillus, whereas the only member of domain Archaea isolated belonged to the genus Halorubrum. The results of this study are discussed in terms of the ecological significance of these microorganisms in the breakdown of organic matter in Lake El-Djerid and their potential for industry applications.

Feasibility of using almond gum as coating agent to improve the quality of fried potato chips: Evaluation of sensorial properties

Abstract: The aim of this work was to investigate the impact of almond gum as coating agent to decrease the oil absorption and to increase the moisture content of fried potato chips meaning a Box–Behnken design. The studied parameters were: almond gum concentration (0–20 g/L), frying time (30–120 s) and frying temperature (160–190 °C). Results showed that the increase of almond gum concentration up to 20 g/L decreased the oil uptake of potato chips by 34% and increased the moisture by 29.5%. Optimal coating and frying conditions found with RSM were thus achieved with 20 g/L aqueous almond gum, 75 s frying time at 160 °C frying temperature. Additionally, the study of sensorial analysis (color, appearance, crispiness, taste, odor, appetence) showed that the chips coated with almond gum have an overall acceptability better than the uncoated potato chips, and the ones coated with arabic gum. The textural analysis of potato chips showed that the hardness (rigidity) decreased significantly by coating either with almond gum or arabic gum. The results obtained through this work showed that coating with almond gum improves the sensorial and nutritional qualities of potato chips.