Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Andrej Sinica, Ph.D.

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The cultivation of algae produces biomass, which is a potential source of biologically active substances such as structural and storage polysaccharides, proteins, polyphenols, lipids, carotenoids, etc. The planned dissertation work will focus on the isolation and characterization of structural polysaccharides and possibly other biologically active algal metabolites using appropriate spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, NMR), chromatographic (GC/FID, GC/MS, GPC, SEC) and other separation methods. Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anticancer and other biological activities of the selected polysaccharides will be tested in collaboration with the Institute of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Chemical Technology, Prague. An integral part of the dissertation will be the proposal for the use of the obtained polysaccharides for their application in the form of thin films and their characterization by FTIR, DSC and tensile strength determination.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Andrej Sinica, Ph.D.

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Lactic acid bacteria (LBC) are able to produce exopolysaccharides (EPS) with hydrocolloid properties and prebiotic effects, which is interesting for food industry. The planned dissertation will be focused on the isolation and characterization of EPS from culture media of perspective strains of BMK using suitable spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman, NMR), chromatographic (GC/FID, GC/MS, GPC) and other analytical methods. An integral part of the dissertation will also be the study of the physical properties of EPS obtained using thermal and rheological methods. Cultivation of selected strains of BMK and study of prebiotic activity of EPS will take place in cooperation with the Department of Milk, Fats and Cosmetics of UCT Prague.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Andrej Sinica, Ph.D.

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The work will focus on the study of wood polysaccharides interesting in terms of the content of biologically active compounds. These are mainly cell wall polysaccharides and triterpenoids. The aim of the work will be the isolation and purification of low and high molecular fractions as well as the characterization of the structure and composition of isolated compounds. Furthermore, the physical properties and biological activities of selected products will be monitored.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Andrej Sinica, Ph.D.

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Vibration spectroscopic methods in combination with multivariate analysis will be used to characterize sets of model samples of raw materials of various origins, foodstuff, their chemical components (polysaccharides) or other products. The aim of the work will be to develop a procedure for sorting and evaluating the composition and quality of food raw materials and products using these methods including preparative approaches and sample preparations. The conclusions of vibrational spectroscopy will be substantiated and compared with the results obtained by common analytical methods.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Ing. Evžen Šárka, CSc.

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Starch-based nanoparticles, which are extensively investigated nowadays, may be used as fillers and reinforcing agents in polymer composites, carriers for drug delivery, barrier coating materials, and stabilizers in oil-in-water emulsions. The addition of starch nanocrystals from different botanical origin to biodegradable films of waxy starch has improved barrier and mechanical properties of the resulting materials. The thesis is focused on the preparation of starch nanoparticles and their potential applications.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Mgr. Andrej Sinica, Ph.D.

Annotation

The work will focus on the study of galactomannans from the endosperm of legume seeds and from non-traditional plant sources of interest in terms of use in the food industry and other fields. The aim of the work will be the isolation and purification of galactomannans as well as the characterization of their composition, degree of branching and molecular weight using suitable spectroscopic and separation methods. Furthermore, the physical properties of these polysaccharides and the possibilities of their use for the formation of films and gels in combination with other hydrocolloids will be studied.

Granting Departments:	Department of Carbohydrates and Cereals
Study Programme/Specialization:	Food Chemistry and Technology ( in English language )
Supervisor:	doc. Ing. Evžen Šárka, CSc.

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The current separation methods used in the purification of sugar juices are under pressure to reduce costs and the ecological burden, caused mainly by the extraction, transport and processing of the necessary raw material – limestone. Currently, new separation methods and technological procedures based on the principles of recycling used materials are being designed and put into practice. The dissertation work will focus on the issue of new technological procedures and separation methods and their evaluation (economic, ecological). Relationships and dependencies will be investigated in terms of quality and efficiency of separation of organic and inorganic compounds from sugar juices.