Majdi Al-Mahasneh

• Ph.D.
• Professor at Jordan University of Science and Technology

Lupin is an agriculturally economical plant seed. It is considered a rich source of protein for both humans and animals in several regions of the world. Lupin proteins also could act as an encapsulation agent for vitamins and other nutritional factors after extraction. This research evaluated the effects of microwave and ultrasound extraction metho...

The profiles of food products are one interesting link that adds a new functional component. Cookies became one of the remarkable foods as a result of their simple preparation, a protracted period, and a sensible acceptance by the population. The effects of sonication on physical and sensory characteristics of cookies to be enhanced were studied. T...

The Dead Sea, a live pool of minerals and elements, holds ~9% of the worlds' known lithium reserves. However, the low lithium concentrations (30–40 mg/L) in the End Brine and the high divalent to lithium ratio (Mg+2 + Ca+2 to Li+) were obstacles that must be overcomed to extract the lithium. In our previous work, lithium concentrations in the Dead...

The higher demand and limited availability of honey led to different forms of honey adulteration. Honey adulteration is either direct by addition of various syrups to natural honey or indirect by feeding honey bees with sugar syrups. Therefore, a need has emerged for reliable and cost-effective quality control methods to detect honey adulteration i...

The effect of six months storage at 25 °C and 35 °C of Halawa tahinia on physicochemical and nutraceutical properties were evaluated. The results revealed that the highest value of phenol content of Halawa tahinia is 215.8 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ at zero time, while, the lowest level is 156.41 mg GAE 100 g⁻¹ at 25 °C stored for six months. The highest antio...

Most olive varieties are grown in Jordan using Baladi, Nabali, Crosodi and k18 table olives. This study evaluated the effect of de-bittering fermentation methods on the total phenolic, flavonoid contents, and antioxidants. The phytochemical results of fresh and fermented table olives showed significant decrease after fermentation process and during...

This chapter focuses on the interactions between the phenolic compounds, proteins and lipids found in soybean and flaxseed that contribute to the functional, biological activities of soybean and flaxseed and their derived products. These interactions have attracted attention recently due to the importance of plant-based proteins and phenolic compou...

This chapter is a comprehensive overview of the processing, classification, composition and bio-functional properties of fermented malt beverages. It focuses on barley-based beverages and their potential as functional foods and sources of nutraceutical and bioactive ingredients.

This study evaluated the effect of debittering fermentation methods on the sensory properties of green table olives. The panelist results of appearance, aroma, taste, and texture showed that the most preference sensory attributes are found in treated with NaOH followed significantly by the whole, scratchy and ticked. The panelist results varied and...

Building a system that consists of a combination of geothermal component (water well (pit)) and heat recovery from aerobic biological fermentation of olive cake for hot water production at an olive mill is examined in this work. Hot water is essential for mill operation and constitutes a main operational cost, and in many countries, including Jorda...

Textural deterioration of pita bread, PB, due to staling is an important quality parameter during storage. Loss of freshness due to PB staling results in significant quality and economic loss. PB staling was studied using both MR-FTIR spectroscopy and textural profile including time to rupture and tensile and compressive forces. The study was condu...

This contribution presents the main constituents responsible for or contributing to the health-enhancing and therapeutic properties of medicinal plants in general, and of thyme (Thymus spp.), spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus spp.) in particular. Special consideration is given to their phenolic constituents, also known as polyp...

The effect of tehina processing and storage during six months at 25 and 35°C on the physicochemical and minerals of sesame seeds and tehina was evaluated. Chemical composition results showed that tehina samples had higher contents of dry matter, fat and protein than that in raw, dehulled unroasted and roasted sesame seeds. Tehina storage period and...

Thermodynamic properties such as differential enthalpy and differential entropy are important tools for analyzing postharvest handling and drying of grasses such as Bermuda grass. This particular grass is widely used as a feedstock or as pellets for energy production. Thus, this study was initiated with the aim of modeling moisture sorption thermod...

This study of selected plants of Rutaceae family was carried out to investigate their phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and the in vitro inhibitory potential of extracted phenolics towards enzymes relevant for hyperglycemia and hypertension. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity and phenolic extract-mediated inhibitory activities for α-g...

Over the last two decades, separation, identification and measurement of the total and individual content of phenolic compounds has been widely investigated. Recently, the presence of a wide range of phenolic compounds in oil-bearing plants has been shown to contribute to their therapeutic properties, including anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-oxidant...

This study aimed to investigate the molecular and bio-functional properties of protein fractions from Nigella damascena and Nigella arvensis, including the albumin, globulin, glutein-1, glutein-2 and prolamin fractions. Protein subunits were not observed in globulin and prolamin fractions. No peaks appeared in RP-HPLC chromatograms of globulin for...

There are health issues associated with traditional mayonnaise including the risk of Salmonella from the use of unpasteurized eggs and the contribution of cholesterol from eggs. The production of low fat mayonnaise involves the use of components such as modified starch, pectin, microcrystalline cellulose, carrageenan gum, and some thickeners that a...

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) has emerged as a synergic hybrid intelligent system. It combines the human-like reasoning style of fuzzy logic system (FLS) with the learning and computational capabilities of artificial neural networks (ANNs). ANFIS has several applications related to food processing and technology. The first part of t...

Sesame oil separation from sesame paste is viewed as a quality defect during sesame paste processing and storage. Palm oil (PO) and distilled mono-glycerides (DMG) were added to sesame paste at (0–2%) and (0–8% [w/w]), respectively, to reduce sesame oil separation. Results showed oil separation was reduced by 12.5% at 2% PO and by 50% at 8% DMG. Mo...

The effect of tehina processing and storage during six months at 25°C and 35°C on total phenolics, antioxidant activity, anthocyanins, and fatty acid analysis was evaluated. Tehina processing, storage period and temperature significantly (p≤0.05) decreased total phenolics, antioxidant activity and anthocyanins contents. The results showed that raw...

Ideal extraction conditions were estimated based on the maximum phenolic content, antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes from Mentha spicataL. The optimum extraction conditions for phenolic compounds with maximum ACE inhibitory activity occurred in a mixture of aceton...

Changes in color and germination index as indicators of the compost maturity were monitored during the composting of Conocarpus erectus residues

Changes in physical, chemical and microbial parameters were monitored during the composting of Conocarpus erectus residues using a bioreactor

Four different fresh and dried herb species (sage, thyme, mint and lemonbalm) were evaluated to study the effect of drying process on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity, flavonoid contents and color properties. Fresh mint had the highest contents of total phenolics (335.4 mg GAE/100 g), whereas lower levels were respectively found in sage (3...

Four different fresh and dried herb species (sage, thyme, mint and lemonbalm) were evaluated to study the effect of drying process on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity, flavonoid contents and color properties. Fresh mint had the highest contents of total phenolics (335.4 mg GAE/100 g), whereas lower levels were respectively found in sage (3...

Four different fresh and dried herb species (sage, thyme, mint and lemonbalm) were evaluated to study the effect of drying process on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity, flavonoid contents and color properties. Fresh mint had the highest contents of total phenolics (335.4 mg GAE/100 g), whereas lower levels were respectively found in sage (3...

Moisture sorption isotherms ( MSI ) are required to optimize handling, drying, processing and storage of food products. MSI are obtained by solving nonlinear equations iteratively, which is normally a difficult process. A generic approach was successfully used for collective prediction of MSI for 12 cereals and five legumes simultaneously, by takin...

Physical and rheological properties of minimally processed Jordanian wild flowers honeys were investigated. Eight honey samples collected from different regions were investigated. Rheological properties were measured in the temperature range between 28 and 58C. Water content, water activity and specific gravity were found to vary between 16.1 and 1...

This study evaluated the effect of jam processing of cherry on the phytochemical and physiochemical properties for fresh cherry, after processing and during 15 days at 25, 35, 45 and 55C. Fresh cherry had the highest contents of total phenolics, antioxidant activity and anthocyanins. Jam processing significantly decreased total phenolics (370.20 mg...

Five different fruits and their jams were evaluated for physicochemical properties during five months of storage. In fruits, soluble solids were lower in strawberry (8.25%) compared to apricot, cherry, fig and orange, respectively. Jam processing increased soluble solids from 67.00% in fig to 69.00% in strawberry. Soluble solid values of fruit jams...

Bermuda grass is widely grown in Saudi Arabia as a turf grass. It is highly tolerant to drought and hot weather. It can be compressed to form pellets, which can be used as livestock, or energy pellets similar to charcoals. Drying is required to process the grass into a safe storage condition. Moisture sorption isotherms are required to design and o...

The present study was conducted to assess of Conocarpus (Conocarpus erectus) Leaves and Bermuda Grass (Cynodon dactylon L.) fresh or silage using chemical analysis and in vitro gas production technique. Rumen liquor was obtained from four slaughtered Naimey sheep fed on barely and alfalfa hay. The mixture of rumen fluid with buffer (1:2 v/v, 30 ml)...

Handling, processing and shelf life determination of honey requires the knowledge of rheological properties. In this study, rheological properties of eight different untreated wild‐flower honey samples collected in J ordan were modeled using three important parameters including temperature (28–58 C ), water content (16.1–17.3%) and shear rate (2.2–...

The chemical, functional and sensory properties of carob juice compared with grape juice were evaluated. Composition results showed that carob pods contained high concentrations of carbohydrate and phytochemicals, moderate amounts of proteins and fiber, and low amounts of fat and ash. Phytochemical results showed that carob particle and powder juic...

This study was conducted to evaluate of date palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera L.) silage or dry as alternative for ruminants using in vitro gas production technique. Rumen liquor was obtained from four Naimey sheep fed on barely and alfalfa hay (slaughter house). The mixture of rumen fluid with buffer 1: 2 v/v, 30 mL were placed into each syringe,...

This study was conducted to evaluate of tomato wastes (fresh or silage), cucumber wastes (fresh or silage) as alternative feeds for ruminants using in vitro gas production technique. Rumen liquor was obtained from four Naimey sheep fed on barely and alfalfa hay (slaughter house). The mixtures of rumen fluid with buffer 1: 2 v/v, 30 mL were placed i...

This study evaluated the effect of jam processing of cherry on the phytochemical and physiochemical properties for fresh cherry, after processing and during 15 days at 25, 35, 45 and 55C. Fresh cherry had the highest contents of total pheno-lics, antioxidant activity and anthocyanins. Jam processing significantly decreased total phenolics (370.20 m...

The effectiveness of substituting different concentrations (3, 6 or 9%) of broad bean flour (Bb), chickpea flour (Cp) or isolated soy protein (ISP) on the physiochemical and sensory properties of corn chips was evaluated. Fortification increased (P ≤ 0.05) protein contents from 6.4 to 10.5%. Sensory and instrumental color results indicated that for...

The effectiveness of adding different concentrations (2, 4 and 6% from weight corn used) of flavors on the physiochemical and sensory properties of corn chips was evaluated. Results showed that corn chips contain low moisture contents (less than 2%). Color measurements and just about right (JAR) attributes of color indicated that flavor additions d...

This objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing of grape and raisin on the nutraceutical, physiochemical, and sensory properties. The results showed that fresh grape had the highest antioxidant activity, and total phenolic and anthocyanin content followed by grape jam, raisin, and raisin jam, respectively. No significant d...

This study evaluated the effects of infusion of grape seed extracts (GSE) at two levels (1500 and 3000 ppm) or tert methyl-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) on thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), texture, and sensory properties of baladi goat meats after cooking using microwave or conventional electric oven and stored for 12 days at 5°C. During a 12...

Roasted green wheat at moisture content from 0.052 to 0.25 (decimal d.b.) and temperatures from 25 to 43°C was used to model moisture sorption isotherms using conventional non-linear least square regression (NLR) and neural-fuzzy (NF) techniques. The results showed that neural-fuzzy techniques provided a better fit than conventional least square re...

The effect of natural extracts of green tea or commercial grape seed in combination with synthetic tert methyl-butylhydroquinone at different concentrations on lipid oxidation and the redness of goat meats stored at 5°C for 9 days was evaluated. Fresh boneless Baladi goat meats were ground and mixed at varying concentrations of green tea or grape s...

Roasted green wheat is a high value product made by roasting green (under-mature) wheat. Due to its high initial moisture content, drying is needed to avoid fast deterioration. Open Sun Drying (OSD) of this product is by far the most common practice due to its simplicity, effectiveness and low cost. The assumption of OSD adequacy to prevent deterio...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing with strawberries on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity, anthocyanins and physicochemical properties (pH, soluble solids, firmness and color storage) during a 15-day sotage at 25, 35, 45 and 55°C. The results showed that fresh strawberries had the highest concentration of...

Fruits have been widely recognised as an excellent source of bioactive phenolic compounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of jam processing of strawberry, cherry, apricot, fig and orange on the total phenolics, antioxidant activity and anthocyanins during 5 months of storage at 25 °C. Fresh strawberry had the highest contents...

This study evaluated the effectiveness of grape seed extracts (GSE) on lipid oxidation of corn chips stored for 90days in comparison to tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Proximate chemical analysis results showed that corn chips contained low moisture contents (less than 2%) and also that no significant differences were found in the dry matter values...

In this study, calcium intake by Jordanians from diet and different sources of water was evaluated. For this purpose, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed to 300 persons in three major cities namely: Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa. The questionnaire included the type of diet which people eat daily and the type of water they drink. The amount of ca...

Sesame hulls are a useful byproduct of sesame processing industry. Moisture adsorption isotherms (MSIs) for whole sesame hulls (WSHs) and powdered sesame hulls (PSHs) were obtained at 15, 30 and 45C, and 0.05 to 1.5 moisture content (decimal dry basis) using a water activity meter. Four MSI models were tested. Halsey model was found to provide the...

The aim of this study was to employ whey protein isolate (WPI) and carboxymethylcelulose (CMC) as stabilizers in beverage production and to evaluate viscosity of the products. Three beverages were formu- lated using 6% WPI combined with three different concentrations of CMC (0.1, 0.5, and 1%). The combination of 6% WPI/1.0% CMC was selected and add...

In Jordan, large proportions of both the NGP and hard currency go for imported energy. Meanwhile, large quantities of grain dust are continuously produced locally and dumped uselessly. Thus, this study was set out to examine the opportunities of heat energy recovery from a composting pile of grain dust. Amounts of the material were arranged in pile...

The total phenolics, antioxidant activities, anthocyanins, vitamine E, and tert-butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) of different cultivars of grape seed extracts (GSE) grown in Jordan were evaluated. In addition, antioxidant activities of GSE were investigated using olive oil substrate by oxidative stability instrument (OSI). Results of chemical composition...

Grain dust is a by-product produced in large quantities from grain storage and milling facilities but as of yet is treated as waste locally and regionally. Based on the conviction that material properties determination is a necessary first step for the efficient handling, processing, and use of materials, this work was initiated with the purpose of...

The aim of this study was to employ whey proteins isolate (WPI) and carboxymethylcelulose (CMC) as stabilizers in beverage production and to evaluate viscosity of the products. Three beverages were formulated using 6% WPI combined with three different concentrations of CMC (0.1, 0.5, and 1%). The combination of 6% WPI/1.0% CMC was selected and adde...

This study investigated the physicochemical properties of acorns of two oak species (Quercus ithaburensis and Quercus calliprinos) growing under Mediterranean conditions. The results showed that physical dimensions and weight of acorns and acorn parts were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) larger for Q. ithaburensis than Q. calliprinos. Chemical analysis sh...

Engineering and thermal properties of black cumin seeds at 5.3% (w.b.) moisture content were obtained. Seed length, width and thickness ranged from 2.85 to 3.27 mm, 1.36 to 1.81 mm and 0.84 to 1.22 mm, respectively. Geometric mean diameter, effective mean diameter, sphericity and roundness ranged from 1.55 to 1.88 mm, 1.63 to 1.77 mm, 51.6 to 60.7%...

Determination of thermodynamic functions is essential for the analysis of theoretical energy requirements during heat and mass transfer processes such as drying and freezing. Experimental measurements of equilibrium relative humidity (ERH) and equilibrium moisture content (EMC) were used to find the best moisture sorption isotherm model for defatte...

Sesame hulls are a useful by-product of the sesame processing industry. The sesame hulls are produced at a high moisture content (68% wet basis) and need further drying to prevent deterioration. In this study, both open sun drying (OSD) and forced convection drying (FCD) at 42, 55, and 76C and 1.2 m/s air velocity were investigated. Six common thin...

Determination of physical characteristics of grain and agricultural commodities is important in the design of harvesting, handling, and processing equipment. Physical properties of green wheat (frikeh) kernels were established over moisture content range from 9.3 to 41.5% (w.b.) which covers the moisture range from harvesting to storage. Increasing...

  This study evaluated the effectiveness of substituting different concentrations of chickpea flour, broad bean flour, or isolated soy protein (ISP) on the physicochemical and sensory properties of biscuits. Fortification processes were conducted by substituting specified concentrations (3%, 6%, 9%, and 12%) of both broad bean and chickpea and (3%,...

Balady bread was prepared from barley flour (Rum and ACSAD 176 flour) with local wheat flour (Unified and Zero flour). Chemical, physical, and sensory analysis of the bread was performed. The results showed that there were variations in physical and chemical properties, between different barley varieties, barley flour, and the bread. This study sho...

This study evaluated effects of vacuum-infused fresh chicken breast meats with grape seed extracts, green tea extracts, or tertiary butyl hydroquinone on pH, texture, color, and thiobarbituric reactive substances after cooking using a microwave or conventional electric oven for 12 d storage at 5°C. Thiobarbituric reactive substances values of uncoo...

Dielectric measurements between 10 Hz to 13 MHz were obtained using an HP 4192A Impedance Analyzer for two types of artificially damaged corn samples: medium and severe damage. For each damage type, the measurements were obtained at two moisture content levels (11 and 19 percent, W.B.) and five damage levels (0, 10, 25, 50, and 100 percent). Each s...

A commercial combine equipped with a yield monitor and Global Positioning System (DGPS) was constructed to include a weighing system in the clean grain tank. The scale was able to output its current readings two times per second to a data-logger. The reading from the yield monitor and the scale could be matched to check the accuracy of the yield mo...