Coffee is a critical agricultural commodity to be used to produce a premium beverage to serve people worldwide. Coffee microbiome turned to be an essential tool to improve the bean quality through the natural fermentation. Therefore, understanding the microbial diversities could create the final product's better quality. This study investigated the natural microbial consortium during the wet process fermentation of coffee onsite in Thailand to characterize the microorganisms involved in correlation toward the biochemical characteristics and metabolic attributes. Roasting is another important step in developing the complex flavor/ aroma that make coffee to be enjoyable. During the roasting process, the beans undergo many complex and alternatively change in the physicochemical properties from the gained substances in the fermentation process. The changing in the formation of the substances responsible for the sensory qualities, physicochemical/ aroma attributes as well as the health benefits of the final product. Using the starter culture could also develop the distinguished characteristics of coffee (Research collaboration with Van Hart company)
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คณะอุตสาหกรรมอาหาร
Zero-waste management is crucial for sustainable food systems, promoting the use of agricultural by-products like rice bran. Rich in bioactive polyphenols with antioxidant and antidiabetic properties, rice bran can enhance the nutritional value of food. Polyphenols can slow starch digestion by forming complexes with starch, making them useful for creating low-glycemic foods. While ultrasonication and freeze-thaw treatments have been beneficial individually, their combined effects on starch-polyphenol complexation remain understudied. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of combining these treatments on the interaction between rice starch and red rice bran polyphenols. The dual treatment increased the complexing index, altered functional properties, and affected granule morphology. Structural analysis indicated non-covalent interactions forming non-V-type complexes. Additionally, starch digestibility was reduced, lowering the estimated glycemic index (eGI) compared to the control. These findings suggest a sustainable and green approach to starch modification, with potential for developing functional food products and advancing zero-waste processing.
คณะวิศวกรรมศาสตร์
This study was conducted to develop a prototype cooling cover for transporting raw milk, aiming to provide a solution for maintaining the quality of raw milk during transportation to milk collection centers. The cooling cover is made using Phase Change Material (PCM), produced from water mixed with a gelling agent, in an amount of 5.6 kg, attached around an aluminum milk tank (with a capacity of 25 L). The cover is then covered with a UV-reflective fabric in two types: polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). The temperature reduction performance of both types of covers was evaluated by measuring water temperatures at various points along the radial and vertical directions of the milk tank at six points, using type-T thermocouples, under three environmental conditions: a constant temperature of 25 °C, 35 °C, and outdoor ambient temperature (average temperature 35.5 °C) for a minimum duration of 180 min. The experimental results revealed that at 120 min., the water in the tank covered with PCM-PVC and PCM-HDPE covers had temperatures lower than the ambient temperature by 12.6 °C and 12.9 °C, respectively, under a constant ambient temperature of 25 °C, and under a constant ambient temperature of 35 °C lower by 16.7 °C and 16.4 °C, respectively, and outdoor conditions. Since the temperature reduction performance of PCM-PVC and PCM-HDPE covers showed no significant difference, the performance of microbial quality preservation of raw milk was assessed only with PCM-PVC cover in comparison to a non-covered case (control), by measuring coliform and Escherichia coli counts using compact dry plates. Results indicated that after 120 min., milk in the tank covered with PCM-PVC had an average coliform count of 1.6 × 10^4 CFU/ml and E. coli count of 2 × 10^3 CFU/ml, which was lower than the non-covered control with an average coliform count of 1.5 × 10^4 CFU/ml and E. coli count of 1.1 × 10^4 CFU/ml. This study concludes that the temperature reduction achieved by the cooling cover can help inhibit coliform growth to levels below raw milk quality standards, demonstrating the potential of the cooling cover in maintaining the quality and safety of raw milk during transport, ultimately contributing to an improved quality of life for Thai dairy farmers.
คณะวิศวกรรมศาสตร์
This project focuses on the development of an automatic license plate recognition system that supports both standard and special license plates in Thailand. By utilizing Machine Learning technology, the system enhances the efficiency of license plate reading. It can process data from both images and videos. Users can register and subscribe to the service, allowing them to send data for processing through RESTful API, WebSocket, and registered IP cameras.