Citrus reticulata Blanco (the common mandarin) fruit:An updated review of its bioactive,extraction types,food quality,therapeutic merits,and bio-waste valorization practices to maximize its economic value

Fruits are regarded as the richest dietary sources of polyphenols,carotenoids,terpenoids,and limonoids,making them highly desired prospects for the functional food industry.Citrus waste that remains after fruit processing is also regarded as a valuable source of value-added phytochemicals.A comprehensive analysis of mandarin composition as a determinant of fruit functional properties,health benefits,and valorization into useful products is represented together with the effect of different processes such as light,wax coating,auxin addition,ozone treatment,and ethylene degreening.Such reviewing evidence is an essential precondition for improving the selling market of mandarin and highlighting its waste valorization potential and its incorporation into useful products produced by pharmaceutical industries.In this study,the phytochemical and biological reports presented to emphasize the needed priority for agricultural techniques to provide a certain mandarin product or trait.In addition,the paper summarizes the optimum conditions applied for the updated extraction techniques for phenolic acids,flavonoids,and oils at a commercial scale from mandarin peels and to enhance its global marketing.A brief representation is given towards potential mandarin patents and the valorization of its bio-waste fruits into commercial products of added value.The review can guide researchers to produce future potentially marketed functional food enriched with mandarin extracts and/or bioactives.

Bioelectrochemical system-mediated waste valorization

Bioelectrochemical systems(BESs)are a new and emerging technology in the field of fermentation technology.Electrical energy was provided externally to the microbial electrolysis cells(MECs)to generate hydrogen or value-added chemicals,including caustic,formic acid,acetic acid,and peroxide.Also,BES was designed to recover nutrients,metals or remove recalcitrant compounds.The variety of naturally existing microorganisms and enzymes act as a biocatalyst to induce poten-tial differences amid the electrodes.BESs can be performed with non-catalyzed electrodes(both anode and cathode)under favorable circumstances,unlike conventional fuel cells.In recent years,value-added chemical producing microbial electrosyn-thesis(MES)technology has intensely broadened the prospect for BES.An additional strategy includes the introduction of innovative technologies that help with the manufacturing of alternative materials for electrode preparation,ion-exchange membranes,and pioneering designs.Because of this,BES is emerging as a promising technology.This article deliberates recent signs of progress in BESs so far,focusing on their diverse applications beyond electricity generation and resulting performance.

Waste Cashew Apple (Anacardium occidentale) as Feedstock for Simultaneous Production of Two Main Ecofriendly Fuels

The present work investigated an effective low-cost production of bioethanol by the use of rejected cashew apples (CAs) in Ivorian plantations. Fresh CAs were cut into 8-10 mm slices and submitted to a drying cycle of two periods (for the sake of easing their rehydration) in an oven with forced air convection. Temperature was first set at 30˚C for 3 hours, and then raised at 50˚C until constant weight. Drying brought about 82% weight loss, and the dried slices were rehydrated in a ratio of 1:4 (w/v) in warm distilled water to reconstitute a 10 Brix degree (˚B) juice with 1.042 g/cm3 density. The sugar content of the juice was increased to 20˚B (syrup) by thermal evaporation. The process was optimized using a response surface methodology (RSM) by applying a central composite plan in order to minimize heat-sensitive compound degradation. The optimal operating conditions for temperature and time of heating were precisely 68,239˚C and 83,314 min, respectively. The commercial baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to seed the 20˚B cashew apple syrup following a batch fermentation at 30˚C. The total alcohol content recorded after 24 hours was 8.24% ± 0.11% made up of almost 97% of ethanol and isobutanol (a higher alcohol). Analysis of alcoholic profiles by flam ionization detector-gas chromatography (GC-FID) showed an ethanol content of 3.92% and an almost similar but higher quantity of isobutanol (4.05%) with the latter being a by-product. As bio-based isobutanol attracts more and more attention due to its wide application and excellent fuel performance as compared to ethanol, it emerged from this study that neglected cashew apples can be successfully employed as valuable raw material for the simultaneous production of both biofuels currently used as sustainable sources of renewable energy.

Beneficial use of mussel shell as a bioadditive for TPU green composites by the valorization of an aqueous waste

Scientific studies have focused on environmentally friendly solutions as effective as the reuse of crop products owing to plastic-waste problems in recent years.This issue is the main driving force for upcoming academic research attempts in waste valorization-related studies.Herein,we integrated an aqua-waste,mussel shell(MS),as a bioadditive form into green thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU)green composites.Tuning of the MS surface was performed to achieve strong adhesion between composite phases.The surface functionalities of MS powders were evaluated via infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy(SEM)images.Composite samples were prepared by melt-compounding followed by injection molding techniques.It was confirmed by morphological analysis that relatively better adhesion between the phases was achieved for composites involving surface-modified MS compared to unmodified MS.Tensile strength and Young’s modulus of surface-modified MS-filled composites were found to be higher than those of unmodified MS,whereas the elongation at break shifted to lower values with MS inclusions.The shore hardness of TPU was remarkably improved after being incorporated with silane-treated MS(AS-MS).Stearic acid-treated MS(ST-MS)additions resulted in an enhancement in the thermal stability of the composites.Thermo-mechanical analysis showed that the storage moduli of composites were higher than those of unfilled TPU.ST-MS additions led to an increase in the characteristic glass transition temperature of TPU.Melt flow index(MFI)of neat TPU was highly improved after MS loading regardless of modification type.According to the wear test,surface modification of MS displayed a positive effect on the wear resistance of TPU.As the water absorption data of the composites were evaluated,the TPU/AS-MS composite yielded the lowest water absorption.The silane layer on MS inclusion promoted water repellency of composites due to the hydrophobicity of silane.The results of the biodegradation investigation demonstrated that adding unmodified and/or modified MS to the TPU matrix increased the biodegradation rate.The test results at the end of a 7-week period of biodegradation with a soft-rot fungus implied that the composite materials were more biodegradable than pure TPU.Silane modification of MS exhibited better performance in terms of the characterized properties of TPU-based composites.

Pumpkin seeds as nutraceutical and functional food ingredient for future:A review

Pumpkin belongs to the family of Cucurbitaceae,which comprises several species that has economical as well as agronomical importance.All parts of pumpkin are edible and laden with beneficial neutraceutical compounds.Pumpkin seeds are valuable source protein which can help in eradicating protein malnutrition and lipids(rich in PUFAs)contains essential as well as non essential fatty acids which prevents from various ailments like cancer and other cardiovascular diseases.Since,seeds of pumpkin are abundant in macro(magnesium,phosphorous,potassium,sodium and calcium)and micro minerals(iron,copper,manganese,zinc and selenium),they can be used as an incredible dietary supplement which in turn helps in curbing various deficiency disorders.This review enlightens the characteristics of pumpkin seeds,process of valorization of pumpkin seeds and the effect of processing on their nutritional composition which have been studied currently with the aim to use this wonder seeds for human wellbeing.Pumpkin seeds possess many bioactive compounds like polyphenols,flavonoids,phytosterols and squalene which makes it a lucrative raw material for pharmacological and food industries.Pumpkin seeds work as anti-depressant and helps majorly in the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia(BHP).Daily consumption of pumpkin seeds can reduce the chances of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.Pumpkin seeds are rich in tocopherols and can be used for oil extraction for edible purposes and utilized in other food formulations for future use.

Performance Evaluation of Novel Eco-Materials Composed of Millet Husks, Rice Husks, and Polystyrene

Managing agricultural waste and expanded polystyrene (EPS) poses significant environmental and economic challenges. This study aims to create composites from millet husks, rice husks, and recycled EPS, using a manufacturing method that involves dissolving the polystyrene in a solvent followed by cold pressing. Various particle sizes and two binder dosages were investigated to assess their influence on the physico-mechanical properties of the composites. The mechanical properties obtained range from 2.54 to 4.47 MPa for the Modulus of Rupture (MOR) and from 686 to 1400 MPa for the Modulus of Elasticity in Bending (MOE). The results indicate that these composites have potential for applications in the construction sector, particularly for wood structures and interior decoration. Moreover, surface treatments could enhance their durability and mechanical properties. This research contributes to the valorization of agricultural and plastic waste as eco-friendly and economical construction materials.

Numerical study on waste polyethylene pyrolysis driven by self-sustaining smoldering

Polyethylene is the type of waste plastic that accounts for the most significant proportion of municipal solid waste.Waste polyethylene can be valorized via pyrolysis and produce value-added oil,gas,and char.On the other hand,self-sustaining smoldering is an emerging technical means to deal with sand/soil contaminated by organic matter.The high-temperature heat generated by smoldering can be used as a heat source for pyrolyzing waste polyethylene.Therefore,this study investigates numerically the pyrolysis of waste polyethylene driven by self-sustaining smoldering.A novel 4-step lumped kinetic model is proposed for simulating the pyrolysis of waste polyethylene.The results indicate that the operating parameters can determine the pyrolysis product yields by regulating the pyrolysis temperature and the volatile residence time.Note that higher temperatures and longer residence times favor the generation of shorter-chain pyrolysis products because of the intensified volatiles’secondary cracking.It can be concluded that a high interface-wall heat transfer coefficient(400 W m^(-2)K^(-1)),a low PE content(0.20),a high char concentration(2.4%),and a moderate air velocity(0.040 m s^(-1))are beneficial to oil yield.To some extent,this study may broaden the boundaries for the application of self-sustained smoldering-driven pyrolysis.

Metabolic Profiling in Banana Pseudo-Stem Reveals a Diverse Set of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Nutritional and Industrial Applications

Banana(Musa spp.)is an ancient and popular fruit plant with highly nutritious fruit.The pseudo-stem of banana represents on average 75%of the total dry mass but its valorization as a nutritional and industrial by-product is limited.Recent advances in metabolomics have paved the way to understand and evaluate the presence of diverse sets of metabolites in different plant parts.This study aimed at exploring the diversity of primary and secondary metabolites in the banana pseudo-stem.Hereby,we identified and quantified 373 metabolites from a diverse range of classes including,alkaloids,flavonoids,lipids,phenolic acids,amino acids and its derivatives,nucleotide and its derivatives,organic acids,lignans and coumarins,tannins,and terpene using the widely-targeted metabolomics approach.Banana pseudo-stem is enriched in metabolites for utilization in the food industry(L-lysine and L-tryptophan,L-glutamic acid,Phenylalanine,Palmitoleic acid,α-Linolenic acid,and Lauric acid,and Adenine)and pharmaceutical industry(Guanosine and Cimidahurinine,Bergapten,Coumarins,Procyanidin A2,Procyanidin B1,Procyanidin B3,Procyanidin B2,and Procyanidin B4,Asiatic acid).The metabolome of banana pseudo-stem with integration across multiomics data may provide the opportunity to exploit the rich metabolome of banana pseudo-stem for industrial and nutritional applications.

Hydrochar and synthetic natural gas co-production for a full circular economy implementation via hydrothermal carbonization and methanation:An economic approach

Herein we study the economic performance of hydrochar and synthetic natural gas coproduction from olive tree pruning.The process entails a combination of hydrothermal carbonization and methanation.In a previous work,we evidenced that standalone hydrochar production via HTC results unprofitable.Hence,we propose a step forward on the process design by implementing a methanation,adding value to the gas effluent in an attempt to boost the overall process techno-economic aspects.Three different plant capacities were analyzed(312.5,625 and 1250 kg/hr).The baseline scenarios showed that,under the current circumstances,our circular economy strategy in unprofitable.An analysis of the revenues shows that hydrochar selling price have a high impact on NPV and subsidies for renewable coal production could help to boost the profitability of the process.On the contrary,the analysis for natural gas prices reveals that prices 8 times higher than the current ones in Spain must be achieved to reach profitability.This seems unlikely even under the presence of a strong subsidy scheme.The costs analysis suggests that a remarkable electricity cost reduction or electricity consumption of the HTC stage could be a potential strategy to reach profitability scenarios.Furthermore,significant reduction of green hydrogen production costs is deemed instrumental to improve the economic performance of the process.These results show the formidable techno-economic challenge that our society faces in the path towards circular economy societies.

Road to full bioconversion of biowaste to biochemicals centering on chain elongation: A mini review

Production of biochemicals from waste streams has been attracting increasing worldwide interest to achieve climate protection goals.Chain elongation(CE)for production of mediumchain carboxylic acids(MCCAs,especially caproate,enanthate and caprylate)from diverse biowaste has emerged as a potential economic and environmental technology for a sustainable society.The present mini review summarizes the research utilizing various synthetic or real waste-derived substrates available for MCCA production.Additionally,the microbial characteristics of the CE process are surveyed and discussed.Considering that a large proportion of recalcitrantly biodegradable biowaste and residues cannot be further utilized by CE systems and remain to be treated and disposed,we propose here a loop concept of bioconversion of biowaste to MCCAs making full use of the biowaste with zero emission.This could make possible an alternative technology for synthesis of value-added products from a wide range of biowaste,or even non-biodegradable waste(such as,plastics and rubbers).Meanwhile,the remaining scientific questions,unsolved problems,application potential and possible developments for this technology are discussed.

Plant-based pecan nut cake beverage enrichment of phytochemicals and antioxidant properties using multi-stage block freeze concentration

Pecan nut (Carya illinoinensis) processing to obtain oil generates circa 37% of press cake, which is currently underuti-lized and primarily employed as animal feed. Due to its nutritional- and bioactive-rich composition, pecan nut cake (PNC) can be used as raw material for plant-based beverages, whose properties may be enhanced using a non-ther-mal technology based on block freeze concentration (BFC). The effect of five-stage BFC on total solids content (TSC), pH, color parameters, retention of phytochemicals, and the antioxidant activity (AA) of a pecan nut cake beverage (PNB) was assessed in this work. BFC afforded 98% (w/w) solids retention after three stages and 85% efficiency after four stages. The process also provided a 254% concentration factor in stage 5. In the last step, approximately a 64% increase in TSC and a slight decrease (7.3%) in pH compared to the control PNB was observed. In addition, total phenolic compounds, condensed tannins, total flavonols, and AA were significantly (P < 0.05) improved after the BFC, resulting in a 2.6-10.2- and 1.9-5.8-fold increase in phytochemicals and antioxidants, respectively. On the other hand, BFC caused the darkening of concentrates due to TSC and bioactive compounds retention. The processing strategy evaluated herein indicated a great potential of PNC as a raw material for obtaining high-quality ingredients for the food industry, which may reduce agro-industrial waste production and add value to a coproduct rich in nutrients and biocompounds with potential biological activity.

Soil inorganic carbon sequestration through alkalinity regeneration using biologically induced weathering of rock powder and biochar

Soil inorganic carbon(SIC)accounts for about half of the C reserves worldwide and is considered more stable than soil organic carbon(SOC).However,soil acidification,driven mainly by nitrogen(N)fertilization can accelerate SIC losses,possibly leading to complete loss under continuous and intensive N fertilization.Carbonate-free soils are less fertile,productive,and more prone to erosion.Therefore,minimizing carbonate losses is essential for soil health and climate change mitigation.Rock/mineral residues or powder have been suggested as a cheaper source of amendments to increase soil alkalinity.However,slow mineral dissolution limits its efficient utilization.Soil microorganisms play a vital role in the weathering of rocks and their inoculation with mineral residues can enhance dissolution rates.Biochar is an alternative material for soil amendments,in particular,bone biochar(BBC)contains higher Ca and Mg that can induce even higher alkalinity.This review covers i)the contribution and mechanism of rock residues in alkalinity generation,ii)the role of biochar or BBC to soil alkalinity,and iii)the role of microbial inoculation for accelerating alkalinity generation through enhanced mineral dissolution.We conclude that using rock residues/BBC combined with microbial agents could mitigate soil acidification and SIC losses and also improve agricultural circularity.