(Re)-thinking the bio-prospect of lignin biomass recycling to meet Sustainable Development Goals and circular economy aspects

Lignin, as an abundant natural polymer with interesting mechanical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties, has the possibility to produce numerous chemicals and biofuels of current interest. However, the structural recalcitrance, heterogeneity, and complex extraction methods of lignin can hinder its transformation into value-added materials. Therefore, the research community is exploring innovative bioconversion technologies capable of effectively valorizing lignin. Thus, effective bioconversion and deconstruction methods have been recently studied. In this review, we first define lignin as a versatile raw material considering its characteristics, properties, and abundance. Then, lignin valorization is described in terms of the current opportunities and technical challenges. Finally, we discuss the industrial potential of lignin-derived products such as biofuels, biopolymers, biopesticides, and fertilizers. Those lignin-derived products are highly valuable for the energy and food industries, which are two main sectors challenged by the rapid growth of population, urbanization, and consumption. Thus, progress on lignin valorization would represent significant advancements in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and circular economy aspects.     

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Essential Oils from Eugenia patrisii Vahl,E. punicifolia (Kunth) DC., and Myrcia tomentosa (Aubl.) DC., Leaf of Family Myrtaceae

Essential oils (EOs) were extracted from Eugenia patrisii, E. punicifolia, and Myrcia tomentosa, specimens A and B, using hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to identify the volatile constituents present, and the antioxidant capacity of EOs was determined using diphenylpicryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. For E. patrisii, germacrene D (20.03%), bicyclogermacrene (11.82%), and (E)-caryophyllene (11.04%) were identified as the major constituents of the EOs extracted from specimen A, whereas specimen B primarily comprised γ-elemene (25.89%), germacrene B (8.11%), and (E)-caryophyllene (10.76%). The EOs of E. punicifolia specimen A contained β-Elemene (25.12%), (E)-caryophyllene (13.11%), and bicyclogermacrene (9.88%), while specimen B was composed of (E)-caryophyllene (11.47%), bicyclogermacrene (5.86%), β-pinene (5.86%), and γ-muurolene (5.55%). The specimen A of M. tomentosa was characterized by γ-elemene (12.52%), germacrene D (11.45%), and (E)-caryophyllene (10.22%), while specimen B contained spathulenol (40.70%), α-zingiberene (9.58%), and γ-elemene (6.89%). Additionally, the chemical composition of the EOs was qualitatively and quantitatively affected by the collection period. Furthermore, the EOs of the studied specimens, especially specimen A of E. punicifolia, showed a greater antioxidant activity in DPPH rather than TEAC, as represented by a significantly high inhibition percentage (408.0%).     

Sensory and Chemical Characteristic of Two Insect Species: Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio Larvae Affected by Roasting Processes

The volatile compounds from insects (Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas morio larvae) roasted at 160, 180, or 200 °C and fed with potato starch or blue corn flour were isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME), and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the tested material, 48 volatile compounds were determined. Among them, eight are pyrazines, aroma compounds that are formed in food products during thermal processing due to the Maillard reaction. Eleven of the identified compounds influenced the roast, bread, fat, and burnt aromas that are characteristic for traditional baked dishes (meat, potatoes, bread). Most of them are carbonyl compounds and pyrazines. To confirm the contribution of the most important odorants identified, their odor potential activity values (OAVs) and %OAV were calculated. The highest value was noted for isobuthylpyrazine, responsible for roast aroma (%OAV > 90% for samples roasted at lower temperatures), and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, responsible for burnt aroma (%OAV > 20% for samples roasted at the highest temperature). According to the study, the type of feed did not significantly affect the results of the sensory analysis of roasted insects. The decisive influence was the roasting temperature. The highest scores were achieved for Tenebrio molitor larvae heat-treated at 160 °C.     

Residue valorization: Preparation of recyclable organic amine adsorbent using laterite residue

This study focuses on exploiting the main component of traditional nickel metallurgical waste for use as a valuable material that can be applied in the removal of organic amines from water systems. Silicon compounds from metallurgic waste were converted into dissolvable sodium silicate by roasting the waste with alkali. Silica with adsorption capacity was combined with magnetic NiFe cores by the carbonation decomposition of purified silicate solution. The composite magnetic adsorbent was characterized, and its adsorption mechanism for organic amines was investigated. The effects of the initial trimethylamine concentration, contact time and temperature on the adsorption efficiency of the composite adsorbent towards trimethylamine were investigated. It was found that the adsorption fit the Freundlich mode well. The adsorption kinetics can be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption capacity reached 55.8 μg/mg at 293 K. The use of metallurgical waste to prepare the magnetic composite adsorbent has three advantages, which include benefiting the environment by reducing the amount of solid waste and costs associated with constructing and maintaining storage facilities, generating valuable products in an economical manner and conveniently recycling used adsorbents to avoid secondary pollution.     

Isolation of Volatile Compounds with Repellent Properties against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Using CPC Technology

The present work describes the use of Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) for the bio-guided isolation of repellent active volatile compounds from essential oils. Five essential oils (EOs) obtained from three Pinus and two Juniperus species were initially analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and evaluated for their repellent properties against Aedes albopictus. The essential oil from needles of P. pinea (PPI) presented the higher activity, showing 82.4% repellency at a dose of 0.2 μL/cm². The above EO, together with the EO from the fruits of J. oxycedrus subsp. deltoides (JOX), were further analyzed by CPC using the biphasic system n-Heptane/ACN/BuOH in ratio 1.6/1.6/0.2 (v/v/v). The analysis of PPI essential oil resulted in the recovery of (−)-limonene, guaiol and simple mixtures of (−)-limonene/β-pheladrene, while the fractionation of JOX EO led to the recovery of β-myrcene, germacrene-D, and mixtures of α-pinene/β-pinene (ratio 70/30) and α-pinene/germacrene D (ratio 65/45). All isolated compounds and recovered mixtures were tested for their repellent activity. From them, (−)-limonene, guaiol, germacrene-D as well the mixtures of (−)-limonene/β-pheladrene presented significant repellent activity (>97% repellency) against Ae. albopictus. The present methodology could be a valuable tool in the effort to develop potent mosquito repellents which are environmentally friendly.     

Preparation and characterization of fragrance by extracting the essential oils from different raw materials

The extraction is a simple process and it is widely used to extract the fragrances in fragrance industries from essential oils. There are number of compounds (i.e. flowers, oils, leaves etc.) from which we can prepare the fragrance by extracting the essential oils from them. In this work, we have prepared the fragrance from the essential oils by the liquid-liquid extraction process, where the essential oil presented as the concentrated hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds. We used the combination of Gas chromatography and Mass spectrometry (GC/MS) characterization techniques to make our product more useful, convenient and compitative with the other fragrance available in the market. This study would be helpful to understand the preparation of the fragrance from the concentrated hydrophobic liquid type essential oils which contains volatile aroma compounds by using a significant liquid-liquid extraction process.     

The investigation of neutralization process of gas-phase sewage sludge using thermal plasma method

The purpose of this research is to investigate the influence of plasma flow on the composition of gaseous phase organic waste. The experimental method and simulation program “Chemical Workbench” were used for this research. The gas phase waste was neutralized using air plasma in the temperature range of 1200–1700 K. The reactor simulation results showed that the amount of atomic oxygen and nitrogen decreases by 0.5%, meanwhile the amount of carbon monoxide increases by 0.5 percent, as the plasma forming gas is air. The investigation of percentage concentration results showed that as the temperature reaches 1700 K, the H₂ decreases by 4%, CO increases by 7%, CH₄ decreases by 0.4%, CO increases by 0.5%, N₂ decreases by 5%. The experimental measurement results of percentage concentration correlates sufficiently with simulation results for listed gas.     

Novel utilization of waste marine sponge (Demospongiae) as a catalyst in ultrasound-assisted transesterification of waste cooking oil

This study demonstrates the potential of Na-silica waste sponge as a source of low cost catalyst in the transesterification of waste cooking oil aided by ultrasound. In this work an environmentally friendly and efficient transesterification process using Na-loaded SiO₂ from waste sponge skeletons as a solid catalyst is presented. The results showed that the methyl esters content of 98.4 ± 0.4 wt.% was obtainable in less than an hour (h) of reaction time at 55 °C. Optimization of reaction parameters revealed that MeOH:oil, 9:1; catalyst, 3 wt.% and reaction duration of 30 min as optimum reaction conditions. The catalyst is able to tolerant free fatty acid and moisture content up to 6% and 8%, respectively. In addition, the catalyst can be reused for seven cycles while maintaining the methyl esters content at 86.3%. Ultrasound undoubtedly assisted in achieving this remarkable result in less than 1 h reaction time. For the kinetics study at 50–60 °C, a pseudo first order model was proposed, and the activation energy of the reaction is determined as 33.45 kJ/mol using Arrhenius equation.     

我国油料产品品质的近红外光谱快速检测技术研究进展

近红外光谱技术是一种快速无损检测技术,具有操作简单、检测成本低、无需化学试剂、绿色环保,以及可实现多品质参数同步检测等优点。该文综述了我国油料和食用植物油品质的近红外光谱速测技术研究进展,包括油料含油量、粗蛋白含量、脂肪酸含量等品质指标,食用油的理化指标,以及脂肪酸和食用油的真实性鉴别,并对油料产品品质的近红外光谱速测技术的发展前景进行了展望。     

Comprehensive Review on Application of FTIR Spectroscopy Coupled with Chemometrics for Authentication Analysis of Fats and Oils in the Food Products

Currently, the authentication analysis of edible fats and oils is an emerging issue not only by producers but also by food industries, regulators, and consumers. The adulteration of high quality and expensive edible fats and oils as well as food products containing fats and oils with lower ones are typically motivated by economic reasons. Some analytical methods have been used for authentication analysis of food products, but some of them are complex in sampling preparation and involving sophisticated instruments. Therefore, simple and reliable methods are proposed and developed for these authentication purposes. This review highlighted the comprehensive reports on the application of infrared spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for authentication of fats and oils. New findings of this review included (1) FTIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics, which has been used to authenticate fats and oils; (2) due to as fingerprint analytical tools, FTIR spectra have emerged as the most reported analytical techniques applied for authentication analysis of fats and oils; (3) the use of chemometrics as analytical data treatment is a must to extract the information from FTIR spectra to be understandable data. Next, the combination of FTIR spectroscopy with chemometrics must be proposed, developed, and standardized for authentication and assuring the quality of fats and oils.