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In recent years, there have been growing concerns about finding alternatives to fossil fuels, and biomass could be one of them. To ensure the production of biogas as one of the alternative sources, the development of anaerobic digestion technologies for agricultural and animal waste is one of the promising directions. In this work, the process of biogas production from different types of solid substrates and microalgae was studied using an automatic gas flow measurement system. The biogas flow rate was monitored throughout the process. In order to use the digestate resulting from biogas production as a soil improver, the content of macroelements was analyzed.

The influence of the chemical composition of natural waters on triclocarban (TCC) sorption on pristine and irradiated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at different temperatures was studied. Natural waters have been characterized in terms of the concentrations of cations and anions, pH, and electric conductivity. The sorption process of TCC on MWCNTs is influenced by both the chemical composition of natural waters and the variation of the temperature. The adsorption capacity of TCC on pristine and irradiated MWCNTs in the studied natural waters increased by increasing the temperature. The increase of the concentration of monovalent cations (Na+ and K+) in natural waters determined a significant decrease of the adsorption capacity of TCC on both pristine and irradiated MWCNTs while the increase of the bivalent cations (Ca2+ and Mg2+) determined an easy increase adsorption capacity. Freundlich and Langmuir models were selected to describe the steady adsorption of the TCC on the pristine and irradiated MWCNTs.

Carbon materials, especially nanostructured ones, have well-known adsorbent properties due to their ability to establish covalent bonds, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, electrostatic, and π-π interactions [...]

The application of selenium (Se) to tomatoes enhances accumulation of bioactive compounds. The physiological window of Se is very narrow, and Se overdose reduces the yield. Glycine betaine was shown to reduce Se’s negative effects on plants and to potentiate its beneficial effects. In this study, baker’s yeast vinasse (BYV), as an affordable source of glycine betaine, was tested for its interaction with Se in an optimized foliar fertilizer. The application dose was selected after a laboratory experiment, wherein assays on plant height, leaves surfaces, stomatal conductance, and chlorophyll fluorescence were done. The Se and BYV supplemented foliar fertilizers were tested for their effects on accumulation of bioactives in drip-irrigated tomatoes cultivated in a greenhouse. Under laboratory conditions, assays demonstrated Se and BYV induced effects on tomatoes plants. Both the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis efficiency increased compared to a water treated control. The greenhouse experiment demonstrated that BYV and Se addition increases the number of tomato fruits in the “extra” marketable class and enhances the accumulation of ascorbic acid, carotenes, polyphenols, and flavonoids. The effects depend on the composition of the foliar fertilizer, the most significant effects being recorded for the foliar applied product with the highest BYV and nitrogen content.

Biocidal products are substances or mixtures of several substances, used to combat harmfulorganisms for human or animal health [...]

Protein hydrolysates (PHs) are organic non-microbial biostimulants having beneficial effects on plants. The study was designed to assess the effects on plants by the applications of PHs obtained from Trichoderma isolates grown on keratin wastes. Trichoderma isolates were characterized for indole-3-acetic acid and siderophores production, activity of lytic enzymes, phosphorous solubilization and inhibition of pathogens growth, using qualitative specific tests. Fungal isolates were cultured on a medium with keratin wastes (wool and feathers) to obtain PHs. Fungal PHs were tested in vivo for plant biostimulant action, as follows: (i) seeds germination test; (ii) activation of plant proton pump; (iii) evaluation of effect on tomato seedling growth. PHs from T. asperellum cultured on feathers medium reached the highest values for all parameters recorded (plant height and diameter, number of leaves and branches), with the exception of those for plant biomass, which were maximum for the wool medium. The metabolites released by keratin degradation under the activity of selected T. asperellum isolate improved crop health and productivity. The use of PHs can be a reasonable solution for the environmental pollution of by-products from the food chain, as well as for the replacement of chemical fertilizers with microbial formulations to stimulate plant growth.

In this work, Sb (III) adsorption on oxidized exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets (ox-xGnP) was evaluated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. The ox-xGnP were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer⁻Emmet⁻Teller (BET) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Zeta potential analysis. The adsorption parameters, such as pH and contact time, were optimized, and the best adsorption capacity obtained was 8.91 mg g−1 at pH = 7.0, 1.0 mg ox-xGnP/100 mL solution, T = 293 K, 1.0 mg L−1, Sb (III), 25 min contact time. The best correlation of the kinetic data was described by a pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with R2 = 0.999. The adsorption isotherms of Sb (III) onto ox-xGnP were best described by the Langmuir isotherm model. The thermodynamic parameters showed that the adsorption process was exothermic and spontaneous.

Contamination of soil with heavy metals has become a matter of global importance due to its impact on agriculture, environmental integrity, and therefore human health and safety. Several microbial strains isolated from soil contaminated by long-term chemical and petrochemical activities were found to manifest various levels of tolerance to Cr, Pb, and Zn, out of which Bacillus marisflavi and Trichoderma longibrachiatum exhibited above-moderate tolerance. The concentrations of target heavy metals before and after bioremediation were determined using electrochemical screen-printed electrodes (SPE) modified with different nanomaterials. The morpho-structural SEM/EDX analyses confirmed the presence of metal ions on the surface of the cell, with metal uptake being mediated by biosorption with hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups as per FTIR observations. T. longibrachiatum was observed to pose a higher bioremediation potential compared to B. marisflavi, removing 87% of Cr and 67% of Zn, respectively. Conversely, B. marisflavi removed 86% of Pb from the solution, compared to 48% by T. longibrachiatum. Therefore, the fungal strain T. longibrachiatum could represent a viable option for Cr and Zn bioremediation strategies, whereas the bacterial strain B. marisflavi may be used in Pb bioremediation applications.

This article presents the microwave-assisted extraction of biosilica from common reed (Phragmites australis) biomass and the utilization of the resulting aqueous extract to enrich porous ceramic granules based on diatomaceous earth and bentonite from white wine cleaning. The enriched porous ceramic granule generated a solution of soluble silicon that was +23.4 ± 2.2 more concentrated than the porous ceramic granules not enriched with reed extract. The water reactivity of Si-O-Si groups is higher in the polysilicic acid formed via the polycondensation of silicic acid extracted from reed, compared to the Si-O-Si group from diatomaceous earth or bentonite.

Fertilizers with nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and potassium (K) were formulated using a custom-made rotary pan granulator. The granules were characterized by analysis of their composition, specific surface and porosity (Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, BET analysis), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Using the rotary pan granulator led to the formation of the intended NPK fertilizer granules. The most used for soil treatment, the 2–4 mm diameter granules, were separated, and the granules with smaller or higher dimensions were re-introduced to the process.

Sulfite liquor is the by-product of wood chips treatment. An alternative method for recovering the carbonaceous components from sulfite liquor was investigated. A 3% CS suspension surprisingly incorporated almost all the carbon–sulfite phase in an aerogel system rising up at the surface of a beige liquid phase. The resulting solid and liquid phases were analytically characterized usingTEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, ICP-OES, and UV-Vis methods, respectively. The TEM-EDX analysis revealed nanoparticles and microneedles with high C, O, Na, and S contents ionotropically adsorbed by CS, with this new hybrid material appearing as a biopolymer–carbon–metal nanocomposite aerogel with potential adsorbent, catalytic, and/or semiconductive properties.

The objective of this work was to develop a sustainable process for the extraction of anthocyanins from red cabbage byproducts using, for the first time, apple vinegar in extractant composition. Our results showed that the mixture 50% (v/v) ethanol–water, acidified with apple vinegar, used in the proportion of 25 g of red cabbage by-products per 100 mL of solvent, was the best solvent for the preparation of an anthocyanin extract with good stability for food applications. The chemical characterization of this extract was performed by FTIR, UV-VIS, HPLC-DAD, and ICP-OES. The stability was evaluated by determining the dynamics of the total polyphenol content (TPC) and the total monomeric anthocyanin pigment content (TAC) during storage. On the basis of the statistical method for analysis of variance (ANOVA), the standard deviation between subsamples and the repeatability standard deviation were determined. The detection limit of the stability test of TPC was 3.68 mg GAE/100 g DW and that of TAC was 0.79 mg Cyd-3-Glu/100 g DW. The red cabbage extract has high TPC and TAC, good stability, and significant application potential. The extracted residues, depleted of anthocyanins and polyphenols with potential allelopathic risks, fulfill the requirements for a fertilizing product and could be used for soil treatment.

Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analytical method was optimized to determine the micronutrient concentrations from the fertilizers used as inputs in organic farming. The calibration curves showed good linearity for all elements (R2 > 0.999). Recoveries were in the range of 94.9–97.9%. The values of extended uncertainty with a probability of 95% (k = 2) for the liquid organic fertilizer samples were between 0.004% for Mo and 0.12% for Fe. The results have shown good accuracy and reproducibility, and the optimized method was validated.

The main aim of this study is to find relevant analytic fingerprints for plants’ structural characterization using spectroscopic techniques and thermogravimetric analyses (TGAs) as alternative methods, particularized on cabbage treated with selenium–baker’s yeast vinasse formulation (Se-VF) included in a foliar fertilizer formula. The hypothesis investigated is that Se-VF will induce significant structural changes compared with the control, analytically confirming the biofortification of selenium-enriched cabbage as a nutritive vegetable, and particularly the plant biostimulant effects of the applied Se-VF formulation on cabbage grown in the field. The TGA evidenced a structural transformation of the molecular building blocks in the treated cabbage leaves. The ash residues increased after treatment, suggesting increased mineral accumulation in leaves. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) evidenced a pectin–Iα-cellulose structure of cabbage that correlated with each other in terms of leaf crystallinity. FTIR analysis suggested the accumulation of unesterified pectin and possibly (seleno) glucosinolates and an increased network of hydrogen bonds. The treatment with Se-VF formulation induced a significant increase in the soluble fibers of the inner leaves, accompanied by a decrease in the insoluble fibers. The ratio of soluble/insoluble fibers correlated with the crystallinity determined by XRD and with the FTIR data. The employed analytic techniques can find practical applications as fast methods in studies of the effects of new agrotechnical practices, while in our particular case study, they revealed effects specific to plant biostimulants of the Se-VF formulation treatment: enhanced mineral utilization and improved quality traits.

The use of synthetic pesticides creates problems due to their toxicity, low biodegradability, anduse of them in high amounts, which can damage crops and contaminate the environment. [...]

Protein hydrolysates, as plant biostimulants, have beneficial effects on the growth, yield and [...]