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Constant pollution from a wide range of human activities has a negative impact on the quantity and quality of the planet's water resources. On the other hand, agro-food waste can impact climate change and other forms of life, in addition to having social, economic, and environmental consequences. However, as a result of their inherent physicochemical properties and lignocellulosic composition, these residues are becoming increasingly recognized as valuable products in line with government policies advocating zero waste and circular economies. An advantageous way to convert these wastes into energy and chemicals is hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). This review highlights the valorization of agro-food waste into hydrochar-based adsorbents for the elimination of organic and inorganic contaminants from aqueous environments. An overview of the toxicity of pollutants in aqueous environments, food waste management, as well as HTC technology was initially proposed. Then, a discussion on the conversion of major agro-food wastes into contaminant adsorbents was given in detail. Adsorption mechanisms as well as the possibility of reuse of adsorbents were also discussed. Enhanced properties of the produced materials enable them to provide competent solutions to various ecological contexts, including removing pollutants from wastewater with cost-effectiveness and satisfactory results. Besides addressing environmental concerns, this sustainable approach opens the door for more environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient applications in the future, making it an exciting prospect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioethanol production from agro-food industry waste is one of the suitable alternatives to fossil fuels. In this study, six agro-food wastes were evaluated to select those with a high concentration of starch or fermentable sugars for bioethanol processing. Yeast's ability to produce biofuels by fermentation is affected by temperature. In this study, thermotolerant yeasts, obtained from natural sources in Algeria (soil and agro-food waste), were selected for their capacity to produce and tolerate bioethanol. Three wastes were selected, two of which had significant starch content. In order to get fermentable sugars, these wastes underwent chemical and enzymatic hydrolysis. The selected yeasts were identified by morphological, physiological, biochemical, and molecular characterization. Enzymatic and acid hydrolysis of whole potato and durum wheat bran released (190 g/L and 130 g/L) and (138.40 g/L and 90.03 g/L) reducing sugars, respectively. Among the isolated strains, three were found to be able to produce bioethanol, namely Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. These strains were identical to those stored in the data bank with 99%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. In addition, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis exhibited an ethanol tolerance of up to 14%, while S. cerevisiae tolerates up to 15%. Interestingly, enzymatic hydrolysis–treated potatoes produced a considerable amount of bioethanol after 48 h of fermentation by S. cerevisiae (7.525% (v/v)), C. glabrata (6.80% (v/v)), and C. tropicalis (4.50% (v/v)). Taken together, our findings suggest that S. cerevisiae and whole potato waste could be considered good candidates for industrial bioethanol production at high temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effect of solid-state fermentation (SSF), employing different microbial strains (single or co-cultured), to the chemical composition of olive leaves (OL) and the possible perspectives of the derived material for high added-value applications was explored. Methods: Emphasis was given on bioactives (oleuropein, OLE, hydroxytyrosol, HT, elenolic acid (EA) related compounds, maslinic (MA) and oleanolic (OA) acids). In parallel, the levels of other chemical components with nutritional/antinutritional interest for feed application and certain minerals were also measured. Results: A gradual decrease in OLE and an EA derivative till their complete loss was found. HT progressively increased and then consumed reaching low levels. MA and OA were unaffected. A. niger resulted in the highest formation of HT (1 mg/g dw), and the lowest loss of OL antioxidant potential (13.8% at 72 h). Varying levels of protein production were observed potentially improving their nutritional value. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that fermented OL significantly altered phenolic compounds, particularly OLE and HT, and maintained triterpenic acids such as MA and OA. Despite reductions in certain phenolics, fermented OL showed improved nutritional profiles, particularly in protein content and antioxidant potential, suggesting their potential for added-value applications in various industrial sectors, including animal feed. To our knowledge this is the first time that the co-cultures selected in the present study were employed for OL SSF and that under all conditions examined the triterpentic acids MA and OA were the dominant bioactives despite some improvements in HT formation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aimed to review the recent literature on the characterization of dietary fibers and their role in the human body, focusing on the methods of extraction of dietary fibers from agro-food waste as well as their use in various areas of the food industry. Dietary fibers are biologically active substances with beneficial effects on human health. Soluble dietary fiber is involved in reducing cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels, while insoluble dietary fiber helps regulate intestinal transit and maintain colon health. It would be useful to identify the extraction procedures and characterization of dietary fibers from agro-food waste. Fruit waste contains relevant amounts of bioactive compounds, such as: phenolic acids, flavonoids, lignins, carotenoids, etc. In addition, fruit waste contains significant amounts of dietary fiber with nutraceutical important activities, such as modulating the intestinal microbiota, lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and glycemic load in the blood. Hence, obtaining dietary fiber from agro-industrial waste can solve a number of economic and environmental problems that aimreducing waste, increasing the sustainability and profitability of companies in the Republic of Moldova. Dietary fiber can be used in various types of food, such as products of bakery and confectionery, meat, dairy products, and pasta. They can be used as stabilizers with an impact on food texture or ingredients with low caloric value, partially replacing caloric constituents suchas fats, starch or sugars. Another important property is the prebiotic effect of dietary fibers. This property is determined by the fact that dietary fibers are indigestible or poorly digestible and are fermented selectively by intestinal microbiota, conferring health benefits to thehost.

• Long hydraulic retention time ensured stable carboxylate production. • Microbial robustness mediated stable performance against pH oscillations. • 20 d of retention time was identified as an upper threshold of process efficiency. • Metabolic redundancy is key for a robust microbiome development. The effect of operational conditions on the stability of acidogenic fermentation (AF) devoted to volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production still presents numerous gaps to achieve high yields and fully understand the responses of open microbiomes associated to this technology. To cope with that, this investigation was designed to assess the stability of VFAs production via AF of agro-food wastes at high hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (20 and 30 d) and pH oscillations (5.8–6.2). Similar bioconversion efficiencies (∼50 %) were reached regardless of the HRT, revealing that HRT of 20 d can be considered as a threshold from which, no further improvement was achieved. The combination of long HRTs, 25 °C and acid pHs promoted a robust microbiome that resulted in a stable outcome against pH variations, being Clostridiales order identified as key player of AF stability. These conditions mediated a high selectivity in the VFAs production profile, with acetic and butyric acids, prevailing in the VFAs pool (∼80 % of total VFAs) at HRT 20 d. The selection of appropriated conditions was shown to be critical to maximize the hydrolysis and acidogenesis of the substrate and attain a stable effluent against pH oscillations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the cost of culture medium for the production of microbial metabolites is a very important factor in industrial processes, the use of cheaper resources and improving bacterial metabolites' efficiency by optimizing fermentation conditions are critical. In order to optimize γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production, three levels of culture medium (molasses, dairy sludge, and soybean meal), with three bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis PML1, Lactobacillus fermentum 4–17, and Lactobacillus plantarum 1058), in three fermentation times (24, 48, and 72 h) were used. After fermentation, the presence of GABA in the culture medium was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Also, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and biogenic amino acid tests were performed on the fermented extract. The results of statistical design and GABA analysis showed that the optimal treatment included culture medium containing 29.27% dairy sludge, 24.77% molasses, and 10.49% soybean meal for 48 h fermented by L. fermentum 4–17, and under these production conditions, GABA concentration was 359.45 ppm. The highest antimicrobial activity of the fermented extract was against Staphylococcus aureus. The highest level of DPPH radical inhibitory activity was about 78%, and the IC50 level of toxicity on Caco-2 cancer cell line was 41.2 mg/mL. The results showed that none of the studied biogenic amines was detected in culture medium. According to the results, these compounds can be used as an inexpensive substrate to produce valuable medicinal and bioactive compound GABA biologically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biofilm is a natural form of a surface-attached community of bacterial cells bound to each other by an extracellular matrix. The challenge of biofilm-linked infections is the noteworthy resistance of bacterial cells to both host immune responses and available antibiotics. Moreover, the misuse of antibiotics led to the emergence and widespread occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among different pathogens, consequently, increasing the chronicity of biofilmassociated infections and threatening human lives. Natural products like plant-derived antibiofilm agents could offer more therapeutic efficiency with fewer adverse effects than conventional antimicrobials. Agro-food wastes are an abundant resource of antimicrobial phytoconstituents that can modulate different biofilm formation and development mechanisms. The accumulation of food biowaste in huge amounts results in adverse economic and environmental consequences. Therefore, valorization and recycling of this bio-waste have captured the attention and sparked the research interest of scientists all over the world. The main aim of the present review is to shed light on recent studies that delve into the antibiofilm potential of agro-food by-products as a sustainable resource of innovative and promising candidates. The latest articles from various databases such as the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier databases, and Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases were screened over the period from 2017 to 2023. The major keywords for searching were biofilm inhibition, agro-food waste, natural origins, environmental sustainability, quorum-sensing mechanisms, and industrial by-products. In conclusion, agro-food waste is considered a sustainable resource of several precious bioactive compounds that could offer new promising antibiofilm candidates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is a growing interest in valorizing agro-food byproducts having interesting bioactives with functional and health properties. This paper deals with the use of apple pomace (AP), the most abundant by-product of apple juice industry, to formulate a novel value-added mayonnaise (AP mayo). The effect of AP on the chemical and rheological characteristics, microbiological quality, and sensory attributes of the new product was studied during a 30-day storage at refrigerated temperature. A comparison with two commercial mayo samples was also carried out. The results highlighted that the AP mayo showed a total phenol content of 2.12 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g, and improved antioxidant properties (DPPH radical-scavenging activities 2.47 mg TE/g; 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt, ABTS 3.18 mg TE/g; ferric reducing antioxidant power, FRAP 2.78 mg TE/g). After 30 days, it was more stable than the other two mayo. Moreover, AP mayo showed even higher overall acceptability scores by the assessors than the commercial samples. The results confirm that the addition of AP represents a valid approach to increase the health properties of spreads and sauces, satisfying the demand of health-conscious consumers, even those who prefer plant-based foods. The proposed healthy mayonnaise confirm the AP is a multifunctional ingredient with interesting potential applications in the formulation of new spreads/sauces with antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing global population and higher living standards instantly demand the transition in the direction of a sustainable food system. A substantial section of means and agricultural lands are presently committed to protein-rich feed production to rear livestock for human consumption. Conversely, accelerated farming activities and the food industry have rendered a drastic increase in waste which impair the economic and environmental sustainability of the ecosystem. This situation emerges the need for developing an integrated technology for waste management and to improve sustainability footprints. Microbial protein (MP) production based on renewable electron and carbon sources has the potential as a substitute protein source. MP production for animal feed use is growing fast and is derived from bacteria, algae, and fungi including yeast. MP produced from all types of microbes is currently commercialized and in use. However, novel methods and processes are also under investigation to make MP production more economical and sustainable. Current research on MP has concentrated on the valorization of waste materials by using high protein content-containing microorganisms, which can then be used in animal feed. Using such kind of integrated approach, the agroindustry waste resources upcycling can contribute towards finding sustainable, cheaper, and environment-friendly protein sources. This review first describes the potential waste feedstock for MP production and summarizes the recent progress in the application of MP-producing microorganisms including fungus, yeast, bacteria, and phototrophic microbes. Bioprocesses, and production technology advances for MP production have been explored and discussed in detail. Finally, the MP application as animal feed, its challenges, and future perspectives in research have been evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the industrial processing of agricultural products, the steps to be followed are more numerous and lead to the appearance of a varied range of waste, a source of pollution in the environment. However, this waste is an important source of energy for ruminants, which greatly benefit from it. This work is an experimental and thermodynamic study of the solar drying of apple and orange waste. In this work, we present a new approach for the thermodynamics study of drying apple and orange waste, as well as the evaluation of this waste as a complement in the feeding of ruminants. This evaluation has led to the study of the properties of four powders obtained by drying apple and orange waste with two methods, namely thin-film drying under the sun, and thin-film drying in the greenhouse solar dryer. Several experiments were carried out on the powders obtained, to study the effect of drying on their physical, physicochemical, microbiological, and microscopic properties. The goal is to know and determine the optimal drying method that provides us with dry, healthy, nutritious, and better quality food waste to be included in ruminant rations. According to the obtained results from this comparative study, it was found that the waste dried inside the greenhouse dryer is of better quality. The thermodynamic parameters derived from the proposed new approach are discussed and compared with literature results. The negative values of Gibbs free energy indicate that solar drying of apple and orange waste is a spontaneous process. • Apple and orange waste were dried in greenhouse and in the open air. • Solar drying is a necessary intermediate step in the treatment of agro-food waste. • Dried apple and orange waste obtained are of appreciable nutritional quality. • A new thermodynamic approach was evaluated and compared with literature results. • In the present study conditions, it was found that the drying process is spontaneous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work proposes the use of an agro-industrial residue from the sunflower crop as a feedstock to produce a low-cost adsorbent with a chemically modified surface bearing sulfonic groups. This modified low-cost adsorbent can be used for the removal of phenylalanine, and can also be applied in the process of obtaining a source of protein supplementation for patients with phenylketonuria. The functionalization of the adsorbent with sulfonic groups was adapted and presented advantages in terms of execution time, energy expenditure, number of reagents used and adsorbed amino acids. The produced adsorbent presented a surface area of 317.31 m2 g−1 with a predominance of micro- and mesopores, that influenced an approximate 30-fold reduction in adsorption equilibrium time. The optimization results indicated a higher adsorption capacity (39.64 mg g−1) in pH = 4; temperature of 25 °C and adsorbent dosage of 10 g L−1. The FTIR analyzes and the qualitative analysis of the elements present in the samples by EDS confirmed the introduction of sulfonic groups in the MPS500 coal. This work contributed to the understanding behind the adsorption of L-phenylalanine on charcoal surfaces functionalized with sulfonic groups, showing that they can be more selective for the adsorption of phenylalanine in a competitive system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are natural antioxidants and play a vital role in inhibiting oxidative stress induced by the body's free radicals. Banana peels are a significant agro-industrial waste. This waste could be utilized to extract polyphenols to process various functional foods and nutraceuticals. An investigation was executed to extract polyphenols from banana peel using the sonication and maceration techniques. Three different polar solvents, methanol, ethanol and acetone, were used at four different concentrations: 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Yield (%), Total Polyphenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) Radical Scavenging assays were performed. The results from the current study articulate that extraction by sonication yields a higher quantity of polyphenols than the maceration technique. The study also concludes that ethanol leads to better extraction than other solvents used in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-urban farm businesses utilise agro-food waste emanating from own production and other levels of food supply chain activities to supplement conventional inputs. Out of these, the food produce surplus from agro-producer households is offloaded to the urban market. As such, the aim of the study was to assess the determinants of agro-food waste commercial utilisation behaviour among urban agro-producer households. An electronically-designed research tool was administered to 456 agro-producer households to collect self-reported estimates of their agro-food waste utilisation behaviour. Results indicated higher budget share towards conventional inputs (0.73) compared to agro-food waste (0.27) but the observed suboptimal production intensification could be rectified with increased use of agro-food waste. Structural equation modelling results indicated that attitude, environmental awareness and concern, motivation and perceived moral obligation had positive significant influence on commercial utilisation intention. The adopted constructs for the model could explain 79.1% of the commercial utilisation behaviour variance. Furthermore, commercial utilisation intention, risk perceptions and perceived behavioural control had significant influence on the commercial utilisation behaviour. Findings are an indicator that agro-food waste commercial utilisation intentions among small-urban farm businesses would likely transition to commercial utilisation behaviour. Since behaviour can be learnt and developed, aspects that contribute to commercial utilisation intentions and behaviour would need to be stimulated. As a strategy of reducing the collectible waste, urban authorities may introduce tailor-made programs meant to stimulate commercial utilisation intention and behaviour in small-urban farm businesses. In valuation of agro-food waste, methodologies that could factor in utility would provide more precise insights in its commercial utilisation.

Introduction: Commercial plastics are potentially hazardous and can be carcinogenic due to the incorporation of chemical additives along with other additional components utilized as brominated flame retardants and phthalate plasticizers during production that excessively produce large numbers of gases, litter, and toxic components resulting in environmental pollution., Method: Biodegradable plastic derived from natural renewable resources is the novel, alternative, and innovative approach considered to be potentially safe as a substitute for traditional synthetic plastic as they decompose easily without causing any harm to the ecosystem and natural habitat. The utilization of undervalued compounds, such as by-products of fruits and vegetables in the production of biodegradable packaging films, is currently a matter of interest because of their accessibility, affordability, ample supply, nontoxicity, physiochemical and nutritional properties. Industrial food waste was processed under controlled conditions with appropriate plasticizers to extract polymeric materials. Biodegradability, solubility, and air test analysis were performed to examine the physical properties of polymers prior to the characterization of the biofilm by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for the determination of polymeric characteristics., Result: The loss of mass examined in each bioplastic film was in the range of 0.01g to 0.20g. The dimension of each bioplastic was recorded in the range of 4.6 mm to 28.7 mm. The existence of -OH, C=C, C=O stretching, and other crucial functional groups that aid in the creation of a solid polymeric material are confirmed by FTIR analysis. This study provides an alternative approach for sustainable and commercially value-added production of polymeric-based biomaterials from agro-industrial waste as they are rich in starch, cellulose, and pectin for the development of bio-plastics., Conclusion: The rationale of this project is to achieve a straightforward, economical, and durable method for the production of bio-plastics through effective utilization of industrial and commercial fruit waste, ultimately aiding in revenue generation., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

The present work proposes the use of an agro-industrial residue from the sunflower crop as a feedstock to produce a low-cost adsorbent with a chemically modified surface bearing sulfonic groups. This modified low-cost adsorbent can be used for the removal of phenylalanine, and can also be applied in the process of obtaining a source of protein supplementation for patients with phenylketonuria. The functionalization of the adsorbent with sulfonic groups was adapted and presented advantages in terms of execution time, energy expenditure, number of reagents used and adsorbed amino acids. The produced adsorbent presented a surface area of 317.31 m2 g−1 with a predominance of micro- and mesopores, that influenced an approximate 30-fold reduction in adsorption equilibrium time. The optimization results indicated a higher adsorption capacity (39.64 mg g−1) in pH = 4; temperature of 25 °C and adsorbent dosage of 10 g L−1. The FTIR analyzes and the qualitative analysis of the elements present in the samples by EDS confirmed the introduction of sulfonic groups in the MPS500 coal. This work contributed to the understanding behind the adsorption of L-phenylalanine on charcoal surfaces functionalized with sulfonic groups, showing that they can be more selective for the adsorption of phenylalanine in a competitive system.

Samarium doped calcium silicates (C a 2 − x S i O 4 : x S m 3 + , (x(%) = 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00) are synthesized using cost effective natural resources such as rice husk ash and egg shell powder through solid-state reaction method. The structural, optical, and photoluminescent properties of the as-prepared samples are reported. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement results confirm that monoclinic- C a 2 S i O 4 phase is stabilized at room temperature in agro-food waste derived phosphors. Differential thermal analysis data provides information about the phase transformations. Scanning electron microscope images show that the synthesized samples have spherical morphology. C a 2 S i O 4 related vibrational bands appear in the Fourier transform infrared spectrum. Optical band gap of these phosphors is found to lie in the range 3.56–3.67 eV. Agro-food wastes inherently contain titanium in trace amounts thus, the photoluminescence emission spectrum consists of bands linked to both samarium and titanium ions. Presence of titanium makes these phosphors inherently luminescent. CIE co-ordinates of these phosphors lie in the bluish-green region. These results suggest that agro-food wastes have excellent potential of being used as precursors for synthesizing visible light emitting phosphors. Moreover, present study paves the way for effectively utilizing agro-food wastes for synthesizing environment friendly and cost-effective phosphors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are natural antioxidants and play a vital role in inhibiting oxidative stress induced by the body’s free radicals. Banana peels are a significant agro-industrial waste. This waste could be utilized to extract polyphenols to process various functional foods and nutraceuticals. An investigation was executed to extract polyphenols from banana peel using the sonication and maceration techniques. Three different polar solvents, methanol, ethanol and acetone, were used at four different concentrations: 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. Yield (%), Total Polyphenolic Content (TPC), Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) Radical Scavenging assays were performed. The results from the current study articulate that extraction by sonication yields a higher quantity of polyphenols than the maceration technique. The study also concludes that ethanol leads to better extraction than other solvents used in this study.

The main objective of integrative biorefinery platforms is to propose efficient green methodologies addressed to obtain high-value compounds with low emissions through biochemical conversions. This work first screened the capacity of various oleaginous yeast to cosynthesize high-value biomolecules such as lipids and carotenoids. Selected strains were evaluated for their ability to coproduce such biocompounds in the waste-based media of agro-food (brewer’s spent grain, pasta processing waste and bakery waste). Carbon and nitrogen source feedstock was obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis of the agro-food waste, where up to 80% of total sugar/starch conversion was obtained. Then, the profitability of the bioprocess for microbial oil (MO) and carotenoids production by Sporobolomyces roseus CFGU-S005 was estimated via simulation using SuperPro Designer®. Results showed the benefits of establishing optimum equipment scheduling by identifying bottlenecks to increase profitability. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated the impact of MO price and batch throughput on process economics. A profitable process was achieved with a MO batch throughput of 3.7 kg/batch (ROI 31%, payback time 3.13 years). The results revealed areas that require further improvement to achieve a sustainable and competitive process for the microbial production of carotenoids and lipids.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) under different time-temperature conditions on the content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Syrah grape skin residue. The application of UAE showed a positive effect on the extraction of total flavonoids, and a negative effect on total polyphenols. The temperature of 40 °C and 60 °C without the UAE caused an increase of 260% and 287% of the total polyphenols, respectively. Nineteen individually bioactive compounds were quantified. The anthocyanin concentration (malvidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside 118.8–324.5 mg/100 g) showed high variation, to a lesser extent for phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols, procyanidins and stilbenes due to the UAE process. The Syrah grape skin residue has a high concentration of total phenolic compounds of 196–733.7 mg·GAE/100 g and a total flavonoid content of 9.8–40.0 mg·QE/100 g. The results of free radical scavenging activity (16.0–48.7 mg/100 mL, as EC50) and its inhibition of microbial growth (0.16 mg/mL, as EC50 for S. aureus, and 0.04 mg/mL, as EC50 for E. coli) by grape skin extract (UAE 40:20) indicate high antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It was concluded that the use of ultrasound needs further analysis for its application in this context, as it has shown deleterious effects on some compounds of interest. Syrah grape skin residue has potential as a source of bioactive antioxidants, antimicrobial activity and for use as a functional food ingredient.

Agro-food waste is a rich source of biopolymers such as cellulose, chitin, and starch, which have been shown to possess excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low toxicity. These properties make biopolymers from agro-food waste for its application in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Thus, this review highlighted the properties, processing methods, and applications of biopolymers derived from various agro-food waste sources. We also highlight recent advances in the development of biopolymers from agro-food waste and their potential for future tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, including drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, biodegradable packaging, excipients, dental applications, diagnostic tools, and medical implants. Additionally, it explores the challenges, prospects, and future directions in this rapidly evolving field. The review showed the evolution of production techniques for transforming agro-food waste into valuable biopolymers. However, these biopolymers serving as the cornerstone in scaffold development and drug delivery systems. With their role in wound dressings, cell encapsulation, and regenerative therapies, biopolymers promote efficient wound healing, cell transplantation, and diverse regenerative treatments. Biopolymers support various regenerative treatments, including cartilage and bone regeneration, nerve repair, and organ transplantation. Overall, this review concluded the potential of biopolymers from agro-food waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, offering innovative solutions for medical treatments and promoting the advancement of these fields. [Display omitted] • Agro-food waste is a sustainable and cost-effective source for biopolymers. • Agro-food waste-based biopolymers were widely used in tissue engineering and regenerative medicines. • Biopolymers from agro-food waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Extra virgin olive-oil (EVO) production is an important economic activity for several countries, especially in the Mediterranean area such as Spain, Italy, Greece and Tunisia. The two major by-products from olive oil production, solid-liquid Olive Pomace (OP) and the Olive Mill Waste Waters (OMWW), are still mainly disposed on soil, in spite of the existence of legislation which already limits this practice. The present study compares the environmental impacts associated with two different scenarios for the management of waste from olive oil production through a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The two alternative scenarios are: (I) Anaerobic Digestion and (II) Disposal on soil. The analysis was performed through SimaPro software and the assessment of the impact categories was based on International Life Cycle Data and Cumulative Energy Demand methods. Both the scenarios are mostly related to the cultivation and harvesting phase and are highly dependent on the irrigation practice and related energy demand. Results from the present study clearly show that the waste disposal on soil causes the worst environmental performance of all the impact categories considered here. Important environmental benefits have been identified when anaerobic digestion is chosen as the final treatment. It was consequently demonstrated that anaerobic digestion should be a feasible alternative for olive mills, to produce biogas from common olive oil residues, reducing the environmental burden and adding value to the olive oil production chain. Highlights • The management of wastes from olive oil production was assessed by means LCA. • The two alternative scenarios are: (I) Anaerobic Digestion (II) Disposal on soil. • Scenario I produce biogas and its energy content is recovered. • Results reveal Scenario I reduces all the environmental impact categories assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of biogas from anaerobic digestion (AD) of residual agro-food biomasses represents an opportunity for alternative production of energy from renewable sources, according to the European Union legislation on renewable energy. This review provides an overview of the various aspects involved in this process with a focus on the best process conditions to be used for AD-based biogas production from residual agro-food biomasses. After a schematic description of the AD phases, the biogas plants with advanced technologies were described, pointing out the strengths and the weaknesses of the different digester technologies and indicating the main parameters and operating conditions to be monitored. Subsequently, a brief analysis of the factors affecting methane yield from manure AD was conducted and the AD of fruit and vegetables waste was examined. Particular attention was given to studies on co-digestion and pre-treatments as strategies to improve biogas yield. Finally, the selection of specific microorganisms and the genetic manipulation of anaerobic bacteria to speed up the AD process was illustrated. The open challenges concern the achievement of the highest renewable energy yields reusing agro-food waste with the lowest environmental impact and an increment of competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the perspective of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the drying process using the conventional oven and freeze-drying on the thermogravimetric profile, proximate composition, color parameters, individual bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity in the grape residue (skin) were evaluated. Twenty individual phenolic compounds were identified, where a variation in concentration was observed for flavonols, stilbenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, procyanidins, and particularly anthocyanins (malvidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside of 253.2–536.9 mg/kg) due to the drying process. Drying in a conventional oven caused a decrease of 23% of the total polyphenols. The skin of the BRS magna grape has a high concentration of total phenolic content of 489.5–148.3 mg.GAE/100 g, total anthocyanin content of 124.9–260.1 mg.CE/100 g, and total flavonoid content of 12.7–26.0 mg.QE/100 g. The results of free radical scavenging activity (1.26–4.91 μg/mL, as EC50) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (82.93–184.10 μmol/g of skin as equivalent to Fe2SO4) indicate high antioxidant activity, independently of the drying process applied. It was concluded that, if the application is directed to anthocyanin compounds, the use of lyophilization is recommended. On the other hand, if the interest is in bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant activity, conventional oven-drying can be used.

Air- and formulated lime mortars with pulverized brick waste were synthesized with addition of two organic waste-based additives: spent cooking oil and albumen. The addition of spent oil in the mortar induced significant hydrophobic effects, but decreased permeability values and setting kinetics. Parallel additions of oil and albumen in lime mortars significantly increased their hydrophobicity and superficial durability without retarding their setting time thanks to role of fatty acids and unfolded proteins under alkaline conditions. The parallel valorization showed high potentials in synthesis of restorative mortars design with low environmental impact and high respect to the feature of historic mortars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green composites made of polylactide (PLA) filled with almond shell flour (ASF), at a constant weight content of 25 wt.-%, were manufactured by injection molding. In order to increase the interfacial adhesion between the biopolymer and the lignocellulosic fillers, three different compatibilizers were tested, namely multi-functional epoxy-based styrene-acrylic oligomer (ESAO), aromatic carbodiimide (AC), and maleinized linseed oil (MLO). The effect of each compatibilizer on the thermal, mechanical, and thermomechanical properties and water uptake of the injection-molded PLA/ASF pieces was analyzed. The obtained results indicated that all the here-studied compatibilizers had a positive influence on both the thermal stability and the mechanical and thermomechanical performance of the green composite pieces but a low impact on their water uptake profile. In addition, the morphological analysis performed at the fracture surfaces of the green composite pieces revealed that the filler–matrix gap was substantially reduced. Among the tested compatibilizers, ESAO and MLO yielded the highest performance in terms of mechanical strength and ductility, respectively. In the case of MLO, it also offers the advantage of being a plant-derived additive so that its application in green composites positively contributes to the development of sustainable polymer technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of biogas from anaerobic digestion (AD) of residual agro-food biomasses represents an opportunity for alternative production of energy from renewable sources, according to the European Union legislation on renewable energy. This review provides an overview of the various aspects involved in this process with a focus on the best process conditions to be used for AD-based biogas production from residual agro-food biomasses. After a schematic description of the AD phases, the biogas plants with advanced technologies were described, pointing out the strengths and the weaknesses of the different digester technologies and indicating the main parameters and operating conditions to be monitored. Subsequently, a brief analysis of the factors affecting methane yield from manure AD was conducted and the AD of fruit and vegetables waste was examined. Particular attention was given to studies on co-digestion and pre-treatments as strategies to improve biogas yield. Finally, the selection of specific microorganisms and the genetic manipulation of anaerobic bacteria to speed up the AD process was illustrated. The open challenges concern the achievement of the highest renewable energy yields reusing agro-food waste with the lowest environmental impact and an increment of competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the perspective of a circular economy.

The purpose of the research was to identify the bioactive compounds and to evaluate the antioxidant, antimutagenic and antimicrobial activities of the major Romanian agro-industrial wastes (apple peels, carrot pulp, white- and red-grape peels and red-beet peels and pulp) for the purpose of increasing the wastes’ value. Each type of waste material was analyzed without (fresh) and with thermal processing (10 min, 80 °C). Based on the obtained results, the thermal process enhanced the total phenolic content. The highest antioxidant activity was exhibited by thermally processed red-grape waste followed by thermally processed red-beet waste. Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid in all analyzed samples, but its content decreased significantly during thermal processing. The carrot extracts have no antimicrobial effects, while the thermally processed red-grape waste has the highest antimicrobial effect against the studied strains. The thermally processed red-grape sample has the highest antimutagenic activity toward S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bio-char, the solid sub-product of pyrolysis process, has several applications in the cement and concrete green technology. In this research, the utilization of Bio-char such as nanoparticles has been analysed. Two types of pyrolyzed agro-food waste, coffee powder and hazelnut shells, have been investigated as carbon nano-aggregates, in different percentages of addition with respect to the weight of the cement. Results have demonstrated that small amount of both pyrolyzed materials improves the mechanical properties of cementitious composites, as they are capable of increasing not only the flexural and compressive strength, but also the fracture energy with a more tortuous crack path which increases the final fracture surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, the coffee supply chain produces tons of waste materials from the processing of the coffee bean. Coffee silverskin (CS) is the only waste product from the coffee bean roasting phases but as roasting is a key step in obtaining the coffee beverage, there are tons of CS collected and thrown away by coffee roasting industries. This study is based on the characterization of this integument, with a view to its use in nutritional, nutraceutical and industrial fields. From the results obtained, silverskin can be used in the food sector for its nutritional profile with a good amount of protein (18.9%) and total dietary fiber (34.7%) andits low-fat content (3.0%). Food safety was also determined by evaluating the low levels of contaminants such as ochratoxin A (OTA) and acrylamide (AA), with values < 0.1 mg/kg and <0.02 mg/kg respectively. Low concentrations of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) completed the safety-related overview in terms of CS contamination. For the nutraceutical aspect, an in-silico analysis of the peptide fraction was proper to evaluate the presence of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides, antioxidants and dipeptidyl peptidase (DPP) IV inhibitors with promising uses for the treatment of diabetes and its side effects. Finally, through morphological-structural characterization of CS, the main constituents such as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose were identified spectrally by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and solid-state CP/MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy. The CS thermostability was monitored by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and the tegument surface was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and volumetric nitrogen adsorption analysis. This information provides a broader view of the possible uses of CS as a filler for biocomposite materials. Therefore, from the perspective of recovering waste materials from food supply chains, coffee silverskin could be a good product to focus on. • Tons of coffee silverskin (CS) are produced each year by coffee roasting plants. • CS generates handling problems and disposal costs. • Physico-chemical characteristics make it suitable for its use in the food sector. • Its peptidic fraction might show inhibitory activities toward key enzymes. • CS could be suitable for applications as eco-friendly product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The aim of this study was to verify the influence of different extraction parameters (temperature and ultrasound time) of bioactive compounds from the skin of the Syrah variety of grape. Among the extracts obtained, those exposed to 20 min of sonication had the best results in terms of flavonoid content, antioxidant potential and phenolic profile. The temperature of 60 °C provided the most relevant results for the content of total phenolics, stilbenes, flavonols and phenolic acids, however, the association of this temperature with the use of ultrasound showed lower results as a source of antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactive compounds. In this study, we evaluated the effects of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) under different time-temperature conditions on the content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Syrah grape skin residue. The application of UAE showed a positive effect on the extraction of total flavonoids, and a negative effect on total polyphenols. The temperature of 40 °C and 60 °C without the UAE caused an increase of 260% and 287% of the total polyphenols, respectively. Nineteen individually bioactive compounds were quantified. The anthocyanin concentration (malvidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside 118.8–324.5 mg/100 g) showed high variation, to a lesser extent for phenolic acids, flavonoids, flavonols, procyanidins and stilbenes due to the UAE process. The Syrah grape skin residue has a high concentration of total phenolic compounds of 196–733.7 mg·GAE/100 g and a total flavonoid content of 9.8–40.0 mg·QE/100 g. The results of free radical scavenging activity (16.0–48.7 mg/100 mL, as EC50) and its inhibition of microbial growth (0.16 mg/mL, as EC50 for S. aureus, and 0.04 mg/mL, as EC50 for E. coli) by grape skin extract (UAE 40:20) indicate high antioxidant and antibacterial activity. It was concluded that the use of ultrasound needs further analysis for its application in this context, as it has shown deleterious effects on some compounds of interest. Syrah grape skin residue has potential as a source of bioactive antioxidants, antimicrobial activity and for use as a functional food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, cellulose nanostructures are among the most promising structures, and extensive work in materials and biotechnology industries is aimed at identifying an efficient process of production. Even when production at the laboratory scale is successful, crucial aspects of increased commercial applications for cellulose nanostructures are linked to large-scale production. Large-scale production requires a balance between the cost of the culture medium and product value. Therefore, in this work, for the optimization and scaling up of bacterial nanocellulose, a culture medium consisting of rotten banana unsuitable for human consumption was used for the first time as an inexpensive feedstock. Initially, the bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) culture medium conditions were optimized, and it was established that a glucose concentration of 26.4 g/L and a V/A ratio of 2.2 cm were the optimal conditions for production reaching a BNC yield of 5 g/L, which was 42.4% higher than the best result initially obtained. Finally, the scale-up process was performed, implementing a regime analysis methodology by comparing the characteristic times of the critical mechanisms involved in BNC production, namely, microbial growth, glucose consumption, BNC production, and glucose diffusion into the BNC membrane, as the first approach for this type of BNC production process. The mechanism underlying the BNC production process is glucose diffusion into the BNC membrane (characteristic time, 675.47 h). Thus, the V/A ratio was selected as the scale-up criterion most suitable for producing BNC under static culture conditions, allowing the production of 16 g of BNC after 12 d of fermentation in a plastic bioreactor, which was 3378% higher than that produced in glass vessels. The results obtained in this study may initiate further improvements in BNC commercial production by exploiting different feedstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the drying process using the conventional oven and freeze-drying on the thermogravimetric profile, proximate composition, color parameters, individual bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity in the grape residue (skin) were evaluated. Twenty individual phenolic compounds were identified, where a variation in concentration was observed for flavonols, stilbenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, procyanidins, and particularly anthocyanins (malvidin-3,5-di-O-glucoside of 253.2–536.9 mg/kg) due to the drying process. Drying in a conventional oven caused a decrease of 23% of the total polyphenols. The skin of the BRS magna grape has a high concentration of total phenolic content of 489.5–148.3 mg.GAE/100 g, total anthocyanin content of 124.9–260.1 mg.CE/100 g, and total flavonoid content of 12.7–26.0 mg.QE/100 g. The results of free radical scavenging activity (1.26–4.91 μg/mL, as EC50) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (82.93–184.10 μmol/g of skin as equivalent to Fe2SO4) indicate high antioxidant activity, independently of the drying process applied. It was concluded that, if the application is directed to anthocyanin compounds, the use of lyophilization is recommended. On the other hand, if the interest is in bioactive compounds that exert antioxidant activity, conventional oven-drying can be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]