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Mycotoxins are a large and chemically diverse group of toxic secondary metabolites. Regarding their prevalence in animal feed and the effect on animal health, the biggest problems in terms of safety and economic losses are caused by aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes and zearalenone. Adsorbents are substances that are added to food contaminated with mycotoxins, in order to bind them in the gastrointestinal tract and thereby prevent or reduce their effect. The aim of this study was to examine the possibility of using pyrophyllite as a mineral adsorbent, as well as preparations made of ground peach pits of different particle sizes as organic adsorbents, for adsorption of deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A. Mycotoxin adsorption experiments were performed in vitro in electrolyte solutions at pH 3 and 7. The adsorption efficiency of the adsorbent was expressed as adsorption index. Pyrophyllite had adsorption index ​​of 13.47% for ochratoxin A at pH 3, while at pH 7, as well as for deoxynivalenol, the same mycotoxin produced a negligible degree of adsorption. Ground peach stones (of larger diameter, d = 0.1 mm) had considerable adsorption rates for ochratoxin A at pH 3 (34.41%) and deoxynivalenol at pH 7 (18.57%). The values were similar for smaller diameter (d < 0.1 mm) for ochratoxin A at pH 3 (42.71%) and deoxynivalenol at pH 7 (20.11%). The obtained results suggest that the potential of the preparation of ground peach stones for the adsorption of tested mycotoxins is higher compared to the potential of pyrophyllite, but there are differences in their efficiency depending on the pH value of the adsorption environment.

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Peach stones, a valuable agro-industrial by-product available in many countries worldwide, comprise a renewable resource, which can be widely applied for multifunctional purposes. Its important advantages such as high-energy value, low ash content, low price and wide abundance, make peach stones an ideal fuel for energy production, but also for new materials synthesis. Although peach stones exhibit adequate combustion properties, allowing their direct use with minimal physical/chemical treatment, they often need further modification in order to improve their thermal properties, where slow pyrolysis is frequently used. This study aims to provide a practical and effective solution to the revalorization of waste biomass originating from the fruit processing industry, through slow pyrolysis in order to convert this waste into carbonaceous material-biochar. The thermo-chemical conversion of raw biomass resulted in a stable material with excellent fuel properties, with higher mass energy density and grinding ability, providing biochar with properties, in energy sense, similar or even better than a coal. Biochar has a higher fixed carbon content and a higher energy potential than biomass itself, and its application as a biofuel might reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, as it reduces the amount of waste landed and increases the share of energy generated from renewable sources.

This study describes the preparation of nanoporous activated carbons from the agricultural waste of peach stones. These materials were utilized as adsorbents for removing imidacloprid pesticide from aqueous media. Two types of activated carbons (PSAC 300 and PSAC 500) were synthesized via chemical activation with orthophosphoric acid followed by pyrolysis at 300 and 500 °C, respectively. Brunauer, Emmet, and Teller (BET) analysis revealed a mesoporous structure for PSAC 500 with lower surface area and pore volume than that of the microporous PSAC 300. Both PSAC 300 and PSAC 500 successfully removed imidacloprid with removal efficiencies of about 80% and 99%, respectively, at 10 mg/L of imidacloprid and pH 5.2, while PSAC 500 exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 39.37 mg/g. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy measurements along with thermodynamic calculations inferred that physisorption occurred via hydrogen bonding and pi–pi stacking. The two activated carbons were successfully regenerated and reused for three consecutive cycles. This work has implications for waste valorization and production of value-added products from waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture residue (peach stones) was valorized to produce low-cost activated carbon. Granular peach stones were activated by H3PO4 after heating treatment. The peach stones activated carbon (PSAC) was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and nitrogen adsorption (BET).The simply prepared carbon was high-quality adsorbent with well-developed surface area and essentially microporous structure. PSAC was applied for Cr(VI) removal in batch system from aqueous solution. Cr(VI) removal was found 99.58% at pH 5.6. Investigations carried out proved that PSAC is an efficient and economic adsorbent for the treatment of toxic hexavalent chromium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, nanoporous activated carbons from Peach Stone powder was achieved using phosphoric acid as an activating agent and carbonization has been conducted at temperatures ranging from 400°C to 700°C using Nitrogen as inert gas in a tubular furnace, to understand the effect of the adsorption capacity with variation in temperature. Evaluation of microporosity of each of these specimens was performed by Iodine Number technique, of which the results showed a maximum amount of micropores in the carbon at the carbonization temperature of 500°C. The morphology of the carbon samples at two extreme temperatures of 400o C and 700°C was studied using FE-SEM images, which demonstrated large amount of nanoporous in the carbon surfaces at the higher temperature. Raman Spectroscopy outcomes delineate the similar amorphous nature of the carbonaceous specimen at these temperatures with both G band and D band. These results indicate a potential to develop a good adsorbent material applicable for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes in vitro model for the evaluation of ability of peach shell (unmodified and modified), prepared at the Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, Belgrade, to adsorb different mycotoxins. Peach stones were obtained from “Vino Župa” Company from Aleksandrovac, where they have been disposed of as by-products from their Juice Factory. After proper preparation, two sorts of peach shell particles were used: one as unmodified peach shell particles (PS) and another one obtained by acid modification, denoted as MPS. Adsorption of six mycotoxins: aflatoxin B1 (AFL), ochratoxin A (OTA), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZON), diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and T-2 toxin by PS and MPS was tested in vitro. Crude extracts of mycotoxins, produced at the Department of Microbiology of Bio-ecological Center, Zrenjanin, were used for adsorption experiments. The ability of binding mycotoxins was evaluated in the electrolyte 0.1 M K2HPO4, which pH value was adjusted to 3.0 and 7.0, respectively. Mass ratio of individual mycotoxin and peach shell samples was 1:5000. The experimental mixtures were incubated for 1 hour on a rotary shaker (185 rpm) at room temperature (22-25ºC). After incubation, the extractions of non-adsorbed mycotoxins from the filtrates were performed with organic solvents, and their quantification was done by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31003: Development of technologies and products based on mineral raw materials and waste biomass for protection of natural resources for safe food production i br. TR 31023: Reduction of toxigenic Fusarium species and their mycotoxins in production of safe cereal-based foods]

Abstract: This study evaluates the combustion and emission characteristics of a domestic boiler fired with pellets of pine, industrial wood wastes and peach stones. Initially, the boiler performance, firing pine pellets, was evaluated as a function of the thermal input. Subsequently, the influence of the pellets type on boiler performance was also examined. The results reveal that the type of pellets affects significantly the boiler emissions characteristics, with the pine pellets performing significantly better than the pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones. The boiler thermal efficiency is not negatively affected when fired with the pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones. Typical operating conditions of the boiler are not suitable for the use of wood wastes and peach stones pellets as CO and HC emissions are superior. The pellets of industrial wood wastes and peach stones have, however, an attractive potential for use in domestic boilers, through the optimization of the boiler operating conditions, being this a sustainable means of energetic valorisation of residues with no specific use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A good characterization of the pore size distribution of activated carbons is of crucial importance for gas separation and gas storage applications of microporous materials. It has been recently shown that characterization methods of activated carbons can be improved by considering the porous space as represented by a mixture of pores of different geometries, slit and triangular geometry. The triangular geometry was included as a necessity of considering the simultaneous interaction of an adsorbed molecule with three graphite walls to account for high observed values of the isosteric heat of adsorption at low pressures. Places where such interaction with three graphitic walls occurs can be clearly seen in some high resolution digitalized TEM images of activated carbons published in the literature. Many lignocellulosic substances have been used in the literature as the precursor material in the preparation of activated carbons. In the present work we use peach stones, which are very abundant in the region of Cuyo (Argentina), as well as in any other regions in the world where peaches are extensively cultivated, processed and canned. Different samples of activated carbons from this precursor are obtained through different processing methods. N2 adsorption isotherms at 77K are measured for these samples and fitted by using the mixed geometry model, obtaining the corresponding PSDs. Finally these characterization results are correlated to the preparation procedures for the different samples. The analysis of results reveals that the mixed geometry model provides a more consistent picture of the sample characteristics than the pure slit geometry model, reinforcing the conclusions of previous studies. The same analysis allows to determine clearly some general trends relating the preparation method with the morphological and adsorptive characteristics of the AC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main sources of peach rootstocks in Romania are from wild types. The major problem with this type of rootstock is its very high genetic variability and its non-uniformity of growth in the nursery and orchard. In Romania, there are zones within the increasing area of vine production where it is possible to find native and cultivated flora populations of common peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch). These constitute a prime selection source, especiafly those situated on difficult soils like clays or soils rich in limestone. From these populations peach genotypes have been selected with late maturation, small fruits, and abundant and consistent production, which were considered, suited for rootstock use. Following a process of clonal selection and studies performed on the preliminary selections (7 genotypes), two genotypes were considered very good for rootstock use (PG3 and PG1). The genotype PG3 has small fruits (46 fruits/kg) and small stones (402 stones/kg) and, similarly the genotype PG1 also has small fruits (48 fruits/kg) and small stones (426 stones/kg). In the nursery the two genotypes exhibit very good germination, giving uniform seedlings of limited vigour. They are also easy to root and graft and show good compatibility with various peach and nectarine cultivars, with no external deformations. They give good yields of standard trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Activated carbons were derived from peach stone shells by H3PO4-scheme under standard conditions: 50% H3PO4 and pyrolysis for 2h at 500°C. Five carbons were prepared by changing the gas atmosphere during thermal treatment (no external gas, flowing of either nitrogen, carbon dioxide, steam or air). Additional carbon was obtained by extra-heat treatment at 800°C of the standard carbon, for 2h. Characterization was performed by adsorption of N2 at 77K, and testing of capacity was carried out towards p-nitrophenol, methylene blue and lead ions from aqueous solution. All carbons were high quality adsorbents with high surface area and essentially microporous structure with low degree of mesoporosity. Running external gases reduces mostly the carbon porosity, except air and steam which generate higher mesoporosity on expense of microporosity. High uptake of p-nitrophenol appears, affected to low extent with gaseous atmosphere except steam which raises adsorption considerably. Flowing air is the most effective in enhancing the adsorption of methylene blue, which was attributed to the formation of O-functionalities with acidic nature, and to enhancement of wider microporosity. Removal of lead ions from aqueous, non-buffered, solutions was considerable in comparison to previous studies, and attributed to the acidic nature of carbons in addition to the presence of inorganic and organic phosphate compounds. Lead ions removal was considerably enhanced by running air during thermal treatment (two-fold increase) due to the formation of acidic oxygen-functionalities associated with metal exchange by the negatively charged carbon surface. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Peach stones comprise a valuable agroindustrial by-product that is available in many countries of the World and especially in the Mediterranean region. A number of important advantages such as its high energy value, the low ash content in combination with the absence of transportation costs due to the fact that is produced in agro-industries, make peach stones an ideal fuel for energy production via gasification. Gasification tests were performed in a lab-scale fluidized bed gasifier in order to study the behavior of peach stones and especially its ash during the gasification process. Apart from the tests with the initial peach stone samples, gasification tests were performed using peach stones that had been pre-treated using two different methods fractionation and leaching. Pre-treatments used in order to study their effect on the beneficiation of the materials ash and on the avoidance of ash-related problems such as deposition, agglomeration and corrosion during the gasification process. A water-cooled steel tube placed vertical to the flow of the gasification gases was used in order to collect samples of ash deposits that were analyzed using SEM-EDX analysis techniques in order to assess the effect of the pre-treatment techniques on the peach stones ash behavior. The produced results showed that peach stones can be used as gasification feedstock without significant ash problems. Fractionation resulted in a deterioration of the ash behavior of the material, increasing the amounts of alkali metals and chlorine included in its ash, while leaching showed a positive effect but to a moderate extent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]