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Separations
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Application of Sustainable Separation Techniques in Food Processing
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Application of Sustainable Separation Techniques in Food Processing

A special issue of Separations (ISSN 2297-8739). This special issue belongs to the section "Analysis of Food and Beverages".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 May 2025 | Viewed by 902

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Beatriz Cervejeira Bolanho Barros

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Tecnologia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
Interests: food science and technology; food analysis; antioxidants; by-products
Prof. Dr. Huafeng Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Engineering Laboratory for Resource Development of Endangered Crude Drugs in Northwest China, International Joint Research Center of Shaanxi Province for Food and Health Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China
Interests: plant secondary metabolites; edible medicinal plants; nutrition and food safety; biochemical engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Separation methods are usually applied in food processing. To achieve sustainable development goals, it is important to evaluate separation techniques that are more efficient, economically viable, and environmentally friendly. At the same time, evaluating process conditions that lead to better results is a growing concern in the food industry. It is relevant that the separation techniques contribute to developing healthier food products, or value-added by the bioactive compound’s addition. The evaluation of final products obtained by different processing techniques using chromatography, mass spectrometry, and other methods allows for achieving consistent results and defining their applicability.

Therefore, it is our pleasure to invite you to contribute your research article, communication, or review to this Special Issue dedicated to the application of separation techniques in food processing.

Dr. Beatriz Cervejeira Bolanho Barros
Prof. Dr. Huafeng Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Separations is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable process
  • extraction
  • distillation
  • centrifugation
  • filtration
  • decantation
  • bioactive compounds

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 680 KiB  
Article
Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds and Flavonoids from Banana Inflorescence and Characterization of Its Fibrous Residue
by Fábio Dias Bertoco Júnior, Érica Marusa Pergo Coelho, Mirian Cristina Feiten and Beatriz Cervejeira Bolanho Barros
Separations 2025, 12(5), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12050109 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 162
Abstract
The banana inflorescence (BI) is a rich source of antioxidants and dietary fiber, making it a valuable by-product of banana harvesting. This study aimed to maximize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of antioxidant compounds from BI and analyze the residue’s composition and functional properties. [...] Read more.
The banana inflorescence (BI) is a rich source of antioxidants and dietary fiber, making it a valuable by-product of banana harvesting. This study aimed to maximize the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of antioxidant compounds from BI and analyze the residue’s composition and functional properties. The Box–Behnken Design was applied to test different ultrasound powers, temperatures, and sample-to-solvent ratios on the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The UAE conducted at 350 W, 55 °C, 1:30 (g/mL) ratio for 30 min resulted in the highest TPC (1637.12 mg/100 g) and TFC (22.97 mg/100 g). Isovanillin, caffeine, naringin, sinapaldehyde, nicotinic acid, quinic acid, malic acid, and fumaric acids were reported for the first time for BI. The extract obtained by UAE showed a higher content of these compounds and higher antioxidant activity than that obtained through conventional extraction (orbital shaking). The residue obtained after UAE presented dietary fiber as the main component (71.91 g/100 g) and a higher oil absorption index (5.78 g/g) than untreated BI. Therefore, BI is a source of bioactive compounds, and both the extract and residue can be used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries, enabling the productive sector to move closer to the circular economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Sustainable Separation Techniques in Food Processing)
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14 pages, 1759 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Precipitation of Struvite from Wastewater: A Sustainable Approach for Nitrogen Recovery
by Rúbia Mores, Anildo Cunha Junior, Fabiane Goldschmidt Antes, Marco Di Luccio, Carolina E. Demaman Oro, Marcus V. Tres, Clarice Steffens, Juliana Steffens, Airton Kunz and Rogério Marcos Dallago
Separations 2025, 12(5), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12050108 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 144
Abstract
This study evaluates the feasibility of nitrogen recovery from wastewater via electrochemical methods as an alternative nutrient source for agricultural applications. Ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43−-P) contamination poses significant environmental risks and challenges water resource management [...] Read more.
This study evaluates the feasibility of nitrogen recovery from wastewater via electrochemical methods as an alternative nutrient source for agricultural applications. Ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) and phosphate (PO43−-P) contamination poses significant environmental risks and challenges water resource management globally. The electrochemical precipitation of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O) offers a promising solution for nutrient recovery, with potential applications as a slow-release fertilizer. Experimental results demonstrate that increased current density (from 2.5 to 7.5 mA/cm2) and reduced electrode distance (1 cm) significantly enhance NH4+ and PO43− consumption and struvite precipitation. Increasing the amperage from 2.5 to 7.5 mA·cm−2 at a 1 cm electrode distance raised the ammoniacal nitrogen incorporation from 1.59 to 5.34 g/100 g, signifying greater struvite production. The Mg and P concentrations were 15.44 and 12.60 g/100 g, respectively, for this higher amperage, although lower than the concentrations seen with 2.5 mA·cm−2 (22.16 and 14.52 g/100 g). The majority of Mg (60%) and P (93.6%) were, however, incorporated within struvite. Additionally, this study reveals that Mg is primarily incorporated as struvite when using higher current densities, while lower current densities yield greater Mg incorporation in non-struvite forms, such as magnesium carbonate. Findings suggest that optimizing current density and electrode distance can improve nitrogen and phosphorus recovery efficiencies, making electrochemical struvite production a viable, sustainable approach for nutrient recycling. This method not only reduces dependence on synthetic fertilizers but also supports sustainable agricultural practices by transforming wastewater contaminants into valuable resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Sustainable Separation Techniques in Food Processing)
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11 pages, 1947 KiB  
Article
Exploring Chicken Feathers as a Cost-Effective Adsorbent for Aqueous Dye Removal
by Marcela Caovilla, Carolina E. Demaman Oro, Rúbia Mores, Luciana D. Venquiaruto, Marcelo L. Mignoni, Marco Di Luccio, Helen Treichel, Rogério Marcos Dallago and Marcus V. Tres
Separations 2025, 12(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/separations12020039 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 542
Abstract
This study explored the use of chicken feathers, a low-cost and abundant agricultural byproduct, as a sorbent for the removal of reactive yellow dye from aqueous solutions. The dual potential of feathers as both adsorbents and sorbents, attributed to their keratin-rich structure, was [...] Read more.
This study explored the use of chicken feathers, a low-cost and abundant agricultural byproduct, as a sorbent for the removal of reactive yellow dye from aqueous solutions. The dual potential of feathers as both adsorbents and sorbents, attributed to their keratin-rich structure, was utilized to investigate their effectiveness in dye removal. Feathers, activated with 1.0 mol/L HCl, exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity at 70 °C and pH 5.5, as determined from Langmuir isotherm modeling. A 22 central composite rotatable design revealed that temperature and pH significantly influence the adsorption efficiency, with higher temperatures favoring the process. Kinetic studies demonstrated pseudo-first-order behavior, with rapid initial adsorption reaching equilibrium within 120 min. Thermodynamic analysis confirmed the endothermic nature of the process (ΔH° = 28.04 kJ mol−1), a positive entropy change (ΔS° = 66.62 J/mol·K), and a reduction in Gibbs free energy (ΔG°) with increasing temperature, suggesting enhanced feasibility at elevated temperatures. This research highlights the potential of utilizing poultry industry residues as sustainable and efficient sorbents for environmental remediation, contributing to waste valorization and eco-friendly wastewater treatment solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Sustainable Separation Techniques in Food Processing)
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