Search Results (4,202)

Seeds of Cucurbitaceae crops represent a promising yet underexplored source of bioactive compounds with potential applications beyond nutrition, particularly in the cosmetics industry. This review examines the seeds of Citrullus lanatus (watermelon), Cucumis melo (melon), and Cucurbita pepo (pumpkin), focusing on their biochemical composition and evaluating their functional value in natural cosmetic development. Although these fruits are widely consumed, industrial processing generates substantial seed by-products that are often discarded. These seeds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, and phytochemicals, positioning them as sustainable raw materials for value-added applications. The incorporation of seed-derived extracts into cosmetic formulations offers multiple skin and hair benefits, including antioxidant activity, hydration, and support in managing conditions such as hyperpigmentation, acne, and psoriasis. They also contribute to hair care by improving oil balance, reducing frizz, and enhancing strand nourishment. However, challenges such as environmental instability and low dermal permeability of seed oils have prompted interest in nanoencapsulation technologies to improve delivery, stability, and efficacy. This review summarizes current scientific findings and highlights the potential of Cucurbitaceae seeds as innovative and sustainable ingredients for cosmetic and personal care applications. Full article

The solubility of CO₂ in brine systems is critical for both carbon storage and enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. In this study, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) with eight different kernels was optimized using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO) algorithm to model this important phase behavior. Among the tested kernels, the ARD Matern 3/2 and ARD Matern 5/2 kernels achieved the highest predictive accuracies, with R² values of 0.9961 and 0.9960, respectively, on the test data. This demonstrates superior performance in capturing CO₂ solubility trends. The GWO algorithm effectively tuned the hyperparameters for all kernel configurations, while the ARD capability successfully quantified the influence of key physicochemical parameters on CO₂ solubility. The outstanding performance of the ARD Matern 3/2 and ARD Matern 5/2 kernels suggests their particular suitability for modeling complex thermodynamic behaviors in brine systems. Furthermore, this study integrates fundamental thermodynamic principles into the modeling framework, ensuring all predictions adhere to physical laws while maintaining excellent accuracy (test R² > 0.98). These results highlight how machine learning can improve CO₂ injection processes, both for underground carbon storage and enhanced oil production. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of ultrasonic pulse-assisted extraction on the yield and antioxidant activity of essential oils from grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) by-products using hydrodistillation and Soxhlet solvent extraction (hexane, acetone, ethanol). Ultrasound was applied at 40% amplitude for 20 min before extraction. Results showed that ultrasound significantly increased extraction yield with hexane (from 2.6 ± 0.58% to 7.6 ± 1.5%) and acetone (from 8.6 ± 0.96% to 12 ± 1.4%), while ultrasound-assisted hydrodistillation nearly doubled the yield (from 0.7 ± 0.03% to 1.5 ± 0.49%). In contrast, ultrasound decreased yield with ethanol by 3%. Antioxidant activity measured by TEAC assay was highest in acetone extracts without ultrasound (13,366.5 ± 7.66 mmol TE/g) and ethanol extracts (12,606.8 ± 0.51 mmol TE/g). However, ultrasound combined with ethanol increased DPPH scavenging activity from 1073.5 ± 1.07 µg/mL to 4933.3 ± 0.71 µg/mL and maintained high flavonoid content (9.41 ± 0.15 mg/mL) and phenolics (5.33 ± 0.09 mg/mL). Ultrasound-assisted hydrodistillation also enhanced antioxidant capacity, with DPPH values rising from 51.82 ± 5.56 µg/mL to 2413.03 ± 3.17 µg/mL. These findings demonstrate that ultrasound effectively enhances essential oil extraction and antioxidant activity depending on the solvent used, underscoring the potential of this clean technology for valorizing citrus by-products. Full article

The rising demand for energy resources and industrial goods presents significant challenges to sustainable development. Sunflower oil, commonly utilized in the food sector, biofuels, and various industrial applications, is notably affected by this demand. In Bulgaria, it serves as a primary source of vegetable fats, ranking second to butter in daily consumption. The aim of this study is to evaluate and propose methods to improve energy and resource efficiency in sunflower oil production in Bulgaria. The analysis is based on data from an energy audit conducted in 2023 at an industrial sunflower oil production facility. Reconstruction and modernization initiatives, which included the installation of high-performance, energy-efficient equipment, led to a 34% increase in energy efficiency. The findings highlight the importance of adjusting the technological parameters such as temperature, pressure, grinding level, and pressing time to reduce energy use and operational costs. Additionally, resource efficiency is improved through more effective raw material utilization and waste reduction. These strategies not only enhance the economic and environmental performance of sunflower oil production but also support sustainable development and competitiveness within the industry. The improvement reduces hexane use by approximately 2%, resulting in energy savings of 12–15 kWh/t of processed seeds and a reduction in CO₂ emissions by 3–4 kg/t, thereby improving the environmental profile of sunflower oil production. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate solid-state fermentation (SSF) as a sustainable approach for the simultaneous detoxification of olive pomace (OP) and the production of industrially relevant enzymes. OP, a semisolid byproduct of olive oil extraction, is rich in lignocellulose and phenolic compounds, which limit its direct reuse due to phytotoxicity. A native strain of Aspergillus sp., isolated from OP, was employed as the biological agent, while grape pomace (GP) was added as a co-substrate to enhance substrate structure. Fermentations were conducted at two scales, Petri dishes (20 g) and a fixed-bed bioreactor (FBR, 2 kg), under controlled conditions (25 °C, 7 days). Key parameters monitored included dry and wet weight loss, pH, color, phenolic content, and enzymatic activity. Significant reductions in color and polyphenol content were achieved, reaching 68% in Petri dishes and 88.1% in the FBR, respectively. In the FBR, simultaneous monitoring of dry and wet weight loss enabled the estimation of fungal biotransformation, revealing a hysteresis phenomenon not previously reported in SSF studies. Enzymes such as xylanase, endopolygalacturonase, cellulase, and tannase exhibited peak activities between 150 and 180 h, with maximum values of 424.6 U·g⁻¹, 153.6 U·g⁻¹, 67.43 U·g⁻¹, and 6.72 U·g⁻¹, respectively. The experimental data for weight loss, enzyme production, and phenolic reduction were accurately described by logistic and first-order models. These findings demonstrate the high metabolic efficiency of the fungal isolate under SSF conditions and support the feasibility of scaling up this process. The proposed strategy offers a low-cost and sustainable solution for OP valorization, aligning with circular economy principles by transforming agro-industrial residues into valuable bioproducts. Full article

Low-commercial-value natural pistachios (broken, closed, or immature) can be revalorised through oil extraction, obtaining a high-quality oil and partially defatted flour as by-product. This study evaluated the techno-functional and nutritional properties of the flours obtained by hydraulic press (HP) and single-screw press (SSP) systems, combined with pretreatment at 25 °C and 60 °C. The extraction method significantly influenced flour’s characteristics, underscoring the need to tailor processing conditions to the specific technological requirements of each food application. HP-derived flours presented lighter colour, greater tocopherol content, and higher water absorption capacity (up to 2.75 g/g), suggesting preservation of hydrophilic proteins. SSP-derived flours showed higher concentration of protein (44 g/100 g), fibre (12 g/100 g), and minerals, and improved emulsifying properties, enhancing their suitability for emulsified products. Pretreatment at 25 °C enhanced functional properties such as swelling power (~7.0 g/g) and water absorption index (~5.7 g/g). The SSP system achieved the highest oil extraction yield, with no significant effect of pretreatment temperature. The oils extracted showed high levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid (~48% of ω-9), highlighting their nutritional and industrial value. The findings support the valorisation of pistachio oil extraction by-products as functional food ingredients, offering a promising strategy for reducing food waste and promoting circular economy approaches in the agri-food sector. Full article

To address the data acquisition limitations of traditional flow balance methods that stem from insufficient flow rate measurements, this study establishes a pipeline flow calculation model based on the pressure data and proposes a pipeline leak identification approach for product oil pipelines. Firstly, field leak tests are designed and conducted on a product oil pipeline in East China by discharging oil in a valve chamber to simulate the leak process. Subsequently, combining the Bernoulli equation with the Leapienzon formula, a calculation model is established for flow rate prediction using the pressure data monitored at the stations and valve chambers along the pipeline. By analyzing the instantaneous flow rate changes at each pipeline section and pressure drops at each station and valve chamber, a dual-parameter collaborative threshold is set based on the flow balance principle, and leaks are identified when both parameters exceed the threshold simultaneously. Finally, the proposed flow rate calculation model and leak identification method are validated with respect to the field test data. The results show that the flow rate model yields a relative error as low as 0.48%, and the leak identification method accurately captured all six leak events in the field test, indicating very good stability and accuracy, with great potential for leak identification and alarm systems for product oil pipelines in engineering applications. Full article

Oil palm kernel shell is an abundant agricultural waste generated by the palm oil industry. To achieve sustainable use of this waste, oil palm kernel shells were converted into valuable resources as active biocarbons. A two-stage preparation method involving N₂ pyrolysis, followed by CO₂ activation, was used to produce the active biocarbon. The optimum pyrolysis conditions that produced the largest BET surface area of 519.1 m²/g were a temperature of 600 °C, a hold time of 2 h, a nitrogen flow rate of 150 cm³/min, and a heating rate of 10 °C/min. The optimum activation conditions to prepare the active biocarbon with the largest micropore surface area or the best micropore/BET surface area combination were a temperature of 950 °C, a CO₂ flow rate of 300 cm³/min, a heating rate of 10 °C/min, and a hold time of 3 h, yielding BET and micropore surface areas of 1232.3 and 941.0 m²/g, respectively, and consisting of 76.36% of micropores for the experimental optimisation technique adopted here. This study underscores the importance of optimising both the pyrolysis and activation conditions to produce an active biocarbon with a maximum micropore surface area for gaseous adsorption applications, especially to capture CO₂ greenhouse gas, to mitigate global warming and climate change. Such a comprehensive and detailed study on the conversion of oil palm kernel shell into active biocarbon is lacking in the open literature. The research results provide a practical blueprint on the process parameters and technical know-how for the industrial production of highly microporous active biocarbons prepared from oil palm kernel shells. Full article

Wastewater generation is a growing concern in the preliminary treatment of heavy crude oil and tar sand. The separation of fine oil droplets from water by flotation is a critical process in the production of bitumen from tar sand. The flow structure from a high-resolution simulation of a single air macrobubble (>3 mm diameter) rising through water in the presence of a very dilute dispersion of mono-sized oil microdroplets (30 μm) under quiescent conditions is presented. A combined model of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), a volume of fluid (VOF) multiphase approach, and the discrete phase method (DPM) was developed to simulate bubble dynamics, the trajectories of the dispersed oil droplet, and the interaction between the air bubble and the oil droplet in quiescent water. The CFD–VOF–DPM combined model reproduced the interacting dynamics of the bubble and oil droplets in water at the bubble–droplet scale. With an extremely large diameter ratio between the bubble and the dispersed oil droplet, this model clearly demonstrated that the dominant mechanism for the interaction was the hydrodynamic capture of oil droplets in the wake of a rising air macrobubble. The entrainment of the oil droplets into the wake of the rising bubbles was strongly influenced by the bubble’s shape. Full article

The energetic valorization of digestate obtained from anaerobic digestion (AD) of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) was investigated via pyrolysis in a bench-scale rotary kiln. The mass rate of dried digestate to the rotary kiln pyrolyzer was fixed at 500 gr/h. The effect of the pyrolysis temperature was investigated at 600, 700, and 800 °C. The pyrolysis products, char, oil, and gas, were quantified and chemically analyzed. It was observed that with the increase in the temperature from 600 to 800 °C, the char decreased from 60.3% to 52.2% and the gas increased from 26.5% to 35.3%. With the aim of increasing the methane production and methane concentration in syngas, the effect of CaO addition to the pyrolysis process was investigated at the same temperature, too. The mass ratio CaO/dried digestate was set at 0.2. The addition of CaO sorbent has a clear effect on the yield and composition of pyrolysis products. Under the experimental conditions, CaO was observed to act both as a CO₂ sorbent and as a catalyst, promoting cracking and reforming reactions of volatile compounds. In more detail, at the investigated temperatures, a net reduction in CO₂ concentration was observed in syngas, accompanied by an increase in CH₄ concentration. The gas yield decreased with the CaO addition because of CO₂ chemisorption. The oil yield decreased as well, probably because of the cracking and reforming effect of the CaO on the volatiles. A very promising performance of the CaO sorbent was observed at 600 °C; at this temperature, the CO₂ concentration decreased from 32.2 to 13.9 mol %, and the methane concentration increased from 16.1 to 29.4 mol %. At the same temperature, the methane production increased from 34 to 63 g/kg_digestate. Full article

This study evaluates the production of base oils for biolubricants using fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) derived from sunflower oil as the raw material. The production process involved the synthesis of oleochemical esters through a single-step alkaline transesterification reaction with a high-molecular-weight polyol, such as trimethylolpropane (TMP). To assess the effectiveness of the developed catalytic system in conducting the transesterification reactions and its impact on the properties of the final product, two types of alkaline catalysts were used. Specifically, the reactions were carried out using either Ca/TEA alkoxide or sodium methoxide as catalysts in various configurations and concentrations to determine the optimal catalyst concentration and reaction conditions. Sodium methoxide served as the commercial benchmark catalyst, while the Ca/TEA alkoxide was prepared in the laboratory. The optimal concentration of Ca/TEA was determined to be 3.0% wt. in the presence of iso-octane and 3.5% wt. under vacuum, while the corresponding concentrations of CH₃ONa for both cases were determined to be 2.0% wt. The synthesized biolubricant esters exhibit remarkable performance characteristics, such as high kinematic viscosities and low pour points—ranging from 33–48 cSt at 40 °C, 7.68–10.03 cSt at 100 °C, to −14 to −7 °C, respectively—which are comparable to or improved over those of mineral oils such as SN-150 or SN-500, with the Ca/TEA alkoxide-catalyzed systems showing superior oxidation stability and reduced byproduct formation. Full article

The plant-based oil industry contributes significantly to food waste/by-products in the form of underutilized biomass, including oil pomace, cake/meal, seeds, peels, wastewater, etc. These waste/by-products contain a significant quantity of nutritious and bioactive compounds (phenolics, lignans, flavonoids, dietary fiber, proteins, and essential minerals) with proven health-promoting effects. The utilization of them as natural, cost-effective, and food-grade functional ingredients in novel food formulations holds considerable potential. This review highlights the potential of waste/by-products generated during plant-based oil processing as a promising source of bioactive compounds and covers systematic research, including recent studies focusing on innovative extraction and processing techniques. It also sheds light on their promising potential for valorization as food ingredients, with a focus on specific examples of food fortification. Furthermore, the potential for value creation in the food industry is emphasized, taking into account associated challenges and limitations, as well as future perspectives. Overall, the current information suggests that the valorization of plant-based oil industry waste and by-products for use in the food industry could substantially reduce malnutrition and poverty, generate favorable health outcomes, mitigate environmental concerns, and enhance economic profit in a sustainable way by developing health-promoting, environmentally sustainable food systems. Full article

An oat protein isolate is an ideal raw material for producing a wide range of plant-based products. However, oat protein exhibits weak functional properties, particularly in emulsification. Casein-based ingredients are commonly employed to enhance emulsifying properties as a general practice in the food industry. pH-shifting processing is a straightforward method to partially unfold protein structures. This study modified a mixture of an oat protein isolate (OPI) and casein by combining a pH adjustment (adjusting the pH of two solutions to 12, mixing them at a 3:7 ratio, and maintaining the pH at 12 for 2 h) with an atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) treatment to improve the emulsifying properties. The results demonstrated that the ACP treatment significantly enhanced the solubility of the OPI/casein mixtures, with a maximum solubility of 82.63 ± 0.33%, while the ζ-potential values were approximately −40 mV, indicating that all the samples were fairly stable. The plasma-induced increase in surface hydrophobicity supported greater protein adsorption and redistribution at the oil/water interface. After 3 min of treatment, the interfacial pressure peaked at 8.32 mN/m. Emulsions stabilized with the modified OPI/casein mixtures also exhibited a significant droplet size reduction upon extending the ACP treatment to 3 min, decreasing from 5.364 ± 0.034 μm to 3.075 ± 0.016 μm. The resulting enhanced uniformity in droplet size distribution signified the formation of a robust interfacial film. Moreover, the ACP treatment effectively enhanced the emulsifying activity of the OPI/casein mixtures, reaching (179.65 ± 1.96 m²/g). These findings highlight the potential application value of OPI/casein mixtures in liquid dairy products. In addition, dairy products based on oat protein are more conducive to sustainable development than traditional dairy products. Full article

The olive oil industry, a key component of Southern Europe’s agricultural sector, generates large amounts of by-products during processing, including olive leaves, branches, stones, and seeds. In the context of growing environmental concerns and limited natural resources—particularly in the Mediterranean regions—there is increasing interest in circular economy approaches that promote the valorization of agricultural residues. These by-products are rich in bioactive compounds, particularly phenolics such as oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol, which are well known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study aimed to evaluate the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of by-products from three olive cultivars using high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC–PDA) and mass spectrometry (MS). The leaves and seeds, particularly from the “Cobrança” and a non-identified variety, presented the highest antioxidant activity, as well as the highest concentration of phenolic compounds, demonstrating once again the direct relationship between these two parameters. The identification of the compounds present demonstrated that the leaves and branches have a high diversity of phenolic compounds, particularly secoiridoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenylethanoids, and lignans. An inverse relationship was observed between the chlorophyll and carotenoid content and the antioxidant activity, suggesting that phenolic compounds, rather than pigments, are the major contributors to antioxidant properties. Therefore, the by-products of the olive oil industry are a valuable source of sustainable bioactive compounds for distinct industrial sectors, such as the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries, aligning with the European strategies for resource efficiency and waste reduction in the agri-food industries. Full article

Alperujo, a solid by-product from the two-phase olive oil extraction process, poses significant environmental challenges due to its high organic load, phytotoxicity, and phenolic content. At the same time, it represents a promising feedstock for recovering value-added compounds such as phenols and volatile fatty acids (VFAs). When used as a substrate for white rot fungi (WRF), it also produces ligninolytic enzymes. This study explores the use of two native WRF, Anthracophyllum discolor and Stereum hirsutum, for the biotransformation of alperujo under solid-state fermentation conditions, with and without supplementation of copper and manganese, two cofactors known to enhance fungal enzymatic activity. S. hirsutum stood out for its ability to release high concentrations of phenolic compounds (up to 6001 ± 236 mg gallic acid eq L⁻¹) and VFAs (up to 1627 ± 325 mg L⁻¹) into the aqueous extract, particularly with metal supplementation. In contrast, A. discolor was more effective in degrading phenolic compounds within the solid matrix, achieving a 41% reduction over a 30-day period. However, its ability to accumulate phenolics and VFAs in the extract was limited. Both WRF exhibited increased enzymatic activities (particularly Laccase and Manganese Peroxidase) with the addition of Cu-Mn, highlighting the potential of the aqueous extract as a natural source of biocatalysts. Phytotoxicity assays using Solanum lycopersicum seeds confirmed a partial detoxification of the treated alperujo. However, none of the fungi could entirely eliminate inhibitory effects on their own, suggesting the need for complementary stabilization steps before agricultural reuse. Overall, the results indicate that S. hirsutum, especially when combined with metal supplementation, is better suited for valorizing alperujo through the recovery of bioactive compounds. Meanwhile, A. discolor may be more suitable for detoxifying the solid phase strategies. These findings support the integration of fungal pretreatment into biorefinery schemes that valorize agroindustrial residues while mitigating environmental issues. Full article