Agro-industrial Residues Research Articles

Natural Polymers Used in Edible Food Packaging—History, Function and Application Trends as a Sustainable Alternative to Synthetic Plastic

In this review, a historical perspective, functional and application trends of natural polymers used to the development of edible food packaging were presented and discussed. Polysaccharides and proteins, i.e., alginate; carrageenan; chitosan; starch; pea protein, were considered. These natural polymers are important materials obtained from renewable plant, algae and animal sources, as well as from agroindustrial residues. Historically, some of them have been widely used by ancient populations for food packaging until these were replaced by petroleum-based plastic materials after World War II. Nowadays, biobased materials for food packaging have attracted attention. Their use was boosted especially because of the environmental pollution caused by inappropriate disposal of plastic packaging. Biobased materials are welcome to the design of food packaging because they possess many advantages, such as biodegradability, biocompatibility and low toxicity. Depending on the formulation, certain biopolymer-based packaging may present good barrier properties, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities Thus, polysaccharides and proteins can be combined to form diverse composite films with improved mechanical and biological behaviors, making them suitable for packaging of different food products.

Profiling multi-enzyme activities of Aspergillus niger strains growing on various agro-industrial residues.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-03086-y.

Comparative Evaluation of the Antioxidant Properties of Whole Peanut Flour, Defatted Peanut Protein Meal, and Peanut Protein Concentrate

Defatted peanut meal is a low value agro-industrial residue from peanut oil production with potential use as a value addition food ingredient. In this study, peanuts were roasted at 100°C for 5 min, de-skinned and milled into whole peanut flour (WPF) from which the defatted meal (DPM) was prepared by acetone extraction and the peanut protein concentrate (PPC) obtained from the DPM using isoelectric pH precipitation. The protein content, amino acid profile, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and in vitro antioxidant properties of the peanut samples were then determined. Results showed that DPM had a TPC of 0.12 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than and twice the levels in WPF and PPC (0.06 ± 0.03 mg GAE/g). However, WPF had TFC of 0.21 ± 0.01 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than DPM (0.16 ± 0.03 μg QE/g) and PPC (0.11 ± 0.05 μg QE/g). However, PPC had superior amino acid profile in addition to stronger radical scavenging and metal chelation activities than WPF and DPM. The results suggest that PPC is a protein rich product that could be utilized as an ingredient in food product fortification to enhance nutritional quality and in the formulation of functional foods with antioxidant benefits.

Biodegradable starch / polyvinyl alcohol composites produced by thermoplastic injection containing cellulose extracted from soybean hulls (Glycine max L.)

Soybean hull is an agro-industrial residue of extensive generation in the soybean oil-producing industry, where approximately 5% of the processed volume of soy beans is converted into hulls. The main use for soy hulls is animal feed, being of great importance to find more ways of consumption for the hulls. This research proposed a noble application for soy hulls: using the hulls as a source for extracting cellulose fibers. Cellulose fibers were extracted from the hulls by alkaline treatment, ground (< 600 µm) and added to thermoplastic starch (TPS). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was also added to the materials produced in order to promote better compatibility between the components. Ten formulations were produced, containing between 4 and 19 wt% of cellulose, and 2 controls. Half of the formulations contained 6 wt% PVA. Cellulose fibers and soybean hulls were characterized by FTIR-ATR and SEM, and the analyzes showed partial purification of the cellulose fibers, with a purity of 92 wt%. The composites were produced by extrusion followed by injection, and characterized by stress-strain, FTIR-ATR and dimensional stability after injection (shrinkage and warpage) tests. Cellulose fibers did not increase the tensile strength (TS) of the composites, but reduced the deformation capacity by 62% (to 19% of fibers) compared to the control. Cellulose fibers together with PVA increased the TS by up to 22% (to 19% fibers and 6% PVA in the composition), making the material more mechanically resistant. For this same formulation, the deformation capacity was reduced by a maximum of 75%, and the modulus of elasticity was increased by a maximum of 230% (the composite became more resistant and rigid). Cellulose fibers reduced the shrinkage value of the specimens, reducing the shrinkage value to less than 1% for the formulations containing 19% cellulose fibers. The cellulose fibers associated with 6% PVA had a synergistic action in the shrinkage of the specimens, further reducing the shrinkage in length (0.4% length shrinkage for 15% cellulose fibers; 0.1% length shrinkage for 19% cellulose fibers). The addition of cellulose fibers and 6% PVA to TPS made the composites more rigid and mechanically reinforced, and also with greater dimensional stability after injection.

Fungal Laccases: The Forefront of Enzymes for Sustainability.

Enzymatic catalysis is one of the main pillars of sustainability for industrial production. Enzyme application allows minimization of the use of toxic solvents and to valorize the agro-industrial residues through reuse. In addition, they are safe and energy efficient. Nonetheless, their use in biotechnological processes is still hindered by the cost, stability, and low rate of recycling and reuse. Among the many industrial enzymes, fungal laccases (LCs) are perfect candidates to serve as a biotechnological tool as they are outstanding, versatile catalytic oxidants, only requiring molecular oxygen to function. LCs are able to degrade phenolic components of lignin, allowing them to efficiently reuse the lignocellulosic biomass for the production of enzymes, bioactive compounds, or clean energy, while minimizing the use of chemicals. Therefore, this review aims to give an overview of fungal LC, a promising green and sustainable enzyme, its mechanism of action, advantages, disadvantages, and solutions for its use as a tool to reduce the environmental and economic impact of industrial processes with a particular insight on the reuse of agro-wastes.

Performance analysis of a laboratory scale rotating drum bioreactor for production of rhamnolipid in solid-state fermentation using an agro-industrial residue

Performance analysis of a laboratory scale rotating drum bioreactor for production of rhamnolipid in solid-state fermentation using an agro-industrial residue

Evaluation of physicochemical, bioactive composition and profile of fatty acids in leaves of different olive cultivars

Olive leaves are agro-industrial residues resulting from pruning and / or olive harvesting, and are used in animal feed, as an organic fertilizer and as a source of compound extraction for various applications. This study aimed to carry out the physicochemical characterization, main bioactive compounds and the fatty acid profile of olive leaves from the cultivars Frantoio, Koroneike, Manzanilha, Arbosana and Arbequina. Proximal composition, pH, titratable acidity, minerals by MIP OES, bioactive compounds were determined by spectrophotometry, oleuropein and tocopherols by high performance liquid chromatography and the fatty acid profile by gas chromatography. The olive leaves had a high content of fibers and proteins, the predominant minerals were potassium and calcium, in addition the olive leaves had a high content of bioactive compounds, mainly flavonoids and carotenoids and the cultivar Koroneike had a higher content of oleuropein compared to the others. In relation to tocopherols, α-tocopherol stood out from the other tocopherols with the maximum concentration (63436.79 mg.100g-1) measured in the cultivar Arbequina. In view of the results found, it is concluded that olive leaves are sources of macromolecules, bioactive compounds and fatty acids, which can be extracted and applied in the most diverse areas.

Potencial de la levadura oleaginosa Clavispora lusitaniae Hi2 en la conversión de residuos agroindustriales a lípidos

BackgroundSingle-cell oils obtained from oleaginous microorganisms by using lignocellulosic waste hydrolysates are an alternative for producing biodiesel. AimsTo isolate a yeast strain able to produce lipids from centrifuged nejayote (CN), hydrolyzed nejayote solids (HNS) and hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse (HSB). MethodsIn order to identify the yeasts recovered, 26S ribosomal DNA was sequenced. The metabolic profile was assessed by using API20C AUX strips. The nutritional characterization of CN, HNS and HSB was performed by quantifying reducing sugars, total carbohydrates, starch, protein and total nitrogen. The biomass and lipid production ability were evaluated by performing growth kinetics of Clavispora lusitaniae Hi2 in combined culture media. ResultsSix oleaginous yeast strains were isolated and identified, selecting C. lusitaniae Hi2 to study its lipids production by using nejayote. The C. lusitaniae Hi2 strain can use glucose, xylose, arabinose, galactose and cellobiose as carbon sources. Cultures of C. lusitaniae Hi2 presented the best biomass (5.6±0.28 g/L) and lipid production (0.99±0.09 g/L) at 20 h of incubation with the CN:HNS media in the 25:75 and 50:50 ratios, respectively. ConclusionsThe use of CN, HNS and HSB for the growth of C. lusitaniae Hi2 is an option to take advantage of these agro-industrial residues and generate compounds of biotechnological interest.

Biohydrogen Production from Agro-industrial Wastes Using Clostridium beijerinckii and Isolated Bacteria as Inoculum

The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of biohydrogen production in agro-industrial residues, which were soft drink wastewater (SDW), corn steep liquor (CSL), cheese whey (CW), and expired Guaraná soft drink, using one model strain Clostridium beijerinckii ATCC 8260 and newly isolated Clostridium butyricum DEBB-B348. The agro-industrial residues were characterized, and all of them contained significant concentrations of carbohydrates such as glucose, fructose, lactose, and maltose, and in the case of CSL and CW they also contained significant concentrations of amino acids. After performing subsequent experimental designs, the significant factors were cheese whey concentration, corn steep liquor concentration, and fermentation time for C. beijerinckii, and corn steep liquor concentration and fermentation time for C. butyricum (p ≤ 0.05), with R2 of 0.950 and 0.895, respectively. The maximum hydrogen volume production was 18.5 ± 1.68 mL and 27.4 ± 1.84 mL for each strain, respectively. It is noteworthy the high yield of hydrogen produced with C. beijerinckii (235 mL H2/g COD removed) and C. butyricum (310 mL H2/g COD removed). It was also noted that CSL and/or CW-based culture media do not need to be supplemented with cysteine-HCl. These results indicate a potential hydrogen production process utilizing less expensive substrates.

Development and Characterization of Activated Carbon from Olive Pomace: Experimental Design, Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies in Nimesulide Adsorption.

The lack of adequate treatment for the removal of pollutants from domestic, hospital and industrial effluents has caused great environmental concern. Therefore, there is a need to develop materials that have the capacity to treat these effluents. This work aims to develop and characterize an activated charcoal from olive pomace, which is an agro-industrial residue, for adsorption of Nimesulide in liquid effluent and to evaluate the adsorption kinetics and equilibrium using experimental design. The raw material was oven dried at 105 °C for 24 h, ground, chemically activated in a ratio of 1:0.8:0.2 of olive pomace, zinc chloride and calcium hydroxide and thermally activated by pyrolysis in a reactor of stainless steel at 550 °C for 30 min. The activated carbon was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffractometry (XRD), Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) method, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), density and zero charge potential analysis. The surface area obtained was 650.9 m2 g−1. The kinetic and isothermal mathematical models that best described the adsorption were PSO and Freundlich and the highest adsorption capacity obtained was 353.27 mg g−1. The results obtained showed the good performance of activated carbon produced from olive pomace as an adsorbent material and demonstrated great potential for removing emerging contaminants such as Nimesulide.

Extraction of Nanocellulose from Yerba Mate Residues Using Steam Explosion, TEMPO-mediated Oxidation and Ultra-fine Friction Grinding

ABSTRACT In this work, we evaluated the extraction of nanocellulose from agro-industrial residue of yerba mate (YM, Ilex paraguariensis, St.Hil) sticks through chemical (bleaching and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation), physical (steam explosion) and mechanical (ultra-fine friction grinding) treatments, divided into three distinct sequences for method comparison. The results showed that steam explosion as the initial treatment step makes an increase of up to 23% in the crystallinity index of cellulose nanofiber (CNF) in relation to the raw sample. The TEMPO-mediated oxidation resulted in more dispersed CNF, verified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Samples treated by steam-explosion and ultrafine grinding showed a higher yield in relation to steam-explosion and oxidative treatment (24.3% versus 16.2% respectively). CNFs with a diameter of 6 nm and a length range of 2200 to 2600 nm were obtained.

Production of an endo-polygalacturonase from Fusarium proliferatum isolated from agro-industrial waste

In this bioprospection survey, a pectinolytic fungal strain, identified as Fusarium proliferatum, was isolated from agro-industrial residues (banana peels) from among 87 microbial isolates. F. proliferatum P6 was detected as a polygalacturonase (PGAse) producer with enzymatic activity on all the incubation days tested (days 1–10) by determination of the reducing sugars, with maximum activity at 96h (83.05 U/mL). Moreover, the presence of citrus pectin in the medium was crucial for the PGAse production. Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD) demonstrated that PGAse activity of F. proliferatum P6 was influenced mainly by temperature, with optimal activity of 137.36 ± 2.21U/mL with pH 3.6 at 43.4°C. Furthermore, High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) inferred that the F. proliferatum P6 strain secretes endo-PGAse enzymes, due oligogalacturonate and monogalacturonate products of enzymatic hydrolysis. This is the first time that this enzyme has been described in F. proliferatum. Endo-PGAse produced by F. proliferatum P6 presents an optimal activity for some industries, such as wine production as well as the processing of fruits and vegetables.

Computational Assessment of Botrytis cinerea Lipase for Biofuel Production

The demand for ecofriendly green catalysts for biofuel synthesis is greatly increasing with the effects of fossil fuel depletion. Fungal lipases are abundantly used as biocatalysts for the synthesis of biofuel. The use of Botrytis cinerea lipase is an excellent approach for the conversion of agroindustrial residues into biofuel. In this study, phylogenetic analyses were carried out and the physicochemical properties of B. cinerea lipase were assessed. Furthermore, the protein structure of B. cinerea lipase was predicted and refined. Putative energy-rich phytolipid compounds were explored as a substrate for the synthesis of biofuel, owing to B. cinerea lipase catalysis. Approximately 161 plant-based fatty acids were docked with B. cinerea lipase in order to evaluate their binding affinities and interactions. Among the docked fatty acids, the top ten triglycerides having the lowest number of binding affinities with B. cinerea lipase were selected, and their interactions were assessed. The top three triglycerides having the greatest number of hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions were selected for simulations of 20 ns. The docking and simulations revealed that docosahexaenoic acid, dicranin, and hexadeca-7,10,13-trienoic acid had stable bonding with the B. cinerea lipase. Therefore, B. cinerea lipase has the potential to be used for the transesterification of fatty acids into biofuels, whereas docosahexaenoic acid, dicranin, and hexadeca-7,10,13-trienoic acid can be used as substrates of B. cinerea lipase for biofuel synthesis.

Feeding value improvement by co-fermentation of corn-ethanol co-product and agro-industrial residues with Rhizopus oryzae

Corn dried distiller’s grain with solubles (cDDGS) is a feeding ingredient for monogastric animals but with limited inclusion rate due to its imbalanced amino acids, high fiber content, and anti-nutritional compounds. Moreover, production of cDDGS is costly and energy intensive. This study investigated fungal fermentation of corn stillage mixing with other dry agro-industrial residues which could by-pass the energy-intensive drying process while improving nutritional value of the mixed substrates. Rhizopus oryzae was used to ferment WDGS blended with canola meal (CM), cottonseed meal (CSM), sugar beet pulp (SP) and soybean hull (SH) at different ratio at 28 ℃ for 12 days. Results suggested that short incubation period (4 days) was favorable for improvement of protein and key amino acids profile. Substrate mixture with C/N ratio above 3 effectively reduced ammonia generation. Significant reduction (p < 0.05) of structural carbohydrates (mainly glucan with degradation by 20–30 %) occurred after fermenting WDGS mixing with CM and SP. Substrate with all mixing ratio of SP or SH, and lower ratio (less than 50 %) of CM or CSM showed phytate degradation by 30–75 %. This study proved the feasibility of solid-state fermentation in improving feeding value of WDGS and agro-residues for monogastric animals.

The enzyme interactome concept in filamentous fungi linked to biomass valorization

Biomass represents an abundant and inexpensive source of sugars and aromatic compounds that can be used as raw materials for conversion into value-added bioproducts. Filamentous fungi are sources of plant cell wall degrading enzymes in nature. Understanding the interactions between enzymes is crucial for optimizing biomass degradation processes. Herein, the concept of the interactome is presented as a holistic approach that depicts the interactions among enzymes, substrates, metabolites, and inhibitors. The interactome encompasses several stages of biomass degradation, starting with the sensing of the substrate and the subsequent synthesis of hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes (fungus-substrate interaction). Enzyme-enzyme interactions are exemplified in the complex processes of lignocellulosic biomass degradation. The enzyme-substrate-metabolite-inhibitor interaction also provides a better understanding of biomass conversion, allowing bioproduct production from recalcitrant agro-industrial residues, thus bringing greater value to residual biomass. Finally, technological applications are presented for optimizing the interactome at various levels.

Evaluation of Bio-detoxification of Jatropha curcas Seed Cake and Cottonseed Cake by Basidiomycetes: Nutritional and Antioxidant Effects

Poultry and swine are the major proportion of the livestock industry in terms of output value. To meet the growing need for protein sources in these sectors, the use of biomasses coming from agro-industrial residues can be an interesting option in the future years. This study aimed to evaluate the capacity of seven basidiomycetes to grow, detoxicate, increase protein content, and its antioxidant activity when grew in pure Jatropha seed cake (JSC) and cottonseed cake (CSC) biomasses and mixtures containing 50% of lignocellulosic biomasses from coconut husks and Acrocomia aculeata (macauba cake). Results showed that five basidiomycetes were able to grow in these substrates. F. hepatica, P. lecomtei, and P. pulmonarius presented the highest bio-detoxification capacity. All treatments showed a reduction in total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, but treatments with coconut husks showed lower reductions. Results also indicated that there were molecules produced by basidiomycetes responsible for antioxidant activity other than phenolic compounds. These results indicated that basidiomycetes could detoxify JCS and CSC biomasses, suggesting their possible use in animal feed and that the addition of coconut husks in JSC and macauba cake in cottonseed cake could promote greater colonization by fungi.

Nematicidal activity of the Lentinula edodes’ spent mushroom compost

The mushroom Lentinula edodes, known as shiitake, has the potential to control plant diseases. However, there is no work that mentions the nematicidal activity of the SMC from shiitake. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the nematicidal potential of L. edodes spent mushroom compost (SMC) on Panagrellus spp. SMC action on Panagrellus spp. larvae was evaluated in Petri dishes containing 2% water-agar (WA2%). In comparison to the control group, the number of intact larvae in the group treated with SMC of L. edodes was significantly (p<0,01) reduced by 77, 73, 71% after 24, 48 and 72 exposure period respectively. The current study presents the possibility of using an agroindustrial residue (SMC) of low cost to control nematodes. SMC has nematicidal activity and may in the future be beneficially used in other sustainable approaches.

Valorization of agro-industrial wastes for biorefinery process and circular bioeconomy: A critical review

Energy recovery from waste resources is a promising approach towards environmental consequences. In the prospect of environmental sustainability, utilization of agro-industrial waste residues as feedstock for biorefinery processes have gained widespread attention. In the agro-industry, various biomasses are exposed to different unit processes for offering value to various agro-industrial waste materials. Agro-industrial wastes can generate a substantial amount of valuable products such as fuels, chemicals, energy, electricity, and by-products. This paper reviews the methodologies for valorization of agro-industrial wastes and their exploitation for generation of renewable energy products. In addition, management of agro-industrial wastes and products from agro-industrial wastes have been elaborated. The waste biorefinery process using agro-industrial wastes does not only offer energy, it also offers environmentally sustainable modes, which address effective management of waste streams. This review aims to highlight the cascading use of biomass from agro-industrial wastes into the systemic approach for economic development.

A review on the effect on phytochemical compounds relevant to human health by broccoli processing technologies

Broccoli has been consumed around the world in various ways; either raw, blanched, frozen, dehydrated or fermented; however, functional foods and nutraceuticals are currently being designed and marketed from broccoli, through the extraction of compounds such as sulforaphane, which according to several studies and depending on its bioavailability has a protective effect on some types of cancer. Likewise, several food technologies are reported to seek to offer innovative foods to increasingly careful and critical consumers, ensuring that they retain their nutritional and sensory attributes even after processing and that they are also safe. In this sense, studies on the effect of processing on compounds of interest to health are of great relevance. Therefore, this article presents an overview on the study of traditionally consumed broccoli and the design of new products from the use of agro-industrial residues that, due to their high content of fiber and fitochemical compounds, can benefit the quality of life of the human population.

Towards valorization of pectin-rich agro-industrial residues: Engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for co-fermentation of d-galacturonic acid and glycerol

Pectin-rich plant biomass residues represent underutilized feedstocks for industrial biotechnology. The conversion of the oxidized monomer d-galacturonic acid (d-GalUA) to highly reduced fermentation products such as alcohols is impossible due to the lack of electrons. The reduced compound glycerol has therefore been considered an optimal co-substrate, and a cell factory able to efficiently co-ferment these two carbon sources is in demand. Here, we inserted the fungal d-GalUA pathway in a strain of the yeast S. cerevisiae previously equipped with an NAD-dependent glycerol catabolic pathway. The constructed strain was able to consume d-GalUA with the highest reported maximum specific rate of 0.23 g gCDW−1 h−1 in synthetic minimal medium when glycerol was added. By means of a 13C isotope-labelling analysis, carbon from both substrates was shown to end up in pyruvate. The study delivers the proof of concept for a co-fermentation of the two ‘respiratory’ carbon sources to ethanol and demonstrates a fast and complete consumption of d-GalUA in crude sugar beet pulp hydrolysate under aerobic conditions. The future challenge will be to achieve co-fermentation under industrial, quasi-anaerobic conditions.