High Value-added Products Research Articles

Exploring the potential of chitin and chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste in enhancing urea-formaldehyde wood adhesives

This work aims to investigate the properties of both chitin (CT), and chitosan (CS) extracted from shrimp shell waste (SSW) and its potential use for the improvement of urea-formaldehyde (UF) based adhesives in particleboards manufacturing. For this purpose, characterization techniques (SEM, ATR-FTIR, XRD, and TGA/DTG) were used to confirm the successful extraction of CT and CS. The effect of different ratios of 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt% of CT and CS, on the ultimate particleboard’s mechanical properties (dry internal bond (IB), modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and surface soundness (SS)) was investigated, and compared to the European Standards. It was evidenced that the optimal formulation of adhesives is (92:8; w:w) for both UF:CT and UF:CS leading to higher mechanical performance. For instance, MOE was uplifted to 3478 and 3568 MPa, and MOR was uplifted to 21 and 22 MPa, with the loading of CT and CS respectively, compared to MOE = 2579 MPa and MOR = 16 MPa for the particleboard glued with only UF adhesive. Moreover, when 8 wt% of CT and CS are formulated with UF adhesive, the formaldehyde emission from particleboard was reduced significantly about 36.11 and 37.18%, respectively. The addition of 8 wt% CT and CS exhibited a decrease in the values Thickness Swelling (TS) and Water Adsorption (WA) of the particleboards, highlighting the improvement of the physical properties of the final products. This study aims to promote the use of shrimp shell waste in the development of high added value products in wood urea-formaldehyde based adhesives.

Electrospun polymeric nanohybrids with outstanding pollutants adsorption and electroactivity for water treatment and sensing devices

Graphene oxide (GO) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were loaded at different mutual ratios into poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-co-HFP) matrix and electrospun to construct mats that were assessed as smart sorbents for decontaminating water from methylene blue (MB) pollutant, while ensuring the additional possibility of detecting the dye amounts. The results revealed that sorption capacity enhances upon increasing GO content, which is beneficial to wettability and active area. Equilibrium adsorption of these materials is precisely predicted by the Langmuir isotherm model and the maximum capacities herein achieved, ranging from 120 to 555 mg/g depending on the formulation, are higher than those reported for similar systems. The evolution of the structure and properties of such materials as a function of dye adsorption was studied. The results reveal that MB molecules prompted the increase of electrical conductivity of the samples in a dose-dependent manner. Mats containing solely CNTs, while displaying the worst sorption performance, showed the highest electrical performances, displaying interesting changes in their electrical response as a function of the dye amount adsorbed, with a linear response and high sensitivity (309.4 µS cm−1 mg−1) in the range 0–235 µg of dye adsorbed. Beyond the possibility to monitor the presence of small amounts of MB in contaminated water and the saturation state of sorbents, this feature could even be exploited to transform waste sorbents into high-added value products, including flexible sensors for detecting low values of pressure, human motion, and so on.Graphical Multifunctional materials for dye absorption and detection, pressure sensing, fabricated by integrating GO and CNTs into PVDF-HFP matrix via electrospinning.

Assessing the application of marine microalgae Dunaliella salina in a biorefinery context: production of value‐added biobased products

AbstractMicroalgae are a rich source of bioactive compounds such as pigments, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and other substances of interest. Thus, given the possible variety of products that can be obtained from them, it is important to determine their biochemical composition, taking into consideration the species and cultivation conditions, so that they can be used as feedstock in biorefineries, with the aim of using all the biomass in the biorefining processes and increasing its economic viability. This work aimed to characterize the biochemical composition of the microalgae Dunalliela salina in a multi‐product biorefinery context, focusing on the production of high value‐added compounds such as pigments and biofuels. The biomass concentration obtained was 1.15 g·L−1 and the volumetric productivity was 164.28 mg·L−1·day−1, providing fractions of 23.86 ± 0.24% of lipids, 10.80 ± 0.86% of carbohydrates, and 5.71 ± 0.50% of proteins. The microalgal biomass contained pigment concentrations of 0.896 and 0.5380 mg·g−1of chlorophylls a and b, and 0.2043 mg·g−1 of total carotenoids. Thus, the data suggest that D. salina has biotechnological potential for application in integrated multi‐product biorefineries, focused on obtaining energy and high added value products simultaneously.

Exploiting High Voltage Fragmentation to Enable Demand-Driven Recycling of End-of-Life Wind Blades

In recent years, the number of installations of wind turbines significantly increased, driven by the necessity for a transition to a sustainable economy to achieve EU goals of carbon neutrality. However, considering their life of 20-25 years, it is urgent to fnd innovative solutions for End-of-Life (EoL) treatment. Among their components, one of the most critical elements is the blade, made in composites, particularly glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRP). Currently, EoL wind blades are going to disposal (where possible), incineration, or they are used in low-value applications, mainly due to uncontrolled mechanical recycling processes, which result in the reduction of their mechanical properties, limiting their reuse in high-added value products. High-Voltage Fragmentation (HVF) is an innovative technology that creates localized shockwaves at the interface between two different materials through the generation of electric discharges within a product. This study focuses on the application of HVF to EoL wind blades. Experimental results demonstrate that this technology can act as a feasible recycling solution, both to remove impurities and to recycle GFRP, as a highly-controlled shredding process. This opens up interesting prospects for the reuse of the material itself in high-quality, high-added value products, following a demand-driven approach.

Photo-, electro-, and photoelectro-catalytic conversion of glucose into high value-added products

Recent advances in photo-, electro-, and photoelectro-catalytic conversion of glucose to high value-added products are highlighted.

ПОТЕНЦІАЛ ТА ПЕРСПЕКТИВИ РОЗВИТКУ АГРАРНОГО СЕКТОРУ УКРАЇНИ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ

The article studies the potential and prospects of development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine, taking into account the conditions and consequences of the martial law. It is established that the war has caused a number of crisis phenomena in the Ukrainian economy, negatively affecting the state of the Ukrainian agricultural sector and its export capacity. In 2022, Ukrainian agricultural exports in dollar terms decreased by 16% compared to 2021, and by another 7% in 2023. The war has caused changes in the regional structure of Ukrainian exports. The reason for these changes was the blockade of Black Sea ports and the need to establish alternative shipment routes. Logistics costs have increased by an average of 5 times, while prices for agricultural products in the domestic market have fallen. In addition, the agricultural sector is significantly affected by labour shortages. In 2024, compared to 2021, the number of working-age people in Ukraine decreased by 40% due to extremely complex demographic processes. However, Ukraine's agricultural sector has significant potential for development due to: favourable natural and climatic conditions and fertile soils; favourable geographical location and proximity to major markets; availability of skilled labour and scientific and technical potential; and opportunities for innovation and digitalisation in agriculture. The main promising areas for developing the potential of Ukraine's agricultural sector: 1. Diversification of production – expanding the range of crops and products, including organic and high value-added products. 2. Implementation of innovations and digitalisation – application of the latest technologies, precision farming, and robotics to improve production efficiency. 3. Development of agricultural infrastructure - modernisation of elevators, warehouses, and logistics for storage and transportation of products. 4. Government support and regulation – preferential taxation, access to finance, investment incentives, and the fight against corruption. 5. Greening and sustainable development – implementation of environmentally friendly technologies, rational land use, environmental protection.

Selective electrooxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 5-formyl-furan-2-formic acid on non-metallic polyaniline catalysts: structure-function relationships.

The biomass-derived HMF oxidation reaction (HMFOR) holds great promise for sustainable production of fine chemicals. However, selective electrooxidation of HMF to high value-added intermediate product 5-formyl-furan-2-formic acid (FFCA) is still challenging. Herein, we report the electrocatalytic HMFOR to selectively produce FFCA using carbon paper (CP) supported polyaniline (PANI) as a catalyst. The PANI/CP non-metallic hybrid catalyst with moderate oxidation capacity exhibitsoptimized FFCA selectivity up to 76% in alkaline media, which has reached the best performance in reported literature studies. Identification and quantification of active sites for the HMFOR are further realized via linking the activity to structural compositions of PANI; both polaronic-type nitrogen (N3) and positively charged nitrogen (N4) species are proved responsible for adsorption and activation of HMF, and the intrinsic activity of N4 is higher than that of N3. The present work provides new physical-chemical insights into the mechanism of the HMFOR on non-metallic catalysts, paving the way for the establishment of structure-function relations and further development of novel electrochemical synthesis systems.

Investigation on 3D printing of shrimp surimi under different printing parameters and thermal processing conditions

Improving the printing accuracy and stability of shrimp surimi and finding appropriate printing parameters and suitable thermal processing method can help to develop high value-added 3D printing products of shrimp surimi. It was found that in order to make the 3D printing products of shrimp surimi have higher printing adaptability (printing accuracy and printing stability reach more than 97%), by choosing nozzle diameter of 1.20 mm and setting the printing height of the nozzle to 2.00 mm, the layers of the printed products were better fused with each other, and the printing accuracy of the products could be greatly improved; there was no uneven discharge and filament breakage when the nozzle moved at the speed of 30 mm/s; and the products were internally compact and had good stability when the printing filling rate was 80%. In addition, the deformation rates of steamed, boiled and deep-fried shrimp surimi products were significantly higher than those of oven-baked and microwaved shrimp surimi products (P < 0.05). Microwave heating had a greater effect on the deformation and color of shrimp surimi products, and was not favored by the evaluators. In terms of deformation rate, sensory score, and textural characteristic, the oven-baked thermal processing method was selected to obtain higher sensory evaluation scores and lower deformation rates of shrimp surimi 3D printed products. In the future, DIY design can be carried out in 3D printing products of shrimp surimi to meet the needs of different groups of people for modern food.

Electrochemically synthesized Ce-doped Cu-mesh catalyst with high activity and stability towards HMF to FDCA conversion

The electrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to high value-added downstream products is a sustainable and cost-effective strategy.

Coupling electrochemical CO2 reduction with value-added anodic oxidation reactions: progress and challenges

This review presents recent advances and future challenges of emerging and potential alternative anodic reactions with high energy-efficiency and value-added products in overall CO2 electrolysis.

A novel green biorefinery strategy for corn stover by pretreatment with weak alkali-assisted deep eutectic solvents

The strategy using deep eutectic solvent–sodium bicarbonate (DES–SB) has achieved a high delignification efficiency, excellent carbohydrate digestibility (glucose yield, 97.47%; xylose yield, 92.93%), and regenerated lignin with great potential.

Valorisation of food waste with distinct carbon-to-nitrogen ratios by the microalga Isochrysis galbana: laboratory demonstration and techno-economic assessment

Valorization of food waste with varying C/N ratios through microalgal cultivation for the tailored production of high value-added products.

Enhancement of the flavor and functional characteristics of cod protein isolate using an enzyme-microbe system.

Cod protein isolate (CPI), a by-product of the cod processing industry, represents a novel source of high value-added products. However, off-flavors in cod protein such as bitterness and fishy odor reduce its acceptability to consumers. Here, CPI was first debittered using aminopeptidase from Streptomyces canus (ScAPase) and then deodorized through probiotic fermentation. This is the first reported demonstration of complete removal of the bitterness of CPI using ScAPase. Subsequently, Syn3 and Syn4, as aromatic CPI (ACPI), were prepared from debittered CPI (DCPI) via fermentation with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium longum, respectively. These products, DCPI and ACPI, were characterized by the absence of bitterness and fishy odor, along with a strong aromatic scent and high overall acceptability. Additionally, these products exhibited improved physicochemical properties, including enhanced oil-holding capacity, emulsifying activity, and resistance to digestion, compared to untreated CPI. However, significant differences were observed in their radical scavenging activities. The highest scavenging activity was detected in Syn3 against DPPH˙ (63.5%) and ˙OH (79.2%), in DCPI against O2- (32.0%), and in post-digestion Syn4 against ABTS˙+ (95.2%). Furthermore, after digestion treatment, these products significantly promoted the proliferation of probiotics. Notably post-digestion Syn4 showed the most substantial proliferation effect on Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Bifidobacterium breve compared to other post-digestion samples. These results indicate that the treated CPI has the potential for applications in health food products.

Engineering Uranyl Sites into MOF for the Efficient and Highly Selective Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction†

Utilizing sunlight for photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO and other high value-added products represents a pivotal strategy for the environment protection and energy crisis mitigation. Herein, we have designed...

Construction of an electron-transfer channel via Cu-O-Ni to inhibit the overoxidation of Ni for durable methanol oxidation at industrial current density.

The electrocatalytic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is a viable approach for realizing high value-added formate transformation from biomass byproducts. However, usually it is restricted by the excess adsorption of intermediates (COad) and overoxidation of catalysts, which results in low product selectivity and inactivation of the active sites. Herein, a novel Cu-O-Ni electron-transfer channel was constructed by loading NiCuO x on nickel foam (NF) to inhibit the overoxidation of Ni and enhance the formate selectivity of the MOR. The optimized NiCuO x -2/NF demonstrated excellent MOR catalytic performance at industrial current density (E 500 = 1.42 V) and high faradaic efficiency of ∼100%, as well as durable formate generation up to 600 h at ∼500 mA cm-2. The directional electron transfer from Cu to Ni and enhanced lattice stability could alleviate the overoxidation of Ni(iii) active sites to guarantee reversible Ni(ii)/Ni(iii) cycles and endow NiCuO x -2/NF with high stability under increased current density, respectively. An established electrolytic cell created by coupling the MOR with the hydrogen evolution reaction could produce H2 with low electric consumption (230 mV lower voltage at 400 mA cm-2) and concurrently generated the high value-added product of formate at the anode.

Applications of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) based nanostructured materials: A review

While polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has enjoyed widespread use, a large volume of plastic waste has also been produced as a result, which is detrimental to the environment. Traditional treatment of plastic waste, such as landfilling and incinerating waste, causes environmental pollution and poses risks to public health. Recycling PET waste into useful chemicals or upcycling the waste into high value-added materials can be remedies. This review first provides a brief introduction of the synthesis, structure, properties, and applications of virgin PET. Then the conversion process of waste PET into high value-added materials for different applications are introduced. The conversion mechanisms (including degradation, recycling and upcycling) are detailed. The advanced applications of these upgraded materials in energy storage devices (supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, and microbial fuel cells), and for water treatment (to remove dyes, heavy metals, and antibiotics), environmental remediation (for air filtration, CO2 adsorption, and oil removal) and catalysis (to produce H2, photoreduce CO2, and remove toxic chemicals) are discussed at length. In general, this review details the exploration of advanced technologies for the transformation of waste PET into nanostructured materials for various applications, and provides insights into the role of high value-added waste products in sustainability and economic development.

Novel adhesive based on black soldier fly larvae flour for particleboard production

Protein-based adhesives are receiving considerable attention due to their potential to contribute to the development of environmentally friendly materials. Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can convert organic waste into high value-added products, such as proteins and fatty acids. The objective of this study is to formulate adhesives from BSFL flour and evaluate their suitability in the production of particleboards. To expose the functional groups of the proteins for reaction with the wood, denaturation strategies involving alkaline treatments were assessed. The effectiveness of these treatments was evaluated through Bradford solubility, SDS-PAGE, and FTIR analysis. Bradford analysis confirmed that the alkali treatment increased the protein solubility from 10.1 g/l for 0 M to 89.1 g/l for 1 M. FTIR analysis revealed changes in the relative intensity of bands attributable to the Amide I, II, and III regions, which are associated with the α-helix and β-sheet structures. The adhesive was applied in the manufacturing process via spraying, requiring an evaluation of the rheological properties of different formulations. Based on the rheological properties, the viscosities of 0.25 M and 1 M were measured at 0.082 Pa·s and 0.113 Pa·s, respectively, falling within the suggested range for particleboard manufacture. Subsequently, eucalyptus wood panels were manufactured using the BSFL-based adhesives, and their mechanical properties as well as water resistance were evaluated. Static bending and tensile strength perpendicular to the surface testing revealed that boards produced with BSFL adhesive exhibited mechanical values comparable to those of commercial resins. The performance of the manufactured materials was compared with the minimum standards outlined in international regulations.

Bifunctional green nanoferrites as catalysts for simultaneous organic pollutants reduction and hydrogen generation: Upcycling strategy

The upcycling strategy is an approach that includes the conversion of waste into new higher value-added products. This study reports on a new methodology for the environmentally friendly synthesis of MFe2O4 spinel nanoferrites (M = Co, Cu, Fe and Mn) to be used as catalysts applied in the upcycling method. Thus, the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), methyl orange, and methyl red to commercially valuable compounds was evaluated, as well as the simultaneous generation of hydrogen in a short time. Therefore, an eco-friendly synthesis was proposed, according to the 12 principles of green chemistry and sustainability. Product were obtained with satisfactory properties in terms of crystallinity, magnetic particle size, and magnetization. The materials exhibited excellent performance in catalytic reduction of 4-NP, whose reduction time decreased in the order MnFe2O4 > Fe3O4 > CoFe2O4 > CuFe2O4. This behavior highlighted the CuFe2O4 nanoferrite, which achieved 4-NP reduction in just 10 s. It proved that it could also be reused for 10 consecutive cycles while maintaining its crystalline structure. The catalyst was also effective in the reduction of azo dyes and subsequent production of substituted aromatic compounds suitable for use in chemical processes. Under the optimized conditions, the green CuFe2O4 catalyst was effective in producing hydrogen by hydrolysis. HGR and activation energy (Ea) values were of the order of 19,600 mL g−1 min−1 and 25.5 kJ mol−1, respectively. The results demonstrated the potential of this simple strategy for the environmental pollutant elimination and power generation.

Green Process for Producing Xylooligosaccharides by Using Sequential Auto-hydrolysis and Xylanase Hydrolysis.

Xylooligosaccharides (XOS), as prebiotic oligomers, are increasingly receiving attention as high value-added products produced from lignocellulosic biomass. Although the XOS contains a series of different degrees of polymerization (DP) of xylose units, DP 2 and 3 (xylobiose (X2) and xylotriose (X3)) are regarded as the main active components in food and pharmaceutical fields. Therefore, in the study, in order to achieve the maximum production of XOS with the desired DP, a combination strategy of sequential auto-hydrolysis and xylanase hydrolysis was developed with corncob as raw material. The evidences showed that the hemicellulosic xylan could be effectively decomposed into various higher DP saccharides (> 4), which were dissolved into the auto-hydrolysate; sequentially, the soluble saccharides could be rapidly hydrolyzed into XOS with desired DP by xylanase hydrolysis. Finally, a maximum XOS yield of 56.3% was achieved and the ratio of (X2 + X3)/XOS was over 80%; meanwhile, the by-products could be controlled at lower levels. Overall, this study provides solid data that support the selective and precise preparation of XOS from corncob, vigorously promoting the application of XOS as functional sugar products.

Effect of Cu-modified HZSM-5 zeolites on catalytic pyrolysis of lignin to producing aromatic hydrocarbons

Lignin catalytic pyrolysis presents a promising and sustainable approach to producing aromatic molecules. Herein, we investigated the effect of modified zeolite with copper (Cu/HZSM-5) catalyst on efficiently pyrolyzed kraft lignin into aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs) production, especially mononuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs). Time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) was employed to compare the volatile product profiles of lignin during catalytic pyrolysis. The highest yield of MAHs reached 70.59 mg/g based on dry lignin at 550 °C, accounting for 70.23% among lignin pyrolysis products, compared to the pristine HZSM-5 zeolite catalytic system with MAHs yield of only 54.31 mg/g and of 40.34% in products. At 550 °C and 60 s residence time, the 5% Cu/HZSM-5 catalyst demonstrated the best performance compared to all other catalysts in terms of selectively producing MAHs. The results are ascribed to the enhancement of decarboxylation and aromatization processes by the doping of copper. This work demonstrates a cost-effective pathway that potentially converts kraft lignin into aromatic hydrocarbon production at a phenomenally high selectivity, providing a concept for industrial application toward biomass utilization and high value-added production.