Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology最新文献

Spent coffee ground (SCG) is a primary by-product obtained during soluble coffee processing and could be used for high-value products due to its protein content. The SCG is a rich source of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, lipids and proteins. The bioactive peptide obtained after protein hydrolysis has great potential as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-mutagenic agent and a better understanding is a prerequisite for proper utilization of the natural and renewable source of protein to attain a sustainable approach. Moreover, by utilizing SCG-derived peptides we can reduce the contamination of these residues at an agronomical scale. In this review, we discussed the spent coffee ground protein-based peptides and also high-lightened the properties of these valuable bioactive peptides in addition to other industrially important metabolites. Conclusively, the SCG peptides can be an interesting substitute to plant protein with functional properties in food industries, and at the same time utilization of SCG would reduce the bio-waste burden.

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To reduce the crop losses associated with biotic and abiotic stresses, novel sensor technologies that can monitor plant health and predict and track plant diseases in real time are required. Plant sensors based on wearable technologies are placed directly on the plant leaf or stem. The health status of the plant is reflected by various biomarkers and microenvironmental parameters, which are converted into electric readouts by the sensors for convenient analysis. Herein, the latest research progress in the field of wearable plant sensors is evaluated, and the sensors are classified according to their individual functions. Moreover, the design principles and working mechanisms of previously reported wearable sensors are analyzed, and the design features adopted to overcome the difficulties associated with precision agriculture are explored. Finally, the challenges and future development prospects in this field are outlined. This review contributes to the growing body of literature on wearable plant sensors, underscoring their critical role in mitigating crop losses through real-time plant health monitoring and disease prediction. Advancements in wearable plant sensors could ultimately revolutionize crop production and sustainability by enabling more precise, efficient, and proactive farming practices.

The technology known as carbon capture and storage (CCS) can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions on a massive scale. The whole process and large-scale CCS projects are still in the exploratory stage from project demonstration stage to commercialization stage because to the significant expenditure, prolonged operating term, and numerous technological connections involved. The investment cost of CCS, the advancement of CCS technology, and the safety of CCS operation are its primary points of emphasis. There are several ways to successfully absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂), but they all have the drawback of having large investment costs. For the smooth development of capturing technology, the issues of cost and efficiency must be resolved. Transporting CO₂ is usually necessary since its source and storage location are dispersed and far apart. This is seen to be the most challenging issue. The secret to ensuring the success of CCS projects is understanding how to perform efficient economic evaluation when making investment decisions in light of the high cost of CCS. The influence of measures like increased carbon taxes and government subsidies will hasten the commercialization of CCS projects. We advise a thorough assessment of CCS projects to support their strategic positioning with nations and investors and deepen decision-makers' understanding of the technical feasibility and economics of CCS projects to obtain a more thorough support. This recommendation is based on the progress and challenges in the development of each module.

Extractive fermentation is a potential process intensification integrated with aqueous two-phase extraction for simultaneous in-situ product recovery during fermentation to improve the efficiency of any bioprocess industry. This minimizes the innate product inhibitions, recovery, operational issues, and sustainability during conventional fermentation. The efficiency of the extraction process is hampered by the toxicity, non-biodegradability, and recycling of solvents associated with two-phase extraction. In comparison to conventional fermentation and purification techniques, extractive fermentation has several benefits such as higher product yields, lower costs for subsequent processing, and the ability to synthesize molecules that are challenging to recover using traditional methods. Extractive fermentation is a sustainable method for enhanced product recovery with the adaptability of reactor and solvent recyclability. An in-depth discussion of the necessity for this technology, the significance of green solvent selectivity, reactor modification at the standpoint of green engineering is addressed in this review. The overview aims to shed light on the importance of life cycle assessment and economic analysis on process integration in facilitating the development of more eco-friendly bioprocessing systems for replacing in-situ extraction technologies.

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Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been studied for centuries, but its operation still mainly relies on physicochemical indicators. Recent advanced molecular biological tools can unveil the nature of the AD process since microbial activity is directly related to digester performance. The paper summarized up-to-date microbiological and molecular biological analysis techniques applied in AD, including PCR-based techniques, electrophoresis, next-generation sequencing, MS-based techniques, and visualization-based techniques. In addition, the paper also reviewed the techniques that link microbial identity and activity to ecological function. Molecular biological techniques can identify microbial activity and AD process disturbance, but research on on-site analysis of microbial communities for a full-scale system is lacking. One of the most suitable methods for studying microbial communities in anaerobic digesters is fluorescence in situ hybridization, which does not require preparative isolation and cultivation. Another very important method is the use of physiological fluorescent probes to reveal the functional characteristics of methanogenic communities by CTC (5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium chloride)/DAPI (4'-6 diamino-2 phenylindole), which is a very rapid, sensitive and informative assay. These methods, together with the application of confocal laser microscopy, and the study of polyphosphate granules and Co-factor 420 of the microbial communities allow us a very effective and targeted functional-molecular control of the processes in anaerobic digesters.

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Grape is one of the most well-known fruits worldwide, being transformed into distinct food products, one of which is wine. A significantly large portion of grape production is exclusively destined for winemaking which, as an industrial process, produces significant amounts of by-products. Grape pomace is considered the major by-product of winemaking and consists of skins, seeds and stems that are left behind after the stage of grapes’ pressing. According to the Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) of the European Parliament, “waste prevention should be the first priority of waste management and re-use and material recycling should be preferred to energy recovery from waste”. This review aims to approach the recent advances over the valorization of grape pomace as a value-adding material, exploring its potential uses in the industry. The main methods for this purpose are discussed, including traditional methods (such as distillates production, animal feed, and soil fertilizer), its use as a technological aid in different industrial processes (e.g., adsorption, immobilization, food packaging and cosmetics), its addition in food products, highlighting its potential effects on physicochemical, functional and sensory attributes of these products, and as a raw material for bioenergy production. The large number of strategies that have been employed for the possible use of grape pomace show its high revalorization potential, with studies being conducted on several different food products of different categories, such as dairy, meat, fish and bakery products or even wine itself. The main positive effect of this addition consists the increase of the antioxidant activity of the medium, contributing towards enhanced shelf-life, both microbiologically and physicochemically. Given the fact that a linear production model is not satisfactory for sustainable development and focus has been shifted towards circular models, it appears that grape pomace consists a major value-adding component that can promote such economy schemes, as it can be reutilized in numerous ways across a number of industrial categories, including the winery that it came from. However, this study highlighted also the absence of a comprehensive legislative framework covering the addition of grape pomace in foods, of studies analyzing completely the cost of grape pomace revalorization, and of specific research on green/food-grade extraction methods of valuable compounds from grape pomace.

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Pesticides, in various forms, are used for the protection of crops. However, their residues are detrimental to human, animal, and environmental health. Therefore, their detection, monitoring, and control have gained prominent research focus. While most conventional detection techniques demand sophisticated analytical instrumentation, longer processing times, and skill sets, microfluidic devices are increasingly being recognized, given their inherent benefits of miniaturization, lesser sample requirements, portability, and ease of integration, in addition to sensitivity and selectivity. This review provides advances in state-of-the-art microfluidic devices for pesticide detection applications. While key findings of recent studies have been highlighted to better explain their widening application range, the article also provides information on fundamental aspects of fluid flow in microfluidic channels, device fabrication, and system considerations. As a versatile technology, there is ample scope for their integration with other sensing systems, all of which are need-specific. This work also throws light into the techno-economic feasibility, research needs, and prospects for the commercialization of microfluidic systems for pesticide detection applications.

Indian Railways (IR) is the third largest in the world and an economic transportation mode in India. A recent report by the Central Pollution Control Board, Government of India revealed that most of the IR stations were unable to comply with the norms of solid waste management especially on treatment of plastic waste. Hence, this study is aimed to explore potential plastic waste resources/generation across Indian Railway Units (IRUs) and to recommend eco-smart energy solutions to improve plastic waste management at IRUs. Significant problems related to collection, segregation, and treatment of railway mixed plastic waste were addressed. Recent initiatives by IR to eradicate the plastic pollution in IRUs were highlighted in the study. Eco-smart solutions such as financial rewarding system, concession in railway ticket price, priority reservation during booking of railway tickets, converting the unsegregated waste into valuable products of railway platform tiles, pavements, and bricks were recommended. Finally, the study provides a comprehensive perspective of plastic waste to energy conversion in terms of plasto-oil, plasto-char, and plasto-gas products.

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