Food waste to bio-energy through anaerobic digestion under different management scenarios

The problem of food waste management is currently on an increase, regarding all steps from collection to disposal. Discharge of food materials occurs along the entire Food Supply Chain and it produces an impact at an environmental, social, and economical level. The interconnection of biotechnological processes in the co-production of bio-fuels and bio-products represents a key strategy aimed at maximising the utilisation of food waste and raising the potential income of the entire bioprocess chain. Therefore, when considering properly segregated food waste streams, both from decentralized and not-decentralized realities, these become sustainable non-virgin feedstock

BIOLOGICAL METABOLITES RECOVERY FROM BEVERAGE PRODUCTION SOLID RESIDUES THROUGH ACIDOGENIC FERMENTATION

Acidogenic fermentation was applied to evaluate the potential recovery of biological monomers as precursors in bio-plastic production. Three residual organic substrates from high-volume beverage sectors (coffee, orange juice, beer) were assessed: spent coffee grounds (SCG), orange peels (OP), and brewers\u2019 spent grains (BSG). Batch fermentation tests were set up. SCG and OP were studied as single substrates and combined to evaluate yields of target monomers (volatile fatty acids, ethanol, lactate) and to reveal interactions between the matrixes. NaOH pre-treatment was applied to SCG to enhance disruption of the lignocellulosic cell wall. BSG was studied without pre-treatment and following acid or alkaline pre-treatment, with acidogenic fermentation being initiated with two different initial pH values (7; 9). Acetogenic fermentation was achieved with all substrates, although with different yields of target monomers. In terms of total biological metabolite production, following alkaline pre-treatment, OP and BSG, both fermented at an initial pH 9, showed the best performance, yielding 62.6 g and 62.0 g target monomers per litre substrate. For all substrates, acetic and butyric acids were the most abundant products. In the case of OP fermentation, butyrate accounted for 57% (35.8 g/L) of the total. The BSG test with the highest total yield also achieved the highest acetate yield (36.7 g/L). The results confirm that OP and BSG should be considered a priority sustainable feedstock for the supply of biological monomers, particularly if polyhydroxyalkanoates are to be produced. SCG are better suited to aceto-oriented approaches, such as the production of polyvinyl acetat

The 3Rs applied to fruits and vegetables surpluses: virtuous examples from Italy

When facing environmental issues associated with food waste, it is necessary to look upstream at the root causes. At the very beginning of the supply chain, there is the first cause of waste generation: unrecovered agriculture surpluses. Given the richness and diversity of farmlands, Europe is a big market for fresh fruits and vegetables, where Italy and Spain are the leading producers. In Italy, the fruits and vegetables sector represents a business of 13 billion Euros and it continues growing. Fruits and vegetables are highly perishable and their marketability as fresh products is severely limited by high quality standards. Fruits and vegetables surpluses are due to several variables like heterogeneous market demand, weather, pests, labour availability, crop gluts, production error and strict standards. Reduction strategies must be given absolute priority targeting digital agriculture techniques (agriculture 4.0), improved forecasting and detailed information exchange among all supply chain stakeholders. Such strategies must then be followed by reduction and recycling ones. In particular, the latest actions shall be focused on avoiding losses and waste generation through fruits and vegetables surpluses valorisation preferably keeping them within the food supply chain mainly through donation and processing, preferably based on green innovative technologies. This review aims to appraise existing accomplishments of fruits and vegetables surpluses minimization gleaned from 3Rs initiatives and to point out virtuous examples within the Italian fruits and vegetables production panorama

Foreign language effect in decision-making: How foreign is it?

It has been shown that decisions and moral judgments differ when made using native languages compared to foreign languages. Cross-linguistic differences appeared in foreign languages that monolinguals typically ac- quired in school and used neither routinely nor extensively. We replicated these differences with two popula- tions of proficient, native bilinguals (Italian-Venetian; Italian-Bergamasque). Venetian and Bergamasque are spoken in households and informal circles, unlike Italian, which is also used in more formal contexts. The findings reported in foreign languages for the Asian Disease Problem and the Footbridge Dilemma were re- produced in Venetian and Bergamasque. Our results show that language effects on decision-making and moral judgments are not restricted to foreign languages. The explanation proposed for foreign languages of cross- linguistic differences in emotion responses does not apply to our proficient, native bilinguals, who showed emotion responses of equal intensity in their languages. We propose that the contexts in which bilinguals use a language \u2013 either native, regional or foreign \u2013 could affect decisions

Application of Ultrasonic Intensification Technology in the Extraction of Bio-actives from Spent Coffee Grounds and Spent Tea Leaves

Spent coffee grounds (SCG) and spent tea leaves (STL) are leftovers of the two most diffused beverages all over the world, coffee and tea. Functional components commonly found within raw materials, i.e. caffeine and phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and catechin derivatives, are not fully extracted from coffee grounds and tea leaves during beverage preparation. Therefore, SCG and STL can be regarded as a source of bioactives to be valorised in the formulation of various functional foods and beverages. In the present study, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional solvent extraction aimed at the recovery of natural antioxidants and caffeine from SCG and STL were compared. In particular, ethanol 60% (v/v) and boiling water were used as solvent media and the effects of two different ultrasound (US) waves amplitudes (80 and 152 µm) and treatment time (5 and 10 min) were investigated. This study closes a literature gap on UAE from SCG and STL using GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) solvents, in particular with water. US had an evident positive effect on the recovery of natural antioxidants when the solvent media was aqueous ethanol. In particular, applying the US treatment at 152 µm for 10 min, the total phenolic compounds content of SCG (24.01 ±0.01 mgGAE/gTS) and STL (243.67 ±12.36 mgGAE/gTS) extracts doubled and quadrupled, respectively. Likewise, caffeine recovery significantly increased after sonication up to 2.19 ±0.02 mg/gTS from SCG and up to 12.74 ±0.36 mg/gTS from STL

An Overview of Adenoid Microbiome Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing-Based Metagenomic Analysis

Background and Objectives: the upper respiratory tract harbors the highest bacterial density in the whole respiratory system. Adenoids, which are located in the nasopharynx, are a major site of bacterial colonies in the upper airways. Our goal was to use culture-independent molecular techniques to identify the breadth of bacterial diversity in the adenoid vegetations of children suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis and obstructive sleep apnea. Materials and methods: in total, 21 adenoid samples were investigated using amplification and sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Results: among the most common bacterial species found were Veillonella atypica, Fusobactrium nucelatum, Shaalia odontolytica, and Moraxella catarrhalis. Veillonella atypica and Fusbacterium nucelatum dominated the microbiome in all 21 samples, attributing to more than 60% of all detected genetic material. Conclusions: since both Veillonella atypica and Fusobacterium nucleatum are, predominantly, oral cavity and dental microorganisms, our findings may suggest oral microbiome migration deeper into the oropharynx and nasopharynx where these bacteria colonize adenoid vegetations.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Identifying the Microbiome of the Adenoid Surface of Children Suffering from Otitis Media with Effusion and Children without Middle Ear Effusion Using 16S rRNA Genetic Sequencing

Funding Information: Research funded by “Centrālā Laboratorija”, further information upon request. During the manuscript preparation and review process, Rihards Saksis was supported by the project “Strengthening of the capacity of doctoral studies at the University of Latvia within the framework of the new doctoral model”, identification No.8.2.2.0/20/I/006. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Background: The upper respiratory tract harbors diverse communities of commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic organisms, originating from both the oral and nasopharyngeal microbiota. Among the primary sites of microbial colonization in the upper airways are the adenoids. Alterations in the adenoid microbiota have been implicated in the development of various conditions, including secretory otitis media. Aim: This study aims to employ 16S rRNA genetic sequencing to identify the most common bacteria present on the surface of adenoids in children with otitis media with effusion and compare them with children without pathologies in the tympanic cavity. Additionally, we seek to determine and compare the bacterial diversity in these two study groups. Materials and Methods: A total of nineteen samples from the adenoid surfaces were collected, comprising two groups: thirteen samples from children without middle ear effusion and six samples from children with secretory otitis media. The libraries of the V3–V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene was made and sequenced using MiSeq platform. Results: The most prevalent phyla observed in both groups were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. The most common bacterial genera identified in both groups were Haemophilus, Streptococcus, Moraxella, Fusobacterium, and Bordetella, with Fusobacterium and Moraxella being more prevalent in the groups that had no middle ear effusion, while Haemophulus and Streptococcus were more prevalent in the otitis media with effusion group, although not in a statistically significant way. Statistical analysis shows a trend towards bacterial composition and beta diversity being similar between the study groups; however, due to the limited sample size and unevenness between groups, we should approach this data with caution. Conclusion: The lack of prolific difference in bacterial composition between the study groups suggests that the role of the adenoid microbiome in the development of otitis media with effusion may be less significant.Peer reviewe

Two-stage anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste – Effects of process conditions during batch tests

Two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) batch tests were performed using the organic fraction of municipal solid waste as substrate. Effects of different combination of initial pH (5.5, 7, and 9) and food to microorganism (F/M) ratio (from 0.5 to 6 gVS/gVS) were investigated for hydrogen and methane productions during the first and the second stage of AD, respectively. Results showed that both initial pH and F/M ratio had an impact on hydrogen yield, hydrogen production rate and duration of lag phase. The highest hydrogen yield of 29.8 mLH2/gVS was obtained at initial pH of 5.5 and F/M ratio of 6. However, the highest hydrogen production rate (65 mLH2/gVS/d) was recorded at pH of 9 and F/M ratio of 6. Increasing the initial pH from 5.5 to 9, led to shorter lag phases for all F/M ratios. Methane production from second phase was not significantly influenced by the F/M ratios tested in the first digestion phase. When compared to single-phase AD, two-stage AD tests resulted in enhanced methane production rates from 37.3 to 68.5 mLCH4/gVS/d, reducing by half both the lag phase and the time required to reach maximum methane production