EXTRACTION OF CELLULOSE FROM DIFFERENT WASTE MATERIALS AS A MEANS TO ILLUSTRATE THE RELEVANCE AND THE POSSIBILITIES OF THE PROCESS OF WASTE UPCYCLING

The aim of this work is illustrating a possible example for explaining the upcycling of waste, hence producing value from it, for possible future use e.g., as viscose in the fashion industry. This has been performed by comparing the results obtained from different cellulose waste, especially yield of the product and its apparent quality. The first objective of the experiments is explaining the chemical procedure to recover cellulose waste for further use. After this, the cellulose extracted is characterized as concerns its morphological structure in terms of dimensions of the fibers obtained. Then, infrared analysis data are compared with those available from previously analyzed cellulose with known composition. Through this experience, the students are introduced to the importance of upcycling in general terms, starting with examples of though they are also presented with the very variable quality of the product obtained from cellulose waste, so to be able to make considerations about the possibility to proceed with the experiment and eventually developing it to an industrial level

Effect of different lignocellulosic fibres on poly(ε-caprolactone)-based composites for potential applications in orthotics

This work compares the mechanical and thermal behaviour of fully biodegradable biocomposites based on polycaprolactone reinforced with three different natural fibres, namely hemp, sisal and coir, for potential applications in the field of orthoses. The same properties were further compared to those of two commercially available materials commonly used in the same prospective field. The results confirmed that the addition of natural fibres, irrespective of the origin of the fibres (leaf, bast or fruit) to a biodegradable matrix allows for significant improvement of the mechanical behaviour of the ensuing composites compared to traditional thermoplastic materials used in orthotics

Biochemical and nutritional traits of sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax) from different rearing systems.

Farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), sampled from three different culture systems (intensive in sea-cages, intensive in land-based basins and extensive in lagoon and storage basins of salt-work), of the Northern, Central and Southern Italy, were analyzed with the aim to employ nutritional trait to describe and to distinguish the "origin" of the product. Lipid and fatty acid profile, strongly affected by the feeding history and environmental factors, responsible of the nu- tritional and perceived quality of fish product, are proposed as marker of origin

Combination of freezing, low sodium brine, and cold smoking on the quality and shelf-life of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax l.) fillets as a strategy to innovate the market of aquaculture products

Aquaculture is playing a leading role in both meeting the growing demand for seafood and increasing the sustainability of the fish production sector. Thus, innovative technologies that improve its sustainability, competitiveness, and safety are necessary for growth in the sector. This study aimed to develop cold smoked sea bass fillets from aquaculture. The aptitude of frozen and fresh fillets for cold smoking was investigated by processing both fresh and thawed fillets kept previously at −20◦C for 15, 30, 60, and 90 days. Moreover, to develop a low-salt product, fillets were immersed in low-sodium or standard brine. Sensory, biochemical, and physical-chemical analyses were performed on both the raw fillets and the smoked fillets during vacuum packaged storage for 35 days at 1 ± 0.5◦C. Young modulus values, representative of texture and sensory evaluation, showed that the quality of fresh fillets was better compared to the thawed ones, thus affecting the quality of the final product as the correlation between parameters showed (principal component analysis). Cold smoking was effective in both maintaining the total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) below the threshold for spoilage and preventing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, partial sodium replacement by potassium did not alter the sensory attributes of smoked fillets, which maintained high scores up to 21 days

Mechanical and thermal properties of crab chitin reinforced carboxylated SBR composites

The addition of small amounts (up to 9 wt%) of chitin microsized particles, originating from shellfish waste, to carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR) matrix (as received and annealed to 100°C) has been studied. In particular, this study concentrated on their mechanical (creep investigation by nanoindentation and dynamical-mechanical analysis), thermal (differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry) and swelling behaviour (toluene absorption) and was completed by morphological characterisation by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. The results show that annealing has a limited effect on materials properties, effects which are further reduced by the addition of growing amounts of crab chitin. It should be noted that the limited filler content used in the study does not substantially modify the linear creep behaviour of XSBR for sufficiently long loading times. The thermal stability of the system does also appear to be preserved even with the maximum chitin content added, while it serves sufficiently as an effective barrier against aromatic solvent absorption

Biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Halobacterium halobium isolated from a Tunisian solar saltern

Background: Bioactive molecules have received increasing attention due to their nutraceutical attributes and anticancer, antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. This study aimed to investigate the biological properties of carotenoids extracted from Archaea. Methods: Halophilic Archaea strains were isolated from the brine of a local crystallizer pond (TS7) of a solar saltern at Sfax, Tunisia. The most carotenoid-producing strain (M8) was investigated on heptoma cell line (HepG2), and its viability was assessed by the MTT-test. The cells were incubated with different sub-lethal extract rates, with carotenoid concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 μM. Antioxidant activity was evaluated through exposing the cells to sub-lethal extract concentrations for 24 hours and then to oxidative stress induced by 60 μM arachidonic acid and 50 μM H2O2. Results: Compared to non-treated cells, bacterial carotenoid extracts inhibited HepG2 cell viability (50%). A time and dose effect was observed, with cell viability undergoing a significant (P < 0.05) decrease with extract concentration. After exposure to oxidative stress, control cells underwent a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in viability as compared to the non-treated cells. Conclusions: The bacterial extracts under investigation were noted to exhibit the strongest free radical scavenging activity with high carotenoid concentrations. The carotenoid extract also showed significant antiproliferative activity against HepG2 human cancer cell lines