Coffee husk, a major lignocellulosic waste derived from the coffee industry, was first ground into flour of fine particles of approximately 90 µm and then torrefied at 250 °C to make it more ...thermally stable and compatible with biopolymers. The resultant torrefied coffee husk flour (TCHF) was thereafter melt-compounded with polylactide (PLA) in contents from 20 to 50 wt% and the extruded green composite pellets were shaped by injection molding into pieces and characterized. Although the incorporation of TCHF reduced the ductility and toughness of PLA, filler contents of 20 wt% successfully yielded pieces with balanced mechanical properties in both tensile and flexural conditions and improved hardness. Contents of up to 30 wt% of TCHF also induced a nucleating effect that favored the formation of crystals of PLA, whereas the thermal degradation of the biopolyester was delayed by more than 7 °C. Furthermore, the PLA/TCHF pieces showed higher thermomechanical resistance and their softening point increased up to nearly 60 °C. Therefore, highly sustainable pieces were developed through the valorization of large amounts of coffee waste subjected to torrefaction. In the Circular Bioeconomy framework, these novel green composites can be used in the design of compostable rigid packaging and food contact disposables.
Display omitted
•Soxhlet extraction resulted in a lipid yield of 10.17 % from macroalgae Ulva lactuca.•Cu–BTC@AC catalyst was successfully synthesized from lipid-extracted algae residue.•RSM–CCD ...enhanced the biodiesel yield to 92.56 % under mild reaction conditions.•GC–MS analysis confirmed the presence of 98.12 % FAME content in the biodiesel.
The pursuit of renewable fuels for the transportation sector, particularly for combustion engines like diesel, is crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This study introduces an innovative strategy for biodiesel production utilizing marine macroalgae Ulva lactuca as the primary feedstock, emphasizing sustainability and resource efficiency. Lipids were extracted from the macroalgae via a Soxhlet process and characterized using GC–MS and FTIR to ascertain fatty acid composition and functional groups. The Cu–BTC@AC catalyst, synthesized from the lipid-extracted algae residue via pyrolysis and hydrothermal treatment, underwent characterization using SEM–EDS, XRD, and FTIR techniques. Subsequently, the Cu–BTC@AC catalyst was employed in the transesterification process to efficiently convert the extracted algal lipids into biodiesel, achieving a high yield of 92.56 % under RSM-optimized conditions: 65 °C temperature, 3.96 wt% catalyst amount, 15:1 methanol-to-lipid ratio, and 140 min reaction time. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for biodiesel production were calculated as follows: Ea = 33.20 kJ mol−1, ΔH# = 30.39 kJ mol−1, ΔS# = –165.86 J mol−1 K−1, and ΔG# = 86.48 kJ mol−1. GC–MS analysis identified a significant FAME content in the biodiesel, comprising 98.12 % of its composition. Notably, the Cu–BTC@AC catalyst exhibited excellent reusability, maintaining 80.21 % biodiesel yield after the third cycle. Moreover, physicochemical analysis of the biodiesel confirmed its compliance with ASTM D6751 specifications, underscoring its potential as a viable alternative fuel for the transportation sector.
Starting from the current context, characterized by global warming, limited non-renewable resources, ecosystem degradation and population growth, organizations around the world have become ...increasingly concerned with achieving the goal of sustainable development by moving to the circular economy. Organizations operate in an unstable environment, constantly changing, characterized by the permanent action of external or internal factors. Rapid adaptation to these factors means increasing competitiveness and resource efficiency, and the chances of making a profit increase significantly. The effective implementation of integrated management systems (qualityenvironment-food safety) in accordance with the revised new ISO standards that address riskbased thinking is necessary in order to increase the overall performance of the organization and, implicitly, long-term business development (sustainable success). Thus, the implementation of integrated management systems according to the revised new ISO standards becomes a concrete and viable tool for achieving the goal for a sustainable development and circular economy in Europe.
Throughout the last half a century, rural development policy has experienced many transformations in the name of industrialization, including the mechanization of work process in agriculture, the ...installation of irrigation and amelioration systems, the electrification of farms, the application of chemical production technologies, increased productivity, and a myriad of other developments. Present questions of balanced sustainability and the minimization of negative impacts with regard to quality of life are taking leading positions in agricultural policy debates. The results of previously implemented agribusiness support measures are beginning to signal a disastrous future for ongoing agricultural policy, which has over accelerated rural development and thus caused significant changes in rural landscapes and the lives of rural residents. Therefore, future agriculture requires new models and innovative decisions, as well as good political will in the field. The main aim of this paper is to propose future directions for collaboration between government and agribusinesses using an innovative circular bio-economy economy approach for attaining the balanced development of rural sustainability. Qualitative data were collected in summer and autumn of 2018 using semi-structured interviews in Lithuanian livestock farms and government institutions. These are the key players in biogas production, as from one side they act as biogas producers (livestock farms) and from the other act as actual decision-makers (government institutions). The results of the research demonstrate that future agribusiness is highly dependent on the role taken by government in accelerating prospective innovations, even though they happen in a field of activity that is supported by public funds. Collaborative political decisions made to support the circular bio-economy economy approach in biogas production might be helpful for the future development of livestock agribusiness that is less polluting and of more benefit to society. It is suggested to broaden the use of the circular bio-economy economy approach in fostering the balanced development of rural sustainability in the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy after 2020.
Currently, biorefineries require production of multiple value-added bioproducts to compete with oil-derived products. Castor oil, extracted from the Ricinus communis plant, is a valuable biorefinery ...feedstock for producing a wide range of biochemical products, besides biofuels. However, the castor oil biorefinery requires further investigation to determine its feasibility. The aims were to make the conceptual design and the environmental and economic evaluation of an integrated multiproduct biorefinery based on castor oil plant in the Mexican context. Four different scenarios were analyzed. Azelaic, sebacic, and undecylenic acids, biodiesel, heat, and power were the major marketable products. An optimization approach allowed upgrading both economic and environmental performances, resulting in a more sustainable process design. The optimal results indicated that 42 % of castor oil is used for biodiesel, 38 % for azelaic acid, 7 % for undecylenic acid, and 13 % for sebacic acid. The main novelty of this work is the optimal design of a biorefinery for the multi-production of biopharmaceutical products in a sustainable way, using Ricinus communis, an abundant biomass in Mexico, replacing the consumption of fossil resources.
Display omitted
•A conceptual design of a Ricinus communis biorefinery is presented.•Azelaic, undecylenic, and sebacic acids have the highest economical value.•Cultivation phase and electricity consumption had the largest environmental impact.•Environmental and economical performances are upgraded using optimization tools.•An optimization assessment reveals the optimal castor oil flows distribution.
The global food production industry faces environmental concerns exacerbated by substantial food waste. European countries are striving to reduce food waste towards a circular bioeconomy and ...sustainable development. To address environmental issues and reduce plastic waste, researchers are developing sustainable active packaging systems, including edible packaging made from industry residues. These innovations aim to increase food safety and quality, extend shelf life, and reduce plastic and food waste. Particularly important in the context of the growing demand for fresh and minimally processed fruits, edible coatings have emerged as a potential solution that offers numerous advantages in maintaining fruit quality. In addition to fruit, edible coatings have also been investigated for animal-based foods to meet the demand for high-quality, chemical-free food and extended shelf life. These products globally consumed can be susceptible to the growth of harmful microorganisms and spoilage. One of the main advantages of using edible coatings is their ability to preserve meat quality and freshness by reducing undesirable physicochemical changes, such as color, texture, and moisture loss. Furthermore, edible coatings also contribute to the development of a circular bioeconomy, promoting sustainability in the food industry. This paper reviews the antimicrobial edible coatings investigated in recent years in minimally processed fruits and traditional sausages. It also approaches bionanocomposites as a recently emerged technology with potential application in food quality and safety.
The 1972 Meadows report, 'the limits to growth', predicted a global socio-economic tipping point during the twenty-first century. Now supported by 50 years of empirical evidence, this work is a ...tribute to systems thinking and an invitation to take the current environmental crisis for what it is: neither a transition nor a bifurcation, but an inversion. For instance, we used matter (e.g., fossil fuel) to save time; we will use time to preserve matter (e.g., bioeconomy). We were exploiting ecosystems to fuel production; production will feed ecosystems. We centralised to optimise; we will decentralise to support resilience. In plant science, this new context calls for new research on plant complexity (e.g., multiscale robustness and benefits of variability), also extending to new scientific approaches (e.g., participatory research, art and science). Taking this turn reverses many paradigms and becomes a new responsibility for plant scientists as the world becomes increasingly turbulent.
The circular bioeconomy offers solutions to curb the effects of climate change by focusing on the use of renewable, biological resources to produce food, energy, materials, and services. The ...substitution of fossil products by wood-based products can help avoid or reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle of products. However, it is important to understand the potential impacts of large-scale material substitution at the market level. This study aimed to assess the role of selected wood-based products in the circular bioeconomy, the possible changes in their markets, and investigate which elements could ensure the environmental sustainability of these products. The demand for graphic paper has declined over the last 15 years, while the demand for packaging has increased. Cross-laminated timber and man-made cellulosic fibres have seen their global consumption increase over the last decade. While there are benefits associated with the substitution of non-renewable materials by wood-based products, there is still limited understanding of the substitution effects at market-, country- and global level. Some factors enabling the further uptake of wood-based products include initiatives that stimulate technological change, incentives to produce or consume less fossil-based and more bio-based alternatives, and the promotion and marketing of wood-based products as viable alternatives to non-renewable materials.
PDF
