Biodegradable films based on chitosan, glycerol, and defatted Chlorella biomass (DCB) were prepared and characterized in terms of thermal stability, mechanical, water barrier, and optical properties. Increasing DCB content from 5 to 25 wt% increased tensile strength of chitosan films by 235%. The incorporation of DCB decreased both moisture content and swelling degree of chitosan/defatted Chlorella biomass (Cs/DCB) films. Furthermore, increasing the content of defatted algal biomass decreased light transmission and reduced water vapor permeability of composite films by more than 60%. As confirmed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis, such improvement in functional and physical properties is mainly due to the homogeneous and uniform distribution of DCB into the polymeric matrix along with the establishment of strong hydrogen bond interactions between chitosan and algal biomass constituents. Moreover, Cs/DCB composite films showed more than 50% of degradation in 60 days soil burial test.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2020.127777 | DOI Listing |
J Agric Food Chem
January 2025
Institute of Nanfan and Seed Industry, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510220, People's Republic of China.
Aquatic biomass, particularly microalgae and duckweed, presents a promising and sustainable alternative source of plant-based protein and bioactive compounds for food and feed applications. This review highlights the nutritional potential of these aquatic species, focusing on their high protein content, rapid growth rates, and adaptability to nonarable environments. Microalgae, such as and spp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Sustain Resour Manag
January 2025
Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, BOKU University, Vienna, Konrad-Lorenz-Strasse 20, 3430 Tulln an der Donau, Austria.
Tremendous quantities of textile waste generated and primarily landfilled annually represent a huge risk of contaminating the environment, together with loss of valuable resources. Especially, blended fabrics further pose a challenge for recycling and valorization strategies, while enzymatic hydrolysis offers a highly specific and environmentally friendly solution. In this study, we demonstrate that proteases specifically hydrolyze the wool components in blends with polyester, allowing recovery of pure polyester fibers as well as amino acids and peptides as platform molecules for further valorization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLett Appl Microbiol
January 2025
Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Jaipur 303002, India.
Azo dyes constitute 60-70% of commercially used dyes and are complex, carcinogenic, and mutagenic pollutants that negatively impact soil composition, water bodies, flora, and fauna. Conventional azo dye degradation techniques have drawbacks such as high production and maintenance costs, use of hazardous chemicals, membrane clogging, and sludge generation. Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells (CW-MFCs) offer a promising sustainable approach for the bio-electrodegradation of azo dyes from textile wastewater.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife (Basel)
January 2025
Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes University Campus, GR-70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
This study investigates the resilience of the unicellular green microalga to extreme atmospheric conditions simulating those of Mars, Jupiter, and Titan. Using Earth as a control, experiments were conducted under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions to evaluate the organism's photosynthetic efficiency, oxygen production, and biomass growth over 2, 5, and 12 days. Photosynthetic performance was analyzed through chlorophyll a fluorescence induction (JIP-test), metabolic activity via gas chromatography, and biomass accumulation measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao
January 2025
Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China.
Formate is an important solar fuel, with large application potential in bioconversion. Especially, the win-win collaboration is achieved when formate is applied to the cultivation of microalgae, which combines the advantages from both artificial and natural photosynthesis. However, the inhibition of formate on the photosynthetic electron transport hinders the application of formate at high concentrations.
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