Phenolic compound extraction from spent coffee grounds for antioxidant recovery

Spent Coffee Grounds Valorization as Bioactive Phenolic Source Acquired Antifungal, Anti-Mycotoxigenic, and Anti-Cytotoxic Activities

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), which constitute 75% of original coffee beans, represent an integral part of sustainability. Contamination by toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins is a hazard that threatens food production. This investigation aimed to examine SCGs extract as antimycotic and anti-ochratoxigenic material. The SCGs were extracted in an eco-friendly way using isopropanol. Bioactive molecules of the extract were determined using the UPLC apparatus. The cytotoxicity on liver cancer cells (Hep-G2) showed moderate activity with selectivity compared with human healthy oral epithelial (OEC) cell lines but still lower than the positive control (Cisplatin). The antibacterial properties were examined against pathogenic strains, and the antifungal was examined against toxigenic fungi using two diffusion assays. Extract potency was investigated by two simulated models, a liquid medium and a food model. The results of the extract showed 15 phenolic acids and 8 flavonoids. Rosmarinic and syringic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids, while apigenin-7-glucoside, naringin, epicatechin, and catechin were the predominant flavonoids in the SCGs extract. The results reflected the degradation efficiency of the extract against the growth of Aspergillus strains. The SCGs recorded detoxification in liquid media for aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OCA). The incubation time of the extract within dough spiked with OCA was affected up to 2 h, where cooking was not affected. Therefore, SCGs in food products could be applied to reduce the mycotoxin contamination of raw materials to the acceptable regulated limits.

Valorization of products from grounded-coffee beans

The valorisation of ground coffee beans is discussed in two parts; the first research question relates to the extraction of cold brew from ground coffee beans to provide a healthy cold beverage. Two parameters were investigated: temperature, and the ratio of ground coffee beans to water. This work suggests that cold brew coffee can be extracted between 15 and 20 °C over 2 to 4 h instead of 24 h as outlined in typical cold brew extraction processes. The coffee aroma was the response variable. Part of this investigation was to develop a downstream product from the waste spent grounded coffee bean. This part of the study investigates the production of firelighters from spent ground coffee beans to reduce the impact of dumping significant quantities of spent coffee grounds from coffee houses, restaurants, and baristas on landfill sites, which can lead to environmental problems such as polluting water systems, killing wildlife and disturbing ecosystems. The study used spent ground coffee beans in products such as firelighters to test their efficacy. This application has shown promising results, with the firelighters showing longer burning times for the ignition of log fires while also emitting a gentle, pleasant coffee aroma.

Statistical Optimization of Alkali Pretreatment to Improve Sugars Recovery from Spent Coffee Grounds and Utilization in Lactic Acid Fermentation

Biorefinery, which utilizes carbon-neutral biomass as a resource, is attracting attention as a significant alternative in a modern society confronted with climate change. In this study, spent coffee grounds (SCGs) were used as the feedstock for lactic acid fermentation. In order to improve sugar conversion, alkali pretreatment was optimized by a statistical method, namely response surface methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for the alkali pretreatment of SCGs were determined as follows: 75 °C, 3% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and a time of 2.8 h. The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated SCGs were determined as follows: enzyme complex loading of 30-unit cellulase, 15-unit cellobiase and 50-unit mannanase per g biomass and a reaction time of 96 h. SCG hydrolysates were used as the carbon source for Lactobacillus cultivation, and the conversions of lactic acid by L. brevis ATCC 8287 and L. parabuchneri ATCC 49374 were 40.1% and 55.8%, respectively. Finally, the maximum lactic acid production by L. parabuchneri ATCC 49374 was estimated to be 101.2 g based on 1000 g of SCGs through the optimization of alkali pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis.

Improved Sugar Recovery from Orange Peel by Statistical Optimization of Thermo-Alkaline Pretreatment

Orange peel, which is a by-product of oranges, contains carbohydrates that can be converted into sugars and used in the fermentation process. In this study, the thermal alkaline pretreatment process was chosen because of its simplicity and lesser reaction time. In addition, the reaction factors were optimized using response surface methodology. The determined optimal conditions were as follows: 60.1 g/L orange peels loading, 3% KOH and 30 min. Under the optimal conditions, glucan content (GC) and enzymatic digestibility (ED) were found to be 32.8% and 87.8%, respectively. Enzymatic hydrolysis was performed with pretreated and non-pretreated orange peels using three types of enzyme complex (cellulase, cellobiase and xylanase). The minimum concentrations of enzyme complex required to obtain maximum ED were 30 FPU (filter paper unit), 15 CBU (cellobiase unit), and 30 XNU (xylanase unit) based on 1 g-biomass. Additionally, ED of the treated group was approximately 3.7-fold higher than that of the control group. In conclusion, the use of orange peel as a feedstock for biorefinery can be a strategic solution to reduce wastage of resources and produce sustainable bioproducts.

Improved Glucose Recovery from Sicyos angulatus by NaOH Pretreatment and Application to Bioethanol Production

As greenhouse gases and environmental pollution become serious, the demand for alternative energy such as bioethanol has rapidly increased, and a large supply of biomass is required for bioenergy production. Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant on the planet and a large part of it, the second-generation biomass, has the advantage of not being a food resource. In this study, Sicyos angulatus, known as an invasive plant (harmful) species, was used as a raw material for bioethanol production. In order to improve enzymatic hydrolysis, S. angulatus was pretreated with different NaOH concentration at 121 °C for 10 min. The optimal NaOH concentration for the pretreatment was determined to be 2% (w/w), and the glucan content (GC) and enzymatic digestibility (ED) were 46.7% and 55.3%, respectively. Through NaOH pretreatment, the GC and ED of S. angulatus were improved by 2.4-fold and 2.5-fold, respectively, compared to the control (untreated S. angulatus). The hydrolysates from S. angulatus were applied to a medium for bioethanol fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae K35. Finally, the maximum ethanol production was found to be 41.3 g based on 1000 g S. angulatus, which was 2.4-fold improved than the control group.

Fabrication of Functional Bioelastomer for Food Packaging from Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) Juice Processing By-Products

Carbon-neutral and eco-friendly biomass-based processes are recognized as a frontier technology for sustainable development. In particular, biopolymers are expected to replace petrochemical-based films that are widely used in food packaging. In this study, the fabrication conditions of functional (antioxidant and antibacterial) bioelastomers were investigated using by-products from the juice processing (experimental group) and freeze-dried whole fruit (control group). Bioelastomer was fabricated by a casting method in which polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was mixed with 25 or 50 wt% aronia powder (juice processing by-products and freeze-dried whole fruit). The mechanical properties of the bioelastomers were measured based on tensile strength and Young's modulus. When the mixture contained 50 wt% aronia powder, the strength was not appropriate for the intended purpose. Next, the surface and chemical properties of the bioelastomer were analyzed; the addition of aronia powder did not significantly change these properties when compared to PDMS film (no aronia powder). However, the addition of aronia powder had a significant effect on antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and showed higher activity with 50 wt% than with 25 wt%. In particular, bioelastomers fabricated from aronia juice processing by-products exhibited approximately 1.4-fold lower and 1.5-fold higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, respectively, than the control group (bioelastomers fabricated from freeze-dried aronia powder).