Databases for biomass and waste biorefinery - a mini-review and SWOT analysis

The world is facing problems of the increasing amount of resources wasted as the world population grows. Biowaste streams form a significant part of the overall waste generation, and a circular economy utilizing this biowaste will significantly reduce waste whilst lowering the anthropogenic carbon footprint. Due to their energy content and high concentration of hydrocarbon molecules, bio-based waste streams have the potential to be transformed into valorized products (energy, fuels, and chemicals) using biorefinery technologies. In this work, a mini-review has been conducted on available, mostly European databases on existing biomass types and biorefinery technologies to provide a framework for a desirable, comprehensive database connecting bio-based waste streams, biorefinery technologies and bioproducts, as well as the geographical distribution of feedstocks and biorefineries. The database assessment utilized the SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats) methodology to support benchmark analysis and to identify critical gaps in underlying data structures that could be included in a single database. The results show that current databases are useful but insufficient for waste biorefineries due to limited quality and quantity as well as the usability of data. A comprehensive database or improved database cluster would be necessary, not only for technology development but for better investment and policy decisions. The development of the new database architecture would need to incorporate the aspects: expansion of database scope and content depth, improved usability, accessibility, applicability, update frequency, openness to new contributions, process descriptions and parameters, and technology readiness level.

Phytomanagement of trace element polluted fields with aromatic plants: supporting circular bio-economies

Trace elements pollution of soils became a global concern because of their persistence in the environment which can lead to accumulation in food chains up to toxic levels. At the same time, there is a shortage of arable land for growing food, fodder and industrial crops, which highlights the need for remediation/use of polluted land. Restoration of degraded lands has been included as a vital component of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We summarize various sources of entry of important trace elements in the environment, available biological reclamation and management strategies and their limitations. Recent advances in phytomanagement approaches using aromatic crops to obtain economically valuable products such as essential oils and revalorize such polluted areas are reviewed. The worldwide application of this strategy in the last 10 years is illustrated through a choropleth map. Finally, the emerging concept of phytomanagement as a restorative and regenerative circular bio-economy is also discussed.

From Waste to Taste: Application of Fermented Spent Rootlet Ingredients in a Bread System

The process of upcycling and incorporating food by-products into food systems as functional ingredients has become a central focus of research. Barley rootlets (BR) are a by-product of the malting and brewing industries that can be valorised using lactic acid bacteria fermentation. This research investigates the effects of the inclusion of unfermented (BR-UnF), heat-sterilised (BR-Ster), and five fermented BR ingredients (using Weissella cibaria MG1 (BR-MG1), Leuconostoc citreum TR116 (BR-TR116), Lactiplantibacillus plantarum FST1.7 (BR-FST1.7), Lactobacillus amylovorus FST2.11 (BR-FST2.11), and Limosilactobacillus reuteri R29 (BR-R29) in bread. The antifungal compounds in BR ingredients and the impact of BR on dough rheology, gluten development, and dough mixing properties were analysed. Additionally, their effects on the techno-functional characteristics, in vitro starch digestibility, and sensory quality of bread were determined. BR-UnF showed dough viscoelastic properties and bread quality comparable to the baker's flour (BF). BR-MG1 inclusion ameliorated bread specific volume and reduced crumb hardness. Breads containing BR-TR116 had comparable bread quality to BF, while the inclusion of BR-R29 substantially slowed microbial spoilage. Formulations containing BR-FST2.11 and BR-FST1.7 significantly reduced the amounts of sugar released from breads during a simulated digestion and resulted in a sourdough-like flavour profile. This study highlights how BR fermentation can be tailored to achieve desired bread characteristics.

α-Fe2O3 Nanoparticles Aided-Dual Conversion for Self-Powered Bio-Based Photodetector

Eco-friendly energy harvesting from the surrounding environment has been triggered extensive researching enthusiasm due to the threat of global energy crisis and environmental pollutions. By the conversion of mechanical energy that is omnipresent in our environment into electrical energy, triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) can potentially power up small electronic devices, serves as a self-powered detectors and predominantly, it can minimize the energy crisis by credibly saving the traditional non-renewable energy. In this study, we present a novel bio-based TENG comprising PDMS/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite film and a processed human hair-based film, that harvests the vibrating energy and solar energy simultaneously by the integration of triboelectric technology and photoelectric conversion techniques. Upon illumination, the output voltage and current signals rapidly increased by 1.4 times approximately, compared to the dark state. Experimental results reveal that the photo-induced enhancement appears due to the effective charge separation depending on the photosensitivity of the hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles) over the near ultraviolet (UV), visible and near infrared (IR) regions. Our work provides a new approach towards the self-powered photo-detection, while developing a propitious green energy resource for the circular bio-economy.