Search Results (4,709)

The growth of the global population has led to increased demand for agricultural products, resulting in greater agricultural waste production. One sustainable response to this challenge is using agricultural waste as raw material in building materials. This study examines the potential for partial replacement of natural aggregates in concrete with agricultural waste from typical Mediterranean fruits: sour cherry pits, grape seeds, ground olive pits, and carob seeds. To evaluate the effect of treatment on the behavior of agro-waste aggregates, ground olive pits were used untreated, treated with ash water, or treated with seawater. Carob seed concrete deteriorated during water curing due to seed swelling and tannin-related degradation, revealing its unsuitability without prior stabilization. Partial replacement of natural aggregates with agricultural waste resulted in decreased density, ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), dynamic elastic modulus, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity, while increasing saturated water absorption. Treatment with ash water on ground olive pits improved the interfacial transition zone (ITZ), resulting in 29% increase in compressive strength relative to untreated ground olive pits. Concrete with ash water treated ground olive pits demonstrated the highest practical potential among all tested agro-waste concretes. Full article

Lignocellulosic agricultural residues are abundant yet underutilized despite their potential for sustainable bioconversion. This study evaluated spent mushroom substrate (SMS) from Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation and roots of leafy vegetables (RLV) as alternative substrates for Pleurotus production, using wheat straw as a control. Two species, P. ostreatus and P. citrinopileatus, were cultivated on different SMS/RLV ratios and the immunomodulatory potential of harvested mushrooms was assessed. Specifically, protein (PE-D-P3 < 3 kDa) and carbohydrate (CE-D) fractions obtained after in vitro digestion were applied to LPS-challenged THP-1 cells and immune-related gene expression was analyzed by qPCR. Both species significantly modulated immune responses. The PE-D-P3 showed a more pronounced immunomodulatory effect, significantly downregulating IL1B, IL6 and TNF, whereas the CE-D reduced only TNF expression. Substrate composition influenced bioactivity: PE-D-P3 from SMS 80-RLV 20% resulted in the greatest reduction in IL1B, IL6 and TNF, while CE-D from SMS 60-RLV 40% reduced IL1B and CXCL8. These findings provide insights that both fungal species and substrate composition influence immunomodulatory compound production. Valorizing lignocellulosic residues through optimized mushroom cultivation represents a sustainable strategy for producing functional ingredients with applications in human and animal health, particularly for preventing inflammation-related disorders. Full article

The global food system (FS) contributes one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, yet evidence remains heavily skewed toward temperate-climate cities, leaving cold-climate cities in the Northern Hemisphere understudied. Here, the GHG footprint (GHGF) of the entire FS in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, is assessed, accounting for six subsystems spanning food production, processing and storage, retail, transportation, consumption, and food waste. The baseline indicates that the food waste (FW) subsystem dominates the total GHGF (47.13 kg CO_2eq/kg), contributing 49.3% of overall emissions. It exceeds those from agricultural food production (AFP) (18.5%) and, food & food waste transportation (FFWT) (22.6%). We further evaluate two mitigation scenarios. (1) Under a dietary shift scenario aligned with national dietary guidance, the total GHGF decreases 14.4% while the FW subsystem remains the largest contributor, (2) but the food waste reduction scenario yields a comparable reduction of 15.9%. The findings revealed that decarbonisation lever efficiency can be done through food waste reduction while supporting a circular valorisation strategy, including waste-related GHG liabilities as an energy source in cold-climate cities. Full article

Biochar production from lignocellulosic waste represents a sustainable route for biomass valorization and carbon management within circular bioeconomy frameworks. In this study, biochar was produced from two abundant agricultural wastes in Türkiye—tea-brewing residues and almond husks—via controlled non-isothermal pyrolysis, and biochar yield was modeled using data-driven machine learning approaches. The effects of key process parameters, including carbonization temperature (37–850 °C covering drying/pre-pyrolysis and pyrolysis regions), residence time (1–150 min), and heating rate (10–60 °C min⁻¹), were evaluated using regression-based, ensemble, and deep learning models. Model performance was evaluated using cross-validation on training and testing datasets. The results showed that linear models exhibited limited predictive capability (R² < 0.95), while regularized and ensemble models improved performance (R² ≈ 0.97–0.99). Among all approaches, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) achieved the highest predictive performance (R² ≈ 0.99, RMSE ≈ 0.06), indicating its superior ability to capture nonlinear relationships, particularly for limited datasets. Sensitivity and partial dependence analyses identified carbonization temperature as the dominant factor controlling biochar yield, with sharp declines observed above 600 °C. Optimal yields of 52–55% were obtained at 400–500 °C and residence times of 10–15 min, while lower heating rates enhanced yield stability. Overall, the results demonstrate that advanced machine learning models provide reliable tools for optimizing biochar production and supporting sustainable thermochemical conversion of lignocellulosic waste for energy and carbon-oriented sustainability applications. Full article

Soils are increasingly affected by microplastic (MP) contamination, mainly coming from industrial activities, agricultural practices, atmospheric or waterborne transport, and improper waste disposal. Despite the increasing attention to the fate of MPs in soil over the last few years, research in this area is still limited compared to aquatic ecosystems. The introduction of MPs into the soil environment can modify not only the soil properties but also the interactions among soil components, plants, and microorganisms, thus affecting the mobility and availability of other contaminants, such as potentially toxic elements (PTEs). This review critically examines the complex dynamics between MPs and PTEs in the soil ecosystem, with a focus on the conditions under which MPs can act as a source or a sink of PTEs. Indeed, on the one hand, MPs can adsorb or complex PTEs on their surfaces (similarly to natural soil colloids), thus reducing their mobility and availability; on the other hand, they can release/mobilize PTEs after MP degradation or act as micro-/nano-vectors of PTEs. Understanding such mechanisms is relevant when evaluating the environmental risks associated with the co-presence of MPs and PTEs in soil, a situation likely to occur in most contaminated sites and in many agricultural soils. Full article

Research on edible and biodegradable film packaging (EBFP) has increased significantly to explore sustainable alternatives to synthetic packaging and mitigate its environmental impacts. Biomaterials extracted from agricultural food waste (AFW) may be utilized for the fabrication of EBFP as an alternative packaging for meat and meat products. The focal point of this review is to explore the potential AFW biomaterials and bioactive compounds available in industry, and their utilization techniques for fabricating EBFP with ideal mechanical parameters suitable for use as a packaging material. Moreover, research studies have been summarized related to EBFP’s efficacy on meat shelf life, physicochemical, oxidative, and microbial qualities during storage experiments. EBFP fabricated with AFW biomaterials, such as proteins, carbohydrates, essential oils, and bioactive compounds, exhibits favorable film-forming capacity, mechanical properties, barrier properties, biodegradability, and synergy with meat. Latest advances in the application of AFW biomaterials and bioactive compounds based on EBFP for meat packaging are directed toward novel fabrication processes such as electrospinning, solvent casting, and combination of both to produce a hybrid film, which markedly improves the mechanical and barrier properties. Moreover, including bioactive materials from AFW enhances the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of EBFP to combat the oxidative rancidity and bacteria, fungi, and molds in meat to prolong shelf life. Incorporation of AFW biomaterials and bioactive compounds has improved the intelligent properties of EBFP, which has been effectively used in meat packaging to detect freshness and spoilage of meat through color and pH changes. Full article

The pollution of water, including salt and fresh water, has become an emergency problem. Pollutants come from different sources and have various characteristics, starting from industry and fertilizers used in agriculture, sewage related to human living, and other sources. Diverse sources of pollution require a comprehensive approach to water purification. One possible approach may be the use of appropriate sorbents. Currently, one of the most promising materials used is zeolites. This is because they can come from various sources, including waste raw materials such as fly ash, and, therefore, allow for the use of a circular economy approach. Moreover, these materials can be modified, which enables their selective use for selected types of pollutants. Eventually, these materials become economically viable options. The main aim of this article is to present and analyze possible solutions to water pollution based on zeolite materials. For this purpose, a critical literature review was prepared. The review reveals that zeolites perform particularly well in ion-exchange-driven removal of inorganic contaminants, while their effectiveness for organic micropollutants under realistic conditions is often limited. The identified trade-offs between removal efficiency, regeneration stability, and scalability indicate that zeolites are best applied as function-specific rather than universal sorbents. From a sustainability perspective, this targeted applicability is supported by advantages, such as low material cost, long service life, and the possibility of using naturally occurring or waste-derived precursors, which, together, enable resource-efficient water treatment processes, reduced reliance on energy-intensive technologies, and the valorization of industrial byproducts within circular economy frameworks. Full article

A major challenge in wastewater treatment lies in developing cost-effective and sustainable adsorbent materials for efficient dye removal. In this study, a novel biochar functionalized with MgO nanoparticles derived from palm leaf waste (MgO/PLB nanoparticles) was synthesized and evaluated for the removal of Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. FTIR, SEM, BET, and TGA investigations were used to thoroughly analyze the produced nanocomposite’s physicochemical properties. FTIR analysis verified the successful incorporation of MgO nanoparticles, as evidenced by the presence of characteristic Mg–O vibrations and noticeable changes in surface functional groups. SEM analysis revealed a transformation from a compact structure to a rough, particle-decorated morphology, indicating increased surface heterogeneity. BET analysis indicated the development of mesoporous structures, accompanied by a substantial increase in specific surface area from 2 to 178 m²/g. TGA results further confirmed enhanced thermal stability, indicating the formation of a structurally robust adsorbent. Batch adsorption tests showed that CR removal depends on pH, dosage, concentration, and contact time, with maximum efficiency (~99%) achieved at pH 4 using 0.03 g of adsorbent. The adsorption followed pseudo second order kinetics and was best described by the Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum capacity of 23.4 mg/g. The regenerated nanomaterial retained more than 89% of its adsorption capacity after four successive cycles, demonstrating good reusability and stability. The developed MgO/PLB nanoparticles exhibit efficient adsorption performance, combined with low-cost synthesis and the utilization of abundant agricultural waste, making it an affordable and long-lasting adsorbent for applications involving wastewater treatment. Full article

The increasing demand for sustainable agricultural inputs has driven interest in biodegradable polymers from agro-industrial residues. Pineapple crown biomass (PCB), a widely available lignocellulosic waste, represents a promising feedstock for producing carboxymethylcellulose (CMC). However, the optimal pulping and bleaching conditions for CMC synthesis from this residue remain underexplored. Nevertheless, the combination of CMC derived from PCB with Bacillus subtilis as a seed coating agent for the bean cultivar has not yet been investigated. Here, we produced cellulosic pulps from PCB using a bioreactor, varying NaOH concentration (1–3%), pulping time (1.5–2.5 h), bleaching volume (55–75 mL) and time (60–120 min). The selected pulping condition (2% NaOH, 1.5 h) yielded pulp with high purity (83.9%) and crystallinity (76.35%). After bleaching (65 mL, 90 min), the material was suitable for CMC synthesis under two conditions: CMC1 and CMC2. CMC2 showed a higher degree of substitution (1.010) than CMC1 (0.620) but led to reduced seed germination (77.67%) due to excessive water retention and fungal growth. In contrast, CMC1, with or without B. subtilis, maintained high germination (91%) and significantly increased seedling length (21.30 cm). We conclude that PCB is a viable feedstock for CMC production, and CMC1 exhibits strong potential as an effective seed coating agent for sustainable agriculture. Full article

This study explores the use of metallurgical slag extracts as a liquid mineral fertilizer for maize cultivation. Slag samples were obtained from the former lead smelter in Shymkent and the Zhezkent Mining and Processing Plant. Elemental analysis identified the slag from the second storage area of the Shymkent smelter as the least contaminated with potentially toxic elements and enriched in macro- and micronutrients. Slag extraction was conducted via chemical leaching using potassium sulfate and ammonia solutions in a hydrogen peroxide medium, yielding Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ concentrations of 423.751 mg/L and 86.649 mg/L, respectively. The resulting extracts were diluted with distilled water at a ratio of 1:10 (potassium sulfate extract) and 1:200 (ammonia extract) and applied to assess early seed development and subsequent maize yield. Seed germination rates were comparable to those of the control group (100%). After 90 days of growth, maize plants treated with the ammonia-based extract showed positive effects on root system development, stem growth, and cob formation. The concentration of potentially toxic elements in the dry plant biomass remained within permissible limits. These findings demonstrate the potential for the safe agricultural use of these extracts while ensuring the rational utilization of industrial waste. Full article

Agricultural and agro-industrial waste can be valorized through biodrying, a process that uses microbial activity to accelerate water loss to obtain a biodried material (BM) with high calorific value and potential use as a biofuel. This material has the advantage of being easily transported, stored, and preserved until later use. However, its high organic matter content allows it to be used for other purposes. In this study, the use of BM (made from orange peel, grass, mulch, pruning waste, and compost), either alone or mixed with fresh organic waste (FOW) as feed for Eisenia foetida in a vermicomposting system, was evaluated over a period of 49 days. The proportions of BM used were 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0%, with the remainder completed with FOW. During the bioprocess, temperature, moisture, and pH were monitored, and at the end of the experiment, the survival and reproduction of E. foetida as well as the quality of the humus obtained were analyzed. In the treatments containing 100% and 75% BM, worm survival was reduced by 28.5% and 7.7%, respectively, although the highest number of cocoons (28 and 24 cocoons kg_humus⁻¹) was observed in these treatments compared with all others. The humus obtained from all treatments complied with the NMX-FF-109-SCFI-2008 standard, which designates quality grades as extra, first, and second. The treatment with 100% BM produced first-quality humus, but the treatments with mixtures of BM and FOW produced extra-quality humus. The results support the diversification of BM uses and its incorporation into sustainable bioprocesses such as vermicomposting and the production of new value-added products. Full article

The increasing volume of plant-based waste generated by the agri-food sector represents both an environmental challenge and an underexploited biotechnological resource. These wastes, rich in lignocellulosic compounds, constitute a natural habitat for specialized microorganisms. The aim of this article is to provide a critical review of the potential use of such wastes—specifically straw, pomace, and manure—in two complementary ways: (1) as a specific source for isolating new microbial strains with high biodegradation capacity and plant-growth-promoting potential, and (2) as a low-cost substrate for their propagation, e.g., in solid-state fermentation processes. This dual perspective represents a novel, integrative approach, as previous reviews typically address these aspects in isolation rather than considering their synergistic potential. The article discusses the relationship between the chemical composition of selected wastes (straw, pomace, manure) and the targeted selection of desirable microbiological traits. Particular emphasis is placed on advanced, integrated approaches for assessing microbial potential, combining phenotyping (zymography, activity assays), genomics (whole-genome sequencing—WGS, identification of CAZyme genes and biosynthetic gene clusters), and metabolomics (metabolite profiling, 3D MSI imaging). The limitations of individual methods are critically evaluated, and key research gaps are identified, including the need for in situ validation of omics-based findings and the development of stable microbial consortia with predictable performance under variable environmental conditions. These gaps are discussed in the broader context of circular bioeconomy and sustainable agriculture, highlighting the strategic relevance of integrating waste valorization with microbiome-based biotechnological innovations. Full article

Yellow onion (Allium cepa L.) outer skins are a high-volume agricultural waste that can be converted into commercially valuable bioproducts using various extraction techniques. This research focused on optimizing a green ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method which allows for the isolation of several phytochemicals valued for their health benefits, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. HPLC/UV analysis of the extracts showed that the main component was quercetin. A one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) design was used to identify the extraction parameters needed in order to maximize the amount of extracted target phytochemicals. The polyphenols, flavonoids and quercetin contents, along with the antioxidant activity of the extracts, were optimized by response surface methodology using a Box–Behnken design. Ultrasound amplitude, ethanol concentration, and time were selected as the most appropriate variables. The final results showed that TPC ranged from 78.16 to 97.16 mg GAE/g DM, TFC ranged from 22.77 to 26.46 mg QE/g DM, while CUPRAC values varied between 145.24 and 163.75 mg TE/g DM. The optimal extraction conditions were determined using a Box–Behnken model as 30% ultrasound amplitude, 53% ethanol concentration, and an extraction time of 13 min. The use of these conditions allowed the TPC, TFC and CUPRAC to show predicted values of 97.8 mg GAE/g DM, 27.2 mg QE/g DM, and 159.8 mg TE/g DM, respectively. These findings indicate that onion skin extracts could represent a green and promising source of antioxidant phytochemicals. Full article

Soil organic matter (SOM) is a recognized determinant of nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE), but its quantitative control over the fate of fertilizer N remains unclear. Using a ¹⁵N tracer study within a winter wheat–summer maize region, we quantified the recovery of initially applied N from wheat and subsequent crops in relation to SOM and N application rates. We found that while N fertilization boosted yields by 85–340% in low-fertility soil, its effectiveness exhibited diminishing returns in high-fertility soils. Crucially, the total recovery efficiency of fertilizer N (cumulative ¹⁵NUE) across three cropping seasons was fundamentally governed by SOM content, following a linear–plateau relationship. The model revealed that the maximum ¹⁵NUE (54.3%) at an optimal application rate (105 kg N ha⁻¹) was achieved when SOM exceeded a critical threshold of 21.3 g kg⁻¹ (equivalent to 57.51 t ha⁻¹ in the 0–20 cm soil layer). Below this threshold, ¹⁵NUE increased linearly with SOM (R² = 0.956). Furthermore, residual ¹⁵N in soil was primarily stabilized in organic forms (58–64%), while recovery by subsequent crops was minimal (≤4.3%). This confirms that high SOM content minimizes the amount of unaccounted ¹⁵N by enhancing N fixation within the soil organic pool. Our findings establish a quantifiable SOM threshold for maximizing NUE, thereby providing a scientific basis for reducing fertilizer waste and enhancing the sustainability of intensive agriculture in the region. Full article

Spatholobus suberectus is a medicinal and edible plant widely recognized for its pharmacological potential. Although its stems have been extensively studied and utilized, its leaves are often discarded as agricultural waste, leading to significant resource underutilization. To promote the sustainable valorization of these leaves, this study aimed to provide a predictive evaluation of their bioactive constituents and pharmacological potential. Leaves of S. suberectus were collected at six growth stages (January, March, May, July, September and November). A total of 6750 metabolites were identified, primarily comprising amino acids and derivatives (26.74%), organic acids (15.33%), and bioactive secondary metabolites, including flavonoids and phenolic acids (27.98%). Metabolic profiling revealed clear seasonal patterns, allowing the classification of the six harvest months into three distinct stages: January and March (G1), May and September (G2), and July and November (G3). Among these, the G1 stage was notably enriched in defensive secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids. To predict the bioactivity of these metabolites and elucidate potential mechanisms of action, network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses were employed. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were employed to predict anti-inflammatory mechanisms. From the metabolome, 83 potential bioactive compounds were screened, interacting with 306 targets. Network analysis identified 60 core anti-inflammatory targets (e.g., TNF, AKT1, PTGS2, STAT3) that were significantly enriched in MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways. Molecular docking revealed strong binding affinities, with pelargonidin showing the highest affinity for PTGS2 (−11.72 kcal/mol). Candidate metabolites peaked in January, and extracts from this period exhibited notable COX-2 inhibitory activity (IC50 = 16.41 μg/mL). This research provides essential chemical characterization and preliminary bioactivity evidence to support the valorization of S. suberectus leaves and identifies January as the optimal harvest time to maximize their bioactive potential. Full article