Search Results (243)

Banana fruits are susceptible to chilling injury (CI) under field conditions, which significantly impairs fruit quality. Cold tolerance varies among genotypes; however, only a limited number of cultivars have been identified as tolerant and are commercially cultivated. This study aimed to investigate the physiological responses and quality attributes of banana cultivars exposed to natural cold fronts during development, compared with fruits developed under summer conditions. Furthermore, it evaluated whether the B genome confers greater cold tolerance, driven by a more efficient antioxidant mechanism, thereby supporting its recommendation for cultivation in regions prone to low temperatures. Bunches were harvested in winter following five natural cold fronts, during which air temperatures fell below 12 °C (137 h). The experimental design followed a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement. Consecutive cold fronts intensified CI symptoms up to the fourth exposure event. CI severity was highest in ‘Grande Naine’ (AAA), which exhibited lower L*, a*, and b* values at the ripe stage compared to ‘BRS Princesa’ (AAAB) and ‘Prata Catarina’ (AAB), along with greater deviations relative to summer-harvested fruits. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenolic content, and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, APX, and POD) in the peel of unripe fruits were significantly higher during winter, particularly in ‘BRS Princesa’ and ‘Prata Catarina’, compared to ‘Grande Naine’. Proline accumulation followed a similar pattern, with the highest levels observed in ‘BRS Princesa’, followed by ‘Prata Catarina’ and ‘Grande Naine’. The findings indicate that ‘BRS Princesa’ exhibits greater tolerance to cold stress and highlights of the contribution of the B genome. Phenolic content was identified as a consistent marker of seasonal variation across cultivars. Full article

In this study, phenol adsorption from aqueous solutions was investigated using a carbonized adsorbent derived from a 1:1:1 mixture of banana, carrot, and potato peels, representing a major fraction of municipal bio-waste in Serbia. The material (CARB_BCP) was characterized by pH_pzc, SEM, FTIR, and BET analyses. The results indicated a highly porous structure with developed micro- and mesoporosity and a high specific surface area (S_BET = 483 m²/g). FTIR confirmed the formation of a stable aromatic carbon structure, while the high pH_pzc value (10.55) suggested a limited role of electrostatic interactions. Adsorption experiments performed at an initial phenol concentration of 1858 mg/L, room temperature, and an adsorbent dose of 0.1 g achieved a removal efficiency of 20.5%. The Langmuir model provided the best fit, indicating monolayer adsorption, with good agreement between theoretical (≈187 mg/g) and experimental (≈190 mg/g) capacities. Kinetic analysis followed the pseudo-second-order model, suggesting chemisorption as the rate-controlling step. The adsorption mechanism was mainly governed by π–π interactions, hydrophobic effects, and hydrogen bonding. These results demonstrate that CARB_BCP, derived from biodegradable waste, is a promising low-cost adsorbent for wastewater treatment. Full article

Emerging contaminants pose significant risks to ecosystems yet are not routinely included in standard monitoring or regulatory frameworks. Among these substances, endocrine disruptors such as β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol threaten both human and environmental health by interfering with metabolism, reproduction, and development across multiple species. These hormones are continuously released into the environment through excretion and improper disposal, and conventional water treatment processes are largely ineffective at removing them. As a result, they can accumulate in aquatic organisms and enter the human food chain. Recent studies have demonstrated that banana peel, Pleurotus ostreatus biomasses, and the nanomaterial δ-FeOOH are efficient, low-cost materials for the removal of toxic metals, suggesting their potential applicability for eliminating estrogenic compounds. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the removal of β-estradiol and 17α-ethinylestradiol using filters composed of banana peel and P. ostreatus biomass combined with δ-FeOOH. Hormone removal efficiency was assessed by LC-MS, and toxicity reduction was evaluated through bioassays. The results showed up to 100% removal of hormone concentrations and a significant decrease in sample toxicity, indicating that this filtration system represents a safe and effective alternative for removing organic contaminants from water. Full article

The study first demonstrated that burdock fructooligosaccharide (BFO) could inhibit peel browning in green banana, with 0.5% BFO treatment showing the most significant suppression of peel browning during low-temperature storage (7 ± 1 °C). The results revealed that 0.5% BFO treatment effectively restrained the increase in electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content and maintained cell membrane integrity. Furthermore, BFO treatment enhanced total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, alleviated oxidative damage, and better preserved the external quality of banana peel. Simultaneously, BFO treatment markedly inhibited both the activities of chlorophyll-degrading enzymes and their relative gene expression levels in banana peel, thereby maintaining higher chlorophyll content. This research provided a new insight into the mechanism of inhibiting peel browning for low-temperature storage preservation of banana. Full article

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have raised considerable concern due to their ubiquity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. However, cost-effective, high-performance adsorbents for PFAS removal from aquatic environments remain limited. Here, we synthesized a porous graphitic biochar adsorbent (Zn-BBC) from banana peel waste via zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) activation and applied it to removing ten legacy and alternative PFASs from water. Zn-BBC achieved removal efficiencies > 95% for all target PFASs. The adsorption of PFASs onto Zn-BBC followed pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics, suggesting chemisorption. Additionally, the adsorption isotherms were well described by the Sips model, indicating surface heterogeneity. Zn-BBC exhibited robust performance over a broad pH range (3–9). Coexisting ions (CO₃²⁻, SO₄²⁻, Zn²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺), tested individually at 10 mM each, had negligible effects on the adsorption of the PFASs examined, except for perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA). In contrast, humic acid (10 mM) significantly reduced the removal rates of PFBA, perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (GenX). Nevertheless, in river and lake waters, Zn-BBC achieved >85.0% removal of all PFASs except PFBA. In regeneration experiments, Zn-BBC exhibited excellent reusability. Experimental characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculations jointly revealed that PFAS adsorption involves electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, π-CF interactions, surface complexation, and hydrogen bonding. These results suggest that Zn-BBC is a promising sorbent for PFAS removal in water. Full article

With rising global temperatures, biostimulants might be a promising tool to alleviate plant stress and support adaptation. The potential of fresh (FBP) and lyophilized (LBP) banana peel aqueous extracts as biostimulants for protecting broccoli from high temperature (HT) stress was analyzed. Spectrophotometric and statistical analyses revealed that BP affected broccoli phytochemistry in a temperature-dependent manner. Under room temperature (RT), FBP and LBP decreased glucosinolates (−15% and −25%, respectively). Conversely, FBP increased flavonols and proanthocyanidins (141% and 202%, respectively). Under RT, LBP decreased sugars in broccoli (−27%). FBP had stronger effects at HT than at RT, further boosting phenolics (70%), flavonoids (89%), tannins (31%), and hydroxycinnamic acids (64%), and antioxidant capacity (FRAP) (10%). LBP also increased flavonoids (39%), flavonols (95%), and hydroxycinnamic acids (45%) under HT. Both FBP and LBP increased glucosinolates (47% and 46%, respectively) in HT-grown broccoli. HT significantly affected glucosinolates, decreased them in control plants, and increased them in BP-treated plants. All HT-grown plants had higher soluble sugars and lower hydrogen peroxide than RT-grown plants. Principal component analysis confirmed greater biochemical diversity under HT. Temperature–BP interaction significantly affected flavonoids and glucosinolates, highlighting the central role of environmental temperature in determining biostimulant outcomes. These findings suggest that global warming may markedly alter biostimulant efficacy and should be considered in their development. Full article

Organic residues from households and food-service facilities, such as orange peels, spent coffee grounds, banana peels and potato skins, represent abundant biomass resources that can release undesirable compounds during degradation. Their conversion into carbonized materials through thermochemical processes offers a sustainable route for waste valorization. In this study, residues were characterized by proximate and elemental analyses, density, porosity, and calorific value. Valorization was performed using microwave-assisted pyrolysis and two hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) routes. Pyrolysis experiments were conducted at 450, 600 and 800 W with residence times of 20–70 min. Conventional HTC was carried out at 180, 200 and 220 °C for 20 h, while autoclave HTC was performed at 134 °C for 2 and 4 h. The resulting biochars and hydrochars were evaluated for their physicochemical and energetic properties and ANOVA was applied to assess the influence of operating conditions. Conventional HTC at higher temperatures produced the highest calorific values, whereas microwave-assisted pyrolysis at 800 W provided competitive HHVs with high solid yields. Autoclave HTC enhanced solid retention and carbon preservation. Among the investigated residues, spent coffee grounds exhibited the most favorable solid-phase energetic performance. These findings demonstrate that thermochemical conversion enables the transformation of common residues into carbon-rich materials with physicochemical and energetic properties relevant for comparative assessment and future application-oriented studies. It should be noted that conventional hydrothermal carbonization experiments were conducted using pre-dried biomass, which represents a methodological limitation of the comparative assessment. Full article

Artificial reefs are an important tool for marine ecological restoration and fishery resource proliferation, and are widely used around the world. Among them, Japan, the United States, China, South Korea, Australia, and the Mediterranean coastal countries have particularly invested in scientific research and practice in this field, and the reefs’ material selection, structural performance, and ecological benefits have attracted much attention. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the preparation methods, characterization methods (such as microstructure analysis and mechanical tests) and mechanical properties (such as compressive strength and durability) of new concrete materials (steel slag-blast furnace slag concrete, oyster shell concrete, sulfoaluminate cement concrete, recycled brick concrete, silica fume concrete, and banana peel filler concrete) that artificial reefs and ceramic artificial reefs developed in recent years, and to explore the resource utilization potential of different waste materials. At the same time, the biostatistical methods (such as species abundance and community diversity) of wood, shipwreck, steel, rock, waste tire, and ordinary concrete artificial reefs and their effects on the marine environment were compared and analyzed. In addition, the potential impact of artificial reef deployment on local fishermen’s income was also assessed. It is found that the use of steel slag, blast furnace slag, sulfoaluminate cement, and silica fume instead of traditional Portland cement can better improve the mechanical properties of concrete artificial reefs (compressive strength can be increased by up to 20%) and reduce the surface pH to neutral, which is more conducive to the adhesion and growth of marine organisms. The compressive strength of oyster shell concrete and banana peel filler concrete artificial reef is not as good as that of traditional Portland cement concrete artificial reef, but it still avoids the waste of a large amount of solid waste resources, provides necessary nutritional support for aquatic organisms, and also improves its chemical erosion resistance. The deployment of artificial reefs of timber, wrecks, steel, rock, waste tires, and ordinary concrete has significantly increased the species richness and biomass in the adjacent waters and effectively promoted the development of fisheries. Cases show that artificial reefs can significantly increase fishermen’s income (such as an increase of about EUR 13 in the value of a unit effort in a certain area), but the long-term benefits depend on effective supervision and community co-management mechanisms. This paper provides a scientific basis for the research and development of artificial reef materials and the optimization of ecological benefits, and promotes the sustainable development of marine ecological restoration technology and fishery economy. Full article

Banana peel, an abundant by-product rich in bioactive compounds, presents high functional and technological potential. Despite its potential, the industrial use of banana peel is limited by enzymatic browning. Thus, this study proposed an integrated sequential extraction process using Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) solvents and simple methodologies. With this approach, it was possible to recover high-value compounds, including (all-E)-lutein (338.05 µg/g DW), pectin (3.81 g/100 g DW), and ferulic acid (212.48 µg/g DW). In addition to maximizing recovery of bioactive compounds, the process preserved the residual lignocellulosic fraction, namely cellulose (23.14 g/100 g DW), hemicellulose (19.91 g/100 g DW), and lignin (29.63 g/100 g DW), suitable for further bioprocesses such as bioethanol production. The strategy demonstrated technological and economic feasibility, reducing operational steps, eliminating the use of chemical agents, and promoting full biomass utilization. The results confirm the potential of banana peel as a platform for obtaining natural and sustainable ingredients, aligned with the principles of biorefinery and the circular bioeconomy. Full article

This study examined the thermal degradation of pulverized Musa sapientum (banana) peel waste through thermogravimetric measurements and thermokinetic modelling. For the first time, it also incorporated backpropagation deep learning to model pyrolysis traces, enabling the prediction and optimization of the process. Physicochemical characterization confirmed the material’s lignocellulosic composition. TGA was performed between 30 and 950 °C at heating rates of 5, 10, 20, and 40 °C min⁻¹, identifying a primary devolatilization range of 190 to 660 °C. The application of a backpropagation machine learning technique to the processed TGA data enabled the estimation of arbitrary constants that accurately captured the characteristic behaviour of the experimental data ($R^2~0.99$). This modelling and simulation approach achieved a significant reduction in training loss—decreasing from 35.9 to 0.07—over 47,688 epochs and 1.4 computational hours. Sensitivity analysis identified degradation temperature as the primary parameter influencing the thermochemical conversion of BP biomass. Furthermore, analyzing deconvoluted DTG traces via Criado master plots revealed that the 3D diffusion model (Jander [D3]) is the most suitable reaction model for the hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin components, followed by the R2 and R3 geometrical contraction models. The estimated overall activation energy values obtained through the Starink (STK) and Friedman (FR) model-free isoconversional kinetic methods were 82.8 ± 3.3 kJ.mol⁻¹ and 97.6 ± 3.9 kJ.mol⁻¹, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters estimated for the pyrolysis of BP indicate that the formation of activated complexes is endothermic, endergonic, and characterized by reduced disorder, thereby establishing BP as a potential candidate material for bioenergy generation. Full article

Industrial effluents include toxic chemicals, particularly heavy metals, that remain in the environment and jeopardize human and ecological health. This research synthesized hybrid biosorbents (HBs) for the extraction of Cr (III) from wastewater by using sugarcane bagasse, banana peels, and orange peels in conjunction with magnetite at ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1. The synthesized biosorbents—MSC, MBP, and MOP—were characterized using FTIR, XRD, TEM, BET, and SEM/EDX, therefore validating their structural, functional, morphological attributes and elementary composition. Batch studies showed MBP (1:1) to be the most efficient sorbent, with over 80% removal of Cr (III). Optimization experiments indicated that the peak removal efficiency (92.10%) was achieved at an initial concentration of 100 mg/L, a pH of 3, a dose of 0.4 g/100 mL, and a contact duration of 60 min. Isotherm analysis revealed that adsorption adhered to a homogeneous monolayer mechanism, optimally characterized by the Langmuir Type 1 model (R² = 0.9688), whereas kinetic analysis demonstrated that the pseudo-second-order model (R² = 0.9419) yielded the most accurate fit. MBP (1:1) has significant promise as an economical and sustainable biosorbent for the efficient removal of Cr (III) from wastewater. Full article

The primary goal of this study was to improve the rheological properties of water-based drilling mud using a combination of TiO₂-coated ZnO nanoparticles and activated carbon (AC) from banana peels. The TiO₂/ZnO nanocomposites were prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a binder under magnetic stirring and ultrasonic sonication to ensure uniform coating, followed by washing and controlled thermal treatment. NaOH-assisted chemical activation of banana peel produced activated carbon with better porosity and surface functionality than raw banana peel. The base water-based mud used in this study had different concentrations of both additives mixed in, and rheological parameters such as mud density, plastic viscosity (PV), yield point (YP), and gel strength were measured according to standard API methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used for structural and morphological characterization, which proved the successful coating and uniform dispersion of TiO₂ on ZnO nanoparticles. The use of mixed additives resulted in a significant improvement in mud properties, such as viscosity, gel strength, and yield point, proving to be more effective in suspension capacity and overall rheological stability. The use of this hybrid bio-nanocomposite mud system is a very economical and eco-friendly way of enhancing the drilling fluid performance, thus proving to be a supporting factor in conducting drilling operations that are both safe and efficient. Additionally, this study provides a sustainable hybrid TiO₂-ZnO and activated carbon additive that results in synergistic improvement of drilling-mud rheology and stability. Full article

The present study targets key limitation ‘separation after the process’ that is responsible for the loss of the photocatalyst in water treatment during heterogeneous photocatalysis. Therefore, eco-friendly nanostructured ZnO coatings were engineered by the doctor blade technique through the immobilization of green ZnO nanomaterials onto alumina substrate. ZnO/BPE 30 and ZnO/BPE 60 coatings were obtained from banana peel extract-based ZnO powder (ZnO/BPE). Likewise, ZnO/GTE 30 and ZnO/GTE 60 were prepared using green tea extract-based ZnO powder (ZnO/GTE). XRD characterization verified hexagonal wurtzite ZnO phase, while HRSEM analysis revealed that the flat surface of ZnO/BPE had rod-like nanostructures below 120 nm, and ZnO/GTE had spherical, porous nanoparticle networks with less than 70 nm. According to UV–vis spectrometry, all four coatings have bandgaps of ~5 eV. The highest efficiency for the solar-driven photocatalytic degradation of emerging organic pollutants was for ciprofloxacin (among pesticides clomazone and tembotrione; pharmaceuticals ciprofloxacin and 17α-ethinylestradiol; and mycotoxin zearalenone) in ultrapure water with the presence of all studied ZnO-based coatings, after 60 min of simulated solar irradiation. Its highest removal (89.1%) was achieved with ZnO/GTE 30, also having good reusability across three consecutive cycles in river water, thus supporting the application of eco-friendly, immobilized ZnO nanomaterials for wastewater treatment and environmental remediation. Full article

It is well known that food waste, especially perishable fruits, is one of the pressing issues worldwide, and as much as 50% of harvested fruits are wasted in developing countries as a result of poor preservation methods. Other traditional options such as plastic films or chemical preservatives are harmful to the environment and to our health. In this work, the limitations are overcome through the fabrication of an innovative camellia saponin/sodium alginate (CS/SA) composite hydrogel film that not only recycles agricultural waste but also improves fruit protection. CS/SA films were prepared by ionic crosslinking with CaCl₂ with different CS content (0–10% w/v, corresponding to 0–3.1 wt% in air-dried films). Detailed SEM, FTIR, XRD and rheological studies indicated that CS addition led to a gradual microstructural densification, stronger intermolecular interactions (involving hydrogen bonding and electrostatic complexation) and superior viscoelasticity, with the best performance at 8% CS (2.5 wt% in dried film). Mechanical tests confirmed that the stable CS/SA film showed higher tensile strength (152 kPa) and compressive strength (353 kPa) than pure SA (10 kPa) with a relatively low Young’s modulus (0.82 MPa) and high elongation at break (116.33%), which could be easily peeled off from fruit surfaces—an essential benefit of this over stiff chitosan/alginate composites. Structure: The composite film exhibited lower porosity (103.2%), reduced moisture content (94.7%), a controlled swelling ratio (800%) and improved barrier property with a water vapor permeability of 1.3 $\times {10}^{-6}$ g·m⁻¹·s⁻¹·kPa⁻¹ and an oxygen permeability of 1.9 × cm³$·\mathsf{\mu }$m·m⁻²·d⁻¹·kPa⁻¹. The 8% CS film showed very strong antioxidant activity (86% DPPH scavenging). Results of application tests on bananas and strawberries indicated that the ripening process was delayed by the CS/SA coatings, the decay rate was decreased from 99.9% (uncoated control) to 55.6% after 9 days, the weight loss was reduced to 29.3%, and the fruit’s firmness and titratable acidity were maintained. This degradable, multifunctional hydrogel film has the potential to be a sustainable measure to simultaneously mitigate food waste, valorize agricultural byproducts, and protect the environment, which could offer substantial benefit for enhancing global food security as well as fruit shelf life. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding extracts obtained from by-products on the physicochemical and functional properties of cleansing gels. Micellar extraction (2% decyl glucoside solution in water) was performed on secondary raw materials: banana peel (BP), pomegranate peel (PP), tomato pomace (TP), and grape pomace (GP). The extracts were analyzed for soluble substances and active compounds (polyphenols, carotenoids, and vitamin C). Cleansing gels containing plant extracts were also prepared and evaluated for their color and physicochemical and functional properties. The extracts contained natural polyphenols (10.99–16.54 mg·100 mL⁻¹), carotenoids (1.391–2.402 mg·mL⁻¹), and vitamin C (0.651–1.529 mg·100 mL⁻¹). The extract-enriched gels showed altered color (lower brightness, greater redness and yellowness), enhanced foaming properties, and modified viscosity (402.9–416.8 mPA for BP and GP; lower for PP and TP). The pH of the gels ranged from 5.391 to 5.917, which is within the physiological range of human skin. Dissolution times were reduced by up to 60% compared to the control, with PP extract producing the shortest time of 15.7 min. These results indicate that plant by-product extracts can improve both the functional performance and skin compatibility of cleaning gels. Full article