• Energy Research

Anchovies are among the largest fish catch worldwide. The anchovy fillet industry generates a huge amount of biowaste (e.g., fish heads, bones, tails) that can be used for the extraction of several potentially valuable bioproducts including omega-3 lipids. Following the extraction of valued fish oil rich in omega-3, vitamin D3 and zeaxanthin from anchovy fillet leftovers using biobased limonene in a fully circular process, the solid residue (anchovy sludge) was used as starting substrate for the production of biogas by anaerobic digestion. In spite of the unbalanced carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, typical of marine biowaste, the anchovy sludge showed a good methane yield (about 280 mLCH4·gVS−1), proving to be an ideal substrate for co-digestion along with other carbon rich wastes and residues. Furthermore, the presence of residual limonene, used as a renewable, not-toxic and edible extraction solvent, does not affect the microbial methanogenesis. The results reported in this study demonstrate that anchovy leftovers after the fish oil extraction process can be efficiently used as a starting co-substrate for the production of biogas in a modern biorefinery.

Produced in many world’s countries at over 1 million tonne/year rate by extraction of certain woods and barks with boiling water, tannin is a class of high molecular weight biophenols increasingly used in a number of industries. This study offers a new bioeconomy insight into an old natural product that, we argument in this study, will play a crucial role in the development of the bioeconomy of forest regions. After providing an updated picture of key economic and production aspects, we show how flourishing research on tannin’s biological activity and technological applications has revealed many new properties which are likely to drive significant growth in demand in the near and mid-term future. The study concludes with selected recommendations for bioeconomy scholars and for policy-makers based in forest areas.

We identify the composition of a less known, yet important bioproduct obtained in relatively high amount during orange fruit processing for juice and essential oil extraction comprised of bioethanol dissolving valued terpenes. Green cosmetic, perfume and biosolvent applications are anticipated.

AbstractIn 1988 a novel fermentation route to high molecular weight hyaluronan mediated by Streptococcus zooepidemicus was first reported. In a few years, following rapidly expanding demand for hyaluronan as a key ingredient of facial dermal fillers, streptococcal production was commercialized, first in Western Europe and North America, and subsequently in China. Outlining the case for the microbial production of hyaluronan, an emergent technology in the bioeconomy, the purpose of this study is to further advance the field of sustainable, high‐added‐value, biobased production. The study recounts how this bioproduction actually developed, its advantages, and its current limitations. The research and educational outcomes of the study offer useful lessons to bioeconomy scholars and practitioners. © 2021 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining published by Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Relying on a cost-effective and green process that is technically and economically feasible on large scale is not enough to call a technology “sustainable”. We thus evaluate the sustainability of the production of the new “AquaSun” antifouling sol–gel coating with reference to each of the three main dimensions (economic, social, and environmental) of sustainable development. This study will hopefully assist in overcoming the “not invented here” syndrome that still affects many sol–gel technologies, including antifouling coatings derived via the sol–gel process.