2021, Issue 67(71), Fasc. 4 (December)
Contents
pages 1- 8 Download
Food Waste: Current Trends, Global Perspectives and Impacts
COȘBUC ERSILIA DANIELA, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, "Cristofor Simonescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Iasi, Romania
UNGUREANU-COMĂNIȚĂ ELENA-DIANA, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, "Cristofor Simonescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Iasi, Romania,
comanita_elena_diana@yahoo.com
GAVRILESCU MARIA, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, "Cristofor Simonescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Iasi, Romania; Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania,
mgav@ch.tuiasi.ro
pages 9 - 21 Download
Abstract
Food production and consumption have a considerable impact on the environment, since one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tonnes per year. Food waste represents not only a loss of materials, but also a substantial loss of other resources such as soil, water, energy, and workforce. Waste generated during food processing and consumption is becoming increasingly problematic, because it may account over 50% of the total waste produced in different countries, while 60% contain organic matter. In this context, an analysis of the current situation of food waste and wastage, continued with the practices possible to be applied to turn food waste in resources as secondary raw materials and energy is very opportune today. This work aims at developing an overview on sources and categories of food waste, their environmental, economic and social impacts, followed by a case study, which addresses the valorisation of food waste. Two scenarios were considered: (i) recovery of food waste to obtain compost for the soil; (ii) recovery of food waste for obtaining compost and energy. The evaluation of impacts followed the life cycle strategies and methodology and considered several impacts such as: Acidification Potential (AP), Eutrophication Potential (EP), Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential (POCP), Human Toxicity Potential (HTP), Terrestrial Ecotoxicity (TE), Photochemical Oxidant Formation (POF), Human Toxicity (HT), estimated based on ReCiPe and CML methods (LCA methodologies) included in GaBi software. The study demonstrated that food waste can be a sustainable resources and energy. This approach can reduce the impacts generated by the food waste in the environment and resources depletion.
Keywords: compost, food waste, impact, energy, life cycle.
Methods for the Remediation of Soils Polluted with Heavy Metals
IONELA CĂTĂLINA VASILACHI, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Iasi, Romania
MARIA GAVRILESCU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Iasi, Romania; Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania,
mgav@ch.tuiasi.ro
pages 23 - 40 Download
Abstract
Pollution of soils with heavy metals is considered a serious environmental problem at international level. Over time, in-situ and ex-situ remediation techniques have been developed for areas contaminated with heavy metals, in order to mitigate the risks associated with the environment, animals and human health. Remediation techniques involve mechanisms of degradation, immobilization, isolation or extraction in order to reduce the negative effects of pollutants through chemical, physical or biological remediation processes. Therefore, these techniques have a specific applicability and limitations such as high costs, long time, logistical or mechanical problems. In recent years, phytoremediation has been used as an alternative solution for the heavy metal remediation process due to its advantages as a cost-effective, environmentally friendly and efficient technology, based on the ability of green plants to accumulate heavy metals. This review presents the harmful effects of heavy metal pollution, as well as methods of remedying these environmental contaminants.
Keywords: contaminated sites, ecological risk, phytoremediation, remedial techniques.
Extraction Methods of Capsaicin
TATIANA ICHIM, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection
ALEXANDRA CRISTINA BLAGA, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași, Romania, "Cristofor Simionescu" Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection,
acblaga@tuiasi.ro
pages 41 - 50 Download
Abstract
Capsaicin is the active ingredients in chili peppers that give them their pungent and spicy taste. Various extraction methods of capsaicin from peppers have been used with high yields over the last few decades. Since extraction is one of the most common methods for separating and purifying organic substances, it is one of the most fundamental operations in organic chemistry. This review analyses the most common methods used for capsaicin extraction from natural sources: solvent extraction (SE), microwave assisted extraction (MAE), solid phase microextraction (SPME), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), SOX extraction, extraction with liquids under pressure (PLE), enzymatic treatment, aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), supercritical fluid extraction.
Keywords: capsaicin, microwave-assisted extraction; ultrasound-assisted extraction; solvent extraction; Soxhlet; HPLC.
Recycled Masonry Rubble Used as Raw Material for Manufacturing Lightweight Aggregate by An Unconventional Heating Method
LUCIAN PĂUNESCU, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania,
lucianpaunescu16@gmail.com
SORIN MIRCEA AXINTE, Daily Sourcing & Research SRL Bucharest, Romania; Department of Applied Chemistry and Materials Science, University "Politehnica" of Bucharest, Romania
FELICIA COSMULESCU, Cosfel Actual SRL Bucharest, Romania
pages 51- 62 Download
Abstract
The paper presents an unconventional technique for manufacturing lightweight aggregate using microwave energy. The method is ecological, the basic raw material being masonry rubble, a waste from the building demolition. The originality of the work is the use of the method of direct microwave heating, which worldwide is industrially applied to a small extent and only in drying and heating at low temperature processes. The current work is a re-edition of the experiments performed by the same team of researchers in 2019, bringing a significant improvement of the degree of processing the raw material, which led to a reduction of its granulation. As an effect, the apparent density of the product was reduced to 0.40 - 0.54 g/cm3, being also influenced the thermal conductivity reduced at 0.076 - 0.096 W/m·K and the porosity increased at 74.3 - 81%. The compressive strength was not noticeably influenced, keeping in the range 5.5 - 7 MPa. The main advantage of the direct microwave heating method was the very low specific energy consumption (0.66 - 0.76 kWh/kg).
Keywords: energy consumption, lightweight aggregate, masonry rubble, raw material processing, unconventional technique.
Qualitative Analysis of Eugenol and Polyphenolic Compounds in Basil
CLAUDIA COBZARU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iasi, Romania
CĂTĂLINA ELENA COBILIȚĂ, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iasi, Romania
CORINA CERNĂTESCU, "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Protection, Iasi, Romania,
ccernat@ch.tuiasi.ro
pages 63 - 69 Download
Abstract
This study aims to analyse phenolic compounds and to identify the amount of eugenol from basil alcoholic extracts, obtained by three different methods, namely: maceration, Soxhlet apparatus and ultrasound extraction. Experimental data show that the alcoholic basil extract macerated at 50oC (EA M50) has a much higher polyphenol content than the other extracts, and is the only extract that also contains eugenol as evidenced by thin layer chromatography (TLC). This study aims to highlight the fact that a spicy plant, such as basil, can be used to obtain various alcoholic extracts that can be applied in the preparation of cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, due to the content of important active substances such as: eugenol and phenolic compounds.
Keywords: alcoholic extracts, basil, eugenol, natural extracts, phenolic compounds.