Valorization Potentials of Rapeseed Meal in a Biorefinery Perspective: Focus on Nutritional and Bioactive Components.

Rapeseed meal (RSM), a by-product of oilseed extraction connected to the agri-food and biofuel sectors, is currently used as animal feed and for other low-value purposes. With a biorefinery approach, RSM could be valorized as a source of bio-based molecules for high-value applications. This study provides a chemical characterization of RSM in the perspective of its valorization. A qualitative study of main functional groups by fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was integrated with a chemical characterization of macronutrients, minerals by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), phenolic acids and lipid components by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), HPLC-diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/flame ionization detector (GC-MS/FID). The study, conducted on different lots of RSM collected over a one-year period from an oil pressing factory serving a biofuel biorefinery, highlighted a constant quality over time of RSM, characterized by high protein (31-34%), fiber (33-40%) and mineral (5.5-6.8%) contents. Polyphenol extracts showed a significant antioxidant activity and a prevalence of sinapic acid, accounting for more than 85% of total phenolic acids (395-437 mg kg-1 RSM). Results highlight the potentialities of RSM for further valorization strategies that may lead to the creation of new cross-sector interconnections and bio-based value chains with improvement of the economics and sustainability of the bioeconomy sectors involved.

Long-Term Trends in Water Quality Indices in the Lower Danube and Tributaries in Romania (1996-2017).

The Danube River is the second longest in Europe and its water quality is important for the communities relying on it, but also for supporting biodiversity in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, a site with high ecological value. This paper presents a methodology for assessing water quality and long-term trends based on water quality indices (WQI), calculated using the weighted arithmetic method, for 15 monitoring stations in the Lower Danube and Danube tributaries in Romania, based on annual means of 10 parameters for the period 1996-2017. A trend analysis is carried out to see how WQIs evolved during the studied period at each station. Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied on sub-indices to highlight which parameters have the highest contributions to WQI values, and to identify correlations between parameters. Factor analysis is used to highlight differences between locations. The results show that water quality has improved significantly at most stations during the studied period, but pollution is higher in some Romanian tributaries than in the Danube. The parameters with the highest contribution to WQI are ammonium and total phosphorus, suggesting the need to continue improving wastewater treatment in the studied area. The methodology and the results of the study may be very useful instruments for specialists and decision makers in updating river basin management plans and prioritising intervention measures.

Selenium Analysis and Speciation in Dietary Supplements Based on Next-Generation Selenium Ingredients.

Selenium is essential for humans and the deficit of Se requires supplementation. In addition to traditional forms such as Se salts, amino acids, or selenium-enriched yeast supplements, next-generation selenium supplements, with lower risk for excess supplementation, are emerging. These are based on selenium forms with lower toxicity, higher bioavailability, and controlled release, such as zerovalent selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and selenized polysaccharides (SPs). This article aims to focus on the existing analytical systems for the next-generation Se dietary supplement, providing, at the same time, an overview of the analytical methods available for the traditional forms. The next-generation dietary supplements are evaluated in comparison with the conventional/traditional ones, as well as the analysis and speciation methods that are suitable to reveal which Se forms and species are present in a dietary supplement. Knowledge gaps and further research potential in this field are highlighted. The review indicates that the methods of analysis of next-generation selenium supplements should include a step related to chemical species separation. Such a step would allow a proper characterization of the selenium forms/species, including molecular mass/dimension, and substantiates the marketing claims related to the main advantages of these new selenium ingredients.