Current and Expected Trends for the Marine Chitin/Chitosan and Collagen Value Chains.

Chitin/chitosan and collagen are two of the most important bioactive compounds, with applications in the pharmaceutical, veterinary, nutraceutical, cosmetic, biomaterials, and other industries. When extracted from non-edible parts of fish and shellfish, by-catches, and invasive species, their use contributes to a more sustainable and circular economy. The present article reviews the scientific knowledge and publication trends along the marine chitin/chitosan and collagen value chains and assesses how researchers, industry players, and end-users can bridge the gap between scientific understanding and industrial applications. Overall, research on chitin/chitosan remains focused on the compound itself rather than its market applications. Still, chitin/chitosan use is expected to increase in food and biomedical applications, while that of collagen is expected to increase in biomedical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutritional applications. Sustainable practices, such as the reuse of waste materials, contribute to strengthen both value chains; the identified weaknesses include the lack of studies considering market trends, social sustainability, and profitability, as well as insufficient examination of intellectual property rights. Government regulations, market demand, consumer preferences, technological advancements, environmental challenges, and legal frameworks play significant roles in shaping both value chains. Addressing these factors is crucial for seizing opportunities, fostering sustainability, complying with regulations, and maintaining competitiveness in these constantly evolving value chains.

Chemical quality assessment of traditional salt-fermented shrimp paste from Northern Mindanao, Philippines.

BACKGROUND: Shrimp paste is an important fermented commodity in the Philippines, but so far its quality parameters have hardly been characterized. In this study, paste samples procured in the province of Agusan del Norte, Philippines from three different traditional manufacturers and from a commercial supermarket were analyzed for their chemical composition. RESULTS: Both traditional and commercial shrimp pastes varied in their content of protein (12.9-15.3 g per 100 g), fat (0.50-1.94 g per 100 g), saturated fatty acids (32.6-39.1 g per 100 g fatty acid methyl esters (FAME)), monounsaturated fatty acids (15.1-18.7 g per 100 g FAME) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (30.7-40.8 g per 100 g FAME). Their pH ranged between 6.8 and 7.7. The samples were microbiologically stable owing to their low water activity (0.70-0.74) and high NaCl content (4.04-5.15 g per 100 g). Although all samples were processed in the same country and under similar conditions, differences were observed in some parameters: thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (2.32-5.03 µg malondialdehyde g(-1)), total non-protein nitrogen (3.07-5.15 g N per 100 g), free non-protein nitrogen (1.17-2.39 g N per 100 g), biogenic amines and mineral content. The biogenic amine index varied between 0 and 976 for the different samples; only one sample could be considered as class 1 quality. CONCLUSION: The results showed that there is a high variation in the quality of the product which could be linked to differences in the fermentation process and hygienic quality.

Conventional and (eco) toxicological assessment of batch partial ozone oxidation and subsequent biological treatment of a tank truck cleaning generated concentrate.

This paper compares the treatment efficiencies of direct (pH 7.5) and advanced (pH 11.5) partial ozonation followed by biodegradation for the treatment of tank cleaning wastewater concentrate. Both S(COD) and toxicity removal efficiencies are examined and direct ozonation is found to perform better in combined toxicity and S(COD) removal. Optimal process performance, i.e. the minimal ozone dosage resulting in a maximal removal of S(COD) and toxicity in the final effluent, is reached upon reaction of 500 mg O(3)/l for both ozonation processes. This ozone dosage results in 60% S(COD) reduction for direct ozonation and 64% S(COD) reduction for advanced ozonation. A 79% toxicity reduction was achieved using direct ozonation compared to 53% toxicity reduction for advanced ozonation as measured with the standard Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata algal 72h growth inhibition test. Short-term methods for biodegradability (respirometry) and toxicity (30 min Vibrio fisheri luminescence inhibition) estimation are evaluated in view of process control. The maximal specific oxygen uptake rate of an activated sludge culture (respirometry) is found to relate to the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (S(BOD,5)) but less to the actual S(COD) removal during biodegradation. The 30 min Vibrio fisheri luminescence inhibition test is found to be a good short-term estimator for relative changes in toxicity when compared to the standard P. subcapitata algal 72h growth inhibition test. The 500 mg O(3)/l optimal ozone dosage, as determined from P. subcapitata algal 72h growth inhibition and S(COD) removal, could be retrieved using short-term methods.

Ecotoxicological risk assessment using DNA chips and cellular reporters.

Ecotoxicological risk assessment has long been based on (acute) effective concentration and lethal concentration (EC/LC50) endpoints in organisms from different trophic levels. These tests are insufficient adequately to assess the risk associated with many chemical classes. The introduction of advanced molecular techniques is leading to improved risk assessment and is also providing an alternative to the massive use of animal testing. Transcriptional profiling and DNA chips are highly informative and are among the most promising novel techniques for environmental risk assessment. Moreover, information discerned from these chips enables the identification of new discriminative biomarker genes. Based on these biomarker genes, cellular reporters can be constructed. These can be used in a high-throughput set-up and can facilitate ecotoxicological risk assessment significantly. Some important technical and interpretative hurdles still need to be overcome before a full implementation of ecotoxicogenomics in regulatory settings will occur.

Ecological impact assessment of metallurgic effluents using in situ biomarker assays.

An ecological impact study was performed based on in situ biomarker assays with the waterflea Daphnia magna. The effects of metallurgic effluents on the energy metabolism, anti-oxidative metabolism and DNA damage were assessed in caged daphnids during a 4-week study. In situ survival and reproduction studies demonstrated a clear impact on these parameters in organisms exposed in the most polluted areas. At the downstream--sublethal--zone the organisms were disturbed within their tolerance limits, resulting in alterations of their energy metabolism. These data suggest an acclimation hypothesis, which was tested through the analysis of the energy metabolism of resident species: isopods and amphipods. These organisms had shifted to a decrease in their overall energy metabolism compared to the upstream region. This change in some biochemical processes suggests a selective advantage to cope with the prevailing environmental conditions. In addition, we found clear genotoxic effects caused by the industrial discharges that might correlate with a reduction in (long-term) survival.