Use of non-psychoactive residual biomass from Cannabis sativa L. for obtaining phenolic rich-extracts with antioxidant capacity.

The present research aims to give an added value to the chain production of Cannabis sativa L plant, taking advantage of the non-psychoactive residual biomass (stems and leaves). Total phenolic content (TPC) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were analysed. A factorial design 23 was carried out using extraction time (T), Particle size (PS), and solid-solvent ratio (SS) as factors. The extractions were made with ethanol at 96% as solvent. The maximum concentration of TPC found was 1264.61 mg GA/g DW at 6:250 g/mL, 8 h, and 109.28 µm for SS, T and PS, respectively. Similarly, the maximum TAC obtained was 0.467 mM Trolox equivalent, at 8 h, 6:250 g/mL and 109.28 µm for T, SS and PS, respectively. Additionally, the presence of oil was found in some samples of cannabis extracts for which FITR was performed, obtaining the presence of C-OH bonds associated with alcohols, phenols and possible cannabinoids.

A model biorefinery for avocado (Persea americana mill.) processing.

This research investigated and evaluated a biorefinery for processing avocado Hass variety into microencapsulated phenolic compounds extract, ethanol, oil and xylitol. Avocado was first characterized for its potential valuable compounds; then, the techno-economic and environmental aspects of the biorefinery were developed and finally the total production costs and potential environmental impact of the proposed biorefinery were investigated. Four scenarios of the biorefinery were evaluated with different extent of mass and energy integration as well as the incorporation of a cogeneration system. Results indicated that the main fatty acid in the pulp of the investigated avocado variety was oleic acid (50.96%) and that this fruit contained significant amount of holocellulose (52.88% and 54.36% in the peel and seed, respectively). Techno-economic and environmental assessment suggested an attractive opportunity for a biorefinery for complete utilization of the avocado fruit as well the importance of the level of integration.

A biorefinery for efficient processing and utilization of spent pulp of Colombian Andes Berry (Rubus glaucus Benth.): Experimental, techno-economic and environmental assessment.

This work investigated a model biorefinery for producing phenolic compounds extract, ethanol and xylitol from spent blackberry pulp (SBP). The biorefinery was investigated according to four potential scenarios including mass and heat integrations as well as cogeneration system for supplying part of the energy requirements in the biorefinery. The investigated SBP had 61.54% holocellulose; its total phenolic compounds was equivalent to 2700mg of gallic acid/100g SBP, its anthocyanins content was 126.41mg/kg of SBP and its total antioxidant activity was 174.8µmol TE/g of SBP. The economic analysis revealed that the level of integration in the biorefinery significantly affected the total production cost. The sale-to-total-production-cost ratio indicated that both, mass and heat integrations are of importance relevance. The cost of supplies (enzymes and reagents) had the most significant impact on the total production cost and accounted between 46.72 and 58.95% of the total cost of the biorefinery.

Economic and environmental assessment of syrup production. Colombian case.

This work presents a techno-economic and environmental assessment of the glucose syrups production from sugarcane bagasse, plantain husk, cassava husk, mango peel, rice husk and corncobs. According to the economic analysis, the corncob had both, the lowest production cost (2.48USD/kg syrup) and the highest yield (0.61kgofsugars/kg of wet agroindustrial waste) due to its high content in cellulose and hemicellulose. This analysis also revealed that a heat integration strategy is necessary since the utilities consumption represent an important factor in the production cost. According to the results, the pretreatment section requires more energy in the syrup production in comparison with the requirements of other sections such as production and sugar concentration. The environmental assessment revealed that the solid wastes such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural affected the environmental development of the process for all the agroindustrial wastes, being the rice husk the residue with the lowest environmental impact.