Mycelium-Based Composites as a Sustainable Solution for Waste Management and Circular Economy.

The global population is expected to increase by nearly 2 billion individuals over the next three decades, leading to a significant surge in waste generation and environmental challenges. To mitigate these challenges, there is a need to develop sustainable solutions that can effectively manage waste generation and promote a circular economy. Mycelium-based composites (MBCs) are being developed for various applications, including packaging, architectural designs, sound absorption, and insulation. MBCs are made by combining fungal mycelium with organic substrates, using the mycelium as a natural adhesive. Mycelium, the vegetative part of fungi, can be grown on various organic feedstocks and functionalized into a range of diverse material types that are biobased and thus more sustainable in their production, use, and recycling. This work aims to obtain mycelium-based composites with acoustic absorption properties, using coffee grounds and agricultural waste as raw materials. The topic approached presents a new method of recovering spent coffee grounds that does not involve high production costs and reduces two current environmental problems: noise pollution and abundant waste. Measurements of the normal-incidence sound absorption coefficient were presented and analyzed. Mycelium-based composites offer an innovative, sustainable approach to developing bio-composite sound-absorbing surfaces for interior fittings. The material by Ganoderma lucidum exhibits exceptional sound-absorbing properties at frequencies below 700 Hz, which is a crucial aspect of creating sound-absorbing materials that effectively absorb low-frequency sound waves. The modular construction system allows for a high degree of flexibility to adapt to short-term changes in the workplace.

Biotechnological Processes Simulating the Natural Fermentation Process of Bee Bread and Therapeutic Properties-An Overview.

Recent signs of progress in functional foods and nutraceuticals highlighted the favorable impact of bioactive molecules on human health and longevity. As an outcome of the fermentation process, an increasing interest is developed in bee products. Bee bread (BB) is a different product intended for humans and bees, resulting from bee pollen's lactic fermentation in the honeycombs, abundant in polyphenols, nutrients (vitamins and proteins), fatty acids, and minerals. BB conservation is correlated to bacteria metabolites, mainly created by Pseudomonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., and Saccharomyces spp., which give lactic acid bacteria the ability to outperform other microbial groups. Because of enzymatic transformations, the fermentation process increases the content of new compounds. After the fermentation process is finalized, the meaningful content of lactic acid and several metabolites prevent the damage caused by various pathogens that could influence the quality of BB. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in bee pollen fermentation processes to unconventional dietary and functional supplements. The use of the chosen starters improves the bioavailability and digestibility of bioactive substances naturally found in bee pollen. As a consequence of enzymatic changes, the fermentation process enhances BB components and preserves them against loss of characteristics. In this aspect, the present review describes the current biotechnological advancements in the development of BB rich in beneficial components derived from bee pollen fermentation and its use as a food supplement and probiotic product with increased shelf life and multiple health benefits.

Electrospun Nanosystems Based on PHBV and ZnO for Ecological Food Packaging.

The electrospun nanosystems containing poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and 1 wt% Fe doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) (with the content of dopant in the range of 0-1 wt% Fe) deposited onto polylactic acid (PLA) film were prepared for food packaging application. They were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), antimicrobial analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS) techniques. Migration studies conducted in acetic acid 3% (wt/wt) and ethanol 10% (v/v) food simulants as well as by the use of treated ashes with 3% HNO3 solution reveal that the migration of Zn and Fe falls into the specific limits imposed by the legislation in force. Results indicated that the PLA/PHBV/ZnO:Fex electrospun nanosystems exhibit excellent antibacterial activity against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC-27853) due to the generation of a larger amount of perhydroxyl (˙OOH) radicals as assessed using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy coupled with a spin trapping method.