Articles
Valorisation of fresh-cut leafy vegetables by-products for potential biostimulants production and cellulose extraction
Article number
1442_46
Pages
345 – 350
Language
English
Abstract
Fresh-cut produce industries generate a substantial amount of by-products from the removal of core and external leaves, damaged tissues, or stems.
This waste raw material can be discarded or converted into valuable products through different valorization processes.
In a circular economy, fresh-cut waste can be transformed into products for a second life.
Organic raw materials can be used as potential sources of plant biostimulants in the agricultural sector.
Leafy vegetable industrial residues, mainly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), and endive (Cichorium endivia L.), were collected at the end of the processing line.
The fresh material was reduced in size and water was added (1:2 weight ratio). Two extraction techniques were tested: 1) maceration under dark conditions at 20°C for 25 days, and 2) hot water extraction at 64°C for 25 min.
After filtration, the extracts were analyzed for macro- and micro-elements to evaluate their potential use as plant biostimulants.
The extract obtained through maceration generally had higher concentrations of almost all elements evaluated (N, C, Na, Mg, K, Ca) than the hot water extract, except for Fe and Cu.
The leafy vegetable by-product was also used to extract cellulose via a stepwise procedure aimed at sequentially removing hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and organic compounds.
Before extraction, the biomass was oven-dried at 105°C, ground, and sieved to obtain a powder with an average particle size of ~200 µm.
The final extraction yield was ~18.3%, as determined gravimetrically using a thermobalance.
Infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed the high purity of the cellulosic residue after comparison with ultra-pure filter paper and bacterial cellulose from K. sucrofermentans. This study aimed to develop a biodegradable nursery pot made from fresh-cut waste enriched with plant extracts and bacteria with potential biostimulant effects.
This waste raw material can be discarded or converted into valuable products through different valorization processes.
In a circular economy, fresh-cut waste can be transformed into products for a second life.
Organic raw materials can be used as potential sources of plant biostimulants in the agricultural sector.
Leafy vegetable industrial residues, mainly lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), and endive (Cichorium endivia L.), were collected at the end of the processing line.
The fresh material was reduced in size and water was added (1:2 weight ratio). Two extraction techniques were tested: 1) maceration under dark conditions at 20°C for 25 days, and 2) hot water extraction at 64°C for 25 min.
After filtration, the extracts were analyzed for macro- and micro-elements to evaluate their potential use as plant biostimulants.
The extract obtained through maceration generally had higher concentrations of almost all elements evaluated (N, C, Na, Mg, K, Ca) than the hot water extract, except for Fe and Cu.
The leafy vegetable by-product was also used to extract cellulose via a stepwise procedure aimed at sequentially removing hemicellulose, lignin, ash, and organic compounds.
Before extraction, the biomass was oven-dried at 105°C, ground, and sieved to obtain a powder with an average particle size of ~200 µm.
The final extraction yield was ~18.3%, as determined gravimetrically using a thermobalance.
Infrared spectroscopy analyses revealed the high purity of the cellulosic residue after comparison with ultra-pure filter paper and bacterial cellulose from K. sucrofermentans. This study aimed to develop a biodegradable nursery pot made from fresh-cut waste enriched with plant extracts and bacteria with potential biostimulant effects.
Authors
G. Franzoni, A. Ferrante, D. Carullo, S. Farris, F. Mapelli, S. Borin
Keywords
vegetable waste, green extraction, circular economy, biodegradable
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