Synergistic impact of cumin essential oil on enhancing of UV-blocking and antibacterial activity of biodegradable poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/clay platelets nanocomposites

Both biodegradable UV-blocking and antimicrobial films are extremely demanded, especially for food packaging to meet the increasing sustainable requirement for the human health and the environment. Thus, the objective of this research was to fabricate antibiofilms based biodegradable Poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/organoclay (PBAT/OC) bionanocomposites incorporating with different proportions of cumin essential oil (CEO) as a toxicity-free product without requiring ZnO, TiO2, Ag-NPs or other nanoparticles. The composition of CEO was characterized by GC-MS. PBAT/OC bionanocomposites with variable proportions of CEO were prepared by solvent casting approach. The synergistic effect of CEO on the morphology, UV-shielding, and antibacterial/antioxidant activities was studied. The results revealed that the dispersion of clay layers in the matrix was affected when the CEO content was increased. The incorporated natural CEO into PBAT/OC nanocomposite was enhanced the UV-shielding properties (i.e. 100% blocking for UV-B and nearly up 95% for UV-A), and antimicrobial/antioxidant activities, especially at high oil concentration. Whereas for mechanical properties, the findings showed inferior tensile and modulus values, because of plasticizing CEO effect. The data in this research provide very promising formulations for fabricating sustainable PBAT-based antimicrobial and UV-protecting films for perspective applications in light-sensitive packaging such as drugs, food products or in agriculture mulch films.

Distribution of Heavy Metal Fractions in Sewage Sludge from a Selected Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant

Sewage sludge used for reclamation of egraded areas or in agriculture must have a certain total heavy metal content, as required by law. In practice, however, it is important to carry out a fractional analysis of the elements contained in the sludge. This activity allows to determine the chemical form of a given metal, thanks to which it is possible to assess the assimilability of elements by plants. The study proved that the fraction of certain metals in sewage sludge can vary depending on the period studied. The combination of elements with other compounds in sludge from one treatment plant can vary from month to month. Once analysis has been carried out, it should not be the basis for assessing the bioavailability of metals if sludge from a given treatment plant were to be sampled several times a year.

Alkaline-Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Wool Waste for Different Applications

Wool waste represents a valuable and renewable material with low level of valorization and high potential to be integrated in bioeconomy. The extraction of keratin from wool by-products generated by sheep breeders and furskin industry represents a valuable approach for reducing the environmental pollution with organic and heavy biodegradable waste and a possibility to use a renewable product in agriculture or different industries. Keratin hydrolysates were obtained by alkaline and alkaline-enzymatic hydrolysis with extraction yields of 16.4-43.5%. The obtained keratin hydrolysates were characterized by physical-chemical analysis (dry substance, nitrogen content, pH, ash etc), FT-IR spectra, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and surface tension (VCA Optima XE). Alkaline and alkaline-enzymatic hydrolyses of wool waste showed the possibility to obtain different keratin polypeptides with suitable properties for application in leather industry or in agriculture.

Using local family farm products for school feeding programmes: effect on school menus

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of the use of food products from family farms on school menus of the school feeding program (SFP) of a municipality in Southern Brazil. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative content analysis was carried out of 16 key informant interviews involved in the SFP, or in agriculture production related to SFP planning, development and supply. The resulting categories were used to construct a quantitative analysis protocol for school menus for three years both prior to and after (n=130 days) procurement of the SFP with food from family farms. The studied variables were the presence (yes/no) of vegetables, fruits, legumes and concentrated foods. Monthly frequency and contrast of proportions were calculated for each variable during the years studied. Findings The interviewees recognized that the proximity between food production and the school increased the variety of fresh, natural and organic foods in school menus. The direct supply of the SFP with foods from local family farms resulted in a significant increase (p<0.05) in the frequency of vegetables, fruits and legumes in school menus as well as a progressive reduction in concentrated foods. Originality/value The design of food and agriculture policy increases the availability of healthy foods in school menus and has beneficial results for promoting healthy meals in schools.

Proceedings of the Fourth Meeting of the EURO Working Group on Operational Research (OR) in Agriculture and Forest Management (EWG-ORAFM)

This working group, which is concerned with operational research methods and applications to agricultural science in its broad meaning (i.e. including Forest Management and Fisheries), was formed in 2003 within the European Association of Operational Research Societies (EURO). The first meeting of the group was held at the former Silsoe Research Institute in 2004. The group holds regular meetings in Europe at approximately yearly intervals, usually within the EURO Conferences. The next meeting will be held at the EURO XXIII conference in Bonn in 2009 followed by the EURO XXIV conference in Lisbon in 2010.The fourth meeting of the working group was a joint meeting with the British Operational Research Society's special interest group on Agriculture and Natural Resources. It was chaired by D. L. Sandars of Cranfield University and Dr L. M. Plà of the University of Lleida and organized as a stream within the OR50 Conference, and was held at the University of York from 9 to 11 September 2008 where the following papers were read.

Proceedings of the Third Meeting of the EURO Working Group on Operational Research (OR) in Agriculture and Forest Management (EWG-ORAFM)

The working group, which is concerned with operational research methods and applications to agricultural science in its broad meaning (i.e. including Forest Management and Fisheries), was formed in 2003 within the European Association of Operational Research Societies (EURO). The first meeting of the group was held at the former Silsoe Research Institute in 2004. The group intends to have regular meetings in Europe at approximately yearly intervals, usually within the EURO Conferences. However, the next meeting will be held in 2008 within the British Operational Research Society's OR50 Conference in York, followed by the EURO XXIII Conference in Bonn in 2009 and the EURO XXIV Conference in Lisbon in 2010. The third meeting of the working group, chaired by Dr L. M. Plà of the University of Lleida, with the assistance of D. L. Sandars of Cranfield University and organized as a stream within the XXII EURO Conference, was held at the University of Economics in Prague from 8 to 11 July 2007 where the following papers were read in a set of 10 sessions.

Proceedings of the Second Meeting of the EURO Working group on Operational Research (OR) in Agriculture and Forest Management

This working group, which is concerned with operational research methods and applications to agricultural science in its broad meaning (i.e. including Forest Management and Fisheries), was formed in 2003 within the European Association of Operational Research Societies (EURO). The first meeting of the group was held at the former Silsoe Research Institute two years ago. The next meeting will be held in 2007 within the XXII EURO Conference in Prague. The group intends to start regular meetings at approximately yearly intervals in association with the EURO Conferences. The second meeting of the working group, chaired by Dr. L. M. Plà of the University of Lleida and organized as a stream within the XXI EURO Conference, was held at the University of Iceland in Reykjavík from 3rd–5th July 2006 where the following papers were read.

Investigating the Mechanism of Uranium Removal by Zerovalent Iron

Environmental Context.Groundwater is the water that fills the spaces between sand, soil, and rock below the water table. It discharges into ecologically sensitive wetlands and is used as drinking water or in agriculture and industry. Inappropriate waste disposal and poor land management can contaminate groundwater and may minimize its use for decades. The common method for pumping contaminated groundwater to the surface for treatment is costly and labour intensive. Zerovalent iron is a new, more cost-effective method of groundwater remediation. Abstract. Zerovalent iron (ZVI) has been proposed as a reactive material in permeable in situ walls for groundwater contaminated by metal pollutants. For such pollutants that interact with corrosion products, the determination of the actual mechanism of their removal is very important to predict their stability in the long term. From a study of the effects of pyrite (FeS2) and manganese nodules (MnO2) on the uranium removal potential of a selected ZVI material, a test methodology (FeS2–MnO2 method) is suggested to follow the pathway of contaminant removal by ZVI materials. An interpretation of the removal potential of ZVI for uranium in the presence of both additives corroborates coprecipitation with iron corrosion products as the initial removal mechanism for uranium.