Biodiesel production from Sisymbrium irio as a potential novel biomass waste feedstock using homemade titania catalyst.

Biomass waste streams are a possible feedstock for a range of eco-friendly products and a crucial alternative energy source for achieving carbon neutrality; therefore, the efficient management of biomass waste has taken on a greater significance in recent years. Due to its well-comparable physic-chemical properties with fossil diesel, biodiesel is a potential substitute for fossil fuel. This study aimed to synthesize biodiesel from the widely available non-edible seed oil of Sisymbrium irio L. (a member of the Brassicaceae family) via a transesterification procedure over a homemade TiO2 catalyst. At 1:16 oil to methanol ratio, 93% biodiesel yield was obtained over 20 mg catalyst at 60 °C and 60 min. The ASTM methods were used to analyze the fuel properties. The quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed by FT-IR, GC-MS, and NMR spectroscopy. GC-MS study confirms 16 different types of fatty acids of methyl esters. FT-IR analysis showed important peaks that confirm the successful occurrence of biodiesel. 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR showed important peaks for converting triglycerides into corresponding FAMEs. The acid value (0.42 mg KOH/mg/kg), flash point (106 °C), and water content (0.034) of biodiesel are below the specified limit of ASTM D6751 whereas kinetic viscosity (3.72 mm2/s), density (0.874 kg/L), cloud point (- 4.3 °C) and pour point (- 9.6 °C) and high heating value (41.62 MJ/kg) fall within the specified range of ASTM D6751 test limit. The Unsaturation degree and oxidative stability of biodiesel are above ASTM D6751 test limit. The physic-chemical properties of the SIB confirm that it is eco-friendly fuel and a competitive source for manufacturing biodiesel on a commercial scale. Furthermore, the SIB is engine friendly and has good fuel efficacy.

Spruce Bark-A Source of Polyphenolic Compounds: Optimizing the Operating Conditions of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction.

The present study described the optimization of the extraction process with carbon dioxide in supercritical state for obtaining extractives, especially polyphenols from softwood bark, Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Using a full 23 factorial design of experiments, the effect of varying the working parameters on the yield of extractives was studied for the following ranges: temperature 40-100 °C, pressure 1050-9000 psi (7.2-62 MPa), and concentration of EtOH/water co-solvent mixture 40-96.6%. In addition, total phenolics content and the antioxidant capacity of the spruce bark extract were determined. The optimum operating conditions for the yield of extractives were identified as 73 °C, 6465 psi (44.5 MPa), and 58% EtOH/water cosolvent concentration for a yield of 8.92%. The optimum conditions for achieving a total phenolics content of 13.89 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry extract were determined as: 45 °C, 1050 psi (7.2 MPa), and 96.6% EtOH/water mixture.

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of phytosterols and methyl dehydroabietate of Norway spruce bark extracts.

The current study focuses on the analysis of in vitro biological activity of extract from bark of Norway spruce (Picea Abies), which can find potential application in food and cosmetic industry and pharmacology. Milled bark was subjected to Soxhlet extraction and supercritical fluid extraction to obtain two ethanol extracts. These extracts were further used to obtain their pre-extracts to n-hexane. It was investigated whether beta-sitosterol exhibits bacteriostatic activity necessary to observe antimicrobial and antifungal activity of methyl dehydroabiatate. This synergic effect and bacteriostatic activity of beta-sitosterol have not been previously reported. The greatest inhibition zone of n-hexane pre-extracts was confirmed in bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0,9 - 1,5 cm) and yeast Alternaria alternata (0,7 - 1,6 cm). It is novel, the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antifungal activity of spruce bark extracts assessed in terms of food and cosmetic fortification.