This paper is part of a sustainable development approach, the aim being to develop a thermochemical energy recovery path while reducing the amount of tomato waste issued from agro-industrial units. The thermal process may contribute to an environmentally friendly management and help tomato processing industries creating new economic profitable circuits in an increasingly competitive context. The adopted approach was to follow the operating conditions needed for a complete thermal degradation through a thermal and kinetic analyses. The results of the tomato waste characterization confirmed their suitability to a thermochemical processing with high volatiles and fixed carbon and interesting high heating values comparable to sawdust biomass. We were able to isolate of the decomposition domains and extract kinetic parameters. Three kinetic models were applied; Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO) simulated the best the combustion process. Calculated curves were validated by the first order (n = 1) model except for the slow heating rate of 5 °C/min which was fitted by the contracted cylinder model. The conclusions of this paper could help in optimizing the combustion process in order to achieve high energy recovery from tomato residues. Obtained kinetic data would help in the design of combustion reactors.
Introduction. Meningeal melanocytoma (MM) is a very rare neuroectodermal neoplasm arising from the leptomeninges. Primary suprasellar melanocytomas are exceedingly rare, with only a handful of cases reported. The systemic spread of a nontransformed meningeal melanocytoma is an unusual occurrence. Herein, we report the first case of a primary sellar melanocytoma with cerebral and spinal meningeal seeding. Case Report. A 30-year-old male with no previous medical history presented to the endocrinology department with a loss of body hair. The endocrine workup concluded with isolated hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain and sella revealed a large suprasellar mass continuous with the infundibulum of the pituitary gland. It was heterogeneously hyperintense on T1-, T2-, and FLAIR-weighted images and was enhanced with contrast, along with cerebral and spinal leptomeningeal spread. The patient was referred to the neurosurgery department, and a lumbar spine biopsy was indicated. The histopathological examination was suggestive of a grade I meningeal pigmented melanocytoma. Conclusion. Thus, primary sellar melanocytomas with leptomeningeal spread are an extremely rare phenomenon. Metastatic malignant melanoma should be ruled out. Being aware of differential diagnosis and the unusual behavior of meningeal melanocytoma will be necessary to manage the patient appropriately. Complete tumor resection is the best treatment whenever possible, and radiotherapy should be considered in case of unresectability or partial resection.
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