Nowadays, it is urgent to produce in larger quantities and more sustainably to reduce the gap between food supply and demand. In a circular bioeconomy vision, insects receive great attention as a sustainable alternative to satisfy food and nutritional needs. Among all insects, Tenebrio molitor (TM) is the first insect approved by the European Food Safety Authority as a novel food in specific conditions and uses, testifying its growing relevance and potential. This review holistically presents the possible role of TM in the sustainable and circular solution to the growing needs for food and nutrients. We analyze all high value‐added products obtained from TM (powders and extracts, oils and fatty acids, proteins and peptides, and chitin and chitosan), their recovery processes (evaluating the best ones in technical and environmental terms), their nutritional and economical values, and their biological effects. Safety aspects are also mentioned. TM potential is undoubted, but some aspects still need to be discussed, including the health effects of substances and microorganisms in its body, the optimal production conditions (that affect product quality and safety), and TM capacity to convert by‐products into new products. Environmental, economic, social, and market feasibility studies are also required to analyze the new value chains. Finally, to unlock the enormous potential of edible insects as a source of nutritious and sustainable food, it will be necessary to overcome the cultural, psychological, and regulatory barriers still present in Western countries.

No abstract

Local structure of Fe(III), Cr(III), and Zn(II) cations has been determined on the amorphous sample by means of the difference method used for liquid systems. We recorded energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction spectra of a chelating resin (Chelex 100), containing paired iminodiacetate ions coupled to a styrene-divinylbenzene support, in several ionic forms. Coordination geometry of Fe(III), Cr(III), and Zn(II) metal cations with Chelex 100 resin ligand sites, and conformation of the ligand groups have been determined.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

<abstract> <p>Chitin is the second most plentiful natural biomass after cellulose, with a yearly production of about 1 × 10¹⁰–1 × 10¹² tonnes. It can be obtained mainly from sea crustaceans' shells, containing 15–40% chitin. Full or partial deacetylation of chitin generates chitosan. Chitin and chitosan are used in several industrial sectors, as they exhibit high biocompatibility, biodegradability and several biological functions (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumoral activities). These biopolymers' market trends are destined to grow in the coming years, confirming their relevance. As a result, low-cost and industrial-scale production is the main challenge. Scientific literature reports two major technologies for chitin and chitosan recovery from crustacean waste: chemical and biological methods. The chemical treatment can be performed using conventional solvents, typically strong acid and alkaline solutions, or alternative green solvents, such as deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). Biological methods use enzymatic or fermentation processes. For each route, this paper reviews the advantages and drawbacks in terms of environmental and economic sustainability. The conventional chemical method is still the most used but results in high environmental impacts. Green chemical methods by DESs and NADESs use low-toxic and biodegradable solvents but require high temperatures and long reaction times. Biological methods are eco-friendly but have limitations in the upscaling process, and are affected by high costs and long reaction times. This review focuses on the methodologies available to isolate chitin from crustaceans, providing a comprehensive overview. At the same time, it examines the chemical, biological and functional properties of chitin and its derivative, along with their most common applications. Consequently, this work represents a valuable knowledge tool for selecting and developing the most suitable and effective technologies to produce chitin and its derivatives.</p> </abstract>

No abstract