Tinctures of eleven plants used as spices (basil, celery, dill, horsetail, lovage, marjoram, milfoil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, and thyme) were tested for their antiradical properties by means of the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay over a two year period. Seven of these plants (basil, lovage, marjoram, milfoil, oregano, rosemary and thyme) were selected to obtain a mixture, which was tested in situ as antioxidant on vegetable and animal fats by an accelerated oxidation test at 110°C. The herbal extract also showed antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 49399), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Candida albicans (ATCC 24433).

Laccases are enzymes belonging to the Oxidoreductases class. These enzymes may be good biocatalysts for different processes, at laboratory and industrial levels. A successful use at industrial scale demands a higher stability of the enzyme. As an easy way to obtain longer life biocatalysts, the immobilization process is recommended. Thus, the paper presents different ways of obtaining new biocatalysts by a laccase covalent immobilization on a macroporous carrier based on poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel. Different procedures of covalent immobilization are described, the newly obtained biocatalysts being characterized. According to the experimental data, the stability of the immobilized enzyme increased and the pH profile changed, compared with those of the free enzyme.

One of the agro-industry’s side streams that is widely met is the-keratin rich fibrous material that is becoming a waste product without valorization. Its management as a waste is costly, as the incineration of this type of waste constitutes high environmental concern. Considering these facts, the keratin-rich waste can be considered as a treasure for the producers interested in the valorization of such slowly-biodegradable by-products. As keratin is a protein that needs harsh conditions for its degradation, and that in most of the cases its constitutive amino acids are destroyed, we review new extraction methods that are eco-friendly and cost-effective. The chemical and enzymatic extractions of keratin are compared and the optimization of the extraction conditions at the lab scale is considered. In this study, there are also considered the potential applications of the extracted keratin as well as the reuse of the by-products obtained during the extraction processes.

The monitoring of environmental pollution requires fast, reliable, cost-effective and small devices. This need explains the recent trends in the development of biosensing devices for pollutant detection. The present review aims to summarize the newest trends regarding the use of biosensors to detect environmental contaminants. Enzyme, whole cell, antibody, aptamer, and DNA-based biosensors and biomimetic sensors are discussed. We summarize their applicability to the detection of various pollutants and mention their constructive characteristics. Several detection principles are used in biosensor design: amperometry, conductometry, luminescence, etc. They differ in terms of rapidity, sensitivity, profitability, and design. Each one is characterized by specific selectivity and detection limits depending on the sensitive element. Mimetic biosensors are slowly gaining attention from researchers and users due to their advantages compared with classical ones. Further studies are necessary for the development of robust biosensing devices that can successfully be used for the detection of pollutants from complex matrices without prior sample preparation.

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A new biocatalyst was prepared by the immobilization of a Trametes pubescens laccase, into a wide-pore poly(vinyl alcohol) cryogel. The known enzyme was produced and puriWed by the previously described procedure. The resulted laccase (yield 40%) has an activity of 46.4 U mg ¡1 and 12.51 mg mL ¡1 protein content. The enzyme was subsequently immobilized in a functionalized macroporous cryogel beads by a covalent immobilization technique. The time dependence of the immobilization process and the enzyme loading of the carrier material (5.2 mg g ¡1 cryogel) were determined by measuring the decrease of protein amount in the enzyme solution. In conversion experiments, a higher stability of the immobilized biocatalyst compared to the free enzyme was evidenced. Steady-state kinetic characterization of four phenols (catechol, caVeic and chlorogenic acids, and catechin) has been performed with free and immobilized laccase, the catalytic parameters being determined and compared. The eVect of both laccases (free and immobilized) on the phenol content of retailed apple juice samples, having the same initial composition, was also investigated by working in batch conversion. The variation in phenolic compound content has been compared with that of an untreated apple juice sample having initially the same content of phenolic compounds. A number of advantages resulted in using the immobilized laccase for the apple juice treatment (conservation to some extent of enzyme activity, higher content of phenols preserved, easy separation of the enzyme from the apple juice, therefore avoiding the possible unhealthy eVects due to the remaining protein, etc.).

When we talk about products with a low impact on the environment, e.g., organic, traditional, or having the European ecological label, their sales are a central element of the economy. Many variables and local cultural values influence consumer behavior, including education and life requirements. Sustainable development involves education on consumption habits and low-environmental-impact production. This article aims to identify the role of education and remuneration in the consumption of sustainable products. Different working hypotheses are formulated. The first hypothesis of our study tests the existence of a direct correlation between the consumer’s level of education and their opinion on consuming low-environmental-impact products, influencing the ability to make appropriate decisions. The second one refers to the level of income and consumption behavior. The research method is a statistical one, based on a quantitative analysis and using a questionnaire as a tool. For 60% of the high-level graduate respondents, a product’s source is significant in their choices. Over 70% of the responders who earn above the median income believe it is essential to consume organic products. The results obtained confirm our initial assumptions. Our findings underline the current knowledge regarding consumption of sustainable products, their characteristics, and consumers’ interest in them.

Alpha-cypermethrin is a synthetic pyrethroid that was extensively used for insect control, since the early 1980s. However, it is known that its presence in the environment has toxic effects on humans and aquatic life forms. For this reason, it is commendable for it to be removed completely from the contaminated environment. In this study, we evaluated the adsorption capacity of a marine alga for the removal of cypermethrin from water. The adsorption experiments were performed based on the batch equilibrium technique. The samples containing the pesticide were analyzed using gas chromatography with an electron capture detector, after liquid-liquid extraction in hexane. The results obtained from the kinetic adsorption studies showed that the equilibrium time was attained after 40 min. The adsorption parameters at equilibrium concentrations, obtained through the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models, showed that the used brown marine alga has a maximum amount of adsorbed cypermethrin of 588.24 µg/g. The correlation coefficients obtained for each model prove that the Langmuir model best fits the experimental data.