Adsorption of olive leaf (Olea europaea L.) antioxidants on silk fibroin

The adsorption isotherms of oleuropein and rutin were evaluated at different temperatures, pH values, and solid/liquid ratios. The experimental data of adsorption isotherms were well fitted to a Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacities were determined as 108 mg of oleuropein/g of silk fibroin and 21 mg of rutin/g of silk fibroin. After adsorption of oleuropein and rutin, the antioxidant capacity of silk fibroin increased from 1.93 to 3.61 mmol of TEAC/g. Silk fibroin also gained antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae after adsorption of olive leaf antioxidants. In a desorption process, 81% of rutin and 85% of oleuropein were removed from the adsorbent surface in 70% aqueous ethanol solution. Consequently, silk fibroin was found to be a promising biomaterial for the production of functional food or dietary supplements and for the purification of oleuropein and rutin from olive leaf extracts.     

Exploration of biosorption potential of forest industry by-product for removal of reactive dye from aqueous solution

Natural sawdust of Calabrian pine was explored as low-cost industrial by-product for a hetero-bireactive dye removal from aqueous solution in this study. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of contact time and dye concentration on biosorption efficiency. Maximum biosorption amounts were achieved almost in the 20-30 min of contact for the studied dye range (50-200 mg l ^-1). An increase in the dye concentration resulted in decrease in the percent dye removal and increase in the biosorption capacity of biosorbent. Different kinetic and isotherm models were used to examine the biosorption experimental data for elucidating the dye removal mechanism. The equilibrium data were best represented by Freundlich isotherm model confirming multilayer coverage. The kinetics of dye biosorption best obeyed the pseudo-secondorder equation. The negative value of standard Gibbs free energy change (-3.61 kJ mol^-1) indicated that physical forces were involved in the spontaneous dye biosorption. Thus, the sawdust as a possible non-conventional biosorbent presented an interesting option for bioremediation of contaminated environments by such unsafe dyes.     

A promising biosorbent for biosorption of a model hetero-bireactive dye from aqueous medium

In this study, residual shell biomass of Corylus avellana L. was used as potential biosorbent for biosorption of a model industrial hetero-bireactive dye. The biosorbent was characterized by FTIR and SEM. The batch biosorption studies were performed as a function of dye concentration and contact time. The biosorption of dye was found to be very quick. Various kinetic and isotherm models were used to evaluate the obtained experimental data. The biosorption kinetic was best represented by the pseudo-second-order model while the biosorption equilibrium was best described by Langmuir model. The maximum dye biosorption capacity of biosorbent based on Langmuir isotherm was obtained as 74.527 mg g^-1. These results showed that the use of such plant waste biomass in biosorption system could be a feasible method for the removal of such recalcitrant dye from industrial effluents to reduce operating costs.     

Lactobacillus spp. bacteria as probiotics in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) larvae: Effects on growth performance and digestive enzyme activities

In this study, the influence of commercial probiotic, Lactobacillus spp., supplementation was investigated on growth parameters and digestive enzyme activities in gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata, during larval development. All experiments were triplicated and designed in three different administrations of probiotic from 3 days after hatching (DAH) concurrently with starting of exogenous feeding. In the first group, probiotic was added to live food (rotifer and Artemia). In the second group, probiotic was supplemented directly to both live food and water. In the third group, probiotic was added directly to water. Also, no probiotic treatment was maintained in control group. Total bacterial counts among probiotic probiotic-supplemented groups were significantly different from total bacterial counts in controls in water and digestive tract of larvae (p < 0.05). The mean of total bacterial counts in control was approximately 4 × 10⁴-fold increased from the experimental groups in the sea water (p < 0.05). Besides, mean digestive enzyme activities of all probiotics treatment groups were significantly different (p < 0.05) with that of the control. Except probiotic water supplementation group, in all treatments, the specific activities of pancreatic and intestinal enzymes were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in larvae to which probiotic had been supplemented by live food and live food with water. Also, S. aurata larvae that had probiotic administered by live food with water demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) increases in both survival (13–105% higher) and specific growth rate (2–9% higher) as compared to controls. As a result, supplementation of probiotic to directly tank water could not significantly increase growth parameters and digestive enzyme activities and therefore, administration of probiotics by this method would not be effective in terms of husbandry parameters and nutritional condition.