Rethinking the ageing process of spirits: Nutshells as a sustainable alternative to wood
Aguardente bagaceira, a Portuguese grape marc spirit (GMS), represents an opportunity for sustainable innovation in ageing process. This study investigates the use of nutshells (almond, hazelnut, walnut, chestnut) as alternative ageing materials to conventional wood. Spirits were aged for six months in 20 L stainless steel vessels (50 g/L, chestnut tested at 12.5 and 25 g/L). An unaged sample and oak wood chips served as controls. Total phenolics (TPC), tannins (TAN), flavonoids (TF), pH, acidity, dry extract, and chromatic characteristics were monitored monthly. GMS aged with chestnut shells showed the highest levels of TPC (2.02 ± 0.17 g GAE/L), TAN (1.91 ± 0.07 g/L) and TF (0.250 ± 0.007 g CE/L) among the tested materials. Sensory analysis highlighted enhanced flavour complexity in chestnut-aged GMS after three months. These results demonstrate the potential of nutshells as sustainable, circular-economy alternatives to oak in spirit ageing, reducing ageing time without compromising quality.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2026.147899
Sustainable Carbon Source from Almond Shell Waste: Synthesis, Characterization, and Electrochemical Properties
This study demonstrates the complete transformation of almond shell waste into a high-performance carbon material for carbon paste electrode (CPE) fabrication. The biocarbon was synthesized via carbonization at 800 °C and subsequently activated with CO2, resulting in a semicrystalline structure rich in carbonyl groups-consistent with its lignocellulosic origin (34.25% cellulose, 13.48% hemicellulose, 48.03% lignin). Carbonization increased the total pore volume of carbonized almond (CAR_ALD) by nearly 13-fold and the specific surface area by over two orders of magnitude compared to raw almond (RAW_ALD), while CO2 activation further enhanced activated almond's (ACT_ALD) surface area (~19%) and pore volume (~35%). To improve electrochemical performance, Bi2O3 doped with Sm was applied as a surface modifier. Comprehensive characterization (N2 physisorption X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis (FTIR), X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopic Analysis (XPS), Thermogravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis (TG-DTA), Cyclic voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)) confirmed the material's structural integrity, graphitic features, and successful modifier incorporation. Electrochemical testing revealed the highest current response (48 µA) for the CPE fabricated from CAR_ALD/Bi2O3-Sm, indicating superior electrocatalytic activity and reduced charge transfer resistance. Notably, this is the first report of a fully functional CPE working electrode fabricated entirely from waste material.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19010008
Valorization and Environmental Impacts of Pecan Waste: A Critical Review
Pecan (Carya illinoinensis) cultivation generates a substantial number of byproducts, particularly nutshells, which are often discarded despite being rich in bioactive and structural compounds. These agro-industrial residues, comprising nearly 50% of the total nut mass, contain high levels of phenolics, flavonoids, dietary fiber, and lignocellulosic matter, making them suitable for circular economy applications. This review critically evaluates the potential of pecan shell waste for value-added applications in environmental remediation, food and pharmaceutical formulations, and green materials production. It explores innovative green extraction techniques, such as ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted, and subcritical water extraction, to recover valuable compounds like ellagic acid and tannins with high efficiency and minimal environmental impact. Moreover, the review highlights the conversion of pecan shells into activated carbon for wastewater treatment and soil remediation. Pecan byproducts have been used as sustainable feedstocks for catalyst support, contributing to energy conversion and biomass catalysis. The bioactive compounds also offer therapeutic properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects, supporting their inclusion in nutraceutical and cosmetic applications. Through a comprehensive synthesis of recent studies, this work highlights the role of pecan shell valorization in reducing waste, improving public health, and increasing economic resilience within agro-industrial systems. By aligning with sustainable development and circular economies, the utilization of pecan byproducts provides a low-cost, eco-innovative pathway to mitigate environmental pollution and promote sustainable development.
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods15010168
Development of Antioxidant Polycaprolactone Films Incorporating Peanut Skin Food Waste Extract for Active Packaging
Biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL) films were developed with 13% w/w ethanol extract from industrial peanut skin residues (PSE), a rich source of natural antioxidants and antimicrobials. Films retain actives during processing. Antioxidant activity was evaluated via total phenolics, flavonoids, condensed tannins, and radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS). PSE incorporation enhances oxidative thermal stability, increasing oxidation onset temperature (OOT) by 61°C—eliminating the early oxidative stage of neat PCL—and extending oxidation induction time (OIT), without compromising suitability for food packaging. Oxidative stability is maintained after accelerated storage (90 days at 40°C) and repeated migration tests simulating contact with refrigerated fatty foods. Migration assays confirm effective release of actives under repeated use. Mass transfer parameters were obtained by fitting experimental data to Fick's second law and the Arrhenius model, yielding intrinsic diffusion coefficients in 95% ethanol from 5°C to 40°C (4.17 × 10−15–7.1 × 10−14 m2·s−1), eliminating swelling at 40°C. Coefficients fall within typical polymer–antioxidant ranges, reflecting strong retention and controlled release due to the PCL matrix and complex PSE mixture. Overall, the films demonstrate long-term chemical and functional stability, enhanced thermo-oxidative resistance, and controlled antioxidant release, supporting their application in refrigerated, lipid-rich foods within a circular economy framework.
https://doi.org/10.1002/app.70266
The Effect of Nano‐Fertilization With NPK and Spraying With Potassium Silicate on Improving the Physical Characteristics of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) Fruits of Khastawi and Khadhrawi Cultivars
This study was conducted during the 2024 growing season at the Palm Research Station in Al-Zafaraniya, Baghdad, Iraq. A total of 54 uniform date palm trees (Khastawi and Khadhrawi cultivars), approximately 15 years old and planted at 10-m spacing, were selected for experimental treatments. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three concentrations of nano NPK fertilizer (0, 2, and 4 g·L−1), applied in six foliar doses, and three concentrations of potassium silicate (0, 2, and 4 mL·L−1), applied in four foliar doses, as well as their interaction, on date yield, and fruit quality. The results revealed significant improvements in all measured traits. Total date yield per tree increased from 29.81 kg in the control to 68.95 kg with the N3S3 treatment. Average bunch weight rose from 7.45 kg to 17.23 kg, and fruit set percentage increased from 66.15% to 79.90%. The Khastawi cultivar produced higher bunch weight and total date yield, whereas Khadhrawi excelled in individual date size and dimensions. The most effective treatment combination was nano NPK at 4 g/L with potassium silicate at 2 mL/L (N3S2), which yielded optimal results across most traits. These findings confirm that the integration of nano-fertilizers and potassium silicate foliar sprays can significantly enhance the productivity and fruit quality of dates under arid environmental conditions.
https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/4314722
Analysis of the effect of temperature and packing method on the quality and oxidative stability of walnuts in storage
Walnuts are rich in a variety of nutritional components. However, due to their high content of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), the quality of walnuts tends to decline during storage, which adversely affects the development of the walnut industry. This study was aimed to investigate the impacts of temperature and packaging methods on the storage quality and oxidative stability of walnuts. The Wen 185 walnut variety was selected, and the physical-chemical and nutritional indexes of walnuts stored for 42 weeks under different temperatures (-18°C, 4°C, and room temperature) and packaging methods (vacuum light-exposed, vacuum light-proof, vacuum-radiation light-exposed, vacuum-radiation light-proof, nitrogen-filled light-exposed, nitrogen-filled light-proof) were measured. The results showed that low temperatures, especially -18°C, in combination with vacuum lightproof packaging, could effectively suppress the increase in oxidative stability indicators such as acid value (AV) and peroxide value (PV), and maintain high retention rates of nutritional indicators like tocopherol and phytosterol. This study has elucidated that low temperatures and appropriate packaging methods play the crucial roles in maintaining the quality and oxidative stability of walnuts during storage. It has provided comprehensive and valuable data support and theoretical basis for the scientific storage of walnuts, contributing to the development of the walnut industry and the guarantee of product quality.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocsci.2025.02.005
Evaluation of the crop sequence boundary (CSB) dataset for field boundary mapping and spatial overlap analysis supporting pesticide risk assessment
Accurate delineation of field boundaries is essential for translating pixel-level remote sensing data into actionable field-scale agricultural decision-making. This study evaluates the accuracy of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Crop Sequence Boundaries (CSB) dataset, which derives crop field polygons from eight years of Cropland Data Layer (CDL) data by analyzing crop rotation history and spatial contiguity. Focusing on California, with a detailed case study in Kern County, we assess accuracy of the CSB dataset against high-quality, independent references from the Kern County Department of Agriculture and Measurement Standards (KAFB) and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Evaluation metrics include total and crop-specific acreage, number of fields, alignment of field boundaries, and F1 scores for crop type classification. Results indicate that the CSB dataset underestimates total cultivated area by 6.3 % relative to KAFB and 5.4 % relative to DWR. Crop-specific comparisons using KAFB as a reference show that the CSB dataset performs reliably for orchard crops—accurately capturing pistachios (0 % difference), slightly overestimating almonds (+5.2 %), and modestly underestimating citrus (−7.5 %)—while exhibiting larger overestimates for grapes (+17 %), cotton (+10.7 %), and alfalfa (+31.8 %), and significantly underrepresenting “other” crops (−31.7 %). The CSB also overestimates the number of fields, reporting more than twice as many as KAFB (28,022 vs. 11,914), due to field subdivisions driven by within-field variability in the gridded satellite data. F1 scores demonstrate medium to high crop classification accuracy, with values ranging from 73 % for alfalfa to 88 % for citrus and 86 % for almonds, indicating strong performance for perennial crops. Despite segmentation limitations, the CSB dataset offers substantial value through its provision of temporally consistent, field-scale crop type data with medium to high classification accuracy in a user-friendly format. To illustrate its practical use, we applied the CSB dataset in an overlap analysis with selected listed species ranges, an essential step in in pesticide risk assessments under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This overlap analysis, which evaluates the potential likelihood of pesticide exposure, demonstrated that CSB significantly improves accuracy of overlaps between agricultural lands and endangered species habitats by providing more accurate, year-specific data compared to current regulatory approaches that use the Use Data Layer (UDL) as inputs. While both UDL and CSB are derived from the same underlying CDL dataset, —the annual resolution of CSB offers greater benefits for pesticide risk assessment. Overall, the CSB dataset demonstrates strong potential as the best available data source for practical applications such as overlap analysis for pesticide risk assessment, although continued refinement is needed to enhance its accuracy in field boundary detection.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2025.110894
Production of Filamentous Fungal Biomass (Aspergillus awamori) in Pellet Form from Almond Hull Extract
Fungal cultivation using agricultural byproducts is a sustainable approach to produce valuable bioproducts for applications such as protein-rich foods. In this study, Aspergillus awamori (A. awamori) was cultivated in batch flasks to investigate the effects of different nitrogen sources and initial carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratios of 15, 30, and 45 on fungal yield and characteristics using almond hull extract as a substrate. Yeast extract was identified as the most effective nitrogen source, while NH4Cl was selected to adjust the C/N ratio to reduce raw material costs. The highest fungal biomass concentration and yield were achieved at a C/N ratio of 15, at which the fungal biomass had the highest crude protein content of 18.10% and the lowest fat content of 2.28%. Environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) imaging revealed that fungal pellets transitioned from smooth and dense to hollow with uneven surfaces as cultivation progressed. Following the flask experiments, the effect of pH control and agitation on fungi growth was studied in 2 L bioreactor. The highest biomass yield (0.97 g TSS/g sugar), biomass concentration (15.01 g/L), and uniform pellet size (3.75 mm) were achieved at 150 rpm without pH control. This study demonstrated that almond hull extract can serve as a promising substrate for the production of fungal pellets.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-025-03955-x
Effects of introduced macadamia on soil organic carbon and water stocks in subtropical agroforestry systems of southwestern China
Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia)-based agroforestry systems, widely adopted in Yunnan Province, China since 1981, are critical for soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration. However, their effects on SOC stocks and coupling mechanisms with soil water dynamics remains poorly understood. This study quantified changes in SOC and soil water stocks following the conversion from primary forest to macadamia monoculture and intercropping systems (dasheen, konjac, and maize) in Yongde County, southwestern Yunnan province. Soil profiles (0–100 cm, 0–20 cm, and 20–100 cm) were analyzed to assess vertical SOC and soil water stocks interactions and driving factors. Results revealed that macadamia-based agroforestry systems reduced significantly SOC stock compared to primary forest (261 t/hm2) but enhanced soil water stock. Among intercropping systems, macadamia+dasheen plantation exhibited the highest recovery of SOC and soil water stock. Surface soil layers (0–20 cm) showed strong SOC-water coupling, whereas this relationship weakened in deeper layers (20–100 cm). Simultaneously, woody above-ground biomass directly increased SOC stock, while specific leaf area and leaf phosphorus content regulated SOC stock directly or indirectly via woody above-ground biomass. Conversely, herb above-ground biomass negatively influenced SOC stock in surface soil layer, but had no significant effect in the deeper layer. Woody above-ground biomass exhibited a consistent negative influence on soil water stock across all soil layers, with the standardized path coefficients of −1.23 (0–100 cm), −1.153 (0–20 cm), and −1.23 (20–100 cm). This relationship was further modulated by indirect effects mediated through specific leaf area and leaf phosphorus content. This study provides mechanistic insights into the interdependencies of SOC and water stock in the subtropical macadamia-based agroforestry systems, providing valuable guidance for sustainable carbon management practices in China’s subtropical mountainous region.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2025.121344
Mitigating tropical cyclone susceptibility in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards
The production of tree nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pecans is a globally important agricultural industry. Climate risk posed to tree nut orchards was recently brought to light by a series of severe tropical cyclone impacts to the primary pecan-producing areas of Georgia, USA which caused $1.2 billion USD in losses. Understanding how severe wind risk changes with pecan tree size can guide the development of climate-smart practices that improve global resilience of tree nuts. Immediately after 2023 Hurricane Idalia, we reconstructed hurricane damage to 11 pecan orchards across southern Georgia and examined how tree susceptibility varied with wind speed and tree size for 1142 trees. We found that the probability of tropical cyclone damage to pecan trees increased with wind speed and was highest for intermediate size classes—peaking at 35 cm diameter at breast height. We developed a conceptual model for assessing hurricane risk on crop yield which illustrates how explicit consideration of age-structure can influence expected profits when hurricane risk is considered. We recommend that pecan growers consider age and size structure in orchard planning. Prior research also suggests that mechanical hedge pruning increases windfirmness. Climate-smart practices can enhance resilience and sustainability in pecan orchards in future climates where increases in severe tropical cyclones are expected.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2025.114236