Sugar-beet pulp pectin gels as biosorbent for heavy metals: Preparation and determination of biosorption and desorption characteristics

The present work reports the feasibility of using sugar-beet pectin gels for the removal of heavy metals from aqueous solutions. Sugar-beet pectin hydro- and xerogels were tested in the batch biosorption and desorption of cadmium, lead and copper. Pectins were successfully extracted and demethylated from the sugar-beet pulp, an agricultural residue, and gelled in the presence of CaCl₂. The stability of the hydro- and xerogel pectin beads made them suitable for biosorption of heavy metals in different conditions. Biosorption data were fitted to the pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, obtaining the corresponding parameters. Treated and untreated beads were characterized using FTIR and SEM to determine possible binding mechanisms. The main mechanisms involved were ion exchange with calcium of gel structure and chelation or complexation with carboxyl groups. After biosorption, calcium in the gels was substituted by metal cations reorganizing the structure of the gel matrix in a way that was visible using scanning electron microscopy. HNO₃ 0.1 M was the best eluant for the reutilization of the gels and recovered all the adsorbed metal unlike HCl and H₂SO₄. Sugar-beet pectins could be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment and recovery of Cu, Pb and Cd from wastewater.     

Effects of pretreatment methods on solubilization of beet-pulp and bio-hydrogen production yield

Sugar processing wastewater and beet-pulp are two major waste streams of sugar-beet processing plants. Contrary to wastewater, beet-pulp is generally used as animal feed in cattle-raising industry. However, it can serve as a substrate for bio-hydrogen production which corresponds to a higher valorization of beet-pulp. Moreover, pretreatment of lignocellulosic materials like beet-pulp is needed in order to improve overall energy efficiency and enable economic feasibility of bio-hydrogen production. Therefore, the effect pretreatment methods (alkaline, thermal, microwave, thermal-alkaline and microwave-alkaline) on bio-hydrogen production from sugar beet-pulp through dark fermentation were investigated in this study. Reactors pretreated with alkaline, microwave-alkaline and thermal-alkaline methods yielded significant solubilization of beet-pulp compared to others. Therefore, in the second phase of the study, they were used to pretreat the beet-pulp which was then subjected to dark fermentation for bio-hydrogen production. Maximum bio-hydrogen production yield of 115.6 mL H₂/g COD was observed in reactor which contained alkaline pretreated beet-pulp.     

Drying Foodstuffs with Superheated Steam

A thin-layer superheated steam drier was constructed with the objective of determining the drying characteristics, drying rates, and the effect of superheated steam on product quality in thin-layers. Results from superheated steam drying experiments with sugar-beet pulp, potatoes, Asian noodles, and spent grains indicate that drying times and rates increase with increasing steam temperature. For sugar-beet pulp it was also found that these changes were more significant than increases seen by hot-air drying under the same conditions and that drying rates were not affected by velocity for hot air but were increased for superheated steam. When quality aspects were examined, superheated steam dried Asian noodles saw both beneficial changes to recovery, adhesiveness, and gumminess while parameters of maximum cutting stress, resistance to compression, and surface firmness saw deleterious effects. Spent grains saw high levels of starch gelatinization and retention of fibre content.     

Drying Foodstuffs with Superheated Steam

Abstract

A thin-layer superheated steam drier was constructed with the objective of determining the drying characteristics, drying rates, and the effect of superheated steam on product quality in thin-layers. Results from superheated steam drying experiments with sugar-beet pulp, potatoes, Asian noodles, and spent grains indicate that drying times and rates increase with increasing steam temperature. For sugar-beet pulp it was also found that these changes were more significant than increases seen by hot-air drying under the same conditions and that drying rates were not affected by velocity for hot air but were increased for superheated steam. When quality aspects were examined, superheated steam dried Asian noodles saw both beneficial changes to recovery, adhesiveness, and gumminess while parameters of maximum cutting stress, resistance to compression, and surface firmness saw deleterious effects. Spent grains saw high levels of starch gelatinization and retention of fibre content.