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 […]
Transforming almond shell waste into high-value activators for low-carbon concrete: life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis
Low-carbon concrete, including through the use of alkali-activated binders (AABs), is being developed globally to meet construction industry decarbonization goals by reducing reliance on Portland cement (PC). However, the cost and environmental impacts of the alkaline resources conventionally used in AABs are among the factors that have hindered their application. Here, life-cycle assessment (scope A1-A3) and technoeconomic […]
Water use dynamics of almond and pistachio crops in the Mediterranean region amid climate change
Almond and pistachio are socio-economically significant tree crops grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Continuing commercial production with efficient irrigation planning under changing climate requires an extensive understanding of their biophysical interactions such as altered phenology, biomass accumulation, transpiration, and other processes. This study examines the phenology and water use (ETc) responses of almonds and […]
Intercropping alfalfa during almond orchard establishment reduces winter soil nitrogen and water losses, provides on-farm revenue
The ecosystem benefits linked to intercropping and diversified agroecosystems is an area with increasing research interest, particularly in sustainable food production and farm resilience to extreme climate variability. Interrow cropping of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb] orchards during the 3–4 non-bearing, establishment years has potential to advance sustainable intensification in […]
Intercropping Systems: An Opportunity for Environment Conservation within Nut Production
Global population growth and intensive agriculture have both contributed negatively to the environment. As a result, there is increasing interest in the use of sustainable alternatives is increasing to promote better use of natural resources and create an equilibrium between agriculture and the environment. Intercropping, the simultaneous cultivation of multiple crops, aims to optimize land […]
Exploring the bioactive potential of dried fruit by-products: a focus on hazelnut, peanut, and almond teguments and shells
Dried fruits are renowned for their nutritional value, particularly their seeds. However, their skins, shells, and hulls also hold significant nutritional and commercial potential, yet remain largely unexplored for their bioactive compounds. This study examines the teguments and shells of three types of dried fruits – hazelnut, peanut, and two almond varieties. Ethanol extracts from […]
Linking Conventional and Organic Rainfed Almond Cultivation to Nut Quality in a Marginal Growing Area (SE Spain)
The need to improve agroecosystem sustainability to secure yields, minimize environmental impacts and improve soil health is widely recognized. Organic production systems are one of the strategies that may be used to alleviate the negative environmental repercussions of conventional agriculture. In the present study, we compared the impact of conventional and organic production systems on […]
Agronomic response, transpiration and water productivity of four almond production systems under different irrigation regimes
In recent years, more intensive production systems have been developed, coinciding with a growing scarcity of water resources. This context underscores the imperative of prioritizing water productivity (WP) as a critical factor in choosing the optimal production system to minimize agricultural water use. This study aims to contribute by evaluating WP in almond orchards under […]
Predictive Neural Network Modeling for Almond Harvest Dust Control
This study introduces a neural network-based approach to predict dust emissions, specifically PM2.5 particles, during almond harvesting in California. Using a feedforward neural network (FNN), this research predicted PM2.5 emissions by analyzing key operational parameters of an advanced almond harvester. Preprocessing steps like outlier removal and normalization were employed to refine the dataset for training. […]
Alternative fertilization practices lead to improvements in yield-scaled global warming potential in almond orchards
This study investigates the impact of alternative fertilization practices on the yield-scaled global warming potential (YS-GWP) in almond orchards. Almond production is a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers. This research aims to identify strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of almond cultivation while maintaining yield. Field experiments were conducted […]
Losing ground: projections of climate-driven bloom shifts and their implications for the future of California’s almond orchards
Climate change is expected to impact the spring phenology of perennial trees, potentially altering the suitability of land for their cultivation. In this study, we investigate the effects of climate change on the bloom timing of almond orchards, focusing on California, the world’s leading region for almond production. By analyzing historical climatic data, employing a […]
Alternative fertilization practices lead to improvements in yield-scaled global warming potential in almond orchards
This study investigates the impact of alternative fertilization practices on the yield-scaled global warming potential (YS-GWP) in almond orchards. Almond production is a contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to nitrogen-based mineral fertilizers. This research aims to identify strategies that reduce the environmental footprint of almond cultivation while maintaining yield. Field experiments were conducted […]
Climate change impacts on insect pests for high value specialty crops in California
California is a global leader in production and supply of walnuts and almonds, and the state is the largest producer of peaches in the U.S. These crops have an important contribution to the California’s agricultural economy. Damages to these crops from lepidopteran pests, mainly from Codling moth (Cydia pomonella) (family: Tortricidae), Peach twig borer (Anarsia […]
Subcritical Water Extraction for Valorisation of Almond Skin from Almond Industrial Processing
Almond skin (AS) is an agro-industrial residue from almond processing that has a high potential for valorisation. In this study, subcritical water extraction (SWE) was applied at two temperatures (160 and 180 °C) to obtain phenolic-rich extracts (water-soluble fraction) and cellulose fibres (insoluble fraction) from AS. The extraction conditions affected the composition and properties of […]
Production of high protein yeast using enzymatically liquefied almond hulls
Animal feed ingredients, especially those abundant in high quality protein, are the most expensive component of livestock production. Sustainable alternative feedstocks may be sourced from abundant, low value agricultural byproducts. California almond production generates nearly 3 Mtons of biomass per year with about 50% in the form of hulls. Almond hulls are a low-value byproduct […]
How to find alternative crops for climate-resilient regional food production
CONTEXT. Agricultural food production is both affected by and contributing to climate change. At the global scale, agri-food systems are responsible for one-third of total greenhouse gas emissions. With progressing climate change, the risks of crop failure increase. Thus, an urgent need is to reduce emissions from food systems while increasing their resilience to climate […]
Application of machine learning to predict of energy use efficiency and damage assessment of almond and walnut production
A study was conducted in Shahrekord city, Iran, focusing on improving the production of almond and walnut crops on rural agricultural lands. The gardeners selected for the study shared similar characteristics and production histories. One of the major challenges in producing these crops was the manual harvesting process, which required a significant amount of human […]
Blue orchard bee (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) origin and orchard growing region affect female retention at artificial nest sites in cherry orchards
The blue orchard bee, Osmia lignaria Say (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), is a solitary, cavity-nesting species used for pollinating spring blooming crops. Commercial stocks are sourced from a few locations in the western United States but are sold across the country. However, the existence of local adaptations of these bees is unknown, such as the propensity to […]
Reuse of almond by-products: Functionalization of traditional semolina sourdough bread with almond skin
Almond production generates large amounts of by-products rich in polyphenols. In this study, almond skin was explored as a valuable food ingredient in bread making. To this purpose, almond skin was used to produce functional products modifying a traditional sourdough bread recipe. The doughs were prepared replacing semolina with powdered almond skin (PAS) at 5 […]
The influence of almond’s water activity and storage temperature on Salmonella survival and thermal resistance
This study investigated the effects of inoculation method, water activity (aw), packaging method, and storage temperature and duration on the survival of Salmonella on almonds as well as their resistance to subsequent thermal treatments. Whole almond kernels were inoculated with a broth-based or agar-based growth Salmonella cocktail and conditioned to aw of 0.52, 0.43 or […]
Activated carbon from almond shells using an eco-compatible method: screening, optimization, characterization, and adsorption performance testing.
Activated carbon as a low-cost adsorbent prepared from almond shells using H3PO4 as a chemical activator and room vacuum pyrolysis as a physical activator, which is considered to be an eco-compatible preparation process. Experimental design methodology was used to study and optimize the effects of eight preparation parameters on I2 adsorption expressed by the iodine […]
Quantitative analysis of almond yield response to irrigation regimes in Mediterranean Spain.
Almond plantations are expanding worldwide, specifically in Spain; the new orchards are often designed under more intensive systems in comparison to the traditional rainfed orchards frequently found in the Mediterranean Sea basin. In these new areas, water is the main limiting factor, and therefore, the present research is aimed at quantitatively analyzing previous findings obtained […]
Preliminary Evaluation of the Application of Algae-Based Biostimulants on Almond.
To improve almond performance under water limitations, the use of algae-based biostimulants may become a useful tool to reduce drought stress. However, besides possible effects on plant behavior, changes in fruit characteristics must also be considered. In this work, a preliminary study on the effect of two levels of an Ascophyllum nodosum-based biostimulant in the […]
Developing sustainable land-use patterns at watershed scale using nexus of soil, water, energy, and food.
Aside from the many services that soil provides, it also stores water and makes it available to crops, which is critical for food security. However, the necessity of further studies for overcoming the existing gap in relation to the role of soil in the water, energy, and food nexus system has been preoccupying the experts […]
The effect of nut growth limitation on triose phosphate utilization and down-regulation of photosynthesis in almond.
There is a controversy regarding when it is appropriate to apply the irrigation restriction in almond trees (Prunus dulcis Mill.) to save water without penalizing yield. We hypothesized that knowing when plants demand fewer photoassimilates would be a good indicator of less sensitivity of the crop to water deficit. One parameter that defines the photosynthetic […]
Physiological characterization of the wild almond Prunus arabica stem photosynthetic capability.
Leaves are the major plant tissue for transpiration and carbon fixation in deciduous trees. In harsh habitats, atmospheric CO2 assimilation via stem photosynthesis is common, providing extra carbon gain to cope with the detrimental conditions. We studied two almond species, the commercial Prunus dulcis cultivar “Um-el-Fahem” and the rare wild Prunus arabica. Our study revealed […]
Acute Toxicity of Fungicide-Insecticide-Adjuvant Combinations Applied to Almonds During Bloom on Adult Honey Bees.
Beekeepers report significant honey bee deaths during and after almond bloom. These losses pose a major problem for the California almond industry because of its dependence on honey bees as pollinators. This research aimed to determine if combinations of pesticides applied during almond bloom during daylight hours were a possible explanation for these losses. In […]
Establishing a Reference Baseline for Midday Stem Water Potential in Olive and Its Use for Plant-Based Irrigation Management.
Midday stem water potential (SWP) is rapidly becoming adopted as a standard tool for plant-based irrigation management in many woody perennial crops. A reference or “baseline” SWP has been used in some crops (almond, prune, grape, and walnut) to account for the climatic influence of air vapor pressure deficit (VPD) on SWP under non-limiting soil […]
Almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini) Skin Confectionery By-Products: New Opportunity for the Development of a Functional Blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) Jam.
This work proposes for the first time a model for reusing almond (Prunus dulcis cv. Casteltermini from Sicily, Southern Italy) skin to formulate a new functional blackberry (Rubus ulmifolius Schott) jam. For this purpose, blackberries were analysed fresh and as jam, traditionally prepared with a minimum fruit amount of 80%. Different percentages of almond skin […]
Almond By-Products: Valorization for Sustainability and Competitiveness of the Industry.
The search for waste minimization and the valorization of by-products are key practices for good management and improved sustainability in the food industry. The production of almonds generates a large amount of waste, most of which is not used. Until now, almonds have been used for their high nutritional value as food, especially almond meat. […]
Revalorization of Almond By-Products for the Design of Novel Functional Foods: An Updated Review.
The search for waste minimization and the valorization of by-products are key to good management and improved sustainability in the food industry. The great production of almonds, based on their high nutritional value as food, especially almond kernels, generates tons of waste yearly. The remaining parts (skin, shell, hulls, etc.) are still little explored, even […]
Selective limb removal pruning and reflective ground covers improve light and crop distributions in the lower zone of ‘Nonpareil’almond trees but not total yield.
Conventional planting and management systems for almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb) orchards involve trees trained from an early age to produce multiple large scaffold branches, which in mature orchards form closed light inefficient canopies. Treatments included a single round of selective limb removal pruning applied at the start of the research to remove […]
Pyrolysis of Almond (Prunus amygdalus) Shells: Kinetic Analysis, Modelling, Energy Assessment and Technical Feasibility Studies.
The aim of this work was to study the thermogravimetric analysis through the pyrolysis of almond (Prunus amygdalus) shells for evaluating its potential for bioenergy at different heating rates (10, 25, and 50 K min-1). The activation energy values for the process were of the range of 153.0, 152.02, and 152.73 kJ mol-1 as calculated by […]
Post-harvest industrial processes of almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily influence the nutraceutical properties of by-products at harvest and during storage.
Almond cultivation in Sicily is experiencing a phase of great interest which is mainly concentrated in the development of specialized orchards, with irrigation and by adopting cultivars with high qualitative and quantitative performances. These are mostly Mediterranean genotypes with high fat content and hard or semi-hard shell, extremely different from the varieties of Californian diffusion. […]
Feeding high amounts of almond hulls to lactating cows.
California is the leading state for the production of almonds, with more than 400,000 bearing hectares of orchards that produced approximately 1 billion kg of shelled nuts in 2017. Almond hulls (AH) are a regional by-product feedstuff fed predominately to dairy cattle in California. A 2012 study surveyed 40 dairy farms in California and found […]
Acid hydrolysis of almond shells in a biphasic reaction system: obtaining of purified hemicellulosic monosaccharides in a single step.
The aim of this work is to comprehend the biphasic reaction systems through another perspective; the simultaneous purification and production of carbohydrates during the pretreatment of biomass. A dilute acid hydrolysis of almond shells in a 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran/H2O system was optimised to maximise the obtaining of hemicellulose-derived monosaccharides with the minimum formation of degradation products. The […]
Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions
The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.5 g L-1 of peanut, hazelnut, […]
Evaluation of pruning wound protection products for the management of almond canker diseases in California
Almond trunk and branch canker diseases constitute a major cause of tree mortality in California. Numerous fungal pathogens have been associated with these canker diseases and pruning wounds act as major infection courts. Prior to this study, there were no products registered in California for the management of these diseases. In this study, fungicidal products […]
Performance Characterization of Broad Band Sustainable Sound Absorbers Made of Almond Skins.
In order to limit the environmental impact caused by the use of non-renewable resources, a growing research interest is currently being shown in the reuse of agricultural by-products as new raw materials for green building panels. Moreover, the European directives impose the goal of sustainability supporting the investigation of passive solutions for the reduction of […]
Identification and Evaluation Of Volatile Organic Compounds Evolved During Solarization with Almond Hull and Shell Amendments.
Biosolarization is a fumigation alternative that combines solarization with organic amendments to suppress pests and pathogens in agricultural soils. The generation of volatile biopesticides in the soil, stemming from biodegradation of carbon-rich amendments, contributes to pest inactivation. The purpose of this study was to (1) profile volatiles that may contribute to pest control under field […]
Use of Almond Skins to Improve Nutritional and Functional Properties of Biscuits: An Example of Upcycling.
Upcycling food industry by-products has become a topic of interest within the framework of the circular economy, to minimize environmental impact and the waste of resources. This research aimed at verifying the effectiveness of using almond skins, a by-product of the confectionery industry, in the preparation of functional biscuits with improved nutritional properties. Almond skins […]
Analysis and optimisation of a novel ‘almond-refinery’concept: Simultaneous production of biofuels and value-added chemicals by hydrothermal treatment of almond hulls.
For the first time, this work investigates the achievability of developing a biorefinery concept around almond hulls by hydrothermal treatment (HTT), thoroughly scrutinising the influence of the temperature (200-300 °C), pressure (100-180 bar), time (20-180 min) and solid loading (5-25 wt%). This process allowed the conversion of almond hulls into four main products: gas (2-13%), […]
Study of the Influence of the Almond Shell Variety on the Mechanical Properties of Starch-Based Polymer Biocomposites.
This article is focused on the development of a series of biodegradable and eco-friendly biocomposites based on starch polymer (Mater-Bi DI01A) filled with 30 wt% almond shell (AS) of different varieties (Desmayo Rojo, Largueta, Marcona, Mollar, and a commercial mixture of varieties) to study the influence of almond variety in the properties of injected biodegradable […]
Recycling of Almond By-Products for Intestinal Inflammation: Improvement of Physical-Chemical, Technological and Biological Characteristics of a Dried Almond Skins Extract.
Background: Almond skins are rich in bioactive compounds that undergo oxidation/degradation phenomena and are poorly soluble in water, reducing in vivo absorption and bioavailability, factors that influence the pharmacological activity of an active product. We developed a dried acetonic almond skins extract/cyclodextrin complex to improve extract solubility, dissolution rate and biological activity. Methods: A lyophilized acetonic almond […]
Novel Antioxidant Packaging Films Based on Poly (ε-Caprolactone) and Almond Skin Extract: Development and Effect on the Oxidative Stability of Fried Almonds.
Antioxidant films based on poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) containing almond skin extract (ASE) were developed for food packaging applications. The effect of ASE incorporation on the morphological, structural, colour, mechanical, thermal, barrier and antioxidant properties of the prepared films were evaluated. The structural, tensile and thermal properties of the films were not altered due to ASE addition. […]
Multiproduct biorefinery based on almond shells: impact of the delignification stage on the manufacture of valuable products.
In this work, an integral valorisation of almond shells through a biorefinery approach was studied. The three main components of almond shells were extracted, isolated and characterised. The autohydrolysis process permitted the extraction of the hemicellulosic fraction obtaining a liquor rich in xylooligosaccharides (22.12 g/L). Then, two different delignification processes, alkaline and organosolv treatments, were […]
Biological properties of almond proteins produced by aqueous and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processes from almond cake.
The almond cake is a protein-rich residue generated by the mechanical expression of the almond oil. The effects of the aqueous (AEP) and enzyme-assisted aqueous extraction processes (EAEP) on the biological properties of the almond cake protein were evaluated. Total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant capacity, inhibitory effects against crucial enzymes related to metabolic syndrome, antimicrobial […]
Almond byproduct composition impacts the rearing of black soldier fly larvae and quality of the spent substrate as a soil amendment.
Background: Insect biomass is a sustainable alternative to traditional animal feeds, particularly when insects are produced on low-value high-volume agricultural by-products. Seven samples of almond by-product (hulls and shells) were obtained from processors in California and investigated for larvae production. Experiments were completed with and without larvae and spent substrate samples were assessed for their potential […]
Removal of hydrogen sulfide from biogas using activated carbon synthesized from different locally available biomass wastes-a case study from Palestine.
The main aim of this study was to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from biogas by adsorption using synthesized activated carbon prepared using locally available biomass. The effect of the type of precursors, impregnation reagent and bed height was studied in continuous reactors. Three types of biomass wastes (almond shells, eucalyptus and coffee grains) were collected, […]
Turrón Coproducts as Source of Bioactive Compounds: Assessment of Chemical, Physico-Chemical, Techno-Functional and Antioxidant Properties.
The goals of this research were determined the proximate composition, physico-chemical, techno-functional properties, the polyphenolic profile, the organic acids and sugar content and the antioxidant capacities of flours obtained from almonds skins var. comuna (ASFC) and var. fritz (ASFF) coproducts produced in Turrón industry. The chemical composition and physico-chemical properties (pH, water activity and color) were determined. […]
Almond Skin Extracts and Chlorogenic Acid Delay Chronological Aging and Enhanced Oxidative Stress Response in Yeast.
Almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb) is one of the largest nut crops in the world. Recently, phenolic compounds, mostly stored in almond skin, have been associated with much of the health-promoting behavior associated with their intake. The almond skin enriched fraction obtained from cold-pressed oil residues of the endemic Moroccan Beldi ecotypes is particularly rich in chlorogenic acid. […]
Solid state 13C-NMR methodology for the cellulose composition studies of the shells of Prunus dulcis and their derived cellulosic materials.
Lignocellulosic fibers and microcellulose have been obtained by simple alkaline treatment from softwood almond shells. In particular, the Prunus dulcis Miller (D.A.) Webb. was considered as a agro industrial waste largely available in southern Italy. The materials before and after purification have been characterized by 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy methodology. A proper data analysis provided […]
Bioreactors for brine denitrification produced during polluted groundwater desalination in fertigation areas of SE Spain: batch assays for substrate selection.
Increasing knowledge of nitrate removal using denitrifying bioreactors has illustrated the usefulness of this management practice for treating discharge water from agricultural land uses. The objective of this study was to assess the viability of almond shell, chopped carob, olive bone, and citrus woodchip as carbon media for denitrification of brine with high nitrate load […]
Removal of ochratoxin A from liquid media using novel low-cost biosorbents.
Ground shells of almonds (ALM), hazelnuts (HAZ), walnuts (WAL), and chestnuts (CHE), coconut fiber (COC), spent coffee grounds (COF), and clementine peel (CLE) were used to remove ochratoxin A (OTA) from both water and an ethanol/water mixture (14:86, v/v). Other very efficient adsorbents like wood biochar (BC) and hydrochar (HC) and a humic acid (HA) […]
Phosphorus removal from aqueous solution using modified walnut and almond wooden shell and recycling as soil amendment.
Modified walnut wooden shell (MWWS) and almond wooden shell (MAWS) as novel anion exchangers were used to remove phosphorus (P) from aqueous solution. The raw and modified agricultural wastes were characterized using total N, total P, FT-IR spectra, SEM, BET, and EXD analysis. The effect of different parameters such as pH (4 to 8), contact […]
Characterization, bioavailability and protective effects of phenolic-rich extracts from almond hulls against pro-oxidant induced toxicity in Caco-2 cells.
Almond hulls, the main by-product of almond production, are considered a valuable source of bioactive phenolic compounds. This study aimed to characterize the phenolic composition, bioavailability of the phenolic-rich extracts from almond hulls (PEAH), and their protective effect on oxidative stressed Caco-2 cells induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BOOH). The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis […]
Effect of Almond Shell Waste on Physicochemical Properties of Polyester-Based Biocomposites.
Polyester-based biocomposites containing INZEA F2® biopolymer and almond shell powder (ASP) at 10 and 25 wt % contents with and without two different compatibilizers, maleinized linseed oil and Joncryl ADR 4400®, were prepared by melt blending in an extruder, followed by injection molding. The effect of fine (125-250 m) and coarse (500-1000 m) milling sizes of […]
Removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions by adsorption on levulinic acid-modified natural shells.
This study has developed an innovative and environmentally friendly approach for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye by natural shells (NShs) chemically modified with levulinic acid (LA). Almond shell (ASh), walnut shell (WSh), and apricot kernel shell (AKSh) were used as waste fillers. The adsorption behavior of MB onto the biosorbents was investigated with […]
Sustainable approach to almond skin mediated synthesis of tunable selenium microstructures for coating cotton fabric to impart specific antibacterial activity.
Currently, the synthesis of nanostructured inorganic materials with tunable morphology is still a great challenge. In this study, almond skin extract was employed for the biogenic synthesis of selenium nanoparticles with tunable morphologies such as rods and brooms. The effects of various synthesis parameters on morphologies were investigated using UV-Visible spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy […]
Almond Shell-Derived, Biochar-Supported, Nano-Zero-Valent Iron Composite for Aqueous Hexavalent Chromium Removal: Performance and Mechanisms.
Nano-zero-valent iron biochar derived from almond shell (nZVI-ASBC) was used for hexavalent chromium (CR) removal. Experiments showed that pH was the main factor (p < 0.01) that affected the experimental results. At a dosage of 10 mg·L-1 and pH of 2-6, in the first 60 min, nZVI-ASBC exhibited a removal efficiency of 99.8%, which was approximately […]
High sorption efficiency for As (III) and As (V) from aqueous solutions using novel almond shell biochar.
Arsenic (As) presence in surface reservoirs and groundwater is considered as an extremely alarming issue around the globe. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the sorption potential of almond shell (ALS) and almond shell biochar (ASB) based sorbents for the removal of As(III)/As(V) from As-contaminated aqueous solutions. The maximum As(III) sorption capacity […]
Characterization of Polyphenolic Compounds Extracted from Different Varieties of Almond Hulls (Prunus dulcis L.).
Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was applied as a pretreatment technique to improve the recovery of polyphenols from the almond hulls of four Tunisian and three Italian almond varieties, followed by the characterization with HPLC-DAD. The operating parameters (solid/liquid ratio, extraction time, and ethanol concentrations) were optimized using a Response Surface Methodology. A polynomial equation was calculated […]
Chemical and Pharmacological Evaluation of Hulls of Prunus dulcis Nuts.
Researchers have shown that the almond hulls, normally wasted after utilization of nuts, contain a number of biologically active compounds based on which the present study has been carried out. Focus is placed on the mass spectrometric determination of the analytes along with the estimation of total polyphenolic and total flavonoid contents in the 70% […]
Air and Steam Gasification of Almond Biomass.
Experiments were performed on a laboratory scale fluidized bed gasifier to characterize the gasification products of almond shell and hull removed in nut processing operations and to determine the effect of gasifying media on bed agglomeration. The higher heating value of syngas during air gasification of almond biomass ranged from 4 to 6 MJ m−3 while […]
Managing high fiber food waste for the cultivation of black soldier fly larvae.
Increases in global human population are leading to increasing demands for food production and waste management. Insect biomass is a sustainable alternative to traditional animal feeds when insects are produced on lignocellulosic by-products. Resources high in lignocellulose have high carbon to nitrogen ratios and require nitrogen supplementation to accelerate bioconversion. Here we report on studies […]
The Antimicrobial and Antiviral Activity of Polyphenols from Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) Skin.
Due to their antimicrobial and antiviral activity potential in vitro, polyphenols are gaining a lot of attention from the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. A novel antiviral and antimicrobial approach could be based on the use of polyphenols obtained from natural sources. Here, we tested the antibacterial and antiviral effect of a mix of polyphenols present […]
Cultivation of black soldier fly larvae on almond byproducts: impacts of aeration and moisture on larvae growth and composition.
BACKGROUND: The increasing production of almonds worldwide has resulted in the significant generation of byproduct streams that require end uses. One potential use for byproducts is for cultivation of additional food sources including insects. Studies were performed to determine if black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens L.) could be cultivated on almond byproducts (hulls and […]
Almond shell as a microporous carbon source for sustainable cathodes in lithium–sulfur batteries.
A microporous carbon derived from biomass (almond shells) and activated with phosphoric acid was analysed as a cathodic matrix in Li–S batteries. By studying the parameters of the carbonization process of this biomass residue, certain conditions were determined to obtain a high surface area of carbon (967 m2 g−1) and high porosity (0.49 cm3 g−1). This carbon […]
Multistage treatment of almonds waste biomass: Characterization and assessment of the potential applications of raw material and products.
Almond shells are waste biomass generated in agro-industrial activities, which represent a resource that can be further valorized upon treatment. The purpose of this work was to assess new value-added products obtained through a novel multi-stage delignification process of almond shells. A comprehensive chemical characterization of the raw materials and products involved in each stage […]
A critical approach to the toxic metal ion removal by hazelnut and almond shells.
The adsorption capacity of ground hazelnut (HS) and almond (AS) shells towards Pb(II) and Cd(II) has been studied at pH = 5, in NaNO3 and NaCl ionic media, in the ionic strength range 0.05-0.5 mol L-1. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were carried out by using the Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry technique to check the amount of the metal ion removed by […]
Valorization Challenges to Almond Residues: Phytochemical Composition and Functional Application.
Almond is characterized by its high nutritional value; although information reported so far mainly concerns edible kernel. Even though the nutritional and commercial relevance of the almond is restricted to almond meat; to date; increasing attention has been paid to other parts of this fruit (skin; shell; and hull); considered by-products that are scarcely characterized […]
Acetone Extract of Almond Hulls Provides Protection against Oxidative Damage and Membrane Protein Degradation.
Several studies have revealed that among foods, the consumption of edible nuts has beneficial effects on health which are attributed to their high content of potent antioxidants. Among nuts, the whole seed of the almond (Prunus dulcis) has been demonstrated to possess potent free radical scavenging activity, which is related to the presence of phenolic […]
Microwave Assisted Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Almond Skin By-products (Prunus amygdalus): A Multivariate Analysis Approach
A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) procedure to isolate phenolic compounds from almond skin by-products was optimized. A three-level, three-factor Box-Behnken design was used to evaluate the effect of almond skin weight, microwave power and irradiation time on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (DPPH). Almond skin weight was the most important parameter on the studied […]
Almond hulls as a biofuels feedstock: Variations in carbohydrates by variety and location in California
Hulls of the almond (Prunus dulcis (Miller) D.A. Webb) have a high content of fermentable sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose), and are a potential feedstock for biofuels and other uses. The state of California in the United States produces the majority of the world's almonds. Six almond varieties across seven counties in California were studied to […]
The use of NARX neural network for modeling of adsorption of zinc ions using activated almond shell as a potential biosorbent.
In this study, nonlinear autoregressive model processes with exogenous input (NARX) are applied for the prediction of percentage adsorption efficiency for the removal of zinc ions from wastewater by activated almond shell. The effect of operational parameters such as pH, dosage, particle size and initial metal ions concentration are studied to optimize the conditions for […]
Antiradical activity of extracts of almond and its by-products
Antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts of whole almond seed, brown skin, and green shell cover were evaluated using different free radical trapping assays. Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assay revealed that the total antioxidant capacities of brown skin and green shell cover extracts were 13 and 10 times greater than that of the whole seed extract […]