Browsing by Author "Ahmad, Mushtaq"

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Eco-friendly production of biodiesel from Carthamus tinctorius L. seeds using bismuth oxide nanocatalysts derived from Cannabis sativa L. Leaf extract
(Institution of Chemical Engineers, 2024-08) Abbasi, Tehreem Usman; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Alsahli, Abdulaziz Abdullah; Asma, Maliha; b, Rozina; Mussagy, Cassamo Ussemane; Abdellatief, Tamer M.M; Pastore, Carlo; Mustafa, Ahmad
Global challenges in environmental protection, social welfare, and economic growth necessitate increased energy production and related services. Biofuel production from waste biomass presents a promising solution, given its widespread availability. This study focuses on converting highly potent Carthamus tinctorius L. seed oil (51 % w/w) into sustainable biofuel using a novel, highly reactive, recyclable, and eco-friendly bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nano-catalyst derived from Cannabis sativa L. leaf extract. The physio-chemical properties of the synthesized biodiesel were analyzed using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Additionally, the green Bi2O3 nanoparticles were characterized through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Diffraction X-Ray (EDX), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Optimal conditions for biodiesel production were determined using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) in combination with Central Composite Design (CCD), focusing on molar ratio, catalyst loading, and reaction duration. The highest output (94 %) of C. tinctorius-derived biodiesel (CTBD) was achieved under the following conditions: a temperature (75 °C) for time duration (100 min), a methanol to oil ratio (6:1), and a catalyst loading (0.69 wt%). The resulting biodiesel met international standards, with a sulphur content of 0.00097 wt%, and an acid value of (0.34 mg KOH/g). This study demonstrates that converting C. tinctorius waste seed oil into clean bioenergy is an effective waste management strategy that minimizes environmental impact.
Halochromic properties of carotenoid-based films for smart food packaging
(Food Packaging and Shelf Life, 2024-07) Mussagy, Cassamo U; Oliveira, Grazielle; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Mustafa, Ahmad; Herculano, Rondinelli D; Farias, Fabiane O
Carotenoids are fat-soluble natural pigments with potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and their colors are sensitive to environmental pH changes (halochromic properties). Currently, natural carotenoids are utilized in the preparation of active packaging films, drawing significant attention in the field of food engineering for their potential application in smart packaging films. The use of carotenoids-based active films has shown promise in prolonging shelf life, but their application as pH-sensitive pigments in smart packaging for monitoring food freshness remains less established due to the several drawbacks (i.e., visual changes and others) discussed in this work. This critical review primarily summarizes the most used smart packaging materials, the halochromic properties of carotenoids and other pigments, and the applications of carotenoids-based films/bioplastics as pH-sensitive smart packaging for monitoring food freshness. Finally, we present to the readers our expert overview of the advantages and disadvantages associated with these natural pigments in the packaging sector.
Is the carotenoid production from Phaffia rhodozyma yeast genuinely sustainable? a comprehensive analysis of biocompatibility, environmental assessment, and techno-economic constraints
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-02) Mussagy, Cassamo U; Dias, Ana C.R.V; Santos-Ebinuma, Valeria C; Sadek, M. Shaaban; Ahmad, Mushtaq; de Andrade, Cleverton R; Haddad, Felipe F; dos Santos, Jean L; Scarim, Cau ˆ e B; Pereira, Jorge F.B; Floriano, Juliana Ferreira; Herculano, Rondinelli D; Mustafa, Ahmad
Microorganisms, such as yeasts, filamentous fungi, bacteria, and microalgae, have gained significant attention due to their potential in producing commercially valuable natural carotenoids. In recent years, Phaffia rhodozyma yeasts have emerged as intriguing non-conventional sources of carotenoids, particularly astaxanthin and β-carotene. However, the shift from academic exploration to effective industrial implementation has been challenging to achieve. This study aims to bridge this gap by assessing various scenarios for carotenoid production and recovery. It explores the use of ionic liquids (ILs) and bio-based solvents (ethanol) to ensure safe extraction. The evaluation includes a comprehensive analysis involving Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), biocompatibility assessment, and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) of two integrated technologies that utilize choline-based ILs and ethanol (EtOH) for astaxanthin (+β-carotene) recovery from P. rhodozyma cells. This work evaluates the potential sustainability of integrating these alternative solvents within a yeast-based bioeconomy.
Novel Copper Oxide Phyto-Nanocatalyst Utilized for the Synthesis of Sustainable Biodiesel from Citrullus colocynthis Seed Oil
(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023-06) Aziz, Aqsa; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Zafar, Muhammad; Gaafar, Abdel-Rhman Z.; Hodhod, Mohamed S.; Sultana, Shazia; Athar, Mohammad; Ozdemir, Fethi Ahmet; Makhkamov, Trobjon; Yuldashev, Akramjon; Mamarakhimov, Oybek; Nizomova, Maxsuda; Majeed, Salman; Chaudhay, Bisha
The green chemistry method for nanocatalyst synthesis along with environmentally feasible non-edible sources are promising alternatives to fossil fuels. The current study focuses on the synthesis of copper oxide phyto-nanocatalyst and the identification of a new renewable feedstock, Citrullus colocynthis, to reduce environmental pollution. The highest biodiesel yield (95%) was obtained under optimum conditions of a 1:8 oil-to-methanol ratio and reaction temperature of 85 ◦C for 120 min with a 0.365 wt% catalyst concentration. The phyto-nanocatalyst was synthesized using seed oil cake after extracting oil with the salt of copper (copper oxide). The catalyst was then subjected to various analyses, namely, EDX, FT-IR, SEM, and XRD. The catalyst was proved to be efficient and effective after being reused five times and still there was a very small difference in biodiesel yield. All the analyses also show sustainable and stable results. Thus, copper oxide phyto-nanocatalyst with non-edible Citrullus colocynthis proved to be highly effective, sustainable, and a better alternative source to the future biodiesel industry.
Process intensification of ultrasound assisted deep eutectic solvent-based extraction of astaxanthin-rich extract derived from the non-conventional bacterium Paracoccus carotinifaciens
(Elsevier, 2024-02) Paz, Angie Vanessa Caicedo; Rigano, Francesca; Cafarella, Cinzia; Tropea, Alessia; Mondello, Luigi; Galan, Juli ´ an Paul Martinez; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Mustafa, Ahmad; Farias, Fabiane; ordova, Andr ´ es C ´; Giuffrida, Daniele; Dufoss ´e, Laurent; Mussagy, Cassamo Ussemane
The objective of this work was to develop an integrated ultrasound-assisted deep eutectic solvent-based process for extracting astaxanthin-rich extracts (ARE) from dried biomass of the non-conventional aerobic Gram-negative marine bacterium P. carotinifaciens. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) composed of choline chloride (HBA) and carboxylic acids/alcohols (HBD) were used as alternative solvents, and the effects of processing intensification parameters on ARE extraction yield were studied. The investigated parameters included extraction temperature, solid/liquid ratio, amplitude level, ultrasound intensity, DES molar ratio, and extraction time. The efficient extraction period for achieving maximum yield of ARE was approximately 8 min, extraction temperature 65 ◦C, solid/liquid ratio 0.05 g/mL, amplitude level: 15 %. Sequential five re-extraction cycles were applied, and it was observed that in two cycles, more than 95 % of total ARE was recovered. The experimental results showed that the choline chloride:acetic acid (CC-C2) DES combined with US enhanced mass transfer, leading to a remarkable recovery yield increase of up to 900 % compared to the conventional procedure. These values were compared with the calculations of the activity coefficient at infinite dilution and the sigma profile delivered by COSMOSAC, concluding that this tool can be used to predict the behavior of DES for the recovery of ARE.
Tuning bio-derived solvents for the rapid solubilization of astaxanthin-rich extracts from non-conventional bacterium Paracoccus carotinifaciens
(Elsevier B.V, 2024-04) Mussagy, Cassamo U; Ramos, Nataly F; Caicedo, Angie V; Farias, Fabiane O; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Mustafa, Ahmad; Raghavan, Vijaya
Astaxanthin (AXT) is a ketocarotenoid widely used in food, feed, and pharmaceutical industries. Its biological sourcing is preferred over chemical methods due to higher physiological and commercial value. Paracoccus carotinifaciens, an aerobic marine Gram-negative bacterium, is known for producing a carotenoid mixture with AXT as the main component. This study explores the use of bio-based solvents, both pure and mixed, for extracting AXT-rich extracts (ARE). Using COSMO-SAC, a quantum chemistry-based thermodynamic model, we assessed the AXT-solvent affinity. The ethyl acetate: acetic acid mixture (EtOAc:AA) gave the best results, with 1.41 mg/mL of ARE. The solvent selection process was evaluated through the Eco Scale to compare with conventional methods. Next, optimization of extraction conditions resulted in 3.28 mg/mL of ARE at 78 °C, 10 min, and a solid-to-liquid ratio of 0.5 g/mL. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was employed to tuning the mass-transfer process, leading to an increase of ARE (18.9 %) in reduced processing time. Concerning the stability of ARE in the EtOAc:AA mixture, the half-life (t1/2) reached 18 and 26 days under the light and dark conditions, respectively at 25 °C. In both light and dark conditions, positive enthalpy (ΔH) values revealed an endothermic process and both entropy (ΔS) and Gibbs free energy (ΔG) values suggest that the degradation of ARE is less disordered and non-spontaneous process. The solvent mixture was effectively reused for three cycles under optimally tuned conditions without a significant decline of ARE extraction efficiency.
Unleashing the power of non-edible oil seeds of Ipomoea cairica for cleaner and sustainable biodiesel production using green Molybdenum Oxide (MoO3) nano catalyst
(Elsevier Ltd, 2024-04) Chaudhry, Bisha; Ahmad, Mushtaq; Munir, Mamoona; Ramadan, Mohamed Fawzy; Munir, Mumna; Mussagy, Cassamo Ussemane; Faisal, Shah; Abdellatief, Tamer M.M; Mustafa, Ahmad
This research aims to conduct a thorough analysis of the novel and cost-effective use of Ipomoea cairica L. seeds as a potential feedstock for green energy technologies. Ipomoea cairica L. seeds (42 % oil, 0.67 % free fatty acid content) were used as a promising source for producing sustainable biodiesel using novel green Molybdenum Oxide (MoO3) nanocatalyst. The Ipomoea cairica seeds utilized in this study serve a dual purpose: they provide feedstock for the future energy mix, and their seed shells (considered waste) are used as a starting material for synthesizing green nanocatalysts. The highest biodiesel yield of 95 % was achieved under optimal reaction conditions of 1:15 oil to methanol molar ratio, 50 °C, 120 min, and 0.4 (wt.%) catalyst loading. In order to evaluate the quality and characteristics of the resultant biodiesel and synthesized nanocatalyst, a detailed examination was conducted utilizing analytical techniques such EDX, XRD, FTIR, SEM, NMR (1H, 13C) and GC–MS analysis. The phytofabricated nanocatalyst unveils highest recyclability (up to 5 cycles), reactivity, stability and efficiency during transesterification operations. The produced biodiesel was also optimized using response surface methodology (Box-Behnken Design). When compared to conventional diesel, the biodiesel made from Ipomoea cairica L. seed oil showed better oxidative stability and reduced viscosity, suggesting that it might be a viable replacement for conventional fuel without compromising engine performance. Moreover, using untamed, uncultivated, and non-edible seed plants to produce biodiesel presents a chance to move toward a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy plan.