Estudo da produção e aplicação de cola animal

Com as crescentes exigências do mercado e fortes restrições a nível ambiental, as indústrias modernas tendem a progredir no sentido da eficiência, sustentabilidade e rentabilidade dos seus processos produtivos. Sendo a indústria dos curtumes uma forte geradora de resíduos sólidos, é indispensável criar alternativas à valorização desses mesmos resíduos de forma a cumprir todos os requisitos ambientais. Este trabalho remete à reutilização dos resíduos, provenientes da divisão da pele em tripa após operação de descarna, com o intuito de se desenvolver um novo bio-produto apto para ser utilizado noutros sectores industriais. Os resíduos em causa consistem maioritariamente em colagéneo, que apresenta um enorme potencial para se produzir cola animal. Desta forma, este trabalho tem como objectivo principal avaliar a utilização deste tipo de resíduo na produção de um novo bio-produto, cola animal, e testar a sua aplicabilidade técnica e funcional. Com a realização deste trabalho, mostrou-se ser possível produzir um produto, a partir de retalhos da indústria de curtumes, com um perfil de carácter positivo no que diz respeito à viabilidade técnica e funcional da utilização da cola animal como eventual alternativa a um ligante, para formulações de colas de base aquosa para a indústria gráfica e do papel.

Properties and Sustainability of Biodiesel from Animal Fats and Fish Oil

This work presents and analyses the fat and fuel properties and the methyl ester profile of biodiesel from animal fats and fish oil (beef tallow, pork lard, chicken fat and sardine oil). Also, their sustainability is evaluated in comparison with rapeseed biodiesel and fossil diesel, currently the dominant liquid fuels for transportation in Europe. Results show that from a technological point of view it is possible to use animal fats and fish oil as feedstock for biodiesel production. From the sustainability perspective, beef tallow biodiesel seems to be the most sustainable one, as its contribution to global warming has the same value of fossil diesel and in terms of energy efficiency it has the best value of the biodiesels under consideration. Although biodiesel is not so energy efficient as fossil diesel there is room to improve it, for example, by replacing the fossil energy used in the process with renewable energy generated using co-products (e.g. straw, biomass cake, glycerine).

Are coffee silverskin extracts safe for topical use? An in vitro and in vivo approach

Recent changes in regulatory requirements and social views on animal testing have incremented the development of reliable alternative tests for predicting skin and ocular irritation potential of products based on new raw materials. In this regard, botanical ingredients used in cosmetic products are among those materials, and should be carefully reviewed concerning the potential presence of irritant constituents. In particular, cosmetic products used on the face, in vicinity of the eyes or that may come in contact with mucous membranes, should avoid botanical ingredients that contain, or are suspected to contain, such ingredients. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of a new cosmetic ingredient, namely, coffee silverskin (CS), with an in vitro skin and ocular irritation assay using reconstructed human epidermis, EpiSkin™, and human corneal epithelial model, SkinEthics™ HCE, and an in vivo assay. Three different extracts of CS were evaluated. The histology of the models after extracts applications was analysed. The in vitro results demonstrated that extracts were not classified as irritant and the histological analyses proved that extracts did not affect both models structure. The content of caffeine, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural and chlorogenic acid was quantified after the epidermal assay. The in vivo test carried out with the most promising extract (hydroalcoholic) showed that, with respect to irritant effects, these extracts can be regarded as safe for topical application.