This study aimed to improve the conventional procedure of alginate isolation from the brown seaweed (Laminaria digitata L.) biomass and investigate the possibility of further valorization of the ethanolic fraction representing the byproduct after the degreasing and depigmentation of biomass. The acid treatment of biomass supported by ultrasound was modeled and optimized regarding the alginate yield using a response surface methodology based on the Box–Behnken design. A treatment time of 30 min, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 30 mL/g, and a treatment temperature of 47 °C were proposed as optimal conditions under which the alginate yield related to the mass of dry biomass was 30.9%. The use of ultrasonic radiation significantly reduced the time required for the acid treatment of biomass by about 4 to 24 times compared to other available conventional procedures. The isolated alginate had an M/G ratio of 1.08, which indicates a greater presence of M-blocks in its structure and the possibility of forming a soft and elastic hydrogel with its use. The chemical composition of the ethanolic fraction including total antioxidant content (293 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weight), total flavonoid content (14.9 mg rutin equivalent/g dry weight), contents of macroelements (the highest content of sodium, 106.59 mg/g dry weight), and microelement content (the highest content of boron, 198.84 mg/g dry weight) was determined, and the identification of bioactive compounds was carried out. The results of ultra high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of 48 compounds, of which 41 compounds were identified as sugar alcohol, phenolic compounds, and lipids. According to the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay, the radical scavenging activity of the ethanolic fraction (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 42.84 ± 0.81 μg/mL) indicated its strong activity, which was almost the same as in the case of the positive control, synthetic antioxidant butylhydroxytoluene (the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 36.61 ± 0.79 μg/mL). Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and Bacillus cereus) were more sensitive to the ethanolic fraction compared to Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Shigella sonnei). The obtained results indicated the possibility of the further use of the ethanolic fraction as a fertilizer for plant growth in different species and antifouling agents, applicable in aquaculture.

Mining causes soil degradation, particle emission, and air and water quality deterioration. This study estimates some health risks in districts of Central Serbia affected by surface mining activities, and proposes measures for land restoration. The epidemiological risk assessment was based on data for seven cancers and three cardiovascular diseases during 2010 - 2020. Results showed a statistically significant increase in the incidence of lung and bronchial cancer in critical districts. Borski district stood out with the highest incidence rates for cardiovascular diseases. The suspected role of particulate air pollution from the mining industry in health deterioration calls for intensified air quality monitoring and development of mitigation technologies. A restoration strategy called the Pan-Life-Carpet technology is proposed for the restoration of mining areas and for air and water pollution control.

Land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions poses a major global threat to ecological stability, food security, and socio-economic resilience. Cyanobacteria-dominated biological soil crusts (biocrusts) play a critical role in soil stabilization and nutrient enrichment, but their early establishment and persistence are frequently limited by severe climatic conditions. This study combines cyanobacterial inoculation (Tolypothrix sp.) with bio-based polysaccharide matrices derived from agro-industrial and marine waste to accelerate biocrust development on loess sediment. Alginate (29.34% yield) and fucoidan (5.18% yield) were successfully isolated from the brown seaweed Laminaria digitata, while native cellulose (30.58% yield) was extracted from plum shells (Prunus domestica). Structural integrity was confirmed via FTIR spectroscopy, followed by an evaluation of their water-holding capacity (WHC) and water swelling capacity (WSC). Alginate exhibited superior hydrocolloid properties, achieving the highest WHC (0.8 g/g) and WSC (2.1 mL/g). During a 30-day laboratory cultivation, the addition of all isolated polysaccharides significantly enhanced biological crust development and biomass accumulation compared to the cyanobacteria-only treatment. The most pronounced stimulatory effect was achieved with 0.3% (m/v) alginate, which induced a ninefold increase in chlorophyll a content (352.46 μg/g) compared to the cyanobacteria control (38.33 μg/g). Fucoidan and cellulose also promoted biocrust growth, yielding significantly higher chlorophyll a value (94.82 μg/g and 77.90 μg/g, respectively) than the polysaccharide-free control. These findings validate the Pan-Life-Carpet framework, demonstrating that valorizing renewable biomass waste into eco-friendly support matrices provides a highly effective, cost-efficient, and scalable strategy for accelerated dryland restoration and soil erosion control.