The recovery of vanillin from aqueous media by organophilic pervaporation is studied and optimised. Vanillin is recovered as a pure solid free of contaminants in a single pervaporation step. Due to the high-boiling point of this compound its transport across the pervaporation membrane is controlled by the desorption step at the downstream surface of the membrane. Under these circumstances, it is concluded that higher fluxes of vanillin may be achieved if the dense top layer of the composite membrane used in this process faces the downstream compartment. This procedure minimises the local drop of the partial pressure of vanillin at the downstream surface of the membrane, avoiding the formation of solid deposits of vanillin at the membrane. A low downstream pressure must be used in order to keep an appropriate driving force for transport. The use of organophilic pervaporation for the direct recovery of natural vanillin from post-fermentation media is demonstrated, at the temperature of fermentation in a solvent-free process, assuring the quantitative recovery of pure vanillin free of other media constituents.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food for about half of the world’s population. Therefore, it is important to search for solutions that minimise losses and production costs for producers and ensure food quality and safety for consumers. Improved methods for the detection and monitoring of hidden infestations are useful for adopting infestation control measures. Chemical methods are used to prevent rice losses due to infestations; changing this situation, however, is of the utmost importance, as it harms the environment and human health. The management of infestation by controlled storage conditions, namely temperature and atmosphere composition and the use of current fossil-based packaging with modified atmospheres, is well recognised. The use of environmentally friendly solutions is promising, but it is necessary to perform a life-cycle assessment and cost analysis to evaluate their effectiveness. According to the principles of circular economy, the integration of the best-selected treatments/solutions for insect management, along with the use of biopackaging from rice by-products are recommended. This review describes the methods of detection and control of infestation as well as several promising alternatives to chemical treatments; however, more research is needed in order to obtain effective technological solutions that can be applied at an industrial scale.