Starch extraction from tubers and roots has long been an essential process, playing a crucial role in diverse industries ranging from alimentary to pharmacology. This review explores the different methods employed in starch extraction, including traditional techniques and the most innovative mechanical strategies. The methods show a good improvement in many aspects, such as an improvement in the efficiency of the process and an improvement in the yield, showing a value of 10.0–65.0% depending on the starch source. On the other hand, solvents such as NaOH are used in many mechanical processes for alkaline digestion to improve the extraction time. Ethanol and K₂S₂O₅ concentrations of 0.5% and 0.8% were used to prevent oxidation and modify some properties of the extracted starch. The use of many solvents has improved the optimization of the processes, providing the final extracted starch with more advantages and better quality. However, using enzymes such as cellulase in new and innovative ways has provided more advantages and a better efficiency and yield than the other methods. Each method has its advantages and challenges, highlighting the importance of understanding the diversity of different approaches and their impact on the yield, sustainability, environmental considerations, and quality of the extracted starch. As the world looks for more ecological approaches, this review shows the importance of critically evaluating the yield, efficiency, and environmental implications of the extraction methods, providing us with more ways of evaluating the methods used for starch extraction. The ecological impact is a crucial point when evaluating the innovation of a new extraction process, which is why methods such as ultrasound and pulsed electric-field-assisted techniques have been proposed. These methods have been presented as sustainable techniques called green technologies, offering more approaches and different advantages than the other methods. This review intends to investigate the complexities and considerations of starch extraction, providing a solid basis for decision-making regarding starch extraction. In a time where sustainability and product quality are crucial elements of industrial strategy formulation, an in-depth understanding of these methods becomes imperative to the development of responsible practices and efficiency in starch extraction.

The aquaculture sector is experiencing remarkable growth, and its economic success depends mainly on an efficient production strategy and cost management, which are essential to guarantee the profitability and sustainability in this sector. The main objective of this study was to analyze the production costs and growth performance of Oreochromis niloticus in the most successful intensive production systems: Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), Aquaponic System (AS), and Biofloc Technology (BFT). Data collection involved extensive searches in various academic and scientific databases, resulting in the selection of 52 published articles from 2008 to 2024, following a rigorous analysis of inclusion criteria. Results showed that the rentability of the aquaculture production systems for Tilapia production is underexplored in the scientific community, with less than 20% of articles reporting economic variables, while around 80% of them reported growing variables and water quality without considering economic variables. Costs associated with production and economic indicators must also be viewed as important indicators for aquaculture producers as a reference for the investment in RAS, AS, and BFT technologies. The research in the aquaculture field has seen a resurgence in studies on production, design, water quality, and the recent integration of technologies to increase production.

Glyphosate (GLY) is the most widely used herbicide in agriculture worldwide, posing a significant contamination risk to rivers, lakes, wetlands, and soils. Its ultimate fate represents a potential threat to the health of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the removal efficiency of glyphosate and conventional pollutants in mesocosm-scale horizontal subsurface flow-constructed wetlands planted with Canna indica, Heliconia psittacorum, and Alpinia purpurata in runoff water contaminated with glyphosate. Additionally, the study examined the performances of these species in monoculture and polyculture settings of tropical ornamental plants. Canna indica exhibited the highest growth (up to 160 cm) in both monoculture and polyculture conditions, as well as the highest removal efficiencies for total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻), achieving a 91%, 93%, and 98% removal, respectively. Polyculture systems demonstrated a superior ammonium removal efficiency, reaching 94%. Alpinia purpurata (>5 ppm after 40 days) and Heliconia psittacorum (>5 ppm after 200 days) were the most effective species for glyphosate removal. Glyphosate can be effectively removed from aquatic environments through constructed wetlands planted with ornamental species, offering a sustainable approach to mitigating herbicide contamination in water bodies.

Mentions of microplastics (MPs) are increasingly frequent, for they are present in all environments, including wastewater. Knowing their possible harmful effects on the food chain, the fact that they appear in crops is concerning. The ways by which they are transported and stored, as well as their final destination, are still unclear. The issue of MPs in wastewater and how they are carried into agricultural crops are little-known facts. This study aims to evaluate whether horizontal subsurface flow wetlands with ornamental plants (Hippeastrum hybridum hort and Heliconia bihai marginata) can retain microplastics present in domestic wastewater while at the same time recirculating water for irrigation of the Phaseolus vulgaris crop. On average, the ornamental plants Hippeastrum hybridum hort and Heliconia bihai marginata removed contaminants such as COD, NH₄⁺, TN, NO₂⁻, TP, PO₄³⁻, and TSS, with an efficiency of 84% and 98%, respectively. The presence of MPs was identified via FTIR analysis and visual characterization in domestic wastewater, treated wastewater, and well water; the quality of the fruit for human consumption was determined using safety tests for Escherichia coli and Salmonella.

The study of river basins is key to understanding the dynamics of microplastic (MPs) generation, transport, and accumulation in regions where various productive activities converge and waste management is limited. The objective of this study was to characterize economic activities in the Tecolutla River basin, Mexico, to identify risk factors associated with MPs generation and release throughout the production chain. A descriptive applied research study was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 19 economic units distributed across seven municipalities in the Tecolutla River basin, Veracruz, Mexico. The instrument allowed for the evaluation of the use of plastic materials in inputs, production processes, final products, and waste management practices. Among the economic units analyzed (n = 19), 94.7% reported the use of polymeric materials, with a predominance of thermoplastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP), which have a high potential for secondary fragmentation. Within the tertiary sector, accommodation and food preparation services account for the highest proportion of units with limited separation and recycling practices. Activities in the secondary sector, especially the textile and construction industries, showed a high potential for releasing this pollutant due to the use of synthetic fibers, composite materials, and the absence of retention systems. The results provide a basis for the design of mitigation strategies targeting priority productive sectors at the watershed scale.

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la viabilidad y rentabilidad de un sistema de producción de tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) y berro de agua (Nasturtium officinale), diseñado como un modelo de acuaponía comunitaria sostenible para entornos urbanos. Se llevó a cabo una evaluación del crecimiento de las especies durante un periodo de 6 meses, y se proyectó teóricamente la implementación de 20 sistemas como propuesta de acuaponía comunitaria. En el análisis económico, se determinaron indicadores clave como el flujo de caja, el flujo neto efectivo, el Valor Actual Neto (VAN), la Tasa Interna de Retorno (TIR) y el Período de Recuperación de la Inversión (PRI). Los resultados mostraron que el sistema construido genera ingresos anuales de $6,564.00, con un VAN de $13,230.58 y una TIR del 43%, con un PRI de 2.28 años. Al proyectar el sistema a 20 unidades, se obtuvo un VAN de $150,572.20 y una TIR del 42%, con un PRI de 2.28 años. Aunque los resultados son prometedores, en términos de facilidad de instalación y manejo, se requiere la construcción real del sistema para validar su sostenibilidad. Este análisis destaca el potencial del sistema acuapónico comunitario como solución integral para los desafíos alimentarios en comunidades urbanas.