Ayed Amr, Sarah Jaradat, Hatim AlKhatib, Imad Hamadneh, Lama Hamadneh, Hamadallah Hodali, Moroug Zeadeh, and Mohammad Shahein. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2022;27:457-63. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2022.27.4.457

Sarah Jaradat, Ayed Amr, Imad Hamadneh, Hatim AlKhatib, Salameh Alqaraleh, Rima Al-Omari, and Haneen Tarawneh. Prev Nutr Food Sci 2024;29:495-503. https://doi.org/10.3746/pnf.2024.29.4.495

Polysaccharide-based nanocarriers offer a novel delivery system for improving the stability, controlled release, and biological functionality of plant-derived bioactive materials. Olive leaf extract (OLE), rich in polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant and other bioactive properties, is limited by low stability and bioavailability. In this study, OLE-loaded alginate–chitosan nanoparticles were prepared using ionotropic gelation–polyelectrolyte complexation (IG-PEC) method, and their physicochemical properties, cytotoxic behavior, and potential prebiotic effects were evaluated. The resulting nanoparticles (232–237 nm) exhibited uniform spherical morphology, negative zeta potentials, and improved colloidal stability. Free OLE demonstrated concentration-dependent and selective cytotoxicity toward A549 and MCF-7 cancer cells, while exhibiting lower toxicity toward normal fibroblasts. In contrast, unloaded and OLE-loaded nanoparticles (1X, 2X) showed low cytotoxicity, suggesting superior biocompatibility of the polysaccharide nanocarrier. Notably, cultures supplemented with OLE-loaded nanoparticles showed a trend toward higher probiotic growth compared to free OLE, indicating a potential prebiotic effect and improved microbial tolerance to polyphenols during extended exposure. These findings highlight the advantages of polysaccharide-based nanoencapsulation for both stabilizing bioactive materials and supporting favorable microbial responses. The developed OLE nanocarriers may serve as a promising platform for nutraceutical, biomedical, and functional food applications.

Potato is a widely consumed staple crop prone to postharvest deterioration and quality loss. Biodegradable edible coatings offer an eco-friendly alternative to conventional packaging for extending shelf life. This study evaluated the effectiveness of whey protein concentrate (WPC) based coatings, with and without chitosan, in maintaining potato quality under different storage conditions and durations. Tubers were treated with WPC coating (WC1) or WPC–chitosan coating with additives (WC2) and stored at room temperature (RT, 24 °C), refrigeration (RF, 4 °C), or incubator (IC, 20 °C) for up to 48 days. Dry matter (DM), firmness (FR), and total soluble solids (TSS) were determined every 8 days. DM ranged between 17.3–20.7%, FR between 5.6–8.1 N, and TSS between 3.4–5.3 °Brix. Storage period (SP) had the strongest influence, with DM peaking after 16–24 days, FR gradually decreasing, and TSS dropping sharply after 32 days. Coating did not significantly affect DM, but WC2 improved FR retention while slightly lowering TSS. RF best preserved FR and TSS, whereas RT and IC accelerated quality loss. Overall, WPC-based coatings, particularly WC2, provide a biodegradable and effective strategy to reduce postharvest losses, maintain potato quality, and support sustainable food preservation.

This secondary-data integrated assessment combines national wastewater treatment records, two national sludge reports, Jordanian regulatory criteria, published agronomic evidence, engineering scenarios, and a previously prepared spatial screen. The present national context includes 33 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), but the analytical sources cover different historical plant sets. The 2020 GIZ report surveyed 29 operating WWTPs and reported sludge-quality data for 25 plants, comprising 28 plant-stage records. The 2014 USAID strategy covered 28 WWTPs, with metal data for 9 plants and six nutrient samples from 3 plants. In the GIZ records, mean concentrations were 3.44 mg Cd kg⁻¹, 7.93 mg Pb kg⁻¹, 603.79 mg Zn kg⁻¹, and 111.86 mg Cu kg⁻¹ dry solids. Maximum concentration-to-limit ratios were 1.00 for Cd, 0.103 for Pb, 0.525 for Zn, and 0.377 for Cu. USAID nutrient samples averaged 3.93% total N, 1.71% total P, and 0.71% total K. GIZ estimated 101,533–108,719 t dry solids yr⁻¹ in 2020 and 128,540–149,332 t yr⁻¹ in 2035. USAID produced lower estimates of 50,947 and 72,418 t yr⁻¹ for the same years, showing major model uncertainty. The source spatial screen mapped 10,150.28 km², including 745.62 km² of protected rangeland reserves. Excluding those reserves leaves 9404.66 km² for further regulatory and field screening. The results support controlled reuse based on batch testing, pathogen reduction, nitrogen and phosphorus budgets, and long-term soil monitoring.

The excessive use of conventional NPK fertilizers can reduce nutrient use efficiency due to nutrient losses, emphasizing the need for controlled-release fertilizer systems. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate olive pomace-derived biochar (BC) as a carrier for nitrogen–phosphorus–potassium (NPK) fertilizer and assess its effects on nutrient release and lettuce performance. Biochar was produced by pyrolysis at 400 °C and loaded with NPK fertilizer. The BC/NPK composite was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), nutrient-release behavior was evaluated in deionized water and soil. The cumulative nutrient release reached 64% in deionized water and 91% in soil. Under greenhouse conditions, BC/NPK applied at 100% and 75% NPK rates increased lettuce fresh weight, plant height and leaf number to 163.33 and 183.67 g, 23.00 and 23.67 cm, 34 and 36, respectively. Moreover, BC/NPK reduced nitrate accumulation in lettuce leaves, with nitrate concentrations decreasing in outer leaves to 10 and 0.73 mg g⁻¹ and in inner leaves to 2 and 1.33 mg g⁻¹ at the 100% and 75% rates, respectively. These findings demonstrate that olive pomace-derived BC/NPK is a promising slow-release fertilizer capable of improving crop performance while supporting sustainable nutrient management and agricultural waste valorization.