Due to its valuable organic compounds, grape pomace represents a valuable resource in the creation of value-added food products. In this study, we investigated grape pomace hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by ultrasonication from two white and two red Romanian grape varieties. The phytochemical parameters, i.e., polyphenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, condensed tannins content, and antioxidant activity, were determined by UV-Vis spectrometry. The statistical analysis revealed that Tămâioasă Românească and Negru de Drăgășani, respectively, and Fetească Albă and Fetească Neagră are similar to each other. Significant differences among the pomaces obtained from different grape varieties were noticed in terms of their phenolic contents. The red varieties (Fetească Neagră and Negru de Drăgășani) were richest in terms of total phenolics and total anthocyanins, respectively. The antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from grape pomace showed that Negru de Drăgășani had the higher value due to its high amounts of polyphenols, followed by Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă, and Tămâioasă Românească. Higher levels of bioactive polyphenolic substances, i.e., catechin, myricetin, resveratrol, and vanillic acid, were found in the pomace of Negru de Drăgășani extracts using high-performance liquid chromatography. These results emphasize the potential of the Negru de Drăgășani variety to be further exploited for nutritional and functional applications.

This research aims to investigate the heavy metals (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb) in the fruiting bodies of six indigenous wild edible mushrooms including Agaricus bisporus, Agaricus campestris, Armillaria mellea, Boletus edulis, Macrolepiota excoriate, and Macrolepiota procera, correlated with various factors, such as the growth substrate, the sampling site, the species and the morphological part (i.e., cap and stipe), and their possible toxicological implications. Heavy metal concentrations in mushroom (228 samples) and soil (114 samples) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma—Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the first part of the study, the soil contamination (index of geo-accumulation, contamination factor, and pollution loading index) and associated risks (chronic daily dose for three exposure pathways—ingestion, dermal, and inhalation; hazard quotient of non-cancer risks and the carcinogenic risks) were calculated, while the phytoremediation capacity of the mushrooms was determined. At the end of these investigations, it was concluded that M. procera accumulates more Cd and Cr (32.528% and 57.906%, respectively), M. excoriata accumulates Cu (24.802%), B. edulis accumulates Ni (22.694%), and A. mellea accumulates Pb (18.574%), in relation to the underlying soils. There were statistically significant differences between the stipe and cap (i.e., in the cap subsamples of M. procera, the accumulation factor for Cd was five times higher than in the stipe subsamples). The daily intake of toxic metals related to the consumption of these mushrooms with negative consequences on human health, especially for children (1.5 times higher than for adults), was determined as well.

Carbonated hydroxyapatite derivatives (CHAp) and its metallic derivatives (Ag, Sr, Ba, K, Zn) have been prepared and characterized in this paper and their coating capacity on some model stone samples have been evaluated and discussed. These compounds were characterized by using several analytical tools, including X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), to determine the purity of the CHAp sample. The XRD and FTIR results confirmed the presence of AB-carbonated type CHAp. The thermal analysis (TGA) established two stages of weight loss that occured during the heating process: The first weight loss between 30–225 °C corresponding to the partial carbonate release from OH-channel and the second one between 226–700 °C, corresponding to some thermal reactions, possibly to the generation of calcium phosphate. The efficiency and suitability of these products on model stone samples were evaluated by monitoring the resistance to artificial weather (freeze–thaw), and pore structure changes (surface area, pore volume, pore diameter). Meanwhile, optical microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) techniques showed the particles size and surface morphology of the samples, as well as information on its chemical composition. Also, the compressive strength of these new compounds as coatings revealed a homogeneity and strengthen of these model stone samples.

The lavender flowers and their essential oil are widely used in therapy in Romania and the European Community. Since the European Pharmacopoeia only allows the use of Lavandula sp flowers for medicinal purposes, the objective of this study was to investigate the chemical composition of Lavandula angustifolia extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction, rapid pressurized extraction at 6.7 bar, and subcritical fluid extraction. The solvents used for the first two methods were mixtures of water and alcohol, glycerin, and propylene glycol. These extracts were analyzed by high-performance thin-layer chromatography, infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflectance, and Raman spectroscopy. The total phenolics were evaluated using a modified Folin–Ciocalteu method. The primary phenolics were chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, umbelliferone, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, vitexin, and isoquercitroside. The extracts were variable in composition, with the highest yield by subcritical fluid extraction, followed by extraction at 6.7 bar. The infrared and Raman spectroscopy results confirmed the chromatography measurements.