Saeid Baroutian

BACKGROUND: Kānuka ( Kunzea ericoides ) is a medicinal plant native to New Zealand with numerous therapeutic benefits due to its rich bioactive profile. Although several in vitro studies have shown promising anti‐inflammatory activity, substantial evidence elucidating its underlying inflammatory regulatory mechanism and evaluating its cytotoxic profile remains limited. This study investigated the effects of kānuka subcritical water extract on NF‐ κ B activation and its cytotoxicity using THP‐1 Dual cell lines, focusing on potential applications in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutraceutical products. RESULTS: The kānuka subcritical water extract exhibited temperature‐, time‐ and dose‐dependent cytotoxic activity in THP‐1 Dual cells. Higher extract concentrations reduced cell viability (up to 60%), whereas lower concentrations (≤ 0.17 mg/mL) were non‐cytotoxic. The extract inhibited NF‐ κ B activation in a temperature‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Optimal inhibition was observed at 160 and 170 °C at the higher concentration (1.25 mg/mL), with minimal cytotoxicity, whereas lower concentrations (0.31–0.62 mg/mL) were ineffective against NF‐ κ B activation. CONCLUSION: The kānuka subcritical water extract showed temperature‐ and concentration‐dependent anti‐inflammatory activity with minimal cytotoxicity in THP‐1 Dual cells. However, the effect on NF‐ κ B inhibition was lower than expected given its antioxidant profile, indicating potential interactions among its bioactive constituents. These observations highlight the importance of bioactive characterization and mechanistic studies to optimize extraction parameters and improve the potential for safe anti‐inflammatory applications. © 2026 The Author(s). Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Cotton textile waste is challenging to digest and convert to biogas during anaerobic digestion (AD) due to high crystallinity of cellulose. This study investigated thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) at 120–200 °C for 30 and 60 min to enhance cotton biodegradability prior 21 days of mesophilic AD at a substrate-to-inoculum ratio of 0.5 volatile solids (VS) basis. THP increased cotton solubilisation up to 98% VS removal, at the most sever condition (200 °C, 60 min), crystallinity decreased by 11.84% and COD solubilisation reached 51. However, the highest methane yield was achieved under moderate conditions (140 °C, 60 min), producing 17.92 mL CH ₄ /g VS, representing a 123% increase over untreated cotton, indicating an optimal balance between solubilisation and process inhibition. Gompertz modelling showed excellent agreement ( R ² ≥ 0.99), with a reduced lag phase (2.3 days) and ~2-fold higher biodegradability than untreated cotton. Digestate pH, ammonia nitrogen, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) remained within non-inhibitory ranges under the optimal THP condition, supporting stable and efficient methane production. These results identify cotton-specific THP operating conditions and demonstrate THP-AD as a pathway for valorising cotton textile waste.

Medicinal and recreational Cannabis sativa is a sector that has increasing acceptance both in academia and industry due to an easing in legislation. This presents a challenge due to the legislative constraints of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and an opportunity for sustainable management and valorisation of this waste. In this study, a mixture of organic medicinal cannabis sativa waste was processed using hydrothermal deconstruction at temperatures of 200, 250, and 300 °C for varying times of 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 90 min, respectively. All samples were undertaken with an initial oxygen pressure of 34 bar. Volatile fatty acids are produced throughout the reaction, with the highest total amount of 2,294 mg/L being produced at 5% initial feedstock, 300 °C, after 60 min. The amounts of acetic acid, propanoic acid, ammonia, total COD, TSS, and VSS are all highly influenced by the effects of both time and temperature, where the concentrations of phosphorus and CO2 gas produced are primarily controlled by temperature. The product of the hydrothermal deconstruction reaction exhibits fertiliser properties, improving initial germination and plant growth by 90.0% over ten days. Graphical Abstract

Dissolved air flotation (DAF), a primary treatment for high‐strength waste (HSW) dairy wastewater, generates sludge with a high organic content, posing disposal challenges. Anaerobic digestion (AD) offers a solution to promote renewable energy use and enhance the circular economy of the dairy industry by converting this sludge into biogas. However, DAF sludge has low digestibility, potential inhibitory risks, nutritional imbalances, and other challenges. This study identified potential technological solutions to optimize DAF sludge use by enhancing AD performance, including pretreatment, anaerobic co‐digestion (ACoD), additives, and process modifications, which have been successfully implemented for other organic substrates. Using modified weighted scoring analysis (WSA), microaeration pretreatment was found to be a superior method, waste‐activated sludge was identified as the most suitable co‐substrate, and bentonite was selected as the most promising additive. Two‐stage anaerobic digestion (TSAD) emerged as the most promising comprehensive solution for process modifications, addressing predominant DAF sludge AD issues and other subsidiary challenges.