Plant oils are increasingly in demand as renewable feedstocks for biodiesel and biochemicals. Currently, oilseeds are the primary source of plant oils. Although the vegetative tissues of plants express lipid metabolism pathways, they do not hyper-accumulate lipids. Elevated synthesis, storage, and accumulation of lipids in vegetative tissues have been achieved by metabolic engineering of sugarcane to produce ``oilcane{''
Nanocatalysts and their integration into biomass have gained importance over the past few years. This research gave insights on impregnation of Ni salts in bagasse and mosambi peels with the variation of pH at 30 degrees C for 48 h. The highest loading was attained at pH 6.5 for bagasse and 5.2 for mosambi peels. The impregnated metal biomass samples were subjected to in situ hydrothermal gasification over the temperature range 300-500 degrees C. The transition of Ni2+ to metal nickel nanoparticles during in situ hydrothermal treatment was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Maximum yields of H-2, 13.82 mmol/g of bagasse and 9.52 mmol/g of mosambi peel, were attained at the operated temperature of 500 degrees C and 1:8 biomass to water ratio with carbon gasification efficiency approaching 73.7 and 60.6\% for bagasse and mosambi peels, respectively. The performance of hydrothermal gasification of impregnated biomass was compared with Raney Ni and washed samples at the above operated supercritical temperature and biomass to water ratio. The results conveyed that in situ gasification of Ni2+ impregnated biomass enhanced not only H-2 yields but also improved overall gas yields contributing to the carbon gasification efficiency of both feedstocks.
A steep rise worldwide in petroleum products and increased consumption have made the search for renewable sources, such as vegetable oils, biodiesels, alcohols from molasses/sugarcane, and so on, inevitable. In an agricultural economy-based country, there are lots of possibilities in the rural sector for improving the proper and efficient use of energy. Vegetable oils, being renewable, are widely available from a variety of sources and have low sulphur contents, being close to zero, and hence cause less environmental damage (lower greenhouse effect) than diesel. This article presents the results of tests using three non-edible oils, namely jatropha, karanja, and neem, at three different fuel injection temperatures in an unmodified small size compression ignition engine employing exhaust gas recirculation. Results show that oils at preheated temperatures can be a good substitute for conventional diesel fuel with a Much smaller decrement in power and thermal efficiency in the case of engines without turbo charging.
Even though contamination by bacteria and wild yeasts are frequently observed during fuel ethanol fermentation, our knowledge regarding the effects of both contaminants together is very limited, especially considering that the must composition can vary from exclusively sugarcane juice to a mixture of molasses and juice, affecting the microbial development. Here we studied the effects of the feedstock (sugarcane juice and molasses) and the co-culture of Lactobacillus fermentum and a wild Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain (rough colony and pseudohyphae) in single and multiple-batch fermentation trials with an industrial strain of S. cerevisiae (PE-2) as starter yeast. The results indicate that in multiple-cycle batch system, the feedstock had a minor impact on the fermentation than in single-cycle batch system, however the rough yeast contamination was more harmful than the bacterial contamination in multiple-cycle batch fermentation. The inoculation of both contaminants did not potentiate the detrimental effect in any substrate. The residual sugar concentration in the fermented broth had a higher concentration of fructose than glucose for all fermentations, but in the presence of the rough yeast, the discrepancy between fructose and glucose concentrations were markedly higher, especially in molasses. The biggest problem associated with incomplete fermentation seemed to be the lower consumption rate of sugar and the reduced fructose preference of the rough yeast rather than the lower invertase activity. Lower ethanol production, acetate production and higher residual sugar concentration are characteristics strongly associated with the rough yeast strain and they were not potentiated with the inoculation of L. fermentum.
In this study, the Fenton oxidized lignin was prepared to investigate the effect of Fenton oxidation modification on the activity of lignin immobilized beta-glucosidase (beta-GL). The results demonstrated that Fenton oxidation could significantly improve the activity and stability of immobilized beta-GL. This is because the Fenton oxidation increased the electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic forces between lignin and beta-GL, resulting in increased lignin adsorption onto beta-GL. The Fenton oxidation also changed the chemical structure of lignin, altering the lignin-beta-GL binding site and reducing the negative effect of lignin on the beta-GL catalytic domain. This research will improve understanding of the effect of Fenton lignin oxidation on immobilized beta-GL activity and expand the use of lignin in enzyme immobilization.
Bioethanol converted from lignocellulosic feedstock, such as agricultural waste, is considered one of the most promising biofuels being developed. The raw materials usually need to be pretreated and hydrolyzed by cellulolytic enzymes to produce sugars for subsequent ethanol fermentation. Immobilized bacteria or yeasts have been frequently used for batch or continuous ethanol fermentation due to their feasibility for repeated use with high biomass retention during the process. In this study, Zymomonas mobilis cells immobilized in calcium alginate (CA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used to produce ethanol from cellulosic feedstock using SSF (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation) and SHF (separate hydrolysis and fermentation) processes. The performance based on different immobilized cells and different processes was compared. The results show that PVA immobilized cells with the SHF process gave the highest ethanol concentration of 6.24 g/L, with an ethanol yield of 79.09\% and a maximum ethanol productivity of 3.04 g/L/h. In contrast, the performance of CA-immobilized cells with SHF was poorer, with the highest ethanol concentration, ethanol yield, and maximum ethanol productivity of 5.52 g/L, 69.96\% and 2.37 g/L/h, respectively. For the SSF process, the maximum ethanol concentration, ethanol yield, and maximum ethanol productivity were 5.53 g/L, 70.09\%, and of 1.31 g/L/h, respectively, for the PVA immobilized Z. mobilis, while they were 5.44 g/L, 68.95\%, and 1.27 g/L/h for CA immobilized cells. The comparison with suspended cells shows that the immobilized cells of Z. mobilis are feasible for ethanol production via SSF and SHF. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) for citric acid (CA) production and its impact on chemical oxygen demand (COD) of SSB. Five types of SSB were used as a carbon source for CA production by A. niger, and the COD of each SSB was measured before and after the bioprocess. Results showed that all tested SSB were suitable for CA production, with maximum yields ranging from 13.01 to 56.62 g L- 1. The COD was reduced from 53 to 75.64\%, indicating that the bioprocess effectively treated SSB wastes. The use of SSB as a substrate for CA production provides an alternative to traditional feedstocks, such as sugarcane and beet molasses. The low-cost and high availability of SSB makes it an attractive option for CA production. Moreover, the study demonstrated the potential of the bioprocess to simultaneously treat and reuse SSB wastes, reducing the environmental impact of the beverage industry.
Xylo-oligosaccharide (XO) is a promising pre-biotic with applications in food, feed and healthcare products. XO can be produced by enzymatic digestion of xylan with xylanase. In this study, we aimed to improve the biochemical properties relevant to catalysis and kinetics of X11, a thermophilic glycosyl hydrolase (GH) family 11 endo-beta-1,4-xylanase derived from a metagenomic library isolated from sugarcane bagasse, under high-temperature conditions preferred for XO synthesis. Removal of a carbohydrate-binding module (X11C) resulted in 6.5 fold greater catalytic efficiency. X11C was further improved by a Pro71Thr mutation in the X11P variant obtained from a random mutagenesis library, which exhibited 15.9 fold greater catalytic efficiency compared with wild-type X11 under the enzyme's optimal conditions of 80 degrees C and pH 6.0. Homology modeling suggested that the improved performance of X11P could be attributed to formation of an extra H-bond between Thr71 and Ser75, which stabilizes the key catalytic residue Glu180 at the active pocket and beta-sheet layers and agrees with the respective increase in melting temperature (T-m) where X11P >X11C >X11 as determined by differential scanning fluorimetry. The X11P variant was tested for hydrolysis of beechwood xylan, which showed X6 as the major product followed by X3 and X4 XOs. The highest yield of 5.5 g total XOs product/mg enzyme was observed for X11P, equivalent to 3.7 fold higher than that of wild-type with XO production of >800 mg/g xylan. The X11P enzyme could be developed as a thermophilic biocatalyst for XO synthesis in biorefineries. (C) 2020, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
Lignin is a promising alternative to petrochemical precursors for conversion to industrial-needed products. Organosolv lignins were extracted from different agricultural wastes including sugarcane bagasse (BG) and trash (ST), corncob (CC), eucalyptus wood (EW), pararubber woodchip (PRW), and palm wastes (palm kernel cake (PKC), palm fiber (PF), and palm kernel shell (PKS), representing different groups of lignin origins. Physico-chemical characteristics of lignins were analyzed by several principal techniques. Most recovered lignin showed high purity of > 90 \% with trace sugar contamination, while lower purities were found for lignin from palm wastes. Hardwood lignins (EW and PRW) mainly contained guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) units with a minor fraction of p-hydroxyphenyl units (H) with high molecular weight, glass transition temperature, phenolic hydroxy group and low aliphatic hydroxy group. Grass-type lignins (BG, ST, CC) and palm lignins (PKC, PF, and PKS) contained three monolignols of H, G, and S units with lower molecular weights and C-5-substituted hydroxy of S unit. Among the grass-type lignins, PKC lignin contained the highest nitrogen and lipophilic components with the lowest molecular weight, thermal stability, and glass transition temperature. This provides insights into properties of organosolv lignin as basis for their further applications in chemical, polymer and material industries.
Bacterial contaminations in yeast fermentation tanks are a recurring problem for the bioethanol production industry. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB), particularly of the genus Lactobacillus, are the most common contaminants. Their proliferation can reduce fermentation efficiency or even impose premature shutdown for cleaning. We have previously reported that laboratory yeast strains naturally excrete amino acids via transporters of the Drug: H+ Antiporter-1 (DHA1) family. This excretion allows yeast to cross-feed LAB, which are most often unable to grow without an external amino acid supply. Whether industrial yeast strains used in bioethanol production likewise promote LAB proliferation through cross-feeding has not been investigated. In this study, we first show that the yeast strain Ethanol Red used in ethanol production supports growth of Lactobacillus fermentum in an amino-acid-free synthetic medium. This effect was markedly reduced upon homozygous deletion of the QDR3 gene encoding a DHA1-family amino acid exporter. We further show that cultivation of Ethanol Red in a nonsterile sugarcane-molasses-based medium is associated with an increase in lactic acid due to LAB growth. When Ethanol Red lacked the QDR1, QDR2, and QDR3 genes, this lactic acid production was not observed and ethanol production was not significantly reduced. Our results indicate that Ethanol Red cultivated in synthetic or molasses medium sustains LAB proliferation in a manner that depends on its ability to excrete amino acids via Qdr transporters. They further suggest that using mutant industrial yeast derivatives lacking DHA1-family amino acid exporters may be a way to reduce the risk of bacterial contaminations during fermentation.
Agro-industrial residues have great potential as low-cost feedstocks for production of hydrolytic enzymes, which play a key role in the economics of cellulosic ethanol production. The goal of this research was to add value to agro-industrial byproducts such as wheat bran (WB), soybean bran, and sugarcane bagasse {[
Fructosyl transferase (FTase) production by Aspergillus oryzae CFR 202 was carried out by solid-state fermentation (SSF), using various agricultural by-products like cereal bran, corn products, sugarcane bagasse,cassava bagasse (tippi) and by-products of coffee and tea processing. The FTase produced was used for the production of fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), using 60\% sucrose as substrate. Among the cereal bran used, rice bran and wheat bran were good substrates for FTase production by A. oryzae CFR 202. Among the various corn products used, corn germ supported maximum FTase production, whereas among the by-products of coffee and tea processing used, spent coffee and spent tea were good substrates, with supplementation of yeast extract and complete synthetic media. FTase had maximum activity at 60degreesC and pH 6.0. FTase was stable up to 40degreesC and in the pH range 5.0-7.0. Maximum FOS production was obtained with FTase after 8 h of reaction with 60\% sucrose. FTase produced by SSF using wheat bran was purified 107-fold by ammonium sulphate precipitation (30-80\%), DEAE cellulose chromatography and Sephadex G-200 chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified FTase was 116.3 kDa by SDS-PAGE. This study indicates the potential for the use of agricultural by-products for the efficient production of FTase enzyme by A. oryzae CFR 202 in SSF, thereby resulting in value addition of those by-products.
Composting is an environmentally friendly and sustainable way to transform Green waste (GW) into a useful product. GW, however, contains substantial quantities of lignocelluloses that extend the composting period unless substances that accelerate composting are added. The objective of this research was to assess the influence of the following additives on GW composting (w/w dry matter contents of the additives were indicated): sugarcane bagasse at 15\%; bean dregs at 35\%; silage at 45\%; flue gas desulfurization gypsum at 5\%; maifanite at 4\%; and furfural residue at 20\%. Based on the composting temperature, compost density, porosity, particle-size distribution, water retention, pH, cation exchange capacity, available nutrient contents, humification coefficient, organic matter loss, microbial populations, and phytotoxicity, the best additives were 45\% silage and 5\% flue gas desulfurization gypsum. The latter two additives produced a high-quality product in only 35 and 37 days, respectively.
This paper deals with the characterisation of bending stiffness components of medium density fibreboard (MDF) by carrying out a single plate bending test. The approach couples full-field slope measurements with an inverse identification method. MDF panels manufactured with different fractions of Eucalyptus fibres and sugarcane bagasse particles were used. The slope maps generated across the plate surface were measured by the deflectometry technique. The curvature fields of the deformed plate were reconstructed by numerical differentiation afterwards. The virtual fields method was then implemented for material parameter identification under the framework of Kirchhoff-Love plate bending theory. The elastic properties obtained from the proposed data reduction (i.e. simultaneous identification of modulus of elasticity, Poisson's ratio and shear modulus) were compared with values determined from classical three-point bending tests and reported in the literature. The set of properties were found in relatively good agreement.
Biochar can be used to address the excessive use of tetracycline and micronutrient chromium (Cr) in wastewater that potentially threatens human health. However, there is little information about how the biochar, made from different tropical biomass, facilitates tetracycline and hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) removal from aqueous solution. In this study, biochar was prepared from cassava stalk, rubber wood and sugarcane bagasse, then further modified with KOH to remove tetracycline and Cr(VI). Results showed that pore characteristics and redox capacity of biochar were improved after modification. KOH-modified rubber wood biochar had the highest removal of tetracycline and Cr(VI), 1.85 times and 6 times higher than unmodified biochar. Tetracycline and Cr(VI) can be removed by electrostatic adsorption, reduction reaction, pi-pi stacking interaction, hydrogen bonding, pore filling effect and surface complexation. These observations will improve the understanding of the simultaneous removal of tetracycline and anionic heavy metals from wastewater.
This work proposes the use of UV-Vis spectroscopy and one-class classifiers to authenticate honey in terms of their individual and simultaneous adulterations with corn syrup, agave syrup, and sugarcane molasses. Then, spectra of aqueous authentic (n = 73) and adulterated (n = 162) honey samples were recorded. Before the construction of OC-PLS and DD-SIMCA models, different pre-processing techniques were used to removed baseline shifts. The best result obtained by DD-SIMCA using offset correction, correctly classifying all the samples in the test set. Therefore, the proposed methodology can be used as a promising tool to authenticate honey and prevent fraudulent labeling, affording security to consumers and providing an alternative to regulatory agencies. Moreover, it avoids laborious sample preparation and additional operational costs, since the analytical infor-mation is acquired using a routine instrumental technique, without the need for any sample preparation step, other than dilution of the samples in water alone.
Staggering amounts of food waste are produced in Australia, and this review provides food waste based biorefinery opportunities in moving towards a circular economy in Australia. The current food waste scenario in Australia including an overview of primary food waste sources, government regulation, and current management practices is presented. The major food waste streams include fruit and vegetable (waste from wine grapes, citrus, apple, potato, and tomato), nuts (almond processing waste), seafood (Fish waste), dairy whey, sugarcane bagasse, and household and businesses. The composition of these waste streams indicated their potential for use in biorefineries to produce value-added products via various pathways combining direct extraction and biological and thermochemical conversion. Finally, the efforts made in Australia to utilize food waste as a resource, as well as the challenges and future directions to promote the development of concrete and commercially viable technologies for food waste biorefinery, are described.
Materials based on cellulose have been widely used as a decontaminant agent of wastewater. However, it can not be found in the literature any application of the cationic dialdehyde cellulose (cDAC) in anionic dye removal. Therefore, this study aims a circular economy concept using sugarcane bagasse to obtain a functionalized cel-lulose by oxidation and cationization. cDAC was characterized by SEM, FT-IR, oxidation degree, and DSC. Adsorption capacity was evaluated by pH, kinetic, concentration effect, strength ionic tests, and recycling. The kinetic followed Elovich model (R2 = 0.92605 for EBT = 100 mg/L) and non-linear Langmuir model (R2 = 0.94542), which resulted in a maximum adsorption capacity of 563.30 mg/g. The cellulose adsorbent reached an efficient recyclability of 4 cycles. Thus, this work presents a potential material to become a new, clean, low-cost, recyclable, and environmentally friendly alternative for effluent decontamination-containing dyes.
This work deals with the valorisation of bagasse of sugarcane - BC, bagasse of malt - BM and seed of chia - SC, through its transformation into pyrochars, hydrochars and activated carbons (ACs) by pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and sequential HTC and pyrolysis, respectively. The HTC process was carried out in the presence of H2O, FeCl3 and H2SO4 solutions. The materials resulting by HTC in the presence of FeCl3 revealed the highest burn-off, but the contents of carbon released into the liquid phase, measured as total organic carbon, and to the gaseous phase, determined by carbon balance, depend strongly on the carbon precursor. In this sense, BC generates more volatile organic compounds (up to 34\% of the initial carbon content), followed by BM (< 15\%) and SC (< 5\%) in their HTC and pyrolysis (70\%). The pyrochars, hydrochars and ACs prepared from BC also show the highest specific surface areas (S-BET < 447 m(2)center dot g(-1)) when compared to the specific surface areas of the materials prepared from BM and SC. The carbon-based materials prepared with FeCl3 show the highest catalytic activity, but iron leaching into solution is observed. On the other hand, the materials prepared with H2SO4 show high activity, enabling its application in successive cycles and the complete degradation of caffeine in concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 mg center dot L-1, after 5-60 min of reaction.
Sesame is an oilseed that has low demand of water; it is widely grown in tropical regions, but few studies had been conducted on its mineral nutrition. The objective of this study was to evaluate physiological and production variables of two sesame genotypes (BRS-Soda and Preto) varying the organomineral fertilizer doses, via fertigation. The genotypes were grown under field conditions during the 2014/2015 dry season, in an agricultural area in Lagoa Seca, PB, Brazil. The two genotypes were subjected to five doses (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120\% of the nutritional requirement of the crop) of an organomineral fertilizer based on sugarcane vinasse, and to an additional treatment consisting of mineral fertilizer (100\% of the crop requirement). `Ihe experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, in a (2 x 5 + 2) factorial arrangement, with 12 treatments and 4 repetitions, totaling 48 plots. Among the physiological variables evaluated, only internal CO2 concentration was affected by the organomineral fertilizer doses. The number of fruits per plant, fruit weight per plant, seed weight per plant, and 1000 seed weight of both cultivars were favored by the organomineral fertilization. The organomineral fertilizer dose of 120\% provided better results for the two sesame genotypes than those found with the mineral fertilization.
A sustainable carbon-neutral society is imperative for future generations, and biochars and biofuels are inevitable choice to achieve this goal. Crop residues (CR) such as sugarcane bagasse, corn stover, and rice husk are promising sustainable resources as a feedstock for biochars and biofuels. Extensive research has been conducted on CR-based biochar production not only in environmental remediation areas but also in application for biofuel production. Here, the distribution and resource potential of major crop residues are presented. The production of CR-biochar and its applications in biofuel production processes, focusing on the latest research are discussed. Finally, the challenges and areas of opportunity for future research in terms of CR supply, CR-biochar production, and CR-biochar utilization for biofuel production are proposed. Compared with other literature reviews, this study can serve as a guide for the establishment of sustainable, economical, commercial CR-based biorefineries.
Process sustainability has been one of the most challenging issues faced by process designers. Conceptual designed processes do not overcome this stage because aspects such as context and technological readiness level are left aside. This paper proposes a strategy to consider different processing routes for biomass (compendium of existing routes) towards sustainable development. The strategy comprises five stages where a supported bio-processes selection is made by considering the chemical composition of the raw material and the context where biomass is produced and processed. This strategy aims to give decision tools to designers to filter and reduce the number of options to be considered when proposing an alternative biomass use. The proposed strategy was applied to upgrade orange peel waste and sugarcane bagasse to demonstrate how it can be applied. In conclusion, selecting of bioprocesses and considering the proposed strategycould improve the biorefineries design. Even so, more bioprocesses must be included.
Background: Sugarcane distilleries use molasses for ethanol production and generate large volume of effluent containing high biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) along with melanoidin pigment. Melanoidin is a recalcitrant compound that causes several toxic effects on living system, therefore, may be treated before disposal. The aim of this study was to isolate a potential thermotolerant melanoidin decolorizing yeast from natural resources, and optimized different physico-chemical and nutritional parameters. Results: Total 24 yeasts were isolated from the soil samples of near by distillery site, in which isolate Y-9 showed maximum decolorization and identified as Candida tropicalis by Microbial Type Culture Collection (MTCC) Chandigarh, India. The decolorization yield was expressed as the decrease in the absorbance at 475 nm against initial absorbance at the same wavelength. Uninoculated medium served as control. Yeast showed maximum decolorization (75\%) at 45 degrees C using 0.2\%, glucose; 0.2\%, peptone; 0.05\%, MgSO4; 0.01\%, KH2PO4; pH-5.5 within 24 h of incubation under static condition. Decolorizing ability of yeast was also confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Conclusion: The yeast strain efficiently decolorized melanoidin pigment of distillery effluent at higher temperature than the other earlier reported strains of yeast, therefore, this strain could also be used at industrial level for melanoidin decolorization as it tolerated a wide range of temperature and pH with very small amount of carbon and nitrogen sources.
The influence of the degree of compost maturity on the nutritional status of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) plants was investigated by growing sunflower in 1:1 mixtures of soil and with three different kinds of composts. Samples were taken at regular intervals during the composting process. Substrate composted for more that 30 days did not show evidence of toxicity, but the nutritional status of plants was very poor-with iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and boron (B) deficiencies. Progressive immobilization of nitrogen (N), in spite of the increasing nitrifying activity, and phosphorus (P) caused a reduction in yield, particularly for the compost derived from sugarcane bagasse and poultry manure plus olive press cake. The nutritional status did not improve when plants were grown in compost matured for more than 60 days. Correction of available macro- and micro-nutrient content is necessary before these substrates can be profitably utilized as soil amendants.
Penicillium oxalicum has received increasing attention as a potential cellulase-producer. In this study, a coppercontrolled flippase recombination enzyme/recognition target (FLP/FRT)-mediated recombination system was constructed in P. oxalicum, to overcome limited availability of antibiotic resistance markers. Using this system, two crucial transcription repressor genes atf1 and cxrC for the production of cellulase and xylanase under solidstate fermentation (SSF) were simultaneously deleted, thereby leading to 2.4- to 29.1-fold higher cellulase and 78.9\% to 130.8\% higher xylanase production than the parental strain under SSF, respectively. Glucose and xylose released from hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse achieved 10.6\%-13.5\% improvement by using the crude enzymes from the engineered strain Delta atf1 Delta cxrC::flp under SSF in comparison with that of the parental strain. Consequently, these results provide a feasible strategy for improved cellulase and xylanase production by filamentous fungi.
We review the conversion of waste biomass into recyclable materials using different methods of materials treatment such as thermal, mechanical and chemical processes. Renewable and sustainable biomaterials are increasingly becoming alternatives for synthetic strong materials, e.g. composites. The type of treatment of biomaterial will determine the form to which the biomass is converted and its subsequent applications. It is anticipated that the transformation will produce materials that have superior qualities, properties and characteristics. These include biopolymer materials such as cellulose and hemicellulose, which have all been obtained as products of treatment and extraction from plant materials such as lignocellulose. The main reason for inefficient biomass conversion has been found to be poor manipulation of composite properties during biomass treatment process. The treatment processes are expected to facilitate dehydration, dehydrogenation, deoxygenation and decarboxylation of the bulk biomass materials to target the formation of new compounds that may be used to make strong materials. Significance: This work demonstrates that plant material, as a solid-state biomass material for strong structural applications such as in biocomposites, is affected by factors that include the alignment of fibres, orientation of fibres, and mass density distribution. However, biocomposite materials have been found to be non-toxic, corrosion-resistant, low-cost, and renewable. They are preferred because the materials possess high thermal stability, are biodegradable and recyclable, and have high biocompatibility, performance, strength, water-resistance, specific surface area and aspect ratio to qualify them for applications including biobricks for construction, slabs for paving, vehicle internal components, ultra-high temperature aerospace ceramics, and energy storage devices.
Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) can present a high viscosity and thixotropic behavior when dispersed in water. In this work, CNF isolated from sugarcane bagasse and modified by N-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (TEMPO) oxidation was added to a solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). This process produced an unexpected viscosity due to a synergistic effect that was observed macroscopically through rheology analysis. The phenomenon known as depletion flocculation was observed, which was caused by the reduction of the excluded volume. The interactions of the system were studied by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), optical microscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM), which demonstrated the presence of the particle/polymer repulsion and subsequent formation of domains composed of aligned micro and nanocellulose particles clusters and nanofibers distributed throughout the sample, forming a percolated 3D structure responsible for a strong gelling and colloidal stability. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The production of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), an unsaturated D-lactone with a strong coconut-like aroma was studied and compared with liquid and solid substrates. A fungi strain that produces coconut aroma compound was selected. The liquid medium of the submerged culture was used to impregnate a solid support of sugarcane bagasse in SSF (Solid State Fermentation). This substrate was adequate for growth and aroma production; the concentration obtained using SSF was higher than using liquid fermentation process. In the present work, it is demonstrated that, by solid-state-fermentation process, it is possible to produce 6-PP. The amount of 6-PP produced using a solid state substrate, following a 5 d culture, was 3 mg/g dry matter. Therefore, the amount of 6-PP produced during solid-state-fermentation process is higher than that reported in literature for submerged process.
Polluted stormwater has become a severe problem in the environment as the runoff collecting various contaminants before discharged into water bodies, degrading the water quality and risking aquatic life. This study aims to evaluate selected agro-based filter media to treat stormwater through environmental laboratory works. These include kernel shell, coconut husk, coconut shell, durian shell, sugarcane bagasse, and pineapple leaves. The stormwater samples used were collected from a pond in Universiti Malaysia Sabah, whereas the filter column is configured through a combination of 80\% of agro-based media and 20\% of aggregate. Filter performance is evaluated for turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and ammoniacal nitrogen. Overall, the findings show the potential in utilizing agro-based media, particularly the shell-based media of CS300, KS300, and DS200. Further investigations are recommended to further study the application of agro-based media in improving the quality of stormwater.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of anionic and cationic surfactants on the physicochemical properties, organic matter (OM) degradation, bacterial community structure and metabolic function during composting of dairy manure and sugarcane bagasse. The results showed that the surfactant could optimize the composting conditions to promote the degradation of OM. The most OM degradation and humic substances (HS) synthesis were observed in SAS. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were more abundant in SAS and CTAC, and Actinobacteria in CK. Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PIC-RUSt) showed that SAS and CTAC are more abundant than CK in genes related to metabolism, environmental and genetic information processing. The correlation analysis showed that the dominant bacteria had more significant correlation with environmental factors. In general, the anionic surfactant could better promote the degradation of OM, change the structure of microbial community, and improve the quality of compost.
Lignocellulosic materials pretreated using liquid hot water (LHW) (220 degrees C, 5 MPa, 120 s) were fermented to ethanol by batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of Trichoderma reesei cellulase. SSF of sugarcane bagasse (as received), aspen chips (smallest dimension 3 mm), and mixed hardwood flour (-60 +70 mesh) resulted in 90\% conversion to ethanol in 2-5 d at enzyme loadings of 15-30 FPU/g. In most cases, 90\% of the final conversion was achieved within 75 h of inoculation. Comminution of the pretreated substrates did not affect the conversion to ethanol. The hydrolysate produced from the LHW pretreatment showed slight inhibition of batch growth of S. cerevisiae. Solids pretreated at a concentration of 100 g/L were as reactive as those pretreated at a lower concentration, provided that the temperature was maintained at 220 degrees C.
The staggering increase in pollution associated with a sharp tightening in global energy demand is a major concern for organic substances. Renewable biofuel production through simultaneous waste reduction is a sustainable approach to meet this energy demand. This study co-fermentation of dairy whey and SCB was performed using mixed and pure bacterial cultures of Salmonella bongori, Escherichia coli, and Shewanella oneidensis by dark fermentation process for hydrogen production. The maximum H-2 production was 202.7 \& PLUSMN; 5.5 H-2/mL/L, 237.3 \& PLUSMN; 6.0 H-2/mL/L, and 198 \& PLUSMN; 9.9 H-2/mL/L obtained in fermentation reactions containing dairy whey, solid and liquid hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse as mono-substrates. The H-2 production was greater in co-substrate by 347.3 \& PLUSMN; 18.5 H-2/mL/L under optimized conditions (pH 7.0, temperature 37 \& DEG;C, substrate concentration 30:50 g/L) than expected in mono-substrate conditions, which confirms that co-fermentation of different substrates enhances the H-2 potential. Fermentation medium during bio-H2 production under GC analysis has stated that using mixed cultures in dark fermentation favored acetic acid and butyric acid. Co-substrate degradation produces ethyl alcohol, benzoic acid, propionic acid, and butanol as metabolic by-products. The difference in the treated and untreated substrate and carbon enrichment in the substrates was evaluated by FT-IR analysis. The present study justifies that rather than the usage of mono-substrate for bio-H-2 production, the co-substrate provided highly stable H-2 production by mixed bacterial cultures. Fabricate the homemade single-chamber microbial fuel cell to generate electricity.
In this work, primary brewery wastewater (PBWW) and secondary brewery wastewater (SBWW) separately, or mixed at the ratios of 1:1 (PBWW:SBWW) and 1:7 (PBWW:SBWW), with or without supplementation with sugarcane molasses (SCM), were used as culture media for lipid production by a mixed culture of the oleaginous yeast Rhodosporidium toruloides NCYC 921 and the microalgae Tetradesmus obliquus (ACOI 204/07). Flow cytometry was used to understand the dynamics of the two micro-organisms during the mixed cultures evolution, as well as to evaluate the physiological states of each microorganism, in order to assess the impact of the different brewery effluent media composition on the microbial consortium performance. Both brewery wastewaters (primary and secondary) without supplementation did not allow R. toruloides heterotrophic growth. Nevertheless, all brewery wastewater media, with and without SCM supplementation, allowed the microalgae growth, although the yeast was the dominant population. The maximum total biomass concentration of 2.17 g L-1 was achieved in the PBWW mixed cultivation with 10 g L-1 of SCM. The maximum lipid content (14.86\% (w/w DCW)) was obtained for the mixed culture developed on SBWW supplemented with 10 g L-1 of SCM. This work demonstrated the potential of using brewery wastewater supplemented with SCM as a low-cost culture medium to grow R. toruloides and T. obliquus in a mixed culture for brewery wastewater treatment with concomitant lipid production.
The rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth have led to a considerable rise in solid waste production, highlighting the need for efficient solid waste management and recycling methods. To address the challenge of solid waste production, an alternative solution is to repurpose it in geotechnical engineering. This offers promising benefits as solid waste exhibits various mechanisms that can improve soil's hydromechanical and mechanical behaviors. This review aims to comprehensively analyze the effects and potential application of various solid waste types to stabilize and reinforce soil. The impacts and research trends of industrial waste, such as fly ash, red mud, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, and construction and demolition waste, as well as agricultural and municipal solid wastes, including rice husk ash, press mud, used waste tires, and face masks, on soil properties were identified. The findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential of solid waste as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for improving soil quality, highlighting new research themes in this area. A wide range of innovative methods to stabilize and reinforce soil have also been proposed; however, ingenious and effective containment techniques, as well as addressing the potential impacts of climate change on stabilized and reinforced soils (SRS), still need to be developed for robust field applications. This state-of-the-art review offers useful insights into the reutilization of solid wastes as a promising alternative for improving the hydromechanical and mechanical behaviors of SRS.
This study focuses on the synthesis of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (AlO-NPs) hydrogel through in situ method and formation of biopolymer nanocomposite film. UV-Vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyzer, and energy dispersive X-ray spectrum were performed for the characterization of AlO-NPs. TEM micrograph demonstrates the presence of AlO-NPs in the range of 50-100 nm in the hydrogel network made from sugarcane bagasse carboxymethyl cellulose (SB-CMC) and synthetic carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The successful absorptions peak at 210 nm while conducting UV-Vis spectroscopy suggests existence of AlO-NPs. The antibacterial properties of AlO-NPs were analyzed using the disc plate diffusion technique against Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli (ATCC 433); and Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 1688). AlO-NPs present in CMCs films reduce moisture content, solubility; elongation at break and increases films' tensile strength.
There is rapid depletion of fossil fuel worldwide due to the increase in population and usage of resources, hence alternate sources of fuels are needed. Bio oil production using pyrolysis is of interest. For the pyrolysis method, the moisture content in the biomass should be minimized and the solar tunnel dryer is affordable. The drying rate in the solar tunnel is dependent on global radiation, absorptivity of biomass and surface, dryer temperature, humidity and velocity of air. Analysis of theoretical and experimentation studies of the solar tunnel dryer with different coloured soils having different heat absorption values for switch grass, rice straw and sugarcane trash is the main objective of this paper. Dry air temperature of 78 degrees C and 63 degrees C for theoretical and experimentation studies, respectively, is obtained for the rice straw with soil absorptivity of 0.65 corresponding to yellow coloured soil and maximum moisture removal rate of 380 g/h theoretically and 346 g/h experimentally is obtained. This proposed design and analysis can be used for choosing the soil colour and absorptivity for the respective biomass material with air inlet velocity and global radiation.
Components based on composites reinforced with vegetable fibers have awaked interest in various industrial fields. The thermal properties of fibers, matrix and composite define the temperature limits for application and processing of these materials. In this work, a thermal analyzer TGA was used to evaluate the degradation and thermal events of vegetable fibers (abaca, curaua, fique, sisal, cellulose and in natura fibers from sugarcane bagasse and straw), polypropylene (PP) and PP composites reinforced with 15 wt\% fibers. Samples were studied by using 30 to 600 degrees C at 5 degrees C.min(-1) flow rate under helium or air atmosphere. TG curves from fibers showed weight loss in multiple stages. Before the thermal degradation peak, the abaca composite was more thermally stable, followed by fique, curaua and sisal composites. Thermal stability of composites was inferior for neat PP; however, it had a significant increase for the fiber.
White rot fungi have been usually considered for lignin degradation and ligninolytic enzyme production. To understand whether the white rot fungus Inonotus obliquus was able to produce highly efficient cellulase system, the production of cellulolytic enzyme cocktails was optimized under solid state fermentation. The activities of CMCase, FPase, and beta-glucosidase reached their maximum of 27.15 IU/g, 3.16 IU/g and 2.53 IU/g using wheat bran at 40\% (v/w) inoculum level, initial pH of 6.0 and substrate-moisture ratio of 1:2.5, respectively. The enzyme cocktail exhibited promising properties in terms of high catalytic activity at 40-60 degrees C and at pH 3.0-4.5, indicating that the cellulolytic enzymes represent thermophilic and acidophilic characteristics. Saccharification of raw wheat straw and rice straw by the cellulolytic enzyme cocktail sampled on Day 12 resulted in the release of reducing sugar of 130.24 mg/g and 125.36 mg/g of substrate after 48 h of hydrolysis, respectively.
Electricity demand in Mauritius is growing rapidly but its environmental implications are as yet unknown. This is the topic of the current paper which presents for the first time the life cycle environmental impacts of electricity generation in Mauritius aiming to inform electricity generators and policy makers on how the impacts could be reduced. The majority of country's electricity is generated from fossil fuels, with coal contributing 40\% and fuel oil 37\%; the rest is from sugarcane bagasse (19\%) and hydro-power (4\%). The results suggest that electricity from oil has the highest impacts for six out of ten categories considered compared to the other three sources: acidification, freshwater, terrestrial and human toxicity, ozone layer depletion and photochemical oxidants. The remaining four impacts (depletion of resources, global warming, eutrophication and marine toxicity) are highest for coal. The lowest impacts are found for electricity from hydro-power. For example, the global warming potential (GWP) of electricity from coal is estimated at 1444 kg CO2 eq./MWh and for oil 754 kg CO2 eq./MWh, while for bagasse and hydro-power this impact is several orders of magnitude lower (29 and 8.6 kg CO2 eq./MWh, respectively). Oil and coal are the main contributors to the overall impacts from electricity in Mauritius (88\%-99\%). The contribution of bagasse is small (<1\%-12\%) and that from hydro-power negligible (<0.1\%). The GWP of the electricity mix is estimated at 868 kg CO2 eq./MWh. This is equivalent to the annual GWP of 2.22 Mt CO2 eq. in 2012, an increase of 16\% since 2007. To reduce its carbon emissions, Mauritius should consider reducing the share of fossil fuels through increased use of renewables such as solar PV and wind as well as improving the efficiency of the fossil power plants and reducing energy demand. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this present research, an attempt has been made for performance analysis of a semifluidized bed (SFBR) column operation with a low-cost biomass based-adsorbent for the removal of phenol from synthetic aqueous solution and actual steel plant effluents. The solid phase of gas-solid-liquid SFBR operation was Ca-alginate-biochar composite adsorbent beads which were prepared from low-cost agricultural solid waste-derived sugarcane bagasse biochar capture in Calcium-alginate. In batch adsorption study, the various physicochemical process parameters like temperature, initial phenol concentration, pH and adsorbent doses were identified and its effects on the phenol adsorptive removal and adsorption mechanism were studied. In a semi-fluidized bed column (SFBR) operation, the effect of adsorbents loading (bed height), initial phenol concentration, and liquid flow rate on phenol removal efficiency were studied. The 65 \% bed efficiency performance of the semifluidized bed system was found with actual raw steel plant effluents and BOD, COD, TS etc. are also removed during actual steel plant effluents treatment operation. Finally, a mass transfer dynamic model has been developed and the model predicts the degree of axial dispersion of the system and the overall mass transfer coefficient of the system. Results suggested that this three-phase semifluidized bed composite bed adsorption column operation is suitable for industrial phenol bearing wastewater treatment.
Drinking-water plants often use aluminium (Al) salts as coagulant agents in the water-treatment process, which cause increasing aluminum residue levels in water. Aluminum accumulation in the human body has been related to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia and breast cancer. This work utilises the available industrial waste as a cheap source of carbon (C) that can be used in aluminium ion elimination from water supplies. The employed sugarcane bagasse activated carbon (SCB-AC) was derived from the waste of a Qus sugar factory in Qena City, Egypt. The activity of SCB-AC was compared with that of commercial activated carbon (Com-AC), and their physico-chemical properties were characterised by various techniques (energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). The findings demonstrate that SCB-AC has high performance for aluminium (III) (Al3+) removal like Com-AC, which reached 80\% at a high initial concentration (10 mg/l). The thermodynamic constants revealed that the adsorption process has an exothermic nature. Briefly, SCB-AC is an inexpensive eco-friendly carbon with an excellent adsorptive ability like that of Com-AC for elimination of aluminium (III) in drinking water. The cost of manufacturing SBC-AC would be about US\$40/t.
Substrate accessibility by an enzyme is the rate-limiting step in cellulose digestion. The newly schematized humic acid (HA)-assisted alkali pretreatment was done to delignify and upgrade the bagasse's characteristics for the pragmatic accessibility of the enzyme. The proposed pretreatment resulted in similar to 90-100\% lignin recovery with distinctive properties. After delignification, the upgraded biomass harnessed as solid support to immobilize the enzyme, ultimately reducing the cost and step for designing physical support for immobilization. HA, an active ligand, with its enriched functional moieties such as carboxyl, carbonyl, hydroxyl, and amide group, bind prior to the substrate (i.e., delignified bagasse) that immobilizes enzyme and hydrolyses cellulose portion. The interaction mechanisms of pretreated bagasse with enzyme were demonstrated through molecular docking using Auto Dock software and UV (Ultraviolet) Spectrophotometric analysis. The pretreatment efficiency was analyzed as a case study in a large-scale reactor by subjecting pretreated bagasse to batch enzymatic hydrolysis with a low enzyme-loading rate of 14 FPU/g of cellulose. Cellulose conversion of 88\% (i.e., 20.92 g/L of glucose) was achieved in 48 h, respectively. Subsequently, the flat-sheet cross-flow ultrafiltration (UF) membrane-based continuous recycling unit was operated at a flux of 22.5 L/m(2)hr toward the purification of glucose (i.e., 15.75 g/L of glucose). The performance of PES10-UF membrane module chaperoning with hydrolysis reactor for the designed hydrolysis scheme was examined in light of critical flux, pure water permeability, and irreversible fouling studies. The flow rate of 300 LPH (L/hr) and the transmembrane membrane pressure (TMP) of 1.5 bar showed high antifouling performance.
Soil organic carbon is considered to be of central importance in maintaining soil quality. We assessed the effects of a range of commonly applied organic and inorganic amendments on soil quality in a rice-wheat cropping system in the Indo-Gangetic plains of eastern India and evaluated the carbon sequestration potential of such management approaches using a 25 year old long-term fertility experiment. Results showed that there were significant increases in soil nutrient availability with the application of farm yard manure (FYM @ 7.5 t ha(-1)), paddy straw (PS @ 10 t ha(-1)) and green manure (GM @ 8 t ha(-1)) along with inorganic fertilizer. Both microbial biomass C and mineralizable C increased following the addition of the organic inputs. Continuous cultivation, without application of organic inputs, significantly depleted total C content (by 39-43\%) compared with treatments involving the addition of organic amendments. A significant increase in the non-labile C fraction resulted from both organic and inorganic amendments, but only 26, 18 and 6\% of the C applied through FYM, PS and GM, respectively was sequestered in soils. A significant increase in yield of kharif rice was observed as a result of the addition of these organic amendments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Background: Arabinoxylan is an abundant polysaccharide in industrially relevant biomasses such as sugarcane, corn stover and grasses. However, the arabinofuranosyl di-substitutions that decorate the xylan backbone are recalcitrant to most known arabinofuranosidases (Abfs). Results: In this work, we identified a novel GH51 Abf (XacAbf51) that forms trimers in solution and can cope efficiently with both mono- and di-substitutions at terminal or internal xylopyranosyl units of arabinoxylan. Using mass spectrometry, the kinetic parameters of the hydrolysis of 3(3)-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-xylotetraose and 2(3),3(3)-di-alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl-xylotetraose by XacAbf51 were determined, demonstrating the capacity of this enzyme to cleave arabinofuranosyl linkages of internal mono- and di-substituted xylopyranosyl units. Complementation studies of fungal enzyme cocktails with XacAbf51 revealed an increase of up to 20\% in the release of reducing sugars from pretreated sugarcane bagasse, showing the biotechnological potential of a generalist GH51 in biomass saccharification. To elucidate the structural basis for the recognition of internal di-substitutions, the crystal structure of XacAbf51 was determined unveiling the existence of a pocket strategically arranged near to the - 1 subsite that can accommodate a second arabinofuranosyl decoration, a feature not described for any other GH51 Abf structurally characterized so far. Conclusions: In summary, this study reports the first kinetic characterization of internal di-substitution release by a GH51 Abf, provides the structural basis for this activity and reveals a promising candidate for industrial processes involving plant cell wall depolymerization.
Agaricus subrufescens, known as Sun Mushroom, is a high-value mushroom because of its medicinal properties, used as nutraceutical food to stimulate the immune system and to prevent some diseases, including cancer. Mushrooms are generally characterized by their great ability to bioaccumulate heavy metals and other toxic substances from the mushroom compost. Sugarcane bagasse is a common raw material used in mushroom compost production for Agaricus subrufescens cultivation, whereas insecticides, such as fipronil, can be applied to combat several pests in sugarcane crops. For this reason, we aimed to assess mushroom yield and fipronil bioaccumulation in Sun Mushroom, regarding different concentrations added to the mushroom compost (0, 8, 16 and 32 mg kg(-1)) and casing layer (0, 2, 4 and 8 mg kg(-1)). Each experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with four replicates. Regression analysis from mushroom production data was applied using SISVAR 5.1 program. Fipronil was quantified using gas-liquid chromatography (HP 6890) with thermionic detector (NPD). Mushroom yield was affected when fipronil was added, decreasing from 12\% (compost with 0 mg kg(-1) of fipronil) to 4.8\% (compost with 32 mg kg(-1)). However, bioaccumulation was not detected. In contrast, insecticide bioaccumulation was detected when adding fipronil to casing layer, increasing from <0.01 mg kg(-1) (casing layer with 2 mg kg(-1)) to 0.26 mg kg(-1) (casing layer with 8 mg kg(-1)), however, mushroom yield was not affected.
Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal present in the environment which causes severe environmental, nutritional, and ecological losses. A pot incubation study was conducted to assess the role of biochar derived from various organic feedstock's {[
The main driver of anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is manipulation of the microbiome. This is achieved by introducing soil amendments and depleting the soil of oxygen by saturating with water under a plastic tarp. The current standard ASD method in Florida, USA, consists of applying composted poultry litter (13 Mg ha(-1)) and feed-grade sugarcane molasses (13,900 L ha(-1)), tarping with totally impermeable film (TIF), and saturating the soil with 5 cm water. ASD is applied 3 weeks prior to transplanting. Herein, we report on impacts of modifications of the ASD treatment regarding the soil microbiome. The study was conducted in the greenhouse and field, in which standard ASD, ASD with double application of molasses (ASD2x), and soil covered with TIF (control) were compared. Spatial and temporal soil samples were taken at 0-15 cm and stored at -80 degrees C. Total DNA was extracted and microbial populations were identified using length heterogeneity PCR (LH-PCR) and next-generation sequencing of the 16S ribosomal DNA. Based on the redox potential data, ASD2x was more anaerobic than ASD in the greenhouse, and both were statistically more anaerobic than the control at both locations. Using LH-PCR, shifts in the microbiome were observed, and both ASD-treated soils differed from the control in both the greenhouse and field experiments. Based on 16S rDNA, members of the phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria increased compared with the control. From a panel of seven different organic acids, only isobutyric acid was detected in the control samples, while six of the seven acids were detected in the ASD-treated soils. ASD2x had a greater quantity of each organic acid than ASD.
Bioethanol production has been presented as an alternative for supplying energy demand and minimizing greenhouse gases effects. However, due to abrasively conditions employed on the biomass during pretreatment and hydrolysis processes, inhibitors for fermentation phase such as acetic acid and others can be generated. Based on this problem, the aim of this work was to evaluate the adsorption of acetic acid on microporous activated carbon and investigate the stripping of the same component with dried air. For adsorption process, three concentrations of acetic acid (5, 10, and 20\%) were analyzed by adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms (Langmuir and Freundlich models). Pseudo-second order model showed to fit better when compared to Pseudo-first order model. The Intraparticle Diffusion model presented the first phase of the adsorption as the regulating step of the adsorption process. The Langmuir model showed the best fitting, and the maximum capacity of adsorption was found as 128.66 mg.g(-1). For stripping procedure an apparatus was set in order to insert dried air by a diffusor within the solution in study. Increasing temperature showed to be determinant on augmenting acetic acid evaporation in 2.14 and 6.22 times for 40 and 60 degrees C when comparing it to 20 degrees C. The application of the pickling process for removal of fermentation inhibitors in sugarcane bagasse hydrolyzed allowed the production 8.3 g.L-1 of ethanol.
In the global flower industry, gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii Bolus ex Hooker f.) is ranked within the top 10 cut ornamental flowers. Commercially, micropropagation is more important than seed or vegetative propagation. This study assessed the viability of using a temporary immersion bioreactor (TIB; BIT (R)) to propagate shoots in vitro. Factors such as immersion frequency (6, 8 and 12 h), additional ventilation (1 min every 2 h) and the length of duration of shoot culture (14, 21, 28 and 35 days) were tested. Immersion every 8 h with additional ventilation produced more shoots with better morphology than the control. The average multiplication rate was 9 shoots/explant across treatments. However, when shoots were immersed every 6 h, shoots had higher fresh and dry weight, but displayed hyperhydricity. No differences in shoots were found when immersion frequency was 8 or 12 h. Additional ventilation (12 min/day) reduced shoot hyperhydricity to 5.24\% as compared to the ventilation-free control (31.37\%). Shoots receiving additional air supply every 8 h had lower fresh and dry weight with an 89.8\% decline in relative water content. The number of shoots/explant increased as culture time increased, 6.7 after 28 days, and 6.1 after 35 days (statistically equal). After 7 and 14 days, shoots were induced to root in the TIB using the same medium but supplemented with IAA. Plantlets were subsequently acclimatized. More than 87\% of plantlets survived in a zeolite and sugarcane filter cake (1:1) substrate. This protocol allows for the mass production of gerbera shoots in a simple TIB, with effective rooting and acclimatization. This is the first documented TIB for gerbera.
Solar thermal (ST) systems for the South African (SA) sugar industry could reduce coal consumption in the boilers and partly replace bagasse (pressed sugar cane fibres) as a heating fuel. Based on the heat and mass balance of a representative sugar mill, the most promising solar heat integration points were identified and pre-ranked according to their potential energetic and economic benefits. The identified opportunities for solar process heat (SPH) are the generation of live steam and exhaust steam, the pre-heating of boiler feed water, the drying of bagasse and raw sugar, and the heating of clear juice. Without additional thermal storage, ST systems can supply between 12 and 27 \% of the heat demand of these processes. The estimated levelized costs of heat (LCOH) for the SPH systems range from 2.57 Eurocent/kWh (0.42 ZAR/kWh) for solar drying of raw sugar during the crushing season (CS) to 4.57 Eurocent/kWh (0.75 ZAR/kWh) for all-year solar live steam generation. This study assumes that SPH has to compete with coal, which is the cheapest energy source in SA, to replace bagasse. Using current coal prices and past price increase rates, the estimated achievable internal rate of return (IRR) for solar live steam generation is 4.6 \% if the steam can be used during the whole year, e.g. for electricity export. The highest IRR of 9.1 \% is expected for sugar drying during the crushing season.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diet supplementation with live yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) on ruminal parameters, nutrient digestibility, and the inflammatory response in cattle fed grain-based diets. Three Holstein steers (body weight of 497 +/- 3 kg) with ruminal and duodenal cannulas were assigned to a 3 x 3 Latin square design. The animals were kept in individual pens and fed a diet containing 5\% sugarcane bagasse and 95\% concentrate (906.5 g/kg ground com). Diet treatments were Control (without additive), Yeast (1.5 g/kg DM live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, NCYC 996) and MOS (1.5 g/kg DM MOS, beta-glucans and mannan). Dry matter intake, ruminal, intestinal, and total digestibility of nutrients were not affected by the treatments. The ruminal concentration of isobutyric acid increased in animals fed on diets supplemented with Yeast and MOS, whereas isovaleric acid increased with Yeast and decreased with MOS supplementation. Dietary supplementation with Yeast and MOS increased pH and decreased ammonia concentration in the rumen. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations in the rumen and duodenal fluid were not influenced by the additives. However, both Yeast and MOS decreased the plasma levels of LPS and serum amyloid A (SAA). In conclusion, when high-concentrate diets fed to beef cattle are supplemented with either Yeast or MOS, ruminal pH is increased, LPS translocation into the blood stream is decreased, and blood SAA concentration is decreased. These factors reduce the inflammation caused by consumption of grain-based diets, and either supplement could be used to improve the rumen environment in beef cattle susceptible to ruminal subacute acidosis.
The objective of this review is a global assessment of the economics of second-generation biorefineries, with a focus on the use of food waste and agricultural residues for chemical production by applying biotechnological processes. Analyses are conducted on feedstock and product distribution, applied economic models, and profitability figures for the period 2013-2018. In a study of 163 articles on different biorefinery systems, the production of chemicals is identified as the second major product class, after bioenergy. Bagasse and straw are frequently analyzed second-generation feedstocks. Based on the evaluation of 22 articles, second-generation biorefineries producing chemicals by applying biotechnological processes proves to be economically feasible. On average, both the internal rate of return (IRR) and the return on investment (ROI) are 20\% and the payback period (PP) is 6 years. The cost share of feedstock in biorefineries is between 0-50\%. The price of the end product and the fermentation yields have the most impact on profitability. The processing of food waste that has industrial and municipal origins appears more economical than the processing of agricultural residues. Scientists, policy makers and entrepreneurs with an appropriate risk tolerance are advised to pay particular attention to municipal food waste and the potential economic production of carboxylic acids. For various economic issues related to biorefineries, dynamic-deterministic models are recommended, which can be extended by a stochastic model. This review provides an initial overview of the economic feasibility of second-generation biorefineries. Further techno-economic analyses are required to produce statistically significant statements on key profitability figures. (c) 2020 The Authors. Biofuels, Bioproducts, and Biorefining published by Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.
Rice husk, grapefruit peel and sugarcane waste residue were used as raw materials to prepare biochar. The radon adsorption performance of biochar under dynamic radon exhalation environment was tested and the characterization of biochar was analyzed. The radon adsorption performance of PC600-D (rice husk biochar) and PC600-G (sugarcane bagasse biochar) was much better than that of PC600-Y (grapefruit peel biochar). The type of pore structure and the percentage of pore area had a greater influence on the biochar, and the honeycomb regular isolation structure of PC600-D and The regular honeycomb isolation structure of PC600-D and PC600-G helps to block the transport of radon, and the pore area ratios of PC600-D, PC600-G and PC600-Y are 61.01\%, 82.66\% and 29.36\%, and the larger the pore area ratios are, the better the radon adsorption performance is. The process is mainly physical adsorption, and the elemental content has little influence on the radon adsorption characteristics.
A straightforward and facile synthesis of cellulosic-carbon-shielded palladium-magnetic nanoparticle hybrid material (Pd-MNP@SCB) is presented here. Naturally abundant cellulose was isolated from waste sugarcane bagasse via simple base hydrolysis method and employed. Large surface area and porosity are crucial factors which can enhance the efficiency of a material in catalysis as well as energy storage application and the same was tried to achieve here using the cellulosic-carbon as a support. The prepared hybrid material was initially screened for its catalytic activity in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling followed by its utilization in energy storage application. Pd-MNP@SCB could catalyze the cross-coupling reaction very efficiently with excellent functional group tolerance and good recyclability. The electrochemical performance was explored for Pd-MNP@SCB assembled in a two-electrode cell configuration. The maximum capacitance was found to be 121.74 F/g at a current density of 0.07 A/g with an excellent cycling stability of 97.69\% over 3000 cycles.
Cellulose nanofibers were extracted from sugarcane bagasse. Zerovalent-iron (ZVI)/Zirconium(IV) (Zr)/ZVI-Zr doped cellulose nanofibers were prepared, characterized and evaluated for fluoride removal. The prepared nano fibers could effectively remove fluoride within a wide pH range of 3.0 to 8.0. The equilibrium reached within 3 h and the adsorption capacities followed the order ZrZVICNF > ZrCNF > ZVICNF. The Langmuir adsorption capacity of ZrZVICNF was 35.70 mg/g, much higher than various commercial adsorbents. Nitrate, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, has insignificant effect on fluoride adsorption and higher concentrations of bicarbonate and silicate ions affected fluoride sorption. Furthermore insignificant amount of Zr(IV) ions were leached during adsorption owing to its efficient complexation with hydroxyl groups of cellulose and the adsorbent could be successfully regenerated. Spectroscopic analysis revealed that fluoride ion complexed with both Zr(IV) and Fe(II)/Fe(III) ions. Thus high fluoride uptake capacity, faster kinetics, applicability at wide pH range, makes ZrZVICNF as attractive sorbent for defluoridation. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A two stage pretreatment approach for biomass is developed in the current work in which dilute acid (DA) pretreatment is followed by a solvent based pretreatment (N-methyl morpholine N oxide - NMMO). When the combined pretreatment (DAWNT) is applied to sugarcane bagasse and corn stover, the rates of hydrolysis and overall yields (>90\%) are seen to dramatically improve and under certain conditions 48 h can be taken off the time of hydrolysis with the additional NMMO step to reach similar conversions. DAWNT shows a 2-fold increase in characteristic rates and also fractionates different components of biomass - DA treatment removes the hemicellulose while the remaining cellulose is broken down by enzymatic hydrolysis after NMMO treatment to simple sugars. The remaining residual solid is high purity lignin. Future work will focus on developing a full scale economic analysis of DAWNT for use in biomass fractionation. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The study aimed to exploit the energy potential of naturally occurring fuels like Thar Lignite (TL), Sugarcane Bagasse (SB), Cotton Stalks (CS) and synthetic copolymer shoe manufacturing waste Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA). Proximate, ultimate, chemical analysis along with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were carried out to analyze the compositional and structural differences between the studied fuel samples. Thermochemical decomposition of fuel samples was also evaluated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) under dry air conditions. Derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) obtained from TG curves were used to determine the ignition, peak, burnout temperatures along with combustion performance indices. The order of both average and peak rate of conversion (\% s(-1)) was found to be; EVA > SB > CS > TL. Kinetic analysis of the samples was performed using Coats Redfern model. The apparent activation energy `E-a' (kJ mole(-1)) was in the order of SB = 45.7 > EVA = 36.2 > CS = 36.1 > TL = 23.1. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and ash fusion temperature (AFT) profile analysis of the ash samples was also performed to investigate the possible deposit formation propensity of post combustion residue products, alkali and slagging indices. SB showed the highest propensity towards slagging deposit formations with the order SB > CS > TL > EVA.
The development of glucose/xylose co-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae has improved bioethanol yield from lignocellulosic biomass, the most abundant and sustainable resource for net-zero production of fuels and chemicals. The co-production of value-added chemicals would further improve the economic feasibility of lignocellulosic bioethanol production. Here, we developed a glucose/xylose co-fermenting S. cerevisiae strain capable of co-producing polyhydroxybutyrate, a prominent biodegradable polymer, as an intracellularly accu-mulated co-product by introducing a polycistronic polyhydroxybutyrate biosynthetic pathway. The engineered strain accumulated polyhydroxybutyrate with a content of 64 mg/g DCW while maintaining extracellular pro-duction of ethanol with a high yield (0.43 g ethanol/g sugar). The co-production of ethanol and poly-hydroxybutyrate was then evaluated using various types of biomass, including sugarcane bagasse, silver grass, and even cardboard boxes. This study demonstrates the feasibility of co-production of bioethanol and value-added chemicals to maximize the values derivable from lignocellulosic biomass.
In this article, Fe3O4/actlvated biocarbon (KWB) composites (KBFe) have been prepared via a chemical coprecipitation method. First, the KWB was derived from biomass waste, sugarcane bagasse, and then, the KBFe composites were obtained by using KWB as the scaffolds for Fe3O4 growth. Results indicated that the chemical composition and microstructure of the KBFe were intimately related to the mass ratio of Fe3O4 and KWB, which impacted the electrochemical performance of the KBFe profoundly. Especially, the KBFe-4 (the mass ratio of Fe3O4/KWB is 1) displayed the highest specific capacitance of 342 Fg(-1) at a current density of 1 Ag-1. Furthermore, the asymmetric two-electrode system based on MnO2/KWB composite (KWBM) as positive electrode and KBFe-4 as negative electrode was successfully assembled with a voltage window of 0-1.6 V, and exhibited high energy density (29.1 Wh kg(-1)) and power density (800 W kg(-1)), along with excellent cycling stability (89.5\% capacitance retention after 1000 cycles).
The effect of the carbon source and supplemented free ferulic acid on the production of extracellular feruloyl esterase, beta-xylanase and alpha-arabinofuranosidase by Aureobasidium pullulans was examined. Aureobasidium pullulans was cultivated on birchwood xylan, oat spelt xylan glucose, xylose, sugarcane bagasse and dissolving pulp as carbon source without and with the addition of ferulic acid. Production of feruloyl esterase activity was highest on birchwood xylan (16.8 U/mg protein). Ferulic acid (0.01\% w/v) supplementation led to growth inhibition on all the carbon sources. Feruloyl esterase is also produced with glucose as carbon source, which is a repressor for xylanase production. It is therefore suggested that feruloyl esterase is regulated independently from xylanase. Aureobasidium pullulans feruloyl esterase was found to possess activity against alpha- and beta-naphthylacetate and naphthol-AS-D-chloroacetate but not against longer chain naphthyl substrates and others as determined in a screening with 14 esterase substrates.
The herbicides applied in soils can be easily lost, owing to leaching, volatilization, and bio- and photodegradation. Controlled-release systems using polymeric matrices claim to solve these problems. The movement of the herbicides in the soil is also an important phenomenon to be studied in order to evaluate the loss processes. The development of mathematical models is a relevant requirement for simulation and optimization of such systems. This study reviews mathematical models as an initial step for modeling data obtained for controlled-release systems of herbicides (diuron, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and ametryn) using sugarcane bagasse lignin as a polymeric matrix. The release kinetic studies were carried out using several acceptor systems including a water loath, soil, and soil-packed columns. Generally, these models take into account phenomena such as unsteady-state mass transfer by diffusion (Fick's law) and convection, consumption by several processes, and partitioning processes, resulting in partial differential equations with respect to time and space variables.
This study evaluates the use of engineered biochar as a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst for transesterification of algal oil derived from a native microalgal consortium. Biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell, corncob and peanut shell were evaluated for catalytic activity following surface modification. Peanut shell pyrolyzed at 400 degrees C with the sulfonic acid density of 0.837 mmol/g having 6.616 m(2)/g surface area was selected for efficient catalysis. The efficiency of transesterification was evaluated with 1-7 wt\% catalyst loading, methanol: oil ratio of 6:1 to 30:1 at 55-85 degrees C over 2-8 h. Biodiesel yield of 94.91\% was obtained with 5 wt\% catalyst loading, MeOH: oil ratio of 20:1 at 65 degrees C after 4 h. Spectral analysis of algal biodiesel showed the presence of functional groups corresponding to esters. GC-MS analysis revealed the prominent presence of palmitic and oleic acids, further advocating the suitability of the technology for commercial application.
Xylans are present naturally in various plants and have important uses in nutrition, food, novel material and biotechnology; however, to date, data regarding their systemic toxicity and safety evaluation is still limited. This study investigated the potential toxicity of xylan from sugarcane bagasse by a subchronic toxicity study in rats. A total of 80 male and female rats were fed with diets containing 10\%, 5\%, 2.5\% and 0\% (control) xylan for 90 days. A toxicological assessment was performed including mortality, body and organ weights, food consumption, blood biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, gross necropsy and histopathological examinations. There were no signs of toxicity and treatment-related changes in rats treated with xylan. The no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of xylan were 9.0 g kg(-1) bw for males and 10.6 g kg(-1) bw for females of rats under this experimental condition, respectively. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Background: The plant biomass and agro-industrial wastes show great potential for their use as attractive low cost substrates in biotechnological processes. Wheat straw and corn cob as hemicellulosic substrates were acid hydrolyzed and enzymatically saccharified for high xylose production. The hydrolysate was concentrated and fermented by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces for production of xylitol. Results: Acid hydrolysis of wheat straw and corn cob in combination with enzymatic hydrolysis showed great potential for production of free sugars from these substrates. Kluyveromyces produced maximum xylitol from acid treated wheat straw residues with enzymatic saccharification. The percentage xylitol yield was 89.807 g/L and volumetric productivity of 0.019 g/L/h. Kluyveromyces also produced maximum xylitol from corn cob acid hydrolyzed liquor with xylitol yield 87.716 g/L and volumetric productivity 0.018 g/L/h. Conclusion: Plant and agro-industrial biomass can be used as a carbohydrate source for the production of xylitol and ethanol after microbial fermentation. This study revealed that wheat straw acid and enzyme hydrolyzed residue proved to be best raw material for production of xylitol with S. cerevisiae. The xylitol produced can be utilized in pharmaceuticals after purification on industrial scale as pharmaceutical purposes.
We previously engineered Enterobacter aerogenes for glucose and xylose co-utilization and 2,3-butanediol production. Here, strain EMY-22 was further engineered to improve the 2,3-butanediol titer, productivity, and yield by reducing the production of byproducts. To reduce succinate production, the budABC operon and galP gene were overexpressed, which increased 2,3-butanediol production. For further reduction of succinate and 2-ketogluconate production, maeA was selected and overexpressed in EMY-22. The optimally engineered strain produced 2,3-butanediol for a longer time and showed reduced byproduct formation from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate under flask cultivation conditions. The engineered strain displayed 66.6, 13.4, and 16.8\% improvements in titer, yield, productivity of 2,3-butanediol, respectively, compared to its parental strain under fed batch fermentation conditions. The data demonstrate that the metabolic engineering to reduce byproduct formation is a promising strategy to improve 2,3-butanediol production from lignocellulosic biomass.
Nowadays, the synthesis of graphene/ graphene oxide from graphite precursor using oxidizing agents is the most common procedure, but the direct synthesis of graphene or graphene oxide from a non-graphitic carbonaceous material without using inert atmosphere is really a great challenge. Besides, the chemistry behind the development of graphitic structure from a non-graphitic material during the thermal heating is still not clearly understood. In this research work, three agrowaste materials viz. rice husk, sugarcane bagasse and newspaper were selected and subjected to pyrolysis in presence of trace amount of air. The continued heating at the optimum temperature has resulted in aromatization and condensation along with the oxidation within the cellulosic structure of the agrowaste, which finally resulted in the formation of graphene oxide nanoflakes directly. The mechanism of formation of graphene oxide from these agrowaste materials was studied, which suggested that any carbonaceous waste materials can be converted to graphene oxide by optimizing the thermal heating conditions.
Natural fibers have been investigated as composites reinforcement for technological applications. Several natural fiber composites were found to present similar ballistic performance as synthetic materials, such as Kevlar (TM) in multilayered systems (MASs) against high-impact energy projectiles. MASs with a front ceramic followed by natural fibers, natural fabrics or natural non-woven mat such as curaua, jute, sisal, ramie, coir, piassava, fique, and sugarcane bagasse reinforcing polymer matrix composites attend the standards for personal ballistic protection against the threat of 7.62 mm ammunition. These natural fibers or fabrics or non-woven mats composites, as second MAS layer, succeed to capture the cloud of fragments resulting from the projectile impact on the ceramic layer with comparable ballistic efficiency as conventional synthetic aramid fiber composites with same thickness. In this work, the development of research dedicated to these natural fiber-based composites in MASs are overviewed and their advantages over synthetic materials are emphasized, especially the much lower cost.
Ornamental palms are an economically important component of international trade yet have recently experienced yield losses in Mexico due to red ring and bud rot diseases, which are spread by Rhynchophorus palmarum L. Considering that massive capture is a common strategy to control this pest and the cost of commercial traps and baits could be inaccessible for small farmers, an inexpensive trap-bait combination is desired. In this study, 16 trap-bait combinations for capturing R. palmarum were assessed in ornamental palm polycultures over the course of 1 year. An expensive yellow bucket trap combined with aggregation pheromone + insecticide + banana was compared with inexpensive, handmade trap-bait combinations. A total of 4712 weevils were collected in all traps, of which 52.7\% were male and 47.3\% female. The efficacy of the handmade trap made from a colorless polyethylene bottle and baited with banana + pineapple + sugarcane + sugarcane molasses was similar to that of the yellow bucket trap baited with aggregation pheromone + insecticide + banana. These two trap-bait combinations remained effective even when the R. palmarum population significantly decreased during the dry, warm season. The affordable handmade trap baited with food attractants and without insecticides was highly efficient in capturing R. palmarum and therefore represents an effective tool for monitoring weevil populations. As ornamental crops have recently gained greater economic importance in the studied region, the use of a novel and cheap trap-bait combination could offer great benefits to producers and form part of the integrated management of R. palmarum.
Earthen materials have been used for thousands of years for its easy availability and cost effectiveness. In recent times, earthen materials are gaining its momentum as the entire world understood the need of sustainability in all walks of life. It is mainly used for its sustainability and low environmental impact. To keep up with conventional building materials, fibres are incorporated into the earthen materials to enhance the performance in both strength and durability aspects. This study presents a comprehensive review of studies involving earthen blocks with natural fibres to enhance the performance of the block. Studies done with earthen blocks reinforced with ten natural fibres (viz. Date palm, jute, coconut, Hemp, Sisal, Banana, Chicken, Sugarcane bagasse, Corn, Wool fibres) were reviewed with a brief summary of physical, chemical and mechanical properties. Literature search was conducted using Google Scholar and web of science libraries. Banana fibre, date palm fibre, sugarcane, and jute fibres reinforced blocks are considerably performing better in strength, durability aspects. The adhesion property between fibre and soil are achieved by chemical treatments. Lack of treatment to fibre prior to usage in blocks was observed. Aspect ratio and tensile test on fibres were missing in many studies. Future studies can be conducted on the effect of treatment to fibres and block performance characteristics. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Mechanical, Electronics and Computer Engineering 2020: Materials Science.
Agribusiness is the main branch of the Brazilian economy. Every year, millions of tons of agro-industrial waste are generated and improperly disposed on soil and water, generating social and environmental impacts. However, these wastes can be used as substrate for fungal growth and to produce enzymes of biotechnological interest (hydrolases, proteases, lipases). In this study, we present the production of an endoglucanase from Pycnoporus sanguineus (the first enzyme isolated from this organism) by solid-state fermentation of agro-industrial wastes. Endoglucanase was produced after 72 fermentation hours, and was isolated via ethanol fractionation and ion exchange chromatography. The isolated enzyme had an optimum temperature of 50 degrees C, thermostability between 30 and 60 degrees C, optimum pH of 5.0, stability at pH values from 5.0 to 8.0, K-M of 3.18 +/- 0.005 mg/mL, and k(cat) of 4.53 s(-1). It also displayed halophilic properties. Additionally, endoglucanase was able to saccharify three kinds of agro-industrial waste in 24 h without any chemical or physical pretreatment. Rice husk, wheat bran, and sugarcane bagasse produced 273, 192, and 155 mg/mL of reducing sugars after enzymatic hydrolysis, respectively. Thus, enzyme shows to be a promising option for obtaining fermentable sugars from agro-industrial waste for the production of second-generation ethanol. {[
The non-biodegradability of the packaging materials made from plastic causes harmful effects on the environment and human health. Nanocellulose, starch, chitosan in native and modified forms derived from natural resources can be potential reinforcements for the packaging materials. Nanocellulose from sugarcane bagasse was obtained through a combination of chemical treatments and mechanical grinding process and then incorporated in different amounts to poly lactic acid (PLA) to prepare nanocomposite films by the solvent casting method. The prepared films were characterized by X-ray diffraction (xRD), Fourier-Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic force microscopy (AFM), penetration resistance, optical and barrier properties. The incorporation of nanocellulose significantly influenced the crystallinity and barrier properties of the films. Enhancement in the hydrophobic nature and penetration resistance was also seen for the PLA-based nanocomposite films. The experimental results proved that the present films can be utilized in food packaging and other packaging applications as well.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), a biomaterial with high added value, were obtained from pure cellulose, Eucalyptus holocellulose, unbleached Kraft pulp, and sugarcane bagasse, by fibrillating these biomass substrates using wet disk milling (WDM) followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using endoglucanase/(beta-glucosidase. The hydrolysis experiments were conducted using the commercial enzyme Optimash (TM) BG or a blend of Pyrococcus horikoshii endoglucanase and Pyrococcus furiosus beta-glucosidase. The fibrillated materials and CNCs were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the specific surface area (SSA) was measured. WDM resulted in the formation of long and twisted microfibers of 1000-5000nm in length and 4-35 nm in diameter, which were hydrolyzed into shorter and straighter CNCs of 500-1500 nm in length and 4-12 nm in diameter, with high cellulose crystallinity. Therefore, the CNC's aspect ratio was successfully adjusted by endoglucanases under mild reaction conditions, relative to the reported acidic hydrolysis method. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The experiment was conducted with three biofloc treatments and one control in triplicate in 500 L capacity indoor tanks. Biofloc tanks, filled with 350 L of water, were fed with sugarcane molasses (BFTS), tapioca flour (BFTT), wheat flour (BFTW) and clean water as control without biofloc and allowed to stand for 30 days. The postlarvae of Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) with an Average body weight of 0.15 +/- 0.02 g were stocked at the rate of 130 PL m(-2) and cultured for a period of 60 days fed with pelleted feed at the rate of 1.5\% of biomass. The total suspended solids (TSS) level was maintained at around 500 mg L-1 in BFT tanks. The addition of carbohydrate significantly reduced the total ammonia-N (TAN), nitrite-N and nitrate-N in water and it significantly increased the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) population in the biofloc treatments. There was a significant difference in the final average body weight (8.49 +/- 0.09 g) in the wheat flour treatment (BFTW) than those treatment and control group of the shrimp. Survival of the shrimps was not affected by the treatments and ranged between 82.02\% and 90.3\%. The proximate and chemical composition of biofloc and proximate composition of the shrimp was significantly different between the biofloc treatments and control. Tintinids, ciliates, copepods, cyanobacteria and nematodes were identified in all the biofloc treatments, nematodes being the most dominant group of organisms in the biofloc. It could be concluded that the use of wheat flour (BFTW) effectively enhanced the biofloc production and contributed towards better water quality which resulted in higher production of shrimp.
Treated sludge, goat manure, sugarcane bagasse, empty fruit bunches of oil palm (EFBP) and dry leaves are agro wastes that have high potential for use as feedstocks for the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The focus of this study is to investigate the production of 5-HMF from agro wastes via co-hydrothermal (CHT) treatment and extraction. Present study include examine on agro waste's physical and chemical properties and also their thermal degradation behaviour. The analysis of the bio-oil products is conducted by FTIR and GC-MS. Co-hydrothermal experiments were conducted at a temperature of 300 degrees C with an experimental time of 15 min, followed by alcohol extraction. Highest carbon and hydrogen content are 45.94\% and 6.49\% (dry leaves) with maximum high heating value 18.39 MJ/kg (dry leaves) and fix carbon value 6.60 (goat manure). Through CHT about 39\% 5-HMF, 22.97\% carboxylic acids, 0.97\% of aromatic and 0.73\% aldehyde obtained.
This study considered an average-sized sugar mill in South Africa that crushes 300 wet tonnes per hour of cane, as a host for integrating methanol and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, through gasification of a combined flow of sugarcane trash and bagasse. Initially, it was shown that the conversion of biomass to syngas is preferably done by catalytic allothermal gasification instead of catalytic autothermal gasification. Thereafter, conventional and advanced synthesis routes for both Methanol and Fischer-Tropsch products were simulated with Aspen Plus (R) software and compared by technical and economic feasibility. Advanced FT synthesis satisfied the overall energy demands, but was not economically viable for a private investment. Advanced methanol synthesis is also not viable for private investment since the internal rate of return was 21.1\%, because it could not provide the steam that the sugar mill required. The conventional synthesis routes had less viability than the corresponding advanced synthesis routes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The present study compares in vitro toxicity of electroplating effluent after the batch treatment process with that obtained after the sequential treatment process. Activated charcoal prepared from sugarcane bagasse through chemical carbonization, and tolerant indigenous bacteria, Bacillus sp. strain IST105, were used individually and sequentially for the treatment of electroplating effluent. The sequential treatment involving activated charcoal followed by bacterial treatment removed 99\% of Cr(VI) compared with the batch processes, which removed 40\% (charcoal) and 75\% (bacteria), respectively. Post-treatment in vitro cytoigenotoxicity was evaluated by the MIT test and the comet assay in human HuH-7 hepatocarcinoma cells. The sequentially treated sample showed an increase in LC50 value with a 6-fold decrease in comet-assay DNA migration compared with that of untreated samples. A significant decrease in DNA migration and an increase in LC50 value of treated effluent proved the higher effectiveness of the sequential treatment process over the individual batch processes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Clarification of sugar solutions without side-contaminants during sugar manufacturing is still the main challenge in sugar factories. Herein, chitosan-cellulose (CS-CEL) and chitosan-powder activated carbon (CS-PAC) nanocomposites were synthesized to be used as green biodegradable clarifying agents in sugar refining process. PAC was obtained via physical activation procedures using water vapor at 950 degrees C on carbonized sugarcane bagasse waste, then CS-PAC was combined using a cross-linking agent. Zeta potential analysis gave remarkable results for CS-CEL and CS-PAC with maximum values (+) 57.73 mV and (+) 41.1 mV, respectively, with improvement in color removal \% up to 45.5\% using CS-PAC and 45.1\% using CS-CEL with >25\% compared to traditional clarification process. Also, turbidity decreased from 167 IU to 2 IU using CS-CEL and CS-PAC. Overall, we found that CS-CEL and CS-PAC nanocomposites have considerable efficiency in sugar refining process as eco-friendly bio-sorbents and flocculating materials.
A new Schiff base named N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy benzylidine)-biphenyl-4-amine was synthesized from refluxing of equimolar quantity of vanillin and biphenyl-4-amine in alcoholic medium. Its composition, properties, and morphology were characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy), UV-vis (ultraviolet visible spectroscopy), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and mass spectral studies. Then, silver nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical reduction method and characterized by scanning electron microscope, UV-vis, FTIR, and mass spectra. The silver nanoparticles are then trapped with Schiff base by suitable method. The metal ion was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was used as solid phase for the removal of heavy metal from industrial waste water. Activation of solid phase was done with the base and acid, respectively. The Ag nano@Schiff base was adsorbed on the SCB. The effects of several parameters that affect the adsorption of Cu(II) metal ion including initial metal ion concentration, contact time, Schiff base weight, and pH were analyzed.
Enzymes production by solid-state cultivation in packed-bed bioreactor needs to be improved by mathematical modeling and also by experimentation. In this work, a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran was used for the growth of the fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b, able to secrete endoglucanase and xylanase, enzymes of interest in the second-generation ethanol production. Bench and pilot-scale bioreactors were used for the experiments, while critical parameters as bed porosity and airflow distribution were evaluated. Results showed enzymes with higher activities for the most porous medium, even though the less substrate amount to be cultivated. For the pilot-scale bioreactor, only the most porous medium was evaluated using different airflow distribution techniques. Using an inner tube for air supply resulted in more homogeneous enzyme production, with higher activities. The results here presented will be helpful for the scale-up of this class of bioreactor into industrial apparatuses.
This paper has the objective of monitoring the biological activity of composting process of sewage sludge, sugarcane bagasse and ground coffee in a hermetic rotary reactor using the respirometric method in laboratory scale, in order to obtain parameters and system design for large scale projects. Another particularity of this study is the use of a hermetic reactor with gas purging cycles. Purging was performed when the percentage of oxygen reached less than 5\%, thus eliminating the gaseous mixture (with elevated CO2 ratio) and the introduction of environmental air with around 21\% of O-2, successively until the compost was stabilized. The average purge intervals obtained were 29 h and 2 min with reactor rotation frequency of 15 min. The time of the compost stabilization was optimized in 60\% if compared to the 90 days in the traditional method. The results obtained can be used to design the process in industrial scale using a simple O-2 gas analyzer. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Solid-state fermentation obtained from different and low-cost carbon sources was evaluated to endocellulases and endoxylanases production by Aspergillus japonicus C03. Regarding the enzymatic production the highest levels were observed at 30 degrees C, using soy bran added to crushed corncob or wheat bran added to sugarcane bagasse, humidified with salt solutions, and incubated for 3 days (xylanase) or 6 days (cellulase) with 70\% relative humidity. Peptone improved the xylanase and cellulase activities in 12 and 29\%, respectively. The optimum temperature corresponded to 60 degrees C and 50-55 degrees C for xylanase and cellulase, respectively, both having 4.0 as optimum pH. Xylanase was fully stable up to 40 degrees C, which is close to the rumen temperature. The enzymes were stable in pH 4.0-7.0. Cu++ and Mn++ increased xylanase and cellulase activities by 10 and 64\%, respectively. A. japonicus C03 xylanase was greatly stable in goat rumen fluid for 4 h during in vivo and in vitro experiments.
This study aimed to evaluate different substrates to produce yellow passion fruit seedlings. For this purpose, an experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, from April to June 2016. A completely randomized design with five replications, in a 6 x 5 factorial scheme was used. The first factor was the alternative substrates (poultry, cattle and equine manure, sugarcane and coconut bagasse, and Organomais compost). The second factor was the replacement levels to the commercial substrate of Plantmax (R) (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100). The seedling evaluation was carried out 42 days after sowing. The following variables were analyzed: length, width, and the number of leaves; plant height and shoot dry matter. A significant effect (P<0.05) for the interaction between the factors was verified. The addition of 60\% cattle manure and Organomais to the commercial substrate Plantmax (R) promoted greater length, width, and the number of leaves, plant height, and shoot dry matter accumulation in the yellow passion fruit seedlings.
This study presents a comparison of combustion performance, losses, and efficiency at steady-state and transient conditions for different biomass types in a residential boiler. The types of biomass used were 6 and 8 mm wood pellets, 6 mm sugarcane bagasse pellets, 6 mm sunflower husk pellets, and Brazil nut shells. The comparison in the development of the temperature in the combustion chamber during the start-up revealed that the 6 mm wood pellets ignite and propagate faster than the rest of the biomass fuels due to their smaller size compared with 8 mm wood pellets and lower ash content compared with the rest of the biomass sorts. Thermal power output and efficiencies under steady-state and transient conditions were calculated by the direct method, i.e., by measuring the heat recovery by the water boiler, and the indirect method, i.e., by measuring the heat losses. By using the indirect method, the availability of the flue gas thermal power during the start-up was seen more in detail than when the other method was applied. When comparing both methods as tools for boiler efficiency evaluation for different fuel types, the discrepancy of the resulting efficiencies between is larger when there are higher amounts of chemical losses in the boiler. Therefore, this method shows good agreement also for bagasse pellets but is, without modification, proposed not to be valid for fuels emitting higher amount of carbon monoxide (CO). Boiler efficiencies reached class 3 boilers according to EN 303-5 (> 74.8 \%) for all biomass sorts.
Phenolic derivatives from lignocellulosic biomass under harsh pretreatment conditions may inhibit microorganisms. Waste liquid produced from alkali pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. Model compounds were used to evaluate the effects of major derivatives of alkali pretreatment liquid (APL) on the growth and succinic acid (SA) synthesis of Actinobacillus succinogenes ATCC 55618, and molecular mechanisms were analyzed with transcriptome and proteome sequencing. The 10 most abundant measured components in APL were all lignin degradation products, and they showed different degrees of inhibitory effects on A. succinogenes. Benzoic acid and p-hydroxy benzaldehyde exhibited most serious inhibition to A. succinogenes, causing biomass and SA concentration to decrease by over 30 \% and 45 \%, respectively. This could be attributed to the presence of inhibitors caused the down-regulation of genes including phosphofructokinase, xylulose kinase, pyruvate carboxylase, and acetate kinase, which are crucial in pathways for sugar uptake, CO2 fixation, and reducing power supply.
Fungi of the genus Trichoderma hydrolyze lignocellulosic materials, thus promoting the production of fermentable sugars. In the present study, the production of cellulases by Trichoderma longibrachiatum from ruminal fluid was evaluated in submerged fermentation of Urochloa decumbens hay (UD) or sugarcane bagasse (SB). Moreover, the biomass of this fungus was analyzed by supplementing it with urea or ammonium sulfate and with two buffer systems for the production of cellulases by T. longibrachiatum using SB or UD. The fermentations were carried out in test tubes containing Sabouraud broth, and the carbon source was packed in nonwoven fabric sachets. The fermentations were performed at 39 degrees C for 10 days. The factorial design was completely randomized, and the final pH, fungal biomass, substrate dry matter degradation, total protein, and cellulolytic enzymes were evaluated after the fermentation process. The fungal development was better in the medium supplemented with ammonium sulfate than that supplemented with urea, and it showed better degradation of UB than SB. The evaluated isolate promoted better protein synthesis during fermentation of SB buffered with sodium acetate; however, the medium containing UB produced higher concentrations of total cellulase, carboxymethylcellulase, and avicelase than the medium containing SB. Thus, rapid cellulose production by this fungus may aid in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials for animal feed supplementation for ruminants; furthermore, the use of these enzymes for biotechnological purposes is promising.
Nanocelluloses were prepared from sugarcane bagasse celluloses by dynamic high pressure microfluidization (DHPM), aiming at achieving a homogeneous isolation through the controlling of shearing force and pressure within a microenvironment. In the DHPM process, the homogeneous cellulose solution passed through chambers at a higher pressure in fewer cycles, compared with the high pressure homogenization (HPH) process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) demonstrated that entangled network structures of celluloses were well dispersed in the microenvironment, which provided proper shearing forces and pressure to fracture the hydrogen bonds. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC), CP/MAS C-13 NMR and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements suggested that intra-molecular hydrogen bonds were maintained. These nanocelluloses of smaller particle size, good dispersion and lower thermal stability will have great potential to be applied in electronics devices, electrochemistry, medicine, and package and printing industry. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biochar is being actively explored as a tool for long-term soil carbon sequestration. However, in order for this to be effective the long-term environmental stability of biochar must be assured. Here, we define and test an accelerated ageing method that seeks to reflect the oxidative nature of biochar degradation in soil. The method was applied to a systematic set of biochar samples produced from sugarcane bagasse, and a set of biochar samples produced from four different biomass sources. The stability of carbon in these samples was found to range between 41.6\% and 76.1\%, loosely correlating with biochar O:C ratio (r=0.73). Increasing intensity of oxidative treatment eliminated more carbon. It also increased surface O:C ratio in a manner reported for naturally aged charcoal samples. The method effectively discriminated biochar produced under contrasting pyrolysis conditions and could be used as a proxy for environmental ageing of approximately 100years under temperate conditions.
To evaluate the utility potential of pretreated biomass in blast furnaces, the fuel properties, including fuel ratio, ignition temperature, and burnout, of bamboo, oil palm, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and Madagascar almond undergoing torrefaction and carbonization in a rotary furnace are analyzed and compared to those of a high-volatile coal and a low-volatile one used in pulverized coal injection (PCI). The energy densities of bamboo and Madagascar almond are improved drastically from carbonization, whereas the increase in the calorific value of rice husk from the pretreatment is not obvious. Intensifying pretreatment extent significantly increases the fuel ratio and ignition temperature of biomass, but decreases burnout. The fuel properties of pretreated biomass materials are superior to those of the low-volatile coal. For biomass torrefied at 300 degrees C or carbonized at temperatures below 500 degrees C, the pretreated biomass can be blended with coals for PCI. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The absence of pentose-utilizing enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an obstacle for efficiently converting lignocellulosic materials to ethanol. In the present study, the genes coding xylose reductase (XYL1) and xylitol dehydrogenase (XYL2) from Pichia stipitis were successfully engineered into S. cerevisae. As compared to the control transformant, engineering of XYL1 and XYL2 into yeasts significantly increased the microbial biomass (8.1 vs. 3.4 g/L), xylose consumption rate (0.15 vs. 0.02 g/h) and ethanol yield (6.8 vs. 3.5 g/L) after 72 h fermentation using a xylose-based medium. Interestingly, engineering of XYL1 and XYL2 into yeasts also elevated the ethanol yield from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SUBH). This study not only provides an effective approach to increase the xylose utilization by yeasts, but the results also suggest that production of ethanol by this recombinant yeasts using unconventional nutrient sources, such as components in SUBH deserves further attention in the future.
The use of cellulose is hampered by difficulties with breaking up the biopolymer into soluble products. Herein, we show that the impregnation of cellulosic substrates with catalytic amounts of a strong acid (e.g., H2SO4, HCl) is a highly effective strategy for minimizing the contact problem commonly experienced in mechanically assisted, solid-state reactions. Milling the acid-impregnated cellulose fully converts the substrate into water-soluble oligosaccharides within 2 h. In aqueous solution, soluble products are easily hydrolyzed at 130 degrees C in 1 h, leading to 91?\% conversion of the glucan fraction of a-cellulose into glucose, and 96?\% of the xylans into xylose. Minor products are glucose dimers (8?\%), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (1?\%) and furfural (4?\%). Milling practical feedstocks (e.g., wood, sugarcane bagasse, and switchgrass) also results to water-soluble products (oligosaccharides and lignin fragments). The integrated approach (solid-state depolymerization in combination with liquid-phase hydrolysis) could well hold the key to a highly efficient entry process in biorefinery schemes.
Pharmaceutical waste generation in domestic and industrial discharges is a major challenge requiring adapted treatment solutions. Antibiotics, pain killers, lifesaving drugs, birth control pills, and tetracycline are released by human activities. Biochar has recently drawn attention as an adsorbents to remove pharmaceutical pollutants. Here we review biochar applications for the treatment of tetracycline, sulfonamides, quinolones and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. We discuss production methods, biochar properties, post-treatment methods and agents for biochar activation, adsorption mechanisms involved, performance of the biochar with respect to the sorbate, and operating conditions. Biochars from renewable materials show 100\% recovery of pharmaceutical pollutants. Unlike other adsorbents, biochar can be recycled up to 8 times with a very low decline of efficiency. The highest recoveries of pharmaceutical pollutants using biochars is 1163 mg/g for tetracycline by biochar from Eucommia ulmoides; 400 mg/g for sulfamethoxazole with sugarcane bagasse biochar; 596 mg/g for naproxen by peanut shell biochar, and 698.6 mg/g for norfloxacin by corncob-derived biochar.
Polyvinyl alcohol/cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and hydroxyapatite (HA) (PCH) were combined using an in situ method to fabricate porous scaffolds. CNC was extracted from sugarcane bagasse and the effect of HA on PVA/CNC composites was varied with 0, 0.5, 1 and 3 wt\%. The scanning electron microscopy images of the PCH composites showed interior pores with pore channels, while the energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) results confirmed the increased HA content in the nanocomposite with a Ca/P ratio of 1.67. Porosity and the equilibrium swelling ratio were slightly affected by the HA content. The Fourier transform infrared spectra supported the EDS results by identifying significant peaks belonging to the HA curves of the PCH composites. The crystallinity revealed decreased crystal regions at higher HA content, whereas the mechanical behavior showed the improvement at 0.5 wt\% of HA. Cytotoxicity with L929 demonstrated the compatibility of the PCH composites, with 85 +/- 0.92\% cell viability.
The potential of an alkaliphilic bacterium Klebsiella sp. strain RJ-03, to utilize different unconventional carbon sources for the production of biosurfactant was evaluated. The biosurfactant produced using corn powder, potato peel powder, Madhuca indica and sugarcane bagasse containing medium, exhibited significantly higher viscosity and maximum reduction in surface tension as compared to other substrates. Among several carbon substrates tested, production of biosurfactant was found to be the highest with corn powder (15.40 +/- 0.21 g/l) as compared to others. The comparative chemical characterization of purified biosurfactant was done using advance analytical tools such as NMR, FT-IR, SEM, GPC, MALDI TOF-TOF MS, GC-MS, TG and DSC. Analyses indicated variation in the functional groups, monosaccharide composition, molecular mass, thermostability. Higher yield with cheaper raw materials, noteworthy stress tolerance of CP-biosurfactant toward pH and salt as well as compatibility with chemical surfactants and detergents revealed its potential for commercialization and application in bioremediation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A sustainable expansion of corn-based and sugarcane-based ethanol production could induce food safety and also decrease the Southern Brazilian Amazon's extensive cattle farming and deforestation of new pasture areas. The present work aims to evaluate a technological prospect regarding the strategies and market potential of bioenergy and bio-products generation for a corn-based production system. A `Strategic Foresight' approach was formulated and thoroughly analyzed. Overall, it showed that productivity improvement of livestock could be accomplished, and light vehicles' energy demand using anhydrous and hydrous ethanol could also be enhanced. The results demonstrated that greenhouse gas emissions from a `Corn-to-Ethanol' production system are smaller than the conventional Mills. The Foresight analysis identified that the positive energy balance from ethanol provides more energy than its industrial consumption. `Corn Ethanol' production processes are integrated in six (6) ``Flex Mills{''
Recently, sugarcane bagasse was transformed by ketalization reaction into a biocrude with physical-chemical properties adequate for further conversion in typical refining processes. Herein, a representative compound of this biocrude, 1,2:3,5-di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-xylofuranose, DX, in n-hexane was hydro processed in the presence of several palladium-catalysts. Screening in a flow reactor andamong Pd supported on SiO2, gamma-Al2O3, HUSY, HY, HBEA and HZSM-5, Pd/HZSM-5 showed the least susceptibility to coke deposition and good deoxygenation capacity, yielding significant amounts of hydrocarbons containing seven or more carbons. Additionally, in a batch and milder conditions, this catalyst was highly selective towards hydrocarbons with high carbon yield and remarkably low coke, i.e., 86 \% and <5 \% of carbon from DX, respectively. Water was the major product of deoxygenation. The hydrocarbon products included branched and linear alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics, whose distribution was sensitive to the catalyst properties, such as support's mesoporosity.
In order to understand the interactions between beta-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and chemical groups at activated carbon (AC) surface, the solid samples were hydrogenated aiming to decrease the amounts of oxygenated groups. Two AC samples designated by BagH(2)O and BagP1.5 were prepared by water vapor activation and phosphoric acid activation, respectively, of sugarcane bagasse used as an AC precursor. A more simple molecule 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP) is used as a model of chlorinated compound. The AC were characterized by infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman resonance spectroscopies, as well as temperature-programmed desorption coupled with mass spectrometry (TPD-MS). BagP1.5 and BagH(2)O AC surface contained oxygenated groups. Upon hydrogenation, a decrease of most of these group amxounts was observed for both samples, while hydroxyl groups increased. On the basis of temperature-programmed desorption data obtained for AC samples contaminated with TCP or HCH, it was possible to determine the type of hydrogen bond formed between each AC and HCH.
A multienzyme complex from newly isolated Paenibacillus sp. TW1 was purified from pellet-bound enzyme preparations by elution with 0.25\% sucrose and 1.0\% triethylamine (TEA), ultrafiltration and Sephacryl S-400 gel filtration chromatography. The purified multienzyme complex showed a single protein band on non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE). The high molecular mass of the purified multienzyme complex was approximately 1,950 kDa. The complex consisted of xylanase and cellulase activities as the major and minor enzyme subunits, respectively. The complex appeared as at least 18 protein bands on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and as 15 xylanases and 6 cellulases on zymograms. The purified multienzyme complex contained xylanase, alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase), avicelase and cellobiohydrolase. The complex could effectively hydrolyze corn hulls, corncobs and sugarcane bagasse. These results indicate that the multienzyme complex that is produced by this bacterium is a large, novel xylanolytic-cellulolytic enzyme complex.
The use of the biotechnological way to xylitol production call represent Minors production costs, whereas, in this case, it call be worked under reduced conditions of pressure and temperature and does not have necessity of purification of the hydrolysate. Among the searched alternatives, the submerged Fermentation method is more extensively Studied, having been tested, in recent years, several process options and operational conditions. However, little it has been Studied oil the use of Solid Fermentation method to this bioprocess. Therefore, considering the promising advantages of Solid Fermentation on the Submerged Fermentation in many biotechnological processes, this article has as objective to demonstrate the potentiality and applicability of the Use of Solid Fermentation for xylitol production. For this, it has been done preliminary assays using sugarcane bagasse as inert support and xylose commercial as substrate in polypropylene sachets inside a greenhouse. The fermentation runs were Clone using the xylose fermenting yeast - Candida guilliermnondii at 30 degrees C, under oxygen limited conditions.
Particle density plays an important role in the design and operation of thermoconversion reactors fed with bed of particles such as softwood bark (SB). Little information is available on the single particle density of SB and charcoal derived. As SB and softwood char (SC) particles are highly irregular in shape and size, conventional methods of particle density measurement cannot be applied. A method known as the water soaking and kerosene immersion procedure, used for density measurement of sugarcane bagasse, has been tested and adapted to the density measurement of individual particles of softwood (SW), SB and SC. The particle density has been determined to be 360, 482 and 299 kg m(-3) for SW, SB and SC, respectively. The average particle density of a typical SB feedstock sample comprised of ca. 30\% SW and 70\% SB was calculated to be 438 kg m(-3). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Objective Lipases are often used in immobilized form, but commercial immobilized lipases are costly. An alternative is to produce lipases in solid-state fermentation, dry the solids and then use the ``dry fermented solids{''
Sugar industry generates a significant amount of by-products (such as sugar beet pulp (SBP), sugarcane bagasse (SCB)) and their handling and management is a matter of great concern. Among their uses such as fuel and fertilizer, the valorization of biowastes from sugar industry as adsorbents for the removal of various aquatic pollutants presents promising features in terms of cost reduction for waste disposal and environmental protection. This review article deals with the use of sugar waste based materials used as adsorbents in water treatment. For this purpose, isotherms, kinetics, desorption and thermodynamic information are thoroughly presented. Moreover, many parameters which control the adsorption process, such as the effect of initial concentration, initial solution pH, contact time, temperature and adsorbent's dosage, are also discussed in detailed. The performance of the adsorbents largely depends on the type of pollutants and experimental conditions. Surface modification with chemicals greatly enhance the removal efficiency with favorable kinetics and adsorption mechanism. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Arsenic (As) contamination of groundwater reservoirs is a global environmental and health issue given to its toxic and carcinogenic nature. Over 170 million people have been affected by As due to the ingestion of As-contaminated groundwater. Conventional methods such as reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and electrodialysis are commonly used for the remediation of As-contaminated water; however, the high cost and sludge production put limitations on their application to remove As from water. This review critically addresses the use of various agricultural waste materials (e.g., sugarcane bagasse, peels of various fruits, wheat straw) as biosorbents, thereby offering an eco-friendly and low-cost solution for the removal of As from contaminated water supplies. The effect of solution chemistry such as solution pH, cations, anions, organic ligands, and various other factors (e.g., temperature, contact time, sorbent dose) on As biosorption, and safe disposal methods for As-loaded biosorbents to reduce secondary As contamination are also discussed.
Biomass fuel smoke particles (BFSPs) of rural kitchens collected during dry and wet seasons were characterized for elements, anions and carbon. The BESPs of kitchens using varied biomass fuel types viz. cow dung stick, mixed biomass, cow-dung stick-mixed biomass and sugarcane bagasse were chosen for the study. The BFSPs from cow dung fuel stick showed higher levels of elements, anions and particulate carbon than other BFSPs. Calcium, K, Fe and Mg were the major elements found in all BFSPs, which did not vary much between the seasons. Sulphate was found to be the dominant anion present in all BFSPs followed by Cl- and PO43-. Seasonal variation was pronounced in the case of abundance of anions and particulate carbon. The ratio OC/EC, often used as source signature of biomass burning, was found to be within 1.89-7.41 and 1.72-6.19 during dry and wet seasons respectively. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This paper present a study to apply the X-ray densitometry technique in obtaining density profiles, along the thickness of new composites made from eucalyptus fibers and sugarcane bagasse particles. Experimental panels were made in treatments with different percentages of both raw materials and bonded with two urea formaldehyde resin percentages, 13\% and 16\%, with target density of 750 kg m(-3), obtaining density profiles and qualitative variables of maximum, medium and minimum densities. The results indicated that the dosage of resin at 16\% promoted greater homogeneity in the profile formats and statistical similarity between the minimum density values in the different treatments, which refers to performance as to the internal bond. The density profiles along the thickness showed variations of the panel frame and provided important quality information, applied to the press cycle setting and indications of its technological performance, expanding the possibilities of raw material parameter diagnosis and the panel manufacturing processes.
The pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass (LB) has become an important process to reduce the cost of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. In this study, an economical and effective pressurized hot water pretreatment was used to investigate on bioconversion of four typical LB (rubber wood, sugarcane bagasse, sorghum stalk, cassava stalk) into reducing sugar, then as feedstock to accumulate PHA by mixed microbial cultures. The results showed that pretreatment changed the surface morphology of LB and further improved saccharification efficiency. The maximum reducing sugar yield of 620.7 mg.g (-1) (438.7 mg.g(-1) glucose and 178.0 mg.g(-1) xylose) was obtained by rubber wood. The conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose reached 83.10\% and 78.22\%. Moreover, PHA content reached the maximum of 773.2 mg COD.L-1 in the operation cycle of 24 h. The results demonstrated that hot water pretreatment was an effective physical process to improve the saccharification efficiency of LB for reducing the cost of PHA.
In this work, porous biochar derived from sugarcane bagasse was prepared and then coated with different amounts of chitosan (C@CS) for cellulase immobilization. Cellulase was covalently immobilized on the support by using glutaraldehyde as a linker. The chemical characteristics and morphology of the samples were determined by SEM, BET, FT-IR and XPS. The properties of immobilized enzyme were evaluated by activity recovery, optimum pH value and temperature, and recyclability. The results showed that all the three kinds of immobilized cellulase did not change the optimum pH value of 4 and temperature of 60 degrees C, and they also exhibited good activity and reusability. Especially for C@CS25 (the feeding ratio of porous biochar to chitosan was 0.5 g: 25 mg), the support retained the morphology of porous biochar well. The corresponding immobilized cellulase kept 67 \% activity of free cellulase at pH = 4 and 60 degrees C, and showed a glucose productivity of 90.8 \% even after 10 cycles.
The objective of this paper was to provide a preliminary analysis of energy utilization from industrial waste in Taiwan, a densely populated island country with high dependence on imported energy. The discussion thus focused on the status of industrial waste generation and its management since the year 2002. This paper also presented the updated information about the new/revised regulations concerning the governmental regulations and policies for promoting industrial waste as energy source as well as controlling the emissions of hazardous air pollutants from industrial waste-to-energy facilities. It showed that the main types of combustible waste in the industrial sector of Taiwan include pulp sludge, scrap wood, sugarcane bagasse, textile sludge and scrap plastics, which were being reused as auxiliary fuel in the utilities (e.g., boiler and incinerator). Based on their reported quantities, the energy potential and the environmental benefit of mitigating CO2 emissions were also analyzed in the study. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
We produced a lipase from Burkholderia cepacia in solid-state fermentation and used it to catalyze the synthesis of biodiesel in a fixed-bed reactor. In the solid-state fermentation step, a 50:50 (by mass) mixture of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal gave 234 units of pNPP-hydrolyzing activity per gram of dry solids at 96 h. This fermented solid was lyophilized and delipidated, packed into a column and used to catalyze the synthesis of biodiesel through the ethanolysis of soybean oil in a medium free of co-solvents, with the reaction mixture being continuously circulated through the column. The best conversion was 95\% after 46 h, which was obtained at 50 C, with an alcohol:oil molar ratio of 3:1, alcohol addition in two steps and the addition of 1\% of (m/m) water to the reaction medium. This system has potential to decrease the costs of enzyme-catalyzed transesterification reactions. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Processed organic agricultural byproducts such as liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) are promising alternatives that can improve crop productivity while reducing mineral fertilizer use and improving sustainability. The effects on beneficial soil organisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms (PSM), caused by LOF spraying on shoots is poorly understood. Therefore, we evaluated how AM colonization and soil PSM are affected by LOF spraying on common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in a greenhouse. The LOF was obtained by anaerobically fermenting a mixture of fresh water, cattle manure, bovine milk, sugarcane molasses and mineral salts. LOF was applied twice on the plant shoots. Fresh and dry mass of root and shoot, P content, P accumulation in the shoots and AMF spore counts in the soil were not LOF dose dependent. However, we found that a 5\% LOF application stimulated AM colonization and led to dose-dependence for calcium and aluminium phosphate solubilizing bacteria and fungi. These results show that LOF sprayed on shoots causes responses on soil communities. We therefore endorse the use of LOF in low input agriculture.
The excellent properties of geopolymer composites and their ability to be synthesized from various industrial waste streams make them promising green binders in wood-based composite manufacturing. The study characterized 100\% slag unary precursor-based geopolymers reinforced with lignocellulosic material residue. The residue included sugarcane bagasse (SCB), Port Jackson (Acacia saligna) and Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii). The production process was established based on a mixed factorial design using Statistica 13.3. The factors considered included a curing pattern at 2 levels, sodium hydroxide concentration at 3 levels and lignocellulose material at 3 levels. Other parameters, such as precursor-activator ratio and sodium hydroxide-silicate ratio were constant. Statistical analysis revealed that curing temperature and sodium hydroxide concentration had a significant effect on the board properties and the addition of lignocellulose material improved the flexural strength. Curing at 40 degrees C influenced the reaction kinetics, enhanced microstructural properties, and produced a dense geopolymeric matrix which resulted in improved physical and mechanical properties. However, increasing the sodium hydroxide concentration beyond 6 M caused efflorescence and deteriorated the mechanical property of A. mearnsii and bagasse boards. Partial degradation of the fibres was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis, but the degraded products did not inhibit geopolymer setting. Scanning electron microscopy indicated a uniform board structure surrounded with micro crystals of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). A. saligna boards produced with 6 M NaOH and cured at 40 degrees C met the technical specification of cement-bonded particleboards for outdoor applications according to the British standard EN 634-2.
It is necessary to develop methods to improve soil moisture capacity and agricultural productions in arid and semiarid areas. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of optimal water allocation to improve the yield production in Gotvand Plain, Khuzestan Province, south-western Iran. A field-scale experiment with three scenarios of sugarcane bagasse compost application (0, 15 and 30 ton/ha) and four levels of water supply (50\%, 75\%, 100\% and 125\% of total allowable water) was performed in three replications (March-July 2019). Porous media texture, infiltration rate and irrigation demand were simulated at daily time steps to provide the root zone moisture content using real-time analysis of soil water balance. Furthermore, the maximization of readily available water based on the agricultural demand were considered using grey wolf optimization algorithm under deep percolation and runoff constraints. The results showed that the water allocation strategies and compost scenarios can improve water use efficiency and soil moisture.
The functional properties of cellulose fibers can be modified by adsorption of xylan biopolymers. The adsorption is improved when the degree of biopolymers substitution with arabinose and 4-O-methyl-glucuronic acid (MeGlcA) side groups, is reduced. alpha-L-Arabinofuranosidase (AbfB) and alpha-D-glucuronidase (AguA) enzymes were applied for side group removal, to increase adsorption of xylan from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L) bagasse (BH), bamboo (Bambusa balcooa) (BM), Pinus patula (PP) and Eucalyptus grandis (EH) onto cotton lint. The AguA treatment increased the adsorption of all xylans by up to 334\%, whereas, the AbfB increased the adsorption of the BM and PP by 31\% and 44\%, respectively. A combination of AguA and AbfB treatment increased the adsorption, but to a lesser extent than achieved with AguA treatment. This indicated that the removal of the glucuronic acid side groups provided the most significant increase in xylan adsorption to cellulose, in particular through enzymatic treatment. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cultivated beets (sugar beets, fodder beets, leaf beets, and garden beets) belonging to the species Beta vulgaris L. are important sources for many products such as sugar, bioethanol, animal feed, human nutrition, pulp residue, pectin extract, and molasses. Beta maritima L. (sea beet or wild beet) is a halophytic wild ancestor of all cultivated beets. With a requirement of less water and having shorter growth period than sugarcane, cultivated beets are preferentially spreading from temperate regions to subtropical countries. The beet cultivars display tolerance to several abiotic stresses such as salt, drought, cold, heat, and heavy metals. However, many environmental factors adversely influence growth, yield, and quality of beets. Hence, selection of stress-tolerant beet varieties and knowledge on the response mechanisms of beet cultivars to different abiotic stress factors are most required. The present review discusses morpho-physiological, biochemical, and molecular responses of cultivated beets (B. vulgaris L.) to different abiotic stresses including alkaline, cold, heat, heavy metals, and UV radiation. Additionally, we describe the beet genes reported for their involvement in response to these stress conditions.
The effects of the redox environment on acidic hydrothermal pretreatment were investigated in experiments with sugarcane bagasse (190 degrees C, 14 min) and Norway spruce (205 degrees C, 5 min). To modulate the redox environment, pretreatment was performed without gas addition, with N-2 , or with O-2. Analyses covered pretreated solids, pretreatment liquids, condensates, enzymatic digestibility, and inhibitory effects of pretreatment liquids on yeast. Addition of gas, especially O-2 , resulted in increased severity, as reflected by up to 18 percent units lower recoveries of pretreated solids, up to 31 percent units lower glucan recoveries, improved hemicellulose removal, formation of pseudo-lignin, improved overall glucan conversion, and increased concentrations of several microbial inhibitors. Some inhibitors, such as formaldehyde and coniferyl aldehyde, did not, however, follow that pattern. TAC (Total Aromatic Content) values reflected inhibitory effects of pretreatment liquids. This study demonstrates how gas addition can be used to modulate the severity of acidic hydrothermal pretreatment.
To utilize lignocellulosic hydrolysate for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production, a novel mutant Aurantiochytrium sp. FN21 with strong tolerance against inhibitory lignocellulosic hydrolysate was obtained through continuous domestication processes from the parent strain Aurantiochytrium sp. FJU-512. Aurantiochytrium sp. FN21 can accumulate 21.3\% and 30.7\% more DHA compared to its parent strain cultured in fermentation medium and a medium with 50\% (v/v) sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SBH), respectively. After optimization with different nitrogen sources, the highest lipid (11.84 g/L) and DHA (3.15 g/L) production were achieved in SBH. The results demonstrated that Aurantiochytrium sp. FN21 has the commercial applications for DHA production using lignocellulosic hydrolysate. In order to elucidate the tolerance mechanism, transcriptomic profiling of the two strains was studied. The highly up-regulated genes and corresponding cellular pathways (TCA cycle, amino acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism and degradation of aromatic compounds) are considered to be associated with the hydrolysate-tolerance of Aurantiochytrium sp. FN21. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
To improve the cost-effectiveness of biobutanol production, lignocellulosic biomass is used as a cheap and sustainable feedstock. It provides fermentable sugars for microbial fermentation but lacks nitrogen resources and other nutrients. This study investigated the effects of combining multiple types of lignocellulosic biomass with nitrogen-rich wheat bran on ABE fermentation. Depending on the composition and fermentation effects, the optimal mixing ratio of wheat bran added with sugarcane bagasse, corncob and pine was 1:1, 1:4 and 2:3, respectively. The addition of corn steep powder as a nutritional source significantly enhanced sugar consumption and solvent concentration. Integration of pervaporation with ABE fermentation facilitated timely removal of butanol and alleviated product inhibition, resulting in a final total solvents concentration of 14.51 g/L, comparable to fermentation with TYA synthetic medium. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using combined lignocellulosic biomass to reduce feedstock costs and enhance the application of biobutanol production.
Background and aims: Volvariella volvacea is a tropical to subtropical species, known from Southeastern Asia, Europe and America with isolated records from Africa, and Oceania, but there is no previous record of this species from Argentina. The aim of this work is to extend its distribution range to Argentina. M\&M: Specimens were collected in Corrientes Province and were deposited in the mycological collection of the CTES herbarium. For their identification and description, they were analyzed macro and microscopically following the traditional methodology. Results: This species is characterized by its large pileus (50-100 mm), with dark brown surface and abundant fissures that reveal the grayish context among them, its humicolous habit and its 6-11 mu m long spores. Conclusions: V. volvacea is a species commonly associated with anthropic environments. Its presence in South America can be considered as introduced, considering that it was found on sugarcane bagasse and on compost inside greenhouses. This species is described and illustrated for the first time for Argentina.
The classical route for second-generation ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is hampered by high process costs, fostering the development of alternative strategies such as simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). However, the lack of compatible enzyme cocktails poses a challenge. In this study, the enzymeEmBgl from the marine bacteriumExiguobacterium marinumwas rationally identified based on structural and phylogenetic analyses, known desirable properties of close orthologs, and the ecological niche of its organism source.EmBgl is a multifunctional and glucose-tolerant enzyme that efficiently hydrolyzes cello-oligosaccharides due to a positive-subsite region that can accommodate long cello-oligosaccharides without imposing steric impediments. The efficacy ofEmBgl in an SSF process was demonstrated using pretreated sugarcane bagasse as feedstock, yielding 28 g L(-1)of ethanol in 30 h. The distinguishing functional properties ofEmBgl and its successful utilization in an SSF process highlight its potential in biotechnological applications in which lignocellulose deconstruction is desirable under milder temperatures (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.
In this paper, a hydrophilic and biocompatible three-dimensional (3D) chitosan-graphene mesostructures with large specific surface area (603.2 m(2) g(-1)) and unique mesoporosity were prepared by simply thermal treatment of graphene oxide nanosheets and chitosan. By starting from waste sugarcane bagasse derived graphite and chitosan, the resulted 3D nanocomposites possess superior competitiveness in biocompatibility, renewable resource recycling, cheapness and specific area. The composites were systematically characterized by a variety of analytical methods. Investigations showed that the 3D mesostructures can be used to remove reactive black 5 (RB5) from aqueous solution. A removal efficiency of 97.5\% can be achieved readily at initial RB5 concentrations of 1.0 mg/mL. These results indicate the 3D mesostructures can be used to treat the industrial effluent or contaminated natural water, providing novel insights for the fabrication of 3D functionalized graphene with various building blocks for broad potential applications. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
To obtain fermentable sugars from lignocellulose, various inhibitors, especially furan aldehydes, are usually generated during the pretreatment process. These inhibitors are harmful to subsequent microbial growth and fermentation. In this study, a novel detoxification strategy was proposed to remove 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural while retaining glucose and xylose using self-prepared chitosan-chitin nanofiber hybrid hydrogel beads (C-CNBs). After C-CNBs treatment, the removal rates of HMF and furfural from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysates reached 63.1\% and 68.4\%, while the loss rates of glucose and xylose were only 6.3\% and 8.2\%, respectively. Two typical industrial strains grew well in monosaccharide-rich detoxified hydrolysates, with a specific growth rate at least 4.1 times that of undetoxified hydrolysates. Furthermore, adsorption mechanism analysis revealed that the Schiff base reaction and mesopore filling were involved in furan aldehyde adsorption. In total, C-CNBs provide an efficient and practical approach for the removal of furan aldehydes from lignocellulosic hydrolysates
In this paper, a cost-effective and eco-friendly method to improve mechanical performance in continuous carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) matrix composites is presented. Unsized fiber fabric preforms are coated with self-assembling sugarcane bagasse microfibrillated cellulose, and undergo vacuum-assisted liquid epoxy resin infusion to produce solid laminates after curing at ambient temperature. Quasi-static tensile, flexural and short beam testing at room temperature indicated that the stiffness, ultimate strength and toughness at ultimate load of the brand-new two-level hierarchical composite are substantially higher than in baseline, unsized fiber-reinforced epoxy laminate. Atomic force microscopy for height and phase imaging, along with scanning electron microscopy for the fracture surface survey, revealed a 400 nm-thick fiber/matrix interphase wherein microfibrillated cellulose exerts strengthening and toughening roles in the hybrid laminate. Market expansion of this class of continuous fiber-reinforced-polymer matrix composites exhibiting remarkable mechanical performance/cost ratios is thus conceivable.
A novel pretreatment using organic acid synergism with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) was developed to the co-production of oligosaccharides, especially for the functional oligosaccharides, and enhancement of corn straws enzymatic saccharification. It was found that lactic acid (Lac) pretreatment combined with choline chloride/Lac system could not only selectively convert the hemicellulose to xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS), which account for 89.7\% of total xylose in prehydrolysate (the functional XOS (DP < 5) took up about 35\%), but also significantly promote the glucose release (33.2 g/100 g material) and well lignin separation (representing 40.9\% in whole process), which better than the single organic pretreatment at higher modified severity index (SI). Structural features of various solids were characterized to better comprehend how hemicellulose and lignin removal influenced enzymatic hydrolysis. This work offered the mild and potential method to co-produce fermentable sugars with the effective separation and valorization of lignin.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) have found widespread applications in food, feed, nutraceuticals and pharamecutical industries. Enzymatic degradation of LCB for generation of XOS have gained impetus in recent times In the present investigation an extracellular thermo-alkali stable xylanase from Aspergillus LC1 was purified by using PEG 8000/MgSO4 aqueous two-phase system and was capable of hydrolysing various agricultural residues into XOS system. Highest activity was observed using 11.3\% (w/w) PEG 8000 and 22.5\% (w/w) sulphate salt with maximum purification factor (13-fold), highest yield (86.8\%) and partition coefficient (8.8\%). The purification of the crude enzyme also resulted in decrement of beta-xylosidase activity (29.8 U/mL to 0.6 U/mL). The molecular weight of enzyme was estimated similar to 35 kDa. The highest residual activity was obtained with birch wood xylan as substrate with K-m and V-max of 0.2 mg/mL and 172.2 mu mol min(-1) mg(-1) respectively. The metal ions Fe2+, Ag2+, Mg2+, Mn+ and Co+ enhanced xylanase activity while EDTA, DMSO and SDS acted as inhibitor. The effect of Fe+2 was confirmed by the circular dichroism experiment. The partially purified enzyme was capable of generating XOS i.e. xylobiose (0.68 mg/g), xylotriose (2.47 mg/g) and xylotetraose (2.29 mg/g) by direct enzymatic hydrolysis of untreated sugarcane baggase, wheat straw and wheat bran respectively. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A greenhouse experiment was carried out in order to evaluate different methods to produce Acacia mangium Willd plant seedlings, inoculated with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobium. A completely randomized design in a factorial scheme 4x2 (control, AMF, rhizobium and AMF + rhizobium x pressed blocks and plastic tubes), with six repetitions was used. The pressed blocks used to produce Acacia mangium plants were made with organic residue from sugarcane (sugarcane bagasse + filter cake) and vermiculite. The inoculation with rhizobium was done with selected strain (Br 3609, Br 6009). The inoculation with AMF was done at the time when pressed blocks were made. Acacia mangium plants inoculated with both AMF + rhizobium led to a significant increase in dry matter yield and N content of shoot plants, only in pressed blocks. Phosphorus content of shoot plants is significantly higher in seedlings inoculated only with AMF, and it is independent of the plant production system.
The commentary focuses on the current state of bioethanol production and lists some of the big bioethanol-producing facilities. Currently, starch and sugarcane molasses, which compete for their use in human food, are the major source of industrial ethanol. Cellulosic ethanol is discussed which is based on the raw material that is not used for human consumption. The plentiful agricultural residues rich in cellulose are not part of the food chain and are an inexpensive plentiful renewable substrate for ethanol production. The technology for ethanol production from cellulosic biomass needs improvement. With the current know-how, the production of ethanol from cellulose is commercially challenging. The innovative new technologies may be exploited to create yeasts to efficiently utilize pentose sugars and to secrete cellulose hydrolytic enzymes in high yields so that fermentation is efficient without adding external expensive cellulases and other enzymes. In India, bioethanol production at sugar mills is attractive. It will save foreign exchange, decrease pollution from crop residue burning, strengthen national energy security, enhance farmers' income and create rural employment.
Depleting resources and popping environmental concerns instigate the development of sustainable and clean energy solutions. Amongst others, Hydrogen (H-2) is an imperious alternative due to the lowest emissions, higher calorific value, and usability. It has great relevance in Pakistan due to sequester Agricultural biomass potential that can be used as feedstock for H-2 production. So, this study estimates the H-2 production potential from agricultural biomass (rice, sugarcane, cotton, wheat, and maize) of Punjab, Pakistan. In doing so, simulations are performed using Aspen Plus under various conditions to derive an optimal value of H-2 output. The results indicate significant heterogeneity across districts and crop residues types. Therefore, the Geographic Information System (GIS) is used to draw the spatial distribution of optimal H-2 production across crops and districts. The simulated results reveal that Punjab province has the potential to produce 2619.90 x 10(3) Metric tons (MT)/year H-2, and the highest potential derives from sugarcane trash (1012.77 x 10(3) MT/year), followed by maize straw (433.67 x 10(3) MT/year). The estimated H-2 potential (2.62 million MT/year) can be used in industries, transportation, and urea production as a sustainable alternative in Pakistan. (C) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Graphene, the wonder material has brought a revolutionary change in the field of nanotechnology owing to its tremendous properties. Though different methods for the synthesis of graphene have been reported, the chemical synthesis route offers a scalable and high-volume production of graphene. The unreliability of graphite and hydrocarbon resources to serve as steady supplies of carbon resources and further in the synthesis of graphene has led to the exploration and use of alternative low-cost carbon-rich resources (coal, graphite, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, peanut shells, waste tyres, etc.) as precursors for graphene synthesis. The use of untraditional carbon resources reduces dependence on traditional resources (coal, graphite), reduced cost, increased reliability, and provides a way for the management of waste biomass. This review hence focuses on the synthesis of graphene by the most common approachable method, oxidation-reduction of graphite, along with the various other chemical methods of synthesis from varied carbon resources.
Three types of agricultural waste, citrus maxima peel (CM), passion fruit shell (PF) and sugarcane bagasse (SB), were used to produce biosorbents for removing the heavy metal ions of copper(II), cadmium(II), nickel(II) and lead(II) from a pH 5.0 solution. The properties of biosorbents were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential analyzer, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, elemental analyzer and tests of cation exchange capacity (CEC). The result indicated that the selected biosorbents possess rich carboxyl (COOH) and hydroxyl (OH) groups to produce a complexation with the heavy metals. Moreover, the negative surface charge of the biosorbent might adsorb the metal ions through the ion exchange. All of the adsorption isotherms indicated that L-type characters represented complexation and ion exchanges that were the adsorption mechanisms of biosorbents toward heavy metals. Biosorbents with higher oxygen content might generate high adsorption capacities. The adsorption capacities of CM and PF, estimated from the fitting to the Langmuir isotherm, are similar to those reported by others regarding biosorbents.
Agrowaste biochars {[
Organic xerogels were functionalized by incorporating sugarcane bagasse lignin from soda pulping black liquor, not used so far in this materials, with the aim of introducing new functional groups on traditional gels that could improve its adsorptive capacity. Two mixing designs were applied to identify the reactive combinations that allow a well gel formation and to adjust models that predict physical properties. The designs study five components: resorcinol (R, 0.04-0.3), lignin (L, 0.004-0.14), formaldehyde (F, 0.08-0.17), water (W, 0.45-0.8), and NaOH (C, 0.0003-0.0035). The first experimental design was an extreme vertices design and its results showed shrinkage between 4.3 and 59.7 and a bulk density from 0.54 to 1.3; a mass ratio LR/F near 1.5 was required for gel formation. In the second design a D-Optimal was used to achieve better adjusted coefficients and incorporate the largest possible amount of lignin in the gels. Bulk density varies from 0.42 to 0.9, shrinkage varies from 3.42 to 25.35, and specific surface area reaches values of 451.86m(2)/g with 13\% lignin and 270m(2)/g with 27\% lignin. High catalyst content improves lignin dissolution and increase shrinkage and bulk density of xerogels and bulk density. Lignin contributes to reducing shrinkage and specific surface area due to his compact and rigid structure.
Efforts to reduce pressure on use of wood in particleboard formulation have included the use of non-wood materials such as crop residues. Physical and mechanical properties are determined by the number of the hydroxyl (-OH) groups. Hydroxyl (-OH) groups attracts water molecules through hydrogen bonding affecting water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS). WA and TS affect curing process of adhesive. Curing process of adhesives affects the mechanical characteristics of formulated particleboards. These challenges have been acted upon continuously through research. This review paper presents crop residues used as alternative lignocellulose material source in particleboard formulation and the various advances that have been made to improve on the properties of the resultant particleboards. Improvement over time of the non-wood material in composite materials focusses on increasing water resistance and compatibility between lignocellulose and binder. Crop residues-based are used in making medium and low density particleboards. These boards have shown good mechanical characteristics which include modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE) and internal bonding (IB). MOR, MOE and IB have over time been improved by enhancing chemical compatibility of lignocellulose material and the binders. Water absorption and thickness swelling remain challenge. This review paper further explored various methods of improving water absorption and thickness swelling of crop-residue based particleboards.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the in situ degradation profiles of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of different forages using nylon (50 mu m), F57 (Ankom (R)) and non-woven textile (NWT - 100 g/m(2)) bags. Eight forage samples were used: sugarcane, corn silage, elephant grass cut at 50 and 250 days of regrowth, corn straw, signal grass hay, coast cross hay, and fresh alfalfa. Samples were incubated for 0, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, and 312 hours. Two bags of each textile were used at each incubation time, totaling 768 bags, using two crossbred Holstein x Zebu steers fitted with ruminal canullae. There was difference in the common rate of lag and degradation (lambda) of DM for all forages, except for sugarcane. In general, higher lambda estimates were obtained using nylon, followed by NWT and F57. Concerning NDF degradation profiles, differences in lambda were observed for all forages. Greater estimates were obtained using nylon. Degradation profiles of DM and NDF must not be evaluated using F57 and NWT. These textiles underestimate the degradation rate due to constraints regarding exchange between bags' content and rumen environment.
The distillery industry has tremendous contribution to the Indian economy. Nowadays poor grade rice grain is used as a raw material for alcohol production instead of sugarcane molasses due to its availability throughout the year. However, wastewater generated from the distillery industry creates a serious effect on humans, plants, and animals. The biodigester effluent (BDE) generated from the rice grain-based distillery industry has a high organic load in terms of the chemical oxygen demand (COD = 7,020 mg/dm3) and color appearance (color = 485 PCU). Present work is an attempt to treat BDE by using electrocoagulation (EC) and electrocoagulation followed by microfiltration (EC-MF) processes. The maximum COD removal of 98.6\% and color removal of 99.9\% were achieved by the EC-MF process at their optimum condition. On the other hand, maximum COD removal of 87\% and 80\% were achieved with individual EC and MF processes respectively. The zero discharge is the need of the distillery industry therefore the EC-MF process is well applicable to treat BDE.
Actual acid mine drainage (AMD) containing a high concentration of sulfate (similar to 1,000 mg center dot L-1), dissolved metals, uranium, rare earth elements and yttrium (REY) was treated using a down-flow fixed-structured bed biological reactor (DFSBR). The reactor was operated in a continuous flow mode for 175 days and the temperature was maintained at 30 degrees C. The synthetic AMD was gradually replaced by the actual AMD in 20, 50 and 75\% of the total medium volume. Sugarcane vinasse was used as the electron donor and the influent pH of the reactor was decreased from 6.9 to 4.6 until the system collapsed. REY elements and transition metals were removed from the actual AMD and precipitated in the down-flow fixed-structured bed reactor. Sulfate reduction achieved 67 +/- 22\% in Phase II and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was above 56\% in Phases I and II. Removal of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm and Y was higher than 70\% in both Phases II and III while Fe, Al, Si and Mn were removed with efficiencies of 79, 67, 48 and 25\%, respectively. The results highlighted the potential use of DFSBR in the treatment of AMD, providing possibilities for simultaneous sulfate reduction and metal and REY recovery in a single unit.
An efficient conversion of glucose and xylose is a requisite for a profitable process of bioethanol production from lignocellulose. Considering the approaches available for this conversion, co-culture is a simple process, employing two different organisms for the fermentation of the two sugars. An innovative fermentation scheme was designed, co-culturing immobilized Zymomonas mobilis and free cells of Pichia stipitis in a modified fermentor for the glucose and xylose fermentation, respectively. A sugar mixture of 30 g/l glucose and 20 g/l of xylose was completely converted to ethanol within 19 h. This gave a volumetric ethanol productivity of 1.277 g/l/h and an ethanol yield of 0.49-0.50 g/g, which is more than 96\% of the theoretical value. Extension of this fermentation scheme to sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate resulted in a complete sugar utilisation within 26 h; ethanol production peaked at 40 h with a yield of 0.49 g/g. These values are comparable to the best results reported. Cell interaction was observed between Z. mobilis and P. stipitis. Viable cells of Z. mobilis inhibited the cell activity of P. stipitis and the xylose fermentation. Z. mobilis showed evidence of utilising a source other than glucose for growth when co-cultured with P. stipitis. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The aim of the present study was to produce a microbial biosurfactant for use in the bioremediation of environments contaminated with petroleum products. Bacillus methylotrophicus was isolated from seawater taken from a port area and cultivated using industrial waste as substrate (corn steep liquor and sugarcane molasses {[
In the present study, the NO and N2O formation characteristics during combustion of five biomass fuels (rice straw, wheat straw, corn stalk, sugarcane leaf, and eucalyptus bark) and one bituminous coal, as a comparison, were investigated in a horizontal fixed-bed reactor. It showed that there was still a considerable degree of N2O conversion for biomass fuels, although NO was formed in a much larger amount. Most of NO and N2O were formed during the devolatilization stage for biomass fuels; therefore, optimizing the supply of air and fuel during biomass combustion in actual boilers can be expected to achieve ultralow emissions of nitrogen oxides. There was no clear correlation between the NO and N2O yields and fuel N content, which indicated that the nitrogen functionality and other components, such as inherent mineral matter, present in biomass must have great influence on the nitrogen transformation during thermal processing. When rice straw was co-fired with eucalyptus bark, nonlinear behavior could be seen and the fuel N conversion to NO was largely enhanced. In the temperature range of 700-900 degrees C, the fuel N conversion to NO first increased and then decreased slightly, while the conversion to N2O showed a continuous decreasing trend. The fuel N conversion to NO and N2O showed a general increasing trend with the increase of the inlet oxygen concentration, and this phenomenon was more obvious at higher temperatures. The results presented in this study will help to gain some insight onto the fundamental mechanism of fuel N conversion during biomass combustion.
A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the C-6-C(8)hydrocarbons in pyrolysis oil from catalytic upgrading of biomass-derived oxygenated pyrolysis vapour over the Ni-Ce/HZSM-5 catalyst via Box-Behnken design. The effect of operating factors such as pyrolysis reaction temperature, catalyst to biomass mass ratio, and nickel to cerium mass ratio on HZSM-5 was employed via in situ fixed bed reactor. The ANOVA results showed that the operating factors significantly affect the total contents of C-6-C(8)hydrocarbons in pyrolysis oil. The optimal conditions of factors within this study for the maximum contents of C-6-C(8)hydrocarbons in pyrolysis oil is attainable at a pyrolysis reaction temperature of 505 degrees C, catalyst to biomass mass ratio of 1.1:1.0, and nickel to cerium mass ratio of 3.14:2.86. The confirmation runs gave 8.83\% and 8.86\% of C-6-C(8)hydrocarbon contents (\%) in pyrolysis oil compared with 8.90\% of predicted value. The developed quadratic mathematical model is significant due to thePvalue < 0.05. In addition, all three factors individually influence the upgrading of oxygenated compounds into C-6-C(8)hydrocarbons due toPvalue < 0.05. The pyrolysis reaction temperature had the strongest effect on the content of C-6-C(8)hydrocarbons in pyrolysis oil due to higherFvalue than other factors.
Microbial contamination of the wort during the fermentation process causes significant losses in ethanol production worldwide and creates a dependence of the industry on chemicals and antibiotics to control contamination. Therefore, this study used electron beam (e-beam) to disinfect wort from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) molasses and investigate the bioethanol fermentation. Four treatments (T0 - T3) were carried out using ionizing doses of radiation through the electron accelerator: 0 (control), 10, 20, and 40 kGy. Total mesophiles, total bacteria, sucrose, glucose, fructose, phenolics, flavonoids, hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), and Furfural were measured. An alcoholic fermentation assay was performed after the irradiation process. The irradiated treatments showed no inversion of sugars and formation of the inhibitory by-products flavonoids, furfural and 5-HMF, except for the phenolic compounds. The lower dose tested (10 kGy) reduced more than 99.9 \% of the total mesophiles and more than 99.99 \% of the total bacteria in the substrate. In the fermentation, the irradiated worts presented similar (p > 0.05) yields (92, 93, and 94 \%) and ethanol productivity levels (0.89, 0.88, and 0.87 g L-1 h(-1), for T1, T2, and T3 respectively). However, all treatments presented higher yields and productivity (p < 0.05) when compared to the control (88 \% and 0.85 g L-1 h(-1)), highlighting the possible use of e-beam in wort fermentation at a lower dose (10 kGy). This allows reduction in losses caused by microbial contamination, besides increasing fermentation yield and productivity with lower energy consumption.
We hypothesized that antioxidants in organic amendments would control the rate of their decomposition in soil, such that those with more antioxidant capacity (AOC) would have slower rates of decomposition. This has been tested using materials from an incubation experiment, in which a Vertisol had been amended with a number of organic materials. Green waste compost, wheat straw, sugarcane trash and mineral fibre had been added to the soil and incubated for different periods of up to 84 days. Decomposition had been monitored by measuring cumulative carbon dioxide emissions. One and four m NaOH extracts of soil material from the experiment were analysed for their AOC by the Trolox equivalent method. The same method was used to characterize the organic amendments and the unamended soil. AOCs of the amendments were much greater than that of the soil and therefore we expected that the AOC of amended soils would be greater than the unamended control. However, this was not generally the case. A comparison of the AOC of amended soil measured after 7 days with that calculated from the components showed that the measured values of incubated amended soils were less than the calculated ones, particularly for wheat straw and sugarcane trash amendments. This suggests that some of the extractable antioxidants in the amendments were lost or transformed during the first 7 days of incubation. In the remainder of the incubation period there was a small increase in AOC with time in 4 m NaOH extracts of the amended soils, but this was not the case for 1 m NaOH extracts. There was some evidence that amendments with larger AOCs had slower rates of decomposition, especially during the first 7 days of the incubation. Other factors may have been responsible, but C:N ratio alone could not explain the differences. The results are encouraging, but more data are required to test our hypothesis thoroughly.
Bioethanol, as a sustainable fuel or as a precursor for high-value chemicals, may be produced through a variety process technologies, depending on the feedstock available. Thus, these processes are comprehensively evaluated to identify the most cost-effective process for a given feedstock, as well as cost reduction measures. Process designs for first (1G), second (2G) and third (3G) generation ethanol production were simulated in Aspen Plus (R) for technical evaluations, followed by economic modelling to determine the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP). 1G-ethanol from A-molasses at sugar mills was most cost-effective (MESP = 0.52 US\$/l). While the 1G2G option (using sugarcane lignocelluloses) produced 98\% more ethanol (MESP = 0.62 US\$/l), costs of enzymes were inhibitive. For 2G-ethanol using invasive alien plants, hydrolysis-fermentation had the lower MESP (0.72 US\$/l) compared to gasification-fermentation because the latter had comparatively high capital costs (i. e. 215 vs 135 million US\$). Energy self-sufficiency for 3G ethanol from off-gas decreased the ethanol yield (178 to 114 l/tonne) and increased the MESPs (0.61 to 0.87 US\$/l) compared to the buy-in of the required electricity. Similarly, for the gasification-fermentation scenario, a MESP of 1.58 US\$/l was required to obtain energy selfsufficiency. Energy self-sufficiency therefore increases process costs, but simultaneously abates the potential use of fossil fuels. Thus, it is worth pursing renewable electricity to meet process energy needs to improve ethanol yields and lower production costs. Furthermore, fermentation processes should be tailored to tolerate lower water quality requirements.
The synthesis and optimal design of batch plants is addressed in this study. It was applied to the technology of conventional ethanol production in a Cuban distillery using the product of enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated bagasse as another sugared substrate, starting from laboratory results. The optimal configuration of stages, the number of units in each stage, the unit sizes and minimum total production cost are obtained from the global optimization model and the proposed superstructure. This global model is a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) formulation, which is represented and resolved by the Professional Software, General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) version 23.5 applying DICOPT Solver. Different scenarios are analyzed: attaching pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of bagasse to a conventional distillery plant, selling ethanol, or selling the furfural as by-product if there is a guaranteed market. With this, an actual net present value (VNA) of USD 44'893 358.7 and 1.51 years of Payback Period (PP) are obtained.
Omega fatty acids have critical part in enhancing general health and protection against serious diseases. The present work showed the distinctive nutritional regimes on Chlorella vulgaris which resulted in switch of metabolic pathways that not only prompted the dry weight and lipid yield, but also upgraded the yield of special fatty acids, omega 3 and 9 fatty acids, which consequently improved the food quality for human and aqua-creatures. High biomass and lipid production were accomplished by either cultivating C. vulgaris at low nitrogen content medium and/or mixotrophic nutrition by glycerol or sugarcane molasses. Glycerol supplementation promoted the dry weight achieving 171\% at 0.1 M and 185\% at 0.2 M, while the highest total lipid yield (179\%) recorded at 0.1 M. GC-MS qualitative and quantitative analysis showed the high yield of alpha-Linolenic acid to 281\%, Eicosapentaenoic acid to 207\% at glycerol (0.1 M). Elaidic acid (C18:It omega 9) enhanced almost 14 times, while Erucic acid (C22:1 omega 9) enhanced to 256\% under glycerol supplementation to growth medium.
Commercial interest in plant cell wall degrading enzymes (PCWDE) is motivated by their potential for energy or bioproduct generation that reduced dependency on non-renewable (fossil-derived) feedstock. Therefore, underlying work analysed the Penicillium chrysogenum isolate for PCWDE production by employing different biomass as a carbon source. Among the produced enzymes, three xylanase isoforms were observed in the culture filtrate containing sugarcane bagasse. Xylanase (PcX1) presenting 35 kDa molecular mass was purified by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. Unfolding was probed and analysed using fluorescence, circular dichroism and enzyme assay methods. Secondary structure contents were estimated by circular dichroism 45\% alpha-helix and 10\% beta-sheet, consistent with the 3D structure predicted by homology. PcX1 optimally active at pH 5.0 and 30 degrees C, presenting t(1/2) 19 h at 30 degrees C and 6 h at 40 degrees C. Thermodynamic parameters/melting temperature 51.4 degrees C confirmed the PcX1 stability at pH 5.0. PcXI have a higher affinity for oat spelt xylan, K-M 41.2 mg.mL(-1) in comparison to birchwood xylan K-M 29.86 mg.mL(-1) activity was inhibited by Cu+2 and activated by Zn+2. PcXI exhibited significant tolerance for vanillin, trans-ferulic acid, rho-coumaric acid, syringaldehyde and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, activity slightly inhibited (17\%) by gallic and tannic acid. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Isoconversional kinetic method (model-free kinetics) was used in this study to determine the activation energies (E (a)) of the combustion process of five different biomass samples, namely pine sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, rice husk and tucum seeds, widely available in Brazil. Two different atmospheres with 20 \% O-2:N-2/O-2 (conventional combustion) and CO2/O-2 (typical oxy-fuel combustion) were studied. Thermogravimetric (TG) and derivative thermogravimetric (DTG) curves were used to obtain experimental data on the thermal degradation behavior of the biomasses, and the activation energy values were obtained for hemicellulose, cellulose and residual lignin separately. The results show that the E (a) obtained for N-2/O-2 ranged from 68 to 236 kJ mol(-1) for hemicellulose, 119 to 209 kJ mol(-1) for cellulose and 87 to 205 kJ mol(-1) for residual lignin, depending on the type of biomass. Under CO2/O-2 atmosphere, E (a) showed decreases, in average, 35 \% for hemicellulose and 26 \% for cellulose, in comparison with N-2/O-2 atmosphere. However, a 6 \% increase was observed for the residual lignin. These changes can be understood by differences between CO2 and N-2 gas properties. However, the results show that the variation in the E (a) is more dependent on the type of biomass than on the atmosphere at which the combustion takes place.
Chemical fertilizers impart deleterious effects on crop productivity and its nutrients which is a serious concern among agriculturist. Current research focuses on the commercial preparation of an eco-friendly and cost-effective bioformulation using buffalo dung slurry and beneficial plant growth-promoting (PGP) and biofilm forming strains. 40 strains were isolated from buffalo dung showing PGP activities. Among them, 03 strains were further selected to sequence by 16S rRNA technology and identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa BUFF12, Proteus mirabilis BUFF14, Enterobacter xiangfangensis BUFF38. The strains were used for consortium preparation on the basis of increase in PGP activity. The consortium of strains increases in vitro PGP attributes at different percentage, i.e., 22\% increase in IAA production, 10\% increase in siderophore production, 5\% increase in P- solubilization, 8\% increase in K- solubilization, and 11\% increase in S-oxidation. Three carrier materials, i.e., molasses of sugarcane, rice gruel, and buffalo dung slurry, were chosen to conduct the study. Among them, dung slurry proved to be an effective supportive material on the basis of their physico-chemical analysis and viability of strains for long-term storage. It maintained the population mixture of strains (9.4 x 10(8) cfu/ml) for 120 DAI followed by molasses (9.1 x 10(8) cfu/ml) and rice gruel (7.9 x 10(8) cfu/ml). These beneficial strains were further applied in field for crop productivity and slurry-based formulation with mixture of strains exhibited incredible plant growth after definite interval of time. Chemotactic activity proved these strains as strong root colonizers which was confirmed by Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM). This research disseminates a successful technology to develop an eco-friendly bioformulation of buffalo dung slurry augmenting the crop growth in an eco-friendly manner leading to sustainable agriculture.
Agroforestry industries, such as sugar-alcohol, food, and logging, produce large quantities of waste, used to generate energy from direct burning. The application of other processes, such as torrefaction and briquetting, can increase the profits from the use of agro-industrial waste for energy generation. Briquetting is an alternative for using these wastes, allowing the compaction of the biomass, generating a biofuel with high energy density, and which is more homogeneous and easier to store and transport. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of four biomass types (wastes from sawed eucalypt and pine wood, coffee pruning wastes, and sugarcane bagasse) torrefied at 300 degrees C and compacted (briquetting) at pressures of 6.21, 8.27, and 10.34 MPa. The torrefaction increased the fixed carbon content, ash, and calorific value, and reduced the volatile material content and hygroscopic equilibrium moisture of the biomasses. The volatile material content was lower and the fixed carbon higher in the coffee pruning waste, the ash content higher in the sugarcane bagasse, and the calorific value higher in the pine and eucalypt wood. The briquetting and the torrefaction processes increased the biomass bulk density, and the useful calorific value, respectively, and consequently the energy density of the briquettes produced with torrefied raw material under high pressure. The mechanical properties of the briquettes produced with all materials increased with the compaction pressure. Torrefaction and briquetting increased the energy potential of the biomasses evaluated to produce energy from clean technology.
BACKGROUND Appropriate pretreatment strategies that fractionate sugarcane bagasse (SB) are essential for the successful use of this feedstock in ethanol production. In this paper, we investigate a purely enzymatic process to achieve increased production of reducing sugars (RS) from SB in the presence of MgO nanoparticles (MgN) subjected to a three-step sequential enzyme treatment. RESULT Pretreatment of SB with protease activated by magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgN-pro) at 95 degrees C showed an increase in amino acid production by 6.18-fold compared to the untreated enzyme set at the same temperature. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) studies showed an 18-fold removal of lignin from the samples subjected to protease (+ MgN) treatment compared to untreated samples. When the MgN-pro pretreated samples were subjected to pretreatment with xylanase activated by magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgN-xyl), more than 30-fold increased RS was produced at 8 degrees C compared to cellulase (cel) pretreated samples. Xylanase pretreated SB samples produced 1.82- and 1.91-fold increased reducing sugar and glucose respectively at 8 degrees C in the presence of MgN compared to untreated samples at the same temperature. CONCLUSION The results presented here show the efficiency of the proposed method for improving the enzymatic digestibility of SB and explain the pretreatment action mechanism. These findings have potential implications in bio-ethanol, bio-fuel, and agro industries. (c) 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Saccharum spontaneum is a wasteland weed consists of 45.10 +/- 0.35\% cellulose and 22.75 +/- 0.28\% of hemicellulose on dry solid (DS) basis. Aqueous ammonia delignified S. spontaneum yielded total reducing sugars, 53.91 +/- 0.44 g/L (539.10 +/- 0.55 mg/g of substrate) with a hydrolytic efficiency of 77.85 +/- 0.45\%. The enzymes required for hydrolysis were prepared from culture supernatants of Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 1846. A maximum of 0.85 +/- 0.07 IU/mL of filter paperase (FPase), 1.25 +/- 0.04 IU/mL of carboxy methyl cellulase (CMCase) and 55.56 +/- 0.52 IU/mL of xylanase activity was obtained after 7 days of incubation at 28 +/- 0.5 degrees C using delignified S. spontaneum as carbon source under submerged fermentation conditions. Enzymatic hydrolysate of S. spontaneum was then tested for ethanol production under batch and repeated batch production system using ``in-situ{''
The Brazilian energy matrix has 43.5\% of renewable sources, a higher value than registered in the rest of the world (14\%). The sugarcane bagasse used in sugarcane plants underlines the importance of this, which is the second-largest renewable source (17\%) in this market segmentation, however, the installed systems could be better used in the offseason with alternative crops such as biomass sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench), which has a low production cost, short cycle, and high biomass yield. However, this alternative has shown a drawback: the presence of chloride in the biomass, which at the high temperature promotes corrosion of the boilers. Thus, the influence of different potassium fertilization and the harvest times of biomass sorghum on chloride levels in the final biomass were evaluated. The experiment was carried out in the state of Sao Paulo (Brazil), on the 2015/2016 harvest, using the Palo Alto (R) hybrid. A randomized block design with 4 replications was used, with 3 treatments for potassium sources (KCl, K2SO4, KNO3) in fertilization and 4 treatments related to harvest times (pre-flowering, flowering, milk grain, hard grain) in a factorial scheme. The results showed that the sources of fertilization do not affect productivity, however, when using KCl there are higher levels of chloride in the final biomass, therefore potassium sulfate or nitrate are better alternatives. The time with the lowest chloride level in the biomass is in the milk grain stage, positively correlating with the time of the highest dry matter production per hectare (38.35 Mg ha(-1)).
Thermoactinomyces thalophilus produced cellulase free extracellular endo-1,4-beta -xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) at 50 degreesC and pH 8.5. Maximum xylanase production was thieved in fermentation medium using birchwood xylan as substrate after 96 h of growth at 50 degreesC. Other agricultural substrates such as wheat bran, wheat straw, sugarcane bagnsse and cornstover produced less xylanase, The crude enzyme preparation from mutant T. thalophilus P2 grown under optimised fermentation conditions showed no cellulase contamination and maximum xylanase activity of 42 U/ml at 65 degreesC and pH 8.5-9.0. This enzyme with initial sylanase activity of 42 U/ml was found thermostable up to 65 degreesC and retaining 50\% of its activity after its incubation for 125 min at 65 degreesC. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
The present study evaluated the lethal toxicity and oviposition deterrence of ethanolic extracts of Annona mucosa Jacq., Annona muricata L., and Annona sylvatica A. St.-Hil on Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) compared with those of a limonoid-based bioinsecticide (Azamax (TM) 1.2 EC-azadiractin +3-tigloyl-azadiractol) and a synthetic spinosyn-based insecticide (Delegate (TM) 250 WG-spinetoram). In addition, the efficacy of the selected toxic bait formulations was evaluated by mixing them with food attractants (Anamed (TM), 3\% Biofruit and 7\% sugarcane molasses). In the topical application and ingestion bioassays (2000 mg L-1), the aqueous emulsion of the A. mucosa extract caused greater than 80\% mortality of A. fraterculus adults in a similar manner to the spinosyn-based synthetic insecticide. Concentration-response curves were performed for the most promising treatments and showed an activity level dependent on the mode of contamination, exposure time, and applied concentration. In bioassays with and without choice, the A. mucosa (77\%), A. muricata (51\%), A. sylvatica (60\%), Azamax (TM) (74\%), and Delegate (TM) 250 WG (100\%) significantly reduced the number of punctures and galleries in grape berries. In combination with the food attractants Anamed (TM), 3\% Biofruit, and 7\% sugarcane molasses, the emulsion of the A. mucosa extract had a residual effect similar to that of the spinetoram insecticide, with a mortality rate of over 80\% of A. fraterculus adults up to 14 days after application (DAA) in the absence of rain. Thus, acetogenin-rich formulations, especially from A. mucosa seeds, are useful alternatives for the integrated management of A. fraterculus in agricultural orchards.
Dilute acid (DA) pretreatment results in the formation of inhibitory compounds and pseudo-lignin along with the burden of unnecessary materials like ash, extractive, lignin or their condensed products that reduces the conversion efficiency of cellulose to monomeric sugar. Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) has developed a modified pretreatment (MP) in order to reduce the enzyme dosage during ethanol production. This method uses extraction of biomass in water and varying alkali concentration of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.5\%, prior to pretreatment as a strategy to reduce the enzyme dosage and improve the ethanol yield. The environmental and economic impact of these MP scenarios in comparison with conventional pretreatment (CP) is studied. The ethanol production increases from 218 to 267 L using MP. The introduction of extraction step prior to DA pretreatment fulfills the objective of reducing enzyme dosage by 23-39\%. However, overall life cycle assessment (LCA) results revealed that performance of MP2, MP3 and MP4 is on a negative side in all the environmental impact categories as compared to CP due to the use of alkali, where a huge amount of emissions are released during the production stage. Overall, MP1 using water as a media for extraction is the most environmentally suitable pretreatment process for ethanol production. Life cycle costing (LCC) results showed that cost of 1 L ethanol production could be lowered down from 0.87 to 0.70 United States Dollar (USD) using MP1 scenario. From an environment and economic perspective, it is recommended to use only water as an extraction media for biomass, as this can reduce the enzyme dosage, emissions and cost. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
SO2 ethanol water (SEW) and SO2 isopropanol water (SPW) spent liquors are obtained by fractionating sugarcane straw. The SEW and SPW liquors contain significant amounts of chemically bound xylose as ethyl xylosides (EX) and isopropyl xylosides (PX) respectively. The liquors are subjected to a constant temperature heat treatment to hydrolyze the alkyl xylosides to allow full recovery of xylose and alcohol. Complete hydrolysis of EX and PX is achieved at 121 degrees C in 70 and 30 min, respectively. The first-order kinetics of EX and PX hydrolysis are determined at temperatures from 100 to 121 degrees C. At full hydrolysis of the alkyl xylosides, the quantity of alcohol produced is greater than stoichiometric. Other sources of covalently bound alcohols in the spent liquors are identified to explain the excess alcohol produced.
Agricultural by-products, rice straw, wheat bran juice, and soybean residue, were used as substrates for cellulase production using Rhizopus stolonifer var. reflexus TP-02. The culture medium was optimized though uniform design experimentation during shaking flask fermentation, and the ideal formulation obtained for filter paper enzyme (FPase) production was 10 \% bran diffusion juice, 1 \% rice straw, 0.17 \% urea, 0.17 \% soybean residue, 0.11 \% KH2PO4, and 0.027 \% Tween 80, and the maximal FPase activity in the culture supernatant was 13.16 U/mL at an incubation time of 3 days. A kinetic model for cellulase production in batch fermentation was subsequently developed. The unstructured kinetic model considered three responses, namely biomass, cellulase, and sugar. Models for the production of three types of cellulase components (i.e., endoglucanases, cellobiohydrolases, and beta-glucosidases) were established to adequately describe the cellulase production pattern. It was found that the models fitted the experimental data well under pH 5.0 and 6.0, but only the avicelase production model predicted the experimental data under pH-uncontrolled conditions.
Boiler ash is a second layer by-product of the combustion of fuel, usually an agro-waste, in any industry. In the sugarcane industry, boiler ash is obtained from the combustion of bagasse. The boiler ash of the sugarcane industry contains 49.69\% silica, which can be transformed into nano-silica using the precipitation method, which is easier and cheaper than other methods. Precipitation pH and aging time are the main factors that influence nano-silica's characteristics. The objectives of this research were to determine the effect of various precipitation pH levels and aging times on the characteristics of nano-silica and to identify the potential applications of nano-silica based on these characteristics. An increase in precipitation pH affected the number of the crystal phase and the intensity of the diffraction peaks. An increase in aging time also affected the intensity of the diffraction peaks and the number of crystal phases. The degree of crystallinity varied from 66.40\% to 93.53\%, the crystal size ranged from 37.77 nm to 56.87 nm, the particle size ranged from 214.04 nm to 698.24 nm, and the polydispersity index (PDI) ranged from 0.21 to 0.83. The nano-silica in this research had polygonal morphology. Increases in precipitation pH and aging time increased the number of siloxane groups, creating nano-silica dominated by a crystalline form with three crystal phases: tridymite, quartz, and cristobalite. Nano-silica have various potential applications based on their characteristics, including as filler for membranes, composite resin, rubber airbags, and supplementary cementitious material.
Biochar application variably affects nutrients availability, growth, and yield of crop plants based on their feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of biochars prepared from three different feed stocks viz. sugarcane filter cake (SF-BC), farmyard manure (FM-BC), and rice husk (RH-BC), on the availability of the plant nutrients in soil and the growth and nutrient uptake by maize crop (Zea mays L.). The biochars were applied separately to the soil at the rate of 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1\% separately, and the experiment was laid out according to two-factor factorial completely randomized design (CRD) maintaining three replications. Maize variety Monsanto-DK8031 was sown as the test crop. The concentration of total nitrogen (N), nitrate (NO3-N), ammonium (NH4-N), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), Olsen phosphorus (P), and extractable K increased with the addition of FM-BC, while the SF-BC increased soil microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) and micronutrients (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe) availability in the soil. Moreover, the biochar application significantly improved crop growth parameters (i.e., plant height, fresh plant weight and dry biomass) and also increased plant nutrient concentration and uptake. No negative impact of biochar was observed on plant growth or nutrients concentration. The macronutrient (total N, P, and K) contents and their uptakes were higher in plants grown with RH-BC, while the micronutrient (Mn, Cu, and Fe) contents were higher in plants grown with SF-BC. Biochar as an organic amendment has a great potential to improve soil fertility status and nutrients availability to crop plants in tropical alkaline soils; however, the effectiveness varies with the feed stock type and application rate.
Sugarcane molasses is the main source for ethanol production in India. Sweet sorghum with its juicy stem containing sugars equivalent to that of sugarcane is a very good alternative for bio-ethanol production to meet the energy needs of the country. Sweet sorghum is drought resistant, water logging resistant and saline-alkaline tolerant. Growing sweet sorghum for ethanol production is relatively easy and economical and ethanol produced from sweet sorghum is eco-friendly. In view of this, it is important to identify superior genotypes for ethanol production in terms of percent juice brix, juice extractability, total fermentable sugars, ethanol yield and fermentation efficiency. This paper presents the study on the variability observed for the production of ethanol by various sweet sorghum genotypes in a laboratory fermentor. Five Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) genotypes were evaluated for ethanol production from stalk juice (Keller, SSV 84, Wray, NSSH 104 and BJ 248). Sweet sorghum juice differs from cane juice mainly in its higher content of starch and aconitic acid. Data were collected for biomass yield; stalk sugar yield and ethanol production in five genotypes. Maximum ethanol production of 9.0\%w/v ethanol was obtained with Keller variety (20\% sugar concentration was used), and decreased for other genotypes. A distiller's strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (gifted by Seagram Distilleries Ltd.) was employed for fermentation. The fermentation efficiency (FE) was 94.7\% for this strain. High biomass of yeast was obtained with BJ 248 variety. When the similar experiments were conducted with unsterile sweet sorghum juice (15\% sugar concentration) 6.47\%w/v ethanol was produced. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The activation of biomass using solid-phase reagents has been widely adopted to produce porous carbons. This approach, however, has remained without any improvement for decades. In the current work, we detail a simple activation and purification method where a silica-rich biomass waste (sugar press-mud, SPM) is sono-impregnated and fractionated with an alkaline solution. Upon heat-treatment, the fractionated alkali-soluble matter, which accounts for around 53 wt\% of the dry SPM, results in a reasonable yield of carbon with a distinct texture of an interconnected porous structure with a high surface area of 2,066 m(2).g(-1) and large pore-size-distribution. The impedance spectroscopy showed that the resulting carbon has an enhanced electrochemical response and less ionic diffusion-induced ohmic losses compared to that of a typical activated carbon due to its large pore-channels and enhanced ion-in-pore admittance. The ash content (mainly silica) in the final product was found to be less than expected. By tracking silica throughout the activation process, the reduction of ash content was assigned to the silica attack reactions. In these reactions, silica is transformed into water-soluble and/or low boiling point potassium silicates which facilitates its deportment from the final product resulting in a high-porosity and purity carbon.
The main goal of the present work was to develop a value-added product of biodegradable material for sustainable packaging. The use of agriculture waste-derived carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) mainly is to reduce the cost involved in the development of the film, at present commercially available CMS is costly. The main focus of the research is to translate the agricultural waste-derived CMC to useful biodegradable polymer suitable for packaging material. During this process CMC was extracted from the agricultural waste mainly sugar cane bagasse and the blends were prepared using CMC (waste derived), gelatin, agar and varied concentrations of glycerol; 1.5\% (sample A), 2\% (sample B), and 2.5\% (sample C) was added. Thus, the film derived from the sample C (gelatin+CMC+agar) with 2.0\% glycerol as a plasticizer exhibited excellent properties than other samples A and B. The physiochemical properties of each developed biodegradable plastics (sample A, B, C) were characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling test, solubility in different solvents, oil permeability coefficient, water permeability (WP), mechanical strength of the produced material was claimed to be a good material for packaging and meanwhile its biodegradability (soil burial method) indicated their environmental compatibility nature and commercial properties. The reflected work is a novel approach, and which is vital in the conversion of organic waste to value-added product development. There is also another way to utilize commercial CMC in preparation of polymeric blends for the packaging material, which can save considerable time involved in the recovery of CMC from sugarcane bagasse.
In order to ascertain the effects of supplementation of a blend of ajwain (Trachyspermum ammi) oil and nitrate on rumen fermentation and microbial profile, three rumen-fistulated buffaloes were used in a 3x3 switch over design. The dietary treatments involved feeding of a basal diet alone without additive (Control) or the same supplemented with a mixture of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate (1:1), replacing 15\% basal diet CP, along with ajwain oil at 0.75 (T1) and 1.5 (T2) ml/100 kg BW. Further, in vitro gas production test was carried out using the inoculum form thethree groups of buffaloes taking different hays (maize, oat and berseem), straws (wheat straw, paddy straw and sugarcane bagasse) and total mixed rations (TMRs) with different concentrate: wheat straw ratio namely, 20:80, 35:65 and 50:50, as substrates namely. The rumen fermentation parameters, as well as the rumen microbial profile, were similar (P>0.05) in all the three groups. In vitro methane production was decreased by 21.6, 28.39, and 16.5 per cent in hays, straws and TMRs, respectively, with the inocula of T2 animals than control. The in vitro true digestibility was higher in case of TMRs as the substrate with the inocula of T1 and T2 animals as compared to control. It is concluded that the blend of ajwain oil and nitrate tested may be tested further as a potential feed supplement for methane mitigation from livestock maintained on fibrous diet as it decreased methane production with an improvement in feed digestibility and without any adverse effect on rumen microbial fermentation and microbial profile.
Recent years have seen an increase in the use of lignocellulosic materials in the development of bioproducts. Because sisal fiber is a low cost raw material and is readily available, this work aimed to evaluate its hemicellulose fraction for the simultaneous production of xylitol and ethanol. The sisal fiber presented a higher hemicellulose content than other frequently-employed biomasses, such as sugarcane bagasse. A pretreatment with dilute acid and low temperatures was conducted in order to obtain the hemicellulose fraction. The highest xylose contents (0.132 g.g(-1) of sisal fiber) were obtained at 120 degrees C with 2.5\% (v/v) of sulfuric acid. The yeast Candida tropicalis CCT 1516 was used in the fermentation. In the sisal fiber hemicellulose hydrolysate, the maximum production of xylitol (0.32 g.g(-1) ) and of ethanol (0.27 g.g(-1) ) was achieved in 60 h. Thus, sisal fiber presents as a potential biomass for the production of ethanol and xylitol, creating value with the use of hemicellulosic liquor without detoxification and without the additional steps of alkaline pretreatment.
The mass rearing of the screwworm fly, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), for programs that integrate the Sterile Insect Technique in the Americas is part of one of the largest insect mass rearing programs in the world. Most of the cost and labor required in mass rearing systems is related to the larval diet, what enhances the relevance of the constant development of novel diets taking into account their effectiveness, cost and practicability. In this research, two bioassays with alternative diets made using local products were performed in order to evaluate the feasibility and efficiency of these diets for screwworm rearing in Brazil. Two liquid diets (having sugarcane bagasse or coconut fiber as bulking agents), a meat diet, and a gelled diet were tested. The biological parameters evaluated (larval weight, larval viability, pupal weight, adult emergence, and sex ratio) were satisfactory according to mass rearing standards and the diets did not differ statistically (P > 0.05). Due to its higher number of advantages, as high larval viability and lower cost, the gelled diet developed is recommended for screwworm larvae rearing in Brazil.
Silica has drawn the attention of many researchers from all over the world owing to its excellent biological, mechanical, and physiochemical properties. Different synthetic routes, reagents, characterization techniques, and applications of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) are discussed in this review article. A detailed discussion on sol-gel, ultrasonication, chemical precipitation, and hydrothermal route is presented. Biological synthesis of SiO2 NPs from bamboo leaves, rice husk, and sugarcane bagasse is also focused. Different characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are discussed in detail. A study on SiO2 NPs conjugated with metallic oxides and polymers is also discussed. Being important materials with a wide variety and novel applications, these conjugates are used in agriculture, mechanical engineering, material science, electronics, and biomedical engineering. However, greater emphasis has been laid on biomedical aspects, including antibacterial applications and drug delivery along with its cytotoxic properties. The review article reflects that SiO2 NPs are potential candidates for several biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility and appreciable biological activity.
Arabinoxylan (AX) was extracted from sugarcane bagasse and modified through crosslinking with glutaraldehyde (GA). The effects of crosslinking degree on the rheological and coating properties of glutaraldehyde crosslinked arabinoxylan (GAX) were investigated. To better evaluate the degree of crosslinking, the crosslink index was used to represent the degree of crosslinking for the GAX in this study. The viscosity of the GAX solution increased when the degree of crosslinking increased, and the solution demonstrated non-Newtonian flow behavior. A high degree of crosslinking was detrimental to the film and coating properties of the GAX. At an optimum degree of crosslinking, the tensile strength of the GAX films increased by approximately 170\% and 60\% compared with that of the AX and GAX with the highest degree of crosslinking, respectively; the tensile strength of the GAX-coated paper increased by approximately 15\% compared with that of the GAX with the highest degree of crosslinking. When calcium carbonate was mixed with the paper coating adhesives, the GAX showed comparable coating properties to that of polyvinyl alcohol, demonstrating its potential to substitute petroleum-based paper coating adhesives.
It is difficult to separate industrial growth from environmental pollution but it can be minimised through cost-effective approaches of pollution abatement. To reach the full objectives of zero pollution, adoption of alternative technologies which suit the situation of low capital availability, minimum man-power and limited energy consumption are necessary. Adsorption through agricultural products such as rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, soybean hulls, saw dust, coconut shell, groundnut shell, apple-waste, fly-ash etc., has been demonstrated to be a useful alternative to the conventional treatment systems for the removal of toxic metals such as dyes/ colour, chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), etc., from aqueous solution., It could be considered as an eco-friendly device to the existing relatively more expensive treatment technologies. Various biological species such as algae, fungi and bacteria were found to be in extensive use for the removal of contaminants. In this review, an extensive list of sorbents literature has been compiled to provide a summary of available information on a wide range of potentially low-cost non-conventional sorbents and their effectiveness.
The powder of green coconut shell (Coco nuscifera L) was chemically modified and used to remove inorganic anions from aqueous solution through batch process. The solid was modified with ammonium quaternary salt (2-hidroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride) and characterized by a full factorial design. The FTIR, elemental analysis, SEM and X-ray measurements were performed. FTIR analysis indicated that the coconut bagasse interacted with NH2 groups of the surfactant. Initial anion concentration, pH and adsorbent dosage were investigated in this study, as well as the kinetics of adsorption and isotherms for the modified coconut bagasse. Kinetics of adsorption was examined by means of three kinetic models, i.e., pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion models. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model showed good agreement with the experimental data. Data on equilibrium were evaluated by using Langmuir, Freundlich, SIPS, Redlich-Peterson, Temkin models. It was observed that the experimental data fits well to Langmuir, SIPS, and Redlich-Peterson equations. The results indicated that the modified coconut powder exhibited potential application for removal of nitrate, sulfate and phosphate from aqueous solutions. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This study presents an integrative design of experiment (intDoE) methodology for process optimization using a combination of experimental design, process flowsheet simulation, and economic model. This multilayered framework was implemented to simulate and optimize a simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation (SSF) process of sugarcane bagasse to ethanol for improving process economic efficiency. Using intDoE based on product titer and economic profit criteria, the SSF process was designed for operation at optimal xylanase/cellulases enzymes, optimal Scheffersomyces stipitis/Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells, and optimal oxygen supply to maximize ethanol titer and to minimize ethanol selling price. The optimal SSF process achieved an ethanol titer of 81.5 g/L, equivalent to the minimal ethanol selling price of 1.4 USD/gal. The results proved the efficiency of intDoE approach that permitted the design and optimizing of fully integrated processes which was not considered by the traditional design of experiment methods. Hence, this novel intDoE optimization tool is useful for bioprocess design in which the integrated process simulation can be performed to select the optimal operating conditions for maximized production efficiency and process economy.
This work presents the ethanol production results using three sweet sorghum cultivars. The sugar rich juice was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coil. The residual bagasse was further pretreated by dilute phosphoric acid steam explosion. The resulting slurry was submitted to Liquefaction plus Simultaneous Saccharification and co-Fermentation (L + SScF) process using Novozymes Cellic CTec3 enzymes and an engineered ethanologenic E. colt strain. Results show a sugar concentration in the juice ranging from 140 to 170 g/L, which were almost completely converted into ethanol by yeast. Concerning the L + SScF, the final ethanol concentration produced increased with enzyme dosage, with little difference among all three sorghum cultivars, reaching up to 27.5 g EtOH/L at enzyme concentrations of 11.5 FPU/gDW. Considering the ethanol produced from juice and from Sweet Sorghum Bagasse (SSB), there is a potential of producing up to 10,600 L of ethanol per hectare, improving on the values reported for corn ethanol.
The combustion behaviors of four different pulverized biomasses were evaluated in the laboratory. Single particles of sugarcane bagasse, pine sawdust, torrefied pine sawdust and olive residue were burned in a drop-tube furnace, set at 1400 K, in both air and O-2/CO2 atmospheres containing 21, 30, 35, and 50\% oxygen mole fractions. High-speed and high-resolution images of single particles were recorded cinematographically and temperature time histories were obtained pyrometrically. Combustion of these particles took place in two phases. Initially, volatiles evolved and burned in spherical envelope flames of low-luminosity; then, upon extinction of these flames, char residues ignited and burned in brief periods of time. This behavior was shared by all four biomasses of this study, and only small differences among them were evident based on their origin, type and pre-treatment. Volatile flames of biomass particles were much less sooty than those of previously burned coal particles of analogous size and char combustion durations were briefer. Replacing the background N-2 gas with CO2, i.e., changing from air to an oxy-fuel atmosphere, at 21\% O-2 impaired the intensity of combustion; reduced the combustion temperatures and lengthened the burnout times of the biomass particles. Increasing the oxygen mole fraction in CO2 to 28-35\% restored the combustion intensity of the single biomass particles to that in air. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An efficient system for hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials to prepare reducing sugar in a series of functional acidic ionic liquids with low synthetic cost and excellent dissolved and catalytic activity was established. High yield of reducing sugar was obtained with the use of 1-H-3-methylimidazolium chloride ({[
Levan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide, found in many microorganisms and plants. The polymer is composed of fructose molecules. Food processing industries generate a lot of sugar rich waste consisting of different fruit peels that could be used for levan biosynthesis of levan. The present research presents levan production by Bacillus subtillis via solid state fermentation (SSF) using various sucrose-rich fruit peels. Peels of mango, banana, apple, and sugarcane bagasse were screened and maximum levan yield (1.87 mg/g) was found with mango peels after 24 h at pH 7 and 30 degrees C. Levan production from mango peel was further optimized for physical parameters using central composite design (CCD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum levan yield (7.586 mg/g) from mango peels was achieved at 120 h incubation, 60\% moisture content, 7 pH, and 32 degrees C. The functional groups of levan were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Sugar content was done by HPLC analysis, which confirmed levan has only fructose sugar. Mango peel could be a potential source for levan production.
A comprehensive analysis on the effect that fine fraction of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) aggregates can produce on the fresh properties, strength, and durability characteristics of cementitious mixtures-that is, mortar and concrete-when used as partial or full replacement of natural fine aggregates (NA) is represented in this study. The replacements of NA were done by volume at 25, 50, 75, and 100\% catering to the difference in specific gravity between the aggregates. The cement was also partially replaced by volume using silica fume and activated sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). To achieve this objective, effect of RAP aggregates was studied in both mortar and concrete. Although recycling is not a novel concept, altering the conventional mixture design and testing methodology whilst using RAP aggregates were looked into. The application of this study was focused upon rigid pavements, where flexural strength is of great importance. The mixtures considered did achieve the design flexural strength and protected the reinforcement from corrosion due to basic pH and absence of carbonation.
Selective surfaces have the function of absorbing strongly the sunlight, while ideally losing little heat to the environment via convection and radiation. The present study sought to obtain a selective surface of black chromium coated with an antireflective (AR) layer based on sugarcane bagasse ash using copper as a substrate. From this selective surface the electrodeposition parameters (time, working distance, voltage) as well as the surface behavior were analyzed in order to determine if the AR layer provided an increase in the absorption levels of the film. By means of the present study it was possible to conclude that, in terms of the electrodeposition parameters evaluated, the anode-cathode distance of 5 cm stimulated the obtaining of higher levels of absorption. The addition of the antireflective layer on the black chromium films favored the increase of the absortance average in all the adopted parameter sets, besides reducing the standard deviation around the average. As for the microstructure of the obtained films, the increase of the parameter Ra promoted the increase of the absorption, due to the formation of optical traps.
There are currently many issues concerning the shortage of rainfall, one being the low production of hydroelectric power and the consequent rise in electricity rates. Farmers are directly affected, since such variation causes higher production costs. One way out for farmers is to use the waste derived from agricultural and livestock activities to produce biogas with biodigesters, and generate power. In addition to the benefit of biogas and energy, the use of residue from biodigesters promotes rural sanitation and produces a high quality biofertilizer. This work is a regression study with the Boltzmann sigmoid, the Gompertz and the Logistic non-linear models using data from a project developed by Sousa (2014), with the objective of verifying which non-linear regression model better fits the accumulated production of biogas from batch biodigesters, with diluted material from swine deep bedding prepared with wood shavings and sugarcane bagasse, and only with wood shavings. It was verified that the Boltzmann sigmoid non-linear model is superior to the other models and, consequently, more efficient for measuring the production of biogas and electric power.
The development of a cost-effective microwave absorber with wide bandwidth corresponding to reflection loss (RL) <= -10 dB is still a very challenging task. A sugarcane bagasse-based agricultural waste composite has been analyzed for its elemental contents. The combination of elements is suitable for its possible usage as a cost-effective microwave absorbing material. Therefore, this composite has been subjected to morphological and electromagnetic studies to analyze its microwave absorbing behavior. The frequency dependent complex dielectric permittivity and complex magnetic permeability values were obtained using a transmission/reflection waveguide approach in the X-band. Furthermore, the effect of the Minkowski loop frequency selective surface (FSS) was studied over the absorption capability of the composite. It was found that the application of FSS leads to a reduction in thickness up to 2.9 mm and an enhancement in absorption bandwidth up to 3.6 GHz. The FSS patterned composite shows a remarkable performance with peak RL of -28.4 dB at 10.7 GHz and absorption bandwidth of 3.6 GHz.
Regenerated cellulose obtained from sugarcane bagasse was used for hydrogel preparation using epichlorohydrin (crosslinker) and green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) which were phytosynthesised from musk melon seed extract. The synthesised ZNPs were characterised using FESEM and EDAX. The swelling capacity of the hydrogel was determined by swelling measurements. For drug delivery studies from hydrogel, curcumin was selected as the model drug for its appealing anticancer and antimicrobial activity. The presence of ZNPs and curcumin in the hybrid hydrogel was analysed using FTIR, XRD, TGA and SEM analysis. The drug loading efficiency was optimised by Taguchi method. The drug release studies were performed under varying pH and initial drug loading concentration. The kinetic studies showed the best fit with case II type of transport with polymer swelling as the drug release mechanism. Antimicrobial activity for curcumin loaded hybrid hydrogel and pure cellulose hydrogel was performed using Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria) and Trichophyton rubrum (fungi). Thus, the developed curcumin loaded biomass derived hybrid hydrogel could find potential application towards skin infective applications.
The production of an alkali-stable xylanase, with dual pH optima, from haloalkalophilic Staphylococcus sp. SG-13 has been enhanced using agro-residues in submerged fermentation and a biphasic growth system. The agro-residues such as wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse, corncobs and poplar wood when used as sole carbon source, improved the xylanase yield by five-fold as compared to xylose and xylan. Staphylococcus sp. SG-13 also produced equally good amounts of xylanase when grown simply in deionized water (pH 8.0) supplemented with agro-residues as sole carbon source. In the biphasic growth system (lower layer containing agricultural residue set in agar medium with liquid medium above it), the prime substrate, wheat bran (1\% w/v), resulted in maximum xylanase production of 4525 U l(-1) (pH 7.5) and 4540 U l(-1) (pH 9.2) at an agar: broth ratio of 4.0 after 48 h of incubation at 37 degreesC under static conditions. In general, the cost-effective agro-residues were found to be more suitable inducers for xylanase production over expensive substrates like xylan.
This Special Issue includes 12 research papers on the development of various materials for adsorbing different contaminants in water, such as Sb, Cr(VI), Cu(II), Zn(II), fluorine, phenol, dyes (indigo carmine, Congo red, methylene blue, and crystal violet), and drugs (dlevofloxacin, captopril, and diclofenac, and paracetamol). The commercial, natural, and synthetic materials used as adsorbents comprise commercial activated carbon, natural clay and montmorillonite, biosorbent based on sugarcane bagasse or algal, graphene oxide, graphene oxide-based magnetic nanomaterial, mesoporous Zr-G-C3N4 nanomaterial, nitrogen-doped core-shell mesoporous carbonaceous nano-sphere, magnetic Fe-C-N composite, polyaniline-immobilized ZnO nanorod, and hydroxy-iron/acid-base-modified sepiolite composite. Various operational conditions are evaluated under batch adsorption experiments, such as pH, NaCl, solid/liquid ratio, stirring speed, contact time, solution temperature, initial adsorbate concentration. The re-usability of laden materials is evaluated through adsorption-desorption cycles. Adsorption kinetics, isotherm, thermodynamics, and mechanisms are studied and discussed. Machine learning processes and statistical physics models are also applied in the field of adsorption science and technology.
Understanding the aspects that contribute to improving proteins' biochemical properties is of high relevance for protein engineering. Properties such as the catalytic rate, thermal stability, and thermal resistance are crucial for applying enzymes in the industry. Different interactions can influence those biochemical properties of an enzyme. Among them, the surface charge-charge interactions have been a target of particular attention. In this study, we employ the Tanford-Kirkwood solvent accessibility model using the Monte Carlo algorithm (TKSA-MC) to predict possible interactions that could improve stability and catalytic rate of a WT xylanase (XynA(WT)) and its M6 xylanase (XynA(M6)) mutant. The modeling prediction indicates that mutating from a lysine in position 99 to a glutamic acid (K99E) favors the native state stabilization in both xylanases. Our lab results showed that mutated xylanases had their thermotolerance and catalytic rate increased, which conferred higher processivity of delignified sugarcane bagasse. The TKSA-MC approach employed here is presented as an efficient computational-based design strategy that can be applied to improve the thermal resistance of enzymes with industrial and biotechnological applications.
The presence of high strength fats and oils in dairy industry wastewaters poses serious challenges for biological treatment systems, and, therefore, its pretreatment is necessary in order to remove them. In the present study, synthetic dairy wastewater prepared in the laboratory was pretreated using the sophorolipid-producing yeast Candida bombicola in a laboratory-scale bioreactor under batch, fed-batch, and continuous modes of operation. To support the yeast growth, the wastewater was supplemented with sugarcane molasses (1\% w/v) and yeast extract (0.1\% w/v). Results from the batch operated fermentor revealed complete utilization of fats present in the wastewater within 96 h with more than 93\% COD removal efficiency. The yeast was, however, able to pretreat the wastewater more quickly and efficiently under fed-batch mode of operation than under batch operated condition in the same fermentor. Continuous experiments were carried out with a wastewater retention time of 28 h in the reactor; results showed very good performance of the system in complete utilization of fats and COD removal efficiency of more than 90\%. The study proved the excellent potential of the biosurfactant-producing yeast in pretreating high-fat- and oil-containing dairy industry wastewater.
This study aimed to produce xylooligosaccharides (XOS) from Camellia oleifera Abel fruit shell (CFS) using a shell-based solid acid derived from CFS (CFS-BSA). CFS-BSA preparation was optimized by incomplete carbon-ization at 450 degrees C for 1 h, followed by sulfonation at 130 degrees C for 8 h to yield a-SO3H functional group concen-tration of 1.04 mmol/g. When CFS-BSA was used to hydrolyze CFS with a 1:5 ratio of CFS-BSA to CFS at 170 degrees C for 20 min, a maximum XOS yield (X2-X5) of 51.41 \% was achieved, which was notably higher than when using subcritical H2O solely. CFS-BSA can be recycled and reused at least six times by sieving without a substantial loss in its catalytic activity. CFS-BSA can also be used to produce XOS from other lignocellulosic materials such as corncob (41.04 \%), sugarcane bagasse (45.03 \%), corn stalk (45.89 \%), birchwood (46.05 \%), and poplar (40.10 \%).
The objective of this study was to adjust equations to estimate the static pressure gradient of airflow through layers of organic residues submitted to two stages of biochemical degradation, and to evaluate the static pressure drop of airflow thought the material layer. Measurements of static pressure drop in the layers of sugarcane bagasse and coffee husks mixed with poultry litter on day 0 and after 30 days of composting were performed using a prototype with specific airflow rates ranging from 0.02 to 0.13 m(3) s(-1) M-2. Static pressure gradient and specific airflow rate data were properly fit to the Shedd, Hukill \& Ives and Ergun models, which may be used to predict the static pressure gradient of air to be blown through the organic residue layers. However, the Shedd model was that which best represented the phenomenon studied. The static pressure drop of airflow increased as a power of the material layer thickness and showed tendency for decreasing with the biochemical degradation time of the organic material. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Heterogeneous tin-based sulfonated graphite (Sn-GP) catalyst was prepared with graphite as carrier. The physicochemical properties of Sn-GP were captured by FT-IR, XRD, SEM and BET. Organic acids with different pKa values were used to assist Sn-GP for transforming corncob (CC), and a linear equation (Furfural yield = -7.563 x pKa + 64.383) (R-2 = 0.9348) was fitted in acidic condition. Using sugarcane bagasse, reed leaf, chestnut shell, sunflower stalk and CC as feedstocks, co-catalysis of CC (75.0 g/L) with maleic acid (pKa = 1.92) (0.5 wt\%) and Sn-GP (3.6 wt\%) yielded the highest furfural yield (47.3\%) for 0.5 h at 170 degrees C. An effective furfural synthesis was conducted via co-catalysis with Sn-GP and maleic acid. Subsequently, E. coli CG-19 and TS completely catalyzed the conversion of corncob-derived FAL to furfurylalcohol and furoic acid, respectively. Valorisation of available renewable biomass to furans was successfully developed in tandem chemoenzymatic reaction.
Nosocomial infection from hospital garment contamination is an important issue in health institutes. Functional textile containing antimicrobial agents is one potential solution to eliminate bacteria on textile surfaces. Despite their advantages there are concerns that antimicrobial agents have a detrimental impact on the environment, therefore in this study we consider antimicrobial agents added to the surface of fibers that have minimal environmental concerns. Suspended nanocellulose - prepared by isolating cellulose fibers from sugarcane bagasse waste and then reducing their size to nanometer scale using a steam explosion machine and a high-pressure microfluidizer - was used as a coating material. The cellulose nanofibers modified with various organosilanes (in amino silane and quaternary ammonium silane form) were used as a modifying agent for improving antimicrobial and water-repellent behaviors of cotton fabric. This work indicates that octadecyldimethyl (3-trimethoxysilylpropyl) ammonium chloride at 0.25 \% coating concentration is the ideal substance for antibacterial and water-repellent improvement with 99.99 percent bacterial reduction, 140 degree of water contact angle and no significant cellular toxicity.
In the present study, an eco-friendly graphene oxide (GO) were successfully synthesized via singlestep from different agricultural wastes by oxidation under muffled atmosphere condition. The synthesized adsorbents were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, and Raman spectroscopy. A simple adsorption method was designed for the removal of Ni(II) by the utilization of GO. The different parameters were optimized such as temperature, concentrations, and time. Among the investigated agricultural wastes, the highest removal of Ni(II) (up to 85.06\%) was established for GO obtained from sugarcane bagasse. All the prepared samples from different agricultural wastes showed a good agreement with the Langmuir isotherm model as the obtained regression constant value (R-2) is found to be 0.9. Kinetic studies revealed that the prepared samples are well fitted with the pseudo-second-order due to the surface processes involving chemisorption adsorption of Ni(II). The results showed the applicability of GO obtained from agricultural wastes as a low-cost adsorbent for Ni(II) from aqueous solution.
Anaerobic digestion of algal biomass faces problems of low digestibility due to cell wall resistance and inappropriate carbon to nitrogen ratio. In the present work a short duration method involving fungal crude enzyme based pretreatment of algal biomass was disclosed. The effect of fungal crude enzymes on algal biomass was assessed qualitatively through visual and microscopic observations and quantitatively through measuring algal biomass solubilization. Up to 50\% biomass COD solubilization was observed within 150 min of pretreatment under optimal conditions. Subsequent anaerobic digestion of pretreated algal biomass showed production of 324.38 mL CH4 g(-1) VSfed as compared to 254.73 mL CH4 g(-1) VSfed from untreated algal biomass. Interestingly, methane yield increased up to 413.89 mL g(-1) VSfed when pretreated algal biomass was codigested with cattle dung. On the other hand, sugarcane bagasse had a negative effect on algal biomass codigestion due to its poor digestibility. Overall, the present attempt showed promising results by improving methane yield from algal biomass though pretreatment and codigestion.
This study was designed to evaluate selected chemical and microbiological treatments for the conversion of certain local agro-industrial wastes (rice straw, corn stalks, sawdust, sugar beet waste and sugarcane bagasse) to ethanol. The chemical composition of these feedstocks was determined. Conversion of wastes to free sugars by acid hydrolysis varied from one treatment to another. In single-stage dilute acid hydrolysis, increasing acid concentration from 1 \% (v/v) to 5 \% (v/v) decreased the conversion percentage of almost all treated agro-industrial wastes. Lower conversion percentages for some treatments were obtained when increasing the residence time from 90 to 120 min. The two-stage dilute acid hydrolysis by phosphoric acid (1.0 \% v/v) followed by sulphuric acid (1.0 \% v/v) resulted in the highest conversion percentage (41.3 \% w/w) on treated sugar beet waste. This treatment when neutralized, amended with some nutrients and inoculated with baker's yeast, achieved the highest ethanol concentration (1.0 \% v/v). Formation of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were functions of type of acid hydrolysis, acid concentration, residence time and feedstock type. The highest bioconversion of 5 \% wastes (37.8 \% w/w) was recorded on sugar beet waste by Trichoderma viride EMCC 107. This treatment when followed by baker's yeast fermentation, 0.41 \% (v/v) ethanol and 8.2 \% (v/w) conversion coefficient were obtained.
The replacement of fossil-based fuels by renewable fuels (biofuels) was proposed in the IPCC report, as an alternative to reduce greenhouse gas emission and reach out to a low-carbon economy. On this perspective, the Brazilian government had implemented a renewable energy program based on the use of ethanol in the transport sector. This work evaluates the scenario of pollutant gas emissions and particulate material that comes from the biomass burning process involved in ethanol production cycle, in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil. The gases and particulate material emitted by sugarcane and bagasse burning processes-the last one in energy co-generation mills-were analyzed. A laboratory-controlled burning of both samples was realized in an oven with temperature ramp from 250 to 400 degrees C, at a regular rate of 50 degrees C. The gas samples were collected directly from the oven's exhaust pipe. The particulates obtained were the residual material taken out of the burned samples: a powder with the aspect of soot. A photoacoustic spectroscopy system coupled with quantum cascade laser and electrochemical analyzers was used to measure the emission of polluting gases such as N2O, CO2, CO, NOx (NO, NO2), and SO2 in ppmv range. Fluorescent X-ray spectrometry was applied to evaluate the chemical composition of particulate material, enabling the identification of elements such as Si, Al, Ca, K, Fe, S, P, Ti, Mn, Cu, Zn, Sc, V, Cu, and Sr.
Global warming has been presented as one of the biggest challenges of humanity. There are several initiatives led by the United Nations (UN) to reduce the problem, particularly the Conferences of the Parties (COP), which continuously encourage the scientific community to develop new technologies to mitigate the problem. In the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development, it is essential to develop new technologies, adapted to the characteristics of the local territory, as well as the use of materials from biomass, which are discarded in the production process. We present herein absorption and adsorption as methods for capturing CO2. We will discuss possibilities and potentialities of adsorption and absorption as sustainable CO2 capture techniques. For CO2 adsorption, the materials used are contextualized, with emphasis on the use of porous carbons and N-carbons, all originating from different biomass wastes, such as coffee husks, sugarcane bagasse, among others. For CO2 absorption, the possibilities of using atoxic and recyclable ionic liquids are discussed. We also highlight the feasibility of using glycerol, a material considered waste from the production of biodiesel.
In the present study, an analysis on the combined effect of nickel (Ni) reinforcement and pore former type in characterizing the corrosion behavior of composite porous alumina ceramics was performed. In order to showcase the potential of the new porous ceramics, pore-forming agents (PFAs) from rice husk (RH) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were used in shaping the plain and composite porous alumina samples having sample formulation of Al2O3-xNi-PFA; x = 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 wt\%. Results showed that the emergence of a highly stable Ni3Al2SiO8 spinelloid phase in the RH-graded composites enhanced their chemical stability in the corrosive mediums (10 wt\% NaOH and 20 wt\% H2SO4) relative to the plain and the corresponding SCB-graded counterparts. An artificial neural network (ANN) model has been developed for predicting the corrosion behavior of the plain and composite porous alumina ceramics based on the experimental data. The developed ANN model satisfactorily predicted the percent mass losses of the porous ceramics in strong alkali and strong acid solutions with coefficient of determination (R-2) of approximately 0.99.
Three different composites were produced, based on zinc oxide and biochar (ZnO/biochar), varying the type of biomass (Salvinia molesta: SM; exhausted husk of black wattle: EH; and sugarcane bagasse: SB), with pyrolysis under mild conditions at 350 and 450 degrees C. Evaluation was made of the capacities of the composites for photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole antibiotic (SMX) andmethyl orange dye (MO). The properties of the prepared compositeswere influenced by the biomass source, with larger crystallite size (SB), lower band gap energy (SM), higher specific surface area (SB), and larger pore size (SM) resulting in higher photocatalytic efficiency. Good degradation results were obtained using these innovative photocatalysts prepared at low temperatures, when compared to ZnO/biocharmaterials reported in previous studies. The best degradation capacities were obtained for the composites produced at 450 degrees C from SB and SM, with 99.3 and 97\% degradation of SMX after 45 min, and 90.8 and 88.3\% degradation of MO after 120 min, respectively. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This study aimed to determine the most appropriate conditions of temperature and substrate for germination and performance of A. niopoides seedlings. The design was completely randomized in 10x7 factorial arrangement (eight constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 degrees C and two alternating temperatures of 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C, and seven substrates, that are paper towel, vermiculite, sand, blotting paper, coir dust, sugarcane bagasse, and tropstrato (R)) with four replicates of 25 seeds. The following variables were analyzed: (1) germination percentage; (2) germination speed index; (3) shoot length and primary root; and (4) dry weight of shoot and of root system. There was a significant interaction among the tested factors for all variables. The A. niopoides seeds germinate under a wide temperature range, with minimum and maximum limit at 10 and 40 degrees C temperatures, respectively. Alternating temperatures of 20-30 and 25-35 degrees C with sand substrate are ideal conditions for germination and performance of A. niopoides seedlings.
Addition of sodium borohydride to a lignocellulose hydrolysate of Norway spruce affected the ferment-ability when cellulosic ethanol was produced using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Treatment of the hydrolysate with borohydride improved the ethanol yield on consumed sugar from 0.09 to 0.31 g/g, the balanced ethanol yield from 0.02 to 0.30 g/g, and the ethanol productivity from 0.05 to 0.57 g/(L x h). Treatment of a sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate gave similar results, and the experiments indicate that sodium borohydride is suitable for chemical in situ detoxification. The model inhibitors coniferyl aldehyde, p-benzoquinone, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone, and furfural were efficiently reduced by treatment with sodium borohydride, even under mild reaction conditions (20 degrees C and pH 6.0). While addition of sodium dithionite to pretreatment liquid from spruce improved enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, addition of sodium borohydride did not. This result indicates that the strong hydrophilicity resulting from sulfonation of inhibitors by dithionite treatment was particularly important for alleviating enzyme inhibition. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The performance and preference of Mahanarva spectabilis(Distant) for feeding on different forage species were evaluated. The survival and duration of the nymphal period, longevity and fertility of adults, and food preferences (free choice) of adults of M.spectabilis were evaluated in a greenhouse trial, and food preferences of adults were also evaluated in laboratory tests without a choice of host plant. In the field, the numbers of plants with spittle masses were evaluated by forage sampling. Lower levels of nymph survival were observed in the greenhouse on Molasses grass, Jaragua, Tanzania, and Makueni. The duration of the nymphal period did not differ significantly on different forage species; however, the longevity and fertility of adults were significantly lower on Cynodon and Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. In the free-choice preference test, adult insects were attracted most strongly to B. decumbens and Jaragua, with intermediate attraction to Brachiaria brizantha (Hochst ex A. Rich) Stapf and Pioneiro. In the test without host choice, insects exhibited lower excretion rates on Tanzania, Cynodon, Jaragua, B. brizantha, and Molasses grass, and those fed on Cynodon, Jaragua, Molasses grass, and Makueni also exhibited reduced body mass. In the field, Pioneiro had the highest number of spittle masses, followed by Roxo de Botucatu. Thus, Molasses grass, Tanz<\^{
Rural areas in the southern region of Brazil are primarily occupied by smallholder farms where a variety of food crops are cultivated. Sugarcane is one of the most common food crop in this region because it is used in animal feed and as feedstock in production of brown sugar, schimier, sugarcane syrup, cachaca, and hydrous ethanol fuel (HEF). This study evaluated a small farm in a basalt hill region of Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The raw material was processed in a family agro-industry with small-scale HEF production and food products from sugarcane. The study was based in an average cultivation area of 15 ha. In industrial stage, an economic assessment was developed according to operational diversity of industrial production (HEF and food products). Payback for production of brown sugar, sugarcane syrup, schimier, and cachaca, were 0.53, 0.36, 0.77 and 3.85, respectively, whereas HEF was not economically viable. This study demonstrated that small-scale sugarcane production can be economically and environmentally attractive. This is because the technologies necessary for agricultural cultivation and industrial processing are simplified, the process is capable of generating a range of marketable products, and the wastes (specially bagasse) can be reutilized in the agro-industrial process. The proposed model has potential to be utilized in regions with similar characteristics as those considered in this study.
Because of the environmental burden of synthetic dyes, there has been a revival in practising natural dyeing globally. Natural dyeing uses metallic mordants for improving the dye's fastness properties. However, metallic mordants are also toxic. Herein, both the dyes and mordants were extracted from plant waste using water as a green solvent. The extracted dyes were then applied to the cotton fabric using a natural mordant. The dyed fabric samples were characterised for colour yield, fastness properties, ultraviolet protection and antibacterial activity. For the intended purpose, the wastes of sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran and rice husk were used for dye and mordant extraction. It was found that by increasing the extraction temperature from 30 to 60 degrees C, the dye yield increased. From the K/S values, it was observed that premordanting gave better colour strength than post-mordanting or meta-mordanting. The overall ratings for washing and crocking were 3-4 and 4-5, respectively. No significant antibacterial activity was observed in the dyed samples. However, excellent ultraviolet protection was observed.
An economic, eco-friendly and efficient synthesis route for Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) using fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium has been explored along with the single-step impregnation of these nanoparticles on cellulose fibers. The transmission electron microscopy confirmed 50 nm as an average size of ZnO NPs and showed the presence of hexagonal phases. ZnO NPs-cellulose composite was fabricated by amending sugarcane bagasse-extracted cellulose in the reaction mixture during the nanoparticle synthesis. The composite was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction patterns, Scanning electron microscopy, and Energy dispersive spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and also evaluated for its antimicrobial potential. The analyses revealed that well-dispersed hexagonal wurtzite ZnO NPs were present on the surface of the cellulose fibers. ZnO NPs-cellulose demonstrated antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum candidum, and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Thus, the study demonstrated an environmental friendly synthesis of ZnO NPs-cellulose composite using an economic and efficient method, which can be used for developing antimicrobial cellulosic fabric for numerous applications.
An one-pot process has been developed for the conversion of lignocellulosic bio-mass and carbohydrates to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), following a highly specific approach. First time, raw sugarcane bagasse and corn-cob biomasses were mechanically grinded to fine powder and further applied as feedstock for 5-HMF and furfural production in one-pot and scalable synthesis. A synergistic role of mixed organic and inorganic acids such as oxalic acid, AlCl3 and HCl, charcoal, and solvent system was critically investigated on cellulose with their proportion, which is responsible for the fruitful conversion to 5-HMF. Crucial role of charcoal was investigated under this study and noticeable improvement of yield similar to 16\% was observed. The optimized process further tested up to 0.5 kg scale biomass conversion to 5-HMF production successfully. The scope of the process further extended for conversion of waste raw potato, corn powder, starch, glucose and fructose to 5-HMF production with high specificity and conversion. After solvent extraction, avoiding tedious column chromatography, the UPLC purity of 5-HMF was measured to 87-95\%. {[
A new prototype of a disposable solid-state culture bioreactor (DSSCB) belonging to the packed-bed category is developed for the production of fungal conidia. The bioreactor has the advantages of being autoclavable, lightweight and disposable. With a working volume of 39.52 L, it can be used for large-scale production of fungal conidia. The DSSCB was successfully tested under forced aeration for the production of conidia (2.1 x 10(10)/g dry substrate in 140 h) fromTrichoderma asperellum, a biocontrol fungus. A mixture of sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran, olive pomace, potato flakes and vine shoots was used as substrate. The DSSCB allowed an overall production of 1.26 x 10(14)conidia. Based on its configuration, the fermented substrate can be easily transported and used in either solid or liquid form, for biocontrol application. This is a significant advance in the field of biomass production in solid-state culture as problems associated with the decontamination of the bioreactor prior to its reuse can be avoided. The study demonstrated that the DSSCB is suitable for the production of conidia usingT. asperellum. {[
The present research work was designed to explore the biosorption efficiency of sugarcane bagasse (SB) biomass for the removal of Direct Violet 51 dye from aqueous solution. The modification of SB biomass was carried out by different physical and chemical treatments. HCl-treated SB biomass depicted maximum biosorption efficiency among all the modified SB biomasses. Box-Behnken experimental design was employed to illustrate the effect of three independent variables (initial dye concentration (A), biosorbent dose (B), and pH (C)) on the dye removal process. Maximum dye removal (63.0mgg(-1)) was achieved at pH 2 and 0.05g biosorbent dose. Higher initial dye concentration was found to be favorable for the dye removal process. Desorption study was conducted using NaOH solution of different strengths, and it was observed that 61.58\% dye can be desorbed from the loaded biosorbent using 1M NaOH solution. Characterization of SB biomass was also carried out by FTIR, scanning electron microscope, and TGA analysis. The results indicated that SB biomass can be used as an efficient biosorbent for the treatment of dye containing wastewater.
During the transition to a low carbon economy, techno-economic-environmental analyses of industrial processes will have increasing relevance. Within this context, the replacement of hexane by ethanol (either hydrous or anhydrous) as solvent for soybean oil extraction is assessed. Sugarcane bagasse was the fuel for cogeneration of energy. All processes were implemented and simulated in EMSO, Environment for Modeling, Simulation and Optimization, which is an equation-oriented process simulator. For ethanol, four different methods of solvent recovery were evaluated. An economic analysis and a Life Cycle Assessment of the processes were performed. Net Present Value (NPV) and of Global Warming Potential (GWP) were adopted for economic and environmental metrics, respectively. The results showed that all scenarios were economically feasible, with positive NPV, but hexane presented an approximately 10.2\% higher NPV then the best-case ethanol process (hydrous). However, the replacement of hexane by ethanol resulted in lower GWP, avoiding the emission of approximately 10,600 ton of CO2eq. per year in an industry that crushes 125 ton per hour of soybean. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, we claimed a two-step strategy to prepare an inexpensive carbon sphere (CS) from sugarcane bagasse followed by polypyrrole (PPy) incorporation to obtain CPP (CS/PPy) nanocomposites. Subsequently, various phase-oriented MnO2 nanostructures have been introduced at CPP to obtain ternary hybrid CS/PPy/MnO2 (CPPM-1, CPPM-2, and CPPM-3) nanocomposites with ease. CPPM-1 nanocomposite-loaded electrode exhibits high capacitance of 1052.5 F/g at 0.5 A/g current density in three-electrode system. Many efforts have been devoted to develop a unique solid-state symmetric supercapacitor using CPPM-1 nanocomposites separated by solid electrolytic film (PVA-H2SO4) which shows a rapid charging and slow discharging in 60 s and 240 s, respectively. An excellent energy density of 10.4 Wh/kg was maintained at power density of 2000 W/kg in the current density of 5 A/g along with high cyclic stability as capacitance retention up to 92.3\% after 5000 cycles at CPPM-1-based solid-state symmetric supercapacitor.
Orchids are among the most commercialized flowers in the market of potted plants, cut flowers, and landscaping, making necessary studies that allow the optimization of its cultivation. One of the most important aspects for success in production areas is the use of quality seedlings, which requires the use of an appropriate substrate with appropriate physical, chemical, and biological properties to the species. Thus, this review aimed to report the importance and diversity of substrates used for producing epiphytic orchids. Several substrates have been studied for the cultivation of epiphytic orchids, among which can be cited coconut fiber and powder, pine bark, coffee husk, carbonized rice husk, almond bark, sugarcane bagasse, charcoal, vermiculite, S-10 Beifort (R), among others, which provided satisfactory results in the production of seedlings and development of orchid plants. Studies with the substrates are directed to the ecologically correct cultivation and the rational use of agroindustrial residues available in each region in order to reduce their volume in the environment, in addition to allowing the adequacy in production costs.
Novel ternary composites of polyaniline (PANI), reduced graphene oxide (RGO), and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) are prepared by a chemical method for hybrid supercapacitors. CNFs were extracted from sugarcane bagasse waste in sugar production, by physicochemical processes. The composites were investigated as electrode-active materials for hybrid supercapacitors. The obtained results revealed that the presence of RGO and CNFs in the composites led to enhanced electrochemical performances, such as capacitance, rate capability, and long-term cyclability of the composite. The optimal composite of CNFs/RGO/PANI with a weight ratio of 4/16/80 can deliver the highest specific capacitance at 566.2 F g(-1) under an applied current of 1 A g(-1). After 1000 cycles of repetitive charge and discharge, the optimal composite retains 85.4\% of its initial capacitance, whereas the PANI electrode obtained only 36.7\% under the same conditions. Moreover, the supercapacitive performance is also strongly dependent on the component of the ternary composites. Overall, the composite is a promising material for hybrid supercapacitors; and the CNF component is a renewable material and a product of waste materials.
In the current paper, a two-phase and two-dimensional model describing heat and water transfer in a packed-bed bioreactor (PBB) for solid-state fermentation (SSF) is proposed. The model considers most of the transport mechanisms taking place in solid and gas phases and for axial and radial directions. For simulation, realistic physical properties of the particles and of the bed were employed, as well as interface coefficients were calculated based on classical correlations. The case-study was the solid-state cultivation of the newly isolated thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b in a mixture of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) within a narrow cylindrical and jacketed PBB. For non-saturated aeration, results showed that substrate drying near the inlet of the bioreactor harms fungal growth. For narrow PBB, jacket plays important rule on heat removal; for large-diameter PBB, radial heat removal becomes negligible. Simulated results agreed with experimental ones. The novel model here proposed is a powerful tool for guiding the scale-up of PBB for SSF. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
In order to fulfill the increasing demand for edible mushrooms and maintain a steady supply throughout the year, it is necessary to domesticate new wild edible mushroom species. In this study, we domesticated Auricularia thailandica, a newly identified edible species that was collected from the wild in Thailand. We compared the growth of A. thailandica in three different growth media: sawdust, wheat husk and sugarcane bagasse. The use of sawdust resulted in the fastest rate of mycelial colonisation at 56.4 +/- 1.2 days, pinheads were formed in 14.2 +/- 0.4 days and the biological efficiency was 17.1 +/- 2.8\%. Nutritional analysis showed that A. thailandica contained a higher proportion of protein (12.99 +/- 0.05\%) and fat (2.93 +/- 0.66\%) by dry weight than other commercial Auricularia spp. available on the market. The antioxidant potential of A. thailandica varied with the extraction solvent used, and the effective concentration was found to be significantly lower in methanol extract than aqueous extract. Additionally, this species has an attractive reddish orange colour and larger basidiocarps than other commercially available species.
Synthetic dyes from industrial effluents pose significant threats on aquatic and human lives due to its toxic nature. We report removal of synthetic dye Methylene blue (MB) by vermicomposting using earthworm species, Eisenia fetida. The dye adsorbed in sugarcane bagasse (SB) was used as the substrate for vermicomposting. Physico-chemical characterization of compost parameters indicated high quality of vermicomposting. The dye removal from the composted samples was studied by RP-HPLC analysis. In vermicomposted samples, removal of MB was found to be 61\% and 98\% after 30 and 60 days, respectively. The dye removal was an outcome of combined activities of earthworms and microbes. The dye-stress caused changes in body color and tissue microstructure in earthworms along with lower reproduction rate. However, the worms reverted back to normalcy after removal from vermicomposting and regained reproduction efficacy within 60 days. This study could pave the way for an eco-friendly, inexpensive and promising bioremediation strategy to counter soil contamination due to synthetic dyes effluents. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Natural bio-material surface with hydrophobic behavior (aqueous droplet to roll off from its surface) has inspired researchers to design sustainable artificial coatings with hydrophobic or superhydrophobic behavior. The developed hydrophobic or superhydrophobic artificial coatings are highly useful in various applications such as water remediation, oil/water separation, self-cleaning, anti-fouling, anti-corrosion and also in medical fields including anti-viral, anti-bacterial efficacy. In recent years, among various coating materials, bio-based materials derived from plants and animals (cellulose, lignin, sugarcane bagasse, peanut shell, rice husk, egg cell etc.) are applied on various surfaces in order to develop fluorine free hydrophobic coatings with longer durability by lowering the surface energy and increasing the surface roughness. This review summarized recent developments in hydrophobic/superhydrophobic coating fabrication methods, properties and applications with the use of different bio-based materials and their combinations. In addition, basic mechanisms behind the coating fabrication process and their durability under different environmental conditions are also discussed. Moreover, prospects and limitations of bio-based coatings in practical applications have been highlighted.
In this study, the iron-based chemical looping process driven by various biomasses for hydrogen production purposes is studied and evaluated thermodynamically through energy and exergy approaches. The overall system consists of some key units (combustor, reducers and oxidizer) a torrefier, a drying chamber, an air separation unit, a heat exchanger, and auxiliary units as well. The biomasses considered are first dried and torrified in the drying chamber and sent to reactors to produce hydrogen. The exergy and energy efficiencies of the iron based chemical looping facility are investigated comparatively for performance evaluation. The maximum exergy destruction and entropy production rates are calculated for the torrefaction process as 123.15 MW and 4926 kW/K respectively. Under the steady-state conditions, a total of 8 kg/s hydrogen is produced via chemical looping process. The highest energy efficiency is obtained in the looping of rice husk with 86\% while the highest exergy efficiency is obtained in the looping using sugarcane bagasse with 91\%, respectively. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Many efforts have been made to produce cellulase with better features and conditions, and filamentous fungi have played an important role in the bioprocess, growing in liquid and solid cultures with sugarcane bagasse, corn stover and others lignocellulosic materials. In the present study, Agave atrovirens fibers were partially characterized, thermal pretreated and used as support, substrate and inducer source for cellulolytic complex production by four strains of the genus Trichoderma, where T. asperellum was selected as the best option for this process after evaluating the enzyme activity and the invasion capacity on the pretreated Agave fibers. Fungi were able to grow on the Agave fibers secreting the complex cellulolytic enzyme. Results show Agave fibers as a good carbon source and support for T. asperellum for the production of the cellulolytic complex (endoglucanase 12,860.8 U/g; exoglucanase 3144.4 U/g; and beta-glucosidase 384.4 U/g). These results show the promising potential this material could have in the production of the active enzyme cellulase complex.
Sorption and desorption of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) was evaluated in biochars derived from sugarcane bagasse (SB), eucalyptus forest residues (CE), castor meal (CM), green coconut pericarp (PC), and water hyacinth (WH) as candidate materials for the treatment of contaminated waters and soils. Solid-liquid distribution coefficients depended strongly on the initial metal concentration, with K (d,max) values mostly within the range 10(3)-10(4) L kg(-1). For all biochars, up to 95 \% removal of all the target metals from water was achieved. The WH biochar showed the highest K (d,max) values for all the metals, especially Cd and Zn, followed by CE (for Cd and Pb) and PC (for Cd, Pb, and Zn). Sorption data were fitted satisfactorily with Freundlich and linear models (in the latter case, for the low concentration range). The sorption appeared to be controlled by cationic exchange, together with specific surface complexation at low metal concentrations. The low desorption yields, generally less than 5 \%, confirmed that the sorption process was largely irreversible and that the biochars could potentially be used in decontamination applications.
Clostridium strain BOH3 is able to utilize 10 g/l of xylan in reinforced clostridial medium (RCM) and produce butanol and hydrogen. However, increasing xylan concentration to 30 g/l does not enhance the production of butanol and hydrogen due to insufficient expression of xylanase enzyme (27.5 U/mg). To enhance the xylanase activity, an optimized culture medium (OCM), which consists of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (11.75 g/l), ammonium sulfate (8.92 g/l) and iron (III) chloride (1.45 mM) is designed. In the optimized OCM, Clostridium strain BOH3 expresses more xylanase and shows higher xylanase activity (44.05 +/- 0.25 U/mg) in the OCM. This activity is about 1.6-fold higher than that in the original RCM. Employing OCM as a medium, Clostridium strain BOH3 effectively ferments high concentration (30 and 50 g/l) of xylan and produces 12.05 +/- 0.15 and 14.80 +/- 0.15 g/l of butanol and 1.78 +/- 0.08 and 2.65 +/- 0.15 l/l of hydrogen, respectively. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Enzyme cocktails can alter the lignin and hemicellulose content in wood cell walls, improving the bleaching process during pulp production and offsetting the need for toxic chemicals. In this study, brown pulp was biobleached with a mixture of crude fungal extracts rich in xylanase and laccase, respectively produced from Aspergillus tamarii Kita and Trametes versicolor on waste materials. The optimal conditions for biobleaching were a mixture of xylanase and laccase crude extracts (1 to 2 v/v), at a temperature of 36 degrees C and a pH of 5.5. The treated brown cellulose pulp showed a reduction in the Kappa number by 1.83 points, representing an efficiency of 20.3\%. In addition, the brightness increased by 4.65 points in comparison to the control. Hence, studies involving the application of the standardized cocktail during the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic residues, e.g., barley residue and sugarcane bagasse, led to the formation of 85 g/L and 25 g/L of reducing sugars, respectively. Moreover, the standardized cocktail caused greater deinking of the recycled paper pulp.
Nanotechnology has become one of the most important topics since the beginning of the twenty-first century in numerous fields including drug synthesis and delivery, environmental protection, electronics manufacture, and astronomy due to their nanoscale particles and their properties. The traditional semi-quantum dots are replaced by a new category of fluorescent carbon nanomaterials. Carbon dots (CDs) have been explored in the last few years for their simple synthetic accession, good bio-consonance, and several revelation applications. This review explains the fluorescent properties of CDs in brief, giving also a background on CDs discovery, structure, and composition, as well as on nanocomposites, green synthesis, and their applications. Resources conservation can be achieved by using recycled substances for sustainable development which lead to a new technology. Fluorescent CDs synthesized from food wastes like bananas, orange peel waste, sugarcane bagasse, Trapa bispinosa peels, bread, and jaggery have several applications such as sensing, drug delivery, gene transfer, biological imaging, and food safety. In this study, we concentrate on CDs greener methods to prepare effective and biocompatible CDs.
Metal adsorption capacities of bioadsorbents, derived from low-cost agricultural waste, were assessed. Batch and column experiments were conducted for evaluation of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) sorption kinetics on to modified ( by treating with base and acid) and unmodified sugarcane bagasse and corn cob. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Redlich-Peterson equations were used to understand metal adsorption behavior and Elovich and Lagergren's pseudo-firstorder and pseudo-second-order kinetics equations were used for estimation of adsorption kinetics parameter. The suitability of the models to experimental data was reflected by high r(2) values. Among sorption models, Langmuir and Redlich-Peterson were proved equally good and Cd, Cr, and Pb adsorption process followed the Langmuir isotherm. Batch adsorption experiment showed that the metal adsorption ability of the treated materials was higher than that of untreated. The adsorption sequence was Pb > Cr > Cd. Pseudo-second-order kinetics model was found suitable in describing the obtained data. Result of the column adsorption experiments supplement the batch results and revealed the role of agricultural waste materials in remediation of heavy metal-polluted water.
This research was performed to investigate the relationship between compressive strength, density and water absorption of Pb-contaminated soil treated by Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) incorporated with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) using the Stablisation/Solidification (S/S) method. The SCB and OPC varying from 5\% to 15\% was added to stabilize and solidify the Pb-contaminated soil. The cylindrical samples were prepared and cured at room temperature for 28 days. Unconfined compression test, density test and water absorption test were conducted on these samples. The relationship between these variables were determined using simple statistical method by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results indicate that there is a strong relationship between compressive strength and density with a regression coefficient of 77.4\%. There is also a significant relationship between density and water absorption of approximately 70.7\%. In addition, compressive strength and water absorption produced a strong relationship which is 73.6\% of variability in strength development. In a nutshell, the strong relationship between these three variables represent the actual physical characteristics in S/S application.
Extensive cropping leads to higher removal of silicon (Si) from the soils and makes it a limiting element for various crops. Application of silicic acid (H4SiO4) has limited scope due to high cost, low solubility, and high polymerization. The biogenic sources of Si are alternative to silicic acid (H4SiO4) and Si release from these sources is a function of different soil properties like pH, redox potential, texture etc. Kinetics release of plant available Si (PASi) from various organic and inorganic sources was evaluated in texturally different soils such as sandy loam (SL), sandy clay loam (SCL), and clay (CL) under a 60-day incubation study. Our findings suggest that the highest cumulative release of Si (cSi) was observed in SCL (47.6 mg/L) in control sets without any amendments. The highest cSi release among plant residue amendments was observed by bamboo leaves (340 mg/L) and rice husk (RH) (301 mg/L) in SL and SCL soils, respectively. Among biochar amendments, the rice husk biochar (RHB) released the maximum quantity (246.55 and 243.9 mg/L) of Si in SCL and CL soils respectively. Among the ashes, sugarcane bagasse ash had the highest release (316 mg/L) of Si in SCL and RHA which yielded 235.2 Si mg/L in CL soil for 60days. Silicon release kinetics for these sets of systems showed a diffusive behavior of Si being released from amendments primarily dependent on soil type.
Ultra sonicated graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles (GO@ Ag0) which prepared by green chemistry approach in a microwave from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were mixed with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) at varied loading ratios (5-15wt \%) to create biopolymer films. The GO@ Ag0 forms a network with the CMC matrix, which was first proved by the MHBS calculations, SEM, thermal and mechanical data. This finding confirmed that the GO@Ag has high compatibility within the CMC matrix owing to the oxygenated graphene oxide (GO). Furthermore, with the addition of 15wt\% GO@ Ag0 (i.e. CMC-GO@Ag 15\%), 14.31\% increase of thermal stability,96.13\% of YM, and 16.82\% of TS were achieved. Moreover, the CMC- GO@Ag5\%, CMC-GO@Ag10\% and CMC-GO@Ag15\% films exhibit greater efficacy against both Gram +ve and-ve bacteria as well as yeast compared to pristine CMC film. We might suppose that these films' outstanding performance made them suitable for food packaging (due to its anti-microbial properties)and electrochemical biosensing (due to the presence of Ag0).
Herein, we combined metabolic evolution with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) of cells stained with the lipophilic dye BODIPY for isolation of SCO-overproducing strains of Yarrowia lipolytica. Metabolic evolution was implemented for enrichment of high SCO-accumulating mutant population which were then sorted by fluorescence signals using flow cytometry coupled with FACS. A mutant isolated by this approach exhibited 1.5- and 1.2-fold higher SCO titer and content, respectively, than the wild type under batch culture of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate complex media. In addition, the mutant had whole-cell fatty acid composition different from that of the wild type with higher oleic and linoleic acids. Dual-stage fed-batch process applied to the mutant yielded high SCO titer of 49.7 g/L from hydrolysates, a fourfold improvement over batch process. This study highlights evolution-based in conjunction with fluorescence-based high-throughput screening as a powerful strategy for attaining high single-cell oil-accumulating phenotype in Y. lipolytica exploited for sustainable biodiesel and oleochemicals synthesis.
The difficulty of preparing monodisperse lignin fractions on a large scale is a limiting factor in many applications. The present paper addresses this problem by examining the properties and size-exclusion behavior of lignin isolated by the acetosolv pulping process from post-extraction crushed sugarcane bagasse. The isolated lignin was subjected to a solvent pretreatment, followed by preparative gel permeation chromatography fractionation. The fractions were analyzed by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) and these samples showed a great decrease in polydispersity, compared to the original acetosolv lignin. Several fractions of very low polydispersity, close to unity, were employed as calibration curve standards in HPSEC analysis. This original analytical approach allowed calibration with these lignin fractions to be compared with the polystyrene standards that are universally employed for lignin molecular mass determination. This led to a noteworthy result, namely that the lignin fractions and polystyrene standards showed very similar behavior over a large range of molecular masses in a typical HPSEC analysis of acetosolv lignin. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Brown sugar (BS), muscovado sugar (MS), and brown granulated sugar (BGS) are manufactured from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum). The odors of these three kinds of sugar have been analyzed using liquid-liquid extraction combined with gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS). A total of 92 odor compounds were detected in these three kinds of sugar products; among which, the acid compounds exhibited the highest content, followed by phenolic compounds, aldehydes, and ketones. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences in the odor compounds among different sugar products. Abundant Maillard reaction products (such as pyrazines and furanones) were detected in brown sugar as compared to the other two kinds of sugars. As muscovado sugar was prepared by boiling the mixture for a longer time, the Maillard reaction was more efficient, and the contents of small molecular organic acids (such as formic acid and acetic acid) in muscovado sugar were significantly higher than those in brown sugar. As the molasses was separated during the production of the brown granulated sugar, its odor compounds were lost, and the contents of odor compounds in brown granulated sugar were lower than those in brown sugar and muscovado sugar.
The GH3 beta-glucosidase gene of Myceliophthora thermophila (MtBgl3c) has been cloned and heterologously expressed in E. coli for the first time. This study highlights the important characteristics of recombinant MtBgl3c (rMtBgl3c) which make it a promising candidate in industrial applications. Optimization of the production of rMtBgl3c led to 28,000 U L-1. On purification, it has a molecular mass of similar to 100 kDa. It is a broad substrate specific thermostable enzyme that exhibits pH and temperature optima at 5.0 and 55 degrees C, respectively. The amino acid residues Asp287 and Glu514 act as nucleophile and catalytic acid/base, respectively in the enzyme catalysis. Its low K-m value (1.28 mM) indicates a high substrate affinity as compared to those previously reported. The rMtBgl3c displays a synergistic action with the commercial enzyme cocktail in the saccharification of sugarcane bagasse suggesting its utility in the cellulose bioconversion. Tolerance to solvents, detergents as well as glucose make this enzyme applicable in wine, detergent, paper and textile industries too.
A sustainable biomass-based nanocomposite hydrogel was formulated, characterized, and applied for curcumin delivery. Phytosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) employing musk melon (Cucumis melo) seed extract was embedded in the hydrogel matrices and cross-linked using Dialdehyde cellulose prepared from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse (SCB). Nanoparticle incorporation enhanced the hydrogel's swelling degree to 4048\% at pH 4.0. Also, an improved tensile strength of 14.1 +/- 0.32 MPa was exhibited by the nanocomposite hydrogel compared to 9.79 +/- 0.76 MPa for the pure chitosan cellulose hydrogel. A curcumin loading efficiency of 89.68\% with around 30\% increased loading was exhibited for the nanocomposite hydrogel. A Fickian diffusion-controlled curcumin release mechanism with maximum release at pH 7.4 was obtained. The synergistic effect on the antimicrobial activity was exhibited against Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum. The in vitro cytotoxicity studies employing L929 cells and A431 cells demonstrated good biocompatibility and enhanced anticancer activity of the curcumin-loaded green nanocomposite hydrogel compared to pure curcumin.
Biomass conversion via thermal processes to generate energy will be an important part of the future energy landscape. The objective of this study was to determine the kinetic parameters of five types of eucalyptus wood derived from different clones, sugarcane bagasse, elephant grass, bamboo and fibers of coconut fruit. The framework to describe the kinetic pyrolysis consists of a fuel model including four constituents, namely hemicelluloses, cellulose, lignin and extractives. Each pseudo-component was converted via two competing reactions into volatile and char. A statistical fit was achieved with mass loss rate data, obtained from the pyrolysis modeling and the thermogravimetric analysis, providing satisfactory statistical variance. In the end of the kinetic parameters optimization, the activation energies for reaction of hemicelluloses, cellulose and lignin were obtained as 179.98, 130.0 and 40 kJ mol(-1), respectively, whereas the decomposition of the pseudo-components resulted in relatively similar values of pre-exponential factor for all biomasses evaluated. The experimental results and kinetic parameters provide useful data to improve design of thermochemical conversion units.
Biomass from lignocellulosic material constitutes a promising energy alternative and without competing with food production. However, pretreatments are required for conversion into sugars which release hexoses, pentoses and other sugars, coupled to inhibitors. Current analysis focuses on ethanol production with the three major inhibitors of lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment, namely, acetic acid, furfural and 5-hydroxymetilfurfural (HMF), and investigates the influence of a mixture of these inhibitors on fermentation by Pichia stipits, using commercial xylose as the only carbon source, through a full factorial 2(3) + 3 design of experiments (DOE). Fermentations were conducted in a laboratory scale, at 150 rpm and 72h, in a complex culture media with xylose and different inhibitor concentrations, based on the experimental analysis of sugarcane bagasse and 2.10(7) cell mL(-1) of initial concentration of the microorganism. Experimental results showed a significant influence of acetic acid concentration, which must be at the lowest possible level, with no influence of furfural and hydroxymethyl furfural respectively up to concentrations 2.25 and 0.75 g L-1.
Propionic acid is an important short-chain fatty acid with many applications, but its large-scale bioproduction was hindered by the low productivity. An adapted acid-tolerant Propionibacterium acidipropionici CGMCC 1.2230 strain was selected to produce propionic acid with a relatively high productivity (0.29 g/(L h)) in the free-cell fermentation. Further immobilized-cell fermentation in fibrous-bed bioreactor (FBB) supported high-level repeated batch fermentations with a high productivity of 0.96 g/(L h). The FBB also presents the potential to increase final propionic acid concentration by using glucose feeding strategy. The propionic acid concentration was increased to 51.2 g/L in the fed-batch fermentation with the productivity of 0.71 g/(L h). By adopting the above strategies, sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate could support the production of propionic acid with high productivity in the repeat-batch and fed-batch fermentations. The present work would pave one road to the accomplishment of large-scale bioproduction of propionic acid from renewable resources. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is a sporulating Gram-positive bacterium that produces protein crystals with insecticide activity against Diptera. The aim of the present work was to optimise the culture medium for this bacterium, based on mathematical and statistical concepts (factorial designs and response surface methodology). The variables studied were carbon and nitrogen source concentrations. The main response analysed was toxicity, evaluated by means of bioassay with Aedes aegypti. The nutrient sources were first selected and then optimised. Ground Bombyx mori pupae, ammonium sulphate and glucose were the most suitable sources of organic nitrogen, inorganic nitrogen and organic carbon, respectively. The toxicity of optimised medium (LC50 = 0.703 ppm,v/v) was higher than that the medium used as reference (LC50 = 3.01 ppm, v/v), which is commonly used in the laboratory culture of Bti. Besides, the optimised medium showed a cost 7.36 times less than that of an alternative medium, based on soybean flour and sugarcane molasses. Factorial design and response surface methodology were effective methods for culture medium optimisation. The results will contribute to the development of local production and utilisation of agroindustrial waste locally.
A fed-batch process using lignin-rich black liquor, derived from alkaline pretreated sugarcane bagasse, as carbon source was optimized for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Pseudomonas monteilii. Different C:N ratio and pulse feeding schemes in batch and fed-batch processes were studied for their effects on lignin conversion efficiency to cell growth and PHA synthesis. Under optimized feeding profiles and overall C:N ratio of 0.18 g lignin:mg NH4Cl, 238 mg/L of PHA equivalent to 13\% PHA content of the cell dry weight was achieved. This was enhanced by 1.9 folds compared to batch process under similar C:N ratio. The produced biopolymer composed of two dominant monomers, 3-hydroxybutyrate and 3-hydroxydecanoate, based on GC-MS analysis. Overall, this work demonstrates the effect of fed-batch fermentation parameters for the synthesis of PHA from waste black liquor, which could serve as a base to lead further investigation in developing integrated lignin bioprocessing platform for cost-effective sustainable biorefineries in Bio-Circular-Green economy.
Five types of lignocellulosic materials were applied as the bio-carriers for low-cost algal biofilm cultivation of three algal strains. The effects of bio-carrier physicochemical properties and toxicity on algal cells growth and attachment were investigated. Rougher and hydrophilic bio-carrier could yield more algal biomass than smoother and hydrophobic bio-carrier. Pine sawdust (diameter: 0.420-0.595 mm) performed the best when cultured Diplosphaera sp. (9.61 g.m(-2).day(-1)) biofilm. Meanwhile, bio-carriers could be leached by the culture medium during cultivation, and their energy conversion proprieties could be improved due to the reduced ash contents and the decreased crystallinities. In addition, Chlorella vulgaris growth tests indicated that pine sawdust (15.45\%) leachate promoted cell growth, whereas rick husk (15.48\%) and sugarcane bagasse (13.19\%) leachate inhibited cell growth. And bio-carriers leachates also modified the chemical compositions (lipid, protein and carbohydrate) of algal cells and increased the corresponding saturated fatty acids methyl ester content (from 48.71 to 55.58-57.08\%).
This study demonstrates a simple and economically viable approach to fabricate porous alumina ceramics shaped with low-priced natural organic pore-forming agents (PFAs) from rice husk (RH) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) of various weight contents using the powder metallurgy method. Experimental findings revealed that the total porosity (44-67vol\%) and average pore size (70-178m) maintained a linear relationship with rising PFA inclusion. Using the diametral compression test, the mechanical response of porous alumina samples was evaluated as a function of porosity and pore geometry. From the overall mechanical strength characterization, the susceptivity of strength on porosity became well marked as the agro-waste shaped porous ceramics exhibited hardness, tensile strength, and elastic modulus of 529.1-26HV, 20.4-1.5MPa and 1662-57MPa, respectively. Moreover, the fractography of the RH and SCB graded porous alumina samples was evaluated as a function of the respective microstructural features. With a plausible tradeoff between pore interconnectivity and mechanical strength, recommended areas of application include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) design, filtration, and thermal insulation systems.
Usually immobilization is a requirement for the use of enzymes as an industrial biocatalyst. In this work, endophytic fungus Cercospora kikuchii lipase was immobilized by covalent binding on agricultural by-products and microcrystalline cellulose. The enzyme support system was submitted to spouted bed drying. Lipase immobilized on microcrystalline cellulose with 1.5\% of glutaraldehyde showed the best results, presenting 179.1\% of the original activity after drying, followed by rice husk (173.9\%), corn stover (169.8\%), sugarcane bagasse (157.3\%), green coconut fiber (102.3\%), and corncob (99.8\%). The immobilized derivatives obtained showed a decreased enzyme activity with an average of only 17.31\%, whereas the enzyme in its free form lost 85.8\% of its initial activity after storage for 6 months. The operational stability showed that the biocatalysts prepared retained an average of 67.2\% of the initial activity after five reuse cycles. The results showed that the use of agricultural by-products as low-cost support material associated with the spouted bed drying is promising and can contribute to industrial application of biocatalysts.
Biomass derived from low-value, high-volume invasive plant species is an attractive, alternative feedstock to produce biofuels and biochemicals. This study aimed to use the carboxylate platform to valorize the invasive leguminous shrub, Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite), by utilizing in vitro rumen fermentations without chemical pretreatment to produce volatile fatty acids. The three fractions of the mesquite: leaves (ProL), stems (ProS) and branches (ProB) were compared regarding chemical composition, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility at 7 time points and VFA production after 72 h with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a reference. NDF digestibility was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in ProL (35.8\%) than ProS (30.4\%) and ProB (20.9\%) compared to SCB (21.9\%). VFA concentrations from 20 g biomass L-1 showed significant differences with 8.07, 6.71 and 6.51 g L-1 for ProL, ProS and ProB respectively, while SCB yielded 4.02 g L-1. These concentrations were comparable with other platforms that employ chemically pretreated biomass for VFA production.
The fermented tea vinegar combines the beneficial properties of tea and vinegar. The complete fermentation takes 4 to 5 weeks in a batch culture and thus can be shortened by semi continuous/ continuous fermentation using immobilized bacterial cells. In the present study, alcoholic fermentation of 1.0 and 1.5\% tea infusions using Saccharomyces cerevisae G was carried out that resulted in 84.3 and 84.8\% fermentation efficiency (FE) respectively. The batch vinegar fermentation of these wines with Acetobacter aceti NRRL 746 at the initial 1\% acidity yielded 4.5 and 4.7\% volatile acidity with 71.4 and 73\% FE in 24 days. The semi continuous fermentation using sugarcane bagasse adsorbeded A.aceti cells produced 4.4\% of volatile acidity from 1.5\% tea wine (8.9\% ethanol and 1.0\% acidity), in 9 flow cycles, each of 4 h duration in a fermentation column at 50 ml/h. In the scale up process, 600 ml 1.5\% tea wine produced 4.3\% volatile acidity at 42.7\% FE in 9 flow cycles of 12 h duration each.
The selective oxidative conversion of seven representative fully characterized biomasses recovered as secondary feedstocks from the agroindustry is reported. The reaction system, known as the ``OxFA process,{''
Despite recent progress, saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass is still a major cost driver in biorefining. In this study, we present the development of minimal enzyme cocktails for hydrolysis of Norway spruce and sugarcane bagasse, which were pretreated using the so-called BALI(TM) process, which is based on sulfite pulping technology. Minimal enzyme cocktails were composed using several glycoside hydrolases purified from the industrially relevant filamentous fungus Trichoderma reesei and a purified commercial beta-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger. The contribution of in-house expressed lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) was also tested, since oxidative cleavage of cellulose by such LPM05 is known to be beneficial for conversion efficiency. We show that the optimized cocktails permit efficient saccharification at reasonable enzyme loadings and that the effect of the LPMOs is substrate-dependent. Using a cocktail comprising only four enzymes, glucan conversion for Norway spruce reached > 80\% at enzyme loadings of 8 mg/g glucan, whereas almost 100\% conversion was achieved at 16 mg/g. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of the bleached bagasse, cellulose, and nanofiber cellulose to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. The morphology of adsorbents surface and their functional groups were examined by using scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy techniques, respectively. In a batch mode study at 25 degrees C temperature, the effects of initial dye concentration, contact time, adsorbent dose, and solution pH on adsorption performance were investigated. The results showed that the percent of MB removal increases by increasing pH and also by increasing sorbent dosage and decreasing initial dye concentration. The adsorption kinetics and equilibrium data were in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm, respectively. The removal of MB was better and more effective with cellulose and cellulose nanofiber as compared with the bleached bagasse. The regeneration of cellulose and nanofiber cellulose loaded with MB was investigated using electrochemical method under different operating conditions. The results showed that the electrochemical process efficiency is more than 60\% for regeneration adsorbents.
In this work, the respiration gases were sampled from a packed-bed bioreactor used for solid-state cultivation (SSC) using different gas-sampling procedures. As a case study, Myceliophthora thermophila I1D3b was cultivated at 45 degrees C in a mixture of sugarcane bagasse/wheat bran (7:3 w/w). Respiration gases were sampled at the top of the column (end-do-end mode) and in three other alternatives of sampling gases. Axial temperature profiles were obtained during the experiments and axial moisture contents and endoglucanase activities were determined after cultivation. The results showed that sampling gases at low flow rate produced similar results to the end-to-end operation. On the other hand, when part of the bed was subjected to inefficient aeration, the process was strongly affected in terms of accumulated gas concentrations and temperature. From the results, it was possible to infer some aspects of the microbial respiratory activity, which will be of help to SSC packed-bed bioreactor developers.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Six yeast isolates were obtained from rotting wood samples in Brazil and frass of a cerambycid beetle larva in French Guiana. Sequence analysis of the ITS-5.8S region and the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit rRNA gene showed that the isolates represent a novel species of Cyberlindnera. This novel species is related to Cyberlindnera japonica, Cyberlindnera xylosilytica, Candida easanensis and Candida maesa. It is heterothallic and produces asci with two or four hat-shaped ascospores. The name Cyberlindnera dasilvae sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate the novel species. The holotype of Cy. dasilvae is CBS 16129(T) and the designated paratype is CBS 16584. The MycoBank number is 838252. All isolates of Cy. dasilvae were able to convert xylose into xylitol with maximum xylitol production within 60 and 72 h. The isolates produced xylitol with values ranging from 12.61 to 31.79 g l(-1) in yeast extract-peptone-xylose medium with 5\% xylose. When the isolates were tested in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate containing around 35-38 g l(-1) o-xylose, isolate UFMG-CM-Y519 showed maximum xylitol production.
Depletion of fossil fuels and the adverse impacts burning these fuels has increased the attention towards utilizing biomass energy sources, thus increasing the focus on Bio-Coke technology, which can fully convert biomass waste into alternative fuels. This study analyzed the characteristics of Bio-Coke con-version from biomass abundantly found in Malaysia, which included rice husk, rubber wood sawdust, coconut husk, sugarcane bagasse, oil palm frond, oil palm trunk and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Results indicated better physical feature characteristics of biomass solid fuel. For example, Bio-Coke produced from EFB showed an apparent density of 1.414 g/cm(3), combustion duration of 1664 s, and maximum compressive strength at room temperature (25 degrees C) and 700 degrees C of 95.107 and 9.412 MPa, respectively, which were found to be higher than that of wood pellet. This study showed Bio-Cokes can be potentially used as an alternative fuel to reduce the usage of coal coke in the future. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The fast depletion of fossil fuels is driving the research toward renewable fuels. Alcohols, which can be produced from agricultural wastes such as sugarcane bagasse and corn stalks, appear to be promising renewable fuels. Among the different alcohols, butanol which is higher chain alcohol is considered in this study. This study deals with the emission and performance characteristics of a direct injection (DI)-compression ignition (CI) engine operating with different butanol/diesel blends. Experiments were conducted with different butanol/diesel blends, with the butanol proportion in the blend varying from 0 to 50\% percentage (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50\%-by volume designated as Bu00, Bu10, Bu20, Bu30, Bu40, and Bu50). The engine performance with different butanol/diesel blends was compared to the engine performance with pure diesel. The experimental results revealed that as the fraction of butanol in the blend is increased, the emissions of CO, soot, and NOx decreased, whereas the unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC) emissions increased. Similarly, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) of the engine slightly improved with increase in the butanol fraction in the blend compared with diesel operation.
Solid state fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass by filamentous microorganisms to induced enzyme production has been recognized as an attractive and cost effective technology. The secretion profile of lignocellulolytic enzymes by thermostable filamentous Thermobifida fusca (T. fusca) in solid state fermentation of different lignocellulosic biomasses, such as corn stover, hay; saw dust; sugarcane bagasse; wood chips; and un-dried green plant were explored using label-free exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI) based quantitative proteomics. Comparative analyses of T. fusca secretion profiles between cellulose and the various lignocellulosic biomasses showed induced expression of cellulolytic proteins by cellulose, and expression of hemicellulose, pectin and lignin degrading enzymes were induced by lignocellulosic biomasses. The solid state fermentation by T. fusca on lignocellulosic biomasses also revealed increased expressions of various transport proteins and hypothetical proteins. The Bray-Curtis similarity indices, clustering, and multidimensional scaling plot explicated differential protein expressions by T. fusca on different lignocellulosic biomasses, indicating that protein secretion by T. fusca is reliant on substrate complexity. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This work investigated the effect of powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition on the operation of a membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating sugarcane molasses based distillery wastewater (spentwash). The 8 L reactor was equipped with a submerged 30 mu m nylon mesh filter with 0.05 m(2) filtration area. Detailed characterization of the commercial wood charcoal based PAC was performed before using it in the MBR. The MBR was operated over 200 days at organic loading rates (OLRs) varying from 4.2 to 6.9 kgm(-3)d(-1). PAC addition controlled the reactor foaming during start up and enhanced the critical flux by around 23\%; it also prolonged the duration between filter cleaning. Operation at higher loading rates was possible and for a given OLR, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was higher with PAC addition. However, biodegradation in the reactor was limited and the high molecular weight compounds were not affected by PAC supplementation. The functional groups on PAC appear to interact with the polysaccharicle portion of the sludge, which may reduce its propensity to interact with the nylon mesh. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The cogeneration system is the most inefficient unit a typical sugar mill. This paper evaluates the improvements in the exergy performance of a sugar-mill cogeneration system, through the integration of the absorption heat pump (AHP) and the organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technologies for waste-heat recovery. The cogeneration system was simulated in Aspen Plus (R) process simulator and its thermodynamic performance determined through exergy analysis. In addition to providing an alternative cooling for the mill, the AHP integration minimized the irreversibility of the deaerator, sugar-drying unit and the overall system by 51\%, 76\% and 0.14\%, respectively, saving 0.83\% of total bagasse combusted. The ORC increased the cogeneration system's exergy efficiency by 1.7\% by generating ``green{''
Agricultural wastes and leaves, which are classified as lignocellulosic biomass, have been used as substrates in the production of fungal foams due to the significant growth of the mushroom industry in recent years. Foam derived from fungi can be utilized in a variety of industrial applications, including the production of packaging materials. Here, white oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus florida) and yellow oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus citrinopileatus) were cultivated on rice husk, sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, and teak leaves. Fungal foams were produced after 30 days of incubation, which were then analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal analysis (TGA), and chemical structure using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Mechanical testing examined the material's hardness, resilience, and springiness, and water absorption tests were used to determine the durability of the fungal foams. Our findings demonstrated that fungal foams made from rice husk and teak leaves in both mycelium species showed better mechanical properties, thermal stability, and minimal water absorption compared to the other substrates, and can thus have great potential as efficient packaging materials.
A new synthesis method was developed to produce zinc-biochar nanocomposites from sugarcane bagasse. The modified biochar maintained 1.2 to 2.0 times higher removal efficiency than that of pristine biochar. FTIR, XPS, BET and SEM were used to analyse the physical and chemical properties of the composite adsorbent. Batch sorption experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption behavior of Cr(VI) by zinc-biochar. Experimental data were better fitted by a pseudo-second-order kinetics equation and the Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. The maximum adsorption of the modified biochar was observed at pH 2.0 with the sorption capacity of 102.66 mg g(-1). The adsorbed zinc-biochar could be effectively regenerated by 0.5 mol L-1 NaOH solution and the adsorption ability decreased from 84.16 to 59.75 mg g(-1) in the sixth cycle. In conclusion, the porous zinc-biochar showed great potential advantages in the removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater.
This study first aims to determine the physical characteristics of bioethanol from its dielectric properties during the production process. For this purpose, bioethanol samples were produced from sugarcane molasses under different fermentation conditions such as temperature and reaction time. The main permittivity properties, including dielectric constant and loss factor at various frequencies, were measured as the inputs, whereas flash point and octane number, as significant physical parameters, were considered as output variables. Linear regression (LR) models were developed to predict the relationships between predictors and targets. Next, four learning algorithms - multivariate regression splines (MARS), M5 tree, multilayer perceptron (MLP), and support vector regression (SVR) - were deployed to improve the models' performance. The results from LR models revealed that the flash point had a direct relationship with the dielectric constant and loss factor. However, the octane number was indirectly proportional to the dielectric properties. Also, analysis of the testing data set of learning algorithms indicated that the best algorithm for predicting the responses was MARS, whereas the SVR model performed with the lowest accuracy. The findings from this paper suggest that dielectric spectroscopy is a valuable approach for estimating the physical features of bioethanol.
Considering the various environmental and health problems that the increasing use of pesticides has been causing, it is necessary to optimize techniques aimed at their rapid degradation. Atrazine is a herbicide used to control weeds, especially in maize and sugarcane crops. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify the efficiency of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast in the degradation of the herbicide atrazine in soil contaminated with different concentrations of the commercial product The effect of addition of com straw on the experiment was also tested. In order to determine the amount of carbon dioxide (CO) released during the tests, which reflects the activity of the soil microorganism responsible for the degradation of organic compounds, the soil basal respiration technique was used. At the same time, the concentration of atrazine during the experiment (start time, at 7, 14, and 63 days) was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to the mass spectrometer (CG-MS). Through the statistical analysis of the basal respiration data of the soil, the bioaugmentation factor with yeast was the most significant, followed by the addition of corn straw, and the decline in atrazine concentration was verified through chromatographic analyses. Thus, it is suggested that bioremediation with S cerevisiae has the potential to increase the rates of degradation of the herbicide in the soil.
Sugar transporter-mediated sugar transport is the first rate-limiting step in the control of yeast metabolism. Almost all known wild-type sugar transporters do not have the ability to co-transport glucose and xylose, which makes yeast less available to mixed sugar substrates (e.g. lignocellulose hydrolysate) and leads to lower product titers. Here, we achieved co-utilization of glucose and xylose by the tolerant yeast Candida glycerinogenes and facilitated D-xylonate production through rational modification of the hexose transporter (transporter engineering). Specifically, a hexose transporter mutant CgHxt4.2A.S (CgHxt4(K9A,N351S,K538A)) with high membrane localization stability (MLS) and co-transport of glucose and xylose was obtained by functional characterization, homology modeling, molecular docking and rational mutagenesis. Ultimately, this mutant enhanced the utilization of sugars (especially xylose) by C. glycerinogenes and increased the titer of D-xylonate in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate by 49.3\%. Our study provides a promising strategy for the future efficient utilization of cheaper lignocellulosic hydrolysates by recombinant yeast for the production of high-value chemicals.
Global climate change induced by the emission of greenhouse gases may pose challenges to energy security. The vulnerability of energy sources, in particular of renewable sources, to climate change raises the need to identify adaptation measures. This paper applies an integrated resource planning approach to calculate least-cost adaptation measures to a set of projected climate impacts on the Brazilian power sector. The methodology used has the advantage of finding optimal solutions that take into consideration the whole energy chain and the interactions between energy supply and demand. Results point in the direction of an increased installed capacity based, mostly, on natural gas, but also sugarcane bagasse, wind power and coal/nuclear plants, to compensate for a lower reliability of hydroelectric production, amongst other impacts. The indirect effect of these results is the displacement of natural gas from other consuming sectors, such as industry, in favor of its use for power generation. Results obtained are, however, based on the techno-economic premises used in the simulation, which may vary in the long term. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The usage and application of agricultural biomass products in development of polymer nanocomposites is increasing due to the demand for green materials, depletion of natural resources and awareness of environmental issues. Lignocellulosic agricultural fibers such as sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, sorghum waste and maize stalk are increasingly investigated as an alternative to conventional and inorganic fillers such as carbon fiber, glass fiber and silica. This review provides an overview on the emerging cellulose nanomaterials, focusing on extraction procedures from lignocellulosic biomass, and on modification developments and applications of these materials in polymer matrices. In this regard, cellulose nanocrystals, cellulose nanofibrils and bacterial nanocellulose derived from biomass cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer, are increasingly applied to nanocomposites. Different range of biodegradable polymer matrices are described in this review (polylactide, polycaprolactone, and polyhydroxybutyrate) because of more eco-friendliness from their origin in contrast to the fully petroleum polymers in production of biopolymers nanocomposites. This family of composites offer a green alternative to synthetic polymers and represents the best polymeric substitutes for various (petro) polymers because of their renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility and good thermomechanical properties.
Two novel GH3 family thermostable beta-glucosidases from the filamentous fungus Chaetomium atrobrunneum (CEL3a and CEL3b) were expressed in Trichoderma reesei, purified by two-step ion exchange chromatography, and characterized. Both enzymes were active over a wide range of pH as compared to Neurospora crassa beta-glucosidase GH3-3, which was also expressed in T. reesei and purified. The optimum temperature of both C. atrobrunneum enzymes was around 60 degrees C at pH 5, and both enzymes had better thermal and pH stability and higher resistance to metallic compounds and to glucose inhibition than GH3-3. They also showed higher activity against oligosaccharides composed of glucose units and linked with beta-1,4-glycosidic bonds and moreover, had higher affinity for cellotriose over cellobiose. In hydrolysis tests against Avicel cellulose and steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse, performed at 45 degrees C, particularly the CEL3a enzyme performed similarly to N. crassa GH3-3 beta-glucosidase. Taking into account the thermal stability of the C. atrobrunneum beta-glucosidases, they both represent promising alternatives as enzyme mixture components for improved cellulose saccharification at elevated temperatures.
Effective conversion of xylose into ethanol is important for lignocellulosic ethanol production. In the present study, UV-C mutagenesis was used to improve the efficiency of xylose fermentation. The mutated Scheffersomyces shehatae strain TTC79 fermented glucose as efficiently and xylose more efficiently, producing a higher ethanol concentration than the wild-type. A maximum ethanol concentration of 29.04 g/L was produced from 71.31 g/L xylose, which was 58.95 \% higher than that of the wild-type. This mutant also displayed significantly improved hydrolysate inhibitors tolerance and increased ethanol production from non-detoxified lignocellulosic hydrolysates. The ethanol yield, productivity and theoretical yield by TTC79 from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate were 0.46 g/g, 0.20 g/L/h and 90.61 \%, respectively, while the corresponding values for the wild-type were 0.20 g/g, 0.04 g/L/h and 39.20 \%, respectively. These results demonstrate that S. shehatae TTC79 is a useful non-recombinant strain, combining efficient xylose consumption and high inhibitor tolerance, with potential for application in ethanol production from lignocellulose hydrolysates.
Rhizopus homothallicus (IRD13a) was cultivated for lipase production in solid state fermentation (SSF) using sugarcane bagasse as a support and impregnated with a liquid medium. The production of an extracellular lipase from Rh. homothallicus was improved by modification of media nutrients. The nutrients that mainly influenced growth and lipase production were urea, olive oil and oligo-elements. Kinetics of growth and lipase production were carried out using the improved medium. A correlation was found between the lipase production profile and the profiles Of CO2 production, O-2 consumption and pH changes. A maximum of 826 U/g DM was reached in only 12 h of incubation. This production represented a 60-fold increase of lipolytic activity compared to that obtained using a well known medium for lipase production. These results are promising because this strain produces high lipase concentrations in an inexpensive and simple medium, which facilitates its recovery and purification. Lipase extraction from the fermented solid was also studied. Efficient recovery of the enzyme was achieved using Triton X-100 at 0.5\% (w/v). (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Nowadays, the need for new materials is urgent due to the scarcity of conventional materials and energy resources. The environmental issue requires materials which are biodegradable. There are many composites, arranged from synthetic fibers and matrix, which cannot be recyclable after their lifetime. In this research, the utilization potency of zalacca midrib wastes for their fibers as composite reinforcement were investigated, especially after the alkaline treatment to improve their characteristics. The influence of alkaline treatment on the density, functional groups of the fiber surface, thermal stability and crystallinity were measured and/or analyzed by linear-density-and-diameter-calculation, FTIR, TGA-DTA and XRD, respectively. The result showed that the zalacca midrib fibers had lower density than synthetic fibers and several natural fibers. Analysis of FTIR spectra indicated that the alkaline treatment of NaOH slightly raised their density because it removed several functional groups which attributed to the hemicellulose and lignin. TGA-DTA analysis indicated that zalacca fibers had good thermal stability until temperature of 220 degrees C and it was improved by alkaline treatment. XRD analysis showed that the crystallinity of zalacca fibers was higher than several natural fibers like rice straw, sorghum stem and wheat straw fibers. Their crystallinity index was higher than wheat straw fiber. The alkaline treatment increases the crystallinity and crystallinity index rather than untreated fibers.
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different sources of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) biomass (20.0 g/d) obtained from sugarcane (cell wall, CW; dried yeast, DY; autolyzed yeast, AY) and the beer industry (partially dehydrated brewery yeast, BY) on milk production, fat and protein percentages, and aflatoxin M-1 (AFM(1)) excretion in milk from dairy cows receiving 480 mu g aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) per day. A completely randomized design was used with 2 lactating cows assigned to each of 10 dietary treatments, as follows: negative controls (no AFB(1) or SC-based biomass), positive controls (AFB(1) alone), DY alone, DY + AFB(1), BY alone, BY + AFB(1), CW alone, CW + AFB(1), AY alone, and AY + AFB(1). The cows in the aflatoxin treatment group received AFB(1) from d 1 to 6, while the SC biomass was administered with the AFB(1) bolus from d 4 to 6. Aflatoxin B-1 or SC-based products did not affect milk production or milk composition during the experimental period. Aflatoxin M-1 was detected in the milk from all aflatoxin treatment group cows, reaching maximum levels at d 3 and varying from 0.52 +/- 0.03 to 1.00 +/- 0.04 mu g/L. At end of the treatment period, CW, AY, DY, and BY removed 78\%, 89\%, 45\%, and 50\% of AFM(1) from the milk, respectively, based on the highest level found on d 3. Results indicate a potential application of industrial fermentation by-products, especially CW and AY, as a feed additive in the diets of dairy cows to reduce the excretion of AFM(1) in milk.
The leaves of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) are agricultural wastes that can be converted to bioethanol by separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) processes. The effect of dilute acid hydrolysis conditions such as acid concentration, sugarcane leave concentration and hydrolysis time on sugar production were investigated. The optimized conditions were at 1\%v/v of H2SO4, 100g/L of sugarcane leaves, and hydrolysis time 60min. The hydrolysate yielded sugar monomers at a concentration of 14.48g/L of xylose and 2.59g/L of glucose that was neutralized prior to fermentation. The fermentation process was carried out using shaken and unshaken stages. The shaken stage was maintained at 30 degrees C at 150rpm for 24h. It was found that Pichia stipitis BCC 15191 consumed only glucose then xylose after glucose depletion, while Candida shehatae TISTR 5843 used the both sugars concurrently in the exponential phase. Aggregation of P. stipitis BCC 15191 cells occurred during the stationary phase. Maximal ethanol yields of 0.21 and 0.20g (Ethanol)/g (Sugar consumptions) were obtained for C. shehatae TISTR 5843 and P. stipitis BCC 15191, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential value of this agricultural waste as a useful feedstock for biological generation of bioethanol.
Three laboratory scale biofilters filled with different packing materials (peat and sieved sugarcane bagasse) and operating with different microbial cultures (allochthonous and autochthonous bacteria) were run and monitored in parallel to assess the emission rate of airborne bacteria in the biofiltration of benzene-contaminated air streams. The effect of the fluid dynamic and loading conditions on the rate of microbial emission in the air environment was investigated by performing continuous experiments at different inlet benzene concentrations and superficial gas velocities. The experiments prove that the concentration of airborne bacteria in the effluent air from lab-scale biofilters is only slightly higher than in the ambient air. The emission rate is not dependent on superficial gas velocity because of low shear stress exerted by the gas flow. On the other hand, the loading conditions have a strong effect on the emission rate, which increases with increasing growth and degradation rate, and different packing media show remarkably different behaviors. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An efficient simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) at high-solid loading are keys to the successful commercialization of lignocellulose-based process. In the present work, technological and economical potentials of high-solid SSF for sugarcane bagasse-to-ethanol conversion process {[
As the traditionally used plastic remains and accumulates in the environment, new biodegradable materials and, preferably, from renewable raw materials, need to be developed. In this regard, this study investigates the influence of xylan from sugarcane bagasse on the mechanical and chemical properties of bioplastics composed of starch and glycerol as a plasticizer. All bioplastics produced have a total proportion of sugars equal to 5\% (w/w total mass of the filmogenic solution), and xylan is present in 5, 10, 25, and 50\% of the total mass of polysaccharides. Bioplastic-forming solutions were gelatinized and dried by the casting method. Bioplastic solubility in water and its opacity increase as the xylan content increases-the first range between 20.31 and 44.16\%, and the latter between 0.44 and 9.77\%, with only starch and 50\% (w/w) xylan, respectively. The presence of xylan also makes the bioplastics more hydrophilic and less crystalline, and interferes with their mechanical proprieties, while 5 and 10\% (w/w) xylan bioplastics have higher tensile stresses, equal to 2.35 and 2.56 MPa, respectively. The elongation at break is greater in bioplastics composed of only starch (208.8\%), and 15.8 and 19.3\% elongation is reached to the amount of xylan of 25 and 50\%, respectively. The bioplastics are completely biodegraded after being buried for 30 days. Starch and xylan (5 and 10\%) combination improves the mechanical properties of the film, causing no significant changes in its solubility and producing biodegradable and less opaque bioplastics, with potential application in packaging for transporting seedlings, for example.
Several fungal endophytes of the Egyptian marine sponge Latrunculia corticata were isolated, including strains Trichoderma sp. Merv6, Penicillium sp. Merv2 and Aspergillus sp. Merv70. These fungi exhibited high cellulase activity using different lignocellulosic substrates in solid state fermentations (SSF). By applying mutagenesis and intergeneric protoplast fusion, we have obtained a recombinant strain (Tahrir-25) that overproduced cellulases (exo-beta-1,4-glucanase, endo-beta-1,4-glucanase and beta-1,4-glucosidase) that facilitated complete cellulolysis of agricultural residues. The process parameters for cellulase production by strain Tahrir-25 were optimized in SSF. The highest cellulase recovery from fermentation slurries was achieved with 0.2\% Tween 80 as leaching agent. Enzyme production was optimized under the following conditions: initial moisture content of 60\% (v/w), inoculum size of 10(6) spores ml(-1), average substrate particle size of 1.0 mm, mixture of sugarcane bagasse and corncob (2:1) as the carbon source supplemented with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and corn steep solids, fermentation time of 7 days, medium pH of 5.5 at 30A degrees C. These optimized conditions yielded 450, 191, and 225 units/gram dry substrate (U gds(-1)) of carboxylmethyl cellulase, filter-paperase (FPase), and beta-glucosidase, respectively. Subsequent fermentation by the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae NRC2, using lignocellulose hydrolysates obtained from the optimized cellulase process produced the highest amount of ethanol (58 g l(-1)). This study has revealed the potential of exploiting marine fungi for cost-effective production of cellulases for second generation bioethanol processes.
Sugarcane bagasse is a residue with great potential as a feedstock for second-generation ethanol production. One of the approaches studied for making use of this material is the utilization of enzymes to hydrolyze the cell wall carbohydrates and generate fermentable sugars. These enzymes can be produced by cultivation of filamentous fungi or bacteria; however, the high production cost still represents a bottleneck to second-generation ethanol production. Expression of recombinant hydrolases through a co-culture strategy could be an interesting alternative for producing a recombinant cocktail at high levels of productivity that is tailor-made for each material to be hydrolyzed. In this study we evaluate the production of hydrolases by co-culturing two recombinant Escherichia coli, each expressing a specific hydrolase, beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase or beta-1,4-xylanase, both isolated from Bacillus subtilis. The cultures were conducted in bioreactors in batch and fed-batch mode in order to reach high cell densities. Co-culture in batch cultivation reached a dry cell weight of 10.4 g/L and volumetric activities of 31.96 U/mL and 11.89 U/mL for xylanase and endoglucanase, respectively. Fed-batch cultivation reached a dry cell weight of 60 g/L and the volumetric activities of xylanase and endoglucanase were respectively up to 5 and 1.3 times higher than those in batch mode. A competition assay indicates that no clone predominates over the other during cultivation. These results suggest that co-culture is a potential technique for producing recombinant hydrolase cocktails at lower cost than those associated with the production of a single culture. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are ubiquitous chemical compounds in the environment due to contamination of air, water, or soil. They are primarily sourced from fossil fuel combustion, mining and smelting, electroplating, dyes and pigments, agricultural treatments, and plastic and metallic industries. These chemical contaminants can produce various adverse effects when they enter the human body and can also affect crops and aquatic ecosystems. To address these issues, researchers are developing various techniques, including ion exchange, membrane filtration, photocatalysis, electrochemical methods, bioadsorption, and combinations of these processes, to reduce the levels of these contaminants, especially from wastewater. Among these methods, bioadsorption has gained much attention due to its high efficiency, low cost, and abundance of adsorbent materials. Agricultural byproducts used as biosorbents include rice husk and bran, citrus peel, banana peel, coconut husk, sugarcane bagasse, soybean hulls, walnut and almond shells, coconut fiber, barley straws, and many others. Biosorption capacity can be described using adsorption kinetic models such as Elovich, Ritchie's, and pseudo-second-order models, as well as different adsorption isotherm models such as Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin isotherm, and BET models. Both conventional processes and adsorption models are influenced by parameters such as pH, agitation speed, contact time, particle size, concentration of the adsorbent material, initial concentration of the contaminant, and the type of modifying agent used. This review paper aims to examine the low-cost adsorbents and their removal efficiency and bioadsorption capacity for different PTEs present in wastewater, and their potential as decontamination methods.
A replicated 5 x 5 Latin square design with a 2 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to determine the effects of bismuth subsalicylate (BSS) and encapsulated calcium ammonium nitrate (eCAN) on ruminal fermentation of beef cattle consuming bahiagrass hay (Paspalum notatum) and sugarcane molasses. Ten ruminally cannulated steers (n = 8; 461 +/- 148 kg of body weight {[
Cultivating high-value deposit feeders such as sea cucumbers on solid waste from intensive aquaculture is an innovative approach to turn potential nutrient pollution into a resource. Carbon supplementation to increase the carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N) of the nitrogen-rich aquaculture waste has been demonstrated to support higher deposit feeder biomass, but commercially viable carbon sources remain to be tested. This experiment investigated the performance of laboratory grade cellulose and bagasse, an agricultural waste product, to improve growth and nutrient utilization from milkfish aquaculture waste in juveniles of the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra. Supplementation with bagasse supported a significantly higher final biomass density (205.71 +/- 11.08 g m(-2), mean +/- SE) than waste without carbon supplementation (p = 0.027). For the first time, a species-specific trophic enrichment factor (Delta C-13(org)) was applied in stable isotope analysis of feed sources by H. scabra (Delta C-13(org) of 2.56 +/- 0.96\%. (mean +/- SD) for the internal organs and 4.31 +/- 0.96 degrees\% for the body wall). Results indicated that sea cucumbers were able to assimilate carbon directly from the cellulose. Bagasse supported higher uptake of carbon from aquaculture waste, thus identifying it as a viable resource to improve bioremediation by deposit feeding sea cucumbers in integrated aquaculture. While illustrating the importance of nutrient balances for bioremediation, questions remain about the roles of direct feeding by deposit feeders vs. the decomposition by microbial communities.
Androstenone production is limited by low-efficiency substrate transport and dissolved oxygen levels during fermentation. In this study, the coexpression of the optimized Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) and sterol transporter ATPase (MceG) genes in Mycobacterium sp. LZ2 (Msp) was investigated to alleviate dissolved oxygen and mass transfer limitations. Results revealed that Msp-vgb/mceG effectively improved the growth, production, and adaptation to dissolved oxygen compared with those of Msp. The increased catalase activity and reduced intracellular ROS levels enhanced cell viability and promoted transcription of genes critical for phytosterol metabolism. Bagasse as an immobilization carrier increased the productivity of Msp-vgb/mceG by 56\%. Immobilized repeat batch fermentation reduced the biotransformation period from 60 days to 37 days and improved the productivity from 0.039 g/L/h to 0.069 g/L/h. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first study on the immobilization of recombinant mycobacteria on bagasse for androstenone production.
First-generation sugarcane ethanol production is a well-established technology. However, second-generation ethanol is not yet consolidated in industries. Under these circumstances, this work presents a multi-objective optimization of this process focusing on economic and environmental objectives. The impact of the Brazilian decarbonization program on an integrated biorefinery is analyzed, considering a first-generation ethanol conventional autonomous distillery and a second-generation process with hydrothermal pre-treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation of the xylose liquor. The economic metric was the Net Present Value and the environmental assessment was based on the plant inventory considering Global Warming Potential. A multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm was used, considering the ratio of bagasse diverted to the second-generation process, enzyme loading and solid fraction in the hydrolysis reactor as optimization variables. The carbon credit price was estimated for each point in the Pareto set in order to make the process economically feasible. As the main conclusions, there is a trade-off between economic and environmental targets, indicating that carbon credits may be essential for second-generation ethanol economic feasibility. The optimized integrated biorefinery is able to increase ethanol production by approximately 24\% compared to first-generation biorefineries, but an increase in ethanol production higher than 13\% would make the process economically unfeasible, while the decarbonization credits are not being commercialized. A price of \$ 15.77 for decarbonization credits would make it possible to produce 20\% more ethanol, keeping the integrated biorefinery economically feasible. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This paper evaluates the suitability of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and waste marble dust (WMD) on the geotechnical properties of Palygorskite-rich expansive clays located in northwest Pakistan. These problematic soils exhibit undesirable characteristics which greatly affect the pavements, boundary walls, slab-on-grade members, and other civil engineering infrastructures. A series of geotechnical tests were performed on soil specimens using prescribed percentages of the aforementioned Ca-based stabilizer materials (CSMs). The investigation includes X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) Analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) tests, and physicomechanical properties such as moisture-density relationship, Atterberg's limits, swell pressure, and an ANN-based sensitivity analyses of overall swell pressure development. The outcomes of these experimental investigations showed that the addition of CSMs into the expansive soils increased to 4\% SCBA and 10\% WMD, the plasticity index reduced by 30\% and 49\%, the volumetric swell decreased from approximately 49\% to 86\% and 63\%, and the swelling pressure reduction was from 189kPa to 120kPa and 160kPa (about 15\% and 36\%), respectively. It is interesting to note that replacement with specified CSM accelerated the strength of soil at extended curing periods and the optimum improvement in the strength behavior of the soil was also recorded. Moreover, with addition of the respective CSMs, the compactability and strength characteristics were ameliorated, while plasticity was significantly lowered. Given the amount of SCBA and WMD produced annually, their utilization for the stabilization of problematic soils, even in relatively low concentrations, could potentially have a substantial impact on the sustainable reuse of these waste materials.
This study developed a geographical information system-based methodology to maximize the environmental and economic efficiency of large-scale energy plants using different types of biomass. As a precursor to the optimization modelling, multi-criteria spatial analyses and then transport cost optimization are applied taking into account spatial biomass availability and existing road networks, in order to identify optimal biomass energy plant sites for different combinations of biomass types. A geographical information system integrated with a capacitated maximal covering location problem model was employed to assign biomass supply points to biomass energy plants. Capacity limits of the plants and a defined maximum transportation distance were taken into consideration. The resulting information was used to examine major challenges in establishing a large-scale biomass energy plant, biomass supply logistics, environment cost and anticipated traffic congestion. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out to review the influence of plant capacity and maximum transportation distance on economic and environmental sustainability. The proposed methodology was employed utilizing agricultural and forest residues for bioelectricity generation in Queensland, Australia. It was found that 100\% bagasse had the highest eco-efficiency for bioelectricity generation from multiple biomass combinations. In contrast, the combination of 70\% sawmill residues and 30\% forest harvest residues showed the lowest level of traffic congestion (2 trucks per hour). In addition, the impact of traffic congestion of bulky sugarcane residues can be reduced by adding forest residues to the biomass supply. The advantages of the resulting solution are further enhanced when social impacts such as energy security, new income opportunities and job creation are taken into account in addition to the sustainability aspects.
A survey on feeding practices was conducted with thirty-one cattle farmers belonging to three categories: households without land and no income from agricultural labour (Class 100;10 farms), households without land but deriving considerable income from agricultural labour (Class 101;10 farms), and households with land and without income from agricultural labour (Class 110;11 farms). Information on the types of feeds given to cattle, amounts of feed offered and refused, and chest girth measurements were recorded every two weeks for a period of one year. In addition, samples of the feeds offered and refused were collected every two weeks and analysed for dry matter, organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (OMD). Grass was usually cut at an early stage of growth, as such the CP (11.8\%) and OMD (62\%) were relatively high. All types of rice straw (whole, lower and upper part) and sugarcane forage (tops and leaves) were low in CP (<6 and <8.9\%, respectively) and OMD (<45 and <47\%, respectively). Rice bran and tofu waste was of much better quality than any other feed. The average number of different feeds in the rations (mean of all farms) was 1.98, with a lower value for class 101 (1.80), than for classes 100 and 110 (2.11 and 2.02, respectively). Of the total amount of OM consumed, 42\% was rice straw, 21\% grass, 19\% maize forage, 10\% sugarcane forage, <4\% other forages (soya and groundnut straw), 1.3\% rice bran and 2.9\% tofu waste. The total amount of OM offered varied from <80 g/kg(0.75)/d in August/September to 1.5 times as much in May (p<0.01). The intake of digestible organic matter (IDOM) for farm class 110 (37.7 g/kg(0.75)/d) was significantly (p<0.001) lower than that for classes 100 and 101 (44.1 and 41.3 g/kg(0.75)/d, respectively). The highest CP/IDOM ratio was recorded for farm class 101 (0.201 as compared to 0.181-0.184).
This work investigates the influence of banana (Musa Sapientum) and jute fibers as a reinforcement in a cement/waste brown paper pulp matrix for applications in housing construction in Nigeria. The natural fibers were extracted from banana trunk and cocoa sack and, thereafter, treated with 1-M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 2 h to expose the lignin and cellulose and thus expose the hemicellulose content of the fibers. The treated fibers were allowed to dry in air for 7 days before cutting into short fibers of 10 mm length. Paper pulp was prepared by soaking waste brown cardboard papers in water for 24 h, thereafter, it was grinded in the paper pulp machine to form a paper pulp slurry, and then sun-dried for 5 days. The treated fibers were thoroughly mixed with the dried paper pulp to develop Fiber Cement Board (FCB) samples of varied weight content (5, 10, 15, and 20) w/\% using the hand lay-up technique with the aid of a cold compacting machine. Thereafter, an appropriate quantity of cement as binder and treated sugarcane bagasse as filler material were added to the mix. The developed FCB samples were allowed to cure in air in the laboratory for 28 days before testing. Flexural, compressive, thermal conductivity, and water absorption tests were carried out on the samples using a universal testing machine, Lee's disk apparatus, and the percentage weight of different immersed samples in water, respectively. The results of the mechanical properties examined showed that FCB sample D containing (10 w/\% banana fiber, 10 w/\% jute fiber, 15 w/\% cement/bagasse and 65 w/\% paper pulp) gave the optimum results for the flexural and compressive properties with a respective value of 0.843 MPa and 7.333 MPa, while FCB sample F gave the best results for the thermal conductivity and water-absorption property.
Shock treatment is a novel mechanical pretreatment process that, when combined with oxidative lime pretreatment, greatly increases the digestibility of biomass. This work determined the effectiveness of shock treatment on multiple feedstocks (sugarcane bagasse, corn stover, poplar wood, sorghum, and switchgrass), determined recommended shock treatment conditions for corn stover, and compared cellulose crystallinity and copper number of raw and shock-treated samples. At an enzyme loading of 5 FPU/g raw glucan, the combination of oxidative lime pretreatment (OLP) and shock treatment increased 72-h glucan digestibility (g glucan digested/100 g glucan treated) of corn stover from 15.3 (untreated) to 84.6 (OLP + shock). The other four biomass types showed similar gains in glucan digestibility when compared to the respective untreated biomass: + 55.7 (bagasse), + 76.3 (poplar wood), + 48.2 (sorghum), and + 73.1 (switchgrass). Recommended shock treatment conditions show that a single shock at room temperature with never-frozen biomass produces the most digestible corn stover.
This work illustrates the vermistabilization of wastewater sludge from a milk processing industry (MPIS) unit spiked with cow dung (CD), sugarcane trash (ST) and wheat straw (WS) employing earthworms Eisenia fetida. A total of nine experimental vermibeds were established and changes in chemical parameters of waste material have been observed for 90 days. Vermistabilization caused significant reduction in pH, organic carbon and C:N ratio and substantial increase in total N, available P and exchangeable K. The waste mixture containing MPIS (60\%) + CD (10\%) + ST (30\%) and MPIS (60\%) + CD (10\%) + WS (30\%) had better waste mineralization rate among waste mixtures studied. The earthworm showed better biomass and cocoon numbers in all vermibeds during vermicomposting operation. Results, thus suggest the suitability of E. fetida for conversion of noxious industrial waste into value-added product for land restoration programme. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Food waste is one of the wastes that is being generated about every day. It would be a waste if the generated waste is ignored, neglected and just being disposed of without using the benefits that are in the food waste. The aim of this study is to find the best way for food waste recovery by using effective microbes (EM). There are three different parameters used in this study. The parameters are the method of drying the food wastes, the presence of Effective Microbes (EM) after the drying of food wastes and the addition of wheat pollard. An effective microbe is a combination of anaerobic microorganisms in a liquid. The effective microbe is activated by mixing the EM 1 with molasses and water with the ratio of 1: 1: 20 and is left for a week. Molasses is a thick liquid of sugar from the plant such as sugarcane. The food waste went through three processes for it to be recovered which are drip the food waste leaching water at the designated table, grind the food waste and lastly dry it. Before grinding, the coconut pulp was added to the food waste. The food waste is analysed based on four analyses. The four analyses are moisture content, protein analysis, E-coli analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis (FTIR). Moisture content was done to analyse the amount of water in the food waste by using the weight before and after the drying process. Two types of drying process were used in this study; drying by oven and conventional fan. Based on moisture content, the best drying method is by using the oven. The result shows that the moisture content is 28\% when the sample dried using an oven compared to a conventional fan (51.4\%). Protein analysis and E-Coli analysis are conducted to find an amount of protein and E-coli respectively in the sample. Fourier-transform infrared is an analyzing process to observe the absorption spectra of the food.
Ethanol production from non-edible feedstock has received significant attention over the past two decades. The utilisation of agricultural residues within the biorefinery concept can positively contribute to the renewable production of fuels. To this end, this study proposes the utilisation of bagasse in a hybrid conversion route for ethanol production. The main steps of the process are the gasification of the raw material followed by syngas fermentation to ethanol. Aspen plus was utilised to rigorously design the biorefinery coupled with Matlab to perform process optimisation. Based on the simulations, ethanol can be produced at a rate of 283L per dry tonne of bagasse, achieving energy efficiency of 43\% and according to the environmental analysis, is associated with low CO2 emissions. The conduction of a typical discounted cash flow analysis resulted in a minimum ethanol selling price of 0.69 \$L-1. The study concludes with multiobjective optimisation setting as objective functions the conflictive concepts of total investment costs and exergy efficiency. The total cost rate of the system is minimised whereas the exergy efficiency is maximised by using a genetic algorithm. This way, various process configurations and trade-offs between the investigated criteria were analysed for the proposed biorefinery system.
During biofuel production, acid pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstock leads to formation of toxic by-products, such as furfural and 5-hydroxy-2-methylfurfural (HMF), which inhibit the downstream enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. An efficient and environment friendly process for removal of these inhibitors is essential. Earlier, we reported a bacterium, Bordetella sp. BTIITR, which exhibited capability to selectively degrade HMF and furfural from lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor without significant consumption of sugars. In the present study, Bordetella sp. BTIITR was immobilized within chitosan beads and the beads were utilized to detoxify hydrolysate liquors. The immobilized cells were able to degrade 93\% HMF + 100\% furfural and 86\% HMF + 100\% furfural in 20 h at pH 8 and temperature of 40 degrees C from simulated and sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate liquors, respectively. Immobilized cells were able to detoxify lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor at broader range of operating pH, temperature and inhibitor concentration as compare to the free cells. Further, the immobilized cells were successfully reused for seven consecutive cycles of operations with nearly constant degradation efficiency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on successful utilization of the immobilized cells for biodetoxification of lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor to improve bioethanol production.
In this study, the solid residue (bio-char) produced from co-pyrolysis of municipal sewage sludge (MSS)-sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was activated through a chemical activation method using phosphoric acid. The resulting activated bio-char was utilized for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and colour of pulp and paper industry wastewater obtained from conventional secondary treatment process to explore the recycling potential in the pulp and paper manufacturing process itself. In contrast to bio-char, activated bio-char showed higher surface area (50 times), total pore volume (10 times) and lower average diameter (5 times). Honeycomb shape in SEM image and existence of functional groups in FTIR spectra attributed to such a significant improvement. Results of adsorption experiments revealed that COD and colour was reduced by 84.61\% and 98.03\%, respectively at an optimized 3 pH with activated biochar doses of 0.14 g/L in 20 h. Moreover, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model was observed best suited to obtained equilibrium. Copyright (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Chemical Engineering Conference 2021 (100 Glorious Years of Chemical Engineering \& Technology).
This study analyses the Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) potential in Brazil and evaluates the impact caused by a large-scale integration of this alternative into the Brazilian electricity system in the long term (horizon 2040). Four types of CSP plants with parabolic troughs (simple plants, plants with hybridization and plants with thermal energy storage) were simulated at two sites: Bom Jesus da Lapa and Campo Grande. Then, the main parameters obtained for each plant were expanded to other suitable Brazilian sites, as inputs in an optimization model for the expansion of the country's electric power grid. Findings indicate that the least-cost expansion of the Brazilian electricity system should be based on hydroelectric and thermoelectric plants fueled by natural gas and sugarcane bagasse. Hence, in the base scenario CSP plants would not be chosen. However, in an alternative scenario, specific auctions for CSP can be adopted. In this case, the first solar plants would be introduced in 2020 in place of natural gas-fueled thermoelectric plants, and from 2030 on, hydroelectric plants would cease to be installed. This alternative scenario would be about 144 billion dollars dearer than the base. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Humicola grisea var. thermoidea is a deuteromycete which secretes a large spectrum of hydrolytic enzymes when grown on lignocellulosic residues. This study focused on the heterologous expression and recombinant enzyme analysis of the major secreted cellulase when the fungus is grown on sugarcane bagasse as the sole carbon source. Cellobiohydrolase 1.2 (CBH 1.2) cDNA was cloned in Pichia pastoris under control of the AOX1 promoter. Recombinant protein (rCBH1.2) was efficiently produced and secreted as a functional enzyme, presenting a molecular mass of 47 kDa. Maximum enzyme production was achieved at 96 h, in culture medium supplemented with 1.34 \% urea and 1 \% yeast extract and upon induction with 1 \% methanol. Recombinant enzyme exhibited optimum activity at 60 A degrees C and pH 8, and presented a remarkable thermostability, particularly at alkaline pH. Activity was evaluated on different cellulosic substrates (carboxymethyl cellulose, filter paper, microcrystalline cellulose and 4-para-nitrophenyl beta-d-glucopyranoside). Interestingly, rCBH1.2 presented both exoglucanase and endoglucanase activities and mechanical agitation increased substrate hydrolysis. Results indicate that rCBH1.2 is a potential biocatalyst for applications in the textile industry or detergent formulation.
The effect of polymeric substances such as alpha-cellulose, birchwood xylan, corn hull, and sugarcane bagasse, and of soluble sugars such as L-arabinose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-Xylose, and cellobiose, on the induction of multienzyme complexes in a facultatively anaerobic bacterium, Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus B-6, was investigated under aerobic conditions. Cells and culture supernatants of strain B-6 grown on different carbon sources were analyzed. Cells grown on each carbon source adhered to cellulose. Hence strain B-6 cells from all carbon sources must have an essential component responsible for anchoring the cells to the substrate surfaces. Native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native-PAGE), sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), zymogram analysis, and enzymatic assays indicated that many proteins having xylanolytic and cellulolytic activities from P. curdlanolyticus B-6 grown on each carbon source were produced as two multienzyme complexes in the culture supernatants. These results indicate that P. curdlanolyticus B-6 produced multienzyme complexes when grown on both polymeric and soluble sugars. The multienzyme complexes of P. curdlanolyticus B-6 consisted of the main enzymes and non-enzymatic subunits and the production of some different subunits, depending on the carbon source.
The adsorption method may be one of the environmentally friendly, economical, and effective techniques to remove phenol from wastewater using low-cost adsorbent activated carbon (AC). The effects of the initial concentration of phenol, temperature, and time of the adsorption on the phenol removal percent were studied. The maximum removal percentage of phenol was 63.73\% of the initial 150 mg/l concentration obtained at 25 degrees C. Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models have been applied to study the adsorption equilibrium. The results show that both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms fitted the equilibrium data better with a high correlation coefficient (R-2) and a maximum adsorption capacity of 108.70 mg/g. Thorough fitting of adsorption kinetics data followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated in the temperature range of 25-50 degrees C. The results show that the adsorption process of phenol on AC is more favorable at low temperatures.
Biochar has been suggested as a soil supplement to improve soil fertility. The world is covered in microplastics (MPs). A pot greenhouse experiment was carried out to examine the effects of polystyrene (PS), sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBB), and their interactions (PS x SBB) on the CO2 emission and rice yield in a rice paddy calcareous soil. The largest CO2 emissions occurred 35-40 days following rice planting, which corresponds to the tillering stages of rice growth. Higher CO2 emissions were detected after SBB treatment. Our findings showed that applying PS increased CO2 emissions in our soil samples. Our research revealed that adding SBB can boosted the negative effects of PS in the soil. The co-application of SBB and PS increased PS's stimulation of the CO2 emissions. We infer that PS-SBB interactions have an impact on global warming potential, microbial community activity, and CO2 emissions. Both SBB rates resulted in a significant increase in biomass and rice grain. Our research indicates that PS has a detrimental effect on rice grain output and biomass, but that the addition of SBB can slightly lessen these effects.
The aims of this work were to study the C2H4 adsorption capacity of different types of activated carbon and to improve ethylene removal by impregnating activated carbon with palladium. The results showed that synthesized activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse (SAC) can effectively remove ethylene and carbon dioxide. In addition, a SAC adsorbent was developed by the addition of 1\% wt. palladium. It was found that the addition of Pd increased the efficiency of ethylene and carbon dioxide removal resulting in slow ripening of bananas with the lowest C2H4 and CO2 concentration of 2.85 \& mu;L/kg.h and 11.2 x 103 \& mu;L/kg.h, respectively. In addition, the color of banana combined with 1\%Pd/SAC material after 10 days of storage was slightly different with the initial one at the beginning of storage (day 0) and was greener than the banana combined with other adsorbent materials. The loss of banana weight and the digestion of starch to sugar are also low. Therefore, Pd/SAC adsorbent material can effectively maintain the quality of bananas and eliminate ethylene that negatively affects banana quality.
In this study, chitosan and bio-based activated carbon obtained from sugarcane bagasse biowaste were used for the synthesis of efficient sorbent for Cu(II) and Cd(II) ion via precipitation method. The prepared material was enriched with amino groups through grafting tetraethylenepentamine and tested for heavy metal remediation from water samples. The influence of pH was investigated showing optimum sorption at pH 6 for Cu(II) and Cd(II). Sorption tests, explained by means of the most common sorption models, evidenced that the best performances were reached pointing out the promising application of the prepared sorbent for water purification treatments: Uptake kinetics are relatively fast: the equilibrium was reached within 140 min; and the kinetic profiles were preferentially fitted by the pseudo-second order rate equation. Sorption isotherms are fitted by Langmuir equation. The sorbent showed high metal ion sorption capacity with negligible influence of ion strength. The maximum sorption capacities reached 3.44 and 2.38 mmol g(- 1) for Cu(II) and Cd(II), respectively at 298 K. Thermodynamic parameters were evaluated through variation of temperature. The sorption is unfavorable at elevated temperatures. Metal ions were successfully desorbed using 1 M HNO3 solution.
Rice plants accumulate cadmium (Cd2+) within the grain, increasing the danger of human exposure. Natural materials have been used in soil remediation, but few studies have examined the risks (based on the bioavailability of these metals to plants) of using these materials, so the practice remains controversial. In the present study, we evaluated the effectiveness of biochar produced from sugarcane bagasse, vermicompost (VC), vermicompost solid residue (VCR) and humin for remediation of Cd2+-contaminated soils. We characterized the interactions between these materials and Cd2+ and evaluated their capacity to alter Cd2+ availability to rice plants. Our results show that under the conditions in this study, biochar and humin were not effective for soil remediation. Although biochar had high Cd2+ retention, it was associated with high Cd2+ bioavailability and increased Cd2+ accumulation in rice plants. VC and VCR had high Cd2+ retention capacity as well as low Cd2+ availability to plants. These characteristics were especially notable for VCR, which was most effective for soil remediation. The results of our study demonstrate that in the tested materials, the bioavailability of Cd2+ to plants is related to their structural characteristics, which in turn determine their retention of Cd2+.
Saccharum officinarum bagasse (common name: sugarcane bagasse) and Pennisetum purpureum (also known as Napier grass) are among the most promising feedstocks for bioethanol production in Argentina and Brazil. In this study, both biomasses were assessed before and after acid pretreatment and following hydrolysis with Nasutitermes aquilinus and Cortaritermes fulviceps termite gut digestome. The chemical composition analysis of the biomasses after diluted acid pretreatment showed that the hemicellulose fraction was partially removed. The (hemi) cellulolytic activities were evaluated in bacterial culture supernatants of termite gut homogenates grown in treated and untreated biomasses. In all cases, we detected significantly higher endoglucanase and xylanase activities using pretreated biomasses compared to untreated biomasses, carboxymethylcellulose and xylan. Several protein bands with (hemi) cellulolytic activity were detected in zymograms and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Some proteins of these bands or spots were identified as xylanolytic peptides by mass spectrometry. Finally, the diversity of cultured cellulolytic bacterial endosymbionts associated to both Argentinean native termite species was analyzed. This study describes, for the first time, bacterial endosymbionts and endogenous (hemi) cellulases of two Argentinean native termites as well as their potential application in degradation of lignocellulosic biomass for bioethanol production.
The use of a method of an effective delignification of lignocellulosic biomass is a key stage of designing processes of its microbiological conversion e.g. for the purposes of the production of cellulosic ethanol. The study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of microwave-assisted hydrotropic pretreatment using sodium cumene sulfonate (NaCS) for the delignification of pine and beech chips and wheat straw. Research results presenting the impact of process parameters of microwave-assisted hydrotropic delignification confirm a high effectiveness of this method of pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass. The observed effects included changes in the composition of the biomass and an increased susceptibility of cellulose to the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. The use of microwave heating combined with an addition of hydrotrope of 40\% w/v NaCS and 117 PSI for 60 min enabled a reduction of the absolute concentration of lignins by 36.58\% in pine chips, by 57.68\% in beech chips, and by 74.08\% in wheat straw. After enzymatic hydrolysis was conducted, the highest concentration of glucose: 463.27 +/- 11.25 mg glucose/g (hydrolysis yield 46.76 +/- 1.14\%) was obtained from the wheat straw, while 327.70 +/- 22.15 mg glucose/g (hydrolysis yield 35.13 +/- 2.37\%) was acquired from the beech chips, and only 50.77 +/- 0.75 mg glucose/g (hydrolysis yield 6.63 +/- 0.10\%) was obtained from the pine chips. Microwave-assisted hydrotropic delignification in the optimum process conditions additionally allows a complete removal of hemicellulose from biomass, which improves the effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis. Due to a significant reduction of lignin and hemicellulose concentration in biomass, cellulose-which is susceptible to enzymatic hydrolysis and a source of carbon in biosynthesis processes-becomes the main biomass component.
Release of alkali and alkaline earth metallic (AAEM) species was examined during pyrolysis of pulverized pine and sugarcane bagasse. The use of a wire-mesh reactor enabled the investigation of the primary release of AAEM species from pyrolyzing particles suppressing secondary interaction between them. Upon heating the pine at 1000 degrees C s(-1) up to 800 degrees C, 15-20\% of each AAEM species was released during the tar evolution and afterward. Further isothermal heating caused nearly complete release of alkalis within 150 s, while the release of alkaline earths terminated at levels of 20-40\%. Heating the pine at 1 degrees C s(-1) up to 800 degrees C brought about the release of AAEM species mainly after the tar evolution. Chlorides of AAEM species were found to be very minor volatiles over the range of conditions. Variations in K release with operating variables were reasonably explained by considering that elemental K volatilized from the char-bonded AAEM species was a major volatile K species. None of AAEM species were significantly released when a fixed bed of the pine was heated at 1 degrees C s(-1) up to 900 degrees C without forced gas flow through the bed. It was suggested that repeated desorption from and adsorption onto the char surface within the fixed bed inhibited the release of AAEM species from the fixed bed and resultantly allowed them to transform into thermally stable char-bonded ones and/or nonvolatiles such as silicates.
The hydrogen (H-2) fermentative Clostridium hydrogenum sp. nov. strain CUEA01 was isolated from a mangrove sediment in Thailand. Genome sequencing and analysis revealed a genome size of 5,501,482 bp that encoded for 3,292 predicted protein coding genes with annotated functional assignments and many genes associated with carbon utilization and H-2 evolution. The H-2 production performance was evaluated in batch fermentation, and revealed that this strain can grow and produce H-2 at a broad range of temperatures (15-40 degrees C), pH (4-10), and initial glucose concentrations (5-60 g/L). The maximum H2 yield (3.11 molH(2)/molglucose) was obtained at 37 degrees C, pH 8, and an initial glucose concentration of 10 g/L. Furthermore, this strain could utilize various carbon sources, including xylose, xylan, starch, mannose, glycerol, and avicel cellulose, amongst others. Additionally, CUEA01 was compatible with agro-industrial wastes and could achieve a maximum CHP of 4639 mL/L and 4024 mL/L from sugarcane molasses and cassava pulp, respectively. This demonstrates that CUEA01 has a potential for H-2 fermentation from complex organic wastes since it can secrete enzyme cocktails that consolidate the fermentation process. (c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Soil salinity and sodicity are global problems since both promote the physical, chemical and biological degradation of soil, jeopardising the productive capacity of agricultural fields. Inorganic correctives or organic inputs are applied as an attempt to reduce the problem, alongside the use of salt-tolerant plants. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of organic inputs on the growth of neem (Azadirachta indica) strains in saline-sodic soil after cutting. Treatments were arranged in a randomised block design, with four replicates in a 3 x 5 factorial. Organic inputs - bovine manure, common bovine biofertilizer (equal parts of water and fresh bovine manure) and chemically enriched biofertilizer (common biofertilizer components combined with plaster, sugarcane molasses and cow's milk) - were applied only once, after soil washing, two days prior to seeding, at the levels of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12\% of the substrate volume. Except effects on the stem diameter, the most efficient input was bovine manure, with strong effects on the height increase and biomass yield of neem plants after cutting, especially in treatments at a level greater than 6\%. The organic inputs, despite increasing the soil salinity and sodicity in the interval between washing and cutting, stimulated biometric growth and biomass formation in saline-sodic soil.
Food loss and waste is a major issue affecting food security, environmental pollution, producer profitability, consumer prices, and climate change. About 1.3 billion tons of food products are yearly lost globally, with China producing approximately 20 million tons of soybean dregs annually. Here, we review food and agricultural byproducts with emphasis on the strategies to convert this waste into valuable materials. Byproducts can be used for animal and plant nutrition, biogas production, food, extraction of oils and bioactive substances, and production of vinegar, wine, edible coatings and organic fertilizers. For instance, bioactive compounds represent approximately 8-20\% of apple pomace, 5-17\% of orange peel, 10-25\% of grape seeds, 3-15\% of pomegranate peel, and 2-13\% of date palm seeds. Similarly, the pharmaceutical industry uses approximately 6.5\% of the total output of gelatin derived from fish bones and animal skin. Animals fed with pomegranate peel and olive pomace improved the concentration of deoxyribonucleic acid and protein, the litter size, the milk yield, and nest characteristics. Biogas production amounts to 57.1\% using soybean residue, 53.7\% using papaya peel, and 49.1\% using sugarcane bagasse.
Highly resilient antibacterial strains are a major cause of concern in the modern sewage treatment and sanitation industry. Hence, development of efficient, low-cost disinfectant agents is essential. In this study, synthesis of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) from expended sugarcane bagasse via surface functionalization and the subsequent production of GQD/SnO2 nanocomposites via a facile hydrothermal route is demonstrated for the first time. The synthesized nanostructures are found to be studded with various oxygen moieties and exhibit an excitation independent fluorescence behaviour implying the existence of quantum confinement effects. Nanoparticles obtained after the hydrothermal treatment are found to possess spherical morphology with an average particle size of 4.5 nm. Antibacterial activity of the synthesized product is tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the disc diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentration assay. A marked rise in the antibacterial performance is seen in the nanocomposite compared to its carbonized and GQD counterparts. This can be attributed to the presence of surface defects and smaller uniform sized particles. These cost-effective nanostructures are photo stable for extended periods of storage and may find excellent utility in the sanitation and disinfectant industry.
A novel carotenoid producing strain of Dietzia marts NIT-D was isolated from soil and cultured in shake flasks, employing sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (SCBH) as the carbon source, under optimized conditions. The pigment was identified as trans-canthaxanthin. The purified pigment extracts were submitted to temperature and pH stability analysis and results obtained were fitted into the fractional conversion model and the first order kinetic model respectively. Canthaxanthin showed maximum stability at 30 degrees C and at a near-neutrality pH value of 6.5. The pure pigment extract was introduced in 2 model systems and stored at different temperatures and illumination conditions for 32 days. Storage studies showed that canthaxanthin was sensitive to light and temperature of storage. Maximum stability was observed when purified canthaxanthin was stored in dark at 4 degrees C. Results also showed that canthaxanthin was more stable in Aloe vera solution than in bovine serum albumin solution. The modified logarithmic model aptly justified the pigment stability under storage. Canthaxanthin, produced from low-cost agro-industrial waste, may be used as colorant under mild process conditions. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In the present study, two fungal strains were tested for production of crude enzyme using sugarcane bagasse. The fungal crude enzymes were tested for algal biomass pretreatment. The visual observations along with the microscopic (phase contrast and scanning electron microscopy) analysis and automated cell counter imaging modes involving sytox green staining confirmed the efficient action of fungal crude enzyme on algal cells. Furthermore, upon quantitative analysis, it was observed that 20\% dose (v/v) of Aspergillus lentulus crude enzyme (AL2) had a significant pretreatment effect on Chroococcus sp. biomass. AL2 resulted in nearly 100\% cell death of Chroococcus sp. within 48 h incubation at 30 degrees C. Additionally, up to 44\% and 46\% of total sugar and COD of biomass, respectively, were also solubilised with the action of AL2. As the investigated method showed good capabilities in solubilising the algal biomass, it holds great application potential for algal biofuel production where algal biomass pretreatment is required. However, further attempts are needed to optimize the process parameters of investigated pre-treatment process in order to make it feasible and widely acceptable. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Herein, oxygen-enriched porous carbon (PC-x) was prepared via co-pyrolysis, and activation of a ternary mixture of biomass (viz. sugarcane bagasse, water hyacinth, and yellow oleander). The PC-x possessed large surface area (1439-2297 m(2) g(-1)), high pore volume, rational micro/mesopore distribution, and surface oxygen functionalities (C/O = 2.5-3.1). The optimized PC-x electrodes at commercial electrode mass loading (similar to 10 mg cm(-2)) unveiled a gravimetric capacitance of 251.6F g(-1), high rate capability, and cycle stability in 6 M KOH electrolyte. The high voltage (2 V) aqueous symmetric supercapacitor fabricated in 1 M Li2SO4 electrolyte exhibited an energy density of 22.75 W h kg(-1) (at 200 W kg(-1)) with 96.8\% capacitance retention over 10,000 cycles at 5 A g(-1). The energy density of the supercapacitor was augmented to 37.24 W h kg(-1) (at 200 W kg(-1)) using 0.1 M Na2MoO4 as the redox-additive in the Li2SO4. The approach of using biomass blends offers flexibility in terms of choosing multiple waste biomass as precursors for large-scale and sustainable production of carbon materials for energy storage applications.
In this article, five variables including type of substrates, sizes of substrates, mass ratio of spawn to substrates (SP/SS), temperature and pretreatment of substrates were used to model mycelium growth in Pleurotus sp. (oyster mushroom) cultivation by using agricultural wastes via two level factorial analysis. Two different substrates which were empty fruit bunch (EFB) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) were used. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) for both mycelium extension rate (M) and nitrogen concentration in mycelium (N) showed that the confidence level was greater than 95\% while p-value of both models were less than 0.05 which is significant. The coefficient of determination (R-2) for both M and N were 0.8829 and 0.9819 respectively. From the experiment, the best condition to achieve maximum M (0.8 cm/day) and N (656 mg/L) was by using substrate B, 2.5 cm size of substrate, 1:14 for SP/SS, incubated at ambient temperature and application of steam treatment. The data showed that EFB can be used to replace sawdust as a media for the oyster mushroom cultivation. Data analysis was performed using Design Expert version 7.0. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Multienzymatic complexes with plant lignocellulose-degrading activities have recently been identified in filamentous fungi secretomes. Such complexes have potential biotechnological applications in the degradation of agro-industrial residues. Fungal species from the Clonostachys genus have been intensively investigated as biocontrol agents; however so far their use as producers of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes has not been extensively explored. Secretomes of Clonostachys byssicola following growth on different carbon sources (passion fruit peel, soybean hulls, cotton gin trash, banana stalk, sugarcane bagasse, orange peel, and a composition of soybean hulls: cotton gin trash:orange peel) were subjected to enzymatic assays. Remarkable differences were observed among the samples, especially regarding levels of mannanase and pectinase activities. Secretomes were then subjected to Blue Native PAGE in order to resolve putative protein complexes which subsequently had their composition revealed by trypsin digestion followed by LC-MS/MS analysis. The protein bands (named I, II, III and IV) were shown to be composed by holocellulolytic enzymes, mainly cellulases and xylanases as well as proteins involved in biocontrol processes, such as chitinases and proteases. The high diversity of proteins found in these multicatalytic assemblies confirms C. byssicola as a novel source of plant biomass-degrading enzymes.
The present study demonstrates the usage of deep eutectic solvent to recover microbial levan from the clarified fermented broth. The classic ethanol precipitation method for levan recovery is expensive because ethanol can be utilized as a biofuel. Production of ethanol consumes more energy and is not easily recycled. As a result, the current work concentrates on using environmentally friendly solvents for levan recovery. Deep Eutectic Solvents (DES) are greener and can replace ethanol from the microbial polysaccharides precipitation. Thus the proposed approach is environment friendly, technically feasible, reliable and economically viable. The levan was produced from a microbial isolate of aged sugarcane molasses, recovered using traditional ethanol and proposed DES (Choline Chloride and Ethylene Glycol) assisted precipitation. The levan-producing strain was characterized and identified as Neobacillus pocheonensis BPSCM4. The DES-precipitated levan has a high molecular weight of levan, 1.54 x 10(6) KDa, compared with the ethanol-precipitated levan, 4.246 KDa. The high molecular weight of DES-precipitated levan is due to the low viscosity and hydrogen interaction of ChCl:EG with the levan present in the fermented broth. Further, the optimization enhanced the levan yield to 32.56 g/L when the sucrose concentration was 250 g/L.
The study assesses the impacts of the biofuels production to the socio-economic development in Thailand. The four kinds of biofuels considered in the analyses are ethanol from cassava, molasses and sugarcane ethanol as well as palm biodiesel. The key elements of socio-economic development including employment generation, economic effects on GDP and trade balance are investigated based on a combination of process and input output analysis. The results show that producing ethanol and biodiesel require about 17-20 and 10 times more workers than gasoline and diesel as per energy content, respectively. Direct employment in agriculture contributes to more than 90\% of total employment. Nevertheless, there are the significant differences in the characteristics of employment in the agriculture and biofuel processing sectors. The overall impacts of ethanol production in Thailand in year 2022 are the employment generation of around 238,700-382,400 person-years, 150 M\$ additional GDP, imported goods worth 1583 M\$ but 2547 M\$ of imports would be saved if compared to petroleum fuels. The other socio-economic aspects such as agricultural improvement and rural development due to biofuels policy in Thailand and some policy measures that need to be urgently promoted are also discussed in the study. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The sugarcane molasses-based anaerobically digested distillery effluent is dark brown due to high concentration of melanoidin (amino carbonyl polymer), phenolics, heavy metals, and sulfate which do not alter even after long extended aeration. Thus, effluent is unsightly and poses an environmental concern. The Phragmites australis associated rhizosphere bacterial communities showed decolorization of distillery effluent but the nature and details of bacterial species are unknown. Fifteen culturable bacterial sp. were identified based on the 16S rRNA sequencing from the rhizosphere soil; they are Microbacterium hydrocarbonoxydans (AJ880397), Achromobacter xylosoxidans (AJ880764), Bacillus subtilis (AJ880760), B. megaterium (AJ880767), B. anthracis (AJ880766) from upper zone; B. licheniformis (AJ880762), A. xylosoxidans (AJ880763), Achromobacter sp. (AJ880396), B. thuringiensis (AJ868359), B. licheniformis (AJ880758), B. subtilis (AJ880761) from middle zone and Staphylococcus epidermidis (AJ880759), Pseudomonas migulae (AJ887999), Alcaligens faecalis (AJ880765) B. cereus (AJ853737) from lower zone of rhizosphere. All the fifteen isolates grew on effluent supplemented medium as a sole carbon source resulting in the reduction of the levels of distillery pollutants and their color by 75.5\%. Concomitantly there is a reduction in biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenol, sulfate, heavy metals. Practical application of this study is the decolorization of the dark distillery effluents. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The low capacity of degraded soils to provide phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) to plants makes cultivation unviable in these areas. Biochar can increase nutrients availability and improve the physical conditions of soil to maintain their availability over time, including within soil macroaggregates, where P and K are less susceptible to losses. The aim of this study is to understand, how biochar application can change P and K availability in aggregates of degraded soils. The experiment is carried out under controlled conditions following the factorial scheme 2 x 3 x 5 x 2 + 4, corresponding to two classes of soil, three biochars produced from different raw materials (including stems of elephant grass, EGB, and two types of agricultural wastes: eucalypt stalks, ESB, and sugarcane bagasse, SBB), five rates of biochar, two times and four control treatments. At the end of each time, soil aggregates are divided into two classes by size (macroaggregates and microaggregates) and then P and K availability are measured. The results show that biochar can be a powerful tool to increase P and K availability in soil aggregates. EGB is the most efficient biochar to increase P and K availability, followed by SBB and ESB biochars.
A macromolecule, CML, was obtained by purifying and carboxy-methylating the lignin generated from acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse during bioethanol production from biomass. The CMLs complexed with Al3+ (CML-Al) and Mn2+ (CML-Mn) were utilised for the removal of a textile dye, Procion Blue MX-R (PB), from aqueous solutions. CML-Al and CML-Mn were characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning differential calorimetry (SDC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pH(PZC). The established optimum pH and contact time were 2.0 and 5 h, respectively. The kinetic and equilibrium data fit into the general order kinetic model and Liu isotherm model, respectively. The CML-Al and CML-Mn have respective values of maximum adsorption capacities of 73.52 and 55.16 mg g(-1) at 298 K. Four cycles of adsorption/desorption experiments were performed attaining regenerations of up to 98.33\% (CML-Al) and 98.08\% (CML-Mn) from dye-loaded adsorbents, using 50\% acetone +50\% of 0.05 mol L-1 NaOH. The CML-Al removed ca. 93.97\% while CML-Mn removed ca. 75.91\% of simulated dye house effluents. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The addition of alkaline and high-cation exchange capacity (CEC) biochars is a suitable strategy to increase the CEC of weathered soils. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of biochar from different feedstocks and pyrolysis temperatures on the CEC of two contrasting Oxisols. Biochars produced from chicken manure (CM), eucalyptus sawdust (ES), coffee husk (CH) and sugarcane bagasse (SB),plus a control (without biochar), at 350, 450, and 750 degrees C were mixed with the soils at 2; 5; 10 and 20\% (w/w) and incubated for 9 months. Feedstock, pyrolysis temperature and addition rate of biochar were key factors controlling the alteration of soil CEC. The CH biochar pyrolyzed at 350 degrees C was the most effective matrix at increasing soil CEC. In a rate-dependent way, ES and SB biochars increased C contents of both soils without improving soil CEC. The efficiency of high-ash biochars in enhancing soil CEC in both Oxisols was limited by the alkalization caused by high rates of CH and CM biochars. The increase in CEC is soil-dependent and modulated by high-ash biochar CEC and application rate, as well as by the original soil CEC.
Biochar production and use are part of the modern agenda to recycle wastes, and to retain nutrients, pollutants, and heavy metals in the soil and to offset some greenhouse gas emissions. Biochars from wood (eucalyptus sawdust, pine bark), sugarcane bagasse, and substances rich in nutrients (coffee husk, chicken manure) produced at 350, 450 and 750 degrees C were characterized to identify agronomic and environmental benefits, which may enhance soil quality. Biochars derived from wood and sugarcane have greater potential for improving C storage in tropical soils due to a higher aromatic character, high C concentration, low H/C ratio, and FTIR spectra features as compared to nutrient-rich biochars. The high ash content associated with alkaline chemical species such as KHCO3 and CaCO3, verified by XRD analysis, made chicken manure and coffee husk biochars potential liming agents for remediating acidic soils. High Ca and K contents in chicken manure and coffee husk biomass can significantly replace conventional sources of K (mostly imported in Brazil) and Ca, suggesting a high agronomic value for these biochars. High-ash biochars, such as chicken manure and coffee husk, produced at low-temperatures (350 and 450 degrees C) exhibited high CEC values, which can be considered as a potential applicable material to increase nutrient retention in soil. Therefore, the agronomic value of the biochars in this study is predominantly regulated by the nutrient richness of the biomass, but an increase in pyrolysis temperature to 750 degrees C can strongly decrease the adsorptive capacities of chicken manure and coffee husk biochars. A diagram of the agronomic potential and environmental benefits is presented, along with some guidelines to relate biochar properties with potential agronomic and environmental uses. Based on biochar properties, research needs are identified and directions for future trials are delineated.
In this study, we reported the preparation and prospective application of the nanocomposites of poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). CNCs were isolated from bleached sugarcane bagasse by acid hydrolysis and functionalized with adipic acid. Nanocomposites were prepared with different concentration of CNCs (0.8, 1.5, and 2.3 wt\% CNC) by solution-casting method and then were covered with silver thin film by magnetron sputtering. The results showed that the surface modification increased the degree of crystallinity of nanocrystals from 51\% to 56\%, decreasing their length and diameter. Moreover, AFM-IR spectroscopy revealed that the modified CNCs were covered by adipic acid molecules, improving the dispersion of nanocrystals in PBAT. Well-dispersed modified CNCs acted as heterogeneous nuclei for crystallization of PBAT, and increased the storage modulus of the polymer by more than 200\%. These improvements in thermal and mechanical properties of CNC-based PBAT associated with the decrease of 56\% in the Escherichia coli biofilm formation on nanocomposites (antibacterial properties) qualify the CNC/PBAT nanocomposites covered with silver thin films to be used as food packaging. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:E356-E365, 2019. (c) 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Chipped tobacco stalks were subjected to steam pretreatment at 205 degrees\textbackslash{
Immobilization techniques which include chemical fixation and physical encapsulation are used for treatment and disposal of toxic industrial wastes in order to minimise the hazards to the environment. Heavy metal ions are found in the industrial waste waters and sludges of many vital industries. Most of these heavy metal ions, when present in appreciable quantities may be toxic to vegetable, aquatic, animal and human life. The present paper deals with the investigations on the immobilization of Zn and Pb present in the waste sludge in simple and fibre-reinforced lime-fly ash admixture cubes. The techniques studied include fixation, coating with sodium silicate solution and encapsulation procedures. The fibre additives studied include glasswool, steelwool and sugarcane-bagasse. The results indicate that excellent immobilization efficiency can be achieved by encapsulating the heavy metal hydroxide sludge in simple as well as fibre-reinforced lime-fly ash admixtures as per the procedure now developed. Fixation and coating techniques also yielded encouraging results for the immobilization of heavy metal ions although they are not as efficient as the encapsulation technique. Fibre-additives help in improving the structural strength of lime-fly ash cubes.
In this review, we describe our experience in building a pilot-scale packed-bed solid-state fermentation (SSF) bioreactor, with provision for intermittent mixing, and the use of this bioreactor to produce pectinases and lipases by filamentous fungi. We show that, at pilot scale, special attention must be given to several aspects that are not usually problematic when one works with laboratory-scale SSF bioreactors. For example, it can be a challenge to produce large amounts of inoculum if the fungus does not sporulate well. Likewise, at larger scales, the air preparation system needs as much attention as the bioreactor itself. Sampling can also be problematic if one wishes to avoid disrupting the bed structure. In the fermentations carried out in the pilot bioreactor, when the substrate bed contained predominantly wheat bran, the bed shrank away from the walls, providing preferential flow paths for the air and necessitating agitation of the bed. These problems were avoided by using beds with approximately 50\% of sugarcane bagasse. We also show how a mathematical model that describes heat and water transfer in the bed can be a useful tool in developing appropriate control schemes. {[
Parkia platycephala Benth., known locally as Fava de Bolota, belongs to the Fabaceae family and occurs in areas of Caatinga-Cerrado transition, having great potential for use as timber, in landscaping and mainly as forage. The aim of this research was to provide information for the preparation of test protocols for seed germination and seedling vigour in P. platycephala submitted to different substrates and temperatures. To evaluate the effect of substrate and temperature, the seeds were sown on the following substrates: vermiculite, sand, powdered coconut, sugarcane bagasse, Tropstrato (R), Germitest paper (RP) and blotting paper, distributed in transparent plastic boxes under continuous lighting in a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) germinator at constant temperatures of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 degrees C, and alternating temperatures of 20-30 degrees C and 25-35 degrees C. The variables under evaluation were germination, germination speed index, mean germination time, primary root and shoot length and primary root and shoot dry weight. The alternating temperature of 25-35 degrees C combined with vermiculite is recommended for performing tests of germination and vigour in P. platycephala.
In this article, an easy, effective, and eco-friendly method to improve the mechanical performance of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites is proposed, which involves the coating of unsized glass fiber fabric layers by simple immersion in an aqueous suspension containing sugarcane bagasse microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), followed by vacuum-assisted liquid resin infusion as the processing method. From atomic force microscopy, a 250 nm MFC-rich interphase was found, revealing its ability to build micro- and nanobridges acting as bulk epoxy matrix and GF linker. The interlaminar shear strength, quasi-static tensile, and flexural tests, as well as the morphological and fractographic inspection of test coupons containing the secondary substructure, broadly supported the assumption of the efficient role on the interfacial level of this nano reinforcement by enhancing the load transference and distribution from the polymer matrix to the main reinforcing fiber system compared to baseline unsized fiber-reinforced epoxy laminates. This finding permits this class of composite materials to be considered as having great potential to achieve products with excellent performance/cost ratios. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 44183.
Feruloyl esterases can break the ester linkage between ferulic acid and the attached sugar of feruloyl polysaccharides, releasing ferulic acid and oligosaccharides from plant cell. The activity of native and activated feruloyl esterase (FAE-II) from Aspergillus awamori, which catalyzes the sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis, was studied using two analytical techniques (HPLC and UV-vis spectrophotometry). The activation of native feruloyl esterase (FAE-II), by its binding with calcium ion, resulted in an increase of V-max of two times. and a higher sensitivity of the enzyme to product and guanidine hydrochloride denaturation, with almost no change in the K-m for ferulic acid. The kinetic and thermodynamic parameters associated with the activation of FAE-II enzyme by the interaction with calcium ions were calculated and explained to show how calcium ions are involved. Also, the denaturation effect of guanidine hydrochloride (GdnHCI) towards FAE-II feruloyl esterase was studied using far UV-circular dichroism spectra. In addition, the densities and solubility of the activated FAE-II enzyme by calcium ions were determined and discussed under different conditions of temperatures and pH medium. (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Pulp and paper industry in the world have been growing fast. As a result, there has been a massive request for pulp and paper raw materials. The raw materials used in papermaking can be classified into three groups: wood, non-wood, and recycled wastepaper. The Non-wood raw material is an important fiber resource in the regions where forest resources are limited. The current usage of non-wood plant fibers, as rice straws, corn stalks, cotton stalks, and bagasse would play a chief role in increasing papermaking raw materials. Using of non-wood plant fibers in the paper industry associated with some problems, including collection, transportation, storage and handling, washing, bleaching, papermaking, chemical recovery, supply of raw material and the properties of finished paper. Recently, a high-tech innovation in all the fields of papermaking has made non-wood more reasonable with wood as a raw material for papermaking. Although till now, use of non-wood fibers for pulp and paper manufacture was focused in countries with limited wood supply, it is now showing a growing effort even in countries with acceptable wood source due to environmental concerns. Consequently, the future of non-wood plant fibers as pulping and papermaking raw material looks bright.
The bifunctional biochar(N/CaO/BC) was prepared by a simple high temperature calcination using melamine and biomass material of sugarcane bagasse and agricultural wastes eggshell. Its structure and properties were analyzed by SEM, XRD, BET, and XPS. The adsorption capacity was evaluated in the phosphorus solutions. The effect of initial pH, concentration and temperature on adsorption were investigated. Nano-CaO were disperse evenly on the surface of Biochar, resulting a special specific surface area and porous structures. It has a rich nitrogen and CaO and the adsorption capacity could obtain 251.16 mg P/g at 300 K over a broad range of pH. The electrostatic force caused by C = NH+ and precipitation reaction caused by CaO are the main driving forces of phosphorus removal and it exhibited a good P adsorption selectivity. P-rich N/CaO/BC contain P, N, C, Ca elements, which could provide nutrients to the soil and promotes the growth of crops. The dual-functionalization strategy of biochar provides a new way for the reuse of waste biomass and a new method for P utilization as resource in agricultural production.
India is amongst the largest banana (Musa acuminata) producing countries and thus banana pseudo stem is commonly available agricultural waste to be used as lignocellulosic substrate. Present study focuses on exploitation of banana pseudo stem as a source for bioethanol production from the sugars released due to different chemical and biological pretreatments. Two fungal strains Aspergillus ellipticus and Aspergillus fumigatus reported to be producing cellulolytic enzymes on sugarcane bagasse were used under co-culture fermentation on banana pseudo stem to degrade holocellulose and facilitate maximum release of reducing sugars. The hydrolysate obtained after alkali and microbial treatments was fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3570 to produce ethanol. Fermentation of cellulosic hydrolysate (4.1 g\%) gave maximum ethanol (17.1 g/L) with yield (84\%) and productivity (0.024 g\%/h) after 72 h. Some critical aspects of fungal pretreatment for saccharification of cellulosic substrate using A. ellipticus and A. fumigatus for ethanol production by S. cerevisiae NCIM 3570 have been explored in this study. It was observed that pretreated banana pseudo stem can be economically utilized as a cheaper substrate for ethanol production.
Used diaper and food waste form a major proportion of wastes piled up in landfill. This study aims to reduce used diaper and food wastes (comprising coffee waste, sugarcane bagasse, banana skin, eggshell) via converting them into a unique formulated growth substrate, providing an alternative of growth medium in mushroom cultivation. The growth media showed high content of cellulose (27\%), hemi-cellulose (16\%) and high nutrients with nitrogen (15,779 mg/kg), phosphorus (867 mg/kg) and potassium (7,758 mg/kg), promoting nearly two-fold mushroom production (73 g) compared to commercial media (37 g). The mushroom cultivation also led to a 40\% reduction in weight of growth substrate, confirming its efficient utilization for growing mushroom while simultaneously leading to waste reduction. The mushroom harvested showed similar metabolite profile to that cultured by commercial media via profiling using nuclear magnetic resonances. The results indicated similar biological composition and no accumulation of undesired toxic and biological components that might be derived from the waste-formulated substrate, thus providing assurance that it is safe to be used for sustainable mushroom cultivation. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Avocado oil cake (AOC) was mixed with dried grape pomace and sugarcane molasses and ensiled for 90 days. A total mixed ration containing 5\% AOC silage was formulated and top dressed with Axtra (R) XB enzyme at 0, 2.5 and 5\%. The experimental diets were fed to 24 (8 pigs/diet) Large White x Landrace (LW x LR) cross pigs (+/- 22-kg live weight). Growth performance data was recorded for 60 days, after which the pigs were adapted to chromic oxide mixed diet for 3 days, whereby faeces were collected for 5 days after to determine nutrient digestion. Following nutrient digestion, pigs were fasted for 12 h, weighed and slaughtered. Carcass samples were collected and analysed for meat quality. Dietary addition of enzyme increased (P < 0.05) dry matter intake and nutrient digestibility, but did not affected (P > 0.05) feed conversion ratio and average daily gain. Carcass characteristics were not affected (P > 0.05); however, small and large intestine weight and length were increased (P < 0.05) with enzyme inclusion in feed. Dietary treatments did not affect (P > 0.05) the colour and cooking quality of the meat. Enzyme addition was worth in the growth performance and nutrient digestion but did not affect the carcass characteristics and meat quality of pigs.
The disposal of fly ash as a by-product of incineration of coal is a more significant problem than ash produced from burning of municipal solid wastes, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks or tea dusts because of its volume. The present investigation aims at upgrading alumina in coal fly ash (CFA) through bioleaching, using Bacillus barbaricus (silicate bacterium) isolated from Taptapani hot spring, Odisha. Bioleaching has been done after washing CFA (WCFA) with water and the result obtained is compared with the results obtained by bioleaching of unwashed CFA (UCFA). The concentration of alumina in washed coal fly ash has increased to 34.72\% from an initial concentration of 25.45\% after 60 days. The residue also shows a reduction of silica content from an initial concentration of 62.14\% to 40.71\% after 60 days. All the experimental results are corroborated with chemical analysis as well as through characterization process. Thus present finding has opened an avenue for enrichment of CFA with respect to alumina which may be suitable for aluminum extraction. In addition, by-product may be used for production of silica sol. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
As a versatile and valuable intermediate, furfuryl alcohol (FOL) has been widely used in manufacturing resins, vitamin C, perfumes, lubricants, plasticizers, fuel additives, biofuels, and other furan-based chemicals. This work developed an efficient hybrid strategy for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass to FOL. Corncob (75 g/L) was catalyzed with heterogenous catalyst Sn-SSXR (2 wt\%) to generate FAL (65.4\% yield) in a deep eutectic solvent ChCl:LA-water system (30:70, v/v; 180 degrees C) after 15 min. Subsequently, the obtained FAL liquor containing FAL and formate could be biologically reduced to FOL by recombinant E. coli CF containing aldehyde reductase and formate dehydrogenase at pH 6.5 and 35 degrees C, achieving the FOL productivity of 0.66 g FOL/(g xylan in corncob). The formed formate could be used as a cosubstrate for the bioreduction of FAL into FOL. In addition, other biomasses (e.g., sugarcane bagasse and rice straw) could be converted into FOL at a high yield. Overall, this hybrid strategy that combines chemocatalysis and biocatalysis can be utilized to efficiently valorize lignocellulosic materials into valuable biofurans.
Current understanding of food waste quantities in the Brazilian retail sector is limited. In order to develop efficient measures for food waste prevention and valorisation, reliable data on waste generation and composition are necessary. In this study, a compositional analysis of street market waste was conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In total, 4.1 tonnes of waste were sorted into 27 waste fractions, categorised using a three-level approach. The average waste generation in the studied street markets was 23.7 kg per stall, of which 12.8 kg was classified as unavoidable food waste, 3.6 kg as packaging waste, and 7.4 kg as avoidable waste. The results show large amounts of unavoidable food waste, comprised of coconut, sugarcane bagasse, and peels. A large share of the avoidable food waste is comprised of single leaves, tomatoes, oranges, and bananas. Large variations were observed among the street markets analysed, both in terms of the food waste generation rate, and composition. The results from scaling up the data at the city level indicated a total wastage of 59,300 tonnes per year, of which 18,400 tonnes are classified as avoidable food waste.
Optimum utilization of fermentable sugars from lignocellulosic biomass to deliver multiple products under biorefinery concept has been reported in this work. Alcohol fermentation has been carried out with multiple cell recycling of Kluyveromyces marxianus IIPE453. The yeast utilized xylose-rich fraction from acid and steam treated biomass for cell generation and xylitol production with an average yield of 0.315 +/- 0.01 g/g while the entire glucose rich saccharified fraction had been fermented to ethanol with high productivity of 0.9 +/- 0.08 g/L/h. A detailed insight into its genome illustrated the strain's complete set of genes associated with sugar transport and metabolism for high-temperature fermentation. A set flocculation proteins were identified that aided in high cell recovery in successive fermentation cycles to achieve alcohols with high productivity. We have brought biomass derived sugars, yeast cell biomass generation, and ethanol and xylitol fermentation in one platform and validated the overall material balance. 2 kg sugarcane bagasse yielded 193.4 g yeast cell, and with multiple times cell recycling generated 125.56 g xylitol and 289.2 g ethanol (366 mL).
Differences among dietary protein levels suggested in the literature point out to the need for better evaluation of protein requirements of growing lambs, raised in drylot on a high-concentrate diet. This study evaluates the influence of crude protein (CP) levels in high concentrate diets on performance and carcass traits of ram lambs, confined for 56 days. Forty eight (48) Santa Ines lambs (initial body weight 18.4 +/- 0.4 kg; 86 +/- 2 days old) were fed 4 experimental diets containing 14, 16, 18 or 20\% CP, in a completely randomized block design. Diets consisted of 80\% concentrate and 20\% sugarcane bagasse. There were no differences in average daily gain: values of 228, 220, 230 and 231 g d(-1) were obtained for diets containing 14, 16, 18 and 20\% CP, respectively. There were no differences in dry matter intake and feed conversion: values were 1.03; 1.02; 1.08 and 1.10 kg d(-1); 4.19; 4.28; 4.35 and 4.44 kg DM kg(-1) gain for diets with 14, 16, IS and 20\% CP, respectively. Plasma urea nitrogen concentrations increased linearly as diets contained more CP. There were no differences in carcass traits.
Thermotolerant yeasts are widely considered to be alternative strains to traditional yeasts for bioethanol production at high temperatures. In this study, thirty-two yeasts isolated from lychees were screened for thermotolerance, and seven selected isolates were identified as Candida tropicalis (isolates H8, H19, and H23), Meyerozyma guilliermondii (isolates H1 and H12) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (isolates H10 and H18). They tolerated up to 45 degrees C, 12\% (v/v) ethanol concentration, 10 g/L acetic acid, and 5 g/L furfural, respectively, and produced 47.96 to 70.18 g/L of ethanol from 160 g/L glucose at 40 degrees C during 48 h of fermentation. Among the evaluated yeasts, M. guilliermondii H1 showed great potential for second-generation bioethanol fermentation with its ability to ferment xylose and arabinose. Under the optimal conditions resulting from a Plackett Burman design and a Box Behnken design, the highest ethanol concentration of 11.12 g/L was produced from 40 g/L substrate-based sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (non-detoxified hydrolysate) at 40 degrees C by M. guilliermondii H1. These findings suggested that the newly isolated thermotolerant yeast M. guilliermondii H1 is a good candidate for ethanol production from agricultural wastes.
The adsorbent for both cationic and anionic dye based on cellulose and polyaniline was prepared. Cellulose was purified from sugarcane bagasse through the removal of hemicellulose and lignin. Aniline was polymerized in emulsion state in the presence of cellulose and ammonium persulfate as an initiator. The results from Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) observation and determination of porosity confirmed that polyaniline was grafted on the surface of cellulose fiber to form cellulose-graft-polyaniline (Cel-g-PAni). Polyaniline acted as adsorption sites for both cationic dye (methylene blue) and anionic dye (methyl orange). The adsorption on the surface of Cel-g-PAni followed the Langmuir model, suggesting that the adsorption sites on its surface was uniform. The extent of adsorbing capacity of Cel-g-PAni toward methylene blue and methyl orange was 1.57 and 0.75 mmol/g, respectively. These values confirmed that Cel-g-PAni was an efficient adsorbent for both cationic and anionic dyes. The adsorption of either cationic or anionic dye in a mixture solution did not restrain each other. Cel-g-PAni was expected to have potential application in practical.
In an attempt to diversify lignin applications, in this study, electrospun mats composed of ultrathin carbon fibers from Eucalyptus globulus Lignin (EKL) and sugarcane bagasse Kraft lignin (BKL) capable of detecting certain human body motions were fabricated and their chemical structures fully investigated accordingly. Results suggested that the main chemical structure of EKL was slightly linear with sinapyl alcohol and coniferyl alcohol as the basic units and pinoresinol, arylglycerol-beta-aryl ether, phenylcoumaran, with diphenylethane as the main linkages. The slightly linear EKL and cross-linked BKL tended to form amorphous carbon and graphite crystallites under the same heat treatment process respectively, thereby resulting in a large difference in the resistance of fabricated sensors. The amplitude of signals due to changes in the relative resistance (Delta R/R-0) for EKL ultrathin carbon fiber (CF)-based sensor was approximately 9 x 10(4) during the linger bending process, while large (Delta R/ R-0 similar to 380) and small (Delta R/R-0< 10) relative resistance variations due to BKL-CF-based sensors were detected during the arm bending and finger pressing motions respectively. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) is considered a promising approach for the degradation of recalcitrant organic compounds. In this work, using Trichoderma with benzene degradation ability coupled with activated sludge as a biological source and sugarcane bagasse cellulose composite as a carrier, the ICPB system showed excellent degradation and mineralization of trichlorobenzene under visible light induction. The biofilm inside the ICPB carrier can degrade and mineralize the photocatalytic products. ICPB increased the degradation efficiency of 1,2,3-TCB and 1,3,5-TCB by 12.43\% and 4.67\%, respectively, compared to photo-catalysis alone. The biofilms inside the ICPB carriers can mineralize photocatalytic products, which increases the mineralization efficiency by 18.74\%. According to the analysis of intermediates, the degradation of 1,2,3-TCB in this coupled system involved stepwise dechlorination and ring opening. The biofilm in ICPB carrier evolved to be enriched in Cutaneotrichosporon, Trichoderma, Apiotrichum, Zoogloea, Dechloromonas, Flavihumibacter and Cupriavidus, which are known for biodegradable aromatic hydrocarbon and halogenate. Novel microbial seeds supplemented with Trichoderma-based ICPB seem to provide a new potential strategy for effective degradation and mineralization of TCB.
Novel 1,3-bis{[
Solid-state fermentation has a special advantage of preventing the foaming problem that obstructs submerged fermentation processes for rhamnolipid production. In the present work, a 50:50 mixture of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal was selected as the optimum substrate for rhamnolipid production using a Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant 15GR and an impregnating solution including 5\% v/v glycerol. Using Box-Behnken design, the optimum fermentation conditions were found to be an inoculum size 1\% v/v, temperature 30 degrees C and unlike other studies, pH 8. These optimized conditions yielded a 67\% enhancement of rhamnolipid levels reaching 46.85g rhamnolipids per liter of impregnating solution, after 10days, which was about 5.5 folds higher than that obtained by submerged liquid fermentation. Although maximum rhamnolipids concentration was obtained after 10days of incubation, rhamnolipids concentration already reached high levels (41.87g/l) after only 6days. This rhamnolipid level was obtained in a shorter time and using lower carbon source concentrations than most studies reported so far. The findings obtained indicate an enormous potential for employing solid-state fermentation for rhamnolipid production by the studied isolate.
Biochar has been used as an alternative in organic wastes management and to alleviate trace elements toxicity. The aim of this research was to use a rapid and simple test to detect the potential toxic effects of biochar and its ability to alleviate aluminum and cadmium toxicity to seeds and seedlings of Sorghum bicolor L. Two experiments were carried out in Petri dishes with two different biochars where sorghum seeds were exposed to aluminum (experiment 1) and cadmium (experiment 2) solutions. The experimental designs were completely randomized, with five doses of aluminum or cadmium in aqueous solution (0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 mmol/L of Al or Cd), combined with or without the addition of 0.25 g of biochar from sugarcane bagasse or from sewage sludge. Compared to treatments without biochar, in the treatments with biochar, higher seed germination rate and growth of sorghum seedlings were obtained. Moreover, the biochars were not toxic to sorghum and they decreased the toxicity of aluminum and cadmium, mainly the biochar from sewage sludge that presented higher pH and greater occurrence of functional groups in its particles.
Biochar (BC), charcoal produced through the pyrolysis of biomass, is reported to adsorb dissolved nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N). The NO3-N adsorption properties of BC differ depending on the feedstock and the pyrolysis conditions, and the influences have not been systematically clarified. Therefore, we evaluated the dependence of feedstock and pyrolysis temperature on the NO3-N adsorption properties of BC. Wood chips {[
Power generation using SOFCs, is one of the technologies that can reduce emissions, allow fuel flexibility and achieve high efficiencies. Combining gasifiers with SOFCs would make it possible to extract energy from biomass with lower environmental impact compared to conventional fuel based systems. The hybrid SOFC-gasifier system is best suited for application in standalone systems. The present study shows the performance of a hybrid SOFC for different types of biomass feed. The gasifier reactions are simulated using AspenPlus and a ID mathematical fuel cell model is used for calculating the SOFC performance. Amongst different biomass fuels chosen in our study, sugarcane bagasse shows best performance in hybrid SOFC. The electrochemical performance of the biomass fed hybrid SOFC is found to be less compared to a hydrogen fuelled system. The advantage of the hybrid system is that since energy generation is dependent on biomass feed, energy sustainability can be attained with proper policy and management. (C) 2014 Tapobrata Dey and Prakash C. Ghosh. Published by Elsevier Ltd This is all open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/).
Hydrolysis of cellulose into saccharides using a magnetically separable functionalized graphene is reported for potential applications in the environmentally benign saccharification of cellulose. Crystalline pure cellulose is hydrolyzed by graphene bearing -SO3H, -COOH and -OH functional groups in combination with iron nanoparticles. We observed nearly complete hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose and small (4-5 unit size) oligomers using low (1 : 1) catalyst to cellulose ratio. The apparent activation energy for the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose using these catalysts is estimated to be 12 kJ mol(-1), several times smaller than that for sulfuric acid under optimal conditions (170 kJ mol(-1)). The catalyst can be readily magnetically separated from the saccharide solution after the reaction for reuse in the reaction without loss of activity. Nearly complete hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse into water soluble saccharides with repeated recycling was also possible. The catalytic performance of the graphene-based catalyst is attributed to the ability of the water soluble nanostructured material with a large concentration of polar groups (-OH, -COOH) which readily adsorb cellulose, while providing a large concentration of acidic functionality to hydrolyze the cellulose.
Dissolution of lignocellulose is of significant importance for its utilization and transformation. However, it remains a great challenge to efficiently and rapidly dissolve lignocellulose under mild conditions owing to the significant lack of efficient solvents for lignocellulose dissolution. Herein, robust solvent systems were designed by a combination of ionic liquids (ILs), ethanolamine (EA), and organic superbases for the dissolution of lignocellulose. It was observed that the prepared solvents (denoted as the IL/EA-superbase) could efficiently dissolve lignocellulose at mild temperatures (below 100 degrees C). In particular, the EmimOAc/EA-DBN system showed the best performance, and the solubility values of Populus tomentosa, sugarcane bagasse and Miscanthus giganteus at 90 degrees C could reach up to 3.8\%, 9.5\% and 20\% (g per 100 g solvent), respectively. It was revealed that EA-superbase effectively participated in the interaction between ILs and lignocellulose, thus promoting the dissolution process. A systematic study revealed that the good performance of the developed solvents toward lignocellulose dissolution resulted from the synergistic effect of the three constructed components to make the solvent have a suitable capacity for the formation of hydrogen-bonding and an appropriate microstructure.
In the present work, selected agroindustrial solid residues from Brazil - biosolids from meat processing wastewater treatment and mixture of sawdust with these biosolids; residues from apple and orange juice industries; sugarcane bagasse; acai kernels (Euterpe oleracea) and rice husk - were characterised as solid fuels and an evaluation of their properties, including proximate and ultimate composition, energy content, thermal behaviour, composition and fusibility of the ashes was performed. The lower heating value of the biomasses ranged from 14.31 MJ kg(-1) to 29.14 MJ kg(-1), on a dry and ash free basis (clan, all presenting high volatile matter content, varying between 70.57 wt.\% and 85.36 wt.\% (clan what improves the thermochemical conversion of the solids. The fouling and slagging tendency of the ashes was predicted based on the fuel ash composition and on the ash fusibility correlations proposed in the literature, which is important to the project and operation of biomass conversion systems. The potential for application of the Brazilian agroindustrial solid residues studied as alternative energy sources in thermochemical processes has been identified, especially concerning direct combustion for steam generation. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ethanol is obtained in Brazil from the fermentation of sugarcane, molasses or a mixture of these. Alternatively, it can also be obtained from products composed of cellulose and hemicellulose, called ``second generation ethanol-2G{''
Klebsiella oxytoca KNIS005 (Delta adhE Delta ackA-pta Delta ldhA) was metabolically engineered to improve 2,3-butanediol (BOO) yield. Elimination of alcohol dehydrogenase E (adhE), acetate kinase A-phosphotransacetylase (ackA-pta), and lactate dehydrogenase A (ldhA) enzymes allowed BOO production as a primary pathway for NADH re-oxidation, and significantly reduced by-products. KMS005 was screened for the efficient glucose utilization by metabolic evolution. KMS005-73T improved BDO production at a concentration of 23.5 +/- 0.5 g/L with yield of 046 +/- 0.02 g/g in mineral salts medium containing 50 g/L glucose in a shake flask. KM5005-73T also exhibited BOO yields of about 040-0.42 g/g from sugarcane molasses. cassava starch, and maltodextrin. During fed-batch fermentation. KMS005-73T produced BOO at a concentration, yield, and overall and specific productivities of 1174 +/- 4.5 g/L, 0.49 +/- 0.02 g/g, 120 +/- 0.05 g/L h, and 27.2 +/- 1.1 g/gCDW, respectively. No acetoin, lactate, and formate were detected, and only trace amounts of acetate and ethanol were formed. The strain also produced the least by-products and the highest BDO yield among other Klebsiella strains previously developed. (C) 2015 International Metabolic Engineering Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved,
Agricultural residues are constantly increasing with increased farming processes, and improper disposal is detrimental to the environment. Majority of these waste residues are rich in lignocellulose, which makes them suitable substrate for bacterial fermentation in the production of valueadded products. In this study, bacterial cellulose (BC), a purer and better form of cellulose, was produced by two Komagataeibacter sp. isolated from rotten banana and kombucha drink using corncob (CC) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) enzymatic hydrolyzate, under different fermentation conditions, that is, static, continuous, and intermittent agitation. The physicochemical and mechanical properties of the BC films were then investigated by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetry analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and Dynamic mechanical analysis. Agitation gave a higher BC yield, with Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73629 producing BC from CC with a dry weight of 1.6 g/L and 1.4 g/L under continuous and intermittent agitation, respectively, compared with that of 0.9 g/L in HS medium. While BC yield of dry weight up to 1.2 g/L was obtained from SCB by Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73630 under continuous agitation compared to that of 0.3 g/L in HS medium. FTIR analysis showed BC bands associated with cellulose I, with high thermal stability. The FE-SEM analysis showed that BC fibers were highly ordered and densely packed. Although the BC produced by both strains showed similar physicochemical and morphological properties, the BC produced by the Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73630 in CC under intermittent agitation had the best modulus of elasticity, 10.8 GPa and tensile strength, 70.9 MPa. {[
The effect of crude glycerol (G) on the pelletizing process and the quality of biomasses pellets were evaluated. Pellets were made of three types of agro-industrial biomasses typical of tropical countries: Sugarcane bagasse (SCB), Coffee Husk (CH) and Rice Husk (RH). Mixtures of water and glycerol were used as a binder. It was found that, with the addition of crude glycerin, the linkages between biomass particles for formation of pellets is made easier. However, this addition causes a reduction of the compaction degree since it acts as a lubricant between the biomass and the pelletization die, which produces the weakening of the solid to solid interaction. For CH and SCB particles, due to its shape and soft structure, pelletizing is not significantly affected by the biomass particle size variation, whereas in the case of small RH particles, the presence of a binder favors pelletizing. A brief dissertation about the aggregation mechanisms those were favored in each biomass type was carried out. A multi -criteria methodology was implemented by which it was possible to select the optimal conditions of pelletizing for each biomass. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Indiscriminate disposal of the solid waste generated from various agricultural practices cause detrimental effects on the environment. Utilization of the waste biomass for production of value-added products through biotechnological intervention not only helps to combat environmental pollution but also contributes significantly to the economy. In this study, a biofabrication software (fermentor tool) was applied to analyze statistics of xylanase production under solid non-sterile fermentation conditions. In solid substrate fermentation wheat bran, banana peel, millet waste, and sugarcane bagasse were evaluated. Maximal xylanase titer of 10545 U/g dry matter was obtained when wheat bran was used as a substrate (4 days incubation at 50 degrees C and pH value of 8.0). Partially purified xylanase was applied in saccharification of lignocellulosic materials to assess its potential application in a lignocellulosic biorefinery. In this context, the precision of predicted mathematical model was evaluated and fermentation provided a good prediction of the concentration of cell, substrate and product. Second, open non sterilized fermentation method was established to save sterilization cost that seems to be a very economical and practically applicable to the enzyme industry. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Pyrolysis characteristics and kinetic of five lignocellulosic biomass pine wood sawdust, fern (Dicranopteris linearis) stem, wheat stalk, sugarcane bagasse and jute (Corchorus capsularis) stick were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The pyrolysis of five lignocellulosic biomass could be divided into three stages, which correspond to the pyrolysis of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin, respectively. Single Gaussian activation energy distributions of each stage are 148.50-201.13 kJ/mol with standard deviations of 2.60-13.37 kJ/mol. The kinetic parameters of different stages were used as initial guess values for three-parallel-DAEM model calculation with good fitting quality and fast convergence rate. The mean activation energy ranges of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were 148.12-164.56 kJ/mol, 171.04-179.54 kJ/mol and 175.71-201.60 kJ/mol, with standard deviations of 3.91-9.89, 0.29-1.34 and 23.22-27.24 kJ/mol, respectively. The mass fractions of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin in lignocellulosic biomass were respectively estimated as 0.12-0.22, 0.54-0.65 and 0.17-0.29. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biological macromolecule namely cellulose nanofiber was synthesized from agrowaste sugarcane bagasse. Further, hierarchical nano Fe(0) - FeS was anchored on cellulose nanofibers to obtain CNF-Fe(0)@FeS and it was characterized by various spectral techniques. Formation of FeS2 was confirmed by high resolution TEM and XPS techniques. Anchoring on cellulose nano fibers prevented agglomeration of nanocomposite and furthermore, coating of FeS2 helped in the preservation of Fe(0). Thus the prepared nano composite was very effective in the removal of cationic Methylene blue (MB) dye and anionic Congo red (CR) dye with a maximum adsorption capacity of 200.0 and 111.1 mg/g respectively. Both MB and CR dye followed Pseudo second kinetic with regression coefficients >0.98. Especially for MB dye, it was observed that kinetics of adsorption/degradation was very fast and within 3 min, peak at 370 nm disappeared and 70\% reduction in intensity was observed at 660 nm. Further MR and XPS revealed evidence for the degradation of adsorbed dye molecules. Considering its high adsorption capacity, degradation potential and ease of preparation using agrowaste makes CNF-Fe(0)@FeS a promising sorbent for the treatment industrial dye effluents. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
In this paper, MnO2/allium-giganteum-like biocarbon (KWB) composites (KWBM) have been prepared by a simple method. First, the biocarbon was derived from sugarcane bagasse by one-step carbonization and activation method, and then, MnO2 nanosheets anchored on the surface of biocarbon and the KWBM was obtained. The analysis results demonstrated that chemical composition and microstructure of KWBM were closely related to the mass ratio of KMnO4/KWB, and which further impacted electrochemical performance of KWBM profoundly. Especially, the KWBM-4 (the mass ratio of KMnO4/KWB is 2) exhibited a highest specific capacitance of 402 Fg(-1) at a current density of 1 A g(-1) in three-electrode system. The asymmetric two-electrode system with outstanding energy density was assembled by employing the KWBM-4 as the positive electrode and the KWB as the negative electrode. The two-electrode system displays a high energy density of 25.9 Wh kg(-1) at a power density of 750 W kg(-1) within a potential rage of 0-1.5 V. Furthermore, the system exhibited high cycle stability with only 5.8\% loss of its initial capacitance after 2000 cycles. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
CuO nanostructures (NSs) of different morphologies were prepared, applied as catalysts for the pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse (PSCB), and applied for thermally-conductive nanofluids. Both size and shape of the prepared NSs ranged from 5 to 1000 nm, and from nanodots (NDs) to spindle nano-aggregates (NAs), respectively. The catalytic activity of these NSs towards the PSCB was followed up by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), where they increased the percentage of total weight loss, and lowered the decomposition temperatures of PSCB. The Coats-Redfern kinetic model showed a decline in activation energy by 57 and 9-43 kJ mol(-1) for NDs and NAs, respectively. Colloidal dispersions of CuO NDs and NAs in monoethylene glycol (MEG) were prepared with volume fractions (phi(v)) of 0.01-0.04\%, where thermal conductivity improved with increasing phi(v). At all values of phi(v), the best enhancements were exerted by NDs. The nature of assembly impacted the catalyzed PSCB and the thermal conductivity of MEG. This behavior depends to a large extent on the NAs that expose a different fraction of crystal facets of different reactivities and surface areas, not on the constituent nanorods (NRs).
Mauritius is heavily dependent on fossil fuels for its energy requirement while energy from renewables contributes only a small fraction of the total primary energy requirement of the island. As such, this study reviewed the potential of energy production from mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of the different wastes or biomass available in Mauritius. Based on the review, the net energy available from AD of the various wastes/biomass studied amounted to 4685 TJ/year (2174 TJ/year of electrical energy and 2511 TJ/year of thermal energy), representing 12.6\% of the final energy consumption of the island. Alternately, the 2174 Tflyear of available electrical energy would represent 20.8\% of the total electricity generated in Mauritius. Among the different substrates reviewed viz. agricultural wastes/biomass, municipal wastes and industrial wastes, it was determined that sugarcane field-based agricultural residues (3790 TJ/year), organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (462 TJ/year) and vinasse (268 TJ/year) are the feedstocks having the higher energy potential from large scale AD in Mauritius. Although there is a huge potential for AD in Mauritius, the technology is not commercially exploited. Consequently, this study also reviewed numerous barriers that could be hampering the implementation of AD on the island. In addition, several recommendations were put forward to encourage the exploitation of AD in Mauritius. Nonetheless, strong commitment from the government is of utmost importance while the benefits of the AD process should be made more knowledgeable to potential stakeholders and investors. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A novel and facile approach was explored to design a bio-based nanoheterojunction of cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles using silanized cellulose nano fibers (SCNF) derived from sugarcane bagasse as a template to augment the adsorption capacity of pristine CdS. SCNF provided a confined space for CdS nanoparticles to grow without agglomeration. The fabricated nanocomposites i.e. CdS@x\%SCNF (x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 50) showed improved adsorption properties for the abolition of pernicious textile and pesticide contaminants from wastewater. Structural and morphological changes induced upon composite formation were monitored using FT-IR, Powder XRD, BET, HRTEM and EDX spectroscopic studies. A feasible mechanism to explain the stabilization of CdS by SCNF matrix was explained through this exploration. Distinct adsorption experiments at acidic and basic pH proved the prominent effect of pH on the adsorption behavior of the nanocomposites. Other crucial parameters of adsorption such as the effect of contact time, adsorbent dosage, concentration of the pollutants, isotherm and kinetic models were also comprehensively investigated. CdS@10\%SCNF nanocomposite showed maximum adsorption capacity for all the pollutants. Regeneration and reuse experiments demonstrated outstanding stability of the nanocomposites.
This paper provides methods for manufacturing alternative fuels from waste cellulosic substrates reinforced by poly furfuryl alcohol (PFA). PFA, as a matrix, is obtained from the condensation polymerization of furfuryl alcohol - a waste of sugarcane bagasse. The processes provided herein can utilize a variety of natural cellulosic substrates derived from, for example, plants such as hemp, ramie, pineapple, abaca but not limited to these. Forest residues and wood chips can also be used as the cellulosic substrates. ISO 5660-1 standards were used to compare the calorific values of the PFA reinforced cellulosic alternative fuels and the existing fossil fuels especially coal as well as cellulosic materials. The calorific value of the cellulosic substrates in any form varies from 5.4 MJ/kg to 16.3 MJ/kg. Reinforcement of cellulosic substrates with PFA increases the calorific values in the range of 18.9-25.09 MJ/kg. We have shown by our novel research that PFA based cellulosic fuels provided herein can be used as effective alternative fuels with heat release/calorific values comparable to any varieties of existing coal. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of this paper is to put forward a proposal for a methodology to analyze the sustainability of the expansion of electricity generation. To do so, an approach is needed that takes into account, in an integrated perspective, the technical, socioeconomic, environmental and technological factors of the various alternatives for sector expansion. In this regard, multicriteria analysis (MCA) is proposed as an evaluation tool. It will be applied to a situation that involves the selection of the following expansion alternatives: small hydropowers, wind energy, generation from sugarcane bagasse, biodiesel, urban solid wastes, natural gas and nuclear energy. The methodology involved the development of indicators encompassing technological, environmental social and economic dimensions, for each of the aforementioned expansion alternatives, and the results were very interesting, from a multicriteria point of view, in their capacity to internalize socioenvironmental, technological and economic aspects in the decision making process for electricity generation expansion. It may well prove to be a useful tool for supporting this decision, although efforts are required to standardize the methodology with regard to its evaluation procedures. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Alkylation reaction catalyzed by concentrated H2SO4 generates hazardous waste H2SO4 containing a large amount of organic pollutants. This study focused on effective utilization and treatment of the waste H2SO4 for simultaneous consumption of H2SO4 and deep oxidative degradation of the organics. The waste H2SO4 could completely react with magnesium oxide ore to prepare crude MgSO4 solution, and the organic pollutants in the solution were deeply degraded and mainly mineralized to H2O and CO2 with H2O2 as oxidant and sugarcane bagasse citrate (SBC), a kind of lignocellulose ester, as catalyst. The total amount of acidic groups of SBC significantly affected its catalytic activity, attributing to that these oxygen-containing functional groups adsorbed and immobilized metal ions on SBC to form catalytic active sites, which could activate and catalyze H2O2 to generate center dot OH and HO2 center dot radicals for effective degradation of the organics. The resulting purified MgSO4 solution with color removal of 93.71\% and total organic carbon removal of 85.89\% under optimum catalytic reaction conditions was used to produce qualified MgSO4 center dot 7H(2)O product. These results highlighted the feasibility of using lignocellulose ester as effective catalyst for deep oxidative degradation of hazardous organic pollutants.
The N-15 balance off sources in the soil-plant system is of great value in studies of N transformation in different agroecosystems. In the sugarcane agroecosystem, the cane plant response to N fertilization for Brazilian conditions is not fully understood and the use of N fertilizer labeled with 15N can help clarify this issue. To evaluate the urea-N utilization by sugarcane at plant cane harvest, two experiments were developed with the. variety SP81-3250, in commercial sugarcane fields. The experiments were carried out from February 2005 to July 2006. The experiment was a randomized complete block design and the treatments three N-urea rates (40, 80 and 120 kg ha(-1)) and a control without N-fertilization (0 kg ha(-1) N). In the center of the plots with urea application microplots were installed and treated with N-15-labeled urea. The average recovery (\%) of 15N-fertilizer by sugarcane (whole plant) was 30, 30 and 21 \%, respectively, at rates of 40, 80 and 120 kg ha(-1) of N. The lower urea-N recovery at higher rates, mainly for 120 kg ha(-1) of N, was due to N losses from the soil-plant system. The N-urea recovery was oil average 11.7 \% of the total accumulated N in the whole plant. The different N rates oil N from fertilizer did not influence N distribution in the different sugarcane plant parts, which were on average 50 \% in the stalks, 22 \% in the dry leaves, 20 \% in the shoots and 8 \% in the roots.
Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) were prepared from sugarcane bagasse and used as reinforcement in epoxy nanocomposites. To obtain CNFs, the cellulose was bleached with sodium chlorite, hydrothermally hydrolyzed with 5\% w/v oxalic acid under pressure of 800 psi at 100 A degrees C in a microwave reactor, and homogenized using a mechanical homogenizer. The diameters of CNFs determined from field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) vary from 8 to 86 nm. The percentage crystallinity obtained from X-ray diffractometry is 62.8\%. The epoxy was mixed with the prepared CNFs and cured at room temperature for 7 days. The effects of CNFs concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 10.0 wt\%, dry basis) on the tensile properties and scratch resistance of the nanocomposites were investigated. Young's modulus and tensile strength increased with an increasing CNFs loading up to 3 wt \%. Above that concentration the tensile elongation at break increased; this was at the rate faster than the modulus decreased. The instantaneous and healing scratch depths and thus viscoelastic recovery were determined using a micro-scratch tester. The percentage recovery values are higher for the nanocomposites than for the pure epoxy.
Four soil fungi able to grow under low oxygenation conditions were selected and used in studies to determine the production of enzymes that promote the degradation of lignocellulosic materials. The capacity of these fungi to ferment such materials was also investigated. The fungi were grown in sugarcane bagasse and sawdust at final concentrations of 4 and 10\%, as the carbon sources. The strains were cultivated under microaerophilic and combined conditions of oxygenation (aerobic followed by microaerophilic conditions). The results obtained with the basidiomycete specie, Trichocladium canadense, Geotrichum sp., and Fusarium sp. suggest that they prefer lower oxygen concentration for growth and enzyme production. Lignocellulolytic activities were detected in all strains but varied with the carbon source used. The highest levels of these activities were produced by the Basidiomycete specie and Fusarium sp. Ethanol and other nongaseous fermentation products were detected following high-performance liquid chromatography analysis using a supelcogel C-610H column, demonstrating the fermentative capability of these strains. In view of their ability to produce enzymes necessary for the breakdown of lignocellulosic materials and to utilize most of the degradation products for growth, these strains have a great potential for biotechnological application.
A new mutant strain, Aspergillus niger GS-III, showing resistance to manganese ions inhibition of citric acid fermentation on a sugarcane molasses containing medium was induced from Aspergillus niger KCU 520, a high citric acid-yielding strain. In submerged, surface or continuous cultures in the presence of manganese ions concentration upto 1.5 ppm the mutant strain yielded citric acid about 90 KgM(-3). The citric acid yield was comparable to that obtained with the parental strain KCU 520 in the absence of manganese ions, but it was at least 3-fold higher than that obtained by: the latter in the presence of manganese ions. The mutant strain immobilized in calcium alginate beads was used in combination with surface-stabilized cultures for about 36-days in a continuous flow horizontal fermenter without any apparent loss in citric acid productivity. These results indicate that the manganese-resistant mutant is stable and may be used in the presence of sufficient manganese ions concentration (1.5 ppm) in the fermentation medium. This capability of the mutant strain A. niger GS-III has been correlated with greatly reduced levels (about one-thirds) of the NADP(+)-isocitric dehydrogenase, one of the control points for citric acid accumulation.
For the last few decades, fossil fuels have played a dominant role as an important energy resource in the enormous worldwide energy demand. However, as conventional fossil fuel resources are limited, excessive exploitation of such fossil fuel comes with the major global problem of energy resource scarcity. Thus, renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, and biofuel, have gained huge attention from governments of many countries across the world. These renewable resources are indigenous, non-polluting and virtually inexhaustible. Among these alternate energy sources, bio-ethanol was proved to be a most promising energy source with various added advantages. Conventional indigenous raw materials for bio-ethanol production include sugarcane, molasses and corn-based materials, although the amount of bio-ethanol produced can hardly meet the current global demand. An extensive search for the most promising feedstock for ethanol production pioneered the use of ligno- and starch-based biomass. For successful conversion of starch and lignocellulosic material to bio-ethanol, a microbial single stage simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) approach has successfully evolved in recent years, overcoming the problems associated with using harmful chemicals and an expensive enzymes stage, the substrate inhibition effects and the reaction time. In this review, multiple aspects of the SSF process will be highlighted.
In the ethanol production process from sugarcane molasses, the distillation process is a high-energy demand stage. The distillation energy efficiency is strongly associated with the alcoholic fermentation performance in the process. The final ethanol concentration in the alcoholic wines has a direct impact on consumption of thermal energy in ethanol separation. In this paper, ethanol production with a H-SBMF (Hybrid-Simple Batch Membrane Fermenter) using PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) pervaporation membrane was modelled and simulated, in order to determine its influence on energy consumption in distillation. Steam in distillation and electrical energy needs in permeate recovery were mainly influenced by membrane adaptation. The H-SBMF achieved a higher ethanol production in the range of 10 -13\% compared to the conventional batch fermenter, and an increase in productivity of 150\%. The distillation system consisted of two sets of columns: the ethanol recovery column and the rectification column. The permeate recovery system (i.e. vacuum and compression) was regarded in order to evaluate the electrical energy requirement, and the thermal energy demand was evaluated. A decrease in steam consumption was evidenced by the adaptation of the membrane to the fermenter. Higher energy efficiencies were achieved in distillation with larger membrane areas, achieving almost 17\% steam reduction. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this experiment, the effects were evaluated of various dietary inclusion levels of avocado oil cake (AOC) silage on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and carcass characteristics in pigs. A mixture of 70\% AOC, 25\% wheat bran, and 5\% sugarcane molasses was ensiled in 200 L drums for 90 days. It was then incorporated at 0\%, 3\% and 5\% in the experimental diets. Twenty-seven Large White cross Landrace (LW x LR) weaner pigs, with an average live weight of 22 kg, were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to the three experimental diets (9 pigs/diet). Pigs were weighed individually each week throughout the trial. Daily feed intake, average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion rates (FCRs) were recorded. A nutrient digestibility study was carried out on completion of the growth trial. At the end of the experiment, pigs were fasted for twelve hours and weighed to determine the final weight. The pigs were then slaughtered, and carcass samples were collected and analysed. The growth performance of pigs was not affected by diet, irrespective of fibre levels in the AOC silage. However, the addition of 3\% AOC silage improved the digestibility of fibre fractions. The weights of the cold carcass, chops, and backfat thickness were reduced with AOC silage addition.
Lentinus crinitus basidiocarps are an alternative to antimicrobials, but the stipe (24\% basidiocarp) is discarded even with potential antimicrobial activity. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of L. crinitus basidiocarp pileus and stipe extracts against foodborne pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms. Basidiocarps of L. crinitus were grown in sugarcane bagasse and rice husks and the pileus and stipe methanolic extract was analyzed by broth microdilution method for antimicrobial activity against eight bacteria and eight fungi. The minimum bactericidal concentration values for pileus and stipe ranged from 0.40 to 0.50 mg mL(- 1), for streptomycin from 0.10 to 0.50 mg mL(- 1), and for ampicillin from 0.40 to 1.20 mg mL(- 1). The minimum fungicidal concentration values for pileus and stipe ranged from 0.06 to 0.60 mg mL(- 1), for bifonazole from 0.20 to 0.25 mg mL(- 1), and for ketoconazole from 0.30 to 3.50 mg mL(- 1). Extracts had bacteriostatic, bactericidal, fungistatic and fungicidal activity against all microorganisms, but with greater efficiency and specificity for some microorganisms. Both pileus and stipe are promising and sustainable alternatives for use in food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries.
Accurately predicting fuel blends' lower heating values (LHV) is crucial for optimizing a power plant. In this paper, we employ multiple artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning-based models for predicting the LHV of various fuel blends. Coal of two different ranks and two types of biomass is used in this study. One was the South African imported bituminous coal, and the other was lignite thar coal extracted from the Thar Coal Block-2 mine by Sind Engro Coal Mining Company, Pakistan. Two types of biomass, that is, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk, were obtained locally from a sugar mill and rice mill located in the vicinity of Sahiwal, Punjab. Bituminous coal mixture with other coal types and both types of biomass are used with 10\%, 20\%, 30\%, 40\%, and 50\% weight fractions, respectively. The calculation and model development procedure resulted in 91 different AI-based models. The best is the Ridge Regressor, a high-level end-to-end approach for fitting the model. The model can predict the LHV of the bituminous coal with lignite and biomass under a vast share of fuel blends.
Ethanol production by Flammulina velutipes from high substrate concentrations was evaluated. F. velutipes produces approximately 40-60 g l(-1) ethanol from 15 \% (w/v) c-glucose, D-fructose, a-mannose, sucrose, maltose, and cellobiose, with the highest conversion rate of 83 \% observed using cellobiose as a carbon source. We also attempted to assess direct ethanol fermentation from sugarcane bagasse cellulose (SCBC) by F. velutipes. The hydrolysis rate of 15 \% (w/v) SCBC with commercial cellulose was approximately 20 \%. In contrast, F. velutipes was able to produce a significant amount of ethanol from 15 \% SCBC with the production of beta-glucosidase, cellobohydrolase, and cellulose, although the addition of a small amount of commercial cellulose to the culture was required for the conversion. When 9 mg g(-1) biomass of commercial cellulose was added to cultures, 0.36 g of ethanol was produced from 1 g of cellulose, corresponding to an ethanol conversion rate of 69.6 \%. These results indicate that F. velutipes would be useful for consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol. (C) 2013 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Anion exchangers were prepared from different agricultural residues (AR) after reaction with epichlorohydrin and dimethylamine in the presence of pyridine and NN-dimethyiformamide (EDM method). Agricultural residues anion exchangers (AR-AE) produced by the EDM method were inexpensive and showed almost the same NO3- removal capacities as Amberlite IRA-900. AR-AE produced from AR with higher hemicelluloses, lignin, ash and extractive contents resulted in the lower yields. Sugarcane bagasse with the highest alpha-cellulose contents of 51.2\% had the highest yield (225\%) and lowest preparation cost. The highest maximum adsorption capacity (Q(max)) for nitrate was obtained from rice hull (1.21 mmol g(-1)) and pine bark natural exchangers (1.06 mmol g(-1)). No correlation was found between Q(max) and alpha-cellulose content in the original AR. AR-AE produced from different AR demonstrated comparable Q(max) due to the removal of non-active compounds such as extractives, lignin and hemicelluloses from AR during the preparation process. Similar preparation from pure cellulose and pure alkaline lignin demonstrated that the EDM method could not produce anion exchangers from pure lignin due to its solubilization after the reaction with epichlorohydrin. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.
In the current work, a techno-economic analysis of pyrolysis of choline glycinate pre-treated biomass has been presented for the co-production of furfural and levoglucosenone along with hemicellulose, lignin and biochar as other byproducts. The mass balance suggested that the 1800 kg/h dry sugarcane straw biorefinery plant could produce about 260 kg/h furfural and 65 kg/h levoglucosenone. The minimum selling price of furfural and levoglucosenone were also estimated and the values were 1640 and 3590 AU\$/tonne at 11.1 \% biomass loading with 99 \% ionic liquid recycling for furfural and levoglucosenone as the target products, respectively. The base case analysis suggested around 6.9 MAU\$ NPV with a payback period of 15.4 years. The sensitivity analysis suggested that biomass loading, ionic liquid recycling and cost, waste heat recovery, furfural yield, interest rate and capital cost are the major influential factors for both the minimum selling price of furfural and levoglucosenone.
This work evaluates a microbial-based biodiesel production process through simultaneous esterification and transesterification of the lipid-rich fungal biomass using ethanol as both extractor and acyl acceptor. Two of the most influential parameters were evaluated, the molar ratio of ethanol to the oil, and the concentration of a heterogeneous acid catalyst (H3PMo/Al2O3), with responses in terms of conversion to ethyl esters and an estimated cost of the process variables. Fungal biomass of Mucor circinelloides was cultivated in sugarcane molasses media and the obtained oleaginous cells were used as the source of acylglycerols and free fatty acids for the trans/esterification reactions in a pressurized stainless-steel reactor at 200 degrees C for 6 h. Our results demonstrate that the effects of the two factors analyzed were significant, with an indication that increases in the molar ratio and catalyst favor the reaction yield. In the reaction system, a molar ratio of 120:1 (ethanol: oil) and 15 wt\% of catalyst yielded 96.6\% of ester content, which meets the minimum limit established by the international standards. Production costs were estimated in function of ethanol and catalyst price and indicated the selected parameters reflected the adequate configuration to reach the stablished minimum ester content.
Activated carbon (AC) has been extensively utilized as an adsorbent over the past few decades. AC has widespread applications, including the removal of different contaminants from water and wastewater, and it is also being used in capacitors, battery electrodes, catalytic supports, and gas storage materials because of its specific characteristics e.g., high surface area with electrical properties. The production of AC from naturally occurring precursors (e.g., coal, biomass, coconut shell, sugarcane bagasse, and so on) is highly interesting in terms of the material applications in chemistry; however, recently much focus has been placed on the use of agricultural wastes (e.g., rice husk) to produce AC. Rice husk (RH) is an abundant as well as cheap material which can be converted into AC for various applications. Various pollutants such as textile dyes, organic contaminants, inorganic anions, pesticides, and heavy metals can be effectively removed by RH-derived AC. In addition, RH-derived AC has been applied in supercapacitors, electrodes for Li-ion batteries, catalytic support, and energy storage, among other uses. Cost-effective synthesis of AC can be an alternative for AC production. Therefore, this review mainly covers different synthetic routes and applications of AC produced from RH precursors. Different environmental, catalytic, and energy applications have been pinpointed. Furthermore, AC regeneration, desorption, and relevant environmental concerns have also been covered. Future scopes for further research and development activities are also discussed. Overall, it was found that RH-derived AC has great potential for different applications which can be further explored at real scales, i.e., for industrial applications in the future.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of rice byproducts on water quality, microbial community, and growth performance of L. vannamei juveniles. Shrimp of 0.98 +/- 0.10 g body weight (BW) were reared in 49 tanks of 1.5 m(3) under 127 animals m(-2) for 77 days. Rice bran, rice grits, and rice hulls were mixed into five different fertilizers varying their fiber content (90, 110, 150, 200, and 250 g kg(-1)) and compared against sugarcane molasses (MO) and unfertilized tanks (UNF). Rice byproducts and MO were applied in water three times a week at a fixed rate of 4.5 g m(-)(3). Water salinity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen reached 43 +/- 2 g L-1(,) 8.03 +/- 0.32, 30.2 +/- 0.90 degrees C, and 5.03 +/- 0.53 mg L-1, respectively. Settleable solids (SS) were higher in tanks fertilized with rice byproducts (from 2.5 +/- 1.0 to 3.1 +/- 1.1 mL L-1) and MO (3.4 +/- 1.0 mL L-1). Total ammonia nitrogen (0.190.09 mg L-1), nitrite (5.97 +/- 2.04 mg L-1), and nitrate (1.29 +/- 0.48 mg L-1) were kept low without any significant differences among treatments. The concentration of heterotrophic bacteria and fungi was significantly higher in rice byproducts compared with MO. Water fertilization had no effect on final shrimp survival (85.5 +/- 9.5\%), weekly growth (0.72 +/- 0.11 g), and feed conversion ratio (1.59 +/- 0.10). Tanks treated with rice byproducts, except with 90 g kg(-1) fiber, resulted in a higher final shrimp BW (from 9.04 +/- 1.56 to 9.52 +/- 1.89 g) compared with MO (8.75 +/- 2.14 g) and UNF (7.74 +/- 1.48 g). Gained yield and feed intake were significantly higher for tanks treated with rice byproducts than with UNF. A mix of rice byproducts can be equally or more effective as carbon sources to shrimp culture than MO.
Pectinases are applied in many commercial processes, particularly for fruit juice clarification. Cost effective production of pectinase necessitates utilization of agro-industrial wastes as fermentation raw materials. Biomass from halophytic plants provides a prospect for its sustainable utilization in industrial processes. Here, we report utilization of two halophytic biomasses, Suaeda fruticosa and Cressa cretica to grow a pectinolytic strain, Geotrichum candidum AA15 and its mutant strain AHC1. Amount of pectinase produced was compared by cultivating the strains in the medium containing apple peels and orange peels. The data showed that G. candidum AHC1 can produce pectinase titers of 15.43 and 28.15 IU mL(-1) within 25 h when cultivated in the medium containing biomass from C. cretica and S. fruticosa, respectively. The results of FTIR and Scanning Electron microscopy affirmed the bacterial growth mediated changes in the structure of the substrate that was associated with the pectinase production. The crude pectinase preparation was applied to hydrolyze an agro-waste, sugarcane bagasse, that resulted in the release of 86 mg g(-1) of reducing sugars. Thus, this study proposed the usage of halophytic plant biomass for cost effective pectinase production and its application for saccharification of agro-waste.
This study assesses the environmental performance of biomass feedstocks, rice husk, wheat stalk, cotton stalk, sorghum stalk, and sugarcane bagasse, for ethanol production in India. The analysis calculates emergy indicators and demonstrates the dilemma in selection of biomass feedstocks for meeting the ethanol blending target decided by the biofuel policy of the Government of India. It considers spatial variability, and computes the production potential of each lignocellulosic feedstock considered in the study. Achieving high return on energy invested, high renewability, and large production rates simultaneously seems difficult for the considered feedstocks. Among these cellulosic feedstocks, rice husk shows highest renewability and ethanol production potential. Although sorghum stalk has a high return on investment, it has lowest renewability among the feedstocks considered in the study. Rice husk and cotton stalk should be targeted first to fulfil the blending demand of gasoline as they show highest renewability and quality corrected emergy return on investment, along with a high production potential. Emergy analysis of cellulosic biofuels can provide a holistic platform for decision makers for designing the biofuel policy and selection of feedstock in the Indian context.
This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a commercial tannin-based coagulant on the control of suspended solids in a Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultivated in a biofloc system (BFT). The BFT systems involved 106 tilapias (average weight of 1.20 +/- 1.83 g) in producing water for the preliminary tests and 41 fish (average weight of 14.77 +/- 8.07 g) for further tests. The BFT system was fertilized with sugarcane molasses. Water quality was evaluated in terms of turbidity, apparent color, pH, alkalinity, total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), nitrite (N-NO2-), nitrate (N-NO3-), phosphate (P-PO43-), chemical oxygen demand (COD), phenols and phytotoxicity to lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa) was evaluated. Tannin-based coagulant was efficient for the BFT water clarification, removing 90.81\% of turbidity on average. Overall, the parameters measured in the treated water remained within the recommended range for water in BFT systems. Furthermore, no adverse changes were observed in the phytotoxic classification using lettuce seeds based on the germination index for treated water. Overall, tannin-based coagulant was efficient and was considered environmentally and safety friendly for controlling suspended solids in BFT cultivation systems.
The construction industry is shifting towards environmentally friendly products due to the rising demand for non-renewable raw materials, their high energy consumption, and, most importantly, their detrimental environmental effects. High levels of solid waste produced by raw materials release dangerous gases like nitrous and Sulphur oxides, which are very harmful to the environment. In recent years, the usage of fibers has tremendously increased to make significantly robust structures. For sustainable, waste-free development, manufactured fibers can be replaced with natural fibers without compromising on the requirements. This study considers various natural fibers like basalt, coconut/coir, banana, sugarcane bagasse, hemp, kenaf, bamboo, jute, sisal, abaca, and cotton, and their effects on fresh and hardened concrete have been discussed. This article also reviews the composition, preparation, and processing procedures of various natural fibers, and their potential applications in building materials are highlighted. Future research avenues are identified, and possible negative impacts and limitations are discussed. Our findings confirm the feasibility of standard concrete using natural fibers in cement or geopolymer concrete. Lastly, this review compiles insights from numerous sources to aid academia and the construction industry in developing eco-friendly materials.
Concerns regarding the potential global environmental impacts of fossil fuels used in power generation and other energy supplies are increasing worldwide. One of the methods of mitigating these environmental impacts is increasing the fraction of renewable and sustainable energy in the national energy usage. A number of techniques and methods have been proposed for reducing gaseous emissions of NOx, SO2 and CO2 from fossil fuel combustion and for reducing costs associated with these mitigation techniques. Some of the control methods are expensive and therefore increase production costs. Among the less expensive alternatives, cofiring has gained popularity with the electric utility producers. This paper discusses the `gaseous emission characteristics namely NOx, SO2, suspended particulate matter and other characteristics like specific fuel consumption, total fuel required, actual and equivalent evaporation, total cost of fuel, etc. from a 18.68 MW power plant with a travelling grate boiler, when biomass was cofired with bituminous coal in three proportions of 20\%, 40\% and 60\% by mass. Bagasse, wood chips (Julia flora), sugarcane trash and coconut shell are the biomass fuels cofired with coal in this study. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
When biochars are produced, feedstock is a crucial factor that determines their physicochemical properties. However, the characteristics of tropical crop waste-derived biochar have not been described and limit its availability. In this study, pineapple leaf (PAL), banana stem (BAS), sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and horticultural substrate (HCS), were used to prepare biochar at 300, 500 and 700 degrees C. Properties of biochars and their applications were analysed. The results indicated that hydrophobicity, nonpolarity and aromaticity of SCB biochar (SCBB) were higher than other biochars due to the loss of H (hydrogen), O (oxygen), and N (nitrogen). The pH of PAL biochar (PALB) and BAS biochar (BASB) ranged from 9.69 to 10.30 higher than that of SCBB and HCS biochar (HCSB) with 7.17-9.77. In PALB and BASB, sylvite was the dominant crystal structure. With temperature rising, C-H stretching, C=C stretching and H-O in alcohol groups decreased, and Si-O stretching in HCSB and SCBB strengthened. Biochars obtained at 500 degrees C, especially SCBB and HCSB, significantly promoted the growth of maize. The PALB and BASB greatly increased the soil pH/EC to 6.90-7.35 and 0.67-0.95 ms/cm, while those of SCBB and HCSB were 5.97-6.74 and 0.23-0.45 ms/cm. The application of the biochars to the soil increased soil pH, reducing the acidic soil stress in maize growth, especially PAL and BAS biochars prepared at 300 degrees C. Biochar prepared at lower temperature will greatly reduce energy consumption and increase the utilization efficiency of tropical agricultural waste resources.
The world must find a way of producing fuel from renewable energy sources to replace the fossil fuels. The sustained production of hydrogen by Chlorella sp., a unicellular green alga, can be achieved in sulfur-deprived culture conditions, besides integrating dark and light bio-hydrogen production strategy. Moreover, dark fermentation carried out by bacterial consortium in anaerobic systems provides organic acids such as acetic, lactic, propionic, butyric. These compounds may be used by the algae as a carbon source to enhance the hydrogen production. In addition, acetate and citrate can be used by Chlorella sp. to increase the cell respiration rates due to inhibition of O-2 production during photosynthesis, and consequently, improving H-2 synthesis. This work evaluated the effect of the sulfur-deprived medium (WC) containing yeast extract and milk whey permeate, besides sugarcane molasses combined with milk whey permeate to bio-hydrogen production by Chlorella sp. Furthermore, it was evaluated the influence of a hybrid system in which a conditioned medium obtained from dark fermentation by bacterial consortium was used as substrate by algae on the hydrogen productivity and substrate conversion efficiency by green algae. The results showed that the hybrid systems and the use of complex carbon source can improved the biohydrogen production.
The objective of this study was to determine mixtures of regional organic residues that present aggregation to the root system and make a good development possible for Eucalyptus seedlings in block systems. Residues of coconut fiber (fine fibers - FCF, long fibers - FCL and mixed fibers - FCM), eucalyptus bark (CE) and sugarcane filter cake (T) were used, with ten mixtures obtained. The blocks for the expansion tests were made in a steel form (11.5 x 2.3 cm), and afterwards moistening and evaluating for the volume and height increment. There was not a difference in the volume increment among the mixtures, and mixture 3 presented a larger increment in height than in mixture 8, however; they didn't differ from those remaining, with those chosen for use in the production of eucalyptus seedlings: FCM (40\%) + T (60\%); CE (60\%)+ FCM (40\%); CE (40\%) + T (60\%) and CE (40\%) + T (30\%) + FCM (30\%). The choice was made in consideration of the component's readiness, because it did not differ in the tests. The Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings were produced in 40x60x7cm trays, with 96 seedlings, sown directly in the blocks made with the selected mixtures pressed or not pressed. At 90 days the seedlings were evaluated for the diameter; height, shoot and root dry matter. In the expedition time, the substrata were evaluated as for the stability of the turf and the aggregation degree of the substrata to the seedlings roots. The nutritional analysis of the shoot seedlings was accomplished (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Zn, Fe). All the substrata presented aggregation and good stability. Nutritional problems were not observed in the seedlings. For the production of Eucalyptus urophylla seedlings in blocks with pressed substrata the substratum CE (60\%) + FCM (40\%) is recommended, and without being pressed the mixtures: CE (60\%) + FCM (40\%); CE (40\%) + T (60\%) and CE (40\%) + T (30\%) + FCM (30\%) were recommended.
To investigate the feasibility of steam explosion on the exploitation of ruminant feedstuff, the morphological structure, carbohydrate-protein fractions, and rumen fermentation profile of five typical crop byproducts (corn cob, rice straw, peanut shell, millet stalk, and sugarcane tip) were analyzed before and after steam explosion processing. The results showed that these crop byproducts had different physicochemical properties and rumen fermentation profiles, most of which could be improved by steam explosion processing, i.e., more rough morphological surface, much-broken structure, more digestible carbohydrate fraction (non-NDF +49.92-452.24\%), faster gas production rate (c +9.72-68.75\%), higher dry matter digestibility (DMD48 +11.38-47.36\%), more available energy (ME -3.69-+42.13\%, except for peanut shell), along with more unavailable protein fraction (ADICP +27.16-102.70\%). It is suggested that steam explosion processing could intensify the feeding value of most crop byproducts for ruminants, but with a caution of heat damage to proteins.
Pochonia chlamydosporia is a nematophagous fungus with high potential for the biological control of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). The fungus is commonly produced in colonised rice substrate, but non-staple and more affordable substrates may encourage the production and use of this biological control agent. An in vitro study was conducted to screen different organic materials, including green and animal manures and industrial by-products as substrates for local production of viable fungal chlamydospores. Chlamydospore yield from sugarcane filter mud, bean straw, sunn hemp, goat manure, African marigold, wild sunflower, maize cobs, and velvet beans substrates was equal to or significantly greater than production using rice (standard substrate). In addition, the percentage viability of chlamydospores produced in most organic substrates was greater than 50\%. The use of non-staple substrates deserves further investigation as a viable, and economical local option to rice substrate for mass production of P. chlamydosporia inoculum in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Biochar is a universal sorbent suitable in strategies for removing contaminants from both soil and water. This study evaluated the potential of four biochars each produced from a different feedstock for removing Cd and Ni from water. Chicken manure mixed with sawdust (CM), sugarcane straw (SS), rice husk (RH) and sawdust (SW) were used to produce biochar through slow pyrolysis at two temperatures: 350 and 650 degrees C. The percentage removed and the removal capacity of Cd and Ni from water by biochars at both temperatures used in the pyrolysis followed the order: CM > SS > RH > SW. The removal percentage ranged from 31 to 98\% for Cd and 24-72\% for Ni, while removal capacity ranged from 0.3 to 12.5 mg g(-1) for Cd and 0.2-10.9 mg g(-1) for Ni. The type of feedstock had greater influence on the performance of biochars for removing metals than the pyrolysis temperature. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Substituting petroleum-derived polymers with biodegradable and biocompatible polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a challenge to sustain the environmental system. This study intends to optimize the cultural conditions for PHB production by nonpathogenic Bacillus subtilis isolated from Jatropha field. Various agricultural and industrial wastes such as corn bran, corncob, wheat bran, rice bran, dairy waste, and sugarcane molasses were utilized for PHB production. Among these wastes, rice bran was the best carbon source for PHB production (0.31g/l) with 30.4\% of the dry cell weight (DCW). Cultural parameters influencing PHB production were studied employing Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs. Accordingly, pH, incubation time, and inoculum size were found to be the most influential factors on PHB production. Using optimized conditions, sixfold augment in PHB content (0.81g/l, 62.6\% DCW) was attained using rice bran. PHBs obtained from glucose and rice bran were characterized using H-1 NMR, FT-IR, TGA, and DSC analysis. Structures of PHBs were comparable, whereas the findings of thermal studies revealed that rice bran-derived PHB showed higher thermal stability with lower melting temperature than glucose-derived PHB. These results substantiate the potential use of this safe isolate utilizing inexpensive substrates for PHB production that could be adopted in medical applications.
Twenty-seven thermophilic and thermotolerant fungal strains were isolated from soil, decaying organic matter and sugarcane piles based on their ability to grow at 45 degrees C on medium containing corn straw and cardboard as carbon sources. These fungi were identified in the genera Aspergillus, Thermomyces, Myceliophthora, Thermomucor and Candida. The majority of the isolated strains produced xylanase and cellulases under solid state fermentation (SSF). The highest cellulase and xylanase productions were obtained by the cultivation of the strains identified as Aspergillus fumigatus M.7.1 and Myceliophthora thermophila M.7.7. The enzymes from these strains exhibited maximum activity at pH 5.0 and at 60 and 70 degrees C. The endo-glucanase from A. fumigatus was stable from 40 degrees C to 65 degrees C and both endo-glucanase and xylanase from M. thermophila were stable in this temperature range when in absence of substrate. The enzymes were stable from pH 4.0 to 9.0.
An electrochemical sensor for n-mannitol based on molecularly imprinted polymer on electrode modified with reduced graphene oxide decorated with gold nanoparticles was developed in this present work. The sensor was constructed for the first time via the electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine (o-PD) over a surface containing reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and gold nanoparticles (AuNP) in the presence of n-mannitol molecules. The surface modification with AuNP/RGO-GCE facilitated the charge transfer processes of {[
Agrowaste sources can be utilized to produce biogas by anaerobic digestion reaction. Fossil fuels have damaged the environment, while the biogas rectifies the issues related to the environment and climate change problems. Techno-economic analysis of biogas production is followed by nutrient recycling, reducing the greenhouse gas level, biorefinery purpose, and global warming effect. In addition, biogas production is mediated by different metabolic reactions, the usage of different microorganisms, purification process, upgrading process and removal of CO2 from the gas mixture techniques. This review focuses on pre-treatment, usage of waste, production methods and application besides summarizing recent advancements in biogas production. Economical, technical, environmental properties and factors affecting biogas production as well as the future perspective of bioenergy are highlighted in the review. Among all agro-industrial wastes, sugarcane straw produced 94\% of the biogas. In the future, to overcome all the problems related to biogas production and modify the production process.
Six typical Brazilian lignocellulosic biomasses (rice straw, corn cob, peanut shell, sawdust, coffee husk and sugarcane bagasse) were evaluated for methane production by solid-state anaerobic co-digestion with poultry manure. The results showed the highest methane production was obtained with corn cob and poultry manure (126.02 Nm(3) CH4. ton residue(-1)) using a food to inoculum ratio of 0.5, which lowered volatile fatty acids accumulation. In this condition, the thermal energy production (1.73 MJ.kg live chicken(-1)) would be able to replace 53.2\% of the energy with firewood in poultry farming. The high hemicellulose and low lignin content in corn cob seem to explain the biomethanation of such biomass, and this agrees with the microbial analysis which revealed the predominance of bacteria related to plant polysaccharides hydrolysis and carbohydrate conversion in the inoculum. The methane production was best modelled by Groot's multi-stage model, and the microbial adaptation to lignin might explain this.
Citric acid (CA) production has been conducted through a careful strain selection, physical-chemical optimization and mutation. The aim of this work was to optimize the physical-chemical conditions of CA production by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using the Aspergillus niger LPB BC strain, which was isolated in our laboratory. The parental and mutant strain showed a good production of CA using citric pulp (CP) as a substrate. The physical-chemical parameters were optimized and the best production was reached at 65\% moisture, 30 A degrees C and pH 5.5. The influence of the addition of commercial and alternative sugars, nitrogen sources, salts, and alcohols was also studied. The best results (445.4 g of CA/kg of CP) were obtained with sugarcane molasses and 4\% methanol (v/w). The mutagenesis induction of LPB BC was performed with UV irradiation. Eleven mutant strains were tested in SSF where two mutants showed a higher CA production when compared to the parental strain. A. niger LPB B3 produced 537.6 g of CA/kg of CP on the sixth day of fermentation, while A. niger LPB B6 produced 616.5 g of CA/kg of CP on the fourth day of fermentation, representing a 19.5\% and 37\% gain, respectively.
The red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier) (RPW) is the most serious pest of date palms in the Middle East. Weevil infestation was first detected in Israel in the summer of 1999 in date plantations in the Jordan Valley, on the west bank of the Jordan River and in the northern area of the Dead Sea. For 2 years following the discovery of the pest, prophylactic insecticide chemical treatments as well as adult weevil trapping were carried out over 450 ha of date palm plantations. Traps loaded with a commercial aggregation pheromone, ferrugineol, supplemented with ethyl acetate and a fermenting mixture of dates and sugarcane molasses, were posted in high trap density (approx. ten traps per ha) in order to monitor weevil infestation and reduce the RPW population by mass trapping. A significant decrease in number of trapped beetles and infested trees was observed in 2001 and continued in the following years. No infested trees have been found since 2002, indicating a decrease in RPW population. The sex ratio of trapped adults during 3 years of study was significantly female-biased (similar to2.5:1). Therefore, mass trapping might have played a significant role in the suppression of RPW populations in date plantations.
The parameters, including ultrasonic frequency, still versus stirring, biomass particle size and biomass loading were concurrently investigated for the ultrasonic treatment of wheat straw. Experiments were conducted at three different frequencies; 40, 376, and 995 kHz using three different solid to liquid ratios, 1/50, 1/20, and 1/15 (g/ml), with and without mechanical stirring. Additional treatments in different particle size ranges, 0-0.5, 0.5-1, and 1-2 mm were performed at the solid to liquid ratio of 1/20 (g/ml). Fractionation was improved at 40 and 995 kHz via different mechanisms. Delignification was favored at the ultrasonic treatment frequency of 40 kHz, biomass loading 1/20 (g/ml) with stirring and particle size range of 0.5-1 mm. However at 995 kHz carbohydrate solubilization was favored, especially in the particle size range of <0.5 mm. The treatment efficacies highlighted the use of ultrasound for physical and chemical effects at different frequencies. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Morning glories (Ipomoea spp.) are important weeds in non-burning sugarcane farming in Brazil, and their chemical control has low efficacy due to the straw mulching. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of epidemiological parameters on the development of Cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora aff. canescens Ellis \& G. Martin) on four Ipomoea weed species, as well as on the host range. The results demonstrated that the use of a suspension of 2x10(7) conidia ml(-1) on specific host phenological stages (3-5 leaves, open flowers, and with fruit), with a minimum of a 24 h dew period, induces plant defoliation and a higher disease incidence on Ipomoea nil L. (Roth). However, the same disease incidence and defoliation on I. grandifolia (Dammer) O'Donell, I. quamoclit L., and I. hederifolia L. were not achieved. The pathogen was specific to these four Ipomoea species among 18 plant species. These results represent an important step in the development of a mycoherbicide to control morning glories.
Growth, body composition and antioxidant status of Litopenaeus vannamei under zero water exchange biofloc-based culture system using inland saline groundwater (ISGW) were evaluated during the 60-day culture period in four varying stocking densities of 60 (T1), 100 (T2), 140 (T3) and 180 (T4) juvenile shrimps m(-3). The carbon : nitrogen ratio was maintained at 15:1 using sugarcane molasses. Shrimp in the BFT treatments performed significantly better (P < 0.05) than control in terms of survival (98\%-100\%), weight gain (10.83 to 7.68g), feed conversion ratio (1.19 to 1.30) and feed efficiency ratio (0.88-0.84) at the end of the experimental period. Higher level of crude protein (29.1\% to 33.0\%), lipid (5.0\% to 5.6\%) and ash (1.4\% to 1.6\%) content was observed in the tissues of the shrimps from the BFT treatments when compared to control. Antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in gills, hepatopancreas and muscle were higher in the BFT treatments than in the control. These results indicate that microbial protein from recycled waste functions as nutrient, growth promoter and antioxidant capacity stimulator in shrimp reared in BFT using ISGW.
The study is aimed at the problem of high content of Cr6+ Cr3+ and SO42- is high and low pH value in acid mine drainage (AMD). Moreover, treatment of AMD by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) requires the addition of carbon source, while the treating effectiveness is not good enough on its own. The sugarcane slag, the corn cob and the sunflower straw were selected as the SRB carbon source cooperating with iron scrap to construct the dynamic columns 1, 2 and 3. The mechanism of removing Cr6+, Cr3+, SO42- and H+ and the regularity of sustained release of carbon source and TFe release was studied in AMD. The removal efficiency of heavy metal ions, the ability of sustained release of carbon source, and the ability of adjusting acid by the three dynamic columns were compared. The result shows that the average removal rates of Cr6+, Cr3+ and SO42- in effluent of dynamic column 1, filled by sugarcane slag, iron scrap and SRB, were 96.9\%, 67.1\% and 54.3\%. The average release of TFe and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 4.4 and 287.3 mg/L. Its average pH was 6.98. Compared with the performance of dynamic columns 1, 2 and 3, dynamic column 1 performed best in removing Cr6+, Cr3+ and SO42- from AMD and controlling the release of COD and TFe, adjusting the pH of the solution. The study is of significance in treatment of AMD by taking for biomass materials as SRB carbon source in cooperation with iron scrap.
Sugarcane-molasses-based post-methanated distillery waste is well known for its toxicity, causing adverse effects on aquatic flora and fauna. Here, it has been demonstrated that there is an abundant mixture of androgenic and mutagenic compounds both in distillery sludge and leachate. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis showed dodecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, n-pentadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol trimethyl ether, heptacosane, dotriacontane, lanosta-8, 24-dien-3-one, 1-methylene-3-methyl butanol, 1-phenyl-1-propanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl) cyclohexanol, and 2-ethylthio-10-hydroxy-9-methoxy-1,4 anthraquinone as major organic pollutants along with heavy metals (all mg kg(-1)): Fe (2403), Zn (210.15), Mn (126.30, Cu (73.62), Cr (21.825), Pb (16.33) and Ni (13.425). In a simultaneous analysis of bacterial communities using the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method the dominance of Bacillus sp. followed by Enterococcus sp. as autochthonous bacterial communities growing in this extremely toxic environment was shown, indicating a primary community for bioremediation. A toxicity evaluation showed a reduction of toxicity in degraded samples of sludge and leachate, confirming the role of autochthonous bacterial communities in the bioremediation of distillery waste in situ.
Goal Programming (GP) is an important analytical approach devised to solve many real-world problems. The first GP model is known as Weighted Goal Programming (WGP). However, Multi-Choice Aspirations Level (MCAL) problems cannot be solved by current GP techniques. In this paper, we propose a Multi-Choice Mixed Integer Goal Programming model (MCMI-GP) for the aggregate production planning of a Brazilian sugar and ethanol milling company. The MC-MIGP model was based on traditional selection and process methods for the design of lots, representing the production system of sugar, alcohol, molasses and derivatives. The research covers decisions on the agricultural and cutting stages, sugarcane loading and transportation by suppliers and, especially, energy cogeneration decisions; that is, the choice of production process, including storage stages and distribution. The MCMIGP allows decision-makers to set multiple aspiration levels for their problems in which ``the more/higher, the better{''
Liquor recycle in lignocellulosic biomass fractionation with ethanol-water has been studied. Runs have been carried out in a 6 L tank reactor with liquor recirculation. The liquors obtained in six successive fractioning operations have been analyzed together with the solid phase remnant. Experimental results revealed that the number of re-uses reduces solids recovery (from 52.2 to 42.6\%) and cellulose recovery (from 28.1 to 23.3\%) with minor or no effect on the hemicelluloses and lignin removal. The more remarkable effect is an increase of the glucose yield (from 76.7 to 95.3\% after enzymatic hydrolysis during 72 h). The accumulation of acetic acid in the spent liquors (until 1.3 g/L) seems to be responsible of the higher enzymatic hydrolysis yield, from 76.3 (first use) to 87.7\% (fifth re-use). Liquor re-use is effective to improve the sustainability of the pre-treatment obtaining a cellulose-rich solid easy to hydrolysate to sugars reducing energy consumption.
Background. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a disease caused by the dengue virus which is transmitted by the mosquito vector Aedes spp. Efforts to control dengue vectors using chemical methods such as the use of larvicides and fogging with insecticides can result in the risk of environmental pollution and also resistance to Aedes spp. Objective. This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of indoor and outdoor modified larvitrap made from jars and black paralon as well as attractants to control Aedes spp.Methods. This research is applied research in society. Indoor and outdoor larvitrap is made using clear jars and black paralon. The attractants used were Imperata cylindrica soaking water, ricestraw, and sugarcane leaves with concentrations of 20 and 30\%. Indoor and outdoor larvitrap was installed in the respondent's house in a dengue-endemic area in Pandak village, Banyumas, Indonesia. Observations were carried out on the number of Aedes spp. larvae trapped by larvitrap.Results. The results showed that outdoor larvitraps caught fewer Aedes spp. larvae (46.8\%) than indoor larvitraps (61.6\%). The use of attractants between Imperata, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves has a different effect on the number of larvae caught. Most of the Aedes spp. larvae were caught in Imperata soaking water with a concentration of 30\% installed in an indoor larvitrap.Conclusion. The use of indoor and outdoor larvitrap modified jars and black paralon at research sites can be effective for control-ling Aedes spp. Imperata soaking water with a concentration of 30\% proved to be the most effective attractant.
A two-stage, continuous-flow bioreactor, containing both immobilized and suspended free yeast cells, was constructed and tested for its capacity to produce ethanol over an extended period of time from a feedstock containing sucrose. The reactor has now been in continuous operation for 2 years. The operational conditions required to maintain an ethanol production level of 98 (+/- 3.3) g l-1 and total sugar consumption of 95.8\% was an adequate feedstock (synthetic sugar-cane juice with 200 g l-1 sucrose, mineral salts, and 5 g l-1 yeast extract), a nutrient supplement of yeast extract, peptone, and mineral salts to the second reactor stage, continuous aeration to both stages at 10-30 ml min-1, and a liquid recycle ratio of 20:1 within each reactor stage. The controlled aeration was necessary to maintain an active and stable yeast population. The dilution rates studied varied from 0.1 to 0.25 h-1. The greatest ethanol productivity was achieved at the highest dilution rate tested (0.25 h-1), but the most complete conversion of sugar to ethanol occurred at the lowest dilution rate. The most effective nutrient supplement for supporting maximal ethanol production was obtained with a combined addition of yeast extract, peptone, and mineral salts. The effectiveness of the nutrient supplement could not be equalled by substituting vitamins, inositol, acetic acid, or trace minerals either alone or in combinations. High-test molasses (commercially concentrated, natural sugarcane juice) was a suitable feedstock only when it was fortified with ammonium salts. It was concluded from this study that the combination of the immobilized cells and high concentration of suspended free cells within the air-supplemented reactor stabilized the continuous ethanol fermentation for long-term performance, eliminated the necessity for cell conditioning and recycle, and effectively suppressed infection from extrinsic organisms.
The economic feasibility of cellulosic ethanol is still poorer than that of grain-based ethanol because of the difficulty in lignocellulose saccharification and more complicated production process. Pretreatment greatly affects the production cost of cellulosic ethanol. In this work, Formiline pretreatment based on formic acid delignification was used to achieve a fractionation of wheat straw for co-producing ethanol, furfural and high purity lignin. Techno-economic assessment was performed and compared with that of dilute acid-based process. For a plant with a capacity of similar to 30,000 tonnes of ethanol/year, Formiline process required a total amount of wheat straw of 201,992 dry tonnes/year with a total capital investment of 176 MM USDs (in 2016), being 40\% higher than that of dilute acid process. The total production cost was estimated to be 1,636 USDs/tonne of ethanol when no by-product credits were considered, being 42.2\% higher than that of dilute acid process. However, since high value-added products such as furfural and high-purity lignin were co-produced, the production cost of ethanol with consideration of the by-product profits was significantly reduced to 196 USDs/tonne. Formiline process thus could achieve a positive value-added increase (+99 USDs/tonne of wheat straw) for wheat straw conversion; however, dilute acid process had a negative value-added increase (-68 USDs/tonne of wheat straw) if only ethanol was produced. The obtained results indicate that the production cost can be well reduced by increasing substrate-to-product conversion, reducing cellulase loading and decreasing energy consumption for solvent recovery; however, co-production of multi-products provides an promising way to increase the potential revenue.
This paper presents the technical-economic and environmental assessment of four lignin extraction processes from two different raw materials (sugarcane bagasse and rice husks). The processes are divided into two categories, the first processes evaluates lignin extraction with prior acid hydrolysis step, while in the second case the extraction processes are evaluated standalone for a total analysis of 16 scenarios. Profitability indicators as the net present value (NPV) and environmental indicators as the potential environmental impact (PEI) are used through a process engineering approach to understand and select the best lignin extraction process. The results show that both economically and environmentally process with sulfites and soda from rice husk presents the best results; however the quality of lignin obtained with sulfites is not suitable for high value-added products. Then, the soda is an interesting option for the extraction of lignin if high quality lignin is required for high value-added products at low costs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study presents the design and assessment of site-specific supply chains and related manufacturing processes for the production of bio-based chemicals from the syngas platform and via gasification of lignocellulosic biomass followed by syngas fermentation. The supply chains include feedstocks production and collection, biomass gasification, syngas fermentation, and downstream processing. For each of these stages, different alternatives were considered: four feedstocks (pine, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, and eucalyptus), three products (ethanol, 2,3-butanediol and hexanoic acid), and three geographical locations (the Netherlands, the USA, and Brazil). Conceptual development and analysis of the supply chains were done through the combination of different design and assessment tools, namely biomass supply chains design, fermentation process design (based on thermodynamics and transport), process simulation, and economic and environmental assessments. The minimum selling price (MSP) and two environmental impact categories, i.e., global warming potential (GWP) and non-renewable energy use (NREU), were used as performance indicators. These were compared to data reported in scientific literature and commercial sources for similar processes and products. The best overall performance was obtained for the production of 2,3-butanediol from pine sourced in the USA. In the cases of ethanol and hexanoic acid, the syngas fermentation stage had significant contributions to MSP, GWP, and NREU, due mainly to its high energy requirements. Regarding the geographical location, the best economic performance was obtained for the USA followed by the Netherlands and Brazil respectively. Furthermore, operation in Brazil led to the lowest environmental impacts, followed by the Netherlands and the USA. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd
A novel biodegradable pH- and salinity-responsive cellulose copolymer was prepared by grafting 2-(Dimethylamino) ethylmethacrylate (DMAEMA) onto bagasse cellulose in ionic liquid. The grafting polymerization was achieved in 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ({[
Inorganic elements in biomass feedstocks can influence thermochemical reactions as well as the resultant char's elemental, compositional, and thermal characteristics. Chars were produced using slow pyrolysis under low (a parts per thousand currency sign400A degrees C) and high (a parts per thousand yen500A degrees C) temperature regimes from sugarcane bagasse, peanut hulls, pecan shell, pine chips, poultry litter, and switchgrass. The chars and raw feedstocks were characterized for their elemental, structural, and thermal properties to ascertain the implications of feedstock selection and pyrolysis temperatures on these properties. Char mass yields from the six feedstocks ranged between 28\% and 78\% by weight while carbon yields ranged between 44\% and 89\%. In both instances, lower yields were obtained with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Higher pyrolysis temperatures (a parts per thousand yen500A degrees C) resulted in more neutral to alkaline chars possessing greater ash contents and increased aromatic character with narrow O/C and H/C ratios. A significant exponential curve response (r (2) = 0.87, P < 0.001) was revealed between char mass yields vs. pyrolysis temperature. All raw feedstocks and chars contained mixed amounts of macro-, micro-, and trace element concentrations. The higher heating values (HHV) tended to increase with heightened pyrolysis temperature with some chars producing > 30 MJ kg(-1). The chars' HHV values inversely correlated to their total ash and Cl content. Lignocelluloses chars had better thermal characteristics and lower ash quality concerns implying suitable service in thermal energy production. In contrast, poultry litter char had greater ash contents, medium HHV values, and contained corrosive inorganic elements, which rendered it problematic as a feedstock for thermal energy generation.
Several efforts have been made during the last three decades to develop successful lignocellulose-based technologies for the production of fuels and chemicals. However, such technologies still seemed to be emerging, because of the high technical risks involved and huge capital investments. This paper describes a holistic approach toward utilization of sugar cane bagasse as lignocellulosic feedstock into fuel (ethanol), chemical (furfural), and energy (electricity), using a biorefinery approach instead of co-generation. The proposed scheme could be integrated with existing sugar or paper mills, where the availability of biomass feedstock is in abundance. Fermentable sugar components (xylose and glucose) from sugar cane bagasse have been extracted employing acid hydrolysis and enzymatic saccharification. Recovery and reuse of saccharifying enzyme was a major process advantage. The pentose fraction was efficiently utilized for yeast biomass generation and furfural production. High-temperature fermentation of a hexose stream by thermophilic yeast Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453 (MTCC 5314) with cell recycle produced ethanol with an overall yield cif 88\% +/- 0.05\% and a productivity of 0.76 +/- 0.02 g/L h(-1). A complete material balance on two consecutive process cycles, each starting with 1 kg of feedstock, resulted in an overall yield of 366 mL of ethanol, 149 g of furfural, and 0.30 kW of electricity.
Ionic liquids (ILs) have been considered as a class of promising solvents that can dissolve lignocellulosic biomass and then provide enzymatic hydrolyzable holocellulose. However, most of available cellulases are completely or partially inactivated in even low concentrations of ILs. To more fully exploit the benefits of ILs to lignocellulose biorefinery, it is critical to improve the compatibility between cellulase and ILs. In this study, an IL-tolerant cellulase cocktail derived from Penicillium oxalicum GS was isolated from chemicals polluted microhabitats. High hydrolytic activity of the cellulase cocktail was detected in various ILs. In particular, the cellulase cocktail retained 91\% initial activity in IL dimethylimidazolium methylphosphonate ({[
The objective of this study was to select a population of sugarcane clones to develop energy cane cultivars. The genotypic means of 124 clones were estimated for the yield-related traits: mean number of stalks per plant (NS), mean stalk weight (MSW), fiber content (FIB), lignin content (LIG), and sucrose content in cane juice (SPC). From these data, the traits tons of cane per hectare (TCH), tons of fiber per hectare (TFH) and tons of lignin per hectare (TLH) were estimated. The clone effects were statistically significant (p <0.01) for all traits except TLH and LIG. Clone UFV09251 had the highest genotypic values for TFH and TCH. Clone UFV09270 had a high fiber content (15.04\%) and clone UFV09225 a high sucrose content (14.05\%). The correlation between TFH and TCH was high (0.89). Clone UFV09251 is highly promising as energy cane cultivar, for producing most TCH and FIB.
This study evaluated the gases CO, CO2, NO and SO2 emitted from five in natura Brazilian biomasses: pine sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, coffee and rice husks, tucuma seed and the residues generated when these biomasses were applied to combustion atmospheres (N-2/O-2: 80/20\%) and oxy-fuel combustion (CO2/O-2: 80/20\%) in a Drop Tube Furnace. The in natura samples and residues were evaluated by TG/DTG (thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry), SEM images (scanning electron microscopy) and EDS analysis (energy-dispersive spectroscopy). The SEM images revealed some of the main morphological differences in the in natura materials. However, for the residues under both atmospheres, a large part of the lignocellulosic matrix was degraded, indicating the good efficiency of the thermal process. The TG/DTG curves for the in natura samples and residues for both thermal processes enabled the quantification of the contents of remaining moisture, total organic materials consumed and ashes produced. The emissions for both atmospheres ranged between 90 and 6200 mg Nm(-3) g(-1) for CO, 5 and 210 mg Nm(-3) g(-1) for CO2, 10 and 170 mg Nm(-3) g(-1) for NO and 25 and 870 mg Nm(-3) g(-1) for SO2 and are directly related to the chemical composition of the lignocellulosic materials, oxidizing atmospheres and furnace conditions. The O-2 consumption (6-77 mg Nm(-3) g(-1)) inside the furnace for the oxidizing atmospheres and different biomasses exhibited an 80\% CO2{[
Structural carbohydrates can constitute a large fraction of the dry weight of algal biomass and thus accurate identification and quantification is important for summative mass closure. Two limitations to the accurate characterization of microalgal carbohydrates are the lack of a robust analytical procedure to hydrolyze polymeric carbohydrates to their respective monomers and the subsequent identification and quantification of those monosaccharides. We address the second limitation, chromatographic separation of monosaccharides, here by identifying optimum conditions for the resolution of a synthetic mixture of 13 microalgae-specific monosaccharides, comprised of 8 neutral, 2 amino sugars. 2 uronic acids and 1 alditol (myo-inositol as an internal standard). The synthetic 13-carbohydrate mix showed incomplete resolution across 11 traditional high performance liquid chromatography (H PLC) methods, but showed improved resolution and accurate quantification using anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) as well as alditol acetate derivatization followed by gas chromatography (for the neutral- and amino-sugars only). We demonstrate the application of monosaccharide quantification using optimized chromatography conditions after sulfuric acid analytical hydrolysis for three model algae strains and compare the quantification and complexity of monosaccharides in analytical hydrolysates relative to a typical terrestrial feedstock, sugarcane bagasse. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Enzymatic processes to produce interesterified fats and oils with desirable properties to incorporate in margarines and shortenings are currently quite expensive. In the current work, fermented solids, produced by growing Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizopus microsporus on a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal, were able to catalyze the interesterification of a mixture of palm stearin, palm kernel oil and a concentrate of triacylglycerols enriched with omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ({''
The recovery of waste from the broiler production chain (BPC) is consistent with the principles of a circular economy. Besides turning waste into organic compost, its use as substrate for the production of vegetable seedlings further increases its economic value. However, it is necessary to adapt its characteristics to enable its use as substrate. To this end, the addition of boiler remnant charcoal wastes (BCW), another type of waste generated in the BPC, to the organic compost resulting from the composting of BPC waste with different bulking agents (BAs) was studied. The addition of BCW to agro-industrial compost reduced the electrical conductivity (EC) of substrates. Multiple linear regression showed that, of the 13 variables (physical, chemical and physicochemical) studied, three (EC, pH and N content) are sufficient to explain the seedling quality index (SQI). Simple nonlinear regression showed that, in order to achieve higher SQIs and easier removal of clod from tray, an additional 30\% in weight of BCW is required for compost, using urban tree pruning, wood sawdust and sugarcane bagasse BAs. The use of cotton and Napier grass waste as BAs is not recommended for BPC waste mixtures, as they cause a large increase in substrate EC.
The aim of the research was to verify the influence of macro and micronutrients present in the peanut waste (hulls and nuts) for supplementation of Pleurotus ostreatus substrate. The raw materials for base substrate preparation were Brachiaria dictyoneura, sugarcane bagasse (bulk material), rice and wheat bran, calcitic limestone, and gypsum. The following supplement formulations were used as treatments: (1) 100\% peanut hulls, (2) 80\% peanut hulls + 20\% nuts, (3) 60\% peanut hulls + 40\% nuts, (4) 40\% peanut hulls + 60\% nuts, (5) 20\% peanut hulls + 80\% nuts, and (6) 100\% nuts. A commercial supplement was also used as an additional treatment. The supplementation was done at spawning using the rates of 1\% and 2\% wet weight of the substrate. Positive correlations amongst yield and N content, and weight of mushroom and P and K content were verified with 1\% supplement. A positive correlation between yield and Cu content, and a negative correlation between yield and Mn content were observed with 2\% supplement. The use of peanut waste can be used as supplement for the production of P. ostreatus increasing biological efficiency up to 61\%. A better combination can be reached with 20\% peanut hulls + 80\% nuts or 100\% nuts. The addition of 2\% supplement in the substrate provided greater yield than 1\%.
Mathematical modelling for nitrogen concentration in mycelium (N) during Pleurotus sp. cultivation had successfully been produced using multiple linear regression. Two different substrates were used to cultivate the Pleurotus sp. which were empty palm fruit bunch (EFB) and sugarcane bagasse (SB). Both substrates were collected and prepared as the selected factors which were type of substrate (SB - A and EFB - B), size of substrates (0.5 cm and 2.5 cm), mass ratio of spawn to substrate (SP/SS) (1: 10 and 1: 14), temperature during spawn running (25 degrees C and ambient) and pre-treatment of substrates (steam and non-steam). The response was nitrogen concentration in mycelium (N). This paper presents the application of artificial neural network to improve the modelling process. Artificial neural network is one of the machine learning method which use the cultivation process information and extract the pattern from the data. Neural network ability to learn pattern by changing the connection weight had produced a trained network which represent the Pleurotus sp. cultivation process. Next this trained network was validated using error measurement to determine the modelling accuracy. The results show that the artificial neural network modelling produced better results with higher accuracy and lower error when compared to the mathematical modelling.
A low-cost lipase preparation is required for enzymatic biodiesel synthesis. One possibility is to produce the lipase in solid-state fermentation (SSF) and then add the fermented solids (FS) directly to the reaction medium for biodiesel synthesis. In the current work, we scaled up the production of FS containing the lipases of Rhizopus microsporus. Initial experiments in flasks led to a low-cost medium containing wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (50:50 w/w, dry basis), supplemented only with urea. We used this medium to scale-up production of FS, from 10 g in a laboratory column bioreactor to 15 kg in a pilot packed-bed bioreactor. This is the largest scale yet reported for lipase production in SSF. During scale-up, the hydrolytic activity of the FS decreased 57\%: from 265 U g(-1) at 18 h in the laboratory bioreactor to 113 U g(-1) at 20 h in the pilot bioreactor. However, the esterification activity decreased by only 14\%: from 12.1 U g(-1) to 10.4 U g(-1). When the FS produced in the laboratory and pilot bioreactors were dried and added directly to a solvent-free reaction medium to catalyze the esterification of oleic acid with ethanol, both gave the same ester content, 69\% in 48 h.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) is a great economic concern to the people. Streptomyces is a promising source of novel bioactive compounds exploited as remedial measure for infectious diseases. The current study aimed to explore bioactive substances from Actinomycetes that are antagonistic to uropathogens. Antibacterial activity of isolated Actinobacteria was studied using agar plug method. The promising Actinobacterial culture BRS was identified by 16S rRNA analysis. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the bioactive compound production. The extracellular bioactive compounds were extracted using ethyl acetate. The antibacterial and antioxidant effect of ethyl acetate extract was studied using disc diffusion method. Ethyl acetate extract was characterized by using FTIR and GC-MS. twenty strains of Actinobacteria were isolated from bamboo rhizosphere soil and a sugarcane molasses dump site. Among them, BRS strain showed antibacterial activity was identified as Streptomyces sp BRS. Optimal conditions for production of bioactive compounds were found to be: malt extract (10 g), yeast extract (5 g), dextrose (5 g), pH 6.5, temperature 30 degrees C, after 7 days of incubation period. FTIR analysis of BRS extract revealed the existence of potential functional groups, while GC-MS revealed the presence of main and minor peaks based on retention time. BRS strain could be further studied for large scale production for bioactive compounds with antibacterial.
Objective. To characterize in vitro and in situ nutritional characterization of silages with 75\% papaya residues and 25\% pangola grass as a base and 3\% sugarcane molasses as an additive. Materials and methods. Bagged silos (50 kg) were fermented for 21 d to measure quality (pH, ammonia nitrogen, dry matter (DM), lactic acid and volatile fatty acids (VFA)) and chemical characteristics (crude protein (CP), ash (As), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF)). In the in vitro assay, partial production at 24, 48 and 72 h and cumulative production at 72 h of biogas and methane, DM, NDF and ADF degradation at 72 h were measured. In situ digestibility was determined at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 24, 24, 36, 72 and 96 h, and nutrient digestibility kinetics (DM, CP, NDF, ADF and OM). Results. The quality characteristics are within the established ranges for considering a good silage. In the chemical content, 5.1\% CP and 70.0\% NDF stand out. In the first 24 h, 72.3\% biogas and 70.5\% methane were produced. Degradations were 64\% for DM, 51\% for NDF and 55\% for ADF. In situ digestibility at 72 h showed degradations of 63\% for DM, 82\% for CP, 49\% for NDF and 47\% for ADF. Conclusions. The preparation of silage with papaya and pangola grass residues is a non-conventional alternative for ruminant feeding.
Thermo-assisted NaOH pretreatment to deconstruct xylan and lignin in sugar cane bagasse (SCB) is poorly understood. Hence, in this research it is was aimed to study the effect of NaOH pretreatment on the insoluble remaining lignin structures. Hereto, SCB milled fibres were pretreated using different dosages of NaOH at different temperatures and residence times. Of untreated SCB about 63\% of the lignin compounds were assigned as p-coumarates and ferulates, analysed by pyrolysis-GC/MS as 4-vinyl phenol and 4-vinyl guaiacol, and designated as non-core lignin (NCL) compounds. More severe NaOH pretreatments resulted in lower xylan and lower lignin recoveries in the insoluble residues. Especially, the relative abundance of NCL decreased and this decrease followed a linear trend with the decrease in xylan. Core lignin compounds, analysed as phenol, guaiacol and syringol, accumulated in the residues. The decrease in residual xylan and NCL correlated positively with the enzymatic hydrolysis of the residual glucan. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This work focused on the thorough utilization of lignocellulosic biomass residues for the synthesis of carbonaceous sulfonated solid catalysts (CBSCs), which were then applied to the conversion of the same biomass source to furfural. Four different biomass materials were used, namely Acacia mangium wood sawdust, coconut shell (CS), sugarcane bagasse, and lignin-rich residue from an enzymatic saccharification of the wood sawdust. A facile multi-stage process for the preparation of CBSCs has been developed including impregnation, carbonization, and sulfonation at low temperature and long reaction time. Main characteristics of CBSCs including acidity, surface area, and surface morphology were analyzed through BET, EDS, TPD-NH3, SEM, FTIR. CBSCs were applied to the conversion of acid hydrolysate of Acacia mangium wood sawdust to furfural for evaluation of catalytic activity. Influences of catalyst dosage on the xylose conversion, the furfural yield, and the furfural selectivity were evaluated based on the synthesis carried out at 150 degrees C for 7 h for comparison of the effectiveness of CBSCs. The highest yield of furfural was 28.6\% when using CS-CBSC at the catalyst loading of 0.1 g/g. Furfural selectivity reached the best value of 70.8\% when LR-CBSC was used at the dosage of 0.2 g/g.
Physicochemical properties of biochar, which are used as a soil amendment material in agricultural fields, are different depending on biomass feedstock and pyrolysis processes. In this study, we evaluated the influence of feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature on the water-retention related properties of biochar. Wood-chips {[
The present work aims at characterizing T. harzianum secretome when the fungus is grown in synthetic medium supplemented with one of the four substrates: glucose, cellulose, xylan, and sugarcane bagasse (SB). The characterization was done by enzymatic assays and proteomic analysis using 2-DE/MALDI-TOF and gel-free shotgun LC MS/MS. The results showed that SB induced the highest cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities when compared with the other substrates, while remarkable differences in terms of number and distribution of protein spots in 2-DE gels were also observed among the samples. Additionally, treatment of the secretomes with PNGase F revealed that most spot trails in 2-DE gels corresponded to N-glycosylated proteoforms. The LC MS/MS analysis of the samples identified 626 different protein groups, including carbohydrate-active enzymes and accessory, noncatalytic, and cell-wall-associated proteins. Although the SB-induced secretome displayed the highest cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities, it did not correspond to a higher proteome complexity because CM-cellulose-induced secretome was significantly more diverse. Among the identified proteins, 73\% were exclusive to one condition, while only 5\% were present in all samples. Therefore, this study disclosed the variation of T. harzianum secretome in response to different substrates and revealed the diversity of the fungus enzymatic toolbox.
Despite being considered renewable, corn (Zea mays) ethanol still generates much debate over the use of fossil fuels in its production and is considered less sustainable than sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) ethanol. In Brazil, corn ethanol is starting to be produced in the Center-West and is expected to increase with the RenovaBio, a promising policy for biofuels adoption. In this context, energy cane (Saccharum spp.) is a biomass crop with high yields that can provide bagasse to supply the energy demand of the corn ethanol industry and provide juice with about 10\% sugar content. However, the effects of introducing its juice in the production process are unknown. For these reasons, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of adding energy cane juice in corn ethanol production. Energy cane juice brings several advantages: (i) It provides sugars that can reduce by almost 50\% the amount of corn and enzymes used, (ii) reduces the amount of water needed for ethanol production, and (iii) increases significantly the fermentation efficiency from 86.4\% to 90.8\% by providing minerals that support yeast growth. Therefore, energy cane can be integrated into the corn ethanol production process, making the fermentation more efficient and the production systems more sustainable.
Activated biocarbons (ABs) with high specific surface area were prepared by the one-step methodology using three different agricultural biomass wastes: sugarcane bagasse (SB), coconut shell (CS) and endocarp of babassu coconut (EB). These lignocellulosic precursors are generated in large quantities in Brazil (among other countries) and, due to inappropriate disposal, they can cause several damages to the environment. From these precursors, ABs samples were prepared by a single step carbonization/physical activation (with steam) heat treatment and free of chemicals. This methodology was conducted inside a horizontal furnace under a rigorous argon flow, controlled heating program and water injection rate. The results of textural analysis revealed that the ABs products were mostly microporous with some mesopores, with BET specific surface area values of 547, 991 and 1068 m(2) g(-1) for the products derived from SB, CS and EB, respectively. These values were superior when compared with a number of commercial ABs and to other materials prepared using similar precursors and activation methodology reported in the literature. Among the samples investigated in this work, EB was the precursor that originated the best AB in terms of porosity (BET), pointing out to promising applications of this material as a cheap precursor of highly porous adsorbents.
epsilon-Poly-L-lysine (epsilon-PL), produced by Streptomyces or Kitasatospora strains, is a homo-poly-amino acid of L-lysine, which is used as a safe food preservative. The present study investigates the combined use of cell immobilization and in situ adsorption (ISA) to produce epsilon-PL in shaken flasks. Loofah sponge-immobilized Streptomyces ahygroscopicus GIM8 produced slightly more epsilon-PL than those immobilized on synthetic sponge, and sugarcane bagasse. Moreover, loofah sponge supported the maximum biomass. Hence, loofah sponge was chosen for cell immobilization. Meanwhile, the ion-exchange resin D152 was employed for ISA. The loofah sponge-immobilized cells produced 0.54 +/- 0.1 g/l epsilon-PL, which significantly increased to 3.64 +/- 0.32 g/l after combining with ISA through the addition of resin bags. The free cells with ISA using the dispersed resin yielded 2.73 +/- 0.26 g/l epsilon-PL, an increase from 0.82 +/- 0.08 g/l. These data illustrate that the proposed combination method improved production most significantly compared with either immobilization or ISA only. Moreover, the immobilized cells could be repeatedly used and an epsilon-PL total amount of 8.05 +/- 0.84 g/l was obtained. The proposed combination method offers promising perspectives for epsilon-PL production.
Thermal decomposition of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), yellow poplar (YP), and biomass polymers (xylan, cellulose and lignin) were studied under isothermal conditions using a specially designed thermogravimetric analyzer (Quartz Wool Matrix, QWM) in the temperature range 240-300 degrees C. Reactivity of biomass was predicted using the measured reactivity of three individual polymers and a simple arithmetic superposition principle. The superposition model was modified to increase the prediction accuracies of torrefaction behavior. To evaluate the impact of torrefaction on combustion, the combustion kinetics were also studied for the torrefied SCB and YP, and for the pyrolyzed YP. Activation energies for combustion reaction using the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) method for the non-isothermal events were estimated as a function of the degree of conversion. Reactivity indexes were also determined for each sample when 50\% of decomposition was reached. Different stages of thermal degradation of each polymer in the material were identified in the combustion process, which was significant only at the low heating rate. The results confirm that the reaction rate decreases with torrefaction, thereby increasing the reaction index. The char from the torrefied biomass has more thermal stability than the char from raw biomass, which can be confirmed by the increased reaction index.
Ecological restoration projects aim to restore native vegetation, and monitoring is an essential step in evaluating the applied technique. The construction of the Ilha Solteira Hydroelectric Power Plant on the Parana River, between the states of Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), in the 1960s, left behind extensive degraded areas, known as ``borrowed areas{''
Lignocellulosic biomass is a renewable resource capable of addressing the increasing worldwide demand for energy and the movement toward low carbon footprint, liquid transportation and aviation biofuels. Purposely grown energy crops (wood and grasses) and crop residues (corn stalks, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat straw) are available for conversion to biofuels if attractive process economics are achieved in hydrolyzing these lignocellulosic materials to sugars and converting the sugars to biofuels and bioproducts. Cellulase enzymes that hydrolyze cellulose to glucose currently contribute operating expenses of \$0.15-\$0.20 per liter of ethanol out of a total of \$0.53. The goal is to decrease enzyme costs to 3-5 cent/L. The high cost is in part due to the high loading of cellulases needed to make up activity losses when the enzymes bind to lignin rather than the cellulose substrate that is located in close proximity to the lignin. We address the concept of using liquid chromatography columns packed with biomass to efficiently probe partitioning of cellulases and other proteins on the surfaces of various forms of lignocellulose. The correlation of elution profiles to fundamental adsorption behavior provides a pathway to a deeper understanding of inhibition of cellulose hydrolysis due to interactions of proteins at heterogeneous lignocellulosic interfaces.
This study describes the production, characterization and application of an endoglucanase from Penicillium roqueforti using lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes as the substrate during solid-state fermentation. The endoglucanase was generated after culturing with different agro-industrial wastes for 96 h without any pretreatment. The highest activity was obtained at 50 degrees C and pH 4.0. Additionally, the enzyme showed stability in the temperature and pH ranges of 40-80 degrees C and 4.0- 5.0, respectively. The addition of Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+, and Cu2+ increased enzymatic activity. Halotolerance as a characteristic of the enzyme was confirmed when its activity increased by 35\% on addition of 2 M NaCl. The endoglucanase saccharified sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell, wheat bran, cocoa fruit shell, and cocoa seed husk. The Box-Behnken design was employed to optimize fermentable sugar production by evaluating the following parameters: time, substrate, and enzyme concentration. Under ideal conditions, 253.19 mg/g of fermentable sugars were obtained following the saccharification of wheat bran, which is 41.5 times higher than that obtained without optimizing. This study presents a thermostable, halotolerant endoglucanase that is resistant to metal ions and organic solvents with the potential to be applied in producing fermentable sugars for manufacturing biofuels from agro-industrial wastes. {[
Electrically conductive mortar (ECM) is a special type of mortar that can be used in applications such as deicing pavements, anti-static flooring, cathodic protection, self sensing etc. ECM can be prepared by incorporating electrically conductive particles in concrete. The carbon materials like graphite, carbon nano fibres, carbon nano tubes are generally used in the development of ECM. In order to make the ECM more sustainable and cost effective, industrial solid wastes having electrically conductive properties are attempted in this study. Carbon black and high carbon content bagasse ash obtained from petroleum and sugarcane processing industries respectively are used as cement replacement materials. Copper slag and steel slag are used as conductive fine aggregates in the development of ECM and tire waste, a coarser petroleum by-product is also used as fine aggregate substitute. Results indicated that the presence of high content of Fe2O3 in copper slag increased the conductive property of ECM. The 100\% replacement of conventional fine aggregate by copper slag aggregate made the ECM more sustainable. The compressive strength of copper slag mortar is also found be higher than the steel slag or river sand mortar. The study demonstrates the usefulness of copper slag as fine aggregate in the development of special mortar.
Chromium (Cr) contamination in farmlands has become a serious environmental concern due to the excessive use of industrial wastewater as an irrigation source. Therefore, some important measures need to be taken for reducing its mobility in a soil profile. A pot study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sugarcane bagasse derived biochar and acidified manure on Cr mobility and its uptake by maize plant. Results showed that the application of biochar and acidified manure significantly changed soil pH, improved crop growth and as well as reduce the antioxidant response of maize in Cr contaminated soil. The concentration of bioavailable (AB-DTPA) extractable Cr in soil decreased with the addition of co-use of biochar (3\%) and acidified manure (5\%) by 36\% relative to control. The maximum reduction in superoxidase dismutase (SOD), peroxidase dismutase (POD), and catalase activity assay (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase activity (APX) was occurred by 41\%, 51\%, 20\%, and 55\%, respectively when biochar (3\%) amended with the combination of acidified manure in Cr contaminated soil. Among all the amendments, biochar at 3\% application combination with acidified manure (B2+AMS) offered significantly minimize Cr mobility (Cr-III (44\%) and Cr-VI (22\%)) and thereby reduce its uptake by maize plant.
Citric acid is one of the extensively used organic acids in many industries. There is a worldwide demand for citric acid consumption due to their many industrial applications. It is also considered as a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) compound. In this review, current developments in microbial fermentation processes for citric acid production have been discussed. In food, beverages, milk and sugar processing several biodegradable organic waste materials are generated in large quantities. These include sugarcane bagasse, grape pomace, apple pomace, pineapple pomace, vegetables, tapioca, coconut husk, banana peels, citrus peels, whey and decaying fruits are found to be potential substrates for citric acid production. A significant effect of substrate concentration, inorganic salts, initial sugar concentration, moisture and additives etc on citric acid production have been highlighted for further improvement in fermentation process. Recent developments in upstream and downstream processes for citric acid production are also deeply discussed. This review gives insights for future possibilities of cost effective fermentation process for citric acid production from several cheap raw materials. Formation of citric acid as an industrial byproduct will help to tackle waste disposal issue and also reduce the dependency of industry over other citric acid producers. Thus, the industry would be benefitted ecologically and economically.
Agricultural residues like sugarcane bagasse (SCB), corn husk (CH), peanut husk (PNH), coffee cherry husk (CCH), rice bran (RB) and wheat bran (WB) are low-value byproducts of agriculture. They have been shown to contain significant levels of phenolic compounds with demonstrated antioxidant properties. In this study, the effects of two types of solvent extraction methods: solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and hot water extraction on the recovery of phenolic compounds from agricultural residues were investigated to optimize the extraction conditions based on total phenolic content (TPC), total tannin content (TTC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). Methanol (50 \%) was found to be the most efficient solvent for the extraction of phenolics with higher DPPH, nitric oxide radical scavenging and reducing power activity, followed by ethanol and water. The phenolic compounds of methanolic extracts (50 \%) were determined by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography; in addition gallic acid became the major phenolic acid present in all the agricultural residues whereas ferulic acid, epicatechin, catechin, quercitin and kampferol present in lesser amounts. The present investigation suggested that agricultural residues are potent antioxidants. The overall results of this research demonstrated the potential of agricultural residues to be an abundant source of natural antioxidants suitable for further development into dietary supplements and various food additives.
Uranium (as a hazardous and radioactive element) removal from wastewater requires reliable technology and proper functional materials. Carbon fiber species that are produced from agricultural solid waste can be a proper type of low-cost adsorbents for wide uses in wastewater treatment. In this work, two carbon fiber species labeled CF-RH and CF-SCB were synthesized from two different agricultural wastes, namely, rice husk and sugarcane bagasse respectively. The structural properties of carbon fiber were verified by XRD, FTIR, and Raman, spectroscopy. Both nitrogen-adsorption-desorption BET surface area and TEM were performed to figure out the textural characteristics of the presented sorbents. The charges on surfaces of the fibers were detected via zeta potential analysis. The prepared carbon fibers were applied for uranium removal from aqueous solution by adsorption technique. The acquired data display that the equilibrium time was 240 min. The results of adsorption process are nicely fitted with pseudo-second-order-kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. The maximum sorption capacity was 21.0 and 29.0 mg/g for CF-RH and CF-SCB, respectively. Sorption thermodynamics declare that adsorption of U(VI) is an endothermic, spontaneous, and feasible process. The picked findings of this study could emphasize high reliability of the introduced adsorbents in efficient tackling of water contaminants.
In this paper, optimization techniques were applied in the characterization of the thermodynamic behavior of Supercritical Water Gasification (SCWG) of different biomass sources, like as ethanol, glycerol, lignin, microalgal biomass (Nannochloropsis sp.) and sugarcane bagasse. For this, the Gibbs energy minimization (at constant pressure and temperature) and entropy maximization (at constant pressure and enthalpy) methods were applied in combination with the Virial equation of state, using non-linear programing. The problems were solved in the software GAMS using the CONOPT solver. The effect of modifications in biomass source was analyzed on H-2 production and on the thermal behavior of the SCWG systems. High H-2 production was observed for all substrates and the highest productions were observed for the SCWG of ethanol at isothermic conditions. The entropy maximization has shown that, with the exception of the SCWG of ethanol, all other SCWG presented autothermal behavior for initial temperatures below 1100 K. However, at adiabatic conditions the highest productions of H-2 were observed for the SCWG of glycerol, mainly due to high exothermic behavior of this system. With the results, it is possible to conclude that all biomass sources tested presented potential for application in H-2 production.
A new hierarchical macro/mesoporous titanium phosphate MTiP-1 has been synthesized through a slow evaporation method by using titanium isopropoxide and orthophosphoric acid as inorganic sources and pluronic P123 as the structure directing agent. Powder X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and electron dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to analyze the framework, structure and composition of the material. The N-2 adsorption/desorption isotherm of this material is of type IV, which is characteristic of a mesoporous material and it shows a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area of 193 m(2) g(-1) together with an average pore dimension of ca. 7 nm. From scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images it is seen that there is hierarchical porosity in MTiP-1 and the mesoporosity of this material arises due to self-aggregation of tiny spherical particles of dimension ca. 15-20 nm. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images show the existence of randomly distributed mesopores in the material. This MTiP-1 material shows very good catalytic activity in the microwave assisted conversion of biomass and carbohydrates into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The catalytic reactions are carried out in different solvents like water, water-methylisobutyl ketone (MIBK), MIBK and dimethylacetamide (DMA)-LiCl. MTiP-1 also catalyzes the direct conversion of cellulose substrates and lignocellulosic biomass, sugarcane bagasse, into HMF.
In Europe, ethanol is blended with gasoline fuel in 5 or 10\% volume (E5 or E10). In USA the blend is 15\% in volume (E15) and there are also pumps that provide E85. In Brazil, the conventional gasoline is E27 and there are pumps that offer E100, due to the growing market of flex fuel vehicles. Bioethanol production is usually by means of biological conversion of several biomass feedstocks (first generation sugar cane in Brazil, corn in the USA, sugar beet in Europe, or second-generation bagasse of sugarcane or lignocellulosic materials from crop wastes). The environmental sustainability of the bioethanol is usually measured by the global warming potential metric (GWP in CO(2)eq), 100 years time horizon. Reviewed values could range from 0.31 to 5.55 gCO(2)eq/L-ETOH. A biomass-to-ethanol industrial scenario was used to evaluate the impact of methodological choices on CO(2)eq: conventional versus dynamic Life Cycle Assessment; different impact assessment methods (TRACI, IPCC, ILCD, IMPACT, EDIP, and CML); electricity mix of the geographical region/country for different factory locations; differences in CO(2)eq factor for CH4 and N2O due to updates in Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports (5 reports so far), different factory operational lifetimes and future improved productivities. Results showed that the electricity mix (factory location) and land use are the factors that have the greatest effect (up to 800\% deviation). The use of the CO2 equivalency factors stated in different IPCC reports has the least influence (less than 3\%). The consideration of the biogenic emissions (uptake at agricultural stage and release at the fermentation stage) and different allocation methods is also influential, and each can make values vary by 250\%.
The use of endo-arabinanase from Bacillus licheniformis (ABNase) for sugarcane saccharification has been evaluated by enzyme immobilization and commercial cocktail supplement with the immobilized heterologous protein. Biochemical characterization of the purified ABNase showed that the catalytic activity was strongly inhibited by 5 mM Cu2+, Zn2+ or Fe3+. The optimum pH and temperature for activity were 5.5-6.5 and 35-40 A degrees C, respectively. The enzyme stability increased 128-fold when immobilized with glyoxyl agarose, and the hydrolysis of pretreated sugar cane biomass increased by 15 \% when a commercial enzyme cocktail was supplemented with immobilized ABNase. Pectin hydrolysis by recombinant ABNase plays a role in the effective application of enzymatic cocktails for biomass saccharification.
Silica microparticles were synthesized from sugarcane bagasse via a green synthetic technique. The prepared silica microparticles were used to remove lead and nickel ions from their separate solutions. Microscopic analysis shows that the synthesized silica particles are spherical with good monodispersed properties. The average particle diameter of the silica microparticles is estimated to be about 432 nm. Batch adsorption experiment was employed to examine the influence of adsorbent dosage, contact time, heavy metal ion concentration and pH on the adsorption efficiency of the synthesized silica microparticles in removing the studied lead (Pb2+) and nickel (Ni2+) ions from their respective solutions. An increase in adsorbent dosage, heavy metal ion concentration, contact time and pH led to an increase in the percentage removal of Pb2+ and Ni2+ metal ions from their individual solutions. The adsorption process of Pb2+ ion onto the synthesized silica microparticles followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R-2 = 0.961), while, the nickel ion (Ni2+) followed the Freundlich isotherm (R-2 = 0.869). The adsorption process of the studied heavy metals (Pb2+ and Ni2+) in their separate solutions favours pseudo-second-order reaction model (R-2, 0.978 and 0.999) over the pseudo-first-order reaction model.
The analytical performance for paper spray (PS) using a new insert sample approach based on paper with paraffin barriers (PS-PB) is presented. The paraffin barrier is made using a simple, fast and cheap method based on the stamping of paraffin onto a paper surface. Typical operation conditions of paper spray such as the solvent volume applied on the paper surface, and the paper substrate type are evaluated. A paper substrate with paraffin barriers shows better performance on analysis of a range of typical analytes when compared to the conventional PS-MS using normal paper (PS-NP) and PS-MS using paper with two rounded corners (PS-RC). PS-PB was applied to detect sugars and their inhibitors in sugarcane bagasse liquors from a second generation ethanol process. Moreover, the PS-PB proved to be excellent, showing results for the quantification of glucose in hydrolysis liquors with excellent linearity (R-2 = 0.99), limits of detection (2.77 mmol L-1) and quantification (9.27 mmol L-1). The results are better than for PS-NP and PS-RC. The PS-PB was also excellent in performance when compared with the HPLC-UV method for glucose quantification on hydrolysis of liquor samples.
Protease enzyme production by Bacillus licheniformis bacteria was investigated. Various agricultural wastes as substrate such as wheat bran, rice bran, and sugarcane bagasse were considered. The most important effective parameters on enzyme production, like incubation time, various substrates and solid substrate particle size, media pH, different nitrogen sources in a bench-scale designed bioreactor, were optimized. The optimum protease production conditions, for both Erlenmeyer flask and batch bioreactor, at 37 degrees C, pH of 8, incubation time of 48h, wheat bran (5 wt\%) with the particle size of 1 mm, an equal amount of peptone and yeast extract (1\% w/w) and agitation rate of 180 rpm were defined. In addition, maximum protease activity in the Erlenmeyer flask and batch bioreactor was 596 and 683.93 U/mL, respectively. The pH and thermal stability of produced protease were studied; the highest amount of remaining activities at pH 8 and 60 degrees C were 97 and 63\% of initial activities, respectively. Also, shelf-life of the produced protease enzyme retained up to 88\% of its initial activity after 30 days of storage at 4 degrees C. However, the produced enzyme was exposed remarkably compatible with the commercial detergent; the enzyme perfectly washed and removed the stains from the sample cotton textile.
Trichoderma asperellum H15, a previously isolated strain characterized by its high tolerance to low (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) PAHs, was tested for its ability to degrade 3-5 ring PAHs (phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo{[
For economic feasibility, sugarcane molasses (0.5\%, w/v) containing K2HPO4 (0.26\%, w/v) and mature coconut water, low value byproducts, were used in cultivation of Rhodococcus ruber S103 for inoculum production and immobilization, respectively. Physiological changes of S103 grown in low-cost media, including cell hydrophobicity, saturated/unsaturated ratio of cellular fatty acids and biofilm formation activity, enhanced stress tolerance and crude oil biodegradation in freshwater and even under high salinity (5\%, w/v). Biobooms comprised of S103 immobilized on polyurethane foam (PUF) was achieved with high biomass content (10(10) colony-forming units g(-1) PUF) via a scale-up process in a 5-L modified fluidized-bed bioreactor within 3 days. In a 500-L mesocosm, natural freshwater was spiked with crude oil (72 g or 667 mg g(-1) dry biobooms), and a simulated wave was applied. Biobooms could remove 100\% of crude oil within only 3 days and simultaneously biodegraded 60\% of the adsorbed oil after 7 days when compared to boom control with indigenous bacteria. In addition, biobooms had a long shelf-life (at least 100 days) with high biodegradation activity (85.2 +/- 2.3\%) after storage in 10\% (w/v) skimmed milk at room temperature. This study demonstrates that the low-cost production of biobooms has potential for future commercial bioremediation.
Microbial fermentation is the source of commercial lactic acid (LA), and the price of fermentation-derived LA is heavily challenged by the feedstock price. This study evaluated four different categories of renewable feedstock for the future production of LA: sugar cane bagasse (lignocellulosic biomass, second generation feedstock), cheese whey (nutrient rich wastewater), and microalgal biomass of Chlorella vulgaris (third generation feedstock), and macroalgal biomass of Ulva sp. (potential feedstock). Poly(vinyl alcohol)-immobilized Lactobacillus plantarum was used as the fermentative bacterium, and LA titer, yield, and productivity from glucose in continuous fermentation were 29.6 g/L, 0.98 g/g, and 7.39 g/(1, h), respectively. Microalgal hydrolysate served as the best carbon source with very high productivity (12.56 g/(L h) in continuous fermentation) with LA titer and yield of 37.9 g/L and 0.91 g/g sugars, respectively. Sugar cane bagasse attained the maximal LA titer and yield of 41-42 g/L and 0.98-1.0 g/g, due to the low levels of fermentation inhibitors and high glucose utilization efficiency. Cheese whey attained an LA titer and productivity of 33.8 g/L and 11.3 g/(L h), respectively. The yield of LA from whey lactose was the lowest at 0.88 g/g. Macroalgal biomass also showed the best LA fermentation performance compared to previous reports, with LA titer, yield, and productivity of 36.8 g/L, 0.91 g/g, and 12.3 g/(L h), respectively. Restated, this study reported for the first time very high LA titer and productivity from macroalgal biomass. The renewable feedstock with appropriate pretreatment and hydrolysis can be successfully used for the future production of LA via fermentation.
Microbial bio-aroma synthesized from biowaste, and its marketing is an emerging aspect of future research due to their benefits. However, the sensory lexicon of bio-aroma has not yet been developed so far. This study aims to identify the smell characteristics of bio-aroma produced by fermentative yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus by solid-state fermentation, where the sample was extracted from fermented sugarcane bagasse (FSB), sweet lemon peel (FSLP), and pomegranate peel (FPP). A group of 49 respondents participated in this sensory analysis; the generated data reveal that a total of 29, 35, and 26 aroma essences gets from FSB, FSLP, and FPP, respectively. Multiple factor analysis was performed using XLSTAT 2022.1 version, and hierarchical clustering was used to classify the different cluster levels of aroma attributes. An aroma wheel is designed according to the attributes of classified aroma (smell). This bio-aroma has prospects for application in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetic products. Practical ApplicationsThis fermented bio-waste aroma lexicon will be helpful to academicians, researchers, flavorist and consumers to understand the precise description and basic terms. It also make them aware about a natural alternative source of flavor and aroma ingredients. It can be used as a sustainable additive for food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries in the future.
Developing novel renewable (and preferably biodegradable) materials has become recurrent due to the growing concerns with environmental impacts of high volumes of plastic waste produced from oil-based sources over the past decades. This study aimed at developing bioplastics from a mixture of starch and xylan in variable ratios, and the combined effect of alpha-cellulose and holocellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse added to the process. The disintegration of bioplastics was evaluated in both soil and composting. The ecotoxicity analyses with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus subtilis and seeds of Cucumis sativus were conducted after disintegration. All formulations based on 5\% (w/v) of total polysaccharides were dried at 30 degrees C and resulted in homogeneous and non-brittle bioplastics. The composting results showed that all bioplastic formulations disintegrated in 3 days, whereas the 25/75\% (xylan/starch, w/w) formulation vanished in soil within 13 days. The ecotoxicity data showed no inhibition of microbial growth after biodegradation, yielding 100\% of seed germination. Despite the positive influence of the bioplastic degradation on the root and hypocotyl growth, temporary inhibition of C. sativus tissues exposed to soil washing (10 days of disintegration) was observed. The study demonstrated that xylan/starch bioplastics result in non-ecotoxic biodegradable materials.
This work objective was to evaluate batch adsorption processes using polyethylene terephthalate composite (PTC) material, sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) functionalized with iron oxide (Fe3+) (PTCSBA/ Fe3+) in the adsorption of 1000 mu g L-1 of diclofenac sodium (DIC) in synthetic solution, simulating water supply. The batch test was started by determining the adsorbent mass (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 g) to remove 1000 mu g L-1 of DIC, followed by the adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm assays, evaluating the reaction rate and adsorption capacity, respectively. The PTCSBA/ Fe3+ mass that had the best efficiency in the DIC removal was 0.3 g, the pseudo second-order kinetic model (PSO) was the one that best fit the study having a determination coefficient (R-2) equals to 0.97. The PTCSBA/ Fe3+ has good characteristics for DIC adsorption, achieving a 93\% removal rate of sodium diclofenac. The composite is a low-cost adsorbent, 0.08 cents per kilogram of material, becoming a material with satisfactory characteristics for the removal of DIC. Therefore, it is recommended to use PTCSBA/ Fe3+ as adsorbent material in small water filter systems in order to remove DIC due to the low cost of the composite.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have been considered as a good alternative for petrochemical based polymers due to its biodegradability. However, a high production cost limits their acceptance in industries. In present work, efforts have been made to optimize the production of PHA by Pannonibacter phragmitetus ERC8 using glycerol waste as a sole carbon source, with enhanced polymer production in a cost effective way. To check the possibility of growth and polymer accumulation potential of P. phragmitetus ERC8, various low cost substrates such as food waste, mutton tallow, whey, sugarcane bagasse, corn steep liquor and glycerol waste were used. Optimum concentration of selected factors obtained as response of statistical experimental design were 0.8\% (v/v) glycerol waste, 0.26\% (w/v) BHM and 1.25\%OD as an inoculum for the maximum PHA production. The suggested model was validated and maximum 1.36 g/L of PHA production was obtained after 96 h. PHA production of 1.87 g/L was achieved in 5 L (working volume 3 L) lab scale bioreactor with the suggested media components by RSM (Response Surface Methodology). Characterization of the PHA by NMR spectroscopy revealed that the polymer was a hetromonomer of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate and medium chain length 3HARR)-3-hydroxyalkanoatel monomers. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Furfural is an important platform chemical for the synthesis of next-generation bio-fuels. Here the authors report a novel heterogeneous catalyst, Pd-PdO/ZnSO4, for the mass production of furfural from catalytic flash pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomasses. Furfural (C5H4O2) is an important platform chemical for the synthesis of next-generation bio-fuels. Herein, we report a novel and reusable heterogeneous catalyst, Pd-PdO/ZnSO4 with 1.1 mol\% palladium (Pd), for the production of furfural by flash pyrolysis of lignocelluloses at 400 degrees C. For both dry and wet C6 cellulose and its monomers, the furfural yields reach 74-82 mol\%, relative to 96 mol\% from C5 xylan and 23-33 wt\% from sugarcane bagasse and corncob. The catalyst has a well-defined structure and bifunctional property, comprising a ZnSO4 support for the dehydration and isomerization of glucose, and a local core-shell configuration for metallic Pd-0 encapsulated by an oxide (PdO) layer. The PdO layer is active for the Grob fragmentation of formaldehyde (HCHO) from glucose, which is subsequently in-situ steam reformed into syn-gas (i.e. H-2 and CO), whereas the Pd-0 core is active in promoting the last dehydration step for the formation of furfural.
Natural polymers have been tested for soil stabilization since prehistoric age. This study evaluated the behavior of seven natural polymers as earth stabilizer. Seven polymers were selected from Sri Lankan vernacular polymer technologies. Natural Polymers were extracted from plants and trees. And then mix designs were developed by mixing soil and natural polymers (5, 10, 15 and 20\%) by the dry weight. Compressive strength was subjected to understand the initial performance of each natural polymer. And the series of performance tests were conducted to understand the engineering and mechanical performances. The initial experiment shows only three natural polymers are suitable for stabilizing earth blocks such as pines resin, Dawul Kurudu, and sugarcane bagasse. And then different soil mix design experiment shows that natural polymers are good at gaining strength when soil particles are smaller (15\% gravel sieve size 4.25-20 mm, 80\% sand sieve size 0.425-4.25 mm, and 5\% fine sieve size below 0.425 mm). Maximum compressive strength with pines latex was given as 2.65 N/mm(2). It reached the construction material required the dry strength of 2 N/mm(2) and wet strength of 1 N/mm(2). Further studies should be conducted to understand the bond development and e values of selected polymer stabilized earth blocks.
Synergistic saccharification ability of hemicellulases (endo-xylanase and beta-xylosidase) was evaluated in this study for the bioethanol production from plant biomass. Endo-xylanase and beta-xylosidase genes fromBacillus licheniformiswere cloned and expressed inEscherichia coliBL21 (DE3). Maximum endo-xylanase production was obtained at 200 rpm agitation speed, air supply rate 2.0 vvm, 70\% volume of the medium, 20\% dissolved oxygen level and with 3\% inoculum size. The optimal conditions for maximum production of recombinant beta-xylosidase enzyme at pilot scale were 200 rpm agitation speed, 25\% dissolved oxygen level, 2.5 vvm aeration rate, 70\% volume of the medium with 2\% inoculum size. Furthermore, the saccharification potential of these recombinant enzymes was checked for the production of xylose sugar by bioconversion of plant biomass by optimizing individually as well as synergistically by optimizing various parameters. Maximum saccharification (93\%) of plant biomass was observed when both enzymes were used at a time with 8\% sugarcane bagasse as a substrate and 200 units of each enzyme after incubation of 6 hr at 50 degrees C and 120 rpm. The results obtained in this study suggested these recombinant hemicellulases as potential candidates for the conversion of complex agricultural residues into simple sugars for ultimate use in the biofuel industry.
The therapeutic prospective of a novel carrier based delivery of phyto-derived quercetin (QE) extracted from onion peel waste was studied in the present work. Dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) developed from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) cellulose effectively crosslinked chitosan hydrogel. The hydrogel matrices were embedded with green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), phyto-synthesized using musk melon seeds. The hybrid carrier formulation was characterised using analytical techniques such as XRD, FTIR and SEM analysis. The onion peel drug (OPD) analysed for its bioactive components using HPLC was reported as a potential source of QE. Taguchi optimization for the QE drug loading in the nanohybrid hydrogel indicated a remarkable improvement by 39\% in comparison to drug loading in hydrogel without ZnO NPs. The maximum QE release was obtained at an optimal drug loading condition with pH 5.0, which favoured the anticancer applications. The drug release revealed a Fickian diffusion mechanism by adopting various kinetic models. The commercial QE and QE in OPD (QE/OPD) loaded nanohybrid hydrogels were found to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum strains. The biocompatibility and anticancer properties of the QE/OPD loaded nanohybrid hydrogels were established against normal L929 murine fibroblast cells and A431 human skin carcinoma cell lines respectively. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The potential capability of Arundo donax stems, Brazil nutshells, sugarcane bagasse, and sawdust from a. native wood species (Prosopis ruscifolia) to sequester trace metals from wastewater was comparatively examined using dilute aqueous solutions of Cd(II) or Ni(II) ions as models. Brazil nutshells showed the best effectiveness (>90\%) for the uptake of both metals from solutions of 20 mg/L initial concentration for dosages larger than 0.2-0.4 mg/L, even superior to those obtained for a commercial activated carbon and/or red marine algae (Corallinales) used for comparison under identical conditions. Equilibrium isotherms of cadmium on the lignocellulosic and algae samples and of nickel on the nutshells were determined and properly described by the Langmuir model. The highest maximum sorption capacity of Cd(II) ions was obtained for the nutshells (X-m = 19.4 mg/g) among the lignocellulosic samples. The trend in the estimated X-m values was found to be consistent with their contents of lignin and total surface acidic functional groups. Nevertheless, X-m for the nutshells was lower than that for the algae (X = 29.7 mg/g). The nutshells were also found to be less effective at removing Ni(II) ions compared to Cd(II) ions.
Lentinus crinitus mushrooms are consumed by Indigenous Brazilians from the Amazon rainforest and are one of the sources of panepoxydone, a fungal metabolite with several biological activities. However, there are very few reports about L. crinitus mushroom production. This study aimed to evaluate carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios and nitrogen contents in sugarcane bagasse and soybean meal substrate formulations on mycelial growth, laccase activity, and mushroom production of L. crinitus in solid-state cultivation. Laccase activity of colonized substrate was determined by ABTS {[
Increased demand for biofuels promotes the search for new biomass-degrading fungi. Acremonium strictum is an environmentally widespread filamentous fungi found on plant debris; that secretes lignocellulose-degrading enzymes. A recently isolated A. stricturn strain, AAJ6; native to the Brazilian Cerrado biome was evaluated for its capacity to degrade lignocellulosic substrates. In this study, whole-genome sequencing of AAJ6 was performed and 775 CAZy domains were identified which correlated to those of A. strictum strain DS1bioAY4a and other lignocellulolytic fungi; suggesting AAJ6 is a high CAZyme producer. We expressed the glycoside hydrolase families GH74 and GH3 from plasmid or genome-integrated to evaluate the ethanol production from cellulosic substrates in Brazilian industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (PE-2 and SA-1) evolved for thermotolerance (AMY12 and AMY35). Those expressing the genome-integrated enzymes showed the highest beta-glucosidase activity and growth in medium with cellobiose at 40 degrees C. The strain AGY005 (integrated cassettes) showed 19, 23 and 46\% higher ethanol production in SHF, pSSF (partial hydrolysis SSF) and SSF processes, respectively, using Avicel, and similar to 50\% more ethanol using pre-treated sugarcane bagasse, compared to the strain with a plasmid-based expression. These results indicate the improved performance of thermotolerant industrial strains with genome-integrated CAZymes in the SSF process for 2G ethanol.
This work focuses on the incorporation of sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and silica fume (SF) wastes as an alternative raw material into clay bricks, replacing clay by up to 40 wt.\%. Fly ash (FA) was used as reference. The plasticity of the batches was determined by Atterberg's consistency limits. Bricks were produced by uniaxial pressing and fired a 900 and 1000 degrees C. Physical properties (fired shrinkage, water absorption, apparent porosity and Initial water absorption rate) and mechanical properties (compressive strength and flexural strength) as function of the firing temperature and type waste were investigated. The results showed that wastes into clay body increase its global plasticity. 80\% Clay-20\% SCBA mixture has the lower linear shrinkage. After firing process, the brick produced with clay-SCBA show the higher water absorption and apparent porosity, regardless of the firing temperature. The brick produced with 60\% clay-40\% SF show the water absorption and apparent porosity similar to control bricks. The SCBA waste additions tend to decrease the mechanical strength of the clay bricks, therefore amounts of 40\% SCBA waste should be avoided because it reduce the mechanical strength of the red fired bricks. The fired bricks with 40\% SF, firing a 900 degrees C show mechanical properties similar control bricks.
Impedimetric D-Xylose and D-Arabinose sensors was development from composite electrodes of graphite and histological paraffin, modified with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (FMWCNTs) based on molecular imprinted poly-o-phenylenediamine (poly-o-PD). The contribution of this work was not only the development of a D-xylose and D-Arabinose MIP impedimetric sensor with good performance, but also the electrodeposition method for FMWCNTs onto surface of graphite composites electrodes with ease of control and reproducibility of the electrodeposition process. The sensors were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) and RAMAN spectroscopy. The MIPs sensors for the pentoses have good selectivity, sensitivity in the concentration range of 1.0 x 10(-11) to 1.0 x 10(-10) mol 1(-1) with limit of detection (LOD) of 4.50 x 10(-12) mol 1(-1) for D-Xylose and 4.25 x 10(-12) mol 1(-1) for D-Arabinose. MIPs was applied to determination of pentoses in samples of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysates using the standard addition method and validated by recovery study, which presented satisfactory results between 92.9\% and 115.5\%. (C) 2020 The Electrochemical Society ({''
Ligninolytic enzyme production and lignin degradation are typically the rate-limiting steps in the biofuel industry. To improve the efficiency of simultaneous bio-delignification and enzyme production, Phanerochaete chrysosporium was transformed by shock wave-induced acoustic cavitation to co-overexpress 3 peroxidases and 1 laccase and test it on the degradation of sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran. Lignin depolymerization was enhanced by up to 25\% in the presence of recombinant fungi in comparison with the wild-type strain. Sugar release on lignocellulose was 2- to 6-fold higher by recombinant fungi as compared with the control. Wheat bran ostensibly stimulated the production of ligninolytic enzymes. The highest peroxidase activity from the recombinant strains was 2.6-fold higher, whereas the increase in laccase activity was 4-fold higher in comparison to the control. The improvement of lignin degradation was directly proportional to the highest peroxidase and laccase activity. Because various phenolic compounds released during lignocellulose degradation have proven to be toxic to cells and to inhibit enzyme activity, a significant reduction (over 40\%) of the total phenolic content in the samples treated with recombinant strains was observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report that engineering P. chrysosporium enhances biodegradation of lignocellulosic biomass. (C) 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel
In the present study, the potential of supplementary cementitious materials such as silica fume (SF), fly ash (FA), and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBG) for enhancing the durability properties of pavement quality concrete (PQC) mixes containing 75 \% fine reclaimed asphalt pavement (75RAP) is assessed. Different physical and durability properties such as water absorption, total permeable voids, initial rate, secondary rate and coefficient of water absorption, and performance in sulfate and chloride-rich environments were evaluated. It was found that the ASTM recommended temperature of 110 +/- 5 degrees C for evaluating water absorption and permeable voids should be changed to 48 +/- 2 degrees C to prevent the melting of asphalt present in RAP. Similarly, the duration for completely drying the specimens shall be at least eight days. It was observed that incorporation of fine RAP could compromise with the durability of the PQC mixes significantly. Inclusions of all the considered admixtures (except SF) were found to have an insignificant effect on the modulus of rupture, however, significant enhancement in the durability properties of 75RAP mix was observed (except SCBG). The blending of 15 \% FA with 10 \% SF was found to enhance the durability performance of 75RAP mix better than the mix containing natural aggregates.
We investigated a new hydroesterification strategy for the production of biodiesel from low-value oil feedstocks: complete hydrolysis of the feedstock to fatty acids in subcritical water, followed by the use of a packed-bed reactor, containing a fermented solid with lipase activity, to convert the fatty acids to their ethyl esters. The fermented solids were produced by cultivating Burkholderia cepacia LTEB11 for 72 h on a 1:1 mixture, by mass, of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal. The esterification of fatty acids obtained from soybean soapstock acid oil was studied in the packed-bed bioreactor, in a solvent-free system, with the best results being a 92\% conversion in 31 h, obtained at 50 C. When the packed-bed reactor was reused in successive 48-h esterification reactions, conversions of over 84\% of the fatty acids to esters were maintained for five cycles at 50 C and for six cycles at 45 C. Unlike previous hydroesterification processes that have used lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis followed by chemically-catalyzed esterification, our process does not expose the lipases to contaminants present in low quality feedstocks such as soapstocks. This advantage opens the possibility of operating the packed-bed esterification reactor in continuous mode. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) were obtained by series of chemical treatments on dried and grounded sugarcane bagasse. Particle size analysis and X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies were done which confirmed the crystalline behavior of prepared nanocellulose. Nanocomposite adsorbent was prepared by using CNC as filler, chitosan as a binder, and N, N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as cross-linker in different ratios. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) showed the porous structure of the composite. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed crosslinking between CNC and chitosan, contact angle results showed hydrophilic behavior of nanocomposite, and tensile strength testing confirmed good strength of prepared nanocomposite. Malachite green (MG) dye adsorption capacity of nanocomposite adsorbent for different initial dye concentrations was studied and results depicted a maximum removal rate in the first 30 min which reached equilibrium in 90 m. The highest removal rate was observed with 5.0\% CNCs content in the nanocomposite. The experimental data showed the best-fitted correlation with Freundlich isotherm (R-2 = 0.99) and follow a pseudo 2nd order reaction (R-2 = 0.93) by enabling the chemisorption adsorption phenomenon. The regeneration capacity of the nanocomposite was also analyzed, and it was observed that about 90\% of the dye was removed from the pre-adsorbed nanocomposite material.
An endo-beta-1,4-xylanase (X-22) was purified from crude extract of Emericella nidulans when cultivated on submerged fermentation using sugarcane bagasse as the carbon source. The purified protein was identified by mass spectrometry and was most active at pH and temperature intervals of 5.0-6.5 and 50-60 degrees C, respectively. The enzyme showed half-lives of 40, 10 and 7 min at 28, 50 and 55 degrees C, respectively, and pH 5.0. Apparent K-m and V-max values on soluble oat spelt xylan were 3.39 mg/mL and 230.8 IU/mg, respectively, while K-cat and K-cat/K-m were 84.6 s(-1) and 25.0 s(-1) mg(-1) mL. Incubation with phenolic compounds showed that tannic acid and cinnamic acid had an inhibitory effect on X-22 but no time-dependent deactivation. On the other hand, ferulic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillin and p-coumaric acid did not show any inhibitory effect on X-22 activity, although they changed X-22 apparent kinetic parameters. Ethanol remarkably increased enzyme thermostability and apparent V-max and K-cat values, even though the affinity and catalytic efficiency for xylan were lowered.
Bacillus spp. spores are usually obtained from strains cultivated in artificial media. However, in natural habitats, spores are predominantly formed from bacteria present in highly surface-associated communities of cells. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is the culture method that best mimetizes the natural environment of many microorganisms that grow attached to the surface of solid particles. This study aims to confirm that sporulation through SSF of Bacillus atrophaeus occurs by biofilm formation and that this model of fermentation promotes important phenotypic changes in the spores. Sporulation on standard agar and by SSF with sand and sugarcane bagasse as support was followed by a comparative study of the formed spores. Growth characteristics, metabolic and enzymatic profiles confirmed that sporulation through SSF occurs by biofilm formation promoting important phenotypic changes. It was possible to demonstrate that spores coat had different structure and the presence of ridges only on SSF spores' surface. The sporulation conditions did not affect the dry-heat spore resistance. The type of support evaluated also influenced in the phenotypic alterations; however, the used substrates did not cause interference. This work provides novel information about B. atrophaeus response when submitted to different sporulation conditions and proposes a new concept about bacterial biofilm formation by SSF.
Six Nellore bulls, with initial body weight of 420 kg, were assigned to a duplicated 3x3 Latin square design to evaluate the effects of replacing a true protein source (soybean meal), of high biological value, in a rumen degradable protein (RDP) deficient diet, by urea or starea (a supposedly slow release nonprotein nitrogen source), both in a RDP adjusted diet. In natura sugarcane bagasse as the only source of forage (20\% of DM). Evaluated parameters were: rumen ammonia-N concentration, plasma urea-N, glucose and nitrogen balance. Experimental treatments were: 1) soybean meal (SBM); 2) urea and 3) starea (A- 150S). Diets were isonitrogen (13\% CP). The rumen ammonia-N concentration was higher in the treatment with urea, compared to the treatment with SBM, and starea showed no difference compared to the others. Starea had higher loss of urinary N. N retention (g/d and \% of consumed) and protein biological value (N retention, \% of N digestible) were higher for urea treatment, compared to the others. There was no difference on plasma urea-N and glucose concentration among treatments. Total replacement of SBM by urea, adjusting PDR in diets for growing beef cattle, demonstrated to be viable. Conventional urea showed advantage compared to starea.
Paraphenylenediamine (PPD) is an aromatic compound widely used in hair dye, tattoos, plastic, and rubber industry. The effluent of these industries may express an adverse effect onhe entire ecosystem as PPD is reported as a toxic, and environmental hazard. Since the usage has increased, the removal of PPD from the environment is essential. The present study reports the detoxification of PPD using the bacterial strain in an eco-friendly manner at low cost, with an in-depth study of the mechanism of detoxification and optimization of process parameters which will be helpful for designing a bioreactor in the future. Process parameters are optimized here using Taguchi method with the help of `MINITAB 18'. Finally, the experiment is conducted in optimized conditions at 30 mg/ml Sugarcane Bagasse Powder (SBP), 0.2 mg/ml Dye Degrading Bacteria-I (DDB I), 0.2 mg/ml PPD at 30 oC and pH 5 for 12 h, and then biotransformation was confirmed by toxicological studies. Though acetylation is the only pathway of detoxification of PPD is reported yet, substantial detoxification of PPD was observed without observing the signature of acetylated PPD in FTIR, and mass analysis. This study enlightens the alternate pathway for detoxification of PPD which can be used for the removal of PPD from the environment.
The present research aims to examine the energy, exergy and sustainability analysis of a traditional four-pan jaggery unit based on the consumption and resource transformations involved in the sugarcane-based jaggery production process. The exergy analysis has been conducted based on an experimental study with the help of thermodynamic relations including the component-wise specific exergy for jaggery production. The energy and exergy of the jaggery unit are compared during the winter and the summer. The obtained average thermal energy efficiency of the jaggery unit shows an increment of 8.1\% as compared to the winter season. In addition, when accounting for the combustion performance of bagasse, the exergy efficiency of jaggery plant in the summer is higher than the winter. Furthermore, negative environmental impacts are indicated by a poor exergy sustainability score during both seasons. In summer, the jaggery facility operates more sustainably than in the winter, as shown by the higher value of environmental benign index. Energy analysis alone conceals the fact that the primary factor in resource use is exergy destruction due to irreversibilities in combustion and heat transfer. By assessing the process fluxes in terms of exergy, this study enhances the transparency of resource consumption and losses in the production of jaggery.
Multivariate statistics can be a powerful tool in the assessment of energy properties of lignocellulosic materials and it is fundamental to estimate the theoretical, technical and economic potentials of these biomasses for bioenergy production. In this research, it was used to select the most favorable vegetable biomass for the production of biofuel pellets, through two techniques: Hierarchical Clustering Agglomerative and Principal Components. Six types of biomasses (pinus wood, eucalyptus wood, sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, sorghum, and elephant grass) and three blends were used. The immediate, elemental and thermochemical analyzes provided 16 variables of each of the 9 types of pellets. The dendrogram highlighted the group of forest biomass as the most suitable for the production of pellets and the principal component factors produced two bioenergetic indicators; one of general performance and other of combustibility. The forest biomass pellets was highlighted as potential for the production of biofuel pellets because they have energy properties with low levels of ash (0.54\%) and nitrogen (0.83\%), associated with high fixed carbon content (20.89\%) and higher heating value (20.71 MJ kg(-1)), as well a higher energy density (13.95 GJ m(-3)). The multivariate analysis was efficient and can be used to classify lignocellulosic materials. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The field of catalysis is ever flourishing to meet the challenges faced in our day-to-day needs keeping in mind the environmental concerns. In line with this quest, a new N-heterocyclic carbene-palladium(II) complex grafted on cellulose, a naturally available biomacromolecule from agricultural waste sugarcane bagasse (Cellu@NHC-Pd) was synthesized as a heterogeneous catalyst. The facile multistep synthesis was achieved using low-cost chemicals and mild reaction conditions. The characterization of the Cellu@NHC-Pd heterogeneous catalyst by various analytical techniques such as FT-IR, FE-SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, TG/DTA, ICP-OES and p-XRD confirmed its structure, morphology, thermal stability and chemical composition. The Cellu@NHC-Pd heterogeneous catalyst was successfully investigated for its catalytic ability in Suzuki-Miyaura and Mizoroki-Heck cross-coupling reactions under green reaction medium at ambient temperature. The heterogeneous catalyst was examined for its catalytic effectiveness in the cross-coupling reactions for various parameters like solvent, base, temperature, time and catalyst loading. Additionally, the developed heterogeneous catalyst showed very good tolerance to a variety of functional groups. Being heterogeneous, the catalyst could be easily recovered by simple filtration. The Cellu@NHC-Pd heterogeneous catalyst can be additionally probed for its catalytic excellence in other applications.
This study aimed to characterize the effect of amending soils with biochars derived from soybean residues, sugarcane bagasse, and wood chips on the sorption-desorption of indaziflam and indaziflam-triazinediamine (FDAT), indaziflam-triazine-indanone (ITI), and indaziflam-carboxylic acid (ICA) metabolites applied to soils from three Midwestern U.S. states, a silt loam and a silty clay loam. Biochars produced from different feedstock were used as soil amendments and compared with raw feedstock. Sorption-desorption experiments of indaziflam and its three metabolites were performed using the batch equilibration method and analyzed for C-14 activity by liquid scintillation counting (radiometric technique). In all soils, the use of organic amendments promoted greater sorption and less desorption of indaziflam and ITI. The addition of biochar to soils promoted greater sorption of the four tested chemical products compared with the corresponding raw materials. Among the biochars, grape wood chips showed greater potential in sorb indaziflam and ITI. In general, none of the biochars affected the sorption and desorption of FDAT and ICA. Characterization of biochar to be used as a soil amendment (immobilizer) is highly recommended prior to field addition to optimize the sorption process and to prevent increased soil and water contamination of indaziflam and its metabolites following biochar addition.
The use of cellulose nanocrystals as reinforcement in polymers brings challenges mainly related to the dry thermal processing, and their adhesion and dispersion in the matrix. In this work, cellulose nanocrystals from sugarcane bagasse was used as reinforcement in nanocomposites of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Thus, the main objective of this work is to evaluate the mechanical and thermal performance of cellulose nanocrystals/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (CNC/ABS) nanocomposites as a function of cellulose nanocrystals type and content. More specifically, to study the effects of the chemical interaction between acrylonitrile groups from ABS and hydroxyl groups from cellulose. The ABS and the nanocomposites, reinforced with 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 wt\% nanocrystals, were obtained by extrusion and then injection molded to obtain specimens for testing. Mechanical testing, dynamic mechanical analysis, rheology and thermogravimetric analysis were used for characterization. The main results are related to increased impact strength, elastic modulus, storage modulus and viscosity of the nanocomposite compared to ABS. However, tensile strength and thermal stability decreased. Therefore, if higher tensile properties are needed, the CNC220/ABS nanocomposites should be preferred whereas, for impact, CNC150/ABS. Thus, there is a general improvement in properties up to 0.5\% cellulose nanocrystals content, which is followed by a loss in properties for higher content.
Global solid waste is expected to increase by at least 70\% annually until year 2050. The mixture of solid waste including food waste from food industry and domestic diaper waste in landfills is causing environmental and human health issues. Nevertheless, food and diaper waste containing high lignocellulose can easily degrade using lignocellulolytic enzymes thereby converted into energy for the development and growth of mushroom. Therefore, this study explores the potential of recycling biomass waste from coffee ground, banana, eggshell, tea waste, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust and diaper waste as raw material for Lingzhi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) cultivation. Using 2\% of diaper core with sawdust biowaste leading to the fastest 100\% mushroom mycelium spreading completed in one month. The highest production yield is 71.45 g mushroom; this represents about 36\% production biological efficiency compared to only 21\% as in commercial substrate. The high mushroom substrate reduction of 73\% reflect the valorisation of landfill waste. The metabolomics profiling showed that the Lingzhi mushroom produced is of high quality with a high content of triterpene being the bioactive compounds that are medically important for treating assorted disease and used as health supplement. In conclusion, our study proposed a potential resource management towards zero-waste and circular bioeconomy for high profitable mushroom cultivation.
A fermented solid containing lipases was produced by growing Burkholderia cepacia LTEB11 on a 1: 1 mixture, by mass, of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal. This fermented solid was dried and then used in a packed-bed bioreactor to catalyze the esterification of fatty acids from soybean soapstock acid oil with ethanol in a solvent-free system. The bioreactor was operated in batch mode, with the medium being recirculated from the reservoir through the bed in a closed-loop system. During the reaction, the bulk reaction medium separated into organic and aqueous phases. Additionally, up to 30\% of the reaction medium was held as a sorbed phase on the fermented solids. The composition of this sorbed phase, which represents the microenvironment of the lipases, was significantly different from the compositions of the bulk organic and aqueous phases. It was predominantly polar, with water or ethanol as the major component, but also contained significant amounts of ester. Importantly, the molar ratios of ethanol to fatty acid in the sorbed phase were significantly higher than those in the bulk reaction medium; this has implications for the reaction, since ethanol is known to cause inhibition and denaturation of lipases. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biomass has the dual benefit of promoting economic expansion and protecting the environment. Sugarcane bagasse, animal manure, and kitchen waste are some of the sources of biomass waste that are abundant in Pakistan. However, achieving renewable energy goals while relying on Pakistani road plans is riddled with difficulties. In contrast, there is a significant research gap in examining the barriers to biomass energy development using the multiple-criteria decision-making technique. This study aims to fill a knowledge gap by applying the Pythagorean fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to the problem of how to overcome the barriers to expanding Pakistan's biomass power generation. The results reveal that the political and policies/institutions are the most noteworthy obstacle with a weight of 0.2281 and follow the economics and financial, meteorological, technology and infrastructure, and cultural and behavioural hurdles stand second to fifth places, respectively. In addition, the analyses demonstrate that political instability is the most important sub-obstacle, possessing a global weight of 0.0471. According to the study's outcome, it is suggested that decision-makers, stakeholders, and regulatory agencies coordinate their efforts to ensure the availability of appropriate incentives, boost feedstock supply, and offer locals training to speed up the Pakistan biomass industry's presently sluggish growth.
Trypsin (E.C. 3.4.21.4) was covalently immobilised onto a membrane of a cellulosic exopolysaccharide produced by Zoogloea sp. in sugarcane molasses. Carbonyl groups were introduced into the matrix by sodium metaperiodate oxidation and the enzyme was immobilised either directly or through bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a spacer. The trypsin-membrane and trypsin-BSA-membrane retained, respectively, 37.2\% and 9.16\% of the specific activity of the native enzyme acting on N-benzoil-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA). No activity decrease was observed in both preparations after seven reutilisations as well as they showed to be more thermal stable than the native enzyme. The trypsin-BSA-i-nembrane presented the same initial activity (99\%) after 54 days stored in 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, at 4 degrees C but the trypsin-membrane lost 15\% of activity. Furthermore, the trypsin-BSA-membrane lost 31\% of activity after reuse at 9 days interval during 54 days of storage at 4 degrees C whereas the trypsin-membrane lost 69\% of activity under the same conditions. These results showed an additional application for this biofilm, namely, to act as a reusable matrix for trypsin immobilisation and the presence of BSA improved the derivative performance. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
For the disposal of Reactive Black 5 from aqueous solutions, the hydrophilic, magnetic, and extremely porous aerogels derived from rice straw waste have been synthesized. The first rice straw was made of nanocellulose crystals. Instant gelation and cross-linking processes were then used to prepare magnetic chitosan/nanocellulose aerogel beads. The aerogels have been distinguished by different technology, namely FT-IR, TEM, EDX, DLS and VSM. Results revealed the effective preparation of magnet chitosan / nanocellulose aerogels. Reactive Black 5 can be removed in acidic media and at a time of touch of 30 minutes. The aerogels absorbed color should be used as a dye color in textile printing. Secondary emission can be avoided. The future use of magnet chitosan / nanocellulose aerogels as an absorbent color can be based on its simple environment, using minimum precursor effort.
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of forages with different nutritional values specifically, corn silage (CS), sugar cane (SC), and sugar cane bagasse (SB) in diets with crude glycerin, on carcass traits, meat quality, and fatty acid profile, using young Nellore bulls finished in the feedlot. Thirty young Nellore bulls with an initial average body weight of 416.70 +/- 24.74 kg were randomly assigned to three treatments containing different sources of forage. The carcass traits and variables related to meat quality of the Nellore young bulls were not significantly influenced by different sources of forage in diets with crude glycerin. The yellow color index was significantly greater in the fat of animals fed corn silage. Heptadecenoic fatty acid was significantly lower in the meat of animals fed sugar cane bagasse. The sources of forage in diets with crude glycerin did not influence the profile of saturated, monounsaturated, or polyunsaturated fatty acids in the longissimus muscle. Overall, our results indicate that none of the treatments changed the carcass and meat quality traits of Nellore young bulls finished in the feedlot. Thus, sugar cane and sugar cane bagasse could be used in feedlot as a viable forage alternative to corn silage.
The feasibility of processing broiler litter by deep stacking and ensiling was evaluated prior to its use as feed ingredient. Fresh broiler litter was collected from the peri-urban area of Islamabad, Pakistan. Broiler litter was deep stacked at 15\%, 25\% and 35\% moisture; ensiled at 40\% moisture, alone or with 5\% added sugarcane molasses; and ensiled with rumen contents at 60:40 and 50:50, wet basis. Deep stacking was done in 1.2x1.2x1.2 m bins and ensiling was done in 2101 metal drums double lined with polyethylene. Broiler litter deep stacked at 15\% moisture showed a lower rise in temperature than litter deep stacked at 25\% and 35\% moisture. Maximum temperature was recorded at 40 cm depth for litter stacked with 25\% moisture. Overall, deep stacking had no effect on the chemical composition of broiler litter. Deep stacked litter was devoid of lactic acid, but the processing was effective in the destruction of pathogens. Desirable fermentation was achieved in all the silages, with significant reductions (P<0.05) in pH and water-soluble carbohydrates, and increase (P<0.05) in lactic acid. The highest pH and lowest lactic acid concentration was recorded for silages containing broiler litter and rumen contents, 60.40, wet basis. No pathogenic microbes were observed in the ensiled mixtures. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
Most of the Brazilian soils have severe water limitations to crop growth and, therefore, can benefit from organic amendments. For instance, biochar is known to improve soil water dynamics and use efficiency by increasing the water holding capacity and availability. This study assessed the effect of sewage sludge (SSB), green coconut residues (GCB), and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) biochars on the water retention capacity and availability of three tropical soils (Typic Quartzipsamment-TQ, Ultisol, and Luvisol). Control treatments (no biochar) were included as references. Soil bulk density, water holding capacity (WHC), water retention curves, and plant available water (AW) were determined. We also measured soil pH, organic matter content, and electrical conductivity (ECs). Biochar (SCB and GCB) increased the WHC by 62\% in the Typic-Quartzipsamment, 38\% in the Ultisol, and 18\% in the Luvisol. The SCB increased the AW in the TQ and Ultisol by 40\% and 10\%, respectively. Conversely, SCB and GCB reduced the AW in the Luvisol by 22.5\% and 17.5\%, respectively. Biochar improved the WHC of the coarse-textured soils. In the clayey soil, biochar improved soil porosity and water transmission. We conclude that biochar can be an excellent amendment to soils across a range of textures.
Lignocellulosic residues are potential sources of renewable energy, but these materials have low energy density and undesirable properties for energy use. For this reason, pelleting is a viable alternative for the biomass energy valorization because it produces high-energy-density solid biofuels. The aim of this research is to evaluate the physical, chemical, and energetic characteristics of pellets produced with lignocellulosic biomass blends (elephant grass {[
This article reports the role of L-Cysteine (CYS) conjugated nanohybrid hydrogel carrier for the enhanced therapeutic delivery of the Naringenin (NRG). CYS was effectively conjugated with chitosan through the amidation reaction followed by the incorporation of phyto-synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs). Dialdehyde cellulose (DAC), a green crosslinker derived from Sugarcane Bagasse (SCB) crosslinked the modified chitosan. Taguchi method optimised the NRG loading in the hydrogel carrier. The hybrid material was characterized using H-1 and C-13 NMR, FTIR, XRD, SEM and swelling studies. The hybrid hydrogel, loaded with 86.09\% of NRG was further subjected to drug release studies at varying pH and NRG loading concentrations. Maximum release of 72.78\% was obtained for 1 mg/mL of initial drug concentration at pH 5. CYS conjugation with chitosan stabilized the hydrogel and enabled a sustained release of NRG drug. Kinetic modelling predicted the NRG release to follow a non-Fickian diffusion along with polymer erosion. The antimicrobial activity was studied against the Staphylococcus aureus and Trichophyton rubrum strains. Biocompatibility assay of the materials with L929 cells revealed significant cell viability. The NRG delivery using the developed nanohybrid hydrogel exhibited a twofold increase in cytotoxicity towards A431 human skin carcinoma cells compared to NRG delivery without carrier.
The biomixture is the major constituent of a biopurification system and one of the most important factors in its efficiency; hence the selection of the components is crucial to ensure the efficient pesticides removal. Besides, bioaugmentation is an interesting approach for the optimization of these systems. A mixed culture of the fungus Trametes versicolor SGNG1 and the actinobacteria Streptomyces sp. A2, A5, All, and M7, was designed to inoculate the biomixtures, based on previously demonstrated ligninolytic and pesticide degrading activities and the absence of antagonism among the strains. The presence of lindane and/or the inoculum in the biomixtures had no significant effect on the development of culturable microorganisms regardless the soil type. The consortium improved lindane dissipation achieving 81-87\% of removal at 66 d of incubation in the different biomixtures, decreasing lindane half-life to an average of 24 d, i.e. 6-fold less than t(1/2) of lindane in soils. However, after recontamination, only the bioaugmented biomixture of silty loam soil enhanced lindane dissipation and decreased the t(1/2) compared to non-bioaugmented. The biomixture formulated with silty loam soil, sugarcane bagasse, and peat, inoculated with a fungal-actinobacterial consortium, could be appropriate for the treatment of agroindustrial effluents contaminated with organochlorine pesticides in biopurification systems.
There is a need to re-evaluate the residues generated in industrial processes for the production of new raw material, reducing the volume of waste. In this regard, the biosorption is a low-cost alternative method for treating effluents compared to conventional methods. The main objectives of this research were: the evaluation of the biosorbent capacity of six waste materials for the extraction of chromium(VI) and lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions and, the determination of the adsorption and kinetic parameters for the more efficient system. The materials evaluated were: peanut shell (Arachis hypagaea), sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum), avocado peel (Persea americana), pecan nutshell (Carya illinoinensis), wheat bran (Triticum aestivum) and banana peel (Mussa paradisiaca). The highest percentage of lead removal was obtained with wheat bran (89\%). For chromium, the percentage was generally much lower compared with lead for all tested biosorbents, the banana peel being the most efficient with a 10\% removal. The models that better describe the adsorption processes were: Langmuir and Freundlich. The pseudo-second order kinetic model allowed obtaining the parameters for both systems. The equilibrium time, in both systems, was reached after 60 minutes. The study of Fourier Transformed Infrared spectra and the results of desorption experiments allowed to hypothesize on the mechanisms involved in the adsorption of these metals.
Fuel ethanol use is being encouraged in many countries, including India, to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and to reduce local pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to provide support to stagnating sugarcane-based industries. Indian public policy is to use a blend of 10\% ethanol with petrol within the next few years. This translates into a large requirement for fuel ethanol. This paper examines the potential suitability of various carbohydrate-based agri-resources for ethanol production in India, and the resources required for this in different agroclimatic regions. The results show that sugarcane has the highest ethanol potential, followed by cassava, potato and cereals. On the basis of growing time (days) in the field, however, the large differences among crops disappear and their ranking at state and district level also changes. It was calculated that the biomass as well as land requirement for fuel ethanol for 2010-11 in India would be small, taking into account the total food grain production and land used for agriculture. Utilization of only 3-7 million tons of damaged food grains or surplus food stocks could meet the requirement for fuel ethanol up to 2010. This may, however, involve trade-offs with food security. Agricultural residues, especially rice straw, currently burnt in north-western India, and causing air pollution and global warming, could be a useful and cheap resource, if the technology for cellulose conversion is made available and is cost-effective. A proper auditing of costs involved in producing biomass for gasohol, their implications for energy security and the environment, and trade-offs with food security is required for policy consideration.
This work integrates forward osmosis (FO) and adsorption to recover water and antioxidant compounds (melanoidins and polyphenols) from sugarcane molasses distillery wastewater prior to biogas generation by conventional anaerobic digestion (AD). FO enables water recovery with simultaneous concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the wastewater feed; the adsorption-desorption step permits recovery of the antioxidant compounds. The FO step was optimized in earlier studies and a flow rate of 1 L/min and draw solution concentration of 3 M MgCl2.6H(2)O was chosen. Column adsorption with XAD16 resin was tested at different flow rates and the maximum adsorption yield of 66 \% melanoidins and 71 \% polyphenols was obtained at 1 mL/min. While polyphenols were readily desorbed (86 \% desorption with water-acidified ethanol-water), melanoidins desorption was comparatively lower (46 \%). Four different treatment schemes were investigated viz. ADS1 (FO + AD), ADS2 (adsorption + AD), ADS3 (FO + adsorption + AD) and ADS4 (adsorption + FO + AD). Among these, ADS4 showed the best results with recovery of 91 \% polyphenols, 72 \% melanoidins, 72 \% water and methane yield of 189 mL/gVSin after 37 days. While the integrated FO-adsorption process is promising and can be readily incorporated in the overall Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) schemes conventionally practiced in Indian distilleries, there are several aspects of the FO and adsorption steps that need further investigation.
During the past years, there has been a growing interest in the bioproduction of propionic acid by Propionibacteriurn. One of the major limitations of the existing models lies in their low productivity yield. Hence, many strategies have been proposed in order to circumvent this obstacle. This article provides a comprehensive synthesis and review of important biotechnological aspects of propionic acid production as a common ingredient in food and biotechnology industries. We first discuss some of the most important production processes, mainly focusing on biological production. Then, we provide a summary of important propionic acid producers, including Propionibacterium freudenreichii and Propionibacterium acidipropionici, as well as a wide range of reported growth/production media. Furthermore, we describe bioprocess variables that can have impact on the production yield. Finally, we propose methods for the extraction and analysis of propionic acid and put forward strategies for overcoming the limitations of competitive microbial production from the economical point of view. Several factors influence the propionic acid concentration and productivity such as culture conditions, type and bioreactor scale; however, the pH value and temperature are the most important ones. Given that there are many reports about propionic acid production from glucose, whey permeate, glycerol, lactic acid, hemicelluloses, hydrolyzed corn meal, lactose, sugarcane molasses and enzymatically hydrolyzed whole wheat flour, only few review articles evaluate biotechnological aspects, i.e. bioprocess variables.
Research and commercial production of bioherbicides occur to a lesser extent compared to bioinsecticides and biofungicides. In order to contribute to developing new bioherbicides with low environmental impact, this study aimed to increase the phytotoxicity of metabolites of the fungus Mycoleptodiscus indicus UFSM 54 by optimizing solid and submerged fermentation and evaluate the ecotoxicological effects on earthworms (Eisenia andrei). The Plackett-Burman and central composite rotatable designs were used to optimize metabolite phytotoxicity. The variables optimized in the fermentation were temperature, agitation, pH, water volume in the culture medium, glucose concentration, and yeast extract. The fungus was grown on sugarcane bagasse substrate, and its metabolites were applied to detached Cucumis sativus, Conyza sp., and Sorghum bicolor leaves and used in an avoidance test and acute exposure to earthworms. Metabolite phytotoxicity in submerged fermentation was optimized at 35 degrees C, 50 rpm, and 1.5 g l(-1) of glucose and in solid fermentation at 30-37 degrees C and in 14-32 ml of water. The metabolites severely damaged germination, initial growth, and leaves of the three plants, and at the doses tested (maximum of 113.92 ml kg(-1)), the metabolites of M. indicus UFSM 54 were not toxic to earthworms.
A new strain of Trichoderma reesei (teleomorph Hypocrea jecorina) with high cellulase production was obtained by exposing the spores from T. reesei QM9414 to an ultraviolet light followed by selecting fast-growing colonies on plates containing CMC (1\% w/v) as the carbon source. The mutant T. reesei RP698 reduced cultivation period to 5 days and increased tolerance to the end-products of enzymatic cellulose digestion. Under submerged fermentation conditions, FPase, CMCase, and Avicelase production increased up to 2-fold as compared to the original QM9414 strain. The highest levels of cellulase activity were obtained at 27 degrees C after 72 h with Avicel (R), cellobiose, and sugarcane bagasse as carbon sources. The temperature and pH activity optima of the FPase, CMCase, and Avicelase were approximately 60 degrees C and 5.0, respectively. The cellulase activity was unaffected by the addition of 140 mM glucose in the enzyme assay. When T. reesei RP698 crude extract was supplemented by the addition of beta -glucosidase from Scytalidium thermophilum, a 2.3-fold increase in glucose release was observed, confirming the low inhibition by the end-product of cellulose hydrolysis. These features indicate the utility of this mutant strain in the production of enzymatic cocktails for biomass degradation.
In the present study, the isolation, purification and characterization of a complex enzyme, cellulase, was carried out using a new local isolate of the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum (KM274866) from wood chips, with a view to explore its utility in the biofuel industry. The fungus was grown on a selected natural substrate, sugarcane bagasse, based on cost considerations for enzyme production. The enzyme was purified 14.82 fold with a yield of 25.8\% and specific activity of 30 U/mg of protein. The molecular mass of the enzyme was found to be 67 +/- 1 KDa. The optimum pH was 4.8, but the enzyme was stable at a pH range of 3-6. Optimum temperature was 45 degrees C, but the stability range of the enzyme was 30-55 degrees C. Metal ions such as Ca2+, Na+, Mg2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ enhanced enzyme activity. Triton X100 in the medium resulted in a significant increase of enzyme activity compared to other group specific reagents. K-M and V-max for the enzyme were found to be 0.121 mg/ml and 0.421 mu mol/min, respectively, against the substrate carboxy methyl cellulose. As the enzyme is from an inexpensive source, it will be most useful in the preparation of bioethanol for the biofuel industry.
Aspergillus terreuscan produce different holocellulose-degrading enzymes when grown in sugarcane bagasse, with predominant pectinase activity. Thus, pectinase was selected for purification and immobilization studies. Ion exchange and molecular exclusion chromatography studies were performed, after which it was possible to semipurify the enzyme with a yield of 80\%. The crude extract pectinase (PECEB) and the partially purified enzyme (PEC2) were immobilized on monoamino-N-aminoethyl (MANAE)-agarose with pectinase activity yields of 66\% and 98\%, respectively. After immobilization in MANAE-agarose, the pectinase showed higher activity at acidic pH (pH 4.0) when compared to the nonimmobilized enzyme. It was also found that after the immobilization process, there was a threefold improvement in the enzyme's thermostability. Also, it was possible to reuse the immobilized enzyme for up to five cycles of hydrolysis with effective production of reducing sugars (0.196 mg/g of substrate). The industrial application test revealed a significant decrease in the viscosity of guava juice when the immobilized enzyme was used. PECEB, immobilized on MANAE-agarose, was the enzyme sample that generated the highest pulp viscosity reduction (approximately 47\%). Although additional studies are needed for practical industrial application, the results obtained herein reveal the potential of application of immobilized pectinase in the industry.
This study examined the effect of three organic amendments - compost (CP), sugarcane bagasse (SB), and rice husk ash (RA) - on soil moisture and maize growth in rain-fed farmland under agricultural drought conditions in Central Java, Indonesia. The wet organic amendments were applied at a rate of 20 t ha(-1) and mixed into the root zone 3 days before seeding. Chemical fertilizers were not included in any treatment during the experiment. CP and RA kept the soil moisture above the soil suction of pF 1.0 between initial planting and harvesting. By contrast, SB treatment exacerbated the impact of the agricultural drought compared with the control (CO) or no organic material. The maize yields of CP (690 kg ha(-1)) and RA (538 kg ha(-1)) were higher than those of CO (456 kg ha(-1)) and SB (382 kg ha(-1)); all yields were lower than the regional average in Central Java (698 kg ha(-1)). Maize yield was correlated with the lowest soil moisture value (R-2 = 0.80). Overall, CP and RA substantially reduced the damage to rain-fed farmland caused by agricultural drought. The lowest soil moisture value was a major explanatory factor with respect to the yield gap of maize under agricultural drought conditions.
This study describes properties of biomasses of Moringa oleifera Lamarck for energetic applications of production of biodiesel and briquettes. The seeds collected of the mature pods were the initial biomasses used of this plant. The seeds were separated into husks and oilseed grains, from which the oils were extracted by mechanical pressing and by solvent extraction. The crude oil mixed (of pressing and by solvent) was degummed, neutralized, washed, dried and characterized. The purified oil was converted into methyl biodiesel in homogeneous alkaline transesterification, which was purified and characterized. The residual peels and pies had their calorific powers measured and compared with classic agricultural residues: firewood, sugarcane bagasse and coconut husks. Moringa culture was compared to soybeans in agricultural and biodiesel production perspectives. The analytical results show that the biomasses of the moringa are favorable as renewable biofuels like biodiesel or briquettes due to the good calorific power and simple and accessible productive technology. The production of briquettes starting from the biomasses of the moringa would be recommended with the uses of the pod husks, seed peels and pies (cakes) of extraction of the oil. The agricultural management and the simple productive technologies applied to the moringa are favorable for social inclusion by enabling family agriculture.
Background: Biological hydrogen production by microorganisms can be divided into two main categories i.e. photosynthetic organisms that produce hydrogen using light as energy source and anaerobic bacteria that produce hydrogen via dark fermentation. Dark fermentative hydrogen production by anaerobic bacteria has the advantages of a higher HPR without illumination and of the capability to convert various kinds of substrate. Results: Thermophilic hydrogen producer was isolated from elephant dung and identified as Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum KKU-ED1 by 16S rRNA gene analysis, which was further used to produce hydrogen from mixed pentose sugar i.e., xylose/arabinose. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production from mixed xylose/arabinose by KKU-ED1 were a 1: 1 xylose/arabinose mixture at the total concentration of 5 g/L, initial pH of 6.5 and temperature of 55 degrees C. Under the optimum conditions, hydrogen from sugar derived from acid-hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse at a reducing sugar concentration were achieved. Soluble metabolite product (SMP) was predominantly acetic acid indicating the acetate-type fermentation. Conclusions: The strain KKU-ED1 appeared to be a suitable candidate for thermophilic fermentative hydrogen production from hemicellulosic fraction of lignocellulosic materials due to its ability to use various types of carbon sources.
In the last few decades, many forests have been cut down to make room for cultivation and to increase food or energy crops production in developing countries. In this study, carbon sequestration and wood production were evaluated on afforested farms by integrating the Gaussian diameter distribution model and exponential diameter-height model derived from sample plots of an afforested hardwood forest in Taiwan. The quantity of sequestrated carbon was determined based on aboveground biomass. Through pilot tests run on an age-volume model, an estimation bias was obtained and used to correct predicted volume estimates for a farm forest over a 20-year period. An estimated carbon sequestration of 11,254 t C was observed for a 189ha-hardwood forest which is equivalent to 41,264 t CO2. If this amount of carbon dioxide were exchanged on the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX) market, the income earned would be 821 US\$ ha(-1). Carbon sequestration from rice (Oryza sativa) or sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) production is discharged as a result of straw decomposition in the soil which also improves soil quality. Sugarcane production does not contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, because almost all the cane fiber is used as fuel for sugar mills. As a result of changing the farming systems to hardwood forest in this study area, carbon sequestration and carbon storage have increased at the rate of 2.98 t C ha(-1) year(-1). Net present value of afforestation for a 20-year period of carbon or wood management is estimated at around US\$ 30,000 given an annual base interest rate of 3 \%.
This work aims to offer a new acid type, methanesulfonic acid, to produce environmentally benign sulfonated carbon-based catalysts for esterification. The sulfonated catalysts were synthesized using two types of lignin sources, commercial lignin (CL) and lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse (EL) through solvothermal carbonization and followed by sulfonation step. Overall, lignin sources and types of sulfonic acids were the factors affecting the catalyst performance. The results indicated that the high oxygenated functional groups on surface of chars prepared from EL gave the materials with better catalytic performance than prepared from CL. Moreover, the catalysts functionalized with methanesulfonic acid presented the higher catalytic activity than with sulfuric acid due to their higher surface area and better thermal stability. The highest methyl stearate yield (89.2\%) from esterification of stearic acid with methanol were achieved at 240 degrees C with the reaction time of 10 min using the molar ratio of stearic acid to methanol of 1:9 and catalyst loading of 5 wt\% in case of using EL char as a carbon source and methanesulfonic acid as a sulfonating agent. The catalyst could also be reused up to seven cycles with a yield higher than 80\%. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study aims to design a smart closed reactor of vermicomposting to convert sewage sludge and any organic waste to high-quality vermicompost. In this reactor design, all aspects of growth and reproduction of Eisenia Fetida worms, such as aeration, temperature, light, and moisture, were considered. We analyzed the physicochemical, bacterial, and microstructural of produced vermicompost and growth rate of worms in a substrate of 70\% sewage sludge, 20\% cow manure, and 10\% sugarcane bagasse in a container and the smart reactor. The results show that vermicomposting in the smart reactor took 50\% less time and 30\% more worm growth rate to produce the same quality as in a container. After vermicomposting in the reactor, the parameters of pH, fecal coliform, phosphorus, organic matter, and C/N decreased whereas the parameters of carbon, nitrogen, nitrate, ammonia nitrate, and EC increased, slightly. Although, the EC amount of the reactor production is more than the container one, the amount of moisture, phosphorus, and organic matter of the vermicompost in the container is more than the reactor one. Based on the odor absorption and leachate elimination of this reactor, we recommend that it be utilized for vermicompost production, including out of smelly organic wastes such as sewage sludge, even in any public zone and personal houses. {[
Total sixteen bacterial strains were isolated and purified from the samples collected from sugarcane molasses soil, sewage water and long-chain-hydrocarbon-contaminated area of the Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan. Tolerance to different antibiotics was studied and strains showed multiple antibiotic resistance. All strains were characterized for Gram stain, biochemical reactions and polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. Total fourteen strains were Gram negative and two were Gram positive, while biochemically nine PHA producers showed affiliation to Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Bacillus and Escherichia. Screening for PHA production was done by Sudan black staining and nine out of sixteen strains exhibited PHA producing ability. PHA production was optimized for different growth parameters, like nitrogen concentration, pH and temperature. PHA extraction was done by solvent extraction method. Bacterial strains US1 and M1 accumulated up to 30\% PHA of their cell dry weight on PHA extraction by solvent extraction method. Bacterial strain US1 was identified by 16S rRNA gene analysis as P. aeruginosa (DQ455691). PHA production was confirmed by PCR amplification of 500 bp fragment from PHA polymerase (Pha C) gene; five strains from nine PHA producers gave positive results on PCR. Pha C gene fragment of US1 was sequenced and submitted to Gene Bank under the accession number DQ455690. The amino acid sequence showed homology using the protein BLAST at 129-132 sites with different PHA synthases of the Pseudomonas sp.
Natural fibers investigated in this study are mainly waste from agro industry. The importance of natural fibers in building composites is increasing, as they partially replace nonrenewable natural resources acting as reinforcement in composite materials such as concrete, mortar and earth bricks. Their recycling requires a detailed analysis of the physical, chemical, and mechanical characteristics of the fibers. In this study, tropical natural fibers i.e., palm oil flower fibers (POFL), palm oil fruit fibers (POFR), sugarcane bagasse (Sc), coconut coir (Cn), and banana spine (Bs) were investigated, and their characteristics such as cross-section, density, water absorption, thermogravimetry, chemical composition, and tensile strength of fibers were determined. The area of these fibers ranges from 0.03 mm(2) to 0.07 mm(2). POFL fibers have highest density (1.36 g/cm(3)), while Cn fibers have lowest density (0.79 g/cm(3)). Chemical composition of fibers shows that cellulose content of tropical fibers ranges from 37-54\%, followed by hemicellulose 5-27\%, and lignin and cutins content 5-25\%. Mechanical characteristics of tropical fibers show that tensile strength of these fibers fluctuates between 119-347 MPa. Tensile load-deflection behavior of Cn, Bs, POFL, and POFR fibers is elastoplastic with hardening, while the behavior of Sc fibers is pseudo elastic.
Hydrogenation of aldehydes with heterogeneous manganese catalysts is an appealing approach for producing alcohols. In this paper, we report a novel and robust MnO/PN-800 catalyst for the hydrogenation of versatile biomass-derived platform molecules in the presence of molecular hydrogen as a reductant. The effect of catalyst concentration, the operating hydrogen pressure, and the reaction temperature on the catalyst activity was investigated in detail. Under the mild reaction conditions, the full conversion of furfuraldehyde, 5-Methyl-2-furaldehyde, and 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF) to their corresponding alcohols was achieved without any by-product formation. Additionally, other aromatic aldehydes bearing fluoro, chloro, and nitro moieties were also tolerated. The fresh and spent MnO/PN-800 catalyst was thoroughly characterized using XPS, powderXRD, HR-TEM, N-2 adsorption-desorption, and Raman spectroscopy. Noteworthy, the MnO/PN-800 catalyst can be recovered by centrifugation and then reused directly in the subsequent hydrogenation reactions. Importantly the synthetic utility of this protocol up to similar to 5 g-scale is realized. Finally, our novel MnO/PN-800 nanocatalyst was successfully employed for the direct synthesis of furfuryl alcohol in high yields from raw sugarcane bagasse. We believe that these findings will help to advance the manganese-catalyzed hydrogenation reactions.
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a pollutant still found in the environment despite being widely banned. Considering that basidiomycetes are useful to degrade a variety of organochlorinated pollutants, we therefore report the influence ofHCB on the ligninolytic enzymatic system of Deconica castanella. The inoculum was prepared with sugarcane bagasse and soybean flour and was added in soil with and without HCB (2000 mg kg soil(-1)), 5\% emulsion containing soybean oil and Tween 20 at proportion 9:1, v:v; with 70\% moisture at 25 degrees C. Fungal biomass was quantified by widely acknowledged growth biomarker ergosterol. The extraction of the enzymatic complex was performed and laccase, Mn-dependent peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) activities were determined. Furthermore, HCBand itsmetaboliteswere quantified by gas chromatography and chlorides by potentiometric titration. Results evidenced that HCB did not interfere in fungal growth, though the only detected enzymatic activity was laccase. MnP and Lip were not detected during D. castanella growth in soil. The peak of laccase enzymatic activity occurred in the presence of HCB. In addition, the laccase exhibited thermostability. Therefore, we hereby shed light on the role of laccase in the degradation of HCB by an efficient low-cost and environmentally safe detoxification mechanism.
Cellulases are enzymes required for the production of second-generation ethanol (E2G) via biochemical route. The current paper reports the development of an apparatus for solid-liquid extraction of cellulases from solid-state fermentation (SSF) carried out in a packed bed bioreactor (PBB), operated as batch and as semicontinuous. The case study was the cultivation ofMyceliophthora thermophilaI-1D3b on sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) (7: 3 w/w). The current work integrates the PBB to the first downstream step for recovering the enzymes produced by SSF. The substrate was inoculated and packed into the modules that composed the PBB. The fermentation occurred at 45 degrees C and air was supplied with flow rate of 350 L/h. At the end of the cultivations, each module was placed in an extraction column, a dynamic closed system in which distilled water was circulated and made to percolate the cultivated material. Variables tested were volume of water per mass of substrate, water flow rate and time of percolation. Higher contact time (120 min) and higher flow rate (2.4m(3)/h) allowed us to recover up to 85\% of total enzyme activity by percolation. Lower volume (20mL/g) provides higher titer extract. The apparatus showed to be promising for SSF downstream, mainly for semicontinuous operation of PPBs.
Trichoderma reesei is the main filamentous fungus used in industry to produce cellulases. Here we investigated the role of CRZ1 and Ca2+ signaling in the fungus T. reesei QM6a concerning holocellulases production. For this, we first searched for potential CRZ1 binding sites in promoter regions of key genes coding holocellulases, as well as transcriptional regulators and sugar and calcium transporters. Using a nearly constructed T. reesei Delta crz1 strain, we demonstrated that most of the genes expected to be regulated by CRZ1 were affected in the mutant strain induced with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and cellulose. In particular, our data demonstrate that Ca2+ acts synergistically with CRZ1 to modulate gene expression, but also exerts CRZ1-independent regulatory role in gene expression in T. reesei, highlighting the role of the major regulator Ca2+ on the signaling for holocellulases transcriptional control in the most part of cellulases genes here investigated. This work presents new evidence on the regulatory role of CRZ1 and Ca2+ sensing in the regulation of cellulolytic enzymes in T. reesei, evidencing significant and previously unknown function of this Ca2+ sensing system in the control key transcriptional regulators (XYR1 and CRE1) and on the expression of genes related to sugar and Ca2+ transport.
BACKGROUNDDifficulties in bioprocess monitoring are a drawback of solid-state fermentation (SSF). Specifically, monitoring of enzyme activities in SSF is not an easy task. This work aimed to calibrate partial least squares (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models for inferring protease and amylase activities, as well as protein concentration, from UV-Vis spectra of aqueous extracts of samples removed during SSF using Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus. RESULTSSSFs were performed using single agro-industrial wastes (wheat bran, type II wheat flour, sugarcane bagasse and soybean meal) and ternary mixtures of them. Enzyme activities and protein concentrations in the aqueous extracts were quantified biochemically. The corresponding UV-Vis spectra of diluted extracts were also collected. The prediction quality of the ANN was higher than that of the PLS model. The relative errors considering the range for amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes were 4\% (3-442 U g(-1)) and 6\% (0-256 U g(-1)), respectively, for the best ANN architectures (8 and 6 neurons in hidden layer, respectively). CONCLUSIONThese results, in combination with correlation coefficients (R>0.94), suggest that this approach is suitable for developing a chemosensor for monitoring SSFs, reducing the analytical work for quantification of enzyme activities. No satisfactory results were obtained for protein concentration. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
The amendment of concrete with waste products serves as an avenue to decrease the volume of wastes landfilled and to reduce the use of naturally mined materials, therefore, minimizing the footprint and impact that the construction industry has on the environment. This manuscript summarizes the current state of practice with regard to the use of waste products as supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) in portland cement concrete (PCC) and provides a summary of the comparatively sparse information on under-utilized waste materials such as: sugarcane bagasse ash, rice husk ash, waste wood biomass ash, and waste glass. The latter are all waste products that have the potential to be employed alongside traditional SCM, however much of the use to date has been done at the laboratory scale. This document will serve as a guide for the use of non-traditional waste SCM, to highlight areas likely requiring further refinement or research, and to indicate potential negative impacts from utilization of these products that might occur. The beneficial use of waste materials as SCM outside the United States has grown in recent years, mainly out of necessity; however, current research indicates that these materials typically provide a benefit when amending PCC and mortar. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Fibrolytic enzyme production by Aspergillus japonicus C03 was optimized in a medium containing agro-industrial wastes, supplemented with peptone and yeast extract. A 2 3 full factorial composite and response surface methodology were used to design the experiments and analysis of results. Tropical forages were hydrolyzed by A. japonicus C03 enzymatic extract in different levels, and they were also tested as enzymatic substrate. Optimal production to xylanase was obtained with soybean bran added to crushed corncob (1: 3), 0.01\% peptone, and 0.2\% yeast extract, initial pH 5.0, at 30 degrees C under static conditions for 5 days of incubation. Optimal endoglucanase production was obtained with wheat bran added to sugarcane bagasse (3: 1), 0.01\% peptone, and 0.2\% yeast extract, initial pH 4.0, at 30 degrees C, for 6 days, under static conditions. Addition of nitrogen sources as ammonium salts either inhibited or did not influence xylanase production. This enzymatic extract had a good result on tropical forage hydrolyzes and showed better performance in the Brachiaria genera, due to their low cell wall lignin quantity. These results represent a step forward toward the use of low-cost agricultural residues for the production of valuable enzymes with potential application in animal feed, using fermentation conditions.
The aim of the present work was to study the effect of moisture content and inoculum on the growth and conidia production by Beauveria bassiana on wheat bran (WB).The highest growth rate of B. bassiana 885.2 on WB media was obtained at a(w)=1.0, with no detected growth at a(w) < 0.97. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) using WB (66\% moisture; a(w)=1.0) achieved a maximal yield of 1.18x10(10) conidia per gram of dry substrate (gds). This yield decreased one order of magnitude with higher moisture contents or the addition of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as a texturiser. In SSF using WB (66\% humidity),the time to obtain a yield of 1x10(10) conidia/gds, referred to as t(10), could be predicted using a model considering common inoculum levels and maximal yields. For instance, t(10) was 285 h with an inoculum of 1x10(6) conidia/gds; however, t(10) was reduced to 232 It and 148 for inocula of 7x10(6) and 5x10(7) conidia/gds, respectively. The estimation of t(10) values allowed both comparison between the cultures and prediction of harvesting times in production processes. Values for hydrophobicity were within 90 and 92\%, whereas viability averages were around 70\% for all the cultures
Background: To reduce the cost of the enzymes for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass, two main strategies have been followed: one, the reduction of enzyme dosing by the use of more efficient and stable enzymatic cocktails; another, to include accessory enzymes in the cocktails to increase yields by reducing the recalcitrant carbohydrate fraction remaining at the end of the process. To guide this second strategy, we have explored the chemical bond composition of different fractions of recalcitrant carbohydrates after enzymatic hydrolysis. Results: Two lignocellulosic feedstocks of relevance for the biofuels industry have been analyzed, corn stover and sugarcane straw. On comparing the composition of chemical bonds of the starting pretreated material with samples after standard and forced hydrolysis (with enzyme overdosing), we obtained similar sugar and chemical bond composition. Conclusions: This suggests that the current enzymatic cocktails bear the set of enzymes needed to hydrolyze these feedstocks. From our point of view, the results show the need for a parallel fine-tuning of the enzymatic cocktails with the pretreatment process to maximize sugar release yield.
The purpose of this study was to examine the environmental impact of ethanol production using solid waste as a raw material from the extraction of red seaweed. Sources of data used in this study derived from literature studies. The type of red seaweed studied was kappa-carrageenan extracted from Eucheuma cottoni, Eucheuma spinosum, and Gracilaria Manilaensis. The system limitation in this study is gate-to-gate analysis, which includes processing raw materials to ethanol products using the relative mass and energy value method using a cut-off value of 5\%. The value of CO2 emissions from ethanol production using solid waste from Eucheuma cottonii is 2.97x10(-14) kg CO(2)eq/kg of ethanol. The production of ethanol using solid waste from Eucheuma spinosum and Gracilaria manilaensis resulted in CO2 emissions of 5.72 and 2.87 kg CO2 eq/kg of ethanol, respectively. Bioethanol from solid waste extracted from kappa-carrageenan from Eucheuma cottonii becomes an environmentally friendly biofuel compared to bioethanol from sugarcane and sweet bagasse sorghum. The result of the main environmental impact study using the LCA method shows that the fermentation process, followed by the production of enzymes and electricity, is the main contributor to CO2 emissions.
Biodrying was studied over 46 days in two piles (P1 and P2) composed of orange peel and two structuring materials (mulch: P1; sugarcane bagasse: P2). The oxygen and carbon dioxide levels were recorded at different depths (0.1 to 0.6 m). From the beginning to days 33-35 the drying was carried out by a combination of microbial heat, convection, and solar irradiance; moisture reached 30\%, corresponding to a water activity (a(w)) of 0.88-0.9, which was insufficient to maintain microbial activity. Additionally, the O-2 and CO2 levels (21\% and 0\%, respectively) evidenced the end of the biological phase of the process. After day 35, the drying occurred only by convection and solar irradiance. At the end, moisture reached 14\% (P1) and 12\% (P2), showing that the turning frequency, as well as the type and proportion of the structuring materials, were adequate and significantly influenced moisture reduction, allowing the aeration necessary for biodrying. At the end, a material with an average calorific value of 15,500 kJ/kg was obtained, comparable to wood and other fuels obtained from orange peel, making the biodrying process a suitable option for the stabilization and energy recovery of agricultural and agro-industrial waste with high moisture content.
In this paper, the physical, durability and mechanical properties of soil bricks reinforced with chicken feather fibres (CFF) and sugarcane bagasse fibres (SBF) were studied. The adopted optimum lengths of 15-mm of CFF and SBF were randomly distributed in the soil mix at 1\%, 3\%, 5\%, 7\%, 9\% and 11\% by weight. In total, 525 samples of cubic (3 5 0) and prismatic (1 7 5) soil samples were prepared for each fibre type and tested in accordance with the guidance in the British standards for bulk density, water absorption, compressive strength and tensile strength at 14, 28, 56, 90 and 180 days. With the addition of 7\% CFF and 5\% SBF, soil brick samples were found to be 98.8\% and 78.7\% stronger respectively in compression compared to the control mix. Based on the experimental results the stress-strain model describing the soil bricks response to compressive loading for each fibre type was obtained via regression analysis. This study contributes original data to the characterization of soil bricks and provides reference values that can be considered for design purposes. The soil bricks thus developed will contribute to the provision of affordable and sustainable housing construction across the world, particularly in developing countries. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The purpose of this study is to optimize the processing conditions (temperature, pressure, process time, yield rate) for the conversion of biomass to a high-energy density biofuel. The hydrothermal polymerization (HTP) catalytic process has been developed for production of biofuel via hydrothermal processing using an acid-based catalyst. This study has shown that the HTP catalytic process for a reference feedstock lowered the temperature by 10 to 40 degrees C, reduced the pressure requirement by 1 to 2 MPa, increased the rate of yield by 22\%, and shortened the total processing time by up to 3 h when compared to the conventional hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) process. FTIR spectrum analysis of the HTP catalytic biofuel has shown that lignin in the biomass is preserved, while the pure HTC process destroyed the lignin in the biomass. GC/MS analysis of the process liquid determined the changes of the intermediate soluble components as a function of time. By measuring the 2,5-hydroxymethyl furfuralde concentration in solution, an endpoint determination could be made. This study also determined the approximate analysis of the HTP biofuel from various organic wastes such as cotton, cow manure, wood waste, paper waste, sugarcane bagasse waste, and food waste.
Graphene is a radiant star in the field of nanomaterials. It has gained prominent interest since of its very good mechanical, thermal, optical and electronic possessions. The basic chemical reaction elaborate in the Hummer's method was the oxidation of graphite, during which harmful toxic gases used to emit. Nowadays green chemistry is blossoming in the field of nanomaterial. In present work, we fabricate graphene oxide (GO) through different agricultural wastes i.e., Rice bran (RB), Sugarcane bagasse (SB), Orange peel (OP), and mixture of all these three wastes i.e., tricomposite agro waste (TAW) were mixed with ferrocene which gave electron transfer reaction to synthesized GO and compared it. At last, we concluded that particle size obtained for OPGO (23.99 nm) > graphite (17.17 nm) > SBGO (15.5 nm) > RBGO (2.235 nm) > TAWGO (1.77 nm). These green strategies are biocompatible and cost effective too. Basic information of GO crystal was obtained by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for determination of crystal structure, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological study, high resolution transmission electron spectroscopy (HRTEM) used for determine particle size, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for functional group detection, thermogravametric analysis (TGA)/differential thermal analysis (DTA) for determine thermal stability of GO.
Studies were conducted on six pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) systems for the treatment of real domestic wastewater. All the six VFCWs had identical configurations and was filled with sand at the top and gravel at the bottom. The middle layer of each wetland system was filled with organic media (wood mulch, sugarcane bagasse and coir) and inorganic media (gravel, brick nibbles and pebbles), respectively. All the VFCWs were planted with wetland plant Typha latifolia. During the experimental study, the wetlands were loaded with real domestic wastewater. Performances of the wetlands were evaluated for the removal of organics, nutrients and bacterial contamination. The organic media wetlands had a removal efficiency of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (75\%-88\%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (72\%-82\%), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) (63\%-70\%), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) (77\%-80\%), total nitrogen (TN) (67\%-68\%) and total phosphorous (TP) (66\%-80\%). The control and inorganic media wetlands had a removal efficiency of BOD5 (91\%-94\%), COD (82\%-85\%), NH4-N (51\%-77\%), NO3-N (59\%-63\%), TN (42\%-56\%) and TP (58\%-68\%). Total suspended solids and fecal coliform removal was above 88\% and 95\%, respectively, in all the wetlands irrespective of the media.
The increased use of nanoparticles in various commercial products enhances the contamination of nanomaterials in the environment which may cause serious health concern in the near future. To address this problem, new methods need to be developed for removal of nanomaterials from the environment. In this report, we explored the removal of nanoparticles from water using cellulosic nanofibers extracted from a renewable source such as sugarcane bagasse. The nanofibers were coated with chitosan to introduce additional functional groups on the surface. The designed cellulosic nanofibers showed high extraction efficiency (80-90\%) towards silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles. The maximum adsorption efficiency (Q(t)) towards citrate and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) capped Ag-nanoparticles using chitosan coated cellulose nanofibers was 13.1 mg g(-1). Similarly, Q(t) values for citrate and PVP capped Au-nanoparticles were 17.9 mg g(-1) and 17.4 mg g(-1), respectively. The adsorption of nanoparticles onto the nanofibers was confirmed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Even though we used spiked solutions for the current study, it is expected that such low cost, highly abundant nanofibers may be used for setting up a large-scale nanoparticle removal system for water purification.
Many industrial chemicals are currently produced from fossil resources. However, extensive use of fossil fuels has resulted in an alarming array of energy and pollution-related challenges. The industrial chemicals that are produced from fossil resources could be produced alternatively using green route in a sustainable manner. Here we report the production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) through fermentative route using sugarcane processing wastes (sugarcane bagasse). This study used the second-generation (2G) fermentable sugar (2G FS) recovered from the low-cost feedstock sugarcane bagasse as a substrate for 1,3-PDO production through a mixed culture fermentation in a single pot using Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCIM 3594 and Klebsiella pneumoniae NCIM 2957. This novel concept of single-pot, mixed culture fermentation method to produce 1,3-PDO was verified by optimizing process parameters like substrate concentration (2G FS), pH, and temperature. The concentration of 2G FS was varied in the range of 0.5-5\% (V-2G FS/V-working volume), pH was varied between 6 and 7, and the temperature range was 30-37 degrees C. The maximum production of 1,3-PDO was observed at the concentration of 5\% (V-2G FS/V-working volume), at an optimum pH of 6.8 and a temperature of 35 degrees C. The evaluated thermodynamics parameters for analyzing the rate of fermentation were enthalpy (Delta H), -47596 KJ/mol; activation energy (Delta E), -47596 KJ/mol; entropy (Delta S), 500.46 J/mol; and Gibbs free energy (Delta G), -2.018 x 10(5) J/mol; and the kinetics parameters were specific growth rate (mu), 0.0053 h(-1); cell mass productivity (Q(x)), 0.249 g/L(/)h; rate of production (Q(p)), 0.237 g/L(/)h; and product yield (Y-p/s), 0.0427 g/g. This work demonstrates a novel single-pot method to produce 1,3-PDO from a low-cost feedstock and makes a valuable contribution to the development of a cost-effective fermentation based on renewable resources.
Aerogels are becoming a promising platform to fabricate photothermal materials for use in solar steam generation (SSG), which have remarkable application potential in solar desalination, due to their excellent thermal management, salt resistance, and considerable water evaporation rate. In this work, a novel photothermal material is fabricated by forming a suspension between sugarcane bagasse fibers (SBF) and poly(vinyl alcohol), tannic acid (TA), and Fe3+ solutions via hydrogen bonds of hydroxyl groups. After freeze drying, the fabricated SBF aerogel-based photothermal (SBFAP) material possesses a 3D interconnected porous microstructure, which could enhance water transportation ability, reduce thermal conductivity, and quickly dissolve salt crystals on the SBFAP surface. Thanks to the formation of micro/nanosized complexes between TA and Fe3+ ions on the SBFAP material, the SBFAP exhibits high light capture and water evaporation rate (2.28 kg m-2 h-1). In particular, due to strong hydrogen bonding and the SBF, the SBFAP material is reinforced, thereby exhibiting excellent structural stability in seawater. Moreover, the high salt tolerance of SBFAP favors its high desalination performance for at least 76 days of continuous evaporation under actual conditions. This research paves the way for the fabrication of natural cellulose fiber-based photothermal materials for application in solar desalination.
In the Amazon, local electrical energy production is very important due to the large number of isolated communities, usually far from the conventional grid. In this context, steam turbines are relevant technologies to be used in the region, since waste biomass is widely available in several communities, besides, where sustainable agricultural activities take place, such as the use of acai seeds, sugarcane bagasse, among others. Currently, there are not many relevant studies in the literature for small steam turbines operating at low pressure, conditioned to the reality of the Amazon region. Hence, the main goal of this work is to develop an experimental study of a small steam turbine operating at low pressure, in order to apply it to small energy demand, typically found in the Amazon. We developed measurements on the behavior of mechanical and electrical powers in relation to the shaft rotational speed of the small steam turbine, taking into account pressures of 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 MPa. We concluded that the preliminary experimental survey, made in this work, demonstrates a good mechanical behavior of the small turbine and could be an alternative for electricity generation system to supply small demands in isolated communities in the Amazon, taking advantage of biomass from sustainable agricultural activities.
Humicolagrisea var. thermoidea is an aerobic and thermophilic fungus that secretes the GH11 xylanase HXYN2 in the presence of sugarcane bagasse. In this study, HXYN2 was expressed in Pichiapastoris and characterized biochemically and structurally in the presence of beechwood xylan substrate and ferulic acid (FA). HXYN2 is a thermally stable protein, as indicated by circular dichroism, with greater activity in the range of 40-50 degrees C and pH 5.0-9.0, with optimal temperature and pH of 50 degrees C and 6.0, respectively. FA resulted in a 75\% increase in enzyme activity and a 2.5-fold increase in catalytic velocity, catalytic efficiency, and catalytic rate constant (k(cat)), with no alteration in enzyme affinity for the substrate. Fluorescence quenching indicated that FA forms a complex with HXYN2 interacting with solvent-exposed tryptophan residues. The binding constants ranged from moderate (pH 7.0 and 9.0) to strong (pH 4.0) affinity. Isothermal titration calorimetry, structural models and molecular docking suggested that hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions occur in the aglycone region inducing conformational changes in the active site driven by initial and final enthalpy- and entropy processes, respectively. These results indicate a potential for biotechnological application for HXYN2, such as in the bioconversion of plant residues rich in ferulic acid.
Hydrothermally carbonized biomass (hydrochar) has received increased attention recently as a potential agent for contaminant remediation and soil improvement. There is a need to understand how the properties of hydrochar vary with production conditions. In this work, sugarcane bagasse, hickory, and peanut hull were converted into hydrochars at three different temperatures (200 degrees C, 250 degrees C, and 300 degrees C). Basic physicochemical properties of the nine hydrochars were determined and batch aqueous sorption experiments were conducted to measure ability of the hydrochars to sorb methylene blue, lead, and phosphate. The yield, surface area, and pore volume of the hydrochars decreased with increasing conversion temperatures. Among all the hydrochars, the ones made at the lowest temperature (200 degrees C) were the best for sorption of methylene blue and lead. However, none of the hydrochars were able to remove significant amounts of phosphate from solution. In addition, the hydrochars did not significantly affect seed germination rate, though some did have a significant effect on root development of seedlings. Findings from this work suggest that lower temperature hydrochars may be optimal for contaminant remediation because of their higher sorption ability and absence of negative effect on plants. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The present study evaluated the efficiency of lignocellulosic agrowastes produced in Brazil as substrates for production of on farm AMF inoculum and tested different diluents and inoculation techniques. In a first experiment, Sorghum bicolor seedlings were colonized with Rhizophagus clarus or Claroideoglomus etunicatus and transplanted to 20 L bags containing sugarcane bagasse (SC), king palm leaf sheets (KP), or barley hulls (BH) mixed (1:1:1 or 2:1:1, v/v/v) with sand and rice shell. SC and KP were conducive for production of spores and infectious propagules. A number of infectious propagules obtained were greater than with BH and ranged from 233-350 propagules cm(-3) for both isolates in SC and KP at the1:1:1 mix dilution. Number of spores of both fungi was affected mainly by the SC agrowaste, and spore densities were significantly higher compared to KP and BH. In a second experiment, SC was mixed with soil or sand and inoculation consisted of transplanting colonized seedlings or adding soil inoculum. Number of propagules tended to differ for each fungus according to the inoculation technique or diluent. It is concluded from the data that SC and KP are suitable agrowastes to be incorporated in substrates for producing AMF inoculum using the on farm method.
Gelatin, a naturally occurring polymer, is currently used in various applications comprising manufacturing of pharmaceutical products, x-ray and photographic films development and food processing. However, gelatin scraps generated in the different manufacturing processes may constitute a concern for the environment. Basically speaking, waste disposal deriving from plastics based on synthetic as well as semisynthetic polymeric materials, is becoming an increasingly difficult problem for their unfavorable volume-to-weight ratio and extremely wide variability of type, shape and composition of post consume plastic items that hinder the way to a general unique option for a simple and economically feasible management. As a partial solution to the global issue of plastic waste, in recent years much interest has been devoted to the formulation of environmentally degradable plastic items. Biodegradable mulching films were formulated from blends and composites based on waste gelatin and other natural waste such as sugarcane bagasse or synthetic materials such as PVA. Also, crosslinked films were produced using external or inherent crosslinker. The films were produced either by casting method or spraying on soil surface. The composites were submitted to biodegradation trials. The results showed that the films were biodegradable and the crosslinking could delay and predeterminate their biodegradation rate and extent.
Xylans are the major components of the hemicellulosic fraction of Lignocellulosic biomass and their hydrolysis can be obtained using xylanases from Penicillium janthinellum. In this work, sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysate was used as the substrate for producing xylanase. The precipitation of these enzymes was studied using ethanol and Na2SO4 as precipitating agents. Ethanol precipitation experiments were performed batchwise in concentrations ranging from 10 to 80\%, pH 4.0 to 7.0, at 4 degrees C. The concentrations used in the precipitations with Na2SO4 were from 5 to 60\% at pH 5.5 and 25 degrees C. Solubility curves as a function of xylanase activity and total protein for both precipitating agents were made. According to the results, Na2SO4 is not appropriate for precipitating xylanases in this medium since at salt concentrations higher than 25\%, the enzyme was denaturated and at this concentration less than 80\% of the enzyme and total protein were precipitated. Because of differences in xylanase and total protein solubility, a fractionated precipitation using ethanol can be performed, since with 40\% ethanol, 49\% of the total protein was precipitated and more than 95\% of the enzyme was kept in solution. On the other hand approx 100\% of the xylanases were recovered by precipitation after adding 80\% ethanol.
Culture medium composition and an efficient lipid extraction process have the largest impact on the cost of industrial production of microbial single-cell oil (SCO). In this study, SCO from the yeast Rhodosporidium thoruloides grown in sugarcane medium was successfully produced in a 1 m(3) bioreactor. Biomass was concentrated by sedimentation and the acid-hydrolysed cells were extracted using a recurrent extraction (RE) and a newly-proposed wet extraction (WE) process. RE consisted of Soxhlet extraction of dry hydrolysed biomass with different solvents: hexane, chloroform and chloroform/methanol (2:1). The WE process consisted of the extraction of wet hydrolysed biomass with the same solvents. The highest lipid yields (m/m) were achieved by hexane in RE and chloroform in WE. The chloroform WE extract presented similar density, saponification number, iodine value, moisture and acid value as that from RE with hexane, but much lower peroxide content. The fatty acid methyl ester compositions of WE and RE extracts were also very similar. An energy-cost analysis showed that WE used only 13\% of the energy used in RE. Moreover, an energy conservation analysis showed that approx. 65\% of the energy from molasses was effectively transformed into microbial lipids. The low energy requirement, the high efficiency and the characteristics of the resulting bio-oil achieved by WE evidence the potential of the proposed methodology for use on an industrial scale.Graphical Abstract
Construction of roads on clayey soils (CS) causes issues because of changes in soil volume and lesser bearing capacity compared to stabilized soils. These issues can be minimized by applying waste ash (WA) in the subgrade pavement. In order to improve the properties of CS, various ashes must be mixed with the soil, which increases the strength of the pavement. Different waste products like fly ash (FA), rice husk ash (RHA), sugarcane baggase ash (SCBA), rice straw ash (RSA), calcium carbide residue (CCR) and silica fume (SF) give increment in the strength of problematic soils. Present study shows the analysis of various engineering properties of CS with varying proportions of brick kiln waste ash (BKWA) in soil and their comparison with the above-mentioned waste ashes. The BKWA was mixed by replacement of soil by weight in 2.5\%, 5\%, 7.5\%, 10\% and 15\%. The study carried out shows that the results of unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and California bearing ratio (CBR) of CS increase for an optimum amount of BKWA(10\%). UCS value increased by 125.71\%.
The efficacy of two regional yeasts, Pichia membranifaciens NPCC 1250 and Vishniacozyma victoriae NPCC 1263, for controlling pear postharvest decay was evaluated at large scale (semi-commercial conditions) in two different packing houses. The human safety of the two yeast strains was initially assayed by assessing growth at body temperature, pseudohyphal growth, phospholipases production, and growth in simulated gastric juice. Subsequently, yeasts biomass was produced in a bioreactor (22 L) containing 18 L of culture medium based on sugarcane molasses plus urea. The produced biomass, with/without CaCl2 (2\% w/v) addition, was used in biocontrol experiments carried out at semi-commercial scale on Beurre d'Anjou and Packham's Triumph pears. Vishniacozyma victoriae NPCC 1263 plus CaCl2 showed high performance on controlling decay caused by Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea. On Beurre d'Anjou cv, P. expansum and B. cinerea incidence was reduced by 70\% and 100\%, respectively, after 90 days of commercial storage. On Packham's Triumph the incidence of the two decay forms was 63\% after 150 days. The two antagonistic yeasts were able to establish and colonize the surface of the fruits, with an estimated increase in the population density of approximately three orders of magnitude during the postharvest period. This work is the first to evaluate and demonstrate the efficacy of local biocontrol experiments with regional yeasts under semi-commercial conditions.
Mycelium, the vegetative growth of filamentous fungi, has attracted increasing commercial and academic interest in recent years because of its ability to upcycle agricultural and industrial wastes into low-cost, sustainable composite materials. However, mycelium composites typically exhibit foam-like mechanical properties, primarily originating from their weak organic filler constituents. Fungal growth can be alternatively utilized as a low-cost method for on-demand generation of natural nanofibrils, such as chitin and chitosan, which can be grown and isolated from liquid wastes and byproducts in the form of fungal microfilaments. This study characterized polymer extracts and nanopapers produced from a common mushroom reference and various species of fungal mycelium grown on sugarcane byproduct molasses. Polymer yields of similar to 10-26\% were achieved, which are comparable to those of crustacean-derived chitin, and the nanopapers produced exhibited much higher tensile strengths than the existing mycelium materials, with values of up to similar to 25 MPa (mycelium) and similar to 98 MPa (mushroom), in addition to useful hydrophobic surface properties resulting from the presence of organic lipid residues in the nanopapers. HCl or H2O2 treatments were used to remove these impurities facilitating tuning of mechanical, thermal, and surface properties of the nanopapers produced. This potentially enables their use in a wide range of applications including coatings, membranes, packaging, and paper.
In this paper, several agro-industrial wastes (soybean meal and wheat straw, rice and peanut husks, corn cob and corn stover, and sugarcane bagasse) were tested for the production of beta-glucosidase by the cultivation of thermophilic fungus Thermomucor indicae-seudaticae N31 in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Among the tested substrates, the highest yields were obtained in soybean meal. Other fermentation parameters were also evaluated, such as initial pH, merge substrates, and fermentation time, as well as the physicochemical characterization of the enzyme. The best results were obtained after 192 h of fermentation with the initial pH adjusted to 6.0. The substrate mixture did not improve the enzyme production by microorganism. The beta-glucosidase showed best catalytic activity at pH 4.5 and at 75 A degrees C and remained stable in the pH range from 4.5 to 9.5 and the temperature range 40-75 A degrees C. The enzyme showed 80 \% of its activity at a concentration of 15 mM glucose and remained stable up to 20 \% ethanol.
Lignocellulosic material is an abundant renewable resource with the potential to replace petroleum as a feedstock for the production of fuels and chemicals. The large scale deployment of biomass saccharification is, however, hampered by the necessity to use aggressive reagents and conditions, formation of side-products, and the difficulty to reach elevated monosaccharide concentrations in the crude product. Herein we report the high efficacy of Reactive Aging (or Raging, a technique where enzymatic reaction mixtures, without any bulk aqueous or organic solvent, are treated to multiple cycles of milling and aging) for gram-scale saccharification of raw lignocellulosic biomass samples from different agricultural sources (corn stover, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse). The solvent-free enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic biomass was found to proceed in excellent yields (ca.90\%) at protein loadings as low as 2\% w/w, without the need for any prior chemical pre-treatment or high temperatures, to produce highly concentrated (molar) monosaccharides. This crude product of mechanoenzymatic depolymerization is non-toxic to bacteria and can be used as a carbon source for bacterial growth.
Co-composting of urban wastes (UWs) and plant residues with rock phosphate (RP) produces quality compost and reduces the use of chemical phosphorus fertilizer. Biochemical process of three compost piles (P): P-1- 50\% UW + 30\% rice straw (RS) + 10\% sawdust (SD) + 8\% RP + 2\% sugarcane trash (ST), P-2- 50\% UW + 23\% RS + 10\% SD + 15\% mustard oil cake + 2\% ST, and P-3- 95\% UW + 5\% RP was studied. Decomposition rate followed first-order kinetics and maximum (77\%) was in P-3. The highest bacterial population was found in P-2 having higher cumulative CO2 evolution (53.76 mg CO2 g(-1) volume solid). Prevalence of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria was 2.0 to 6.3 Log(10) Cfu g(-1) dry weight and concentrated in RP-amended piles. Humic acid of compost was classified as rotteprudukte. Final pH (7.5 to 8.0) and germination index (>90) proved that the compost was mature. P-3 compost (1 t ha(-1), fresh weight) had potential to supply 25 kg phosphorus.
Composting has been recognized as one of the most cost effective and environmentally sound alternatives for organic wastes recycling from long and composted wastes have a potential to substitute inorganic fertilizers. We investigated the potential of composted tannery sludge for ornamental purposes and to examine the effects of two different composts and concentrations on ornamental Capsicum growth. The two composts were produced with tannery sludge and the composition of each compost was: compost(1) of tannery sludge (C1TS) - tannery sludge + sugarcane straw and cattle manure mixed in the ratio 1:3:1 (v:v:v); compost(2) of tannery sludge (C2TS) - tannery sludge + ``carnauba{''
A novel continuous microwave irradiation (MWI) pilot-scale reactor was designed specifically for biomass pretreatment. To test the efficiency of this reactor, MWI-assisted alkali pretreatment of corn straw (CS) was investigated using a central composite design for the response surface methodology. With a processing capacity of 0.28 kg CS (dry matter, DM)/h, the optimal conditions were as follows: 4.50 kW, 30 min, and 3.50\% NaOH (w/v). The glucose and ethanol production from the pretreated CS were 63.22 and 31.29 g/100 g DM, respectively. These values were 4.42 and 3.79 times higher, respectively, than those from untreated CS. Structural changes in the untreated/pretreated CS were identified by analyzing its chemical composition using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the solid residue recovery ratio was demonstrated to be an indicator of the biomass bioconversion potential.
The use of microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis (MAAH) for the co-production of furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and formic acid from several lignocellulosic-based waste materials was investigated. The MAAH experiments were carried out in a microwave system based on the single reaction chamber (SRC) technology. Experimental conditions were selected using grass as a model of lignocellulosic waste, by evaluating the feedstock amount (10 to 700 mg), temperature (120 to 240 degrees C), time (1 to 40 min), and H2SO4 concentration (10 mL solution, 1 to 9\%). One-pot conversion of grass, sugarcane straw, rice husk and wood waste into furfural (37-42\%), furfuryl alcohol (10-26\%), formic acid (10-15\%), and glucose (0.6-8.1 \%) was achieved even without a specific step for lignin removal. Higher biomass amount (0.5 L load, grass as model) was performed using a microwave SRC reactor. MAAH showed to be efficient for processing of several types of biomass waste, and the co-production of several interesting industrial products.
A yeast strain Kluyveromyces sp. IIPE453 (MTCC 5314), isolated from soil samples collected from dumping sites of crushed sugarcane bagasse in Sugar Mill, showed growth and fermentation efficiency at high temperatures ranging from 45A degrees C to 50A degrees C. The yeast strain was able to use a wide range of substrates, such as glucose, xylose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, sucrose, and cellobiose, either for growth or fermentation to ethanol. The strain also showed xylitol production from xylose. In batch fermentation, the strain showed maximum ethanol concentration of 82 +/- A 0.5 g l(-1) (10.4\% v/v) on initial glucose concentration of 200 g l(-1), and ethanol concentration of 1.75 +/- A 0.05 g l(-1) as well as xylitol concentration of 11.5 +/- A 0.4 g l(-1) on initial xylose concentration of 20 g l(-1) at 50A degrees C. The strain was capable of simultaneously using glucose and xylose in a mixture of glucose concentration of 75 g l(-1) and xylose concentration of 25 g l(-1), achieving maximum ethanol concentration of 38 +/- A 0.5 g l(-1) and xylitol concentration of 14.5 +/- A 0.2 g l(-1) in batch fermentation. High stability of the strain was observed in a continuous fermentation by feeding the mixture of glucose concentration of 75 g l(-1) and xylose concentration of 25 g l(-1) by recycling the cells, achieving maximum ethanol concentration of 30.8 +/- A 6.2 g l(-1) and xylitol concentration of 7.35 +/- A 3.3 g l(-1) with ethanol productivity of 3.1 +/- A 0.6 g l(-1) h(-1) and xylitol productivity of 0.75 +/- A 0.35 g l(-1) h(-1), respectively.
Habitat loss and fragmentation together represent the most significant threat to the world's biodiversity. In order to guarantee the survival of this diversity, the monitoring of bioindicators can provide important insights into the health of a natural environment. In this context, we used the comet assay and micronucleus test to evaluate the genotoxic susceptibility of 126 bats of eight species captured in soybean and sugarcane plantation areas, together with a control area (conservation unit) in the Cerrado savanna of central Brazil. No significant differences were found between the specimens captured in the sugarcane and control areas in the frequency of micronuclei and DNA damage (comet assay). However, the omnivore Phyllostomus hastatus had a higher frequency of nuclear abnormalities than the frugivore Carollia perspicillata in the sugarcane area. Insectivorous and frugivorous bats presented a higher frequency of genotoxic damage than the nectarivores in the soybean area. In general, DNA damage and micronuclei were significantly more frequent in agricultural environments than in the control area. While agricultural development is an economic necessity in developing countries, the impacts on the natural landscape may result in genotoxic damage to the local fauna, such as bats. Over the medium to long term, then DNA damage may have an increasingly negative impact on the wellbeing of the local species.
Sugar cane juice and yeast extract have been used for asparaginase production by Z. mobilis CP4. A complete factorial design of two variables (yeast extract and asparagin) at three levels (1.0; 5.5 and 10.0 g/L) with one replication at the central point was used. Batch fermentation utilised sugar cane juice diluted at 8 \% (W/V) of Total Sugars and an inoculum of 2 mg of cells/mL. After fermentation time of 18 hours, the highest production of asparaginase was 9.75 U/L using both yeast extract (5.5 g/L) and asparagin (1.0 g/1).
The functions of radicals in the pretreatment of lignocellulose remain a fascinating topic about which there are more questions than answers. The effect of persulfate-based radical species on lignin degradation and carbohydrate yield was investigated. Wheat straw was pretreated with three persulfate activation systems which generated OH, SO4, and O-2. Radical species were monitored using nitrobenzene, anisole, and hexachloroethane, respectively. Pretreatment variables affecting sugar yield were optimized by using the response surface method based on central composite design. Enzymatic hydrolysis and compositional analysis were performed to quantify changes in biomass composition, lignin removal, and glucan yield. Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the effect of pretreatment on biomass structure. The maximum sugar yields were 66.8\%, 49.4\%, and 41.7\% in base, heat, and hydrogen peroxide activated persulfate, separately, while untreated material showed only 3.7\% glucan yield. The radical analysis confirmed the existence of radicals in these three systems. The results from compositional analysis and Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopic provided proof that parts of lignin and hemicellulose were degraded after the treatment. Scanning electron microscopy indicted that radical pretreatment converted the smooth surface of wheat straw to that of scattered, uneven morphology. Base-activated persulfate, capable of producing sulfate radical, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion radical was demonstrated as an efficient radical system to treat biomass.
Experimental studies on fermentative production of ethanol from renewable sugarcane juice as carbon source were carried out in a bench scale fermenter integrated with microfiltration, nanofiltration and membrane distillation units (MF-NF-MD) for downstream purification and concentration enrichment of ethanol. This new design is flexible, compact, eco-friendly, and modular and, operated in a cross flow module that ensures almost fouling-free membrane separation while overcoming the product inhibition of traditional batch fermenters. The system is blessed with steady and continuous ethanol production from sugarcane juice with comparatively high productivity 9.2 g L-1 h(-1), yield 0.47 g g(-1) and concentration 54.3 g L-1 using Saccharomyces cerevisiae (NCIM 3205) vis-a-vis the existing technologies. The new system enables continuous product withdrawal, separation and recycle of the biomass as well as residual carbon source back to the fermenter under high cell density without product inhibition. Membrane distillation in the final stage, increases product purity and results in significant concentration enrichment. The study culminates in development of a green and sustainable process for a biofuel production.
This work aims to study the thermal decomposition kinetics of energy cane Saccharum robustwn. The experiments were carried out in a thermogravimetric analyzer at heating rates of 5, 10 and 20 degrees C/min under nitrogen atmosphere and mean particle diameter of 253.5 mu m. Three thermal decomposition stages were identified: dehydration, pyrolysis and carbonization. The activation energies were determined through three model-free methods (Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and Vyazovkin) varying between 107.5 and 204 kJ/mol. The master plots showed different representations of conversion functions (reaction orders from 2 to 7). The linear model fitting method validated the activation energy (177.1 kJ/mol) obtained by single-step reaction. Moreover, a multi-step method was proposed considering four independent parallel reactions (extractives, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin) obtaining activation energies from 60 to 181 kJ/mol, pre-exponential factor from 1.1 . 10(2) to 5.8 . 10(12) 1/s, 1st and 3rd reaction orders, and compositions from 0.12 to 0.43 with high quality of fit.
Open field burning of crop residue causes severe air pollution and greenhouse gas emission contributing to global warming. In order to seek an alternative, the current study was initiated to explore the prospective of lignocellulolytic microbes to expedite in situ decomposition of crop residues. Field trials on farmers' field were conducted in the state of Haryana and Maharashtra, to target the burning of rice and wheat residue and sugarcane trash, respectively. A comparative study among crop residue removal (CRR), crop residue burning (CRB) and in situ decomposition of crop residues (IND) revealed that IND of rice and wheat residues took 30 days whereas IND of sugarcane trash took 45 days. The decomposition status was assessed by determining the initial and final lignin to cellulose ratio which increased significantly from 0.23 to 0.25, 0.21 to 0.23 and 0.24 to 0.27 for rice, wheat residues and sugarcane trash, respectively. No yield loss was noticed in IND for both rice-wheat system and sugarcane-based system; rather IND showed relatively better crop yield as well as soil health parameters than CRB and CRR. Furthermore, the environmental impact assessment of residue burning indicated a substantial loss of nutrients (28-31, 23-25 and 51-77 kg ha(-1) of N+P2O5+K2O for rice, wheat and sugarcane residue) as well as the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere. However, more field trials, as well as refinement of the technology, are warranted to validate and establish the positive potential of in situ decomposition of crop residue to make it a successful solution against the crop residue burning.
Novel hemicellulose-based films from polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) of chitosan and xylan from sugar cane bagasse were prepared and characterized. PEC suspension from two different xylan to chitosan mass ratios (70/30 and 80/20) were considered. With the aim of shorten the whole film preparation process, PEC suspension was concentrated through a fast evaporation stage before casting. Results show that the concentration stage did not modify neither the size of the complexes, i.e., a size distribution with a mode at 450 nm and other at 5000 nm, nor the mechanical properties of the films. By the increment in xylan content from 70 to 80\%, the strain at break was decreased (up to a value of 7\%), the stress at break was increased (up to 22 MPa) and the swelling of the films was increased from 80 to 90\%. After 25 days under aerobic burial conditions, degradation of the films was similar to cellulose. Graphic
The present study underlines a statistically optimized, low cost, effective approach for efficient co-valorization of two non-efficiently utilized, highly accumulated, raw agro-industrial wastes: corn cob and glycerol for co-production of natural biopigments: monascus orange and red pigments by the aid of Monascus purpureus strain ATCC 16436. A three step sequential, statistical modeling approach: one variable at a time (OVAT), Plackett-Burman design (PBD), and central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the production of monascus pigments using co-solid state fermentation of the two raw agro-industrial wastes. Corn cob among other carbon sources (e.g., rice grains, sugarcane bagasse, and potato peel) was the most appropriate substrate triggering co-production of orange and red monascus pigments; deduced from OVAT. Glycerol and inoculum size proved to impose significant consequences (P<0.05) on the production of monascus pigments as inferred from PBD. The optimal levels of inoculum size (12 x 10(11) spores/mL) and glycerol (2.17 M) did achieve a maximal color value of 133.77 and 108.02 color value units/mL of orange and red pigments, respectively at 30 degrees C after 10 days; concluded from CCD with an agitation speed of 150 rpm. Present data would underpin the large scale production of monascus pigments using the present approach for efficient exploitation of such biopigments in food, pharmaceutical and textile industries.
This research constitutes a relatively new area that has emerged from the synthesis of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) from hydrochars of agricultural wastes. The unwanted sugarcane bagasse (SCB), black liquor (BL), and mature beech pinewood sawdust (MW) waste in Egypt are used for CNTs preparation. SEM, TEM, and Raman spectra showed that the type of agricultural waste precursor affects the degree of wall graphitization and the number of tubes. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes ( MWCNTs) with diameters of 5.39 - 19.78, 2.95 - 7.98, and 4.59 - 10.35 nm were prepared from the hydrochars of SCB, BL, and MW, respectively. CNT from SCB and BL consists of a small number of tubes and graphene (G) nanosheets. In comparison, that MW provided a larger number of tubes. The Ni2+ adsorption efficiency by CNTs under processing conditions was investigated. Our findings hinted that the adsorptions of Ni2+ to CNTs/SCB and CNTs/MW (R\% = 81.85 and 79.78 respectively) were found to be much higher than that CNTs/BL (R\%= 32.70). Our findings also hinted that the interaction between Ni2+ and CNTs/MW is an exothermic process (with a negative value of Delta H) while the adsorption between Ni2+ and CNTs/SCB and CNTs/BL is an endothermic process (with a positive value of Delta H).
Hydrothermal carbonization process can transform wet bio-wastes into value-added products. This work aims to hybridize a concentrating solar technology and a biomass reactor for the continuous and sustainable valorization of biomass. The novel technology proposed integrates a linear beam-down solar field with a twin-screw reactor for continuous HTC process. The solar field consists of two reflections that concentrate linearly the sun energy on the ground, where the twin-screw reactor is placed. A mathematical model is proposed to solve both the heat transfer and HTC kinetics for a co-rotating twin-screw reactor. The incoming heat flux from the solar field (8-20 kW/m(2)), the reactor length (L/D = 30-60 where D is the diameter) and the rotating velocity of the screw (25-100 rpm) are the main variables used to process the biomass up to the desired severity factor. The simulation results of different lignocellulosic biomasses (loblolly pine, sugarcane bagasse, corn stover and rice husk) are validated against literature data. The developed model shows good agreement with experimental results shown in the literature. The proposed technology foresees hydrochar yields of 64-78\% for severity factors of 4.2 and 5.3, respectively, in agreement to the experimental results of 63-70\% shown in literature. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Pellets refer to solid biofuels for heating and power. The pellet's integrity is of great relevant to ensure safe and effective transportation and storage, and comfort to stakeholders. Several materials that are supportive, whether organic and inorganic, to pellets exist. However, no work in the literature is linking making hybrid non-wood pellets with addition of residual biomass from distillation of cellulosic bioethanol, and this requires further investigations. Figuring out how effective this challenging agro-industrial residue could be for reinforcing non-wood pellets is accordingly the scientific point of this study focusing on management of waste and valorization of biomass. The pilot-scale manufacturing of hybrid pellets consisted of systematically pressing sugarcane bagasse with the lignocellulosic reinforcement at the mass ratios of 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3 on an automatic pelletizer machine at 200 MPa and 125 degrees C. Elemental contents of C and H, durability, and energy density all increased significantly from 50.05 to 53.50\%, 5.95 to 7.80\%, 95.90 to 99.55\%, and 28.20 to 31.20 MJ kg(-1), respectively, with blending the starting material with the reinforcement at 1:3. Preliminary evidence of residual biomass from distillation of second-generation bioethanol capable of highly improving molecular flammable/combustible properties, mechanical stability, and fuel power of composite non-wood pellets exist.
Solid-state fermentation could be used to produce low-cost pectinases that could then be used to saccharify pectin in citrus waste biorefineries. Recently, we produced pectinases in a pilot-scale packed-bed bioreactor, growing Aspergillus niger on a substrate mixture consisting of 27 kg of wheat bran and 3 kg of sugarcane bagasse (dry mass). However, the agglomeration of particles and shrinkage of the bed created preferential flow paths, leading to overheating within the bed and poor uniformity of pectinase levels at the end of the fermentation. In the current work, we used intermittent agitation as a strategy to minimize agglomeration, comparing one agitation (10 h), three agitations (at 8, 10 and 12 h) and five agitations (every 2 h from 8 to 16 h). The pectinase activity in the bed was uniform after agitation, but poor uniformity occurred when the bed was left unmixed for more than 10 h. The best regime was that with three agitations: For 15 samples removed from different vertical and horizontal positions of the bed at 20 h, the average pectinase activity was 22 Ug(-1), with a sample standard deviation of 2 Ug(-1). We conclude that the use of intermittently-mixed packed-bed bioreactors is a promising,strategy for producing pectinases in solid-state fermentation. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Sustainable production of energy and other added-value products from biomass-derived polysaccharides is a key challenge of an efficient biorefinery facility. Most technologies for biomass processing are energy demanding and use significant amounts of chemicals and catalysts. The need to develop a process which is devoid of all these shortcomings associated with conventional processes is emphasized. A new approach is demonstrated for an integrated wheat straw biorefinery using a green technology, high-pressure CO2-H2O, to produce oligosaccharides from hemicellulose fraction and to enhance the cellulose digestibility for the enzymatic hydrolysis. Over the range of reaction conditions (130, 215, 225 degrees C and 0 to 54 bar of CO2), CO2 adds value to the process by in situ formation of carbonic acid that leads to higher dissolution of hemicellulose into xylo-oligosaccharides and xylose and to the use of less energy in comparison with water-only technologies. Without an additional chemical catalyst, high-pressure CO2H2O outperformed hydrothermal reactions and gave much higher total sugars yield for wheat straw (as high as 84\% in comparison with 67.4\% with auto-hydrolysis at a 10 degrees C higher temperature). Apart from the results obtained for valorisation of hemicellulose fraction, both chemical and physical effects of CO2 coupled to enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in a glucan conversion to glucose yield of 82\%, which consists of 26\% improvement over those obtained during auto-hydrolysis. The influence of the high pressure reaction on the processed solid was examined by spectroscopic methods (namely Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). The obtained results suggest that the high pressure CO2-based method is a very promising alternative technology allowing integrated biomass processing within the biorefinery concept.
BACKGROUND Acrylamide (AA) is a potential carcinogen formed in food rich in carbohydrate during heating. Recently, AA has been found in several fruit products, such as prune juice, sugarcane molasses and canned black olives. This study focused on the role of galacturonic acid (GalA), the main acid hydrolysis product of fruit pectin, in AA formation in three model systems - asparagine (Asn)/glucose (Glc), Asn/GalA, and Asn/Glc/GalA - during heating under different pH values (pH 3.8-7.8), Glc concentration (0-0.1 mol L-1), molar ratio of substrates (Asn/Glc = 1:1, 0.025-0.5 mol L-1) and temperature (120-180 degrees C) for 30 min, respectively. RESULTS The results suggested that the addition of 0.1 mol L-1 GalA strongly accelerated AA formation in a manner dependent on pH value and temperature (P < 0.05). AA concentration under different Glc concentration and molar ratio of substrates suggested that GalA was more reactive than Glc when reacted with Asn. Furthermore, the Amadori rearrangement product/Schiff base/oxazolidine-5-one were identified as the intermediates formed in the Asn/GalA model system using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. CONCLUSION The results suggested that Maillard reaction between Asn and GalA might contribute to AA formation. This study is significant in elucidating the contribution of interaction between components for AA formation in fruit products. (c) 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
The presence of inhibitors is still an economic bottleneck that needs to be resolved in order to make the biorefineries feasible, requiring the development of technologies capable of improving their competitiveness in the biofuel marketplace. Soluble and insoluble lignin can impair the enzymatic hydrolysis process by inhibition, deactivation, and unproductive adsorption of enzymes. Washing the pretreated biomass or using lignin-blocking additives during saccharification could mitigate these negative effects in future biorefineries. Here, an investigation was performed of the combined mitigation processes, in terms of their technical and economic feasibility in an integrated first and second generation (1G2G) sugarcane biorefinery. Evaluation was made of the impacts of biomass washing and soybean protein addition, separately or in combination, on glucose yields for enzymatic hydrolysis in the presence of high (liquor) and low (buffer) concentrations of soluble inhibitors/deactivators. Combining washing and soybean protein addition provided the highest glucose yields, with an increase of up to 50\%. The effect of the mitigation processes could be explained by a combination of catalytic mechanisms acting on both soluble and insoluble lignin. In an industrial context, biomass washing (90 degrees C, 15\% (w/w) solids, 3 steps) followed by soybean protein addition (12\% (w/v) solids) provided a cost-competitive methodology for bioethanol production, with an estimated net present value of US\$ 9.16 x 10(7), optimizing hydrolysis process in the 1G2G sugarcane biorefinery. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Integrating biomass energy generation with carbon capture will result in ``carbon neutral{''
This study compared the biohydrogen generation by sub-tropical mixed and pure cultures from the crude glycerol from the biodiesel production using waste cooking oils (WCO). The crude glycerol was pretreated by pH adjustment. The mixed culture was obtained from a subtropical granular sludge of the UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor used in the treatment of vinasse from sugarcane of ethanol and sugar industry. It was heat treated in order to inactivate hydrogen-consuming bacteria, which was identified by Illumina MiSeq Sequencing with a relative abundance of 97.96\% Firmicutes Philum, 91.81\% Clostridia Class and 91.81\% Clostridiales Order. The pure culture was isolated from a sub-tropical granular sludge from UASB reactor of treating brewery wastewater and identified as Enterobacter sp. (KP893397). Two assays were carried in anaerobic batch reactors in order to verify the hydrogen production from crude glycerol bioconversion with: (I) mixed culture and (II) pure culture. The experiments were conducted at 37 degrees C, initial pH of 5.5 for assay I and 7.0 for assay II, with 20 g COD L-1 of crude glycerol. The crude glycerol consumption was 56.2\% and 88.0\% for the assay I and II, respectively. The hydrogen yields were 0.80 moL H-2 mol(-1) glycerol for the assay I and 0.13 moL H-2 Mol(-1) glycerol for the assay II. Enterobacter sp. preferred the reductive metabolic route, generating 1460.0 mg L-1 of 1,3-propanediol, and it showed to be more sensitive in the presence of methanol from crude glycerol than mixed culture that preferred the oxidative metabolic route with biohydrogen generation. The mixed culture was more able to generate H-2 than pure culture from the crude glycerol coming from the biodiesel production using WCO. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The present work focuses on to determine the feasibility of alternate energy generation from waste biomass as a feedstock. Five different wastes namely coconut shell, corn cob, sugarcane bagasse, Shorea Robusta and Citrus limetta have been thoroughly characterized to analyze their energy potential. Coconut shell with highest heating value of 16.8 MJ/kg among all the samples and bulk density of 590.85 kg/m(3) has been selected for further detailed kinetic analysis. Highest overall volatile conversion of 57.17\% is obtained in the active zone for heating rate 40 degrees Cimin. Different differential and integral based models have been discussed and implemented for the calculation of activation energy and its average value for coconut shell sample is found to be 109.90 kJ/mol with pre-exponential factor as 4.37x10(9) s(-1). Moreover, the reaction model was predicted by comparing various theoretical and experimental z (alpha) master plots. Also, the model fitting method is also used to obtain the reaction model f(alpha) = (1-alpha)(4.)(6654)( ){[
Fermentation of cellulosic and hemicellulosic sugars from biomass resources has potential to resolve food versus-fuel conflicts. Inability to consume xylose and glucose simultaneously is one of the problems related to the economical use of lignocellulose as a feedstock. In this study, Candida intermedia strain NBRC 10601 was cultured with acetic acid as inhibitor at pH 5. C. intermedia 4-6-4T2 was isolated as an adapted mutant strain. C. intermedia 4-6-4T2 could efficiently convert both xylose and glucose to ethanol. The fermentation activity of C. intermedia 4-6-4T2 was compared with four other xylose-fermenting yeasts (C. intermedia 10601 (parental strain), Pichia stipitis, Candida shehatae and Pachysolen tannophilus) precultured in a rich medium with various concentrations of glucose and/or xylose as the carbon source. Except for P. tannophilus, the fermentation activity of these four yeast strains precultured with glucose plus xylose as the carbon source increased in an evaluative sugar solution adjusted to pH 5.5 containing 44 g/L xylose plus 88 g/L glucose with 3 g/L of acetic acid as the inhibitor. C. intermedia 4-6-4T2 produced the highest concentration of ethanol (54 g/L) among the tested strains and produced about 50 g/L of ethanol with ethanol productivity of 1.0 g/L/h from sugars using hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse or corn stover.
Agro-industrial wastes offer potential as renewable carbon sources for microbial growth and industrial enzyme production, with potential applications in textile and biofuel industries, among others. The filamentous fungus Clonostachys byssicola was cultivated for seven days in liquid medium containing 1\% (w/v) soybean hulls as unique carbon source. Hemicellulase, cellulase and pectinase activities were observed in the crude extract after seven days growth. A CMCase, denominated Cb-Cel, was partially purified using ultrafiltration and chromatographic methods. With a molecular weight of 48 kDa, the enzyme was most active at 70 degrees C and pH 5.0, and thermostable at 40 and 50 degrees C. Cb-Cel showed K-m and V-max values of 15.81 +/- 1.65 mg/mL and 0.59 +/- 0.03 IU/mL, respectively. Phenolic compounds (tannic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, ferulic, rho-coumaric, cinnamic acids and vanillin) had no inhibitory or deactivator effects on enzymatic activity when tested on the concentrated fraction or Cb-Cel. Enzymatic hydrolysis of CMC and filter paper hydrolysis resulted in the release of glucose, cellopentaose and cellohexaose. Enzymatic hydrolysis of soybean hulls released mostly cellohexaose, cellopentase, mannose and xylobiose. In comparison to hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse, the hydrolysis of soybean hulls yielded higher amounts of reducing sugars, suggesting that the enzymes secreted during growth of C. byssicola are more active on this substrate as carbon source.
Seawater desalination powered by solar energy is the most environmentally and economical solution in responding to the global water and energy crisis. However, solar desalination has been negatively impacted by intermittent sun radiation that alternates between day and night. In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was recycled via the pyrolysis process to biochar as a cost-effective solar absorber. Besides, polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a phase change material was encapsulated in the abundant pore structure of biochar to store the thermal energy for 24 hours of continuous steam generation. The BDB/1.5 PEG evaporator exhibited an evaporation rate of 2.11 kg m-2 h-1 (98.1\% efficiency) under 1 sun irradiation. Additionally, the BDB/1.5 PEG evaporator incorporated by the TEC1-12706 module for continuous steam and electricity generation with a power density of 320.41 mW m-2. Moreover, 10 continuous hours of evaporation were applied to the composite demonstrating outstanding stability. The composite exhibited high water purification efficiency through solar desalination due to the abundant functional groups on the biochar surface. Finally, the resulting low-cost and highly efficient PCM-based absorber can be used on a wide scale to produce fresh water and energy. Seawater desalination powered by solar energy is the most environmentally and economical solution in responding to the global water and energy crisis.
Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on endogenous amino acids and protein ileal losses; and also apparent ileal digestibility (AID), and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids and crude protein. Sixteen barrows were fed four protein-free diets containing graded NDF levels in Experiment 1. NDF was a mixture of sugarcane bagasse and corn leaves (SBCL). Twenty-four barrows were fed diets with soybean protein concentrate (SPC) or casein as protein sources and SBCL or corncobs (CC) as NDF sources in Experiment 2. In Experiment 1, a linear increase (P<0.05) in endogenous amino acid and protein ileal losses was observed with increased NDF levels, except for arginine, histidine, methionine and proline. In Experiment 2, protein (P<0.001) and NDF (P<0.01) sources significantly affected AID of dry matter, which was higher in casein diets (71.7\%) and CC diets (70.7\%). Protein and NDF sources significantly affected (P<0.05) SID of crude protein, which was higher in casein diets (92.8\%) and CC diets (92.7\%). NDF source had no effect (P>0.05) on SID of amino acids. Overall, this study showed that NDF increased endogenous amino acid and protein ileal losses, but did not affect ileal digestibility of amino acids.
Lignocellulosic biomass is the most abundant naturally renewable organic resource for biofuel production. Because of its recalcitrance to enzymatic degradation, pretreatment is a crucial step before hydrolysis of the feedstock. A variety of pretreatment methods have been developed and intensively studied to achieve optimal yield without imposing significant adverse impact on the environment. Herein, we present a novel chemical pretreatment method using substituted heterocycles with low temperature and short residence time requirements. 1-Methylimidazole (MI) is a precursor to some imidazolium-based ionic liquids. In this study, its potential utilization as a biomass pretreatment agent is being investigated for the first time. At mild conditions, such as 25 degrees C for 5 min at ambient pressure, a substantial increase in the hydrolysis rate throughout the entire course of conversion for cellulose substrate was obtained. Furthermore, the pretreatment effectiveness of MI on both untreated and steam-exploded lignocellulosic biomass including loblolly pine, switchgrass, and sugarcane bagasse has been studied and MI was found to be an efficient delignifier. Remarkable rate enhancement was also observed for the non-woody lignocellulosic substrates after a short period of MI pretreatment at ambient conditions. The mechanism of MI pretreatment is explored through analysis of cellulose physical properties including crystallinity index, degree of polymerization, accessibility, and lignin dissolution quantification. (c) 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:25-34, 2015
Energy consumption has shown that residential building is among the main contributors of energy demand. Besides, the harsh climatic conditions have causes substantial amount of energy which contributes indirectly towards the impact on carbon emission to the nations. Hence, this research utilised the potential agricultural wastes materials that is potential for insulate the thermal building performance. The outer and inner surface temperature has been measured on selected seven (7) type of wastes material from agricultural and processing sector every 30 minutes from 0900hr to 1800hr for a day in order to determine the decrement factors (DF), average daily time-lag for heat transfer as one of the thermal insulation properties. Results on the time-lag for all selected potential waste materials as thermal insulation whereas sugarcane bagasse is the lowest 107.5 minutes, followed by both coffee grounds and coconut husk with 130 minutes and wood wool with 132.5 minutes. Meanwhile, empty fruit bunch, coconut fibre and pineapple leave with time-lag of 140 minutes, 142.5 minutes and 145 minutes respectively are the highest time-lag occurred. Generally, the lowest Tis is the better the thermal performance therefore, coconut fibre with smaller DF, larger LT but slightly higher Tis than EFB (32 degrees C) which is 32.2 degrees C might be the suitable material use as thermal insulation.
Purpose The current study investigated to which extent phenol could be replaced by lignins to produce lignin phenol formaldehyde (LPF) resins, utilising soda lignin and sodium lignosulphonate as by-products from the South African pulping industry. Method The lignins were characterised and soda lignin indicated the highest reactivity. It was therefore utilised to produce LPF resins at 60\%, 80\%, and 100\% phenol substitution, using central composite designs to maximise the adhesive strength. A one-pot method allowing direct transition from phenolation to resin synthesis was used for the first time with a pulping lignin at 60\% and 80\% substitution. Results Plywood made with LPF60, LPF80, and LPF100 resins attained their highest shear strengths of 0.786, 1.09, and 0.987 MPa, respectively, which adhered to the GB/T 14,732-2013 standard (>= 0.7 MPa). A substitution level of 68\% produced the highest shear strength of 1.11 MPa. High-density particleboard made with this LPF68 resin gave a MOR and MOE of 40 and 3209 MPa, respectively, adhering to the ANSI A208.1 requirements. Thickness swelling and water absorption was 13.5\% and 37.2\%, respectively. Conclusion The soda-lignin isolated by precipitation from sugarcane bagasse pulping liquor is the first industrial lignin shown to produce LPF100 resins adhering to standard requirements, without modification or additives {[
Nanocellulose Iron Oxide Nanobiocomposites (NIONs) were synthesized from rice husk and sugarcane bagasse derived nanocelluloses for adsorptive removal of arsenic and associated contaminants present in groundwater samples. These NIONSs were superparamagnetic, hence magnetically recoverable and demonstrated promising recyclability. Synthesis of NIONs was confirmed by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS). FTIR and XPS data together with adsorption kinetics provide insights into probable adsorption mechanism of Arsenic by NIONs. The experimental conditions for 10 different variants were modelled using response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD), considering the parameters; adsorbate dosage, adsorbent dosage, pH and contact time. The results identified the best performing variants and the optimal conditions for maximal absorption (similar to 99\%). These results were validated using a three-layer feed-forward Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) based Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. Both RSM and ANN chemometric models were in close conformity for optimized conditions of highest adsorption by specific variants. The standardized conditions were used to expand the study to field-based arsenic contaminated groundwater samples and their performance to commercial adsorbents. NIONs show promising commercial potential for water remediation applications due to their high adsorptive performance, magnetic recoverability and recyclability. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A beta-glucosidase gene (bsbgl1a) fromBacillussp. CGMCC 1.16541 was expressed inEscherichia coliBL21 and subsequently characterized. The amino acid sequence shared 83.64\% identity with beta-glucosidase (WP\_066390903.1) fromFictibacillus phosphorivorans. The recombinant beta-glucosidase (BsBgl1A) had a molecular weight of 52.2 kDa and could hydrolyze cellobiose, cellotriose, cellotetrose, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), and p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside (pNPX). Optimal activity for BsBgl1A was recorded at 45 degrees C with a pH between 5.6 and 7.6, and 100\% of its activity was maintained after a 24 h incubation between pH 4 and 9. Kinetic characterization revealed an enzymatic turnover (Kcat) of 616 +/- 2 s(-1)(with cellobiose) and 3.5 +/- 0.1 s(-1)(with p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside). Interestingly, the recombinant enzyme showed cupric ion (Cu2+), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and alcohol tolerance at 10 mM for Cu(2+)and 10\% for both SDS and alcohol. Additionally, BsBgl1A had high tolerance for glucose (Ki = 2095 mM), which is an extremely desirable feature for industrial applications. Following the addition of BsBgl1A (0.05 mg/ml) to a commercial cellulase reaction system, glucose yields from sugarcane bagasse increased 100\% after 1 day at 45 degrees C. This work identifies a Cu2+, SDS, alcohol, and glucose tolerant GH1 beta-glucosidase with potential applications in the hydrolysis of cellulose for the bioenergy industry.
Biotechnologies that aim to produce renewable fuels, chemicals, and bioproducts from residual ligno(hemi)cellulosic biomass mostly rely on enzymatic depolymerization of plant cell walls (PCW). This process requires an arsenal of diverse enzymes, including xylanases, which synergistically act on the hemicellulose, reducing the long and complex xylan chains to oligomers and simple sugars. Thus, xylanases play a crucial role in PCW depolymerization. Until recently, the largest xylanase family, glycoside hydrolase family 11 (GH11) has been exclusively represented by endo-catalytic beta-1,4- and beta-1,3-xylanases. Analysis of a metatranscriptome library from a microbial lignocellulose community resulted in the identification of an unusual exo-acting GH11 beta-1,4-xylanase (MetXyn11). Detailed characterization has been performed on recombinant MetXyn11 including determination of its low-resolution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) molecular envelope in solution. Our results reveal that MetXyn11 is a monomeric globular enzyme that liberates xylobiose from heteroxylans as the only product. MetXyn11 has an optimal activity in a pH range from 6 to 9 and an optimal temperature of 50 degrees C. The enzyme maintained above 65\% of its original activity in the pH range 5 to 6 after being incubated for 72 h at 50 degrees C. Addition of the enzyme to a commercial enzymatic cocktail (CelicCtec3) promoted a significant increase of enzymatic hydrolysis yields of hydrothermally pretreated sugarcane bagasse (16\% after 24 h of hydrolysis).
The environmental contamination of soils by polymeric and nanomaterials is an increasing global concern. Polymeric composites containing silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are collectively one of the most important products of nanotechnology due to their remarkable antimicrobial activity. Biochars are a promising resource for environmental technologies for remediation of soils considering their high inorganic and organic pollutant adsorption capacity and microbial soil consortium stimulation. In this work we report, for the first time, the use of biochar material as a tool to accelerate the degradation of polyhydroxybutyrate-co-valerate (PHBV) and PHBV composites containing AgNP in a tropical soil system, under laboratory conditions. This positive effect is associated with microbial community improvement, which increased the degradation rate of the polymeric materials, as confirmed by integrated techniques for advanced materials characterization. The addition of 5-10\% of sugarcane bagasse biochar into soil has increased the degradation of these polymeric materials 2 to 3 times after 30 days of soil incubation. However, the presence of silver nanoparticles in the PHBV significantly reduced the degradability potential of this nanocomposite by the soil microbial community. These results provide evidence that AgNP or Ag+ ions caused a decline in the total number of bacteria and fungi, which diminished the polymer degradation rate in soil. Finally, this work highlights the great potential of biochar resources for application in soil remediation technologies, such as polymeric (nano)material biodegradation.
Continuous biohydrogen production by dark fermentation valorizes organic effluents like winery vinasse (WV), being an economical alternative to fossil fuels, to produce clean and renewable hydrogen. Trickling bed reactors (TBR) operated with low hydraulic retention time (HRT) favor hydrogen production. However, its large-scale application has still been limited in the literature due to possible operational risks and costs. To maximize the hydrogen production rate (HPR) rapidly, an innovative on-line feedback control was eval-uated using WV in a TBR. Based on continuous HPR measurements, the strategy alternates the operation between a high HRT of 5.5 h and a low HRT of 3 h (an organic shock load) by detecting either a peaking phenomenon during the transient or the steady state after it. Use of the controller increased the mean HPR to 177.5 +/- 12.3 mLH2 center dot L-1reac center dot h-1 from 93.9 +/- 9.9 mLH2 center dot L-1 reac center dot h-1 under a usual fixed HRT operation, and only 91.5 h were needed to auto-matically find the optimal mean HRT at 3.76 +/- 0.15 h. Bacterial community and metabolite analysis helped explain the increase in hydrogen yield (1.1 +/- 0.4 mmol H2 gCOD-1 added) by a cross-feeding interaction between lactic acid and hydrogen-producing bacteria.(c) 2022 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this paper, two new strians, Issatchenkia occidentalis (Lj-3, CCTCC M 2006097) and Issatchenkia orienalis (S-7, CCTCC M 2006098), isolated from different environments on solid media, were used in the detoxification process of the hemicellulosic hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse. High-pressure liquid chromatography elution curve of UV-absorption compounds represented by acetic acid, furfural, and guaiacol (toxic compounds found in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate) showed that several chromatographic peaks were evidently diminished for the case of detoxified hydrolysate with isolate strains compared to the high peaks resulted for no detoxified hydrolysate. It was clear that these inhibitors were degraded by the two new isolates during their cultivation process. Fermentation results for the biodetoxified hydrolysate showed an increase in xylitol productivity (Q (p)) by 1.97 and 1.95 times (2.03 and 2.01 g l(-1) h(-1)) and in xylitol yield (Y (p)) by 1.72 and 1.65 times (0.93 and 0.89 g xylitol per gram xylose) for hydrolysate treated with S-7 and Lj-3, respectively, in comparison with no detoxified hydrolysate (1.03 g l(-1) h(-1) and 0.54 g xylitol per gram xylose). This present work demonstrated the importance of Issatchenkia yeast in providing an effective biological detoxification approach to remove inhibitors and improve hydrolysate fermentability, leading to a high xylitol productivity and yield.
This study focusses on the synthesis of chitosan-cellulose composite membrane derived from Labeo rohita fish scales (FS) for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution, while chromium is a serious threat to groundwater. Waste FS are valorized to chitosan by demineralization, deproteination, and deacetylation successively. Cellulose was extracted from sugarcane bagasse using acidic hydrolysis. Chitosan-based cellulose composite porous membrane was fabricated by evaporating solvent from polymer solution in petri dish. The impact of pH, contact time, and absorbent dosage on the removal of Cr(III) from an aqueous solution was investigated. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to check the Cr(III). Results showed that chitosan comprising 85\% degree of deacetylation was achieved by alkali treatment, while yield was 22\%. FTIR analysis confirmed the chitosan and chitosan-cellulose-based composite membrane. Morphology studies showed that the cellulose was strongly staggered and due to the chitosan, the surface of cellulose became rougher, which is good to enhance the adsorption capacity. The maximum removal 57\% of Cr(III) from aqueous solution was observed at pH 6 at 60 min and 50 mg dosage of adsorbent. The minimum removal (47\%) of Cr (III) was found at pH 2. These results confer that Labeo rohita-based chitosan-cellulose composite membrane has great potential for the removal of metals from industrial effluents.
Fermented solids containing lipases from Burkholderia contaminans LTEB (denominated BCFS) were obtained by solid-state fermentation using sugarcane bagasse impregnated with soybean oil. These solids were dried and used to catalyze the ethanolysis of palm oil in a solvent-free reaction medium. The reaction was optimized in 25-mL vials, containing 15 mmol of palm oil. Molar ratios (MR) of ethanol to palm oil of 3:1 and 4.5:1 were tested, with stepwise addition of ethanol. In these experiments, the maximum conversion of palm oil achieved in 48 h was 90\%, with a MR of 4.5:1 and ethanol addition in 3 steps. We then used BCFS in a packed-bed reactor with recirculation. Ethanol was added in four steps, with an overall molar ratio of ethanol added to initial oil of 5.5:1, giving a conversion of 89\% in 30 h. When the same fermented solids were used under the same conditions in successive 30-h batches in this packed-bed bioreactor, with sequential washings with n-hexane and tert-butanol between cycles, the conversion in the 5th cycle was 66\%. These results are comparable to those that have been obtained for transesterification of palm oil in solvent-free reaction media with commercial lipases, with our catalyst having the advantage that it is much cheaper to prepare. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The development of biorefineries brings the necessity of an efficient consumption of all sugars released from biomasses, including xylose. In addition, the presence of inhibitors in biomass hydrolysates is one of the main challenges in bioprocess feasibility. In this study, the application of Ca-alginate hybrid gels in the immobilization of xylose-consuming recombinant yeast was explored with the aim of improving the tolerance of inhibitors. The recombinant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae GSE16-T18SI.1 (T18) was immobilized in Ca-alginate and Ca-alginate-chitosan hybrid beads, and its performance on xylose fermentation was evaluated in terms of tolerance to different acetic acid concentrations (0-12 g/L) and repeated batches of crude sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate. The use of the hybrid gel improved yeast performance in the presence of 12 g/L of acetic acid, achieving 1.13 g/L/h of productivity and reaching 75\% of the theoretical ethanol yield, with an improvement of 32\% in the xylose consumption rate (1:1 V-beads/V-medium, 35 degrees C, 150 rpm and pH 5.2). The use of hybrid alginate-chitosan gel also led to better yeast performance at crude hydrolysate, yielding one more batch than the pure-alginate beads. These results demonstrate the potential of a hybrid gel as an approach that could increase 2G ethanol productivity and allow cell recycling for a longer period.
Coculturing of eight rhizobial strains (Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum USDA 110, USDA 3447, RCR 3407, RCR 3442, Rhizobium meliloti TAL 1372, TAL 1373, R. leguminosarum biovar viceae RCR 1001, and RCR 1044) and five rock-phosphate-solubilizing fungi (Aspergillus egyptiacus, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceus, and Penicillium citrinum) was tested on yeast extractmannitol agar. B. japonicum strains USDA 110, USDA 3447, RCR 3442, R. leguminosarum biovar viceae RCR 1001, and RCR 1044 grew successfully in cocultures with the tested fungal species in yeast extract-mannitol agar without antagonism. Among these fungi, A. niger showed the highest potentialities to solubilize rock-phosphate at all incubation temperatures examined(15. 28, 38, and 42 degreesC), and phosphate dissolution maximized at 28 degreesC. Survival of Rhizobium/Bradyrhizobium strains and the best rock-phosphate-solubilizing fungus (A. niger) was evaluated monthly in four carrier materials (Peat, wheat bran, sugarcane baggase, and wheat straw) at 28 and 38 degreesC. The number of colony-forming units recovered on agar plates for all cocultured microorganisms was the highest with peat as a carrier. followed by bran and sugarcane baggase. On the other hand, survival of cocultured microorganisms strongly reduced in wheat straw. Survival of all microorganisms was the best at 28 degreesC. Cocultures of B. japonicum USDA 3447/A. niger and R. leguminosarum RCR 1044/A. niger were the more tolerant for storage conditions whereas the number of colony-forming units in cocultures of B. japonicum USDA 110/A. niger and R. leguminosarum RCR 1001/A. niger was strongly reduced. Pent or bran inoculants of R. leguminosarum RCR 1044/A. niger and B. japonicum USDA 3447/A. niger significantly increased dry matter yield, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)contents of faba bean and soybean, respectively, when grown in alkaline soil amended with rock-phosphate.
The implementation of hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) pretreatment for enhancing the methane potential from agricultural biomasses was evaluated in a full scale agricultural biogas plant, with molasses and corn meal as a supplementary energy source. HC batch tests were run to investigate the influence on methane production, particle size and viscosity of specific energy input. 470 kJ/kgTS was chosen for the full-scale implementation. Nearly 6-months of operational data showed that the HC pretreatment maximized the specific methane production of about 10\%, allowing the biogas plant to get out of the fluctuating markets of supplementary energy sources and to reduce the methane emissions. HC influenced viscosity and particle size of digestate, contributing to reduce the energy demand for mixing, heating and pumping. In the light of the obtained results the HC process appears to be an attractive and energetically promising alternative to other pretreatments for the degradation of biomasses in biogas plant.
Coagulation-flocculation technique is usually employed in wastewater treatment by applying conventional inorganic materials such as alum and ferric chloride. Due cost to environmental challenges associated with the use of inorganic flocculants, biopolymers are gaining ground as alternative water treatment materials. In the present study, native cellulose and hemicelluloses isolated from sugarcane bagasse were used in the removal of turbidity and biological oxygen demand from industrial wastewater. Isolated native cellulose was modified to form regenerated cellulose (RC). Also, native cellulose, hemicellulose and RC were carboxymethylated using Na-chloroacetate. Thereafter, the functional groups on the carboxymethylated biopolymers were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the carbon-hydrogen-nitrogen-sulfur-oxygen elemental analysis. The degree of substitution (DS) for regenerated and carboxymethylated cellulosic materials was measured using recommended standard methods. Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) with 1.3 DS reduced turbidity and biological oxygen demand by 62.2 and 64\%, respectively. Carboxymethyl regenerated cellulose (CMC-II) at 1.1 DS reduced turbidity and by 55.6 and 60\%, respectively. Carboxymethyl hemicellulose (CMH) with 1.4 DS was capable of reducing turbidity and biological oxygen demand by 45.7 and 47\%, respectively. Carboxymethyl cellulose and hemicellulose have rarely been used in the treatment of brewery wastewater. In the present study, these two novel materials showed a good prospect in removing biological oxygen demand and turbidity.
The production of sago starch from cassava at an industrial scale in Salem, Tamil Nadu, India results in discharge of starch/carbon-rich fibrous waste and effluents, contributing to a major environmental problem. The present study aimed at exploring the potential of an extremely halophilic archaeon, Halogeometricum borinquense strain E3 to utilize starch and cassava waste (CW) as carbon substrate and synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The culture E3 was able to grow and utilize both starch and CW with maximum PHA concentration of 4.6gL(-1) and 1.52gL(-1), respectively. When grown in starch, the cells of the strain E3 appeared bright orange due to produced carotenoids, whereas, when grown in CW the culture cells appeared light brown due to masking of the pigment by the impurities from CW hydrolysate. The polymer obtained from starch and CW hydrolysate was characterized using UV-Visible spectrophotometry, differential scanning calorimetry, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and was reported to be a co-polymer of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) {[
Mushroom cultivation has gained increased attention in recent years. Currently, only four types of spawn, including sawdust spawn, grain spawn, liquid spawn, and stick spawn, are commonly available for mushroom cultivation. This limited spawn diversity has led to difficulty in selecting suitable inoculum materials in some cultivation. In this study, three small blocks of lignocellulosic agro-wastes and one block of a synthetic matrix were prepared as support for growing Pleurotus ostreatus in liquid medium. Mycelium-adsorbed blocks were then evaluated for their potential as block spawn for fructification. Our results indicated that the edible fungus was adsorbed and abundantly grew internally and externally on loofah sponge and synthetic polyurethane foam (PUF) supports and also has the ability to attach and grow on the surface of sugarcane bagasse and corncob supports. The mycelia of P. ostreatus adhered on corncob exhibited the highest metabolic activity, while those on the PUF showed the least activity. Mycelial extension rates of block spawns made of agro-waste materials were comparable to that of sawdust spawn, but the block spawn of PUF showed a significantly lower rate. No significant differences in cropping time and yield were observed among cultivations between experimental block spawns and sawdust spawns. Moreover, the corncob block spawn maintained its fruiting potential during an examined period of 6-month storage. The developed block spawn could be practically applied in mushroom cultivation.
The use of lignocellulosic residues for ethanol production is limited by toxic compounds in fermenting yeasts present in diluted acid hydrolysates like acetic acid and 2-furaldehyde. The respiratory deficient phenotype gives the cell the ability to resist several toxic compounds. So the aim of this work was to evaluate the tolerance to toxic compounds present in lignocellulosic hydrolysates like acetic acid and 2-furaldehyde in Pichia stipitis and its respiratory deficient strains. The respiratory deficient phenotype was induced by exposure to chemical agents such as acriflavine, acrylamide and rhodamine; 23 strains were obtained. The selection criterion was based on increasing specific ethanol yield (g ethanol g(-1) biomass) with acetic acid and furaldehyde tolerance. The screening showed that P. stipitis NRRL Y-7124 ACL 2-1RD (lacking cytochrome c), obtained using acrylamide, presented the highest specific ethanol production rate (1.82 g g(-1) h(-1)). Meanwhile, the ACF8-3RD strain showed the highest acetic acid tolerance (7.80 g L-1) and the RHO2-3RD strain was able to tolerate up to 1.5 g L-1 2-furaldehyde with a growth and ethanol production inhibition of 23 and 22 \%, respectively. The use of respiratory deficient yeast phenotype is a strategy for ethanol production improvement in a medium with toxic compounds such as hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse amongst others.
The purpose of the present investigation was to enhance the production of the industrially important enzyme carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) by subjecting the wild cellulase producing fungal strain Chaetomium cellulolyticum NRRL 18756 to various doses of gamma irradiation (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2.0 KGy). Among all the mutants tested, M-7 obtained at 0.5 KGy of C. cellulolyticum strain showed highest extracellular CMCase production in a yield 1.6-fold exceeding that of the wild type. Optimal conditions for the production of CMCase by the mutant fungal strain using solid-state fermentation were examined. The optimized medium consisted of sugarcane bagasse supplemented with 1\% (w/w) peptone, 2.5 mM MgSO4, and 0.05\% (v/w) Tween 80. Optimal moisture content and initial pH was 40\% (v/w) and 5.0 to 6.5, respectively. The medium was fermented at 40 C for 4 days. The resulting CMCase yield was 4.0-fold more than that of the wild type strain grown on the basal wheat bran medium. Some characteristics of partially purified CMCase from the mutant and wild type of C. cellulolyticum were investigated. The partially purified mutant CMCase was more stable than the wild type CMCase. Thus, the higher thermostability of mutant CMCase makes it a potential candidate for commercial and industrial process.
Sulfonated cellulose (SC) was successfully prepared through a two-step process of gamma radiation and subsequently sulfonation with potassium metabisulfite of microcrystalline cellulose extracted from sugarcane bagasse. The effect of gamma radiation dose on cellulose showed an increment of oxidation degree, which was evidenced by the intensity ratio of I1718 (carbonyl)/ I2892 (aliphatic) from FTIR analysis. The obtained SC was introduced into polyether block amide/polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEBAX/PEGDA) polymer matrix as a reinforcement and hydrophilic filler for improving electrolyte affinity and thermal stability of its composite membrane. The increase of SC in PEBAX/PEGDA composite membranes resulted in enhancement of hydrophilicity, electrolyte uptake, and thermal stability compared to pristine composite membranes. However, the excess SC content in the composite membrane exhibited the low physical properties, caused by negligible dispersion on the surface membrane. With the optimum 2.0 wt\% SC in PEBAX/PEGDA, the porosity, contact angle and electrolyte uptake capacity was found to be 64.0 \%, 12.8 degrees and 37.5 \%, respectively. 2.0 wt\% SC/PEBAX/PEGDA showed the outstanding thermal stability with negligible shrinkage <10 \% at 150 <degrees>C whereas pristine PEBAX/PEGDA showed the shrinkage of 29 \%. The obtained SC/PEBAX/PEGDA composite membrane is considered as a potential candidate to replace the commercial polyolefin-based separator in lithium-ion batteries.
The increasing demand for water, food and energy poses challenges for the world ` s sustainability. Tropical palm oil is currently the major source of vegetable oil worldwide with a production that exceeds 55 million tons per year, while generating over 200 million tons of palm oil mill effluent (POME). It could potentially be used as a substrate for production of microalgal biomass though. In this study, the microalgal strain Chlamydomonas biconvexa Embrapa|LBA40, originally isolated from a sugarcane vinasse stabilization pond, was selected among 17 strains tested for growth in POME retrieved from anaerobic ponds of a palm oil industrial plant located within the Amazon rainforest region. During cultivation in POME, C. biconvexa Embrapa|LBA40 biomass productivity reached 190.60 mgDW center dot L-1 center dot d(-1) using 15L airlift flat plate photobioreactors. Carbohydrates comprised the major fraction of algal biomass (31.96\%), while the lipidic fraction reached up to 11.3\% of dry mass. Reductions of 99\% in ammonium and nitrite, as well as 98\% reduction in phosphate present in POME were detected after 5 days of algal cultivation. This suggests that the aerobic pond stage, usually used in palm oil industrial plants to reduce POME inorganic load, could be substituted by high rate photobioreactors, significantly reducing the time and area requirements for wastewater treatment. In addition, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. biconvexa Embrapa|LBA40 strain was sequenced, revealing a compact mitogenome, with 15.98 kb in size, a total of 14 genes, of which 9 are protein coding genes. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the strain taxonomic status within the Chlamydomonas genus, opening up opportunities for future genetic modification and molecular breeding programs in these species.
From different natural reserves in the subtropical region of China, a total of 245 aerobic bacterial strains were isolated on agar plates containing sugarcane bagasse pulp as the sole carbon source. Of the 245 strains, 22 showed hydrolyzing zones on agar plates containing carboxymethyl cellulose after Congo-red staining. Molecular identification showed that the 22 strains belonged to 10 different genera, with the Burkholderia genus exhibiting the highest strain diversity and accounting for 36.36\% of all the 22 strains. Three isolates among the 22 strains showed higher carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity, and isolate ME27-1 exhibited the highest CMCase activity in liquid culture. The strain ME27-1 was identified as Paenibacillus terrae on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as well as physiological and biochemical properties. The optimum pH and temperature for CMCase activity produced by the strain ME27-1 were 5.5 and 50 degrees C, respectively, and the enzyme was stable at a wide pH range of 5.0-9.5. A 12-fold improvement in the CM Case activity (2.08 U/mL) of ME27-1 was obtained under optimal conditions for CMCase production. Thus, this study provided further information about the diversity of cellulose-degrading bacteria in the subtropical region of China and found P. terrae ME27-1 to be highly cellulolytic.
Automotive industries have l been trying to shift towards cellulosic based composites because of their properties like high modulus, high strength, ease of modification, less pollution, light weight, etc,. These natural/cellulosic fibers are abundantly available in nature in the form agricultural wastes, for example sugarcane bagasse, cotton linter, rice husk, etc,. Natural fibers are now widely used in industries other than automobile due to the above stated advantages. The main impediments of using natural fibers are, 1) thermal stability, 2) compatibility issues and moderate interfacial interaction etc,. This review investigates the potential of cellulosic fiber based polymeric composites for automotive application. In particular, this review focuses on the effects of incorporating natural/ cellulosic fibers on the performance of automotive body, anti-roll bar, bumper, leaf Spring, helical spring and gears. Another focus area for this paper was an extensive review on its best applications in the automotive sector, detailed information about the type of fiber and their use in the specific automotive sector is tabulated. It was found that cellulosic/natural fiber based polymeric composites can be an efficient alternative for man-made synthetic fibers in the automotive sectors.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
The pesticide behavior in soils can be easily affected by biochar addition. However, studies on the effects of raw feedstock and biochar are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of amending soils from three Midwestern U.S. states, with biochar produced from soybean residues, sugarcane bagasse, and wood chips (grape) as well as raw feedstock on the sorption-desorption and leaching potential of the pesticides aminocyclopyrachlor, metolachlor, and imidacloprid. Soil was amended at 10\% (w w(-1)), and sorption-desorption studies were performed using the batch equilibration method. Following the determination of the sorption coefficient (K-oc) values, the groundwater ubiquity score (GUS) indices for these pesticides were calculated. The highest pesticide sorption in all unamended soils followed the order imidacloprid (K-d = 0.79-1.66 L Kg(-1)) > metolachlor (K-d = 0.54-0.61 L Kg(-1)) > aminocyclopyrachlor (K-d = 0.12-0.23 L Kg(-1)). Biochar has the potential to decrease metolachlor and imidacloprid availability in soil through increased sorption, while the availability of aminocyclopyrachlor differed between the use of raw feedstock and biochar. Biochar derived from wood chips had the highest impact on pesticide behavior. We confirmed that aminocyclopyrachlor, metolachlor, and imidacloprid would leach easily in the three unamended soils, as illustrated by the GUS index.
Biochemical conversion of lignocellulosic feedstock to biofuels and other valuable chemicals through sugar-platform process involves a pretreatment step that facilitates the conversion of polysaccharides to simple sugars. A major drawback of pretreatment process is the formation of lignocellulose-derived by-products, such as furfural and 5-hydroxy-2-methylfurfural (HMF), which inhibit the downstream enzymatic hydrolysis and microbial growth during fermentation. Hence, an efficient and environment friendly technique for removal of these inhibitors is essential. The present study reports isolation of a bacterium from soil that exhibited capability to degrade furfural and HMF present in lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor. The isolated bacterium, Bordetella sp. BTIITR, was able to degrade 100\% of furfural and 80\% of HMF from simulated hydrolysate liquor in 16 h of incubation period. For the actual sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate liquor, it was able to remove 100\% of furfural, 94\% of HMF and 82\% of acetic acid in 16 h of incubation period. It was also intriguing to observe that the bacterium selectively consumed furfural and HMF initially without significantly affecting the fermentable sugars. Once furfural and HMF were degraded to a lower concentration, consumption of sugars accelerated. This substrate priority of Bordetella sp. BTIITR for furfural and HMF over sugars renders it as a potential candidate for biodetoxification of inhibitory compounds present in the lignocellulosic hydrolysate liquor. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The successful strategy to produce cellulolytic enzymes includes both microorganism selection and improved fermentation process conditions. This work describes the isolation, screening and selection of biomass-degrading fungi species from the Amazon forest and analyzes the enzymatic complex produced by a selected strain of Aspergillus fumigatus cultivated using different agro-industrial residues (wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse, soybean bran, and orange peel) as substrate in solid state fermentation (SSF). The profile of endoglucanase (CMCase), FPase, beta-glucosidase and xylanase enzymatic activities obtained during 120 h of cultivation is presented. Enzyme activities up 160.1 IU g(-1) for CMCase, 5.0 FPU g (1) for FPAse, 105.82 IU g (1) for beta-glucosidase and 1055.62 IU g (1) for xylanase were achieved. The enzymatic extract with higher CMCase activity was used to run a zymogram analysis that showed 3 bands of endoglucanase activity. Characterization studies of this extract showed that the CMCase was most active at either 65 degrees C or pH 3-3.5, indicating that this microorganism produces a thermophilic and acid endoglucanase. These data demonstrate that the fungal isolates from the Amazon forest are a potential source of cellulases and xylanases, providing support to further studies related to the use of these microorganisms to obtain the enzymes needed for biomass conversion. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Aiming for sustainable and low-cost production, bioethanol production using lignocellulosic wastes, such as sugarcane bagasse and waste from banana crops, has been extensively explored. The recovery step is usually carried out during the distillation process and is challenging, particularly regarding energy issues. This study aimed to evaluate the bioethanol recovery from banana culture waste as a function of the reflux ratio in a process employing a batch distillation column. Tests were performed using a standard mixture of ethanol and water and using total reflux and ratios 0.5, 1 and 2. As expected, the best result was obtained with the highest reflux ratio, and it was under this condition that the broth obtained from the fermentation process was distilled. The maximum ethanol t in the distillate was 67\% (wt\%), which is less than the 93\% composition that was obtained using the standard mixture; however, this is a promising result because inferior values are typically obtained in distilleries using a single column. Also, this value is close to others reported in literature for bioethanol distillation obtained with different residues and higher reflux ratio. Batch distillation is appropriate and feasible for implementation in the production of bioethanol from banana waste in small production units intended for the production of biofuels, beverages or commercial alcohol. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Biosorbents have drawn increasing attention for removing pollutants on lab-scale systems. Although biosorbents are ecofriendly, their potential on large-scale columns has not been assessed yet. This study evaluated the potential of sugarcane bagasse (SB) for the removal of Mn (II) from aqueous media. Firstly, batch experiments were conducted to establish the equilibrium data and predominant adsorption mechanisms. Secondly, a mathematical model was proposed to predict the breakthrough curves in a fixed-bed column. Alternatively, lab- and pilot-scale removal experiments were performed to validate the accuracy of the proposed model. Once the model was validated on both scales, it was employed to predict breakthrough curves for a semi-industrial column under actual conditions of a drinking water treatment plant. Langmuir isotherm (qmax: 2.82 mg/g) and Langmuir kinetic model (R2 0.01) reproduced the experimental equilibrium and kinetic behavior. The mathematical model successfully replicated the lab- and pilotscale breakthrough data (R2 0.95 and x2 < 0.1). Therefore, its prediction on the semi-industrial scale was reliable. However, short breakthrough and exhaustion times were obtained on this column, which hinders SB from applying in actual raw water. The described methodology can be employed to assess the potential of other biosorbents for industrial applications. (c) 2023 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Institution of Chemical Engineers.
This work aimed to produce enzymatic fungi extracts with hydrolytic and oxidative activities to hydrolyze lignocellulosic biomasses efficiently. For this, the fungi Trichoderma reesei and Panus lecomtei were co-cultured using the vegetable biomasses oil palm decanter cake, wheat bran, and cottonseed cake as substrates in submerged fermentation. T. reesei and P. lecomtei showed partially compatible positive interaction on plates. The co-cultures respond positively to variations of temperature and inoculum interval, generating extracts responsible for higher hydrolysis yield when grown at 25 degrees C, and P. lecomtei is inoculated 24 h after T. reesei. The enzymatic extract production of co-cultures was also improved by modifying the components of the initial media and evaluating enzymatic activities, hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse pretreated by autohydrolysis and ethanol production as a response. Five culture media were evaluated with variations in the composition of nutritional elements, minerals and substrates. The best extract showed a maximum cellulose hydrolysis efficiency of 68.7\% compared with 44.8\% of the initial medium. The ethanolic fermentation of hydrolysates obtained by co-culture extracts showed higher ethanol yields than monocultures. This work demonstrates the use of fungi co-cultures to produce enzymatic extracts composed of cellulolytic, hemicellulolytic, and ligninolytic enzymes complexes, which allow hydrolyzing pretreated lignocellulosic biomass with high efficiency, generating hydrolysates that are easier fermented by yeast.
The economic uncertainty associated with cellulosic bioethanol can be overcome through the inclusion of cheap substrates and methodologies that can extend the shelf life of cellulolytic enzymes. In this study, wild Trichoderma viride was used to produce cellulases, media formulation studies were conducted to enhance the cellulase production further and immobilization strategies were tested for stable cellulase-iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle coupling. Out of the seven different production media designed, media containing glucose, wheat bran, cellulose and corn steep liquor supported the highest biomass growth (60 Packed cell volume) and cellulase formation (7.4 U/mL), and thus was chosen for the fiscal analysis at a larger scale (1000 m(3)). The profitability of the cellulase production process was assessed to be 20.86\%, considering both the capital expenditure and operating expenses. Further, the effect of cost of different carbon sources, nitrogen sources and cellulase yields on the annual operating costs was explored, which led to the choice of delignified sugarcane bagasse, corn steep liquor and productivity levels to be respective decisive factors of the overall cost of the cellulase production. Likewise, the break-even period of such a large-scale operation was gauged given the market price of cellulases at USD 17 for 10(5) U of cellulases. Moreover, enzyme immobilization led to enhanced cellulase shelf life and ultimately contributed toward saccharification cost reduction.
For several centuries, microorganisms and enzymes have been used for many different applications. Although many enzymes with industrial applications have already been reported, different screening technologies, methods and approaches are constantly being developed in order to allow the identification of enzymes with even more interesting applications. In our work, we have performed data mining on the Chitinophaga sp. genome, a gram-negative bacterium isolated from a bacterial consortium of sugarcane bagasse isolated from an ethanol plant. The analysis of 8 Mb allowed the identification of the chtcp gene, previously annotated as putative Cht4039. The corresponding codified enzyme, denominated as ChtCP, showed the HEXXH conserved motif of family M32 from thermostable carboxypeptidases. After expression in E. coli, the recombinant enzyme was characterized biochemically. ChtCP showed the highest activity versus benziloxicarbonil Ala-Trp at pH 7.5, suggesting a preference for hydrophobic substrates. Surprisingly, the highest activity of ChtCP observed was between 55 degrees C and 75 degrees C, and 62\% activity was still displayed at 100 degrees C. We observed that Ca2+, Ba2+, Mn2+ and Mg2+ ions had a positive effect on the activity of ChtCP, and an increase of 30 degrees C in the melting temperature was observed in the presence of Co2+. These features together with the structure of ChtCP at 1.2 angstrom highlight the relevance of ChtCP for further biotechnological applications.
Conventional methods of making particleboards utilize wood chips. This has resulted in a decrease in the tree cover due to the increase in wood demand. The effect has been climatic change. Wood is bound using phenol formaldehyde resin. Because of the decrease in the forest cover, alternative lignocellulose materials are required. In this study, lignocellulose materials used include sugarcane bagasse, maize stock, and rice husks. The cassava-starch mix with borax was used as a binder in particleboard formulation. The lignin content was determined, and its effect on properties of boards was investigated. The resultant composite material was molded at a pressure of 6.5 N/mm(2) and at 30 degrees C. The resultant particleboards had mean densities ranging from 0.604 to 0.611 g/cm(3). The modulus of elasticity ranged from 2364.2 N/mm(2) to 3329.93 N/mm(2), modulus of rupture ranged from 13.55 N/mm(2) to 14.83 N/mm(2), and internal bonding ranged from 1.613 N/mm(2) to 2.370 N/mm(2). The performance of the board was dependent on the lignocellulose material used. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that main chemical bonding in the particleboard resulted from esterification of -COOH from lignocellulose and OH- from starch. The particleboards formulated were found to be of low-density-fibre standard used in a similar manner to the conventional low-density particleboards.
Owing to its acute toxicity and mobility, the hexavalent chromium {[
Due to the economic inefficiency of material recycling of general industrial waste and urban waste, the use of solid recovered fuels (SRFs) not only mitigates the environmental loadings from waste incineration plants and sanitary landfills but also creates green electricity and/or heat and thus reduces the use of fossil fuels. In this regard, the Taiwan government formulated the ``Solid Recovered Fuel Manufacturing Guidelines and Quality Standards{''
The production of extremozymes from halophilic bacteria has increased significantly due to their stability and efficiency in catalyzing a reaction, as well as their capacity to display optimum activity at various salt concentrations. In the current study, the halophilic bacterium Virgibacillus salarius strain BM-02 could utilize many non-pretreated substrates including cellulose, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran as a sole carbon source. However, wheat bran was the best substrate for achieving optimum saccharification yield (90.1\%). The partially purified cellulase was active and stable at a wide range of pH (5-8) with residual activities > 58\%. Moreover, it was stable at 5-12\% of NaCl. Metal ions have a variable impact on the activity of partially purified cellulase however, Fe+3 exhibited the highest increase in the cellulase activity. The enzyme exhibited a thermal stability at 40, 50 and 60 degrees C with half-lives of 1049.50, 168.14 and 163.5 min, respectively. The value of V-max was 22.27 U/mL while Km was 2.1 mM. The activation energy of denaturation E-d 69.81 kJ/mol, the enthalpy values (Delta H-d) were positive, and the entropy values (Delta S) were negative. Therefore, V. Salarius is recommended as a novel promising halophilic extremozyme producer and agricultural waste remover in the bio-industrial applications. {[
Carboxymethyl cellulose-grafted graphene oxide blended with polyethylene glycol composite hydrogel as a new adsorbent was prepared. Firstly, graphene oxide was synthesized from sugarcane bagasse as a plentiful waste via a single-step oxidation under muffled atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared from extracted cellulose and grafted onto graphene oxide by different ratios. The grafted graphene oxide was blended with polyethylene glycol in presence of glutaraldehyde as a cross linker to form a triple network hydrogel. The structures and morphologies of the prepared composite were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and TGA/DTA analysis. The prepared composites were used as adsorbents for the removal of Ni ions from aqueous solution. Different adsorption conditions were investigated such as; time intervals (15-90 min), Ni(2+)concentrations (15-30 ppm), and temperature (298-328 K). The kinetics and isotherms were studied to highlight the adsorption rate and mechanism of the adsorption process. The results showed that the hydrogels fitted with the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second order with the best fit of R-2. On the other hand the positive values of increment H, the negative values of Delta G, and the positive values of increment S indicated that the Ni(2+)adsorption is an endothermic process. The prepared hydrogels showed promising properties as the adsorption materials.
The biomass-degrading thermophilic ascomycete fungus Thielavia terrestris Co3Bag1 produces TtCel7A, a native bifunctional cellulase/xylanase GH7 family. The purified TtCel7A, with an estimated molecular weight of 71 kDa, was biochemically characterized. TtCel7A displayed an optimal pH of 5.5 for both activities and an optimal temperature of 60 and 50 degrees C for cellulolytic and xylanolytic activities, respectively. The half-lives determined for cellulase activity were 140, 106, and 41 min at 50, 60, and 70 degrees C, respectively, whereas the half-lives observed for xylanase activity were 24, 10, and 1.4 h at 50, 60, and 70 degrees C, respectively. The K-M and V-max values were 3.12 mg/mL and 50 U/mg for cellulase activity and 0.17 mg/mL and 42.75 U/mg for xylanase activity. Circular dichroism analysis suggests changes in the secondary structure of TtCel7A in the presence of CMC as the substrate, whereas no modifications were observed with beechwood xylan. TtCel7A displayed the excellent capability to hydrolyze CMC, beechwood xylan, and complex substrates such as oat bran, wheat bran, and sugarcane bagasse, with glucose and cellobiose being the main products released; also, slightly less endo cellulase and xylanase activities were observed. Thus, suggesting TtCel7A has an exo- and endomode of action. Based on the characteristics of the enzyme, it might be considered a good candidate for industrial applications.
Severe energy crisis and vilest economic conditions in Pakistan demand the country's energy portfolio to be revised with increased reliance on indigenous energy resources. The perspective of utilization of abundantly available biomass waste fractions as a fuel alone and their co-combustion with two different indigenous coal varieties has been emphasized in this study. Coal samples were blended with the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, rice husk and sugarcane bagasse waste fractions in varying ratios of 20\%, 40\%, 60\% and 80\% and the resulting variation in their fuel characteristics and co-combustion efficiency was determined. The execution is a basis to assess the assumption that co-combustion in appropriate proportions can arrange a solution for the massive amounts of produced organic waste and cut dependency on imported energy sources. The tanner diagram visualization for the assessment of proposed blends suggest that the blending samples exhibit an increase in moisture and combustible content while some decrease in ash content and calorific values with increased biomass ratios. Within the assortment of conducted trials, khaushab coal and rice husk in various proportions evidenced to be the best arrangement for fuel consumption based on energetic optimization. The overall results of studies inferred that both coal and biomass fuels alone and their co-firing can sustain self-combustion and subsequently arrange for finding area-based solutions related to various energy operations.
An extracellular laccase was produced from a lignin-degrading white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor IBL-04 using the solid-state bioprocessing of corncobs. The enzyme thus produced was effectively immobilized on alginate-chitosan beads. Immobilized laccase furnished the highest immobilization yield (81.43 +/- 2.98) under optimized working conditions of 3.0\% (w/v) sodium alginate concentration, 2.4\% CaCl2, 0.25\% chitosan concentration following an immobilization time of 5 h. The immobilization process altered the optimum pH from 5.0 to 4.0 (an acidic shift), whereas the temperature optima were displaced from 40 to 50 degrees C (towards higher temperature). The Michaelis-Menten constant (K-m) and the maximum reaction rate (V-max) of the free and immobilized laccase were 0.14 mM, and 780 mu mol/mL and 0.10 mM and 814 mu mol/mL, respectively. The alginate-chitosan immobilized laccase was more stable and tolerant against the activity inhibition caused by the denaturants tested, concerning its soluble laccase. Delignification results revealed that the enzyme led to a marked reduction in lignin content of all the lignocellulosic wastes with the highest delignification of 78.29\% in sugarcane bagasse, followed by wheat bran and corn stover after 15 h. It is demonstrated that the immobilized laccase could be a promising option as a green catalyst for the efficient delignification of lignocellulosic biomass residues.
The presence of pharmaceutical wastage and their metabolites in the wastewater, even in low absorption concentration has adverse effects on society and the environment. A recyclable and economical-friendly photocatalytic technique is applicable for decontamination and sanitization of the polluted water from the anti-parasitic drugs. Here, activated carbon was synthesized which has become more efficient and suitable for degradation purpose. Peanut shell-based activated carbon (PSAC) and sugarcane bagasse (SBAC) are used for this research. In this research study, results indicate that PSAC was more profitable and energetic as compared to SBAC. XRD demonstrates that PSAC has sharp peaks at 26.8 degrees and 65.6 degrees but SBAC has no specific sharp peaks. (SEM) analytic pictures visualized that PSAC has a granular nanoporous structure that is efficacious for the Iverzine degradation rather than nano and micro layers based on SBAC. EDX spectrums confessed that PSAC has a high peak of activated carbon and very small impurity peaks of sulphur and oxygen rather than SBAC. By the investigation of FTIR spectra, SBAC and PSAC both have almost the same absorbance bonds but have different percentage transmittance. An analytic study of degradation spectrum, it has been noticed that PSAC degraded 89\% of Iverzine drug but SBAC has degraded just about 63\%. All the results demonstrated that PSAC was more energetic for the absorption and degradation of pharmaceuticals from water.
Some engineering problems require a lot of computational expensive simulations that dominates the running time of a typical optimization algorithm. In these cases, the use of Surrogate Assisted Optimization (SAO) can improve the efficiency of the optimization procedure significantly. Kriging meta-model became one of the most promising approach, mainly because of its accurate prediction (even with a relative few points for fitting) and statistical interpretation that allows one to build an estimate of the potential error, In this paper we propose a modification in the maximizing Probability of Improvement (PI) method to enhance the performance of the modeling and optimization framework: the addition of a final local optimization step that allows a higher value for the stopping criterion without loss of solution accuracy. The modified algorithm was implemented in MatLab, using Kriging-type surrogate model. The behavior of this modification was investigated through a set of benchmark test functions and an engineering optimization problem: profit maximization of a biorefinery producing first and second generation ethanol and electricity from sugarcane bagasse. The numerical results show that average better and more stable solutions were obtained and a lower number of rigorous model simulations were needed comparing with the classic Pl method. The modified method was also compared with non-surrogate assisted optimization algorithms, achieving similar near optimal solutions with a lower number of rigorous simulations.
Expansive soils cover a large part of India and possess certain undesirable engineering properties such as low bearing capacity and large volumetric changes which causes severe damage to the pavements. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the geotechnical properties of expansive soils so that it becomes easier to construct pavement using these expansive soils. Agricultural and industrial byproduct such as rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse ash, fly ash, plastic waste, coir pith and fiber, calcium carbide residue, cement kiln dust, silica fume and red mud etc. are found to be useful in pavement construction. Studies have reported that the strength of stabilized soils significantly improved with the use of various types of industrial and agricultural byproduct. If these waste materials are available locally for soil sta-bilization, it leads to the development of cost-effective and sustainable pavement construction. Further, utilization of these byproduct as a soil stabilizer also solve the problem of their disposal. As a result, the environmental problems caused by these byproducts from industrial and agricultural will be reduced. The research paper provides an overview of the utilization of different byproducts from industry and agriculture that have been used in soil stabilization as strengthening agents.Copyright (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-ence on Advances in Construction Materials and Structures.
In this study, we investigated the distinct effects of organic (farmyard manure (FYM), cow dung (CD), biogas slurry (BGS), sugarcane bagasse (SCB)) and inorganic (gypsum and lignite) amendments on arsenic (As) accumulation by two rice genotypes, Kainat (fine) and Basmati-385 (coarse), under As stress. Results showed that shoot As concentration was similar to 2-time greater in Kainat compared to Basmati-385 (3.1-28 vs. 1.7-16 mg kg(-1) DW, respectively), with the minimum shoot As content observed with CD and SCB. In contrast to gypsum and lignite, grain As concentration was significantly reduced with CD and SCB for Kainat (0.29 and 0.24 mg kg(-1) DW) and Basmati-385 (0.04 and 0.09 mg kg(-1) DW). Data indicated that the CD and SCB also improved chlorophyll a and b contents, reduced lipid peroxidation and hydrogen peroxide production in both rice genotypes. Significantly, the CD and SCB decreased grain As concentration below the FAO safe As limit in rice grain (0.2 mg kg(-1) DW), especially in coarse rice genotype (Basmati-385), resulting in negligible As-induced human health risk. This study highlights the significance of amendments and rice genotypes controlling As accumulation in rice grain, which should be considered prior to As remediation program of paddy soils for limiting exposure of humans to As via rice grain.
In this work, porous biochar was obtained from sugarcane bagasse by alkali activation and pyrolysis and then magnetized with gamma-Fe2O3 by calcination. After functionalization with chitosan and activation with glutaraldehyde, the as-prepared chitosan/magnetic porous biochar served as a support to immobilize cellulase by covalent bonds. The immobilization amount of cellulase was 80.5 mg cellulase/g support at pH 5 and 25 degrees C for 12 h of immobilization. To determine the enzymatic properties, 1\% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC) (dissolved in 0.1 M buffer) was considered as a substrate for hydrolysis at different pH values (3-7) and temperatures (30-70 degrees C) for 30 min. The results showed that the optimum pH and temperature of the free and immobilized cellulase did not change, which were pH 4 and 60 degrees C, respectively. The immobilized cellulase had a relatively high activity recovery of 73.0\%. However, it also exhibited a higher Michaelis-Menten constant (K-m) value and a slower maximum reaction velocity (V-max) value compared to the free enzyme. In the reusability assay, the immobilized cellulase showed initial glucose productivity of 330.9 mg glucose/g CMC and remained at 86.0\% after 10 uses. In conclusion, the chitosan/magnetic porous biochar has great potential applications as a support for enzyme immobilization.
Global primary and secondary resources are important for economic growth. Resource management and environment conservation are currently frequently discussed topics worldwide. In this study, a discrete optimization model formulation is presented for an integrated energy, water, and food (EWF) supply chain problem. The optimization model examines the temporal and spatial integration of the EWF supply chain elements to provide optimal infrastructure capacity expansion of essential commodities within the EWF system, and their corresponding periodic optimal supply for a given region. Furthermore, the model considers endogenous demand between the EWF elements that reflect the interdependency of nexus elements. A mixed integer linear programming model is developed to assist in the process of optimal infrastructure capacity expansion and operation of the EWF system. A case study is given to show the application of the proposed mathematical programming model. Several scenarios are assumed for the case study under different commodity prices and climate change conditions. In addition, diversification in the energy and agriculture sectors is examined by shifting from international refined sugar trading to bioethanol production. The results show economic gains of similar to 10\% under the emergence of bioethanol production compared with the business-as-usual scenario. Production dynamic exits for the production of refined sugar, bioethanol, and power from sugarcane and bagasse resources over time in the considered sale price range for the refined sugar and bioethanol products.
Artificial changes in the properties of a soil contaminated with hexachlorobenzene were promoted in order to study the effects on the microbial community and the degradation of this compound. The soil samples were flooded or enriched with organic material or lime under laboratory conditions. The microbial activity and density as well as the total (mineralization) or partial hexachlorobenzene degradation (transformation into metabolites) were analyzed. The mineralization of C-14-hexachlorobenzene was analyzed by adding a C-14-hexachlorobenzene solution to soil samples, capturing the (CO2)-C-14, which was then quantified by liquid scintillation counting. The production of hexachlorobenzene metabolites was studied by extracting soil samples and analyzing the extracts by gas chromatography. The microbial activity was analyzed through measurement of the microbial respiration and the microbial density by counting the colony forming units (CFU) of the soil samples. The microbial activity was higher in samples enriched with sugarcane bagasse (maximum of 310 mg CO2 g(-1) soil) as well as the bacteria density (maximum of 152 x 10(3) CFUs g(-1) soil) and fungal density (maximum of 167 x 103 CFUs g(-1) soil). Neither the addition of earthworm humus, nor lime, nor the flooding of the samples affected the microbial activity or density. No mineralization or formation of hexachlorobenzene metabolites was observed. The addition of organic material therefore stimulated the microbial community, but did not result in hexachlorobenzene degradation.
The application of polysaccharide-based films is limited due to core problems, such as poor water vapor barriers and flexibility. From this perspective, silane coupling agents have recently attracted particular interest because of their insensitivity to moisture. However, it may cause poor mechanical properties due to the aggregation of silane coupling agents within the materials. Here, we report a collaborative modification protocol to reduce water vapor transmission capacity and to improve the flexibility of xylan-based films. Xylan from sugarcane bagasse was firstly modified with (3-mercaptopropyl) trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) to obtain MPTMS-modified xylan (MSMX), and then blended with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) using citric acid (CA) as a cross-linker. The PVA/MSMX/CA films were found to be highly impermeable to water vapor and to have robust solvent resistance. With an optimized mass ratio (PVA/MSMX, 2:1), the water vapor permeability (WVP) value was 2.79 x 10(-13) (g/cm(-1).s .Pa), significantly lower than that of previously reported PVA/xylan-based films. The excellent barrier properties were attributed to the ``torturous path effect{''
A newly identified cellulase-producing Fusarium chlamydosporum HML278 was cultivated under solid-state fermentation of sugarcane bagasse, and two new beta-glucosides enzymes (BG FH1, BG FH2) were recovered from fermentation solution by modified non-denaturing active gel electrophoresis and gel filtration chromatography. SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the molecular weight of BG FH1 and BG FH2 was 93 kDa and 52 kDa, respectively, and the enzyme activity was 5.6 U/mg and 11.5 U/mg, respectively. The optimal reaction temperature of the enzymes was 60 celcius, and the enzymes were stable with a temperature lower than 70 celcius. The optimal pH of the purified enzymes was 6.0, and the enzymes were stable between pH 4-10.K-m and V-max values were 2.76 mg/mL and 20.6 U/mg for pNPG, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that BG FH1 and BG FH2 had hydrolysis activity toward cellobiose and could hydrolyze cellobiose into glucose. In addition, both enzymes exhibited transglycoside activity, which could use glucose to synthesize cellobiose and cellotriose, and preferentially synthesize alcohol. In conclusion, our study demonstrated thatF. chlamydosporum HML278 produces heat-resistant beta-glucosidases with both hydrolytic activity and transglycosidic activity, and these beta-glucosidases have potential application in bioethanol and papermaking industries.
Reduction in the adsorption of cellulase onto lignin has been thought to be the common reason for the improvement of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulose (EHLC) by a nonionic surfactant (NIS). Few research studies have focused on the relationship between lignocellulosic features and NIS for improving EHLC. This study investigated the impact of Tween20 on the enzymatic hydrolysis and enzyme adsorption of acid-treated and alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse (SCB), cypress, and Pterocarpus soyauxii (PS) with and without being ground. After addition of Tween20, the adsorption of cellulase onto unground and ground alkali-treated SCB increased, and the unground acid-treated SCB exhibited little change in adsorption cellulase, while other unground and ground, treated samples showed decreased cellulase adsorption. Tween20 could improve the enzymatic hydrolysis of acid-treated SCB, while it had little influence on the enzymatic hydrolysis of other treated materials. After being ground, both cellulase adsorption and enzymatic hydrolysis of treated lignocelluloses increased, and Tween20 could enhance the enzymat c hydrolysis of acid-treated materials while hardly affected the enzymatic hydrolysis of alkali-treated materials. This indicated that the promotion effect of Tween20 on enzymatic hydrolysis of treated lignocellulose could not be mainly ascribed to the hindrance of Tween20 to cellulase adsorption on lignin but was related to the lignocellulosic features such as hemicellulose removal and surface morphology changes.
The rapidly increasing human population poses a serious risk of fast depletion of natural resources like fossil fuels. Therefore, production of ecofriendly renewable alternatives like biofuels from waste materials has sparked more curiosity from the industrialists as well as academicians. Similarly, production of bioenergy from agricultural wastes is gaining interest worldwide. In view of the above objective, cellulose degrading bacterium G9-KDP isolated from the crop fluid of giant African land snail, Achatina fulica was identified as Bacillus tequilensis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The B. tequilensis G9 produced cellulase with the highest activity of 956.9 IU/ml extract on 8th day of incubation when grown in BMS medium induced by sugarcane bagasse. The optimal temperature and pH of the organism were 60 degrees C and 6.6, respectively. It was observed that the activity of crude enzyme was affected to various extents by different metal ions. The activity was inhibited by Co2+ and Ca2+ at 5 mM concentrations but enhanced by K+ and Mn2+ ions. However, EDTA at 1\% concentration increased the activity by 94\% while SDS reduced it by 57\% at the same concentration. Scanning electron microscopy of the filter paper used as substrate revealed significant structural modifications after the treatment with bacteria. The degradation of the various cellulosic compounds into simpler sugars by this isolate brands its potential applications in industrial biotechnology.
The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose by cellulases is one of the major limiting steps in the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to yield bioethanol. To overcome this hindrance, significant efforts are underway to identify novel cellulases. The snail Achatina fulica is a gastropod with high cellulolytic activity, mainly due to the abundance of glycoside hydrolases produced by both the animal and its resident microbiota. In this study, we partially assessed the cellulolytic aerobic bacterial diversity inside the gastrointestinal tract of A. fulica by culture-dependent methods and evaluated the hydrolytic repertoire of the isolates. Forty bacterial isolates were recovered from distinct segments of the snail gut and identified to the genus level by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Additional phenotypic characterization was performed using biochemical tests provided by the Vitek2 identification system. The overall enzymatic repertoire of the isolated strains was investigated by enzymatic plate assays, containing the following substrates: powdered sugarcane bagasse, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-cellobioside (pNPC), 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside (MUG), 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-cellobioside (MUC), and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xylopyranoside (MUX). Our results indicate that the snail A. fulica is an attractive source of cultivable bacteria that showed to be valuable resources for the production of different types of biomass-degrading enzymes.
This research work aims to assess the optimal conditions that would lower exhaust emissions and enhance engine performance using a green synthesized silica nano additive added parsley biodiesel blend. Hence, the process variables were optimized and the interactive influence of engine speed, engine load, and biodiesel blend (B20SNP) concentration was examined using the central composite design tool integrated into the response surface methodology design. The findings of this study showed that the studied variables had a substantial effect on the responses. Also, the ideal conditions for im-proved efficiency and reduced emissions were predicted to be B20SNP (100 ppm), engine speed (1458.60 rpm), and engine load (98.07\%) while the best responses for improved engine characteristics were BTE (31.91\%), BSEC (5.97 MJ/kW), BSFC (0.388kg/kWh), HC (19.18\%), NOx (198.21 ppm) and CO (0.050 \%) at the desirability of 1.000. The results of the ANOVA analysis revealed that B20SNP had the most influence on the behavior of the investigated four-stroke single-cylinder diesel engine. Furthermore, the results of this study asserted that silica nanoparticles made from waste sugarcane bagasse greatly enhanced the diesel engine's efficiency and reduced emission behavior.(c) 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Acidic and chemical inhibitor stresses undermine efficient lactic acid bioproduction from lignocellulosic feedstock. Requisite coping treatments, such as detoxification and neutralizing agent supplementation, can be eliminated if a strong microbial host is employed in the process. Here, we exploited an originally robust yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae BTCC3, as a production platform for lactic acid. This wild-type strain exhibited a rapid cell growth in the presence of various chemical inhibitors compared to laboratory and industrial strains, namely BY4741 and Ethanol-red. Pathway engineering was performed on the strain by introducing an exogenous LDH gene after disrupting the PDC1 and PDC5 genes. Facilitated by this engineered strain, high cell density cultivation could generate lactic acid with productivity at 4.80 and 3.68 g L-1 h(-1) under semi-neutralized and non-neutralized conditions, respectively. Those values were relatively higher compared to other studies. Cultivation using real lignocellulosic hydrolysate was conducted to assess the performance of this engineered strain. Non-neutralized fermentation using non-detoxified hydrolysate from sugarcane bagasse as a medium could produce lactic acid at 1.69 g L-1 h(-1), which was competitive to the results from other reports that still included detoxification and neutralization steps in their experiments. This strategy could make the overall lactic acid bioproduction process simpler, greener, and more cost-efficient.
Enzyme reaction products and by-products from pretreatment steps can inhibit endoglucanases and are major factors limiting the efficiency of enzymatic lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis. The gene encoding the endoglucanase from Scytalidium thermophilum (egst) was cloned and expressed as a soluble protein in Pichia pastoris GS115. The recombinant enzyme (Egst) was monomeric (66 kDa) and showed an estimated carbohydrate content of 53.3\% (w/w). The optimum temperature and pH of catalysis were 60-70 A degrees C and pH of 5.5, respectively. The enzyme was highly stable at pH 3.0-8.0 with a half-life in water of 100 min at 65 A degrees C. The Egst presented good halotolerance, retaining 84.1 and 71.4\% of the control activity in the presence of 0.5 and 2.0 mol L-1 NaCl, respectively. Hydrolysis of medium viscosity carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) by Egst was stimulated 1.77-, 1.84-, 1.64-, and 1.8-fold by dithiothreitol, beta-mercaptoethanol, cysteine, and manganese at 10, 10, 10, and 5 mmol L-1 concentration, respectively. The enzyme hydrolyzed CMC with maximal velocity and an apparent affinity constant of 432.10 +/- 16.76 and 10.5 +/- 2.53 mg mL(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the Egst was tolerant to reaction products and able to act on pretreated fractions sugarcane bagasse demonstrating excellent properties for application in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass.
The biochar, product of pyrolysis of organic waste, has been used as a soil conditioner and alternative on solid waste management. However, the raw material and pyrolysis temperature used influence the quantity and dynamics of release of nutrients and contaminants from the biochar. The objective was to evaluate the use of waste sugarcane bagasse, eucalyptus and sewage sludge for production of biochar and determine the chemical, physical, mineralogical properties and acid extraction of these materials produced at 350 degrees C and 500 degrees C. Were evaluated the proportion of C, H, N, O; ashes; macro and micronutrients, plus some contaminants; characterization of mineral phases by diffractometry of X-rays; functional groups by infrared absorption spectroscopy (FTIR). Moreover, it was determined the release of nutrients and contaminants for the extraction in increasing concentration of HNO3 (0,01 - 2,0 mol L-1). The O/C and H/C relations decreased with increasing temperature of pyrolysis, which define a greater stability of the C of biochars. Sewage sludge biochar (BC-L) had the highest nutrient release rates and contaminant metals (Cd, Cr, Ni and Pb). Acid extraction of other biochars was very low (<20\% of the total content). The results indicate that the carbon fraction of biochar contributes to the low rate of release of the elements in acid place.
The biomass gasification is gaining attention of scientists and researchers worldwide to be an innovative and efficient method for producing clean energy. While consuming `junk' organic, such as sugarcane bagasse or rice husk, the gas produced in the process is used for heat or electricity generation (or gas turbine engines), synthesis of liquid fuels, hydrogen production, chemical synthesis and manufacturing of fuel cells. However, a key challenge in the development and improvement of the biomass gasification process is cleaning the gas produced in order to ensure its quality and applicability. Among the main impurities found in the gasification gas, the tar is one of the worst, the presence of this kind of impurity can prejudice the performance of the process and also damage equipment. There are several methods for tar removal. Catalytic process is the most studied and the one that shows the best results. This paper presents an isothermal mathematical model that characterizes production and consumption of tar, modelled by toluene, reforming reaction using nickel-based catalyst. A computer code in FORTRAN 90 language was developed to perform the simulation, which described the concentrations of the main components (C7H8, O-2, H-2 and CO), as well as the reaction yield and influence of temperature on generation of products. Then the optimum conditions for carrying out the process were determined.
This work aimed to evaluate the effect of soil cover and doses of sludge from sedimentation pond of swine wastewater on yield and nutrient export in sugar beet cultivar Early Wonder. The experiment was conducted at the Vale do Piranga Experimental Farm belonging to EPAMIG Zona da Mata in Oratorios (MG), from 07/08/08 to 09/11/08. The experiment was arranged in a split-plot in randomized block design with four replications. The main plots consisted of three types of mulching: sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk and without any cover, and the subplots of five doses of sludge: 0, 10, 20, 40 and 60 t ha(-1). At 70 days after transplanting, harvest was carried out. Mulching with coffee husk provided the highest root unit weight and increased yield of commercial roots, independent of the sludge dose. The most exported nutrients by the shoots were Ca, Mg and S, while N, P and K were the most exported by the roots. With a population of 400,000 plants ha-1 and yield of 34.22 t ha(-1), the mean quantities of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S exported by the roots were 140, 24, 180, 8, 17 and 5 kg ha(-1) and 371, 435, 320, 74 and 250 g ha(-1) of Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu and B respectively.
Microalgae are the important biofuel precursors and their economic cultivation can be boosted under mixotrophic (MT) conditions while employing different industrial wastewaters containing organic carbon. In the current research, the quantitative analysis of microalgal biomass production under MT and photoautotrophic (PT) cultivation conditions both at lab and pilot scales was studied. For the purpose, a pre-identified microalgal species Chlorella sorokiniana was cultivated mixotrophically and photoautotrophically at lab and pilot scales. Artificially prepared wastewater containing 2\% (w/v) sugarcane molasses was used for MT cultivation. However, for PT cultivation, atmospheric CO2 was the only carbon source. After 15 days of aerobic incubation, microalgal biomass was harvested and analyzed for biomass productivity. Cultivation conditions and cultivation scale posed significant and non-significant impact, respectively on biomass productivities. However, biomass productivity was comparatively higher for the biomass raised under MT conditions at lab scale. The recorded values of biomass productivity were 88.75 +/- 9.51 and 127.68 +/- 7.91 mg L-1 d(-1) for the biomass raised at lab scale under PT and MT conditions, respectively. Pilot-scale cultivation depicted biomass productivities as 83.49 +/- 7.87 and 124.88 +/- 3.76 mg L-1 d(-1) under PT and MT conditions, respectively. High biomass production under MT conditions may suggest the elevated production of biofuels from microalgae. Future studies on biomass production while utilizing different industrial wastewaters at pilot scale and in open raceway ponds are needed for viable production of microalgae-based fuels.
The influences of temperature and nutritional conditions on the mycelium growth of oyster mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Pleurotus cystidiosus (PC) were investigated in laboratory experiment during the summer season of 2014. The results of the experiment indicated that potato dextrose agar (PDA) and yam dextrose agar (YDA) were the most suitable media for the mycelium growth of oyster mushroom PO while four media (PDA, YDA, sweet potato dextrose agar, and malt extract agar medium) were not significantly different in supporting mycelium growth of oyster mushroom PC. The optimal temperature for mycelium growth of both oyster mushroom species was obtained at 28 degrees C. Mycelium growth of oyster mushroom PO was improved by carbon sources such as glucose, molasses, and at 1 similar to 5\% sucrose concentration, mycelium colony diameter of mushroom PO was achieved the highest value. Whereas glucose, dextrose, and sucrose as carbon sources gave the good mycelium growth of oyster mushroom PC, and at 1 similar to 3\% sucrose concentration, mycelium colony diameter of PC was achieved the maximum value. Ammonium chloride concentrations at 0.03 similar to 0.09\% and 0.03 similar to 0.05\% also gave the greatest values in mycelium colony diameter of mushroom PO and PC. Brown rice was found to be the most favourable for mycelium growth of two oyster mushroom species. In addition, sugarcane residue, acasia sawdust and corn cob were selected as favourable lignocellulosic substrate sources for mycelium growth of both oyster mushrooms.
Fresh and conserved pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud., synonym D. decumbens) were compared in terms of in vitro gas production and in vivo nutrient digestibility, metabolisable energy (ME) concentration and average daily gain (ADG) of Thai indigenous cattle. The study was designed as a completely randomised design with Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) as a control and pangola grass in fresh, hay and silage forms at the same age at harvest (45 days regrowth) as treatments. As intended, the dry matter (DM) intake of forages supplemented with concentrate and a protein block was not different (p>.05) among treatments. All forms of pangola ranked higher in crude protein and ME concentrations than Ruzi grass. Pangola silage, to which 5\% sugarcane molasses was added at ensiling to minimise the risk of bad fermentation, produced more gas in vitro after 96hours of incubation and had greater (p<.05) in vivo DM, organic matter and crude protein apparent digestibility and ME concentrations and resulted in higher ADG of cattle. In conclusion, the form of pangola grass had a direct effect on digestibility, ME and ADG of Thai indigenous cattle. Pangola silage ranked higher than its fresh and hay forms as well as Ruzi grass which was the control. Pangola grass is a feasible alternative as forage source for cattle in tropical countries and can be recommended as a grass species for feeding especially during dry season.
Nanocellulose shows potential as an effective natural adsorbent for removing harmful contaminants from wastewater. This paper describes the development of innovative nanocellulose thin films made of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), polyacrylic acid (PAA), and active carbon (AC) as adsorbent materials for absorbing azo dyes from wastewater. The CNCs were recovered from sugarcane bagasse using alkali treatment and acid hydrolysis. The composition and processing parameters of the thin films were optimized, and their adsorption capacity was determined using thermodynamic isotherms and adsorption kinetics. Adsorption characteristics such as the methylene blue (MB) dye concentration, contact time, temperature, and pH were investigated to determine how they affected adsorption. The results show that the adsorption process follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. At an adsorbent mass of 50 mg, dye concentration of 50 ppm in 50 mL, and contact period of 120 min at 25 ?, the thin film comprising 64 wt\% CNC, 16 wt\% PAA, and 20 wt\% AC showed high dye removal efficiency (86.3\%) and adsorption capacity (43.15 mg/g). The MB removal efficiency increased to 95.56\% and the adsorption capacity to 47.78 mg/g when the medium's pH was gradually increased from neutral to alkaline. The nontoxicity, low production cost, water stability, easy recovery, and high adsorption capacity of these membranes make them suitable for water treatment systems.
Cellulose is the most abundant polysaccharide in lignocellulosic biomass, where it is interlinked with lignin and hemicellulose. Bioethanol can be produced from biomass. Since breaking down biomass is difficult, cellulose-active enzymes secreted by filamentous fungi play an important role in degrading recalcitrant lignocellulosic biomass. We characterized a cellobiohydrolase (AfCel6A) and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase LPMO (AfAA9\_B) from Aspergillus fumigatus after they were expressed in Pichia pastoris and purified. The biochemical parameters suggested that the enzymes were stable; the optimal temperature was similar to 60 degrees C. Further characterization revealed high turnover numbers (k(cat) of 147.9 s(-1) and 0.64 s(-1), respectively). Surprisingly, when combined, AfCel6A and AfAA9\_B did not act synergistically. AfCel6A and AfAA9\_B association inhibited AfCel6A activity, an outcome that needs to be further investigated. However, AfCel6A or AfAA9\_B addition boosted the enzymatic saccharification activity of a cellulase cocktail and the activity of cellulase Af-EGL7. Enzymatic cocktail supplementation with AfCel6A or AfAA9\_B boosted the yield of fermentable sugars from complex substrates, especially sugarcane exploded bagasse, by up to 95\%. The synergism between the cellulase cocktail and AfAA9\_B was enzyme- and substrate-specific, which suggests a specific enzymatic cocktail for each biomass by up to 95\%. The synergism between the cellulase cocktail and AfAA9\_B was enzyme- and substrate-specific, which suggests a specific enzymatic cocktail for each biomass.
The aim of this study was to characterize an aqueous polymer isocyanate (API) type adhesive made from natural rubber latex (NRL) and lignin as base polymers, and to evaluate bond performance of the adhesive as laminated wood adhesive. The base polymers of the adhesive were prepared by blending NRL, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and lignin isolated from black liquor of alkaline pretreatment of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) with compositions of 25/25/0,25/20/5, 25/15/10,25/10/15,25/5/20, and 25/0/25 (w/w/w). The isocyanate crosslinker was added at the level of 15\% of the weight of base polymer. The glass transition temperature (Tg), heat degradation, and the homogenity of the adhesive blend were analyzed. The adhesive was used for producing laminated wood (20x8 cm(2)). Results showed that the addition of lignin in the base polymer blends of API adhesive did not significantly affect the Tg of the adhesives. However, it affected the thermal decomposition and bond performance of the adhesives. There were more residues and less homogenous adhesive solution due to the addition of lignin in the base polyemr blends of API adhesives. The addition of lignin in the base polymer blends caused significant decrease in bond performance of the adhesive applied in glue laminated wood. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Biomolecular carbon dots (CDs) have immense potential for various industries due to exceptional bioactivity, biocompatibility, low toxicity, and biodegradability. In the present work xylitol (Xlt), a natural sweetener produced by microbial fermentation of sugarcane bagasse (71.98\% conversion) has been used for CDs preparation by microwave-assisted carbonization in the presence of ethylene diamine (EDA). The resultant xylitol carbon dots (XCDs) were irregular shaped, rough with an average size of 8.88 nm and exhibiting fluorescence between 400 and 450 nm. The presence of EDA preserves the native chemical structure of Xlt even after exposure to microwaves. Purified XCDs were conjugated (AM-XCD) with ketoconazole and tetracycline for fungi and bacteria, respectively. In comparison to Xlt, XCDs have higher inhibitory potential and reduced dosage size of antimicrobials against Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli by 75\%, 75\%, 87.50\%, and 50\%, respectively. For Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhi also inhibitory potential was increased by 14.68\% and 21.38\%. Increased efficacy advocated the improved drug delivery in the presence of XCDs. However, no inhibitory effect was recorded against DU145 (human prostate cancer) and HCT-15 (human colon adenocarcinoma) cell lines. The findings of the current work suggested the possible use of Xlt as an important antimicrobial agent besides an efficient drug carrier in healthcare.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates are biopolymers produced by microbial fermentation. They have excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, which are regarded as promising substitutes for traditional plastics in various production and application fields. This review details the research progress in PHA production from lignocellulosic crop residues, lipid-type agricultural wastes, and other agro-industrial wastes such as molasses and whey. The effective use of agricultural waste can further reduce the cost of PHA production while avoiding competition between industrial production and food. The latest information on fermentation parameter optimization, fermentation strategies, kinetic studies, and circular approach has also been discussed. This review aims to analyze the crucial process of the PHA production from agricultural wastes to provide support and reference for further scale-up and industrial production.
Alkaline proteases are widely used in industrial processes due to their high pH tolerance and thermal stability. In present work, the protease producing ability of Bacillus strains (Bacillus subtilis PTCC 1254, B. subtilis PTCC 1156 and B. subtilis PTCC 1715) was studied. B. subtilis PTCC 1254 showed the highest proteolytic activity and therefore, the strain was selected as the biological agent in the submerged fermentation. Cell growth kinetic model was investigated using Malthus and Logistic equations, which were relatively well fitted to the experimental data. The maximum specific growth rate for Malthus and Logistic models were 0.187 and 0.377 h-1, respectively. The optimum culture conditions were defined as follows: pH 9, temperature 37 \& DEG;C, fermentation time 72 h, agitation speed 150 rpm and 4\% inoculum with medium contained 1 g/l CaCl2, 0.6 g/l K2HPO4, 1 g/l KH2PO4, 0.2 g/l MgSO4.7H2O, 2 g/l sugarcane bagasse and 4 g/l corn bran as carbon and nitrogen sources. A 25\% v/v industrial wastewater containing starchy waste was used as main substrate. Under optimum conditions, maximum alkaline protease activity of 117.43 U/ml was achieved. Also, the obtained protease was able to remove blood stain from cotton fabric and hydrolyze gelatin of X-ray film. Thus, this protease showed potential applications in detergent and photographic industries.
The present research work shows the effect on the carbonation of Portland cement-based mortars (PC) with the addition of green materials, specifically residues from two groups: agricultural and industrial wastes, and minerals and fibres. These materials have the purpose of helping with the waste disposal, recycling, and improving the durability of concrete structures. The specimens used for the research were elaborated with CPC 30R RS, according to the Mexican standard NMX-C-414, which is equivalent to the international ASTM C150. The aggregates were taken from the rivers Lerma and Huajumbaro, in the State of Michoacan, Mexico, and the water/cement relation was 1:1 in weight. The carbonation analyses were performed with cylinder specimens in an accelerated carbonation test chamber with conditions of 65 +/- 5\% of humidity and 25 +/- 2 degrees C temperature. The results showed that depending on the PC substitutions, the carbonation front advance of the specimens can increase or decrease. It is highlighted that the charcoal ashes, blast-furnace slags, and natural perlite helped to reduce the carbonation advance compared to the control samples, consequently, they contributed to the durability of concrete structures. Conversely, the sugarcane bagasse ash, brick manufacturing ash, bottom ash, coal, expanded perlite, metakaolin, and opuntia ficus-indica dehydrated fibres additions increased the velocity of carbonation front, helping with the sequestration of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, and reducing environmental pollution.
Effective binders with low environmental impacts are of great importance for sustainable engineering practices. Parameters controlling loss of mass and stiffness degradation of `green' stabilised bauxite tailings (BT) were evaluated. The porosity/binder index (eta/B-iv) was investigated. This index allows unification of all experiments in a single relation for a specimen's porosity and binder content, resulting in a rational dosage methodology for any soil-binder blend, replacing conventional (trial and error) strategies that are laborious and time consuming. Wetting-drying cycles (durability tests) and pulse velocity tests were performed. The alkali-activated binder was composed of sugarcane bagasse ash and carbide lime (precursors) and sodium hydroxide (alkaline activator). For comparison, BT were also stabilised with Portland cement. For both cementing agents, stiffer specimens were less susceptible to the abrasive action of durability cycles. Diverse stiffness behaviours were observed due to the different curing periods needed for the development of chemical reactions for each binder. eta/B-iv was found to be an appropriate parameter for evaluation of loss of mass and stiffness degradation: lower porosity and higher cement content resulted in better mechanical performance. Through eta/B-iv, engineers can choose the best option for a project by decreasing porosity (increasing soil compaction) and reducing the binder content or, inversely, increasing porosity while raising binder content.
The rapid development of online-to-offline food delivery service has necessitated the replacement of plastic lunchbox using biodegradable ones. In current study, a total number of fourteen panelists were firstly recruited and trained to investigate how different commercial disposable lunchboxes affect the freshly cooked rice sensory properties during heat preservation (60 C, 60 min). The lunchboxes were made of pure polypropylene (PP), polypropylene-starch (PP-S), pure wheat-straw and sugarcane-straw (WS \& SS) and Paper. The discrepancy of volatile aromatic substances was then analyzed using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS) to study the possible mechanism beneath the variations of the influences of different lunchboxes on the aromatic properties of rice. Results showed that, compared with the textural attributes, the aroma was significantly and positively correlated with panelist's acceptability, among which, the aroma of starchy, sulfur and smoky are the most important ones. The moisture absorption plays an important role in affecting the aro-matic characteristics of the packaged rice. While all lunchboxes have inhibitory effects on the production of volatile flavor substances including 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine, 2-Acetylpyrazine and gamma-Octalactone, pure PP and PP-S lunchboxes generated undesirable flavor substances including 2-Ethyl-1-hexanl and Camphene, and thus reduced panelist's preferences. It was also found that the panelist liked the rice packaged by Paper lunchbox the best because of its better performance in maintaining the aroma of starchy and sulfur, the two substances that are associated with the higher concentration of ethereal and fruity volatile flavor substances. This study provides important information for manufacturers to understand how different disposable lunchboxes may impact the textural and aromatic properties of packaged foods.
Nitrate losses in surface runoff water from nursery production areas can be significant. This study evaluated the potential use of microbial-based (denitrification), flow-through bioreactors for their nitrate-remediation ability. Duplicate bioreactor systems were constructed at a local foliage plant nursery. Each bioreactor system consisted of four 242 L tanks with connections alternating between bottom and top. Each tank was filled with approximately 113 L of Kaldness media to provide surface area for attachment of native microflora. Molasses was supplied as a carbon source for denitrification and water flow rates through the systems ranged from 5 to 18 L min(-1) during tests. Automatic water samplers were used to collect composite samples every 15 min from both the inflow and the exit flow water. Results indicate consistent removal of 80-100\% of the nitrate flowing into the systems. Accumulation of ammoniacal and nitrite nitrogen did not occur, indicating that the nitrate-nitrogen was removed from the water, and not simply transformed into another water-soluble species. Occasions where removal rates were less than 80\% were usually traced to faulty delivery of the carbon source. Results indicate that modular microbial-based bioremediation systems may be a useful tool for helping water managers meet stringent nitrogen water quality regulations, especially at nurseries with limited space for expansion of water retention facilities. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Introduction - Toxic baits are an important tool in fruit flies management; however, some beneficial insects such as natural enemies can be impaired by this technique. In this study, the toxicity of some selected baits on Trichogramma pretiosum and Chrysoperla externa, which are important as biological control agents of fruit pests, was evaluated. Materials and methods - Bioassays were conducted under laboratory conditions (temperature of 25 +/- 2 degrees C, relative humidity 70 +/- 10\% and 14 h day length) and consisted on the exposure of adults to a fine film of bait (drops with similar to 4 mm of diameter). Based on either, reduction of the parasitism capacity for T. pretiosum or mortality for C. externa, the baits were grouped in the IOBC toxicity categories. Results and discussion - The malathion-based baits composed by the attractants sugarcane molasses (7\%), Biofruit (R) (5\%) and ANAMED (R) are harmful to both species based on reduction of >96\% in the parasitism capacity of T. pretiosum and 100\% mortality for C. externa. Toxic baits composed by the aforementioned attractants with the insecticide spinosad added, and the commercial bait Success (R) 0.02 CB are harmful to T. pretiosum, with reductions on parasitism capacity higher than 87\%. However, these baits are relatively selective to C. externa adults, with mortality ranging from 23 to 60\%. Conclusion - Based on the obtained results, toxic baits with spinosad are more selective to predators and considered a more ecofriendly option for integrated fruit flies management.
In this work, bagasse pulp was used to prepare cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) by enzymatic assisted mechanical treatment. A xylanase pretreatment was applied for varying the hemicellulose content in the pulp fibers, and the contribution of this pretreatment to the post-mechanical treatment was investigated. The results showed that CNFs prepared after xylanase pretreatment exhibited enhanced thermal stability with an increase in crystallinity. However, the overall thermal stability of the CNFs decreased significantly after xylanase was applied directly to the mechanical treated CNFs. The results indicate that the presence of hemicellulose in the fiber could affect the thermal stability of CNFs. The direct application of xylanase to CNFs could affect both the hydrogen bond between the hemicellulose and the cellulose and the covalent bond between the hemicellulose molecules, which partially destroys the internal network structure and reduces of thermal stability of CNFs. {[
This study evaluated effects of microbial inoculation on fermentation, aerobic stability and ruminal dry matter (DM) degradation of silage produced from Avocado (Persia Americana) pulp (AP). The AP, 800 g/kg fresh matter (FM) was mixed with 150 g grape pumice (GP)/kg FM and 50 g sugarcane molasses/kg FM. The mixture was treated with 1) no inoculant (control), 2) Emsilage inoculant (EMS), and 3) Sil-All 4x4 W.S. inoculant (SIL). Materials were ensiled in 1.5 L anaerobic jars for 90 days. Triplicate samples were collected on days 0, 3, 7, 10, and 90 for determination of fermentation, nutritive value and aerobic stability. In situ DM degradability was determined using 3 rumen cannulated Holstein cows. Microbial inoculation to AP silage increased lactic acid bacteria population, which subsequently increased residual fermentation substrate and lactic acid content. Terminal pH and volatile fatty acids of the silage were not affected by inoculation. Inoculated silage had less fibre and reduced aerobic stability compared to the control. The AP and its mixture had higher DM soluble fractions compared to the GP which had a higher degradation rate. Potential degradable fraction and extent of degradation were similar for each treatment. The EMS treatment had higher soluble fractions and lower degradation rate than other treatments. Inoculation with SIL improved degradation of the silage compared to other treatments. Thus, microbial inoculation qualifies the AP silage as a potential feed for ruminants.
The thermophilic and alkaliphilic Bacillus sp. JB-99 was isolated from sugarcane molasses and was Cultured in 250 ml Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 ml of synthetic medium consisting of (g/l): citric acid; 10.0, NaNO3; 10.0, K2HPO4,; 5.0 MgSO4.7H(2)O; 0.3, CaCl2.2H(2)O: 0.2, NaCl. 5.0 and Na2CO3; 10.0 at pH 10.0. The cultures were incubated at 55 C-circle with agitation (180 rpm) for 24 h. To study the effect of different carbon and nitrogen sources on enzyme yield (U/ml): citric acid (12780), soluble starch (12480), fructose (11760) and raffinose (11650) were found best carbon sources, while NaNO3 (12780) and KNO3 were found best nitrogen sources. The optimum temperature and pH for protease activity was 70 C-circle and 11.0, respectively. The addition of 10 mM Ca2+ enhanced the optimum temperature 80 degreesC and retained 78\% activity even after I h heat treatment at 80 degreesC. Proteolytic activity was completely inhibited by I mM PMSF and TPCK showed that it seems to be trypsin like serine alkaline protease. The enzyme activity was enhanced in the presence of 10 mM metal ions namely Mn-2, Mg2+, Cu2- and Co2+ and activity also inhibited in the presence of 10 mM metal ions. such as Fe3+, Hg2+ and Zn2+. The enzyme was stable in the presence of 5\% H2O2. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biochar, a pyrolysis product, has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while increasing the soil water holding capacity. The purpose of this paper is to model biochars GHG emission based on its applied dose, its pH value, pyrolysis temperature and soil texture. Poultry manure and sugarcane straw biochar produced at two temperatures (350 and 650 degrees C), were applied in three doses (12.5, 25, and 50 Mg ha(-1)), to sandy and clayey soils at two soil pH values (original 7.5 and adjusted to 5.5). The concentrations of CO2, CH4 and N2O were determined using gas chromatography. Increasing the biochar pyrolysis temperature and reducing the soil pH to 5.5 reduced the CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from the soil. The mitigating effect of biochars was more evident in the sandy soil, since the clayey soil was highly buffed. The CO2 emission, explained negatively by the variables soil texture and biochar pH and positively by the variables pyrolysis temperature and biochar dose, had the final equation: CO2 = 82.28 - 0.05Cclay - 0.08pH + 6.98Tpyrolysis + 0.64Dbiochar (R-2 = 0.65).
In the early stage, the best conditions for alkali-bound ozone pretreatment were studied. But after treatment, the alkaline black liquor was directly discarded due to the large amount of organic matter, resulting in environmental pollution and waste of resources. In this paper, the alkaline black liquor was recycled under the optimal pretreatment conditions. The results showed that the number of alkaline black liquor cycles had little effect on hemicellulose content, and had a great influence on cellulose content and lignin content. Through structural characterization of corn stover, it was found that the pretreatment caused structural changes of lignin in straw. However, when the alkaline black liquor was recycled for the fourth time, the ether bond in the side chain of lignin and the covalent bond between the components were not sufficiently destroyed, and the damage to the phenolic hydroxyl group was also weakened. It was indicated that when the alkaline black liquor was recycled for the fourth time, the destruction effect of the alkaline black liquor on the straw was significantly inhibited. Therefore, the optimal circulation time of alkaline black liquor was three times, and the cellulolytic conversion rate was 81.53\%.
This paper presents the process design and assessment of a sugarcane-based ethanol production system that combines the usage of both mass and heat integration (pinch analysis) strategies to enhance the process efficiency and renewability performance. Three configurations were analyzed: (i) Base case: traditional ethanol production (1G); (ii) mass-integrated (1G2G); and (iii) mass and heat-integrated system (1G2G-HI). The overall assessment of these systems was based on complementary approaches such as mass and mass-heat integration, energy and exergy analysis, exergy-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and renewability exergy criteria. The performances of the three cases were assessed through five key performance indicators (KIPs) divided into two groups: one is related to process performance, namely, energy efficiency, exergy efficiency, and average unitary exergy cost (AUEC), and the other one is associated to environmental performance i.e., exergy-based CO2-equation emissions and renewability exergy index. Results showed a higher exergy efficiency of 50\% and the lowest AUEC of all the systems (1.61 kJ/kJ) for 1G2G-HI. Furthermore, the destroyed exergy in 1G2G-HI was lower by 7\% and 9\% in comparison to the 1G and 1G2G cases, respectively. Regarding the exergy-based GHG emissions and renewability performance (lambda(index)), the 1G2G-HI case presented the lowest impacts in terms of the CO2-equivalent emissions (94.10 gCO(2)-eq/MJ products), while lambda(index) was found to be environmentally unfavorable (lambda = 0.77). However, lambda(index) became favorable (lambda > 1) when the useful exergy of the byproducts was considered.
Aims To investigate characterization of the bacterial community composition and functionality and their impact on substrate biodegradation as well as mushroom yield. Methods and Results Bacterial diversity, composition and functionality were accessed by DNA-derived analysis for a sugarcane straw-based substrate composted for either 5, 10 or 15 days. In addition, carbon and nitrogen losses, carbohydrate conversion and mushroom yields were measured for the different treatments. Changes were observed in the bacterial community diversity and composition after the process started, but not during the composting process itself. Following phase I, Acinetobacter sequences were recovered in high numbers, and selected genes associated with nitrogen metabolism and lignocellulose deconstruction were mapped. Substrate physicochemical composition showed elevated carbon and nitrogen losses after 10 and 15 days of phase I with reductions in mushroom yield. Conclusions Acinetobacter species appear to play an important role in substrate degradation processes, and a 5-day phase I period showed a significant higher mushroom yield compared to composting for either 10 or 15 days. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study confers a better understanding of the bacterial community manipulation during the substrate preparation and their influence in substrate selectivity for the Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation.
Geraniol is a class of natural products that are widelyused inthe aroma industry due to their unique aroma. Here, to achieve thesynthesis of geraniol and alleviate the intense competition from theyeast ergosterol pathway, a transcription factor-mediated ergosterolfeedback system was developed in this study to autonomously regulateergosterol metabolism and redirect carbon flux to geraniol synthesis.In addition, the modification of ergosterol-responsive promoters,the optimization of transcription factor expression intensity, andstepwise metabolic engineering resulted in a geraniol titer of 531.7mg L-1. For sustainable production of geraniol,we constructed a xylose assimilation pathway in Candidaglycerinogenes (C. glycerinogenes). Then, the xylose metabolic capacity was ameliorated and the growthof the engineered strain was rescued by activating the pentose phosphate(PP) pathway. Finally, we obtained 1091.6, 862.4, and 921.8 mg L-1 of geraniol in a 5 L bioreactor by using pure glucose,simulated wheat straw hydrolysates, and simulated sugarcane bagassehydrolysates, with yields of 47.5, 57.9, and 59.1 mg g(-1) DCW, respectively. Our study demonstrated that C.glycerinogenes has the potential to produce geraniolfrom lignocellulosic biomass, providing a powerful tool for the sustainablesynthesis of other valuable monoterpenes.
Petroleum-based materials are often used in the packaging industry. However, the single use value of such products can be problematic with regard to proper waste disposal. As such, molded pulp packaging can be used as an alternative, given its ease of recycling, composting, and eventual biodegradation. In this work, we aims to study the pulp properties of sunn hemp and its usage as molded pulp products. For this purpose, unbleached beaten and unbeaten soda pulps derived from the whole stem of sunn hemp were examined for their fiber morphology, fibrillation, fiber classification, and physical properties. The sunn hemp pulp was subsequently molded using a batch molding machine. To determine the hydrophobicity of the molded pulp products, the molded samples were manufactured with and without additives. Finally, some properties of the molded pulp products were examined and compared with the commercially available bleached bagasse molded pulp products. It was observed that the molded products made from sunn hemp pulp with additives had a higher water contact angle than that of the commercial products. In terms of general usage, the molded products from sunn hemp pulp with additives were found to be capable of storing hot water, hot cooking oil, as well as microwaving water. We concluded that the sunn hemp pulp could be used as an alternative fibrous raw material in the production of molded pulp packaging.
An effective pretreatment to improve cellulose accessibility and facilitate glucose release is crucial in a cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. This work comparatively assessed four H2O2-involved pretreatments, i.e., concentrated H3PO4 plus H2O2 (PHP), H2O2-CH3COOH (HPAC), alkaline-H2O2 (AHP), and Fenton chemistry (FC), for their pretreatment performances on wheat straw, poplar, and birch biomass. Substrate characteristics before and after pretreatment were assessed using SEM, XRD, and LSCM. The hydrolytic potentials of the pretreated substrates were compared by Simons' stain and cellulose-glucose conversion assessment. The results showed that acidic H2O2-involved pretreatments (PHP and HPAC) were more efficient in biomass delignification compared to AHP and FC. PHP pretreatment is more promising for cellulosic ethanol production due to its corresponding high glucose yield (368.0mgg(-1)) after enzymatic hydrolysis.
The extraction of high-purity technical lignins at large scale, such as organosolv lignin, is still a challenge. The objective of this work was to verify the environmental feasibility of microwave-assisted organosolv delignification (MWAOD) of sugar cane bagasse (SCB) for scalable purposes. MWAOD studies were performed using 90\% v/v CH3COOH combined with 2.0\% v/v HCl (110 degrees C for 30 min). The effects of the MWAOD process on the lignin structure were evaluated. The results showed that increasing SCB mass in the microwave reactor causes considerable changes in neither the lignin yield and purity nor in their interunit linkages, monolignol composition, and thermal stability. Moreover, using recycled acetic acid spent liquor resulted in minor differences in the process parameters and lignin structure when compared to reactions with a fresh acid liquor. Therefore, MWAOD presents itself as a promising sustainable process for production of high-quality lignin in large scale with high yields.
In order to solve the problem of pollution of acid mine drainage (AMD), such as low pH value and being rich in SO42-, Fe and Mn pollution ions, etc., immobilized particles were prepared by using sugar cane-refining waste (bagasse), a natural composite mineral (called medical stone in China) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) as substrate materials, based on microbial immobilization technology. Medical stone is a kind of composite mineral with absorbability, non-toxicity and biological activity. The adsorption capacity of medical stone is different according to its geographic origins. Two dynamic columns were constructed with Column 1 filled by Fuxin's medical stone-enhanced SRB immobilized particles, and Column 2 filled by Dengfeng's medical stone-enhanced SRB immobilized particles as fillers. The treatment effect on AMD with SRB-immobilized particles enhanced by medical stone from different areas was compared. Results showed that Column 2 had better treatment effect on AMD. The average effluent pH value of Column 2 was 6.98, the average oxidation reduction potential (ORP) value was -70.17 mV, the average removal percentages of SO42-, Fe2+ and Mn2+ were 70.13\%, 83.82\% and 59.43\%, respectively, and the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) emission was 555.48 mg/L.
Oxidative pretreatment of wheat straw with sodium chloride has been used for selective delignification to obtain ideal samples to understand the negative effects of lignin on cellulose accessibility of lignocellulosic biomass. Strong interactive effects has been found between hemicellulose and lignin. To achieve a high enzymatic glucan conversion (EGC) (>80\% with 20 FPU/g solid) in the case of high xylan content (25-30\%), a moderate degree of delignification (56.3\%) with relatively low lignin content (11.9\%) is necessary; while in the case of low xylan content (2.6-3.9\%), slight removal of lignin by oxidative treatment can well increase cellulose digestibility with a final EGC reaching 90\% even that the residual lignin content is as high as 30.9\%. Delignification greatly modifies substrate surface morphology with deformation, fracture of cell wall layers and even disappearance of middle lamella. Oxidation also modifies the functional groups and surface properties of lignin, leading to reduction in the inhibitive effects. Phenolic hydroxyl group (Ph-OH) in p-hydroxyphenyl unit has been found to show the strongest inhibition to filter paper activity of cellulase cocktail. Ph-OH exerts stronger inhibition to b-glucosidase than to the endo-and exo-glucanases. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction are primarily responsible for the inhibitive action of Ph-OH.(c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In the present study, fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) were prepared with sisal and the sugarcane waste material. The composites of these fibers with polyurethanes were obtained by processing these materials in a Haake plastograph, and their homogeneity was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements. The results are discussed in terms of composites interaction, homogeneity, and compatibility. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Purpose The utilisation of agro-wastes as feedstocks for biorefinery development is a promising strategy to combat the looming energy challenges with minimal environmental impact. Deoiled cottonseed cake is an abundant lignocellulosic residual agro-waste with restricted usage due to presence of toxic gossypol. The utilisation of this waste biomass for production of hydrolases (cellulase and xylanase) and simultaneous degradation of toxic gossypol was attempted by fungal mediated bioprocess development. The secretome profiling was carried out to gain insights into the diversity of proteins expressed by the fungal consortium under solid-state fermentation (SSF) conditions. Methods The three potential lignocellulolytic fungal strains, Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma reesei, Phanerochaete chrysosporium and their consortium were exploited for SSF of cottonseed cake. The secretome profiling was carried out by LC-ESI MS/MS based proteomic approach. The efficiency of hydrolases produced from seed cake was verified by saccharification of wheat straw. Results The consortium produced highest titre of cellulase (FPase: 21.62 IU; CMCase: 155.41 IU; beta-glucosidase: 29.73 IU) and xylanase (2008.05 IU) per gram cake with 90\% reduction in gossypol content. The secretome analysis revealed versatile mixture of 81 proteins comprising of hemicellulases (36\%), cellulases (17\%), amylases (7\%), esterases (6\%), proteases (5\%), hypothetical proteins (20\%) and other proteins (9\%). The Glycosyl hydrolase (GH) proteins constituted 73\% of the total secretome. The high yield of reducing sugars (402.38 mg/g) was obtained from saccharification of wheat straw. Conclusions The present study highlights the sustainable valorization of an agro-waste by microbiological transformation for production of value-added products in biorefinery.
The effect of the dietary supplements, sugarcane molasses (prebiotic), Antox (R) (probiotic) and Enflorax (R) (synbiotic), on gut health, performance and severity of infection with Eimeria tenella in broiler chickens was evaluated in this study. Ninety-day-old broiler chicks were divided into six groups (A, B, C, D, E and F). Groups B to F were challenged with Eimeria tenella (2.0 x 10(4) oocysts/chick). Groups C, D and E were supplemented from day old with prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic, respectively, while F was administered amprolium. Groups A and B served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Feed intake and performance parameters were assessed weekly for each group. After infection clinical signs, morbidity and mortality rates were monitored alongside oocyst output, gross and microscopic caecal lesions. Infected chickens exhibited clinical signs 4 days post infection (dpi) with 100\% morbidity in all infected groups. Infected groups showed significant (P < 0.05) drop in feed intake and weight gain from 3 to 5 weeks of age. Feed conversion ratio was highest in B but lower in the supplemented groups. Oocyst output in faeces were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the supplemented groups compared with B. Macroscopic lesion scores 7 dpi were significantly lower in the supplemented groups compared with B, though group F had the lowest mean score. Histopathological examination of caeca tissues showed milder lesions in the supplemented groups. In conclusion, the supplements prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic ameliorated the consequences of caecal coccidiosis in broiler chickens and therefore recommended for use in broiler production.
Sugarcane bagasse-derived nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), a type of cellulose with a fibrous structure, is potentially used in the pharmaceutical field. Regeneration of this cellulose using a green process offers a more accessible and less ordered cellulose II structure (amorphous cellulose; AmC). Furthermore, the preparation of cross-linked cellulose (NFC/AmC) provides a dual advantage by building a structural block that could exhibit distinct mechanical properties. 3D aerogel scaffolds loaded with risedronate were prepared in our study using NFC or cross-linked cellulose (NFC/AmC), then combined with different concentrations of chitosan. Results proved that the aerogel scaffolds composed of NFC and chitosan had significantly improved the mechanical properties and retarded drug release compared to all other fabricated aerogel scaffolds. The aerogel scaffolds containing the highest concentration of chitosan (SC-T3) attained the highest compressive strength and mean release time values (415 +/- 41.80 kPa and 2.61 +/- 0.23 h, respectively). Scanning electron microscope images proved the uniform highly porous microstructure of SC-T3 with interconnectedness. All the tested medicated as well as unmedicated aerogel scaffolds had the ability to regenerate bone as assessed using the MG-63 cell line, with the former attaining a higher effect than the latter. However, SC-T3 aerogel scaffolds possessed a lower regenerative effect than those composed of NFC only. This study highlights the promising approach of the use of biopolymers derived from agro-wastes for tissue engineering.
High concentrations of contaminants such as ammonia nitrogen and organic matter in full-strength wastewater severely inhibit the growth of microalgae, contributing to lower biomass accumulation and contaminant removal efficiency. To overcome this limitation, modified biochars prepared from pine sawdust and sugarcane bagasse were used in this study as an adsorbent-desorbent for the pretreatment of wastewater to promote the growth of microalgae. The results showed that the two modification methods (acid/alkaline modification and magnesium salt modification) used in the experiment could increase the abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups. Moreover, magnesium salt modification could effectively improve the pore structure of biochar surfaces and increase the specific surface areas. Compared with the pristine biochars, the adsorption performance of the modified biochar was found to be significantly higher for nutrients in wastewater. The adsorption capacity of the acid/alkaline-modified pine sawdust biochar reached 8.5 and 16.49 mg center dot g(-1) for ammonia nitrogen and total organic carbon in wastewater, respectively. The magnesium salt modified pine sawdust biochar achieved a more comprehensive nutrients adsorption capacity of 15.68, 14.39, and 3.68 mg center dot L-1 for ammonia nitrogen, total organic carbon, and total phosphorus, respectively. The mechanism of ammonia nitrogen adsorption was mainly the complexation of surface -OH functional groups, while the adsorption mechanism for phosphate was mainly the complexation of -OH and Mg-O functional groups and the chemical precipitation of MgO or Mg(OH)(2) attached to the surface.
In rural community, groundwater is the main source of drinking water. Due to negative health impacts of excess fluoride in drinking water, there is urgent need to search the low-cost techniques to remove fluoride. Several materials have been used as adsorbent for removal of fluoride. Different parts of plant such as bark, stem, root, and leaves have cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin etc. that are generally discarded as agricultural waste. Similarly, after using pulp of fruits, seeds and peels of fruits are considered as waste and cause environmental pollution when dumped at open places or near water bodies. These waste materials can be efficiently used for removal of fluoride from water. Biosorption is an eco-friendly process in which ions bind to biomass and can be extracted from the solution. Biosorption by means of adsorbent powder obtained from agricultural waste in the form of Sugarcane bagasse powder (SBP), Rice husk ash (RHA), Waste fruit peel powder (WFPP) and Powder blend (PB) have been used in this study for removal of fluoride ions. These biological materials have been explored in single, binary and ternary forms and have been found most usable as PB form in acidic medium with 85\% removal of fluoride. This process has been signified as an eco-friendly, cost-effective approach for the isolation of fluoride ions from aquatic environments. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the 3rd International Conference on Futuristic Trends in Materials and Manufacturing.
Native rhizobia are ideal for use as commercial legume inoculants. The characteristics of the carrier used to store the inoculants are important for the survival and symbiotic potential of the rhizobia. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of peat (PEAT), perlite sugarcane bagasse (PSB), carboxymethyl cellulose plus starch (CMCS), and yeast extract mannitol supplemented with mannitol (YEMM) on the survival, nodulation potential and N-2 fixation capacity of the native strains Sinorhizobium mexicanum ITTG R7(T) and Rhizobium calliandrae LBP2-1(T) and of the reference strain Rhizobium etli CFN42(T). A factorial design (4 x 3) with four repetitions was used to determine the symbiotic potential of the rhizobial strains. The survival of the strains was higher for PEAT (46\% for strain LBP2-1(T), 167\% for strain CFN42(T) and 219\% for strain ITTG R7(T)) than for the other carriers after 240 days, except for CFN42(T) kept on CMCS (225\%). All the strains kept on the different carriers effectively nodulated common bean, with the lowest number of nodules found (5 nodules) when CFN42(T) was kept on CMCS and with the highest number of nodules found (28 nodules) when ITTG R7(T) was kept on PSB. The nitrogenase activity was the highest for ITTG R7(T) kept on PEAT (4911 mu mol C2H4 per fresh weight nodule h(-1)); however, no activity was found when the strains were kept on YEMM. Thus, the survival and symbiotic potential of the rhizobia depended on the carrier used to store them.
Peat, plant matter that is partially fossilized, is formed in poorly oxygenated wetlands where the rate at which the plant matter accumulates is greater than the rate at which it decomposes. Feat is a common solid fuel ranked among coal, coke, wood, and sugarcane bagasse. Feat has also been used to recover oil during the soil and wafer remediation processes. However, industrial utilization of peat in thermochemical conversion systems to liberate energy requires the knowledge of its thermal characteristics. In this study, the thermal behavior of peat (both uncontaminated and diesel-contaminated) was examined at three heating rates (10, 20, and 50 degrees C / min) in a stationary air atmosphere using a thermogravimetric analysis technique between ambient temperature (25 degrees C) and 600 degrees C. The thermal degradation rate in active and passive pyrolysis zones, the initial degradation temperature, and the residual weight at 600 degrees C were determined Increasing the heating rate increased both the thermal degradation rate and the residual weight at 600 degrees C and decreased the initial degradation temperature. The residual weight at 600 degrees C was less than the ash content in all of the peat samples indicating the burnout of some of the mineral oxides, which have low melting and boiling temperatures, such as K2O and P2O. The results provide useful information about utilization of diesel-contaminated peat in thermochemical conversion systems, especially gasifiers, because of its high energy content and low ash content.
Citrus crops are among the most abundant crops in the world, which processing is mainly based on juice extraction, generating large amounts of effluents with properties that turn them into potential pollution sources if they are improperly discarded. This study evaluated the potential for bioconversion of effluents from citrus-processing industry (wastewater and vinasse) into hydrogen through the dark fermentation process, by applying anaerobic sewage sludge as inoculum. The inoculum was previously heat treated to eliminate H-2-consumers microorganisms and improve its activity. Anaerobic batch reactors were operated in triplicate with increasing proportions (50, 80 and 100\%) of each effluent as substrate at 37 degrees C, pH 5.5. Citrus effluents had different effects on inoculum growth and H-2 yields, demonstrated by profiles of acetic acid, butyric acid, propionic acid and ethanol, the main by-products generated. It was verified that there was an increase in the production of biogas with the additions of either wastewater (7.3, 33.4 and 85.3 mmol L-1) or vinasse (8.8, 12.7 and 13.4 mmol L-1) in substrate. These effluents demonstrated remarkable energetic reuse perspectives: 24.0 MJ m(-3) and 4.0 MJ m(-3), respectively. Besides promoting the integrated management and mitigation of anaerobic sludge and effluents from citrus industry, the biohydrogen production may be an alternative for the local energy supply, reducing the operational costs in their own facilities, while enabling a better utilization of the biological potential contained in sewage sludges. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Nanoscale materials of carbon, silica and zirconia were used to immobilize a recombinant endo-1, 4-beta-D-xylanase (XynC) of B. subtilis KCX006. The adsorption of endo-1, 4-beta-D-xylanase on nanomaterials of carbon, silica and zirconia followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The activation energies for adsorption of endoxylanase on carbon, silica and zirconia nanomaterials were 9.94 kJ mol(-1), 40.44 kJ mol(-1) and 16.33 kJ mol(-1) respectively. The recovered activity (RA) of endoxylanase immobilized on carbon, silica and zirconia nanomaterials was in the range of 52\%-92\%. The endoxylanase immobilized on zirconia nanoparticles showed maximum RA. All immobilized endoxylanase showed optimum activity at pH 6.6 similar to that of free/soluble endoxylanase. But compared to free endoxylanase, all immobilized endoxylanase had broad optimum temperature range (50-65 degrees C) for catalytic activity. The Michaelis-Menten constant (K-m) increased for all immobilized endoxylanase due to substrate diffusion limit. The endoxylanase immobilized on above nanomaterials was used repeatedly for XOS production from xylan. All immobilized endoxylanase produced X2-X6 and substituted XOS similar to free endoxylanase from beechwood xylan and extracted crude xylans from sorghum and sugarcane bagasse. The endoxylanase immobilized on above nanoparticles did not lose activity after five batches of repeated use. The results showed that endoxylanase immobilized on carbon, silica and zirconia matrices would be useful for production of XOS by enzyme recycling.
Lignin derived inhibitors have a detrimental effect on biomass hydrolysis making the use of lignocellulosic biomass irrelevant at industrial scale. Laccase mediated removal of inhibitors has generated significant interest owing to its wide range of substrate specificity, low cost and environment-friendly nature making it an appropriate choice for the biotechnology industry. In the present work, a white rot fungal strain isolated from decaying wood samples was characterized for laccase production using a dual screening approach with ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate)) and methylene blue as substrates. Extracellular laccase was purified from this strain using anion exchange chromatography and observed to have molecular mass of 70 kDA. The UV-vis spectra of the purified enzyme confirmed blue type laccase. The enzyme exhibited stability in the pH range 2-5 and temperature of 50-70 degrees C with ABTS. The enzyme also displayed elevated level of tolerance to inhibitors like sodium azide and dithiothreitol. Purified laccase showed Km and Kcat value of 59.73 mu M and 1168 sec(-1) respectively with ABTS and 16.29 mu M, 84.3 sec(-1) using syringaldazine as substrate respectively. The 0.1U/ml of Trametes maxima HPLC-32 laccase removed 66\% of lignin-derived soluble phenolic inhibitors from sugarcane bagasse within half hour at 5.5 pH. These properties indicate a high potential of Trametes maxima IIPLC-32 laccase for industrial applications.
Every year, a considerable volume of medications is consumed. Because these medications are not entirely eliminated in the sewage treatment plants and impact the surface waterways, the environmental pollution problem arises. This study objective was to evaluate the possibility of using an absorbent material made with of polyethylene terephthalate and sugarcane bagasse ash functionalized with iron oxide (PETSCA/Fe3+) in the removal of naproxen from water. The feasibility of having viable features in becoming an efficient adsorbent was first determined. The batch test was performed, allowing the dose effect, adsorption kinetics, and isotherm models to be evaluated. The determination of naproxen (NAP) concentration in water was analyzed on a highperformance liquid chromatograph and Langmuir method best represented the adsorption isotherm model. PETSCA/Fe3+ adsorbent material demonstrated potential in the naproxen removal at a low cost. The batching process was satisfactory, with 0.30 g of composite being the optimum fit for the system. The adsorption kinetics was determined and described by the pseudo second order model, with an average correlation coefficient (R-2) of 0.974. The adsorption system model was best represented by the Langmuir isotherm curve. Moreover, adsorption in the presence of H2O2 had a positive impact on the process, removing 81.9\% of NAP, whereas the process without H2O2 did not remove more than 62.0\% of NAP. Therefore, because of its good qualities for NAP removal, PETSCA/Fe3+ is recommended as adsorbent material, primarily in small-volume water filtration systems.
The study evaluate the feasibility of fine fraction of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) aggregates in cementitious mixes. In order to understand the true effect of fine RAP aggregates in cementitious mixes, cement mortar specimens were casted in place of concrete mixes. The natural fine aggregates were partially replaced by RAP aggregates at 25\%, 50\%, 75\% and 100\% by volume. In addition to that, cement was partially replaced by mineral admixtures like silica fume and activated sugarcane bagasse ash. The RAP inclusive cement mortars did showcase satisfactory performance in terms of strength and durability. The characteristic compressive strength and commendable flexural strength were achieved by cement mortars with RAP aggregates. Interesting results were observed for resistance against sulfate attack for RAP inclusive cement mortars where gain of strength was obtained for 25\% and 50\% replacement mixes even after 90 days of sulfate attack. This behavior was replicated by mineral admixture mixes with similar RAP percentage levels. The gain as well as loss in strength due to sulfate attack was substantiated using pore structure characteristics obtained by Mercury Intrusion Porosimetry (MIP). Analysis of data obtained from MIP supports the presence of entrained air in RAP mortars which suggests qualitatively that cement paste is being protected from frost damage and salt decay. This is an initial study and the same shall be replicated for concrete mixes in near future. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biogas production from cellulosic wastes has received increasing attention. However, its efficiency is limited by the recalcitrant nature of plant cell wall materials. In this study, an active and structurally stable lignocellulolytic microcosm (PLMC) was isolated from seed culture in sugarcane bagasse compost by successive enrichment on Napier grass supplemented with swine manure, which is a mixture of highly fibrous co-digested waste under septic conditions. Tagged 16S rRNA gene sequencing on an Ion PGM platform revealed the adaptive merging of microorganisms in the co-digested substrates resulting in a stable symbiotic consortium comprising anaerobic cellulolytic clostridia stably co-existing with facultative (hemi)cellulolytic bacteria in the background of native microflora in the substrates. Ethanoligenens, Tepidimicrobium, Clostridium, Coprococcus, and Ruminococcus were the most predominant taxonomic groups comprising 72.82\% of the total community. The remarkable enrichment of catabolic genes encoding for endo-cellulases and hemicellulases, both of which are key accessory enzymes in PLMC, was predicted by PICRUSt. PLMC was capable of degrading 43.6\% g VS and 36.8\% g VSS of the co-digested substrates within 7 days at 55 degrees C. Inoculation of the microcosm to batch thermophilic anaerobic digestion containing both substrates led to a 36.6\% increase in methane yield along with an increase in cellulose removal efficiency. This study demonstrated structural and metabolic adaptation of the cellulolytic microcosms isolated in the background of native microflora from the co-digested wastes and its potent application in the enhancement of anaerobic digestion efficiency.
Sugarcane bagasse was used as an inexpensive alternative carbon source for production of beta-xylanases from Aspergillus terreus. The induction profile showed that the xylanase activity was detected from the 6th day of cultivation period. Two low molecular weight enzymes, named Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 were purified to apparent homogeneity by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatographies and presented molecular masses of 24.3and 23.60 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, respectively. Xyl T1 showed highest activity at 50 degrees C and pH 6.0, while Xyl T2 was most active at 45 degrees C and pH 5.0. Mass spectrometry analysis of trypsin digested Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 showed two different fingerprinting spectra, indicating that they are distinct enzymes. Both enzymes were specific for xylan as substrate. Xyl T1 was inhibited in greater or lesser degree by phenolic compounds, while Xyl T2 was very resistant to the inhibitory effect of all phenolic compounds tested. The apparent km values of Xyl T2, using birchwood xylan as substrate, decreased in the presence of six phenolic compounds. Both enzymes were inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide and Hg2+ and activated by Mn2+. Incubation of Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 with L-cysteine increased their half-lives up to 14 and 24 h at 50 degrees C, respectively. Atomic force microscopy showed a bimodal size distribution of globular particles for both enzymes, indicating that Xyl T1 is larger than Xyl T2. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In the present study, biochar prepared from green wastes was investigated about the effects of pyrolysis environment on its characteristics and purposively employed to remove As(III) in column-based treatments. Characterization analyses were performed to investigate the insightful of the biochar prepared from corncob and sugarcane biomasses under comparatively lower temperatures (350, and 450 degrees C), and retention times (1 h) in locally made furnace and named CCB@350, CCB@450, and SCB@350 and SCB@450, respectively. In addition, a conventional method (CM) was used for biochar preparation from the same feedstocks and named CMCCB and CMSCB, respectively. The idea was to adopt resource efficient pyrolysis methods to synthesize biochar for multiple applications. Biochar characterizations demonstrated that lower temperature was found sufficient to prepare biochar from the green wastes and met all the characteristics including clear pore size and structure (i.e., 2.301 mu m pore size in CCB@350), elemental compositions (>76 At\% of carbon), presence of large number of functional groups and thermally super stable (>20\% residual mass). Column-based experiments found variations in the adsorption capacity for As(III) in different samples. However, biochar prepared from sugarcane biomass possessed good As(III) adsorption capacity (>92\%) for lower arsenic concentration. Thus, it was concluded that biochar synthesized at low pyrolysis temperatures was found appealing with good mineralogical, morphological, elemental, and thermal characteristics and possessed acceptable adsorption capacity for low arsenic contaminated water and the pyrolysis method can be optimized as a resource efficient technology. {[
(An overview of lignin metabolism and its effect on biomass recalcitrance). Lignin, after cellulose, is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, accounting for 30\% of the organic carbon in the biosphere. It is considered an important evolutionary adaptation of plants during their transition from the aquatic environment to land, since it bestowed the early tracheophytes with physical support to stand upright and enabled long-distance transport of water and solutes by waterproofing the vascular tissue. Although essential for plant growth and development, lignin is the major plant cell wall component responsible for biomass recalcitrance to industrial processing. The fact that lignin is a non-linear aromatic polymer built with chemically diverse and poorly reactive linkages and a variety of monomer units precludes the ability of any single enzyme to properly recognize and degrade it. Consequently, the use of lignocellulosic feedstock as a renewable and sustainable resource for the production of biofuels and bio-based materials will depend on the identification and characterization of the factors that determine plant biomass recalcitrance, especially the highly complex phenolic polymer lignin. Here, we summarize the current knowledge regarding lignin metabolism in plants, its effect on biomass recalcitrance and the emergent strategies to modify biomass recalcitrance through metabolic engineering of the lignin pathway. In addition, the potential use of sugarcane as a second-generation biofuel crop and the advances in lignin-related studies in sugarcane are discussed.
Enzymatic hydrolysis of three pre-treated lignocellulosic biomasses -LCB(wheat straw-WS-, corn stover-CSVand cardoon stems -CS-) is studied. These biomasses were pre-treated by two methods: diluted sulfuric acid and acid ethanol-water extraction at six severity levels (H values). Pretreated solid fractions were hydrolyzed with commercial enzyme cocktails at standard conditions. A first-order kinetic fractal model was fitted to the experimental results. This model accurately describes the hydrolysis of all biomasses at all pre-treatment conditions studied. The results show that the formal first-order kinetic constant k depends on the biomass nature. The hydrolysis rate increases as the pre-treatment severity does, while the fractal exponent value h decreases. With these pre-treatments, and in terms of k and h, WS is highly reactive and, at medium H with EW pretreatment, highly accessible; CSV has a low reactivity and high accessibility and CS has the lowest reactivity and an increasing accessibility as severity rises.
The objective of this paper was to evaluate the compressibility of an Ultisol submitted to different managements of sugarcane cultivation. The investigation was carried out at Triunfo Mill, in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. The testing area was composed by four distinct sub-areas: a preserved forest (NF), an area without irrigation (MWOI), an irrigated area (MWI), and an area with vinasse (MWV). All investigated areas, except the forest, were prepared using conventional equipment for soil preparation. Soil samples were collected within depths ranging from 0 to 20 cm, 20 to 40 cm, and 40 to 60 cm. A trench was dug in the four selected areas and four undeformed samples were collected in each depth. The samples were collected with metallic rings with dimensions of 6.4 cm in diameter and 2.5 cm in height. In the laboratory, the samples were previously saturated and submitted to soil suctions raging from 0.1 to 1500 kPa in order to build the soil-water characteristic curves. Confined compression tests were performed with saturated samples. The results obtained from the compression tests were used for the determination of the void ratio (e) and the pre-consolidation stress (sigma(p)) of the tested samples. Data were submitted to regression analysis and the differences among the obtained means were compared using the test of Tukey at 5\% of probability. Regression analysis for pre-consolidation stress in function of water content (Ug) and correlations among the several variables were carried out at 5-\% significance. Within all investigated areas, the depth range from 0 to 20 cm showed to be more susceptible to compaction in relation to the depth range from 20 to 40 cm. Management MWV was found to modify the compressive behavior of the soil in both depth ranges. In all investigated areas, the soil bearing capacity was higher in the depth range of 20 to 40 cm.
Hahella is a genus that has not been well-studied, with only two identified species. The potential of this genus to produce cellulases is yet to be fully explored. The present study isolated Hahella sp. CR1 from mangrove soil in Tanjung Piai National Park, Malaysia, and performed whole genome sequencing (WGS) using NovaSeq 6000. The final assembled genome consists of 62 contigs, 7,106,771 bp, a GC ratio of 53.5\%, and encoded for 6,397 genes. The CR1 strain exhibited the highest similarity with Hahella sp. HN01 compared to other available genomes, where the ANI, dDDH, AAI, and POCP were 97.04\%, 75.2\%, 97.95\%, and 91.0\%, respectively. In addition, the CAZymes analysis identified 88 GTs, 54 GHs, 11 CEs, 7 AAs, 2 PLs, and 48 CBMs in the genome of strain CR1. Among these proteins, 11 are related to cellulose degradation. The cellulases produced from strain CR1 were characterized and demonstrated optimal activity at 60 celcius, pH 7.0, and 15\% (w/v) sodium chloride. The enzyme was activated by K+, Fe2+, Mg2+, Co2+, and Tween 40. Furthermore, cellulases from strain CR1 improved the saccharification efficiency of a commercial cellulase blend on the tested agricultural wastes, including empty fruit bunch, coconut husk, and sugarcane bagasse. This study provides new insights into the cellulases produced by strain CR1 and their potential to be used in lignocellulosic biomass pre-treatment.
Combating climate change issues resulting from excessive use of fossil fuels comes with huge initial costs, thereby posing difficult challenges for the least developed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to invest in renewable energy alternatives, especially with rapid industrialization. However, designing renewable energy systems usually hinges on different economic and environmental criteria. This paper used the Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) technique to optimally size ten grid-connected hybrid blocks selected amongst Photo-Voltaic (PV) panels, onshore wind turbines, biomass combustion plant using sugarcane bagasse, Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and Diesel Generation (DG) system as backup power, to reduce the supply deficit in Sierra Leone. Resource assessment using well-known methods was done for PV, wind, and biomass for proposed plant sites in Kabala District in Northern and Kenema District in Southern Sierra Leone. Long term analysis was done for the ten hybrid blocks projected over 20 years whilst ensuring the following objectives: minimizing the Deficiency of Power Supply Probability (DPSP), Diesel Energy Fraction (DEF), Life Cycle Costs (LCC), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Capacity factors of 27.41\% and 31.6\% obtained for PV and wind, respectively, indicate that Kabala district is the most feasible location for PV and wind farm installations. The optimum results obtained are compared across selected blocks for DPSP values of 0-50\% to determine the most economical and environmentally friendly alternative that policy makers in Sierra Leone and the region could apply to similar cases.
An endo-xylanase (PsGH10A) of family 10 glycoside hydrolase from Pseudopedobacter sultans was cloned, expressed and purified. Substrate specificity analysis of PsGH10A showed activity against beta-1,4-xylans. It showed maximum activity against beechwood xylan (591 +/- 1.1 U/mg) followed by xylan (Mw. 20,000-30,000) (57.1 +/- 0.7 U/mg). PsGH10A displayed maximum activity at pH 6.0 and 40 degrees C. The enzyme was stable in the pH range, from 6.0 to 7.5 and showed thermostability up to 40 degrees C. The kinetic parameters of PsGH10A using beechwood xylan determined were K-m 6.2 mg/mL and V-max 72 U/mg. The activity of PsGH10A was 29 +/- 2.4\% enhanced by 2 mM Mn2+ ions and inhibited by less than 50 +/- 1.6\% by 2 mM Zn2+, Pb2+ or Cu2+ ions. The time-dependent TLC analysis of hydrolyzed products of beechwood xylan released by PsGH10A showed the release of xylose, xylobiose and xylotetraose as end products confirming the endolytic mode of action. PsGH10A hydrolyzed products of xylan and substituted xylan indicate production of series of short-chain xylooligo-saccharides and arabinoxylo-saccharides. PsGH10A also showed saccharification of AFEX pretreated poplar and sugarcane bagasse. Therefore, it can be used for various biotechnological applications such as for prebiotic xylooligosaccharides and bioethanol production from pretreated agrowaste biomass. This is the first report on beta-1,4-xylanase cloned from Pseudopedobacter sultans.
Application of thermal insulation for building and industrial sectors is a radical technique for minimizing energy losses and limit greenhouse gasses emissions GHG. The safety recycle of accumulated wastes and environmental burdens is another effective technique for GHG control. In this work we fabricated eco-friendly thermal insulation using agricultural and industrial wastes. The raw materials used are Corn Cob and Sugarcane bagasse; Chitosan as clean adhesive is used too. Many Processes are required for fabrication, beginning with washing, and drying. Then grinding and stiffing took place. Compression process with hydraulic piston converts crushed raw into disc samples with 6mm. thickness and 10 cm. diameters. To define best sample composition and optimum conditions; many samples are prepared, and many Standard Examinations have done. The best sample Composition is 14 gm. of (40\% corn cobs \& 60\% Bagasse) and additives of (10 gm. Chitosan, 2gm. Synthetic polymer and thin layer of Aerogel painting). This sample got least thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/mk; it guarantees low surface temperature of 38 degrees C for insulated hot fluid pipes. Thermal performance of this composition is perfect represented in slow decomposition at high temperatures. Mechanical tests through (SEM and Contact angles Analysis) proved sample quality. These results clarified the possibility of converting the sample from laboratory scale to commercial production scope. This product can contribute for realizing zero energy losses for building and industrial sectors, which is the 21th century goal.
Polymer matrix composites are being widely used in various applications area like as aerospace, construction, shipbuilding, automobile industry etc, due to excellent Mechanical properties and rich hydroxyl group used in surface modification the application area of nanocellulose is increasing day by day. Nanocellulose can be extracted from agricultural waste such as sugarcane bagasse, cotton linter, rice husks, and can be used as a reinforcing material for composites which gives very high Specific stiffness and strength, Elastic modulus of nanocellulose is predicted more than the Kevlar fiber and specific strength is approximately 7-8 times higher than stainless steel as reported in several literature. In this paper extraction technique of nanocellulose and fabrication of polymer matrix composites has been explained, Elastic modulus of composites can be obtained and verified by rule of mixture. Due to its low toxicity, renewable nature, nanoscale dimension and good biocompatibility the future scope of nanocellulose is very wide. Nanocellulose have rich hydroxyl groups which is used for surface treatment of materials, mechanical properties of nanocellulose such as high stiffness and strength are attractive to use it as a filler for composites which gives better mechanical and thermal properties. Nanocellullose composites are used in various application such as in biomedical for tissue repair, drug delivery and implants of some body parts, in paper and packaging industry, in electronic industry such as time-temperature integrator, gas and leak detector etc. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Improving productivity and lipid concentration in microalgae is important for the economic success of both biofuel and microalgae coproducts production. Nannochloropsis spp. are marine microalgae currently being grown at large-scale for the production of biofuel and lipid coproducts. Here we demonstrate improvements of growth and omega-3 production in Nannochloropsis gaditana CCMP526 and Nannochloropsis oceanica CCAP849/10 with plant substrate addition, a potentially economical option for increasing microalgal productivity. We examine growth in the presence of corn stover, switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, and yard waste. By examining the microbial ecology of N. gaditana cultures with and without plant substrate and with and without antibiotics, we discovered a potential bacterial interaction in these cultures, but its presence is not necessary for algal growth improvements in the presence of plant substrate. Analysis of plant substrate morphology by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after cultivation in media with and without N. gaditana shows a degradation of specific plant structural features and a colonization of the plant phloem by N. gaditana. An examination of N. gaditana in a Congo red plate assay indicates potential cellulolytic activity, but a preliminary examination of the potential cellulase transcripts does not reveal differential expression of a candidate in the presence of plant. This evidence demonstrates potential raw plant utilization by a marine microalga for increased productivity and provides a potentially economical option for increasing coproduct concentration at industrial scale without genetic engineering.
This study investigates the potential of a thermophilic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium to act as a repository of different Glycoside hydrolases (GHs) for saccharification of agroresidues. An active thermophilic lignocellulolytic microbial consortium (TWC) was bred at 60 degrees C from forest soil using destarched wheat bran as the sole carbon source. TWC was screened for production of extracellular GHs at various pH and temperatures for four days. The consortium produced several extracellular GHs, such as endoglucanase, exoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, endoxylanase and beta-xylosidase with enhanced activity at 60 degrees C (as compared with 37 degrees C) and pH 5-6 at 48 h of incubation. Zymogram analysis also indicated the presence of multiple xylanase and beta-glucosidase activities at 48 h of incubation. The extracellular cellulolytic enzyme cocktail (CEC) obtained from TWC was implicated in the saccharification of heat treated agro-residues. Among seven agroresidues tested, wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse were efficiently saccharified by the CEC with continued release of reducing sugars till 72 h of incubation at 60 degrees C. Release of reducing sugars from destarched wheat bran pretreated with moist heat was 359 mg g(-1) of non-starch polysaccharides, which was about two fold greater in comparison to that released from untreated wheat bran (181 mg g(-1)). The production of thermophilic GHs by the microbial consortium seems promising and thus establishes their potential for application in industrial saccharification where thermotolerant enzymes are required.
Wood plastic composites (WPCs) consisting of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) reinforced with alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse fibers (BF) in a concentration of 30 parts per hundred parts of plastic (php) were fabri-cated using the melt-blending technique. The carbon black (CB) was added at a concentration of 10 php while the graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO) were added in different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 php). The influence of these additives and electron beam irradiation at different doses (100 and 200 kGy) on the flexural properties, electrical conductivity (sigma dc), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency of the HDPE/BF composite were investigated. The samples were examined under microwave signals in the range from 0.8 GHz to 3.5 GHz to study the shielding effectiveness. The maximum flexural strength (29 MPa) was recorded for the HDPE/BF/CB composite, which contains 1 php of GO and was irradiated at 100 kGy with an improvement percentage of 56.6\% in comparison with that of the unirradiated HDPE/BF composite. The addition of GO improved the electrical conductivity and EMI shielding efficiency of the prepared composite. It was observed that at frequency 3 GHz, the increase of GO up to 1 php enhanced the shielding effectiveness by a factor of 17.35\% and 16.94\% at 0 and 200 kGy, respectively. Furthermore, increasing the irradiation dose increased shielding effectiveness by about 4.92\%.
Many researchers have become more interested in utilizing plant based natural fibre as reinforcement for the fabrication of aluminium matrix composites (AMCs) in recent time. The utilization of these environmentally friendly and cost effective plant based natural fibre is necessitated to avoid environmental pollution. The desire for cost-effective and low-cost energy materials in automotive, biomedical, aerospace, marine, and other applications, however, is redefining the research environment in plant based natural fibre metal matrix composite materials. As a result, the goal of this review study is to investigate the impact of agricultural waste-based reinforcements on the mechanical properties and corrosion behaviour of AMCs made using various fabrication routes. Processing settings can be modified to produce homogenous structures with superior AMC characteristics, according to the findings. Plant based natural fibre ash reinforcing materials such as palm kernel shell ash, rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse, bamboo stem ash, and corn cob ash can reduce AMCs density without sacrificing mechanical qualities. Furthermore, efficient utilization of plant based natural fibre reduces manufacturing costs and prevents environmental pollution, making it a sustainable material. Brittle composites unlike ceramic and synthetic reinforced composites, are not formed by plant based natural fibre reinforcements. As a result of our findings, plant based natural fibre AMCs have a high potential to replace expensive and hazardous ceramic and synthetic reinforced-AMCs, which can be used in a variety of automotive applications requiring lower cost, higher strength-to-weight ratio, and corrosion resistance.
Use of agro-waste for production of value added products is a good alternative for developing low-cost carriers for formulation of Trichoderma-based bio-products. It provides avenues for safe utilization of wastes, while reducing cost and environment pollution load of waste disposal. The present study was undertaken to find suitable agro-waste for economical and higher mass production of Trichoderma lixii TvR1 under solid-state fermentation, optimizing culture conditions using mathematical model and assessing effect of formulated bio-product on growth of Spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Among various agro-wastes screened, sugarcane bagasse was observed to support maximum growth (20.08 x 10(7) spores/g) of T. lixii TvR1 which was significantly (p <= 0.05) higher than the others. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimize culture conditions using optimal point prediction analysis which predicted that maximum spore production of T. lixii TvR1 (19.1245 x 10(7) spores/g) will be obtained at 30 degrees C and 68.87\% of moisture content after 31 days of incubation. Amendment of formulated bio-product of T. lixii TvR1 in soil at concentration 15\% w/w promoted biomass, photosynthetic pigments, and protein content of spinach (significant at p <= 0.05). After 6 weeks of sowing the shoot length, root length, and photosynthetic pigments of plants irrigated daily and on alternate days were reported to be increased by 66.97, 185.03, and 82.80\%; and 56.56, 71.36, and 74.64\%, respectively; over the no amendment.
Bricks are one of the most basic building materials used in construction field. To overcome the environmental issues related to pollution and energy problems, it is necessary to find out alternative material to replace clay in brick development. It is also required to reuse and recycle the products at the end of their lives. Use of agricultural waste as an alternative raw material in the manufacturing of fired clay bricks is attracting attention due to sustainability issues. This paper reviews the investigations carried out by various researchers on the use of agricultural residue as a partial replacement in the manufacturing of fired clay bricks. This study also emphasises on the economical value of utilisation of agricultural waste into useful products. The basic aim of this study is to review the various possibilities of utilisation of waste materials for the production of fired clay bricks in particular.
Jaggery is a non-traditional sweetener that is produced from boiling sugarcane juice. Due to the energy intensive nature of the combustion process in jaggery making, previous studies in literature have presented various process and equipment modifications to affect its energy efficiency. This study adds to the understanding of the resource transformations and consumptions in the jaggery process by presenting its exergy analysis. The baseline process was operationally modified for which the exergy efficiency and exergy destruction are calculated. Through the modifications, the exergy efficiency and exergy destruction increased by 11.2\% and 0.8\% respectively. A significant amount of exergy was wasted as surplus heat in the form of flue gas, which reduced by 11.5\% due to process modifications. The results show that while the most evident form of resource waste was due to flue gas released into the environment, the largest form of resource consumption was actually due to exergy destruction arising from irreversibilities in combustion, a result not clearly evident through energy analysis alone. Through modelling process flows in terms of exergy, the analysis presented in this paper increases the visibility of the resource consumptions and losses in the jaggery making process. This study should aid the efforts of researchers and practitioners aiming to reduce resource consumption in the jaggery making process. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Mathematical models can be useful to predict the behavior of particulate systems, as it is the case of packed-bed bioreactors (PBBs) used for solid-state fermentation (SSF). The models also simplify the processes scale-up, and depending on the accuracy of the model, critical parameters can be predicted, as temperature, moisture content and maximum bed height. In the current paper, mathematical models and simulations were used to predict the optimal conditions for enzymes production by means of SSF in PBBs. Two models available in literature were applied: a recently proposed two-phase and two-dimensional (2-D) model and a modified Damkohler number (Da(m)) approach, considering maximum temperatures of the bed and maximum bed height to allow good production of enzymatic activities by the fungus Myceliophtora thermophila I-1D3b. Based on simulation results, experiments in bench and pilot-scale PBBs were performed and analyzed. By comparing experimental and simulated results of temperatures, the 2-D model showed to be more accurate than Da(m) approach. Despite of the temperature increase in pilot-scale PBB, the bioreactor scale-up with the fungus M. thermophila in substrate composed of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) (weight proportion 7: 3) could be considered as feasible for cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes provision, for instance, for second generation ethanol production chain, although issues related to airflow distribution and substrate shrinkage in pilot-scale PBB must still be further overcome.
This work compares the performance of two lignin extraction methods applied to several crops grown in Brazil and contributes to identify the biomass with more potential for generation of thermal energy from the point of view of its lignin content and properties. A full factorial (2(2)) design involving two particle size distribution (105 to 500 mu m and 1000 to 2000 mu m) and two extraction methods (Klason and Wilstatter) were chosen as controlled factors for the tests, including the determination of granulometry, extractives and holocelluloses, higher heating values, and the proximate and ultimate analysis. Results showed that lignins obtained utilizing both methods have elevated higher heating values, suggesting they could generate thermal energy from thermochernical processes, mainly those lignins extracted from the Mason method. Even though the tendency for obtaining more lignin yield by using the Klason extraction method and fine particles was observed for almost all raw material tested, the statistical analysis suggested that for the experimental range studied the extraction method and the particle size distribution do not affect the lignin yields at 95\% of confidence level (p-value <0.05), except the lignin yield obtained from sugarcane bagasse. For this biomass, the extraction method chosen led to relevant differences in the lignin yield (22.6\% by using Willstatter to 24.9\% by using Klason), suggesting that the lower pH level used by the Mason method promotes a more efficient lignin extraction. (C) 2014 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Research background. Lovastatin is a well-known drug used to reduce hypercholesterolaemia. However, the cost of lovastatin production is still high. Therefore, alternative low-cost carbon sources for the production of lovastatin are desirable. Experimental approach. Four different agricultural wastes, namely corn trunks, rice husks, wild sugarcane, and soya bean sludge, were tested separately as substrates to produce lovastatin using a new fungal strain, Aspergillus sclerotiorum PSU-RSPG 178, under both submerged and solid-state fermentation (SSF). Results and conclusions. Of these substrates and cultivation systems, soya bean sludge gave the highest lovastatin yield on dry mass basis of 0.04 mg/g after 14 days of SSF at 25 degrees C. Therefore, the soya bean sludge was separately supplemented with glucose, wheat flour, trace elements, palm oil, urea and molasses. The addition of the palm oil enhanced the lovastatin yield to 0.99 mg/g. In addition, the optimum conditions, which gave a lovastatin yield of (20 +/- 2) mg/g after 18 days of SSF, were soya bean sludge containing 80 \% moisture (dry basis) at a ratio of soya bean sludge (g) to mycelial agar plugs of 1:4, and a ratio of soya bean sludge (g) to palm oil (mL) of 1:2. Besides, the lovastatin yields obtained from SSF using fresh or dry soya bean sludge were not significantly different. Novelty and scientific contribution. We conclude that A. sclerotiorum PSU-RSPG 178 has a good potential as an alternative strain for producing lovastatin using soya bean sludge supplemented with palm oil as a carbon source.
Recently, the demands of biofuels have increased, because of their significant role in reducing various pollutants created by fossil fuels. Here, we have collected 25 samples containing various thermotolerant microorganisms from the nine natural fermented sources of Bangladesh, such as Boiled potato (Bp), Decomposed foods (Df), Municipal liquid waste (Mlw), Municipal solid waste (Msw), Sugarcane juice (Sc), Pantavat (Pv), Sugar molasses (Sm), Tari (Tari) and Watermelon juice (Wm) for bioethanol production. Among them, 18 isolates are capable of producing bioethanol. Cultural, morphological, physiological, biochemical and genetic analyses were carried out under various physiological conditions. Ethanol fermentation was checked by different carbon sources, temperatures and pH. All of the isolates could grow well in the medium containing Dextrose and Arabinose and only two strains Pv-1 and Bp-2 could ferment Xylose as a sole carbon source. At 42 degrees C, the highest ethanol concentration 6.58\% (v/v) was obtained by a strain Wm-1 isolated from Watermelon juice. At 37 degrees C, maximal ethanol concentrations of 6.74\% (v/v), 6.50\% (v/v) and 6.22\% (v/v) were obtained by the strains Bp-2, Wm-l and Pv-1, respectively. Among the various pH tested, the highest ethanol concentration 6.6\% (v/v) was obtained at pH 4.5 by a strain named Tari-2. Finally, yeast 26S rDNA sequencing information identified the strains Sc-2 as Saccharomyces cerevisiae Pv-2, Tari-2 and Df-1 as Pichia kudriavzevii, Mlw-l and Bp-2 as Candida tropicalis, Pv-1 as Pichia guilliermondii and Df-2 as Candida rugosa.
The global agroindustrial sector has generated a large amount of waste and received special attention in several studies, since it is a promising source of clean and renewable energy production. The present study evaluated three important Brazilian agroindustrial residues, namely sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, and coffee husks through thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG curves) during oxy-fuel combustion processes with 20\% and 40\% oxygen concentrations. A kinetic analysis involving isoconversional methods, i.e., Friedman (FRI), Flynn-Wall-Ozawa, and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose determined the activation energies for the main thermal degradation steps of hemicellulose (HE), cellulose (CE), and lignin (LI), showing good agreement of the methods. Kinetic data were also used for the determination of thermodynamic parameters (\& UDelta;H, \& UDelta;G, and \& UDelta;S). The positive values for \& UDelta;H and \& UDelta;G for both atmospheres revealed the occurrence of non-spontaneous and endothermic conversion, respectively, whereas the negative ones for \& UDelta;S showed a more complex conversion. The activation energy (E-a) values from agroindustrial residues were lower under 60\%CO2-40\%O-2 atmosphere, ranging from 38.7 to 166.6 kJ mol(-1) for all thermal degradation steps analyzed; when compared to the 80\%CO2-20\%O-2 atmosphere, such values varied from 61.6 to 218.7 kJ mol(-1). The kinetic behavior and thermodynamic parameters of agroindustrial residues have proven promising for the bioenergy production with different biomasses in oxy-fuel combustion processes.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are obligate symbionts that require a host plant (tramp) and support (substrates) to be applied as bio-fertilizers in agriculture. The objective of this study is to assess eight native AMF consortia of semi-arid zones (C1-ART, C2-GEC, C3-PAR, C4-VIE, C5-CUC, C6-SAC, C7-SAB, and C8-MUZ) and their reproduction response in three organic substrates: coffee pulp (CP), bovine manure (BM) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) on bean Phaseolus vulgaris. Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root length, fresh and dry biomass, and mineral content in root were measured. The organic substrates (CP and BM) and C5-CUC and C8-MUZ consortia increased plant height, root length, and total fresh and dry biomass considerably. After day 75 of inoculation, root colonization oscillated from 5.7\% in C8-MUZ to 46.1\% in C2-GEC and C4-VIE; the greatest number of spores (201) was obtained in CP substrate in a 100-g sample. N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, and Mn contents in root and leaves were signif icantly high (P = 0.001). To conclude, native AMF inoculation and substrates had positive effects on biomass content and nutrient levels in leaf and root with the C2-GEC and C3-PAR consortia and CP and BM substrates, which produced better effects in beans, making them a biofertilization alternative in agricultural crops.
Gene encoding endoglucanase, RfGH5\_4 from R. flavefaciens FD-1 v3 was cloned, expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) cells and purified. RfGH5\_4 showed molecular size 41 kDa and maximum activity at pH 5.5 and 55 ?C. It was stable between pH 5.0-8.0, retaining 85\% activity and between 5 ?C-45 ?C, retaining 75\% activity, after 60 min. RfGH5\_4 displayed maximum activity (U/mg) against barley 8-D-glucan (665) followed by car-boxymethyl cellulose (450), xyloglucan (343), konjac glucomannan (285), phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (86), beechwood xylan (21.7) and carob galactomannan (16), thereby displaying the multi-functionality. Cata-lytic efficiency (mL.mg(-1) s(-1)) of RfGH5\_4 against carboxymethyl cellulose (146) and konjac glucomannan (529) was significantly high. TLC and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses of RfGH5\_4 treated hydrolysates of cellulosic and hemicellulosic polysaccharides displayed oligosaccharides of degree of polymerization (DP) between DP2-DP11. TLC, HPLC and Processivity-Index analyses revealed RfGH5\_4 to be a processive endoglucanase as initially, for 30 min it hydrolysed cellulose to cellotetraose followed by persistent release of cellotriose and cellobiose. RfGH5\_4 yielded sufficiently high Total Reducing Sugar (TRS, mg/g) from saccharification of alkali pre-treated sorghum (72), finger millet (62), sugarcane bagasse (38) and cotton (27) in a 48 h saccharification reaction. Thus, RfGH5\_4 can be considered as a potential endoglucanase for renewable energy applications.
Evaluation was made of the use of organic substrates obtained from the composting of poultry industry wastes, together with crude glycerin, for the production of arugula seedlings (Eruca sativa Miller). The raw materials included hatchery waste, chicken litter, and flotation tank sludge, in combination with other materials such as tree pruning, sugarcane bagasse, crude glycerin (at 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0\%), and boiler charcoal. Analysis of the organic substrates included determination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), pH, electrical conductivity, functional groups, and carboxylic acids. Physical parameters determined were water retention capacity, solids volume, porosity, density, and granulometry. For the arugula seedlings, determinations were made of the ease of removal of the root ball from the tray, the effect of free drop on the root ball, phytometric parameters, and total phenolic compounds. Decreased concentrations of carboxylic acids, together with the presence of aromatic functional groups, indicated maturation/stabilization of the organic substrates. The phytometric measurements indicated that the use of the organic substrates with addition of 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0\% of crude glycerin favored arugula production and led to higher contents of total phenolic compounds in the seedlings, with values of 3657.54, 3602.13, and 3232.92 mg GAE g(-1), respectively. The results demonstrated that the use of these organic substrates with the addition of crude glycerin provided satisfactory development of arugula seedlings.
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the stability of candidate reference genes and select the genes that can be used for normalizing real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the liver, skeletal muscle, and jejunum tissues of Nellore or Nellore x Angus steers fed different diets. Fourteen purebred and 14 crossbred steers were used, in which half of the animals of each genetic group received a diet containing whole shelled corn (WSC) and the other half whole shelled corn and sugarcane bagasse (WSCB). Stability was analyzed by the RefFinder program. To validate the selection of candidate reference genes, the expression of target genes was evaluated using the different groups of reference genes. The most stable genes were 18S, ACTB, and CASC3 for skeletal muscle; HMBS, ACTB, and 18S for the liver; and GAPDH, ACTB, and CASC3 for the jejunum, regardless of breed and diet provided. Possible errors caused in data analyses were clarified comparing the more and less stable genes as reference for normalization of the target genes FASN, ACOX, SCD1, MGAM, and SLC2A1. The use of the more stable and less stable sets of reference genes may lead to different conclusions in respect to the expression profile of the target studied gene. The selection of more suitable reference genes for each experiment is of utmost importance to ensure the reliability of gene expression studies so that they can be applied in practice.
The agricultural residues are the most plentiful renewable bioresources in our earth as they enriched with a good amount of polysaccharides like cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, and starch. A newly isolated soil fungus Aspergillus fumigatus SKF-2 produced a cocktail of carbohydrate debranching enzymes under solid-state fermentation (SSF) using a mixture of sugarcane bagasse, wheat bran and orange peel in equal amount as inducible substrates. During optimization of fermentation condition through one factor at a time approach and subsequently by response surface methodology cellulase {[
Soil water repellency is a major concern in many systems as it substantially reduces infiltration and enhances surface runoff. While it is recognised that repellency is affected by the soil organic matter in natural ecosystems, the impact of manure and compost additions on the development and persistence of repellency in agroecosystems, particularly in the tropics, is poorly understood. We therefore examined the impact of different manure, compost additions and temperature on soil water repellency of tropical soils. We monitored the change in repellency in a Cambisol (Talparo - clay loam), Acrisol (Piarco - silt loam) and Arenosol (Arena - loamy sand), amended with three different manure and compost combinations at three different concentrations and four temperatures. Water repellency was the strongest among soils with higher clay content, which was likely due to the higher levels of organic matter observed in the clay loam. The cattle manure produced the most severe repellency despite having the lowest total organic carbon, whereas the sugarcane bagasse produced the lowest repellency. The increases in temperature had the strongest influence on repellency in sandy soils. Our results strongly support the findings of other studies that the quality of the organic material is more important than the total organic carbon in controlling the severity of repellency. This exploratory work also highlighted the importance of plant compost in reducing the level of repellency caused by cattle manure while still having a positive influence on the nutrient status of soils.
Understanding the complexity of thermal degradation characteristics, kinetic behavior, and thermodynamic parameters is pertinent for the efficient design and process optimization of large-scale conversion systems. Comparative assessment of pyrolysis characteristics and thermodynamic parameters of corn cobs (CC), peanut shells (PS) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) are investigated using high heating rates (100-1000 degrees/min) TGA results. Despite the effect of the heating rate increase on the degradation process of individual samples, increasing heating rates affect pyrolysis characteristics due to compositional differences. With increasing heating rates, the comprehensive pyrolysis index increased sporadically for CC (2.54-44.09 x10(4)\%(2)/min(2) C-3) and PS (1.36-31.13 x10(4)\%(2)/min(2) degrees C-3), indicating easier release of volatiles at higher pyrolysis heating rates. The pyrolysis stability index (R-w), which relates to thermal degradation stability, presented an increasing trend (CC>PS>SB) with a heating rate increase (>==106\%). Kinetic parameters estimated using model-free methods showed that the activation energies of CC and PS were significantly lower than that of SB. Comparative evaluation of fractional conversions and kinetic parameters using traditional and modified parallel models showed that the double random pore model (DRPM) fitted the best for simulating the experimental results at higher heating rates than other models. The change in Gibbs free energy (Delta G) trend for PS and SB showed a deviation, suggesting reaction difficulties due to higher temperature demands.
Gasification technology is an effective way to achieve efficient, safe, and resourceful disposal of organic solid wastes (OSWs). Due to the complex sources and variable components of the OSWs, the co-disposal is highly essential. Various typical OSWs, including food waste (cooked rice, CR), agricultural waste (rice husk, RH; sugarcane bagasse, SB), and industrial waste (furfural residue, FR), were selected for this study. The gasification characteristics and synergistic performance were examined in terms of thermal weight loss characteristics under the CO2 atmosphere and gaseous product characteristics under the steam atmosphere. The synergistic indices of performance parameters were introduced to quantify the synergistic effects. The gasification activity of FR was remarkably higher than that of other OSWs. In the co-gasification with CR under the CO2 atmosphere, FR played an excellent positive synergistic effect, but the agricultural wastes played a slight or no synergistic effect. In the steam co-gasification, RH, SB, and FR all promoted the generation of syngas, in which FR showed still significant synergistic effects, with the synergistic indices of H2 yield, syngas yield, CCE, and CGE being 4-12 times higher than those of other blended wastes. The excellent performance of FR in (co-)gasification was mainly attributed to the acidic properties of FR, which was confirmed by comparing the (co-)gasification performance of FR with and without water-washing pretreatment. The work provides guidance for the co-disposal of OSWs in industrial applications.
We grew Rhizopus microsporus CPQBA 312-07 DRM in solid-state fermentation on a 1:1 mixture, by mass, of sugarcane bagasse and sunflower seed meal, to produce a fermented solid containing lipases (tricaprylin-hydrolyzing activity of 91 U g(-1)) and then used this fermented solid to catalyze the ethanolysis of corn oil. A 2(3) factorial design was used to optimize the reaction using n-heptane as the solvent. The best conversion was 91\% at 48 h, obtained at 44 degrees C, with a molar ratio of ethanol/oil of 3:1 and the addition of 1.32 g of fermented solids/15 mL of reaction medium. Using these optimized conditions, we studied the effect of increasing the concentration of the reactants in the medium and even the use of a solvent-free system. In these systems, conversions were quite poor when the ethanol was added in a single aliquot at the start of the reaction. However, when the ethanol was added stepwise, with three equal aliquots added at 0, 24, and 48 h, promising conversions were obtained, including an ester yield of 51\% at 72 h in the solvent-free medium. An improved fermented solid (tricaprylin-hydrolyzing activity of 183 U g(-1)) was then used to improve the production of ethylic esters in solvent-free medium, with an ester yield of 68\% being obtained at 72 h. These results are promising and justify further optimization studies.
Thermoascus aurantiacus is able to secrete most of the hemicellulolytic and cellulolytic enzymes. To establish the xylanase inducers of T. aurantiacus, the mycelia were first grown on glucose up until the end of the exponential growth phase, followed by washing and re-suspension in a basal medium without a carbon source. Pre-weighed amounts of xylose (final concentration of 3.5 mg/ml), xylobiose (7 mg/ml) and hydrolyzed xylan from sugarcane bagasse (HXSB) which contained xylose, xylobiose and xylotriose (6.8 mg/ml) were evaluated as inducers of xylanase. It was observed that xylose did not suppress enzyme induction of T. aurantiacus when used in low concentrations, regardless of whether it was inoculated with xylobiose. Xylobiose promoted fast enzyme production stopping after 10 h, even at a low consumption rate of the carbon source; therefore xylobiose appears to be the natural inducer of xylanase. In HXSB only a negligible xylanase activity was determined. Xylose present in HXSB was consumed within the first 10 h while xylobiose was partially hydrolyzed at a slow rate. The profile of alpha-arabinofuranosidase induction was very similar in media induced with xylobiose or HXSB, but induction with xylose showed some positive effects as well. The production profile for the xylanase was accompanied by low levels of cellulolytic activity. In comparison, growth in HXSB resulted in different profiles of both xylanase and cellulase production, excluding the possibility of xylanase acting as endoglucanases.
Burkholderia glumae MA13 was isolated from soil samples of Atlantic rain forest ecosystem as a new bacterial strain for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production from crude glycerol as sole carbon source. Among 107 glycerol consuming bacterial isolates, B. glumae MA13 was cultivated in shake flask experiments in order to verify its PHA production capability from crude glycerol besides waste cooking oil and sugarcane molasses free of pretreatment, showing intracellular poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) {[
The waste disposal crisis and development of various types of concrete simulated by the construction industry has encouraged further research to safely utilize the wastes and develop accurate predictive models for estimation of concrete properties. In the present study, sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), a by-product from the agricultural industry, was processed and used in the production of green concrete. An advanced variant of machine learning, i.e., multi expression programming (MEP), was then used to develop predictive models for modeling the mechanical properties of SCBA substitute concrete. The most significant parameters, i.e., water-to-cement ratio, SCBA replacement percentage, amount of cement, and quantity of coarse and fine aggregate, were used as modeling inputs. The MEP models were developed and trained by the data acquired from the literature; furthermore, the modeling outcome was validated through laboratory obtained results. The accuracy of the models was then assessed by statistical criteria. The results revealed a good approximation capacity of the trained MEP models with correlation coefficient above 0.9 and root means squared error (RMSE) value below 3.5 MPa. The results of cross-validation confirmed a generalized outcome and the resolved modeling overfitting. The parametric study has reflected the effect of inputs in the modeling process. Hence, the MEP-based modeling followed by validation with laboratory results, cross-validation, and parametric study could be an effective approach for accurate modeling of the concrete properties.
Capacitive deionization (CDI) is an emerging technology for the energy-efficient and cost-effective removal of ions from salt water by electrosorption. To further enhance the capacitive deionization performance, sugarcane bagasse biowastes are used as raw materials to synthesize biomass-derived electrodes via microwave carbonization and activation assisted with potassium hydroxide in the flows of carbon dioxide, which has the advantages of reducing preparation time and saving energy. Experimentally, the effect of microwave power (500-800 W) has been studied on the morphology, the ratios of mesoporosity in the biocarbons and their corresponding desalination performance of CDI. Accordingly, the biocarbons which are activated at 700 W of microwave irradiation under carbon dioxide atmosphere (denoted as SB-CO2-700) possess the higher fraction of mesopore to total pore volume (ca. 64.1\%) with surface area (764 m(2) g(-1)). By using cyclic voltammetry, the specific capacitance of SB-CO2-700 is calculated to be ca. 123 F g(-1) at 5 mV s(-1). With the superior properties (greater fraction of mesopore to total pore volume, reasonable surface area and hierarchical porosity), the electrosorption capacity of SB-CO2-700 samples is estimated to be 11.4 mg g(-1) in 10 mM of NaCl solution at 1.2 V. These low-cost biowastes-derived hierarchically porous carbons prepared by time and energy saving route may provide a potential electrode for CDI applications.
Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of wet biomass waste (e.g., from anaerobic digestion (AD) digestate) is an efficient technology to produce bio-crude, a hydrocarbon based renewable fuel. However, the solid waste byproduct has limited use and could be an environmental nuisance if not managed appropriately. Herein, we demonstrate a sustainable way of transforming the solid residue generated through HTL of AD of sugarcane bagasse digestate into potential electrodes for lithium-ion battery (LIB). Briefly, the solid residue from the HTL process was converted into hard carbon (HC@WA) or converted through KOH activation to a carbon with a higher specific surface area carbon material (HC@AA). The structural and morphological characterizations confirm the encapsulation of SiO2 nanoparticles in the carbon matrix to form composite materials. When employed as anode materials in LIB, HC@WA and HC@AA achieve specific capacities of 452 mAh/g and 319 mAh/g respectively, and with long term cycling stability. The practical feasibility of the electrode materials was assessed by fabricating full cells with commercial LiFePO4 (LFP) cathode material. The full cells delivered good specific capacities and cycling stabilities, confirming the potential of the composite materials as electrodes for LiB. Thus, the solid residue after HTL of AD digestate could be one of the sustainable sources to develop materials for energy storage systems, thereby paving the way towards zero-waste and clean energy for a circular economy.
Biomass gasification is a complex process that uses heat and catalysts to convert biomass into syngas, which can be applied in Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis to produce liquid fuels. As FT requires specific syngas compositions, this work performs an optimization of the operating conditions of a pressurized circulating fluidized bed (CFB) gasifier for such purposes. The CFB operated with sugarcane bagasse as a feedstock and steam as a gasifying agent and was simulated in Aspen Plus v8.6 based on Gibbs free energy minimization with restricted equilibrium. The optimization followed the response surface methodology (RSM), consisting of central composite designs performed in Statistica 7.0 at a 99.0 \% confidence level to obtain simplified mathematical models between input factors (temperature, T; steam-to-biomass ratio, S/B; and moisture content, MC) and output factors (cold gas efficiency, CGE; H-2/CO ratio; gasifier heat duty, Q(gasifier); higher heating value, HHV; and H-2, CO, CO2, and CH4 contents). The models were used to generate four optimized cases of pressurized CFBs that returned H-2/CO ratios of 2.15, required for FT reactors. The optimized CFB operates at 916 degrees C, 15 bar, S/B of 1.12, and 10 wt.\% moisture, generating a syngas stream of low CO2 and CH4 contents, which may reduce the syngas cleaning and conditioning costs downstream the gasifier. The results agree with optimizations using other feedstocks and sets of objectives, showing the validity of the models.
BACKGROUNDAldehydes inhalation can adversely affect human and environmental health. This study was carried out to investigate the removal efficiency (RE) of three aldehydes including formaldehyde (FA), acetaldehyde (ACT), and acrolein (ACR) from airstreams using a biofilter packed with a new mixture of compost-scoria-sugarcane bagasse. Influence of inlet concentrations (0.63-25.15 mg/m(3)), empty bed residence time (EBRT) (40, 80, and 120 s), and bed height on the biofilter efficiency were measured for three separate 90-day periods. RESULTSThe mean RE of FA, ACT, and ACR were 92.6 4.6, 85.3 +/- 6.2, and 86.3 +/- 5.7\%, respectively. The mean RE at EBRTs of 40, 80, and 120 s was 84.9 +/- 6.1, 87.9 +/- 6.2, and 91.4 +/- 5.1\%, respectively. Results showed that the RE decreased with increasing inlet concentration, so that the minimum RE (80.2 +/- 4.7\%) was observed at the inlet concentration of 78.5-25.15 mg m(-3). Also, more than 68\% of the overall RE occurred in section 1 of the biofilter, where the mean bacterial population (7.51 log(10)CFU g(-1)) was higher than that in section 2 (7.02 log(10)CFU g(-1)). CONCLUSIONSOwing to the high RE and negligible pressure drop of the bed, it can be concluded that a biofilter with the same conditions is a satisfactory technique to remove aldehydes from polluted air. (c) 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
The amount of energy required to produce a commodity or to supply a service varies from one production system to another and consequently giving rise to differing levels of environmental efficiency. Moreover, since energy prices have been continuously increasing over time, this energy amount may be a factor that has economic worth. Biomass production has a variety of end-products such as food, energy, and fiber; thus, taking into account the similarity in end-product of different crops (e.g.: sunflower, peanuts, or soybean for oil) it is possible to evaluate which crops require less energy per functional unit, such as starch, oil, and protein. This information can be used in decision-making about policies for food safety or bioenergy. In this study, 23 crops were evaluated allowing for a comparison in terms of energy embodied per functional unit. Crops were grouped as follows: starch, oil, horticultural, perennial and fiber, to provide for a deeper analysis of alternatives for the groups, and subsidize further studies comparing conventional and alternative production systems such as organic or genetically modified organisms, in terms of energy. The best energy balance observed was whole sugarcane (juice, bagasse and straw) with a surplus of 268 GJ ha(-1) yr(-1); palm shows the highest energy return on investment with a ratio of approximately 30:1. For carbohydrates and protein production, cassava and soybean, respectively, emerged as the crops offering the greatest energy savings in the production of these functional foods.
A solventogenic strain of Clostridium sp. BOH3 produces extracellular alpha-amylase (7.15 U/mg protein) in reinforced clostridial medium supplemented with sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate (1 \% w/v) and a small amount of starch (0.1 \% w/v), which is essential for the expression of alpha-amylase. In the presence of alpha-amylase, BOH3 utilizes starch directly without any pretreatment and produces butanol almost equivalent (similar to 90 \%) to the production of butanol from glucose. alpha-Amylase can be purified from culture supernatant by using one-step weak anion exchange chromatography with a yield of 43 \%. In peptide fingerprinting analysis, this enzyme shows homology with alpha-amylase produced by Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC824. However, the molecular weight is 54 kDa, which is smaller than alpha-amylase of ATCC824 (84 kDa). This enzyme has optimum temperature at 45-50 A degrees C and optimum pH at 4.5-5.5. Under this condition, the enzyme activity is 91.32 U/mg protein, and its K (m) and V (max) values are 1.71 A +/- 0.02 mg/ml and 96.13 A +/- 0.15 mu mol/min/mg protein, respectively. Activity of this alpha-amylase can be enhanced (> 1.5 times) by addition of Ca2+ and Co2+ and its activity can be maintained at an acidic pH (pH 3-5) for about 24 h. These unique characteristics suggest that this enzyme can be used for saccharification of starch for production of biofuel in one pot.
Extensive use of fossil fuel has led to an increase in solid and gaseous particulates in the environment, which in turn necessitated newer, effective, and economical control strategies to abate pollutants, particularly gaseous pollutants. In the current research work, focus has been placed on utilizing industry wastes to adsorb nitrogen oxides present in diesel engine exhaust, which is pre-treated by plasma. Sampled exhaust from a 5 kW diesel generator is exposed to discharge plasma where the oxidation of nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide occurs, which is then made to flow through another reactor filled with industry wastes drawn from agriculture, foundry, utility, marine industry, etc., comprising mulberry waste, rice husk, wheat husk, areca nut husk, sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, foundry sand, lignite ash, red mud, and oyster shells. While the adsorption of nitrogen dioxide was observed in all the wastes, reduction of nitric oxide was observed in metallic compound-based industry wastes. At about 184 J/L, specific energy plasma cascaded industrial waste red mud yielded 98\% NOx removal efficiency, and that with agriculture rice husk waste yielded 53\% NOx removal. TiO2/Fe2O3 present in industry wastes might have exhibited photo-catalysis in visible light resulting in the possible reduction of NO. A new pathway for recycling the waste can be expected through nitrogen dioxide adsorption, and the results are further discussed with respect to plasma-alone and cascaded plasma adsorbent systems.
Xylan is the second most abundant polysaccharide group in plants and has a wide variety of food and pharmaceutical applications. However, little information on the safety assessment of extracted xylan as dietary supplement is available. As part of a comprehensive toxicological assessment, this study examined the potential toxicity of xylan extracted from sugarcane bagasse by three genotoxicity studies (Ames test,in vivomice bone marrow micronucleus test, and mice sperm abnormality test) and a teratogenicity study in rats. In the Ames test, xylan showed no mutagenic activity on histidine dependent strains ofSalmonella typhimuriumat concentrations up to 5000 mu g/plate; results of thein vivomice bone marrow micronucleus test and mice sperm abnormality test indicated no significant effect on sperm morphology and micronucleus rate of polychromatic erythrocytes in mice at doses up to 5 g/kg body weight. In the teratogenicity study, a total of 60 pregnant rats were exposed to 10, 5, and 2.5\% xylan in diet, from gestation days 7 to 16, and the no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of xylan was determined to be 9.8 g/kg body weight. The safe dose of xylan for human was estimated to be 98 mg/kg/day (i.e., 6.86 g/day for a 70-kg person), using a 100-fold safety factor. Taken together, results of this study indicated that xylan is practically nontoxic in terms of potential dietary consumption by humans in food or as a dietary supplement.
With the industrialization of agricultural processes in rural properties, including poultry has had significant increases in production capacity. The breeding of birds through confinement has generated production residues, such as poultry litter, which, when discarded ``in natura{''
Feat, plant matter that is partially fossilized, is formed in poorly oxygenated wetlands where the rate at which the plant matter accumulates is greater than the rate at which it decomposes. Pear is a common solid fuel ranking among coal, coke, wood, and sugarcane bagasse. It has also been used to recover oil during the remediation processes of contaminated water and soil. Because of its high moisture content, peat has a high potential as biofuel material for gasification. However, proper understanding of the physical and thermochemical properties of peat is necessary for the design of thermochemical conversion systems. This study provides information on moisture content, bulk density, particle size, heating values, proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, ash composition, and ash fusibility characteristics of uncontaminated and diesel-contaminated peat. The moisture content of uncontaminated peat was 7.10\%, whereas that of diesel-contaminated peat ranged from 8.65\% to 10.80\%. The bulk density for the uncontaminated peat was 151 kg/m(3), which increased to 391-534 kg/m(3) due to diesel contamination. Most of the particles (60\%) were in the form of dust. The results also showed an ash content of 3.23\% and the lower hearing value of 17.65 MJ / kg (day weight basis) for the uncontaminated peat. The ash content decreased substantially, whereas the lower heating value increased due to diesel contamination. The ash fusion temperature of the peat was found to be over 1100 degrees C.
In order to achieve a sustainable environment, the development of eco-friendly protocols for the production of noble metal catalysts has been the primary focus of major research. Ternary nanocomposites (TNCs) comprising Au-Cu2O anchored on reduced graphene oxide (Au-Cu2O/RGO) were synthesised employing a novel one-pot greener approach using sugarcane bagasse (SB) waste and Fehling's solution without engaging harmful chemicals as reagents and surfactants. In addition to the mild reducing capability of the polysaccharides present in SB, it also induces functionalization of RGO, avoiding aggregation of the reduced sheets and thereby providing in situ stabilization of Cu2O. The sonocatalytic performance of biogenically synthesized Au-Cu2O/RGO TNCs for reducing nitrophenols to the corresponding aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride (NaBH4) as a reducing agent was estimated. TNCs showed high performance in the sonocatalytic reduction of 4-nitrophenols (4-NP), 2-nitrophenol (2-NP), and 3-nitrophenol (3-NP) with 88\%, 72\%, and 78\% conversion within 90, 60, and 40 seconds, respectively. The sonocatalytic activity of Au-Cu2O/RGO was enhanced compared to that of Cu2O and Cu2O/RGO due to the easier electron transfer process. The current work showcases a novel, eco-friendly, and benign protocol for the synthesis of nanocomposites (NCs) and simultaneously emphasises the exploration of decorated metal oxide as a nanocatalyst with high catalytic potential; compared to unanchored metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs), the supported NCs exhibit greater efficacy and ease of recovery.
A gene encoding an endo-1,4-beta-glucanase (Afu6g01800) from A. fumigatus was cloned into the vector pET-28a (+) and expressed in the E. coli strain RosettaTM (DE3) pLysS. Sequence analysis indicated that the enzyme Af-EGL7 belonged to the GH7 family. The gene Af-egl7 encoded a protein comprising 460 amino acids, with a CBM1 domain at residues 424-460 and molecular mass of 52 kDa, as estimated by SDS-PAGE. This enzyme was optimally active at pH and temperatures ranging from 4.5 to 5.5 and from 40 to 60 degrees C, respectively. Mn2+ addition significantly enhanced the Af-EGL7 cellulase activity by 233\%, whereas SDS addition fully inhibited this activity. Higher activity was observed toward beta-glucan than toward xyloglucan and CM-Cellulose, suggesting that the enzyme corresponds to a beta-1,3-1,4-glucanase. qRT-PCR in different culture media helped to establish the time course expression profile. Different polysaccharides induced the gene Af-egl7 in a time-dependent manner; in the particular case of the substrate sugarcane exploded bagasse (SEB), Af-egl7 was induced 2500-fold. Upon addition to a commercial cellulase cocktail, Af-EGL7 significantly improved SEB saccharification, which suggested that the enzyme Af-EGL7 had great potential to hydrolyze complex biomass. From a biotechnological point of view, A. fumigatus Af-EGL7 is a promising candidate to enhance enzyme cocktails used in biorefineries such as consolidated bioprocessing.
The Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) has developed a simple to use near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) transmission-based analysis method as an alternative to conventional methods for analysis of sugarcane factory stream samples. The technology provides rapid, simultaneous analysis of refractometric dry substance (rds), polarimetric sugar, sucrose, glucose, fructose, conductivity ash contents as well as colour and pH for all streams and additionally, dry solids for final molasses and eliminates the need for sample clarification chemicals. The analyte prediction equations were developed using conventional results of samples from 14 South African factories, analysed at SMRI using SANAS/ISO17025 accredited test methods, and NIRS scans of the same samples using up to 16 different NIRS instruments. The NIRS analyte prediction equations were validated against more than 1,500 independent factory samples that had been analysed by conventional methods of analysis, including samples from factories outside South Africa. The reproducibility of the NIRS results were equivalent to existing conventional analysis reproducibility values (juice and final molasses) and previously undocumented values determined for this study for conventional raw house analysis methods. Correlation coefficients of greater than 0.97 were recorded for all major analytes and greater than 0.9 for minor analytes when predicted results were compared against conventional results. A maintenance protocol was also developed to ensure that the prediction equations remain robust and can account for sample matrix variations that can occur from season to season. The SMRI-NIRS technology was installed at all 14 South African factories and found to be robust and give equivalent results to conventional methods of analysis.
Chitin and chitosan are natural amino polysaccharides that have exceptional biocompatibility in a wide range of applications such as drug delivery carriers, antibacterial agents and food stabilizers. However, conventional chemical extraction methods of chitin from marine waste are costly and hazardous to the environment. Here we report a study where shrimp waste was co-fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum ATCC 14917 and Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis ATCC 6051 and chitin was successfully extracted after deproteinization and demineralization of the prawn shells. The glucose supplementation for fermentation was replaced by waste substrates to reduce cost and maximize waste utilization. A total of 10 carbon sources were explored, namely sugarcane molasses, light corn syrup, red grape pomace, white grape pomace, apple peel, pineapple peel and core, potato peel, mango peel, banana peel and sweet potato peel. The extracted chitin was chemically characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to measure the degree of acetylation, elemental analysis (EA) to measure the carbon/nitrogen ratio and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to measure the degree of crystallinity. A comparison of the quality of the crude extracted chitin was made between the different waste substrates used for fermentation and the experimental results showed that the waste substrates generally make a suitable replacement for glucose in the fermentation process. Red grape pomace resulted in recovery of chitin with a degree of deacetylation of 72.90\%, a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 6.85 and a degree of crystallinity of 95.54\%. These achieved values were found to be comparable with and even surpassed commercial chitin.
Climate change is a global challenge that is accelerated by contamination with hazardous substances like arsenic (As), posing threat to the agriculture, ecosystem and human health. Here, we explored the impact of various ameliorants on geochemical distribution of As in two soils with contrasting textures (sandy clay loam (Khudpur Village) and clay loam (Mattital Village)) under paddy soil conditions and their influence on the CO2-carbon efflux. The exchangeable As pool in clay loam soil increased as: lignite (0.4\%) < biogas slurry (6\%) < cow dung (9\%), and < biochar (20\%). However, in the sandy clay loam soil exchangeable soil As pool was found to be maximum with farmyard manure followed by biogas slurry, biochar and cow dung (17\%, 14\%, 13\% and 7\%, respectively). Interestingly, in the sandy clay loam soil the percentage As distribution in organic fraction was: biochar (38\%) > cow dung (33\%) > biogas slurry (23\%) > sugarcane bagasse (22\%) > farmyard manure (21\%) that was higher compared to the clay loam soil (< 6\% for all the amendments). In addition to the highest As immobilization by biochar in sandy clay loam soil, it also led to the lowest CO2-carbon efflux (1470 CO2-C mg kg(-1)) among all the organic/inorganic amendments. Overall, the current study advances our understanding on the pivotal role of organic amendments, notably biochar, in immobilizing As under paddy soil conditions with low (CO2) carbon loss, albeit it is dependent on soil and ameliorant types.
Potentially valuable water soluble bio-fiber gums (hemicellulose B) were prepared from low-valued grain processing by-products, agricultural residues and energy crops by an alkaline extraction followed by ethanol precipitation. The bio-fiber gum (BFGs) from all these sources are very rich in soluble dietary fiber (87.2-93.6\%) except from wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse (only 60.3 and 55.5\% respectively) and they are predicted to be non-caloric in human diets qualifying as non-caloric food ingredient in many products. The sugar composition of these BFGs showed that they were typical arabinoxylans containing high molar ratio of arabinose to xylose with some other sugars such as galactose, glucose, galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid in the side chains. The yield of pure BFG from these plant materials varied from 2.33 (rice fiber) to 25.13\% (corn bran) and they all, except BFG from wheat bran, are very good emulsifiers for stabilizing oil in water emulsions. Their ORAC values ranged from about 7000 to 29,000 mmole Trolox/100 g sample showing that they have the ability to provide antioxidant activity in foods, as well as offering the other functionalities and health-promoting benefits of dietary fiber. The ORAC values of BFGs are higher than their respective original plant materials indicating that the antioxidant-rich portions of the various plant materials can be solubilized and fractionated by the present alkaline extraction process. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Hydrodynamic cavitation was recently applied as a biomass pretreatment method. Most of the studies which used hydrodynamic cavitation were applied to pretreated sugarcane bagasse or reed. High biomass yield of Sida hermaphrodita points out the necessity of studies on its effective pretreatment before methane fermentation, especially because its wood-like characteristics could present different disintegration properties than other lignocellulose biomass. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the influence of duration of hydrodynamic cavitation on lignocellulose composition in Sida hermaphrodita silage, and the assessment of disintegrated biomass as a substrate for methane fermentation. The study showed a slight decrease in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content in biomass after hydrodynamic cavitation, which resulted in a higher content of carbohydrates in the liquid fraction of disintegrated substrates. Methane production was 439.1 +/- 45.0 L CH4/kg total solids (TS) from the substrate disintegrated for 20 min. However, the most effective time for methane production was hydrodynamic cavitation of the substrate for 5 min. At this pretreatment duration, the highest values for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and carbohydrate reduction were also noted. The study proved that hydrodynamic cavitation applied for 5 min allowed obtaining an energy profit of 0.17 Wh/g TS. The studies on a laboratory scale indicated that the technology of hydrodynamic cavitation of Sida hermaphrodita could be economically applied for methane fermentation on a large scale.
In this work, erythromycin production by Saccharopolyspora erythraea NCIMB 12462 was investigated under solid state fermentation (SSF) using beet sugar root (BSR) and agro-industrial materials. Among them oat meal (OM) has given maximum yield. The combination of OM with BSR (3:3 g/flask) proved to be an efficient mixture for erythromycin production as they gave the highest erythromycin level (6531 mu g/flask) when compared to BSR and peptone. Supplementation of BSR and OM mixtures with sugarcane bagasse (SCB) as inert support with different inoculum size and additional water enhanced erythromycin production with 3.1-fold higher production than BSR- OM medium. However, increasing SCB content more than 3g/flask always showed an inhibitory effect on erythromycin production. Box-Behnken response surface methodology was applied to further optimize SCB content, inoculum size and moisture level for erythromycin production. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the linear of the selected terms, their interactions and quadric terms of these three variables had significant effects. The moisture level was the key factor influencing erythromycin production, due to its largest F-value (48.01) and the lowest p-value (0.0002) among the three variables. The interactions between SCB content and moisture level had also the most significant effect (F-value = 32.51) on erythromycin production. The optimized medium produced 29884 ug/flask of erythromycin under SSF, which is 1.1\% higher than the unoptimized medium.
The development of phosphate bonded composites with properties comparable with those of current Portland cement bonded products has been investigated. More precisely, the focus of the study was the optimization of calcium phosphate cements in combination with wood processing residues slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) planer shavings, Black wattle (Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) residues, Blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) residues, hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) hurds and dried crushed sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum L.) as well as pulp mill sludge and waste paper. A central composite design (CCD) for the response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for selection of the proper parameters. Mechanical tests were conducted on the composite products and the effect of the processing variables was evaluated based on the Pareto analysis of variance. The density of the wood-based panels ranged from 0.68 to 1.21 g cm(-3), that of the agricultural fibers from 0.59 to 1.15 g cm(-3) and that of the paper pulp panels from 0.81 to 1.21 g cm(-3). The modulus of elasticity (MOE) data of the panels ranged from 1.63 to 4.92 MPa for wood, from 0.37 to 3.28 MPa for agricultural fibers and from 0.65 to 3.87 MPa for paper-pulp-based fibers. The physical properties of the composite products met the requirements for Portland-cement-bonded particleboards (EN 634-2, 2007).
The sustainability of food value chains is affected by the large amounts of waste produced with a high environmental impact. Food waste valorization applying the biorefinery concept has emerged as an alternative to reduce the generation of greenhouse gases and to promote the socio-economic development of value chains at local, regional, and national levels. This paper analyzes the sustainability of food waste biorefineries designed for boosting rural economic development in Colombia. These biorefineries were designed following a strategy based on a portfolio of bioprocesses involving fractions based on the composition of the raw materials. The valorization of six food residues produced in three representative rural areas of Colombia (i.e., Choco, Caldas, and Sucre) was analyzed. Acai, annatto, sugarcane bagasse, rejected plantain and avocado, and organic kitchen food waste (OKFW) were selected as food wastes for upgrading. The biorefinery design strategy comprised five steps for filtering the most promising bioprocesses to be implemented. The OKFW was analyzed in detail, applying the design strategy to provide a step-by-step guide involving a portfolio of bioproducts, the technological maturity index, and the socio-economic context. This strategy implementation for OKFW valorization resulted in a scenario where biorefineries with levulinic acid production were the most feasible and sustainable, with high techno-economic performances and low environmental impacts. For the valorization of the other food residues, the processes with the greatest feasibility of being implemented in rural areas were bioactive compounds, oil, flour, and biogas production.
A codon optimized cellobiohydrolase (CBH) encoding synthetic gene of 1188 bp from a thermophilic mold Myceliophthora thermophila (MtCel6A) was cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli for the first time. In silico analysis suggested that MtCel6A is a GH6 CBH and belongs to CBHII family, which is structurally similar to Cel6A of Humicola insolens. The recombinant MtCel6A is expressed as active inclusion bodies, and the molecular mass of the purified enzyme is similar to 45 kDa. The rMtCel6A is active in a wide range of pH (4-12) and temperatures (40-100 degrees C) with optima at pH 10.0 and 60 degrees C. It exhibits T-1/2 of 6.0 and 1.0 h at 60 and 90 degrees C, respectively. The rMtCel6A is an extremozyme with organic solvent, salt and alkali tolerance. The K-m, V-max, k(cat) and k(cat)/K-m values of the enzyme are 3.2 mg mL(-1), 222.2 mu mol mg(-1) min(-1), 2492 s(-1) and 778.7 s(-1) mg(-1) mL(-1), respectively. The product analysis of rMtCel6A confirmed that it is an exoenzyme that acts from the non-reducing end of cellulose. The addition of rMtCel6A to the commercial cellulase mix (Cellic CTec2) led to 1.9-fold increase in saccharification of the pre-treated sugarcane bagasse. The rMtCel6A is a potential CBH that finds utility in industrial processes such as in bioethanol, paper pulp and textile industries.
For mass production, casting industries mainly require hybrid metal matrix composites with a high degree of surface finish. In this work, an attempt is made to design a low-cost hybrid material and also aims to investigate the optimum turning conditions to minimize the surface roughness (Ra), thereby producing high-quality hybrid metal matrix composites. AlSi10Mg alloy was fabricated with constant 9 wt\% of treated sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and 3, 6 and 9 wt\% of silicon carbide (SiC) reinforcements and the mechanical properties were examined to predict the better composition in the fabricated materials. Experiments were conducted in the better composition material to identify the optimized turning parameters such as spindle speed, feed rate and depth of cut with bio lubricants as cutting fluid using response surface methodology (RSM) method and then the results were analyzed using ANOVA. The hardness of the developed hybrid material was increased from 102.7BHNto 129.8 BHN, and the tensile strength was increased from 138.9 MPa to 161.7 MPa compared with the base AlSi10Mg alloy. Spindle speed of 275 rpm, a feed rate of 0.2 mm rev(-1) and depth of cut of 0.75 mm were identified as the optimized input machining parameters. The regression equation for the turning parameters was derived through the study made by RSM. Overall the results concluded that the incorporation of reinforcements with the aluminium alloy exhibit superior mechanical properties and high quality of surface finish with the optimized turning conditions.
The growth of broiler meat production chain in Brazil has resulted in a strong increase in the wastes produced either at the pre-finishing stages (reproductive poultry litter and hatchery waste) or during finishing and meat processing (floatation sludge, sausage casings, and charcoal waste). These wastes are produced in high amount, mainly the floatation sludge which presents a low C:N ratio. Composting is the primary available stabilization process for broiler agro-industrial solid wastes in Brazil, but these high nitrogen wastes must be combined with a compatible carbon source to accelerate the process and to produce high quality compost. In this study, five regional materials cotton fiber waste, urban tree trimmings, sawdust, milled sugarcane bagasse and ground Napier grass were assessed as potential carbon sources to improve composting of broiler agro-industrial solid wastes. Analyzed variables associated with composting area optimization included composting time and the reduction in dry matter weight and volume. Analyzed variables that reflected the quality of the final compost included electrical conductivity, germination index, concentrations of N, P and K, C:N and humic to fulvic acid ratios. Multivariate analysis, including cluster and principal component analyses, indicated that cotton fiber waste, as a carbon source, optimized composting area utilization and resulted in finished compost with high agronomic value. However, due to its high level of nutrients, cotton fiber waste showed the highest EC, which limits its use as seedling substrate. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this work, a methodology for the model-based identifiable parameter determination (MBIPD) is presented. This systematic approach is proposed to be used for structure and parameter identification of nonlinear models of biological reaction networks. Usually, this kind of problems are over-parameterized with large correlations between parameters. Hence, the related inverse problems for parameter determination and analysis are mathematically ill-posed and numerically difficult to solve. The proposed MBIPD methodology comprises several tasks: (i) model selection, (ii) tracking of an adequate initial guess, and (iii) an iterative parameter estimation step which includes an identifiable parameter subset selection (SsS) algorithm and accuracy analysis of the estimated parameters. The SsS algorithm is based on the analysis of the sensitivity matrix by rank revealing factorization methods. Using this, a reduction of the parameter search space to a reasonable subset, which can be reliably and efficiently estimated from available measurements, is achieved. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process for bio-ethanol production from cellulosic material is used as case study for testing the methodology. The successful application of MBIPD to the SSF process demonstrates a relatively large reduction in the identified parameter space. It is shown by a cross-validation that using the identified parameters (even though the reduction of the search space), the model is still able to predict the experimental data properly. Moreover, it is shown that the model is easily and efficiently adapted to new process conditions by solving reduced and well conditioned problems. (c) 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:1064-1082, 2013
Urea is a compound widely used as a feed additive for ruminants; however, when used profusely, it can lead animals to intoxication. Another factor that affects the effectiveness of urea is the lack of synchronization between the nitrogen and the availability of carbohydrates, necessary for better development of the ruminal microbiota. In order to circumvent these problems and improve the efficiency in urea use, the present study developed two new nutritional additives (F16 and F17) with different carbohydrate sources. One of the products developed (F16) used sugarcane molasses as a carbohydrate source, while the other (F17) used cassava starch. In addition to the carbohydrate source, both products contained the same amounts of urea, sulfur, calcium carbonate and were coated with carnauba wax. The supplements developed and two other commercial products based on extruded urea (UE) and polymer-coated urea (UP) were tested for solubility and cumulative gas production. The wax used in the coating process of the developed products (F16 and F17) proved to be efficient in reducing the solubility of the ingredients used. During chemical composition analysis it was verified that both supplements developed contained protein equivalent above 150\% of crude protein. The cumulative gas production showed a higher production related to the product F17 (p < 0.05). Through thermogravimetric analysis, it was found the chemical integrity of the ingredients that make up the supplements developed. Therefore, is possible to reduce the solubility of urea using carnauba wax as a coating material. The formula with cassava starch associated with urea (F17) had a better synchronization during the degradation of its ingredients.
Agricultural waste can be used in cement block production for a number of reasons, including its environmental, economic, and labor benefits. This study examines the mechanical, durability, and cost-effectiveness characteristics of cement blocks. A cement block made from agriculture waste promotes sustainable construction practices, since waste agriculture is often dumped in landfills and regarded as a waste material. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by the construction sector, either from the firing of clay bricks or from the production of cement, contribute significantly to global warming. In many developing countries, air pollution from agricultural activities is primarily accounted for the emissions from agricultural machinery and openly burning agro-waste. Farming is one of the leading causes of water and soil pollution. Hence, adopting agricultural waste into cement production would significantly reduce the environmental impact of concrete structures. The goal of this research is to determine whether agricultural waste products, such as vermiculite, pistachio shells, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut husks, can be used to substitute sand in concrete blocks. The water absorption capacity of waste materials, density, flexural strength, fire resistance, and compressive strength of waste materials as admixtures in concrete were evaluated using experimental tests. In most cases, the concrete blocks made from agricultural waste were strong enough to satisfy ASTM standards. The specimens containing coconut husks and pistachio shells, among others, were found to be fairly strong and durable, even when isolating them from water.
Acid hydrolysis of sucrose was studied as a method to convert sucrose in sweet sorghum syrup into glucose and fructose before fermentation with the genetically engineered succinic acidproducing Escherichia coli strain AFP184. Successful hydrolysis of sucrose in sweet sorghum syrup was achieved without noticeable formation of degradation products using moderate temperatures, 65-85 degrees C, with 0.24-0.48 M HCl in less than 30 min. The measured sucrose hydrolysis rates were lower than previously reported for sweet sorghum molasses. The E. coli strain AFP184 consumed all the sugars (glucose and fructose) in the sweet sorghum syrup hydrolysate. The products were predominately succinic and acetic acid. The final concentration of succinic acid was 27 g/L, but the organism was shown to produce higher levels of succinic acid (60 g/L), when grown under optimal conditions on pure glucose. Note that the fermentation results during scaleup should be seen as preliminary, as initial sugar content, aeration, agitation, and duration of initial aerobic growth phase were not optimized. Thus, improved results closer to those experienced with glucose are expected.
The present study was focused on the potentiality of agro-based residues for the production of pectinase to meet the growing market demand by improving the yield with low cost of production. Among the agro-based residues used for the production of pectinase, apple pomace was able to produce the maximum of 1366.30 +/- 36.71 U/ml using Aspergillus parvisclerotigenus KX928754 in liquid static surface fermentation, followed by sugarcane bagasse (973.12 +/- 22.43 U/ml) and used tea (686.7 +/- 45.06 U/ml). The process parameters optimization using a single variable at a time affirmed that pH 7.0, incubation period of 168 h, 30 degrees C temperature, sucrose 2\% as carbon source and peptone 3\% as nitrogen source was found to be optimum for better production. The crude filtrate was purified by precipitation, dialyzed, eluted on Sephadex G-100 column followed by lyophilization and stored at -20 degrees C. A. parvisclerotigenus KX928754 pectinase was purified to 2.10-fold, 2.91\% of yield rate and having a specific activity of 1081.66 U/mg. Moreover, the electrophoretic analysis through sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed 37.4 kDa of protein from the purified pectinase. Thus, the use of apple pomace as a substrate for scaling up pectinase with efficient recovery could reduce the price of the enzyme and increase its avenue for different industrial exploitation.
The solubilization and aqueous phase reforming of lignin, including kraft, soda, and alcell lignin along with sugarcane bagasse, at low temperatures (T < 498 K) and pressures (P < 29 bar) is reported for the first time for the production of aromatic chemicals and hydrogen. Analysis of lignin model compounds and the distribution of products obtained during the lignin aqueous phase reforming revealed that lignin was depolymerized through disruption of the abundant beta-O-4 linkages and, to a lesser extent, the 5-5' carbon-carbon linkages to form monomeric aromatic compounds. The alkyl chains contained on these monomeric compounds were readily reformed to produce hydrogen and simple aromatic platform chemicals, particularly guaiacol and syringol, with the distribution of each depending on the lignin source. The methoxy groups present on the aromatic rings were subject to hydrolysis to form methanol, which was also readily reformed to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The composition of the isolated yields of monomeric aromatic compounds and overall lignin conversion based on these isolated yields varied from 10-15\% depending on the lignin sample, with the balance consisting of gaseous products and residual solid material. Furthermore, we introduce the use of a high-pressure autoclave with optical windows and an autoclave with ATR-IR sentinel for on-line in situ spectroscopic monitoring of biomass conversion processes, which provides direct insight into, for example, the solubilization process and aqueous phase reforming reaction of lignin.
The present study evaluated the effects of energetic undernutrition on liquid and solid digesta passage and on nutrient digestibility as well as their interdependencies. Using a 4 x 4 Latin square design, 12 growing Boran steers (183 +/- 15.2 kg live weight) were allocated to four levels of metabolizable energy (ME) supply fixed at 100, 80, 60 and 40\% of individual maintenance energy requirements (MER) during four experimental periods. Each period comprised three weeks of adaptation, two weeks of data collection and two weeks of recovery. Diets MER80, MER60 and MER40 only consisted of Rhodes grass hay (RGH), whereas diet MER100 contained (as fed) 83\% RGH, 8\% cotton seed meal and 9\% sugarcane molasses. Feed intake differed between treatments (p < .001) and ranged from 40 +/- 0.6 g dry matter (DM) per kg of metabolic weight (kg(0.75)) in MER40 to 81 +/- 1.3 g DM in MER100. Digestibility of neutral and acid detergent fibre (NDF, ADF) was highest at MER80, whereas rumen retention time of liquid and solid digesta was longest at MER40. The correlation of rumen retention time of liquid and solid digesta with the digestibility of proximate diet components was weak but positive, whereas the correlation of liquid and solid rumen retention time with quantitative feed and nutrient intake was strong (p < .01) and negative. Our results suggest that tropical cattle are able to buffer a moderate energy deficit by prolonging rumen retention time of digesta and hence improve diet digestibility. Conversely, a severe energy deficit cannot be buffered by digestive adaptation mechanisms and will inevitably lead to productivity losses.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of coconut fruit pulp by-product (CPB) on the intake, apparent digestibility, nitrogen balance, and ruminal parameters of sheep. Five intact, male, non-descript lambs with a mean initial body weight of 25.5 +/- 1.68 kg were assigned to a Latin square design (5 x 5) of five treatments consisting of CPB inclusion levels, in five proportions of 0\%, 5\%, 10\%, 15\%, and 20\% dry matter (DM), in diets consisting of sugarcane bagasse as forage, with corn and soybean meal. Each period lasted 15 days for adaptation followed by 6 days for data collection. The inclusion of CPB linearly decreased (P < 0.05) the intake of DM, crude protein, non-fibre carbohydrates, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and DM digestibility. The inclusion of CPB linearly increased (P < 0.05) the ether extract digestibility, but did not influence (P > 0.05) the NDF digestibility. There was a linear reduction (P < 0.05) in the absorbed nitrogen (N) and retained N (g/day); however, a quadratic increase (P < 0.05) for N absorbed (\% consumed) as well as ammonia nitrogen was observed. There was a quadratic increase (P < 0.05) for propionate (mMol/L and \%) and the ratio of acetate, propionate and butyrate (mMol/L and \%) with the inclusion of CPB in the diet. Based on these findings, it was recommended to incorporate CPB up to the level of 5\% in the diet of sheep.
Co-pyrolysis of plastics and biomass can effectively improve the quality of bio-oil and solve the problem of plastic pollution. However, synergistic effect of co-pyrolysis on kinetics and the role of biomass H/C-eff in co-pyrolysis are still not conclusive. In this work, the co-pyrolysis synergistic effects of three different hydrogen-to-carbon ratio (H/C-eff) of biomass-rice husk (RH), sugarcane bagasse (SUG), and poplar wood (PW) with hydrogen-rich polypropylene (PP) were studied using a thermogravimetric method. The total synergy degree (phi) and the difference between experimental and theoretical weight losses (Delta W) were defined, and the activation energies of various experimental materials were calculated by the isoconversional method. The results showed that the addition of PP reduced the dependence of product species on biomass H/C-eff during co-pyrolysis. The synergistic effect of biomass and PP was related to biomass types, pyrolysis temperature, and mass ratio of biomass to PP. The mixture of SUG and PP showed positive synergistic effect at all mass ratios. Simultaneously, at the low temperature of pyrolysis, the synergistic effect is inhibited in all mixtures, which might be due to the melting of PP. Kinetic analysis showed that the activation energy could be reduced by 11.14-31.78\% by co-pyrolysis with biomass and PP. A multi-step mechanism was observed in both the pyrolysis of a single sample and the co-pyrolysis of a mixture, according to Criado's schematic analysis.
Converting agricultural waste into value-added biopesticides to replace chemical pesticides for plant protection is a good alternative for environmental sustainability and resource recycling. In this study, five tropical wastes (cassava peels, banana pseudostem, coconut shell, sugarcane bagasse, and pineapple peels) were screened as substrates for the rapid production of biopesticide Trichoderma Brev T069. Five single tests and a Box-Behnken design (BBD) with response surface methodology were used to optimize the culture conditions to improve the spore yield. The results showed that cassava peel was the optimal solid fermentation substrate, and the optimization enabled a spore yield of 9.31 x 10(9) spores/g at 3rd day, which was equal to 93.19\% of spore yield obtained at 5th day (9.99 x 109 spores/g). A newly packed-bed bioreactor with agitation and ventilation system was developed and used to expand the production that 250 kg of biopesticide (2.89 x 10(9) spores/g) could be available on the 3rd day. A pot experiment indicated that the biopesticide T. Brev T069 obtained under this production system, when applied at 1 x 10(7) spores/g of soil had a 64.65\% biocontrol efficiency on banana fusarium wilt. This study provides a practical solution for turning a tropical waste into an effective biopesticide which can prevent banana wilt disease, thereby helping to reduce disease management cost and overcome environmental hazards caused by synthetic pesticides.
Scallop shells are currently a major form of waste generated in the Chinese fishing industry. However, they have the potential to be used as important industrial products. This study was conducted to assess the utility of scallop shell powder (SSP) supplementation in improving the growth of king oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus eryngii) grown on sawdust and sugarcane bagasse substrates. The outcomes of interest included mycelial growth, yield, biological efficiency, fruiting body traits, nutrient supply, and the mineral composition of P. eryngii. Supplementation with SSP accelerated the mycelial growth of P. eryngii. The yield of fruiting bodies (399.5 g/bag) and the biological efficiency (84.6\%) were 14\% higher after supplementation of the substrate with 2\% SSP compared with those of mushrooms grown on substrates not supplemented with SSP (349.8 g/bag and 74.0\%, respectively). Moreover, the crude protein and fiber content of the fruiting bodies significantly improved after growth with SSP. Furthermore, supplementation with 2\% SSP increased the calcium (Ca) content of the fruiting bodies of P. eryngii by 64\% (to 67.2 +/- 15.7 mg kg(-1)) compared with that of mushrooms grown on a control substrate (41.0 mg kg(-1)). This study revealed that P. eryngii can efficiently use the Ca provided by raw SSP, generating higher Ca content in their fruiting bodies. Our results demonstrate that the supplementation of substrates with SSP can be useful for enhancing both the yield and nutritional content of P. eryngii.
Bioplastics are plastics derived from natural resources like corn starch, biomass, sugarcane bagasse, and food waste. Unlike fossil fuel-based plastics, they are bio-degradable entirely or partially. Therefore, bioplastics are relatively less harmful to the environment. Cellulose and starch-based bioplastics are already used for applications like packaging, cutlery, bowls, straws. However, their cost and performance cannot match the conventional plastics. The present study was aimed to produce bioplastic from food waste material. As a result, orange peel is chosen because of its high cellulose content and good availability. The bio-plastic film from orange peel was produced using simple laboratory techniques. Its identification for potential applications is the new area of work. The developed film blends with glycerol as a plasticizer have indicated consistent and promising results. This has excellent strength, flexibility, and disintegration in soiling conditions, morphologically having a rough surface, and confirms the film's bio-degradability nature. Characterization methods such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), powderX-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis confirmed that the developed material's physicochemical and surface morphology belonged to bio-based plastic. A simple, novel, and economic process are described in the manufacturing of bio-based plastic.(c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
A 120-day experiment was conducted to understand the growth and immunomodulatory response of Penaeus vannamei reared in biofloc-integrated periphyton system-like natural substrates like bamboo (NS1), sugarcane bagasse (NS2), artificial substrates like polyvinyl chloride mat (AS1), agricultural shed net (AS2), and a control group without biofloc and substrate. Experiments were carried out in 500-L fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) tanks at a stocking density of 100 nos/m(3) (0.256 g). Shrimps reared in natural substrate-based treatments, (NS1 and NS2) recorded highest average body weight (ABW) and survival followed by artificial ones (AS1 and AS2), and were significantly higher (P < 0.01) compared with control. Significantly higher chlorophyll(a), ash-free dry matter (AFDM), and THB load were recorded in NS (1 and 2) followed by AS (1 and 2). Contrastingly, the Vibrio load was higher in control than treatments. Relative percentage survival was higher (P < 0.01) in treatments when challenged against V. parahaemolyticus. Serum protein level, phenoloxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase assay were significantly higher in natural and artificial substrate groups when compared to control. Immunomodulatory effects through immune gene study revealed a two fold to four fold upregulation in cytMn-SOD and mtMn-SOD genes in NS groups. Similarly, the lysozyme and prophenoloxidase genes were significantly upregulated in the treatment groups. The results conclude that biofloc with natural followed by artificial periphytic substrates were observed to deliver better performances, protective response, and immunomodulatory effects in pacific white shrimp P. vannamei culture.
Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) and chemical soil disinfestation (CSD) are two common agricultural strategies for the elimination of soil-borne pathogens. However, the differences in soil bacterial microbiome and its associated functional characteristics between CSD and RSD are poorly understood. In this study, five soil treatments, un-treated control (CK), CSD with 0.5 t ha(-1) dazomet (DZ), RSD with 10 t ha(-1) ethanol (ET), 15 t ha(-1) sugarcane bagasse (SB), and 15 t ha(-1) bean dregs (BD), were compared. We evaluated their effects on microbial metabolic activity, functional diversity, nitrogen-related genes abundance, and bacterial community structure using Biolog analysis, real-time PCR, and high-throughput sequencing. RSD-related treatments improved soil metabolic activity, functional diversity, and the abundance of denitrifying genes to a greater extent than the DZ treatment. Carbon source utilization preference and bacterial community structure were strikingly altered by CSD and RSD practices. Bacterial richness, diversity, and evenness were notably lowered in the SB-and BD-treated soils compared with the CK and DZ-treated soils. Moreover, compared with the DZ- and ET-treated soils, the SB- and BD-treated soils harbored distinct unique and core microbiomes that were comprised of more abundant and diverse potentially disease-suppressive and organic-decomposable agents. Collectively, these results suggest that RSD practices incorporated with organic residues could considerably restore soil functional activity and diversity, and act as a potential agricultural practice for the development of disease-suppressive soils.
Laccase, an oxidoreductive enzyme, is important in bioremediation. Although marine fungi are potential sources of enzymes for industrial applications, they have been inadequately explored. The fungus MTCC 5159, isolated from decaying mangrove wood and identified as Cerrena unicolor based on the D1/D2 region of 28S and the 18S ribosomal DNA sequence, decolorized several synthetic dyes. Partially purified laccase reduced lignin content from sugarcane bagasse pulp by 36\% within 24 h at 30A degrees C. Laccase was the major lignin-degrading enzyme (similar to 24,000 U L-1) produced when grown in low-nitrogen medium with half-strength seawater. Three laccases, Lac I, Lac II, and Lac III, of differing molecular masses were produced. Each of these, further resolved into four isozymes by anion exchange chromatography. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the major isozyme, Lac IId showed 70-85\% homology to laccases from basidiomycetes. It contained an N-linked glycan content of 17\%. The optimum pH and temperature for Lac IId were 3 and 70A degrees C, respectively, the half-life at 70A degrees C being 90 min. The enzyme was most stable at pH 9 and retained > 60\% of its activity up to 180 min at 50A degrees C and 60A degrees C. The enzyme was not inhibited by Pb, Fe, Ni, Li, Co, and Cd at 1 mmol. This is the first report on the characterization of thermostable metal-tolerant laccase from a marine-derived fungus with a potential for industrial application.
Extensive use of fossil fuel has led to an increase in solid and gaseous particulates in the environment, which in turn necessitated newer, effective, and economical control strategies to abate pollutants, particularly gaseous pollutants. In the current research work, focus has been placed on utilizing industry wastes to adsorb nitrogen oxides present in diesel engine exhaust, which is pre-treated by plasma. Sampled exhaust from a 5 kW diesel generator is exposed to discharge plasma where the oxidation of nitric oxide to nitrogen dioxide occurs, which is then made to flow through another reactor filled with industry wastes drawn from agriculture, foundry, utility, marine industry, etc., comprising mulberry waste, rice husk, wheat husk, areca nut husk, sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, foundry sand, lignite ash, red mud, and oyster shells. While the adsorption of nitrogen dioxide was observed in all the wastes, reduction of nitric oxide was observed in metallic compound-based industry wastes. At about 184 J/L, specific energy plasma cascaded industrial waste red mud yielded 98\% NOx removal efficiency, and that with agriculture rice husk waste yielded 53\% NOx removal. TiO2/Fe2O3 present in industry wastes might have exhibited photo-catalysis in visible light resulting in the possible reduction of NO. A new pathway for recycling the waste can be expected through nitrogen dioxide adsorption, and the results are further discussed with respect to plasma-alone and cascaded plasma adsorbent systems.
Bioenergy consumption is greatest in countries with heavy subsidies or tax incentives, such as China, Brazil, and Sweden. Conversion of forest residues and agricultural residues to charcoal, district heat and home heating are the most common forms of bioenergy. Biomass electric generation feedstocks are predominantly forest residues (including black liquor), bagasse, and other agricultural residues. Biofuel feedstocks include sugar from sugarcane (in Brazil), starch from maize grain (in the US), and oil seeds (soy or rapeseed) for biodiesel (in the US, EU, and Brazil). Of the six large land areas of the world reviewed (China, EU, US, Brazil, Canada, Australia), total biomass energy consumptions amounts to 17.1 EJ. Short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) established in Brazil, New Zealand, and Australia over the past 25 years equal about 50,000 km(2). SRWC plantings in China may be in the range of 70,000-100,000 km(2). SRWC and other energy crops established in the US and EU amount to less than 1000km. With some exceptions (most notably in Sweden and Brazil), the SRWC have been established for purposes other than as dedicated bioenergy feedstocks, however, portions of the crops are (or are planned to be) used for bioenergy production. New renewable energy incentives, greenhouse gas emission targets, synergism with industrial waste management projects, and oil prices exceeding 60 \$ Bbl(-1) (in 2005) are major drivers for SRWC or energy crop based bioenergy projects. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cellulosic materials were treated with supercritical carbon dioxide to increase the reactivity of cellulose, thereby to enhance the rate and the extent of cellulose hydrolysis. In this pretreatment process, the cellulosic materials such as Avicel, recycled paper mix, sugarcane bagasse and the repulping waste of recycled paper are placed in a reactor under pressurized carbon dioxide at 35 degrees C for a controlled time period. Upon an explosive release of the carbon dioxide pressure, the disruption of the cellulosic structure increases the accessible surface area of the cellulosic substrate to enzymatic hydrolysis. Results indicate that supercritical carbon dioxide is effective for pretreatment of cellulose. An increase in pressure facilitates the faster penetration of carbon dioxide molecules into the crystalline structures, thus more glucose is produced from cellulosic materials after the explosion as compared to those without the pretreatment. This explosion pretreatment enhances the rate of cellulosic material hydrolysis as well as increases glucose yield by as much as 50\%. Results from the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation tests also show the increase in the available carbon source from the cellulosic materials for fermentation to produce ethanol. As an alternative method, this supercritical carbon dioxide explosion has a possibility to reduce expense compared with ammonia explosion, and since it is operated at the low temperature, it will not cause degradation of sugars such as these treated with steam explosion due to the high-temperature involved.
Due to climate change and anthropogenic activities such as agriculture, mining, and urbanization, water contamination has become a very real modern problem. Modern solutions such as activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ultrafiltration, among others, have been employed in the decontamination of water. These methods are, however, expensive to set up and maintain and therefore have proved a challenge to implement in developing countries. Zeolite materials exhibit excellent structural properties, such as high ion exchange capacity, porosity, and relative surface area, which make them attractive to water decontamination processes. However, conventional zeolites are expensive, and recent research has focused on utilizing low-cost materials such as agro-wastes and clays as raw materials for the synthesis of zeolites. This review aims to discuss the role of low-cost zeolites in their removal of heavy metals and the feasibility of agro-wastes and natural clays in the synthesis of zeolites. Recent research studies based on the synthesis of zeolites from clays and agro-wastes and their application in heavy metal removal have been reviewed and discussed. Agro-wastes such as rice husk ash and sugarcane bagasse ash and layered silicate clays such as kaolinite and smectites are particularly of interest to zeolite synthesis due to their high silica to alumina ratio. Zeolites synthesized through various methods such as hydrothermal, molten salt, and microwave irradiation synthesis have been discussed with their effect on the adsorption of various heavy metals.
Several plants, fungi, algae, and certain bacteria produce mannitol, a polyol derived from fructose. Mannitol has multiple industrial applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and medical industries, being mainly used as a non-metabolizable sweetener in foods. Many hetero-fermentative lactic acid bacteria synthesize mannitol when an alternative electron acceptor such as fructose is present in the medium. In previous work, we reported the ability of Lacto-bacillus reuteri CRL 1101 to efficiently produce mannitol from sugarcane molasses as carbon source at constant pH of 5.0; the activity of the enzyme mannitol 2-dehydrogenase (MDH) responsible for the fructose conversion into mannitol being highest during the log cell growth phase. Here, a detailed assessment of the MDH activity and relative expression of the mdh gene during the growth of L. reuteri CRL 1101 in the presence of fructose is presented. It was observed that MDH was markedly induced by the presence of fructose. A direct correlation between the maximum MDH enzyme activity and a high level of mdh transcript expression during the log-phase of cells grown in a fructose-containing chemically defined medium was detected. Furthermore, two proteomic approaches (2DE and shotgun proteomics) applied in this study confirmed the inducible expression of MDH in L. reuteri. A global study of the effect of fructose on activity, mdh gene, and protein expressions of MDH in L. reuteri is thus for the first time presented. This work represents a deep insight into the polyol formation by a Lactobacillus strain with biotechnological potential in the nutraceutics and pharmaceutical areas.
In this work, corn stover was studied as a lignocellulosic material with the potential of serving as a feedstock in the field of bioenergetics. To improve the enzymatic digestibility of carbohydrates in the lignocellulosic biomass, corn stover was pretreated using Myrothecium verrucaria to deplete the lignin, combined with a solid acid pretreatment method to deplete the hemicellulose. The effects of lignin degradation conditions and solid acid concentration on cellulose conversion were investigated. The two-stage pretreatment with M. verrucaria and solid acid under optimal conditions gave 81.54\% cellulose conversion yield, 214.22\% higher than that of untreated corn stover. Significant lignin and hemicellulose removal rates were observed with the two-stage pretreatment. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses showed major structural changes in the pretreated corn stover. This study provided an efficient strategy to enhance the enzymatic saccharification of cellulose in corn stover.
Urea (U), sodium hypochlorite (H) and sodium chloride (S) alone or combined were applied upon high-fibre forages (HFF) in three experiments. Experiment (Exp) I: tall wheatgrass (TW), weeping lovegrass (WL), deferred sorghum (DS) and barley straw (BS) as substrates were untreated (U0) or treated with 4g 100g(-1) DM (U4), and stored for 45days. Within each forage, CP and IVDMD were increased by U4 (p<0.01). Exp II: TW was treated with U and H: U (as in Exp I) and H (at 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1g active Cl 100g(-1) DM), alone or combined. The interaction U{*
The renewable and economic aspects of cellulose nanofibril (CNF)-based aerogels are reviving interest in green adsorbents for water remediation. However, the combination of CNF chemical pre-treatment, fibrillation pro-cesses, and a solvent-free hydrophobization route to obtain structurally wet-resilient and eco-friendly porous adsorbent is lacking in the literature. Herein, the oxidation/fibrillation approaches to isolating CNF from sugarcane bagasse and producing CNF-based aerogels were investigated. These porous materials were designed through ice-templating, followed by a freeze-drying method. Oxidated CNF aerogels containing 3-times-micro-fluidization (TMI3) exhibited the most homogeneous interconnected regular structure, with micro-and nano-porous structures achieving robust compressive mechanical properties (Young's modulus similar to 400 kPa). Natural rubber latex (NR) was combined with TMI3, yielding a water-resilient and hydrophobic composite aerogel (TMI/ NR). The removal capacity of TMI/NR ranged from 108 to 420 mg.g(-1) for Cu (II) and 159-334 mg.g(-1) for methylene blue (MB) dye, with reuse performance ranging from 66 to 98 \% over the reuse cycles. Furthermore, TMI/NR aerogel showed its effectiveness for Cu (II) removal from water in an environmentally relevant con-centration (20 and 60 mu g.L-1 Cu (II)) without posing additional toxicity to Daphnia similis aquatic model or-ganisms. These findings indicate TMI/NR composite aerogels as promising and efficient green adsorbents of pollutants from contaminated water.
1,2:3,5-Di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-xylofuranose (DX) is a major component of a new bio-crude: a viscous oil presenting petroleum-friendly properties produced by the ketalization of sugarcane bagasse. This article studies DX HDO (hydrodeoxygenation) over a Pd/HBEA catalyst in a batch reactor at 250 degrees C. The effects of hydrogen pressure from 10 to 40 bar, catalyst/DX ratio from 1/2 to 2, and reaction time 0-24 h were investigated. A range of conditions for complete hydrodeoxygenated DX into alkanes with a Pd/HBEA catalyst was found. In these conditions, a low coke yield with water as the principal deoxygenated product was obtained. Further, higher amounts of alkanes containing seven or more carbons (A(7+)) were favored at 30 bar of hydrogen pressure, Cat/DX ratio = 2, and short reaction time. Products analysis that accompanied the above variations during reaction time led to general insights into reaction pathways. First, in the presence of DX, an effective n-hexane conversion was not observed on experiments of low catalyst/DX ratio (1/2) or in the initial period of high Cat/DX ratio, suggesting DX is much more successful than n-hexane to compete for active sites. Then, the formation of a pool of oxygenated compounds, such as furans, ketones, and carboxylic acids, along with lighter and heavier alkanes was observed. Hence, the aforementioned oxygenates may undergo reactions, such as aldol condensation with subsequent hydrodeoxygenation reaction, generating heavier alkanes.
Hot water (HW), green liquor (GL), and sodium chlorite (SC) pretreatments were used to pretreat sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and spruce (SP) and then to prepare cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) through high-pressure homogenization to explore the effect of physicochemical properties on the thermal stability and ultraviolet (UV) resistance performance of CNF films. The results indicated that the lignin content of HW-pretreated CNFs was higher than that of GL- and SC-pretreated CNFs, and the hemicellulose content of HW-pretreated CNFs was lower than that of GL- and SC-pretreated CNFs. The synergy of lignin and hemicellulose impacted the thermal stability of CNF films. The thermal stability of all the SP CNF films was higher than that of all the SCB CNF films. Hot water pretreatment improved the thermal stability of CNF films, and green liquor and sodium chlorite pretreatment decreased the thermal stability of CNF films. The highest thermal stability of SP-HW CNF films reached 392 degrees C, which was 5.4\% higher than that of SP-SC CNF films. Furthermore, the ultraviolet resistance properties of different CNF films were as follows: SCB-HW > SCB-GL > SCB-SC and SP-HW > SP-GL > SP-SC. Green liquor pretreatment is an effective method to prepare CNFs. Conclusively, this research provides a basic theory for the preparation of CNFs and allows the improvement of CNF films in the application of thermal stability management and UV resistance fields.
The enzymatic degradation of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) by white rot fungi through laccase production was investigated in different liquid media. A significant (P<0.0001) correlation was observed between laccase activity and AFB(1) degradation exhibited by representatives of Peniophora and Pleurotus ostreatus cultivated in minimal salts (MSM) (r=0.93) and mineral salts - malt extract (MSB-MEB) (r=0.77) liquid media. Peniophora sp. SCC0152 cultured in MSB-MEB liquid medium supplemented with veratryl alcohol and sugarcane bagasse showed high laccase activity (496 U/L), as well as 40.45\% AFB(1) degradation as monitored using high performance liquid chromatography. P. ostreatus St2-3 cultivated in MSM liquid medium supplemented with veratryl alcohol resulted in laccase activity of 416.39 U/L and 35.90\% degradation of AFB(1), Aflatoxin B-1 was significantly (P<0.0001) degraded when treated with pure laccase enzyme from Trametes versicolor (1 U/ml, 87.34\%) and recombinant laccase produced by Aspergillus niger D15-Lcc2\#3 (118 U/L, 55\%). Aflatoxin B-1 degradation by laccase enzyme from T. versicolor and recombinant laccase enzyme produced by A. niger D15-Lcc2\#3 coincided with significant (P<0.001) loss of mutagenicity of AFB(1), as evaluated in the Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay. The degradation of AFB(1) by white rot fungi could be an important bio-control measure to reduce the level of this mycotoxin in food commodities. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This article reports of a study on the production of charcoal briquettes from biomass for community use. Manufacture of charcoal briquettes was done using a briquette machine with a screw compressor. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of biomass type upon the properties and performance of charcoal briquettes. The biomass samples used in this work were sugarcane bagasse (SB), cassava rhizomes (CR) and water hyacinth (WH) harvested in Udon Thani, Thailand. The char from biomass samples was produced in a 200-liter biomass incinerator. The resulting charcoal briquettes were characterized by measuring their properties and performance including moisture content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and ash contents, elemental composition, heating value, density, compressive strength and extinguishing time. The results showed that the charcoal briquettes from CR had more favorable properties and performance than charcoal briquettes from either SB or WH. The lower heating values (LHV) of the charcoal briquettes from SB, CR and WH were 26.67, 26.84 and 16.76 MJ/kg, respectively. The compressive strengths of charcoal briquettes from SB, CR and WH were 54.74, 80.84 and 40.99 kg/cm(2), respectively. The results of this research can contribute to the promotion and development of cost-effective uses of agricultural residues. Additionally, it can assist communities in achieving sustainable self-sufficiency, which is in line with our late King Bhumibol's economic sufficiency philosophy.
Biohydrogen production by batch fermentation of mixed xylose/arabinose at thermophilic temperature using anaerobic mixed cultures in elephant dung as the seed inoculums was investigated. Elephant dung was heat-treated in boiling water for 2 h before used as the seed inoculum in order to inhibit methanogenic activity. Biohydrogen was successfully produced from mixed xylose/arabinose. The optimum conditions for hydrogen production were the initial concentration of mixed xylose/arabinose 5 g/L each, initial cultivation pH 5.5 and temperature 55 degrees C. Under the optimum conditions, a maximum hydrogen yield of 2.49 mol-H-2/mol-sugar consumed was obtained. The optimum conditions were then used to produce hydrogen from sugar derived from acid-hydrolysed sugarcane bagasse (SCB) at a reducing sugar concentration of 10 g/L in which a lower hydrogen yield of 1.48 mol-H-2/mol-sugar consumed was achieved. Main soluble product was acetate suggesting the hydrogen fermentation from mixed xylose/arabinose is the acetate type. The dominant hydrogen producers found in both fermentation broth were Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum and Clostridium sp. Lower hydrogen yield in the SCB hydrolysate fermentation broth may be due to the present of Clostridium ragsdalei and microorganisms in the class Bacilli viz. Lactococus lactis subsp., Lactobacillus delbrueckii, and Sporolactobacillus sp. as well as the inhibitors (acetic acid and furfural) contained in the SCB hydrolysate. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Honey tree and peepul leaves showed tremendous potential in sorbing methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution, with qmax values of 417 and 402mgg-1, respectively. But other tested biomass had considerably lower qmax (mgg-1): mango leaves (301), guava leaves (295), black gram husk (278), coir fibers (273), neem leaves (265), Indian elm leaves (264), Indian rosewood leaves (253), bermuda grass clippings (247), banyan leaves (239), groundnut husk (206), citrus leaves (204), tea leaves (203), banana peels (184), wheat straw (171), sugarcane baggasse (154), rice husk (126), teak leaves (120), and teak sawdust (96). MB sorption by honey tree leaves attained equilibrium within 20-30min, but a slightly slower attainment of equilibrium of MB sorption was noticed in the case of peepul leaves. Both the pseudo-first-order and the pseudo-second-order rate equations suitably fitted to the time course data of MB sorption by honey tree and peepul leaves. However, the latter fitted better because its estimated values of equilibrium MB sorption (qE) were closer to the experimental values. MB sorption by honey tree and peepul leaves was adversely affected by the presence of divalent cations. Nevertheless, both honey tree and peepul leaves efficiently sorbed MB from solution in the presence of the monovalent cation Na+.
Two plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Pseudomonas moraviensis and Bacillus cereus, were used as bioinoculants on wheat, applied alone and in combination. Ground maize straw and sugarcane husk were used as carriers. Experiment was conducted for two consecutive years (2010 and 2011) under axenic conditions in the greenhouse of Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad. Sodium chloride (NaCl) (150mM) was applied with irrigated water after 7 and 14days of seed germination. Measurements made 40days after sowing (DAS) revealed that P. moraviensis and B. cereus have better survival efficiency (as evidenced by higher colony forming units (CFUs)) in the carriers. The substantial increase in CFU of both PGPR was also observed in the soil at 57 DAS. Coinoculation of PGPR with both the carrier materials significantly decreased electrical conductivity (EC) and Na+ content of soil over control. The N, P, K+, Ca+, and Mg+ contents were 30-40\% higher in soil, and 30-45\% higher in leaves. Coinoculation of PGPR with carriers significantly increased chlorophyll, protein, sugar, phytohormone contents, and antioxidant activities of leaves. The application of biofertilizers improved the yield of wheat by 15-25\% over control. It is inferred that the carriers assisted PGPR for long-time survival, and the formulation was applicable in promoting crop production under salt stress.
A major strategic goal in making ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass a cost-competitive liquid transport fuel is to reduce the cost of production of cellulolytic enzymes that hydrolyse lignocellulosic substrates to fermentable sugars. Current production systems for these enzymes, namely microbes, are not economic. One way to substantially reduce production costs is to express cellulolytic enzymes in plants at levels that are high enough to hydrolyse lignocellulosic biomass. Sugar cane fibre (bagasse) is the most promising lignocellulosic feed-stock for conversion to ethanol in the tropics and subtropics. Cellulolytic enzyme production in sugar cane will have a substantial impact on the economics of lignocellulosic ethanol production from bagasse. We therefore generated transgenic sugar cane accumulating three cellulolytic enzymes, fungal cellobiohydrolase I (CBH I), CBH II and bacterial endoglucanase (EG), in leaves using the maize PepC promoter as an alternative to maize Ubi1 for controlling transgene expression. Different subcellular targeting signals were shown to have a substantial impact on the accumulation of these enzymes; the CBHs and EG accumulated to higher levels when fused to a vacuolar-sorting determinant than to an endoplasmic reticulum-retention signal, while EG was produced in the largest amounts when fused to a chloroplast-targeting signal. These results are the first demonstration of the expression and accumulation of recombinant CBH I, CBH II and EG in sugar cane and represent a significant first step towards the optimization of cellulolytic enzyme expression in sugar cane for the economic production of lignocellulosic ethanol.
Developing catalysts to obtain high space time yield (STY) of gasoline-range hydrocarbons via Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) is a huge challenge due to the restriction of Anderson-Schulz-Flory distribution. Herein, a nitrogen doped biochar-based iron catalyst was synthesized by a one-step method using sugar cane bagasse as carbon precursor, which exhibited an excellent gasoline STY of 8.65 g(C5-12) g(Fe)(-1) h(-1), exceeding most reported catalysts. A strong positive relationship between the amount of pyrrolic N and long-chain hydrocarbons selectivity was displayed. The characterization results indicated that pyrrolic N configuration on anchor sites tuned effectively the dispersion of iron species and metal-support interaction as well as CO adsorption, improving the FTS performance.
Tailor made enzymatic preparation must be design to hydrolyze efficiently plant biomass, once that each plant biomass possesses a distinct cell wall composition. Most of actinomycetes used for plant cell wall degradation are focused on the cellulases and xylanases production. However, a wide range of enzymes must be produced for an efficient degradation of lignocellulose materials. During the last decade several unusual environments were studied to obtain strains that produce glycohydrolases with innovator characteristics. In this context, the present work concerned the selection of endophytic actinomycetes as producers of hemicellulases and related enzymes with different enzymatic profiles, for use in the deconstruction of lignocellulosic biomass. A total of 45 Brazilian actinomycetes previously isolated from plants (endophytics) and soil were prospected for hemicellulases and beta-glucosidase production. Four strains highlighted for hemicellulase production (DR61, DR63, DR69 and DR66) and were selected for cultivation under other inductors substrates (xylan and pectin). All strains belong to Streptomyces genera and have their extracts tested for degradation of several hemicellulolytic substrates. The strains presented different glicohydrolyse enzymes profiles mainly for xylans and glucans that can be used for specific formulations of enzymes applied on the biomass deconstruction, principally on sugar cane bagasse.
This manuscript deals with the comparison of the performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) versus plug flow reactor (PFR) for non-elementary reactions carried out in homogeneous phase. In particular, we propose the commented analysis of some case of interest in terms of characteristics of kinetic expressions, plots of the rate of reaction versus degree of conversion, CSTR/PFR space time ratio, comparison between the rate of reaction and its mean value, non-dimensional parameters and operating conditions. To this end, three case-studies have been chosen: (1) chemical reactions that can be described by kinetic laws resembling the ones known as Michaelis-Menten's; (2) production of hydrogen bromide as example of chain reaction in gas phase; (3) chemical reactions governed by Monod-like kinetic expressions. The three cases have been scrutinised under the hypothesis of an isothermal, homogeneous, single and globally irreversible reaction with negligible density changes of the reacting system. The discussion also allowed to highlight non-trivial aspects intimately related to the formal expression of the kinetic laws under investigation. The application of the approach here developed to two practical case-studies of literature has been proposed, i.e. the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane straw and the biomass growth fermentation process for the production of hydrogen.
Gas production techniques are used in many laboratories to study fermentation kinetics of ruminant feeds, and the major source of variation is often the inoculum. Fifteen substrates (two legume hays, two tropical grass hays, one fresh tropical grass, five temperate grasses, soybean meal, maize grain, maize silage, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse) were used to measure fermentation gas release with a semi automated system, and a sigmoidal model was fitted to gas production data from rumen fluid collected from eight fistulated sheep and two cows. Comparisons were made between cattle and sheep inocula and between inocula prepared using different proportions (v/v) of rumen liquid and solid phases (1:0, 0.75:0.25, 0.67:0.33 and 0.5:0.5). There were no differences between estimates of asymptotic gas production, and organic matter digestibility, with the different species inocula, but rates of fermentation were higher with rumen fluid inocula from cattle versus sheep. Rumen contents with no solid phase produced more gas, whereas a 1:1 ratio of liquid:solid increased digestibility. However, the rate of gas production was not affected by the proportion of solid phase in the rumen inoculum. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
In this study, forty-two fungi from soil were isolated and tested for their carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and xylanase activities. From all isolates, the fungal isolate FR60, which was identified as Aspergillus aculeatus Iizuka, showed high activities in both CMCase and xylanase with 517 mU/mg protein and 550 mU/mg protein, respectively. The crude enzyme from A. aculeatus Iizuka FR60 could hydrolyze several agricultural residues such as corncob, and sweet sorghum leaf and stalk at comparable rates with respect to the tested commercial enzymes and with a maximum rate in rice hull hydrolysis (29 mu g sugar g(-1) dry weight substrate mg(-1) enzyme hr(-1)). The highest amount of glucose was obtained from corncob by using the crude enzyme from A. aculeatus Iizuka FR60 (10.1 g/100 g dry substrate). From overall enzymatic treatment results, the lowest sugar yield was from rice hulls treatment (1.6 g/100 g dry weight) and the highest amount of reducing sugar was obtained from rice straw treatment (15.3 g/100 g dry weight). Among tested agricultural wastes, rice hull could not be effectively hydrolyzed by enzymes, whereas sugarcane leaf and stalk, and peanut shell could be effectively hydrolyzed (30-31\% total sugar comparing with total sugar yield from acid treatment).
Cellulose and its associated polymers are structural components of the plant cell wall, constituting one of the major sources of carbon and energy in nature. The carbon cycle is dependent on cellulose-and lignin-decomposing microbial communities and their enzymatic systems acting as consortia. These microbial consortia are under constant exploration for their potential biotechnological use. Herein, we describe the characterization of the genome of Dyella jiangningensis FCAV SCS01, recovered from the metagenome of a lignocellulose-degrading microbial consortium, which was isolated from a sugarcane crop soil under mechanical harvesting and covered by decomposing straw. The 4.7 Mbp genome encodes 4,194 proteins, including 36 glycoside hydrolases (GH), supporting the hypothesis that this bacterium may contribute to lignocellulose decomposition. Comparative analysis among fully sequenced Dyella species indicate that the genome synteny is not conserved, and that D. jiangningensis FCAV SCS01 carries 372 unique genes, including an alpha-glucosidase and maltodextrin glucosidase coding genes, and other potential biomass degradation related genes. Additional genomic features, such as prophage-like, genomic islands and putative new biosynthetic clusters were also uncovered. Overall, D. jiangningensis FCAV SCS01 represents the first South American Dyella genome sequenced and shows an exclusive feature among its genus, related to biomass degradation.
Potential depletion of fossil fuel and climate change have globally accelerated the demand in renewable and alternative energy. Most of the Southeast Asian countries have an abundance of biomass sources for the energy sector due to their agriculture-based economy and enormous forest resources. Therefore, the study aimed at highlighting an overview of biomass energy in the Southeast Asia countries to convey the environmental and economic benefits from the available biomass sources in the region. In order to achieve the aim, the study synthesized and evaluated the biomass sources, energy potential, utilization, and management in the region, based on the published research papers, review papers, and country reports. It was found that the major biomass sources in this region were fuelwood, wood residues, rice husk, rice straw, sugarcane residues, oil palm residues, and coconut residues. The total annual quantity of the biomass potential from agriculture and forest sector in the region was estimated at more than 500 million tons per year and equal to over 8000 million gigajoules of total energy potential. In order to implement the sustainable utilization of biomass sources, the study specified the barriers and challenges of biomass utilization in these countries and proposed a sustainable approach of biomass energy, by comparing the way of traditional biomass utilization.
LTA, GIS, {*
Field experiments were conducted in a Vertisol for two years to study the response of lowland rice to N from organic and mineral fertilizer tested at N equivalence. The treatments consisted of different organic materials as N fertilizer, viz composted coir pith green manure, sugarcane trash compost, vermicompost, poultry manure and farmyard manure (FYM) applied at 100\% N and combination of 50\% N from above organic materials and 50\% N from urea besides 100\% N through urea and control. The recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was 120:60:60 N, P2O5 and K2O kg ha(-1). The results revealed that addition of organics or urea or both enhanced the growth, rice yield and nutrient status over control. The highest grain yield (4.95, 5.33 t ha(-1)) and straw yield (7.31, 7.73 t ha(-1)) for the two years were noticed with vermicompost plus urea (50\% N each) which was on par with poultry manure plus urea (50\% N each). Combined use of organic fertilizer along with mineral N recorded higher concentrations of NH4-N and NO3-N in soil and increased total N uptake. Nutrient use efficiency was compared to individual application. It was more in vermicompost- amended soil followed by green manure and poultry manure.
Particles from several types of sources in central Taiwan were sampled and analyzed to obtain representative source profiles for use in receptor modeling. The sources studied include held soil, paved road dust, unpaved road dust, coastal sand, river sand, and aerosols generated by burning of agricultural wastes. The agricultural wastes studied include rice straw, corn stalk, and sugarcane leaves. All the samples were analyzed for 20 elements by an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. The mass percentages of elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) in particle samples were determined by an elemental analyzer. For particles obtained from resupension of soils and dusts, the mass percentage of the fine fraction is in the range of 40 to 61\%. The abundant elements in the coarse fraction are Si, Al, Fe, K, and Ca. In the coarse fraction, only paved road dust contains OC. The abundant species in the fine fraction are OC, Si, Fe, Al, K, and Ca. Particles generated by combustion of agricultural wastes are mainly in the fine fraction, with the mass percentage ranging from 87 to 98\%. The abundant species in the fine fraction are identical for all three types of agricultural wastes, but different in the coarse fraction.
For the purpose of evaluating the effect of flue gas desulphurization gypsum (FGDG) additive on characteristics and evolution of humic substance (HS) during composting, HS from composts with FGDG (CPG) and without FGDG (CP) were extracted and assessed with respect to their particle size, elemental analysis, FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and the molecular composition of HS was characterized via pyrolysis-GC/MS as well. The particle size of HS ranged between 300 and 600 nm, representing a bimodal distribution. As composting proceeded, the C/H of HS increased, and C/N decreased. The FTIR and UV-vis spectroscopy indicated that the aromatization of HS was promoted over the composting process. Adding FGDG increased the unsaturated degree and aromatization of HS. Pyrolysis-GC/MS showed the level of alkane decreased, and the level of benzene and nitrogen compounds increased upon the addition of FGDG. The nitrogen compounds of HS in CPG was significantly higher than that in CP. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of the study was to determine the yield and quality parameters of organic cherry tomatoes cultivated by intercropping with green manure in two successive years. The experimental design was a randomized block with eight treatments and five replicates as follows: two controls with single cherry tomato crop, one with straw addition and the other without corn straw as a cover crop; cherry tomato intercropped with jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis DC); tomato intercropped with white lupine (Lupinus albus L.); tomato intercropped with sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.); tomato intercropped with velvet bean-dwarf {[
Rice wastes are one of the high potential biomasses due to their large capacity and distribution throughout the world. Harvesting the energy from those rice wastes, including rice husk and straw, is considered clean, sus-tainable, and economical. Among various energy conversion technologies, gasification is considered a promising technology to convert those wastes to highly-efficient fuel gases. However, the updated technologies in rice waste gasification are still minorly and incomprehensively discussed. This review critically discusses the updated status of gasification technologies, including fixed bed, fluidized bed, entrained bed, and staged gasification, for rice husk and straw, as well as economic analysis. As a matter of fact, rice straw gasification is less studied extensively than rice husk. It is clear that gasification is a promising technology to harvest energy from rice wastes, but it seems that each gasification technology shows its own advantages and disadvantages. Fluidized and entrained beds have higher feasibility compared to fixed bed in terms of cleaner syngas due to lower tar content, leading to simpler cleaning and purification system. Moreover, a staged gasification can potentially offer the best syngas production due to the separation of the processes and process optimization at different levels. From an economic point of view, an integrated rice mill and rice waste gasification is the best option to obtain high economic performance. The utilization of rice wastes, especially through gasification, should be further extended following the trend of a new energy system that is carbon-free. Their utilization for electricity or hydrogen-based fuel production is considered promising to extend the possible market in the future.
Natural bast fiber-incorporated polymer matrix composites assures the adequate replacement of conventional material to meet their future demand such as cost-effectiveness, lightweight, specific mechanical strength and high stiffness. Natural fiber-reinforced composites face higher moisture absorption, incompatibility, de-bonding and inadequate adhesion behavior. The novelty of this research work is to enhance the adhesion behavior and limit the moisture absorption capabilities by the additions of NaOH-treated hibiscus sabdariffa bast fiber with 25wt\% in High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) matrix and hybridize with the incorporation of 0wt\%, 3wt\%, 5wt\% and 7wt\% of silica nanoparticles by compression molding technique. The silica nanoparticles were derived from agricultural rice husk ash, sugarcane ash, and paddy straw through the acid precipitation technique. The composite density, surface morphology, water absorption, flexural strength and thermal absorption were evaluated and its experimental results showed significant improvement in characteristics. The composite density has been conforming to the additions of hibiscus sabdariffa bast fiber and SiO2 nanoparticles. The morphology studies revealed uniform particle distribution with the effectiveness of bonding quality. The composite contained 25wt\% of hibiscus sabdariffa bast fiber with 7wt\% SiO2 offered high flexural strength of 124.82 MPa, a low water absorption rate of 6.01\% and low mass loss at a higher temperature.
Microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) has gained considerableattentionas a functional ingredient in bread making. This work demonstratesthe isolation of MCC from sugar cane bagasse (SCB) for preparing bread.The effect of MCC on bread attributes and antioxidant activity byimpregnation with sappan wood extract (SAP) was evaluated. The highestcrystallinity index and suitable size of MCC were achieved at 85 \& DEG;Cunder 90 min hydrolysis condition. Increasing MCC/SAP levels in breadshowed a significant increase in bread color with decreases in thespecific volume and baking loss. There was a positive correlationbetween bread texture and the MCC/SAP level. The addition of MCC/SAPinterfered with the bread hardness. Low MCC/SAP levels have no effecton springiness and cohesiveness; however, 4\% MCC/SAP has significantlydecreased these attributes, with the highest antioxidant activityand phenolic content. Therefore, MCC can be functionalized with SAPas an antioxidant fiber additive for health benefits in bakery products.
In South America, lance flies (Diptera: Lonchaeidae) are key pests of cultivated Passiflora spp. (passionfruit; Violales: Passifloraceae), but little is known about how to control these pests in Passiflora orchards. Here, we relate agro-ecological knowledge and pest management of Colombian Passiflora producers to local Lonchaeid infestation levels and farm surroundings. For this purpose, we carried out a nationwide survey of producers of purple, sweet and yellow passionfruit. Approximately 60\% farmers (n=124) reported Diptera as herbivores, with 4-43\% explicitly referring to Lonchaeidae, while 90.5\% of all farmers relied on calendar-based insecticide sprays for their control. Supplementary management options included use of baited traps for lonchaeid control and sanitary practices. Farmers experimented to a high extent with different products as bait in McPhail traps. In all, 15 potential baits were used, of which sugarcane molasses and protein hydrolysate proved popular. Farm surroundings and crop type affected farmers' use of baited traps, with traps commonly used in purple passionfruit orchards and employed in 100\% farms surrounded by coffee plantations. Insecticide application frequency was positively correlated with lonchaeid infestation in fruits, but not in floral buds or flowers. For certain Passiflora crops, use of baited traps and trap density were related to infestation pressure. In conclusion, lonchaeid infestation pressure and farm surroundings affect Passiflora growers' pest management, respectively by creating a direct need for pest management intervention or by exposing farmers to distinct sets of pest management alternatives. This study sheds light on Passiflora farmers' agro-ecological knowledge, and it identifies low-cost, locality-specific pest management options. Hence, our findings may be valuable for future design and implementation of IPM programmes.
The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an oral drench of propylene glycol (PG) on milk production, serum metabolites and reproductive performance during the transition period of animals. Twenty-four 2-3 multiparous Holstein cows (average body weight 565 kg, body condition score about 3.6, at the 9(th) month of gestation) were selected, blocked, and then randomly assigned into a PG and a control group. The control and the PG group cows were orally drenched with water or 50 ml sugarcane molasses mixed with 500 ml PG from 7 days pre-partum to 30 days post-partum, respectively. Experimental results indicated that the oral drench PG had no effect on dry matter intake (DMI). The milk yield of the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05), whereas milk fat content, milk protein and somatic cell counts (SCC) were not significantly different between groups. Concentration of plasma glucose in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). Conversely, the concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the PG group were lower than those of the control group (p<0.05). Concentrations of insulin and ketone bodies were not significantly difference between groups. Body condition score (BCS) in the PG group was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In reproductive performance there was no difference between groups. The experimental results indicate that supplementation of PG during the transition period of dairy cows can supply energy rapidly. resulting in reduced catabolism of body tissue and increased milk yield.
Pakistan is an energy-deficient country. The indigenous reserves of oil and gas are limited and the country is heavily dependent on the import of oil. The oil import bill is a serious strain on the country's economy and has been deteriorating the balance of payments situation. The country has become increasingly more dependent on fossil fuels and its energy security hangs on the fragile supply of imported oil that is subject to disruptions and price volatility. The transport sector has a 28\% share in the total commercial energy consumption in Pakistan. About 1.15 million tonnes of gasoline was consumed by this sector during 2005-2006. The gasoline consumption in the transport sector is also a major source of environmental degradation especially in urban areas. Consequently, Pakistan needs to develop indigenous, environment-friendly energy resources, such as ethanol, to meet its transport sector's energy needs. Pakistan produces about 54 million tonnes of sugarcane every year. The estimated production potential of ethanol from molasses is about 500 million liters per annum. Ethanol can be used in the transport sector after blending with gasoline, in order to minimize the gasoline consumption and associated economical and environmental impacts. This paper presents the assessment of the potential contribution of ethanol in the transport sector of Pakistan. It is concluded that 5-10\% of the annual gasoline consumption in transport sector could be met from ethanol by the year 2030 under different scenarios. About US\$200-400 million per annum could be saved along with other environmental and health benefits by using gasol in the transport sector. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The GC-MS analysis of tea tree oil (TTO) revealed 38 volatile components with sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (43.56\%) and alcohols (41.03\%) as major detected classes. TTO efficacy is masked by its hydrophobicity; nanoencapsulation can address this drawback. The results showed that TTO-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN1), composed of glyceryl monostearate (2\% w/w) and Poloxamer188 (5\% w/w), was spherical in shape with a core-shell microstructure. TTO-SLN1 showed a high entrapment efficiency (96.26 +/- 2.3\%), small particle size (235.0 +/- 20.4 nm), low polydispersity index (0.31 +/- 0.01), and high negative Zeta potential (-32 mV). Moreover, it exhibited a faster active agent release (almost complete within 4 h) compared to other formulated TTO-SLNs as well as the plain oil. TTO-SLN1 was then incorporated into cellulose nanofibers gel, isolated from sugarcane bagasse, to form the `TTO-loaded nanolipogel' which had a shear-thinning behavior. Second-degree thermal injuries were induced in Wistar rats, then the burned skin areas were treated daily for 7 days with the TTO-loaded nanolipogel compared to the unmedicated nanolipogel, the TTO-loaded conventional gel, and the normal saline (control). The measurement of burn contraction proved that TTO-loaded nanolipogel exhibited a significantly accelerated skin healing, this was confirmed by histopathological examination as well as quantitative assessment of inflammatory infiltrate. This study highlighted the success of the proposed nanotechnology approach in improving the efficacy of TTO used for the repair of skin damage induced by burns.
Bioaugmentation using specific microbial strains or consortia was deemed to be a useful bioremediation technology for increasing bioremediation efficiency. The present study confirmed the effectiveness and feasibility of bioaugmentation capability of the bacterium BC immobilized on sugarcane bagasse (SCB) for degradation of tetracycline antibiotics (TCAs) in soil. It was found that an inoculation dose of 15\% (v/w), 28-43 degrees C, slightly acidic pH (4.5-6.5), and the addition of oxytetracycline (OTC, from 80 mg kg(-1)to 160 mg kg(-1)) favored the bioaugmentation capability of the bacterium BC, indicating its strong tolerance to high temperature, pH, and high substrate concentrations. Moreover, SCB-immobilized bacterium BC system exhibited strong tolerance to heavy metal ions, such as Pb(2+)and Cd2+, and could fit into the simulated soil environment very well. In addition, the bioaugmentation and metabolism of the co-culture with various microbes was a complicated process, and was closely related to various species of bacteria. Finally, in the dual-substrate co-biodegradation system, the presence of TC at low concentrations contributed to substantial biomass growth but simultaneously led to a decline in OTC biodegradation efficiency by the SCB-immobilized bacterium BC. As the total antibiotic concentration was increased, the OTC degradation efficiency decreased gradually, while the TC degradation efficiency still exhibited a slow rise tendency. Moreover, the TC was preferentially consumed and degraded by continuous introduction of OTC into the system during the bioremediation treatment. Therefore, we propose that the SCB-immobilized bacterium BC exhibits great potential in the bioremediation of TCAs-contaminated environments.
Six lignocellulosic waste-derived biosorbents {[
The use of fertilizers with slow releasing rates in agricultural practice has proven to be a viable and sustainable practice to increase the efficiency of nutrient elements assimilation by crop plants. In this context, the present study is based on the preparation, characterization, and performance evaluation of polymeric alginate microspheres, or beads, containing biochar for the immobilization and slow release of orthophosphate. To achieve this objective, biochar was prepared from the pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at different temperatures (300 - 700 degrees C) under nitrogen atmosphere. The biochar material and three kinds of microspheres (with biochar, phosphorus and alginate; alginate and phosphorus; only alginate) were analysed by FT-IR to identify the functional groups present. The results show changes in the functional groups in biochar and a difficulty to characterize the microspheres by this method. The quantification of the phosphate ions release over time, from microspheres containing biochar, was evaluated by comparing the control experiments, without biochar, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES). It was found that microspheres with biochar and phosphorus had a higher releasing rate, twice than those without biochar. Besides being a good procedure to provide nutrients to plant, the microsphere system can also be an excellent water resource to the plant and a good restorer of the soil pH when it is acid. Then, these preliminary results open a new multidisciplinary perspective for the use of biochar, and suggest opportunities for incorporation of biochar into slow releasing fertilizers, that may enable the usage of smaller amounts of fertilizers and improve the fertilizer efficiency.
It is the purpose of this study to evaluate the agronomic behavior and yield of the Tifton 85 grass (Cynodon dactylon Pers), when used in the treatment of swine wastewater (SW) with constructed wetland systems (CWs). For this purpose, five tanks were built measuring 24 x 1.1 x 0.7 m, damp-sealed with PVC canvas and filled with 0.4 m crushed stone. In two of these tanks, Tifton grass was cultivated: one of the tanks (CW 3) contained the grass, and in the other (CW4) the grass was only cultivated in the final third part of the tanks, being preceded by Alternanthera (Althernanthera philoxeroides) and cattail (Thypha latifolia L.). The SW was previously treated by means of a filtration process that consists of 0.7 m - high organic filters; the filtering beds were made of chopped sugarcane bagasse. The filter effluents were applied to CWs at a 0.8 m(3) d(-1) flow rate, corresponding to a hydraulic detention time of about 4.8 days. During the experimental period, three cuttings were done in CWs plants in order to evaluate the dry matter yield and the nutrient extraction capacity. All plants showed satisfactory performance in dry mass yield (86.3 and 65.3 t ha(-1), in CW3 and CW4 respectively) and nutrient extraction, as well as in dry matter yield. Except for the case of Zn, the cultivation of other vegetable species in the same tank did not alter the capacity of the Tifton 85 grass extraction of the SW macro and micronutrients removal.
Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom contains important bioactive compounds and has several biological activities; however, mushroom growing substrates have major influence on chemical and functional characteristics of the mushroom. Hence, the study aimed to evaluate the influence of supplementing mushroom growing substrates with wheat bran (WB) towards yield/productivity, bioactive compounds, and antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of P. ostreatus. The mushroom was cultivated on sugarcane substrates supplemented with increasing levels of WB (0\%-20\%). The mushroom extracts were screened for bioactive compounds using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Antimicrobial activity was carried out using microplate assay, while antioxidant potential was investigated using reducing power assay. The addition of supplements on mushroom growing substrates had an influence on mushroom yield; hence, higher supplementation (18\% and 20\%) produced higher yield. The GC-MS revealed several bioactive compounds with known activity, such as vitamin E, phenol, fatty acids, and terpenoids. Concentration-dependent antioxidant activity was observed; hence, extracts at higher concentrations gave significantly higher reducing power. The P. ostreatus extract had antimicrobial activity against all the tested organisms, with S. aureus showing high susceptibility to most of the extracts. However, mushrooms grown on bagasse substrates supplemented with 14\% (0.02 mg/ml) and 20\% WB (0.08 mg/ml) proved to have better antimicrobial activity on Escherichia coli. The difference in susceptibility demonstrates that substrates type and composition could have an influence on bioactive compounds found within mushrooms, also influencing medicinal properties of edible mushroom. Thus, supplementing mushroom growing substrates not only improve yield, but also can contribute to bioactive compounds with medicinal potential.
Sugarcane bagasse, residue of first-generation ethanol fermentation, is a rich substrate for the second-generation (2G) ethanol. However, the processes used to release sugars from such material produce inhibitory compounds. The present study aims to elucidate the effects of inhibitory compounds present in hemicellulosic hydrolysates (acetic acid, furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and vanillin) on the yeast Spathaspora passalidarum and to compare its performance with that of the most commonly used yeast for 5-carbon consumption, Scheffersomyces stipitis. In addition, fermentation strategies such as using adapted strains and increasing the initial cell concentration were used to address the presence of inhibitors in hemicellulosic hydrolysates. The results showed that acetic acid and furfural are the strongest inhibitors of S. passalidarum. Interestingly, although ethanol production by S. passalidarum was strongly affected by all the considered inhibitors, the final concentrations of ethanol reached by this yeast were similar to those obtained by S. stipitis, even though S. stipitis was less inhibited. The adapted S. stipitis showed better performance than the wild type, resulting in a 25\% increase in xylose consumption and a 5\% increase in yield. Although increasing the initial concentration of cells improved the performance of the adapted S. stipitis, the performance of the S. passalidarum was better. The understanding of the behaviour of these yeasts in the presence of inhibitors allows to establish process strategies such as deciding when the use of high cell density is advantageous or selecting a methodology for the evolutionary adaptation of strains with the goal of higher performance in fermentation.
The use of fertilizers with some degree of protection of the phosphate ions can reduce soil adsorption and increase the absorption by plants, increasing the efficiency of phosphorus (P) fertilization. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a phosphate fertilizer assodated with biochar in granules in a P-fixing soil in a greenhouse experiment. Biochars were produced from two sources of biomass: sugarcane bagasse (SB) and wood sawdust (WS), which were pyrolysed at two temperatures (350 degrees C and 700 degrees C). After chemical and physical characterization, the biochar samples were granulated with triple superphosphate (TSP) in a 3:1 ratio (TSP: biochar). The agronomic evaluation of the fertilizers was carried out by two successive maize crops (Zea mays L.) in the greenhouse, using a factorial scheme of (5x3) in randomized block design with four replicates. The treatments consisted of five fertilizers (TSP-WS350, TSP-WS700, TSP-SB350, TSP-SB700, and TSP) and three P doses (100, 200, and 400 mg dm(-3)). It was evaluated the dry matter production, P uptake in maize and P available in the soil after cultivation. The results indicate that dry matter production, considering the P uptake by the plant and the P available in the soil when using a dose of 400 mg dm(-3), presented higher results in both crop cydes and the recovery rate in both cultivations occurred inversely to the P doses. The simple association of biochar with soluble phosphate fertilizer did not increase the efficiency of P use by maize, but it increased available P in soil.
Two pilot scale wetland systems were studied for the removal of organics, nitrogen, phosphorus and coliform from polluted surface water. Each system consisted of two units: a vertical flow (VF) wetland packed with construction materials gravel, brick or organic sugarcane bagasse, followed by a surface flow (SF) or floating treatment (FT) wetland. All wetland units were planted with Phragmites. The wetland systems were operated under constant and shock hydraulic load (HL) periods. Input COD, N, P loadings ranged between 61 and 2181, 7-1040, 2-194 g/m(2)d, respectively across first stages of each system. Mean removal percentages ranged between 39 and 97, 11-83, 20-100\% and 4-85, 16-86, 1.4-100\% across first and second stage wetlands, respectively. Mass balance analyses revealed <= 7\% N and <= 14\% P accumulation in plants; as such, microbial and adsorption kinetics controlled removal dynamics. Nitrification was the limiting nitrogen removal factor in first stage wetlands; organic carbon was supplied by the employed media. Aerobic organics removal and nitrification were diminished during initial stage of shock load periods. In contrast, second stage SF and FT wetlands showed stable removal performances under similar conditions. Resuspension of settled particles decreased removal performance in second stage wetlands, as shock periods progressed toward final stage. Coliform mortality was increased in second stage wetlands. Physico-chemical properties of brick materials in construction material based VF wetland and hanging root volume inside the water column of FT wetland supplemented removal performance. In general, this study provides evidence on potential application of constructed wetlands for polluted surface water treatment.
The study was conducted to compare the effects of different agro-wastes on the growth, yield, and nutritional composition of oyster mushrooms Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Pleurotus cystidiosus (PC). Seven substrate formulas including sawdust (SD), corncob (CC), sugarcane bagasse (SB) alone and in combination of 80 : 20, 50 : 50 ratio between SD and CC, SD and SB were investigated. The results indicated that different substrate formulas gave a significant difference in total colonization period, characteristics of fruiting bodies, yield, biological efficiency (BE), nutritional composition and mineral contents of two oyster mushrooms PO and PC. The results showed that increasing CC and SB reduced C/N ratio, and enhanced some mineral contents (Ca, P, and Mg) of substrate formulas. The increased amount of CC and SB of substrate formulas enhanced protein, ash, mineral contents (Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and Zn) of fruiting bodies of both mushrooms. Substrates with 100\% CC and 100\% SB were the most suitable substrate formulas for cultivation of oyster mushrooms PO and PC in which they gave the highest values of cap diameter, stipe thickness, mushroom weight, yield, BE, protein, fiber, ash, mineral content (Ca, K, and Mg) and short stipe length. However, substrate formula 100\% CC gave the slowest time for the first harvest of both mushrooms PO and PC (46.02 days and 64.24 days, respectively). It is also found that the C/N ratio of substrate formulas has close correlation with total colonization period, mushroom weight, yield, BE and protein content of mushroom PO and PC.
The possibility of using the sorption technology to reduce the levels of metal ions present in urban storm-water runoff was investigated in this study. Seven sorbent materials including Amber lite XAD7, chitosan, crab shell, peat, Sargassum, sawdust, and sugarcane bagasse were initially examined for removal of 11 metal ions (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) from simulated storm-water runoff at different concentrations. Among these sorbents, crab shell performed well with removal efficiencies exceeding 93\% for all heavy metal ions examined and thus selected for further studies. Based on scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, microprecipitation of metal carbonates followed by adsorption onto the surface of crab shell was identified as the major mechanism responsible for removal of heavy metal ions by crab shell. Crab shell exhibited rapid removal of meal ions with attainment of biosorption equilibrium within 20 min. A crab-shell-packed column was used to study the continuous metal retention process. The column performed very well in the removal of heavy metal ions and was able to operate up to 192 h at a flow rate of 10 mL/min before outlet concentrations of Mn and Co reached 0.3 times of their respective inlet concentrations. Other metal ions such as Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Cu were only in trace levels in the final effluent until 192 h. These findings would form the basis for the future development of crab-shell-based biofilters for removal of dissolved heavy metal ions from storm-water runoff.
The facile, green, and efficient strategy for the separation of lignin from straw and subsequent production of value-added chemicals is crucial to the current utilization of straw. Herein, up to 23.72\% of lignin was isolated from wheat stalk over cheap and green 1-(3-sulfobutyl) triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ({[
The facile, green, and efficient strategy for the separation of lignin from straw and subsequent production of valueadded chemicals is crucial to the current utilization of straw. Herein, up to 23.72\% of lignin was isolated from wheat stalk over cheap and green 1-(3-sulfobutyl) triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate ({[
Purpose Butanol is an interesting biofuel and a product precursor, that could be obtained with acetone and ethanol via fermentation. The biofuels production has been identified as not economically competitive, thus, the parallel production of high value-added products, such as xylitol, could be an alternative to improve the profit. Xylitol can be produced from xylose, which might be considered as a coproduct in a second generation biorefinery. Methods This study presents a systematic biorefinery process design for the simultaneous acetone, butanol, ethanol (ABE) and xylitol production, based on experimental and simulation approaches. Experiments were performed for the pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse and ABE fermentation. The simulation part used the experimental results and experimental data from literature, to perform rigorous calculations of the ABE and xylitol production process. The economic analysis (EA) was performed relying on some indicators such as, the net present value (NPV) and payback period (PBP); EA includes several scenarios for producing only ABE and some scenarios for simultaneous ABE and xylitol production. Results The results showed that the combined butanol and xylitol production could reduce by 17\% the selling price of butanol, compared with only producing butanol. The study also included the combustion of residual solids and carbon dioxide depletion analyses. Conclusion This approach illustrates the opportunity to perform a rigorous techno-economic analysis, to identify the feasibility of the process at industrial scale, based on realistic data. This approach was implemented for ABE and xylitol production, but it can be used to any other bioproduct. {[
Leather industry of Pakistan has severely polluted the adjoining tannery area with heavy metal chromium (Cr). A survey of tannery area of Kasur (K) and Sialkot (S) was conducted to determine the Cr toxicity in different locations. In parallel, biochar were prepared at laboratory scale by using feedstocks of maize stalk (MS), sugarcane bagasse (SB) and eucalyptus twigs (ET) at 350 and 500 degrees C pyrolytic temperatures. Furthermore, an incubation study was performed to evaluate the effect of biochar on physico-chemical characteristics and adsorption of Cr in tannery polluted soil. Plastic cups were filled with 400 g tannery soil and biochar were applied at rate of 1.5 and 3\%. Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and organic carbon (OC) were affected by application of various kinds of biochar. However, SB-350 degrees C biochar (3\%) showed maximum decrease in soil pH (K=7.51, S=7.73), increased the soil CEC (K=22.17, S=27.20 cmol(c) kg(-1)), OC (K=13.27, S=18.21 g kg(-1)) and reduced the soil available Cr (K=5.45, S=8.94 mg kg(-1)) observed after 30, 60 and 90 days. Whereas, less increased in soil EC were observed by SB-350 degrees C biochar (1.5\%). Conclusively, biochar reduced the Cr availability in tannery polluted K and S soils and SB-350 degrees C biochar applied at the rate of 3\% was found more effective in improving soil characteristics and remediation of tannery polluted soil. (C) 2018 Friends Science Publishers
Agri-food waste biomass (AWB) is consolidating as a relevant bioresource for supplying material products and energy in a circular bioeconomy. However, its recovery and sustainable processing present trade-offs that must be understood. The integration of multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) into life-cycle assessment (LCA) tools has emerged as a novel way to address this challenge. This paper aims to conduct a systematic literature review to critically synthesize how MCDA has been integrated into LCA in an assessment framework and how helpful it is in AWB's circular bioeconomy transition. The literature shows that the most studied AWBs are rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, and household food waste. These are processed through the technologies of composting, anaerobic digestion, and pyrolysis for applications such as biofuels, bioenergy, and soil amendment. Environmental LCA (E-LCA) is the most widely used LCA tool, while both the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the technique for ordering preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) are the most applied techniques for MCDA. The current trend of integrating MCDA into LCA does not fully cover the LCA phases, favoring solely the impact assessment phase and indicating that the other phases are overlooked. The potential and involvement of the stakeholders are partially explored. Although there are holistic sustainability assessments, the social implications are rarely considered. The number of MCDA/LCA studies is expected to increase, assessments at the micro-, meso-, and macro-scales to become more articulated, and the impact of the results to become more aligned with government and company goals.
This study investigated the dissemination of porous cement water filters (PCWFs) to 99 households and their on-field efficiency. The water filters used cement and sand as the primary material with sugarcane bagasse and activated carbon as filler. For the study, the district of Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, India, was chosen. Water quality parameters like pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), hardness, and fluoride were monitored for the village water sources. While all the village samples had TDS exceeding 500 mg/l, only Dheendhwa Aguna had a pH exceeding 8.5. For all the water sampled, the recorded hardness was below 200 mg/l. Fluoride concentrations exceeded the lower margins of 1 mg/l but were within the permissible threshold of 1.5 mg/l. Of the 99 households, 42 relied primarily on a common village source, whereas 57 participants had access to discretely owned tube wells. Also, 26.3\% (n = 26) of households had access to an advanced water treatment system constituting Jeeni (31.57\%), Dheendhwa Aguna (22.22\%), and Ramnath Pura (50\%). In a similar vein, the PCWF's performance was investigated after 3 and 6 months of distribution using pH, TDS, hardness, and fluoride as qualitative indicators. Designed for ease of operation, maintenance, and disposal, the filters can function even in the absence of electricity or continuous water flow. Constant communication with the study area participants before, during, and after the filter distribution successfully comprehended the participant's demand for potable water and the adaptability of the filter. Comprehensively, the PCWF generated a favorable verdict from the participants, primarily women.
Cement manufacturing is one of the most energy intensive processes and is accountable for substantial pollutant emissions. Increasing energy costs compel stakeholders and researchers to search for alternative options to improve energy performance and reduce CO2 emissions. Alternative fuels offer a realistic solution towards the reduction of the usage of fossil fuels and the mitigation of pollutant emissions. This paper developed a process model of a precalciner kiln system in the cement industry using Aspen Plus software to simulate the effect of five alternative fuels on pollutant emissions and energy performance. The alternatives fuels used were tyre, municipal solid waste (MSW), meat and bone meal (MBM), plastic waste and sugarcane bagasse. The model was developed on the basis of energy and mass balance of the system and was validated against data from a reference cement plant. This study also investigated the effect of these alternative fuels on the quality of the clinker. The results indicated that up to a 4.4\% reduction in CO2 emissions and up to a 6.4\% reduction in thermal energy requirement could be achieved using these alternative fuels with 20\% mix in coal. It was also found that the alternative fuels had minimum influence on the clinker quality except in the case of MSW. Overall, MBM was found to be a better option as it is capable on reducing energy requirement and CO2 emissions more than others. The outcomes of the study offer better understanding of the effects of solid alternative fuels to achieve higher energy performance and on mitigating pollutant emissions in cement industry.
The Brazilian Cerrado has a great diversity of plants and acidic soils with reduced availability of some nutrients, such as phosphorus (P). Addition of organic residues and microorganisms could help to establish plants in this environment The aim of this work was to evaluate the initial development of baru (Dipteryx alata) seedlings, through the availability of nutrients (such as P) by fertilization with composted sewage sludge (SLUDGE) with sugarcane bagasse (1:1) and inoculated with Bacillus subtilis and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus clarum. The experiments were carried out in a greenhouse, with an experimental design in randomized blocks, in a 2 x 4 factorial scheme, being: SLUDGE (with and without) and inoculation (1 = Control; 2 = B. subtilis, 3 = Gl. clarum arid 4 = B. subtilis + Gl. clarum), with 5 replications and one seedling per pot After 150 days of transplanting the seedlings, the following parameters were evaluated: Fresh and dry biomass of the aerial part: stem diameter; plant height; number of leaves; seedling quality index; fresh and dry biomass, surface area, volume, total length and mean diameter of roots; root colonization (COL) and number of AMF spores; COL by melanized septate endophytes (DSE) and carbon from CO2 (C-CO2) released. The baruzeiro showed to be an undemanding species in terms of fertilization, but responsive to inoculation, showing increments in fresh biomass, surface area, volume and total length of roots. The inoculation with Gl. clarum increased the number of spores and the rate of C-CO2 released into the soil, while Gl. clarum and B. subtilis increased COL by AMF and DSE.
A cellulase producing strain was newly isolated from soil samples and identified as Paenibacillus sp. LLZ1. A novel aqueous-dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethyl phosphate ({[
In this study, hybrid nano adsorbent supported carbon dots was prepared and used for removing Cr(VI) from aqueous solution. Carbon dots were synthesized from sugarcane molasses under microwave irradiation. Hybrid nano adsorbent was prepared by impregnating carbon dot with H3PO4 in a ratio of 2:1 and introducing 0.01 M FeCl3 into the slurry. The carbon dot hybrid was activated via a conventional thermal method under N, flow. The physico-chemical properties of the synthesized material were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N, adsorption/desorption, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). Chromium adsorption was studied in a synthesized aqueous solution using hybrid Fe-carbon dots as the adsorbent under various adsorption conditions like solution pH, adsorbent dosage, various initial chromium concentrations, and contact time. Adsorption isotherms were conducted and it was indicated that the adsorption equilibrium data was well fitted for both the Langmuir (R-2 > 0.99) and Freundlich (R-2 > 0.97) models. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) onto Fe-CDs was obtained at 81.97 mg g(-1). Adsorption kinetics for Cr(VI) was followed. The pseudo-second-order model indicated very well that the rate-controlling step in the adsorption is mainly chemisorption. The saturated hybrid nano adsorbent could be easily regenerated using dilute 1 N NaOH and 1 N HCl aqueous solutions and high desorption efficiency (up to 74\%) of Cr(VI) was achieved for various initial chromium concentrations after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles. The obtained results proved that the hybrid Fe-CDs is a low-cost and effective adsorbent for Cr(VI) ions removal.
Narghile (hookah, shisha, goza, ``water-pipe{''
Furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) are considered to be the most toxic compounds among fermentation inhibitors in lignocellulosic hydrolysates. These compounds raise severe problems for the bioproduction of fuels and chemicals. In this study, we describe the detoxification of furfural and 5-HMF using bacterial isolates from residues of sugarcane bagasse, identified as Bacillus pasteuri, Bacillus toyonensis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus spp. by 16S rDNA sequencing. Under aerobic culture conditions, 2-furoic acid and 5hydroxymethyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (HMFCA) were produced as the main degradation product in the detoxification of furfural and 5-HMF, respectively. In both cases these acids were produced in greater concentrations when bacteria were incubated in nutrient broth. B. toyonensis in nutrient broth with 20 mM of furfural after 120 h produced the highest amount of 2-furoic acid. A concentration of 15.2 mM was achieved using B. toyonensis followed by B. cereus with a concentration of 13.1 mM 2-Furoic acid production for other strains did not exceed 6.8 mM. B. toyonensis was the strain with highest degradation capacity of 5-HMF, following the oxidation pathway to obtain HMFCA and 2,5-furan dicarboxylic acid (FDCA) which rose to a final concentration of 21.3 mM and 1.5 mM, respectively, in a nutrient broth with 25 mM of 5-HMF at 120 h of fermentation. B. toyonensis is a useful strain to detoxify lignocellulosic residues and to produce furans with a high added value.
Purpose Many conservative interventions are used in the management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It could be helpful for the prescribers to know what the evidence suggests about the effects of these interventions on the long-term quality of life (QoL), depression, and anxiety. This study aimed to summarize the rationale for the use of conservative interventions to improve the long-term QoL, depression, and anxiety in patients with stable COPD. Methods The MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched from database inception to December 2019. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) investigating the long-term effects of conservative interventions on three parameters, including QoL, depression, and anxiety in patients with COPD were eligible for further analysis. To improve methodological rigor, only RCTs examining these parameters as primary outcomes were included. The standardized mean differences (SMD) with 95\% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random effects models. Quality of evidence was rated using the updated version of Van Tulder's criteria. Results Thirty-eight RCTs were identified. Regarding long-term depression, there was moderate evidence supporting cognitive behavioral therapy compared with usual care in patients with COPD; regarding the long-term QoL of patients with COPD, there was limited evidence supporting walking programs, supplementary sugarcane bagasse dietary fiber, roflumilast, and tiotropium. Conclusions Cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in alleviating the long-term depression of patients with COPD. Evidence for other interventions was insufficient, making it difficult to draw conclusions in terms of their effectiveness on the long-term QoL, depression, and anxiety.
Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) were successfully synthesized using the culture extract of Monascus purpureus ATCC16436 grown on sugarcane bagasse under solid-state fermentation. The rapid synthesis of SeNPs was completed after 30 min as confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Functional groups present in the synthesized SeNPs samples were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The synthesized SeNPs showed a single-phase crystalline structure. Transmission electron microscope revealed the spherical shape and the mean particle size was 46.58 nm. Dynamic light scattering analysis showed that the synthesized SeNPs were monodispersed and the recorded polydispersity index value was 0.205. Zeta potential value of - 24.01 mV indicated the high stability of SeNPs. Besides, the biological activities of antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial as well as the photocatalytic activities were also studied. SeNPs showed promising antioxidant activity with 50\% inhibitory concentration of 85.92 mu g mL(-1). Based on the MTT assay, SeNPs inhibited the proliferation of normal human melanocytes, human breast and liver cancer cell lines with 50\% inhibitory concentrations of 45.21, 61.86 and 200.15 mu g mL(-1), respectively. SeNPs showed broad spectrum of antimicrobial potential against the tested human and plant pathogens. SeNPs showed efficient degradation of methylene blue dye. Moreover, the effect of gamma irradiation on the production enhancement of SeNPs was also adopted. Exposure of the fungal spores to gamma rays at 1000 Gy increased the yield of SeNPs to approximately fivefold. Hence, this study suggests a new and alternate approach with the excellent biotechnological potentiality for the production of SeNPs.
Purple nutsedge and yellow nutsedge are serious weeds in Florida and in many parts of the world. Dactylaria higginsii is a promising bioherbicide candidate for these weeds. This fungus does not sporulate in liquid culture. Thus, for mass production of D. higginsii, 19 solid substrates were tested, including dried, cut culms or foliage of 14 different plants prepared as hays, sugarcane bagasse, a commercial peat-based microbe carrier (BioAPT), and two recycled papers (kraft paper and newspaper). These substrates were tested alone or amended either with 0.01\% indole butyric acid (IBA), which enhances growth and/or sporulation of D. higginsii, potato dextrose broth (PDB) for nutrient amendment, or PDB + IBA. Yield of D. higginsii conidia produced on these substrates was measured 4 and 12 weeks after inoculation. Conidia were tested for virulence on purple and yellow nutsedges in the greenhouse. Hays without amendments or amended with PDB yielded more conidia which were also more virulent than those produced on hays amended with IBA. Conidial yields were highest when the fungus was grown on purple nutsedge hay without amendments for 4 weeks but conidia produced on this medium had low virulence. Conidia produced on sorghum x sudangrass and cogongrass hays were slightly larger and thicker walled than those produced on other substrates. Conidia produced on sorghum x sudangrass were the most virulent on nutsedge seedlings. Purple nutsedge was more susceptible to D. higginsii than yellow nutsedge. Cogongrass and sorghum x sudangrass hay substrates offer a suitable and easy medium for large-scale production of D. higginsii. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the replacement of giant forage cactus (Opuntia ficus indica Mill) by small forage cactus (Nopalea rochenillifera) in diets for growing cattle on the nutrient intake and digestibility. Two incubation periods were also assessed (144 and 288 hours) to obtain the indigestible fractions of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. Five Holstein heifers were used, approximately 220 kg initial weight placed in a 5 x 5 Latin square design and housed in individual covered, stalls with Concrete floor and C(I with masonry feeders and individual drinkers. The experimental diets were based on forage cactus. sugarcane bagasse. soybean meal. urea and mineral mixture, at the proportion of 38.0, 42.0, 18.0. 0.5 and 1.5\%, respectively. on dry matter bases, with 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100\% of replacement of giant forage cactus by small forage cactus. The intakes and digestibility coefficients of (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract. total digestible nutrients, total carbohydrates, non-fiber-carbohydrates and neutral detergent fiber were not affected by the replacement. The indigestible dry matter (incuhated for 144 hours), indigestible neutral and acid detergent fiber (incubated for 288 hours) made possible to estimate the fecal dry matter production and the dry matter digestibility similar to the total feces collection. The small forage cactus can fully replace the giant fora-e cactus and the indigestible dry matter incubated for 144 hours and the indigestibles neutral and acid detergent fiber incubated for 298 hours can be used in a digestibility Study with ruminants.
Background There is an increasing demand for biological agents for integrated pest management programs, requiring a constant supply of insects in terms of quantity and quality. In this context, the development of insect-rearing methods and quality control parameters are essential in order to provide best-quality and economic viability products. The medfly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is one of the most economically important species of fruit flies in several fruit-producing areas of Brazil, being massively reared in many countries for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) programs. To achieve mass production scale, suitable larval diets are necessary for medfly rearing at laboratory conditions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the best artificial larval diet and the respective larval density for C. capitata on diets based on corn flour (CF), sugarcane bagasse (SB), and lyophilized carrot powder (CP), considering biological parameters of quality control and economic viability. Results Based on the obtained results and although all diets produced quality pupae according to FAO/IAEA/USDA standards, the SB artificial diet promoted better results in the number of larvae, larval weight, number of pupae, and pupal weight, in comparison with CF and CP diets, as well as being the most economically viable. The optimal larval densities on CF, SB, and CP diets were, respectively, 0.5, 2.0, and 1.0 mL of eggs/kg of diet. Conclusions The diet that was most suitable for insect yield and economic viability was the SB diet, followed by the CF and CP diets, in this order.
This works aimed to analyze and compare the thermal conductivity of traditional adobe and adobe using different fiberglass reinforced polymer (FRP) residue contents. A chamber made of MPD (Medium Density Particleboard) of sugarcane bagasse was used. The box is insulated to the outside and lined internally by insulation layers, one styrofoam, and a thermal blanket. A source of heat, incandescent lamp, in the lower part emits a constant heat that by measurements of thermocouples can be analyzed the incoming heat and that which passes through the sample. FRP is a widely used material which, in addition to generating a large volume of waste, also has a high degradation time. The FRP residue was pre-processed. Five treatments were analyzed: 0; 2.5; 5.0; 7.5 and 10.0\% of FRP of dry soil mass. The equation K=P.E/Delta T was used to calculate the energy coefficient. The samples were submitted to tests for 3.33 hours each, corresponding to 1000 measurements, being measured at the frequency of 12 seconds. A solar radiation meter was used to measure the radiation of the lamp. Each treatment was submitted to 5 replicates, and the intermediate value was chosen. The thermal conductivities were: 0.86; 0.79; 0.74; 0.72 and 0.65W.m degrees C-1 respectively for the treatments 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10.0\%. It was concluded that the greater the addition of synthetic fiber residues in the adobe will decrease the thermal conductivity, thus improving its thermal comfort.
This paper aims to evaluate the potential for electricity and ethanol production in Central America using sweet sorghum, performing a techno-economic analysis. The study proposes the integration of sweet sorghum into Central American sugar mills, by using the existing machinery to process this crop during off-season. A process simulation and a cost model were developed to estimate the technical and economical feasibility of sweet sorghum integration. The data on various parameters used for techno-economic assessment were collected from an existing sugar mill and distillery in Central America. The results show that a sugar mill operating 2 months during off-season could obtain an average revenue of US\$ 3 M for a crushing rate of 6500 t/d. Ethanol production costs are estimated to be 24.76 (sic)US\$/L. In case a new CHP plant is built, a sugar mill operating under the integrated scenario would have a payback period of 4.49 years, as compared to 7.47 years for a sugar mill using sugarcane bagasse as the only fuel. Although several studies highlight the potential of sweet sorghum for ethanol production, the results from this work prove that sweet sorghum must also be seen as a viable feedstock for electricity production. A sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the variation of the average cost of electricity and ethanol with the variables used in the economic analysis. For all analysed scenarios the effects of installed capacity and crop yield prevailed over the increasing costs of land and transportation. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study attempted to construct a three series barrier system to treat high concentrations of trichloroethylene (TCE; 500 mg/L) in synthetic groundwater. The system consisted of three reactive barriers using iron fillings as an iron-based barrier in the first column, sugarcane bagasse mixed with anaerobic sludge as an anaerobic barrier in the second column, and a biofilm coated on oxygen carbon inducer releasing material as an aerobic barrier in the third column. In order to evaluate the extent of removal of TCE and its metabolites in the aquifer down gradient of the barrier system, a fourth column filled with sand was applied. Residence time of the system was investigated by a bromide tracer test. The results showed that residence time in the column system of the control set and experimental set were 23.62 and 29.99 days, respectively. The efficiency of the three series barrier system in removing TCE was approximately 84\% in which the removal efficiency of TCE by the iron filling barrier, anaerobic barrier and aerobic barrier were 42\%, 16\% and 25\%, respectively. cis-Dichloroethylene (cis-DCE), vinyl chloride (VC), ethylene and chloride ions were observed as metabolites following TCE degradation. The presence of chloride ions in the effluent from the column system indicated the degradation of ICE. However, cis-DCE and VC were not fully degraded by the proposed barrier system which suggested that another remediation technology after the barrier treatment such as air sparging and adsorption by activated carbon should be conducted.
Production of high grade cellulolytic enzymes from waste agricultural biomass would valorise these wastes to valuable products as well as avoid the pollution problems associated with landfilling of the biomass. In the present study, waste date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) seeds were valorised for cellulase production from Cellulomonas uda NCIM 2353 and for its subsequent usage in biohydrogen production. Optimization of key operational parameters such as date seed concentration, xylose, casein and initial media pH were performed using central composite design to obtain the maximum enzyme yield. The optimum values obtained were (g/L): date seed concentration 30.65, xylose concentration 0.55, casein 7.00 and pH 7.40 for a determination coefficient of 0.999. The results demonstrated a higher prediction accuracy of response surface methodology as the cellulase activity increased six fold (175.96 IU/mL) after optimization. The optimum pH and temperature of purified cellulase was 7 and 50 degrees C respectively where the enzyme retained nearly 80\% of activity upto 180 min. Enzymatic hydrolysis studies showed that a high saccharification efficiency of 60.5\% was obtained for acid pretreated sugarcane bagasse by the indigenous cellulase, equivalent to the performance of commercial cellulase. Further, the as-obtained reducing sugars were decomposed by Clostridium thermocellum to produce biohydrogen of maximum concentration 187.44 mmol/L at end of 24 h of fermentation. Results show that date seed substrate based cellulase protein can be employed for industrial processes of biohydrogen production. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The depletion of fossil fuel resources requires a greater emphasis on the development of renewable energy technologies. Ethanol produced via biochemical means is a renewable liquid fuel option that shows great promise. In this paper, the large scale production of ethanol via a method of converting lignocellulosic material without the need for enzyme hydrolysis, termed consolidated bioprocessing (CBP), is analyzed and compared to traditional separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) methods to determine the profitability of biochemical ethanol production. Optimal process topologies for both the CBP and SHF technologies are selected from superstructures considering multiple biomass feeds, chosen from those available across the United States, and multiple prospective pretreatment technologies. Steam cogeneration is also considered to produce the necessary hot utilities as well as electricity as a salable byproduct. Results show the optimal consolidated bioprocessing plant produces about 66 million gallons of ethanol to be sold at a breakeven price of \$1.31 per gallon (\$0.35 per liter) from a pure sugarcane bagasse feed and sodium hydroxide pretreatment method in addition to 67 MW of electricity per year. These results compare favorably to SHF production methods, showing a 20\% decrease in the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) and 197.5\% increase in electricity generation despite a 13.3\% drop in ethanol production. A long term economic evaluation is performed to determine an attractively profitable selling price for the ethanol produced. Additional analysis is done on the effect of a mixed biomass feed on process profitability and impact on biomass harvesting radius. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Soil contamination due to heavy metals is a serious problem worldwide. Leather industry is one of the leading sectors in this regard in Pakistan, discharging heavy metal chromium (Cr) through untreated wastewater. In this study, effect of biochar and elemental sulfur (ES) were evaluated on maize growth, physiology, redox homeostasis and Cr dynamics in tannery polluted soils. Biochar was produced through pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse at 350 degrees C and was applied at a rate of 3\% (w/w) along with different rates of ES (3 and 6 g kg(-1) soil). Results revealed that Cr toxicity in tannery polluted soils negatively affected plant growth, physiological and biochemical attributes. Reduction in plant growth and accumulation of Cr(III) and Cr(VI) in roots and shoots were higher in Sialkot (S) soil compared to Kasur (K) soil. Application of biochar and ES (6 g kg(-1)) resulted in maximum increase in plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, relative water, starch and protein content, as compared to control. While electrolyte leakage, soluble sugars, proline content, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes (APX, CAT, GSH, GR, GPX, GST and SOD) were decreased by addition of biochar and ES in tannery polluted soils. Similarly, combined application of biochar and ES decreased Cr concentrations in soil, and reduced uptake of Cr(VI) and Crall) concentration in roots and shoots of plants in S soil compared with K soil. In conclusion, application of biochar in combination with ES could be considered an interesting environmentally sound option for remediation of tannery polluted soils.
Sixteen yeast isolates identified as belonging to the genus Sugiyamaella were studied in relation to D-xylose fermentation, xylitol production, and xylanase activities. The yeasts were recovered from rotting wood and sugarcane bagasse samples in different Brazilian regions. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of large subunit rRNA gene showed that these isolates belong to seven new species. The species are described here as Sugiyamaella ayubii f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y607(T) = CBS 14108(T)), Sugiyamaella bahiana f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y304(T) = CBS 13474(T)), Sugiyamaella bonitensis f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y608(T) = CBS 14270(T)), Sugiyamaella carassensis f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y606(T) = CBS 14107(T)), Sugiyamaella ligni f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y295(T) = CBS 13482(T)), Sugiyamaella valenteae f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y609(T) = CBS 14109(T)) and Sugiyamaella xylolytica f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y348(T) = CBS 13493(T)). Strains of the described species S. boreocaroliniensis, S. lignohabitans, S. novakii and S. xylanicola, isolated from rotting wood of Brazilian ecosystems, were also compared for traits relevant to xylose metabolism. S. valenteae sp. nov., S. xylolytica sp. nov., S. bahiana sp. nov., S. bonitensis sp. nov., S. boreocarolinensis, S. lignohabitans and S. xylanicola were able to ferment d-xylose to ethanol. Xylitol production was observed for all Sugiyamaella species studied, except for S. ayubii sp. nov. All species studied showed xylanolytic activity, with S. xylanicola, S. lignohabitans and S. valenteae sp. nov. having the highest values. Our results suggest these Sugiyamaella species have good potential for biotechnological applications.
Recycling of agro-wastes presents a great economic and ecologic value. In this study, TEMPO-oxidized nano-fibrillated cellulose (TONFC) originating from sugarcane bagasse pulp was exploited in regenerative medicine. TONFC in combination with glucosamine HCl (G) were used to prepare a 3D aerogel implant loaded with rosuvastatin as an integrative approach for extraction-socket healing. Comparing the prepared devices, aerogel composed of TONFC: G (4:1 wt ratio) had the best mechanical properties and integrity. Strontium borate-based bioactive ceramic particles were prepared and characterized for crystal structure, shape, porosity, and zeta potential. The particles had a crystalline diffraction pattern relative to Sr3B2O6, and they were rod in shape with nanopores with a zeta potential value of 16 mV. The prepared bioactive ceramic (BC) was then added in different concentrations (3 or 6\% w/w) to the selected aerogel implant. The BC had a concentration-dependent effect on the aerogel properties as it ameliorated its mechanical performance (compressive strength = 90 and 150 kPa for 3 and 6\%, respectively) and retarded drug release (mean release time = 2.34 and 3.4 h for 3 and 6\%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The microphotograph of the selected aerogel implant loaded with BC showed a rough surface with an interconnective porous structure. During cell biology testing, the selected implant loaded with the lower BC concentration had the highest ability to increase MG-63 cells proliferation. In conclusion, TONFC is a promising material to formulate rosuvastatin-loaded aerogel implant with the aid of glucosamine and bioactive ceramic for dental socket preservation.
The packed-bed bioreactor (PBB) is one of the equipment most used in solid-state cultivation (SSC) processes. However, PBBs present problems in the removal of metabolic heat generated by microorganisms, making difficult to scale up these equipment, that are usually operated in batches. Aiming to minimize the overheating problems and to provide more versatility for biorefineries, this work aimed to evaluate alternative modes of operation of a multilayer PBB applied in the production of endoglucanase by SSC, namely cyclic and continuous operations. For this purpose, the fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b was used as inoculum and sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran were used as substrates. In the cyclic operation, the layers had their positions changed every 24 h. In the continuous process, newly inoculated layers were added and spent layers fermented were removed every 24 h, leading to a regular flow of layers. Maximum temperatures reached 48.1, 48.2 and 48.3 ? and endoglucanase productivities were 2.85, 3.18 and 3.35 U/g of dry solid/h for classical, cyclic and continuous operations, respectively. These results showed no significant difference according to the Tukey test (alpha = 0.05). Despite that, in the continuous operation, the maximum CO2 concentration recorded was 60\% lower than in batch operations. In addition, it was possible to estimate the biomass production rate in continuous operation, which was 5.32 g/h. Therefore, the continuous operation proved to be applicable and advantageous, being able to contribute to the scale up and operational versatility of PBBs and, consequently, to the industrial advancement of SSC.
This study used chicken manure classified as lignocellulosic biomass due to its high straw content. This paper compares the possibility of using pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment of lignocellulosic substrates with ultrasonic disintegration (UP) to increase methane production. As for ultrasonic treatment, the BMP increased from 210.42 \& PLUSMN; 7.92 mL/g VS to 250.06 \& PLUSMN; 8.68 mL/g VS, whereas with PEF disintegration, the BMP ratio increased from 210.42 \& PLUSMN; 7.92 mL/g VS to 248.90 \& PLUSMN; 9.29 mL/g VS. The use of PEF and UP pretreatment increased methane production from 307.29 \& PLUSMN; 13.65 mL/g VS to 366.99 \& PLUSMN; 14.18 mL/g VS and from 307.29 \& PLUSMN; 13.65 mL/g VS to 365.07 \& PLUSMN; 11.71 mL/g VS, respectively. This study showed that both ultrasonic treatment and PEF contribute to the biochemical potential of methane (BMP) from chicken manure.
Torrefaction models to predict solid yield (SY), enhancement factor (EF) and higher heating value (HHV) of blends of coal and biomass, and waste are limited in the literature. In this study, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were used to determine the optimum torrefaction process conditions (temperature, time, and blend ratio) and optimum fuel blend based on the torrefaction variables (HHV, EF, and SY). Pine sawdust (PSD), sugarcane bagasse (SCB), and corn cob (CC) were the biomass materials used. Three torrefaction temperatures (200, 250, \& 300 degrees C), torrefaction times (30, 45, and 60 min), and blend ratios (50:50, 71:29, \& 80:20) for coal/biomass/waste-tyre blends were studied. The HHV of the fuels that was determined experimentally was used to estimate the EF and SY. A Levenberg-Marquardt back-propagation algorithm ANN and RSM, Box-Behnken Design (BBD) techniques were applied to study the torrefaction process. Coal-toTorrefied fuel ratio of 50:50 at 300 degrees C and 45 min was the optimum process condition, while Coal + Torrefied PSD was the optimum fuel with the HHV and EF of 28.27 MJ/kg and 1.41, respectively. The HHV of the optimum fuel (torrefied) is around 10\% higher than the raw fuel. Fuel quality enhancement of Coal + Torrefied WT via torrefaction was not promising. A second-order polynomial and ANN models were developed for each fuel, but the ANN model was more reliable than RSM model considering the R-2, AAD and PRE results.
Microbial cellulases are the enzymes widely studied due to their enormous applications in biochemical industry. Among 12 fungal isolates isolated from mangrove plant debris and soil sample collected from Valanthakad Mangroves, Kerala, India, 3 of them were found to exhibit cellulolytic activity. Among them, the most potent isolate which exhibited maximum cellulolytic activity was identified as Trichoderma viride VKF3 {[
Due to rapid expansion of palm oil industries, oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) frond has become one of the most abundant agricultural residues for sustainable fermentation feedstock. This study investigated the potential usage of soluble products of oil palm frond (OPF) bagasse upon dilute-acid hydrolysis. An experimental screening of parameters such as the concentrations of nitric acid, temperatures, and contact time enabled the optimal liberation of xylose from OPF. The highest amounts of sugars recovered were 18.4 g xylose and 8.9 g glucose per 100 g OPF obtained from 4\% (v/v) HNO3 at 130 degrees C for 20 min. The liquid fraction contained 22.1 g/L xylose, 8.9 g/L glucose and 4.6 g/L total inhibitors. A qualitative analysis showed significant structural changes of the OPF upon acid hydrolysis, The fermentability test conducted for xylitol production using the OPF hydrolysate revealed that the maximum yield of 0.35 g xylitol per g of sugars was obtained. This work lends evidence to the use of hydrolysis with dilute nitric acid as an effective and environmentally friendly approach for xylitol production based on biorefinery.
The conversion efficiency of high solids waste digestion as sugarcane press mud (P) may be limited due to hydrolysis step. The option of co-digestion with vinasse, main liquid waste generated from ethanol production, was investigated under batch regime at mesophilic conditions (37.5 +/- 1 degrees C) and the best mixture was evaluated under semicontinuous regime in stirred-tank reactors. The maximum values for methane yield in batch tests were for V-75/P-25 and V-50/P-50 mixtures (on basis of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) percentage added in the mixture), with an average value of 246 N mL CH4 g(-1) COD fed, which was 13\% higher than that of press mud alone. A highest methane production rate of 69.6 N mL CH4 g(-1) CODfed-1 d(-1) was obtained for the mixtureV(75)/P-25. During the experiment carried out in CSTR reactors, the organic loading rate (OLR) was increased from 0.5 up to 2.2 g VS L-1 d(-1). Methane yields of 365 L CH4 kg(-1) VS and biogas productivities of 1.6 L L-1 were obtained in co-digestion, which was 64\% higher in comparison to mono-digestion. The performance of the process in mono-digestion was less stable than in co-digestion, with a significant fall of methane yield to 1.8 kg VS m(-3) d(-1), and a partial inhibition of the methanogenic archaeas when the OLR was increased up to 2.2 kg VS m(-3) d(-1). The co-digestion of vinasse with press mud is a good option for the treatment of streams at the alcohol-sugar industry. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The present study has been conducted to investigate the effects of vinasse and press mud (PM) (sugar industry by-products) applications on sugarcane soil microbial population, its enzyme activities and biomass carbon and nitrogen in order to work out its potential to be used as bio-friendly fertilizer. The treatments were compared with traditional chemical fertilizer (CF) applications. Vinasse and PM amended soils were found to have slightly lower pH and higher total N and C content, however, the difference was insignificant with CF amended soils. Both the treatments increased sugarcane yield compared to chemical fertilizer, but this increase was not significant in PM amended soils. The populations of fungi, bacteria and actinomycetes increased in vinasse and PM amended soils. This increase in former one was significant in PM amended soils only, and that of the latter in vinasse amended soil. The biomass C and N contents were also higher in both the treatments, however, only the former one had significant difference with CF. Amongst the soil enzymes, the activities of cellulase, phosphatase and aminopeptidase were significantly higher in PM treatment while these were at par in vinasse and CF treatments. These results showed a potential possibility of substituting chemical fertilizers with vinasse and press mud which besides improving soil health and enhancing sugarcane productivity, can also solve the problem of their disposal in free environment.
The composition of lipophilic phytochemicals in sugarcane bagasse and straw, the two major residues of sugarcane processing, was investigated in detail by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The composition of the lipids from sugarcane bagasse and straw was completely different from each other. While the extracts of sugarcane bagasse were dominated by n-aldehydes (ca. 48\% of all identified lipids) and n-fatty alcohols (ca. 23\%) with lower amounts of n-fatty acids (10\%) and steroid ketones (14\%), the extracts from sugarcane straw were strongly dominated by n-fatty acids (accounting for ca. 60\% of all identified compounds) with significant amounts of steroid compounds, particularly sterols (10\%) and steroid ketones (14\%). Tocopherols and triterpenols were also found, being particularly abundant among the extractives of sugarcane straw. Sugarcane bagasse and straw can thus be considered as promising feedstocks for obtaining highly valuable phytochemicals of nutraceutical or pharmaceutical interest. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Bagasse and vinasse are byproducts of sugarcanebased sugar and ethanol production. While bagasse is burned for electricity generation, vinasse is underutilised. The current study determined whether the combination of bagasse with vinasse as the carbon source could produce bioethanol. Lignocellulolytic enzyme-producing fungi were evaluated for pretreatment and saccharification of sugarcane bagasse. The vinasse percentage in growth medium which facilitated the maximum growth of yeast and lignocellulolytic fungi was also determined. The most efficient saccharolytic fungi and fermentative yeast were co-cultured in the bagasse + vinasse medium which facilitated their maximum growth. Ethanol was quantified by High-Pertbnnance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) using ethanol standards. Earliella scabtosa (M14) was the most efficient isolate in pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse with 0.764 U/niL of lactase activity. Aspetgillus niger (Fk) was the most efficient isolate in sugarcane bagasse saccharification. Its prolonged incubation period in non-heated/non-washed, washed and heat-treated bagasse types significantly enhanced the bagasse saccharification potential. Results indicated that combining E. scabrosa (M14) with A. niger (Fk) could perform simultaneous pretreatment and saccharification of sugarcane bagasse. A novel finding is that 50 \% vinasse + bagasse medium facilitated the maximum growth of lignocellulolytic fungi and fennentative yeast. The highest ethanol yield was given by A. niger-Candida tropicalis co-culture (0.005 \%) in heat-treated bagasse + Park's mineral salt medium whilst Trichoderma sp. (F2)-C. tropicalis (Y4) co-culture showed the highest ethanol yield (0.0031 \%) in non-heat treated bagasse + vinasse medium. Therefore, vinasse and bagasse are potential substrates for bioethanol production. Further studies on process optimisation will enhance the final ethanol yields.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the kinetic parameters regarding the first thermal decomposition mass loss step of organic matter present in samples of bagasse, filter cake, and vinasse provided by two sugarcane mills by TG in pyrolysis and combustion conditions. LL-INT Wanjun-Donghua procedure modified by Capela-Ribeiro was employed to estimate activation energy in function of the extent of conversion. The chemical composition of samples was determined by ultimate analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and atomic absorption spectrophotometry among other analytical techniques. Results indicated that despite similar organic composition, the energetic potential of filter cake and vinasse was lower than that of bagasse due to their increased inorganic content. Filter cake presented high amounts of Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, P, and Zn. Vinasse showed greater concentrations of Na and K and higher amounts of other metals such as Ca, Mg, Mn and Zn than bagasse and filter cake samples. Filter cake and vinasse samples had significant concentrations of heavy metals like Cr and Pb. However, considerable differences were observed when the chemical composition of samples from a same type of waste was compared. Different kinetic mechanisms of reaction were observed for a same kind of waste which resulted in variation of mean activation energy values. Regarding this parameter, samples that were subjected to nucleation presented lower values than the ones that showed geometrical contraction. The order-based models were responsible for the elevation of activation energy. Despite these facts, the kinetic compensation effect was observed for all samples in both pyrolysis and combustion atmospheres.
Worldwide environmental policies demand each time more biofuel consumption and less emission. In this context, this work presents a 2G ethanol study as a mean to increase bioethanol production and availability. Currently, technologies use sugarcane bagasse for lignocellulosic ethanol production, which may unbalance the ethanol and sugar mill energy matrix, since bagasse and straw are the main fuel for power and steam generation. A possible solution is using biogas produced from vinasse biodigestion as a fuel instead of using biomass, enabling to shift a fraction of the sugarcane bagasse to 2G ethanol production and, at the same time, keeping power and steam production constant. This paper assesses that energy shift by analyzing ten different scenarios for power generation, comparing the amount of bagasse shifted, the increase in straw consumption, the increase in ethanol production and the reduction of environmental emissions in each scenario. The results show that, at least from the technical and environmental perspective, a combined cycle operating at a high pressure is the best alternative. It is possible to shift from 56.5\% to 100\% of the available bagasse using the combined cycle technology, which is also followed by an increase in straw consumption. In addition to that, the ethanol availability increase ranges from 28.5 to 50.4\%. Moreover, the organic load disposal to the ground also decreases more than 90\% compared to the conventional process due to the introduction of vinasse biodigestion. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic biomass is an abundant renewable source of xylose and glucose, which can be converted into ethanol using microorganisms. The aim of this study was to use sugarcane bagasse hydrolyzate (HBC) supplemented with sugarcane molasses ``B{''
Sugarcane is one of the best converter of solar energy into biomass and sugar. The biomass which contains fiber, lignin, pentosans and pith can be converted into value added products by application of suitable chemical, biochemical and microbial technologies. The processing of sugarcane generates bagasse, molasses and press mud which has great economic value. Besides these main by-products, there are other residues which are produced from sugarcane and have less commercial value such as trash, green tops, wax, fly ash and spent wash. Indian sugar industry has been processing these by-products to generate bioethanol, bio-electricity and many value added products in Sugar-Agro-industrial Complexes.
Biorefinery of sugarcane bagasse into ethanol and xylitol was investigated in this study. Ethanol fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate was carried out by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After ethanol distillation, the vinasse containing xylose was used to produce xylitol through fermentation by Candida guilliermondii TISTR 5068. During the ethanol fermentation, it was not necessary to supplement a nitrogen source to the hydrolysate. Approximately 50 g/L of bioethanol was produced after 36 h of fermentation. The vinasse was successfully used to produce xylitol. Supplementing the vinasse with 1 g/L of yeast extract improved xylitol production 1.4-fold. Cultivating the yeast with 10\% controlled dissolved oxygen resulted in the best xylitol production and yields of 10.2 +/- 1.12 g/L and 0.74 +/- 0.04 g/g after 60 h fermentation. Supplementing the vinasse with low fraction of molasses to improve xylitol production did not yield a positive result. The supplementation caused decreases of up to 34\% in xylitol production rate, 24\% in concentration, and 24\% in yield.
The sugarcane industry has huge potential for biorefinery concept application, given its development in recent years. In this context, cane sugar straw has become an attractive raw material for biofuel production. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition of cane sugar straw from different regions of Brazil, and to optimize a hydrothermal pretreatment stage for cellulosic ethanol production. Results of chemical characterization of the cane sugar straw for the regions assessed indicated little influence of place on straw chemical composition. Hydrothermal pretreatment showed high efficiency in hemicellulose removal. Hydrothermal pretreatments operating with temperatures of 190 and 210 degrees C presented satisfactory results, reaching values close to 100\% hydrolysis.
To evaluate the supplementation of the sugarcane bagasse and straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate with sugarcane syrup, which is a sucrose-rich co-product, for xylitol production byCandida guilliermondiiFTI 20037. Recently, we demonstrated that sucrose supplementation to sugarcane straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate favoured this bioprocess. A mixture 1:1 of sugarcane bagasse and straw was submitted to dilute-acid hydrolysis with H(2)SO(4)to obtain the hemicellulosic hydrolysate, which was concentrated, detoxified and autoclaved. Three sugarcane syrup concentrations (0.83, 2.50 and 3.33\% v/v) were added to the hemicellulosic hydrolysate, which was also supplemented with rice bran extract, (NH4)(2)SO4, CaCl2 center dot 2H(2)O. Next, a full factorial design was performed to assess the replacement of conventional nutrients by sugarcane syrup. Fermentations were performed in 125 mL Erlenmeyer flasks containing 50 mL of fermentation medium, for 48 h at 30 degrees C and 200 rpm. Improvements of 16.85\% and 12.24\% in xylose uptake rate (1.04 +/- 0.01 g L-1 h(-1)) and xylitol volumetric productivity (0.55 +/- 0.02 g L-1 h(-1)), respectively, were achieved with syrup supplementation (2.50\% v/v), which led to a final xylitol titer of 26.19 +/- 0.02 g L-1. Conventionally employed nutrients (rice bran extract, (NH4)(2)SO(4)and CaCl2 center dot 2H(2)O) did not have significant influence on xylitol production when sugarcane syrup was added to the fermentation medium. Sugarcane syrup as a nutritional supplement improved xylitol production from a mixture of bagasse and straw, becoming an alternative to reduce costs in the formulation of the fermentation medium and contributing to the integration of this bioprocess in a sugarcane biorefinery. {[
Mechanized harvesting maintenance of trash from cane sugar and soil application of waste as vinasse and filter cake can improve the system of crop yield. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the changes in the chemical, the stock of total organic carbon and humified organic matter fractions in an Oxisol cultivated with cane sugar with the following management systems: with sugarcane vinasse application (CCV), without application of burnt cane waste (CQS), with burnt cane vinasse application (CQV), with application of burnt cane filter cake (CQTF) and burnt cane with joint application of vinasse and filter cake (CQVTF). For reference we used an area of natural vegetation (NV), Cerrado sensu stricto. Treatment CQVTF showed improvement in soil chemical properties, increased inventory levels of total organic carbon - TOC (values ranging from 21.28 to 40.02 Mg ha(-1)) and humified fractions of soil organic matter in relation to other treatments. The CQS area at a depth of 0-0.05 m, showed the greatest losses of soil TOC stocks (56.3\%) compared to NV. The adoption of management presented CCV and chemical attributes of the soil TOC stocks equivalent to those observed in areas with CQV CQTF and despite the short period of adoption (3 years). The TOC correlated with the sum of bases (r = 0.76 {*
Co-production systems are a strategy used to diversify production chains and to enable more profitable processes. In addition, the valorization of the sugar-and-alcohol industry through by-product conversion into value-added products is environmentally friendly and enhances their competitiveness to other products available in the market. Thus, the aim of the current study is to evaluate xylitol and ethanol co-production by Candida tropicalis deriving from sugarcane by-products, such as bagasse and straw, supplemented with molasses. Sugarcane bagasse and straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate was obtained through dilute-acid hydrolysis with H2SO4; next, it was concentrated and detoxified with activated charcoal. Different commercial sucrose concentrations (5, 25 and 50 gL(-1)) were added to the bagasse and straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate in semi-defined medium. In addition, hydrolysate supplementation with sugarcane molasses was evaluated based on sucrose content (10 and 50 gL(-1)) adjustment. Batch fermentations were carried out in 125-mL Erlenmeyer flasks filled with 50 mL of medium, at 30 degrees C, 200 rpm, pH 5.5, for 48 h. Molasses supplementation adjusted to 50 gL(-1) sucrose in sugarcane bagasse and straw hemicellulosic hydrolysate recorded the maximum xylitol (30.61 gL(-1)) and ethanol (47.97 gL(-1)) concentrations observed in the current study. Besides, volumetric xylitol (0.64 gL(-1)h(-1)) and ethanol (1.00 gL(-1)h(-1)) productivity was observed under the very same condition. Results have shown the likelihood of co-producing xylitol and ethanol through C. tropicalis by using sugarcane by-products to compose the fermentation medium as strategy to intensify and integrate these bioprocesses in sugarcane biorefineries.
In Brazil, sugarcane biomass is generated in large amounts. Sugarcane bagasse and straw are considered as an important feedstock for renewable energy and biorefinery. This paper aims to study the generation of monosaccharides (C5 and C6) from sugarcane biomass via processing bagasse or straw and mixtures of both materials (bagasse: straw 3: 1, 1: 1 and 1:3). Samples were pretreated with sulfuric acid which resulted in approximately 90\% of hemicellulose solubilization, corresponding to around 58 g L-1 of xylose. Pretreated straw showed greater susceptibility to enzymatic hydrolysis in comparison to bagasse, as shown by glucose yields of 76\% and 65\%, respectively, whereas the mixtures showed intermediate yields. Thus, one strategy to balance sugarcane biomass availability and possibly increasing 2G ethanol production would be to use bagasse-straw mixtures in appropriate ratios according to market fluctuations. Untreated and pretreated samples were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, but there was no relationship to enzymatic hydrolysis.
The non-renewable sources of energy are depleting all over the globe at an alarming rate. Bioethanol is considered as the fuel of modern era as it contributes around 10-14\% of the total global energy supply. Researches are in continuous search of renewable resources for energy production. The use of biodegradable waste as a source of energy is gaining interest. In the present study, different renewable resources viz. sugarcane juice, molasses, and paddy straw were tested for their efficacy to produce bioethanol. Three different yeast strains designated as Y1, Y2, and Y3 were isolated from over -ripened fruits and were used to ferment the different substrates used in the present study. Sugarcane and molasses were directly used for ethanol production while paddy straw was pre-treated biologically and chemically before using it as substrate for ethanol production. For biological treatment, cellulolytic microorganisms were used to degrade paddy straw while acid and alkali treatments were given to paddy straw during chemical treatment. Thereafter, ethanol was produced using selected yeast strains. The study showed that the strain Y3 produced maximum ethanol with all three substrates viz. sugarcane juice (9.4\%), molasses (9\%) and paddy straw (4.21\%). Paddy straw yielded very little ethanol as compared to sugarcane juice and molasses. The present study showed that sugarcane and molasses are very good substrates for the production of alcohol but lignocellulosic agricultural waste like rice straw can also be used for the production of alcohol but they need to be pre-treated. This research is expected to act as a milestone for future studies providing with credible baseline work.
The effectiveness of ball milling (BM) and wet disk milling (WDM) on treating sugarcane bagasse and straw were compared. Pretreated materials were characterized by wide angle X-ray diffraction analysis, particle-size distribution and scanning electron microscopy and the effectiveness of pretreatments was evaluated by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. Glucose and xylose hydrolysis yields at optimum conditions for BM-treated bagasse and straw were 78.7\% and 72.1\% and 77.6\% and 56.8\%, respectively. Maximum glucose and xylose yields for bagasse and straw using WDM were 49.3\% and 36.7\% and 68.0\% and 44.9\%, respectively. BM improved the enzymatic hydrolysis by decreasing the crystallinity, while the defibrillation effect observed for WDM samples seems to have favored enzymatic conversion. Bagasse and straw BM hydrolysates were fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains. Ethanol yields from total fermentable sugars using a C6-fermenting strain reached 89.8\% and 91.8\% for bagasse and straw hydrolysates, respectively, and 82\% and 78\% when using a C6/C5 fermenting strain. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sugarcane press mud was pretreated by liquid hot water (LHW) at different temperatures (140-210 degrees C) and pre-treatment times (5-20 min) in order to assess the effects on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) solubilisation, inhibitors formation and methane yield. The experimental results showed that a high degree of biomass solubilisation was possible using LHW. Higher methane yields were obtained at lower severities (log(R-0) = 2.17-2.77) with (i) mild temperatures (140-150 degrees C) and long contact times (12.5 min, 20 min) or (ii) mild temperatures (175 degrees C) with short contact time (2 min). The highest increase in methane yield (up to 63\%) compared to the untreated press mud was found at 150 degrees C for 20 min. At temperatures of 200 degrees C and 210 degrees C, low methane efficiency was attributed to the possible formation of refractory compounds through the Maillard reaction. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Rice straw ash and sugarcane bagasse ash are two of the most abundantly available biomass ashes in India and can be used as supplementary cementitious materials in concrete. Unlike rice husk ash which is also a by-product of rice cultivation, the research studies on the use of rice straw ash as a pozzolan are highly limited. This study characterizes the microstructure of the as-received and processed rice straw ash in comparison with sugarcane bagasse ash. Moreover, the influence of these ashes on the rheological properties of cementitious system was investigated. The microstructural characterization reveals that both rice straw ash and sugarcane bagasse ash are constituted of dumbbell shaped silica-storage structures called phytoliths. Rice straw ash is found to be richer in phytoliths compared to sugarcane bagasse ash. However, the prismatic structures as seen in sugarcane bagasse ash is noticeably absent in rice straw ash. The unburnt carbon content is attributed to the fibrous network present in the ashes. The yield stress and viscosity of cement paste are found to increase with the addition of rice straw ash and sugarcane bagasse ash. Cements blended with sugarcane bagasse ash is found to have a significantly greater viscosity than rice straw ash blended cements at all levels of replacement. Mechanical processing of the ashes (sieving and grinding) to remove the coarse fibrous fraction is found to improve the rheological properties of cement blended with rice straw ash and sugarcane bagasse ash. The optimum dosage of superplasticizer required for rice straw ash and sugarcane bagasse ash blended cements were found to be 0.6\% and 0.4\%, respectively.