In the present work, novel composite materials based on coated urea with calcium phosphate encapsulated woodchip species were developed to be used as nitrogen-loaded slow release fertilizers. Urea supported calcium phosphate was used as the basic fertilizer, whereas sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum L.) and its derivatives such as lignin and cellulose were used as the wood-based coating. The synthesized composite fertilizers were characterized in relation to their structural properties by means of X-ray diffraction and FTIR analysis. The obtained products were evaluated by means of laboratory tests for solubility in water for 60 days. It was found that the rate of urea release in water was slower in the case of coated fertilizer than in the uncoated urea/HAP fertilizer and that the rate of the nutrient release process was noticeably controlled by the coating material type and the calcination temperature of the HAP support. Importantly, the Water immersion release experiments demonstrated that the developed fertilizer displayed a subsequent slow-release of nitrogen even after 60 days of release compared to the pure urea fertilizer, which released rapidly and prematurely all its nitrogen content. The best slow release pattern of urea occurred with the urea coated mesoporous HAP encapsulated by lignin over 60 days of release experiment. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V.
The present investigation aimed towards the optimization of bioethanol production from alkali pretreated rice straw using thermotolerant Saccharomyces cerevisiae JRC6 strain which was capable of fermenting glucose at 40 degrees C with a fermentation efficiency of 91.14\%. Four process variables, namely, substrate loading (4.0\%-7.0\% w/v), enzyme loading (10-30 FPU/g dry rice straw), pH (4.0-6.0), and inoculum rate (7.0\%-15.0\% v/v), were evaluated by response surface methodology using Box Behnken Design to develop a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process for bioethanol production using thermotolerant yeast and cold active cellulase cocktail produced by Aspergillus niger SH3. Among these variables, pH was the most significant factor followed by substrate loading. The optimum outcomes of the design were as follows: substrate loading (6.71\% w/v), enzyme loading (25.71 FPU/g dry rice straw), pH (4.15), and inoculum rate (13.2\% v/v). The validation experiment with the optimized parameters resulted in a better ethanol concentration of 12.95 +/- 0.39 g/L within 24 h at 40 degrees C. The results obtained indicated that the process may further be scaled up as a single pot process with substantial energy saving because the saccharification temperature was 10 degrees C lower as compared to commercial cellulases, and one step has been reduced due to the combined action of the enzyme and yeast. Published by AIP Publishing.
With the aim of improving current ethanologenic Escherichia coli strains, we screened a metagenomic library from bovine ruminal fluid for cellulolytic enzymes. We isolated one fosmid, termed Csd4, which was able to confer to E. coli the ability to grow on complex cellulosic material as the sole carbon source such as avicel, carboxymethyl cellulose, filter paper, pretreated sugarcane bagasse, and xylan. Glucanolytic activity obtained from E. coli transformed with Csd4 was maximal at 24 h of incubation and was inhibited when glucose or xylose were present in the media. The 34,406-bp DNA fragment of Csd4 was completely sequenced, and a putative endoglucanase, a xylosidase/arabinosidase, and a laccase gene were identified. Comparison analysis revealed that Csd4 derived from an organism closely related to Prevotella ruminicola, but no homologies were found with any of the genomes already sequenced. Csd4 was introduced into the ethanologenic E. coli MS04 strain and ethanol production from CMC, avicel, sugarcane bagasse, or filter paper was observed. Exogenously expressed beta-glucosidase had a positie effect on cell growth in agreement with the fact that no putative beta-glucosidase was found in Csd4. Ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse was improved threefold by Csd4 after saccharification by commercial Trichoderma reesei cellulases underlining the ability of Csd4 to act as a saccharification enhancer to reduce the enzymatic load and time required for cellulose deconstruction.
Development and implementation of strategies targeting downstream steps to convert spent mushroom substrate into energy or bioproducts are an urgent matter. This may ensure that edible mushrooms are both sustainable to cultivate and also are able to be competitive with conventional sources of proteins. Accordingly, this study aimed at developing an integrated system to firstly produce oyster mushroom on sugarcane bagasse shaped into briquettes, then, recycle its spent material into fuel grade biosolids. To make special briquettes for production of P. ostreatus var. florida, sugarcane bagasse, corn meal, wheat bran, and calcitic limestone at the ratio of 30: 2.5: 2.5: 1 m m(-1) (dry matter) were placed together in polyethylene bags, water added to 40, 60 and 80\% moisture, then, pressed at 15, 30, 45, and 60 MPa using a pilot-scale hydraulic piston presser. At the end of thirty days of axenic cultivation, the spent material was dried and milled, then, reconverted into briquettes at the standard-pressure of 120 MPa. Production briquettes of 45 MPa, with 60 and 80\% moisture, had the greatest productivity of mushrooms, 28.30\% and 30.40\%, and generated the lowest quantities of spent substrate, 46.70\% and 44.80\%, respectively. The relative energy density in solid biofuels from recycling the highest producers was the lowest, 2865.40 MJ kg(-3) and 2573.05 MJ kg(-3), respectively. In conclusion, a complete system of cultivating P. ostreatus var. florida and producing briquettes was successfully developed. This concept technically was efficiency in converting lignocellulosic residues into high-performance substrates for protein-rich food production. As well, this recycled the spent mushroom substrates into medium-quality fuel grade biosolids. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Central composite rotatable design was employed for the optimization of process parameters for maximizing the production of lactic acid (LA) by Lactobacillus (Lb.) casei MTCC 1423 from sugarcane molasses. The optimized conditions obtained were sugar concentration 190g/L, CSL content 2.75\% (v/v), pH 6.75, incubation temperature 38 degrees C, and incubation time 59.5h with predicted 119.45g/L maximal LA production. Validation experiments using these optimized condition has resulted in 120.23 +/- 2.21g/L lactic acid production. A Monod model and kinetic model proposed by Luedeking and Piret were considered to obtain kinetic parameters of relevance. Maximum specific growth rate ((max.)), Monod's constant (K-s) and substrate inhibition constant (K-i) were determined as 0.7163 +/- 0.0058 (h(-1)), 0.6203 +/- 0.0013 (g/L), and 362.75 +/- 0.76 (g/L), respectively. Maximum biomass concentration 14.98 +/- 0.32g/L (cell dry weight, CDW) under the optimized condition was found. The growth cell yield, Y-X/S (g/g) and product yield, Y-P/S (g/g) were determined as 0.3289 +/- 0.0012 (g/g) and 0.9194 +/- 0.0078 (g/g), respectively under the optimized conditions. Under the optimized condition obtained, growth () and non-growth associated constant () values were found as 0.4231 +/- 0.0194 (g(LA)/g(cells)) and 0.1517 +/- 0.0022 (g(LA)/g(cells)-h), respectively, demonstrating (since />1.0) that lactic acid production by Lb. casei MTCC 1423 was more contributed by growth associated segment as compared to non-growth associated segment and was directly proportional to concentration not depending on their growth. Kinetic parameter values at optimized conditions for sugar consumption, , , and maintenance factor, m were obtained as 3.492 +/- 0.0061 (g(LA)/g(cells)), 0.1663 +/- 0.00528 (g(sugar)/g(cells)-h), and 0.00142 +/- 0.0022 (g(sugar)/g(cells)-h), respectively.
Various agroforestry wastes viz., wheat straw, paddy straw, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust were assessed for the yield potential of Auricularia polytricha. Amongst different substrates used, yield and biological efficiency ranged between 194.33 +/- 4.50- 270.50 +/- 1.84 g and 64.78 +/- 1.50 - 90.17 +/- 0.61 \%, respectively. Primordial initiation was observed 13 to 25 days after making the vertical slits on the bags in all the substrates tested. The yield of A. polytricha varied significantly with the type of grain spawn used for spawning wheat straw substrate. The overall biological efficiency was recorded highest on wheat grain spawned substrate. The minimum time for primordial initiation and maximum biological efficiency was observed on substrate spawned with wheat straw at the rate of 4 \%. The fruit body extracts and cultural filtrate of A. polytricha showed promising antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata and Cercospora tageticola. Methanolic extract of fruit body showed better antifungal properties than aqueous fruit body extract against both the tested phytopathogenic fungi. Both the extracts (fruit body and mycelia) were also tested against human pathogenic bacteria. Fruit bodies extract of A. polytricha resulted in the maximum zone of inhibition (28.57 +/- 0.17 mm) against S. aureus, followed by (28.27 +/- 0.13 mm) zone of inhibition against the same bacteria by mycelia extract. MIC was 1.5 mg/ml against S. aureus, 2.5 mg/ml against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium and 1.25 mg/ml against Klebsiella pneumonia. Fruit body and mycelial extract of A. polytricha showed promising antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi and antibacterial activity against human pathogenic bacteria that warrant further studies as a future Auricularia based biological control products against plant pathogenic fungi and dietary supplement to improve health.
The repertoire of redox-active enzymes produced by the marine fungus Peniophora sp. CBMAI 1063, a laccase hyper-producer strain, was characterized by omics analyses. The genome revealed 309 Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) genes, including 48 predicted genes related to the modification and degradation of lignin, whith 303 being transcribed under cultivation in optimized saline conditions for laccase production. The secretome confirmed that the fungus can produce a versatile ligninolytic enzyme cocktail. It secretes 56 CAZymes, including 11 oxidative enzymes classified as members of auxiliary activity families (AAs), comprising two laccases, Pnh\_Lac1 and Pnh\_Lac2, the first is the major secretory protein of the fungi. The Pnh\_Lac1-mediator system was able to promote the depolymerization of lignin fragments and polymeric lignin removal from pretreated sugarcane bagasse, confirming viability of this fungus enzymatic system for lignocellulose-based bioproducts applications.
The effects of isoacids, urea N, and S on ruminal fermentation of sugarcane bagasse- or corn stover-based diets were studied in sheep. Acetate production was taken as a measure of the fermentation rate. For the sugarcane bagasse diet, neither urea nor S supplementation changed ruminal acetate production. When N and S were combined, acetate production was 44\% higher (3.16 vs. 2.18 mol/d). Similar effects were noted for the corn stover diet. Increasing the level of isoacids from .1 to .2 g/kg BW per d in the diet did not change acetate production for either diet. However, N supplementation of the sugarcane bagasse diet containing the low level of isoacids resulted in a 49\% greater acetate production (2.86 vs. 1.91 mol/d). Acetate production was 90\% higher (3.74 vs. 1.97 mol/d) when the diet containing the high level of isoacids was supplemented with N. The corresponding increases for corn stover were 12\% (2.64 to 2.95 mol/d) and 35\% (2.88 to 3.87 mol/d). The results suggest that NH3 N provided by the basal diet was more limiting than isoacids. Once the N deficiency was corrected, isoacids became limiting. Ruminal digestion of high fiber diets low in N was improved by supplementation with urea, isoacids, and S.
Sugarcane bagasse surfactant possesses a great potential as local surfactant development material. However, the existing researches regarding sugarcane bagasse as surfactant are still limited on the process of creating surfactant from sulfonation of bagasse lignin, and still unable to cover the Sodium Lignosulfonate Surfactant's utilization with various concentration and appropriate low salinity on a case of surfactant injection. One of which is by observing surfactant rheology through phase behavior test. The method utilized in this research is a laboratory study by creating a field / reservoir situational conditioning. Surfactant concentration tested in this research were 0.2\%, 0.4\%, 0.6\%, 0.8\%, 1\%, 1,5\% at 6000 ppm; 0.2\%, 0.4\%, 0.6\%, 0.8\%, 1\%, 1.5\% at 7000 ppm; 0.2\%, 0.4\%, 0.6\%, 0.8\%, 1\%, 1.5\% at 8000 ppm by conducting test results and emulsion stability observations and phase behavior. After the test is done, the next step of the test will be the IFT test. The purpose of this research is to know the salinity and concentration of how surfactans can work optimally.
In view of limited information, a laboratory experiment was conducted to study the stability of organo-arsenic complexes as affected by competing anions i.e. phosphate, nitrate and sulphate. For this purpose, humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) were extracted from farmyard manure (FYM), vermicompost (VC), sugarcane bagasse (SB) and soil. A pot experiment was also conducted with 4 levels each of arsenic (As) (10, 20, 30 and 40 mg kg(-1)) and amendments (no amendment, FYM, VC and SB at the rate of 10 t ha(-1) each). Results indicate that stability of FA extracted from sugarcane bagasse have the highest stability constant (log K) as 9.77 and the corresponding mole ratio (x) value of 1.51. The phosphate was the most effective in replacing As from organo-As complexes followed by sulphate and nitrate. Under pot culture study, As content in wheat grain was the lowest in sugarcane bagasse amended soil followed by FYM and VC at all levels of As application. Solubility-free ion activity model was most effective in predicting As uptake by wheat grain based on Olsen extractable As, pH and Walkley \& Black organic C. Efficacy of organic amendments in reducing health hazard for intake of As through consumption of wheat grain grown on contaminated soil was also reflected in the values of hazard quotient (HQ). (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The biomass pyrolysis process may be an alternative for the agricultural use of sewage sludge. This study aimed to evaluate the use of of biochars from mixture of sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse (BB, 1:1 relationship sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse) on sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) production and nutrition. .4 greenhouse experiment was conducted with five application rates of BB: 0, 2.5, 5. 7.5, and 10\% (v/v). and two additional treatments, biochar from sewage sludge (BS. application rate 5\% (v/v)) and conventional treatment (CO that received lime and mineral fertilizer. The treated soils were incubated for 45 days. after which, seedlings were cultivated for 55 days. Biochar produce from sewage sludge and sugarcane bagasse is an alternative technology to reduce the potential for contamination of sewage sludge and to incorporate more stable carbon forms in the soil. Although, biochar has increased soil fertility. fine roots and nutrient uptake efficiency by sugar beet plants, total dry matter yield was significantly lower than that obtained in conventional treatment.
We investigated the extraction of para-coumaric acid (pCA) from different agriculture residues (corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, sorghum stalk, pearl millet stalk, green gram shell, groundnut shell, sesame shell) using sugarcane bagasse alkaline hydrolysis and separation of pCA using sugaring out - a new phase separation method. Primary screening of different feed stocks was by alkaline hydrolysis with 2M NaOH for 6 h at room temperature. Sugarcane baggase resulted into significant amount of pCA (1.1 g/L) and small amount of ferulic acid (FA) (0.23 g/L). The optimized alkaline hydrolysis conditions (2 M NaOH and 16 h) resulted into maximum pCA release of 2.0 g/L. The pCA was separated from alkaline hydrolysate using sugaring out, a two phase separation method that results in aqueous phase and the organic solvent (acetonitrile) phase. Sugaring-out separated more than 90\% of the pCA from the alkaline hydrolysate. Results of HPLC using standard pCA and FA showed that the main component of the separated top (organic solvent) phase was pCA rather than FA.
In the current research, a microorganism, Bacillus aquimaris, had been isolated from the gut of Labeo rohita and classified by 16S ribosomal DNA genome sequencing. Sugarcane bagasse (substrate) was used for producing endoglucanase in submerged fermentation using this bacterium. Various factors affecting endoglucanase production were screened by Plackett-Burman design and optimization of significant parameters were carried out by the Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology. Results revealed that among nine parameters screened, concentrations of substrate, MgSO4 and (NH4)(2)SO4 were found significant. Maximum yield of endoglucanase (437.3833 IU) was achieved at 2.5\% sugarcane bagasse, 0.01\% MgSO4 and 0.5\% (NH4)(2)SO4 after 24 h of the fermentation period. These results suggested the potential utilization of this strain for nutritional purpose to promote the growth of fishes for commercialization of aqua culture.
This work presents an optimization model to support decisions in the aggregate production planning of sugar and ethanol milling companies. The mixed integer programming formulation proposed is based on industrial process selection and production lot-sizing models. The aim is to help the decision makers in selecting the industrial processes used to produce sugar, ethanol and molasses, as well as in determining the quantities of sugarcane crushed, the selection of sugarcane suppliers and sugarcane transport suppliers, and the final product inventory strategy. The planning horizon is the whole sugarcane harvesting season and decisions are taken on a discrete fraction of time. A case study was developed in a Brazilian mill and the results highlight the applicability of the proposed approach.
The application of on-site produced cellulolytic enzymes in place of commercial enzymes towards hydrolytic preparations of reducing sugars using inexpensive lignocellulosic wastes is considered the most efficient strategy to accomplish a cost-effective biofuel production process. Along with improved production, intrinsic and systematic performance evaluation of the produced enzyme during the hydrolysis process through kinetic intervention remains a crucial requirement for achieving the improved performance of the process. With this motivation, the present study primarily deals with the nutritionally optimized production strategy of cellulases from rice straw (RS) waste using Trichoderma reesei (MTCC 164). The highest cellulase production was obtained 8.09 +/- 0.32 g/l in batch mode at optimized combinations of 3.5\% (w/v) RS inducer, 3.0\% (w/v) lactose, and 1.5\% (w/v) peptone. Production was further improved through pH-regulated (pH 5.5 to 6.5) fed-batch fermentations. The enzyme produced at pH 6 was considered for hydrolysis studies at 4 to 10\% (w/w) solid loading due to reasonable exoglucanase, endoglucanase, and maximum beta-glucosidase activity levels of 9.3 U/ml, 3.87 U/ml, and 2.65 U/ml respectively. Multi-reaction systematic kinetic modeling was implemented to evaluate enzyme performance during hydrolysis, and the values of inhibitory kinetic parameters (K-2r = 7.1 < K(1)r = 18.5 < K(3)r = 276.6) suggested that sequential conversion of cellulose to glucose by existing enzyme components was more dominant over direct conversion.
Combined effects of operating conditions including heating temperature (200-700 degrees C), time (1-8 h) and rate, and atmosphere (air-flow, air-limited and N-2) on the physicochemical properties of biochars with pine sawdust, maize straw and sugarcane bagasse as feedstocks were investigated. The results demonstrated that production temperature and atmosphere acted as the predominant factors that determined the properties of biochars. The X-ray diffraction data confirmed the occurrence of phase transition in the biomass structures at around 400 degrees C. Heating time and rate showed little effect on the functional group compositions of the biochars within 8 h, particularly under N-2 atmosphere. In addition, the molecular weights of the biochar-derived dissolved organic carbon tended to increase with increasing temperature. Feedstock type also affected the biochar properties by the compositional differences in mineral salts and cellulose/lignin in the three biomass materials. This work provides important information for optimizing procedures for biochar production with desired properties and high yield. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biomass cogeneration systems are capable of producing electrical and thermal energies simultaneously from the same power source in an effective manner. The sugarcane industry is one of the most significant biomass cogeneration systems in the world, and it gets its energy from sugarcane bagasse. Biomass cogeneration systems are capable of producing electrical and thermal energies simultaneously from the same power source in an effective manner. The sugarcane industry is one of the most significant biomass cogeneration systems in the world, and it gets its energy from sugarcane bagasse. The boiler, turbine, mills, and Sugar Distributed Heating System (SDHS) of the Elgunied sugar factory are investigated and tested in the present study using a helpful idea of analyzing the energy and exergy. The flow of energy and exergy across various components is depicted in the current work. It was found that the boiler has the greatest percent of energy destruction compared to the total amount of energy destruction (81.39\%), indicating that it is the most important contributor of irreversibilities (34.393 MW exergy destruction compared to (2.857 MW) exergy destruction in mills). In order to maximize the system performance in older systems, extra attention and research must be given to the boiler in particular.
The viability of single-step microwave-induced pressurized hot water conditions for co-production of xylan-based biopolymers and bioethanol from aspenwood sawdust and sugarcane trash was investigated. Extraction of hemicelluloses was conducted using microwave-assisted pressurized hot water system. The effects of temperature and time on extraction yield and enzymatic digestibility of resulting solids were determined. Temperatures between 170-200 degrees C for aspenwood and 165-195 degrees C for sugarcane trash; retention times between 8-22 min for both feedstocks, were selected for optimization purpose. Maximum xylan extraction yields of 66 and 50\%, and highest cellulose digestibilities of 78 and 74\%, were attained for aspenwood and sugarcane trash respectively. Monomeric xylose yields for both feedstocks were below 7\%, showing that the xylan extracts were predominantly in non-monomeric form. Thus, single-step microwave-assisted hot water method is viable biorefinery approach to extract xylan from lignocelluloses while rendering the solid residues sufficiently digestible for ethanol production. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The mechanical and physicochemical properties of polyester reinforced with untreated palm kernel shell (PKS), sugarcane bagasse (SB), and pineapple chaffs (P) are investigated. A simple hand-lay method was used to produce the composites with addition of the fillers in the range of 5-50 vol\%. Tensile, flexural, morphology, and FTIR examinations were used to investigate the effect of filler addition. Results show that sugarcane bagasse imparts better properties than palm kernel shell and pineapple chaff fillers. Flexural strength of composites with 10 vol\% SB shows considerable improvement (29\%) over that of unreinforced polyester. A maximum tensile strength of 23 MPa was obtained at 20 vol\% SB against 19.07 MPa of the unreinforced polyester. The impact strength of composites was also found to improve by 105\% over that of reinforced polyester.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the biochemical features of the white-rot fungi Pycnoporus sanguineus cellulolytic complex and its utilization to sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis. When cultivated under submerged fermentation using corn cobs as carbon source, P. sanguineus produced high FPase, endoglucanase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase, mannanase, alpha-galactosidase, alpha-arabinofuranosidase, and polygalacturonase activities. Cellulase activities were characterized in relation to pH and temperature. beta-Glucosidase and FPase activities were higher at 55 degrees C, pH 4.5, and endoglucanase activity was higher at 60 degrees C, in a pH range of 3.5-4.0. All cellulase activities were highly stable at 40 and 50 degrees C through 48 h of pre-incubation. Crude enzymatic extract from P. sanguineus was applied in a saccharification experiment using acid-treated and alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse as substrate, and the hydrolysis yields were compared to that obtained by a commercial cellulase preparation. Reducing sugar yields of 60.4\% and 64.0\% were reached when alkali-treated bagasse was hydrolyzed by P. sanguineus extract and commercial cellulase, respectively. Considering the glucose production, it was observed that P. sanguineus extract and commercial cellulase ensured yields of 22.6\% and 36.5\%, respectively. The saccharification of acid-treated bagasse was lower than that of alkali-treated bagasse regardless of the cellulolytic extract. The present work showed that P. sanguineus has a great potential as an enzyme producer for biomass saccharification.
This paper investigates the use of machine learning (ML) techniques to study the effect of different process conditions on ethanol production from lignocellulosic sugarcane bagasse biomass using S. cerevisiae in a simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) process. The effects of temperature, enzyme concentration, biomass load, inoculum size and time were investigated using artificial neural networks, a C5.0 classification tree and random forest algorithms. The optimization of ethanol production was also evaluated. The results clearly depict that ML techniques can be used to evaluate the SHF (R-2 between actual and model predictions higher than 0.90, absolute average deviation lower than 8.1\% and RMSE lower than 0.80) and predict optimized conditions which are in close agreement with those found experimentally. Optimal conditions were found to be a temperature of 35 degrees C, an SHF time of 36 h, enzymatic load of 99.8\%, inoculum size of 29.5 g/L and bagasse concentration of 24.9\%. The ethanol concentration and volumetric productivity for these conditions were 12.1 g/L and 0.336 g/L. h, respectively.
Corn is widely planted in China, but corn stalks have not been adequately utilized for a long time. Here, the potential of corn stalks to serve as an ingredient in the composition of substrates to cultivate king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) was studied. Corn stalks were added to the matrix at a ratio of 10.5\%, 21\%, or 42\% to replace sawdust or sugarcane bagasse in the typical matrix. Analysis of the mycelia growth rate, production days, agronomic traits, and nutrient content confirmed the feasibility of using corn stalk instead of sawdust and bagasse for the cultivation of P. eryngii. The samples grown on Y5 (without sawdust and bagasse) has more crude fiber (8.3\%) and polysaccharide (5.05\%) content compared to those of the control substrate (7.1\% and 4.16\%, respectively), moreover, it also conteined more zinc and calcium than others. Therefore, these findings indicate that corn stalks could be used as an alternative to sawdust and sugarcane bagasse for P. eryngii production, which would not only reduce costs and improve food quality, but also improve waste utilisation.
In recent years, due to increased awareness and push toward more environmentally sustainable technology, nanocomposite materials obtained from natural and renewable resources have received significant interest. Nanofibrous composite thin film consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan, and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) from sugarcane bagasse were prepared by solution casting method and ultrasonic processing. The dispersion of nanofiller in a solution is obtained by energetic agitation using the method of sonication, which resulted in improved mechanical properties. The results showed that an appropriate sonication time (30 min) with 40 wt\% of bagasse cellulose nanofibers improved the film performance significantly as compared to other weight percentages of nanocellulose. The performance of the films containing different weight percentages of bagasse nanocellulose was comprehensively investigated in terms of mechanical properties, thermal stability, biodegradability, and antimicrobial properties. The highest mechanical strength of 80.47 MPa is recorded with treated CNF as compared to 70.13 MPa for untreated CNF. Thermal degradation of antibacterial PVA/CNF film was evaluated by thermogravimetric (TG\%) values. The weight loss occurred at three temperature ranges, that is, 80-130, 250-350, and 380-430 degrees C. The three spectrums reveal loss in water content, thermal deprivation of polymer chain, and detachment of bonds into molecules. Moreover, the homogeneous dispersion resulted due to the sonication process which was studied using scanning electron micrographs. Furthermore, the developed film exhibited strong antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria and can be used in various applications in the field of agriculture and food packaging.
This paper outlines two cellulolytic bacterial consortia named SCS and SCB, isolated from soil samples of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) crop field, and a sugarcane bagasse deposit in an ethanol mill. Both consortia were able to grow on different carbon sources, such as sugarcane bagasse, corn husk, peanut hulls, and carboxymethylcellulose, releasing up to 11.90 mu mol/mL and 15.23 mu mol/mL of glucose for SCS and SCB, respectively. In addition, SCS and SCB have several strains capable of producing cellulase, amylase, lipase, and protease. Whole genome sequencing of the SCS consortium revealed thatBurkholderiawas the most prevalent genus, encompassing approximately 80\% of the consortia. In addition, metagenome analysis allowed the identification of genes encoding enzymes related to starch and cellulose degradation, as well as enzymes related to lipases and proteases, confirming our initial findings. The results showed that SCS and SCB had the capability to degrade cellulose, and that they were an efficient source of enzyme production, which would provide a new choice for use in different biotechnological applications.
Bioethanol is recognized as a valuable substitute for renewable energy sources to meet the fuel and energy demand of the nation, considered an environmentally friendly resource obtained from agricultural residues such as sugarcane bagasse, rice straw, husk, wheat straw and corn stover. The energy demand is sustained using lignocellulosic biomass to produce bioethanol. Lignocellulosic biomass (LCBs) is the point of attention in replacing the dependence on fossil fuels. The recalcitrant structure of the lignocellulosic biomass is disrupted using effective pretreatment techniques that separate complex interlinked structures among cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Pretreatment of biomass involves various physical, chemical, biological, and physiochemical protocols which are of importance, dependent upon their individual or combined dissolution effect. Physical pretreatment involves a reduction in the size of the biomass using mechanical, extrusion, irradiation, and sonification methods while chemical pretreatment involves the breaking of various bonds present in the LCB structure. This can be obtained by using an acidic, alkaline, ionic liquid, and organosolvent methods. Biological pretreatment is considered an environment-friendly and safe process involving various bacterial and fungal microorganisms. Distinct pretreatment methods, when combined and utilized in synchronization lead to more effective disruption of LCB, making biomass more accessible for further processing. These could be utilized in terms of their effectiveness for a particular type of cellulosic fiber and are namely steam explosion, liquid hot water, ammonia fibre explosion, CO2 explosion, and wet air oxidation methods. The present review encircles various distinct and integrated pretreatment processes developed till now and their advancement according to the current trend and future aspects to make lignocellulosic biomass available for further hydrolysis and fermentation.
Sugar concentration from sugarcane juice and yeast autolysate increased lactic acid production more than the other agro-industrial substrates tested. The concentrations of these two components were further optimized using the Plackett-Burman design and response surface method. A second-order polynomial regression model estimated that a maximal lactic acid production of 66.11 g/L would be obtained when the optimal values of sugar and yeast autolysate were 116.9 and 44.25 g/L, respectively. To validate the optimization of the medium composition, studies were carried out using the optimized conditions to confirm the result of the response surface analysis. After 48 h, lactic acid production using the shake-flask method was at 60.2 g/L.
The draft genome sequence of the type strain Saccharopolyspora hirsuta subsp. hirsuta VKM Ac-666 was sequenced. This moderately thermophilic actinobacterial strain of sugarcane bagasse origin is able to transform different steroid substrates.
Atmospheric particulate matter samples (PM10) were collected at an urban site in Sao Paulo (SPA) city in winter episodes of 2012 and 2013. Several organic compounds were determined in the samples to characterize the composition of the particulate matter with emphasis on marker compounds for biomass burning. Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), monosaccharide anhydrides, monosaccharides, nitroaromatic compounds, isoprene secondary organic aerosol markers, and polyols were measured. The PM10, OC and EC median concentrations were higher for samples collected in 2013 than in 2012, with the contribution of OC to the PM10 mass being 17\% and 11\% in 2012 and 2013. The three anhydrosugars, levoglucosan, mannosan and galactosan together, accounted, on average, for 2.0 and 2.2\% of the OC mass in 2012 and 2013, whereas the nitro-aromatic compounds, including 4-nitrophenol, 4-nitrocatechol, isomeric methyl nitrocatechols and dimethyl catechols, showed the same trend, contributing, on average, for 0.28\% and 0.35\% to the OC mass in 2012 and 2013, and thus indicating a higher contribution from biomass burning in 2013 compared to 2012. The methyl nitrocatechols were substantially correlated with levoglucosan, consistent with their proposed origin from biomass burning. The results demonstrate that biomass burning compounds are important contributors to the OC mass, especially in winter. Furthermore, it is suggested that a levoglucosan/galactosan ratio smaller than about 30 may be indicative for regional sugarcane burning and not for advected air from sites that are impacted by tropical forest fires. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The effects of environmental conditions, namely initial pH (2.5-7.0) and temperature (25 and 35 degrees C), on xylose reductase and xylitol dehydrogenase levels, as well as on xylitol production, were evaluated. Although the fermentative parameter values increased with an increase in pH and temperature (the maximum Y-p/s and Q(p) were 0.75 g/g and 0.95 g/{[
Soil covering is an important practice in vegetable production, also helping in weed control. There is almost no research involving alternative weed control in sugar beet and few herbicides are suitable for this crop. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of mulching using coffee husk and sugarcane bagasse, and doses of swine culture waste water sedimentation pond sludge on weed incidence and yield of sugar beet cultivar Early Wonder. The experiment, carried out at the EPAMIG Experimental Farm in Oratorios-MG, was arranged as a split-plot in a randomized block design with four replications. The plots consisted of three types of cover crops: sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk and no cover, and the split-plots of five doses of sludge from swine wastewater sedimentation pond (0, 10, 20, 40 and 60 t ha(-1)). At 45 days after seedling transplanting (DAT), the weed population was evaluated and at 70 DAT, harvest was carried out. Coffee husk and sugarcane bagasse were effective in reducing the total fresh weight of weeds, mainly because of the suppressive effect of mulching on dicotyledonous weeds. Nut grass (Cyperus rotundus) dry mass increased with coffee husk, while dry mass of other monocots showed no difference among the three treatments. Increasing doses of sludge caused a linear reduction in the dry mass of monocots, except of nut grass. Coffee husk mulching provided the highest root unit weight and increased commercial root yield, regardless of the sludge doses.
Nowadays, microalgae are discussed as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. The present study examines the possibility of enhancement of fatty acid productivity of Scenedesmus obliquus by modifications of the culture medium composition. The effect of different concentrations of sodium bicarbonate, salinity, potassium nitrate, glycerol and sugarcane molasses on the enhancement of biomass and esterified fatty acids production was studied. NaHCO3 caused an increase in the biomass productivity at low concentrations (0.5 g L-1), while negatively affected fatty acid productivity at all tested concentrations. Increase of salinity enhanced both biomass and fatty acid productivity. The optimum NaCl concentration and sea water ratio were 0.94 g L-1 and 25 \% which resulted in 56 and 39 \% increase in fatty acid productivity, respectively. Nitrogen deficiency showed increase in fatty acid content by 54 \% over control but fatty acid productivity was decreased as a result of growth inhibition. Nitrogen-free cultures and cultures treated with -50 \% concentrations of KNO3 showed 96 and 42 \% decrease in EFA productivity, respectively, as compared with the control. Addition of 0.05 and 0.1 M of glycerol increased the biomass productivity by 6 and 5 \%, respectively but showed no significant effect on fatty acid productivity as a result of decrease in fatty acid content. Finally, usage of sugarcane molasses stimulated both biomass and fatty acid content. The increase in fatty acid productivity was 32, 65 and 73 \% above the control level at 1, 3 and 5 g L-1 of sugarcane molasses, respectively.
Grassroots communities are often the hardest hit by climate change. They also appreciably contribute to the problem through activities like deforestation, land use changes, and cooking with firewood. Bio-briquettes from agricultural residues could mitigate this, but inadequate data hampers their adoption. In this work, feedstock from agricultural residues sourced from Wajir, Vihiga, Kitui, and Kajiado were used to make bio-briquette pellets that were studied to establish their calorific values using a bomb calorimeter. Feedstock sourced from Wajir, Vihiga, Kitui, and Kajiado counties had calorific values ranging from 32 kCal/kg to 4,523 kCal/kg for banana peels and groundnut husks, 2,970 kCal/kg and 4,381 kCal/kg for banana peels and sugarcane bagasse, 2,910 kCal/kg and 4,694 kCal/kg for tobacco waste and cotton stalks, and 3,110 kCal/kg and 4,100 kCal/kg for vegetable waste and wheat straw, respectively. Mixing low and high calorific value feedstock improved the heating values of bio-briquettes from low calorific feedstock.
Agricultural wastes vary widely in composition. Presently, these are either of no use or remain under-utilized in absence of available technology. Many of these have useful calorific values and can be used more efficiently with the development of suitable technology. Availability of these also varies widely in places and over the year. Polygeneration is the delivery of multiple utility outputs efficiently from a single unit through proper system integration. Combining suitable utility outputs with local agricultural wastes as inputs to polygeneration can be efficient future sustainable solution for rural people. Preliminary feasibility and performance estimation using thermodynamic model in Aspen Plus (R) for such polygeneration with electricity, refrigeration, utility heat and ethanol as outputs is reported in this paper. Also economic feasibility of the polygeneration plant is reported in this paper. Rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and coconut fiber dust are three typical different agricultural wastes and are considered as inputs. Results show that such polygeneration is highly promising as decentralized efficient option, specifically for rural people. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Some common features and trends of the behavior of CO and NO along the height in a conical fluidized-bed combustor (FBC) firing rice husk and pre-dried sugarcane bagasse, and co-firing ``as-received{''
Purified standards of xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) (DP2-6) were first prepared from a mixture of XOSs using solid phase extraction (SPE), followed by semi-preparative liquid chromatography both under hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) modes. Then, an accurate quantitative analysis method based on hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detection (HILIC-ELSD) was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of xylose (X1), xylobiose (X2), xylotriose (X3), xylotetraose (X4), xylopentaose (X5), and xylohexaose (X6). This developed HILIC-ELSD method was applied to the comparison of different hydrolysis methods for xylans and assessment of XOSs contents from different agricultural wastes. The result indicated that enzymatic hydrolysis was preferable with fewer by-products and high XOSs yield. The XOSs yield (48.40\%) from sugarcane bagasse xylan was the highest, showing conversions of 11.21 g X2, 12.75 g X3, 4.54 g X4, 13.31 g X5, and 6.78 g X6 from 100 g xylan. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Various nitrogen sources were compared with yeast extract for efficient lactic acid production by Lactobacillus delbrueckii (NCIM 23 65). None of the nitrogen source gave lactic acid concentration as high as that for yeast extract. The effect of yeast extract could have been due to its B vitamin content. Acclimatization and ultraviolet mutagenesis were used to develop strains of L. delbrueckii (NCIM 2365) that produced increased lactic acid concentrations. Four mutants (Ac-1, Ac-2, Uc-1 and Uc-3) were compared with the wild type L. delbrueckii with 101) g/l cane sugar concentration in a fermentation medium. All the four mutants produced higher levels of lactic acid with enhanced productivity than the wild type. Lactic acid fermentation from various carbohydrates by both wild strain and mutant Uc-3 was investigated. Sucrose, xylose and maltose were not utilized by both the wild and mutant strains. When the cultures were grown in a fermentation medium containing glucose, fructose, lactose or galactose as a carbon source, the average volumetric productivities exhibited by mutant Uc-3 were higher than those of wild strain. Mutant Uc-3 was compared with wild type, L. delbrueckii NCIM 2365 by fermentation with different concentrations of hydrolyzed cane sugar. The highest lactic acid concentration (135 g/l) in batch fermentation was obtained with 150 g/l of cane sugar with 90\% lactic acid yield. Overall, mutants exhibited faster growth rates, shorter lag phases, higher productivity and greater lactic acid yield. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study compares the optimization of combined and two-stage salt-acid pretreatment technique for efficient delignification, hemicellulose removal and enhancement of sugar yield from sugarcane leaf waste. The effect of process parameters ZnCl2 concentration (1 M-5 M), H2SO4 concentration (0.10-2.0\%, v/v) and solid loading (5-15\%, w/v) on the reducing sugar yield were investigated. The developed models showed coefficients of determination (R-2) > 0.94. The two-stage pretreatment under optimal conditions of 3.32 M ZnCl2, 1.84\% (v/v) H2SO4, and 9.26\% (w/v) solid loading gave 0.293 g/g reducing sugar, a 9\% improvement compared to the optimized combined pretreatment. SEM and FTIR analysis showed major structural changes in the pretreated biomass. Significant lignin and hemicellulose removal was observed with the two-stage pretreatment. The optimized two-stage pretreatment also showed 66\% and 194\% yield improvement on sorghum leaves and Napier grass respectively. These results indicate that a two-stage ZnCl2-H2SO4 pretreatment can significantly enhance enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic waste.
This review provides an overview and discusses analytical strategies for the preconcentration of trace elements using lignocellulosic sorbents for solid-phase extraction. This procedure is widely used for the determination of metals and metalloids in different types of samples due to its simplicity, rapidity, minimal waste generation, reduction of sample matrix effects as well as sorption of the target species on the solid surface. For this purpose, some inorganic, organic, and several natural adsorbents are used. New approaches to obtaining adsorbent materials from natural sources such as agro-industrial residues and composting materials have received attention. The most used lignocellulosic materials as sorbents for solid-phase extraction are bagasse sugarcane, cotton, sisal, palm fiber, coconut, corn cob, soybean straw, jute, and rice. The lignocellulosic materials have been investigated because the presence of functional groups in their structures is made up of lignin and cellulose. These materials have been used in the development of analytical methods with the varied proposal, such as preconcentration or speciation of analytes.(c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Water management in the Pirapama River Basin in northeastern Brazil is affected by both water quantity and water quality constraints. The region is known for significant sugarcane-based ethanol production-which is the key to the Brazilian economy and expected to grow dramatically under recent changes in climate and energy policies. Sugarcane production in the region goes hand in hand with controlled fertirrigation practices with potentially significant adverse impacts on the environment. To assess sustainable water allocation in the basin, an integrated hydrologic-economic basin model is adapted to study both water quantity and quality aspects. The model results show that incorporating water quality aspects into water allocation decisions leads to a substantial reduction in application of vinasse to sugarcane fields. Embedding highly nonlinear water quality constraints in a basin optimization model is demonstrated to be an effective tool to address the water management problems in rapidly developing biofuel areas of Brazil and elsewhere.
Broiler litter was deep stacked and ensiled with water to achieved 40\% moisture before being added, with or without 5\% sugarcane molasses or with rumen contents, to a basal diet. The influence of stacking and ensiling of broiler litter on the numbers of Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus and total number of colony forming units (CFU) was investigated. Nutritive value of broiler litter processed by deep stacking and ensiling was evaluated in a digestibility trial, The experiment was conducted with 30 wethers allotted to five diets. A basal diet (20\% corn grain, 23\% wheat bran, 37\% cotton seed cake, 18\% wheat straw and 2\% dicalcium phosphate) was given alone (1) or with broiler litter processed by deep stacking (2), ensiling (3), ensiling with 5\% added molasses (4), or ensiling with rumen contents (1:1, wet basis) (5). For Diets 2-5, the ratio of basal diet to silage was 1:1, dry basis. For the digestion trial, diets were given at 20 g dry matter (DM) kg(-1) body weight per day. Initial samples of broiler litter showed 2.5 x 10(8) CFU and Salmonella, Shigella and Proteus were present. The processes of deep stacking and ensiling were equally effective in achieving a complete elimination of all the pathogens. Apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) (559.1 g kg(-1) and 608.7 g kg(-1) DM) were lower (P < 0.05) for diet 2 (deep stacked litter) than for the other waste-containing diets (OM: 578.7 g kg(-1), 582.9 g kg(-1) 594.1 g kg(-1); CP: 688.6 g kg(-1), 675.8 g kg(-1), 709.0 g kg(-1) DM, for Diets 3, 4 and 5, respectively). Among the waste-containing diets, cellulose digestibility (398.7 g kg(-1) DM) was higher (P < 0.05) for Diet 5 (ensiled litter-rumen contents). The results indicate that deep stacking and ensiling are equally feasible and effective for eliminating the pathogens and processed broiler litter can be incorporated in the diet of ruminants at levels of up to 50\% without any adverse effect on the health of the animals.
The kinetics of the enzymatic hydrolysis of sucrose by cell-bound invertase of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and the change in its maximal reaction rate during cultivation were examined in both batch culture and discontinuos-feeding fed-batch culture systems using a synthetic medium whose composition of sugars is almost the same as that in cane sugar molasses (sucrose:glucose:fructose = 2:1:1). The experimental results showed that the reaction of sucrose inversion by cell-bound invertase of yeast was inhibited not only by substrate sucrose but also by products, competitively by fructose and partially noncompetitively by glucose. It was also observed that the maximal reaction rate of cell-bound invertase was limited at high total sugar concentration and increased as its concentration was lowered. This response of maximal reaction rate against total sugar concentration was expressed in terms of a dimensionless characteristic curve. These results were incorporated into a kinetic model that has proven satisfactory in simulating hydrolysis of sucrose by yeast in batch culture and discontinuous-feeding fed-batch culture systems.
Objective: This study aimed to identify the effect of complete pellet feed on animal performances in both on-station and on-farm trials conducted on growing goats. Materials and Methods: A complete pellet feed was developed with 40\% roughage (rice straw) and 60\% concentrate {[
The bio-based industrial sector has been recognized by the European Union as a priority area toward sustainability, however, the environmental profile of bio-based products needs to be further addressed. This study investigated, through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, the environmental performance of bio-based 1,4-butanediol (BDO) produced via direct fermentation of sugars from wheat straw, within a hypothetical regional biorefinery (Campania Region, Southern Italy). The aim was: (i) to identify the hotspots along the production chain; and (ii) to assess the potential environmental benefits of this bio-based polymer versus the reference conventional product (fossil-based BDO). Results identified the prevailing contribution to the total environmental load of bio-based BDO in the feedstock production and in the heat requirement at the biorefinery plant. The modeled industrial bio-based BDO supply chain, showed a general reduction of the environmental impacts compared to the fossil-based BDO. The lowest benefits were gained in terms of acidification and eutrophication, due to the environmental load of the crop phase for feedstock cultivation.
Low energy density and low ash melting temperatures of agro-industrial waste biomass are bottlenecks for their sustainable use in combustion utilities. Torrefaction at low temperature (350 C for 30 min) for energy density enhancement followed by very simple aqua-washing technique to remove soluble mineral matters from biochar (BC) samples have been employed in this research work to investigate possible improvement of combustion performance of tobacco stalk (TS), sugarcane bagasse (SB), and poultry litter (PL) biomasses (BM). Though the energy density of the BC was significantly higher than their respective BM, the propensity for slagging was also higher, particularly in TS-BC and PL-BC. On char washing, ash content as well as the slagging and fouling tendencies were estimated to be decreased. Energy densification ratio (as compared to biomass) as well as GCV were further increased in washed biochar (WBC). As per the DSC-TGA investigations, combustion reactivity of BC was improved by washing. The significant advantages of BC washing were observed in TS-BC and PL-BC due to the removal of a large amount of soluble materials from respective BCs. As the water extracted material from SB-BC is insignificant, unwashed SB-BC having sufficiently high GCV (20.6 MJ/kg), energy densification ratio (1.5), carbon content (66.7\%) can be directly used without washing. Water washing of BC is highly beneficial for TS and PL in respect of combustion performance and a valuable potassium-rich fertilizer material was obtained on evaporation of the leachate depicting unique value-addition of entire process.
Plackett-Burman design in 12 treatments was used to evaluate the impact of 11 process variables on microbial production of propionic acid in fed-batch fermentation. Fermentation process took place in 3 L fermentor using basal medium and sugarcane molasses as a carbon source. The amounts of produced propionic acid were measured with an HPLC system. Statistical analysis of the results showed that while temperature was the most effective factor; all process variables had significant impact on the production of propionic acid. The highest concentration of propionic acid obtained was 6.66 +/- 0.32 g/L. According to coefficient factor the most suitable condition of fermentation is combination of 30C, pH = 6.5, 45 g/l sugarcane molasses, addition of 10 g/l yeast extract, 96 h fermentation, using a mixture of P. freudenreichii and L. acidophilus with inoculum volume of 5\% (v/v), and intermittent feeding of milk at a rate of 0.03 l/h.
Xylanases are used in several biotechnological processes, primarily for biopulping and biobleaching in the paper industry and as accessory enzymes for bioethanol production. In this study, a recombinant family 10 endoxylanase from Trichoderma harzianum strain IOC-3844 was expressed and characterized biochemically. Concomitantly, the effects of different culture conditions on the regulation of xylanases and cellulolytic genes in T. harzianum were investigated. The recombinant protein was expressed in two major forms by Pichia pastoris: one form with a molecular mass of 35 kDa (non-glycosylated) and another form with a molecular mass of 60 kDa (glycosylated). Both forms showed optimal xylanolytic activity at 40 A degrees C and pH 6.5. Glycosylation resulted in a twofold higher catalytic efficiency for the recombinant enzyme. In transcriptional studies, in contrast to the findings reported for Trichoderma reesei xyn3, the xyn3 gene from T. harzianum IOC-3844 was up-regulated in the presence of xylan. Moreover, stronger and faster expression of the analyzed genes (xyn2, xyn3, and egl3) was observed during cultivation with cellulose and xylan together. We employed the recombinant xyn3 during the cultivation of T. harzianum in steam-exploded bagasse to release the remaining xylan bound to the cellulose. Interestingly, the addition of Xyn3 accelerated the expression of xylanases and other genes of the cellulolytic system (egl1, egl3, cbh2, and swo1). Our results provide a potential strategy for triggering the expression of xylanases and cellulases in T. harzianum IOC-3844. The addition of Xyn3 can improve the expression of lignocellulolytic genes considerably when the fungus is cultivated with sugarcane bagasse.
Renewable and low-cost lignocellulosic wastes have attractive applications in bioethanol production. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the most widely used ethanol-producing microbe; however, its fermentation temperature (30-35 degrees C) is not optimum (40-50 degrees C) for enzymatic hydrolysis in the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process. In this study, we successfully performed an SSF process at 42 degrees C from a high solid loading of 20\% (w/v) acid-impregnated steam explosion (AISE)-treated rice straw with low inhibitor concentrations (furfural 0.19gl(-1) and acetic acid 0.95gl(-1)) using an isolate Pichia kudriavzevii SI, where the ethanol titre obtained (33.4g(p)l(-1)) was nearly 39\% greater than that produced by conventional S.cerevisiae BCRC20270 at 30 degrees C (24.1g(p)l(-1)). In addition, P.kudriavzevii SI exhibited a high conversion efficiency of >91\% from enzyme-saccharified hydrolysates of AISE-treated plywood chips and sugarcane bagasse, although high concentrations of furaldehydes, such as furfural 1.07-1.21gl(-1), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural 0.20-0.72gl(-1) and acetic acid 4.80-7.65gl(-1), were present. This is the first report of ethanol fermentation by P.kudriavzevii using various acid-treated lignocellulosic feedstocks without detoxification or added nutrients. The multistress-tolerant strain SI has greater potential than the conventional S.cerevisiae for use in the cellulosic ethanol industry.
A biphasic system, consisting of methyl isobutyl ketone and H2O, has been achieved for a highly integrated one-pot catalytic transformation and delignification process of lignocellulosic biomass. Using SO3H-functionalized ionic liquids as catalysts, 85.8\% of bagasse can be fractionated into 71.4\% water-soluble chemicals at 76.3\% lignin extraction ratio, under the optimized conditions. The practicability of this biphasic system for other typical biomass sources has also been tested with high efficiency, viz., 79.6 to 91.9\% lignin extraction ratio of corncob, corn stalk, rice husk, and rice straw with 56.6 to 72.8\% water-soluble chemicals yield at 64.8 to 81.3\% feed conversion.
The petroleum sorption capacities of plant fibers from Eucalyptus sp., Bambusa tuldoides, and sugarcane bagasse fibers were investigated as innovative and low-cost alternatives from renewable sources. Characterization of the fibers was performed according to their morphological aspects and physicochemical characteristics. The oil used was classified according to its American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity, viscosity, and density. Sorption tests performed with crude oil mixed with deionized water in a static or agitated system revealed maximum sorption capacities of the fibers in the range of 5.08-5.87 g g(-1). The biosorbent based on eucalyptus fibers is a promising material for the cleaning of oil spills in water bodies as it is the most hydrophobic material. Sugarcane bagasse and bamboo gave good results for oil sorption applications in the absence of water, validating their use as well.
An important objective of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to reduce chemical contamination of the environment and food; for example by replacing broadcast sprays with selective toxic baits. The objective of the study was to evaluate the toxicity and residual effects of the a ready-for-use commercial bait Success{*
Inulinase (EC 3.2.1.7) produced by Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-7571 by solid state fermentation of sugarcane bagasse was purified from culture broth by ethanol precipitation and ultrafiltration. The effects of the concentration of ethanol and the rate of addition of ethanol to the crude extract on the purification yield and purification factor were assessed using the experimental design technique. Precipitation caused an activation of enzyme and allowed purification factor up to 2-fold. After precipitation with ethanol 55\% (v/v) and a flow rate of 10 mL/min, followed by ultrafiltration with a 100 kDa membrane, the inulinase could be purified by a factor of 5.5-fold with 86.1\% yield. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
An efficient biosorbent, sugarcane bagasse was used in native, HCl-treated, and Na-alginate immobilized form for the removal of Direct Violet 51 dye from aqueous solutions. Batch study was performed to optimize important process parameters, such as pH, contact time, biosorbent dose, initial dye concentration, and temperature. Removal of Direct Violet 51 was found to be favorable at pH 2 with the biosorbent dose of 0.05 g. Biosorption process was found to be exothermic in nature. Maximum dye biosorption (39.6 mg/g) was achieved by using HCl-treated biomass. The pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models showed best fitness to the experimental data. Thermodynamic study was also performed to determine the feasibility of biosorption process. Continuous mode study was performed to optimize the important process parameters, such as bed height, flow rate, and initial dye concentration for maximum removal of Direct Violet 51 dye. The higher bed height, low flow rate, and high initial dye concentration were found to be the better conditions for maximum dye biosorption (17.28 mg/g). The linearized form of the Thomas model equation fitted well to the experimental data. The bed depth service time model was used to express the effect of bed height on breakthrough curves. Characterization of biosorbent was performed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis. The FT-IR spectral analyses showed the involvement of hydroxyl, carbonyl, and carboxyl groups in biosorption process. These results indicated that sugarcane bagasse biomass could be used as a novel biosorbent for the removal of Direct Violet 51 dye from real textile and related industries.
In the present study, was investigated an environmentally friendly method for pretreating lignocellulosic rice straw (RS) by using 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ({[
The existing energy demand, fluctuating oil prices and repercussions due to usage of fossil fuels have enhanced the requirement for alternative energy sources. Bioethanol derived from cereal crops serve as a promising alternative to conventional gasoline owing to the advantages of feedstock availability, reduction in production costs coupled with significant low greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies focused on agro-residues derived from cereal crops had illustrated potential technical advantages for bioethanol production. Conventional bioethanol process includes pretreatment, saccharification and fermentation. Unlike acid and base pretreatment methods, enzymatic and ionic liquid pretreatment methods showed promising results in delignification process. Besides, studies demonstrated that integrated processes like simultaneous saccharification and fermentation and consolidated bioprocessing showed significant reducing sugar release and higher bioethanol yield from cereal crops and their residues. Moreover, deploying advanced technologies such as genome editing and metabolic engineering techniques could not only enhance bioethanol content but also helps in development of biorefinery theme, which leads to development of inexpensive technology. These studies and know-how technologies imply that the cereal crops and their residues could be viable substrates for bioethanol production that ultimately bolster the energy security.
In this study, CuO was synthesized as a microwave absorber in the pyrolysis of a biomass model (sugarcane bagasse). CuO was synthesized for 5 min of irradiation using the following techniques: microwave (MW), ultrasound (US), combined mode (MW-US), and conduction heating (CH) as a reference material. The use of these treatments promotes changes in the morphology, as MW and US generate leaves and monolithic faceted morphologies, respectively. Changes were also generated in some textural characteristics such as crystal size, surface area, and volume-pore size. They were produced as a consequence of changes in the conditions during the crystallization stage produced by the different irradiation types. The microwave-assisted pyrolysis was performed aiming for the maximum liquid fraction (bio-oil) in the products. The reaction time, the size of the biomass, and the CuO synthesis method were also analyzed. The following particle size (ps) intervals were studied: ps < 0.5 mm, 0.5 mm < ps < 1.7 mm, 1.7 mm < ps < 3.5 mm. The best conditions at 1160 Watts in the microwave were: 4 min of reaction, particle size lower than 0.5 mm, and CuO synthesized by US. The use of CuO in the pyrolysis almost triples the amount of the obtained liquid fraction, when compared with the pyrolysis without the use of a microwave absorbent. The CuO was reduced to Cu2O and Cu after the pyrolysis. In this work, a reduction in the reaction times from hours to minutes was achieved during the synthesis of CuO and the pyrolysis biomass. The liquid fraction (bio-oil) can be raw material to obtain value-added chemical products or biofuels.
Innovations in agricultural and processing practices extend the range of products derived from the sugar industry. Sugarcane bagasse and sugar beet pulp are used as feedstock for ethanol production. Leuconostoc mesenteroides causes deterioration of a sugar alcohol, mannitol.
Globally energy crisis is known as a new era's biggest problem. The use of agricultural wastes into the form of briquettes are the best alternative option of renewable energy sources. This paper studies the possibility of utilizing agricultural wastes into briquetting production with high calorific value. Major wastes were sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, wheat straw, peanut shells, rice husks, paddy straw, corn stalks, sunflower stalk, soybean husk, coir pitch, jute sticks, caster seed shells, mustard stalks, cotton stalks and tobacco wastes for energy in the form of briquettes biomass. Observations were taken from Department of Bioenergy, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu), India of different raw materials and briquettes of those raw materials. Results show that there were very satisfactory results after evaluation. In general, calorific value briquettes is higher than those of raw materials. Raw materials of agricultural wastes and forest residual wastes ranged from 1,200-3,000 Kcal/Kg and its calorific values are significantly higher in briquettes than raw materials. Raw material of rice husk produces 3,000 Kcal/kg and briquettes of rice husk produces 3200 Kcal/kg. Likewise differences were observed in all types of agricultural wastes. The input and output ratio ware observed as cost-effective and profitable in all parameters for the farmers. Briquetting production is the emerging, ecofriendly, cost effective and profitable technology for the use of agricultural residues. It may help farmers to improve its socio-economic status and proper reuses of agricultural wastes.
Fungi produce enzymes that degrade the complex lignin thereby enabling the efficient utilization of plant lignocellulosic biomass in the production of biofuel and cellulose-based products. In the present study, the agricultural residues such as paddy straw, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut husk were used as substrates for the biodegradation by Aspergillus nomius (MN700028) and Trichoderma harzianum (MN700029) isolated from gut of the termite, Odontotermes obesus and fungus comb in the termite mound, respectively. The influence of varying concentrations of different carbon sources, pH, and temperature on ligninolytic enzyme production was exam-ined under laboratory conditions. The highest activities of manganese peroxidase (0.24 U/mL), lignin peroxidase (10.38 U/mL) and laccase (0.05 U/mL) were observed under studied conditions. Fungal pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass for 45 days showed that A. nomius and T. harzianum degraded 84.4\% and 81.66\% of hemicelluloses, 8.16\% and 93.75\% of cellulose, and 52.59\% and 65\% of lignin, respectively. The interaction of pH, temperature, and different carbon sources with fungal biomass and enzyme production was found significant (p <= 0.05). SEM analysis indicated alterations in the microstructures of degraded lignocellulosic substrates. A. nomius and T. harzianum were highly efficient in ligninolytic enzymes production and in vitro digestibility of agricultural residues. The study reports the production of laccase by A. nomius isolated from termite gut for the first time. The fungal isolates A. nomius and T. harzianum posses potential for ligninocellulosic waste degradation.
Agricultural and industrial wastes are available in massive amounts, and the disposal of those biowastes causes environmental and health problems. Xylanase plays an essential role in nature and has various industrial applications. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the utilization of some agro-industrial biowastes, including sugarcane bagasse, corn cob, corn stalk, rice straw, wheat straw, wheat bran, and rice bran in the cost-effective production of xylanase enzyme using Aspergillus niger strain AUMC 14230 by applying corn cob (1\%) as the main component in fermentation media. Among the agriculture residues used, the results showed that the corn cob was the preferable optimized carbon source for xylanase production with activity (100 Uml(-1)), followed by wheat bran (84 Uml(-1)), while corn steep liquor (3\% concentration) was the ideal nitrogen source. Furthermore, the findings revealed that the optimum levels of various parameters for the xylanase production were inoculum size 0.50\% (v/mL), initial pH 4.5, incubation temperature 50 \& DEG;C, aeration 1:5 (V-m: V-f), agitation speed 175 rpm, and time course 120 h. Based on the obtained findings, it could be concluded that the corn cob and wheat bran, inexpensive and abundant sources, could be applied as a carbon source for large-scale industrial xylanase production, which ultimately lowers the production cost of xylanase enzyme, besides, helps to reduce the environmental problems linked with the disposal of agro-industrial biowastes.
Bermudagrass is the main warm-season grass species used for livestock production in the southeastern United States; however, when it is ensiled, the silage fermentation parameters are often less than desirable. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of management practices on the nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of bermudagrass silage. In Exp. 1, treatments were the factorial combinations of 2 bermudagrass genotypes, `Jiggs' (Cynodon dactylon) and `Tifton 85' (Cynodon sp.), 4 additives, and 2 DM concentrations at ensiling. The additives were 1) untreated control (deionized water), 2) Ecosyl, 3) B500, or 4) sugarcane molasses. The 2 DM concentrations at ensiling were low DM (22\% DM) or high DM (53\% DM). Treatments were replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design. Silage treated with molasses had a lesser (P < 0.05) pH and greater (P < 0.01) lactate concentrations than the control, Ecosyl, and B500 in silage with low DM concentrations and greater (P < 0.01) in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) and lesser (P < 0.01) ADF concentrations than the other treatments at either DM concentration. Silage treated with B500 had the greatest (P < 0.01) aerobic stability, whereas that treated with molasses had the least aerobic stability. However, all treatments presented long aerobic stability (>= 150 h). Jiggs had lesser (P < 0.01) ADF and NDF and NDF digestibility (NDFD) concentrations than Tifton 85 and Tifton 85 had greater (P < 0.01) IVTD than Jiggs in the silage with a high DM concentration. In Exp. 2, Jiggs silage treated with either molasses (20 g molasses {[
The thermotolerant ethanol producing Kluyveromyces marxianus IMB3 yeast was used in eight 60m(3) fermenters for industrial ethanol production in India using sugarcane molasses. Ethanol ranged between 6.0-7.2\% (w/v) with added advantages of elimination of cooling during fermentation and shorter fermentation periods of 20h.
Three treatments have been tested on canned artichoke byproduct after 50 days of ensilage: formic acid at 20\% in doses of 2 mL.kg(-1) (FA), cane sugar molasses at 50 g.kg(-1) (M), and sodium chloride at 30 g.kg(-1) (SC). A fourth batch acted as a control group (C). The nutritive value, fermentation characteristics, environmental pollution effect, and total volume of effluents released have been studied. The highest nutritive value recorded was with SC silage. The use of the additives did not significantly improve the fermentation stability of the silage, but the total production of effluents in each treatment-52.7 (FA), 46.9 (M), and 55.2 (SC)-was significantly lower (P < 0.01) than that of the control group (70.1 L.Tm-1). The chemical oxygen demand (COD), 117300 mg of O-2.L-1, and the conductivity, 46.4 mu Omega(-1).cm(-1), were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in M and SC, respectively, than in the other group.
This article presents a life cycle assessment of bio-based polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles with a cradle to grave scope and provides a comparison with petrochemical PET bottles for 13 environmental impact categories. Besides the baseline bio-based PET bottles, which are produced from Brazilian sugarcane reflecting status-quo, two alternative hypothetical bio-based product systems were considered: European wheat straw and European crops market mix composed of maize, wheat and sugar beet. The land-use change (LUC) impacts were assessed based on a deterministic model. The end-of-life impact was assessed using the EASETECH model. Baseline bio-based PET bottles performed overall worse than conventional petrochemical PET bottles, offering only better performance (about 10\%) in abiotic depletion (fossil fuels). Comparable performance is observed for climate change (2\% difference without the LUC, and 7\% with LUC impacts). Using European crops for ethanol production (alternative 1) instead of Brazilian sugarcane resulted in a worse environmental performance, due to lower yields attained compared to Brazilian sugarcane. When wheat straw was considered as biomass feedstock for ethanol production (alternative 2), similar environmental performance with petrochemical PET bottles was seen. (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/).
Acetoin is a natural flavor and mainly used as a food additive and important intermediate to synthesize novel optically active compounds. In this work a new acetoin producer, Bacillus subtilis DL01 was isolated from samples of sea sediment, and its growth properties and acetoin productivity were explored. The experiments showed that the new strain can grow well in a simple fermentation medium only containing sugarcane molasses, (NH4)(2)HPO4 and MnSO4. When the initial concentration of sugar was 200 g/l in molasses, 61.15 g/l acetoin (58.2 g/l D-acetoin) was obtained with a productivity of 0.807 g/(1 h) by a batch fermentation under stage-enhanced agitation and constant aeration of 0.4 vvm. By contrast, 76 g/l acetoin (60.9 g/l D-acetoin) could be obtained with a productivity of 1.00 g/(1 h) and a yield of 0.421 g/g if 210 g/l glucose was used. The strain DL01 demonstrated high sugar tolerance, high acetoin production, and low oxygen requirement. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) production from sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) has been barely studied using other edible biomasses. Therefore, we evaluated the XOS content as well as its purity by comparing the content of total sugars from SSB. An environmentally friendly approach involving autohydrolysis was employed, and the reaction temperature and time had variations in order to search for the conditions that would yield high-purity XOS. After autohydrolysis, the remaining solid residues, the glucan-rich fraction, were used as substrates to be enzymatically hydrolyzed for glucose conversion. The highest XOS was observed for total sugars (68.7\%) at 190 degrees C for 5 min among the autohydrolysis conditions. However, we also suggested two alternative conditions, 180 degrees C for 20 min and 190 degrees C for 15 min, because the former condition might have the XOS at a low degree of polymerization with a high XOS ratio (67.6\%), while the latter condition presented a high glucose to total sugar ratio (91.4\%) with a moderate level XOS ratio (64.4\%). Although it was challenging to conclude on the autohydrolysis conditions required to obtain the best result of XOS content and purity and glucose yield, this study presented approaches that could maximize the desired product from SSB, and additional processes to reduce these differences in conditions may warrant further research.
The rapid exhaustion of fossil fuels and increasing environmental pollution due to burning of traditional fuels urge the scientists to look for alternative renewable energy resources. One of the important renewable energy sources is bioethanol. Bioethanol production from lignocellulosic substrate comprises of different steps. One of the important part of these steps is saccharification which yield fermentable sugars that can later be converted into ethanol by fermentation. In the present study, hyperthermophilic cellulolytic enzymes (Endoglucanase, Exoglucanase and beta-Glucosidase) produced in genetically modified mesophilic host Escherichia coli BL-21 strain were used for hydrolysis of untreated and pretreated sugarcane bagasse samples Alkaline peroxide treated bagasse was screened among differently pretreated sugarcane bagasse samples and saccharification yield of 26.64\% was achieved by simultaneously adding 150 Units of Endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, 300 Units of Exo-1,4-beta-glucanase and 600 Units of P-1,4- Glucosidase for 3h at 80 degrees C. Moreover, substrate concentration of 0.75\% (w/v) yielded best hydrolysis rate of 35.19\%. This optimization study resulted in 8.05 folds increase in the saccahrification yield which is an important step forward towards cheap production of fermentable saccharides.
The objective of this study was to utilize agro-lignocellulosic wastes for growing oyster mushroom which become problematic for disposal. Pleurotus ostreatus was cultivated on five agro-industrial wastes: rice straw (RS), wheat straw (WS), corncobs (CC), saw dust and rice husk @ 3:1 (SR) and sugarcane bagasse (SB). Approximately 500 g sized polypropylene bags (20.32 x 30.48 cm) were used for each substrate. The SR significantly improved the number of fruiting body (27.80), size of the fruiting body (5.39 g), yield (115.13 g/packet), ash and shortened the days for stimulation to primordial initiation and harvest (9.2 days). The maximum percentage of visual mycelium growth with the least time (15.0 days) to complete the mycelium running was found in SB, whereas the highest biological efficiency value (56.5) was calculated in SR. The topmost value of total sugar (33.20\%) and ash (10.87 g/100 g) were recorded in WS, whereas the utmost amount of protein (6.87 mg/100 g) and total polyphenolics (196.88 mg GAE/100 g) were detected from SB and SR, respectively. Overall SR gave the highest amount of the fruiting body with the topmost polyphenols and ash, moderate protein and total sugar, and secured maximum biological efficiency too. The results demonstrate that saw dust with rice husk could be used as an easy alternative substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation.
Increased focus has been directed toward the use of agricultural residues. Conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to nanocellulose, such as nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) has prompted a revolution in biobased materials for diverse applications. Currently used chemical methods for the preparation of NFC are not environmentally friendly and even exhibit toxicity, limiting the application of NFC in food. The present study proposes an innovative NFC as dietary fiber, prepared using a green and scale production method. This technique provides an integrated approach that combines physicochemical pretreatment (high-density steam flash explosion, HDSF at 2.0 MPa) and successively enzymatic catalysts (45 U/g xylanase for 3 h, 60 U/g lactase for 4 h, and 150 U/g cellulose for 12 h) for the conversion of rice straw into NFC which is characterized by long and distinct fibrillated cellulose with widths of 30-200 nm, exhibiting excellent water retention capacity (20 g water/g) and swelling capacity (105 mL/g). Based on the NFC, hydrophobic groups (octenyl succinic anhydride, OSA) were further grafted onto the surface of NFC to prepare an innovative OSA NFC as dietary fiber with enhanced health benefits (such as bile acids, cholesterol, nitrite ion, and oil/fat adsorption), especially which could markedly increase the adsorption capacity for oil in vitro (17.8 g oil/g after digestion model) and in vivo (almost 500 mg fat/g feces of rats). OSA NFC could be used as high quality dietary fiber with a strong ability to absorb oil to help regulate body weight, representing an innovative way of transforming cheaper biomass into value-added products.
The management and final disposal of agro-industrial wastes are one of the main environmental problems. Due to the presence of silica in some agricultural by-products, it is possible to convert waste into materials with advanced properties. This contribution was aimed to extract and characterize silica materials from various feedstocks including sugarcane bagasse (SCB), corn stalk (CS), and rice husk (RH). Silica yields of 17.91\%, 9.39\%, and 3.25\% were obtained for RH, CS, and SCB. On the other hand, the textural properties show that the siliceous materials exhibited mesoporous structures, with high silica composition in the materials due to the formation of crystalline SiO2 for SCB and CS and amorphous for RH. XPS spectra demonstrate the presence of Si4+ species in RH, and Si3+/Si4+ tetrahedra in SCB and CS.
Two lignocellulosic agricultural waste materials (LCM), sugarcane bagasse (BG) and rice hull (RH), were converted into weak-base anion exchanger and evaluated for their exchanger capacity For nitrate. Pure cellulose (PC) and pure alkaline lignin (PL) were also used as reference materials to elucidate possible reactivity in LCM. Epoxy and amino groups were introduced into BG. RH, PC and PL substrates after the reaction with epichlorohydrin and dimethylamine in the presence of pyridine and an organic solvent N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF). Amino group incorporation into cellulose decreased with the presence of water in the reaction mixture and increased with the reaction time and presence of a catalyst (pyridine). The highest maximum nitrate exchange capacity (Q(max)) and yields of the prepared exchangers was obtained from PL (1.8 mmol g(-1) and 412.5\%), followed by BG (1.41 mmol g(-1) and 300\%), PC (1.34 mmol g(-1) and 166\%) and RH (1.32 mmol g(-1) and 180\%). The proposed synthetic procedure was effective in modifying PL. PC and LCM chemically resulting in a higher yield and nitrate removal capacity. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A bacterial consortium capable of utilising metal cyanides as a source of nitrogen was used to develop a microbiological process for the detoxification of metal cyanides (viz. copper cyanide and zinc cyanide) from electroplating waste water. Optimal conditions biodegradation of both the metal-cyanide compounds were pH 7.5, temperature 35 degrees C, inoculum size 10(9) cells per mi and glucose or sugarcane molasses requirement of 5 mM or 0.6 ml/l, respectively. Metal precipitates obtained during metal-cyanide biodegradation were identified as metal-hydroxides. When the treatment was carried out in a 27 1 rotating biological contactor (RBC) in continuous mode, the system could achieve > 99.9\% removal of 0.5 mM metal cyanide (ca. 52 mg/l cyanide and 30-40 mg/l copper/zinc) in 15 h with sugarcane molasses as carbon source. The RBC treated effluent was found to be safe for discharge in the environment as confirmed by chemical analysis and fish bioassay studies. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Gliotoxin, an epithiodiketopiperazine toxin produced by the `Q' strain of Trichoderma virens is essential for curtailing growth and multiplication of phytopathogens (HOWELL et al. 1993, FRAVEL 1988). Three isolates (Gv, Gv-A and Gv-V) of Trichoderma virens were grown on natural substrates such as bengal gram hull, gingelly cake, green gram hull, rice bran, soya meal, sugarcane bagasse, soyameal + tapioca, tapioca powder, tapioca peel and wheat bran). It was evident from this study that maximum gliotoxin (64 mg/l) was produced on tapioca powder by the alien isolate Gv. However sugarcane bagasse significantly enhanced gliotoxin production (36 mg/l) in the native isolate Gv-A, when compared to other substrates like greengram hull and rice bran. So far, studies on production of gliotoxin on synthetic media has been reported. We report the production of gliotoxin by T. virens on natural substrates ``in vitro{''
Xylan is a polysaccharide of industrial interest and its solubilization demands a high quantity of chemicals. A combination of chemical and biological treatment was applied to solubilize xylan, reducing hydrogen peroxide charge. Coniophora puteana, Gloeophyllum trabeum, and Pleurotus ostreatus were grown on non-milled sugarcane bagasse up to four months. After microorganisms growth, the chemical solubilization of xylan was performed applying 3\% and 6\% (m/v) of hydrogen peroxide. Using 3\% of hydrogen peroxide after the biological pretreatment resulted in 99.74\% of the xylan solubilization after the fourth month to C. puteana growth, and 48.63\% of the xylan solubilized after the first month to G. trabeum growth. The results demonstrated that the biological pretreatment reduced the recalcitrance of the sugarcane bagasse by changing its structure, allowing to solubilize a higher amount of xylan, and applying half of the chemical reagent contributing to process feasibility.
Bacteria isolated from thermophilic environment that can produce cellulase as well as utilise agro-waste biomass have a high potential for developing thermostable cellulase required in the biofuel industry. The cost for cellulase represents a significant challenge in converting lignocellulose to fermentable sugars for biofuel production. Among three potential bacteria examined, Bacillus licheniformis 2D55 (accession no. KT799651) was found to produce the highest cellulolytic activity (CMCase 0.33 U/mL and FPase 0.09 U/mL) at 18-24 h fermentation when grown on microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) as a carbon source in shake flask at 50 degrees C. Cellulase production process was further conducted on the untreated and NaOH pretreated rice straw (RS), rice husk (RH), sugarcane bagasse (BAG) and empty fruit bunch (EFB). Untreated BAG produced the highest FPase (0.160 U/mL), while the highest CMCase (0.150 U/mL) was supported on the pretreated RH. The mixture of untreated BAG and pretreated RH as agro-waste cocktail has remarkably improved CMCase (3.7- and 1.4-fold) and FPase (2.5- and 11.5-fold) compared to the untreated BAG and pretreated RH, respectively. The mechanism of cellulase production explored through SEM analysis and the location of cellulase enzymes of the isolate was also presented. Agro-waste cocktail supplementation provides an alternative method for an efficient production of cellulase.
The aim of this work is to study and compare the influence of different nanofibrillation processes on the properties of cellulose nanofibers from wheat straw, and analyze the effect of the lignin in the nanocellulose quality and on the characteristics of the films produced. Wheat straw was subjected to a soda (NaOH) pulping process to obtain unbleached cellulosic pulp. The cellulosic pulp was bleached with NaClO2 in order to remove the lignin of the fiber. Both bleached and unbleached pulps were used to obtain nanocellulose using mechanical pretreatment (PFI refining) and treatments, (high pressure homogenization, twin-screw extruder and ultrafine friction grinder). The effect of the nanofibrillation treatments and the residual lignin content on cellulose nanofiber production was analyzed by means of a deep characterization. A multi-factorial quality index was used to score the cellulose nanofibers produced to enable a benchmarking study between different sources, processes and characteristics. In addition, an energetic study of the production process was carried out for the different treatments. The different nanofibers were used to produce cellulose nanofiber-based films and characterized in order to establish a relationship between the characteristics of cellulose nanofibers and the characteristics of the final product.
The production and quality of rhizobial inoculants in many developing countries is limited by the availability of suitable carriers or technological limitations. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential of various inexpensive and widely available carrier materials. The carriers, evaluated, were: perlite with pH adjusted with calcium carbonate or charcoal, 1:4 mixtures of perlite and malt residue, sugarcane bagasse, coal, and rice husk. We also contrasted sterilisation procedures (autoclaving or gamma irradiation) and incubation after injection (with or without initial two weeks incubation at 28 degrees C for these various carriers. Survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain CB 1809 was monitored over a period of 6 months upon storage at 4 degrees C. Most carriers evaluated, were able to maintain rhizobial populations of more than I x 109 rhizobia per gram of inoculant over that time period, with mixtures of perlite with either sugarcane bagasse or malt residue supporting the largest rhizobial populations and a mixture of perlite and rice husk the lowest. All carriers supported rhizobial growth over the 6 months period. Initially, rhizobial populations were greater with gamma irradiation than autoclaving, however after 6 months, this response was significant only with the perlite and sugarcane bagasse mixture. The incubation of the inoculant after injection also ultimately did not benefit rhizobial levels for any of the carriers, tested. Using simple sterilisation procedures and without incubating after injection, perlite based carriers can produce high quality inexpensive inoculants, maintaining bacterial populations of more than 1 x 10(9)/g rhizobia for at least 6 months. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
In this work, production of polygalacturonases through solid-state fermentation of orange pomace by A. niger was studied. Bench-scale pectinase productions in tray and rotating-drum bioreactors were compared. Tray bioreactor was more suitable for pectinases production; despite the fact that moisture control was much better in rotating-drum bioreactor, while agitation and watering was carried out in the fermentation. Exo- and endopectinases production yields in tray bioreactor were 45 and 37\% higher than rotating-drum bioreactor, respectively. Moreover, to solve dryness in tray bioreactor, sugarcane bagasse was studied as a water preservative material. Comparing the obtained water sorption isotherms for bagasse and orange pomace indicated that addition of bagasse to orange pomace for preservation of water in the fermentation was a great help. This issue was experimented in tray bioreactor and it was proved that bagasse enhanced pectinases production from orange pomace. The percentage of bagasse for preservation of moisture in pectinases production was optimized. The obtained results demonstrated that addition of bagasse (40 g bagasse. g(-1)dry solid) to orange pomace led to 17 and 23\% enhancement in exo- and endo-pectinase activities, respectively. Finally, enzyme kinetics for exo- and endo-pectinases were investigated.
The present work aimed to study the viability of the use of sugarcane molasses and corn steep liquor (CSL) in a sequential inulinase production performing an up-stream pretreatment of these agroindustrial residues. A sequential strategy was used applying three central composite rotatable designs (CCRDs) to optimise medium composition, followed by a down-stream step. The medium containing 150 g L-1 molasses, 50 g L-1 CSL and 6 g L-1 yeast extract, yielded a maximum inulinase production of 1,294 +/- A 7 U mL(-1), after 72 h of fermentation. A down-stream evaluation was carried out using an expanded bed of Streamline DAE resin (Pharmacia), with and without the up-stream treatment. The results showed that the enzyme could not be recovered from the non-pretreated medium, whereas a yield of 91\% was obtained in the adsorption stage from the medium prepared with the up-stream treatment, showing the viability of producing the enzyme inulinase from agroindustrial residues using the integrated process.
Conventional atmospheric glycerol organosolv pretreatment is energy-intensive with the requirement of long time and/or high temperature. Herein, acid-catalyzed atmospheric glycerol organosolv (ac-AGO) pretreatment was developed under a mild condition to modify the sugarcane bagasse structure for improving enzymatic hydrolyzability. Using single factor and central composite design experiments, ac-AGO pretreatment was optimized at 200 degrees C for 15 min with 0.06\% H2SO4 addition, wherein the hemicellulose and lignin removal rates were 82 and 52\%, respectively, with extremely high cellulose retention of 98\%. The ac-AGO-pretreated substrate exhibited good enzymatic hydrolyzability at a modest cellulase loading, affording a 70\% glucose yield after 72 h. Multiple analysis tools were used to correlate the hydrolyzability of the substrate with its structural features. The results indicated that the mild ac-AGO pretreatment can modify the lignocellulosic biomass structure to achieve good hydrolyzability, mainly resulting in significant hemicellulose removal.
An arable soil with organic matter formed from C3-vegetation was amended initially with maize cellulose (C-4-cellulose) and sugarcane sucrose (C-4-Sucrose) in a 67-day laboratory incubation experiment with microcosms at 25 degrees C. The amount and isotopic composition (C-13/C-12) Of Soil organic C, CO2 evolved, microbial biomass C, and microbial residue C were determined to prove whether the formation of microbial residues depends on the quality of the added C source adjusted with NH4NO3 to the same C/N ratio of 15. In a subsequent step, C-3-cellulosc (3 mg C g(-1) soil) was added without N to soil to determine whether the microbial residues formed initially from C-4-substrate are preferentially decomposed to maintain the N-demand of the soil microbial community. At the end of the experiment, 23\% Of the two C-4-substrates added was left in the soil, while 3\% and 4\% of the added C-4-cellulose and C-4-sucrose, respectively, were found in the microbial biomass. The addition of the two C-4-substrates caused a significant 100\% increase in C-3-derived CO, evolution during the 5-33 day incubation period. The addition of C-3-cellulose caused a significant 50\% increase in C-4-derived CO2 evolution during the 38-67 day incubation period. The decrease in microbial biomass C-4-C accounted for roughly 60\% of this increase. Cellulose addition promoted microorganisms strongly able to recycle N immediately from their own tissue by ``cryptic growth{''
Granular activated carbons (GACs) were produced from sugarcane bagasse combined with one of two binders (corn syrup, coal tar) by physical activation and from pecan shells by physical and chemical activation. GACs were evaluated for their physical (hardness, bulk density), chemical (ash, pH), surface (surface area, pore size distribution, surface chemistry), and adsorption properties (molasses color removal, sugar decolorization) and compared with two commercial reference carbons. Results showed that larger surface area, a well-developed macro- and mesoporosity, and a minimal surface charge were desirable in GACs designed for sugar decolorization. Steam activation of pecan shells carbon was the only by-product-activation combination that produced GAC with all the above three desirable characteristics of a good sugar decolorizer. Chemical activation of pecan shells yielded GACs with high surface area and adequate pore size distribution but with large surface charge. In contrast, sugarcane bagasse-based GACs exhibited low surface areas and unsatisfactory physical/chemical properties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hemicellulose fractions derived from lignocellulosic biomass acid pretreatments have been considered promising substrates for H-2 production via anaerobic fermentation. In this context, the objective of this study is to develop a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methodology for the simultaneous determination of glucose, xylose, arabinose, acetic acid, butyric acid, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF) and 2-furaldehyde (furfural) in the complex matrices used for the H-2 production from hemicellulose fractions. HPLC analyses were performed using two columns under different conditions: the Aminex HPX-87H column (mobile phase consisted of 0.005 mol L-1 H2SO4 solution at a flow rate of 0.7 mL min(-1) and temperature of 60 degrees c) and the Rezex RFQ Fast acid (mobile phase consisted of 0.005 mol L-1 H2SO4 solution at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1) and temperature of 80 degrees C). Acids (acetic and butyric acids) and inhibitors (HMF and furfural) were analyzed by UV-Vis detection at 210 nm, and C6 and C5-sugars (glucose, xylose and arabinose) were analyzed using a refractive index detector (RI). Some validation parameters, such as selectivity, linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy and robustness were successfully evaluated. The monitoring of fermentative media for H-2 production from different hemicellulose fractions was successfully performed using the proposed methodologies. The acid-pretreated samples from corn cob, cocoa husk, sugarcane straw and bagasse substrates presented a range of xylose contents from 84.85 to 222.98 mmol L-1, which resulted in a maximum production of 2.99 mol H-2/mol total carbohydrate. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: In this study, polyesters of glycerol, aconitic acid and cinnamic acid were synthesized and studied for their potential application as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Aconitic acid can be recovered from molasses, while glycerol and cinnamic acid can be recovered from pretreated sugarcane bagasse used for bio-ethanol production. Polyester synthesis was carried out at different molar ratios of reactants at a temperature of 120 degrees C for 5 h. Synthesized polyesters were characterized chemically and mechanically, and evaluated for their cytotoxicity and chemical stability towards human adipose derived mesenchymal pluripotent stem cells (hASC). RESULTS: Several cytocompatibility tests such as mass loss over a period of time, alamar blue to analyze growth and viability of hASC on polyester scaffolds, picogreen for total DNA content synthesized, indicated that these polyesters hold promise as tissue engineering scaffolds. For skin tissue engineering, especially for wound repair, thin film polyester scaffolds laden with hASC were grown in stromal medium supplemented with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). For all the scaffolds, the amount of collagen synthesized in bFGF supplemented medium was significantly higher than the scaffolds with hASC in control (stromal) medium (P<0.05) CONCLUSION: Based on the amount of collagen synthesized and DNA quantification data, it was concluded that the polyesters are cytocompatible and support fibroblastic differentiation by the addition of bFGF. (C) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
Microbial cellulases find applications in many industries and constitute a significant share of the world's industrial enzyme market. In order to improve the cost function of the cellulase producing processes with enhanced yield and novel activities, superior bioprocesses are formulated these days. The current study was designed to isolate and identify superior cellulose-degrading fungi from cellulosic waste and selection of different cellulosic waste like paper waste, cotton ginning, wheat Bran and sugarcane bagasse for cellulase production under solid state fermentation. Various physical parameters such as temperature, pH and incubation time were optimized for induced cellulase production from Trichoderma sp. in SSF. Among 14 fungal isolates, four isolates were selected by primary screening of CMCase method. Solid state fermentation was carried out with four Agro wastes such as waste paper, cotton ginning waste wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse. Among 4 fungal strains, A11 isolated which was identified as Trichoderma sp. were selected by secondary screening showing higher cellulase activity on solid state fermentation and wheat bran was found to be the best substrate for cellulase production. In the present study the maximum enzyme production by fungal isolate A11 using Wheat bran as substrate showed 8.49 U/g and 2.23 U/g activities of CMCase and FPase respectively recorded at 35 degrees C on 120 hrs of incubation period at 5 pH. Isolation of cellulase producing fungal strain will help in bio-conversion of cellulosic materials to glucose and other fermentable sugars which can be further used for the production of bio-ethanol.
The main interest in the energy cane is the bioenergy production from the bagasse. The juice obtained after the cane milling may constitute a feedstock for the first-generation ethanol units; however, little attention has been dedicated to this issue. In order to verify the feasibility of the energy cane juice as substrate for ethanol production, the objectives of this research were first to determine the microbiological characteristics and deterioration along the time of the juices from two clones of energy cane (Type I) and second, their fermentability as feedstock for utilization in ethanol distilleries. There was a clear differentiation in the bacterial and yeast development of the sugarcane juices assayed, being much faster in the energy canes than in sugarcane. The storage of juice for 8 hours at 30 degrees C did not cause impact in alcoholic fermentation for any sample analyzed, although a significant bacterial growth was detected in this period. A decrease of approximately seven percentage points in the fermentative efficiency was observed for energy cane juice in relation to sugarcane in a 24-hour fermentation cycle with the baking yeast. Despite the faster deterioration, the present research demonstrated that the energy cane juice has potential to be used as feedstock in ethanol-producing industries. As far as we know, it is the first research to deal with the characteristics of deterioration and fermentability of energy cane juices.
Biorefining process has the goal to convert lignocellulose biomass to biofuels and value-added products and to reduce burning activities of agricultural wastes after harvesting seasons. Pretreatment of lignocellulose biomass by using inorganic salt has been demonstrated to be an efficient method to improve process productivity, yet its efficiency is inhibited by salt residues in hydrolysis. In this study, the mechanisms of inhibitory effects caused by inorganic salts, NaCl and KCl, on kinetic activities of commercial cellulase were revealed using Michaelis-Menten model. Three different types of cellulose and lignocellulose substrates, CMC, Avicel, and sugarcanes bagasse, were enzymatic hydrolyzed. Using Lineweaver-Burk plot, the results showed that the inhibitory effect of KCl and NaCl residues were non-competitive and mixed inhibition, respectively. Due to their inhibitory effect, inorganic salt residues reduced reducing sugar yields released from CMC and Avicel, however, the yield obtained from sugarcanes bagasse increased for 1.51 fold when adding 1.0 M NaCl. The finding in this research suggested the alternative method to use sugarcane bagasse for biofuel conversion and reduction of agricultural combustion.
CMC-ase and Xylanase were detected in culture filtrate of Sporotrichum thermophile grown on sugarcane bagasse as a sole carbon source. Activity of both enzymes as affected by incubation time of the reaction mixture, pH and temperature was determined. Optimum incubation time was 4h for CMC-ase, 40h for xylanase and optimum pH and temperature for both enzymes were 4.5 and 45-degrees-C respectively. Fractionation of extracellular enzyme proteins secreted by S. thermophile grown on bagasse and on cellulose powder by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed the presence of 5 protein fractions with CMC-ase activity in culture filtrate obtained from bagasse and 6 fractions in case of filtrates obtained from cellulose. Xylanase was produced in presence of bagasse but not in presence of cellulose and comprised four fractions indicating the inductive nature of the enzyme.
This paper performed the design of rural energy system by industrial symbiosis considering long-term availability of forest resources, As for the case examples, alternatives of energy system in Tanegashima, a remote island in Japan, were examined, where two types of combined heating and power (CHP) were designed. In the first option, bagasse-based CHP at the cane sugar mill was enhanced to use woody biomass as additional fuel and generate energy for district heating and cooling (DHC). In another option, small scale biomass-CHP was designed for DHC in city center. Both options were mathematically modeled and simulated for examining the resource requirements and life cycle greenhouse gas emission. A constraint on total availability of woody biomass was taken into account, which was calculated through a simulation on forestry. The effect of total timber availability and allocation to the two CHP systems was quantified. A design of rural energy system by industrial symbiosis can be facilitated by simulation-based analysis to visualize the impacts of such energy networks among involved multiple players such as industry, residential, and commercial sectors,
Currently, electricity generation and second-generation ethanol production from lignocellulosic feedstocks represent technological alternatives in the bioenergy sector. Nevertheless, the introduction of new production processes denotes a real challenge due to the complexity and diversity of the pathways that can be evaluated. In addition, there are economic and environmental factors that must be considered during the development and consolidation of these new configurations. Accordingly, this paper presents a methodology to perform the exergy and exergo-environmental analysis, and ranking of sugarcane-based biorefineries. The proposed models assessed the Conventional (Route 1), Biochemical (Route 2), and Thermochemical (Route 3) pathways using simulation programs and mathematical tools to simulate the ethanol production and electricity generation. Furthermore, the process integration and different uses for the surplus bagasse were studied, aiming at the optimizing and ranking of routes. The results indicated optimal settings that allowed the routes ranking in terms of the renewability exergy index ``lambda{''
Efforts were made to utilize the waste/by-product of two agro-process industries namely pressmud from sugar processing industries and spent yeast from distilleries manufacturing ethanol from cane molasses, for the production of microbial invertase. Our experimentation indicated that these two sources could be ideally utilized for the production of invertase through solid substrate fermentation (SSF). SSF with spent yeast had given highest specific activity of 430 U/mg in 72 h of fermentation. Inoculum percentage of yeast cells on pressmud was optimized as 50\% (w/w) with a combination inoculum of spent yeast and fresh cultured yeast at a ratio of 7:3. Crude enzyme was characterized for optimum pH and temperature and maximum activity was recorded at pH 5.0 and at a temperature of 40 degrees C. Impacts of metal ions and detergents on invertase action were studied in which Mn2+, Fe3+, Al3+ and detergents had enhanced the activity of the enzyme whereas Cu2+ and Zn2+ inhibited the enzyme activity. Purification of 9.8 folds was obtained by using three phase partition method.
In recent years, oyster mushroom ( Pleurotus ostreatus) has become one of the most cultivated mushrooms in the world, mainly in Brazil. Among many factors involved in a mushroom production, substrate preparation is the most critical step, which can be influenced by composting management techniques. Looking forward to optimizing the substrate preparation process, were tested different composting conditions ( 7 and 14 days of composting with or without conditioning), potential raw materials ( decumbens grass, brizantha grass and sugarcane straw) and nitrogen supplementation ( with or without wheat bran) on oyster mushroom yield and biological efficiency ( BE). The substrate composted for 7 days with conditioning showed higher yield and biological efficiency of mushroom ( 24.04 and 100.54 \%, respectively). Substrates without conditioning ( 7 and 14 days of composting) showed smaller mushroom yield and biological efficiency. Among the raw materials tested, brizantha grass showed higher mushroom yield followed by decumbens grass, sugarcane straw and wheat straw ( 28.5, 24.32, 23.5 and 19.27 \%, respectively). Brizantha grass also showed higher biological efficiency followed by sugarcane straw, decumbens grass and wheat straw ( 123.95, 103.70, 96.90 and 86.44 \%, respectively). Supplementation with wheat bran improved yield and biological efficiency in all substrate formulations tested; thus, oyster mushroom yield and biological efficiency were influenced by substrate formulation ( raw materials), supplementation and composting conditions.
Civil construction is an opportune way of using industrial by-products, leading to the reduction of consumption of natural resources. This paper is a systematic review of the literature, addressing the application of inorganic residues in cementitious composites. The Web of Science search was performed using keywords: Foundry Sand; Foundry Slag; Electric Arc Furnace Dust; Concrete Waste; Ceramic Waste; Glass Waste; Sugarcane Bagasse Ash; Bamboo Leaf Ash. A total of 107 papers were analyzed, and the effects of these residues in the mechanical properties, the optimal percentages for substitution, main applications and suggestions for future research are organized in this paper. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Elemental analysis by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) of solid samples from a biorefinery process was performed to study the behaviour of mineral elements in a process involving hydrothermal pretreatment of biomass (wheat straw, corn stover, sugarcane bagasse, palm oil empty fruit bunches, poplar) followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. For all the different biomasses, the biorefinery process concentrated silicon, aluminium, and calcium in the solid fraction, while potassium and magnesium were solubilised in the process and removed from the solid fraction. Sodium concentrations were in general low and they only increased in case of addition during the process. No general tendencies were observed for phosphorus, sulphur, and iron concentrations. A prerequisite for XRF elemental analysis was defining an average chemical formula for the organic matrix of process biomass samples. Based on ultimate elemental analysis of all biomasses, the formula for biomass was C6H8.4O3.5, which was used for all types of samples (raw biomass, pretreated biomass, and lignin residue) and can be used in future XRF analysis of samples of similar process and biomass feedstock as those used in this study. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In an agricultural country like Pakistan, producing affordable and clean energy can be a challenging task. However, Pakistan has the potential to utilize various biomass feedstocks to generate renewable energy and tackle climate change while promoting sustainable development. Wheat, rice, sugarcane, and corn are the four main crops that yield a significant amount of residue, totaling 112.1 million tons per year. These residues have the potential to produce 3,050 kWh/ton of energy, which can meet 14\% of the energy demand in Pakistan, equivalent to 9.85TW, starting in 2022. Gasification technology is a versatile option that efficiently converts biomass into energy while reducing negative environmental impacts. The current research explores the feasibility of generating clean energy from crop residues with low emissions, addressing the country's energy needs, and supporting policymakers in promoting the use of biomass for energy production. According to this study, rice husk, corn cobs, wheat straw, and sugar bagasse all produce hydrogen at rates of 6.9 wt.\%, 6.4 wt.\%, 5.69 wt.\%, and 5.35 wt.\%, respectively. Therefore, our study demonstrates that corn cobs have a significant potential for energy production.
This work focuses on the thermal behavior of ceramic wall tile pastes containing solid wastes such as flat glass waste and sugarcane bagasse ash waste in partial replacement of natural raw materials. Thermal and mineralogical transformations occurring during firing were characterized by differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry analysis (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy. On heating four endothermic events within the 48.4-63.1, 271.0-279.1, 555.9-560.2, and 856.1-863.1 A degrees C, temperature ranges were observed. The endothermic valleys could be mainly attributed to the release of physically adsorbed water, dehydration of hydroxides (gibbsite and goethite), dehydroxylation of kaolinite, and decomposition of carbonates (calcite and dolomite), respectively. All tile pastes presented an exothermic peak within the 950.0-952.1 A degrees C temperature range associated with the crystallization of new mineral phases such as anorthite, gehlenite, mullite, and diopside. However, the tile paste with addition of sugarcane bagasse ash waste also presented an exothermic peak around 581.4 A degrees C associated with the decomposition of organic compounds. TG results indicate that the total mass loss of the wall tile pastes is in the 15.1-16.8 \% range, and it depends on the added solid waste. It was found that the replacement of natural raw materials (kaolinic clay and quartz) with solid wastes (flat glass waste and sugarcane bagasse ash waste), in the range up to 5 mass\%, influenced the thermal behavior of the ceramic wall tile pastes. The thermal analysis results agree well with the XRD, physical properties, and sintered microstructure.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are prebiotics derived from lignocellulosic materials presenting important functional properties. Traditional methods of XOS production often require the presence of acidic and basic catalysts for xylan extraction. However, new strategies and technologies such as hydrothermal, steam explosion, and green catalysts have been used to obtain XOS. Overall, these technologies are considered more environmentally friendly due to the lower amount of waste generated. This review summarizes the strategies used in XOS production, describing the process variables involved in xylan extraction and depolymerization, mainly for the most cited biomasses: sugarcane bagasse, corncob and wheat straw. Additionally, technical applications in the food area and future perspectives are presented. The use of hydrothermal pretreatment may be a promising strategy for xylan extraction. Besides the higher pressure and temperature, the conditions can be optimized to achieve satisfactory yields with minimal release of impurities and inhibitors. The enzymatic treatment should be combined to achieve higher yields of XOS with a low degree of polymerization, which is required for prebiotic function. Importantly, adequate knowledge of the lignocellulosic composition of biomass, particularly, the characteristics of hemicellulose chains, is needed to determine the best process conditions.
Sweet potato branches have potential use in animal feeding, even fresh or ensiled, and some additives may enhance their quality. This study aimed at assessing silage quality of sweet potato branches using different additives. We ensiled sweet potato branches without additive (control) and with the addition of 10\% disintegrated corn with straw and corncob (DCSC), 10\% sugarcane bagasse from alembic, 10\% citrus pulp, and 10\% coffee husk. Three samples of each plot were obtained after drying for measurements of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, mineral matter, starch, soluble sugars, pH, lactic acid bacteria population. gas, and effluent losses. Silage with DCSC, citrus pulp, and coffee rusk reached the highest dry matter contents. Moreover, citrus pulp silage had a high content of NDF. In contrast, DCSC silage showed the lowest content of ADF. Lignin was low in silage with DCSC, citrus pulp, and control (without additive). Suitable amounts of starch, crude protein, and lactic acid bacteria population were found in all treatments. Silage with DCSC achieved the best results for the assessed variables. Therefore, DCSC is the most suitable additive to improve silage quality of sweet potato branches.
The objective of this study was to get fermentable sugars by dilute acid hydrolysis of hemicellulose and fast pyrolysis of cellulose from sugarcane bagasse. Hemicellulose could be easily hydrolyzed by dilute acid as sugars. The remained solid residue of acid hydrolysis was utilized to get levoglucosan by fast pyrolysis economically. Levoglucosan yield from crystalline cellulose could be as high as 61.47\%. Dilute acid hydrolysis was also a promising pretreatment for levoglucosan production from lignocellulose. The dilute acid pretreated sugarcane bagasse resulted in higher levoglucosan yield (40.50\%) in fast pyrolysis by micropyrolyzer, which was more effective than water washed (29.10\%) and un-pretreated (12.84\%). It was mainly ascribed to the effective removal of alkali and alkaline earth metals and the accumulation of crystalline cellulose. This strategy seems a promising route to achieve inexpensive fermentable sugars from lignocellulose for biorefinery. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, through global transcriptional analysis by RNA-Sequencing, we identified the main changes in gene expression that occurred in two functional mutants of the MAPK genes tmk1 and tmk2 in Trichoderma reesei during sugarcane bagasse degradation. We found that the proteins encoded by these genes regulated independent processes, sometimes in a cross-talk manner, to modulate gene expression in T. reesei. In the Delta tmk2 strain, growth in sugarcane bagasse modulated the expression of genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, cell growth and development, and G-protein-coupled receptor-mediated cell signaling. On the other hand, deletion of tmk1 led to decreased expression of the major genes for cellulases and xylanases. Furthermore, TMK1 found to be involved in the regulation of the expression of major facilitator superfamily transporters. Our results revealed that the MAPK signaling pathway in T. reesei regulates many important processes that allow the fungus to recognize, transport, and metabolize different carbon sources during plant cell wall degradation.
Industrial and agricultural wastes such as sugarcane bagasse (BCA) and crop-shells are abundant in Brazil and, in this view, represent important substrates for biotechnology purposes. Previously, we have demonstrated that the thermophilic fungus Humicola grisea var. thermoidea, when cultivated in lignocellulosic materials such as BCA and ball-milled straw (BMS), secretes several hydrolytic enzymes resulting in a complex proteic profile. Among others, in this enzymatic pool we detected a highly expressed protein with a molecular mass of about 50 kDa. In the present work, this major component was identified by distinct experimental approaches such as immunoblot, isoelectric-focusing and automatic sequencing of tryptic peptides. Amino acids homology analyses identified this protein (CBH1.2) as corresponding to the cellobiohydrolase 1.2 gene (cbh1.2) product. The CBHI.2 protein presented a molecular mass of 49.6 kDa and a pI of 5.27. The full-length cbh1.2 cDNA was obtained through reverse transcriptase - PCR (RT-PCR) in order to be expressed in different heterologous hosts. Taken together, our results point to the relevance of CBHI.2 in the H. grisea hydrolytic system and to the potential industrial application of its gene product and the highly induced culture supernatant.
A total of 35 yeasts were isolated from the gut of beetles collected from Hyderabad city, India. Twenty of these yeasts utilized xylose as a sole carbon source but only 12 of these converted xylose to xylitol. The ability to convert xylose to xylitol varied among the isolates and ranged from 0.12 to 0.58 g/g xylose. Based on the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the D1/D2 domain sequence of 26S rRNA gene, these isolates were identified as members of Pichia, Candida, Issatchenkia, and Clavispora. Strain YS 54 (CBS 10446), which was phylogenetically similar to Pichia caribbica and which formed hat-shaped ascospore characteristics of the genus Pichia, was the best xylitol producer (0.58 g xylitol/g xylose). YS 54 was also capable of producing xylitol from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate and the efficiency of conversion was 0.32 g xylitol/g xylose after 20 cycles of adaptation in medium containing sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate.
This study focusses mainly on assessing the effectiveness of acetone organosolv process as a pretreatment strategy on mustard (Brassica juncea) biomass. We used aqueous acetone as the solvent and sulfuric acid as a catalyst for ease of cellulosic saccharification. The acetone organosolv pretreatment of mustard straw and stalk (MSS) biomass was investigated for the effect of acetone concentration (SC), acid catalyst concentration (AC), and treatment duration (t) using a full factorial design of the experiment and subsequent Pareto analysis of their effects. The 2(3) full factorials design contained 12 runs, each of which was deployed to pretreat weighed amount of MSS biomass. Each of the different products of these 12 runs was further saccharified using cellulase enzyme produced by Trichoderma reesei. Among the variables, the time has a pronounced effect during pretreatment on glucose yield. Since the increase in time from 30 to 90 min caused an increase of 3.39 g/L in glucose concentration, the increase in acid catalyst concentration from 0.2 to 0.4\% caused an increment of 0.7 g/L in glucose content, while the rise in acetone concentration from 50 to 80\% caused an increment of 0.44 g/L in glucose concentration. The reducing sugars generated after hydrolysis of MSS biomass can be utilised for the production of bioethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The FTIR data and SEM studies of untreated and treated MSS biomass were performed to indicate the pretreatment of the MSS biomass. Therefore, after pretreatment MSS biomass can be an alternative substrate for bioethanol production. This study is an attempt to promote the valorization of widely available MSS biomass for bioethanol production by using a statistically optimized process.
Cattle manure availability is one of the most limiting factors for vermicompost production. The effects of the partial substitution of manure with sugarcane bagasse or residues of Gliricidia sepium on the quality of vermicomposts and the bioactivity of their humates were evaluated by analyzing the root growth and H+-ATPase activity of lettuce seedling roots. The substitutions of manure by sugar cane bagasse and legume cover crops residues did not affect the chemical properties of humates. Humates isolated from the different vermicomposts, however, presented different chemical characteristics, such as acidity and distinct optical properties. Humates isolated from manure and manure + bagasse enhanced growth; these are more adequate for use in soluble form. Humates isolated from vermicompost with legume substitution were ineffective in promoting lettuce root growth.
This paper investigates microwave drying effect as a pretreatment method on the kinetic parameters of four torrefied biomasses. The considered biomasses are rice straw, rice husk, sugarcane, and cotton stalks. Dried samples (microwave or oven-dried) were then torrefied under isothermal conditions in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) at two different temperatures of (250 and 300 degrees C). Two simple kinetics methods were applied including direct Arrhenius (DA) and Coats and Redfern (CR). The physical structure of rice straw and cotton stalks as a function of drying method and torrefaction temperature has been studied using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area technique. Results revealed that microwave drying increased both the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor for both rice straw and sugarcane regardless of the torrefaction temperature, while the opposite occurred for rice husk. In the case of cotton stalks, microwave drying increased the kinetic parameters at 250 degrees C and decreased them at 300 degrees C. The activation energy and pre-exponential factor values obtained from CR method were larger than the ones from DA method. The 300 degrees C torrefied, conventionally dried rice straw has the lowest activation energy and pre-exponential factor and the largest peak width indicating wide range of reactivity. While microwave dried sugarcane, torrefied at 250 degrees C, is the hardest one to react. All microwave dried samples require more heat to decompose regardless of the torrefaction temperature. Microwave drying increased the surface area, mean pore diameter, and pore volume for rice straw, while the opposite occurred for cotton stalks due to its woody nature.
An integrated and feasible approach was proposed using the underutilized grass fibre (stem) derived from Napier grass and sugarcane for paper production in this study. To enhance paper strength, pre-hydrolysis and beating techniques have been used to improve the chemical pulps and mechanical pulping process, respectively. Napier grass and sugarcane are promising non-wood sources for pulp production, owing to their high cellulose and low lignin and extractive content. With the additional mild alkaline pre-treatment to the mechanical pulping process, the lignin content was greatly reduced. The results reveal that the mechanical pulping with alkaline pre-treatment may indeed potentially replace the most prevalent pulping process (chemical pulping). As evidenced by the paper strength properties, mechanical pulping is far more suitable for grass-type biomass, particularly Napier grass, which had a folding endurance capability five times greater than chemical pulping. Furthermore, the remaining high hemicellulose content from mechanical pulping contributed to a high pulp yield, while also facilitating the fibrillation on the sugarcane's laboratory paper handsheet. The findings also demonstrated that the additional beating process from chemical pulping causes the fibres to be drawn toward each other, resulting in a more robust fibre network that contributes to good paper strength. Consequently, this work sheds new light on the development of advanced paper derived from grass fibre.
In order to reduce nitrogen emissions during municipal sewage sludge (MSS) pyrolysis, the effects of co-pyrolysis of MSS with biomass and the second adsorption of KH2PO4-modified biochar were investigated. It was found that co-pyrolysis with cellulose inhibited the conversion of nitrogen into pyrolytic gas, and increased the N content in pyrolytic biochar. And the nitrogen fixation rate increased with cellulose addition increasing. Besides, compared with different biomass, MSS co-pyrolysis with 30\% sugarcane bagasse had the optimal effect on nitrogen fixation (39\%). Moreover, KH2PO4-modified biochar addition increased the second adsorption of nitrogenous volatiles and fixed nitrogen into oxides-N. The total nitrogen fixation rate reached maximum (47.65\%) at 5\% KH2PO4 impregnation. Thus, it is an effective nitrogen fixation method that MSS co-pyrolysis of 30\% sugarcane bagasse with the second absorption of 5\% KH2PO4-modified biochar. This study provided an effective solution to improve the treatment of municipal sewage sludge by pyrolysis technology.
The leather tanning industry is one of the important industrial activities in Egypt. However, this industry produces large amounts of wastewater containing trivalent chromium Cr (III) residues that are considered, if not treated, a significant risk to the environment. Although Cr (III) is not as toxic as Cr (VI), there is a high possibility that Cr (III) residues can be oxidized to Cr (VI). Due to this risk, chromium removal from tannery wastewater becomes a vital process. The current study demonstrates the ability of the use of different solid waste materials in the removal of trivalent chromium from tannery wastewater. Four agricultural waste materials and two industrial solid waste materials were tested. The agricultural solid waste materials include rice husk, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust; while the industrial waste materials include cement kiln bypass dust and marble powder. The results showed that the cement kiln dust and marble powder can provide the highest removal of chromium from aqueous solution. The results also showed that cement kiln dust can remove more than 99\% of the trivalent chromium when the pH of the solution is raised above 8.75.
Hemicellulose is a polymer found abundantly in lignocellulosic feedstocks, with many potential market applications. However, there has yet to be a large-scale commercial process to isolate hemicellulose from lignocellulosic biomass. A techno-economic assessment for hemicellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse, switchgrass, and poplar was made. Two isolation processes after alkaline extraction were considered: (1) producing total hemicellulose and (2) producing hemicellulose A (water-insoluble fraction) only. In a greenfield scenario, a byproduct of the process is sugar, whereas in a co-location scenario the biomass after hemicellulose extraction is returned to the pulp mill for its fiber value. Operating costs, capital investment, minimum hemicellulose selling price (MHSP), the effect of input material and product prices along with several other process parameters on the MHSP were determined for each scenario. Co-location scenarios had a dramatically lower capital cost and MHSP relative to greenfield scenarios. This was due to co-location scenarios utilizing existing biomass processing and utilities equipment and not requiring a sugar-production process. Among the three biomasses, hemicellulose extraction from sugarcane bagasse had the lowest MHSP for all scenarios, mainly due to a higher hemicellulose extraction yield. Extraction of hemicellulose A from sugarcane bagasse in a co-location scenario had a low capital cost of 56 million USD and had a reasonable MHSP of 274 USD/t (metric ton). This research indicates that there is reasonable economic potential for hemicellulose extraction from lignocellulosic biomass for applications to replace starch or as a starting material for the production of xylo-oligomeric prebiotics. (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd
The use of sugarcane bagasse, straw, and chaff for electrical power generation in sugar-ethanol mills has been established; more recently, the recovery of forest biomass has been increasing in an attempt to reduce the use of fossil fuels and to increase electrical power generation focused on self-consumption. The potential for power generation in this segment is considerable, but the use of biomass in cogeneration processes depends on an attractive return on investments. This study was designed to analyze the economic feasibility of investment in thermal and electrical power generation equipment that makes it possible to use forest and logging residues and wood chips to replace the current gas-fired power generation in an engineered wood panel industry facility (Scenario 1) or investment only in thermal generation equipment (Scenario 2). Results showed that the investment to replace natural gas with forest biomass is economically viable not only for the generation of both types of energy but also for the generation of thermal energy itself. High costs of energy inputs such as natural gas and electricity for the industry explain the results, despite the requirement for high investments in cogeneration systems.
Second-generation lactic acid production requires the development of sustainable and economically feasible processes and renewable lignocellulose biomass as a starting raw material. Weizmannia coagulans MA42 was isolated from a soil sample in Chiang Mai province, Thailand and showed the highest production of L-lactic acid and lignocellulolytic enzymes (cellulase, fi-mannanase, xylanase, beta-glucosidase, beta-mannosidase, and beta-xylosidase) compared to other isolates. Weizmannia coagulans MA42 was able to grow, secrete lignocellulolytic enzymes, and directly produce L-lactic acid in the medium containing various lignocellulosic feedstocks as the sole carbon source. Moreover, L-lactic acid production efficiency was improved after the substrates were pretreated with diluted sulfuric acid and diluted sodium hydroxide. The highest L-lactic acid production efficiency of 553.4 +/- 2.9, 325.4 +/- 4.1, 326.6 +/- 4.4, 528.0 +/- 7.2, and 547.0 +/- 2.2 mg/g total available carbohydrate was obtained from respective pretreated substrates including sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane trash, corn stover, rice straw, and water hyacinth. It is suggested that structural complexity of the lignocellulosic materials and properties of lignocellulolytic enzymes are the key factors of consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) of lignocellulosic feedstocks to lactic acid. In addition, the results of this study indicated that W. coagulans MA42 is a potent bacterial candidate for CBP of a variety of lignocellulosic feedstocks to L-lactic acid production; however, further bioprocess development and genetic engineering technique would provide higher lactic acid production efficiency, and this would lead to sustainable lactic acid production from lignocellulosic feedstocks.
Antifouling efficacy of graphene nanowalls, i.e., substrate-bound vertically-oriented graphene nanosheets, has been demonstrated against biofilm-forming Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Where graphene nanowalls are typically prepared using costly high-temperature synthesis from high-purity carbon precursors, large-scale applications demand efficient, low-cost processes. The advancement of plasma enabled synthesis techniques in the production of nanomaterials has opened a novel and effective method for converting low-cost natural waste resources to produce nanomaterials with a wide range of applications. Through this work, we report the rapid reforming of sugarcane bagasse, a low-value by-product from sugarcane industry, into high-quality vertically-oriented graphene nanosheets at a relatively low temperature of 400 degrees C. Electron microscopy showed that graphene nanowalls fabricated from methane were significantly more effective at preventing surface attachment of Gram-negative rod-shaped Escherichia coli compared to bagasse-derived graphene, with both surfaces showing antifouling efficacy comparable to copper. Attachment of Gram-positive coccal Staphylococcus aureus was lower on the surfaces of both types of graphene compared to that on copper, with bagasse-derived graphene being particularly effective. Toxicity to planktonic bacteria estimated as a reduction in colony-forming units as a result of sample exposure showed that both graphenes effectively retarded cell replication.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of different substrates in the decomposition of broiler carcasses. Six containers of a compost maker were used each one measuring 0.80 m width, 1.20 m depth and 1.50 m height. The substrates were: pine aciculae, sugarcane bagasse, corn straw, peanut shells, grass and sawdust. The composting was accompanied by four periods. The pile of each container was made up of five layers, in which, five poultry carcasses were uniformly deposited in two layers. The tumbling of the piles was done every 10 days, with the purpose to provide aeration for the substrate and water was added to the same. After 30 days, the final tumbling was done. In the assembly piles and in the tumbling process the carcasses and the substrate were weighed separately. During the process, the monitored parameters were dry matter, ashes, phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, pH, organic carbon and C/N ratio. All substrates were efficient in the decomposition of the broiler carcasses and final physiochemical composition values are in agreement with values in IN-25/Mapa, in other words, all of the substrates can be used as simple organic fertilizers.
A 56-d incubation experiment at 30 degrees C was carried out to study how salinity affects C and N mineralization of composted dairy manure and date palm straw. A low- and a high-saline soil were amended with (1) manure, (2) manure + low straw, (3) manure + straw, and (4) sole straw. The microbial and fungal biomass contents are very low in Omani soil abandoned for at least 6 years. Straw application revealed a highly significant increase in microbial biomass C, but especially in ergosterol in the low-saline soil. In contrast, straw led only to an increase in ergosterol in the high-saline soil, where only the combined application of manure with straw had significant positive effects on microbial biomass C. In the high-saline soil, the sum of C mineralized reached only 55\% of SOC-derived CO2-C, 65\% of manure-derived CO2-C, and 75\% of straw-derived CO2-C in comparison with the respective treatments of the low-saline soil. The application of straw led always to a net N immobilization, which was markedly stronger in the high- than in the low-saline soil. The increase in salinity by composted cattle manure should be considered if this fertilizer is applied to soils sensitive to changes in salinity. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The sustainability of the second-generation biofuels requests to confirm that the energy produced from lignocellulosic biomass is significantly greater than the energy consumed in the process. As lignocellulosic biomass does not affect the food supply, sugarcane bagasse was analyzed as a raw material for second-generation biofuels production. Exergy analysis serves as a unified and effective tool to evaluate the global process efficiency. Exergy analysis evaluates the performance of sugarcane bagasse and its sustainability in the bioethanol production process. In this work, four ethanol production topologies using the typical daily amount of residual biomass produced by the sugar industry were compared. The exergy analysis concept is effective in screening design alternatives with the lowest environmental impact for second-generation bioethanol fuel production from renewable resources. This study was executed by the use of the Aspen Plus program and other software developed by the authors. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A biotechnological strategy for the production of an alternative P fertilizer is described in this work. The fertilizer was produced through rock phosphate (RP) solubilization by Aspergillus niger in a solid-state fermentation (SSF) with sugarcane bagasse as substrate. SSF conditions were optimized by the surface response methodology after an initial screening of factors with significant effect on RP solubilization. The optimized levels of the factors were 865mg of biochar, 250mg of RP, 270mg of sucrose and 6.2ml of water per gram of bagasse. At this optimal setting, 8.6mg of water-soluble P per gram of bagasse was achieved, representing an increase of 2.4 times over the non-optimized condition. The optimized SSF product was partially incinerated at 350 degrees C (SB-350) and 500 degrees C (SB-500) to reduce its volume and, consequently, increase P concentration. The post-processed formulations of the SSF product were evaluated in a soil-plant experiment. The formulations SB-350 and SB-500 increased the growth and P uptake of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) when compared with the non-treated RP. Furthermore, these two formulations had a yield relative to triple superphosphate of 60\% (on a dry mass basis). Besides increasing P concentration, incineration improved the SSF product performance probably by decreasing microbial immobilization of nutrients during the decomposition of the remaining SSF substrate. The process proposed is a promising alternative for the management of P fertilization since it enables the utilization of low-solubility RPs and relies on the use of inexpensive materials.
Background: Fermentable sugars are important intermediates in the biological conversion of biomass. Hemicellulose and amorphous cellulose are easily hydrolyzed to fermentable sugars in dilute acid, whereas crystalline cellulose is more difficult to be hydrolyzed. Cellulose fast pyrolysis is an alternative method to liberate valuable fermentable sugars from biomass. The amount of levoglucosan generated from lignocellulose by fast pyrolysis is usually lower than the theoretical yield based on the cellulose fraction. Pretreatment is a promising route to improve the yield of levoglucosan from lignocellulose. Results: The integration of dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis and fast pyrolysis to obtain fermentable sugars was evaluated in this study. Dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis could remove more than 95.1 and 93.4 \% of xylan (the main component of hemicellulose) from sugarcane bagasse and corncob with high yield of xylose. On the other hand, dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis was also an effective pretreatment to enhance levoglucosan yield from lignocellulose. Dilute acid hydrolysis could accumulate glucan (the component of cellulose) and remove most of the alkali and alkaline earth metals which were powerful catalysts during fast pyrolysis. Further increase in dilute acid concentration (from 0 to 2 \%) in pretreatment could promote the yield of levoglucosan in fast pyrolysis. The acid pretreated sugarcane bagasse and corncob gave levoglucosan yields of 43.8 and 35.2 \% which were obvious higher than those of raw sugarcane bagasse (12.0 \%) and corncob (7.0 \%). Conclusions: Obtaining fermentable sugars by combination dilute acid hydrolysis of xylan and fast pyrolysis of glucan could make full utilization of biomass, and get fermentable sugars economically from biomass for bio-refinery.
Catalytic fast pyrolysis (CFP) conversions of sugarcane bagasse (pretreated and untreated, or ``raw{''
Efforts to utilize hemicellulose in the biorefinery of bioethanol has been continuously grown in recent years. The utilization of hemicellulosic hydrolysate after pretreatment was still limited due to its complex composition of sugars (xylose, glucose, arabinose), sugar degradation products (HMF and furfural), lignin degradation products (phenolic compounds), and organic acids (acetic acid also formic acid). Thus, characterization of hemicellulose hydrolysate components after pre-treatment became important. In this study, the effect of maleic acid concentrations on the production of sugars and by-products from three tropical lignocellulosic biomass: sugarcane trash, corn cob, and sweet sorghum bagasse, has been investigated. The biomass was pre-treated using various concentrations of maleic acid (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3\% v/v) at 121 degrees C for 60 minutes. The results showed the presence of xylose, glucose, acetic acid, lactic acid, HMF and furfural in all biomass hydrolysates after pretreatment with maleic acid. SEM analysis was also conducted to identify the morphological changes of the biomass caused by maleic acid hydrolysis.
Cellulose, extracted from sugarcane bagasse, was successfully succinylated in ionic liquid 1-buty-3-methylimidazolium (BMIMCI) using 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) as a catalyst. Parameters investigated included the mass ratio of DMAP/succinic anhydride in a range from 0\% to 15\%, reaction time (from 30 to 120 min), reaction temperature (from 60 to 110 degrees C). The succinylated cellulosic derivatives had a degree of substitution (DS) ranging from 0.24 to 2.34. It was found that the DS of succinylated cellulosic derivatives using DMAP as a catalyst was higher than that without any catalyst under the same reaction conditions. The products were characterized by FT-IR, solid-state CP/MAS C-13 NMR, and thermal analysis. FT-IR and solid-state CP/MAS C-13 NMR spectra showed that succinoylation occurred at C-6, C-2 and C-3 positions. The thermal stability of the succinylated cellulose decreased upon chemical modification. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Global growth impacts on the increased use and demand for natural resources, requiring solutions for the high volume of industrial waste and by-products generated from the most diverse commercial areas, mainly the food sector. Among the main residues with a large volume generated, those from fruit processing, grain cleaning in processing units, vegetables, and discards from the animal production industry stood out. Approximately 1.3 billion all food produced worldwide is lost or wasted per year being fruits, vegetables, roots, and tubers responsible for about half of the total amount. Many of these by-products have interesting nutrients in their composition such as fibers, proteins, and bioactive compounds. An interesting example is the sugarcane bagasse. Fibrous residue, derived from sugarcane extraction, the bagasse represents about 30-34 \% of the total sugarcane mass. This is one of the most abundant cellulosic residues and contains approximately 39 \% of cellulose, 28 \% of hemicellulose, and 18 \% of lignin. Therefore, as well as the bagasse, several residues from agroindustrial can be considered promising alternative substrates, being valuable sources for the development of high-value-added products, such as biopolymers, bioenergy, and chemical products. In addition, the reuse of agroindustrial wastes may be considered an attractive option for reducing the environmental impact caused by their generation. In the case of biopolymers, the energy savings of bio-based polymers is around 20-50 GJ/t of polymer. In this review, we have selected two commercially promising approaches to the application and use of agroindustrial residues, aiming their use for biodegradable packaging and microbial polysaccharides bioproduction, improving overall sustainability and economic aspects of the scientific research, technology and modern industry.
Batch and fixed bed experiments were carried out for the removal of Reactive Turquoise Blue Q-G125\% (TB) dye from aqueous solution using cashew apple bagasse (CAB) as non-conventional adsorbent. CAB, a lignocellulosic material, used in this study contained 20.56\% +/- 2.19\% cellulose, 10.17\% +/- 0.89\% hemicellulose, and 35.26\% +/- 0.90\% lignin and was characterized as nonporous material and its surface area cannot be determined by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. Kinetic and equilibrium study were performed in batch systems, evaluating the effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration, adsorbent loading, and temperature on the adsorption. The pseudo-second-order model best described the adsorption kinetic data. The adsorption isotherms of TB onto CAB were well fitted by the Freundlich model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the biomass was 145.10 mg/g and high levels of dye removal (> 90\%) at 60 degrees C. According to thermodynamic results, the adsorption of TB onto CAB is a spontaneous endothermic process. Dynamic adsorption behavior was studied in fixed bed system. The highest bed adsorbed quantity of 32 mg/g with 100 mg/L TB initial concentration at 1 mL/min flow rate and 1.4 cm bed-height was obtained. The results showed that CAB is a promising adsorbent for the adsorption of the dye.
Lignin, extracted from sugarcane bagasse, was used as a partial phenol substitute in phenolic closed cell foams. The thermal stability of phenolic and lignophenolic foams were studied using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques, under air and nitrogen atmospheres. The results of apparent densities (Dapp) are also reported for both foams. The thermal analyses data showed that the decomposition depends on the atmosphere, that is, this process is not only a thermal one and, that it is feasible to replace part of the phenol by lignin in closed cell foams. Regarding the apparent density, that replacement was extremely advantageous because the Dapp value obtained placed the lignophenolic foam in the structural foam class.
Understanding proper utilization and evaluation of biowaste materials in any metropolitan city across the world is crucial with respect to diminishing air pollution and combating climate change. This study evaluated the physico-chemical and structural properties of biochar produced from biowaste materials collected from Delhi, viz., sugarcane bagasse, brinjal stem, and citrus peel pyrolysed at 450 and 600 degrees C for 30 and 60 min, respectively, in the muffle furnace. Biochar yields for brinjal stem and citrus peel were in the range of 31-40\%, while for sugarcane bagasse, they were 18-39\% at different pyrolysis conditions. Pyrolysis temperatures had a significant effect, while pyrolysis residence time had no significant effect on the physico-chemical and structural properties of biochar. Our study also found that the macro-and micropores and more heat resistance properties in biochar which were produced at 600 degrees C for 30-60 min. TGA, FTIR, and XRD analysis showed that biochar produced at 600 degrees C had more thermal stability, functional groups, and mineral compositions. This study, for the first time, provides a comprehensive evaluation of biochar produced from different biowaste materials collected in Delhi. The results of our study provide a clear perception that proper utilization of urban biowaste materials as biochar would be a possible pathway for biowaste management in metropolitan cities with added environmental co-benefits.
Lignocellulosic biomass is a renewable material of great abundance. However, its recalcitrant characteristic requires the application of pretreatments. Sugarcane bagasse (SB), soybean hulls (SH), cocoa pod husks (CPH) and oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) were subjected to imidazole pretreatment in order to evaluate chemical composition variations and influence over enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency. Non-treated SH, SB and OPEFB have higher content of holocellulose, while CPH is rich in lignin polymers (31.2\%). After imidazolepretreatment, all biomasses presented structural disorganization of lignocellulosic fibres and enrichment in the percentage of cellulose. Levels of up to 72\% delignification were obtained, which allowed an enzymatic conversion greater than 95\% for SB, SH and OPEFB, while only 83\% was reached for CPH. Imidazole is then emerging as a potential catalyst for the pretreatment of agro-industrial by-products, allowing the valorisation of these residues and their reinsertion into the production chain under a biorefinery concept.
An analyze of three case studies from environmental and energy view point, those case studies are polygeneration system, A first study is referred to a conventional distillery that produces ethanol and surplus electricity, the second one, in addition to ethanol and electricity products, also produces second generation bioethanol (2G) from sugarcane bagasse. A third case study refers to an installation producing surplus electricity, bioethanol (2G) from bagasse and bioethanol from cane juice, as well as fodder yeast from vinasses (distillery residue). After defining each study, an exergetic analysis and calculated performance indicators were made to determine best case study. A Life Cycle Analysis to verify the environmental performance of each system complemented the study. Results indicated that case study 3 presented best energy performance, with an exergetic efficiency of 45.03\%, having as advantage fodder yeast for cattle feeding. From environmental point of view land occupation by agriculture remains main environmental impact for all three case studies. This paper presents an alternative for products diversification of an autonomous distillery, combining second generation ethanol and use of vinasses (distillery residue) as raw material for fodder yeasts bioproduction, a feeding cattle protein supplement, inducing also a significant reduction of vinasses contamination potential.
Sweet sorghum {[
Nitrogen (N) loss through ammonia (NH3) volatilization (AV) has been a major agricultural and environmental concern. AV reduction is one of the main challenges to increase N-use efficiency and decrease environmental risks. The present research aimed to evaluate the effects of the addition of urea (URE) amended with compost (COM) and biochar (BC) to soil on the biochemical process of AV and the soil-urea microsite bacterial community composition. Soil microcosm assays were performed with the addition of URE, COM, and BC and their combi-nation URE-COM and URE-BC under incubation conditions for 28 days. AV decreased significantly only in the URE-BC, reducing the N loss by approximately 40\% compared to that in the URE. The results revealed that URE hydrolysis occurred within 5 days of incubation, and urease activity increased in all treatments with urea. Urease activity decreased significantly in the URE-COM and URE-BC. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a high abundance of reads classified to Sporosarcina, suggesting that organisms belonging to this genus might play an important ecological role in the soil-urea environmental niche. There was no effect of the COM or BC on the abundance of this genus or on the bacterial community composition at 5 and 28 days. This study shows that the addition of an acidic biochar amendment with urea is the key pathway to reduce N loss through AV.
The rising cost of lead additives and of gasoline, and the falling cost of ethanol and sugarcane, have created favorable economic conditions for fuel-ethanol production. In Africa, where lead additives are still heavily used and where sugarcane production is high, ethanol can be a cheap source of octane. More than enough sugarcane is produced in Africa to replace all the lead used in African gasoline; this would require Africa to produce about 20\% of amount of ethanol currently produced in Brazil, and would require the shift of some sugar production to ethanol production. At a more modest scale, African countries that could replace lead with ethanol using primarily their by-product molasses production include Zimbabwe, Kenya, Egypt, Zaire, Zambia, Sudan, Swaziland, and Mauritius. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of this study was to produce mulch by combining natural mineral and organic substances in order to reach soil stabilization and improve soil physical and mechanical properties in Koopal area. The effects of organic mulch (at 3 levels of O1: combination of 1\% sugarcane bagasse biochar+0.5\% gum Arabic+0.5\% gelatin; O2: combination of 3\% sugarcane bagasse biochar+1\% gum Arabic+1\% gelatin; and O3: combination of 5\% sugarcane bagasse biochar+1.5\% gum Arabic+ 1.5\% gelatin) and MNF organomineral mulch (at 3 levels of MNF1: 1\%; MNF2: 3\%; and MNF3: 5\%) on soil were investigated. The soil samples were incubated for 2 and 4 months and finally placed in a wind tunnel. Some physical and chemical properties of soil were obtained as pH=7.42, O.M\%=0.223, and soil texture of silty loam. The obtained results showed that compared to control, application of the mulches increased soil organic carbon percentage (1.1\%), mean weight diameter (2.47 mm), geometric mean diameter (1.27 mm), penetration resistance (370), shear strength (27.38) and tensile strength (0.8) significantly and decreased soil loss (0.10 g/m2/s), fracture index, soil texture index (62.16), and crust index (1.18) significantly (P<0.01) in both incubation periods. Effects of the mulches on soil organic carbon were reduced after 4 months. In mulch treatments, soil loss rate, mean weight diameter, geometric mean diameter and tensile strength were increased significantly. In general, the organic mulch could stabilize the soil and improve the physical and mechanical properties of the soil. (C) 2020 GJESM. All rights reserved.
This study evaluated the influence of a high organic loading rate (OLR) on thermophilic hydrogen production at an up-flow anaerobic packed-bed reactor (APBR) treating a residual liquid stream of a Brazilian biorefinery. The APBR, filled with low-density polyethylene, was operated at an OLR of 84.2 kg-COD m(-3) d(-1). This value was determined in a previous study. The maximum values of hydrogen production and yield were 5,252.6 mL-H-2 d(-1) and 3.7 mol-H-2 mol(total carbohydrates)(-1), respectively. However, whereas the OLR remained constant, the specific organic load rate (sOLR) decreased throughout operation from 1.38 to 0.72 g-Total carbohydrates g-VS-1 h(-1), this decrease negatively affected hydrogen production. A sOLR of 0.98 g-Total carbohydrates g-VS-1 h(-1) was optimal for hydrogen production. The microbial community was studied using 454-pyrosequencing analysis. Organisms belonging to the genera Caloramator, Clostridium, Megasphaera, Oxobacter, Thermoanaerobacterium, and Thermohydrogenium were detected in samples taken from the reactor at operation days 30 and 60, suggesting that these organisms contribute to hydrogen production. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thermochemical conversion of biomass is an encouraging way for the production of syngas. In the present research, four different biomass materials were used for gasification which includes rice husk, cotton stalks, sugarcane bagasse, and sawdust. These biomass sources were selected because they are common Pakistani feedstocks. Gasification of selected biomasses was performed using concentric tube entrained flow gasifier. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model was used to investigate the impacts of kinetic rate and diffusion rate on the gasification performance. The Euler-Lagrange method was used for the development of entrained flow biomass gasifier using commercial computational fluid dynamics code ANSYS FLUENT (R) 14. Discrete phase model was used to predict the movement of particles, whereas the gas phase was treated as the continuous phase with a standard k-epsilon turbulent model to predict the behavior of gas phase flow. Finite rate/Eddy dissipation model was applied for the calculation of homogenous and heterogeneous reaction rates. Oxygen was used as a gasifying agent. Cotton stalks and sugarcane bagasse produced higher mole fractions of hydrogen (H-2) and carbon monoxide (CO) than sawdust and rice husk. Regarding carbon conversion efficiency, cold gas efficiency, and higher heating value cotton stalks and sugarcane bagasse produced better syngas quality as compared to sawdust and rice husk. The oxygen/fuel (O/F) ratio is a key operating parameter in the field of gasification and combustion. The O/F ratio above 0.42 favored combustion reactions and increased mole fraction of water vapor (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in syngas composition, whereas gasification reactions dominated below 0.42 O/F ratio, resulting increased mole fraction of H-2 and CO in syngas composition.
Clonostachys byssicola is a filamentous fungus with biotechnological potential for holocellulases production. The present work describes a qualitative and quantitative proteome analysis of C. byssicola secretome cultivated in media supplemented with commercial (Avicel, carboxymethylcellulose or oat spelt xylan) or agricultural (corn cob, soybean hulls, banana stem or sugarcane bagasse) carbon sources. Proteomic data revealed that the fungus produces a common core of lignocellulolytic enzymes when cultivated in different carbon sources. Most of the Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes) identified in the secretomes belong to the families AA9, GH 5, 6, 7, 10 and 43, CE 1, 10 and 12, and PL 1 and 3. Secretomes with the highest specific activity, obtained in corncob, banana stem and sugarcane bagasse, were applied for saccharification of partially delignified corn cob or sugarcane bagasse, and promoted extensive hemicellulose solubilization, with the release of mainly xylobiose. Additionally, the secretomes displayed remarkable differences in the abundance of identified proteins. Considered together, both qualitative and quantitative proteomic characterization presented in this study suggest that C. byssicola produces a similar core of carbohydrases, apparently suitable for the action over a wide range of different lignocellulosic substrates. These findings demonstrate the potential of C. byssicola as a novel source of holocellulases.
Ball milling mechanochemical pretreatment stands out as it can be used for biomass processing without the use of chemicals. This pretreatment is recognized to alter the organization of the biomass components and to reduce the degree of crystallinity of cellulose structure. In this context, the study of characterization techniques that identify and quantify post-pretreatment alterations still deserves attention. In this study, the alterations caused by dry grinding in a planetary ball milling in sugarcane bagasse, Tectona grandis, and Eucalyptus saligna biomass were evaluated by C-13 solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR). The biomasses were pretreated for 60, 150, and 180 min and enzymatically hydrolyzed. Saccharification results, at optimal conditions, were correlated to the cellulose crystallinity reduction, which was assessed by examining the relative C4 and C6 crystalline and amorphous areas using C-13 CPMAS NMR. The cellulose crystallinity index (CI) measured through the C4 relative area in the NMR spectra decreased with the increase of glucose yield: CI from 33 to 15 (yield from 18 to 82\%) for sugarcane bagasse, from 41 to 22 (yield from 4 to 87\%) for Tectona, and from 41 to 26 (yield 2 to 80\%) for Eucalyptus. The lignin phase, measured by the syringyl/guaiacyl ratio, and acetyl groups linked to the hemicellulose phase seem not to be affected by the pretreatment. This study reports the first-ever ball milling and saccharification and C-13 CPMAS spectrum of Tectona grandis. C-13 ssNMR proved to be a reference method for probing the deconstruction process promoted by mechanochemical pretreatment in plant biomass.
The energy needs of Pakistan have increased many folds in recent years due to improved lifestyle, ever-increasing population, and economic development. Biomass energy has emerged as a promising renewable energy source and has an enormous potential to fulfill the energy requirements of the country. This paper aims to assess the current situation and future projections of electricity generation by using biomass energy resources. For this purpose, we critically reviewed extensive literature i.e., research papers, energy reports, official statistical data, relevant regulations, and government policies. Research findings reveal that the abundant biomass resources of the country include fuelwood, agricultural residues, animal dung, and municipal solid waste. 48\% of the domestic energy needs are being fulfilled from fuelwood, while another 32\% by crop and animal residues. 85 sugar industries of the country produce enough bagasse to generate 5800 GWh of electricity. Corn stalk, sugarcane trash, rice straw, wheat straw, and cotton stalks are the major crop residues having a production of 6.43, 8.94, 17.86, 35.6, and 50.6 Mt, respectively. The power generation potential from animal dung is 4800-5600 MW. Similarly, the electricity generation potential of municipal solid waste by thermochemical and biochemical conversion is 560 kWh/t and 220 kWh/t, respectively. As envisioned by the Pakistani government to enhance the share of renewables in the total energy mix of the country from 1.1\% to 5\% by 2030, biomass energy has high prospects to achieve this target. (C) 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
A large volume of biomass residue is disposed daily, and the use of chemical and enzymatic treatments is an alternative to reuse it generating value-added products such as xylooligosaccharides (XOS). Banana peel, guava bagasse, orange bagasse, and restaurant pre-prepare waste were subjected to three treatments for xylan solubilization. Subsequently, xylan was enzymatically hydrolyzed to obtain xylooligosaccharides. The maximum polysaccharide solubilization using alkaline hydrogen peroxide was 90.70\% from restaurant residue. Sodium hydroxide solubilized 88.01\% of xylan from guava bagasse and 74.20\% of xylan from the banana peel, using potassium hydroxide. After enzymatic hydrolysis, the maximum production of XOS was 54.14\% with banana peel residue (peroxide solubilized), 59.86\% with guava bagasse (sodium hydroxide solubilized), 50.42\% for orange bagasse (peroxide solubilized), and 50.80\% with restaurant residue (potassium hydroxide solubilized). The results showed that each of the biomass had a different condition of treatment. The best conditions to obtain xylan from banana peel and guava bagasse were using NaOH treatment, and from orange bagasse and restaurant pre-prepare were using KOH. To produce XOS, banana peel and orange bagasse were treated with peroxide, and the guava bagasse and restaurant residue were treated with potassium hydroxide and subsequently submitted to enzymatic hydrolysis for 12 and 48 h.
Sporotrichum thermophile Apinis, was the most active carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC)-ase producer among seven thermophilic and four thermotolerant fungal species isolated from Egyptian soil and screened for their ability to produce extracellular cellulase in culture media containing CMC as a sole carbon source. The fungus also efficiently hydrolysed filter paper cellulose. Comparison of various untreated and alkali-treated cellulosic and lignocellulosic materials as substrates for cellulase production by S. thermophile revealed the most easily degraded substrate was sugarcane bagasse at 2\% concentration. This substrate when alkali treated was the most susceptible to enzymic hydrolysis by culture filtrates of S. thermophile grown on untreated bagasse. Optimum hydrolysis was obtained after 18 h incubation with the filtrate at pH 3.5-4 and 45-degrees-C. Alkali treatment of bagasse reduced its lignin content significantly and the culture filtrate of S. thermophile grown on untreated bagasse was found to contain xylanase and polygalacturonase in addition to cellulase and cellobiase.
This study evaluated the production of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using a microbial consortium of Aspergillus fumigatus SCBM6 and A. niger SCBM1 (AFN extract). The fungal strains were cultivated in sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) as lignocellulosic substrates for 7 days at 30 degrees C. After SSF, the highest peaks of enzyme production were 150 and 80 U g(-1) for beta-xylosidase and beta-glucosidase at 48 h, 375 U g(-1) for xylanase at 96 h, and 80 U g(-1) for endoglucanase and 4 U g(-1) for cellulase activity on filter paper (FPase) at 144 h. The efficiency of the produced AFN extract was investigated in the enzymatic hydrolysis of crude biomass sorghum (BS) and after the removal of extractives (ES). After saccharification, the glucose and xylose concentrations were 10x superior in ES than in BS hydrolysate (2.5 g L-1 after 12 h). The presence of inhibitors of alcoholic fermentation, such as formic acid, was also reduced in ES hydrolysates, indicating that the removal of extractives positively contributed to the effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass sorghum using AFN extract.
This paper addresses a hierarchical optimization model for the sugar-alcohol energy sector with robust optimization analysis to provide managerial insights. It has two levels: the upper level is a linear model in which more aggregated decisions are related to allocating production targets to mills belonging to a cooperative society aiming to meet the potential market demand, as well as managing the inventories over months in annual planning; the lower level is a mixed-integer model that represents the less aggregated decisions of each mill, such as the milling rhythm, the industrial process selection to produce sugar-alcohol-molasses and energy, purchasing sugarcane from the suppliers on a weekly basis. Robust optimization analysis is performed for product prices and industrial yields to investigate their impacts on the supply chain that could not be inferred through deterministic approaches. One important result was related to the uncertainty in product prices that had a greater impact on the whole supply chain compared to the industrial yield, which affects only the mill itself, particularly increasing the inventory backlog of the mill for not meeting the demand assigned by the cooperative. Cogeneration of energy, and the sale of surplus energy was an important strategy to mitigate the decrease in industrial yield performed in the robust analysis while the change in the product production pattern was a consequence of product price uncertainty. The models can be applied in practice to provide better strategic and tactical planning of mills in cooperatives.
Soils receiving organic manures with and without chemical fertilizers for the last 7 yr with pearlmillet-wheat cropping sequence were compared for soil chemical and biological properties. The application of farmyard manure, poultry manure, and sugarcane filter cake alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers improved the soil organic C, total N, P, and K status. The increase in soil microbial-biomass C and N was observed in soils receiving organic manures only or with the combined application of organic manures and chemical fertilizers compared to soils receiving chemical fertilizers only. Basal and glucose-induced respiration, potentially mineralizable N, and arginine ammonification were higher in soils amended with organic manures with or without chemical fertilizers, indicating that more active microflora is associated with organic and integrated system using organic manures and chemical fertilizers together which is important for nutrient cycling.
In this research work we have coated WC (tungsten carbide) tool inserts with diamond like carbon coatings. The deposition was done using the thermal Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) method. We have used bagasse of sugarcane which is an agriculture waste as a carbon precursor for developing the diamond like carbon coatings. Surface finish, cutting temperature and cutting forces of as-developed diamond like carbon coatings on the WC inserts were examined and analyzed in this research work. For confirming the presence of diamond like carbon coatings on the surface of coated tungsten carbide (WC) tool inserts substrate we have used Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (Fe-SEM). The increase in the hardness on the developed coated samples were inspected by performing the hardness test on the coated substrates. The average evaluated Vickers Hardness number were found to be 1455.24 HV and 950.65 HV for both coated as well as un-coated samples respectively. This shows 53\% rise in the hardness of the un-coated WC inserts.
A total number of 20 actinomycetes isolates were isolated from soil sediments obtained from Semmancheri coastal areas of Bay of Bengal, India and they were qualitatively screened for the production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) on a medium containing Sudan black stain. Nine of the 20 isolates produced PHB and the quantity of PHB produced varied from 1.79 to 4.26 g(-L). Among the positive isolates an actinomycete isolate which was identified as Streptomyces sp. through 16S rRNA sequencing analysis (Accession No: KF667247) produced relatively higher PHB than other positive isolates. Subsequently, the growth conditions were optimized for the maximum PHB production by the chosen organism. Attempt was also made to utilize natural carbon sources such as paddy straw, wheat bran, rice bran, sugarcane molasses and oil cake for the production of PHB in an attempt to reduce the cost production of PHB. The purified PHB was analyzed by Solid-State C-13 NMR, Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy, Powder Xray diffraction, Thermogravimetric Analysis, Scanning and Transmission Electron Microscopic analyses to determine the structure, crystallinity, purity and thermal stability. The present investigation has revealed that Streptomyces sp. could be a potential source for the production of PHB with desirable characteristics and could also be exploited for the industrial production. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Nanocellulose from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus robusta Smith) pulp was extracted by simply disrupting the hydrogen bond network of celluloses with high pressure homogenization (HPH). It was found that nanocellulose was 20-100 nm in diameter, and presented a narrower molecular weight distribution, lower thermal stability and crystallinity index. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and solid state cross polarization magic angle spinning carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (CP/MAS C-13 NMR) were used to confirm the physicochemical properties of nanocellulose, suggesting that intra-molecular hydrogen bonds are entirely maintained. Meanwhile, the feasibility of high pressure homogenization for different cellulosic biomass materials was investigated using comparison of eucalyptus pulp nanocellulose, sugarcane (Saccharzun officinarum) bagasse nanocellulose and cotton (Gossypium spp) nanocellulose. Results showed that eucalyptus pulp chains could be interrupted easily by the shearing forces for its harder texture, which was suited for high pressure homogenization. Other kinds of cellulose could also be well suited through controlling key parameters such as mechanical forces and treatment temperature in the process.
BackgroundDue to biomass recalcitrance, including complexity of lignocellulosic matrix, crystallinity of cellulose, and inhibition of lignin, the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass is difficult and inefficient. The aim of this study is to investigate an effective and green pretreatment method for overcoming biomass recalcitrance of lignocellulose.ResultsAn effective mechanical activation (MA)+metal salt (MAMS) technology was applied to pretreat sugarcane bagasse (SCB), a typical kind of lignocellulosic biomass, in a stirring ball mill. Chlorides and nitrates of Al and Fe showed better synergistic effect with MA, especially AlCl3, ascribing to the interaction between metal salt and oxygen-containing groups induced by MA. Comparative studies showed that MAMS pretreatment effectively changed the recalcitrant structural characteristics of lignocellulosic matrix and reduced the inhibitory action of lignin on enzymatic conversion of SCB. The increase in hydroxyl and carboxyl groups of lignin induced by MAMS pretreatment led to the increase of its hydrophilicity, which could weaken the binding force between cellulase and lignin and reduce the nonproductive binding of cellulase enzymes to lignin.ConclusionsMAMS pretreatment significantly enhanced the enzymatic digestibility of polysaccharides substrate by overcoming biomass recalcitrance without the removal of lignin from enzymatic hydrolysis system.
Low cost and high efficiency cellulolytic cocktails can consolidate lignocellulosic ethanol technologies. Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is a low cost agro-industrial residue, and its use as a carbon source can reduce the costs of fungi cultivation for enzyme production. Chrysoporthe cubensis grown under solid state fermentation (SSF) with wheat bran has potential to produce efficient enzymatic extracts for SCB saccharification. This fungus was grown under submersed fermentation (SmF) and SSF with in natura SCB, pretreated with acid or alkali and with others carbon sources. In natura SCB induced the highest carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), xylanase, beta-xylosidase, alpha-galactosidase and mannanase activities by C. cubensis under SSF. In natura and washed SCB, inducers of enzyme production under SSF, did not induce high cellulases and hemicellulases production by C. cubensis in SmF. The C. cubensis enzymatic extract produced under SSF with in natura SCB as a carbon source was more efficient for lignocelulolic biomass hydrolysis than extracts produced under SSF with wheat bran and commercial cellulolytic extract. Chrysoporthe cubensis showed high potential for cellulases and hemicellulases production, especially when grown under SSF with in natura SCB as carbon source.
Production of nanocomposites of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) grafted on surface-modified cellulose nanofibers (TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl)-oxidized cellulose nanofibers), or TOCN-graft-poly(lactic acid) (PIA), is reported via an improved process. The surface-modified cellulose nanofibers forming the backbone of the composite matrix, were prepared from sugarcane bagasse bleached pulp (BBP). The temperature-time profile during the reaction between L-lactide and BBP-TOCN was controlled (raised from 25 degrees C to 140 degrees C over 20 min; held at 140 degrees C for 15 min; then reduced to 100 degrees C over 20 min; and held at this temperature for 24 h). At 8 h, the PLA-oligomers prepared separately by lipase catalyzed ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide, were added to the above mentioned reaction mixture. This production protocol enhanced the formation of ester bonds between the L-lactide and carboxylate groups on the surfaces of the modified cellulose nanofibers, to improve grafting. With the new preparation protocol, the carbonyl groups of PIA were covalently linked to the surface functional groups of BBP-TOCN with a 4.6-fold higher grafting ratio compared with the BBP-TOCN-g-PTA produced under otherwise identical reaction conditions but without adding the separately prepared PIA. The BBP-TOCN-g-PLA nanocomposites had a high crystallinity (> 76\%) and a small crystallite size (3.8 nm).
There is a general consensus among healthcare leaders that animal production industries should improve practices aiming to mitigate antimicrobial resistance, a significant global threat to public health. However, the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in animal production systems is very complex as a result of innumerous sources and dissemination routes of resistant bacteria. Furthermore, antimicrobial resistance can be transferred among bacteria by mobile elements, such as plasmids, which play a major role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. In broiler production, litter contaminated by feces during the production cycle can serve as a potential reservoir for bacteria harboring antimicrobial resistance genes that can then be disseminated to susceptible bacteria. This study reports the effect of 1) different materials used as litter and 2) different litter recycling protocols on the conjugation frequencies of IncIII plasmids harboring extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-resistant genes among Escherichia coli isolates. Results found that, compared with cane bagasse litter, the use of wood shavings as litter decreased the conjugation frequency among E. coli isolates (P < 0.001). In regard to the recycling protocols, the presence of chemical residues in both types of litter materials was associated with a decreased conjugation frequency, with lowest frequencies observed for quicklime and superphosphate. Our findings suggest that the type of material used as poultry litter as well as litter recycling procedures, distinguished by means of chemical compounds, may affect plasmid conjugation among E. coli isolates.
A phenomenological model for multilayer liquid phase adsorption in closed and batch system was developed to assess the diffusional resistances and the adsorption rate-limiting steps. Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic results indicated a multilayer adsorption behavior, wherein two adsorption steps were identified: (i) monolayer adsorption, with chemisorption characteristic binding energy due to synergistically electrostatic and H-bond intermolecular interactions; (ii) multilayer adsorption, favored by high dye concentrations and temperatures, however presenting a physical biding energy, related to less intense interactions such as H-bond and van der Waals forces. Additionally, dye aggregation in the liquid phase was observed and investigated. The proposed adsorption model allowed to investigate physically the kinetics, equilibrium and thermodynamics through a unique approach and to elucidate the mechanisms in distinct operational conditions. Hence, this mechanistic and predictive model can be used for the optimization and scale-up of the multilayer adsorption processes. (c) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Weeds pose a great threat to crop production subsequently distressing the equilibrium of agro-ecological systems globally. Instead of relying on chemical weed control, there is a dire need to explore alternative eco-friendly agricultural practices for weed suppression and sustainable wheat production. Mulching being eco-friendly could potentially serve the purpose towards weed suppression organically. To check the usefulness of mulching, two-year studies were conducted under field conditions in Haripur, Pakistan, during 2014 and 2015 to elucidate the response of various mulching materials for weed control in wheat. Six mulch material treatments were used along with Buctril super (used as check) at the rate of 1.235 L ha(-1) to control the most problematic weed species of wheat in Pakistan. Experiments were designed under randomized complete block design with four repeats. The analysis of data revealed a significant decrease in weed density, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass at 25, 50 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) where Buctril super at 1.235 L ha(-1) and mulch of black plastic were used followed by sugarcane bagasse and dry leaves of mulberry, as compared with control (untreated). Higher density of weed, relative weed density, fresh and dry plant biomass were observed in test weed species of wheat where lentil was applied with wheat and dry leaves of mulberry were incorporated. Net economic benefits in the form of benefit cost ratio (2.55) were higher where grass clippings were applied followed by sugarcane bagasse (2.43), mulberry leaves (2.49), while the lowest net economic benefits (1.72) were obtained when lentil (grown as live mulch crop) with wheat was intercropped. It was concluded from the study that sugarcane bagasse and grass clippings could be a source to control weeds in the wheat with a minimum cost of production at Haripur, Pakistan, and similar agro-climatic environment.
There is a growing interest in the use of lignocellulosic biomass for biofuel production leading to by-products with high added value such as xylitol, a sweetener obtained from chemical synthesis or fermentative pathways, characterized by high degree of sweetness, recommended for people with diabetes, making it a product of great interest in the industrial market. The objective of this study was to use the bagasse of four agave plants from Mexico: Agave tequilana Weber var. azul (AT), Agave Americana var. oaxacensis (AA), Agave karwinskii (AK), and Agave potatorum (AP) to obtain xylose as an alternative for xylitol or ethanol production. The dilute acid pretreatment was optimized to obtain the maximum concentration of xylose and the minimum concentration of acetic acid, using a Box-Behnken design, where H2SO4 concentration, hydrolysis time, and liquid-to-solid ratio were evaluated. Xylose concentrations of 23.18 g/L (AT), 27.63 g/L (AA), 31.8 g/L (AK), and 24.42 g/L (AP) were achieved. It was also observed that by using more concentrated H2SO4 solutions, higher concentrations of xylosewere obtained, but also high concentrations of acetic acid (1.02 g/L in AT, 2.3 g/L in AA, 3.46 g/L in AK, and 2.01 g/L in AP). This study shows that AT, AA, AK, and AP are a promising alternative feedstock for bioethanol or xylitol production using xylose as substrate.
This study analyzes the capacity of native bacteria associated with humic acids (HA), sugar cane bagasse (SCB), vermicompost (VC) and the earthworm Eisenia andrei (EaW), to remove polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of high molecular weight (HMW-PAH). Bacteria isolation was carried out previous enrichment of the organic sources (OS) with mineral salts and kerosene. An average of 25 bacteria were isolated from each OS and their capacity to remove the PAH, per group (each added at 0.5 O.D), was tested according to a combinatory experimental design with two controls: enriched and non-enriched supernatants of the OS. The bacterial mixture provided by the HA and SCB (44) showed the best performance for degrading the selected PAH. Isolated bacteria associated to these materials were classified into 12 genera, three of which have been previously reported as highly efficient hydrocarbon degraders: Gordonia, Mycobacterium, and Rhodococcus. Regarding the other bacterial genera found, they possess interesting characteristics which include efficient surfactant production capacity, tolerance to high metal concentrations and capacity to reproduce in dry and nutrient-deficient conditions. Therefore, given the characteristics of the isolated hydrocarbonoclastic strains, they could be successfully applied to bioremediation by bioaugmentation of soil co-contaminated with hydrocarbons, metals and even pesticides. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of this study was to produce membranes using the adapted cuprammonium method. The cellulose utilized was obtained from recycled agroindustrial residues: sugarcane bagasse, corn stover and soybean hulls. The levels of Cu (II) ions in regenerated cellulose membranes produced with cellulose from bagasse, corn stover and soybean hulls were 0.0236 wt\%, 0.0255 wt\% and 0.0268 wt\%, respectively. These levels were approximately 15 times lower than those observed in previous studies (0.3634 wt\%). Cellular viability data show that membranes produced from bagasse cellulose do not present toxicity to the cellular cultures studied. These results demonstrate an evolution in production of regenerated cellulose membranes from agroindustrial residues mainly due to a decrease in the Cu (II) ions level, showing the possibility of application of these systems with improved membranes processing.
Pretreatment is an essential step in biorefineries for improving digestibility of recalcitrant agricultural feedstocks prior to enzymatic hydrolysis to composite sugars, which can be further converted to fuels and chemicals. In this study, autohydrolysis by compressed liquid hot water (LHW) pretreatment of various tropical agricultural residues including sugarcane bagasse (BG), rice straw (RS), corn stover (CS), and empty palm fruit bunch (EPFB) was investigated. It was found that LHW pretreatment at 200 A degrees C for 5-20 min resulted in high levels of hemicellulose solubilization into the liquid phase and marked improvement on enzymatic digestibility of the solid cellulose-enriched residues. The maximal yields of glucose and pentose were 409.8-482.7 mg/g and 81.1-174.0 mg/g of pretreated substrates, respectively. Comparative analysis based on severity factor showed varying susceptibility of biomass to LHW in the order of BG > RS > CS > EPFB. Structural analysis revealed surface modification of the pretreated biomass along with an increase in crystallinity index. Overall, 75.7-82.3 \% yield of glucose and 27.4-42.4 \% yield of pentose from the dried native biomass was recovered in the pretreated solid residues, while 18.3-29.7 \% of pentoses were recovered in the liquid phase with dehydration by-product concentration under the threshold for ethanologens. The results suggest the potential of LHW as an efficient pretreatment strategy for implementation in biorefineries operated using various seasonal agricultural feedstocks.
The article presents simulation and analysis of sorbent-enhanced biomass gasification with biomass-specific pyrolysis correlations. An ASPEN plus model constituted of drying, pyrolysis, char transformation, and tar cracking is generated to analyze the effect of temperature, steam-to-biomass ratio (SBR), and equivalence ratio (ER) on syngas composition and process efficiency of sorbent enhanced steam-assisted air gasification of biomass. Yield of pyrolysis products is modeled by incorporating correlations as function of biomass composition and gasification temperature. The generated model is applied to analyze syngas composition, gas generation, and process efficiency associated with sorbent enhanced steam-assisted air gasification of three biomasses. At a temperature of 950 K, hydrogen concentration is found to be increased by 29.07\%, 31.79\%, and 28.31\%, and carbon dioxide concentration is found to be decreased by 54.39\%, 56.37\%, and 54\%, respectively, for sawdust, groundnut shell, and sugarcane bagasse with sorbent addition. Among the biomass considered, sugarcane bagasse is found to have the highest efficiency of 55.33\%, followed by ground nut shell and sawdust with 52.01\% and 48.78\%, respectively.
The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is one of the main pests of livestock in Brazil, especially in areas where cattle is raised next to sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) fields in which vinasse is used as a fertilizer. Knowledge about the predatory mites associated with this parasite in the field may be helpful in designing programs to control it biologically. Mites of the family Macrochelidae are known to attack fly immatures, and thus could be helpful in reducing the population of the stable fly in the field. The aim of this paper is to report the macrochelid species found in surveys conducted in northwestern Sao Paulo state, where the fly is known to be present, including a new species here described, Holostaspella paulista Borges \& Azevedo sp. nov., to provide complementary descriptions of the other species collected, and to present a key to the caelata group of Holostaspella. In total, 2,946 macrochelid specimens were collected from 264 samples of soil-litter or soil-cow obtained from two areas of sugarcane plantations, a pasture area and a disturbed patch of the Atlantic Forest in 2018 and 2019. Four species of Macrocheles, two of Holostaspella and one of Glyptholaspis were identified. The predominant species was Macrocheles merdarius (Berlese).
This work evaluated the production of cellulases and accessory enzymes by nine Trichoderma strains from the Brazilian Amazon Forest in comparison to the reference strain Trichoderma reesei RUT C-30. A selected T. harzianum strain showed total cellulase activity of 1.63 FPU/mL, which was higher than that measured for T. reesei RUT C-30. T. harzianum also produced high beta-glucosidase levels, reaching 3.55 BGU/mL. The cellulolytic efficiency of T. harzianum and T. reesei Rut C-30 supernatants supplemented with Aspergillus awamori supernatant as a source of beta-glucosidase and accessory enzymes were evaluated under comparative conditions using ball-milled and hydrothermally treated sugarcane bagasse. Both enzyme preparations showed comparable glucose yields of 72\% for the low crystalline ball-milled material. However, T. harzianum enzymes were 25\% less efficient than those of T. reesei-A. awamori for the hydrolysis of hydrothermally treated bagasse, which presents a higher crystallinity. Nevertheless, the association of a high cellulolytic activity and a high beta-glucosidase activity in the same microorganism indicates the industrial potential of this new wild type T. harzianum strain.
Few studies address how to measure the impacts of the sugar-energy industry on the environment and human health. Thus, in this paper, an index (Iepa) to evaluate the impacts of the sugar-energy manufacturing process on the well-being of ecosystems and human society is proposed. The proposed index was developed from: (1) the environmental impact potential of each waste/by-product; (2) the relative weighting of its impact potential; (3) the relative amount of the waste/by-product produced over a given period of time; (4) the relative geographic coverage (spatial dispersion) of each waste/by-product; and (4) the appropriateness of the disposal of each waste/by-product generated. For validation, the index was used to evaluate the environmental performance of a large Brazilian sugar and ethanol company. It was determined that vinasse accounted for more than half of the relative mass of the waste/by-products generated by the company and that it contributed significantly (93.23\%) to the Iepa value. The final Iepa value was 73.73\%, which means that the disposal of 73.73\% of the waste/by-products generated by the company was determined to be ``environmentally adequate.{''
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the stability and aggregate distribution of an Ultisol submitted to different management systems under sugarcane cultivation. Evaluated areas consisted of native forest (MA) and sugarcane managed areas with irrigation (MCI), vinasse irrigation (MCV) and without irrigation (MSI). Management of the areas followed the same conventional preparation: heavy and light harrowing and subsoiling. Undeformed soil samples were collected along the lines of the crop and in native forest to determine aggregate stability, expressed by the average weighted diameter (DMP), aggregate stability index (IEA), module of thinness (MF), percentage of stable aggregate in water larger than 2.0 mm (AGRI) and total organic carbon. The distinct kinds of soil management on sugarcane promoted decrease in aggregate stability as soil depth increased. In relation to native forest, aggregate stability reduced in the sequence MA > MCV > MCI > MSI. MSI showed the lowest aggregation indexes, in contrast to MCV data which closely linked with MA data and presented the best aggregate stability index in water. Significant and positive correlations were obtained between total organic carbon and stability indexes studied (DMP > AGRI > MF > IEA) under different management situations.
Fungi are plentiful in nature and they are found growing on wastes of wood materials. These wastes are equally found in our environment with no usefulness. The aim of this study was to exploit the probability of the isolated fungi from fruits to produce cellulase from wastes of lignocellulosic materials. Cellulase- producing fungi were isolated from fruits (tomato, banana, plantain). The organisms were screened for cellulase production. Culture conditions were optimized with pH, temperature and carbon. Cellulase was produced using lignocellulosic wastes; sawdust, corn cob, sugarcane bagasse. Six cellulase producers were isolated, four of which were selected for synthesis and quantification of the cellulase. The fungi were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae(4), Trichoderma species(1) and Scopulariopsis brevicaulis(1). Of all the tested substrates used in this study, pretreated sugarcane bagasse at 3\% w/v concentration with Scopulariopsis brevicaulis gave highest cellulase production 18.18 U/mL at 40 degrees C, 5day incubation time and pH 5, followed by Trichoderma with 12.39 U/mL. These fungi are good potentials cellulase producers that can be considered at industrial level.
Biobutanol can become the replacement of petroleum gasoline in near future. However, economic feasibility of biobutanol production from ABE fermentation is suffering due to the unavailability of cheap feedstocks, production inhibition and inefficient product recovery processes. Here, economic analysis of ABE fermentation has been performed based on cellulosic (bagasse, barley straw, wheat straw, corn stover, and switchgrass) and non-cellulosic (glucose, sugarcane, corn, and sago) feedstocks, which are widely and cheaply available in agriculture based countries. Analysis shows that utilization of glucose required 37\% lesser total fixed capital cost than the other cellulosic and non-cellulosic feedstocks for the per year production of 10,000 tonnes of butanol. However, the production cost of butanol from glucose was fourfold higher than sugarcane and cellulosic materials because of its (glucose) high cost. The cost of sago also affected threefold production cost of butanol comparative to other feedstocks. Therefore, these two substrates turned the biobutanol production far from being economically feasible. Interestingly, sugarcane and cellulosic materials showed suitability for economically feasible production of butanol with the production cost range of \$0.59-\$0.75 per kg butanol. Consequently, quantitative variation in the design and process parameters namely fermentor size, plant capacity, production yield using sugarcane and cellulosic materials as raw materials, trigger significant reduction in unitary cost of butanol up to 53\%, 19\%, and 31\% respectively. Therefore, these parameters will play significant role in making the butanol production economical from cheaper feedstocks (sugarcane and cellulosic materials). Further, high sensitivity of production cost from the product yield postulates significant manipulation in genome of butanol producing bacteria for improving the yield of ABE fermentation. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Background Achieving nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) control in sediment remediation projects by adding natural materials is receiving increasing attention. In this study, different natural materials, including iron-rich clay minerals, calcite, kaoline, sugarcane bagasse andPhragmitesdetritus, were applied to test their effects on N and P in a mesocosm experiment. Results Iron-rich clay minerals andPhragmitesdetritus had obvious advantages for P control; they resulted in almost undetectable levels of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) in the water column throughout the experiment. This finding can be explained by their strong P adsorption ability. The high level of available organic carbon in the sediment and water column after sugarcane bagasse addition provided enough electron donors for denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), which caused nitrate (NO3--N) deficiency and ammonium (NH4+-N) accumulation in the water column. Additionally, this resulted in anaerobic conditions, further fuelling the release of P from iron-bound P induced by anoxia. Thus, the amount of sugarcane bagasse applied should be considered carefully in order to balance denitrification and DNRA as well as P releases. Calcite andPhragmitesdetritus are recommended as remediation materials for N removal based on their significant promotion of denitrification and limitation of DNRA, which resulted in low NO3--N and NH4+-N levels. These results can be explained by the shifts in the functional microbial community composition and abundance after the addition of natural materials. Conclusions Iron-rich clay minerals andPhragmitesdetritus are promising sediment remediation materials for P immobilization due to their strong P adsorption ability. Taken together, the selection of sediment remediation materials should consider the N and P coupling relationship, to prevent NO3--N removal from causing P leaching or NH4+-N accumulation.
The objective of this research is to carry out an energetic evaluation of syngas combustion in gas microturbines with regenerators made with two different types of material: metallic or ceramic. A modified chemical equilibrium model was used to calculate syngas composition obtained from sugarcane bagasse gasification in a fluidized bed gasifier using steam as gasifying agent. For the gas microturbines with a regenerator of metallic materials, combustion temperatures of 850, 900, and 950 degrees C were established; and for those with a regenerator of ceramic materials, combustion temperatures of 1150, 1250, and 1350 degrees C were established. The range for the compression ratio was 2 to 6, and the excess air percentages employed were 400, 500, and 600\%. Excellent results were obtained: maximum power ratio was 1.87 kWh/Nm(3), maximum cycle efficiency was 57\%, and maximum regenerator effectiveness was 100\%. Thus, syngas combustion performance in the gas microturbines with regeneration was excellent.
Microbial bioremediation of oil-contaminated sites is still a challenge due to the slower rate and susceptibility of microbes to a higher concentration of oil. The poor bioavailability, hydrophobicity, and non-polar nature of oil slow down microbial biodegradation. In this study, biodegradation of crude oil is performed in fed-batch mode using an oil-degrader Pseudomonas aeruginosa to address the issue of substrate toxicity. The slower biodegradation was integrated with faster biosorption for effective oil remediation. Highly fibrous and porous sugarcane bagasse was surface modified with hydrophobic octyl groups to improve the surface-oil interactions. The microbe showed 2 folds enhanced oil degradation in the fed-batch study, which was further increased by 1 center dot 5 folds in the integrated biosorption coupled biodegradation approach. The biosorption-assisted biodegradation approach supported the microbial growth to 2 folds higher than the fed-batch study without biosorbent. The analysis of biosurfactant production indicated the 3 folds higher concentration in fed-batch modes as compared to batch study. In the integrated strategy, the concentration of contaminant (oil) reduces to quite a tolerable level to microbes, which improved effective metabolism and thus overall biodegradation. This study puts forward a promising strategy for improved degradation of hazardous hydrophobic contaminants in a sustainable, economic and eco-friendly manner.
Milk cattle breeding produces several residues in the production process, such as wastewater that presents organic and inorganic pollutants at high concentrations. Aiming at the removal of these pollutants with a low cost of implantation, this study had the objective of evaluating the potential of the filtration utilization with sugarcane bagasse, wood sawdust and corn cob in the treatment of bovine livestock wastewater. For the evaluation of the efficiency of the system, the affluent and the effluent of the filtration process were characterized in relation to the pH and the retention of the metals total calcium (Ca-total), total magnesium (Mg-total), total potassium), total copper (Cu-total), total zinc (Zn-total), total iron (Fe-total), total manganese (Mn-total) and total aluminum (Al- total). All the organic materials used as filter media had potential in the removal of the investigated elements, especially the sugarcane bagasse that was capable of expressively removing Fe, Zn and Al. None of the materials were effective in the removal of Cu and K, on the contrary, contributed to the increase of these elements in the filtrate.
In present study, succinoylation of sugarcane bagasse cellulose was performed with succinic anhydride (SA) using iodine as a catalyst in solvent system containing ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ({[
A paradigm shift is observed in the production of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) due to its high carbon emission worldwide and the need for adopting sustainability in construction industry. For the same, newer practices have been proposed, which includes the production of sustainable cement whose escalating demand is associated with utilization of different supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs). These SCMs, act as a key component in sustainable construction by emitting lesser carbon. This review endeavors to critically examine the role of different SCMs obtained from industrial by-products, natural minerals and agricultural wastes likes blast furnace slag, silica fume, calcined kaolin, calcined dead burnt magnesite, Ye'elimite, Anhydrite and sugarcane ash in producing sustainable cement and discusses their hydration reactivity at microstructural level. Insights derived from different published research work shows the formation of strength compounds like C-S-H and C-A-S-H which are responsible for improved engineering properties.
The cost of enzymes for the enzymatic route of the second generation ethanol production is a crucial bottleneck to turn this process into a reality. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is an environmentally friendly process of enzyme synthesis, although little is known about the costs associated to it. Therefore, this work analyzed economical scenarios of cellulase production by SSF in a pilot plant integrated to both a first and a second generation ethanol processes. The chosen substrate for the enzyme production was composed by sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran, cultivated by the thermophilic fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b at 45 degrees C during 96 h. The estimation of the most important economic indicators showed that the SSF process is economically attractive, due to its easy integration to the main process, and its revenue is up to four fold greater than electricity cogeneration. Economic indicators, such as the internal rate of return (IRR) and payback, were higher than those usually accepted by Brazilian investor in the sucro-energetic sector. Nevertheless, return on investment (ROI) was under than that recommended by the literature. The sensitivity analysis showed strong influence of the enzyme activity on the economic indicators, being the most important parameter for the project profitability. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A simple and low-cost method to synthesize Ge nanoparticles/graphene (Ge NPs/GR) nanocomposites under mild conditions was developed. The reduction of sugarcane bagasse (SB) derived graphene oxide nanosheets was accompanied by generation of Ge NPs in one step. The resulting nanocomposites exhibit high specific capacity and superior capacity retention of 90\% after 15 cycles.
In the second part of this series of studies, the monocomponent adsorption of Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ onto STA adsorbent in a fixed-bed column was investigated and optimized using a 2(2) central composite design. The process variables studied were: initial metal ion concentration and spatial time, and the optimized responses were: adsorption capacity of the bed (Q(max)), efficiency of the adsorption process (EAP), and effective use of the bed (H). The higher Q(max) for Cu2+, Co2+ and Ni2+ were 1.060, 0.800 and 1.029 mmol/g, respectively. The breakthrough curves were modeled by the original Thomas and Bohart-Adams models. The changes in enthalpy (Delta H-ads degrees) of adsorption of the metal ions onto STA were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The values of Delta H-ads degrees were in the range of 3.0-6.8 kJ/mol, suggesting that the adsorption process involved physisorption. Desorption (E-des) and re-adsorption (Ere-ads) of metal ions from the STA adsorbent were also investigated in batch mode, and the optimum conditions were applied for three cycles of adsorption/desorption in a fixed bed column. For these cycles, the lowest values of E-des and Ere-ads were 95 and 92.3\%, respectively, showing that STA is a promising candidate for real applications on a large scale. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) is a promising approach for hydrogen production from lignocellulose owing to its lower cost and higher efficiency. In this study, the newly isolated theromphilic Thermoanaerobacterium sp. strain F6 exhibited the capability of direct utilization of various hemicellulosic and cellulosic materials for hydrogen production, including xylan, Avicel and filter paper etc. Especially, the maximum cumulative hydrogen production reached 370.7 mmoL/L from 60 g/L of xylan. In addition, natural lignocellulosic materials, such as corn cob and sugarcane bagasse without any hydrolytic pretreatment could also be directly utilized as the sole carbon source for hydrogen production. 1822.6 and 826.3 mL H-2/L of hydrogen were produced from corn cob and sugarcane bagasse, respectively. The high hydrogen production from cellulosic and hemicellulosic materials were both benefit from its efficient secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. Thus, Thermoanaerobacterium sp. strain F6 is a potential candidate for effective conversion of lignocellulose to hydrogen through CBP. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hybrid composite laminates consisting of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as continuous phase (33\% by weight) and lignocellulosic fillers, derived from sugarcane bagasse, apple and orange waste (22\% by weight) were molded in a carver press in the presence of water and glycerol such as platicizers agents. Corn starch was introduced as a biodegradation promoter and gluing component of the natural filler and synthetic polymeric matrix in the composite (22\% by weight). The prepared laminates were characterized for their mechanical properties and degradative behavior in simulated soil burial experiments. The fibers type and content in composite impacted mechanical properties. Materials based on PVA and starch with apple wastes and sugarcane bagasse fillers were much harder (Young's Modulus respectively, 57, 171 MPa) than materials prepared with orange wastes (17 Mpa). Respirometric test revealed that soil microbes preferentially used natural polymers and low molecular weight additive as a carbon source compared to biodegradable synthetic polymer. The presence of PVA in formulations had no negative effect on the degradation of lignocellulosic fibers. (C) 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is a complex system involving heterogeneity and complicated reactions. Rigorous kinetic modeling of this complex system is not possible, but phenomenological modeling with parameter of severity factor (SF) may provide useful information in a wide operational range. In the present work, an extended combined severity factor (CSFext) was defined by involving the contribution of solvent concentration for modeling and evaluating formic acid pretreatment of wheat straw in order to achieve a fractionation of the biomass components and improve cellulose digestibility for bioethanol production. Two phenomenological models based on classical Arrhenius and modified Logistic equations were developed to describe the solubilization of the biomass polymeric components. Although the determined values of CSFext were somewhat different based on Arrhenius and Logistic models, the tendency of the component solubilization with respect to CSFext was similar. With integrated consideration of biomass components solubilization, formylation of cellulose and enzymatic glucan conversion, the pretreatment condition was suggested be controlled at Arrhenius-based CSFext of 23-24 or Logistic based CSFext of 25-26. CSFext thus can be applied as an integrated parameter involving the contribution of temperature, time and solvent concentration to the reaction severity for evaluating the pretreatment process. (c) 2017 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
In order to annul the toxic dye contaminants which are being heavily discharged into the water bodies, the present study emphasizes on the fabrication of pristine and functionalized cellulose nanofibres derived from two distinct lignocellulosic biomass sources i.e. sugarcane bagasse and pine needles. Pine needles proved to be a better source than sugarcane bagasse in terms of high adsorption capacity of the adsorbents which may be due to the difference in the nanofibrillar arrangement based on source. The developed adsorbents were characterized for their structural, morphological and other physico-chemical properties with the help of FT-IR, Powder XRD, FE-SEM and EDX spectroscopic techniques. Outstanding adsorption properties of modified cellulose nanofibres were explored for the eradication of Safranin O and Methylene blue from the polluted wastewater. Structural differences based on origin resulted in the variable adsorption characteristics over functionalized adsorbents. Among all, esterified cellulose nanofibres presented best adsorption capacity for the removal of toxic colorants. Incorporation of different isotherms and kinetic models provided the deep insights of the adsorption mechanism. {[
Sugarcane fiber (i.e. bagasse) lignin has a larger fraction of aromatics unsubstitution in the ortho position than hardwood or softwood lignin and hence has the greater ability to be derivatized. Furthermore, organosolv lignin has a higher purity than sulfonated and kraft lignins. This work examines the purification of organosolv lignin derived from bagasse and the physico-chemical properties of the lignin and lignin-phenol formaldehyde (PF) resin coatings, and composites. The wetability tests have shown that lignin and lignin-PF resin films are effective water barrier coatings, though the contact angles of lignin-PF resin films were considerably less than the wax films. The overall mechanical properties (i.e. peak stress, peak strain and modulus) of the bagasse fiber composites were lower than the values obtained with the composites without the inclusion of bagasse fiber. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.
The polyketide, 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), has a characteristic coconut aroma and is produced by many Trichoderma species. In this study, we screened formerly isolated Trichoderma strains for 6-PP production grown using solid-state fermentation (SSF). Sugarcane bagasse supplemented with a nutrient solution was used as the support material for the culture. We detected outstandingly strong 6-PP production in the case of two Trichoderma strains in this experiment. The strains were identified based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analysis as Trichoderma asperellum (G7 and G18). We also investigated the production of 6-PP in the case of the best Trichoderma strain selected (T. asperellum G7) from two types of cultivation (SSF and liquid cultivation (LC)). The same liquid medium was used to impregnate sugarcane bagasse. Results led to a 6-PP production 80 times higher (85.11ggDM(-1)) in SSF than that found in LC (10.00gL(-1)) after eight days of cultivation. For this, the SSF is the best option to produce 6-PP compared to liquid cultures.
In the present work, technological and economical potentials of sugarcane bagasse-to-ethanol process using Scheffersomyces stipitis/S. cerevisiae consortium were investigated. A fed-batch enzyme saccharification followed by fermentation (SHF) using optimized yeast consortium achieved a maximum ethanol titer of 60 g/L. with ethanol yield exceeding 70\% of theoretical. Techno-economic analysis was assessed using a fully integrated process flowsheeting model, showing the optimized fed-batch yeast co-culture as the most cost-effective configuration with the ethanol yield of 250 kg-ethanol/ton-bagasse. The minimal ethanol selling price was 26.7 baht/L-ethanol, closed to the current ethanol selling price from cassava based process. Process sensitivity analyses revealed the potentials for further cost reduction up to 44\% by reducing enzyme dosage and increasing ethanol titer. Hence, this study provides an economically viable prototype for high-titer lignocellulosic ethanol production using S. stipitis/S cerevisiae consortium which may offer better economic value than starch-based process. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Two indigenous rhizobial strains (SB-1 and JJS-1) infecting Sesbania bispinosa survived at room temperature (32 +/- 2-degrees-C) up to 90 days in filtermud (the best system), peat, charcoal, sugarcane bagasse and sawdust (the poorest system). Viable counts remained more than 10(8)/g up to 75 days in filtermud, peat and charcoal.
There is commercial production of biofuels and biochemicals in Thailand. Yet there are no biorefineries at present. This study aims to evaluate the life cycle energy and environmental impacts associated with the production of biofuels and biopolymers for a model biorefinery in Thailand. Since there is currently no biorefinery in the country, secondary data sources from existing bioethanol and biopolymer plants were used for life cycle analysis (LCA). Sugarcane and cassava were chosen as feedstocks for the proposed biorefinery to produce bioethanol and polylactic acid (PLA). The system boundary was defined as cradle-to-gate with LCA methodology based on ISO 14040 series. Data were analyzed by using commercial LCA software, SimaPro 7.1, with Eco-Indicator 95 and CML 2 baseline 2000. The biorefinery system was modeled and its performance was evaluated for several factors such as fuel and biopolymer production, raw materials consumption, and total revenue generation for five scenarios. The results indicated that the biorefinery showed better performance in both global warming potential (GWP) and energy resources with increasing sugarcane usage. This was due to the use of bagasse and biogas as sources of fuel to generate electricity and steam by using a highly efficient electrical energy cogeneration process in the biorefinery. In contrast, increasing PLA production led to higher GWP and energy resource impacts due to high electricity and steam usage in the bioplastic production process. Finally, two Eco-efficiency parameters was developed in order to combine both environmental (GWP and energy resources) and economic (revenue) aspects by using average revenue gained and average impact associated. Among five scenarios studied, the results showed that S4 - high sugarcane usage and ethanol production - was the best scenario as it has higher eco-efficiency in both aspects.
A novel approach to optimize the composting process of biowaste (BW) mixed with sugarcane filter cake (SFC) and the product quality was attempted in the present study by adopting Artificial Neuronal Network (ANN) and the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. The effectiveness of the co-composting process depends on operational parameters such as Mixing Ratio (MR) and Turning Frequency (TF). Using the optimization of these factors, the process time can be reduced while product quality can be maximized. This study includes the simultaneous evaluation of both operational parameters, with SFC being the amendment material (BW:SFC MR of 90:10, 80:20 and 70:30) and a TF of 1, 2 and 3 turnings per week. The simultaneous effect of the two operational parameters was evaluated using a central composite design. ANN was used to predict the behaviour of the response parameters, and the PSO algorithm was used to optimize the process and the final product quality. The results of the simulations with ANN suggest that the BW:SFC ratios of 81:19 and 75:25, with a TF of two times/week and an estimated operation time of 76-94 days, correspond to a final product with the most adequate physicochemical quality for agricultural use. The optimization with PSO showed the optimal local at a BW:SFC MR of 76.9:23.1 with a turning frequency of two times weekly. An 80-day process is recommended to optimize the final product quality. The model can be useful to define design criteria and operational conditions during biowaste composting. {[
Objective. To evaluate the potentiality of the microbial consortium Curvularia kusanoi L7- Trichoderma pleuroticola as biological pretreatment of high fiber sources destined for animal production. Materials and methods. The Strains used where Curvularia kusanoi L7 and Trichoderma pleuroticola. The degradative potential was evaluated through the production kinetics of cellulolytic (endo-1,4-beta-glucanase and exo-1,4-beta-glucanase) and ligninolytics enzymes (laccase and peroxidase) in solid submerged fermentation of bran wheat and sugarcane bagasse. The growth of the co culture in plates was analyzed. The effect of the consortium on the carbon mineralization of raw wheat straw was determined and the degree of fiber degradation was evaluated by infrared spectroscopy (IR). Resulted. Both strains showed high cellulolytic production. Only C. kusanoi L7 showed ligninolytic activity, with a maximum laccase activity of 1400 U/L. No antagonism was found between the strains and the results of carbon mineralization and evaluation of their final products by IR indicate the effectiveness of the consortium to degrade the cell wall more efficiently than each of the strains individually. Conclusions. It is concluded that the microbial consortium C. kusanoi L7-T. pleuroticola has great potential for structural modification of fibrous sources destined for animal feeding.
A sectorial analysis and a logarithmic mean Divisia Index (LMDI) technique are used in this paper to decompose the energy intensity of the state of Sao Paulo from 1995 to 2012 into the economic activity effect and the energy efficiency effect. This study contributes the following observations: (1) The world energy intensity has decreased steadily, but the energy intensity of the Sao Paulo state has been volatile and has declined 2.3\% since 1995. (2) In the period of study, declining energy intensity of the primary and tertiary sectors was observed. In contrast, the energy intensity of the secondary sector has been gradually increasing. (3) The energy efficiency effect was the primary driver of energy intensity change through 2007, and the economic activity effect subsequently had an increasingly more important role in the change. (4) The economic structure remained constant until 2004 when the services sector shift became more significant. It is hypothesized that the increasing energy intensity from 2005 to 2009 was caused by the growth of inefficient sugarcane bagasse consumption.
Waste management isa key feature to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, and to combat the im-pacts of climate change. In this scenario, the production of biochar from different biomasses results in environmental and economic advantages. In this study, biochar was produced from sugarcane bagasse pyrolysis, to immobilize bio-molecules, in order to assemble an electrochemical immunosensor to detect antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. For this, screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) were modified with a dispersion of biochar and used to immobilize the receptor-binding-domain (RBD) against virus S-protein, through EDC/NHS crosslinking reaction. Under the best set of experimental conditions, negative and positive serum samples responses distinguished based on a cutoff value of 82.3 \%, at a 95 \% confidence level. The immunosensor showed selective behavior to antibodies against yellow fever and its performance was stable up to 7 days of storage. Therefore, biochar yielded from sugarcane bagasse is an ecofriendly material that can be used as a platform to immobilize biomolecules for construction of electrochemical biosensors.
Cocomposting of soil is the process of simultaneously stabilising organic materials and degrading toxic compounds foreign to the environment. The fraction of components in cocomposting modifies water activity (a,), it is therefore important to define the composition of the bulk medium. Water activity and the porosity of the bulk medium were response variables applied to a system for the biodegradation of hydrocarbons in the soil. This work proposes a definition of a model system for cocomposting using hydrocarbon contaminated soil, sugarcane bagasse pith and water. The experimental mixtures were determined according to a simplex centroid design. The results were adjusted to a Scheffe multiple regression model and response surfaces were generated. In order to follow the biodegradation of hydrocarbons and a(w) an appropriate mixture (weight basis) was established at 25\% sugarcane bagasse pith, 15\% contaminated soil, and 60\% water. This mixture was then tested in packed bed bioreactors of both 50 and 864 g, resulting in 40\% biodegradation of total hydrocarbons after 150 h of composting. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The influence of different processed agriculture wastes as carbon sources including sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice bran (RB) and rice straw (RS) on water quality, microbial community, and expression of immune-related and antioxidant genes in both hepatic and muscle tissues was evaluated. Furthermore, the cumulative mortality rates of Litopenaeus vannamei when challenged with Vibrio and Shewanella algae were estimated. The experiment lasted for 3 months in outdoor culture ponds, and the results indicated that the water quality parameters improved with different biofloc (BF) treatments. The total heterotrophic bacteria were increased in the BF treatments until the end of the experiment when compared to the control group. Regarding the hepatic and muscular expression of immune-related genes such as beta-glucan-binding protein, lipopolysaccharides/b-glucan-binding protein, prophenoloxidase, lysozyme, crustin, transglutaminase, hemocyanin and antioxidant genes including glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, the SCB treatment was higher in all genes expression among different BF treatments and control. Moreover, the SCB treatment also had the best survival rate compared with RB, RS and control treatments when challenged with both Vibrio and Shewanella algae. In general, these results suggested that the SCB is an ideal carbon-rich food source, boosts the immune system and promotes disease resistance of L. vannamei.
Heavy metals e.g., Hg, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As and Ni etc are a major sources of pollutants which enter into the food chains and cause serious health impairments, carcinogenicity and mutagenesis. They have adverse effects on blood composition, lungs, energy level, kidneys, central nervous system, liver, and other vital organs of the body. Heavy metals can be successfully removed by easily available, eco-friendly and low-cost adsorbents which include the wastes/products of natural (chitin, silicate porous material, clay and zeolites, vermiculite, cyclodextrin, chitosan, starch and its derivatives, alginates, fly ash), agricultural (walnut shell, Turkish coffee, waste tea, black gram, neem bark, coconut shell, coconut husk, coal, oil palm shell, sugarcane bagasse, rice, wool, waste tea, peat moss, Turkish coffee, exhausted coffee, crop biomass, rice straw, rice hulls, rice husk, rice, soybean hull, papaya wood, peanut shell, peanut, citrus fruits, palm date pits, black gram, wool, cassava waste, carrot residues, banana and orange peels, sugar-beet pectin gels, black gram husk) and industrial (waste rubber tire, waste slurry, lignin, fly ash, red mud)) origin. The adsorption efficiency is affected by functional groups and particle/ pore size of the adsorbent, speed of agitation, biosorbent dose, initial concentration and molecular size of metal ions, temperature and pH.
Caldicellulosiruptor species are proficient at solubilizing carbohydrates in lignocellulosic biomass through surface (S)-layer bound and secretomic glycoside hydrolases. Tapirins, surface-associated, non-catalytic binding proteins in Caldicellulosiruptor species, bind tightly to microcrystalline cellulose, and likely play a key role in natural environments for scavenging scarce carbohydrates in hot springs. However, the question arises: If tapirin concentration on Caldicellulosiruptor cell walls increased above native levels, would this offer any benefit to lignocellulose carbohydrate hydrolysis and, hence, biomass solubilization? This question was addressed by engineering the genes for tight-binding, non-native tapirins into C. bescii. The engineered C. bescii strains bound more tightly to microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) and biomass compared to the parent. However, tapirin overexpression did not significantly improve solubilization or conversion for wheat straw or sugarcane bagasse. When incubated with poplar, the tapirin-engineered strains increased solubilization by 10\% compared to the parent, and corresponding acetate production, a measure of carbohydrate fermentation intensity, was 28\% higher for the Calkr\_0826 expression strain and 18.5\% higher for the Calhy\_0908 expression strain. These results show that enhanced binding to the substrate, beyond the native capability, did not improve C. bescii solubilization of plant biomass, but in some cases may improve conversion of released lignocellulose carbohydrates to fermentation products.
Biochar amendment has been known as a promising strategy that improves crop productivity and physio-chemical properties of soil. A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of three biochars: wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, and rice husk at different levels 2\%, 3\%, and 5\% (w/w) on soil properties and growth of tomato cv. ``Money Maker.{''
In this study, we investigate the effect of the biofloc (BF) system using various carbon sources including sugarcane bagasse (SCB), rice bran (RB) and rice straw (RS) on growth parameters, hepatopancreatic digestive enzymes and the expression of growth-related genes of white-leg shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the haemocyanin gene in small- and large-sized Litopenaeus vannamei for 3 months reared in outdoor concrete ponds were also screened. The results showed that the growth and survival of shrimp in the RB and SCB groups were improved (p <= 0.05) and the same trend was observed for the digestive enzyme activities. The expression of different growth-related genes including growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I and II, myosin and paramyosin was significantly increased in all biofloc groups reaching the highest levels in the RB group. The SNPs recorded in the haemocyanin gene between the small- and large-sized L. vannamei revealed an insertion of Adenine at position 554 and a substitution at 1114 in large-sized RS shrimp. So far, the RB group was attained the best growth, digestive enzyme activity and expression of growth-related genes between different carbon sources. Furthermore, the haemocyanin gene can be used as a marker for the selection of large-sized shrimp.
Directed evolution using error-prone polymerase chain reaction was employed in the current study to enhance the catalytic efficiency of a thermostable Geobacillus stearothermophilus xylanase XT6 parent. High-throughput screening identified two variants with enhanced activity. Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of a single-amino acid substitution (P209L or V161L) in each variant. The maximum activity of mutant V161L and P209L was at 85 degrees C and 70 degrees C, respectively. Both mutants exhibited maximum activity at pH 7. The thermal and alkaline tolerance of mutant V161L only were markedly improved. The two mutants were more resistant to ethanol inhibition than the parent. Substrate specificity of the two mutants was shifted from beechwood xylan to birchwood xylan. The potential of the two mutants to hydrolyze rice straw and sugarcane bagasse increased. Both turnover number (k(cat)) and catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/k(M)) increased 12.2- and 5.7-folds for variant P209L and 13- and 6.5-folds for variant V161L, respectively, towards birchwood xylan. Based on the previously published crystal structure of extracellular G. stearothermophilus xylanase XT6, V161L and P209L mutation locate on beta alpha-loops. Conformational changes of the respective loops could potentiate the loop swinging, product release and consequently result in enhancement of the catalytic performance.
The utilization of Jerusalem artichoke in a biorefinery context was not investigated so far. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of this plant as feedstock for production of bioethanol, protein and inulin. We investigated the biomass productivity and chemical composition of 11 different clones, harvested on three occasions during the fall and early winter of 2011. The results obtained showed that cellulose production per hectare was at least double compared to corn stover, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw, showing high bioethanol production potential of Jerusalem artichoke. Although not high (in total <6\% of dry matter), protein and lipid levels could be of importance when biomass is utilized in a biorefinery concept. Harvest occasion determined the biomass productivity and chemical composition to a higher degree than the choice of clone. The average biomass productivity was 88\% higher in September than in December. Fresh tuber biomass productivity showed large variations between harvests, where the maximum average productivity in December was 3.4 times higher than in September. Inulin content in dry tubers was between 76 and 85\% making the plant an excellent crop, for e.g. inulin extraction, production of high fructose syrup or fermentations. Less mature plants were shown to have degree of polymerization (DP) up to 14, which makes biomass useful as dietary fibre, while the inulin DP in tubers harvested later became as low as 6, showing lower potential with respect to plant utilization for dietary purposes. Results obtained clearly demonstrated that crop harvesting time was an important factor affecting biomass productivity and composition. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Among four cellulolytic microorganisms examined, Cellulomonas biazotea NCIM-2550 can grow on various cellulosic substrates and produce reducing sugar. The activity of cellulases (endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and cellobiase), xylanase, amylase, and lignin class of enzymes produced by C. biazotea was mainly present extracellularly and the enzyme production was dependent on cellulosic substrates (carboxymethyl cellulose {[
The production and use of fibrolytic enzyme complex in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials is an important strategy for renewable bioenergy. The different carbon sources (residues) with or without some pre treatments (biological or chemical) were analyzed in order to increase the production of fibrolytic enzyme. Glycosyl hydrolases and xylanases were produced using Trichoderma reesei QM9414. The influence of some crude or pre-treated agro-industrial residues as a carbon source was previously investigated using shake-flask cultures. Subsequently, the selection of the best culture medium was studied under different pH and temperature conditions in stirred tank bioreactor. Fibrolytic activities reached a maximum of 0.85 +/- 0.07 FPU mL(-1) (total cellulase), 3.14 +/- 0.01 CMC mL(-1) (endoglucanase) and 1.25 +/- 0.14 U mL(-1) (exoglucanase) with the orange peel residue; and 93.08 +/- 3.27 U (xylanase) with sugarcane bagasse under alkali pretreatment. In the stirred tank bioreactor the cellulolytic activity increased to 1.76 +/- 0.00 FPU mL(-1), about 2 times higher than in the shake -flasks or under studied conditions. The biosynthesis of the fibrolytic complex using agroindustrial residues supplemented was shown to reach a higher total cellulose production.
Compared to other inedible agricultural based feedstocks such as corn stover, rice husk, wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse, sorghum biomass (stalks and leaves) possess elevated credentials towards biofuel production which is highly tolerant against heat and drought conditions. Therefore, a novel sorghum phenotype was generated through genetic mutations called ``brown midrib{''
The Isopropanol-Butanol-Ethanol productivity by solventogenic clostridia can increase when cells are immobilized on low-cost, renewable fibrous materials; however, butanol inhibition imposes the need for dilute sugar solutions (less than40 g/L). To alleviate this problem, the in-situ vacuum product recovery technique was applied to recover IBE in repeated-batch cultivation of Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423 immobilized on sugarcane bagasse. Five repeated batch cycles were conducted in a 7-L bioreactor containing P2 medium (-60 g/L glucose) and bagasse packed in 3D-printed concentric annular baskets. In three cycles, glucose was consumed by 86\% on average, the IBE productivity was 0.35 g/L center dot h or 30\% and 17\% higher relative to free-and immobilized (without vacuum)-cell cultures. Notably, the product stream contained 45 g/L IBE. However, the fermentation was unsatisfactory in two cycles. Finally, by inserting a fibrous bed with hollow annuli in a vacuum fermentation, this work introduces the concept of an internal-loop boiling-driven fibrous-bed bioreactor.
To minimize waste generation in ethanol production from starchy and cellulosic feedstocks, the feasibility of stillage recycle to fermentation process was studied. For sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), optimal hot-compressed water (HCW) pretreatment and enzyme hydrolysis (10\% wt) gave the highest total reducing sugar (TRS) yields of 64.2\% and 67.3\%, respectively. Ethanol fermentation of SCB, EFB and fresh cassava by Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR5606 gave the highest yields of 0.31 g g(-1), 0.40 g g(-1), and 0.31 g g(-1) TRS, respectively. For recycling of SCB and EFB stillage, a slight decline of ethanol yield was found while ethanol yield of cassava significantly increased from 60.8\% to 89.9\%. The ethanol yields from the 2nd recycle of cassava was still 10\% higher than no recycle. Addition of 10\%-20\% v/v black liquor from lignocellulosic HCW pretreatment into anaerobic digestion system noticeably enhanced the chemical oxygen demand removal and methane production. Analysis of variable operating cost showed that stillage recycles for 20\% for fresh cassava and 10\% for SCB is cost-effective process for ethanol production. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A coupled process of biomass pretreatment for increasing cellulose digestibility and direct conversion of biomass to electricity has been developed with ferric or ferricyanide ions as the anode electron carriers, and Fe(NO3)(3) activated by HNO3 as the cathode electron carriers. Pretreated substrates are subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis for release of fermentable sugars, while the pretreatment liquor is employed as anolyte for electricity generation in a liquid flow fuel cell (LFFC). Pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse with 2 M FeCl3 in anode reactor removes - 100\% hemicelluloses and obtains 76\% enzymatic glucan conversion (EGC), while pretreatment with 0.1 M K-3{[
Xylooligosacchrides (XOS) and phenolic acids were simultaneously produced from hemicelluloses using crude enzyme mixture synthesized by a novel Bacillus subtilis KCX006. The strain synthesized XOS-forming endo-xylanase and de-branching -L-arabinofuranosidase and esterase but not -xylosidase. This enzyme mixture can improve the yield of XOS and phenolic acids from xylan due to the absence of hydrolysis of XOS by -xylosidase and release of phenolic acids by esterase. Hence, the enzyme mixture was tested for simultaneous production of XOS and phenolic acids from xylan (28-35\%)-rich Graminaceae or Poaceae plant biomass, such as wheat bran, sugarcane bagasse, bamboo, and rise husk. Hemicellulose fractions of the biomasses were extracted by alkaline treatment and hydrolyzed using crude xylanase mixture. The profiles of XOS and phenolic acids formed were analyzed by HPLC. The lyophilized hydrolytic products were further analysed by H-1 NMR to identify the substitutions in XOS. The observed profile of XOS and phenolic acids varied with the biomass sources. Maximum amounts of XOS (665.2 mg/g dwt) and phenolic acids (89.69 g/g dwt) were produced from hemicellulose A fractions of sugarcane bagasse and bamboo bagasse, respectively. HPLC and H-1 NMR analysis of XOS revealed the formation of free- and arabino-XOS. Phenolic acids consisted of hydroxycinnamic and hydroxybenzoic acids and the antioxidant activity correlated well with hydroxycinnamic acids content. The crude enzyme of B. subtilis is useful to produce mixture of XOS and phenolic acids from biomass.
In the present investigation, a low-cost medium prepared from molasses and corn steep liquor was used for the bacterial cellulose production by using an isolated bacterial strain. This bacterium, identified as Gluconacetobacter xylinus C18, was isolated from Indian fruit waste (rotten grapes). The process of cellulose production from the isolated bacterial strain was optimized using response surface methodology based on the central composite rotatable design. The optimum parameters for maximum bacterial cellulose production (4.34 g/L) obtained were sugarcane molasses concentration 10.77\% (w/v) supplemented with 12.47\% (v/v) corn steep liquor concentration at 31 A degrees C, pH 6.5, and incubation time of 172 h. The structure of cellulose was characterized and confirmed by using SEM and FT-IR spectroscopy.
Kenyan sugar factories are facing challenges in the market from low cost sugar producers as a result of high cost of production. As a result, a number of factories have closed down while operating factories are struggling with cash flow problems. Diversification into both ethanol and export cogeneration is a promising solution to the challenges. In this study, the feasibility of export electricity generation for a Nzoia sugar factory in Western Kenya is undertaken. The 3000 tons of cane per day crushing capacity (TCD) factory has effective generation capacity of 2.8 MW for own internal consumption against installed capacity of 7 MW. The study showed that the factory can develop a continuous power plant of 15 megawatts (MW) but modernization of the factory is necessary to reduce steam consumption mainly by replacing steam turbine drives with electric drives, increase generation efficiency by use of a condensing extraction turbine. The three boilers which are over 30 years old should be replaced with more efficient modern boilers of steam pressure between 45-60 bars. A well negotiated power purchase agreement that captures the challenges facing the factory should then be signed with a utility company to avoid the challenges in implementation due to external factors. (C) 2022 The Author(s).
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is a widely available and sustainable energy resource that can be directly or indirectly converted to biofuels and value-added bioproducts. In such LCB conversion, enzymatic saccharification is commonly regarded as a green alternative to chemical hydrolysis due to less energy-intensive, less toxic, and more environment-benign for efficient fermentable sugar recovery. However, enzymatic saccharification faces substantial challenges, since the complex polymeric matrices of LCB necessitates a variety of enzymes for complete and adequate saccharification. Empirical evidence on enzymatic saccharification has paved the way for optimizing the processes and design for enhancing the performance in LCB. This review examines the enzymatic saccharification of LCB, focusing on the important parameters affecting the process, such as pH, temperature, agitation, enzyme/substrate loading, residence time, and the enzymes required to degrade various LCB components. Various strategies have been reported to improve the performance in saccharification and to address the non-productive adsorption of enzymes. A preliminary economic competency valuation of enzyme-derived fermentable sugars is proposed. Wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse and corn stalk appear, in this case, to be the most economic competent LCBs for commercial enzyme-derived fermentable sugar production. Lastly, practical challenges and future research directions on the enzymatic saccharification of LCB are discussed.
Various agricultural and kitchen waste residues were assessed for their ability to support the production of a complete cellulase system by Aspergillus niger NS-2 in solid state fermentation. Untreated as well as acid and base-pretreated substrates including corn cobs, carrot peelings, composite, grass, leaves, orange peelings, pineapple peelings, potato peelings, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, saw dust, wheat bran, wheat straw, simply moistened with water, were found to be well suited for the organism's growth, producing good amounts of cellulases after 96 h without the supplementation of additional nutritional sources. Yields of cellulases were higher in alkali treated substrates as compared to acid treated and untreated substrates except in wheat bran. Of all the substrates tested, wheat bran appeared to be the best suited substrate producing appreciable yields of CMCase, FPase and beta-glucosidase at the levels of 310, 17 and 33 U/g dry substrate respectively. An evaluation of various environmental parameters demonstrated that appreciable levels of cellulases could be produced over a wide range of temperatures (20-50 degrees C) and pH levels (3.0-8.0) with a 1:1.5 to 1:1.75 substrate to moisture ratio. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
During the past two decades, Taiwan's average dependence on imported energy was 97.6\%, thus pushing the government to promote the indigenous energy supply. In this regard, the energy policy and regulatory incentives for promoting biomass-to-energy or bioenergy have been recently established. In this work, the updated statistics of biomass-derived waste and energy supply from biomass during the period of 2005-2021 were analyzed using national/official reports. It was found that the annual agricultural waste amounts in Taiwan ranged from 4.5 to 5.2 million metric tons, and about 80\% of those were generated from rice-derived residues (rice straw and rice husk) and livestock/poultry-derived waste (manure). In addition, a decreasing trend was observed in the indigenous bioenergy supply, mostly from the solid-type biomass resources, including waste wood, rice husk, and sugarcane bagasse. In order to expand bioenergy diversification, the central competent authorities, including the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), Council of Agriculture (COA), and Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), have announced the relevant policies for bioenergy promotion under the authorization of acts. Among them, the Renewable Energy Development Act is the legal foundation for promoting bioenergy and its industry development through economic incentives like feed-in-tariff (FIT), installation supports (or subsidies), and electrical grid connection.
Empirical correlations of fluidization design parameters such as characteristic velocity are based on properties such as particle mean diameter, sphericity and true density. These properties are difficult to measure for particles with morphologies typical of lignocellulosic biomasses. Thus, these correlations generally show limited practical applicability. The aim of the present work was to verify through an innovative multiple linear regression if other physical and physicochemical properties would be more appropriate for characteristic fluidization velocities prediction. The methodology involved evaluating sugarcane straw and bagasse, eucalyptus wood, rice husk and apple tree branches in binary mixtures with sand in the proportions of 20, 40, 60 and 80\% of biomass volume fraction. The multiple linear regression analysis indicated that the mixture bulk density and repose angle were the most relevant parameters in the prediction of characteristic fluidization velocities. Two correlations were developed employing these properties and attained suitable results: the adjusted R-2 coefficient obtained for U-mf prediction was 0.772 while for U-cf prediction was 0.855. In 90\% of mixtures, the relative error found for U-mf was smaller than 24.3\% while for U-cf this error was smaller than 22.5\%. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
With advances in biogas technology, lignocellulosic material may be increasingly included in feedstock due to the abundance of raw materials. The main goal of this study was to evaluate fertilizing and soil amendment effects of digestates based on lignin-rich feedstock. The digestates originated from reactors fed with manure co-digested with Salix, wheat straw or sugarcane bagasse, respectively. In pot experiments with three different soils, Italian ryegrass and reed canary grass were grown with 120 kg ha(-1) total nitrogen or 150 kg ha(-1) available nitrogen, respectively, given as either mineral fertilizer or digestate. Soil chemical and physical characteristics were determined after ended experiments. Additionally, an incubation study was carried out to estimate N mineralization from one digestate over time. Digestate addition resulted in similar yields compared to mineral fertilizer, varying from 0.5 (loam) to 1 kg dry matter m(-2) (silt) for Italian ryegrass and 1.2 (loam) to 2.3 kg m(-2) (silt) for reed canary grass. Digestates contributed to a favourable pH for plant growth, reduced bulk density in the loam and improved water retention characteristics in the sand. Biogas digestates based on lignin-rich feedstock appear promising as fertilizers and for soil amelioration but results have to be verified in field experiments.
Surface quality is key for any adsorbent to have an effective adsorption. Because analyzing an adsorbent can be costly, we established an imagery protocol to determine adsorption robustly yet simply. To validate our hypothesis of whether stereomicroscopy, superpixel segmentation and fractal theory consist of an exceptional merger for high-throughput predictive analytics, we developed carbon-capturing biointerfaces by pelletizing hydrochars of sugarcane bagasse, pinewood sawdust, peanut pod hull, wheat straw, and peaty compost. The apochromatic stereomicroscopy captured outstanding micrographs of biointerfaces. Hence, it enabled the segmenting algorithm to distinguish between rough and smooth microstructural stresses by chromatic similarity and topological proximity. The box-counting algorithm then adequately determined the fractal dimension of microcracks, merely as a result of processing segments of the image, without any computational unfeasibility. The larger the fractal pattern, the more loss of functional gas-binding sites, namely N and S, and thus the potential sorption significantly decreases from 10.85 to 7.20 mmol CO2 g(-1) at sigmoid Gompertz function. Our insights into analyzing fractal carbon-capturing biointerfaces provide forward knowledge of particular relevance to progress in the field's prominence in bringing high-throughput methods into implementation to study adsorption towards upgrading carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon capture and utilization (CCU).
Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from petroleum refinery wastewater was investigated using spent waste biomass {[
In this study, two novel thermostable lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) were cloned from thermophilic fungus Scytalidium thermophilum (PMO9D\_SCYTH) and Malbranchea cinnamomea (PMO9D\_MALCI) and expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris X33. The purified PMO9D\_SCYTH was active at 60 degrees C (t(1/2) = 60.58 h, pH 7.0), whereas, PMO9D\_MALCI was optimally active at 50 degrees C (t(1/2) = 144 h, pH 7.0). The respective catalytic efficiency (k(cat)/K-m) of PMO9D\_SCYTH and PMO9D\_MALCI determined against avicel in presence of H2O2 was (6.58 x 10(-3) and 1.79 x 10(-3) mg(-1) ml min(-1)) and carboxy-methylcellulose (CMC) (1.52 x 10(-1) and 2.62 x 10(-2) mg(-1) ml min(-1)). The HRMS analysis of products obtained after hydrolysis of avicel and CMC showed the presence of both C-1 and C-4 oxidized oligosaccharides, in addition to phylogenetic tree constructed with other characterized type 1 and 3 LPMOs demonstrated that both LPMOs belongs to type-3 family of AA9s. The release of sugars during saccharification of acid/alkali pretreated sugarcane bagasse and rice straw was enhanced upon replacing one part of commercial enzyme Cellic CTec2 with these LPMOs.
To verify the practicability of biogas production from liquid waste emanated from alkaline pretreatment of lignocellulose, the blended solid-liquid slurry of sugarcane rind (SR), which generated from Ca(OH)(2) coupled microwave pretreatment and undergone decalcification via biogas bubbling, was anerobically co-digested with kitchen waste (KW) in batched mesophilic assays at five mixing ratios. Results showed that the pretreatment improved the cell-free enzyme activity (CFEA) on cellulose hydrolysis during the anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD). The strategy of AcoD of pretreated SR slurry (PSRS) or SR with KW not only increased methane production but also was benifical to the process stability. The synergistic effect was revealed based on methane production, alkalinity and enzyme activities in AcoD process. The 25\% PSRS +75\% KW demostrated the highest methane production of 430.4 N mL CH4/g volatile solids, which was 22\% and 86\% higher than 25\% SR + 75\% KW and 100\% SR, respectively. The higher the proportion of PSRS or SR in feedstock, the higher the CFEA on cellulose hydrolysis revealed during fermentation. The maximum CFEA on cellulose hydrolysis of 0.293 U/g appeared on the 14th day in 100\% PSR, which was 24.2\% higher than that of 100\% SR. The results will provide a reference for utilizing SR and KW in actual biogas plant. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Sugarcane is an important crop for food and energy security, providing sucrose and bioethanol from sugar content and bioelectricity from lignocellulosic bagasse. In order to evaluate the diversity and genetic structure of the Brazilian Panel of Sugarcane Genotypes (BPSG), a core collection composed by 254 accessions of the Saccharum complex, eight TRAP markers anchored in sucrose and lignin metabolism genes were evaluated. A total of 584 polymorphic fragments were identified and used to investigate the genetic structure of BPSG through analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), principal components analysis (PCA), a Bayesian method using STRUCTURE software, genetic dissimilarity and phylogenetic tree. AMOVA showed a moderate genetic differentiation between ancestors and improved accessions, 0.14, and the molecular variance was higher within populations than among populations, with values of 86\%, 95\% and 97\% when constrasting improved with ancestors, foreign with ancestors and improved with foreign, respectively. The PCA approach suggests clustering in according with evolutionary and Brazilian breeding sugarcane history, since improved accessions from older generations were positioned closer to ancestors than improved accessions from recent generations. This result was also confirmed by STRUCTURE analysis and phylogenetic tree. The Bayesian method was able to separate ancestors of the improved accessions while the phylogenetic tree showed clusters considering the family relatedness within three major clades; the first being composed mainly by ancestors and the other two mainly by improved accessions. This work can contribute to better management of the crosses considering functional regions of the sugarcane genome.
Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) adsorbes 60\% Reactive Blue172 (RB172). Providensia staurti EbtSPG able to decolorize SCB adsorbed RB172 up to 99\% under solid state fermentation (SSF). The enzymatic saccharification efficiency of waste biomass after bioremediation of RB172 process (ddSCB) has been evaluated. The cellulolyitc crude enzyme produced by Phanerochaete chrysosporium used for enzymatic hydrolysis of native SCB and ddSCB which produces 0.08 and 0.3 g/L of reducing sugars respectively after 48 h of incubation. The production of hexose and pentose sugars during hydrolysis was confirmed by HPTLC. The effect of enzymatic hydrolysis on SCB and ddSCB has been evaluated by FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis. Thus, during dye biodegradation under SSF causes biological pretreatment of SCB which significantly enhanced its enzymatic saccharification. Adsorption of dye on SCB, its bioremediation under SSF produces wastes biomass and which further utilized for enzymatic saccharification for biofuel production. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Cheap and abundant waste from bioethanol and agricultural processing industries are an alluring alternative feedstock for biorefineries. In this work, we employ reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) to depolymerize, over Ru/C powder and Ru/Al2O3 pellets, five herbaceous biomass feedstocks, namely corn stover, miscanthus, switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat straw into phenolic monomers with high yields (similar to 40 wt\% based on total (Klason + acid soluble) lignin and >50 wt\% when stabilized using aldehydes), leaving behind a carbohydrate pulp residue. Interestingly, a polar solvent is sufficient to solubilize and fragment the lignin polymer into monomers without any catalyst. Contrary to woody biomass, where the monomer yields are positively correlated with the S-content of lignin, principal component analysis indicates that the monomer yields from herbaceous biomass depend on the content of lignin crosslinker - ferulate. Using NMR, we further identify alpha-6 C-C linked oligomers formed from condensation reactions, explaining the unexpected low monomer yields of high beta-O-4 herbaceous biomass. Recyclability experiments indicate that catalyst deactivation occurs through sintering, leaching, and fouling. Lignin oil from herbaceous biomass exhibits bacteriostatic effects against Staphylococcus aureus, highlighting a potential application in functional food development and as a food or feed preservative.
Microbial cellulases have become the mainstream biocatalysts due to their complex nature and widespread industrial applications. The present study reports the partial purification and characterization of cellulase from Bacillus subtilis CD001 and its application in biomass saccharification. Out of four different substrates, carboxymethyl cellulose, when amended as fermentation substrate, induced the highest cellulase production from B. subtilis CD001. The optimum activity of CMCase, FPase, and amylase was 2.4 U/ml, 1.5 U/ml, and 1.45 U/ml, respectively. The enzyme was partially purified by (NH4)(2)SO4 precipitation and sequenced through LC-MS/MS. The cellulase was found to be approximately 55 kDa by SDS-PAGE and capable of hydrolyzing cellulose, as confirmed by zymogram analysis. The enzyme was assigned an accession number AOR98335.1 and displayed 46\% sequence homology with 14 peptide-spectrum matches having 12 unique peptide sequences. Characterization of the enzyme revealed it to be an acidothermophilic cellulase, having an optimum activity at pH 5 and a temperature of 60 degrees C. Kinetic analysis of partially purified enzyme showed the Km and Vmax values of 0.996 mM and 1.647 U/ml, respectively. The enzyme activity was accelerated by ZnSO4, MnSO4, and MgSO4, whereas inhibited significantly by EDTA and moderately by beta-mercaptoethanol and urea. Further, characterization of the enzyme saccharified sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw, and filter paper by SEM, ATR-FTIR, and XRD revealed efficient hydrolysis and structural modifications of cellulosic materials, indicating the potential industrial application of the B. subtilis CD001 cellulase. The findings demonstrated the potential suitability of cellulase from B. subtilis CD001 for use in current mainstream biomass conversion into fuels and other industrial processes.
The application of enzymes for sustainable and low-environmental impact industrial processes requires high-level enzyme production at low-cost. A promising strategy is the use of a high efficiency heterologous protein expression system using E. coli and the pT7BsXA vector encoding the GH11 xylanase from Bacillus subtilis with promoter, replication origin and signal peptide sequences from B. subtilis (Ruller et al. 2006). This expression system produces high amounts of enzyme that are secreted to the culture broth. The present study aimed to maximize the xylanase production by this system through evaluation of culture medium composition. Different culture media previously described in the literature together with compositions derived from agro-industrial residues were evaluated. A culture medium derived from agro-industrial residues using sugarcane molasses as carbon source showed a 9-fold increase in enzyme production (195,000 U/L) in relation to LB medium and the lowest production cost, which was 8.5-fold lower than LB medium using sugarcane molasses as carbon source and brewer's yeast as vitamin source in shaker experiments. In a bioreactor experiment the best production medium promoted an 8.5-fold higher production at a 10.8-fold lower cost as compared to shaker LB cultivation.
The extensive use of nondegradable plastic tableware has brought serious environmental problems. Starch-based materials are good alternatives to plastics, but poor mechanical properties and intrinsic hydrophilicity limit their utilizations. In order to address this issue, naturally abundant bagasse pulp fiber is used as the reinforcing agent to improve the mechanical properties of starch and polydimethylsiloxane coating (CSB35-PDMS50) to improve their hydrophobicity and hydrostability. CSB35-PDMS50 reaches the tensile strength of 21.2 MPa and contact angle of 121 degrees. The enhancement of the mechanical strength can be explained by strong hydrogen bonding between starch and cellulose, as indicated by noncovalent interaction-reduced density gradient (NCI-RDG) analysis. CSB35-PDMS50 retains the low water adsorption rate within 60 h, remains stable in water for 24 h without morphology change, and maintains initial hydrophobicity after continuous abrasion in sandpaper and high-pressure water spraying due to the formation of SiO-C bonds. The water absorption capacity of CSB35-PDMS50 is less than 10\% when used as the cap materials for Eppendorf tube for 30 days. Furthermore, CSB35-PDMS50 demonstrates good biodegradability in the soil with 74\% in 100 days. The tableware prepared from ther composites demonstrates good potentials as the competitive substitute for plastics with easy production, high strength, and biodegradability.
Objective: The purpose of the experiment was to examine the effect of different food sources on the growth and reproduction performances of an epigeic earthworm Perionyx excavatus. Materials and Methods: The experiment was carried out in 18 cylindrical plastic containers for 10 weeks. The study was designed with six treatments, each having three replicates. In control treatment (T-1), cow dung was used as the only food source for the earthworm. In another five treatments, water hyacinth (T-2), chopped banana plant trunk (T-3), vegetable scrap (T-4), paddy straw (T-5), and sugarcane bagasse (T-6) were used as food sources with cow dung as bedding material. Results: The maximum weight gain of earthworm P. excavatus was 3,294.7 +/- 4.5 mg for the food staff of vegetable scrap (T-4). Earthworm P. excavatus fed with chopped banana plant trunk (T-3) showed a very similar weight gain of 3,243.7 +/- 3.8 mg. On the contrary, the minimum weight gain was 1,799.7 +/- 3.5 mg for the food staff of paddy straw (T-5). The maximum cocoon number of 137.33 +/- 6.46 mg was observed in T-3, whereas a minimum number of 36.67 +/- 4.16 mg in T-1. The highest number of hatchlings (12.33 +/- 0.88 mg) was recorded in treatment T-3, whereas the least number of hatchling (5.00 +/- 0.58 mg) was observed in T-1. Conclusion: It was concluded that, among the six different food sources, chopped banana plant trunk was preferable food source to the earthworm for growth and reproduction.
Lipases are scarcely exploited as feed enzymes in hydrolysis of lipids for increasing energy supply and improving nutrient use efficiency. In this work, we performed homologous overexpression, in vitro characterization and in vivo assessment of a lipase from the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica for feed purpose. Simultaneously, a large amount of yeast cell biomass was produced, for use as single cell protein, a potential protein-rich feed resource. Three kinds of low cost agro-industrial wastes were tested as substrates for simultaneous production of lipase and single cell protein (SCP) as feed additives: sugarcane molasses, waste cooking oil and crude glycerol from biodiesel production. Sugarcane molasses appeared as the most effective cheap medium, allowing production of 16420 U/ml of lipase and 151.2 g/L of single cell protein at 10 liter fermentation scale. In vitro characterization by mimicking a gastro-intestinal environment and determination of essential amino acids of the SCP, and in vivo oral feeding test on fish all revealed that lipase, SCP and their combination were excellent feed additives. Such simultaneous production of this lipase and SCP could address two main concerns of feed industry, poor utilization of lipid and shortage of protein resource at the same time.
Cellulose is one of the main constituents of the wall of a plant cell, and its complete hydrolysis produces glucose. Cellulases are the enzymes responsible for the degradation of cellulose. The condition in which such reactions usually develop occurs in organic solvents and water. In the present work the ionic liquids, substances that are completely constituted by ions and are in the liquid state at room temperature. The enzymes Cellic CTec2 and HTec2 (Noozymes (R)) were used in the hydrolysis reactions of cellulose obtained from three types of biomass: sugarcane bagasse, elephantgrass and wood sawdust (red angelim). All the biomasses were submitted to a pretreatment so that the enzymes had greater accessibility to the cellulose. It was verified the existence of alterations caused by the presence of the ionic liquids in the hydrolysis reaction, being possible to affirm that the use of this methodology in the search of a more advantageous process to obtain glucose did not represent an increase in the glucose contents obtained after the hydrolysis. The most promising ionic liquid was the ({[
The production of lipase by Penicillium simplicissimum in solid-state fermentation was studied using babassu cake as the basal medium. Tray-type and packed-bed bioreactors were employed. In the former, the influence of temperature; content of the medium, and medium supplementation with olive oil, sugarcane molasses, corn steep liquor, and yeast hydrolysate was studied. For all combinations of supplements, a temperature of 30 degrees C, a moisture content of 70\%, and a concentration of carbon source of 6.25\% (m/m, dry basis) provided optimum conditions for lipase production. When used as single supplements olive oil and molasses also were able to provide high lipase activities (20 U/g). Using packed-bed bioreactors and molasses-supplemented medium, optimum conditions for enzyme production were air superficial velocities above 55 cm/min and temperatures below 28 degrees C. The lower temperature optimum found for these reactors is probably related to radial heat gradient formation inside the packed bed. Maximum lipase activities obtained in these bioreactors (26.4 U/g) were 30\% higher than in tray-type reactors.
Dekkera bruxellensis is a spoilage yeast in wine and fuel ethanol fermentations able to produce volatile phenols from hydroxycinnamic acids by the action of the enzymes cinnamate decarboxylase (CD) and vinyphenol reductase (VR) in wine. However, there is no information about this ability in the bioethanol industry. This work evaluated CD and VR activities and 4-ethylphenol production from p-coumaric acid by three strains of D. bruxellensis and PE-2, an industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. Single and multiple-cycle batch fermentations in molasses and sugarcane juice were carried out. Dekkera bruxellensis strains showed similar CD activity but differences in VR activity. No production of 4-ethylphenol by S. cerevisiae in any fermentation system or media was observed. The concentrations of 4-ethylphenol peaked during active growth of D. bruxellensis in single-cycle fermentation but they were lower than in multiple-cycle fermentation. Higher concentrations were observed in molasses with molar conversion (p-coumaric acid to 4-ethylphenol) ranging from 45\% to 85\%. As the first report on 4-ethylphenol production in sugarcane musts by D. bruxellensis in industry-like conditions, it opens up a new avenue to investigate its effect on the viability and fermentative capacity of S. cerevisiae as well as to understand the interaction between the yeasts in the bioethanol industry.
Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) is a crop with a high potential for biomass production. Sugarcane residue and bagasse can be used in the production of ethanol and electricity. The genetic breeding program of the Inter-University Network for the Development of the Sugarcane Industry (RIDESA) initiated a hybridization program that includes species of the Saccharum complex. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity in selected segregating populations, select the best families and clones, and identify potential parents for inclusion in the next phase of the energy cane breeding program to develop energy cane cultivars. In the present study, 50 full-sib families and 15 half-sib families were crossed. The traits evaluated were: the mean number of stalks per plant (NS), the mean stalk weight, fiber content, \% (FIB\%), and sucrose content, \% (SC\%). The industrial traits evaluated were: tonnes of cane per hectare (TCH), tonnes of fiber per hectare (TFH), and tonnes of sucrose per hectare (TSH). The best-performing parents were RB867515, RB93509, Co285, B70710, MEX68-200, IM76-228, and IM76-229. The heritability (0.49-0.91) and accuracy values (0.70-0.95) for the parameters TCH, FIB, and SC indicated that the predicted genotypic means and observed values were highly correlated, which enabled the efficient selection of the best energy cane families. The genetic variability in the segregating populations and the identification of clones with valuable traits indicate the possibility of using superior genotypes in new crosses and future hybridizations and developing new strategies to evaluate and select energy cane families.
BACKGROUND: The increasing industrial demand for carotenoids has aroused interest in their bio-production, and the need to reduce production costs has encouraged the use of low cost industrial substrates, such as agro-industrial residues. Thus the objective of this research was the bio-production of carotenoids by Sporidiobolus salmonicolor using agro-industrial substrates (corn steep liquor and sugarcane molasses), pre-treated with acids (sulphuric and phosphoric). RESULTS: Bio-production was carried out in an orbital shaker using a 10\% (v/v) inoculum, incubation at 25 degrees C, and agitation at 180 rpm for 120 h in a non-illuminated environment. The carotenoids were recovered using liquid N(2) combined with dimethylsulphoxide for cell rupture, and an acetone/methanol mixture (7:3 v/v) for extraction. CONCLUSION: The complete second-order design allowed for optimisation of the carotenoid concentration obtained from industrial substrates pre-treated with acids (sulphuric and phosphoric), obtaining a total carotenoid content of 541.5 mu g L(-1) using 10 g L(-1) sugarcane molasses, 5 g L(-1) corn steep liquor and 5 g L(-1) yeast hydrolysate at 25 degrees C, with agitation at 180 rpm and an initial pH of 4.0. (C) 2008 Society of Chemical Industry.
Agricultural waste being the major solid waste in the environment, the study has explored and identified the presence of minerals especially silica in the agricultural waste like sugarcane bagasse ash and rice husk ash by carbonization on combustion at different thermal conditions and biodegradation. Presence of silica in the ash samples has been well characterized by the XRD, FT-IR, EDX, SEM and N-2 sorption techniques. Presence of crystal phases of silica like quartz and cristoballite is well indexed by the X-ray diffraction peaks that appeared at 2 theta = 27, 40 and 60 which is further confirmed by the peaks at 1100, 820 and 620 cm(-1) of FT-IR. The elemental composition of the silica in ash is determined by EDX analysis. The exothermic reaction and the mass loss observed in the TG/DTG at the transient temperature of 840-850 A degrees C has confirmed the presence of the alpha-quartz. SEM micrograph has also supported the presence of silica and has revealed the various crystal shapes that were present in the sugarcane and husk ash. The study has clearly revealed that the silica content has increased with the increase in temperature and refinement of the combustion condition to a maximum of 18.7-52 \% and on biodegradation to about 48.3-92.4 \%.
Around 14\% of the total production of electricity of Mauritius is produced by bagasse, a by-product of sugar cane, as fuel in steam cogeneration power plants. However, due to the fall in revenues in the sales of sugar, the land area under cane cultivation is decreasing as well as the amount of electricity produced by bagasse. In order to enhance the sustainability of the cane industry, the use of sugar cane with higher percentage of fibre content is being investigated for increasing the production of bagasse and thus cogenerated electricity. Policy implications are also discussed. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study focuses on the potential of Rhodotorula mucilaginosa CCT 7688 in simultaneous production of lipids and carotenoids in agroindustrial byproduct-based media and specially aims at establishing a process condition that guarantees high concentrations of both bioproducts, i.e., a carotenoid-rich microbial oil with potential economic value and health benefits attributed to carotenoids and fatty acids. Four different combinations of cultivation modes (batch and fed-batch) and alternative substrates (crude glycerol, sugarcane molasses and corn steep liquor) were tested. The M2-B assay, which comprises the use of an agroindustrial byproduct-based medium without any supplementation (70 g L-1 sugarcane molasses and 3.4 g L-1 corn steep liquor) and batch mode, was selected as the most promising one to produce both compounds. Total carotenoid production and total lipid content were 1794.2 mu g L-1 and 43.2\% (w/w), respectively, after 144 h of cultivation. The fatty acid profile showed predominance of oleic acid (69.9\%) and palmitic acid (23.2\%). Thus, R. mucilaginosa CCT 7688 may be used in simultaneous production of lipids and carotenoids successfully; its fatty acid profile is similar to that found in olive oil. Both compounds are economically interesting and have great possibility of future commercial applications.
Industrial waste substrates, sugarcane molasses, and corn steep liquor were used for production of carotenes by Arthrobacter globiformis in this study. At the first stage, a one-factor-at-a-time approach was used for optimization of different media components such as carbon, nitrogen, MgSO(4)7H(2)O, and KH2PO4, as well as pH, temperature, liquid medium volume, and inoculums level. The response surface method was further applied to determination of optimum values of process variables for maximum carotenes concentration. Results showed that the optimum combination for carotenes formation was as follows (g/L): sugarcane molasses, 40.00; corn steep liquor, 50.00; MgSO(4)7H(2)O, 0.75; KH2PO4, 1.00. The maximum carotene concentration of 1.19 +/- 0.02mg/g dry biomass, about 113\% of 1.05 +/- 0.02mg/g dry biomass growing in basal medium, was demonstrated by confirmatory experiments to be the optimum in liquid medium at 100rpm, 30 degrees C, initial pH of 7.5, and cultivation for 60hr. In a second stage, detailed studies showed about 1.64-fold and 1.43-fold increase in carotene concentration (mg/g dry biomass) in the presence of addition of ethanol (4\%, v/v) and addition of hydrogen peroxide (4\%, v/v) at 40hr, and 32hr in liquid medium, separately.
Heat integration and configuration optimization of a unique cycle based on biomass gasification are presented. The system provides heat, freshwater, and electricity to an area located in the southern part of Iran using the gasification of sugarcane bagasse. The main question to be responded is to find the optimum configuration which minimizes the total external utility consumption. It is assumed that 34500 kg/day of bagasse is available and the electricity, heating, and water demand of the area should be covered. It is concluded that the total utility consumption is 3113.69 kW if no heat integration is utilized. On the other hand, partial heat integration results in a total utility consumption of 590.93 kW. The least possible utility consumption which occurs in full heat integration condition is 214.6 kW. By increasing the gasification temperature from 900 degrees C to 915 degrees C, it is possible to enhance the integration by removing one of the heaters. The sensitivity analysis shows that the highest CHP efficiency occurs for a biomass flow rate of 32970 kg/day. It is concluded that energy integration techniques serve well in the identification of the optimum gasification temperature and biomass flow rate which lead to the minimum utility consumption and highest CHP efficiency. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
White rot fungi produce three main extracellular enzymes involved in ligninolysis; laccase, lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase. Though all white rot fungi do not produce all three enzymes, laccase occupies an important place in ligninolysis. The present paper reports its production by some white rot fungi; Darcialea flavida, Phlebia brevispora, Phlebia radiata and Polyporus sanguineus under different nutritional conditions. Of the various basal media tested, mineral salts malt extract broth proved to be the best medium for laccase production. Sugarcane bagasse proved to be the best laccase inducer among the various supplements added to different media. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Seventeen natural sweeteners available on the Polish market were screened for total phenolic content, by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and for antioxidant activity, using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay and the 2,2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical cation decolorization assay (ABTS(center dot+)). In addition, we analyzed antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus strains: both those susceptible and those resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The results of the study showed that total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity differ widely among different samples of sweeteners. Phenolic content, expressed as a gallic acid equivalent, ranged from 0mg kg(-1) in white, refined sugar, xylitol and wheat malt syrup to 11.4g kg(-1) in sugarcane molasses. Antioxidant activity was lowest in refined white sugar, xylitol, brown beet sugar, liquid fructose, and rape honey; it was average in spelt syrup and corn syrup, and highest in sugar cane, beet molasses, date and barley syrups. Despite the great variety of sweeteners, a strong correlation was noted between the concentration of phenolics and antioxidant properties, as determined by the ABTS(center dot+) method (r = 0.97) and the FRAP assay (r = 0.77). The strongest antibacterial activity was observed in sugarcane molasses, which was lethal to S. aureus strains at 2 and 4\% concentrations in medium for susceptible and MRSA strains respectively. Other sweeteners kill bacteria in 6-15\% solutions, whereas some did not show any antibacterial activities against S. aureus strains, even at 20\% concentrations. Due to their high antioxidant and antibacterial activities, some of the tested sweeteners have potential therapeutic value as supporting agents in antibiotic therapy.
The use of sugarcane bagasse hemicellulosic hydrolysates presents an interesting alternative to second generation (2G) ethanol production. Techniques to enhance the fermentation process, e.g., the use of immobilized cells, is one of the key factors for efficient production. Here, the effect of two important parameters (cell concentration in immobilized system and stirring rate) on the 2G ethanol production using the wild Brazilian yeast S. shehatae UFMG-HM 52.2 immobilized in calcium alginate matrix are presented. A 2(2) full factorial design of experiments was carried out to evaluate the effect of cell concentrations in sodium alginate solution for immobilized bead production (3.0, 6.0, and 9.0 g/L) and stirring rate (150, 200, and 250 rpm) for 2G ethanol production. Statistical analysis showed that the use of both variables at low levels enhanced ethanol yield (Y-P/S). Under these process conditions, Y-P/S of 0.31 g/g and ethanol productivity (Qp) of 0.12 g/L h were achieved. Results showed the potential of this immobilized yeast in 2G ethanol production from C5 sugars and demonstrate the importance of adequate cell concentration in immobilized systems, a finding that stands to increase bioprocesses yields and productivity.
Thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis was used to study the thermal decomposition and oxidation, combustion characteristics, and kinetics of cotton stalks and sugarcane bagasse powder of various particle sizes under air from room temperature to 1000 degrees C at heating rates 25, 50, and 75 degrees C/min. It was observed that all the samples followed a two-stage reaction mechanism between 200 and 1000 degrees C clearly indicating regions of volatile oxidation and char combustion during thermal decomposition and oxidation. It was also found that heating rate, particle size, lignocellulosic composition, and gas flow types affect the thermal decomposition mechanism and kinetic parameter values of both materials. The kinetic parameters were determined using simple Distributed Activation Energy Model (DAEM) and three methods of model-free kinetics. It was found that average activation energy (E-av) for cotton stalks and bagasse for both bulk and different particle sizes ranged between 34-118 kJ/mol and 87-187 kJ/mol, respectively. Results also showed that the values of kinetic parameters obtained from all methods are in a good agreement and can be successfully used to understand the degradation mechanism of solid-state reaction of these biomass materials. Finally, a comparison between the thermal pyrolysis characteristics of both materials under inert (nitrogen) and air at a heating rate of 10 degrees C/min is presented and discussed. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13124, 2019
E10 is a blend of 10\% bioethanol and 90\% gasoline that can be used in the engines of most cars without causing damage. Currently for the E10 blend, Jamaica imports gasoline from Trinidad \& Tobago and bioethanol from Brazil because the bioethanol production in Jamaica is at an early stage. However, the country has great potential for bioethanol production. In order to assess the environmental and economic feasibility of bioethanol in Jamaica, this paper presents an economic and environmental life cycle assessment for a case study in Jamaica in two different scenarios. The Baseline Scenario represents the use of E10 in the current conditions in which bioethanol comes from Brazil and gasoline from Trinidad \& Tobago. Scenario I represents the use of E10 with bioethanol from Jamaica and gasoline from Trinidad \& Tobago. The comparative environmental life cycle assessment revealed that the Baseline Scenario had better results than Scenario I in ten environmental categories. The economic assessment results in Scenario I were 7\% higher than in the Baseline Scenario. Hence, the current context (Baseline Scenario) was identified as the scenario with the best economic performance. Therefore, the current situation in Jamaica (Baseline Scenario) scored better results than Scenario I from an environmental and an economical point of views. It is recommended to increase the bagasse cogeneration of Scenario I to lower the environmental impacts. To improve their productivity, it is necessary to improve the Jamaican sugar infrastructure by combining molasses and cane juice to produce bioethanol. {[
The present work aims to synthesize microporous activated carbon nanostructure using natural biomass materials such as Bamboo, Sugarcane bagasse, and Orange peel precursors and to study its structural and morphological properties for energy storage applications. The carbonization temperature is maintained at 400 degrees C for all the precursors under a nitrogen atmosphere, and potassium hydroxide was used as the activating agent in the synthesis of activated carbon. These prepared samples were analysed by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Elemental Dispersive Spectrum (SEM-EDS), and Brunner Emmett Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The KOH activated carbon was found to possess micropores with a high surface area of 1273 m(2) g(-1) for the Bamboo derived Activated Carbon (BAC), which is much higher than that of Sugarcane Bagasse derived Activated Carbon (SBAC- 1069 m(2) g(-1)) and Orange Peel derived Activated Carbon (OPAC- 915 m(2) g(-1)). The porous structure of the activated carbon material when used as electrodes in a supercapacitor led to a highest specific capacitance of 492 Fg(-1) at 2 mVs(-1) for BAC whereas the SBAC (486 Fg(-1)) and OPAC (145 Fg(-1)) composites.
Dairy farming in Chiang Mai was established in 1965 by the Thai-German Dairy Project and was subsequently taken over by Department of Livestock development in 1970. Starting from 1979, the Dairy Farming Promotion Organization of Thailand also supports the development of dairy farming in northern Thailand. However, dairy farming in Chiang Mai still faces numerous problems. At present, farm sizes are relatively medium, with an average of 23.75 cattle/farm (cows, heifers and calves). Almost all dairy farmers are member of a dairy co-operative that provides them with an artificial insemination service, supplies of concentrated feed, loans and a center for collecting milk. The average pasture area is 0.3 ha/farm. The main feed resources are green forage from the farm pasture, public areas and roadside pastures, which are abundant only in the rainy season. The farmers are forced to use crop by-products as roughage in the dry season, especially rice straw, even though its nutritive value is limited due to its low digestibility, low nitrogen and low mineral and vitamin content. To improve the nutritional value of crop by-products, physical and chemical treatments are implemented. Agro-industrial wastes such as pineapple waste, sugarcane molasses, the peel, husk or silk of sweet corn and baby corn are also used as dairy feed.
Biopolyols were obtained from liquefaction of sugarcane bagasse and rice husk. Acid and hydroxyl numbers were determined for estimating the polyol value of the liquid products. These prepared biopolyols were mixed with the commercial polyol for the preparation of polyurethane foam (PU). To study the effects of biopolyol on properties of PU foam, various ratios of biopolyol to commercial polyol were used. It was observed that the density and foaming time of the PU foam increases with the increase in biopolyol content. The calculated Isocyanate index showed that sugarcane bagasse polyol can be used to make flexible foam and that rice husk can be used to make rigid foam. Foaming times and full rise times increased with increase in the biopolyol content. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of prepared foams showed the characteristic peaks related to PU foam. The morphological studies were carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal conductivity tests proved that the synthesized PU foams can be used as insulating materials. Further, PU foams were also prepared with the incorporation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the polyol. The densities, thermal conductivities and SEM analysis of PU foams with and without carbon nanotubes were compared.
Bacterial cellulose (BC) was used to reinforce paper sheets made from non-woody fibers, e.g. sugarcane bagasse. BC produced from static and agitated fermentation methods was mixed with bleached sugarcane bagasse pulp (BSBP) to produce composite paper sheets. BC from static culture had a higher degree of polymerization, crystallinity, and crystallite width. Adding BC at a low ratio (< 1\% of the dry weight of the sheets) can effectively improve the mechanical properties of BSBP paper sheets. Adding static BC improved the tensile index of BC-BSBP composite sheets up to 25\%. Furthermore, BC was also chemically modified or cationized by reacting with (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride. The results demonstrated that the cationization reaction had to be maintained at a low level (DS < 0.005) for effective improvement in mechanical properties of the BC-BSBP composite sheets. The improvements in tensile index were up to 10 and 32\%, compared to the unmodified BC-reinforced sheets and sheets without BC, respectively. The low addition and low cationization levels suggest an economical prospect for static BC being used in the paper-based material industries to improve the qualities of non-woody fiber products.
Bioethanol produced from lignocellulosic materials has been considered as one of the most promising fuels to replace fossil fuels. Immobilized yeasts or bacteria have been frequently used in continuous system due to its feasibility for repeated use with high biomass retention during the continuous process. In this study, continuous SHcF (separate hydrolysis and co-fermentation) and SScF (simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation) were evaluated for ethanol production from alkaline pretreated sugarcane bagasse using Zymomonas mobilis (PVA immobilized cells) and Pichia stipitis (suspended cells). In SHcF fermentation, the ethanol yield and productivity of 0.36 g ethanol/g cellulose (corresponding to 70.65\% of theoretical yield) and 1.868 g/L/h were achieved. In contrast, SScF system resulted in an ethanol yield of 0.414 g ethanol/g cellulose (corresponding to 81.17\% of theoretical yield) and ethanol productivity of 0.705 g/L/h. The performance of the two systems are compared and discussed.
Plant biomasses, which in the absence of adequate pretreatment pose serious operational problems in biogas production using conventional domestic how-through digesters, can be successfully digested in a novel fed-batch digestion system that produces a steady rate of biogas. Basically, the system is a batch digestion operated with a regular input of a calculated amount of feed based on first order decay kinetics in order to maintain a regular biogas production rate. For nearly three years the system was tested in a laboratory-scale fed-batch digester (10 l) using dried water hyacinth as feed providing the desired biogas production rate. A field-scale domestic digester of masonry construction with a working volume of 10 m(3) was designed and tested for about 9 months by feeding a mixture of dried water hyacinth or banana stem along with sugarcane press mud, yielding an average biogas production of 90-100\% of the expected rate calculated on the basis of the feed rate.
The choice of the source of organic carbon utilized in the fertilization of the farming system in bioflocs is important as it influences the nutritional composition of the bioflocs and should consider factors such as costs, local availability, and biodegradability. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the effect of brewery residues, an industrial by-product, as a source of organic carbon in bioflocs technology (BFT) farming system, on the performance of juvenile Litopenaeus schmitti (initial weight 0.64 +/- A 0.36 g) and compare it with two other sources already used for this purpose: sugarcane molasses and cassava flour. After 60 days of study, the superior growth performance of L. schmitti grown in fertilized BFT brewery residues system was evidenced by significantly higher final weight (p < 0.05) in prawns grown in this system (2.47 +/- A 0.19 g) compared to the cultivated systems with sugarcane molasses (2.07 +/- A 0.23 g) and cassava flour (2.38 +/- A 0.27 g). The nutritional composition of bioflocs varied significantly according to the carbon source (p < 0.05), with the largest concentrations of lipids (2.39 \%) found in molasses and ash (71.56 \%) for the brewery residues. The bioflocs formed in the brewery residues system had the highest density of diatoms (27 x 10(3) cells ml(-1)) and nematodes (6 org mL(-1)). The results showed that the brewery residues is a good source of organic carbon for L. schmitti farming in BFT system, presenting advantages in improving the zootechnical performance of the species and the low cost compared to other sources studied.
An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) is a novel blend of two polymers at least one of which is synthesized or crosslinked in the immediate presence of the other so that there is the least possibility of any gross phase separation. Full-IPNs, prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) and polyacrylamide, have shown superior performances over the conventional individual polymers. The ranges of applications have grown rapidly for such class of materials. Cellulose nanoparticles extracted from sugarcane bagasse in-house are used to reinforce this PVA/PAAm (80:20) full-IPN in different proportions during the synthesis of IPN. The characteristics of this new series of IPN composite materials have been evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis, mechanical, thermal (thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry), and scanning electron microscopy techniques. A loading of 5 wt\% of nanocellulose lead to the highest tensile strength amongst the different IPN composite films. Although the non-reinforced full-IPN and the various reinforced composites with nanocelluloses are almost identical in their thermal stability, they prove to be much superior compared to the neat polymers. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:1720-1731, 2017. (c) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Waste management is one of the major environmental concerns globally. Meaningful utilization of various types of wastes for the production of useful products not only provides added economicbenefits through variety of products but is also helpful in minimizing the environmental pollution. Trichoderma viride, a well-known fungus, has been used in the past for production of enzymes like proteases, cellulases and chitinase besides various beneficial biological activities, i.e., mycoremediation, mycoparasitism and for increasingsoil fertility. In the present investigation, biodegradation potential of T. viride (MTCC-800) was evaluated by solid state fermentation using wastes like pomace, floral waste, plant litter, vegetable refuse, sawdust and sugarcane bagasse. The fungus degraded all the waste materials including sawdust that contain toxic compounds. Among all agri-horti wastes used, maximum growth of T. viride was recorded in vegetable refuse (58.16\%) followed by sugarcane bagasse (48.76\%)and others. The results of the present investigation, indicatethat T. viride can be a potential candidate for meaningful utilization of industrial and other wastesand if. Successful at large scale itcan not onlyhelp in reduction of environmental pollution but can also be abetter substitute for chemical fertilizers and pesticidesbesides economic gains.
Non-centrifuged sugar (NCS) is produced through the evaporation of water from sugarcane juice, using the thermal energy released from the combustion of sugarcane bagasse. The energy efficiency of the process varies significantly according to the technology implemented in evaporation and combustion operations. Therefore, energy optimization usage becomes essential for the improvement of the equipment, as well as the appropriate development of the manufacturing process. The aim of this study was to evaluate seven groups of technologies related to bagasse combustion and heat exchange systems, used in the production of NCS. The evaluation was performed based on five parameters: overall thermal efficiency (eta), energy consumption (MJ)/NCS (kg), O-2, CO2 and CO emission indices at the exit of the process, flue gases/NCS (kg/kg), and air-fuel ratio (AFR). Each group of technologies evaluated had a significant effect on the parameters considered. However, the best results were shown by the technologies where steam was used in closed systems, obtaining an overall thermal efficiency of 63.63 +/- 5.17\%, with a significant decrease in fuel consumption and lower gas emissions. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The unrefined (brown) sugar (jaggery) is a traditional sweetener that is prepared by removing water from the sugarcane juice through continuous heating and stirring process and the sun-dried bagasse, which is a by-product in this process and consumed as the fuel. The jaggery plant being a traditional seasonal rural industry is using an open-hearth furnace, having very poor thermal performance and combustion characteristics, leads to huge emission of harmful pollutants. Among different pollutants that are released into the environment, the most impactful elements to human health are the fine and ultrafine particulate matters (PM2.5, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 micrometers and lesser) and carbon monoxide. Besides, the lower thermal performance leads to consumption of higher amounts of fuel and emission of larger quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas (GHG) and a potential global warming pollutant. An experimental study in the laboratory on a recently developed combustion device exhibits that the harmful emissions from the jaggery industry could be reduced drastically, namely PM2.5 95-99\%, CO 92-97\% and CO2 52-66\%, while reducing similar to 35\% of bagasse consumption which could generate annual additional revenue of about USD 0.735-1.26 billion to the rural entrepreneurs. Implemented at a national scale, it could correspond to a reduction of nearly 3\% of all emissions in the country, which is equally applicable elsewhere.
A novel simplified configuration is proposed for the conversion of biomass to ethanol using whole medium enzymatic cocktails (WM) and enzymatic extracts (EE) from different filamentous fungi (Trichoderma reesei, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus oryzae) cultivated under solid-state fermentation (SSF) for the hydrolysis of steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse (SESB). The hydrolyzed material derived from the saccharification of SESB using the combinations A. niger WM + T. reesei EE, A. oryzae WM + A. niger EE, and A. niger EE + T. reesei WM resulted in the best biomass conversion yields (66, 65, and 64 \% of the theoretical reducing sugar yields, respectively). The best ethanol production (84 \% of the theoretical yield) was obtained using the material hydrolyzed by a combination of A. oryzae WM + A. niger EE. The enzymatic conversion of SESB using on-site produced enzymes from the whole SSF cultivation medium, followed by an ethanol production step, is a potential configuration for the biomass to ethanol conversion process. This novel simplified configuration would enable the use of a single reactor system, avoiding the need for additional separation steps.
This paper presents an approach to examine the microstructural properties and mechanical behavior of coconut husks, banana pseudo-stem, pineapple leaf, and sugarcane bagasse fibers by scanning electron microscope and mini-tensile tester, respectively. Single fiber bundles were examined by using scanning electron microscope. Tensile tests were performed at different diameters (0.15-0.55 mm) and gauge lengths (10, 15, 20, and 30 mm/min) to assess the effects of diameter and gauge length on tensile properties. It was found that fibers consisted of different types of regularly arranged cells. The tensile strength (310 MPa) and Young's modulus (7.4 GPa) of pineapple leaf fiber bundles showed the highest value compared to the other fibers. The tensile strength and Young's modulus decreased with the increase of diameter and gauge length of fiber bundles. Scanning electron microscopic fractography analysis showed comparatively heterogeneous ruptures associated with more participants of microfibrils for pineapple leaf and banana pseudo-stem fibers compared to coconut husk and sugarcane bagasse fibers. These fractographic observations were discussed in the light of current knowledge of the microstructure of each fiber and the corresponding mechanical properties.
Sugar cane wastes and reuse strategies are a prior subject in sugar cane areas because of the new environmental standards and modem production systems. The overall goal of the present review is to analyze the environmental impact from sugar cane agroindustry and its recycling processes on the bases of a sustainable development planning. Literature review results consider that there are good conditions to provide the bases for alternative uses for this kind of wastes; biotechnological production is present and improving researches and the use of composting technology will be key tools for available recycling methods.
Biocomposites based on a polymer with good biodegradability, poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), and reinforced with different lignocellulosic fibers (coconut, sugarcane bagasse, curaua, sisal) were prepared through the traditional thermo-pressed molding technique. The fibers were characterized in terms of chemical composition, thermal stability (TGA), cristallinity (XRD) and surface morphology (SEM). The polymer thermal properties were evaluated by TGA and DSC. The composite characteristics were investigated by mechanical tests (Izod impact strength, flexural resistance), thermal stability (TGA), water uptake and SEM micrographs of the fractured surfaces. The results showed that sisal and curaua fibers feature a huge potential as reinforcing agents of PBS due to their superior chemical compatibility with the aliphatic matrix as well as to their surface morphology. Both factors contributed to the formation of a strong interface capable to effectively transfer the load from the matrix to the fibers. Sisal/PBS and curaua/PBS composites also showed greater resistance against water absorption if compared to coconut/PBS and sugarcane bagasse/PBS composites. Novel biocomposites with good properties were produced from fibers and polymer that can obtained from renewable raw materials. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
In this work, agro-wastes coming from soursop (peel, seeds and pulp fiber) and sugarcane (bagasse) are used as low-cost biosorbents to remove methylene blue (MB) from aqueous media. Batch experiments are performed under different experimental conditions investigating the effects of biosorbent amount, dye concentration and stirring rate. The best results were found using soursop wastes for a MB concentration of 100 mg L-1, using 0.75 g of residue and a stirring rate of 110 rpm, removing a percentage above 90\%. Theoretically, adsorption kinetic can be successfully described by the pseudo-second order model. Redlich-Peterson and Sips models are adopted to interpret the equilibrium adsorption of MB on sugarcane bagasse and soursop residue, respectively. Interestingly, the monolayer model with single energy derived by statistical physics theory is also applied for a deeper explanation of the adsorption mechanism of MB on both the adsorbents. The application of this model allows defining the adsorption geometry of the investigated adsorbate and provides important information about the interactions between the adsorbate and sorbents. In particular, the modelling analysis by statistical physics allows defining that the dye molecules are adsorbed in vertical position and the adsorption process is multi-molecular (i.e. n > 1). Finally, the estimation of adsorption energy suggested that MB adsorption on biosorbent is a physisorption process. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This paper reports on the development of an amperometric method for the determination of myo-inositol. The method involves coating of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) that was modified with nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs). The MIP was prepared by electropolymerization of pyrrole on the surface of the GCE in the presence of myo-inositol molecules. The construction steps of the modified electrode were monitored via cyclic voltammetry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy. The results were evaluated using differential pulse voltammetry, in which hexacyanoferrate was used as an electrochemically active probe. Under optimized experimental conditions, the imprint-modified GCE has a linear response in the 1.0 x 10(-10) mol L-1 to 1.0 x 10(-8) mol L-1 concentration range, with a 7.6 x 10(-11) mol L-1 detection limit and an electrochemical sensitivity of 4.5 mu A.cm(-2) mu mol(-1). The method showed improved selectivity even in the presence of molecules with similar chemical structure. The GCE modified was successfully applied to the determination of myo-inositol in sugarcane vinasse where it yielded recoveries that ranged from 95 to 102\%.
A one-pot synthesis method for the fabrication of biomass-derived activated carbon-zinc oxide (ZAC) nanocomposites using sugarcane bagasse as a carbon precursor and ZnCl2 as an activating agent is reported. For the first time, we used ZnCl2 as not only an activating agent and also for the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles on the AC surface. ZAC materials with varying ZnO loading were prepared and characterized by a variety of analytical and spectroscopic techniques such as FE-SEM, FE-TEM, XRD, EA, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. ZAC-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) were found to exhibit remarkable electrochemical properties for simultaneous detection of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) as well as hazardous pollutants such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydrazine (N2H4) with desirable sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limits. Moreover, ZAC-modified stainless steel electrodes also showed superior performances for supercapacitor applications. The ZAC nanocomposites, which may be mass produced by the reported facile direct route from sugarcane bagasse, are not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective, and thus, are suitable as a practical platform for bio-sensing and energy storage applications.
The work is carried out to minimize the organic chemical load (unexhausted dye contents) in direct dyes effluent using low cost adsorbents. The studies are made with different direct dyes, i.e. Direct Red 28, Direct Yellow 12, Direct Orange 26 and Direct Blue 1 with various adsorbents. Three different bio/natural materials have been selected as adsorbents. These includes, Sugarcane bagasse pith (SB), Saw dust (SD)-the plant origin products, and Brick powder (BP)-a silica based material obtained from earth's crust on thermal heating. These substances are almost discarded waste products with the possibility of use as adsorbents. Experimental work for the dye removal from the effluent by activated charcoal (AC) has also been carried out and the results are compared with other adsorbents. The amount of unexhausted organic dye present in the effluent is measured as chemical oxygen demand (COD) before and after the treatment. Adsorbent Sugarcane bagasse pith shows good performance as compared to Saw dust and Brick powder. For understanding the behaviour of adsorbents Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has also been carried out. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Studies were carried out on decolorization of semisolid olive mill residues called ``alperujo{''
Galactanases (endo-beta-1,4-galactanases-EC 3.2.1.89) catalyze the hydrolysis of beta-1,4 galactosidic bonds in arabinogalactan and galactan side chains found in type I rhamnogalacturan. The aim of this work was to understand the catalytic function, biophysical properties, and use of a recombinant GH53 endo-beta-1,4-galactanase for commercial cocktail supplementation. The nucleotide sequence of the endo-beta-1,4-galactanase from Bacillus licheniformis CBMAI 1609 (Bl1609Gal) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the biochemical and biophysical properties of the enzyme were characterized. The optimum pH range and temperature of Bl1609Gal activity were 6.5-8 and 40 A degrees C, respectively. Furthermore, Bl1609Gal showed remarkable pH stability, retaining more than 75 \% activity even after 24 h of incubation at pH 4-10. The enzyme was thermostable, retaining nearly 100 \% activity after 1-h incubation at pH 7.0 at 25-45 A degrees C. The enzymatic efficiency (K (cat) /K (m) ) against potato galactan under optimum conditions was 241.2 s(-1) mg(-1) mL. Capillary zone electrophoresis demonstrated that the pattern of galactan hydrolysis by Bl1609Gal was consistent with that of endogalactanases. Supplementation of the commercial cocktail ACCELLERASE(A (R))1500 with recombinant Bl1609Gal increased hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse by 25 \%.
In the present study aqueous ammonia soaking (AAS) has been tested as a pretreatment method for the anaerobic digestion of three lignocellulosic biomasses of different origin: one agricultural residue: sunflower straw, one perennial crop: grass and a hardwood: poplar sawdust. The methane production yield was evaluated in batch experiments at different organic loadings, in order to assess any inhibitory effects due to the pretreatment. The experiments showed that the increase of organic loading did not affect the final methane yield of either raw or AAS pretreated biomasses. Among the three biomasses tested, poplar sawdust exhibited the lowest methane yield, due to its high lignin content. AAS treatment led to an increase of the ultimate methane yields of all biomasses, with the increase in the case of poplar, sunflower straw and grass being 148.7, 37.7 and 26.2 \%, respectively. AAS resulted in solubilization of hemicellulose and partial removal of cellulose for all biomasses. Higher cellulose degradation was observed in grass biomass, in which a different morphology than the other AAS treated samples, was shown in SEM images. No toxic compounds such as furaldehydes, were produced during AAS pretreatment.
Significant yield increases of sugarcane and rice have been observed in the Everglades Agricultural Area of Florida from application of soluble silicon as calcium silicate slag. Although calcium silicate slag contains trace quantities of P, significant quantities of P can be applied using commercial rates of slag. This may be of concern to both the agronomists responsible for determining P fertilization rates for these crops and to land managers attempting to limit the application of P in this region. The objective of our research was to determine the biological availability of P applied as calcium silicate slag. Two sugarcane studies and two rice studies were conducted on a Terra Ceia muck (Euic, hyperthermic Typic Medisaprist), Pahokee muck (Euic, hyperthermic Lithic Medisaprist), and a Okeelanta muck (sandy or sandy-skeletal, siliceous, euic hyperthermic Terric Medisaprist) at five locations for one to three years each. Calcium silicate slag was applied at rates ranging from 0 to 20 Mg ha-1. For each crop, plant tissues were sampled for analysis of Si and P: sugarcane leaves were sampled during the ``grand-growth{''
Nowadays, when the zero-waste strategy is an inevitable component of the circular economy, the reuse of waste, including dredged sludges, has drawn the attention of many researchers. This study evaluated four kinds of bio-wastes (corn core powder, rice husk powder, sugarcane bagasse powder, and peanut shell powders) and two kinds of construction wastes (autoclaved aerated concrete-AAC and pavement stone) in enhancing the dewaterability of dredged sludge from the lake, in which the sludges would then be reused for brick production. The results showed that the moisture contents decreased from 62 \& PLUSMN; 0.14\% to 57 \& PLUSMN; 1.89\% after mixing and then to 35 \& PLUSMN; 8.31\% after compressing for the construction waste-blended sludge. Among the bio-wastes, the sugarcane bagasse additive performed the best at a mixing ratio of 1:3 by weight and rice husk powder worked best at a mixing ratio of 1:5 by weight. The organic matter was increased up to 80\% when the bio-wastes were added, while it was decreased to 5\% for the case of construction wastes. The optimum percentage of sludge in the mixture to meet all the oxide contents in the brick and energy saving shall be about 30\%. The results have revealed a potentially green route for brick production with lake sediment and bio-waste/construction wastes.Implications: It is the first time the reuse of agro-wastes/construction waste was evaluated to mix with lake sediment to partly replace clay for brick production; Among the bio-wastes, the sugarcane bagasse additive performed the best at a mixing ratio of 1:3 by weight; Moisture contents decreased from 62 \& PLUSMN; 0.14\% to 57 \& PLUSMN; 1.89\% after mixing and then to 35 \& PLUSMN; 8.31\% after compressing for the blended sludge; The optimum percentage of mixed sludge, possibly replaced the clay in brick production, considering oxide contents and energy saving shall be up to 30\%.
The sorption of metal ions with low-cost adsorbents plays an important role in sustainable development. In the present study, the efficacy of sugarcane bagasse, rain tree fruits (samaneasaman), banana stem and their mixtures, used as bio-sorbents, in the removal of Cu(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous solution is evaluated. Batch studies are conducted, and residual ions were measured using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)-atomic spectrometer. Effect of pH, initial metal ion concentration, reaction time and adsorbent dosage are studied. The Pb(II) removal efficiency was observed to be 97.88\%, 98.60\% and 91.74\% for rain tree fruits, banana stem and a mixture of adsorbents respectively. The highest Cu(II) ion removal was observed for sugarcane bagasse sorbent with an efficiency of 82.10\% with a pH of 4.5 and a reaction time of 90 min. Finally, desorption studies were carried out to study the leaching potential of adsorbent, and it was found that the adsorbent is stable in water than the other leaching agents such as HCl, ammonium acetate, Sodium EDTA. Hence, these adsorbents can be effectively used for the removal of these heavy metals.
We functionally characterized the GH10 xylanase (SoXyn10A) and the GH11 xylanase (SoXyn11B) derived from the actinomycete Streptomyces olivaceoviridis E-86. Each enzyme exhibited differences in the produced reducing power upon degradation of xylan substrates. SoXyn10A produced higher reducing power than SoXyn11B. Gel filtration of the hydrolysates generated by both enzymes revealed that the original substrate was completely decomposed. Enzyme mixtures of SoXyn10A and SoXyn11B produced the same level of reducing power as SoXyn10A alone. These observations were in good agreement with the composition of the hydrolysis products. The hydrolysis products derived from the incubation of soluble birchwood xylan with a mixture of SoXyn10A and SoXyn11B produced the same products as SoXyn10A alone with similar compositions. Furthermore, the addition of SoXyn10A following SoXyn11B-mediated digestion of xylan produced the same products as SoXyn10A alone with similar compositions. Thus, it was hypothesized that SoXyn10A could degrade xylans to a smaller size than SoXyn11B. In contrast to the soluble xylans as the substrate, the produced reducing power generated by both enzymes was not significantly different when pretreated milled bagasses were used as substrates. Quantification of the pentose content in the milled bagasse residues after the enzyme digestions revealed that SoXyn11B hydrolyzed xylans in pretreated milled bagasses much more efficiently than SoXyn10A. These data suggested that the GH10 xylanases can degrade soluble xylans smaller than the GH11 xylanases. However, the GH11 xylanases may be more efficient at catalyzing xylan degradation in natural environments (e.g. biomass) where xylans interact with celluloses and lignins.
Different agro-industrial materials were screened for their performance on production of mycophenolic acid (MPA) by two strains of Penicillium roqueforti (AG101 and LG109) under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Sugarcane bagasse followed by corn stalks and rice bran were the most favorable substrates supporting the MPA production. The maximum MPA concentration was achieved at initial moisture content 70\% for the first substrate and 80\% for the other substrates. Enrichment of the solid substrate with a modified Czapek's broth promoted a greater MPA concentration than that enriched with mineral salt solution. The AG101 and LG109 strains were improved to produce higher significant MPA titers on solid substrate by subjecting the spores to irradiation by UV light (254 nm) for 120 and 90 min, respectively; and gamma rays at 0.75 KGy. The highest MPA-producing ability of both irradiated strains was observed on sugarcane bagasse and it was increased by 1.57-1.72 fold when irradiated with UV rays and by 1.74-1.92 fold when irradiated with gamma rays, as compared with the non-irradiated cultures. These findings indicate the future possibility to reduce the cost of producing fermentation-based drugs.
Recovery of phosphorus (P) from incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) by biochar is an attractive solution for mitigating the P scarcity and transferring waste to resources. This work used Mg/Ca-modified biochars to take up P from the acid-extract from ISSA at low pH (<2), which simplified the previous P recycling process. The hypothesis is to produce a P-enriched post-sorption biochar that can be directly applied as a P fertilizer. Wastes of peanut shell and sugarcane bagasse were used to synthesize Mg/Ca-modified biochars at pyrolysis temperatures of 450 degrees C, 700 degrees C and 850 degrees C. Preliminary results indicated Mg-modified sugarcane bagasse biochar pyrolysed at 700 degrees C produced optimal P-absorption. This biochar was positively charged and had a high specific surface area (1440 m(2)/g), consistent with a layered porous structure. The optimal biochar showed rapid adsorption of P which could be described by the pseudosecond-order model. Successful adsorption of P from the acid-extract by the optimal biochar was mainly due to chemical precipitation and its adsorption capacity is 129.79 mg P/g biochar. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this work, we propose a Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model to determine the optimal design of a poly(hydroxyalkanoate)s (PHAs) production plant configuration. The superstructure based optimization model considers different carbon sources as raw material: glycerol (crude and purified), corn starch, cassava starch, sugarcane sucrose and sugarcane molasses. The PHA extraction section includes four alternatives: the use of enzyme, solvent, surfactant-NaOCl or surfactant-chelate. Model constraints include detailed capital cost for equipment, mass and energy balances, product specifications and operating bounds on process units. The resulting MINLP model maximizes the project net present value (NPV) as objective function and it is implemented in an equation oriented environment. Optimization results show the sugarcane-enzyme option as the most promising alternative (NPV=75.01 million USD) for PHAs production with an energy consumption of 22.56 MJ/kg PHA and a production cost of 3.02 USD/kg PHA. Furthermore, an economic sensitivity analysis is performed.
Vinasses are a residual liquid generated after the production of beverages, such as mezcal and tequila, from agave (Agave L.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) or sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.). These effluents have specific characteristics such as an acidic pH (from 3.9 to 5.1), a high chemical oxygen demand (50,000-95,000 mg L-1) and biological oxygen demand content (18,900-78,300 mg L-1), a high total solids content (79,000 and 37,500 mg L-1), high total volatile solids 79,000 and 82,222 mg L-1, and K+ (10-345 g L-1) content. Vinasses are most commonly discarded onto soil. Irrigation of soil with vinasses, however, may induce physical, chemical and biochemical changes and affect crop yields. Emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, might increase from soils irrigated with vinasses. An estimation of GHG emission from soil irrigated with vinasses is given and discussed in this review.
Rapid dissolution of bagasse and southern yellow pine has been achieved in the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ({[
Baker's yeast industries generate highly polluted effluents, especially the cell free broth (i.e., vinasse) charac-terized by high chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and salts. In this work, it was found that the residual by-products (i.e., ethanol and acetic acid) and salts in the vinasse severely inhibited the cell growth, which hin-dered the reuse of the vinasse for the production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Through optimizing a suitable control strategy, the productions of ethanol and acetic acid were eliminated. Then, a nanofiltration membrane (i. e., NF5) was preferred for preliminarily and simultaneously separating and concentrating valuable molecules (i. e., invertase, food grade proteins and pigments) in the vinasse, and the main fouling mechanism was cake layer formation. Subsequently, a reverse osmosis membrane (RO) was suitable to separate and concentrate salts in the NF5 permeate, where the membrane fouling was negligible. Finally, the RO permeate was successfully reused for the production of S. cerevisiae. In addition, without calculating the benefit from the recovery of the valuable molecules, the cost of the integrated process can be decreased by 59.8\% compared with the sole triple effect evaporation. Meanwhile, the volume of the fresh water used in the fermentation process can be decreased by 68.8\%. Thus, it is a sustainable process for the cleaner production of baker's yeast using the integrated fermentation and membrane separation process.
Cellulose nanofibril (CNF) films were prepared from side streams generated by the sugarcane industry, that is, bagasse. Two fractionation processes were utilized for comparison purposes: (1) soda and (2) hot water and soda pretreatments. 2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxyl-mediated oxidation was applied to facilitate the nanofibrillation of the bagasse fibers. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was chosen as plasticizer to improve the ductility of CNF films. The neat CNF and biocomposite films (CNF and 40\% PEG) were used for fabrication of self-standing humidity sensors. CNF-based humidity sensors exhibited high change of impedance, within four orders of magnitude, in response to relative humidity (RH) from 20 to 90\%. The use of plasticizer had an impact on sensor kinetics. While the biocomposite film sensors showed slightly longer response time, the recovery time of these plasticized sensors was two times shorter in comparison to sensors without PEG. This study demonstrated that agroindustrial side streams can form the basis for high-end applications such as humidity sensors, with potential for, for example, packaging and wound dressing applications. (c) 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47920.
Bio-based alternative Si fertilizers were developed by pyrolyzing Si-rich agricultural crop residue biomass of rice straw, sugarcane harvest residue, miscanthus, and switchgrass with KOH pretreatment at 0:100, 1:100, 5:100, 10:100, 25:100 and 50:100 KOH:Feedstock biomass ratios (termed 0 KB, 1 KB, 5 KB, 10 KB, 25 KB and 50 KB) and were evaluated for enhancing bioavailable Si in soils. KOH pretreatment enhanced plant-available Si in all feedstocks-derived biochars with rice straw-derived 10 KB biochar exhibiting the highest Si release. SEM-EDX mapping images showed morphological and structural changes of phytoliths in KOH-enhanced biochars which contributed to the increased bioavailable Si. Application of 1\% KOH-enhanced biochars to soils significantly increased plant-available Si in soils with minimum effect on soil pH. Perennial ryegrass grown in 10 KB rice straw biochar treated soil increased Si uptake by 31\% over 0 KB treated soil and was comparable with mineral Si treatment. Overall, KOH-enhanced biochar as alternative Si source could provide multiple functions in disease control, K nutrition, and C sequestration.
This study performed a prior delignification with sodium chlorite treatment on sugarcane straw and coffee husk waste, followed by alkaline treatment strategies; aiming at the increase cellulose recovery efficiency and the decrease of chemical consumption process. This study also explored an effective approach in the use of the cellulose recovery fraction for the enzymatic production of short chain cello-oligosaccharides, using optimal mixture of commercial enzymes (cellulases with esterase), that have never been studied or reported in any other work with this approach. The hydrothermal alkaline treatment using KOH concentration 4.5\% w/v, displayed similar effects to treatment with moderate temperature conditions (35 degrees C) with high a KOH concentration (24\% w/v). The cellulose extraction efficiency was significant, around 92\%, and achieved delignification close to 91\%. Efficient enzyme mixtures that achieved maximum cello-oligosaccharide yields of around 63.56 mg. gsubstrate and low glucose concentrations were developed. This suggests a probably cost reductions and simplification in the purification step, for future application in the different industrial fields.
In tropical America, Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) is a major pest of coconut, Cocos nucifera (L.), and oil palm, Elaeis guineensis Jacq., through direct attack and as a vector of the red ring nematode, Bursaphelenchus cocophilus Baujard. We have developed an effective trap for this large weevil that employs the newly identified major component of the male-produced aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-5(E)-hepten-4-ol (rhynchophorol). Trap design, color, placement, and pheromone release rate as well as type, quantity, and longevity of attractiveness of food additives were studied in a commercial oil palm plantation in Costa Rica. Insecticide-treated palm stem pieces baited with rhynchophorol were effective, but buckets or bags with rhynchophorol and insecticide-treated sugarcane were the most effective traps. The latter captured 6 to 30 times more weevils than bucket traps containing rhynchophorol or treated sugarcane alone. Trap color did not influence capture rates. More weevils were captured in bucket traps placed at ground level than at 1.7 or 3.1 m. In bucket traps halved sugarcane stalk was significantly more effective than palm pieces, molasses on a sponge, or processed palm mesocarp. Insecticide-treated sugarcane was attractive for 2 wk.
A two-step approach to the conversion of organosolv, kraft and sugarcane bagasse lignin to monoaromatic compounds of low oxygen content is presented. The first step consists of lignin depolymerization in a liquid phase reforming (LPR) reaction over a 1 wt\% Pt/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst at 225 degrees C in alkaline ethanol-water. The first LPR step resulted in a decrease in lignin molecular weight of 32\%, 57\% and 27\% for organosolv, kraft and bagasse lignin, respectively. GC analysis of the depolymerized lignin reaction mixture furthermore showed the formation of alkylated phenol, guaiacol and syringol-type products in 11\%, 9\% and 5\% yields from organosolv, kraft and bagasse lignin, respectively. The lignin-oil that was isolated by extraction of the ethanol-water solution was subjected to a subsequent hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) reaction in the second conversion step. HDO of the lignin-oil was performed in dodecane at 300 degrees C under 50 bar hydrogen pressure over CoMo/Al2O3 and MO2C/CNF catalysts. GC analysis of the product mixture obtained after the two-step LPR-HDO process revealed the formation of, amongst others, benzene, toluene, xylenes and ethylmethylbenzenes. Of the total observed monomeric products (9\%), 25\% consisted of these oxygen-free products. Notably, such products cannot be obtained by direct HDO of lignin. HDO of the lignin-oil at 350 degrees C resulted in the conversion of all tris-oxygenated products, with 57\% of the observed monomeric products now identified as mono-oxygenated phenolics.
The agroindustry of the Panela generates a high pollutant load which is represented by liquids, gases and solids. Among the most polluting solid wastes, the sugarcane bagasse is the one that generates the most environmental impact because it is poured directly into the ravines, triggering serious conflicts in the social and economic order. The objective in this research was to obtain organic fertilizers, from the sugar cane residues, adding microbial broths which were enriched with fertilizers. Five treatments were evaluated. They included compost, microbial broth, nitrogen additions, phosphorus and a fully randomized control with three replicates. The physical and chemical variables were determined from the organic fertilizer, besides the fertilizer effect in Raphanus sativus L plants. The microbial broth application on the sugarcane bagasse allowed to obtain a good organic fertilizer content which was full of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. From the enriched organic fertilizer application, in doses of 2 and 4 t/ha-1, a greater length of the aerial part of R. Sativus was obtained, which resulted in greater weight of the aerial part but also from the radical part.
A novel multi-metal binding biosorbent (MMBB) was developed by combining a group of three from the selective natural lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes for effectively eliminating lead, cadmium, copper and zinc from aqueous solutions. Four MMBBs with different combinations (MMBB1: tea waste, corncob, sugarcane bagasse; MMBB2: tea waste, corncob and sawdust; MMBB3: tea waste, corncob and apple peel; MMBB4: tea waste, corncob and grape stalk) were evaluated. FTIR analysis for characterizing the MMBB2 explored that the MMBB2 contains more functional groups available for multi-metals binding. Comparing among the MMBBs as well as the single group biosorbents, MMBB2 was the best biosorbent with the maximum biosorption capacities of 41.48, 39.48, 94.00 and 27.23 mg/g for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively. After 5 times of desorption with CaCl2, CH3COOH and NaCl as eluent, the MMBB2 still remained excellent biosorptive capacity, so as it could be well regenerated for reuse and possible recovery of metals. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Polyacry late hydrogel films were used as immobilization matrices for cell entrapment of the yeast strain, Candida subtropicalis WF79, isolated from sugarcane bagasse. The hydrogel films with immobilized viable yeast cells were employed for the bioconversion from xylose to xylitol. The hydrogel was prepared from the monomers of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), methacrylic acid (MAA), and N,N-dimethyl acrylamide (DMA) with polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEG-DA, weight-average molecular weight Mw=400 and 1,000 g/mol) as the crosslinking agent. The mechanical properties and fermentation yields of the immobilized polyacrylate hydrogel film with different monomeric formulation were investigated. Fermentation was carried out in a medium of 100 mL aqueous solution containing various amount of xylose. The conversion rate of xylose to xylitol conversion reached a maximum value of 80\% after 120 h. The bioconversion activity gradually declined, after 720 h, to 65\% conversion at 1,080 h.
This study evaluates the integral use of the sugarcane bagasse on the productive process of a cogeneration power plant in an Ecuadorian Sugar Company. Thermoelectric power plants burning biomass require a large initial investment and, for example, this initial investment requires \$800/kW, which is double the initial investment of a conventional thermoelectric power plant that is \$400/kW, and almost similar to the initial cost of a hydroelectric power plant that is \$1000/kW. A thermoeconomic study was made on the production of electricity and the sales of the exceeding 27 MW average. From the results, it was concluded that generated electricity costs are \$0.0443/kW h, in comparison with the costs of the supplied electricity through fossil power plants with values in the range \$0.03-\$0.15/kW h and hydroelectric power plants with a value of about \$0.02/kW h. Cogeneration power plants burning sugarcane bagasse could contribute to the mitigation of climatic change. This specific case study shows the reduction of the prospective emissions of greenhouse effect gases in the amount of 55,188 ton of CO2 equivalent per year. {[
The natural biodiversity that is found in tropical areas offers countless biotechnological opportunities; especially if we take in account that many biomolecules from several microorganisms have supported for many years, different industrial applications in areas such as pharmacology, agro-industry, bioprocess, environmental technology, and bioconversion. In order to find new lignocellulolytic enzymes and evaluate bamboo fibers as substrate, Schizophyllum commune a fungus with broad distribution was isolated and grown during 15 days in liquid culture medium containing 1\% lignocellulosic fibers from bamboo, banana stem, and sugarcane bagasse. The enzymatic activity of xylanase, mannanase, polygalacturonase, CMCase, FPase, and avicelase were evaluated. Sugarcane bagasse and banana stem showed to induce higher hollocellulase activity when compared with bamboo as the main carbon source. The physical mechanism that the fungus uses to degrade bamboo was observed not only in fibers naturally infected but also in healthy fibers that were treated and untreated with enzyme solution. SEM analysis showed the structural disruption and invasion of the vascular bundles, parenchyma cells, and parenchymatous tissues as a consequence of the presence of this fungus and the catalytic action of its enzymes into the plant tissue.
The effect of fibrolytic enzymes addition (cellulase and xylanase) on the DM, CP, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose in situ degradability of Tifton 85 hay (Cynodon spp.) cut at 30 and 90 days and sugarcane bagasse were evaluated with six bovines cannulated on the rumen. The enzymes were extracted from Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachiatum fungi and supplied 0.75 g/kg of DM/animal.day, through ruminal cannula. The incubation times were 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. The incubation residues were compared by scanning electron micrographs (SEM). The effect of enzyme addition on the DM and CP degradation varied in function of roughage studied. The effective degradability of DM of Tifton 85 hay cut at 3(l and 90 days and sugarcane bagasse, without enzymes addition, was 61.85, 42.35, and 28.22\%, respectively, and 63.51, 40.64, and 31.43\%, respectively, with enzymes addition. There was no effect of enzymes on the fiber degradation. The SEM observations showed that bacterial colonization increased on the cell wall of roughages with enzymatic supplementation. The fibrolytic enzyme. addition to the ruminant diet presented little expressive effect on the degradation parameters of studied roughages.
Soybean residue (SR) was transformed, through solid-state fermentation by Aspergillus oryzae TISTR 3087 followed by hydrolysis, to a solution rich in free amino nitrogen (FAN), and used as the nitrogen source in an ethanol fermentation. Supplementing SR with waste cooked rice (CR) at a 75:25 mass ratio increased dramatically the production of protease compared to a fermentation with SR as the sole substrate (2822 U g(-1) substrate against 33 U g(-1)). Subsequent hydrolysis of the solid-state fermented solids produced as much as 1.8 g-FAN L-1. The SR-derived hydrolysate was mixed with sugarcane molasses, to an initial sugar concentration of 110 g L-1, and used for ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae TISTR 5339. The yeast produced 40.7 g ethanol L-1 with a yield of 0.42 gg-sugar(-1) and a productivity of 0.62 g L-1 h(-1). This study demonstrates clearly that co-fermentation of SR and CR enhances protease production, and that SR is a feasible and low cost source of nitrogen for ethanol fermentation. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The widespread use of corn starch and sugarcane as sources of sugar for the production of ethanol via fermentation may negatively impact the use of farmland for production of food. Thus, alternative sources of fermentable sugars, particularly from lignocellulosic sources, have been extensively investigated. Another source of fermentable sugars with substantial potential for ethanol production is the waste from the food growing and processing industry. Reviewed here is the use of waste from potato processing, molasses from processing of sugar beets into sugar, whey from cheese production, byproducts of rice and coffee bean processing, and other food processing wastes as sugar sources for fermentation to ethanol. Specific topics discussed include the organisms used for fermentation, strategies, such as co-culturing and cell immobilization, used to improve the fermentation process, and the use of genetic engineering to improve the performance of ethanol producing fermenters.
Tetracycline (TC) and sugarcane bagasse had both exerted enormous strain on environmental security. In this work, new composite adsorbent designed by impregnating bio-waste bagasse with magnesium-aluminum layered double oxides (BC-MA) was innovatively brought forward for TC removal. Benefiting from the abundant adsorption sites supplied by developed pores structure (0.308 cm(3).g(-1)), enlarged surface area (256.8 m(2).g(-1)) and reinforced functional groups, the maximum adsorption amount of BC-MA for TC reached 250.6 mg g(-1). Moreover, BC-MA displayed desirable adsorption capacity in diverse water environments coupled with excellent sustainable regeneration ability. The absorption process of TC by BC-MA was spontaneous and endothermic, and the pivotal rate-limiting stage pertained to intraparticle diffusion. The mechanisms proposed here mainly concerned pi-pi interactions, pore filling, complexation and hydrogen bonding. These findings suggested that the synthesis of modified biochar from bagasse would offer new opportunities for simultaneous waste resource reuse and water pollution control.
Mechanical properties of rebars embedded in ternary concretes with fly ash (FA) plus untreated sugarcane bagasse ash (UtSCBA) and immersed in a Cl--solution for 3000 days were investigated. Reinforced concrete specimens containing Portland cement (PC) only, PC + FA, and PC + FA + UtSCBA were manufactured. The corrosion conditions of the rebars were evaluated by electrochemical testing; then the rebars were extracted and their mass loss estimated. Next, elemental mapping of the concrete/reinforcing steel interfaces using scanning electron microscopy was conducted. Rust was analyzed by X-Ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Finally, the rebars were tested in tension to evaluate their yield and ultimate strengths, fracture loads, and ductilities. Results indicate that rebars from UtSCBA-ternary concretes experienced the lowest mass loss. Moreover, the yield strengths of all rebars were not affected by corrosion, while the ultimate strengths, fracture loads, and ductilities of rebars from UtSCBA-ternary concretes were larger than those from the control.
Exploiting new carbon supports with adjustable metal-support interaction and low price is of prime importance to realize the maximum active iron efficiency and industrial-scale application of Fe-based catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS). Herein, a simple, tunable, and scalable biochar support derived from the sugarcane bagasse was successfully prepared and was first used for FTS. The metal-support interaction was precisely controlled by functional groups of biosugarcane-based carbon material and different iron species sizes. All catalysts synthesized displayed high activities, and the iron-time-yield of Fe-4/C-bio even reached 1,198.9 mu mol g(Fe)(-1) s(-1). This performance was due to the unique structure and characteristics of the biosugarcane-based carbon support, which possessed abundant C-O, C=O (eta(1)(O) and eta(2)(C, O)) functional groups, thus endowing the moderate metal-support interaction, high dispersion of active iron species, more active epsilon-Fe2C phase, and, most importantly, a high proportion of FexC/Fe-surf, facilitating the maximum iron efficiency and intrinsic activity of the catalyst.
Several artificial diets were evaluated as alternatives to decomposing pineapple {[
In the present study, two different processes, separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF), and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) were compared. Three different lignocellulosic biomass viz. rice straw (RS), wheat straw (WS), and sugarcane bagasse (SB) were pretreated with dilute acid at two different concentrations (2 and 4 \% H2SO4 w/v) and at two different time intervals, i.e., 30 and 60 min. RS, WS, and SB with 4 \% H2SO4 at 121 degrees C for 30 min yielded maximum reducing sugars (110, 90, and 95 g l(-1)). Delignification of the solid residues were carried out with 0.5 \% NaOH, at 121 degrees C for 30 min. In-house cellulase produced by Aspergillus terreus was used for separate hydrolysis studies at 10 \% solid loading and 9 FPU g(-1) substrate enzyme loading for 0-48 h at 42 degrees C. Maximum yield of reducing sugars from RS, WS, and SB were 266, 242, and 254 mg g(-1) substrate, respectively. Acid and enzymatic hydrolysates from RS, WS, and SB produced 5.1, 4.9, 5.2 g l(-1), and 14.0, 13.9, 12.9 g l(-1) of ethanol with Pichia stipitis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 24 and 36 h, respectively. Whereas SSF at 10 \% solid loading and 9 FPU g(-1) substrate enzyme loading for different time intervals 0-72 h at 42 degrees C was carried out using in-house thermotolerant yeast strain Kluyveromyces sp. RS, WS, and SB yielded maximum ethanol of 23.23, 18.29, and 17.91 g l(-1), respectively. Ethanol yield was enhanced by addition of Tween 80 1 \% (v/v) by 8.39, 9.26, and 8.14 \% in RS, WS and SB, respectively.
Socio-economic aspects of technology implementation should be carefully examined in the design of regional energy systems. In this paper, we conducted a computer-aided socio-economic analysis on regional energy systems in isolated islands. Existing developed models were simultaneously utilized for characterizing the applicable technology options. At the same time, we analysed economic circulations induced by the utilization of locally available resources such as the residues of agriculture and forestry, which may twist the faucet of the cash effluent from the regions. A case study was conducted in an isolated island in Japan, Tanegashima, to demonstrate proposed computer-aided socio-economic analysis. The results clarified that the region-specific conditions on industrial structures can be revealed and visualized by preparing customized input-output table for the region. For the analysis of socio-economic aspects of newly installed technologies, computer-aided tools should be able to estimate the elements of input-output table based on the technological modelling with the locally customized input-output table.
The use of solid wastes and natural fibres to the production of innovative composites is now a matter of environmental need. A set of hybrid composites constituted of waste rubber particles and sugarcane bagasse fibres into a thermoset composite material are drilled to determine the effect of rubber particle addition and size, sugarcane fibre addition and length and fibre chemical treatment on damage extension and related mechanical properties. Damage extension is determined by enhanced radiography for further damage measurement - diameter - and areas and correlated with mechanical test results - bearing test. The results demonstrated significant effect of the rubber and fibre additions on mechanical properties of the composites. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A microbiological process using Pseudomonas mendocina was developed for the removal of Cr(VI) from cooling tower effluent. The process, when carried out in a 20. liter continuous stirred tank reactor removed 25-100 mg chromate/l in 4.5-8 h with >99.9\% efficiency in the presence of sugarcane molasses as nutrient. The process could sustain wide variations in pH (6.5-9.5), temperature (25 degrees C-40 degrees C) and was unaffected by, commonly used biocides.
The present study is a novel attempt to utilize agricultural residues for addressing the dual challenge faced by pulp and paper industries to control pollution caused due to pulp bleaching and release of colored waste water. Fungal isolate, Aspergillus lentulus, was utilized for the production of xylanase through solid state fermentation utilizing various low-cost agro-residues as substrate. Maximum xylanase production was obtained on the 4th day of incubation using wheat bran as the substrate (158.4 U/g) followed by corn cob (153.0 U/g), sugarcane bagasse (129.9 U/g) and wheat straw (49.4 U/g). These activities were accompanied by very low cellulase activities. The enzyme exhibited good stability at high pH and temperature (>75\% activity retained at pH 9 and 70 degrees C). Later, the left over spent fermented slurry was utilized to remove anionic (>85.0\% removal) and cationic (>96.0\% removal) dyes. Results indicate cellulase-free; pH and thermo stable nature of the xylanase enzyme which is required during bio-bleaching process. Moreover, successful utilization of spent residues from fermentation in dye removal process signify that the proposed technology can be utilized to meet the requirements of pulp and bleaching industries through an effective and sustainable approach. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic materials, mostly from agricultural and forestry residues, provide a potential renewable resource for sustainable biorefineries. Reducing sugars can be produced only after a pre-treatment stage, which normally involves chemicals but can be biological. In this case, two steps are usually necessary: solid-state cultivation of fungi for deconstruction, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis using cellulolytic enzymes. In this research, the utilisation of solid-state bioprocessing using the fungus Trichoderma longibrachiatum was implemented as a simultaneous microbial pretreatment and in-situ enzyme production method for fungal autolysis and further enzyme hydrolysis of fermented solids. Suspending the fermented solids in water at 50 degrees C led to the highest hydrolysis yields of 226 mg/g reducing sugar and 7.7 mg/g free amino nitrogen (FAN). The resultant feedstock was shown to be suitable for the production of various products including ethanol. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license.
This study includes the utilization of sweet lemon peel (SLP) and sugarcane bagasse (SB) in solid-state fermentation using Kluyveromyces marxianus for bioflavor compounds production adopting response surface methodology. The major flavor compounds, 2-phenylethanol (2-PE) and 2-phenylethyl acetate (2-PEA) were quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with and without adding any supplements. Quantification of flavor compounds indicated that without adding any accessory in the substrate, the concentration of 2-PE using SLP and SB was 0.15 +/- 0.003 mg/g and 0.14 +/- 0.002 mg/g, respectively. Whereas 2-PEA concentration using SLP and SB was observed as 0.01 +/- 0.008 mg/g and 0.02 +/- 0.001 mg/g, respectively. The addition of l-phenylalanine (l-phe) in the substrates showed 30\%-75\% enhancement in the production of 2-PE and 2-PEA. The present study indicates that the K. marxianus is a potential microbial cell factory for the production of 2-PE and 2-PEA with the addition of synthetic l-phe having a plethora of applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Biorefinery processes are challenged to make effective use of commercial flowsheeting software. Challenges include the lack of property data, complexity of raw materials, and emerging non-conventional processes and technologies. Surrogate models could assist by combining data-based models (by means of surrogate models) with conventional models available from flowsheeting vendors. The challenge would be to translate experimental data into property and process parameters compatible with models used by commercial software. The paper introduces an iterative approach for the systematic evaluation of such parameters. Degrees of freedom include options for pseudo-components, thermodynamic methods, and process models. The approach is applied for the modeling of a real-life biorefinery. Three case studies demonstrate the potential of the proposed scheme. The first case study has fixed options for the property and process models, while the second one has them as a degree of freedom. The third case study extrapolates the resulted metamodels to different capacities and six different feedstock types (wheat and rice straw, wood, sugarcane bagasse, banana stem, and miscanthus). Degrees of freedom expand as the cases address limited options for surrogate models, gradually incorporating additional options and, apparently, better regression results. The proposed framework could embed additional levels of sophistication using machine learning and artificial intelligence technology. The emphasis of the paper stands on the methodological framework and its demonstration with real-life examples.
Aspergillus terreus MS105 was originally isolated from soil and screened for cellulase production in the presence of various carbon sources including carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), avicel, sigmacell, filter-paper and salicin. CMC induced the production of endoglucanase (EG) and filter-paperase while the levels of beta-glucosidase (BGL) were increased when salicin was present in the medium. Nature of production medium influenced the duration of lag- and log-phase of the growth, rate of fungal dry-mass and enzyme production. The volumetric and specific productivity of cellulase under submerged fermentation of grass were 1.7-20-folds higher than sugarcane-bagasse, corncob and commercially available purified substrates. Nonetheless, solid state fermentation (SSF) of crude substrates also yielded high volumetric productivity of EG and BGL. The studies on characterization of enzymes showed that EG was more thermostable than BGL with an optimum activity at 70 degrees C and a melting temperature of 76 degrees C. A 1.2-1.5-folds increase in EG activity was observed in the presence of K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+, whereas, the EG and BGL activities remained unaffected in the presence of EDTA. Both the enzyme activities performed optimally under acidic range of pH.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a model unicellular eukaryote with ties to the basic research, oenology and industrial biotechnology sectors. While most investigations into S. pombe cell biology utilize Leupold's 972h(-) laboratory strain background, recent studies have described a wealth of genetic and phenotypic diversity within wild populations of S. pombe including stress resistance phenotypes which may be of interest to industry. Here we describe the genomic and transcriptomic characterization of Wilmar-P, an S. pombe isolate used for bioethanol production from sugarcane molasses at industrial scale. Novel sequences present in Wilmar-P but not in the laboratory S. pombe genome included multiple coding sequences with near-perfect nucleotide identity to Schizosaccharomyces octosporus sequences. Wilmar-P also contained a similar to 100kb duplication in the right arm of chromosome III, a region harboring ght5(+), the predominant hexose transporter encoding gene. Transcriptomic analysis of Wilmar-P grown in molasses revealed strong downregulation of core environmental stress response genes and upregulation of hexose transporters and drug efflux pumps compared to laboratory S. pombe. Finally, examination of the regulatory network of Scr1, which is involved in the regulation of several genes differentially expressed on molasses, revealed expanded binding of this transcription factor in Wilmar-P compared to laboratory S. pombe in the molasses condition. Together our results point to both genomic plasticity and transcriptomic adaptation as mechanisms driving phenotypic adaptation of Wilmar-P to the molasses environment and therefore adds to our understanding of genetic diversity within industrial fission yeast strains and the capacity of this strain for commercial scale bioethanol production.
Phosphorous (P) fixation in alkaline calcareous soils is a serious concern worldwide and acidified-biochar application has been proposed to improve the agronomic benefits of applied P. The present study aims to improve understanding of P transformation process in an alkaline soil following different biochar amendments (rice-husk biochar (RHB), sugarcane-bagasse biochar (SWB) and wheat-straw biochar (WSB)), chemically engineered (acidification with 1 N HCl or washing with distilled water (pristine biochar)) along with or without P at 60 mg kg(-1). A pot experiment was conducted with three biochars (RHB, SWB, WSB) and control, two chemical modifications (acidic and pristine), and two P-levels (without or with P). A pot study by growing spring maize and a parallel incubation study were done to test the treatment effects on P transformation. Results demonstrated that acidified SBC and WSB increased the plant P uptake and dry-matter yield by 40\% and 29.7\%, respectively, with P-supply. Both pristine or acidified RHB produced 80.5\% and 110.7\%, more root dry-matter, respectively, compared to respective controls without P. Non-acidified WSB along with P showed significantly higher Olson's P in incubation study. While in case of acidification along with P addition, RHB exhibited greater P availability, but it was inconsistent at different times during incubation. It can be concluded that acidified biochar amendments have potential to improve P management with inconsistent results. It is difficult to rule out that acidification of biochars is a pre-requisite for alkaline soils for P improvement. Further research is needed to explore site-specific P management for sustainable crop production. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Nanoparticles can be utilised in many field applications such as environmental analysis, water and wastewater treatment and medical treatment due to its unique physical and biomedical properties. Magnetic nanoparticles are excellent absorbent to treat large volumes of water or wastewater. Magnetic nanoparticles not just only have the same properties as nanoparticles, yet it has magnetic characteristic. Iron oxides magnetic nanoparticles react with different functional groups and ligands, which can achieve specific contaminants removal. Despite of that, magnetic nanoparticles are still not commercially available for water and wastewater treatment. Thus, this pilot study was conducted based on the most economical and feasible approach to produce magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. Magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are synthesized via Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) process using sugarcane bagasse as carbon precursor followed by 400 degrees C heat treatment for tannin removal but still retain its good magnetic property. This pilot study was carried out based on a production capacity of 5000 tonnes per annum magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with the least of 95\% purity. Financial analysis for this pilot study was conducted. Total annualized cost for base case was rated to be USD \$129,294,635 per annum. Total revenue for base case was estimated to be USD \$4,452,949,096 with a payback period of 1.3 years. Net profit is USD \$41,134,543 per annum with returned on investment (ROI) of 75\% for base case. Thus, a plant scale-up is feasible for this pilot study.
This study uses a static computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to examine the potential economic impacts of ethanol production in Uganda. We introduce an ethanol sector in the 2016/17 Uganda's social accounting matrix (SAM) using maize, cassava, sugarcane, and molasses as feedstocks. Furthermore, we evaluate the suitability of each feedstock. By simulating a 10\% blending mandate, we find that factor employment and total output would increase, with a sluggish rise in commodity prices. Real GDP would grow moderately, and household income increase, mostly for the rural households. Household welfare would decline because of a counter-financing tax on gasoline. A reduction in gasoline imports is likely to improve the trade balance, and despite the ensuing decline in import tax revenues, government income would still rise. Our results are suggestive of ethanol production as a potential pro-poor project for Uganda. Both sugarcane and maize are more growth-enhancing compared to cassava. The use of only molasses from the sugar industry may result in negative impacts since it is already an input in other activities. We also observe that using an average of multiple feedstocks would be more sustainable. Moreover, it would allow a more balanced growth while reducing upward price pressures. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of International Energy Initiative.
Looking for alternatives to promote the diversification of the Brazilian energy grid through the utilization of renewable fuels, this forecasting study evaluates the potential to generate thermal energy from lignins extracted of several crops in the period 2015-2021. The estimates were carried out taking into account two biomass particle size distributions (ranged between 105-500 mu m and 1000-2000 mu m) and two extraction methods (Klason and Willstatter) to assess the lignin yields obtained from five well-known Brazilian crops. Results revealed that lignins obtained from the sugarcane bagasse, wood chips, and corn straw would have the highest potential to provide thermal energy when data of lignin yields, higher heating values, and crops production are considered. The estimate suggests that in 2021 this alternate fuel could supply more than 1320 x 10(6) GJyr(-1) of thermal energy from the five crops analyzed, owing to the expected increase of the acreage and production for the most crops studied here in the next years. Recognizing that more studies are still needed, mainly in terms of economic feasibility, results of this work warn about possible additional benefits in developing the large-scale production of second-generation ethanol (via hydrolysis), in which lignin fractions from several crops could be separated and recovered for using them as new energy resource. (c) 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 717-722, 2017
Currently, the agricultural sector is responsible for the contamination of groundwater and springs due to the excessive use of pesticides, which represents a risk to human and environmental health. Among pesticides, glyphosate is the most used herbicide to increase agricultural production, however, it can cause intoxication in humans and has been classified as a potentially carcinogenic agent. Alternatives for removing these contaminants from water have been studied and discussed, including biosorption, a physical-chemical process that removes substances from solutions using a natural and renewable material. In this sense, this work studied the process to obtain cationic cellulose microfibers (cCMF) from sugarcane bagasse residue, by cellulose isolation followed by cationization reaction with Girard T reagent to promote a new adsorbent for glyphosate removal from water. It was observed that cCMF structure maintains the fibrillar morphology after the microfiber production (1.375 mmol g(-1) oxidation degree). Results of zero charge of cCMF microfibers showed an isoelectric point pH = 5.4 +/- 0.016 and the highest adsorption capacity was reached at pH 14 (59.21 \%), showing a clear pH dependence on the adsorption process. Thereby, the cCMF can be produced from sugarcane bagasse residue being applied as a potential biomaterial for removing organic compounds from water.
Dipteryx alata is an arboreal species found in the Brazilian Savannah (BS), that has potential human and animal uses, including nutrition, medicine, and revegetation. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional status and growth of D. alata seedlings used to recover degraded soils to which residues had been added compared to seedlings grown in the BS. The degraded soil was treated with organic and agroindustrial residues. Twelve months after seedlings were introduced, they were evaluated for height, stem diameter, chlorophyll index, and concentration of foliar macro and micronutrients. The foliar concentration was determined for D. alata seedlings grown in the degraded area and BS. The addition of residues increased foliar concentration of seedlings grown in the degraded area; however, concentrations did not reach similar levels to seedlings grown in BS. D. alata accumulated Mn in plants. The height and stem diameter of seedlings responded positively to residue application.
Here, an easy to prepare, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient biosorbent was synthesized for the se-lective recovery of glyphosine from glyphosate mother liquor. Batch adsorption and continuous fixed-bed column experiments were conducted to determine its adsorption properties and evaluate its potential towards practical applications. The results showed that the biosorbent exhibited a fast adsorption rate and high adsorption capacity (296.1 mg/g) toward glyphosine. Further, the biosorbent performed better under acidic conditions, and was easily regenerated using an alkaline solution, maintaining a high removal efficiency even after 5 adsorption -desorption cycles. Competitive adsorption experiments in binary and ternary systems revealed that the bio-sorbent showed a higher adsorption affinity toward the target glyphosine compared with glyphosate and phosphorous acid (which are the other main constituents of glyphosate mother liquor), enabling the selective recycling of glyphosine. These observations were further supported through density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the adsorption energy. Moreover, fixed-bed column experiments showed that the prepared bio-sorbent could maintain its high performance in actual glyphosate mother liquor. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses revealed that the adsorption mecha-nism is strongly associated with electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding between -NH3+ and glyphosine. Overall, the prepared biosorbent can be considered as an excellent candidate for the selective recovery of glyphosine from complicated industrial wastewater systems.
A mutualistic fungus of the leaf-cutting ant Atta mexicana was isolated and identified as Leucoagaricus gongylophorus. This isolate had a close phylogenetic relationship with L. gongylophorus fungi cultivated by other leaf-cutting ants as determined by ITS sequencing. A subcolony started with similar to 500 A. mexicana workers could process 2 g day(-1) of plant material and generate a 135 cm(3) fungus garden in 160 days. The presence of gongylidia structures of similar to 35 mu m was observed on the tip of the hyphae. The fungus could grow without ants on semi-solid cultures with alpha-cellulose and microcrystalline cellulose and in solid-state cultures with grass and sugarcane bagasse, as sole sources of carbon. The maximum CO2 production rate on grass (V-max = 17.5 mg CO2 L-g(-1) day(-1)) was three times higher than on sugarcane bagasse (V-max = 6.6 mg CO2 Lg(-1) day(-1)). Recoveries of 32.9 mg(glucose) g(biomass)(-1) and 12.3 mg(glucose) g(biomass) (-1) were obtained from the fungal biomass and the fungus garden, respectively. Endoglucanase activity was detected on carboxymethylcellulose agar plates. This is the first study reporting the growth of L. gongylophorus from A. mexicana on cellulose and plant material.
A heterologous pathway for sucrose transport and metabolism was introduced into Clostridium beijerinckii to improve sucrose use for n-butanol production. The combined expression of StSUT1, encoding a sucrose transporter from potato (Solanum tuberosum), and SUC2, encoding a sucrose invertase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, remarkably enhanced n-butanol production. With sucrose, sugarcane molasses and sugarcane juice as substrates, the C. beijerinckii strain harbouring StSUT1 and SUC2 increased acetone-butanol-ethanol production by 38.7\%, 22.3\% and 52.8\%, respectively, compared with the wild-type strain. This is the first report to demonstrate enhanced sucrose fermentation due to the heterologous expression of a sucrose transporter and invertase in Clostridium. The metabolic engineering strategy used in this study can be widely applied in other microorganisms to enhance the production of high-value compounds from sucrose-based biomass.
Lignin from sugarcane bagasse was extracted using three different methods such as Alkaline, Ethanosolv, and Hydrotropic extraction and the effect of each method on yield and quality of bio-oil obtained when the lignin was depolymerized through solvothermal liquefaction was studied using ethanol as solvent. The maximum lignin yield was obtained in the hydrotropic extraction method when Sodium Xylene Sulfonate was used as the hy-drotropic solvent at a concentration of 1.43 M and a temperature of 90 degrees C. Hydrothermal experiments were performed at temperature of 250 degrees C with a residence time of 30 min and lignin to ethanol ratio of 1:200 g/mL respectively. Among the methods used, the Ethanosolv lignin showed the highest extent of depolymerization (86.7\%) to yield bio-oil at 250 degrees C with reduced biochar formation at lignin to solvent ratio of 1:200. Biochar obtained was used in adsorption studies of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Nickel (Ni), and Zinc (Zn) and results showed that more than 85\% removal of all the metals under lower concentration levels.
An inhibitor of human tyrosinase activity in rum distillate wastewater was isolated and identified as (S)-(+)-imperanene (1). (S)-(+)-Imperanene significantly inhibited tyrosinase isolated from HMV-II cells (IC50 1.85 mM). Inhibition kinetics studies revealed that imperanene is a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase when L-3,4-dihydroxyplienylalanine is used as the substrate. The inhibitory activities of 1, O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl imperanene (2) and O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3-methoxyl imperanene (3) were 1 > 2 > 3.
BACKGROUND: Woody biomass has a low hydrothermal-carbonization (HTC) degree and the hydrolysis process of some of its components is similar to that of saccharides. To improve the adsorption performance of wood-chips hydrothermal char (hydrochar) for tetracycline in water, molasses and potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) were added to its HTC process; K2FeO4 catalyzed the carbonization of raw materials and the surface of wood chips and saccharides in molasses, along with the iron ions mutually polymerized, added more reactive-oxygen functional groups to the hydrochar surface. The effects of K2FeO4 and molasses on the morphology, pore structure, surface oxygen-containing functional groups, and tetracycline-adsorption properties of hydrothermal carbon were investigated. RESULT: The strong oxidizing properties of K2FeO4 promoted the hydrolysis of raw material. The modified hydrochar formed more oxygen-containing functional groups and produced Fe-O bonds with an increased specific surface area. For the adsorption of tetracycline in water, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm were more consistent with the hydrochar-adsorption process. The adsorption mechanism favored a combination of physical and chemical adsorption, with chemisorption being predominant. The maximum tetracycline-adsorption capacity of HTC-0.15Fe was 119.7 mg g(-1), which is significantly higher than that of unmodified hydrochar HTC-C (56.4 mg g(-1)). Furthermore, molasses addition effectively improved the hydrochar structure, forming carbon-coated iron-core particles on its surface, which increased adsorption performance. CONCLUSION: K2FeO4-catalyzed hydrochar produced from wood chips and sugarcane molasses is an effective adsorbent for tetracycline removal from water. This work provides innovative insights into the recycling and effective use of wood chips and molasses for environmental remediation and waste treatment.(c) 2023 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Cellulase and hemicellulase activities in a 1:1 ratio of enzymes extracted from Chrysoporthe cubensis and Penicillium pinophilum were evaluated in the presence of known monocomponent phenolic inhibitors and also with phenol mixtures derived from alkali pretreated sugarcane bagasse. The cellulolytic activities from C. cubensis:P. pinophilum displayed a much higher tolerance to phenolic inhibitors than equivalent enzyme activities obtained from Tnchodennareesei and Aspergillus niger. Enzymes from T. reesei and A. niger were deactivated at 0.3 and 1.5 mg phenols/mg protein, respectively, as reported previously, while enzymes from C. cubensis:P. pino-philum resisted deactivation at 35 mg phenols/mg protein. However, tolerance of xylanase with respect to phenols required the presence of laccase. Removal of laccase (enzyme) activity using sodium azide resulted in a 2x higher xylanase deactivation (from 40\% to 80\%). This paper identifies enzymes that are phenol tolerant, and whose adoption for lignocellulose hydrolysis could contribute to reductions in enzyme loading needed to hydrolyze alkali pretreated lignocellulosic substrates in the presence of lignin derived phenols.
This work presents a strategy for optimizing the production process of ethanol via integrated gasification and syngas fermentation, a conversion platform of growing interest for its contribution to carbon recycling. The objective functions (minimum ethanol selling price (MESP), energy efficiency, and carbon footprint) were evaluated for the combinations of different input variables in models of biomass gasification, energy production from syngas, fermentation, and ethanol distillation, and a multi-objective genetic algorithm was employed for the optimization of the integrated process. Two types of waste feedstocks were considered, wood residues and sugarcane bagasse, with the former leading to lower MESP and a carbon footprint of 0.93 USD/L and 3 g CO(2)eq/MJ compared to 1.00 USD/L and 10 g CO(2)eq/MJ for sugarcane bagasse. The energy efficiency was found to be 32\% in both cases. An uncertainty analysis was conducted to determine critical decision variables, which were found to be the gasification zone temperature, the split fraction of the unreformed syngas sent to the combustion chamber, the dilution rate, and the gas residence time in the bioreactor. Apart from the abovementioned objectives, other aspects such as water footprint, ethanol yield, and energy self-sufficiency were also discussed.
The development and commercialization of sustainable chemicals from agricultural products and by-products is necessary for a circular economy built on renewable natural resources. Among the largest contributors to the final cost of a biomass conversion product is the cost of the initial biomass feedstock, representing a significant challenge in effective biomass utilization. Another major challenge is in identifying the correct products for development, which must be able to satisfy the need for both low-cost, drop-in fossil fuel replacements and novel, high-value fine chemicals (and/or commodity chemicals). Both challenges can be met by utilizing wastes or by-products from biomass processing, which have very limited starting cost, to yield platform chemicals. Specifically, sugar crop processing (e.g., sugarcane, sugar beet) is a mature industry that produces high volumes of by-products with significant potential for valorization. This review focuses specifically on the production of acetoin (3-hydroxybutanone), 2,3-butanediol, and C4 dicarboxylic (succinic, malic, and fumaric) acids with emphasis on biochemical conversion and targeted upgrading of sugar crop products/by-products. These C4 compounds are easily derived from fermentations and can be converted into many different final products, including food, fragrance, and cosmetic additives, as well as sustainable biofuels and other chemicals. State-of-the-art literature pertaining to optimization strategies for microbial conversion of sugar crop byproducts to C4 chemicals (e.g., bagasse, molasses) is reviewed, along with potential routes for upgrading and valorization. Directions and opportunities for future research and industrial biotechnology development are discussed.
Biochar has been proposed as a soil amendment to reclaim salt-affected soils. However, the evaluation of the different biochar types in these soils is essential due to the significant variation among biochar feedstocks. In this study, biochars from sugarcane bagasse (SB), orange bagasse (OB), and corncob (CB) were applied alone and in the presence of gypsum (G) to test their potential to remediate a highly degraded saline-sodic soil in Brazil ` s Northeast region. For that, we conducted a laboratory column-leaching experiment and a greenhouse study. After the column-leaching test, we analyzed the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), the electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECe), the concentrations of major ions, and the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP). Maize plants were grown in the leached soil in a greenhouse. Sugarcane- and corncob-derived biochars were more efficient than gypsum in reducing the soil salinity, bringing the indicators below threshold values, and optimizing soil reclamation time. Soil ECe, SAR, and ESP were reduced to 3.42 dS m(-1), 1.64 (mmol(c) dm(-3))(0.5) and 4.86\%, respectively, in the SB treatment; and to 3.19 dS m(-1), 0.88 (mmol(c) dm(-3))(0.5) and 2.53\%, respectively, in the CB treatment. Orange bagasse biochar did not effectively reduce the salinity indicators. All biochar treatments improved seed germination and plant growth. The SB, CB, SBG, and CBG treatments increased plant height (478-558\%), shoot mass (783-983\%), and root mass (386-500\%), respectively. Therefore, the application of SB and CB is an effective alternative to remediate saline-sodic soils and to reduce the impact of soil salinity in the environment. Graphic abstract
Over the last few decades, much attention has been paid to various applications of microbial oil, including for transportation. Lignocellulosic biomass has been chosen to produce fuels and chemicals using different chemical/conversion pathways, although the excessive use of chemicals and solvents during the processes are issues of immediate environmental concern. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa IIPL32 (RMIIPL32) being an oleaginous yeast can accumulate triglycerides (lipid) through fermentation of xylose, extracted from pre-treatment of sugarcane bagasse. In this study, environmental impacts have been assessed for the generation of the lipid and its conversion into biodiesel, lube base oil and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene). Uncertainty analysis was carried out for all the emissions under the environmental impact categories for the processes. The emissions investigated for global warming potential (GWP) are found to be 260.03, 572.16, 27.83 and 85.19 kg CO2 equivalent for non-polar lipid, lube base oil, biodiesel and BTEX processes. The uncertainty is also found to be lower for GWP (i.e., <0.3) for all the processes. This is the first LCA report for yeast lipid production from sugarcane bagasse. Therefore, this study can be beneficial for the scale-up of yeast lipid fermentation and its conversion into high value products.
Catalytic technology for cellulosic biomass conversion has been proven to be a promising approach for valuable chemical feedstock production. However, its recalcitrant nature is a major limitation to unlocking the carbohydrate biopolymer content and their subsequent conversion into 5-hydroxymethylfural (HMF). This paper investigates the production of HMF using glucose, cellulose, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk as the feedstocks. Acid dehydration of the carbohydrate sources was conducted in a biphasic system of water-MeTHF modified with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) over a phosphated TiO2 catalyst. The catalyst displayed a very good catalytic performance for the conversion of glucose into HMF (91\% yield). More so, it is suitable for the selective conversion of mechanocatalytic depolymerized cellulose to 74.7\% yield of HMF. Cellulosic biomass could also be directly converted into HMF and furfural in reasonable yields. The efficiency of biomass-to-HMF production was further advanced after biomass fractionation treatment. Remarkable yields of 72\% and 65\% HMF were produced from sugarcane bagasse and rice husk, respectively. Finally, the reaction kinetics of solubilized cellulose to HMF conversion was investigated and a simplified kinetic model comprising two reaction steps was developed: (1) hydrolysis of cello-oligomers to glucose and (2) glucose dehydration to HMF.
Agroforestry wastes are industrial byproducts available locally such as eucalyptus sawdust (EUC) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB). These byproducts can be used as lignocellulosic raw materials to produce high-value products. This study is a techno-economic analysis of four potential scenarios to produce polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and levulinic acid (LA) from hemicellulosic sugars by a fermentative pathway in a biomass waste biorefinery. Mass and energy balances were developed, and technical and economic assessments were carried out to obtain gas, char, and tar from residual solids from autohydrolysis treatment. It was determined that microbial culture could be an attractive option for added-value product production. More than 1500 t/year of PHB and 2600 t/year of LA could be obtained by the proposed pathways. Microbial and enzymatic conversion of LA from sugars could significantly improve energy consumption on the conversion strategy. The products from solid residual valorization (char and tar) are the most important for economic performance. Finally, a variation in specific variables could mean substantial improvements in the final indicators of the processes, reaching a higher NPV than USD 17 million.
The Sugar Milling Research Institute NPC (SMRI) has developed a Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) analytical method for use in sugarcane factories, initially for use in South Africa, in place of conventional analytical methods. Details on the development, validation and benefit of the SMRI-NIRS analytical method are reported in Part 1 of this paper (Walford 2019). By 2019 all South African sugarcane processing factories had discontinued conventional analyses in favour of the SMRI-NIRS method for factory control purposes. The SMRI-NIRS method predicts analytical results of dry solids, polarimetric sugar, sucrose (HPLC), glucose, fructose, conductivity ash contents as well as ICUMSA colour and pH value from a single NIRS scan of any suitably diluted sugarcane process stream sample. Final molasses dry solids can also be predicted. In addition to improved laboratory output, the additional analytical data can be used to improve factory performance. This paper gives examples of where the SMRI-NIRS technology, the analytical method and the associated decision-support toolkits, have been used in South African factories, to improve factory sucrose recoveries and the reporting of factory performance figures.
A strain of Aspergillus niger, previously isolated from sugarcane bagasse because of its capacity to degrade phenanthrene in soil by solid culture, was used to express a manganese peroxidase gene (mnp1) from Phonerochaete chrysosporium, aiming at increasing its polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons degradation capacity. Transformants were selected based on their resistance to hygromycin B and the discoloration induced on Poly R-478 dye by the peroxidase activity. The recombinant A. niger SBC2-T3 strain developed MnP activity and was able to remove 95\% of the initial phenanthrene (400 ppm) from a microcosm soil system after 17 days, whereas the wild strain removed 72\% under the same conditions. Transformation success was confirmed by PCR amplification using gene-specific primers, and a single fragment (1,348 bp long, as expected) of the recombinant mnp1 was amplified in the DNA from transformants, which was absent from the parental strain. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel
In Kenya, overdependence on wood has caused a deforestation ban to preserve natural resources, but this has put a strain on people's energy sources, especially for cooking charcoal. There is a need to manufacture a sustainable, clean burning, cheap, and appropriate charcoal-substitute to fill this market gap. Certain agricultural waste and byproducts such as sugarcane bagasse and corn cobs could be pyrolyzed to make a viable alternative charcoal briquette based on their fixed carbon values. The feasibility of a local venture producing these briquettes was analyzed for Kenya, and for other Sub-Saharan African countries. It was determined that only Eswatini's charcoal demand could be completely met with their agricultural waste. Although Kenya's charcoal demand could not be completely met with agricultural waste, various sectors within the market could be fulfilled, with restaurants and poultry farms being able to fully transition to biowaste briquettes, 76\% of rural households, 73\% of schools, and 60\% of urban households. An estimation of the cost of briquette production was performed with sugarcane bagasse as the only feedstock. While the briquettes cannot be priced as pre-deforestation ban levels of KSh 85, ventures can be profitable at an acceptable selling price of KSh 87.63 per 4 kg tin.
Normally, the properties of natural latex are not stable, for example, viscosity and volatile fatty acids, due to the nonrubber components that affect the quality of the latex. The objective here was to develop and compare the adhesive properties of natural latex by using furfural at different ratios. Concentrated natural latex (60\% rubber) with a high ammonia rate was used, and two types of furfural were used: synthetic furfural and natural furfural from sugarcane bagasse. The phenolic resin was also compared as a tackifier resin. We found that increasing the furfural concentration in natural latex increased the viscosity of the latex. However, for a given concentration, furfural and phenolic resin gave similar adhesion properties in natural latex. Furfural at 10 parts per hundred of rubber gave the best adhesive property of natural latex. Beyond this furfural concentration, the natural latex became solid. There were no significance differences in adhesion properties between synthetic and natural furfurals in the natural latex. The relationship between viscosity and adhesive properties of the natural latex with furfural is proposed. This research shows the potential to develop an eco-friendly natural adhesive with furfural that has good quality and no dangerous solvent.
This work reports the results for the synthesis of the nanocomposite hydrogel of alginate/nanocellulose/ bixin and their characterization by scanning electron microscopy, thermal analysis, degree of swelling, gel fraction and mass loss. Bixin was extracted from the seeds of Bixa orellana L., popularly known as annatto, and nanocellulose was produced from sugarcane bagasse. The methodology used in the purification of bixin was crystallization/recrystallization, with a yield of 9.4\% relative to the annatto extracted from the seeds. Analysis by infrared spectroscopy and by high performance liquid chromatography indicated that the bixin had high purity. Nanocelluloses were obtained by pulping, bleaching and acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse fiber. The nanocomposites of alginate/nanocelluloses/bixin showed swelling behavior at neutral and alkaline media, but no swelling was observed at acid medium. Moreover, the presence of nanocellulose and/or bixin decreased the degree of swelling, indicating their incorporation at the alginate matrix. According to the SEM micrographs, porosity was observed in the nanocomposite morphology, indicating the possibility of the incorporation of macromolecules, tissue and cells. DTA-TG curves indicated that the nanocomposite showed good thermal stability until 200 oC and the DSC indicated that the vitreous transition and the melting temperatures of the nanocomposites were 148 and 294 oC, respectively.
The production and direct employment in organic medium in the ethyl-oleate synthesis of a fermented solid (FS) containing lipases by Penicillium roqueforti ATCC 10110 (PR10110) was investigated. For the production of this FS, the solid-state fermentation of different agroindustrial waste was used, such as: cocoa shell, sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane bagasse with cocoa shell, and cocoa shell with soybean oil and nutrient solution. The response surface methodology was used to study the effect of independent variables of initial moisture content and inductor concentration, as carbon source and inducer on lipase production. The characterization of the fermented solid in organic medium was also carried out. The highest lipase activity (53 +/- 5 U g(-1)) was 16\% higher than that obtained with the nonoptimized conditions. The characterization studies observed high stability of the FS in organic solvents for 5 h at 30 degrees C, as well as at different temperatures, and the residual activity was measured against triolein. The FS was also able to catalyze ethyl-oleate synthesis maintaining high relative conversion over five reaction cycles of 96 h at 40 degrees C in n-heptane. These results are promising and highlight the use of the FS containing PR10110 lipases for the first time in biocatalytic processes.
In this study, Polyphenols functionalized Graphitic Hematite Nanocomposite (PGHN) was used as an adsorbent to remove Caesium (Cs) ions from a simulated solution. The nanocomposite was produced by synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles using orange peel extract (OPE) as the reducing and capping agent in the presence of graphite produced from sugarcane bagasse. The nanocomposite exhibited a scaly morphology and the mean particle size of rhombohedral structured hematite nanoparticles was found to be 148.9 nm. The simulated solution of Cs ions was treated with PGHN and the treatment conditions were optimized by batch method. The concentration of Cs ion in the treated solution was determined using atomic emission spectroscopy (AES). The maximum Cs adsorption of 97.95\% was attained at an optimum condition of pH - 9.0 and adsorbent dose - 70 mg/mL for treatment period of 110 min. The experimental data of adsorption fitted well with pseudo 1st order kinetics and was favorable for both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The study reports a facile method for the production of nanocomposite using agro-wastes such as sugarcane bagasse and orange peels. The synthesized nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for the removal of toxic Cs and can be further used for industrial wastewater treatment.
The main aim of this study is to examine the different film preparation methods (Hot air oven method, Microwave oven method, and UV irradiation method) for development of Bio-thermoplastic films from agro waste polysaccharides. The rheological properties were also studied for different combinations of tamarind seed starch (T), okra mucilage polysaccharide (OK), Residual rice bran starch (R) and sugarcane bagasse cellulose (C). Increase in concentration of okra mucilage polysaccharide and sugarcane bagasse cellulose found to highly influence the rheological viscous properties of tamarind starch solution. Increase in concentration of okra mucilage (above 1.5\%) in tamarind film matrix solution significantly increased the elongation properties of starch films. Increase in concentration of cellulose (above 1\%) in tamarind film matrix solution significantly increased the tensile strength of starch films. The microwave oven method was found to be the quickest method (similar to 10 to 20 min) for biopolymer film preparation. SEM and AFM analysis revealed that UV - irradiation method produces stable bio-thermoplastic films with low surface roughness and high barrier properties. The interaction of starch molecules with other natural polysaccharide produces stable thermoplastic biopolymer films, that can be developed under different processing conditions to eradicate environmental pollution caused by petrochemical plastics. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The use of protic ammonium ionic liquids (PILs) in the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass is a promising alternative to using expensive aprotic ionic liquids such as 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate, {[
Amylase is an indispensable and industrially important enzyme that hydrolyzes carbohydrates particularly starch into simple sugars. Amylase enzymes have been isolated from various sources such as microbes, animals and plants. However, microorganisms are highly preferred as compared to plants and animal sources. Amylases of fungal origin are highly stable compared to amylases produced by bacterial species. The aim of this study was to investigate the production of extracellular amylase enzyme from Aspergillus niger EFRL-FC-024 using sugarcane bagasse and corn waste as an energy source under submerge fermentation conditions. Primarily, the fungal strain was grown for 6 days using sugarcane bagasse and corn waste, respectively. Mainly, the growth of a microorganism was also evaluated using different pH, temperature and incubation periods. The results revealed maximum amylase production of 1.64 U/mL when A. niger was cultured for 96 h using corn waste. Moreover, addition of different nitrogen sources showed the highest amylase production when peptone was supplemented as a nitrogen source. Finally, the effect of pH indicated maximal concentration of amylase enzyme at pH 6.0. The present study will highly be beneficial to explore the role of fungal strain A. niger in amylase production at Industrial levels.
The atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration has been consistently increasing each year throughout the world. Internal combustion (IC) engines are significant contributors to CO2 emissions. This study explores the possibility of employing effective biomass-based adsorbents to mitigate CO2 from a diesel engine exhaust. As a first step, two distinct agro-wastes, namely, i) corn cob and ii) sugarcane bagasse, are used to prepare inexpensive and efficient activated carbons. The two main steps in the activated carbon preparation are a) carbonization and b) activation. The derived activated carbons are subjected to discrete analytical techniques to examine their structural and textural characteristics, surface functional groups, and physical, chemical, and adsorptive properties. As a second step, the exhaust treatment chamber unit is filled with the adsorbents one by one and is connected to the exhaust of the constant pressure heat addition engine. A single-cylinder, four-stroke, naturally-aspirated, air-cooled, direct injection (DI) compression ignition (CI) engine is used in the experimental investigations. The essential findings show that approximate to 68 and 60\% of CO2 emissions are adsorbed in the test engine by utilizing corn cob and sugarcane bagasse adsorbents, respectively. The results show that during the D100 and JME20 operations, the prospective adsorbents can curb more than 40\% of overall CO2 emissions.
There is a lack of agronomic research on the production of custard apple seedlings, especially regarding the ideal substrate and nutritional requirement of the plants. In order to evaluate the accumulation of nutrients in shoots and roots, leaf chlorophyll index and absorption efficiency index (AEI) in custard apple seedlings grown in different substrates and under doses of slow-release fertilizer, an experiment was set in randomized blocks in split-plot scheme with four replicates and eleven plants per plot. The custard apple seedling production method was by sowing. Plots were represented by substrates (fresh sugarcane bagasse; enriched sugarcane bagasse; coconut powder, and commercial organic substrate), whereas subplots were represented by Osmocote Plus (R) fertilizer doses (0; 3; 6; 9; 12 and 15 kg m(-3)). The final evaluation was performed at 105 days after sowing. The effect of the slow-release fertilizer on the formation of custard apple seedlings was influenced by the substrate. There was greater accumulation of nutrients as the availability of nutrients increases, as well as increase in nutrient AEI. Custard apple seedlings were found to be more efficient to absorb N > Mg > K > Ca > P > Fe > Mn > Zn. As substrate, coconut powder associated with the 9 kg m(-3) slow-release fertilizer dose is recommended to produce custard apple seedlings.
This paper presents leaching behavior of chromium from the stabilized/solidified (S/S) matrixes of tannery sludge. S/S matrixes were formed using cement, and nanoparticles and nano-biocomposites. The chromium in tannery sludge was immobilized by ZVIN (zero-valent iron nanoparticles), MIN (magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles), ZVIN-SB (zero-valent iron nanoparticles/sugarcane bagasse composite) and MIN-SB (magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/sugarcane bagasse composite). The semidynamic leachate tests such as ANS 16.1 and ASTM C 1308 were performed to evaluate the efficacy of S/S matrixes. The parameters such as leaching rate, cumulative fraction leached, effective diffusivity, leachability index and leaching mechanism were calculated for the S/S matrixes containing sludge stabilized by nanoparticles and nano-biocomposites and unstabilized sludge. The leaching rate of chromium from the test specimens showed the effectiveness of nanoparticles and nano-biocomposites. Diffusion studies from the S/S matrixes indicated immobility of chromium. The mean leachability index was found to be higher than 13 for all the test specimens which shows that the S/S matrixes can be effectively utilized for `controlled applications.' Further, nanoparticles and nano-biocomposites increased compressive strength of the S/S matrixes. XRD, SEM/EDX and FTIR revealed that chromium could be chemically fixed into cement matrixes.
The release of wastewater and the shrimp feed cost are the main challenges faced by the shrimp farming industry. An alternative solution to both problems is biofloc production in a unit external to the farm, in an activated sludge system for effluent treatment. The treatment system's influent was composed of the shrimp farm wastewater supplemented with urea and sugarcane molasses. The results show that the average removal of chemical oxygen demand was 71\% and the average biofloc production in the reactor was approximately 1.5g.L-1. Adding molasses to the influent contributed to the increase in the quantity and diversity of existing microorganisms that are beneficial to cultured shrimp. The mass balance of nitrogen compounds confirmed that nitrification occurred in the system. Therefore, the use of the activated sludge system is a viable and environmentally suitable alternative to produce bioflocs and shrimp farming effluent treatment.
Using the lignocellulosic biomass materials to produce wood (wood fibers/natural fibers) plastic composites (WPCs) is one of the most environmentally friendly and economical ways to solve the residuals of biorefineries. In this study, tropical maize bagasse (TMB), sweet sorghum bagasse (SSB) and sugarcane bagasse (SCB), the solid residuals from bio-ethanol plants, were used as the reinforcement phase in the production of WPCs. The mechanical, thermal and accelerated weathering behaviors of WPCs were evaluated. The experimental results indicated that the TMB reinforced composites showed better mechanical properties, with tensile strength and flexural strength of 26.8 +/- 3.4 and 46.1 +/- 3.1 MPa, respectively. Moreover, the retention ratios of the rupture modulus and the elasticity modulus of the SSB reinforced composites were the highest among the three groups after multigelation and 2000 h of xenon lamp weathering, which were reached 84.9 +/- 6.7 and 76.0 +/- 4.4\%, and 76.1 +/- 4.7 and 69.4 +/- 2.9\%, respectively. The production of WPCs reinforced by solid residuals showed potential in connecting with the biorefinery plants.
Researchers across the globe are developing different admixtures compositions to enhance sustainability of product. Fair sustainability assessment of these compositions still remains a major obstacle in adoption. The present work focuses on performing sustainability assessment of three different concrete composition developed by authors in their previous work. A sustainability score (SC) assigned to control concrete, as-received sugarcane bagasse ash (AR-SBA) and thermo-mechanical-treated sugarcane bagasse ash (T-SBA) blended concretes, is evaluated based on economic, environmental, technical and social criteria. Lifecycle assessment is performed to quantify the environmental criteria. The GWP for T-SBA is observed to be 5170 kg CO2 equi. which is the least, attributed to reduced cement consumption. acidification potential of AR-SBA was least, 19.2 kg SO2 equi. on account of no pretreatment of ash being used in concrete. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was considered for calculating the SC. Some alternatives performed well for certain indicators while lacked in other indicators making sustainability assessment even more challenging. The T-SBA blended concrete achieved the highest SC of 0.38 attributed to about 45\% reduced GWP and around 22\% reduction in water usage indicating higher sustainability . Such robust framework can be used for comparison of alternatives thereby increasing the scope for application.
In order to obtain the cellulolytic bacterial consortia, sediments from Great Basin hot springs (Nevada, USA) were sampled and enriched with cellulosic biomass as the sole carbon source. The bacterial composition of the resulting anaerobic ethanol-producing celluloytic bacterial consortium, named SV79, was analyzed. With methods of the full-length 16S rRNA library-based analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 21 bacteria belonging to eight genera were detected from this consortium. Clones with closest relation to the genera Acetivibrio, Clostridium, Cellulosilyticum, Ruminococcus, and Sporomusa were predominant. The cellulase activities and ethanol productions of consortium SV79 using different agricultural residues (sugarcane bagasse and spent mushroom substrate) and energy crops (Spartina anglica, Miscanthus floridulus, and Pennisetum sinese Roxb) were studied. During cultivation, consortium SV79 produced the maximum filter paper activity (FPase, 9.41 U/ml), carboxymethylcellulase activity (CMCase, 6.35 U/ml), and xylanase activity (4.28 U/ml) with sugarcane bagasse, spent mushroom substrate, and S. anglica, respectively. The ethanol production using M. floridulus as substrate was up to 2.63 mM ethanol/g using gas chromatography analysis. It has high potential to be a new candidate for producing ethanol with cellulosic biomass under anoxic conditions in natural environments.
Lovastatin is a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA Reductase). The HMG-CoA reductase is responsible for the production of mevalonate by the reduction of HMG-CoA. It is a rate-limiting step in the production of cholesterol. The current study demonstrates the production of lovastatin from an ethidium bromide mutated strain of Aspergillus terreus ATE-120 (saprophytic fungus) that is grown on 1-3\% NaOH pretreated substrate of sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum officinarum L.). For the hyperproduction of lovastatin, different optimization parameters such as temperature, pH, inoculum size, fermentation period, and inoculum age were mentioned and analyzed via response surface methodology. The RSM results indicate that the maximum lovastatin yield (156.43 mg/L) was predicted at a 5.5 pH, 35 degrees C temperature, 4 mL inoculum size, 36 h inoculum age, and 48 h fermentation via solid state fermentation. According to these results, the effect of pH had a significant effect on lovastatin production, while other parameters had an insignificant effect, and coefficients of determination (R-2) having a value of 77.24\% indicates the goodness of the proposed model. The structure of the obtained drug was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. Moreover, an X-ray diffraction analysis of the sample was carried out to characterize the physical form of the lovastatin. It can be concluded from the above study that the maximum yield of the drug can be found via RSM and that the selected strain (Aspergillus terreus ATE-120) has good potential for lovastatin production through solid-state fermentation.
In order to assess the feasibility of new, environmentally friendly technologies for energy generation in a neutral carbon economy, economic and environmental metrics must be simultaneously assessed. Retro-Techno-Economic-Environmental Analysis (RTEEA) is a computational method that identifies ranges of feasible operation for industrial processes, condensing complex information into graphic plots that are easily interpreted by users. RTEEA was applied to define windows of feasible operations for a biorefinery that produces first- and second-generation ethanol plus bioelectricity from sugarcane. The net present value of the business and environmental metrics, using the CML-IA impact assessment method, were combined. Influential process variables were identified with global sensitivity analysis. The metrics were clustered into three groups, and RTEEA diagrams showed the range of feasible operations for each metric, after an uncertainty analysis. It was observed that if economic feasibility is achieved, all environmental impacts of second-generation ethanol will be lower than the first-generation ethanol, except for the photochemical oxidation index.
Burkholderia cepacia PCL3 (GenBank accession number of EF990634) is a carbofuran degrader isolated from phytoremediated rhizosphere soil in our laboratory. Free and the immobilized PCL3 on corncob and sugarcane bagasse were investigated for their abilities to degrade carbofuran in Basal Salt Medium (BSM) and soil microcosm. The reusability and survival of immobilized PCL3 in comparison to free cells were also examined. Short half-lives (t(1/2)) of carbofuran of 3-4 d in BSM were obtained using the isolate PCL3 in both free and immobilized cell forms. Immobilized cells could survive (10(6)-10(7) cfu ml(-1)) through 30 d of incubation, while the number of free cells decreased continuously after 10 d. Immobilized B. cepacia PCL3 could be reused twice without loss in their abilities to degrade carbofuran in BSM, which suggested an advantage of using immobilized cell over free cell. Free and immobilized cells were augmented into soil and showed an effective capability to remediate carbofuran residues, both of which indicated by 5-folds decrease in carbofuran half-lives in augmented soil. Immobilization of PCL3 on corncob and sugarcane bagasse provided the possibilities of reusing the cells as well as improving the cell survival without decreasing carbofuran degradation activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Five additives were evaluated for enhancing the production of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria brongniartii (Sacc.) Petch in molasses and nutrient media. At selected concentration ranges, the additives produced variable effects on biomass and radial growth of the fungus. As for the more important economic parameter of spore output in broth, calcium chloride (0.5-3.0 \%) significantly enhanced it at 1.5 \% concentration and above in molasses and nutrient media. Chitin (0.1-0.6 \%) significantly enhanced spore output at all but one low concentration in molasses media but only at the higher concentration of 0.5 \% in nutrient media. Lactic acid (0.5-3.0 \%) significantly reduced spore output in molasses media but enhanced it at 1.5 \% and higher concentrations in nutrient media. Polyethylene glycol 6000 (1-6 \%) significantly, yet uniformly, enhanced spore output in molasses media but failed to enhance it in nutrient media. Lecithin (1-6 \%) in molasses media significantly enhanced spore output at the highest concentration of 6 \%. In correlation analysis of parameter response and additive concentration, significant positive correlations were observed for biomass for almost all additives in both the media. For radial growth, the correlation for calcium chloride in molasses alone was significant. Spore output showed significant positive correlations for calcium chloride, chitin and lecithin in molasses media but only lactic acid in nutrient media. Based on correlation analysis and degree of response over that in control, calcium chloride and chitin emerged as the best supplements that can be used with molasses media for increased output of B. brongniartii in mass cultures.
In this study, Iranian bagasse was gasified and liquefied in a supercritical methanol/subcritical water medium in presence of potassium promoted Cu/-Al2O3-MgO catalysts to generate H-2, alcohols, and ethers. Iranian bagasse as a waste cellulosic biomass in sugarcane industry was selected for the process feedstock. The gaseous and liquid products were evaluated in presence of catalysts with different potassium contents. Decrease in liquid production was observed with increasre in promoter content up to 2.5\% but further promoter content addition increased liquid production. So that the catalyst with 10\% potassium content showed liquid production 1.7 times more than catalyst with no potassium content. However, it was demonstrated that catalyst with copper content of 20\% and potassium content of 2.5\% also could make process most selective for alcohols and ethers producing. The produced alcohols and ethers percentage and selectivity in liquid product for this catalyst were approximately 40\% and 5\%, respectively. Production of gaseous products also showed a minimum amount of total produced gas at potassium content of 5\%. Hydrogen that was another target product was obtained up to 310 mmole. (c) 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 861-869, 2018
The performance of blended mortar mixtures produced with partial replacement of cement with agriculture waste ashes of rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, corncob, and waste wood were evaluated in this investigation. Cement was replaced at 5, 10, and 15 wt\% with each of agriculture waste ashes for manufacturing of blended mortars. Fresh mixture properties, compressive strength, electrical resistivity, and sulfate resistance of the mixtures were evaluated at 7, 28, 56, and 90 days of curing ages and compared with that of control mixture.Test results showed a significant improvement in the later age compressive strength, electrical resistivity and sulfate resistance of blended mortar mixtures. Considerable increase in the initial and final setting times of the blended mortar mixtures was noted. Increasing demand for the superplasticizer dosage to achieve the target flow level was recorded with increase in percent replacement of cement with the agriculture waste ashes. Blended mortar mixtures produced with rice husk ash as partial replacement of cement showed superior performance among the four types of mixtures. A replacement level of 10 wt\% of cement with the agriculture waste ashes was observed to be the optimum to achieve enhanced strength and durability of the blended mortar mixtures.
Molten salt hydrates in diluted acid solutions are a great medium to dissolve cellulose by interrupting the formation of intra-and inter -hydrogen bonding in the crystalline structure of cellulose. In this study, lithium chloride in diluted HCl is used as an inexpensive and efficient way to dissolve and hydrolyze cellulose into glucose. 23 completely randomized design (CRD), including three replications at the center point, was applied to evaluate the effect of LiCl concentration, HCl concentration and cellulose concentration with respect to glucose yield. The composition of LiCl/HCl ionic solution for optimal glucose yield at 80 degrees C is determined to be 50wt\% of LiCl, 2 wt\% of HCl, and 10 wt\% of cellulose feedstock. A two stage method is designed for obtaining reducing sugars from sugarcane bagasse in which biomass is treated first with 2 wt\% diluted HCl at 100 degrees C for xylose and then with LiCl/HCl ionic solutions in the second stage at 80 degrees C for glucose. Total reducing sugar yield of sugarcane bagasse is up to 94.8 wt\% indicating that the developed LiCl/HCl ionic solution has potential to treat cellulose for the production of inexpensive fermentable sugar. (C) 2018 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Natural fibers from macadamia nut shell, dried coconut shell endocarp, unripe coconut mesocarp, sugarcane bagasse and pine wood residue were used to prepare activated carbon fibers (ACF) with potential application for removing microcystins. The ACF from pine wood and sugar cane bagasse were used to remove {[
Sugar cane is a raw material for making sugar which can only be grown in tropical regions. Sugarcane bagasse generally consist of cellulose sugar groups such as hemicellulose, lignocellulose, and lignin. Other than that it contains hydroxyl groups to absorb colours and free fatty acids. The purpose of this study was to measure baggasse charcoal optimation based on different concentration and immersing time to stabilize cooking oil quality. CRD (Complete Randomized Design) was applied with 3x3 factors. Baggasse charcoal was activated using KMnO4 1N for 2 days. Variation of baggasse charcoal concentration are (5\%, 10\%, 15\%) and variation time to optimation for 4, 5, and 6 days. The result showed that bagasse charcoal can affect the turbidity, smell, and colour from cooking oil that has been used repeatedly. The most effective concentration and immersing time is from sample 5\% on 6 day. It can be concluded that re-used cooking oil applied with bagasse charcoal was clearer that those didn't. The organoleptic assay also showed better profile on cooking oil.
The production of briquettes with different proportions of biomass presents an alternative for energy purposes, making the logistics of the process and increasing its efficiency viable. In this sense, the present work aimed at the energetic characterization of raw cassava rhizome (CM), bagasse (BC), and sugar cane straw (PC) blends. Four blends with different proportions of biomass were determined, based on 270 g of total residues, as follows: blend I (66.66\% CM, 16.67\% BC and 16.67\% PC), blend II (16.67\% CM, 16.67\% BC and 66.66\% PC), blend III (33.33\% CM, 33.34\% BC and 33.33\% PC) and blend IV (16.67\% CM, 66.66\% BC and 16.67 PC). We did the material's chemical characterization through the immediate analysis, following the norms ASTM-D3174 and ASTM-D3175. Twelve briquettes were produced for each blend, with 42 mesh granulometry, through energy densification. We used a manual hydraulic press exerting a 10 tons-force and pressing time of 60s. For 72 hours, we did the volumetric expansion. Blend I presented better performance among all the blends, showing 13.13\% for fixed carbon, 5,841.69 kcal.kg(-1) for PCS, 5,544.93 Mcal/m(3) for energy density, 1.251 MPa for mechanical resistance, respectively. All the blends presented optimal stacking conditions. The smallest volumetric expansion occurred in the blend I briquettes produced, showing a result of 7.06\%. We found that adding cassava strain to the briquettes caused the briquettes to have a lower friability index. Therefore, it follows that the cassava starch in the raw cassava rhizome acted as the natural binder of the residue.
Fourteen herbaceous energy crops were selected to investigate their recalcitrance to cellulosic enzyme. The results about enzymatic hydrolysis of sorghum and Pennisetum hybrids indicated that both hemicellulose and lignin content had a negative influence on enzymatic digestibility (ED), especially for the latter. Furthermore, liquid hot water (LHW) and aqueous ammonia (AA) methods were applied to enhance the ED of sugarcane bagasse (SCB). A high ED of 90\% was obtained for sample with 50\% removal of xylan and lignin in the AA process, which was 20\% higher than that of LHW due to the significant removal of lignin hindering and exposing of fibers. However, the total sugars recovery of LHW were about 10\% higher than that of AA resulted to the high yield of hemicellulose-derived sugars. Moreover, SCB hemicellulose and lignin were removed with the help of LHW and following AA process. The ethanol concentration reached to 30.6 g/L after a fed-batch enzymatic hydrolysis following simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process with a high substrates loadings of 20\% (w/v), low enzyme loading of 20 FPU/g glucan, and low fermentation time of 24 h. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A study has been carried on the thermodynamic viability of a newly proposed power generating system based on atmospheric gasification of sugarcane bagasse combined with fluidized-bed heat-exchanging and gas turbine. Under imposed conditions, several configurations of the power unit have been tried until the most efficient was found. The performance of that system was compared with a more conventional concept based on bagasse pressurised gasification, gas cleaning and turbine, or BIG/GT process. To ensure equivalence for the comparisons, optimum to near optimum atmospheric and pressurised gasifier operations have been obtained with the aid of a comprehensive mathematical simulator. The present work may help to reach decisions concerning developments in the area of power generation based on biomass. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The progressive decline of soil organic matter (SOM) threatens the sustainability of arable cropping worldwide. Residue removal and burning, destruction of protected microsites, and the acceleration of microbial decomposition are key factors. Desorption of SOM by ammonia-based fertilizers from organomineral complexes in soil may also play a role. A urea-and molasses-based liquid fertilizer formulation and a urea-based granular formulation were applied at recommended and district practice rates, respectively, to soil leaching columns, with unfertilized columns used as controls. The chemistry of leachate collected from the columns, filled with two sandy soils differing in recent cropping history, was monitored over eight successive wet-dry drainage events. The pH, electrical conductivity, and concentration and species of N in leachate was compared with the concentration and aromaticity of dissolved organic C (DOC) to indicate if salt solutions derived from the two fertilizers extracted SOM from clay mineral sites. Cation exchange capacity and exchangeable cations in the soil were monitored at the start and end of the trial. Fertilizer application increased DOC in leachate up to 40 times above the control, but reduced aromaticity (specific ultraviolet light absorbance at 253.7 nm). Dissolved organic C was linearly proportional to leachate NH4-N concentration. Exchangeable Ca and Mg in soil from fertilized columns at the end of both trials were significantly lower than in unfertilized soil, indicating that ammonium salt solutions derived from the fertilizers extracted cations and variably charged organic matter from soil mineral exchange sites. Desorption of organic matter and divalent cations from organomineral sites by ammonia-based fertilizers may be implicated in soil acidification.
This study presents the techno-economic evaluation of 2,3-butanediol (BDO) production via fermentation using glycerol, sucrose and sugarcane molasses as carbon sources. Literature-cited experimental data were used to design the fermentation stage, whereas downstream separation of BDO was based on reactive extraction of BDO employing an aldehyde to convert BDO into an acetal that is immiscible with water. The selected downstream process can be used in all fermentations employed. Sensitivity analysis was carried out targeting the estimation of the minimum selling price (MSP) of BDO at different plant capacities and raw material purchase costs. In all cases, the MSP of BDO is higher than 1 \$/kg that is considered as the target in order to characterize a fermentation product as platform chemical. The complex nutrient supplements, the raw material market price and the fermentation efficiency were identified as the major reasons for the relatively high MSP observed. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This paper presents the results of the evaluation of the sugarcane leaf, burnt under controlled conditions in order to obtain a reactive ash with pozzolanic properties. Chemical analysis, amorphousity and surface structure of the sugar cane straw ash (SCSA) were studied by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and scan-ning electron microscope (SEM). The results of this research showed that SCSA has significant presence of amorphous material and a high content of silica (81.0\%). The pozzolanic activity of the SCSA was evaluated by the Fratini test and the pozzolanic activity index. In order to interpretate the pozzolan activity, the Feret method was used. It is conclude that the SCSA presents pozzolanic characteristics for blending Portland cement.
Lactic acid is an important organic compound that finds various applications in the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and medical industries. Many of these applications require lactic acid with high purity. Hybrid short path evaporation (HSPE) is a separation process well studied in the petrochemical sector that is mainly used to obtain compounds with high purity. It is also a process offering small residence time, low pressure, and environmentally friendliness. The concentration process of lactic acid was studied by using HSPE in the presence of high total reducing sugar content remaining from sugarcane molasses fermentation. In this work, the influence of operational conditions, such as evaporator temperature (86.4 degrees C to 153.6 degrees C), internal condenser temperature (7.95 degrees C to 18 degrees C), and feed flow rate (8.27 to 21.7 mL/min), on lactic acid concentration and mass percentages were evaluated. The results showed that all variables influenced the process. Mathematical models were developed for the mass percentage and concentration of the total reducing sugar in the distilled stream and for the mass percentage at residue stream. Under the best operational conditions, the concentration of lactic acid (approximate to 247.7 g/L) was 2.5 times higher than the initial fermentation broth (approximate to 100.1 g/L).
The occurrence of the drosophilid Zaprionus indianus Gupta, 1970, in Belo Horizonte, Contagem, Fortuna de Minas, Joao Pinheiro, Dom Bosco, Vargem Grande do Rio Pardo, Paracatu, Manga, Verdelandia, Montes Claros, Janauba, Jaiba and Nova Lima, Minas Gerais State, Brazil was reported. This species of fly was found on traps to collect Strategus sp. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) with sugarcane bagasse and cane molasse as atractive, and ``MacPhail{''
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the water response of Talipariti elatum cultivated in different substrates. Sugarcane straw, peat, biochar and mixtures of sugarcane straw and biochar, and peat and biochar were used. The physical properties of each substrate and the water parameters of the species were determined based on the pressure-volume curve. The osmotic potential at maximum saturation and the turgor loss point presented a similar behaviour with a decreasing tendency. We found significant differences between the beginning and end of the period. The values ranged from -1.17MPa to -1.36MPa and -1.49MPa to -1.74MPa, which indicated the development of osmotic adjustment mechanisms. The modulus of elasticity values ranged between 8.10MPa and 11.20MPa at the start and between 6.65MPa and 9.39MPa at the end, indicating elastic adjustment. The plants in the substrates with lower moisture retention showed lower values of solute potentials and cell wall elasticity modulus.
The present study deals with the compressive strength, flexural strength, capillary water absorption, dry shrinkage, resistance to freeze-thaw cycles, and high temperature resistance of geopolymer mixtures based on agricultural wastes. For the construction of geopolymer mixtures, rice husk ash was used as binder, corn stalk was used as aggregates, and wheat straw, barley straw, and sugarcane straw were used as fibers. Since geopolymer mixtures might be influenced by many factors, the present study used the Taguchi method to design experiments, to optimize factors, and to predict properties so as to avoid the relevant full-fledged experimental works. The present study took into account the factors of curing method (heat curing and ambient curing), concentration of sodium hydroxide solution (6, 9, and 12 M), mass ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide (2, 2.5, and 3), mass ratio of alkaline activator to binder (0.3, 0.4, and 0.5), mass ratio of aggregate to binder (1, 2, and 3), type of fiber (wheat straw, barley straw, and sugarcane straw), and fiber volume (0, 4, and 8\% in terms of the binder weight) as inputs for Taguchi analysis. Given the number and levels of considered factors, 18 mix designs were examined on the basis of the L18(63 x12) orthogonal array proposed by Taguchi. The results indicated that the optimal levels of the factors of curing method, concentration of sodium hydroxide solution, mass ratio of alkaline activator to binder, and mass ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide for almost all tests were respectively equal to heat curing, 12, 0.5, and 3, while the optimal levels of other factors were variable depending on the type of test.
We demonstrate a very simple, cost-effective and superfast process for making Li-ion battery (LIB) anode grade carbon from agro-waste in the form of sugarcane bagasse using a low power microwave system. Activation of this bagasse derived carbon is carefully optimized by using various weight ratios of KOH to obtain the desired properties of functional carbon in terms of porosity and electrical conductivity. Low equivalent series resistance (ESR), low charge transfer resistance with good electrical conductivity, and optimum porosity for efficient ion diffusion make this carbon a good candidate for Li-ion battery anode material rendering a reversible capacity of 757 mAhg (1) at a current density of 100 mAg (1) and a good cycling performance at high current rates. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A fed-batch approach in stirred tank bioreactors for achieving enzymatic hydrolysis with a high load of lignocellulosic mass is described in this paper. This approach allows ease of mixing, increasing the load of a higher concentration of biomass without performance decrease, in comparison with the typical batch process, and consequently it provides a higher concentration of reducing sugars for a down-stream fermentation process; additionally, the fed-batch process times are shorter than the ones that have been reported so far. The work basically consisted of experiments in fed-batch operation with final sorghum straw loadings of 5, 10, 15 and 20\% w v(-1), using a commercial enzyme complex, and conventional batch experiments for comparison purposes. Without typical operation problems of batch processes such as the lack of effective initial mixing and difficult adjustment of pH and temperature, hydrolysate broths up to a reducing sugars concentration of 130 g L-1 were obtained. Finally, hydrolysates were fermented to verify effective bioethanol production, reaching concentrations of bioethanol of 48 g L-1.
The aim of this study is to make a diagnosis of the possibilities of ethanol production increasing through the bagasse hydrolysis process, considering the limiting situation of bagasse use. Simulations in ASPEN PLUS software were performed, in order to evaluate the mass and energy balances, for both, integrated processes, considering the pre-treatment by steam explosion. The use of sugarcane trash is considered in order to accomplish the energetic needs of the overall process. Four cases are evaluated which include the conventional ethanol production plant without hydrolysis (Case I), the conventional plant joint with hydrolysis process without thermal integration (Case II), and the conventional plant joint with hydrolysis process considering thermal integration (Case III and IV). Results showed that Case IV has an ethanol production increase of 13.8\% in comparison with Case I.
Lignocellulosic bioethanol may contribute significantly to neutralizing global greenhouse gases emissions as an alternative fuel, but controversies have increasingly arisen in relevant researches as to whether the ethanol production pathway is environmental-and cost-competitive or not and which hotspots may impede its commercial -scale deployment. Here we explore a cost-effective biorefinery pathway of sugarcane bagasse, molasses and Dioscorea composite hemls, from an integrated environmental and economic assessment model to evaluate the performance of bioethanol, as an alternative to gasoline, characterized by gCO(2)eq and MSP, in terms of its emission mitigation potential and cost, as well as its other environmental impacts with the CML method of assessment. Specifically, this study examines the production of 1 ton bioethanol with the considered environmental and economic indicators by three defensible allocation approaches affecting the total mitigation potential with anywhere between 20\% and 82.5\%, where the electricity consumed in the process of the bioethanol conversion is produced with more sustainable means, increasing the emission savings by up to 48.5\%. The economic competitivity have also been examined to promote dialogues across environmental and economic fields, exemplified by the emission mitigation cost with the calculation of minimum selling price at 49.1/ton CO(2)eq, comparable with the EU-ETS carbon permit price. Signs of advantages abound in the current emission trading scheme, where the decrease in carbon tax levels can cut down the price of bioethanol production, especially with regard to the supply chain collaboration with electricity, and thus enhance the overall revenue of neutralizing transport emissions. (C) 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of International Energy Initiative.
South America is a pivotal supplier of agricultural commodities for a growing world population. This large-scale production generates a substantial amount of lignocellulosic residue. Inadequate disposal of this material can lead to putrefaction and leaching, and can attract insects and rodents. Solid residues can be treated by incineration or composting - both causing greenhouse gas emissions. Biotransformation of lignocellulosic residues into valuable products has been proposed as a more sophisticated alternative to burning. However, pretreatment steps are necessary to obtain fermentable sugars for biological or thermochemical transformation into value-added products. In this review, we noted trends in lignocellulosic biomass generation and potential uses, with special attention to the procedures necessary for the generation of fermented products and bio-oil. This survey pointed out that sugarcane bagasse, cereal straws, bananas, and oil-palm biomass can generate about 900 million tonnes of biomass by 2025. Based on production data from several researchers it was estimated that these raw materials have the potential for annual production of more than 550 million tonnes of fermentable sugars (i.e., glucose and xylose), 670 million tonnes of bio-oil, or 4000 TWh of thermal energy. We describe procedures and strategies for the conversion of these residues to produce higher value-added biomolecules and to promote more sustainable application of lignocellulosic biomass (c) 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd.
Levoglucosan (LGA) is a promising chemical platform derived from the pyrolysis of biomass that offers access to a variety of value-added products. We report an efficient route to produce LGA via the pretreatment of biomass with niobium compounds (oxalate, chloride and oxide) followed by fast pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) at temperatures of 350-600 degrees C. Catalytic pretreatment reduces the quantity of lignin in the biomass, concentrates the cellulose and enhance LGA formation during fast pyrolysis. The pretreatment also removes alkaline metals, preventing competitive side reactions. The effect of several parameters such as catalyst weight, time, temperature, and solvent, with the optimal pretreatment conditions determined to be 3 (wt.\%) niobium oxalate for 1 h at 23 degrees C in water. Pretreatment increased the LGA yields by 6.40-fold for sugarcane bagasse, 4.15-fold for elephant grass, 4.13-fold for rice husk, 2.86-fold for coffee husk, and 1.86-fold for coconut husk as compared to the raw biomasses. These results indicate that biomass pretreatment using niobium derivates prior fast pyrolysis can be a promising technique for biomass thermochemical conversion in LGA and others important pyrolytic products. CO 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Biodegradation of cellulose by Clostridium thermocellum cultures accompanied by accumulation of reducing sugars was remarkably improved with the addition of nonionic surfactant Triton X-100. The potential reasons of enhancing saccharification of cellulose by C. thermocellum cultures with Triton X-100 supplement was investigated in this study. Triton X-100 showed the detrimental effect on growth and metabolism of C. thermocellum, resulting in less transportation and consumption of reducing sugar. On the other hand, Triton X-100 had positive effect on enzyme activity and concentration in the broth, indicating that cellulases or cellulosome might be released from cell surface. The present study reveals the possible reasons of enhancing saccharification of cellulose by C. thermocellum cultures with Triton X-100 addition and lays foundation on saccharification of lignocellulose by C. thermocellum cultures. When 4\% alkali-pretreated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) was used as carbon sources, the glucose accumulated to 10.72 g/L and the hydrolysate slurry containing glucose could be fermented to ethanol by yeast without any other nutrients added.
An agricultural residue, sugarcane bagasse (Saccharum spp., hybrid), was used in this study and was stored in piles for 3-26 weeks. Analytical pyrolysis of fresh bagasse samples and samples taken from the center of the bagasse piles after 3.25, 6.5, 13 and 26 weeks of storage showed only small changes in their chemical compositions (pentosans, hexosans and lignin). However, samples taken from the outer surface layer (pile crust) had significantly lower contents of pentosans and hexosans and higher contents of lignin compared to the fresh samples. Samples taken from microbially degraded portions of the pile (composting fraction) showed preferential degradation of the pentosans relative to the hexosans and lignin. The pentosan content of the composting fraction was significantly lower than that from the fresh samples and samples from the centers of the piles. Because of the preferential degradation of the pentosans, the hexosans and lignin contents were relatively higher for the composting fraction compared to the fresh samples. These results clearly indicate that most of the deterioration observed in the bagasse piles occurred on the outer surface layers. Catalytic upgrading of the bagasse pyrolysis vapors also showed that the yield of hydrocarbons from the pile crust was 23\% lower than that for the fresh material. However, there were no significant differences between the yields of hydrocarbons from the fresh samples and samples taken from the center of the pile after 3.25, 6.5, 13 and 26 weeks of storage.
Aromas produced by microorganisms can be recognized as natural and therefore have great economic potential. Ceratocystis fimbriata has the potential to produce a variety of aromas. The aim of the present work is to increase the fruity aroma production in citric pulp (CP), a waste from the citric juice production industry, using C. fimbriata in solid-state fermentation (SSF), testing other residues as carbon (sugarcane molasses, soya molasses) and nitrogen (soya bran or urea) sources. The studies were carried out in 250 mL. Erlenmeyer flasks, pH 6.0, 75\% initial moisture, 30 degrees C, inoculum rate 1 x 10(7) spores/g of CP, during 120 h. Total volatile compounds were quantified by headspace analysis in a gas chromatograph. The best production of volatile compounds was detected when the citric pulp was supplemented with 50\% of soya bran, 25\% of sugarcane molasses, and mineral saline solution. The production of total volatile reached 99.60 mu mol/L g. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The use of residual forms of biomass, resulting from processes of transformation of the agri-food and/or forest industries, presents itself as an alternative with high potential for energy recovery, given the existing availability, both from the perspective of quantities, but also from the perspective of geographic distribution. In this work, samples of four by-products originating from the agri-food industry were collected, namely coconut shells, sugarcane bagasse, cashew nutshells, and palm kernel shells, which were characterized in the laboratory by determining their Thermogravimetric and Elemental analysis, subsequently calculating the High Heating Value, Low Heating Value, Hardgrove Grindability Index, Mass Yield, Energy Yield, and Energy Densification Ratio. The values obtained show the potential to optimize logistical operations related to transportation, demonstrating that energy densification operations, especially if associated with physical densification processes, enable the use of these residual forms of biomass in the replacement of fossil fuels, such as coal.
This work studied the potential of using two (co-)combustion techniques to reduce NO emission in a novel twin-cyclone combustor with a swirling fluidized bed. Prior to a (co-)combustion study, cold-state hydrodynamic tests were performed to investigate the flow regimes and hydrodynamic characteristics of a silica sand bed employed in this reactor. Static bed height of 20 cm was found suitable to ensure bubbling fluidization of the swirling bed during (co-)firing experiments. In the (co-)combustion study, rice husk (a base fuel) was first co-fired with high-moisture sugarcane bagasse (sharing 15\% of the total heat input) using an air staging technique, whereas in the second group of experiments, the base fuel was combusted alone with flue gas recirculation. Detailed investigations of (co-)combustion and emission characteristics of the two proposed techniques was performed with a 100 kW heat input to the combustor for variable operating parameters: 30-60\% excess air, 0-0.3 secondary-to-total air ratio in the tests for air staging, and 5- 20\% fraction of the recycling flue gas when using the second technique. In all test runs, both (co-)combustion techniques ensured NO reducing conditions in the lower combustor's chamber, leading eventually to the NO emission reduction, compared to burning the base fuel alone. At optimal operating parameters, the combustor showed high (similar to 99\%) combustion efficiency and reduction of NO emission: by 30\% for husk-bagasse co-firing with air staging, and by 38\% when burning rice husk with flue gas recirculation, as compared to conventional combustion of the base fuel. Graphic
The biotechnological production of inulinase, a hydrolytic enzyme with important applications in the food and pharmaceutical industry, is presented as a possible route for the valorization of beer residues. The current study employs a sequential optimization strategy, based on statistical experimental designs, was employed to optimize inulinase production by Kluyveromyces marxianus ATCC 36907 in solid-state fermentation (SSF), including the Plackett-Burman (PB) design and the Central Composite Rotatable Design (CCRD). The most important variables selected of SSF using dried beer residue were the concentration of sugarcane molasses, concentration of yeast extract (additional source of nitrogen) and the incubation temperature. The CCRD, which through the response surface methodology (RSM), determined the optimal fermentation conditions for these three variables, which were 47.1\% (w/w), 0.032 g gds \& xfffd; 1 and 37.5 degrees C, respectively. It was found that the RSM model has a predicted R2 value of 0.9512 and adjusted R2 of 0.8884, and can significantly predict (p < 0.05) the response variables of enzyme activity. Under these optimal conditions, it was possible to obtain a maximum inulinase activity of 239.38 U gds \& xfffd; 1 of dried beer residue and maximum productivity at 48 h of 3.69 U gds.h-1. While there is ample literature on inulinase production by solid-state fermentation using K. marxianus, this is the first report on the use of beer residue as a potential source for the production of this enzyme with significant high yield that is on par with the enzymatic activities reported so far using different substrates and different lineages of K. marxianus.
This paper proposes a profitable, affordable hybrid generation power plant, to be integrated upon sugar cane plants, considering the Brazilian energy scenario. The future of energy generation is discussed and highlights are given to the Brazilian sugar cane industry, key national activity for the production of sugar and ethanol. A novel microgrid structure is proposed as a new approach to hybrid generation, which integrates the recycling of the sugar cane remains (as biomass and biogas) combined with the use of renewable sources, such as photovoltaic panels and wind power turbines, aiming to reduce environmental impact. The plant modeling is based on the Energy Hubs methodology, that allows the integration of different energy carriers in the same model. Simulation results show the satisfying microgrid operation and its flexibility to fulfill different energy production scenarios, as well as economic and sustainability gains. Profits and possible implementation costs are discussed, through a payback analysis.
Two multiple response optimization methodologies were applied and compared to obtain an optimum combination medium formulation for culturing the yeast Rhodotorula graminis: (1) desirability function, and (2) pareto-optimal front by means of genetic algorithms (POF-GA). The concentration of microbial lipids, a raw material for the production of biodiesel, was modelled by the response surface methodology and then maximized through the application of a methodology based in genetic algorithms. The results obtained by applying POF-GA (one of the first times this approach was applied to a microbiological process) were confirmed by using the well-known Derringer's desirability function and by carrying out independent experiments. Then, it was verified that POF-GA is a viable option to be applied in biotechnological processes and that molasses may be employed as a source for culture media employed to produce microbial lipids, representing important economical savings since molasses is a raw material from sugarcane industrialization.
A study was performed to evaluate the variation in pH, availability, and chemical associations of Cd in two previously contaminated Latosols amended with mineral and organic amendments. The Latosols were contaminated with Cd and amended with vermicompost, sugarcane filter cake, palm kernel pie, lime, phosphate rock, or zeolite. Cadmium availability was evaluated monthly in the contaminated soil/soil amendment mixtures with the DTPA and Mehlich-3 extractants for twelve months of incubation. At the end of this period, a sequential extraction procedure was performed in the mixtures to identify the Cd forms present in the several geochemical fractions. Lime immobilized Cd at a larger extension (60\%), being the metal transferred to less available fractions. The Mehlich-3 extractant had a high correlation (0.96{*
This paper assesses the economic feasibility of ethanol and higher alcohols production through a thermochemical route in Brazil. This route comprises mainly sugarcane bagasse gasification, syngas cleaning, and synthesis of alcohols. Ethanol production costs and associated risks are evaluated in different scenarios. A case study of a virtual plant to be located adjacent to a sugarcane mill, in the state of Sao Paulo, is presented with the objective of finding the minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) that makes the plant's project economically feasible. The analysis utilizes first the traditional discounted cash flow method and then proceeds to use a stochastic approach, which is more suitable to study economic feasibility under uncertainty conditions. In the latter approach, prices of raw materials and products are modelled through a mean reverting stochastic process, and economic feasibility is analysed with the help of Monte Carlo simulations. Results are summarized via a histogram of the MESPs obtained for different simulated price scenarios. Finally, the project's risk is evaluated by computing the number of instances in which the MESP is greater than the ethanol market price. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii is increasing rapidly in China due to its nutritional and medicinal importance, excellent flavor, and long shelf life; therefore, cheaper and locally available alternative substrates are urgently needed. Experiments were performed to investigate the use of alternative substrates for P. eryngii cultivation. Korshinsk peashrub (Caragana korshinskii Kom.), a perennial shrub, was included in the substrate at varying rates to substitute for the sawdust and sugarcane bagasse (21/38 and 21/35\%, respectively) in the typical substrate. The cultivation substrate including 38\% Korshinsk peashrub did not significantly affect linear mycelial growth. The fruit body yield (247.3 g/bag) and biological efficiency (70.66\%) achieved by using this substrate were significantly higher than those achieved using the control substrate (229.6 g/bag and 65.59\%). Crude polysaccharide content was highest (6.12\%) in the mushroom grown on 38\% Korshinsk peashrub substrate; in this mushroom, crude polysaccharide content was increased by 70.47\% compared with that of the mushroom grown on the control substrate (3.59\%). These results reveal that supplementing the substrate in which P. eryngii is grown with Korshinsk peashrub can improve polysaccharose accumulation by P. eryngii. The findings described above reveal that Korshinsk peashrub is an efficient, cost-effective, and promising substrate additive that can improve P. eryngii quality and yield while largely substituting for sawdust and sugarcane bagasse.
In the present work, a complete study of the production of xylanase by solid-state fermentation (SSF) on a residue mixture by the fungus Aspergillus oryzae ATCC 10124 was conducted, examining the optimization of enzyme production, its physicochemical characterization and saccharification. For optimization of enzyme production, two statistical designs were applied to optimize the mixture of waste residues and fermentation parameters. The centroid simplex experimental design was applied to identify the best composition of residues, sugarcane bagasse (SB), rice husk (RS) and cocoa bean shell (CS) demonstrating that a combination of 25\% SB, 25\% RS and 50\% CS was optimal. Box-Behnken experimental design was applied to optimize fermentation factors, humidity, time and temperature, demonstrating that the combination of 55\% humidity, 100 h and 25 degrees C was the most effective for obtaining high enzyme titers. After both optimizations, an increase of up to 165\% in enzymatic activity was observed compared to non-optimized production. The xylanase produced in this fermentation process showed alkaline characteristics and high thermal stability. The multienzyme extract (ME) was applied directly for the saccharification of agro-industrial residues with satisfactory results for all lignocellulosic residues tested: sugarcane bagasse, rice husk, cocoa husk and peanut husk, highlighting the possibility of a one-step reduction in the enzymatic process. The saccharification using the ME was efficient, without the need for the enzyme purification step. {[
The effects of pH and cell immobilization on acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) production coupled with a pervaporation membrane have been investigated using Clostridium acetobutylicum XY16. The solvent productivity of 0.29 g/L/h was obtained using a two-stage controlled-pH in the coupled process, which was 11\% higher than a previous process without pH control, nevertheless, membrane was still fouled. Furthermore, butanol in the fermenter remained below the critical concentration using a larger membrane, solvent productivity achieved 0.38 g/L/h. However, these methods could not prevent membrane fouling, the average permeation flux and butanol separation factor decreased by 41.6\% and 31.3\%. Then, sugarcane bagasse was used as a cell immobilization carrier and applied to the coupled process; many cells aggregated and adsorbed on sugarcane bagasse surface, the dry cell weight (DCW) in broth was maintained at 1.1 g/L. Membrane fouling was relieved, the pervaporation maintained a steady state for more than 90 h, the average permeation flux was 0.676 kg/m(2)/h, which only decreased by 13.9\% compared to that in the initial stage, and the butanol separation factor remained stable. A maximum solvent productivity of 0.62 g/L/h was also obtained. Thus, the pH control and cell immobilization are efficient methods for high-intensity ABE production with in situ recovery. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Characterisation of 27 types of biomass was performed together with an assessment of regional resource availability. Charcoal was produced under two conditions from all samples and their yields were compared. Sugarcane bagasse, sal and pine produced the best charcoal with a low volatile matter and high calorific value. The amount of high-quality charcoal which can be made within Nepal from the biomass types tested is equivalent to 8,073,000 tonnes of firewood a year or 51\% of the yearly demand. The areas which would benefit the most from charcoal making facilities are the Mid-hills of the Western, Central and Eastern Development Regions, as well as the Terai in the Central and Eastern Development Regions. The main potential benefit is to convert agricultural residues which are underutilised because, in their original form, produce large quantities of smoke, to cleaner burning charcoal. The conversion of agricultural residues to charcoal is also a viable alternative to anaerobic digestion in the Mid-hills.
The occurrence and distribution of species of arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi and Acetobacter diazotrophicus in sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) grown in different regimes of crop management in the States of Rio de Janeiro and Pemambuco, Brazil, were studied. Thirty five samples of the rhizosphere soil and roots were collected from 14 varieties of sugar cane for the extraction of spores and isolation of the bacterium. The number of spores varied from 18 to 2,070 per 100 mt of soil, and the greatest diversity of fungal species was found in the sugarcane fields of Campos (Rio de Janeiro State), especially in those where the sugarcane trash was not burned at harvest. The predominant species found in the three localities sampled were: Scutellospora heterogama, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus occultum, Acaulospora sp. and Gigaspora margarita. A. diazotrophicus was present in almost all samples of root with the exception of one harvest of sugar cane taken from an area used for the sedimentation of vinasse (distillery waste). It was not possible to detect the bacterium from surface sterilized spores of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), only from washed ones using sterile water.
Aiming to study the biogas produced by 5 substrates from both quality and quantity point of view, this research was conducted at the Rural Engineering Department of FCAV/UNESP - Brazil, State of Sao Paulo. The substractes that were used in the anaerobic digestion were characterized as: 1 - Slaughter fowls' manure with napier grass bed (MFNG); 2 - Slaughter fowls' manure with triturate napier grass bed (MFNGT); 3 - Suine manure (SM); 4 - Bovine manure (BM) and 5 - Bovine manure mixed with 50\% of sugarcane bagasse (BM50S). From the data collected it was concluded that: the substract (MFNG) and the substract containing SM produced higher and lower volumes of biogas respectively, when compared to the others; the mixture of sugarcane bagasse in the substract containing Bovine manure damages the accumulated biogas production and its quality; 57 days after filling the biodigestors, all substrates produced biogas with a methane level higher than 48\% except for the substrates containing Suine manure; the triturate substrates (MFNGT) did not present such distinct characteristics from the non-triturate substrates (MFNG); the quality of biogas at the maximum production stage was similar, for all the studied substrates; the biogas which presented higher quantity of methane in its composition was the one produced with BM, overcoming the value up to 17.7\% over the MFNGT production.
Xylitol is an industrially important chemical due to its commercial applications. The use of xylitol as a sweetener as well as its utilization in biomedical applications has made it a high value specialty chemical. Although several species of yeast synthesize xylitol, this review focusses on the species of the genus Candida. The importance of the enzyme xylitol reductase present in Candida species as it relates to their ability to synthesize xylitol was examined. Another focus of this work was to review prior studies examining the ability of the Candida species to synthesize xylitol effectively from hydrolysates of agricultural residues and grasses. An advantage of utilizing such a hydrolysate as a substrate for yeast xylitol production would be decreasing the overall cost of synthesizing xylitol. The intent of this review was to learn if such hydrolysates could substitute for xylose as a substrate for the yeast when producing xylitol. In addition, a comparison of xylitol production by Candida species should indicate which hydrolysate of agricultural residues and grasses would be the best substrate for xylitol production. From studies analyzing previous hydrolysates of agricultural residues and grasses, it was concluded that a hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse supported the highest level of xylitol by Candida species, although corncob hydrolysates also supported significant yeast xylitol production. It was also concluded that fewer studies examined yeast xylitol production on hydrolysates of grasses and that further research on grasses may provide hydrolysates with a higher xylose content, which could support greater yeast xylitol production.
In addition to renewability and abundance, nanocellulose materials have tremendous (and variable) properties for different applications, ranging from bulk applications, such as paper and packaging reinforcement, to emerging high added-value applications, such as substrates for optoelectronics. Lignocellulosic biomass from agricultural and industrial waste sources is readily available and shows great promise as an inexpensive and sustainable raw material for nanocellulose production. However, the understanding of the potential of using non-wood based biowaste sources is not established and systematic comparisons of versatile agricultural and industrial waste sources can elucidate this complex topic. Here we present an overview of the most studied and most promising sources from agro-industrial waste, the processes to convert them into nanocellulose, some of the established and emerging applications, and discuss the advancements that are still needed for large-scale production. Sugarcane bagasse and oil palm empty fruit bunch have been the most researched waste-based sources for nanocellulose production and demonstrate the most promise due to availability and access. Industrial sources seem to have advantages over agricultural sources in collectability and ease of access. This work gives insight on the potential and the challenges of nanocellulose production from waste sources and discusses how the criteria set for nanocellulose materials in different applications can be met, thus opening new routes for circular economy.
The aim of this study was to characterize the growth of the fungus Leucoagaricus gongylophorus LEU18496, isolated from the fungus garden of the nest of leaf cutter ants Atta mexicana. The fungus garden was cultivated in an artificial laboratory nest and the fungus further grown in submerged (SmC) and solid state (SSC) cultures with sugarcane bagasse, grass or model substrates containing CM-cellulose, xylan or lignin. The CO2 production rate with grass in SmC (Vmax 34.76 mg CO2 L-gas(-1) day(- 1)) was almost four times than SSC (Vmax 9.49 mg CO2 L-gas(-1) day(- 1)), while the production rate obtained in sugarcane bagasse in SmC (Vmax 16.02 mg CO2 L-gas(-1) day(- 1)) was almost three times than that for SSC (Vmax 5.42 mg CO2 L-gas(-1) day(- 1)). In addition, the fungus grew with defined carbon substrates mixtures in SmC, but at different rates, first xylan, followed by CM-cellulose and lignin. Endoglucanase and xylanase activities (U mg(protein)(-1)) were detected in all cultures, the specific activity was higher in the fungus-garden, 5.2 and 1.8; followed by SSC-grass, 1.5 and 0.8, and SSC-bagasse, 0.9 and 0.8, respectively. Laccase activity in the fungus-garden was 44.8 U L- 1 and 10.9 U L- 1 in the SSC-grass. The gongylidia structures observed by environmental scanning electron microscopy were ca. 40 mu m and the hyphae width ca. 5 mu m. The results show that L. gongylophorus from A. mexicana have promising applications for the treatment of plant residues to release fermentable sugars and the production of high value lignocellulolytic enzymes such as endoglucanase, xylanase or laccases.
This work deals with assessing the date palm component wastes as alternative lignocellulosic material for production of Medium density fiberboards (MDF), in order to establish economic and balance between production/consumer ratio at different provinces rather than Upper Egypt. Palm leaves and palm frond was used as MDF precursors. Different urea formaldehyde (UF) levels (10-14\%/fiber) and pressing pressure (25-35 bar) were applied in this evaluation. The acceptable interaction of palm fibers component with UF was optimized by characterizing its DSC \& TGA, in comparison with commercial used sugarcane bagasse fibers. The promising MDF Panel is obtained from palm frond fibers and its mechanical and water resistance properties fulfill the ANSI standard for high grade MDF wood products, especially on applying UF level 12-14\%, and pressing pressure, 35 bar. It is interesting to note that, applying higher pressing pressure together with 12\% UF level provided palm frond-based MDF with static bending properties, higher than commercial Bagasse-based MDF. The insignificant effect of pressing pressure was noticed on water swelling property and free-HCHO of MDF panels. Where, both type of fibers have the same water swelling property (reached similar to 10\%), and free-HCHO (similar to 27 mg/100g board).
The use of non-potable water (such as seawater) is an attractive alternative for water intensive processes such as biomass pretreatment and saccharification steps in the production of biochemicals and biofuels. Identification and application of halotolerant enzymes compatible with high-salt conditions may reduce the energy needed for non-potable water treatment and decrease waste treatment costs. Here we present the biochemical properties of a halotolerant endo-1,4-beta-xylanase produced byAspergillus clavatusin submerged fermentation, using paper sludge (XPS) and sugarcane bagasse (XSCB), and its potential application in the hydrolysis of agroindustrial residues. The peptide mass fingerprint and amino acid sequencing of the XPS and XSCB enzymes showed primary structure similarities with an endo-1,4-beta-xylanase fromAspergillus clavatus(XYNA\_ASPCL). Both enzyme preparations presented good thermal stability at 50 degrees C and were stable over a wide range of pH andV(max)up to 2450 U/mg for XPS. XPS and XSCB were almost fully stable even after 24 h of incubation in the presence of up to 3 M NaCl, and their activity were not affected by 500 mM NaCl. Both enzyme preparations were capable of hydrolyzing paper sludge and sugarcane bagasse to release reducing sugars. These characteristics make this xylanase attractive to be used in the hydrolysis of biomass, particularly with brackish water or seawater.
Castor oil is oil used in the manufacture of biofuel. The objective of this work was to evaluate germination and growth variables in castor bean plants grown in different agroindustrial organic residues. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions at IFCE Campus Maracanau in a completely randomized experimental design with 7 treatments (1. 100\% sand in volume, 50\% sand and 50\% organic agroindustrial waste: 2. earthworm humus; peanut shell, coconut fiber, 5. sugarcane bagasse, castor oil cake, or carbonized rice husk) and 5 replicates. Initially the germination variables were analyzed (Emergency percentage, Emergency speed index and average germination time). Then, at 9 days after sowing (DAS), the growth variables (height, collection diameter and number of leaves) were evaluated weekly. At 28 DAS the relative levels of chlorophyll were measured and the seedlings collected to quantify fresh matter, dry matter and leaf area. The castor cake residue and charcoal rice husk cannot be used in the formulation of substrates, since they prevented the germination. Coconut fiber and sugarcane bagasse allowed the germination, but with reduced growth of the seedlings. Among the agroindustrial residues, the peanut shell presented the best results. Due to the low cost and adequate disposal of the residue, peanut bark could be an organic alternative to castor bean cultivation, since it is a viable and environmentally advantageous strategy.
The present paper studies the biotechnological production of xylitol using sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate in a repeated batch fermentation system with immobilized cells of Candida guilliermondii FTI20037. Immobilized cell system is considered as an attractive alternative to reuse the well-grown and adapted yeast cells in a new fresh fermentation media, without the need of the inoculum stage. In this work, seven repeated batches were performed in a fluidized bed bioreactor using immobilized cells in calcium alginate beads. According to the obtained results it was observed that the immobilized cells of C. guilliermondii can be reused for six successive batches maintaining an average xylitol yield (Y (p/s)) of 0.7 g/L and a volumetric productivity (Q (p)) of 0.42 g/L h at the end of 432 h of fermentation. On the other hand, in the seventh batch (504 h), a decrease of 44 \% in the final concentration of xylitol was observed. This reduction can be explained by the possible diffusion and accumulation of insoluble substances, found in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate, in the interior of the immobilization support resulting in substrate mass transfer limitations.
The current study aims to compare sugar beet leaves (SBLs) ensiled with sugar beet pulp (SBP), sugarcane molasses (SM), or rock candy juice (RCJ) using an in vitro gas production technique. Treatments in the first group included 10\% SBP (control 1) and control 1 plus 5\% SM or RCJ. In the second group, there were 3 treatments, including 20\% SBP (control 2) and control 2 plus 10\% SM or RCJ. The silages with no added soluble carbohydrate (SC) sources had significantly higher (P < 0.001) pH, buffer value index, and ammonia nitrogen values than the other treatments. However, there was no significant difference between RCJ and SM in their effect on these variables. Adding both levels of SC sources caused an increase in dry matter digestibility compared to those that only included SBL, and SBP (P < 0.001). Maximal and rate of gas production from slowly fermentable fraction (a(2)) were significantly greater when the substrate contained 85\%, 10\%, and 5\% SBL, SBP, and SC sources, respectively. Using dried SBP and SC sources for the preservation of fresh SRI, is recommended; however, with higher levels of SC, the silage may be at risk of spoilage, and it must be less exposed to air.
Bacteria are potential microorganisms involved in enzymatic hydrolysis of agricultural wastes by producing cellulases and other valuable chemicals. Different ionic solvents at different pH and temperature are also involved in the pretreatment of agricultural wastes to enhance the saccharification by cellulases. However, the remaining and conditioning of pretreatment buffers strongly inhibit the cellulase activity. In view of this, a symbiotic cellulolytic strain was isolated from the gut of building infesting termite Heterotermes indicola for the production of ionic-solvent tolerant cellulase. After screening by Congo red, strain HI-08 was identified as Bacillus licheniformis using 16S rDNA sequence analysis. It was accounted for maximum cellulase production on 2\% sugarcane bagasse (1156 U/mL). The crude cellulase was purified by (NH4)(2)SO4 precipitation, affinity and size exclusion chromatography, with 12.02 purification fold and 32.33\% overall recovery. Approximately 55 kDa molecular weight of gel-purified cellulase was revealed by SDS-PAGE analysis. The optimum temperature and pH for maximum cellulase activity was determined as 45 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. Kinetic analysis of purified cellulase showed the K-m and V-max be 2.24 mg/mL and 454.05 mu g/mL/min, respectively. Statistical optimization using RSM indicated that sugarcane bagasse was most useful agricultural waste for cellulase production, which proved its candidature in industrial bio ventures. (C) 2019 Friends Science Publishers
The research performed in the following paper is broadly based on combined power plant powered by biomass integrated gasification. The analysis is predominantly performed for first and second law efficiencies which examine the effects of gas inlet temperature to heat recovery steam generator and steam turbine pressure; change in biomass materials (solid waste to sugarcane bagasse) and eventually exergy loss in various components of the proposed cycle were studied so as to draw a comparison between them. The exergy loss is found to be maximum in the combustion chamber of the cycle followed by gasifier, heat recovery steam generator, gas turbine, and steam turbine, respectively. The analysis further reveals that the second law efficiency is lower than the first law efficiency for various fuels (solid waste, rice husk, and sugarcane bagasse) applied in the study. This can be interpreted due to comparatively higher exergy-based contents of syngas present in the system. Further, solid waste was seen to be a better fuel than sugarcane bagasse based on the analysis involving second law.
The floricultural industry is always searching for new and low-cost materials to use as substrate for crop growth and development. Sewage sludge is an organic solid waste from sewage treatment and it has a good potential to be used as an organic fertilizer and/or substrate conditioner. The research aimed to evaluate the rooting and growth of Codiaeum variegatum `Andreanum' (red variety) and Codiaeum variegatum `Punctatum' (yellow variety) cuttings cultivated in the potting media: PM1 - 100\% commercial potting media used as control (CS), PM2 - 100\% organic compost of sewage sludge + sugarcane bagasse (SSSB), PM3 - 50\% CS + 50\% SSSB, PM4 - 100\% organic compost of sewage sludge + eucalyptus bark (SSEB) and PM5 - 50\% CS + 50\% SSEB. After 90 days of experimentation the chemical analysis of the substrate solution (pH, electric conductivity, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na, B, Cu, Mn and Zn) and number of shoots, shoot fresh and dry mass, plant cutting fresh and dry masses, root fresh and dry masses, total fresh and dry masses and, length of the largest root were analyzed. Our results showed that sewage sludge compost can be used as a substrate for rooting and growth of croton cuttings when mixed with commercial substrate. The use of the pure sewage sludge compound with sugarcane bagasse or eucalyptus bark prejudiced croton cuttings to root.
2-phenylethanol (2-PE) is a higher alcohol widely used in industry that can be obtained by solid-state fermentation (SSF) using low-cost raw materials. This report describes the 2-PE production potential of an indigenous Pichia kudriavzevii isolated from solid-state fermented sugarcane bagasse that possesses attractive characteristics for processing waste streams such as its low-pH tolerance, high growth rate and temperature resistance. Besides, 2-PE production was optimized in batch-SSF using sugarcane bagasse supplemented with L-phenylalanine as substrate. Full factorial design allowed identifying the pH adjustment, micronutrient addition, inoculum and cosubstrate load effects, and response surface methodology served to identify the maximum production based on temperature, initial moisture content (MC0) and specific airflow rate (S-AFR). While the pH adjustment and micronutrient addition did not affect the 2-PE production, temperature and MC0 resulted critical for the process. After optimization, the maximum 2-PE content was 27.2 +/- 0.2 mg per gram of dry substrate at 31 degrees C, 76 \% MC0 and 0.129 L h(-1) g(-1) S-AFR. This result was 23.8 \% higher than the sub-optimal condition, and it is the highest 2-PE production via SSF reported so far. These results confirm the ability of P. kudriavzevii for producing 2-PE, and its potential for using waste streams as substrate.
The thermal decompositions of sugarcane bagasse and waste-wood samples are studied using thermogravimetric analysis. Assuming the addition of three independent parallel decompositions, these corresponding to three pseudocomponents linked to the hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin, the weight loss associated with the pyrolysis process is simulated. First, an irreversible first-order reaction model is assumed for each pseudocomponent. Results show that the model-simulated curves do not fit well to the experimental data. Consequently, a further kinetic study is carried out for the pure lignin (Kraft alkali lignin), which demonstrates that the pyrolysis of lignin is better described by a third-order reaction rate law. The reformulation of the lignin kinetic model, and its subsequent implementation in the summative model (for the third pseudocomponent), has allowed one to reach a good agreement between simulated and experimental data.
Basic Violet 3 (BV) belongs to the most important group of synthetic colorants and is used extensively in textile industries. It is considered as xenobiotic compound which is recalcitrant to biodegradation. As Candida krusei could not use BV as sole carbon source, experiments were conducted to study the effect of cosubstrates on decolorization of BV in semi synthetic medium using glucose, sucrose, lactose, maltose, yeast extract, peptone, urea and ammonium sulphate. Maximum decolorization (74\%) was observed in media supplemented with sucrose. Use of sugarcane bagasse extract as sole nutrient source showed 100\% decolorization of BV within 24 h under optimized condition. UV-visible, FTIR spectral analysis and HPLC analysis confirmed the biodegradation of BV. Six degradation products were isolated and identified. We propose the biodegradation pathway for BV which occurs via stepwise reduction and demethylation process to yield mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-demethylated BV species which was degraded completely. The study of the enzymes responsible for decolorization showed the activities of lignin peroxidase, lacasse, tyrosinase, NADH-DCIP reductase, MG reductase and azoreductase in cells before and after decolorization. A significant increase in activities of NADH-DCIP reductase and laccase was observed in the cells after decolorization. The yeast C. krusei could show the ability to decolorize the textile dye BV using inexpensive source like sugarcane bagasse extract for decolorization.
Xylobiose is a good prebiotic and is used as an additive in the food and feed industries. The fungal strain Aspergillus fumigatus FC2-2, isolated from soil, secretes xylanases that can convert birchwood xylan and extracted xylan from sugarcane bagasse to xylobiose as the main component. A xylanase AfxynA produced by the strain FC2-2 was purified and characterized. The AfxynA hydrolyzed the xylooligosaccharides, birchwood xylan, and sugarcane bagasse xylan, mainly into xylobiose. The half-life of the purified AfxynA at 50 degrees C and 55 degrees C was 4207.9 min and 1001.6 min, respectively. The N-terminal sequence of the purified AfxynA was determined to be AGTPSSTG, and the AfxynA was found to belong to the glycosyl hydrolase family 11. The cDNA gene encoding AfxynA was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene was site-directed mutated to replace the codons encoding Asn70, Arg121, or Gln135 by Ala. The mutant enzymes N70A, R121A, and Q135A showed reduced enzyme activity in comparison with the native enzyme. More interestingly, the hydrolysis product of birchwood xylan by these mutant xylanases showed less proportion of xylobiose than that by the native enzyme. The above results indicated that N70, R121, and Q135 of AfxynA are required for xylanase activity and formation of xylobiose as a major product. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Mycelium-based bio-composite materials have been invented and widely applied to different areas, including construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and biomedical. As the vegetative part of a fungus, mycelium has the unique capability to utilize agricultural crop waste (e.g., sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, cotton stalks, straw, and stover) as substrates for the growth of its network, which integrates the wastes from pieces to continuous composites without energy input or generating extra waste. Their low-cost and environmentally friendly features attract interest in their research and commercialization. For example, mycelium-based foam and sandwich composites have been actively developed for construction structures. It can be used as synthetic planar materials (e.g., plastic films and sheets), larger low-density objects (e.g., synthetic foams and plastics), and semi-structural materials (e.g., paneling, flooring, furniture, decking). It is shown that the material function of these composites can be further tuned by controlling the species of fungus, the growing conditions, and the post-growth processing method to meet a specific mechanical requirement in applications (e.g., structural support, acoustic and thermal insulation). Moreover, mycelium can be used to produce chitin and chitosan, which have been applied to clinical trials for wound healing, showing the potential for biomedical applications. Given the strong potential and multiple advantages of such a material, we are interested in studying it in-depth and reviewing the current progress of its related study in this review paper.
This study was done to evaluate the suitability of biochar-based mixtures for growth media. Biochars from agricultural wastes were produced by slow pyrolysis at 300 (B300) and 500 degrees C (B500). Organic substrates/biochars of sawdust (Sd), wheat straw (WS), rice hull (Rh), palm bunches (Plm) and sugarcane bagasse (SC), and inorganic substrates of vermiculite (V) and zeolite (Z) were used to prepare growth media. Based on the criteria of high water holding capacity (WHC), easily-available water (EAW), water buffering capacity (WBC), air-after-irrigation (AIR), low bulk density (BD), EC, pH, and water drop penetration time (WDPT), thirteen growth media were prepared with different volumetric ratios of individual substrates. Incorporation of biochars/inorganic components increased BD, pH, and EC of the mixtures compared to cocopeat-perlite. The EAW, WHC, and WBC were greater in the biochar-based mixtures than cocopeat-perlite. Physical properties of the biochar-based mixtures were within the optimum ranges for growth media (AIR > 10\%v/v, WBC = 4-10\%v/v, WDPT < 50 s). All substrates except Rh-SCB300-Z, Plm-SCB300, and WSB500-Rh-V were not water-repellent (WDPT < 50 s) suggesting no hydrophobicity limitation for the use of these materials. The highest WHC was observed in Plm-WSB300-V, and WS-V and PlmB300-WS-V had WHC values similar to cocopeat-perlite. Overall, biochar-based mixtures such as PlmB300-WS-V and WSB500-Rh-V are suitable substitutes for cocopeat-perlite.
Few studies have focused on the effects of biomass feedstocks on the structure-reactivity of magnetic biochar. In this study, four types of magnetic biochar were first prepared using steel pickling waste liquor (serving as iron salt) and sugarcane bagasse (SMBC), rice straw (RMBC), peanut shells (PMBC) and herb residue (HMBC). According to the Langmuir model, the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) by SMBC was 43.122 mg/g, which was approximately 1.298 times, 3.175 times and 3.677 times higher than that of RMBC, PMBC and HMBC, respectively. The mass balance of chromium indicated that Cr(VI) was removed mainly via reduction. However, the reduction capacity of Cr(VI) differed among the four types of magnetic biochar. The results of characterisations of those magnetic composites before and after reaction demonstrated that the Cr(VI) was electrostatically attracted to the surface of the materials. Consequently, most of the adsorbed Cr(VI) was reduced and the remainder of the Cr(VI) was complexed with C=O groups in magnetic biochar. Further, the total iron in magnetic biochar, especially Fe(II), played a dominant role in the removal and reduction of Cr(VI). Finally, correlation analysis showed that the cellulose and ash in the biomass were the main factors that induced the differences in the magnetic biochar's total iron content. Therefore, this study may provide a reference for the use of magnetic biochar to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions.
Expansive soils are problematic soils that exhibit shrink-swell behavior. Previous research has shown that 20\% rice husk ash (RHA) effectively reduces the swelling potential of expansive soils, but it does not increase the strength of the soil. An improved admixture composed of RHA and a binder was used to treat the expansive soil. Different types of binders were used; three of which are agricultural wastes namely coconut shell ash (CSA), rice straw ash (RSA), and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA). Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) was used as a comparison for the other binders. The untreated and treated soil mixtures were evaluated through the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and expansion index (EI). The effectivity of the admixture is evaluated through ASTM D4609. The treated specimens exhibited an increased in the strength as the curing days increases. A response surface methodology was performed for the UCS of the soil mixtures with the binder types of CSA, RSA, and SCBA. The binder content and curing period are the numerical factors and the response is the UCS. Contour plots and response surface plots showed that the optimum strength for the mixtures with CSA, RSA, and SCBA is at the highest curing period of 35 days and lowest binder content (5\% content). The binder type that has the highest maximum value for the predicted response is the RSA, therefore, the optimum mixture is the soil with 5\% RSA combined with 20\% RHA.
Soil contamination by heavy metals is becoming a serious environmental problem especially in saline and sodic soils and information on different fractions of metals is useful to predict their mobility and availability in soil. Addition of organic amendments, as an important technique to remediation of metals has been considered recently. Therefore, the effect of sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar on cadmium (Cd) fractions in saline, sodic, saline-sodic and normal soils were evaluated through an incubation experiment using sequential extraction. Treatments included biochar (0, 2, and 4 wt \%) of sugarcane bagasse and 50 mg Cd kg(-1)with three replications. In all studied soils with 2 and 4\% biochar application, the organic matter fraction was the dominant form of Cd. Biochar had no significant influence on exchangeable Cd in normal and sodic soils. Whereas, application of 2 and 4\% biochar increased exchangeable Cd concentration in saline and saline-sodic soils probably due to high capacity of biochar to sorb salts that mitigate the negative effects of salts in soil solution. The mobility factor (MF) of Cd in studied soils was high (20-50\%). The MF value decreased with the increase of biochar dosage. According to reduced partition index, Cd was partitioned in all fractions. Based on these results, biochar can mitigate the effect of Cd pollution in these soils.
The present work was undertaken to formulate an effective bioformulation using Burkholderia sp. strain MSSP, a known plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium. MSSP was tagged with the reporter gene of green fluorescent protein (gfp) to monitor its population in cost-effective solid carriers, including sugarcane-bagasse, sawdust, cocoa peat, rice husk, wheat bran, charcoal, and rock phosphate, and paneer-whey as liquid carrier. Physical and chemical properties of different low-cost carrier materials were studied. The viability of the green fluorescent tagged variant of MSSP was estimated in different sterile carrier materials. Whey and wheat bran proved to be efficient carrier materials for the bioformulation. Sawdust, rock phosphate, rice husk, and cocoa peat were average, while charcoal and sugarcane-bagasse proved to be inferior carriers. The viability of strain MSSP was also assessed in wheat bran and whey-based consortium, having three other bacterial strains, namely Sinorhizobium meliloti PP3, Rhizobium leguminosarum Pcc, and Bacillus sp. strain Bl. Presence of other plant-growth-promoting bacteria did not have any detrimental effect on the viability of MSSP. Efficiency of the wheat-bran-based multispecies consortium was studied on the growth of pigeonpea in field conditions. A considerable increase in plant biomass, nodule number and weight, and number of pods was recorded as compared with individual trials and with the control.
Lignocellulose biorefineries process biomass into `green' chemicals and bioenergy and play a key role in sustainable bio-economies. Using sugarcane bagasse and trash feedstocks, biorefineries were simulated in Aspen Plus (R) v 8.6 to generate mass and energy balances. Four scenarios with electricity and furfural as common products were generated. Scenario A in addition produced high volume, low value levulinic acid whilst scenarios B1 and B2 generated low volume, high value levulinic acid at varied feedstock capacities. Scenario C produced low volume, high value levulinic acid and bulk gamma valerolactone. The four biorefineries were also compared to a combined heat and power plant that only produced steam and electricity. Aspen Plus (R) Economic Analyser and a discounted cash flow rate of return methodology were used to determine the economic feasibility of the bioenergy self-sufficient biorefineries annexed to a conventional South African sugar mill. Levulinic acid production via the Biofine process makes economic sense when produced for niche markets, due to the anticipated decrease in market prices when production volumes increase. Scenario (C) co-producing a low volume of levulinic acid (0.15 t h(-1)) together with 3.3 t h(-1) furfural, electricity (14 MWh) and 6.8 t h(-1) gamma valerolactone, was the most profitable. It attained an internal rate of return of 23\% and 253 US\$ million net present value at a 9.7\% hurdle rate by matching chemicals' production volumes to market demands, to maintain high market prices for multiple revenue streams.
Long-term use of inorganic fertilizers can increase soil acidity, be harmful to the environment, and leaving bad effects on human health. Organic fertilizer application is one of the safer alternatives with numerous benefits, such as supplying nutrients for plant growth. Sunflower is one of the most important grown oilseed crops in the world. Sunflower plants need a supply of essential nutrients for their optimal growth. As a result, the aim of this research is to explore the effect and mechanism of two organic fertilizers from different sources (sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), compost coupled with biofertilizer (CCB)) and NPK inorganic fertilizer as a control on enzyme activity, physiological traits, and the uptake of mineral contents and heavy metals in sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus L.). Fresh or dry mass (FM, DM), osmolytes and secondary metabolites, photosynthesis pigments, and enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant molecules were all determined. Both sugarcane bagasse ash and compost coupled with biofertilizer resulted in a high value of fresh and dry mass, plant height, and chlorophyll content. The results revealed that the use of sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) and compost coupled with biofertilizer increased osmolyte contents (soluble proteins and soluble sugars), antioxidants system enzyme/molecule (catalase, superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and TGS) and secondary metabolites. However, the highest value of proline, total free amino acids, and phenolic compounds in sunflower plants was determined after NPK fertilizer application. On the contrary, it lowered Na, Na/K ratio, and Cd content. Data showed that organic fertilizers enhanced the accumulation of Cl, PO4, and SO4 content in sunflower plants. Generally, CCB and SBA treatments increased Cu, Zn, and Pb accumulation in sunflower plants. Using organic fertilizers with chemical NPK fertilizer can improve the chemical, physical, and biological soil properties.
This research work focuses on the preparation and characterization of activated carbons derived from biomass residues as potential adsorbents for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture applications under ambient conditions. Three abundantly available and inexpensive raw materials, viz., (i) corn cob, (ii) sugarcane bagasse, and (iii) wheat straw, are used to prepare activated carbon using carbonization and activation methods. Characterization techniques such as (a) Nitrogen (N-2) adsorption/desorption, (b) Scanning Electron Microscopy, (c) Fourier Transform Infrared Spectra, (d) Thermogravimetric Analysis, and (e) proximate and ultimate analyses are used to examine the surface texture and physiochemical parameters of the adsorbents, including surface area, pore volume, pore diameter, surface morphology, structural features, thermal stability, and quantitative and elemental compounds. The adsorption-desorption isotherms of CO2 uptake capabilities of adsorbents are evaluated at 1 bar pressure, with temperatures varying from 0 to 90 degrees C. The significant parameters of adsorbents' adsorption, such as (i) CO2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, (ii) CO2/N-2 adsorption, (iii) recyclability, (iv) breakthrough curve and (v) isosteric heat of adsorption (oH(ads)) are determined. The N-2 adsorption/desorption investigation shows that the tested adsorbents are highly porous and crucial for post-combustion carbon capture. Values of oH(ads) for activated carbon samples are below 40 kJ/mol, which ensures the physical adsorption process. The findings suggest that adsorbents are most appropriate for multiple gas sorption applications. The anticipated characteristics will benefit for actual system development.
Burning of surplus residues in agricultural fields is a common practice in many countries of the world. This practice adds emissions into the atmosphere and results in the loss of essential plant nutrients, hence, there is a need for developing technologies for the sustainable management of agri-residues. Constructed wetlands offer excellent nature-based, low-cost green technologies for the treatment of wastewater using surplus agricultural residues as wetland substrates to grow ornamental plants as a source of income. This study was conducted to investigate the use of agricultural residues and biochar as substrates to grow ornamental plants in constructed wetlands. Four ornamental plants (Canna Indica, Gerbera jamesonii, Liliumwallichianum, and Tagetes erecta) were grown in six different substrate combinations for 120 days. Data on plant growth parameters were collected for each plant and compared to select the best substrate combination. Canna Indica and Lilium wallichianum resulted in significantly higher growth and nutrient uptake (P<0.001) with the substrate of 15\% rice straw, 80\% soil, 5\% biochar (T4), and 25\% sugarcane bagasse, 70\% soil, 5\% biochar (T5) compared to other plants. The result concluded that agricultural waste-derived substrates are viable alternatives having fertilizing effects with the potential for nutrient recovery. The present study provides an alternative approach to utilize agricultural waste sustainably to grow ornamental plants in the constructed wetland which reduces the overall cost of the wetland unit making it more cost-efficient.
Conventional and biodigested vinasses are organic and nutrient rich residues from the sugar cane alcohol industry. Their disposal in running waters and soils are controlled due to their eutrophication potential. Using it as algal culture medium, lower costs and residue remediation can be achieved. Here, we report on the physiology of Chlorella vulgaris grown in 60\% conventional and 80\% biodigested treated vinasses in 6 days experiments. Cell densities, chlorophyll a concentrations and pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry were used for culture monitoring. Maximum and operational quantum yields, photochemical (qP) and non-photochemical quenchings (qN and NPQ) and rapid light response curves were determined and efficiency of light use (a) and light saturation (IK) obtained for all treatments. The results showed that C. vulgaris grew better in vinasse (1.5-1.6 d(-1)) than in controls (0.9-1.2 d(-1)). PAM fluorometry showed that, despite the increased algal growth in vinasses, photosynthesis was higher in controls than in the residues, supporting that C. vulgaris used organic carbon as energy source. We suggest that the high competitiveness of the microalgae was due to its ability to grow mixotrophically in the residue even though heterotrophic contaminants were present. A reduction of the vinasses eutrophication potential was obtained after the microorganisms' growth. This study is a contribution to the knowledge of microalgae photosynthetic physiology in organic rich residues, information that can help improve algal biomass production in residues at the same time that performs its remediation.
The study conducted to evaluate the effect of different stocking densities in a biofloc (BF) system, with sugarcane bagasse as an organic carbon source on growth performance, immune response-related genes, and microbial biomass of shrimp larvae in a 90-days. Litopenaeus vannamei larvae (0.002 +/- 0.01 g) were cultured in 12-tanks with different stocking densities (12 or 16 larvae/l), including two controls without a carbon source (12C and 16C) and two BF treatments without a commercial diet (12BF and 16BF) in triplicates. Based on the results, the total number of heterotrophic bacteria (THB) and Vibrio spp. counts (TVC) were positively affected by BF treatment. The highest THB value was recorded in treatment 12BF, whereas the lowest TVC value was recorded in 16BF. The highest (9.85 +/- 1.60 g) and lowest (7.96 +/- 2.72 g) weight gains were observed in 16BF and its control. Overall, the highest growth indices, survival rate and crude protein content were recorded in BF treatments. Furthermore, the expression of immunity-related genes were positively affected by BF treatment. However, the addition of agricultural by-product sugarcane bagasse as a carbon source in BF-tanks with zero-water exchange facilitated water recycling and increased the number of THB communities which could replace the commercial diet in BF-tanks and improve the growth and health of shrimp.
Gluconic acid (GA) is a multifunctional carbonic acid regarded as a bulk chemical in the food, feed, beverage, textile, pharmaceutical, and construction industries. The favored production process is submerged fermentation by Aspergillus niger utilizing glucose as a major carbohydrate source, which accompanied product yield of 98\%. However, use of GA and its derivatives is currently restricted because of high prices: about US\$ 1.20-8.50/kg. Advancements in biotechnology such as screening of microorganisms, immobilization techniques, and modifications in fermentation process for continuous fermentation, including genetic engineering programmes, could lead to cost-effective production of GA. Among alternative carbohydrate sources, sugarcane molasses, grape must show highest GA yield of 95.8\%, and banana must may assist reducing the overall cost of GA production. These methodologies would open new markets and increase applications of GA.
This work describes the synthesis of bilayer bacterial cellulose membranes (BCs) produced by Gluconacetobacter hansenii ATCC 23769 in culture media with different carbon sources (sugarcane molasses, syrup and fructose) as well as their retention capacity and sustained release of the antibacterial agent ceftriaxone. Scanning electronic microscopy analysis showed that BCs produced in all culture media exhibit a double layer and three-dimensional fiber network obtained in only one step. Elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction show that the BC membranes are composed of pure cellulose. In particular, the BC produced in sugarcane molasses medium presented a three-dimensional network structure of the bilayer with high-density fiber entangling, which was responsible for the largest holding capacity and sustained release of the antibiotic ceftriaxone in relation to Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. This behavior shows the potential of applying such BC membranes in wound dressings as a sustained support to release different antibiotics to treat skin infections.
In this paper a new stationary phase was studied, a hydrogel derived from cellulose acetate (DS 2.5) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic dianhydride (HEDTA) was used in gel permeation chromatography (GPC) on a preparative scale for elution of acetosolv lignin samples. Initially, tests were performed to verify the potential of HEDTA as a stationary phase for separation of lignin fragments and sugars, using sodium phenolate to simulate lignin, and glucose, simulating the sugars. Results have shown that more than 90 \% of the two compounds were separated. Then, HEDTA was used to elute samples of acetosolv lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse. The separation happened according to its hydrodynamic volume, where the fraction 1 (F1) with the highest average molar mass (1026 g.mol-1) showed shorter retention time. While fraction 11 (F11) had a longer retention time as expected, because F11 had lower average molar mass (740 g.mol- 1). The GPC chromatograms and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the first fractions did not show curves or bands, characteristic for phenol derivatives. So, it became evident that the sample was fractioned. This work shows the synthesis of a new stationary phase for GPC with low-cost raw material, a simple procedure and derived from cellulose, a renewable resource.
This study evaluated the effect of different fiber sources supplied with cactus cladodes in diets on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, ingestive behavior, milk yield, and composition of dairy goats. The fiber sources were corn silage, sorghum silage, Digitaria pentzii Stent. hay, and sugarcane bagasse. Twelve Saanen goats with an average weight of 48.9 +/- 7.3 kg and average production of 2.8 +/- 0.7 kg of milk/day were assigned in three simultaneous 4 x 4 Latin squares (four animals, four treatments, and four experimental periods). There was no difference between the fiber sources for intake (P > 0.05) of dry matter (2.58 kg/day), organic matter (2.30 kg/day), crude protein (0.385 kg/day), neutral detergent fiber (0.895 kg/day), non-fibrous carbohydrates (0.858 kg/day), and metabolizable energy (5.66 Mcal/day). Also, the fiber sources did not influence dry matter and nutrient digestibility (P > 0.05). The association of cactus cladodes with silages, hay, and sugarcane bagasse did not change milk production, milk production corrected for 3.5\% of fat and corrected for energy (2.78; 2.53 and 2,55 kg/day, respectively), in addition to milk composition (P > 0.05). No differences were observed in ingestive behavior (P > 0.05). Any fiber sources evaluated are recommended.
The mode of action of xylanase and beta-glucosidase purified from the culture filtrate of Humicola lanuginosa (Griffon and Maublanc) Bunce on the xylan extracted from sugarcane bagasse and on two commercially available larchwood and oat spelt xylans, on xylooligomers and on arabinoxylooligomers was studied. While larchwood and oat spelt xylans were hydrolyzed to the same extent in 24 h, sugarcane bagasse xylan was hydrolyzed to a lesser extent in the same period. It was found that the rate of hydrolysis of xylooligomers by xylanase increased with increase in chain length, while beta-glucosidase acted rather slowly on all the oligomers tested. Xylanase exhibited predominant `'endo'' action on xylooligomers attacking the xylan chain at random while beta-glucosidase had `'exo'' action, releasing one xylose residue at a time. On arabinoxylooligomers, however, xylanase exhibited `'exo'' action. Thus, it appears that the presence of the arabinose substituent has, in some way, rendered the terminal xylose-xylose linkage more susceptible to xylanase action. It was also observed that even after extensive hydrolysis with both the enzymes, substantial amounts of the parent arabinoxylooligomer remained unhydrolyzed together with the accumulation of arabinoxylobiose. It can therefore be concluded that the presence of the arabinose substituent in the xylan chain results in linkages that offer resistance to both xylanase and beta-glucosidase action.
The use of low cost agro-industrial residues for the production of industrial enzymes is one of the ways to reduce significantly production costs. Cellulase producing actinomycetes were isolated from soil and decayed agricultural wastes. Among them, a potential culture, strain NEAE-J, was selected and identified on the basis of morphological, cultural, physiological and chemotaxonomic properties, together with 16S rDNA sequence. It is proposed that strain NEAE-J should be included in the species Streptomyces albogriseolus as a representative of a novel sub-species, Streptomyces albogriseolus subsp. cellulolyticus strain NEAE-J and sequencing product was deposited in the GenBank database under accession number JN229412. This organism was tested for its ability to produce endoglucanase and release reducing sugars from agro-industrial residues as substrates. Sugarcane bagasse was the most suitable substrate for endoglucanase production. Effects of process variables, namely incubation time, temperature, initial pH and nitrogen source on production of endoglucanase by submerged fermentation using Streptomyces albogriseolus subsp. cellulolyticus have been studied. Accordingly optimum conditions have been determined. Incubation temperature of 30 degrees C after 6 days, pH of 6.5, 1\% sugarcane bagasse as carbon source and peptone as nitrogen source were found to be the optimum for endoglucanase production. Optimization of the process parameters resulted in about 2.6 fold increase in the endoglucanase activity. Therefore, Streptomyces albogriseolus subsp. cellulolyticus coud be potential microorganism for the intended application.
Xylanases have raised interest because of their potential applications in various industrial fields, including the pulp and paper industries, bioethanol production, and the feed industry. In bioethanol production from lignocellulosic compounds, xylanase can improve the hydrolysis of cellulose into fermentable sugars, since the xylan restricts the cellulases from acting efficiently. In this work, a new thermophilic Streptomyces sp. was selected for its ability to produce xylanase. Carbon source selection is an important factor in the production of hemicellulases. The highest activity was obtained when Streptomyces sp. I3 was grown in the presence of wheat bran. Xylanase activity was partially characterized concerning the effect of pH and temperature on activity and thermostability, and the effects of different metal ions were also tested. The pH and temperature profile showed optimal activity at pH 6.0/70 A degrees C. Zymogram analysis showed multiple xylanases (39, 21, 18, and 17 kDa). Xylanases studied in this work are thermophilic, thermostable, and active in a wide pH range; they have potential to be used in the development of new processes of biotechnological interest.
Pineapple leaf and cotton waste fibers known as abundant by-products in the agriculture and textile industry are combined for the first time to produce thermal insulating and flexible cellulose-based aerogel composites via an environmentally friendly and cost-effective freeze-drying process. The effect of total fiber content and the ratio of pineapple leaf fibers (PF) to cotton waste fibers (CF) on the density, porosity, morphology, durability, and thermal properties of aerogel composites are comprehensively investigated. The as-fabricated aerogel composites show an exceedingly low density of 0.019-0.046 g cm(-3) with high porosity of more than 96\%. Because of the porous structure inside, our aerogel composites exhibit outstanding heat insulation with extraordinarily low thermal conductivity of 0.039-0.043 W m(-1) K-1 that is comparable to commercial insulation materials (mineral wool, fiberglass, polystyrene) and previous cellulose-based aerogels from recycled cellulose fibers, sugarcane bagasse, and rice straw. Interestingly, the combination of those fibers has remarkably improved the flexibility of our previous aerogels from pineapple leaf fibers only, in particular, the compressive modulus of aerogel composites (11.33-44.63 kPa) is 6 times higher than that of PF aerogels (5.73 kPa). The sheet of aerogel composite with a dimension of 28 x 28 cm which is rolled up shows no crack on its surface, demonstrating its excellent mechanical strength. The research results increase the possibility of applying the developed aerogel composites from biomass into practical insulation. Graphic
Nematodes are major pests for crops, including banana. Environmentally friendly methods for managing plant-parasitic nematodes have to be developed, such as organic material application. Our study focuses on the impacts of several organic amendments on banana plants, considering mainly their effect on soil nitrogen supply and soil microbial biomass, and the consequences on plant-parasitic nematode impacts on the plants. A microcosm experiment for 13 weeks was conducted to evaluate four organic materials: sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane sludge, plant residues, and sewage sludge, compared to a control without organic amendment. Input of organic materials led to an important change on nitrogen resource, and plants grew better when the N availability was the highest, but better growth conditions did not necessarily reduce parasitic nematodes impacts on the roots. Damage on the roots depended on plant-parasitic nematode abundance. Three of four tested amendments exhibited a regulator effect on plant-parasitic nematode populations (bagasse, sugarcane sludge, and plant residues). Root growth was not the explanatory factor for this regulation. Only sugarcane sludge led to an overall positive effect on the plant, increasing its growth and reducing its parasitism pressure. The other organic materials exhibited an antagonism between the promoted plant growth and the reduced nematode populations.
Translocation of minerals from substrate to mushrooms can change the medicinal characteristics, commercial value, and biological efficiency of mushroom. In the present study, we demonstrated that addition of iron to the substrate reduces the yield of Pleurotus ostreatus mushroom. The biological efficiency of the mushroom varied from 36.53\% on the unsupplemented substrate to 2.08\% for the substrate with 500 mg/kg iron added. The maximum iron concentration obtained for mushroom was 478.66 mg/kg (dry basis) and the maximum solubility in vitro was 293.70 mg/kg (dry basis). Iron translocation increased the ash and protein content, reduced antioxidant activity, and enhanced the aroma and flavor characteristics of the mushroom. However mushroom has higher amounts of iron than vegetables like collard greens, it is not feasible to use mushrooms as the only dietary source of iron. The study also indicated that because of more bioaccumulation of iron in mycelium than in the mushroom, mycelium and not mushroom, could be a better alternative as a non-animal iron source.
The use of toxic baits has become one of the main methods of management of fruit flies in Brazil. The application of toxic baits may cause side effects on the native parasitoid Doryctobracon areolatus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Based on the results, formulations made from the food attractants 3\% Biofruit, 1.5\% Ceratrap, 1.25\% Flyral, 3\% Isca Samarita, 3\% Isca Samarita Tradicional, and 7\% sugarcane molasses associated with the Malathion 1000 EC and the ready-to-use toxic bait Gelsura (containing the active ingredient alpha-cypermethrin) were classified as harmful (class 4) to D. areolatus (mortality > 85\% at 96 HAE). In contrast, for toxic baits formulated with insecticide phosmet, the mortality ranged from 38\% to 72\%, classified as slightly harmful or moderately harmful. However, when phosmet was added to the 3\% Samarita Tradicional bait, the mortality was only 3.9\% (class 1-harmless), similar to the toxicity observed for the Success 0.02 CB ready-to-use bait (0.24 g a.i. spinosad/l) (<5\% mortality). Although toxic baits were formulated with spinosyn-based insecticides, all toxic bait formulations were classified as harmless or slightly harmful (<50\% mortality) to D. areolatus, with the exception of 1.5\% Ceratrap + spinetoram and 7\% Sugarcane molasses + spinosad (approximate to 60\% mortality-moderately harmful). In addition, these formulations did not show sublethal effects in reducing the parasitism and emergence rate of the F-1 generation of D. areolatus in A. fraterculus larvae. The results serve as a basis for the correct use of toxic food baits without affecting the biological control.
This study demonstrates the feasibility of establishing a natural compound supply chain in a biorefinery. The process starts with the biological or chemical hydrolysis of food and agricultural waste into simple and fermentative sugars, followed by their fermentation into more complex molecules. The yeast strain, Yarrowia lipolytica, was modified by introducing high membrane affinity variants of the carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase enzyme, PhCCD1, to increase the production of the aroma compound, beta-ionone. The initial hydrolysis process converted food waste or sugarcane bagasse into nutrient-rich hydrolysates containing 78.4 g/L glucose and 8.3 g/L fructose, or 34.7 g/L glucose and 20.1 g/L xylose, respectively. During the next step, engineered Y. lipolytica strains were used to produce beta-ionone from these feedstocks. The yeast strain YLBI3120, carrying a modified PhCCD1 gene was able to produce 4 g/L of beta-ionone with a productivity of 13.9 mg/L/h from food waste hydrolysate. This is the highest yield reported for the fermentation of this compound to date. The integrated process described in this study could be scaled up to achieve economical large-scale conversion of inedible food and agricultural waste into valuable aroma compounds for a wide range of potential applications.
In this study, biosurfactant production by Bacillus safensis J2 in submerged fermentation employing agro-industrial waste (bagasse) as a sole carbon source was examined. Biosurfactant produced was characterized to predict its properties and stability to various environmental stresses. Further, the strain and its extracted biosurfactant was used in oil recovery operation and in restoration of diesel contaminated soil. Findings suggest that bagasse of sugarcane may serve as an efficient substrate for cost-effective production of biosurfactant as 0.92 +/- 0.06 giL of biosurfactant by the strain was produced in 15 g bagasse. Stability studies indicate that properties of the biosurfactant were stable at various temperature and pH and have the efficiency to persist its emulsification activity at varying salt concentration. Oil recovery operation demonstrated that the biosurfactant is effective in recovering up to 46.5 \% of the trapped oil from the sand pack column and acute earth worm toxicity test reveal that the soil treatment E5 (100 g soil + 10 g Bagasse + 250 ml distilled H2O + 10 ml diesel oil+ Strain J2+ 25 ml crude Biosurfactant) is effective in restoration and detoxification of diesel contaminated soil. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The oxidation of four lignins obtained by organosolv pulping of eucalyptus wood (Acetosolv-eucalyptus Acetosolv lignin {[
The effect of operational variables on the adsorption of organic pollutants in a fixed bed of biomass was studied. Dispersions of commercial gasoline in water were used as synthetic effluents to simulate petroleum effluent contaminated by organic products. Coconut mesocarp and sugar cane bagasse in the natural form were used as biomass adsorbents. The influence of input gasoline concentration, operational flow rate and fixed bed depth of biomass on the dynamic behaviour of the fixed bed column was investigated. The bed performance was evaluated by means of a 2(3) factorial design plus star configuration with three experiments in the central point and the average exit gasoline concentration as the response variable. In general, the coconut mesocarp gave better results than the sugarcane bagasse. Depending on the operational conditions, it was possible to obtain effluents which were virtually free from organic contaminants.
First-generation ethanol (E1G) is based on the fermentation of sugars released from saccharine or starch sources, while second-generation ethanol (E2G) is focused on the fermentation of sugars released from lignocellulosic feedstocks. During the fractionation process to release sugars from hemicelluloses (mainly xylose), some inhibitor compounds are released hindering fermentation. Thus, the biggest challenge of using hemicellulosic hydrolysate is selecting strains and processes able to efficiently ferment xylose and tolerate inhibitors. With the aim of diluting inhibitors, sugarcane molasses (80\% of sucrose content) can be mixed to hemicellulosic hydrolysate in an integrated E1G-E2G process. Cofermentations of xylose and sucrose were evaluated for the native xylose consumer Spathaspora passalidarum and a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. The industrial S. cerevisiae strain CAT-1 was modified to overexpress the XYL1, XYL2 and XKS1 genes and a mutant ({[
The hydrogen peroxide, a green impregnating agent suitable for lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol process, was used to pretreat sugarcane bagasse by steam explosion. Two different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (0.2\% and 1\%) were investigated. Then, the biomass was hydrolyzed after pretreatment using cellulase. The amount released of: (i) cellobiose; (ii) monosaccharides, as glucose, xylose, arabinose and mannose and (iii) lignocellulose derived by-products, as furans and small organic acids (acetic, formic, and levulinic acid), was evaluated in the hydrolysate samples, previously pretreated both in the presence and absence of impregnating agent. By adding of hydrogen peroxide in steam-pretreatment, the average yield increase was 12\% for glucose and as high as 34\% for xylose, and cellobiose yield was decreased of about 30\%. No significant increase has been observed in arabinose and mannose yield. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide seems not increased the formation of lignocellulose derived by-products during pretreatment process, with the exception of the levulinic acid. (C) 2017 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.
The catalytic process of aldehyde production from alkaline lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse was evaluated in a batch slurry reactor and operated in a continuous three-phase fluidized-bed reactor with a palladium catalyst, at the operating conditions 373-413K under 2-10bar oxygen partial pressure. The scale-up of the fine aldehyde production process from batch to continuous operation presented a yield increase of approximately 15 times higher in 2h of operation. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The conversion of lignocellulose into fermentable sugars is considered a promising alternative for increasing ethanol production. Higher fermentation yield has been achieved through the process of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). In this study, a comparison was performed between the yeast species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces marxianus for their potential use in SSF process. Three strains of S. cerevisiae were evaluated: two are widely used in the Brazilian ethanol industry (CAT-1 and PE-2), and one has been isolated based on its capacity to grow and ferment at 42 A degrees C (LBM-1). In addition, we used thermotolerant strains of K. marxianus. Two strains were obtained from biological collections, ATCC 8554 and CCT 4086, and one strain was isolated based on its fermentative capacity (UFV-3). SSF experiments revealed that S. cerevisiae industrial strains (CAT-1 and PE-2) have the potential to produce cellulosic ethanol once ethanol had presented yields similar to yields from thermotolerant strains. The industrial strains are more tolerant to ethanol and had already been adapted to industrial conditions. Moreover, the study shows that although the K. marxianus strains have fermentative capacities similar to strains of S. cerevisiae, they have low tolerance to ethanol. This characteristic is an important target for enhancing the performance of this yeast in ethanol production.
The complete lockdown experienced in India since March 2020 has brought the nation's economy to a halt, severely impacting the destitute and the most vulnerable, including farmers and migrant laborers. However, the country envisaged the vision of ``Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan{''
The recent threat of climate change and rising demands for electricity globally has prompted research into Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), a potential source of renewable energy. Another troubling global issue is large amounts of food waste. Use of food waste as substrates in MFCs could convert the food waste into clean energy, tackling both global problems. Hence, this research aims to determine if food waste is a viable substitute for currently used substrates (glucose) in MFCs by replacing glucose (substrate) with banana peels and sugarcane bagasse (inner and outer layers). For each substrate, MFC set-ups were run and the Benedict's Test (quantitative) and Iodine Test were performed. Banana peel was found to be the best substrate among the three food wastes, with the stablest power performance, highest peak and highest average power performance. This was followed by the outer layer of sugarcane and lastly, the inner layer of sugarcane which also had the lowest concentration of reducing sugar. Thus, it was concluded that the substrate's concentration of reducing sugar may affect power performance of the MFC. Furthermore, banana peels and the outer layer of sugarcane were found to be viable alternatives for glucose due to a higher power performance.
Purpose This work aimed the food waste (FW) valorization by the production of fungal enzymes in solid-state fermentation (SSF) and a hydrolysate with the potential to obtain products with high added value. Methods An original bioprocess based on Rhizopus oligosporus cultured by SSF using medium consisting of FW, sugarcane bagasse (SCB), wheat bran (WB), and corn steep liquor (CSL) utilizing a cell-substrate recycling system was implemented. Results The highest outcomes were achieved using FW as the main substrate and the strategy of one cell recycling round. The best condition for amylase production (260.9 U/g) was the blend FW 50\%, SCB 10\%, WB 40\% supplemented with a salt solution. For the highest protease level (665.5 U/g) the same mixture was supplemented by 20\% CSL. Hydrolysis of FW with the enzymatic extract from the best specified blend produced 47.10 g/L of reducing sugars. Conclusion This bioprocess showed to be cost-effective, technically not demanding, and could be scaled up successfully for commercial goals. {[
Supported MgO adsorbents were prepared from the calcination of MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O preloaded on several biomass wastes including sugarcane bagasse, coffee grounds, rice husk, and saw dust. CO2 adsorption behaviors of the adsorbents with different supports and MgO loadings were investigated using a fixed-bed reactor. The modified Avrami fractional kinetic model was adopted to correlate their CO2 uptakes to evaluate the CO2 adsorption kinetic performance. Amongst the prepared MgO adsorbents, the rice husk ash supported sample (MgO-RHA) featured high CO2 adsorption capacity, due to the good textural properties, nano-crystallization of MgO particles, the uniform dispersion of active components and the enriched surface basicity. CO2 uptakes of MgO-RHA increased first and then decreased with the increasing MgO loading. CO2 adsorption kinetic would be hampered by higher MgO contents because of the increased diffusion resistance and decreased MgO utilization. The adsorbent with 20 wt\% MgO loading exhibited the highest CO2 uptake of 4.56 mmol CO2/g. Besides, the desired adsorbent presented good working stability with 7.68\% loss-in-capacity in 10 repeated cycles. Recycling waste MgCl2 center dot 6H(2)O and biomass residues to synthesize CO2 adsorbents provides remarkable economic and environmental implications, from the prospective of CO2 emission mitigation and waste management.
Recently, microbial exopolysaccharides (EPSs) have offered very large field for medical applications owing to their bioactive characteristics. This study aimed to obtain antitumor EPS and to optimize its production using different optimization approaches. Eighty EPSs-producing bacteria were obtained from mud samples. Isolate BS4 was selected as the most potent antitumor EPS-producer and identified as Bacillus mycoides BS4 using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Cell viability and antitumor activity of produced EPS were investigated using microscopic examination and MTT assay. Interestingly, the produced EPS exhibited low cytotoxicity against normal cell baby hamster kidney (BHK) with IC(50 )at 254 mu gml(-1) while it exhibited an inhibitory effect against cancer cells of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and Colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (Cato-2) with IC50 of 138 mu gml(-1) and 159 mu gml(-1), respectively. The purified EPS was characterized using Fourier transform infrared, gel permeation chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. It showed molecular weight of 1.90 x 10(4) Da and consists of galactose, mannose, glucose and glucuronic acid. The factors affecting EPS production were optimized using one-factor-at-a time and statistical optimization methods. The Placket-Burman (PB) design results indicated that sugarcane molasses, peptone and shaking conditions were the most significant variables, which were further optimized by Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for EPS production were 8.0\% (w/v) sugarcane molasses, 6 peptone and 300 rpm that produce 8.02gL(-1) of EPS. This indicates the potentiality of Bacillus mycoides BS4 for production of EPS with biomedical applications.
In this study, Ni-Cu alloy nanoparticle catalysts for dry reforming of methane (DRM) were synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method. The results demonstrated that the addition of Cu into Ni/BC could form Ni-Cu alloy and strengthened the electron transfer, which was beneficial to smaller Ni particle size formation and higher dispersion of Ni particles. When Ni/Cu ratio was increased from 0 to 7:1 (Ni7Cu(1)/BC), Ni particle size was decreased from 8.56 to 6.32 nm. CH4 and CO2 conversion rate over Ni/BC were 40.21\% and 75.90\%, which were increased to 89.41\% and 97.64\% over Ni7Cu(1)/BC. Especially, Cu addition would inhibit the reverse water gas shift reaction, and H-2/CO was obviously increased from 0.63 (Ni/BC) to 0.96 (over Ni7Cu(1)/BC). However, the excess Cu addition suppressed the catalytic activity for DRM. TG and TEM revealed that there was no obvious graphitic carbon on the used Ni7Cu(1)/BC, and CH4/CO2 conversion rate was well kept after 24 h reaction.\{GRAPHIS\
Xylanases are glycosidases mainly responsible for the hydrolysis of beta-1,4 linkages in xylan. Xylanase was produced in this work by solid-state fermentation using agro industrial residues with Aspergillus niger strain, which was screened through qualitative and quantitative methods. Extraction processes with different solvents were evaluated. Solvent volume, time, and agitation speed (shaker) were optimized using statistical designs. Drying studies of the solid fermented material were also conducted in a laboratory oven where the following conditions were applied: 42 degrees C and 50 degrees C for 20 h and 80 degrees C for 1 h; 50 degrees C and 75 degrees C for 6 and 3 h, respectively. Best extraction conditions were 37 mL of solvent composed by NaCl solution (0.9\%) with Tween 80 (0.1\%) in 3 g of cultured material with agitation at 133 rpm in shaker for 4 min. Highest xylanase activity was 2,327 IU/gdm. The drying at 42 degrees C for 20 h provided a better maintenance of xylanase activity (58\% of xylanase activity). (C) KSBB
An important feature of a fluidised-bed gasifier is the continuous contact between volatiles and char. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the effects of volatile-char interactions on the volatilisation of AAEM species during pyrolysis of two sugarcane industry wastes, bagasse and cane trash. A two-stage quartz fluidised-bed/fixed-bed reactor was used for this fundamental study. Our results indicate that the volatile char interactions could lead to the additional volatilisation of alkali and alkaline earth metallic (AAEM) species, particularly if the volatile-char interactions have resulted in additional char weight losses. The monovalent Na and K behaved differently from the divalent Mg and Ca in biomass. Our results provide circumstantial but clear evidence that the AAEM species in biomass could behave distinctly differently from those in brown coal, largely due to the differences in the structure and composition between biomass and coal. The development of biomass gasification technologies must consider the special thermochemical characteristics of biomass. Furthermore, even the bagasse and cane trash grown in the same area behave drastically differently, at least partly due to the different microstructures of bagasse and cane trash. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This work was aimed at producing inulinase by solid-state fermentation of sugarcane bagasse, using factorial design to identify the effect of corn steep liquor (CSL) and soybean bran concentration, particle size of bagasse and size of inoculum. Maximum inulinase activity achieved was 250 U per g of dry substrate (gds) at 20\% (w/w) of CSL, 5\% (w/w) of soybean bran, 1 x10(10) cells mL(-1) and particle size of bagasse in the range 9/32 mesh. The use of soybean bran decreased the time to reach maximum activity from 96 to 24 h and the maximum productivity achieved was 8.87 U gds(-1) h(-1). The maximum activity was obtained at pH 5.0 and 55.0 degrees C. Within the investigated range, the enzyme extract was more thermostable at 50.0 degrees C, showing a D-value of 123.1 h and deactivation energy of 343.9 kJ gmol(-1). The extract showed highest stability from pH 4.5 to 4.8. Apparent K (m) and V (max) are 7.1 mM and 17.79 M min(-1), respectively.
Introduction: Platinum is the most commonly used catalyst in fuel cell application. However, platinum is very expensive, thus limits the commercialization of fuel cell system due to the cost factor. Objective: This study introduces a biosynthesis platinum from plant extracts that can reduce the cost of platinum production compared to the conventional method and the hazardous during the production of the catalyst. The biogenic platinum was tested on a Direct Methanol Fuel Cell. Advanced biogenic of Pt nano-cluster was synthesized through a novel and facile of one-pot synthesis bio-reduction derived from natural source in the form of plant extracts as reducing agent. Several selected plant extracts drawn from agricultural waste such as banana peel, pineapple peels and sugarcane bagasse extracts were comparatively evaluated on the ability of phytochemical sources of polyphenols rich for the development of single-step synthesis for Pt NPs. Conclusion: Biogenic Pt NPs from sugar cane bagasse has superior electro-catalytic activity, the enhanced utilization efficiency of Pt and appreciable stability towards methanol oxidation reaction, whose ECSA value approximates 94.58 m2g1, mass activity/specific activity (398.20 mAmg1/0.8471 mA/cm2 Pt) which greater than commercial Pt black (158.12 mAmg1/1.41 mA/cm2 Pt). (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Cairo University.
Grapholita molesta (Busck) is one of the main pests in apple crops in Brazil, where it is controlled by mating disruption (MD) with the use of the synthetic sex pheromone. However, sex-pheromone-based monitoring is not effective in MD-treated areas and may result in losses in production. This work has defined a trap model and a bait for luring G. molesta adults in MD apple orchards. The experiments were conducted in commercial apple orchards located in So Joaquim, SC, Brazil. Three trap models-McPhail, Pot, and Ajar-and three baits-grape juice (25\%) (GJ), sugarcane molasses (25\%) (SM), and a solution containing brown sugar (8.69\%) and terpinyl acetate (0.05\%) (TAS)-were assessed for luring G. molesta adults in areas subjected to the mating disruption. The assessments were performed weekly by collecting the insects caught in the traps. In addition, time needed to replace traps was also assessed, as well as the selectivity of the trap/bait set. In the laboratory, G. molesta adults were sexed, and the females were dissected to confirm reproductive status. We discuss our results and sugarcane molasses (25\%) captured the least number of G. molesta adults regardless of the tested traps. The Ajar/TAS, Pot/TAS, and McPhail/GJ captured the largest number of G. molesta adults. The Ajar/TAS was the most selective and easier to handle. TAS was efficient in catching G. molesta until 14 days after preparation of the solution. Ajar/TAS has potential to be used in the monitoring of G. molesta in apple orchards.
In this study, we have unveiled the novel potential of xylanase production by Bacillus velezensis, previously known only for its PGPR traits. According to our investigations, Bacillus velezensis AG20 produced extracellular xylanase with a fold purification of 5.3 and a yield of 21 \%. The purified xylanase (45 kDa) aptly cleaved linear 8-(1 -> 4)-xylan with a maximum velocity of 21.0 +/- 3.0 U/mL, a turnover of 1.75/s, and a catalytic cycle of 0.571 at optimum pH 7. The temperature of 50 degrees C was found optimum for enzyme activity. Purified endoxylanase was thermostable and retained its significant residual activities at 50 degrees C and 60 degrees C. Metal cations such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ enhanced the substrate catalysis up to 1.5 fold. The purified endoxylanase also demonstrated multisubstrate hydrolyzing properties. However, the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse produced xylooligosaccharides (XOS), including xylobiose, xylotriose, and xylotetrose. The mixture of released XOS has profound stability in gastric juice, intestinal fluid, and alpha-amylase and facilitates probiotic bacteria Bifidobacterium. The mixed XOS (300 mu g/mL) significantly inhibited the HT-29 and Caco-2 cell proliferation by 90 \% and 75 \%, respectively, at 48 h. The possible mechanism of XOS uptake through the BIAXP receptor of Bifidobacterium has been contemplated and established using the caver analysis, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulation, and Density Functional Theory (DFT) studies. Thus, here we reveal the utility of this novel bacterial strain in industries as high-temperature catalysts.
Lignin, extracted from sugarcane bagasse, was used as a partial substitute of phenol in phenolic closed cells foams. The thermal conductivity of phenolic and lignophenolic thermosets and phenolic and lignophenolic closed cells foams were studied using the hot wire technique, adapted for polymeric materials. Results of other properties-for instance, compression strength, Shore D hardness, closed cells content-are also reported for both foams. The thermal conductivity analyses data showed that the phenolic and lignophenolic thermosets have nearly the same behavior, demonstrating the presence of lignin does not affect this property. Thermal conductivity data obtained for closed cells, phenolic and lignophenolic foams, also showed that, in this case, the presence of lignin does not alter this property in a significant way, that is both foams can be used as thermal insulator materials. Regarding the mechanical properties and others, the data obtained showed that the partial replacement of phenol by lignin was extremely advantageous, because, it increases the compression strength and inserted the lignophenolic foam in the structural foam class.
The production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass has gained increased interest in recent years, notably in the context of valorising agricultural by-products and providing fuels from renewable sources In order to increase their competitiveness, the energy demand of such processes needs to be minimised. This issue procures two benefits : (1) reduce utility consumption and (2) increase cogeneration possibility. In the present article we investigate this problem for a study process : ethanol production from sugarcane bagasse by enzymatic hydrolysis and glucose fermentation. We therefore apply a rigorous optimisation methodology in which we control certain design parameters in order to maximize the net production of utility. As a result, we obtain a design for our process which (1) eliminates the need for an external hot utility, (2) minimizes the need for the cold utility and (3) maximises the cogeneration possibility. As a conclusion, the proposed methodology provides a strong tool for minimising the utility consumption for a 2G ethanol plant. Considering its key components, it can further be applied in the context of a multi-objective problem.
Structural studies of three vegetable fibers plus eucalypt wood through heating microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermal analysis through Thermal Gravimetric Analysis/Differential Thermal Analysis are presented in this work. Morphological and dimensional changes obtained from heating microscopy were observed, showing shrinkage occurrences of vegetable fibers related to their diameter and length, respectively. The thickness decreased by 50\% when heated at 450-500 degrees C, this process starting at 300-400 degrees C with an initial percentage length of approximate to 90\%, that corresponds to a fast weight loss. These results were compared with simultaneous thermal analysis under the same conditions. Thus, for the first time, it was possible to quantify vegetable fiber dimensional changes and surface aspects under heating that cannot be seen by traditional thermal analysis. We also performed crystallinity calculations from XRD data, observing that cellulose/hemicellulose contents had major contribution in all samples.
The production of biosurfactant by Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 was investigated using commercial sugar, sugarcane juice and cane molasses, sugarcane juice alcohol stillage, glycerol, mannitol, and soybean oil. Commercial sugar generated the minimum values of surface tension, with the best results (28.7 mN/m, (relative critical micelle concentration {[
Toxic bait formulations have been one of the main strategies used in apple orchards in southern Brazil for the control of South American fruit fly. However, its effects on the stingless bees Plebeia emerina (Friese) and Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Schwarz) are unknown. This study aimed to assess the toxicity, attraction and repellency of food lures and toxic baits on P. emerina and T. fiebrigi. We evaluated the food lures Anamed (R) (pure), Biofruit (R) (3\%), Flyral (R) (1.25\%), Sugarcane molasses (7\%) and Samarita Tradicional (R) (3\%), in toxic baits formulations associated with spinosad (Tracer (R) 480SC) and malathion (Malathion (R) 1000EC), and the ready-to-use toxic baits Success (R) 0.02CB and Gelsura (R). We obtained the mean lethal concentration (LC50) and the mean survival of workers after exposure to toxic bait formulations. In the field, we carried out attraction and repellency tests of toxic baits to foraging. The food lures associated with malathion and spinosad showed different levels of toxicity to P. emerina and T. fiebrigi. Sugarcane molasses and Samarita Tradicional (R) associated with spinosad showed high toxicity, with LC50 values of 6.92 and 10.61 ng/mu L diet to P. emerina, and of 4.37 and 15.48 ng/mu L diet to T. fiebrigi, respectively. Gelsura (R) and food lures with malathion caused rapid workers mortality, with mean survival less than 3 h after exposure. No toxic bait formulation was attractive to P. emerina foragers in the field. Anamed (R), Gelsura (R), and Success (R) were repellent to P. emerina foragers.
This paper presents a theoretical evaluation of the prices of mixed briquettes produced from coconut shells (CCS), banana peels (BNP), rattan waste (RWT), and sugarcane bagasse (SGC) and, on the other hand, an analysis of the economic viability of their use as a replacement for conventional household fuels (liquefied petroleum gas, fuelwood, and wood charcoal) in households in Cameroon. The investigation was carried out using the life cycle cost method on a typical household over a ten-year period with annual cooking energy requirements of 950 kWhth. The SGC-CCS and SGC-RWT mixed briquettes with ratios higher than 7.75\% and 11.1\%, respectively, have prices lower than EUR 0.063/kWhth. The Present Value of the Net Benefit is positive for the use of SGC-CCS and SGC-RWT mixed briquettes. The results show that by making the right mixes of residues, it is possible to obtain biomass briquettes that are less expensive than conventional fuels.
It is essential to provide the most appropriate bioethanol production conditions. In this way, a considerable amount of energy will be saved. In the present study, three types of sugars, including sugarcane juice, sugarcane, and sugar beet molasses were chosen as raw materials. The fermentation was carried out at three different reaction times (24, 48, 72 h) and three temperature levels (25, 30, 35 degrees C). Experimental samples were chosen based on the Box-Behnken Design (BBD). To evaluate the effect of fermentation factors (time, temp, ST) on responses (density, viscosity, FP, ON, and BIOC) based on the BBD design, the total number of experiments was 17 runs, including four central points and 13 factorial points. Afterward, the bioethanol concentration (BIOC) and its physical properties, including viscosity, density, flash point (FP), and octane number (ON), were optimized based on the operating conditions. The response surface methodology (RSM) was performed to find the best fermentation conditions in which the bioethanol physical properties reach the optimal values. The results indicated that the optimal conditions for input variables were reported for sugar beet molasses, after 72 h, at 35 degrees C, and the corresponding responses were 12.8 g/l for the BIOC, 2.28 mPa.s for viscosity, 0.9767 g/cm(3) for density, 28.52 degrees C for the FP, and 95.41 for the ON. The high values of R-2 and low error rate showed that the RSM could successfully optimize the responses. The present work suggests a less expensive and less time-consuming approach that is helpful for fuel production plants.
This study is focused in the production of cell-wall degrading enzymes (chitinase, beta-1,3-glucanase, endocellulase and exocellulase) by solid state fermentation using the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae IBCB 348. Different substrates (sugarcane bagasse, malt bagasse and white rice) supplemented with corn steep liquor, soybean meal and chitin were evaluated. A Plackett-Burman experimental design was applied to evaluate the effects of initial moisture content (60-80\%, v/v), corn steep liquor (0-5\%, w/w), soybean meal (0-5\%, w/w) and inoculum concentration (10-30\%, v/w) on enzymatic production. Sugarcane bagasse was the most suitable substrate for enzyme production, mainly chitinase. Maximum activities were 12.07 +/- 0.50, 11.54 +/- 6.96, 20.87 +/- 0.43 and 22.30 +/- 0.41 U.g(-1) for chitinase, beta 1,3-glucanase, endocellulase and exocellulase, respectively. The process condition used to obtain these activities were moisture content of 40 wt\%, 10\% (v/w) of inoculum, 28 degrees C during 8 days of fermentation. These results demonstrate the potential of solid state fermentation using Metarhizium anisopliae IBCB 348 in the production of hydrolytic enzymes.
In this study, the effect of residual lignin and its structural modification of pretreated sugarcane bagasse (SCB) on enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation was comprehensively evaluated by alkali and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pretreatment. It was found that the AHP pretreatment had a negative influence on lignin dissolution compared with alkali pretreatment accompanied by a relatively low NaOH concentration (<1\%, w/v). However, there was less significance of enzymatic hydrolysis efficiency between NaOH and AHP pretreatment with >1\% NaOH loading due to a high lignin removal above 78\%. In addition, PEG 6000-assisted pretreatment was also performed to stabilize the enzymatic activity and further promote enzymatic digestibility and fermentability. The highest ethanol concentration of 59.96 g/ L (61.22\%) was obtained with PEG 6000-assisted 1\% NaOH pretreated SCB at 30\% solid loading. The structural features of the residual lignin indicated that most of the side chain structures were oxidized and that some aryl-ether bonds were dissociated after the pretreatments, especially in alkali pretreatment. The reduction of molecular weight and the breaking of lignin substructures help to achieve a more effective yield of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Hybrid organic-inorganic materials based on cellulose matrix and silica particles are obtained from wastes of the local paper recycling mill and sugarcane mill as renewable secondary raw materials. The performance comparison of these hybrid materials made from secondary raw materials against the materials made from pure, raw sources is discussed. The Fourier transform infrared spectra show that cellulose features prevail even at 43 wt\% silica nanoparticles in the hybrid materials. Such a high content of silica originated from sugarcane bagasse ash and hollow glass microspheres contributes to the high thermal stability of the final composites, as seen by thermogravimetric analysis with very low water absorption. This one-step approach of biobased hybrid materials represents an excellent way to produce high-performance materials with high content of inorganic nanoparticles for a wide variety of applications like energy efficient building material completely cement-free.
This study has dealt with the synthesis and characterization of biochars produced from three biomasses, viz. water hyacinth (whole plant and its components), yellow oleander, and sugarcane bagasse, and their comparative assessment for potential application in agronomy and energy production. The pyrolysis was carried out in a fixed batch reactor at 350 degrees C and 550 degrees C with a heating rate of 20 degrees Cmin(-1). Biochars were characterized for proximate and ultimate (elemental) analysis, and also using standard techniques (SEM, EDX, TGA, BET, XRD, and FTIR). Biochars produced at 550 degrees C from all the feedstock had good properties (carbon content: 39.09-80.74\%, pH: 7.36-10.42, calorific value: 16.98-30.18 MJ kg(-1), and ash content: 0.89\%-21.78\%). Moreover, relatively low atomic ratios (H/C 0.25-0.47 and O/C 0.15-1.11) of all biochars indicated their potential as solid fuel. XRD results showed the presence of amorphous and crystalline structures, and minerals like sylivite, quartz, kalsilite, and tridymite in the biochar. Biochar produced from sugarcane bagasse at 550 degrees C possessed the best properties: fixed carbon (77.42\%), bulk density (0.13 kg/m(3)), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) surface area (17.78 m(2)/g), pore size (12.86 nm), total pore volume (0.025 cm(3)/g), calorific value (30.18 MJ kg(-1)), ash content (1.16\%), and moisture content (2.03\%).
Cornitermes cumulans(Kollar, 1832) is a mound-building termite that stores food nodules in the nest, which seems to be pre-chewed and regurgitated by workers. Information on the food resources used by this species is still scarce, and this study aimed to understand the feeding habits ofC. cumulansusing a qualitative analysis of the worker gut contents, and to select the best food to keep termites under laboratorial conditions. Thus, four food resources and five artificial diets were tested to evaluate the laboratory survival ofC. cumulans. Food nodules from nests were used as a positive control, and no food was available in cages for negative control. Ten replicates using 30 workers plus three soldiers were performed for each type of food and for each control. The experiments were daily examined for termite survival during a 40-day period. Data were analyzed using the log-rank (Mantel-cox) test (P < 0.05). The qualitative analysis of the gut contents showed different materials, such as plant parts, fungi, and minerals. Data analysis showed that all of the survival curves of termites fed with artificial diets and food items were significantly different from that obtained with termites fed on food nodules, which showed the highest survival, followed by the diets of alpha-cellulose, corn stalk, and sugarcane bagasse. Then, our findings showed that the most adequate artificial foods to maintain populations ofC. cumulansin the laboratory were the diets of alpha-cellulose, corn stalk, and sugarcane bagasse.
A recombinant Aspergillus niger strain expressing the Hypocrea jecorina endoglucanase Cel7B was grown on spent hydrolysates ( stillage) from sugarcane bagasse and spruce wood. The spent hydrolysates served as excellent growth media for the Cel7B-producing strain, A. niger D15{[
This work deals with assessing the date Palm component wastes as alternative lignocellulosic material for production of Medium density fiberboards. in order to establish economic and balance between production/consumer ratio at different provinces rather than Upper Egypt. Palm leafs and Palm frond was used as Medium density fiberboards precursors. Different urea formaldehyde levels (10-14\%/fiber) and pressing pressure (2.5-3.5 MPa) were applied in this evaluation. The acceptable interaction of Palm fibers component with urea formaldehyde was optimized by characterizing its differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, in comparison with commercial used sugarcane bagasse fibers. The promising Medium density fiberboards Panel is obtained from Palm frond fibers and its mechanical and water resistance properties fulfill the ANSI standard for high grade Medium density fiberboards wood products, especially on applying urea formaldehyde level 12-14\%, and pressing pressure 3.5 MPa. It is interesting to note that, applying higher pressing pressure together with 12\% urea formaldehyde level provided Palm frond-based Medium density fiberboards with static bending properties, higher than commercial bagasse-based Medium density fiberboards. The insignificant effect of pressing pressure was noticed on water swelling property and free-HCHO of Medium density fiberboards panels. Where, both type of fibers have the same water swelling property (reached similar to 10\%), and free-HCHO (similar to 27 mg/100g board).
Enzymatic activity is a limiting factor for conducting the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic waste materials to generate renewable biofuels and biochemicals. A novel beta-glucosidase (BGL) gene from Hypocrea sp. W-63 was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris. The specific activity of the purified recombinant epB-BGL was 194.25 IU/mg using p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucoside (pNPG) as a substrate. The optimum pH and temperature for epB-BGL were 5.0 and 70 degrees C, respectively. The activity of recombinant epB-BGL could be stimulated by 210\% with the addition of 10\% (v/v) ethanol. Furthermore, other organic solvents were also able to stimulate the activity of the enzyme at concentrations of 1\% or 10\% (v/v). Due to this distinctive performance, epB-BGL was used to release fermentable sugars from a sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate for ethanol and succinic acid co-production. In the experimental range, succinic acid was reached to 13.3 g/L with a higher yield of 0.91 g/g glucose and the ethanol was at a concentration of approximately 1.41 g/L, respectively. In addition, the by-product acetate, which could potentially be converted to other chemicals, was also produced at 9.745 g/L. This work demonstrates that recombinant epB-BGL can take advantage of incomplete hydrolysis to convert fermentable sugars, suggesting its potential application in lignocellulose bioconversion.
Enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic agricultural residues, such as soybean hull, is in-creasingly used in Brazil to obtain fermentable sugars for use in biotechnological processes. The filamentous fungus, Clonostachys byssicola, is known to secrete an arsenal of holocellulolytic en-zymes, including mannanases, which degrade the hemicellulosic components in soyabean hull. In this study, we investigated the biochemical characteristics of mannanases produced by C. byssi-cola. The mannanases in the concentrated crude extract (CCE) of C. byssicola showed high activity at acidic pH (5.0) and 55 degrees C. Furthermore, these enzymes do not depend on additional metal co-factors for their activation, although phenolic compounds inhibited the mannanase activity. Mul-tiple forms of mannanases were identified in the CCE, which holds significance in the production of manno-oligosaccharides from different carbon sources. Scanning electron microscopy revealed structural modifications in lignocellulosic residues, including soybean hull and sugarcane bagasse, upon incubation with CCE. HPLC analysis detected mannotriose as the main oligosac-charide generated during the degradation of lignocellulosic residues. In contrast, hydrolysis of galactomannans (locust bean gum and guar gum) generated oligosaccharides of different sizes, such as mannobiose, mannotriose, mannotetraose, mannopentaose, and mannohexaose. These results highlight the potential of C. byssicola mannanases in hemicellulose degradation and pro-duction of prebiotic oligosaccharides.
Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a non-chemical alternative to soil fumigation based on the combined concepts of biofumigation, biosolarization, soil saturation, and forced shifts in the microbial community that are highly dependent upon soil temperature, moisture, and the availability of a labile carbon source. This method is currently being investigated in many countries, with its origins in the Netherlands and Japan. Different organic amendments are being evaluated as carbon sources for ASD, including rice bran in California and sugarcane molasses in Florida, USA. In Florida, composted poultry litter (CPL) and sugarcane molasses are applied with 5 cm of initial irrigation, and beds are then covered with totally impermeable film (TIF) and allowed to incubate for 3 weeks. Levels of anaerobicity are monitored throughout the treatment time with a cumulative Eh target of 50,000 mVh for control of some soilborne plant-pathogenic fungi. In order to address researchable issues related to the implementation and adoption of ASD, a regional project was initiated in the southeastern United States in which a multi -disciplinary team conducted ASD field trials to answer specific grower-driven questions concerning ASD. Using tomato as the target crop, field trials were established at multiple locations in order to determine whether ASD could be: conducted utilizing opaque TIF; established prior to a spring production system when soil temperatures are cooler than for fall production; and combined with herbicides without causing crop phytotoxicity. In addition, concerns over nitrogen loss to the atmosphere as well as issues regarding expense of effective labile carbon sources are addressed.
The growth of industrialization and development of urban life made an increase in demand for cement, concrete and bricks. Exploitation on the non-renewable natural resources for raw materials will keep increased in order to meet the demands for construction materials. At the same time, the problems regarding the agricultural crop wastes such as rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, palm oil fuel waste and elephant grass has become an important issue nowadays. Consequently, there are many researchers who have been studying the viability of using these agricultural wastes as construction materials to meet the industry demands in order to decrease the current use of non-renewable natural resources. This paper reviewing on how agricultural waste could be utilized as replacement materials for construction activities from various researchers. The idea of using agricultural crop wastes was promoted by studying upon their engineering properties. This paper focusing on the compressive strength of the construction materials containing agricultural crop wastes, which was the common parameter considered by most researcher as required by various standards.
Jaggery is a traditional concentrated product of sugarcane juice which is easily and cheaply available to the Indian rural population. Several value added jaggery based products are also very popular in large section of population throughout the country. Jaggery is a good source of minerals and nutritiants and also has various medicinal values. With the increasing demand of this nutritive sweetener, efforts are being made to develop a standard manufacturing package that will increase its productivity besides quality improvement in terms of hygiene, standardization of shape, size, and storability. The thermal and overall efficiencies of jaggery making plants are very low due to loss of thermal energy through flue gasses and un-designed constructional parameters of plant. The storage of jaggery is also a major problem. Since, it is much influenced by the contents of invert sugars and mineral salts that are hygroscopic in nature. This intends us to study the technological upgradations used for the production and preservation of jaggery in order to prioritise the required advancements. This paper gives an overview of the technological upgradation of jaggery manufacturing plants and the preservation of jaggery by using different storage and packaging methods.
The nematocidal properties of several waste materials of plant origin were studied in soil infested with plant-parasitic nematodes. Among the materials pressmud, vegetable- and fruit-processing waste and tobacco wastes were the most effective in reducing the incidence of root-knot and development of plant-parasitic nematodes on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). However, amendments to soil with spent tea, wheat straw, paddy husk, paddy straw, sugarcane trash, domestic garbage, dead vegetation and pigeonpea stubble were also found to be beneficial in nematode control. As a consequence of nematode control plant growth improved, with a few exceptions where higher levels (5\% (w/w)) of waste materials were phytotoxic.
A superior cost-effective cation exchange membrane based on polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), cellulose acetate (CA), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) work as a superior cost-effective cation exchange membrane for the energy extraction application employing microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this work, waste sugarcane bagasse was used to make CA, and the Tour technique was employed to make GO, which was then transformed to rGO using multiple modifications. To prepare cation exchange membranes, the CA and rGO were doped. The obtained proton conductivity values increased from 0.01 Scm(-1) for rGO to similar to 0.4 Scm(-1) for rG1 when the manufactured membranes were sulfonated. The combination of CA derived from sugarcane bagasse and rGO in the produced membranes may be attributed to this enhancement in proton conductivity. The power density performance of rG1 was compared to that of commercially available high-performance proton exchange membranes. R was revealed that MFC employing the rG1 membrane outperformed several more expensive membranes when it came to energy extraction using MFC. Without any electrode alteration, a columbic efficiency (CE) of 6.17 \%, a COD removal efficiency of 92.0 +/- 0.8\% \%, and a power density of more than 118 mW m(-2) were reached. As a result, the constructed low-cost new PVDF-based, rGO, and CA membrane (rG1) shown its suitability for increasing MFC efficacy and is recommended for MFC scaling up.
In the last 40 years, several scientific and technological advances in microbiology of the fermentation have greatly contributed to evolution of the ethanol industry in Brazil. These contributions have increased our view and comprehension about fermentations in the first and, more recently, second-generation ethanol. Nowadays, new technologies are available to produce ethanol from sugarcane, corn and other feedstocks, reducing the off-season period. Better control of fermentation conditions can reduce the stress conditions for yeast cells and contamination by bacteria and wild yeasts. There are great research opportunities in production processes of the first-generation ethanol regarding high-value added products, cost reduction and selection of new industrial yeast strains that are more robust and customized for each distillery. New technologies have also focused on the reduction of vinasse volumes by increasing the ethanol concentrations in wine during fermentation. Moreover, conversion of sugarcane biomass into fermentable sugars for second-generation ethanol production is a promising alternative to meet future demands of biofuel production in the country. However, building a bridge between science and industry requires investments in research, development and transfer of new technologies to the industry as well as specialized personnel to deal with new technological challenges. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.
Taro (Colocasia esculentaL. Schott) is an important food staple in developing countries in Africa, West Indies, the Pacific region, and Southeast Asia. Because taro can be grown in almost all tropical regions of the world, it will play a crucial role in food security. The use of organic mulches, which contribute to soil water management, weed control, and fertilization simultaneously, shows promise as an eco-friendly approach in agronomy. In the present study, a field experiment including two cropping seasons (I and II) was conducted to evaluate the effects of water regimes with organic mulching on the taro growth and corm nutritive values. In results, compared with that under the upland regime, taro cultivation under the flooding regime had a higher level of soil fertility and better weed control. The flooding regime promoted more the taro plant growth and further enhanced the yields of the harvested corms; also, sugarcane bagasse and rice husk would be the superior mulch to obtain better corm attributes. By contrast, cultivation under the upland regime enhanced the nutritive values of taro corm more than did that under the flooding regime. Regardless of the upland or flooded regime, mulching treatments with rice husk could enrich taro corm nutrition more than could those with sugarcane bagasse and peanut hull. Also, the effects of water regime and mulching on taro plant growth and corm attributes would be varied with the rainfalls during the period of vegetative growth.
Exposure to the odorless or colorless nerve agents can result in organ paralysis, failure, or even death. Novel nanocomposite-based microporous strips that can be used with the naked eye to detect diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) nerve agent mimic within a few seconds have been developed. A simple preparation procedure was used to prepare novel quinoline-bearing hydrazone-type tricyanofuran (QHTCF) chromophore via an azo-coupling of 8-aminoquinoline diazonium salt with the active methyl-containing tricyanofuran. The chemical structure of QHTCF was inspected with FTIR, H-1/(CNMR)-C-13, and elemental analysis. An environmentally friendly procedure was employed to prepare microfibrillated cellulose from sugarcane bagasse agricultural waste that has been one of the most well-known solid pollutants worldwide. Therefore, it has been highly significant to find out a simple procedure to exchange sugarcane bagasse into valuable materials. Microfibrillated cellulose/polyvinyl alcohol/hydrazone (PVA-MFC-H) composites were prepared using different concentrations of QHTCF chromophore. With an increase in DFP concentration, the absorption intensity of the QHTCF-containing nanocomposite rose from 426 to 562 nm. A wide range of detection limit was monitored for DFP using the current PVA-MFC-H sensor strip. The CIE Lab measurements demonstrated a yellow-to-purple color shift of PVA-MFC-H upon exposure to DFP. The current PVA-MFC-H strip demonstrated a detection limit for DFP in the range of 25-300 ppm. The current sensors were tested for their morphologies, fiber crystallinity, thermal stability, and mechanical characteristics.
Invertases catalyze the hydrolysis of sucrose into fructose and glucose and can be employed as an alternative in producing high fructose syrup. In this study, we reported the heterologous expression of an invertase gene (GspInv) of Gongronella sp. w5 in Komagataella pastoris. GspInv activity reached 147.6 +/- 0.4 U/mL after 5 days of methanol induction. GspInv is invertase with a high specific activity of 2,776.1 +/- 124.2 U/mg toward sucrose. GspInv showed high tolerance to sucrose (IC50 = 1.2 M), glucose (IC50 > 2 M), fructose (IC50 = 1.5 M), and a variety of metal ions that make it an ideal candidate for high fructose syrup production. A carbohydrate-binding module was sequence-optimized and fused to the N-terminus of GspInv. The fusion protein had the highest immobilization efficiency at room temperature within 1 h adsorption, with 1 g of cellulose absorption up to 8,000 U protein. The cellulose-immobilized fusion protein retained the unique properties of GspInv. When applied in high fructose syrup preparation by using 1 M sucrose as the substrate, the sucrose conversion efficiency of the fused protein remained at approximately 95\% after 50 h of continuous hydrolysis on a packed bed reactor. The fused protein can also hydrolyze completely the sucrose in sugarcane molasses. Our results suggest that GspInv is an unusual invertase and a promising candidate for high fructose syrup preparation.
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and furfural (FF), two bio-based platform chemicals, were produced from various raw lignocellulosic materials (corncob, corn stover, wheat straw, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse) in a water-tetrahydrofuran media by using NaHSO4 as catalyst. The influences of reaction temperature (160-200 degrees C), reaction time (30-120 min), solvent volume ratio, feedstock concentration (2.4wt\%-11.1wt\%) and catalyst dosage were studied. The highest HMF and FF yields obtained from corncob were 47mol\% and 56mol\% under condition of 190 degrees C, 90 min, 10/1 of THF/H2O. Besides, the lignin in the raw biomass was also depolymerized into organosolv lignin.
Panus strigellus is a native basidiomycete from Brazil with laccase production potential. Laccases are involved in the biodegradation of dyes and their production can be stimulated by cultivation with agro industrial by-products. This study aimed to evaluate laccase production of P. strigellus cultivated with sugarcane bagasse on dye decolorization. Culture media had different concentrations of sugarcane bagasse (SB), sources of nitrogen (urea, yeast extract, ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate), and concentrations of copper sulfate (0, 50, 100, 200, and 300 mu M). Enzymatic extract from fungal cultivation was used in the decolorization of reactive blue 220 (RB220), malachite green (MG), and remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR). Laccase production was inversely proportional to the amount of SB in cultivation medium and higher titers of enzyme were obtained when 20 g/L SB (SB20) was used. Cultivation medium with SB20 and most nitrogen sources did not have a positive effect on laccase production whereas the addition of urea or yeast-extract reduced laccase production. Most of the copper sulfate concentrations added to SB20 medium increased laccase production, and the maximum laccase production was 55,342 U/L in the SB20 medium with 200 mu M copper. The crude enzymatic extract was more effective in the decolorization of azo dye (RB220), with more than 90\% of decolorization in 24 h, than anthraquinone dye (RBBR), with 60\% decolorization, and triphenylmethane dye (MG), with 68\% decolorization, both in 72 h.
In the context of the circular bioeconomy and cleaner production, the incorporation of the by-products of plant biomass production in the bioenergy chain is fundamental. However, lignocellulosic wastes have properties that hinder their use for the production of biofuels. This study aims to evaluate how blends of lignocellulosic wastes improve the physical, chemical, and mechanical quality of pellets destined to the industrial sector, and to identify the challenges associated with the use of agroforestry biomass as raw material for pelletizing. Pellets were produced from blends of soybean wastes, sorghum wastes, pine needles, rice powder, Eucalyptus sawdust, and charcoal fines. Additionally, pure pellets composed of soybean wastes, sugarcane bagasse, and pine wood were evaluated. The effect of biomass type on the energy density, ash content, net heating value, and ultimate analysis was significant. The pellets produced with soybean wastes presented high contents of N (3.5-4.9\%) and ashes (16.4-26.7\%), besides low mechanical durability (<= 96\%), hindering its commercialization for industrial purposes. Pellets with sugarcane bagasse presented N (1.5\%), S (0.03\%), ashes (5.6\%), mechanical durability (96.6\%), and net heating value (15.1 MJ kg(-1)), suitable for industrial energy use in accordance with ISO 17225-6. The high N and ash contents and the low mechanical durability are the greatest challenges for the energy use of pellets produced from Brazilian agroforestry wastes.
A metal catalyst free synthesis of 2,5-diformylfuran (DFF) from fructose has been established using a one-pot greener approach. A user-friendly solid acid (Amberlite IR 120 H) was explored for the transformation of fructose into DFF to achieve the highest yield. High chemo-selectivity, recyclability of the solid acid up to seven cycles, and scalable and environmentally benign approaches are some remarkable advantages of the present process. In addition, the devised process was used to obtain DFF from a variety of low-cost feedstocks including fructose, sugar, sugarcane molasses, and jaggery, in an acceptable yield.
Background The search for sustainable energy sources has become a worldwide issue, making the development of efficient biofuel production processes a priority. Immobilization of second-generation (2G) xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains is a promising approach to achieve economic viability of 2G bioethanol production from undetoxified hydrolysates through operation at high cell load and mitigation of inhibitor toxicity. In addition, the use of a fixed-bed reactor can contribute to establish an efficient process because of its distinct advantages, such as high conversion rate per weight of biocatalyst and reuse of biocatalyst. Results This work assessed the influence of alginate entrapment on the tolerance of recombinant S. cerevisiae to acetic acid. Encapsulated GSE16-T18SI.1 (T18) yeast showed an outstanding performance in repeated batch fermentations with cell recycling in YPX medium supplemented with 8 g/L acetic acid (pH 5.2), achieving 10 cycles without significant loss of productivity. In the fixed-bed bioreactor, a high xylose fermentation rate with ethanol yield and productivity values of 0.38 g(ethanol)/g(sugars) and 5.7 g/L/h, respectively were achieved in fermentations using undetoxified sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate, with and without medium recirculation. Conclusions The performance of recombinant strains developed for 2G ethanol production can be boosted strongly by cell immobilization in alginate gels. Yeast encapsulation allows conducting fermentations in repeated batch mode in fixed-bed bioreactors with high xylose assimilation rate and high ethanol productivity using undetoxified hemicellulose hydrolysate.
The application of growth promoting substances, such as humic acids, during the formation of fruit seedlings can benefit growth and increase the plant nutrient uptake and translocation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the application of humic acid doses (0 mg L-1, 2 mg L-1, 20 mg L-1, 40 mg L-1 and 200 nig L-1) extracted from vermicompost of sugarcane filter cake on the nutrient uptake of seminal mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) seedlings. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 7 replicates for each treatment. The application of humic acids promoted curvilinear increments with quadratic rates for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S contents from shoots and roots, as well as quadratic increments in the Zn and Mn uptake by shoots. The application of humic acids increased the chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b contents and reduced the carotenoid content. Overall, the regression analysis demonstrated that a dose of 150 mg L-1 is capable of providing the most adequate nutrient uptake by plants, and should be recommended for the production of mangosteen seedlings. Humic acids from vermicompost can provide a better nutrition in mangosteen seedlings at the nursery stage.
The physico-mechanical properties of wood-plastic (WP) boards were evaluated and compared with those of conventional boards (sugarcane bagasse particleboard, plywood board and sugarcane bagasse fiberboard) more commonly used in Cuba. The WP board was made with waste from the forestry industry (sawdust), industrial waste (thermoplastics) and chemical additives in amounts of 50, 30 and 20\%, respectively; the board was obtained by extrusion molding. Results were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Fisher's LSD post-hoc multiple comparisons analysis to determine differences relative to conventional boards. Results indicate that the physical properties of wood- plastic boards improved with increasing density. Water absorption and swelling were lower than in conventional boards, whereas the mechanical properties (bending, compression and tensile strength) were higher. Tensile strength, bending and compression in the wood-plastic boards were statistically similar (P > 0.05) in the plywood. Given their properties, it can be concluded that wood-plastic boards are able to replace both conventional and wood boards in outdoor conditions.
The increasing interest in reusing coproducts from rice crops, such as straw, husks, and bran, has motivated the writing of this review. The aim is to provide a critical and constructive overview of the main advantages and technological challenges for further processing such coproducts within the biorefinery concept. Current studies and applications are presented and discussed, which mainly include the use of such coproducts on energy and biofuel generations, production of building blocks, adsorption of recalcitrant substances, animal feeding and fertilization crops, extraction of bioactive compounds, and production of carbon-based and silica-based materials. Furthermore, the reality and expectations on processing steps (chemical, biochemical, and thermochemical routes), conventional and novel technologies and value-added products/derivatives with interest in several industrial fields are highlighted. As expectations, some companies and government projects are innovating and trying to use sub/supercritical water hydrolysis as a promising technology with high potential to decompose rice lignocellulosic biomass into small-chain sugars and bioproducts. Overall, as a future outlook for making most of the processing routes of rice coproducts more feasible, more infrastructure and scientific researches are needed to overcome some barriers and drawbacks that still exist in the subject presented in this review.
The efficient use of renewable lignocellulosic feedstocks to obtain biofuels and other bioproducts is a key requirement for a sustainable biobased economy. This requires novel and effective strategies to reduce the cost contribution of the cellulolytic enzymatic cocktails needed to convert the carbohydrates into simple sugars, in order to make large-scale commercial processes economically competitive. Here, we propose the use of the whole solid-state fermentation (SSF) medium of mixed filamentous fungi as an integrated one-pot strategy for on-site enzyme production, biomass hydrolysis, and ethanol production. Ten different individual and mixed cultivations of commonly used industrial filamentous fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Trichoderma harzianum, and Trichoderma reesei) were performed under SSF and the whole media (without the extraction step) were used in the hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse. The cocultivation of T. reesei with A. oryzae increased the amount of glucose released by around 50\%, compared with individual cultivations. The release of glucose and reducing sugars achieved using the whole SSF medium was around 3-fold higher than obtained with the enzyme extract. The addition of soybean protein (0.5\% w/w) during the hydrolysis reaction further significantly improved the saccharification performance by blocking the lignin and avoiding unproductive adsorption of enzymes. The results of the alcoholic fermentation validated the overall integrated process, with a volumetric ethanol productivity of 4.77 g/L.h, representing 83.5\% of the theoretical yield. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed one-pot integrated strategy using the whole SSF medium of mixed filamentous fungi for on-site enzymes production, biomass hydrolysis, and ethanol production. (c) 2018 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 34:671-680, 2018
Anthraquinone-derivatives, chrysophanol and pachybasin, were purified by a silica column chromatography with two different solvent systems from Trichoderma harzianum ETS 323. The fungus was incubated in sugarcane bagasse solid medium at room temperature without rotation. Structure of chrysophanol was solved by X-ray diffraction and pachybasin by NMR spectra. About 233 +/- 13 mg of pure chrysophanol and 773 +/- 40 mg of pure pachybasin were recovered per kg of solid cultural medium, with yields 1.7 +/- 0.2\% and 5.6 +/- 0.5\%, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Owing to high petroleum prices, there has been a major push in recent years to use lignocellulosic biomass as biorefinery feedstocks. Unfortunately, by nature's design, lignocellulosic biomass is notoriously recalcitrant. Cellulose is the most abundant renewable carbon source on the planet and comprises glucan polysaccharides which self-assemble into paracrystalline microfibrils. The extent of cellulose crystallinity largely contributes to biomass recalcitrance. Additionally, cellulose microfibrils are embedded into both hemicellulose and lignin polymeric networks, making cellulose accessibility an additional obstacle. Pretreatment is necessary before enzymatic hydrolysis in order to liberate high yields of glucose and other fermentable sugars from biomass polysaccharides. This work discusses two pretreatment methods, supercritical CO2 and ionic liquids (ILs). Both methods utilize green solvents that do not emit toxic vapours. Mechanisms for destroying or weakening biomass recalcitrance have been explored. Various pretreatment operating parameters such as temperature, pressure, time, dry biomass/solvent ratio, water content, etc. have been investigated for the pretreatment of various biomass types such as corn stover, switchgrass, sugarcane bagasse, soft and hard wood. The two pretreatment methods have their pros and cons. For example, supercritical CO2 explosion pretreatment uses inexpensive CO2, but requires a high pressure. By comparison, while IL pretreatment does not require an elevated pressure, ILs are still too expensive for large-scale uses. Further research and development are needed to make the two green pretreatment methods practical.
The production of biomolecules using agro-industrial by-products as feedstock is a growing trend worldwide. Selenium (Se) is a trace element essential for health, and the Se-enrichment of yeast biomass can enhance its benefits. This study investigated the feasibility of the production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Se-enriched biomass using a medium composed of corn bran and soybean bran acid hydrolysates as carbon and nitrogen sources in a stirred-tank reactor. After hydrolysis, hydrolysates presented complex composition and high concentrations of sugars, proteins, and minerals. The use of a stirred-tank bioreactor leads to the production of 9 g/L S. cerevisiae biomass enriched with 236.93 mu g/g Se, and 99\% cell viability. Likewise, the combination of sugarcane molasses and soybean bran hydrolysate was effective for cell growth of a probiotic strain of S. cerevisiae with a 24.08\% beta-glucan content. The results demonstrated that starchy acid hydrolysates are low-cost and efficient substrates for the production of yeast biomass and derivate products and may contribute to further studies for a sustainable development of biorefinery technologies.
In order to obtain enhanced value-added products, Citrus Peel Waste (CPW) was used as a lignocellulosic substrate for H2 and Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) production (Stage I), combined with the CH4 production using these metabolites as substrate (Stage II). Stage I used 15 gCPW.L-1, 2.25 gTVS.L-1 of autochthonous inoculum, 3 gTVS. L-1 of allochthonous inoculum (UASB sludge applied to sugarcane vinasse treatment) in batch reactors operated with 40\% of headspace, at 30 degrees C and under static conditions and pH adjusted to 8.5. These conditions allowed obtaining 13.29 mmolH2. L-1 and 1340 mg L-1 of acetic acid in Stage I. Using 125 mL of the acidified effluent (filtered liquid fraction), in Stage I, as substrate in 250 Duhran flasks, with pH adjusted to 7.0, 3 gTVS.L-1 of the same allochthonous inoculum and Zinder medium, 50.2 mmolCH4. L-1 was obtained in Stage II. The metataxonomic and metabolic potential were inferred by means of high throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene on the Illumina HiSeq platform. It can be stated that the cellulolytic enzymes producers Escherichia and Clostridium were the main bacteria genera involved in CPW fermentation in Stage I, while Methanoplasma and Methanosarcina were the main archaea genera involved in CH4 production in Stage II. Besides that, it was possible to infer that Acetyl-CoA synthetase was the enzyme inferred in higher proportions in Stage II, probably due to the predominance of acetoclastic methanogenesis at this stage.
Conservation agriculture principles applied to peanut can reduce soil erosion and production costs when cultivated in rotation with sugarcane. Still, the problem with soil compaction is the leading cause of skepticism about the efficacy of this practice. This research aimed to study the effect of three soil management strategies compared with conventional for peanut cv. IAC-OL3, cultivated in rotation with sugarcane using the MEIOSI (method of intercropping occurring simultaneously) system for agronomic practices with additional analysis on changes in soil physics properties. The trial was conducted in 2019-2020 in Planalto municipality (Sao Paulo, Brazil) under a green-harvested sugarcane field, using a randomized complete block experimental design. The trial consisted of four soil management treatments (conventional tillage, minimum tillage with chisel, strip-tillage, and no-tillage) with five replications. Although no differences were verified in soil bulk density and porosity among treatments, the highest values of soil penetration resistance were observed in no-tillage treatment for all evaluations (before planting, at the beginning of flowering, and before and after harvesting) in comparison with conventional tillage. The difference in soil penetration resistance among the treatments diminished from planting to the end of the cycle. Furthermore, low soil disturbance and maximum covering with straw significantly increased the available water capacity and reduced the incidence and severity of groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV) on peanut plants. Consequently, both minimum-tillage and no-tillage have increased the pod yield on average by 695 and 991 kg ha-1 more than strip-tillage and conventional tillage, respectively, without differences in terms of quality and pod losses.
Agricultural crop residue burning contribute towards the emission of greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4), air pollutants (CO, NH3, NOx, SO2, NMHC, volatile organic compounds), particulates matter and smoke thereby posing threat to human health. In the present study a state-wise inventory of crop residue burnt in India and the air pollutants emitted was prepared using the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) national inventory preparation guidelines for the year 2008-09. Total amount of residue generated in 2008-09 was 620 Mt out of which similar to 15.9\% residue was burnt on farm. Rice straw contributed 40\% of the total residue burnt followed by wheat straw (22\%) and sugarcane trash (20\%). Burning of crop residues emitted 8.57 Mt of CO, 141.15 Mt of CO2, 0.037 Mt of SOx, 0.23 Mt of NOx, 0.12 Mt of NH3 and 1.46 Mt NMVOC, 0.65 Mt of NMHC, 1.21 Mt of particulate matter for the year 2008-09. The variability of 21.46\% in annual emission of air pollutants was observed from 1995 to 2009.
Gibberellic acid (GA(3)) is an important hormone, which controls plant's growth and development. Solid State Fermentation (SSF) allows the use of agro-industrial residues reducing the production costs. The screening of strains (four of Gibberella fujikuoroi and one of Fusarium moniliforme) and substrates (citric pulp, soy bran, sugarcane bagasse, soy husk, cassava bagasse and coffee husk) and inoculum preparation study were conducted in order to evaluate the best conditions to produce GA(3) by SSF. Fermentation assays were carried out in erlenmeyers flasks at 29 degrees C, with initial moisture of 75-80\%. Different medium for inoculum production were tested in relation to cells viability and GA(3) production by SSF. F. moniliforme LPB 03 and citric pulp were chosen for GA(3) production. The best medium for inoculum production was citric pulp extract supplemented with sucrose. GA(3) production by SSF reached 5.9 g/kg of dry CP after 3 days of fermentation.
Decomposition of lignocelluloses by cooperative microbial actions is an essential process of carbon cycling in nature and provides a basis for biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals in biorefineries. In this study, structurally stable symbiotic aero-tolerant lignocellulose-degrading microbial consortia were obtained from biodiversified microflora present in industrial sugarcane bagasse pile (BGC-1), cow rumen fluid (CRC-1), and pulp mill activated sludge (ASC-1) by successive subcultivation on rice straw under facultative anoxic conditions. Tagged 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing revealed that all isolated consortia originated from highly diverse environmental microflora shared similar composite phylum profiles comprising mainly Firmicutes, reflecting convergent adaptation of microcosm structures, however, with substantial differences at refined genus level. BGC-1 comprising cellulolytic Clostridium and Acetanaerobacterium in stable coexistence with ligninolytic Ureibacillus showed the highest capability on degradation of agricultural residues and industrial pulp waste with CMCase, xylanase, and beta-glucanase activities in the supernatant. Shotgun pyrosequencing of the BGC-1 metagenome indicated a markedly high relative abundance of genes encoding for glycosyl hydrolases, particularly for lignocellulytic enzymes in 26 families. The enzyme system comprised a unique composition of main-chain degrading and side-chain processing hydrolases, dominated by GH2, 3, 5, 9, 10, and 43, reflecting adaptation of enzyme profiles to the specific substrate. Gene mapping showed metabolic potential of BGC-1 for conversion of biomass sugars to various fermentation products of industrial importance. The symbiotic consortium is a promising simplified model for study of multispecies mechanisms on consolidated bioprocessing and a platform for discovering efficient synergistic enzyme systems for biotechnological application.
Saccharification potential of xylanase enzyme cloned from Bacillus licheniformis into E. coli BL21 (DE3) was evaluated against plant biomass for the production of bioethanol. The expression of cloned gene was studied and conditions were optimized for its large scale production. The parameters effecting enzyme production were examined in a fermenter. Recombinant xylanase has the ability to breakdown birchwood xylan to release xylose as well as the potential to treat plant biomass, such as wheat straw, rice straw, and sugarcane bagass. The saccharification ability of this enzyme was optimized by studying various parameters. The maximum saccharification percentage (84\%) was achieved when 20 units of recombinant xylanase were used with 8\% sugarcane bagass at 50 degrees C and 120 rpm after 6 hours of incubation. The results indicated that the bioconversion of natural biomass by recombinant xylanase into simple sugars can be used for biofuel (bioethanol) production. This process can replace the use of fossil fuels, and the use of bioethanol can significantly reduce the emission of toxic gases. Future directions regarding pre-treatment of cellulosic and hemicellulosic biomass and other processes that can reduce the cost and enhance the yield of biofuels are briefly discussed.
In this work, a procedure was established to develop a mathematical model considering the effect of temperature on reaction kinetics. Experiments were performed in batch mode in temperatures from 30 to 38 degrees C. The microorganism used was Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the culture media, sugarcane molasses. T he objective is to assess the difficulty in updating the kinetic parameters when there are changes in fermentation conditions. We conclude that, although the re-estimation is a time-consuming task, it is possible to accurately describe the process when there are changes in raw material composition if a re-estimation of parameters is performed.
This paper investigated the feasibility of using the mixture of glycerin and biomass as an alternative fuel by measuring the energy used in the densification process and the energy gained from the briquette fuels. The correlation of the heating values between the calculated values and the actual values was also determined. Rice husk, sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, and sugarcane leaf were used as biomass. Different amounts of glycerin were mixed with the biomass during the densification process. The ratios of the energy used compared with the energy gained were approximately 1-3\% for domestic-scale solar drying condition and 12-18\% for industrial-scale machine drying condition. Heating values of the briquettes increased with the increasing amount of glycerin. Using the mixture of glycerin and biomass in the densification process was considered feasible to be further developed as an alternative fuel. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Here, we investigated the impact of different turning frequency (TF) on dynamic changes of N fractions, NH3 emission and bacterial/archaeal community during chicken manure composting. Compared to higher TF (i.e., turning every 1 or 3 days in CMS1 or CMS3 treatments, respectively), lower TF (i.e., turning every 5 or 7 days in CMS5 or CMS7 treatments, respectively) decreased NH3 emission by 11.42-18.95\%. Compared with CMS1, CMS3 and CMS7 treatments, the total nitrogen loss of CMS5 decreased by 38.03\%, 17.06\% and 24.76\%, respectively. Ammonia oxidizing bacterial/archaeal (AOB/AOA) communities analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Nitrosospira and Nitrososphaera was higher in lower TF treatment during the thermophilic and cooling stages, which could contribute to the reduction of NH3 emission. Thus, different TF had a great influence on NH3 emission and microbial community during composting. It is practically feasible to increase the abundance of AOB/AOA through adjusting TF and reduce NH3 emission the loss of nitrogen during chicken manure composting.
The plant cell wall is a source of fermentable sugars in second-generation bioethanol production. However, cellulosic biomass hydrolysis remains an obstacle to bioethanol production in an efficient and low-cost process. Clostridium thermocellum has been studied as a model organism able to produce enzymatic blends that efficiently degrade lignocellulosic biomass, and also as a fermentative microorganism in a consolidated process for the conversion of lignocellulose to bioethanol. In this study, a C. thermocellum strain (designated B8) isolated from goat rumen was characterized for its ability to grow on sugarcane straw and cotton waste, and to produce cellulosomes. We also evaluated C. thermocellum gene expression control in the presence of complex lignocellulosic biomasses. This isolate is capable of growing in the presence of microcrystalline cellulose, sugarcane straw and cotton waste as carbon sources, producing free enzymes and residual substrate-bound proteins (RSBP). The highest growth rate and cellulase/xylanase production were detected at pH 7.0 and 60 A degrees C, after 48 h. Moreover, this strain showed different expression levels of transcripts encoding cellulosomal proteins and proteins with a role in fermentation and catabolic repression.
Salinity affects over 33\% of irrigated farmland globally. Developing a low-cost, safe, and effective material as a soil salinity mitigation option would be of significant importance. This study proposed to synthesize a hydrogel using liquefied biomass from sugarcane bagasse, polyvinyl alcohol, and sodium tetraborate decahydrate. The effectiveness of the produced hydrogel in mitigating soil salinity was evaluated based on an incubation exper-iment at two salinity levels (5 and 10 dS m-1). The experiment was conducted by mixing liquefied hydrogel with soil at four application rates (0, 1, 2, and 3\% w/w) with three replications. Porewater and soil samples were tested for pH and electrical conductivity (EC). Soil samples were also analyzed for selected cations and anions. The results demonstrated that hydrogel significantly reduced porewater EC at both 5 and 10 dS m-1 salt solutions. In addition, hydrogel reduced Cl-, P, Ca2+, and Al3+ concentrations in soil samples with maximum reductions observed from 3\% hydrogel treatment. However, pH of porewater showed a consistent increase with hydrogel application. The application of hydrogel also increased NH4-N at high salt level. Overall, hydrogel has shown promising results in reducing soil salinity and could potentially be used as a soil amendment for saline soils.
Soil is one of the most important construction materials in the world. It has been effectively exploited for various purposes, such as building social infrastructures, growing agricultural products, and promoting many other important activities that can be useful for human life. The nature of the soil is uncertain from one place to another due to its physical, chemical, and mechanical properties. The expansive type of soil is the most problematic soil and causes damage to the foundations of roads and buildings. On the other hand, solid agricultural waste is widely available and is also a serious problem for the environment and its ecosystem. Therefore, improving the property of problematic soil by using sustainable, locally available, and low-cost agricultural waste materials is required. This paper aims to review the existing knowledge and practices from the recently published state-of-the-art journals related to expansive soil stabilization by agricultural waste additives and to support the findings with scientific data analysis. The effect of using agricultural waste additives such as coffee husk, rice husk, sawdust, wheat straw, cornhusk, sugarcane bagasse, and bamboo powder was carefully evaluated in terms of geotechnical characteristics, and strength parameters. As a result of the review, agricultural waste additives improved California Bearing Ratio (CBR), Plastic Index (PI), and Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS) values, significantly lowered Optimum Moisture Content (OMC) and increased the Maximum Dry Density (MDD) of the soil. Furthermore, the effects of microstructural composition, morphology, and changes in expansive soils treated with agricultural waste additives were analyzed based on the XRD test results and SEM image analysis.
This study was aimed at comparing the pyrolysis behavior of several selected biomass samples, namely, pine wood, poplar wood, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse, with a particular attention to the effect of lignin. Raw samples were first treated using Soxhlet solvent extraction with a 2:1 (v/v) mixture of toluene/ethanol to remove wax. Lignin was then removed by soaking the dewaxed samples in a 1.0 M sodium chlorite solution at 343 K till the solids became white. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis was applied to characterize the surface functional groups of the samples. The morphology of the samples before and after delignification treatment was analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The pyrolysis behavior of the raw and treated biomass samples was studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) operating in nitrogen at a constant heating rate of 10 K min(-1) from room temperature to the final temperature 823 K. The FTIR and SEM results indicated that lignin can be successfully removed from the raw biomass via the chemical treatment used. As expected, the pyrolysis behavior differed significantly among the various raw biomass samples. However, the pyrolysis behavior of the delignified samples showed almost identical thermal behavior although the temperature associated with the maximum rate of pyrolysis was shifted to a lower temperature regime by ca. 50 K. This suggests that the presence of lignin significantly affected the biomass pyrolysis behavior. Thus, the pyrolysis behavior of the biomass cannot be predicted simply from the individual components without considering their interactions.
In this research work, the deposition of diamond coating was done on the tungsten carbide (WC) substrate utilizing the the thermal Chemical Vapour Deposition (CVD) technique. The carbon precursor used for growing the diamond on the tungsten carbide (WC) substrate material was sugarcane bagasse. The tribological properties of deposited diamond coating were studied examined in this paper. For characterization of the developed coating, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM), Raman spectroscopy and X- ray diffraction (XRD), were used to characterize the developed diamond coating on the substrate material. These processes were used to confirm the presence of diamond coating on the substrate. For inspecting the hardness of the developed diamond coated and un coated samples, the tests of micro-hardness were also executed. The values of the Vickers hardness for the un-coated and the diamond coated substrates were found to be 964.95 HV to 1457.48 HV respectively. This depicted a rise of 51\% in the hardness of the un-coated WC inserts. As per ASTM G-99 standards tribological behaviour of the developed coated substrate was also the scope of this work using a pin-on-disc tribometer. The tribological tests showed improvement in the wear resistance of the diamond coated WC inserts as there was a decrease in the value of wear by 57.84 \%. The value of the coefficient of friction (COF) also found to be decreased by 51.48\%. This paper presents a combined study of using tribological tests and morphologic study showing the advantages of coating diamond on the tungsten carbide (WC) substrate.
The extracellular beta-d-fructofuranosidase from Fusarium graminearum was immobilized using hydrophilic cotton, filter paper, multipurpose cloth, sugar cane bagasse, string, or gauze as alternative cellulosic supports, or with cyanogen bromide agarose. All derivatives (support+enzyme) showed high capacity for reuse (up to 23 times). The derivatives obtained with multipurpose cloth and string were stable at 60A degrees C maintaining 80\% of their activity for more than 120 min. The filter paper derivative had a halflife (T-50) of 27 min at 70A degrees C. When tested for their pH stability (3.0-9.0), all derivatives were more stable than the free enzyme, especially the cotton derivative. The sugarcane bagasse, string, and filter paper derivatives could efficiently produce fructooligosaccharides (FOS) using sucrose as substrate. According to the retention of enzymatic activity, reuse and stabilities, the filter paper and string were the best alternative supports for beta-d-fructofuranosidase immobilization, allowing enzyme stabilization and production of FOS.
The conversion of areas cultivated with sugarcane into eucalyptus forests can promote improvements in the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil. Within this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in the stocks and levels of carbon and nitrogen and soil-aggregate stability in an area of transition from sugarcane to eucalyptus in the State of Alagoas, Brazil. The study was carried out on a rural property, located in the district of Atalaia. The systems under evaluation consisted of four areas, one cultivated with sugarcane for approximately 20 years, taken as the reference area for the study, and three adjacent areas cultivated with eucalyptus forest, at 1, 3 and 6 years of age. Bulk density, the levels and stocks of carbon and nitrogen, and the soil aggregation index were all determined. The conversion of a sugarcane plantation under conventional tillage with straw burning into eucalyptus plantations promoted an increase in the levels and stocks of carbon and nitrogen in the soil; it also reduced bulk density and increased the water stability of aggregates. The results show that the conversion of sugarcane into eucalyptus in the Atlantic Forest region of Alagoas may be an alternative for promoting carbon sequestration and improving soil quality.
The growing demand for renewable energies and the application of sustainable and economically viable biorefinery processes have increased the study and application of lignocellulosic biomass. However, due to lignocellulosic biomass recalcitrance hindering its efficient utilization, the pretreatment in the biorefinery is an essential stage for success in the process. Therefore, Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) has emerged as a promising green pretreatment. During this study, the effect of choline chloride {[
Ionic liquids (ILs) are seen as a more sustainable alternative to volatile organic solvents that are accelerating innovations in many industries such as energy storage, separations, and bioprocessing. The ability to effectively deconstruct lignocellulosic biomass is a significant hurdle in the biorefining/bioprocessing industry and presents limitations towards the commercial production of bioproducts (such as biofuels, biomaterials, etc.). Certain ILs have been shown to promote effective lignin removal, cellulose recovery, and sugar yields from various biomass feedstocks such as corn stover, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, sorghum, switchgrass, miscanthus, poplar, pine, eucalyptus, and certain mixtures of municipal solid waste. However, these improvements are often counteracted by the limited biocompatibility of ILs, which results in an IL-induced reduction in enzyme activity and stability-an important downstream step in the conversion of biomass to biofuels/bioproducts. As a result, significant efforts have been made to discover and engineer compatible enzyme-IL systems and to improve our understanding on the effect that these ILs have on these systems. This review seeks to examine the impact of ionic liquids on enzymes involved in lignocellulosic biomass deconstruction, with a specific focus on their relevance in the context of pretreatment. Beyond presenting an overview of the ionic liquid pretreatment landscape, we outline the main factors that influence enzyme activity and stability in the presence of ILs This data is consolidated and analyzed to apply this body of knowledge towards new innovations that could lead to improvements in the processing of biomass to biofuels and bioproducts.
Lignocellulose is the most abundant renewable material on Earth and the primary component of agricultural wastes such as sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw. It consists of a composite material made of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Cellulose and hemicellulose can be broken down into monomers by a set of appropriate enzymes, and the resulting monomers may be used to produce a variety of fuels or chemicals through either biological or chemical routes. However, the high production cost of these lignocellulose-degrading enzymes remains a major challenge for the use of lignocellulosic biomass as raw material. In this context, this article reviews techno-economic analyses concerning the production of cellulases and other lignocellulose-degrading enzymes published over the last two decades. The major characteristics of each enzyme production process are described, underscoring the similarities and differences across the various process designs. Moreover, the enzyme production costs derived from these process designs and their composition in terms of raw materials, capital-related factors, utilities, labor costs, etc., are compared. First, this analysis reveals that most techno-economic evaluations in the literature address either cellulase production by submerged culture withTrichoderma reeseior enzyme production by solid-state culture with filamentous fungi. Second, this analysis shows wide cost variations across process designs but it indicates that raw materials and capital-related costs are generally the main drivers of the enzyme production cost. Furthermore, this assessment corroborates the importance of process parameters, such as product yield, production titer, and volumetric productivity, in the process economics of enzyme production. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd
Seventy-five dry multiparous Holstein cows housed in a tic stall facility on a commercial dairy, were blocked and assigned randomly to treatments to evaluate the effect of feeding a dry energy supplement for 21 days prepartum and 21 days postpartum on animal performance. The energy supplement contained 45\% beet pulp, 22\% sugarcane molasses, 17\% propylene glycol, and 16\% calcium propionate (DM basis). The sugars in molasses were mainly glucose and sucrose. Forages and concentrates were fed separately and comprised 67 and 33\% (DM basis), respectively, of the diet for dry cows and 46 and 54\%, respectively, of the diet for lactating cows. In addition, each cow received 908 g per day of ground com (85\% DM; control), 454 g per day of ground com and 454 g per day of the energy supplement (86\% DM), or 908 g per day of the energy supplement on an as fed basis. Feeding the energy supplement had no effect on DM intake among dry or lactating cows, or effect on incidence of ketosis among lactating cows. Milk yield during week 1-4 postpartum by cows fed ground com (43.9 kg per cow per day) was lower (P=0.073) than by cows fed the diets containing the energy supplement at the low (46.3 kg per cow per day) and high levels (44.5 kg per cow per day). After the feeding of the energy supplement was discontinued after week 3, milk yield by cows previously fed the energy supplement at the low (53.4 kg per cow per day) and high levels (52.7 kg per cow per day) was greater (P=0.006) than that by cows fed ground com, (50.1 kg per cow per day). Cows previously fed the energy supplement at either level also had higher yield of milk fat (P=0.027) and protein (P=0.061) than cows fed ground com. Feeding an energy supplement containing beet pulp, sugarcane molasses, propylene glycol, and calcium propionate to Holstein cows improved milk yield, especially when fed at the low level. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic materials are usually processed toward C5 and C6 corresponding sugars. Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) is a pretreatment method to solubilize hemicellulose to sugars such xylose without degrading cellulose. However, this pretreatment has not been compared to other processes. Thus, this paper focuses on the techno-economic comparison of the C5-C6 production of C5-C6 as raw materials platforms using non-centrifuged sugarcane bagasse (NCSB) and Pinus patula wood chips (PP). Hydrolysates using TFA 2.5 M as an acid were characterized through HPLC regarding arabinose, galactose glucose, xylose, and mannose sugars. Then, simulations of the processes according to the experimental results were done. The economic assessment was performed, and compared with some common pretreatments. The mass and energy balances of the simulations indicate that the process can be compared with other pretreatments. From the economic perspective, the main operating expenditures (OpEx) are related to raw materials and capital depreciation due to the cost of TFA corrosion issues. The processes showed a CapEx and OpEx of 0.99 MUSD and 6.59 M-USD/year for NCSB, and 0.97 MUSD and 4.37 MUSD/year for PP, considering a small-scale base (1 ton/h). TFA pretreatment is innovative and promising from a techno-economic perspective.
Agro-wastes are derived from diverse sources including grape pomace, tomato pomace, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels, sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, wheat straw, and palm oil fibers, among other affordable and commonly available materials. The carbon-rich precursors are used in the production bio-based polymers through microbial, biopolymer blending, and chemical methods. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 20-30\% of fruits and vegetables are discarded as waste during post-harvest handling. The development of bio-based polymers is essential, considering the scale of global environmental pollution that is directly linked to the production of synthetic plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PET). Globally, 400 million tons of synthetic plastics are produced each year, and less than 9\% are recycled. The optical, mechanical, and chemical properties such as ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, tensile strength, and water permeability are influenced by the synthetic route. The production of bio-based polymers from renewable sources and microbial synthesis are scalable, facile, and pose a minimal impact on the environment compared to chemical synthesis methods that rely on alkali and acid treatment or co-polymer blending. Despite the development of advanced synthetic methods and the application of biofilms in smart/intelligent food packaging, construction, exclusion nets, and medicine, commercial production is limited by cost, the economics of production, useful life, and biodegradation concerns, and the availability of adequate agro-wastes. New and cost-effective production techniques are critical to facilitate the commercial production of bio-based polymers and the replacement of synthetic polymers.
The production of biodiesel from conventional oilseed crops (e.g., soybean) is limited by the low productivity of oil per hectare. Oilcane (derived from sugarcane) holds the potential to improve vegetable oil production in agriculture to help meet projected demand for oil-based biofuels. However, the financial viability of oilcane-derived biofuels remains uncertain, with key questions centered on the technical feasibility of vegetative oil recovery and the economic/environmental implications of designing integrated biorefineries to process multiple oil-rich feedstocks. To address these questions, two biorefinery configurations producing biodiesel and ethanol were evaluated: (i) direct cogeneration of heat and power from bagasse (lower oil recovery) and (ii) an integrated, single-step co-fermentation of both extruded juice and bagasse single-step co-fermentation of both extruded juice and bagasse hydrolysate (higher oil recovery). Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses demonstrated the sustainability gains of improved oil recovery, higher feedstock oil content, and the integration of oil-sorghum processing when oilcane is not in season. For the direct cogeneration and co-fermentation configurations, Monte Carlo simulations resulted in maximum feedstock purchase prices of 34.7 {[
Studies on replacement of inorganic fertilizer with organic residues to improve crop productivity and their impact on greenhouse gas emission from agricultural soil merit more attention. Two-year field experiments were conducted to study the impact of different organic residues with varied carbon (C)/nitrogen (N) ratios as substitutes of chemical fertilizer on emission reduction of nitrous oxide (N2O) and crop yield from a tropical summer rice paddy of India. Five treatments comprising of conventional N fertilizer (NPK), cow manure (CD), rice straw (RS), poultry manure (PM), and sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were applied in a rice field to estimate N2O emission. Application of CD (at 10 t ha(-1)) resulted in maximum reduction of seasonal N2O emissions (15 \%) over NPK, RS, PM, and SCB. Application of CD and RS enhanced leaf photosynthetic rate and caused maximum utilization of photosynthates towards developing grains as evident from grain filling ability and higher grain yield. Substitution of NPK with organic residues enhanced soil nutrient availability in terms of C and N resulting in improved soil fertility and to some extent influenced soil nitrogen processes which in turn reduced N2O emissions. We conclude that suitable management of soil in agricultural ecosystem can reduce the emission of N2O and protect and preserve the soil health without compromising the agronomic productivity reducing the use of chemical fertilizer and maintaining the sustainability of rice ecosystem as evident from lower carbon equivalent emissions (CEE) and higher carbon efficiency ratio (CER) at CD in rice paddies in the present study.
Xylanases catalyze the hydrolysis of beta-1,4-linked xylosyl moieties from xylan chains, one of the most abundant hemicellulosic polysaccharides found in plant cell walls. These enzymes can exist either as single catalytic domains or as modular proteins composed of one or more carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) appended to the catalytic core. However, the molecular mechanisms governing the synergistic effects between catalytic domains and their CBMs are not fully understood. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the functional effects of the fusion of a CBM belonging to family 6, which exhibits high affinity to xylan, with the GH11 xylanase from Bacillus subtilis, which does not have a CBM in its wild-type form. The wild-type enzyme (BsXyl11) and the chimeric protein (BsXyl11-CBM6) were heterologously produced in Escherichia coli and purified to homogeneity for biochemical characterization. The molecular fusion did not alter the pH and temperature dependence, but kinetic data revealed an increase of 65\% in the catalytic efficiency of the chimeric enzyme. Furthermore, the BsXyl11-CBM6 chimera was used to supplement the commercial cocktail Accellerase (R) 1500 and improved the reducing sugar release by 17\% from pretreated sugarcane bagasse. These results indicate that CBM6 can be used as a molecular tool to enhance the catalytic performance of endo-xylanases (GH11) and provide a new strategy for the development of optimized biocatalysts for biotechnological applications.
Sugar is the second largest agro-based industry in India and has a major influence on the country's water, food, and energy security. In this paper, we use a nexus approach to assess India's interconnected water-food-energy challenges, with a specific focus on the political economy of the sugar industry in Maharashtra, one of the country's largest sugar producing states. Our work underscores three points. First, the governmental support of the sugar industry is likely to persist because policymakers are intricately tied to that industry. Entrenched political interests have continued policies that incentivize sugar production. As surplus sugar has been produced, the government introduced additional policies to reduce this excess and thereby protect the sugar industry. Second, although the sugar economy is important to India, sugar policies have had detrimental effects on both water and nutrition. Long-standing government support for sugarcane pricing and sales has expanded water-intensive sugarcane irrigation in low-rainfall areas in Maharashtra, which has reduced the state's freshwater resources and restricted irrigation of more nutritious crops. Despite its poor nutritional value, empty-calorie sugar has been subsidized through the public distribution system. Third, the Indian government is now promoting sugarcane-based ethanol production. This policy has the benefit of providing greater energy security and creating a new demand for surplus sugar in the Indian market. Our analysis shows that a national biofuel policy promoting the production of ethanol from sugarcane juice versus directly from molasses may help reduce subsidized sugar for human consumption without necessarily expanding water and land use for additional production of sugarcane.
In this paper, a steady-state 1D computer model of a complete sugarcane bagasse-fired boiler system is presented, which pays special attention to the different heat transfer phenomena encountered in the boiler heat exchangers. The model solves the mass, momentum and energy balance equations for water, flue gas and air streams in an integrated manner which utilizes fundamental equations and empirical correlations for pressure drop, radiative heat transfer and convection. The integrated model is successfully applied to model a 105 t/h industrial watertube boiler at three different load cases namely 100 t/h, 65 t/h and 35 t/h. The model results are validated using typical plant measurements. The mean relative predicted gas temperature errors are 1.47\%, 0.58\% and 4.84\% respectively for the different load cases simulated, and for the water circuit temperature predictions the mean errors are 1.48\%, 0.85\% and 5.31\% respectively. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis is performed on the integrated model, which investigates the influence of selected modelling parameters such as flame height on key boiler output variables such as the furnace exit gas temperature. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
This study evaluated the potential of the biosurfactant-producing yeast Candida bombicola in treating wastewater containing fats and oils from a dairy industry in a laboratory scale bioreactor. The dairy wastewater contains high chemical oxygen demand (COD) (2,480mg/L) and fats and oils (407mg/L) and was supplemented with sugarcane molasses (1\% w/v) and yeast extract (0.1\% w/v) to support the growing yeast in batch, fed-batch, and continuous operations. The yeast was able to remove fats and oils completely (more than 95\% COD removal) under batch and continuous operation. The study suggested that wastewater containing high fats and oils can be efficiently treated using C. bombicola.
Scientific articles related to the incorporation of residues in civil construction materials are growing worldwide, although their practical application is still incipient. In this scenario, this paper produced an occurrence map of the most studied residues in Brazil when incorporated cement-based composites. Initially, the most relevant residues were identified through a bibliometric analysis on the Scopus database, using the software VOSviewer. This analysis included scientific papers from Brazilian institutions published from 2001 to 2022 regarding the development of cement-based composites using residues, wastes, or tailings. Subsequently, to map the occurrence of these materials in each Brazilian state, we used public and private data on the country's industrial production and waste disposal. From 1272 articles analyzed, we identified 49 residues with at least 2 citations. Among the most cited residues in Brazilian publications are construction and demolition waste, rice husk, glass waste, sugarcane bagasse, and tire rubber residue. The authors noticed the heterogeneity of the occurrence of the residues across the large Brazilian territory and found gaps on research trends involving them. These and other observations facilitate the decision-making process regarding logistics and investments related to the reuse and recycling of these materials.
The work is focused on developing a mathematical model for continuous process of xanthan gum production. The main objective of the study is to simulate the model, observe the behavior of substrate consumption, biomass and product formation with respect to dilution rate and determine the optimum dilution rate for which the reactor is to be designed. Systems with and without recycling of cells are considered and the optimum dilution rate is found. For the kinetic parameters used, the optimum dilution rate for the system with no recycling is 0.205 and 0.35 h(-1) for the system that includes recycling of cells.
Soil continuous cropping obstacles lead to yield and economic losses in agriculture. Reductive soil disinfestation (RSD) is an effective technology for alleviating it. However, the key factors influencing microbial community composition and how do they promote functional transformation of core microbes under RSD practice remain poorly understood. Hence, a short-term field experiment was performed integrating real-time polymerase chain reaction, average well color development (AWCD), and MiSeq pyrosequencing to investigate relationships between environmental factors and microorganisms in five different disinfestation treatments, i.e., untreated monoculture soil (CK), soil with high temperature heating (HT), soil with dazomet (DZ), RSD with sugarcane bagasse (SB), or with bean dregs (BD). The results showed that compared to non-RSD treatments, both RSD treatments significantly increased soil microbial abundance and soil available K and organic matter (OM). Further analysis found that available K and OM were the key factors inducing microbial community change. Additionally, relative to non-RSD treatments, the relative abundances of phyla Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Rokubacteria, and Ascomycota were higher, whereas those of Actinobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Basidiomycota were lower in RSD treatments. Changes in microbial diversity and abundance led to variation of soil microbial community functions. AWCD and community function prediction showed that, in contrast with non-RSD treatments, soil metabolism activity significantly increased, bacterial community functions including terpenoids and polyketides metabolism, signal transduction and cell motility increased, and the number of saprotroph fungi increased under RSD treatments. Overall, RSD incorporated with sugarcane bagasse or bean dregs efficiently improved soil fertility, and considerably increased soil microbial activity and function, which may benefit future sustainable agriculture production.
Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead, 1905) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is considered one of the main biological control agents of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae). However, the application of toxic baits for the management of C. capitata might exert side effects on the parasitoid. The objective of this study was to evaluate the side effects of toxic bait formulations on D. longicaudata. The food attractants Anamed, 3\% Biofruit, 1.5\% CeraTrap, 1.25\% Flyral, 3\% Isca Samarita, 3\% Isca Samarita Tradicional, and 7\% sugarcane molasses mixed with an organophosphate insecticide {[
Silica-rich biomass ash (BMA), such as rice husk ash (RHA), sugar cane bagasse ash (SCBA), and corn cob ash (CCA), refer to solid waste that is generated from the combustion of biomass fuels. Unreasonable disposal of the ash can cause environmental pollution and the disposal costs can be pretty high. However, given its high silica content and pozzolanic activity, silica-rich BMA can be used as a sustainable building material. Previous studies have shown that it is reasonable to produce geopolymers (a green and low-carbon cementitious material with excellent physical and mechanical properties) through the utilization of silica-rich BMA. The present study reviews the latest research on the utilization of silica-rich BMA for geopolymer preparation. In this paper, the preparation of sodium silicate solution from silica-rich BMA is described in detail, and the differences between geopolymers made from commercial alkali activator solution and silica-rich BMA-derived solution are compared in terms of setting time and compressive strength. In addition, the paper also focuses on the effects of silica-rich BMA application as precursors on the properties of geopolymers. A proper amount of RHA has a positive effect on the mechanical strength, thermal stability, and water resistance of geopolymers. Appropriate levels of SCBA facilitate the later strength development as well as prolong the setting time of geopolymers. Moreover, CCA adversely affects the mechanical strength of geopolymers. More comprehensive research is needed in the future to efficiently utilize silicon-rich BMA for the production of sustainable geopolymers.
Pectinolytic enzymes, a family of glycosyl hydrolases comprising of endo-rhamnogalacturonase, exo-poly-galacturonase, endo-polygalacturonase and endo-xylogalacturonase play a significant role in food processing industries for the increase of shelf life of the food products containing pectin. This study was carried out for the production and activity of each enzyme member of the pectinase classification. Solid state fermentation process was utilized for the production of pectinase from Aspergillus tamarii using various pectin rich agro-industrial wastes like banana peel, sugarcane bagasse, lemon peel, coffee pulp and orange peel which were used for the fungal growth and wheat bran was used as the major nitrogen source. Fermentation parameters mainly pH, temperature, time, substrate concentration and moisture were optimized for maximum pectinase production. Production yield was measured using endo-polygalacturonase, exo-polygalacturonase, pectin lyase and pectin esterase assay. Results revealed that wheat bran and sugarcane bagasse at the ratio of 3:1 demonstrates appreciable Exo-pectinases production in 30 degrees C for 96 h at 70\% moisture among the four enzymes. Characterization studies indicated the maximum activity (101.05 U/ml) and stability of Exo-PG at pH 6.0 and 55 degrees C. Thin layer Chromatography (TLC) was used for the identification of the hydrolysed products. Application studies were carried out for bioscouring of cotton fibers and extraction of lycopene and anthocyanin. Results suggested that use of pectinases substantially replaces the chemicals usage and will be considered as a suitable bio-agent in the current scenario on green process technology development.
In this work, a code is designed and developed using MATLAB software for thermodynamic and parametric analysis, different technologies for the production of non-centrifuged sugar. Additionally, a methodology is developed to calculate the energy and operation indicators of each of the technologies studied, such as the consumption of bagasse, the temperature in the combustion chamber, etc. With this, a graphical interface (GUI) is developed, which allows the user to enter experimental data and obtain the parameters mentioned above. It is proposed to analyze the influence of some variables on the calculated results, such as temperature, amount of fuel, etc. and finally carry out a comparative analysis of the technologies, to define the best alternative in the production of non-centrifugal sugar.
Wear on sugar cane roll shells is costly maintenance problem for sugar cane mills. This research was conducted to understand the wear process in roll shells made of steel. In this process, sugarcane fiber - commonly called bagasse - is squeezed between grooved roll shells to extract sugar. A new test apparatus, based on the ASTM-G65 test machine, was built to study the wear caused by the slippage of bagasse on low-carbon steel under laboratory conditions. Contact pressure, mineral extraneous matter (MEM) within the bagasse, and velocity of the steel passing the bagasse were all varied. Silica sized in the range of 0.212-0.300 mm was used as the MEM. Wear on the specimens was gravimetrically measured. Surface roughness and micro-indentation hardness were measured before and after testing. New surfaces and worn surfaces were analyzed by using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that, in general, as contact pressure increases, there is higher wear. For high loads, a nearly linear relationship between wear and load was observed. Regarding MEM, a non-linear relation was found where wear increases swiftly for low silica content, but it is nearly constant for high silica content. No significant effect for velocity was found. At the end of wear testing, specimen surface looked smoother than the original machined surface; matching what was observed at the mill. The main wear mechanisms observed on the samples were ploughing and cutting by the silica. An empirical model based on a numerical regression of experimental volume loss was obtained. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This paper reports pollutant removal performances from mixed industrial wastewater employing subsurface flow constructed wetland systems in Bangladesh. Two parallel hybrid wetland trains were established; each train included a vertical flow (VF) followed by a horizontal flow (HF) wetland. One hybrid system was packed with construction materials (i.e. recycled bricks), whereas the other system included agricultural by-products (i.e. sugarcane bagasse). All wetland units were planted with Canna indica. The hybrid trains were operated under non recirculation and recirculation phases; input hydraulic loading across each VF system ranged between 219.3 and 438.0 mm/d. Mean nitrogen, organics, solids, phosphorus and color removals across the hybrid systems were 67.5-80.0, 74.0-85.0, 55.0-95.0, 64.0 -89.0 and 46.0-83.0\% respectively. Lower input biodegradation ratio influenced organics removal routes in wetland systems that employed recycled bricks. In contrast, organic contents of sugarcane bagasse material supported microbial routes in the other system. VF wetland with organic media achieved higher TN removal rates (1.82 g/m(2) d), due to internal carbon (C) generation. Higher phosphorus removals (89.0\%) were observed in hybrid system packed with recycled brick media, due to adsorption process. HF wetland packed with recycled brick was efficient in removing color compounds, whereas the other HF system (with organic media) showed high sulfate removals. Nitrogen and BOD removal improvement was observed in VF wetland (packed with recycled brick media) during recirculation period; in contrast, effluent recirculation reduced removal rates of such pollutants in VF system that employed organic media. In general, this study shows potential application of particular materials as the main media of wetland systems, to achieve pollutant removals from industrial wastewaters in Bangladesh. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The generation of solid dye waste during wastewater purification, especially in coagulation/precipitation steps, and its detoxification, is a major issue because it can leach into the ground water from the landfills during rains. The semisolid textile waste (sludge) showed 99 and 97\% decolourization at flask and reactor scale within 72 h, respectively, when treated with consortium containing Azotobacter vinelandii MTCC 1241, Rhodobacter erythropholis MTCC 4688, Bacillus megaterium NCIM 2054 and Rhizobium meliloti NCIM 2757. The decolourization rate of textile sludge majorly affected by the pH, temperature and moisture content of the sludge. At the optimum conditions of pH (6), temperature (30 degrees C) and moisture content (90\%), the consortium showed maximum decolourization of 81, 84 and 97\%, respectively. A significant increase in the activities of oxidoreductase enzymes such as lignin peroxidase (5 fold), laccase (2.6 fold), veratryl alcohol oxidase (4.7 fold) and tyrosinase (2.9 fold) was observed, while azo reductase (- 1.3 fold) showed a decrease in the activity during sludge treatment. In addition, a noteworthy reduction in the concentration of macromolecules N (45\%), P (70\%), K (50\%) and C (63\%), and microelements B (59\%), Cu (50\%), Fe (59\%) and Mn (75\%) were also observed after treatment with sludge bed reactor. Bio-transformed sludge showed less toxic effects on plants. The outcome from the sludge bed bioreactor (solid-state bioreactor) was found to be more effective and can be used using sugar industry waste like sugarcane bagasse for composting.
This study analyzes the single cell oil (SCO), fatty acid profile, and biodiesel fuel properties of the yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginosa IIPL32 grown on the pentose fraction of acid pre-treated sugarcane bagasse as a carbon source. The yeast biomass from nitrogen limiting culture conditions (15.3 g L-1) was able to give the SCO yield of 0.17 g g(-1) of xylose consumed. Acid digestion, cryo-pulverization, direct in situ transesterification, and microwave assisted techniques were evaluated in comparison to the Soxhlet extraction for the total intracellular yeast lipid recovery. The significant differences were observed among the SCO yield of different methods and the in situ transesterification stood out most for effective yeast lipid recovery generating 97.23 mg lipid as FAME per gram dry biomass. The method was fast and consumed lesser solvent with greater FAME yield while accessing most cellular fatty acids present. The yeast lipids showed the major presence of monounsaturated fatty esters (35-55\%; 18: 1, 16: 1) suitable for better ignition quality, oxidative stability, and cold-flow properties of the biodiesel. Analyzed fuel properties (density, kinematic viscosity, cetane number) of the yeast oil were in good agreement with international biodiesel standards. The sugarcane bagasse-derived xylose and the consolidated comparative assessment of lab scale SCO recovery methods highlight the necessity for careful substrate choice and validation of analytical method in yeast oil research. The use of less toxic co-solvents together with solvent recovery and recycling would help improve process economics for sustainable production of biodiesel from the hemicellulosic fraction of cheap renewable sources.
The extracellular amylase production level by the moderate halophile Bacillus siamensis F2 was optimized, and the enzyme was biochemically characterized. The culture parameters for NaCl, carbon, nitrogen, pH, and temperature were optimized for high titers of amylase production. Growing B. siamensis F2 cultures in Great Salt Lake-2 medium with additions of (in g/L) NaCl (100), starch (30), yeast extract (2), KNO3 (2), and MgSO4 (1) at pH 8, 30 degrees C resulted in the maximum amylase production (4.2 U/ml). The amylase was active across a wide range of salinities (0 to 30\% NaCl), pH (5.0-10.0), and temperatures (20-70 degrees C) and showed good stability with surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100); hence, it was identified as halo-acid-alkali-tolerant and surfactant stable. Temperature, pH, and salinity were optimal for amylase activity at 50 degrees C, pH 7, and 5\% NaCl, respectively. It also generates amylase by utilizing agricultural wastes like sugarcane bagasse, sweet potato peel, and rice husk. Based on the performance of B. siamensis F2 using agricultural wastes and synthesizing amylase, the current study attempted to produce bioethanol by coculturing with baker's yeast using sugarcane bagasse and sweet potato peel as a substrate, which yielded 47 and 57 g/L of bioethanol, respectively. Besides bioethanol production, amylase secreted by F2 was also employed for juice clarification for better yield and clarity and for softening dough to produce better-quality buns. This novel amylase may have many potential applications in waste valorization, biorefinery sectors, and food industries.
Industry development and population growth around the world produce toxic pollutants such as inorganic anions and metal ions. As the latter highly affect the water toxicity and human health and endanger animal and aquatic lives, it is quite necessary to remove phosphate from water. Adsorption is a simple, practical, economical, and nature-friendly process that removes phosphate from agricultural drainage and enables the recycling and reuse of water and phosphorus. Since nanoadsorbents have been quite popular in recent years because of their high specific surface area, simple performance, and high reactivity, this study has used the activated nanobiochar of sugarcane bagasse to examine the rate of phosphate removal from agricultural drainages. To this end, a total of 81 experiments were performed to examine the effects of the following: (1) biochar production time, (2) microwave power and (3) potassium hydroxide (KOH)-to-biochar (BC) weight ratio (KOH/BC), on activating the biochar to remove the phosphate from the polluted drainage. Results of the abovementioned tests, which were used to determine the optimal conditions to provide the sugarcane bagasse adsorbent, revealed that 0.2 g adsorbent in 150 ml of phosphate solution, a biochar production time of 7 h at 600 degrees C, and a pH equal to 7 resulted in an average phosphate removal efficiency of higher than 47.8\%. Results also showed that increasing the activation time up to 10 min and the microwave power up to 400 W, and assuming KOH/BC = 3, increased the average phosphate removability, and increasing them above the optimal value reduced it.
Hydrotropes have been largely explored as reactive extraction agent for lignin separation. In this paper, a mathematical model of hydrotropic-reactive extraction of sugarcane bagasse lignin was proposed and validated by experimental data from literature. The mathematical model was developed by assuming the particle is in slab shape, and by considering simultaneous processes of hydrotrope intra particle diffusion, second order reaction of lignin-hydrotrope, and intra-particle soluble delignification product diffusion. The proposed model results in a set of partial differential equations which were then solved by explicit finite difference approximation method. The mathematical model parameters were determined by fitting the model to the hydrotropic reactive extraction experimental data reported by Ansari and Gaikar (2014). Simulations show that the mathematical model of the hydrotropic-reactive extraction were well fitted to the experimental data with the obtained hydrotrope effective diffusivity (D-eA) of 5.0 x 10(-11) m(2)/s, effective diffusivity of soluble lignin product (D-eC) of 9.0 x 10(-12) m(2)/s and reaction rate constant (k(r)) of 1.78 x 10(-)(10) m(3)/(g.s). It was also observed that the reaction was first order to the hydrotrope (n = 1), and one half order to the lignin (m = 0.5). Meanwhile the pseudo-stoichiometric mass ratio of hydrotrope to lignin was 6.4 g hydrotrope/g lignin.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of partial replacement of dried citrus pulp (DCP) by wet low pectin citrus pulp (WLPCP), wet low pectin citrus pulp silage (WLPCPS) or wet low pectin citrus pulp silage with sodium benzoate (WLPCPS+B) on performance and carcass characteristics, apparent digestibility of nutrients, ruminal measures, and nitrogen metabolism of lambs. In the performance trial, 64 Santa Ines ram lambs were fed 95\% concentrate and 5\% sugarcane bagasse diets during 56 days. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCB). The control diet contained 69.5\% DCP, while in the other treatments fresh or ensiled WLPCP replaced DCP by 30\% on a DM basis. There were no differences in DMI, ADG or carcass characteristics. However, feed efficiency was greater for lambs fed WLPCP compared with lambs fed DCP. In the digestibility trial, 16 Santa Ines ram lambs, canulated in the rumen, were assigned to a RCB design. Animals were fed diets containing 85\% of concentrate and 15\% of sugarcane bagasse. The control diet contained 75.3\% DCP. A portion (30\%) of the DCP DM was replaced by WLPCP, WLPCPS or WLPCPS+B. There was no difference in DM, organic matter or crude protein apparent digestibilities, except for neutral detergent fiber digestibility. Additionally, ruminal ammonia concentration was higher in diets containing DCP compared with WLPCPS and WLPCPS+B. Nevertheless, no effects of treatments were seen on the other ruminal measures. Fresh or ensiled WLPCP can partially replace DCP in rations with high level of concentrate for feedlot lambs.
Concrete is an important material used in all kind of building construction and ordinary Portland cement (OPC) is one of an important element in the production of concrete. However, the production of cement causes a problem because of high CO2 emission to atmosphere. The manufacture of 1 tonnes of cement would produce approximately released 1 tonnes of CO2. So, the need to search another material that can replace a cement with same properties and environmental friendly are crucial. The suitable material to replace cement has to be a pozzolanic materials. This is because pozzolanic materials has cementitious properties and high silica content. Palm oil fuel ash (POFA) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) are the material that suitable to replace cement because of high silica content. The use of POFA and SCBA in concrete has been studied by many researcher and it has been proved to improve the mechanical strength of the concrete either in normal concrete, high strength concrete or lightweight concrete. This paper would discuss the overview of the previous study on the cement replacement by POFA and SCBA and the potential of the both materials to be mix together to improve its properties. The chemical element which will be the focus point is SiO4, MgO, CaO and SO3, while the physical and mechanical properties such as workability, specific gravity, compressive strength and tensile strength will also be reviewed.
The relative ability of four microbial strains to grow on and degrade soft and hard lignocellulosic materials was examined. The most active strain was Phanerochaete chrysosporium NRRL 6361. The percentage weight loss was different for the three tested lignocellulosic samples (3.9-51.9\%). The fungi degraded more carbohydrates and less lignin in sugarcane bagasse; on the other substrates both carbohydrate and lignin were extensively degraded. All tested strains released significant amounts of low molecular weight intermediates and reducing sugars, varying with the strain and the substrate. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Limited. All rights reserved.
Industrial residues are resources that generate regional energy security but they have not been sufficiently valued. In southern Colombia, the sugar cane sector produces approximately 9'000000 T/year of residues, mostly represented by tops and leaves. Delignification is a critical step in the process of obtaining ethanol from these residues. The removal of lignin using extracellular enzyme extracts and mediators has not been widely studied. Therefore, a methodology was developed to extract, a cocktail of enzymes consisting of laccase, manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignoperoxidase (LiP) from Pleurotus ostreatus, which was cultivated by solid substrate fermentation. The extracts with two mediators: 1) ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic-acid and 2) vanillin, were tested on two different types of residues: untreated residues and pretreated residues with ultrasound. It was found that the crude enzyme extract contained laccase (0.432 U/mL), LiP (0.116 U/mL) and MnP (0.025 U/mL) activity. Additionally, the results confirmed that this extract was capable of removing 52.7\% of lignin from ultrasound pretreated sugar cane residues and ABTS as the laccase mediator. It is important to highlight that the results obtained were very promising mainly if a more concentrated extracellular extract can be used.
Two trials were concrete tanks to assess the potential of using artificial substrates to enhance fish production in ponds. Three substrate types were tested: bamboo poles, PVC pipes and sugarcane bagasse bundles, In one trial, periphyton was grown on the substrates in the absence of fish. In the second trial, masheer (Tol khudree Sykes) fingerlings were stocked at three densities, Results showed a significant effect of substrate type on fish growth (P less than or equal to0.001) and on net fish production (P less than or equal to0.05), with best growth in the tanks using the bamboo substrate. In the bagasse treatment, 100\% fish mortality occurred, Highest extrapolated periphyton-based gross fish yield (i.e. without feed inputs) was 450 kg ha(-1) 90 d(-1) with PVC and 491 kg ha(-1) 90 d(-1) with bamboo substrate. The best periphyton growth occurred on bamboo, followed by bagasse and PVC, Without fish, mean periphyton biomass during the culture period was 0.56-1.20 mg cm(-2) on bamboo {[
Bio-waste generation is continuously increasing worldwide. It can be used as a resource for bio-oil and bio-char production through pyrolysis. However, advanced pyrolytic techniques are not successful in developing countries because of their high cost. Hence, in this study, the efficiency of a self-designed low-cost conventional pyrolyzer was evaluated. Sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, and cotton-stalk bio-wastes were subjected to pyrolysis. The effects of pyrolysis temperature (350, 450, 550, 650, and 750 degrees C) and heating rate (10, 20, and 30 degrees C min(-1)) on the yields of bio-oil and bio-char were determined. The maximum yields of bio-oil and bio-char were obtained at 750 and 350 degrees C pyrolytic temperatures, respectively. The heating rates of 30 and 10 degrees C min(-1) were optimized for the maximum yields of bio-oil and bio-char, respectively. Among the biowaste types, the sugarcane bagasse resulted in the maximum production of bio-oil (similar to 38\%) and bio-char (50\%). The bio-oil composition indicated the presence of hydrocarbons suitable to be used as an alternative transportation fuel. Surface analysis of bio-chars showed porous morphology and the presence of O-, H- and C-containing functional groups, and no toxicity as determined from the seed germination test, indicating their safe application in the soil. It was concluded that agricultural bio-waste could be a useful resource for the production of bio-oil and bio-char, and their future application as fuel and soil amendment, respectively.
Aims This work aimed to estimate the growth ofMyceliophthora thermophilaM.7 center dot 7 in solid-state cultivation (SSC) through quantification ofN-acetyl-d-glucosamine (NAG) and enzyme activity. Methods and Results The fungus was cultivated in sugarcane bagasse and wheat bran. A consistent statistical analysis was done to assess the reliability of experimental data. Logistic model equation was fitted to experimental data and growth parameters were estimated. The results showed strong influence of the sample size on NAG and a minimum recommended sample size was identified. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to identify the strategy of substrate colonization. Wheat bran was attacked firstly, while sugarcane bagasse was consumed after wheat bran depletion. The biomass growth was poorly estimated by secretion kinetics of alpha-amylase, endoglucanase, protease and xylanase, but enzyme kinetics were important for understanding substrate colonization. Conclusions In conclusion, the NAG concentration was strongly affected by the sample size and sampling procedure. The strategy of fungal colonization on the substrates was well characterized through SEM analysis. The colonization strategy has direct influence on the kinetic parameters of the logistic model.Myceliophthora thermophilahas a well-defined dynamic of enzyme secretion to degrade the substrate, although the kinetics of enzyme secretion has shown not adequate to characterize the kinetics of fungal growth. Significance and Impact of the Study The paper provides reliable growth kinetic parameters in the SSC of the cellulase producer fungusM. thermophilaM.7 center dot 7, as well as a robust analysis on three indirect methods (NAG, enzymes and SEM) for estimation of fungal development.
The production of phenols through catalytic pyrolysis of different types of lignin was investigated. Samples from eucalyptus (hardwood), pine (softwood), and sugarcane bagasse (herbaceous) were impregnated with the catalysts, Al2O3, ZnO, NaOH and KOH, in quantities equivalent to 1\% of the lignin mass. Pyrolysis was conducted using thermogravimetric analyser (TGA), and the released phenols were captured in thermal desorption (TD) tubes for quantification by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). From the TGA profiles, some modifications in the primary mechanisms were observed, especially with the hydroxide catalysts. In comparison to non-catalysed lignin pyrolysis, KOH produced the most statistically significant effect on the total phenols yields from sugarcane bagasse (S-S) lignin, with increases up to +26\%, while NaOH increased the yield from Eucalyptus (E-K) lignin by + 40\%. Syringol was the main S-type phenol product, with the highest yield increase by NaOH from E-K lignin (+ 90\%) and a final yield of 1.86 wt.\%. NaOH also produced the highest yield increases of G-type phenols from E-K lignin, especially 4-vinylguaiacol (+ 39\% and yield of 2.80 wt.\%). The increased production of primary compounds (S-type and G-type) by these hydroxides was probably correlated with the enhanced depolymerisation in the first decomposition stages, as observed by TGA. Oxide catalysts had limited effects on the production of S-type and G-type compounds but were more selective towards the production of P type phenols, especially ZnO with S-S lignin (+ 36\%) due to the enhancement of demethoxylation reaction.
Crop residue crucially contributes in running the essential agro-environment services. The modernization in crop production with high yielding varieties substantially increased the crop residue and its management challenges. The critical window period between two crops like in wheat sowing after rice and sugarcane harvest and poor suitability of some crop residues for animal feed pushed the malpractice of crop residue burning especially in developing countries like India. In long-term, the practice of residue burning along with climate change phe-nomenon puts the serious challenges in maintaining the quality of natural resources and sustainable crop pro-duction system. The precious elements retained in the crop residue are lost upon burning and converted to harmful air pollutants which otherwise can run the essential services in soil-plant system and find industrial applications as feedstock if managed in a sustainable way. The present review article provides critical insights on the current status of residue production and in-situ management of crop residue via different routes using suitable machinery package along with relative advantages and challenges. The prospective of crop residue to derive the soil ameliorants through composting and thermal decomposition approaches are critically discussed in the present review study. Moreover, a brief account is presented on residue derived energy generation (liquid and gaseous fuels) through thermo-chemical and thermal decomposition processes, which can ease the burden of fossil fuels on environment as well as economy of the country. The review article also explores cutting-edge industrial application of crop residue, present challenges and future thrust areas to overcome such issues in the sustainable crop residue management.
A quaternary ammonium anion exchanger (SBTEA) was prepared from sugarcane bagasse (SB) employing an improved two-step synthesis method by chemical modification with epichlorohydrin (EPI) and triethylamine (TEA) using N,N-dimethylformamide as a solvent without catalyst. Two multivariate optimizations were utilized to determine optimum conditions for SBTEA synthesis using Doehlert experimental designs. The optimum synthesis conditions were: VEPI = 12.8 mL gSB �1; VTEA = 22.0 mL gSB � 1; and T1 (etherification step) = T2 (amination step) = 100 degrees C. The chlorine and nitrogen contents of the SBTEA produced under these conditions with a 21-fold increase in the synthesis scale (SBTEA-LS) were 4.2 \& PLUSMN; 0.1\% and 1.485 \& PLUSMN; 0.007\%, respectively. The 13C Multi-CP SS NMR revealed that 1.7 quaternary ammonium groups were introduced for 10 cellobiose units. SBTEA-LS was used to remove As(V) from contaminated groundwater samples with high removal efficiency (95 \& PLUSMN; 4\%), even with strong competitors such as SO42 � . The interactions involved in the adsorption were investigated through macroscopic and microscopic measurements, which suggested that the adsorption of As(V) on SBTEA-LS occurred mainly by ion exchange. Desorption experiments proved that SBTEA-LS could be efficiently regenerated (Edes > 90\%) using an HNO3 solution, reducing operating costs and favoring technology upscaling.
The potential to produce ethanol and xylitol from xylose by the macro basidiomycete Trametes membranacea was evaluated. All strains studied showed ethanol and xylitol production. The highest ethanol production of xylose was obtained by T. membranacea strain TM158/10 with 5.65 +/- 0.21 g/L at pH 4 and 28 A degrees C with 288 h of fermentation and 5.59 +/- 0.05 g/L ethanol concentration at pH 5 and 24 A degrees C with 360 h of fermentation. When the conversion was carried out using sugars generated from enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse, there were higher yields from 74 to 15\% for ethanol and xylitol, respectively. Although the ethanol and xylitol production need to be optimized, this study showed for the first time the possibility of using T. membranacea for the simultaneous xylitol and ethanol production from pentose sugars, allowing for the possibility of using all released sugars during the hydrolysis of lignocelluloses.
In the present study, seven diverse biomasses of Indian origin were characterized and pyrolyzed at 450 degrees C to produce biochars. The biochars were thoroughly characterized using a variety of techniques to assure their potential energy and environmental and agricultural applications. Biochars derived from crop wastes with low lignin content, viz., rice husk biochar (RHB), rice straw biochar (RSB), maize stover biochar (MSB), and sugarcane biochar (SCB), possessed high ash content, high pH, and low fixed carbon making them suitable for soil amelioration. RSB, RHB, and MSB recorded high cation exchange capacity, making their potential utilization as liming material and removal of heavy metal contaminants. Elemental O/C ratios for all biochars, except maize stover biochar, were in the range of 0.27-0.32, which showed better stability and half-life period. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was carried out to evaluate the thermal stability of biochars up to 900 degrees C, and the overall mass loss varied in the range of 16-27 wt\%. Biochars from eucalyptus (EB), lantana (LB), and pine needle (PNB) were found to have high higher heating values (HHVs) (23-28 MJ/kg), higher fixed carbon, and lower ash content. Correlations were constructed between HHV of biochars and their volatile matter, ash, and fixed carbon content with high but negative correlation with ash content. Rice straw, rice husk, maize stover, and sugarcane trash were poor substrates, as the resultant biochars contained <= 60 wt\% fixed carbon, high ash, and a relatively low HHV. It is shown that RHB, RSB, MSB, and SCB can be potential materials for soil amendment and plant nutrient, while PNB, LB, and EB are suitable for renewable solid fuel purpose.
Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) differing in the number of hydroxyl groups in the hydrogen bond donor (HBD) compound were investigated for usage as a matrix base in reactions involving a lignin-enriched fraction. NADESs were prepared by mixing citric acid with different HBDs (glycerol, xylitol, and sucrose). In addition, waste lignocellulose was epoxidised for use as a thickening agent for NADESs by promoting chemical crosslinking between the HBD hydroxyl groups and the epoxy rings of the lignocellulosic material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to verify the reaction between NADES and the epoxidised lignin-rich material. In addition, full rheological characterisation was performed to evaluate the effects of the viscosity of NADESs and lignin-enriched residue concentration. A heating process was applied to determine the influence of water on the viscoelastic properties of the final products. The chemical interaction between NADESs and epoxidised lignocellulose was successfully achieved, resulting in various rheological responses, from liquid-like to gel-like, depending on the HBD compound comprising NADESs and the lignin concentration. The higher the number of hydroxyl groups in the HBD, the higher was the viscosity of the lignin-structured NADESs. An analysis of the relative viscosity data reveals that the epoxidised ligninocellulose residue exerts a similar structuring role in the three different NADESs.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Cellulolytic enzymes produced by Trichoderma sp. have attracted interest in converting the biomass to simple sugars in the production of cellulosic ethanol. In this work, a novel cellulolytic strain M501 was isolated and identified as T. gamsii by sequencing the ITS rDNA region. The production of cellulase (CMCase) by T. gamsii M501 was enhanced by employing statistical methods. The strain grown in the optimized production medium composed of mineral salts, microcrystalline cellulose (13.7 g/l), tryptone (4.8 g/l) and trace elements (2 mL/l) at pH 5.5 and 28 degrees C for 72 h produced a maximum CMCase of 61.3 U/mL. The optimized production medium also showed the other enzyme activity of FPU (2.6 U/mL), beta-glucosidase (2.1 U/mL), xylanase (681 U/mL) and beta-xylosidase (0.6 U/mL). The crude cellulase cocktail produced by T. gamsii M501 efficiently hydrolyzed alkali pretreated sugarcane bagasse with glucose and xylose yield of 78 \% and 74 \% respectively at 10 \% solid loading. This study is the first of its kind research on biomass saccharification using T. gamsii cellulase cocktail. Therefore, the novel strain T. gamsii M501 would be useful for further development of an enzyme cocktail for cellulosic ethanol production.
BACKGROUND The house fly, Musca domestica L., and the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), are important and harmful organisms. The cosmopolitan house fly is not parasitic, but the adults are annoying and a known vector of several pathogens. The importance of the stable fly has increased in Brazil in the last 40 years, after major changes in sugarcane cultivation practices were implemented, including the widespread application of vinasse (byproduct in sugarcane mills) and the parallel reduction of sugarcane preharvest burning. These changes have favored the development of this fly, which can reach high populations, that can negatively affect cattle and other animals. The control of these flies relies heavily on the use of chemical products, which very often do not provide adequate population reduction. Predatory mites of the family Macrochelidae have been evaluated under laboratory conditions for the biological control of these organisms, especially of the house fly. The objective of this study was to examine the predation capacity of the macrochelids Macrocheles embersoni Azevedo, Castilho \& Berto and Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) on the house fly and the stable fly, under semi-field conditions (screen-houses). RESULTS Reductions of 83 to 90\% of the house fly and 66 to 73\% of the stable fly populations were observed, with the release of 100 of these predators per square meter. CONCLUSIONS The number of adults of both fly species was much lower in the units where the predators had been released than in the others. However it is suggested that provisioning and or conserving alternative food sources for these macrochelids, such as free-living nematodes, could further improve biocontrol efficacy.
The chemical composition of compost is much closer to coal when compared with that of agricultural wastes. Since most activated carbon is currently manufactured from coal, it might be easier to produce activated carbon from compost than from other agricultural wastes. In this study, several compost samples were compared for their thermal stability. In addition, sugarcane bagasse samples with three maturities, i.e. 0-month, 1-month, and 6-month, were pyrolyzed to produce carbon chars. The experimental results showed that the thermal stability increased with compost maturity, and thus the highest carbon char yield was obtained from the 6-month compost-sample. The analysis of chemical composition showed that the 6-month compost had the highest C/H and C/O ratios, suggesting it has the greatest hydrophobicity among the three bagasse samples. However, due to its high ash content, the 6-month compost char had less sorption capacity for phenol when compared with other two bagasse chars. Nevertheless, the 6-month compost char had comparable sorption capacity for hydrophobic pollutant naphthalene. The results implied that there might be some advantages of producing compost char as adsorbent for removing hydrophobic pollutants from solution, although more work to enhance the carbon content in the char may still be needed in order to manufacture high quality adsorbent from compost.
Biochars derived from bamboo, coconut shell, pine wood shavings, and sugarcane bagasse were applied into Ultisol to investigate their effects on Cd(II) immobilization. After 360 days of incubation, the physical/chemical properties of the Ultisol were improved by the addition of different biochars. As a result, the maximum adsorption capacities of soil for Cd(II) were increased from 8.02 to 9.07-11.51 mmol/kg, and bamboo biochar showed the highest effect on Cd(II) immobilization. The Langmuir model (R-2>0.983) fitted the data better than the Freundlich model (R-2 were 0.902-0.937). Column leaching experiments suggested that biochar can also increase the immobilization of Cd(II) under leaching conditions. Biochar mainly increased the weak/unstable binding force of Cd(II) by soil, such as ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, physical adsorption, and carbonate precipitation. In addition, a significant enhancement of surface complexation was also observed.
This paper reports the use of probiotic and sodium bicarbonate in the diet of feedlot sheep. Probiotics from Heriyaki powder can function as forge preservative and sodium bicarbonate as an artificial rumen buffer that helps to stabilize pH levels in sheep's stomach. The objectives of this formulation is to improve the rumen function, feed efficiency and reduce the risk of acidosis leading to a significant increase of average daily gain (ADG, gram/head/day) of feedlot sheep. Heriyaki probiotic liquid was prepared by fermenting beans mixed with sugarcane molasses while Heriyaki powder was obtained by mixing the Heriyaki probiotic liquid with rice hull powder and additional molasses sugarcane in anaerobic condition for 5 days. The powder was then applied for preparing whole maize silage 0.5 wt\% in anaerobic condition for 7 days before feeding. Meanwhile, the feed concentrate contained acid buffer of sodium bicarbonate powder at different doses and sizes {[
This work presents a techno-economic and environmental assessment of the glucose syrups production from sugarcane bagasse, plantain husk, cassava husk, mango peel, rice husk and corncobs. According to the economic analysis, the corncob had both, the lowest production cost (2.48 USD/kg syrup) and the highest yield (0.61 kg of sugars/kg of wet agroindustrial waste) due to its high content in cellulose and hemicellulose. This analysis also revealed that a heat integration strategy is necessary since the utilities consumption represent an important factor in the production cost. According to the results, the pretreatment section requires more energy in the syrup production in comparison with the requirements of other sections such as production and sugar concentration. The environmental assessment revealed that the solid wastes such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural affected the environmental development of the process for all the agroindustrial wastes, being the rice husk the residue with the lowest environmental impact. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The current research deals with bio-composites developed by using four different types of lignocellulosic natural fibers, e.g., jute, sisal, coconut/coir, and sugarcane (bagasse) for reinforcement. A multifunctional resin derived from phosphoric acid modified Diglycidylether of bisphenol-F (DGEBF) was used as a matrix. Mechanical properties, e.g., impact strength, flexural strength, tensile strength, and modulus etc. were evaluated and analyzed. Among all the different types of samples developed, sisal and jute fiber-based composites exhibit superior tensile, impact, and flexural properties as compared to other fiber types investigated. Bagasse composites exhibit the highest specific bending performance due to lowest density. Coir and bagasse-reinforced composites show higher electrical resistivity due to lower fiber density and lower crystallinity of fibers. Relatively higher resistivity suggests application in small switches, insulation rods, mobile/laptop, and computer covers etc. The results from the developed samples demonstrate that lignocellulosic fiber-reinforced epoxy composites could open new opportunities for their applications in different electrical goods and as an environmentally friendly alternative.
Thermoset polymers (phenolic and lignophenolic) are used as matrix materials for polymeric composites. A great deal of effort has been done in order to use vegetal fibers, obtained from sugarcane bagasse and sisal, to reinforce such matrices, because they are readily available and they are renewable resources. Carbon reinforced materials are usually obtained by using high strength carbon fibers for high-tech demanding aerospace and aeronautical uses. Phenolic type resins are commonly used as carbon matrix source for such applications. In this work a reinforced carbon material is obtained by a controlled pyrolysis from lignophenolic matrix/bagasse and lignophenolic/sisal polymeric composites. The ex-vegetable fibers carbon composites were analyzed by flexural tests. The conversion of the vegetable fiber into a carbon fiber takes place in situ all over the matrix material resulting in carbon reinforced materials having a flexural strength as high as 21 MPa and flexural modulus in the range of 11-13 GPa. These results are over expected because the fibers have no previous physicochemical treatment for enhancing bonding with the matrix or for enduring carbonizing temperatures.
A novel ternary solvent system for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass, named APW process, which is composed of acetone, phenoxyethanol and water with the advantages of monophasic deconstruction and biphasic separation of components was developed. Through fractionation of amorpha as a case study, a monophasic APW solution (acetone/phenoxyethanol/water = 5:11:4, volume ratio) with the best lignin affinity was constructed based on Hansen solubility parameters. According to Taguchi experimental design, the optimal conditions were 130 degrees C, 70 min, 0.15 M sulfuric acid and 20 LSR. Under optimal conditions, removal of lignin and hemicellulose reached 95.60\% and 98.39\%, respectively. While 80.48\% of cellulose was retained in residue and its digestibility was 80.36\%. Then, 83.74\% of hemicellulose was recovered from aqueous as sugars, and 35.64\% of lignin was recovered by precipitation. Moreover, APW process also have effective fractionation of sugarcane bagasse, corn cob and pine, cellulose and hemicellulose recovery were both over 80\%.
FERMSOSTAT is a developed laboratory scale solid state fermenter. It is a horizontal stirrer drum bioreactor with about 70 L capacities. The fermenter is made of stainless steel which is anti-corrosive and non-toxic to the process organism. The fermenter is equipped with sets of control systems for temperature, agitation, aeration and also outlets for substrate sampling as well as inlets for inoculation and substrate additions. The uniqueness of this FERMSOSTAT system is its ability to carry out in situ substrate sterilization and extraction of enzymes at the end of SSF process. Moreover, the mixing system provided by FERMSOSTAT can be performed either full or half mixing as well as forward or reverse mixing. Furthermore, the mixing can be programmed to run at certain agitation rate and time interval during the fermentation process to prevent or reduce damage to the fungus mycelia. FERMSOSTAT is a developed SSF bioreactor and not an improvement of any existing one. The performances of FERMSOSTAT have been evaluated. Under optimum solid state fermentation conditions, about 63.4, 397 and 3.21 U/g of CMCase, xylanase and FPase activities were detected, which were higher compared to the tray system.
Biomass conversion is challenged by the heterogeneity and lignin, a component that acts as a barrier to the enzymatic hydrolysis of polysaccharides. This study evaluated the effect of pretreatments on different fractions of sugarcane biomass lignin and cellulose exposure. Two different methods were used: dilute sulfuric acid (5\%, 10\%, and 20\% w/w at 121 degrees C/30 min) and partial delignification with sodium chlorite (30\% m/m at 70 degrees C/1 h) to reduce the exposed surface of lignin. The surface area of lignin was obtained through the cationic dye Azure B, and cellulose access by enzymatic hydrolysis (15 FPU/g for 24 h-Cellic Cetec 2-Novozymes) was employed. Acid pretreatment was efficient in hemicellulose removal, and delignification removed lignin from all the biomasses fractions. Azure B dyes determined the surface area filled with lignin after dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment and partial delignification. The sample with the largest total surface area of lignin (52 m(2)/g of material) was the leaf pretreated with 5\% sulfuric acid. The external fraction presented the largest specific surface area (240 m(2)/g) after partial delignification. These results indicate that reducing the lignin surface area enhances the glucose yield of enzymatic hydrolysis.
The device of self-healing cementitious composites is a most anticipated approach for repair of unavoidable cracks through biological intrusions. The bio-inspired self-healing composites systematically heal the cracks and control the penetration of corrosive ions towards the embedded steel. However, the effect of bacterial additions on the electrochemical performance of embedded steel holds several questions and needed to be explored further. Therefore, this research was carried out to assess the effect of a calcifying bacterial strain ``Bacillus safensis{''
Organosolv lignins obtained from Eucalyptus grandis, sugarcane bagasse and Picea abies by Acetosolv, Formacell and Organocell processes were characterized, fractionated and converted to hydroxymethylated and oxidized products. The reactivity of lignins with formaldehyde did not improve significantly with the fractionation. Both eucalyptus Acetosolv (EAc) and eucalyptus Formacell (EFo) lignins retained high heterogeneity in relation to the molecular weight distribution but not in relation to structural units. The temperatures of the exothermic peaks and the apparent activation energies for the cross-linking are different for hydroxymethylated lignins and phenol, with similar cure temperatures of the resols. Chemical oxidation using cobalt(II) and manganese(II) salts furnished oxidized lignins with improved chelating properties. These chelating agents can remove up to 14\% of Mn present in pulps, decreasing the peroxide consumption in the bleaching process. The products obtained can be also used as oxidized phenols and controlled-release matrices. Oxidation of Acetosolv bagasse lignin with polyphenol oxidase furnishes lignins with chelating capacity 110\%, higher than that of original lignin. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic wastes available in abundance can be excellent substrates for the production of cellulase and beta-glucosidase enzymes by solid state fermentation (SSF). A cellulase system, showing enhanced hydrolytic potential and beta-glucosidase under SSF, was obtained by cocultivation of Aspergillus ellipticus and Aspergillus fumigatus. Different types of substrates and various pretreatments were used to improve hydrolytic process. Among the various substrates examined, sugarcane bagasse gave the highest activity and 2\% calcium hydroxide treatment was found to be the most favorable treatment for the enzyme production. The maximum enzyme production was obtained on the eighth day of the fermentation process.
This work explores the impact of using biomodifiers produced from three different agroindustrial wastes (i.e., sugarcane bagasse, corncobs, and rice husk) obtained through solvolysis, on the chemical, rheological, and thermodynamic properties of an asphalt binder. Two different modification doses were considered, and the binders were characterized in both unaged- and aged-conditions. Results showed that the biomaterials contain several hydrophobic and hydrophilic functional groups that modified the chemical properties of the asphalt binder. Besides, the biomaterials produced a hardening effect on the asphalt binder, and strongly affected the adhesive bond quality with aggregates. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Thermal conversion of biomass to produce energy inevitably generates ash as residual matter. Therefore, sustainable utilization of biomass should also consider reuse measures for the ash. This research examines the conversion of locally available biomass ashes in Indonesia into geopolymer. This is an environmentally more benign alkali-aluminosilicate alternative to the ordinary Portland cement produced by low-temperature reactions between aluminosilicates and concentrated alkali solution. Biomass ash sources in this study are corn stover, coconut shell, and sugarcane bagasse. Biomass ash blends are prepared according to a ternary simplex centroid mixture experiment design. These blends are reacted with activator solutions containing NaOH and Na-silicate and blended with sand aggregate to produce geopolymer mortar specimens. Early compressive strengths of geopolymer mortars range from 7.2 to 10.4 MPa, which surpasses the SNI 15-2049-2004 national standard for Portland cement with low heat of hydration. Statistical analysis of the experimental data indicates that the early strength as a function of biomass ash blend formulation is represented by a quadratic mixture model. Bagasse ash produces the highest strength. The quadratic terms consist of bagasse-corn and bagasse-coconut antagonistic blending terms. Morphology of the geopolymer mortar fracture surface indicates good bonding with the sand aggregate. Extensive acicular crystal growth within the amorphous geopolymer gel phase is observed in lower-strength formulations, which points to the formation of zeolite-like phase in the geopolymerization process. While the correlation of biomass ash type to the structure of the resulting geopolymer is yet to be established, this work has clearly identified the technical feasibility of producing geopolymer with satisfactory strength from tropical biomass ashes.
This study reported that surfactants could facilitate the organosolv pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) to produce fermentable sugars and highly active lignin. Under the optimized conditions, the surfactant-assisted glycerol organosolv (saGO) pretreatment achieved 80.7\% delignification with a retention of 93.4\% cellulose and 83.0\% hemicellulose. The saGO pretreated substrate exhibited an excellent enzymatic hydrolyzability, achieving 93\% of glucose yield from the enzymatic hydrolysis at 48 h. Structural analysis showed that the saGO lignin contained rich \& beta;-O-4 bondings with less repolymerization and lower phenolic hydroxyl groups, thus forming highly reactive lignin fragments. The analysis evidenced that the surfactant graft the lignin by structural modification, which was responsible for the excellent substrate hydrolyzability. The co-production of fermentable sugars and organosolv lignin almost recovered a gross energy (87.2\%) from LCB. Overall, the saGO pretreatment holds a lot of promise for launching a novel pathway towards lignocellulosic fractionation and lignin valorization.
The aim of this study was to produce microbial oil from Lipomyces starkeyi DSM 70296 grown in hemicellulose hydrolysate (H-H). Glucose and xylose were used for batch, fed-batch, repeated fed-batch, and continuous cultures, and H-H was tested at continuous culture. The highest cell and lipid concentrations of 85.4 and 41.8 g/L, respectively, were obtained using repeated fed-batch strategy. Continuous culture with dilution rate of 0.03 h(-1) presented the highest overall cell (0.443 g/g) and lipid yields (0.236 g/g). At 0.06 h(-1) were obtained the highest cell and lipid productivities. Continuous cultivation using H-H at 0.03 h(-1) resulted in higher cell productivity than that obtained using glucose: xylose. Gas chromatography analysis of the esterified lipids indicated that the major constituents of this complex are palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid with an estimated cetane number (approximately 61) similar to that of palm biodiesel, which is important for biofuel production. (C) 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Sugarcane molasses distillery wastewater contains melanoidins, which are dark brown recalcitrant nitrogenous polymer compounds. Studies were carried out in batch mode to evaluate Pt and Ru supported catalysts in the Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation (CWAO) process of a synthetic melanoidins solution, prepared by stoichiometric reaction of glucose with glycine. The addition of a catalyst slightly improved TOC removal compared with the non-catalytic reaction, and especially promoted the conversion of ammonium produced from organically-bound nitrogen in melanoidins to molecular nitrogen and nitrate. The selectivity to N-2 attained 89\% in the presence of the Pt catalysts in the reaction conditions used (TOC = 2200 mg L-1, TN = 280 mg L-1, 0.5 g catalyst loaded with 3\% metal, 210 degrees C, 70 bar total air pressure). To avoid leaching of the active metal by organically-bound nitrogen, the reaction was very efficiently performed in a two-step reaction consisting in WAO to convert nitrogen into ammonium, before the introduction of a catalyst. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This article presents improvements to bio-oil production systems by using a spray condenser, which was developed from previous work. Napier grasses (NG), sugarcane leaves (SL), and rubber leaves (RL) were used as raw materials in order to produce bio-oil. The indirect contact heat exchanger called conventional condenser and direct contact heat exchanger called spray condenser were employed while the bio-oil and the ethanol were also applied as an absorber in the spray condenser. The circulating fluidized bed reactor was employed to produce the bio-oil by using a fast pyrolysis process. The condition generating the highest yield of the bio-oil production whether the conventional condenser or the spray condenser was 60 kg/h of feed rate and 480 degrees C of bed temperature. From the result of the bio-oil production, it was found that the highest yields of bio-oil production from NG, SL, and RL using conventional condenser were 43.73\%wt, 49.47\%wt, and 37.00\%wt, respectively. The highest yield of bio-oil production from NG, SL, and RL performing on spray condenser and the use of ethanol as absorber were 55.67\%wt, 62.53\%wt, and 44.60\%wt, respectively. The use of the spray condenser and use of the ethanol as absorber can improve the properties of bio-oil such as heating value and can also increase the yield of bio-oil, but the viscosity of bio-oil was increased. Furthermore, the use of spray condenser can increase the efficiency of energy conversion and can decrease the cost production of bio-oil production; it can also solve problems of dirt from volatiles or droplets in the bio-oil which were adhesive in the recirculating blower in case the system returned non-condensable gas (NGC) to the bio-oil production process.
Second generation (2G) ethanol production is facing major research challenges primarily because of an absence of suitable technology for the extraction of maximum fermentable sugars from complex lignocellulosic structure as well as unavailability of suitable fermentation technique and single microorganism to convert these sugars (pentose and hexose) efficiently into ethanol. Present study is focused on the exploration of various lignocellulosic feedstocks using different inorganic acids for the recovery of maximum amount of fermentable sugars as separate fractions, direct from the biomass by a novel process called ``fractional hydrolysis{''
Rhodosporidium toruloides and Tetradesmus obliquus pure and mixed cultures were grown on primary brewery wastewater (PBWW), with and without supplementation of sugarcane molasses (SCM) and urea. R. toruloides developed in pure cultures was not able to grow on PBWW, with or without supplementation, but grew in mixed cultures with the micmalga T. obliquus in all media. In contrast, all T. obliquus pure cultures developed on PBWW, with and without supplementation, were able to develop. Higher biomass productivity (149.3 mg L-1 h(-1)) was obtained for the mixed culture using PBWW supplemented with 10 g L-1 of SCM and 2 g L-1 of urea. Therefore, a strategy to stimulate lipid production by R. toruloides and T. obliquus grown in mixed cultures with higher SCM concentrations (20, 40 and 100 g L-1 of SCM) was developed. The maximum lipid content (26.3 \% (w/w DCW)) was obtained for the mixed culture developed on PBWW, supplemented with 100 g L-1 of SCM plus 2 g L-1 of urea, at t = 121 h. This work demonstrated the feasibility of using PBWW supplemented with SCM and urea as culture medium to grow R. toruloides and T. obliquus and to produce microbial lipids.
The problems of poor electrocatalytic activity and CO tolerance and high Pt-loading of the Pt-based catalysts are still needed to be solved for direct methanol fuel cells. In this study, porous MoS2/nitrogendoped carbon (MoS2/CNX) as Pt supports/co-catalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) is successfully prepared by using waste bagasse as carbon source. Various material characterization techniques and electrochemical tests are performed to investigate the relationship between structural characteristics and MOR activity. The highly porous structure of CNX can provide abundant binding sites for growing well-dispersed MoS2 with coral-reef structure, which should facilitate the exposure of MoS2 edge to improve co-catalytic activity of MoS2/CNX. Pt/MoS2/CNX displays a higher mass activity (1030.2 mA mg(pt)(-1)) than those of Pt/MoS2/C (710.1 mA mg(pt)(-1)) and commercial Pt/C (405.4 mA mg(pt)(-1)), owing to that MoS2/CNX can afford abundant attachment sites to anchor Pt to enlarge the available electrochemically active area (111.2m(2)g(pt)(-1)) for MOR. With the introduction of porous CNX, more active sites on MoS2 edges are exposed out to dissociate water molecule for eliminating adsorbed CO-species on the active sites of Pt, which is conductive to enhance the durability and CO tolerance of Pt/MoS2/CNX. Furthermore, MoS2/CNX with high specific surface area (451.38 m(2) g(-1)) can offer sufficient oxygen-containing functional groups to facilitate the oxidation of intermediates (CO-species) on the active Pt sites, which can also promote the accessibility of methanol to the electroactive surface. These results provide a promising strategy for the design of highly active Pt support/co-catalyst to minimize Pt usage. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Noncentrifugal brown sugar (called panela in Colombia) is a natural sweetener obtained from the extraction, purification, and concentration of sugarcane juices. In this work, energy and productivity yield of a traditional furnace for panela production were evaluated, considering five performance indices. Experimental productions were developed in a pilot plant facility, analyzing furnace gas emissions of furnace and bagasse properties. Mass, energy, and exergy balances were performed. The following indices were obtained from the experimental runs: energy efficiency 12.726 +/- 1.091\%, exergy efficiency 9.013 +/- 0.710\%, energy losses through chimney 72.293 +/- 11.507\%, yield 0.144 +/- 0.021 kg(panela)/kg(bagasse), productivity 7.450 +/- 0.520 kg(panela)/h, and bagasse consumption 1.258 +/- 0.139 kg(bagasse) (consumed)/kg(bagasse) (produced). It was found that these outcomes were strongly influenced by excess air and gas circulation velocity through the furnace, which affects the combustion rate and heat transfer between the gases and the juices. Finally, it was concluded that the traditional scheme is inefficient and requires various critical operational adjustments, such as combustion chamber, chimney draft control, and heat exchangers design.
The application of low-cost adsorbents obtained from plant wastes as a replacement for costly conventional methods of removing heavy metal ions from wastewater has been reviewed. It is well known that cellulosic waste materials can be obtained and employed as cheap adsorbents and their performance to remove heavy metal ions can be affected upon chemical treatment. In general, chemically modified plant wastes exhibit higher adsorption capacities than unmodified forms. Numerous chemicals have been used for modifications which include mineral and organic acids, bases, oxidizing agent, organic compounds, etc. In this review, an extensive list of plant wastes as adsorbents including rice husks, spent grain, sawdust, sugarcane bagasse, fruit wastes, weeds and others has been compiled. Some of the treated adsorbents show good adsorption capacities for Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Four ethanologenic ethanol-tolerant yeast strains, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATKU132), Saccharomycodes ludwigii (ATKU47), and Issatchenkia orientalis (ATKU5-60 and ATKU5-70), were isolated by an enrichment technique in yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) medium supplemented with 10\% (v/v) ethanol at 30 degrees C. Among non-Saccharomyces yeasts, Sd. ludwigii ATKU47 exhibited the highest ethanol-tolerance and ethanol production, which was similar to S. cerevisiae ATKU132. The maximum range of ethanol concentrations produced at 37 degrees C by S. cerevisiae ATKU132 and Sd. ludwigii ATKU47 from an initial D-glucose concentration of 20\% (w/v) and 28\% (w/v) sugarcane molasses were 9.46-9.82\% (w/v) and 8.07-8.32\% (w/v), respectively.
The present work is aimed to evaluate the saccharification potential of a thermostable beta-xylosidase cloned from Bacillus licheniformis into Escherichia coli for production of bioethanol from plant biomass. Recombinant beta-xylosidase enzyme possesses the ability of bioconversion of plant biomass like wheat straw, rice straw and sugarcane bagass. By using this approach, plant biomass that mainly constitute cellulose can be converted to reducing sugars that could then be easily converted to bioethanol by simple fermentation process. The production of bioethanol will help to overcome energy requirements due to depleting fossil fuels and will also help to protect environment by reducing greenhouse gas emission. In the end, future directions are briefly mentioned that can be utilized to reduce the cost and increase the yield of biofuels.
Changes in organic C, total N, C:N ratio, activities of cellulase, xylanase and protease, and microbial population were determined during composting of different organic wastes such as mixture of sugarcane trash and cattle dung, press mud, poultry waste and water hyacinth biomass. There were losses of N in poultry waste and water hyacinth with the effect an initial increase in C:N ratio was observed which decreased later on due to decomposition. The activities of cellulase, xylanase and protease were maximum between 30 and 60 days of composting in various wastes. Similar trend was observed with respect to mesophilic bacterial and fungal population. Various quality parameters like C:N ratio, water soluble C (WSC), CO2, evolution and level of humic substances were compared after 90 day composting. There was statistically significant correlation between C:N ratio and CO, evolution, WSC and humic substances. Significant correlation between CO, evolved and level of humic substances was also observed. The study shows that no single parameter can be taken as an index of compost maturity. However, C:N ratio and CO, evolved from finished compost can be taken as the most reliable indices of compost maturity. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Several physicochemical properties of biowaste can limit its composting. The incorporation of bulking agents (BA) and amendment materials (AM) is the most frequently applied operational approach to overcome such substrate limitations. This work proposes a decision model to optimally select bulking agents and amendment materials by applying a multicriteria analysis. The main objective of this study was to present a methodology to rank the co-substrates needed to compost biowaste. To accomplish this aim, an integrated hierarchy-based model was used that accounted for technical and environmental criteria. In particular, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) were used to rank the potential co-substrates. The co-substrate ranking that was achieved with AHP and TOPSIS was then complemented by a cost analysis. The results of this study demonstrated the importance and the significant weight of the technical criteria, such as nutrients, porosity and biodegradability. The methodology was applied to a small town in Colombia that operates a biowaste composting facility. The results of the application of the tool in the above case study revealed that the most suitable materials for biowaste composting were sugarcane filter cake and star grass.
Plant growing substrates obtained by composting agro-industrial waste can serve as organic soil amendments. However, it is crucial to determine the maturity and quality of organic amendments before their application to soil. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of compost obtained from poultry wastes combined with five different vegetal residues (tree trimmings, sugarcane bagasse, sawdust, cotton residues, and Napier grass) as growth media for container-grown Giant of Italy parsley. Fourier-transform infrared and laser-induced fluorescence spectra were used to characterize the humification extent in composts before and after the addition of charcoal at five inclusion rates (0\%, 15\%, 30\%, 45\%, and 60\%, weight basis). Spectroscopic measurements identified absorption bands between 1625 and 1448 cm(-1) specific to each of the 25 organic amendments evaluated. The most suitable amendments (composts made from sawdust and sugarcane bagasse) were associated with O-H stretching of phenols and aromatic rings. Charcoal addition to composts changed some of their physical characteristics, leading to increased nutrient availability in some cases. Experimental and calculated dry matter yield were compared via multiple linear regression and simple non-linear regression as a function of the spectroscopic and physicochemical (N, P, K, pH, EC, C, H-LIF, C:N, CEC, HA:HA) properties of the organic amendments. Regression models accurately assigned high yields to the sawdust- and bagasse-based composts and low yields to the Napier grass- and cotton-based composts. Electrical conductivity (EC) was the main factor limiting potted-parsley productivity, an indication that efficient management of charcoal rate and compost EC levels can aid in predicting parsley yield.
India is developing at a faster rate in the current era. It needs usage of large amount fuel and electricity, which leads to increase the import of crude oil and huge greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Hence, air pollution in the metro cities is increased. To reduce these emissions, alternative fuel is to be used which emits less GHG emissions in the atmosphere. This review highlights the potential materials such as sweet Sorghum, Neem seed, Mahua seed, Sugarcane molasses, Jatropha etc. for producing biofuels. This article also discusses the promising blends and their effects on GHG emissions. This will helps India to sustainably develop its economy. (c) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Lignin present in the inner core of natural lignocellulosic fibers is preferably removed for use in the textile industry as it hinders fiber spinnability. This study focuses on integrating the bioprocessing of agro residues and a natural fiber source (coir) for the effective production of lignin-modifying enzymes while simultaneously softening the natural fibers. The lignin content in the raw fibers (42.17\%) could be reduced by 14-31\% by treating them with Phanerochaete chrysosporium for 30 days in the presence of agro waste, such as paddy straw, groundnut husk, corn husk, coir pith, sugarcane bagasse, saw dust and coconut leaf. Among the lignocellulosic wastes tested, P. chrysporium-fermented groundnut husk with coir produced the maximum yield of lignin-modifying enzymes (lignin peroxidase, 2.05 U mg(-1); manganese peroxidase, 7.50 U mg(-1); laccase, 0.43 U mL(-1)), while the tensile strength of the fiber was decreased by 9.9\% compared with the raw fiber (110.14 MPa) on 30 days of incubation. Similarly, SB dust demonstrated good lignin-modifying enzyme activity (lignin peroxidase, -1.57 U mg(-1); manganese peroxidase, 8.14 U mg(-1); and laccase, 0.35 U mg(-1)) as well as the tensile strength of the coir also being increased. A reduction in flexural rigidity owing to delignification was observed and hence a minimum 16\% increase in softness was achieved in the integrated process. Our study presents an efficient strategy that exploits low-cost agro residues for enzyme production and generates bio-softened coir of acceptable quality in the export and domestic markets. (c) 2023 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley \& Sons Ltd.
Bioremediation techniques utilizing sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) for acid mine drainage (AMD) treatment have attracted growing attention in recent years, yet substrate bioavailability for SRB is a key factor influencing treatment effectiveness and long-term stability. This study investigated the effects of external organic substrates, including four complex organic wastes (i.e., sugarcane bagasse, straw compost, shrimp shell (SS), and crab shell (CS)) and a small-molecule organic acid (i.e., propionate), on AMD removal performance and associated mi-crobial communities during the 30-day operation of sulfate-reducing microcosms. The results showed that the pH values increased in all five microcosms, while CS exhibited the highest neutralization ability and a maximum alkalinity generation of 1507 mg/L (as CaCO3). Sulfate reduction was more effective in SS and CS microcosms, with sulfate removal efficiencies of 95.6\% and 86.0\%, respectively. All sulfate-reducing microcosms could remove heavy metals to different degrees, with the highest removal rate of >99.0\% observed for aluminum. The removal efficiency of manganese, the most recalcitrant metal, was the highest (96\%) in the CS microcosm. Correspondingly, SRB was more abundant in the CS and SS microcosms as revealed by sequencing analysis, while Desulfotomaculum was the dominant SRB in the CS microcosm, accounting for 10.8\% of total effective bacterial sequences. Higher abundances of functional genes involved in fermentation and sulfur cycle were identified in CS and SS microcosms. This study suggests that complex organic wastes such as CS and SS could create and maintain preferable micro-environments for active growth and metabolism of functional microorganisms, thus offering a cost-efficient, stable, and environmental-friendly solution for AMD treatment and management.
This study presents a sequential three-steps methodology for the technical, economic and environmental assessment (TEEA) of bioethanol production from waste biomass. In EU the most abundant waste biomasses produced in 2018 could be ascribed to three main categories: lignocellulosic (329.41 Mt), starch (160 Mt) and sugar-based (58.56 Mt). The technical assessment compiled an inventory of the waste biomasses and subsequently designed their biological conversion into ethanol through integrated biorefinery processes by means of material flow analysis (MFA); the economic assessment was aimed at the definition of the cut-off size of the biorefinery plant necessary to achieve profitability; the environmental assessment was based on Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and energy balance (i.e. energy input consumption). For each of the three waste biomass categories, at least one that was significant as available amount and representative in terms of physico-chemical characteristics, was evaluated: sugarcane for sugar-based, potatoes for starch-based and rice straw, cattle manure and organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) for lignocellulosic biomasses. The technical assessment of the biorefinery routes lead to the following yields (kg of bioethanol per kg of biomass): 0.16, 0.17, 0.22, 0.19 and 0.14 respectively. The economic profitability was reached by all biorefineries and Net Present Value (MV) were: 0.85 for sugarcane, 0.11 for potatoes, 0.09 for rice straw, 0.11 for cattle manure and 0.39 for OFMSW. From the environmental perspective, cattle manure reached the highest reduction of climate change and acidification impacts compared to other biomasses, while sugarcane achieved the lowest energy input consumption (around 64\%). (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of in situ incubation time and particles size on the estimates of indigestible fractions of dry matter (iDM), neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), and acid detergent fiber (iADF) in cattle feeds and feces. Samples of corn grain, wheat bran, corn silage, elephant grass, sugarcane, signal grass hay, corn straw, and feces obtained from cattle fed high and low concentrate diets were used. The samples were ground through 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm screen sieve and put in 4 x 5 cm non-woven textile bags (20 mg DM/cm(2) of surface). The samples were divided in three groups, being each group incubated in the rumen of a crossbred heifer. The incubation procedure was conducted three times with the change of groups among animals. The following incubation times were used: 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, 192, 216, 240, and 312 hours. The contents of iDM, iNDF, and iADF were evaluated sequentially in each bag. The degradation profiles were interpreted by a non-linear logistic model. The particles size did not influence the estimates of iNDF and iADF. However, the particles size altered the rumen degradation dynamic rates of DM for corn silage and corn grain; of NDF for sugarcane, corn silage, and corn straw; and ADF for sugarcane. For those samples, the particle size has been positively associated with the incubation time necessary to estimate the indigestible fraction. Incubation times of 240 hours for DM and NDF, and 264 hours for ADF were suggested for obtaining more accurate estimates of indigestible fractions. The use of 2 mm particle size can increase the precision of estimates.
Considering its availability, renewable character and abundance in nature, this review assesses the opportunity of the application of biomass as a precursor for the production of carbon-based nanostructured materials (CNMs). CNMs are exceptionally shaped nanomaterials that possess distinctive properties, with far-reaching applicability in a number of areas, including the fabrication of sustainable and efficient energy harnessing, conversion and storage devices. This review describes CNM synthesis, properties and modification, focusing on reports using biomass as starting material. Since biomass comprises 60-90\% cellulose, the current review takes into account the properties of cellulose. Noting that highly crystalline cellulose poses a difficulty in dissolution, ionic liquids (ILs) are proposed as the solvent system to dissolve the cellulose-containing biomass in generating precursors for the synthesis of CNMs. Preliminary results with cellulose and sugarcane bagasse indicate that ILs can not only be used to make the biomass available in a liquefied form as required for the floating catalyst CVD technique but also to control the heteroatom content and composition in situ for the heteroatom doping of the materials.
In this work, a solid simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSSF) system with N-2 stripping was constructed for ethanol production, and the glucose inhibition to enzymatic saccharification of cellulose and the ethanol inhibition to anaerobic fermentation of yeast cells could be relieved. First, effects of flow rate of carrier gas and initial yeast concentration on mass transfer of ethanol and performance of SSSF were experimentally investigated. It is found that the peaks of total ethanol amount (6.32 g), cellulose consumption amount (13.29 g), ethanol yield (0.48 g/g substrate) and change rate of porosity of the packed bed (57.45 \%) were obtained at an initial yeast concentration of 2\% and a N-2 flow rate of 30 mL/min. The results reveal that mass transfer efficiency during SSSF could be improved at an appropriate N-2 flow rate and an optimal initial yeast concentration. Then, a novel kinetic model was established to simulate mass transfer of ethanol during SSSF. The data predicted by the model were in good accordance with the experimental results, which shows that the established model could reasonably reflect the characteristics of ethanol mass transfer in the packed bed. This work demonstrates that the produced ethanol could be effectively stripped out of the packed bed by convection of the sparged N-2, leading to improving performances of enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol fermentation.
The fast pyrolysis behaviour of pretreated banagrass was examined at four temperatures (between 400 and 600 C) and four residence times (between similar to 1.2 and 12 s). The pretreatment used water washing/leaching to reduce the inorganic content of the banagrass. Yields of bio-oil, permanent gases and char were determined at each reaction condition and compared to previously published results from untreated banagrass. Comparing the bio-oil yields from the untreated and pretreated banagrass shows that the yields were greater from the pretreated banagrass by 4 to 11 wt\%(absolute) at all reaction conditions. The effect of pretreatment (i.e. reducing the amount of ash, and alkali and alkali earth metals) on pyrolysis products is: 1) to increase the dry bio-oil yield, 2) to decrease the amount of undetected material, 3) to produce a slight increase in CO yield or no change, 4) to slightly decrease CO2 yield or no change, and 5) to produce a more stable bio-oil (less aging). Char yield and total gas yield were unaffected by feedstock pretreatment. Four other tropical biomass species were also pyrolyzed under one condition (450 degrees C and 1.4 s residence time) for comparison to the banagrass results. The samples include two hardwoods: leucaena and eucalyptus, and two grasses: sugarcane bagasse and energy-cane. A sample of pretreated energy-cane was also pyrolyzed. Of the materials tested, the best feedstocks for fast pyrolysis were sugarcane bagasse, pretreated energy cane and eucalyptus based on the yields of `dry bio-oil', CO and CO2. On the same basis, the least productive feedstocks are untreated banagrass followed by pretreated banagrass and leucaena.
In the current study, cellulose was extracted from sugarcane bagasse and further converted into carboxy methyl cellulose. The morphological, chemical, and structural characterization of synthesizeed carboxy methyl cellulose was performed. Further, the biopolymer was fabricated with mycogenic selenium nanoparticles and used to develop the biopolymer films. The developed biopolymer films were examined for the fruit shelf life stability, antifungal activity, and biodegradation potential. The results revealed that grapes wrapped with biofilms showed enhanced shelf life of fruit at all storage time intervals. The study also witnesses the antifungal activity of biopolymer films with a remarkable inhibitory action on the spores of Fusarium oxysporum and Sclerospora graminicola phytopathogens. Lastly, the biopolymer films were significantly degradable in the soil within two weeks of incubation. Thus, the developed biopolymer films exhibit multifaceted properties that can be used as an alternative to synthetic plastics for fruit packaging and also helps in protecting against fungal contaminants during storage with naturally degradable potential.
Ethanol produced from lignocellulosic biomass is a renewable alternative to diminishing petroleum based liquid fuels. The release of many new sugarcane varieties by the United States Department of Agriculture to be used as energy crops is a promising feedstock alternative. Energy cane produces large amounts of biomass that can be easily transported, and production does not compete with food supply and prices because energy cane can be grown on marginal land instead of land for food crops. The purpose of this study was to evaluate energy cane for lignocellulosic ethanol production. Energy cane variety L 79-1002 was pretreated with weak sulfuric acid to remove lignin. In this study, 1.4 M sulfuric acid pretreated type 11 energy cane had a higher ethanol yield after fermentation by Klebsiella oxytoca without enzymatic saccharification than 0.8 M and 1.6 M sulfuric acid pretreated type II energy cane. Pretreated biomass was inoculated with K. oxytoca for cellulose fermentation and Pichia stipitis for hemicellulose fermentation under simultaneous saccahrification and fermentation (SSF) and separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) conditions. For enzymatic saccharification of cellulose, the cellulase and beta-glucanase cocktail significantly increased ethanol production compared to the ethanol production of fermented acid pretreated energy cane without enzymatic saccharification. The results revealed that energy cane variety L 79-1002 produced maximum cellulosic ethanol under SHF (6995 mg/L) and produced 3624 mg/L ethanol from fermentation of hemicellulosic sugars. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The selection of a suitable agricultural residue, its availability and the cost are critical factors to be considered while selecting a raw material in solid-state fermentation (SSF). In the case of SSF parameters like temperature, moisture content and spore concentration also play a significant role in enzyme production. In this study, endophytic fungi were isolated and screened for their pullulanase activity. The most promising isolate identified as Aspergillus sp. was evaluated for the pullulanase production using agricultural residual substrates like wheat bran, rice bran, sugarcane bagasse, orange peel, mosambi peel, and banana peel. Among all the substrates tested by the classical approach, the wheat bran was found to be the most effective substrate. The highest yield was 65.33 +/- 2.08U/gds, while in case of rice bran the maximum yield was 44.66 +/- 1.527U/gds. The comparatively lower yield was obtained in sugarcane bagasse, orange peel, mosambi peel, and banana peel. Maximum Pullulanase activity (67.00 +/- 01.00 U/gds) was reached on 3rd day; thereafter the enzyme activity declined. Experiments conducted at the optimum physical conditions (temperature 28.62 degrees C; moisture 69.92\%; inoculum size 6.42 log) demonstrated that the pullulanase yield (396.2 +/- 1.33U/gds) was closer to the predicted value (394.5U/gds). There was an improvement of yield by 6.064 fold relative to that obtained from un-optimized physical parameters. The good correlation between predicted and experimental values after optimization justified the validity of the response model and the existence of an optimum point. This is the first report of pullulanase production from Aspergillus species in solid-state fermentation.
In this research study, a Micro-scale Combined Heat and Power (MCHP) plant with a stirling engine for biomass fuels was developed and optimized. The nominal electric power output of the plant is 100 Watt. Currently this plant has run using wood powder as fuel. With consideration of the biomass energy potential, a gamma type Stirling engine with 220cc swept volume and 580cc total volume was designed, optimized and manufactured. The performance is investigated with regard to the operating conditions, the heat fluxes, temperatures and the type of biomass. Electrical energy produced from biomass sources. The results shows that the highest efficiency of the system is reached for moderate speed values of stirling engine approximately 500-600 rpm. Sugarcane bagasse, wood, wheat straw, poplar wood and sawdust as fuel system were selected. Most power be obtained from the sawdust (46 watt) and pruning of trees for wood for low power (21 watts), respectively. Minimum ignition time of the Sawdust (4 min) and the most time flammable wood from pruned trees (10 min) was measured. At maximum power, the internal thermal efficiency of the engine was measured as 16\%. The test results confirm the fact that Stirling engines driven by temperature of biomass gases are able to achieve a valuable output power. Results of the present work encouraged initiating design of a MCHP system with 1 kWe capacity for rural electrification. So this operation can be considered as a breakthrough in the utilization of stirling engine for micro-scale CHP plants utilizing wood powder fuels. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.
A multistep approach was undertaken for biobutanol production targeting valorization of agricultural waste. Optimum production of lignocellulolytic enzymes {[
Water is a finite and scarce resource that has gained importance in the global economic scenario. The sugar-energy plants use water intensively for the development of their activities, which demands that their top management incorporate actions to reduce or eliminate the use of this resource. In Brazil, the annual production of sugarcane is over 650 million tons/year and, on average, 1.18 m(3) of water is consumed per ton of processed sugarcane. Given this, it is important to look for alternatives that allow the reduction of the volumes of water collection and use in Brazilian sugar-energy plants. The objective of this paper is to identify opportunities and challenges for using Cleaner Production (CP) to reduce water consumption in brazilian sugar-energy plants. To carry out this study, four case studies were conducted, whose data collection was based on semi-structured interviews with plant managers, document analysis and on-site visits. The case studies were analyzed individually, and then their cross-analysis were conducted in order to understand and present them in a transversal way to all the companies studied. Among the opportunities for improvement identified are the use of dry cleaning system for sugarcane cleaning, the classification and analysis of effluents, the analysis of the water consumption in the processes and the use of the system of concentration of vinasse. The main scientific contribution of this study is the systematization of CP interventions to reduce water consumption in sugar-energy plants, which expands the existing theory. The results of this work revealed that the opportunities and challenges presented may help companies to reduce considerably the volume of water used in their production systems, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment and the development of future generations. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Although a number of filamentous fungi, such as Trichoderma and Aspergillus, are well known as producers of cellulases, xylanases, and accessory cellulolytic enzymes, the search for new strains and new enzymes has become a priority with the increase in diversity of biomass sources. Moreover, according to the type of pretreatment applied, biomass of the same type may require different enzyme blends to be efficiently hydrolyzed. This study evaluated cellulases, xylanases, and beta-glucosidases produced by two fungi, the thermotolerant Acrophialophora nainiana and Ceratocystis paradoxa. Cells were grown in submerged culture on three carbon sources: lactose, wheat bran, or steam-pretreated sugarcane bagasse, a commonly used cattle feed in Brazil. Xylanase and endo-1-4-beta-glucanase (CMCase) highest production were found in A. nainiana growing on lactose and reached levels of 2,200 and 2,016 IU/L, respectively. C. paradoxa showed highest activity for xylanase when grown on wheat bran and for beta-glucosidase when grown on steam-treated bagasse, at levels of 12,728 and 1,068 IU/mL, respectively.
White-rot basidiomycetes such as Lentinus crinitus produce laccases with potential use in dye biodegradation. However, high productivity and enzymes with specific properties are required in order to make viable laccase production. We aimed to produce laccase from Lentinus crinitus grown in sugarcane bagasse for dye decolorization. Solid state cultivation medium had sugarcane bagasse added with a nutrient solution of 10 g/L glucose, 1 g/L KH2PO4, 0.5 g/L MgSO4, 0.001 g/L FeSO4, 0.01 g/L ZnSO4, and 0.01 g/L MnSO4. The addition of different nitrogen sources (peptone, urea, or peptone plus urea) and different nitrogen concentrations (0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 g/L) were evaluated. Enzymatic extract was used in the decolorization of azo dyes, reactive blue 220 (RB220) and reactive black 5 (RB5), and anthraquinone dye, Remazol brilliant blue R (RBBR). The greatest laccase activity (4800 U/g dry mass) occurred when the peptone and urea mixture was added to the solid state cultivation medium. When the nitrogen concentration was 1 g/L, the laccase activity increased to 6555 U/g dry mass. The laccase activity peak occurred on the 10th day, and the maximum decolorization within 24 h was observed with enzymatic extracts obtained on different cultivation days, i.e., 6th day for RB220, 10th day for RB5, and 9th day for RBBR. Manganese and lignin peroxidases were not produced when nitrogen was added to the cultivation medium. The crude enzymatic extract was more effective in the decolorization of azo dyes (RB220 and RB5), more than 90\% of decolorization, than anthraquinone dye with 77\% decolorization.
Over the past century, the world's population has increased greatly. The growth in the population has increased the global food demand, so the food sector has increased its production. As a result of the increased production and consumption, a huge amount of agro-food waste is being generated yearly. Rice husk, wheat straw, sugarcane bagasse, corn husk, peanut shell, eggshell, are just a few examples of agro-food wastes. As these agro-food wastes and their by-products are left unused and unattended, their amount is increasing globally. It is imperative to find ways to put these wastes to environmentally viable use. These wastes find direct uses in biofertilizers, mud houses, animal feed, biofuel, and heat generation in small-scale industries, etc. After heat generation, ashes are considered as a secondary by-product, which can be used as a sustainable and renewable resource for synthesizing value-added products for various applications. This article presents a review of the traditional and advanced methods of utilizing these wastes in household applications, animal feed, fertilizers, fuel generation, pyrolysis, and for the removal of toxic metals from polluted water. These secondary resources can also be used in construction materials and for the synthesis of glasses and glass-ceramics, which can be used in bioengineering, optical, and dielectric materials. Agro-food wastes can be used as resource materials to develop modern materials with better properties instead of using minerals. This not only reduces the environment- and management-related problem of the wastes but also provides a sustainable alternative way to produce cost-effective value-added materials for the benefit of society. (c) 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd
The present study describes the cloning, expression, purification and characterization of the xylosidase gene (1650 bp) from a thermophilic bacterium Clostridium clariflavum into E. coli BL21 (DE3) using the expression vector pET-21a(+) for utilization in biofuel production. The recombinant xylosidase enzyme was purified to homogeneity by heat treatment and immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography. SDS-PAGE determined that the molecular weight of purified xylosidase was 60 kDa. This purified recombinant xylosidase showed its maximum activity at a temperature of 37 degrees C and pH 6.0. The purified recombinant xylosidase enzyme remains stable up to 90 degrees C for 4 h and retained 54.6\% relative activity as compared to the control. The presence of metal ions such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ showed a positive impact on xylosidase enzyme activity whereas Cu2+ and Hg2+ inhibit its activity. Organic solvents did not considerably affect the stability of the purified xylosidase enzyme while DMSO and SDS cause the inhibition of enzyme activity. Pretreatment experiments were run in triplicate for 72 h at 30 degrees C using 10\% NaOH. Saccharification experiment was performed by using 1\% substrate (pretreated plant biomass) in citrate phosphate buffer of pH 6.5 loaded with 150 U mL(-1) of purified recombinant xylosidase enzyme along with ampicillin (10 mu g mL(-1)). Subsequent incubation was carried out at 50 degrees C and 100 rpm in a shaking incubator for 24 h. Saccharification potential of the recombinant xylosidase enzyme was calculated against both pretreated and untreated sugarcane bagasse and wheat straw as 9.63\% and 8.91\% respectively. All these characteristics of the recombinant thermotolerant xylosidase enzyme recommended it as a potential candidate for biofuel industry.
The decomposition and gas production pattern of eight unprocessed biomass feedstocks representing annual weeds, leaf litter, agro residues and market wastes were monitored in this laboratory study. Solid phase fermentation was effected with a weekly fed biomass bed sprinkled twice daily with recycled fermenter liquid to initiate and sustain biogas production from the decomposing biomass bed. Fermenters were fed from the top with gradually increasing feed rates to determine maximum feed rates sustainable. Feed rates of 1 g total solids (TS) l(-1)d(-1) was possible which lead to pseudo steady state gas production rates between 0.26-0.98 1 l(-1) d(-1) at specific gas yields of 0.18-0.44 1 g(-1) TS at 35-75\% volatile solids (VS) destruction. Feedstocks such as paper mulberry (Broussenetia), Parthenium, Synedrella and urban garbage lost > 50\% VS in 30 d while paddy straw, bagasse and sugarcane trash exhibited lower VS loss (greater than or equal to 35\%) in this period. During decomposition, bulky biomass feedstocks underwent compaction and obviated the need for a pretreatment step. Bulk densities rose manifold to reach between 150-350 g l(-1) within 20 d. A higher decomposition rate, process optimization and use of pre-compacted feedstocks have the potential to increase the feed rates (0.96-1.93 g TS l(-1)d(-1)), quantity of feedstock held in the reactor as well as gas production rates. The current gas production rates and space economy in these fermenters compare well with Indian cattle dung fermenters (0.3-0.5 l l(-1) d(-1)) and is attractive. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of four local energy sources (sorghum grain, green banana, polished rice, and sugarcane molasses) fed to dairy cows on intake, milk production and composition, and economic viability in a silvopastoral system in Costa Rica (Turrialba). Twelve grazing cows (Jersey x Central American Milking Creole), with a mean live weight of 332 kg (SD 34), were supplemented with 0.5 kg of dry matter (DM)/100 kg/LW of Erythrina porppigiana fresh foliage daily. Experimental design was a replicated change-over 4 x 4 Latin Square. The pasture composition was 11 and 17 \% of star grass (Cynodon niemfuensis), 32 and 28 \% of ruzzi grass (Brachiaria rusisiensis), and 45 and 42 \% of natural grasses (Axonopus compresus and Paspalum conjugatum) at initial and final times of the essay, respectively. The grass allowance was 30.14 DM/cow/day. Significant differences were found among treatments for variable milk fat content (P < 0.05). Sorghum presented the highest (41.2 g/kg milk) content of milk fat, followed by green banana (39.2 g/kg milk), polished rice (38.3 g/kg milk) and molasses (38.1 g/kg milk). Non-significant differences (P > 0.05) resulted for total milk production (sorghum 9.0 kg/cow/day; green banana 8.9 kg/cow/day; polished rice 8.8 kg/cow/day; molasses 8.6 kg/cow/day) and fat-corrected milk (FCM). The financial analysis showed that all treatments were economically viable; however, supplementation with green bananas and molasses were the most favorable due to the low costs incurred.
The present study reports a simple and inexpensive method for improving the textural properties and stability of gamma-alumina by adding crushed sugar cane bagasse to the synthesis gel (highly crystalline bayerite was used as an aluminum source). The influence of bagasse was evaluated by varying the biomass/bayerite ratio from 0.05 to 1 wt\%. The presence of bagasse increased both surface area and pore volume up to 2.5-fold and 1.5-fold respectively. In addition, mesopores with a mean diameter of 5 nm were observed, which were further increased to 6 nm using hydrolyzed biomass prior to the synthesis. HRTEM measurements highlighted that the presence of biomass raised the formation of pores by enclosure of (111) and (002) lattice planes. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Multiple factors are responsible for the properties of developed briquettes. The effect of the agricultural residue type in determining resulting properties of developed briquettes is seldom elucidated. Agricultural residue biochars from groundnut shells, sugarcane bagasse, coffee husks, and rice husks were used in developing carbonized briquettes using the low-cost compression method. In this study, a general factorial multi-level categorical experimental design method was used to investigate the effects and interactions of the carbonized agricultural type, binder type, and binder amount on physical properties and calorific values of developed briquettes. Statistically significant models (p < 0.05) were obtained for physical property responses of fixed carbon, ash content, volatile matter, and moisture content as well as calorific values for the developed briquettes. In experiments where only cassava starch binder (30 g and 50 g) was used, carbonized agricultural residues played a significant role in the resulting physical property. Increasing the cassava starch binder from 30 to 50 g had a minimal impact on the resulting briquette physical property. In experiments where cassava starch binder and wheat starch binder were used, it was clear that the physical property of the developed briquette was affected significantly by the carbonized agricultural residue used and binder type. Calorific values of groundnut shell and bagasse briquettes were observed to be significantly affected by the agricultural residue type. The highest calorific values of 23.9 MJ/kg and 23.3 MJ/kg were obtained for groundnut shell and bagasse biochar briquettes, respectively, when only 30 g of cassava starch binder was used. Changes in cassava and wheat starch binder amounts did not significantly affect heating values of developed groundnut shell and bagasse briquettes.
This paper presents the efficacy of zerovalent iron nanoparticles (ZVINs), magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MINs), zero-valent iron nanoparticles/sugarcane bagasse (ZVIN-SB) composite and magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles/sugarcane bagasse (MIN-SB) composite in immobilizing chromium present in tannery sludge. The optimized values for the immobilization of chromium by the adsorbents were found to be 48 h, 100 g/kg and 7, respectively, for time, adsorbent dosage and pH. The maximum uptake capacity was found to be 429.75, 539.25, 587.25 and 625.8 mg/kg, respectively, for ZVIN, MIN, ZVIN-SB and MIN-SB. The desorption study of the unamended sludge and sludge amended by ZVIN, MIN, ZVIN-SB and MIN-SB was carried out with three different desorbing media (0.1 N HCL, DIW and 0.1 N NaOH). It was found that the cumulative concentration of leachate chromium was more in basic condition than in neutral and acidic conditions. In column studies, the concentration of leachate chromium attained 0 mg/L at 24, 15, 18 and 14 pore volumes, respectively, for the sludge amended by ZVIN, MIN, ZVIN-SB and MIN-SB. The experimental adsorption data fitted well with pseudo-first-order kinetics. The zero-order kinetics accurately predicted the experimental desorption capacity (q(e)) of the sludge amended by ZVIN, MIN, ZVIN-SB and MIN-SB. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that the amine, carboxyl, iron compounds, etc. present in the adsorbents were the chief causes for the immobilization of chromium. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the sludge showed the presence of trivalent chromium compounds at a higher concentration.
A systematic study of bioconversion of lignocellulosic sugars to acetic acid by Moorella thermoacetica (strain ATCC 39073) was conducted. Four different water-soluble fractions (hydrolysates) obtained after steam pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass were selected and fermented to acetic acid in batch fermentations. M. thermoacetica can effectively ferment xylose and glucose in hydrolysates from wheat straw, forest residues, switchgrass, and sugarcane straw to acetic acid. Xylose and glucose were completely utilized, with xylose being consumed first. M. thermoacetica consumed up to 62 \% of arabinose, 49 \% galactose and 66 \% of mannose within 72 h of fermentation in the mixture of lignocellulosic sugars. The highest acetic acid yield was obtained from sugarcane straw hydrolysate, with 71 \% of theoretical yield based on total sugars (17 g/L acetic acid from 24 g/L total sugars). The lowest acetic acid yield was observed in forest residues hydrolysate, with 39 \% of theoretical yield based on total sugars (18 g/L acetic acid from 49 g/L total sugars). Process derived compounds from steam explosion pretreatment, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (0.4 g/L), furfural (0.1 g/L) and total phenolics (3 g/L), did not inhibit microbial growth and acetic acid production yield. This research identified two major factors that adversely affected acetic acid yield in all hydrolysates, especially in forest residues: (i) glucose to xylose ratio and (ii) incomplete consumption of arabinose, galactose and mannose. For efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic sugars to acetic acid, it is imperative to have an appropriate balance of sugars in a hydrolysate. Hence, the choice of lignocellulosic biomass and steam pretreatment design are fundamental steps for the industrial application of this process.
Hemicellulose-rich lignocellulosic biomass is an ideal source of carbohydrates to produce furfural commercially. Furfural is recognized as a versatile platform chemical with a bright future in many industries, which can be obtained from the hemicellulose fraction via acid hydrolysis followed by recovery and, lastly purification through a distillation system. This review provides a critical analysis of the recent progress of industrial furfural production from lignocellulosic biomass worldwide. Although old-fashioned process technologies are well established and adopted widely, many novel technologies have emerged to overcome several drawbacks that induce sustainability challenges as well as fully utilize other lignocellulosic components, including cellulose and lignin. Furfural forms the natural precursor for many furan-based derivatives that are vital in the biochemicals and biofuels manufacturing sector, with furfuryl alcohol being the most prominent downstream product. Corn cobs and sugarcane bagasse are the most commonly used raw materials by furfural manufacturing companies on a commercial scale. Furfural market analysis is also performed to study the ongoing economic trends. Technoeconomic analyses of furfural production are reviewed to provide insights and strategies on improving furfural production. These topics are reviewed, as well as the future technology development opportunities, including extraction techniques using supercritical fluid, the application of green solvent, and the use of heterogeneous acid catalyst to enhance furfural production.
The pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming of six agricultural biomass waste samples as well as the three main components of biomass was investigated in a two stage fixed bed reactor. Pyrolysis of the biomass took place in the first stage followed by catalytic steam reforming of the evolved pyrolysis gases in the second stage catalytic reactor. The waste biomass samples were, rice husk, coconut shell, sugarcane bagasse, palm kernel shell, cotton stalk and wheat straw and the biomass components were, cellulose, hemicellulose (xylan) and lignin. The catalyst used for steam reforming was a 10 wt.\% nickel-based alumina catalyst (NiAl2O3). In addition, the thermal decomposition characteristics of the biomass wastes and biomass components were also determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The TGA results showed distinct peaks for the individual biomass components, which were also evident in the biomass waste samples reflecting the existence of the main biomass components in the biomass wastes. The results for the two-stage pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming showed that introduction of steam and catalyst into the pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming process significantly increased gas yield and syngas production notably hydrogen. For instance, hydrogen composition increased from 6.62 to 25.35 mmol g(-1) by introducing steam and catalyst into the pyrolysis-catalytic steam reforming of palm kernel shell. Lignin produced the most hydrogen compared to cellulose and hemicellulose at 25.25 mmol g(-1). The highest residual char production was observed with lignin which produced about 45 wt.\% char, more than twice that of cellulose and hemicellulose. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Energy Institute.
For the purpose of agro-ecological regulation and safe and efficient utilization of cadmium-polluted farmlands, a 7-year micro-plot experiment was conducted to evaluate the Cd tolerance of several main cultivated plants in Southern China. The study revealed that cereals such as Oryza sativa and Zea mays had a strong physiological tolerance of Cd toxicity. Nevertheless, their products (grains) are easily polluted and hence lose their edible value. As a consequence, they are inappropriate to be planted in the polluted soils. Other plants such as Brassica napus, Arachis hypogaea and Saccharum officinarum also had a strong physiological tolerance to Cd pollution. Meanwhile, Cd stocks in their products were very small. When soil Cd content was less than 50 mg/kg, Cd concentrations in vegetable oils and cane juice were less than 0.05 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. This should have little effects on the edible quality. Therefore, these crops could be cultivated in some slightly Cd polluted farmlands, but the straw and dregs of oil crops, and sugarcane bagasse are not suitable to be used as manure or steel, food as a result of their high Cd contents and should be properly treated as pollutants. Fibre crops like Gossypium hirsutum, Hibiscus cannabinus, Boehmeria nivea and Morus alba are tolerant towards soil Cd pollution to different degrees. Basically, soil Cd pollution has no unfavourable effects on the products of fibre crops. Moreover, there was scarcely any Cd entering the human food chain through these crops. Therefore, these fibre crops would be a good replacement for those sensitive crops in the polluted region.
Simple Summary Grain diets provide a higher energy supply during the finishing phase, however, they can reduce rumen pH, leading to physiological stress in animals, affecting immune and metabolic systems and animal performance. To avoid this, an alternative is using fiber sources in low quantities. This study indicated that using fiber sources increases DMI and performance in whole shelled corn diets, and greater DMI increases haptoglobin blood concentration in low fiber diets. This study aimed to evaluate performance, to evaluate performance, carcass traits, feeding behavior, and humoral immune response in Nellore and Angus x Nellore steers fed whole shelled corn diets. Sixteen Nellore and 16 Angus x Nellore steers with 353 +/- 25.3 kg were randomly assigned into 2 feeding groups, whole shelled corn without forage (WSC) or whole shelled corn and sugarcane bagasse (WSCB). The data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Angus x Nellore steers had greater final BW, DMI, ADG, and subcutaneous fat thickness than Nellore. Moreover, Nellore steers had lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake but spent more time ruminating and had a greater rumination rate of NDF. Regarding the diets, steers fed the WSCB had greater DMI and spent more time chewing and ruminating. Nellore x Angus steers had a greater haptoglobin concentration. The concentration of D-Lactate tended to be greater in the Nellore steers regardless of diet. In conclusion, the use of sugarcane bagasse in WSC diets increases DMI and ADG without affecting feed efficiency or the carcass traits of the steers. Although Angus x Nellore steers have increased haptoglobin concentration, this effect was not enough to reduce the performance of these animals.
The organic matter existing in nature presents as a complex system of various substances. The humic fraction refers to the humic substances (HS) and consists of humic acids (HA), fulvic acids (FA), and humins, according to solubility in aqueous solution. The physical and chemical characteristics of HA, FA, and humins depend on many factors, among which is the type of original organic material. Two processes for the stabilization of organic materials are known worldwide: composting and vermicomposting. Cattle manure, rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, and vegetable wastes from leaves were the organic residues chosen for the composting and vermicomposting processes. In this study, the differences between the HS extracted from such composted and vermicomposted residues were evaluated. The so-extracted HS were evaluated by spectroscopy in the regions of infrared and ultraviolet-visible, and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection is applied. Thus, we expect that the results obtained here indicate which of the two processes is more efficient in the biotransformation of organic residues in a short period with respect to the HS content. It was also observed that the basic units of the humic fractions generated (although they presented different degrees of maturation) are the same. Altogether, the data reported here bring to light that the structures of the HS are very similar, differing in quantities. These results can still be extrapolated to several other raw materials, since the most variable organic matrices were used here to allow this data extrapolation. In addition, the process seems to lead to the formation of more aliphatic substances, counterpoising what is found in the literature.
The filamentous fungi Trichoderma reesei is one of the most well-studied cellulolytic microorganisms. It is the most important fungus for the industrial production of enzymes to biomass deconstruction being widely used in the biotechnology industry, mainly in the production of biofuels. Here, we performed an analytic review of the holocellulolytic system presented by T. reesei as well as the transcriptional and signaling mechanisms involved with holocellulase expression in this fungus. We also discuss new perspectives about control of secretion and cellulase expression based on RNA-seq and functional characterization data of T. reesei growth in different carbon sources, which comprise glucose, cellulose, sophorose, and sugarcane bagasse.
Development of cheap and high-efficiency electrode materials applied to capacitive deionization (CDI) technology is critically important for ensuring the safety of drinking water through capacitive removal of heavy metal ions. Here, we report ultrafine Fe3O4 nanoparticle (NP) functionalized porous graphitic carbon nanosheets (PGCNs) derived from sugarcane bagasse (Fe3O4/PGCNs) fabricated through a combined pyrolysis and incipient-wetness impregnation treatment approach. The as-proposed Fe3O4/PGCN has a large specific surface area of 1692.6 m(2) g(-1), a hierarchical porous structure and outstanding electroconductivity. Importantly, the functionalization of ultrafine Fe3O4 NPs (4-7 nm) on sugarcane bagasse derived PGCNs enables Fe3O4/PGCNs to have significantly enhanced electrosorption capacity, surface negative charge and wettability compared to PGCNs without modification, as a promising CDI electrode material for highly efficient decontamination of heavy metal ions from water. Here, Fe3O4/PGCNs as the cathode and amino-functionalized commercial activated carbon (A-AC) as the anode were used to construct a membrane-free hybrid capacitive deionization (HCDI) system displaying very high ion removal capacities (20.9 and 20.2 mg g(-1)), average removal rates (0.7 and 0.67 mg g(-1) min(-1)) and removal efficiency (>95\%) towards Pb2+ and Cd2+ with a concentration of 20 mg L-1 in water (pH = 5.5-6.5). The HCDI system made from Fe3O4/PGCN//A-AC also exhibits good regeneration performance, high recycling stability and strong ion removal capability towards a mixture of multiple heavy metal ions (Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Pb2+) with a removal efficiency of 90-97\%, indicating great application potential for drinking water purification.
Urea is a common non-protein supplement used in ruminant feed; however, excessive consumption may lead to poisoning by NH3. Although the slow release of urea into the rumen has shown to be an essential aspect for ruminant feed, to date only a few studies have addressed this matter. In this study we examined the influence of five different NH3-N slow release systems based on clay-urea nanocomposites on the fiber digestibility of low-quality forage (sugarcane straw) in vitro. Physical properties of nanocomposites were evaluated and their effects on digestibility were tested in vitro using pristine urea as a positive control (level of 1 \% of DM of sugarcane straw sample) and sugarcane (with no additives) as a negative control. Ammonia release and digestibility were evaluated at 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96-h. Generally, all nanocomposites increased (p < 0.05) digestibility of fiber over control under all the conditions stipulated, but the samples with hydrogel content were more expressive. We concluded that an ideal release rate and optimum environment for microbial synthesis are necessary to maximize the digestion of sugarcane.
Thermochemical assessment of the gasification of the biomass waste composed of sugarcane bagasse aiming for practical applications of an electric arc or radio frequency plasma reactors for the syngas production was carried out, considering different gasifying agents and their mixture (steam + air). The analysis of the calculations in the thermodynamic equilibrium shows that steam is the most efficient oxidant. In this case, the predicted optimum regime corresponds to the value of steam-biomass ratio of 0.4 at the temperature 1000 K (at ambient pressure), and for these conditions the maximum value of the energy efficiency is 0.91 and the value of the exergy efficiency is 0.84.
The mechanical properties polyester matrix composites reinforced with coir/SLS fibres were assessed in this paper. The mechanical properties like, tensile strength, flexural strength and impact strength were calculated. The fracture toughness of the composites are also studied. These fibres were employed into matrix resin in different weight percentage (25/75, 50/50, and 75/25) keeping total fiber weight percentage of 30\% constant by using simple hand lay-up technique. The test were carried out in accordance with ASTM standards. The evaluation of the results display that the mechanical properties are higher in the 50/50 (Coir/SLS) hybrid composite than other combinations. There are signs that by the integration of both fibers in the polyester resin matrix will improve mechanical properties than pure polyester resin. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Depletion of hydrocarbons is forcing to find alternative resources to meet the energy demand of the growing population. Microbial biodiesel as a fuel can act as a cheaper and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuel. Single-cell oil (SCO) consisting of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen grown over the lignocellulosic biomass using oleaginous microorganisms are triacylglycerols which can be converted to biodiesel, with physicochemical properties similar to conventional diesel. However, several cost-effective pretreatment methods are required to utilize lignocellulosic biomasses. The current research study investigates the SCO yield (and biodiesel characteristics) obtained from sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate through various pretreatment techniques. The pretreatment with 4\% v/v H2SO4 at 25 min of ultra-sonication provided the best depolymerisation results (based on the glucose concentration). Yarrowia lipolytica was inoculated into the hydrolysates, allowed to grow at 25 degrees C, pH of 6.5 and rapid mixing for six days yielded biomass of 16.39 g/l. Biodiesel was extracted from the biomass via in-situ and ex-situ transesterification. In-situ transesterification carried out with the catalyst K2CO3 yields 80\% biodiesel. In comparison, 63\% were achieved with ex-situ transesterification, where lipid extraction was carried out as a first step and transesterified further in the presence of catalyst KOH to obtain biodiesel. The obtained fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was subjected to FTIR analysis, and the observed physicochemical properties were within the international standards.
Adsorption efficiency of native, NaOH-treated and immobilized peanut husk and sugarcane bagasse for Sr(ll) removal was studied in batch mode. In view of promising adsorption efficiency of peanut husk versus sugarcane bagasse, the biosorption behaviour of the Sr(II) ions onto peanut husk (native and modified) was studied as a function of pH, biosorbent dose, contact time, initial metal ion concentration and temperature for the maximum removal of Sr(II) ions. Linear and non-linear pseudo-first and second-order kinetic models were applied and value of R-2 and six non-linear regression error functions, namely hybrid fractional error function (HYBRID), Marquardt's percent standard deviation (MPSD), average relative error (ARE), the sum of the errors squared (ERRSQ/SSE), the sum of the absolute errors (EABS) and Chi-square test (chi(2)) were used to predict the most optimum kinetic model. Sorbent-sorbate reaction nature was estimated by fitting equilibrium data by non-linear and transformed linear forms of the Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich-Peterson isotherms and most optimum isothermal model was optimized by comparing linear and non-linear R-2 value and non-linear regression error functions. HCl proved most successful eluating agents for sorbed Sr(II) ions. Biosorption characteristics and effectiveness of the process was also confirmed by Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). In view of promising efficiency of peanut husk as an adsorbent, it could possibly be used for the removal of Sr(ll) ions from aqueous medium and is also extendable to other radionuclide. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Thermogravimetry has been widely used for the characterization of several biomasses but the most useful information given by this technique has been normally concerned to the relative amounts of humidity, hemi-cellulose, cellulose and lignin present in the biomass. TG-FTIR has been used to yield qualitative data about the pyrolysis products, in an exploratory way, by some authors. In the present paper, this technique was employed to reach comparative data about the products of pyrolysis of biomasses that are potentially available at economic bases for the production of biofuels. Agricultural residues such as coconut shell, sugarcane bagasse, corn stalks and peanut shell were chosen to be investigated. For all samples, the thermogravimetric curves showed a mass loss between 35 and 400 A degrees C changed up to 73\%, while that the loss between 400 and 800 A degrees C changed up to 26\%. TG-FTIR indicated tendencies in the rate of the formation of important species during the pyrolysis process of the four biomasses studied. The interpretation of the spectra allowed the proposition of characteristic absorbance ratios and the comparison of these values allowed inferences about the relative abundances of components formed in the pyrolysis of the biomasses. As an example of the possible inferences reached, among the species formed in the pyrolysis condensate, called bio-oil, the formation of carboxylic acids has to be specially considered due to their corrosivity. Thus, the data produced indicated that a bio-oil derived from peanut shell should be a little less acidic while the one derived from sugarcane bagasse should be showed more acidic among the biomasses studied.
Aiming to scale up and apply control and optimization strategies, currently is required the development of accurate plant models to forecast the process nonlinear dynamics. In this work, a mathematical model to predict the growth of the Kluyveromyces marxianus and temperature profile in a fixed-bed bioreactor for solid-state fermentation using sugarcane bagasse as substrate was built up. A parameter estimation technique was performed to fit the mathematical model to the experimental data. The estimated parameters and the model fitness were evaluated with statistical analyses. The results have shown the estimated parameters significance, with 95 \% confidence intervals, and the good quality of process model to reproduce the experimental data.
The aim of the present work was to select filamentous fungi isolated from diverse substrates to obtain the strains with potential to produce the hydrolytic enzymes. From a total of 215 strains, seven strains from the soils, six from the plants and one from sugarcane bagasse were selected and identified as belonging to the Trichoderma, Penicillium and Aspergillus genera. The best hydrolytic activities obtained by semi-solid fermentation using these strains were approximately: 35; 1; 160; 170 and 120 U/gdm (CMCase, FPase, beta-glucosidase, xylanase and polygalacturonase, respectively), demonstrating their potential to synthesize the enzymes compared with the results reported in the literature.
A bacterial strain capable of degrading carbofuran as the sole carbon source was isolated from carbofuran-phytoremediated rhizosphere soil of rice. A 16S rRNA study identified the strain as Burkholderia sp. (isolate PCL3). Free cells of isolate PCL3 possessed inhibitory-type degradation kinetics with a q(max) of 0.087 day(-1) and S-m of 248.76 mg.L-1. Immobilised PCL3 on corncob and sugarcane bagasse possessed Monod-type degradation kinetics with a qmax of 0.124 and 0.098 day(-1), respectively. The optimal pH and temperature with the highest degradation rate coefficient of carbofuran were pH 7.5 and 35 degrees C, respectively.
Pesticide contamination causes precarious implications on human health and environment. Thus the investigation of its sorption phenomenon is highly imperative. Endosulfan insecticide was examined for its adsorption behavior on ten assorted soils through batch equilibrium method. Adsorption coefficient values (K-d) ranged from 1.4 g/mL to 18 g/mL. The highest K-d value was obtained for Peshawar soil owing to the presence of highest amount of organic matter (1.4\%). Negative values of Gibbs free energy displayed a low interaction between soil and pesticide, exhibiting that the reaction was physiosorption and exothermic in nature. Statistical analysis showed a negative correlation of soil pH and K-d (R-2=-0.77 and p=0.03) and a positive correlation with organic matter (R-2=0.96). Activated carbon prepared from Saccharum officinarum bagasse removed significant amount pesticide. The maximum removal observed was 93\% and 97\% in 5x10(-6) and 7.5x10(-6), respectively. Activated carbon prepared from biomass for removal purposes was proved to be highly efficient and cost effective.
Ethyl levulinate is a diesel additive that has received special attention recently due to its potential for production in large quantities from inexpensive feedstocks. Several processes have been developed for the conversion of biomass into levulinic acid and ethyl levulinate, and an economic analysis of these routes would indicate the main hindering factors of their commercialization. This Review focuses on filling this gap in current knowledge by gathering data from scientific papers and patents to create a simulation to analyze processes by focusing on the production of ethyl levulinate in nine countries or regions across the globe. The key indicator to analyze the economic feasibility of ethyl levulinate production is a comparison of its minimum selling price to the local wholesale price of diesel on an energy basis. Processes simulated in Brazil, China, and India presented promising results with feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse and rice residues. Also, the integration of ethyl levulinate production into existing ethanol plants is a factor that may improve process economics. Overall, this Review specifies key factors in economic and environmental performances of the processes to indicate research topics that could achieve high impact on industrial-scale processes once matured.
Although lignocellulose is the most abundant and renewable natural resource for biofuel production, its use remains under exploration because of its highly recalcitrant structure. Its deconstruction into sugar monomers is mainly driven by carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). To develop highly efficient and fast strategies to discover biomass-degrading enzymes for biorefinery applications, an enrichment process combined with integrative omics approaches was used to identify new CAZymes. The lignocellulolytic-enriched mangrove microbial community (LignoManG) established on sugarcane bagasse (SB) was enriched with lignocellulolytic bacteria and fungi such as Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota. These microbial communities were able to degrade up to 55 \% of the total SB, indicating the production of lignocellulolytic enzymes. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the LignoManG harbors 18.042 CAZyme sequences such as of cellulases, hemicellulases, carbohydrate esterases, and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase. Similarly, our metaproteomic analysis depicted several enzymes from distinct families of different CAZy families. Based on the LignoManG data, a xylanase (coldXynZ) was selected, amplified, cloned, expressed, and biochemically characterized. The enzyme displayed psicrofilic properties, with the highest activity at 15 degrees C, retaining 77 \% of its activity when incubated at 0 degrees C. Moreover, molecular modeling in silico indicated that coldXynZ is composed of a TIM barrel, which is a typical folding found in the GH10 family, and displayed similar structural features related to cold-adapted enzymes. Collectively, the data generated in this study represent a valuable resource for lignocellulolytic enzymes with potential biotechnological applications.
Lignin layers surrounding hemicelluloses and cellulose in the plant cell walls protect them from deconstruction. This recalcitrance to sugar release is a major limitation for cost-effective industrial conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels. Many literatures had reported the contribution of lignin removal to cellulose accessibility to enzyme, but less to the hemicellulose hydrolysis. Herein, beech xylan with lignin addition, partly delignified sugarcane bagasse (SB), energy sorghum hybrids (ESH) were treated in liquid hot water (LHW) to investigate the effect of lignin on hemicellulose decomposition. The addition of lignin can enhance the low degree of polymerization of xylooligomers production resulted from the acid catalyzed cleavage of lignin-derived acidic products. However, a negative correlation was observed initially between the lignin level and the total xylose yield from ESH. Furthermore, samples with lignin addition or high lignin content had a great resistant to harsh reaction environment, about 93.5\% total xylose lost but only 52.3\% released due to the lack of lignin protection for the sample with 100\% lignin removal. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic-based ethanol is a viable alternative to corn-based ethanol. However, the use of such feedstock is more complex than the use of sugar or starch due to the necessity for a pretreatment stage. Here we tested three pretreatment processes of oat straw: (1) submerged ozonation in water, (2) low temperature (40 degrees C) diluted sulphuric acid (DSA) and (3) room temperature diluted sulphuric acid/ozone mixture (SOM). A unique water/ozone reactor was designed and constructed to demonstrate the pretreatment processes. Results showed best lignin removal by the submerged ozonation pretreatment and consequently the highest sugar and ethanol yields. Despite the non-conventional low temperature, DSA pretreatment results had showed slight lower yields then ozonation, with degradation of hemicellulose to xylose, while SOM pretreatment showed the poorest results. DSA pretreatment would probably show industrial feasibility when pentoses fermenting abilities will be added. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The spouted-bed reactor represents an interesting alternative to pyrolysis as compared with conventional fluid beds due to its better performance in handling coarse and irregular materials, requiring lower fluidizing flow rates and providing intense thermal contact. The fluid dynamics of a mixture of sand and sugarcane bagasse in a spouted bed was investigated. Since this process involves a mixture of solids of different sizes, shapes, and densities, particle segregation was also analyzed. The results provided significant insights about the segregation phenomenon which may cause severe operating problems during pyrolysis. Various mixture compositions were identified in which the particles exhibited good circulation in the bed.
In this research, multiexpression programming (MEP) has been employed to model the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength of waste sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) concrete. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to fine-tune the hyperparameter of the proposed MEP. The formulation of SCBA concrete was correlated with five input parameters. To train and test the proposed model, a large number of data were collected from the published literature. Afterward, waste SCBA was collected, processed, and characterized for partial replacement of cement in concrete. Concrete specimens with varying proportion of SCBA were prepared in the laboratory, and results were used for model validation. The performance of the developed models was then evaluated by statistical criteria and error assessment tests. The result shows that the performance of MEP with PSO algorithm significantly enhanced its accuracy. The essential input variables affecting the output were revealed, and the parametric analysis confirms that the models are accurate and have captured the essential properties of SCBA. Finally, the cross validation ensured the generalized capacity and robustness of the models. Hence, the adopted approach, i.e., MEP-based modeling with PSO, could be an effective tool for accurate modeling of the concrete properties, thus directly contributing to the construction sector by consuming waste and protecting the environment.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the intake, total and partial dry matter (DM) digestibility and the nutrients and ruminal parameters of steer fed diet based on cottonseed processing residue (CSPR) supplemented with sugarcane dried yeast. Six steers, with rumen and duodenal cannulae were fed diets consisting of 80\% CSPR and 20\% concentrate, consisting of corn, urea and yeast at levels of 0, 20 or 40\%. A randomized block design was used to analyze intake and digestibility and the ruminal parameters were analyzed in split plots. The DM, OM, EE, NDF and ADF intake and digestibility were not influenced by yeast supplementation, possibly because of the high value of the C fraction of the CSPR (44.51\% DM) and the low protein fraction of slow degradation of yeast that prevented synchronization energy/nitrogen for greater residue degradation. The ruminal liquid pH decreased linearly in the animals kept on yeast supplemented diets. In all treatments the pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration were adequate for microbial growth. The ruminal concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, total fatty acid and the acetate: propionate ratio values were not influenced by yeast supplementation. Cottonseed processing residue can be used as ruminant feedstuff.
Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of stillage from a cellulosic ethanol process that uses sugarcane bagasse as feedstock was investigated. A biochemical methane potential (BMP) of 200 ml CH4 at STP (g VS)(-1) was obtained. The whole stillage was separated into two fractions: a fraction retained on 0.5 mm screen called residue and a fraction passing through 0.5 mm screen called filtrate. About 70\% of total methane yield of stillage was produced from the filtrate. The filtrate was anaerobically digested in a 15 L semi-continuously fed digester operated for 91 days at HRTs of 21 and 14 days and organic loading rate (OLR) of 1.85 and 2.39 g COD L-1 d(-1). The methane yield from the stillage from the digester was about 90\% of the yield from the BMP assays. The influent soluble COD (sCOD) was reduced from between 35.4 and 38.8 g COD (L-1) to between 7.5 and 8 g COD (L-1). (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, repetitive production of succinic acid from lignocellulose hydrolysates by enhancement of ATP supply in metabolically engineered E. coli is reported. Escherichia calf BA305, a pflB, IdhA, ppc, and ptsG deletion strain overexpressing ATP-forming phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxykinase (PEPCK), produced a final succinic acid concentration of 83 g L-1 with a high yield of 0.87 g g(-1) total sugar in 36 h of three repetitive fermentations of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate. Furthermore, simultaneous consumption of glucose and xylose was achieved, and the specific productivity and yield of succinic acid were almost maintained constant during the repetitive fermentations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of feed additives {[
The potential of four regional microalgae species was evaluated in relation to their cell growth and biomass production when cultured in the following alternative media: bio-composts of fruit/horticultural wastes (HB), sugarcane waste and vinasse (VB) chicken excrements (BCE), raw chicken manure (RCM), and municipal domestic sewage (MDS). The cultures were maintained under controlled conditions and their growth responses, productivities, biochemical compositions, and the ester profiles of their biomasses were compared to the results obtained in the synthetic media. The MDS and HB media demonstrated promising results for cultivation, especially of Chlorella sp., Chlamydomonas sp., and Lagerheimia longiseta, which demonstrated productivities superior to those seen when grown on the control media. The highest lipid levels were obtained with the HB medium. The data obtained demonstrated the viability of cultivating microalgae and producing biomass in alternative media prepared from MDS and HB effluents to produce biodiesel. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, salt-induced phase separation was integrated with n-propanol-based pretreatment for clean fractionation of sugar cane bagasse. First, biomass solid residue and pretreatment hydrolysate were separated by filtration following pretreatment. Lignins with high molecular weights (HMWs) were separated through precipitation and filtration after diluting hydrolysate with water. The filtrate was added with (NH4)(2)SO4 at a saturated concentration, which induced the formation of a biphasic solution: the top layer was n-propanol phase containing sugar degradation products and lignins with low molecular weights (LMWs); the bottom layer was aqueous phase, rich in salt and soluble sugars. The solvent phase was directly reused for pretreatment, while the aqueous phase was distilled to recycle both salt and water. Direct recycling solvent phase for pretreatment four times only led to a slight decrease in glucan digestibility from 100\% (fresh solvent) to 96\%. Direct reuse of solvent phase also led to a significant increase in furfural concentration from 2.4 g/kg to 15.1 g/kg, while recycling water and salt in aqueous phase by distillation led to a substantial increase in xylose concentration from 3.2 g/kg to 13.5 g/kg after five batches of pretreatments. In addition, the total yield of HMW lignins increased gradually from 38\% to 49\%.
Activated carbons (ACs) were prepared from various agricultural wastes, namely, lapsi seed stones, beleric seeds, peach stones, walnut shells, bamboo, and sugarcane bagasse by pyrolysis with chemical activation by phosphoric acid. As-synthesized ACs were characterized by iodine number, methylene blue number, surface area, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The highest carbon yield was recorded for the AC derived from peach stones. The highest surface areas were achieved in ACs prepared from peach stones and walnut shells. All the ACs have an external surface covered with regular pores of different shapes and sizes, an amorphous nature, and similar oxygen-containing surface functional groups.
The toxicity of nitrogen in the shrimp culture water has been well established. In this study, SA beads composed of Vibrio alginolyticus VZ5, sodium alginate (SA) and sugarcane bagasse were used for ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO2-N) removal. A 50-day cultivation experiment was carried out in aquaria to evaluate the activity of the SA beads in shrimp culture. The results indicate that SA beads have a maximum capacity of 1.06 x 10(8) colony-forming units (cfu)/bead. However, the optimal initial density of the bacteria embedded in the SA beads is 10(4)-10(5) cfu/bead. The maximum NO2-N degradation rate achieved for the SA beads was 8.44 mg/L/day, and the average NO2-N degradation per bead was 0.06 mg. The addition of a carbon source accelerated the degradation of NH4-N and NO2-N by the SA beads. The NH4-N and NO2-N concentrations after treatment with SA beads were below 1.55 and 1.62 mg/L, respectively, at later time points, and these concentrations were significantly lower than in the group without any treatment (P < 0.05, df = 17). There were no significant differences in the NH4-N and NO2-N concentrations following treatments with SA beads and water exchange (P > 0.05, df = 29), and the yield resulting from water treatment with SA beads reached approximately 70 \% of the yield with water exchange treatment. Moreover, the particulate organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon concentrations in the water were enhanced by the addition of SA beads. At later time points, some of the SA beads had broken down, and the sugarcane bagasse from the SA beads may have served as a carbon source for forming bioflocs. The new approach proved effective for NH4-N and NO2-N removal in shrimp culture.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are appealing as an important alternative to replace synthetic plastics owing to its comparable physicochemical properties to that of synthetic plastics, and biodegradable and biocompatible nature. This review gives an inclusive overview of the current research activities dealing with PHA production by utilizing different waste fluxes generated from food, milk and sugar processing industries. Valorization of these waste fluxes makes the process cost effective and practically applicable. Recent advances in the approaches adopted for waste treatment, fermentation strategies, and genetic engineering can give insights to the researchers for future direction of waste to bioplastics production. Lastly, synthesis and application of PHA-nanocomposites, research and development challenges, future perspectives for sustainable and cost-effective PHB production are also discussed. In addition, the review addresses the useful information about the opportunities and confines associated with the sustainable PHA production using different waste streams and their evaluation for commercial implementation within a biorefinery.
The construction sector, in modern times, is faced by a myriad of challenges primarily due to the increase in the urban population and dwindling natural resources that facilitate the production of construction materials. Furthermore, higher awareness on climate change is forcing companies to rethink their strategies in developing more sustainable construction materials. Diverse types of agro-waste ranging from rice husk ash (RHA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA), and bamboo leaves ash (BLA) among others have been identified as potent solutions in the development of sustainable construction materials. In this review paper, six different construction materials, made using agro-waste products, are examined. The materials include brick/masonry elements, green concrete, insulation materials for buildings, reinforcement materials for buildings, particleboards, and bio-based plastics. The main criterion adopted in selecting the materials regards their popularity and wide-scale use in modern construction applications. Additionally, as this research emphasizes identifying alternative approaches to develop sustainable construction materials, the focus is directed toward mainstream materials whose continued use has an adverse impact on the environment. The findings obtained from the review showed that the use of agro-waste to develop sustainable construction materials was effective, as the developed materials adhered to established building standards. Therefore, this indicates that agro-waste materials have the potential to replace conventional construction materials and hence achieve economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the long run.
The application of pyrolyzed organic carbon (C) to soils has been assessed worldwide to play a vital role in improving the physical-chemical characteristics of the soil. However, the effects of co-use of biochar and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil biological process in an arid region are not well understood. For this, a 2-year field experiment was conducted in an arid region to assess the co-use of biochar and nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity in the rhizosphere of the wheat crop. Sugarcane bagasse was used as biochar feedstock and applied with three levels of biochar (0, 0.5, and 1\% C ha(-1)) on carbon equivalent basis in the presence and absence of N fertilization (46kgNha(-1)). Biochar was incorporated in the soil before sowing of wheat, and the soil samples were taken from each treatment at crop maturity. Findings of the study indicated that biochar amendments enhance the soil organic carbon, DOC, inorganic N, and soil moisture contents, while reducing the bulk density and salinity of soil in both wheat growing season. Microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen increased by 18\% and 63\% with biochar amended at 1\% C ha(-1) with nitrogenous fertilizer and the same trend was observed in the following year. Urease anddehydrogenase activities also significantly increased with biochar applied at 1\% C ha(-1) with N fertilization illustrating 15\% and 19\%, respectively. During the second year of wheat trial, the enzymatic activity also boosted up as the first year. The results revealed that sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar addition can be utilized in improving the soil health, nutrient status, and soil biological functions in the calcareous soil of the arid region.
Industrial effluents differ in their organic composition thereby providing different carbon sources to the microbial communities involved in its treatment. This study aimed to investigate the correlation of microbial community structure with wastewater composition and reactor's performance. Self-immobilized granules were developed in simulated wastewater based on different carbon sources (glucose, sugarcane molasses, and milk) in three hybrid anaerobic reactors operated at 37 degrees C. To study archaeal community structure, a polyphasic approach was used with both qualitative and quantitative analysis. While PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of 16S rRNA gene did not reveal major shifts in diversity of archaea with change in substrate, quantification of different groups of methanogens and total bacteria by real-time PCR showed variations in relative abundances with the dominance of Methanosaetaceae and Methanobacteriales. These data were supported by differences in the ratio of total counts of archaea and bacteria analyzed by catalyzed reporter deposition - fluorescence in situ hybridization. During hydraulic and organic shocks, the molasses-based reactor showed the best performance followed by the milk- and the glucose-based reactor. The study indicates that carbon source shapes the microbial community structure more in terms of relative abundance with distinct metabolic capacities rather than its diversity itself. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Co-digestion of residual sludge (RS) and different lignocellulosic wastes (LWs) including greening waste (GW), decocted Chinese herbs waste (DCHW) and sugarcane bagasse waste (SCBW) was investigated in batch digester. Results show that the application of GW presented the highest specific methane yield (161 mL CH4/g VSadded) due to its high carbohydrate fraction and more balanced C/N ratio in co-substrate mixture. Buswell equation was applied and it is found that biodegradability index (BI) for co-digestion varied from 68.1\% to 74.2\% (53.0\% for RS mono-digestion) depending on the lignin fractions of the LWs. Variation of pH, VFAs, alkalinity and ammonia throughout the digestion were also examined. The addition of LWs induced VFAs formation, as well as their conversion to methane. The higher microbial diversity in RS/LWs co-digestion further confirmed the positive effect of LWs addition in co-digestion.
In this work, we have deposited the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coating on the tungsten carbide (WC) tool insert using the thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method. For the growth of DLC coating, sugarcane bagasse was used as a carbon precursor. Raman spectroscopy, a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to confirm the presence of DLC coating on the tungsten carbide tool inserts. The hardness tests were also performed for inspecting the microhardness induced by the self-developed DLC coating on the tungsten carbide (WC) tool insert. To determine the optimum process parameters for the turning operation on an aluminum (6061) workpiece using a self-developed DLC-coated tungsten carbide (WC) tool insert, we have applied the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) methods. The process parameters considered for the optimization were feed rate, cutting speed, and depth of cut. Whereas chosen response variables were flank wear, temperature in the cutting zone, and surface roughness. TOPSIS is utilized to analyze the effects of selected input parameters on the selected output parameters. This study in this paper revealed that it was advantageous to develop the DLC coating on the tungsten carbide tool inserts for the machining applications. The results also revealed that a 0.635 mm depth of cut, feed rate of 0.2 mm/rev, and cutting speed of 480 m/min were the optimum combination of process parameters.
The growing bioeconomy sector aims to reduce the amount of waste generated and to promote the unavoidable waste generated as a resource and achieve higher levels of recycling and safe disposal. Post-harvest losses contribute to a substantial proportion of the loss that the agricultural biomass undergoes in India. It is therefore important to make an assessment of this loss and assign a certain cost to it. In this study, we have carried out an assessment of the residues that are generated in the field or on the farm at the time of harvest (for example wheat and rice straw), wastes generated as a result of post-harvest losses. In addition, the by-products from the processing of agricultural produce (for example sugarcane bagasse produced during the production of sugar from sugar cane, or cereal husks produced during milling) are also considered. Finally, certain aspects of the environmental impact and sustainability of the utilization of agricultural residues and by-products are addressed. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
A fungal biofilm of Scedosporium dehoogii was successfully elaborated and used as a bio anode in a microbial fuel cell device. The cathode was a carbon felt electrochemically modified by electrodeposition of a film of poly-Ni(II) tetrasulphonated phthalocyanine (poly-NiTSPc). The elaborated biofilm, formed by electrodeposition of a suspension of Scedosporium dehoogii worked to catalyze acetaminophen (APAP) oxidation in the anode. The optimal potential during the electrodeposition process was found to be 0.8 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE) with a thickness of 3.5 +/- 0.2 mu m. The fabricated fungal microbial fuel cell (FMFC) proved to be an efficient fuel in acetaminophen with highly stable output performances offering a power density of 50 mW m(-2) under an electromotive force of +550 mV in physiological conditions. The biodegradation of PAP, the main APAP by-product from bacterial biodegradation, was also studied and the optimal resistance from the usual polarization curves was 3.000 Ohm. Finally, the biodegradation of ligno-cellulosic materials such as bagasse, rapeseed, cellulose and lignin by Scedosporium dehoogii was successfully tested in Petri dishes. The growth of the fungus using these biomaterials as substrates followed the order: bagasse > rapeseed > cellulose > lignin. The FMFC was tested in the presence of natural lignin from sugarcane bagasse and complete degradation of the lignin by S. dehoogii biofilm was achieved with a power density of 16 mW m(-2).
Worldwide energy costs have grown in recent years due to the dwindling global fossil fuel resources and the increased reliance on them for global energy production. This is a common scenario in many nations, including Sri Lanka. As a developing country, Sri Lanka should encourage the diversification of its renewable energy supplies using locally available resources. In this regard, Sri Lanka can promote the use of agricultural residues for energy generation. The present work explores the energy potential of the solid waste generated by the rice industry: rice straw (RS) and rice husk (RH). A new approach was developed using statistical data on rice production and paddy cultivation in each district of the island. The obtained data were integrated into a geographic information system (GIS) to provide geo-referenced results. A physico-chemical characterization of the RS and RH was conducted to correlate the properties of raw materials to their potential energy generation. As an energy generation technology, the grate-fired combustion boiler accompanied by steam turbine cycle (GFC/ST) was selected. Our findings show that the total energy capacity using by-products of the rice industry is estimated to be 2129.24 ktoe/year of primary energy, with a capacity of 977 Mwe, producing 5.65 TWh of electricity annually. An economic analysis shows ten districts have a high profit index (PI > 1). The districts with the highest PI values are Anuradhapura, Ampara, Polonnaruwa, and Kurunegala, with annual energy potentials of 286 ktoe, 279 ktoe, 231 ktoe, and 160 ktoe, respectively. This work aims to aid future policy decisions by identifying potential districts in which to develop infrastructure for energy generation using agricultural waste, thus reducing net greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) of Sri Lanka.
This paper proposes a Fuzzy Goal Programming model (FGP) for a real aggregate production-planning problem. To do so, an application was made in a Brazilian Sugar and Ethanol Milling Company. The FGP Model depicts the comprehensive production process of sugar, ethanol, molasses and derivatives, and considers the uncertainties involved in ethanol and sugar production. Decision-makings, related to the agricultural and logistics phases, were considered on a weekly-basis planning horizon to include the whole harvesting season and the periods between harvests. The research has provided interesting results about decisions in the agricultural stages of cutting, loading and transportation to sugarcane suppliers and, especially, in milling decisions, whose choice of production process includes storage and logistics distribution. (C)2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are three-level group of biodegradable polymers and attractive substitutes over conventional plastics to avoid the pollution problems. The yeast strain isolated from sugarcane juice, identified as Wickerhamomyces anomalus VIT-NN01, was used for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA). Response surface methodology (RSM), three-level six variables Box-Behnken design (BBD), was employed to optimize the factors such as pH 8.0, temperature 37 degrees C, sugarcane molasses (35 g/L) supplemented with co-substrate palm oil (0.5\%),corn steep liquor (2\%) after a period of 96 h of incubation for the maximum yield (19.50 +/- 0.3 g/L) of PHA. It was well in close agreement with the predicted value obtained by RSM model yield (19.55 +/- 0.1 g/L).Characterization of the extracted polymer was done using FTIR, GC MS, XRD, TGA and AFM analysis. NMR spectroscopic analysis revealed that the biopolymer was poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate), copolymer of PHA. This is the first report on optimization of PHA production using yeast strain isolated from natural sources. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Biobased films are alternative packaging formed with starch and other polymers that can be used for extending the shelf life of food and reducing the use of non-renewable materials. The aim of this study was to produce films with mixtures of gelatin, cassava bagasse, and Spirulina platensis, using cassava starch and glycerol as a basis solution. There was not differences (p > 0.10) for grammage. Spirulina platensis and cassava bagasse addition influenced the color, viscosity, solubility, thickness, and the moisture of the films. The swelling increased during the period of 60 min, with the highest values recorded in acid medium. The maximum elongation value was found in the biobased films that had 66\% of S. platensis, 17\% of cassava bagasse, and 17\% of gelatin. The micrographs showed the effect of fiber addition from cassava bagasse and rectangular structure of S. platensis. The films developed showed potential to be applied as food package. Practical applications The use of biobased films as coating is an attractive method of preserving fresh foods. The applicability becomes of greater interest when using low-value raw materials, as cassava bagasse, making the packaging of value industrially competitive. At same time, the addition of S. platensis can be attractive due to its functional properties. This work seeks to establish the best formulation among the biobased films produced based on the measurement of their technological properties to apply them in practice as cover or coating for foods.
This work describes a phenomenological model of the two-massecuite system for sucrose crystallization, developed using EMSO software. In most Brazilian sugarcane industries, sucrose crystallization is performed using this system. This process is considered to be a fundamental step in obtaining sugar of the desired quality and accounts for a substantial fraction of the production costs. The simulation results - crystal percentage in massecuite, brix and purity of molasses, magma purity, sugar pol, crystal size distribution - were validated by comparing them with real process data of an industrial plant. The interest of the phenomenological model to study the possible impacts of impurities and process instability was illustrated by varying the simulation inputs related with the syrup purity, syrup brix and steam conditions.
Aims Paclitaxel is the most profitable drug ever developed in cancer chemotherapy; however, the yield of paclitaxel from microbial platforms is still far from the commercial purpose. Thus, this study was conducted to explore the possibility of solid-state fermentation (SSF) for production of paclitaxel by fungal fermentation. Methods and Results Different agro-industrial wastes were screened as solid substrates for production of paclitaxel by the endophytic Aspergillus fumigatus TXD105 under SSF. Sugarcane bagasse followed by wheat bran, and rice bran were the most suitable substrates for maximum production of paclitaxel. In the effort to increase the paclitaxel production, selection of the most proper moistening agent that supports the production of paclitaxel by the fungal strain was investigated. The effect of varying inoculum concentrations on the production of paclitaxel was also studied. Moreover, optimization of SSF conditions (moisture level, substrate concentrations and nutrients concentration) was adopted using response surface methodology. SSF carried out under the optimum conditions of 20 g sugarcane bagasse, twofold nutrients concentration of the MM1D broth, 80\% moisture level and inoculum concentration of 10(7) spores per ml intensified the paclitaxel concentration to 145 center dot 61 mg kg(-1) which represents a 10-fold increase. The production of paclitaxel by the fungal strain was further improved via exposure to UV and gamma radiation at specific doses. The paclitaxel concentrations were intensified following UV and gamma radiation to 209 center dot 91 and 351 center dot 82 mg kg(-1). Conclusions This is the first report on the production of paclitaxel using agro-industrial wastes as cheap source that may contribute in lowering the cost of producing paclitaxel. Significance and Impact of the Study These findings offer new and alternate sources with excellent biotechnological potential for paclitaxel production by fungal fermentation.
We extend the nominal rate of protection (NRP) methodology to a value chain framework. We develop our methodology for three types of value chains: a new value chain created by policy, a value chain in which a by-product is created in the processing of a commodity, and a value chain in which processing of a commodity generates new product(s). We consider two cases of value chains: when the commodity is tradable and when it is non-tradable. The proposed indicator, value chain NRP, allows policy-makers to see an aggregate measure of all policy impacts on all the commodities and products in the value chain, normalised at the farm level. We apply the methodology to selected value chains in India. Our results indicate that farmers are subsidised, but at different rates. Both sugarcane producers and sugar producers are protected, but sugar producers are protected at higher rates. Producers of downstream products such as ethanol and molasses are taxed, whereas the crushing industry is subsidised. We observe that there is increasing protection along the value chain from commodity to product for the oilseeds sector, whereas the picture is less clear for the sugarcane value chain.
The production of lignocellulosic ethanol calls for a robust fermentative yeast able to tolerate a wide range of toxic molecules that occur in the pre-treated lignocellulose. The concentration of inhibitors varies according to the composition of the lignocellulosic material and the harshness of the pre-treatment used. It follows that the versatility of the yeast should be considered when selecting a robust strain. This work aimed at the validation of seven natural Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, previously selected for their industrial fitness, for their application in the production of lignocellulosic bioethanol. Their inhibitor resistance and fermentative performances were compared to those of the benchmark industrial yeast S. cerevisiae Ethanol Red, currently utilized in the second-generation ethanol plants. The yeast strains were characterized for their tolerance using a synthetic inhibitor mixture formulated with increasing concentrations of weak acids and furans, as well as steam-exploded lignocellulosic pre-hydrolysates, generally containing the same inhibitors. The eight non-diluted liquors have been adopted to assess yeast ability to withstand bioethanol industrial conditions. The most tolerant S. cerevisiae Fm17 strain, together with the reference Ethanol Red, was evaluated for fermentative performances in two pre-hydrolysates obtained from cardoon and common reed, chosen for their large inhibitor concentrations. S. cerevisiae Fm17 outperformed the industrial strain Ethanol Red, producing up to 18 and 39 g/L ethanol from cardoon and common reed, respectively, with ethanol yields always higher than those of the benchmark strain. This natural strain exhibits great potential to be used as superior yeast in the lignocellulosic ethanol plants.
Metabolite production by filamentous fungi hampered because of high viscosity generated during growth. Low viscosity fermentation by mold is one of the preferred ways of large scale enzymes production. Cellulolytic enzymes play a key role during the process of lignocellulosic biomass conversion. In this study, a mutant RC-23-1 was isolated through mutagenesis (diethyl sulfate followed by UV) of Trichoderma reesei RUT-C30. RCRC-23-1 not only gave higher cellulase production but also generated lower viscosity during enzyme production. Viscosity of mutant growth was more than three times lower than parent strain. RC-23-1 shows unique, yeast-like colony morphology on solid media and small pellet-like growth in liquid media. This mutant did not spread like mold on solid media. This mutant produces cellulases constitutively when grown in sugars. Using only glucose, the cellulase production was 4.1 FPU/ml. Among polysaccharides (avicel, xylan, and pectin), avicel gave maximum of 6.2 FPU/ml and pretreated biomass (rice straw, wheat straw and sugarcane bagasse) produced 5.1-5.8 FPU/ml. At 7 L scale reactor, fed-batch process was designed for cellulase production using different carbon and nitrogen sources. Maximum yield of cellulases was 182 FPU/g of lactose consumed was observed in fed-batch process. The produced enzyme used for hydrolysis of acid pretreated rice straw (20\% solid loading) and maximum of 60\% glucan conversion was observed. RC-23-1 mutant is good candidate for large scale cellulase production and could be a model strain to study mold to yeast-like transformation.
A bacterial consortium capable of utilizing metal-cyanides as a source of nitrogen was used to develop a microbiological process for the detoxification of silver-cyanide from electroplating wastewater. When the treatment was carried out in a 27-1 rotating biological contactor (RBC) in continuous mode, the system could achieve > 99.5\% removal of 0.1 mmol l(-1) silver-cyanide (approximate to 5 mg l(-1) cyanide and 10 mg l(-1) silver) in 10 h with sugarcane molasses (0.1 ml l(-1)) as carbon source. The silver ions set free during biodegradation were efficiently adsorbed by the bacterial biomass. The RBC-treated effluent was found to be safe for discharge into the environment, as confirmed by chemical, analysis and fish bioassay studies.
Minimally refined brown sugar (MRBS) is a brown sugar derived from sugarcane that has a low glycemic index. This study aimed to determine and compare the antioxidant contents and nutritional and physicochemical properties of MRBS, refined sugar (RS), and brown sugar (BS). In addition, the toxicity of these sugars was evaluated via in vitro cytotoxicity method and by using a zebrafish model. Results showed that MRBS was better than the two other sugars because it has a lower moisture content and higher ash content. The contents of potassium and manganese of MRBS were higher than those of the two other sugars. Surprisingly, MRBS also contained selenium, which was not detected in RS and BS. The major phenolics in MRBS are 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, protocatechuic acid, trans-Ferulic acid, and apigenin. All sugar solutions and their antioxidant-containing extracts were not cytotoxic to 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
A single laccase with molecular weight of 41 kDa was produced by the white-rot fungus Oudemansiella canarii cultured on solid state fermentation using a mixture of sugarcane bagasse-wheat bran as substrate. The enzyme (5 U) was able to decolourize 80\% of 50 mg/L Congo red within 24 h at 30 degrees C and pH 5.5. The relationship between the decolorization rate and dye concentration obeyed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with K-M and V-max values of 46.180 +/- 6.245 mu M and 1.840 +/- 0.101 mu mol/min, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and mass spectrometry allowed to conclude that the laccase acts not only on the dye chromophore group, but also that it cleaves different covalent bonds, causing an effective fragmentation of the molecule. The action of the laccase caused a significant reduction in toxicity, as indicated by the Microtox test. In conclusion, O. canarii laccase could be useful in future biological strategies aiming at degrading azo dyes.
This study investigated the diversity of yeast species associated with rotting wood in Brazilian Amazonian rainforests. A total of 569 yeast strains were isolated from rotting wood samples collected in three Amazonian areas (Universidade Federal do Amazonas-Universidade Federal do Amazonas {[
This study reports improved production of crude fungal cellulase following solid-state fermentation (SSF). The lab isolate fungal strain shows enhanced cellulase production and has been identified as the Cladosporium cladosporioides NS2 using 18S ribosomal DNA sequencing pattern. An initial pH of 4.0 and temperature 30 degrees C is recorded to be optimum for maximum cellulase production. Among different types of carbon sources used, sugarcane bagasse offers the maximum production of FP (16.9 IU/gds), beta-glucosidase (200 IU/gds) and EG (150 IU/gds) activity. In addition, among different types of nitrogen sources, peptone yields maximum production of EG (170 IU/gds), FP (17.5 IU/gds) and beta-glucosidase (225 IU/gds). Moreover, among various types of metal ions, manganese ion (Mn++) gave the highest production of FP (20 IU/gds), beta-glucosidase (240 IU/gds) and EG (210 IU/gds). (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
To meet the present and forecasted market demand, bacterial alkaline phosphatase (ALP) production must be increased through innovative and efficient production strategies. Using sugarcane molasses and biogenic apatite as low-cost and easily available raw materials, this work demonstrates the scalability of ALP production from a newfound Bacillus paralicheniformis strain APSO isolated from a black liquor sample. Mathematical experimental designs including sequential Plackett-Burman followed by rotatable central composite designs were employed to select and optimize the concentrations of the statistically significant media components, which were determined to be molasses, (NH4)(2)NO3, and KCl. Batch cultivation in a 7-L stirred-tank bioreactor under uncontrolled pH conditions using the optimized medium resulted in a significant increase in both the volumetric and specific productivities of ALP; the alkaline phosphatase throughput 6650.9 U L-1, and mu =0.0943 h(-1); respectively, were obtained after 8 h that, ameliorated more than 20.96, 70.12 and 94 folds compared to basal media, PBD, and RCCD; respectively. However, neither the increased cell growth nor enhanced productivity of ALP was present under the pH-controlled batch cultivation. Overall, this work presents novel strategies for the statistical optimization and scaling up of bacterial ALP production using biogenic apatite.
Organic residues are an important factor that directly affects fruiting tree seedlings' health at earlier stages. It provides a suitable environment for seedling growth by providing better nutrient ions, water, and aeration. However, low organic contents and high shrinkage of most organic materials mostly deteriorate ideal potting media characteristics. Low aeration, high water, and nutrients leaching decrease seedling growth and cause a significant loss of valuable resources. That is why the current study was conducted to screen out the best indigenous materials based on particle size to produce good characteristics bearing potting media. For that, eight different ingredients, i.e., ``sugarcane{''
Construction demolition waste disposal is considered a serious concern across several countries and threatens the environment. Utilisation of those demolition wastes in the construction industry and recycle the wastes resolves the environmental problem. Sustainable solution to handle the construction demolition waste is the utilisation of partial/ full replacement for conventional coarse aggregate. Utilisation of non-renewable resources, carbon dioxide emission, high consumption of energy requirement of cement production motivates the researchers to find out the possible alternative to minimise the utilisation of cement in the building industry. Over the few decades, there is increased concern about using sugarcane bagasse ash as a partial replacement of cement is investigated in this paper along with other supplementary cementitious materials include GGBS and nano silica. Based on the previous studies, fixed proportion of 10\% bagasse ash was used as a maximum replacement for cement. Different proportions of nano silica ranging from 1 to 6\% by weight of cement were incorporated as an additive in concrete specimens. The influence of SCBA, recycled aggregate, GGBS and nano silica is presented in this paper on the mechanical and durability properties of concrete.
The production of forest seedlings with adequate morphological and physiological characteristics is essential for the success of plantations. Substrates and irrigation are the major factors determining seedlings' growth. Substrates made of urban and agricultural residues are a sustainable alternative to peatbased substrates. In this study, we evaluated how composted sewage sludge substrates affect the growth and gas exchange in seedlings of Cedrela fissilis Vell. Seedlings were produced under daily irrigation depths of 6, 9, and 12 mm, and on different substrates. The substrates were based on sewage sludge composted with Eucalyptus bark or sugarcane bagasse, and a commercial substrate based on peat, involving a double factorial design with 12 treatments (3 irrigation depths x 3 substrates). Both physical and chemical characteristics of substrates were analyzed, and morphological traits and gas exchanges of seedlings were measured. Sewage sludge-based substrates presented different characteristics according to the material it was mixed. Eucalyptus bark provided higher bulk density (0.19 g cm-3) and lower total porosity (75\%) to the substrate, while sugarcane bagasse increased macroporosity up to 60\%. Seedlings produced in sewage sludge-based substrates presented a height up to 17.8 cm and stem diameters of between 8.39-10.29 mm. Higher shoot and root dry mass was obtained in sewage sludge-based substrates with irrigation depth of 9 mm, which were 3.71 and 2.01 g, respectively. Photosynthetic carbon assimilation varied between 2.26 and 3.23 mu mol CO2 m-2 s-1, and water use efficiency varied from 2.058 to 3.395 mu mol CO2 (mol H2O)-1, with the highest values being obtained in seedlings produced in sewage sludge-based substrates with irrigation depth of 6 mm. Our results demonstrate that sewage sludgebased substrates are an efficient alternative to commercial peat-based substrates for seedling production.
With the increasing utility of concrete as a construction material, the major challenge is to improve the quality of construction by balancing the financials involved in the construction project. With the techno-logical advancement, there is a need for a change in using traditional old materials for construction. Raw materials used for construction are affecting the environment to a larger extent. There is a dire need to change the current scenario especially for a developing country like India. The present study deals with the advantages of utilizing the locally available alternate cementitious, fine aggregate, and coarse aggre-gate materials mainly from the metropolitan cities of India. Some of the challenges in the existing con-struction techniques will also be addressed in the present study. As there is a lot of waste generated from various industries across the country, converting the waste to a sustainable material for construc-tion should be the primary motto. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Confer-ence on Advanced Materials Behavior and Characterization.
This paper reports on mild acid pretreatment options for the conversion of Agave tequilana leaves into composite sugars for ethanol fermentation. The effect of five different pretreatment conditions (time, temperature and acid concentrations) were assessed in terms of cellulose digestibility, hemicellulose solubilisation and lignin content in leaves of 1.25 years old A. tequilana plants from Rockhampton and 2.5 year plants from Kalamia. Dilute acid pretreatment and enzyme saccharification of A. tequilana leaf bagasse significantly improved total glucose recovery. A recovery of 273 mg/g (70\% theoretical) was attained when the bagasse was pretreated with 2.0\% H2SO4 for 60 min at 121 degrees C and saccharified with 6\% (w/w) CTec 2. Saccharomyces cerevisiae efficiently fermented crude A. tequilana bagasse and juice hydrolysates within 13 h and 7h respectively, yielding up to 38.6 g/L and 12.4g/L. This corresponds to glucose to ethanol conversion rate of 68 and 61\% for A. tequilana leaf bagasse and juice, respectively. With further developments, including fermentation of C5 sugars and inulinase saccharification of juices (release of fructose), this process could deliver greater yields, reinforcing its potential as a biofuel feedstock. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ellagitannase is a novel enzyme responsible for biodegradation of ellagitannins and ellagic acid production. Ellagic acid is a bioactive compound with great potential in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This work describes the ellagitannase enzyme production from partial purified ellagitannins as inducers by Aspergillus niger GH1 grown on solid-state fermentation. Solid-state fermentation was carried out on four different lignocellulosic materials (sugarcane bagasse, corn cobs, coconut husks and candelilla stalks) as matrix support and production of ellagitannase enzyme was evaluated. All lignocellulosic materials were characterized in terms of water absorption index and critical humidity point. The best lignocellulosic materials for ellagitannase production were sugarcane bagasse and corn cobs (1400 U L-1 and 1200 U L-1, respectively). The lowest values were obtained with can delilla stalks (500 UL-1). The highest specific productivity was obtained with corn cobs (2.5 U mg(-1) h(-1)) which enable increase ellagitannase productivity up to 140 times. Corn cobs have great potential as support matrix for production of fungal ellagitannase in SSF. (C) 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
This paper presents a critical literature review on the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) from agricultural wastes (mainly from crop residues) in cementitious systems. The current utilisation of these materials as partial replacement of Portland cement is reviewed with respect to the influence of the materials' characteristics on the performance and the limit of replacement in cementitious systems. In spite of the benefits of SCMs from agricultural wastes (such as rice husk ash, palm oil fuel ash and sugarcane bagasse ash), their unavailability in the required form, heterogeneous nature and insufficient data make it difficult to generalise their performance. Therefore, a review of the existing information available will help to unravel areas of further research, any relationship between the influence of the processing method and materials characteristics on the limit of replacement and performance in cementitious systems and assist in their standardisation and sustainable utilisation. This, coupled with the reproducibility of results, will assist the processing and adoption of other agricultural wastes in cementitious systems.
Concrete, as the world's most implemented construction material, is increasingly being used because of the rapid development of industrialization and urbanization. Limited resources and progressive depravation of the environment are forcing scientific efforts to seek alternative and effective materials from large amounts of natural resources as additives in the partial replacement of cement. Cement is a main constituent of concrete. To solve and minimize environmental issues, research works attempting to employ the wide availability of agricultural wastes, such as sugar cane bagasse, rice husk, sugar cane straw, and palm oil fuel, among others, into cement, and to finally bring sustainable and environmentally friendly properties to concrete are being examined. Agro-waste materials are crushed into fine and coarse aggregates or are burnt into ash, and are then mixed with cement, which is known as agro-cement. The replacement of aggregates, either partially or fully, is also deemed as a sustainable material in construction. This paper mainly reviews the current research on agro-cement that has been researched and applied for the enhancement of the strength and durability of concrete. It further summarizes the relevant knowledge and techniques, while providing optimal parameters for applying agricultural wastes in concrete.
The present study investigates the impact of biomass origin on the properties of biochar and its interaction with different treatment conditions, CO2 adsorption, and regeneration ability. The biochars were synthesized from eight biomasses-herbaceous (miscanthus and switchgrass), agro-industrial (corn stover and sugarcane bagasse), and crop residues (sorghum, wheat straw, rice straw, and rice husk)-and were subjected to three different treatment conditions: (I) acoustic treatment using lowfrequency ultrasound, (II) amination using the penta-amine, and (III) integrated sono-chemical activation. Adsorption studies revealed that sono-amination increased adsorption capacities up to 2-2.5 times that of physical or chemical activation techniques alone, with the maximum improvements for herbaceous and agro-industrial residues over crop residues due to their large specific surface areas and high carbon and low ash contents. Accordingly, miscanthus with increased nitrogen content after sono-amination (7.5 times that of raw miscanthus biochar) showed the highest adsorption capacity compared to any other biochars. The regeneration studies that were conducted on all of the eight ultrasono-aminated samples showed 68\% (crop residues) to 76\% (herbaceous and agro-industrials) retainment of the initial adsorption capacities after 15 cycles.
Bioethanol is being promoted in Mexico to be used in a blend with gasoline. On the north of the Yucatan peninsula, bioethanol could be produced from sweet sorghum, as it can grow efficiently on this land; it can be harvested 2-3 times in a year and possesses a better agronomical stability than sugarcane with low nitrogen requirements and high productivity. In this work , the potential environmental impacts and energy efficiency of bioethanol production from sweet sorghum were evaluated using life-cycle assessment. Four scenarios were evaluated: scenario PI considered only bioethanol production from the stalk juice; scenarios PII and PIII added cogeneration from the dry-stalk biomass in single and combined cycle, respectively. Scenario PIV considered bioethanol production from both stalk juice and dry-stalk biomass. Scenario PI demanded more fossil energy than what was generated as bioethanol, while scenarios PII and PIII were fossil energy independent. Scenario PIII showed the higher net energy ratio (1.89) and a better environmental performance in all CML-IA baseline impact categories. In terms of global warming potential, the scenario PIII showed a mitigation potential of 16\% with respect to the fossil reference. In the categories where the sweet sorghum scenarios represented larger emissions than the fossil reference, it was due mainly to the use of fertilizers and the conventional energy consumption in the various processing steps of the biomass. Scenario PIV showed the highest energy demand and worst environmental performance due to large demands of energy and chemicals in the bagasse pretreatment step.
Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) and chemical additives (CA) are incorporated to modify the properties of concrete. In this paper, SCMs such as fly ash (FA), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), silica fume (SF), rice husk ash (RHA), sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA), and tire-derived fuel ash (TDFA) admixed concretes are reviewed. FA (25-30\%), GGBS (50-55\%), RHA (15-20\%), and SBA (15\%) are safely used to replace Portland cement. FA requires activation, while GGBS has undergone in situ activation, with other alkalis present in it. The reactive silica in RHA and SBA readily reacts with free Ca(OH)(2) in cement matrix, which produces the secondary C-S-H gel and gives strength to the concrete. SF addition involves both physical contribution and chemical action in concrete. TDFA contains 25-30\% SiO2 and 30-35\% CaO, and is considered a suitable secondary pozzolanic material. In this review, special emphasis is given to the various chemical additives and their role in protecting rebar from corrosion. Specialized concrete for novel applications, namely self-curing, self-healing, superhydrophobic, electromagnetic (EM) wave shielding and self-temperature adjusting concretes, are also discussed.
Now a day researcher concentrated on utilization of agricultural by-product or industrial by-product. The use of these by-products is economical, sustainable and friendly to the environment. By using the agricultural and industrial by-product, it is possible to develop the sustainable concrete material. Sugar Cane Bagasse, Rice Husk is the agricultural by-products available in huge quantity and accumulated every year which causes environmental and disposal issues. Concrete is most consumed material in the world and hence the utilization of sugarcane SCBA and rice husk ash in concrete may reduce the burden on the by-products disposal authorities and reduced the adverse effect on the environment. Sugar Cane bagasse ash (SCBA) and Rice Husk ash (RHA) are proven to be having the cementitious property. The metakaolin (MK) is not by-product but it is found to be useful in improving the durability properties of concrete unlike SCBA and RHA. The researchers have experimented with these by-products in the ranges of 5\% to 15\% by replacing cement in concrete to get optimum durability and strength properties of concrete. This paper attempts to review the various ranges of these identified cement replacing materials in order to provide the research direction to the concerned. SCBA, RHA can be used as sustainable materials in the concrete. Hence the combination of SCBA, MK and RHA will be very effective in the concrete.Copyright (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the International Conference on Latest Developments in Materials \& Manufacturing.
The plant pathogenic fungus Chrysoporthe cubensis was cultivated under solid state employing different substrates and the highest endoglucanase (33.84 U g(-1)), FPase (2.52 U g(-1)), beta-glucosidase (21.55 U g(-1)) and xylanase (362.38 U g(-1)) activities were obtained using wheat bran as carbon source. Cellulases and xylanase produced by C cubensis showed maximal hydrolysis rate at pH 4.0 and in a temperature range of 50-60 degrees C. All enzymatic activities were highly stable at 40 and 50 degrees C through 48 h of preincubation. Saccharification of alkaline pretreated sugarcane bagasse by crude enzyme extract from C cubensis resulted in release of 320.8 mg/g and 288.7 mg/g of glucose and xylose, respectively. On another hand, a similar assay employing commercial cellulase preparation resulted in release of 250.6 mg/g and 62.1 mg/g of glucose and xylose, respectively. Cellulolytic extract from C cubensis showed a great potential to be used in biomass saccharification processes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Abundant renewable resources, such as biomass, can acquire added value when applied in industrial processes, such as slow pyrolysis to produce biochar. The type of biomass and the pyrolysis conditions are factors that determine the characteristics of the resulting biochars, influencing their potential applications. In this work, biochars were produced at 350 degrees C from sugarcane bagasse (SB), exhausted black wattle bark (EH), and elephant grass (EG). The materials were characterized considering the effects of different pyrolysis methods: (1) tube (laboratory scale), (2) rotary, and (3) muffle furnace (industrial scale). Despite using the same temperature, the formation of structures with condensed aromatic rings, the order of the processes that tended to form this type of structure was (3) >= (2) > (1). Pyrolysis method (3) tended to carbonize the constituents of biomass, than the other processes, which was promising for the production of biochar on an industrial scale. Besides, an investigation was made of the effects of applying BEG(3) and BEH3 biochars as soil conditioners to mitigate emissions of N2O (a major greenhouse gas) and improve productivity in the cultivation of black oats. The BEG(3) reduced the release of N2O from the soil, mainly affecting its peak emission, in addition to increasing the productivity of black oats by a factor of 1.22, compared to the control, being statistically significant results. It could be concluded that elephant grass biochar produced on an industrial scale is suitable for application to soils.
Candida rugosa lipase (LCR) was immobilized on low-cost supports (byproducts) and dried using a spouted-bed system. The yields of immobilized derivatives were in the range 61.5-78.7\%. Lipase immobilized on rice husk showed the best results, presenting 94.1\% of the original activity, followed by sugarcane bagasse (90.3\%) and green coconut fiber (87.3\%). Moisture content in the obtained powders varied between 4.7 and 5.6\% and the water activities were in the range 0.21-0.35. Among all the tested biocatalysts for aroma production the lipase immobilized on rice husk showed the highest activity towards the formation of isoamyl caprylate (62.40 g.L-1).
The combined effect of operating parameters like pyrolysis temperature (400 degrees C and 800 degrees C) and time (1, 2, and 3 h) on the physicochemical properties of biochars derived from wooden dust (WD), rice husk (RH), and sugarcane bagasse (SB) as feedstocks were investigated. The results reflect that operating temperature and time for pyrolysis acted as the predominant factors that determined the properties of biochars, which can be used as an alternative source of energy for different purposes. Pyrolysis time and temperature showed a significant effect on the organic, inorganic, and functional groups of biochars and also enhanced biochar properties in terms of gross calorific value (GCV) and its carbon percentage.
The development of heterogeneously functional catalysts is of great significance in selective catalysis for biomass valorization. Herein, we report for the first time the applicability of chitin/Ag co-modified H3PW12O40 composites (Chx-AgPW) as catalysts for producing valuable furans from carbohydrates and biomass. The as-prepared Ch15-AgPW catalyst exhibited the best catalytic performance, due to the dual Bronsted-Lewis acidity and appropriate chitin content. When the amount of Ch15-AgPW catalyst was 0.25 mmol, an excellent 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) yield of 78.3\% could be achieved at 150 degrees C for 3 h with nearly 100\% glucose conversion in the H2O/MIBK (V-H2O:MIBK = 4:6) solvent system. Furthermore, high-yield HMF could also be obtained from other carbohydrates such as fructose (85.3\%), sucrose (72.3\%), cellobiose (65.6\%), starch (52.7\%) and inulin (43.5\%). Additionally, corn stover, rice straw and sugarcane bagasse under typical reaction conditions simultaneously produced furfural and HMF in yields of 64.6\%-72.2\% and 18.5\%-25.6\%, respectively. Combined with the characterization, mechanism study demonstrated that the surface functional groups in chitin were conductive to rapid absorption of the substrates; the Br.nsted acid sites from heteropoly anion (H-2{[
This study examined the feasibility of sugarcane bagasse (sb), spent coffee-grounds (sg), and orange peel (op) activated carbons for the removal of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB). For such purpose, individual dye solutions and binary mixtures under different pH and initial concentrations were used. The study was complemented with Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to assess the carbon surface preference to-wards a specific molecule. The DFT method, using molecular descriptors, showed a potential application for predicting the order by which the carbons sorb a given set of contaminants. For the three carbon materials studied, the mono-dye experiments adsorption capacities ranged from 60 to 140 mg/g for MB and from 146 to 65 mg/g for MO at pH values of 5, 7 and 9. While the best methylene blue adsorbent was the sugarcane bagasse carbon, the orange peel carbon showed the best methyl orange adsorption capacity. Interestingly, the spent coffee-ground carbon exhibited a balanced behavior when both molecules were added separately. When the dyes were added as a mixture, the three carbons adsorbed methylene blue preferentially over methyl orange. While sb adsorbed up to 75 mg/g of MB and 10 mg/g of MO, op adsorbed 60 mg/g of MB and up to 25 mg/g of MO. The trend displayed in mono-dye systems was kept in binary systems. This is important since real wastewater systems contain mixtures with two or more pollutants. In the case of the binary mixtures, the three activated carbons can adsorb both type of dyes at concentrations up to 300 mg/L, the pH did not affect the MB adsorption, whereas MO uptake was greatly affected at pH > 7. Thus, it is important to study versatile materials obtained from organic wastes capable of removing more than one species from wastewater.
This article summarizes the results of the project on indicators for sustainable energy development (ISED) in Brazil. The project's aim was to present energy related economic, social and environmental data to policy makers in a coherent and consistent form, showing interlinkages, time-series and cross-sectoral analyses and assess energy policy. Two priority areas assessed by these indicators, regarding the country's energy supply and demand, helped in the identification of a number of energy policy options that focused on specific aspects of the country's energy sector. On the supply side, these options include the development and stimulation of renewable energy, such as small-scale hydroelectric, wind, solar photovoltaic power and bagasse cogeneration; stimulation of programmes for ethanol use as automotive fuel and sugarcane bagasse cogeneration; and implementation of natural gas-fired, combined heat and power (CHP) plants. On the demand side, policy options include: the full implementation of the law on efficiency standards for appliances; expansion of utility investment in end-use energy efficiency; adoption of targets and protocols to reduce energy intensity in the industrial sector; improvement of passenger transport efficiency; and the creation of a fund to improve energy affordability for the poor.
The comprehensive utilization of whole components of biomass is an important strategy for improving the economics of biomass energy. In this work, three kinds of acid hydrolysis residues (AHRs) derived from different lignocellulosic biomass, including sugarcane bagasse (SB), cornstalk (CS), and wheat straw (WS), were used to prepare carbon-based solid acid (CBSA) through pyrolysis and further sulfonation. Results showed that AHR-SB, which has high carbon content, is the best choice to graft -SO3H groups for preparing CBSA with the highest yield. Then, the 20Sn1RuB/CBSA-SB bifunctional catalyst was synthesized through the progressive impregnation and chemical reduction method and applied to synthesize gamma-valerolactone (GVL) from butyl levulinate (BL) hydrogenation. Under optimal reaction conditions (180 degrees C, 3 MPa H2, 3 h), the fresh catalyst showed a BL conversion of 99.6\% and a GVL yield of 87.7\%. According to the characterization results of CBSA and 20Sn1RuB/CBSA-SB by NH3-TPD, pyridine adsorption Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the SnRuB hydrogenation active site was partially reduced into Sn0 species, and the number of surface acidic sites of the catalyst was decreased relative to that of the CBSA-SB support, whereas a stronger synergetic effect was present for BL hydrogenation to GVL. The catalyst also showed outstanding recyclability, on which the BL conversion loss was only 3.5\%, and the GVL yield remained almost unchanged after six cycles. The increased oxygen vacancies and the synergistic effect between the SnRuB active site with a suitable atomic fraction and more Bronsted acid sites promoted activity recovery. In summary, the biomass hydrolysis residue is a promising feedstock for realizing its high value-added application in converting biomass-derived platform molecules into fuel or chemicals.
Pretreatment and saccharification of lignocellulosic materials is the key technology affecting the efficiency of cellulosic biohydrogen production. In this work, two pure cellulosic materials (i.e., carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC) and xylan) were directly hydrolyzed (without pretreatment) by a cellulolytic isolate Cellulomonas uda E3-01 able to release extracellular cellulolytic enzymes. Natural cellulosic feedstock (i.e., sugarcane bagasse) was chemically pretreated prior to the bacterial hydrolysis.A temperature-shift strategy (35 degrees C for cellulolytic enzymes production and 45 degrees C for hydrolysis reaction) was used to increase the production of reducing sugars during the bacterial hydrolysis. The hydrolysates of CMC, xylan, and bagasse were efficiently converted to H-2 via dark fermentation with Clostridium butyricum CGS5. The maximum hydrogen yield was 8.80 mmol H-2/g reducing sugar (i.e., 1.58 mol H-2/mol hexose) for CMC, 6.03 mmol H-2/g reducing sugar (i.e., 0.91 mol H-2/mol pentose) for xylan, and 6.01 mmol H-2/g reducing sugar for bagasse. Copyright (C) 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The production of hydrogen by syngasification of biomass in Brazil provides a significant opportunity to increase the profitability of the sugarcane ethanol industry, as sugarcane biomass residues are available at low cost and in large quantities in the country. Hydrogen makes it possible to produce high-value chemicals from ethanol, whose production from sugarcane is already developed and energy efficient, and H-2 can also be used as a transportation fuel. This article discusses the reaction thermodynamics of syngasification, proposes a C-H-O chart to analyze the chemical reactions, and analyzes the heat cascade through a syngasifier and the downstream operations for producing hydrogen. The proposed C-H-O chart makes it possible (1) to estimate the higher heating value of molecules involved in the syngasification, (2) to visualize the region of carbon deposit, (3) to represent the reactions occurring in a syngasifier and determine whether the enthalpy and entropy changes are positive or negative, and (4) to evaluate the effects of composition, pressure, and temperature on the reaction system. The tool also allows following the progressive changes in stream composition through process operations. For the first time, the heat cascade through each operation of the complete hydrogen-producing syngasification process has been analyzed. Results show that the chemical reactions release enough heat to satisfy all thermal demands of the downstream operations. Overall, purified hydrogen contains around 67\% of the higher heating value of inlet biomass. Integrating the process that produces hydrogen with the process of making ethanol from sugarcane, whose bagasse would feed the hydrogen process, leads to a reduction of 20\% of the total heat consumption.
Bioconversion of cellulosic components into fermentable sugars has currently been accomplished with the help of the microbial enzyme, cellulase. In this study, Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacquin ex Fr.) Kummer and Pleurotus sajor-caju (Fr.) Singer were tested for cellulase production by solid state fermentation (SSF) using saw dust, sugarcane bagasse, and paddy straw as substrate. To enhance production, the substrates were pretreated with 1\% and 4\% NaOH solutions. Supernatants of extracted enzyme solutions were used to estimate reducing sugar and soluble protein, as well as enzyme activities. Maximum production of reducing sugar and soluble protein were recorded in 12 and 10 day fermented products, respectively. In the production of reducing sugars, P. ostreatus (42.8 mg g(-1)) was found to be more efficient than P sajor-caju (10.9 mg g(-1)), while P. sajor-caju was more efficient in soluble protein production (40.2 mg g(-1)) compared to P. ostreatus (3.1 mg g(-1)). P ostreatus was found to be more efficient in the individual components of cellulase enzyme production than P. sajor-caju. All the enzyme activities were found to attain a peak at 10 days of fermentation. The highest activities of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and beta-glucosidase were recorded as 7.08, 7.36, and 3.60 units (mu mole of glucose released/min/g substrate), respectively, for P ostreatus, while that of P sajor-caju were 1.9, 2.03, and 2.63 units, respectively. Total cellulase activity was found to reach a maximum at 10 days of fermentation for both strains. For P ostreatus it was recorded as 3.51 units, while for P. sajor-caju it was 0.82 units. This study suggests P. ostreatus as an important source of cellulase enzymes.
A technical, economic and environmental analysis of different biorefinery configurations is carried out, considering the integration of different biomass technologies with sugar and ethanol plants. Biochemical routes for the production of lignocellulosic ethanol and biobutanol from ABE (Acetone-Butanol-Ethanol) fermentation were considered as alternatives for conversion, also a thermochemical process for the production of syngas. Second-generation ethanol favors better land use, and biobutanol is an important input for the chemical industry, as well as producing acetone and ethanol as co-products. Syngas from the thermochemical process is very versatile raw material, which can be used to manufacture various products. Syngas was considered for Diesel production through Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process, and also for electricity production. To verify biomass distribution in biorefinery processes, that allows reaching best results from a techno-economic, and environmental point of view, a computational experiment was carried on, using the Kriging method for plant optimization. Solving problems using mathematical modeling as an alternative to traditional methods of optimization can be simplified without loss of generality, precision or need of computer over time. Results show that, from an energy point of view, thermochemical routes perform better, in addition to being able to avoid large amounts of CO2eq emissions. From an economic point of view, biochemical routes prove to be only feasible when all available bagasse is destined for these alternatives. Finally, the process of lignocellulosic ethanol presents a superior performance, having the best combination of analyzed indicators, resulting in a more sustainable process. A Brazilian sugar and alcohol factory was taken as a case study; its results can be extended to any similar installation that uses biomass as a raw material.
Utilization of biochars can become an emerging technology and better option for replacing and sustaining premium-quality coking coal for metallurgical purposes. This study includes the characterization and comparative study of reduction of iron ore pellets using different reductants, i.e. sugarcane bagasse char (SBC), coconut husk char (CHC), and wooden dust char (WDC).Statistical method has been used for experimental design to determine the effect of each reductant and different variables and their interactional effect on the reduction of iron ore pellets. Thus, CHC and WDC can play an important role in sustaining the premium quality of coking coal reserves and become an important source of carbon and energy for reduction to occur in blast furnaces.
Acid hydrolysis and hydrogenation reactions were capable to convert xylose obtained from biomass materials using heterogeneous catalysts based on Ni and Ru. Xylose was extracted from sugar cane bagasse using dilute acid sulfuric solutions, and then xylitol was obtained through xylose catalytic hydrogenation. A bimetallic catalyst (Ni 10.0 wt.\% and Ru 1.0 wt.\%) was prepared by the wet impregnation method, supporting the metallic phase in activated carbon. Sugarcane bagasse was delignified in a three-step pretreatment (acid, basic and organic extractions, respectively), allowing effective hydrolysis of the resulting holocellulose. The acid hydrolysis process for xylose extraction was more effective at the highest concentration of sulfuric acid in the study (2.5\% v/v), obtaining a xylose-rich hydrolysate with concentration over 10 g L-1. For the xylose hydrogenation process, conversion of xylose and selectivity to xylitol was near 90 \% after 1 h of reaction. Kinetic evolutions were evaluated through a mathematical model in terms of operating time and temperature, providing hydrogenation activation energy values of the order of 40.76 kJ mol(-1). (C) 2021 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The aim of this research is to determine the most suitable configuration for an arrangement of closed evaporators that make up an evaporation system fed by the steam from a bagasse boiler as part of the non-centrifuged sugar (jaggery) production process. The aim is also to evaluate the energy saving that can be made by adding closed evaporation stages to the system. This numerical analysis involves the thermodynamic analysis of the evaporation process, including both energy and mass balance for each part of the evaporation system. A parametric analysis is included to determine the nature of the impact of the feed steam pressure and temperature, and the impact of the number of effects on the initial energy requirements. Taking as a model the NCS capacity of the Santa Rosa de Chonta plant, located in the district of Montero, Ayabaca (Peru), the general sizing of the evaporators is carried out. This plant has a production capacity of approximately 90 kg of jaggery (panela)/hour.
Mixtures of tree fern fiber, coconut bark, pine bark, sugarcane bagasse, broken pieces of clay pots, vermiculite and humus were compared as substrates for ``Aechmea fasciata{''
The aim of the study was to assess the effect of four energy supplements (two highly fermentable; two starch-based carbohydrates) on blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary urea excretion, and milk yield, in dual-purpose cows fed foliage of Leucaena leucocephala (Leucaena). Five Holstein-Zebu cows with 450 kg body weight in their second third of lactation were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design. Cows were fed (dry basis) a mixture of 45\% Leucaena and 55\% Pennisetum purpureum grass. Treatments were supplementation with (i) sugarcane molasses (Mo), (ii) sorghum grain (So), (iii) fresh citrus pulp (CitP) or (iv) rice polishing (RP), all of them incorporated into the diet at 25 MJ of ME/cow/day. There was a control group (Cont) without energy supplementation. The study comprised five periods of 20 days (15 days adaptation, 5 days measurements). Dry matter intake (kg/day) was lower (P < 0.05) for Cont (9.4) compared with Mo (12.1), So (12.0), CitP (11.9) and RP (11.9) but no difference was observed among energy supplements (P > 0.05). Milk yield (kg/day) was higher (P < 0.05) in cows supplemented with starch supplements (4.7 for So; 4.9 for RP) compared with Cont (3.3). Milk yield from highly fermentable supplements (Mo and CitP) did not differ (P > 0.05) from Cont or other treatments. Milk protein, fat and lactose were not different among treatments (P > 0.05). Blood urea nitrogen and urinary urea excretion were both reduced (P < 0.05) by energy supplementation. Urinary urea excretion was not different (P > 0.05) among cows fed different sources of energy. It is concluded that in dual-purpose cows fed Leucaena foliage, supplementation with sugarcane molasses, citrus pulp or rice polishing reduced blood urea nitrogen and urinary urea excretion. Milk yield was increased by sorghum and rice polishing whereas energy supplementation did not affect milk composition.
Xylose reductase enzyme (E:C 1.1.11.21) produced by Candida guilliermondii in sugarcane bagasse was extracted by reversed micelles of N-benzy-N-dodecyl-N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) ammonium chloride cationic surfactant. An experimental design was employed to evaluate the influences of the following factors on the enzyme extraction: temperature, cosolvent, and surfactant concentration. A model was used to represent the enzyme recovery and fit of the experimental data. The extraction yielded a total recovery of 130\%, and the purity increased 4.8-fold. This study demonstrates that liquid-liquid extraction by reversed micelles is a process able to recover and increase the enzymatic activity and purity of XR produced by C. guilliermondii.
The relationship between CO2 evolution and the extent of ligninolytic and proteolytic activities of Phanerochaete chrysosporium grown on sugarcane bagasse pith was investigated. A crude extract from the solid state fermentation (SSF) system was obtained and manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP) and proteolytic activities were determined without further concentration. CO2 evolution profile showed that MnP activity was expressed during the idiophase when glucose was limited, then decreased due to the protease activity. The respiratory quotient (QR) practically remained around one. This value was an indicator that the relation between CO2 production and O-2 consumption was equimolar. This indicates that CO2 generation was basically biotic. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The effects of two substrates, sugarcane bagasse (T-1) and paddy straw (T-2) on water quality and growth of Labeo fimbriatus were studied in mud-bottomed, manured cement tanks, in triplicate; a set of three tanks without substrate served as control (T-3). Addition of manure and substrate brought about a decrease in dissolved oxygen level, but it stabilized after 15 days, when the tanks were stocked with 30 fish each, fed at 3\% body weight daily and reared for 90 days. Total ammonia content in substrate based treatments was relatively lower than in the control. Significantly higher nitrite-nitrogen was recorded in the control tanks. The total plate counts (TPC) of bacteria in water did not differ significantly between treatments and control. The overall mean value of TPC with substrate was higher in T-2 than in T-1. The mean phytoplankton density in water was the highest in T-1, followed by T-3 and T-2, whereas zooplankton density was the highest in T-1 followed by T-2 and T-3. The growth of fish was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in substrate-based tanks, the percentage increases over control being 30.44 (T-1) and 28.71 (T-2) respectively. Higher RNA, DNA and RNA:DNA ratios were recorded under T-1, followed by T-2 and T-3. Higher enzyme activity was observed in fish from substrate treatments, which was attributable to the additional nutrients derived through the biofilm. The results demonstrated that production of L. fimbriatus can be significantly increased by the introduction of biodegradable substrates into culture systems where fertilization and feeding are employed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Wax is an organic compound found on the surface of lignocellulose biomass to protect plants from physical and biological stresses in nature. With its small mass fraction in biomass, wax has been neglected from inclusion in the design of the biorefinery process. This study investigated the interfering effect of wax in three types of lignocellulosic biomass, including rice straw (RS), Napier grass (NG), and sugarcane bagasse (SB). In this study, although small fractions of wax were extracted from RS, NG, and SB at 0.57\%, 0.61\%, and 1.69\%, respectively, dewaxing causes changes in the plant compositions and their functional groups and promotes dissociations of lignocellulose fibrils. Additionally, dewaxing of biomass samples increased reducing sugar by 1.17-, 1.04-, and 1.35-fold in RS, NG, and SB, respectively. The ethanol yield increased by 1.11-, 1.05-, and 1.23-fold after wax removal from RS, NG, and SB, respectively. The chemical composition profiles of the waxes obtained from RS, NG, and SB showed FAME, alcohol, and alkane as the major groups. According to the conversion rate of the dewaxing process and ethanol fermentation, the wax outputs of RS, NG, and SB are 5.64, 17.00, and 6.00 kg/ton, respectively. The current gasoline price is around USD 0.903 per liter, making ethanol more expensive than gasoline. Therefore, in order to reduce the cost of ethanol in the biorefinery industry, other valuable products (such as wax) should be considered for commercialization. The cost of natural wax ranges from USD 2 to 22 per kilogram, depending on the source of the extracted wax. The wax yields obtained from RS, SB, and NG have the potential to increase profits in the biorefining process and could provide an opportunity for application in a wider range of downstream industries than just biofuels.
Purpose Liquid organic fertilizers produced from agricultural residues and industrial wastes are becoming increasingly popular. This study aimed to examine the effect of liquid organic fertilizers produced from waste molasses, distillery slop and sugarcane leaves on the growth of Green Cos Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia). Methods Six formulas of liquid organic fertilizers were produced with different ratios of substrates (molasses, distillery slop and sugarcane leaves). The measurements of chemical, microbiological and germination index of fertilizers were studied. Hydroponic using nutrient film technique system was used to grow vegetables with fertilizers. Results Fertilizers showed the ranges of chemical parameters as follows: pH 4.5-7.8, EC 25-33 dS/m, total N 0.14-0.33\%, total P2O5 0.002-0.017\%, total K2O 0.81-11.8\%, OM 0.26-3.25\%, OC 0.26-3.20\% and C:N ratio 6.14-17.92. Microbiological analysis indicated total microorganism of 9.99-9.05 logCFU/ml. Nitrogen fixers, phosphate and potassium solubilizing agents were found in all formulas. IAA concentration was 1.13-59.53 mg/l. The fertilizers produced after 30 days of fermentation and used at a dilution of 1:100 gave more than 100\% germination index showing non-phytotoxicity characteristics. The results for the hydroponic system showed that liquid fertilizer formula 3 (distillery slop: sugarcane leaves: filtrate water 1:0.1:0.25 v:w:v) and formula 5 (distillery slop: sugarcane leaves 1:0.25:0.25 v:w:v) demonstrated the best growth performance, which was similar to plants treated with liquid chemical fertilizer. Conclusion This study showed that organic liquid fertilizers formulas 3 and 5 had similar growth promotion properties as chemical fertilizers with Green Cos Lettuce. Moreover, our products are organic and serve as a rich nutrient source for the plant.
Xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are the sugars produced from xylan hydrolysis. XOS have a prebiotic characteristic by promoting the growth of probiotic microorganisms. Xylan containing agriculture wastes e.g. rice straw, sugarcane bagasse, corncobs, cassava peel and waste can be used to produce XOS by a consecutive process of alkali-pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis. In this study, we focused on enzymatic production of XOS from cassava peel and waste, which is a low cost material with a relatively high xylan content. The dried cassava peel and waste were ground and sieved to be <100 mesh size, and were then subjected to pretreatment with 0.5 \% (w/v) sodium hypochlorite solution for 5 h to remove the lignin in the sample. In the next stage, the xylan was extracted by soaking in 10\% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for 24 h, followed by adjusting the pH to pH 7 by adding 5\% (w/v) hydrochloric acid (HCl). Next, after centrifugation, the obtained filtrate was precipitated with ethanol (ratio 1:3) and dried at 80 degrees C for 48 h. The NaOH pretreatment enabled almost 4.83\% and 6.23 \% recovery of the xylan that was present in the cassava peel and waste. Next, the xylan from cassava peel and waste was hydrolyzed using endoxylanase (2.21 U/mL) from Bacillus subtilis of soil termite abdomen at pH 5 and 50 degrees C for 15 h. Analysis by TLC showed the production of XOS, with especially X5 as the major band. HPLC chromatography confirmed that the most abundant product was indeed X5. X3 and X4 were also found but no X2. The results were not so different from the hydrolysis of xylan from oat spelt xylan, but showed a relatively lower yield. (C) 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Melanodins are amino-carbonyl complex, predominantly present in sugarcane molasses based distillery wastewater as major source of colourant. The microbial decolourisation of rnelanoidin is a challenge due to its binding property with other co-pollutants of distillery waste. Results revealed that the presence of Zn2+ (2.00-20.00 mg/L) in melanoidin solution (1200 mg/L) stimulated the bacterial growth and sucrose-aspartic acid Maillard product (SAA) decolourisation as compared to control, while Fe3+ and Mn2+ at the same concentration inhibited the process. However, the presence of phenol (100 mg/L) along with Zn2+, Fe3+ and Mn2+ suppressed the bacterial growth, SAA decolourisation and MnP activity. The shrinkage and reduced number of bacterial cell count at higher concentration of heavy metals in presence of phenol was also observed under scanning electron microscope.
Xylanase constitutes an important class of hydrolases, and is used in numerous industrial applications. The aim of the present work was to study the production of xylanase from Penicillium citrinum MTCC 9620 in a 5 L stirred tank bioreactor. Effect of various process parameters; pH, temperature, aeration, agitation rates, substrate concentration, and, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration on xylanase production were studied. Combination of all the optimized parameters resulted in 2.5 times higher enzyme activity as compared to the shake flask fermentation after 96 h. Effect of varying agitation and aeration on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K(L)a) was determined. It revealed that K(L)a is influenced by both aeration and agitation. Growth kinetics of P. citrinum MTCC 9620 in bioreactor was studied using Monod, Moser, Contois and Edward equation. Based on R-2, SE and pattern of residuals, the microbial growth kinetics of R citrinum MTCC 9620 was effectively represented by Moser equation.
The intracellular enzyme xylitol dehydrogenase (XD, EC 1.1.1.9) from Candida guilliermondii, grown in sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate, was separated by reversed micelles of BDBAC {[
Cellulose can be modified for the loading of functional groups such as amino groups, sulfydryl groups, and carboxyl groups. Cellulose-modified adsorbents generally have specific adsorption capacities for either heavy metal anions or cations, and possess the advantages of wide raw material source, high modification efficiency, high adsorbent recycla-bility, and great convenience in recovery of the adsorbed heavy metals. At present, preparation of amphoteric heavy metal adsorbents from lignocellulose has attracted great attention. However, the difference in efficiency of preparing heavy metal adsorbents by modification of various plant straw materials and mechanism for the difference remain to be further explored. In this study, three plant straws, including Eichhornia crassipes (EC), sugarcane bagasse (SB) and metasequoia sawdust (MS), were sequentially modified by tetraethylene-pentamine (TEPA) and biscarboxymethyl trithiocarbonate (BCTTC) to obtain amphoteric cellulosic adsorbents (EC-TB, SB-TB and MS-TB, respectively), which can simultaneously adsorb heavy metal cations or anions. The heavy metal adsorption properties and mecha-nism before and after modification were compared. Pb(II) and Cr(VI) removal rates by the three adsorbents were 2.2-4.3 folds and 3.0-13.0 folds of those before modification, respectively, following the order of MS-TB > EC-TB > SB-TB. In the five-cycle adsorption-regeneration test, the Pb(II) and Cr(VI) removal rate by MS-TB decreased by 58.1 \% and 21.5 \%, respectively. Among the three plant straws, MS possessed the most abundant hydroxyl groups and the largest specific surface area (SSA), and accordingly MS-TB had the highest load of adsorption functional groups {[
Sugar content in rice (Oryza sativa L.) stem is an agronomically important trait for rice used in straw silage or whole-crop silage. However, the mechanisms underlying sugar accumulation in rice stems remain unclear, mainly due to the time-consuming method for measuring sugar content. Here, we established a simple method for squeezing stem juice from rice plants, similar to that used during breeding selection in sugarcane or sorghum. The Brix value of the stem juice, which can easily be measured using a portable refractometer, significantly correlated with the soluble sugar contents in the stem juice and tended to correlate with those in stem tissues. This indicates that the Brix value of the stem juice can be used for estimating the sugar content in rice stems. This simple estimation method will be a useful tool for high-throughput analysis of sugar content in rice stems during mutant screening, QTL analysis, and breeding selection.
The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of a wide range of culture conditions on production of ligninolytic enzymes by Polyporus sanguineus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Lignin peroxidase production by P. sanguineus was comparable with that of P. chrysosporium, although the culture conditions giving the highest yield varied greatly between the two fungi. Highest yield of manganese peroxidase by P. sanguineus obtained in 0.5\% mail extract medium and peptone or malt extract supplemented mineral salts broth could not be surpassed by P. chrysosporium in any of the optimization experiments. In addition to lignin peroxidase and manganese peroxidase, P. sanguineus also produced laccase. which was best expressed in malt extract medium supplemented with sugarcane bagasse.
Lignocellulosic biomass is abundantly available in nature and is contemplated as the largest renewable resource on earth. Cellulose is a preliminary portion of the tough cell wall that surrounds the plant cells and it provides immense strength to plant stem, leaves \& branches. Cellulose is considered to be a bio-polymer that can be extracted from different agricultural waste like cotton linter, bagasse, rice husk, wheat straw, jute, etc. Reduced size of cellulose fibrils, generally known as nanocellulose (NC) which is having widths in the nanometer scale and is bio-based polymer inherited with various unique and desirable traits gaining attention among researchers. There are different methods available for the synthesis of NC from lignocellulose. Nanocellulose is having high strength, toughness, high crystallinity, thermal stability, and stiffness, which paved the way for the plethora of applications in various sectors. Driven by high surface area and the presence of a large number of hydroxyl groups, it allows diverse surface modifications on the surface of nanocellulose which in turn leads to the design of various advanced functional materials. This review article outlined the recent progress made in the synthesis, characterization, and potential applications of nanocellulose derived from various lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks. Several surface modification routes such as esterification, amidation, silylation, etherification, and carbamation are also discussed which can be used to design nanocellulose based advanced materials for various advanced applications.
Jaggery (also called organic sugar) is a concentrated product of sugarcane juice that is produced in rural communities in the highlands and jungle of Peru. In the last few years there has been an increase in the exports of jaggery and higher volumes of production are required driving this activity from a rural process with small production to an industry seeking greater productivity. In this framework, optimization of the use of energy becomes essential for the proper development of the process of production and the correct performance of the involved equipment. Open heat exchangers made of stainless steel are used in the production of jaggery. These heat exchangers containing sugarcane juice are placed over a flue gas duct. The thermal energy contained in the gas is used to evaporate the water contained in the sugarcane juice thickening the juice and after evaporating almost all the water, a pasty crystalline yellow substance is left in the boiling pan which becomes solid after cooling, this is the jaggery. The modeling and simulation of heat transfer between the combustion gases and the juice is very important in order to improve the thermal efficiency of the process. It permits to know with a high level of detail the physical phenomena of heat transfer occurring from bagasse combustion flue gases to sugarcane juice. This paper presents the results of the numerical simulation of heat transfer phenomena in the open heat exchangers and those results are compared to field measured data. Numerical results about temperature drop of flue gases in the several locations of the jaggery furnace are in good accordance with field measurements, validating the predictive capacity that Computational Fluid Dynamics model offers in the detailed representation of the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of such furnace, ensuring the design of future jaggery installations with higher thermal efficiency and sugarcane production. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ethanol production from sugarcane is an exothermic process. The heat generated during the fermentation is removed by heat exchangers, using cooling water. However, it is difficult to keep the fermentation process close to the optimum yeast temperature, especially in hot months. In this work, extractive fermentation with CO2 stripping was evaluated as a way to overcome this operational problem besides reducing the water demand in the process. A mathematical model was developed to describe conventional and extractive fed-batch ethanol fermentation processes. Simulations were performed to determine the effect of different gas flow rates on heat removal from fermentations at different must substrate concentrations (Csm). With a Csm of 285.7 g/L and a CO2 flow rate of 0.7 vvm, the consumption of cooling water in the extractive fermentation decreased by up to 62.1\% compared to the conventional process, keeping the broth temperature constant. Thus, the potential of this technique to increase the total ethanol content and reduce the cooling water consumption was demonstrated. Furthermore, there were decreases in the amount of vinasse and steam consumption in the distillation step.
Biochar-amended soils influence the degradation of herbicides depending on the pyrolysis temperature, application rate, and feedstock used. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of sugarcane straw biochar (BC) produced at different pyrolysis temperatures (350 \& DEG;C, 550 \& DEG;C, and 750 \& DEG;C) and application rates in soil (0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 5, and 10\% w/w) on metribuzin degradation and soil microbiota. Detection analysis of metribuzin in the soil to find time for 50\% and 90\% metribuzin degradation (DT50 and DT90) was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Soil microbiota was analyzed by respiration rate (C-CO2), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and metabolic quotient (qCO(2)). BC350 \& DEG;C-amended soil at 10\% increased the DT50 of metribuzin from 7.35 days to 17.32 days compared to the unamended soil. Lower application rates (0.1\% to 1.5\%) of BC550 \& DEG;C and BC750 \& DEG;C decreased the DT50 of metribuzin to similar to 4.05 and similar to 5.41 days, respectively. BC350 \& DEG;C-amended soil at high application rates (5\% and 10\%) provided high C-CO2, low MBC fixation, and high qCO(2). The addition of low application rates (0.1\% to 1.5\%) of sugarcane straw biochar produced at high temperatures (BC550 \& DEG;C and BC750 \& DEG;C) resulted in increased metribuzin degradation and may influence the residual effect of the herbicide and weed control efficiency.
In this study, the efficiency of biochar (BC) produced from sugarcane bagasse at different pyrolysis temperatures (300, 400, 500 and 600 degrees C) for simultaneous removal of Cd-II, Pb-II, Cu-II, Cr-III, Ni-II and Zn-II ions from aqueous solutions was assessed. All BC were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (C-13 NMR) and pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS). The effects of pyrolysis temperature, initial adsorbate concentration and adsorbent dosage on adorption capacity of BC were examined through batch experiments. The BC efficiency was also evaluated after a desorption cycle. The maximal adsorptions (C-II: 51.50\%. Crm: 74.35\%. Cu-III: 91.18\%, Ni-II: 47.05\%. Pb-II: 96.17\% and Zn-II: 40.50\%) were observed for BC produced at 500 degrees C, probably because of its higher porosity and presence of functional groups detected by SEM and FTIR. The maximum adsorption capacity for Cd-II, Cr-III, Cu-II, Ni-II and Zn-II (ions fitted to Langmuir model) were 175, 303, 455. 156 and 128 mu g g(-1). respectively. The predominance of phenolic groups observed in Py-GC-MS data may explain the high percentage of multi-element removal. Experimental data were best fitted to pseudo-second order, Sips and Freundlich models. The BC presented good removal results after a desorption cycle.
Coffee is one of the most important commodities worldwide. The industrial processing of coffee cherries generates a considerable volume of by-products such as wastewater, coffee pulp, mucilage, and husk. These by-products have sugars and nutrients that can be converted into value-added products via microbial action. In this study, for the first time, we evaluated the potential of coffee pulp and coffee wastewater as substrate for alcoholic fermentation produce a distilled beverage. The must composed by dry or wet coffee pulp and coffee wastewater added of commercial sucrose or sugarcane molasses was fermented by S. cerevisiae. After a screening step, a larger fermentation was carried out with the wet pulp added of sucrose due to its higher alcoholic fermentation efficiency. The distilled beverage contained 38\% (v/v) ethanol and 0.2 g/L of acetic acid. The contaminants furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural and ethyl carbamate were below detection level. Among the 48 volatile compounds detected, the majority (21) were ethyl esters usually associated with floral and sweet aromas. Ethyl decanoate (996.88 mu g/L) and ethyl dodecanoate (1088.09 mu g/L) were the most abundant esters. Coffee spirit presented taste acceptance of 80\% and sugarcane spirit, 70\%. The tasters indicated an aroma acceptance of 86\% for the coffee spirit and 78\% for the sugarcane spirit. The results of this work demonstrate the potential for using coffee by-products to produce a good quality distilled beverage. Considering our results, especially sensorial analysis, we can infer that the produced coffee beverage represents a new alternative for adding value to the coffee production chain.
This work is devoted to the separation of polyphenols and proteins, extracted from flaxseed hulls. The separation comprised two steps: (i) coagulation of proteins by adjustment of pH and subsequent centrifugation, and (ii) ultrafiltration of supernatants. The value of pH, used for extract coagulation, varied from 13.2 to 3.0. Ultrafiltration experiments were carried out in the concentration mode (up to the final volume reduction factor of 7.5) using a batch dead-end stirred filtration cell and hydrophilic polyethersulfone membranes with nominal molecular weight cut-off 30 kDa. The impact of pH on the efficiency of protein coagulation and filtration steps of polyphenol purification was investigated and optimal conditions of purification were determined. The purity of polyphenols in filtrate increased from 33.6\% to 56.0\% after coagulation and centrifugation at pH = 4.4, and it was additionally increased to 76.6\% after the ultrafiltration. The impact of pH on filtration rate decline and rejection of polyphenols and proteins was demonstrated. Filtration rate decreased and filtrate purity increased as pH decreased from 13.2 to 4.4. The decrease of filtration rate at lower values of pH was explained by formation of a less permeable filter cake of residual proteins. It was demonstrated that filter cake formation significantly increased the selectivity and resulted in a better filtrate quality. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Many plant species that are known as silicon (Si) accumulators can form a so-called phytolith (silicified structure) within their organs. Together with organic matter, potassium (K) has also been found in phytolith structures (phytK). Annually, billions of tons of Si-rich biomass wastes are cycled in agricultural and natural systems worldwide. However, the fate of the phytolith and its phytK have not been fully understood. This study aims to examine the dynamic release of phytK from phytoliths of reed, rice straw, maize and sugarcane leaf samples. Phytoliths obtained from the biomasses by performing heat treatment at 600 degrees C were used for batch kinetic experiments. The phytK was found to have 26.3 +/- 10.6, 98.9 +/- 17.4, 24.9 +/- 14.8 and 58.8 +/- 13.9 mg Kg(-1) for the reed, rice straw, sugarcane and maize leaves, respectively. These phytK amounts comprised at least >45\% of the total K budgets in the biomasses and they were observed to be gradually released with time. The retardation of phytK was tightly related to the dissolution rate of phytoliths. The findings highlight that phytoliths carry certain amounts of K, potentially serving as a slow-release K source for soil and crops. Additionally, this short communication suggests a premise for the development of refinery strategies or extending the range of agronomic options for billions of tons of Si-rich biomass wastes worldwide. (c) 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley \& Sons, Ltd
The present study aims to investigate the co-pyrolysis behaviors, kinetics and thermodynamics of spirulina microalgae, sugarcane bagasse and waste fire, and their mixtures, by means of thermogravimetric analysis. Various Isoconversional methods, specifically Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-AkahiraSunose (KAS), Starink (STK) and Vyazovkin (VYA), the compensation effect and master plots were implemented to evaluate the kinetic parameters. Furthermore, by comparing experimental and theoretical values of mass loss, it was concluded that for the microalgae-bagasse mixture, the interaction is synergistic. In other cases, inhibitive interaction has been observed. Due to fire composition and its tough structure, the fire had the highest activation energy and the addition of fire to the binary mixture increased the activation energy of ternary mixtures. The average activation energy obtained for Spirulina, bagasse and scrap fires is around 200, 90 and 230 kJ mol(-1), respectively. However, the average activation energy of their ternary mixture is approximately 165 kJ mol(-1). Thermodynamic parameters (Delta G, Delta H and Delta S) were estimated based on kinetic data using the thermogravimetric relations. The endothermic character of the pyrolysis process was proved by the positive values of Delta H, obtaining an average value of 160.5 kJ mol(-1) for the ternary mixture. The Gibbs free energy Delta G of the ternary mixture is quite uniform with the conversion, varying slightly between 173 and 176 kJ mol(-1). In contrast, Delta S depends strongly on the pyrolysis conversion, obtaining negative values for conversions below 0.4 for the ternary mixture, whereas positive values are attained for conversions above 0.6.
To improve world energy security, lignocellulosic substrates are being used to generate inexpensive renewable biofuel. Pretreatment of these biomasses is pre-requisite to obtain fermentable sugar for production of ethanol. Crystallinity, degree of polymerization, particle size, and accessible surface area of biomass often limits decrystallization of cellulose and depolymerization of hemicellulose during pretreatment. Various pretreatment technologies employed to diverse biomasses, their mechanism of action, feasibility and practicability for production of bioethanol and other bio-based products has been compared in this article. Intelligent combinatorial pretreatment approaches such as microwave-acid-alkali, ultrasound-surfactant, supercritical carbon dioxide and hot water-acid have been applied to increase sugar yield from a wide variety of feedstocks such as sugarcane bagasse, sugarcane top, corn stover, and switchgrass. Biological pretreatment using white, brown and soft rot fungi are attractive in terms of being cost effective, low energy requiring, and eco-friendly. Emphasis to optimize integrated biorefining processes, delineate pretreatment chemistries and their impact on cellulosic biomass to obtain greater yield of fuels and co-products are the highlights of this article. (c) 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 489-511, 2016
Ethylene, a ripening hormone, is critical in limiting the shelf life of fresh produce, specifically climacteric fruits and vegetables. A simple and benign fabrication approach is used to transform sugarcane bagasse, an agro-industrial waste into lignocellulosic nanofibrils (LCNF). In this investigation, biodegradable film was fabri-cated using LCNF (extracted from sugarcane bagasse) and guar gum (GG) which was reinforced with zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF)-8/zeolite. The LCNF/GG film not only acts as a biodegradable matrix to hold the ZIF-8/zeolite composite, but also possesses ethylene scavenging, antioxidant, and UV-blocking properties. The characterization results suggested that pure LCNF showed antioxidant activity of around 69.55 \%. The LCNF/ GG/MOF-4 film has shown lowest UV-transmittance (5.06 \%) and highest ethylene scavenging capacity (40.2 \%) among all the samples. After 6 days of storage at 25 \& PLUSMN; 2 degrees C, packaged control bananas samples underwent significant degradation. In contrast, a banana package consisting of LCNF/GG/MOF-4 film maintained their high quality in terms of colour. Fabricated novel biodegradable film has potential application prospects for being used in prolonging the shelf life of fresh produce.
Agro-industrial and food waste generation are increasing and alternatives are necessary for better use of these biomasses, such as conversion by liquid hot water (LHW), due to environmental and economic advantages. Moreover, it could be an alternative for the treatment of lignocellulosic biomass to produce xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and other value-added products. This study evaluated the production of XOS via LHW of industrial fruit and food waste. The application of LHW treatment showed a maximum of 32.60\% XOS and 5.07\% of xylose with banana peel residue, 8.21\% of XOS and 1.99\% of xylose with guava bagasse, 67.01\% XOS and 4.02\% xylose with orange bagasse, and 33.42\% XOS and 2.56\% xylose with restaurant residue. The results showed that the ideal conditions to obtain XOS are by using a high temperature and a low reaction time (160 degrees C and 15 min) for banana peel residue, a high temperature and medium time (172.43 degrees C and 35 min) for guava bagasse, a medium temperature and time for orange bagasse (130 degrees C and 35 min), and for restaurant waste, a medium temperature and a low reaction time (130 degrees C and 6.72 min). The best residue was orange bagasse with potential XOS production of 208 kg per ton of the material. This study determined LHW conditions that maximized XOS production with a low amount of xylose and degradation products, probably with no need for purification. However, attention is needed for the extractives to be solubilized with the LHW treatment of industrial fruit and food waste.
In the search for a technically efficient and abundant adsorbent in water treatment processes, a bio-composite adsorbent derived from agricultural wastes has been identified as a potential candidate. In this study, eggshells and sugarcane bagasse were combined in varied proportions (1:0, 1:3, 1:1, 3:1 and 0:1) and applied as biosorbents in a lab-scale adsorption column. The effect of bed depth (4-12 cm) of the biosorbents was investigated which enabled the prediction of breakthrough curves for the removal of Pb (II) ions. The life span of the column was extended by increasing the bed depth of the column. The binary adsorbent of 1:3 weight ratio of <75 mu m particle size showcased the highest removal efficiency of 91\% at a bed depth of 12 cm. The mass transfer zone (MTZ) increased with increasing bed depth with a minor portion of the bed left unused, signifying that the process was highly efficient. The Thomas model constant, K-Th, decreased with increasing bed depth with the maximum amount of Pb adsorbed being 28.27 mg/g. With the Yoon-Nelson model, K-YN decreased with an increase in tau as the bed height increased. In this study, a novel approach was adopted where the proposed methodology enabled the use of a bio-composite adsorbent in heavy metal removal. The findings of this research will aid in the design and optimisation of the pilot-scale operation of environmentally friendly treatment options for metal laden effluent.
Pyrolysis products, such as aqueous phase of bio-oil, bio-oil, and biochar, prepared from biomass sugarcane leaves, wheat straw, rice husk, and pine needles were evaluated for wheat seed germination. It was observed that the seeds exposed to pure bio-oil and aqueous phase of bio-oil had acquired inhibitory growth properties, whereas the seeds treated with biochar showed enhanced growth characteristics. When comparing wheat biochar to other biochars, the maximum number of roots was observed at 2 mg/mL biochar concentration. Biochemical evaluation of wheat seeds treated with 2 mg/mL wheat biochar revealed higher GA(3), beta-amylase, reducing sugar, and total dehydrogenase activities, while there was a reduction in alpha-amylase activity and starch in the first 20 h after seed imbibitions. The GC-MS of wheat straw biochar extract detected karrikin-like compounds 2,3-Dihydro-benzofuran, Oxirane {[
Single-crystalline alpha-MoO3 microbelts with a preferred orientation of (0k0) planes are fabricated by a biological template approach using sugarcane bagasse as template. Benefiting from the excellent crystallinity and preferred orientation, single-crystalline alpha-MoO3 microbelts show not only an improved electrochemical performance in terms of reversible capacity and rate capability (302 mAhg(-1) and 99.4 mAhg(-1) at 100 mAg(-1) and 2000 mAg(-1), respectively), but also an excellent cycling stability (89\% of the initial discharge capacity retaining after 200 cycles), thus demonstrating a very high potential for use as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries. This biological template approach could be applied to preparation of other electrode materials for a broad variety of application. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ligno(hemi)cellulosics (L(h)Cs) as sugarcane bagasse and loblolly pine sawdust are currently being used to produce biofuels such as bioethanol and biobutanol through fermentation of free sugars that are often obtained enzymatically. However, this bioconversion requires a pretreatment to solubilize the hemicellulose fractions, thus facilitating the action of the cellulolytic enzymes. Instead of the main free monosaccharides used in these current models, the modulation of thermopressurized orthophosphoric acid as a pretreatment, in the ranges of 3-12 atm and pH 1.5-2.5, can produce nondigestible oligosaccharides (NDOS) such as xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) because heteroxylan is present in both types of hardwood and softwood hemicelluloses. A comparative thin-layer chromatographic analysis of the hydrolytic products showed the best conditions for NDOS production to be 7 atm/water, pH 2.25 and 2.50, and 8.5 atm/water for both sources. Particular hydrolysates from 7 atm (171 A degrees C) at pHs 2.25 and 2.50 both for cane bagasse and pine sawdust, with respective oligosaccharide contents of 57 and 59 \%, once mixed in a proportion of 1:1 for each plant source, were used in vitro as carbon sources for Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillus. Once both bacteria attained the stationary phase of growth, an unforeseen feature emerged: the preference of B. animalis for bagasse hydrolysates and, conversely, the preference of L. casei for pine hydrolysates. Considering the fact that nutraceutical oligosaccharides from both hemicelluloses correspond to higher value-added byproducts, the technology using a much diluted thermopressurized orthophosphoric acid pretreatment becomes an attractive choice for L(h)Cs.
India is a developing economy, and an energy-hungry state. With its ever increasing demand for fuel, India is the fourth largest consumer of crude oil in the world and imports 70\% of its total demand. Also, to reduce the carbon footprint, the search is on for eco-friendly and renewable sources of energy. In India, one such unconventional fuel is ethanol produced from sugarcane molasses and blended with gasoline for use as biofuel. In this paper, the authors propose an entrepreneurial project to produce ethanol from maize, with an objective to develop a clean \& green source of energy and to give a boost to the agricultural economy. Maize is the third most important crop in India, with approximate 85\% of areal coverage. It has applications in adhesives, food industry, beverages and breweries for producing ethanol. Ethanol produced from maize has advantages over sugarcane, as the fibrous byproduct makes an excellent animal feedstock and can be further processed for the production of corn starch and syrup, to maximize the profit. The present paper suggests an entrepreneurial opportunity for commercial production of ethanol from maize directly purchased from farmers, creating a win-win scenario for farmers as well as the enterprise.
The objective of this study was to verify the efficiency of different additives on chemical composition, pH, ethanol production, content of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), nutritional losses during fermentation, and changes in fibrous fractions, in the levels of non-fibrous and total carbohydrates during the sugar cane silage fermentation process with different additives. The treatments consisted of control (no additive); corn meal, at 10\% of natural matter; molasses, at 10\% of natural matter; urea, at 2\% of natural matter; and microbial inoculant for sugarcane silage (Lactobacillus plantarum, Kera-Sil (R)) in a proportion of 2 g L-1 of water using a 2 liter solution per ton of ensilage. The experimental design was a completely randomized design with five treatments and five replications. The urea treatment provided the best preparation of silage, taking into account the pH and bromatological composition when compared to silages made with the other tested additives, and the control. The sugarcane silage showed a loss of 5.86\% on average of dry matter, not differing from others additives used. There was an increase in crude protein content when urea was used. There was no difference between the treatment for fiber losses in neutral detergent and total digestible nutrients.
In Brazil, bioethanol is produced by sucrose fermentation from sugarcane by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in a fed-batch process that uses high density of yeast cells (15-25 \% of wet weight/v) and high sugar concentration (18-22 \% of total sugars). Several research efforts have been employed to improve the efficiency of this process through the isolation of yeasts better adapted to the Brazilian fermentation conditions. Two important wild strains named CAT-1 and PE-2 were isolated during the fermentation process and were responsible for almost 60 \% of the total ethanol production in Brazil. However, in the last decade the fermentative substrate composition was much modified, since new sugar cane crops were developed, the use of molasses instead of sugar cane juice increase and with the prohibition of burning of sugarcane prior harvest. As consequence, these previously isolated strains are being replaced by new wild yeasts in most of ethanol plants. In this new scenario the isolation of novel better adapted yeasts with improved fermentative characteristics is still a big challenge. Here, we discuss the main aspects of Brazilian ethanol production and the efforts for the selection, characterization and genetic modifications of new strains with important phenotypic traits such as thermotolerance. (C) 2017 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The response of concrete with waste materials under impact loading are explored through detailed literature review. The effect of percentage of waste incorporation, size of waste aggregate, volume fraction of fibre and size of fibre is reviewed in terms of energy absorption, failure mode, dynamic compression and tension under three commonly used impact tests. Based on the survey, the benefits and significance of waste materials on incorporation of concrete is presented. The better performance was observed for the use of hybrid fibres over individual fibres even at high volume additions. It was suggested for potential usage of eco-friendly concrete using recycled coarse aggregate and rubber particles for roadways, walkways, highway barriers and protective structures against impact loading. The rubber particles up to 15\% for coarse aggregate replacement in concrete have been recommended under low velocity impact loading. The coir fibres have absorbed highest impact energy with maximum value for 2\% fibre volume and 40 mm fibre length and it has highest residual impact strength ratio among other natural fibres. The suggested future areas of research of waste materials on concrete under dynamic loading are rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse ash, waste foundry sand, sugarcane and nylon fibres.
Global concerns about depletion of fossil reserves has driven countries towards bio-economies utilising mostly first generation feedstocks. The economic viability of energy self-sufficient biorefineries processing sugarcane lignocelluloses into sorbitol or glucaric acid and electricity was investigated. Aspen Plus (R) simulations represented glucose conversion processes via SO2-steam explosion or dilute acid pre-treatment, followed by enzymatic hydrolysis. The most economically viable sorbitol scenario using dilute acid pretreatment with a capital investment cost per litre of US\$ 3.96/L was marginally profitable having a selling price 5\% below the US\$ 655/t market price. To secure private investment, the sorbitol selling price should reach US\$ 1283/t.
The role of soil-borne microalgae in the edaphic ecosystem is barely known, especially concerning their plant-growth-promoting traits, although they are used as biofertilizers. In this study, a microalgal strain isolated from soil cultivated with maize was evaluated as an exogenous producer of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in potato dextrose broth-PD-and sugarcane molasses, with or without tryptophan, and phosphate solubilizer (in `National Botanical Research Institute's phosphate'-NBRIP-medium with tricalcium phosphate)with plant-growth-promoting traits, under heterotrophic conditions. The species of microalga was identified, by sequencing the ITS region in the rDNA and the morphological characteristics, as Chlorella vulgaris. Its growth was significantly higher in the PD medium, with slower growth in molasses. The addition of tryptophan did not influence the growth of C. vulgaris in either medium, but it increased the production of IAA, mainly in the PD medium, to 265 mu g mL(-1). The microalga grew in the medium with insoluble phosphate, releasing phosphorus into the medium (30 mg L-1 after 72 h). This is the first study on the application of C. vulgaris as a phosphate solubilizer. More studies should be performed on C. vulgaris as a prospective plant-growth-promoting microorganism, besides its ability to produce exogenous IAA, and further investigations should be conducted on developing inexpensive culture media.
In the present scenario to fulfill the demands of sustainable construction, concrete made with multi-blended cement system of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and different mineral admixtures is the wise choice for the construction industry. In this research work, M20 grade mix of concrete (with water-binder ratio as 0.48) is adopted with glass powder (GP) and SugarCane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) as partial replacement of cement. GP is an inert material, they occupy the landfill space for considerable amount of time unless there is a potential for recycling. Such glass wastes in the crushed form have a good potential in the infrastructure industry. Replacement of cement by GP from 30\% to 0\% by weight of cement in step of 5\% and by SCBA from 0\% to 30\% in step of 5\% respectively was adopted. In total, seven different combinations of mixes were studied at two different ages of concrete namely 7 and 28 days. Compressive strength of cubes for various percentage of replacement were investigated and compared with conventional concrete to find out the maximum mix ratio. Flexural strength of concrete for the maximum mix ratio was found out and durability parameters viz., water absorption and sorptivity were studied. From the experimental study, 20\% SCBA and 10\% GP combination was found to be the maximum mix ratio.
The focus of this study was to develop manually compressed interlocking mud bricks and study their compressive strength. For this purpose, mud bricks were manufactured incorporating wheat straw (1-4\% by weight of soil) and rice husk (1-5\% by weight of soil). Furthermore, mud bricks were also manufactured using lime (12\%, 15\% and 19\% by weight of soil) and a combination of wheat straw and rice husk, named straw husk (1-4\% by weight of soil) as an additive. To investigate the strength and failure pattern of interlocking mud bricks, compressive strength testing was performed. The control mud bricks showed shrinkage cracks, but no signs of shrinkage cracking were observed in specimens incorporating fibres (wheat straw, rice husk and straw husk). A decrease in compressive strength was observed with increasing content of fibres in the mud brick specimens. However, interlocking mud bricks incorporating fibres fulfilled the minimum strength requirements of different standards for mud bricks. A decrease in compressive strength of the mud bricks was also observed when using lime as an additive. Nevertheless, interlocking mud bricks incorporating lime (up to 19\%) satisfied the minimum strength requirement of the Turkish standard. Therefore, interlocking mud bricks incorporating fibres and lime can be used in earthen construction, leading towards sustainable structures.
The problem of modelling, operation and optimization of a dilute acid pretreatment reactor for lignocellulosic biomass is addressed. A continuous reactor model is developed based on rigorous mass and energy balances, including a complete kinetic mechanism. The process design and operation are studied through steady state and dynamic analysis, together with an optimization problem that maximizes the reaction rates of the sugar production and of lignin elimination. The sugarcane bagasse as lignocellulosic biomass is considered as case study. The results are presented in terms of yields of fermentable sugars and reaction times, defining operating ranges for an efficient continuous process. The methodology also gives guidelines to: improve experimental design, optimize the operating conditions and control the pretreatment process; reducing costs and effort of research and development.
The approach using polyoxometalate (POM) as biomass oxidation catalysts and charge carriers in a flow fuel cell (FFC) is of great interest as it can directly convert biomass to electricity. However, the fundamentals, such as POM charge and discharge characteristics, electrode overpotentials, the regeneration of POMs in both cathode and anode cells, have not been understood. Studies focused on these fundamentals are critically important for improving the performance of these fuel cells. Herein, we constructed a POM-mediated biomass redox flow fuel cell (BRFFC) that generated power density as high as 42 mW cm(-2) directly from various high-moisture contented raw biomass fuels, such as wheat straw, sugarcane, corn cob, green corn stover, and peanut shells. Different from previous studies, a new design of the flow fuel cell was constructed by inserting a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. This new design is unique because the discharging process, electrode overpotential, and electrochemical kinetics can be investigated in situ, which provides a deeper fundamental understanding of the biomass flow fuel cell. The results indicate that the POM discharging at the cathode electrode rather than the anode plays a key role in the entire flow fuel cell performance. The energy analysis shows that the biomass flow fuel cell used in this study can generate maximum net energy 2.33 MJ (647 Wh) by consuming 1 kg of 59.5\% moistured wheat straw.
Bacteria and wild yeasts contamination is usually observed during fuel ethanol fermentation. Moreover, it is known that sucrose (the main carbohydrate in sugarcane juice) is breakdown into glucose and fructose by the yeast enzyme invertase, but hydrolysis is much faster than hexoses metabolism, resulting in monosaccharides accumulation which exerts osmotic stress on yeast and growth of Lactobacillus contaminants. Nonetheless, the knowledge about the effect of invertase enzyme on these contaminants is still scarce, especially because the wort composition can differ from exclusive sugarcane juice to a mixture of juice and molasses. Invertase activity and viability of five strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (PE-2, BG-1, CAT-1, FLE and IZ-1904) were quantified and correlated with bacterial contamination in fermentations with biomass recycling. Invertase activity was verified to be, in ascending order: CAT-1 <PE-2 <BG-1 <IZ-1904 <FLE. However, PE-2 and BG-1 were the strains that showed higher ethanol yield (\%) in all fermentation cycles except for the first one, and although the yeasts FLE and IZ-1904 exhibited the lowest viabilities, they were not followed by an increase in bacterial proliferation. Thus, the results indicated that the yeast invertase activity does not influence the levels of contamination by Lactobacillus fermentum
This work aims to contribute to the development of a viable technology for the production of xylitol from sugarcane bagasse hemicellulose hydrolysate, using a fluidized bed bioreactor with yeast cells of Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037. To evaluate the technical viability of this biotechnological process, simple batch fermentations were realized according to a 2(3) factorial design with three center points. Furthermore, the influence of the variables fluidization flux, hydrolysate concentration factor and air flow on process yield and volumetric productivity were evaluated. The results obtained showed that only an increase in fluidization flux had a positive influence on process yield and volumetric productivity. This is due to better oxygen transfer to the inside of the cell, leading to increased xylose consumption and xylitol production rates.
This paper summarizes the main results of a study on the costs of abatement of CO2 emissions in Brazil. It discusses three possible futures for the long run (2010 and 2025) activity of the Brazilian economy and - with the help of a linear programming model for Brazil's energy sector - three scenarios for energy production and use. One of these scenarios illustrates the possibility of halving future carbon emissions originating from energy generation and consumption, with relatively small increases in energy associated costs and investments. This abatement scenario would require, on the supply side of the Brazilian energy balance, increased amounts of hydropower, ethanol and bagasse from sugarcane, plus wood and charcoal from reforestation programs, as well as strong measures to promote energy conservation.
Novel adsorbents were produced through the grinding of biochars of different feedstock and pyrolysis temperature in a planetary ball mill. The removal effectiveness and mechanisms of aqueous methylene blue by these adsorbents were examined. Ball milled sugarcane bagasse biomass pyrolyzed at 450 degrees C (BMBG450) had the highest methylene blue sorption capacity thus was chosen for further study. Compared to unmilled bagasse biochar (BG450), BMBG450 had greater specific surface area, larger pore volume, smaller hydrodynamic radius, stronger negative zeta potential (about 1.6-fold increase), and more oxygen-containing functional groups (1.05 mmol/g increase). These characteristics resulted in much greater methylene blue removal capacity (354 mg/g Langmuir maximum adsorption capacity vs. 17.2 mg/g of original BG450). The increased in BM-biochar's external and internal surface areas exposed its graphitic structure and oxygen-containing functional groups, thus enhancing methylene blue adsorption via p-p interaction and electrostatic attraction. Experimental and modeling results suggest external mass transfer as the rate-limiting adsorption step for BG450 and surface diffusion as the rate-limiting adsorption step for BMBG450. BM-biochars had a lower equilibrium dosage and shorter reactor detention time when applied in a completely mixed flow reactor (CMFR).
Microbial bioremediation of spilled oil is the most sustainable and eco-friendly approach, yet the slower biodegradation rate remains a challenge for researchers. An integrated strategy of biodegradation along with a faster removal method like adsorption is one of the options available to address this challenge. In this study, we have explored the surface-induced biosorption coupled microbial biodegradation approach for effective remediation. Low-cost bagasse was used as a biosorbent and its surface hydrophobicity was improved by forming octyl self-assembled monolayers to enhance the surface-oil interactions (adsorption). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was exploited for biodegradation because of its known oil degradation and biosurfactant production abilities. An enhanced oil adsorption capacity of 6.9 +/- 0.3 g/g was obtained after surface modification of the bagasse. The rate of adsorption was 2.5 fold higher as compared to unmodified bagasse. A kinetic model is proposed for the integrated process, which agreed to simultaneous biosorption and biodegradation. The microbial oil biodegradation rate was improved by 17 fold in the case of the integrated process. This integrated approach was found to synergistically improve the overall remediation of crude oil, which was also correlated with alkane hydroxylase activity and biosurfactant production. Preadsorbed oil on hydrophobic bagasse improved oil availability for the adhered microbes. Further, the synthesis of biosurfactant amended the biodegradation process. Hence, in the foreseeable future, hydrophobic biosorbents with excellent adsorption capacity, stability, and reusability shall be potential carriers for the bioremediation of contaminated sites.Y
An overview of the characterization of biomass sugarcane bagasse, peanut shell and black grape peel for application of biofuels, based on laboratory tests. Initially a general explanation of the development of gasification for the production of synthetic natural gas from alternative sources, such as biomass, which can be converted from solid to gaseous fuel, passing through a process of purification through adsorption in a fixed bed system. The adsorbent was evaluated through BET, BJH, pH, humidity and ignition loss analyzes. The results of the combined gasification capacity of the adsorption column for the cleaning of the produced fuel gas and adsorption of the H2S were analyzed. The biomass results were discussed in terms of the energy potential as fuel based on the principal component analysis (PCA).
Carbon mitigation options have been measured neglecting the role that fossil fuels play as energy sources. For instance, producing wood or storing carbon would not have a cyclical effect on energy supply. This study suggests an approach to measure the carbon offset of biofuels, regarding the concept of exergy on carbon mitigation and the area required to provide the equivalent amount of exergy from fossil fuels. Sugarcane and eucalyptus were considered as mitigation alternatives within five distinct scenarios for biofuel production in a broad technological range. All scenarios were compared with four fossil fuels: diesel oil, pure gasoline, and two gasoline-ethanol blends. In general, sugarcane presented smaller specific exergy, but higher exergy output than eucalyptus, on average for all scenarios, mainly due to its higher yearly crop yield. On average, both crops require from 20\% to 30\% more area to synthesize the same amount of exergy than the required area to mitigate the mass of carbon dioxide emitted from commercial fuels. Higher efficiency can be reached with higher crop yields, such as collecting remaining biomass after harvest rather than leaving it in the field. Another option is to reduce moisture content on solid fuels, such as wood and straw. On average, each Mg ha(-1) increased in yield would result in an additional output of 4.5 GJ ha(-1). Besides, for each percentage of moisture content reduced in solid fuels, there would be an increase of exergy output of 1 GJ ha(-1). (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The production of biodiesel from conventional oilseed crops (e.g., soybean) is limited by the low productivity of oil per hectare. Oilcane (derived from sugarcane) holds the potential to improve vegetable oil production in agriculture to help meet projected demand for oil-based biofuels. However, the financial viability of oilcane-derived biofuels remains uncertain, with key questions centered on the technical feasibility of vegetative oil recovery and the economic/environmental implications of designing integrated biorefineries to process multiple oil-rich feedstocks. To address these questions, two biorefinery configurations producing biodiesel and ethanol were evaluated: (i) direct cogeneration of heat and power from bagasse (lower oil recovery) and (ii) an integrated, single-step co-fermentation of both extruded juice and bagasse hydrolysate (higher oil recovery). Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses demonstrated the sustainability gains of improved oil recovery, higher feedstock oil content, and the integration of oil-sorghum processing when oilcane is not in season. For the direct cogeneration and co-fermentation configurations, Monte Carlo simulations resulted in maximum feedstock purchase prices of 34.7 {[
The purpose of this study was to enhance the antimicrobial activity of bagasse paper by coating the paper with bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) and using it to accelerate the process of wound healing. Paper sheets were prepared from sugarcane waste (bagasse). First, the paper sheets were coated with different Bi2O3 concentrations to improve the antimicrobial activity of the paper. After that, the paper sheets were allowed to dry in an oven at 50 \& DEG;C for 3 h. Then, in vitro antimicrobial activity was evaluated against different microbial species, including Gram-negative bacteria (i.e., Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes). The obtained results showed that the paper coated with 25\% and 100\% Bi2O3 had activity against all models of bacteria; however, the paper coated with 100\% Bi2O3 composite had the strongest inhibitory effect. Then, bagasse paper was coated with 100\% Bi2O3 and different antibiotics, to investigate their wound-healing potency in a wounded rat model for 14 days. Moreover, the paper coated with 100\% Bi2O3 inhibited the cellular migration in vitro. Conclusively, coating paper with Bi2O3 enhances the wound-healing potential when applied to wounds. This impact could be ascribed to Bi2O3's broad antibacterial activity, which reduced infection and accelerated the healing process.
SCREENING OF ORGANIC SUPPORTS AND ACTIVATION PROTOCOLS FOR IMMOBILIZATION AND STABILIZATION OF LIPASE FROM Thermomyces lanuginosus. Lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was covalently immobilized on activated poly-hydroxybutyrate, sugarcane bagasse and the chemically modified hybrid hydrogel chitosan-alginate prepared by different strategies. Among the tested supports, chitosan-alginate chemically modified with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid rendered derivatives with the highest hydrolytic activity and thermal-stability, 45-fold more stable than soluble lipase and was then selected for further studies. The pH of maximum activity was similar for both immobilized and free lipase (pH 8.0) while optimum temperature was 5 - 10 degrees C higher for the immobilized lipase. Higher yields in the butyl butyrate synthesis were found for the derivatives prepared by activation with glycidol and epichlorohydrin.
The aim of this work was to compare the production of 6-pentyl-alpha-pyrone (6-PP), a compound which has a strong coconut-like aroma, by Trichoderma harzianum in liquid and in solid state cultivation (LC and SSC). The same liquid medium was used to impregnate sugarcane pith bagasse, used as support in SSC. The maximum concentration of 6-PP produced by T. harzianum in SSC was 2.8 mg (g dry cell mass)(-1) equivalent to 0.9 g l(-1) of impregnation medium, which is 17 times higher than that obtained in LC. The glucose consumed to yield 6-PP in SSC was 52 mg (g glucose)(-1), eight times higher than that found in LC. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
The immobilization of S. passalidarum in calcium alginate beads for second-generation ethanol production (2G ethanol) was evaluated in a medium that simulated a hemicellulosic hydrolysate of sugarcane bagasse pretreated with diluted sulfuric acid in terms of sugar composition. Three sets of sequential batch fermentations (SBF) were carried out with free cells or immobilized cells in high (HSC) and moderate (MSC) initial sugar concentration (120 and 70 g/L, respectively). SBF were characterized by five consecutive batches performed in shaker, at 30 degrees C and 110 rpm. Better results were observed for the SBF with immobilized cells in MSC medium when compared to HSC (Y'(P/S) of 0.27 +/- 0.02 and 0.19 +/- 0.03 g/g, respectively), in the second batch cycle. The value for Y-P/S in MSC was similar to the obtained with free cells (0.30 +/- 0.02 to 0.33 +/- 0.02 g/g). However, Q(P) was lower for MSC with immobilized cells, reaching 0.81 +/- 0.04 g/L.h in the second batch, while for free cells the Q(P) varied from 1.06 +/- 0.02 to 1.16 +/- 0.22 g/L.h. A technique for determining the concentration of immobilized cells in the alginate beads was applied, which made it possible to determine the specific rates for the SBF performed. According to the results obtained, it was possible to demonstrate that S. passalidarum can be immobilized in calcium alginate and reused through SBF, with performance similar to free cells, which can be a good strategy for fermentation of hemicellulosic hydrolysates.
The cloned poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis pathway from Alcaligenes eutrophus has been introduced into sucrose-utilizing strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, and Klebsiella oxytoca. The plasmid-borne genes were well expressed in these environments and were able to mediate the production of significant amounts of PHB when the bacteria were grown with sucrose as the sole carbon source. The molecular weight of the PHB polymer made in K. aerogens and E. coli was approximately 1 x 10(6) to 2 x 10(6). Sucrose uptake in K. aerogenes was measured and found to be similar to that found for other Klebsiella strains, but sucrose uptake in the E. coli strain was not detectable. K. aerogenes is able to utilize sugarcane molasses as the sole carbon source to accumulate PHB at the rate of approximately 1 g of PHB per liter of culture fluid per h. A K. oxytoca fadR strain was able to incorporate 3-hydroxyvalerate into a poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-co-V) polymer to levels as high as 56 mol\% when grown in a medium containing propionate. Total PHB-co-V levels could be enhanced by adding propionate at the beginning of stationary phase rather than at the time of inoculation.
The increased environmental impact and sustainability issues related to conventional food packaging have gained attention and led to a global concern. The massive consumption of conventional food packaging has increased disposal of non-eco-friendly packaging waste, severely damaging the environment. The replacement by sustainable packaging is an important alternative to reduce the enormous volume of plastic waste. In this work, bionanocomposite films composed of PBAT/PLA blend and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) extracted from agrowaste were investigated. Characterization of CNCs confirmed that nanocrystals were obtained. Bio-nanocomposite films presented better hydrophobic character and thermal stability than the blend film. In addition, the tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus was around 52\%, 29\%, and 118\%, respectively, higher than blend films. These mechanical values were comparable to values of commercial plastic materials that are extensively used in food packaging. Thus, the prepared bionanocomposite films might be an interesting alternative to produce sustainable food packaging materials.
Genome sequence of Paenibacillus polymyxa ND25 isolated from cow rumen is reported for being a potential candidate in hydrolysis of lignocellulosic plant biomass. Draft genome sequence generated 5.73 Mb data containing 4922 putative protein coding genes, of which 140 are annotated for glycoside hydrolases. P. polymyxa ND25 strain comprises diverse lignocellulolytic components, especially 12 cellulase along with 23 hemicellulases and 11 esterases, signifying its potential for lignocellulose hydrolysis. Subsequent enzyme assay exhibited the potential of strain to produce 0.49, 0.24 and 0.44 U/ml U/ml of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and beta-glucosidase, respectively, utilizing sugarcane bagasse as the sole carbon source. This study signifies the efficient application of P. polymyxa ND25 for facilitating plant-biomass utilization.
While the incineration of biomass residues is gaining traction as a globally available source of renewable energy, the resulting ash is often landfilled, resulting in the disposal of what could otherwise be used in value-added products. This research focuses on the beneficial use of predominantly rice husk and sugarcane bagasse-based mixed biomass ashes, obtained from two paper mills in northern India. A cementitious binder was formulated from biomass ash, clay, and hydrated lime (70:20:10 by mass, respectively) using 2M NaOH solution at a liquid-to-solid mass ratio of 0.40. Compressive strength of the biomass ash binder increased linearly with compaction pressure, indicating the role of packing density. Between the two mixed biomass ashes used in this study, the one with higher amorphous content resulted in a binder with higher strength and denser reaction product. Multi-faceted characterization of the biomass ash binder indicated the presence of aluminum-substituted calcium silicate hydrate, mainly derived from the pozzolanic reaction. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) is an abundant renewable resource that can be used to produce fuels and chemicals. Valorization of LCB is, however, a challenge due to its recalcitrant nature posed by the strongly interlinked cellulose-lignin-hemicellulose structures. A range of physicochemical and biological LCB pretreatment methods has been reported in the literature for enhancing its bioutilization. In this work, we used hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) based on vortex devices as a chemical-free, environmentally friendly LCB pretreatment method to enhance biomethane production. A bench scale pretreatment setup using a vortex-based cavitation device was established for the pretreatment of two common LCBs: grass silage (GS) and sugar cane bagasse (SCB). Dried and powdered feedstocks were used in all the experiments. HC was carried out by operating the cavitation device at a flow rate of similar to 1.5 m(3)/h. The feedstocks before and after pretreatment were characterized for morphological and compositional differences using a range of analytical techniques. Liquid phase products produced upon cavitation were also analyzed using an HPLC-RI. Biomethane potential (BMP) was measured for GS and SCB with and without pretreatment, and a first order model was used to describe the kinetics. Up to 40\% enhancement was observed in BMP after cavitation pretreatment using vortex-based devices. A brief discussion on preliminary cost considerations based on the experimentally observed enhancement in BMP is included. The results indicate significant promise of harnessing hydrodynamic cavitation-based pretreatment using vortex-based devices for enhancing biomethane production from LCB.
One of the main drawbacks in operating solid-state fermentation (SSF) bioreactors is the reduction in moisture content (MC) of the solid phase due to microbiological and physicochemical issues. Therefore, heat and mass transfer models require hygroscopic information concerning the solid substrate. This contribution addresses the study of the sorption isotherms of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and wheat bran (WB) obtained using the static gravimetric method, with temperature and water activity as the controlled variables. The Oswin model was selected to construct the sorption isotherm for SCB, and the Halsey model, modified in the present study, for WB. The Bates and Watts curvature measurements and the Box parameter bias were used to analyze the nonlinear behavior and assess the goodness of the fitting process. Fermentative assays were carried out in glass flasks for the production of endoglucanase employing the fungus Myceliophthora thermophila I-1D3b, controlling the environmental water activity, in order to assess the influence of the loss of moisture from the solid phase on fungal metabolic activity. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Ethanol demand is increasing drastically in the present time due to its blending in automotive fuels, which is desirable for getting clean exhaust and fuel sufficiency. The higher cost of cultivation of sugarcane/-beets, highly sensitive molasses rates, and ultimately instabilities in the price of ethanol have created grounds to search for an alternative source for ethanol production. Sweet sorghum has shown potential as a raw material for fuel-grade ethanol production due to its rapid growth rate and early maturity, greater water use efficiency, limited fertilizer requirement, high total value, and wide adoptability. Ethanol-producing companies, research institutions, and governments can coordinate with farmers to strategically develop value-added utilization of sweet sorghum. Fuel-grade ethanol production from sweet sorghum syrup can significantly reduce India's dependence on foreign oil and also minimize the environmental threat caused by fossil fuels.
This investigation was carried out within the Parane sedimentary basin and neighbourhood in Brazil and involved the sampling of different water types with the purpose of evaluating its quality. Several methods were utilized for acquiring the hydrochemical data and a novel technique has been developed for evaluating the gross alpha and beta radioactivities in water, through a combined gamma-alpha spectrometry technique. The results obtained for the analyzed samples were compared with the guideline values established by the Sao Paulo State and Brazilian Health Ministry legislations for defining potable water standards and for the prevention and control of pollution in the environment. The hydrochemical data allowed evaluation of diverse problems related to the interaction between society and the environment such as sugarcane production and the releases associated with gas stations suppliers. The geogenic input of sulfate in groundwater was also identified. The established radiometric technique was properly calibrated and successfully applied to the analysis of different water types utilized for human consumption.
A coupling pretreatment on high-ash content biomass, namely rice straw (RS), followed by slow pyrolysis has been proposed to yield high-quality bio-oil and value-added chemicals. Hydrothermal pretreatment was combined to acid infusion to pretreat rice straw, and the physico-chemical properties and pyrolytic behavior of the pretreated rice straw were investigated. After the mentioned pretreatment, the thermal degradation temperature of pretreated RS decreased from 359 degrees C to 281 degrees C while the crystalline of cellulose decreased from 67.1\% to 63.1\%. The catalytic effect of alkali and alkaline earth metals in RS has been passivated with decreased amount of H2SO4, showing in the increment of bio-oil yield from 39.8 wt\% to 47.0 wt\%. Furthermore, the yield of levoglucosenone (LGO) from pretreated RS increased from 0.06 wt\% to 8.4 wt\% and the yield of monophenol products decreased from 4.8 wt\% to 1.4 wt\%. The present study offers an effective and sustainable method for processing agro-industrial waste with high content of ash, which enables the production of high-yield and quality bio-oil.
This study was aimed to develop bio-nanocomposite films of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/starch (ST) polysaccharide matrix reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) using the solution casting method. The CNC were extracted at the nanometric scale from sugarcane bagasse via sulfuric acid hydrolysis and used as reinforcing phase to produce CMC/ST-CNC bio-nanocomposite films at different CNC loading levels (0.5-5.0 wt\%). Steady shear viscosity and dynamic viscoelastic measurements of film-forming solution (FFS) of neat CMC, CMC/ST blend and CMC/ST-CNC bio-nanocomposites were evaluated. Viscosity measurements revealed that a transition from Newtonian behavior to shear thinning occurred when CNC were added. The dynamic tests confirmed that all FFS have a viscoelastic behavior with an entanglement network structure, induced by the hydrogen bonding. In regard to the cast film quality, the rheological data showed that all FFS were suitable for casting of films at ambient temperature. The effect of CNC addition on the optical transparency, water vapor permeability (WVP) and tensile properties of bio-nanocomposite films was studied. It was found that bio-nanocomposite films remain transparent due to CNC dispersion at the nanoscale. The WVP was significantly reduced and the elastic modulus and tensile strength were increased gradually with the addition of CNC. Herein, the steps to form new eco-friendly bio-nanocomposite films were described by taking advantage of the combination of CMC, ST and CNC. The as-produced films exhibited good optical transparency, reduced WVP and enhanced tensile properties, which are the main properties required for packaging applications. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The green hybrid structure of zerovalent iron decorated chitosan/cellulose substrate (Fe0@CH/CF) was synthesized based on sugarcane bagasse. The synthesis procedures involved the isolation of cellulose by acid/alkaline washing followed by simple mixing of cellulose fractions with a chitosan solution. The formed chitosan/cellulose particles were decorated with zerovalent iron by the precipitation of iron from ferric chloride solution (3 M) using the green reducing extract of khaya senegalensis leaves. The product was studied as an adsorbent for levofloxacin, methyl parathion, and malachite green dye in batch adsorption tests. The Fe0@CH/CF achieved saturation adsorption quantities (103.08 mg/g (levofloxacin), 237.8 mg/g (methyl parathion), and 166.5 mg/g (malachite green)) higher than its components. The classic isotherm and kinetic properties of the uptake processes follow the assumptions of the Langmuir and pseudo-first order models, respectively. An advanced monolayer model with one energy was used to illustrate the equilibrium and adsorption mechanisms. Based on the steric parameters, the Fe0@CH/CF can adsorb two to three of levofloxacin (n = 2.92) and methyl parathion (n = 2.57) and up to four molecules of malachite green dye (n = 3.01) per site. The adsorbent shows high active adsorption site density for methyl parathion (107.6 mg/g) as compared to malachite green (64.7 mg/g) and levofloxacin (37.9 mg/g). The Gaussian (levofloxacin (5.9 kJ/mol), methyl parathion (7.4 kJ/mol), and malachite green dye (7.7 kJ/mol)) and adsorption energies (levofloxacin (10.1 kJ/mol), methyl parathion (18.2 kJ/mol), and malachite green dye (10.8 kJ/mol) demonstrate the physisorption mechanisms. The thermodynamic functions reflect the spontaneous and endothermic properties of the reactions. (c) 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Biosurfactants are amphipathic compounds formed by a hydrophilic and hydrophobic component, this characteristic confers to these compounds the possibility of several applications. The aim of this study was to produce biosurfactants from different industrials wastes using Corynebacterium aquaticum and Corynebacterium spp. CCT 1968 and study the application in paint removal. The production of biosurfactants was evaluated through surface tension, emulsifying activity and character ionic. The analyses were carried out at 0, 24, 48 h. The biosurfactants that presented lower surface tension and higher emulsifying activity were applied in insoluble paint. The microorganism Corynebacterium aquaticum showed efficient biosurfactant production when using fish and bagasse residues as carbon source. The surface tension obtained for these treatments was 27.8 and 33.9 mN/m and emulsifying capacity was 87.6 and 61.6\%, respectively. The Corynebacterium spp. CCT 1968 produced biosurfactants only in the medium containing fish waste (28.5 mN/m). The biosurfactants produced by both microorganisms showed anionic character. The applied biosurfactants showed potential use in solubilization and paint removal. Therefore, the residues of fish and sugarcane bagasse showed efficient as carbon sources to obtain biosurfactants. In addition, the preliminary paint removal application presented great results that can be explored in the future.
The necessity to generate advances in the comprehension of modeling and simulation of enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials, based on experimentation, has attracted significant attention currently. This paper proposes a methodology for modeling and parameter estimation of the enzymatic hydrolysis process for sugarcane bagasse. The methodology is composed of three steps: experimental process, approach to the phenomenologically based semi-physical model, and parameter estimation. Experimentally, pretreated sugar cane bagasse was characterized, with 22.60, 13.39, and 23.71\% for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin, respectively. The enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose, cellobiose, and glucose concentrations was monitored using a commercial cellulase with an enzymatic activity of 96FPU/mL at 50 degrees C, pH 4.8, 130 rpm for 74 h. A model was proposed, which includes adsorption effects of the enzymatic complex, pH, temperature, transglycosylation, appearance of new cellulose, and product inhibition. Finally, a global mean percentage squared error cost function (\% MSEGlobal) was used, adjusting the glucose, cellobiose, and cellulose variables from the estimation of 29 kinetic parameters. It was possible to obtain a \% MSEGlobal of 6.33\%, which is lower than the proposed acceptable error of 10\%. Thus, the methodology for modeling and parameter estimation achieved good results in this first approximation from experimental development and the formulation of a more complex model.
The operation of high-solids enzymatic saccharification at low cellulase loading is required for the commercialization of the current cellulase-mediated lignocellulosic bioethanol. In this study, high-solids (30 \%) fed-batch enzymatic saccharification at low cellulase loading (3 FPU/g) was attempted by fed-batch mode with a mixture of additives and accessory enzymes. The saccharification process began with 10 \% (w/v) solids content and 6 \%, 6 \%, and 8 \% of substrates were fed at 6, 12, and 24 h to achieve 30 \% (w/v) of the total solids content. With the optimization of additives, namely 40 mg/g Tween 80, 30 mg/g tea saponin, 8 mg/g BSA, and 2.4 mg/g xylanase and 0.4 mg/g AA9 as accessory enzymes, the saccharification process released 180 g/L of fermentable sugars with 70 \% glucose yield after 72 h. The fed-batch mode along with the mixtures of some additives and accessory enzymes has been found to be a beneficial approach to run a high-solids enzymatic saccharification at low enzyme loading.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of covering methods on the nutritive value of corn silage and performance of dairy cows. Whole-plant corn was harvested at 340 g/kg of dry matter (DM) and ensiled for 135 d in horizontal silos covered with one of the following methods: oxygen barrier film (45-mu m thick) + white-on-black polyethylene film (200-mu m thick) over the oxygen barrier film (OB+WB); white-on-black polyethylene film (200-mu m thick) (WB); black polyethylene film (200-mu m thick) (B); or recycled black polyethylene film (200-mu m thick) covered with a layer of 10 cm of sugarcane bagasse (RB+SB). Nutrient composition, fermentation profile, and yeast and mold counts in edible silages were similar across treatments. Silage temperature during the storage period was 24.6, 28.7, 28.4 and 33.1 degrees C for RB+SB, OB+WB, WB and B, respectively, and the proportion of spoiled silage ranged from 28.7 (for the RB+SB treatment) to 74.2 g/kg DM (for the B treatment). Dry matter intake was similar across treatments and averaged 21.9 kg/d. Milk production was higher for cows fed corn silage covered with RB+SB (34.4 kg/d) compared with those fed corn silage covered with B (30.4 kg/d), resulting in higher feed efficiency for RB+SB treatment. Silages covered with OB+WB and WB had intermediate values. In vivo digestibility of organic matter was higher for cows fed corn silage covered with RB+SB compared with those fed corn silage covered with WB and B, but were similar to those fed corn silage covered with OB+WB. The utilization of oxygen barrier films and the protection of polyethylene film with sugarcane bagasse are effective strategies to increase the recovery of digestible nutrients and, consequently, to enhance production efficiency of lactating dairy cows.
The aim of the present study was to develop an inhibitor-tolerant strain of Scheffersomyces stipitis and establish an efficient ethanol fermentation process for cost-effective ethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass. By a strategy of three successive rounds of UV mutagenesis following adaptation, we isolated a S. stipitis mutant with improved tolerance against ethanol and inhibitors in the form of acetic acid, furfural and vanillin. The mutant strain exhibited excellent ethanol fermentation performance; both the xylose and glucose consumption rate and ethanol productivity were almost two times higher than the parental strain in batch fermentation. To overcome the issue of product inhibition and carbon catabolite repression (CCR) effect, the membrane integrated continuous fermentation system was employed. The maximum ethanol titer of 43.2 g l(-1) and productivity of 2.16 g l(-1) h(-1) was achieved at a dilution rate of 0.05 h(-1), higher than the relevant studies ever reported. These results suggested the novel process of cell recycling continuous fermentation using S. stipitis mutant has great potential for commercial ethanol production from lignocelluloses-based biomass.
Supplementary cementitious materials are extensively used in concrete because of the enhancement of fresh and hardened properties compared to ordinary Portland cement. Plants ingest orthosilicic acid from ground water, which is later polymerized as reactive silica in the plant cells. When bagasse and rice husk are burnt as fuel in the cogeneration boiler, reactive amorphous silica is formed because of combustion process and it is present in the residual ashes. In addition to silica, residual biomass such as sugarcane bagasse ash and rice husk ash have higher carbon content due to presence of unburnt particles and it significantly influences the pozzolanic performance of residual biomass. Furthermore, higher carbon content has adverse effects on concrete such as reduction in workability and strength. Even though, a number of earlier research studies have suggested bagasse ash and rice husk ash as an excellent pozzolanic material, still determination of carbon content using more accurate method is not reported in the existing literature. A detailed study on the presence of carbon content in the residual biomass is imperative to achieve maximum reactivity as well as superior alternative cementitious material. In this paper, carbon content in the residual biomass was determined using more appropriate methods and conventional loss on ignition method. Results from the study showed considerable difference in carbon content between sophisticated method and loss on ignition method. Influence of loss on ignition on pozzolanic performance and workability of residual ash blended specimens were investigated and compared with control specimens. Moreover, fast pyrolysis and detailed kinetic model approach was found to be more precise as compared to loss on ignition method. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, five fungal strains (Aspergillus niger SCBM1 - Ni, Aspergillus fumigatus SCBM6 - Fu, Trametes versicolor 561 - Tr, Ganoderma lucidum 601 - Ga and Pleurotus ostreatus PL06 - Pl) were cultivated individually and in consortium for biosynthesis of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes by solid-state fermentation (SSF). The enzyme production was investigated using a 2(5-1) fractional factorial design, with a total of 16 experiments (F1-F16) using raw sugarcane bagasse and raw wheat bran as substrates. Among the enzymatic extracts produced, Ni (F1) exhibited the highest production of endoglucanase (82.70 U/gds) (units per gram of dry substrate), exoglucanase (80.48 U/gds), beta-xylosidase (145.01 U/gds) and manganese peroxidase (3.38 U/gds). For filter paper cellulase, Tr cocktail (F5) was the one that stood out (9.45 U/gds). Among the extracts produced in consortium, Ni + Tr + Pl (F6) presented the highest production of beta-glucosidase (171.09 U/gds), beta-xylosidase (139.99 U/gds) and manganese peroxidase (3.29 U/gds). For FPase, Ni + Fu + Ga (F12) exhibited the best production (10.46 U/gds). The highest xylanase biosynthesis (2582.38 U/gds) was obtained in Ni + Fu + Pl extract (F4). For laccase, the maximum biosynthesis (25.27 U/gds) was obtained in Tr + Ga + Pl (F13). The cocktails that presented the best enzyme production were: Ni (F1), Ni + Fu + Pl (F9), Ni + Tr + Pl (F6) and Ni + Ga + Pl (F10), demonstrating that the use of microbial consortium can be a promising alternative to obtain enzymatic cocktails with high synergism. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this article, graphite fine powder and two types of activated carbon (AC) namely based-on waste corn and sugarcane bagasse were implemented as reinforcers for the nitrile rubber (NBR). Both types of AC were prepared through a low-temperature chemical carbonization treatment. Each type of these fillers, at 5, 10, and 15 wt\%, was mixed with NBR on a rubber mill and pressed under heat to develop sheets to be gamma irradiated at 100 kGy. Filler characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were discussed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) proved that graphite has a crystalline structure but corn and bagasse ACs have amorphous nature. Furthermore, dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis was used to determine the particle size of the studied fillers. In addition, mechanical properties, XRD, thermal stability, and SEM of the prepared unirradiated or irradiated NBR-composites were investigated. The physicomechanical features of the NBR matrix could be enhanced by the presence of reinforcing fillers, even at relatively low filler loading. The composites filled with graphite showed superior mechanical parameters and also have the highest thermal stability as indicated by their high-temperature mass loss (Tm). Generally, irradiated samples expressed grander properties than unirradiated ones as a result of the radiation-induced crosslinking structures.
Background and aims Erosion of phosphorus (P)-rich soil into waterways is a major contributor to eutrophication. To minimize the build-up of P in agricultural soils, greater knowledge of the bioavailability and fate of P from soil amendments is required. Methods We used X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) spectroscopy to resolve the major P species in nine diverse biochars. We then examined the relationship between biochar P extracted using a range of typical soil (water, Bray2 and Colwell) and plant (2\% citric acid, and 2\% formic acid) assays. We compared these with ryegrass P uptake via bioassay. Results Linear combination fitting indicated Al-phosphate (variscite) was the dominant P species in biochars derived from cattle feedlot manure, sugarcane trash and sugarcane bagasse, reflecting the likely Al content of the feedstock. Non-apatite Ca-phosphates (monocalcium phosphate or CaHPO4) were the major P species in poultry litter, green waste, papermill sludge, wheat chaff, sugarcane mill mud and rice husk biochars. Biochar P was poorly water soluble but largely soluble in weak acids (formic and citric acids). Despite this, biochar P extracted by citric and formic acid was a poor predictor of P bioavailability to ryegrass, with the percentage of total P extracted by water or by the Bray2 reagent providing the best prediction of ryegrass P uptake. Conclusions The P in biochar was identified by XANES spectroscopy as predominantly Ca and/or Al-P. Water and Bray2 extraction provided the best predictors of plant available P from biochars in a plant bioassay.
Activated carbons obtained from cane sugar bagasse (ACB), African palm pit (ACP) and sawdust (ACS) were prepared through an impregnated with HNO3 and thermal treatment in an atmosphere in N-2/steam water at 1173 K. Adsorption isotherms of N-2 at 77 K and of CO2 at 273 K were determined for the activated carbons for which surface area and pore volume values were from 868 to 1100 m(2)g(-1) and from 0.27 to 0.55cm(3) g(-1), respectively. These results were correlated, with the ones obtained for adsorption the adsorption isotherms of Pb2+ in aqueous solutions. Impregnation of the lignocellulosic materials with nitric acid produced acid-type activated carbons with total acid site contents between 4.13 and 6.93 mmol g(-1) and pH at the point of zero charge values between 2.7 and 4.1, which were within range of the adsorption, at different pH values, since they determined, the surface charge of the activated carbons. Adsorption isotherms of Pb2+ at different pH values (2-8) at 298 K were determined. The ion adsorption capacity on ACB, ACP and ACS were 13.7, 15.2 and 17.5 mg.g(-1), respectively. Experimental data were fitted to the Langmuir and Freundlich models and all cases the former fit better. The highest values for the quantity adsorbed on the monolayer, qm, were at pH 4, whereas the surface, charge of activated carbons was negative and the lead species mainly present was Pb2+. For higher pHs, the quantity of Pb2+ adsorbed decreased, and this had an important effect on adsorption, the surface characteristics of the solids and the hydroxilated lead species that were formed in the system.
In soil biota, higher and enduring concentration of heavy metals like cadmium (Cd) is hazardous and associated with great loss in growth, yield, and quality parameters of most of the crop plants. Recently, in-situ applications of eco-friendly stabilizing agents in the form of organic modifications have been utilized to mitigate the adverse effects of Cd-toxicity. This controlled experiment was laid down to appraise the imprints of various applied organic amendments namely poultry manure (PM), farmyard manure (FYM), and sugarcane press mud (PS) to immobilize Cd in polluted soil. Moreover, phytoavailability of Cd in wheat was also accessed under an alkaline environment. Results revealed that the addition of FYM (5-10 ton ha(-1)) in Cd-contaminated soil significantly increased germination rate, leaf chlorophyll content, plant height, spike length, biological and grain yield amongst all applied organic amendments. Moreover, the addition of FYM (5-10 ton ha(-1)) also reduced the phytoavailabil- ity of Cd by 73-85\% in the roots, 57-83\% in the shoots, and 81-90\% in grains of wheat crop. Thus, it is affirmed that incorporation of FYM (5-10 ton ha(-1)) performed better to enhance wheat growth and yield by remediating Cd. Thus, the application of FYM (5-10 ton ha(-1)) reduced the toxicity induced by Cd to plants by declining its uptake and translocation as compared to all other applied organic amendments to immobilize Cd under sandy alkaline polluted soil.
Hydroelectric resources in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil will be exhausted about the year 2000. Unless viable alternatives can be found, relatively high-cost hydroelectric resources in the environmentally-sensitive North (Amazon) region will be tapped after 2000 to meet electricity demands in the Northeast. The Hydroelectric Company of Sao Francisco (CHESF), the federally-owned utility responsible for generation and transmission of bulk electricity in the Northeast, initiated studies in 1982 to quantify the potential for establishing a widespread biomass-based electricity generating system in its service territory as an alternative to hydro expansion. The analysis here builds on these studies, and includes the possibility of converting biomass into electricity using advanced gas-turbine technologies that are now the focus of commercial demonstration projects in Brazil and elsewhere. Existing sugarcane residues and future potential production of wood on dedicated plantations in the Northeast could be used to generate annually up to 41 TWh and 1400 TWh of electricity, respectively, compared to CHESF's present total annual generation of about 30 TWh. The cost of most of the biomass-derived electricity would be under 4.5 cents kWh-1, which compares favorably with marginal costs projected for hydroelectric projects in the Amazon region and would involve lower capital investment. Expansion of the CHESF system based on biomass rather than hydropower would also bring social benefits, including greater job creation.
This report describes progress in the development of cellulose hydrogel by blending with natural rubber (NR). Cellulose regenerated from the bagasse sugarcane was used for this study. Although cellulose and NR have a considerably low mutual affinity, composite hydrogels with various cellulose and NR contents were prepared using a wet-phase inversion method. The maximum amount of NR that can be loaded into the cellulose hydrogel was about 30\% vol. Once NR is introduced into the cellulose hydrogels, the obtained hydrogel became translucent and eventually opaque with increasing NR loading. Measurements of water absorption, the water contact angle, and evaluation of fourier-transform infrared spectroscopoy (FTIR) spectra revealed that the presence of NR decreases the water affinity of the hydrogels. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that the composite hydrogels had higher tensile strength and better elastic properties than the pristine hydrogel. The results showed that the obtained composite hydrogels can be elongated several times to their original length. The enhancement of both properties was proportional to the amount of NR included. Results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed NR present inside the hollow of the cellulose hydrogel, forming interconnected domains. One can infer that the increase of mechanical and elastic properties is attributable to the presence of these interconnected structures.
The global energy demand and need for sustainable sources are expected to rise in the coming years. The second-generation bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass (LB) can sustain the energy demand. Thus, this review comprehensively discussed the suitable feedstock selection and different pretreatment progress (including mechanical/thermal, biological, chemical, and physical-chemical) for LB in recent years. The effect of engineered and immobilized microbial strains on biomass conversion to bioethanol is also elaborated. The sugarcane bagasse, switchgrass, cheery wood, and corn cobs (>40 \% cellulose content) are considered to be potential and promising LB for bioethanol generation. The application of pretreatments (such as extrusion, steam explosion combined with mild acids, mild thermo-alkaline, green liquor, and surfactants combined with a steam explosion) increased sugar conversion and bioethanol production. The use of genetically engineered yeast along with microbial immobilization offered a full utilization of pentoses and hexoses that enhanced the bioethanol yield. Bioethanol production is comparatively effective at a laboratory scale. However, extensive research is still required to develop a cost-effective process and complete biomass utilization.
Biochar has been shown to benefit fermentative hydrogen production. However, the influencing factors and key characteristics of its promoting function remained to be elucidated. This study investigated the effects of two cru-cial factors, feedstock and pyrolysis temperature, on the hydrogen production-promoting function of biochar in ethanol-type fermentation. The physicochemical characteristics and promoting effects of biochars prepared with five biomass wastes (coffee ground, corn stalk, Ginkgo biloba leaf, mealworm frass, and sugarcane bagasse) were determined. Sugarcane bagasse-derived biochar (SBBC) showed the best hydrogen production-promoting effect in ethanol-type fermentation. The physicochemical properties of biochar, such as pH, element composition and surface features, were significantly affected by pyrolysis temperature, but the promoting effects were not signif-icantly changed. The hydrogen production-promoting effect of biochar in ethanol-type fermentation was mainly affected by feedstock instead of pyrolysis temperature. A potential promoting mechanism was proposed that bio -char prepared at low temperature boosted the hydrogen production with redox activity, while that at high tem-perature achieved the promotion via cell growth enhancement. This study revealed the key promoting factor of biochar in ethanol-type fermentative hydrogen production, and provided novel insights for the promoting mech-anism of biochar. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Biochar, a product of the pyrolysis of organic material, has received wide attention as a means to improve soil fertility, crop productivity, and carbon sequestration to mitigate climate change. This study was conducted in an arid zone agricultural region to investigate the impacts of biochar on soil quality, N-2-fixation, and net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) for a legume-cereal crop rotation (2013-15). Biochar was produced by pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse and applied at rates of 0\%, 0.25\%, and 0.5\% carbon (C) equivalent, with and without chemical fertilizer (23 kg N, 45 kg P and 25 kg K ha(-1)). In terms of soil quality, biochar applications increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and decreased soil bulk density. The yield of mash bean and wheat crop was significantly enhanced in response to biochar treatment with and without chemical fertilizer during both the years of study. N-2-fixation in mash bean increased by 83\% in biochar-only (0.5\% C) amended soil and by 127\% with chemical fertilizer. In the first year of mash bean, no difference was observed in NEE, while a significant decrease was observed in the second year attributed to priming effect of fresh biochar. Wheat NEE decreased by 144\% and 200\% in the first year, and by 283\% and 265\% in the second year, in unfertilized soil amended with 0.25 and 0.5\% biochar, respectively, as compared to the controls. In treatments with chemical fertilizer, wheat NEE decreased by 311\% and 344\% in the first year, and by 293\% and 292\% in the second year, as compared to their respective controls. Biochar treatment increased biomass yield (BY) and grain yield (GY) in both mash bean and wheat crops during both the years with and without chemical fertilizer. These results indicate that sugarcane -bagasse biochar applications in arid soils with low organic carbon may increase crop productivity and N-2-fixation of legumes while reducing the NEE of legume-cereal cropping systems.
The genus Cohnella belongs to a group of Gram-positive endospore-forming bacteria within the Paenibacillaceae family. Although most species were described as xylanolytic bacteria, the literature still lacks some key information regarding their repertoire of xylan-degrading enzymes. The whole genome sequence of an isolated xylan-degrading bacterium Cohnella sp. strain AR92 was found to contain five genes encoding putative endo-1,4-beta-xylanases, of which four were cloned, expressed, and characterized to better understand the contribution of the individual endo-xylanases to the overall xylanolytic properties of strain AR92. Three of the enzymes, CoXyn10A, CoXyn10C, and CoXyn11A, were shown to be effective at hydrolyzing xylans-derived from agro-industrial, producing oligosaccharides with substrate conversion values of 32.5\%, 24.7\%, and 10.6\%, respectively, using sugarcane bagasse glucuronoarabinoxylan and of 29.9\%, 19.1\%, and 8.0\%, respectively, using wheat bran-derived arabinoxylan. The main reaction products from GH10 enzymes were xylobiose and xylotriose, whereas CoXyn11A produced mostly xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with 2 to 5 units of xylose, often substituted, resulting in potentially prebiotic arabinoxylooligosaccharides (AXOS). The endo-xylanases assay displayed operational features (temperature optima from 49.9 to 50.4 degrees C and pH optima from 6.01 to 6.31) fitting simultaneous xylan utilization. Homology modeling confirmed the typical folds of the GH10 and GH11 enzymes, substrate docking studies allowed the prediction of subsites (- 2 to + 1 in GH10 and - 3 to + 1 in GH11) and identification of residues involved in ligand interactions, supporting the experimental data. Overall, the Cohnella sp. AR92 endo-xylanases presented significant potential for enzymatic conversion of agro-industrial by-products into high-value products.
Microwave-assisted hydrolysis has been widely studied for cellulose fiber isolation, but the influence of reaction conditions and the microwave non-thermal effect are not well clarified. In this study, a series of well-designed experiments were carried out to measure the effects of reaction conditions including temperature, duration and alkali concentration. Compared to the other parameters, temperature was more relevant to the cellulose content in fiber. It could reach the maximum purity of 90.66 \% when the temperature was up to 140 degrees C. Moreover, the existence of non-thermal effect of microwave has been confirmed through extensive determination and characterization of the fibers obtained from parallel controlled experiments conducted with or without microwave assistance. Approximately 50 \%-75 \% reduction in reaction time or 67 \% of that in chemical costs would be realized under microwave with respect to traditional heating hydrolysis. Therefore, this work provides both deep insight and efficiency strategy into the microwave-assisted cellulose isolation.
The fungus Thermothielavioides terrestris plays an important role in the global carbon cycle with enzymes capable of degrading polysaccharides from biomass, therefore an attractive source of proteins to be investigated and understood. From cloning to a three-dimensional structure, we foster a deeper characterization of an alpha-L-arabinofuranosidase, a glycoside hydrolase from the family 62 (TtAbf62), responsible to release arabinofuranose from non-reducing ends of polysaccharides. TtAbf62 was tested with synthetic (pNP-Araf) and polymeric substrates (arabinan and arabinoxylan), showing optimal temperature and pH (for pNP-Araf) of 30 degrees C and 4.5-5.0, respectively. Kinetic parameters revealed different specific activity for the three substrates, with a higher affinity for pNP-Araf (K-M: 4 +/- 1 mM). The hydrolyzing activity of TtAbf62 on sugarcane bagasse suggests high efficiency in the decomposition of arabinoxylan, abundant hemicellulose presented in the sugarcane cell wall. The crystal packing of TtAbf62 reveals an exquisite domain swapping, located at the supramolecular arrangement through a disulfide bond. All crystallographic behaviors go against its monomeric state in solution, indicating a crystal-induced artifact. Structural information will form the basis for further studies aiming the development of optimized enzymatic properties to be used in biotechnological applications.
The present study aimed to characterize the agricultural residues of sugarcane bagasse \{SB\
Locally available biomass (cane chaff) have been successfully polymerised with different substituted phenolic resin copolymers earlier reported (J. Appl. Polym. Sc. 45 (1992) 655-661) with different weight ratios to form biomass cured phenolic composites. The structural integrity has been verified from the study of UV-Vis, FTIR, H-1 NMR measurements of the composites. Thermo gravimetric analysis of the composites has been taken in presence of nitrogen atmosphere. The thermo grams indicate with variation in biomass weight percent resin composite ratio like 10, 30, 50 the composites sustain temperature upto 350-400degreesC showing 80\% weight loss which indicates that they can be best used as a heat resisting wood substitute material. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
With dwindling reserves of fossil feedstock as a resource for chemicals production, the fraction of chemicals and energy supplied by alternative, renewable resources, such as lignin, can be expected to increase in the foreseeable future. Here, we demonstrate a catalytic process to valorize lignin (exemplified with kraft, organosolv, and sugarcane bagasse lignin) using a mixture of cheap, bio-renewable ethanol and water as solvent. Ethanol/water mixtures readily solubilize lignin under moderate temperatures and pressures with little residual solids. The molecular weight of the dissolved lignins was shown to be reduced by gel permeation chromatography and quantitative HSQC NMR methods. The use of liquid-phase reforming of the solubilized lignin over a Pt/Al2O3 catalyst at 498 K and 58 bar is introduced to yield up to 17?\% combined yield of monomeric aromatic oxygenates such as guaiacol and substituted guaiacols generating hydrogen as a useful by-product. Reduction of the lignin dissolved in ethanol/water using a supported transition metal catalyst at 473 K and 30 bar hydrogen yields up to 6?\% of cyclic hydrocarbons and aromatics.
Catalytic pyrolysis is a complex system where the selection of an efficient, cheap, abundant, and stable catalyst is vital to upgrade pyrolysis products to biofuels. Steel slag (SS) can be considered as an inexpensive catalyst, making it a very economical option. SS has a high content of calcium, iron, and magnesium, making this solid compound catalytically active. This study investigated the utilization of SS as a sacrificial catalyst in pyrolysis experiments using a thermocatalytic reforming (TCR) process to produce an upgraded bio-oil and syngas. In the first part of this work, SS was mixed with sugarcane bagasse (SB) and oat hulls (OH) biochar (in different trials) in the postreformer at different ratios (0, 30, 70, and 100 wt \% of SS). In the second part, SS (powder) was pelletized directly with raw OH at different ratios (0, 10, 20, and 30 wt \% of SS in the feed composition) and introduced into a pyrolysis reactor. The introduction of SS into SB in the reformer improved the higher heating value (FIFIV) from 29.1 MJ/kg (0 wt \% of SS) to 35.5 MJ/kg (100 wt \% of SS). Introducing 30 wt \% of SS into OH in the feed showed a higher calorific value and lower acidity, viscosity, and density in comparison with using SS with different ratios in the reformer. The use of SS as a catalyst was found to significantly improve the quality and the properties of bio-oil and syngas, revealing an innovative pathway for its use as an inexpensive sacrificial catalyst for biofuel production via the TCR process.
Penicillium sp NIOM-02 was isolated from the marine sediment, produced red pigment. The pigment extracted from this fungus scavenged 2, 2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Penicillium sp NIOM-02 grown in media containing corn steep liquor scavenged 72-88\% of DPPH radical. During solid-state fermentation on wheat (S1), the fungus produced more pigment (9.232 OD Units). Penicillium sp NIOM-02 grown on sugarcane bagasse scavenged 91\% of DPPH radicals. It secreted more amylase (246 U mg-1) in culture medium No. 5 and the zymogram analysis revealed its molecular mass (53 kDa). The taka-amylase like character of amylase was determined by acarbose incorporated studies in the culture media. Production of pigment and radical scavenging activity of Penicillium sp NIOM-02, suggested its applications in food, pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical industries.
Widespread application of TiO2 for degradation of antibiotics is restricted by mainly the low photodegradation efficiency under solar irradiation. To expand the application of TiO2, the key factors that should be improved are visible-light response, yield of electrons and holes, and durability. Herein, we report a visible-light responsive and durable sugarcane-bagassederived biochar supported hydrogenated TiO2 (HSCB/H-2-TiO2) photocatalyst with higher electron production fabricated by a facile one-pot hydrogenation. Mild hydrogenation temperature preserved the lotus-stem-like structure of sugarcane bagasse and gave the photocatalyst great separability. The superior durability of HSCB/H-2-TiO2 was demonstrated by 12 rounds of repeated degradation of methylene blue (MB). In addition, the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results demonstrated that the biochar skeleton contains abundant persistent free radicals (PFRs), which can provide excess electrons to form more center dot O-2-. Meanwhile, radical quenching experiment and EPR radical trapping results also revealed that center dot O-2- was the most dominant species for enrofloxacin (ENR) degradation. Thus, the as-fabricated photocatalyst shows excellent solar-driven degradation of ENR, and 95.6\% of ENR was degraded in 180 min under simulated solar irradiation. Possible ENR degradation pathways and mechanism are also proposed based on the identified intermediates.
In this study, carbonized material was produced using sodium hydroxide treated Sugar cane bagasse (SB), and synthesized materials ware used to prepare Sodium Alginate/SBAC composite beads which were further used as an adsorbent to remove malachite green dye (MG) present in water. Physiochemical characteristics of composite beads were analyzed using FTIR, SEM, TGA, and BET. Adsorption equilibrium data showed excellent fit to the Freundlich model (R-2 = 0.994) than to the Langmuir model (R-2 = 0.925). Adsorption kinetics study indicated that the MG removal process would be better described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic study suggested the spontaneous and endothermic nature of MG adsorption. By using response surface methodology, the optimum conditions for MG adsorption on composite beads were found to be 115.43 min, 0.3 g/L and pH 8 for contact time, adsorbent mass, and pH respectively and MG adsorption efficiency was 97.88\%. The fixed-bed column data were evaluated using several kinetic models and among them, Thomas model showed the best agreement with investigation results. These results revealed that synthesized composite beads have a high affinity toward MG and it could be reasonable, eco-friendly adsorbent for dye removal from wastewater.
This research investigates the effect of using nano agriculture waste as a partial substitute to solve increased climatic concerns in addition to producing modern ultra-high-performance fiber rein-forced self-compacting concrete (UHPFC-SCC). Three types of nano materials have been incor-porated, namely nano sugar cane bagasse ash (NSCBA), nano cotton stalk ash (NCSA), and nano rice straw ash (NRSA) with dosages of 1\%, 2\%, and 3\%, respectively. Fresh concrete properties have been investigated via flow and V-funnel tests while compressive strength was evaluated up to 90 days. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, Raman spectroscopy analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) alongside energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) was performed to compliment the strength data. Finally, electrochemical measurements including linear polarization (LPR), open circuit potential (OCP) and impedance spectroscopy were investigated at normal and accelerated corrosion conditions on HSS (high strength steel Gr 60). Results demonstrate that compressive strength improved in the range of 18\%-21\% between 28 and 90 days using 3\% NSCBA, 3\% NRSA or 1\% NCSA. This is attributed to the facts that optimum dosage of nano wastes results in densification of the UHPFC-SCC matrix and strength magnitude depended on inter-twining of high Ca/Si molar content in the range of 3.14-7.1 compared to 0.52 observed in the control mix (EDS analysis). Further, electrochemical measurements revealed that nano materials improved the charge transfer resistance and bulk resistance of HSS interface as well as retarded the flow of electrons between anode and cathode sites consequently limited the propagation of corrosion.
Rhynchophorus palmarum (L.) is an invasive pest responsible for killing thousands of ornamental Canary Islands date palms (Phoenix canariensis Chabaud) in San Diego County, CA. Two field experiments were conducted to compare the attractiveness of six different baits and two trap types. The tested baits were dates + water; dates + water + Saccharomyces cerevisiae; dates + water + S. bayanus; dates + water + S. pastorianus; 15\% sugarcane molasses water solution mixed with 3\% paraffinic oil, and a no bait control treatment. The two traps tested were white bucket traps (hanging 1.5 m above the ground and set on the ground) and black cone shaped Picusan traps (set on ground only). All traps were loaded with commercially available R. palmarum aggregation pheromone and the synergist ethyl acetate. Differences in weevil capture rates were observed across bait and trap types. Weevil captures were almost five times greater in Picusan traps compared to bucket traps that were hanging or placed on the ground. Adding dates and water alone or combined with S. cerevisiae to traps increased weevil captures compared to other baits and controls. Trap and bait types affected bycatch of nontarget arthropod species. In general, spiders, earwigs, and carabid beetles were most commonly recovered from Picusan traps, regardless of bait type. Scarab beetles, moths, and flies were found more frequently in bucket traps baited with molasses or dates mixed with S. bayanus. No effects of bait and trap type were associated with bycatch species richness.
Straw resource was tremendous, however it was utilized poorly. So the research of physical, chemical and mechanical pulping properties of cotton stalk fiber laid the foundation for utilization of cotton stalk. Morphology of cotton stalk fiber was determined by Feica microscope, the length, width and length to wide ratio were analyzed by SPSS 17.0. Chemical composition changes of cotton stalk fiber after mechanical process were analyzed by applying Block test method with Design-expert 6.0.10.The result present that composition of fiber had significant difference. Hemi,cellulose decreased by 1.68 \%, cellulose decreased by8.85 \%, lignin increased by 5.87. \%. Beating degree was positively correlated with the pulping time, beating time and wet weight were a negative correlation. Strength of cotton stalk fiber was positively with the gramme, and strength was 8.5 N when gramme was 60 g/m(2).
Application of biochar to soil has increased considerably during recent years because of its effectiveness as a soil amendment causing beneficial effects on soil health. However, the effects have been reported to vary and depend upon types of feedstock and pyrolysis conditions during biochar production. Therefore, characterization of biochar is extremely important for its efficient utilization as a soil amendment. In the present study, biochar was prepared from agro-industrial by-products (rice husk and sugarcane bagasse) and weeds (Parthenium and Lantana) under similar pyrolysis conditions. Lantana biochar (LBC) showed the highest pH (10.4) while the lowest value (8.5) being recorded in rice husk biochar (RHBC). The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis indicated that LBC and Parthenium biochar (PBC) were superior with respect to potassium (K) content than sugarcane bagasse biochar (SBBC) and RHBC. The Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) study exhibited the existence of different functional groups in biochar. All the biochar treated soils showed significantly higher microbial activities with different degrees. Application of LBC and PBC at 4.50 g kg(-1) soil significantly increased K availability in soil. Lantana biochar and PBC amended the soil at 9 g kg(-1) significantly increased the soil pH thus makes these biochar as potential liming materials.
Pecan cultivation has increased in recent years. Consequently, the amount of lignocellulosic residuals from its production has expanded. Thus, there is a necessity to explore and add value to their coproducts. The objective of this work was to obtain reducing sugars from pecan biomasses by the optimization of the subcritical water hydrolysis technology in a semi-continuous mode and the physicochemical and morphological characterization of these materials, such as SEM, TGA and FT-IR analysis. Temperatures of 180, 220 and 260 degrees C, water/solids mass ratio of 15 and 30 g water/g biomass and total reaction time of 15 min were used. The highest reducing sugar yield was 27.1 g/100 g of biomass, obtained at 220 degrees C and R-15 for pecan shells. TGA, SEM and FT-IR analysis indicated the modifications of structures and compositions of biomasses in fresh and hydrolyzed samples.
Biosurfactant production optimization by Candida tropicalis UCP0996 was studied combining central composite rotational design (CCRD) and response surface methodology (RSM). The factors selected for optimization of the culture conditions were sugarcane molasses, corn steep liquor, waste frying oil concentrations and inoculum size. The response variables were surface tension and biosurfactant yield. All factors studied were important within the ranges investigated. The two empirical forecast models developed through RSM were found to be adequate for describing biosurfactant production with regard to surface tension (R-2 = 0.99833) and biosurfactant yield (R-2 = 0.98927) and a very strong, negative, linear correlation was found between the two response variables studied (r = -0.95). The maximum reduction in surface tension and the highest biosurfactant yield were 29.98 mNm(-1) and 4.19 gL(-1), respectively, which were simultaneously obtained under the optimum conditions of 2.5\% waste frying oil, 2.5\%, corn steep liquor, 2.5\% molasses, and 2\% inoculum size. To validate the efficiency of the statistically optimized variables, biosurfactant production was also carried out in 2 and 50 L bioreactors, with yields of 5.87 and 7.36 gL(-1), respectively. Finally, the biosurfactant was applied in motor oil dispersion, reaching up to 75\% dispersion. Results demonstrated that the CCRD was suitable for identifying the optimumproduction conditions and that the new biosurfactant is a promising dispersant for application in the oil industry.
The purpose of this study is to understand the operating conditions of a physicochemical pretreatment process for lignocellulosic biomass using homogeneous acid catalysts. Four parameters were studied: moisture content, acid catalyst, type of biomass and reactor morphology. The different types of biomass (perennial grasses: sugarcane bagasse, corn stover; flowering plants: cannabis (stalks and leaves); hardwoods (pulp and bark): poplar, sugar maple; softwood bark) were processed in a meat grinder with sulfuric acid. Furthermore, softwood bark was used to change the moisture content, acid catalyst and reactor morphology. Biomass moisture above 17 wt\% yielded less than 50 wt\% glucose. Sulfuric acid, by far, had the best performance with a 74.5 wt\% glucose yield in the meat grinder. The glucose yield showed a direct relationship with the non-carbohydrate components of biomass (lignin, ash, etc).
Lignocellulosic biorefinery is a promising alternative for petroleum refinery that has potential to meet a sustainable variety of needs in the future. One product of lignocelullosic biorefinery is levulinic acid (LA) which is a precursor for the production of many chemicals. Cellulose from lignocellulosic biomass is hydrolyzed to glucose, then hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), and subsequently to LA. In this paper, the starting material was glucose, as a part of large LA synthesis project from biomass in the form of sugarcane bagasse. Glucose was reacted using 0.5 - 1.5 M hydrochloric acid catalyst at temperatures of 160 - 180 degrees C. From the experiments, it was found that the higher the temperature and concentration of the catalyst, the higher the LA yield. However, a combination of excessively high temperature and catalyst concentration will reduce the LA yield.
Biomasses are a sustainable, CO2 neutral source used in biorefining. Si-accumulating plants can be used for the production of biogenic silica in a biomass valorisation process. This study examines the production of high-grade porous silica from different plant parts like rice, oat and spelt husk, rice straw and horsetail using a generalized procedure for all. The silica materials were produced by a 2-step method. First, the biomasses were pretreated with water and then subjected to leaching with citric acid. As a second step, a sequential burning program was applied. The characterization of the untreated biomasses was carried out by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis and thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The biogenic silica samples were subjected to XRF, carbon content analysis, low temperature nitrogen physisorption, scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as X-ray diffraction. Independent of the initial composition of the plant part, the established method resulted in amorphous, biogenic silica with up to 99.7\% purity, mesopores between 2 and 30 nm with pore volumes of up to 0.46 cm(3) g(-1) and specific surfaces of up to 303 m(2) g(-1). It was shown that the generalized method developed works not only for all the biomasses separately, but also if treated in the same batch. The produced biogenic silica can be considered as sustainable alternative to other silica products like precipitated silica, silica gel and fumed silica which are produced in highly energy consuming processes.
Considering the growing concerns about natural resource depletion, energy inequality, and climate crises, biomass-derived materials-the most abundant organic matter on the planet-have received a lot of attention as a potential alternative to petroleum-based plastics. Herbaceous biomasses and extracted cellulose have recently been extensively used in the development of high-performance and multifunctional materials. Herbaceous biomass has sparked interest due to its species diversity, abundance, low cost, lightweight, and sustainability. This review discusses the structure versus property relationships of various sources of herbaceous biomasses (e.g., sugarcane, straw, and bamboo) and their extracted biomaterials, as well as the latest emerging applications from macro- and microscales to nanoscales. High-strength structural materials, porous carbon materials, multichannel materials, and flexible materials are examples of these applications, which include sustainable electronics, environmentally friendly energy harvesting, smart materials, and biodegradable structural buildings.
Allitol and gluconic acid (GA) are important industrial compounds that are preferably produced via bio-production processes. In this research, D-psicose-3-epimerase (DPEase), glucose dehydrogenase (GDH), and ribitol dehydrogenase (RDH) were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, realizing the co-production of allitol and GA. Compared to the loss of carbon flux from formate dehydrogenase (FDH), glucose dehydrogenase can produce GA while generating NAD(H). The recombinant strain Ec/pAd-pRrg boosted NADH production to 2.4 mmol/gDCW, 118\% higher than with the control strain. Under the optimized conditions, 12.0 g/L allitol and 14.8 g/L GA were produced from 25 g/L D-fructose and 20 g/L D- glucose; i.e., 66.7\% and 66.3\% higher yields compared to the case of fermentation without optimization, respectively. Furthermore, 42.7 g/L allitol and 56.2 g/L GA can be obtained from pretreated molasses (containing 139.2 g/L D-fructose and 149.1 g/L D-glucose). This work provides a practicable strategy for industrial and efficient co-production of allitol and GA from a cheap raw substrate.(c) 2023, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.
Recent findings of microplastics in marine food such as fish, crabs and shrimps necessitate the need to develop biodegradable packaging materials. This study reports on the development of a biodegradable packing material from cellulose nanofibril-polyvinyl alcohol nanocomposite embedded with silver nanoparticles. Microcrystalline cellulose was isolated from sugarcane bagasse via the kraft process followed by conversion of cellulose I to cellulose II using NaOH/urea/water solution. The nanofibrils were then isolated using (2,2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxyl (TEMPO) and used as a reinforcing element in polyvinyl alcohol composite prepared through solvent casting. The tensile strength, water solubility, optical properties, water vapor permeability and wettability of the prepared films were then evaluated. The antimicrobial potency of the films was evaluated using the disc diffusion antimicrobial assay against selected microorganisms.
Lignocellulosic wastes such as neem hull, wheat bran, and sugarcane bagasse, available in abundance, are excellent substrates for the production of ligninolytic enzymes under solid-state fermentation by white-rot fungi. A ligninolytic enzyme system with high activity showing enhanced decomposition was obtained by cocultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium on combinations of lignocellulosic waste. Among the various substrate combinations examined, neem hull and wheat bran wastes gave the highest ligninolytic activity. A maximum production of laccase of 772 U/g and manganese peroxidase of 982 U/g was obtained on d 20 and lignin peroxidase of 656 U/g on d 25 at 28 +/- 10degreesC under solid-state fermentation. All three enzymes thus obtained were partially purified by acetone fractionation and were exploited for decolorizing different types of acid and reactive dyes.
Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) has been drawing enormous attention because of its versatile properties. Herein, we shed light on the BNC production by a novel bacterial isolate (MD1) utilizing various agro-industrial wastes. Using 16S rRNA nucleotide sequences, the isolate was identified as Komagataeibacter saccharivorans MD1. For the first time, BNC synthesis by K. saccharivorans MD1 was investigated utilizing wastes of palm date, fig, and sugarcane molasses along with glucose on the Hestrin-Schramm (HS) medium as a control. After incubation for 168 h, the highest BNC yield was perceived on the molasses medium recording 3.9 g/L with an initial concentration of (v/v) 10\%. The physicochemical characteristics of the BNC sheets were inspected adopting field-emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The FESEM characterization revealed no impact of the wastes on either fiber diameter or the branching scheme, whereas the AFM depicted a BNC film with minimal roughness was generated using date wastes. Furthermore, a high crystallinity index was estimated by XRD up to 94\% for the date wastes-derived BNC, while the FTIR analyses exhibited very similar profiles for all BNC films. Additionally, mechanical characteristics and water holding capacity of the produced BNCs were studied. Our findings substantiated that expensive substrates could be exchanged by agro-industrial wastes for BNC production conserving its remarkable physical and microstructural properties.
Solid-state fermentation (SSF) has recently been proposed as an alternative to submerged fermentation for the production of poly(hydroxyalkanoates). In the present work, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy were employed to investigate the chemical structure, as well as the thermal properties and the crystalline morphology of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) samples produced by SSF, using as raw material either soy cake or soy cake supplemented with 2.5\% (m/m) sugarcane molasses. The results obtained showed that the biopolymer obtained by SSF presented the same properties as commercial PHB, except for the higher molar mass and the lower degree of crystallinity that were observed. Thus, the present data indicate that solid-state fermentation is an interesting alternative for the production of PHB, allowing the production of biopolymers with adequate properties from low-cost, renewable resources. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Environmental pollution is one of the major concerns throughout the world. The rise of industrialization has increased the generation of waste materials, causing environmental degradation and threat to the health of living beings. To overcome this problem and effectively handle waste materials, proper management skills are required. Waste as a whole is not only waste, but it also holds various valuable materials that can be used again. Such useful materials or elements need to be segregated and recovered using sustainable recovery methods. Agricultural waste, industrial waste, and household waste have the potential to generate different value-added products. More specifically, the industrial waste like fly ash, gypsum waste, and red mud can be used for the recovery of alumina, silica, and zeolites. While agricultural waste like rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut shells can be used for recovery of silica, calcium, and carbon materials. In addition, domestic waste like incense stick ash and eggshell waste that is rich in calcium can be used for the recovery of calcium-related products. In agricultural, industrial, and domestic sectors, several raw materials are used; therefore, it is of high economic interest to recover valuable minerals and to process them and convert them into merchandisable products. This will not only decrease environmental pollution, it will also provide an environmentally friendly and cost-effective approach for materials synthesis. These value-added materials can be used for medicine, cosmetics, electronics, catalysis, and environmental cleanup.
The research was purposed to produce environmentally friendly biomass pellets as syngas fuel. The produced pellets dimension is 18 mm to 25 mm (length) and 4.5 mm (diameter). The best pellets made from single material is palm shell pellets with gasification time of 85 min . kg(-1) biomass. The best pellets made from material mix is sugarcane bagasse and palm shell pellets, with similar gasification time. The palm shell pellets met the standard except for ash content. Pellets made from mixed material have less caloric value. Emissions test on gasification process has passed the emissions quality standard. (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
A highly selective and sensitive sensor for L-arabitol is developed combining the advantages of three-dimensional nanostructrured electrodes, namely, 3D-ensembles of gold nanowires (3DNEE), with the recognition capability of molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The MIP/3DNEE is prepared by controlled etching of polycarbonate templated nanoelectrode ensembles, followed by electropolymerization of o-phenylenediamine on the gold nanowires in the presence of L-arabitol as molecular imprinting template. For activating the sensor, L-arabitol is removed from the MIP with an ethanol/water mixture. The sensor is characterized by scanning electron microscopy and dispersive energy X-ray spectroscopy while its electrochemical properties are examined by cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Analytically usefull signals are obtained using the ferrocenylmethytrimethylammonium cation as an electroactive probe which can access the MIP cavities, furnishing voltammetric signals which scale inversely with the L-arabitol concentration. The sensor is characterized by a low detection limit (7.5 x 10(-10) mol L-1), satisfactory quantification range, selectivity, reproducibility and repeatability. The applicability of the MIP/3DNEE in real samples is demonstrated by successfully quantifying L-arabitol concentration in sugarcane vinasse.
This article discusses the policy of opportunistic maintenance, considering more than one decision criterion by using a multi-attribute value function, for a study developed for a cogeneration system that uses sugarcane bagasse at a power plant in northeastern Brazil, where policy defines what maintenance tasks should be adopted. These policies include minimal repairs, opportunistic maintenance, and preventive maintenance, and availability and cost are addressed based on the preferences of the decision maker. As a result, it was possible to define what the optimum maintenance action should be considering more than one decision criterion and taking into account the preference of the decision maker, from the definition of the decision rule, to determine when the actions of minimal repairs, opportunistic maintenance and preventive maintenance must be performed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this work, four residual biomasses from the food industry (coconut husk, defatted grape seeds, sugar cane bagasse, and pressed palm fiber) were subjected to subcritical water hydrolysis assisted by CO2 (SubWH + CO2) with the objective of producing fermentable sugars. Hydrolysis kinetics were determined using a semi-batch unit equipped with a 50 mL reactor. The process was conducted at 250 degrees C for 30 min under 20 MPa. Total reducing sugars recovered using SubWH + CO2 were (wet basis): 13.5\% for coconut husk, 10\% for defatted grape seeds, 13.2\% for sugar cane bagasse, and 11.2\% for pressed palm fiber. For coconut husk and defatted grape seeds, adding CO2 increased total reducing sugars by 15 and 56\%, respectively. For sugar cane bagasse and pressed palm fiber, adding CO2 to the process did not alter total reducing sugars recovered. In all cases, the byproduct yield increased when adding CO2 to the process.
Microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a biogeochemical process in which calcite is precipitated within the soil environment due to microorganism activity. Because soil properties are highly influenced by the microorganism population, soil properties can be improved by stimulating microorganisms in the soil with suitable materials. In this research, we investigated the abilities of six different carbon or nitrogen sources (treatments) to stimulate native urease-producing bacteria. Different amounts of yeast extract, sugarcane molasses, sodium acetate, and glucose were used to stimulate indigenous bacterial growth. After 7, 15, and 21days of treatment, direct shear (DS), unconfined compressive strength (UCS), permeability test results, calcite content, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images obtained using an instrument equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscope (EDX) were used to analyze the samples. The results indicate that yeast extract had the greatest effect on improving soil properties by stimulating indigenous soil bacteria.
This work describes the application of raw and chemically modified cellulose and sugarcane bagasse for ipso-hydroxylation of aryl boronic acids in environmentally friendly reaction conditions. The catalytic efficiency of five support-{[
Creating a fluidic system with an induced electrical field is regarded as an innovative, eco-friendly practice for the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass at mild conditions. A multi-series, reconfigurable fluidic reactor was developed baled on the transformer concept for the efficient hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse via the interconversion of magnetic and electrical energy. A secondary coil comprised of a mixture of sulfuric acid (or other metal electrolyte) and the sample in continuous flow was exposed to an induced electric field at 400-700 Hz to accelerate the hydrolysis. The results showed that using an induced electric field to assist hydrolysis is indeed beneficial in the production of reducing sugar (RS). The total reducing sugar (TRS) yield is positively impacted by the excitation voltage but is negatively impacted by voltage frequency and the sample solution impedance. The hydrolysis efficiency improves as the number of reactors increases in both series and parallel modes of the system. The mode of connection of the reactors has varying effect on the TRS yield owing to differences in the equivalent impedance, output power, and load power factor. Increased number of secondary coil turns also improves hydrolysis efficiency under the same input power and primary coil turns and thus increasing the TRS yield. Induced-electric-field-assisted hydrolysis (IEFAH) substantially enhances the yield (by 756\% approximately, at 300 V, 400 Hz in a 4-series reactors for 24 h) compared to continuous flow heating hydrolysis (CFHH) at mild conditions (50 degrees C and 1\% H2SO4). The proposed fluidic system combined with an induced electric field shows remarkable potential as a green technology for the efficient hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomasses without the use of metal electrodes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The objective of this study was to produce ethanol using cheese whey, cellulosic biomass and crude enzymatic extract from wild-type fungi isolated from Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). A total of 64 samples of material (flowers, fruit and soil) were collected and cellulase production by isolated fungal strains was evaluated using enzymatic activity index methodology. The selected fungi was used to produce ethanol in a two step process: a) crude enzyme complex was produced by solid-state fermentation followed by the extraction of the enzyme complex from the fermented biomass using milk whey and hydrolyzed milk whey (0.1 \% H2SO4, 0.5 atm, 30 min); b) enzymatic extract was used (Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation) to produce ethanol from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse. According to the results obtained, the use of cheese whey was effective in improving the ethanol yield. The use of cheese whey to extract enzyme complex increased the ethanol production in 20.4 \% compared to a control test using water in place of cheese whey and the use of hydrolyzed cheese whey increased ethanol production in 55.1 \% compared to water extraction. The best result for ethanol fermentation (17.9 g/L of ethanol) was obtained after 48 h of fermentation.
The aims of this work were to produce hyaluronic acid (HA) by Streptococcus zooepidemicus ATCC 39920 in a low cost sugarcane molasses fermentation medium and to employ the produced HA to obtain films blends based on polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The films were produced using solution casting method and they were characterized according to their microstructure, mechanical and barrier properties. HA was added in different concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 15\% (w/w)), and glycerol was used as a plasticizer (25 g/100 g solids). All formulations resulted in easily manipulated films with good appearance. The addition of HA on PVA films increased their thermal stability, solubility, swelling index, water vapor permeability and elongation. Microbial HA sample combined with PVA showed to be a promising material to biomedical application, and an addition between 5 and 10\% (w/w) was sufficient to improve PVA films properties.
The experiment of silage for preservation of fresh Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) was carried out to examine whether the fermentation quality and microbial degradation in the rumen can be altered by the treatment of amino acids fermentation byproduct (AFB). The plant was ensiled for 40 days with 4 treatments of different ratios of AFB and sugarcane molasses (SCM) mixture. The treatment 2 (T2, AFB:SCM=100:0) and treatment 3 (T3, AFB:SCM=40:60) silages showed higher (p<0.05) concentrations of lactic acids, lower (p<0.05) pH and dry matter (DM) losses than the Control (T1, none additive) and treatment (T4, AFB:SCM=0:100) silages. The treatments 2 and 3 contained higher (p<0.05) DM and crude protein contents in silages compared to treatments 1 and 4 silages. The NDF, ADF and cellulose contents were also lower (p<0.05) in T2, T3 and T4 silages than T1 silage and fresh material before ensiled. The in situ rumen DM, NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose degradability was also higher (p<0.05) in T2, T3 and T4 silages than T1 silage, while the highest improvement was achieved with addition of AFB:SCM at level of 40:60 at ensiling. The result in this study indicates that the addition of AFB and SCM additives improved the silage fermentation and cell wall degradability of Italian ryegrass silage.
Inhibitory lignocellulose hydrolysates were treated with the reducing agents dithionite and sulfite to achieve improved fermentability. Addition of these reducing agents (in the concentration range 5.0-17.5 mM) to enzymatic hydrolysates of spruce wood or sugarcane bagasse improved processes based on both SHF (simultaneous hydrolysis and fermentation) and SSF (simultaneous saccharification and fermentation). The approach was exemplified in ethanolic fermentations with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and by using hydrolysates with sugar concentrations >100 g/L (for SHF) and with 10\% dry-matter content (for SSF). In the SHF experiments, treatments with dithionite raised the ethanol productivities of the spruce hydrolysate from 0.2 to 2.5 g x L-1 x h(-1) and of the bagasse hydrolysate from 0.9 to 3.9 g x L-1 x h(-1), values even higher than those of fermentations with reference sugar solutions without inhibitors. Benefits of the approach include that the addition of the reducing agent can be made in-situ directly in the fermentation vessel, that the treatment can be performed at a temperature and pH suitable for fermentation, and that the treatment results in dramatically improved fermentability without degradation of fermentable sugars. The many benefits and the simplicity of the approach offer a new way to achieve more efficient manufacture of fermentation products from lignocellulose hydrolysates. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ashbya gossypii is a filamentous fungus that naturally overproduces riboflavin, and it is currently exploited for the industrial production of this vitamin. The utilization of A. gossypii for biotechnological applications presents important advantages such as the utilization of low-cost culture media, inexpensive downstream processing and a wide range of molecular tools for genetic manipulation, thus making A. gossypii a valuable biotechnological chassis for metabolic engineering. A. gossypii has been shown to accumulate high levels of lipids in oil-based culture media; however, the lipid biosynthesis capacity is rather limited when grown in sugar-based culture media. In this study, by altering the fatty acyl-CoA pool and manipulating the regulation of the main Delta 9 desaturase gene, we have obtained A. gossypii strains with significantly increased (up to fourfold) de novo lipid biosynthesis using glucose as the only carbon source in the fermentation broth. Moreover, these strains were efficient biocatalysts for the conversion of carbohydrates from sugarcane molasses to biolipids, able to accumulate lipids up to 25\% of its cell dry weight. Our results represent a proof of principle showing the promising potential of A. gossypii as a competitive microorganism for industrial biolipid production using cost-effective feed stocks.
Sisal fibers have been chemically modified by reaction with lignins, extracted from sugarcane bagasse and Pinus-type wood and then hydroxymethylated, to increase adhesion in resol-type phenolic thermoset matrices. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) results showed that acidic sites predominate for unmodified/modified sisal fibers and for phenolic thermoset, indicating that the phenolic matrix has properties that favor the interaction with sisal fibers. The IGC results also showed that the phenolic thermoset has a dispersive component closer to those of the modified fibers suggesting that thermoset interactions with the less polar modified fibers are favored. Surface SEM images of the modified fibers showed that the fiber bundle deaggregation increased after the treatment, making the interfibrillar structure less dense in comparison with that of unmodified fibers, which increased the contact area and encouraged microbial biodegradation in simulated soil. Water diffusion was observed to be faster for composites reinforced with modified fibers, since the phenolic resin penetrated better into modified fibers, thereby blocking water passage through their channels. Overall, composites' properties showed that modified fibers promote a significant reduction in the hydrophilic character, and consequently of the reinforced composite without a major effect on impact strength and with increased storage modulus. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Highly porous biochar (BC) structures have been prepared from inexpensive biomasses like rice straw, bamboo, sugarcane waste, and corn cob via a slow pyrolysis technique in nitrogenous atmosphere. A surface engineering technique has been applied to enhance the surface-to-volume ratio of each biochar sample and finally compared its characteristics through standard surface and elemental characterization techniques, viz. CHN (carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller), and SEM (scanning electron microscopy). All the biochar samples were observed to be highly carbonized and aromatized. Exfoliated structures were found to contain more elemental carbon (34.14-77.32\%) than its native form (30.92-74.46\%). Aromatic hydrocarbon, aromatic C=C, aromatics, aliphatic C-O, aliphatic hydrocarbon, and H-bonded OH groups were found to predominate in the surface of biochar structures independent of their precursor composition and extent of exfoliation. SEM micrographic images clearly ensured about the unoriented sheets like the morphology of different biochar samples. Although no significant structural difference was found to exist depending on their precursor compositions, quantitative enhancement of porosity was found to be observed after exfoliation. Both native (240.65m(2)/g) and exfoliated (712.89m(2)/g) biochars derived from sugarcane wastes were observed to have a maximum surface area in comparison to the biochars derived from rice straw (native, 22.08m(2)/g; exfoliated, 29.92m(2)/g), bamboo (native, 42.08m(2)/g; exfoliated, 248.38m(2)/g), and corn cob (native, 136.62m(2)/g; exfoliated, 221.71m(2)/g). Exfoliated biochars were found to be consistently more potent in comparison to its native form as per our comparative characterizations performed so far.
The contemporary exhaustive agriculture has led to drastic reductions in soil potassium (K) status because of constant soil K mining by crops without sufficient recharge through external K inputs. Therefore, substituting and/or supplementing K through alternative sources has great prospects in developing countries like Pakistan, where imported K fertilizers are comparatively expensive. This two-year field study reports the effects of alternative sources of K as farmyard manure (FYM), sugarcane bagasse and woodchip, and their biochars (B) i.e. FYM-B, bagasse-B and woodchip-B on soil fertility, K availability, K use efficiency (KUE), soil organic carbon (SOC) and maize productivity in calcareous soil of the semiarid northern region of Pakistan. Alternative sources of K and their biochars were applied along mineral K fertilizer as muriate of potash (KCl) at 60 kg ha-1 rate in a randomized complete block design. Results showed that FYM-B significantly increased plant height, grains per cob and 1000-grain weight. The FYM-B increased grain yield by 6.5, 37.2, and 87.0\% when compared with woodchip-B, chemical fertilizer and control treatments, respectively. Similarly, FYM-B and woodchip-B significantly increased SOC and soil available K contents as compared with the rest of the treatments. Grain K contents and KUE were generally higher in biochar than their feedstock treatments during both years. However, FYM-B resulted in significantly higher KUE compared to the other K sources and their biochars during both years. The biological and grain yields showed significant positive correlations with soil K and SOC contents. Our study concluded that FYM and FYM-B can be applied as alternative and/or supplementary K sources along woodchip-B and bagasse-B to improve maize productivity, KUE and SOC contents in nutrient poor soil. However, economic feasibility of such practices is required to be priorly investigated on long-term basis.
Two anaerobic fixed-structured bed reactors were fed with synthetic wastewater simulating the soluble fraction of sugarcane vinasse to evaluate the interference of sulfidogenesis on methanogenesis. The reactors running in parallel were subjected to the same operating conditions. The influent organic matter concentration (in term of chemical oxygen demand (COD)) remained close to 4,000 mgCOD L-1 and the hydraulic retention time was 24 hours. One reactor, the methanogenic (control reactor), received sulfate only to provide the sulfur required as a nutrient to the methanogenic biomass. The other one, the sulfidogenic/methanogenic reactor (SMR), received sulfate concentration corresponding to COD/sulfate ratios of 4, 5 and 3. In the last phase, the COD removal efficiencies were higher than 96\% in both reactors and the SMR achieved 97\% of sulfate removal efficiency (COD/sulfate ratio of 3 and influent sulfate concentration close to 1,300 mgSO(4)(2-) L-1). Both reactors also had similar methane yields in this phase, close to 350 mLCH(4) gCOD(removed)(-1) at standard temperature and pressure. These results indicated no significant inhibition of methanogenic activity under the sulfidogenic conditions assessed.
Biochar is a beneficial amendment for fine-textured soils. In addition, the interaction of biochar particles with soil components influences the dynamics of water and ions, which is particularly important to remediate salt-affected soils. We investigated the effect of sugarcane bagasse (SB), orange bagasse (OB), and corncobs (CB) biochar on water movement and ion leaching in clayey soil. Non-amended soil (CT) column and soil amended with gypsum (CTG) served as controls. Water infiltration, water flow rate, cumulative leached cations, anions, and exchangeable cations (Ca2+ , Mg2+, K+, and Na+) were determined. Biochar increased the water infiltration and water flow rate by 80\% and 71\%, respectively. The SB and CB treatments increased the ion removal from the soil by 48\%, whereas the OB increased the removal by 19\%. The OB's lower surface area and water holding capacity likely influenced its performance. Biochar reduced the Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentration on the soil exchange complex by 44\% and 76\%, respectively, and increased K+ by 233\%. However, the most exciting result was the reduction of exchangeable Na+, 90\% in the SB and CB treatments and 50\% in the OB treatment. Considering that a high concentration of Na+ on the exchange complex contributes to soil structural degradation, biochar application, especially SB and CB, can potentially improve soil quality and mitigate salt-affected soils.
This work presents the continuous production of fungal biomass and glucoamylase by solid state fermentation (SSF) in a counter-current reactor adapted for this purpose. Pre-germinated conidia of Aspergillus niger were used as an inoculum, and sugarcane bagasse, embedded with a nutritive solution, was the solid support. The solids residence time distribution (RTD) was carried out by feeding one impule of blue-coloured humidified bagasse and its RTD was fixed at 20 h. This study demonstrated that the values of the measured parameters (pH, moisture, biomass, glucoamylases production) were similar to those reported for batch SSF using the same solid support and micro-organism. A marked increase in biomass occurred from the progressive compartment (from compartment 1 to 9) into the reactor and the enzyme production was important (40 IU g(-1) dry exit solids). No mycelium damage or sporulation was observed by microscopy analysis. The above results confirmed that the continuous production of enzymes by SSF under no sterile conditions was successful. Inoculation with pre-germinated conidia shortened the processing time and allowed control of the age of the mycelium in each compartment. Aeration was accomplished by natural convection and moisture content had to be controlled. This process can be applied to the continuous production of fungal biomass and metabolites in SSF with industrial applications using environmental-friendly biotechnology.
Biochar is an eco-friendly, low-cost, and carbon-rich material. This study synthesized the biochars from three agricultural wastes, pinecone, white popinac, and sugarcane bagasse, and then modified them by manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4) co-precipitation. These biochars were applied as adsorbents for the removal of Cu(II) ions from water. All three different MnFe2O4-biochars have similar adsorption performances: rapid adsorption kinetics with equilibrium being reached within 5 hr of contact and significantly enhanced adsorption capacities of Cu(II) ions from water. The principal adsorption mechanisms were identified as complexation reactions, contributed by the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups by pristine biochars and by the Mn-O and Fe-O groups for all three MnFe2O4biochars. The MnFe2O4-biochars can be reused for three cycles, with the maximum adsorption capacities of Cu (II) of the regenerated biochars declining with the loss of precipitated MnFe2O4.
Although sugar cane bagasse is considered as a promising material for the production of second-generation ethanol, obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis and subsequent fermentation, the strong recalcitrance of its internal structures increases the production costs of this biofuel, requiring the application of pre-treatment and technological routes for its processing, sometimes unfeasible technically and economically. More recently, ionic liquids have been studied as an environmentally friendly alternative. Although the majority of the published works consider aprotic ionic liquids, the interest in protic ionic liquids has grown in recent years, especially due to its capacity to establish strong hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the functionality of the mobile nature of the proton H+ makes these materials potential candidates for conducting protons for use in fuel cells and several other applications. In this work, the protic ionic liquid bis(2-hidroxyethylammonium) acetate, 2-HE2AA, was produced and purified and then evaluated as a pre-treatment agent for sugarcane bagasse. The pre-treated material was enzymatically hydrolyzed for subsequent ethanol fermentation. The expectation is that a high yield be achieved in second-generation ethanol production, so that it can provide scientific and economic basis for a biomass conversion integrated and environmentally friendly process. Preliminary results indicated a yield of 84\% in the pre-treatment step. The enzymatic saccharification showed a yield of 77\% and a glucose conversion efficiency of 35\% after 72 h.
To advance the `green' economy agenda aimed at mitigating environmental impacts, a holistic approach assessing sugarcane biorefineries is vital in establishing their sustainability (economic, environment and social matters). This study evaluates the environmental impact of six (bio)energy self-sufficient biorefineries (S1-S6), annexed to a sugar mill and using sugarcane residues to produce sorbitol, glucaric acid and levulinic acid, along with electricity. Different pretreatment technologies, i.e. SO2-steam explosion and dilute acid, were investigated for sorbitol and glucaric acid production (S1-S4). Scenario S5 investigated levulinic acid and furfural production via the Biofine process, whereas S6 added the manufacture of gamma valerolactone to S5. Life cycle assessments evaluated using SimaPro PhD 8.5.2.0 and together with inventory data from previous Aspen Plus (R) v 8.6 models on economic and social impacts were used to evaluate the scenarios' sustainability. Results revealed that dilute acid pretreatment applied in S2 and S4 exhibited 23\%-92\% lower environmental impacts across most impact categories, compared to S1 and S3 via SO2-steam explosion, mainly due to reduced SO2 emissions. Regarding the scenarios' sustainability based on a combination of eight socio-economic and environmental indicators, S4 producing glucaric acid via dilute acid pretreatment was the most favourable as it had the least environmental burdens despite being marginally profitable and creating 49 jobs. It was followed by S5, the levulinic acid and furfural biorefinery whilst S6, despite attractive socio-economic outcomes was the least desirable due to high environmental loads from gamma valerolactone production, associated with the manufacture, transportation and use of n-butyl acetate solvent and hydrogen from natural gas. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In vitro gas production, nutrient digestibilities and metabolisable energy (ME) values of fresh and conserved pangola grass (Digitaria eriantha Steud., synonym D. decumbens) were studied in 16 cross-bred (Thai native x Merino) sheep. The study was designed as a completely randomized design with Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) as a control and pangola grass in fresh, hay and silage forms with the same cutting age (45 days growth) as treatments. Chemical composition of forages and faeces was determined and used to estimate nutrient digestibility. In vitro gas production was recorded at 3, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72,84 and 96h of incubation and used to estimate the kinetics of gas production. Chemical composition was relatively constant across treatments. Likely due to the addition of 5\% sugarcane molasses before ensiling, pangola grass silage had higher (P < 0.05) nutrient digestibilities and ME concentrations than the other forages when estimated from in vivo digestibility and in vitro gas production. Cumulative gas production at 12, 24, 48 and 96 h of incubation was highest (P < 0.05) in pangola silage followed by fresh pangola, pangola hay and Napier grass, in that order. In conclusion, pangola grass in fresh or conserved forms has a high potential to deliver energy and protein through forage and can be recommended as a nutrient source for small ruminants. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Coal gasification has already been extensively studied earlier under varying conditions of steam, CO2, O-2, inert conditions. Belbaid coal and its e, N and NMP-DETA SCC products recovered through organo-refining under milder ambient pressure conditions were subjected to CO2-gasification in a fixed bed reactor under varying conditions. CO2 being an inert gas becomes the most challenging to be utilized during the gasification process. The SCCs showed better CO2-gasification reactivity than the raw Belbaid coal at 900 degrees C. The use of the catalyst K2CO3 tremendously increased the gasification reactivity for both raw coal and the SCCs. The use of sugarcane bagasse for CO2-gasification along with raw coal as well as with residual coal was also studied. Gasification under CO2 atmosphere conditions was used to structurally understand the coals as the coal structure gets loosened after extraction.
The production of methanol from agricultural, forestry, livestock, poultry, and fishery waste via pyrolysis was investigated. Pyrolysis was conducted in a tube furnace at 450-500 degrees C. Sugarcane bagasse showed the methanol production (5.93 wt.\%), followed by roots and sawdust with 4.36 and 4.22 wt.\%, respectively. Animal waste offered the lowest content of methanol, as only 0.46, 0.80, and 0.61 wt.\% were obtained from fishery, goat, and cow waste, respectively. It was also observed that the percentage of methanol increased with an increase in volatile compounds while the percentage of ethanol increased with the percentage of ash and fix carbon. The data indicate that, pyrolysis is a means for production of methanol and ethanol after further optimization of the process and sample treatment. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
In this study, energy-related operational parameters for modern and traditional (conventional) sugar mills are analyzed, with the goals of identifying improvements in energy efficiency and potential for surplus electricity export. Results show that the power-to-heat ratio of modern and traditional mills is clearly distinct, lying in the ranges of 0.3-0.5 and 0.04-0.07, respectively. Modifications under consideration for the traditional mills include the following upgrades: electric drives and higher capacity back-pressure turbine (case 1); high-pressure boiler, condensing extraction steam turbine and electric drives (case 2); and improvements in case 2 plus bagasse drying (case 3). The thermodynamic impact of these modifications shows that more power is generated as the modification becomes more advanced. Case 1 exhibits a modest increase in cogeneration efficiency (4\%) as compared to the base case, while the cogeneration efficiency increase is more marked for cases 2 and 3 (21\% and 31\%, respectively). Surplus power was studied in a regional context, where it was found that the contribution of 19 retrofitted sugar mills in nine Brazilian regions could supply 30\% or more power as compared to current installed power capacity. The economic analysis showed that levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) was lowest for case 1 (11 USD/MWh) and highest for cases 2 and 3 (58 USD/kWh).
The main goal of this review paper was to study the physical and chemical properties of agricultural crop wastes and their potentials to partially replace in production of mortar and concrete. Bamboo leaves' ashes (BLA), banana leaves' ashes (BNLA), corncob leaves' ashes (CCA), groundnut ashes (GNA), rice husk ashes (RHA), and sugarcane bagasse ashes (SCBA) were selected to be reviewed. The chemical composition of these agricultural wastes revealed that the they are basically composed of alumino-siliceous materials conforming the requirement of pozzolanic materials. Compared with cement, they have finer particle size and higher surface area. The effect of partial replacement of cement by BLA, BNLA, CCA, GNA, RHA, and SCBA on the properties of fresh concrete (consistency, workability, and setting time), mechanical properties (compressive and tensile strength), microstructure (scanning electron microscopy, derivative thermogravimetry, and X-ray diffraction), and durability (ultrapulse velocity, water absorption, and sulphate attack) of concrete was recapped. The inclusion of BLA, CCA, RHA, and SCBA as partial replacement of cement reduced the workability of concrete due to their finer particle size. The mechanical performance of concrete showed enhancement with partial replacement of cement by BLA, RHA, and SCBA due to the involvement of amorphous silica in secondary reaction to produce densified tetrahedral gel. Consequently, uniform and denser morphology was formed, and durability was enhanced as densification of hydrated gel increased. In general, the review exposed that agricultural crop wastes satisfy pozzolanic material properties and have strong potential to replace cement up to 10\% without compromising the performance of concrete.
Immobilisation of heavy metals in a 30-year old active scrap metal yard soil using three waste materials, namely coconut tree sawdust (CTS), sugarcane bagasse (SB) and eggshell (ES) was investigated. The contaminated soil was amended with amendments at application rates of 0 \%, 1 \% and 3 \% (w/w). The effects of amendments on metal accumulation in water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and soil metal bioavailability were studied in a pot experiment. All amendments increased biomass yield and reduced metal accumulation in the plant shoots. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor values of the metals were in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb. The addition of ES, an alternative source of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), has significantly increased soil pH and resulted in marked reduction in soil metal bioavailability. Therefore, CTS, SB and ES are promising low-cost immobilising agents to restore metal contaminated land.
In this work, the effect of various polyol-based plasticizers, including glycerol (GLY), diethylene glycol (DEG), and polyethylene glycol (PEG), on the properties of alginate (ALG)-based films and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC)-filled ALG-based bionanocomposite films was investigated. The CNC used as nanoreinforcing fillers were extracted, at nanometric scale, from sugarcane bagasse fibers using sulfuric acid hydrolysis process, and their morphology and structure were characterized. Plasticized ALG films and plasticized ALG-CNC bionanocomposite films were prepared by solvent casting method. Before the casting process, the steady shear viscosity of film-forming solutions of all studied formulations was studied and compared. The obtained ALG-based films were successfully characterized in terms of their structure, transparency, water vapor permeability (WVP), moisture uptake (MU), thermal, and mechanical properties. It was found that all studied plasticized films keep the same transparency level of neat ALG films, thus suggesting that the selected plasticizers are compatible with the ALG biopolymer, and the CNC are well dispersed within the bionanocomposite films. The elastic modulus and tensile strength of neat ALG films were largely decreased after the addition of different plasticizers, while the elongation at break was significantly increased. However, these selected mechanical parameters were simultaneously improved when CNC are incorporated into plasticized ALG bionanocomposite films. The WVP and MU properties of ALG films were decreased when different plasticizers and CNC were added. Herein, the steps to form new eco-friendly ALG films were described by taking advantage of the combination of plasticizers and CNC with ALG biopolymer. The as-produced films exhibited good optical transparency while reducing the WVP and enhancing tensile properties, which are the main properties required for packaging applications.
Agro- and forest-industrial wastes are abundant and low cost sources of carbohydrates and phenolic compounds, which can be converted into biofuels, biomaterials, and high added-value compounds by different pathways in small and large biorefineries. The development of technologies based on hydrothermal treatments could improve the utilization of lignocellulosic wastes through the separation of its components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractives) in sequential processes. The adopted technologies for the separation and conversion of these lignocellulosic wastes into synthesis intermediates or products of high added value represent an important part of the total production cost. Low liquid to solid ratios and mild temperatures in the pretreatment are interesting ways of reducing energy costs, subsequently economizing both steam and electricity. This work focuses on the advantages of using low liquid to solid ratios in the hydrothermal treatment of different agro-and forest-industrial wastes, paying particular attention to the performance of separation, purification, and conversion of hemicelluloses.
Low Si content in rice (Oryza sativa L.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), and other Si-accumulating crops can adversely affect crop performance by increasing susceptibility to abiotic and biotic stresses. Although it is generally assumed in the United States that soils containing appreciable amounts of silicate clays supply adequate Si to meet crop demands, there is little evidence to support this assumption. A survey was conducted to assess the Si status of rice plants at mid-tiller (Y-leaf) and at harvest (straw) in 97 rice fields located throughout the rice-growing regions of Louisiana. On average, Y-leaves contained 30.5 +/- 7.8 g Si kg(-1), whereas mature rice straw contained 54.7 +/- 12.7 g Si kg(-1). Low early season Si assimilation occurred in nearly all rice fields, whereas only 36\% contained mature straw with <50 g Si kg(-1), a level commonly used to indicate sufficiency. Late-season deficiencies were limited to fields in extreme southwest Louisiana where soils tend to be strongly acidic and have a long history of rice production.
Recently, we demonstrated the mechanocatalytic depolymerization of lignocellulosic substrates as a powerful methodology that fully converts lignocellulosic substrates into `water-soluble lignocellulose'. We now show that the saccharification of the aqueous solution of depolymerized beechwood, pinewood and sugarcane bagasse (at 140 degrees C for 1 h) produces a high yield of sugars (e.g. 88-92\% glucose, 3.5-8\% glucose dimers and 93-98\% xylose relative to the glucan and xylan fractions, respectively) and leads to precipitation of sulfur-free lignins. Noteworthy, the formation of furfurals is suppressed because the `water-soluble lignocelluloses' undergo hydrolysis at relatively low temperatures. At 140 degrees C, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural are formed in yields not exceeding 1.4 and 5.7\%, respectively. The separation of the carbohydrate fraction (as C-5 and C-6 sugars) from the lignin fraction is thus feasible by simple filtration.
An endoglucanase gene called celcflB was isolated from a genomic library of C flavigena. Its nucleotide sequence showed an ORF of 1725 bp with a GTG start codon. A promoter sequence was found inside the adjacent gene upstream from the start point of translation of celcflB gene. The gene celcflB was induced by sugarcane bagasse and repressed by glucose when C flavigena was grown on these carbon sources, suggesting that celcflB gene is regulated at transcriptional level. The predicted amino acid sequence of the CelcflB protein presented a catalytic domain with a high homology to family 5 of glycosil hydrolases, and a cellulose binding domain identical to cellulose binding domains type II. The coding region of the celcflB gene was cloned into the expression vector pQE30 and the recombinant protein of 58 kDa presented endoglucanase activity towards carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC).
Recently, there has been so much interest in using biomass waste for bio-based products. Nigeria is one of the countries with an extensive availability of palm biomass. During palm oil production, an empty palm fruit bunch (biomass) is formed, and a lot of ash is generated. This study aimed to extract and characterize silica from empty palm fruit bunch (EPFB) ash using the thermochemical method. The results show that EPFB ash contains a large amount of biogenic silica in its amorphous form. It could be extracted for further use via calcination at different temperatures and compared effectively to other biomass materials, such as rice husk ash, sugarcane bagasse, and cassava periderm. The extracted silica was characterized using XRF, XRD, TGA, SEM, and FTIR, revealing the highest silica concentration of 49.94\% obtained at a temperature of 800 \& DEG;C. The XRF analysis showed 99.44 wt.\% pure silica, while the XRD spectrum showed that the silica in EPFB is inherently amorphous. As is evident from the study, silica obtained from EPFB ash is a potential source of silica and it is comparable to the commercial silica. Thus, it is potentially usable as a support for catalysts, in the development of zeolite-based catalysts and as an adsorbent.
Rehabilitation of degraded lands due to mining and other activities requires rebuilding of the appropriate soil structure and microbial integrity. Organic wastes, in particular plant-based materials, play a vital role in restoration of degraded land when used as amendments for topsoil integrated with microbe-assisted phytoremediation. In this present study, a biotechnological approach using the combination of organic waste amendments, i.e., ETP (effluent treatment plant), sludge from sugarcane and paper industry, and the press mud respectively along with microbial and fungal inoculum isolated from the soil rhizosphere have been applied to study the influence on fertility and productivity of mine spoil from manganese and coal dumps. The organic amendments applied as 100-ton ha(-1) and application of biofertilizers boosted the survival of plants such as Tectona grandis (Teak), Dalbergia sisso (North Indian rosewood), Phyllanthus emblica (Indian gooseberry), Gmelina arborea (Gamhar), and Acacia auriculiformis (Earpod wattle) from 80 to 100\% with robust growth and development during the short span of 25 years. The physicochemical attributes of soil and the microbial count also increased significantly. The pH of mine soil dumps slightly shifted toward alkaline conditions (7.4 to 7.8) whereas bulk density, porosity, and the water holding capacity were greatly improved. Other than this, the nutrient status of mine dump soil and the plants such as available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and the organic carbon content in soil were improvised to a greater extent simultaneously decreasing the available manganese concentration. The findings of the study assure a better land reclamation and restoration approach.
Agro-industrial biomass residues (peanut shells, cocoa husks, sugarcane bagasse and coconut mesocarp) were converted into magnetic adsorbents by deposition of maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3), employing the combustion synthesis method as a single step route. The resultant magnetic materials were characterized by XRD, TEM, nitrogen adsorption, and magnetization measurements. The magnetic composites are formed by maghemite (gamma-Fe2O3), as the major phase, and hematite (alpha-Fe2O3), as a minor contaminant, both dispersed in carbonaceous matrices, depending on the parent biomass residue. The crystallite size of gamma-Fe2O3 was estimated by the Scherrer equation and ranged from 6 to 58 nm, depending on the starting biomass residue. The BET surface areas were relatively low (12 to 58 m(2) g(-1)). The magnetization measurements indicated a decrease in the saturation magnetization with decreasing maghemite crystallite size and with the increase of the carbon content.
This paper aims to study the possibility of using charcoal, rice husk, sugarcane bagasse, coffee husk, eucalyptus bark and elephant grass and their blends as materials for blast furnace fuel injection. However, any blast furnace fuel must satisfy all the stringent quality requirements such as combustibility, calorific value and ash content. Elaborate processing is also necessary for flowability of the dry pulverized fuel produced from the biomass materials. These properties are evaluated in laboratory by an experimental simulator. The analysis showed the technical feasibility of biomass as an alternative fuel for the blast furnace process, which can contribute as a new energy source. This technique may be one approach to reduce the cost to the steel company by the partial replacement of the fuel materials like coke, and bring further advantages such as the reduction of greenhouse gas generation and obtain carbon credits.
The present research had as main purpose to develop and characterize multifunctional green nanocomposites based on poly(furfuryl alcohol) resin (PFA bioresin), derived from sugarcane bagasse reinforced with different contents of graphite nanosheets (GNS) (0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 wt\%) which were dispersed in PFA bioresin using an ultrasonic processor. The mixture was poured into silicone molds and cured at room temperature during 24 h followed by a post-cure at preheated oven in cycles of different temperatures. TEM analysis of GNS showed this filler consist of ultrathin and layered sheets. SEM micrographs of the cryogenic fracture of the nanocomposite presented the good interfacial adhesion between PFA bioresin and GNS. Moreover, upon GNS addition in the PFA bioresin, PFA/GNS nanocomposites demonstrated superior mechanical performance and better electrical conductivity than neat PFA bioresin.
The conversion of pentoses into ethanol remains a challenge and could increase the supply of second-generation biofuels. This study sought to isolate naturally occurring yeasts from plant biomass and determine their capabilities for transforming xylose into ethanol. Three yeast strains with the ability to ferment xylose were isolated from pepper, tomato and sugarcane bagasse. The strains selected were characterized by morphological and auxanographic assays, and they were identified by homology analysis of 5.8 S and 26 S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The identities of two lineages of microrganism were associated with Galactomyces geotrichum, and the other was associated with Candida akabanensis. Fermentative processes were conducted with liquid media containing only xylose as the carbon source. Y-P/S values for the production of ethanol ranging between 0.29 and 0.35 g g(-1) were observed under non-optimized conditions.
Thermoanaerobacterium aotearoense P8G3\#4 produced beta-glucosidase (BGL) intracellularly when grown in liquid culture on cellobiose. The gene bgl, encoding beta-glucosidase, was cloned and sequenced. Analysis revealed that the bgl contained an open reading frame of 1314 bp encoding a protein of 446 amino acid residues, and the product belonged to the glycoside hydrolase family 1 with the canonical glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) (beta/alpha)(8) TIM barrel fold. Expression of pET-bgl together with a chaperone gene cloned in vector pGro7 in Escherichia coli dramatically enhanced the crude enzyme activity to a specific activity of 256.3 U/mg wet cells, which resulted in a 9.2-fold increase of that obtained from the expression without any chaperones. The purified BGL exhibited relatively high thermostability and pH stability with its highest activity at 60 A degrees C and pH 6.0. In addition, the activities of BGL were remarkably stimulated by the addition of 5 mM Na+ or K+. The enzyme showed strong ability to hydrolyze cellobiose with a K (m) and V (max) of 25.45 mM and 740.5 U/mg, respectively. The BGL was activated by glucose at concentration varying from 50 to 250 mM and tolerant to glucose inhibition with a K (i) of 800 mM glucose. The supplement of the purified BGL to the sugarcane bagasse hydrolysis mixture containing a commercial cellulase resulted in about 20 \% enhancement of the released reducing sugars. These properties of the purified BGL should have important practical implication in its potential applications for better industrial production of glucose or bioethanol started from lignocellulosic biomass.
Emerging attention has been given to the use of biomass in local areas for its contribution to reducing fossil fuel dependence and mitigating global warming. The objective of the present study is to develop a method that quantitatively assesses the effects of local biomass projects on fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. A practical method based on a life cycle approach is proposed and applied to a case of bioethanol project in Miyako Islands of Japan. The project is aiming to produce bioethanol from molasses within the islands, and to replace the entire gasoline consumed in the islands to E3 fuel (i.e., a mixture of 3\% ethanol and 97\% gasoline by volume). The assessment using the developed method revealed that, first, the complete shift from gasoline to E3 fuel allows for decreases in fossil fuel consumption and GHG emission. Second, the performance of the project is improved by the integration of the ethanol plant and the sugar factory. Moreover, the assessment found that, in small-scale bioethanol projects, the contribution of capital goods to life cycle fuel consumption and GHG emission is not negligible.
The Mexican economy is highly dependent on the tequila industry, where there are associated several residues of agave (i.e., the plant used to make tequila), which is lignocellulosic matter that can be used as feedstock for bioethanol production. The residues of agave are obtained in the harvesting sites located in several states of Mexico and from the tequila factories that are mainly located in two places in Mexico. This paper presents an optimization framework for designing a supply chain for the bioethanol production from residues of agave bagasse obtained in the tequila processing in Mexico, where central and distributed bioethanol processing plants are considered. The bioethanol production process in the central and distributed plants is modeled according to conversion factors for the different processing steps obtained from experimental data. The proposed optimization formulation also considers the total available agave and the bioethanol demand in Mexico. Several scenarios are analyzed for the bioethanol production from agave bagasse in Mexico, where positive results are obtained from the reuse of residues of agave bagasse for bioethanol production, obtaining considerable profits and satisfying a significant demand of the gasoline required in the area.
The substantial use of fungal enzymes to degrade lignocellulosic plant biomass has widely been attributed to the extensive requirement of powerful enzyme-producing fungal strains. In this study, a two-step screening procedure for finding cellulolytic fungi, involving a miniaturized culture method with shake-flask fermentation, was proposed and demonstrated. We isolated 297 fungal strains from several cellulose-containing samples found in two different locations in Thailand. By using this screening strategy, we then selected 9 fungal strains based on their potential for cellulase production. Through sequence-based identification of these fungal isolates, 4 species in 4 genera were identified: Aspergillus terreus (3 strains: AG466, AG438 and AG499), Penicillium oxalicum (4 strains: AG452, AG496, AG498 and AG559), Talaromyces siamensis (1 strain: AG548) and Trichoderma afroharzianum (1 strain: AG500). After examining their lignocellulose degradation capacity, our data showed that P. oxalicum AG452 exhibited the highest glucose yield after saccharification of pretreated sugarcane trash, cassava pulp and coffee silverskin. In addition, Ta. siamensis AG548 produced the highest glucose yield after hydrolysis of pretreated sugarcane bagasse. Our study demonstrated that the proposed two-step screening strategy can be further applied for discovering potential cellulolytic fungi isolated from various environmental samples. Meanwhile, the fungal strains isolated in this study will prove useful in the bioconversion of agricultural lignocellulosic residues into valuable biotechnological products.
Agricultural residues are naturally available lignocellulosic biomass having high content of carbon. These residues should imminently be discarded to prevent pollution or can be harnessed for the production of bioenergy and bio-based products. This paper reviews the various types of agricultural residues such as rice straw, wheat straw, maize straw etc and their utilization for the generation of high valuable products. Basic components of agricultural residues which act as a feedstock for bioenergy production and also different biorefineries of agricultural residues based on cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin for the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into valuable products are discussed. Economic analysis performs a major role in technical advancement to ensure economic viability for the valorization of agricultural residues. This paper casts insight into the techno-economic analysis and the life-cycle assessment, the most pertinent approach to assess the environmental consequences of the developed products. To conclude, a discussion and suggestion for future studies is presented.
To enhance succinic acid formation during xylose fermentation in Escherichia coli, overexpression of ATP-forming phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) from Bacillus subtilis 168 in an ldhA, pilB, and ppc deletion strain resulted in a significant increase in cell mass and succinic acid production. However, BA204 displays a low yield of glucose fermentation and sequential glucose-xylose utilization under regulation by the phosphotransferase system (PTS). To improve the capability of glucose fermentation and simultaneously consume sugar mixture for succinic acid production, a pilB, ldhA, ppc, and ptsG deletion strain overexpressing ATP-forming PEPCK, named E. coli BA305, was constructed. As a result, after 120 h fed-batch fermentation of sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate, the dry cell weight and succinic acid concentration in BA305 were 4.58 g L-1 and 39.3 g L-1, respectively. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Hydrogen production from biomass was attempted in high pressure high temperature water at 573 K by adopting partial oxidation to increase the yield of H-2 via CO production in the presence of ZnO. The results revealed that an addition of H2O2 as an oxidant to the reaction of glucose and sugarcane bagasse brought about the trend of increasing the yields of H-2, CO, and CO2. However, the sensitivity of H-2 yield on H2O2 amount was different from those of CO and CO2, namely the excess amount of H2O2 tends to decrease the H-2 yield with giving a maximum at a certain H2O2 amount. These indicated that the controllability of partial oxidation would be a key factor for maximizing the H-2 yield through biomass conversion by partial oxidative gasification in high pressure high temperature water
This study evaluates the potential of a bacterial laccase from Streptomyces ipomoeae (SilA) for delignification and detoxification of steam-exploded wheat straw, in comparison with a commercial fungal laccase from Trametes villosa. When alkali extraction followed by SilA laccase treatment was applied to the water insoluble solids fraction, a slight reduction in lignin content was detected, and after a saccharification step, an increase in both glucose and xylose production (16 and 6\%, respectively) was observed. These effects were not produced with T. villosa laccase. Concerning to the fermentation process, the treatment of the steam-exploded whole slurry with both laccases produced a decrease in the phenol content by up to 35 and 71\% with bacterial and fungal laccases, respectively. The phenols reduction resulted in an improved performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process, improving ethanol production rate. This enhancement was more marked with a presaccharification step prior to the SSF process.
Nocardiopsis sp. KNU was found to degrade various lignocellulosic waste materials, namely, sorghum husk, sugarcane tops and leaves, wheat straw, and rice husk very efficiently. The strain was found to produce high amounts of cellulase and hemicellulase. Augmentation of cotton seed cake as an organic nitrogen source revealed inductions in activities of endoglucanase, glucoamylase, and xylanase up to 70.03, 447.89, and 275.10 U/ml, respectively. Nonionic surfactant Tween-80 addition was found to enhance the activity of endoglucanase enzyme. Cellulase produced by Nocardiopsis sp. KNU utilizing sorghum husk as a substrate was found to retain its stability in various surfactants up to 90\%. The produced enzyme was further tested for saccharification of mild alkali pre-treated rice husk. The changes in morphology and functional group were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Enzymatic saccharification confirmed the hydrolytic potential of crude cellulase. The hydrolysate products were analyzed by high-performance thin layer chromatography.
Lignocellulosic material residues in cement composites are a favourable option for new fibre cement formulations in building materials, because they combine good mechanical properties with low density. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical, physical, anatomical, and mechanical properties of five cement panels reinforced with the following lignocellulosic materials: eucalyptus, sugarcane bagasse, coconut shell, coffee husk, and banana pseudostem. Lignocellulosic cement panels were produced with each lignocellulosic material residue, and three replicates of each type of lignocellulosic material were examined (15 panels in total). The lignin, extractives, ash, and holocellulose were examined. After 28 days of composite curing, the following physical properties of the panels were evaluated: density, porosity, water absorption after immersion for 2 and 24 h, and thickness swelling after immersion for 2 and 24 h. Mechanical tests (compression strength, internal bonding, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity) were performed before and after the accelerated ageing test with a universal testing machine. Scanning electron microscopy and supervised image classification were performed to investigate the morphologies of the different materials and the filler/matrix interfaces. Eucalyptus and sugarcane panels had the best results in terms of the evaluated properties and thus, could potentially be used as non-structural walls. However, banana pseudostem, coconut shell, and coffee husk panels had the worst results and therefore, under these conditions, should not be used in building.
Hydrochar (HC) has all the criteria of a catalyst support, in particular its low-cost and high thermal stability. However, it is still few reported in the dry reforming of methane reaction (DRM). In this paper, a series of Ni@HC core-shell structural catalysts were synthesized by a facile hydrothermal strategy and subsequent wetness impregnation method, and evaluated in the DRM reaction. Experimental results demonstrated that Ni-15@HC catalyst possessed an excellent CH4 and CO2 conversions of 80.3\% and 90.3\% at 850 degrees C, with a negligible decreasing of 1.8\% and 2.2\% after 100 h test, respectively. At the same time, H-2 and CO selectivity reached 93.4\% and 98.7\%. XRD, XPS, TEM, SEM and TG-DTG characteristic of the used catalysts presented that limited coke deposition at the surface of catalyst was occurred and Ni particle size was slight decreased from 24.0 to 25.9 nm during DRM process. In-situ DRIFTS analysis was conducted to investigate the reaction mechanism. These results demonstrated that Ni@HC core-shell structural catalysts were very promising for its application in DRM process.
Citric acid (CA) is one of the most important products of fermentation in the world. A great variety of agro-industrial residues can be used in solid state fermentation. Aspergillus niger parental strain (CCT 7716) and two strains obtained by mutagenesis (CCT 7717 and CCT 7718) were evaluated in Erlenmeyer flasks and glass columns using citric pulp (CP) as substrate/support, sugarcane molasses and methanol. Best results using glass columns (forced aeration) were found in the fourth day of fermentation: 278.4, 294.9 and 261.1 g CA/kg of dry CP with CCT 7716, CCT 7718 and CCT 7717, respectively. In Erlenmeyer flasks (aeration by diffusion) CA reached 410.7, 446.8 and 492.7 g CA/kg of dry CP with CCT 7716, CCT 7718 and CCT 7717, respectively. The aeration by diffusion improved CA production by the three strains. A data acquisition system specially developed for biotechnological processes analysis was used to perform the respirometric parameters measurement.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a complex biological process widely used to decompose various types of organic matter, as well as to produce some metabolites and biogas. Diverse microorganism groups cooperate in many intricate metabolic routes so that organic matter can be degraded. However, any imbalance on these routes can lead to process instability or even failure. Therefore, a proper monitoring system, as well as a good understanding of the process, are key steps to improve performance and stability. Several mathematical models have been developed to represent AD. Despite this, process monitoring is mostly conducted by analytical methods, whose equipment is either expensive or the analyses are time-consuming, which may be a hindrance to low-budget developments. The objective of this study was to develop a low-cost electrochemical sensor to monitor components in wastewater treatment plants. Hundreds of synthetically supplemented sugarcane vinasse and synthetic domestic sewage samples were characterised. The obtained signals were used to calibrate principal component regression, partial least square and artificial neural network estimation models. The predictable variables were chemical oxygen demand, volatile fatty acids, sodium bicarbonate, beef extract, and lipids, and their R-2 ranged from 0.84 to 0.99, depending on the component.
A real textile desizing wastewater (TDW) was coagulation-pretreated and used as the substrate to investigate its potential of continuous biohydrogen production. The experiments used a completely stirred tank reactor digester with operating conditions of pH 6.8, 35 degrees C, and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) 8 h and 4 h. Biohydrogen production performance at HRT 8 h was detailed and effectives of doubled organic loading rate (OLR) were elucidated at HRT 4 h. The experimental results indicate that coagulated TDW at an OLR of 30 g total sugar/L gave 3.8 L/L-d as the peak hydrogen production rate (HPR), which value is comparable to feedstock like sugarcane vinasse, palm oil mill effluent and cassava wastewater. TDW is a good source for biohydrogen production. Moreover, an OLR management is an efficient strategy to enhance HPR. Methane production occurred in a long run H-2 fermenter and its prevention methods were discussed. Acetate and butyrate were the main soluble metabolic products. Future works for using the experimental data in industry applications are proposed with (1) HPR increment, (2) H2 fermenter effluent treatment, and (3) re-confirming the application feasibility of the experimental data. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
To obtain in-depth information on the overall metabolic behavior of the new good xylitol producer Debaryomyces hansenii UFV-170, batch bioconversions were carried out using semisynthetic media with compositions simulating those of typical acidic hernicellulose hydrolysates of sugarcane bagasse. For this purpose, we used media containing glucose (4.3-6.5 g/L, xylose (60.1-92.1 g/L, or arabinose (5.9-9.2 g/L, or binary or ternary mixtures of them in either the presence or absence of typical inhibitors of acidic hydrolysates, such as furfural (1.0-5.0 g/L), hydroxymethylfurfural (0.01-0.30 g/L), acetic acid (0.5-3.0 g/L), and vanillin (0.5-3.0 g/L). D. hansenii exhibited a good tolerance to high sugar concentrations as well as to the presence of inhibiting compounds in the fermentation media. It was able to produce xylitol only from xylose, arabitol from arabinose, and no glucitol from glucose. Arabinose metabolization was incomplete, while ethanol was mainly produced from glucose and, to a lesser less extent, from xylose and arabinose. The results suggest potential application of this strain in xyloseto-xylitol bioconversion from complex xylose media from lignocellulosic materials.
Wood pellets are biofuels produced from agroforestry waste such as sugarcane bagasse, wood sawdust and shavings. They are compressed biofuels that have low moisture, allowing high combustion efficiency, especially because they are natural products of easily handling with high energy density. To explore pellets opportunities in Brazil (production and marketing), it is necessary to provide information about the chemical and energy characteristics, technologies, prices and prospects of this market. Thus, this article aims to organize and make this information available, enabling general knowledge on the subject and subsidize more investment in the biofuels sector; mostly by adding value to agroforestry waste, available in large volumes in this country. The results showed a young industry, with sixteen plants and production of 49.39 ktonnes of pellets in 2014, but using only 25.5\% of its annual production capacity.
The data provided in this article supplements the data information provided in ``Techno-economic analysis of electricity and heat production by co-gasification of coal, biomass and waste tyre in South Africa{''
Background: In nature, termites can be considered as a model biological system for biofuel research based on their remarkable efficiency for lignocellulosic biomass conversion. Redox enzymes are of interest in second-generation ethanol production because they promote synergic enzymatic activity with classical hydrolases for lignocellulose saccharification and inactivate fermentation inhibitory compounds produced after lignocellulose pretreatment steps. Results: In the present study, the biochemical and structural characteristics of the Coptotermes gestroi aldo-keto reductase (CgAKR-1) were comprehensively investigated. CgAKR-1 displayed major structural differences compared with others AKRs, including the differences in the amino acid composition of the substrate-binding site, providing basis for classification as a founding member of a new AKR subfamily (family AKR1 I). Immunolocalization assays with anti-CgAKR-1 antibodies resulted in strong fluorescence in the salivary gland, proventriculus, and foregut. CgAKR-1 supplementation caused a 32\% reduction in phenolic aldehydes, such as furfural, which act as fermentation inhibitors of hemicellulosic hydrolysates, and improved ethanol fermentation by the xylose-fermenting yeast Scheffersomyces stipitis by 45\%. We observed synergistic enzymatic interactions between CgAKR-1 and commercial cellulosic cocktail for sugarcane bagasse saccharification, with a maximum synergism degree of 2.17 for sugar release. Our data indicated that additive enzymatic activity could be mediated by reactive oxygen species because CgAKR-1 could produce hydrogen peroxide. Conclusion: In summary, we identified the founding member of an AKRI subfamily with a potential role in the termite digestome. CgAKR-1 was found to be a multipurpose enzyme with potential biotechnological applications. The present work provided a basis for the development and application of integrative and multipurpose enzymes in the bioethanol production chain.
Maillard reaction products like melanoidins are recalcitrant, high-molecular-weight compounds responsible for colour in sugarcane molasses distillery wastewater. Conventional biological treatment is unable to break down melanoidins, but extracellular laccase and manganese peroxidase of microbial origin can degrade these complex molecules. In this work, laccase was covalently immobilized on alumina pellets activated with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). The immobilization yield was 50-60 \%, and the enzyme activity (886 U/L) was 5-fold higher compared to the soluble enzyme (176 U/L). The immobilized enzyme also showed higher tolerance to pH (4-6) and temperature (35-60 A degrees C), as well as improved storage stability (49 days) and operational stability (10 cycles). Degradation of glucose-glycine Maillard products using immobilized laccase led to 47 \% decolourization in 6 h at pH 4.5 and 28 A degrees C. A comprehensive treatment scheme integrating enzymatic, microbial and membrane filtration steps resulted in 90 \% decolourization.
Sulfur deficiency arising due to intensive cultivation, use of sulfur free fertilizers and reduction in atmospheric sulfur depositions has become a major issue limiting crop production in many parts of the world. Elemental sulfur could be a good source of available S, but its slow oxidation is a problem for its efficient use as a sulfur fertilizer. Main objective of the study was to assess the effect of organic amendments (OA) and elemental sulfur (ES) on microbial activities, sulfur oxidation and availability in soil. A laboratory incubation experiment was carried out for a 56 days period using two sulfur deficient alkaline soils. Organic amendments (OA), i.e., farmyard manure (FYM), poultry litter (PL) and sugarcane filter cake (SF), were applied (1\% w/w) with or without elemental sulfur (ES) at 50 mg kg(-1). Application of ES alone or in combination with OA significantly increasedCO(2)-C evolution, microbial biomass, and enzyme activities in the soils, except dehydrogenase activity (DHA) which was not affected by ES application. Combined application of OA and ES had a more pronounced effect on microbial parameters compared to ES or OA applied alone. Ratios of dehydrogenase activity-to-microbial biomass C and arylsulfatase activity-to-microbial biomass C were high in ES+FYM and ES+SF treatments, respectively. Elemental sulfur got sufficiently oxidized resulting in significant improvement in plant available S. Relatively more ES was distributed into C-bonded-S than ester bonded-S. Increase in sulfur availability in ES+OA amended soils was the combined function of sulfur oxidation and mineralization processes through improved microbial activity.
In this study, the biosurfactant production by an Aureobasidium thailandense LB01 was reported for the first time. Different agro-industrial by-products (corn steep liquor, sugarcane molasses, and olive oil mill wastewater) were evaluated as alternative low-cost substrates. The composition of the culture medium was optimized through response surface methodology. The highest biosurfactant production (139 16 mg/L) was achieved using a culture medium containing yeast extract (2 g/L); olive oil mill wastewater (1.5\%, w/w); glucose (6 g/L) and KH2PO4 (1 g/L) after 48 h of fermentation. The partially purified biosurfactant exhibited a critical micelle concentration of 550 mg/L, reducing the surface tension of water up to 31.2 mN/m. Its molecular structure was found to be similar to a lauric acid ester. The biosurfactant exhibited a better performance than the chemical surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) in oil dispersion assays, thus suggesting its potential application in bioremediation.
A process of continuous citric acid production from sugarcane molasses by fermentation with immobilized whole cells of A. niger KCU 520 is described. Both calcium alginate beads and polyacrylamide gel (PAG) slab entrapment methods were used for immobilization of cells. The optimum fermentation conditions for citric acid fermentation by immobilized cells were sugars, 10\%; pH, 4.0; inoculum size, 20\%, and temperature, 32-35-degrees-C. With calcium-alginate and PAG-immobilized cells, an overall citric acid production rate of 8.5 g and 12.0 g/l/day (9.3\% and 12\% sugar conversion to citric acid per day), respectively was achieved in a single-stage bioreactor. When the PAG-immobilized cells were used in a two-stage bioreactor, approximately 20.0 g citric acid/l/day (20\% sugar conversion to citric acid per day) was produced and the PAG-immobilized cells were continuously used for at least 20 days without any significant loss of productivity.
The stress imposed by ethanol to Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells are one of the most challenging limiting factors in industrial fuel ethanol production. Consequently, the toxicity and tolerance to high ethanol concentrations has been the subject of extensive research, allowing the identification of several genes important for increasing the tolerance to this stress factor. However, most studies were performed with well-characterized laboratory strains, and how the results obtained with these strains work in industrial strains remains unknown. In the present work, we have tested three different strategies known to increase ethanol tolerance by laboratory strains in an industrial fuel-ethanol producing strain: the overexpression of the TRP1 or MSN2 genes, or the overexpression of a truncated version of the MSN2 gene. Our results show that the industrial CAT-1 strain tolerates up to 14\% ethanol, and indeed the three strategies increased its tolerance to ethanol. When these strains were subjected to fermentations with high sugar content and cell recycle, simulating the industrial conditions used in Brazilian distilleries, only the strain with overexpression of the truncated MSN2 gene showed improved fermentation performance, allowing the production of 16\% ethanol from 33\% of total reducing sugars present in sugarcane molasses. Our results highlight the importance of testing genetic modifications in industrial yeast strains under industrial conditions in order to improve the production of industrial fuel ethanol by S. cerevisiae.
Xylitol is a five-carbon polyol of economic interest that can be produced by microbial xylose reduction from renewable resources. The current study sought to investigate the potential of two yeast strains, isolated from Brazilian Cerrado biome, in the production of xylitol as well as the genomic characteristics that may impact this process. Xylose conversion capacity by the new isolates Spathaspora sp. JA1 and Meyerozyma caribbica JA9 was evaluated and compared with control strains on xylose and sugarcane biomass hydrolysate. Among the evaluated strains, Spathaspora sp. JA1 was the strongest xylitol producer, reaching product yield and productivity as high as 0.74 g/g and 0.20 g/(L.h) on xylose, and 0.58 g/g and 0.44 g/(L.h) on non-detoxified hydrolysate. Genome sequences of Spathaspora sp. JA1 and M. caribbica JA9 were obtained and annotated. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the predicted xylose metabolic pathway is conserved among the xylitol-producing yeasts Spathaspora sp. JA1, M. caribbica JA9 and Meyerozyma guilliermondii, but not in Spathaspora passalidarum, an efficient ethanol-producing yeast. Xylitol-producing yeasts showed strictly NADPH-dependent xylose reductase and NAD+-dependent xylitol-dehydrogenase activities. This imbalance of cofactors favors the high xylitol yield shown by Spathaspora sp. JA1, which is similar to the most efficient xylitol producers described so far.
Anaerobic treatment of sugarcane molasses-based distillery spentwash has been investigated employing diphasic fixed-film reactor technology using granular activated carbon (GAG) as support media for microbial attachment and growth in the second phase. In the first phase, neutralized spentwash was treated with acidogens to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA), which are easily utilizable by methanogens to yield methanogens to yield methane gas. An HRT of 4 days, corresponding to an OLR of 21.3 kg COD m(-3) day(-1) with a COD reduction of 67.1\% and gas yield of 0.45 m(3) kg(-1) COD removed with 70\% methane content, was achieved in the methane phase. About 50\% reduction in media porosity was observed due to accumulation of biomass and inorganics. No apparent inhibition of the methanogenic activity was observed even with a propionic acid concentration of 59.1\% (2134 mg l(-1)) of total volatile acids (TVA). Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Millions of tons of corn, pineapple, sugarcane and wheat are annually produced and their industrial processing generates large amounts of wastes. Current study evaluated the use of corncob (CC), pineapple peel (PP), sugarcane bagasse (SB) and wheat bran (WB) as substrates for a-amylase production by submerged cultures of nine endophytes from Piper hispidum Sw. Initially, fungi were grown on a starch medium and the cup plate assay showed that five strains were amylase-positive: Bipolaris sp. JF767001, Marasmius cladophyllus JF767003, Phlebia sp. JF766997, Phyllosticta capitalensis JF766988 and Schizophyllum commune JF766994, with enzymatic halos ranging between 6.30 +/- 0.08 and 8.87 +/- 0.68 mm in diameter. Further, the use of agroindustrial wastes was evaluated by the cup plate assay, where the highest halo diameters were obtained from fungi grown on PP or SB: up to 15.00 +/- 0.16 mm (Phlebia sp.) and 14.80 +/- 0.18 mm (S. commune), respectively. Submerged cultures with PP or SB showed the highest levels of a-amylase activity according to the starch-iodine assay, or rather, up to 4.14 +/- 0.02 U mL(-1) (Bipolaris sp.) and 4.09 +/- 0.02 U mL(-1) (Phlebia sp.), respectively. Results give an in-depth knowledge on tropical endophytes that might be alpha-amylase sources, and indicate the suitability of these agro-industrial wastes as substrates for fungal enzymatic production.
A novel ammonia-based pretreatment for densified lignocellulosic biomass was developed to reduce ammonia usage and integrate with viable biomass logistics scenarios. The COmpacted Biomass with Recycled Ammonia (COBRA) pretreatment performed at 100 degrees C allows >95\% conversion of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) carbohydrates into soluble monomeric and oligomeric sugars (glucose and xylose) using industrially relevant 6\% glucan loading (similar to 21\% solids loading) enzymatic hydrolysis conditions at reduced enzyme loadings. Pretreatment via COBRA with simultaneous lignin extraction (COBRA-LE) improved Saccharomyces cerevisiae 424A(LNH-ST) metabolic yield from 89\% to 97.5\% relative to COBRA without delignification, allowing a process ethanol yield of 71.6\%. A technoeconomic analysis on SCB biorefining to ethanol in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, compared COBRA to other mature technologies, such as AFEX and steam-explosion. Amongst all scenarios studied, biorefineries based on COBRA-LE pretreatment offered the lowest average minimum ethanol selling price of US\$1.45 per gallon ethanol. COBRA pretreatment was subsequently tested on perennial grasses and hardwoods, and >80\% total sugar yields were achieved for all cases.
Sustainability, eco-efficiency, pollution prevention, industrial ecology, and green chemistry are considering platform-based approaches to the development of the next generation of products and processes. Recently, renewable alternatives to traditional petroleum-derived plastics have motivated recent interest in bio-based composite materials which can contribute to the reduction of the environmental footprint. Lignin is a complex and amorphous biopolymer with a high density of functional groups and high modulus, which makes it potentially promising for material applications. In this sense, lignin can potentially be employed to improve the performance of materials and an economical alternative to convert lignin into high value-added materials. Two different types of Kraft lignin were incorporated into polypropylene to fabricate composites with high bio-content. In this study, polypropylene, Kraft lignin, and coupling agent were subjected to reactive extrusion. The composites prepared by melt processing were compared in terms of morphological, mechanical, and thermal characterizations. The results revealed that the incorporation of lignin into polypropylene matrix resulted in composites with properties suitable for various industrial sectors, especially those in which mechanical and thermal properties are crucial, such as the replacement of engineering plastics and polypropylene mineral filled. As a result, this work provides an effective way of using lignin as a low-cost bio-renewable resource in the plastics industry.
The identification of novel bacterial strains with a high production potential of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) to substitute the bioplastics with non-biodegradable plastics and reducing environmental pollution is really effective. The present study was done with the purpose of PHB bioplastic production using a novel bacterial strain. Twenty-one different bacterial isolates were obtained from petrochemical wastewater, which among them, 10 isolates were PHB positive. The presence of PHB granules was detected in the isolates using Sudan Black B staining. The most excellent PHB-accumulating bacterium with a maximum yield of PHB (61.53\%) was selected and identified as Bacillus cereus saba.zh, based on morphological, biochemical, and molecular techniques. 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence of the bacterium was assigned accession number: MT975245 in the NCBI database. The phylogenetic tree data showed that the closest type strain to the Bacillus cereus saba.zh is the Bacillus cereus SDB4 (91\%). The three genes (phaA, phaB, and phaC) responsible for the PHB biosynthesis were amplified using the specific oligonucleotide primers by PCR technique. The highest PHB yield was achieved when the culture medium was supplemented with 3\% sugarcane molasses as a carbon source, ammonium sulfate as the nitrogen source, at pH 7, and temperature of 30 degrees C. The characterization of the extracted polymer by FTIR and H-1 NMR spectroscopy proves the presence of methyl, methylene, methine, hydroxyl, and ester carbonyl groups and confirmed the structure of biopolymer as PHB. The novel strain Bacillus cereus saba.zh has good potential as an appropriate candidate for low-cost industrial production of bioplastic.
Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824) is the main insect pest of fruits worldwide. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity and residual effects of the ready-to-use toxic baits Success 0.02CB (0.24 g of active ingredient {[
The addition of biomass to an existing coal-fired boiler has emerged as a prospective option for reducing CO2 emissions to mitigate the problems associated with excess global warming. However, the cost associated with retrofitting an injection system and the unstable combustion hinder the use of this option. Therefore, we propose the use of coal impregnated with glycerol as fuel that can be directly injected into an existing boiler. This is a two-in-one fuel that combines a low-rank coal (LRC) with bio-liquid matter extracted from biomass such as molasses or sugarcane juice. In this study, for the first time, we used glycerol, which is a low value co-product of biodiesel production, as the bio-liquid, because the use of molasses or sugar-cane juice raises food ethical issues. The aim of this study was to investigate the combustion behavior of coal impregnated with glycerol, using experimental and numerical methods. The results showed that the calorific value of coal impregnated with glycerol increased, and the combustibility at low and high temperatures was improved by impregnation of low-rank coal with up to 20\% glycerol. We also confirmed that the combustion performance of coal impregnated with glycerol was unaffected and was identical to that of original coal. However, excess glycerol (more than 20\%) led to oxygen deficiency near the burner and thermal expansion, which reduced the combustibility. The results of this study therefore suggest that less than 20\% glycerol is the optimal condition for low-rank coal impregnated with glycerol. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
The use of alternative raw materials such as agricultural biomass and recycled wood waste and by-products in particleboard production is a viable approach to respond to the increased global demand for wood-based materials, and it is a key circular economy principle as well. Wood chips are the second most costly element after resin in particle-board production, where both elements accounting for more than 50\% of the overall pro-duction cost. Therefore, a significant cost reduction could be achieved by replacing wood chips with lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Agricultural biomass exists in abundant post-harvest and post-production processes and can be served as an ideal alternative for particleboard manufacturing. This study aimed to review and evaluate the current state -of-the-art particleboard production using a wide variety of environmentally-friendly agricultural biomass, recycled wood waste, and by-products. In this review, the agricultural biomass used for particleboard production was classified into seven different groups based on the part of the plant which they are extracted from, i.e. straw, stalk, bagasse, seed/fruit, leaf, grass, and palms. Particleboards' properties of these raw materials were also compared in terms of their mechanical parameters. The last part of this review concluded the challenges and future potential of using agricultural biomass and recycled wood waste. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).