Search

Algal biomass is a prospective feedstock for the eco-sustainable production of many different products with added value, such as meals, feeds, and fuels. The remaining biomass from the algae can be used as raw material and can be transformed into useful secondary products after the important macromolecules have been removed. By optimizing algal biomass hydrolysate utilizing microbial fermentation, several studies demonstrated the generation of bioenergy (bioalcohol, biogas, and biohydrogen) and biochemicals (organic acids and biopolymers). Since the harvest and maintenance of sustainable algal cultivation incur considerable energy and economical prowess, developing products from algae remains a challenge to be countered in commercial applications. This is a typical bottleneck issue when processing algae for fuels or chemicals at the pilot scale. Implementation of integrated algae biorefinery methods can substantially reduce the cost of production and energy consumption. An algae-based green economy can be financially more viable and utilizable, especially for countries with weaker economies. This review's goal is to examine the implementation of integrated biorefineries for the recovery of bioproducts generated from algae and potential applications. In this context, the life cycle analysis and business elements of a unified algal biorefinery are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of climate change and the circular economy, there is an urgent need to develop biofuels and value-added chemicals from lignocellulosic waste such as agricultural waste that amounts to about 1 million tons annually. Here, we review lignocellulosic feedstocks for the generation of biofuels, biogas, and biohydrogen. Pretreatment technologies include chemical treatments such as acidic and alkaline, organosolv and ionic liquid-based treatments, deep eutectic solvents-based treatments, physical treatments such as steam explosion and supercritical fluid, and biological pretreatment. We present feasible ways to dissolve complex organic materials into monomeric units using advanced methods for lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment. Techno-economic aspects of biomass valorization are discussed. Moreover, this review aims at using biorefinery technologies in order to develop economically viable lignocellulosic chemicals and products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• AWOEx pretreated DSS tested at various temperatures, residence times and O 2 dosages. • Methane yield of DSS is improved by 98% using AWOEx and Anaerobic digestion. • Oxygen addition during pretreatment resulted in significant improvement in methane yield. • First-time demonstration of 84% organics conversion in sewage sludge using AWOEx pretreatment. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge shows low carbon conversion efficiency (CCE) due to the poor biodegradability of sewage sludge. The lack of digestibility is specifically linked to the waste-activated sludge (WAS) making up the majority of sewage sludge along with a smaller portion of primary sludge, depending on the wastewater treatment plant configuration. In this study, we examine the Advanced Wet Oxidation & Steam Explosion process (AWOEx) for improving the CCE of digested sewage sludge (DSS) by thermophilic AD. The effect of the pretreatment temperature in the range between 160 and 185 °C at a fixed residence time of 20 min with and without oxygen added at a dosage of 5 % of the organics present was tested. Methane yield improved by 97.92 % to 183.91 ± 4.93 mL/g vS over the untreated DSS (control), whose methane yield was 92.92 ± 9.07 mL/g vS We have demonstrated for the first time that 84 % of the organics in sewage sludge can successfully be transformed into biogas following AWOEx pretreatment, which can contribute significantly to the circular economy instead of greenhouse gas emissions from landfilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass valorization plays a significant role in the production of biofuels and various value-added biochemicals, in addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of biorefining methods, hydrothermal (HT) and biological techniques have demonstrated the capability of valorizing biomass raw materials to yield value added end-products. An inter-disciplinary bio-economical approach is capable of optimizing biomass's total potential in terms of environmental perspective and circular bioeconomy standpoint. The aim of this review is to provide an in-depth overview of combinatorial HT and biological techniques to maximize biomass value, which includes biological valorization following HT pretreatment and HT valorization of lignocellulosic substrates emanating from biocatalytic hydrolysis/anaerobic digestion and/or pretreated food waste for the ultimate yield of biogas/biochar and biocrude. In this study, we discuss recent advances regarding HT and biological treatment conditions, synergies between the two technologies, and optimal performance. Additionally, energy balances and economic feasibility assessments of alternative integrated solutions reported in previous studies are compared. Furthermore, we conclude by discussing the challenges and opportunities involved in integrating HT and biologicals methods toward complete biomass utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Appropriate pretreatment strategies that fractionate sugarcane bagasse (SB) are essential for the successful use of this feedstock in ethanol production. In this paper, we investigate a purely enzymatic process to achieve increased production of reducing sugars (RS) from SB in the presence of MgO nanoparticles (MgN) subjected to a three‐step sequential enzyme treatment. RESULT: Pretreatment of SB with protease activated by magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgN‐pro) at 95 °C showed an increase in amino acid production by 6.18‐fold compared to the untreated enzyme set at the same temperature. High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) studies showed an 18‐fold removal of lignin from the samples subjected to protease (+ MgN) treatment compared to untreated samples. When the MgN‐pro pretreated samples were subjected to pretreatment with xylanase activated by magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgN‐xyl), more than 30‐fold increased RS was produced at 8 °C compared to cellulase (cel) pretreated samples. Xylanase pretreated SB samples produced 1.82‐ and 1.91‐fold increased reducing sugar and glucose respectively at 8 °C in the presence of MgN compared to untreated samples at the same temperature. CONCLUSION: The results presented here show the efficiency of the proposed method for improving the enzymatic digestibility of SB and explain the pretreatment action mechanism. These findings have potential implications in bio‐ethanol, bio‐fuel, and agro industries. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current literature we have devised an immobilization technique for conferring psychrostability to a cold active α-amylase (amy) enzyme by the use of magnesium nanoparticle (MgNP) and graphene oxide (GO). The GO-MgNP-amy nanocomposite showed enhanced enzymatic activity and thermostability at both upper (90°C) and lower (8°C) temperature extremes. The GO-MgNP-amy showed increased affinity towards substrate, reflected in the decrease in its K m by 2.35 and 14.9-fold at 8°C and 90°C, respectively, than the untreated enzyme. GO-MgNP-amy showed 2.34-fold and 4.29-fold increase in V max at 8°C and 90°C, respectively, than the untreated enzyme. When compared to native enzyme at 90°C, GO-MgNP-amy had t 1/2 (half life) increased by 44-fold with simultaneous increase in E d by 1.9-fold. Again at 8°C, GO-MgNP-amy had t 1/2 increased by 6.48-fold with simultaneous increase in E d by 2.21-fold when compared to the native enzyme. The enzymatic activity of GO-MgNP-amy was retained even after 12 repeated uses and showed storage stability at 4°C for more than 120 days. The ability of GO-MgNP to sustain and aggravate enzyme activity and stability at temperatures beyond the optimal range can be utilized in bioprocessing industries which requires functioning at these extreme ranges of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context : Protein–protein interaction (PPI) is a key component linked to virtually all cellular processes. Be it an enzyme catalysis ('classic type functions' of proteins) or a signal transduction ('non-classic'), proteins generally function involving stable or quasi-stable multi-protein associations. The physical basis for such associations is inherent in the combined effect of shape and electrostatic complementarities (Sc, EC) of the interacting protein partners at their interface, which provides indirect probabilistic estimates of the stability and affinity of the interaction. While Sc is a necessary criterion for inter-protein associations, EC can be favorable as well as disfavored (e.g., in transient interactions). Estimating equilibrium thermodynamic parameters (∆Gbinding, Kd) by experimental means is costly and time consuming, thereby opening windows for computational structural interventions. Attempts to empirically probe ∆Gbinding from coarse-grain structural descriptors (primarily, surface area based terms) have lately been overtaken by physics-based, knowledge-based and their hybrid approaches (MM/PBSA, FoldX, etc.) that directly compute ∆Gbinding without involving intermediate structural descriptors. Methods: Here, we present EnCPdock (https://www.scinetmol.in/EnCPdock/), a user-friendly web-interface for the direct conjoint comparative analyses of complementarity and binding energetics in proteins. EnCPdock returns an AI-predicted ∆Gbinding computed by combining complementarity (Sc, EC) and other high-level structural descriptors (input feature vectors), and renders a prediction accuracy comparable to the state-of-the-art. EnCPdock further locates a PPI complex in terms of its {Sc, EC} values (taken as an ordered pair) in the two-dimensional complementarity plot (CP). In addition, it also generates mobile molecular graphics of the interfacial atomic contact network for further analyses. EnCPdock also furnishes individual feature trends along with the relative probability estimates (Prfmax) of the obtained feature-scores with respect to the events of their highest observed frequencies. Together, these functionalities are of real practical use for structural tinkering and intervention as might be relevant in the design of targeted protein-interfaces. Combining all its features and applications, EnCPdock presents a unique online tool that should be beneficial to structural biologists and researchers across related fraternities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Bioaugmentation of Methanosarcina thermophila was performed with growth on biochar. • Single dose of bioaugmentation was compared with a routine regime (split into 10). • Both types of dosing performed better than their controls in terms of methane yield. • The best Routine reactor showed 37% more yield, while the best Single presented 32%. • Overall, Single dose was better than Routine condition for mean methane production. This study presents the effect of bioaugmentation of thermophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste with Methanosarcina thermophila grown on a wood-derived biochar. Two different supplementation regimes were tested, namely a single bioaugmentation (SBABC) in which 10% v/v of the microbes grown on biochar (1 g/L) is added at setup of the reactors, versus a routine bioaugmentation (RBABC) wherein the same amount of supplements were added over 10 feeding cycles. The optimally performing 'R' and 'S' reactors had increased methane yields by 37% and 32% over their respective controls while reactors SBABC 2 and 3 produced 21.89% and 56.09% higher average methane yield than RBABC 2 and 3, respectively. It appears that a single dose bioaugmentation is advantageous for improving AD as analysed in terms of average methane yield and VFA production. This study provides the basis for understanding how biochar and bioaugmentation can be used for engineering sustainable pilot-scale AD processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial reductive dechlorination is one of the chosen methods for remediation of chlorinated compounds in anaerobic environments. In this study we examined the degradation of chlorinated aliphatics in groundwater samples from the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) containing a concentration of 0.228 mM trichloroethylene (TCE) and 0.279 mM 1,2 dichloroethylene (DCE). We tested the influence of adding different carbon sources on the dechlorinating activity in batch cultures with and without dechlorinating bacteria. In-situ microcosms were established using SSFL groundwater supplemented with EVO (5%) (vol/vol) SRS emulsion and with or without species of Dehalocococcoides (DCB-1, DCB-2 or DCB-3). Emulsified vegetable oil (EVO) gave the highest dechlorinating activity with DCB-1 added compared to any other substrate addition tested. All three bacterial cultures tested had significant dechlorinating activities while the native populations in the SSFL groundwater samples only showed limited degradation of trichloroethylene into intermediates in the form of DCE, vinyl chloride and ethane. The conversion of chlorinated ethylenes (CEs) was optimal in the bioreactors amended with DCB-1 followed by DCB-2, and DCB-3 all supplemented with EVO. We further analyzed the TCE degradation first order kinetics in batch cultures and found that the culture with DCB-1 supplemented with EVO showed 43.59% and 51.38% increased degradation rate compared to the same condition with cultures of DCB-2 or DCB-3 added. The microcosm studies further showed that with DCB-1 and EVO, reductive dechlorination of TCE in the SSFL converted 90% of the input TCE to ethane with a degradation rate of 0.0039 mM/day. [Display omitted] • Degradation of chlorinated aliphatics from the SSFL laboratory was analyzed. • Three bacterial cultures were tested for enhancing the dechlorination activities. • Microcosm amended with BAA-2098™ achieved optimum dechlorination. • 90% of TCE in the groundwater was converted with a degradation rate of 0.0039 mM/day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] NP increased the activity and thermostability of extracellular cel and xyl. [•] NP-activated xyl and cel enhanced the production of reducing sugars from RH and RS. [•] An enzymatic procedure used as an alternative to bioadverse chemical methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] NP-PL degummed ramie fiber better than PL at 24 and 48h treatment. [•] NP-PL enhanced RS production from fruit and vegetables peels at 50 and 90°C. [•] NP-PL enhanced the weight loss of peels as well as ramie fibers. [•] NP-PL enhanced the fiber tenacity and fineness. [•] Compared to PL NP-PL was potentially more effective for industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we show that hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (NP) can not only act as a chaperon (by imparting thermostability) but can serve as a synthetic enhancer of activity of an isolated extracellular pectate lyase (APL) with low native state activity. The purified enzyme (an attenuated strain of Macrophomina phaseolina) showed feeble activity at 50°C and pH 5.6. However, on addition of 10.5 µg/ml of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (NP), APL activity increased 27.7 fold with a 51 fold increase in half-life at a temperature of 90°C as compared to untreated APL. The chaperon like activity of NP was evident from entropy–enthalpy compensation profile of APL. The upper critical temperature for such compensation was elevated from 50°C to 90°C in presence of NP. This dual role of NP in enhancing activity and conferring thermostability to a functionally impaired enzyme is reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Mn-NP provides a novel matrix for tannase immobilization. • Increased activity-stability, enzyme loading capacity and immobilization yield of MnNP-tan. • A green alternative to chemical-based processes in food industries. • Simple two-step purification of the cloned enzyme. In the current study, we analyzed the efficacy of manganese oxide nanoparticle (MnNP)-water dispersion as an immobilization matrix for bacterial tannase. The tannase-secreting Bacillus subtilis strain NJKL.tan.2 obtained from tannery effluent soil was subsequently purified and cloned in pET20b vector. The activity of MnNP-tan (tannase activated by manganese nanoparticles) was 1.51- and 3.5-fold higher at 20 °C and 80 °C, respectively, compared with the free enzyme. MnNP-tan decreased K m by 41.66 % and 3-fold, whereas free tannase showed two-fold and six-fold improvement in K cat at 37 °C and 80 °C, respectively. MnNP-tan showed an increase in (half-life)t 1/2 and E d by 13-fold and 50.05 units, respectively, at 80 °C, in contrast to the native enzyme. MnNP-tan retained its residual activity by 78.2 % at 37 °C and 34.24 % at 80 °C after 180 min of incubation when compared with untreated set. MnNP-tan retained 51 % of its activity after 120 days with the native enzyme losing ∼50 % functionality following 40 days of incubation. The MnNP-mediated tannase immobilization technique is being reported for the first time. The technique has numerous advantages due to the use of MnNP as a potential matrix for biomolecule immobilization, which can be further extended to immobilize other biocatalysts used in agro-industrial and lab-based applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In India, preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains one of the foremost challenge in community health. Countrywide MTCT of HIV is estimated to be > 10,000 annually. Aims of present study are to find out the prevalence of HIV and correlates of HIV transmission among children given birth by HIV infected mother through systematic review along with meta-analysis.Methods: All avaiable articles are retrieved using MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PUBMED following guidelines for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument (JBI-MAStARI) are applied to critically reviewing the selected articles. STATA 13.0 is used to preparation of forest plot for Meta-analysis. For assessment of heterogeneity and publication biases I2 statistics along with Begg and Mazumdar's test and Egger's tests are used. Odds ratio (OR) along with forest plots have been showing with 95% confidence interval (CI).Results: All together 10 studies including 1537 pairs of mothers and new births are assessed in present meta-analysis. Present analysis revealed the prevalence of HIV due to MTCT in India as 8.76% (95% CI; 5.76, 12.31). Analysis of subgroups exhibit a higher pooled prevalence in eastern region of India, 10.83% (95% CI: 5.9, 17.81) and lower in in Western region in India, 6.37% (95% CI: 4.65, 8.49). Status of MTCT before and after initiation of universal ART are 10.23% (95% CI 6.61, 14.55) and 7.93% (95% CI 4.18, 12.76) respectively. Associated factors with MTCT of HIV include absence of maternal prevention of MTCT intervention, OR = 10.82 (95% CI: 5.28, 22.17), lacking in administration of infant ARV (antiretroviral), OR = 8.21 (95% CI: 4.82, 14.0) and absence of medical facility during childbirth OR = 3.73 (95% CI: 1.67, 8.33).Conclusions: In India, pooled HIV prevalence of MTCT as high as 8.78% (95% CI; 5.76, 12.31) among babies born to infected mothers warrants urgent need of focused intervention for providing ART (PMTCT intervention), ensuring proper infant ARV prophylaxis, and avoiding delivery without proper medical facility to pregnant women with HIV for reduction of occurrence in HIV transmission from mothers to children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of the most common aromatic plants in Mediterranean countries. • The chemical composition and biological properties of Rosemary were reviewed. • Different phytochemical groups including terpenes and phenolics have been observed. • This review provides a comprehensive overview of rosemary species cultivation and its applications Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) originated in the Mediterranean region, but, due to its adaptive nature, can be readily grown across the world. It contains many bioactive phytochemical moieties, especially polyphenols. Rosemary is used as a flavoring agent, spice condiment, and preservative. Recent studies have shown that rosemary natural extracts have bioactive properties such as antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Rosemary can withstand dry spells, warm conditions and thrive across many soil textures. Carnosic acid is now a well-known compound that is the main component of rosemary. The key components that were extracted from rosemary consisted of cirsimaritin, diosmin, and genkwanin. Rosmarinic acid in the form of carnosol and carnosic acid possesses significant antioxidant properties. Oil analysis revealed the presence of six monodominant and six intermediate chemotypes. Monoterpenes were dominant in rosemary oil composition across all seasons. Bioclimatic factors, including the temperature of the habitat, were found to be a biogenetic factors leading to differentiation in populations. The phenolic contents are reported to vary depending upon processing and agronomical properties. The major active ingredients are lipophilic compounds (carnosic acid and carnosol). Rosemary extracts are also reported to have volatile compounds that confer a unique flavor, color and aroma. Oleanolic acid is endowed with antiviral, antioxidative, and antiproliferative properties vis-à-vis protection against oxidative apoptosis. Ursolic acid helps to prevent cancer. This review provides a comprehensive overview of rosemary species cultivation, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and applications in the food industry. Rosemary was reported to enhance the levels of antioxidant enzymes. Although the current demand in the food industry is to reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic food additives, rosemary oil and extracts can help to meet that demand. This review provides a comprehensive overview of rosemary species cultivation, bioactive compounds, health benefits, and applications in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is an emerged thermochemical approach for the utilization of biomass. In the last decade, intense research has been conducted on bio-oil and hydrochar, during which extensive amount of hydrothermal treated wastewater (HTWW) is produced, containing large amount of organic compounds along with several toxic chemicals. The composition of HTWW is highly dependent on the process conditions and organic composition of biomass, which determines its further utilization. The current study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in HTWW utilization and its properties which can be changed by varying different parameters like temperature, residence time, solid concentration, mass ratio and catalyst including types of biomasses. HTWW characterization, parameters, reaction mechanism and its application were also summarized. By considering the challenges of HTWW, some suggestions and proposed methodology to overcome the bottleneck are provided. • Hydrothermal treatment of biomass waste is a sustainable & ecofriendly biorefinery. • Type of biomass and operating parameters alter the composition of HT wastewater. • Several utilization techniques of HT wastewater are associated with high cost. • Integrated system of HT wastewater is emphasized to accelerate broad application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrothermal treatment (HT) is an emerged thermochemical approach for the utilization of biomass. In the last decade, intense research has been conducted on bio-oil and hydrochar, during which extensive amount of hydrothermal treated wastewater (HTWW) is produced, containing large amount of organic compounds along with several toxic chemicals. The composition of HTWW is highly dependent on the process conditions and organic composition of biomass, which determines its further utilization. The current study provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in HTWW utilization and its properties which can be changed by varying different parameters like temperature, residence time, solid concentration, mass ratio and catalyst including types of biomasses. HTWW characterization, parameters, reaction mechanism and its application were also summarized. By considering the challenges of HTWW, some suggestions and proposed methodology to overcome the bottleneck are provided. • Hydrothermal treatment of biomass waste is a sustainable & ecofriendly biorefinery. • Type of biomass and operating parameters alter the composition of HT wastewater. • Several utilization techniques of HT wastewater are associated with high cost. • Integrated system of HT wastewater is emphasized to accelerate broad application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fungal infection by Macrophomina phaseolina severely affects the production of jute, the most important textile next to cotton. We have identified and isolated the transcripts induced upon M. phaseolina infection in jute (JRC 412, a susceptible variety) by differential display analysis. BABA (β-amino butyric acid) is a known elicitor that can activate defence responses in plant. We have studied the effect of pre-treatment of jute (JRC 412) leaves with BABA, on subsequent pathogen (M. phaseolina) challenge. This pre-treatment resulted in better resistance against the pathogen in a susceptible variety of jute. We have also observed that BABA induced peroxidase activity in jute leaf discs. The significance of the isolated differentially expressed genes has been discussed in the light of these findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]