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To meet the demands for screening sweet potato tubers for bioethanol production, 12 genotypes of sweet potato tubers were collected from Henan, Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu Provinces, China. Based on the optimized determination method of the percent dry content, the nutritional composition and fermentation properties were studied. There were differences in the compositions and their correlations among the sweet potato varieties. The results showed that the starch content was weakly correlated with other ingredients, while the percent dry content and fermentable sugars contents had a close correlation with starch content. The percent dry content significantly and positively correlated with the flour and fermentable sugars contents. The percent dry content and starch contents had a significantly positive correlation, with a correlation coefficient that reached 0.96. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of low cost and abundant corn stover in yeast fermentation can reduce product costs. In this study, bioethanol was produced from a hydrolysate of corn stover using immobilized yeast. A kinetic model was established for the total reducing sugar consumption and the production of bioethanol. The parameter estimation for kinetic modeling considered the main process variables during bioethanol production from corn stover. Total reducing sugar concentrations decreased exponentially in the bioethanol fermentation for 6 h; consumption was more than 90%. To use kinetic modelling of yeast growth for bioethanol fermentation, the value of µmax reached 0.2891 h-1, and the matrix inhibition constant (KIS) and production inhibition constant (KIP) were 8.9154 g/dm³ and 0.00676 g/dm³, respectively. To use kinetic modelling of fermentation time on bioethanol, the maximum ratio of bioethanol production rate (qmax) reached 1.427 g/gL. However, KIS was 2.813 g/dm³, and KIP was 0.0149 g/dm³. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of immobilized yeast on bioethanol production before and after adding laser-pretreated corn stalk residue were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the conditions of adding residue. An optimum experimental condition was obtained at pH 4.5, 2.08% yeast concentration, and 0.20% corn stalk residue. Under these conditions, adding residue increased the yield of bioethanol from 53.2% to 86.5%, which matched the predicted value. The yield was relatively stable within 28 d, with a downward trend subsequently appearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrafiltration membrane reactor, utilizing a membrane module with a suitable molecular weight alleyway, retains the larger cellulase components. Smaller molecules, such as the fermentable reducing sugars and water, pass through the membrane. The purpose of this work was to investigate the capability of recycling cellulase in the UF membrane. PS30 hollow fiber membrane, an ultrafiltration method using internal pressure, was found to be an ideal membrane separation device, allowing re-use of the enzyme. A Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) established the following optimum pretreatment parameters: operation pressure at 1.73 bar, temperature at 36.38 °C, and a pH of 5.92. Under these conditions, the model predicted a membrane flux yield of 2.3174 L/(m2?h). The rejection rate of the UF membrane was over 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To decrease the cost of bioethanol production, biomass recalcitrance needs to be overcome so that the conversion of biomass to bioethanol becomes more efficient. CO2 laser irradiation can disrupt the lignocellulosic physical structure and reduce the average size of fiber. Analyses with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, specific surface area, and the microstructure of corn stover were used to elucidate the enhancement mechanism of the pretreatment process by CO2 laser irradiation. The present work demonstrated that the CO2 laser had potential to enhance the bioconversion efficiency of lignocellulosic waste to renewable bioethanol. The saccharification rate of the CO2 laser pretreatment was significantly higher than ultrasonic pretreatment, and reached 27.75% which was 1.34-fold of that of ultrasonic pretreatment. The results showed the impact of CO2 laser pretreatment on corn stover to be more effective than ultrasonic pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, vitamin C content, and antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from different kiwifruit varieties (Actinidia kolomikta, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis) were determined in this study. Multiple scavenging activity assays including the hydroxyl radical, O2-·radical, DPPH, and the ABTS+ radical scavenging activity assays were used to identify the antioxidant activities of Actinidia extracts. The cell viability of HepG2 and HT-29 cells was also examined in this study. The results demonstrated that the Actinidia kolomikta extract had a higher antioxidant activity than the other two Actinidia extracts. There is a positive correlation between antioxidant activity and the polyphenols and vitamin C content in all three extracts (R2 ≥ 0.712, p < 0.05). The Actinidia arguta extract had the highest inhibitory effect on HepG2 and HT-29 cell growth. These results provide new insight into the health functions of fruit and demonstrate that Actinidia extracts can potentially have health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]