Optimization of phenol degradation by the microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology

Efficient production of heat-stable antifungal factor through integrating statistical optimization with a two-stage temperature control strategy in Lysobacter enzymogenes OH11

Background

Heat-stable antifungal factor (HSAF) is a newly identified broad-spectrum antifungal antibiotic from the biocontrol agent Lysobacter enzymogenes and is regarded as a potential biological pesticide, due to its novel mode of action. However, the production level of HSAF is quite low, and little research has reported on the fermentation process involved, representing huge obstacles for large-scale industrial production.

Results

Medium capacity, culture temperature, and fermentation time were identified as the most significant factors affecting the production of HSAF and employed for further optimization through statistical methods. Based on the analysis of kinetic parameters at different temperatures, a novel two-stage temperature control strategy was developed to improve HSAF production, in which the temperature was increased to 32 °C during the first 12 h and then switched to 26 °C until the end of fermentation. Using this strategy, the maximum HSAF production reached 440.26 ± 16.14 mg L^− 1, increased by 9.93% than that of the best results from single-temperature fermentation. Moreover, the fermentation time was shortened from 58 h to 54 h, resulting in the enhancement of HSAF productivity (17.95%) and yield (9.93%).

Conclusions

This study provides a simple and efficient method for producing HSAF that could be feasibly applied to the industrial-scale production of HSAF.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12896-018-0478-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Combined optimization of N-terminal site-specific PEGylation of recombinant hirudin using response surface methodology and kinetic analysis

In this study, a combined optimization method was developed to optimize the N-terminal site-specific PEGylation of recombinant hirudin variant-2 (HV2) with different molecular weight mPEG-propionaldehyde (mPEG-ALD), which is a multifactor-influencing process. The HV2-PEGylation with 5 kDa mPEG-ALD was first chosen to screen significant factors and determine the locally optimized conditions for maximizing the yield of mono-PEGylated product using combined statistical methods, including the Plackett-Burman design, steepest ascent path analysis, and central composition design for the response surface methodology (RSM). Under the locally optimized conditions, PEGylation kinetics of HV2 with 5, 10, and 20 kDa mPEG-ALD were further investigated. The molar ratio of polyethylene glycol to HV2 and reaction time (the two most significant factors influencing the PEGylation efficiency) were globally optimized in a wide range using kinetic analysis. The data predicted by the combined optimization method using RSM and kinetic analysis were in good agreement with the corresponding experiment data. PEGylation site analysis revealed that almost 100% of the obtained mono-PEGylated-HV2 was modified at the N-terminus of HV2. This study demonstrated that the developed method is a useful tool for the optimization of the N-terminal site-specific PEGylation process to obtain a homogeneous mono-PEGylated protein with desirable yield.

Optimal Design for an Extruder Head Runner Based on Response Surface Method and Simulated Annealing Algorithm

The head runner of a rubber extruder is important for controlling rubber flow and improving extrudate quality. To clarify the effect of the structure parameters of the head runner of a doubleplex tread extruder on extrudate quality and obtain high-quality rubber extrusions, a finite element model of the down head runner was established. The extrusion process was analyzed through numerical simulations, wherein the Bird–Carreau constitutive equation and Navier slip law were used along with some computational methods, such as quadratic interpolation of velocity and linear interpolation of pressure and viscosity. The Newton iteration algorithm was used for numerical calculations. The mean-square deviation of velocity (SDV) of rubber flow in the outlet cross section was selected as the evaluation objective. A Placket–Burman design was used to select three key factors—angles A and B and outlet width D—from among eight runner structure parameters affecting the velocity variance. By using central composite design (CCD), the quadratic response surface model using the three key factors was established, and the influence law of a combination of the three key factors on SDV was obtained. The response surface model was optimized using the simulated annealing (SA) algorithm, and the optimal key factors of the head runner were obtained. The optimal runner design realizes a more uniform velocity distribution in the outlet cross section. Furthermore, a comparison of the simulated flow velocities of the original and optimal head runners at different inlet flow ratios and temperatures indicates that the optimal head runner flow velocity improves the extrusion quality. Thus, an optimal runner with optimal key factors was manufactured. Test results of the rubber flow state indicated that the flow is regular and that warping disappears. The proposed optimization strategy can be used practically for improving the head runner design, shortening the product development cycle, and reducing the production cost.

Phenol degradation catalyzed by a peroxidase mimic constructed through the grafting of heme onto metal-organic frameworks

The aim of this work was to construct a peroxidase mimic for achieving the phenol degradation through Fenton reaction. The enzyme mimic was synthesized through the conjugation of heme with the amino group of 2-amino-1,4-benzene dicarboxylate in UiO-66-NH₂ (ZrMOF), namely Heme-ZrMOF. Compared to free heme, the composite Heme-ZrMOF exhibited an obviously enhanced ability for phenol degradation with up to 97.3% of phenol removal after 2h. Meanwhile, it could achieve the easy separation of catalyst from the system and the elimination of iron residues in the process of phenol degradation. Finally, the catalyst Heme-ZrMOF was observed to possess good recyclability in the phenol degradation with still 76.2% of phenol removal after 4 cycles.

Application of a novel definitive screening design to in situ chemical oxidation of acid orange-II dye by a Co2+/PMS system

In this work, a novel definitive screening design (DSD) was initially used to investigate the in situ chemical oxidation of acid orange-II (AO II) dye using a homogeneous cobalt-catalyzed peroxymonosulfate (Co²⁺/PMS) system.

Extraction Optimization of Flavonoids from Hypericum formosanum and Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Inhibitory Activity

Hypericum formosanum is a valuable herb in Taiwan. In this study, response surface methodology was employed to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Hypericum formosanum. A central composite design with three variables (ethanol concentration, extraction time, and extraction temperature) was applied. Experimental results were fitted to the second order polynomial model and one-way analysis of variance was used to determine the goodness of fit of the model and the optimal conditions for responses. The optimal conditions for the maximum extraction yield of total flavonoid content (101.1 mg/g) using ultrasound-assisted extraction were ethanol concentration, 73.5%; extraction time, 38.3 min; and extraction temperature, 62.5 °C. The predicted result was consistent with the experimental result obtained under optimal extraction conditions. Hyperoside, astilbin, quercitrin, and quercetin from Hypericum formosanum extract (HFE) were identified by Ultra performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-mass (UPLC-DAD-MS). HFE significantly reduced matrix metalloproteinase-1 protein expression in human skin keratinocyte cells, induced by advanced glycation end products.

Effective biosorption of phenol by the thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium sp

The use of microbial biomass as biosorbent for phenol removal has been extensively studied, but its removal by biosorption by thermophilic cyanobacterium Phormidium sp. has not been investigated to the best of our knowledge. In the present study, some important parameters for biosorption process were optimized, starting with testing the effects of different pH values ranging from 1 to 12, and then initial phenol concentrations of 45.1, 115.3, 181.4, 243.3, 339.9 mg/L on phenol uptake. The efficiency of removal from aqueous solution was higher within the pH 6-8 range, with the maximum of 100% at pH 7 after 24 hours of adsorption time. The highest specific rate was observed as 165.1 mg/g in the presence of 339.9 mg/l initial phenol concentration. The Freundlich adsorption models were fitted to the equilibrium data, which indicated that phenol ions were favourably adsorbed by Phormidium sp.

Effect of nutrients on Chlorella pyrenoidosa for treatment of phenolic effluent of coal gasification plant

The ability of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, a freshwater microalga, to degrade phenolic effluent of coal-based producer gas plant under ambient conditions was investigated. C. pyrenoidosa was able to grow in high-strength phenolic effluent. Major contaminant present in the effluent was phenol (C₆H₅OH). The effluent has 1475.3 ± 68 mg/L of initial total phenolic concentration. The effect of nutrients used for algal cultivation in phenol degradation was analyzed by inoculating four different concentrations, viz.,1, 2, 3, and 4 g of wet biomass/L of raw effluent of C. pyrenoidosa mixed with effluent into two batches (with and without nutrients). C. pyrenoidosa was able to degrade more than 95% of the phenol (C₆H₅OH) concentration with the algal concentrations of 3 and 4 g/L when supplemented with nutrients. With effluent devoid of nutrients, the average percent reduction in total phenolic compounds was observed to a maximum of 46%. No physical changes in the C. pyrenoidosa were observed during degradation. C. pyrenoidosa was able to consume the organic carbon present in the phenolic compounds as carbon source for its growth despite the inorganic carbon supplemented externally.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis reveals phenol tolerance mechanism of evolved Chlorella strain

The growth of microalgae is inhibited by high concentration phenol due to reactive oxygen species. An evolved strain tolerated to 500mg/L phenol, Chlorella sp. L5, was obtained in previous study. In this study, comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed for Chlorella sp. L5 and its original strain (Chlorella sp. L3). The tolerance mechanism of Chlorella sp. L5 for high concentration phenol was explored on genome scale. It was identified that the up-regulations of the related genes according to antioxidant enzymes (SOD, APX, CAT and GR) and carotenoids (astaxanthin, lutein and lycopene) biosynthesis had critical roles to tolerate high concentration phenol. In addition, most of genes of PS I, PS II, photosynthetic electron transport chain and starch biosynthesis were also up-regulated. It was consistent to the experimental results of total carbohydrate contents of Chlorella sp. L3 and Chlorella sp. L5 under 0mg/L and 500mg/L phenol.

Response Surface Methodology Optimization of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Acer Truncatum Leaves for Maximal Phenolic Yield and Antioxidant Activity

This study is the first to report the use of response surface methodology to improve phenolic yield and antioxidant activity of Acer truncatum leaves extracts (ATLs) obtained by ultrasonic-assisted extraction. The phenolic composition in ATLs extracted under the optimized conditions were characterized by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Solvent and extraction time were selected based on preliminary experiments, and a four-factors-three-levels central composite design was conducted to optimize solvent concentration (X₁), material-to-liquid ratio (X₂), ultrasonic temperature (X₃) and power (X₄) for an optimal total phenol yield (Y₁) and DPPH• antioxidant activity (Y₂). The results showed that the optimal combination was ethanol:water (v:v) 66.21%, material-to-liquid ratio 1:15.31 g/mL, ultrasonic bath temperature 60 °C, power 267.30 W, and time 30 min with three extractions, giving a maximal total phenol yield of 7593.62 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g d.w. and a maximal DPPH• antioxidant activity of 74,241.61 μmol Trolox equivalent/100 g d.w. Furthermore, 22 phenolics were first identified in ATL extract obtained under the optimized conditions, indicating that gallates, gallotannins, quercetin, myricetin and chlorogenic acid derivatives were the main phenolic components in ATL. What's more, a gallotannins pathway existing in ATL from gallic acid to penta-O-galloylglucoside was proposed. All these results provide practical information aiming at full utilization of phenolics in ATL, together with fundamental knowledge for further research.

Probabilistic uncertainty analysis based on Monte Carlo simulations of co-combustion of hazelnut hull and coal blends: Data-driven modeling and response surface optimization

The aim of present study is to investigate the thermogravimetric behaviour of the co-combustion of hazelnut hull (HH) and coal blends using three approaches: multi non-linear regression (MNLR) modeling based on Box-Behnken design (BBD) (1), optimization based on response surface methodology (RSM) (2), and probabilistic uncertainty analysis based on Monte Carlo simulation as a function of blend ratio, heating rate, and temperature (3). The response variable was predicted by the best-fit MNLR model with a predicted regression coefficient (R²_pred) of 99.5%. Blend ratio of 90/10 (HH to coal, %wt), temperature of 405°C, and heating rate of 44°Cmin^-1 were determined as RSM-optimized conditions with a mass loss of 87.4%. The validation experiments with three replications were performed for justifying the predicted-mass loss percentage and 87.5%±0.2 of mass loss were obtained under RSM-optimized conditions. The probabilistic uncertainty analysis were performed by using Monte Carlo simulations.