Hydrothermal modification of lignocellulosic waste as microbial immobilization carriers for ethanol production

Eco-friendly synthesis of a novel adsorbent from sugarcane and high-pressure boiler water

The development of industrial process in line with the circular economy and the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) is the foundation for sustainable economic development. Alternatives that make feasible the transformation of residues in added value products are promising and contribute to the repositioning of the industry towards sustainability, due to financial leverage obtained from lesser operational costs when compared with conventional processes, therefore increasing the company competitivity. In this study, it is presented a promising and innovative technology for the recycling of agro-industrial residues, the sugarcane bagasse and the high-pressure water boiler effluent, in the development of a low-cost adsorbent (HC-T) using the hydrothermal carbonization processes and its application in the adsorption of herbicide Diuron and Methylene Blue dye from synthetic contaminated water. The hydrothermal carbonization was performed in a Teflon contained inside a sealed stainless-steel reactor self-pressurized at 200°C, biomass-to-effluent (m/v) ratio of 1:3 and 24 h. The synthesized material (HC) was activated in an oven at 450°C for 10 min, thus being named adsorbent (HC-T) and characterized by textural, structural and spectroscopic analyses. The low-cost adsorbent HC-T presented an 11-time-fold increase in surface area and ∼40% increase in total pore volume in comparison with the HC material. The kinetic and isotherm adsorption experiment results highlighted that the HC-T was effective as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of herbicide Diuron and Methylene Blue dye from synthetic contaminated waters, with an adsorption capacity of 35.07 (63.25% removal) and 307.09 mg g-1 (36,47% removal), respectively.

Biochar mediated high-rate anaerobic bioreactors: A critical review on high-strength wastewater treatment and management

Treatment of high-strength wastewater is critical for the aquatic environment and receiving water bodies around the globe. Untreated or partially treated high-strength wastewater may cause severe damage to the existing water bodies. Various high-rate anaerobic bioreactors have been developed in the last decades for treating high-strength wastewater. High-rate anaerobic bioreactors are effective in treating industrial wastewater and provide energy in the form of methane as well. However, the physical or chemical properties of high-strength industrial wastewater, sometimes, disrupt the functioning of a high-rate anaerobic bioreactor. For example, the disintegration of granular sludge in up flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor or membrane blocking in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor are the results of a high-strength wastewater treatment which hamper the proper functioning and may harm the wastewater treatment plant economically. Biochar, if added to these bioreactors, may help to alleviate the ill-functioning of high-rate anaerobic bioreactors. The primary mechanisms by biochar work in these bioreactors are direct interspecies electron transfer, microbial immobilization, or gene level alternations in microbial structure. The present article explores and reviews the recent application of biochar in a high-rate anaerobic bioreactor treating high-strength industrial wastewater.

Effects of electrospun nanofiber fabrications on immobilization of recombinant Escherichia coli for production of xylitol from glucose

A suitable nanofiber sheet was formulated and developed based on its efficacy in the immobilization of recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) to enhance xylitol production. The effects of different types of nanofibers and solvents on cell immobilization and xylitol production were studied. The most applicable nanofiber membrane was selected via preliminary screening of four types of nanofiber membrane, followed by the selection of six different solvents. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofiber sheet synthesized using dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent was found to be the most suitable carrier for immobilization and xylitol production. The thin, beaded PVDF (DMF) nanofibers were more favourable for microbial adhesion, with the number of immobilized cells as high as 96 × 106 ± 3.0 cfu/ml. The attraction force between positively charged PVDF nanofibers and the negatively charged E. coli indicates that the electrostatic interaction plays a significant role in cell adsorption. The use of DMF has also produced PVDF nanofibers biocatalyst capable of synthesizing the highest xylitol concentration (2.168 g/l) and productivity (0.090 g/l/h) and 55-69% reduction in cell lysis compared with DMSO solvent and free cells. This finding suggests that recombinant E. coli immobilized on nanofibers shows great potential as a whole-cell biocatalyst for xylitol production.

Application of biochar immobilized microorganisms for pollutants removal from wastewater: A review

Microbial immobilization technology (MIT) has been rapidly developed and used to remove pollutants from water/wastewater in recent years, owing to its high stability, rapid reaction rate, and high activity. Microbial immobilization carrier with low cost and high removal efficiency is the key of MIT. Biochar is considered to be an efficient carrier for microbial immobilization because of its high porosity and good adsorption effect, which can provide a habitat for microorganisms. The use of biochar immobilized microorganisms to treat different pollutants in wastewater is a promising treatment method. Compared with the other biological treatment technology, biochar immobilized microorganisms can improve microbial abundance, repeated utilization ratio, microbial metabolic capacity, etc. However, current research on this method is still in its infancy. Little attention has been paid to the interaction mechanisms between biochar and microorganisms, and many studies are only carried out in the laboratory. There are still problems such as difficult recovery after use and secondary pollution caused by residual pollutants after biochar adsorption, which need further clarification. To have comprehensive digestion and an in-depth understanding of biochar immobilized microorganisms technology in wastewater treatment, the wastewater treatment methods based on biochar are firstly summarized in this review. Then the mechanisms of immobilized microorganisms were explored, and the applications of biochar immobilized microorganisms in wastewater were systematically reviewed. Finally, suggestions and perspectives for future research and practical application are put forward.

Application of Carrier Materials in Self-Healing Cement-Based Materials Based on Microbial-Induced Mineralization

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology has attracted widespread research attention owing to its application in crack healing for cement-based materials in an intelligent and environmentally friendly manner. However, the high internal alkalinity, low nutrient content, and dense structure of cement-based materials have restricted its application in self-healing cement-based materials. Various carrier materials have been widely used for the immobilization of microorganisms in recent years. Carrier materials have significantly increased the ability of microorganisms to withstand extreme conditions (high temperature, high alkali, etc.) and have provided new ideas for the compatibility of microorganisms with cement-based materials. In this study, the basic principles of microbial self-healing technology in cement-based materials and microbial immobilization methods and the influencing factors are introduced, followed by a review of the research progress and application effects of different types of carrier materials, such as aggregate, low-alkali cementitious materials, organic materials, and microcapsules. Finally, the current problems and promising development directions of microbial carrier materials are summarized to provide useful references for the future development of microbial carriers and self-healing cement-based materials.

Porous Sponges from the Mesocarp of Theobroma Cacao L. Pod Shells for Potential Biomaterial Applications

Lignocellulosic materials have garnered significant attention in recent years to generate biomaterials, but nothing has been investigated with cacao residues of significant importance in Ecuador. This study's objective was to generate porous, three-dimensional sponges from cacao pod shell mesocarp with potential use in biomaterial application. Discs from the mesocarp of cacao pod shells were subjected to neutral, acid, and alkaline treatments, at 25oC and 100oC, followed by washing and lyophilization. Sponge composition was evaluated, with the alkaline treatment resulting in the highest cellulose content and the lowest percentage of lignin, with the removal of hemicellulose corroborated by FITR. The sponges presented high water absorption capacities, which increased with the treatment temperature; mainly, the alkaline generated structures had the largest capacity. The sponges' porosity also depended on the treatment, with the acid and alkaline treatments generating larger pores, which significantly grew with treatment temperature. Preliminary in vitro cytotoxicity tests were carried out using Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells, according to ISO 10993.5.2009, with none of the materials being cytotoxic; however, those with greater lignin contents resulted in lower cell viability. In general, it is considered that the alkaline generated sponges presented the more significant potential for biomaterial applications, which could be further tested with In vitro cell proliferation and differentiation studies and possible in vivo assays.

Preparation and characterizations of oil palm fronds cellulose nanocrystal (OPF-CNC) as reinforcing filler in epoxy-Zn rich coating for mild steel corrosion protection

Oil palm frond (OPF) is one of largest contributions to the biomass waste from oil palm plantation. In this work, OPF has been successfully utilized to prepare cellulose nanocrystal (OPF-CNC) by acid hydrolysis. OPF was initially treated with autohydrolysis treatment. The obtained OPF-CNC was characterized via complementary analyses. The produced OPF-CNC showed a high crystallinity index value (60%) and high BET surface area (26.10 m² g^-1) as compared to α-cellulose (crystallinity index: 54% and BET surface area:7.14 m²g^-1). The surface analyses via scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that the OPF-CNC has a smooth surface with a needle-like shape, where the average length and diameter are 95.09 nm and 6.81 nm, respectively. The corrosion analyses via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PD) illustrate that the coated mild steel with the inclusion of 0.5 wt% OPF-CNC has managed to sharply reduce the corrosion (99%). The coated mild steel with the inclusion of 0.5 wt% OPF-CNC showed the highest hydrophobicity (100.5 ± 0.7°) and has lowest amount of O via water contact angle and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses respectively, indicating lowest corrosion rate.