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Abstract This work aimed to extract silica from combination of rice husk (RH and Rice straw (RS) by optimizing the ash digesting process parameters with the aid of response surface methodology (RSM). The effects of three independent ash digestion process factors like sodium hydroxide concentration (1–3 M), temperature (60–120 °C) and time (1–3 h), for silica production from the mixture of rice husk (RH) and rice straw (RS) were studied. A quadratic model was used to correlate the interaction effects of the independent variables for maximum silica production at the optimum process parameters by employing central composite design (CCD) with RSM. The work indicates that the temperature is the most significant parameter among the model terms, followed by NaOH concentration, then time for digestion of ash for silica production. It may be because of the larger F-value for temperature, which influences to high extent of ash digestion for silica production. The proximate analysis discovered that RH/RS possessed compositions of high ash, volatile matter and fixed carbon content whereas low moisture content, i.e., 20.5 ± 0.46, 67.1 ± 0.78, 15.8 ± 0.35 and, 6.6 ± 0.37 wt.%, correspondingly. The characterization of RH/RS and silica were performed by employing thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal (DT), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) and Brunner–Emmet–Teller (BET) for confirmation of the silica production. Hence, this current study concludes that silica materials obtained from RH/RS (with purity > 97.35 wt.%) may be new materials in the Si–C–O system that may be used in construction, ceramics and silica gel that helps to absorb moisture.

In the present study, nano-ligninwas synthesized from rice straw using Lactobacillus rhamnosus for the cost-effective removal of harmful dye from wastewater. The UV absorption maxima of the synthesized nano-lignin were around 280–290 nm. Several FTIR bands between 1075 cm−1 to 3500 cm−1 confirmed the successful confirmation of nano-lignin synthesis from rice straw. STEM and DLS studies confirmed the spherical morphology of nano-lignin with an average particle size of 286.3 nm. The nano-lignin showed a negative zeta potential value of −16.9 ± 5.94 mv. Afterward, nano-lignin was used to remove basic methylene blue (MB), phenol red (PR),and brilliant green (BG) dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorption of these dyes increased with increased incubation time. The adsorption concentration of the MB, PR, and BG dyes ranged from 3.5 mg/g to a final of 24 mg/g, 2.5 mg/g to 42.5 mg/g, and 1.5 gm/g to 5.5 mg/g, respectively.

The high extractives content in rice straw inhibits the reactivity of castor oil-based polyurethane (CPUR) resin and hinders its bonding. This study employed steam treatment to pretreat rice straw to decrease the extractives content before using it for particleboard production. The effects of steam pressure and time on the chemical composition of the rice straw were investigated. Variable parameters tested were steam pretreatment time (5, 10 min) and steam temperature (110, 120, 130, and 140 °C). In addition, the mechanical properties and water resistance of particleboard manufactured from rice straw bonded with CPUR resin were evaluated. A three-phase hot press schedule at 110 °C was adopted. Other production parameters, such as resin content (20 wt%), hot press time (5 mm/s), and board density (800 kg/m3) were held constant. The resulting particleboards were tested for their mechanical properties in terms of modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), and internal bond (IB). Further, the physical properties including water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS) were analyzed. The results showed that steam pretreatment significantly decreased the hemicellulose and extractives contents of the rice straws. Furthermore, steam pretreatment improved the mechanical properties and water resistance of the rice straw particleboards.

Objective This study investigated the impact of Aspergillus niger lysing polysaccharide monooxygenase (AnLPMO) on in vitro rumen microbial fermentation of rice straw. Methods AnLPMO was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyzed the surface structure of rice straw after AnLPMO treatment. Two in vitro experiments, coupled with 16S high-throughput sequencing and quantitative real–time polymerase chain reaction techniques, assessed the influence of AnLPMO on rumen microbial fermentation of rice straw. Results AnLPMO exhibited peak activity at 40°C and pH 6.5, with a preference for rice straw xylan hydrolysis, followed by Avicel. AnLPMO application led to the fractional removal of cellulose and hemicelluloses and a notable reduction in the levels of carbon elements and C–C groups present on the surface of rice straw. Compared to the control (no AnLPMO), supplementing AnLPMO at 1.1 to 2.0 U significantly enhanced in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDMD, p

Phosphorus, often found in the form of phosphate in the environment, especially aquatic environments, has been identified as the primary contaminant that causes algae blooms and eutrophication. Phosphate adsorption in the aquatic environment was carried out by comparing the adsorption capabilities of eggshell (CaO), rice straw (BC) and CaO/biochar materials at mass variations of 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 from the use of eggshell and rice straw waste. Each material was synthesized using ball milling and pyrolysis methods. The adsorption isotherm and kinetics of the material are by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and are pseudo-second-order (PSO) adsorption kinetics. The CaO/biochar 1:2 material shows the highest phosphate adsorption capacity at pH 12 with a contact time of 24 hours. CaO/biochar 1:2 was applied in the phosphate adsorption process using the Diffusive Gradient in Thin Film method as a binding agent, which acts as an adsorbent. The DGT technique is an in situ sample preparation technique for identifying the presence of phosphate, a labile species. The binding agent material was characterized using FTIR, XRD, and BJH-BET instruments. The success of synthesizing CaO/biochar 1:2 binding gel and ferrihydrite was demonstrated by the appearance of the same adsorption as the diffusive gel using FTIR. The CaO/biochar binding gel demonstrated that it is a better material compared to the ferrihydrite binding gel for phosphate adsorption, achieving CDGT values of 10.1727 mg/L and 2.5959 mg/L at pH 5 and 3, respectively, with a phosphate concentration of 10 mg/L. These findings underscore the potential of CaO/biochar as a more effective material for phosphate removal applications.

Background and Aim: Rice straw, a widely available agricultural byproduct globally, has significant potential as a basal diet for livestock. The major challenge lies in obtaining high-protein foliage that can be easily extracted using natural water rather than chemical solvents. This study aimed to assess the ability of distilled water to extract protein concentrate from Indigofera leaves (Indigofera zollingeriana Miq.) and to evaluate its effectiveness in enhancing rumen feed fermentation and digestibility in low-quality rice straw basal diets. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in two experimental series. Experiment 1 was designed to explore the ability of distilled water to extract protein concentrate from fresh and dry Indigofera leaves by comparing it with the 0.1 N NaOH standard solvent. Experiment 2 focused on the in vitro digestibility of protein concentrates extracted from fresh Indigofera leaves based on optimal findings from experiment 1. Five treatments consisting of 0.5% and 1.0% protein concentrate and two extractants (distilled water and 0.1 N NaOH) were used to extract protein from Indigofera leaves. These extracts were then added to rice straw-based diets. Rice straw without supplements was used as a control. The treatments were arranged using a randomized complete design with five replicates. Results: The results of experiment 1 showed that distilled water was superior to 0.1 N NaOH for extracting protein concentrate from fresh Indigofera leaves, as revealed by higher dry matter, protein yield, total amino acids (AA), and total essential AA (EAA) production. For in vitro experiment 2, supplementation with distilled water-extracted protein concentrates successfully increased rumen fermentation and digestibility in rice straw basal diets, as indicated by higher gas production, total volatile fatty acid, and microbial protein levels compared with 0.1 N NaOH. Conclusion: Findings from this study confirm that Indigofera leaf protein concentrate offers a new alternative for enhancing rumen feed fermentation and the digestibility of low-quality rice straw diets. This study implies that it is an easy, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly approach, particularly beneficial for smallholders, to extract protein concentrate from fresh Indigofera leaves using distilled water and use it to enhance the quality of rice straw for ruminant feed. The limitation of this study is that the Indigofera supplement was established using in vitro digestibility under controlled laboratory conditions, which does not reflect real rumen conditions. Therefore, further studies using in vivo digestibility in ruminant animals are required to confirm the ability of the protein extracted from indigofera to enhance rumen feed fermentation in low-protein basal diets.

The high extractives content in rice straw severely hinders surface adhesion, resulting in poor strength and dimensional stability of rice straw particleboard bonded with castor oil-based polyurethane (CPUR) resin. In this study, rice straw was pretreated with liquid hot water (LHW) at 150 °C for 20 min to reduce its extractives content for particleboard production with CPUR resin. The effects of LHW pretreatment on the chemical composition of the rice straws was evaluated. In addition, effects of CPUR resin dosage and density on mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards were investigated. The results indicated that LHW pretreatment significantly reduced the extractives and hemicellulose contents of the rice straw. The LHW pretreatment significantly improved the mechanical properties and dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards. The overall performances of the rice straw particleboards were enhanced as the CPUR dosage increased. Increase of density led to upgraded mechanical properties but lowered dimensional stability of the rice straw particleboards.

A powerful carbon-based solid acid catalyst and furfural were obtained from rice straw (RS) biomass resource. The acid catalyst was prepared through the carbonization and sulfonation of RS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption, and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) were used to characterize the catalysts. The effect of sulfonation time (4 h to 16 h) on the structure and acidity of the catalysts was elucidated. After 16 h of sulfonation, the BET surface area and the total acidity of the catalyst reached 415 m2/g and 7.48 mmol/g, respectively. Moreover, strong acid sites accounted for more than 63% of acidity. The catalyst was then used for the conversion of RS into furfural in water. The influence of reaction temperature and time while using the catalyst on the conversion process was also investigated. The catalyst exhibited high activity in the conversion of RS, with a furfural yield of 68.3 g/kg RS at 160 °C in 5 h.

In southern China, co-incorporating winter green manure and rice straw has proven to be a practical and economically viable strategy that enhances soil carbon (C) sequestration and agricultural productivity in rice paddies. However, the issue of how to control the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in paddy fields owing to the incorporation of substantial organic matter remains a bottleneck. A 2-year field experiment was conducted, which included five treatments: conventional water management with no residue (CK) and with co-incorporation of green manure and rice straw (GM+Rs), delayed flooding by 5, 10, and 15 days after the co-incorporation of green manure and rice straw (GM+Rs-DW5, GM+Rs-DW10, and GM+Rs-DW15) before transplanting rice seedlings. The delayed flooding treatments reduced the 2-year average CH4 emissions by 40.9%–60.8% compared with GM+Rs. The delayed flooding inhibited the growth of methanogens and CH4 emissions, which was linked to a reduction of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in surface water. The lowest C footprint (4.05 t CO2-eq ha−1) as well as the yield-scaled C footprint (0.6 kg CO2-eq kg−1) were observed in the GM+Rs-DW10 treatment, both even lower than those in CK (15.11 t CO2-eq ha−1and 2.1 kg CO2-eq kg−1). Moreover, the GM+Rs-DW10 treatment led to an increase in net ecosystem economic benefit (NEEB) of 3750 and 2870 CNY ha−1 than CK and GM+Rs over a 2-year period. Collectively, delayed flooding with green manure and rice straw incorporation is conducive to achieving high NEEB and low risk of GHG emissions. This finding provides important and novel insights for eco-efficient rice production.

Pretreatment is a critical step in bioethanol production, impacting both cost and environmental sustainability. Traditional acid and alkali methods are expensive due to the need for costly stainless-steel reactors and pose environmental risks. This study explores a more cost-effective approach using locally available biomass mixtures, reducing the need to source a single type of biomass from distant locations, using Triethylammonium Hydrogen Sulfate ([TEA][HSO4]), a novel, low-cost, and environmentally friendly ionic liquid. [TEA][HSO4] was synthesized & characterized (via FTIR and NMR) and then applied to a mixture of rice straw and sugarcane bagasse in varying ratios (five samples in all, where two were pure biomass and the remaining three were mixtures). The biomass was pretreated at 130°C for 0.5 or 1.0 h, with a 4:1:1 weight ratio of ionic liquid, water, and biomass. The pretreatment's effects were analyzed using FTIR for functional group changes, SEM for effect on surface morphology, and PXRD for alteration in crystallinity. The results revealed significant lignin reduction, especially in sugarcane bagasse, where lignin content dropped from 24.80 to 14.87 wt.% after 1 h of pretreatment. When the pretreatment duration was extended from 0.5 h to 1 h, an increase in crystallinity was more prominent in the biomass mixtures than in the individual biomass samples. Specifically, there was a 0.9% increase for 100 wt% rice straw, a 0.3% increase for 100 wt% sugarcane bagasse, and a 7.1% increase for a 1:1 mixture by weight, attributed to synergistic effects. The most favourable results were achieved with a mixture of 25 wt% rice straw and 75 wt% sugarcane bagasse, attributed to reduced carbohydrate loss, providing useful insights for optimizing enzymatic hydrolysis resulting in improved bioethanol production.

Every year, the production of rice straw and cow paunch content is abundant and 80 % of them has not been utilized. This study aimed to determine the potency of ensiling treatment on them in producing bioethanol. The novelty of this study is the utilization of cow paunch content as biomass and source of microbial fiber degradation. In this study, there were six groups of treatments. Bioethanol fermentation used Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results, ensiling treatment significantly affected (p

In this study, lime soil was reinforced with preservative-treated rice straw fibers to improve its brittle behavior and overall performance. Straw fibers of varying lengths and amounts were used, and the resulting unconfined compressive strength, shear strength, and flexural strength of the reinforced soil were determined. The effect of fiber reinforcement on the mechanical properties and fracture toughness of limestone soils was determined, and the finite element (FE) software ABAQUS was used to analyze the specimen loading, crack extension, and specimen damage for developing a fracture toughness prediction model. The test results showed that the compressive strength, shear strength, and Mode I fracture toughness of soil increased with the fiber length and content. Also, a linear correlation between fracture toughness and unconfined compressive strength and shear strength was found. Therefore, the fracture toughness can be predicted by establishing a correlation equation. The disparity between the simulated fracture toughness obtained by FE analysis and that measured laboratory test is

In this research, a novel mineral-based composite board was developed using gypsum as a mineral binder and rice straw as a readily available agro-based resource. The study involved two key phases: Phase 1: The preliminary assessment of rice straw-gypsum composite involved integrating different ratios of rice straw into gypsum to examine the influence of rice straw integration on the composite board's performance. The specific proportions used were 90:10%, 80:20%, and 70:30% for rice straw to gypsum. Phase 2: Reinforcement with bacterial nanocellulose fibers. In the subsequent phase, gypsum board composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% rice straw were further enhanced by the addition of bacterial nanocellulose fibers at 1% and 3% levels. The results indicated a significant influence of rice straw incorporation on the physical and mechanical properties of the panels. The composite boards with 3% bacterial nanocellulose fiber gel exhibited the highest mechanical performance, with values of 13.5 MPa for modulus of rupture, 4650 MPa for modulus of elasticity, and 0.79 MPa for Internal Bond. The study revealed that the adverse effects of rice straw substitution on the mechanical properties and thickness swelling of the panels could be mitigated to a certain extent by incorporating nanocellulose fibers.

Abstract Deliberate open burning of crop residues emits greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. This study investigates the environmental impacts (global warming potential, GWP) and economic impacts (net cash flow) of nine agricultural residue management schemes, including open burning, fertilizer production, and biochar production for corn residue, rice straw, and sugarcane leaves. The environmental assessment shows that, except the open burning schemes, fossil fuel consumption is the main contributor of the GWP impact. The fertilizer and biochar schemes reduce the GWP impact including black carbon by 1.88–1.96 and 2.46–3.22 times compared to open burning. The biochar schemes have the lowest GWP (− 1833.19 to − 1473.21 kg CO2-eq/ton). The economic assessment outcomes reveal that the biochar schemes have the highest net cash flow (222.72—889.31 US$2022/ton or 1258.15–13409.16 US$2022/ha). The expenditures of open burning are practically zero, while the biochar schemes are the most costly to operate. The most preferable agricultural residue management type is the biochar production, given the lowest GWP impact and the highest net cash flow. To discourage open burning, the government should tailor the government assistance programs to the needs of the farmers and make the financial assistance more accessible.

Abstract The response of soil microorganisms and plants in soil ecosystems to biochar is well recognised. However, biochars’ impact on large soil animal, such as ants, is inadequately understood, with only limited studies focusing on the abundance and mortality rates of some specific ant species. In this study, soil physicochemical properties, and ant community diversity and functional characteristics were compared between experimental plots with and without biochar application. No significant differences in soil (soil physicochemical properties) or ants (ant community richness, species abundance, and morphological characteristics) were observed between the two plots before biochar application. However, the biochar-treated plot soil surface temperatures, pH, and soil water content were significantly higher after 48 weeks. Biochar application promoted Cardiocondyla nuda (by 426%) and Formica japonica abundance (by 93%), but decreased Solenopsis invicta invasive ant species richness (by 54%), consistent with the fact that changes in soil properties were more beneficial to the former two species. In addition, in biochar-treated plots, F. japonica and S. invicta generally showed larger body size (18% and 6.7%), larger eyes (2.7% and 4.0%), and longer femurs (6.3% and 7.9%), which enabled them to respond better to potential barriers, such as plants. Our results highlighted that, besides species abundance and community structure, certain ant functional morphological indicators were also informative in evaluating biochar ecological implications. Graphical abstract

Hydrogen is an alternative fuel due to its environmental friendliness and abundance. Hydrogen can be produced through water-splitting technique, in which the Oxygen (O2) and Hydrogen (H2) are separated. Water electrolysis is one of many causes of water-splitting that effectively results H2 with high purity. One drawback of electrolysis is the low efficiency. In this study, a rice straw natural surfactant was utilized to improve the efficiency. Rice straw with the volume of 5 ml, 10 ml, dan 15 ml were added to the electrolyte solution. This study shows the rice straw based natural surfactant contains hydrophilic and hydrophobic sides. Both sides capable to reduce the surface tension of the solution which destabilizes water molecules. The aromatic magnetic field of rice straw surfactant homogenizes the water net dipole moment due to the diamagnetism of water. These contributes towards the weakened hydrogen bond of the water in the solution. The synergy between hydrophobic and hydrophilic sides is potent to alter hydrogen production rate through intrinsic magnetism.

ABSTRACT Discrete element method is widely used to study grain particles; however, there is a lack of research on the mathematical model parameters of rice straw particles in the crushing simulation process. To determine suitable parameter settings for crushing of rice straw particles in the simulation process, a twin-screw rice straw crushing test device was built using rice straw particles as the research object. Through actual tests, the parameters of the Ab-T10 crushing models of rice straw particles with five different moisture contents were calibrated, and the crushing characteristics of the rice straw particles were analyzed. The Ab-T10 crushing models with calibrated parameters were verified by comparing the probability of the particle-size distribution (t10) between the simulation and actual tests. The results show that the crushing probability and t10 of rice straw increase with the increase in accumulated contact specific energy and decrease with the increase in rice straw moisture content. The minimum value of the fitting parameter between the simulated and measured values is 0.9654, which indicates that the calibrated Ab-T10 crushing model can accurately simulate the rice straw particle-crushing process. This study provides a reference for the analysis of crushing in subsequent rice straw pulping.

Abstract Furan compounds, including 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural, can be synthesized from biomass and have garnered attention for their potential applications in biofuels and resin precursors. In this study, the synthesis of the furan compounds from rice straw was explored using a combined approach of ionic liquid treatment, specifically 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate ([MIM]HSO4), and vacuum steam distillation. Through the optimization of various processing parameters, we established that the best conditions for the furan compound production include: a cold trap cooling temperature of – 196 ℃, a system pressure of 10 hPa, a treatment temperature of 180 ℃, a reaction duration of 30 min, a sample loading of 1wt%, and a particle size range of 45–90 µm. Under these conditions, the resultant yield of the furan compounds was quantified at 27.9wt%. Additionally, the recyclability of the utilized ionic liquid was evaluated. Notably, even after four recycling cycles (encompassing a total of five reactions), the yield of the furan compounds remained consistent, underscoring the viability of ionic liquid reuse.

In this study, activated rice straw modified with duck egg white (RSA-DEW) was tested extensively to increase the adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) ions. The parametric study was carried out in a batch system, and the results showed that the maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) ions using RSA-DEW was 94.904 mg g−1, far greater than using RSA of 60.204 mg g−1, in studies that have been reported. This optimum condition was achieved at pH 2, initial concentration of Cr(VI) 1000 mg L−1, contact time 30 min, particle size ≤ 36 µm, and stirring speed 100 rpm at 298 K. The principle of equilibrium follows the Freundlich isotherm model, which shows a multilayer adsorption process. Meanwhile, the adsorption kinetics follows a pseudo-second-order model, which indicates a chemical interaction between the adsorbent and the adsorbate. The thermodynamic evaluation showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) ions onto RSA-DEW was exothermic and spontaneous. Prediction Adsorption mechanisms include pore filling, electrostatic interactions, reduction, ion exchange, and complexing. After five adsorption-desorption cycles were carried out to evaluate the reusability of the adsorbent, the efficiency of RSA-DEW did not change significantly, indicating good reusability. The application of RSA-DEW succeeded in removing Cr(VI) ions from river water contaminated with Cr(VI) ions, with a removal efficiency of up to 100 %. In conclusion, the novelty of this study presents the selection of Duck Egg White (DEW) as a new effective, low cost and advantageous modifier for removing Cr(VI) ions in solution.

Abstract In this study, co‐generation from rice straw based on pyrolysis and gasification was studied by experimental and modeling approaches. Pyrolysis experiment results show that improving pyrolysis temperature will benefit the yield of gas and bio‐oil, while reducing the yield of bio‐char. The BET (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller) surface area of bio‐char reached a maximum of 143.26 m2/g when the temperature was increased to 550°C. For co‐generation in this study, an optimized pyrolysis temperature of 500°C was selected. With respect to gasification, air equivalence ratio (ER) largely influenced the syngas yield and composition. At ER = 0.25, the concentration of H2 and CO reached a maximum of 17.8 wt% and 16.2 wt%. Based on the experimental results, an Aspen Plus model was built to evaluate the mass and energy balance during co‐generation. Furthermore, a life cycle assessment method was used to evaluate the greenhouse gas emission during co‐generation process initialed from rice straw planting. Results show that the greenhouse gas emission intensities of the two co‐generation systems were 2.92 and 3.51 g CO2/MJ respectively, which were much lower than traditional fossil fuels.

The increase in global population, expected daunting energy demands, and scarcity of resources has driven the search for new sustainable sources of materials, energy, and chemicals. In this context, biomass valorization has emerged as a promising technology to obtain high-value products in recent years. This research focuses on the valorization of rice production waste including straw, husk, and bran, due to their abundance, underutilization, and potential in generating a wide range of valuable products such as biofuels and materials. A systematic review was conducted regarding the valorization of rice production waste. The characteristics of biomass obtained from post-harvest rice production were explored, as well as the primary products derived from each of the discussed biomass feedstocks. Furthermore, the economic viability of the obtained products in their respective fields of application was evaluated, providing a solid foundation for future research and industrial applications. Different rice waste materials studied hold significant potential to obtain high‑value products including silica, adsorbent materials, biofuels, and various bioactive compounds.

Abstract The present work models the fermentation process parameters of the newly isolated, Meyerozyma caribbica CP02 for enhanced xylitol production and its fermentability study on rice straw hydrolysate. The study examined the impact of each of the process variables by one variable at a time optimization followed by statistical validation. Temperature of 32 °C, pH of 3.5, agitation of 200 rpm, 1.5% (v/v) inoculum, 80 gL−1 initial xylose was optimized. Subsequently, a sequential two-stage agitation approach was adopted for fermentation. At these optimized conditions, xylitol yield of 0.77 gg−1 and 0.64 gg−1 was achieved using media containing commercial and rice straw derived xylose, respectively. For scale up, in 3L batch bioreactor, the highest xylitol yield (0.63 gg−1) was attained at 72 h with rice straw hydrolysate media containing initial xylose (59.48 ± 0.82 gL−1) along with inhibitors (1.55 ± 0.10 gL−1 aliphatic acids, 0.0.048 ± 0.11 gL−1 furans, 0.64 ± 0.23 gL−1 total phenols). The results imply that even under circumstances characterized by an acidic pH and elevated initial xylose level, M. caribbica CP02, as an isolate, displays robustness and shows favorable fermentability of rice straw hydrolysate. Therefore, isolate CP02 has potential to be used in bio-refineries for high yield xylitol production with minimal hydrolysate processing requirements. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Providing high-quality roughage is crucial for improvement of ruminant production because it is an essential component of their feed. Our previous study showed that feeding bio-fermented rice straw (BF) improved the feed intake and weight gain of sheep. However, it remains unclear why feeding BF to sheep increased their feed intake and weight gain. Therefore, the purposes of this research were to investigate how the rumen microbiota and serum metabolome are dynamically changing after feeding BF, as well as how their changes influence the feed intake, digestibility, nutrient transport, meat quality and growth performances of sheep. Twelve growing Hu sheep were allocated into 3 groups: alfalfa hay fed group (AH: positive control), rice straw fed group (RS: negative control) and BF fed group (BF: treatment). Samples of rumen content, blood, rumen epithelium, muscle, feed offered and refusals were collected for the subsequent analysis. Results Feeding BF changed the microbial community and rumen fermentation, particularly increasing (P < 0.05) relative abundance of Prevotella and propionate production, and decreasing (P < 0.05) enteric methane yield. The histomorphology (height, width, area and thickness) of rumen papillae and gene expression for carbohydrate transport (MCT1), tight junction (claudin-1, claudin-4), and cell proliferation (CDK4, Cyclin A2, Cyclin E1) were improved (P < 0.05) in sheep fed BF. Additionally, serum metabolome was also dynamically changed, which led to up-regulating (P < 0.05) the primary bile acid biosynthesis and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acid in sheep fed BF. As a result, the higher (P < 0.05) feed intake, digestibility, growth rate, feed efficiency, meat quality and mono-unsaturated fatty acid concentration in muscle, and the lower (P < 0.05) feed cost per kg of live weight were achieved by feeding BF. Conclusions Feeding BF improved the growth performances and meat quality of sheep and reduced their feed cost. Therefore, bio-fermentation of rice straw could be an innovative way for improving ruminant production with minimizing production costs. Graphical Abstract

The increase in global population, expected daunting energy demands, and scarcity of resources has driven the search for new sustainable sources of materials, energy, and chemicals. In this context, biomass valorization has emerged as a promising technology to obtain high-value products in recent years. This research focuses on the valorization of rice production waste including straw, husk, and bran, due to their abundance, underutilization, and potential in generating a wide range of valuable products such as biofuels and materials. A systematic review was conducted regarding the valorization of rice production waste. The characteristics of biomass obtained from post-harvest rice production were explored, as well as the primary products derived from each of the discussed biomass feedstocks. Furthermore, the economic viability of the obtained products in their respective fields of application was evaluated, providing a solid foundation for future research and industrial applications. Different rice waste materials studied hold significant potential to obtain high‑value products including silica, adsorbent materials, biofuels, and various bioactive compounds.

The objective of this study was to explore the rumen fermentation characteristics, bacterial diversity, community composition, and metabolite profiles of rice straw from three distinct varieties. Straws from two hybrid rice varieties, Lingliangyou 268 (L268) and Yueyou 9113 (Y9113), and one inbred rice variety, Zhongzao 39 (Z39), were selected for a 72 h in vitro rumen fermentation test. The fermentation products were analyzed for rumen fermentation characteristics, bacterial community, and rumen metabolomics. The results showed that Y9113 had higher total gas and methane production, greater dry matter digestibility, and higher concentrations of ammonium nitrogen and volatile fatty acids compared to Z39 (p < 0.05). The variety of rice straw did not affect the richness or diversity of the rumen bacterial community (p > 0.05). However, the relative abundances of Verrucomicrobiota, Euryarchaeota, Elusimicrobiota, Probable genus 10, Lachnospiraceae AC2044 group, WCHB1-41, and VadinBE97 were higher in Z39 than in Y9113, while the opposite was observed for Saccharofermentans, UCG-010, and NK4A214 group (p < 0.05). Both principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) and partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA) revealed clear distinctions in the rumen bacterial communities between Y9113 and Z39. Metabolomic analysis identified eighteen differential metabolites among L268, Z39, and Y9113, with six showing strong correlations with the rumen microbiota. These findings suggest that the feed value of rice straw is influenced by the variety under the same cultivation conditions, due to nutritional disparities that subsequently affect the rumen microbial community and metabolite profiles. This study offers valuable data and insights for the strategic resource utilization of rice straw from different varieties in the livestock industry.

Membrane filtration is one of the preferred choices for petroleum wastewater disposal due to its simplicity and low energy consumption. In this paper, a biodegradable superhydrophobic membrane based on loofah and rice straw (LF-RS) was prepared and modified with dodecyltriethoxysilane to improve its stability, morphology, and performance. The membrane showed an efficiency of 99.06% for oil/water separation with an average water flux of 2057.37 Lm−2h−1 and a tensile strength of 11.19 MPa. The tensile strength of the LF-RS membrane was 322.47% higher than that of the PVDF membrane and 126.58% higher than that of the commercially available nitrocellulose membrane. Through molecular simulations, we showed a 96.3% reduction in interaction energy between water and membrane post-modification, which is beneficial for increasing the contact angle and separation performance. This study provides an option for the large-scale, cost-effective fabrication of eco-friendly membranes for pollutant removal.

Rice straw is used as livestock feed and compost. Ferimzone and tricyclazole, common fungicides for rice blast control, can be found in high concentrations in rice straw after unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) spraying, potentially affecting livestock and human health through pesticide residues. In this study, an optimized method for the analysis of the two fungicides in rice straw was developed using the improved QuEChERS method. After the optimization of water and solvent volume, extraction conditions including ethyl acetate (EtOAc), acetonitrile (MeCN), a mixed solvent, and MeCN containing 1% acetic acid were compared. Different salts, including unbuffered sodium chloride, citrate, and acetate buffer salts, were compared for partitioning. Among the preparation methods, the MeCN/EtOAc mixture with unbuffered salts showed the highest recovery rates (88.1–97.9%, RSD ≤ 5.1%). To address the severe matrix effect (%ME) of rice straw, which is characterized by low moisture content and cellulose-based complex matrices, samples were purified using 25 mg each of primary–secondary amine (PSA) and octadecylsilane (C18), without pesticide loss. The developed method was validated with a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.005 mg/kg for target pesticides, and recovery rates at levels of 0.01, 0.1, and 2 mg/kg met the permissible range (82.3–98.9%, RSD ≤ 8.3%). The %ME ranged from −17.6% to −0.3%, indicating a negligible effect. This optimized method was subsequently applied to residue studies following multi-rotor spraying. Fungicides from all fields and treatment groups during harvest season did not exceed the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for livestock feed. This confirms that UAV spraying can be safely managed without causing excessive residues.

The conversion of rice straw to bio-oil for substituting asphalt paving materials not only contributes to sustainable development in construction industry, but is also beneficial for resource recovery in agriculture. In this study, rice straw was pyrolyzed to produce bio-oil by using fluidized bed, and the influences of key pyrolysis conditions on product distribution were investigated. Bio-asphalt was prepared by high-speed mixing of pyrolysis bio-oil and petroleum asphalt, and comprehensively evaluated through rheological tests and continuous grading of performance grade (PG). Moreover, microscopic characterization was conducted to further explore the mechanism of bio-oil modification of asphalt. The test results indicate that the yield of bio-oil first rises and then drops with the increase of pyrolysis temperature. As the gas flow rate increases and the biomass particle size decreases, the bio-oil yield shows an increasing trend. The bio-asphalt containing bio-oil from lower pyrolysis temperatures has stronger rutting resistance and lower temperature susceptibility. As the pyrolysis temperature rises, the resistances of bio-asphalt to fatigue and thermal cracking are enhanced. According to continuous PG grading, the widest safe working temperature range is obtained at 450 ℃. Compared to base asphalt, bio-asphalt has superior fatigue and low-temperature performances at high pyrolysis temperatures. Additionally, it can be known from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy that the modification of petroleum asphalt by bio-oil is a physical fusion process.

Almost all farmers are unaware that rice straw and paunch manure are potential feedstocks for bioethanol besides organic fertilizer, biochar, and biogas. Farmers' perceptions regarding the multiattributes of bioethanol development are still underestimated, indicating that farmers are still indecisive about the potential use of rice straw and paunch manure as feedstock for bioethanol. They still need extension and training to improve their knowledge. The Location Quotient (LQ) value of rice straw and cattle paunch manure is > 1, indicating that Karanganyar Regency could become a base for bioethanol development from rice straw and cattle paunch manure.

To investigate the effects of kinds of additives on silage quality, the mixture of king grass and rice straw was ensiled with addition of sucrose, citric acid and malic acid at the levels of 0, 1 and 2%, being blank control (CK), citric acid groups (CA1, CA2), malic acid groups (MA1, MA2), citric acid + malic acid groups (CM1, CM2), sucrose groups (SU1, SU2), mainly focusing on fermentation quality, nutrient content, aerobic stability and microbial community of the silages. The results showed that the addition of sucrose decreased (p

This study investigated rice straw hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) in water, optimizing operating conditions to enhance solid carbon content and nitrogen content in hydrochar. Additionally, we conducted hydrothermal co-carbonization (co-HTC) of rice straw and acid whey, achieving significant improvements in hydrochar properties. Co-HTC resulted in a 53.6% increase in HHVs, 20.0% higher yield, and a 42.7% rise in carbon content, accompanied by notable reductions in ash content. Nitrogen content increased by 26.0%, P content by 12.7 times, and K content by 27.6%. Analytical techniques revealed promising modifications, indicating potential applications of hydrochar in solid fuel or organic fertilizers, thus contributing to a circular bioeconomy in agricultural waste management.

Fertilization is crucial for increasing crop productivity and it alters soil microbial biomass and activities. These alterations exert implications for soil carbon (C) stocks, primarily through the priming effect (PE). Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying PE and their impact on soil C stocks in paddy soils subjected to long-term (31 years) fertilization. Soils from four depths within the upper 40 cm layer, subjected to four fertilization types (no fertilizer, mineral fertilizer, mineral + straw, mineral + chicken manure), were incubated for 60 days with or without 13C-labeled glucose. Following substrate addition, an increase in isotopically unlabeled CO2 efflux may stem from accelerated microbial turnover (apparent PE) or modified soil organic matter (SOM) mineralization (real PE). By analyzing microbial biomass (MBC), CO2 and dissolved organic C (DOC) dynamics, we explored the partitioning of C from glucose into three pools. Following glucose addition (day 2), the SOM-derived MBC decreased by 4.7 % at 0–10 cm in unfertilized and by 6.3 % in mineral-fertilized soils. SOM-derived MBC also decreased in soils fertilized with straw- and chicken manure at 0–20 and 0–30 cm. Hence, the apparent PE closely correlated with fertilization types. At day 2, the SOM-derived DOC increased with the increase in extractable Fe2+ content, indicating high contribution of the released mineral-bound organic C in the DOC pool. Microbial decomposition of SOM-derived DOC and loss of unlabeled C through apparent PE increased the release of unlabeled CO2, resulting in a positive but low PE. After 60 days of incubation, the addition of glucose to the subsoils (30–40 cm) caused a net loss of C (positive PE) of 6.6–19 mg kg−1. In contrast, negative PEs were observed in the topsoil, indicating a decrease in microbial activity and C turnover. These findings suggested that fertilization regimes, whether involving long-term extra C input or not, can alter microbial biomass and turnover rates. Moreover, the C turnover mechanisms in paddy soils are complex, including apparent PE, release of mineral-bound organic C, and negative PE. Collectively, these processes can consequently change soil C stocks.

Purpose Profiting from agricultural waste and lowering production costs for farmers have been made possible by the incorporation of bagasse and local resources as a substitute for sawdust.Method The experiment was using a CRD. Follows: Bagasse 100 % Bagasse: Rice straw (25:75%) Bagasse: Rice straw (50:50%) Bagasse: Rice straw (75:25%) Bagasse: Giant mimosa (25:75%) Bagasse: Giant mimosa (50:50%) Bagasse: Giant mimosa (75:25%) Bagasse: Rice straw: Giant mimosa (25:35:40%) Bagasse: Rice straw: Giant mimosa (50:25:25%) Bagasse: Rice straw: Giant mimosa (75:15:10%) Rice straw 100% Giant mimosa 100% and Sawdust 100% (control)Results The highest average fabric expansion rate of 9.76 cm was generated by the bagasse to gigantic mimosa ratio of 75:15:10. Also, Para rubber sawdust had the lowest fiber rate of growth of 7.26 cm on average (100%). When evaluating mushroom proliferation, the 8th procedure to solve the bagasse: straw: giant mimosa (25:30:40%) gave the greatest average number of mushrooms per bag equal to 8.25. The technique that produced the lowest mushroom per bag of 100% of giant mimosa was 5.50, with diameter pileus ranging from 5.93 to 6.77 cm, and flower stripe length ranging from 3.12 to 3.75 cm. There was no statistical difference at the 95% confidence level according to the findings. Whenever biological efficiency (B.E.) was considered.Conclusion The results showed that bagasse: chopped straw: chopped giant mimosa (25:35:40%) would have a maximum value of 58.96%. Which was the best approach being the best for utilizing as material for growing mushrooms or introducing farmers.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of starters made from cattle rumen and EM 4 on the decomposition of agricultural biomass wastes (rice straw, corncobs, and coffee husks).Method: Three types of starter i.e. starter from local cattle rumen (grass/straw feed), starter from the rumen of cattle farms (concentrate feed), EM 4 (factory product), and control (water) applied to three types of biomass waste (rice straw, corncob, and coffee husk) to observe the decomposition process using the litterbag method. An evaluation was carried out on the rate of decomposition of biomass. Parameters evaluated include decomposition rate, C and total-N content, as well as the C/N ratio.Results: The starter made from the rumen of grass-fed cows could decompose rice straw and coffee husks at an average that was not significantly different from using EM 4 starter with the speed ratio (k=-0.0852 vs. k=-0.0924) and (k=-0.0832 vs k=-0.0908) respectively. In corncobs, the decomposition speed with a starter of the rumen of cattle farms-concentrate feed was not significantly different from using EM 4 (k=-0.0916 vs. k=-0.1067). The decrease in the C/N ratio is also in line with the decomposition process and was faster with the adding of the starter.Conclusion: The starter made from the rumen of local cattle (grass feed) and from company cattle (concentrate feed) could decompose plant biomass waste (rice straw, corncobs, and coffee husks) with an average speed that was not significantly different from a starter from factories (EM 4).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Substantial quantities of livestock waste and organic pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphate, which pose environmental risks are generated from agriculture activities. A combination of paunch manure and rice straw is used as organic fertilizer. Therefore, this study confirmed sustainability of organic fertilizer from paunch manure and rice straw waste.METHODS: Data were collected through focus group discussions and the closure of questionnaires which contained 29 attributes related to environmental, economic, social, and technological dimensions. The data collected was analyzed using the Multidimensional Scaling method, Rapfish software, and Monte Carlo analysis to ascertain the level of sustainability status and leverage attributes, and examine scoring errors and variations.RESULTS: Sustainability index for organic fertilizer production was 74.55 percent. The result showed that the method contributed to the growth of sustainability in various operational phases, including the processing and commercialization of organic fertilizer. According to analysis of the four dimensions, the environmental dimension held the highest leverage value at 90.1 percent, followed by social, economical, and technological dimensions at 70.50 percent, 63.69 percent, and 73.93 percent, respectively. This study identified seven leverage attributes that are very influential to sustainability of organic fertilizer production. These include water use and raw material efficiency, potential business scale increase, market absorption, the potential for public unrest, the manager or worker level of expertise in the manufacture of organic fertilizer as well as the process used to determine its quality and output.CONCLUSION: The proposed inquiry conducted within the context of this study identified the pivotal factors that influenced organic fertilizer supply framework as the quality, quantity, and market absorption of organic production. As a result, the o use of agricultural waste as a valuable addition to a perfect social, economical, and technological development system needs to be encouraged. The study is significant because it offered information about the viability of producing organic fertilizer in Indonesia, which the government and other stakeholders may use to guide their policies and programs.

This study provides an innovation in making compost from rice straw (low quality) mixed with peanut residue (high quality) to improve the quality of rice straw compost. The purpose of this research was to discover the optimum composition of a mixture of peanut residue and straw for mineralization, absorption, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) and its effect on upland rice plants. The study was conducted in three stages. The first stage determined the quality of five compost mixtures: C1, C2, C3, C4, and C5. The second phase of testing for cumulative N minerals was performed after 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of incubation. The third stage examined the impact of the compost mixture on the growth and yield of upland rice in comparison with two treatments, namely the control and NPK fertilizer. The results showed a similarity in the forms of mineralization, where the cumulative N mineral increased with the addition of peanut residue to the compost mixture. The use of a mixture of peanut residue and rice straw compost increased net mineralization by 37.27% (C5) to 59.48% (C1), N uptake by 49.19% (C5) to 62.95% (C3), and NUE by 15.04% (C4) to 51.48% (C3). A strong relationship was detected between the quality of the compost and the forms of N in the soil, particularly the nitrate content, total N minerals, and N microbial biomass, with correlation coefficients of 0.92, 0.88, and 0.94, respectively. A strong to very strong relationship was detected between N form and N uptake (r = 0.84), plant height (r = 0.79), number of tillers (r = 0.78), yield of rice plants (r = 0.93 (plant total dry weight), and r = 0.76 (grain weight). The optimum N uptake, NUE, and yield of upland rice were shown by C3 treatment of 405.28 mg pot-1, 42.21%, and 6.19 tons ha-1, respectively.

The purpose of the current research was to evaluate the influence of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase supplementation on the chemical composition, fermentation parameters, aerobic stability, microbial count, and in vitro nutrients digestibility of silage prepared with Pennisetum giganteum and rice straw. This study consisted of four treatments: a control group with no additive supplementation (CON), a lactic acid bacteria supplementation group (LAB), a cellulase supplementation group (CEL), and a combined supplementation group (LAC). After ensiling for 60 d, the chemical composition, fermentation parameters, microbial count, and aerobic stability were determined. Additionally, ruminal fermentation characteristics were evaluated by an in vitro incubation technique. Compared with CON silage, the quality of LAB and CEL silages was enhanced to a certain degree. Combined supplementation with lactic acid bacteria and cellulase in mixed silage of Pennisetum giganteum and rice straw noticeably increased (p < 0.05) the dry matter, crude protein, and lactic acid contents, whereas it reduced (p < 0.05) the pH and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen as well as the neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber concentrations. The lactic acid bacteria count in LAC silage was higher (p < 0.05) than that of CON silage, whereas an opposite trend of yeast, aerobic bacteria, and mold was observed between the two groups. The aerobic stability time, in vitro crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber digestibility in LAC silage were significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared with those in CON silage. Moreover, the in vitro ruminal ammonia nitrogen content was reduced (p < 0.05), and the microbial protein and propionic acid concentrations were increased (p < 0.05) in silage after combined inoculation with additives. Taken together, the quality of Pennisetum giganteum and rice straw mixed silage can be improved by inoculation with lactic acid bacteria and cellulase, and combined supplementation shows the greatest improvement in silage quality.

The inherent complexity of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contributes to the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, resulting in a low conversion efficiency and high cost of bioethanol conversion. Pretreatment methods that disrupt the plant cell structure of lignocellulose, such as straw, can significantly enhance the conversion efficiency. In this study, we utilized an acid-assisted mechanocatalytic depolymerization technique to pretreat rice straw, and the results demonstrated a significant disruption of the cellulose structure of the straw. Compared to the untreated straw, the particle size of pretreated straw reduced from 279 μm to 11.8 μm, the crystallinity of cellulose decreased from 43.05% to 22.71%, the specific surface area increased by 177%, and the surface oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O/C) ratio was enhanced by 75%. The changes in microstructure enabled the pretreated straw to achieve a total sugar yield of over 95% within 12 h of enzymatic hydrolysis, significantly superior to the 36.24% yield from untreated straw, the 45.20% yield from acid impregnated straw, and the 73.25% yield from ball milled straw. Consequently, acid-assisted mechanocatalytic depolymerization emerges as a highly effective pretreatment strategy to enhance both the enzymatic hydrolysis and the overall conversion efficiency of rice straw.

Construction is one of the economic sectors with the greatest influence on climate change. In addition to working procedures, the primary carbon footprint is attributed to the choice of materials and the energy required for their manufacturing. The underlying idea of this study is to minimize the effects and offer new solutions to emerging problems in the quest for materials that can be deemed as natural, such as gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate) and rice straw (Oryza sativa). The acquisition of these materials involves a lower carbon footprint compared to the conventional materials. It is well known since ancient times that gypsum and cereal straw can be used in construction, with numerous examples still available. Cereal straw is one of the oldest construction materials, traditionally combined with earth and occasionally with certain binders, with it continuing to be employed in construction in many countries to this day. This work showcases the feasibility of producing stable prefabricated elements from straw waste with construction gypsum, addressing a significant environmental concern posed by the alternative of having to burn such materials. In this study, for the proposed bio-based material, specific tests, such as thermal conductivity, flexural and compressive strength, and fire resistance, were carried out to evaluate the principal physical and mechanical characteristics for different compositions of water, gypsum, and straw fiber samples. The results highlighted the good performance of the proposed materials in order to spread their use in the green building industry. The addition of straw fibers improved, in different ways, some important physical characteristics of these components so as to diminish environmental pollution and to obtain better material performance. The tests highlighted the different behaviors of the proposed material with respect to the different cuts of the straw and as well as the water/gypsum ratio; this is not very well understood and probably depends on the micro structure of the straw fibers. The blocks with raw straw showed a significant improvement in the breaking mechanism (1775.42 N) compared to the blocks with cut straw (712.26 N) when subjected to bending tests, and their performance in compression tests was also acceptable. Additionally, a very interesting reduction in thermal conductivity was achieved by incorporating rice straw (0.233 W/mK), and high fire exposure times were obtained, with gypsum preventing the spread of ignition in any type of fiber.

Degnala is one of the primary mycotoxicoses affecting buffaloes, with Fusarium spp. as the main causative agent. This disease is strongly associated with the feeding of rice straw to buffaloes and is considered endemic to regions where rice is cultivated. Cases are concentrated in winter when conditions favor fungal growth in inadequately stored straw. Degnala is characterized by necrosis and gangrene of the extremities, including the tail, lower limbs, ears, tongue, muzzle, and teats. The pelvic limbs are more affected than the thoracic limbs. A tortuous appearance of the tail is very common, and cracks or corneal loss of the hooves may occur, exposing the blades and even the bones. There is no diagnostic method for identifying the disease in animals other than clinical and epidemiological criteria, combined with fungal culture samples. There is no treatment that neutralizes the effects of the toxins; the current treatment is palliative and supportive, consisting of pentasulfate solution, anti-Degnala liquid, 2% nitroglycerin ointment, and broad-spectrum antibiotics for secondary infections. Additionally, the management of drying and proper storage of straw is essential for controlling this disease.

Pretreatment was an inevitable process in the biorefinery process of lignocellulosic biomass utilization. Generally, biomass was considered an essential carbon source that could be converted into several bio-based products such as biofuels and biochemicals. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of combined hydrochemo-mechanical pretreatment of rice straw for bioethanol production. Rice straw was pretreated with autoclave followed by ball-milling pretreatment. The hydrochemical pretreatment was performed in an autoclave with different concentrations of NaOH (1 and 10%) at 121 °C for two different durations (30, 60 min). The pretreated biomasses were then subjected to ball-milling pretreatment for size reduction and subsequently hydrolyzed via enzymatic and bioethanol fermentation. The obtained results indicated that the highest reducing sugars were 0.4513 kg reducing sugar/kg biomass obtained by 1% of NaOH at 121 °C, 30 min, which provided the highest energy efficiency and the lowest waste generation was 0.1423 kg reducing sugar/kWh and 0.2570 kg of waste/kg reducing sugar respectively. Moreover, the highest bioethanol yield was 0.0491 kg/kg biomass obtained from a similar condition. Additionally, the combined pretreatment suggested that it could be an alternative pretreatment for a lignocellulosic biorefinery in industrial applications.

The quantity of straw and rice husk waste remains a crucial problem to be solved, especially in Maggenrang Village, Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, so an alternative way for farmers to reduce it is through the combustion process that will add the problem of the impact of temporary air pollution but is harmful to the health of other residents. Therefore, community service is carried out to provide innovative solutions to the Eccengnge’ Farmer Group in Maggenrang Village by transforming rice straw and husk through the delignification process, which is continued by making animal feed pellets. The method of implementing this activity is carried out with three main stages: counseling, training, and mentoring to partners. The results showed an increase in partners' skills with three evaluation components, namely knowledge with a rise of 90% and production and supporting skills with an increase of 90% and 80%. Increasing skills for partners provides potential business opportunities by adding value to straw and rice husk waste into products with high commercial value, thus supporting the fulfillment of alternative, independent feed by the Maggenrang Village government based on local potential.

ObjectiveVarious type of agricultural waste is produced annually in the world, which have not found special application in many parts of the world. Using microorganisms with high hydrolysis activity to convert waste into compost is one of the alternative methods of incineration. In the present study, after screening the enzymatic activity of Thermoascus aurantiacus, Trichoderma sp, Bacillus licheniformis, Nocardiopsis alba and B. subtilis bacteria along with the optimization of other additives, the possibility of compost production from rice straw was investigated.Materials and MethodsOne fungal and three bacterial strains were isolated from another compost and their hydrolysis power were evaluated on specific media. Compost production was performed by optimizing the additives along with the superior microorganisms including M1 (Bacillus licheniformis, Nocardiopsis alba, B. Subtilis and Thermoascus aurantiacus) and M2 (Bacillus licheniformis, Nocardiopsis alba, B. subtilis and Trichoderma sp.) in enzymatic activity in the form of 6 treatments with 3 replications for 8 weeks. Physicochemical properties of temperature, pH, EC, C/N ratio, amount of heavy metals and nutrients, toxicity and impact on wheat growth during eight weeks were investigated.ResultsStudies showed that fungal strain T. aurantiacus and three bacterial strains Bacillus licheniformis, Nocardiopsis alba and B. subtilis has the highest enzymatic activity in the breakdown of xylan, cellulose, lignin and starch. Treatment G (containing poultry manure and T. aurantiacus) caused a significant increase in temperature of rice straw mass (63 °C) and also a significant decrease in C/N ratio (73.48%) (at the pilot level). Germination index test showed that G treatment did not have phytotoxicity and had the most positive effect on wheat growth indexes compared to the control.ConclusionsAccording to the comparison of treatments with and without microorganisms, it was found that the hydrolysis power of T. aurantiacus has the most positive effect on physicochemical properties, especially reducing the C/N ratio and can be used as a commercial additive in compost production.

Microbial cellulases are highly versatile catalysts with significant potential in various industries, including pulp and paper, textile manufacturing, laundry, biofuel production, food and animal feed, brewing, and agriculture. Cellulases have attracted considerable attention from the scientific community owing to their broad industrial applications and the complex nature of enzymatic systems. In the present study, a novel fungal isolate of Aspergillus sp. IN5 was used to produce cellulases. We optimized each parameter, including carbon source, incubation temperature, pH, and incubation time, for maximum cellulase production using isolate IN5 under solid-state fermentation conditions. The optimized parameters for cellulase production by isolate IN5 under solid-state fermentation were as follows: substrate, soybean residue; incubation temperature, 35 °C; pH, 7.0; and incubation duration, 5 days. These conditions resulted in the highest total cellulase activity (0.26 U/g substrate), and carboxymethyl cellulase and β-glucosidase activities of 3.32 and 196.09 U/g substrate, respectively. The obtained fungal cellulase was used for the enzymatic hydrolysis of acid- or alkali-pretreated rice straw, which served as a model substrate. Notably, compared with acid pretreatment, the pretreatment of rice straw with diluted alkali led to higher yields of reducing sugars. Maximum reducing sugar yield (286.06 ± 2.77 mg/g substrate) was obtained after 24-h incubation of diluted alkali-pretreated rice straw mixed with an enzyme loading of 15 U/g substrate. The findings of this study provide an alternative strategy for utilizing agricultural waste and an approach to efficiently produce cellulase for the degradation of lignocellulosic materials, with promising benefits for sustainable waste management.

The production of particleboards from various kinds of ligno cellulosic materials are successful on commercial scale in various parts of the country. However, much success is not seen in use of crop residues for particleboards. Rice straw and wheat straw are one such materials that are abundantly available in India that can be used to produce particleboard. The present work investigated the effect of Rice straw particles and wood fibers combination on physical and mechanical properties of the composite board. The pulverized rice straw composite boards were produced with three different composition of rice straw material (100 %, 70 %, 50 %) and wood Fibers (0 %, 30 %, 50 %). Melamine Urea Formaldehyde (MUF), Phenol Cardanol Formaldehyde (PCF), Blocked Isocyanate resin combined with PCF (BPCF), Blocked Isocyanate combined with Urea Melamine Formaldehyde (BUMF) and Blocked Isocyanate combined with PF (BPF) resins were synthesized. The resin system (10%,12%,14%) with requisite additive was admixed with rice straw and wood fibers. According to the resin system employed, the hot press temperature, specific pressure and curing time were worked out for compression of the boards. The boards were produced with 780 - 850 kg/m3 nominal density and prior to testing, the test specimens were exposed to an atmosphere maintained at a relative humidity of 65 ± 5 percent and at a temperature of 27 ± 2 °C until their masses are nearly constant. The boards made were subjected for evaluation of physical and mechanical properties according to IS 3087. It was found that the Rice Straw particles with Wood Fibers of 50-50 combination bonded with PCF and also with MUF adhesive of 12 % resin solids confirms to the requirement of physical and mechanical properties as per IS 3087 particleboards of wood and other lignocellulosic materials (medium density) for general purposes Specification. Comparison with resin for hybrid boards of rice straw particles with wood fiber, BPCF has shown excellent properties than BPF and BUMF. The study indicated that increasing the percentage replacement of wood fibers with rice straw particles by more than 50 % decreased the internal bond strength. It can be concluded that rice straw pulverized particleboard can be successfully made with the combination of 30 % - 50 % wood fibers using PCF resin or BPCF resin.

Abstract Background Currently, broad industrial application of laccases is commonly restricted by the high-cost related production. Solid state fermentation (SSF) using agricultural waste is an attractively economic strategy for laccase production, yet its efficiency is low. Pretreatment of cellulosic substrate might be a vital breakpoint to solve the problem in solid state fermentation (SSF). In this study, sodium hydroxide pretreatment was involved to prepare solid substrates from rice straw. Fermentability of solid substrates in terms of carbon resource supply, accessibility and water retention value, and their influence on performance of SSF were analyzed. Results The results showed that sodium hydroxide pretreatment provided desirable solid substrates with higher enzymatic digestibility and optimal water retention value, which further facilitated the homogeneity of mycelium growth, laccase distribution and nutrition utilization during SSF. The pretreated rice straw (1 h) with diameter less than 0.085 cm gave the maximum laccase production of 2912.34 U/g, which was 7.72 times higher than the control. Conclusion Hence, we proposed that enough balance between nutrition accessibility and structure support was a must for rational design and preparation of solid substrate. Additionally, sodium hydroxide pretreatment of lignocellulosic waste might be an ideal step to enhance the efficiency and lower the production cost in SSF.

The objective of the current study was to examine the impacts of rice straw and garbage enzyme generated from local vegetable and fruit waste on plant growth and carbohydrate or ammonium extraction from paddy soil after one month of growth in a pot experiment. Samples of topsoil were obtained from a depth of 0-15 cm, and the following treatments were applied: control (10 g soil), RS (adding 30 g soil + 0.6 g rice straw), GE (30 g soil + garbage enzyme), and combination (adding 30 g soil+ rice straw and garbage enzyme) maintained at room temperature. The study findings indicated that there were no observable impacts of rice straw and garbage enzyme application on biomass. However, RS addition seems to reduce root length but enhance shoot length. Soil carbohydrates that were extracted ranged from 61 to 207 mg kg−1 soil, and treatments with rice straw addition exhibited significantly higher levels compared to those without it (p < 0.05). The ammonium content was low. It could be concluded that at the initial seedling stage, rice straw has more effects on soil properties and plant growth than garbage enzyme. To fully assess the effects of rice straw and garbage enzyme on soil properties and plant growth, it is recommended that further research be conducted over longer periods

Thermal properties of composites fabricated with coalescence of two low thermal conducting materials, rice straw and natural latex were investigated. Composites constituting various weight content of oven-dried blended rice straw mixed with a constant volume of natural latex were fabricated with a surface area of 31 cm2 and their thermal properties were compared by pressurizing under a force of 5 tons. Hot Disk Thermal Constants Analyzer Transient Plane Source (TPS) 500S was used to measure the thermal properties such as thermal conductivity, volumetric specific heat capacity, and thermal diffusivity of the aforementioned composites. The lowest thermal conductivity was achieved for both the unpressurized and pressurized composites with 25% of the rice straw’s weight content, which was recorded as 0.0636 and 0.1526 Wm-1K-1 respectively. High Specific heat capacity and less thermal diffusivity were also seen in the pressurized samples with 25% of rice straw, whereas this behaviour was the opposite in the unpressurized sample. The effect of the applied pressure on the thermal properties of the composite is also studied and it was observed that the thermal conductivity increases up to 8 tons on 31 cm2 in the composite with increasing pressure and then decreases while it continues to increase in the sample made of rice straw alone. Since high specific heat and low thermal diffusivity are the desired features of a thermally insulating material other than the low thermal conductivity, this economical and eco-friendly composite pressurized up to a certain limit could be used by further processing with preservatives toward efficient energy management as a good material for thermal insulation of building applications.

The Bi2O3/Bi2SiO5 heterostructures were obtained with various samples of silica as a precursor: on the basis of biogenic silica isolated from rice husk and rice straw and the silica of mineral origin. A mixture of Bi(NO3)3 and SiO2 with a mass content of 15% was used for synthesizing all the samples. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray phase, X-ray fluorescence, and ultraviolet-visible diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS) were used to systematically characterize as-obtained materials. Photodegradation of methyl orange in neutral aqueous solutions (pH = 6.8) under UV irradiation was studied to evaluate their photocatalytic activities. Morphology, bandgaps, the value of the zero charge point, and photocatalytic activity of the samples depended on the characteristics of the original silica. The degree of methyl orange degradation reached the maximum values (81%−85%) for samples based on precipitated silica from rice husks, straw, and the minimum value (16%) for a composite with thermal silica from rice straw. Composites based on thermal silica from rice husks and reagents from mineral raw materials did not statistically differ from each other in the degree of methyl orange degradation (67%−74%).

The co-utilization of green manure (GM) and rice straw (RS) in paddy fields has been widely applied as an effective practice in southern China. However, its effects on soil aggregate and soil organic carbon (SOC) stability remain unclear. In the present study, the effect of GM, RS, and co-utilization of GM and RS on particle size distribution of soil aggregates and SOC density fractions were measured in a field experiment. The experiment included six treatments, i.e., winter fallow (WF) without RS return (Ctrl), WF with 50% RS return (1/2RS), WF with 100% RS return (RS), GM without RS return (GM), GM with 50% RS return (GM1/2RS) and GM with 100% RS return (GMRS). The results showed that the proportion of small macro-aggregates (0.25–2 mm) and the mean weight diameter (MWD) of aggregates in the GMRS treatment was greater (by 18.9 and 3.41%, respectively) than in the RS treatment, while the proportion of silt+clay particles (