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Hybrid bio-thermochemical based technologies have the potential to ensure greater feedstock flexibility for the production of bioenergy and bioproducts. This study focused on the bioconversion of syngas produced from low grade technical lignin to C2-/C4-carboxylic acids by Butyribacterium methylotrophicum. The effects of pH, medium supplementation and the use of crude syngas were analyzed. At pH 6.0, B. methylotrophicum consumed CO, CO2 and H2 simultaneously up to 87 mol% of carbon fixation, and the supplementation of the medium with acetate increased the production of butyrate by 6.3 times. In long-term bioreactor experiments, B. methylotrophicum produced 38.3 and 51.1 mM acetic acid and 0.7 and 2.0 mM butyric acid from synthetic and lignin syngas, respectively. Carbon fixation reached 83 and 88 mol%, respectively. The lignin syngas conversion rate decreased from 13.3 to 0.9 NmL/h throughout the assay. The appearance of a grayish pellet and cell aggregates after approximately 220 h was indicative of tar deposition. Nevertheless, the stressed cells remained metabolically active and maintained acetate and butyrate production from lignin syngas. The challenge that impurities represent in the bioconversion of crude syngas has a direct impact on syngas cleaning requirements and operation costs, supporting the pursuit for more robust and versatile acetogens.

Eugenol in water nanoemulsions loaded with tebuconazole appear as a very promising alternative formulations for wood protection against xylophagous fungi that are the main species responsible for different rots in wood structures. The dispersions as prepared and upon dilution (impregnation mixtures) were characterized by the apparent hydrodynamic diameter distribution of the oil droplets loaded with tebuconazole and their long-term stability. The impregnation mixtures were applied on wood of Populus canadensis I-214 clone by using a pressure-vacuum system, and the effectiveness against fungal degradation by Gloeophyllum sepiarium and Pycnoporus sanguineus fungi was determined. The retention of tebuconazole in wood was about 40% of the amount contained in the impregnation mixtures. The results showed that the impregnation process leads to a long-term antifungal protection to the wood, with the mass loss after 16 weeks being reduced more than 10 times in relation to the control (untreated poplar wood) and the reference wood (untreated beech wood)., Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Vegetal, Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Madera

International audience; The development of efficient bioprocesses requires inexpensive and renewable substrates. Molasses, a by-product of the sugar industry, contains mostly sucrose, a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, both easily absorbed by microorganisms. Yarrowia lipolytica, a platform for the production of various chemicals, can be engineered for sucrose utilization by heterologous invertase expression, yet the problem of preferential use of glucose over fructose remains, as fructose consumption begins only after glucose depletion what significantly extends the bioprocesses. We investigated the role of hexose transporters and hexokinase (native and fructophilic) in this preference. Analysis of growth profiles and kinetics of monosaccharide utilization has proven that the glucose preference in Y. lipolytica depends primarily on the affinity of native hexokinase for glucose. Interestingly, combined overexpression of either hexokinase with hexose transporters significantly accelerated citric acid biosynthesis and enhanced pentose phosphate pathway leading to secretion of polyols (31.5 g/L vs. no polyols in the control strain). So far, polyol biosynthesis was efficient in glycerol-containing media. Moreover, overexpression of fructophilic hexokinase in combination with hexose transporters not only shortened this process to 48 h (84 h for the medium with glycerol) but also allowed to obtain 23% more polyols (40 g/L) compared to the glycerol medium (32.5 g/L).

Microalgal biotechnology is gaining importance. However, key issues in the pipeline from species selection towards large biomass production still require improvements to maximize the yield and lower the microalgal production costs. This study explores a co-cultivation strategy to improve the bioactive compounds richness of the harvested microalgal biomass. Based on their biotechnological potential, two diatoms (Skeletonema marinoi, Cyclotella cryptica) and one eustigmatophyte (Nannochloropsis oceanica) were grown alone or in combination. Concentrations of ten vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D2, D3, E and H), carotenoids and polyphenols, together with total flavonoids, sterols, lipids, proteins and carbohydrates, were compared. Moreover, antioxidant capacity and chemopreventive potential in terms inhibiting four human tumor-derived and normal cell lines proliferation were evaluated. Co-cultivation can engender biomass with emergent properties regarding bioactivity or bioactive chemical profile, depending on the combined species. The high vitamin content of C. cryptica or N. oceanica further enhanced (until 10% more) when co-cultivated, explaining the two-fold increase of the antioxidant capacity of the combined C. cryptica and N. oceanica biomass. Differently, the chemopreventive activity was valuably enhanced when coupling the two diatoms C. cryptica and S. marinoi. The results obtained in this pilot study promote microalgal co-cultivation as a valuable strategy aiming to boost their application in eco-sustainable biotechnology.

Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose-containing raw materials, using Aspergillus niger, were studied. Filter paper, secondary cellulose-containing or starch-containing raw materials, miscanthus cellulose after alkaline or acid pretreatment, and wood chip cellulose, were used as substrates. The study focused on a wild A. niger strain, treated, or not (control), by ultraviolet (UV) irradiations for 45, 60, or 120 min (UV45, UV60, or UV120), or by UV irradiation for 120 min followed by a chemical treatment with NaN3 + ItBr for 30 min or 80 min (UV120 + CH30 or UV120 + CH80). A mixture of all the A. niger strains (MIX) was also tested. A citrate buffer, at 50 mM, wasthe most suitable for enzymatic hydrolysis. As the UV exposure time increased to 2 h, the cellulase activity of the surviving culturewas increased (r = 0.706, p &lt, 0.05). The enzymatic activities of the obtained strains, towards miscanthus cellulose, wood chips, and filter paper, were inferior to those obtained with commercial enzymes (8.6 versus 9.1 IU), in some cases. Under stationary hydrolysis at 37 °C, pH = 4.7, the enzymatic activity of A. niger UV120 + CH30 was 24.9 IU. The enzymatic hydrolysis of secondary raw materials, using treated A. niger strains, was themost effective at 37 °C. Similarly, the most effective treatment of miscanthus cellulose and wood chips occurred at 50 °C. The maximum conversion of cellulose to glucose was observed using miscanthus cellulose (with alkaline pretreatment), and the minimum conversion was observed when using wood chips. The greatest value of cellulase activity was evidenced in the starch-containing raw materials, indicating that A. niger can ferment not only through cellulase activity, but also via an amylolytic one.

With the aim of utilizing wood as a carbon cycle-oriented material, the improvement of hydrophobicity has been actively studied to solve manufacturing problems, such as dimensional stability and biodeterioration resistance. The introduction of benzyl group is a promising chemical modification for hydrophobizing wood. However, conventional benzylation methods are not suitable for industrial applications because they require high temperature and long reaction times. In this study, a novel method was developed for quickly benzylating the surface of block-shaped wood using an aqueous solution of tetra-n-butylphosphonium hydroxide as a pretreatment solvent and no heat. The color and shape of the benzylated wood was almost unchanged from that before the treatment. Analysis of the resulting chemical structure suggested that the developed method causes less damage to carbohydrates compared with the conventional method, which involves heating and stirring. The proposed method successfully imparted hydrophobicity and thermoplasticity to the benzylated wood surface. Furthermore, hydrophobicity of the benzylated wood was further improved by a simple heat treatment for only approximately 5 min. The water contact angle became ≥110° and remained almost unchanged even after 1 min after water dropping.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the temperature (15 or 45 °C) and the duration (15–120 min) of the modification process on the selected physicochemical, thermal, and rheological properties of phosphorylated potato starch. The modified starches contained 93.6–98.2 mg P/100 g (dry weight basis, d.w.b.). Phosphorylation caused color changes with a total color difference between the starches below 0.55, but these changes were less than those that were recognizable by the human eye. The thermal analysis showed two opposite processes appearing during the modification: the loosening of the structure (dominant among starches obtained at 15 °C) and the strengthening of the structure (dominant among starches obtained at 45 °C). The higher phosphorylation temperature reduced native starch recovery from 140% to 87–116% and increased the hysteresis loop area from −169 to 1040. All of the pastes made from the modified starches showed a weaker tendency for retrogradation (during 21 days of storage) than native starches. The results of the regression analysis conducted between the properties of the starch pastes obtained at 45 °C indicated that the modification time appeared to be a better indicator of the rate of modification progress than the phosphorus content. The PCA (principal component analysis) results made it possible to distinguish starch phosphates obtained at 15 °C from those obtained at 45 °C and those from natural starch.

The anaerobic fermentation of glucose and fructose was performed by Actinobacillus succinogenes 130Z in batch mode using three different volume of bioreactors (0.25, 1 and 3 L). The strategy used was the addition of MgCO3 and fumaric acid (FA) as mineral carbon and the precursor of succinic acid, respectively, in the culture media. Kinetics and yields of succinic acid (SA) production in the presence of sugars in a relevant synthetic medium were investigated. Work on the bench scale (3 L) showed the best results when compared to the small anaerobic reactor’s succinic acid yield and productivity after 96 h of fermentation. For an equal mixture of glucose and fructose used as substrate at 0.4 mol L−1 with the addition of FA as enhancer and under proven optimal conditions (pH 6.8, T = 37 °C, anaerobic condition and 1% v/v of biomass), about 0.5 mol L−1 of SA was obtained, while the theoretical production of succinic acid was 0.74 mol L−1. This concentration corresponded to an experimental yield of 0.88 (mol-C SA/mol-C sugars consumed anaerobically) and a volumetric productivity of 0.48 g-SA L−1 h−1. The succinic acid yield and concentration obtained were significant and in the order of those reported in the literature.

In this research, the mathematical model associated with the hydrothermal dehydration process of Nixtamalized Corn Grains (NCG) with different Steeping Time (ST) values, allows the fitting of experimental data with initial moisture M0 and the equilibrium moisture ME as a function of Isothermal Dehydration Time (IDT). The moisture percentage for any time t and dehydration rate (isolines M(t) and isolines vI respectively) of the NCG is shown by means of matrix graphics as a simultaneous function of IDT and ST. The relationship between initial dehydration rate v0 and initial moisture M0 establishes as a function of ST. Also, the mathematical model associated with the solution of the second Fick’s law allows calculating the diffusivity rate vk (H2O molecules out of NCG) and verify that the rate of change in moisture and the dynamical proportionality constant k has a non-linear dependence on the IDT and that k is directly proportional to Deff. The k values strongly relate to ST and the calcium ions percentage into NCG according to solubility lime values into cooking water (or nejayote) as a function of decreasing temperature when ST increases.

Two novel esterase genes, est8L and est13L, were isolated and identified from a compost metagenomic library. The encoded Est8L and Est13L had molecular masses of 33,181 and 44,913 Da consisting of 314 and 411 amino acids, respectively, without signal peptides. Est8L showed the highest identity (32.9%) to a hyper-thermophilic carboxylesterase AFEST from Archaeoglobus&nbsp, fulgidus compared to other esterases reported and was classified to be a novel member of family IV esterases with conserved regions such as HGGG, DY, GXSXG, DPL, and GXIH. Est13L showed the highest identity (98.5%) to the family VIII esterase Est7K from the metagenome library. Est8L and Est13L had the highest activities for p-nitrophenyl butyrate (C4) and p-nitrophenyl caproate (C6), respectively, and Est13L showed a broad substrate specificity for p-nitrophenyl substrates. Est8L and Est13L effectively hydrolyzed glyceryl tributyrate. The optimum temperatures for activities of Est8L and Est13L were identical (40 °C), and the optimum pH values were 9.0 and 10.0, respectively. Est13L showed higher thermostability than Est8L. Sephacryl S-200 HR chromatography showed that the native form of Est8L was a dimer. Interestingly, Est13L was found to be a tetramer, contrary to other family VIII esterases reported. Est8L was inhibited by 30% isopropanol, methanol, and acetonitrile, however, Est13L was activated to 182.9% and 356.1%, respectively, by 30% isopropanol and methanol. Est8L showed enantioselectivity for the S-form, but Est13L showed no enantioselectivity. These results show that intracellular Est8L and/or Est13L are oligomeric in terms of native forms and can be used for pharmaceutical and industrial applications with organic solvents under alkaline conditions.

Recently, fruit-drying industries are showing great interest in producing dry fruits that preserve a high enzyme content. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of hot-air convective drying on activity retention of amylase and invertase in dried mango of varieties Sindri, Samar Bahisht (SB) Chaunsa, and Tommy Atkins. Convection drying was conducted under over-flow mode at five temperatures (40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C), two air velocities (1.0 and 1.4 m s−1), and constant specific humidity of 10 g kg−1 dry air. The enzymatic degradation data were fitted to the first-order reaction kinetics model, in which the temperature dependence of the rate constant is modelled by the Arrhenius-type relationship. Results showed that the maximum amylase and invertase activity for dried mango of all three varieties was best preserved in samples dried at a temperature of 80 °C and an air velocity of 1.4 m s−1. In contrast, a lower drying temperature and an air velocity of 1.0 m s−1 contributed to a significant decrease (p < 0.05). Exploration of different temperatures and air velocities to save amylase and invertase in dried mango is useful from an industrial point of view, as mango can be a natural dietary source of digestive enzymes to improve digestion.

The paper presents changes in color and selected physico-chemical properties of alder (Alnus glutinosa) wood during the process of thermal treatment of the wood with a saturated steam-air mixture or saturated water steam in the temperature range t = 95–125 °C for τ = 3 to 12 h. During the process of thermal treatment of alder wood, the original light white-gray color changes depending on the temperature and time of modification to soft reddish-brown to dark brown color shades. Color changes of alder wood expressed in the form of the total color difference are in the range of values ∆E* = 2.7–31.7. Measurements of the density of thermally treated alder wood in the dry state indicate that due to the thermal treatment of alder wood, the density decreases by ρ ≤ 4.6% compared to the average density of native alder wood. Due to the hydrolysis of hemicelluloses, in the process of thermal treatment of wet alder wood, its acidity changes in the range of values: pH = 4.9 to 3.1. Analyzes of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy indicate changes in alder wood extractants and hemicellulose degradation. A decrease in unconjugated and an increase in conjugated carbonyls was observed at all temperatures of thermal modification of alder wood. Measurements indicate changes in the lignin of alder wood and the fact that as the temperature increases, the formation of new carbonyls increases, which is reflected in the change of the chromophoric system.

Low-cost wood–plastic composites (WPCs) were developed from invasive trees and recycled low-density polyethylene. The aim was to produce affordable building materials for low-cost social housing in South Africa. Both raw materials are regarded as waste materials, and the subsequent product development adds value to the resources, while simultaneously reducing the waste stream. The production costs were minimised by utilising the entire biomass of Acacia saligna salvaged from clearing operations without any prior processing, and low-grade recycled low-density polyethylene to make WPCs without any additives. Different biomass/plastic ratios, particle sizes, and press settings were evaluated to determine the optimum processing parameters to obtain WPCs with adequate properties. The water absorption, dimensional stability, modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, and tensile moduli were improved at longer press times and higher temperatures for all blending ratios. This has been attributed to the crystallisation of the lignocellulose and thermally induced cross-linking in the polyethylene. An increased biomass ratio and particle size were positively correlated with water absorption and thickness swelling and inversely related with MOR, tensile strength, and density due to an incomplete encapsulation of the biomass by the plastic matrix. This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilising low-grade recycled polyethylene and the whole-tree biomass of A. saligna, without the need for pre-processing and the addition of expensive modifiers, to produce WPCs with properties that satisfy the minimum requirements for interior cladding or ceiling material.

The microalga Chlorella and strains of Bifidobacterium have been used in human or animal food supplements for decades because of their positive health effects. The presented study assessed different properties of C. vulgaris and its combination with bifidobacteria with the aim to develop new functional foods. The growth of four bifidobacteria strains in milk and whey supplemented with 1.0% (w/v) C. vulgaris and the immunomodulatory effects of aqueous Chlorella solutions (0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.0%) on human peripheral mononuclear cells were evaluated. Furthermore, synergistic effects on lipid metabolism of rats fed a high-fat diet with Chlorella and B. animalis subsp. lactis BB-12® were analysed. Chlorella had a positive growth-promoting effect on the tested bifidobacteria (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, and interleukin-6), depending on the concentration of Chlorella (p < 0.05). After 8 weeks, significant synergistic effects of Chlorella and bifidobacteria on triglyceride levels in rat heart, liver, and serum were observed (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that various combinations of Chlorella and bifidobacteria have significant potential for the development of new fermented products, dependent on the algal species, probiotic strain, application form, and concentrations for acceptable sensory quality for consumers.

The selection of yeast strains adapted to fermentation stresses in their winegrowing area is a key factor to produce quality wines. Twelve non-Saccharomyces native strains from Denomination of Origin (D.O.) “Vinos de Madrid” (Spain), a warm climate winegrowing region, were tested under osmotic pressure, ethanol, and acidic pH stresses. In addition, mixed combinations between non-Saccharomyces and a native Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain were practised. Phenotypic microarray technology has been employed to study the metabolic output of yeasts under the different stress situations. The yeast strains, Lachancea fermentati, Lachancea thermotolerans, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe showed the best adaptation to three stress conditions examined. The use of mixed cultures improved the tolerance to osmotic pressure by Torulaspora delbrueckii, S. pombe, and Zygosaccharomyces bailii strains and to high ethanol content by Candida stellata, S. pombe, and Z. bailii strains regarding the control. In general, the good adaptation of the native non-Saccharomyces strains to fermentative stress conditions makes them great candidates for wine elaboration in warm climate areas.

Centro de Investigación Forestal (CIFOR), Motivated by the negative impact of fossil fuel consumption on the environment, the need arises to produce materials and energy from renewable sources. Cellulose, the main biopolymer on Earth, plays a key role in this context, serving as a platform for the development of biofuels, chemicals and novel materials. Among the latter, micro-and nanocellulose have been receiving increasing attention in the last few years. Their many attractive properties, i.e., thermal stability, high mechanical resistance, barrier properties, lightweight, optical transparency and ease of chemical modification, allow their use in a wide range of applications, such as Paper or polymer reinforcement, Packag-ing, construction, membranes, bioplastics, bioengineering, optics and electronics. In view of the increasing demand for traditional wood pulp (e.g., obtained from eucalypt, birch, pine, spruce) for micro/nanocellulose production, dedicated crops and agricultural residues can be interesting as raw materials for this purpose. This work aims at achieving microfibrillated cellulose production from fast-growing poplar and olive tree pruning using physical pretreatment (PFI refining) before the microfibrillation stage. Both raw materials yielded microfibrillated cellulose with similar properties to that obtained from a commercial industrial eucalypt pulp, producing films with high mechanical properties and low wettability. According to these properties, different applications for cellulose microfibers suspensions and films are discussed., This research was funded by Comunidad de Madrid and MCIU/AEI/FEDER, EU via Projects SUSTEC-CM S2018/EMT-4348 and RTI2018-096080-B-C22, respectively. B.W. acknowledges financial support from MINECO (Spain) and FEDER (EU) (project MAT2015-71117-R) and from MICINN (Spain) for a JIN contract (PID2019-107022RJ-I00).

A Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) gene was efficiently expressed by the optimization of codons and intron addition in G. lucidum. Expression of the VHb gene was confirmed by genome PCR, quantitative real-time PCR and carbon monoxide (CO)-difference spectrum analysis in the transformant. The effects of the efficient expression of VHb gene on production, monosaccharide compostion, and antioxidant activity of G. lucidum exopolysaccharides were studied. The maximum production of exopolysaccharides in the VHb gene-bearing transformant was 1.63 g/L, which was 1.5-fold higher than expression in the wild-type strain. Efficient expression of the VHb gene did not change the monosaccharide composition or distribution of molecular weight, but it increased the mole percentage ratio of galactose and mannose in G. lucidum exopolysaccharide. Exopolysaccharides from the transformant had higher scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl (OH) radical capacity and reducing power than those from the wild-type strain. These results may be helpful for increasing production and application of exopolysaccharides produced by G. lucidum fermentation.

The mashing step underpins the brewing process, during which the endogenous amylolytic enzymes in the malt, chiefly β-amylase, α-amylase, and limit dextrinase, act concurrently to rapidly hydrolyze malt starch to fermentable sugars. With barley malts, the mashing step is relatively straightforward, due in part to malted barley’s high enzyme activity, enzyme thermostabilities, and gelatinization properties. However, barley beers also contain gluten and individuals with celiac disease or other gluten intolerances should avoid consuming these beers. Producing gluten-free beer from gluten-free malts is difficult, generally because gluten-free malts have lower enzyme activities. Strategies to produce gluten-free beers commonly rely on exogenous enzymes to perform the hydrolysis. In this study, it was determined that the pH optima of the enzymes from gluten-free malts correspond to regions already typically targeted for barley mashes, but that a lower mashing temperature was required as the enzymes exhibited low thermostability at common mashing temperatures. The ExGM decoction mashing procedure was developed to retain enzyme activity, but ensure starch gelatinization, and demonstrates a modified brewing procedure using gluten-free malts, or a combination of malts with sub-optimal enzyme profiles, that produces high fermentable sugar concentrations. This study demonstrates that gluten-free malts can produce high fermentable sugar concentrations without requiring enzyme supplementation.

Plants contain a number of bioactive compounds that exhibit antimicrobial activity, which can be recognized as an important source of agrochemicals for plant disease control. In searching for natural alternatives to synthetic fungicides, we found that a methanol extract of the plant species Platycladus orientalis suppressed the disease development of rice blast caused by Magnaporthe oryzae. Through a series of chromatography procedures in combination with activity-guided fractionation, we isolated and identified a total of eleven compounds including four labdane-type diterpenes (1–4), six isopimarane-type diterpenes (5–10), and one sesquiterpene (11). Of the identified compounds, the MIC values of compounds 1, 2, 5 &amp, 6 mixture, 9, and 11 ranged from 100 to 200 μg/mL against M. oryzae, whereas the other compounds were over 200 μg/mL. When rice plants were treated with the antifungal compounds, compounds 1, 2, and 9 effectively suppressed the development of rice blast at all concentrations tested by over 75% compared to the non-treatment control. In addition, a mixture of compounds 5 &amp, 6 that constituted 66% of the P. orientalis ethyl acetate fraction also exhibited a moderate disease control efficacy. Together, our data suggest that the methanol extract of P. orientalis including terpenoid compounds has potential as a crop protection agent.

Fresh common beans can be made 'instant' to produce fast-cooking beans by first soaking and cooking the beans before drying to create a shelf-stable product that can be rehydrated at the time of use. This study investigated the interplay between the drying process (air, vacuum and freeze drying), the microstructure and functional attributes of rehydrated pre-cooked beans. The microscopic study revealed that the three different drying techniques resulted in distinctly different microstructures, with the freeze drying process resulting in highly porous materials, while the air- and vacuum-dried samples underwent shrinkage. Additionally, the rehydration behavior (modeled using empirical and diffusion models) demonstrates that the high rehydration rate of freeze-dried beans is due to capillarity, while rehydration, in the case of air- and vacuum-dried beans, is primarily diffusion-controlled. Irrespective of the drying technique, the high rehydration capacity supports little to no structural collapse or damage to the cell walls. The color and texture of the rehydrated beans did not differ greatly from those of freshly cooked beans. The total peak area of the volatiles of rehydrated beans was significantly reduced by the drying process, but volatiles characteristic of the cooked bean aroma were retained. This new understanding is beneficial in tailoring the functional properties of pre-cooked dry convenient beans requiring short preparation times. ispartof: FOODS vol:10 issue:7 ispartof: location:Switzerland status: published

Wood dust generated during woodworking—particularly from hardwood species during sanding—poses a health and safety hazard to workers in the wood industry. This study aimed to determine the particle-size distribution of selected hardwood species and the content of fine particles in dust created during machine sanding, which pose the highest health and safety hazards in the woodworking industry. Six hardwood species were studied: black alder, European ash, common walnut, pedunculate oak, hornbeam, and European beech. The sieve analysis method was used to determine the particle-size distribution and article mean arithmetic particle diameter, and laser diffraction analysis was used to determine the finest particle content. Two size ranges were assumed: &lt, 2.5 μm and &lt, 10 μm. Beech dust had the smallest mean particle diameter. Dust from wood species used in the test had similar contents of fine fractions of particles. The average content of particles smaller than 2.5 µm in wood dust from the tested hardwood species did not exceed 1.9%. In terms of occupational exposure to wood dust, machine sanding conditions of hardwoods should be properly adjusted to limit the formation of large amounts of dust.

This paper discusses the physicochemical properties of powders obtained by spray drying of cloudy beetroot juice, using dehumidified air in variants with or without carriers. The inlet air temperature was 130 °C or 90 °C, and the addition of the carriers was at a ratio of juice to carrier solids of 3:2. In the obtained powders, the following physicochemical properties were determined: water content and water activity, apparent density, loose and tapped density, porosity, flowability, particle size and morphology, and the content and retention of betalains. It was possible to dry cloudy beetroot juice without the use of carriers at low temperatures (90 or 130 °C). The 100% beetroot powders were characterized by satisfactory physicochemical properties, often better than those with carriers (including lower hygroscopicity and higher color saturation and yield). A lower loss of betalains was found for the powders with the addition of carriers. The best process yields were obtained for the powder without carriers at 130 °C and 90 °C.

Bored coffee beans (BCBs) are the residues left from the pest Hypothenemus hampei that attacks coffee crops, resulting in enormous economic losses. The bioconversion of monosaccharides from BCBs into hyaluronic acid (HA) is appealing both for using the residues and given the high commercial value of HA. This study dealt with the production of HA using Streptococcus zooepidemicus by employing either acid (AcH) or enzymatic (EnH) hydrolyzates from BCBs. The highest release of monosaccharides (evaluated using surface response methodology) was obtained with EnH (36.4 g/L); however, S. zooepidemicus produced more HA (1.5 g/L) using AcH compared to EnH. Hydrolyzates from acetone-extracted BCBs yielded 2.7 g/L of HA, which is similar to the amount obtained using a synthetic medium (2.8 g/L). This report demonstrates the potential of hydrolyzates from bored coffee beans to produce HA by S. zooepidemicus.

Cowpea seed protein hydrolysates (CPH) were output from cowpea seeds applying alcalase® from Bacillus licheniformis. CPH with an elevated level of hydrolysis was fractionated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). Both CPH and SEC-portions showed to contain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as they inhibited both Gram-positive bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes LMG10470 (L. monocytogenes), Listeria innocua. LMG11387 (L. innocua), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923 (S.aureus), and Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC19615 (St.pyogenes), and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella pnemoniae ATCC43816 (K. pnemoniae), Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC26853 (P. aeroginosa), Escherichia coli ATCC25468) (E.coli) and Salmonella typhimurium ATCC14028 (S. typhimurium).The data exhibited that both CPH and size exclusion chromatography-fraction 1 (SEC-F1) showed high antibacterial efficiency versus almost all the assessed bacteria. The MIC of the AMPs within SEC-F1 and CPHs were (25 µg/mL) against P. aeruginosa, E.coli and St. pyogenes. However, higher MICsof approximately 100–150 µg/mL showed for both CPHs and SEC-F1 against both S. aureus and L. innocua, it was 50 µg/mL of CPH against S.aureus. The Electro-spray-ionization-mass-spectrometry (ESI-MS) of fraction (1) revealed 10 dipeptides with a molecular masses arranged from 184 Da to 364 Da and one Penta peptide with a molecular mass of approximately 659 Da inthe case of positive ions. While the negative ions showed 4 dipeptides with the molecular masses that arranged from 330 Da to 373 Da. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) demonstrated that the SEC-F1 induced changes in the bacterial cells affected. Thus, the results suggested that the hydrolysis of cowpea seed proteins by Alcalase is an uncomplicated appliance to intensify its antibacterial efficiency.

Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in continuous bioprocessing as a cost-optimised production strategy, driven by a rising global requirement for recombinant proteins used as biological drugs. This strategy could provide several benefits over traditional batch processing, including smaller bioreactors, smaller facilities, and overall reduced plant footprints and investment costs. Continuous processes may also offer improved product quality and minimise heterogeneity, both in the culture and in the product. In this paper, a model protein, green fluorescent protein (GFP) mut3*, was used to test the recombinant protein expression in an Escherichia coli strain with industrial relevance grown in chemostat. An important factor in enabling stable productivity in continuous cultures is the carbon source. We have studied the viability and heterogeneity of the chemostat cultures using a chemically defined medium based on glucose or glycerol as the single carbon source. As a by-product of biodiesel production, glycerol is expected to become a sustainable alternative substrate to glucose. We have found that although glycerol gives a higher cell density, it also generates higher heterogeneity in the culture and a less stable recombinant protein production. We suggest that manipulating the balance between different subpopulations to increase the proportion of productive cells may be a possible solution for making glycerol a successful alternative to glucose.

During our search for ethanol-producing basidiomycete fungi for a wide range of substrates, we isolated Phlebia acerina, which is a white rot basidiomycete fungus. It favorably converted starch into ethanol with approximately 70% yield. Although the yield decreased as the starch concentration increased, growth and fermentation were observed even at 200 g/L of starch. P. acerina produced ethanol from glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, cellobiose, and maltose with 93%, 91%, 86%, 72%, 92%, and 68% yields, respectively. Additionally, P. acerina, which secreted xylanase and xylosidase, was capable of assimilating xylan and directly converting it to ethanol with a yield of 63%. Furthermore, P. acerina produced ethanol directly from acorns, which are plant fruits containing starch and tannins, with a yield of 70%. Tannin delayed mycelia growth, thus prolonging ethanol production; however, this did not particularly affect the yield. These results were similar to those of fermentation in a medium with the same amounts of starch and tannin as the target crop acorn, thus suggesting that P. acerina could successfully produce environmentally friendly ethanol from starch-containing lignocellulosic biomass, unlike previously reported ethanol-producing basidiomycete fungi.

Malt is the main raw material for beer production, which determines not only its taste and aroma profile, but to a large extent its biological value, as well. The aim of the present research was to determine the antioxidant profile of different malt types as a basis for the development of new types of beer with increased antioxidant activity. In the present study the main brewing characteristics, the phenolic profile and the antioxidant potential of 20 malt types used in craft breweries in Bulgaria have been examined. The main brewing characteristics have been determined by the standardized methods of the European Brewing Convention. Malt phenolic content was determined by two methods, and antioxidant potential by five different methods. Based on a statistical factor analysis performed by the principal component analysis, it was confirmed that there was a relationship between malt color and phenolic compounds content. The principal component analysis confirmed that there was a link between the content of the Maillard reaction products and malt biological activity. Malts with the highest degree of heat treatment were characterized by the highest antioxidant activity, which was due to the content of Maillard reaction products with antioxidant capacity.

The discoloration and resistance to subterranean termite attack of four furfurylated fast-growing tropical wood species were evaluated after outdoor exposure for 1 year in Bogor, Indonesia. For comparison purposes, imidacloprid-preserved and untreated wood samples were also prepared. Discoloration of all treated samples was measured before and after the furfurylation process. The wood specimens were then placed vertically to three-fourths of their length in the ground for 1 year, at which point they were evaluated for resistance to subterranean termite attack. After furfurylation, wood samples were darker in color than untreated wood, while imidacloprid-preserved wood was lighter. After 1-year exposure, furfurylated wood samples appeared to have the highest resistance to subterranean termite attack. These samples had minimal weight loss, indicating a substantial protection level. Imidacloprid-preserved wood had less resistance to termite attack, but was more resistant than untreated wood.

Clostridium beijerinckii is a relatively widely studied, yet non-model, bacterium. While 246 genome assemblies of its various strains are available currently, the diversity of the whole species has not been studied, and it has only been analyzed in part for a missing genome of the type strain. Here, we sequenced and assembled the complete genome of the type strain Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 791T, composed of a circular chromosome and a circular megaplasmid, and used it for a comparison with other genomes to evaluate diversity and capture the evolution of the whole species. We found that strains WB53 and HUN142 were misidentified and did not belong to the Clostridium beijerinckii species. Additionally, we filtered possibly misassembled genomes, and we used the remaining 237 high-quality genomes to define the pangenome of the whole species. By its functional annotation, we showed that the core genome contains genes responsible for basic metabolism, while the accessory genome has genes affecting final phenotype that may vary among different strains. We used the core genome to reconstruct the phylogeny of the species and showed its great diversity, which complicates the identification of particular strains, yet hides possibilities to reveal hitherto unreported phenotypic features and processes utilizable in biotechnology.

Various challenges facing the industrial production of bio-based lactic acid (LA) such as cost of raw materials and nitrogen sources, as well as contamination risk by mesophilic and neutrophilic producers, should be overcome for the commercial production. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of corn steep water (CSW) as a raw material for LA production using a newly thermo-alkali-tolerant lactic acid bacterium. The physicochemical characteristics of CSW were investigated. The high carbohydrates, proteins, amino acids, vitamins, essential elements, minerals, and non-protein nitrogenous compounds content confirmed that the CSW is a promising substrate for LA production. Out of 67 bacterial isolates, Enterococcus faecium WH51-1 was selected based on its tolerance to high temperatures and inhibitory compounds (sodium metabisulfate, sodium chloride, sodium acetate, and formic acid). Fermentation factors including sugar concentration, temperature, inoculum size, and neutralizing agents were optimized for LA production. Lactic acid concentration of about 44.6 g/L with a high yield (0.89 ± 0.02 g/g) was obtained using 60 g/L of CSW sugar, inoculum size 10% (v/v), 45 °C, and sodium hydroxide or calcium carbonate as a neutralizing agent. These results demonstrated the potential of strain WH51-1 for LA production using CSW effluent as raw material.

Auto-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment (A-HTP) and sulfuric-acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment (SA-HTP) were applied to quinoa stalks in order to reduce their recalcitrance towards enzymatic saccharification. Prior to pretreatment, quinoa stalks were extracted with either water or a 50:50 (v/v) ethanol–water mixture for removing saponins. Extraction with water or aqueous ethanol, respectively, led to removal of 52 and 75% (w/w) of the saponins contained in the raw material. Preliminary extraction of quinoa stalks allowed for a lower overall severity during pretreatment, and it led to an increase of glucan recovery in the pretreated solids (above 90%) compared with that of non-extracted quinoa stalks (73–74%). Furthermore, preliminary extraction resulted in enhanced hydrolysis of hemicelluloses and lower by-product formation during pretreatment. The enhancement of hemicelluloses hydrolysis by pre-extraction was more noticeable for SA-HTP than for A-HTP. As a result of the pretreatment, glucan susceptibility towards enzymatic hydrolysis was remarkably improved, and the overall conversion values were higher for the pre-extracted materials (up to 83%) than for the non-extracted ones (64–69%). Higher overall conversion was achieved for the aqueous ethanol-extracted quinoa stalks (72–83%) than for the water-extracted material (65–74%).

The preparation and testing of a colour-based prototype indicator for high-pressure processing (HPP) are described. The indicator is a layered structure comprising a pressed disc of a mixture of silica gel, which has been previously loaded with a set wt% of acidified water, and polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, powders, a water-permeable barrier layer, and a Congo-Red-based pH indicator layer, all vacuum-sealed in a water impermeable plastic film. The value of the wt% is calculated from the ratio of the mass of acidified water added to the mass of originally dry silica gel. The high pressures associated with HPP drive the release of the acidified water from the silica gel and its subsequent transport through the water-permeable barrier layer to the pH indicator, thereby producing a striking red-to-blue colour change. The response of the HPP indicator can be tuned to different HPP conditions by varying the wt% of acidified water used to load the silica gel powder. Indicators, with 61, 63, and 65 wt% acidified water loaded silica gel, are prepared and found to require, respectively, the application of at least, 600, 400, and 300 MPa pressure for 3 min to effect a change colour. To our knowledge, this is the first reported example of a prototype HPP indicator that can be tuned to respond to the very different pressure and time conditions used in HPP to sterilise such very different products as milk, apple and orange juice, and aloe vera gel.

This study aimed to map the nutritional profile and bioactivities of five microalgae that can be grown in Northwest Europe or areas with similar cultivation conditions. Next to the biochemical composition, the in vitro digestibility of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids was studied for Chlamydomonas nivalis, Porphyridium purpureum, Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis gaditana, and Scenedesmus species biomass. These microalgae were also assessed for their ability to inhibit the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE-1, EC 3.4.15.1), which is known to play a role in the control of blood pressure in mammals. Large differences in organic matter solubility after digestion suggested that a cell disruption step is needed to unlock the majority of the nutrients from N. gaditana and Scenedesmus species biomass. Significant amounts of free glucose (16.4–25.5 g glucose/100 g dry algae) were detected after the digestion of C. nivalis, P. purpureum, and disrupted Scenedesmus. The fatty acid profiles showed major variations, with particularly high Ω-3 fatty acid levels found in N. gaditana (5.5 ± 0.5 g/100 g dry algae), while lipid digestibility ranged from 33.3 ± 6.5% (disrupted N. gaditana) to 67.1 ± 11.2% (P. purpureum). C. vulgaris and disrupted N. gaditana had the highest protein content (45–46% of dry matter), a nitrogen solubility after digestion of 65–71%, and the degree of protein hydrolysis was determined as 31% and 26%, respectively. Microalgae inhibited ACE-1 by 73.4–87.1% at physiologically relevant concentrations compared to a commercial control. These data can assist algae growers and processors in selecting the most suitable algae species for food or feed applications.

In wood processing, wood is exposed to an environmental temperature of less than 0 °C for some time, which mainly occurs during the air drying of wood in the winter months, or when lumber is stored in wood piles outdoors before the kiln drying process. In these cases, the wood freezing process increases the degree of freezing of the wood, subsequently significantly affecting the process of its heating during further processing (for example, in the cutting process). The most common method is heating by humid air, during the hot air drying of wood. We analyzed the temperature profiles on a cross-section of wood and moisture losses due to the freezing process and the size of moisture gradients. We compared theoretical calculations of the time required for defrosting and heating of wood with the experimentally measured values. The results show that the moisture content (MC) of wood has a remarkable effect on the wood freezing process. In samples with an average MC of 35.47%, the temperature drop was faster. After 10 h, the temperatures on the entire cross-section of the samples reached the lowest value of −13.2 °C. In samples with an average initial MC of 81.38%, three stages of temperature reduction in the wood were observed. The temperature dropped and the lowest temperature of −20.11 °C was reached after 24 h. The defrosting and heating process of samples with lower MC was significantly easier. The desired temperature of 65 °C in the middle of the samples was reached in 2 h and 20 min. The total time to defrost and heat the second group of samples (MC > FSP) was 3 h 30 min.

In this study, bio-nanocomposite films containing different proportions of ginger essential oil (GEO), chitosan (Ch), and montmorillonite (MMT) were prepared and characterized, and the antibacterial effect of bio-nanocomposite films on chilled beef was evaluated. Fourier transform infrared analysis showed a series of intense interactions among the components of the bio-nanocomposite films. The infiltration of GEO increased the thickness of the film, reduced the tensile strength of the film, and increased the percentage of breaking elongation and the water vapor permeability. The migration of phenols in the films began to increase exponentially and reached equilibrium at about 48 h. The bio-nanocomposite films (Ch +0.5% GEO group, and Ch + MMT + 0.5% GEO group) effectively delayed the rise of pH, hue angle, and moisture values of chilled beef with time and slowed down the lipid oxidation and the growth of surface microorganisms on chilled beef. Altogether, the prepared biological nanocomposites can be used as promising materials to replace commercial and non-degradable plastic films.

Here, we compared the chemical properties and antioxidant effects of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and pink pepper (Schinus molle L.). Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of pink pepper were measured to determine nutraceutical potential. Pink peppers from Brazil (PPB), India (PPI), and Sri Lanka (PPS) had higher Hunter a* (redness) values and lower L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values than black pepper from Vietnam (BPV). Fructose and glucose were detected in PPB, PPI, and PPS, but not in BPV. PPB, PPI, and PPS had greater 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging stabilities and higher total phenolic contents than BPV. BPV had higher levels of piperine than the pink peppers. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, and p-coumaric acid were detected only in the three pink peppers. PPB significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced reactive oxygen species production with increased Nrf2 translocation from cytosol to nucleus and heme oxygenase-1 expression. PPB and PPS significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitrite production and nitric oxide synthase expression by suppressing phosphorylation of p38 without affecting cell viability. Additionally, PPB and PPS significantly suppressed ultraviolet B-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by affecting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 without cell cytotoxicity. These results suggest that pink pepper is a potential nutraceutical against oxidative and inflammatory stress.

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and it is regarded as one of the most biodiverse freshwater ecosystems in the world. Studies concerning aquatic cellulolytic bacteria from Tonle Sap Lake remain scarce. Cellulolytic bacteria and their cellulases play a vital role in the biogeochemical cycles of lake environments, and their application in biotechnological industries is likewise an important component of their usage. This study aimed to assess the isolation, genetic identification, bioinformatic analyses, and activity characterization of aquatic cellulolytic bacteria. The cellulolytic bacteria isolated from sedimentary water samples in the littoral zone of the lake belong to the genera Aeromonas, Bacillus, and Exiguobacterium. Several isolated aquatic bacteria were designated as rare cellulolytic microbes. Remarkably, B. mojavensis strain REP303 was initially evidenced by the aquatic cellulolytic bacterium in freshwater lake ecosystems. It was considered a highly active cellulolytic bacterium capable of creating a complete cellulase system involving endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and β-glucosidase. The encoded endoglucanase belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase family 5 (GH5), with a carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase) activity of 3.97 ± 0.05 U/mL. The optimum temperature and pH for CMCase activity were determined to be 50 °C at a pH of 7.0, with a stability range of 25–55 °C at a neutral pH of 7.0–8.0. The CMCase activity was enhanced significantly by Mn2+ and was inhibited considerably by EDTA and ethyl-acetate. In conclusion, this study is the first to report data concerning aquatic cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the littoral zone of Tonle Sap Lake. A novel strain of isolated cellulolytic B. mojavensis could be applied in various cellulose-based industries.

This study investigates the efficacy of using discarded textile (cotton and polycotton) and paper waste (newspaper and corrugated cardboard) as substrates to form sheets with optimum tensile strength. The effect of alkali treatment (sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)), compressive loads (200 N and 500 N), and the use of binding agents (blackstrap molasses, sodium alginate, and cornstarch) were studied to optimize the tensile strength of homogeneous sheets. The alkali treatment using 5% NaOH for 5 h of soaking demonstrated the highest increase in tensile strength of 21% and 19% for cotton and newspaper, respectively. Increasing compressive load from 200 N to 500 N showed the highest increase in tensile strength of 37% and 42% for cotton and newspaper, respectively. Remarkably, among the binders, cornstarch at 20% concentration obtained an increase in tensile strength of 395%, 320%, 310%, and 185% for cotton, polycotton, corrugated cardboard, and newspaper sheets, respectively. The optimum results obtained from this study will be utilized to develop biodegradable seedling pots using discarded textile and paper waste.

Larch (Larix decidua) bark is a sawmill waste, traditionally used for antiseptic, expectorant and dermatological (wound healing, eczema, psoriasis) purposes. In this work, we developed a food-grade dry larch bark extract (LBE) from sawmill by-products using hydro-alcoholic extraction. The antibacterial activity of LBE was evaluated against respiratory-tract pathogens, i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenza, and it was compared to that of grapefruit seed extract (GSE), a commercially available raw material commonly proposed as antibacterial ingredient for over-the-counter products. Procyanidins (PACs) and other polyphenols contents in LBE were determined by HPLC-FLD-MS and HPLC-DAD-MSn, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of LBE and GSE was assessed using the micro-plate dilution technique in concentration range of 2–200 µg/mL, and the safety of these dosages was assessed in cellular and animal models. LBE showed considerable contents of PACs (15% w/w, especially B-type) and other polyphenols (3.8% w/w), among which the characteristic spiropolyphenols larixinol and epilarixinol were identified, together with the flavonoids isoquercitrin and rutin, already reported as growth inhibitors of different respiratory-tract pathogens. LBE showed higher antimicrobial activity compared to GSE, demonstrated by a growth inhibition range of 10–40% towards five of six strains tested, compared to 10–15% of GSE. These results suggest that LBE may represent a natural and sustainable source of active compounds with antibacterial activity for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications.

The impact of key classes of compounds found in wine on protein removal by the ion-exchange resin, Macro-Prep® High S, was examined by adsorption isotherm experiments. A model wine system, which contained a prototypical protein Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), was used. We systematically changed concentrations of individual chemical components to generate and compare adsorption isotherm plots and to quantify adsorption affinity or capacity parameters of Macro-Prep® High S ion-exchange resin. The pH (hydronium ion concentration), ethanol concentration, and prototypical phenolics and polysaccharide compounds are known to impact interactions with proteins and thus could alter the adsorption affinity and capacity of Macro-Prep® High S ion-exchange resin. At low equilibrium protein concentrations (&lt, ~0.3 (g BSA)/L) and at high equilibrium protein concentrations in model wines at various pH, the adsorption behavior followed the Langmuir isotherm, most likely due to the resin acting as a monolayer adsorbent. The resulting range of BSA capacity was between 0.15–0.18 (g BSA)/(g Macro-Prep® High S resin). With the addition of ethanol, catechin, caffeic acid, and polysaccharides, the protein adsorption behavior was observed to differ at higher equilibrium protein concentrations (&gt, ~0.3 (g BSA)/L), likely as a result of Macro-Prep® acting as an unrestricted multilayer adsorbent at these conditions. These data can be used to inform the design and scale-up of ion-exchange columns for removing proteins from wines.

Usually, wine-making by-products are discarded, presenting a significant environmental impact. However, they can be used as a source of bioactive compounds. Moreover, consumers increasing demand for naturally nutritious and healthy products requires new formulations and food product improvement, together with sustainable, environmentally friendly extraction methods. Thus, this work aimed to compare ohmic heating (OH) with conventional methodology (CONV), using food-grade solvents, mainly water, compared to standard methanol extraction of anthocyanins. No significant differences were found between the CONV and OH for total phenolic compounds, which were 2.84 ± 0.037 and 3.28 ± 0.46 mg/g DW gallic acid equivalent, respectively. The same tendency was found for antioxidant capacity, where CONV and OH presented values of 2.02 ± 0.007 g/100 g and 2.34 ± 0.066 g/100 g ascorbic acid equivalent, respectively. The major anthocyanins identified were malvidin-3-O-acetylglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidine-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and peonidine-3-O-glucoside. These extracts displayed antimicrobial potential against microorganisms such as Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, a methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA), and Bacillus cereus. In conclusion, OH provides similar recovery yields with reduced treatment times, less energy consumption, and no need for organic solvents (green extraction routes). Thus, OH combined with water and citric acid allows a safe anthocyanin extraction from grape by-products, thus avoiding the use of toxic solvents such as methanol, and with high biological potential, including antimicrobial and antioxidant activity., “MultiBiorefinery: Estratégias multiuso para a valorização de uma gama alargada de subprodutos agroflorestais e das pescas: Um passo em frente na criação de uma biorrefinaria” financiado pelo Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016403) e pelo Programa Operacional Regional de Lisboa (LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016403), na sua componente FEDER e pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, I.P. na componente nacional (SAICTPAC/0040/2015). The authors would also like to thank the scientific collaboration under the FCT project UID/Multi/50016/2019, UID-BIM-00009- 2020, and UID/BIO/04469/2020. The author Marta Coelho would like to acknowledge FCT for your PhD grant with the reference [grant number SFRH/BD/111884/2015], info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Using the method of dynamic–mechanical analysis, the structuralisation kinetics of condensed starch solutions, cooled down to the temperature of 20 °C, was investigated. A close correlation of spatial crosslinking with local processes of macromolecule associations was discovered. It was found that depending on the concentration intervals of starch solutions, equilibrium nodes of the spatial network assume the form of either single or double hexagonal structures made up of bispiral chain associates. The increase of gel crosslinking, together with the passage of time, is the result of increasing the node functionality of the spatial network.

This study aimed to determine the probiotic potential of Pediococcus acidilactici M76 (PA-M76) for lactic acid fermentation of black raspberry extract (BRE). PA-M76 showed outstanding probiotic properties with high tolerance in acidic GIT environments, broad antimicrobial activity, and high adhesion capability in the intestinal tract of Caenorhabditis elegans. PA-M76 treatment resulted in significant increases of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in macrophages, indicating that PA-M76 elicits an effective immune response. When PA-M76 was used for lactic acid fermentation of BRE, an EPS yield of 1.62 g/L was obtained under optimal conditions. Lactic acid fermentation of BRE by PA-M76 did not significantly affect the total anthocyanin and flavonoid content, except for a significant increase in total polyphenol content compared to non-fermented BRE (NfBRE). However, fBRE exhibited increased DPPH radical scavenging activity, linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition rate, and ABTS scavenging activity of fBRE compared to NfBRE. Among the 28 compounds identified in the GC-MS analysis, esters were present as the major groups. The total concentration of volatile compounds was higher in fBRE&nbsp, than that in NfBRE. However, the undesirable flavor of terpenes decreased. PA-M76 might be useful for preparing functionally enhanced fermented beverages with a higher antioxidant activity of EPS and enhanced flavors.

Streptococcus thermophilus is widely used in dairy fermentation as a starter culture for yogurt and cheese production. Many strains are endowed with potential probiotic properties; however, since they might not survive in adequate amounts after transit through the human gastrointestinal tract, it is advisable to improve cell survivability during this passage. The present study evaluates the use of 2′-fucosyllactose, a prebiotic molecule from human milk, compared with other known molecules, such as gelatin and inulin, to form alginate-based microcapsules to fulfill these requirements. Such microcapsules, obtained by the extrusion technique, were evaluated in terms of encapsulation efficiency, storage stability, gastrointestinal condition resistance, and cell release kinetics. Results reveal that microcapsules made using 2′-fucosyllactose and those with inulin resulted in the most efficient structure to protect S. thermophilus strain TH982 under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (less than 0.45 log CFU/g decrease for both agents). In addition, a prompt and abundant release of encapsulated cells was detected after only 30 min from microcapsules made with sodium alginate plus 2′-fucosyllactose in simulated gastrointestinal fluid (more than 90% of the cells). These encouraging results represent the first report on the effects of 2′-fucosyllactose used as a co-encapsulating agent.

In the present research, wood flour reinforced polyethylene polymer composites with a coupling agent were prepared by injection molding. The effects of wood flour size, aspect ratios, and mold injection temperature on the composites’ mechanical properties were investigated. For the preparation of the polymer composites, five different formulations were created. The mechanical properties including tensile strength and the modulus, flexural strength and the modulus, and impact energy were measured. To investigate the changes in the properties resulting from different compositions, mechanical static and impact testing was performed. The obtained results indicate that by reducing the flour size, the tensile strength and modulus, flexural strength, and impact energy were reduced. In contrast, the flexural modulus increased. Furthermore, with the increment of injection molding temperature, the tensile strength and the modulus and the impact energy of the specimens were reduced. On the other hand, the flexural strength and the modulus increased. Thus, an optimized amount of injection molding temperature can provide improvements in the mechanical properties of the composite.

Empty fruit bunch (EFB), which is one of the primary agricultural wastes generated from the palm oil plantation, is generally discharged into the open environment or ends up in landfills. The utilization of this EFB waste for other value-added applications such as activated carbon and biofuels remain low, despite extensive research efforts. One of the reasons is that the EFB is highly vulnerable to microbial and fungi degradation under natural environment owning to its inherent characteristic of high organic matter and moisture content. This can rapidly deteriorate its quality and results in poor performance when processed into other products. However, the lignocellulosic components in degraded EFB (DEFB) still largely remain intact. Consequently, it could become a promising feedstock for production of bio-products after suitable pretreatment with organic solvents. In this study, DEFB was subjected to five different types of organic solvents for the pretreatment, including ethanol, ethylene glycol, 2-propanol, acetic acid and acetone. The effects of temperature and residence time were also investigated during the pretreatment. Organosolv pretreatment in ethylene glycol (50 v/v%) with the addition of NaOH (3 v/v%) as an alkaline catalyst successfully detached 81.5 wt.% hemicellulose and 75.1 wt.% lignin. As high as 90.4 wt.% cellulose was also successfully retrieved at mild temperature (80 °C) and short duration (45 min), while the purity of cellulose in treated DEFB was recorded at 84.3%. High-purity lignin was successfully recovered from the pretreatment liquor by using sulfuric acid for precipitation. The amount of recovered lignin from alkaline ethylene glycol liquor was 74.6% at pH 2.0. The high recovery of cellulose and lignin in DEFB by using organosolv pretreatment rendered it as one of the suitable feedstocks to be applied in downstream biorefinery processes. This can be further investigated in more detailed studies in the future.

Natural astaxanthin helps reduce the negative effects caused by oxidative stress and other related factors, thereby minimizing oxidative damage. Therefore, it has considerable potential and broad application prospects in human health and animal nutrition. Haematococcus pluvialis is considered to be the most promising cell factory for the production of natural astaxanthin. Previous studies have confirmed that nonmotile cells of H. pluvialis are more tolerant to high intensity of light than motile cells. Cultivating nonmotile cells as the dominant cell type in the red stage can significantly increase the overall astaxanthin productivity. However, we know very little about how to induce nonmotile cell formation. In this work, we first investigated the effect of phosphorus deficiency on the formation of nonmotile cells of H. pluvialis, and then investigated the effect of NaCl on the formation of nonmotile cells under the conditions of phosphorus deficiency. The results showed that, after three days of treatment with 0.1% NaCl under phosphorus deficiency, more than 80% of motile cells had been transformed into nonmotile cells. The work provides the most efficient method for the cultivation of H. pluvialis nonmotile cells so far, and it significantly improves the production of H. pluvialis astaxanthin.

Intending to achieve more green and economical graphene impregnated modified fast-growing poplar wood veneer for heat conduction, this study proposes and investigates the feasibility of modified veneer with graphene/Polyvinyl alcohol (Gr/PVA) impregnation mixture to improve its thermal conductivity. The absorbance and viscosity of the Gr/PVA impregnation mixtures are observed to expound the Gr/PVA ratio effects on the mixtures. Simultaneously, the weight percent gain, chromatic aberration, and thermal conductivity of the modified veneers are measured to determine the impregnation effect and the optimal impregnation formula. Further, the chemical structure, crystallinity, and thermal stability of the optimal sample impregnated with Gr/PVA are tested. The results show that the thermal properties of the Gr/PVA impregnated modified veneer have not all been improved. Still, both the dispersibility of the impregnation mixtures and the impregnation effect is affected by the Gr/PVA ratio. The data shows that the optimal thermal conductivity of modified veneer, which is up to 0.22 W·m−1·K−1 and 2.4 times the untreated one, is dipped by the mixture of 10 wt.% PVA concentration and 2 wt.% MGEIN addition. According to the characterization tests, the crystallinity of the modified veneer reduces, but the thermal stability improves.

Extreme halophiles offer the advantage to save on the costs of sterilization and water for biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic waste after the pretreatment process with their ability to withstand extreme salt concentrations. This study identifies the dominant hydrogen-producing genera and species among the acclimatized, extremely halotolerant microbial communities taken from two salt-damaged soil locations in Khon Kaen and one location from the salt evaporation pond in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. The microbial communities’ V3–V4 regions of 16srRNA were analyzed using high-throughput amplicon sequencing. A total of 345 operational taxonomic units were obtained and the high-throughput sequencing confirmed that Firmicutes was the dominant phyla of the three communities. Halanaerobium fermentans and Halanaerobacter lacunarum were the dominant hydrogen-producing species of the communities. Spatial proximity was not found to be a determining factor for similarities between these extremely halophilic microbial communities. Through the study of the microbial communities, strategies can be developed to increase biohydrogen molar yield.

The genus Aspergillus encompasses several species with relevant lignocellulose-degrading capacity, and a novel species, denominated A. olivimuriae, was recently discovered after its isolation from table olive brine. The acquisition of insight into this species and the assessment of its potential relied on a bioinformatics approach, based on the CAZy database, associated with enzymatic activity profiles in solid-state cultures on four different types of waste, including residual thistle biomass (RTB), spent coffee grounds (SCG), digestate solid fraction and barley straw. The CAZy analysis of A. olivimuriae genome showed that the number of predicted genes for each family was close to that of other Aspergillus species, except for cellobiose dehydrogenase, acetyl xylan esterase and polygalacturonases. In A. olivimuriae solid-state cultures, hemicellulose degradation outperformed that of cellulose, and lignin removal did not occur, regardless of the growth substrate. This is in line with its CAZy content and the extent of hemicellulolytic, and ligninolytic activities detected in its solid-state cultures. RTB and barley straw were the substrates enabling the best glycosyl hydrolase production levels. The exception was SCG, the hemicellulose composition of which, mainly made of glucomannans and galactomanans, led to the highest β-mannanase and β-mannosidase production levels (3.72 ± 0.20 and 0.90 ± 0.04 IU g−1 substrate, respectively).