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This work presents the optimization of protein content of fish feed formulated using compositions of groundnut cake, milk powder, lemon grass and corn cob. The ingredients (precursors of the feed) were characterized in terms of proximate analysis, and they were used for the formulation fish feed. Functional groups of the feed were ascertained using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The protein content of the feed was optimized using response surface methodology. From the analyses of the results, ash contents of 2.78 %, 6.74%, 3.53%, and 4.91% were recorded for groundnut cake, milk powder, lemon grass and corn cob respectively. It indicates high content of minerals. Also, there high protein contents, 21.69%, 35.13%, 31.02% and 3.40% for groundnut cake, milk powder, lemon grass and corn cob samples respectively, which show that the samples are suitable for the fish feed formulation. The major functional groups of the fish feed are; C-H stretch, O-H stretch, N-H symmetric, C-H stretch, ≡C-H stretch, N-H bend, CH(CH3)2, C-F stretch, C-O-C sym, =C-H bend and C-H bend. It revealed the presence of alkane and alkyls and carboxylic acids. Heteroatoms (O, N) are present in the feed. Quadratic equation represents the relationship between the feed protein content and the compositions of the feed raw materials. The predicted protein content (33.68%) compare significantly with the experimental protein content of 33.88%, with percentage deviation of 0.59% (< 5%). Thus, the feed's protein content obtained at appropriate quantities of groundnut cake, milk powder, lemon grass and corn cob was successfully optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of selectivity and activity of imprinted photocatalysis is a major challenge for antibiotic photodegradation due to the functional monomers of imprinting hindering the photogenerated carrier migration. Here, an organic imprinted Ag-polyaniline/CoFe2O4/Carbon photocatalyst (IM-Ag-PANI/CoFe2O4/C) was successfully prepared by photo-initiated polymerization which achieved selective photodegradation of tetracycline (TC). The heterojunction formed by the functional monomer Ag@PANI and CoFe2O4/C not only facilitates the separation of photo-excited carriers and the exposure of active sites but also contributes to the selective adsorption capability by imprinted cavity on Ag@PANI, thereby improving the photocatalytic activity and selectivity simultaneously. In addition, the Corncob conversion carbon matrix method and iron-based magnetic character enable a more environmentally friendly and recyclable capability of IM-Ag-PANI/CoFe2O4/C. After using machine learning models to train and predict experimental parameters by changing experimental parameters, the IM-Ag-PANI/CoFe2O4/C can photodegrade 82.23% of TC within 2 h, and it has a selective degradation ability compared to enrofloxacin hydrochloride (EH). This research provides a new idea for the construction of imprinted photocatalytic materials that can improve photocatalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a novel one‐pot method to produce 2,5‐furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), which effectively simplifies the preparation process of FDCA by directly utilizing the biomass raw material corncob and its derived carbon‐based catalysts. In this work, we first prepared two different carbon‐based catalysts from corncobs: a ruthenium‐supported catalyst (Ru/C) and a sulfonated carbon catalyst. After detailed characterization and performance testing, these two catalysts were used to catalyze the pretreated corncob mixture to produce FDCA. Under optimized conditions, even using 0.12 g of Ru/C catalyst at a microwave power of 200 W, the yield of FDCA can reach 27 mol%. In comparison, the FDCA yield of the sulfonated carbon catalyst under the same conditions was 19 mol%. This work not only demonstrates the possibility of efficient production of FDCA by utilizing biomass resources and a simplified chemical conversion process, but also highlights the importance of selecting appropriate catalysts and controlling reaction conditions in improving yields. Through this method, we can promote the development of biomass conversion technology in a more efficient and environmentally friendly direction, providing technical support for the commercial production of bio‐based chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of corn cob biochar (CCB) and rice husk biochar (RHB) additions (at 0%, 5%, and 10% w/w) on nitrogen and carbon dynamics during co-composting with poultry litter, rice straw, and domestic bio-waste. The study further assessed the temperature, moisture, pH, and nutrient contents of the mature biochar co-composts, and their potential phytotoxicity effects on amaranth, cucumber, cowpea, and tomato. Biochar additions decreased NH4+-N and NO3- contents, but bacteria and fungi populations increased during the composting process. The mature biochar co-composts showed higher pH (9.0–9.7), and increased total carbon (24.7–37.6%), nitrogen (1.8–2.4%), phosphorus (6.5–8.1 g kg−1), potassium (26.8–42.5 g kg−1), calcium (25.1–49.5 g kg−1), and magnesium (4.8–7.2 g kg−1) contents compared to the compost without biochar. Germination indices (GI) recorded in all the plants tested with the different composts were greater than 60%. Regardless of the biochar additions, all composts treatments showed no or very minimal phytotoxic effects on cucumber, amaranth and cowpea seeds. We conclude that rice husk and corn cob biochar co-composts are nutrient-rich and safe soil amendment for crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosurfactants are amphiphilic biomolecules with promising tensoative and emulsifying properties that find application in the most varied industrial sectors: environment, food, agriculture, petroleum, cosmetics, and hygiene. In the current work, a 23 full-factorial design was performed to evaluate the effect and interactions of pineapple peel and corncob as substrates for biosurfactant production by Bacillus subtilis LMA-ICF-PC 001. In a previous stage, an alkaline pretreatment was applied to corncob samples to extract the xylose-rich hydrolysate. The results indicated that pineapple peel extract and xylose-rich hydrolysate acted as partial glucose substitutes, minimizing production costs with exogenous substrates. Biosurfactant I (obtained at 8.11% pineapple peel extract, 8.11% xylose-rich hydrolysate from corncob, and 2.8109 g/L glucose) exhibited a significant surface tension reduction (52.37%) and a promising bioremediation potential (87.36%). On the other hand, biosurfactant III (obtained at 8.11% pineapple peel extract, 31.89% xylose-rich hydrolysate from corncob, and 2.8109 g/L glucose) exhibited the maximum emulsification index in engine oil (69.60%), the lowest critical micellar concentration (68 mg/L), and the highest biosurfactant production (5.59 g/L). These findings demonstrated that using pineapple peel extract and xylose-rich hydrolysate from corncob effectively supports biosurfactant synthesis by B. subtilis, reinforcing how agro-industrial wastes can substitute traditional carbon sources, contributing to cost reduction and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus in wastewater from pressed vegetables is a significant contributor to water pollution, emphasizing the importance of its removal and recycling for ecological management. In this study, an improved method of coprecipitation pyrolysis of Mg(OH)2 and FeCl3•6H2O was used to successfully synthesize iron-magnesium biochar composite (FeMg@BC2) from corn cob. Compared with iron-modified biochar (Fe@BC), magnesium-modified biochar (Mg@BC), and iron–magnesium-modified biochar (FeMg@BC1) prepared by traditional coprecipitation methods, the improved iron–magnesium biochar had higher yield, specific surface area, and crystallinity. The study investigated the impact of modified biochar dosage, initial solution pH, and coexisting ions on the adsorption capabilities of modified biochar for phosphate removal. The results demonstrated that the addition of 1.0 g/L FeMg@BC2 was highly effective in removing phosphate from simulated wastewater when the phosphate concentration was 80 mg/L, achieving a removal rate exceeding 95%. Using an adsorption isotherm model, the maximum phosphate adsorption capacities of Fe@BC, Mg@BC, FeMg@BC1, and FeMg@BC2 were estimated to be 40.76, 46.97, 96.78, and 107.97 mg/g, respectively. Particularly, FeMg@BC2 exhibited superior phosphate adsorption capacity, and its adsorption mechanism mainly included electrostatic attraction, surface precipitation, and ligand exchange. The desorption test of phosphorus-loaded modified biochar revealed that the desorption rates of FeMg@BC2 from simulated wastewater and pressed vegetable wastewater using a 0.5M NaOH solution were 92.2% and 84.8%, respectively. After three cycles of adsorption in pressed vegetable wastewater, the phosphorus removal efficiency of FeMg@BC2 at 1.0 g/L remained about 50%. Therefore, the utilization of FeMg@BC2 for phosphorus recovery from pressed vegetable wastewater showed promising potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient method of solid-state fermentation (SSF) is reported for producing bioactive phenolic compounds using soil-isolated fungi. Antioxidant activity using a rapid DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl), was employed to screen the 120 fungal isolates from soil. Aspergillus terreus 1, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus terreus 2, Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus wentii1, Aspergillus wentii 2, Penicillium expansum and Penicillium granulatum were chosen, concerning their antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. These fungal strains were applied on agro residues viz. sugarcane bagasse, corn cob, rice straw, pea pod and wheat straw, to evaluate the release of phenolic compounds. The fermented extracts from various agro-residues showed good antioxidant activity against DPPH, ferric ion, and nitric oxide radicals. The highest antioxidant activity was observed in fermented extracts of sugarcane bagasse, followed by pea pod. Additionally, the total phenolic content in the fermented extracts positively correlated with antioxidant potential. This study highlights the significant potential of solid substrate fermentation using soil-isolated fungi and agro-residues to produce bioactive phenolic compounds with potent antioxidant properties. The utilization of SSF for the extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources not only offers a clean and sustainable approach but also contributes to the valorization of agro-industrial residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel carbon source and corncob had better denitrification efficiency than polycaprolactone and polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate. • The taxonomical composition of bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities can be altered by types of solid carbon source. • Some fungi and archaea species were conducive to solid-phase denitrification (SPD) systems. • Co-occurring network showed some potential collaboration between bacterial fungal and archaeal communities in SPD systems. • Amplicon sequence variant (ASV) can identify more taxonomies that operational taxonomic unit (OTU) cannot in this study. There is a lack of understanding about the bacterial, fungal and archaeal communities' composition of solid-phase denitrification (SPD) systems. We investigated four SPD systems with different carbon sources by analyzing microbial gene sequences based on operational taxonomic unit (OTU) and amplicon sequence variant (ASV). The results showed that the corncob-polyvinyl alcohol sodium alginate-polycaprolactone (CPSP, 0.86±0.04 mg NO 3 −-N/(g·day)) and corncob (0.85±0.06 mg NO 3 −-N/(g·day)) had better denitrification efficiency than polycaprolactone (PCL, 0.29±0.11 mg NO 3 −-N/(g·day)) and polyvinyl alcohol-sodium alginate (PVA-SA, 0.24±0.07 mg NO 3 −-N/(g·day)). The bacterial, fungal and archaeal microbial composition was significantly different among carbon source types such as Proteobacteria in PCL (OTU: 83.72%, ASV: 82.49%) and Rozellomycota in PVA-SA (OTU: 71.99%, ASV: 81.30%). ASV methods can read more microbial units than that of OTU and exhibit higher alpha diversity and classify some species that had not been identified by OTU such as Nanoarchaeota phylum, unclassified_ f_ Xanthobacteraceae genus, etc., indicating ASV may be more conducive to understand SPD microbial communities. The co-occurring network showed some correlation between the bacteria fungi and archaea species, indicating different species may collaborate in SPD systems. Similar KEGG function prediction results were obtained in two bioinformatic methods generally and some fungi and archaea functions should not be ignored in SPD systems. These results may be beneficial for understanding microbial communities in SPD systems. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enzymatic degradation of biomass is preferred over chemical methods for environmental protection. However, in most cases, a chemical pretreatment is still required to help improve enzyme accessibility of the biomass. Therefore, it is necessary to develop highly efficient enzymes for those reasons and to save costs accordingly. Costs can be further reduced if the enzymes are recycled. XynR8(N58D) is an engineered and highly active xylanase originating from the rumen fungus Neocallimastix patriciarum. In this study, XynR8(N58D) was extracellularly over-expressed by Pichia pastoris. The resulting crude enzyme solution, with a purity of XynR8(N58D) of over 80%, was used to prepare the cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) of XynR8(N58D). Specific activity of the crude enzyme solution was 11,599.39 IU/mg, and that of CLEA was 6129.42 IU/mg. The immobilization yield and the immobilization efficiency were 62.68 ± 16.20% and 84.31 ± 3.11%, respectively. The thermostability, stress tolerance, and shelf life of CLEA were significantly better than those of the free enzyme. The free enzyme and CLEA both effectively decomposed insoluble xylan and autoclaved corncob powders. Therefore, XynR8(N58D) made into CLEA not only maintained high activity, but also improved its stability and permitted its reuse or recyclability. Both forms of the enzyme can effectively degrade lignocellulosic biomass without relying on chemical pretreatment to reduce recalcitrance of the biomass structure. The application of XynR8(N58D) and its CLEA to biomass degradation can help establish an eco-friendly and more cost-effective process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the potential of use of waste scaling deposition from electric geysers (EGWS) to synthesize calcium oxide and address fluoride and nitrate contamination in water. The study adopts a circular economy framework by utilizing the synthesized calcium oxide to modify corn cob biochar through ball‐milling, creating a cost‐effective and environmentally sustainable adsorbent. The adsorbent is characterized and pHpzc analysis of CaO@CBC indicates sustained high adsorption capacities for nitrate and fluoride across a broad pH range (2–11). The adsorption kinetics follow a pseudo‐second‐order model, indicating chemisorption mechanisms. The Langmuir isotherm model fits well, showing high maximum adsorption capacities of 18.36 mg g−1 for fluoride and 19.27 mg g−1 for nitrate, surpassing those reported for other materials. Thermodynamic studies indicate that the uptake reactions of fluoride and nitrate are spontaneous and exothermic. Results from pH studies, XPS analysis, and FTIR offer insights into the adsorption mechanism by suggesting electrostatic attraction, inner‐sphere complexation, and ion exchange. The research establishes the efficacy of CaO‐impregnated biochar derived from electric geyser waste in removing fluoride and nitrate, offering a sustainable solution for water pollution. This work breakthroughs the development of efficient and eco‐friendly adsorbents for water treatment, aligning with the principles of a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the crushing efficiency and crushing pass rate of high-moisture corn ears (HMCEs), a multi-stage crushing scheme is proposed in this paper. A two-stage crushing device for HMCEs is designed, and the ear crushing process is analyzed. Firstly, a simulation model for HMCEs was established in EDEM software (2018), and the accuracy of the model was verified by the shear test. Subsequently, single-factor simulation experiments were conducted, with the crushing rate serving as the evaluation index. The optimal working parameter ranges for the HMCE device were identified as a primary crushing roller speed of 1200–1600 revolutions per minute (r/min), a secondary crushing roller clearance of 1.5–2.5 mm, and a secondary crushing roller speed of 2750–3750 r/min. A Box–Behnken experiment was conducted to establish a multiple regression equation. With the objective of maximizing the qualified crushing pass rate, the optimal combination of parameters was revealed: a primary crushing roller speed of 1500 r/min, a secondary crushing roller clearance of 2.5 mm, and a secondary crushing roller speed of 3280 r/min. The pass rate of corn cob crushing in the simulation test was 98.2%. The physical tests, using the optimized parameter combination, yielded a qualified crushing rate of 97.5%, which deviates by 0.7% from the simulation results, satisfying the requirement of a qualified crushing rate exceeding 95%. The experimental outcomes validate the rationality of the proposed crushing scheme and the accuracy of the model, providing a theoretical foundation for subsequent research endeavors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the physicochemical analysis, acceptability, and marketability of CORNADO Drip Coffee with three serving proportions of 10 grams, 15 grams, and 20 grams to the group of Barista, Coffee Shop Owners, and Consumers of Marikina City during the school year 2023-2024. Experimental method was used in this study to determine the acceptability of corn cob and avocado seed drip coffee and evaluated in terms of appearance, aroma, color, and taste and likewise, on its marketability. As regards the results of the physicochemical analysis of the product, the findings revealed that the CORNADO Drip Coffee, in terms of low carbohydrate count, low moisture content, low acidity, and low titratable acidity is a healthy alternative coffee drink. In addition, the three groups of respondents evaluated the acceptability level of CORNADO Drip Coffee with 10 grams, 15 grams, and 20 grams proportion in terms of appearance, aroma, color, and taste as Very Acceptable. Meanwhile, there were no significant differences on the evaluation of the three groups of respondents on the acceptability level of CORNADO Drip Coffee in three proportions in terms of the said criteria. On the other hand, the level of marketability as evaluated by consumers, barista, and coffee shop owners generally received a rating of Very High Potential utilizing the 10 grams, 15 grams, and 20 grams in terms of supply availability, production cost, and consumer demand resulting to no significant difference on their evaluations. Furthermore, the respondents provided comments and suggestion for further improvement of the product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Day-to-day increases in environmental pollution caused by the wide-ranging use of fossil fuels have raised concerns about the usage of traditional fossil fuels, and thus the search for alternative renewable and environmentally friendly fuel sources have started over the past few generations. Conversion of waste to bio-fuel can be a promising approach to the waste-to-energy (WtE) technology. This article briefly enlightened the potential of different waste streams using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) conversion technology. A higher percentage of carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) in biomass favors higher bio-oil yield. HTL process is highly affected by physical and chemical properties which include temperature–pressure variation, retention time, and solvent addition during operation which can influence the production of yield percentage. From the analysis, Researchers observed a maximum of 76% crude yield found in corn cob in the presence of acetone solvent. Sewage sludge and cattle manure produce 55% and 49% of yield respectively through HTL. Therefore, this review summarizes the most significant advancements in lignocellulose liquefaction research, with a focus on the feedstock, liquefaction technology, target products, and degradation mechanisms of each biomass component. This review is likely a valuable resource for further research on lignocellulose solvent liquefaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this work was to determine the influence of chosen biostimulants and microbiological preparations on the yield of sweet corn and the occurrence of Ostrinia nubilalis Hbn, and diseases. In both years of the study, the preparations used in this experiment did not have a statistically significant effect on marketable yield; however, in 2017, the highest weight was observed in the cobs of plants treated with Rizocore and Polyversum WP while the lowest in the cobs treated with RhizoVital 42. The biostimulant Asahi SL and the biological fungicide Serenade ASO proved to be the most effective in protecting sweet corn against cob and shoot infections by fungi of the genus Fusarium. All the preparations reduced the development of the common smut in corn, especially on the cobs. There were no statistically significant differences in cob infection by the O. nubilalis in the combinations treated with different preparations, although the lowest number of cobs damaged by pest in both years were observed on plots treated with Serenade ASO and RhizoVital 42, while the highest on plots treated with Goëmar BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMicrowave-Assisted Alkali (MAA) pretreatment of corncob biomass was optimized for maximum fermentable sugar yield using dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis. A Central Composite Design (CCD) investigated the effects of microwave power (450–9000 W), NaOH concentration (1.5 to 4.5% wt./v), and irradiation time (10–20 min) on lignin removal. The optimal MAA pretreatment conditions were found to be 691.73 W, 3.4% NaOH, and 15.5 min, resulting in the selective removal of 73.36% lignin with high retention of cellulose (71.69%) and hemicellulose (22.14%). Characterization techniques (FTIR, SEM, XRD, TGA) confirmed substantial changes in surface morphology, functional groups, crystallinity, and thermal stability of the pretreated corncobs. Dilute sulfuric acid hydrolysis (0.5–2.5%, 110130 °C, 3060 min) of the optimized sample yielded a maximum reducing sugar output of 537.42 mg/g, achieved at 0.534% H2SO4, 122.3 °C, for 58 min. Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Alkali pretreatment process for corncobs could boost biofuel production efficiency, sustainably utilize agricultural waste, and advance a more sustainable energy landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corn cobs consist primarily of a lignocellulosic material comprising hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin in a crystalline state, which is resistant to microbial saccharification. Bioethanol production from corn cobs has rarely been attempted, especially using chemical pretreatment methods. The present study deals with the production and purification of fungal (Phanerochaete chrysosporium MTCC 787 and Pleurotus florida PAU 22‐01) extracellular ligninolytic enzymes – lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lac) – followed by their utilization for the biological pretreatment of corn cobs along with saccharification using commercial cellulase. Crude LiP, MnP, and Lac demonstrated specific activity of 2.23, 2.1, and 2.63 U/mg, respectively. The one‐step purification of crude enzyme using diethyl amino ethyl (DEAE) cellulose ion exchange chromatography resulted in 11.3, 10.1 and 8.62‐fold purification of LiP, MnP and Lac activity, respectively, with corresponding specific activity of 25.1 U/mg (LiP), 21.2 U/mg (MnP) and 22.7 U/mg (Lac) in the partially purified ligninozymes. Using the latter, biological pretreatment of 2.5 g corn cobs in a reaction volume of 30 mL containing approximately 200 units of Lac, Lip and MnP enzymes (in phosphate buffer, pH 6) resulted in a maximum of 78.4% delignification with a saccharification efficiency of 97.1% using commercial cellulases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A fast, reliable, low‐cost, and efficient method for the recovery of xylan from agro‐residue materials is needed to improve the use of xylan in industrial processes. Xylan was extracted from two agrowastes (corncobs and wheat bran) using a cost‐effective alkali extraction method. The characteristic band patterns and bending vibrations associated with hemicellulose and beta glycoside linkage could be seen in the corncob‐extracted xylan (CCEx) and wheatbran‐extracted xylan (WBEx). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that the extracted xylans consisted of aggregated and nonaggregated particles with irregular morphology and rough surfaces. Particle‐size analysis displayed average sizes of 205.6, 210.8, and 794.2 nm for commercial beechwood xylan (Bx), CCEx, and WBEx, respectively. Alkali extraction was performed with different concentrations of NaOH, from 5% to 20%, with a solid–liquid ratio of 1:20. It was found that 82.90 and 76.77% of xylan were extracted from corncob and wheat bran, respectively, which represents a higher yield obtained in a shorter duration in comparison with studies in the literature. The enzymatic hydrolysis of wheat bran and corncob that used 250 IU/mL of Enterobacter hormaechie KS1 xylanase yielded 334.38 and 162.35 mg/g of xylooligosaccharides. Their properties were studied and were found to be very similar to those of commercial xylan. They could reduce costs if applied in industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aims to valorise a plant waste, corn cobs (Zea mays) enriched with fibres (cellulose of 19.09–19.18% and hemicellulose of 34.04–60.13%), to create gel‐like sorbents. Corn cobs (CB) were dried, grounded and sieved to obtain 500, 250 and 125 μm powder size fractions. Various CB powder concentrations (10–40% w/w) were mixed with distilled water and rice bran oil for 2 min at ambient temperature to form hydrogel‐like and oleogel‐like sorbents, respectively. Visual appearance indicated that selected gels formed by 250 and 125 μm CB powders were self‐sustained right after mixing, while the largest particles (500 μm) could not fabricate gels at the CB concentrations studied. FTIR results suggested that the gelation process was primarily attributed to physical absorption rather than chemical binding. Comprehensive analyses of microstructure, physicochemical properties and rheological behaviour indicated that gelation was due to fibre–fibre interaction (125 μm) and oil/water–fibre interaction (250 μm). An increase in CB powder concentration enhanced the microstructural density and hardness of gels. Thus, 250 μm particles and higher absorbent concentrations resulted in brittle sorbents characterised by high hardness but low cohesiveness. The 250 μm particles also exhibit a superior antioxidant profile and lower oil/water loss than the 125 μm CB particles due to effective intra‐particle trapping mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance cellulose hydrolysis under high solid loadings, increasing the mixing intensity is often necessary, but this can lead to heightened product inhibition. In this work, the effect of mixing on high-solid cellulose hydrolysis was investigated. Through response surface optimization experiments, the optimal mixing intensities for 15%, 25%, and 35% (w/v) cellulose hydrolysis were obtained under different levels of product inhibition. A combined mixing optimization strategy was developed for different solid concentrations, aiming to enhance both the glucose yield and the conversion rate of microcrystalline cellulose and corn cobs. After optimization, the hydrolysis of microcrystalline cellulose resulted in glucose concentrations of 85 g/L, 130 g/L, and 167 g/L, corresponding to maximal conversion enhancements of 23%, 13%, and 8.6%, respectively. Similarly, the hydrolysis of corn cobs achieved glucose concentrations of 81 g/L, 124.6 g/L, and 140 g/L, with maximal conversion improvements of 4%, 5%, and 13%. These results indicate that the optimized strategy can effectively improve the conversion rate of high-solid enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three delignification treatments of corncob residues (CCR), including NaOH, formic acid, and sulfite treatments, were compared at the respective optimized condition and in light of chemical compositions, sugar recovery, and ethanol production. NaOH and sulfite treatment can remove lignin in the CCR efficiently. Though NaOH treatment showed a superior ability of delignification, its solid cellulose recovery is lower than that of sulfite treatment. The sulfite treatment has the highest selectivity between delignification and cellulose conservation. The formic acid-treated CCR still had high lignin contents because formic acid also accelerated the solvation of cellulose. In fed-batch simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with 25% substrate loading, the highest 77.1 ± 2.33 g/L ethanol was from NaOH-treated CCR, corresponding to a CCR-to-ethanol yield of 0.208 ± 0.0021 g/g. However, the sulfite pretreated CCR also produced 68.2 ± 2.22 g/L ethanol, with a higher CCR-to-ethanol yield of 0.219 ± 0.0012 g/g. The high substrate dosage is beneficial to ethanol concentration but not beneficial to CCR-to-ethanol yield. The optimal substrate dosage required for ethanol production depends on the targeted aim (ethanol concentration or CCR-to-ethanol yield). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The economic competitiveness of 2G-bioethanol technology should improve through the improvement of the sugar release and the valorization of by-products, especially lignin. Thus, an integrated scheme with corncob was developed to produce ethanol using low dosages of cellulases and value-added products from the semi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSSF) residue. Enzymatic hydrolysis and SSSF of acid pretreated corncob (< 20 mesh and > 20 mesh) were carried out under cellulase dosages of 5, 10, and 15 FPU/g in the absence and presence of polyethylene glycol 1500 (PEG 1500). The SSSF residue was used to obtain lignosulfonate via sulfomethylation reaction and phenolic acids via alkaline hydrolysis using 4% (w/v) sodium hydroxide and 0–5% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide. Pretreated corncob < 20 mesh allowed the reduction of cellulase dosage to 5 FPU/g without compromising sugar release. The addition of PEG 1500 boosted sugar release, reaching 56.73 g/L glucose under 20% (w/v) solids. The maximum ethanol production of 31.64 g/L was obtained using 5 FPU/g cellulases, 2% (w/w) PEG 1500, and 20% (w/v) solids (gradual addition). FTIR confirmed the preparation of lignosulfonate from SSSF residue, and the surfactant showed good stabilization performance in oil/water systems (emulsification index≈30%). High yields of p-coumaric acid (8045.3 mg/100 g) and ferulic acid (1429.4 mg/100 g) were obtained in alkaline hydrolysis with 5% (v/v) hydrogen peroxide. Based on these findings, corncob is versatile and can create a biorefinery with high economic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, has been notably detected in aquatic environments, including wastewater, surface water and drinking water, causing significant concern within the scientific and environmental research communities. This study focuses on two main objectives: (i) optimizing corn cob‐based activated carbon (CCAC) through response surface methodology for the adsorption of acetaminophen and (ii) simulating the acetaminophen adsorption process using the polymath mass transfer (PMT) model. RESULTS: The optimized CCAC was prepared via physiochemical activation under microwave radiation (265 W power) for 6 min, with a KOH impregnation ratio of 0.50 g g−1. This process resulted in a high Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 976.29 m2 g−1, accompanied by a corresponding pore volume of 0.39 cm3 g−1 and a pore diameter of 2.38 nm. The adsorption study, employing differential initial concentrations (ranging from 5 to 30 mg L−1) of acetaminophen, revealed a substantial adsorption capacity of 22.43 mg g−1 (74.77%) at 30 °C and 20.74 mg g−1 (69.13%) at pH 6. The PMT model indicated an adsorption capacity (Qm) of 21.14 mg g−1, with an error of 5.75%, demonstrating high precision compared to the experimental result. Additionally, the calculated R2 values equal to or above 0.90 indicated strong agreement between the PMT model and experimental data. CONCLUSION: Thus, applying the PMT model proved to be economical and cost‐effective, providing accurate predictions on surface area during adsorption performance compared to the time‐consuming and costly process of conducting characterizations. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the desire to produce environmentally friendly composites, sandwich composites with a matrix made of a Dammar-based hybrid resin, a core of chopped corn cobs, and faces made of natural fabrics were cast and researched in terms of their mechanical properties. The low production cost and the mechanical characteristic values obtained for these sandwich composites have shown that they represent an alternative to MDF, or PAL (Medium Density Fiberboard, or Chipboard). As an application, two elements of a bathroom cabinet were made. The cabinet was exposed to a high-humidity environment, and it was found that the humidity level did not cause any changes in shape or appearance of the elements made from the sandwich composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the amount of agricultural waste produced annually worldwide is very high, numerous studies have been conducted with the aim of using them in the structure of composite materials that have a minimal impact on the environment, reduced costs, and can be used in various fields of activity. In this research, four types of composite materials were cast, with a reinforcement of chopped corn cobs and with a matrix of acrylic resin, respectively, of three hybrid resins having various mass proportions, where Dammar natural resin prevailed. The chemical structure of the composites with hybrid matrix was determined using molecular spectroscopic microanalysis, and some mechanical properties of all the composites were investigated. It was found that the values of the obtained mechanical characteristics were limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to identify the effect of genotype × trait, 20 maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids were cultivated and investigated in a randomized complete block design in three replications in the Karaj region. The results of the analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype in terms of all traits except for the traits of days until the tassel dries, peduncle outside the flag leaf, tassel length, the number of fill seeds, and the depth of the seeds are significantly different. Based on the mean comparison done by Duncan's method, G3, G6, G7, and G4 genotypes were identified as favorable hybrids. Based on the graphic analysis, the genotypes G5, G4, G6, G3, G9, and G14 can be identified as desirable hybrids. The correlation diagram indicated that the grain yield trait has a positive correlation with tassel length, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf surface traits. Based on the principal component analysis, the first 10 components explained more than 74% of the data variance. The traits were classified into 10 components: components of ear characteristics, time characteristics in terms of maturity, leaf characteristics, characteristics of maize plant 1 (cob corn diameter, peduncle length, and grain yield traits), characteristics of maize plant 2 (number of tassel branches, leaf surface, and grain yield traits), physiological characteristics and germination, the crown part of the ear characteristics, grain characteristics, grain yield, and characteristics of the ear head. The experiment results indicated that G8, G15, G1, and G6 hybrids were more favorable in terms of grain yield trait. Core Ideas: The interaction between genotype and trait is very effective in selecting genotypes for breeding programs.Trait relations and grain yield evaluation are key for breeding program genotype selection.Genotype × trait biplot method is very important in examining genotypes based on different traits and their relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Agro-Environment Science is the property of Journal of Agro-Environment Science Editorial Board and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the prompt planting of subsequent crops, most of China's corn harvest must occur before full maturity, with a grain moisture content above 25%. Harvesting moist corn presents challenges due to significant grain damage during threshing. We conducted a high-speed photography observation test of moist corn threshing. It demonstrated that corn ears, when passing through the threshing cylinder, often break into pieces. Grains on divided corncobs can be threshed more easily and earlier than those on undivided ones, suggesting that pre-dividing corn ears reduces grain damage. An experiment using the Lianchuang 825 variety examined the effect of moisture content and the divided rate of corncobs (DRC) on grain damage. The results showed that as moisture content increased from 25% to 37%, grain damage to undivided ears increased from 3.75% to 37.71%. Dividing corn ears before threshing significantly reduced damage, with an eight-piece division reducing damage by approximately 70% across all moisture levels. Verification with the Jinyu 1233 variety confirmed that a higher DRC consistently reduced damage. This study provides a new approach to reducing damage in moist corn threshing and aids in the development of low-damage threshing devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel AA7075-TiO2 metal matrix composite was machined utilizing a biosilica mixed EDM technique and the surface roughness and material removal rate are optimized. The biosilica particles are produced from waste maize cobs and then silane-treated. The optimization of process variables wasperformed using Taguchi grey relational approach with a process variable of peak current, gap voltage and pulse-on time. Results revealed that the gap voltage is the most important process variable, since it has a larger max-min difference of 0.25. In order to create a high MRR of 11.6 mm3/min and a surface roughness of 2.25 m, the maximum GRG of 0.79 for Trial 1 (A2B1C3) represents the most ideal process variable group. The best results appear to be obtained with a peak current of 10 A, a gap voltage of 20 V, and a pulse-on time of 140 μ s. The new GRG, however, is around 2.51% better than the anticipated optimized process variables of A2B1C3 with an old GRG of 0.79, according to the confirmation research. The new MRR of 11.89 mm3/min and the surface roughness of 2.30 s with a GRG of 0.81 are based on the optimized new process variables (A1B1C3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An agro-waste corncob was used to prepare activated carbon and loaded with ZnO nanoparticles by using the impregnation method. The FTIR band at 492 cm−1 of zinc oxide nanoparticle-loaded corncob activated carbon (ZnO@CCAc-7) shows the spreading vibrational modes of ZnO. The crystallinity and crystal structure of different prepared materials were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The specific surface area of ZnO@CCAc-7 was observed to be 148.3 m2/g, which was nearly two times larger than that of efficient corncob activated carbon. The fundamental peaks of carbon, oxygen and ZnO nanoparticle with their atomic percent of C 66.66, O 27.10 and ZnO 6.24 were observed in the SEM-EDX spectrum. The thermal stability of the prepared adsorbent was also analysed using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum COD reduction using ZnO@CCAc-7 adsorbent was obtained to be 76.4% at the peak values of pH 6, dose 1.50 g/50 mL, time 160 minutes and temperature 30 ͦC. The various adsorption models Hill, Khan, Redlich–Peterson, Toth, Koble–Corrigan and Freundlich were found close-fitted to the adsorption process. It was observed that the COD removal adsorption technique ensued to a pseudo-first-order rate of kinetics. The negative value of Gibb's free ΔG0 and positive values of the enthalpy change (∆H° = 25.64 kJmol-1) indicates that the process of COD removal using ZnO@CCAc-7 adsorbent was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. Furthermore, response surface methodology with a subset of Central composite design was also studied in detail to optimise the COD removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) stalk and ear rots are the most serious diseases, affecting grain yield and quality in a number of regions of the world. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of biochar and wood vinegar from guava trees (Psidium guajava L.) against Fusarium verticillioides, the pathogen that causes stalk and ear rot diseases, as well as the growth and anatomical traits of maize in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. In in vitro studies, biochar and wood vinegar at concentrations of 0.50, 1.00 and 2.00% (v/v) were tested on the mycelium growth of the pathogen. The results showed that wood vinegar had a high ability to inhibit the pathogen's growth at a concentration of 2% (78.32%). Treating corn cobs with these treatments at concentrations of 2% led to a decrease in the severity of ear rot. Soil drenching with biochar and wood vinegar reduced the disease severity of stalk rot disease in maize in greenhouse experiments, with wood vinegar being the most effective in reducing the disease severity compared to the control. Biochar and wood vinegar both clearly affected plant growth, as measured by changes in plant height, fresh weight and dry weight of maize plants. Furthermore, these treatments enhanced the anatomical characteristics of maize roots and leaves compared to the untreated control plants. Data also revealed that total phenol contents and enzyme activity of peroxidase (POD) increased in treated plants with these treatments, but the highest increase was obtained when biochar was applied. These results highlight the efficacy of biochar and wood vinegar as effective, safe and eco-friendly methods to control of stalk and ear rot disease of maize and improve the anatomical characteristics and growth of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the utilization of agro‐residual corn‐cob biomass, waste plastic and the combination of both for pyrolysis reaction using thermal analysis. Circular bioeconomy is assured by closing all the resource materials loops through co‐pyrolysis process. The conversion profiles of corn cob pyrolysis at various heating rates reveal a three‐stage decomposition process, and plastic waste exhibits single stage degradation. Due to the interaction between the blended materials, additional degradation peaks arise during the co‐pyrolysis of waste plastic (PET bottles) and biomass (corn cobs). The apparent activation energy fluctuates in the range of 120–260 kJ/mol with the conversion, according to Flynn‐Wall‐Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger‐Akahira‐Sunose (KAS) kinetic methods. Notably, for co‐pyrolysis the apparent activation energy is lower (168 kJ/mol using FWO) than the individual biomass (179 kJ/mol using FWO) and plastic (175 kJ/mol using FWO), suggesting a positive synergistic effect during charring. The liquid crude and char product analysis from corn cob pyorlysis through FTIR and XRD confirms the application of the products in energy and chemical processes. The results obtained in this study can be utilized for co‐pyrolysis reactor analysis specifically using waste plastic bottles that are accumulating in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption effect of magnesium modified corncob biochar,steel slag powder and their combination on phosphorus-containing simulated wastewater was investigated. The results showed that the biochar produced by 5 g corncob powder modified by 10 mL of 1.5 mol/L MgCl2 in muffle furnace with pyrolysis temperature of 450 °C could adsorb phosphorus. The addition of steel slag powder and magnesium modified corncob biochar is composed of 14 g/L steel slag powder and 4 g/L magnesium modified corncob biochar. The adsorption effect of the combination of steel slag powder and magnesium modified corncob biochar on phosphorus was better than that of the combination of steel slag powder and magnesium modified corncob biochar, the removal rate was up to 98% and the adsorption reached equilibrium in 60 min, and the adsorption equilibrium time was shorter than that of the combination of the two materials. Combined dosage adsorption quasi-second-order adsorption kinetics model and Langmuir isothermal adsorption equation,the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity is 0. 12 mg/g. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study formulates and evaluates a novel functional food, corncob fiber-infused chewable yogurt tablets, to enhance nutritional value. The tablets have the potential to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms in the elderly and combat malnutrition in selective eaters, potentially replacing multiple supplement tablets. Four batches of tablets underwent rigorous evaluation, considering physicochemical properties, shelf life, and probiotic viability in simulated gastrointestinal conditions. All tablets exhibited robust stability against simulated fluids (85-90% survival rate) and met desired physicochemical benchmarks. Notably, F1 had the lowest hardness (9.50 kp/cm²), while tensile strength showed no significant variance (0.93-1.18 N/mm²) between tablets. However, F3 and F4 displayed significantly longer disintegration times (41.11-52.82 min). After three months, the average bacterial viability was 7 log no. CFU/g, highlighting the tablets' potential to deliver intact probiotics for immediate beneficial effects upon consumption. Thus, these chewable yogurt tablets offer a promising means to deliver probiotics effectively while addressing specific dietary challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-two (32) TN70 (Topigs Norsvin) weaned pigs, aged 7 weeks, having an average weight of 10.5±0.5 kg were used to evaluate the effect of corn and cob meal (CCM) on the carcass parameters, organ weight, villi morphometric, and organoleptic properties of the pigs. CCM was produced by grinding the grain and the cob together. The pigs were acclimatized for seven days before they were randomly allotted to four (4) dietary treatments with eight (8) pigs per replicate in a completely randomized design. The experiment lasted for seven weeks. The feed had 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% corn and cob meal (CCM) in the diets tagged as D1, D2, D3, and D4 respectively. All the data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 and the means were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Except for the eviscerated weight, back fat, and loin, all the carcass parameters were significantly influenced (P<0.05). The weight of the visceral organs was significantly influenced (P<0.05) except for the weight of the lungs. All the villi morphometric parameters differed significantly (P<0.05) except the crypt width. CCM influenced (P<0.05) the colour, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptability of the meat. The use of 30% CCM stimulated pancreas hypertrophy, increased carcass weight, belly, ham, picnic shoulder, villi height, muscle thickness, and improved organoleptic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of Auricularia heimuer, a species of edible mushroom, heavily relies on the availability of wood resources serving as substrate for the growth of the species. To ensure the sustainable development of the A. heimuer industry and optimize the utilization of corncob as a substrate, this study sought to investigate the potential use of corncob as a substrate for the cultivation of A. heimuer. The purpose of this study was to explore the utilization of corncob lignocellulose by A. heimuer at the mycelium, primordium, and fruiting stages, by specifically examining the expression profiles of both carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and the transcriptome of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) relevant to corncob biomass degradation. The results revealed 10,979, 10,630, and 11,061 DEGs at the mycelium, primordium, and fruiting stages, respectively, while 639 DGEs were identified as carbohydrate-active enzymes. Of particular interest were 46 differentially expressed CAZymes genes that were associated directly with lignocellulose degradation. Furthermore, the study found that A. heimuer exhibited adaptive changes that enabled it to effectively utilize the cellulose present in the corncob. These changes were observed primarily at the primordium and fruiting stages. Key genes involved in lignocellulose degradation were also identified, including g6952, g8349, g12487, and g2976 at the mycelium stage, g5775, g2857, g3018, and g11016 at the primordium stage, and g10290, g2857, g12385, g7656, and g8953 at the fruiting stage. This study found that lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO) played a crucial role in the degradation of corncob cellulose, further highlighting the complexity of the molecular mechanisms involved in the degradation of lignocellulose biomass by A. heimuer. The study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of A. heimuer to degrade corncob biomass, with implications for the efficient utilization of lignocellulose resources. The findings from this study may facilitate the development of innovative biotechnologies for the transformation of corncob biomass into useful products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to obtain the high-quality near-infrared (NIR) spectra of fresh corn cobs. A systematic investigation was made to explore the effects of experimental parameters on the spectral features of fresh corn cobs and modeling validation using NIR diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. According to the cob stick-shaped characteristics, the multi-dimensional comprehensive test was carried out to collect 900~1700 nm spectral data under four parameters, namely, light source type, light intensity, detection distance, and light source angle. The halogen lamp cups were used as the fiber optic light sources. Among them, the halogen lamp cups were selected with the power of 20 and 40 W, detection distances of 10 and 50 mm, and halogen lamp cups with angles of 30°, 45°, and 60°, in order to analyze the spectral differences and distribution patterns of curves. The spectral differences were determined for the distribution patterns. The standard deviation and spectral area extreme deviation indexes were used to evaluate the spectral quality. Further validation tests were carried out on the model. The spectra were evaluated at 30° and 45° halogen lamp cup angles by multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate (SNV), first derivative (FD), and trend correction. Furthermore, the new model was established to predict the water content using partial least squares (PLS) and support vector machines (SVM). The performance of the model was compared after the derivative (FD) and detrending (DT) pre-processing. The experimental results showed that sufficient spectral response and less interference were achieved in the halogen lamp cup with a power of 20 W and a detection distance of 40 mm. The standard deviation and spectral area polarity of the curve were 0.83 and 187.2, respectively. The better quality of the spectral curve and higher performance of the model were also obtained in the halogen lamp cup with the clamp angle of 45°, compared with 30°. The better performance was found in the SVM prediction model after SNV preprocessing. The coefficients of determination were 0.943 and 0.880, respectively, in the correction and prediction datasets, while the root mean square errors were 0.708 and 0.932, respectively, and the residual prediction deviation was 2.956. The finding can provide technical support to the nondestructive test on the intrinsic quality of fresh corn cobs using near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corncob is an agricultural biomass waste that was widely investigated as an adsorbent of contaminants after transforming it into activated carbon. In this research carbonization and chemical activation processes were achieved to synthesize corncob-activated carbon (CAC). Many pretreatment steps including crushing, grinding, and drying to obtain corncob powder were performed before the carbonization step. The carbonization of corncob powder has occurred in the absence of air at a temperature of 500 ℃. The chemical activation was accomplished by using HCl as an acidic activation agent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) facilitated the characterization of CAC. The results showed the CAC has non-uniform morphological features with different shapes of its active sites. The prepared CAC was utilized in adsorption of sulfur in its highly complex form of dibenzothiophene (DBT). Particular adsorption parameters of contacting time, temperature, and adsorbent dose were optimized to select the best conditions. These certain conditions are then applied in the adsorption of different DBT concentrations. The maximum removal of DBT reached around 83% at optimal conditions of contacting time (30 min), temperature (60 ℃), and adsorbent dose (3 gL-1). The removal efficiency was significantly increased by decreasing the initial concentration of DBT. The experimental data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model compared with the Langmuir one. The maximum capacity of CAC for adsorption of DBT at equilibrium was 833.3 mg·g-1 at 60 ℃. The findings of this research introduce the CAC as a feasible adsorbent for removal DBT from simulated liquid petroleum fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the effect of mulch on maize yield and water productivity under different methods of irrigation. The field experiment tested drip irrigation, furrow irrigation and flood irrigation under mulch and un-mulch conditions and recorded the maximum and minimum plant height, maximum maize grain weight, crop yield, water productivity, maize cob size, cob weight, leaf area index and number of grain per cob.

Copyright of Technology of Water Treatment is the property of Technology of Water Treatment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The experiment was aimed to optimize the extraction technology of polyphenols from corn cob. The types of natural deep eutectic solvents for extraction were determined through screening experiments. Based on the results of single-factor experiments, the water content of the NADESs, liquid-to-solid ratio, ultrasonic power, and ultrasonic temperature were set as variables, with the extraction yield of corn cob polyphenols as the response value, and the response surface method was employed to optimize the extraction process. The scavenging abilities of polyphenol extracts from the NADESs and 70% ethanol on 1, 1-diphenyl-2-trini-trophenylhydrazi-ne (DPPH) radicals and 2, 2-diazodi bis (3-ethylbenzothia-zole-6-sulfonic acid) diamine (ABTS) radicals was compared. The results showed that at a NADESs water content of 31%, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 28 mL/g, an ultrasonic power of 350 W, and an ultrasonic temperature of 61 ℃, the extraction yield of corn cob polyphenols reached the highest level of 17.49 mg/g, and the antioxidant activity of the extracted product was stronger than that of the 70% ethanol extract. The study indicates that the extraction process of polyphenols from corn cob was stable and reliable, which can provide reference for the efficient extraction of polyphenols from corn cob. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is widely used in various fields due to its excellent physicochemical properties. However, the main drawback is its high production cost. The present research exploited the preparation of BC by combining the hydrothermal process using acetic acid and enzyme treatment for the hydrolysis of corncob. The BC production was further improved by optimizing the key factors. The concentration of reducing sugar was 22.7 g/L after thermohydrolysis at 180 °C for 80 min and enzyme hydrolysis in 6 U/mL cellulase buffer solution for 24 h. It supported about 1.36 g/L as the sole culture medium, which was 5.6 times more than corncob hydrolysate without detoxification (0.25 g/L) and more than Hestrin-Schramm (HS) standard medium (1.12 g/L). The BC products were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, TG, and SEM analysis. Compared to the BC produced by HS medium, the morphology of BC produced by detoxification corncob hydrolysate showed a lower value of the coefficient of variation (37.59%) and higher mean diameter (55.23 nm). XRD data showed higher crystallinity (77.50%) and TG analysis showed high thermal stability. The current study demonstrated that corncob is a promising carbon source for the sustainable production of BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]