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Efficient pretreatment of wheat straw (WS) under mild conditions facilitates its further enzymatic hydrolysis and conversion. Three pretreatment processes with mild conditions including formic acid pretreatment (FAP), sodium chlorite pretreatment (SCP), and alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pretreatment were investigated in this study. The chemical components of WS before and after pretreatment were compared, and the samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The lignin removal by FAP, SCP, and AHP pretreatment was 55.79%, 99.33%, and 94.97%, and the enzymatic hydrolysis yields (EHY) were 68.03%, 75.52%, and 90.76%, respectively. The results showed that AHP pretreatment had a better performance on enzyme accessibility thus improving the EHY. Meanwhile, lignin can be separated from the AHP pretreatment liquid, which helps to improve the economics of the process. The effects of enzymes and additives on enzymatic hydrolysis were further optimized by response surface methodology. Under the conditions of 20.37 FPU/g cellulase, 32.14 IU/g xylanases, and 19.15 mg/g Tween 80, the experimental result showed that the maximum EHY was 94.15%, which was close to the predicted EHY (96.19%). The experiments on fed-batch mode after AHP pretreatment with high-solid loadings (20% w/v) were conducted, and the EHY reached 86.05%. These results contributed to improving the economic feasibility of WS pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agro-waste derived valuable products are prime interest for effective management of toxic heavy metals (THMs). The present study investigated the efficacy of biochars (BCs) on immobilization of THMs (Cr, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Cd), bioaccumulation and health risk. Agro-wastes derived BCs including wheat straw biochar (WSB), orange peel biochar (OPB), rice husk biochar (RHB) and their composite biochar (CB) were applied in industrial contaminated soil (ICS) at 1% and 3% amendments rates. All the BCs significantly decreased the bioavailable THMs and significantly (p < 0.001) reduced bioaccumulation at 3% application with highest efficiency for CB followed by OPB, WSB and RHB as compared to control treatment. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), concentration index (CI) and ecological risk were decreased with all BCs. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) of all THMs were <1, except Cd, while carcer risk (CR) and total cancer risk index (TCRI) were decreased through all BCs. The overall results depicted that CB at 3% application rate showed higher efficacy to reduce significantly (p < 0.001) the THMs uptake and reduced health risk. Hence, the present study suggests that the composite of BCs prepared from agro-wastes is eco-friendly amendment to reduce THMs in ICS and minimize its subsequent uptake in vegetables. Novelty statement: The present study has a scientific research scope, based on reduction of bioavailability and bioaccumulation of toxic heavy metals (THMs) by the addition of biochars derived from agro-wastes and their composite biochar (CB), thereby decreasing the potential health risk. Limited study has been conducted, especially on the impact of CB in THMs-contaminated soil. This study could fill the scientific research gap and provides useful information for mitigation of THMs present in contaminated soil, which could be followed by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and farmers in degraded lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment is one of the bottlenecks in the cost and energy-efficient biomass valorization. Deep eutectic solvents are potential candidates for being used to address these challenges. In this work, the deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride, and acetic acid was studied for its use in wheat straw fractionation. The pretreated biomass was assessed concerning the lignin and glucan content. Under optimized time and temperature conditions, defined using Doehlert matrix chemometric tool, of 3 h 47 min and 139.6 °C, the processed wheat straw contained as much as 42.5 ± 0.42 wt.% and 38.59 ± 1.26 wt.% of glucan and lignin contents, respectively. The need for biomass washing after the pretreatment with deep eutectic solvents and before the enzymatic hydrolysis step was also evaluated. The obtained enzymatic hydrolysis results, i.e., glucan to glucose yield of 27.13 ± 0.25 vs. 25.73 ± 0.08 for washed or unwashed biomass correspondingly, are equally good substrates. Fractal kinetic analysis of the data showed similar values of k and h for both glucose and xylose reactions between washed and unwashed biomass. This confirmed that biomass washing is an unnecessary step, which in turn opens room for biomass processing intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second‐generation biofuel (e.g., ethanol, renewable diesel) can be made from crop residues. However, the availability of residues for biofuel production is uncertain, because farmers have the option to grow different crops and use the residues for alternative purposes, such as livestock bedding and feed, or leave them in the field to improve soil quality. Taking Canadian wheat straw supply as an example, we develop a dynamic programming model to investigate a farmer's wheat straw supply decision in response to different wheat straw and grain prices. Our model considers crop choices between wheat and canola in the context of disease risk, the trade‐off between the immediate payoffs a farmer may receive from bailing and selling wheat straw, and the long‐term adverse effects that removing wheat straw from the soil surface may have on wheat and canola yields. The results from this study provide insights into how farm‐level supply decisions, in response to wheat straw price changes, affect soil quality dynamics and scale up to regional wheat straw supply for biofuel production. This information also has implications for land use change and the sustainability of feedstock supply for biofuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, torrefaction is important technique for extending the potential of biomass for improvement of energy density. The independent variables investigated for torrefaction study were temperature, retention time, acid concentration, and particle size. The experiment was designed by central composite design (CCD) method using design expert (version 11). The three dependent variables were higher heating value (HHV), energy enhancement factor (EEF), and mass yield (MY) were carried out. Numerical optimization using response surface method (RSM) to maximize the HHV and EEF with lowest MY was carried out. The maximum HHV of 25.05MJ/kg, lowest MY of 60.15%wt and highest EEF of 1.593 were obtained at 299.99°C, 31.89min of retention time, 0.75g/l of acid concentration and 0.20mm of particle size. Proximate analysis, bulk density, hydrophobicity, energy density, and ultimate analysis of raw and torrefied biomass were determined to analyze the physiochemical properties of the fuel. In addition, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) were done to distinguish the behavior of raw and torrefied wheat straw. The results implied that energy density of torrefied biomass was well improved when compared with raw biomass. All in all, energy density of torrefied biomass was improved, which can be used as an alternative energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The valorization of straw waste as a sustainable and eco-friendly resource in polymer composites is critical for resource recycling and environmental preservation. Therefore, many research works are being carried out regarding the development of wheat straw-based polymer composites to identify the reinforcing potential of these sustainable resources. In this study, three different sizes of wheat straw fibers (60–120 mesh, 35–60 mesh, and 18–35 mesh) were used, and their different ratios (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20% by weight) were systematically investigated for the physical and mechanical properties of polypropylene-based sustainable composites. The results indicated that the evaluated composites' properties are strongly dependent on the quantity and size of the utilized wheat straw. Therefore, a preference selection index was applied to rank the developed sustainable polymer composites to select the best composition. Various properties of the composite materials were considered as criteria for ranking the alternatives, namely tensile strength and modulus, flexural stress at conventional deflection and flexural modulus, impact strength, density, water absorption, material cost, and carbon footprint. The decision-making analysis suggests the alternative with wheat straw content of 20 wt.% (35–60 mesh size) dominating the performance by maximizing the beneficial criteria and minimizing the non-beneficial criteria, making it the most suitable alternative. This study will significantly help formulation designers to deal with the amount and size issues when developing polymeric composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium-contaminated soil is a serious environmental problem that threatens human health and the environment. Electrokinetic technology is used as a promising solution to treat these soils, as it relies on applying an electric field to remove pollutants from the soil. In this study, four experiments were conducted, where experiments have shown that the use of wheat straw as an available, cheap, economical and efficient adsorbent material to prevent the occurrence of reverse osmosis. The results showed that the percentage of removal increased with the increase in the acidity of the medium, that is, as the pH decreased. This is due to an increase in the movement of pollutants as the soil particles become more positively charged, which enhances Attract negative heavy metal ions. This leads to increased movement of heavy metal ions into soil pores, making them more susceptible to transport under the influence of an electric field. The results proved that when using a disinfection solution with a pH of 2, it gave a higher result compared to pH 7 and 12, where the percentage of removal was 78.3%, 62.6 %, and 51.9% respectively. The dissolution of these metals can be enhanced by adding oxalic acid at a constant voltage gradient 1.2 v/cm and an initial concentration of 200 mg/kg. It was noted after the end of the experiment that the percentage of removal reached 81.9%, as the concentration of metals on the cathode side was higher than on the cathode side. The anode, and this is due to the migration of metals under the influence of electromigration to the cathode side, where the chromium concentration was 47 mg/kg at the cathode side, 27 mg/kg at the anode side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulching is one of the best management practices used in soil and water conservation studies. The aim of this study is to determine the effects of different mulch types and doses on runoff coefficient (Rc), soil loss (Er), sediment concentration (Sc), time to ponding (tp), runoff generation time (tr), percolated (pw) and retained (rw) water and total losses of nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3−), ammonium‐nitrogen (NH4+), total nitrogen (TN), phosphate‐phosphorus (PO43−), and total organic carbon (TOC) under simulated rainfall in the laboratory. Three different mulch materials (dry weed, peanut hay, and wheat straw) were applied at four different doses (0, 2, 4, and 6 t/ha) on the experimental plots. A simulated rainfall intensity of 97 mm/s was applied for an hour. All mulch types and doses reduced Rc, and the most effective reduction was found in 2 t/ha dry weed mulch applied plots. The most effective application for reducing soil loss was 6 t/ha peanut hay mulch. The most effective application for delaying the ponding time and runoff generation time was the 4 t/ha application of wheat straw mulch. The highest pw and rw were found in 6 t/ha and 4 t/ha doses of dry weed mulch applications, respectively. The most effective application for reducing NH4+ losses was found in 4 t/ha wheat straw application plots. The most effective mulch type and dose for reducing NO3− loss was 6 t/ha of dry weed mulch. The lowest TN loss was found in the plots where 6 t/ha of peanut hay mulch was applied. In terms of PO43− losses, the lowest loss was in 6 t/ha of dry weed mulch plots. The lowest TOC loss was at 4 t/ha of straw mulch applications. Mulching can be a good natural‐based solution for reducing soil, water, and nutrient loss. However, different mulch types and doses should be tested for different environmental conditions to determine the most cost‐effective mulch type and dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oyster mushrooms are a type of lignocellulolytic fungus that is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional value, biological efficiency, and yields of P. ostreatus M2191 and P. sajor-caju M2145 grown on spent grain from breweries that have been supplemented with various agricultural wastes. The primary substrates at varying compositions included sawdust, wheat straw, cottonseed, teff straw, bean straw, and brewer's spent grain. Two percent gypsum and eight percent wheat bran were added as supplements to the primary substrates. A daily assessment of the growth and development of the Pleurotus species was conducted during their aseptic cultivation. A combination of 25% brewer's spent grain and 75% cottonseed produced the highest biological efficiency and nutritional attributes. The lowest nutritional compositions, yields, and biological efficiency were found when eucalyptus sawdust was used alone or in combination with other agroindustrial residues. Under the weather conditions of Debre Berhan, P. ostreatus M2191 and P. sajor-caju M2145 could be grown using agricultural residues and leftover grains from the brewery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment facilitates cost-effective operations on lignocellulosic biomass ranging from densification to deconstruction and bioproduct development. However, determining molecular-level mechanisms behind pretreatment and their effects has remained elusive. Here, we combine computational simulation and experiment to investigate the effects on wheat straw agricultural residue densification of an emerging pretreatment solvent, namely, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of choline chloride (ChCl) and oxalic acid (OA). Ab initio molecular dynamics indicates that dissociation of lignin from cellulose in lignin–carbohydrate complexes, which does not occur to a significant extent in aqueous solution, is favorable in the DES and occurs via cleavage of the guaiacyl : xylose ether bond linkage by OA. The ensuing hemicellulose removal exposes lignin to the DES which, molecular dynamics simulation indicates, leads to lignin expansion. The resulting changes in wheat straw fiber structure, lignin distribution, and functional group modifications upon DES treatment by scanning electron and fluorescence microscopy along with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The molecular expansion of lignin enhances inter-particle binding in wheat straw, leading to denser structures under pelletization. The resulting high mechanical stability and combustion properties make the wheat straw a suitable precursor of high-quality densified solids (e.g., solid biofuel). Overall, we shed light on the molecular-level mechanisms involved in DES pretreatment for biomass densification, demonstrated here in the development of a solid biofuel. The approach here illuminates the rational design from first chemical principles of methods to convert lignocellulosic resources into advanced materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study evaluated the impact of wheat straw return and microbial agent application on rice field environments. Methods: Using Rice variety Chuankangyou 2115 and a microbial mix of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum. Five treatments were tested: T1 (no straw return), T2 (straw return), T3, T4, and T5 (straw return with varying ratios of Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum). Results: Results indicated significant improvements in rice root length, surface area, dry weight, soil nutrients, and enzyme activity across T2-T5 compared to T1, enhancing yield by 3.81-26.63%. T3 (50:50 microbial ratio) was optimal, further increasing root dry weight, soil enzyme activity, effective panicle and spikelet numbers, and yield. Dominant bacteria in T3 included MBNT15, Defluviicoccus, Rokubacteriales, and Latescibacterota. Higher Trichoderma harzianum proportions (75% in T5) increased straw decomposition but slightly inhibited root growth. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between yield and soil microorganisms like Gemmatimonadota and Firmicutes at the heading stage. Factors like dry root weight, straw decomposition rate postjointing stage, and elevated soil enzyme activity and nutrient content from tiller to jointing stage contributed to increased panicle and spikelet numbers, boosting yield. Conclusion: The optimal Bacillus subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum ratio for straw return was 50:50, effectively improving soil health and synergizing high rice yield with efficient straw utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the intricate relations between biomass polymeric composition, thermochemical conversion routes, char yields and features in order to advance the knowledge on biomass conversion processes and customize them to meet specific requirements. An exhaustive characterization has been performed for three types of biomasses: (i) spruce bark, a woody primary and secondary residue from forestry and wood processing; (ii) wheat straws—agricultural waste harvest from arable and permanent cropland; and (iii) vine shoots, a woody biomass resulting from vineyard waste. Chemical (proximate and ultimate analysis), biochemical, trace elements, and thermal analyses were performed. Also, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were conducted to establish the compositional and structural characteristics of feedstock. The main polymeric components influence the amount and quality of char. The high hemicellulose content recommends wheat straws as a good candidate especially for hydrothermal carbonization. Cellulose is a primary contributor to char formation during pyrolysis, suggesting that vine shoots may yield higher-quality char compared to that converted from wheat straws. It was shown that the char yield can be predicted and is strongly dependent on the polymeric composition. While in the case of spruce bark and wheat straws, lignin has a major contribution in the char formation, cellulose and secondary lignin are main contributors for vine shoots char. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology can potentially address the gap between energy demand and supply playing a crucial role in the production of sustainable energy from utilization of biogenic waste materials as feedstock. The biogas production from anaerobic digestion is primarily influenced by the chemical compositions and biodegradability of the feedstock. Organosolv-steam explosion offers a constructive approach as a promising pretreatment method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomasses delivering high cellulose content.This study showed how synergetic co-digestion serves to overcome the challenges of mono-digestion's low efficiency. Particularly, the study evaluated the digestibility of organosolv-steam pretreated wheat straw (WSOSOL) in mono as well as co-digesting substrate with cheese whey (CW) and brewery spent grains (BSG). The highest methane yield was attained with co-digestion of WSOSOL + CW (338 mL/gVS) representing an enhanced biogas output of 1–1.15 times greater than its mono digestion. An ammonium production was favored under co-digestion strategy accounting for 921 mg/L from WSOSOL + BSG. Metagenomic study was conducted to determine the predominant bacteria and archaea, as well as its variations in their populations and their functional contributions during the AD process. The Firmicutes have been identified as playing a significant role in the hydrolysis process and the initial stages of AD. An enrichment of the most prevalent archaea genera enriched were Methanobacterium, Methanothrix, and Methanosarsina. Reactors digesting simpler substrate CW followed the acetoclastic, while digesting more complex substrates like BSG and WSOSOL followed the hydrogenotrophic pathway for biomethane production. To regulate the process for an enhanced AD process to maximize CH4, a comprehensive understanding of microbial communities is beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of strategies allowing either the production of high value phenolics, or the isolation of properties‐enhanced materials from technical lignins represents a fundamental step in the industrial upcycling of technical lignins. Both aims are met by the strategy presented in the present work, relying on the coupling of solvent‐based fractionation with the oxidative action of a new type of alkaline‐stable genetically modified bacterial laccase. The described approach succeeded in the tandem, high‐yield and selective isolation of valuable lignin‐monomeric compounds (MCs) and high molecular weight and hydrophobicity‐tailored polymerised materials (PMs) from two technical lignins, namely softwood kraft lignin (SKL), and wheat straw organosolv lignin (WSL). With respect to MCs, higher yields as compared to similar studies (up to 17.2 mg/g) were achieved. PMs from SKL samples where characterised by an almost quadrupled Mw, while in the case of WSL the Mw was approximately doubled. Noteworthy, the reaction conditions were optimized in terms of reaction temperature, time, enzymatic loading, and alkalinity for the selective production of single MCs. Most interestingly, technical lignins as well as their fractions and the PMs deriving from their laccase‐catalysed oxidation showed increased hydrophobicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the thermokinetics of two types of wheat straw pellets, T1 (100% wheat straw) and T2 (70% wheat straw, 10% each of bentonite clay, sawdust, and biochar), under a nitrogen atmosphere (31–800 °C and 5, 10, and 20 °C/min heating rates) using model-free and model-based approaches by TG/DTG data, revealed promising results. While model-free methods were not suitable, model-based reactions, particularly Fn (nth-order phase interfacial) and F2 (second-order) models, effectively described the three-phase consecutive thermal degradation pathway (A→B, C→D, and D→E). The activation energy (Eα) for phases 2 and 3 (Fn model) averaged 136.04 and 358.11 kJ/mol for T1 and 132.86 and 227.10 kJ/mol for T2, respectively. The pre-exponential factor (lnA) varied across heating rates and pellets (T2: 38.244–2.9 × 109 1/s; T1: 1.2 × 102–5.45 × 1014 1/s). Notably, pellets with additives (T2) exhibited a higher degradable fraction due to lower Eα. These findings suggest a promising potential for utilizing wheat straw pellet biomass as a bioenergy feedstock, highlighting the practical implications of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogas slurry is increasingly adopted as a substitute for chemical fertilizer to improve soil fertility and control soil degradation. But little is known about its long-term effects on different soil layers. This study aims to test if biogas slurry substitution alters soil nutrients and aggregates differently in different layers and how the effects are influenced by straw return. A five-year field trial of a winter wheat–summer maize rotation was established to evaluate the effects of biogas slurry substitution [treatments: control without fertilizer (CK); chemical fertilizer (CF); 50% biogas slurry substitution (BSCF); 100% biogas slurry substitution (BS)] on two soil layers (0–20 and 20–40 cm) under equal N, P, and K fertilization in a Fluvisol. The result showed that compared with CK, fertilization was necessary to maintain soil available nitrogen (AN) and available potassium (AK) in the 0–20 cm layer. Also, fertilization had positive effects on soil EC, TN, and AP, especially in the topsoil. In terms of increasing the degree of water-stable macroaggregation, improving aggregate stability and reducing their crushing rates, CF was superior to biogas slurry substitution because of the greater accumulations of soil N, the most important physicochemical factor regulating soil macroaggregation and stability. The effects of biogas slurry substitution changed with soil layers. In surface soil, BD, water-stable macroaggregates, and aggregate stability significantly increased due to the positive regulatory effects of straw, AP, and EC; whereas in subsoil, they decreased. Inorganic fertilization with straw return functions well in soil structural degradation control and N fertility improvement, especially in the topsoil. Whereas in fields without straw return, biogas slurry substitution may be a feasible and economical choice to improve topsoil structure and also an excellent supplement to provide P and K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of three new solid fertilisers (based on Salmag®) with innovative IDHA chelate additives (Cu, Mo and Fe) on the yield, yield (grain, straw), biometric characteristics and chemical composition (total N, Ca, Mg and Cu, Mo, and Fe) of spring wheat and soil properties in the pot experiment. The nitrogen dose in all fertilised plots was 140 mg kg−1 of soil (60% before sowing, 40% at tillering). Before sowing, uniform fertilisation with phosphorus (60 mg kg−1 of soil) and potassium (60 mg kg−1 of soil) were also applied. At the stem elongation stage, nitrogen fertilisers, especially Salmag® with Cu, promoted an increase, and Salmag® with Mo and Fe promoted a decrease in leaf greenness at other growth stages of spring wheat. All nitrogen fertilisers had a positive effect on height (especially Salmag® and Salmag® with Mo) and yield (especially Salmag® with Cu and Mo) of spring wheat grain and straw. The effect on grain yield was stronger, while Salmag® with Fe was slightly weaker than pure Salmag®. All applied nitrogen fertilisers increased total N in grain and straw and Ca and Mg in spring wheat straw. Nitrogen fertilisers enriched with micronutrients generally had a weaker effect than Salmag® on the content of total N in grain (in contrast to straw) and Ca and Mg. The addition of Cu, Mo, and especially Fe chelates increased the content of chelated elements in spring wheat, especially in straw. The pH value of the soil after harvest of spring wheat was slightly higher after the application of Salmag® and lower in the soil fertilised with Salmag® with Mo and Salmag® with Fe than in the control. Salmag® and Salmag® with Cu showed a significant increase in soil Mg and all nitrogen fertilisers (especially Salmag® with Fe) in soil Ca content after spring wheat harvest. Salmag® with Cu caused the greatest increase in soil Cu content. The new fertilisers with Mo chelate and especially with Cu chelate showed a significant effect on yield formation and quality of spring wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum, L.) producers have the choice to retain or remove residue from the cropping system following grain harvest. In the U.S. Pacific Northwest and other regions, wheat residue is often sold to increase operational profitability, especially from higher-yielding systems. But there are several benefits to retaining residue, including recycling of mineral nutrients contained therein, though this is understudied. Therefore, the primary objectives of this research were to collect and analyze a large and diverse dataset on wheat residue nutrient uptake (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu), develop tools to estimate nutrient amounts in residue, and make economic estimates of the fertilizer replacement value of those nutrients. This was accomplished by conducting replicated variety trials on five classes of wheat across many Pacific Northwest sites over two years, then collecting and analyzing data on wheat residue biomass, residue nutrient concentrations, and grain yield. The results showed that wheat residue contained a significant amount of nutrients, but was particularly concentrated in K. Production environment had the most substantial effect on residue mineral uptake amounts, due to site differences in yield and soil nutrient availability. To enable simple estimation of residue nutrient uptake across a broad range of wheat production levels, two estimation tools are presented herein. Economic analysis showed the substantial monetary value of residual nutrients. For example, in a high-yielding wheat crop (9 Mg ha−1), the average fertilizer replacement value of just residue N, P, K, and S was similar to the entire fertilizer budget to grow the crop (~$211 vs. $205 ha−1), not considering micronutrients in the residue or any nutrients removed through grain harvest. In making residue management decisions, wheat producers should consider the tradeoff between the immediate economic gains of residue sale and the multifaceted benefits of residue retention, including savings on future nutrient costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retention and degradation of co-applied atrazine and fipronil was studied in laboratory constructed bio-augmented biobeds containing rice straw-compost (BM) and compost replaced with 10% rice husk ash [RHABM(10%)] or 1% wheat straw biochar [WBCBM(1%)] biomixtures. Atrazine (5000 µg, 50% WP) and fipronil (5000 µg, 0.3 G) were co-applied in 100 mL water. After 30 days, 7.31, 4.65, and 11.21 µg g−1 atrazine and 21.59, 7.41, and 37.20 µg g−1 fipronil remained undegraded in the top 3–4 cm of BM, RHABM(10%), WBCBM(1%) biobeds, respectively, suggesting that degradation of both pesticides significantly varied (p < 0.05) among the three biobeds. After 60 days 94.5%–98.3% of initially applied atrazine and 80.3%–86.9% fipronil degradation was observed. Hydroxyatrazine and sulphone were detected as the metabolites of atrazine and fipronil, respectively. Out of 5000 µg of initially applied pesticides, BM, RHABM(10%), and WBCBM(1%) biobeds accounted for 95.2%, 93.1%, and 95.2% of atrazine + hydroxyatrazine and 62.8%, 67.0%, and 71.5% of fipronil + sulphone degradation, respectively. Maximum amounts of recovered atrazine (68.8%–81.1%) and fipronil (89.8%–94.6%) were retained in the 0–5 cm sections of the biobeds. No significant effect of co-applied atrazine + fipronil was evident on the microbial parameters. This study suggested that RHA/WBC-mixed rice straw-compost biomixtures can be exploited for the detoxification of these pesticides in bio-purification systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternate wetting and drying (AWD) is an effective water-saving practice for rice cultivation that may however promote nitrogen (N) losses compared to continuous flooding (CF). The interaction between water, crop residue and N fertilization management can influence the contribution of different N sources to plant uptake. We hypothesized that microbial processes driving the source-differentiated N supply for rice uptake during the early growth stages will depend on the interaction between water management, the timing of straw incorporation with respect to flooding and the temporal distribution of mineral N application. Rice was grown for 60 days in mesocosm experiment involving a factorial design with (i) two water regimes (CF vs. AWD) and (ii) three straw and fertilizer managements, during which soil N, porewater chemistry, plant growth and N uptake were evaluated. Source partitioning of plant N between fertilizer-, straw- and soil-derived N was achieved by means of a dual-stable isotope 15N tracing approach. Although AWD reduced total N uptake by about 4–25% with respect to CF, this could only be partly attributed to a lower uptake of fertilizer-N (and lower fertilizer-N use efficiency), suggesting that other N sources were affected by water management. Our findings evidence how the interaction between soil redox conditions and the availability of labile C and inorganic N strongly determined the supply of soil-derived N through microbial feedback and priming responses. Although incorporated straw contributed only minimally to rice N, it represented the primary driver controlling plant N nutrition through these microbial responses. These insights may contribute to identify suitable fertilization practices that favour plant N uptake during the early stages of rice growth under AWD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of high pressure (0.1–600 MPa) and pulsed electric field (E = 3 and 6 kV cm−1) pretreatments on the moisture absorption properties of non‐hulled wheat grains were investigated. Microwave sensor was used as a non‐invasive technique for determination of the moisture content. The results demonstrated that high pressure soaking (>100 MPa) of wheat grains significantly increased the water uptake. High pressure soaking (600 MPa) decreased the water uptake due to the starch gelatinization and as a result appearance of structural changes. Compared to control samples, PEF‐pretreated samples showed a sharp increase of water absorption at the initial process with a further reduction of equilibrium water content. Peleg's water absorption model was adapted to the measured data of non‐hulled wheat grains. Results showed a good prediction of Peleg's equation in all experiments, which gave the possibility for estimation of initial water absorption rate and equilibrium moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrolysis of two types of pellets (T1: 100% wheat straw, and T2: 70% wheat straw; 10% sawdust, 10% biochar, and 10% bentonite clay) was performed in a pilot‐scale reactor under a nitrogen environment at 20°C to 700°C. This was to investigate slow pyrolysis yields and gas composition as a function of temperature and residence time. The experimental data were obtained between 300°C and 600°C, with a residence time of 90 min, a nitrogen flow rate of 50 cm3/min, and a heating rate of 20°C/min. The results indicated that the maximum pyrolysis temperature is 605°C with a residence time of 55 min. The product analysis showed that the proportion of gas was higher than that of biochar and bio‐oil. The conversion efficiency increased with higher temperatures and varied between 66% and 76%. The results showed that carbon dioxide was the main component in the produced gas, and the maximum gas concentration was 63.6% at 300°C for T1. The higher temperature and longer residence time increased the syngas (CO + H2) composition for both T1 and T2 treatments. Nevertheless, the produced biochar had a high carbon content and retained a high calorific value, indicating slow pyrolysis is the ideal utilization route of wheat straw pellet biomass for biochar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the utilization of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) waste in the fabrication of graphene and its applications in hydrogen storage. Several LCB wastes, such as rice straws, coconut shells, wheat straws, and sugarcane bagasse, along with the methodology used and the characteristics of the final graphene, have been discussed in detail. It was found that the coconut shells produced crumpled multilayered graphene, rice husks (RHs) provided a mix of graphene layers and amorphous carbon, wheat straw yielded few‐layered graphene, and sugarcane bagasse contributed to different graphene‐like materials. This review has also focused on the various synthesis processes, such as carbonization, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), chemical activation, pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and Hummers' method for graphene fabrication from LCB waste, along with their advantages and disadvantages, for a better understanding. Various results have been discussed exploring the use of lignocellulosic biomass‐derived graphene (LCB‐G) and its various modified forms for hydrogen storage applications. Various challenges in graphene fabrication from LCB, such as low yield, product quality, scalability, use of expensive synthesis methods, and toxic chemicals, along with some potential solutions, have been mentioned. Finally, the review concludes with insights into the future of LCB‐G and its role in hydrogen storage while identifying some gaps, such as scalability and product quality, for further research and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermophilic actinomycetes are commonly found in extreme environments and can thrive and adapt to extreme conditions. These organisms exhibit substantial variation and garnered significant interest due to their remarkable enzymatic activities. This study evaluated the potential of Streptomyces griseorubens NBR14 and Nocardiopsis synnemataformans NBRM9 strains to produce thermo-stable amylase via submerged fermentation using wheat and bean straw. The Box-Behnken design was utilized to determine the optimum parameters for amylase biosynthesis. Subsequently, amylase underwent partial purification and characterization. Furthermore, the obtained hydrolysate was applied for ethanol fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The optimal parameters for obtaining the highest amylase activity by NBR14 (7.72 U/mL) and NBRM9 (26.54 U/mL) strains were found to be 40 and 30 °C, pH values of 7, incubation time of 7 days, and substrate concentration (3 and 2 g/100 mL), respectively. The NBR14 and NBRM9 amylase were partially purified, resulting in specific activities of 251.15 and 144.84 U/mg, as well as purification factors of 3.91 and 2.69-fold, respectively. After partial purification, the amylase extracted from NBR14 and NBRM9 showed the highest activity level at pH values of 9 and 7 and temperatures of 50 and 60 °C, respectively. The findings also indicated that the maximum velocity (Vmax) for NBR14 and NBRM9 amylase were 57.80 and 59.88 U/mL, respectively, with Km constants of 1.39 and 1.479 mM. After 48 h, bioethanol was produced at concentrations of 5.95 mg/mL and 9.29 mg/mL from hydrolyzed wheat and bean straw, respectively, through fermentation with S. cerevisiae. Thermophilic actinomycetes and their α-amylase yield demonstrated promising potential for sustainable bio-ethanol production from agro-byproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat straw (WS) constitutes a considerable biomass resource and can be used to produce the energy carrier methane through anaerobic digestion. Due to the low contents of several nutrient elements and water in harvested WS, the use of sewage sludge (SS), consisting of primary sludge and waste-activated sludge, as a nutrient source in co-digestion with steam-pretreated wheat straw (PWS) was investigated theoretically and practically. WS was steam-pretreated, with acetic acid as the catalyst, at 190 °C for 10 min, ending with a rapid reduction in pressure. Process stability and specific methane production were studied for the mono-digestion and co-digestion of PWS and SS in continuous stirred-tank reactors for 208 days. The HRT was 22 days and the OLR 2.1 gVS L−1 d−1. In co-digestion, the OLR was increased to 2.8 gVS L−1 d−1 for one week. Nutrient elements were added to PWS mono-digestion at two different concentration levels. Co-digestion was stable, with a total concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) at a safe level below 0.35 g L−1 at both OLRs. The higher OLR during co-digestion would require an increase in reactor volume of 14%, compared to the mono-digestion of SS, but would increase the annual production of methane by 26%. The specific methane production levels for PWS mono-digestion, SS mono-digestion, and co-digestion were 170, 320, and 260 mL g−1VS, respectively. Co-digestion did not result in a synergistic increase in the methane yield. SCFAs accumulated in the mono-digestion of PWS when using lower levels of nutrient supplements, and the concentrations fluctuated at higher nutrient levels. The main conclusion is that PWS and SS can be co-digested with long-term process stability, without the addition of chemicals other than water and acetic acid. The specific methane production for mono-digestion of PWS was relatively low. The effect of using higher concentrations of micronutrients in PWS mono-digestion should be evaluated in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess how the bacterial–enzyme co-fermentation of corn straw affects fermentation quality, the digestion rate in Hu sheep, and rumen microorganisms. Orthogonal experiments were utilized to establish the optimal fermentation conditions, which were subsequently applied in bacterial–enzyme fermentation trials involving four groups: group A (control), group B (enzyme added), group C (bacteria added), and group D (bacteria + enzyme). The results show that the optimal fermentation conditions were the addition of 2% corn flour, 2% cottonseed meal, and 60% moisture. In comparison with group A, group D demonstrated the most favorable outcomes, notably reducing the pH and cellulose content while enhancing the lactic acid content. The relative abundances of Pantoea and Weissella reduced, whereas those of Lactiplantibacillus and Limosilactobacillus increased, in the fermented corn straw. In the animal experiments, group D exhibited significantly higher digestibility of NDF and ADF; total VFA, acetic acid, and NH3-N contents; and enzyme activity compared with groups A and B. Additionally, the relative abundances of Prevotella, NK4A214-group, Entodinium, and Polyplastron increased, while those of Dasytricha and Enoploplastron decreased, in group D compared with group A. It can be concluded that Lactobacillus plantarum and cellulase treatments enhance the nutritional value of corn straw by improving ruminal fermentation and regulating the sheep rumen microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass is normally a poor thermal conductor with high moisture content. These characteristics not only reduce the calorific value of biomass, but also promote the formation of coke and non-condensable gas during subsequent thermal processing. However, the commercial application of biomass is limited to the high energy and time consumption during drying stage. In this research, a pilot-scale cyclone dryer was designed for efficient drying of biomass and the drying characteristics were explored. Its superiority was revealed via the comparison of two traditional drying methods as blast drying oven and fluidized bed. Results showed that cyclone drying has the highest moisture diffusion coefficient (9.0 × 10−10 m2/s to 1.3 × 10−9 m2/s) and the lowest drying activation energy (18.3 kJ/mol). Its drying time is nearly 10% less than that of fluidized bed drying. Even this value is only about 1/4 of blast drying oven. Experimental results show that most of the free water can be removed in a shorter time in the stage of drying speed reduction in cyclone, especially in the initial stage of drying at the same temperature in the low-temperature zone (60 to 80 ℃). It was found that the cyclone drying technology can dry biomass particles in a short time with low energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat straw is the second most abundant agricultural biomass. Conversion from wheat straw to butanol, the second-generation biofuel, offers an economically feasible and ecologically viable strategy to minimize environmental pollution. However, by-products generated during wheat straw pretreatment severely inhibit the subsequent fermentation by microbial strains and need to be removed prior to fermentation. In this study, three detoxification methods were evaluated for their ability to improve butanol fermentation with Clostridium acetobutylicum CICC 8012 from wheat straw hydrolysate. Strong acid cation exchange resin 001 × 7 exhibited the best comprehensive performance, yielding 2.03 g/L of acetic acid, 0.59 g/L of butyric acid, 7.42 g/L of butanol, and 12.97 g/L of acetone–butanol–ethanol. These values were 77.72% lower, 85.32% lower, 518.33% higher, and 582.63% higher, respectively, than those in the un-detoxified group. Further investigation revealed that treatment with 001 × 7 alleviated the depletion of ATP and NADH to ensure adequate supply of energy and reducing power for the shift from acidogenesis to solventogenesis. Transcriptome analysis revealed that detoxification reinforced the acid reassimilation route and the direct formation route for butanol formation, resulting in significantly improved fermentation performance by reducing acetic acid and butyric acid metabolic flux and increasing butanol metabolic flux. This study demonstrates a novel approach for detoxification of wheat straw hydrolysate with the cost-saving resin 001 × 7 and reveals the mechanism underlying the improvement in butanol fermentation performance observed following 001 × 7 treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-infrared spectroscopy models for gross calorific value (GCV) were developed for different subsets of woody and herbaceous samples to screen subsets based on the biomass type for optimal models. A woody subset model had an R2 between 0.88 and 0.90, an RPD between 2.90 and 3.10, and an RMSE between 0.35 and 0.43 MJ/kg, which had a better fit and higher accuracy than the full set. The herbaceous subset model had the highest R2 (0.91–0.95), RPD (3.31–4.53), and the lowest RMSE (0.31–0.39 MJ/kg). Of six subsets, the woody subset was selected for diverse woody samples to build a model, and the herbaceous subset could be used to model most herbaceous samples with the exception of maize and wheat straw. The sample subsets of maize straw, and maize + wheat straw had the highest R2 (0.97–0.98), RPD (5.49–7.35), and the lowest RMSE values (0.18–0.21 MJ/kg) of the nine sample subsets. In conclusion, subsets of biomass samples proved useful for building optimized models for GCV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the neglect of reactor features which can substantially influence results, there are divergences on whether the decompression step of steam explosion pretreatment affects biomass saccharification and subsequent bioethanol production. An original innovative reactor is presented, which adopts new-designed pilot-operated pneumatic (POP) mode to maximize the effect of decompression, to settle divergences. Based on the reactor, three series of experiments set at 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 MPa pressure with 0- and 10-min residence times were conducted with wheat straw as feedstock, compositional/structural adaptation, and enzymatic digestibility as targets. Results show that decompression alone improved the porosity of feedstock and led to a maximum increase of 17% in specific surface area (SSA). However, no decompression effects could be confirmed on chemical depolymerization and cellulose crystalline destruction, which were mainly attributed to the hydrothermal autohydrolysis and highly correlated with the severity factor (logR0). According to the enzymatic hydrolysis test, decompression promoted the reducing sugar yield of wheat straw by 6–11% due to the modification of porosity, but autohydrolysis still played the definitive role and an appropriate severity (logR0 = 3.36) is necessary to sufficiently exploit the function of decompression. This paper provides more integral information for further optimization of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composts produced with kiwifruit waste from the calibration process (KW), mixed with 5%, 10%, and 20% wheat straw (WS), were evaluated as crop fertilizers through a pot experiment with lettuce, arranged as a randomized block design. Highest lettuce yields were achieved with 20 and 40 t·ha−1 5%WS compost and 40 t·ha−1 10%WS compost, suggesting that the physical characteristics of the composts increased soil water holding capacity and root growth, whereas chemical characteristics such as pH, organic matter, and nutrient contents contributed to improving soil reaction and nutrient availability. The type of soil amendment used influenced the development of different bacterial consortia in the bulk soil and rhizosphere, leading to increased levels of potentially beneficial bacteria and enhanced levels of relevant functions for plant growth, such as nitrogen fixation. Composted KW as an organic amendment can be used to improve soil quality and the circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is a soil amendment that has the potential to effectively improve soil salinization. However, there is a paucity of studies on sodium adsorption using biochar, and the adsorption mechanism remains unclear. To better understand the adsorption mechanism of Na+ on the surface of biochar, both pyrochar and hydrochar were produced at different temperatures. The capacity and influencing factors of Na+ adsorption in biochar were analyzed via batch adsorption experiments. Pore filling dominated the Na+ adsorption in the concentration of the NaCl solution when it was ≤100 mg/L, where wheat straw pyrochar (WB, 3.95–4.94 mg/g Na) and poplar wood chip pyrochar (PB, 0.62–0.70 mg/g Na) presented the release and adsorption of Na+, respectively. When the concentration of the NaCl solution was >100 mg/L, the adsorption capacity of WB (25.44–36.45 mg/g) was significantly higher than PB (4.46–6.23 mg/g). Both the adsorption and release of Na+ in hydrochar was insufficient. In a high concentration of NaCl solution, ion exchange became the key mechanism determining the adsorption of Na+ in pyrochar, in which K+ contributed to more than 94% of the Na+ adsorption. The findings proposed strategies for the structural design of biochar used for Na adsorption. These will promote the utilization of solid biowaste for sodium adsorption and the potential of soil salinization amendment for agriculture in arid lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the straw to decrease the bulk density of sandy clay loam and clay soils and to determine the effect of this on the development of soybean and maize plants. The soils were compacted using Proctor test with different amounts of crushed straw on the soil surface corresponding to 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 t ha−1. After this, the soils in pots were compacted with same levels of straw on its surface using the maximum bulk density each soil. Then, soybean and maize were sown and after 42 days, biometric characteristics and physiological parameters were evaluated. The results showed that the maximum bulk density and critical soil moisture for the sandy clay loam soil were 1.51 t m−3 and 0.15 kg kg−1, respectively, while those for the clay soil were 1.54 t m−3 and 0.19 kg kg−1. The straw reduced soil compaction for the two soils, resulting in lower soil bulk density with 9 and 8 t ha−1 of straw on the surface of sandy clay loam and clay soils, respectively. When evaluated the plant, the amounts 6 to 9 t ha−1 of straw promoted better initial development of soybean and maize plants. Thus, this study suggests that a minimum of 6 and 8 t ha−1 of straw be used on the surface of sandy clay loam and clay soils, respectively were efficient in promoting physical soil improvements and better plant development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large amounts of agri-food waste are generated and discarded annually, but they have the potential to become highly profitable sources of value-added compounds. Many of these are lignin-rich residues. Lignin, one of the most abundant biopolymers in nature, offers numerous possibilities as a raw material or renewable resource for the production of chemical products. This study aims to explore the potential revalorization of agricultural by-products through the extraction of lignin and subsequent depolymerization. Different residues were studied; river cane, rice husks, broccoli stems, wheat straw, and olive stone are investigated (all local wastes that are typically incinerated). Traditional soda extraction, enhanced by ultrasound, is applied, comparing two different sonication methods. The extraction yields from different residues were as follows: river cane (28.21%), rice husks (24.27%), broccoli (6.48%), wheat straw (17.66%), and olive stones (24.29%). Once lignin is extracted, depolymerization is performed by three different methods: high-pressure reactor, ultrasound-assisted solvent depolymerization, and microwave solvolysis. As a result, a new microwave depolymerization method has been developed and patented, using for the first time graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as new promising carbonaceous catalyst, achieving a 90.89% depolymerization rate of river cane lignin and yielding several building blocks, including guaiacol, vanillin, ferulic acid, or acetovanillone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable material in nature, which is converted to simple sugar, glucose, by cellulase enzymes. Cellulase enzymes are one of the most important industrial enzymes that are widely used in the production of biofuels. This study aimed to use wheat straw as a carbon source for Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells to produce bioethanol. Physical grinding and phosphoric acid plus hydrogen peroxide chemical pretreatment methods were carried out for the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the structure of wheat straw and obtaining a cellulose-rich material. Thermophilic filamentous fungi were isolated from cow manure, and two isolates were selected based on the levels of endoglucanase, exoglucanase, and total cellulase activities and identified based on DNA sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions. Hydrolysates were obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreatment wheat straw by thermophilic cellulase enzymes. Fermentation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells was performed in hydrolysates for bioethanol production. Aspergillus fumigatus isolate indicated 147.11, 515.9, and 453.78 U/mg wheat straw for exoglucanase, endoglucanase, and total cellulase activities, respectively. These activities were, respectively, measured as 380.35, 730.24, and 372.76 U/mg wheat straw for Rhizomucor pusillus isolate. Pretreatment procedures functioned efficiently and increased the cellulose part of wheat straw up to 88.91%. Hydrolysates of pretreated wheat straw (obtained from Aspergillus fumigatus and Rhizomucor pusillus cellulase activities) resulted in 21.88 and 24.02 g/L (4.05 and 5.31%) bioethanol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast fermentation, respectively. It seems that utilizing thermophilic cellulase enzymes and wheat straw is a promising economic process for bioethanol production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights The work summarizes an innovative nanocomposite including synthesized copper nanoparticle (CuNP) impregnated wheat straw (WS) (the agronomic waste from an wheat plant) reinforced unsaturated polyester resin has been established. The addition of nanoparticles (NPs) increased the antifungal properties (~11%), durability (~9%), and strength (~39%) of the composites. Therefore, these nanoparticles have been synthesized from a copper chloride dihydrate precursor and they have been impregnated into wheat straw via cationization. This copper‐impregnated wheat straw (CuIWS) was formulated and employed to create a strong and long‐lasting nanocomposite with unsaturated polyester resin. Their morphological, mechanical, chemical, biodegradability (BD), and thermal properties were estimated and relationships were explicated systematically. Particularly, the tensile strength of polyester resin, crude and treated WS (cationized and copper‐impregnated) composites were 11.70, 14.20, 20.92, and 22.34 N/mm2 respectively. Therefore the reinforcement capability for crude, cationized and copper‐impregnated WS composites increased by ~22%, 75%, and 92% respectively. The residual ash was just about 16.23%, 12.04% and 6.56% for copper impregnated wheat straw composite (CuIWSC), Cationized wheat straw composite (CWSC) and untreated wheat straw composite (UTWSC) respectively point to the existence of ~4.1% Cu incorporated into the wheat straw which holds up the energy dispersive x‐ray (EDX) spectra of ~4.2% copper content. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicates that the nanocomposites are stable up to 325°C. These nanocomposites also show superlative crystallinity compared to other ones. Water uptake capacity followed typical Fickian diffusion law. The developed nanocomposites might be suitable for automobile and aircraft parts, furniture, and other indoor to outdoor applications. TS of the composites increased by increasing the WS filling up to 15%. The crystallinity increased after the addition of nanoparticles. The typical water uptake properties followed the Fickian diffusion rule. Incorporation of nanoparticles increased 11% antifungal properties. The developed nanocomposites are used for inside and outside applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to estimate the effect of lamb's wool shearing in the end of spring and in beginning of summer seasons on the productive and carcass traits of fattening lambs. The study was conducted on 24 Awassi lambs with an average weight of 32.34±0.05 Kg and aged 6-8 months. Lambs were randomly divided into 3 groups (8 lambs/group). The 1st group lambs were not sheared (control), the 2nd group lambs were sheared at the end of spring (15/6/2022), the 3rd group lambs were sheared at the beginning of summer (15/10/2022), and the study lasted four months. Lambs were reared on a ration consisting of barley, wheat bran, wheat straw, and soybean meal at a rate of 1 kg / lamb / day. Statistical analysis of the data revealed a significant superiority in body weight in 3rd group lambs in all study months, total weight gain, and relative growth mean in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd study months of the study as compared with other treatments at P ≤ 0.05. Also, results of the third group showed a significant increase in carcass weight, empty dressing percentage, full dressing percentage, wide tail weight. The results related to the physical dissection of three ribs revealed a significant increase in the weight of the three ribs, lean weight, and rib eye area as compared with other treatments. On the other hand, 3rd group results revealed a significant decrease in fat thickness and empty digestive cannel weight. In conclusion, shearing lambs may reduce heat stress, which was reflected in improved productive performance and carcass characteristics of Awassi lambs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A smooth and dense surface of the base paper is advantageous when the goal is to apply a liquid coating as a barrier layer. For such a base paper, non-wood fibers derived from wheat straw could be an alternative to wood fibers. In this research paper, wheat straw pulp was refined with different beating levels (up to 600 revolutions) followed by different calendering pressure loads (up to 50 N/mm) to test its influence on mechanical and surface properties. Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was used as sizing agent with concentrations up to 0.2 wt% followed by a mineral-based precoating to test its influence on the smoothness. Eucalyptus pulp was chosen as a benchmark. After beating, the initial Schopper-Riegler degrees of 28 °SR increased to 56 °SR. Beating also increased the tensile index from 24 to 49 Nm/g, the burst index from 1.2 to 2.8 kPa·m²/g, and the tear index decreased from 3.3 to 2.8 mN·m²/g. Calendering reduced the initial roughness of 370 mL/min to 30 mL/min. When precoated and calendered again, the value was lowered to 15 mL/min. In summary, wheat straw paper is a relevant alternative to wood-derived base paper to produce barrier papers. Compared to eucalyptus, wheat straw paper showed better smoothness and much lower air permeability indicating excellent suitability for barrier coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the effects of different storage conditions on selected physicochemical properties of three types of agro-biomass pellets: sunflower husks, wheat straw and hemp hurds, and wood pellets. The tests were carried out in a climatic chamber, which allows simulation of real storage conditions, i.e. conditions with high air humidity and variable (±) ambient air temperatures. The results showed higher degradability of agro-biomass pellets compared to woody biomass. The pellets degraded to a less extent at varying ± temperatures than at high humidity (90% RH). After complete moisture saturation, durability decreases for agro-pellets by an average of 9%, while after freezing and defreezing for sunflower husk pellets and woody pellets durability decreases by 2%, and for hemp hurd pellets by 11%. In contrast, strength-by-dropping index for agro-pellets decreased by 20% after being in the environment (30 °C and 90%RH) and 15% under varying temperature conditions. No change in the energy parameters of all pellets in the dry matter was noted. On the other hand, an increase in the moisture content of pellets when they are stored under different environmental conditions results in a decrease in calorific value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat straw returning is a common agronomic measure in the farmland. Understanding organic carbon transformation is of great significance for carbon budget under the premise of widespread distribution of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soils. An incubation experiment was conducted to assess the influence of Cd contamination on the decomposition and accumulation of total organic carbon (TOC) as well as the composition and abundance of bacterial communities in eight soil types with wheat straw addition. The results showed that inhibition of Cd contamination on microbially mediated organic carbon decomposition was affected by soil types. The lower cumulative C mineralization and higher TOC content could be observed in the acidic soils relative to that in the alkaline soils. The content of Cd in soil exhibits different effects on the inhibition in decomposition of TOC. The high dosage level of Cd had stronger inhibitory impact due to its high toxicity. The decomposition of TOC was restricted by a reduction in soil bacterial abundance and weakening of bacterial activities. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that Proteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were abundant in alkaline Cd-contaminated soils with wheat straw addition, while Bacteroidetes dominated cumulative C mineralization in acidic Cd-contamination soils. Moreover, the abundance of predicted functional bacteria indicated that high-dose Cd-contamination and acid environment all inhibited the decomposition of TOC. The present study suggested that pH played an important role on carbon dynamics in the Cd-contaminated soils with wheat straw addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin, a natural pol2ymer with a complex structure that is difficult to separate, is prone to C-C bond condensation during the separation process. To reduce the condensation of lignin, here, a novel method is proposed for separating the components by using a combination of maleic acid (MA)/ozone (O3) to co-treat wheat straw. The removal of lignin, glucan, and xylan was 38.07 ± 0.2%, 31.44 ± 0.1%, and 71.98 ± 0.1%, respectively, under the conditions of ball-milling of wheat straw for 6 h, reaction temperature of 60 °C, and O3 holding time of 9 min. Lignin-rich solutions were collected to extract the dissolved lignin (DL) after washing the treated samples. The DL obtained under MA/O3 conditions had a carboxyl group (-COOH) content of 2.96 mmol/g. The carboxyl group of MA underwent esterification with the hydroxyl group (-OH) at the γ position of lignin and O3 reacted on the positions of the lignin side chain or the phenolic ring, resulting in a break in the side chain and the opening of the phenolic ring to introduce the carboxyl group. The 2D-HSQC-NMR results revealed that the phenolic ring-opening reaction of lignin in the presence of O3 was essentially free of β-β and β-5 condensation bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ethylenediamine (EDA)-modified wheat straw (EMWS) was prepared and used as an efficient adsorbent for removing Congo red (CR) from aqueous solutions. Adsorption of CR by EMWS was examined through static adsorption experiments to determine the effect of contact time, initial pH values, particle size of the adsorbent, solution concentration, and temperature. As pH ranged from 4.0 to 10.0, CR adsorption by the EMWS remained considerably elevated. The equilibrium adsorption capacity was determined to be 97.92 mg·g−1 for a CR concentration of 400 mg·L−1, pH of 4.0, temperature of 318 K, and EMWS dose of 2 g·L−1, which was found to be comparable to other materials used for CR adsorption. Following that, optimal conditions were used to conduct isothermal, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies. In the adsorption process of CR, the Freundlich isotherm model and the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics provided the best fit, indicating the presence of both physisorption and chemisorption mechanisms. Electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding were primarily responsible for CR adsorption onto the EMWS. Based on thermodynamic investigations, the adsorption of CR on EMWS is determined to be spontaneous (ΔG < 0) and endothermic (ΔH = 60.83 kJ·mol−1), while also exhibiting an increase in disorder (ΔS = 289.9 J·mol−1·K−1). The elution was carried out using 0.20 M HCl, followed by washing the EMWS with water, resulting in no loss of functionality. This study suggests that EMWS possesses the potential to serve as a feasible and efficient adsorbent for CR removal in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the rheological characteristics of dough is necessary to predict processing behavior, functionality, and end-product development. Differential scanning calorimetry, pasting analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, and rheological measurements were used to analyze the wheat flour of different cultivars. The thermal and pasting parameters varied significantly (p ≤ 0.05) among the cultivars and showed a negative correlation with amylose content. The FTIR spectra of all wheat flour showed a weaker intensity of absorption peak at 1540 cm–1 and 1420 cm–1 associated with amide II and amide III bands. The relative crystallinity showed a significant positive correlation with HPV and CPV (hot and cold paste viscosities) and a negative correlation with amylose content. The rheological characteristics were analyzed by amplitude sweep (AS), frequency sweep (FS), and creep-recovery test of dough. The AS/FS results showed a weak gel-like structure reflecting a more elastic nature than viscous behavior. Gʹ and Gʹʹ positively correlated with pasting viscosities i.e., peak (PV), CPV, and breakdown viscosities. Viscoelastic compliance (J1) of recovery showed a significant negative correlation with textural parameters, i.e., chewiness and gumminess. Principal component analysis (PCA) reflected 71% of the cumulative variance and PC1 accounted for maximum variance (34%) with PV, HPV, CPV, Tp (peak temperature), 1047/1022 cm–1, crystallinity, and G' as the main factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Composting emerges as an effective strategy to eliminate antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in animal manure. In this study, chicken manure with the addition of wheat straw and sawdust was used as composting raw materials, and different concentrations of norfloxacin were added to investigate its effects on physicochemical properties, bacterial community, and ARGs during the composting process. Results show that the presence of norfloxacin has obvious effects on the composting physicochemical properties and germination index (GI). A high concentration of norfloxacin influences the succession direction of the bacterial community and promotes the transfers of gyrA, gyrB, parC, qepA, and qnrB. The composting physicochemical properties alter bacterial communities and further influence the fate of ARGs. These results suggest that meticulous management of antibiotic usage and compost conditions are vital strategies for mitigating the influx of antibiotics and ARGs into the environment, both at the source and on the path. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The strive toward sustainability increases the demand for bio‐based material production, forcing expansion of the biorefinery feedstock supply from forest wood to non‐woody materials such as agricultural residues. As a model organism for legume crops, the aptness of agricultural lupins as a lignocellulose feedstock is investigated. Principle chemical analysis combined with optotracing, in which the fluorescent tracer molecule Carbotrace 680 generates a visual map of the native tissues' lignocellulose anatomy at sub‐cellular resolution, enables informed design of a mild recovery process. A streamlined conversion approach is then designed, yielding lignin‐containing microfibrillated cellulose. By monitoring defibrillation and delignification throughout the extraction process, the use of optotracing for non‐destructive fiber analytics at unprecedented details across all hierarchical structures of lignocellulosic materials is demonstrated. This crop valorization is a prime illustration of a holistic use of lupin biomass, with seeds serving as plant‐based food sources, and other parts as sources for lignocellulose‐based materials, thereby expanding both the biorefinery concept and feedstock supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyse the impact of biochar in terms of reducing the bioavailability of cadmium (Cd) in soil, a study was conducted on the solidification effect of biochar on soil cadmium and its resistance to cadmium contamination in lettuce. In this study, soil which was contaminated with 10 mg/kg cadmium was used as the substrate; corn, rice, and wheat straw biochar were used as solidification and amendment materials; and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Grand Rapids) was used as the test plant. The morphological characteristics of the biochar, soil pH, electrical conductivity, cation exchange capacity, and soil-available Cd, as well as lettuce plant height, fresh weight, and leaf Cd content, were measured and analysed. The results showed that all three types of biochar possessed distinct porous structures and functional groups such as hydroxyl, ether, and carbonyl groups. Increases in soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), lettuce plant height, and fresh weight were effectively promoted. Additionally, a significant reduction in the available Cd content in the soil and Cd content in lettuce leaves was observed, with the inhibitory effect becoming more pronounced as the biochar application rate increased. When 5% corn straw biochar was added (1 kg of substrate with 50 g of biochar), the best inhibitory effect on Cd contamination was observed, with a cadmium content of 4.63 mg/kg in lettuce leaves. The available Cd in the soil and the Cd content in lettuce leaves decreased by 32.00% and 49.78%, respectively, compared to the CK group (without biochar treatment). Additionally, the plant height and fresh weight of lettuce increased by 25.56% and 31.31%, respectively, compared to the CK group. This indicated that the application of straw biochar can stabilise soil Cd, reduce the availability of Cd in the soil, inhibit the transfer of Cd into lettuce, promote the growth of lettuce, and lower the ecological environmental risk of Cd. These research results can provide a theoretical basis and scientific guidance for the remediation of soil Cd contamination and the safe production of lettuce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals contamination poses a significant environmental threat, which requires the development of eco‐friendly bioremediation techniques. Present research work was conducted using wheat straw in submerged conditions for the growth of white rot fungus, Phlebia brevispora in the presence of varying concentrations of Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr. The lignocellulolytic enzyme production ability of fungus was monitored. A wheat straw‐based fixed‐bed bioreactor was designed to treat metal‐containing water in continuous mode. The fungus showed a positive influence on laccase production, cellulase production, and lignin peroxidase activity. As observed through atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), Cr removal efficiency was 78%–80%, regardless of the initial metal concentration. The Cr was also found on the surface of fungal mycelium as per the results obtained from SEM–EDX. The continuous bioreactor achieved 98%–99% metal removal, making it a natural and cost‐effective solution for metal removal from wastewater using P. brevispora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium-contaminated soil is a serious environmental problem that threatens human health and the environment. Electrokinetic technology is used as a promising solution to treat these soils, as it relies on applying an electric field to remove pollutants from the soil. In this study, four experiments were conducted, where experiments have shown that the use of wheat straw as an available, cheap, economical and efficient adsorbent material to prevent the occurrence of reverse osmosis. The results showed that the percentage of removal increased with the increase in the acidity of the medium, that is, as the pH decreased. This is due to an increase in the movement of pollutants as the soil particles become more positively charged, which enhances Attract negative heavy metal ions. This leads to increased movement of heavy metal ions into soil pores, making them more susceptible to transport under the influence of an electric field. The results proved that when using a disinfection solution with a pH of 2, it gave a higher result compared to pH 7 and 12, where the percentage of removal was 78.3%, 62.6 %, and 51.9% respectively. The dissolution of these metals can be enhanced by adding oxalic acid at a constant voltage gradient 1.2 v/cm and an initial concentration of 200 mg/kg. It was noted after the end of the experiment that the percentage of removal reached 81.9%, as the concentration of metals on the cathode side was higher than on the cathode side. The anode, and this is due to the migration of metals under the influence of electromigration to the cathode side, where the chromium concentration was 47 mg/kg at the cathode side, 27 mg/kg at the anode side.

Abstract Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology can potentially address the gap between energy demand and supply playing a crucial role in the production of sustainable energy from utilization of biogenic waste materials as feedstock. The biogas production from anaerobic digestion is primarily influenced by the chemical compositions and biodegradability of the feedstock. Organosolv-steam explosion offers a constructive approach as a promising pretreatment method for the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomasses delivering high cellulose content.This study showed how synergetic co-digestion serves to overcome the challenges of mono-digestion's low efficiency. Particularly, the study evaluated the digestibility of organosolv-steam pretreated wheat straw (WSOSOL) in mono as well as co-digesting substrate with cheese whey (CW) and brewery spent grains (BSG). The highest methane yield was attained with co-digestion of WSOSOL + CW (338 mL/gVS) representing an enhanced biogas output of 1–1.15 times greater than its mono digestion. An ammonium production was favored under co-digestion strategy accounting for 921 mg/L from WSOSOL + BSG. Metagenomic study was conducted to determine the predominant bacteria and archaea, as well as its variations in their populations and their functional contributions during the AD process. The Firmicutes have been identified as playing a significant role in the hydrolysis process and the initial stages of AD. An enrichment of the most prevalent archaea genera enriched were Methanobacterium, Methanothrix, and Methanosarsina. Reactors digesting simpler substrate CW followed the acetoclastic, while digesting more complex substrates like BSG and WSOSOL followed the hydrogenotrophic pathway for biomethane production. To regulate the process for an enhanced AD process to maximize CH4, a comprehensive understanding of microbial communities is beneficial.