Testing the Waste Based Biorefinery Concept: Pilot Scale Cultivation of Microalgal Species on Spent Anaerobic Digestate Fluids

PurposeA waste based biorefinery approach has been tested.MethodsThis has been investigated by culturing in a 800 L photobioreactor two autotrophic microalgae namely Nannochloropsis oceanica and Scenedesmus quadricauda utilising filtered spent anaerobic digestate fluids of N:P ratio 14.22 as substrate.ResultsSignificant rates of bioremediation simultaneously with biomass and associated end product formation were achieved. Nitrogen and phosphorus of waste based media was decreased up to 90%. The biomass biochemical analysis of the microalgae when grown on the waste based formulated media demonstrated the comparable content of lipids and proteins with the species grown on f/2 media.ConclusionsTheoretical biomethane potential generation, should the algal cultures be placed in an anaerobic digester, was calculated at 0.58 L CH4 g−1 VS for N. oceanica and 0.48 L CH4 g−1 VS for S. quadricauda showing comparable results with other studies of different source of biomass

Controlling Urban Drainage Systems

The key issue in urban drainage (UD) systems, looking from a control engineering perspective, is operation. Measurements, feedback, control and automation are tools to address the challenges. Measurement technology combined with analysis and parameter estimation are used to obtain relevant information for decision and control. The UD control problem is truly multivariable with many sensors and actuators. A major concern is how to define performance indices that reflect requirements from the natural and urban environment and how to translate this into operational variables. This makes the UD system operation a multi-objective control problem

Novel routes for valorisation of grape pomace through the production of bioactives by Aspergillus niger

Abstract: Grape pomace is an abundant winery by-product produced worldwide, which contains a high concentration of polyphenols trapped in cell wall fibers. The fungus tannase enzyme finds many applications in the industry, but its use is currently limited. This is due to its high production cost derived from tannic acid, which is the typical inductor of tannase enzyme by Aspergillus species. Therefore, assessment of natural tannin sources as inductors is a strategy to overcome this limitation. We propose here to employ the red grape pomace, which is a rich source of tannins and polyphenols. We found that, although grape pomace is not able to induce tannase by itself, it is a useful complement for tannic acid induction, reducing the concentration of tannic acid necessary to achieve maximum levels of tannase induction, which ranged between 3.0 and 4.5 U/mL. We also explored the potential usage of this biomass to induce other relevant industrial enzymes and quantified the recovery of gallic acid from grape pomace by the fungus fermentation; finding new routes for this by-product valorisation.Fil: Meini, María Rocío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Química Biológica. Área Biofísica; ArgentinaFil: Ricardi, Laura Lis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Romanini, Diana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Procesos Biotecnológicos y Químicos Rosario; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Departamento de Tecnología; Argentin