Production and Purification of Cellulase from Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 under Solid-state Fermentation using Coir Pith

The present study deals with the production of cellulase from coir pith accumulated as waste with the aid of Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 and the subsequent conversion of the residual coir pith into suitable biofertilizer for the increased yield of Solanum lycopersicum. Alkaline pretreatment using NaOH is used to delignify the feed stock material (coir pith). The experiments were carried out under solid state conditions employing coir pith with 60 % moisture content, pH 5, temperature of 40 °C for 11 days. The extract drawn was purified using ammonium sulphate salt precipitation, dialysis, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 was seen to exhibit endo-β-1,4-glucanase, exo-β-1,4-glucanase and 1,4-β-glucosidase components of cellulase. The residual coir pith was converted into biofertilizer or coir pith waste compost (CWC) using Azobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus mucilaginosus

A Study on the Torrefaction of Rice Husk as an Attempt to Enhance Its Energy Content

87-90Torrefaction  refers to the thermal and chemical treatment of organic substances (at atmospheric pressure, between 200–300°C, under  inert conditions). The objective of this study is to torrefy the rice husk of Ethiopian origin, after a pretreatment with dilute sulfuric acid in order to enhance its energy density. The torrefaction temperature, holding time, and acid concentration investigated in this study were (200, 250, and 300°C), (20, 40, and 60 min) and (0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 g/L), respectively.  Box-Behnken experimental Design (BBD) was applied for optimization using Design-Expert ® Version 7 software (Stat-Ease Inc., Minnesota, United States)

Lactic acid production from Brewer’s Spent Grain by Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014

610-613The objective of this research was to produce lactic acid from Brewery Spent Grain using Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014. The production was carried out in four main stages, including the pretreatment, hydrolysis, fermentation and recovery of lactic acid. Box Behnken Design (BBD) (Design expert® 7 software) was used to investigate the effect of temperature (115–130°C), reaction time (25–35 min) and acid concentration (1.5–2.0 M) during the hydrolysis. Fermentation of the hydrolyzate was performed at 35°C, pH 5.0–5.5 and 200 rpm for 72 h. Optimization results proved the suitability of BSG to be used as a feedstock for the lactic acid production

A Study on the Torrefaction of Rice Husk as an Attempt to Enhance Its Energy Content

Torrefaction  refers to the thermal and chemical treatment of organic substances (at atmospheric pressure, between 200–300°C, under  inert conditions). The objective of this study is to torrefy the rice husk of Ethiopian origin, after a pretreatment with dilute sulfuric acid in order to enhance its energy density. The torrefaction temperature, holding time, and acid concentration investigated in this study were (200, 250, and 300°C), (20, 40, and 60 min) and (0.75, 1.50, and 2.25 g/L), respectively.  Box-Behnken experimental Design (BBD) was applied for optimization using Design-Expert ® Version 7 software (Stat-Ease Inc., Minnesota, United States)

OPTIMIZATION OF MEDIUM COMPONENTS FOR ANTIBACTERIAL METABOLITE PRODUCTION FROM MARINE STREPTOMYCES SP. PUA2 USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY

Objective: The present study is an attempt to optimize the fermentation conditions for the antibacterial compound production from a newly isolated marine Streptomyces strain PUA2 by adopting response surface methodology as the statistical tool. Methods: Prior to using the Response Surface Methodology, Plackett Burmann (PB) design was used to explore the effect of variables on the antibacterial compound production. In PB method, high and low values were assigned for the eight variables viz., glucose, glycerol, soybean meal, manganese chloride, calcium carbonate, peptone and pH. Calcium carbonate and peptone were used as dummy variables. Based on the results of combined effects glycerol, soybean meal, manganese chloride and pH were investigated by 24 full-factorial central composite design. Results: The results of PB method showed the significant effect of glycerol, soybean meal, manganese chloride and pH on the antibacterial compound production. The results of ANOVA and regression of second order model showed that the linear effects of glycerol and manganese chloride and cross products effects of manganese chloride and pH were more significant. All the critical variables having greatest effect on the production of antibacterial compound from marine Streptomyces species PUA2. Optimization of process parameters resulted in increase in antibacterial activity from 7 mm to 14 mm. Conclusion: The factors optimized in the present study were useful for the increased production of antibacterial metabolite from Streptomyces sp PUA2. The result confirms the feasibility of medium optimization to improve antibiotic production

Response Surface Methodology for the Evaluation and Comparison of Cellulase Production by Aspergillus nidulans SU04 and Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 Cultivated on Pretreated Sugarcane Bagasse

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the conditions for the production of endo β-1,4 glucanase – a component of cellulase by Aspergillus nidulans SU04 and Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 under solid state fermentation, using pretreated bagasse as chief substrate. A four-factor-five-level central composite design was employed for the experimental design. The endo β-1,4 glucanase produced during the bioconversion of cellulose to glucose by these strains were strongly dependent on the NaOH pretreatment given to bagasse before hydrolysis. Maximum cellulase activity was 32.59 U g–1 and 28.96 U g–1 (CMCase) for A.nidulans SU04 and A. nidulans MTCC344 respectively. The optimum conditions for cellulase production are 15 mm bagasse bed height, 60 % moisture content, pH 5 and temperature 40 °C in the solid state fermenter. A. nidulans MTCC344 and A. nidulans SU04 were able to hydrolyze pretreated sugarcane bagasse completely after 15 days and 6 days of incubation with significant endo β-1,4 glucanase activities. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of bagasse showed structural changes through pretreatment, in favor of enzymatic hydrolysis. A. nidulans SU04 was found to be highly efficient compared to A. nidulans MTCC344 in terms of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase activities

Response Surface Methodology for the Evaluation and Comparison of Cellulase Production by Aspergillus nidulans SU04 and Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 Cultivated on Pretreated Sugarcane Bagasse

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the conditions for the production of endo β-1,4 glucanase – a component of cellulase by Aspergillus nidulans SU04 and Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 under solid state fermentation, using pretreated bagasse as chief substrate. A four-factor-five-level central composite design was employed for the experimental design. The endo β-1,4 glucanase produced during the bioconversion of cellulose to glucose by these strains were strongly dependent on the NaOH pretreatment given to bagasse before hydrolysis. Maximum cellulase activity was 32.59 U g–1 and 28.96 U g–1 (CMCase) for A.nidulans SU04 and A. nidulans MTCC344 respectively. The optimum conditions for cellulase production are 15 mm bagasse bed height, 60 % moisture content, pH 5 and temperature 40 °C in the solid state fermenter. A. nidulans MTCC344 and A. nidulans SU04 were able to hydrolyze pretreated sugarcane bagasse completely after 15 days and 6 days of incubation with significant endo β-1,4 glucanase activities. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of bagasse showed structural changes through pretreatment, in favor of enzymatic hydrolysis. A. nidulans SU04 was found to be highly efficient compared to A. nidulans MTCC344 in terms of endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidase activities

Optimization of cellulase synthesis by RSM and evaluation of ethanol production from enzymatically hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse using <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

353-359This study presents ethanol production from enzymatically hydrolyzed sugarcane bagasse using Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize conditions for the production of endo b-1, 4 glucanase component of cellulase using Aspergillus nidulans MTCC344 under solid state condition, employing pretreated bagasse as chief substrate. Cellulase thus produced was utilized for hydrolyses of pretreated bagasse resulting in soluble sugars. FTIR and XRD of bagasse showed structural changes through pretreatment, in favor of enzymatic hydrolysis during cellulase production. Ethanol produced was found to be strongly dependent on pretreatment given, hydrolysis and fermentation conditions

Production and Purification of Cellulase from Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 under Solid-state Fermentation using Coir Pith

The present study deals with the production of cellulase from coir pith accumulated as waste with the aid of Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 and the subsequent conversion of the residual coir pith into suitable biofertilizer for the increased yield of Solanum lycopersicum. Alkaline pretreatment using NaOH is used to delignify the feed stock material (coir pith). The experiments were carried out under solid state conditions employing coir pith with 60 % moisture content, pH 5, temperature of 40 °C for 11 days. The extract drawn was purified using ammonium sulphate salt precipitation, dialysis, ion exchange chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. Aspergillus nidulans AJSU04 was seen to exhibit endo-β-1,4-glucanase, exo-β-1,4-glucanase and 1,4-β-glucosidase components of cellulase. The residual coir pith was converted into biofertilizer or coir pith waste compost (CWC) using Azobacter chroococcum, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus mucilaginosus

Magnetic hetero-structures as prospective sorbents to aid arsenic elimination from life water streams

Magnetic materials have been extensively used for the extraction of heavy metal ions from contaminated aqueous streams. This inherent characteristic of the magnetic particles has received considerable attention in recent years. The external magnetic field employed in the sorption process overcomes many hindrances established during the application of conventional sorbents for metal ion removal. Recent studies illustrate the severity of arsenic toxicity to be a major environmental health hazard in the contaminated ground water. Available literature has been reviewed to highlight the problem, including its malignancies. Magnetic sorbents with demonstrated high specific surface area and specific affinity for metal ions have been exceedingly beneficial for removing the toxic arsenic ions. In addition to this, these sorbents have demonstrated a promising performance in practical applications also. This review paper aims to summarize the magnetic structures and all recent progress in the research of novel magnetic materials for arsenic removal making it a promising technique in the frame of engineering chemistry is showcased herein and reviewed scrupulously. Keywords: Adsorbents, Magnetic material, Arsenic removal, Sorption, Water treatmen