Design of Optimum Response Surface Experiments for Electro-Coagulation of Distillery Spent Wash

Electro-coagulation (EC) of a distillery spent wash has been optimized by Box–Behnken design of surface response analysis in terms of color removal. The design was employed to derive a statistical model for the effect of parameters studied on removal of color using iron anodes. The current density (31 mA/cm²), dilution (17.5%) and time of electrolysis (4 hours) had been found to be the optimum conditions for maximum 95% color removal. The actual color removal at optimized conditions was found to be 93.5% which confirms close to the predicted response using response surface methodology.     

Corncob-induced endo-1,4-beta-d-xylanase of Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5154: production and characterization of xylobiose from glucuronoxylan

Eight different fungi were cultivated in a peptone-yeast extract medium containing 1% oat spelt xylan (OSX) to evaluate endo-1,4-beta-xylanase secretion for xylooligosaccharide (XOS) production. Aspergillus oryzae MTCC 5154, Aspergillus flavus , Aspergillus niger , and Aspergillus ochraceus showed significant titers of endoxylanases, which were further used for the production of XOS from birch wood xylan (BWX). A. oryzae produced 89.5 +/- 1.13% XOS in the hydrolysate at 24 h of reaction. The effect of OSX, BWX, and raw corncob on the induction of endoxylanase in A. oryzae was studied, and the xylanase activity was maximum at 96 h of cultivation in 3% corncob containing medium. XOS produced at 36 h of reaction was 5.87 +/- 0.53 mg/mL (12 +/- 2% xylose, 48 +/- 2.43% xylobiose, and 40 +/- 3.6% higher oligomers) from 1% BWX . HPLC/refractive index detection and ESI/MS analysis of fractions obtained by GPC corresponded to neutral and 4- O-methyl-alpha- d-glucuronic acid substituted acidic oligosaccharides. The major fraction, beta- d-xylopyranosyl-(1-->4)- d-xylanopyranose was characterized using (13)C NMR.     

黑曲霉和米曲霉发酵改善豆渣口感

豆渣作为豆制品生产的副产品,富含营养。为了解决豆渣颗粒大,口感差,难以直接食用的问题,该文对利用黑曲霉和米曲霉发酵豆渣降低其粒度分布进而改善其口感、增加其可食性进行了研究。结果表明:利用黑曲霉和米曲霉在28℃,相对湿度为95%的条件下发酵,能使渣感减弱,吞咽变易,口感明显改善;对发酵10d后豆渣的外观形态、显微镜观察、粒度分布进行考察,均一致表现为发酵后豆渣颗粒显著变小;黑曲霉发酵豆渣对渣感的降低效果好于米曲霉发酵豆渣和未发酵豆渣;发酵使豆渣颗粒变小是口感改善的主要原因;口感改善的根本原因是发酵豆渣过程中所产生的纤维素酶和半纤维素酶降解了豆渣中的纤维素和半纤维素,导致豆渣颗粒变小的缘故。该研究对豆渣的综合利用提供了新途径。     

Comparative Analysis of Azo Dye Biodegradation by Aspergillus oryzae and Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The paper reports ultraviolet matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectroscopy (UVMALDI-MS) protocol for determination of complex heterogeneous emulsion or suspension formulations. The active agents and surfactants are morpholine fungicide fenpropimorph (1), amorolfine (2), tridemorph (mixture of 2,6-dimethyl-4-alkylmorpholins 3–6), 2,6-dimethyl-4-[2-methyl-3-(6-methyl-decahydro-naphthalen-2-yl)-propyl]-morpholine (7), dodemorph (8), main metabolite of 1 fenpropimorph acid (9), sodium dodecyl sulfate (10), and stearate (11). The full method and techniques validation as well as method performance parameters are discussed in terms of their maximal representativeness toward real environmental and foodstuff assay problems. These are additionally complicated by heterogeneous laterally, vertically, and time distribution of pesticide contaminants and their major metabolites in environmental samples. The real environmental heterogeneous distribution is elucidated, studying sterilized soil fractions with particle size 2.0 μm, clay content 11.5 %, silt 23.0 %, sand 8.1 %, and pH?∈ 6.0–8.1. A statistical sampling cluster approach is used. The method performance parameters are concentration LODs of 0.026 mg kg^?1 (res. LOQs 0.08666 mg kg^?1). Concentration linear dynamic ranges are ∈?0.025–7.3 mg kg^?1 (r ²?=?0.99822 and 0.99421) and ∈?2.3–7.4 mg kg^?1 (level of confidence of 99.33₁?%) for complex spiked heterogeneous soil samples. The data illustrates the great capability of method and its promising application for environmental contamination monitoring and controlling programs for assessment.     

Impact of Distillery Effluent on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Vertisol of Central India

Distilleries produce a huge quantity of effluents, popularly known as spent wash (SW), which when bio-methanated produce post-methanation effluents (PME). A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for five consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ten treatment combinations consisting of control, 100% NPK + Farmyard Manure (FYM), and graded level of SW and PME were applied. Total carbon content of soil increased significantly with applications of FYM and DE. SW was found superior in enhancing carbon content of soil in comparison to PME. Farmyard Manure contributed more carbon toward the recalcitrant pool, whereas DE contributed more carbon toward the active and slow pool. Nitrogen (N) availability was significantly improved with the application of DE. Balanced application of DE may act as amendment for increasing C and N stocks in Vertisol.     

Assessment of Environment-friendly Usage of Spent Wash and its Nutritional Potential for Sugarcane Production

Excessive and inappropriate use of fertilizers is a key factor of low sugarcane yield and degradation of soil. A two-year (2013–14 and 2014–15) field study was conducted to assess the impact of combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on sugarcane at research farm of Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute, Jhang, Pakistan. Experiment was conducted under randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were used as control (no exogenous application), spent wash (160 t ha^?1), (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) NPK (168:112:112 kg ha^?1), spent wash (120 t ha^?1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha^?1), spent wash (80 t ha^?1) + NPK (84:56:56 kg ha^?1), spent wash (40 t ha^?1) + NPK (126:84:84 kg ha^?1), and spent wash (160 t ha^?1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha^?1). Application of spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1 resulted maximum crop growth rate (11.35 g m^?2 d^?1), leaf area index (7.78), and net assimilation rate (2.53 g m^?2 d^?1). Maximum number of millable canes (14), weight per stripped cane (0.90 kg), stripped cane yield (117.60 t ha^?1) and unstripped cane yield (141.25 t ha^?1) were observed with spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1, followed by sole fertilizer application @ 168:112:112 kg NPK ha^?1 and spent wash @160 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 42:28:28 kg ha^?1. Similar trend was observed regarding quality parameters. The maximum benefit–cost ratio (1.80) was achieved with integrated application of spent wash @ 80 t ha^?1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha^?1.     

Biodegradation of Crude Oil in Contaminated Soils by Free and Immobilized Microorganisms

The efficiencies of free and immobilized bacterial cultures of petroleum hydrocarbon degraders were evaluated and compared in this study.Hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities with high tolerance to and high degrading ability of crude oil were obtained from the soil contaminated with crude oil in the Yellow River Delta.Then,the microbial cells were immobilized in sodium alginate(SA)beads and sodium alginate-diatomite(SAD)beads.The biodegradation of crude oil in soil by immobilized cells was compared with that by free cells at three inoculation concentrations,1×10⁴ colony forming units(cfu)kg^-1(low concentration,L),5×10⁴ cfu kg^-1(medium concentration,M),and 1×10⁵ cfu kg^-1(high concentration,H).At 20 d after inoculation,the maximum degradation rate in the immobilized systems reached 29.8%(SAD-M),significantly higher(P<0.05)than that of the free cells(21.1%),and the SAD beads showed greater degradation than the SA beads.Moreover,both microbial populations and total microbial activity reached significantly higher level(P<0.05)in the immobilized systems than free cell systems at a same initial inoculation amount.The scanning effectronic microscope(SEM)images also confirmed the advantages of the immobilized microstructure of SAD beads.The enhanced degradation and bacterial growth in the SAD beads indicated the high potential of SAD beads as an effective option for bioremediation of crude oil-contaminated soils in the Yellow River Delta.     

酒精糟清液蒸发浓缩结垢机理及其防垢、除垢

通过对酒精糟清液的成份分析及其垢的特性分析，揭示了酒精糟清液蒸发浓缩过程中垢的形成机理，指出了影响垢形成的主要因素及降低垢层厚度的方法，介绍了通过试验得出的除垢方法，对生产实际有重要参考价值     

Isolation and characterization of an extracellular antimicrobial protein from Aspergillus oryzae

A 17 kDa antimicrobial protein was isolated from growth medium containing the filamentous fungus Aspergillus oryzae by extracting the supernatants from the culture media, ion exchange chromatography on CM-sepharose, and C18 reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. This antimicrobial protein, which we considered to be an extracellular antimicrobial protein from A. oryzae (exAP-AO17), possessed antimicrobial activity but lacked hemolytic activity. The exAP-AO17 protein strongly inhibited pathogenic microbial strains, including pathogenic fungi, Fusarium moniliform var. subglutinans and Colletotrichum coccodes, and showed antibacterial activity against bacteria, including E. coli O157 and Staphylococcus aureus. To confirm that the protein acts as a regulation factor for extracellular secretion, we examined growth under varying conditions of N sources, C sources, ions, ambient pH, and stress. Various culture conditions were found to induce characteristic changes in the expression of protein synthesis as analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Highly basic polypeptides were regulated by suppressing the ambient pH under acidic conditions and strongly induced under alkaline conditions, thus confirming that pH regulation is physiologically relevant. The expression of exAP-AO17 was upregulated by heat shock upon growth in the presence of NaCl. Automated Edman degradation showed that the N-terminal sequence of exAP-AO17 was NH 2-GLPGPAGAVGFAGKDQNM-. ExAP-AO17 showed partial sequence homology with a collagen belonging to the animal source. These results suggest that exAP-AO17 is an excellent candidate as a lead compound for the development of novel oral or other types of anti-infective agents.     

Purification and properties of a novel phenolic antioxidant from Radix astragali fermented by Aspergillus oryzae M29

The Chinese herb Radix astragalus (RA) has been widely used as a dietary supplement in Asia, and there are numerous reports on its bioactivities. However, there are no reports to date regarding the use of Aspergillus spp. in the culture medium of the RA plant for the production of phenolic antioxidants. In this study, utilizing the fungus Aspergillus to ferment the native RA has successfully resulted in a significant increase in the phenolic contents of RA, and the fermented RA also revealed much better antioxidant activity toward 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals, hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical and peroxyl radical than those of unfermented RA. Among these phenolics, a potent novel antioxidant was isolated and identified as 3,4-di(4'-hydroxyphenyl) isobutyric acid with a molecular weight of 272, by ESI-MS (electrospray ionization mass), 1H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), 13C NMR, DEPT (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer)-NMR, HMQC (heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence), and HMBC (heteronuclear multiple bond correlation) spectra. These data demonstrated that the solid-state bioprocessing strategy could be an innovative approach to enhance the antioxidant activity of RA.     

Synthesis of morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH(2)) by dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV derived from Aspergillus oryzae

Morphiceptin (Tyr-Pro-Phe-Pro-NH(2)), tetrapeptide, was synthesized using dipeptidyl aminopeptidase IV (DP IV, EC 3.4.14.5) derived from Aspergillus oryzae RIB 915 as a catalyst. Tyr-Pro-OEt was incubated with Phe-Pro-NH(2) in the presence of DP IV under various conditions of temperature, concentrations of ethylene glycol, pH, reaction time, and others. Morphiceptin was obtained at 40% yield under the optimal reaction conditions: substrate, 4 mM Tyr-Pro-OEt.HCl and 20 mM Phe-Pro-NH(2).HCl; enzyme, DP IV, 0.275 nkat; solvent, 60% ethylene glycol containing 20 mM phosphate buffer at pH 7.0; amine, 4.2 mM diisopropylamine at 4 degrees C for 24 h. Amino group protection was unnecessary for synthesis of morphiceptin by DP IV.     

Nickel Biosorption by Free and Immobilized Cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens 4F39: A Comparative Study

The biosorption of nickel ions on Pseudomonasfluorescens 4F39 free cells or immobilized cells in beads of agar (biobeads)has been studied in batch experiments to determine the effect ofcell immobilization on the metal accumulation properties of bothsystems. Bacterial cells were immobilized in agar beads followingthe interphase technique. When free cells were used, the sorptionequilibrium was reached in 5 min but with biobeads it took 24 hr as a consequence of metal diffusion. The pH of the Ni²⁺solution was found to be critical for Ni²⁺ accumulation,the optimum being 8, although the magnitude of this effect waslower in immobilized cells. The equilibrium data have been analysed using the Langmuir adsorption model. The q _max of free cells, immobilized cells and biobeads was 145, 37 and7.6 mg Ni²⁺/g dry sorbent, respectively. The removal capacity of free cells and immobilized cells increased when the cell concentration decreased. The maximum removal efficiency ofbiobeads was obtained when the cell concentration was 1.43 mg drycells/mL Ni²⁺ solution. The agar concentration in biobeads affected the Ni²⁺ accumulation, the optimum being 2%. Desorption of Ni²⁺ with 0.5 mM dipicolinic acid was efficient. Cycles of accumulation/desorption resulted in a lossof non immobilized cells. An increase of the removal efficiencyfrom the first cycle of accumulation/desorption was observed with biobeads.     

Biocatalytic synthesis of butein and sulfuretin by Aspergillus alliaceus

Aspergillus alliaceus UI315 was examined for its potential to catalyze biotransformation reactions of chalcones that mimic plant biosynthetic processes. 3-(4' '-Hydroxyphenyl)-1-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)propenone (4,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone, isoliquiritigein) (1) was efficiently transformed to two major metabolites that were isolated chromatographically and identified by spectroscopic methods as 3-(3' ',4' '-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-(2',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)propenone (butein) (7) and 2-[(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]-6-hydroxy-3(2H)benzofuranone (7,3',4'-trihydroxyaurone, sulfuretin) (10). Inhibition experiments suggested that initial C-3 hydroxylation of 1 to 7 was catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 enzyme system. A second A. alliaceus enzyme, partially purified and identified as a catechol oxidase, catalyzed the oxidation of the catechol butein (7) likely through an ortho-quinone (8) that cyclized to the aurone product 10. This work showed that A. alliaceus UI315 contains oxidative enzyme systems capable of converting phenolic chalcones such as 1 into aurones such as 10 in a process that mimics plant biosynthetic pathways.     

伊乐藻和固定化细菌共同作用对富营养化水体中养分的影响

试验是在室外进行,采用适合冬季生长的沉水植物伊乐藻(Elodeamuttallii)和固定化微生物两者相结合来研究它们在冬春季节对富营养化水体中氮磷养分的影响变化。试验结果表明:采用两者的结合对维持和提高水质效果最为明显,其中对水体中几种形态的氮素都有不同程度的降低作用,这主要是由于除水生植物对水体中氮素的吸收外,还有通过固定化微生物的氨化作用、硝化和反硝化作用,促使氮素以气态的形式去除;在试验的后期,虽然水体中总磷TP和可溶性磷DP的含量在各处理中都表现出上升趋势,但是把伊乐藻(Elodeamuttallii)和氮循环菌相结合却能对水体的磷含量有明显的缓冲作用,这些结果综合表现为水体透明度的相对较高。     

磷灰石和石灰稳定化修复对污染土壤铜和镉垂直迁移的影响

大量改良材料被用于重金属污染土壤的稳定化修复,但是不同用量的改良材料长期田间修复后重金属总量和有效态在不同土层的垂直分布特征鲜有研究涉及。本研究采集不同剂量的磷灰石和石灰稳定化修复的0~13、13~30和30~50 cm土层污染土壤,考察铜和镉总量及有效态含量在不同土层的分布特征。结果表明:随着磷灰石和石灰用量的增加,显著降低了0~13 cm土层土壤交换性酸和交换性铝,增加了土壤全钙的含量,且磷灰石处理提高了土壤全磷和速效磷含量。0~13 cm土层土壤pH、总铜和总镉含量均随着磷灰石和石灰用量的增加而逐渐增加,但是降低了13~30和30~50 cm土层土壤总铜和总镉含量。3个土层中铜和镉有效态含量均随着磷灰石和石灰用量的增加而显著降低,其中23.2 g/kg磷灰石处理和4 g/kg石灰处理土壤有效态铜含量降低85.1%和92.0%,有效态镉降低18.8%和23.5%。相关性分析表明,土壤pH和铜镉总量是影响铜镉有效性的主要因素。可见,磷灰石和石灰的应用使铜和镉较好地固定在土壤表层,减少铜和镉向下层土壤的淋溶,降低了铜和镉的有效性。     

Bioremediation of Pulp and Paper Mill Effluent by Tannic Acid Degrading Enterobacter sp.

Wastewaters from pulp and paper mills are highly toxic and around 250 xenobiotic compounds have been reported in the effluents. Tannic acid degrading bacterium, Enterobacter sp. was isolated from soil by tannic acid enrichment. This isolate was used for bioremediation of pulp and paper mill effluents. Parameters like temperature, agitation, inoculum size and treatment duration were optimized by using Qualiteck-4 software. Reduction in lignin 73% and colour up to 82% was also observed. Encouraging results were observed is reduction of COD, BOD with 16-h retention time in batch culture.     

Induction of the soybean phytoalexins coumestrol and glyceollin by Aspergillus

Several isoflavonoid phytoalexins produced by soybeans are known to be estrogenic, with potential beneficial health effects in humans. Increased production of phytoalexins by the soybean plant will facilitate research efforts in this area. In this study, phytoalexin induction and accumulation in soybean cotyledon tissue was observed using four species of Aspergillus: A. sojae, A. oryzae, A. niger, and A. flavus. All four Aspergillus species tested elicited phytoalexin accumulation in living soybean cotyledons. Results from a time course study indicated that maximum concentrations of the phytoalexin glyceollin, 955 microg/g fresh weight (fw), occurred at day 3 in soybean cotyledon tissue inoculated with A. sojae. Other Aspergillus species caused an accumulation of glyceollin at significantly lower levels. A maximum concentration of coumestrol of 27.2 microg/g fw was obtained from soybean cotyledons inoculated with A. niger. Soybean phytoalexins induced by food-grade A. sojae and A. oryzae allowed the collection of higher concentrations of phytoalexins for further examination in several in vitro and in vivo biological studies conducted to determine potential estrogenic activities.     

Removal of Fatty Acids from Palm Oil Effluent by Combined Electro-Fenton and Biological Oxidation Process

The objective of this paper is to design a pilot plant electrochemical reactor and to prove the operational concept of the electrochemical production of ferrate in situ and its online application for sewage treatment. To that end, the first part of this paper focuses on the analysis of the main engineering aspects of the reactor and the electrochemical process that affect the ferrate production, using laboratory scale experiments such as the interelectrode gap, the space-time yield, the area/volume (A/V) ratio, the current efficiency, and the energy consumption. The second part focuses on the production of ferrate using a pilot plant scale to prove the operational concept of the electrochemical generation of ferrate in situ and its online application as a step towards its full scale application for water and wastewater treatment.