Jay J. Cheng

Switchgrass for Bioethanol and Other Value-Added Applications: A Review

Switchgrass is a promising feedstock for value-added applications due to its high productivity, potentially low requirements for agricultural inputs and positive environmental impacts. The objective of this paper is to review published research on the conversion of switchgrass into bioethanol and other value-added products. Environmental benefits associated with switchgrass include the potential for carbon sequestration, nutrient recovery from runoff, soil remediation and provision of habitats for grassland birds. Pretreatment of switchgrass is required to improve the yields of fermentable sugars. Based on the type of pretreatment, glucose yields range from 70% to 90% and xylose yields range from 70% to 100% after hydrolysis. Following pretreatment and hydrolysis, ethanol yields range from 72% to 92% of the theoretical maximum. Other value-added uses of switchgrass include gasification, bio-oil production, newsprint production and fiber reinforcement in thermoplastic composites. Future prospects for research include increased biomass yields, optimization of feedstock composition for bioenergy applications, and efficient pentose fermentation to improve ethanol yields.

Sodium hydroxide pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of coastal Bermuda grass

Coastal Bermuda grass was pretreated with NaOH at concentrations from 0.5% to 3% (w/v) for a residence time from 15 to 90min at 121 degrees C. The pretreatments were evaluated based on total lignin removal and production of total reducing sugars, glucose and xylose from enzymatic hydrolysis of the pretreated biomass. Up to 86% lignin removal was observed. The optimal NaOH pretreatment conditions at 121 degrees C for total reducing sugars production as well as glucose and xylose yields are 15min and 0.75% NaOH. Under these optimal pretreatment conditions, total reducing sugars yield was about 71% of the theoretical maximum, and the overall conversion efficiencies for glucan and xylan were 90.43% and 65.11%, respectively.

Lime pretreatment of switchgrass at mild temperatures for ethanol production

To improve the enzymatic digestibility of switchgrass at mild temperatures, lime pretreatment of switchgrass was explored at 50 and 21 degrees Celsius, and compared with that at 121 degrees Celsius. The effects of residence time, lime loading, and biomass washing on the sugar production efficiency were investigated. Pretreatments were evaluated based on the yields of biomass-derived sugars in the subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. Under the best pretreatment conditions (50 degrees Celsius, 24 h, 0.10 g Ca(OH)(2)/g raw biomass, and wash intensity of 100 ml water/g raw biomass), the yields of glucose, xylose, and total reducing sugars reached 239.6, 127.2, and 433.4 mg/g raw biomass, which were respectively 3.15, 5.78, and 3.61 times those of untreated biomass. The study on calcium-lignin bonding showed that calcium ions crosslinked lignin molecules under alkaline conditions, which substantially decreased lignin solubilization during pretreatment, but the resulting high lignin contents of the pretreated biomass did not compromise the improvement of enzymatic digestibility.

High temperature dilute acid pretreatment of coastal Bermuda grass for enzymatic hydrolysis.

Dilute sulfuric acid was used to pretreat coastal Bermuda grass at high temperature prior to enzymatic hydrolysis. After both pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis processes, the highest yield of total sugars (combined xylose and glucose) was 97% of the theoretical value. The prehydrolyzate liquor was analyzed for inhibitory compounds (furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF)) in order to assess potential risk for inhibition during the following fermentation. Accounting for the formation of the inhibitory compounds, a pretreatment with 1.2% acid at 140 °C for 30 min with a total sugar yield of 94% of the theoretical value may be more favorable for fermentation. From this study, it can be concluded that dilute sulfuric acid pretreatment can be successfully applied to coastal Bermuda grass to achieve high yields of monomeric glucose and xylose with acceptable levels of inhibitory compound formation.

Astaxanthin-Producing Green Microalga Haematococcus pluvialis: From Single Cell to High Value Commercial Products

Many species of microalgae have been used as source of nutrient rich food, feed, and health promoting compounds. Among the commercially important microalgae, Haematococcus pluvialis is the richest source of natural astaxanthin which is considered as “super anti-oxidant.” Natural astaxanthin produced by H. pluvialis has significantly greater antioxidant capacity than the synthetic one. Astaxanthin has important applications in the nutraceuticals, cosmetics, food, and aquaculture industries. It is now evident that, astaxanthin can significantly reduce free radicals and oxidative stress and help human body maintain a healthy state. With extraordinary potency and increase in demand, astaxanthin is one of the high-value microalgal products of the future.This comprehensive review summarizes the most important aspects of the biology, biochemical composition, biosynthesis, and astaxanthin accumulation in the cells of H. pluvialis and its wide range of applications for humans and animals. In this paper, important and recent developments ranging from cultivation, harvest and postharvest bio-processing technologies to metabolic control and genetic engineering are reviewed in detail, focusing on biomass and astaxanthin production from this biotechnologically important microalga. Simultaneously, critical bottlenecks and major challenges in commercial scale production; current and prospective global market of H. pluvialis derived astaxanthin are also presented in a critical manner. A new biorefinery concept for H. pluvialis has been also suggested to guide toward economically sustainable approach for microalgae cultivation and processing. This report could serve as a useful guide to present current status of knowledge in the field and highlight key areas for future development of H. pluvialis astaxanthin technology and its large scale commercial implementation.

Effects of Aeration Cycles on Nitrifying Bacterial Populations and Nitrogen Removal in Intermittently-Aerated Reactors

ABSTRACT The effects of the lengths of aeration and nonaeration periods on nitrogen removal and the nitrifying bacterial community structure were assessed in intermittently aerated (IA) reactors treating digested swine wastewater. Five IA reactors were operated in parallel with different aeration-to-nonaeration time ratios (ANA). Populations of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) were monitored using 16S rRNA slot blot hybridizations. AOB species diversity was assessed using amoA gene denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis. Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus mobilis were the dominant AOB and Nitrospira spp. were the dominant NOB in all reactors, although Nitrosospira and Nitrobacter were also detected at lower levels. Reactors operated with the shortest aeration time (30 min) showed the highest Nitrosospira rRNA levels, and reactors operated with the longest anoxic periods (3 and 4 h) showed the lowest levels of Nitrobacter, compared to the other reactors. Nitrosomonas sp. strain Nm107 was detected in all reactors, regardless of the reactors performance. Close relatives of Nitrosomonas europaea, Nitrosomonas sp. strain ENI-11, and Nitrosospira multiformis were occasionally detected in all reactors. Biomass fractions of AOB and effluent ammonia concentrations were not significantly different among the reactors. NOB were more sensitive than AOB to long nonaeration periods, as nitrite accumulation and lower total NOB rRNA levels were observed for an ANA of 1 h:4 h. The reactor with the longest nonaeration time of 4 h performed partial nitrification, followed by denitrification via nitrite, whereas the other reactors removed nitrogen through traditional nitrification and denitrification via nitrate. Superior ammonia removal efficiencies were not associated with levels of specific AOB species or with higher AOB species diversity.

Pretreatment of switchgrass for sugar production with the combination of sodium hydroxide and lime

Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and lime (Ca(OH)(2)) were innovatively used together in this study to improve the cost-effectiveness of alkaline pretreatment of switchgrass at ambient temperature. Based on the sugar production in enzymatic hydrolysis, the best pretreatment conditions were determined as: residence time of 6h, NaOH loading of 0.10 g/g raw biomass, NaOH addition at the beginning, Ca(OH)(2) loading of 0.02 g/g raw biomass, and biomass wash intensity of 100ml water/g raw biomass, at which the glucose and xylose yields were respectively 59.4% and 57.3% of the theoretical yields. The sugar yield of the biomass pretreated using the combination of 0.10 g NaOH/g raw biomass and 0.02 g Ca(OH)(2)/g raw biomass was found comparable with that of the biomass pretreated using 0.20 g NaOH/g raw biomass at the same conditions, while the chemical expense was remarkably reduced due to the low cost of lime and the reduced loading of NaOH.

In vitro selection of duckweed geographical isolates for potential use in swine lagoon effluent renovation

Plant-based systems for nutrient sequestration into valuable biomass have the potential to help avoid the environmental problems associated with the disposal of large volumes of animal waste. The objective of this study was to select superior duckweed (Lemnaceae) genotypes for the utilization of nutrients in animal wastes. A two-step protocol was used to select promising duckweed geographic isolates to be grown on swine lagoon effluent. Forty-one geographic isolates from the worldwide germplasm collection were used in an in vitro screening test, because they were noted to be fast-growing genotypes during routine collection maintenance. In vitro screening was accomplished by growing geographic isolates on a synthetic medium that approximated swine lagoon effluent in terms of nutrient profile, total ionic strength, pH, and buffering capacity. Large differences among geographic isolates were observed for wet weight gain during the 11-day growing period, percent dry weight, and percent protein in dry biomass. Total protein production per culture jar differed 28-fold between the most disparate of the 41 geographic isolates and was the variable used for selection of superior geographic isolates. The challenge of eight of the 41 geographic isolates with full-strength swine lagoon effluent in the greenhouse led to the selection of three that are promising as genotypes to be grown on lagoon effluent.

Optimal Nitrate Concentration for the Biodegradation of n-Heptadecane in a Variably-Saturated Sand Column

Bioremediation of oil spills on beaches commonly involves the addition of nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) to stimulate the growth of indigenous oil-degrading bacteria. Very little information is available regarding the relationship between nutrient concentration and the rate of oil biodegradation. This information is necessary to design an appropriate nutrient delivery technology. We used continuous-flow beach microcosms containing heptadecane-coated sand (2.0 g per kg of dry sand) to evaluate the effect of nitrate concentration on the hydrocarbon biodegradation rate. Heptadecane biodegradation was determined by monitoring oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production in the microcosms. The maximum biodegradation occurred at 2.5 mg nitrate-N l−1. Nitrogen recycling by the biomass was evidenced by the presence of microbial activity at zero influent nitrate concentration.

NUTRIENT REMOVAL FROM SWINE LAGOON LIQUID BY LEMNA MINOR 8627

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal from swine lagoon liquid by growing Lemna minor 8627, a promising duckweed identified in previous studies, was investigated under in vitro and field conditions. The rates of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by the duckweed growing in the in vitro system were as high as 3.36 g m–2 day–1 and 0.20 g m–2 day–1, respectively. The highest nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates in the field duckweed system were 2.11 g m–2 day–1 and 0.59 g m–2 day–1, respectively. The highest observed duckweed growth rate was close to 29 g m–2 day–1 in both conditions. Wastewater concentrations and seasonal climate conditions had direct impacts on the duckweed growth and nutrient removal in outdoor tanks. The rate of duckweed production in diluted swine lagoon liquid increased as the dilution rate increased. Duckweed assimilation was the dominant mechanism for nitrogen and phosphorus removal from the swine lagoon liquid when the nutrient concentration in the wastewater was low, but became less important as nutrient concentration increased. Reasonably high light intensity and a longer period of warm temperature could result in a higher growth rate for the duckweed. Pre–acclimation of the duckweed with swine lagoon liquid could accelerate the start–up of a duckweed system to remove nutrients from the wastewater by preventing the lag phase of duckweed growth.