Kristīne Ruģele

Alkaline Activated Material for pH Control in Biotechnologies

By using industrial aluminium recycling waste, recycled silicate glass from outworn fluorescence lamp recycling plant, calcined kaolinite clay supplemented with alkali activator with different silicate modulus the new type of porous material for biotechnologic processes without the need for additional equipment for pH control was researched. This controlled-release system contains an alkali activated matrix in which NaOH crystals are encased. In this study ability to release NaOH per time in water according to material composition and structure were investigated. Three alkaline activated materials AAM 7.5, 10 and 12.5, with different alkali activator content were characterized.

Composite Material for Effective Cheese Whey Anaerobic Digestion

The effect of a composite material additive on the methane production from sweet whey was investigated. Two fractions 2-4 mm and 4-5.6 mm and two modifications by age of material were researched. Whey concentrations of 10 and 15% were used with 0.6 g composite material addition per g of volatile solids. The additions of composite materials resulted in significant biomethane potential increasing.

Growing and Drying Spirulina/Arthrospira for Producing Food and Nutraceuticals: A Review

Microalgae-cianobacteria Arthrospira (trade name Spirulina) are cultivated worldwide due to its nutritional and therapeutic qualities. The aim of this review is to summary production parameters affecting quality of Arthrospira. The biochemical composition of microalgae foodstuff is mostly determined by growing conditions, e.g. growth media, light intensity, temperature as well as drying method and conditions. This review showed that prospective directions for optimization of costs to cultivate Arthrospira indoors are: effective use of light, e.g., using effective artificial light sources like light emitting diodes (LED) in color with regards to necessary component in Arthrospira; mixotropic growth using growth media from food processing by-product/waste; and selection of Arthrospira strain according to available temperature. Common methods of algae drying for food and nutraceuticals are solar drying, convective drying, spray drying, lyophilization. The drying method and regime can greatly affect the amount of biologically active compounds and organoleptic quality.

Application of Anaerobic Digestate as Inoculum for Treatment of the Plant-Derived Wastes: Case Study

Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the digestate from an activated sludge biogas reactor (IDARS) as an inoculum for enzymatic hydrolysis and biogas production from organic wastes. Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are represented in IDARS with H’ index 3.1 and 2.5, respectively. IDARS stimulated the enzymatic hydrolysis of wood and leaves, preferably broadleaf tree species. The results demonstrated the potential of IDARS for improvement of the technological parameters for conversion of organic wastes into biogas.