Pilanee Vaithanomsat

Production of Ligninolytic Enzymes by White-Rot Fungus Datronia sp. KAPI0039 and Their Application for Reactive Dye Removal

This study focused on decolorization of 2 reactive dyes; Reactive Blue 19 (RBBR) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5), by selected white-rot fungus Datronia sp. KAPI0039. The effects of reactive dye concentration, fungal inoculum size as well as pH were studied. Samples were periodically collected for the measurement of color unit, Laccase (Lac), Manganese Peroxidase (MnP), and Lignin Peroxidase (LiP) activity. Eighty-six percent of 1,000  RBBR decolorization was achieved by 2% (w/v) Datronia sp. KAPI0039 at pH 5. The highest Lac activity (759.81 ) was detected in the optimal condition. For RB5, Datronia sp. KAPI0039 efficiently performed (88.01% decolorization) at 2% (w/v) fungal inoculum size for the reduction of 600  RB5 under pH 5. The highest Lac activity (178.57 ) was detected, whereas the activity of MnP and LiP was absent during this hour. The result, therefore, indicated that Datronia sp. KAPI0039 was obviously able to breakdown both reactive dyes, and Lac was considered as a major lignin-degradation enzyme in this reaction.

Production of β-Glucosidase from a Newly Isolated Aspergillus Species Using Response Surface Methodology

A newly isolated fungus Aspergillus niger SOI017 was shown to be a good producer of β-glucosidase from all isolated fungal strains. Fermentation condition (pH, cellobiose concentration, yeast extract concentration, and ammonium sulfate concentration) was optimized for producing the enzyme in shake flask cultures. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of 4 fermentation parameters (yeast extract concentration, cellobiose concentration, ammonium sulfate concentration, and pH) on β-glucosidase enzyme production. Production of β-glucosidase was most sensitive to the culture medium, especially the nitrogen source yeast extract. The optimized medium for producing maximum β-glucosidase specific activity consisted of 0.275% yeast extract, 1.125% cellobiose, and 2.6% ammonium sulfate at a pH value of 3.

Efficient saccharification for non-treated cassava pulp by supplementation of Clostridium thermocellum cellulosome and Thermoanaerobacter brockii β-glucosidase.

Cassava pulp containing 60% starch and 20% cellulose is a promising renewable source for bioethanol. The starch granule was observed to tightly bind cellulose fiber. To achieve an efficient degradation for cassava pulp, saccharification tests without pre-gelatinization treatment were carried out using combination of commercial α-amylase with cellulosome from Clostridium thermocellum S14 and β-glucosidase (rCglT) from Thermoanaerobacter brockii. The saccharification rate for cassava pulp was shown 59% of dry matter. To obtain maximum saccharification rate, glucoamylase (GA) from C. thermocellum S14 was supplemented to the combination. The result showed gradual increase in the saccharification rate to 74% (dry matter). Supplementation of GA to the combination of commercial α-amylase, cellulosome and rCglT is powerful method for efficient saccharification of cassava pulp without pretreatment.

Optimization of biodiesel production from a calcium methoxide catalyst using a statistical model

Calcium methoxide catalyst was synthesized from quick lime and methanol, and further characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Response surface methodology (RSM) with a 5-level-3-factor central composite was applied for the calcium methoxide catalyzed transesterification of refined palm oil to investigate the effect of experimental factors on the methyl ester yield. A quadratic model with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) obtained from RSM is suggested for the prediction of methyl ester yield, and reveals that 95.99% of the observed variation is explained by the model. The optimum conditions obtained from RSM were 2.71 wt% of catalyst concentration, 11.5: 1 methanol-to-oil molar ratio, and 175 min of reaction time. Under these conditions, the produced biodiesel met the standard requirements for methyl ester yield.

Production of ethanol from pulp obtained by steam explosion pretreatment of oil palm trunk.

Abstract Oil palm trunk chip, pretreated by steam explosion was used as a substrate for hydrolysis. The pulp was further submitted to delignification by sodium hydroxide compared with potassium hydroxide solution. The enzymatic hydrolysis of delignified pulp was performed using a commercial cellulase containing β-glucosidase enzyme. Response surface methodology was used for optimization of delignification and hydrolysis processes. Comparative results with and without a delignification step, influenced on hydrolysis process, were presented. Both enzymatic hydrolysis processes (with delignification) gave a higher glucose yield than the hydrolysis process without delignification. The glucose solution obtained from three hydrolysis processes were fermented to produce ethanol.

Evaluation of Fourier transform-near infrared spectroscopic measurements for the quantification of curcumin in turmeric herbal medicines

In this investigation, Fourier transform-near infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the curcumin content in commercial turmeric herbal medicines. Two different sample presentations originating from a turmeric capsule and powder were evaluated and compared using an FT-NIR spectrometer equipped with a 30-capsule sample plate in the wavenumber region of 11,500–6000 cm−1 (transmittance mode) and a 6-vial sample plate in the wavenumber region of 10,000–4000cm−1 (reflectance mode), respectively. One hundred and forty samples of turmeric herbal medicines were divided into two sets: a training set with 110 samples and a prediction set with 30 samples. High-quality FT-NIR spectra for the turmeric powder containing the informative regions of curcumin (6850, 6000 and 4600 cm−1) were obtained while collecting FT-NIR data on the powder samples in the glass vials. A successful partial least-squares calibration model for curcumin content in commercial turmeric herbal medicine powders was then obtained by utilising the entire spectral region (10,000–4000 cm−1) as well as a second derivative spectral pretreatment containing seven principal components. The best model for predicting curcumin in 30 test samples returned a coefficient of determination (r2) of 0.98, a root mean squares error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.13% that was only 1.35 times the standard error of laboratory and a ratio of RMSEP to the standard deviation of curcumin content in the prediction set (RPD) of 7.76. These statistical values confirmed the high predictive performance of this model. All these results confirm that the use of turmeric herbal medicine powder and a wide informative wavenumber range of 10,000–4000 cm−1 can increase the efficacy of FT-NIR spectroscopy for the rapid and non-destructive analysis of curcumin content in commercial turmeric herbal medicines. By contrast, models developed for determining curcumin in turmeric contained in capsules were not suitable for analytical purposes.

Effect of cassava pulp supplement on 1,3-propanediol production by Clostridium butyricum.

To improve its 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) production, Clostridium butyricum was cultivated on glycerol medium supplemented with cassava pulp (CP). At small concentrations, the CP improved the 1,3-PD productivity of C. butyricum from (0.25±0.01)g/L/h (glycerol alone) to (0.43±0.02)g/L/h (glycerol+2g/L CP) after 24h fermentation.

Konjac glucomannan hydrolysate: A potential natural coating material for bioactive compounds in spray drying encapsulation

This research aimed to develop a suitable coating material for encapsulating a plant bioactive compound via spray drying. A suitable process for modifying the rheological property of konjac glucomannan (KGM) solution by enzymatic treatment was developed. A plant bioactive compound, andrographolide, was selected to use as core material. Mannanase (1500 units of enzyme) was used in the treatment of KGM solution. The concentration of KGM solution was varied from 9 to 18% (w/w). It was found that 12% (w/w) was the optimum KGM concentration that could be hydrolyzed to a viscosity of <100 mPa·s. HPLC analysis of hydrolyzed solution found a fair amount of DP4–DP7 oligosaccharides (where DP is degree of polymerization) were obtained. The solution was then used as coating material in spray drying with inlet air temperature of 170°C and outlet air temperature of 85°C. It was found that 12% (w/w) konjac glucomannan hydrolysate (KGMH) was suitable for coating 2% (w/w) andrographolide. Its efficiency of encapsulation was also higher than that of KGMH combined with gamma‐cyclodextrin or beta‐cyclodextrin. This study revealed a great potential of using KGMH solution for pharmaceutical and food industries in the spray drying encapsulation process.

Calcium Methoxide Synthesis from Quick Lime Using as Solid Catalyst in Refined Palm Oil Biodiesel Production

In this research, calcium methoxide was synthesized as solid base catalyst from quick lime for biodiesel production. The catalyst was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), attenuated total reflection fourier transform (ATR-FTIR) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopies (EDX) to evaluate its performance. The transesterification of refined palm oil using calcium methoxide and the process parameters affecting the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content such as catalyst concentration, methanol:oil molar ratio and reaction time were investigated. The results showed that the FAME content at 97% was achieved within 3 h using 3 %wt catalyst loading, 12:1 methanol:oil molar ratio and 65 °C reaction temperature. The result of FAME suggested calcium methoxide was the promising solid catalyst for substitution of the conventional liquid catalyst.