Warinthorn Songkasiri

Combination effect of pH and acetate on enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis.

The productivity and efficiency of cellulase are significant in cellulose hydrolysis. With the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the pH value in anaerobic digestion system is reduced. Therefore, this study will find out how the pH and the amount of acetate influence the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. The effects of pH and acetate on cellulase produced from Bacillus coagulans were studied at various pH 5-8, and acetate concentrations (0-60 mmol/L). A batch kinetic model for enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis was constructed from experimental data and performed. The base hypothesis was as follows: the rates of enzymatic cellulose hydrolysis rely on pH and acetate concentration. The results showed that the suitable pH range for cellulase production and cellulose hydrolysis (represents efficiency of cellulase) was 2.6-7.5, and 5.3-8.3, respectively. Moreover, acetate in the culture medium had an effect on cellulase production (K(I) = 49.50 mmol/L, n = 1.7) less than cellulose hydrolysis (K(I) = 37.85 mmol/L, n = 2.0). The results indicated that both the pH of suspension and acidogenic products influence the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose in an anaerobic environment. To enhance the cellulose hydrolysis rate, the accumulated acetate concentration should be lower than 25 mmol/L, and pH should be maintained at 7.

Cyber-Physical System Based Production Monitoring for Tapioca Starch Production

Tapioca starch is the important for Thai agricultural industry economy. According to the 4th industrial revolution, cyber-physical system becomes the key technology to enable vertical and horizontal automation system integration. This study aims to develop cyber-physical system based production monitoring for tapioca starch production. To achieve the service oriented architecture (SOA) based solution for industry, OPC UA standard used to develop the proposed system. The proposed CPS provided services involved production monitoring including production information management system associated with laboratory information management system. This system was selected due to the variation of raw material and process model for estimation of unknown parameters. The experiments were done with performance monitoring of separation process of 250 ton/day capacity plant. The results revealed that separation process performance can be shown in production dashboard.

Comparison of fermented animal feed and mushroom growth media as two value-added options for waste Cassava pulp management

Cassava is one of the main processed crops in Thailand, but this generates large amounts (7.3 million tons in 2015) of waste cassava pulp (WCP). The solid WCP is sold directly to farmers or pulp-drying companies at a low cost to reduce the burden of on-site waste storage. Using an integrated direct and environmental cost model, fermented animal feed and mushroom growth media were compared as added-value waste management alternatives for WCP to mitigate environmental problems. Primary and secondary data were collected from the literature, field data, and case studies. Data boundaries were restricted to a gate-to-gate scenario with a receiving capacity of 500 t WCP/d, and based on a new production unit being set up at the starch factory. The total production cost of each WCP utilization option was analyzed from the economic and environmental costs. Fermented animal feed was an economically attractive scenario, giving a higher net present value (NPV), lower investment cost and environmental impact, and a shorter payback period for the 10-year operational period. The selling price of mushrooms was the most sensitive parameter regarding the NPV, while the NPV for the price of fermented animal feed had the highest value in the best-case scenario.

Effects of Pneumatic Conveying Drying Conditions on Damaged Starch Content and Particle Size of Cassava Starch

This research aimed to investigate the effects of pneumatic conveying drying conditions on damaged starch content and particle size of cassava starch using response surface methodology. Three parameters of interest, i.e. drying air temperature (120, 160, and 200oC), drying air velocity (20, 30, and 40 m/s), and feed moisture content (40, 50, and 60% d.b.), were varied. Experimental results showed that damaged starch content and average particle size of cassava starch before drying were approximately 0.45% and 21.47µm, respectively. However, after drying, the values were altered to approximately 0.69 to 6.84% and 15.40 to 31.67 µm, respectively. The drying air temperature, drying air velocity, and feed moisture content significantly affected the changes. The results indicated that cassava starch granules were damaged and then agglomerated into large particle during pneumatic conveying drying depending on operation conditions.