Grain Waste Product as Potential Bio-fiber Resources

: Xanthine oxidase (EC 1.17.3.2) (XO) is one of the main enzymatic sources that create reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the living system. It is a dehydrogenase enzyme that performs electron transfer to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+ ), while oxidizing hypoxanthin, which is an intermediate compound in purine catabolism, first to xanthine and then to uric acid. XO turns into an oxidant enzyme that oxidizes thiol groups under certain stress conditions in the tissue. The last metabolic step, in which hypoxanthin turns into uric acid, is catalyzed by XO. Uric acid, considered a waste product, can cause kidney stones and gouty-type arthritis as it is crystallized, when present in high concentrations. Thus, XO inhibitors are one of the drug classes used against gout, a purine metabolism disease that causes urate crystal storage in the joint and its surroundings caused by hyperuricemia. Urate-lowering therapy include XO inhibitors that reduce uric acid production as well as uricosuric drugs that increase urea excretion. Current drugs that obstruct uric acid synthesis through XO inhibition are allopurinol, febuxostat, and uricase. However, since the side effects, safety and tolerability problems of some current gout medications still exist; intensive research is ongoing to look for new, effective, and safer XO inhibitors of natural or synthetic origins for the treatment of the disease. In the present review, we aimed to assess in detail XO inhibitory capacities of pure natural compounds along with the extracts from plants and other natural sources via screening Pubmed, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, and Google Academic. The data pointed out to the fact that natural products, particularly phenolics such as flavonoids (quercetin, apigenin, and scutellarein), tannins (agrimoniin and ellagitannin), chalcones (melanoxethin), triterpenes (ginsenoside Rd and ursolic acid), stilbenes (resveratrol and piceatannol), alkaloids (berberin and palmatin) have a great potential for new XO inhibitors capable of use against gout disease. In addition, not only plants but other biological sources such as microfungi, macrofungi, lichens, insects (silk worms, ants, etc) seem to be the promising sources of novel XO inhibitors.

Download Full-text

Waste to Energy Conversion and Sustainable Recovery of Nutrients from Pee Power - Recent Advancements in Urine-Fed MFCs

Mini-Reviews in Organic Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1570193x16666191004101739 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (7) ◽

pp. 768-779

Author(s):

Natarajan Narayanan ◽

Vasudevan Mangottiri ◽

Kiruba Narayanan

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

Alternative Energy ◽

Material Selection ◽

Waste Product ◽

Resource Recovery ◽

Operating Conditions ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Animal Origin ◽

Human Beings

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable solution for alternative energy production by employing microorganisms as catalysts for direct conversion of chemical energy of feedstock into electricity. Electricity from urine (urine-tricity) using MFCs is a promising cost-effective technology capable of serving multipurpose benefits - generation of electricity, waste alleviation, resource recovery and disinfection. As an abundant waste product from human and animal origin with high nutritional values, urine is considered to be a potential source for extraction of alternative energy in the coming days. However, developments to improve power generation from urine-fed MFCs at reasonable scales still face many challenges such as non-availability of sustainable materials, cathodic limitations, and low power density. The aim of this paper was to critically evaluate the state-of-the-art research and developments in urine-fed MFCs over the past decade (2008-2018) in terms of their construction (material selection and configuration), modes of operation (batch, continuous, cascade, etc.) and performance (power generation, nutrient recovery and waste treatment). This review identifies the preference for sources of urine for MFC application from human beings, cows and elephants. Among these, human urine-fed MFCs offer a variety of applications to practice in the real-world scenario. One key observation is that, effective disinfection can be achieved by optimizing the operating conditions and MFC configurations without compromising on performance. In essence, this review demarcates the scope of enhancing the reuse potential of urine for renewable energy generation and simultaneously achieving resource recovery.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the Technological Potential of Grape Peels Through Patent Document Analysis: Agro-industrial Waste with Biotechnological Potential

Recent Patents on Nanotechnology ◽

10.2174/1872210514999200730172649 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

Author(s):

Euzelia Lima de Souza ◽

Ingrid Lessa Leal ◽

Marcelo Andres Umsza-Guez ◽

Bruna Aparecida Souza Machado

Keyword(s):

Waste Product ◽

The United States ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Natural Form ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Research Technology ◽

Technological Potential ◽

Promising Area ◽

Patent Documents ◽

Grape Peel

Background: Grape (Vitis viniferaL.) is consumed by old world populations in its natural form and is used to produce wine or juice. Currently, China is the largest grape producer in the world. The red grapes stand out because of their phytochemical composition, more specifically their high resveratrol levels. Resveratrol is a compound that has a number of different beneficial effects on health and is mainly used in the food and cosmetic industries. Grape peel is a waste product and new strategies based on nanotechnology can minimize its environmental impact and add value to this residue. Objectives: The first objective of this study was to evaluate the technological potential of utilizing grape peel by researching and analyzing information extracted from patent documents filed worldwide in order to identify the main countries that hold the research technology, the main depositors and inventors, and the main areas of application. The second aim was to research and investigate grape peel products that have been created using nanotechnology. Methods: An analysis of all patented documents related to grape peel processes, products, or different industrial applications that may use nanotechnology was carried out. This was achieved by undertaking a Derwent Innovation Index (DII) database search. Results: A total of 752 patent documents were identified in the surveyed area. These were assessed for depositor country of origin, type of depositor, inventors, evolution of deposits over time, and areas of application. Only 6% of the total represented products and processes in the nanotechnology area. There was a growth in the number of patent filings from 2015, which showed that the researched area is a current and developing technology with new application possibilities. The main depositing countries were China, the United States, and Japan, which dominate the researched technology. The identified documents discussed using grape peel to develop new food, medical and dental products. Conclusion: Over the last few years, different approaches have been suggested for the production of nanoproducts based on grape peel. The results from this study showed that although incipient, nanotechnology is a promising area of research that can be explored by universities and companies because the products could have significant positive characteristics and, even though they are made out of a byproduct, have great application potential.

Download Full-text

Research and application progress of lignin-based composite membrane

Journal of Polymer Engineering ◽

10.1515/polyeng-2020-0268 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Youjing Li ◽

Fen Li ◽

Ying Yang ◽

Baocai Ge ◽

Fanzhu Meng

Keyword(s):

Environmental Pollution ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Waste Product ◽

Functional Materials ◽

Polymeric Materials ◽

Composite Membranes ◽

Organic Polymer ◽

Future Research ◽

Sustainable Resources ◽

New Perspective

Abstract In view of the serious environmental pollution, which is the greatest problem the world is facing, and the continuous consumption of raw materials, it is imminent to search for green and sustainable resources. Lignin is an organic polymer that exists widely in nature, and if it can be transformed from traditional low-value waste product with low range of applications to functional materials with high application prospects, it can be of great significance to alleviate environmental pollution and shortage of fossil resources. One of the functional applications of lignin involves its use to fabricate composite with other polymeric materials, which can then be used to prepare membrane materials. This review summarizes the recent research and application progress of combining lignin with polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, starch, cellulose, chitosan, and other polymeric materials to prepare composite membranes; and summarizes the future development direction of lignin-based composite membranes. We hope this review may provide a new perspective to the understanding of lignin-based composite membranes and a useful reference for future research.

Download Full-text

577 Engineered non-pathogenic synthetic biotic producing L-arginine synergize with PD-1-based cancer immunotherapy

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2020-sitc2020.0577 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (Suppl 3) ◽

pp. A611-A611

Author(s):

Fernando Canale ◽

Camilla Basso ◽

Ning Li ◽

Anna Sokolovska ◽

Michela Perotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

Synergistic Effects ◽

Waste Product ◽

T Cell Response ◽

Escherichia Coli Nissle 1917 ◽

Check Point Inhibitors ◽

Blocking Antibodies ◽

Metabolic Waste Product ◽

Synthetic Biology Approach ◽

Escherichia Coli Nissle

BackgroundThe availability of L-arginine in tumors is a key determinant of an efficient anti-tumor T cell response. Consequently, the elevation of typically low L-arginine levels within the tumor may greatly potentiate the anti-tumor responses of immune check point inhibitors, such as PD-L1 blocking antibodies. However, currently no means are available to locally increase intra-tumoral L-arginine levels.MethodsWe used a synthetic biology approach to develop an engineered probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 strain that colonizes tumors and continuously converts ammonia, a metabolic waste product that accumulates in tumors, into L-arginine.ResultsColonization of tumors with these bacteria elevated intra-tumoral L-arginine concentrations, increased the amount of tumor-infiltrating T cells, and had striking synergistic effects with PD-L1 blocking antibodies in the clearance of tumors. The anti-tumor effect of the living therapeutic was mediated by L-arginine and was dependent on T cells.ConclusionsThese results show that engineered microbial therapies enable metabolic modulation of the tumor microenvironment leading to enhanced efficacy of immunotherapies.

Download Full-text

Microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip model to evaluate the role of tumor environmental stress on NK cell exhaustion

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.abc2331 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (8) ◽

pp. eabc2331 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jose M. Ayuso ◽

Shujah Rehman ◽

Maria Virumbrales-Munoz ◽

Patrick H. McMinn ◽

Peter Geiger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nk Cells ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Nk Cell ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Waste Product ◽

Extended Period ◽

Cell Exhaustion

Solid tumors generate a suppressive environment that imposes an overwhelming burden on the immune system. Nutrient depletion, waste product accumulation, hypoxia, and pH acidification severely compromise the capacity of effector immune cells such as T and natural killer (NK) cells to destroy cancer cells. However, the specific molecular mechanisms driving immune suppression, as well as the capacity of immune cells to adapt to the suppressive environment, are not completely understood. Thus, here, we used an in vitro microfluidic tumor-on-a-chip platform to evaluate how NK cells respond to the tumor-induced suppressive environment. The results demonstrated that the suppressive environment created by the tumor gradually eroded NK cell cytotoxic capacity, leading to compromised NK cell surveillance and tumor tolerance. Further, NK cell exhaustion persisted for an extended period of time after removing NK cells from the microfluidic platform. Last, the addition of checkpoint inhibitors and immunomodulatory agents alleviated NK cell exhaustion.

Download Full-text

Application of the Calorimetric Methods to the Characteristics of Seeds from Olives

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/foods_2020-07665 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 90

Author(s):

Andrzej Bryś ◽

Joanna Bryś ◽

Marko Obranović ◽

Dubravka Škevin ◽

Szymon Głowacki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Olive Oil ◽

Water Content ◽

Cooling System ◽

Waste Product ◽

Normal Pressure ◽

Ash Content ◽

Initial Water Content ◽

Scanning Calorimetry ◽

Initial Water

The olive oil industry represents an important productive sector in the Mediterranean basin countries. Olive stone is an essential by-product generated in the olive oil extraction industries and it represents roughly 10% by weight of the olive fruit. The seeds of pickled olives are also a significant waste product. In the present study, we have investigated the possibility of the use of differential scanning calorimetry for the thermal characterization of seeds from green and black pickled olives from Croatia. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) with a normal pressure cell equipped with a cooling system was used to determine the thermal properties of seeds from olives. The following analyses were also performed: the determination of calorific values in a pressure bomb calorimeter, the determination of initial water content, the determination of changes of water content during drying at the temperatures of 30 °C, 50 °C and 80 °C, the determination of a percentage content of seeds mass to the mass of the whole olives, and the determination of ash content. Seeds from olives are characterized by very good parameters as a biomass. The analyzed olive seeds were characterized by low water content, low ash content, and a relatively high caloric value.

Download Full-text

Preparation of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Hydrolysate

Fermentation ◽

10.3390/fermentation7020081 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Hironaga Akita ◽

Mohd Zulkhairi Mohd Yusoff ◽

Shinji Fujimoto

Keyword(s):

Hydrothermal Treatment ◽

Palm Oil ◽

Oil Palm ◽

High Performance ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Waste Product ◽

Treatment Temperature ◽

Empty Fruit Bunch ◽

Glucose Content

Malaysia is the second largest palm oil producer and exporter globally. When crude palm oil is produced in both plantations and oil processing mills, a large amount of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) is simultaneously produced as a waste product. Here, we describe the preparation of hydrolysate from OPEFB. After OPEFB was hydrothermally treated at 180–200 °C, the resultant liquid phase was subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, while the solid phase was used for acidic and enzymatic hydrolysis. Hemicellulose yield from the acid-treated solid phase decreased from 153 mg/g-OPEFB to 27.5 mg/g-OPEFB by increasing the hydrothermal treatment temperature from 180 to 200 °C. Glucose yield from the enzyme-treated solid phase obtained after hydrothermal treatment at 200 °C was the highest (234 ± 1.90 mg/g-OPEFB, 61.7% production efficiency). In contrast, xylose, mannose, galactose, and arabinose yields in the hydrolysate prepared from the solid phase hydrothermally treated at 200 °C were the lowest. Thus, we concluded that the optimum temperature for hydrothermal pretreatment was 200 °C, which was caused by the low hemicellulose yield. Based on these results, we have established an effective method for preparing OPEFB hydrolysates with high glucose content.

Download Full-text

Bark Characteristics of Scots Pine Logs

Environmental Sciences Proceedings ◽

10.3390/iecf2020-08020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 66

Author(s):

Ferréol Berendt ◽

Erik Pegel ◽

Lubomir Blasko ◽

Tobias Cremer

Keyword(s):

Scots Pine ◽

Tree Species ◽

Waste Product ◽

Mean Value ◽

Bark Thickness ◽

Water Displacement ◽

Federal States ◽

Bark Damage ◽

Great Relevance ◽

High Degree

The wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) shows good properties as building and construction timber but also as furniture or pulp and paper, and thus, is one of the most commercially important European tree species. Scots pine are mostly harvested and processed with a high degree of mechanization. In Northeast Germany (federal states of Brandenburg and Berlin), 36% of harvested Scots pine have a diameter at breast height (DBH) between 7 and 19.9 cm. As a typical industrial wood assortment, a large proportion of the resulting small-sized logs are used in the wood industry to produce boards. Although bark is considered a by-product or waste product of the industry, no actual study has quantified the bark thickness, bark volume, bark mass and bark damage of such Scots pine logs. Therefore, the bark characteristics from 50 logs from 10 different piles were analyzed. Bark volume was quantified using the water displacement method, bark mass by weighing, bark thickness with a precision caliper and bark damage by tape measurements. The diameters of the analyzed 150 log discs were normally distributed and the mean value was 12.9 cm. The results showed average bark damages from 12.0%, which were mostly caused during the felling and processing of logs with the harvester. No significant correlation was found between double bark thickness (mean: 3.0 mm) and the diameter; whereas fresh bark volume (mean: 5.6%) and dry bark mass (mean: 3.3%) were significantly affected by the diameter. As shown for spruce by other authors, bark characteristics may change over time and therefore, should be measured regularly. Moreover, it was shown that bark parameters are site dependent. Thus, quantifying bark characteristics for economically important tree species at both the local and national scale is of great relevance. More detailed analyzes are described by Berendt et al. (2021) [1].

Download Full-text

Characterisation of Extracts Obtained from Unripe Grapes and Evaluation of Their Potential Protective Effects against Oxidation of Wine Colour in Comparison with Different Oenological Products

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods10071499 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1499

Author(s):

Giovanna Fia ◽

Ginevra Bucalossi ◽

Bruno Zanoni

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Red Wine ◽

Waste Product ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

White Wine ◽

Small Scale ◽

Protective Effects ◽

White Wines ◽

Accelerated Oxidation ◽

Wine Colour

Unripe grapes (UGs) are a waste product of vine cultivation rich in natural antioxidants. These antioxidants could be used in winemaking as alternatives to SO2. Three extracts were obtained by maceration from Viognier, Merlot and Sangiovese UGs. The composition and antioxidant activity of the UG extracts were studied in model solutions at different pH levels. The capacity of the UG extracts to protect wine colour was evaluated in accelerated oxidation tests and small-scale trials on both red and white wines during ageing in comparison with sulphur dioxide, ascorbic acid and commercial tannins. The Viognier and Merlot extracts were rich in phenolic acids while the Sangiovese extract was rich in flavonoids. The antioxidant activity of the extracts and commercial tannins was influenced by the pH. In the oxidation tests, the extracts and commercial products showed different wine colour protection capacities in function of the type of wine. During ageing, the white wine with the added Viognier UG extract showed the lowest level of colour oxidation. The colour of the red wine with the UG extract evolved similarly to wine with SO2 and commercial tannins. The obtained results indicated that natural and healthy UG extracts could be an interesting substitute for SO2 during wine ageing.

Download Full-text