The Anaerobic Fungi: Challenges and Opportunities for Industrial Lignocellulosic Biofuel Production

Lignocellulose is a promising feedstock for biofuel production as a renewable, carbohydrate-rich and globally abundant source of biomass. However, challenges faced include environmental and/or financial costs associated with typical lignocellulose pretreatments needed to overcome the natural recalcitrance of the material before conversion to biofuel. Anaerobic fungi are a group of underexplored microorganisms belonging to the early diverging phylum Neocallimastigomycota and are native to the intricately evolved digestive system of mammalian herbivores. Anaerobic fungi have promising potential for application in biofuel production processes due to the combination of their highly effective ability to hydrolyse lignocellulose and capability to convert this substrate to H2 and ethanol. Furthermore, they can produce volatile fatty acid precursors for subsequent biological conversion to H2 or CH4 by other microorganisms. The complex biological characteristics of their natural habitat are described, and these features are contextualised towards the development of suitable industrial systems for in vitro growth. Moreover, progress towards achieving that goal is reviewed in terms of process and genetic engineering. In addition, emerging opportunities are presented for the use of anaerobic fungi for lignocellulose pretreatment; dark fermentation; bioethanol production; and the potential for integration with methanogenesis, microbial electrolysis cells and photofermentation.

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Energy and economic advantages of simultaneous hydrogen and biogas production in microbial electrolysis cells as a function of the applied voltage and biomass content.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels ◽

10.1039/d0se01797c ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ariadna Segundo-Aguilar ◽

Linda Gonzalez-Gutierrez ◽

Victor Climent ◽

J. M. Feliu ◽

Germán Buitrón ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Applied Voltage ◽

Methane Production ◽

Biogas Production ◽

Operation Mode ◽

Biofuel Production ◽

Economic Data ◽

Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽

Electrolysis Cells ◽

Microbial Electrolysis

Energy and economic data on gaseous biofuel production in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) can guide their installation, operation mode and modelling. Hydrogen and methane production from waste mainly depends on...

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CONSERVATION OF RARE SPECIES PLANTS AND LICHENS IN SITU WITH PLANNED ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES: BASIC APPROACHES AND IMPLEMENTATION PRINCIPLES

Engineering survey ◽

10.25296/1997-8650-2018-12-7-8-38-45 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 12 (7-8) ◽

pp. 38-45

Author(s):

A. N. EFREMOV ◽

N. V. PLIKINA ◽

T. ABELI

Keyword(s):

Rare Species ◽

Technology Implementation ◽

Technology Development ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Natural Habitat ◽

Local Population ◽

Main Stage ◽

Social Risks

Rare species are most vulnerable to man-made impacts, due to their biological characteristics or natural resource management. As a rule, the economic impact is associated with the destruction and damage of individual organisms, the destruction or alienation of habitats. Unfortunately, the conservation of habitat integrity is an important protection strategy, which is not always achievable in the implementation of industrial and infrastructural projects. The aim of the publication is to summarize the experience in the field of protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ), to evaluate and analyze the possibility of using existing methods in design and survey activities. In this regard, the main methodological approaches to the protection of rare species in the natural habitat (in situ) during the proposed economic activity were reflected. The algorithm suggested by the authors for implementing the in situ project should include a preparatory stage (initial data collection, preliminary risk assessments, technology development, obtaining permitting documentation), the main stage, the content of which is determined by the selected technology and a long monitoring stage, which makes it possible to assess the effectiveness of the taken measures. Among the main risks of in situ technology implementation, the following can be noted: the limited resources of the population that do not allow for the implementation of the procedure without prior reproduction of individuals in situ (in vitro); limited knowledge of the biology of the species; the possibility of invasion; the possibility of crossing for closely related species that сo-exist in the same habitat; social risks and consequences, target species or population may be important for the local population; financial risks during the recovery of the population. The available experience makes it possible to consider the approach to the conservation of rare species in situ as the best available technology that contributes to reducing negative environmental risks.

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Sustainable Syntheses and Sources of Nanomaterials for Microbial Fuel/Electrolysis Cell Applications: An Overview of Recent Progress

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9071221 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 1221

Author(s):

Domenico Frattini ◽

Gopalu Karunakaran ◽

Eun-Bum Cho ◽

Yongchai Kwon

Keyword(s):

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

Noble Metals ◽

Raw Materials ◽

Nanoparticle Synthesis ◽

Economic Feasibility ◽

Electrolysis Cell ◽

Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽

Electrolysis Cells ◽

Bioenergy Generation ◽

Valuable Compounds

The use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is quickly spreading in the fields of bioenergy generation and wastewater treatment, as well as in the biosynthesis of valuable compounds for microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). MFCs and MECs have not been able to penetrate the market as economic feasibility is lost when their performances are boosted by nanomaterials. The nanoparticles used to realize or decorate the components (electrodes or the membrane) have expensive processing, purification, and raw resource costs. In recent decades, many studies have approached the problem of finding green synthesis routes and cheap sources for the most common nanoparticles employed in MFCs and MECs. These nanoparticles are essentially made of carbon, noble metals, and non-noble metals, together with a few other few doping elements. In this review, the most recent findings regarding the sustainable preparation of nanoparticles, in terms of syntheses and sources, are collected, commented, and proposed for applications in MFC and MEC devices. The use of naturally occurring, recycled, and alternative raw materials for nanoparticle synthesis is showcased in detail here. Several examples of how these naturally derived or sustainable nanoparticles have been employed in microbial devices are also examined. The results demonstrate that this approach is valuable and could represent a solid alternative to the expensive use of commercial nanoparticles.

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Standardization Challenges, Opportunities and Recent Evolutions for the G3-PLC Technology

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14071937 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (7) ◽

pp. 1937

Author(s):

Cédric Lavenu ◽

Cédric Chauvenet ◽

Paolo Treffiletti ◽

Matteo Varesio ◽

Klaus Hueske

Keyword(s):

Power Line ◽

Industrial Systems ◽

Power Line Communications ◽

Industrial Landscape ◽

Telecommunication Technology ◽

Telecommunication Systems ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

History Of

Considering the intrinsic benefits of power line communications, the long-lasting lifetime of industrial systems and the growth of IoT, PLC technologies will be part of the worldwide industrial landscape for many decades. This paper discusses the history of the G3-PLC technology and current challenges and opportunities identified in real systems. Finally, it introduces recent evolutions within the G3-PLC standard, which bring additional performance and versatility, enhancing the relevance of G3-PLC as a complementary technology to other telecommunication systems in a 5G-driven telecommunication technology landscape.

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