scholarly journals Industrial Production of Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate from CO2: Can Cyanobacteria Meet this Challenge?

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Carpine ◽  
Giuseppe Olivieri ◽  
Klaas J. Hellingwerf ◽  
Antonino Pollio ◽  
Antonio Marzocchella
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Operation Mode ◽  
Commercial Production ◽  
Continuous Operation ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Bacterial Fermentation ◽  
Plastic Materials ◽  
Phb Production ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Process

The increasing impact of plastic materials on the environment is a growing global concern. In regards to this circumstance, it is a major challenge to find new sources for the production of bioplastics. Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) is characterized by interesting features that draw attention for research and commercial ventures. Indeed, PHB is eco-friendly, biodegradable, and biocompatible. Bacterial fermentation processes are a known route to produce PHB. However, the production of PHB through the chemoheterotrophic bacterial system is very expensive due to the high costs of the carbon source for the growth of the organism. On the contrary, the production of PHB through the photoautotrophic cyanobacterium system is considered an attractive alternative for a low-cost PHB production because of the inexpensive feedstock (CO2 and light). This paper regards the evaluation of four independent strategies to improve the PHB production by cyanobacteria: (i) the design of the medium; (ii) the genetic engineering to improve the PHB accumulation; (iii) the development of robust models as a tool to identify the bottleneck(s) of the PHB production to maximize the production; and (iv) the continuous operation mode in a photobioreactor for PHB production. The synergic effect of these strategies could address the design of the optimal PHB production process by cyanobacteria. A further limitation for the commercial production of PHB via the biotechnological route are the high costs related to the recovery of PHB granules. Therefore, a further challenge is to select a low-cost and environmentally friendly process to recover PHB from cyanobacteria.

scholarly journals Light Cross-Linkable Marine Collagen for Coaxial Printing of a 3D Model of Neuromuscular Junction Formation

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Borja Sanz ◽  
Ane Albillos Sanchez ◽  
Bonnie Tangey ◽  
Kerry Gilmore ◽  
Zhilian Yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Engineering ◽  
Neuromuscular Junction ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Waste Products ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Zoonotic Disease Transmission ◽  
And Migration

Collagen is a major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that modulates cell adhesion, growth, and migration, and has been utilised in tissue engineering applications. However, the common terrestrial sources of collagen carry the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and there are religious barriers to the use of bovine and porcine products in many cultures. Marine based collagens offer an attractive alternative and have so far been under-utilized for use as biomaterials for tissue engineering. Marine collagen can be extracted from fish waste products, therefore industry by-products offer an economical and environmentally sustainable source of collagen. In a handful of studies, marine collagen has successfully been methacrylated to form collagen methacrylate (ColMA). Our work included the extraction, characterization and methacrylation of Red Snapper collagen, optimisation of conditions for neural cell seeding and encapsulation using the unmodified collagen, thermally cross-linked, and the methacrylated collagen with UV-induced cross-linking. Finally, the 3D co-axial printing of neural and skeletal muscle cell cultures as a model for neuromuscular junction (NMJ) formation was investigated. Overall, the results of this study show great potential for a novel NMJ in vitro 3D bioprinted model that, with further development, could provide a low-cost, customizable, scalable and quick-to-print platform for drug screening and to study neuromuscular junction physiology and pathogenesis.

NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF FLOW BEHAVIOR IN GAS-LIQUID CYLINDRICAL CYCLONE (GLCC©*) SEPARATORS WITH INLET DESIGN MODIFICATIONS

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Srinivas Swaroop Kolla ◽  
Ram S. Mohan ◽  
Ovadia Shoham
Keyword(s):  
Numerical Study ◽  
Flow Behavior ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Field Application ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Inlet Section ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cylindrical Cyclone ◽  
Light Oil ◽  
Section Design

Abstract The Gas-Liquid Cylindrical Cyclone (GLCC©*) is a simple, compact and low-cost separator, which provides an economically attractive alternative to conventional gravity-based separators over a wide range of applications. More than 6,500 GLCC©'s have been installed in the field to date around the world over the past 2 decades. The GLCC© inlet section design is a key parameter, which is crucial for its performance and proper operation. The flow behavior in the GLCC© body is highly dependent on the fluid velocities generated at the reduced area nozzle inlet. An earlier study (Kolla et al. [1]) recommended design modifications to the inlet section, based on safety and structural robustness. It is important to ensure that these proposed configuration modifications do not adversely affect the flow behavior at the inlet and the overall performance of the GLCC©. This paper presents a numerical study utilizing specific GLCC© field application working under 3 different case studies representing the flow entering the GLCC, separating light oil, steam flooded wells in Minas, Indonesia. Commercially available Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is utilized to analyze the hydrodynamics of flow with the proposed modifications of the inlet section for GLCC© field applications.

Heavy Fluoride Glasses as an Alternative to Crystals in High Energy Physics Calorimetry

1994 ◽  
Vol 348 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Dafinei ◽  
E. Auffray ◽  
P. Lecoq ◽  
M. Schneegans
Keyword(s):  
High Energy Physics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Close Collaboration ◽  
Fluoride Glasses ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Electromagnetic Calorimeters ◽  
Physics Experiments ◽  
Energy Physics

ABSTRACTIn the quest for low cost scintillators to equip the very large electromagnetic calorimeters for future High Energy Physics experiments, scintillating glasses can offer an attractive alternative to crystals. The expected production price is indeed supposed to be reduced as compared to crystals, especially for very large volumes. An intense R&D effort has been made by the Crystal Clear collaboration to develop heavy scintillating fluoride glasses in close collaboration with the industry. Results will be shown on the fluorescence and scintillation properties as well as on the radiation resistance of different types of fluoride glasses. Ideas about possible improvement of present performances will also be given.

A low cost, low energy, environmentally friendly process for producing high-purity boron carbide

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 3101-3110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuaibo Gao ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Shuai Wang ◽  
Pengfei Xing ◽  
Jian kong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Boron Carbide ◽  
High Purity ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Environmentally Friendly Process

scholarly journals Ultrasound detection using optical interferometry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nusrat Jahan Surovy
Keyword(s):  
Thin Film ◽  
Ultrasound Imaging ◽  
Detection System ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
3D Ultrasound ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Exerted Pressure ◽  
Piezoelectric Devices

Ultrasound imaging is a widely used noninvasive imaging technique for biomedical and other applications. Piezoelectric devices are commonly used for the generation and detection of ultrasound in these applications. However, implementation of two-dimensional arrays of piezoelectric transducers for 3D ultrasound imaging is complex and expensive. Optical Fabry-Perot interferometry is an attractive alternative to the piezoelectric devices for detection of ultrasound. In this method a thin film etalon is constructed and used. Light reflected from the two surfaces of this thin film produces an intensity which depends on the film thickness. When ultrasound is incident on the film, it changes the thickness of the film and consequently modulates the light intensity on the film. In our work, we made two types of etalon (Finesse 2) for our experiment. We detected lower frequency ultrasound (0.5 MHz or 1 MHz) using the build etalon. We determined a linear relationship between the strength of the optical signals and the exerted pressure on a film by the ultrasound. The dependence of the etalon performance on the light wavelength was demonstrated indirectly by measuring the signal at various light incidence angle. Simulation results are also presented. Lastly, we proposed the optimum design of this detection system based on the simulation results. This method of ultrasound detection can be a potential low-cost approach for 3D ultrasound imaging.

Nanomaterial Surface Modifications for Enhancement of the Pollutant Adsorption From Wastewater

2019 ◽  
pp. 143-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamidreza Sadegh ◽  
Gomaa A. M. Ali ◽  
Hamid Jafari Nia ◽  
Zahra Mahmoodi
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Organic Dyes ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Chemical Degradation ◽  
Photochemical Degradation ◽  
Dye Wastewater ◽  
Biological Degradation ◽  
Operation Costs ◽  
Global Concern

With the development of dyeing, textile, leather, paper, and other chemical industries, an increasing amount of dye wastewater containing refractory organic dyes is discharged. Undoubtedly, much high content dye wastewater will lead to serious environmental issues such as color pollution, light penetration interference, and virulence to aquatic organisms, even endanger human health. Therefore, it is an imminent problem and has become a global concern to degrade dye wastewater efficiently. So far, many techniques have been used to degrade dyeing wastewater, such as chemical degradation, biological degradation, photochemical degradation, coagulation, membrane filtration, and combined methods. These methods have certain impacts on the degradation of dye wastewater, but usually with slow degradation rate, complex and high operation costs, as well as easily causing secondary pollution. The adsorption process is a simple, effective, and low-cost way to remove dyes.

Morphological And Immunocytochemical Analysis Of Polyhydroxybuterate Distribution In Transgenic Plants

1999 ◽  
Vol 5 (S2) ◽  
pp. 1254-1255
Author(s):  
S.M. Colburn ◽  
N. Biest ◽  
M. Hao ◽  
K. Houmiel ◽  
T. Mitsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽  
Transgenic Plants ◽  
Credit Cards ◽  
Genetically Engineered ◽  
Crop Plants ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Immunocytochemical Analysis ◽  
Trade Name ◽  
Phb Production ◽  
Plastic Products

Poly-β-hydroxybuterate (PHB), a biodegradable polyester, is accumulated as a storage compound in many species of bacteria. It belongs to a class of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHA's were originally identified in 1923.However these polymers first came to the attention of industry in the early 1980's when they were recognized as having thermoplastic properties.Monsanto currently markets a form of PHA produced via fermentation under the trade name Biopol™. It is used to make biodegradable plastic products such as credit cards, bottles and disposable drinking cups. However fermentation is an expensive route to production. The use of crop plants genetically engineered to produce PHA's could provide a less expensive source of the plastic and therefore a more attractive alternative to traditional non-biodegradable petrochemical derived plastics. PHB production in plants was first demonstrated in 1992 in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana by Chris Somerville and coworkers. They showed that PHB production was tolerated by the plant if it was targeted to the chloroplasts.

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