Modulating the production of xylanase by Bacillus pumilus BS131 through optimization using waste fiber sludge

In recent days, cheapest alternative carbon source for fermentation purpose is desirable to minimize production cost. Xylanases have become attractive enzymes as their potential in bio-bleaching of pulp and paper industry. The objective of the present study was to identify the potential ability on the xylanase production by locally isolated Bacillus pumilus BS131 by using waste fiber sludge and wheat bran media under submerged fermentation. Culture growth conditions were optimized to obtain significant amount of xylanase. Maximum xylanase production was recorded after 72 hours of incubation at 30 °C and 7 pH with 4.0% substrate concentration. In the nutshell, the production of xylanase using inexpensive waste fiber sludge and wheat-bran as an alternative in place of expensive xylan substrate was more cost effective and environment friendly.

Screening and Ranking Methodology Applied to Biochars Aimed at Acidic and Calcareous Sandy Soil Improvement

The application of biochar (the by-product of biomass pyrolysis), as a soil amendment has been accepted as a sustainable solution to improve soil quality. The current study aims to establish a decision support tool for characterizing, ranking, and selecting biochars of different origins for soil improvement, thereby contributing to the development of a systematic approach, which lacks in the existing literature.The development of a Multi-Criteria Decision Support Approach applying a banded and weighted rating and scoring system allowed the selection and ranking of various biochars suitable for improving sandy soils before application. First, 14 selected, different biochar products (produced from industrial by-products, herbaceous, wood-based and manure-based feedstocks) were characterized with several physicochemical, biological and ecotoxicological methods taking into account both the technological and the environmental efficiency aspects of biochar utilization. Then, a system for the assessment and ranking of biochars for acidic, and calcareous neutral sandy soil improvement was developed, which could be flexibly adapted to different soil problems as well. Based on their performance in the tests, scores from (−5) to (+5) were assigned to each biochar. As a result, the grain husks and paper fiber sludge biochar was ranked as the most suitable for both acidic and neutral calcareous sandy soil improvement, with 55 and 43 scores, respectively (from the maximum 100). The applicability of this innovative multicriteria scoring-ranking system, as a tool for potential biochar users, was verified in microcosms and field-scale experiments, demonstrating the positive influence of this biochar on the acidic sandy soil.

Productization of Industrial Side Streams into By-Products—Case: Fiber Sludge from Pulp and Paper Industry

The increasing pressure on natural resources and the climate has been noted by businesses and governments worldwide, who now face the difficult task of integrating paths of environmental sustainability and economic growth. One promising approach to sustainable development, reducing the pressure on natural resources and solving waste problems is circular economy. From different ways of implementing circular economy, this study focuses on the productization of industrial side streams, which carry a great deal of underutilized potential. In this article, the productization of pulp and paper industry side stream, fiber sludge, for commercial use as a dust-binding agent is studied via a descriptive, in-depth case study. Apart from inconsistent quality, fluctuating supply, cost of storage and logistics, what makes industrial side stream utilization challenging is the lack of knowledge that stakeholders have about side streams and their utilization and the lack of new value chain development for their commercial use. Therefore, it is essential for all parties involved to have a clearer vision of what is being sold for what purposes, through productization. This study found that the productization of side streams follows the same steps as the productization of any other traditional product, and the productized side streams can be added to the company’s product portfolio as by-products.

Disposal of wastewater polysaccharides in the manufacture of fibrous semi-finished products

Участки подготовки древесины, промывки и отбеливания целлюлозы, а также варочный цех являются основными источниками сточных вод в целлюлозно-бумажной промышленности. Объём сточных вод тесно связан с количеством получаемой целлюлозы в каждом конкретном процессе. При этом образуется значительное количество вторичных ресурсов в виде поли- и олигосахаридов, которые присутствуют в цеховых и заводских сточных водах. Эти воды подвергаются биологической очистке с образованием ила, который не находит полноценного практического применения. Использование активного ила в качестве флокулянта приводит к необходимости аэрирования, что достаточно дорого. Использование ила в качестве кормовых добавок не представляется возможным, так как в нем накапливаются токсиканты, и кроме того, желудочно-кишечный тракт многих животных не способен переваривать осажденную клетчатку. Ил не находит применения в сельском хозяйстве, так как сильная гидратация требует трудоемких и затратных операций перевалки, транспортировки, хранения и последующего внесения в почву. Установлена целесообразность применения сточных вод производства древесной массы из щепы берёзы для приготовления питательной среды для культивирования гриба Trichoderma reesei M18. При этом, сточные воды рекомендуется подготавливать путём инверсии при pH 4,9 и упаривания в 3 раза с увеличением содержания РВ до 3,5 Показано, что на питательной среде, приготовленной из концентрированных сточных вод, гриб Trichoderma reesei M18 проявляет ферментативную целлюлолитическую и ксиланазную активности, что способствует гидролизу олигосахаридов, и, соответственно, увеличению редуцирующих веществ в питательной среде. Путём кислотной обработки гриба Trichoderma reesei M18 получен хитин-глюкан, обладающий адсорбционными свойствами по отношению к Т-2 микотоксину. При этом наибольшей истинной адсорбционной способностью по отношению к Т-2 микотоксину обладает хитин-глюкан с меньшим содержанием белка по Барнштейну и наибольшим содержанием Д-глюкозамина. Sections of wood preparation, washing and bleaching of pulp, as well as the brewhouse are the main sources of wastewater in the pulp and paper industry. The volume of wastewater is closely related to the amount of pulp produced in each specific process. In this case, a significant amount of secondary resources is formed in the form of poly and oligosaccharides, which are present in workshop and factory wastewater. These waters undergo biological treatment with the formation of sludge, which does not find full practical use. The use of activated sludge as a flocculant leads to the need for aeration, which is quite expensive. The use of sludge as feed additives is not possible, since toxicants accumulate in it, and in addition, the gastrointestinal tract of many animals is not able to digest precipitated fiber. Sludge is not used in agriculture, since strong hydration requires laborious and costly operations of transshipment, transportation, storage and subsequent application to the soil. The feasibility of using wastewater for the production of wood pulp from birch wood chips for the preparation of a nutrient medium for the cultivation of Trichoderma reesei M18 fungus has been established. At the same time, it is recommended to prepare wastewater by inversion at pH 4.9 and evaporation by 3 times with an increase in the content of PB to 3.5. It is shown that Trichoderma reesei M18 shows enzymatic cellulolytic and xylanase activity on a substratum prepared from concentrated wastewater, which contributes to the hydrolysis of oligosaccharides, and, accordingly, an increase in reducing substances in the substratum. Acid treatment of the fungus Trichoderma reesei M18 yields chitin-glucan, which has adsorption properties in relation to T-2 mycotoxin. At the same time, chitin-glucan with the lower protein content according to Barnstein and the highest content of D-glucosamine possesses the highest true adsorption capacity in relation to T-2 mycotoxin.

Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Nitrogen Fixation Rate Changes over Plant Growth in Temperate Soil

Research on the use of soil enhancer materials such as biochar from soil chemical perspective still provide differing results; therefore, investigations focusing on soil-biochar-plant interactions are still necessary to constrain our understanding of complex biochar effects. The present study investigated the changes in biological nitrogen fixation rates (BNF) and overall nutrient dynamics (NO3−, NH4+, total N, K2O, and P2O5) during the growth of Capsicum annuum (pepper) in pot experiments amended with biochar made of paper fiber sludge and grain husk. Four treatments were studied with 0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (by weight) added biochar (BC) amount to temperate silt loam soil. Peppers were planted at 2–4 leave stages and grown for the duration of 12.5 weeks. Our results showed that total nitrogen had relatively small changes in all treatments over time compared to the dynamic changes observed in the case of inorganic nutrients. NO3−-N and NH4+-N abundances presented a continuous decrease during the course of the study after an initial increase. The pepper plant facilitated the BNF rates to triple in the control soils, while plants were in the growing phase (weeks 1–6), which further increased an additional 61% by harvesting (week 12). A high amount of biochar addition suppressed potential BNF rates of the investigated soil, indicating its potentially negative effects on soil indigenous microbial communities if added in excess. We also found a plateau in plant biomass production that after reaching an optimal (2.5%) biochar amendment in the soils, and excess biochar addition did not result in significant changes in the soils’ pH to achieve better nutrient (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous) use or crop growth.

Two types of biochars: one made from sugarcane bagasse, other one produced from paper fiber sludge and grain husks and their effects on water retention of a clay, a loamy soil and a silica sand

Biochar (BC) is used as a soil amendment to enhance plant growth by improving mainly soil chemical and hydrophysical properties. In this work the effects of two types of BCs on soil water retention properties were analysed. The first type of BC was made from sugarcane bagasse. It was added to a clay “Shimajiri Maji” soil at an application rate of 3 w%. The second type of BC was made from paper fiber sludge and grain husks. It was added into a loam soil at rates of 3.6, and 7.3 w%. It was assumed that the effect of BC amendment will be more pronounced in coarse-grained soil than in fine-grained one. Therefore, the second type of BC was applied additionally in the silica sand, in a textured contrast material compared with the loam soil. The BC amendment caused statistically significant increase of water content in the transmission pores of the clay soil, in the storage pores of the loam soil, and in the macropores and the storage pores in the silica sand. Despite of the positive effect on soil water retention, statistically significant increase of available water capacity (AWC) was identified only in the loam soil with the larger BC amendment rate. Possible reasons are discussed.