Advances in the Pyrolysis Process and the Generation of Bioenergy

The reduction of environmental impacts caused by emissions of greenhouse gases has become an internationalized goal. In this context the development of technologies capable of producing energy from clean or renewable sources has gained broad prominence, among them the fast pyrolysis is a type of thermochemical process capable of converting biomass and agroindustrial waste into a liquid product called bio-oil that has a wide range of applications in the bioenergy scenario. For this type of technology to be consolidated as an alternative source of renewable energy, economic, political and environmental incentives are necessary, as well as research development to improve the conversion processes, such as reactor types, logistics in obtaining and pre-treating potential biomass, improvement and conversion routes for bio-oil obtained in renewable biofuels or chemicals with higher added value. This chapter covers the fundamentals of thermal conversion of biomass into bio-oil and the most studied processes to convert bio-oil into a product with better properties, such as deoxygenation and energy densification.

Interactive Analysis of Biosurfactants in Fruit-Waste Fermentation Samples using BioSurfDB and MEGAN

Microbial biosurfactants are of major interest due to their multifunctional properties, biodegradable nature and low toxicity. Agroindustrial waste, such as fruit waste, can be used as substrates for producing bacteria.In this study, six samples of fruit waste, from oranges, mangoes and mixed fruits, were self-fermented,and then subjected to short-read metagenomic sequencing, so as to allow assessment of thepotential of the associated microbiota for biosurfactant production.Taxonomic analysis using the DIAMOND+MEGAN analysis pipeline shows that all six samples are dominatedby Proteobacteria, in particular, a common core consisting of the genera Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Acinetobacter and Escherichia. To support the interactive visualization and exploration of the surfactant-related genes in such samples,we have integrated the BiosurfDB classification into MEGAN and make this available.Functional analysis indicates high similarity among samples and that a significant number of reads map to genes that are involved in the biosynthesis of lipopeptide-class biosurfactants. Gene-centric analysis reveals Klebsiella as the main assignment for genes related to putisolvins biosynthesis.This suggests that fruit waste is a promising substrate for fermentative processes because the associated microbiota may be able to produce biosurfactants that are potentially useful for the agricultural, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries.

Agroindustrial Waste As Potential Source for Obtaining Nanocellulose

This review focuses on evaluating the potential of agricultural residues produced in Ecuador (rice, banana, corn, sugar cane, pineapple) as raw material for obtaining nanocellulose. A review of published documents regarding the obtaining and applications of nanocellulose was carried out, as well as the characteristics of agro-industrial waste and production in Ecuador. Nanocellulose constitutes a versatile nanomaterial, it can be applied in areas such as health, food, engineering, environmental, electronics, etc. The physical-chemical characteristics of each of the residues derived from the production of rice, banana, corn, sugar cane, pineapple allow us to conclude in the first instance that Ecuador has a potential in the generation of matter for obtaining nanocellulose, it is However, it is necessary to develop basic and applied research that allows a use and exploitation of these wastes with a greater added value than that currently obtained. Keywords: Cellulose, nanocellulose, nanocrystals, agricultural residues. Resumen La presente revisión se enfoca en evaluar la potencialidad de residuos agrícolas producidos en Ecuador (arroz, plátano, maíz, caña de azúcar, piña) como materia prima para la obtención de nanocelulosa. Se realizó una revisión de documentos publicados respecto a la obtención y aplicaciones de nanocelulosa, así como, de las características de los residuos agroindustriales y la producción en Ecuador. La nanocelulosa constituye un nanomaterial versátil, se puede aplicar en áreas como la salud, alimentos, ingeniería, ambiental, electrónica, etc. Las características físico químicas de cada uno de los residuos derivados a partir de la producción de arroz, plátano, maíz, caña de azúcar, piña permite concluir en primera instancia que Ecuador tiene un potencial en la generación de materia para la obtención de nanocelulosa, es necesario sin embargo el desarrollo de investigación básica y aplicada que permita un uso y aprovechamiento de estos residuos con un mayor valor agregado que el que se obtiene actualmente. Palabras Clave: Celulosa, nanocelulosa, nanocristales, residuos agrícolas.

Biomaterial obtenido a partir de micelio de hongo (ganoderma lucidum) y residuos agrícolas

RESUMEN Actualmente la gran cantidad de residuos orgánicos e inorgánicos que se generan en el mundo se están convirtiendo en un problema ambiental. Aunque existen diversas investigaciones para su confinamiento, tratamiento o aprovechamiento, queda mucho por investigar. Desde hace aproximadamente una década, se han desarrollado biomateriales, los cuales son obtenidos a partir de biopolímeros de fuentes vegetales, residuos agroindustriales, así como de bacterias y hongos. El objetivo de la presente investigación es el diseño de un biomaterial a través de la propagación micelial del hongo Ganoderma lucidum, crecido sobre cáscara de nuez y aserrín de roble, ambos residuos agroindustriales. Se formularon cinco sustratos distintos, variando las proporciones de cáscara de nuez (CN) y aserrín (AS) los cuales se describen a continuación; TI-CN100:AS0, TII-CN25:AS75, TIII-CN50:AS50, TIV-CN75:AS25 y TV-CN0:AS100. Después de 30 días de incubación (26° C, y una humedad relativa del 70 al 80%), el TI-CN100:AS0, permitió un desarrollo micelial del hongo Ganoderma lucidum. El biomaterial obtenido presentó un aspecto aterciopelado blanquecino con una estructura similar a una espuma. La prueba de compresión reveló que el biomaterial tiene alta resistencia a 0.392 MPa, con un porcentaje de deformación máximo de 26%. Además, presentó una densidad media de 0.511 ± 0.169 g/cm-3. En general, el biomaterial de estudio se encuentra dentro de los parámetros establecidos para las espumas a base de micelio elaboradas recientemente. Por lo tanto, es un candidato para reemplazar el poliestireno expandido, sin embargo, se requiere una caracterización más amplia, así como estandarización del proceso. ABSTRACT Currently, the large amount of organic and inorganic wastes generated in the world is becoming an environmental problem. Although there are several researches for their confinement, treatment or utilization, there is still a lot of research to be done. For about a decade, biomaterials have been developed, which are obtained from biopolymers from plant sources, agroindustrial waste, as well as from bacteria and fungi. The objective of the present research is the design of a biomaterial through mycelial propagation of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum, grown on walnut shells and oak sawdust, both agro-industrial wastes. Five different substrates were formulated, varying the proportions of walnut shell (CN) and sawdust (AS) which are described below; TI-CN100:AS0, TII-CN25:AS75, TIII-CN50:AS50, TIV-CN75:AS25 and TV-CN0:AS100. After 30 days of incubation (26°C, and a relative humidity of 70 to 80%), the TI-CN100:AS0 allowed mycelial development of the fungus Ganoderma lucidum. The biomaterial obtained presented a whitish velvety appearance with a foam-like structure. The compression test revealed that the biomaterial has high strength at 0.392 MPa, with a maximum deformation percentage of 26%. In addition, it presented an average density of 0.511 ± 0.169 g/cm-3. Overall, the study biomaterial is within the established parameters for recently developed mycelium-based foams. Therefore, it is a candidate to replace expanded polystyrene, however, further characterization and standardization of the process is required.

Desarrollo de papel artesanal a base de desechos agroindustriales tomando en cuenta el ciclo de vida del producto / Development of handmade paper based on agroindustrial waste considering the product life cycle

En el presente artículo se presentan los resultados del proyecto que tuvo como objetivo elaborar un nuevo tipo de papel artesanal a base de residuos agroindustriales, para comparar algunas de sus propiedades con el papel industrial. Los desechos agroindustriales se componen principalmente de tallos, raíces, hojas u otras partes de plantas como el bambú, el carrizo, el plátano, el agave, la piña, y el coco. Dichos residuos son apartados y clasificados como materiales “inútiles” y constituyen una fuente importante de contaminación. Resulta importante indicar que en los últimos años, ha existido una relación directa entre la acumulación excesiva de estos desechos con el incremento de la población humana, ya que se han tenido que destinar grandes cantidades de extensiones de tierra para el cultivo de frutas y vegetales para atender la demanda de alimentos de las personas. El desarrollo de este proyecto constó de 4 etapas, las cuales se obtuvieron al combinar la Metodología de Ecodiseño de la Sociedad Pública de Gestión Ambiental del Gobierno Vasco, IHOBE; y la Metodología de Desarrollo de Productos de Ulrich y Epigger, a las cuales se agregó una fase experimental. La Etapa 1 constó de toda la investigación de campo y bibliográfica que fue realizada para sustentar el proyecto, también se obtuvo el inventario del Ciclo de Vida del papel industrial. Posteriormente, en la Etapa 2 se utilizó el Método de Diseño de Experimentos para efectuar un conjunto de pruebas con distintas formulaciones de los componentes del papel artesanal, variando las proporciones de fibra y aditivo. En la Etapa 3 se definió el inventario del Ciclo de Vida del papel artesanal, además se determinó el diagrama de procesos de operación para su fabricación. Finalmente, en la Etapa 4 se realizaron un conjunto de pruebas físicas, además se compararon los inventarios del Ciclo de Vida y las características del nuevo papel artesanal y del papel industrial.

Cr (III) Removal Capacity in Aqueous Solution in Relation to the Functional Groups Present in the Orange Peel (Citrus sinensis)

Bioremediation is a pollutant removal method that has had a great boom due to the diversity of agroindustrial waste that can be used for this purpose, and that has shown having great efficiency and profitability in the adsorption of heavy metals, such as Pb, Cu, and Co. Based on the above, the present work carried out kinetic and equilibrium studies of bioadsorption of Cr (III) using orange peel (OP) as adsorbent, previously treated with methanol, water, and a water–methanol mixture at different pH (0.91, 1.78 and 2.72), and at 30 °C, finding that the adsorption capacity at equilibrium increases with increasing pH, having a maximum of 55 mg g−1 at pH 2.72—under these conditions, lower adsorption energy was used to remove Cr (III). In addition, it was determined that there are no external mass transfer limitations. An isoelectric point analysis indicated that the adsorption is not carried out by electrostatic forces and a FTIR study of the functional groups of OP showed a decrease in the main functional groups (pectin, cellulose, and lignin, among others), which is directly related to the adsorption capacity of the bioadsorbent.

Evaluation of The Production of Second Generation Ethanol by Co-Culture of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and Pachysolen Tannophilus Immobilized in Sodium Alginate.

The production of an alternative form of fuel that replaces fossil fuels has been increasingly studied due to the environmental impacts generated by its excessive use, as well as the depletion of these fossil energy sources. Ethanol obtained from the crushing of sugar cane has been used as a substitute for these fuels, mainly in the automotive area. However, alternative sources are being studied to produce the so called second generation bioethanol. This would avoid competition for food producing agricultural areas and agroindustrial waste is a great source for obtaining it. In general, these residues are not always completely reused and are disposed of inappropriately in the environment, becoming contaminants. Therefore, the use of agroindustrial waste can become a renewable source of energy, in addition to reducing environmental impacts. The objective of this work is to produce second generation bioethanol as an alternative to the one currently used, using the rice husk hydrolyzate by the consortium formed by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pachysolen tannophilus . For this, an acid hydrolysis was performed with 2% sulfuric acid during 10 minutes of heating in an autoclave, after which the hydrolyzate was detoxified with the use of activated carbon. The crude and detoxified hydrolysates were used as a substrate for the fermentation medium with an initial concentration of 50 mg/mL of reducing sugars. The fermentation process with the use of both yeasts in the crude hydrolyzate medium, in the detoxified medium and in a synthetic medium composed of glucose, was carried out for 24 h, 30º C, 0 rpm and pH 6.5.The best results for the ethanol production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was the synthetic medium with 20.6 mg/mL. For the yeast Pachysolen tannophilus , its highest production was in a synthetic medium with 11.67 mg/mL. The intercropping of the two yeasts proved to be efficient with a greater ethanol production reaching 21.5 mg/mL, the hydrolyzed and detoxified media showed great potential for ethanol production both in intercropping and in monoculture