Evaluation of different lignocellulosic substrates for cultivation of medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum

Aim: The present study was formulated with an aim to evaluate different locally available residues from trees such as mixed saw dust, saw dust of coconut wood log, coconut leaf stalks/petiole, coconut coir waste, saw dust of areca nut wood log for cultivation of medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum. Methodology: Locally available agro residues viz., mixed saw dust, saw dust of coconut wood log, chopped coconut leaf stalks/petiole, coconut coir waste, saw dust of areca nut wood log were mixed with 20% wheat bran as supplement and packed in bags at 175 g/bag, autoclaved and aseptically inoculated with grain spawn of G. lucidum and provided with different temperature and humidity conditions for production of fruiting bodies. Results: Among the substrates, coconut wood log saw dust supported early spawn run within 46.5 days and early pinhead production on day 54 followed by pinhead expansion in 62.3 days and first harvest within 70.5 days. The average number of fruiting bodies were also higher (5.75 numbers/bag) with an average weight of 13.5 g/fruiting body that gave significantly higher yield of 77.5 g/175 g substrate with bioefficiency of 44.3% in a cropping cycle of 100.5 days compared to other substrates. Interpretation: The results show that coconut wood log saw dust substrate offers great scope for artificial cultivation of G. lucidum with a significant bioefficiency of 44.3 %.

Identification and Quantification of Naphthoquinones and Other Phenolic Compounds in Leaves, Petioles, Bark, Roots, and Buds of Juglans regia L., Using HPLC-MS/MS

The present study was designed to identify and quantify the major phenolic compounds in different Juglans regia L. (common walnut) tissues (leaves, petioles, bark, roots, buds), to define the compositions and contents of phenolic compounds between these tissues. A total of 91 individual phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, which comprised 8 hydroxycinnamic acids, 28 hydroxybenzoic acids, 11 flavanols, 20 flavonols, 22 napthoquinones, and 2 coumarins. Naphthoquinones were the major phenolic group in leaves, petioles, bark, and buds, as >60% of those identified, while hydroxybenzoic acids were the major phenolic group in side roots, as ~50% of those identified. The highest content of phenolic compounds was in the J. regia main root, followed by side roots and buds, leaves, and 1-year-old bark; the lowest content was in petioles and 2-year-old bark. Leaves, roots, and buds of J. regia represent a valuable source of these agro-residues.

Densification of agro-residues for sustainable energy generation: an overview

The global demand for sustainable energy is increasing due to urbanization, industrialization, population, and developmental growth. Transforming the large quantities of biomass resources such as agro-residues/wastes could raise the energy supply and promote energy mix. Residues of biomass instituted in the rural and industrial centers are enormous, and poor management of these residues results in several indescribable environmental threats. The energy potential of these residues can provide job opportunities and income for nations. The generation and utilization of dissimilar biomass as feedstock for energy production via densification could advance the diversity of energy crops. An increase in renewable and clean energy demand will likely increase the request for biomass residues for renewable energy generation via densification. This will reduce the environmental challenges associated with burning and dumping of these residues in an open field. Densification is the process of compacting particles together through the application of pressure to form solid fuels. Marketable densification is usually carried out using conventional pressure-driven processes such as extrusion, screw press, piston type, hydraulic piston press, roller press, and pallet press (ring and flat die). Based on compaction, densification methods can be categorized into high-pressure, medium-pressure, and low-pressure compactions. The common densification processes are briquetting, pelletizing, bailing, and cubing. They manufacture solid fuel with desirable fuel characteristics—physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, and combustion characteristics. Fuel briquettes and pellets have numerous advantages and applications both in domestic and industrial settings. However, for biomass to be rationally and efficiently utilized as solid fuel, it must be characterized to determine its fuel properties. Herein, an overview of the densification of biomass residues as a source of sustainable energy is presented.

Performance evaluation of throat type updraft biomass gasifier using different biomass fuels

A biomass gasifier converts solid fuel such as wood waste, saw-dust briquettes and agro-residues into a gaseous fuel through a thermo-chemical process and the resultant gas can be used for thermal and power generation applications. The present research aims to evaluate the updraft biomass gasifier using different biomass for thermal application. The capacity of updraft gasifier was a 5-10 kg.h-1 and three types of biomass: maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes were used as fuel for producing producer gas by thermal application. The maximum carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H2) and Methane (CH4) found were 14.8, 12.7 and 3.9%, 14.6, 13.7 and 3.9 % and 14.2, 13.5 and 3.9% at 5 kg.h-1 biomass consumption rate, respectively using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes as fuel. The maximum and minimum producer gas calorific value was found 1120 and 1034 kcal.m-3; 1139 and 1034 kcal.m-3 and 1123 and 1036 kcal.m-3 at biomass consumption rate of 5 and 10 kg.h-1 using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes as fuel respectively. The maximum gasifier efficiency of 77.94, 70.26 and 69.60% was found at the biomass consumption rate of 5 kg.h-1 using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes as fuel, respectively. The minimum gasifier efficiency of 72.72, 64.49 and 64.90 % was found at the biomass consumption rate of 10 kg.h-1 using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes as fuel in the system, respectively. The maximum overall thermal efficiency of 29.60, 30.65 and 23.69 % were found at the biomass consumption rates of 8, 7 and 7 kg.h-1 using maize cobs, sized wood and saw dust briquettes, respectively.

Synthesis, physico-mechanical and microstructural characterization of Al6063/SiC/PKSA hybrid reinforced composites

The utilization of agro-residues ash as complementary reinforcing materials continues to gain prominence for metal matrix composite (MMCs) development. A rarely investigated but largely available ash among these agro-residues is the palm kernel shell ash (PKSA). Thus, the present study investigates the influence of PKSA particulates hybridized with SiC on the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of Al6063 metal composites. The composites are synthesized using the double stir-casting technique with SiC held constant at 2 wt.%, while the PKSA contents are varied from 0 to 8 wt.%. The phases present and morphology of the composites are investigated using X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. The density, porosity, hardness, tensile and fracture toughness tests are carried out on the hybrid composites. X-ray diffractometer revealed that for Al 6063, only Al cubic crystal system was identifiable within the matrix. However, for the reinforced composites, major phases identified are Al, Fe3Si, SiC, MgO, and SiO2. The SEM images show that the particulates reinforcements (SiC and PKSA) were uniformly dispersed in the matrix. The percentage porosity for the composites ranged from 2.06 to 2.39%. In addition, hardness, yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of the composites are about 10.3%, 18.5% and 10.4%, respectively better than for Al 6063. However, the percent elongation and fracture toughness are lower for the hybrid composites than for Al 6063 and SiC reinforced composite with values decreasing with increase in ash content. Hence, the MMCs produced will be applicable for light-weight engineering applications.