Optical parameters and crystallization of flash evaporated amorphous gallium antimonide films

Flash-evaporated GaSb films are analysed using a combination of optical, surface and x-ray diffraction techniques. The effects of thermal annealings on nearly stoichiometric GaSb films are studied.

Moringa extracts used in sugarcane juice treatment and effects on ethanolic fermentation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of sugarcane juice treatment using Moringa oleifera leaf and seeds extracts on ethanolic fermentation. The experiment was arranged in a split plot statistical design, with four replications. Main treatments were three sedimentation agents (synthetic polyelectrolyte, moringa leaf and seed extracts) and control while the secondary treatments were two sugarcane varieties (RB867515 and CTC4). Extracted sugarcane juice was clarified by simple defecation with pH adjusted to 6.0. The flocculating agents were added in a decanter before the limed juice. After then, the juice was standardized to 16° Brix at pH 4.5, and musts were inoculated with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, FT858. At the end of the fermentation process, wines were recovered by centrifugation. In all experimental stages, extracted juice, clarified juice and wine were chemically and technologically characterized. The use of moringa leaf and seed extracts as sedimentation adjuvants did not increase the sedimentation speed of impurities. However, there was a high sludge compaction, which was essential for maintenance of yeast and bud population at the beginning of fermentation, and yeast budding rate in the end. The use of different sedimentation agents as adjuvants in juice treatment did not affect wine quality and ethanol yield.

Production of α-amilase by solid state fermentation by Rhizopus oryzae

A thermotolerant strain of Rhizopus oryzae was grown in three agro-industrial by-products: brewers’ rice, corn grits and wheat bran. Different substrates, cultivation time, moisture content, additional nitrogen sources, pH and temperature of incubation were evaluated aiming to optimize growing conditions. The highest enzymatic activity was observed after 24 h of cultivation using wheat bran as substrate with the following salt solutions: NH4NO3, MgSO4.7H2O and (NH4)2SO4 0.1% at temperature of 35°C. It was observed that changes in the pH range 4.0-6.0 did not significantly affect α-amylase activity. The optimum operation conditions were 75°C and pH 4.5. The enzymes remained stable at 75°C in the absence of substrate for 25 min.

Yeast CA-11 fermentation in musts treated with brown and green propolis

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fermentation by gut microbiota cultured in a simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem is improved probiotic Enterococcus faecium CRL 183

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lignases Production and Partial Purification of Mnp from Brazilian Fungal Isolate in Submerged Fermentation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Production of alcoholic beverage from ginger: study of fermentation process and final product quality

Introduction: In Brazil part of the production of ginger is of inadequate quality for export. The production of spirit from felt-over rhizomes is an alternative of great interest to producers of these rhizomes. Aim: Aiming to increase the value of felt-over rhizomes, this work aimed to study the use of ginger as a raw material for alcoholic beverage production. It was evaluated the effect of fermentation conditions on the components of fermented alcoholic, as well as, the quality of alcoholic distilled beverage of ginger. Methods: Dehydrated ginger passed by enzymatic hydrolysis-saccharification processes. The hydrolysate obtained was analyzed for sugar profile in HPLC. The alcoholic fermentation process followed the central composite rotational design for three factors: fermentation temperature (23 to 37ºC), time of fermentation (17 to 33 h) and concentration of inoculum (0.22 to 3.00%). The fermented alcoholic obtained was analyzed in HPLC for the contents of ethanol, methanol, glycerol and residual sugars. The distillated alcoholic beverage of ginger was analyzed for ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, ethyl acetate and higher alcohols in the gas chromatography (GC). In addition, copper content and acidity were analyzed Results: Sugar profile of the ginger hydrolysate revealed the presence of 77.8% of glucose. Data analysis of fermentation process showed influence of temperature on ethanol and methanol content of the fermented alcoholic of ginger. Time of fermentation had effect on glycerol content. All parameters of process had influence on residual sugars contents. The HPLC analysis has shown presence of methanol, ethyl acetate, aldehyde, acids, higher alcohols and esters in distilled alcoholic beverage of ginger. Conclusion: Fermented alcoholic of ginger with higher levels of ethanol can be obtained under the conditions of 1.5% w/w of inoculum, 30°C of temperature and 24 hours of fermentation time. In this condition of fermentation process the beverage of ginger had good quality.

Thermostable invertases from Paecylomyces variotii produced under submerged and solid-state fermentation using agroindustrial residues

The filamentous fungus Paecylomices variotii was able to produce high levels of cell extract and extracellular invertases when grown under submerged fermentation (SbmF) and solid-state fermentation, using agroindustrial products or residues as substrates, mainly soy bran and wheat bran, at 40A degrees C for 72 h and 96 h, respectively. Addition of glucose or fructose (a parts per thousand yen1%; w/v) in SbmF inhibited enzyme production, while the addition of 1% (w/v) peptone as organic nitrogen source enhanced the production by 3.7-fold. However, 1% (w/v) (NH4)(2)HPO4 inhibited enzyme production around 80%. The extracellular form was purified until electrophoretic homogeneity (10.5-fold with 33% recovery) by DEAE-Fractogel and Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. The enzyme is a monomer with molecular mass of 102 kDa estimated by SDS-PAGE with carbohydrate content of 53.6%. Optima of temperature and pH for both, extracellular and cell extract invertases, were 60A degrees C and 4.0-4.5, respectively. Both invertases were stable for 1 h at 60A degrees C with half-lives of 10 min at 70A degrees C. Mg2+, Ba2+ and Mn2+ activated both extracellular and cell extract invertases from P. variotii. The kinetic parameters K-m and V-max for the purified extracellular enzyme corresponded to 2.5 mM and 481 U/mg prot(-1), respectively.

Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis cultivation in tubular photobioreactor: Use of no-cost CO2 from ethanol fermentation

The present study aimed at evaluating the production of Arthrospira platensis in tubular photobioreactor using CO2 from ethanol fermentation. The results of these cultivations were compared to those obtained using CO2 from cylinder at different protocols of simultaneous ammonium sulfate and sodium nitrate feeding. Maximum cell concentration (X-m), cell productivity (P-x), nitrogen-to-cell conversion factor (Y-X/N), and biomass composition (total lipids and proteins) were selected as responses and evaluated by analysis of variance. The source of CO2 did not exert any significant statistical influence on these responses, which means that the flue gas from ethanol fermentation could successfully be used as a carbon source as well as to control the medium pH, thus contributing to reduce the greenhouse effect. The results taken as a whole demonstrated that the best combination of responses mean values (X-m = 4.543 g L-1; P-x = 0.460 g L-1 d(-1); Y-X/N = 15.6 g g(-1); total lipids = 8.39%; total proteins = 18.7%) was obtained using as nitrogen source a mixture of 25% NaNO3 and 75% (NH4)(2)SO4, both expressed as nitrogen. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparative in vitro evaluation of forage legumes (prosopis, acacia, atriplex, and leucaena) on ruminal fermentation and methanogenesis

Two experiments in vitro were conducted to evaluate four Egyptian forage legume browses, i.e., leaves of prosopis (Prosopis juliflora), acacia (Acacia saligna), atriplex (A triplex halimus), and leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala), in comparison with Tifton (Cynodon sp.) grass hay for their gas production, methanogenic potential, and ruminal fermentation using a semi-automatic system for gas production (first experiment) and for ruminal and post ruminal protein degradability (second experiment). Acacia and leucaena showed pronounced methane inhibition compared with Tifton, while prosopis and leucaena decreased the acetate:propionate ratio (P<0.01). Acacia and leucaena presented a lower (P<0.01) ruminal NH3-N concentration associated with the decreasing (P<0.01) ruminal protein degradability. Leucaena, however, showed higher (P<0.01) intestinal protein digestibility than acacia. This study suggests that the potential methanogenic properties of leguminous browses may be related not only to tannin content, but also to other factors.

Effect of Substrate Concentration on Dark Fermentation Hydrogen Production Using an Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor

The effect of substrate (glucose) concentration on the stability and yield of a continuous fermentative process that produces hydrogen was studied. Four anaerobic fluidized bed reactors (AFBRs) were operated with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 1 to 8 h and an influent glucose concentration from 2 to 25 gL(-1). The reactors were inoculated with thermally pre-treated anaerobic sludge and operated at a temperature of 30 degrees C with an influent pH around 5.5 and an effluent pH of about 3.5. The AFBRs with a HRT of 2 h and a feed strength of 2, 4, and 10 gL(-1) showed satisfactory H-2 production performance, but the reactor fed with 25 gL(-1) of glucose did not. The highest hydrogen yield value was obtained in the reactor with a glucose concentration of 2 gL(-1) when it was operated at a HRT of 2 h. The maximum hydrogen production rate value was achieved in the reactor with a HRT of 1 h and a feed strength of 10 gL(-1). The AFBRs operated with glucose concentrations of 2 and 4 gL(-1) produced greater amounts of acetic and butyric acids, while AFBRs with higher glucose concentrations produced a greater amount of solvents.

Effects of Aspergillus spp. exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on in vitro fermentation of tropical forages

BACKGROUND: Cellulose and hemicellulose are quantitatively the most important structural carbohydrates present in ruminant diets. Rumen micro-organisms produce enzymes that catalyse their hydrolysis, but the complex network formed by structural carbohydrates and lignin reduces their digestibility and restricts efficient utilisation of feeds by ruminants. This study aimed to produce two enzymatic extracts, apply them in ruminant diets to determine the best levels for ruminal digestibility and evaluate their effects on in vitro digestibility. RESULTS: In experiment 1 a two-stage in vitro technique was used to examine the effects of different enzymatic levels of Aspergillus japonicus and Aspergillus terricola on tropical forages. Enzyme addition had minor effects on corn silage at the highest enzymatic level. In experiment 2 an in vitro gas production (GP) technique was applied to determine apparent in vitro organic matter digestibility and metabolisable energy. The addition of enzymes in GP showed interesting results. Good data were obtained using sugar cane and Tifton-85 hay supplemented with extracts of A. japonicus and A. terricola respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, the study suggests that addition of crude extracts containing exogenous fibrolytic enzymes to ruminant diets enhances the effective utilisation of ruminant feedstuffs such as forages. Copyright (c) 2012 Society of Chemical Industry

Preliminary Characterization of Novel Extra-cellular Lipase from Penicillium crustosum Under Solid-State Fermentation and its Potential Application for Triglycerides Hydrolysis

Current studies about lipase production involve the use of agro-industrial residues and newly isolated microorganisms aimed at increasing economic attractiveness of the process. Based on these aspects, the main objective of this work is to perform the partial characterization of enzymatic extracts produced by a newly isolated Penicillium crustosum in solid-state fermentation. Lipase extract presented optimal temperature and pH of 37 A degrees C and 9-10, respectively. The concentrated enzymatic extract showed more stability at 25 A degrees C and pH 7. The enzymes kept 100% of their enzymatic activity until 60 days of storage at 4 and -10 A degrees C. The stability under calcium salts indicated that the hydrolytic activity presented decay with the increase of calcium concentration. The specificity under several substrates indicated good enzyme activities in triglycerides from C4 to C18.

A Simple Method to Evaluate, Correlate and Predict Boiling and Flash Points of Alkynes

Boiling points (T-B) of acyclic alkynes are predicted from their boiling point numbers (Y-BP) with the relationship T-B(K) = -16.802Y(BP)(2/3) + 337.377Y(BP)(1/3) - 437.883. In turn, Y-BP values are calculated from structure using the equation Y-BP = 1.726 + A(i) + 2.779C + 1.716M(3) + 1.564M + 4.204E(3) + 3.905E + 5.007P - 0.329D + 0.241G + 0.479V + 0.967T + 0.574S. Here A(i) depends on the substitution pattern of the alkyne and the remainder of the equation is the same as that reported earlier for alkanes. For a data set consisting of 76 acyclic alkynes, the correlation of predicted and literature T-B values had an average absolute deviation of 1.46 K, and the R-2 of the correlation was 0.999. In addition, the calculated Y-BP values can be used to predict the flash points of alkynes.