Enhancing volatile fatty acids production from waste activated sludge: The role of pretreatment by N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-l-glutamate (GLDA)

N,N-bis(carboxymethyl)-l-glutamate (GLDA) is an eco-friendly chelating agent that effectively extracts multivalent metal ions from waste activated sludge (WAS) flocs, which could potentially alter their structure. However, the effect of GLDA on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from WAS is not well known. Here, we demonstrate that pretreatment with GLDA at a concentration of 200 mmol per kg VSS results in a significant increase of 142% in extractable extracellular polymeric substances and enhances the total VFAs yield by 64% compared to untreated samples. We reveal GLDA's capability to mobilize organic-binding multivalent metal ions within sludge flocs. Specifically, post-pretreatment analyses showed the release of 69.1 mg L-1 of Ca and 109.8 mg L-1 of Fe ions from the flocs, leading to a more relaxed floc structure and a reduced apparent activation energy (10.6 versus 20 kJ mol-1) for WAS solubilization. Molecular dynamic simulations further demonstrate GLDA's preferential binding to Fe3+ and Ca2+ over Mg2+. Our study suggests that GLDA pretreatment causes minimal disruption to reactor stability, thereby indicating the stability of microbial community composition. GLDA has emerged as a viable pretreatment agent for enhancing volatile fatty acids production from waste activated sludge.

Comparison evaluation pretreatments on the quality characteristics, oxidative stability, and volatile flavor of walnut oil

In this study, we applied various thermal pretreatment methods (e.g., hot-air, microwave, and stir-frying) to process walnut kernels, and conducted comparative analysis of the physicochemical properties, nutritional components, in vitro antioxidant activity, and flavor substances of the extracted walnut oil (WO). The results indicated that, thermal pretreatment significantly increased the extraction of total trace nutrients (e.g., total phenols, tocopherols, and phytosterols) in WO. The WO produced using microwave had 2316.71 mg/kg of total trace nutrients, closely followed by the stir-frying method, which yielded an 11.22% increase compared to the untreated method. The WO obtained by the microwave method had a higher Oxidative inductance period (4.05 h) and oil yield (2.48%). After analyzing the flavor in WO, we found that aldehydes accounted for 28.77% of the 73 of volatile compounds and 58.12% of the total flavor compound content in microwave-pretreated WO, these percentages were higher than those recorded by using other methods. Based on the comprehensive score obtained by the PCA, microwave-pretreatment might be a promising strategy to improve the quality of WO based on aromatic characteristics.

Improvement of the drying quality of blueberries by catalytic infrared blanching combined with ultrasound pretreatment

This paper investigated the effect of catalytic infrared blanching combined with ultrasound pretreatment on quality and waxy structure of blueberries. Different blueberry samples were prepared, including control (untreated) and samples treated by hot water blanching (HB), catalytic infrared blanching (CIB), ultrasound-catalytic infrared blanching (US-CIB), and catalytic infrared blanching-ultrasound (CIB-US). The effect of different pretreatments on the microstructure of blueberry epidermis was studied. The drying time of blueberries after HB, US-CIB, and CIB-US was decreased by 11.61%, 17.54%, and 17.27%, respectively, compared with control (33.75 h), and drying efficiency was significantly improved. Blueberries after pretreatments had higher content of polyphenol and anthocyanin, with an increase of 29.51-44.21% in phenol and 8.81-20.80% in anthocyanin, the antioxidant capacity of blueberries was also better than control and CIB enhanced the antioxidant capacity of blueberries. CIB-US can be used as an efficient pretreatment method for blueberry drying.

Extracellular vesicles separated from goat milk by differential centrifugation coupled with sodium citrate pretreatments

Satisfactory separation of milk-derived extracellular vesicles (MEVs) is important for the downstream analysis of the functions and properties of MEVs. However, the presence of abundant proteins in milk hindered the separation of MEVs. In this study, three pretreatment methods, including sodium citrate (SC), acetic acid (AA), and high-speed centrifugation, were adopted to separate MEVs from goat milk while minimizing the impact of protein. The MEVs were then characterized by nanoparticle tracking, transmission electron microscopy and western blotting experiments. The results indicated that pretreatments with AA and SC greatly decreased the impact of casein, but AA pretreatment damaged the surface structure of MEVs. Additionally, the differential centrifugation process resulted in a slight loss of MEVs. Overall, MEVs with small size and high purity can be obtained under 125 k × g centrifugation combined with SC pretreatment, which suggests a promising method for separation of MEVs from goat milk.

Diaoganxing)

The combination of pretreatment and vacuum freeze-drying (VFD) technology is an effective technique for extending the shelf life of apricots, reducing costs and energy consumption. However, the impact of pretreatment on the freeze-drying and quality characteristics of apricots is still unclear. The effects of ultrasound (US), freeze-thaw (FT), and their combination (FT-US) on water migration and quality characteristics of apricot slices on VFD were studied. LR-NMR and SEM showed that pretreatment significantly reduced the time (19.05%-33.33%) and energy consumption (17.67%-35.66%) of the VFD process. Compared with the control group, the US, FT, and FT-US improved the color, texture, rehydration ability, and flavor of apricot slices. Among them, FT-US retained the most biologically active substances and antioxidant capacity, with the highest sensory score. Overall, FT-US pretreatment induced changes in the microstructure and chemistry of apricots, which contributed to the production of high-quality VFD apricot slices.

Investigation on the interaction mechanism during co-combustion of sewage sludge and coal slime: The effect of coal slime type and pretreatment method

Co-combustion of sewage sludge (SS) and coal slime (CS) is the preferred method for mitigating their environmental impact and increasing their added value. However, the interaction mechanism between SS and CS during the co-combustion process has not yet developed a unified understanding. This work aims to obtain the effect of CS types on SS-CS co-combustion and reveal the interaction mechanism between SS and CS based on the influence of pretreatment methods on the interaction. The results showed that during co-combustion, SS reduced the ignition and burnout temperatures, and CS with high fixed carbon content (e.g., XCS) improved the comprehensive combustion characteristics. Principal component analysis showed that the effect of CS on co-combustion was more significant. The interaction between SS and CS mainly occurred within 100-700 °C, in which inhibition and synergism coexisted. The large differences in the interactions before and after de-volatilization and pickling treatments revealed that the volatiles and ash in SS were the main interaction factors. The analysis of the interaction mechanisms showed that the free radicals and heat released from the SS volatiles combustion accelerated the weight loss of CS, but the formation of tars from its incomplete combustion may inhibit the decomposition of CS. The interaction in the fixed carbon combustion stage was mainly caused by SS ash, which can catalyze the combustion of CS fixed carbon, but for the high ash CS (e.g., QCS), the combustion of fixed carbon was hindered by the addition of SS ash higher than 10 %. The final manifestation (synergy or inhibition) of SS and CS interactions was the result of the competitive balance of the above interactive behaviors. This work provides a more comprehensive understanding of the interaction between SS and CS during co-combustion.

Current progress and future perspective of microalgae biomass pretreatment using deep eutectic solvents

Pretreatment process is considered as the most important step for effective microalgae biomass refining and has gained more interest since last decades. However, the main obstacles to commercialize microalgae products are recalcitrant cell wall and lack of cost-effective, green, and sustainable pretreatment approaches. Till now, various microalgae pretreatment approaches have been applied prior to extraction steps to enhance the accessibility of solvent inside the cells. However, high energy consumption and the hazardousness of solvents are considerable problem for these pretreatment methods. In this regard, deep eutectic solvents are recognized as sustainable and green solvents possessing great potential for microalgae biomass processing due to their low toxicity, low cost, biodegradability, easy recycling, and reuse. This article provides the fundamentals of DES composition, synthesis, properties, and the current advances in the application of microalgae biomass process.

Bioethanol Production from Characterized Pre-treated Sugarcane Trash and Jatropha Agrowastes

Low production costs and a potential feedstock supply make lignocellulosic ethanol (bioethanol) an important source of advanced biofuels. The physical and chemical preparation of this kind of lignocellulosic feedstock led to a high ethanol yield. In order to increase the yield of fermentable sugars, pretreatment is an essential process step that alters the lignocellulosic structure and improves its accessibility for the expensive hydrolytic enzymes. In this context, the chemical composition of sugarcane trash (dry leaves, green leaves, and tops) and jatropha (shell and seed cake) was determined to be mainly cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide were applied in an attempt to facilitate the solubilization of lignin and hemicelluloses in five agrowastes. The extraction of hydrogen peroxide was much better than that of sodium hydroxide. A comparative study was done using SEM, EDXA, and FTIR to evaluate the difference between the two methods. The pretreated wastes were subjected to saccharification by commercial cellulases (30 IU/g substrate). The obtained glucose was fortified with nutrients and fermented statically by Saccharomyces cerevisiae F-307 for bioethanol production. The results revealed the bioethanol yields were 325.4, 310.8, 282.9, 302.4 and 264.0 mg ethanol/g treated agrowastes from green leaves of sugarcane, jatropha deolied seed cake, tops sugarcane, dry leaves of sugarcane, and jatropha shell, respectively. This study emphasizes the value of lignocellulosic agricultural waste as a resource for the production of biofuels as well as the significance of the extraction process.

Tailored microbial consortium producing hydrolytic enzyme cocktail for maximum saccharification of wheat straw

The potential of hydrolytic enzyme cocktail obtained from designed bacterial consortium WSh-1 comprising Bacillus subtilis CRN 16, Paenibacillus dendritiformis CRN 18, Niallia circulans CRN 24, Serratia marscens CRN 29, and Streptomyces sp. CRN 30, was investigated for maximum saccharification. Activity was further enhanced to 1.01 U/ml from 0.82 U/ml by supplementing growth medium with biotin and cellobiose as a cofactor and inducer. Through kinetic analysis, the enzyme cocktail showed a high wheat straw affinity with Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) of 0.68 µmol/L and a deconstruction rate (Vmax) of 4.5 U/ml/min. The statistical optimization of critical parameters increased saccharification to 89 %. The optimized process in a 5-L lab-scale bioreactor yielded 501 mg/g of reducing sugar from NaOH-pretreated wheat straw. Lastly, genomic insights revealed unique abundant oligosaccharide deconstruction enzymes with the most diverse CAZyme profile. The consortium-mediated enzyme cocktails offer broader versatility with efficiency for the economical and sustainable valorization of lignocellulosic waste.

Improving cell reinfusion to enhance the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and alleviate complications

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a rapidly expanding area within the realm of transfusion medicine, focusing on the delivery of lymphocytes to trigger responses against tumors, viruses, or inflammation. This area has quickly evolved from its initial promise in immuno-oncology during preclinical trials to commercial approval of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for leukemia and lymphoma (Jun and et al., 2018) [1]. CAR T-cell therapy has demonstrated success in treating hematological malignancies, particularly relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Qi and et al., 2022) [2]. However, its success in treating solid tumors faces challenges due to the short-lived presence of CAR-T cells in the body and diminished T cell functionality (Majzner and Mackall, 2019) [3]. CAR T-cell therapy functions by activating immune effector cells, yet significant side effects and short response durations remain considerable obstacles to its advancement. A prior study demonstrated that the therapeutic regimen can induce systemic inflammatory reactions, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), tumor lysis syndrome (TLS), off-target effects, and other severe complications. This study aims to explore current research frontiers in this area.

Selective adsorption of zearalenone by a novel magnetic molecularly imprinted carbon nanomaterial

In this paper, the objective is to immobilize molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) onto the surface of magnetic carbon nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2@C) to develop an effective method for the adsorption of zearalenone (ZEN). The prepared products were characterized by FT-IR, SEM, TEM, XRD, VSM, TGA, and BET. The content of zearalenone in corn samples was monitored by HPLC. The results indicate that the particle size of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) is approximately 200 nm. The adsorption mechanism of MMIPs was confirmed by static adsorption and dynamic adsorption experiments. The maximum adsorption capacity was 1.56 mg/g, and the adsorption equilibrium was reached within 50 min. The scatchard model showed that MMIPs had two binding sites, a high-affinity binding site and a low-affinity site. Kinetic second-order fitting indicates that MMIPs are mainly through chemisorption. In the actual sample application, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.3 mg/L and 0.9 mg/L, respectively. The recovery of corn with the standard addition of ZEN was 73.6-88.1%, and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 2.86-5.63%. The results demonstrated that MMIPs possess the advantages of straightforward operation, high precision, and cost-effectiveness, rendering them suitable for rapid ZEN detection.

Improved antioxidant activity of pretreated lignin nanoparticles: Evaluation and self-assembly

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) have gained significant attention for their potential as natural antioxidants. This study investigated the effect of various pretreatment methods on the lignin structure and subsequent antioxidant activity of LNPs. Among four pretreated LNPs, hydrothermal LNPs exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, surpassing unpretreated, acid-pretreated and kraft LNPs, with an impressive efficacy of 91.6%. The relationship between LNPs' structure and antioxidant activity was revealed by 2D heteronuclear singular quantum correlation (1H13C HSQC) and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). 1H13C HSQC suggested the cleavage of β-O-4 ether bonds, as well as a decrease in ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid, which directly influenced the antioxidant activity of LNPs. 31P NMR demonstrated a positive correlation between the total hydroxyl group content and the antioxidant activity. Besides, an isothermal kinetic model for scavenging free radicals was established based on Langmuir kinetic model instead of Freundlich model. Moreover, multilayer LNPs, based on layer-by-layer self-assembly, were prepared and exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity of 95.8%. More importantly, when blended with pure cosmetic cream, the multilayer LNPs maintained antioxidant activity of 86.7%. These finding may promote the practical applications of biomolecules, e.g. lignin additives in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.

Enhanced methane recovery from anaerobic membrane bioreactor coupled with cold plasma pretreatment for rapid hydrolysis and nitrogen removal

Research to increase biomethane recovery efficiency from thickened sewage sludge (TSWS) using sustainable anaerobic digestion (AD) in municipal wastewater treatment plants is ongoing. Pretreating substrates is known to increase organic biodegradation and biomethane conversion rates in AD. Cold plasma (CP), a recently adopted advanced oxidation processes (AOP) has emerged as an alternative to accelerate pretreatment times under different operation variables. This study assessed raw and CP-pretreated TSWS in an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR) and anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The effects of incremental organic loading rates (OLR) and nitrogenous compounds concentration on enhanced CH4 bioconversion efficiency were evaluated. We found that the AnMBR outperformed the ASBR, with an overall chemical oxygen demand (COD) conversion rate of 67%, lower total nitrogen (T-N) accumulation (594 mg L-1), and an overall methane yield of 0.24 L CH4 g-1 COD. CP pretreatment improved TSWS AD, resulting in more efficient COD removal and methane recovery. This study suggests that CP technology is a promising pretreatment to improve AD when treating TSWS.

Exploration of green preparation strategy for Lycium barbarum polysaccharide targeting Bacteroides proliferative and immune-enhancing activities and its potential use in geriatric foods

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is beneficial for elderly people, but its use is limited in geriatric foods due to the lack of comprehensive information on its preparation strategy and physical property. In this study, the low-ester rhamnogalacturonan-I (RG-I) type pectic polysaccharide-protein complexes with varying physicochemical properties, structural characteristics, proliferative activities on Bacteroides, and immune-enhancing activities on RAW 264.7 cells, were obtained by moderate-temperature acid extraction within adjustment of enzymatic and physical pretreatments. LBP prepared by moderate-temperature acid extraction, namely S1-A, showed the strongest immune-enhancing activity via increasing the phagocytosis capacity and NO release of RAW 264.7 cells by 23 % and 76 %, respectively. S1-A exhibited relatively high viscosity and calcium ion response characteristic with the application potential for thickened liquid foods for the elderly with dysphagia. LBP prepared by composite cellulase and pectinase pretreatment combined with moderate-temperature acid extraction, namely S1-M1, showed the strongest Bacteroides proliferative activity that was equivalent to 0.60-0.97 times of that of inulin. S1-M1 exhibited extremely low viscosity and strong tolerance to food nutrients with high processing applicability for fluid foods. This study provided crucial data for the preparation and application of LBP targeting gut microbiota disorders and immunosenescence for the development of geriatric foods.

Improved hydrolysis of sewage sludge by air-assisted non-thermal plasma for enhanced biomethane recovery

Conventional pretreatment technologies have been assessed to resolve the slow hydrolysis of sewage sludge, but high operating costs have prevented their wide use. This study investigated non-thermal plasma (NTP) technologies as an alternative to promote anaerobic digestion (AD). Various contact time (CT) and temperature (T) conditions were used to assess how NTP pretreatment improves the methane conversion of organics in sewage sludge. A multi-response surface model (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) identified the optimal CT (4.6 h) and T (45 °C). This statistical optimization of NTP pretreatment led to an enhanced biochemical methane potential of 297 ± 46 mL CH4 g-1 COD by reducing operating cost as power consumption as low as 0.08 USD L-1. The result was comparable to those of other advanced oxidation processes (0.14 - 0.60 USD L-1) demonstrating that accelerated hydrolysis of sewage sludge using NTP pretreatment show potential for improving renewable energy recovery from sewage sludge.

Strategies to enhance biohydrogen production from microalgae: A comprehensive review

Microalgae represent a promising renewable feedstock for the sustainable production of biohydrogen. Their high growth rates and ability to fix carbon utilizing just sunlight, water, and nutrients make them well-suited for this application. Recent advancements have focused on improving microalgal hydrogen yields and cultivation methods. This review aims to summarize recent developments in microalgal cultivation techniques and genetic engineering strategies for enhanced biohydrogen production. Specific areas of focus include novel microalgal species selection, immobilization methods, integrated hybrid systems, and metabolic engineering. Studies related to microalgal strain selection, cultivation methods, metabolic engineering, and genetic manipulations were compiled and analyzed. Promising microalgal species with high hydrogen production capabilities such as Synechocystis sp., Anabaena variabilis, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been identified. Immobilization techniques like encapsulation in alginate and integration with dark fermentation have led to improved hydrogen yields. Metabolic engineering through modulation of hydrogenase activity and photosynthetic pathways shows potential for enhanced biohydrogen productivity. Considerable progress has been made in developing microalgal systems for biohydrogen. However, challenges around process optimization and scale-up remain. Future work involving metabolic modeling, photobioreactor design, and genetic engineering of electron transfer pathways could help realize the full potential of this renewable technology.

Statistical optimization of cellulase production from Bacillus sp. YE16 isolated from yak dung of the Sikkim Himalayas for its application in bioethanol production using pretreated sugarcane bagasse

Cellulolytic bacteria were isolated from yak dung samples collected from different habitats of Sikkim, India. Isolate YE16 from the Yumthang Valley sample showed highest enzyme activity of 7.68 U/mL and was identified as Bacillus sp., which has a sequence similarity of 96.15% with B. velezensis. One factor at a time (OFAT) analysis revealed that an acidic pH of 5 with 37 °C temperature was optimum for maximum enzyme production after 36 hrs of incubation (13.88 U/mL), which was further increased after statistical optimization (34.70 U/mL). Media optimization based on response surface methodology predicted that Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and MgSO4 at concentrations of 30 g/L and 0.525 g/L, respectively, at pH 5.5 to show CMCase activity of 30.612 U/mL, which was consistent with the observed value of 30.25 U/mL and confirmed the model. The crude enzyme also efficiently hydrolyzed alkaline pretreated sugarcane bagasse, releasing 7.09 g/L of glucose equivalent with an ethanol production of 3.05 g.

Evaluation of initial pH and urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) co-pretreatment on waste-activated sludge

Wastewater treatment and conversion into renewable energy sources have been of great interest in recent times due to growing environmental pollution concerns and need for sustainable energy sources. Sewage sludge treatment can convert sludge into renewable energy. In this study, the impact of initial pH and urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP) co-pretreatment on sludge hydrolysis and anaerobic digestion was investigated. The pH of sludge was initially adjusted to 7, 9, and 11 before the addition of 8 mmol/g VS UHP. Under 24 h pretreatment, alkaline medium and UHP effectively enhanced sludge solubilization and hydrolysis. The combination of chemical, sonication, and centrifugation improved the extraction of extracellular polymerase substances released in soluble state. Secondly, anaerobic digestion was performed for 11 days to determine the influence of a lower mesophilic temperature (20 °C) and retention time on the pretreated sludge. The highest NH4+-N concentration of 5.32 g/L was recorded in pH 7+UHP. The most significant total VFA concentration of 13.1 g COD/L was observed in pH 7+UHP on day 9. Acetic acid, isovaleric acid and propionic acid accounted for 80%-83% of the total VFA composition in all pretreated reactors. Lower mesophilic temperature efficiently optimized UHP and VFA production in the pretreated reactors. Microbial metabolism was stabilized under a longer retention time. Alkaline pH and longer retention time elevated NH4+-N and VFA concentration. The results showed that initial pH and UHP co-pretreatment of waste activated sludge offer an alternative pathway for enhancing sludge hydrolysis and VFA production applicable in sludge treatment.

Hot-air drying vs. lyophilization of sugar beet flakes for efficient pectin recovery and influence of extraction conditions on pectin physicochemical properties

This study assessed the influence of drying pretreatment and extraction conditions (type of acid and particle size of plant material) on the yield and physicochemical properties of pectin from sugar beet flakes resulted as by-product of sugar beet processing in the sugar industry. The results indicated that the drying conditions (hot-air drying and lyophilization) affected the extraction yield, the chemical composition of pectin, its color, degree of methylation and acetylation, molecular weight, and its rheological and emulsifying properties. The best results for pectin yield (16.20%), galacturonic acid content (91.19 g/100 g), degree of methylation and acetylation (66.93 and 23.87%), and molecular weight (3.89 × 105 g/mol) were obtained when sugar beet flakes were pretreated by hot-air drying, and the extraction was made with citric acid using plant material with particle sizes of 125-200 μm. This pectin also had high emulsion activity (51.42%) and emulsion stability (88.03%). The FT-IR spectra were similar, while pectin thermal behavior was affected by the drying pretreatment and extraction conditions. The results of this study showed that from this by-product of the sugar industry it can be extracted high quality pectin with rheological and emulsifying properties that are superior to commercial citrus and apple pectin.

Carbon reduction trade-off between pretreatment and anaerobic digestion: A field study of an industrial-scale biogas plant

With the implementation of municipal solid waste source segregation, the enormous sorted biogenic waste has become an issue that needs to be seriously considered. Anaerobic digestion, which can produce biogas and extract floating oil for biodiesel production, is the most prevalent treatment in China for waste management and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction, in accordance with Sustainable Development Goal 13 of the United Nations. Herein, a large-scale biogas plant with a capacity of 1000 tonnes of biogenic waste (400 tonnes of restaurant biogenic waste and 600 tonnes of kitchen biogenic waste) per day was investigated onsite using material flow analysis, and the parts of the biogas plant were thoroughly analyzed, especially the pretreatment system for biogenic waste impurity removal and homogenization. The results indicated that the loss of the total biodegradable organic matter was 41.8% (w/w) of daily feedstock and the loss of biogas potential was 18.8% (v/v) of daily feedstock. Life cycle assessment revealed that the 100-year GHG emissions were -61.2 kgCO2-eq per tonne biogenic waste. According to the sensitivity analysis, pretreatment efficiency, including biodegradable organic matter recovery and floating oil extraction, considerably affected carbon reduction potential. However, when the pretreatment efficiency deteriorated, GHG benefits of waste source segregation and the subsequent biogenic waste anaerobic digestion would be reduced.

EnZolv delignification of cotton spinning mill waste and optimization of process parameters using response surface methodology (RSM)

BACKGROUND

EnZolv is a novel enzyme-based, eco-friendly biomass pretreatment process that has shown great potential in the field of textile engineering and biotechnology. It employs laccase from Hexagonia hirta MSF2 and 2% ethanol in the process of delignification. The process is designed to evaluate optimal conditions to remove lignin and other impurities from cotton spinning mill waste (CSMW), without compromising the quality and strength of the fibers. CSMW is a low-cost and readily available source of cellulose, making it an ideal candidate for delignification using EnZolv. By optimizing the pretreatment conditions and harnessing the potential of enzymatic delignification, this research aims to contribute to more sustainable and efficient ways of utilizing lignocellulosic biomass in various industries for the production of biochemical and bioproducts.

RESULTS

The present study emphasizes the EnZolv pretreatment in the delignification of cotton spinning mill wastes irrespective of the cellulose content. EnZolv process parameters such as, moisture content, enzyme load, incubation time, incubation temperature, and shaking speed were optimized. Under pre-optimized conditions, the percent lignin reduction was 61.34%, 61.64%, 41.85%, 35.34%, and 35.83% in blowroom droppings (BD), flat strips (FS), lickerin fly (LF), microdust (MD) and comber noils (CN), respectively. Using response surface methodology (RSM), the statistically optimized EnZolv pretreatment conditions showed lignin reduction of 59.16%, 62.88%, 48.26%, 34.64%, and 45.99% in BD, FS, LF, MD, and CN, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Traditional chemical-based pretreatment methods often involve harsh chemicals and high energy consumption, which can have detrimental effects on the environment. In contrast, EnZolv offers a greener approach by utilizing enzymes that are biodegradable and more environmentally friendly. The resulting fibers from EnZolv treatment exhibit improved properties that make them suitable for various applications. Some of the key properties include enhanced cellulose recovery, reduced lignin content, and improved biophysical and structural characteristics. These improvements can contribute to the fiber's performance and processability in different industries and future thrust for the production of cellulose-derived and lignin-derived bioproducts.

Separation and quantification of tire and road wear particles in road dust samples: Bonded-sulfur as a novel marker

Tire road wear particles (TRWPs) are a large source of microplastics in the environment, while the quantification of TRWPs is still challenging due to the complex interferences and the uncertainties and inconsistencies among different methods. This study developed a TRWPs quantification method using optimized pretreatments and bonded-sulfur as marker. Road dust samples (n = 48) were collected, pretreatments including density separation, digestion and extraction were optimized to remove interferences of the bonded-sulfur (minerals, sulfur-containing proteins, hydrosoluble/hydrophobic sulfur-containing substances). Presence of TRWPs in the samples was confirmed by microscopy and scanning electron microscopyenergy dispersive spectrometry. Bonded-sulfur in the samples were quantified by inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry (ICPMS). Additionally, bonded-sulfur in tire wear particles (TWPs) abraded from tires of top 10 best-selling brands were measured to calculate conversion factor (1.1 ×104 μg/g) for the quantification of TRWPs in real samples. TRWPs contents were 5.40 × 104 μg/g11.02 × 104 μg/g and 2.36 × 104 μg/g5.30 × 104 μg/g in samples from heavy and light traffic roads, respectively. The method provided better recoveries (88-107%, n = 18) and repeatability (RSD=2.0-7.9%, n = 3) compared to methods using rubber, benzothiazole and organic zinc as markers. Furthermore, stability of the bonded-sulfur was validated by Raman and ICPMS. Thus, this accurate and stable quantification method could promote research on TRWPs.

Production of mannooligosaccharides from orange peel waste with β-mannanase expressed in Trichosporonoides oedocephalis

A large quantity of orange peel waste (OPW) is generated per year, yet effective biorefinery methods are lacking. In this study, Trichosporonoides oedocephalis ATCC 16958 was employed for hydrolyzing OPW to produce soluble sugars. Glycosyl hydrolases from Paenibacillussp.LLZ1 which can hydrolyze cellulose and hemicellulose were mined and characterized, with the highest β-mannanase activity of 39.1 U/mg at pH 6.0 and 50 ℃. The enzyme was overexpressed in T. oedocephalis and the sugar production was enhanced by 16 %. The accumulated sugar contains 57 % value-added mannooligosaccharides by the hydrolysis of mannans. The process was intensified by a pretreatment combining H2O2 submergence and steam explosion to remove potential inhibitors. The mannooligosaccharides yield of 6.5 g/L was achieved in flask conversion and increased to 9.7 g/L in a 5-L fermenter. This study improved the effectiveness of orange peel waste processing, and provided a hydrolysis-based methodology for the utilization of fruit wastes.

Optimization of cost-effective enzymatic saccharification using low-cost protic ionic liquid as pretreatment agent in Agave bagasse

This work studied the optimization of enzymatic saccharification of Agave tequilana bagasse (ATB) pretreated with the low-cost protic ionic liquid (PIL) ethanolamine acetate ([EOA][OAc]) using the highly available and cost-effective mixture of the enzymatic cocktails Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to maximize the sugars concentration and yield. The RSM optimization conditions of the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated ATB that achieved the maximum reducing sugars (RS) concentration were: 11.50 % w/v solids loading, 4.26 pH with 0.76 and 1.86 mg protein/mL buffer of Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5L, respectively. Similarly, the conditions that maximize the sugar yield (SY) were solids loading of 5.62 % w/v, and 4.51 pH as well as 1.07 and 2.03 mg protein/mL buffer of Viscozyme L and Celluclast 1.5L, respectively. Saccharification performance of the first-generation and low-cost enzyme mixture Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L was compared with that reached by a second-generation and higher-cost CTec2, where Celluclast 1.5L-Viscozyme L achieved 60.86 ± 2.66 % y 79.25 ± 3.34 % of the sugars released by CTec2 at the same hydrolysis time (12 h) for the sugar concentration and yield models, respectively. These results are encouraging since they positively contribute to cost reduction and availability issues, which are key parameters to consider when thinking about scaling-up the process.

p-Toluenesulfonic acid enhanced neutral deep eutectic solvent pretreatment of soybean straw for efficient lignin removal and enzymatic hydrolysis

Deep eutectic solvent (DES) is a newly-emerged green solvent for efficient pretreatment of lignocellulosic feedstock. To improve the component fractionation performance of neutral DES, p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TsOH) was employed as catalyst to form a novel ternary DES with benzyltriethylammonium chloride (TEBAC) and glycerol (Gly) for pretreatment of soybean straw. Under the optimum reaction conditions (TEBAC:Gly = 1:12, 1.6 wt% p-TsOH and reacted at 90 °C for 160 min), the lignin and hemicellulose removal from soybean straw were amounted to 92.0 % and 88.2 %, respectively. The pretreated substrate showed satisfactory enzymatic hydrolysis performance, as the glucose and reducing sugar concentrations reached 37.3 g/L and 42.3 g/L, respectively, after 72 h saccharification under the action of cellulase with a relatively low enzyme loading of 10 FPU/g cellulose.This method provides an efficient and mild route for utilization of agricultural waste and production of platform monosaccharides.

Pretreatment of agave bagasse with ruminal fluid to improve methane recovery

Agave bagasse, a lignocellulosic waste that results from the milling and juice extraction of Agave tequilana var azul pineapples, is a suitable substrate for the production of methane through anaerobic digestion. However, it is necessary to apply a pretreatment to convert the bagasse into energy. In this context, this paper proposes using ruminal microorganisms to hydrolyze agave bagasse. This study evaluated the effect of the initial agave bagasse to ruminal fluid (S0/X0) ratio (0.33, 0.5, 1, and 2) on the hydrolysis efficiency. Subsequently, the supernatant was used for methane production. The hydrolysis efficiency increased as the S0/X0 ratio decreased. A hydrolysis efficiency of 60 % was achieved using an S0/X0 ratio of 0.33. The S0/X0 ratio of 0.33 optimally improved the specific methane production and energy recovery (155 ± 2 mL CH4/g TS and 6.1 ± 0.1 kJ/g TS) compared to raw biomass. The most abundant hydrolytic bacteria were Prevotella, Ruminococcus and Fibrobacter, and Engyodontium was the most abundant proteolytic fungus.

Timing of coronary angiography and use of antiplatelet pretreatment in patients with NSTEACS in Spain

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The optimal timing of coronary angiography in patients admitted with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) as well as the need for pretreatment are controversial. The main objective of the IMPACT-TIMING-GO registry was to assess the proportion of patients undergoing an early invasive strategy (0-24hours) without dual antiplatelet therapy (no pretreatment strategy) in Spain.

METHODS

This observational, prospective, and multicenter study included consecutive patients with NSTEACS who underwent coronary angiography that identified a culprit lesion.

RESULTS

Between April and May 2022, we included 1021 patients diagnosed with NSTEACS, with a mean age of 67±12 years (23.6% women). A total of 87% of the patients were deemed at high risk (elevated troponin; electrocardiogram changes; GRACE score>140) but only 37.8% underwent an early invasive strategy, and 30.3% did not receive pretreatment. Overall, 13.6% of the patients underwent an early invasive strategy without pretreatment, while the most frequent strategy was a deferred angiography under antiplatelet pretreatment (46%). During admission, 9 patients (0.9%) died, while major bleeding occurred in 34 (3.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

In Spain, only 13.6% of patients with NSTEACS undergoing coronary angiography received an early invasive strategy without pretreatment. The incidence of cardiovascular and severe bleeding events during admission was low.

Degradation selectivity for bamboo fiber and parenchyma lignin-carbohydrates complexes (LCC) esters

The degradation of lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) esters has been proven to be crucial for the selective separation of lignocellulosic components. This study utilized Raman microspectroscopy to image the preferential degradation of lignin and LCC esters from the bamboo wall during successive NaOH (0.2 to 5.0 % w/w), H2SO4 (1 to 8 % v/v), and NaClO2 (5 to 20 min) treatments. Raman imaging showed that lignin and LCC esters were selectively removed from the middle lamella of fibers and the secondary wall of parenchyma during NaOH and NaClO2 treatments. In contrast, H2SO4 primarily caused the simultaneous removal of lignin and LCC esters from the fiber wall under harsh conditions (8 %), while the middle lamella of parenchyma was less affected, both morphologically and topochemically. Raman spectral analysis indicated that the band intensity at 1605 cm-1 for lignin and at 1173 cm-1 for LCC esters decreased by >87.0 % in the highly lignified parenchyma secondary wall after a 5.0 % NaOH treatment, while the decrease was <67 % in the fiber wall. Interestingly, a strong linear correlation was observed between LCC esters and carbohydrates in the parenchyma (R2 > 0.912). These findings provide important insights into the graded and classified utilization of bamboo resources.

Convective drying of Gardenia erubescens fruits: Effect of pretreatment, slice thickness and drying air temperature on drying kinetics and product quality

Gardenia erubescens fruits are regarded as nutrient-dense, capable of promoting nutritional and metabolic human health. However, they are seasonal and highly perishable which limits their consumption and wider utilization. In this study, the effect of slice thickness (3 mm and 5 mm), pretreatments (steam blanching and dipping in ascorbic acid solution) and drying air temperature (40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C and 70 °C) on drying kinetics, color, β-carotene and vitamin C content of Gardenia erubescens fruits were investigated. The results showed that the drying time increased as slice thickness increased, and decreased as drying air temperature increased but did not follow any trend for pretreatment. The Page model (R2 values of 0.9998-0.9999) exhibited the best fit to the drying kinetics data. The diffusivity values (5.31 × 10-11 to 4.14 × 10-10 m2s-1) increased as the slice thickness and drying air temperature increased but had no linear trends with pretreatment. The activation energy ranged from 14.35 to 44.78 kJmol-1, with the highest being recorded by 5 mm untreated samples and the lowest by the 3 mm blanched samples. The total color change (ΔE*) of the samples generally decreased as the drying air temperature increased but increased as the slice thickness increased. The ascorbic acid pretreated samples had the least color change, followed by the untreated samples while the blanched samples had the highest change. Overall, the 5 mm ascorbic acid pretreated samples dried at 70 °C had the least color change (13.33 ± 0.52). The blanching and dipping in ascorbic acid solution generally yielded lower β-carotene and vitamin C values as compared to the untreated samples. The 3 mm ascorbic acid pretreated samples dried at 50 °C recorded the lowest β-carotene (42.70 ± 3.21 μg/100 g) while the 5 mm ascorbic acid pretreated samples had the lowest vitamin C (37.50 ± 2.65 mg/100 g) at 70 °C. Pretreatments and drying air temperatures showed mixed effects on the drying characteristics, color, β-carotene and vitamin C contents of fruit slices. The findings, therefore, indicate that a compromise may have to be made on the aforementioned processing conditions in order to meet the desired attributes of one's interest.

Multiple pretreatments can effectively improve the functionality of mesenchymal stem cells

In this editorial, we offer our perspective on the groundbreaking study entitled "Hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning enhances the immunosuppressive properties of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells", recently published in World Journal of Stem Cells. Despite over three decades of research on the clinical application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), only a few therapeutic products have made it to clinical use, due to multiple preclinical and clinical challenges yet to be addressed. The study proved the hypoxia and inflammatory factor preconditioning led to higher immunosuppressive effects of MSCs without damaging their biological characteristics, which revealed the combination of inflammatory factors and hypoxic preconditioning offers a promising approach to enhance the function of MSCs. As we delve deeper into the intricacies of pretreatment methodologies, we anticipate a transformative shift in the landscape of MSC-based therapies, ultimately contributing to improved patient outcomes and advancing the field as a whole.

Bioprocess optimization for enhanced xylitol synthesis by new isolate Meyerozyma caribbica CP02 using rice straw

The present work models the fermentation process parameters of the newly isolated, Meyerozyma caribbica CP02 for enhanced xylitol production and its fermentability study on rice straw hydrolysate. The study examined the impact of each of the process variables by one variable at a time optimization followed by statistical validation. Temperature of 32 °C, pH of 3.5, agitation of 200 rpm, 1.5% (v/v) inoculum, 80 gL-1 initial xylose was optimized. Subsequently, a sequential two-stage agitation approach was adopted for fermentation. At these optimized conditions, xylitol yield of 0.77 gg-1 and 0.64 gg-1 was achieved using media containing commercial and rice straw derived xylose, respectively. For scale up, in 3L batch bioreactor, the highest xylitol yield (0.63 gg-1) was attained at 72 h with rice straw hydrolysate media containing initial xylose (59.48 ± 0.82 gL-1) along with inhibitors (1.55 ± 0.10 gL-1 aliphatic acids, 0.0.048 ± 0.11 gL-1 furans, 0.64 ± 0.23 gL-1 total phenols). The results imply that even under circumstances characterized by an acidic pH and elevated initial xylose level, M. caribbica CP02, as an isolate, displays robustness and shows favorable fermentability of rice straw hydrolysate. Therefore, isolate CP02 has potential to be used in bio-refineries for high yield xylitol production with minimal hydrolysate processing requirements.

Unlocking the potential of sugarcane leaf waste for sustainable methane production: Insights from microbial pre-hydrolysis and reactor optimization

Sugarcane leaf waste, a byproduct of the growing global sugar industry, challenges agricultural waste management. This study explores its potential for methane production via anaerobic digestion. A microbial pre-hydrolysis, using lignocellulose-degrading bacteria, enhanced soluble chemical oxygen demand at an optimal initial substrate concentration of 40 g-volatile solid/L. Comparative analysis with untreated and bioaugmented leaves revealed the pre-hydrolyzed leaves achieved the highest methane production rate (MPR) at 14.0 ± 0.5 mL-CH4/L·d, surpassing others by 1.47 and 1.67 times. Two continuous stirred tank reactors were employed to assess the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT). Results showed a stable methane production with an HRT of 25 days, yielding high MPRs: 88.70 ± 0.63 mL-CH4/L·d from pre-hydrolyzed sugarcane leaves and 82.57 ± 1.22 mL-CH4/L·d from microbial consortium-augmented leaves. A 25-day HRT fosters high microbial diversity with Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, and Verrucomicrobiota dominance, indicating favorable conditions. Conversely, a 20-day HRT results in lower diversity due to unfavorable factors like low pH during organic overloading, leading to increased concentrations of volatile fatty acids and lactic acid, with Firmicutes as the predominant phylum. This study highlights sugarcane leaf waste's potential as a valuable resource for sustainable methane production.

Potential of ionic liquids as emerging green solvent for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass

Lignocellulosic biomass is available in abundance as a renewable resource, but the major portion of it is often discarded as waste without utilizing its immense potential as an alternative renewable energy resource. To overcome recalcitrance of lignocellulosic biomass, various pretreatment methods are applied to it, so that the complex and rigid polymeric structure can be broken down into fractions susceptible for enzymatic hydrolysis. Effective and efficient biomass processing is the goal of pretreatment methods, but none of the explored pretreatment methods are versatile enough to fulfil the requirement of biomass processing with greater flexibility in terms of operational cost and desired output efficiency. Deployment of green solvents such as ionic liquids for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass has been a topic of discussion amongst the scientific community in recent times. The presented work provides a detailed overview on the deployment of ionic liquid for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass coupled with a brief discussion on other pretreatments methods. The recyclability and reusability along with other unique properties makes an ionic liquid pretreatment different from the other traditional pretreatment methods. Also, this study explores diverse critical parameters that governs the dissolution process of biomass. Hazardous properties of ionic liquids have also been explored. Future perspective and recommendations have been given for an efficient, effective, and eco-friendly deployment of ionic liquid in biomass pretreatment process.

Effects of particle size on the pretreatment efficiency and subsequent biogas potential of polylactic acid

The fragmentation of bioplastics (BPs) before pretreatment and anaerobic digestion is conducted for higher efficiency; however, based on the literature, the size reduction varies widely. In this study, initially, various combinations of thermal-alkaline pretreatments were applied at different strengths to the polylactic acid (PLA) in three groups (<0.5, 0.5 < size < 1.0, and 1.0 < size < 2.0 mm). After pretreatment, the solubilization of PLA was increased to 11.5-40.0 % using alkaline dosage and temperature ranging from 50 to 200 g OH-/kg BP, 60-100 °C, respectively, in a 1-10 h timeframe. The results were statistically proved using a 3D response surface graph, where the pretreatment was more effective for smaller particle sizes. The reduction in particle size also increased the CH4 production, which was more pronounced at the strong pretreatment (24 % increment vs. 10-15 %). Computed results indicated 44-86 % conversion of pretreated PLA particles to CH4, supported by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, especially focusing on the intensity of -OH bands.

Effects of cation types in persulfate on physicochemical and adsorptive properties of biochar prepared from persulfate-pretreated bamboo

The adsorption behaviors of biochar are largely impacted by biomassfeedstock. In this study, two biochars were prepared from torrefaction of ammonium persulfate- and potassium persulfate-pretreated bamboo and then activated by cold alkali, which are named as ASBC and KSBC, respectively. The two biochars were characterized by different instruments, and their adsorption properties over cationic methylene blue (MB) were compared. The type of persulfates little affected the specific surface areas, but significantly impacted O (29.54 % vs. 35.113 %) and N (12.13 % vs. 3.74 %) contents, functional groups, and zeta potentials of biochars. MB adsorption onto ASBC/KSBC is a single-layer chemical endothermic process and ASBC/KSBC exhibit high adsorption capacity over MB (475/881 mg·g-1) at 303 K. Obviously, the sorption capacity of MB onto KSBC much surpasses that of MB onto ASBC. These results indicate biomass pre-treatment is a cheap and convenient method to prepare biochars with unique physicochemical and adsorptive properties.

Effect and mechanism of iron-carbon micro-electrolysis pretreatment of organic peroxide production wastewater

The wastewater from organic peroxide production has high chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration and poor biodegradability, so it is necessary to find a cost-effective treatment method. The iron-carbon microelectrolysis (IC-ME) technology was used to pretreat the organic peroxide production wastewater, and the influence of reaction conditions on the removal effect of pollutants and the degradation mechanism were studied. The effects of initial pH, iron filings, iron-carbon ratio, and reaction time on the wastewater treatment were investigated by single-factor and response surface optimization experiments, and the degradation mechanism was analyzed by three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The experimental results showed that the COD removal efficiency was 35.67% and the biodegradability of wastewater was increased from 0.113 to 0.173 under the conditions of initial pH of 3.1, the dosage of iron filings of 30.5 g/L, the ratio of iron-carbon of 1.01, and the reaction time of 122.8 min, and the process of IC-ME for degrading COD of wastewater from the production of organic peroxide was consistent with the secondary reaction. The IC-ME process could decompose macromolecular organic compounds such as tyrosine proteins and aromatic proteins, and improve the biodegradability of wastewater. It provides a theoretical reference for the practical application of IC-ME to treat this type of wastewater.

Ultrasonic-ethanol pretreatment assisted aqueous enzymatic extraction of hemp seed oil with low Δ9-THC

In this study, ultrasonic-ethanol pretreatment combined with AEE was developed for oil extraction from hemp seeds. The oil yield reached a maximum of 23.32 % at 200 W ultrasonic power and 30 min ultrasonic time, at this point, the degradation rate of Δ9-THC was 83.11 %. By determining the composition of hemp seed before and after pretreatment, it was shown that ultrasonic-ethanol pretreatment reduced the protein content of the raw material. An enzyme mixture consisting of pectinase and hemicellulase (1/1/1, w/w/w) was experimentally determined to be used, and the AEE extraction conditions were optimized using the Plackett-Burman design and the Box-Behnken. The optimal conditions were determined to be pH 5, total enzyme activity of 37,800 U/g, liquid-solid ratio of 10.4 mL/g, enzyme digestion temperature of 32 °C, enzymatic time of 189 min, and oil recovery of 88.38 %. The results of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the emulsion formed during ultrasonic ethanol pretreatment was not uniformly distributed, and the droplets appeared to be aggregated; and the irregular pores of hemp seed increased after pretreatment. The contents of Δ9-THC and CBN in the extracted oil samples were 9.58 mg/kg and 52.45 mg/kg, respectively. Compared with the oil extracted by Soxhlet extraction (SE), the oil extracted by this experimental method was of better quality and similar in fatty acid composition.

Characterization of a novel thermostable α-l-arabinofuranosidase for improved synergistic effect with xylanase on lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis without prior pretreatment

Utilizing thermostable enzymes in biomass conversion processes presents a promising approach to bypass pretreatment, garnering significant attention from the biorefinery industry. A novel discovered α-l-arabinofuranosidase, Abf4980, exhibits exceptional thermostability by maintaining full activity after 24 h of incubation at 70 °C. It effectively acts on polyarabinosides, cleaving α-1,2- and α-1,3-linked arabinofuranose side chains from water-soluble wheat arabinoxylan while releasing xylose. When synergistically combined with the thermostable bifunctional xylanase/β-glucanase CbXyn10C from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii at an enzyme-activity ratio of 6:1, Abf4980 achieves the highest degradation efficiency for wheat arabinoxylan. Furthermore, Abf4980 and CbXyn10C demonstrated remarkable efficacy in hydrolyzing unmodified wheat bran and corn cob to generate arabinose and xylooligosaccharides. This discovery holds promising opportunities for improving the efficiency of lignocellulosic biomass conversion into fermentable sugars.

Lignocellulosic biomass pretreatment with a lignin stabilization strategy and valorization toward multipurpose fractionation

Lignocellulosic biomass has emerged as a promising alternative with sustainable advantages for the production of a wide range of renewable products and value-added chemicals. In this study, a pretreatment strategy that use a fully recyclable acid hydrotrope (p-TsOH aqueous solution) to extract lignin and employ glyoxylic acid (GA) to stabilize lignin was proposed for biomass valorization toward multipurpose fractionation. 83.0 % of lignin was dissolved out by p-TsOH hydrotrope (80 wt%) with GA addition to form GA-stabilized product at 80 o C for 15 min. The stabilized lignin was subsequently used as an additive in the preparation of lignin-based suncream. Notably, the incorporation of 4 wt% lignin nanospheres into an SPF15 sunscreen yielded a measured SPF of 59.94. Furthermore, the depolymerization of uncondensed lignin into aromatic monomers yielded a high lignin-oil yield of 84.2 %. Additionally, direct heating of the pretreatment liquor facilitated the conversion of monosaccharides into furfural, achieving a desired yield of 53.7 % without the addition of any acid catalyst. The pretreatment also enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucan, resulting in a saccharification yield of 98.4 %. Moreover, short-term ultrasonication of the pretreated substrate yielded pulp suitable for papermaking. Incorporating 15 wt% fibers into the produced paper sheets led to a 5.3 % increase in tear index and a 25.4 % increase in tensile index. This study presents a viable pretreatment strategy for the multipurpose fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass, offering potential avenues for biomass valorization.

Treatment of saliva contamination of resin core foundation before adhesive luting

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of surface pretreatment on the shear bond strength of resin luting cement to saliva-contaminated resin core foundation. The surface free energy (γS) of the adherent surfaces was examined. The two-way analysis of variance revealed that the surface pretreatment and storage conditions had a significant effect on the strength of the bond to resin core foundation. The γS values of the saliva-contaminated group were significantly lower than those of the other groups, and they tended to improve after surface pretreatment. The tendency of improvement in γS values differed depending on the type of pretreatment agents. Surface treatment with solutions containing functional monomers is effective in removing saliva contaminants from the resin core foundation surfaces and in creating an effective bonding surface for the resin luting cement.

Rapid and effective removal of copper, nitrate and trichloromethane from aqueous media by aluminium alloys

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) has been extensively studied for its efficacy in removing heavy metals, nitrate, and chlorinated organic compounds from contaminated water. However, its limited effectiveness due to rapid passivation and poor selectivity is prompting for alternative solutions, such as the use of aluminium alloys. In this study, the efficacy of five distinct aluminium alloys, namely Al-Mg, Al-Fe, Al-Cu, and Al-Ni, each comprising 50 % Al by mass at a concentration of 10 g/L, was assessed using copper, nitrate and trichloromethane (TCM) as model contaminants. Results show that chemical pollutants reacted immediately with Al-Mg. On the contrary, the remaining three alloys exhibited a delay of 24 h before demonstrating significant reactivity. Remarkably, Al-Mg alloy reduced nitrate exclusively to ammonium, indicating minimal preference for nitrate reduction to N2. In contrast, the Al-Cu, Al-Ni, and Al-Fe alloys exhibited N2 selectivity of 3 %, 5 %, and 19 %, respectively. The removal efficiency of copper, nitrate and TCM reached 99 % within 24 h, 95 % within 48h and 48 % within 48h, respectively. Noteworthy findings included the correlation between Fe concentration within the Al-Fe alloy and an increased N2 selectivity from 9.3 % to 24.1 %. This resulted in an increase of Fe concentration from 10 % to 58 % albeit with a concurrent reduction in reactivity. Cu2+ removal by Al-Fe alloy occurred via direct electron transfer, while the removal of nitrate and TCM was facilitated by atomic hydrogen generated by the alloy's hydrolysis. Intriguingly, nitrate and TCM suppressed Cu2+ reduction, whereas Cu2+ improved nitrate reduction and TCM degradation. These findings demonstrate the great potential of Al-Mg and Al-Fe alloys as highly efficient agents for water remediation.

Comparison of hydrothermolysis and mild-alkaline pretreatment methods on enhancing succinic acid production from hydrolyzed corn fiber

In the present work, mild alkaline pretreatments using either sodium hydroxide (0.05 g/g corn fiber) or calcium hydroxide (lime) (0.05 g/g corn fiber) were optimized and compared with hydrothermolysis pretreatment to enhance bioproduction of succinic acid from hydrolyzed corn fiber. The concentration, yield, and productivity of succinic acid from sodium hydroxide corn fiber hydrolysate (SH-CFH) were 14.0 g/L, 0.63 g/g sugars, and 0.47 g/L*h, respectively, while the concentration, yield, and productivity of succinic acid from hydrothermolysis-pretreated corn fiber hydrolysate (H-CFH) were 30.2 g/L, 0.71 g/g sugars, and 1.01 g/L*h, respectively. Very little succinic acid production (<1 g/L) was observed from lime pretreated corn fiber hydrolysate (L-CFH). When SH-CFH was supplemented only with yeast extract, succinic acid concentration was enhanced to 15.2 g/L with a yield of 0.64 g/g sugars, and productivity of 0.51 g/L*h. In this study, succinic acid concentration and productivity from H-CFH both increased by 8.6% and an succinic acid yield from sugars increased 1.2 times when compared to succinic acid production from H-CFH in a previous study in our lab.

Infusion-Related Reactions Induced by Cadonilimab (PD-1/CTLA-4 Bispecific Antibody): Seven Case Reports

Introduction

Cadonilimab (AK104) is an innovative human programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) bispecific antibody. Compared with the combination therapy of PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockers, less cellular toxicity of cadonilimab was significantly manifested. As one of the characteristic adverse effects of cadonilimab, infusion-related reactions (IRRs) represent fever, chills, rash, decreased blood pressure, and other symptoms.

Case Presentation

Here, we documented seven cases of IRRs after the administration of cadonilimab. The symptoms of IRRs were relieved after the discontinuation of cadonilimab and the administration of diphenhydramine, dexamethasone, and cimetidine. Notably, 3 patients were able to tolerate the subsequent cadonilimab therapy under the pretreatment.

Conclusion

In this study, we discovered that cadonilimab-related IRRs might be lessened or prevented by administering medication and the proper pretreatment and lowering the infusion rate.

Transformations of bamboo into bioethanol through biorefinery

The increasing demand for energy has prompted scholars to research alternative energy sources. Bamboo is a species of woody perennial grass that belongs to the Gramineae family and the Bambuseae subfamily. It could be considered a possible lignocellulosic substrate for the production of bioethanol due to its favourable environmental effects and increased yearly biomass yield. Non-renewable fossil fuels cannot provide enough energy to meet the needs of contemporary societies. Among the various alternative energy sources, bioethanol has drawn a lot of attention from people all around the world. This paper reviews the cost and process parameters for the synthesis of bioethanol from bamboo. This review aims to increase the effectiveness of the entire ethanol production process by focusing on pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation. The emphasis of this review is on the efficient process for producing bioethanol while maintaining environmental sustainability. When compared to other NaOH pretreatment techniques, bamboo substrates prepared with NaOH and ultra-high-pressure explosion (UHPE) exhibit higher enzymatic hydrolyzability when processed under optimal conditions, such as 100 MPa, 121 °C, and 70 rpm for 2 h, yielding 89.7-95.1% ethanol after 24 h. The article lists the bamboo species responsible for creating each product, making it straightforward for producers to study and select the species based on whatever value-added product they wish to produce bioethanol with different parameters.

Pyrazines in food samples: Recent update on occurrence, formation, sampling, pretreatment and analysis methods

Pyrazines are a class of active aromatic substances existing in various foods. The accumulation of pyrazines has an impact on flavor and quality of food products. This review encompasses the formation mechanisms and control strategies of pyrazines via Maillard reaction (MR), including the new reactants and emerging techniques. Pyrazines characteristics are better understood through the developed sample pretreatments and detection methods. Herein, an in-depth review of pretreatments and analysis methods since 2010 is presented to explore the simple, fast, green, and effective strategies. Sample preparation methods include liquid phase extraction, solid phase extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, and microextraction methods such as liquid phase microextraction, and solid phase microextraction, etc. Detections are made by chromatographic methods, and sensors, etc. Advantages and limitations are discussed and compared for providing insights to further studies.

Enhancing biomass conversion: Efficient hemicellulose removal and cellulose saccharification in poplar with FeCl3 coupled with acidic electrolyzed water pretreatment

Due to the recalcitrant structure of woody biomass such as poplar, the efficient disassembly and separation of hemicellulose component from woody biomass is crucial for green biomass processing and full component utilization. This study presented an environmentally friendly approach to utilize acidic electrolyzed water (AEW) combined with metal salts and investigated its pretreatment effects on hemicellulose removal and cellulose and lignin retention under different conditions. Meanwhile, the structural properties and enzymatic hydrolysis performance of the pretreated residues were also characterized. As a result, under the optimized pretreatment conditions (0.03 mol/L FeCl3 with AEW at 180 °C for 10 min), hemicellulose removal from poplar wood reached 98.64 %, accompanied by xylose recovery rate of 98.46 %, cellulose retention rate of 93.43 % and lignin retention rate of 94.29 %. Enzymatic hydrolysis rate of the pretreated cellulose-enriched substrate reached 97.65 %. Furthermore, comprehensive structural characterizations revealed that FeCl3 coupled with AEW pretreatment resulted in surface damage to the poplar wood, effective removal of the amorphous hemicellulose component, and partial destruction of the cellulose crystallinity. In conclusion, FeCl3 coupled with AEW pretreatment effectively separates hemicellulose, leading to significant alterations in biomass composition and structure, ultimately resulting in improved enzymatic digestion. These results provide theoretical support for targeted dissociation of hemicellulose and full component utilization of woody biomass.

Optimization of biogas production from straw wastes by different pretreatments: Progress, challenges, and prospects

Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) presents a promising feedstock for carbon management due to enormous potential for achieving carbon neutrality and delivering substantial environmental and economic benefit. Bioenergy derived from LCB accounts for about 10.3 % of the global total energy supply. The generation of bioenergy through anaerobic digestion (AD) in combination with carbon capture and storage, particularly for methane production, provides a cost-effective solution to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, while concurrently facilitating bioenergy production and the recovery of high-value products during LCB conversion. However, the inherent recalcitrant polymer crystal structure of lignocellulose impedes the accessibility of anaerobic bacteria, necessitating lignocellulosic residue pretreatment before AD or microbial chain elongation. This paper seeks to explore recent advances in pretreatment methods for LCB biogas production, including pulsed electric field (PEF), electron beam irradiation (EBI), freezing-thawing pretreatment, microaerobic pretreatment, and nanomaterials-based pretreatment, and provide a comprehensive overview of the performance, benefits, and drawbacks of the traditional and improved treatment methods. In particular, physical-chemical pretreatment emerges as a flexible and effective option for methane production from straw wastes. The burgeoning field of nanomaterials has provoked progress in the development of artificial enzyme mimetics and enzyme immobilization techniques, compensating for the intrinsic defect of natural enzyme. However, various complex factors, such as economic effectiveness, environmental impact, and operational feasibility, influence the implementation of LCB pretreatment processes. Techno-economic analysis (TEA), life cycle assessment (LCA), and artificial intelligence technologies provide efficient means for evaluating and selecting pretreatment methods. This paper addresses current issues and development priorities for the achievement of the appropriate and sustainable utilization of LCB in light of evolving economic and environmentally friendly social development demands, thereby providing theoretical basis and technical guidance for improving LCB biogas production of AD systems.

Indoor microplastics: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis

Indoor microplastic (MP) pollution is becoming a worldwide issue because people spend more time inside. Through dust and air, indoor MP pollution may harm human health. This review summarizes recent advancements in indoor MP research, covering pretreatments, quality control, filter membranes, and identification methods. Additionally, it conducts bibliometric analysis to examine the usage of keywords, publication records, and authors' contributions to the field. Comparatively, dust and deposition samples exhibit higher MP concentrations than indoor air samples. Fiber-shaped MPs are commonly detected indoors. The color and types of MPs display variability, with polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene identified as the dominant MPs. Indoor environments generally demonstrate higher concentrations of MPs than outdoor environments, and MPs in the lower size range (1-100 µm) are typically more abundant. Among the reviewed articles, 45.24% conducted pretreatment on their samples, while 16.67% did not undergo any pretreatment. The predominant filter utilized in most studies was the Whatman Glass microfiber filter (41.67%), and MPs were predominantly characterized using µ-FTIR (19.23%). In the literature, 17 papers used blank samples, and eight did not. Blank findings were not included in most research (23 articles). A significant increase in published articles has been observed since 2020, with an annual growth rate exceeding 10%. The keyword microplastics had the highest frequency, followed by fibers. This indoor MP study emphasizes the need for collaborative research, policymaking, and stakeholder involvement to reduce indoor MP pollution. As indoor MP research grows, so are opportunities to identify and minimize environmental and health impacts.

Water and salt recovery from shale gas produced water by vacuum membrane distillation followed by crystallization

A vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) followed by crystallization (VMD-C) was developed for the recovery of water and salts from shale gas produced water (SGPW). Before VMD, the pretreatment of SGPW with Fenton oxidation-flocculation is applied, with the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration reduction of 75% and the total removal of the total suspended solids (TSS), Ca2+, and Mg2+ in SGPW. The pretreatment of SGPW mitigated the membrane fouling in the VMD and effectively prevented the reduction of membrane flux over time. The average flux of the PTFE membrane reached 12.1 kg m-2 h-1 during the separation of the pretreated SGPW at a feed flux of 40 L h-1 and a feed temperature of 40 °C. The rejection rate of the membrane to TDS in SGPW was over 99%. Fresh water with a conductivity of below 20 μs cm-1 was produced by VMD-C. The salts concentrated upstream of the membrane were recovered by a stirring crystallization process. The VMD-C system resulted in a 61% cost savings compared to conventional SGPW treatment.

A review of nucleic acid-based detection methods for foodborne viruses: Sample pretreatment and detection techniques

Viruses are major pathogens that cause food poisoning when ingested via contaminated food and water. Therefore, the development of foodborne virus detection technologies that can be applied throughout the food distribution chain is essential for food safety. A common nucleic acid-based detection method is polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which has become the gold standard for monitoring food contamination by viruses due to its high sensitivity, and availability of commercial kits. However, PCR-based methods are labor intensive and time consuming, and are vulnerable to inhibitors that may be present in food samples. In addition, the methods are restricted with regard to site of analysis due to the requirement of expensive and large equipment for sophisticated temperature regulation and signal analysis procedures. To overcome these limitations, optical and electrical readout biosensors based on nucleic acid isothermal amplification technology and nanomaterials have emerged as alternatives for nucleic acid-based detection of foodborne viruses. Biosensors are promising portable detection tools owing to their easy integration into compact platforms and ability to be operated on-site. However, the complexity of food components necessitates the inclusion of tedious preprocessing steps, and the lack of stability studies on residual food components further restricts the practical application of biosensors as a universal detection method. Here, we summarize the latest advances in nucleic acid-based strategies for the detection of foodborne viruses, including PCR-based and isothermal amplification-based methods, gene amplification-free methods, as well as food pretreatment methods. The principles, strengths/disadvantages, and performance of each method, problems to be solved, and future prospects for the development of a universal detection method are discussed.