Production of pine sawdust biochar supporting phosphate-solubilizing bacteria as an alternative bioinoculant in Allium cepa L., culture.

We produced and characterised biochar made from Caribbean pine sawdust as raw material. The biochar (BC500) was used as biocompatible support to co-inoculate phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) (BC500/PSB) on Allium cepa L., plants at a greenhouse scale for four months. The three biomaterials study included proximate analysis, elemental analysis, aromaticity analysis, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), adsorption studies at different pH and PSB stability as a function of time. The results indicated that BC500 is suitable as organic support or solid matrix to maintain the viability of PSB able to solubilise P from phosphate rock (PR). The biofertilizer (BC500/PSB) allows increasing germination, seedling growth, nutrient assimilation, and growth of Allium cepa L., because PSB immobilised on BC500 promoted nutrient mobilisation, particularly P, during cultivation of Allium cepa L., at pots scale. The two treatments to evaluate the biofertilizer (BC500/PSB) showed the highest concentrations of total P with 1.25 ± 0.13 and 1.38 ± 0.14 mg bulb-1 in A. cepa L. This work presents the benefits of a new product based on bacteria naturally associated with onion and an organic material (BC500) serving as a bacterial carrier that increases the adsorption area of highly reactive nutrients, reducing their leaching or precipitation with other nutrients and fixation to the solid matrix of the soil.

Phosphate-solubilizing Pseudomonas sp., and Serratia sp., co-culture for Allium cepa L. growth promotion.

Different genus of bacteria has been reported with the capacity to solubilize phosphorus from phosphate rock (PR). Pseudomonas sp., (A18) and Serratia sp., (C7) isolated from soils at the "Departamento de Boyacá" Colombia, where Allium cepa is cultivated. Bacteria were cultured in MT11B media and evaluated as a bio-fertilizer for A. cepa germination and growth during two months at greenhouse scale. Pseudomonas sp., and Serratia sp., cultured at 30 °C, 48 h in SMRS1 agar modified with PR, (as an inorganic source of phosphorus), presented a phosphate solubilization index (SI) of 2.1 ± 0.2 and 2.0 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. During interaction assays no inhibition halos were observed, demonstrating there was no antagonism between them. In MT11B media growth curve (12 h) demonstrated that co-culture can grow in the presence of PR and glucose concentrations 7.5-fold, lower than in SMRS1 media and brewer's yeast hydrolysate; producing phosphatase enzymes with a volumetric activity of 1.3 ± 0.03 PU at 6 h of culture and 0.8 ± 0.04 PU at 12 h. Moreover, co-culture released soluble phosphorus at a rate of 58.1 ± 0.28 mg L-1 at 8 h and 88.1 ± 0.32 mg L-1 at 12 h. After five days of evaluation it was observed that germination percentage was greater than 90 % of total evaluated seeds, when placing them in contact with the co-culture in a concentration of 1 × 108 CFU mL-1. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that co-culture application (10 mL per experimental unit to complete 160 mL in two months) at 8.0 Log10 CFU mL-1 twice a week for two months increased A. cepa total dry weight (69 ± 13 mg) compared with total dry weight (38 ± 5.0 mg) obtained with the control with water.

Simultaneous bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues and oxodegradable polyethylene by Pleurotus ostreatus for biochar production, enriched with phosphate solubilizing bacteria for agricultural use.

A simultaneous treatment of lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) and low density oxodegradable polyethylene (LDPEoxo) was carried-out using Pleurotus ostreatus at microcosm scale to obtain biotransformed plastic and oxidized lignocellulosic biomass. This product was used as raw matter (RM) to produce biochar enriched with phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB). Biochar potential as biofertilizer was evaluated in Allium cepa culture at greenhouse scale. Experiments including lignocellulosic mix and LDPEoxo were performed for 75 days in microcosm. Biotransformation progress was performed by monitoring total organic carbon (TOC), CO2 production, laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) enzymatic activities. Physical LDPEoxo changes were assessed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and static contact angle (SCA) and chemical changes by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results revealed P. ostreatus was capable of LCB and LDPEoxo biotransformation, obtaining 41% total organic carbon (TOC) removal with CO2 production of 2,323 mg Kg-1 and enzyme activities of 169,438 UKg-1, 5,535 UKg-1 and 5,267 UKg-1 for LiP, MnP and Lac, respectively. Regarding LDPEoxo, SCA was decreased by 84%, with an increase in signals at 1,076 cm-1 and 3,271 cm-1, corresponding to C-O and CO-H bonds. A decrease in signals was observed related to material degradation at 2,928 cm-1, 2,848 cm-1, agreeing with CH2 asymmetrical and symmetrical stretching, respectively. PSB enriched biochar favored A. cepa plant growth during the five-week evaluation period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an in vitro circular production model, where P. ostreatus was employed at a microcosmos level to bioconvert LCB and LDPEoxo residues from the agroindustrial sector, followed by thermoconversion to produce an enriched biochar with PSB to be used as a biofertilizer to grow A. cepa at greenhouse scale.

A novel textile wastewater treatment using ligninolytic co-culture and photocatalysis with TiO2 / Un novedoso tratamiento de aguas residuales de la industria textil usando co-cultivos ligninolíticos y fotocatálisis con TiO2 / Um novo tratamento para águas residuais têxtis usando co-cultura ligninolítica e fotocatálise com TiO2

Abstract Textile industries produce effluent wastewater that, if discharged, exerts a negative impact on the environment. Thus, it is necessary to design and implement novel wastewater treatment solutions. A sequential treatment consisting of ligninolytic co-culture with the fungi Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete crhysosporium (secondary treatment) coupled to TiO2 /UV photocatalysis (tertiary treatment) was evaluated in the laboratory in order to discolor, detoxify, and reuse textile effluent wastewater in subsequent textile dyeing cycles. After 48 h of secondary treatment, up to 80% of the color in the wastewater was removed and its chemical and biochemical oxygen demands (COD, and BOD5) were abated in 92% and 76%, respectively. Laccase and MnP activities were central to color removal and COD and BOD5 abatement, exhibiting activity values of 410 U L-1 and 1 428 U L-1, respectively. Subjecting wastewater samples to 12 h of tertiary treatment led to an 86% color removal and 73% and 86% COD and BOD5 abatement, respectively. The application of a sequential treatment for 18 h improved the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment, resulting in 89% of color removal, along with 81% and 89% COD and BOD5 abatement, respectively. With this sequential treatment a bacterial inactivation of 55% was observed. TiO2 films were reused continuously during two consecutive treatment cycles without thermic reactivation. Removal percentages greater than 50% were attained. Acute toxicity tests performed with untreated wastewater led to a lethality level of 100% at 50% in Hydra attenuata and to a growth inhibition of 54% at 50% in Lactuca sativa. Whereas sequentially treated wastewater excreted a 13% lethality at 6.25% and an inhibition of 12% at 75% for H. attenuata and L. sativa, respectively. Finally, sequentially treated wastewater was reused on dyeing experiments in which 0.86 mg g-1 adsorbed dye per g of fabric, that is equivalent to 80% of dye adsorption.

Resumen Las industrias textiles producen un efluente que, si es descargado, ejerce un impacto negativo en el ambiente. Así, es necesario diseñar e implementar soluciones novedosas para el tratamiento de estos desechos. Con el fin de decolorar, detoxificar y reutilizar aguas residuales producidas en la industria textil en ciclos de tinturado subsecuentes, se evaluó en laboratorio un tratamiento secuencial, consistente en un cultivo ligninolítico con los hongos Pleurotus ostreatus y Phanerochaete crhysosporium (tratamiento secundario) acoplado con fotocatálisis TiO2/UV (tratamiento terciario). Después de 48 horas de tratamiento secundario, se removió hasta un 80% del color del agua residual y las Demandas Química y Bioquímica de Oxígeno (DQO y DBO5) fueron reducidas en 92 y 76% respectivamente. Las actividades Lacasa y MnP (410 U L-1 y 1428 U L-1, respectivamente) fueron centrales en la remoción de color y en la reducción de DQO y DBO5. Someter muestras de agua residual a 12 horas de tratamiento terciario resultó en una remoción de 86% de color, 73% de DQO y 86% de DBO. La aplicación de un tratamiento secuencial por 18 h incrementó su efectividad, lo cual resultó en 89% de remoción de color, además de 81% y 89% de remoción de DQO y DBO5 respectivamente. Con este tratamiento secuencial se observó una inactivación bacteriana del 55%. Las películas de TiO2 se reutilizaron continuamente durante 2 ciclos de tratamiento consecutivos sin reactivación térmica. Se alcanzaron porcentajes de remoción mayores al 50%. Las pruebas de toxicidad aguda llevadas a cabo con agua residual cruda produjeron un nivel de letalidad del 100% a 50% en Hydra attenuata y una inhibición de crecimiento del 54% a 50% en Lactuca sativa. El agua residual tratada secuencialmente produjo una letalidad del 13% a 6.25% y una inhibición del 12% a 75% para H. attenuata y L. sativa, respectivamente. Finalmente, el agua residual tratada secuencialmente fue reutilizada en experimentos de tinturado en los que la cantidad de colorante absorbido fue de 0.86 mg g-1 por g de tela, lo cual es equivalente a 80% de adsorción.

Resumo A indústria têxtil produz águas residuais que causam um impacto negativo ao meio ambiente quando são descartadas. Portanto, é necessário projetar e implementar novas soluções para seu tratamento. Um tratamento sequencial que consiste na co-cultura ligninolítica com os fungos Pleurotus ostreatus e Phanerochaete crhysosporium (tratamento secundário) acoplada à fotocatálise com TiO2/UV foi avaliado no laboratório para descolorir, desintoxicar e reutilizar água residual têxtil em ciclos subsequentes de tintura. Após 48 h de tratamento secundário, aproximadamente 80% da cor foi removida da água residual e sua demanda química e bioquímica de oxigênio (COD, e BOD5) foram diminuídas em 92% e 76%, respectivamente. A atividade de Laccase e MnP foram centrais na remoção da cor e diminuição de COD e BOD5, mostrando valores de atividade de 410 U L-1 e 1428 U L-1, respectivamente. Submeter as amostras de água residual a 12 h de tratamento terciário levou a uma remoção de 86% da cor e uma diminuição de 73% e 86% de COD e BOD5 respectivamente. A aplicação do tratamento sequencial por 18 h melhorou a efetividade do tratamento de águas residuais, resultando em 89% de remoção de cor e uma diminuição de 81% e 89% de COD e BOD5, respectivamente. Com este tratamento sequencial, observamos uma inativação bacteriana de 55%. As películas de TiO2 foram reutilizadas continuamente durante dois tratamentos consecutivos sem reativação térmica. Atingimos porcentagens de remoção acima de 50%. Os testes de toxicidade aguda feitos em água residual sem tratar causaram níveis de letalidades de 100% a 50% em Hydra attenuata e uma inibição do crescimento de 54% a 50% em Lactuca sativa. Enquanto água residual tratada sequencialmente causou uma letalidade de 13% a 6.25% e uma inibição de 12% a 75% para H. attenuata e L. sativa, respectivamente. Finalmente, a água residual tratada sequencialmente foi reutilizada em experimentos de tintura nos quais absorveu 0.86 mg g-1 por g de tecido, o que é equivalente a uma absorção de 80%.