Thermal Treatment to Obtain 5-Hydroxymethyl Furfural (5-HMF), Furfural and Phenolic Compounds from Vinasse Waste from Agave.

Vinasses represent important final disposal problems due to their physical-chemical composition. This work analyzed the composition of tequila vinasses and increased 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, furfural, and phenolic compounds using thermal hydrolysis with hydrogen peroxide as a catalyst. A statistical Taguchi design was used, and a UPLC-MS (XEVO TQS Micro) analysis determined the presence and increase of the components. The treatment at 130 °C, 40 min, and 0.5% of catalyst presented the highest increase for 5-HMF (127 mg/L), furfural (3.07 mg/L), and phenol compounds as chlorogenic (0.36 mg/L), and vanillic acid (2.75 mg/L). Additionally, the highest removal of total sugars (57.3%), sucrose (99.3%), and COD (32.9%). For the treatment T130:30m:0P the syringic (0.74 mg/L) and coumaric (0.013 mg/L) acids obtained the highest increase, and the treatment T120:30m:1P increased 3-hydroxybenzoic (1.30 mg/L) and sinapic (0.06 mg/L) acid. The revaluation of vinasses through thermal treatments provides guidelines to reduce the impact generated on the environment.

Thalassobacillus, a genus of extreme to moderate environmental halophiles with biotechnological potential.

Thalassobacillus is a moderately halophilic genus that has been isolated from several sites worldwide, such as hypersaline lakes, saline soils, salt flats, and volcanic mud. Halophilic bacteria have provided functional stable biomolecules in harsh conditions for industrial purposes. Despite its potential biotechnological applications, Thalassobacillus has not been fully characterized yet. This review describes the Thalassobacillus genus, with the few species reported, pointing out its possible applications in enzymes (amylases, cellulases, xylanases, and others), biosurfactants, bioactive compounds, biofuels production, bioremediation, and plant growth promotion. The Thalassobacillus genus represents a little-explored biological resource but with a high potential.

Potential of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst and Sesuvium verrucosum Raf. as an agronomic management alternative to recover the productivity of saline soils.

Water scarcity and increasing salinity are the main limiting environmental factors directly affecting the establishment and development of agroecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the capacity of the halophytes Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst and Sesuvium verrucosum Raf., to improve the chemical properties of a saline soil during a 240-day period in the field so as to subsequently examine their potential to associate with Zea mays in the previously desalinated surface. The treatments proposed were [T1 (reference soil sample), T2 (soil + B. monnieri), T3 (soil + S. verrucosum), and T4 (soil + B. monnieri + S. verrucosum)]. The results showed that the association of the species B monnieri and S. verrucosum has the potential to enhance the chemical characteristics of the severely saline and clayey soil, showing ECe reductions of 11.13-7.97 dS/m and pH of 7.84-7.42, as well as increase in soil porosity from 54.71% to 57.23%. It was also found that the association of these plants have a phytodesalination capacity of 1.21 t Na+ ha-1, this served to prepare the conditions for the growth of the Z. mays and generate yields of 8.5 t ha-1.

Isolation of halophilic bacteria associated with saline and alkaline-sodic soils by culture dependent approach.

Cultivable halophilic microorganisms were isolated and identified from saline and alkaline-sodic soils: Cuatro Cienegas, Sayula and San Marcos lakes. Physicochemical characteristics of soils were determined to understand the relationship between those and the microorganisms isolated. The Cuatro Cienegas soils had a neutral pH, EC of 2.3-8 dS cm-1, classified as moderately saline. Whereas, the soils from Sayula and San Marcos lakes, had an alkaline pH, EC 15 to 65 dS m-1, typical of saline-sodic. We identified 23 cultivable halophilic bacteria using 16s rDNA, being Halobacillus sp., Marinococcus sp., and Alkalibacillus sp. the predominant genus by culture dependent approach. We found a correlation between the soils anion and cation content with the occurrence of different genus of halophilic bacteria in each studied site. Alkalibacillus sp. was predominant in Sayula and San Marcos lakes and was related to the high Na+ content; while Bacillus sp. and Halobacillus sp. were predominant in Cuatro Cienegas, their occurrence was related to a high content of Ca2+, Mg2+, and SO4 2-.