Whey Protein, Vitamins C and E Decrease Interleukin-10 in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Pioneer, Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of supplementation with whey protein combined with vitamins C and E on inflammatory markers in hemodialysis (HD) patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a pioneer, randomized and double-blinded study. Patients were randomized into two groups and stratified by HD frequency. The supplementation group received 20 g of whey protein, 250 mg of vitamin C, and 600 IU of vitamin E; the placebo group, 20 g of rice flour, and microcrystalline cellulose capsules. The interventions were given after HD, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. The inflammatory markers were assessed: interleukin (IL) IL-12p70, IL-10, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. For statistical analysis, the χ2 test, Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney test, analysis of variance for repeated two-way measurements, paired t test, and Wilcoxon test were performed. P < .05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients completed the study. No significant differences were found in inflammatory markers when comparing the groups postintervention. In the intragroup was a decrease in IL-10 in the supplementation group after 8 weeks (P = .0382). IL-6 tended to decrease by 810.95% in the supplementation group and increased by 732.8% (nonsignificant) in the placebo group. CONCLUSION: Whey protein combined with vitamins C and E significantly reduced IL-10 in the supplementation group and could be beneficial to reduce IL-6 in HD patients. Future studies are suggested with a larger sample size, different supplementation doses, and longer interventions.

Kinetic Profile of Urine Metabolites after Acute Intake of a Phenolic Compounds-Rich Juice of Juçara (Euterpe edulis Mart.) and Antioxidant Capacity in Serum and Erythrocytes: A Human Study.

The juçara palm tree produces a small spherical and black-purple fruit similar to açaí. It is rich in phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. A clinical trial evaluated the absorption and excretion of the main bioactive compounds in urine and the antioxidant capacity in serum and erythrocytes of 10 healthy subjects after juçara juice intake. Blood samples were collected before (0.0 h) and 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h after a single dose (400 mL) of juçara juice, while urine was collected at baseline and 0-3 and 3-6 h after juice intake. Seven phenolic acids and conjugated phenolic acids were identified in urine deriving from the degradation of anthocyanins: protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, vanillic acid glucuronide, hippuric acid, hydroxybenzoic acid, hydroxyphenylacetic acid, and ferulic acid derivative. In addition, kaempferol glucuronide was also found in urine as a metabolite of the parent compound in juçara juice. Juçara juice caused a decrease in the total oxidant status of serum after 0.5 h in comparison to baseline values (p < 0.05) and increased the phenolic acid metabolites excretion. This study shows the relationship between the production of metabolites of juçara juice and the total antioxidant status in human serum, indicating evidence of its antioxidant capacity.

Integrated production of hydrogen and methane in a dairy biorefinery using anaerobic digestion: Scale-up, economic and risk analyses.

Anaerobic digestion has emerged as the most appealing waste management strategy in biorefineries. Particularly, recent studies have highlighted the energy advantages of waste co-digestion in industrial biorefineries and the use of two-stage systems. However, there are some concerns about moving the system from laboratory testing to industrial scale. One of them is the high level of investment that is required. Therefore, this study carried out a techno-economic analysis (scale-up and energy production, economic and risk analysis, and factorial design) to assess the feasibility of single- and two-stage systems in the treatment of cheese whey and glycerin for the production of hydrogen and methane. Scenarios (S1 to S9) considered thermophilic and mesophilic single and two-stage systems with different applied organic loading rates (OLRA). The analyses of scale-up and energy production revealed that S3 (a thermophilic single-stage system operated at high OLRA 17.3 kg-COD.m-3.d-1) and S9 (a thermophilic-mesophilic two-stage system operated at high OLRA 134.8 kg-COD.m-3.d-1 and 20.5 kg-COD.m-3.d-1, respectively) were more compact and required lower initial investment compared to other scenarios. The risk analysis performed by a Monte Carlo simulation showed low investment risks (10 and 11%) for S3 and S9, respectively, being the electricity sales price, the key determining factor to define whether the project in the baseline scenario will result in profit or loss. Lastly, the factorial design revealed that while the net present value (NPV) is positively impacted by rising inflation and electricity sales price, it is negatively impacted by rising capitalization rate. Such assessments assist in making decisions regarding which system can be fully implemented, the best market circumstances for the investment, and how market changes may favorably or unfavorably affect the NPV and the internal rate of return (IRR).

Biomethane recovery through co-digestion of cheese whey and glycerol in a two-stage anaerobic fluidized bed reactor: Effect of temperature and organic loading rate on methanogenesis.

Anaerobic digestion for CH4 recovery in wastewater treatment has been carried out with different strategies to increase process efficiency, among which co-digestion and the two-stage process can be highlighted. In this context, this study aimed at evaluating the co-digestion of cheese whey and glycerol in a two-stage process using fluidized bed reactors, verifying the effect of increasing the organic loading rate (OLR) (2-20 g-COD.L-1.d-1) and temperature (thermophilic and mesophilic) in the second stage methanogenic reactor. The mesophilic methanogenic reactor (R-Meso) (mean temperature of 22 °C) was more tolerant to high OLR and its best performance was at 20 g-COD.L-1.d-1, resulting in methane yield (MY) and methane production (MPR) of 273 mL-CH4.g-COD-1 and 5.8 L-CH4.L-1.d-1 (with 67% of CH4), respectively. Through 16S rRNA gene massive sequencing analysis, a greater diversity of microorganisms was identified in R-Meso than in R-Thermo (second stage methanogenic reactor, 55 °C). Firmicutes was the phyla with higher relative abundance in R-Thermo, while in R-Meso the most abundant ones were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Regarding the Archaea domain, a predominance of hydrogenotrophic microorganisms could be observed, being the genera Methanothermobacter and Methanobacterium the most abundant in R-Thermo and R-Meso, respectively. The two-stage system composed with a thermophilic acidogenic reactor + R-Meso was more adequate for the co-digestion of cheese whey and glycerol than the single-stage process, promoting increases of up to 47% in the energetic yield (10.3 kJ.kg-COD-1) and 14% in organic matter removal (90.5%).

Potato waste as feedstock to produce biohydrogen and organic acids: A comparison of acid and alkaline pretreatments using response surface methodology.

The effects of physicochemical pre-treatment were evaluated on hydrogen (H2) production and organic acids from hydrolyzed potato peel. Central composite design (CCD) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to evaluate the effects of different substrate concentrations on a wet basis (38.8-81.2 g.L-1) and hydrolyser ratios (6M NaOH and 30% HCl: 1.6-4.4% v.v-1; and H2SO4: 2.2-7.8% v.v-1). The experiments were conducted in batch reactors at 37 °C, using a heat-treated microbial consortium. The maximum H2 production potential (P), lag phase (λ), and maximum H2 production rate (Rm) were evaluated for untreated and pre-treated potato peel waste. H2 production was positively influenced under hydrolyzed substrate concentrations ≥75 g.L-1 in the three CCDs performed. Only the increase in the H2SO4 proportions (≥5% v.v-1) had a negative influence on H2 production. Increasing the 30% HCl and 6M NaOH proportions did not significantly influence the cumulative H2 production. The highest hydrogen production was obtained after alkaline pre-treatment by dark fermentation (P: 762.09 mL H2.L-1; λ: 14.56 h; Rm: 38.39 mL H2.L-1.h-1). Based on the CCD and RSM, the highest H2 production (1060.10 mL H2.L-1) was observed with 81.2 g.L-1 hydrolyzed potato peel with 3.0% v.v-1 of 6M NaOH. The highest yield liquid metabolites were acetic (513.70 mg. g-1 COD) and butyric acids (491.90 mg. g-1 COD).

One waste and two products: choosing the best operational temperature and hydraulic retention time to recover hydrogen or 1,3-propanediol from glycerol fermentation.

This study aimed to compare the production of hydrogen and 1,3-propanediol from crude glycerol (10 g/L) in mesophilic (30 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) anaerobic fluidized bed reactors, namely AFBR30 °C and AFBR55 °C, respectively, at hydraulic retention times (HRT) reduced from 8 to 1 h. In AFBR30 °C, the absence or low hydrogen yields can be attributed to the production of 1,3-propanediol (maximum of 651 mmol/mol glycerol), and the formation of caproic acid (maximum of 1097 mg/L) at HRTs between 8 and 2 h. In AFBR55 °C, the hydrogen yield of 1.20 mol H2/mol glycerol consumed was observed at the HRT of 1 h. The maximum yield of 1,3-propanediol in AFBR55 °C was equal to 804 mmol/mol glycerol at the HRT of 6 h and was concomitant with the production of hydrogen (0.87 mol H2/mol glycerol consumed) and butyric acid (1447 mg/L).

Statistical optimization of methane production from brewery spent grain: Interaction effects of temperature and substrate concentration.

This study evaluated the effects of thermal pretreatment of brewery spent grain (BSG) (by autoclave 121 °C, 1.45 atm for 30 min) on methane production (CH4). Operation temperature (31-59 °C) and substrate concentration (8.3-19.7 g BSG.L-1) factors were investigated by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Central Composite Design (CCD). Values ranging from 81.1 ± 2.0 to 290.1 ± 3.5 mL CH4.g-1 TVS were obtained according to operation temperature and substrate concentration variation. The most adverse condition for methanogenesis (81.1 ± 2.0 mL CH4.g-1 TVS) was at 59 °C and 14 g BSG.L-1, in which there was increase in the organic matter concentration from 173.6 ± 4.94 to 3036 ± 7.78 mg.L-1) result of a higher final concentration of volatile fatty acids (VFA, 2662.7 mg.L-1). On the other hand, the optimum condition predicted by the statistical model was at 35 °C and 18 g BSG.L-1 (289.1 mL CH4.g-1 TVS), which showed decrease in the organic matter concentration of 78.6% and a lower final concentration of VFA (533.2 mg.L-1). Hydrogenospora and Methanosaeta were identified in this optimum CH4 production condition, where acetoclastic methanogenic pathway prevailed. The CH4 production enhancement was concomitant to acetic acid concentration decrease (from 578.9 to 135.7 mg.L-1).

Microbial and functional characterization of an allochthonous consortium applied to hydrogen production from Citrus Peel Waste in batch reactor in optimized conditions.

Energy recovery from lignocellulosic waste has been studied as an alternative to the problem of inappropriate waste disposal. The present study aimed at characterizing the microbial community and the functional activity of reactors applied to H2 production through lignocellulosic waste fermentation in optimized conditions. The latter were identified by means of Rotational Central Composite Design (RCCD), applied to optimize allochthonous inoculum concentration (2.32-5.68 gTVS/L of granular anaerobic sludge), pH (4.32-7.68) and Citrus Peel Waste (CPW) concentration (1.55-28.45 g/L). After validation, the conditions identified for optimal H2 production were 4 gSTV/L of allochthonous inoculum, 29.8 g/L of CPW (substrate) and initial pH of 8.98. In these conditions, 48.47 mmol/L of H2 was obtained, which is 3.64 times higher than the concentration in unoptimized conditions (13.31 mmol H2/L using 15 g/L of CPW, 2 gTVS/L of allochthonous inoculum, pH 7.0). Acetogenesis was the predominant pathway, and maximal concentrations of 3,731 mg/L of butyric acid and 3,516 mg/L of acetic acid were observed. Regarding the metataxonomic profile, Clostridium genus was dramatically favored in the optimized condition (79.78%) when compared to the allochthonous inoculum (0.43%). It was possible to identify several genes related to H2 (i.e dehydrogenases) and volatile fatty acids (VFA) production and with cellulose degradation, especially some CAZymes from the classes Auxiliary Activities, Glycoside Hydrolases and Glycosyl Transferase. By means of differential gene expression it was observed that cellulose degradation and acetic acid production pathways were overabundant in samples from the optimized reactors, highlighting endo-ß-1,4-glucanase/cellulose, endo-ß-1,4-xylanase, ß-glucosidase, ß-mannosidase, cellulose ß-1,4-cellobiosidase, cellobiohydrolase, and others, as main the functions.

The influence of upflow velocity and hydraulic retention time changes on taxonomic and functional characterization in Fluidized Bed Reactor treating commercial laundry wastewater in co-digestion with domestic sewage.

A large-scale (19.8L) Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) operated for 592 days was used to assess the removal performance of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). Adjustments in hydraulic retention time (HRT) (18 and 30 h), ethanol (50, 100, 200 mg L-1) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) concentration (6.3-24.7 mg L-1) with taxonomic and functional characterization of biomass using Whole Genome Shotgun Metagenomic (WGSM) represented a major step forward for optimizing biological treatments of LAS. In addition, the variation of the upflow velocity (0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 cm s-1) was investigated, which is a parameter that had not yet been correlated with the possibilities of LAS removal in FBR. Lower Vup (0.5 cm s-1) allied to higher ethanol concentration (200 mg L-1) resulted in lower LAS removal (29%) with predominance of methanogenic archaea and genes related to methanogenesis, while higher Vup (0.9 cm s-1) led to aerobic organisms and oxidative phosphorylation genes. An intermediate Vup (0.7 cm s-1) and higher HRT (30 h) favored sulfate reducing bacteria and genes related to sulfur metabolism, which resulted in the highest LAS (83%) and COD (77%) removal efficiency.

Controlling methane and hydrogen production from cheese whey in an EGSB reactor by changing the HRT.

This study assessed the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT; 8 h-0.25 h) on simultaneous hydrogen and methane production from cheese whey (5000 mg carbohydrates/L) in a mesophilic (30 °C) expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor. Methane production was observed at HRTs from 4 to 0.25 h. The maximum methane yield (9.8 ± 1.9 mL CH4/g CODap, reported as milliliter CH4 per gram of COD applied) and methane production rate (461 ± 75 mL CH4/day Lreactor) occurred at HRTs of 4 h and 2 h, respectively. Hydrogen production increased as methane production decreased with decreasing HRT from 8 to 0.25 h. The maximum hydrogen yield of 3.2 ± 0.3 mL H2/g CODap (reported as mL H2 per gram of COD applied) and hydrogen production rate of 1951 ± 171 mL H2/day Lreactor were observed at the HRT of 0.25 h. The decrease in HRT from 8 to 0.25 h caused larger changes in the bacterial populations than the archaea populations. With the decrease in HRT (6 h-0.25 h), the Shannon diversity index decreased (3.02-2.87) for bacteria and increased (1.49-1.83) for archaea. The bacterial dominance increased (0.059-0.066) as the archaea dominance decreased (0.292-0.201) with the HRT decrease from 6 to 0.25 h.

4-Nonylphenol degradation changes microbial community of scale-up Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor.

Nonylphenol Ethoxylate (NPe) is a nonionic surfactant widely applied in domestic and industrial uses and its degradation generates the endocrine disruptor 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP). The effects of this compound in biological sewage treatment are uncertain, especially in anaerobic systems. The aim of this study was to assess the 4-NP removal and degradation in scale-up (20 L) Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor (AFBR) filled with sand as support material, operated with Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT) of 18 h, fed with synthetic sewage plus 4-NP, performed in four phases named Phase I (894 mg COD L-1), Phase II (878 mg COD L-1, 127 µg 4-NP L-1), Phase III (940 mg COD L-1, 270 µg 4-NP L-1) and Phase IV (568 mg COD L-1, 376 µg 4-NP L-1). 4-NP did not affect reactor stability and organic matter removal remained stable at 94%. Highest 4-NP removal (78%) occurred for highest 4-NP influent (Phase IV), which resulted from biomass adaptation in the presence of ethanol. Through the 4-NP total mass balance, about 70% was biodegraded and 1% adsorbed on the sand bed. 4-NP addition promoted selection of microbial consortium strongly linked to aromatic compounds and surfactants degradation such as Geothrix, Holophaga, Aeromonas, Pelobacter, Pseudomonas, Delftia.

Dynamics and response of microbial diversity to nutritional conditions in denitrifying bioreactor for linear alkylbenzene sulfonate removal.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial structure and phylogenetic diversity under the influence of nutritional conditions and hydraulic retention time (HRT) in fluidized bed reactors (FBR), operated in short HRT (8 h - FBR8; 12 h - FBR12) for linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) removal from laundry wastewater. After each phase, biofilm samples from FBR8 and FBR12 were submitted to microbial sequencing by Mi-Seq Illumina®. Higher LAS removal rates were observed after 313 days, achieving 99 ± 3% in FBR12 (22.5 ± 5.9 mg LAS/L affluent) and 93 ± 12% in FBR8 (20.6 ± 4.4 mg LAS/L affluent). Different modifications involving genera of bacteria were observed throughout the reactors operation. The identified microorganisms were, mostly, related to LAS degradation and nitrogen conversion such as Dechloromonas, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Zoogloea.

Influence of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate and ethanol on the degradation kinetics of domestic sewage in co-digestion with commercial laundry wastewater.

The influence of ethanol on the degradation kinetics of linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) and organic matter was investigated using batch experiments with different initial LAS concentrations (8.3 mg L-1 to 66.9 mg L-1) and biomass immobilized on sand. Data were fitted with a substrate inhibition model. Concentrations of 2.4 mg LAS L-1 and 18.9 mg LAS L-1 (without and with ethanol) provided the maximum LAS utilization rate by the biomass (Sbm). For LAS degradation, ethanol addition favored a lower decrease in the specific substrate utilization rate (robs), even at the LAS concentration usually reported as inhibitory (> 14.4 mg L-1). For organic matter degradation, robs was higher with ethanol. Higher biomass differentiation was observed at higher LAS concentrations. With ethanol, microbial selection occurred at LAS concentrations near Sbm. At higher LAS concentrations, the dominance and diversity values did not change significantly with ethanol, whereas without ethanol, their behaviors were irregular.

Effect of mate tea (Ilex paraguariensis) on the expression of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase subunit p47phox and on circulating inflammatory cytokines in healthy men: a pilot study.

Increased superoxide production by phagocytic NADPH oxidase has been associated with inflammatory conditions. Growing evidences suggest that dietary polyphenols may modulate the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits. Herein, we examined whether soluble mate tea (SMT) consumption - a polyphenol-rich beverage - affects the expression of the leukocyte NADPH oxidase protein p47phox and/or circulating biomarkers of inflammation and antioxidant biomarkers in humans. In a two-phase study, nine men were requested to drink water (control) for 8 d and then follow a second 8-d period drinking SMT. Blood samples were analysed for p47phox protein in CD16+/CD14- cells, interleukin (IL)-1ß (IL-1ß), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-6, total phenols, and reduced and oxidised glutathione (GSH and GSSG, respectively) after each study phase. After SMT intake, CD16+/CD14- cells' p47phox protein and serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly attenuated (P < .05) while plasma phenolic compounds and blood GSH:GSSG ratio were significantly enhanced (P < .05). Consumption of SMT favourably affected leukocytes' p47phox expression and inflammatory cytokine and antioxidants levels in peripheral blood, which may help decrease oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation.

Bacillus sp. isolated from banana waste and analysis of metabolic pathways in acidogenic systems in hydrogen production.

The autochthonous bacterial strain was isolated from banana waste (BW) for hydrogen production and organic acids from different pure substrates and BW. The potential production of H2 and metabolic pathways were analyzed at pH 7.0 at 37 °C. Facultative anaerobic bacterium similar to Bacillus sp. was identified, with generation time (Tg) and growth rate (µ) of 0.43 h and 1.60 h-1, respectively, from glucose. The hydrogen production (P) using pure substrates was observed between 10.81 mmol.L-1 and 17.75 mmol.L-1 from xylose and maltose, respectively. The biggest and smallest hydrogen P of 18.77 mmol.L-1 and 1.72 mmol.L-1, were obtained with 3.5 and 0.5 g.L-1 of cellobiose, respectively. The highest hydrogen yield (126.93 mL.g-1carbohydrates added) was obtained with 2 g.L-1 cellobiose. In the assay using banana waste (5 g.L-1) the maximum P and yield (YH2) of 31.7 mmol.L-1 and 94.66 mL H2 g-1carbohydrates added, was obtained respectively. The main metabolic pathway of hydrogen production by Bacillus sp. RM1 from banana waste was acetic-butyric acid of 487.69 g.L-1 and 535.88 g.L-1, respectively. The accessibility of various carbon sources by Bacillus sp. RM1 in fermentation can benefit the hydrogen production from complex organic substrates in the bioaugmentation process.

Spray-Dried Yerba Mate Extract Capsules: Clinical Evaluation and Antioxidant Potential in Healthy Individuals.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical effects and antioxidant potential of spray-dried yerba mate extract (SDME) capsules in healthy individuals. Fourteen healthy volunteers consumed three capsules of SDME three times daily. Measurements were carried out at the baseline and after 7, 30, and 60 days of SDME capsules intake. Electrocardiogram, hematological, urinary, and biochemical parameters analyzed remained within the normal values during all the study. SDME capsules ingestion increased significantly serum antioxidant capacity (after 7 and 30 days) and reduced glutathione values (after 7 and 60 days), and the superoxide dismutase (after 7, 30, and 60 days), catalase (after 7 and 30 days), and paraoxonase-1 activities (after 7 days); and decreased lipid hydroperoxides (after 30 and 60 days) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances levels (after 7 and 30 days). No change was observed for glutathione peroxidase activity after SDME capsules intake. The present study showed that SDME capsules ingestion by healthy individuals did not promote clinical changes and promoted an increase of antioxidant biomarkers with a concomitant decrease of lipid peroxidation biomarkers in a short and prolonged manner.

Influence of exercise on oxidative stress in patients with heart failure.

Reactive oxygen species play an important role in the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF). In contrast, regular physical exercise can promote adaptations to reactive oxygen species that are beneficial for patients with HF. We completed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials that evaluate the influence of exercise on oxidative stress in patients with HF. Articles were searched in the PubMed, Cochrane, SciELO, and LILACS databases. The search was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale. We selected 12 studies with a total of 353 participants. The included patients had a left ventricle ejection fraction of < 52% and New York Heart Association functional class II or III disease. A significant increase was observed in peak oxygen consumption (between 10 and 46%) in the group that underwent training (TG). There was an improvement in the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscles in the TG, related to the positive activity of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (between 27 and 41%). An increase in the expression of the enzymes glutathione peroxidase (41%), catalase (between 14 and 42%), and superoxide dismutase (74.5%), and a decrease in lipid peroxidation (between 28.8 and 58.5%) were observed in the TG. Physical training positively influenced the cardiorespiratory capacity and enhanced the benefits of oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers in patients with HF. High-intensity training promoted a 15% increase in the plasma total antioxidant capacity, whereas moderate training had no effect.

Optimized 1,3-propanediol production from crude glycerol using mixed cultures in batch and continuous reactors.

The production of 1,3-propanediol from crude glycerol and mixed anaerobic sludge was investigated in batch experiments and continuous reactors. Using a 23 complete factorial design, the effects of the concentration of glycerol (22-30 g L-1), KH2PO4 (1.50-2.00 g L-1), and vitamin B12 (7-8 mg L-1) were examined in batch reactors. As an evaluated response, the highest 1,3-PD yields occurred for high concentrations of vitamin B12 and low levels of KH2PO4, reaching 0.57 g g-1 glycerol consumed. The variable glycerol concentration was not significant in the studied range. In addition, the condition that provided the best 1,3-PD yield was applied to an anaerobic fluidized bed reactor fed with crude glycerol (26.0 g L-1), which was monitored as the hydraulic retention time (HRT) decreased from 36 to 12 h. The greatest 1,3-PD yield, of 0.31 g g-1 glycerol, was obtained with an HRT of 28 h.

Optimization of hydrogen and organic acids productions with autochthonous and allochthonous bacteria from sugarcane bagasse in batch reactors.

The individual and mutual effects of substrate concentration (from 0.8 to 9.2 g/L) and pH (from 4.6 to 7.4) on hydrogen and volatile fatty acids production from sugarcane bagasse (SCB) were investigated in batch reactors, using a response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD). The maximum of 23.10 mmoL H2/L was obtained under optimized conditions of 7.0 g SCB/L and pH 7.2, at 37 °C through the acetic acid pathway (1.57 g/L). Butyric and succinic acids were the major volatile fatty acids (VFA) produced in the fermentation process (from 0.66 to 1.88 g/L and from 1.06 to 1.65 g/L, respectively). According to the results, the RSM and CCD were useful tools to achieve high hydrogen production rates using Clostridium, Bacillus and Enterobacter, identified by Illumina sequencing (16S RNAr) in the fermentative consortium, and Clostridium and Paenibacillus, autochthonous bacteria from SCB. Significant changes were observed in the microbial community according to the changes in the independent variables, since the genera in the central point condition (5.0 g SCB/L and pH 6.0) were Lactobacillus, Escherichia and Clostridium, and Bacteroides and Enterobacter, which were identified in the optimized condition (7.0 g SCB/L and pH 7.2).

Improving EGSB reactor performance for simultaneous bioenergy and organic acid production from cheese whey via continuous biological H2 production.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and cheese whey (CW) substrate concentration (15 and 25 g lactose l-1) on the performance of EGSB reactors (R15 and R25, respectively) for H2 production. RESULTS: A decrease in the HRT from 8 to 4 h favored the H2 yield and H2 production rate (HPR) in R15, with maximum values of 0.86 ± 0.11 mmol H2 g COD-1 and 0.23 ± 0.024 l H2 h-1 l-1, respectively. H2 production in R25 was also favored at a HRT of 4 h, with maximum yield and HPR values of 0.64 ± 0.023 mmol H2 g COD-1 and 0.31 ± 0.032 l H2 h-1 l-1, respectively. The main metabolites produced were butyric, acetic and lactic acids. CONCLUSIONS: The EGSB reactor was evaluated as a viable acidogenic step in the two-stage anaerobic treatment of CW for the increase of COD removal efficiency and biomethane production.