First- and second-generation integrated process for bioethanol production: Fermentation of molasses diluted with hemicellulose hydrolysate by recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The integration of first- (1G) and second-generation (2G) ethanol production by adding sugarcane juice or molasses to lignocellulosic hydrolysates offers the possibility to overcome the problem of inhibitors (acetic acid, furfural, hydroxymethylfurfural and phenolic compounds), and add nutrients (such as salts, sugars and nitrogen sources) to the fermentation medium, allowing the production of higher ethanol titers. In this work, an 1G2G production process was developed with hemicellulosic hydrolysate (HH) from a diluted sulfuric acid pretreatment of sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane molasses. The industrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae CAT-1 was genetically modified for xylose consumption and used for co-fermentation of sucrose, fructose, glucose, and xylose. The fed-batch fermentation with high cell density that mimics an industrial fermentation was performed at bench scale fermenter, achieved high volumetric ethanol productivity of 1.59 g L-1 h-1, 0.39 g g-1 of ethanol yield, and 44.5 g L-1 ethanol titer, and shown that the yeast was able to consume all the sugars present in must simultaneously. With the results, it was possible to establish a mass balance for the global process: from pretreatment to the co-fermentation of molasses and HH, and it was possible to establish an effective integrated process (1G2G) with sugarcane molasses and HH co-fermentation employing a recombinant yeast.

Hydrothermal pretreatment for the production of prebiotic oligosaccharides from tobacco stem.

Tobacco stem is an abundant and inexpensive renewable source to produce prebiotics by circular economy. In this study, hydrothermal pretreatments were evaluated on the release of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and cello-oligosaccharides (COS) from the tobacco stem by a central composite rotational design associated with response surface methodology to evaluate the effects of temperature (161.72 to 218.3 °C) and solid load (SL) (2.93 to 17.07%). XOS were the main compounds released to the liquor. Desirability function was performed to maximize the production of XOS and minimize the effects of release of monosaccharides and degradation compounds. The result indicated yield of 96% w[XOS]/w[xylan] for 190 °C-2.93% SL. The highest value for COS and total oligomers content (COS + XOS) was 6.42 g/L and 17.7 g/L, respectively, for 190 °C-17.07% SL. The mass balance for the best yield XOS condition predicted 132 kg of XOS (X2-X6) from 1000 kg of tobacco stem.

Comparison of Spathaspora passalidarum and recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae for integration of first- and second-generation ethanol production.

First-generation ethanol (E1G) is based on the fermentation of sugars released from saccharine or starch sources, while second-generation ethanol (E2G) is focused on the fermentation of sugars released from lignocellulosic feedstocks. During the fractionation process to release sugars from hemicelluloses (mainly xylose), some inhibitor compounds are released hindering fermentation. Thus, the biggest challenge of using hemicellulosic hydrolysate is selecting strains and processes able to efficiently ferment xylose and tolerate inhibitors. With the aim of diluting inhibitors, sugarcane molasses (80% of sucrose content) can be mixed to hemicellulosic hydrolysate in an integrated E1G-E2G process. Cofermentations of xylose and sucrose were evaluated for the native xylose consumer Spathaspora passalidarum and a recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. The industrial S. cerevisiae strain CAT-1 was modified to overexpress the XYL1, XYL2 and XKS1 genes and a mutant ([4-59Δ]HXT1) version of the low-affinity HXT1 permease, generating strain MP-C5H1. Although S. passalidarum showed better results for xylose fermentation, this yeast showed intracellular sucrose hydrolysis and low sucrose consumption in microaerobic conditions. Recombinant S. cerevisiae showed the best performance for cofermentation, and a batch strategy at high cell density in bioreactor achieved unprecedented results of ethanol yield, titer and volumetric productivity in E1G-E2G production process.

Hydrothermal treatment on depolymerization of hemicellulose of mango seed shell for the production of xylooligosaccharides.

Hydrothermal processing is an interesting biorefinery technology for converting lignocellulosic biomass into biofuels and biocompounds. This process is based on the selective solubilization and depolymerization of hemicellulose fraction (xylan) and may be considered beneficial, due to the possibility of obtaining xylooligosaccharides (XOS) with a degree of polymerization (DP) suitable for prebiotic applications. This study evaluated the effect of pressure (2.5 and 10 MPa) in a kinetic study (30 min) of hydrothermal treatment (180 °C) to optimize the extraction of XOS from mango seed shell. Total reducing sugars (TRS) values were close to the maximum in 15 min showing a slower rate for both pressures after this time, but at 10 MPa the value was 20 % lower than at 2.5 MPa. Based on these results, a new extraction was performed at 2.5 MPa and 15 min, and the extracted XOS were quantified, yielding 393.44 mg XOS/g xylan. XOS with a degree of polymerization between X2-X6 corresponded to 82.24 mg/g and XOS with X > 6 (or soluble xylan) corresponded to 311.20 mg/g. A low amount of xylose (8.81 mg/g xylan) was released, resulting in a hemicellulose conversion of 40.2 %. In general, approximately 8.1 kg of total XOS was produced from 100 kg of dried mango seed shell (X2-X6-1.7 kg and X > 6-6.4 kg).

Deconstruction of banana peel for carbohydrate fractionation.

The deconstruction of banana peel for carbohydrate recovery was performed by sequential treatment (acid, alkaline, and enzymatic). The pretreatment with citric acid promoted the extraction of pectin, resulting in a yield of 8%. In addition, xylose and XOS, 348.5 and 17.3 mg/g xylan, respectively, were also quantified in acidic liquor as a result of partial depolymerization of hemicellulose. The spent solid was pretreated with alkaline solution (NaOH or KOH) for delignification and release of residual carbohydrates from the hemicellulose. The yields of xylose and arabinose (225.2 and 174.0 mg/g hemicellulose) were approximately 40% higher in the pretreatment with KOH, while pretreatment with NaOH promoted higher delignification (67%), XOS yield (32.6 mg/g xylan), and preservation of cellulosic fraction. Finally, the spent alkaline solid, rich in cellulose (76%), was treated enzymatically to release glucose, reaching the final concentration of 28.2 g/L. The mass balance showed that through sequential treatment, 9.9 g of xylose, 0.5 g of XOS, and 8.2 g of glucose were obtained from 100 g of raw banana peels, representing 65.8% and 46.5% conversion of hemicellulose and cellulose, respectively. The study of the fractionation of carbohydrates in banana peel proved to be a useful tool for valorization, mainly of the hemicellulose fraction for the production of XOS and xylose with high value applications in the food industry.

Symptoms of Fusarium graminearum infection in irrigated rice grains / Sintomas de infecção por Fusarium graminearum em grãos de arroz irrigado

ABSTRACT: The fungus Fusarium graminearum was one of the first pathogens described as causing infections in rice; however, in Brazil, there is no description of its occurrence in panicles. The present study aimed to describe the symptoms caused by F. graminearum infection in irrigated rice grains. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in duplicate using the irrigated rice cultivar SCS 121CL and hybrid INOV CL at the R4 (flowering) stage. Two isolate of Fusarium graminearium species complex 15A (F. graminearium - 15-ADON) and FmNiv (F. meridionale - Nivalenol), was inoculated onto panicles by spraying with macroconidia and the development of symptoms was monitored until harvest. There was no difference in symptoms among isolates. Light brown spots were observed in the glumes three days after inoculation. These later evolved into brown lesions of irregular shape and size. The glume darkened to purple when the grains were in the filling stage (R6). On maturation, the glume showed dark brown coloration. Severely infected grains were shriveled and brittle.

RESUMO: O fungo Fusarium graminearum foi um dos primeiros patógenos descritos na cultura do arroz, no entanto, no Brasil, não há descrição de sua ocorrência em panículas. O objetivo desse estudo foi descrever os sintomas ocasionados pela infecção de F. graminearum em grãos de arroz irrigado. O experimento foi conduzido, em casa de vegetação, duas vezes, com a cultivar de arroz irrigado SCS 121CL e o Híbrido INOV CL no estádio R4 (florescimento). Dois isolados de espécies do complexo Fusarium graminearium, 15A (F. graminearium - 15ADON) e FmNiv (F, meridionale - Nivalenol) foram inoculados em panículas por aspersão de macroconídios, com acompanhamento da evolução dos sintomas até a colheita. Não houve diferença entre os isolados. Pontos de coloração parda foram observados nas glumas três dias após inoculação, evoluindo, posteriormente, para lesões de coloração marrom-claro de tamanho e forma irregular. Houve escurecimento total da gluma com coloração arroxeada quando os grãos encontravam-se no estádio de enchimento de grão (R6). Na maturação de colheita a gluma dos grãos apresentava coloração marrom-escuro. Grãos severamente infectados mostraram-se chochos e quebradiços.

Bacterial biofilm on successful and failed orthodontic mini-implants--a scanning electron microscopy study.

Mini-implants have been extensively used in Orthodontics as temporary bone anchorage devices. However, early failure of mini-implants due to mobility might occur and the colonization of their surfaces by pathogenic bacteria has been referred to as one of the contributing factors. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the presence of microorganisms adhered to the surface of mini-implants that failed due to loss of stability. Twelve self-drilling titanium mini-implants (1.6 mm diameter × 9.0 mm long) were collected from 12 patients undergoing orthodontic treatment-7 successful and 5 failed mini-implants. The mean time of permanence in the mouth was 15.8 and 2.4 months for successful and failed mini-implants, respectively. The devices were placed in the maxilla and/or mandible and removed by the same surgeon and were processed for SEM analysis of the presence of microorganisms on their surfaces (head, transmucosal profile, and body). Extensive bacterial colonization on mini-implant head and transmucosal profile was observed in all successful and failed mini-implants. None of the failed mini-implants exhibited bacteria on its body and only one mini-implant belonging to the successful (stable) group exhibited bacteria on its body. The results did not suggest a relationship between failure and presence of bacterial colonies on mini-implant surfaces.

Effect of a self-etching primer on shear bond strength of adhesive precoated brackets in vivo.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a self-etching primer (SEP) (Transbond Plus SEP, 3M Unitek, Monrovia, Calif) on shear bond strength of adhesive uncoated and precoated Victory brackets (3M Unitek). The sample group consisted of 23 patients, with four premolars each, equally divided in four different groups. Brackets were bonded in vivo by the same operator using a split-mouth random technique: group 1, 37% phosphoric acid + primer + composite + conventional Victory bracket; group 2, 37% phosphoric acid + primer + precoated Victory bracket; group 3, SEP + composite + conventional bracket; group 4, SEP + precoated bracket. After 30 days, premolars were extracted for orthodontic reasons and a Universal Instron Machine was used to apply an occlusal shear force directly to the enamel-bracket interface at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. The groups were compared using two-way analysis of variance. Mean results and standard deviation for the groups were: group 1 = 11.60 +/- 2.65 Mpa, group 2 = 9.79 +/- 2.71 Mpa, group 3 = 10.75 +/- 2.67 Mpa, and group 4 = 10.31+/- 2.70 Mpa. No difference was observed between the conventional etching and primer or SEP (P = .948). However, significant differences in bond strength were present between the uncoated and precoated brackets (P = .032). Considering the values required to withstand normal orthodontic forces (8-9 Mpa), it could be concluded that the SEP combined with adhesive precoated brackets showed adequate shear bond strength and may be suitable for clinical use.