Bioflocculant Exopolysaccharide Production by Azotobacter indicus Using Flower Extract of Madhuca latifolia L

Efficacy of Azotobacter indicus ATCC 9540 strain for production exopolysaccharide (EPS) bioflocculant was investigated. Mahua flower extract (Madhuca latifolia L), a natural substrate at the concentration of 20 g L^?1, gave maximum recovery of EPS followed by sucrose and mannitol as compared to other carbon sources after 172 h. Yeast extract was found to be the most effective nitrogen source as compared to beef extract, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, casein hydrolysate, and urea for the production of EPS. EPS production was increased in presence of nitrogen (5.51 g L^?1) as compared to nitrogen-free medium (3.51 g L^?1), and fermentation time was also reduced by 28 h. Maximum EPS production (6.10 g L^?1) was found in the presence of 20 g L^?1 flower extract and 0.5 g L^?1 yeast extract containing Ashby’s media with 180 rpm at 30 °C at 144 h, under controlled conditions in 2.5 L fermenter using optimized medium. The isolated EPS showed cation-dependent flocculating activity. Concentration of EPS played an important role in bioflocculating activity which increased in a concentration-dependent manner up to a certain limit, with the maximum flocculation of 72% at 500 mg L^?1 concentration but remained almost static after this concentration. Extracted polymer was characterized by different chemical tests, FT-IR spectroscopy, and TLC which showed presence of uronic acids, O-acetyl groups, and Orcinol with suggestive indication of alginate like polymer. This study suggests that use of M. latifolia L. flowers can be a potential alternative bioresource for production of exopolysaccharide.     

Emulsifying,Flocculating, and Physicochemical Properties of Exopolysaccharide Produced by Cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme

The emulsifying, flocculating, and physicochemical properties of purified exopolysaccharide (EPS) of terrestrial cyanobacterium Nostoc flagelliforme cultured in liquid media were investigated. The EPS was defined as heteropolysaccharide composed by 41.2 % glucose, 21.1 % galactose, 21.0 % mannose, 2.5 % fructose, 3.6 % ribose, 1.7 % xylose, 0.6 % arabinose, 3.0 % rhamnose, 0.9 % fucose, and 4.3 % glucuronic acid. The EPS possessed higher intrinsic viscosity than other cyanobacterial strains as reported and displayed pseudoplastic behavior in aqueous solution. The EPS produced more stable emulsions with tested hydrocarbons and oils than xanthan gum, and the emulsification indexes with n-hexadecane, liquid paraffin, and peanut oil were higher than 50 %, indicating the strong emulsion-stabilizing capacity. The EPS showed peak flocculating rates of 93.5 and 86.1 % in kaolin and MgO suspension, respectively, and exhibited a better flocculation performance than Al₂(SO₄)₃ and xanthan gum. These results demonstrated that the EPS of N. flagelliforme was a very promising candidate for numerous industrial applications, as it had higher intrinsic viscosity, good emulsification activity, and excellent flocculation capability.     

Mushroom Polysaccharides and Lipids Synthesized in Liquid Agitated and Static Cultures. Part I: Screening Various Mushroom Species

The effect of four synthetic media containing glucose (initial concentration 30?g?l^?1) on mycelial growth, exopolysaccharides (EPS) and cellular lipids production was examined in 11 mushroom species after 12 and 16?days of culture in static- and shake-flasks. Fatty acid analysis of cellular lipids produced was also performed. Agitation had a positive effect on biomass production, glucose consumption and lipid biosynthesis. Media that favoured the production of biomass were not suitable for EPS biosynthesis and vice versa. Biomass values varied from ??1.0?g?l^?1 (Lentinula edodes) to ??19?g?l^?1 (Pleurotus ostreatus), while the highest EPS quantity achieved ranged between 1.6 and 1.8?g?l^?1 (for Ganoderma lucidum and L. edodes, respectively). Quantities of total cellular lipids varied between 2.5 and 18.5?% w/w, in dry mycelial mass for the fungi tested. Lipid in dry weight values were influenced by the medium composition. Cellular lipids presented noticeable quantities of poly-unsaturated fatty acids like linoleic acid. Compared to most of the mushrooms tested, lipids of Volvariella volvacea were more saturated. The ability of several mushroom species of our study to produce in notable quantities the above-mentioned added-value compounds renders these fungi worthy for further investigations.     

Optimization of Adventitious Root Culture for Production of Biomass and Secondary Metabolites in Prunella vulgaris L.

Adventitious root cultures of Prunella vulgaris L. were established in shaking flask system for the production of biomass and secondary metabolites. Adventitious root cultures were induced from callus cultures obtained from leaf explants on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing combination of 6-benzyladenine (BA; 1.0 mg l^?1) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA; 1.5 mg l^?1). Thereafter, 0.49 g inoculum was transferred to liquid MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of NAA (0.5–2.0 mg l^?1). Growth kinetics of adventitious roots was recorded with an interval of 7 days for 49 days period. Highest biomass accumulation (2.13 g/l) was observed in liquid medium containing 1.0 mg l^?1 NAA after 21 days of inoculation. However, other concentrations of NAA also showed similar accumulation pattern but the biomass gradually decreases after 49 days of inoculation. Adventitious roots were collected and dried for investigation of total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), and antioxidant activities. Higher TPC (0.995 GAE mg/g-DRB) and TFC (6.615 RE mg/g-DRB) were observed in 0.5 mg l^?1 NAA treated cultures. In contrast, higher antioxidant activity (83.53 %) was observed 1.5 mg l^?1 NAA treated cultures. These results are helpful in up scaling of root cultures into bioreactor for secondary metabolites production.     

Mushroom Polysaccharides and Lipids Synthesized in Liquid Agitated and Static Cultures. Part II: Study of Volvariella volvacea

Volvariella volvacea strains were studied in relation with their ability to produce biomass, lipids and polysaccharides. Firstly, screening of four strains (AMLR 188, 190, 191 and 192) was performed in agar cultures, where the mycelial growth rate of the strains was measured, and in static liquid cultures, where the production of biomass, the biosynthesis of total cellular lipids and the consumption of glucose were monitored. For all strains, biomass production was significant (13?C15?g?l^?1) and total lipid in dry weight (%, w/w) ranged from 3 to 12?%. Afterwards, a detailed kinetic analysis of mycelial biomass, extra- and intra- cellular polysaccharides (EPS, IPS, respectively) as well as lipid production by a V. volvacea selected strain was conducted in submerged static and agitated cultures. Maximum values of 15?g?l^?1 biomass, ??1.0?g?l^?1 EPS and 5.5?g?l^?1 IPS were recorded. Agitation did not have severe impact on biomass, EPS and IPS production, but it increased total lipid in dry weight quantities. EPS, IPS and lipid in dry weight values decreased with time. Glucose was the major cellular carbohydrate detected. Total fatty acid analysis of cellular lipids was performed for all V. volvacea strains and linoleic acid ^??9,12C18:2 was predominant. Neutral lipids constituted the major fraction of cellular lipids, but their quantity decreased as fermentation proceeded. Phospholipids were the most saturated lipid fraction.     

Plant Regeneration Through Callus Organogenesis and True-to-Type Conformity of Plants by RAPD Analysis in Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC.

An efficient plant regeneration protocol was established for an endangered ethnomedicinal plant Desmodium gangeticum (Linn.) DC. Morphogenic calli were produced from 96 % of the cultures comprising the immature leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (4.0 mg?l^?1) in combination with 6-benzylaminopurine (BA; 0.8 mg?l^?1). For callus regeneration, various concentrations of BA (1.0–5.0 mg?l^?1) or thidiazuron (TDZ; 1.0–5.0 mg?l^?1) alone or in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 0.2–1.0 mg?l^?1) were used. Highest response of shoot regeneration was observed on MS medium fortified with TDZ (4.0 mg?l^?1) and IAA (0.5 mg?l^?1) combination. Here, 100 % cultures responded with an average number of 22.3 shoots per gram calli. Inclusion of indole-3-butyric acid in half MS medium favored rooting of recovered shoots. Out of 45 rooted plants transferred to soil, 40 survived. Total DNA was extracted from the leaves of the acclimatized plants of D. gangeticum. Analysis of random amplified polymorphic DNA using 13 arbitrary decanucleotide primers showed the genetic homogeneity in all the ten plants regenerated from callus with parental plant, suggesting that shoot regeneration from callus could be used for the true-to-type multiplication of this plant.     

Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Ethanol Production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLD10 Using Molasses

In this study, we have used ultraviolet (UV) and γ-ray induction to get a catabolite repression resistant and thermotolerant mutant with enhanced ethanol production along with optimization of sugar concentration and temperature of fermentation. Classical mutagenesis in two consecutive cycles of UV- and γ-ray-induced mutations evolved one best catabolite-resistant and thermotolerant mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae MLD10 which showed improved ethanol yield (0.48?±?0.02 g g^?1), theoretical yield (93?±?3 %), and extracellular invertase productivity (1,430?±?50 IU l^?1 h^?1), respectively, when fermenting 180 g sugars l^?1 in molasses medium at 43 °C in 300 m³ working volume fermenter. Ethanol production was highly dependent on invertase production. Enthalpy (ΔH*) (32.27 kJ M^?1) and entropy (ΔS*) (?202.88 J M^?1 K^?1) values at 43 °C by the mutant MLD10 were significantly lower than those of β-glucosidase production by a thermophilic mutant derivative of Thermomyces lanuginosus. These results confirmed the enhanced production of ethanol and invertase by this mutant derivative. These studies proved that mutant was significantly improved for ethanol production and was thermostable in nature. Lower fermentation time for ethanol production and maintenance of ethanol production rates (3.1 g l^?1 h^?1) at higher temperature (43 °C) by this mutant could decrease the overall cost of fermentation process and increase the quality of ethanol production.     

Enzymatic Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Pretreated Cashew Apple Bagasse with Alkali and Diluted Sulfuric Acid for Bioethanol Production

The aim of this work was to optimize the enzymatic hydrolysis of the cellulose fraction of cashew apple bagasse (CAB) after diluted acid (CAB-H) and alkali pretreatment (CAB-OH), and to evaluate its fermentation to ethanol using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Glucose conversion of 82?±?2 mg/g CAB-H and 730?±?20 mg/g CAB-OH was obtained when 2% (w/v) of solid and 30 FPU/g bagasse was used during hydrolysis at 45 °C, 2-fold higher than when using 15 FPU/g bagasse, 44?±?2 mg/g CAB-H, and 450?±?50 mg/g CAB-OH, respectively. Ethanol concentration and productivity, achieved after 6 h of fermentation, were 20.0?±?0.2 g L^?1 and 3.33 g L^?1 h^?1, respectively, when using CAB-OH hydrolyzate (initial glucose concentration of 52.4 g L^?1). For CAB-H hydrolyzate (initial glucose concentration of 17.4 g L^?1), ethanol concentration and productivity were 8.2?±?0.1 g L^?1 and 2.7 g L^?1 h^?1 in 3 h, respectively. Hydrolyzates fermentation resulted in an ethanol yield of 0.38 and 0.47 g/g glucose with pretreated CAB-OH and CAB-H, respectively. Ethanol concentration and productivity, obtained using CAB-OH hydrolyzate, were close to the values obtained in the conventional ethanol fermentation of cashew apple juice or sugar cane juice.     

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of volatilization of biodiesel from babassu, palm oil and mineral diesel by thermogravimetric analysis (TG)

The boiling point and volatility are important properties for fuels, as it is for quality control of the industry of petroleum diesel and biofuels. In addition, through the volatility is possible to predict properties, such as vapor pressure, density, latent heat, heat of vaporization, viscosity, and surface tension of biodiesel. From thermogravimetry analysis it is possible to find the kinetic parameters (activation energy, pre-exponential factor, and reaction order), of thermally simulated processes, like volatilization. With the kinetic parameters, it is possible to obtain the thermodynamic parameters by mathematical formula. For the kinetic parameters, the minor values of activation energy were found for mineral diesel (E = 49.38 kJ mol^?1), followed by babassu biodiesel (E = 76.37 kJ mol^?1), and palm biodiesel (E = 87.00 kJ mol^?1). Between the two biofuels studied, the babassu biodiesel has the higher minor value of activation energy. The thermodynamics parameters of babassu biodiesel are, ΔS = ?129.12 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = +80.38 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +142.74 kJ mol^?1. For palm biodiesel ΔS = ?119.26 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = + 90.53 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +141.21 kJ mol^?1, and for diesel ΔS = ?131.3 J mol^?1 K^?1, ΔH = +53.29 kJ mol^?1 and ΔG = +115.13 kJ mol^?1. The kinetic thermal analysis shows that all E, ΔH, and ΔG values are positive and ΔS values are negative, consequently, all thermodynamic parameters indicate non-spontaneous processes of volatilization for all the fuels studied.     

Efficient Biotransformation of Phytosterols to Dehydroepiandrosterone by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium</Emphasis> sp.

In this study, a method for the efficient production of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) from phytosterols in a vegetable oil/aqueous two-phase system by Mycobacterium sp. was developed. After the 3-hydroxyl group of phytosterols was protected, they could be converted into DHEA with high yield and productivity by Mycobacterium sp. NRRL B-3683. In a shake flask biotransformation, 15.05 g l^?1 of DHEA and a DHEA yield of 85.39% (mol mol^?1) were attained after 7 days with an initial substrate concentration of 25 g l^?1. When biotransformation was carried out in a 30-l stirred bioreactor with 25 g l^?1 substrate, the DHEA concentration and yield was 16.33 g l^?1 and 92.65% (mol mol^?1) after 7 days, respectively. The results of this study suggest that inexpensive phytosterols could be utilized for the efficient production of DHEA.     

In Situ Biphasic Extractive Fermentation for Hexanoic Acid Production from Sucrose by Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 702410

Hexanoic acid production by a bacterium using sucrose as an economic carbon source was studied under conditions in which hexanoic acid was continuously extracted by liquid–liquid extraction. Megasphaera elsdenii NCIMB 702410, selected from five M. elsdenii strains, produced 4.69 g l^?1 hexanoic acid in a basal medium containing sucrose. Production increased to 8.19 g l^?1 when the medium was supplemented by 5 g l^?1 sodium butyrate. A biphasic liquid–liquid extraction system with 10 % (v/v) alamine 336 in oleyl alcohol as a solvent was evaluated in a continuous stirred-tank reactor held at pH 6. Over 90 % (w/w) of the hexanoic acid in a 0.5 M aqueous solution was transferred to the extraction solvent within 10 h. Cell growth was not significantly inhibited by direct contact of the fermentation broth with the extraction solvent. The system produced 28.42 g l^?1 of hexanoic acid from 54.85 g l^?1 of sucrose during 144 h of culture, and 26.52 and 1.90 g l^?1 of hexanoic acid was accumulated in the extraction solvent and the aqueous fermentation broth, respectively. The productivity and yield of hexanoic acid were 0.20 g l^?1 h^?1 and 0.50 g g^?1 sucrose, respectively.     

Direct electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c, and its determination on phytic acid modified electrode

Phytic acid (PA) with its unique structure was attached to a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to form PA/GCE modified electrode which was characterized by electrochemical impedance. The electrochemical behavior of cytochrome c (Cyt c) on the PA/GCE modified electrode was explored by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The Cyt c displayed a quasi-reversible redox process on PA modified electrode pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution with a formal potential (E ^0′) of 57 mV (versus Ag/AgCl). The peak currents were linearly related to the square root of the scan rate in the range of 20–120 mV·s^?1. The electron transfer rate constant was determined to be 12.5 s^?1. The PA/GCE modified electrode was applied to the determination of Cyt c, in the range of 5?×?10^?6 to 3?×?10^?4 M, the currents increase linearly to the Cyt c concentration with a correlation coefficient 0.9981. The detection limit was 1?×?10^?6 M (signal/noise?=?3).     

A sensitive and specific ELISA for determining a residue marker of three quinoxaline antibiotics in swine liver

Methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA) is a possible residue marker for three quinoxaline veterinary medicines (olaquindox, mequindox, and quinocetone). The wide application of mequindox/quinocetone or the illegal use of olaquindox leads to MQCA residue in animal’s original food, thereby threatening the safety of human food. The indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) with a specific coating antigen and monoclonal antibody (MAB) was established and optimized for detecting MQCA in swine liver. Samples were acidified with 2 mol?l^?1 hydrochloric acid, extracted with ethyl acetate–hexane–isopropanol (8?+?1?+?1, v/v/v) and then detected by IC-ELISA. The logarithm correlation of standards to OD values ranged from 0.2 to 200 μg?l^?1, with IC₅₀ of 6.46 μg?l^?1. Negligible cross-reactivity happened to five quinoxaline antibiotics (olaquindox, mequindox, quinocetone, carbadox, and cyadox) and the metabolite of carbadox and cyadox (quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid). When spiked with 1 to 100 μg?kg^?1 of MQCA, the recoveries ranged from 85.44 to 100.02 %, with the intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) of 6.64–10.57 % and inter-assay CV of 7.29–10.88 %. The limit of detection for MQCA was 1.0 μg?kg^?1 in swine liver. Furthermore, incurred samples were detected by the IC-ELISA and then conformed by a reported LC/MS/MS method, it shown that there was good correlation between the two methods. All these results indicated that the IC-ELISA method is appropriate for surveillance MQCA residue in animal tissues.

Regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the apomictic species Eulaliopsis binata

Protocols for regeneration and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of the apomictic species Eulaliopsis binata were developed. Initially, seeds of four genotypes of E. binata were incubated on a callus induction Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with three concentrations of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). It was found that 36.2 % of explants developed highly friable callus on medium containing 3.0 mg l^?1 2,4-D. Based on frequency of callus induction, the genotype Neixiang was selected for regeneration and transformation. Callus incubated on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.2 mg l^?1 α-naphthalene acetic acid and 6.0 mg l^?1 6-furfuryl-aminopurine developed shoots. Subsequently, Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain EHA105—harboring a plasmid pCAMBIA1381 carrying a hygromycin phosphotransferase (hpt) resistance gene and a synthetic green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, both driven by the cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter—was used for transformation system. Putative transgenic callus was obtained following two cycles of hygromycin selection. Expression of the transgene(s) in putative transgenic callus was analyzed using the GFP detection. Molecular identification of putative transformed shoots was performed by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot analysis to confirm presence and integration of the hpt gene.     

Excess molar quantities of (a halogenated n-alkane + an n-alkane) A comparative study of mixtures containing either 1-chlorobutane or 1,4-dichlorobutane

Excess molar volumes V_m^E at 298.15 K were obtained, as a function of mole fraction x, for series I: {x1-C₄H₉Cl + (1 ? x)n-C_lH_{2l + 2}}, and II: {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C_lH_{2l + 2}}, for l = 7, 10, and 14. 10, and 14. The instrument used was a vibrating-tube densimeter. For the same mixtures at the same temperature, a Picker flow calorimeter was used to measure excess molar heat capacities C_{p, m}^E at constant pressure. V_m^E is positive for all mixtures in series I: at x = 0.5, V_m^E/(cm³ · mol^?1) is 0.277 for l = 7, 0.388 for l = 10, and 0.411 for l = 14. For series II, V_m^E of {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C₇H₁₆} is small and S-shaped, the maximum being situated at x_max = 0.178 with V_m^E(x_max)/(cm³ · mvl^?1) = 0.095, and the minimum is at x_min = 0.772 with V_m^E(x_min)/(cm³ · mol^?1) = ?0.087. The excess volumes of the other mixtures are all positive and fairly large: at x = 0.5, V_m^E/(cm³ · mol^?1) is 0.458 for l = 10, and 0.771 for l = 14. The C_{p, m}^Es of series I are all negative and |C_{p, m}^E| increases with increasing l: at x = 0.5, C_{p, m}^E/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) is ?0.56 for l = 7, ?1.39 for l = 10, and ?3.12 for l = 14. Two minima are observed for C_{p, m}^E of {x1,4-C₄H₈Cl₂ + (1 ? x)n-C₇H₁₆}. The more prominent minimum is situated at x′_min = 0.184 with C_{p, m}^E(x′_min)/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) = ?0.62, and the less prominent at x″_min = 0.703 with C_{p, m}^E(x″_min)/(J · K^?1 · mol^?1) = ?0.29. Each of the remaining two mixtures (l = 10 and 14) has a pronounced minimum at low mole fraction (x_min = 0.222 and 0.312, respectively) and a broad shoulder around x = 0.7.     

Synthesis, electrochemical, magnetic, catalytic and antimicrobial studies of N-functionalized cyclam based trinuclear copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes

Trinuclear copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes have been prepared by using Schiff base ligands derived from 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methyl) benzyl]-4,11-dimethyl-l,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane, and 1,8-[bis(3-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-bromo)benzyl]-4,11-dimethyl-l,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane with aliphatic and aromatic diamines. All the complexes were characterized by elemental and spectroscopic analysis. Electrochemical studies of the copper(II) complexes in DMF solution show three irreversible one electron reduction process around E _pc  ¹ = ?0.59 to ?0.80 V, E _pc  ² = ?0.89 to ?1.14 V and E _pc  ³ = ?1.17 to ?1.29 V, and for nickel(II) complexes it is around E _pc  ¹ = ?0.63 to ?0.77 V, E _pc  ² = ?1.20 to ?1.35 V and E _pc  ³ = ?1.60 to ?1.74 V. ESR spectra and magnetic moments of the trinuclear Cu(II) complexes show the presence of antiferromagnetic coupling. Cryomagnetic investigation of the trinuclear copper(II) complexes show that the observed ?2J values are in the range of 116–178 cm^?1. The rate constants for hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenylphosphate by the complexes are in the range of 2.68 × 10^?2 to 9.81 × 10^?2 min^?1. The rate constants values for the catecholase activity of the copper(II) complexes fall in the range of 3.03 × 10^?2 to 9.32 × 10^?2 min^?1. All the complexes.     

Direct electrochemistry and electrochemical biosensing of glucose oxidase based on CdSe@CdS quantum dots and MWNT-modified electrode

The direct electron transfer of glucose oxidase (GOx) was achieved based on the immobilization of CdSe@CdS quantum dots on glassy carbon electrode by multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs)-chitosan (Chit) film. The immobilized GOx displayed a pair of well-defined and reversible redox peaks with a formal potential (E ^θ’) of ?0.459 V (versus Ag/AgCl) in 0.1 M pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution. The apparent heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (k _s) of GOx confined in MWNTs-Chit/CdSe@CdS membrane were evaluated as 1.56 s^?1 according to Laviron's equation. The surface concentration (Γ*) of the electroactive GOx in the MWNTs-Chit film was estimated to be (6.52?±?0.01)?×?10^?11?mol?cm^?2. Meanwhile, the catalytic ability of GOx toward the oxidation of glucose was studied. Its apparent Michaelis–Menten constant for glucose was 0.46?±?0.01 mM, showing a good affinity. The linear range for glucose determination was from 1.6?×?10^?4 to 5.6?×?10^?3?M with a relatively high sensitivity of 31.13?±?0.02 μA?mM^?1?cm^?2 and a detection limit of 2.5?×?10^?5?M (S/N=3).     

Effect of Elicitors and Precursors on Azadirachtin Production in Hairy Root Culture of Azadirachta indica

The present study involved strategies for enhancement in in vitro azadirachtin (commercially used biopesticide) production by hairy root cultivation of Azadirachta indica. Improvement in the azadirachtin production via triggering its biosynthetic pathway in plant cells was carried out by the exogenous addition of precursors and elicitors in the growth medium. Among the different abiotic stress inducers (Ag⁺, Hg⁺², Co⁺², Cu⁺²) and signal molecules (methyl jasmonate and salicylic acid) tested, salicylic acid at 15 mg l^?1 of concentration was found to enhance the azadirachtin yield in the hairy roots to the maximum (up to 4.95 mg g^?1). Similarly, among the different biotic elicitors tested (filter-sterilized fungal culture filtrates of Phoma herbarium, Alternaria alternata, Myrothecium sp., Fusarium solani, Curvularia lunata, and Sclerotium rolfsii; yeast extract; and yeast extract carbohydrate fraction), addition of filter-sterilized fungal culture filtrate of C. lunata (1 %?v/v) resulted in maximum azadirachtin yield enhancement in hairy root biomass (up to 7.1 mg g^?1) with respect to the control (3.3 mg g^?1). Among all the biosynthetic precursors studied (sodium acetate, cholesterol, squalene, isopentynyl pyrophosphate, mavalonic acid lactone, and geranyl pyrophosphate), the overall azadirachtin production (70.42 mg l^?1 in 25 days) was found to be the highest with cholesterol (50 mg l^?1) addition as an indirect precursor in the medium.     

Ethanol Production from Starch Hydrolyzates using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zymomonas mobilis</Emphasis> and Glucoamylase Entrapped in Polyvinylalcohol Hydrogel

The glucoamylase from Aspergillus niger, immobilized into poly(vinylalcohol) hydrogel lens-shaped capsules LentiKats®, was used for simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) with Zymomonas mobilis in free form. This system was stable in both the repeated batch and continuous mode of SSF. The microorganism was found to adsorb on the capsules with immobilized enzyme. This increased the ethanol productivity of the repeated batch system with 5% w/v of immobilized glucoamylase almost 2.1 times (7.2 g l^?1 h^?1) compared to free enzyme–free microorganism system (3.5 g l^?1 h^?1). The continuous SSF with the immobilized glucoamylase (11.5% w/v) tested for 15 days had productivity 10 g l^?1 h^?1, which is comparable to continuous experiments on semi-defined glucose medium (10 g l^?1 h^?1). These two systems were stable in both glucoamylase activity and microorganism productivity.     

Biodiesel Residual Glycerol Metabolism by Klebsiella pneumoniae: Pool of Metabolites Under Anaerobiosis and Oxygen Limitation as a Function of Feeding Rates

The metabolism of residual glycerol from biodiesel synthesis by Klebsiella pneumoniae BLh-1 was investigated in this study. Batch and fed-batch cultivations were performed in bioreactors under anaerobic and oxygen limitation conditions. Results of batch cultivations showed that the main product was 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) in both conditions, although the higher yields and productivities (0.46 mol mol^?1 glycerol and 1.22 g?L^?1?h^?1, respectively) were obtained under anaerobic condition. Large amounts of ethanol were also produced under batch anaerobic condition, peaking at 12.30 g?L^?1. Batch cultivations under oxygen limitation were characterized by faster growth kinetics, with higher biomass production but lower conversions of glycerol into 1,3-PD, with yields and productivities of 0.33 mol mol^?1 glycerol and 0.99 g?L^?1?h^?1, respectively. The fed-batch cultivations were carried out in order to investigate the effects of feeding of raw glycerol on cells. Fed-batch under anaerobiosis showed that 1,3-PD and ethanol concentrations increased with the feeding rate, with maximal productions of 26.12 and 19.2 g?L^?1, respectively. The oxygen limitation conditions diverted the bacterium metabolism to an elevated lactic acid formation, reaching 59 g?L^?1 in higher feeding rates of glycerol, but lowering the production of ethanol.