Production of Cellulolytic Enzymes by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus phoenicis</Emphasis> in Grape Waste using Response Surface Methodology

The production of cellulolytic enzymes by the fungus Aspergillus phoenicis was investigated. Grape waste from the winemaking industry was chosen as the growth substrate among several agro-industrial byproducts. A 2 × 2 central composite design was performed, utilizing the amount of grape waste and peptone as independent variables. The fungus was cultivated in submerged fermentation at 30 °C and 120 rpm for 120 h, and the activities of total cellulases, endoglucanases, and β-glucosidases were measured. Total cellulases were positively influenced by the linear increase of peptone concentration and decrease at axial concentrations of grape waste and peptone. Maximum activity of endoglucanase was observed by a linear increase of both grape waste and peptone concentrations. Concentrations of grape waste between 5 and 15 g/L had a positive effect on the production of β-glucosidase; peptone had no significant effects. The optimum production of the three cellulolytic activities was observed at values near the central point. A. phoenicis has the potential for the production of cellulases utilizing grape waste as the growth substrate.     

A Study of Precipitates Formation in AA 380.0 Aluminium Alloys Modified by the Addition of Magnesium

A data acquisition system and the SAD2 software, that provide characteristic cooling curves, in combination with microstructure analysis were used to study precipitates formation in the AA380.0 aluminium alloys modified by adding extra magnesium. The samples were solidified with distinct cooling rates caused by carrying out the solidification in shell and permanent molds. The mathematics processing of the cooling curves in agreement with the microstructure analysis have confirmed the remarkable presence of both the Al–Si dendrite network and the Mg2Si interdendritic phase in the alloys with the addition of extra magnesium. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.