Obtención de bioetanol a partir de la cáscara de cacao (Theobroma cacao) usando Trichoderma reesei y Trichoderma ghanense para la hidrólisis enzimática

The removal of malachite green (MG) by cocoa (Theobroma cacao) shell activated carbon (CSAC) was investigated in present study. Adsorption studies were performed by batch experiments as a function of process parameters such as initial pH, contact time, initial concentration and adsorbent dose. A comparison of kinetic models applied to the adsorption of MG on CSAC was evaluated for the pseudo‐first order and pseudo‐second order kinetic models. Results showed that the pseudo‐second order kinetic model was found to correlate the experimental data well. The experimental equilibrium adsorption data was represented with Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin, Dubinin‐Radushkevich and Flory‐Huggins isotherms. The experimental data obtained in the present study indicated that activated carbon developed from cocoa shell can be attractive options for dye removal from waste water.

A study was undertaken to evaluate and compare the chemical composition of the cocoa byproducts CPH (cocoa pod husk), CS (cocoa shell) and CD (cocoa dust), and to establish a rational use of CS and CD in the diets of growing goats. CD had a high crude protein (CP) content of 15.9%, while CS and CPH had 13.8% and 6.7%, respectively. The byproducts were high in crude fibre (CF) content. Among the byproducts, CD had the highest ether extract value (22.0%). Fifteen growing goats, 18-20 months of age, with pre-experimental body weights of 20.9 +/- 0.33 kg, were randomly allotted to three diets in growth studies. In diet 1, dried brewers' grain (DBG) served as the control, while the other two diets had CS or CD plus DBG. The dry matter intake (DMI) was 570, 530 and 486 g/head per day for the control, CS + DBG and CD + DBG diets, respectively. The growth rate differed significantly among the goats offered the diets (p < 0.05). Dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), organic matter (OM) and gross energy (GE) digestibility were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the goats on the control diet than in those on CS + DBG or CD + DBG. The DM, CP and OM in the CS + DBG diet were more digestible (p < 0.05) than those in the CD + DBG diet. The inclusion of DBG in the CS and CD diets improved their use by the goats.

The aims of this study are to identify the best carbon particle size and composition variations and to identify differences in student learning outcomes using demonstration experimental methods with learning video and e-module about the making of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L) shell and sea mango (Cerbera manghas) based bio charcoal briquettes. Briquetting process is carried out by drying raw materials, carbonizing, grinding, sieving, briquetting, and drying. Thirty agribusiness vocational students are selected as the subject to see the effectiveness of learning video and e-module for understanding the bio charcoal briquetting process. Students' understanding is assessed by pretest, posttest after learning with a video, and posttest after learning with e-module. The results show that briquettes with high sea mango concentrations have a high burning rate, water boiling test, and low specific fuel consumption. Briquettes containing small particle sizes have high values of relaxed density, relaxation ratio, and percentage of durability index. Based on the result, it can be concluded that the e-module is more effective than learning video for the student because it can cover wider and deeper materials. However, giving learning video to the students is still necessary so they may have a better visual experience regarding the briquetting process.

Food fingerprinting: Mass spectrometric determination of the cocoa shell content (Theobroma cacao L.) in cocoa products by HPLC-QTOF-MS

Cocoa shells are waste from the plantation industry, with a fairly good potential source of energy and protein. The ethanol extract of cocoa shells contains alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, and tannins. Cocoa shell extract has strong antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 17.21 ppm and has sunscreen activity. This study aimed to determine the formulation and physical test of a peel-off gel mask with cocoa shell extract (Theobroma cacao L) and to determine its effect. The research method used was an experimental method with variations in the concentration of a combination of HPMC and PVA of 2%:10%, 3%:9%, 4%:8%, 5%:7%, and 0%:12%. The physical tests used on the peel-off gel mask with cocoa shell extract (Theobroma cacao L) included organoleptic, homogeneity, pH, spreadability, drying time, adhesiveness, viscosity, and cycling tests. Based on the results of the research carried out, peel-off gel mask has the characteristics of a brown color, a distinctive extract smell and a thick texture, homogeneous for F1 and F5, and not homogeneous for F2, F3, and F4, sticking force 4.53±0.24 seconds; 5.45±0.36 seconds; 8.94±0.64 seconds; 11.23±0.72 seconds; 3.87±0.70 seconds; spreadability 3.99 ± 0.18 cm; 3.33±0.31 cm; 3.47±0.78 cm; 3.32±0.50 cm; 3.05±0.42 cm; pH 6.17 ± 0.10; 6.16±0.03; 6.15±0.10; 6.11±0.05; 6.42±0.03; viscosity 19481.10±201.10; 20165.50±1.05; 20165.73±2.02; 20182.53±9.47; 14618.40±158.48. The physical stability of the gel mask preparations after treatment showed that the results of the peel-off gel mask preparations, F1 and F5, were stable. Keywords: peel-off gel mask, cocoa shell, extract, gelling agent

A targeted metabolomics LC-ESI-QqQ-MS/MS application for the determination of cocoa shell based on 15 non-polar key metabolites was developed, validated according to recognized guidelines, and used to predict the cocoa shell content in various cocoa products. For the cocoa shell prediction, different PLSR models based on different cocoa shell calibration series were developed and their suitability and prediction quality were compared. By analysing samples from different origins and harvest years with known shell content, the prediction model could be confirmed. The predicted shell content could be verified with a deviation of about 1% cocoa shell. The presented method demonstrates the suitability of the targeted application of metabolomic profiling for the determination of cocoa shell and its applicability in routine analysis is discussed.

Sweetness and Power - Public Policies and the ‘Biofuels Frenzy’

&lt;p&gt;Excessive use of fossil fuels results in the rapid depletion of non-renewable fossil energy resources, a rise in fuel cost, and an uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases which causes a severe threat to the environment. Bio-fuels are being scrutinized as substitutes for current high-pollutant fuels obtained from conventional sources. To meet the global demands, it becomes necessary to find an alternate source of fuel which is bioethanol. In this work, a strategy to promote ethanol production from Leftover Cooked Rice (LCR) by comparing the different types of hydrolysis was proposed. Process integration comprised of mechanical pretreatment of the leftover cooked rice followed by hydrolysis which was then followed by fermentation. The food wastes of weight 50g taken in each of the 3 fermenters were subjected to acid hydrolysis, enzyme hydrolysis, and combined hydrolysis respectively. Commercially available Baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was used for the fermentation process. The fermented samples were subjected to distillation to separate the bioethanol from them. The amount of bioethanol obtained from combined hydrolysis, acid hydrolysis, and enzyme hydrolysis was 400ml, 150ml, and 350ml respectively. Qualitative analysis of ethanol was done by using the Jones reagent. Hence, bioethanol can be produced from leftover cooked rice using the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.&lt;/p&gt;&#x0D;

Optimization of alkaline pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis of cocoa pod husk (Theobroma cacao L.) for ethanol production

The first version of GTAP-BIO Data Base was built based on the GTAP standard data base version 6 which represents the world economy in 2001 (Taheripour et al., 2007). That data base covers global production, consumption, and trade of the first generation of biofuels including ethanol from grains (eth1), ethanol from sugarcane (eth2), and biodiesel (biod) from oilseeds in 2001. Version 7 of GTAP Data Base, which depicts the world economy in 2004, is now published (Narayanan, B.G. and T.L. Walmsley, 2008). However, this standard data base does not include biofuel industries explicitly. The first objective of this research memorandum is to introduce the first generation of biofuels into this new data base. To accomplish this task we will follow Taheripour et al. (2007). The rapid expansion of the first generation of biofuels in the past decades has raised important concerns related to food-fuel competition, land use change, and other economic and environmental issues. These issues have increased interest in the second generation of biofuels which can be produced from cellulosic materials such as dedicated crops, agricultural and forest residues, and waste materials. To examine the economic and environmental consequences of the second generation of biofuels, a CGE model is an appropriate and essential instrument. A data base which presents the first and second generation of biofuels will facilitate research in this field. Hence the second objective of this research memorandum is to expand the space of biofuel alternatives to the second generation. Given that advanced cellulosic biofuels are not yet commercially viable, we used the most up to date information in this area to define the production technologies for these industries.

The role of biochemical engineering in the production of biofuels from microalgae

Cocoa shell is one of the plant waste that has not been widely used. Cocoa shell is potential as a producer of bio oil because it contains lignocellulose. The bio oil of Liquid volatile matter (LVM) is the products of smoke condensation from the pyrolysis reactor. The bio oil of cocoa shell from pyrolysis process can be made as raw materials for the application of pesticide and preservative. The aims of this research were to produce bio oil from cocoa shell by pyrolysis and analyzing the content using Gas Chromatography (GC). Bio oil production was done by pyrolysis with variations of temperature, i.e. 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C. Pyrolysis reaction generates three products: gas, liquid and solid. The yield of bio oil with variations of pyrolisis temperature, i.e. 400, 500, 600 and 700 °C were obtained i.e. 46, 45, 44 and 40% (v/w), respectively. The chromatogram results showed the chemical components of bio oil from the cocoa shell were ammonia, hexane, alcohol, ketone, acid and phenolic compounds which can be used as material of preservative and pesticide.

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la cáscara de la mazorca cacao (Theobroma cacao L .) para su uso en la adsorción de cromo hexavalente en solución acuosa, usando columna de lecho empacado, aplicando el método de superficie de respuesta (MSR), con el fin de determinar los valores óptimos de las variables incidentes en el proceso y, posteriormente, con estos valores, realizar los ensayos de adsorción. Se utilizó un diseño de experimentos compuesto central con puntos estrellas. La biomasa, se lavó, se secó, se disminuyó tamaño y se tamizó; los experimentos, se llevaron a cabo a 25°C, a diferentes tamaños de partícula, de caudal y de cantidad de biomasa, en columnas en sistema en continuo, obteniéndose un porcentaje de remoción de 39,16%, de Cr(VI) . Al realizar los experimentos en sistema por lotes, se obtuvo que a tamaño de partícula 0,355mm, se favorece la adsorción. De los ensayos de adsorción en columna, utilizando los parámetros óptimos arrojados ob- tenidos por el MSR, se obtuvo un porcentaje de remoción de 62,65%, encontrando que los modelos de Yoon-Nelson y Thomas fueron los que ajustaron los datos experimentales de la curva de ruptura, con R2= 0,98 . Se concluye que la cáscara de cacao es un buen precursor de bioadsorbentes y que las variables más influyentes en la adsorción de Cr(VI) en sistema por lotes y continuo son el tamaño de partícula y la altura del lecho.

Activated carbon prepared from agro waste cocoa (Theobroma cacao) shell has been utilized as the adsorbent for the removal of Reactive blue 2 dye from aqueous solution. Adsorption studies were carried out at different initial concentration and contact time, pH of solution and temperature. Adsorption data were modeled using Langmuir, Freundlich, Tempkin and Dubinin-Raduskevich isotherms. Based on correlation coefficient (r <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">2</sup> ) values, equilibrium data found fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm. Adsorption kinetics was verified by pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Intraparticle diffusion models. The kinetic adsorption data fitted the pseudo-second order kinetic model well and also followed the intra-particle diffusion model. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔH°, ΔS°, and ΔG° were evaluated. The positive enthalpy shows that the adsorption process was endothermic in nature.

Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehd is an excellent natural secondary shrub in the Shell Islands of Yellow River Delta. The roots of S. suffruticosa have high medicinal value and are used to treat diseases, such as neurasthenia and infant malnutrition. Any organism that is isolated from this species is of immense interest due to its potential novel bioactive compounds. In this research, the distribution and diversity of culturable endophytic fungi in S. suffruticosa were studied, and the endophytic fungi with antimicrobial activity were screened. A total of 420 endophytic fungi isolates were obtained from the S. suffruticosa grown in Shell Islands, from which 20 genera and 35 species were identified through morphological and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses. Chaetomium, Fusarium, Cladosporium, and Ceratobasidium were the dominant genera. The high species richness S (42), Margalef index D′ (5.6289), Shannon–Wiener index H′ (3.1000), Simpson diversity index Ds (0.9459), PIE index (0.8670), and evenness Pielou index J (0.8719) and a low dominant index λ (0.0541) indicated the high diversity of endophytic fungi in S. suffruticosa, the various species of endophytic fungi with obvious tissue specificity. The inhibition percentages of the 12 species of such endophytic fungi against Colletotrichum siamense were 3.6%-26.3%. C. globosum, Fusarium sp.3, and C. ramotenellum had a high antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) were between 0.5 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL. Alkaloid content detection indicated that endophytic fungi had a high alkaloid content, whereas the alkaloid contents of C. globosum and Fusarium sp.3 reached 0.231% and 0.170%, respectively. Members belonging to the endophytic fungal community in the S. suffruticosa of Shell Islands that may be used as antagonists and antibacterial agents for future biotechnology applications were identified for the first time.