Abundant Agricultural By-product Research Articles

Salt freezing-thawing damage evolution model based on the time-dependent hydration reaction incorporating rice husk ash and recycled coarse aggregate

Rice husk ash (RHA), an abundant agricultural by-product, has led to significant environmental pollution due to current treatment methods. To achieve resource utilization, the feasibility of RHA recycled concrete subjected to the salt freezing-thawing resistance was assessed, including the macroscopic properties, microstructure and sustainability, and an evolutionary model of salt freeze-thaw damage was established based on the time-dependent hydration reaction of the cement paste. The results indicate that RHA particles effectively retard damage by limiting chloride ion diffusion and preventing salt crystallization, while deteriorating the concrete performance due to reduced hydration products at high RHA replacement ratios. The established salt freeze-thaw damage evolution model has an R2 as high as 0.9817, which indicates that the model fits with high accuracy and can capture the performance variations of different types of RHA recycled concrete under extreme environmental conditions. Additionally, the synergistic preparation of concrete using RHA with a 20 % replacement ratio and recycled coarse aggregate (RCA) with a 50 % replacement ratio reduces the total global warming potential (GWP) by 16.65 %, which means that it has the potential to advance low-carbon sustainable development in the construction industry while meeting the engineering requirements. This research is expected to provide a theoretical reference for applying and promoting biobased low-carbon concrete with RHA in saline-alkali cold areas.

Zea mays bracts extract as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for steel in HCl pickling solution: Experimental and simulation studies

Active phytochemicals with unique electron structures can adsorb on metal surfaces and effectively mitigate metal corrosion. Recently, plant extracts have garnered significant attention as green and renewable corrosion inhibitors. In this study, the abundant agricultural byproducts, namely Zea mays bracts, were used as the extract raw materials, and Zea mays bracts extract (ZMBE) was served as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for mild steel (MS) in 1 M HCl pickling solution. The organic substances in ZMBE were analyzed via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography- quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTFMS). The interaction between the active functional groups and MS was investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet–visible (UV–visible) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The corrosion inhibition behavior was scrutinized through potentiodynamic polarization (PDP) curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results show that functional groups such as aromatic rings, double bonds, and hydroxyls successfully adsorb on the MS surface to form the protective films. ZMBE exhibits a mixed-type corrosion inhibition with a “geometric coverage” effect. The corrosion inhibition efficiency (η) increases with ZMBE concentration and solution temperature, the optimum η with 5.0 g·L−1 ZMBE at 318 K is 96.2 %. The adsorption of active ingredients follows the Langmuir and El-Awady isotherms. Density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations prove the synergistic effect of complex components in ZMBE and the corrosion inhibition mechanism. ZMBE is a promising acid pickling corrosion inhibitor with broad application prospects.

The modified pomegranate peel as an economical and highly effective adsorbent for malachite green dye removal from wastewater

This research investigated the ability of acid-modified pomegranate peel to remove malachite green (MG) dye from aqueous solutions. Pomegranate peel, an abundant agricultural byproduct, was modified using hydrochloric acid to enhance its adsorption capacity. The effects of parameters like particle size, pH, initial MG concentration, contact time, temperature and adsorbent dosage on the dye removal efficiency were studied. Under optimized conditions of pH 8, 40 min contact time, 25°C temperature and 0.01 g/ml adsorbent dose with 5 mg/L MG solution, about 72478396.8 % dye removal was achieved. Kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second order model, indicating chemisorption with electrostatic interactions governing the adsorption. Equilibrium data were best described by the Temkin isotherm model, suggesting a heterogeneous binding energy distribution. Thermodynamic calculations revealed the exothermic and spontaneous nature of MG adsorption. FTIR analysis confirmed introduction of functional groups like carboxyl, amine and alkyl groups on the adsorbent surface after acid modification, enabling interactions with dye cations. SEM images displayed increased surface roughness and porosity for the modified biosorbent relative to the raw form. The acid-modified pomegranate peel proved to be an economical, eco-friendly and effective adsorbent for removing the hazardous cationic dye MG from wastewater. The findings support agricultural waste valorization for environmental remediation applications.

Fungal mycelium-based biofoam composite: A review in growth, properties and application

Recent years have shown a surge in interest in incorporating living systems into materials research to synthesize functional materials using biological resources. Among these, mycelium-based materials, notably biofoam, have emerged as innovative solutions for repurposing organic wastes that were previously considered unusable. The growth of mycelium, vital for the synthesis of biofoam, is influenced by a multuple of factors including substrate composition, moisture content, temperature, nutrient availability, pH levels, oxygen concentration, and measures for contamination control. Additionally, physical stimulation techniques have been explored to enhance mycelium growth, ranging from cold stress-induced adaptations to electrical shock-induced modifications and optimization of sound treatments and light exposure. This review highlights the growing interest in biofoam composite materials, a novel class of environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials that are gaining popularity, for advancing sustainable construction practices. Biofoam composites use organic fungal growth as a low-energy bio-fabrication process to transform abundant agricultural byproducts and waste into viable alternatives to energy-intensive manufactured building materials. Their versatility in composition and manufacturing methods allows them to be used in a wide range of applications, including insulation and door cores, panelling, flooring, and furniture components. Notably, biofoams outperform synthetic foams and engineered wood in terms of thermal insulation, sound absorption, and fire resistance, making them highly promising for construction industry. Besides, due to its customizable composition and production method, biofoam can be used in the replacement of foams, leather, wood, and plastics in a variety of applications such as water treatment and filtration, medical supplies and healthcare applications. However, despite their remarkable properties, biofoam typically serve as non- or semi-structural supplements to traditional construction materials due to inherent limitations. Nevertheless, the useful material properties of these materials, combined with their low cost, ease of manufacture, and environmental sustainability, imply that they will have an important part to play in the development of environmentally friendly materials in the future.

Transforming sugarcane bagasse into zeolitic material: a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment

Sugarcane bagasse, an abundant agricultural byproduct rich in silicates and cellulose, continues to be underutilized, making a significant contribution to the ever-growing global solid waste predicament. This study delves into the intricate process of producing and enhancing zeolite material derived from economically viable sugarcane bagasse by employing hydrothermal treatment. It meticulously explores four pivotal process variables: particle size (90-200 µm), reagent (0.5 M NaOH+1.5 M NaCl) ratio (0.5-1), contact time (40-72 hr), and temperature (70-100oC), by utilizing 24 full factorial design to optimize synthesis conditions. The investigation carefully delineates the nuanced impacts of these variables on the resulting zeolite porosity. After 16 experimental runs, the study identified the optimal synthesis conditions as follows: a particle size of 90 µm, a reagent ratio of 1, a contact time of 72 hr, and a temperature of 100oC. The fit statistics that signified the adequacy and significance of the developed model are R² = 0.9965, Adjusted R² = 0.9827, Predicted R² = 0.9018; Adeq Precision = 26.6195; Std. Dev. = 1.69 and C.V = 2.72%. Furthermore, the synthesized zeolite exhibited potentially a heightened adsorption capability due to its amplified porosity. This opens up promising avenues for wastewater treatment, offering effective solutions to a myriad of environmental concerns. This approach not only addresses the pressing issue of waste management but also underscores the potential of transforming waste into valuable resources for sustainable development.

From waste to bioactive compounds: A response surface methodology approach to extract antioxidants from Pistacia vera shells for postprandial hyperglycaemia management

Pistacia vera shells, an abundant agricultural by-product, are a rich source of undiscovered bioactive compounds. This study employed a response surface methodology (RSM) approach to optimize the microwave-assisted extraction of antioxidants. The highest total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were achieved under the optimized extraction conditions (20 % ethanol, 1000 W, 135 s, and solvent-to-solid ratio of 27 mL/g). The resulting extract (OPVS-E) included gallic acid derivatives, hydrolysable tannins, flavonoids, fatty acids, and anacardic acids. Remarkably, OPVS-E displayed potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase (IC50 = 2.05 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 41.07 μg/mL), by far more powerful than the anti-diabetic drug acarbose, OPVS-E exhibited a strong antiradical capacity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) without causing toxicity in intestinal cells (HT29-MTX and Caco-2). These findings introduce OPVS-E as a potential novel dual-action nutraceutical ingredient, able to mitigate postprandial hyperglycemia and counteract the ROS overproduction occurring in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Extracting lignin from sugarcane bagasse for methylene blue and hexavalent chromium adsorption in textile wastewater: a facile, green, and sustainable approach.

This study presents the process of extracting lignin from sugarcane bagasse collected in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam by the alkali method. NaOH has been used as an effective, environmentally friendly chemical to enhance the extraction process. The obtained lignin was applied for methylene blue (MB) and hexavalent chromium (Cr(vi)) removal. Factors influencing lignin extraction and adsorption processes of MB and Cr(vi) were investigated, showcasing the sustainable reusability of lignin extracted from sugarcane bagasse. Lignin characterization was also carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. The results showed that the extracted lignin content reached 38.61% under optimal conditions (NaOH concentration of 10%, reaction temperature of 90 °C and reaction time of 90 min). The adsorption efficiency and capacity of lignin reached 90.90% and 9.09 mg g-1 for MB and 80.10% and 28.04 mg g-1 for Cr(vi), respectively, under optimum adsorption conditions (pH, adsorption time, initial methylene blue concentration, and used lignin content). The adsorption process obeyed Langmuir adsorption and was principally physical adsorption. These findings prove sugarcane bagasse based lignin as a cheap and efficient adsorbent for MB and Cr(vi) removal, which contributes to the utilization of the abundant agricultural by-product for wastewater treatment.

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Nanosilica Derived from Rice Husk Ash

Synthesis and Characterization of Mesoporous Nanosilica Derived from Rice Husk Ash

Recovery of carbon from rice straw for production of high-value products by Chlorella sorokiniana TH01 through mixotrophic cultivation

Rice straw is an abundant agricultural by-product in Viet Nam. Rice straw mainly contains carbohydrate (e.g., hemicellulose and cellulose), an abundant carbon source for biological production of high-value products, which is being used for animal feeding, burning or disposal in most suburban and rural areas of Viet Nam. The treatment of rice straw by burning and/or disposal has caused environmental pollution due to emission of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, CH4), toxic gases (CO, SOx, NOx) and dust. It is critical to apply technological measures replacing the traditional method to sustainably treat the huge volume of rice straw. In this study, rice straw carbohydrate was transformed to sugar-rich hydrolysate via a different chemical and enzymatic treatment methods for cultivation of Chlorella sorokiniana TH01 to produce lutein, lipid and protein. Data showed that the combined treatment of NaOH/H2SO4/Enzyme resulted in the maximal glucose and xylose hydrolysis efficiency of 96.32% and 93.43%, respectively. C. sorokiniana TH01 displayed the best growth in the hydrolysate with initial sugar concentration of 15 g/L diluted in BG-11 medium, achieving the maximal biomass concentration of 6.5 g/L (biomass yield of 0.44 g DCW/g substrate). Lutein, lipid, carbohydrate and protein contents were determined as 7.2, 350, 220 and 260 mg/g biomass, respectively. The sugar utilization efficiency by C. sorokiniana TH01 was determined as 94.67%. C. sorokiniana TH01 exhibited a promising capability in recovery of carbon from rice straw for production of high-value multiple commercial products, keeping rice straw in a circular economy and finally reaching a carbon-neutral process.

Hatched Eggshell Membrane Can Be a Novel Source of Antioxidant Hydrolysates to Protect against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Stress in Human Chondrocytes.

Natural antioxidants derived from agricultural by-products have great promise and ecological advantages in the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases. The eggshell membrane (ESM) from hatched eggs, i.e., the hatched ESM, is a globally abundant agricultural byproduct, and its high-value utilization has been rarely studied compared to the well-studied ESM from fresh eggs. In this research, we systematically characterized the hatched ESM as a novel source of antioxidant hydrolysates and explored their potential role in H2O2-induced human chondrocytes. The results showed that the hatched ESM is a protein-rich fibrous mesh material with a significantly different structure and composition from those of fresh ESM. Enzymatic hydrolysis of hatched ESM can produce antioxidant hydrolysates rich in low molecular weight (MW) peptides, which mainly derived from the Lysyl oxidase homolog by Nano-LC-MS/MS analysis. The peptide fraction with MW < 3 kDa (HEMH-I) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging, Fe2+-chelating, and Fe3+-reducing abilities. In H2O2-induced human SW1353 chondrocytes, HEMH-I treatment significantly increased the cell viability and ameliorated oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and cartilage matrix degradation by reducing the level of ROS, matrix metalloprotease 3 (MMP3), MMP13, and IL-6, and by promoting the expression of SOD and type II collagen, potentially through activating the cellular Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for the value-added application of hatched ESM waste to produce antioxidant hydrolysates and indicates their potential as functional food and pharmaceuticals.

Anaerobic fermentation of rice bran with rumen liquor for reducing their fiber components to use as chicken feed

Rice bran is a very cheap and abundant agricultural by-product in rice producing countries. Additionally, many developing countries used these by products as poultry feed. Rice bran (RB) contains high fiber and chicken is not capable to digest those fibrous feed effectively, resulting in low production performance. The main objectives of this study were to decrease fiber components of RB through fermentation by adding rumen liquor to increase their utilization efficacy in chicken. A single-step fermentation of RB was conducted for 12 h (n = 6) under anaerobic conditions, maintaining proper temperature and ideal pH. Rice bran, buffer substances, and rumen liquor were mixed at the ratio of 1:2:3, respectively. The fresh and fermented rice brans were examined for the content of acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude fiber (CF), dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL). Other fiber components were determined by substracting the value of ADL from ADF (celluloses) and ADF from NDF (hemicelluloses), respectively. One-way analysis of variance was done to compare the mean nutrient components followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests at P < 0.05. The pH of fermented brans was decreased with growing fermentation period but appropriate pH was maintained due to the developed protocol. After fermentation, the fiber components of RB were reduced significantly (P < 0.05). However, CP component was not altered significantly after the fermentation of brans. The NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose contents were reduced by 16.2 ± 0.52, 7.2 ± 0.32, 20.0 ± 0.38 and 23.6 ± 0.54%, respectively compared to the fresh brans. As the fiber content reduced significantly after fermentation that clearly, increases the usability of brans as chicken feed.

The extraction of lignocelluloses and silica from rice husk using a single biorefinery process and their characteristics

While the efficient usage of biomass waste can significantly help in addressing environmental issues, there are only a few reports that discuss about processing such waste effectively at a low-cost. Such challenge arises from the strong association between the components biomass. In this study, an abundant agricultural byproduct, rice husk (RH), was used as the starting resource. A simple biorefining process of alkaline peroxide treatment followed by acid precipitation and ethanol extraction was performed on RH to obtain cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and silica. The chemical structures, morphologies, and physic-chemical properties of the separated components were identified through a wide range of characterization approaches. The final products obtained from of this process were (i) bundles of fiber-like cellulose with a fiber width of 6 µm and (ii) small particles of hemicellulose and lignin with non-uniform shapes. The lignocelluloses products had over 90 wt% carbon with 52.28% crystalline ratio. Meanwhile, the other products comprising hemicelluloses, lignin, and silica were amorphous. The outcome of this study contributes to expanding and developing the simple and efficient conversion process of biomass waste into sustainable value-added materials. It is crucial to reduce the environmental impact by using renewable materials as the new building block resources for synthetic chemicals.

Protein composition, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and cyanide content of cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) as influenced by cultivar, plant age, and leaf position

The variation of proximate compositions, amino acids, carotenoids, chlorophyll, and total cyanide contents in cassava leaves was studied to identify the most suitable leaves for human consumption. The cassava leaves from 4 cultivars were analysed at 3 leaf positions as well as at 2 plant ages. The leaves of ‘Rayong 5’ cultivar from the middle position at 6 months after planting contained the highest crude protein, amino acids, carotenoids, and chlorophyll. The total cyanide content was high and therefore, an effective detoxification method is needed. Protein from the cassava leaves was rich in glutamine, aspartic acid, and leucine, but low in methionine and cysteine. Additionally, cassava leaves were found to be a rich source of carotenoids and chlorophyll. This study provided the evidences that cassava leaves can be an alternative source as protein supplement and for carotenoids and chlorophyll extraction and paves the way to valorise this abundant agricultural by-product.

Renewable mycelium based composite- sustainable approach for lignocellulose waste recovery and alternative to synthetic materials- a review.

The agricultural waste with lignocellulose origin is considered to be one of the major environmental pollutants which, because of their high nutritional value, represent an extremely rich resource with significant potential for the production of value added bio-products. This review discusses the applications of higher fungi to upcycle abundant agricultural by-products into more sustainable materials and to promote the transition to a circular economy. It focuses on the main factors influencing the properties and application of mycelium composites- the feedstock, the basidiomycete species and their interaction with the feedstock. During controlled solid state cultivation on various lignocellulose substrates, the basidiomycetes of class Agaricomycetes colonize their surfaces and form a three-dimensional mycelium net. Fungal mycelium secretes enzymes that break down lignocellulose over time and are partially replaced by mycelium. The mycelium adheres to the residual undegraded substrates resulting in the formation of a high-mechanical-strength bio-material called a mycelium based bio-composite. The mycelium based bio-composites are completely natural, biodegradable and can be composted after their cycle of use is completed. The physicochemical, mechanical, and thermodynamic characteristics of mycelium based bio-composites are competitive with those of synthetic polymers and allow them to be successfully used in the construction, architecture, and other industries.

Energy Potential of Agri Residual Biomass in Southeast Asia with the Focus on Vietnam

Southeast Asia currently faces a huge increase in energy consumption and serious environmental issues. A widely underutilized and still unexplored potential of these countries lies in residual biomass. In the present research, the production quantities and energy yields of the most abundant agricultural byproducts in Vietnam, i.e., rice straw, rice husks, sugarcane bagasse and sugarcane trash, were calculated. Total crop yield, residues ratio and net calorific values of the wet basis biomass served as input parameters for the calculations. Moreover, the results were found for individual regions and provinces of the country. The findings show that the production of paddy rice straw is an enormous 97 million tons per year with an energy potential of over 380 TWh, as well as another 9 million tons yearly and 35 TWh in the case of rice husks. More than half of rice biomass production is concentrated in the Mekong River Delta region. Harvesting and processing of sugarcane annually generates about 5 million tons of bagasse and over 3.5 million tons of sugarcane trash with the total energy potential of about 27 TWh, which is primarily available in the central regions of Vietnam. The detailed laboratory determination of fuel-energy properties of studied materials, such as gross and net calorific value, volatile matter, ash and moisture content and contents of chemical elements was also carried out. Based on the research results and literature analysis, the possibilities of biofuel production and energy utilization of the above-mentioned residues are discussed.

Acid Hydrolysis of Olive Tree Leaves: Preliminary Study towards Biochemical Conversion

Olive tree leaves, an abundant agricultural by-product without enough industrial market outlets, are presented in this study as a relevant resource of available carbohydrates to be chemically treated for monomeric sugar production. Characterization of two main granulometric fractions is the starting point for testing the specific effect and the relevance of three main factors (time, temperature, and sulfuric acid concentration) on diluted acid hydrolysis with respect to oligosaccharides, simple sugars, and fermentation inhibitory compounds production. The selected conditions (100 ∘ C, 90 min, and 6% w/w H 2 SO 4 ) to perform the small scale hydrolytic process, considering response surface methodology (2 3 factorial design with center points), implied production of acetic acid and hydroxymethylfurfural in concentrations not exceeding 1.10 kg m − 3 and 0.25 kg m − 3 , respectively. Thus, these experimental conditions were the reference framework to evaluate the effect of a meaningful scaling stage in a hydrolysis reactor, considering kinetic parameters based on hydrolysis rates and d-glucose and d-xylose generation.

Conversion of Starchy Waste Streams into Polyhydroxyalkanoates Using Cupriavidus necator DSM 545.

Due to oil shortage and environmental problems, synthetic plastics have to be replaced by different biodegradable materials. A promising alternative could be polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), and the low-cost abundant agricultural starchy by-products could be usefully converted into PHAs by properly selected and/or developed microbes. Among the widely available starchy waste streams, a variety of residues have been explored as substrates, such as broken, discolored, unripe rice and white or purple sweet potato waste. Cupriavidus necator DSM 545, a well-known producer of PHAs, was adopted in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) process through an optimized dosage of the commercial amylases cocktail STARGEN™ 002. Broken rice was found to be the most promising carbon source with PHAs levels of up to 5.18 g/L. This research demonstrates that rice and sweet potato waste are low-cost feedstocks for PHAs production, paving the way for the processing of other starchy materials into bioplastics.

Aqueous extraction of buckwheat hull and its functional application in eco-friendly dyeing for wool fabric

As a cheap and abundant agricultural byproduct, buckwheat hull is expected to be applied in many fields such as textile, biotechnology, and medicine. In this paper, the physicochemical properties of buckwheat hull extraction (BHE) and its dyeing abilities for wool fabric with different eco-friendly mordants and methods were studied. The theoretical process, colorfastness, and UV-protection properties of the dyed wool fabric with BHE were investigated. The results showed that BHE solution had good thermal and reduction stability. The dyeing process of BHE on wool was in accordance with the Langmuir model and had uniform monolayer adsorption. Wool fabrics dyed directly or through a mordanting process demonstrated good washing colorfastness and acceptable crocking- and light colorfastness. The dyed wool fabrics with KAl2+ and meta-mordanting showed excellent UV-protection as well as exceptional antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. Therefore, BHE presents a novel alternative for some synthetic dyes that are applied in the textile industry.

Abstract 716: Chakasaponin I from tea (Camellia sinensis) flower induce anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells

Abstract Ovarian cancer has the highest rate of death among gynecological malignancy and ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women. Adverse side effects and acquired resistance to conventional chemotherapy based on platinum drive the exploration of other anticancer therapies,thus natural products have drawn greater attention for cancer treatment in recent years. Tea (Camellia sinensis) flower being an abundant agricultural by-product in China and Japan, has been studied for its bio-functional effects. A recent research showed that tea flower saponins (TFS) could induce anti-proliferative effect and cell cycle arrest in human ovarian cancer cells. In the present study, Chakasaponin I, one of the major constituents in TFS, whose main structure is oleanane-type triterpene, showed strong growth inhibitory effects on cisplatin-resistant OVCAR-3 cells at 3 μM by MTS assay. Such inhibitory effects might result from the induction of apoptosis. Western blot assay, Hoechst 33342 staining assay, and flow cytometry analysis were used to examine the effects of Chakasaponin I on apoptosis. The results showed that Chakasaponin I treatment dose-dependently activated the pro-apoptotic proteins (Bad and Bax) and therefore induced apoptosis might by the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Citation Format: Yi C. Chen. Chakasaponin I from tea (Camellia sinensis) flower induce anti-proliferative effect and apoptosis of cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 716.

Enhancing the utilization of oil palm fronds as livestock feed using biological pre-treatment method

Despite its advancement in industrial sectors, the economy of South East Asia is still largely dependent on its agricultural sector. The implication of the situation is the large amount of agricultural by-product produced. The agricultural by-products saw limited utilization and are usually disposed via several methods. Indeed, the limited utilization especially as animal feed is due to the presence of lignin which limits its effectiveness. Several methods have been explored to manipulate the lignin content of the by-products. The most cost-effective way of manipulating the lignin content is via biological pretreatment using white rot fungi. In this experiment, one of the abundant agricultural by-products in Malaysia, oil palm fronds (OPF), was used to be pretreated with fungi to enhance its nutritional value and assess its potential as animal feed. Firstly, several fungi were isolated from rotten OPF and were identified. The identified fungi are Trichoderma harzianium, Fusarium solani, Trichoderma asperellum, and Trichoderma koningiopsis. Their enzymes activity were tested and pitted against conventional biological pretreatment agent, the white rot fungi Lentinula edodes and Ganoderma lucidum. The results showed the isolated Trichoderma harzianum and Fusarium solani exhibited optimal enzyme activity profile as pretreatment agent compared to the white rot fungi in term of enhancing the utilization of the agricultural by-product as livestock feed. Indeed, effective utilization of agricultural by-product as livestock feed will reduce the feeding cost of livestock industry as it constitute a major portion of the production cost.