Alternative Production Methods Research Articles

Biocontrol of Oreochromis mossambicus Population by Chitala chitala (Hamilton, 1822) in a Composite Carp Culture System of Purulia District in West Bengal, India

Aims: Pond-based carp production in the Purulia district in West Bengal, India is confronted with several challenges. This study aimed to establish an alternative semi-intensive carp production method for the district by addressing an endemic challenge i.e. recruitment of O. mossambicus, through an endangered (EN) and native predatory fish, Chitala chitala.
 Study Design: Present study has been conducted on two numbers of perennial water resources with 1 ha effective area; where annual production of Indian Major Carps (IMC) and impact of O. mossambicus and C. chitala on the same culture system have been compared.
 Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in farm conditions from 2018 to 2020, in two freshwater earthen ponds, Gosai Bundh (N23.47737/E86.79032) and Bara Notun Bundh (N23°46439/E86°65080), at Uluberia village under Kashipur Block of Purulia district in West Bengal, India.
 Methodology: Stocking density of Indian Major Carp (IMC) fingerlings was maintained at 8000 numbers (4:3:3 ratio of catla : rohu : mrigala) per ha (T1). After getting contaminated by O. mossambicus, wild C. chitala juveniles have been introduced in the similar facility (T2). Results of T1 and T2 were compared with control pond (C) containing IMC only. Recruitment of O. mossambicus and growth performance of C. chitala and IMCs determined periodically and annually.
 Results: Increasing growth of C. chitala showed contrasting impact over O. mossambicus fry recruitment. Survival percentage of C. chitala remains high in T2. While, poorest growth performance of IMCs have been observed in T1. Among IMC’s C. catla showed best survivality in every experimental ponds.
 Conclusion: Excessive recruitment of the O. mossambicus population can be controlled by C. chitala in a pond-based IMC culture system.

Antimicrobial potential of chitosan extracted from <em>Bacillus</em> sp. by optimization of growth culture

Chitosan (-1,4-D-glucosamine), the deacetylated form of chitin, owing to its unique biocompatible, biodegradable, nonantigenic and nontoxic potential, has multiple applications, such as nanoparticles synthesis, drug delivery, dye removal, and as thickening as well as antimicrobial agent. However, production of chitosan involves harsh chemical process. It is neither economical nor environment friendly. Apart from marine organisms, bacteria are also good source of chitosan. Here, we report an alternative cost effective method for production of chitosan from enzymatic deacetylation of bacterial chitin under controlled laboratory conditions. We screened bacterial strains from East Kolkata Wetland area that acts as a natural incubator for microorganisms with rich diversity and identified potential chitosan producing strains. The bacterial isolates, BRS 5 and PS 4 yielded 2 and 0.3% chitosan, respectively. The positive colonies (BRS 5 and PS 4) also showed antibacterial and antifungal activity against E. coli and Candida albicans ATCC 60193. The production of chitosan was optimized by optimizing the bacterial growth against different carbon source, such as glucose, lactose, maltose, fructose and starch in different pH (4-9), and different temperatures (20-45°C) to achieve an increased production rate.

Variation in glucose metabolism under acidified sodium nitrite mediated nitrosative stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The work aimed to understand the important changes during glucose metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae under acidified sodium nitrite (ac.NaNO2 ) mediated nitrosative stress. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis were performed to investigate the generation of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species, and redox homeostasis under nitrosative stress was also characterized. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that the expression of ADH genes was upregulated under such condition, whereas the ACO2 gene was downregulated. Some of the enzymes of the tricarboxylic acid cycle were partially inhibited, whereas malate metabolism and alcoholic fermentation were increased under nitrosative stress. Kinetics of ethanol production was also characterized. A network analysis was conducted to validate our findings. In the presence of ac.NaNO2 , in vitro protein tyrosine nitration formation was checked by western blotting using pure alcohol dehydrogenase and aconitase. Alcoholic fermentation rate was increased under stress condition and this altered metabolism might be conjoined with the defence machinery to overcome the nitrosative stress. This is the first work of this kind where the role of metabolism under nitrosative stress has been characterized in S. cerevisiae and it will provide a base to develop an alternative method of industrial ethanol production.

Recent Advances in Methane Pyrolysis: Turquoise Hydrogen with Solid Carbon Production

Beside steam reforming, methane pyrolysis is an alternative method for hydrogen production. ‘Turquoise’ hydrogen with solid carbon is formed in the pyrolysis process, contrary to ‘grey’ or ‘blue’ hydrogen via steam methane reforming, where waste carbon dioxide is produced. Thermal pyrolysis is conducted at higher temperatures, but catalytic decomposition of methane (CDM) is a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production. CDM is generally carried out over four types of catalyst: nickel, carbon, noble metal and iron. The applied reactors can be fixed bed, fluidized bed, plasma bed or molten-metal reactors. Two main advantages of CDM are that (i) carbon-oxide free hydrogen, ideal for fuel cell applications, is formed and (ii) the by-product can be tailored into carbon with advanced morphology (e.g., nanofibers, nanotubes). The aim of this review is to reveal the very recent research advances of the last two years achieved in the field of this promising prospective technology.

Integrating sustainability into curricula: Teachers’ perceptions, preparation and practice in Qatar

As the global citizens, decision-makers, scholars and researchers come to face the irreversible dangers and harms of the ever-increasing trends of wasteful consumption and production, they realize that their current lifestyles engender their respective societies, communities, and the planet as a whole. Although late and limited, several policies and initiatives have been undertaken to slow down such harms and to call for alternative consumption and production methods including zero-waste, clean production, renewable energy sources, and demand side management, amongst others. One area that has been growing in importance to tackle such grand challenges from a grassroots level is Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). Along with providing students with the skills and knowledge sets on sustainable development concepts and goals, ESD places a significant emphasis on teachers' capacity building and readiness. This study attempts to primarily investigate the perceptions of Grade 8 teachers in the context of Qatar on ESD integration, as well as the challenges they face for such endeavor. Using thematic text analysis for Grade 8 textbooks, semi-structured interviews conducted with 20 stakeholders, and a questionnaire conducted with 157 Grade 8 teachers in the State of Qatar, the findings reveal a stressing need for a more holistic and integrated embedding of sustainability values that do not contradict with the local ones, and that move beyond subjects' compartmentalization. Furthermore, the findings indicate that more alignment between the education policies regarding ESD and their respective application in classrooms is highly requested. Although the study showed no statistical significance in teachers' perceptions on ESD integration based on their gender, nationality, or age, results suggest a critical difference in teachers' perceptions congruent with their subject of teaching and specialization, and the extent of their schools’ involvement in ESD initiatives. In addition, findings suggest that teachers are aware of sustainability concepts, but not all knowledgeable, skilled or empowered to integrate them into their teaching. Drawing from the findings and analyses, and applying design thinking approach, the study proposes a preliminary framework for a transdisciplinary and holistic integration of sustainability values within K-12 curricula to empower teachers as the critically important agents of change.

Production Review of Accelerator-Based Medical Isotopes.

The production of reactor-based medical isotopes is fragile, which has meant supply shortages from time to time. This paper reviews alternative production methods in the form of cyclotrons, linear accelerators and neutron generators. Finally, the status of the production of medical isotopes in China is described.

Comparison of an in situ and an incorporated FCC catalyst under iron contamination

Operating fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) units with feedstocks high in iron was reported to cause degradation in performance. However, nearly all prior work examining this phenomenon used incorporated FCC catalysts. An alternative production method involves synthesizing the catalyst in situ, which may circumvent the performance degradation observed previously. An opportunity to assess this question was provided by a refinery that simultaneously operated an in situ and an incorporated FCC catalyst. Under severe iron contamination, the incorporated catalyst showed lower bottoms upgrading and higher dry gas, both hallmarks of iron poisoning; whereas the in situ catalyst appears relatively unaffected.

Techno-economic assessment of hydrogen production via steam reforming of palm oil mill effluent

Malaysia is one of the most prosperous palm oil producing countries, the palm oil mill effluent (POME) created during the process poses a high threat due to its high pollution characteristics. Besides, most palm oil mills in Malaysia treat POME using open ponding systems which cause greenhouse gas dissipation. On the other hand, there is a rising consciousness globally to use clean and renewable fuels. Malaysia is also having plans for clean hydrogen energy usage. However, the deployment of hydrogen technology in Malaysia is not meeting the targets set. One of the reasons is due to the high deployment cost of hydrogen technology. If POME can be reused for hydrogen production, it might help to minimize the waste generated from the palm oil industry while serving as a cheaper feedstock for hydrogen production. Before hydrogen production from POME can be successfully implemented, knowing its production cost is essential. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the process design and techno-economic feasibility of hydrogen production from POME via a steam methane reforming technique in the context of Malaysia, which is currently limited in the literature. The process modelling part of the study was carried out using Aspen Plus software. The simulation results showed that a feedstock of 20,000 kg per hour of POME could generate 963.31 tonnes of hydrogen (purity of 99.9 %) annually. The hydrogen production facility was estimated to have total capital expenses and total operating expenses of RM 142.49 million and RM 58.67 million/year, respectively. The results also revealed that the production profitability was viable at a payback period of 8.5 years and a return of investment on year 20 of 18.48 %. The results from this study can be a reference for potential alternative hydrogen production methods. With the information on the economic viability, it is believed that it can help to accelerate the commercialisation of hydrogen production technologies. This study is also helpful for those who are trying to reduce the environmental impact of palm oil industries for a more sustainable future.

A Comparative Study on Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Differently Atomized 316L Stainless Steel.

The significant growth of Additive Manufacturing (AM), visible over the last ten years, has driven an increase in demand for small gradation metallic powders of a size lower than 100 µm. Until now, most affordable powders for AM have been produced using gas atomization. Recently, a new, alternative method of powder production based on ultrasonic atomization with melting by electric arc has appeared. This paper summarizes the preliminary research results of AM samples made of two AISI 316L steel powder batches, one of which was obtained during Ultrasonic Atomization (UA) and the other during Plasma Arc Gas Atomization (PAGA). The comparison starts from powder particle statistical distribution, chemical composition analysis, density, and flowability measurements. After powder analysis, test samples were produced using AM to observe the differences in microstructure, porosity, and hardness. Finally, the test campaign covered an analysis of mechanical properties, including tensile testing with Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Charpy’s impact tests. A comparative study of parts made of ultrasonic and gas atomization powders confirms the likelihood that both methods can deliver material of similar properties.

Chondroitin Sulfate and Its Derivatives: A Review of Microbial and Other Production Methods

Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is widely used across the world as a nutraceutical and pharmaceutical. Its high demand and potential limitations in current methods of extraction call for an alternative method of production. This review highlights glycosaminoglycan’s structure, its medical significance, animal extraction source, and the disadvantages of the extraction process. We cover alternative production strategies for CS and its precursor, chondroitin. We highlight chemical synthesis, chemoenzymatic synthesis, and extensively discuss how strains have been successfully metabolically engineered to synthesize chondroitin and chondroitin sulfate. We present microbial engineering as the best option for modern chondroitin and CS production. We also explore the biosynthetic pathway for chondroitin production in multiple microbes such as Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Corynebacterium glutamicum. Lastly, we outline how the manipulation of pathway genes has led to the biosynthesis of chondroitin derivatives.

Calcium carbide residue — a key inorganic component of the sustainable carbon cycle

The transfer of waste materials from the chemical industry to the building sector is an emerging area of sustainable development. Leftovers, by-products, tails and sludge from chemical processes may be valuable components of building mixtures. Feeding the construction industry by chemical wastes is a profitable chain for both sectors. In fact, calcium carbide residue (CCR) can be considered a link between the chemical industry and construction materials. Carbide sludge is the main waste product of acetylene gas production from calcium carbide. The released acetylene is actively used in the modern chemical industry. An alternative method of acetylene production — the cracking of oil and gas — is beyond sustainability; thus, the carbide route is more promising in the hydrocarbon-free future. However, the carbide route is accompanied by a significant amount of the side-product carbide sludge, which is currently used as a CO<sub>2</sub> capture agent, binder, building material, in inorganic synthesis, <i>etc</i>. In this review, the potential of carbide sludge in the construction industry and other areas is highlighted.<br> The bibliography includes 310 references.

Recycling of additive manufactured AlSi10Mg and its effect on mechanical properties

Energy savings and sustainability have become the critical factors for economic development. Recycling of aluminum has been studied for a long time. It is well known that there is a significant difference in terms of energy consumption when comparing primary and secondary aluminum. Alternative production methods have been developed and additive manufacturing (AM) of aluminum has become popular in the recent years. AM has many advantages such as the flexibility of geometry. There are almost no design limits since the part is produced layer by layer. In this work, for the first time, the properties of recycled AM AlSi10Mg was compared with both AM and cast alloy. Statistical analysis was carried out to characterize the changes. It was found that yield strength was decreased in recycled AM, whereas ultimate tensile strength values were almost the same as in the cast alloy. For elongation at fracture, the average value for recycled AM was higher than cast alloy, however the reliability and reproducibility was low compare to cast alloy.

Engendering European alternative food networks through countertopographies

Recent interventions in scholarly literature have revealed how alternative methods of food production and provision are empowering for women farmers. This literature has been largely based on the historical trajectory of agriculture in the US and Western Europe, where women have been marginalized and excluded as farmers. In contrast, in post-Soviet space in Eastern Europe, women have not encountered the same forms of exclusion, but they face different challenges maintaining agricultural livelihoods. Drawing upon research with women farmers engaged in sustainable forms of agriculture and alternative food networks in Latvia, I demonstrate that although women are not marginalized in agricultural spaces, farm and marketing work remains gendered. Using the concept of countertopographies, I draw connections between the evidence from scholarly literature and my case study sites in order to identify how similar processes have shaped gender relations and produced diverging outcomes, but also to provide a framework for organizing and bridging differences across space.

Lovastatin production by Aspergillus terreus in membrane gradostat bioreactor with two-stage feeding strategy

Lovastatin is a blood cholesterol-lowering agent and is produced as a secondary metabolite by Aspergillus terreus. Microbial production of this drug is carried out in solid-state or submerged culture, and due to difficulties of controlling the procedure parameters in solid-state method, the submerged method is conventional for industrial production. Although the submerged method is widely used, but this method damages the morphology of fungus due to shear stress caused by stirring. Since the morphology of fungus is a key factor in lovastatin production, using a bioreactor that causes the least damage to it, can improve the lovastatin production. In this paper, for the first time, it has been shown that the membrane gradostat bioreactor is suitable for lovastatin production, using A. terreus, due to providing suitable environmental conditions, therefore, it can be implemented as an alternative method for lovastatin production. Furthermore, it was found that implementing two-stage feeding, using different ratios of Carbon to Nitrogen in the culture medium, makes the lovastatin production to be 5 times more than one-stage feeding. Finally, it is shown that adding Zinc and Magnesium at the second stage further increases lovastatin production by 18%.

Meat Quality Parameters, Sensory Properties and Consumer Acceptance of Chicken Meat from Dual-Purpose Crossbreeds Fed with Regional Faba Beans.

Consumers’ concerns regarding the ethical and environmental practices of the current poultry production system have led to the search for an alternative production method. This study evaluated samples of three dual-purpose chicken crossbreeds: Vorwerkhuhn × Bresse Gauloise (VBG), Vorwerkhuhn × White Rock (VWR), and Bresse Gauloise × White Rock (BWR), fed with two variants of faba beans (vicin/convicin-rich and -poor: VC+ and VC−, respectively) and soybeans to examine whether the FB-based diets affected the meat quality of the crossbreeds. pH, color, water holding capacity, tenderness, nucleotide content and proximal composition were analyzed instrumentally, whereas sensory properties were identified by a trained panel and product acceptance was evaluated by frequent chicken consumers. Results showed that from instrumental measurements, the yellowness of the samples was affected by the type of feedstuff, whereas most other parameters were affected by the crossbreed, particularly color and nucleotide content. Sensory attributes, specifically, overall chicken aroma as well as firmness and crumbliness, were affected by an interaction of the feedstuff and crossbreed. Consumer preference did not show significant differences between samples. Overall, a faba-bean-based diet appeared to be a suitable alternative to a soybean-based diet on the crossbreeds VBG, VWR, and BWR when assessing the overall quality and taste of chicken breasts.

Variation in terpenoids in leaves of Artemisia annua grown under different LED spectra resulting in diverse antimalarial activities against Plasmodium falciparum

BackgroundProductivities of bioactive compounds in high-value herbs and medicinal plants are often compromised by uncontrollable environmental parameters. Recent advances in the development of plant factories with artificial lighting (PFAL) have led to improved qualitative and/or quantitative production of bioactive compounds in several medicinal plants. However, information concerning the effect of light qualities on plant pharmaceutical properties is limited. The influence of three different light-emitting diode (LED) spectra on leaf fresh weight (FW), bioactive compound production and bioactivity of Artemisia annua L. against the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum NF54 was investigated. Correlation between the A. annua metabolites and antimalarial activity of light-treated plant extracts were also determined.ResultsArtemisia annua plants grown under white and blue spectra that intersected at 445 nm exhibited higher leaf FW and increased amounts of artemisinin and artemisinic acid, with enhanced production of several terpenoids displaying a variety of pharmacological activities. Conversely, the red spectrum led to diminished production of bioactive compounds and a distinct metabolite profile compared with other wavelengths. Crude extracts obtained from white and blue spectral treatments exhibited 2 times higher anti-Plasmodium falciparum activity than those subjected to the red treatment. Highest bioactivity was 4 times greater than those obtained from greenhouse-grown plants. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) revealed a strong correlation between levels of several terpenoids and antimalarial activity, suggesting that these compounds might be involved in increasing antimalarial activity.ConclusionsResults demonstrated a strategy to overcome the limitation of A. annua cultivation in Bangkok, Thailand. A specific LED spectrum that operated in a PFAL system promoted the accumulation of some useful phytochemicals in A. annua, leading to increased antimalarial activity. Therefore, the application of PFAL with appropriate light spectra showed promise as an alternative method for industrial production of A. annua or other useful medicinal plants with minimal environmental influence.

Engineering the Lipid and Fatty Acid Metabolism in Yarrowia lipolytica for Sustainable Production of High Oleic Oils

Oleic acid is widely applied in the chemical, material, nutritional, and pharmaceutical industries. However, the current production of oleic acid via high oleic plant oils is limited by the long growth cycle and climatic constraints. Moreover, the global demand for high oleic plant oils, especially the palm oil, has emerged as the driver of tropical deforestation causing tropical rainforest destruction, climate change, and biodiversity loss. In the present study, an alternative and sustainable strategy for high oleic oil production was established by reprogramming the metabolism of the oleaginous yeast Yarrowia lipolytica using a two-layer "push-pull-block" strategy. Specifically, the fatty acid synthesis pathway was first engineered to increase oleic acid proportion by altering the fatty acid profiles. Then, the content of storage oils containing oleic acid was boosted by engineering the synthesis and degradation pathways of triacylglycerides. The strain resulting from this two-layer engineering strategy produced the highest titer of high oleic microbial oil reaching 56 g/L with 84% oleic acid in fed-batch fermentation, representing a remarkable improvement of a 110-fold oil titer and 2.24-fold oleic acid proportion compared with the starting strain. This alternative and sustainable method for high oleic oil production shows the potential of substitute planting.

Perennial flower strips in apple orchards promote natural enemies in their proximity

Apple production across Europe is experiencing major yield losses due to pest damage, and the need for alternative production methods are growing. Ecological infrastructures are important to create resilient production systems and increase functional biodiversity. This study investigated perennial flower strips as a means of promoting natural enemies, thereby reducing infestation by the rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, and fruit damage caused by it. In 2016 and 2017, effects of perennial flower strips were assessed in eight organic apple orchards with and without flower strips. In orchards with flower strips, assessments were done in tree rows at two distances: 1st and 3rd row from the flower strip. Assessments included field samples of arthropods, visual observations of D. plantaginea symptoms and observations of predators, observations of predators directly associated with aphid colonies, and fruit damage. In 2016, significantly more symptoms of D. plantaginea were observed in the 3rd row from the flower strip compared to the 1st row from the flower strip. Both years, more predators were observed in the 1st row from the flower strip than in the 3rd row from the flower strip. In 2017, more predators were observed in orchards with a flower strip than in orchards with no flower strip, and more predators were observed inside the aphid colonies in trees in the 1st row from the flower strip than in the 3rd row from the flower strip. Predator diversity in apple trees was also positively affected by proximity to a flower strip. In conclusion, perennial flower strips consistently promote the occurrence of natural enemies in their proximity, while the effect decreases with distance. The correlation between aphid abundance and predators was not always consistent, likely because the majority of the observed predators were generalists and therefore contributing to the natural regulation of the entire herbivore complex in the apple orchards.

Alkali-activated bricks made with mining waste iron ore tailings

In India, the enormous growth in the housing sector has put tremendous pressure on construction materials such as bricks. Conventional brick production methods include fired bricks and cement blocks. However, conventional methods significantly contribute to environmental carbon emissions and therefore alternative brick production methods have caught the attention of several researchers. Furthermore, the waste generated in various industries can be a useful resource for the construction industry, and in particular, voluminous waste is generated during the beneficiation stage of iron ore concentrate, which can be integrated into the construction industry to achieve sustainable practice. With this quest in mind, this study proposes the utilization of mining waste iron ore tailing (IOT) in alkali-activated bricks. For this purpose, six different brick compositions were synthesized with fly ash, GGBS, and IOT along with Na2SiO3 sol. The raw materials were characterized using various techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and particle size analysis (PSA). Furthermore, a series of standard tests were conducted on the developed bricks to evaluate their strength and durability properties. The developed bricks have presented a maximum compressive strength of 18.45 MPa and minimum water absorption of 12.6%. Besides, the alkali-activated bricks have shown excellent resistance to brick ageing which was attributed to improvement in the microstructure of bricks due to the filling up of voids with products of the polymeric reaction. Finally, it was interesting to notice that with 8% Na2SiO3 as an alkaline activator and with the combination of fly ash and GGBS more than 50% IOT can be utilized to produce good quality bricks at ambient curing conditions.

Conduction of a Laboratory Experiment with the Goal of Researching Submerged Flow Peculiarities

In connection with the decreasing hydrocarbon reserves on land, the interest of researchers in new alternative methods of hydrocarbon production is growing. One of the actively developing areas is the production of hydrocarbons from deep-water deposits, in connection with which the share of developed deposits in the water area of the World Ocean is growing every year. However, this production method is not completely safe, since any damage to the production structure can lead to leakage of hydrocarbons. In this case, hydrocarbons are distributed in the form of a submerged jet. Predicting the behavior of submerged jets, calculating their trajectories and thermophysical parameters is important in the elimination of leakage. The article discusses an experimental study of a submerged jet. The results of the experiment will make it possible to verify the mathematical model describing the propagation of a submerged jet. The experiment was carried out to study the trajectory of the jet and its temperature. This paper presents the results on the analysis of the jet trajectory. In the experiment, gasoline or diesel fuel was used as a liquid, air was used as a gas. The work shows a diagram of the experimental setup, describes the process of the experiment, and also shows a photograph of the experiment and a comparison with the results of calculations.