Digestion Of Fraction Research Articles

OPPORTUNITIES OF ADVANCED BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION FROM MICROALGAE GROWN ON BIOGAS PLANT DIGESTATE. Part 1.

The purpose of the work is to review technologies and analyze the possibility of introducing microalgae cultivation at biogas/biomethane plants while simultaneously obtaining of additional biomethane yield and utilization of the liquid fraction of the digestate. Modern technologies, types and equipment for growing microalgae on the liquid fraction of digestate of biogas plants were considered and analyzed. The current situation of biogas/biomethane production in Ukraine and disposal of the liquid digestate fraction is presented. The chemical composition of the digestate and the methods of its preparation for the cultivation of microalgae were analyzed. Recommendations and a block scheme for technology implementation at a biogas/biomethane plant have been developed. Today, one of the most economically profitable options for Ukraine is the production of biomethane. On the other hand, there is a clear need for innovative, low-cost, safe production of biomethane using alternative, high-yield biomass that can utilize waste feedstock and also sequester carbon. Microalgae is a promising biomass that can convert nutrient-rich digestate into valuable biomass for biofuel and biodiesel production and is considered as a double-counting feedstock (RED II Directive, Annex 9). Microalgae demonstrate high photosynthetic efficiency and productivity (almost twice that of terrestrial plants) and are promising for advanced biomethane production. Integrating microalgae harvesting into an anaerobic digestion plan is the most efficient and promising way to harvest microalgae, as most of the components required for microalgae harvesting are almost free under the following conditions: process heat, CO₂, nutrients, water, transport of microalgae to end use. Electricity alone for lighting is not free, but can be minimized by using solar energy, energy storage and biogas electricity. Algae biomass can potentially increase the annual production of biomethane at an existing plant by 9.4%, as was achieved for a similar project in Sweden [33].

Comparing three filter-bag types for accuracy and precision of in sacco undigestible neutral detergent fibre determination of various dicotyledon forages

Context Internationally, undigestible neutral detergent fibre (uNDF) has become a standard feed analysis to quantify the potential digestible NDF fraction and to be an internal marker to estimate diet total-tract digestibility in animal studies. However, this analysis is labour-intensive/expensive and not commercially available in New Zealand and many other countries. Aim To compare the uNDF after rumen incubation determined for various forages by using filter bags that can be used sequentially for NDF and uNDF analysis with the standard method using Saatifil bags. Methods Freeze-dried material of 15 forage samples (mainly dicotyledons) was weighed into three types of bags (Saatifil, 12 μm; F57, 25 μm; F58, 6–9 μm) in sextuplicate and then incubated across two runs for 12 days in the rumen of a fistulated non-lactating pasture-fed dairy cow. After incubation, the NDF of the residue was determined. Key results Overall, the average (±within forage sample CV%) uNDF was 5.4% (9.8), 6.7% (15.2) and 6.3% (16.0) of DM for Saatifil, F57 and F58, respectively, and the mean bias (±95% confidence interval, CI) was 1.3 (0.3–2.3) and 1.2 (−0.1–2.5) for F57 and F58 versus Saatifil respectively. The 95% CI indicated that the intercept and slope for the orthogonal regression of F57 and F58 versus Saatifil were not different from zero and one, respectively, and the correlation for F57 with Saatifil was stronger than for F58 (r = 0.65 and 0.40 respectively). Conclusions Both F57 and F58 bags resulted in similar uNDF values as with the Saatifil bag; however, numerically uNDF values were greater and with a large within-sample CV. Implications The results of the current study suggest that the F57 bag is suitable for uNDF determination, but that some further modifications to the protocol need to be made to improve the accuracy and precision of the uNDF determination.

Antioxidant Peptides from Sacha Inchi Meal: An In Vitro, Ex Vivo, and In Silico Approach.

Plant-derived antioxidant peptides safeguard food against oxidation, helping to preserve its flavor and nutrients, and hold significant potential for use in functional food development. Sacha Inchi Oil Press-Cake (SIPC), a by-product of oil processing, was used to produce Sacha Inchi Protein Concentrate (SPC) in vitro, hydrolyzed by a standardized static INFOGEST 2.0 protocol. This study aimed to integrate in vitro, ex vivo, and in silico methods to evaluate the release of antioxidant peptides from SPC during gastrointestinal digestion. In vitro and ex vivo methods were used to investigate the antioxidant potential of SPC digests. Bioinformatics tools (find-pep-seq, AnOxPP, AnOxPePred-1.0, PepCalc, MLCPP 2.0, Pasta 2.0, PlifePred, Rapid Peptide Generator, and SwissADME) were employed to characterize antioxidant peptides. The gastric and intestinal digests exhibited higher ABTS and ORAC values than those of SPC. Under basal conditions, gastric digest fractions GD1, GD2, and GD3 (<3, 3-10, and >10 kDa, respectively), separated by ultrafiltration, significantly reduced the ROS levels in the RAW264.7 macrophages while, under LPS stimulation, GD1 (16 µg/mL) and GD2 (500 and 1000 µg/mL) reversed the induced damage. From the de novo peptidome determined, 416 peptides were selected based on their resistance to digestion. Through in silico tools, 315 resistant peptides were identified as antioxidants. Despite low predicted bioavailability, the peptides SVMGPYYNSK, EWGGGGCGGGGGVSSLR, RHWLPR, LQDWYDK, and ALEETNYELEK showed potential for extracellular targets and drug delivery. In silico digestion yielded the sequences SVMGPY, EW, GGGGCGGGGGVSS, PQY, HGGGGGG, GGGG, HW, and SGGGY, which are promising free radical scavengers with increased bioavailability. However, these hypotheses require confirmation through chemical synthesis and further validation studies.

Distribution of the p66Shc Adaptor Protein Among Mitochondrial and Mitochondria-Associated Membranes Fractions in Normal and Oxidative Stress Conditions.

p66Shc is an adaptor protein and one of the cellular fate regulators since it modulates mitogenic signaling pathways, mitochondrial function, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. p66Shc is localized mostly in the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER); however, under oxidative stress, p66Shc is post-translationally modified and relocates to mitochondria. p66Shc was found in the intermembrane space, where it interacts with cytochrome c, contributing to the hydrogen peroxide generation by the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Our previous studies suggested that p66Shc is localized also in mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM). MAM fraction consists of mitochondria and mostly ER membranes. Contact sites between ER and mitochondria host proteins involved in multiple processes including calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, and autophagy regulation. Thus, p66Shc in MAM could participate in processes related to cell fate determination. Due to reports on various and conditional p66Shc intracellular localization, in the present paper, we describe the allocation of p66Shc pools in different subcellular compartments in mouse liver tissue and HepG2 cell culture. We provide additional evidence for p66Shc localization in MAM. In the present study, we use precisely purified subcellular fraction isolated by differential centrifugation-based protocol from control mouse liver tissue and HepG2 cells and from cells treated with hydrogen peroxide to promote mitochondrial p66Shc translocation. We performed controlled digestion of crude mitochondrial fraction, in which the degradation patterns of p66Shc and MAM fraction marker proteins were comparable. Moreover, we assessed the distribution of the individual ShcA isoforms (p46Shc, p52Shc, and p66Shc) in the subcellular fractions and their contribution to the total ShcA in control mice livers and HepG2 cells. In conclusion, we showed that a substantial pool of p66Shc protein resides in MAM in control conditions and after oxidative stress induction.

Synergistic Effects of Mannan Oligosaccharides and Onion Peels on In Vitro Batch Culture Fermentation of High Concentrate and Forage Diets.

The current study evaluated the effect of combining mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and onion peel (OP) on ruminal in vitro total gas (GP), greenhouse gas emissions, dry matter and fiber fraction digestibility, partitioning factor (PF24; mg degradable DM per mL gas), microbial mass, and volatile fatty acids using two dietary substrates: high forage (HF) and high concentrate (HC) diets. The study was arranged as a 2 × 2 × 6 factorial design with two dietary substrates, two time points (6 and 24 h), and six treatments. The treatments included a control group with no MOS or OP administration and groups administered with 2% of a mixture containing MOS and OP in the following ratios: 1:0 (MOS), 0:1 (OP), 1:1 (MOS:OP), 1:2 (MOS:2OP), and 1:3 (MOS:3OP). No significant diet × treatment interactions were observed for any of the measured parameters. However, treatments decreased (p < 0.05) the undegraded portion of HC, and treatment × substrate interactions were significant (p < 0.05) for PF24 and microbial mass. The treatments in the HC diet produced higher GP (p < 0.001) at 6 h compared to the treatments in the HF diet. Administration of MOS:2OP to the HC diet increased GP at 24 h of incubation, while the lowest GP was observed with the OP in the HF diet. The administration of MOS, OP, and MOS:2OP to the HC diet decreased methane production at 24 h of incubation. Additionally, MOS:2OP and MOS:3OP increased (p < 0.001) degradable acid detergent fiber (dADF) in the HC diet at 6 h of incubation. Both OP and MOS:3OP decreased the degradability of acid detergent lignin in the HC diet (p < 0.001). The OP also resulted in the lowest DM disappearance (p < 0.001) at 24 h of incubation in the HF diet, while the MOS:3OP had the highest dADF. At the end of incubation, the highest productions of total volatile fatty acids and acetate were observed (p = 0.002) with the MOS:OP administration in the HC diet, whereas the lowest values were observed with MOS and OP administration to the HF diet. The inclusion of mannan oligosaccharide and onion peel combinations as additives improved substrate (HC and HF) fermentation, leading to higher GP and volatile fatty production, and modulated fiber degradability by improving the breakdown of acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin.

Different aspects of biochar addition on semi-dry anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste in continuous mode

This study investigated the use of biochar, derived from a wood gasifier, in semi-dry anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). The experiment was conducted in three phases, without biochar and changing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) from 50 to 15 days until first acidification condition (on pH = 6.5), with biochar at an optimal concentration of 30 g/L in HRT= 20–10 day. Also, countermeasures for the acidified reactor with biochar during the dormancy period were investigated. The results demonstrated that adding biochar led to a rapid recovery of the acidified reactor, improved stability parameters, and removed foaming as a disturbance. Biochar addition (30 g/L) enhanced the organic loading rate (OLR) up to 11 kgVS/m3.day with an HRT of 20 days leading to specific methane production of 383 L/kgVS and a volumetric production increase of biomethane by 85 %. However, at higher OLRs with HRT of 10 days, acidification condition resurfaced leading to homogeneous foaming. Excess adding of biochar did not have significant treatment effects but necessitated a no-feeding period (about 45 days) and gentle stirring with long intervals for stable conditions. Overall, the use of biochar along with the OFMSW biogas plant was demonstrated to enhance production efficiency.

Development of drinking soursels with enriched protein-carbohydrate composition for potentiation of immune status of the population

Kissel is a traditional dish of the national Russian cuisine. However, a common disadvantage of kissels of traditional composition is the use of carbohydrate substances as a gelling agent, although with their inherent functions of dietary fiber, in the case of using pectin. A pressing problem is the development of food systems of gel-like consistency, an affordable price segment to ensure sustainable consumer demand, enriched with easily digestible protein fractions that have the technological potential for gelation, based on secondary raw materials of the dairy industry. The purpose of the work is to develop recipe-component solutions for drinks of combined composition based on whey and oatmeal for healthy nutrition of the population in conditions of biological risks, a comprehensive assessment of consumer properties of combined drinks. The objects of the study were drinks of jelly-like consistency, prepared according to traditional and developed recipes: "Orange mood" and "Cherry cloud". Oat flour was used as a structure-forming component instead of potato starch, and also instead of part of the granulated sugar in the jelly recipe, in combination with whey. The generalized criterion of the Harrington function for modified drinks is 0.82, which corresponds to the rating of "very good" on the desirability scale. A sensorometric assessment of the aroma of the jelly "Cherry Cloud" was carried out in comparison with the cherry jelly "Naslazhdenie" of the Stailon trademark, manufactured by Preobrazhensky Dairy Plant. It was found that sample 2, compared with sample 1, contains more aliphatic alcohols, esters (acetates), unbound water, volatile acids and less titratable acids, volatile amines. Regardless of the concentrated juice used in the recipes, the kissels received a general tasting score of 8.2 points on a 9point scale, with the following indicators of biological value: coefficient of difference of amino acid score (CDAS) 27.97; biological value (BV) 72.03 %; coefficient of comparable excess ((c) 8.83.

VALORIZATION OF ARTICHOKE LEAF POWDER IN EXTRUDED SNACKS: PRODUCT QUALITY AND IN VITRO STARCH DIGESTIBILITY

Artichoke waste is a rich source of fibers and bioactive phenolic substances. The study aimed to investigate the effect of artichoke leaf powder (ALP) addition on physical properties and in vitro starch digestibility of wheat flour (WF) - based extrudates. Feeds were prepared to have extrudates with ALP:WF ratios of 0:100, 3:97, 6:94, and 9:91. Increasing ALP ratio reduced sectional and volume expansion indexes but increased bulk density and hardness values. The water absorption index decreased for the highest ALP: WF ratio (9:91), while the water solubility index was not affected by ALP addition. Rapidly and slowly digestible glucose fractions were not significantly affected by ALP addition. The overall acceptability of products was only affected at the 9:91 ALP: WF ratio. The findings showed that ALP could be valorized as a food ingredient. The information gained could guide future studies that will focus on developing nutritious ready-to-expanded snacks enriched with high fiber ingredients.

Digestate in replacement of synthetic fertilisers: A comparative 3–year field study of the crop performance and soil residual nitrates in West-Flanders

Nitrogen (N) is an essential macronutrient for plant growth. As a widespread source of plant-available N, ammonia synthesis via the Haber-Bosch process has proven an extremely valuable commodity in farming systems since the middle of the twentieth century. However, its heavy reliance on ever-shrinking fossil fuel reserves and its sizeable carbon footprint have fostered the exploration of alternative, more sustainable, fertilising prospects. Through the recycling and reuse of nutrient byproducts, biobased fertilisers (BBF) can help reduce the European Union’s dependency on imported synthetic fertilisers. In this study, we examined digestate, the liquid fraction of digestate, pig slurry and pig urine as potential substitutes for synthetic fertilisers. In a full-scale field approach using a different crop each year (maize, spinach, potatoes), the agronomic performance of the treatments (defined as the crop N uptake and the crop yield) and the environmental performance (taken as the residual soil nitrates after harvest) of the BBF treatments were compared with those of a synthetic fertiliser benchmark (calcium ammonium nitrate) at three N regimes. As regards short-term fertilising capability, results showed that yields obtained from BBFs were not statistically different (p > 0.05) than those obtained with synthetic fertilisers. Likewise, for soil residual nitrates (0–90 cm), measured in October–November of each year, no difference (p > 0.05) was detected between the BBFs and the synthetic fertiliser reference treatments. However, the non-superiority test showed that some BBFs tended to perform better in terms of residual nitrates than the synthetic regimes. Generally, results pointed to a fast N release ability of the BBFs, indicated by the presence of nitrates at different soil depths. Hence, as with the mineral fertiliser, BBFs were prone to leaching which calls for adequate N management strategies. The N content of some BBFs were shown to vary over time, hence adequate and timely nutrient characterisations must be carried out prior to field application to ensure a more accurate N accountancy and reduce risks of over-fertilisation (or under-fertilisation).

UV-crosslinked collagen-chondroitin sulfate nanofibers: Insights on production, characterization, in-vitro digestibility

Electrospun polymer nanofibers have significant attention in various fields. In this study, collagen/chondroitin sulfate (Col/CS) nanofibers were fabricated by electrospinning, the effect of solution and processing parameters on fiber morphology was investigated. The resulting fibers were exposed to UV light for the crosslinking process. Granola bars with Col/CS nanofibers were prepared and subjected to in vitro digestion. The electrospun Col/CS nanofibers, fabricated at a 95:5 (w/w) ratio under 26 kV voltage, 0.8 mL/h feeding rate, and a 15 cm tip-to-collector distance, exhibited a smooth, bead-free fibrous morphology with an average diameter of 79.88 ± 6.01 nm. After UV-crosslinking, no new bands were observed in the FTIR spectrum, but notable changes occurred in the Amide I and II regions. Granola bars containing Col/CS nanofibers exhibited significantly higher Col content in the intestinal digestion fraction of in vitro digestion compared to the control group (free Col + CS). On the other hand, no significant difference was observed between the CS content of the samples after intestinal digestion. These findings demonstrate that electrospinning followed by UV crosslinking is an effective method for producing Col/CS fibers without the use of harsh solvents, highlighting Col/CS nanofibers as promising candidates for the development of novel functional foods.

Purification of Liquid Fraction of Digestates from Different Origins-Comparison of Polymeric and Ceramic Ultrafiltration Membranes Used for This Purpose.

Circular economy, clean technologies, and renewable energy are key to climate protection and modern environmental technology. Recovering water and valuable minerals from the liquid fraction of digestate is in line with this strategy. Digestate, a byproduct of anaerobic methane fermentation in biogas plants, is a potential source of water, minerals for fertilizers, and energy rather than waste. This study examined digestate from municipal and agricultural biogas plants and highlights the need for research on both due to their differences. The use of membrane techniques for water recovery from liquid digestate offers an innovative alternative to conventional methods. This study used standalone membrane filtration and an integrated system to produce water suitable for agricultural use. Ceramic membranes with cut-offs of 1, 5, 15, and 50 kDa and polymeric membranes of polyethersulfone and regenerated cellulose with cut-offs of 10 and 30 kDa were tested. The results showed that the membrane material significantly affects the transport and separation properties. Higher cut-off values increased permeate flux across all membranes. Ceramic membranes were more susceptible to fouling in standalone ultrafiltration, but were more effective in purifying digestate than polymeric membranes. The best results were obtained with a ceramic membrane with a 1 kDa cut-off (for example, for the integrated process and the municipal digestate, the retention rates of COD, BOD5 and DOC were 69%, 62%, and 75%, respectively).

124 Effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and dietary type offered to beef cattle on intake, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation

Abstract The effects of live yeast and diet type offered to beef steers on intake, feeding behavior, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation profile were evaluated. Ruminally cannulated beef steers [n = 8; body weight (BW) = 550 ± 20 kg] were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design following a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: A) presence of live-yeast [Saccharomyces cerevisiae (CNCM I-1077), at 1 × 1010 CFUּ animal-1ּ d-1]; and B) diet type [steam-flaked corn-based grower or finisher diets (ad libitum intake)]. Live yeast was delivered with gel-capsules (0.25 g, as is) twice daily via ruminal-cannula. Four, 35 d periods were used. Feed refusal was subtracted from offered (dry matter basis) to calculate feed intake (DMI). The 24 h feeding behavior assessment was conducted on d 31 by trained personnel (time spent eating, ruminating, chewing, drinking, resting, and meal size/number). A 5-d fecal collection (twice daily) was used for the digestibility assessment. Ruminal pH was continuously measured (7 d, intra-ruminal Dascor wireless data loggers). Ruminal ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) were analyzed at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 23 h on d 35. The GLIMMIX procedure of SAS was used with animals as the experimental unit. No live yeast × diet interactions (P ≥ 0.17) were observed. Intake was not affected (P = 0.83) by live yeast, while steers offered the grower diet consumed more (P ≤ 0.01) NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose compared with the finisher diet. Live yeast increased (P ≤ 0.02) the dietary NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose digestibility of the grower diet by 13.7, 12.8, and 14.6%, and on the finisher diet by 6.7, 9, and 6.4%, respectively. Live yeast did not affect (P ≥ 0.23) major feeding behavior activities measured. Steers offered grower diet spent more time (P ≤ 0.01) on each meal, ruminating, eating, and chewing and less time (P &amp;lt; 0.01) resting. Live yeast did not affect (P ≥ 0.81) ruminal pH variables measured. Steers offered the grower diet had a greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) ruminal pH pattern compared with the finisher diet. The ruminal ammonia-N and volatile fatty acids were not affected (P ≥ 0.16) by live yeast, while steers offered the finisher diet had a greater (P ≤ 0.01) total VFA and propionate molar proportion, while a lower (P ≤ 0.01) ammonia-N and acetate molar proportion compared with the grower diet. Regardless of the diet type, live yeast improved digestibility of fiber fractions, while dry matter intake was unaffected. Grower diets were more prone to stimulate feeding behavior activities than finisher, while live yeast seemed to not affect such variables. Expected effects of diet type on ruminal fermentation were ratified, while live yeast inclusion did not affect the ruminal fermentation variables evaluated.

Multi-trait modeling and machine learning discover new markers associated with stem traits in alfalfa.

Alfalfa biomass can be fractionated into leaf and stem components. Leaves comprise a protein-rich and highly digestible portion of biomass for ruminant animals, while stems constitute a high fiber and less digestible fraction, representing 50 to 70% of the biomass. However, little attention has focused on stem-related traits, which are a key aspect in improving the nutritional value and intake potential of alfalfa. This study aimed to identify molecular markers associated with four morphological traits in a panel of five populations of alfalfa generated over two cycles of divergent selection based on 16-h and 96-h in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility in stems. Phenotypic traits of stem color, presence of stem pith cells, winter standability, and winter injury were modeled using univariate and multivariate spatial mixed linear models (MLM), and the predicted values were used as response variables in genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The alfalfa panel was genotyped using a 3K DArTag SNP markers for the evaluation of the genetic structure and GWAS. Principal component and population structure analyses revealed differentiations between populations selected for high- and low-digestibility. Thirteen molecular markers were significantly associated with stem traits using either univariate or multivariate MLM. Additionally, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) algorithms were implemented to determine marker importance scores for stem traits and validate the GWAS results. The top-ranked markers from SVM and RF aligned with GWAS findings for solid stem pith, winter standability, and winter injury. Additionally, SVM identified additional markers with high variable importance for solid stem pith and winter injury. Most molecular markers were located in coding regions. These markers can facilitate marker-assisted selection to expedite breeding programs to increase winter hardiness or stem palatability.

Impact of Spent Mushroom Substrate Combined with Hydroponic Leafy Vegetable Roots on Pleurotus citrinopileatus Productivity and Fruit Bodies Biological Properties.

Agricultural activities produce large quantities of organic byproducts and waste rich in lignocellulosic materials, which are not sufficiently utilized. In this study, alternative agricultural waste products, namely, spent mushroom substrate (SMS) from the cultivation of edible Pleurotus ostreatus mushrooms and the roots of leafy vegetables from hydroponic cultivation (HRL), were evaluated for their potential to be used as substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus citrinopileatus and their effects on the quality, the nutritional value, the chemical properties (lipid, protein, carbohydrate, ash, fatty acid and carbohydrate composition) and the bioactive content (total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity) of produced mushrooms. SMS and HRL (in different ratios with and without additives) and wheat straw with additives (WS-control) were used. During incubation, the linear growth rate of the mycelium (Kr, mm/day) was measured and used for screening. Mushroom cultivation took place in bags, where several characteristics were examined: earliness (duration between the day of substrate inoculation and the day of first harvest) and biological efficiency (B.E. %, the ratio of the weight of fresh mushrooms produced per dry weight of the substrate × 100). Furthermore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of the protein extract (PE) and carbohydrate extract (CE) of P. citrinopileatus after in vitro digestion (fraction less than 3kDa: PE-DP-3; digestate fraction: CE-D, respectively) on the expression of antioxidant-related genes in the THP-1 cell line. The results showed that mushrooms grown on SMS 50%-HRL 40% had the fastest growth (6.1 mm/d) and the highest protein and lipid contents (34.7% d.w.; 5.1% d.w.). The highest B.E. (73.5%), total carbohydrate (65.7%) and total phenolic compound (60.2 mg GAE/g d.w.) values were recorded on the control substrate. Antioxidant activity was observed in all extracts; the total flavonoid content was low in the samples, and the maximum total triterpene value was detected in SMS 80%-HRL 20% (9.8 mg UA/g d.w.). In all mushrooms, linoleic acid (C18:2) was the main fatty acid (above 60%), and fructose was the dominant individual saccharide. In the investigation of the regulation pathway, NFE2L2 gene expression was upregulated only in the SMS 60%-HRL 40% intervention during incubation with CE-D samples. Additionally, the transcription levels of antioxidant-related genes, SOD1, CAT, HMOX1 and GSR, were increased in the SMS 60-30% intervention. Compared to WS, the alternative substrates are observed to trigger a pathway concerning CE that may resist oxidative stress. This study supports the utilization of agricultural byproducts through sustainable and environmentally friendly practices while simultaneously producing high-value-added products such as mushrooms. Therefore, alternative substrates, particularly those containing HRL, could serve as natural sources of antioxidant potential.

Bio-physical pre-treatments in anaerobic digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste to optimize biogas production and digestate quality for agricultural use

This study optimized the anaerobic digestion (AD) of separated collected organic fractions of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) to produce energy and digestate as biofertilizer. Due to OFMSW’s partial recalcitrance to degradation, enzymatic (UPP2, MCPS, USC4, USE2, A. niger) and physical (mechanical blending, heating, hydrodynamic cavitation) pre-treatments were tested. Experimental and modeling approaches were used to compare AD performance regarding energy sustainability and digestate quality. Digestate was separated into solid and liquid fractions, and then chemically and physically characterized by investigating the nutrient release mechanisms. Principal Component Analysis was applied, equally weighing energy and digestate productions. Unlike previous studies focusing only on biogas, this study evaluated the effects of pre-treatments on both biogas and digestate production, viewing AD as a biorefinery process for urban waste valorization. Results showed that all pre-treatments were energetically sustainable, but enzymatic pre-treatments yielded digestates richer in nutrients (increase of 80% N, 200% P and 150% K as compared to OFMSW) and with greater organic matter degradation compared to physical pre-treatments. The liquid fraction of digestate from enzymatic pre-treatments had higher nutrient concentrations, while those from physical pre-treatments had more balanced nutrient content, making them more suitable for fertigation.

Solid fraction of digestate from olive pomace modulates abiotic and biotic processes in soil: Retention of agrochemicals and inhibition of fungal pathogens

A new type of solid digestate (DG) obtained exclusively from two-phase olive pomace was characterised and evaluated for physicochemical and biological properties. In slurry-type experiments, the adsorption of the fungicide boscalid and the herbicide oxyfluorfen on non-amended loam soil (SOIL) and on soil amended with DG at doses of 1 % (SOIL-DG1), 3 % (SOIL-DG3) and 6 % (SOIL-DG6) (w/w) was quantified and modelled. The DG showed a remarkable and stable capacity to adsorb the compounds over a temperature range of 5–40 °C. Based on the data of the adsorption isotherms conducted at 20 °C, the distribution coefficients of SOIL, SOIL-DG1, SOIL-DG3 and SOIL-DG6 were, respectively, 1.3, 2.2, 2.2 and 3.4 mg kg-1 for boscalid and 2.0, 2.1, 2.2 and 5.9 mg kg-1 for oxyfluorfen, which suggested a significant increase in soil retention capacity after the addition of DG, especially at the highest dose. The desorption of both compounds from all treatments, especially from SOIL-DG6, was slower than adsorption and incomplete (hysteresis coefficient < 1), thus indicating a prolonged permanence of the molecules on the soil. In lab-scale experiments, the phytopathogenic fungi Armillaria mellea, Fusarium culmorum and Verticillium dahliae were exposed to 0.02, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 % (w/w) DG alone, and 0.02 and 0.1 % DG preliminary interacted with 100 mg l-1 of soil humic acid (HA-DG). Fungal response was clearly influenced by the species, the treatment and the dosage adopted. In general, all treatments did not significantly modify the growth rate of A. mellea and V. dahliae, whereas all DG treatments, especially HA-DG, caused evident suppressive effects on F. culmorum. Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that the addition of DG to the soil can regulate the bioavailability of agrochemicals in pore water and exert an inhibitory or irrelevant action depending on the phytopathogenic fungus.

Optimization of Fiber Digestibility and Methane Reduction with Gambier Leaf Extract from Pangkalan for Sustainable Ruminant Farming

Ruminant livestock production plays an important role in providing animal protein sources, but faces major challenges in terms of feed utilization efficiency and environmental impact due to methane emissions. Methane produced by rumen fermentation not only contributes nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions but also causes energy losses of 7-12% of total feed energy. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of gambier (Uncaria gambier) leaf extract from Pangkalan, West Sumatra, on the digestibility of fiber fractions (NDF, ADF, cellulose, hemicellulose) and methane gas production in ruminant rations. The study was conducted in vitro using the method of Tilley and Terry (1963) with a randomized group design consisting of four treatments: T0 (control without gambier extract), T1 (0.5% gambier extract), T2 (1% gambier extract), and T3 (2% gambier extract), with four replications using goat rumen fluid. Results showed that the addition of gambier extract significantly increased NDF and ADF digestibility to 64.30% and 63.77% at T3, respectively, compared to the control of 61.67% and 61.56%. Cellulose digestibility increased from 64.57% at T0 to 67.20% at T3, while hemicellulose increased from 64.78% to 67.44%. In addition, methane gas production decreased significantly from 22.45 ml/g DOM in the control to 16.67 ml/g DOM in T3, equivalent to a decrease of 25.74%. The optimal dose to increase fiber digestibility and decrease methane production was 2% gambier leaf extract (T3 treatment). Thus, gambier leaf extract from Pangkalan can be used as an effective natural feed additive to improve feed efficiency while reducing the environmental impact of ruminant farming.

Solid and Liquid Fraction of Digestate as an Alternative Mineral Nitrogen Source: Two-Year Field Research in Croatia

Solid and Liquid Fraction of Digestate as an Alternative Mineral Nitrogen Source: Two-Year Field Research in Croatia

A sustainable, zero-waste approach for production of biohydrogen from chicken manure slurry by hybrid recycling of digestate

This study provides a sustainable approach to produce biohydrogen through the long-term hydrogenic fermentation of chicken manure (CM) in a semi-continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) under different organic loading rates (OLRs). To ensure the zero-waste route and sustainability, the total digestate was mechanically separated into liquid and solid fractions. The solid digestate fraction was thermally treated to produce biochar, while the liquid digestate fraction was biologically treated through bioaugmentation with a novel heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HD-AN (bacterial strain (Alcaligenes sp. ME-1). The results showed that the high concentration of free ammonia nitrogen (FAN) contents of CM could inhibit methanogenesis and induce hydrogen production. The ORLs of 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, and 5.5 gVS/L.d imposed to the CSTR resulted in volumetric hydrogen production (VHP) of 643.3 ± 37, 908.8 ± 64.5, 1077.8 ± 95.17, and 1383.3 ± 156.8 mL/L.d, respectively. The microbial community structures indicated the long-term adaptation of hydrogen-producing bacteria and methanogenesis inhibition. The bioaugmentation process removed 83.3 % of total ammonia and 66.2 % of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the liquid digestate fraction. The characteristics of the biochar derived solid digestate is suitable for land applications as fertilizer. The hybrid approach combining biohydrogenation, pyrolysis, and bioaugmentation, maximizes the utilization of chicken manure slurry while conforming to the sustainable development goals.

Nutritional Value Evaluation of Corn Silage from Different Mesoregions of Southern Brazil

Corn silage is widely used in livestock farming; however, its quality is easily altered, and one of the factors that has a high influence in this regard is the region of production. The objective was to evaluate the chemical–bromatological composition of 498 samples of corn silage from mesoregions in Southern Brazil during the 2022/2023 summer harvest. The following were studied in relation to our objective: nutritional composition, dry matter, mineral matter, ether extract, starch, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, total digestible nutrients, total carbohydrates, and fractions of carbohydrates. The silages from Central South-PR had higher levels of starch and ether extract (30.68% ± 6.24% and 3.41% ± 0.92%, respectively), whereas in West-SC, the silages had higher levels in the A + B1 fraction of carbohydrates (49.59% ± 6.34%). Silages in North-PR had higher concentrations of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber (49.86% ± 5.92% and 29.70% ± 4.38%, respectively), while in Northwest-RS and West-PR, silages had higher levels of the B2 carbohydrate fractions (46.25% ± 1.98% and 44.55% ± 3.84%, respectively). The nutritional composition differences presented were due to the variables of each mesoregion, interfering in the scenario of formulating diets and animal nutrition.